THE Booke of Psalmes a com­mon promptit­arie of Medi­cine;Commune quoddam Medicina promptua. arium. Ambr. many authorities [Page 2] out of it in the booke of Iesus Christ, a Law in which his delight was, and his Disciples exerci­sed, what other song in the house of their Pil­grimage, or reioycing, the Saints together, what other Odes vsed? All ad­mirable, butAmbr. Hic psah [...]us tribus in re­bus on nibus [...]ntecellit: 1. Vtilitate. 2. Longitu­dine. 3. Ele­gantia & artificio al­phabetico. Bellar in tit. b [...]ius psal. as the Suns the Moones light, this surpasseth all. The song of songs which was Dauids; indited for mat­ter accurately,Muscubus. Wilcos. ibid. compo­sed for memorie exqui­sitely, many prayers to God, many praises of his Word, many professions of obedience comprised [Page 3] therein; Octonaries 22. the parts thereof, euery verse of the 8. in euerie one, beginning in the He­brew with one letter, this Section with Zaiin Zaiin quasi Ziu, i. telum, quod claua figura esse vidcatur. a club in figure, in signifi­cation a weapon, defen­siue, and offensiue for vse. A defence, to them that decline not from the Law of God,H [...]ius [...] [...]. vid v. 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, but remember his Name, his Word, his Iudgements of old, his Statutes and Precepts to keepe the same. An of­fence, to the proud that haue the humble in deri­sion, and to the wicked that forsake the Law. [Page 4] What other mysterie bet­ter in the letter for the vse of edifying? As other haue laboured with that in Thren, Hieron. in Thren. Ier. we might with the Alphabeticall artifice here; but comfort in af­fliction being (vnum il­lud) that one thing which we seeke, we will set our heart on that one thing, and giue our selues whol­ly thereunto.

D. King Episs. Lond. lect. in Ion. The World a Sea in a Similitude, swelling with pride, and vainglorie, the wind to heaue it vp, blew, and huid with enuy; boy­ling with wrath, deepe with couetousnesse, fo­ming [Page 5] with luxuriousnes, swallowing, and drinking in all by oppressions, dan­gerfull for the Rockes of presumption and despe­ration, rising with, the waues of passions & per­turbations, ebbing and flowing with lightnesse, and inconstancy, brinish & salt with iniquitie, bit­ter and vnsauourie with all kinde of miserie.

The confession in the Text of an expert Naui­gator, as the light in the Admirall, by which so many as saile after him, through that vast, turbid, belluous, and circumflu­ous [Page 6] Ocean: may for the strengthning of their sea­sicke Soules, behold

His

• Condition, Affliction
• and Consolation, The Word.

1. His Condition or state of life seasoned with Affliction. Afflicted hee was greatly,Psal. 116.10. and would bee remembred with all his afflictions,Psa. 132.1. particu­lars inducted, in Psal. 22.102. and this 119.Psal. 119.23.61 69.85 86, 87. Psal 102.3, 4.8. Vers. 23 Vers. 78. Vers. 61. the princes, the powers, the proud, the wicked com­bined against him, yea, sworne against him, and mad against him;Vers. 6 [...]. what lies sorged they? what [Page 7] pits digged they?Vers. 84. persecu­ted wrongfully,Vers. 36. consu­med on the earth,Vers. 87. waited for to be destroyed,Vers. 95. hun­ted with dogs,Psal. 22.16. their feet swift, their mouths deepe as wide, and their teeth as sharpe, compassed a­bout with many bulls,Vers. 10. be­set round with strong bulls, inclosed with the assemblies of the wicked;Vers. 16. gaped on with their mouthes,Vers. 13. laughed to scorne,Vers. 7 smitten with their tongues,Psal. 52.2, 3, 4. & 120 3, 4. their tongues as speares and razors, and words as swords, powred out li [...]e water, all his bones sundred, his heart [Page 8] like wax melting in the midst of his bowels,Psal. 12.14. his strength dried vp like a potsheard,Vers. 15. the reproach of men,Vers. 6. yea, a worme and no man, cast out and brought into the dust of death.Vers. 15.

Preuen­tion.Maruell not that Da­uid the seruant of the Lord, sound faithfull as Moses in all his house, a man after his owne heart, which fulfilled all his will;Acts 13.22 Beloued as his name sounds, and beloued of the Lord, was exercised with such anxious and crieuous afflictions, for [...], in the Belo­ued [Page 9] Eph. 1.6. i. Iesus Christ, the elect of God are all ac­cepted as Dauid was, and called all Iedid his belo­uedPsal. 127.2.; yet none exemp­ted from the sufferings of the present time, no not one, not one amongst the excellent from Adam to Christ, & from Christ to this our day, that hath not in some mea­sure tasted of the cup which is full of mixture,Iude v.3. common as the saluati­on, and the grace of God which bringeth saluati­on,Tit. 2.11. tentation, and tribu­lation.1 Thes. 1.6. The Thessaloni­ans receiued the word [Page 10] with much affliction.Heb. 10.32 The Hebrewes inlight­ned indured a great fight of afflictions.

A conclu­sion offe­red.The whole houshold of faith, all the fellow citi­zens, all that liue godly, all the sons of God, all the children of light, all that hold forth the word of life, are in this life par­takers of afflictions. Thus I might conclude.

Obiect. Obiect. But this doore opened, some will op­pose themselues, spea­king on this wise: Hard is this saying to the Non-afflicted, that enioy this worlds ioy, prosperity [Page 11] and peace; for being without any manner of affliction, whereof all are partakers that areHeb. 12 8. [...]. sons, elect, beloued, and ac­cepted, are they not Sp. hated, reiected, reproba­ted, as Edom, Mal. 1.2, 3, 4. & reserued as the wicked to the day of destruction.

Answ. Answ. Carnall the peace altogether and without truth, or pride and security the fruit thereof with hardnesse of heart, it's (as the prosperitie of fooles) a blessing cursed, and the praeludium to destruction.Psal. 92.6 A brutish man knoweth [Page 12] not, ☞ neither doth a foole vn­derstand this; but the spi­rit speaketh expresly, When the wicked spring as the grasse, Psal. 92 7. and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is, that they shall bee de­stroyed for euer. Take for example the two notori­ous fooles,1 Sam. 25 the one, the man of Maon, whose pos­sessions were in Carmel, a very great man, hauing three thousand sheepe, and one thousand goats, and liuing in prosperity, yet smitten in a moment, his heart died within him, and he became as a st [...]ne;Luc. 12.19. the other, the [Page 13] man in the parable, who, when his ground brought forth plentifully, wanted roome where to bestow his fruits, would there­fore inlarge his barnes, and hauing therein laid vp much goods for many years, sing without grace requiem to his soule; Soule take thine ease, eat, drinke, and be merry; but the same night his soule was required of him.

Contrà, this I say and testifie in the Lord, that outward peace and pro­sperity had, with the peace of God, and of conscience, (the King­dome [Page 14] of God first sought and found, with his righ­teousnesse, its the bles­sing of the Lord without affliction or sorrow ad­ded with itPro. 10.22.. Saint Iohns prayer for Gaius was, that he might prosper and be in health as his soule pro­spered.Io. ep. 3. 2. A man beha­uing himselfe wisely in a perfect way, walking within his house with a perfect heart,Psal. 102.2. Gen. 17.2. Micah. 6.7. vpright­ly before God, humbly with him, doing iustly, louing mercy, casting on the waters, dispersing, gi­uing to the poore, com­municating with the af­fliction [Page 15] of others in di­stresse, if peace & truth be with him in his dayes, its the face of God shining on him, the light of his countenance, and the e­uidence of his proui­dence, how otherwise should the poore affli­cted bee releeued, and their soules sustained?1 Reg. 18.13. Obadiah not in case to doe it, who shall hide the Prophets in a caue, and feed them with bread and water? Nehemiah not in fauor with Artaxerxes, Neh. 4 2, 3, 4, &c. who shall procure any fauour to Ierusalem? Onesiphorus, 2 Tim. 1.16. Philo. [...].7. Philemon, [Page 16] and others, not enriched and enabled, how shall Paul, or the bowels of the Saints be refreshed? Da­uid poore afflicted, had friends of ability through the Lord to vphold his soulePsal 54 4., for the Lord (he said) was with them.Psal. 35.27. The Lord loueth the pro­sperity of his seruants. Therefore blessed with it, they blesse him for it, andIob 31.22. the loynes blesse them of all that are re­freshed by them, their righteousnesse endureth for euer, and their borne shall be exalted with honour Psal. 112. vlt.. Neuerthelesse afflicted [Page 17] without controuersie,

• Outwardly.
• Inwardly.

1. Outwardly: reproa­ched and enuied for fol­lowing and doing the thing that good is.Eccle. 4.4. I considered (saith the Prea­cher) all trauell, and euery right worke, and for this a man is enuied of his neigh­bour. Cain, who was of the wicked one, slew Abel; wherefore? because his workes were euill, and his brothers righteous1 Io. 3.12. Ioseph was afflicted of his brethrenGen. 37.4., Daniel ac­cused of the PresidentsDan. 6.4., Iesus Christ reiected of [Page 18] his owne,Io. 1.11. and they that exercise themselues to liue godly in him,2 Tim. 3.12. per­secuted of vnreasonable and wicked men2 Thes. 3.2.; wher­fore? know ye not that there is enmity put be­tweene the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpentGen. 3.15? Demetrius had a good report of all men,Io ep. 3. 10, 12. yet Diotrephes pra­ted against him with ma­litious words; the rio­tous speake euill of the frugall and moderate, that will not runne with them into the same ex­cesse of riot.1 Pet 4.4 Thus may the seruants of the most [Page 19] high God, liuing other­wise in as great peace and prosperity as the Carme­lite,Nabal. bee enuied of euill men,Ier. 18.18. and afflicted with the scourge of the tongue, yea,Iob cap. 1. and suffer some losse in some other things, but the LORD, (as the seer to Amaziah) is able to giue them much more than that,2 Chron. 25.9. and to make all grace to abound towards them, that they alwayes hauing sufficiency in all things, (maugre the malicious that enuie and reproach them) may abound vnto euery good worke.2 Cor. 9.8.

[Page 20]2. Inwardly they are afflicted also, but how who knoweth? What feare and trembling in interiori domo, yea, what carefulnesse,2 Cor. 7.11 yea, what clearing of themselues from the aspersions of the euill, yea, what indignati­on, [...]. Io. 17.5. yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeale, yea, what reuenge vpon themselues, ouertaken with a f [...]ult vnknowne to the world? This so to be who will deny? Not one. B [...]sides, if not in them­selues, for themselues, yet afflicted they are or may be.

In the afflictions

• of the Church.
• of the brethren.
• of the Lord.

1. Of the Church.Psal. 137.1. Ri­uers of waters ranne by the riuers of Babylon, Sion remembred,Neh. 1.3, 4. the sonne of Hachaliah, the people of God his coun­treymen in great affli­ction and reproach, the wall of Ierusalem broken downe, and the gates burnt with fire, sate down and wept, and mourned certaine daies, and fa­sted, and prayed.2 Sam. 1. Vri­ah the arke, and Israel and Iudah in their tents, will not goe downe to [Page 22] eat and drinke, and to sleepe with his wife. The Lord saith himselfe, that in all the afflictions of his people he was afflicted himselfe.Esai. 63.9 The spirit of God vpon him, can any man say lesse of affli­ctions of the Churches? In the afflictions of the Chuches in France and Germany, who is not affli­cted that is of the Church of the liuing God, the pil­lar and ground of truth?1 Tim. 3.15.

2. Of priuate per­sons, especially the holy brethrenHob. 3.1.. Other sicke, and though hard friends, yet Dauid would [Page 23] put on sackcloth, and bee afflicted for them.Psal. 35.13. 2 Sam. 3.32, 33. 2 Sam. 1.26 For Abner how much? and for Ionathan as Iona­than for him. Lazarus dead, Thomas said to his fellowes, Let vs goe that wee may die with himIo. 11.16.. Epaphroditus full of hea­uinesse for the Philippians, Phil. 2.2 [...]. [...]. because they heard that he had bin sicke, they hea­uie for his sicknesse, and he for their heauinesse, full of heauinesse, feeling members should it not be so? The members haue the same care one for ano­ther 1 Cor. 12.25, 26., and if one member suffer, all the members suf­fer [Page 24] with it; members we one of another, one body in Christ, no sympathy being in a man, how is he in the body? the rule is,Heb. 13.3 Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them, and them which suf­fer aduersity; as being your selues also in the body.

3. Of the Lord. Suf­fers he not when the wic­ked rise vp against himPsal. 139.21, make v [...]id his lawPsal. 119.126, pro­uoke the eyes of his glo­ry, put downe his wor­ship and him to open shameHeb. 6.6.? When they presse him, and hee is pressed vnder them, as a [Page 25] cart with sheauesAmos 2.13. suf­fers he not? or suffers he and not his seruants with him? How did Eliakim, Shebua and Ioab rent their cloaths at the blas­phemie of Rabshakeh Isaiah 36.22.? How did those that were marked at Ierusalem sigh, and cry for all the abomi­nations that were done in the midst therofEzek. 9. [...].? How was iust Lot vexed with the filthy conuersation of the wicked2 Pet. 2.7, 8.? that righ­teous man dwelling a­mong the Sodomites, in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their vn­lawfull [Page 26] deeds. He that can heare & see the Lord disho­nored, his name blasphemed, his Sabbaths prophaned, his Word despised, his Mini­sters mocked & basely mis­used, his worship polluted, and perfunctorily perfor­med, and is not afflicted. The Lord knoweth whose he is, and to whom he belongs, that comes not to his helpe, nor beares his re­proach, nor grieues for that which is said to grieue the holy spirit of God. As Ha­man said, honoured of all but of Mordecai. Esther 5.13. All this auaileth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Iew [Page 27] sitting at the Kings gate, so say those whose hearts are vnited to the Lord, and that feare his Name; Although of themselues by place and authority they are mighty in power, their seed established in their sight, their off-spring before their eyes, their houses safe from feare, their friends as the starres of heauen for emi­nence and multitude, their wisdome, and wealth, and worlds delight, as Salo­mons; All these auaile vs nothing, so long as we see our Lord and our God, set behinde, not before the sons of men, forgot­ten, [Page 28] not remembred, exposed to shame, & not honoured in the world.

Pondered these things: I may (as I was about) conclude vnder afflicti­on, the whole houshold of God, and set downe this position to stand fast for euer without opposition. That the righteous seruants of God, his beloued of his houshold, haue all their times, (in seuerall kindes) as Dauid had in his, of suf­fering in this life. Psal. 34.19 Many the afflictions or euils of the righteous, the crosse, on their shoulder, the yoke on their necke, and on their backe the [Page 29] rod of the wicked Esay 48, 10.. Israel, w^ch is the Israel of God, is refined and chosen in the furnace of affliction.

Demanded vnde: From whence afflictions come & from whom the euils, let Iob answer;Iob 5.6. Not forth of the dust, nor out of the ground, but from the Lord. Amos 3.6 Shall there be euill in the Citie and the Lord hath not done it. The Lord causeth griefe Lam. 3.32., and be­cause he loueth them, he scourgeth his beloued, whom he calleth his called Isai. 48.12, 14., whom hee loueth he chaste­neth Heb. 12.6, yea he hath saidReuel. 3.19. As many as I loue I re­buke [Page 30] and chasten.

Enquired of Quorsum; to what end he doth it? By the sure word of pro­phecie the answer is,

1. For the profit of his owne.

2. And his owne glory.

First, for the profit of his owne: his owne there­by being,

• 1. Viuified.
• 2. Sanctified.
• 3. Purged.
• 4. Preuented.

1. Viuified or quick­ned. Dead in compari­son of the liuing, or dull of hearing, sometimes the [Page 31] generation of hs chil­dren, and remisse in see­king, in their prosperity as the inhabitants of Le­banon and Bashan, they will not heare Ier. 22.21., nor seeke as the rebellious children the face of the Lord, but in their affliction they will heare him gladly, and seeke him early Hos. 5. vlt; the mountaine made strong, and security crying with­in, I shall neuer be moued, decryeth other cryes, the people whom the Lord hath formed for himselfe, will not in such a case shew forth his praise. Iacob would not, nor would [Page 32] Israel call vpon him, but was weary of him Isai. 43.21, 22., yet the Lord gone his way and returned to his place, or his face hid; trouble came, and the their cry was heard, Come and let vs re­turne Hos. 6.1.. Correspondent to the Prophets coun­sellCap. 14.2.; Take with you words, and turne to the Lord, and render vnto him the Calues of your lippes.

2. Sanctified: parta­kers of afflictions by the hand of the Lord; parta­kers also of his holinesseHeb. 12.10., made holy therebyNon quod nos propriè sanctificent sed quod ad­minicula, &c. Caluin. Hosm., yet not properly, for Christ is [Page 33] the sanctification, but ex­ercised to the moritificati­on of the flesh, conse­quently prepared (hauing escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust) as well to be receiued of the Lord, as also to receiue the Lord to be sanctified in their heartIsai. 8. [...]3.; their feare, their dread, and their san­ctuary: yea, Consortes esse, to be consorts of the di­uine nature [...], not of the substance, but of the image of God, after him created in righteous­nesse and true holinesse; 2 Pet. 1. [...]. or of diuine qualities con­ferred [Page 34] and predicated as the vertues of him, who calleth out of darknesse into maruellous light Pet. 2.9.: the simile is obuiousPerkins. aur. armil.; As the needle to the threed, so the Crosse makes way to sanctity, or amendment of life.

3. Purged; Resty, the Saints grow rusty, turne againe vnto folly, gather blacknesse and filthinesse both of the flesh and spirit: foolish l [...]t alone, as Ephra­im to his Idols Hos. 4.17, ioyned to the froward, froward, as they; to the ignorant, ig­norant, as they; to the brutish, brutish, as they; [Page 35] yea, as beasts before GodPsal. 73.22.. Behold the man on the mountaine in the wildernesse of Maon, as a dead dogge in the sight of the aduersary that sought his life1 Sam. 24.14., but vpon the roofe of the Kings house as a pampred horse looking and neighing after his neighbours wife 2 Sam. 11.2. I [...]r. 5 8. not pow­red out from vessell to vessel; Moah like, men set­tle on their lees: Peace abused, defileth, and rest corrupteth those who by reason of their rest haue not their senses exercised to discerne good and e­uill. Is the prophecie [Page 36] hard in Dan 11.35. touching men of vnder­standing: may wee not heare it? surely such men fall sometimes, yet suffer no losseVt radicu­la, hoc est herba lana­ria, qua a fullonibus haec and is ve­libus adhi­betur, pluri­mum con­fert ad mun­ditiem & canderem lana seu panni: ita persecutio atque affli­ctio subigit ecolesiam, &c. Polan. in Dan. 11.32., but are as soy­led wooll with sopeweed, or fouled cloth with Ful­lers earth, purged by meanes of the later blot from a former spot, a se­cret fault before not vn­derstood. Who can vn­derstand the error of his way without a fall, or will wash or purge no filth of the flesh seene to put a­way, nor felt ill humors in the body to expurge. Remember the Patriarks, [Page 37] Gen. 42.22. and 50.15.

4. Preuented or sub­tracted from two great euills, which other di­mitted, or left to them­selues, precipitate or headlong cast themselues into: namely, transgres­sion, and condemnation. Obstacles to these, the thornes of afflictions, in Hosea 2.6. I will hedge vp thy way with thornes, saith the Lord, to be vn­derstood,Zanch. in loc. Non posse intelli­gi nisi de electis, &c. Sapè enim etiam electi inducunt in animā, &c. not of the children of whoredomes, but of the Elect; for e­uen the Elect, either of ig­norance, or of infirmity, or according to the no­tions [Page 38] of carnall wisdome, and motions of the flesh, determine with them­selues to follow often­times after strange louers, lying vanities, forbidden pleasures, things vnseem­ly and inconuenient, or not acceptable vnto the Lord, therefore the Lord walls vp their wayes, sets bryars in their pathes, sends crosses, so thicke, that (as Saul 1. Sam. 23.27, [...]8 from pursu­ing Dauid by the Phili­stines inuading the land,) they [...] are turned from their intended euill cour­ses: into the way vnto ex­cellencie: Their first hus­band, [Page 39] i. the Lord their ma­ker found to be the bestHos. 2.7., consequently kept backe from the great transgres­sionPsal. 19.13., likewise from condemnation; for when they are iudged, they are chastened of the Lord, that they should not be condem­ned with the world 1. Cor. 11.32.. The whole world lieth in wic­kednesse1 Ioh. 5.19., but they that are of God are called, and called out, and common­ly come out thorow the fornace of AfflictionIsai. 48.10., Esay 48.10.

Thus for their owne profit: followeth for the glorie of the Lord, [Page 40] The Lord glorified, In his

• Power,
• and Prouidence.

By their

• Faith,
• and Obedience.

1. In his power: His power made perfect in their weaknesse [...] Cor. 12.9., weake they, they are strong in him; or falling through infirmi­tie, he vpholdeth them with his hand Psal. 37.17, 24.: In his hand they are, and no man shall pluck them out of his hand Ioh. 10.28, 29.. The mightie man may boast himselfe in mis­chiefe; but the power of the Lord, as his goodnes, [Page 41] endureth continuallyPsal. 52.1.; thornes may be in the flesh of the faithfull, the mes­sengers of Satan buffe­ting them; but the grace of the Lord, which is with them, is proued suf­ficient for them2 Cor. 12.9..

2. In his prouidence: drawne vnto him with the cords of a man and bands of loue, he taketh by the armes his deare childrenHos. 11.3, 4. and teacheth them to goe; fee­deth them, clotheth them, stirreth vp others to sustaine their soules: As Rauens ministred to Eliah, so supplyes are sent by them, whom hee will [Page 42] send. In the dayes of fa­mine they eat, and haue enoughPsal. 37.19.; for as Heze­kiah and his people, Hie­rusalem beleagueredIsa. 37.30, they either eat such as groweth of it selfe, and that which springeth of the same: Or else, as the Cap­tiues of IudahDan. 1.15. fed with pulse, their countenance appeareth fairer and fat­ter than other, which eat the portion of the Kings meat. Sometimes by small meanes, sometimes by no meanes, sometimes against meanes, (in su­staining and preseruing them1 Pet 5.7. that cast their care [Page 43] on him) he beyond expe­ctation, or mans appre­hension, declareth his care of them, and demon­strateth his prouidence so luculently, that all cry out, as the Magitians in Aegypt; This is the finger of God Exod. 8.19., Exod. 8.19.

3. By their faith: pro­ued and found vnto praise and honour Deut. 8.2., knowen in the tentation what is in the heart, viz. vpright­nesse and readinesse to draw neere vnto GodPsal. 73. vlt., and to cleaue vnto the Lord with full purpose of heart Psa. 42.8., prayer made to the God of their life, &c. Christ [Page 44] followed, the crosse taken vp, themselues denied, yea2. Cor. 1.8, 9. pressed out of measure and aboue strength, the sentence of death receiued in themselues, that they might not trust in them­selues but in God, which after two dayesHos. 6.2. (al­though he kill) raiseth the dead: magnified and glo­rified in their bodie their Lord and their God; whether by life, as in Da­uid Psal. 18.17, 18.; or by death, as in Peter Ioh. 21.19.. In the end of their faith is the end of the Lord; his owne glorie in their saluationPsal. 50.23. corpo­rall and spirituall, tem­porall [Page 45] and eternall, according to his word, Psal. 50.15.Saepè hic & innocin­tes pereunt, & recti sunditùs delentur, sed tamen ad aeternam glo [...]iam pe­rcundo ser­uantur. Greg. lib. 5. Mor. cap. 14..

4. By their obedience: honoured as a father of his sonnesMal. 1.6. submisse in their affliction; and a ma­ster of his seruants, cor­rected obsequious, and not answering againe Tit. 2.9.. Had not Satan considered Iob the seruant of GodIob. 1.8. in his prosperitie? Enough he did to his owne shame and the glorie of the Lord in his aduersitie: for as Iesus Christ (though he were a sonne) learned obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5.9.: [Page 46] so Iob, and all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus Gal. 3.26., learne of him to be lowly in heart Matt. 11.29., and by the things which they suffer obedience to their father, which is in heaven. Better this than sacrifice, 1 Sam. 15.22. Bullocks with hornes and hoofes not required, but obedience from the heart to the forme of doctrine which is deliuered Gal. 5.17.: strange flesh not to be offered; but a mans owne flesh to bee sacrificed, which in euerie act of obedience is done;Per vi­ctimas alie­na caro per obedientiam jam verò propria caro mactatur, &c. Gr. sup. 1 Reg. c. 15. Obedire est contra audi­re, scilicet contra pro­prium sen­sum & pro­priam vo­luntatem. Vt. Perald. Sum. Tom. 1. par. 10. c. 2. in fin. crucified the flesh, which lusteth against the Spirit Rom. 6.17., in which it is per­formed; [Page 47] obeyed the word, which commeth, and the Lord therein ri­ding prosperously Psal. 45.4.. This causeth honour to God in his Maiestie; yea ma­ny, yet without to glori­fie him in the day of visi­tation1 Pet. 2.12..

The causes of afflicti­ons efficient and finall thus discouered, I pro­ceed to the Vses which shall be For

• 1. Reproofe.
• 2. Correction.
• 3. Information.
• 4. Admonition.
• 5. Instruction.
• 6. Instauration.

[Page 48] Vnto which shall be ad­ded a word of Exhorta­tion.

1. For reproofe to the vile Barbarians, which seeing a viper on a Pauls hand, or a crosse laid on a Simons shoulder, cry out they arc murtherers or malefactors, and ven­geance will not suffer them to liue at ease, or to prosper as other men; but these the brutish a­mongst the people; fooles alas, when will ye vnderstandPsal. 94.8? The time is come, that iudgement must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin with [Page 49] them that professe and obey, what shall the end be of them that obey not, nor professe the Gospell of God? 1 Pet. 4.17, 18. If the righteous scarcely be saued, where shall the vngodly and the sinner ap­peare? If this be done vn­to the green trees, which bring forth fruit accor­ding as God hath dealt the measure of the spirit, what shall bee done vnto the dry, which digd a­bout and dressed yeare after yeare, continue yet fruitlesse, as the cursed fig-tree? If the way vnto Heaven bee strewed with crosses, bee full of tenta­tions [Page 50] and tribulations, what shall be found in the way vnto hell, or in the end thereof?Pro. 14.12. There is a way which seemeth right vnto a man, as the wi [...]l of the Gentiles vnto them­selues,1 Pet. 4.3. lasciuiousnesse, lusts, excesse of wine, reuel­lings, banquettings, and a­bominable idolatries, but the end thereof are the wayes of death. Remember ye not the words of the Lord Ie­sus, how he said,Luk. 6.25. Woe vnto you that now laugh, for ye shall weepe? weep when the righteous, at whose troubles they laugh, shall be deliuered [Page 51] out of all, and they come in their stead. Doe yee thinke that the Scripture saith in vaine; The righ­teous is deliuered out of trouble, and the wicked commeth in his steadPro. 11.8.? Againe, The wicked shall bee a ransome for the righteous,Pro. 21.18. Dan. 6.24. and the transgressor for the vp­right? Instances, before experience had, the ora­cles had of God. Haman and Mordecai Esth. 7.10 Hezekiah and the AethiopiansIsai. 43.3., Da­niel and his accusers, Pe­ter and his keepers.Act. 12.19. But Barbarians are blinde, and cannot see afarre off: The [Page 52] iudgements of God are far aboue, out of their sight Psal. 10.5., on other seene, not ouer themselues; themselues in the condemnation, vnto which before they were ordained of old, they finde not, not made to suffer euill with the Saints in the earth, but for the euill dayPro. 16.4..

Vse 2 2. For correction to them that refuse corre­ction:Isa. 1.3, 4. Such was the sinfull nation, the people la­den with iniquitie, the seed of euill doers, the children that were corrupters. That had forsaken the Lord, and prouoked the holy [Page 53] one of Israel vnto anger, not only by going away backward, but by refu­sing to returne. The one knoweth his owner, and what the pricke of the g [...]ad meaneth, but Israel did not know, neither did they consider: therefore the Prophet to themVer. 5., Why should yee bee stricken any more, yee will reuolt more and more. Ieremiah Ier. 5.3. hath the like complaint, O Lord, thou hast smitten them, but they haue not grie­ued, thou hast consumed them, but they haue refused to receiue correction: they haue made them faces har­der [Page 54] than a rocke, they haue refused to returne. It is so with many: Many there bee that being afflicted, know it not: As Ephraim had gray haires here and there vpon him, yet knew it not, Hos. 7.9. nor that his strength was deuoured of strangers: so wrath is on some from before the Lord, yet they feele it not, or if they feele it, they are humbled no more than the King of Israel by the famine in Samaria. Behold, hee cryed2 Reg. 6.33., This euill of the Lord, wherefore should I wait on the Lord any lon­ger? What hope is in, or [Page 55] is of such? Not the An­chor which is firme, but the Spiders web which perisheth: Woe vnto the people that be in such a case; what is ours now? The Church in tribulation: S. Iohn subscribed [...], A­poc. 1.9. A brother and Companion in tribulation. How doe wee? or what? when? When Hannibal besieged S [...]guntum, a confederate Citie with Rome; the Capitoll of Rome, one said, was as­sailed: the danger and losse abroad is ours, ours the common calamities [Page 56] of the dayes; the dayes are euill, yea, so euill they are, that a man may say, I haue no pleasure in them Psal. 60.1, 2, 3.. Hath not the Lord cast vs off? Hath hee not scattered vs? Is hee not displeased with v [...]? Doth not the earth tremble? Is it not broken? Doth it not shake? Haue wee not hard things shewed vs, and beene made to drinke the wine of asto­nishment? Behold we not the shaking of the hand of the Lord, which hee shaketh ouer vs? stret­ched our still, not turned away his wrathIsa. 9.12.17.21., for all that is done: the enemie [Page 57] hath done exploits, grow­eth horribly, boasteth him­selfe in mischiefe, cryeth there, there, so would wee haue it, ensignes set up for signes, the profession in cor­ners, Religion in the straits, schisme and vngratious he­resie a float, a floud of many waters roares in our eares, the first borne of many, the hope of Germany how suddenly surrepted? Ah alas, The Lord calleth vs to weeping, and to mour­ning, and to baldnesse, and to girding with sachcloth Isa. 22.12, 13., yet behold among vs ioy and gladnesse, slaying oxen, killing sheepe, eating flesh, [Page 58] and drinking wine; disso­lute and resolute we, we refuse to be reformed, we walke contrarie to the Lord, who striketh, and walketh therefore contra­rie vnto vs, yea in furie, as hee spake in Leuit. 26.Leuit. 26.28.. chastizing and punishing vs seuen times more, rebel­lious more and more. I close with one of Ieremies Lamentations,Ier. 8.18. When I would comfort my selfe a­gainst sorrow, my heart is faint in me.

Vse. 3 3. For information; and sith that the Lord af­flicteth whom he loueth, may the afflicted bee in­formed [Page 59] by three notes, whether or no they are afflicted in loue. For first, whom the Lord lo­ueth, hee loueth vnto the end, and will not cease from arguing and cha­stening them vntill they be conuerted and reclai­med, so much the spirit expreslyReuel. 3.19. [...]: As fathers conuince be­fore they chastise their children, make knowne their faults and multiply stripes, vntill they cōfesse thē, & promise reforma­tion: semblably the Lord; not leaue will hee them, whom he chuseth, halting [Page 60] betweene two; but cause them by chastening them to approach vnto himPsal. 65.4. and 94.12. compared.. The purifying hand vp­on them, the drosse is purely purged, and the tinne taken awayIsa. 1.25.: eue­rie sonne which is scour­ged, commeth out from among the multitude which doe euill, toucheth not the vncleane thing 2 Cor. 6.17., is thorowly separated, before hee bee receiued, or can be. Bee it so, that the wicked (the hooke in their nose) returne not, are not purged in the for­nace from their filthi­nesse, nor will bee; [Page 61] what shall bee done? Not purged thereby, they shall neuer hee purged Ezek. 24.13.. Vessels of wrath to be filled with the furie of the Lord: But correction in loue causeth the Beloued to come in, confessing their sins, and their profiting ap­peareth in the amendment of their life. Dauid scour­ged, was sensible of his fault, and corrigible; the correction of the Lord he refused not, but recei­ued for his good, confes­sed the same; Good it is for me, that I haue beene af­flicted, that I may learne thy statutes Psal. 119.67.71., for before I [Page 62] was afflicted I went astray, Psal. 119.67.71. but now haue I kept thy word. Manasseh taken among the thornes, and bound with setters, knew at length that the Lord he was God 2 Chron. 33.12.. Ephraim bowed, yeeldedIer. 31.20.. Israel vexed with all aduersitie, torne and smitten, appro­chedHos 6.1, 2.. When a man chastized approacheth vnto the Lord, and yeel­deth himselfe, confesseth and forsaketh his sin, hee may count it all ioy; yea, giue glorie to the Lord, and make thus confession.Psal. 119.76. I know, O Lord, that thy iudgments are right, and [Page 63] that thou hast in faithful­nesse afflicted thy seruant.

Note 2 The second loue-token is Consolation, receiued in the dayes of euill, & cōmu­nicated afterwards: for whom the Lord loueth, he comforteth in euerie tribulation, and inableth them thereby to comfort them which are in any trou­ble. By the comforts wherewith they were themselues comforted of God.2 Cor. 1.4, 6, 7. As sufferings a­bound, so consolation aboun­deth, and is participated to them that are parta­kers of the sufferings. Dauid scourged for his [Page 64] sin was comforted, hum­bled for it; afterwards what would hee? Teach transgressours the wayes of God, & conuert sinners vn­to the Lord Psal. 51.13.. Peter hauing erred, and being conuer­ted, what should hee? strengthen his brethren Luk. 22.32.. When a man is refreshed being afflicted, and as he hath receiued any grace, if he as a good steward mini­ster the same vnto other lying in the like distresse, and communicate with their affliction, he hath not been afflicted and refreshed in vaine: but to good effect, in loue and in mercie, to be [Page 65] a vessell of mercie, and conduit of loue, from the fountaine to the cisterne, from the Lord to his cho­sen in the great tribulation.

Note 3 The third is a minde content with the present things, and present state: this the obsignation of the spirit Ephes. 4.30., a certaine diuine impression of light, a se­cret manifestation of grace, the God of all grace to them that open vnto him, when hee knocketh at their doore, with the hammer of the crosse, manifesting Io. 14.2 [...]. himselfe in an admirable manner; and filling their hearts [Page 66] with vnexpressible glad­nesseAct. 14.17, giuing them Manna, supping with them Reu. 3.20., brin­ging them to the banquet­ting house Cant. 2.4, 5., staying them with flagons, comforting them with apples, girding their hearts with his peace, which passeth vnderstan­ding Phil. 4 7., powring the spirit of grace and supplications vp­on them Zach. 12.10., giuing them an vnderstanding, that they may know him that is true 1 Io 5.20., opening the treasures of his all-sufficiencie, fashi­oning their hearts, and adapting their mindes to the present condition, whatsoeuer it is: no suta­blenesse [Page 67] nor agreeable­nesse between the minde and the condition. What is the life but a kinde of liuing death? but suiting and agreeing the condi­tion to the minde, the appetite accommodated, and thing desired had; had is that one thing, which is instar omnium, as it were all things. Men of heauie hearts, mirth and musike grieue, when as weeping and complaints may bee pleasant: company offen­siue, priuacie may please, and pouertie be an ease­ment, abundance being a burthen. Euerie bitter [Page 68] thing is sweet, trouble as peace, sicknesse as health, imprisonment as libertie, reproach as good report, paine as pleasure, death as life. If the heart bee sutable, and the spirit made pliable to the mold into which the Lord hath cast a man; the inordi­nate desires, causes, of m [...]estitude, nothing else: The liues not falling in plea­sant places, nor the heritage so goodly as other mens: a liuing man complaineth, but euerie one that is godly is dumbe. Psal. 39.9. openeth not his mouth, knoweth how to bee abased, and how to abound, [Page 69] is euerie where, and in all things instructed, both to be full, and to be hungrie, Phil. 4.11, 12. both to abound and to suf­fer need, made perfect, sta­blished, strengthened, set­led, Pet. 5.10. taught of God, and hath learned in whatso­euer state hee is, therewith to bee content; the crosse his crowne, the shame thereof his glorie, his losse his aduantage, his yoke his ease, or not bur­denous and grieuous, but easie and light: All his euills good in effect, and working all together for his good Rom. 8.28., from whence is patience? from whence [Page 70] experience? from whence hope? Verily from tribu­lation, and these three a­biding, no man is asha­med in the day of trou­ble, because the loue of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost which is giuen vnto him Rom. 5.5.: a loue-ticke the affliction, and godli­nesse with contentment the proofe thereof.

Vse 4 4. For Admonition vnto all, and that all may gather some; I will suffer it to fall, and to breake off it selfe into these foure peeces.

1 1. That none worke [Page 71] out their crosses, as the spider her web, out of their owne bowels, by ryot, of vnrighteousnes, irregular walking, or in­ordinate liuing. Let none of you suffer as an euill doer, or a busie bodie 1 Pet. 4.13.. This not thank worthy, that which is acceptable is the suffe­ring, which is for well-doing, or otherwise ac­cording to God, and the good pleasure of his will: Therefore take he [...]d; know and consider what yee doe; that yee your selues doe not vndoe your selues.

2. That none willingly cause other mens griefes; [Page 72] or be hard-hearted to the poore afflicted in the power of their hand. Magna abominatio eor [...]m Deo est, afflicto addere affli­ctionem; clamat (que) in coelum vox sanguinis. Oecolampad. in Esa. 47.6. In Psal. 109. from the sixth to the sixteenth verse, is a fearfull curse denounced against a sonne of perditi­on, the cause expressed; because he remembred not to shew mercie, but persecu­ted the poore and needie man, that he might euen slay the broken in heart: The Lord will be iealous for his afflicted, with a great iea­lousie, yea, verie sore dis­pleased with them that are at ease, and helpe forward the affliction Zech. 1.13, 14.. The daugh­ter of the Caldeans, the [Page 73] Ladie of Kingdomes that was giuen to pleasure, dwelt carelesly: trusted in wicked­nesse, shewed no mercie to the children of the captiuitie, laid not the wrath to heart, neither remembred the latter end, perished in her latter endIsa. 47.6, 7 8 9, 10, 11. Therefore take yee heed how yee oppresse, or grieue other men, lest bitternesse bee euen your owne hurt and hearts griefe in the end thereof. It dis­pleaseth the LordPro. 24.17., if a man reioyce when his enemie falleth; or suffer his heart to be glad when he stumbleth; much more if [Page 74] he smite with the fist of wickednesse Isa. 58.4., and put a stumbling blocke before the innocent, or afflict such as be of vpright con­uersationPsal. 37.14.; yea, it is a righteous thing with God, to recompence tribulation to them 2 Theoss. 1.6. that trouble them, which would lead a quiet and peaceable life in all god­linesse and honestie.

3 3. That we slight not the surprisall of other men, but consider our selues, that we our selues in an houre yet vnknown, may be also ouertakenGal. 6.1., Ille hod [...]è, Bern. & ego cras; He to day, and I to morrow, [Page 75] a Fathers feare, and may bee ours: our looking-glasse euerie mans euill, wherein wee may see our owne, present, or else to come. The breaches of Ioseph not remembred, made breaches on them that remembred them not: Gallant-like they liued in pleasure, and were wanton on the earth, and nourished their hearts, as in a day of slaughter, but were not grieued for the afflicti­ons of Ioseph Amos 6.6, 7., vntill they went captiue with the first that went captiue, & their banquet was remo­ued.

Therefore take ye heed, and remember the saying familiar as the English rules, Felix quem faciunt, &c. Happie is the man whom other mens harmes doe make to beware.

4 4. That we secure not our selues, saying, Peace and safetie, because of the present peace; and soule take thine ease, because of the present safetie1 Thes. 5.3. Nescimus quid serus vesper ve­bat., for who knoweth what a day may bring forth1 Pro. 24.1., the destruction may bee sudden, and if a blow bee giuen on the blinde side, wee shall not know well bow to take it well, trou­bles [Page 77] are fore-shewed, should bee therefore ex­pected; for as Paul, Act. 20.23. for the Holy Ghost witnes­seth, that afflictions abide all them that are Christs, and persecutions to suf­fer; the externall peace continued, is for the men of this present euill world, which haue their portion in this lifePsal. 17.14. whose backes are freed from the rod of GodIob 21., and bellies filled with hid treasures, their houses al­so s [...]fe from feare, and possessions passing the thoughts of their heartPsal. 73 7., set yet in slipperie places, [Page 78] and brought into desola­tion, as in a momentPsal. 73.19.; they spend their dayes in mirth and wealth, but in a moment goe downe to the grau [...] Iob 21.13.. A kinde of pond they haue, or a land-floud which abideth not, the well-springs of com­ [...] [...] mourne being affl [...]cted; Better this so to bee affli­cted and to mourne, than gaining the world to lose the soule, or enjoying the pleasures of sin for a sea­son to be cast out bound into vtter darknesse.

Therefore in this our day let vs hearken vnto [Page 79] wisdome, crying with­out and as Asah 2 Chron. 14.6, 7. built fenced cities in Iudah, when the land had rest; lets edifie our selues on our most holy faithIude v. 20▪, re­member our CreatorEccles. 1.2.1., and worke out our salua­tionPhil. 2.12▪, that when the con­sumption determinedIsai [...]8.22. shall come, or the ouer­flowing scourgeVer. 15., or the houre of temptation vp­on all the worldReuel. 3.10., wee may, as the iustHab. 2.4 [...]. liue [...]y faith, dwell safely, and bee quiet from feare of euill, according to the wordPro. 1.33..

Vse 5 5. For instruction vn­to [Page 80] the afflicted, to be di­stributed as the former; diuided the whole into fiue parts, that the same may partitè, peecemeale as it were, and so the more easily, be taken and laid vp.

First, that they remem­ber their misery, the worm wood and the gall, that their soules haue the same still in remem­brance, and be humbled thereby, for therein is the hopeIam. 3.20, 21..

Secondly, that suffe­ring according to the will of God, they com­mit their way, and the [Page 81] keeping of their soules in well doing vnto God, as to a faithfull Crea­tor,1. Pet. 4, vlt. 1 Pet. 4. vlt. Able he is to keepe that which is committed vnto him. Faithfull he is, and will not suffer the faithfull to bee tempted aboue that they are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that they may be able to beare it [...] Cor. 10.13..

Thirdly, that they pray: Let a man afflicted prayIam. 5.13., pray continu­allyCol 4.5., continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiuing, gi­uing [Page 82] thanks for the grace present, by which Satan is resisted, and the bur­then sustained, praying also with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, that the burthen on them may bee taken of them, prayer the meanes to remoue it; for he who heareth prayer hath gi­uen his word, that inuo­cated in the time of trou­ble, he will deliuer them that call vp [...]n his name, Psal. 50.15.Ideo pre­nuntur iu­sti, vt cla­me [...], cla­manies ex­aud antur, [...]uditi glorificent Deum. Aug. in loc.

F [...]urthly, that by pa­ [...]ience they possesse their soulesLuk. 21.19., and as the Thes­salonians cause other to [Page 83] glory for their patience and faith in all their per­secutions and tribulati­ons2 Thes. 1.4.. This the victorie of the Saints Reu. 13.10.14.12., the issue of tri­bulationRom. 5.3., the effect of the wordReu. 3.10.; this the dawning of light, on the sprenting of that seed which is sowen for the righteous. In Psal. 97.11. Light, i. peace and prosperity, the fruit of righteousnesse, is sowen for the righte­ous in the dayes of euill sit­ting in darknes Micah. 7.8.. A phrase from the plough; Good seed sowen in fallowes broken vp, lieth for a time couered in, the ground, [Page 84] and sprouteth not sud­denly, but in its season: In their sufferings it is so with the seruants of God; Their hearts furrowed with the culter of the Crosse, the word of pati­ence cast vpon it by the hand of faith, the harrow of godly sorrow drawen ouer and ouer it in the conuulsions thereof; In his time the Lord com­meth, and raineth on them righteousnes, wher­in vnto themselues they had sowedHos. 10.12., and tempe­stiue peace, the peacea­ble fruit of righteous­nesseHeb. 12.11. is in full sheaues [Page 85] brought in a time accep­ted home into their barnes; their barnes are filled, yea their hearts, with food and gladnesse, by their hard and tedious labours indured; there­fore counted happie they that indure: Behold, saith the Apostle, we count them happie that indure Iam. 5.11. Of the patience of Iob, that happie man, no man is ignorant, nor so blinde, but may see in him the end of the Lord, that hee is verie pitifull, and of tender mercie. They that wait on him renew their strength, mount vp with [Page 86] wings as Eagles, run and are not wearie, walke and are nor faint:Esa. 40.31. for as they on him, so waiteth he on them, that he may be gratious vnto them; and will be exaltedEsa. 30.18., that he may haue mercy vpon them. O how blessed are all they that wait for himPsal. 2.12. Psal. 34.2. P [...]. 16.20. I [...]r. 77.!

F [...]fthly, that they s [...]tisfie themselues as with the likenesse of God, when they awakePsal. 17.15., so with his presence, while they sleepe, or walke ra­ther thorow the valley of the shadow of death, their eyes withholden [Page 87] with the present pressures that they cannot sleepe; Sufficient to the day is the euill thereof Mat. 6. vlt. sufficient to the euill dayes the pre­sence of El Schaddai, God all-sufficient: who but hee in heauenPsal 73.25., and in earth besides him what to be desired? In him all liue, and moue, and haue their being Act 17.28, the Author he and finisher of faith Heb. 12.2 [...].; All and in all that haue faith in him. In Heauen what need shall be of the Sun, or of the Moone,Isa. 60 11.19. or of candle, or of victuall, or of vesture, or of lands, or of liuings? Not any: for [Page 88] the Lord will be All, All in Heauen, and in earth All things. Therefore suffe­ring need, what need of any thing more than of God, to sit in the minde, and to frame the same to the present state, or to dwell in the heart, and to fill the same with food and gladnes? The minde on him, and hee in the minde; the heart on him, and he in the heart, what want of the creatures, or of other gifts? Is not all want supplyed with his fulnesse? What wanted Moses? Elocution: What answer from God had he [Page 89] but this,Exod. 4.11, 12. Who hath made mans mouth? I will be with thy mouth. Would God be a mouth vnto him, or a tongue in his mouth? In effect he would, and fully be as good, yea better for vse, and more effectuall; of all other things wan­ting to the afflicted, the like may bee said, Who made them? Orphans want their parents; who made their parents? He that made their parents will be vnto them in stead of parents: Parents want their children; who made their children? He that made their children, [Page 90] will be vnto them in stead of children: widdowes want their husbands; who made their hus­bands? Hee that made their husbands, w [...]ll bee with them in stead of husbands: widdowers want their wiues; who made their wiues? Hee that made their wiues will bee with them in stead of wiues: brethren want their sisters; who made their sisters? Hee that made their sisters will be vnto them in stead of sisters: sisters want their brethren; who made their brethren? He that [Page 91] made their brethren will be with them in stead of brethren: the poore af­flicted, persecuted, want their houses, lands, meanes, liuelihood; who made all, and gaue all vn­to all? He that made all, and gaue them all, will be vnto them instead of all Varieties of comforts, in the varietie of the creatures; Parents af­ford one k [...]nde of solace, children another, hus­bands another, wiues a­nother, brethren ano­ther, sisters another, lands and such like meanes a­nother; but the Lord he [Page 92] is God of all consolation, not any without him in any thing, but with him is com­fort in euery thing. And hee with his affl [...]cted, whats the euill on them or against them? He with them in exile, whats their exile? He with them in prison, whats [...] imprisonment? he with them in disgrace, whats their disgrace? He with them in pouerty, whats their pouerty? He with them in persecution, whats their persecution? much aduantage, and e­uery way much: What protection from the [Page 93] Lord? what propagati­on of the Gospell? [...]. what recompence of reward without persecution? With persecution in this life an hundred sold shall be re­ceiued Mar. 10.30.: & in what but in the presence of the Lord, and the efficacie of his grace, which is equiua­lent, yea an hundred fold more excellent than the losse? I know not what better sense can be giuen, or how otherwise that reading is to bee vnder­stood: Had he said, that after the cessation of per­secution, peace shall bee and wealth, &c. plaine [Page 94] it had beene, but he saith with persecution in the time thereof a man shall receiue an hundred fold, and that is as plaine to them that haue the wit­nesse in themselues. In few to shut vp the whole matter: Marke the man that shrinketh vnder the hand of God, and behold him that maketh the Lord his Committee, that prayeth be­ing afflicted, that waiteth patiently, carrying the Lords leasure, and satisfied with the presence of his grace as sufficient, endureth to the end; for the end of that man is peace Psal. 37.37.

[Page 95] Vse 4 4. For the instaurati­on of them, [...]am. 3 15, 16, 17. That giue willingly their cheekes to him that smiteth them, that are filled with bitternesse, and made drunken with wormewood, couered with ashes, and their teeth broken as with grauell stones, their soule remoued far off from peace, and prosperitie forgot­ten: Scriptura v [...]cat bonos f [...]umentum, malos pale­am, eritur ventus, &c. Fon­sec. Sabb. ante Dom. Quad. For good men the Scripture calleth wheat, the euill chaffe, ariseth a great wind of persecu­tion, or commeth from the wildernesse some ter­rible Blast of other sore affliction, to dissociate the good and the euill, to [Page 96] segregate the pretious from the vile, and as wheat from the chaffe, to sepa­rate true Israelites, in whom no guile is, from potsheards couered with sil­uer drosse Tempo­rizers hypo­crites.. Are the Hea­uens now blacke with clouds and winds, doe the winds blow, be the times boysterous, the dayes e­uill, the world troublous? The Lord is about to purge his floore, and will purge it thorowly [...].:Mat. 3.12. the wheat he will gather into his garner, but the chaffe hee will scatter; yea burne it with vnquench­able fire.

After a fierie triall, pro­fessours may be fewer, but shall be better farre Conjectae ecclesia in catinum, & excocta igne affli­ctionum, mi­nor quidem euadit sed p [...]ior. Amand. po­lan. in Dan. 11.35. Ne­cessarie therefore as schismes 1 Cor. 11.19. and spurres, that they which are approued might bee made manifest; and the slothfull in busi­nesse, more feruent in spirit, seruing the Lord.

But after Theodoret, Affliction is the Hostorie, orStrickle. Stichel of God in the hand of his Iustice, with which he striketh off, in his chosen vessels, the sins, that against Iustice, his mercie cannot beare. The gracious Lord (saith hee) vsing a balance and a [Page 98] measure, Theod. Ec­cles. hist. lib. 5. cap. 1. composed of Iu­stice and Mercie, striketh off here, by his Iustice, the faults which are aboue weight and measure. Is any among you afflicted? let the afflicted among you looke vnto the Lord, who doth it for their good; e­uen to strike off with the hand of his Iustice, or that rod in his hand on them, the sinnes, which in them, surpoise the sealed ba­lance, and surpasse the marked measure of his mercie. Moreouer, know yee not, that in the lowest condition is found the best successe? Had not Iacob, [Page 99] Ioseph, Dauid, in the win­ter of their affliction, the spring of the soule? Is not Gaius his prosperitie, which is of the soule, bet­ter than that of fooles, which is notPro. 23.5. or is no­thing in Salomons iudge­ment, but extreme vani­tie and vexation of spirit, or an euident token of perdition and destructi­on? As the greatest tenta­tion is to feele no tentation, so the greatest affliction, not to be afflicted: An argu­ment of infirmitie, not of maturitie; of infancie, not of manhood. The pro­mises of outward beauties [Page 100] to the Church of the Iewes, were confined to the nonage thereof; grown vpto some height, what promises of great things?Duo [...]d te attrahunt Dei oculos, &c. Fon. sec. vbi sup. Two things there be that draw the eyes of God vnto men, Humble and prompt obedience; Pressure and persecution: Of that Abraham; of this an instance Israel in Ae­gypt. An heart trembling at the word of God; a con­trite and humble spirit, doth the like: Suffering, doth a man tremble at the word? The Lord looketh to him, Isa. 66.3. Is hee of a contrite and humble [Page 101] spirit? the high and loftie one that inhabiteth eter­nitie, dwelleth with him to reuiue his spirit, and to reuiue his heart, Isa. 57.15. Deadnesse a sore euill, and dulnesse the graue of many graces, after some ioyes conceiued, afflict sometimes the Chosen ge­neration 1 Pet, 2.3.. CAVSES; either sorrow, or exces­siue care, or obliquitie in the vse of the meanes gi­uen of God, to strengthen the soule in the houre of tentation, or temporarie desertion; or else the commission of some sin, or the omission of some [Page 102] good dutie, or else some other subtill deuice of the Deuill; but CVRATI­ONS, or Remedies, none better know I, than feare and trembling, contrition and humilitie; for from such the Lord is not far, but at hand, to reuiue them, and wearie with labouring vnder the hea­uie crosse, to giue them happie rest. For a small mo­ment he forsaketh, but with great mercie he gathereth Isa. 54.5, 6, 7, 8.. In a little wrath he hideth his face for a moment, but with euerlasting kindnesse he hath mercie on them, that ( [...]s a wife of yout [...]) are [Page 103] betrothed vnto him Hos. 2.19, 20. in righteousnesse, and in iudge­ment, and in louing kind­nesse, and in mercies. Haue I made a step out of the way? Suppose it was to call on a friend.☜ The ex­ternall sufferings are not so grieuous, as the internall are, and without the inter­nall the externall are not effectuall vnto sound humi­liation. Therefore expedi­ent both, both also light, and but for a moment: The sufferings of the pre­sent time Rom. 8.18. [...]., styled; and a kinde of leuitie 2 Cor. 4.17. [...]. that pas­seth, as it commeth, in the twinckling of an eye: or [Page 104] staying all night the acci­dentall mourning, Rico prate­riens leui­tas. Bez. ioy commeth in the mor­ning Psal. 30.5.. A reioycing is created Isa. 65.18. yea appointed vn­to them that mourne in SionIsa. 61.3., beautie giuen for ashes, the oyle of ioy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heauinesse, power for faintnesse, strength for weaknesseIsa. 40.29., the humbled lifted vpIam. 4.10., the ruined places builded, [...]zek. 36.34, 35, 36, 38. the de­solate planted, the desart villages augmented, and the waste Cities filled with flocks of men as in the solemne assemblies.

Wherefore,Heb. 3.1. Exhor­tation. Holy bre­thren, partakers of the hea­uenly calling, I beseech you suffer the word of exhortationHeb. 13.22.; for yee see your state, and the condition of this life; how seasoned it is; or may be to you, in the time and season, which the Lord hath put in his owne power Act. 1.7.. No rod now vpon you; yet scourged ye may be, and be called from aboue to suffer many things: what yee know not, nor know I when: God know­eth when and what. Who maketh you to differ from other of the royall [Page 106] priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9. Other suffer to bee viuified thereby, why not yee? Other suf­fer to be sanctified there­by, why not yee? Other suffer to be purged there­by, why not yee? Other suffer to bee preuented thereby, why not yee? Other suffer, and the Lord by their sufferings is glorified in his power and prouidence, by their faith and obedience, why not by yours?

I will not reproue you, for doe yee that stand safe on the shore, on the dry banks, on the high rocks, reioyce against other [Page 107] weather-beaten at sea, driuen with fierce winds, and tossed with swelling waues, or cast ouer boord and swimming for their liues? They doe verie ill that doe thus Pro. 17.5. He that is glad of calamitie shall not bee vnpunished, nor held innocent. Better were it for you, to weepe with them that weepe Rom. 12.15. to suffer with them that suf­fer, to beare their bur­thenGal. 6.2, to communicate with their affliction: To this I will exhort you; for in doing this yee shall doe well. Ye haue done well (saith Paul) that yee [Page 108] did communicatePhil. 4.14. with my affl [...]ction.

I will not conuent, nor summon you to correcti­ons; for doe yee despise any chastisement? doe yee kicke against pricks?Act 9.5. and the yoke on your necks, stiffe-necked are yee asIer. 31.18. Bullocks vnac­customed to the yoke? are your faces harder than a rocke? doe yee re­fuse to returne? They doe verie ill, that doe thus: This an aggrauation of the offence and punish­ment; yea, two great e­uils are perpetrated ther­by: Better were it for you [Page 109] to shrinke vnder the mighty hand of God, and to kisse his rod vpon you, to con­fesse your faults, and aske him forgiuenesse, to conuert from the errour of your wayes, and to bring forth fruit meet for repentance. To this I will exhort you, for in doing this, yee shall haue mer­ciePro. 28.13., bee saued from the wrathIam. 4.10. & 5.20., receiued and reconciled, refreshed and certified, that the Lord hath corrected you with iudgement, Ier. 10.24. not in anger, not in furie to kill you1 Sam. 2.25. (as Heli's sonnes;) but (as Ephraim his deare son) [Page 110] Ier. 31.20. in loue to reclaime you.

I will not argue you, that yee suffer as euill do­ers, or as busie-bodies, or slight the surprisall of o­ther men, or secure your selues in the mount of this worlds good, and the arme of flesh. They doe verie ill that doe thus, as they in the prouocation: who would wilfully prouoke the Lord, who doth not from his heart, or not willingly grieue and afflict the children of men Iam. 3.3.? Besides, the troubles on other men happen vnto them for ensamples, and may serue for your admonition 1 Cor. 10.6.11.. Yea, [Page 111] they are your examples, to the intent yee should not lust after euill things, as they peraduenture lu­sted; And will a man neglect so faire exam­ples? Besides this, the present peace, health, and wealth is but mo­mentanie and transito­rie: what man is he that trusteth therein? Better were it for you, to bee al­waies cautiousHeb. 3.12., lest there bee in any of you an euill heart of vnebeleefe depar­ting from the liuing God, to be warned by the fals, or harmes of other men, and to cast away all confidence [Page 112] in the flesh, Phil. 3.3. leaning to the, Lord, not to your owne vn­derstanding Pro. 3 5.. To this I will exhort you, for in doing this, yee may keepe your feet, from euerie euill way, dwell in safetie, lodge in the secret place of the most high, and abide vnder the shadow of the Almighty.

Psal. 91.1.What shall I more say? but (as yet haue been in­structed) afflicted or mi­srable, rememner your, affliction, and your misc­rie: Commit your way, and the keeping of your soules in well doing vnto God: pray alwayes: possesse your soules in patience: con­tinue [Page 113] to the end, and in the end bee saued. The pre­sent gusts and tempests purge the floore of God; therefore purged; be per­purged, euen thorowly purged, and truly sepa­rate; not touching the vncleane,2 Cor. 6.17. nor being (as some be) audacious ad­herents, and presumptu­ous partakers in ether mens sinnes 1 Tim. 5.22..1 Conni­vendo, 2 Conticen­do, 3 Consu­lendo, 4 Con­sentiendo, 5 Defen­dendo. V. Zanch. in Ephes. 5.7.11. The present afflictions are spurre-rowels for vse, therefore afflicted sore, bee stirred vp easily, to follow more earnestly the thing that good is. Suspect nothing more than the aduersitie [Page 114] of the soule, in the prosperi­tie of the bodie: and in the spring of the spirit, which is the winter of the flesh, put forth the expected fruit of the spirit: or if any dead­nesse, if any dulnesse bee in the winter of the spirit, bee not dismayd, neither please your selues there­in, but rouze vp your selues, as those, which being drowzie, are wil­ling to shake off sleepe. Call vpon God, and to minde his faithfulnesse. Returned to his place Hos. 5 vlt. for some speciall end; in the end hee will returne, and ordaine peace Isa. 26.12., and worke [Page 115] all your works in you, for you. Faithfull is hee that promiseth, who will also doe it 1 Thes. 5.24.. Doe it hee will for you, inquired of Ezek. 36.37. by you, to doe it for you. There­fore, as he at Ziglag great­ly distressed: Encourage your selues in the Lord your God, 1 Sam. 30.6.

Hitherto Dauids condi­tion hath brought vs, and forth these things: fol­loweth his consolation, The word of God, This is my comfort.

My comfort:Psal. 87. [...]. As of the Citie of God, many glo­rious things are spoken of the word: but [...]s the ver­tuous, [Page 116] woman all the other daughters Pro. 31.29,, this excelleth all. Help in time of need most comfortable, and comfort in affliction most needfull. This by the word: Therefore we conclude:

That the word of God, is the best comfort.

Comfortable at the raine vnto the tender Deut. 32.2. herbs, and as showers to the grasse, sweet as honey Psal. 119.72.127.103. and the honey combe; esteemed a­boue the appointed food Iob. 13.12, more desired than gold, yea then much fine gold Psal 19.10, and as much as in all riches re­ioyced in Psal. 119.14..

Is it not pure, Psal. 19.7. is it not perfect, sure and sound, durable and delightfull, most holy and most ne­cessarie?

Doth it not conuert, or returne the soule, Psal. 19.7. being in a swoune, ouercome with the present maladie, or miserie, and make it come againe?

Doth it not quicken Psal. 19.50., is it not the life Deut. 32.47., euen The word of life Act. 5.20.? liue wee by bread Mat. 4.4., or thereby? Is it not the seed and food of life, milke 1 Cor. 3.2 and strong meat?

Doth it not vanquish the wicked one 1 Io. 2.14., bruize his [Page 118] head and him vnder foot? Is it not a sword Pro. 30.5. to wound his scalpe, and a shield Ephes. 6.16. to quench all his fierie darts?

Doth it not reioyce the heart Psal. 19.7, 8., make wise the sim­ple, enlighten the eyes, enrich the pooreColos 3.16., san­ctifie euerie creature1 Tim 4.5., keepe from sinnePsal. 119.11., heale the diseasedPsal. 107.20., and com­fort the afflicted?

This the report from Heauen of the Word, which is settled for euerPsal. 119. in Heauen.

But a voyce is heard in the lower Ramah's, the my­rie place, Ezek. 47.11. and marishes gi­uen [Page 119] to salt, and not healed by the riuers of waters which flow from the San­ctuarie. Giue vs, for our comfort, the honours of the world, the treasures of the earth, the pleasures of this life, potent friends, and lets continue in our sinnes: This our comfort and these: Oh, what comfort in these against the word, or without the word, with All that is in they world?

1. What comfort in the honors of the world?Honores mundi, tu­mores mun­di. Eucher. the honors of the world, the tumors thereof, tu­mors and burthens, not [Page 120] of God; not of God, the word of God not with them: Consider what is said in Iob. 10.35. Gods they, or Infidels rather, vnto whom the word com­meth not? How can they beleeue, which receiue honour one of anotherIo. 5.44., and seeke not the honour that commeth from God only in the comming of the word? How doe they beleeue, which loue the praise of men Io. 12.43. more than the praise of God? How doe they beleeue that haue not, nor hold forthPhil. 2.16. the word of life? This the Beraeans had, the Pha­risies [Page 121] that: Who best? yet glorious they are, and honoured, wee see; but know wee not, that their glorie is their shamePhil. 3.19., their excellencie their ig­nominie, and their end obscuritie? Ierome not amisse to his rising and aspiring friend,Hier. ep. 14. cap. 14. Its safer to stand on the firme earth, than to sit high on a rotten scaffold. Vanitie of vani­ties, vanitie of vanities: what else is all the ho­nour of the world.

2. What comfort, without the Word, in the treasures of the earth? The treasures of the [Page 122] earth, melting snow-balls Iob 38.22. Greg. in loc., swift flyingPro. 23.5. Eagles, vn­certaine1 Tim. 6.17., deceitfullMat. 13.12., strong Cities razed, and high towers demolished in a moment, Idols, scan­dals,Ezek. 7.19. stumbling blocks of iniquitie, leaders into temp­tations, foolish and hurtfull lusts. They that will be rich 1 Tim. 6.9. fall fouly. They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselues in the mul­titude of their riches Psal. 49.6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13., none of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother, nor giue to God a ransome for his soule; neither for their owne. Their inward thought is folly, as their [Page 123] way, and howbeit their posteritie may approue their sayings, as their do­ings, as men wise accor­ding to the flesh; yet bru­tish they are, and like the beasts which perish. Their riches shall choke them, for they choke the good seed of the WordMat. 13.22. or swallowed downe, they shall vomit them vp a­gaine,Iob. 20.15 18. God shall cast them out of their bellies: Veri­ly, verily, this egestion will be wofull, and full of deadly paines. Therfore, Goe to now, yee rich men Iam. 5.1, 2, 3. weepe and howle for the miseries which shall come [Page 124] vpon you; your riches are corrupted, your gold and siluer is cankered, and the rust of them shall bee a wit­nesse against you, and eat your flesh as it were fire; yee heape treasure together for the last dayes: Rom. 2.5. yea, yee treasure vp wrath vnto your selues against the day of wrath: Faithfull, but fearefull is the saying of Iesus Christ in Matth. 19.23. A rich man shall hardly enter into the king­dome of Heauen. A diffi­cultie noted, not an im­possibilitie; for after the Ordinarie Glosse, a Gable, i. vntwisted; a Camell [Page 125] also (Deposito onere & flexis genibus) may goe thorow that strait gate in the wals of Hierusalem, which for the narrow­nesse thereof was called Foramen acus, or the Nee­dles eye: But wealth, a strong City in conceit, and an high Tower, (as it is the rich mans, that is not rich towards God, Prou. 18.11. and Luk. 12.21. compared;) the im­possibilitie may be auou­ched and auerred.

3. What comfort in the pleasures of this life, the pleasures of this life flashes of lightning: [Page 126] Fulgurations;Plutarch. Simul ori­entes & morientes, arising and dying together. As the fashion of the world,— [...]mpia do­lore volup­tas. they passe away, and fol­loweth heauinesse;Pro. 14.13. cast out into vtter darknesse, what weeping, what howling, what gnashing with the teeth? Dead, while they liue, they that liue in pleasure 1 Tim. 5.6.. Ye haue liued in pleasure, Iam. 5.5. and been wanton, an apt reproofe. Awake to righteousnesse 1 Cor. 15.34., good counsell. Moses his patterne goodHeb. 11.25., Barzil­la's resolution godly2 Sam. 19.35., the Preachers censure of mirth and laughter iustEccl. 2.2., [Page 127] carnall pleasure the high way to Hell, going down to the chambers of death Pro. 8.27.. Had here in the depths of hell, what is to bee had? Aske Abraham, or thinke on his answerLuk. 16.25. —Tr [...]hit sua quem (que) voluptas., bought with griefe, yet how many drawen away thereby and inticed? As hee that loueth siluer, so is he that loueth pleasure,Semper vo­luptas sa­mem sui ha­bet & trans­acta non sa­tial. Hieron. neuer sa­tisfied, not euer edified on the most holy faith. The voluptuous of the word heard, bring no fruit to perfectionLuk. 8.14. Was Salomon a Cynicke in his old age? Faithfull is his saying, and worthy of all [Page 128] acceptation, Sorrow is better than laughter Eccles. 7.3, 4.; for by the sadnesse of the countenance, the heart is made better: The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.

4. What comfort in carnall friends? Friends as the reeds of Aegypt, or as reeds in the wind, sha­ken & vnstable as the vn­righteous Mammon. No friend this, for a friend lo­ueth at all times Pro. 17.17. & cap. 18.24., and in aduersitie most. A bro­ther, rather a rare friend, one that sticks fast, as ce­mented [Page 129] or glued.V. Cart­wright in loc. I haue considered that in Prou. 18.24. but all are not vi­ri amicorū, nor haue vim amicabilem. As friend­linesse is shewed, so is it to be shewed; but as it is sound, so lieth the opini­on: The colours of friend­ship not laid in the oyle of the word, a false varnish; it vanisheth as the tale that is told: Wherefore what the Holy Ghost hath of worldly wealth, might be said of worldly friend­ship, Hee that trusteth therein shall fallPro. 11.28.. Be­sides, a curse is denoun­ced,Ier. 17.5, 6. Cursed is the man [Page 130] that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arme, and whose heart departeth from the Lord; for hee shall bee like the heath in the desart, like the parched places in the wildernesse, like a salt land, and not inhabited. Therefore the sweet Psal­mist of Israel saidPsal. 146.3, 4., Put not your trust in Princes, nor in the sonne of man, in whom there is no helpe, his breath goeth forth, he retur­neth to his earth, in that ve­rie day his thoughts perish. But Wolsey's confession mightQuod Re­gi potius quam Deo studuisset placere. Scultet. A [...]. be made of many; Many seeke the friendship of great men, more than the [Page 131] fauour of the great God, and our Sauiour Iesus Christ: 2 Tim. 3.5.15.25. Istos auersemur: From such turne away.

5. What comfort to be had in sinnes? Misera­ble comforters these, and causes of confusion; Da­lilah's in conceit, in effect also, deceiuing the heart, destroying the soule. Blesse a man may him­selfe in his owne heart, saying, I shall haue peace, though I walk in the imagi­nation of mine own heart, to adde drunkennes to thirst Deut. 20.19.. But, There is no peace to the wicked, saith my GodIsa. 51. [...]1.. At the doore of the sin­ner [Page 132] lieth his sinneGen. 4.7. Peccatum i. [...]ana pecca­ti quae quasi ca [...]it aut Cerberus cub [...]ns, fores peccati ob­sidet tan­quam pec­cati vindex. Corn. de lap. in loc., as a ban-dog, to plucke out his throat, and to teare him in peeces, none be­ing to deliuer: Who should, the Lord? Nay, he is not chosen, nor hath beene serued; but sinne preferred; let him goe that and cry vnto that which hee hath chosen, and to that which hee hath serued. This was once the answer of the Lord, and this: I will deliuer no moreIudg. 10.13, 14., who then should? should the Minister of the Lord? By what meanes, the Ministerie contemned2 Cor. 5.18., [Page 133] which is committed to him? visit he may a man sicke with sin vnto death, yet not saue him from the death, which reigneth by sinne in his mortall members; pray for him he may, but according to that of Ambrose to Theo­dosius, Si dignus non sum qui a te au­diar, nec etiam dig­nus qui pro te a Deo ex [...]udiar. If he will not heare the Minister speaking from God, how shall God heare the Minister speaking for him. O consider this, all yee that comfort your selues in your sinnes, fol­lowing inconsiderately the multitude that doe euill, after these of plea­sure, dayes of mourning [Page 134] will come, and euill daies, yea yeares, wherein wee shall say, Wee haue no plea­sure in them Eccles. 12.1., nor any comfort from the time that is past. What com­fort from the time that is past of this life, the lusts of men followed, and thwarted the will of God1 Pet. 4.2.? What comfort in those things, whereof shame is the glorie, and destruction the endPhil. 3.19? Whats the end of rio­ting, drunkenness [...], coue­tousnesse, voluptuous­nesse, idlenesse, vnruli­nesse, vncleannesse, vn­godlinesse? or whats the [Page 135] glorie? What fruit had in these thingsRom. 6.21. or what comfort to be had,Isa. 5.3. Iudge I pray you betweene God, and the vines which bring forth wilde grapes.

Art thou, ô man, an EphraimiteIsa. 28.1., a drunkard, I meane like those of E­phraim, risest thou vp ear­ly in the morning, that thou maiest follow strong drinke, and continuest thou vntill night, till wine pursue thee? Art thou mightie to drinke wine, and a man of strength to mingle strong drinkeIsa. 5.11, 22.? Woe and woe I finde, yea woes vpon woes in the [Page 136] Scriptures against theeHab. 2.15, but except thou repent, no comfort finde I for thee in the Oracles of God.

Art thou a couetous person, a louer of earthly things more than of hea­uenly, is thy heart set on thy riches increasing, is thy desire inlarged as HellHab. 2.5., can it not bee satisfied? Thou shalt neuer be satisfied with that which thou co­uerest; thou consultest, (by coueting an euill co­uetousnesse to thy house) shame to thy house, thou sinnest against thine owne soule Hab. 2.9, 10.: Thou art an Ido­later, and abhorred of [Page 137] the Lord: These things I finde in the Scriptures a­gainst thee, but except thou repent; No comfort finde I in the Oracles of God.

Art thou a swearer, swearest thou in thine or­dinarie communication? Thou takest the name of thy God in vaine,Leuit. 24.11. Nakab defi­gens trans. figens. V. Trem. thou smitest him on the face: Moses saith more, Thou piercest him, thou strikest him thorow. Hee that blasphemeth, traiecteth him whom hee blasphe­meth; and as the lying or backe-biting tongue hateth those that are affli­cted [Page 138] by itPro. 26.28., so the swea­ring tongue the Lord. Thou champest the bloud of God betweene thy teeth, ô barbarous Caniball! Thou diggest vp his wounds, ô damna­ble exulteration! Thou exposest him to shame, ô impudent Miscreant! Thou art not guiltlesseExod. 20.7., but cursing, cursed: The curse is vpon thee, and entred into thy house. The long flying rollZech. 5.2.5. ho­uereth ouer thee, yea, the vengeance of Heauen to cast thee downe into the damnation of Hell. These things I finde in the [Page 139] Scriptures against thee, but except thou repent, No comfort finde I for thee in the Oracles of God.

Art thou a Sabbath-breaker? seekest thou on the holy day of God, and findest thou thine owne pleasure, speakest thou thine owne wordsIsa. 58.13., and doest thou, on that day, thine owne works? Thou dishonourest GodRom. 2.23, thou pollutest his worshipEzek. 22.8., thou prouokest the eyes of his glorieIsa. 3.8., thou brea­kest his Law, thou ma­kest it voidPsal. 119.126. 2 Chron. 19.2. A minori ad­maius. Ior. 17.27.; Therefore wrath is vpon thee, from before the Lord: The fuell [Page 140] of iudgement lieth in thy gate, and thou puttest to the fire, which shal (when God will) kindle where it lyeth. These things I finde in the Scriptures a­gainst thee, but except thou repent; No comfort finde I for thee in the Ora­cles of God.

Art thou a Libertine, vsing all libertie for an occasion to the fleshGal. 5.13., a contemner of Gods or­dinances, his words and Sacraments, his Ministe­rie and Ministers? Thou art not spirituallRom. 7.14. & cap. 8.14., nor led by the Spirit, but car­nall altogether, and sold [Page 141] vnder sinne; thou despi­sest God1 Thes. 4.8., thou commit­test sacrilegeRom. 2.22., thou iud­gest thy selfe vnworthy of euerlasting lifeAct. 13.46., thou puttest from thee the meanes thereof, and tur­nest the same into lasci­uiousnesseIude ve. 4. no remedie remaineth, nor healing to thee that mocketh the Messengers of God, that despisest his words, that misusest his Prophets2 Chron. 36.16.. These things I finde in the Scriptures against thee, but except thou re­pent, No comfort finde I for thee in the Oracles of God. I personate no [Page 142] man, but if the witnesse within, the Conscience, accuse any, testifying and saying, Thou art the man to whom it is spoken; spoken bee to him, and this fur­ther in the Spirit of our God against the workes of the flesh, which are manifest, and are these; Adulterie, fornication, vn­cleannesse, lasciuiousnesse, idolatrie, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, en­uyings, murthers, drunken­nesse, reuellings, and such like. Qui talia agunt Gal. 5 21., They which doe such things shall not inherit [Page 143] the kingdome of God, Gal. 5.21.

Seeing then that these things are so, that some comfort themselues with­out the Word, and that without the Word there is no solid comfort. A necessitie is laid vpon vs, both for the vse of edify­ing, and the issue of the point, to reason in plaine euidence and demon­stration of the Spirit,

• De Afflicto consolabili.
• De Sermone consolabundo.
• De Ratione consolandi.

Touching

• The afflicted that are consolable.
• The word which com­forteth the afflicted.
• The manner of comfor­ting them by the same word.

1. De afflicto consolabili. Of the afflicted that are con­solable. All men haue not faith 2 Thes. 3.2., nor the knowledge of God 1 Cor. 15 34., nor bee in their af­fliction comforted by the Word, neither indeed can be, because they are not corrigible, not docile, not humble, nor humbled: The shaking of the hand of the Lord, which hee shaketh ouer them, not feared; nor [Page 145] had to worke any feare in their heart the spirit of bondage. But had once this, and but once had, Running there is to God, and flying to Iesus Christ, with­out back-sliding in heart, or any departing from him: Contrà: Not hand, nor receiued at all, no comfort at all, nor con­uersion at all, neither any constant worship. In Rom. 8.15. Yee haue not receiued the spirit of bon­dage againe to feare. Not to feare againe as bond­slaues, but first they fea­red, hauing the spirit of bondage, as all haue that [Page 146] labour and are heauie la­den, the curses of the Law may be denounced a thousand times, and ten thousand kinds of strong iudgements inflicted in vaine, except the spirit of bondage be sent into the heart, to worke feare therein, and in that feare to bring men home vnto God in Christ. Thun­der, and raine, and earth­quakes haue beene, and yet mens hearts haue beene little moued, but the spirit of bondage,D. Preston of the new Couenant. pag. 392, 393. or of feare on the people, they feared exceedingly, when it thundred and rai­ned [Page 147] in wheat haruest 1 Sam. 12 18., like­wise at the great showres of raine in Ezra's timeEzra. 10.9., likewise the Iaylor, al­though all was safeAct. 16.29. This spirit, the plough of God, with which hee ploweth vp the heart, be­fore hee soweth therein the word of his grace which bringeth saluati­on: This spirit oblite­rates the image of the old man, and prepares a place for the impresse of the new, whose motto is,Pro. 28.14 Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes, i. in a fi­liall manner, for the ser­uile is the Deuils.

Ye see the reason, (bre­thren) why some affli­cted are not consolable; not consolable,Actus acti­ [...]o [...]um est in patiente pradisposito. not cor­rigible; not corrigible, not fearing; not fearing, not hauing to feare, the sprit of bondage. There­fore if yee feare not, nor haue had to feare, the spirit of bondage. Yee haue cause to feare, because ye haue not Christ,Rom. 8. yee know him not, nor what hee hath suffered for you, yee haue no fellowship in his sufferings, not being made conformable to his death: But afflicted, if ye feare as sonnes in bondage, [Page 149] if feeling the weight of the iudgement inflicted, and seeing your sinnes, yee flie from them (as from the face of a serpent) vnto the Propitiatorie, [...]. Rom. 3.25. [...]. Io. 16. vlt. which is Iesus Christ: Be of good cheere, the good spirit of God is vpon you for good, and truly and thorowly humbled there­by, yee shall be deliuered from the temporall bon­dage, into the glorious li­bertie of the sonnes of God. As the Law is good, Rom. 7.12. so the spirit of bon­dage: As the Law but a temporarie Schoole-ma­ster, vntill faith bee infor­med; [Page 150] so the spirit of bon­dage, vntill the spirit of A­doption be infused: and as the Sunne of righteousnesse ariseth with healing in his wings, Mal. 4.2. So the Spirit of adoption com­meth with libertie in his armes. God hauing sent the spirit of his sonne into the hearts of his sonnes, they cry Abba, father Gal. 4.6.: the loue of an indulgent father apprehended, not the seueritie of an austere Iudge; and God beheld not as a consuming fire Deut. 4.24., that will deuoure them, but as a faithfull Creator, that will haue a desire to [Page 151] the workes of his handsIob 14.15. Afterwards there's no ser­uile, but a filiall feare, i. a mixture of feare and loue: the spirit of loue lea­ding in the way euerlasting; the spirit of feare preuen­ting Reconciliation, and fetching home againe them, that being brought home, turne againe vnto folly, lose themselues, and runne as sheepe astray. Loue hauing respect vnto all the Commandements, to keepe the same: feare preseruing the heart from the deceitfulnesse of sin: for as feething liquor, fil­thy f [...]um; so the heart [Page 152] boyling with feare, casts out sinne, suffers it not to oestuate it selfe into the inward parts; adhere it may, but enters not into the frame, fabricke, or constitution of the heart, to bee mingled and con­founded: The feare of the Lord is cleane Psal. 19.9., they also pure in heart, that haue it in their heart, hauing such an heart, that ad­mits not the mixture of any sin, but as base and reprobate stuffe, resists and reiects it. So then we say for the verdict of the Inquest; That without the humbling and cleansing [Page 153] feare, there's no token for good in or out of affliction, nor comfort by the Word.

2. De Sermone consola­torio: Of the word which is the comfort in Afflicti­on. The substantiall Word there is, that [...] which was made fleshIo. 1.14., and hee the GodRom. 15.5. of all consolation: but of him the Prophet speaketh not here, the sure word of prophecie there is also, which was vnto Ieremie, hauing found and eaten it, the verie ioy and reioy­cing of his heartIer. 15.16., Dauid made his heart an hiding place for itPsal. 119, 11. so became it [Page 154] a Sanctuarie for him, yea, a fortresse against the as­saults of Satan, and du­ring the obsession, Am­munition for his soule.Coloss. 3.11. [...], (as the Apostle of Christ) All and in all: Therefore sti­led, Sermo

• Inscriptus,
• & Insititius.

Many good words and comfortable words in the little Booke which we hold in our hand, but the word which comfor­teth is,

• The Inscribed Word.
• The Ingrafted Word.

[Page 155]1. Sermo inscriptus: Sermo con­solatorius inscriptus sermo. The word inscribed and written, not with inke, but with the spirit of the the liuing God2 Cor. 3.3, not in Tables of stone, or books like this, but in the fleshie Tables of the heart; the heart mollified the spirit sent into it, which wri­teth therein the comfor­ting word, euen the word of grace in the New Co­uenant, i. worketh within the heart a disposition correspondent to the word which commeth Io. 10.35., and the grace which appeareth Tit. 2.11.. As face to face in a glasse, or in the waters, as [Page 156] Tally to Tally, as Inden­ture to Indenture, as the Impression in the Wax to the Seale that made the same, so the holy disposi­tion (which is, The Conso­lation) answereth to the word, which is in the heart written, yea grauen by the spirit of God, as letters in marble, neuer wearing out. Let a man therefore examine him­selfe, and brethren, proue your owne selues, whe­ther such a disposition and correspondence to the Word be in you, yea or no? If your heart and the word meet as friends, [Page 157] euen as mercie and truth, and kisse each other as righteousnesse & peacePsal. 85.10.. If your heart close with the word, as the clay with the mold, and the inke to the paper, fixt and faire, with­out any blurre or foule fault, quarrell or diffe­rence: It is inscribed, it is the word which comfor­teth in affliction; but if enmitie be put betweene, or if your heart and the word looke as enemies the one vpon the other, no comfort is therein, nor in the affliction.

2. Sermo insititius, Ser­mo [Page 158] consolatorius: The word of consolation, S. Iames cal­leth the ingrafted word Iam. 1.21. [...]., which when Paul plan­teth1 Cor. 3.6, he cleanseth, 1. the stocke, 2. maketh insiti­on, 3. inserteth the impe, 4. closeth it about, 5. fen­ceth it, finally expecteth fruit. Suffer me to reuiew and open these vnto you, that your eyes opened by the euidence produced, yee may see the things, that pertaine to your peace, in your warfare on the earth.

1. The stocke, which is the heart, is to bee clean­sed, foule it is in all, all [Page 159] filthinesse and superfluitie of naughtinesse about it, which is to be laid asideIam. 1.21., with all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and enuies, and euill spea­kings1 Pet. 2.2, or else the sincere word will bee turned a­side. If the stomack rise, & the soule bee lifted vpHab. 2.4., when the heauenly hus­bandman, about to plant the word, is about to purge the stocke. If any rancor or excrescencie of malice, bitternesse, and wrath, and anger, and cla­mour be;Ephes. 4.31. Now hee stri­keth mee, he intendeth mee, hee cutteth mee, who can [Page 160] heare him, who can endure him? Aërem coedit, Hee beateth the aire, hee wa­sheth the Aethiopian, his labour is in vaine. Cut to the heart ye know, who were with the words of Stephen, and to what ef­fect;Act. 7.54. who were pricked and healed by the same Word receiued with meeknesse, ye also knowAct. 2 37. verily, as the Apostle of him that praying waue­reth like a waue of the sea, driuen with the wind and tossed:Iam. 1.6, 7. [...]. Let not that man thinke that hee shall receiue any thing of the [Page 161] Lord: So may we of the man, that hearing the word, and hauing it nigh him, paring, or pricking, or cutting, or cleauing him, to bee ingrafted in him, is like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast vp mire and dirt,Isa. 57.20. is moued, wexeth angrie, flingeth it off in furie, and kicketh a­gainst pricks, Non existi­met homo ille, Let not that man think that the word shall bee, or possiblie can be in him, doing thus, ef­fectually ingrafted: Qui aurem audiendi habet, He that hath an eare to heare [Page 162] let him heare, and heare yee it my beloued bre­thren, if yee would re­ceiue the ingrafted word for your comfort in that day, sanctifie your selues, and cleanse your selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7.1., prepare your heart, or (as Ieremie phra­seth it)Ier. 4.14. wash your heart, from the desperate wic­kednesse and deceitful­nesse thereof: or, keepe your feet Eccles. 5.1. when yee enter into the house of God, and bee more readie to heare the hardest word, than to cast it off as a burthen too heauie for you to beare. [Page 163] Hard as iron is the heart of man; therefore is the word first as fire, and an hammer for itIer. 23.29.; full of knots and wilde stems, which must bee cut off; therefore is the word sharper at the first, than any two-edged sword Heb. 4.12., yet to bee suffered without any preiudicate or pre­uaricate opinion of ma­litious personating, or enuious particularizing; your soules (deare Bre­thren) must (if ye would bee numbred with the e­lect of God, and recko­ned of his peculiar peo­ple) be dealt with in par­ticular, [Page 164] and your particu­lar sinnes reproued, yea hewed and hewed, as A­gag by Samuel, in peeces, before yee can feele any comfort by the word: Many things wee speake in loue, to warne you1 Cor. 4.14., not in malice to shame you, but the more wee loue you thus2 Cor. 12.15., the lesse we are loued of you: wee loue your persons, wee tender your soules; but (as our owne) wee hate your sinnes, and would (if wee could) strike them dead, because they worke by their passionsRom. 7. [...]. and motions in your mem­bers [Page 165] (as in ours) to bring forth fruit to death vnto death.

But how can a Prea­cher smite a mans sinne really, and not touch his person intentionally? Our controuersie writers in that great dispute a­bout iustifying faith;D. Abbot against Bi­shop. pag. 481. Whether faith iustifieth a­lone without charitie and good workes, distinguish thus:

Separation of things, one frō another, is either real in the subiect, or men­tall in the vnderstanding, that denied, this sub­distinguished, negatiue [Page 166] or priuatiue; that, when in the vnderstanding there is an affirming of one thing, and denying of another; this, when of things that cannot in­deed bee separated, the one is vnderstood and o­mitted: the other, ver. grat. light and heat can­not bee separated in the fire, yet the light may he considered, & not the heat, or the heat and not the light: So charity and good works are not nega­tiuely separated, but pri­uatiuely made as effects & consequents, not con­curring causes of iustifi­cation.

Sembably (my Belo­ued) although we can­not really separate be­tweene your sinnes and your persons, yet nega­tiuely we say, that we in­tend not your persons, but priuatiuely in our mindes we consider your sinnes, bearing the image of Satan, at which wee strike, I say at the image of the Deuill and Satan, not at your persons, made as we our selues, af­ter the similitude of God.

O that yee would be­leeue this, and when your sinnes are smitten on the face with the rod of the [Page 168] mouthIsa. 11.4., or with that sharpe two edged sword which goeth out of the mouth of the LordReu. 1.16., ye would reason with your selues, or commune with your owne heart, and be still or speake on this wise one vnto another in the faithfull assemblies: This Preacher speakes with au­thority aboue himselfe, its the very word of God which hee preacheth, the word which he preacheth is quicke and powerfull Heb. 4.12., pier­ceth and diuideth things a­sunder in vs, discerneth the thoughts and intents of our hearts, pulleth downe strong [Page 169] holds 2 Cor. 1 [...] ▪4, 5. casteth downe ima­ginations, and euery high thing that exalteth it selfe a­gainst the knowledge of God; apprehendeth our sins, grap­pleth with them, euinceth them, conuinceth vs, 2 Tim. 2.15 dealeth as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly di­uiding the word of truth, & applying it according to the rule thereof. Are wee not our selues or many of vs hus­bandmen, what doe we our selues in our profession? doe wee cast our seed into vncleane places, or amongst bryars, & thorns, and stones, & rubbish no, we first clense and manure our ground, [Page 170] sowe afterwards our seed, and haue long patience for the precious fruit: besides, in our orchards, when we plant or graffe, doe we suf­fer to grow the fiens of the crab-tree? No, we cut them off, and cleanse the stocke: What then doth the spiritu­all husbandman more in his spheare, than we in ours; be­fore he will sowe the holy seed, or let in the heauenly plant, hee laboureth with great difficulty to prepare the ground where he would sowe, and purge the stocke on which he would ingraffe the word. Must hee there­fore be blamed, or slouenly [Page 171] would we haue him to doe his worke, or negligently, or vnfaithfully? Absit, God for [...]id: This in our owne seruants is not tolerated, much lesse it to bee in the seruants of the Lord Ier. 8.11. To cry peace, peace, when there is no peace, is to heale hurts slightly *; false Prophets will doe it, but otherwise, the man that is sent from God. Consider what I say, and God giue you vnderstanding. The word to be ingraffed, the stock is to bee cleansed: The stocke cleansed, incision for insition is made; a diuision made betweene [Page 172] the soule and the spiritHeb. 4.12 Nomen a­ [...]timae saepe idem valet quod spiri­tus; sed cum simul iun­guntur, pri­us compre­hendit sub se affectus omnes, &c. Caluin. in lic. Allegoria quadam & hyperocha [...]dumbrare v [...]luit Apo­stolus diui­nisermonis vim & effi­caci [...]m, &c. B [...]llinger., naturall things, and spiritu­all things, reason and the light, which is the life of men, the affections and the intellectuall facultie: This diuision Experience rea­cheth tacitè, and conuerts best know how it is. How were the first pric­ked in their hearts, and di­uided in themselues, n [...]t knowing what to doeAct. 2.37., after the incision made, before, before the immis­sion of the heauenly plant? nor doth any man: The word which saueth the soule, of whom re­ceiued without much [Page 173] affliction by the internall diuision, after the infiti­on? Such it is, I thinke, as the groanings of the Spirit, making intercessi­on according to the will of God, it cannot be vtte­red: the Thessalonians receiued the word with much affliction, but what kind of affl [...]ction, or how grieuous it was, he saith not.

Therefore, whensoeuer incision is made, your heart smitten, and smi­ting you being smitten by the word, attend still; or diuided in you selues, all the faculties [Page 174] slit, and clouen the affe­ctions, your reason visi­ted with the day-spring from on high, your vn­derstanding illightened, your soule fainting, your spirit panting, a confl [...]ct begunne, and a striuing within you, as in Rebec­cahs wombe, betweene Esau and Iacob, Nature and Grace. Bee not dis­maied, for this must be, and is, where the word is about to bee ingraffed to the sauing of the soule.

3. Inc [...]sion for insition made; the sien of holy science is infited and set in, the word let in (that [Page 175] heauenly plant by hea­uenly Art) into the vn­derstanding: The sense giuen thereof, and the rea­ding vnderstood.

Therefore hearing the word of the kingdome, apply your heart to wis­dome, and your minde to vnderstand the won­drous things Psal. 119.18. the mysteries which were kept secret since the world began Rom. 16.15. yea, pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication, in the spirit, that it may bee giuen vnto you, to know the mysterie of God Coloss. 2 2. 1 Tim. 3.16., and of godlinesse, that seeing yee may see, that hearing yee [Page 176] may heare and vnder­standMat. 13.16.; Dauid prayed how often? G [...]ue me vn­derstanding, make me to vnderstand; An vnder­standing heart, Salomons hearts desireReg. 3.9.; and Pauls, that the Churches might abound more and morePhil. 1.8, 9. in all knowledge, and in all iudgement, in all wis­dome and spirituall vn­derstanding: This by the Word. The word read or heard, and not vnder­stood, profiteth not; but by reading, and hearing, and prayer made to God, entrance is made into the vnderstanding, heauenly [Page 177] light let in, and worldly darknesse out:Psal. 119, 130, The en­trance of the word giueth light, it giueth vnderstan­ding to the simple.

4. The sien insited, is bound fast, and closed a­bout with all louing affe­ctions stirred vp vnto it; yea, shut vp and riuetted in the heart, to dwell rich­ly therein in all wisdom, not left loose; for graffes so let, fall out anon, or be blowen out.

Therefore loue yee the incitiue word, lest ye lose it vnawares, embrace it with all complacencie of affection, so shall no [Page 178] storme stirre it, nor force amoue it; it is not enough to receiue the word, ex­cept ye receiue the loue of the word; Shall not some be damned because they receiued not the loue of the truth2 Thes. 2.10.? O how I loue thy lawsPsal. 119.97. saith Dauid, it is my meditati­on all the day, yea, day and night the exercise of the blessed man; it is in­closed within him, it is in his heart, and loued with his heart, the heart as soone to be lost as the word ingraffed therein, and incorporated;Psal. 40.8. Psal. 51.6. desi­red in the inward parts, [Page 179] and hidden in the hidden part.

5. Bound fast and clo­sed about the impe of the word inserted; it is con­septed and strengthened, yea, (as an orchard or vineyard with wals and hedges) fenced and forti­fied with holy cares, and godly iealousies, lest wilde and harmefull beasts breake it off, or bite it off, or come nigh it to hurt it. How many caueats hath the Apostle in his Epistles to this pur­pose; Deceiue not your selues; Be not deceiued 1 Cor. 6.9 Gal. 6.7.; Let no man deceiue you with [Page 180] vaine words, Ephes. 5.6.; Let no man beguile you with inticing words; Let no man spoile you through Philosophie and vaine deceit after the tradition of men, or after the rudiments of the world 2 Coloss. 2. [...].. Besides, the beasts of Ephesus 1 Cor. 15.32., and the grieuous woluesAct. 20.29., what care tooke he to de­tect and defeat, to pre­uent and preuincePrauin­cire Gal. 2.5., pro­pugning the truth, op­pugning the aduersaries, not giuing to them place by subiection, no not for an houre, that the Go­spell stablished might continue for euer. Let [Page 181] the same minde be in you which was also in him. The word ingraffed hedge yee about, fence and keepe safe from ma­lignant persons, euill co­gitations, cares, riches, the pleasures of this life, vnbeleefe, Apostasie, and such like. The enuious man will (if he can) make a breach vpon it, and bring in these destroyers; Therefore take yee heed, yea, let him that thinketh he standeth1 Cor. 1 [...] ▪11, 12, take heed lest he fall, or bee surpri­zed in an houre that hee knoweth not.

Finally, fruit is expe­cted [Page 182] to bee had vnto holinesse, and the end euerlasting lifeRom. 6.22.. Sum­mer and winter the plant the same, fat in old age, and flourishing as the Palme tree, not blasted with the winds of other vaine doctrines, not nip­ped with the frosts of hearts hardnesse, or na­tures remissenesse; not beaten downe by the messengers of Satan, buffeting the branches, nor withered so much as in one leafe, with the ex­tremities of the times, but as those that be plan­tedPsal. 92.13. in the house of the [Page 183] Lord, (the1 Cor. 3. [...]. increase giuen of God) fruitfull in old age, and comfortfull in affliction.

Let a man therefore ex­amine himselfe, and bre­thren proue your selues, whether yee haue or no the comforting word, which is the ingraffed word. The heart vn­cleane, incision not made for insition, no si [...]ns im­mitted nor closed about with louing affection, no sensure about it, nor any fruit appearing, it is not ingraffed, nor affordeth it refreshment to the soule that is wearie: But [Page 184] the heart cleane through the word which is spoken, incision made, the impe setled and closed on eue­ry side with embrace­ments of loue, fenced and fruitfull, it is ingraf­fed, and THE WORD, which is comfort in affli­ction.

Remaineth what is ex­pected, De ratione conso­landi, how and in what manner the poore affli­cted are comforted by the word. In Isay 30.21. it is said; Thine eare shall heare a word behinde thee saying, This is the way, &c.Emphaticè verbum au­diendi poni­tur: Deum hic padago­ge comparat, qu [...] pueret sibi ante oc­culas statuit, &c. Marlo­ [...]t. in loc. As pupils from behinde [Page 185] them heare the voice of their Schoolemaster or Tutor teaching and ad­monishing them, so the seruants of the Lord his heauenly-voice, and in their affliction they are (by the word mixed with faith incordiated, hid in the heart, inscribed and ingraffed) informed and comforted as here fol­loweth.

1 By the word through faith, they vnderstand, That afflictions are ef­fects of Gods decree, which is sealed, and re­maineth sure asPsal. 125.1. Mount Sion, not to be remoued; [Page 186] fals a sparrow to the groundMat. 10.29., or an haire from the head without him? The sufferings of the Saints are fore-ordai­ned, as themselues fore­knowneRom. 8.29.. Thus when I remember, I powre out in mee my soule thusPsal 42.4.: Hath God decreed to me, and appointed mee to beare the euill vpon me? I will without any reluctation beare it, the stiffe-necked striue with the yoke to their hurt; it is good to yeeld in youthLam. 3.27., in the first houre, in the last all must. D [...]th Shimei curse mee? The [Page 187] Lord hath bidden him2 Sam. 16.10.: Doth Saul persecute me? Vexed he is with an euill spirit sent from the Lord1 Sam. 19▪ 9.: Doe other men, vnreasonable and wic­ked, insedable and ab­surd, insest, oppose, plot against me, thrust sore at me, that I might fall, and fal into the pit which they haue digged for meGal. 3.1.? [...], they are (as Paul of the Galatians) mad men, distracted in their minds, they know not what they doe; whatIo. 8.44. doe they but the lusts of the deuill? What are they but his agents and instruments? [Page 188] yet permitted all of my Lord & my God to hum­ble me, & to proue meDeut. 8.2., & to know what is in me; whether I wil trust in him, & cleaue to him; orTentatio probatio in, non perditi­onis., it is a tentation of probation, not of destruction. Doth sicknesse afflict me? it is the seruant of the Lord comming and going as the CenturionsMat. 8.8, 9. accor­ding to his word. Doth any pressure or other dis­aster ingrauate or grieue me? nothing happeneth or is done, nor shall hap­pen or bee done vnto me, but what the hand of God and his counsell [Page 189] hath before determined to be doneAct. 4. [...].. Therefore being vile in mine owne eyes, and base in mine owne sight2 Sam. [...].22.; I say as he that went vp barefoot by the ascent of Mount Oliuert 2 Sam. 15 2 [...],; Behold, here I am, let the Lord doe to me as seemeth good vn­to him. Surely hee will not cast off for euer, but though hee cause griefeLam. 3, 32,, yet will he haue compassion; and This is my comfort in my affliction.

2 By the word through faith they vnderstand, That afflictions are argu­ments of the adoption [Page 190] of sonnes vnto GodHeb. 12.6., euery sonne whom hee receiueth, flagellat, hee scourgeth, yet not in his anger, but with iudge­ment, to teach them his iudgements. Impunity a note of bastardy, yea, saith the spiritVerse 8. [...]., if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sonnes. Bastards may escape that increpation, correction, discipline, & nurture, which sons must suffer: many vile seruants haue much more liberty and mony in their purse, than many dears chil­dren.

The naturall sonne, a bod [...]e prepared him, had his eares bored and ope­ned as other mens, Isay 50.6.Isa. 50.6.. A man of sor­rowes, and acquainted with griefesIsa. 53.3., tempted himselfeHeb. 2. vlt., buffeted and smitten, yet not rebelli­ous, neither turned hee away his, backe from the smiters, nor his face from shame and spitting. The adoptiue sonnes (when they are chastened with paine vpon their bed,Iob 33.19, 20, 21, 22. and the multitude of their bones with strong paine, when their life ab­horreth bread, and their [Page 192] soule dainty meat, when their flesh is consumed away, and their bones sticke out, when their soule draweth neare to the graue, and their life to the destroyer) haue also their instructions sealed.

This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus; Wherefore should I feare in the dayes of e­uilPsal. 49.5., when punishment or death, the iniquity of my heeles compasse mee a­bout, it is at the worst but a bruise in the heele. The serpents head is broken, and the hunters snare: [Page 193] I see my selfe now saued from wrath, of which I was by nature the childEph. 2.3.. The childe of God I am adopted, I know it, be­cause chastened, I endure the chastisement. A son without controuersie, of a truth I perceiue it: be­cause I forget not the ex­horation which speaketh vnto me, as vnto a sonne.

My sonne, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be wea­rie of his correction, nei­ther faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loueth, hee correcteth and rebu­keth, [Page 194] euen as a father the sonne in whom hee de­lighteth.Pro. 3.11. and Heb. 12.5, 6. compared. A deare son I amIer. 31.19, 10., I am a pleasant childe, my father which is in heauen taketh plea­sure in nice; his bowels found and are troubled for mee; surely hee will haue mercie on me asha­med of my selfe; surely, hee will delight himselfe in mee: confounded in my selfe, for that I beare the reproach of my youth. Therefore I will, whatsoeuer things I suf­fer, delight my selfe in him. This shall swallow vp my griefes, this shall [Page 195] giue, or cause to bee gi­uen vnto mee the desires of my heartPsal. [...]7.4., this the strength of my life. This the strong consolation; and this is my comfort in my affliction.

3. By the word through faith they vnderstand: That afflictions are eui­dences of the brother­hood in Christ, of confor­mitie to him, of commu­nion with him, the lustre of his image, and the markes thereof, the marks of the Lord Iesus in his members, yea the suffe­rings of ChristPhil. 3.10, and on the whole bodie, which is [Page 196] called Christ1 Cor. 12.12., accom­plished in the brethren which are in the world1 Pet. 4.13., and reflected on him, who is not ashamed to call them, that suffering are sanctified, brethren Heb. 2.11.: Is not his care and sym­pathy expressed?Act. 9.4. perse­cuted hee is in them that beare his name, and his is their reproach:Heb. 11.26.13.13. The re­proach of Christ called.

This when I remember, I powre out in me my soule thus. Why art thou cast downe, ô my soule, and why art thou disquieted within meePsal. 42.5. No bur­then now on thee, that is [Page 197] not now on the brethren abroad. The same affli­ctions1 Pet. 5.9., the same also the sufferings of Christ; not a teare sheddest thou, which hee puts not into a bottle, not one sigh from thy broken heart, which enters not into his open eares; not one gash on thee, of which his soule is not sensible; not one scratch or scarre in thy face, which appeares not in his; not one fur­row on thy backe, which turnes not vpon his. A brother of low degree, yet brother to Iesus Christ in the highest.

Iam. 1.9.Reioyce therefore in that thou art exalted, and run with patience to the race which is set before thee, looking aswell vnto Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of thy faith, thy faithfull brother and bearer of thy griefes,Isa. 53.4. as also to the brethren en­during the same crosse, and despising the shame thereof in the world: If any draw backeHeb. 10.38. whose soule shall haue any plea­sure in such? Nothing hath taken thee, but that which is common,1 Cor. 10.13. com­mon the exinanition to them in the bodie, before [Page 199] the exaltation: and this is my cōfort in my afflictiō.

4. By the word through faith they vnderstand: That afflictions are to­kens of the presence of God, going before his Is­rael out of Aegypt into CanaanDeut 8.2, 3.. Know yee not what hee did to humble them, as they went? Who knoweth not what the presence of a father a­mongst children doth? euen keepe them in awe, or not awefull rebukes are heard, and had stripes. The righteous are recompenced on the earthPro. 11.31, sometimes by the [Page 200] wicked and sinner, The hand of the Lord, and the sword in his hand Psal. 17.4., tur­ning euerie way (as theGen. 3. vlt. Cherubims flaming sword) to keepe them whom hee keepes in the way euerlasting. These recompenced also as they behaue themselues ill in their doings. Ama­lekites their end to bee de­stroyed for euer Num. 24.20.. But Ia­cob not smittenIsa. 27.7. as the smiters of Iacob, nor slaine according to the slaugh­ter of his aduersaries o­uerturned, ouerturned, ouerturned with an ahIsa. 1.24., and damned as Sodom2 Pet. 2.6. [Page 201] with an ouerthrow. The Lords portionDeut. 32.9. is his people, and theirs his ad­uersaries.Exod. 33.14. His presence is alwaies with them, and shall bee to day as yester­day, and so for euer. Might I, with your fauor, change my voice, I might shew you a mysterie to be admired of you.

As the Lord is, so is his Israel, and as they are, so is he in the world 1 Io. 4.17. Nulla est in mundo miseria aut afflictio in quam Deus non respi­ciat, &c. Fonsec. Sab▪ ante Dom. Quadra. Hearing their cries, and seeing their iniuries, he manife­sted himselfe not as a con­suming fire, but as a bur­ning bush, as confined himselfe within a bush, [Page 202] his people straitened in the confines of Aegypt; and they offended as burning himselfe, grie­ued his soule for their miserie, Iudg. 10.16. and afflicted himselfe in all their afflictions, Isa. 63.9. Although hee speake sharply, and deale rough­ly with them, yet he ear­nestly remembers them, Ier. 31.19. and will saue them from their enemies, from the hands of them that hate them, from ma­king of pots, from the iron yoke, from the heat of the fornace.

This when I remember, I [Page 203] powre out in me my soule thus: Doth the Lord beat me with his rod, and strike me with his fl [...]ffe, his rod and his staffe both comfort mePsal. 23.4; His hand not farre off, nor his presence from me, but at hand, and with mee, to deliuer me: Infirmities, reproaches, necessities, distresses enuiron me, yet trembling, and not sin­ning, not resisting, nor rebelling against him that is with mee; as hee in me, I may take pleasure in themIsa. 25.4.; Ths Lord is with me, a mightie terri­ble one, a strength to mee [Page 204] poore, a strength to mee needy in my distresse, a refuge from the storme, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the hor­rible ones is as a storme against the wall2 Cor. 4.8, 9. trou­bled I am on euerie side, yet not distressed; per­plexed, yet not in de­spaire, or not altogether destitute of meanes; per­secuted, yet not forsaken; cast downe, yet not de­stroyed; when I fall, I shall arise, when I sit in darknesse, the Lord is a light vnto meMicah▪ 7.8.; when I am impleaded, hee shall plead my cause, when I [Page 205] am iudged, and in the hands of the wicked, hee will not leaue meePsal. 37.33. but execute iudgement for me: when I am sifted of Satan as wheat, hee will confirme my faith1 Cor. 1.8.: when I am cast downe hee will comfort me.2 Cor. 7.6. Gratious hee is, I know, and am perswaded, that hee will performe all things for mePsal. 57.2, 3., yea send from Hea­uen, all helpes on earth failing, and saue me from them that would swallow me vp. Therefore I cast my selfe on him, I roll, I commit my way vnto himPsal. 37.5, &c. Hee shall bring it [Page 206] to passe, my righteous­nesse as the light, and my iudgement as the noone­day, my refuge is vnder the shadow of his wings, vntill these calamities shall bee ouerpastPsal. 57.1, my rocke he is, my fortresse, my deliuerPsal. 18.1, my buck­ler, my high Tower, my God, and his presence the horne of my saluati­on: And this is my com­fort in my affliction.

5. By the word through faith they vnderstand: That afflictions are the high way vnto heauen Act. 14.12., no walking on pillowes thi­ther, but on thornes and [Page 207] stones, the strait gate not easily entred at, pressing there is and must be vio­lence,Mat. 11, 12. or else no en­trance there. In the broad way is elbow-roome, but thorow the straits, as the blessed goe to the euerla­sting gates, are strong oppositions by the prin­cipalities and powers, by the rulers of the dark­nesse of this world, and the wickednesses in the high placesEph. 6.12.

This when I remem­ber, I powre out in mee my soule thus: The world which now laugh­eth and reioyceth, ma­ketha [Page 208] me, wretched man, to weepe and lament; yet is my sorrow turned into ioy, yea I count it all ioy, when I fall into tempta­tionsIam. 1.2., I am exceeding ioyfull in all my tribula­tions2 Cor. 12.10.; Are they not portalls before the house of God, and the gates of Heauen? Guides and markes they are in the straight street, in the old way to the soules rest, of the new and liuing way to perfection, the foot­steps of Iesus Christ, made perfect he through sufferingsHeb. 2.10, and endured for the ioy that was set [Page 209] before himHeb. 12.3, such oppo­sitions and contradicti­ons of sinners against himselfe, as are written in the volume of the booke, so will I being confident of this verie thing, That the present pressure is the way vnto peace in the after endsPsal. 37.37., the paines of Hell vnto the ioyes of Heauen, the reproaches of Christ to the euerla­sting pleasures, the valley of the shadow of death, the path of righteous­nesse vnto perfection: And this is my comfort in my affliction.

6. By the word through [Page 210] faith they vnderstand: That afflictions are the Porters, which open the doores of distressed soules, that the gratious promises may come in; what are the gracious promises of our God? Verily, to haue mercie on his afflicted, Isay 49.13. according to the multi­tude of his tender mer­cies, Lam. 3.32. to ga­ther them with great mercies, and to haue mer­cie on them with euerla­sting kindnesse, Isay 54.7, 8. to bee with them in trouble, to deliuer them, and honour them, Psal. [Page 211] 91.15. yea, to bee with them for euer, euen vnto the end of the world, Matth. vlt. vlt. neuer to leaue them, neuer to for­sake them, Ios. 1.5. spo­ken first to that great Duke, but applyed by the spirit vnto the little flock of the little ones, Hebr. 13.5. vnto the least of the little ones that be­leeues on Iesus Christ, The Lord hath said, I will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee.

This when I rememher, I powre out in me my soule thus: Pro. 3.10. By sight I see how many liue not by faith, [Page 212] their barnes filled with plenty,Luk, 12.19 and their presses bursting out with new wine, they sing hearts case, and soule take thine case, but the bread of ad­uersity, and water of af­fliction or of oppression giuen.Heb. 11.13 The iust liue by faith, seeing the promise (as the fathers) afarre off, yet saluting them as pre­sent, and embracing the same, as the verie ioy and reioycing of their heart. Therefore it is good for mee to rest my selfe on, and in the promises of God;Ier. 1.12. for hee will hasten his word to performe it: [Page 213] his word he will remem­ber vnto mee his seruant,Psal. 119.149. vpon which he hath cau­sed mee to hope:Heb. 10.35. I will not cast away my confi­dence, which hath great recompence of reward, patience in me shall haue her perfect worke,Iam. 1.4. that I may bee perfect and in­tire, wanting nothing. I will doe the will of God, that I may receiue the promise, yet a little while and hee that shall come,Heb. 10.37. will come, and will not tarrie, euen the God of all grace in a time accep­ted, then shall my light breake forth as the mor­ning, [Page 214] and mine health shall spring forth speedi­ly;Isa. 58.8.10. the day-spring from on high shall visit mee: I shall see in that day,Hab. 2.3. the word in the worke. The vision is yet for an ap­pointed time, but at the end it shall speake, and not lye, though it tarrie, I will wait for it, because it will surely come with refection: And this is my comfort in my affli­ction.

[...].7. By the word through faith they vnderstand: That affliction haue with them power from bone, preseruatiue and [Page 215] sanatiue, had not Ionah beene swallowed of the Whale, he had beene of the sea; and Bethesda's poole healed, when trou­bled: Happ [...]e i [...] the man whom God errecteth, Iob 5.17. This happinesse who can declare? not one, not knowen, ouer­whelmed with a floud, what gulph is escaped, who knoweth? or what malady cured, some mi­serie endured.

This when I remember, I powre cut in mee my soule thus: The smarting rod vpon mee, may bee a sup­porting staffe vnto mee, [Page 216] without it I might fall into a fouler ditch. Had not it, a worse thing might haue happened vnto me: Physick makes sicke before whole, a time of health for this trouble will come, and I will ex­pect it. Behold, my Phy­sitian standeth before the doore, hee looketh vpon mee, and mee hee loo­kethIsa. 66.3. Vt curent spasmum medici pro­curent fe­brim.. This ague to shake me, he doth procure mee to cure a more dange­rous conuulsion in mee: or as Lot was in Sodome, I may bee in this world,Gen. 19.6. and these troubles (as the Angels on him) lay hold [Page 127] on mee, the Lord being mercifull vnto mee to bring me forth, and to set me without the bounds of destruction: I will therefore take in all that come, for in doing this (as other in their tents) I may entertaine, in this earthly tabernacle, An­gels vnawares.Heb. 14. [...] An An­gell sent from God, for some speciall good to me, is my tribulation, and this is my comfort in my affliction.

8. By the word through faith they vnderstand: That afflictions demon­strate faithfull and fruit­full [Page 218] branches. Euerie branch of the vine that beareth fruit is purged, that it may bring forth more fruit.Io. 15.2. [...], defractio­nem parti­um luxu­riantium. Aret. in loc. Fert vberi­orem fru­ctum post refectionem. Aret. vbi sup. Vitis fodi­tur circūci­ditur, sterce­ratur, pu­tatur aliis­que multis exercetur laboribus, &c. Aret. vbi sup. For as after the refection & defracti­on of the parts luxuriant, the branches of the vine yeeld more fruit, so the faithfull in their afflicti­ons, (which are as [...], or rusticke purgations) are the more fruitfull, not pruned at ease, and grow wilde apace, or their grapes wilde, but pur­ged afflicted, wounded within and bruised with­out, euerie gift is stirred vp, and set to work euery [Page 219] grace that is in them; the lights put vnder a bushell before, shine afterwards as in candlestickes set vp­on hills. What vse before of faith, or of patience? before, what hope or ioy in the holy Ghost? As the wine forced runs out of the presse, and as the weights of a clocke turne all the wheeles about, so the loads of afflictions presse out of them that are Christs, the praises of Christ1 Pet. 2.9., and shew forth the hidden vertues of them that are the hidden ones of GodPsal. 83.4..

This when I remember [Page 220] I powre out in me my soule thus: Pinched I am, pru­ned and pared nigh, yea, cut to the quicke, that I bleed in spirit; but needfull the compuncti­on, it is the first degree of inward humiliation; if a wound bee, it is the se­cond, and not hurtfull; nor the third, which is the contrition it selfe. Better is a conscience wounded,D. Slater: Salue for a woun­ded spirit. than a consci­ence seared; better a heart grownd to powder with the millstone of wrath turning about vp­on it, than one dedolent, and past feeling of sin and [Page 221] wrath; better a soule to be lopped in the passions of sinnes, than to be ob­ducted with ranke lusts, or neglected and re­iected. Not meerely poe­nall the wounded spirit in the children of God, as in Cain and Iudas, the beginning of their hell, but either castigatory for the chastisement of some particular disobe­dience, as Dauids, or pro­batory for triall, as Iobs, or percursory for preuen­tion, as Pauls thorne in his flesh, lest through the abundance of reuelati­ons he should be exalted [Page 222] aboue measure,2 Cor. 12. or pur­gatorie, for the clean­sing of vncleane and e­uill thoughts, imagina­tions, and reasonings, touching Gods proui­dence, the word, the profession, the power of nature, selfe-abilitie to conuert, inherent righ­teousnesse, good works, freewill, and security in the arme of flesh. How such sparkles rise in vn­swept chimneyes, the fire blowne with the bel­lowes of hell, who know­eth not, that knoweth the deuices of Satan?Phil. 2. Therefore I will through [Page 223] him that worketh the will and the good deed, giue all diligence to search and try mine own wayes. In euery crooked way I may finde a crosse, [...]. my crosses indigitate mine exorbitancies: As I deprehend them, I will amend them, and bring forth fruit meet for re­pentance, new obedience in all things, the old things in mee shall be­come all new. When I shoot forth,Isai. 27.8. the Lord will in measure debate with mee, and stay the rough wind, in the day of the East wind, when I [Page 224] blossome and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit in its season: for I will approue my selfe as the seruant of Christ,2 Cor. 6.5, 6. in much patience in affli­ctions, in necessities, in distresses, in tumults, in labours by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand, and on the left; by honour and dis­honour, by good report and euill report, as per­secuted, yet not profli­gated, as chastened, and yet not killed, as sorrow­full, and yet reioycing, [Page 225] as pruned being pampi­nous, too full of needlesse sprigges, and superflu­ous twigges, yet not ta­ken away as the fruitlesse branch, nor cast forth, nor withered, nor gathe­red of men, nor cast into the fire, but purged for fructification:Io. 15.6. and this is my comfort in my affliction.

9. By the word of God through faith, they vnder­stand, that afflictions are necessary exercises, Heb. 12.13. a kind of wrestling betweene the Lord and his seruants. Troubles on them, his hands on them, and theirs on him, the [Page 226] right hand of faith.2 Tim. 2.5. Thus it is wrested, and who preuaileth? Alwayes the afflicted, striuing lawful­ly. The lawfull striuing learned of Iacob, Hoseah his interpreter, hee had power with God, and preuailed, for hee wept, and made supplication vnto him, Hos. 11. so may all ouercome, if the Lord may ouercome; the heart yeelded vp, the strife is ended, humbled in the sight of God, im­mediately lifted vp, Iam. 5.10. teares seene, hee yeelds, supplications made, he takes away his [Page 227] hand; the victory with facility had; grieuous the conflict for the pre­sent time, yet ioyous af­terwards;Heb. 12.11. the Lord not let goe, the blessing not obtained.

This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus: Is the euill vpon me, the hand of the Lord, Doth hee thereby wrestle with mee, wretched man that I am, who shall deli­uer mee?Rom. 7.24. Hee will him­selfe hold mee downe with his left, and vphold mee with his owne right hand; my faith his gift;Io. [...].2 [...]. his worke that I beleeue [Page 228] in him, beleeuing in him I cannot, nor shall be cast downe of him, or out of his sight,Gen. 35.25 touched happi­ly the hollow of my thigh, as hee wrestleth with mee, it may slip out of ioynt, or the sinew may shrinke, and I may halt vpon it, but my faith shall not faile. Therefore will I, while the Lord with mee, striue lawfully with him, holding my selfe fast by him, weeping before him, and making inces­sant supplications vnto him: exercised this shall bee my exercise vntill I preuaile, and through [Page 229] him, I shall preuaile with him, he will hold me fast, see my teares,Psal. 6.8. heare the voyce of my weeping;Isai. 38.5. giue mee the petitions that I desire of him, blesse me with the new name,Reuel. 2.17. in the white stone giuen to him that ouercom­meth, I shall haue prince­ly power with God and men.Psal. 118.6. I will not feare what men can doe vnto mee, aduantagious the disaduantage, the agita­tion requisite, lucratiue the luctuation: And this is my comfort in my af­fliction.

Lastly, By the word [Page 230] through faith they vnder­stand: That afflictions precede the ioy of the Lord, and glorie to come, as the pleasures of sinne, destruction and damnation. To them that make their bellies their Gods,Phil. 3.18. and that minde earthly things, as the enemies of the crosse of Christ,Rom. 29, 10. Tribulation and anguish, indignation and wrath; but to them that lye amongst the pots, in stocks, in the dungeon, in the briars and in the bur­ning bushes, induring the fierie triall of their faith, fulnesse of ioy and bright­nesse [Page 231] of glorie, the triall of their faith being much more pretious than of gold which perisheth, though it bee tried in the fire, shall bee found vnto praise, and honour, and glorie, at the appearing of Iesus Christ. The Passouer of the great Reuel. 5.14. tri­bulation celebrated, or the same passed ouer, they shall wash their robes,Phil. 3.21. and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe, their vile bodies also be fashioned like vn­to the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ, shall shine as the firmament, yea as the [Page 232] Sun in the height of his glorie.

This when I remember, I powre out in me my soule thus: Of a truth I perceiue,Rom. 8.18. that the sufferings of the present time are not wor­thy to bee compared to the glorie which shall be reuealed in me, I reckon not the temporall euill, but haue respect to the eternall good: I faint not,2 Cor. 4.16, 17. for though mine out­ward man perish, mine inward is renewed day by day, my light afflicti­on which is but for a mo­ment, worketh for mee a far more exceeding and [Page 233] eternall weight of glorie. Therefore vnder my pres­sures,Rom. 2.10. I will by patient continuance in well-do­ing, seeke for glorie, and honour, and immortali­tie, and eternall life; for I am perswaded, that nei­ther tribulation, nor di­stresse, nor persecution; nor famine,Rom. 8.3 [...] nor naked­nesse, nor perill, nor sword, nor death, nor life, nor Angels, nor princi­palities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to preuent the ioy, or to se­parate [Page 234] me from the glorie to come, the spirit of glo­rie resteth already on me, and full is my heart of ioy in the Holy Ghost. The God of all grace hath by Christ Iesus called me in­to his eternall glorie, and after that I haue suffered a while,1 Pet. 5.10. will cause mee to enter into his ioy, which is fulnesse of ioy, and crowne mee with his glorie, which is eternall glorie. To him be glorie and dominion, for euer and euer, Amen.