IT hath pleased GOD, in His most wyse and admirable providence, to make troubles and afflictions in this lyfe common to the godlie and the wicked; to let the world see, that the godlie doe wyselie seeke and expect happinesse in another place; and, that wicked men are fooles, to seeke for it here, where it is not to bee found. But these temporall calamities, as they haue diverse effects in the evill, and in the good; so they come not to them with one and the selfe­same commission or direction from divine provi­dence. For GOD, when Hee sendeth out great afflictions and calamities agaynst the wicked, such as povertie, disgrace, sicknesse, and death, Hee gi­veth them a full commission, to hurt and destroy; [Page] lyke that commission which Hee gaue to king Saul agaynst the Amalekites; 1. Sam. 15. 18. Goe, and vtterlie destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight agaynst them, vntill they bee consumed. But when Hee sendeth afflictions to His owne Children, Hee giveth them a limited commission; or rather a loving charge, lyke that which David gaue to Ioab, and the rest of his Captayns, concerning Absalom, agaynst whom they were to fight; Deale gentlie (sayd hee) for my sake, with the young man, even with Absalom. 2. Sam. 18. 5 For Hee hath ordayned the afflictions of the godlie, how sharpe and grievous soever they bee, to hurt little, and for a moment; but to profit much, and to all aeternitie. And for this effect, as Hee giveth to His owne, in their troubles, that great Comfor­ter, whose secret operation vpon their heartes, is most powerfull, and wonderfull; so also Hee hath appoynted others, who, for the tyme, are not alyke visited,Amos 6. 6. or afflicted, to bee grieved for their affli­ction, to mourne with them, Rom. 12. 15. to speake wordes in season vnto them, Esay 50. 4 and to comfort them, by that comfort, wherewith themselues haue beene comforted of GOD. 2. Cor. 1. 4. The performance of this duetie, as it is incumbent to all, so especiallie to those whom Hee hath cal­led to preach that Word, which is the Store-house of Comfort. And therefore I, who although most vnworthie, am, by GODS singular Mercie, adjoyned to that number, hearing of your great heavinesse, and sorrow, for the departure of your sonne; and knowing you to be one of those, whom GOD hath ordayned to bee gentlie dealt with, and comforted in all their tribulations, I thought my selfe bound, to wryte something vnto you at this [Page] tyme, for your comfort; especiallie, seeing I know more of that young Man his secret walking with GOD, than anie other: and consequentlie, am able to giue you most particular and credible assu­rance, of the holinesse of his lyfe, where from you may easily collect the happines of his death. Of this he himselfe gaue some signification vpō his death­bed, to those who were then present with him. For when that last houre (to him a moste happie houre) approached, hee, after the example of Heze­kiah, comforting himselfe with this,2. Kings. 20. 3. that hee had walked before GOD in trueth, and with a perfect heart, did, for confirmation of that, which he sayd, take himselfe to two witnesses: to GOD, the onlie Eye-witnesse of the secret counsels of his heart; and to mee, then absent from him, as to the onelie Eare-witnesse on earth, vnto whom hee had revea­led his most private carriage. Wherefore I thought my selfe oblieged, to declare to the world, but in speciall vnto you, in tyme of this your heavinesse, how earnest and effectuall a desire that young man had to encrease in grace, to overcome temptations, and to liue an Angelicall lyfe vpon earth: that you being informed thereof, may rejoyce for the grace hee had then, and for the glorie hee hath now.

Then, for your comfort, consider, I pray you, with mee, onelie these two particulars: First, what hath beene GODS dealing towards you in this matter: Secondlie, what hath beene GODS dea­ling towards him. For is His dealing bee towards you both in mercie, I can not see what reason you haue to entertayne such excessiue sorrow.

[Page] As for His dealing towards you, and others in the lyke case,Iob. 1. 21. Iob expresseth it in these two short sentences: The LORD gaue, and the Lord hath taken away; or, as others interpret the wordes, hath taken backe to Himselfe: which, at the first hearing, I confesse, seeme to afford small argument of com­fort. For the first seemeth not to importe anie matter of joye, because it looketh to the tyme by­past, and onelie signifieth, that once we were hap­pie. The other seemeth to importe reall miserie, because it is meerlie privatiue, and signifieth, that the happinesse wee once had, is nowe removed. But if we shall duelie weygh these words, and con­venientlie apply them to the present purpose, wee shall finde, that much matter of joye and comfort lyeth hidden in them. Wherefore marke, howe Iob beginneth at giving; The LORD (sayeth hee) gaue. If hee had not begun so, perhaps hee would not haue ended so as hee did; that is, with blessing GOD.

MISTRESSE, here begin with Iob, and say, The LORD gaue. Remember the LORDS favour to­wards you, in giving you such a sonne, and conti­nuing him with you manie years; to the effect, that yee may joyfullie prayse and blesse His Name. David putteth these two well together;Psal. 103. 2. Blesse the LORD, O my soule, and forget not all His benefites. For if wee would blesseth LORD, wee must care­fullie remember His benefites. Lest therefore your melancholie make you deficient in paying this tribute to GOD, remember, with a thankfull heart, howe GOD made you to rejoyce at his birth,Iohn 16. 21. when yee sawe, that, by you, a man-chylde [Page] was borne into the worlde: and, that GOD had given you a sonne, (according to our Scottish phrase) world-lyke. But, shortlie thereafter, Hee gaue you a farre greater argument of joye, when Hee made him to bee borne agayne, of water, and the Spirit, into another World, which shall never haue an end. And wheras before he was onlie world-lyke, or lyke to men, He made him God-lyke, or lyke to Himselfe; drawing, by His own finger, that portra­ture of Himselfe, according to the which, Man was first created. Yet this tyme of his infancie, was to him and you both, but as it were the seed-tyme; and that both in respect of Nature, and also of GRACE. For hee had then a reasonable Soule, which is the seede, and the originall of a humane or reasonable and morall conversation: But, du­ring that tyme, hee could not come to the vse of it; neyther could anie then perceaue, whether hee would proue a wyse man, or a foole. Lykewyse, hee had then receaved Baptismall grace, which is the seede, and the originall, of a Christian, spiri­tuall, and heavenlie conversation. But no vse, or exercyse, could hee then haue of it: neyther could anie man perceaue, whether hee would thereafter walke in the way of Pietie, and Christianitie, or not. But GOD, who is the sower of both these seedes, and maketh them to spring vp, where Hee pleaseth, and when Hee pleaseth, did make them verie soone to spring vp both together in him; yea, also to bring foorth aboundant fruit: so that even from his bairnlie age, hee had the wit of a Mā, the knowledge of a Scholler, & the carriage of a Christian: and, consequentlie, was to you, du­ring▪ [Page] all these yeares, which interveaned betwixt his chyldhood, and his deatth, an argument, or ground, of great expectation, and a matter of con­tinuall joye. Now, when GOD hath removed him, and taken him to Himselfe, shall all these Fa­vours of GOD towardes you bee buried in obli­vion, as his bones are buried in the earth? Or, if they remayne in the Register of your memorie, shall they bee remembred without thankfulnesse? Or,Luke 1. 46. 47. 49. if your soule magnifie the LORD for them, ought not also your spirit to rejoyce in GOD your Saviour; seeing Hee that is Mightie hath done great things to you, & Holie is His Name. It is a grosse and fond errour, that onelie such good thinges, as wee doe actuallie enjoye, or looke to enjoye, are the matter or cause of rejoycing. The verie Paganes sawe the absurditie of this errour: and therefore Seneca, comforting Polybius, agaynst the death of his brother, telleth him, that hee ought not to thinke himselfe injured, by losing such a brother;Consol. ad Polyb. c. 29. but ra­ther much benefited, by vsing and enjoying his pietie so long. And hee addeth, that a man is vnjust, and vnreasonable, who is not content, that hee who is the bestower of a benefite, dispose of it according to his plea­sure: That hee is too greedie, who thinketh it not gayne, that hee once receaved such a benefite; but rather losse, that hee hath restored it, or that hee now wanteth it: That hee is vngrate, who thinketh the ende of for­mer delight, an injurie: And, that hee is a foole, who thinketh that hee hath no fruit of good thinges, except when they are present. And if an Ethnicke sayde so, wee, who are Christians, ought, much more, to say, and thinke so; seeing wee know, that all good [Page] thinges, which doe befall vs, as well by-past, as present, and to come, doe flowe from one Foun­tayne, even that Fountayne wich is the sourse of all our happinesse; that is, from the loue of GOD. Those who haue fared well at a Feast, are not grie­ved when the dishes are removed; because they know that they were appoynted for the vse of the guests onelie for a tyme. And, if dishes bee remo­ved before the Feast bee ended, farre lesse are men grieved, because they expect a newe service, and other moe dayntie dishes to bee presented in their rowme. So ought wee not to bee grieved, when temporall benefites are removed: First, because wee knowe, those thinges were onelie lent vs, for a tyme. Secondlie, because wee knowe, those are not the best thinges, which GOD hath appoynted for vs: but wee looke for better, even for such as eye hath not seene, and eare hath not heard, neyther haue entered into the heart of man. 1. Cor. 2. 9.

The other sentence, to wit, The LORD hath taken away, seemeth, as I sayde before, to importe reall miserie: for, the sweeter a benefite is, the more bitter & grievous is the removing therof: and it is accounted worse, to lose former happinesse, than never to haue beene happie at all. But first, I know, yee never placed your happinesse in anie worldlie thing; but in the light of GODS Coun­tenance, who is onelie able to put singular joye in mens hearts, even then when al worldly things do fayle. GOD would never haue bidden vs re­joyce evermore, if Hee had not given vs a permanent and vnchangeable cause of joye. And therefore Chrysostome marketh well, that whereas all men in [Page] their particular Trades,Serm. 18. ad [...]. Antioch and negotiations, ayme at solide and permanent joye; those onelie attayne to it, who feare GOD: because those onlie haue gay­ned the true roote of pleasure, and the source, or Fountayne of joye. This Fountayne, hee telleth vs, is lyke the Ocean, from whence all waters haue their originall; and that because of the greatnesse thereof. For, sayeth hee, as a sparke of fyre, fal­ling into the Sea, is easilie extinguished; so, what­soever evill commeth vpon vs, it falling into a great Ocean of gladnesse, is soone extinguished, and evanisheth.

Secondlie, that degree of temporall happinesse, which yee had by your sonne, stoode not so much in having a sonne, as in having a good, pious, and vertuous sonne. And this degree of happinesse is not removed, but much augmented: and so setled, and established, that nowe vnto all aeternitie yee shall haue such a sonne. For his knowledge is now perfected; Fayth beeing changed into Sight; and Hope, into Fruition: and it is fred from all doub­ting, inquyring, searching, & from all that trouble and sorrow, which here is encreased, whyle know­ledge is encreased.Eccles. 1. 18 Such lyke, his holinesse is now perfected: for all the defectes of charitie, or the loue of GOD, which were in him, yea, are in the best of GODS Sainctes, whyle they liue heere, are nowe removed, together with all his temptations, feares, sorrowes, blottes, and infirmi­ties. So that, that crying for mercie, which whyle hee lived was in his mouth continuallie, is nowe chaunged into a perpetuall Hallelujah. And the Angels, who before were delighted with his poe­nitentiall [Page] teares, and groanes, are nowe rejoyced, to heare his Songes of Prayse and Thanks-giving, which with the rest of those Heavenlie Quiristers, hee singeth to the honour of his Maker.

But perhaps ye will say, I know my son to be so as yee say; but how shall I thinke that I haue nowe such a sonne,Non amisi mus, sed pramisimus. seeing hee is separated from mee by Death? I aunswere; Your separation is but for a short tyme; and therefore sorrowe not as those, who when they are separated from their friendes,Non reliquit ille nos, sed antecessit. haue no hope of meeting. Paganes may heere make vs ashamed;Consol. ad Pol. cap. 28. for even they could say of their departed friends. We haue not lost them, but haue sent them before vs.Dimisimus illos imò con­secuturs pr [...] ­misimus. So Seneca, wryting to Poly­bius concerning his brother's death, sayde, Hee hath not left vs, but gone before vs. And wryting to Marcia in the lyke argument,Consol. ad Marciam Cap. 19. Wee haue sent them away; yea, beeing shortlie to follow, wee haue sent them before vs. Indeede, it is true, they who are dead, shall never returne to vs. If wee knewe no more but this, wee might justlie giue way, even to the verie excesse of griefe: But blessed bee GOD, who hath given vs this comfort,2. Sam. 12. 23. that although they can not returne vnto vs, yet wee shall goe to them. Wherefore, as when men are a-flitting from one place of habitation, to another, some persons of the familie goe before the rest, to that newe dwelling place, and others stay behinde, intending shortlie to come thither also: and therefore, are not grieved for the separation from them, whom they sent before them. So wee, and our families, are vpon our flitting,Heb. 11. 10. to that Citie, having founda­tions, whose builder and maker, is GOD. It is not [Page] GODS will, that all should flit at once; but Hee will haue whyles the Husband to goe before the Wyfe, and whyles the Wyfe to goe before the Husband; whyles the Parentes to goe before the Children, and whyles the Children to prevent the Parentes. What cause of great sorrow is there here, if men and women would rightlie consider this, and firmlie belieue it?

Thirdlie; seeing the happinesse of Parents con­sisteth much in the happinesse of their Children, if death was to your sonne Advantage, Philip. 1. or Gayne, (as vndoubtedlie it is to all those who die in the LORD) howe can yee thinke it so great a losse to you? If hee hath gayned so much by the change, howe can yee thinke your selfe so much hurt by it? If an earthlie king had sent for your sonne, promising to adopt him, and make him his Heyre, the sorrow which you would haue had for wanting his company, would easily haue bene swal­lowed vp of the joye which yee would haue had for his advancement, although yee had never loo­ked to haue seene him agayne. The application is easie, and the comfort vnspeakeable; if yee con­sider, that GOD, who hath sent His Messenger [Death.] for your sonne, hath given him that in­corruptible Crowne; in comparison [...] the glorie of earthlie Crownes, and [...] Thrones, is but basenesse.

Nowe, to come to GOD'S dealing towardes him; I hope it shall afford you great matter of joy, if yee consider it, as yee ought. I will not speake of GOD'S dealing towardes him, in bestowing [Page] naturall and morall giftes vpon him; as desire of knowledge, paynfull diligence, in stryving to at­tayne thervnto, sharpnesse of wit, soliditie of judge­ment, and an happie progresse, farre aboue all his Condisciples, in humane literature, Philosophie, and Theologie. These were, indeede, great be­nefites of GOD: But it was not the remembe­rance of these thinges, which vphelde him at the tyme of his death: Nor yet can the considera­tion of these thinges now afford you that joyfull assurance of the happinesse of his death, and of his estate nowe after death, which yee desire to haue. Wherefore, let vs consider GOD'S dea­ling towardes him, in the worke of his Salvation: And let all those who are exercysed with such Tryalls, and Conflicts of Conscience, as hee was, learne at him, to wayte patientlie vpon GOD, vntill they get the victorie. It is well knowne vnto you who are his Parentes, howe carefullie hee remembered his Creator, Eccles. 18. 1 in the dayes of his youth: and howe, whyle hee was yet a Chylde, GOD, by His Spirit, possessed his heart, making him to finde heavenlie delight, in all spirituall ex­ercyses, whereof hee was then capable: vvhich appeared by his ordinarie, and almost perpetuall frequenting of them, to the great admiration of all who knewe him, and to the great benefite of his Brethren and Sisters, whom, at all tymes, hee was carefull, partlie by his example, and partlie by his pious conference, to aedifie, & to draw with himselfe into the way of Godlinesse. Hee found nothing, then, but sweetnesse, and delight, and [Page] heavenlie ravishmentes in serving of GOD; (for it pleaseth GOD, often tymes, so to allure young ones to His service) but, afterwardes, GOD having furnished him with greater strength of Grace, called him to harder, and more vnplea­sant, but yet more glorious service; that is, to wrastle with manie temptations, doubtinges, and feares; and for overcomming of these, to seeke the LORD'S Face, with extraordinarie humi­liations, prayers, and fastinges; which by fre­quent exercyse became so ordinarie vnto him, that it was harder to him to desist from them, than to abstayne from his bodilie and naturall food.

By these exercyses of devotion, hee made sin­gular progresse in that strayt way, that leadeth to Lyfe: yea, I may boldlie say, that hee did out­runne manie who had begun to runne therein long before him. Yet, so vnsatiable was his hunger af­ter Righteousnesse, that whereas others thought hee did too much,1. Cor. 9. 27. especiallie in keeping his bodie vnder, that his Soule might the more and more bee lifted vp vnto GOD, hee himselfe thought hee did nothing: ever most humblie estee­ming himselfe an vnprofitable servant; and, with PAVL,Phil. 3. 13. fortgeting the thinges that were behinde. And because hee intended, and moste vehement­lie desired, to serue GOD, in the holie Ministe­rie, GOD having fitted and furnished him with manie singular graces for that Calling; to his fre­quent exercyses of devotion, Hee added extraor­dinarie and invincible diligence in the studie of DIVINITIE; especiallie in meditating vpon the [Page] holie SCRIPTVRES, and reading the best Com­mentaries that he could get therevpon.Epist. 3. which hee calleth Ne­potian's E­pitaph. So that as Ierome sayd of his friend Nepotian, (who also died young) hee made his breast CHRIST'S Biblio­thece. In a word, then, hee desired to know no­thing, but CHRIST, and Him crucified: 1. Cor. 2. 2. neyther laboured hee for anie thing earnestlie, but onelie to bee crucified with CHRIST, Galat. 2. 20 6. 14. and vnto the worlde. This his earnest and industrious care, to seeke GOD'S Face, as it was to mee, whom hee oft acquaynted with the secret estate of his con­science, a matter of great joye; so, at last, it procu­red to himselfe vnspeakeable contentment, and tranquillitie of mynde, together with a confident relying vpon the mercie of GOD, and the po­werfull intercession of IESUS CHRIST. Happie, yea, thryse happie was his wrastling with GOD; for thereby hee obtayned and inherited the Blessing. Happie was his hungering and thir­sting for Righteousnesse; for in due tyme hee was satisfied, and filled. Happie was his seeking of GOD;Psal. 34. 4. 5. 6. for the LORD heard him, and deli­vered him from all his feares. And, therefore, let all those, who seeke the LORD with the lyke earnestnesse, and diligence, looke vnto him, and to their owne comfort and encowragement, saye, as DAVID willed others to saye of himselfe; This poore man cryed, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

To conclude, then, GOD'S dealing to­wardes him, was as it vseth ordinarilie to bee to­wardes His owne Elect. For, as GREGORIE the [Page] great,Lib. 4. Mo­ral. cap. 7. and ISIDORE following him, telleth vs, GOD, after Hee hath converted a man vnto Himselfe,Lib. 2. Sent. cap. 8. first maketh him to finde heavenlie de­light and joye: or, as GREGORIE himselfe spea­keth,Blandimen ta dulcedinis the allurementes of sweetnesse, in His service, to the effect hee may be the more enamoured with it, and that hee may the more easilie with-drawe his heart from those carnall pleasures, with which before his conversion, hee was bewitched. There­after, when through continuance, and encrease of grace, hee is enabled, and fitted, to endure hardnesse, as the good Souldier of IESVS CHRIST, 2. Tim. 2. 3. the LORD, partly to keepe him from presumptuous confidence in his owne strength, and partlie to exercyse his fayth, patience, and Christian fortitude, withdra­weth from him often tymes the sense or feeling of His gracious presence; and so exposeth him to ma­nie sorrowes, feares, and doubtinges: yea, often tymes Hee suffereth him to bee vexed with dange­rous motions, and strong inclinations, to great and grievous sinnes, all which GREGORIE comprehen­deth in one generall, calling them Conflictes, or Fightinges with Temptations. But, in the ende, that gracious and kynde LORD,Certamina tentationū. who will not suf­fer vs to hee tempted aboue that wee are able; 1. Cor. 10. 13. but with the temptation, also maketh a way to escape: He, I say, giveth to the man whom Hee hath so exercysed, inward rest, and refreshment; mitigating his temp­tations, pacifying his troubled thoughts, and chea­ring his heart with heavenlie & vnspeakeable con­solations: Upon the which (sayeth GREGORIE) his Soule perceaveth joye, Mox (que) [...] immensam de spe coelest [...] loeti­tiam perci­pit. passing all measure, through [Page] the hope it hath of heavenlie Glorie. So then, to expresse this purpose to you in fewe wordes, (and I shall doe it in GREGORIE his owne wordes) those who are converted to GOD, doe meete,Prius ergo illos dulcia susc [...]nt quae consolen­tur, postmo­dum amara quae exer­ceant, & tunc demum suavia & sublimiae quae confirment. first, with pleasant or delightsome thinges, that they may bee comforted: thereafter, with bitter things, that they may bee exercysed: and, last of all, with sweet and sublime thinges; even with joyes vnspeakeable and glo­rious, that they may bee confirmed, or corroborated, agaynst all difficulties, crosses, and temptations.

Yee may see now, Mistresse, how gracious and mercifull GOD hath beene in His dealing both towardes you, and towardes your sonne: as also, how great cause yee haue to leaue off your mour­ning for his departure, and to rejoyce for his ad­vancement to that Kingdome, Iames 2. 5. which GOD hath pro­mised to all those that loue Him. For if ye rejoyced at his birth, because a Man was borne into this world,Dolor mor­tis velut ob­stetrix homi­nes ad meli­orem vitam educit. haue yee not greater reason to rejoyce at his death, seeing a Man, who is the sonne of your wombe, is borne into a better Worlde? If your heart was glad to see him so lovinglie and heartilie welco­med to this world, by the imbracinges, kisses,Greg. Nys­sen. in Ora­tione de mor­tuis. and louelie speaches of those who were then present; should not your heart now daunce within you for joye, seeing yee haue good reason to thinke, that immediatelie after his departure, hee was moste kyndlie welcomed to that other, and better World, by GOD his Father, by CHRIST IESUS his Redeemer, by that innumerable companie of An­gels, Hebr. 12 22 23. and by the spirits of just men, made perfect? For seeing there is such joye in Heaven,Luc. 15. at the con­version [Page] of a sinner; Luke 15. 7. [...]0. what joye, I praye you, is there at the coronation of a sinner? And, to con­clude, if yee rejoyced so much with your friendes, at his Baptisme, because he then became a CHRI­STIAN, and was admitted into the Church militant, should yee not now farre more rejoyce, seeing hee is, by death, translated into the Church triumphant? vvhere, as a crowned Christian, and as a glorious Saynct, hee beholdeth that moste amiable, and louelie, yea, moste Glorious Countenance of GOD;Psal. 16. 11. in whose presence there is fulness of joye, and at whose Right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore.