judgeth the earth Psal 58. ult There 's no work that is done in vaine but that work that is vainly done Wealth and riches shall be in his house and his righteousnesse indures for ever Psal 112. 2 3. Doe but you take care of all that belongs to God and God will take care of all that belongs to you For all other gaines whilst we live we lose them or when we dye we leave them to whom we know not but it may be to them we would not Inkeeping of thy Commandements there is great reward Psal 19. 11. There is not only a reward for keeping of them but there 's a reward in keeping of them In other services the Master hath all the profit and the servant none but in this the servant hath all the profit and the Master none 2 Sam. 6. 11. And the Arke of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months and the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his houshold The Ark was not blessed for the sake of the houshold but the houshould was blessed for the sake of the Arke The Arke of God payes for its entertainment wheresoever it comes We say that those have decayed limbes that must be helped on with crutches Such are they that will side with resigion when they may live upon it but will shrink from Religion when it must live upon them But that maxime is still ture that Godliness with contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. It 's only the Christian man that is the contented man and what is our enjoyments without contentment what 's abundance of possessions if linked to abundance of vexations Wicked men make this world their treasure and God makes this Fiunt instrumenta paenarum quae scilicet divitiae fuerant oblectament◠culparum Innocent world their torment When they want estates they are troubled for them when they have estates they are troubled with them when they should drink of the river God disturbs the water Sinner remember when thou diest thou wilt find godlinesse needfull and whilst thou livest thou wilt find godlinesse gainfull The purest honey is ever gathered out of the hive of holiness O that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes Psal 81. 13. But what had they got by it vers 16. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee The wayes of iniquity are the wayes of beggery It 's but equal that God should fall out with them in the course of his providence that falls off from him in the course of their obedience that they should have nothing from him in a way of bounty that will doe nothing for him in a way of duty If you make your Tabernacles leprous God will make your Tabernacles ruinous Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour Prov. 3. 16. Look to which hand you will and yet you shall find that both are full It 's storied of Synesius a Minister that living near Evagrius a philosopher This story you may read larger just after Mr. Baxter's Preface to his book called the Crucifying of the world and had often perswaded him to be a Christian O but saith the Philosopher if I become a christian either I must lose all for Christ or else I may lose all for Christ to whom the Minister replyed what you lose for him he will pay you againe O but saith the philosopher will you be bound for Christ that if he do not pay me you will Yes saith he and so became a surety for his surety and the philosopher became a Christian When this person came to lye upon his dying pillow he sent for this Minister saying here 's your bond Christ hath paid me all he hath left nothing for you to pay It was a vaine conceite of that potentate who refusing the name of Pius would be called Faelix Inward piety is the best friend to outward felicity though outward felicity be many times the worst enemy to inward piety That 's the tenth The eleventh Principle that you should walk by is this That all the time that God allows us is little enough to fulfill the task that he allots us Man that is borne of a woman is few of dayes and full of troubles Job 14. 1. The creatures life and existence is of a very short and small continuance Natures womb somtimes proves natures tombe and swallows up her own Vitae hujus principium mortis exordium est nec priùs incipit augeri aetas nostra quam minui Prosp de vocat Gen. lib. 2. c. 20 issue With many it's ebb water before the tide be at the full the lamp of their lives is wasted even as soon as it is lighted the sands of their hour-glasse are quite run out when they think it is but newly turned When men feele sicknesse arresting then they feare deaths approaching But we begin our dying as soon as ever we begin our living and how much the longer our time hath been so much the shorter our time shall be Every mans passing-bell hangs in his own steeple Take him in his four elements of Earth and Aire Fire and Water In the Earth he is like dust that 's scattering in the Aire he is like a vapour that 's vanishing in the water he is like a bubble that 's breaking in the Fire he is like smoak that 's consuming Seneca said truly Maximum vivendi Sen. de brevit vitae cap. 9. impedimentum est expectatio quae pendet in crastino the greatest hinderance of well living is the expectation of long life Therefore men so little prepare for death because they so little think on death they think not of living any better till they think not of living any longer Did you but walke by this principle though much of your time be past yet would no more of your time be lost you would this moment make sure of God because the next moment you are not sure of your selves One to-day is worth two to-morrows you know not how soone the sails of your lives may be rowled up or how nigh you are to your eternall haven O ply your Oares dilligently lest the vessell doe miscarry everlastingly What will you doe if you begin to dye naturally before you begin to live spiritually if the Tabernacle of nature be taken down before the Temple of grace be raised up if your paradise be laid wast before the Tree of life be set in it if you give up the Ghost before ever you have received the Holy Ghost if the Sun of your lives set within you before the Sun of righteousness shine upon you if the body be sit to be turned into the earth before the soul be fit to be taken into Heaven If the second birth have no place in you the second Death shall have a power over you One excellently compares
return to God evil for good When we gather the fruit we should cast our eyes upon the root when we are refreshed by the flowing stream we should reflect upon the springing fountain A load of earth hath sunk many a man down to hell and the richer he hath been without doors the poorer he hath been within Your estates if they be not wings to mount you up to Heaven they will be weights to sink you down to Hell That 's a serious observation of a great Traveller that notwithstanding all the Religious pretences of the Conclave of Rome that the Indians have brought more of the Spaniards to worship their gold then ever the Spaniards have brought of the Indians to worship their gods The former have made more infidels then ever the latter made Christians The mercies that God gives to our bodies are but baits that are laid to catch our souls He tries the vessel with water that he may fill it with wine Every stream leads a beleever Fideles singuli beneficio aliquo accepto oculos mox animosque sursium ferunt ac benefactori gratias agunt Sibel con 8. in to the fountains head The more Gods hand is enlarged in blessing of him the more his heart is enlivened in the blessing of God Where the sun of mercy shines hottest there the fruits of grace grow fastest In the book of nature we may view the God of nature The creatures are like an Instrument ready tuned to praise God but it 's a beleevers hand that must make Musicke upon them A Saint as he hath a heart to seek God for what he promiseth so he hath a hand to serve God with what he possesseth The greater wages he receives the better work he performs The more a Merchant adventures at Sea the greater returns he expects at Land They that hold the largest Farms they should pay the greatest Rents the tallest Vines should ever yield the sweetest grapes and it is sad that ever that should prove a true prediction Qui majores terras possident minores sensus solvunt that they who have the largest crops should send into Gods house the fewest Tythes There is a retaliation of good for evill this is admirable of evill for good this is abominable of good for good this is laudible of evill for evill this is blameable The Aprill showers that makes the grasse grow and the flowers sweet do likewise cause many croaking frogs to come forth Those Rivers that receive their rise from the Sea return their waters back again into the lap of the Ocean All you have is derived from God let all you have be returned to God Gen. 38. 28 29. And it came to passe when she travelled that the one put out his hand and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread saying this came out first and it came to passe as he drew back his hand that behold his brother came out Beloved we have not longer enjoyed our blessings then we have abused our blessings which gives us cause to fear though the child of mercy hath put out his hand yet it will goe back into the womb again and the child of judgment will come Ingratitudo est ventus urenssiccans fontem pietatis rorem misericordiae fluema gratiae Ber. Ser. 51 super Cont. forth in its stead 'T is a divine saying of devout Bernard That ingratitude is a parching wind which dries up the spring of bounty the dew of mercy and the current of clemency Man he was made the last of all the Creatures that he might contemplate the rest of all the creatures When you lift up your eyes towards the heavens and see them hung with lights O think if there be so much beauty in the Suburbs what is there in the City what 's the footstoole which he makes to the Throne on which he sits when you see the evening starres that are in the skies think of that morning Star that is in your hearts When you sit down to your dishes let this be the first of your messes how happy are all the kindred of Christ that shall eat bread in the kingdome of Christ Those are the rarest feasts where there are the Royallest guests When you see the fowls of the aire how swiftly they glide through the yielding elements and the waters in the river hasting to their Originall Ocean O then think with how much speed the little rivers of opportunity are posting to the great Sea of eternity When thou art cloathing of thy body with variety reflect how the eternall word put on the suit of thy humanity how mercy undrest it self to cover thee with its garments When you are casting off your cloaths think of the putting off your Tabernacles be going to your beds as if you were going to your graves and so close your eyes in one world as you would open them in another when you are creeping between the sheets then think of your winding sheet When you view the plants that are in your orchards then think of the plants that are in Christs Orchard It 's not more delightsome to see plants bearing of fruits to us then it is to see Saints bearing of fruits to him When thou beholdest the stately buildings the shady groves the Cristal brooks the pleasant meddows of wicked men then think with thy self if sinners goes away with such large messes what shall be the Benjamin's portion If the children of the concubines have so great a gift what shall be the inheritance of the children of promise if the dogs fair so well under the Table how are the children feasted that sit at the Table Give me that eye that can see God in all and that hand that can serve God with all That 's the thirteenth 14. Principle that we are to walk by is this That we are to speak well of God whatsoever ill we bear from God The mud whilst the water is quiet lyes at the bottome but when it is stirred creeps up to the top Every Cock-boate can swim in a shallow River but it must be a strong Vessel that ploughs the curled ocean Job nihil attendens proprium solam domini respicit et commemorat voluntatem talem suae gratiarum actioni terminum ponens sit nomen domin benedictum Titeiman in loc The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away and blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1. 21. He gives before he takes and he takes but what he gives The hourglasse of outward happiness is soon run out to day Job is the richest man in all the east to morrow Job is the poorest man in all the world yet his heart was like a fruitfull Paradise when his estate was like a barren wildernesse though God burnt up his out-house yet he left him his pallace standing Outward mercies they are like the Sea that have their flowing tides and their ebbing waters or like the skie that sometimes is full of clearness and at another time is
foul one God likes no such bargains Lord I am willing to serve thee but unwilling to suffer for thee I will go to sea but on condition I shall meet with no storms I will enter the war but on condition I shall have no blows They would fain be wafted to the point of felicity in such vessels as might not be tossed on the waters of calamity Such think much to borrow a thorn though it be taken from their Saviours Crown Some there are that will sacrifice a stout heart to a stubborn will And will rather dye as Martyrs for errors then bow as servants to truth How shall they ever stand for Christ who did never stand in Christ But beleevers study more how to adorn the cross then how to avoid the cross as deeming it better to be saved in rough waters then drowned in a calm ocean Temporary Professors are like Hedge-hogs that have two holes one to the North the other to the South when the South wind suns them they open to the North and when the North wind chills them they go to the South They will lose their activity to finde their security It was the saying of the King of Navar to Beza That he would in the cause of Christ sail no further then he might retreat safe to the shore Man is a life-loving creature he is afaid to follow truth too near at the heels lest it should lift up his foot and dash out his brains Weak grace will do for God but it must be strong grace that will dye for God A true Christians will lay down his lusts at the command of Christ and he will lay down his life for the cause of Christ The trees of righteousness the more they are shaken by the wind the faster they are rooted in the ground What art thou a member of Christ and yet afraid to be a Martyr for Christ Si beati sunt qui moriuntur in Domino quam beati sunt illi qui moriuntur pro Domino If they be blessed that die in the Lord how blessed are they that die for the Lord What though the flesh do return to dust so the spirit do return to rest what is the body of Adam for a soul to live in to the bosom of Abraham for a Saint to lye in Righteous Abel the first Soldier in the Church Militant was the first Saint in the Church Triumphant He offered up a Sacrifice when the Altar was sprinkled with his own blood But as his body was the first that ever took possession of earth so his soul was the first that ever had a translation to heaven Should such a man as I flie saith Nehemiah A man that hath been so much honoured and a man that hath been so much used It is better to dye a Conqueror then to live a Coward They who will be no less then combatants they shall be more then conquerors None are so couragious as those who are religious A Christian if he lives he knows by whose might he stands and if he dies he knows for whose sake he falls Where there is no confidence in God there will be no continuance with God When the wind ceases to fill the sails the ship ceases to plough the seas The taints of Ishmael shall never make an Isaac out of love with his inheritance If a righteous cause brings you into sufferings a righteous God will bring you out of sufferings Christ is beholden to his enemies as well as to his friends Their malicious opposition wrought out his glorious exaltation The worst that men can do against Beleevers is the best that men can do for Beleivers The worst that they can act against them is to send them out of earth and the best they can do for them is to send them up to heaven It was the expression of one of the Martyrs to his Persecutors You take a life from me that I cannot keep and bestow a life upon me that I cannot lose which is as if you should rob a man of counters and furnish him with gold He that is assured of a life that hath no end cares not how soon this life is at an end All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death Psal 44. 17 18 19. Beleevers are like the moon that wades out of her shadows by keeping her motion and leaves not her shining for the barking of dogs Shall we cease to be Professors because others will not cease to be Persecutors by the seed of the serpent the heel of the woman may be bruised but by the seed of the woman the Serpents head shall be broken Christians see you good times prepare for bad times there is no spring without its fall no Summer but hath its Winter he never reaped comfort in the night of adversity that did not sow it in the day of prosperity Many waters cannot queneh love neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 6. The fire of affection is not quenched by the water of affliction But if the trade of piety cannot be peaceably driven Formalists will shut up their shop-windows They will rather tarry out of the land of Canaan then swim to it through the red sea But a beleever never falls asleep for Jesus till he falls asleep in Jesus If it be thou bid me come to thee on the water Matth. 14. 18. Love can walk on the water without drowning and lie in the fire without burning It s said of the Serpent that he cares not to what danger he exposes his body so he secures his head Thus it is with a Christian he cares not to what hazard he exposes his substance so he may but enjoy his Saviour None of these things move me neither count I my life dear to my self so I may finish my course with joy Act. 20. 24. A Saint is inwardly pious when he is not outwardly prosperous The sharper such Physick is in its taking the sounder the Patient is for its working The higher the floods swell on earth the nearer the Ark mounts up to heaven God can strike strait strokes with crooked sticks and make the Devils dross to fetch off the rust that cleaves to his gold Christians are crucified by the world that they might be crucified to the world God makes it to be an enemy to you that he might make you an enmy to it Remember Christians that Religion is that Phoenix that hath always flourished in her own ashes Magistrates they defend the truth with their swords but Martyrs they defend the truth with their bloods And the losing of their heads makes way for the receiving of their crowns How should we land at the haven of rest if we vvere not tossed upon the seas of trouble If Joseph had not
He that promises to cover the sincere souls infirmities threatens to disclose the Hypocrites impieties O remember Judas who purchased nothing by his deceitful dealing but a halter in which his body was hanged and a fire in which his soul was burned that 's the tenth 11. singular thing is to be more afflicted with the Churches heaviness then we are affected with our own happiness When we suffer not from the Enemies of Christ by persecution we should suffer with the friends of Christ by compassion wherefore the King said unto me Why is thy countenance sad seeing thou art not sick Nehemiah 2. 2. Sadness is the fruit of sickness What sad when the Kings cup bearer and wine so neare the third verse informes you the reason why should not my countenance be sad when the City the place of my Fathers Sepulchres lieth wast and the gates thereof are consumed with fire Let not Sions sons be rejoycing whilst their mothers mourning are not her breaches like the Sea and there 's none to heal them though you cannot make up her breaches yet let your hearts break for her breaches Have pitty upon me have Non oportet nos laetari in malis proximorum sed compati Stel. in Luc. 1◠3. pitty upon me O me my friends for the hand of God hath touched me Job 19. 21. It s observed of the Bees that if one be sick the other will lament Christianity strips no man of humanity some observe in Swine that there is a sympathy when one is killed the rest are troubled and shall that be lost amongst men which is found amongst Swine Will you see the Church bleed to death and never ask balm to cure her wounds how can such rejoyce in her standing that do not mourn for her falling Others what they do not feel by sence that they will not feel by Sympathy Nero could be playing when Rome was burning we may Suet. in vit Ner. Thus the killing of the infants was Spectaculum Herodi jucundum quia luctuosum Bap. Ferra. Orat. 5. draw up that charge against many persons Amos 6. 4 6. They lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches and eat the Lambs out of the flock and the Calves out of the midst of the stall that drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph They can weep for the◠dying groanes of a child but not for the dying grones of a Church their love unto their relations transcends their love unto their Religion But he that hath a stock going in the Churches ship cannot but lament at every storme I should be jealous that thats but a silver eye in the head an Ivory tooth in the Mouth a Wooden Leg in the body that is unsensible of its sorrows I will know that the Churches Enimies though they may be Waves to toss her yet they shal never be rocks to split her It s only such fabricks as are bottomed upon the sands that are overturned by the wind he that is a well of water within her to keep her from fainting is a wall of fire about her to keep her from hurting Though he may scoure his plate and his Jewels yer ye will throw such wispes on the dunghills yet Enemies will be found pushing as far as their short hornes are reaching Sion like a bottle may be dipt in the water but she shall never be drownd in the water Many had rather see a Churches Expiration then see a Churches reformation they had rather view her as one thats nullified then view her as one that 's purified they care not how many Tares spring up amongst Gods Wheat When the Churches adversaries make long furrows upon her back we should cast in the seed of tears Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Thus the head cryes out in heaven whilst the Toe is trod upon on earth Jesus Christ though he hath altered his condition yet he hath not altered his affection Death took away his life for us but it did not take away his love from us he that loves to see the face of his Church beautiful eare long will wipe away those bloody teares that run trickling down her cheeks the prise of her redemption is already paid and the Lords will not require that debt again Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned Isa 40. 2. When we see the Church pledgin her beloved in the cup of affliction we should drink to her in the cup of consolation a heavy burden is easile born by the assistance of many shoulders others they are like Galeo that care for none of those things Nay when they should be Sympat hisers with them in their miserie Temerarium judicium est quod ex levi conjecturâ levibusque signis colligitur Stapl. in Dom. 1. post Pent. they are Censurers of them for their misery they judge the golds not good because it s tryed and the grounds is naught because it s plowed It s dangerous smitting them with our tongues whom God hath smitten with his hands Christ himself because he suffered for transgressors was therefore numbred with transgressors What 's this but to give the sharpest Vinegar where we should give the sweetest wine Pour out thine indignation upon them and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them Psal 69. 24. But what 's their sin 26. verse for they persecute them whom thou hast smitten and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded Sympathy is a debt which we owe to sufferer and creature comforts will fit those seasons no better then a Silver lace would do a Mourning sute a particular loss it s but like the putting of out a candle which brings darkness to a room but a general loss is like the Eclipsing of the Sun which overshadows the whole Hemisphear Pliny tels us of two Goats meeting together on a narrow bridge when the one could not get forward nor the other go backwards the one lay down that the other might go over him How much of men were there in these beasts but how much of beasts are there in some men It s better to be in the humble posture of a mourner then in the proud gesture of a scorner Have mercy upon me O Lord thou Son of David my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil Mat. 15. 22. The childs malady was the parents misery the tortures of the daughter was the torment of the mother as if the one had been possessed till the other was dispossessed The righteous When Alexanders Army was ready to perish with thirst he himself refufed water that was proffered to him with this Heroick Ipeech Nec solus bibere sustineo nec tam ex iguum dividere omnibus possum Quin. Curt. l. ◠Sect 5. perish and no man lays it to heart Isa 57. 1. Sympathy with others makes an estate
vinegar to drink to him God spreads a large table every day and the most that seed at it are his Enemies the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid and the calfe and the young Lyon and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them Isai 11. 6. The Lord Jesus as he can kill the dearest lust so he can tame the wildest beast It s onely a patient Christ that can make us patient Christians as our passions were the cause of his so his passion is the cure of ours and he arose and rebuked the wind and said unto the Sea Peace and be still and the wind ceased and there was a great calme Mark 4. 39. Whilst he lay down the storme rose up whilst Christ was resting the ship was tossing but when he spake they held their peace shall not the troubled Ocean become a bed of rest for him who layes the beames of his Chambers in the waters shall not he clip the wings of the wind that rides upon the wings of the wind For if ye forgive men their Frustra Deum propitiars sibi quarit qui citò placari proximo negligit Bern. â—e in t dom c. 51. trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you but if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Matt. 6. 14 15. Without forgiving there is no forgiveness how can you expect to have pounds remitted to you when pence are not remitted by you If there be moysture in smaller drops there 's more in larger showers well may we shew mercy to others for Gods sake who shows mercy to us for his own sake I have read a story of one who imbrued his hands in his own blood because his armes were not long enough to reach his Enemies Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine and I will repay it saith the Lord Rom. 11. 19. And they stoned Steven calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit and he kneeled Stephano pro inimicis oranti coelum panditur velut si ad nobile hoc spectaculum coelites omnes sint intenti Drex Christ zod p. 82. down and cryed with a loud voyce Lord lay not this sin to their charge Acts 7. 59 60. Could living men do worse to a man that 's dying or a dying man pray better for men that are living Ludovicus saith The world hath been already destroyed by water for the heat of its luxury and it shall be again destroyed by fire for the coldness of its charity To do evil for good is humane corruption to do good for good is civil retribution but to do good for evil is Christian perfection this though it be not the grace of nature yet it is the nature of grace Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the King let me go over I pray thee and take off his head 2 Sam. 16. 9. As if he should say Seeing he will not keep his tongue in his mouth why should he keep his head on his shoulders but marke the answer vers 10. And the King said what have I to do with you ye sons of Zerviah because the Lord hath said unto him Curse David Who shall then say Wherefore hast thou done so David was so far from biting at the stone that he doth not bark at the hand by which it was thrown the back of charity is able to carry the burden of injury without either being moved with violence or being removed from patience Though God suffer not his people to sin in avenging their Enemies yet he suffers not the sin of their Enemies to go unavenged anger rests in the bosome of fools Proverbs 12. 16. Where there is the most indignation there is the least discretion no men do more sweetly put up disgraces from others then such as have learned to despise themselves Make not an Enemy of thy friend by returning him evil for good but make a friend of thine Enemie by returning him good for evil that 's the twelfth 13. Singular thing it s to take those reproofes best which we need most It was the saying of a heathen though no heathenish saying that he that would be good must either have a faithful friend to instruct him or a watchful Enemy to correct him Who would wound those that intend their cure or like him the worser that would make them the better The flaming sword of reprehension is but to keep thee from the forbidden fruit of Transgression Let the righteous smite me and it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break my head Psal 141. 5. Let him smite me as with a hammer so the word signifies it coming from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is usually rendred he Rober. Key to the Heb. Bible did beat or knock he did not as the Papists commend their holy water highly but turn away their faces when it is sprinkled upon them a Boanerges is as useful as a Barnabas Am I become your Enimy because I tell you the truth Gal. 4. 16. Light is pleasant yet offensive to sore eyes honey is sweet though it makes wounds to smart but we must not neglect the actions of a friend for fear of drawing upon our selves the suspition of an Enemy It s better to lose the smiles of men then it is to lose the souls of men thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart nor suffer sin to lye upon him He that love a garment hates the moaths that fret the garment Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee but rebuke a scorner and he will hate thee Prov. 9. 8. Reproof slides from a scorners brest as water doth from an oyled post and who would sow those barren sands where he shall lose both his time and pains All that we can do at such houses is to write A Lord have mercy on them at their doors Instead of loving a man notwithstanding injuries these will hate a man even for his courtesies Next to the not deserving of reproof is the well taking of reproof It s a holy kind of Martyrdome to bear reproofs patiently Most persons are like gauld horses that cannot indure the rubbing of their sores or like Bees that as soon as ever they are angry put forth their stings There 's a great deal of discretion to be used in reprehension A word will do more with some then a blow will do with others A Venice glass is not to be rubbed so hard as a brazen kettle the bending reed is more easily bowed then the sturdy Oak Christs warfare needs no carnal weapons dashing stormes wash Non asperè quantum existimo non duriter non modo imperiofo ista tolluntur magis docendo quam jubendo magis monendo quam minando Aug. ep 64. ad Aur. away the seed when gentle showers
have done cast them away into corners these make not gain to stoop to godliness but godliness to stoop to gain which is as if a man should fit the foot to the shoo when they should fit the shoo to the foot That Tradesman is poor and needy in what he deales that must have ready money for all he sels Man in the good he doth for God seeks himself more then God The clock of his heart will stand still unless its wheels be oyled If the Virgin should yeild her consent only for her Bridegrooms riches she would not espouse her self unto his person but unto his portion As Seneca saith of friendship begotten upon a sinister account negotiatio est Sen. ep â— non amicitia quae ad commodum accedit quae quid consecutura sit spectat so may I say of this it were not properly to make a Marriage with him but to make a Merchandize of him St. Austin hath an excellent saying Non amat Christum qui amat aliquid plus quam Christum he love not Christ at all that loves not Christ above all You seek me not because Quam multi non quaerunt Jesum nisi ut illis benefaciat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 officium non pro augendiâ—vi tutibus sed pro requirendis subsidiis inhiare solent Aqâ—i in loc ye saw the miracles but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled John 6. 26. Christ was the object of their actions but self was the end of their actions They came to Christ to serve their turn and when their turns were served they turned away their service they were cubbord disciples more then men at their meat but less then women at there work when the loaves were gone the disciples were gone when he left feeding of them they left following of him Your weakest building needs the most under propings that 's but Kitchin fire that burns no longer then the grosse fewel of profit feeds it Till you can love the naked truth you will never love to go naked for the truth most persons are mercenary and servile in those works wherein they should be Son-like and free They look more after the streams then upon the spring from whence they are issued and after the beams then upon the Sun from whence they are darted The want of mercy is the onely spring of duty they ply their prayers as Saylors do their pumps only in a storm and for fear of sinking And now O Father glorifie thy Son that thy son may glorifie thee John 17. 1. He prayes for glory more for the Fathers sake that bestowes it then for his own sake that receives it a true Christian doth not desire grace only for this end that God may glorifie him but he desires grace for this end that he may glorifie God Others could they but find the mercyes of God they would never seek the God of Mercyes could they tell how to be well well without him they would never come at him God hath but little of many mens society but when they can find no other company Instead of looking upon godliness as their greatest gain they look upon gain as their greatest godliness They love Religion not for the beauty inhering in it but for the dowry attending on it like the Fox that follows the Lyon for the prey that is falling from him if there be no honey in the pot such Waspes will hover no longer about it When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month even those seventy years did ye at all fast unto me and when ye did eat and when ye did drink did not ye eat for your selves and drinck for your selves Zach. 7. 5 6. In fasting and in feasting they cast not their eyes upon God but upon themselves they forget not to eat when they were hungry but they forgat to praise God when they were full Their greediness did swallow up their thankefulness Remember God will shut those duties out of heaven that shut him out on earth I have heard a story of a woman that being met with fire in one hand and water in another was askt what she would do with them She answered With this fire I would burn up all the joyes of heaven and with this water I would quench all the flames of hell that I might neither serve God for fear of punishment nor for hopes of reward The less you make these things the end of your working the more will God make them the end of your work God hath three sorts of servants in the world some are slaves and serve him for fear other are hirelings and serves him for wages others are sons and serve him for love Now a hireling will be a changling he that will serve God for something will serve the Divel for more he shall have his works if he will but augment his wages he had an eye to the recompence of reward Heb. 11. 26. This is a good Inn for our desires baiting but a bad home for our desires dwelling the Poets tell us of many who at first were Sutors to Penelope the Mistriss but at last were marryed to the Maids that attended her The ass which carryed the Egyptian goddess had many bare heads and bended knees but none to the beast but all to the burden Demetrius he crys up the goddess Diana but it was not her Temple that he admired but her silver shrines that he adored He was more in love with her wealth then he was in love with her worship Sirs ye know that by this craft we have our wealth Acts 19. 25. If her Temple had been demolished their trade had been destroyed Doth Job serve God for naught yea for Job served God when he had naught He was as good in his poverty as he was in his plenty In this sence that man that serves not God for naught that man is naught in serving God Love it trades not for returns here it payes it self in serving its beloved It s storied of one that being askt for whom he laboured most answered for his friends And being askt for whom he laboured least answered for his friends love it doth most and yet thinks least of what it does Hypocrites they are more in love with the gold of the Altar then they are with the God of the Altar Wo to your scribes and pharisees Vae vobis quia avaritiam vestram Colore Religionis depingitis Diabolo Christi arma praestatis ut iniquitas ametur dum pietas aestimatur Gor. in loc for they devour widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers therefore ye shall receivce the greater damnation Mat. 23. 14. They fasted all the day but to feed upon the widows cost at night they hatcht the birds of oppression in the nests of devotion These Spiders they weaved the webb of their works to catch the fly of their wealth thus true is Augustines observation Saepe aliter se habet species facti aliter facientis animus
Indifferency in Religion is the next step to apostacy from Religion But though Christians be not kept altogether from falling yet they are kept from falling altogether they may part with Christ for a time but they shall not depart from Christ for ever The trees of righteousness may have their autumne but they shall have their spring There is never so low an ebb but there 's as high a tyde Christians are like crocodiles that are growing till they are dying or like the Moon that increases in her beauty till she arrives at the full of her glory take heed of putting off the robes of piety whilst you are on this side eternity You must hold the Scepter of grace in your hands till God set the Crown of glory upon your heads If the service of God be bad why do you set forth in it if the service of God be good why do you shrinck back from it usually they who ride fastest at their first setting forth are soonest tired in their journies it s the sparkling Diamond that is set in the Apostiles Crown 2 Tim. 4. 7. I have fought a Absque perseverantid nec qui pugnat victoriam nec palmam victor consequitur Bern. Ep. 12 good fight I have finisht my course I have kept the faith his work was done before his life was done henceforth their is laid up for me a crown of glory There 's many persons that layes a foundation that never raises up a super structure But Jesus Christ is never a Father to abortive children where he gives strength to conceive he gives strength to bring forth he turnes the bruised reed into a brazen pillar and the smoaking flax into a Triumphant flame that is the 18th 19. Singular action that must be done by singular Christians is To take all the shame of their sins unto their selves and to give all the glory of their services unto Christ Others they take all the glory of their services to themselves and lay all the shame of their sins on him as if he that dyed on earth to redeem us from them should live in heaven to confirm us in them The Devil may flatter us but he canot force us he may tempt us unto sin but he cannot tempt us into sin He is but the Father begeting the evil heart is the Mother conceiving and in this sence the Father can do nothing without the Mother the fire is his bvt the tinder is ours he could never enter into our houses if we did not set open our doors Many complain for want of liberty who thrust their feet in Satans fetters the woman thou gavest me she gave me of the tree and I did eat Gen. 3. 12. I took that as a gift from her whom thou gavest as a gift to me its ill putting of sins brats to suck at Gods brest they may receive their punishment from him but they shall never receive their nourishment from him He cannot be the unrighteous upholder of what he is the righteous avenger O Blasphemy canst thou charge the Sun with darkness by whom the heavens are inlightned or the Sea with dryness by whom the earth is moistened Our Impiety is as truly the off-spring of our souls as our posterity is the off spring of our bodys Every good and perfect gift comes from above from the father of light with whom is no varyableness or shadow of turning Jam. 18. 17. Whatsoever is truly good hath its emanation from God Now the same spring cannot send forth both sweet and bitter waters T is a known rule contraria multuose tollunt contraries destroy each other Many have more leaves to cover the naughtiness of their works then they have cloths to cover the nakedness of their backs How many lay the bastards of Heresie at the door of the Sanctuary calling diabolical soductions Evangelical revelations as if the father of light could bring forth the issues of darkness What 's this but to set a crown of Lead upon a head of gold We can defile our selves but we cannot cleanse our selves The sheep can go astray alone but can never return to the fold without the asistance of the Shepherd till we tast the bitterness of our own misery we shall never relish the sweetness of Gods mercy till you see how foul your faces are you will never pay tribute to Christ for washing of them He that creates us in his image he restores us his Image If we were left to our selves but a moment we should destroy our selves in that moment We are like glasses without a bottom that as soon as ever they are out of the hand are broken Others they greaten themselves to make Christ little but we should lessen our selves to make Christ great Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Gal. 2. 20. A beleiver is willing to stand for a Cypher so Christ may go for a figure well may we abase our selves for his exaltment that abased himself for our establishment Prorsus Sathan est Lutherus sed vivat regnet Christus Let Luther be accounted a Devil so Christ may be exalted as a God said that flaming Seraphim of himself Without me ye can do nothing Nisi tanquam palmites in me qui vera sum vitis insâ—ramini nec multum nec parùm sed nihâ—l potestis in spiritualibus Dav. deter 9. p. 48. Joh. 15. 5. The pen may as soon write without the hand that holds it as grace can work without the Spirit that moves it Not onely the enjoyment of our talents is from God but the improvement of our talents is from God Luk. 19. 16. Lord thy pound hath gained me tenpounds It s not my pains that hath done it but it s thy pound that hath done it Men should not glory in what they have received but they should give glory for what they have received The grace of God without the God of grace it s but like a clock that stands still when all its weights are down Did not our hearts burn within us Luk. 24. 32. But how long did that flame last all the time he talked with us When his bellows gave over blowing their fuel gave over burning Graces in our hearts are like stars in the heavens that shine not by their own splendor but by borrowed beams from the Sun of Righteousness He that takes the brick must give the straw that makes it There is no water except he smites the rock nor fire except he beat the flint If he call us to the work of Angels he will supply us with the strength of Angels For when we were without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly A Soul that is Christless is a Soul that is strengthless Man is beholden to God for what he hath but God is not beholden to man for what he doth But of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11. 36. The humble heart knows no fountain
Emperours might be engraven in a little Ring I will not say there are not any good men that are great but I will say that there are not many great men that are good The Trees of righteousnesse are thinly planted in the worlds Orchard As in one righteous man there are many sins so for one righteous man there are many sinners Our fathers have eaten sowre grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge The generallity of persons they will rather walke in the way that the most goe then they will walke in the way that the best goe They are like dead fish that swims downe the streame whither soever it runs or like water that takes the figure of the Vessell in which it is contained But Vox populi is somtimes Vox Diaboli what 's ingraven upon the seale is imprinted upon the wax If we will not have the world to be our leaders we shall be sure to have them to be our troublers if they cannot seduce us into an evill way they will oppose us in a good one If they cannot scorch us with their fire they will black us with their smoake speaking evill of you because you run not to the same excesse of riot because they will not doe evill with them therefore they will say evil of them We must not walke in the way that hath been gone but in the way that should be gone Be ye followers of those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises What 's the reason that there are so many scribling professors in the world but that they write after such imperfect Copies The best of men are but men at the best It 's better imitating of an evill man in what is good then it 's imitating of a good man in what is evill Be ye followers of me 1. Cor. Exempla sanctorum non sunt nobis imitanda nisi quatâ—nus consentanea sunt cum lege Dei et cum Christi exemplis ideo neque Apostolus simpliciter dixit imitatores mei estote sed adjecit sicut ago Christi Zanch. de nat Dei l. 3. c. 3. ult fere verb. 11. 1. But this Exhortation hath its limitation as I am of Christ Where he follows Christ we must follow him but if Paul forsake Christ we may forsake Paul It was a good saying of Sir Thomas More I will not pin my faith upon any mans sleeve because I know not whither he will carry it Beleevers have not only infirmities that are naturall but they have infirmities that are sinfull When they begin to be spirit they do not cease to be flesh Noah was no sooner delivered from a deluge of water but he was drown'd in a deluge of wine Their failings flow not from a want of grace but from a want in grace not from a nullity in holiness but from an impotency in holiness As they are not so bad as they have been so they are not so good as they shall be those Roses that are now in Gratia est adhùc in augmento at posteà erit in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu complemento Davent de just act cap. 34. their blossome shall be fully blown and the Starres that are yet imprisoned under a cloud shall be set in a cleare sky They are but slovenly Christians that will swallow all that beleevers doe without pairing their actions The Comment must be followed no further then it agrees with the Text. Say not in your hearts Multi sua peccata tegere volunt et defendere exemplo Davidis et aliorum quorum paenitentiam imitaâ—â— opoâ—â—ebat non corum peccata utere exemplis bonorum illosque in bonis actibus imitare Stella in Luc. c. 4. vers 27. why may not I be drunk as well as Noah and commit Adultery as well as David Did you ever hear of any that put out their eyes because others were smitten with blindnesse or that cut off their leggs because others went on Crutches If you have sinned as they have sinned you should mourn as they have mourned These acts are not for our imitation but for our caution they are not Land-marks for Travellers but Sea-marks for Mariners If a man find a piece of gold covered with dirt will he possesse himselfe with the dirt and throw away the gold You have heard of the patience of Job James 5. 11. We have not Apostolus commondat Job cum tamen Coeco impetu abreptus multa impatientiae signa edidit at etiamsi carnis infirmitate labascit vol secum tumultuatur huâ— tamen semper redibat ut seâ—otum Deo permitteretea Calvin Loc. only heard of Jobs patience but we have heard of Jobs impatience instead of cursing the sin in which he was born he curses the season in which he was born You have heard of the meekness of Moses and yet this even thred was not without its snarles whilest he is striking water out of the Rock he is fetching fire out of his heart And Peter not only forsakes his Lord but forswears his Lord. Who would ever have suspected that he who had his name from a Rock should have proved such a Reed Holy men they may be good Witnesses at the Bar but they are bad Judges on the Bench. If you will not turn your backs on Aegypt you may fall short of the Land of Canaan It was the complaint of one in his time That the greater theeves did execution upon the lesser But when God comes to passe Sentence he will bring the biggest to the Bar his Laws are not like Cob-webs which holds the little flies prisoners but the great ones break with small resistance He will set the Saddle upon the back of the right Horse Though you may have many under you upon Earth yet you have one over you which is in Heaven The Lord called to Adam and said unto him where art thou Gen. 3. 9. Not where wert thou but where art thou Oh how quickly hast thou morgaged that inheritance which I so lately setled on thee in Paradice The woman that thou gavest me she gave me of the Tree and I did eat Gen. 3. 12. Because she put it into his hands therefore he put it into his mouth The brats of sin are so ugly when they are brought forth that we are loth to own them our selves therefore lay them at the doores of others The stable Mountains are not so firme but they may be removed by Non igitur imitandi sunt fideles quatenus homines sed quatenus in eis resplendet imago Dei Bzov Conc 12. Page 119. fearefull Earthquakes Those Saints that have been as the greatest Stars have left behind them their twinklings and sad Eclipses 9. Principle that you are to walk by is this That where man is so dilligent as to do his best there God is so indulgent as to forgive his worst What an apology doth a waking Saviour make for his sleeping Saints The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Take a
carnal man and what he can do that he will not take a Christian man what he would do that he cannot Now impotency shall be pityed when obstinacy shall be punished God hath mercy for cannots but none for will nots Adams want was rather will then power but our want is rather power then will Psal 119. 5. O that my wayes were directed Emitto vocem cupientis et antrelantis Donec liberati simus semper clamabimus utinam Suspirabimus ex sensu imbecilitatis nostrae Donec gaudium plenum sit infruitione Rivet in loc that I might keep thy statutes A Saints will begins where his work ends Lord I beleeve help my unbeliefe Lord I see enlighten my darkness I hear but cure my deafness I move but quicken my dulness I desire but help my unwillingness I remember but remove my forgetfulness In the playing of a Lesson a single string may jarr and slip and yet the main be musicall It were a folly indeed to think our fields had no corn because there is chaff or that the pile had no Gold because there is Dross In Heaven there 's service alone without any sin In hell there 's sin alone without any service but on earth there 's sin and service in the same heart as there is Wine and Water in the same Cup. To condemn thy evil is good but to condemn thy good is evil Here beleevers are like the Israelites that in their darkest night had a pillar of fire and in their clearest day had a pillar of a cloud Above us there 's light without any darkness below us there 's darknesse without any light but here it s neither day nor night but in the evening it shall be light Though the lowest beleever be above the power of sin yet the highest beleever is not above the presence of sin It s in a living man that lust is mortified but it s in a dying man that lust is nullified When the body and the soul are separated by mortality sin the soul are separated to eternity though a forced compulsion is sufficient to testifie a Tyrant yet its ready obedience that proves homage to a King Sin never ruins but where it reigns It s not destroying where it is disturbing Lust its least hurtful where it is most hateful The more evil it receives from us the lesse evil it doth to us it s only a murderer where it is a Governour But the Rose is a fragrant flower though it be surrounded with prickles The Passover was a feast though it was eaten with sowre Hearbs There 's much of the wild Olive in him that 's ingrafted into the true Olive Our graces are our best Jewels but they do not here yeild their full lustre The Moon when it shines brightest hath its spots and the fire when it burns hottest hath its smoak I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless Intalem stupori excessum adductus fui ut mihi viderer projectus a conspectu praesentiae tuae tu verò exaudita mea oratione quanto ejus ad fuisti per subventionem et consolationem misericordiae tuae Titelman in Locum thou heardest the voice of my supplication Psal 31. 22. Who would have thought that ever those prayers should have had any prevalency that were mixed with so much infidelity Sin is an enemy at our backs but not a friend in our bosomes Although beleevers should be mournful because they have infirmities yet they should be thankful because they are but infirmities It is not the Interposition of a cloud that makes a night but the departing of the Sun Take the best beleever that breaths and he is fuller of his sins then he is of his prayers There is too much of earth in our imployments for Heaven But as he that drew Alexanders picture when there was a scar on his facedrew him with his finger upon the scar so Jesus Christ when he draws the picture of the Saints excellencyes layes his finger upon the scars of the Saints infirmities He looks over what is his and overlooks what is theirs Where there is no sins of allowance in them there shall be grains of allowance to them he will not throw away his Pearls for every speck of dirt Christ honours grace in its maturity yet he owns it in its minority O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt They had faith enough to keep them from damning but they had not faith enough to keep them from doubting The least buds draw sap from the root as well as the greatest branches Though one Star exceed another in magnitude yet both are alike seated in the Heavenly Orbe Though one member of the body be larger then another yet each hath an equal conjunction with the head The Rind of good actions is tainted by infirmities but their Core is rotted by hypocrisie Jacob halted and yet was blessed as his blessing did not take away his halting so his halting did not keep away his blessing Hagar will have a room in Sarahs house till death turne her out of doors Death as it leaves the body soul-lesse so it leaves the soul sinlesse For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 2 Cor. 8. 12. He doth not look that the Cock should run water when there 's none put into the Cistern Jesus Christ doth not put out a beleevers Vae nobis si secundum firmitatem fidei Deus nobiscum agere vellâ—â— Chem Har Evan cap. 83. p. 15. 85. Candle because of the dimness of its burning nor overshadow a beleevers Sun because of the watriness of its shining Though that Vice may be found in us for which he might justly damn us yet he hath not lost that grace by which he can as easily save us He comes not with water to put out the fire but with wind to drive away the smoak The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord Pro 15. 8. because the Incense stinks of the hand that offers it Not only the wickeds plotting against the Godly is sinful but also the wickeds praying unto God is sinful but what follows The prayer of the upright is his delight If the vessel of the heart be clean he will taste of the liquor that 's drawn from it O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rocke in the secret places of the Stareâ— lee me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely 2 Canticles 14. That 's the ninth 10. Principle you should walk by is this That inward purity is the ready road to outward plenty That 's but a Hell-bred Proverb â—lain dealing is a Jewel but he that uses it shall dye a beggar Religion though it be against our ease yet it s not against our interest O what clusters of Grapes hang all along our way to
world was polluted and Noah was saved alone when the world was destroyed Vpon all the glory there shall be a defence Isa 4. 5. There 's nothing but the glory that 's worthy to be kept and there 's nothing of the glory but it shall be kept The shields of salvation they hang not in the paths of transgression Kept by the power of God by faith unto salvation All the wiles of the Devill cannot conquer a single Souldier in Christs Camp much lesse shall he rout the whole Army The name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous fly to it and are safe The name of the Lord is a Tower for its sublimity and it 's a strong Tower for its security Thy ship O Christian may put as boldly into such a harbour as a man may step into a house that is overtaken with a shower A Garden inclosed is my Sister my Spouse a spring shut up and a Fountain sealed Cant. 4. 12. God as he hath a hedge of affliction to keepe his people from wandring so he hath a hedge of protection to keep his people from wasting he that numbers their hairs secures their heads Sincerity is the only Sanctuary Psal 84. 11. The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield What darkness can obscure them who have a Sun above them or what dangers can injure them who have a Shield about them When thou passest thorow the waters I will be with thee and thorow the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Isa 43. 2. Here is a dangerous voyage but a safe convoy God doth not deale with his friends as we doe with ours We do with our friends as we do with Dialls only looke upon them when the Sun of prosperity shines upon them or as women doe with flowers whilst they are flourishing stick them in their bosomes but when once they wither cast them to the Dunghill But when our want is greatest his help is nearest the more grievous our oppressions the more gracious his redemptions When the night is at the darkest it's Tyranni premunt sed non opprimunt oppugnant sed non expugnant Id. conc 21. pag. 269. nearest morning and when the tide is at the lowest it is nearest turning A man that hath been for many yeares in a dark dungeon will rejoyce exceedingly at the lest appearance of light though it shine thorow a prison-grate When mans misery is most dolefull Gods mercy is most helpfull When our calamity is most indured his benignity is most admired Behold he that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps though Israel so kept doe both sleep and slumber Psal 121. 4. It was the saying of Alexander Tuto dormirinam Antipater vigilavit I slept securely whilst Antipater watcht Our safety sleepes when our Keeper sleepes when our Keeper sleeps Sometimes God doth house his Corn before a storme but however he keeps it in the storme If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8. 31. Against us they may be to hate us but against us they cannot be to hurt us Noah rides safely in a well pitched Ark when the old world was covered with the waters of the Deluge when Israel was led into captivity then was Jeremy set at liberty The Prophet found more favour from the Princes of Babel then he found from the people of Israel Gideons Fleece was dry when all the earth was wet When the shaddows of the Evening were stretched over Asia the day dawned to us in Europe That 's the Nineteenth 20. Principle that beleevers are to walk by is this That the sweetness of the Crown which shall be received will make amends for the bitternesse of the Crosse that may be endured The last Wine that Christ draws is the best Wine that a Christian drinks When the waters cover the earth whither should such a Dove-like spirit flye but to the Ark He that came on earth to make us righteous will come from Heaven to make us glorious For ye had compassion on me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves Haec est omnium verè in Christo fideliū vera et solida et efficacissima consolatio contra omnia hujus mundi adversa Stap in Dom 2. Quadr text 2. that ye have in Heaven a better and a more enduring substance Heb. 10. 34. Who would look for so fair a Jewel to lye upon so foul a Dunghil But the gain of these Heavenly Mansions drowned the losse of their earthly Mammon Christians you are now on a storming Sea do not say you shall never arrive at a quiet Harbour What hath he pluckt thee out of the fire of damnation and will he leave thee in the water of affliction It is not long before you shall Trumpet out that saying For lo the Winter is past the rain is over and gone the flowers appear on the earth and the time of singing of Birds is come Cant. 2. 11 12. O how clear will the Sun of righteousnesse shine when such dark clouds are blown over If there be so much Liquor in a single Grape what is there in the whole Cluster The waters of Life glide the smoothest when the wind blows the highest Take a beleever whilest he lives and God hath a servant the more on earth for him take a beleever when he dyes and God hath a Saint the more in Heaven with him If there be a fiery exhalation wrapt up in a cloud we must look for Thunder and Lightning to follow it Never look for an end of your sorrows till there be an end of your sins As sufferings came not a day before them so they stay not a day behind them God had one Son without corruption but he had never a Son without affliction As many as I love I rebuke and chasten Well may we bear the Rod when love makes the Rod a beleever when he lyes under that hand that doth afflict him he lyes in that heart that doth affect him Dunghils when they are raked up send forth a filthy steame but oyntment when it s powred forth yeilds a sweet perfume It 's reported of Tiberius that passing by a place where he saw a Cross lying on the ground upon a Marble stone he caused it to be digged up and found a great deale of Treasure under it Christians should you but dig up the stones where lyes your crosses under your greatest torments you might find your greatest treasures I have read of a fountain that 's cold at Mid-day and Amonis nemus in medio habet fontem aquam solis vecant sub lucis ortum tepidier manat medio diei cùm vehementissimu◠est calor frigida eadem fluit inclinato in vesperam calescit mediâ nocte fervida exaestuat Quint. Curt Lib. 4. Sect 7 hot at Mid-night thus are many Christians cooled in the mid-day of prosperity that are