A Cordial for the Afflicted, Text (4 of 5)

A Cordial for the Afflicted · Text (4 of 5)

p. 357Such as ſeek unto others, and not unto the Lord in affliction, do wait upon lying vanities, and forſake their own mercy, Ion. 2.8. They have inherited lies and vanity, wherein there was no profit, Jere. 16.19. Therefore if thou deſireſt p. 358abilitie and ſtrength to beare thine afflictions, go unto the Lord for it, Power belongeth unto God, Pſalm. 62.11. The God of Iſrael is hee that giveth ſtrength and power unto his people. Pſalm. 68.35. And ſo the Prophet Eſay ſpeaketh; Hee giveth ſtrength unto him that fainteth, and unto him that hath no ſtrength, hee increaſeth power, Eſay 40.29. Say not therefore in time of trouble, mine affliction is greater then I can beare: for though thou beeſt weak and ready to ſink under thy burthen, yet the Lord hath made thee a promiſe, that hee will uphold thee with his hand. So that though thou canſt do little of thy ſelfe, thou maiſt be able to do all things through the help of Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth p. 359thee, Phil. 4.13. Go therefore boldly to the throne of grace, that ſo thou maiſt receive merciemercy, and find favor to help thee in the time of thy need. Truſt in the Lord, and he will helpe, and ſave thee; for who ever hoped in God and was aſhamed? Commit thy ſelfe, and thy condition to God, and he will ſtand by thee, and helpe thee, he will not be abſent from thee over long. Fall down at his footſtoole, make him thy hope, and fortreſſe, in whom thou wilt alwayes truſt, and he will imbrace thee in love, he will lay thee upon the ſhoulders of his gracious Providence, and protection, hee will bind up all thy wounds, he will heale and cure all thy diſeaſes, hee will refreſh thy feebleneſſe, p. 360he will comfort thine afflicted ſpirits, he will put under his hand, ſo as thou ſhalt not faint under thy burden, and in his good time will put away all penſiveneſſe, and mourning from thee. Therefore if thou bee able to hold up thy head in any ſtorme, if thou fainteſt not in the day of adverſitie, if thou ſtandeſt faſt, and quit thee like a man; ſay not, my power, or my ſtrength hath carried mee thorow this affliction, or made mee able to ſtand under this burthen: but as Moſes ſpeakes to the Iſraelites, concerning their outward ſubſtance, Remember the Lord thy God, for it is be that giveth thee power, Deut. 8.18. So muſt thou ſay, I have no ability to undergoe any affliction, but that which the Lord p. 361is pleaſed to help me withall.

Object. But will ſome poore weather-beaten ſoul ſay, Hitherto the Lord hath ſupported mee, but my heart now begins to faint, I feel my ſpirits to abate, and my ſtrength begins to decay; therefore if the Lord do not ſpeedily deliver mee, and ſend me eaſe the ſooner, I feare I ſhall ſinke under mine affliction, I can beare it no longer.

Anſw. What, is the Lords hand ſhortened? Numb. 11.23. Is the Lords power weakened, that hee cannot helpe thee for time to come, as well as he hath hitherto ſupported thee; Is the Lords ſtaffe ſo weake that thou dureſt not truſt unto it?

Or is the Lord unfaithfull, p. 362to leave thee and forſake thee? No, no; the Lord is where he was, as ready at hand, as willing and as able to helpe thee, and ſtand by thee, as ever hee was, if thou by thine unbeleef do not put his ſtrength from thee: for if ye beleeve not, ſurely ye ſhall not he eſtabliſhed, Eſay 7.9. Whereas if yee put your truſt in the Lord your God, yee ſhall be aſſured, 2. Chron. 20.20. For I am the Lord, I change not; and yee ſonnes of Jacob are not conſumed, Malac. 3.6. Therefore though thy fleſh faileth, and thine heart alſo, as Davids did, yet God is the ſtrength of thine heart, and thy portion for ever, Pſalm. 73.26. Truſt therefore in the Lord, and ſtill wait upon him, for they that wait upon the Lord, ſhall p. 363renew their ſtrength, they ſhall lift up their wings as the Eagles: they ſhall runne and not bee weary, and they ſhall walke and not faint, Eſay, 40.31.

Againe,Go to God for iſſue and deliverance. if all our afflictions come from God, it will bee our wiſdom to go unto him for iſſue, and deliverance out of them: Call upon me in the day of trouble, ſo will I deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie mee. Pſalm. 50.15. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will bring my feet out of the net, Pſal. 25.15. Joſeph was unjuſtly caſt into priſon by his too credulous and unrighteous maſter, but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions. Act. 7.9.10. If ever thou hopeſt to be healed, or helped out of, or in p. 364any affliction, it muſt be by the Lord his hand. Refuſe not the chaſtening of the Almighty (ſaith Eliphaz) for he maketh the wound, and bindeth it up: he ſmiteth; and his hands make whole. Hee ſhall deliver thee in ſix troubles, and in the ſeventh, the evill ſhall not touch thee. Job 5.17, 18, 19.

Hereupon they call one to another. Hoſ. 6.1. Come, let us return to the Lord, for he hath ſpoiled us, and hee will heale us: hee hath wounded, and hee will bind us up.

As the Lord took his time to bring thee into trouble, ſo hath he his time ſet for thy deliverance. To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to every purpoſe under heaven, Eccleſ. 3.1. p. 365Gods Providence hath ſet and limited the time how long his children ſhall ſuffer, and bee afflicted. Revel. 2.10. Yee ſhall ſuffer tribulation ten dayes.

This time thou canſt not ſhorten, but lengthen it thou mayſt, through thy impatience. As an earthly father correcting his childe for ſome fault, doth reſolve with himſelf to give him but a laſh, or two; to keep him but a while under the rod, if hee take his correction patiently; but if he kicke or murmurre, hee reſolves to hold him down the longer, and give him the more ſtripes. Even ſo our heavenly Father deales with his children: the more patiently wee take our affliction, the ſooner wee are like to come p. 366out of it, The patient abiding of the righteous ſhall be gladneſſe, Prov. 10.28. Truſt in the Lord and thou ſhalt bee ſafe. Hee that beleeveth maketh not haſte, Eſay 28.16. But is content to tarry the Lords leiſure. Many are ready to compound and indent with God; thus long they will wait, thus long they will pray, and if by that time no helpe, nor deliverance come, they will give over in their impatient mood, as the meſſenger of the King of Iſrael ſaid, Behold this evill commeth of the Lord, ſhould I attend the Lord any longer? 2. Kings 6.33. O beware of ſuch thoughts, but let thy heart bee in the feare of the Lord continually: for ſurely there is an end, and thy hope ſhall not be cut off, Prov. 23, p. 36717, 18. Wee cannot denie but, The hope that is deferred is the fainting of the heart, but when the deſire commeth, it is a tree of life, Prov. 13.12. The longer the Lord delaies our deliverance, the ſweeter will it bee when it comes. Wait therefore with patience, ſeeing the Lord by his writing, ſeal, and oath, hath promiſed to deliver us out of all our troubles. And what hee hath promiſed, hee will moſt certainly perform; for though God may bee angry with us for our ſinnes, yet he cannot be unfaithfull, though he may, like Joſeph, conceale his affection for a time, yet impoſſible it is that he ſhould ſhut up his compaſſions, and renounce the protection of ſuch as depend upon him, or denie deliverance p. 368to ſuch as do ſeek aright unto him. Therefore, Who is there amongſt you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his ſervant that walketh in darkneſſe, and hath no light, let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God. Eſa. 50.10. By darkneſſe is heere underſtood affliction, out of which the Lord will aſſuredly bring all ſuch as ſeek unto him, and reſt upon him. Beware of making more haſte then good ſpeed to procure freedom from our deliverance out of troubles by unlawfull and ſinfull courſes.

Wee rob the Lord of a great deal of honor, and our ſelves of a great deal of comfort, which wee ſhould reap by waiting upon the p. 369Lord. Too many are ready to thinke, that if they have ſome little time beſought the Lord, that hee (forſooth) is bound preſently to anſwer them. As thoſe hypocrites, Eſay 58.3. expoſtulated the matter with the Lord ſaying, Wherefore have wee faſted, and thou ſeeſt it not? wee have puniſhed our ſelves, and thou regardeſt it not. Some are ready to cry with David, How long, how long Lord, wilt thou forget me for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from mee? Pſal. 13.1. Againe, Have mercy upon mee O Lord, for I am weake, O Lord heal me, for my bones are vexed. My ſoul is alſo ſore troubled, but Lord how long wilt thou delay? Pſal. 6.2, 3.

Beware of meaſuring the Lord by thine own line and p. 370plummet; let not thy carnall reaſon, or fleſhly wiſdom ſeem to direct or limit Gods Providence, thou maieſt not joyn thine own fantaſies to Gods will, but what thou ſeekeſt at his hands, thou muſt commend it to his good pleaſure, without ſaying to thy ſelfe, Let it be thus, or ſo. God doth many times delay his children, and not by and by afford them that helpe, and comfort which he intendeth them: yea, ſometimes he ſuffers them to be ready to ſink, before he ſaves them. As he dealt with his Diſciples, who were toſſed up and down of the waves, the ſhip reeling too and fro, and ready to be overwhelmed before hee would awake, and bid the tempeſt be ſtill: yet when he p. 371ſaw time, hee rebuked the winde, and ſeas, and delivered his Diſciples from their danger, and feare: Know and beleeve that the meaſure, and iſſue of any tentation belongeth unto God. Therefore howſoever the caſe ſtandeth with thee, expoſtulate not with God, entertain no hard conceits of him. The Lord in wiſdom may delay our deliverance out of affliction, becauſe haply hee ſees that it hath not as yet throughly wrought upon us, nor done us that good he intendeth us. Do Goldſmiths uſe to take their mettall out of the fornace before it be fined from the droſſe? There be ſome kind of plaiſters applied to the bellies of children, which will ſticke faſt ſo long as the p. 272wormes bee alive, but if the bed of them be broken, and they killed, the plaiſter will fall off: and ſo of many ſores. If affliction ſtill cleave unto thee, it is becauſe ſinne is not yet killed in thee. This plaiſter lieth on us no longer then till the ſore be whole, and the diſeaſe be cured in us. It may be the Lord ſees wee are not fit for deliverance, wee would too quickly forget the rod, and return to our own byas, if hee ſhould by and by eaſe us, as ſoon as wee cry unto him. It may be the Lord ſees wee would not be thankfull enough for deliverance, if it ſhould bee granted upon the firſt requeſt.

Things lightly attained unto, are oft times ſlightly p. 273regarded. Whereas thoſe things which we get through the pikes, wee prize at a high rate. Therefore thou forgetteſt thy ſelfe, and the Word of truth, in ſaying, God hath forgotten to be mercifull and gracious, becauſe he doth not by and by anſwere thee. Can a woman forget her childe, and not have compaſſion on the ſon of her wombe? Peradventure there may bee ſome ſuch unnaturall monſters, that caſt off all naturall affection, and lay violent hands upon their children; but though they forget, yet will I not forget thee, ſaith the Lord, and for aſſurance hereof, Behold, I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands, Eſay. 49.15, 16. When wee are afraid, wee ſhall forget a thing, we tye p. 374a thred about our finger, for our better remembring thereof; but when wee tie threds upon both hands, wee then make ſure wee will not forget it; thus doth the Lord ſet down his children, in the palmes of both hands, that they may not be forgotten. Therefore ſtill wait, and deliverance will come, when thou doſt leaſt think of it.

Object. I have no hope; I cannot thinke I ſhall be delivered.

Anſw. Gods thoughts are not your thoughts, Eſay, 55.8. You know your own thoughts, you know not Gods, Jerem. 29.11. I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you, ſaith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evill, to give you an expected end.

p. 375Object. But I ſee no way, no means of comfort.

Anſw. Gods wayes are not your wayes, Eſay, 55.8. The Lord hath his wayes many times in the deep, many times in the darke and ſecret. Haply deliverance ſhall come ſome other way then thou canſt imagine, or thinke of. When thou thinkeſt comfort and deliverance is fartheſt off, it may be neare at hand; yea, when thou ſeeſt leaſt likelyhood of it: for, In the mount will the Lord be ſeen, Gen. 22.14. It may be thou ſeeſt no means, but the Lord can worke without means; yea, by contrary meanes, that his wiſedome and power may appeare the more in thy deliverance. What means had Daniel to ſave him from the fury of p. 376thoſe hungry and devouring Lyons? yet you know the Lord did deliver him.

Therefore, Commit thy way unto the Lord, and truſt in him, and hee ſhall bring it to paſſe, Pſalm. 37.5. So that all things conſidered, wee have little cauſe to bee diſquieted in our afflictions, ſeeing our heavenly Father ſendeth them in love for our great good? and leſſe cauſe we have to fret, or be diſheartned if they tarry by us longer then wee would have them; for when wee are fit for deliverance wee ſhall bee ſure of it; In the mean time, if dangers, or feares do increaſe upon thee, ſay to the Lord as good King Jehoſaphat, 2. Chron. 20.12. Wee know not what to do, but our p. 377eyes are towards thee. Conſider into what great diſtreſſe and ſtrait the Lord brought the people of Iſrael when they came out of Egypt; the ſea before them, their enemies behind them, death (as it were) round about them, yet how miraculouſly did the Lord make way for them?

So aſſure thy ſelfe whatſoever thy trouble, or danger bee, the Lord will one way or other give iſſue to his glory and thy good, although thou ſeeſt not how; becauſe hee is the ſame God, no changeling in his goodneſſe towards his children.

It is a ſweet motto which one hath; I ſuffer, I hope. Fero, ſpero.Though ſorrows and afflictions increaſe upon thee, yet p. 378give not over thy confidence, but reſolve with holy Job, Loe though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him, Job 13.15. The motion of a thing, the neerer it comes to the center, the ſwifter it is. Doth thy ſorrow, thy paine, thy trouble increaſe upon thee? hope it is neere at an end. The children of Iſrael, the neerer they were unto comfort and deliverance, the ſorer grew their afflictions, and the greater were the burthens which their cruell taske-maſters layd upon them; and ſo doth the Lord oft deale in other kindes, with his children. Therefore wait with patience, ſeeing the Lord many times doth (ſuddenly) turne tragedies into comedies, ſorrow into joy, as he dealt with his people in Eſters p. 379dayes, to day in heavineſſe, through feare of being ſwallowed up, and made a prey unto their enemies, to morrow triumphing over their enemies, and treading them underneath their feet, Eſter, 8.15, 16. For what thing can there bee under Heaven ſo heavie upon the heart of his children,Note. which the Lord cannot remove, and put joy in the place of it before the day be light? Therefore hope in the Lord, and bee ſtrong, and hee ſhall comfort thine heart, Pſalm. 27.14. Be cheerefull therefore in thy affliction.

Object. Some will be ready to ſay, I hope I hurt no body by my ſadneſſe;but they are deceived, for,

Anſw. Vncheerfulneſſe doth much hurt.Firſt, they wrong the Lord by their uncheerfulneſſe, p. 380not only in going, and doing againſt his word, which willeth us to bee joyfull in the Lord, as Pſal. 32.11. Be glad ye righteous, and rejoyce in the Lord: and bee joyfull all ye that are upright in heart: but they do alſo wrong the Lord, in robbing him of that honor and praiſe which they might bring unto him by their rejoycing in affliction.

Secondly, they wrong if not hurt their brethren, being occaſions of diſcouragement and diſheartning them, making them to feare, and doubt of Gods goodnes, and their own abilitie, to bear any burden which the Lord ſhall lay upon them, ſeeing others or longer ſtanding in Chriſt his ſchool, and of greater knowledge, to ſhrink and p. 381buckle under their affliction.

Thirdly, they wrong their profeſſion, by opening the mouthes of thoſe that are without, or by putting a ſtumbling-blocke before them, cauſing them to abhorre the way and practiſe of godlineſſe, when they ſee ſo great troubles to attend upon it, and ſo little courage and cheerefulneſſe in thoſe that profeſſe it.

Fourthly and laſtly, they wrong and hurt themſelves not only by diſinabling and indiſpoſing themſelves to the generall, and particular dueties of their callings (for a joyfull heart cauſeth good health: but a ſorrowfull ſpirit dries up the bones, Prov. 17.22. that is, makes the body p. 382weake, and feeble: for a man is ſaid to bee in his full ſtrength, when his bones run full of marrow, Job, 21.23, 24.) but alſo in ſpoiling themſelves of that peace, and comfort which they might enjoy by their cheerfull undergoing of afflictions; and looſing that holy vigor, and ſtrength they might partake of by rejoycing in the Lord, for the joy of the Lord is your ſtrength, Nehe. 8.10.

Beſides, by their lumpiſhneſſe they make themſelves unfit for holy dueties; they cannot ſerve God as they ſhould, being oppreſſed with ſadneſſe. For we are to ſerve the Lord with gladneſſe of heart. Serve the Lord in feare, and rejoyce before him, Pſal. 2.11.

How can any ſerve God p. 483joyfully, or praiſe him heartily, when the heart is laden with griefe, and the mind oppreſſed with ſorrow? If no joy in the ſweet promiſes of God, what delight can be had in his worſhip and ſervice?

And laſt of all, they expoſe themſelves unto Satans tentations: when they are dejected with worldly ſorrow, then are they baits for Satan to catch at, and fit ſubjects for him to worke upon.

How many have been brought to a ſhamefull and miſerable end, through Satans ſubtiltie and malice, working upon them, and taking them at advantage in the time of their ſorrow, and heavineſſe? So that it is evident that ſuch by their p. 384ſadneſſe, oft times do wrong both others, and themſelves.

But admit it were ſo (as you ſee it is falſe) that wee hurt no body but our ſelves by our ſadneſſe, is this a ſufficient warrant to bear us out in our lumpiſhneſſe?

In what court was that commiſſion ſealed unto us, which gives us liberty to harme, or wrong our ſelves? Are wee not delinquents againſt Gods law, and the law of nature, in offring wrong unto our ſelves? Therefore ſeeing thy afflictions are but for a ſeaſon, hold faſt the Confidence, and the rejoycing of thy hope unto the end, Heb. 3.6. Live by faith, and (as the Prophet exhorteth) enter into thy chambers, and ſhut p. 385thy doores after thee: hide thy ſelfe for a little while untill the indignation paſſe over, Eſay 26.20. By chambers, the Prophet meanes a quiet and peaceable conſcience, into the which he would have us ſequeſter our ſelves all the while the ſtorme of affliction bloweth, that ſo with patience we may waite for the event of them.

And whereas he exhorteth us to ſhut the doore after us, hereby he perſwades us unto courage & conſtancy; or elſe to keep our ſelves cloſe from Satans temptations, that he may find no chink nor crevis open, whereby he may enter into us, to diſturbe us; for, if our hearts lie but a little open, ſo as he may have but the leaſt advantage, he is at hand to diſquiet p. 386and perplex us. And whereas he bids us to hide our ſelves, he would have us to enjoy a ſecure freedom under Gods promiſe and pretection; in faith and humility we ſhould ſhrowd our ſelves under Gods wings that ſo he may keep us from inordinate fears and terrors, untill the affliction be paſt, which is but as a cloud or ſtorm, that will not laſt alwaies, but will blowe over ere it be long, and be at an end. Therefore be cheerefull in thine afflictions. Againe, in that it is ſaid, As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten; not barely I rebuke and chaſten you, but I rebuke and chaſten as many as are deere unto me, or beloved of me; this manner of ſpeech is uſed for the confirmation p. 387of our faith in time of trouble, and to keep us from ſinking through grief or deſpaire. For what argument can bee more forcible to perſwade us to the quiet and patient bearing of our afflictions then to beleeve they be Gods love-tokens ſent us for our good:Doctr. 3. Perſwaſion of Gods love will helpe us to beare our affliction. Whence mee may learne this Inſtruction, that A great helpe to keep us from ſinking, and to enable us to beare up our heads with patience and cheerfullneſſe in the time of affliction, is to be perſwaded of Gods love, in afflicting of us. This hath been in part touched before, therefore I ſhall bee the briefer in the point. How fearefull our nature is of troubles, how unwilling the fleſh is to taſte of the cup of affliction; yea p. 388how we labor to ſhift and avoyde it with a kinde of abhorring it, common experience teacheth us. And the miſtruſt of Gods providence and love wherewith naturally the beſt are infected, makes us to ſhun and avoyd afflictions as much as poſſibly wee can, leſt wee ſhould not bee able to grappie, and encounter with them. Wherein as wee bewray much weakneſſe, ſo do wee expreſſe great incredulity: for hereby we do manifeſtly ſhew that wee thinke that God in afflicting doth not love us, and that therefore hee cannot or will not helpe us to beare them, that hee cannot or will not bring us fairely off them. Therefore let us not give way to carnall reaſon, nor heare p. 389what fleſh and blood ſhall ſuggeſt unto us, but what is delivered from the Word of truth, which tels us, that the Lord correcteth him whom he loveth, even as the father doth the childe in whom hee delighteth, Prov. 3.12. If wee give eare to carnall wiſdome it will tell us, ſurely if God loved us, he would not thus afflict us. As if our afflictions were a wall of ſeparation twixt Gods love and us. But what ſaies Paul, Ro. 8.38, 39. I am perſwaded that neither 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 ſeparate us from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus. This ſtrong perſwaſion p. 390of Gods love; carried Paul on cheerfully in his troubleſome pilgrimage, and made him joyfull in all his ſorrowes and afflictions. Thus ſtrongly ſhould wee bee perſwaded of Gods love; for hath not the Lord ſaid, Eſay 54.10. The mountaines ſhall remove and the hils ſhall fall downe, but my mercy, and love ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the covenant of my peace fall away: as if hee ſhould have ſaid, though the whole world be turned topſy turvy, and heaven, and earth do meet together, yet ſtandeth ſtill my love and affection firm to theewards. The change and alteration of our outward eſtate and condition cauſeth no change of Gods love; for hee is ſtill p. 391the ſame unto us and with us, though the face and faſhion of the world goeth away 1. Cor. 7.31. The things of this life are mutable, and our condition is ſubject to daily change and alteration. Times have their viciſſitudes, to day it is well with us, to morrow ill; to day at eaſe, to morrow in paine: to day we have ſomething, to morrow leſſe, it may be nothing; to day in honor, to morow in diſgrace, ſeldome continuing in one ſtay. In which variable condition of ours, and amids all changes and chances of this life, here is comfort to the child of God, that God is the ſame and changeth not, but as he now loveth him ſo hee will for ever continue loving and p. 392gracious to him, John 13.1. And hoſoever we cannot tell what ſhall bee to morrow, James 4.14. wee know our beginning (as the old ſaying is) but we know not what our end ſhall be; as Paul went up to Jeruſalem but knew not what things ſhould come unto him there, Acts 20.22. Yet ſuch is our happineſſe and comfort; that come what will come, no event whatſoever can keepe back, or turne away Gods love from us: and though our ſtate be changed, yet Gods love to us is not changed, but ſtill the ſame, as true, and as intyre as over it was. My enemies may take away my liberty, my goods, my good name, my deare friends, and that which of all other things is p. 393moſt deare unto me, even my life; but I have one Jewwell, all the devils in hell, all the powers of darkenes, all the rage and malice of the world can never ſpoile me of, they cannot rob me of the love of my God. This confidence and perſwaſion of Gods love and favor beares up the godly from ſinking under the burden of their affliction, and makes them cheerfull, when as the wicked wanting this aſſurance are either ſenceleſſe, or elſe faithleſſe and impatient under the croſſe. The faithfull making God and his favor their portion and happineſſe, enjoy this priviledge in time of adverſity, as well as in the day of proſperity, and therefore their hearts (or their deſire p. 394is to) bee as joyfull when they are in trouble and afflictions as if they were moſt free from them: Whereas the wicked placing their whol felicity in theſe earthly things their profits, pleaſures, &c. When their wealth, and worldly things faile, their joy, their hope and comfort ends with them: Theſe have nothing but nature to helpe them beare their burdens: Whence it commeth to paſſe that infidelity and impatience do make them more grievous and burdenſome; whereas the faithfull having the perſwaſion of Gods love, and the preſence of his Spirit to ſupport them, take comfort in their troubles during the time of their tryall, and wait for a ſeaſonable and cumfortable p. 395iſſue and deliverance out of them. So that it is a truth not to be queſtioned, that the perſwaſion of Gods love in afflicting of us, is a great help to keepe us from ſinking under afflictions, and to enable us with patience, and cheerfullneſſe to undergo them: this perſwaſion will carry us on comfortably in our pilgrimage, it will make us willing to beare whatſoever the Lord ſhall be pleaſed to lay upon us, and to want that which wee ſee, hee is not willing wee ſhould injoy. Wee rejoyce in tribulations, ſaith Paul, Rom. 5.3. becauſe the love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghoſt which is given us, verſe, 5.

Reaſon 1 Becauſe God will helpe our croſſe.And that firſt of all, becauſe he that is perſwaded p. 396of Gods love, cannot but beleeve that God will helpe him to beare his croſſe, and to undergo his affliction, bee it what it will. For God is faithfull and will not ſuffer his to be tempted above that they are able to beare, 1. Cor. 10.13.

Object. But I am weake (ſaith one) and I ſhall never bee able to beare ſuch or ſuch trials: if the Lord laies any more upon mee I ſhall never beare it.

Anſw. Comfort thy ſelfe, God will either make thee able, or elſe hee will lighten and leſſen thy affliction. Thy God who loves thee, will put to his hand, hee will helpe at a dead lift, his power is made perfect through weakneſſe, 2. Cor. 12.9. Hee loves thee and therefore p. 397will not overloade thee. His grace ſhall bee ſufficient for thee. Therefore ſay as did Jeremy, O Lord thou art my force and my ſtrength, and my refuge in the day of affliction, Jer. 16.19.

Reaſon 2 God intends our good in afflicting us.Secondly, the perſwaſion of Gods love will be helpfull unto us to the cheerfull bearing of affliction, becauſe if wee beleeve that God loves us, wee know that he intends our good in afflicting of us, yea, will do us good by our affliction, For hee chaſteneth all his children for their profit, Heb. 12.10. It is good for me (ſaith David) that I have been afflicted, Pſal. 119.71.

Haply wee can ſee no good that is like to come unto us, out of this affliction, or that trouble, but rather evill or p. 398hurt; yet through the goodneſſe and wiſdome of the Lord, good ſhall bee extracted out of this evill, as the beſt treacle is made of deadly poyſon. When we are in a courſe of Phyſick, at the firſt wee ſee not, we feel not any good it doth us, but it makes us rather worſe then wee were before: and cauſeth many a ſicke qualme, many a fainting fit, and we wiſh the Phyſick had never been preſcribed unto us, or not taken of us: but when wee conſider of whom wee tooke it, even from him whoſe judgement and knowledge we approve of, whoſe care and love wee doubt not of, then we are the more quieted and pluck up our ſpirits in expectation, and hope of eaſe, ere p. 399it be long. It may be thou findeſt no good thine affliction hath yet done thee, it being now working upon thee; Yet if thou canſt but reſt a while and bee perſwaded of the wiſdome, and love of God, who hath adminiſtred this phyſick unto thee, thou wilt bee contented, and looke for good to follow it: When rhe ſonnes of Zerviah, would faine have been doing with that dead dogge Shimei, for curſing their Lord and Maſter no, no, ſaies David, ſuffer him to curſe, it may be the Lord will looke upon mine affliction, and do mee good for his curſing this day. 2. Sam. 16.11, 12. But the Apoſtle Paul being more full of faith, putting the queſtion paſt peradventure, hee puts p. 400it out of queſtion, reſolves and builds upon it, wee know that all things worke together for the beſt to thoſe that love God, Rom. 8.28. Now wee know that every one that loves God, is beloved of God, for wee love him becauſe he loved us firſt, Iob 4.19. How cheerfully do wee uſe to welcome thoſe that bring us but tidings of good? but if any one brings us any great benefit, we thinke wee cannot bid him too welcome; Is affliction come unto thee? Welcome it, for certainly (if thou beeſt the Lords) I dare boldly (as David ſaid of Abimaaz the ſonne of Zadock, Hee is a good man and commeth with good tydings, 2. Sam. 18.27.) ſay of affliction, it is a good thing and bringeth p. 401not only tydings of good, but good it ſelfe unto thee. For no ſooner comes affliction to Gods children, but, if it be welcomed, good will bee at the heels thereof to follow after it.

Reaſon 3 No miſery can make Gods people miſerable.Thirdly, it cannot bee but the perſwaſion of Gods love, will make us cheerfull in affliction, becauſe being beloved of God, no miſery can make us miſerable. Art thou in Gods favor, then thou art ever in his eye, he lookes after thee, and is carefull that no evill ſhall befall thee? Nay thou art unto him, as the apple of his eye, Zach. 2.8. tender, and deere unto him, and therefore whatſoever danger doth beſet thee, the Lord will bee at thy right hand to uphold and p. 402comfort thee. Being in Gods favor, thou art ſure of his protection, for thou Lord wilt bleſſe the righteous, and with favor wilt compaſſe him, as with a ſhield Pſa. 5.12. Noah was ſafe enough in that great and deadly deluge, becauſe the Lord prepared an arke for him, and ſhut him up. Daniel was ſafe enough amongſt the Lyons, becauſe God ſent his Angel ſhut the Lyons mouths, that they could not hurt him, Dan. 6.22. The Lord hath made a gracious promiſe, that When thou paſſeſt thorow the waters he will be with thee, and thorow the floods, that they do not overflow thee. When thou walkeſt thorow the fire, &c. Eſay 43.2. from p. 403whence is this? it followes in the 4. verſe becauſe thou waſt precious in my ſight and thou waſt honorable, and I loved thee.

Therefore if God love thee, thou art happy, thou canſt not be miſerable, Nay, ſhall I ſpeake boldly unto thee? I tell thee, if thou wert (if poſſible) in Hell, in the deepeſt gulfe of calamity that can bee, yet for all this being beloved of God, thy eſtate and condition is happy, hee will gaine glory and thou ſhalt get good by all that evill which hath or ſhall befall thee.

Reaſon. 4 Nothing can ſeparate us from God.Fourthly and laſtly, the aſſurance of Gods love will make us willing to bear our affliction, becauſe we know that nothing can ſeparate us p. 404as was ſaid before) from this love of God, but being once beloved of him, we ſhall ſo continue for ever. It is not all the wit, or will, the cunning or ſubtilty, the power, or pollicy of all the creatures on the face of the earth or underneath the earth, let there bee a confederacy amongſt them, yea let them all caſt in their lot and make one common purſe, Prov. 1.14 to do thee miſchief; let them all plod, plot, combine, and bandy themſelves againſt thee, they ſhall never bee able to winde thee out of Gods love or favor, if once beloved of him. It is poſſible that thou mayeſt loſe the love and favor of the World, and the more, becauſe thou art p. 405beloved of God; for the World loves none but her owne brats, Joh. 15.19. It is a very ſtepdame or rather beldame to all that are beloved of God. It is poſſible that thy friends may become thy foes, and their former love may be turned into future hatred. It is poſſible that thoſe that are neareſt and deareſt unto thee, may reject thee, Yet though thy father and thy mother ſhould forſake thee, the Lord will not, he will take the care of thee, Pſal. 27.10. If God hath once choſen thee for his own, and ſet his love upon thee, whether thou beeſt in health or in ſickneſſe, in eaſe or in paine, in proſperity or adverſitie, in life or in death all is one, God loveth thee p. 406nevertheleſſe. Before he ſhewed thee his love, he knew what would befall thee; yea nothing (as wee have heatd) can betide thee but that which he intended and provided in love for the; ſo that whether you live or die, you are the Lords, Rom. 14.8.

The Lord for ſpecial ends may give thee over unto afflictions, he may give thee up into the hands of thoſe that hate thee (yea even unto the death) and therfore will take away thy life from thee, As it is written, for thy ſake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as ſheep for the ſlaughter, Rom. 8.36. Yet none of theſe, nay, not all theſe put together can any whit diminiſh or abate the love of God towards thee, much p. 407leſſe ſpoile thee wholly of it, and take it cleane away from thee, when they have done the worſt they can againſt thee or unto thee. When thou art plunged into the deepeſt diſtreſſe that might, or malice can bring thee into, thou art ſtill as deere and precious in the Lords eye as ever thou wert: nay (if it were poſſible) deerer now then ever thou wert before, if thoſe troubles and afflictions which thine enemies have deviſed and brought upon thee, be for righteouſneſſe ſake.

One friend may love another deerely, yet when the one ſhall expoſe himſelf to danger or trouble for the others ſake; when I ſee my frend hath not regarded his life for my good, but adventured p. 408and hazarded his own life in my defence and ſafety; how doth this increaſe mine affection towards him? as it was ſaid of Jonathan, his ſoule was knit with the ſoule of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own ſoule, 1 Sam. 18.1. So this will knit my heart and love unto him, and I ſhal love him as mine own ſoule. How much more then may we be aſſured, that if our afflictions be for Gods cauſe, in his defence, he will abundantly recompence, and more deerely love us? Then let no man ſay that he is leſſe beloved of God then others, becauſe he is more afflicted then others be; God ſtill loves his and will own them for his people whatſoever outward ſorrowes or miſeries may befall them, I have p. 409ſurely ſeen the trouble of my people and have heard their cry and I know their ſorrowes, Exod. 3.7. Though wee bee in trouble, yea and ſuch trouble as makes us cry out for griefe and ſorrow yet ſtill we bee the Lords people. Outward miſeries and troubles cannot make God to reſpect any of his any thing the leſſe. God is not like ſome proud people of the world, who will acknowledge their friends no longer then they are in proſperity, and be able to requite their kindneſſe with kindneſſe againe. Some ſuch beaſts there bee, that if they bee either advanced into high places above their parents; or their parents, their brethren, ſiſters and friends fallen into decay and poverty, p. 410will ſcarſe own them, but grow to bee aſhamed of them. It is farre otherwiſe betwixt the Lord and his people; when they are up to the knees in durt, when they are cruelly oppreſſed, when in a poore, and baſe condition, it may be not having cloaths to cover their nakedneſſe, when their cheekes looke pale, and their faces leane, and wan through hunger, ſorrow, or ſickneſſe, when they be grown out of favor through bodily diſeaſes, they are (even then) as lovely in the Lords eyes as ever, and hee will then acknowledge us for his people aſwell, nay better, then in our great proſperity. If a childe be ſick in the family, how are the thoughts and minde of p. 411the parents; taken up about that child? how do they tend it, and pitty it? O my poore ſicke child, &c. thus doth the Lord pitty his children, and tender them in their affliction.

Vſe 1 We learne from hence why we be ſo troubled with our affliction.Now to make ſome application of the point.

Is it ſo, that the perſwaſion of Gods love is a great help to carry us cheerfully through afflictions? here hence then we may be inſtructed, what the cauſe is that wee are ſo much troubled and perplexed with afflictions, as if they were the meanes of our undoing, that the very thought, or expectation of them is moſt grievous and irkeſome unto us, certainly here is the ground of all our feares, and doubts, the want of a ſound perſwaſion, p. 412and aſſurance of Gods love, in correcting us. Did we beleeve that when we are afflicted wee are in the hands of our holy, righteous, everliving, and everloving God, who never did us any wrong who never intended us any harme, but alwayes goeth the beſt, the wiſeſt, and the moſt loving way to worke with his children, would wee not bee leſſe afraid of afflictions then we be? more willing to undergoe them then we are? Little do wee know how highly we diſhonor God, how much we gratify and pleaſe the Devill, when wee repine againſt the hand of God, when wee bee impatient in afflictions, and queſtion his love for correcting us. The Devill deſired that p. 413Job might be ſorely afflicted that ſo he might bee brought to curſe God, Stretch now out thine hand and touch his bones and his fleſh to ſee if he will not blaſpheme thee to thy face, Job, 2.5. It is a paſtime unto the Devill to ſet God, and his children at variance; and therefore hee deſires to vex, and perplex us, that ſo wee may open our mouths againſt the Lord, and quarrell with him; for when we are diſcontented with the Lords dealing; when wee mutter, and murmur againſt the Lord, what do wee leſſe then rebell againſt him? Hence it is that Moſes called the murmuring Iſraelites, Rebels, Numb. 20, 10. Heare now ye rebels, ſhall wee bring you watter out of this rocke? Therefore murmure p. 414not againſt the Lord, for then thou rebelleſt againſt him, and robbeſt him, as much as in thee lieth, of his moſt glorious attributes, his power, his goodneſſe, his love, his truth. When we deal with that man which makes cōſcience of his word, wee queſtion not the truth of his promiſe, but reſt upon the performance and making good of that which he hath ſaid. If a father promiſeth unto his childe any thing, the childe makes as ſure reckoning of the thing promiſed as if hee had it already in poſſeſſion. Shall wee dare to give leſſe credit to God, then to man? when hee telleth us, hee correcteth us in love, and intendeth our good in afflicting of us ſhall wee dare to queſtion p. 415the truth of his word, eſpecially when hee hath ſeconded his Word by oath, yea and ſealed both with the blood of his deare Sonne? Is any man ſo mindfull and carefull of keeping covenant and promiſe as the Lord? Is any ſo able to make good his word, as God?

Tricks of Law and the wilie ſubtilties of mans braine are oft occaſions of fruſtrating promiſes made betwixt man and man, but there is no wiſedom, neither underſtanding nor councell againſt the Lord, Prov. 21.30. God is not as man, that hee ſhould lye, neither as the ſonne of man, that he ſhould repent: hath hee ſaid, and ſhall he not do it? hath hee ſpoken, and ſhall hee not accompliſh it? Numb. 23.19. God is ſo faithfull p. 416of his Word that nothing is able to make him goe back, or to falſify his promiſe: Gods Word ſhal ſtand when Heaven and Earth ſhall fall. To miſtruſt Gods promiſe is to queſtion whether there be a God or no. For either to deny or doubt of his truth and fidelity, is to deny, or doubt him to bee God. Every honeſt man ſcandeth upon his credit, for his credits ſake he dares not eate his word, hee keepeth promiſe though it bee to his own loſſe, and hindrance. How much more will the Lord, who is jealous of his glory, bee carefull to make good whatſoever hee hath ſaid?

What greater indignity can bee offered to an honeſt and godly man, then to p. 417queſtion the truth of his word? What greater diſhonor can be unto the Lord, then to call into queſtion his truth? which wee do when wee either ſay or thinke hee loves us not in afflicting of us. Howſoever croſſes and afflictions do oft times preſent themſelves to the apprehenſion of carnal men with much terorr, & horror, yet even in the very bitterneſſe, and extremity of them, thou (by the helpe of faith) maiſt draw a great deal of joy and comfort from them; if thou wouldſt fix thy minde upon ſuch places, and promiſes as theſe are Iſa. 43.2. and 63.8. Rom. 8.28. 2. Cor. 4.17. Heb. 12.6. A patient ſubmiſſion to Gods will, and a perſwaſion of his love in p. 418correcting of us, is an infallible evidence that thou art a ſonne, and not a baſtard. Is there not more ſweetneſſe in thoſe afflictions which are evidences of Gods love, & tokens that thou art in the right way to Heaven; then in outward eaſe, worldy pleaſures, and carnall liberty which clearly demonſtrate to thy conſcience that thou art in the broad way to Hell? hence it was that the Apoſtls rejoyced, when they were beaten. That they were counted worthy to ſuffer rebuke for the name of Chriſt, Act. 5.41.

Nay, all the ſcorne and contempt, all the contumelious reproaches which the world ſhall ſpit out at thee, do crown thy head (and therefore ſhould fill p. 419thy heart) with aboundance of glory, bleſſedneſſe, and joy. If ye be reproched for the name of Chriſt, happy are ye, for the ſpirit of glory, & of God reſteth upon you. 1. Pet. 4.14.

Schoffes, ſpitefull and taunting ſpeeches, odious nick-names, and lying imputations caſt upon thee by thoſe, whoſe tongues cut like ſharpe raiſors, are but ſo many honorable badges of thy profeſſion, and Chriſtian reſolution of ſtanding for Chriſt, & his truth; and ſhall pull down a bleſſing upon thee. Bleſſed are ye when men revile you, and perſecute you, and ſay all evill againſt you for my ſake, rejoyce and be glad, for great is your reward in Heaven. Mat. 5.11, 12.

I define to beate this mile p. 420home to the head; & therfore I tarry the longer upon this uſe; for if we could but bee thorowlie perſwaded of this truth, that God loveth us in that he correcteth us, all differences betwixt the Lord and us about affliction, would bee at an end, and our ſorrow would be turned into joy, and rejoycing in tribulation, Rom. 5.3. our unquietneſſe would bee turned into patience, our lumpiſhneſſe into cheerfulneſſe, and our murmurring into thankfullneſſe. Therefore I would have you know that the Devill our adverſary hath not a more forcible engine, or any more cunning ſtratageme to batter our peace, and patience, and ſo to draw away our hearts from reſting upon God in p. 421the time of our afflictiō, then to make us to queſtion Gods love, and ſo to miſtruſt his truth.

Who did ever truſt in the Lord and was deceived? Our Fathers (ſaith David) truſted in thee, they truſted & thou didſt deliver them, they called upon thee, and were delivered, they truſted in thee, and were not confounded Pſal. 22.4, 5. Whereupon David praies, My God I truſt in thee, let mee not bee confounded, ſo all that hope in thee ſhall not bee aſhamed, Pſalme, 25.2, 3. And was the Lord the God of David only? Is he not alſo their God that do put their truſt in his goodneſſe and mercy? Is Gods love and kindneſſe, his mercy and goodneſſe leſſe unto his people, now then p. 422it was to thoſe of old? Or is the Lord more feeble and leſſe able to helpe, and do good to us, then to our fathers before us? No, no, hee is the Ancient of dayes, Dan. 7.22. the ſame God now that ever hee was; as able, and as willing now to do good to thoſe that beleeve in him, as he hath beene of old. Therefore in all thine afflictions learne to judge of, and to meaſure Gods love, by his word, not by thy preſent feeling and comfort. Let thine eye bee upon that love which will one day change thy eſtate, and give thee a plentifull croppe of good, out of this ſorrowfull ſeed time of affliction. Should any huſbandman meaſure his eſtate, and wealth by his ſeed p. 423time, there were poore comfort to bee found; for doth hee not weary his body through painfull toile and labor? doth hee not empty his ſtore and caſt away his corne out of his hand? but when hee doth conſider that without a ſeed time, there is no poſſibility of an harveſt, and withall, that, Hee that ſoweth liberally ſhall reape liberally, 2. Cor. 9.6. He is then contented both with his paines, and expences. Even ſo, if our eyes bee ſo fixed upon our preſent afflictions, that wee ſee not the future good, which (through the love of God unto us) they will bring us, wee ſhal very hardly bee upheld in the time of our affliction; but if wee look off the affliction, and faſten our p. 424eye upon the love of God, and that good he will doe us for that evil which we patiently and thankfully ſuſtain, how joyfully, how contentedly, how ſweetly may we ſit down and bleſſe God for afflicting of us? Object. But may ſome weak beleever object and ſay, I make no queſtion but that God in love doth chaſten ſome of his children, but how can I beleeve that my afflictions are tokens of his love, when as I find and feele no good that hath come unto me through them? nay I feare I am the worſe for them; for I am now more impatient, more uncheerefull, and more diſtruſtfull of the love and providence of God then ever I was before.

Anſw. To favor thy weakneſſe a little: let mee tell thee, that p. 425it may be this is but one of Satans wiles & enterpriſes to rob thee of that good hee ſees thine affliction is like to do thee: and that thou art not ſo diſtruſtfulll of Gods love, nor ſo unbeleeving as the Devill doth beare thee in hand thou art. But admit it bee ſo, and that thou art as thou ſpeakeſt of thy ſelfe: wilt thou judge of the good effect of thy bodily phyſicke, or the skill and love of thy Phyſician by the ſick and painfull working of the Phyſick? What wiſe man would ſo do? This were all one, as if a man ſhould judge of his future ſtrength, or a woman of her beautie by their preſent condition of ſickneſſe. Therefore howſoever no good by affliction may appeare at firſt, but the contrary, p. 426rather there being much impatience, infidelity, &c. Yet know thou that no mans grace is to be judged of in the time of temptation: for certainly many even of the Lords deare children, when the hand of God is upon them (eſpecially if it lie more heavily and longer then ordinary) do doubt of Gods love and favour, and do bewray much corruption by their unadviſed and inconſiderate words, by their ſowre and lumpiſh cariage in the time of their afflictions.

The Scripture commendeth Moſes for faith and obedience, yet being perplexed, and vexed with the dogedneſſe, and rebellion of the Iſraelites, hee ſo offended the Lord by his unbeliefe, p. 427that the Lord did cut him ſhort of Canaan, and would not ſuffer him to ſet foot on that promiſed land. Becauſe yee beleeved mee not to ſanctifie mee in the preſence of the children of Iſrael, therefore yee ſhall not bring this people into the land that I have given them. Numb. 20.12.

Admirable and invincible was the patience of Job: Yet when the hand of God was firſt upon him, how did hee curſe the day of his birth, wiſhing that hee had died as ſoon as he was born? Let that day periſh wherein I was born, &c. Job. 3.3. And afterward againe, Oh that God would deſtroy me, that he would let his hand go and cut mee off, Job. 6.9.

Was not David beloved p. 428of God, and a man after his own heart? yet hee was ſo overwhelmed with the cloud of afflictions, and ſo battered with the ſtorme of adverſity, that he could not diſcerne the love of God towards him, but hee cries out, Will the Lord abſent himſelfe for ever? and will hee ſhew no more love, or favor, Pſal. 77.7. And againe, Lord, why doſt thou reject my ſoul, and hideſt thy face from mee? Thine indignations go over mee, and thy feare hath cut me off, Pſal. 88.15, 16.

I alledge not theſe examples for the foſtering of any in their impatience and unbeliefe; nor that any ſhould take libertie from hence, for the like behavior in the time of affliction; but I ſpeak this the rather, partly p. 429to uphold and comfort weak beleevers; that they liſten not to Satans temptations, who will be ready to bu…e it into their eares, that none of Gods children do queſtion his love in the time of triall, or ſhew any impatience under the rod: and partly to ſtop the mouthes of the wicked, and to ſtay their uncharitable cenſure from going too farre; they being ſo ready to meaſure the child of God either by his afflictions, or by his behavior in them.

Objects. But may Gods children be ſad and heavie in time of affliction?

Anſw. No doubt they may: for doth not Saint Peter ſay, now for a ſeaſon (if need require) yee are in heavineſſe through manifold tentations, 1. Pet. 1.6. p. 430but in our heavineſſe, theſe cautions muſt be obſerved.

Firſt, our ſorrow muſt be greater for our ſinne, which brought the affliction, then for the affliction it ſelfe.

Secondly, wee muſt not bee exceſſive, but moderate in our heavineſſe.

Object. But how may wee know that our ſorow for afflictions is moderate?

Anſw. Firſt, if it exceed not the meaſure of our ſorrow for ſinne. If our ſinnes bee our greateſt heart-ſmart, our ſorrow for affliction is moderate.

Secondly, if our ſorrow for affliction hurt us not, that is, drieth not up our bones, impaireth not our ſtrength, or make us unfit for publique imployment.

p. 431Thirdly and laſtly, if it withdrawes not the heart from God, and the dueties of his worſhip and ſervice.

Object. But the weake beleever will ſtill object and ſay; If my troubles and afflictions were only bodily and outward, I make no queſtion but I ſhould ſee Gods love in them: but my wound and griefe is inward and ſpirituall, I cannot finde, or feel the ſweet comforts of Gods Spirit, I ſee the angry countenance of God bent againſt me, for my ſinnes; God (mee thinkes) lookes not now upon mee with the amiable countenance of a loving Father, but with the face of a ſevere and ſtrict judge, ready to take vengeance upon mee for my ſinnes, how can p. 432I then be perſwaded either or Gods love, or that my caſe is good, or that good is intended mee by this affliction?

Anſw. Howſoever theſe inward and ſpirituall afflictions be the ſoreſt of all trials, for the ſpirit of a man may ſuſtaine his (bodily) infirmities, but a wounded ſpirit, who can beare? Prov. 18.14. Yet I would have thee know, that even theſe inward and ſad afflictions, are no other then are incident unto the beſt of Gods children, and wherewith the Lord in love doth afflict them.

For the Lord ſeeth) as wee have ſpoken before) what his children ſtand in moſt need of; out of his deep and unſearchable wiſedome, hee ſingles out, and makes p. 433choice of thoſe tryalls which ſhall make moſt for our ſpirituall good: the Lord ever pitcheth upon that affliction which ſhall worke beſt upon us, and ſerve moſt punctually to humble and awe us. Some he afflicts with varietie of worldly croſſes, as in their children, or outward eſtate. Some he doth extraordinarily exerciſe with ſpirituall conflicts, and troubles of conſcience: thus ſorting out unto his children thoſe ſeverall croſſes, and corrections, which out of his unſearchable wiſedome, and their ſpirituall neceſſitie hee ſees moſt expedient for them. Therefore of what nature ſoever thy croſſe be, do thou take it up, ſeeing it pleaſeth our wiſe God to exerciſe thee with it, as thy portion. It p. 432duplicate page p. 433duplicate page p. 434may be thou thinkeſt that no outward, and worldly croſſe could go ſo neere thee, as doth this inward tentation; but who knowes what thou wouldſt be, if this tryal were removed? It may bee, the Lord ſees that (without it) thou wouldeſt grow worldly, or waſpiſh, or ſecure, or proud; now high ſpirits muſt be abaſed low;Note. and the Lord ſees that theſe inward and ſpirituall conflicts are the beſt, and ſureſt way to humble us, and to bring us out of love with ſinne, and our ſelves, and more in love with his majeſtie. He breaks up, hee rents, and teares the heart and conſcience with fears, and terrors, that ſo it may bee made more plyable, and gentle, more fit to receive, and to retaine that p. 435ſeed of grace which the Lord is now caſting into them. Therefore aſſure thy ſelfe that it is not for any want of love that the Lord doth lay ſo heavie a load upon thine heart, and conſcience, or keeps thee (it may be) upon the rack; it is not becauſe thou ſhouldſt thinke or ſay, hee hath caſt thee off from being his child, but that thou mayeſt be the better fitted for that good hee intendeth thee, and that thou mayeſt make more account of his love, when it is ſhed abroad in thine heart. God will have thoſe which ſhall hereafter partake of his light, now and then to know what it is to fit in darkneſſe, and to bee in the ſhadow of death. Now, becauſe of all other tentations and tryals incident p. 436unto us, there are none ſo grievous and unſupportable as are inward and ſpirituall afflictions; let it not be accounted loſt time, if (before I proceed any further) I make here ſome little ſtand, both to take a view of ſome inward afflictions, and alſo to preſcribe ſome remedies for the eaſing (if not the curing) of ſuch malladies as are moſt obvious, and oft times prove moſt dangerous, for want of applying, or improving of thoſe helpes, & means which may be uſed: Almighty God our moſt wiſe Phyſition, who ſees us inwardly, and is better acquainted with our conſtitution, and temper then wee our ſelves are, knoweth how to ſtrike every one in the right veine: and becauſe people full fed, are p. 437oft full of groſſe humors, and bad blood; and thoſe that live idly, live (oft times) unprofitably; the Lord) in great wiſedome) doth exerciſe ſome of his deare ones with fightings within, that ſo the inward man may be the better able to withſtand outward evills: as ſouldiers in many places are trained, that ſo they may bee the more skilfull, and better able to reſiſt a forraign enemie.

Somtimes the Lord is pleaſed to withdraw the ſweet comforts of his ſpirit, from the hearts of his deare children, and to ſtrike them with inward terrors, and feares of his wrath, and vengeance; which condition of theirs, although it be uncomfortable for the preſent, yet it proves profitable in the p. 438end. Of all afflictions incident to the ſoul of man, there is none ſo grievous, and intolerable, as a wounded conſcience; this tranſcends all other malladies, and miſeries whatſoever; and therefore Solomon asketh, Who can be are it? Prov. 18.14. An accuſing conſcience tortures the ſoul with helliſh horror here, and (as it were) plungeth a poore ſinner into hell whiles he lives. When that gnawing, and biting worme begins to faſten its teeth upon a poore ſoul, his anguiſh and vexation becomes unſpeakable, and unconceivable of any, but thoſe that have felt it.

No favor of man, no love of friends, no preferment of the world, no outward honors, nor abundance of riches, p. 439will be able to quench the fire, or alay the heat of a tormented conſcience. As may apeare by that memorable ſtory of Francis Spira, who being upon the rack of a guilty and accuſing conſcience, oft wiſhed himſelfe (as is reported) in Cains caſe, and in Judas his place, and that his ſoul might exchange with theirs; wiſhing, and deſiring rather to be in hell torments, then to be racked and rent with ſuch helliſh horrors, and raging feares, as did continually affright his poore ſoul. And being by one demanded, If hee feared not greater tortures, and torments after this life, then hee now ſuſtained; hee anſwered, Yes; but yet he wiſhed he were in hell, that ſo his torturing fears might be at an p. 440end. This mans condition (no boubt) was terrible, and dredfull; yet who can ſay, that hee periſhed everlaſtingly? What warrant have any (as ſome have done) to judge him to bee a deſperate caſtaway? They will ſay, that God might condemne him out of his own mouth. But is this ſufficient evidence for any, peremptorily to paſſe ſentence upon him? The words of a diſtempered perſon are of no validitie in any civill court whatſoever. Is it not an uſuall thing for brain-ſick and diſtempered perſons to belie themſelves, and others too.

Object. But Spira deſpaired of merciemercy.

Anſw. And what of that? Have not many of Gods deare children done ſo, many p. 441yeeres together? Did any thing befall him in the time of his deſperation, but that which is incident unto the childe of God? hath not our age afforded us examples, as deep in diſpaire (in outward appearance) as ever Spira was; whether wee conſider the matter of his tentation, which was Apoſtacie, or the deepneſſe of his deſperation; and yet through the goodneſſe, and merciemercy of God, they received comfort in the end. Hee that will avouch Spira to be a caſtaway, muſt prove, that he deſpaired both totally and finally; which (as I conceive) they can hardly do; ſeeing it is ſaid, That in the midſt of his deſperation, hee complained of the hardneſſe of his heart, which (as hee ſaid) lockt up his mouth, p. 442and tyed up his tongue from prayer. Hee felt the hardneſſe of his heart, complained of it, and lamented it: the Word of God may diſcover corruption in us; but is it not grace that makes any to be waile corruption? Who knowes what caſe, and comfort he might find, and feele within, before his ſoul went out of his body, albeit hee never made any expreſſion of it, nor any neere him could perceive it?

Object. But doth God deale ſo ſharply with any of his children, as to exerciſe them with ſuch horror of conſcience?

Anſw. Yes, very often. The conſcience of a deere child of God may a long time be vexed with feares, and horrors, lie a long time upon p. 443the rack of unquietneſſe and torture, ſo farre from apprehending, or hoping for any comfort or merciemercy, that hee may receive the ſentence of death againſt himſelfe, and ſubſcribe to his own damnation; yea, he may confidently avouch himſelfe to have no grace, no faith, to be a very caſtaway. And yet (wee ſee) theſe bluſtring ſtormes have (in good time) blowne over? and God upon unfained humiliation hath pacified their accuſing conſcience, ſtilled, and quieted their troubled minde, by the apprehenſion of his love in the pardon of their ſinnes.

For after the ſoul is once kindly ſoaked in godly ſorrow, and the heart ſufficiently humbled in the ſight of p. 444our unworthineſſe; the Lord (at length) ſhewes us his loving countenance, tells us by his Spirit, that he is reconciled unto us, and that through Chriſt wee are freed from the guilt, and ſo from the puniſhment of all our ſinnes. For though wee have been polluted, and ſtained with all manner of iniquitie, and impietie, even from top to toe; though our ſinnes have been of a crimſon and skarlet hue, as great and grievous as may be, ſo as peradventure, in our conceit there is no poſſibillity of being cleanſed from them, yet God is able to make them as white as ſnow, and wool. Iſa. 1.18.

There is no ſinner ſo abominable, and loathſome, whom true and ſound repentance will not make as holy, p. 445and as righteous as Adam was before his fall. Miſtake me not; not that any penitent (if his heart-ſtrings ſhould breake with ſighing, and ſobbing, or his eyes fall out of his head with weeping and mourning) can of himſelfe be perſonally holy, and pure, free from all fault, without any blot, or blemiſh of iniquitie; but hee is holy, and unblamable in regard of Gods gracious acceptation of him through Chriſt, as if he had never ſinned. For you muſt know, that where ſinne is pardoned, it is purged. If thou canſt truely mourne for thy ſinne, thou art forthwith disburdened of the guilt, and freed from the eternal puniſhment of all thy former wickedneſſe. Repentance if it be true, doth caſt p. 446ſinne out of the heart, and where this is done, God laies down all quarels againſt ſuch a perſon.

Therefore nouriſh no ſin, abandon it, baniſh it from thee; break off thy courſe of ſinne betimes, even whiles it is called to day, and then Gods countenance will appear friendly, & comfortable unto thee, and thy conſcience will be quiet, and ſpeak peace unto thee.

Object. This were ſome comfort, if I could beleeve what you ſay, or be able to apply it unto my ſelfe, which I can not doe.

Anſw. This indeed is another ſore affliction, which lies heavie upon the hearts of many of Gods dear children; They are for the moſt part annoyed, and peſtered with doubttings, p. 447and unbeliefe. The glad tidings of the Goſpel (ſome ſay) are too good to be true, or if true, too good for them to ſhare in. And why for them? becauſe (they ſay) they are ſuch ſinners? And came not Chriſt into the World to call ſinners? yea, the greateſt ſinners, ſuch as Manaſſes, and Paul was, who acknowledged himſelfe to be the chiefe of ſinners. 1. Tim. 1.15. The greater thy ſinnes have been, the more thine unworthineſſe is, the more will the grace of God ſhine in receiving of thee into grace and merciemercy.

Object. If it were with me, as it is with good people, I could beleeve this: if there were that grace in mee I perceive to be in others, I make no p. 448queſtion but God would be good unto me.

Anſw. Oh beware of ſpirituall Symonie. Too many thinke that the merciemercy of God muſt be purchaſed by ſomthing of theirs; if they were thus, or thus quallified they durſt beleeve, if they had thus much ſanctification they durſt hope. But theſe erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the goodneſſe of God, whoſe grace is freely beſtowed upon all that partake of it. Ho every one that thirſteth, come yee to the waters, and yee that have no ſilver: come buy wine and milk without ſilver, and without money. Iſa. 55.1. In which words all condition of merit (on our part) is utterly excluded. Chriſt in the Goſpel is offered freely unto ſinners, and there is p. 449no more required at our hands, but to receive and welcome him being offered freely unto us. The water of life is tendered freely to all that deſire it. I will give to him that is athirſt of the well of the water of life freely. Revel. 21.6.

The Spirit, and the Bride ſay, Come, and let him that is athirſt come. Revel. 22.17.

Object. But I cannot thirſt as I ſhould.

Anſw. But haſt thou a will? Doſt thou deſire to thirſt? wouldeſt thou faine thirſt, haſt thou a will? Theſe words are alſo added to draw on fearfull and doubting ſinners, and let whoſoever will, take of the water of life freely. Revel. 22.17. O ſweet words, O comfortable words. Thou p. 450ſayeſt thou wouldſt faine have mercy, faine have Chriſt; what hinders thee from receiving him, from beleeving? Heere is a word: heere is thy warrant to take Chriſt. Nay, thou art peremptorily commanded to beleeve. 1. John 3.23. This is then his Commandment, that wee beleeve in the namt of his Sonne, Jeſus Chriſt. Thou haſt as good warrant to beleeve the promiſes, and to receive Chriſt, as to love thy neighbor, or to abſteine from theft, murder, &c.

Dareſt thou kill, commit adultrey, or ſteale? No. And why ſo? Becauſe theſe are breaches of Gods Commandment. And doſt thou not alſo break Gods Commandment when thou doubteſt of his goodneſſe, p. 451when thou beleeveſt not?

God commands thee to receive Chriſt for thy ſalvation; therefore, if thou hang back through doubting, if thou queſtion Gods truth, thou committeſt a greater ſinne then if thou didſt break the whol morral law; therfore ſtand not on rhine own termes with God. The Lord knew how baſe & unworthy the beſt of us were when he tendred his Chriſt unto us. The Goſpell was to be preached unto every creature, and Chriſt tendred unto every ſinner, for of what kind ſoever our ſinnes have been, the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſinne, 1 Jo. 1.7 If thou wilt accept of Chriſt he will aceept of thee; thou haſt his word and promiſe Come unto me all ye that are p. 452weary and laden, and I will eaſe you. Mat. 11.28. Chriſt requires no more of thee but to come unto him, no more but thy hearts conſent to receive him before any other, If thou canſt but come, and deſire, and take Chriſt to be thine, it is enough for thy happineſſe and ſalvation. If thou haſt but ſo much humiliation, as may cauſe thee to abhorre thy ſelfe, and to diſclaime thine own worth as dung and dogs meate, if thou haſt but ſo much ſorrow and heart breaking as may divorce thee from thy ſinnes and make thee willing to accept of Chriſt, thou art a happy perſon. How dareſt thou then ſtand a loofe, upon termes of thine own unworthineſſe? Is it any other then ingratefull rudeneſſe p. 453to preſcribe the Lord upon what termes we ſhall have his wine and milke, when as he bids us come and take it for nothing? If any maſter ſhould call one of his ſervants unto him, and he ſhould draw back and go away, ſaying I am not fine enough to come before thee, would this frivolous excuſe be ſufficient to beare him out in his unmanner like diſobedience? So when the Lord cals thee to partake of his mercy, if thou hangeſt back, becauſe thou art not good enough as thou ſuppoſeſt; what doſt thou elſe but ſlight, yea ſcorne the free grace, and undeſerved kindneſſe of the Lord. Therefore be perſwaded to make choice of Chriſt to be thine; which if thou doſt, p. 452duplicate page p. 453duplicate page p. 454I dare aſſure thee thou art a juſtified perſon, although thou doſt not by and by feele the ſweet influence of his grace nor the preſence of his ſpirit, perſwading thy heart that heaven and ſalvation are queſtionleſſe thine.

Object. But ſome will ſay, I have falne off from Chriſt I have broken that vow and covenant made betwixt us, I have not walked ſo cloſely with the Lord as is required of me and as I have promiſed, I have abuſed his love and favor, and turned his Grace into wantonneſſe; nay, which is worſe, my heart hath not melted nor diſſolved into teares upon the view of my faylings, which makes me feare that the Lord in diſpleaſure hath caſt me off, and is departed from me.

p. 455Anſw. If he be ſo, it will be but for a moment to humble thee & to ſee how thou wilt take his abſence; but whereas thou ſaiſt thou haſt broken covenant, and therfore thinkeſt that the Lord hath caſt thee off; know, that not any of thy failings can nulifie Gods covenant which he hath made, becauſe it is an everlaſting covenant Jer. 32.40. The beſt of Gods children do daily faile in one part of the covenant or other: yet if there be not a revolting, a turning back, a falling away from God, a betaking of thy ſelfe unto an other husband, another love, thou art no breaker of the covenant: tho there be failings. All this is come upon us, yet do we not forget thee, neither deal we falſly p. 456concerning thy covenant Pſal. 44.17. As the Lords love towards us did not begin in us, ſo doth it not ſo much depend upon us, but upon the mercy goodneſſe and truth of him, with whom there is no variableneſſe, neither ſhaddow of turning Jam. 1.17. For I am the Lord, I change not, and ye ſons of Jaakob are not conſumed. Mat. 3.6. If Gods grace and mercy ſhould depend upon our deſervings, the Devill would alwayes pick ſome hole or other in our coate, we ſhould never have inward reſt nor aſſurance, either of Gods love, or of our own ſalvation: For, Satan is ſubtle and deceiptfull, and he will not faile to tell us that we have broken covenant, and therfore God p. 457hath caſhiered us and caſt us off; therefore whenſoever Satan comes to parlie with thee, it muſt be thy wiſdom, and it will be thy ſafety not to hold him chat, but to break off reaſoning and diſpute with him.

Object. But Satan doggs, and followes me with reſtles aſſaults, he daily caſts his firy darts at me, he is daily battering my faith.

Anſw. Then go to Heaven for helpe: encounter him in the name of Chriſt, as David ſet upon Golia in the name of the Lord, have recourſe unto the promiſes, which being well, and wiſely mannaged by faith, will be able to foile the Devill, and ſend him packing from thee. A greater and a ſurer ſigne of victory we cannot have p. 458then this, viz. To renounce our own confidence, not to ſtand upon our own bottom, but to caſt our ſelves upon the Lord; and ſo wee ſhall be ſtrong, in the power of his might. Epheſians, 6.10. Therefore give no way to Satan, howſoever for the preſent he may bang thee, and cauſe thee to bauke, yet be ſtedfaſt in the faith, and thou ſhalt be able to reſiſt him, becauſe the Lord taketh thy part; For the exceeding greatneſſe of his power is toward us which beleeve. Eph. 1.19. Aſſure thy ſelfe, Satan ſhall be foiled, if the power of God doth underprop thee: which power, if thou wilt call for, and beleeven thou art ſure to partake of: and then, if thou chance to be foiled, thou ſtandeſt as p. 459one undefiled in Gods account. In the old Law, if any womans chaſtitie was aſſaulted by any varlet, if ſhee cryed out for helpe, ſhee was blameleſſe. Deutr. 22.27. Even ſo when ſatanicall tentations do aſſault us, if wee (in the aſſault) crie unto the Lord for helpe, the Lord will not require the tentation at our hands, but of Satan, whoſe worke it was. The raviſhed woman was chaſte in Gods account, becauſe her heart and mind was ſo, though her body was defiled: So if Satan draw not conſent from us, his tentations may prevaile with us, but ſhall not be layd unto our charge. Therefore ſlie to God for help, cry unto him, and hee will either weaken Satan, and ſtren…hen thee, p. 460or elſe not lay the tentation to thy charge. And take heed that thou beeſt not over much diſquieted, or unſetled by any of Satans tentations, for this may give Satan ſome advantage, if hee ſees thee to be dejected, hee will be the more inſolent, and double his forces againſt thee. Therefore be ſtrong in the faith, feare not, be not diſheartned, the Lord will be thy defence, and under the ſhadow of his wings ſhalt thou have ſhelter. Thinke never the worſe, but the better of thy ſelfe, becauſe Satan aſſaults thee; it is a ſigne thou goeſt not the way that hee would have thee. When any man drives his cattle to paſture, if they go the way that hee would have them, he is well pleaſed with them, p. 461but if they hap to ſtraggle out of the way, he throwes a ſtone at one, and his ſtaffe at another: even ſo, when wee go the way Satan would have us, hee lets us alone, as implied by thoſe words of our Saviour, Luk. 11.21. When a ſtrong man armed keepeth his palace, the things that hee poſſeſſeth are in peace: but if wee diſquiet him, hee will not faile to diſquiet us, ſo far as he may or can; for ſatan can not tempt thee longer then the Lord wil permit him; and hee that ſuffers Satan to tempt thee, will not ſuffer thee to be tempted by him, above that which thou ſhalt be able to beare, but will even give iſſue with the tentation. 1. Cor. 10.13.

But I am feeble, and weak, and am not able to hold out p. 462againſt ſuch fierie darts, ſuch furious oppoſitions as I am aſſaulted withall.

Anſw. But if thou wilt truſt in the Lord, hee will not faile thee, nor forſake thee.

Object. But I feele my heart to faint, and my ſtrength to faile.

Anſw. Hee giveth ſtrength to him that ſainteth, and to him that hath no ſtrength, hee increaſeth power. Iſa. 40.29.

Object. I had a little ſtrength, but it is gone and vaniſhed, my faith begins now to flagge, and therefore I feare I ſhall not hold out long.

Anſw. But they that wait upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall runne, and not be weary, they ſhall walke, and not faint. Iſa. 40.31. If thou hadſt ſtrength of thine own▪ it were not to be truſted unto: p. 463and though thine bee gone, the Lord remaines, his arme is not ſhortned, his power is not leſſened. Therefore cheere up thy drooping, and fainting heart, let the tentation be never ſo ſmart, or tart, yet it is no other then that, out of which God intends to fetch ſome glory, and thou in the end ſhalt receive ſome good. And know it for truth, that the more reſtleſly Satan doth follow thee with varietie of tentations, the more ſweetly, and ſecurely thou maiſt repoſe thy perplexed ſoule upon this comfortable perſwaſion, and aſſurance that thou art the Lords.

Object. But I feele much lumpiſhneſſe, and dead-heartedneſſe in the beſt duties I performe; my prayers have little or no p. 464life in them, my mind is full of wandrings, and idle vagaries, as ſoone as I have begun to ſeek the Lord: whereupon I am oft times at a ſtand, not knowing whether I were beſt proceed, or recede, and leave off. And which doth moſt of all perplexe mee, Satan ſpares not to caſt in oft times Atheiſticall, and blaſphemous thoughts, which makes me to feare, that when I have ended my prayer, God may juſtly begin my puniſhment, ſeeing I have more offended him (I feare) in my prayers, then I ſhould have done with my ſilence.

Anſw. But doſt thou admit of any of theſe evill thoughts, are they not ſuch as make thy heart to ake, and thy ſoul to bleed within thee? Doſt p. 465thou not ever tremble at the thought of them? Then feare not; they ſhall not be layd to thy charge. Aſſure thy ſelfe thoſe ſighes, and groans which proceed from thy perplexed ſoul, ſhall find ſo much grace, and favor with God, as they ſhall be able to prevaile with him for that bleſſing thou haſt begd, and ſtandſt in need of. And although thou canſt not pray as thou wouldſt, yet ſigh, and groane as thou ſhouldſt, and hee which knowes the ſecrets of all hearts, will be able to underſtand the meaning of thy ſighs, and groans of the ſpirit within thee, which doth plead and ſpeak to God for thee.

Object. But I feare, the Lord doth abominate my ſacrifice and ſervice, as loathſome; hee p. 466may caſt it as dung in my face, and lay ſome judgement upon mee for offering up ſuch a ſtrange ſacrifice unto him.

Anſw. If God hath given thee a heart to mourne for ſinne, he hath made thee able to offer him ſuch a ſacrifice, as hee is well pleaſed with; and therefore he can not but accept of thy perſon, whatſoever thy failings have been. Thy grieved ſoul, and ſorrowfull ſpirit is a ſacrifice which caſts a ſweet ſavor in the Lords noſtrills, Pſalm. 51.17. And would God accept of thy ſacrifice, if hee had rejected thee? No, no: aſſure thy ſelfe that God hath accepted of thy perſon, if hee accepts of thy ſacrifice. The Lord had …, and to his offering. G…e. 4.4. The melting p. 467of thy ſoul, and the kindly mourning over him whom thou haſt pierced with thy ſinne, is a moſt infallible evidence of Gods love towards thee, and of the ſaving preſence of his holy Spirit, abiding in thee. Therefore let thy ſpirit rejoyce, in that thou art able to mourne for ſinne. Thoſe teares which proceed from a grieved ſoul, and wounded ſpirit, may be compared unto Aprill ſhowers, which bring on Mayflowers; although theſe ſhowers wet where they fall; Yet (through the heat of the Sunne working with them) they produce a great deale of ſweetneſſe in thoſe plants, and hearbs which they fall upon.

There is abundance of joy in all godly ſorrow.

p. 468As the harveſt is potentially in the ſeed: ſo the harveſt of true and ſound joy growes out of this ſeed of ſorrow, Pſalm. 126.5. They that ſow in teares, ſhall reap in joy. Why is thy ſoul then ſo troubled within thee? why art thou ſtill ſo ſad, ſo heavie, and dejected?

Object. Howſoever I grieve, and mourn, yet I can not beleeve that there is any truth of grace in mee, in that I am not ſo fruitfull, and profitable in my place and calling, as I ſhould, and faine would bee: I am a barren fruitleſſe tree, one that cumbers the earth, fit for nothing but the fire.

Anſw. But is it not with thee, as it fareth with ſome covetous earthly gripple-minded p. 469perſons, which ſpend their time in ſcraping, and raking together theſe outward things, pinch their bodies, and are ever and anon whining, and complaining that they have nothing, when as their cheſts are full of good linnen, their houſes ſtored, and ſtuffed full of utenſills, and their purſe full of money; but being blinded with the love of the world, think they have nothing, becauſe they have not ſo much as their covetous eye would look over? and therefore do neither thankfully acknowledge what they have received, nor profitably improve any thing they do enjoy, either to Gods glory, their own comfort, or others good. Even ſo many afflicted ſouls being overladen p. 470with anguiſh of mind, and deluded by Satan, oft times complaine of the want of grace in the midſt of plentie, not ſeeing, as the ſaying is, wood for trees, and thus do bely both God, and themſelves. And it is juſt with the Lord ſomtimes to hold his children down with feares, and doubtings, becauſe they have not been ſufficiently thankfull to God for that rich grace they have received from him. Our unthankfulneſſe is not only as a great fogg, and miſt, which doth exceedingly obſcure, and darken the grace of God in his children; but is alſo as a worme or canker which eats into the ſap, and heart of grace, ſo as it thrives not, nor fructifies as otherwiſe it would do.

p. 471But ſuch as are planted in the houſe of the Lord, ſhall flouriſh in the courts of our God. Pſalm. 92.13. Doth not the Prophet Jeremiah alſo tell us, that thoſe that truſt in the Lord, and whoſe hope the Lord is, ſhall be as a tree planted by the water, which ſpreadeth out her roots, ſhall not care for the yeere of drought, neither ſhall ceaſe from yeelding fruit. Jere. 17.8.

Anſw. And is not this good fruit, to bemoane thy barrenneſſe? Admit that for the preſent, thou doſt not increaſe thy ſpirituall ſtock, as thou deſireſt; thou doſt not perceive grace to thrive, and grow in thee, as thou doſt behold it in others; muſt it needs follow that thou are therefore utterly deſtitute, and void of grace? A man whiles hee is p. 472aſleep, makes no uſe of many good things hee hath: a hand benummed with cold, feels not that which it holds faſt. It may ſo fall out that grace may be ſomthing chilled in thee, doth it therefore follow, that it is quite killed in thee? Thou muſt learn to put a difference betwixt no grace, and grace ſome way infeebled for the preſent. It fares with grace in the hearts of many of Gods children, as it doth with the Moon, ſomtimes in the full, and ſomtimes in the wain, or as with the Sea, which ſomtimes flowes, and ſometimes ebbs: even ſo through Satans malice, and our own frailtie, grace may ſeem ſomtime to ebbe in us, and then no wonder, if the heart be deaded, and out inward p. 473peace diſturbed through feares and doubtings. Aſſure thy ſelfe, this off and on, this up and down, this heat and cold, ariſeth from thoſe principles of grace, and corruption abiding in all the Lords people. Corruption ſomtimes prevailes, and this royles, and troubles theſe living waters within us, and makes them thick, and muddy, ſo as little good appeares in us; but anon, when the wind of the ſpirit blowes againe, with its holy blaſt it cleanſeth, and refineth theſe troubled waters, whoſe cleerneſſe may again be ſeen, and whoſe goodneſſe may be taſted.

Object. But my caſe is worſe then ordinary: for I have returned with the dogge, to lick up my old vomit; after repenting, p. 474and cleanſing, yea, covenanting with God for ever to renounce, and abandon my former ſinnes, I have with the ſwine wallowed in the old mire of filthineſſe, and therefore I cannot think that ever grace was in truth begun in mee.

Anſw. If it be ſo, thy caſe is the more lamentable, and fearefull but yet it is not deſperate. For divers of the Lords people, many worthie ones have relapſed, have fallen back unto old ſinnes, and yet by the goodneſſe and merciemercy of God, have recovered themſelves againe, and gained the love, and favor of God. Did not Abraham ſinne the matter of Sarah his wife? hazarding her chaſtitie by a poore plot, yea a ſinfull pollicie, expoſing his p. 475wife to adultrey for his own outward peace and ſafety? Who can ſay that Abrahams heart (at the firſt) ſmote him not for this evill? Yet it is evident, that hee fell into the ſame ſinne againe. Hee that peruſeth the book of the Judges, ſhall find Iſrael fallen into idolatry, and upon correction, humbled and penitent; and yet afterwards againe, and again fallen into the ſame wickedneſſe they had formerly repented of. Was not Jonas (thinke you) thorrowly humbled for his ſinne of ſtubbornneſſe, and diſobedience, when hee felt the ſmart of it, in the Whales belly? yet for all this, when he ſaw the Lord ſo mercifull as to ſpare Ninivie upon her humiliation and repentance, how angry was he with God, p. 476juſtifying his former ſinne; which in effect, and before God, was all one to have committed the ſame ſinne againe? yet the Lord forgave theſe, and received them againe to merciemercy. Doth not the Lord enjoyne us to forgive our brother offending us daily, even unto Seventy times ſeven times, if hee repent? Matth. 18.22. And will the Lord enjoyn us that act of merciemercy, and compaſſion wherein himſelfe will not be exemplar unto us? Is there any drop of pittie, or kindneſſe in us, which comes not out of that bottomleſſe ſea of love, and merciemercy in the Lord? if wee muſt forgive our brother ſo many times in the day, no doubt but the Lord (in whom is the fulneſſe of goodneſſe and compaſſion) p. 477will receive humbled ſinners, as often as they returne unto him.