The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick, Part 2

The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick · Part 2

p. 96THE SECOND PART. THE SICKE MANS SALVE.

WEE hauehave hard in the first part of the verses, which wee hauehave reade concerning the sicke mans sore: Now it followeth that we heare of the second part, wherein is the sicke mans salve: it is contained in these words:v. 19. Then they cry vntounto the Lord in their trouble: Hee saveth them out of their distresses:v. 20. He sent his word and healed them: and delivered them from their destructions. In the words J see tvvo speciall things, first the sicke man crying to God for helpe, secondly GOD delivering the sicke man.

p. 97The first is in these words: Then they cry vntounto the Lord in their trouble: the second is in these words, Hee saveth them out of their trouble. &c. Heere then is both mans part and Gods part: Mans part is in these words, then they cry vntounto the LORD: Gods part is in these words, He saveth them. &c.

Heere first in mans part let vsus obserue,The doctrine. that while hee is neere the doores of death, hee cryeth vntounto God for lyfe:Note. where we may learne that it is lawfull for a man, beeing in danger of death to begge his lyfe from his GOD:Isa. 38. v. 10.Isa 38:10 This Hezekiah did while hee was sicke of his boile: He weept before God in his bed, and besought him that hee would spaire him for a space.Deut. 3 v. 25.Deut 3:25 Moses had a great desire to liue and to enter into Canaan:Psal. …0… v. 24. This was the prayer of him that compiled the hundreth and two psalme, that GOD would yet let him liue: I said O my p. 98GOD take mee not away in the middest of my dayes: In the Kings Psalme the Prophet saith vntounto GOD, He asked lyfe of thee, thou gavest it him. I confesse that men had great need to bee wise in this sute: Note.For if a man desire lyfe for to eate & drinke and make good cheere of his provisions laide vp for many yeeres, it were better for him to die before such riots. Note.Lord keepe me from the gift of lyfe, except it bee that J may amend my lyfe: lyfe should bee desired that it may bee better spended.

The vseThe vse of this doctrine is, that every man in his sicknesse try, wherefore hee desireth his lyfe. Note.Jf it be for to glorifie God, and to redeeme evill spent tyme, to doe some more good in the world; such a desire is godly: such a request is holy, whether it be graunted or not. Note.Well is the man that hath gotten lyfe, and thereafter so liveth and learneth p. 99to die that hee may dye to liue. Let him whom God hath afflicted with sore sicknesse, and thereafter hath brought even from the doores of death: let him I say learne to be circumspect in his wayes. Note.When Christ met afterwarde with the sicke man, whom hee had cured at the poole of Bethesda, hee gaue him a godly counsell: Behold, Iohn. 5. v. 14.John 5:14(said hee) thou art made whole: sinne no more lest a worse thing come vntounto thee. Note.It is a token of a deadly disease, when the phisicke can not worke.

Againe heere I obserue the sluggishnesse of mans heart in prayer. The second doctrine.He will not pray till hee bee at the extremitie, even at the doores of death:Note. then, and not till then, saith my text, they cry vntounto the Lord. Note.Why would they not cry, while they perceived their appetite decaying? why would they not cry, while their soule began to abhorre all maner of meate?Iob. 6. v: 5.Job 6 Doeth the wild asse bray when hee hath p. 100grasse? Or loveth the oxe over his fodder? No not. Note.So long as a man hath the grasse of prosperitie, and the fodder of wealth, hee can neither louelove, nor bray, nor pray.

Proverb. 7. v. …3.The young man will not quite the harlot, till a dart strake through his liver. Note.If the vntamed colt be not sore ridden and beat… hee can not bee broken: Hard hearts like hard knots must hauehave hard wedges.

Note.A small wind is notable to fanne away meakell chaffe: A hautie heart will not stoupe for a little distresse. Jt is not the little touch of affliction that will waken a snorting sinner. Except it bee an imperious crosse, which cause him smart, hardly will hee yeeld; so head strong a thinge is sinne.

Note.So long as the Mariners can worke among…t their cordes, they runne, ra…le, reele, and sweate in the tempe…t: But after that they hauehave reeled to &c fro, and staggered like drunken p. 101men, when all their running is gone, then as it is said in the psalme, they cry vntounto the Lord in their trouble:Psal. 107 v. 28.Ps 107:28 yea, though the ship reele and crack, as thought it should bee crusht:Note. yet Jonas will not waken, till a Pagan pull him vp and buffet him with rebukes.Ion. 1. v. 6.Jonah 1:6 what meanest thou O sleeper? Arise call vponupon thy God.

The vse. The vse. Note.While God giveth vsus warning by any disease, let vsus take it as a precept of warning from GOD, and prepare our selues for death.* Jt is to bee too venturous not to cry till thou be at the doores of death: that is, to put craig in perrill: wise Salomon forbiddeth a man to delay a day. Note. Proverb …7. v. 1This was his watchword: Boast not thy selfe of to morrowe, for tho… knowest not what a day may bringe foorth: Age hodie quod moriturus agas, Doe that to day that thou would desire to bee doing in the day of thy death.

But alas! what order for all this p. 102hauehave wee taken with our soules, though wee know not how neere wee are to the doores of death? Who amongst vsus can say with the Psalmist,Psal. 108 v. 1.Ps 108:1 My heart is prepared, my heart is prepared? Alas for our heart, it is like the field of the sloathfull,Note. and like the vineyard of the man voide of vnderstanding:Proverb 24. v. 31 I went by it (saith Salomon,) and loe it was all growen over with thornes, and nettles had covered the face thereof. Our hearts for the most part are either pricked with the thornie cares of the world, or burnt so with the burning nettles of lust, that we remember not our latter end. Note.So soone as wee come out of the burning nettles of youth, wee fall into the pricking thornes of worldly cares, the sicknesse of colde and olde age.

Except that wee take heede to our selues in tyme, our damnation shall come, as one that travaileth, & our destruction like an armed man.

p. 103Note.For this cause, let every man rouse vp him selfe at the first touch of affliction, and no more put the Lord, as it were to paines, for to stretch out his arme still. Why should yee bee striken any more?Isa. 1. v. 5,Isa 1:5 said God to his people: Note.Though God spare man in his sinnes for a space, yet at last shall hee not disdaine to bee crossed of dust & asses. Note.I will tell thee ô man, that if thou sit the Lords first summonds, Hee vvill send to thee a new charge, which shall make thy griefe to grow.Levit. 26. v 81.Lev 26:81 If yee walk stubbornly against mee, (said the LORD) I will bring seven tymes more plagues vponupon you according to your sinnes: If seven will not worke, God hath seventie seven at his command, every one readier than another, to say with that spirit, send me. Jf for the gentle corrections of his rodde thou will not turne, Hee shall scourge thee with scorpions, till hee cause thee c…y: If a sinner overcome a little p. 104affliction, and come out of it, not being bettered thereby, Gods armie shall bee stretched out still by some greater judgement. After that Hananiah had broken the yoke of wood, which was about Ieremiah his …ecke, for to bee a token of a great judgement, God commanded to tell Hananiah,Ier. 28 v. 13.Jer 28:13 Thou hast broken the yokes of wood, but thou shalt make for t…m yokes of yron. Note.If yokes of wood can not da…ton stif-necked sinners,Note. the Lord shall change wood into yron: malo nodo malus cuneus, for a hard knot he can make a hard wedge: nill wee will we, God will hauehave his blowes felt.

Th… 3 doctrine.Againe heere in that a sicke man at the doores of death, is said to cry to God, I obserue a powerfull working of the spirit of God in his owne children. Note.While they are at the doores of death and can not speake vntounto man for weaknesse, yet are they said to cry vntounto the Lord.

p. 105Note.At such a tyme all the force of nature is spent, and words are said to be swallowed vp:Iob. 6. v. 3.Job 6:3 yet such are said heere to cry vntounto the Lord. Wherefrae commeth this force to cry? Not from nature: It is from the spirit within. Note.While the godly man is at his last gaspes, and hath layd speach before men, even then is a voice of power within him, crying through the heavens vntounto God.

The vse.The vse. Note. In confidence of Gods assisting power, let vsus comfort our selues against the houre of death, the houre of our greatest weaknesse: Heere is the ground, while all naturall strength will faile his owne children, yet Gods strength will not faile them:Psal. 73. v. 26.Ps 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth (said David,) but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. What can make a man cry at his last gaspes, but this strength of GOD in the heart?Note. This is a great mercy, that while there is no p. 106force in nature to make a man but speake vntounto man, there shall be into his heart a spirituall force, which shall make him cry vntounto his God. The wicked also,Note. when they drawe neere the doores of death, will cry vntounto the Lord: that is, they will gaspe, gaze, grinne, glowre, and grone: yea,Iob. 3. v. 24.Job 3:24 powre out their roarings as waters: And such is the great merciemercy of God that for plaine pittie he will grant vntounto the wicked man his lyfe. So hee pittied Ahab clothed with sackeclothe, hauing nothing but the outward skinne of repentance: Because the Lord sawe him rent his cloaths and put sackcloth vponupon his flesh, & fast, and lye in sackcloth, hee said to Elijah,1 King. 21. v. 291 Kgs 21:29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth him selfe before mee? Therefore I will not bring the evill in his dayes: See what God did to a wicked man but outwardly humbled. Note.Such is the merciemercy of our God, that hardly can hee punish sinners in his justice.

p. 107Note.As he did to Ahab, so will hee doe to a wicked sicke foole: when he heareth him groaning, and seeth him gaping for lyfe, lyke a hungry dogge gaping for a smush bone, he will cast vntounto him that bone of life, and let him gnawe vponupon it for a number of yeeres. Note.The wicked man loveth not God, but looketh for health as a dogge will looke for a bone that hee seeth into a strangers hand: as the dogges eye is ever vponupon the bone, and not vponupon the stranger, so is the wicked mans eye ever vponupon his lyfe and not vponupon God. Note.When the dogge hath gotten the bone, he runneth to some corner and gnaweth vponupon it, and never regards any more the stranger that cast it to him: even so the wicked man, as it were, gnaweth vponupon a number of yeeres, which God hath cast to him, but after he hath once gotten that which hee glowred so meekill for, he looketh p. 108no more vponupon God.

The gift of naturall lyfe as J see is a gift both given to the godly and the wicked: they will both come to the doores of death, and God will bring them backe againe to lyfe. Note.But wouldst thou knowe whether or not thou hast gotten that gift in mercy or but for a greater judgement? Trye whether or not thou amendeth thy bygone lyfe. If thy louelove be greater to God then of before: If thou depends more vponupon his providence then of before: Jf thou walke more circumspectly, and more carefully into thy calling then of before: Jf thou make greater conscience of thy thoughts then of before thou did of thy words and workes: If that bee, well is thee; The Lord in mercy hath added as vntounto Hezekiah that tyme to thy dayes. Note.But if after thou hast made so many faire promises to God in thy sicknesse: so many vowes to redeeme that p. 119evill spent tyme: yet if after thou hast gotten health, thou forget thy miserie and remember it, as waters that passe away, and so returne to thy old bayas againe to bee friends with thy old sinnes, neglecting thy former vowes; assure thy selfe that thy lyfe is prolonged but for a curse, that thou may see the evill to come:Isa. 57. v. 1 Isa 63. v. 4.Isa 57:1Isa 63:4

Note.Though God spare the wicked for a space, yet the day of vengeance is in his heart. God is fully mynded to breake him vvith his tempest, & to make him perish, like his owne dung for ever. Note.A vvicked man in his greatest glory is like Amal…cke of vvhom Balaam prophecied, saying Amaleke was the first of nations, Numb. …4. v. 20Num 4:20but his latter end shall bee that hee perish for ever. Note.Many never vveepe for sinne till their soule is in hell.

The 4 doctrine.Againe heere obserue to vvhom the sicke fooles are said to crye: i… is to the Lord: Then they cry vntounto the Lord. Heere vv…e hauehave to learne to vvhom p. 110wee should cry in our trouble: Jt is vntounto the Lord.August. in …sal. 74. S^t. Augustine saith very well: N…n est quod fugias à Deo irato, nisi ad Deum placatum: there is no refuge from an angry God, but vntounto God being pacified: whom hauehave I in Heaven but thee? Psal. 37. v. 25. Ier. 17. v. 5. v. 6.Ps 37:25Jer 17:5said David. Cursed be the man, (saith Jeremie,) that trusteth in man, and whose heart departeth from the Lord: for hee shall bee like the heath in the wildernesse, and shall not see when GOD commeth: But blessed is the man that can say to God with Jeremie,Ier. 17. v. 7.Jer 17:7 thou art my hope in the day of evill.

The vse.The vse, let vsus learne wisdome at these sicke fooles come to their witts againe: In all our distresses let vsus runne to the LORD. Note.Who is so powerfull to helpe as hee? who is so mercifull to helpe as he? It shall therefore be our best in the tyme of out prosperitie to make our acquaintance with him,Note. that in affliction wee may the more boldly goe and p. 111cry for his helpe. * If God bee a stranger vntounto vsus, wee will thinke shame to imploye him: but if he be our friend,Proverb. 18. v. 24 The 5 doctrine. wee shall finde that of Salomon to be true, There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Againe in that the afflicted are said heere to cry vntounto the Lord,Note. but not vntill they bee so straited with sicknesse that there is no more appearance of lyfe: J obserue the profite of affliction: yea, of sorest sicknesse: It is a powerfull meanes for to chaise a man home to his God. Note.While the Mariners of the ship, wherein Jonah was, perceived the tempest arise,Ionah. 1. v. 5,Jonah 1:5 they were busy in doing what men could doe: they cast out the wares that were in the ship to lighten it of them, but seeing that the sea wrought still and was more and more tempestuous, they tooke them to their prayers: Every man cryed vntounto his God. Note.When their Gods could not answere they wakened sleeping Ionas, p. 112who should hauehave beene the cock of the ship for to craw day vntounto others: him they exhorted to cry & to try what his God could doe: Arise, said the poore pagan,v. 6. Call vponupon thy God, if so bee that hee will thinke vponupon vsus that wee perish not.

There was no crying vntounto God into that ship, vntill the ship was like to bee broken: Jn the great distresse the pagans that knewe not God before, seeing the perill, boasted the Prophet to his prayers, saying, what meanest thou O sleeper! Arise and call vponupon thy God? Note.When there is no appearance of helpe from any creature, then men are forced to runne to God.

Note.So long as man can see a creature, that can helpe him, hee will runne to it as to his best refuge. Note.Jf hee be mynded to conquesse houses or lands, hee will cry vntounto his coffers: Come out thousands of silver & gold and buy this: But if he be drowned into deb…e, and cast into prison, p. 113then and there he will cry vntounto the Lord. Note.So long as the forlorne sonne had a pennie into his purse, he thought never of home; but when he was forced to feede with the swine, he said,Luk. 15 v. 7.Luke 15:7 I will returne to my father againe. Note.So long as wee hauehave peace in our land, and Barnes full of corne and purses full of money, we ly in securitie lyke these of L…ish:Iud. 18. v. 7.Judg 18:7 But if the foraine enemy come and depriue vsus of such comforts, then we shall crye vntounto the Lord. Note.So long as Iehoshaphat in the battell sawe his partie to be equall, he fought as he could: But so soone as hee sawe him selfe neere straited by the enemie,1 King. …2. v. 321 Kgs 2:32 then hee cryed vntounto the Lord. Note.So long as Hagar had water into the bottles, she and Ismael dranke together, enjoying the creature: But so soone as all was spent, then she weept and cryed vntounto the Lord. Gen. 21. v. 16. Note.Gen 21:16So …long as the Raven can find a fleshy carion, hee will quietly feede vponupon it: But p. 114while hee is straited with hunger, hee beggeth his meate from God:Psal 104 v. 21.Ps 104:21 The young Lions, (saith the Psalmist) roare a…ter their prey: and seeke their meate from God. Note.All things, men, beasts, fowles: yea, Papists in their greatest pinch are forced to quite all other vaine hopes for to cry vntounto the Lord.

Note.I remember that in the tyme of the French persecution, J came by sea to Flanders, and as I was sailing from Flanders to Scotland, a fearfull tempest arose, which made our Mariners reele to and fro, Psal. 107 v. 27.Ps 107:27and stagger like drunken men: In the meane tyme, th…re was in our ship a Scots papist, who lay neere me, while the ship gaue a great shake, his ordinarie cry was O Lord: J observed the man, and after the Lord had sent a calme, I said to him, Sir, now yee see the weaknesse of your religion: so long as yee are in prosperitie, yee cry vntounto this Sainct and that Sainct; Jn our greatest danger J heard you p. 115cry often, Lord, Lord, but not a word yee spake of our Lady. J compare a Papist in his pilgrimages to creatures, to a sheepe that is hunted of a flie: it runneth from bush to bush: every bush catcheth a l…ck, till the silly sheepe bee threed-bare and tirred of all his fleece, sinne lyke a cleg-flee maketh the soule to startle like a beast: there is no sure refuge but in God. Away then with Papistrie and with all that draweth a man from the Lord vntounto any other: The highest point of tribulation, or some great danger of death, wakning a man, will tell a man that there is none that can helpe but the Lord, and that hee onelyonly is to bee called vponupon: Call vponupon mee in the day of trouble, (said the Lord:) Whom hauehave I in heaven but thee? said the Psalmist: All things are for the Lord, and from the Lord, and all things in their troubles must come to the Lord, as the hunger-bitten Aegiptians p. 116came all to Joseph for meate. Thus yee see the great good of greevous afflictions: They chase the creature till it cry to the Creator: I will goe, Hosea 5. v. 15.Hos 5:15(saith the Lord,) and returne to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seeke my face: In their affliction they will seeke mee early. This is hee…e declared in these words of my text, Then they cry vntounto the Lord in their trouble.

The vse.The vse, let vsus rejoyce in tribulation, seeing God hath made it a spnrre vntounto prayer. Note.Man is like waters: Putrescunt ni movcantur aquae, waters spill and stinke if they stand without any motion; so will the soule stinke without affliction. Before I was afflicted, (said David,) I went astray, but now I learne thy statutes: Indeede it is true,Heb. 12 v. 11.Heb 12:11 that no affliction for the present seem…th to bee joyous but grievous: Neverthelesse afterward it yeeldeth the p…c…able f…uit of righteousnesse to these that are exercised thereby.

p. 117Note.This is a quiet fruit of righteousnesse when the soule is moved to cry vntounto God. Cryes in prayer vntounto God are the quietnesse of righteousnesse. I confesse that both the wicked and the godly will crye in their distresse: but the wicked cry like dogs beaten with a staffe: the godly crye into their hearts, like children with Moses, to whom God said, why cryest thou vntounto mee? Let vsus praye the Lord that hee would rouze vp these sleepie soules of ours that sleepe so oftin sinne, like Jonah in the hatches: Note.Well is the man to whom God shall send some affliction crying to the sinner as the Ship-master cryed to Jonah:Ion. 1. v. 6,Jonah 1:6 what meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, crye and call vponupon thy God. Note.It is goode that man while hee is forewarned by any affliction strive to bee friends with his God. Men may rebell for a space, and may turne the grace of God into wantonnesse, yea and harden their hearts with Pharaoh p. 119against his plagues: But at last when all their excellencie is swept away like a spiders web, Iob. 4. v. 21.Job 4:21as Eliphaz sayeth, they die without wisdome: As a man liveth ordinarly, so dieth hee: No…e.He that liveth a foole shall readily die without wisedome: a fore-warning affliction doeth goode to the godly man: it maketh him to be fore-armed: But as for the wicked man though God send sicknesse after sicknesse, and delaye his death, yet hee is not a whit the better. Note.But while hee liveth hee letteth the debt run on, like a spender or waster, who carelesly puts more and more vponupon the score. Jt were good for the wicked that hee had never beene borne, as Christ said of Iudas: Mat. 2…. v. 2….Matt 2:2or that hee had died in the birth: yet seeing life in itselfe is a benefite, while it is abused by those that have gotten it by crying vntounto the Lord, it is righteous with God to punish them in rigour for the abuse of his benefite, p. 120which should have beene to them a large time well imployed in repentance, where-with as with a brush they should have clensed their hearts from the scailles of wickednesse.

Againe heere some may obiect, how is it that the godly man beeing sicke,Obiectiō and neere the doores of death shuld cry so earnestly for life? Should not a godly man bee glad to goe to GOD his Father,Eccl. 12. v. 5 Psal. 16. v. 11.Eccl 12:5Ps 16:11 to his long home, where are pleasures for evermore?

What see wee heere, but the back-parts of Iehovah? Are wee not in this world as David was in Kedar, Ps. 120. v 5.Ps 120:5and in Meshech, or as Israel were captives in Babilon? Is not this earth a strange land, Ps. 137. v. 4.Ps 137:4wherein wee can not sing the praises of our God? Are not our Harpes heere hung vponupon the willowes? v. 2.Our Musick is dumbe.

I answere that indeede if the godly well prepared as they should bee when sicknesse commeth vntounto them, p. 120they would not crye for health of body: but their chiefe crye should bee,Rev. 22, v. 20.Rev 22:20 Come Lord Iesus, come, and fetch away my soule that panteth after thee like a cha…ed Hart, Ps. 4…. v, 1.Ps 4desiring the rivers of waters: The chiefe desire of a godly heart is all in this wish,v. 2. when shall I come and appeare before God? Item, I desire to bee dissolved, and to bee with Christ.

Note.But for some reasons the most godly whiles will seek life from God: some desire to live, because they desire yet to doe some better service for God, than hitherto they have done: they are sorie that in their calling they have not beene so busie as it became them to bee: the desire of their life is onelie that they may redeeme the time by dooing some one good turne or other for their God.

Note.Jn my iudgment this chieflie made Hezekiah to weepe,Isa. 38. v. 14.Isa 38:14 to croude, and to chatter while hee heard the message of death. This chiefly made p. 121the Psalmist crye,Ps. 102. v. 24:Ps 102:24 Take mee not away in the midst of my dayes.

* Others even of the number of the godly will crye for life, because they finde not themselves so well prepared for to come before the face of their Iudge: they see that as yet they have not put the affaires of their Soule to an order.

It is likelie that this also made Hezekiah to weepe so fore, that he chattered at the words of the messinger of death: God by Isaiah bade him put his house in order:2. King. 20. v. 1.2 Kgs 20:1 if that had beene already done it had not needed Gods command: seeing then his house was not set in order, which is but an easie matter, it would seeme that his soule was not so set in order as that hee found it ready to compeare before the iudgment seat of God: O how fearefull is that tribunall for an vnprepared soule! Note.What terrours are these, sinne, and sicknesse, death, the grave, & an vnprepared soule.

p. 123The vse.The vse of all this is seeing there is nothing more certaine than death, and nothing more vncertaine than the time and place thereof, let vsus ever be vponupon our guarde ready to flitte and remove out of our tabernacles of clay: Iob. 4. v. 19.Job 4:19My time is in thine hand said David:Ps. 31 v. 16.Ps 31:16 Wee cannot tell how soone our glasse shall end. Note.Let vsus therefore resolve with Hezekiah in all the way of our pilgrimage,Isa. 38. v. 15.Isa 38:15 to goe softly in the bitternesse of our soule.

The doctrine.Againe, in that it is said that the sicke men cry vntounto the Lord in their trouble let vsus observe the perversnesse of our nature. Note.Troubles make vsus to crye, bodily afflictions rouze vsus vp to crye: but alas while wee sinne we keepe silence: while the Thiefe is cutting a purse hee is quiet: but while hee is scourged for his fault, hee will shoute for every stripe:Note. While Satan is forcing vsus with his tentations to offend our God, wee often yeelde therevnto without any crye to our p. 124God: Jt is then especially that wee shoulde crye vntounto him when wee finde sinne comming against vsus to force vsus to offend our God.Note. God in his word hath set downe a notable Lawe for a Damsell betrothed to a husband: I will let you heare the Law.

If a Damsell, Deut. 22 v. 23.Deut 22:23saith the Lord, that is a virgin… bee betrothed to an husband, and a man find her in the Citie, and lye with her: v. 24.Then yee shall bring them both out to the gate of that Citie, and yee shall stone them with stones that they die: the Damsell because shee cryed not: and the man because hee humbled his neigboures wife. v, 25.But if a man finde a betrothed Damsell in the field, and the man force her, and lye with her: then the man only that lay with her, shall die. But in the Damsell there is no sinne worthie of death: v, 27.for hee found her in the field, and the betrothed Damsell cryed, and there was none to save her.

Now what is to bee inferred vponupon p. 124this? This is the matter. Note.The soule of a Christian is as a Damsell, a virgin betrothed vntounto Christ the blessed Bridegrome of our soules:Iob. 3. v. 27.Job 3:27 Sathan the tempter is like a Russian comming to force and defile this Damsell: Jf the soule crye not while Sathan is vsing violence, the Soule and Sathan shall die: the soule because it cryed not, and Sathan because hee forced the Soule: But if while Sathan is vsing violence rhe soule cry vntounto God for help, then Sathan shall only die: yea though in that case the soule in something should bee defiled, yet shall shee not die, because she cryed vntounto the Lord.

The vse. Note.The vse of this is, that whensoever wee shall perceive Sathan comming with force for to deflore, or defile our soule Christs Damsell, we incontinent crye with all our force vntounto GOD. Lord help mee: Lord leade mee not into tentation: O God of my m… prevent mee and keepe m… from these snares: bee p. 125thou a shelter for mee, and a strong tower from the enemie. This was Pauls doing when hee feared to bee forced with that bodie of death, hee cryed,Rom. 7. v. 24.Rom 7:24 Miserable man that I am who shall deliver mee from this body of death?

Note.This was the practise of Joseph while his Mistresse saide to him; lye with mee;Gen. 39. v. 9Gen 39:9 hee cryed vntounto God. How should I doe this wickednesse; and sinne against God?

* Hee that will not crye to God before hee sinne, Gods plagues at last shall cause him crye for his sins.

* Well is that man and that woman, that can crye to God for to save them from the houre of tentation,Note. If a Damsell was forced in the fielde, her sinne was not thought worthye of death: because it was supponed that shee cryed, but that there was none to help her. But it is not so with our soule, whether it crye in the Citie, or in the field: if shee cry shee shall find that p. 127there is a God for to help her, and therefore if shee be forced, shee can have no excuse: Well is that soule that is continually crying to God in prayer. Note.Jf a palliard knowe that a woman will crye hee will feare to make an onset: but if hee see her smyle, hee knoweth that hee hath found his match: It is so with Sathan that great palliard, and the soule of man. If Sathan knowe thy soule to bee a crying soule, a soule that will tell all his te…tations to Christ her husband, hee will feare to tempt that soule: Satan is feared for Christ, hee beleeveth and hee trembleth. Iam. 2 v, 19Jas 2But if hee see a soule that is quiet,Note. a soule that heares his filthie language and smileth vponupon him with a wanton eye, there the vncleane Spirit knoweth that hee hath founde his match.

Note.Well is that soule that Sathan finds weeping for offending Christ her husband. Note.O what a difference p. 128is betweene a soule whose eyes are drumly with teares of repentance and a soule whose eyes are wanton' light and smyling, eyes filled with spirituall adulterie?Note. Remember this vse O man, when ever Sathan shall come to tempt thee vntounto sinne, then crye thou vntounto the Lord vntounto Christ thy husband, and Sathan that filthy Russian shall flie awaye in haste: so long as wee breath let vsus pray that the Lord would lead vsus into the land of righteousnesse.Ps. 143. v. 10Ps 143:10

Last of all,The doctrine. in that these that are troubled crye to God, J observe a comfort for these that crye in trouble: when a man can once crye to God in his trouble, it is a token that God shortly will deliver. Note.One that is pined with the stone gravell, so long as hee but whineth for the difficultie hee hath in making water, the Surgeon will not cut him, but will say let him bee till hee crye: from the time once hee beginneth to cry p. 128then is it time to cutt: that once done he is delivered from his paine.

NoteThere is in man a stone harder than the Stone of the bladder, viz. the stone of the heart: The heart stone is of sinne: the bladder Stone is but of sand. Sinne gravell is a stone gravell: for hardnesse there is no flint so hard as a hard heart.Note. As the Stone gravell is from sand, one pickle ioyning to another, till at last manie pickles beeing knit together in a lumpe become a confirmed stone; even so the heart gravell is from one sinne joyned to another, till they be in an huge number together like a cluster. At last in length of time by custome they harden together: from thence is the confirmed stone of the heart. Note.So long as this stone is not very painefull in affliction, but onelyonly maketh the sinner to whine, the Lord will let that sinner suffer still: for a space hee will delay his cure: but if once the p. 128paine bee so▪ that it cause the sinner to cry, God that most cunning Surgeon will cut out the cause of his cry.

Note.Behold the trueth of this into my text, Then they cry vntounto the Lord: there is the cry: and he delivereth them: there is the cure.

The vse:The vse.Let vsus try our soules in trouble whither they cry or but whine: if the soule but whine in afflictions, it is a token that deliverance is yet far off but if the soule once begin to crye, God is ready to deliver.Note. By our prayer to God we shall know the mind of our God in our troubles, & the working of our afflictions:.Note. In this crying to God there is a great difference, the wicked cryeth more for his sore than his sinne: the godly man cryeth more for his sin than his sore. Note.So to doe is not the practise of a prentise. The Lord teach vsus both how wee should cry to our God, and wherfore chiefly we should cry. To God bee glorye for ever, Amen.

p. 129A SHORT MEDITATION against mans securitie in life.

Note.AS intensive colde in time of frost maketh water to congeale and bindeth all vp; so that the earth is neither fit for plowing, or sowing: so into the hearts of manie there is a frost, yea a lying frost, so that the fallow ground of their heartes cannot bee riven vp.Note. An excessive cold at Gods service stayeth the pleugh of Gods …grace. Note.Yee all woulde thinke it an vncouth thing to see pleughsly in frost in the monethmonth of May, and yet more into August.

Note.The yeere is but of the age of twelve monethes, Maye is but the youth thereof: and yet if in that monethmonth there should bee no appearance of fruites, what would you thinke of such a yeere? Note.And yet alas many of vsus who have past the June, yea the August of our age are as yet frozen in the dregges of our p. 130sinnes, as though the beames of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse had never shined vponupon our soules.

Note.What is this that wee cannot remember our mortalitie? * One sythe cutteth down both Prince and people.Note. How manie Kings of this land are dead, and but one alive? The rest are gone for to give account how they have swayed the scepter, when they sustained the person of God. Note.All the glorie of the greatest, except they bee godly shall perish like the snuffe of a candle that is trodde vnderunder-foote. Let vsus therefore so live to die, that wee maye die to live. Note.If wee digge not the Myne we shall never find the treasure. Note.If wee could lay this to our heart, wee should bee swifter than Hazael in running to our God.

p. 131THE SICKE MANS SALVE. THE THIRD SERMON.

Psal. 107. v. 19.

Then they cry vntounto the Lorde in their trouble: hee saved them out of their distresses.

V. 20.

Hee sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

IN my former Sermon it hath beene declared, what the sicke fooles did while they were neere the doores of death: it is saide: Then they cryed vntounto the Lord: Jn this Sermon wee shall heare Gods part: It is in these words p. 132…ee saved them out of their distresses: hee sent his word and healed them: and delivered them from their destructions.

The division of these words.

Jn these wordes I see two things: first, God after hee hath heard afflicted sinners saveth them, and delivereth them out of their distresse: secondly, it is set downe by what meanes hee delivered these sicke persons, in these wordes, hee sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their graves, or destructions.

The doctrine.As for that it is saide in the first part of my d…yes Text, that God saved these sicke out of their distresses J observe the great merciemercy of God: there is no sinne, or sicknesse I see so great, but if the sicke sinner can crye to him, God hath merciemercy for him: as it is of sicknesse, so of all other affliction. If man can crye vntounto God,Note. God is readie to send p. 133succour. This Moses declared well vntounto Jsrael:Deut. 4. v. 27.Deut 4:27 The Lord, said hee, shall scatter you among the nations, and yee shall bee left few in number: and there yee shall serve gods, v. 23.the workes of mens handes, wood and stone, which neither heare nor see, nor eate nor smell: there is Gods iudgment against mans sin: But shall the LORDS arme bee stretched out still? Will not God bee any more mercifull? heare what is subioyned:v. 9 But if from thence thou shalt seeke the Lord thy God thou shalt find him, if thou seeke him with all thy heart, and with all thy soule. NoteManie a time had the sicke fooles of my text offended his Majestie, yet here is merciemercy; they cryed: and hee saved.

Note.God sometimes indeed while hee hath beene often provoked by the sinnes of men after diverse deliverances, will seeme to bee more hard to bee intreated, that men maye beware to be relapses from such he will hide his face for a space: Verily, said p. 134Jsaiah,Exod. 33 v. 6.Exod 33:6 thou art a God that hideth thy self, O God of Israel the Saviour: hee may hide himself for a litle, but not long.Note. While hee heareth the heart-cryes of his creature, hee is forced to draw the curtaine, and shew himselfe vntounto it.

Note.He that forbade man to hide himself from his owne flesh, can not long deny himselfe to a sicke sinner crying in his distresse. Of this we have a notable speach in the Psalme, I sought the Lord and hee heard mee, Psal. 34. v. 4.Ps 34:4& delivered mee from all my feares: They looked vntounto him, and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. v. 5.Now let vsus see the kirnell of that comfort in the verse following;v. 6. This poore man cryed, and the Lord heard him; and saved him out of all his troubles. Note.Behold a progresse of seeking, and of deliverance: first hee sought God: secondly he looked vntounto God: thirdly the poore man cryed: So first God mett mans seeking with deliverance p. 135from the feare of trouble, secondly, while man looked vntounto him hee made him to bee inlightened, so that hee knew both who did afflict, and wherefore hee did afflict him. But last of all, while God saw this sinner humbled like a poore man and heard him crye, then hee saved him from his troubles. This poore man cryed, saith the Psalmist, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. See how the Lord at the first saved him not from all his troubles, but by degrees till hee cryed vntounto him like a poore man crying for an almes. Note.The harder health is more come by, the more it is set by: a disease easily cured, is easily incurred. The sooner a sinner bee helped, if hee returne againe to his sinnes, hee shall find God the slower to come to his helpe againe: God will let him seeke and looke and cry, yea, and crye againe to teach him better manners.

p. 136This wee see in the booke of Iudges to have beene Gods doing with Israel. Note.The Israelites beeing oppressed by the Philistimes, and Ammonites in their miserie they sought vntounto God: they looked vntounto him: yea, and they cryed: but what answere got they at the first? God sent them vntounto their false gods at the first and yet vponupon their repentance hee hee pittied them: The wordes are so weightie that they are worthie to be heard: these be they euen as they were writen by Gods pen-man: when the Israelites sawe that they were so sore afflicted by their enemies, it is said:Iudg 10. v. 10Judg 10:10 They cryed vntounto the Lord, saying, wee hauehave sinned against thee, both because we hauehave forsaken our God; and also serued Balaam: let vsus now heare what answere God made vntounto them:v. 11. Hee said vntounto them, Did I not deliuer you from the Egyptians, and from the Ammorits and from the Children of Ammon, and from the Philistimes? p. 137The Zidonians also, v. 12and the Amalelikites, and the Maonites did oppresse you, and yee cryed vntounto mee, and I deliuered you out of their hands: v. 13.yet ye ha…e forsaken mee and serued other Gods: Behold their relaps: what saith the Lord to that?v. 14. I will deliuer you no more: Goe and crye vntounto the Gods which ye hauehave chosen, let them deliuer you in the time of your tribulation heare what a hard answere: Now what did the Jsraelites?v. 15. They said to God, We hauehave sinned, doe thou vntounto vsus whatsoeuer seemeth good vntounto thee, deliuer vsus onelyonly we praye thee this day: as if they should hauehave said Lord but for this one time: Thus after they had cryed they amended their life by putting away the strange Gods from among them and serued the Lord: what did God then? Note.It is said that his soule was grieued for the miserie of Israel:v. 16. So at last they got help, but after many prayers and after the amendement of their life. O p. 138the great mercy of our God!Iob 7. v. 20. The vse.Job 7:20 O the preseruer of man!

Let vsus make vse of this by applying it to our present purpose which is concerning these that are so sicke that they seeme to bee neere the doores of death Note.While God delayeth to bring them from their sicknesse notwithstanding of all their prayers, and of all our prayers private or publicke, let vsus not grudge, neither let the sicke murmure. God while hee delayeth their health, hee as it were sayeth to them,Iudg. 10. v. 13.Judg 10:13 as hee said to Israel, I will deliver you no more: yet if the poore patient persist to murne before him God will not faile to give him full contentment at last. Note,God afflicteth not willingly the children of men: no not: his soule often is grieved for the miserie of Israel. Note.How can hee but deliver repenting sinners, seeing their miserie grieveth his verie soule?

It is not wonder that God repented p. 139himselfe to have made man, because that hee is the chiefe matter of his griefe. Note.As for the Devils they grieve GOD by their sinnes; but he is not grieved for their torments: God gladly shall cause scourge them with scorpions: Note.But as for his owne children heere hee is grieved, and grieved againe, first for their sinnes but most for their sufferings: hee is grieved for their sinnes, as a father for his childrens faults: and againe he is grieved to strike them. Note.Last of all hee is most grieved after that hee hath striken them. Note.These bee wonderfull wordes, his soule was grieued for the miserie of Israel: God that forgave David his sinne could as gladly have spared him in his iudgments: but the wicked were looking on wondred how God did spare: and therefore …or his honour, and for his names sake he could not let David go vnpunished: So soone as David had said,2. Sam. 12. v. 132 Sam 12:13 I have sinned against the Lord: p. 140Nathan answered that the Lord had put away his sinne: but as for afflictions and troubles hee could not put them awaye, because by that deede hee had giuen great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. v. 14. Note.Jf all the wicked were blind God would often spare to afflict his Children.

An obiection.

Heere some may obiect and saye that this our Text is not ever true: Js it not cleare that God delivereth not all men from the gates of death, though they cry vntounto him?

The answere.

It is certaine that it is not aye done: Note.For if men by crying to God were ever brought backe from the doores of death; death should bee a rare thing among men. Note.If life could bee had for crying to GOD, the World should be deafned with din: for all that a man hath he will giuegive it for his life Jt is but one of a thousand that can say with S. Paul I desire p. 141to be dissolued: what then shall we say to our Texte wherein is said that when the sicke man cryeth then God deliuereth? Note.Surely this is not euer done, but if it be once done to a man in his life, they be fewe here of anye age but once in their lifetime God hath brought them from the doores of death: If God once hath done this to thee by thy owne experience subscribe to the trueth of my Texte.

Note.Neither doth my Text say that this is done to all, left that anye should beguile himselfe, saying, I may sinne, seeing as yet I hauehave neuer bene so sicke as to be at the ports of death: before J die I must first be neere these portes and be broght backe againe to health and so shall liue a space and afterward die: No not, God hath not astricted himselfe by promise to anye that he shall get but an houres sicknesse before he die.Levit. 20.1.Lev 20:1 If a Nadab and an p. 142Abihu come in with strange fire before the Lorde,Act. 5 9.3. Numb. 16. v. 32 Note. Gen. 19. v. 26.Acts 5:9Acts 5:3Num 16:32Gen 19:26 God in an instant will slay them with fire from heaven. Ananias and Saphira dyed having a lye against God in their mouth: Dathan & Abiram were swallowed vp into an instant: These are set downe in scripture as Pillars of Salt to tell to the Passengers of this world that they looke not back to Sodome but hauehave euer their eyes vponupon their God.

Note.As for the godly in their sickenesse if at last when their glasse is at the running out they crye to God for life, God shall giuegive them an answere that shall content them: he shall let them see that death is better then life: Note.Moses desired to liue and to goe to Canaan, Gods desire was that he should die for to goe to the heauens: Note.Behold how God desired better for Moses, then Moses for him selfe: The death of the righteous was the wish of Balaam: p. 143let mee die, Numb. 23. v. 10Num 23:10said hee, the death of the righteous: The death of the saints is a Precious thing: It is promised to them as a releese of all their distresses,Iob. v. 17.Job 5:17 as a rest from their labours, a refreshment to their wearied bones: there the weary be at rest saith Iob, speaking of the graue: they rest in their beds saith Isaiah:Isa. 3. v. 2.Isa 3:2 This was Gods promise to good Iosiah made by Huldah the Prophetesse: I will gather thee to thy father, 2. Chron. 34. v. 28.2 Chr 34:28said the Lord, and thou shalt be gathred to thy graue in peace: Note.Thus the godly man (except it be that God will hauehave him neere to him selfe as Enoch, Isa. 57. v. 1.Isa 57:1or that he should not see the ill to come) getteth his full of dayes: such a man shall come to his graue with his gray haires in a full age like as a shocke or ricke of corne commeth in his season: Iob. 5 v. 26. Note.Job 5:26What is a gray headed goodly man but as a field that is ripee for the Lord Iohn. 4. v. 35.John 4:35The countrie saith Christ is all white speaking p. 144of the cornes in their rypnesse: Note.A gray headed godly man is like ripe corne ready for the Lords Barne-yeard, that is vp into the heauens. Note. Prou. 16. v. 3.Prov 16:3According to this, Salomon speaking of the hoarie head, saith that it is A crowne of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse.

The last thing I shall touch heere concerning Gods deliuerance from sicknesse or from any other troubles is, a counsell I would giuegive to these that hauehave bene deliuered: Note.The counsel is this, hath God once brought thee from the doores of death to life? or hath hee deliuered thee from any imminent danger? Be wise in times to come: Be thankefull and sinne no more: sinne no more for feare of worse. Note.This was Christs counsell to the man whom he had healed at the poole; while afterward he found him into the Temple he said vntounto him,… 5. v. 14. Behold now thou p. 145art made whole: sinne no more, lest a worse thing come vntounto thee.

Note.There was neuer a man deliuered from so filthie or from so fearefull a disease, but if he returne to his sinne like a dogge to his vomite, 2. Pet. 2. v. 22.2 Pet 2:22God can make a worse thing come vntounto him: Note.This like a wakener cryeth to all; stand in awe and sinne not.

Sinne at the first is like a little chet or young plant of the first yeeres planting, yee may easily nip it in two with your naile:Note. sinne doubled is like a plant of two yeeares growth which requireth the strength of the hand: But sinne tripled is like a tree of three yeeres growth, of faster roots then of before: Last of all it commeth to passe that that which with thy singer most easily thou might hauehave pluckt vp once, can not now be shaken with all the force of thy body.

Note.It is goode to correct and rebuke p. 146sinne while it is young and will blush for shame. Note,A little correction of the rod will chase away folly out of the heart of the yong child: Note.But old follie, hardened folie, brasen browed folie returned after many deliuerance, after many mercyes must hauehave a tit in a towe: such a one will proue a wagstring: Prov. 27.22. Bray a foole in a morter among wheat with a pestell, yet will hee not quite his foolishnesse. After that the Theefe is burnt on the cheek or behind the shoulder for his pickerie, because hee escapeth with his life, so soone as hee is free hee saith as the drunkard saith after that his winesicknesse is past, yet will I till it againe. Note.But how is hee answered? Gods iudgment, yea a worse than of before maketh an answere like an Eccho, yet will I till him againe: thus as Christ saide of the man that was repossest with ma…s ye Devils, so may be said of him, The last state of that man is worse than the first.

p. 147By what meanes God is said heere to heale deadly diseases.

NOW it followeth that wee see particularly with what salve God healeth the sicke mans sore. It is set downe into these words: Hee sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Note.The Word here as you see is Gods malagma, or healing plaster. Note.Gods worde sent to the sicke man is the messinger of health, a medicine sent from God for curing of all diseases.

Upon this part of my Text, J shall gather eight, or nine severall doctrines.

First,The 1. doctrine. in that God is said to send his word for healing of sicke men, J observe the great Majestie of God: hee healeth men by a Messinger, so that hee needeth not to come himselfe, but onlie to send a Messinger, called his worde: A noble man in p. 147the bed of sicknesse neere vntounto the doores of death hauing sent for the Physitian would not be content that he should send a messenger, and not come himself; the most wnderstanding hauehave no more knowledge then is needfull: Note.Elisha Gods Prophet was beguiled in this: he sent Gehazi his seruant with a staffé for to quicken the dead child of the Shunamite, but all in vaine: Jt behoved him to come him selfe: and when he was come what paines had hee before life could bee gotten? King. 4. v. 33. v. 34.First, hee went into the chamber where the dead chyld was, and shut the doore vponupon them twaine, and prayed vntounto the Lord: he beganne with prayer Then he went vp vponupon the bed and lay vponupon the Child, and put his mouth vponupon his mouth, and his eyes vponupon his eyes, and his hands vponupon his hands, and he stretched him selfe vponupon the child: what wrought that, will ye say? after that done, it is onelyonly said p. 148that the flesh of the child waxed warme:v. 34. there was no appearance of life yet, but onelyonly that the cold dead flesh grewe a little warme. After Elisha returned and walked in the house to and fro:v. 35. See what difficultie he had: after that the went vp againe vponupon the bed and stretched himselfe vponupon him.

At that last action it is said that the child neesed seuen times, and the child opened his eyes: See what toes-and froes the man of God had before life could be gotten: Note.Though he should hauehave walked to and fro and streatched himselfe vntill now, except that God had sent his word,v. 31. Elisha should hauehave said as Gehazi said that was sent with his staffe The child is not awaked:

Note.There is no force in man against death to make either voice or hearing.

Heere then let vsus obserue the great power of God who by the message of his word cureth such deadly diseases: p. 149A Physitian may helpe a sicke man by application:Note. but what can he doe by explication. Note.Mens wordes are but wind: wordes can not worke: Note.Mens wordes are but of dead letters: But the word of god is quick and quickening:Heb. 4. v. 12.Heb 4:12 it is mighty in operation, the Power of God to salvation both of soule and of body:Rom. 1. v. 16. Note.Rom 1:16 That which is able to saue both soule and body from Hell fire may easily be a power for to heale the sicke body: Note.The Centurion after that hee had sent a man for Christ to come and cure his sick seruant, hee bethought himself what power was in Gods word, and therfore he sent back word againe to Christ that hee should not come him selfe but only send his word. Tell him said the Centurion to his friends whom he sent to him,Luke. 7. v. 6.Luke 7:6 tell him; Lord trouble not thy selfe: for I am not worthie that thou shouldest enter vnderunder my roofe: wherefore neither thought I my selfe worthie p. 150to come vntounto thee: but saye in a word, and thy servant shall bee healed: v. 7.Saye in a word that is,Note. send a word, and it shall heale him.

I read of Ioseph that he was cast into the stockes in a prison: But by what meanes was he deliuered. Note.It was by Gods word:Psal. 105. v. 18.Ps 105:18 The psalmist saith that they hurt his feete with stockes, and that he was laide in yron:v. 19. But how was he deliuered? there he laye vntill the time that his word came: Note.God had giuen to Ioseph the word of his promise in a dreame that he should be a sheafe before whom all others sheaues should bowe:Gen. 37. v. 7.Gen 37:7 yea that before him the Sunne and Moone and elleuen starres should doe reuerence. Note.So soone as the time of that word came the stockes could keepe Ioseph no more: Note.As Ioseph lay in the stockes so must the sicke man ly in his bed, vntill the the time that his word came; then shall he goe free: Heere behold the great p. 151power of the word of the Lord.

Note.Turne thee yet againe and behold the power of this word in a greater cure In Ezekiel J see a strange worke wrought by this word: In a valley there was a huge great number of bones both bare and drye: Ezek. 34. v. 2.Ezek 34:2loe, saith the Prophet, they were very drye: God hauing showne them to his Prophet said vntounto him, Sonne of man can these bones liue? The Prophet said Lord thou knowest, as if he had said there is very little appearance: NoteJ will make them liue said the Lord:v. 4. But how? By my word: I will send my word vntounto them: Prophecie vponupon these bones, and say vntounto them, O ye dry bones heare the word of the Lord:v. 5. v. 6. Behold I shall cause breath enter into you, and ye shall liue: And I will lay sinewes vponupon you, and will bring vp fl…sh vponupon you and couer you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall liue: Note.As soone as the Prophet had giuen the bones this first charge of Gods word, at that first prophecie p. 152there was a noise, and behold a shaking and the bones came together eueryevery bone to its owne bone:v. 4. But there was no breath in them: Note.Behold how the first charge of the word made onelyonly the bones to be conueened, and to be couered with flesh and skinne: Note.But how shall life be gotten? God must send his word againe: God sent his word to the wind for to fetch breath for the quickning of these dead men: Prophecie vntounto the wind said the Lord, Prophecie Son of man, v. 9.& say to the wind: Thus saith the Lord God, Come from the four winds, O breath; & breath vponupon these slaine that they may liue. At that second charge of the word the wind fetcht breath which entred into them and all those bones lived and stood vp an exceeding great armie. Note.He who by his word prophecied made dry bones to creepe together, and by this word made the winde to breath life into them, may easily send vntounto sick men a word that will heale p. 153them thought they were even at the doores of death.

The… doctrine.Secondly in that the word of God is said heere to be the meanes whereby God healeth the sicke, J obserue the diuersitie of the operation of his word: what ever God hath to doe, let him but send his word and it shall be done. Note.When he made the world he vsed no other hand but his word:Gen. 1. v. 3. v. 6.Gen 1:3 let there be light: let there be a firmanent. Note.Gods word LET wrought all the creatures: He said, and it was; and as he said, so it was. Note.The word of God is like a Mine of diuers veines either for to help Gods friendes or for to hurt his foes, as the cloudy pillar was darkenesse by day vntounto the Egyptians,Exod. 13. v. 21Exod 13:21 and light in darkenesse vntounto the Jsraelites. Note.As that Pillar was a darke cloud by day behind Israel for to hide them from the Egyptians; and a burning Pillar of fire by night going before Israel for to let them see the p. 154waye. Note.So the word that God sends is euer for the good of Israel. It is a quickning spirit and sauour of life to life vntounto these that are saued,2 Cor. …. v. 16. but it is a killing letter and a sauon of death to these that perish. When Christ had a will to ding his enemies vponupon their backe he sent his word to doe it:Iohn. 18. v. 6.John 18:6 I, with I am he, he made them goe backward to the ground. Note.With his word he dang his enemies vponupon their backe and with his word he raised vp Lazarus his dead freind out of the graue.Iohn. 11. v. 44.John 11:44

Gods greatest wonders were done by his word.Note. When Israel at Massah and Meribah tempted God in their thirst for to get water: God directed Moses to find water: But how? was it by sending him for to delue downe in the ground for to find some water spring? No not: Note.He sent him to a Place where naturally was rather fire then water euen to a hard flint Rocke. But how p. 155was that water gotten? Note.God sent his word vntounto the Rocke:Numb. 20. v. 8.Num 20:8 speake vntounto the Rocke said the Lord to Moses, and it shall giuegive forth his water. Thirdly seeing Gods word is of such power that for all things it is a soveraine remeedie:The doctrine. let vsus beware to doubt of its power Note.These gluttons that cryed for flesh are branded with this blot:Psal. 48. v. 19Ps 48:19 They spake against God, saying Can God furnish a table in the wilderenesse? Note.Beware to say Can God? were the difficultie neuer so great in appearance.Numb. 2…. v. 11.Num 2:11 Moses his doubt made him double his stroke against the Rocke, while he should hauehave spoken to the stones, who for a word would hauehave wept and shed teares to be drinke vntounto Jsrael, he in steade of speaking to the Rocke scourged the Rocke once and againe.Cor. 10. v. 4.

That Rocke was CHRIST, and who would hauehave thought that euer Moses would hauehave scourged Christ? for that deed particularly he p. 156neuer bowe the Lord by his prayer for once to let him set his foot in Canaan, the type of Heauen? Because he dishonored the word of faith with doubting he neuer entered into the land of promise.Numb. 20.10.Num 20:10 The wordes of his doubt were these, Here now, yee rebels; must wee fetch you water out of this Rock. Hezekiel his answere to God was better, when the Lord inquired of him if the dead bones could liue? O Lord said he thou knowest.Hezek. 37.3. O but God thinketh much of his word. Note.God hath said a great word, Heauen and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away. Mark. 13. v. 3…Mark 13:3Christ speaking of the power of this word said that a word spoken with as great of faith as a graine of mustard seedeMat. 13. v. 20. Luk. 17 v. 6.Matt 13:20Luke 17:6 should remoue a mountaine hence to yonder place S. Luke saith that such a word should be able to pluck vp by the roots a sycamine tree and plant it into the Sea, a most vnfit place for planting. * See how Gods word can p. 157cause a tree take roote in an element which naturaly is more bent to pluck vp trees by the roots: shall we doubt of the power of this word were our distresse neuer so great? No not: Note.There is such a power in this word that in time of miracles it made the shadowe of the Messinger to heale these that were sicke: while Peter passed by:Act. 5. v. 15Acts 5:15 The people brought foorth the sicke into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shaddow of Peter passing by, might ouer-shddowe some of them. Such was their faith that they stroue for the shadowe of Peter, and all that but for to be cured of a bodily disease, O if men now a dayes were as bent for to come to this word of God, as they were for the shadow of a man! Note.The power of this word within S. Paul put such vertue into his napkins that wypt the sweate from his body,Act. 16. v. 12.Acts 16:12 or the teares from his eyes that these to whome they were p. 178brought, were cured of all their diseases, yea, and thereby euill spirits were cast out of some: Note.Such vertue came from the shadowes and clothes of such men that men might belieue that they were sent with this word that healeth the soule. These miracles were done by the word and are writen for our learning that we may belieue Gods word to be true.

Fourthly,The 4 doctrine. seeing this word sent by God should be receiued by faith, it must also be preached with faith, let him that speaketh it,Note. speake it with boldnes not fearing the face of man:The 5 doctrine. hee must not be like the Trumpeter who trembleth while hee foundeth alarmes for to stirre vp the courage of others. Fifthly, seeing it is Gods word, that is the word of power: let him that heares a word preached consider well vvhose worde it is: Note.The touch stone of spoken wordes is the writen word: This was the nobilitie of the men of Berea, they tried p. 179the word after it was preached: they searched the scriptures daily, Act. 17. v. 11.Acts 17:11whether these things that were preached were so, or not.

The 6 doctrine.Sixtly, in that it is said in my Text, that the word is a messenger of health, a messenger sent from God for to cure diseases, we should make it welcome. When Eglon a Pagan King heard Ehud saye, Iudg. 3 v. 20. I hauehave a message from God vntounto thee, it is said, that he arose out of his seat, that is, hee stood vponupon his feete for to beare reverence to the worde of the Lord. When Hezekiah heard many sore wordes of threatning sent to him from God, All that he said, was, Good is the worde of the Lorde: what then should we say of the word of health, the healing word, which is sent for to cure both soule and body viz. the worde of the Gospell? Goode is the Gospell, goode is the Gospell, the word of health, may all sicke sinners now say: This is that word sent for to cure p. 180the diseases that would not yeeld vntounto the dead letters of the law;Note. Blessed are the feete of these that fetch Gospell, the word of good tidings. Seuently seeing the word sent from God;The 7 doctrine. is God his appointed meanes for the recouering of health,Note. when euer we are sicke: if wee pray for health let vsus intreat God to send his word vntounto vsus, but seeing the word now commeth not downe from heauen in a voice thorow the aire, but is committed to a messenger, we must not looke for revelations, but seeke that word from the messenger, Gods interpreter to whom it is betrusted: we must looke for a blessing from the word spoken by him who is called of God. NoteIf God had not bidden Ezekiel prophecie vntounto the bones, the bones had neuer stirred for all his preachinges. Note.If profite had called him to be a Prophet, his prophecie had neuer bene able to quicken these slaine: But because he prophecied p. 181not till God bade him prophecie, so soone as hee prophecied, the sent word vntounto the scattered dead bones, they all got life and stood vp an exceeding great armie.Note. Men that run and speake vnsent, find that their speach take no effect: Note.Certaine of the vagabond Jewes, exorcists, and among others,Act. 19. v. 15.Acts 19:15 seuen sonnes of Sceua who was chiefe of the Priests tooke vponupon them to adiure a deuill that was in a man and that by Jesus whom Paul preached: But what said the divell? Iesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are yee? Note.Thus God as yee see hath appointed certaine men for to carie the word that he sendeth, such a man the sickenesse of a man will knowe:Note. But if men runne vnsent, though they should preach Jesus whome Paul preached, the diseases like diuels shall say to them But who are yee? yea the disease shall leape on them and ouercome them and preuaile against them as the diuell did p. 182to the exorcists. Note.When Gods word is sent for to heale: most ordinarly it is sent by a rare man, a pastour whom Elihu calles one of a thousand: I know that by the word that God in my Texte is laide to send may bee vnderstood the power of God: Note.God indeede can heale men without a pastour either to speake to them or to pray for them: but ordinarly he sendeth this word of healing by the mouth of some rare interpreter: The words of Elihu are plaine for the clearing of my Text:Note Behold first how he bringeth in the sicke man in his sickenesse.Iob. 33 v. 16.Job 33:16 Hee is chastened with p…ine vponupon his bed, & the multitude of his bones with strong paine: v. 20.So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soule dainty meat: v. 21.His flesh is consumed away that it can not be seene, and his bones that were not seene sticke out:v. 22. His soule draweth neere vntounto the graue, and his life to the buriers. Behold his sickenesse. Note.But how p. 183shall he be cured?

Let him send for a faithfull minister: If there be a messenger with him, v. 23.an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew vntounto man his vprightnesse;v. 24. Then he is gracious vntounto him, and saith, deliuer him from going downe to the pit. I hauehave found a ransome. v. 25His flesh shall be fresher then a childs: he shall returne to the dayes of his youth. Consider well these words and they shall giuegive light to these words of my Text, He sent his word and healed them, from this may be gathred that he must be a rare man that caryeth the word sent for health: Hee must be a man sent of God that caryeth the word which God sendeth for the healing of the sicke.

Note.Little good may be looked from the preaching of many, because they preach vnsent: they preach not the word that is sent, which is the word of power: they may preach Gods word but they preach not a sent word: they take Gods statuts in their mouth, p. 184but God shall reproue them saying what hast thou to doe to declare my statutes, Psal. 50. v. 16.Ps 50:16or that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth? Note.When God was angry at Ahab he desired to send out some against him: while he was vponupon this thought he looked to all his creatures saying,2. Chro. 18. v. 19.2 Chr 18:19 whome shall I send? and who will goe for vsus? that said; An ill spirit came out and said send me. Note.There be many like the ill-spirit who will not waite till God send them, but will preueen him saying, send me. Note.The world now runnes to be sent. Note.There be none so ready to preach as these whom God neuer sent. Note.Jn this they are worse then the diuell who before he went out; heard God first say Goe forth and doe so 1. King. 22. v. …2.1 Kgs 22:2See how the diuell would not goe to the Lords vvorke vvithout a commission and a warrand. Note.These vvho run and speake vnsent shall find their speach take no effect: It is the sent p. 185vvord that is the vvord of conversion, and of health. Note.A people had great neede to bequeath themselues to God, that he would keepe them from a Pastour that commeth vnsent.

Note.I will giuegive you two tokens of a Pastour that carieth the sent word of God: the one is inward into the mans selfe, the other is outwarde and appeareth amongst the people.

Note.First the Pastour himselfe must hauehave in his owne bosome a warrant from God that he is called to beare the word that God sendeth: this warrant he shall knowe in two things:

Note.First he shall find within him a drawing desire to serue God in such a calling: this is for the generall.

Note.Secondly he shall hauehave a privie particular draught within him moving him to desire to be with such a flocke.Note. Not so much for to cloth him selfe with their wooll and feede him with their rents, whereby he p. 186may hauehave a life by them, as that he may winne some poore soule to the louelove of Jesus, or drawe some clogged heart out of the snares of the diuell: that when he hath ended his ministrie he may say, Behold heere I am, and the children that God hath giuen mee:

Note.This is the inward calling without which if a man goe to speake the word, Sam. 6. v. 7.he shall be like Vzza who putting his hand to helpe Gods …Arke was stricken dead with a breach into an instant. Because hee wanted a calling, God slewe him for doing that which otherwise was good in it selfe.

The second token of a Pastour sent with Gods word to any particular people,Note. is an vncorrupt desire of him by the flocke, not because he is their carnall friend or of their blood or because he is such a mans sonne, or because some guider of the parochin favoureth him: but because they see him furnished with giftes and p. 187graces whereby their soules may be helped vntounto God:Act. 16. v. 6Acts 16:6 When S. Paul was at Troas A vision appeared vntounto him in the night: There stoode a man of Macedonia, and prayed him saying, Come ouer into Macedonia and help vsus: Note.We must not now J confesse looke for visions: But certanely if God hath called a man effectually to bring his word for the well of a people, he will make these of the flocke that are most godly to pray him to come and helpe them as the man of Macedonia did vntounto Paul.Note.

Jf these things be away it shall proue at last that such a man was neuer a Pastour but a hireling: what euer words he preached, shall in end appeare not to hauehave bene wordes sent from God.

The 8 doctrine.Eightly let vsus obserue here whose word it is, that being sent healeth the sicke folkes of my Texte. It is the word of God: Jt is in my Texte p. 188called his word He sent his word and healed them: his word then and not mans word. Note.Long shall a man continue jogging before that he waken a sinner by words of mans braine.

Note.The words of men being but wind can no more waken these that are soule-sicke of the lethargie, then the tempest could waken Ionas. Note.But the word of God like that ship master will rouse vp a sinner with reproofes and chase him with glowmes to his God: Note.The flowers of eloquence neuer so sweet smelling are not able to reviue the dying soule:Note. what are mens wordes, though writen in letters of golde, but words of no vertue: Such words may be like Agrippa clothed with great phantasie, but they shall neuer almost perswade a man to bee a Christian: they may skippe about a dead soule as the Priestes of Baal skipped and cryed about their dead sacrifice, but all in vaine, their god was on his iourneye, or asleepe, p. 189there was none to make answere: there is no comfort to the soule from the words of man? Note.Papists traditions are but mens words, and wordes that God neuer sent vntounto men, and therefore are not able to comfort a man vponupon his sicke bed: they are liveles without any power or force: but the word of God is lively and mighty in operation:Iohn. 6. v. 63.John 6:63 My words, said Christ, are spirit and life.

The vse.The vse of this doctrine is, let all these that are sent by God to carie his word to a people to sicke or to whole,Note. let them take heed that they deliuer Gods word as Gods word with the mind of the sender: Note.Such must neuer faine nor flatter vnderunder the paine of damnation. Note.When it was told to Micaiah that he should prophecie good things to wicked King Ahab because all the rest of the prophets had done so,King 22. v. 14. what said Micaiah? As the Lord li…eth, said he, what the Lord saith vntounto me that will p. 190I speake. NoteAll the rest of the prophets made preachings of their owne head for to please the King: But Micaiah only preached the word that was sent: Note.In this Baalam shall condemne manye that preach as their humour carie them in feede or in favour as the matter toucheth their particular:Numb. 24. v. 12. v. 13.Num 24:12 said I not vntounto thy messenger said Baalam to King Balak: if Balak would giuegive me his house full of gold and silver, I can not goe beyond the commandement of the Lord to doe either good or bad of mine owne mind? But what the Lord saith, that will I speake Note,Because he had a couetous heart & loued the wages of iniquitie, though hee transgressed not in his wordes, he was but a villaine: Note.Hee caried the sent word and spake the word that was sent, but because he spake it not as it was sent in sinceritie of heart, Baalam is branded with infamie for euer.

Note.Jn this last age many are become worse then Baalam: his greatest p. 192fault was that hee loued the wages of iniquitie, but as for his doctrine amongst the Moabits, it was sincere, he f…attered not the King: he would not curse where the King commanded, but blessed where he was commanded to curse; till the King in wrath did smite his hands together, commanding him to flee to his owne place:Numb. 24.10Num 24:10 1 called thee to curse mine enemies said the King, and behold thou hast altogether blessed them these three times: Note.Who amongst vsus in open viewe before a King dare thrise transgresse a Kings command for the honour of his God? Note.Mens preachings to great men are become like the Echo's of their affections, the last syllabe at least must be theirs. Note.Others great flatterers are like these greater Echos of longer breath that vvill go out the vvhole verse in repetitions. What is an Echo? vox, sonus, aura, nihil: Mercifull God what shall become of this age wherin the sent vvord of God p. 193the vvord of reproofe is concealed, smothred and chocked, as though God durst not be angry at the sinnes of grands?Note. Mercifull God vvhat shall become of this age, vvherein the sent word of God is thus despised, except it be decked with words of mans wisdome? J take this to be a fearefull plague vponupon this land: Jt is righteous vvith God that so he repaye home againe the loathing of his sent vvord: Note.It is iustice on his part that these that delight not in the word of God vvhichwhich is the only sent word, should bee giuen ouer to eares itching after humane eloquence, and delicate phrases made of wordes that are but winde. Note.Such vvordes like sweetest meats may vvell make men sicke, but shall neuer make the sicke to become whole.

Ninthly,The 9 doctrine. in these vvords of the Text,Note. hee sent his worde, I obserue that the vvord that a faithfull minister speaketh either in preaching p. 194to sicke or to vvhole or in praying for the sicke are vvords sent from God: Note.Such vvordes are not in vsus by nature, but by grace: they are sent vntounto vsus and by vsus vntounto you: how shall they preach except they bee sent? Rom. 10. v. 15.Rom 10:15saith the Apostle: yea how shall they speake except that the word be sent vntounto them? O Lord said Moses,Exod. 4. v. 10.Exod 4:10 vvhile God vvas sending him to speake to Pharaoh, I am not eloquent, or as in the Hebr…w, I am not a man of vvordes: but I am slow of speach and of a slowe tongue: because he vvanted vvords of his ovvne hee doubted: But GOD that sendeth vvordes to his ovvne in neede told him, that it vvas he that had made mans mouth Note.When God sendeth a man hee will send words into that mouth that hee hath appointed for his seruice.The vse. The vse seeing it is so whensoeuer in our preachinges or in our prayers any good word come not of our mouth that be sent for p. 195to doe good t… your soules, remember that the word is not ours, but a present that GOD hath sent to you by vsus, who are nothing but the Lords stewardes, to whom the dispensation of his mysteries is committed. Note.Now for so many good words that hee hath sent vntounto vsus in sicknesse and in health, in povertie and in riches, in ioye and in sorrow, let vsus give vntounto this God all glory, praise and honour for now and evermore. Amen.

p. 196THE SICKE MANS SALVE, THE FOVRTH SERMON.

PSAL. 107. v. 20.

Hee sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

V. 21.

O that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse: and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men.

IN the last part of my former Sermon, we have heard what salve the Lord sends for to heale the sicke mans sore: it is set downe in these words, hee sent p. 197his worde and healed them. Out of these words wee did gather diverse doctrines. 1. That great is the Majestie of God, that maketh his word a worthy messenger for all his affaires. 2. That great is the power of Gods word that cureth all sorts of sicknesse. 3. Seeing God is so powerfull by his worde, that wee doubt never of his power, or of his promise. 4. That seeing this word should be received by faith it should also bee preached by faith. 5. Seing it is only Gods word, that is this worde, let him that heareth the word consider well whose word it is. 6. Seeing Gods word, is a messenger of health, wee should make it welcome, and blesse the feete of these that carrie it. 7. Seeing Gods word is his appointed ordinarie meanes, when vvee sicken let vsus pray God to send vntounto vsus this messenger of health. 8. It hath been observed that there is no word, but GODS p. 198vvord, that can make the sicke man vvhole: there is no health in the vvordes that are forged in mans braine. 9. It is God that preacheth orpraveth, in and by his faithfull servants. Note.Hee that hath made the mouth, is hee that putteth his vvord into the mouth. This farre hauehave vvee proceeded in the doctrines vponupon these vvords, hee sent his word, and healed them .

And healed them

Let vsus now consider what is it that God healed by his word: It is said heere that hee healed them, viz. these that vvere sicke, without anye exception of disease, hee healed them saith the Text.

Let vsus first heere observe the great power of GODs word,The doctrine. No man by a word can heale any disease, but there is no sort of disease but God can heale it by his word. Note.If it had beene saide, fooles because of their follie had the fever, p. 199and God by his word healed them. Some would have doubted if this word could hauehave healed also of the fluxes: No, not: while it is saide that God healed them in generall; it is to bee vnderstood of all sortes of diseases.Note. 1. King. 20. v. 231 Kgs 20:23 Our God is not only a God of the mountaines, but also of the valleyes. Note.The Papists that run to Saints for health, not finding any that can cure of all diseases, have appointed them slaves to runne to diverse Saints for diverse diseases, to one they must go for S. Iohns …ll, to another they must goe for frenesie, to another for leprosie, to another for barrennesse, to another for sicke horse, to another for sicke kine, to another for their swine: Note.I neede not goe farre: Beholde into the same house where J preach, that place of S. … mooles: in my time J sawe a deepe hole at the side of that stone, where the miserable ignorāts of this land had digged for to get p. 200the dust of that pretended Saint: as if it had had power for to give health. Mercifull God what blindnesse of ignorance was that? What could be the cause of this? Note.This was the cause; The poore people could not find the worde, Gods messenger for health: The Bible was a clasped booke then: the Antichristian seales were as yet not loosed: they heard nothing but mumbling of Masses, wordes that they vnderstood not: wordes that could not heale their hearts sicke of sinne,Note. and what wonder that like hennes they came seraping and scarting among the graves, seeking if they could find any pickle of comfort to their comfortlesse soules?Note. Blessed bee our God that hath sent his word to this place for healing of sicke sinners, whereas of before they were wont to bee sent to seeke comfort from the dead, that had no comfort for themselves.

Notes.Gods word is a salve for all sorts p. 201of sores. To come to my doctrine there is no disease vncurable to the word, when it shall please God to send it. Note.I confesse that there bee diseases like devills, some of a kinde that are more hardly driven away than others. This sort of devils said Christ,Mat. 17. v. 21.Matt 17:21 cannot bee cast out, but by fasting and prayer, to the worde of prayer fasting behoved to be ioyned,

Note.Not that the word wanted force for to chase out these Devills, but because of vsus whose prayers are sluggish while the bellie is full. A full bellie maketh the spirit lumpish: fulnesse of food sends vp such thicke vapours, which become clowdes betweene the face of God and our prayers, so that they can not passe thorow.

The doctrine. Note.Againe seeing Gods word is his appointed meane whereby hee not onlie giveth health to the body, but also to the soules of his children, let vsus not wonder that Sathan the enemie p. 202of mans salvation bee a great enemie to this word, to the teachers, and to the hearers.Note. There is not a Sermon made to a people, but Sathan is affraide to losse a soule, for this cause especiallie hee beares a great ill will at Pastours, because they carie the word of health. Note.Such men are the Lords Ensigne-bearers, against whom Sathan shooteth his greatest peeces. Note.If they fall, the men of health fall: the sicke can no more get salve for his sore: for this cause let no man wonder that Sathan raiseth slanders vponupon Preachers. Note.This maketh that Dragon often to stretch out his taile that hereby hee may sweepe downe the lights of the World, which shew vntounto vsus the way of salvation. Note.Jf once hee can make this word of God to bee ill spoken of, and by the reeke of calumnie darken the light, or make it to bee loathed, hee thinkes that hee hath wonne a field. Note.As for you who take vponupon you any profession p. 203of godlinesse by frequenting Sermons and often hearing of this word.

Beware that by a scandalous life yee make others to loath that which is Gods also appointed meanes for the healing of soules:Note. Woe to them that make the worde of God to bee ill spoken of.

The doctrine.Againe seeing the word is so powe…full a meane for to recover the health that is lost, it must also bee a most powerfull preservative of health.

The vse.The vse: seeing it is so, let vsus make meekle of Gods word in our health: for it is the word of health, the messenger of health, the word of good tidings: What better tidings would a sicke man have than that hee should bee healed. * There was such a desire of health in Christs dayes, that the people thro…ged so about him, that some not being able to enter in at the doore of the house where he was, clambe vp vponupon the house, & p. 204vncouered the roofe above his head,Mar. 2. v. 4.Mark 2:4 and let downe the sicke into beds by the hole they had broken vp.

Note.Jf wee knew the vertue of Gods word: before that wee were debarred therefrom by a multitude, wee should vncover the roofe of the house where it is preached, that we might bee let downe by cords: as wee louelove our health, wee should louelove this word of health. Note.All men wish for health, heere is the best preservative, feare God: and heare his word diligentlie. Note.If thou losse a preaching needlesly, it is a wonder if thou contract not some disease:

Note.If thou also be sluggish to come to Gods house, or if thou come, but yet heares carelesly and receiues not the word with greedinesse, that is a spirituall lumpishnesse of heart, a forerunner of some painefull disease: Note.Men ordinarly before some sicknes find a certain heauinesse with want of appetit: There is no surer token p. 205of a fearfull disease to come, then a lumpish loathing of Gods word. It is of the word as of the Sacrament, Jf the Sacrament of the supper be eaten vnworthily by the children of God, though God after their repentance forgiue them the sinne yet he will chastise them with diuers diseases:Cor. 11. v. 30. for this cause, said the Apostle, many are weake and sickly amongst you and many sleepe, Euen so when the word is heard negligently without due preparation for this cause many are plagued with diuers diseases:

Note.There is no such token that God will keepe the health of a people as when a people hath appetit of the word and heares it with greedinesse:

Note.These delicate soules that are not content with the sincere word of God, except that it be saused into the entising words of mans wisdome can not be but sickly soules: Note.Such men must be filled with some filthinesse within, which bursteth out into scabs p. 206which scripture calleth the itching of the eare:2. Tim. 4. v. 3. Prou. 27. v. 7.2 Tim 4:3Prov 27:7 Thus as Solomon faith The full soule lotheth the honi… combe, euen Gods word that is sweeter then the honie combe: But to the hungrie soule eueryevery bitter thing is sweet. Note.A morsell of drye bread is more pleasant to a hungry man then wild foule is to him that is Blewe burstex as we say: Note.This land, (let me be familiar) is as it were Blewe bursten vvith abundance of Gods word: Note.We are well fed but it is not seene on vsus: Because we are filled we loth the honie combe: NoteJ see no greater token of great diseases to come vponupon this land then this, Scotlands appetite of Gods word is lost.

Let vsus heere also obserue the craft of Sathan who in all things goeth about to counterfeit God in his doings:The doctrine. Heere in my Text it is said that God healeth the sicke with wordes: he sent his Worde and healed them: Sathan goeth about to p. 207make men beleiue that he can heale diseases also with words which wee call Charmes. Note.In my iudgement it it is from this place that by an Apish imitation he hath learned the first inuention of charmes or of healing by words.Note. This of before did I neuer obserue: Often did I wonder where frae he had taken the vse of healing by words: Note.All that Sathan doeth in draweing …oules vntounto him, he hath learned it out of GODS wisdome by counterfeiting the Lords workes as the Magitians that turned their rods into Serpents as Moses turned his rod into a Serpent: Exod. 7. …. 12. Note. Exod. 7. v. 12.Exod 7Exod 7:12But as Moses his Serpent swallowed vp the serpents of the Magicians, …o Gods word shall at last swallowe vp and destroye the devils charmes: Note.Sathan is an Apish creature striuing euer to counterfeit God in all his actions:Note. So from God hee learned to teach men to make sacrifices to himselfe, as if hee had bene the God of the world: p. 208Note.As God is euer turning euill vntounto good so Sathan is euer turning good vntounto euill.

Out of this place in my iudgement are all witches charmes by imitation. Note.Jf yee would have the definition of a Charme take it in these words, It is a word sent from the deuill for healing of these that put not their trust into God.

O, but will ye say, they doe good and helpe vsus, O follie, if God in such a case remoue his heavie hand, it is for to lay it on againe with a greater burden: such a deliuerance is by breaking the prison to be clogged with more fearfull fetters: Heere is Gods precept Psal. 50.15. Call vponupon me in the day of trouble: Heere is a promise; and I will deliuer thee O but will yee say, in all that they say, J heare no thing but good wordes: O foole, if the baite were not sweete the fish would not plucke: the poisond gloves must bee most sweetly perfumed, The most deadly drinke must p. 209bee most sugred: There is no such liquour for the mouth as the deuils posset, sweet in the mouth, but death into the belly. Obserue also that it is a righteous thing with God to suffer Sathans wordes hauehave power, to giuegive such a bodily benefite to these that louelove their health better then God: He that seeketh his health by vnlawfull meanes loueth his health better then God: And therefore iust and righteous is hee,Rom. 1. v. 28.Rom 1:28 when hee giueth ouer to a reprobate mind these that like not to retaine God in their knowledge. Note.A mind voide of all iudgement, is a plague ordained for all these that desire not to retaine God in their knowledge: Because they receiued not the louelove of the trueth that they might be saued, 1. Thess. …. v. 10.for this cause God sent them strong delusion, v. 1….that they should belieue… a lye: Note.If men and women will not desist from seeking such vnlawfull meanes, but leauing the word that God hath sent for health, will beetake p. 210themselues to the word that the deuill hath sent, let them knowe that God hath plagued them with strong delusion, because they hauehave not the louelove of the trueth: Note.What rage is this for a man to goe and seeke health from the devill in his sickenesse? Is it not as Elijah said concerning Ahazia who in his sicknesse sent vntounto Baalzebub, 2 King. 1. v. 3.2 Kgs 1:3because there is not a God in Israel: Note.These that thinke that there is a God in Israel will neuer seeke to be healed by the deuiles wordes. Note.So long as God would speake to Saul, Saul sought not to Sathan: Note.After that God was departed from him and would answere him no more, then hee ranne to the deuill of Endor:1 Sam. 28. v. 7.1 Sam 28:7 But what comfort gote hee there? euen that which the deuill himselfe abhorreth, viz. torment before the time. Which made him fall straight way all along on the earth. v. 20.These were the cheefe wordes of the deuils comfortes Tomorrow p. 211thou shall be with mee. Note.So must they bee heal… that desire the deuill to send wordes for their health.

An obiection.

Heere some curious spirit may object that where as it is said heere that God sendeth his worde and healeth the sicke, and that therefore in sicknesse this word should be sought vntounto, that seemeth not to be needfull: My dayes are they not numbered? a man can not dye before his dayes, what needs a man then in sicknesse seeke his life from God?

The Answere.

Jt is certaine that mans time is determined: mans dayes are bounded like the sea▪ Note.To mans age God saith as hee saith to the waves of the Sea.…. v. …. Hitherto shall thou come but no further: and heere shall thy proud …a…es be stayed. Note.The proudest dayes of mans age are s…ayed at a certaine hitherto: when they are come to that, p. 212they can w…nn… no further. Note.But yet till they come there, man must vse the meanes where by his life may be preserued: Note.God promised to adde to Hezekiahs yeeres other fifeteene:Isa. 38. v. 15.Isa 38:15 Hezekiah knew well that God would keepe his promise and yet for all that he left not off to eate and to drinke whereby his life might be preserued. Note.This is most forcible against these that obiecting against predestination, say most profanely, that if they know they were predestinate to life eternall they should not care what ill they doe: why? because they would be assured not to goe to Hell: Note.First that were great ingratitude to giuegive the goodnesse of God such a meeting:

Note.What ignorance is this, that a man should not know that the goodnesse of God leadeth him to repentance and not to sinne more and more?Rom. 2. v: 5.Rom 2 Againe though God hath promised to him life eternall and that God p. 213can not lye, yet man should no more neglect the meanes of his spirituall life then Hezekiah neglected the meanes for keeping of his naturall life:Note. As for vsus though wee knowe that our life can not ouerreach our spanne, yet seeing the day of our death is concealed from vsus we may lawfully c…y to God for help in our troubles: Jf we be sicke let vsus intreat God to send his word the messenger of health, that with the liuing as Hezekiah said, wee may praise his name? Isa. 38. v. 19Isa 38:19But if so be that our day be come, that God say to vsus concerning life, as he said to Moses concerning Canaan, let it suffice thee, speak no more vntounto me of this matter, Deut. 3. v. 26.Deut 3:26then let vsus resolue to pray with Simeon that the Lord would let his servant depart in peace.

Luke. …. v. 29.And delivered them from their destructions.

IN the former wordes wee hauehave heard what good the sicke persons hauehave gotten from God by their p. 214prayers, viz health. Hee sent his word and healed them. Jn these words the spirit of God letteth vsus see from what ill by his word he hath delivered them, viz. from destruction, and deliuered them from their destructions. Behold in the coherence of the words two things, first a positiue good viz. health Secondlie a deliuerance from a great, ill viz. from their destructions. The doctrine.Heere obserue the great wisdome of GOD, who for to stirre vp men to thankfulnes letteth men first see what great good he hath done to them; Secondly from how great a miserie he hath delivered them: Note.The miserie wherefrom a man is deliuered, being set in viewe besides the benefite received is a commendation of the guift. Note.As a candle seemeth clearest in the darkest house: and as the starres are brightest in the darkest night, so good received appeareth most, when wee see from what ill we hauehave beene delivered.

p. 215Note.The greater the danger hath beene, wee esteeme the more of GODS deliverance. Note.If any man hath saved our lyfe by drawing vsus out of the water, wee being almost at the last gaspes, wee would thinke of it so long as we liue: but to bee helped out of some shallow place, where was no danger of the death, for such a benefite a light grand-mercy is thought to bee enough. Let vsus behold heere in the word destructions the greatnesse of Gods deliverance. Note.The word destructions like death or darknesse commending lyfe or light, setteth out the greatnesse of the positiue benefite in those words: Hee sent his word and healed them.

Let vsus consider the word in the original: the word which is heere turned destructions signifieth ditches or graues, which are deathes lodgings.

The graue in the first language hath p. 216diverse names. 1. the most proper is Keber. 2. Bor, that is a pit or ditch: …arcer subterraneus, a prison vnderunder the earth. Note.The estate of all the dead by nature is miserable: they are all in prison, and there must they lye, till the trumpet of the resurrection blow the blast of libertie. Note.At that sound the earth shall open, and in its owne language shall say to the dead, goe out my prisoners I am not able to keepe you any longer. 3. the graue is called Sheol, a petendo from …eeking, quod ore hiant, & dilatato repleri expetat. Note.Of all begga…s, death and the graue are the greatest: they ever see…e and are never satisfied.

They are the two daughters of the Horse-…ach, Note. Proverb 3… v. 15. …. 16.which evermore crye, bring, bring: The graue is one of these that never saith, …t is enough. 4. Jn the text which J hauehave redde, it is called Shechithah, from a word that signifieth to kill, or corrupt, or destroye: According to this the word heere p. 217is turned destructions: Hee delivered them from their destructions, that is, from their graues.

The doctrine.The lesson J obserue, of all the names of the graue, and particularly of this in my text, is, great is the horrour of the graue: naturally all flesh abhorreth it. Note.When the wicked man that is in God his debt booke is buried, hee is like one catcht and clapt vp in prison: The barres of death are about him as about a Theefe in a pit. Note.This is a part of wicked mens penaltie, the graue is vntounto them the very porch of the prison of Hell.

Note.This is the prison appointed for all desperate banquerupts laden with debt and danger, vnable to satisfie the l…ast farthing. Note.Many may goe to the graue free of all worldly debts, whom God shall challenge and arrest of an infinite summe, which they shall not bee able to paye, though they had all this world at their dispose.

Note.Such shall be the end of all prodigall p. 218ding-thrifts, who while they lived, turned the grace of God in wantonnesse: while they are caried to the graue, they are caried to their destructions.

Seeing the graue is naturally to all men a destruction;The vse. let the consideration thereof stirre vsus vp to a godly lyfe: Jt is a place most fearefull to flesh and blood. Note.Job speaking to God concerning the graue, for which hee was preparing him selfe, declareth in most powerfull wordes what a dwelling place it is,Iob 10. v. 20. v. 21.Job 10:20 Cease then, (said hee,) and let mee alone, that I may take comfort a litle, before I goe, whence I shall not returne, even to the land of darknesse and the shaddow of death;v. 22. a land of darkenesse, as darkenesse it selfe, and of the shaddow of death without any order, and where the light bee as darkenesse. Note.Those bee the most pleasant fields of the graue, viz. a land of darkenesse, where the light, (as Job saith) is as darkenesse p. 219it selfe:Iob. 7. v. 5.Job 7:5 There shall all flesh be clothed with wormes, and with clods o… dust. Note.There is the place of silence: Many there be lying together heapes vponupon heapes, Iudg. 15 v. 16.Judg 15:16as Samson said, but there is not a word of conference.

NoteSo long as men liue together on earth, they hauehave both companie & conference,Eccles 9 v. 9.Eccl 9:9 whereby they may sweeten the da…es of the lyfe of their vanitie. O but so soone as they are gone to their destructions, such perishing shad…owes of pleasures flee away:Eccles. 9 v. 10.Eccl 9:10 There is no worke, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisedome in the gra…e whether they goe. Note.Job is very plaine concerning this: As the cloud, (saith hee,Io…. 7. v 9. v. 10.) is consumed and vanisheth away, so hee that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more: hee shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

Note.Bildad considering mans mortalitie & his necessitie of going downe …o the graue, said, wee are but of p. 220yesterday, Iob. 8. v. 9.Job 8:9and know nothing, because our dayes on earth are a shaddow, that past man must goe to his destruction, viz. to the graue: Thus as yee see, the graue of its owne nature is properly a destruction: Such is it also to all those who in their lyfe were not partakers of grace. Note.To goe to the graue without grace, is to goe to destruction.

Men may striue by artifice to make the graue pleasant by painted and carved stones,Note. but when men hauehave done their best it is nothing indeed but a painted destruction. Note. Ion. 2. v. 2.Jonah 2:2While it glistereth like the Heavens with…t. …t is but the belly of Hell within.

Note.As for the man of grace, though he should be deprived of the graue, hee hath one thing to cover him, which the whole world can not take from him, Coelo tegitur qui non habet vrnam: he is covered with the Heavens, who wanteth a graue:Isa. 57. v 2.Isa 57:2 the godly in their graues rest in their beds.

p. 221Note.Behold what a mercifull God we hauehave, whose cursings by grace become blessings. Note.The graue at the first was appointed by God as a ward house for malefactours, and now behold how it is turned by grace into a bed of downe, a resting place for the wearied bodies of the Saints. Note.See how God in his most fearfull judgements hath ever some comfort infolded for the comfort of his Saints, as a kirnell within a h…ske. Note.For them hee can keepe light in darkenesse, and also bring light out of darkenesse. Note.For them he can in that which is not, find out that which is, by calling things which are not as though they were: yea, which is most for his owne, even in destruction, hee will keepe salvation. Note.In the graues of the godly, which by nature are destructions, there is a sort of salvation, which shall bee seene at the great and last day of the resurrection.

p. 222The vse of this doctrine is t…o sold,The vse: first for …se godly, secondlie for the wicked: As for the godly let them bee thankfull vntounto God, who hath changed their destructions into beds of rest, where they shall sleepe most softly vntill the great blast of the last trumpet. Note.This is one of the speciall comforts which God hath prepared for the godly man in his bed of languishing, that God will make all his bed in his sicknesse:Psal. 42. v. 3.Ps 42:3 Beh…ld heere a greater comfort: In death God will make all the godly mans bed: The graue to him is but a bed made for him by the Lord. O man of GOD for thy graue bee thankfull vntounto God.

Note.When death is drawing neere, comfort thy selfe with this, that God is preparing a well made bed for thee in the graue. Note.Blesse him who hath turned thy destruction into rest.

Note.As for the wicked, let the fearfull word of my text, viz. destructions; let it bee as it were a Remembrancer p. 223vntounto them, that there is a thing after this lyfe prepared for them which God his word calleth destruction. Note.While they heare of it let them come out of their chaire of ease for to be friends with God in time. O mercifull God,Note. what terrour must this bee, while a man on his death bed perceiveth nothing but GODS wrath, a gape…ng graue, and an v…prepared soule? Let this memorandum rouse vp all slippry soules so to liue in this lyfe, that they losse not that lyfe which is to come. Note.No man can tell how soone his glasse shall runne out. Note.What a follie is this for a moment of pleasures to losse eternitie, and to goe to destruction. Happy then (I see) is the man that liveth well he…re: Blessed is he whose GOD is the Lord: Thrise happy is hee that hath faith in Christ, for in the very graue he shall find salvation. Note.Hee hath a cordiall antido… against the poison of destruction, p. 224who hath Christ to bee his salvation: Christ our salvation hath destroyed this destruction. Note.He hath gotten such a victorie not only for him selfe, but also for all his Saints, that the least and weakest of them may defye both death and destruction with those words of boast:1. Cor. … 5 v. 551 Cor 5:55 O death where is thy sting? O graue where is thy victorie? Note.Death like that viper of Malta may hang vponupon a godly mans hand:…. …8. v. 3 but in the day the Lord shall purge the world with fire: the godly man shall shake death from him, as S^t. Paul cast the v…per from him into the fire without any hurt: But as for the wicked that are not in Christ their graues are their destructions:Psal. 49 v. 14.Ps 49:14 death in the graue feedeth on them as on sheepe: Note.To eueryevery one of them death may say as Christ said to death I shall be thy death.H…s. 1…. v. 14.

While Christs friends with Lazarus are said to sleepe into the graue,Iohn. 11. v. …1.John 11:1 the wicked man there is but a destroyed p. 225creature: While he is there he is in destruction, Note.hee is in abstracto mall into evill it selfe, Note.hee is nothing there but the Carion of a creature.

VVoe be to him to whom the graue is a destruction: Let therefore all men st…e so to liue, that while they goe to their graues, their graues may bee a bed of rest vntounto them.Isa. 57.… v. 2.Isa 57:2

Note.Jf the graue bee a destruction to thy body, the place of damnation is prepared for thy soule.Note. Let Epicures, while they liue, sport, and say, Hell is not so …te, nor sinne so heavy, nor the divell so blacke, nor GOD so severe as Preachers prattle: The day shall come, when they shall find it farre other wayes. Note.Shall GOD suffer the whole creation to groane vnderunder the burden of our sinnes?R…. 8. v. 20. Shall GOD him selfe be pressed vnderunder the weight thereof,Amos. 2 v. 13.Amos 2:13 as a cart laden with sheaues? and shall he not be avenged of vsus in death except we repent?

p. 226Let vsus therefore, least our graues after death bee our destructions amend our lyfe in tyme: Let vsus abhorre the filthie shape of our sinnes: Let vsus lay hold on GOD his mercy and CHRIST his merits, which are two shoulders that shall carie away all the weights of wickednesse.

Note.Well is that soule,Col. 2. v 14.Col 2:14 whose Bill & Bond before death is cancelled and crost: Note.With great joy may he goe to the graue, to whom the LORD hath said,Isa. 44. v. 21.Isa 44:21 I hauehave put away thy transgression like a cloud, and thy sinnes as a mist: Lord make our eyes nimble to rip our hearts to the bottome that wee may bring out our sinnes from thence, that they may get a dead stroake before wee dye.

Heere let vsus obserue who is hee that is said heere to hauehave delivered the sicke from their destructions,The doctrine. it is the Lord: The greatnesse of the worke declareth plainly that it could bee no other then the Lord: when p. 227Iohn and Peter went a fishing after Christs resurrection, Christ appeared vntounto them; after they had toiled the whole night in vaine, at last at Christs command they cast the nets: Christ at the first they knew not, but by the great draught of fishes they began to know him: the disciple, whom Jesus loved considering the draught,Iohn. 21 v. 7.John 21:7 said vntounto Peter, it is the Lord: So may a man who hath beene delivered from his destructions easily know that none could deliver him but the LORD: the text is plaine heere, and hee delivered them from their destructions.

Heere is a lesson of the great power of God, the angell of the covenant said well, when he sawe Sarah laughing at the promise, is any thing too hard for the Lord. Not…. The doctrine. …en. 18 v 14.Christ speaking of the hard entrie of rich men into God his kingdome,N…. Mark. 10. v, 27Mark 10 compared it to the passing of a Camell thorow the eye of a needle: this thereafter p. 228hee made more cleare, saying, with men it is impossible but not with God, for with GOD all things are possible: This great power heere appeareth in that,The .vse Note. when the sicke man is hard at the doores of death vponupon the very brime of destruction, yet the Lord by his infinit power delivereth him from his destructions.

The vse is this, when ever we find our selues perplexed,The vse. Note. let vsus hauehave recourse to him that is only able to helpe vsus: Who can deliver from destruction the abstract of ill, but God who is salvation, essentially that which is good, yea goodnesse it selfe? No man can deliver his friend from feare in the dayes of evill, when the iniquities of his heeles shall compasse him about.

Though men were never so wealthy boasting them selues in the multitude of their riches;Psal. 49. v. 7.Ps 49:7 none of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother, nor gius to God a ransome for him: All the gold p. 229of …ndia is not able to deliver a man from his destructions, no not to prolong his lyfe but an houre. N te.Hee only who ga…e the lyfe is able to preserue the lyfe: He only who gaue the lyfe is able for to take away the lyfe:Psal. 68. v. 20.Ps 68:20 vntounto God the Lord alone belong the issues from death, and also the issues vntounto death. Note. Psal. 90 v. 3.Ps 90:3In his mouth alone are the quickning or killing words, returne yee children of men, either from lyfe to destructions, or from destruction vntounto lyfe: and therefore in all our distresses and greatest sickenesse, let vsus hauehave our recourse vntounto him,Psal. 37 v. 2…. v. 25.Ps 37:2 saving with the Psalmist, whom hauehave I in Heaven but thee? and there is none on earth whom I desyre besyds thee: my fi…sh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

We hauehave heard how those that were sicke drewe neere to the doores of death, and how GOD, while none could help them delivered them from p. 230their destructions in bringing them from death to lyfe, from sicknesse to health. Note.Before I passe foreward to the last part of the text, I desyre you all to consider well, that albeit God in great sicknesse by his word recall vsus from the graue, once or twise, yet for all that we must carefully remember our mortalitie: Notefor though at diverse tymes God either in sicknesse or in dangers, by sea or by land hath by his power delivered vsus from the graue, wherein long since wee had beene rotten; yet for all that at last these bodies of ours must come to the hands of the buriers, who shall lay vsus downe into our destructions.

Consider and weigh well the matter O man,Note. though God should prolong thy dayes, so that every one of them should bee lyke that day o… losual…, when the sunne stood still vponupon Gibeon and the moone in the valley of At…lon, … 10 v. 12.yet should all those dayes p. 231come to an end. Note.The standing sunne at last must goe downe: Note.yea though God should bring backe the shaddow of thy lyfe many thousand degrees, at last it shall goe downe in the diall of thy mortalitie. Note.Though the house were never so strong, at last it must decay and drop thorow.

Note.There is no ludging for eternitie in things below. Note.Methuselah with his nine hundred three score and nine yeeres is followed with,Gen. 5. v. 27.Gen 5:27 hee died, as well as hee who lived but an houre.

I wish that this my sermon could bee to you like the house of mourning, which Salomon calleth better then the house of feasting: his reason is,Eccl…s. 7 v. 2. for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his hear…: A feast is made for laughter, Eccl. 10 v. 19.Eccl 10:19which will not admit the companie of so graue mediations. N…e.Laughter will not suffer the living to lay his end to his heart.

p. 232Oh that yee all could lay well this my sermon to your heart,Note. before that death by sicknesse come and make a breach, & by that breach runne away with your soules! Note.Alas it is hard for men in prosperitie to be moved to thinke that they shall be moved:Psal. 3 v. ….Ps 3 I said in my prosperitie, (said David,) I shall never be moved. Note.O how hard it is for men and weemen that hauehave hearts desire, and wealth at will, to desire to bee dissolved. Note.They are so taken vp with their pleasures in this lyfe that they hauehave no leasure to think vponupon death. Note.Men take no heede to the graue that is before them: though they be even vponupon the brinke or brimme thereof, they can not thinke that they shall fall therein, though thousands hauehave fallen before them.

J compare the most part of this world to men walking over a field so covered wich f…o…, that they can not perceiue the way: when they thinke p. 233to run they fall into a pit with a jumpe.

Note.It is even so of men in prosperitie, while their eyes are dazeled with the brightnesse of their pleasures & profits, which as s…ow cover all the way, before that ever they be aware, they rush downe into the ditch of death.

Note.Many like Mariners in a mist make ship wracke in the calme sea. Note.The Lord bee our Pilot and so direct our soules into this perillous navigation; that at last by death wee may arriue into the haven of the Heavens, where wee may liue with GOD for ever. Well is the man that is ever wating for his GOD. Note.Well is him that can say with David,Psal. 13… v. 18.Ps 13:18 when I awake I am still with thee.