The Last Battle of the Soul, Religious tract 1 · Part 2

The Last Battle of the Soul · Religious tract 1 · Part 2

p. 104THE SECOND DAYES Conference. Of spirituall temptations.

The Pastour.

GOD saue you Sir: How hauehave yee rested this Night? HaueHave yee found any working of Gods Spirit within you, since our last conference? Is your minde so at quiet now, that yee may boldlie say, with Simeon, Now let thy seruant depart in peace?Luk. 2. 29.Luke 2:29

The sicke Man.

**NoteAlas, Sir, Satans temptations are like that Serpent of Lerne called Hydra, which had fiftie heades, p. 105whereof one beeing cut off, two sprang vp in the place thereof: I take that serpent to hauehave beene but a fable: But that which I say may bee written for an Historie: Many heads of temptations hauehave yee cut off with the sword of Gods word: But now I think that for euerie head cut off, two are sprung vp in the place thereof: **NoteAll my temptatons hitherto hauehave beene but vponupon the skin like the scratch of a pinne, wrinkles but not woundes: All my troubles hitherto hath beene but matters of trifles, viz. Feare for my Life, feare for my Children, feare for the Graue of this our muddie mortalitie, and for other such trifles and trashes, vnworthie for to trouble a couragious Spirit: The Spirit of a couragious man, said Solomon, Prov. 18. 14.Prov 18:14will beare his infirmitie: But the wounded spirit who can beare it? **Notewell is the child of God in his …orest sicknes for while his bodie is sicke, his Soule p. 106is sound: His God in great louelove will make all his bed in his sicknesse, andPsal. 41, 3Ps 41:3 strengthen him into the bed of languishing: **NoteHee whom God loueth is armed with Faith and patience, all his troubles are but outward scrappings vponupon the skinne: The temptations wherewith I am lashed are spirituall woundings for my sinnes, which neuer troubled mee before: I heard oft-ten of such troubles, but I neuer knew before this time what such things did meane: Thinke ye Sir that the Spirit of a godlie man can bee thus wise troubled? I heare Dauid crying in his mourning, There is no soundnesse in my flesh, neither Psal. 38. 3.Ps 38:3is there anie rest in my bones: But what reckes of flesh and bones, if the Spirit were free?

The Pastour.

The most godlie that euer liued, hauehave suffered spirituall woundes: Christ the Captaine of our Saluation, Heb. 2. 10Heb 2:10said, That his Soule was sadde euen p. 107Mar. 14. 34.Mark 14:34vntounto the death: **NoteIob cryed, that h…s Spirit was drunken vp with the poyson of Gods arrowes, The arrowes of the Almightie, said hee, are Iob. 6. 4.Job 6:4within me, the poyson whereof drinketh vp my Spirit: See how that holie man of God complaineth that his Spirit was like a drinke drunken vp by the poyson of Gods arrowes. **NoteBy this yee see that spirituall wounds are alloted to the dearest of Gods Elect, so that they are not exeemed from inward blowes: **NoteTrouble of Conscience is the disease of the innocentest Soule.

The sicke Man.

That satisfieth mee not: **NoteAs for Christ, the blowes which hee suffered in his Soule, were blowes of satisfaction for the sinnes of others: As for Iob these blowes were blowes of probation & of tryall, for to let the world see that he was not an hypocrite that serued GOD for rewardes, as Sathan did alledge: But p. 108it is not so with me, who am a bond slaue of corruption: I suffer for my2 Pet. 2.2 Pet 2 sinnes, which are euer before mee: The fainer I would forget them, they flow the faster into my rememberance: **NoteThe voyce of my Conscience followeth mee with hue & with cry. Though God hath spared thee long, thou hast not beene bettered, looke now for vengeance after so long delayes: I can make no answere, I can not denie, but God hath spared mee long: In this is my greatest feare: **NoteThe higher a stroake bee fetcht, the longer it is in comming: But the higher it bee lifted, the heauier it will fall.

The Pastour.

I answere to that which yee said first, viz. that Christs sufferings are no comfort to you, because they are blowes of satisfaction: **NoteThe afflictions of Christ were of diuerse vses first of all, for to make payment to Gods Iustice for our sinnes: Secondlie, he suffered, that by his own experience p. 109of sense hee beeing expert what it is to suffer, might assure vsus that hee is both a mercifull and a faithfull high Priest, For in that hee Heb. 2. 13Heb 2:13himselfe hath suffered beeing tempted, Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco.he is able to succour thē that are tempted: Thus the Apostle declareth plainelie afterward, Wee hauehave not, said hee, an high Priest which cannot Heb. 4. 15Heb 4:15bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities: But was in all pointes tempted like as wee are, yet without sin: **NoteThis experience which he had of our miserie, is called his learning, Though Heb. 5. 8Heb 5:8hee were a Sonne, yet learned hee obedience, by the things which he suffered: Hee also suffered, for to bee an example vntounto vsus.

The sicke Man.

I vnderstand not well these words that Christ learned obedience by his sufferings.

The Pastour.

**NoteThe words indeed seeme obscure: The most Learned think that Christ p. 110is said to hauehave learned obedience by his sufferings, because while he suffered hee felt indeed how difficile a thing it is talem obedientiam Deo praestare, Piscator. Caluin.to yeeld such obedience vntounto God: others say, that by his suffrings hee joyned to his diuine knowledge y^e practise of his passions: that which he had before only in contemplatiō is now also knowne vntounto him by suffering that which he knew: **NoteOthers say. That hee learned obedience by his sufferings, that is, Re ipsa expertus est quid sit patrem habere cut p… rendum Beza.sit, Hee knew by Experience what it was, to hauehave a Father to whom obedience was due: Thus Christ while hee learned obedience by his sufferinges, hath teached all the faithfull to suffer patientlie.

As for that which yee said concerning Iob, that his afflictions were only blowes of probation & of tryall; yee deceiue your selfe, theyLam. 3. 39Lam 3:39 were also for his sins: Whenfore is the liuing man sorrowfull? said Ieremie, p. 111The answere is peremptorie, man suffereth for his sinnes.

The sicke Man.

**NoteThat seemeth not euer to bee true: While Christs Disciples saw a man that was blind from his birth, they asked Christ saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that Ioh. 9. 2.John 9:2hee was borne blind? Iesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his Parents, but that the workes of God should bee made manifest in him: Oh, that I were that borne blind, that I were not afflicted for my sinnes, but that the works of Gods mercy might bee manifested in mee!

The Pastour.

**NoteThese words of Christ are not to bee taken so strictlie as though God would lay any affliction vponupon a man in whom is no sinne: This could not stand with the Iustice of God: If Adam & his Children had neuer sinned, not one of them could hauehave beene stricken either with p. 112blindnesse, or deafenesse: **NoteThis blind man then was not afflicted for his sins only, or especially, or as if he had bene a greater sinner thā others, but chieflie this disease came vntounto him, that the workes of Gods power and merciemercy might bee made manifest by his cure: **NoteSo Dauid was sore afflicted for his adulterie and murther, but chieflie for to stoppe the mouthes of these enemies of God, whom hee by his scandle made to blaspheme: **NoteGod as yee see may afflict you for your sinnes, and yet not chieflie for them; but for to take a tryall of your patience, or for to make others feare to sin when they shall perceiue by you, how great paines a godlie Soule will suffer before that it can bee well reconciled vntounto God againe.

The sicke Man.

I confesse Sir that ye speake with the tongue of the Learned: **NoteBut for all that I finde such temptations p. 113tumbling within mee, that I mayIerm. 12. 5 compare them to the swelling of Iordan: My sinnes, alas, hudge in greatnesse, stand vp like mountaines betweene mee and my God: They are so high that they hide Heauen from my Soule: What shall I doe Sir? If euer yee helped mee, helpe mee now with your comforts.

The Pastour.

**NoteThough these mountaines be high, yet yee must clime the mount with Moses, if ye would see Canaan: So long as Moses was in the valey, he could not see the typ of Heauen: We must all clime vp the Hill: Wee cannot see Christ before wee bee lifted from the Earth: Wee are all but men of little stature like Zacheus: Luk. 19. 3.Luke 19:3Wee must therefore vp the tree with him, and vp the mount with Moses, before wee can see either Christ o… Canaan that place of promise: Ye are sorie for your sinnes: But sanat confessio morbi: A sinne well confessed p. 114is healed: But what sinnes be these Sir whose toppes reach so high that they hide the Sunne from you?

The sicke Man.

Alas, for the sinnes of my Youth; my Riot and my Drunkennesse, my Rom. 13. 13.Rom 13:13Chambering & my wantonnes, my strif and enuy: Fye on my Fornications, and Adulteries, my lying and deceiuing Hypocrisie: **NoteSo I had a lampe of profession, I cared not for oyle in it, my chiefe care hath euer beene for the outward shell of my duetie, but neuer for the Kernell: Gods graces in mee hauehave beene like a pure liquor in a fustie vessell.

The Pastour.

I am glad to heare of these buffets of your Conscience, such griefe is from grace: I know what shall bee the euent, euen Repentance neuer to bee repented of: But say on

The sicke Man.

**NoteThis is my greatest griefe▪ that I sinned into the light with Absolom▪ p. 1152 Sam. 16. 222 Sam 16:22euen in the cleare Sunne shine of the Gospel: Now may I well be ranked with these who counted it pleasure to riot in the day time: It were2 Pet. 2. …32 Pet 2:3 more easie for mee to number the sand than my sinnes.

The Pastour.

**NoteThere is no sinne either of omission or commission, in the light or in darknesse, that can hinder God to bee mercifull to a sinner, if the sinner can repent: God who is infinit in merciemercy can forgiue the riots of the day, sinnes of knowledge as well as night sinnes; which are sins of ignorance: **NoteThere is one sinne of ignorance which shall neuer bee forgiuen, euen to despaire of Gods merciemercy: What ignorance is this, that any Creature should thinke it selfe more sinfull, than God can bee mercifull? **NoteTo make our sinnes to ouerreach his compassions, were to make the Center to containe the Circumference: If your sinnes bee p. 116in number like the sand, Gods mercies are without number: **NoteThe greatest number that mans braine can inuent either by telling, or by ciphering in comparison of that which is infinite, is not so much as a droppe of a Bucket compared to the great Ocean.

The sicke Man.

**NoteI hauehave alas, beene an impudent sinner, who with my sinnes hauehave buffeted my God on euerie side: It were now righteous with God that hee should buffet me with his judgements: I slept in sinne, and could not bee wakened: While Christs Cocke crowed, my Soule lay fast asl…epe: Yea, while hee crowed againe, I had past the third deny all: And though I was forewarned, I had none hoe in euill doing: While God was in my mouth, he was farre from mine heart: O that bloodie scarlet scrole of so manie iniquities.

p. 117The Pastour.

**NoteAs yee reason with your selfe, and with mee, so let it please you to reason but a little with your God: Come now, said the Lord▪ & let vsus reason together: Though your sinnes bee Isa. 1. 18.Isa 1:18as scarlet, they shall bee as white as snow; though they bee red like crimsin, they shall bee as woll: **NoteThere is no sin so red though it were double dyed, but the vertue of Christs Blood can cause it cast its colour.

The sicke Man.

**NoteI hauehave no Faith to applie anie salue to my sore: I heare your explication of Gods mercies: But there is none application within mee: What better will a man bee that yee set much meate downe before him on the Table, if hee cannot eate it?

The Pastour.

**NoteManie hauehave sit downe at Table hauing their appetit so bound vp at the first, that they abhorred to see meate, & yet litle & litle hauehave beene p. 118broght on first to taste, & thereafter to eate a little, last of all, one piece bringeth on another, till they recouer their appetit: This is but a disease in your Soule, which maketh it abhorre all comforts, as it is said of these that are bodilie sicke in the Psalme, Their soule abhorreth all Psal. 107. 18Ps 107:18manner of meate, and they draw neare the doores of death: What was their remeedie? Earnest prayer to God: Then they cryed vntounto the Lord in their trouble, and hee deliuered them from their distresses: Mans extremitie is Gods opportunitie. Bee of good comfort Sir, hauehave the Faith of God within you: Bee earnest in prayer, and God shall deliuer you from all your feares.

The sicke Man.

Oh, that I had Faith: Oh, that I could pray! I finde my griefes to growe: I spake neuer in earnest till now: All other temptations before were but for carnall thinges: They p. 119were all but sport, in comparison of this of my sins where with my Soule is pressed and borne downe: **NoteI take this to bee the forebrunt of endlesse plagues and paines prepared for the damned: I abhorre my selfe, fye on mee: What am I, but a dead Sardian, Revel. 3. 1 15.Rev 3:1or which is worse, a lukewarme Laodicean neither colde nor hote, a fitte prouocation of vomite to my God: It is a vvonder if by this death he vomite mee not out of his Church, for to cast mee into Hell: Now what pleasure can I hauehave of all my sinnes, where of I am ashamed? **NoteAll the joyes of my bygone life beeing joyned together, counteruaile not the least part of my present paine.

Alas, Sir, how can I gladly draw neare the doores of death, while there bee such impedimentes betweene mee and the doores of Heauen.

The Pastour.

I louelove these lamentations: **NoteIt is p. 120good that a Soule be sensible of sin: Woe to that Soule that is past all feeling: Blessed bee God, that hath wakened you out of the slumber of your sinnes: **NoteGods wrath euer followeth drowsie consciences, for to giuegive them vp to the spirit of slumber, or to sporting spirites, that make men to sport themselues with their own 2 Pet. 2. 132 Pet 2:13deceiuings: **NoteIt is good that in our afflictions, we consider well the cause; for Affliction commeth not out of the Iob. 5. 6.Job 5:6dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground: leremie in this is plaine,Lam. 3. 39Lam 3:39 Man suffereth for his sins: **NoteIt is your part to make a carefull search for the capitall sinne, which as yee thinke may chieflie be the cause of so great a wrath: Till Achan was found Israel Ios. 7. 16.Josh 7:16could not stād before their enemies: But say on Sir, let mee heare you to Amen.

The sicke Man.

God hath set all my sinnes in order before mee: I see nothing but a p. 121burning wrath, which Scripture calleth,Heb. 12. 29.Heb 12:29 a consuming fire: **NoteMine euill thoughts which I euer thought to bee free, stand now vp in battell array against mee… O Lord, why hast Isa. 63. 17Isa 63:17thou made vsus to erre from thy wayes, and hardened our heart from thy feare? I hauehave no comfort within my Soule: **NoteI heare a clamour within my conscience crying vntounto mee, What part or interest can thou looke for in the Kingdome of him whom thou hast so highlie dishonoured? How can thou be of that number that belongeth to the election of grace? I find my conscience raging within me lik a swelling sea, except some calme of merciemercy come, my Soule shalbe swallowed vp with some fearefull surge: Alas, Sir, what is your counsell: All that is within mee is into an vproare, despare is working within the bowels of my bellie.

The Pastour.

**NoteThese secret throwings in the p. 122bellie are but Gods secret reproues, tokens of his LoueLove: **NoteSuch secret checkes are like the rebukes of a Father, taking his Child apart to some quiet chamber for to admonish him: This is Gods customable doing with his owne Children, if by their open and scandalous sinnes, they hauehave not moued y^e enemies of God to blaspheme, hee will take them to the secret chamber of their heart, & there apart as it were, after that hee hath barred the doore, and put all out, hee will tell them what they hauehave done: **NoteIoseph would not tell before the Egyptians how his Brethren had solde him: But while hee reuealed himselfe to his Brethren, hee commanded all others to goe foorth: Cause euerie man, said hee,Gen. 45. 1.Gen 45:1 to goe out from mee, and there stood no man with him, while hee made himselfe knowne to his Brethren: **NoteGod would not reproue Iob before Elihu & El…phaz his vncharitable friends, p. 123but a part out of the while winde: Iob. 38. 1.Job 38:1After that hee had rebuked and scooled his Seruant Iob in the secret whirle of the winde, and hade made him to acknowledge his faultes, hee came to his friendes and told themIob. 41. 7.Job 41:7 that his wrath was kindled against them: **NoteAfter that Peter had thri…e most shamefullie denyed his Master Christ, who heard him so perjuredlie lye, would not reproue him openlie before the wicked, but onelie turned his eye with a looke towards him: With that secret looke which no man perceiued but Peter himselfe, hee gaue him such a secret checke and nippe of reproofe, thatLuk. 22. 62.Luke 22:62 incontinent hee went out, and weeped bitterlie: * Yee shall find at last Sir, all these temptations that trouble you within, are but God, taking you apart, and telling you with Ioseph, what yee hauehave done: God is now in the whirle winde working secretlie with you as with Iob, till ye p. 124bee humble in dust and ashes: **NoteAll this bitternesse which ye finde within, is but from a LoueLove-looke of Christ, that yee may bee saued by weeping bitterlie for your sinnes: **NoteBee of good comfort Sir, all these troubles within are but God out of louelove whispering some reproofs into your eare for some bygone faultes.

The sicke man.

I wish that it were so: **NoteBut O, what a stir is this within my Soule? I thinke those wordes of God in Ierimie to bee directlie said vntounto mee, Thine owne wickednesse shall correct Ierm. 2. 19thee, and thy backslidinges shall reproue thee, know therefore, and see that it is an euill thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my feare is not in thee.

The Pastour.

**NoteWhile the dregge and mudde of a melancholious minde is stirred vp from the bottome with grieuous temptations, the sinner must spare p. 125to judge, till the Soule bee settled: Let that muddie minde of yours first bee settled, and yee shall shortly see that matters are not as they seeme to bee: When Christ said toMatth. 16. 23Matt 16:23 Peter, Get thee behinde mee Sathan, it was a speach of glouminesse: But O the sweete gloumes of Iesus more sweete than the worlds smiles: Let that righteous reproue mee, and it shall Psal. 141. 5.Ps 141:5bee as oyle which shall not breake mine head: **NoteGod may seeme to be angrie at his Darlings, but yet in great louelove hee hath locked vp their Saluation, and made it sure in his vnchangable decree.

The sicke Man.

Mine heart is pricked with paines and grieued with griefe: This is the mischiefe, I see none out-gate, my Soule is enuironed with temptations.

The Pastour.

The wordes of S. Peter are comfortable, The Lord knoweth how to p. 1262 Pet. 2. 92 Pet 2:9deliuer the godlie out of temptations: **NoteIf your temptations bee great, heere is matter of joye, yee hauehave a God who knoweth how to deliuer you. There is no temptatiō so deadly but God knoweth how to cure it: **NoteA touch of the garment of Christs righteousnesse will anone dry vp that flooxe of blood.

The sicke Man.

I am so tossed, that I am not able to touch it: **NoteI am like a shippe in a tempest, seeking its Hauen, but cannot come by it; whiles I am bl… wen to this side and whiles to that side: Thus beeing driuen hither & thither as with contrarie Tydes, mine heart quaketh, and my conscience is in a qualme.

The Pastour.

Christ, who in the dayes of his flesh rebuked the windes, will calmeMatth. 3. 16.Matt 3:16 such qualmes, that your conscience may bee at rest: * Though the rolling sea rage, so that it make the Mariners p. 127to reele to and froe, & stagger like drunken men, yet when they cry vntounto the Lord, Hee maketh the Psal. 107. … 29.Ps 107:29stormes a calme so that the waues therof are still: Hee who can still the waues of waters, can calme the most stirring surgesse of temptations: **NoteIt is written of the Mariners, that while in the temptest all their cunning is gone, their last refuge is to their prayers, Then they cryed vntounto the Lord in their trouble, and hee deliuereth them from their distresses: If your distresse Sir, bee like the tempest which cannot bee with stood by care or cunning, runne to your God by prayer, confesse fullie and freelie your sinnes: Suffer no starting holes or hollownesse in your heart: But worke it to sinceritie, vse all meanes for to bee friendes with your God: Seeke earnestlie from God, for the sake of his Chirst, the peace of Conscience.

p. 128The sicke Man.

So I doe: **NoteBut alas, while I seeke peace, I heare from God as it were that voyce of Iehu to Iohoram▪ horse-man saying to my Soule, What hast thou to doe with peace? get 2 Kin. 9. 182 Kgs 9:18thee behinde m…e: What wonder that God bee angrie with mee, who was neuer carefull to please him? **NoteMy Soule like a Night-Owle hath hated Light, and loued darknesse: Such is the weight of my transgression that I am like to finke thorow the sward of Gods wrath: **NoteThis checketh mee sore, that while I sinned, I stroue to ouermaster my conscience arraigning mee for my wickednesse: When I thinke of this, … thinke shame to face the Sunne and the Moone.

The Pastour.

**NoteThe more yee bee ashamed of your sinnes, the lesse yee neede to feare euerlasting shame: The Pharisee Luk. 18. 11Luke 18:11thought no shame of him selfe, p. 129but bragged of his worth, the Publican could not face the Heauens for shame: Your part shall be with the Publican, who returned justified vntounto his house: Hee who condemneth himselfe, shall goe home to Heauen with the justice of his God. Cry vntounto the Lord in your trouble.

The sicke Man.

I am not able to speake, the force of temptations is like to shiuer me in pieces: All that is within mee is in a fearefull vproare: **NoteO how fear… full is the racke and gibbet of an euill conscience: The blacke scrole of my sinnes which of before seemed to bee enroled, is now vnfolded & laid open, wherein euerie letter seemeth huge, great like a mountaine: EueryEvery day is a death vntounto me, all my counts are out of order, there is not a string in mine heart in a right tune: What are sinners, but stubble? Gods sentence is, Burne them: **NoteAlas, that while I sinned, I weighed not p. 130the following woe: I hauehave brewed my griefe, and now I must drinke in sorrow.

The Pastour.

**NoteOne thing I perceiue Sir, that your griefe must hauehave vent, till yee hauehave disburdened your selfe with teares and complaints, yee can not admit anie comfort.

The sicke Man.

There is no doloure lik to my doloure: The arrowes of the Lords wrath are within mee, whereof my Spirit drinketh the poyson.

The Pastour.

**NoteThese arrowes are not arrowes of wrath, but of vvarning, like the arrowes of Ionathan, shot for to driue Dauid frō the furie of Saul: **NoteHeare the Spirit crying with Ionathan, Are 1 Sam. 20. 371 Sam 20:37they not beyond thee? Gods arrowes are flowen ouer you, are they not beyond you? There is no danger.

The sicke Man.

**NoteMy sinnes which once seemed p. 131little like mots, begin now to swell, and to become thicker than mountaines: I hauehave no peace within: In my Soule is kindled an vnquenchable fire, in it is the fewell of euerlasting burnings: **NoteOften hauehave I posted off my sinnes in the lumpe vvith a slubbert generall confession: Now resteth nothing within mee but feare distrust & qualm…s of Conscience.

The Pastour.

Bee strong in God Sir: Hope in his merciemercy, belieue in him, though he should stay you: **NoteIf yee will not Isa. 7. 9.Isa 7:9belieue, saith Isaiah, surelie yee shall not bee established: While the woman of Canaan vvas making request to Christ for her Daughter, shee found Christ at the first to bee verie harsh and sowre, in calling her a Dogge: But that little blast beeing once blowne out for the humbling of her Soule, she heard incontinent these words of comfort, O woman, p. 132great is thy Faith: Bee it vntounto thee Matth. 15 28.Matt 15:28euen as thou wilt: **NoteGods face may seeme grimne for a space, but there is but a moment in his wrath: though he should slay you, yet must yee trust in him: In your hurt yee must hope for his helpe.

The sicke Man.

**NoteMy strongest hope is but a stinging feare: My greatest confidence is but trembling of conscience: **NoteIt seemeth to mee, that there is one knocking at the doore of mine heart and crying in a voyce, Is Faith heere? Is louelove within? Is one called the feare of God into this place? Is the Spouse of Christ in this heart? Alas, what can I say, hauing such an ouglie Soule within mee? Can Christ the Spouse of the Church louelove such a Soule as mine, which is like a bleare or squint eyed Leah? can the dark night beguile him, that hee should take such a loathsome Leah for a beautifull Rachel?

p. 133**NoteIf Death now ouertake mee, I looke for fire and faggot, the fuell of euerlasting burninges: Oh, my Faith fainteth, and mine hope houereth: What say yee Sir? Doeth not your heart pittie to see mee in such a plunge? **NoteYet for all this I must justifie God: All this is righteouslie come vponupon mee, though his wrath should so settle vponupon mee, that thereby my bones should bee crushed like these eighteene who were slaine vnderunder the tower of Siloe, Luk. 13. 4Luke 13:4to God should belong righteousnesse, but to mee open shame andDan. 9. 8.Dan 9:8 confusion of face.

The Pastour.

**NoteShame of face for sinne is the beginning of grace in a sinner; waite vponupon the Lord a little, and hee shall make his merciemercy to appeare like a morning light, at the breake of day all the night shadowes of temptations shall flee away, and Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse, shall arise andMal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2 p. 134shine vponupon your Soule with his blessed beames: This shall make your Soule like a Bird on a bush wellcomming the morning with a song for joye that the night is past.

The Sicke Man.

**NoteSathan alas, hath so hood-winked my Soule with my sinnes, that I cannot get a sight of merciemercy, the sense of my sinnes giueth mine heart many a cold pull: I feare to die in despaire: What say yee Sir? Doeth not your heart pittie mee?

The Pastour.

The Lord pittie you, & giuegive me an heart to pray for you: The Lord put the wordes into my mouth, that may comfort your comfortlesse Soule in this Iingring tryall: HaueHave patience in your paine, sinne is like a rotten tooth, the deeper roote it hath in the jawes, the more painefull it is in the drawing. Continue Sir to discouer your sore; if the boile of such corruption bee ripe, I p. 135shall launce it, that such filthie matter may bee cleansed away: I pray God so to direct mee, that I may proue a Surgeon cunning in this cure; if there bee any thing as yet that troubleth you, conceale it not, if ye think that my comforts may be helpfull vntounto you: **NoteMany are more ashamed to confesse a faulte, than to commit a sinne. What is this that grieueth you now Sir?

The sicke Man.

The wrath of God affrayeth me; **NoteHis anger is like a Lyon, which can not bee tamed: My sinne is past, but punishmēt is to come: **NoteTerrors cry out of the fire, Thy pleasures now are ended, now thou must suffer paines: From the toppe of the pinacle of all thy preferments, come down to the dungeon of darknes, because thou hast fallen downe before the god of this world, goe downe, goe2 Cor 14. 4 downe to him, whom thou on earth hast worshipped: These bee the terrours p. 136of God, standing in battell array against mee, which make mee to fling all comfortes from mee: My Soule is possessed with a slauish feare.

**NoteIndeed I must confesse, that I am much beholden vntounto God, for so large a time of repentance: But alas. I hauehave neglected it, yea, and obstinatlie hauehave kicked against my Maker: **NoteSo now I finde by doolefull sense, that I remaine into the guilt; my Soule is so sicke with this that I cannot tell: **NoteAll comfortes are vntounto it like a dead potion into the stomacke which hath no vertue to worke: God thinketh mee not worthie of comfort: For while I was in prosperitie, I was so couered ouerIsa. 29. 10Isa 29:10 with the spirit of slumber, that I would not be warned nor wakened by the voyce of Gods Trumpeters, sounding judgements, as sonnes of thunder, **NoteBecause I misregarded Boanarges the Sons of Thunder, God will p. 137not daine mee with a Barnabas, a Sonne of consolation. Now behold Sir, what grieueth mee, what say yee for my comfort?

The Pastour.

**NoteI rejoyce from mine heart not in your griefe, but in that yee are so grieued for your sinnes: God in merciemercy by such sorrow doeth whet vp your desires after him: **NoteThe Child by a knocke & a fall knoweth his owne weaknesse, and perceiueth the need of his Nourse: I rejoyce to see you humbled with the sense of your sins vnderunder the hand of God, I am comforted to see you humbled, let this humilitie bee a comfort to your selfe: It is good to be of a humble and contrit Spirit: To whom will Isa. 66. 2.Isa 66:2I looke? said the Lord, euen to him that is of a contrit Spirit, and trembleth at my word: **NoteThe more a man be humbled he is neerer to be justified: The Publicā a litle before he was justified, was knocking vponupon his p. 138breast, and crying to God for merciemercy to him a miserable man: **NoteThe more humble a man bee, hee is theLuk. 18. 13Luke 18:13 farther from the dint and danger of Gods judgements.

The sicke Man.

By your discourse Sir, it would seeme that a cast downe Soule with its owne vnworthinesse, is in lesse danger of judgement, than these who are high lifted vp in their owne conceit.

The Pastour.

It is most certaine: **NoteThe humble & y^e proud are like these seeds that were sowne in Egypt, when the plague of haile came, the Flaxe and the Barley Exod. 9. 31Exod 9:31were smitten, saith the Scripture, for the Barley was in the eare, and the Flaxe was bolled: But the Wheat and vers. 32.the Rye were not smitten, for they were not grown vp: The wicked in time of wrath are lik Flaxe & Barley, because they are lifted vp, they are smitten, they are in the eare, yea, and p. 139bolled in their pride, and therefore cannot escape: But as for the humbled heart of the godlie man, it is lik the Wheat and Rye, the best corne: It is not smitten because it is not growne vp, but lyeth humble before the Lord: Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse Leoni: Humiliation maketh the Lyon to spare his aduersarie: God is pleased and pacified so soone as hee seeth a man humbled in heart: Ahah had killed 1 King. 21 19.1 Kgs 21:19& after also had taken possession **NoteYet so soone as hee humbled himselfe in Sacke, though all his humilitie was but outward, the Lord looked vponupon him, and would hauehave Elijah to see it also, Seest thou, said the Lordvers. 29. to his Prophet, how Ahah hath humbled himselfe before mee: Because hee humbleth himselfe before mee, I will not bring this euill in his dayes.

Blesse God Sir, for your humbled heart, yet relye neuer vponupon any grace that is within your selfe, let p. 140Gods meere merciemercy alone bee your strength and your stay: **NoteThe least opinion of our owne worth is a frost which nippeth Repentance in the blossome.

The sicke Man.

Thinke ye Sir, that before a man win to Heauen, that hee must bee racked and riuen as I am with fearefull temptations?

The Pastour.

**NoteBefore the most part of the Elect can enjoy these joyes that are aboue, they are not onelie racked with paine, but also as it were racked thorow hell: There must first bee an hell in the conscience with the sense of our sinnes, wee must hauehave a sight of wrath, before wee enter into Gods Rest: **NoteHeauen is not winne with a wish: Christ saith, that it suffereth violence, and that the violent Matth. 11. 12.Matt 11:12take it by force: Thorow manie tribulations and afflictions wee must enter into it: The Crowne is after a course of crosses.

p. 141The sicke Man.

I am haled away with the strong streame of temptations: I cannot thinke, that if God loued mee, hee would suffer mee to bee thus way tread vnderunder foote like dust, with such fearefull temptations: O how fearefull is the crosse vponupon the Conscience!

The Pastour.

These whom GOD loueth best, hee chasteneth: **NoteThe louing Mother will runne vponupon her dearest Daughter with her feete, if shee perceiue her to bee giuen to folie: God treadeth not vponupon his owne, but for profite: **NoteThe Godlie are like Saffron or Camomile, which grow the better the more they bee troden downe: Grace must gripe Nature till it gaspe.

The sicke Man.

Mine heart is strained and squised with griefe: O the heauie weight of my sinnes, which hang so fast on! **NoteI am like a tyred horse that faine p. 142would bee rid of his burden.

The Pastour.

To bee tyred of sinne, is a token that yee shall bee shortlie deliuered: **NoteHee who is tyred with sin, is tyred, not to bee a drudge of sin: **NoteSinne is not heauie to the Wicked, because it is in them as water in its owne element, though it bee of weight, yet it weigheth not: Well is the wearied Soule, it hath Christs promise of ease: But woe to themMatth. 11. 28Matt 11:28 who with Laodicea, hauehave neede of no thing: For the most part, men are drowned in drowsinesse: Securitie is farre more dangerous than despaire: As was sung of Saul and of Dauid, so may bee heere, Despaire hath slaine her thousand, but Securitie her ten thousand: Manie are not wakened till they bee so wakened, that their judgement and senses are lost.

It is a fearefull curse for a man to blesse himselfe, while hee should mourne for his sinnes: Such as blesse themselues, while the Lord pronounceth p. 143the wordes of the curse, The Lord will not bee mercifull to that Deut. 29. 20Deut 29:20man: **NoteSecuritie hath shaken hands with Hell and Death: But well is him who feareth alwayes: **NoteHee is greatest in Gods sight, who is least in his owne eyes.

The sicke Man.

But alas, Sir, my conscience speaketh home, that I hauehave beene a stranger from my God: O but I am wearied, how shall I bee deliuered from this burden of bondage?

The Pastour.

These who are ladened and wearied, may heare Christ in his Gospel crying vntounto them, Come vntounto me Matth. 11. 29.Matt 11:29Goe to him who cryeth so louingly, Come: Striue aboue all things, to get a sight of your Sauiour, by the eye of Faith: Vrge vponupon your heart a deepe meditation of his merciemercy, his merits are able to cure our maladies.

The sicke Man.

**NoteThere is such a mist betweene me and the Messias, that it is not possible p. 144for me to see him. Oh, that my eyes were cleared with Gods Eyesalue, that I might clearelie be holdReuel. 3. 10Rev 3:10 him!

The Pastour.

**NoteThe great desire ye hauehave to see him is a sort of sight: **NoteAll men see not Christ alike: All goe not vp to the mount with Peter, Iames, and Iohn: Matt. 17. 1.Matt 17:1All see not God face to face with Moses: Exod. 33, 11.Exod 33:11All men lay not their head in Christs bosome, with his best belouedIoh. 13. 23John 13:23 Disciple; Be not discouraged: thogh ye cannot winne so neare to Christ, as ye would: **NoteIf ye cannot winne to him for to embrace him, as Simeon Luk. 2. 8,Luke 2:8did striue to touch the border of his garmēt behind with y^e finger of faithLuk. 8. 44Luke 8:44 and it shall stay the bloody fluxe of your Sinnes: **NoteYe sigh for a sight of Christ * A sigh for a sight of him, is a sight of him indeed: **NoteHe who wold be found of these that sought him not will bee much more found of these that seeke him, and sigh for him: Bee p. 145of good heart: **NoteThough for a space your spirituall day be mistie, yet at last your drumly sky shal be cleared: **NoteChrist is not euer absent, while hee is not seene: The Sunne as we see will be couered with a cloud, & the Moone will bee vnderunder wake, but incontinent thereafter, the cloudes beeing ouer-blowen, wee enjoye their brightnesse and their beames: What shall bee able to separate a Christian from the LoueLove of his Christ? **NoteWhat then shall be able to mak a Christian soule despaire? Shall Damnation? No, For Christ Gods▪ aaLuk. 2. 30.Luke 2:30Saluatiō is ours: Shall Hell? No, For our Christ hath bbReuel. 3. 7.Rev 3:7the keyes both of Heauen & of Hell: Shall the World? No, For Christ hath ccIoh. 16. 33.John 16:33ouercome the World: Shall the Law? No, For our Christ hath ddMatth. 3 15.Matt 3:15fulfilled the Law. Shall Death? No, For our Christ eeIoh. 14. 6.John 14:6is the Way and the Life: Shall the Fathers wrath? No, For ffIsa. 63. 3.Isa 63:3Hee hath troden the wine-presse of his wrath for you, p. 146and for all repenting sinners: **NoteAll Scripture pointeth at him, saying, ggIsa. 30. 21.Isa 30:21This is the way, walk ye in it: Run Sir to him, & he shall deliuer you from all your sinnes, and from all your feares: Striue to curbe your owne corruptions which are so broodie within you.

The sicke Man.

I cannot alas, bee quite of my sinnes: I striue to runne away from them, but the faster they follow mee, like curre Dogges that are so accustomed to follow their Master they will not bee boasted home againe: Where euer I goe with my thoughts aboue or below, my sinnes follow hard after mee: **NoteThough I threaten them, thogh I boast them, yea, betimes intreate them to depart, their answere is, Wee are thy vvorkes, wee will goe with thee. This putteth my Soule out of peace and order, and thrusteth mee away from Deut. 13. 10.Deut 13:10the Lord; my God: I hauehave beene long p. 147seeking and sighing for comforts: But as yet I can espye none appearance.

The Pastour.

Comforts sought sought, and sighed for, are not aye seene at the first: **NoteElijahs seruant went vp the hill Carmell eight seuerall times to espye some appearance of raine: The first seuen times hee could see nothing, & at the eight hee saw but a little cloud of comfort: Behold said hee, there ariseth a little cloud out of 1 Kin. 1…. 44.1 Kgs 1:44the sea, like a mans hand: A little after that, the heauens were blake with vers. 45.cloudes and winde, and there was a great raine.

**NoteHold your face Sir a little space with Elijah betweene your knees, and1 Kin. 18. 42.1 Kgs 18:42 cast your selfe downe vponupon the Earth, as hee did, that is, fall downe in all humilitie of Soule before your God in prayer: That done, send vp your prayer the spirituall spye vntounto the top of the hill: **NoteSend it againe and againe, euer till it espye some little p. 148cloud of comfort: If your Soule take paines in prayer till ye perceiue but an hand breadth of merciemercy, at last Gods comfortes shall raine downe in great aboundance vponupon your wearied Spirit: What shall I say, if yee will not bee informed yee cannot bee reformed.

The sicke Man.

Indeede that is a pleasant and fit comparison, worthie to bee printed with a Note on the margent: It hath beene well adapted by you▪ Oh, that it could bee as well applyed by mee: Oh, that the Lord, whose louelove expelleth feare, would strengthen my weake Faith with an handbreath, of his merciemercy: O for such a little cloud of comfort, it would lif… Heb. 12. 12Heb 12:12vp mine hands which hang downe, and strengthen my weake knees: But in steede of such a comfortable cloude, I see nothing but cloudes of w…ath, readie to fall and become a deludge of vengeance: from my birth, I must p. 149not dissemble, I hauehave dallied with my God, and hauehave dispised the gratious day of his visitations: **NoteAnd now all my comforts resemble to the Eagle, that taketh her to her wings, and flyeth aloft high into the Skye, from my sinfull reach: O feare! O horrour! O the multitude of my transgressions! how shall I be quiet?

The Pastour.

The best way to be quite of sin, y^t it reigne not in vsus, is to bend vp our hearts to Christ, who is Emmanuel, Isa. 7. 14.Isa 7:14God with vsus: Thogh all be worthie to bee damned, yet there is no condamnation Rom. 8. 1Rom 8:1to these that are in Christ: **NoteHee is that heaue-offering, which wee must euer hold and heaue vp like a buckler betweene Gods wrath and our sinfull Soules: In what case finde yee your Conscience to bee for the present?

The sicke Man.

One deepe calleth to another deepe p. 150at the noyse of Gods water Spouts▪ Psal. 42. 7Ps 42:7My sorrow is like the Sea, it ebbeth and it floweth: As I hauehave swimmed thorow one deepe temptation, I fall into another that is deeper: My braine is turned with a whirling giddinesse.

The Pastour.

**NoteThere is no such deepnesse either in our sinnes or in our troubles, but the merciemercy of God in Christ shall bee able to ouer-reach it by innumerable fathomes: S. Paul said, that hee was assured, that neither high nor depth shall bee able to separate vsus from the louelove of God.

**NoteThough affliction raine downe vponupon vsus like water falling from spouts, they may well wash vsus, but shall not bee able to drowne vsus: **NoteA godlie man should not be afraide for a spo… full of bitter waters: **NoteThough th… waters of the sea roare & be troubled▪ Though the Mountaines shake with the swelling thereof, yea, though p. 151the surges thereof should boast the cloudes, heere is the faithfull mansPsal. 46. 4.Ps 46:4 comfort, There is a riuer the streames whereof shall make glad the Citie of God: **NoteThogh the Mediterranean Sea, yea, the great Ocean with its surges, should boast Gods Ierusalem, a little riuer or brooke, a Kidron of Gods grace sending out streames of comfortes like the waters of Siloe shall make glad the Citie of God.

The sicke Man.

**NoteBut how shall I passe thórow to Canaan, behold, before mee what floodes of iniquities ouerflowingIer. … their bankes as in the swelling of Iordan: Such fearefull floodes ru… betweene me and Heauen … place▪ appointed for my …

The …our▪

**Note… …oake with the garment … Christes righteousnesse will diuide the floodes of Belial, as Elisha diuided the Iordan by striking it with the mantle of Elijah, that hee might2 King. 2. 14.2 Kgs 2:14 p. 152safelie passe thorow: **NoteChristes merits are like the Arke, which made the Iordan to goe backe, for to makeIoh. 3. 16John 3:16 a way for Israel vntounto Canaan: **NoteOur heartes like the Priestes, must stand hard by the side of this Arke, till all our affections the Lords Armies be come thorow the swelling Iordan ofIer. 12. 5.Jer 12:5 grieuous afflictions.

The sicke Man.

While I beholde my selfe, I abhorre my selfe: **NoteThe eye of my God seeth mee, and what am I, but like a bemired Dogge trodde by Sathan into the puddle of perdition? Alas, when good motions came into …e heart, I crosed them with my lustes▪ Now cursed be my lusts.

I am so filth… ▪ …hat I abhorre my selfe, my sinnes are so …, that nothing is able to make them …

The Pastour.

Know yee Sir what God said of olde in Isaiah? Come now, and let vsus …sa. 1. 18.reason together, though your sins be as p. 153scarlet, they shall bee as white as snow, though they be red l…k crimsin, they shall bee as vvoole: If yee could but reason a little with God, ye should find this to be true: There is no sinne, which Christes blood is not able to purge: **NoteWhat euer your sinne be, if yee can repent, he can forgiue: **NoteChrist can doe anie thing butthis▪ hee cannot saue him that will not repent: Seeing yee know him to bee infinite in merciemercy▪ hauehave all your recourse to him; **NoteTake once a proofe of his merciemercy: Humble your selfe at his feete, and see whether or not there bee merciemercy with him that hee may bee feared.

**NoteThe seruants of Benhadad knowing that the Kings of Israel were mercifull Kings: Put sack-clot… vponupon 1 Kin. 20. 31.1 Kgs 20:31their loynes, & ropes vponupon their heads, for to seeke mans merciemercy, which also they found: **NoteShall man finde mer… into the narrow bowels of a man, and … hee bound the holie p. 154One of Israel? **NoteChrist who is not onelie true, but Trueth it selfe hath said, Whatsoeuer yee shall aske Ioh. 14 12.John 14:12in my Name, that vvill I doe: **NoteHee who is true may lye, but Trueth can not lye.

The sicke Man.

That is trueth: While I consider your comfortes for the distressed Soule, **NoteI thinke that all your purpose pointeth chieflie at Christ, as though hee alone were the ground of Grace: Let mee heare I pray you more at large, what Christ is vntounto vsus.

The Pastour.

Hee is Emmanuell, God with vsus,Matth. 1. 2…Matt 1:2 God with man, God in Man, God-Man: In Him God and Man, are but one Person: Our life is hid with Christ Col. 3. 3.Col 3:3in God: **NoteBecause wee did eate of the forbidden Fruite, Hee was hanged vponupon a cursed tree: Hee hath borne vsus such a louelove as is vnspeakeable: **NoteWhat tongue … forme wordes sufficie… …or to expresse p. 155the least part of the same?

By the conduite pype of his Humanitie Grace for Grace hath beene conueighed to our graceles Soules, who can expresse his LoueLove, hee loueth vsus to the end, and of his LoueLove there is none end.

**NoteThis I will say, That hee hath borne to man such a louelove, that hath made all mankind like a Banquerupt, so farre vnable to pay the principle, that though man should louelove his Sauiour withall his might and his minde, yet should hee not pay so much as the interest of so great a louelove: No, though hee should giuegive his bodie to bee brunt for the honour of his Name: No, though he should for his sak hauehave his name if it were possible, scraiped out of the Booke of Life: **NoteThough all our Soules should suffer for his honour the euerlasting paines of the damned, all these paines were not to bee counted the interest of his p. 156paines for vsus: **NoteIt is more that a Prince get a deadlie hurt in a Battell, thā that a thousand common Souldiers were slaine: **NoteIt is more that the Prince of Heauen suffered vponupon the crosse but an houre, than that a thousand worlds had beene cast into a thousand hells, for to bee tormented for euer **NoteThere is no proportion in suffering betweene the creature & him who was both God and Man into one person.

**NoteO then, what can be the interest of that principall louelove, that moued God to die for man? **NoteLet this bee like a Bell ringing for to waken your drowsie Soule: Let your Soule like Iohn leane vponupon the blessed bosome of Iesus: HaueHave euer your eye vponupon this MercieMercy-seat.

The sicke Man.

Is it onelie then in Christ, Sir, that Saluation is to bee found? All Scripture would yee say, doeth leauell at him.

p. 157The Pastour.

The Scripture is plaine: There is Act. 4. 12Acts 4:12none other Name giuen vnderunder heauen among men, whereby wee must bee saued▪ Hee is full of the bowels of louelove; Hee is that onelie Sauiour, pointed out by both the Testaments: **NoteLike as the two Cherubims, though seuered one from another, yet looked one towards another, and both vponupon the MercieMercy seate: Euen so the Olde and New Testament looke one towards another, & yet point at one & the same Christ, the marrow and kernell of mans Saluation▪ **NoteAll Religion is in this, that wee know Christ: This is mans Saluation, to know Christ and him crucified: **NoteBy1 Cor. 2. 21 Cor 2:2 his Blood the Bill and Bond of the Law, is crost and cancelled: **NoteHee is that Carkasse wherevnto all faithfull Soules like Eagles must resort: HeeMatth. 24 28Matt 24:28 is our refuge against the dint of Gods wrath: The Spouse could not come vp from the wildernesse, but p. 158by leaning vponupon her beloued, Christ.Cant. 8, 5Song 8:5

**NoteAs the Propitiatorie couered the Tables of the Law, that were in the Arke, so Christ couered our sinnes against these Tables: **NoteAs the cloud couered the Israelites from the fight of Pharaoh hotelie following after them, so Christs righteousnesse like a cloud couered vsus from the judgements of God his fierie wrath pursuing vsus.

**NoteLet men couer themselues neuer so carefullie, still some part of them shall peepe bare, vntill Christ come with the couering of his righteousnesse.

**NoteIf by the temptations of Sathan your Soule hath beene ruffled or galled vponupon the sore: The best balme that euer dropped from the pen of Gods Spirit vponupon the leaues of his Sacred Booke, is the Historie of Christs Bloodie passion: There wee may see the dearest mercies that euer moued the relenting bowels of p. 159Gods tenderest compassions.

**NoteBehold the Sacred Blood of that vnspotted Lambe, which saued the Soules of those that spilt it.

**NoteIf yee bee pined with Corrasius of terrour, in him are Cordials of compassions, the onelie salue for the sores of the Soule **NoteThough ye were couered with scarlet abominations,Isa. 1. 18.Isa 1:18 heere is vertue whereby yee shall be made whiter than the snow: **NoteDid hee not pray for them, yea, did hee not saue them, who by bitter railing, discharged vponupon him the vtmost of their gall?

The sicke man.

Such men at last were pricked inAct. 2. 37Acts 2:37 their heartes they truelie repented: **NoteTheir sighes and sobs were supported & sinewed with the strength of Grace: Such men became godly indeede: But I did neuer passe the pitch of formall pietie: I euer desired more to seeme godlie, than so to be: I hauehave beene betimes sore shaken p. 160with awfull terrours: **NoteBut I neuer yet could say, that the softening blood of Iesus did melt my marble heart.

**NoteWhat euer had I, but some light of reason & glimmerings of generall grace, which cannot soare so high, as to conuoy the soule to the doores of Heauen? **NoteThe word of sauing grace implanteth it selfe into the heart of the godlie man: Hee onelie is furnished with a resolute & vnswayed vprightnesse.

**NoteAlas, alas, alas, mine heart is throwen with a sore wringing: There is a large haruest for Hell, many called but few chosen.

The Pastour.

What shall I say? **NoteMans thoughts are framed into a sinfull mould **NoteThe sillie sonnes of Adam are wonderfullie tossed with the contrarie Tyd… of Satans temptations: Some he benumeth with the sweetnes of Sec… ritie, others hee troubleth with the tartennesse of terrours: **NoteO but Sathans p. 161Balow is sweete to the Soule in the craddle of Securitie! But O how dreadfull shall hee bee when hee appearing grieslie and fierce vntounto the Soule, shall waken it with a cry and a glowre saying, Damned soule come out to fire, & faggot, come out to vnqueancheable brimstone beames, come out to weeping and gnashing of teeth.

**NoteA man after this manner wakened in conscience, is like a man wakened out of his sleepe on a sudden: At the first hee is in such a maze, that till hee bee better wakened he cannot well vnderstand what is said to him: All his thoughts are into an hurlie burlie: Then his outward rebellions, and his inward repynings, with all his abominations seeme to fall downe vponupon him like cloudes of blood: **NoteThere bee no comforts that can settle his feares, till the Spirite of grace appeare vntounto him in the calme.

p. 162Looke vp with your eye Sir, and seeke a blinke of the face of Iesus: Hee onelie is the Prince and Pryce of our Peace, our joye, and our libertie: If the Sonne make vsus free, wee Ioh. 8. 36.John 8:36shall bee free indeede: Wrestle with him, vse violence in an holie boldnesse: vis Deo grata.

In him are the lasting treasures of merciemercy and immortalitie: **NoteHee it is onelie who can make this biting Conscience to bee toothlesse, he onelie can command this raging sea: I know Sir, that your sorrowes are sore, and my Soule pittieth you, for I see you in the verie pangs and terrours of the new birth: I perceiue your Soule gasping for grace, as the drie and thirstie ground for droppes of raine.

The sicke Man.

O the boisterous blastes of temptations, able to make the tallest and deepest rooted Cedars to stagger, yea, the Sirion to skippe like an Vnicorne: p. 163What shall I doe?

The Pastour.

Seeing Christ alone is our protection and perfection, let all your courage bee in him: **NoteIn him yee must bee valiant, for none but the valiant can by violence enter into the Kingdome of God: If a man know Christ well, hee shall not be discouraged though hee were cast into a raging sea of temptations: **NoteThough a mā were cast into a gulfe of twenty fathome deepe, if hee can keepe his head aloft, he cannot be drowned: **NoteSo as long as Christ our Head is aboue, wee his members may well bee dowked, but wee cannot bee drowned: All Christian comforts runne vponupon him like the title of a Booke, wherein is contained the substance of the whole.

If Christ Sir bee yours, yee cannot perish: Hee who is rooted in him, can neuer bee rooted out.

p. 164The sicke Man.

But how can Christ bee mine, seeing I am but a bagge of corruption & a bodie of Death? What hath mine heart beene, but like a vipers bellie, filled with a deadly brood? Miserable man that I am, will Christ euer daine to looke vponupon such a vile wretch as I am, who hath turned my Christian libertie in a fleshlie licence.

The Pastour.

These who are least into their own eyes, are in greatest account with him: **NoteWhen yee heare of the wandring sheepe brought home, and ofMatth. 18. 13Matt 18:13 the lost groat found, and of the forlorne Luk. 15. 8Luke 15:8Sonne returned to his Father:Luk. 15, 18.Luke 15:18 Ye should cast your figure & say, Of whom is this written but of mee? for whom is it written but for mee?

**NoteIf yee sticke fast by him, no perrell shall make an haire of your Matth. 19. 30.Matt 19:30head to perish: Bee of good comfort, for your life is hid with Christ in God.Colos. 3. 3Col 3:3

p. 165The sicke Man.

I am so vile, that hardlie darre I presume to think that Christ would die for such a filthie rotten creature as I am, who from the sole of tbe Isa. 1. 6.Isa 1:6foote to the crowne of the head, is filled with botches, boiles, and putrifying sores: **NoteWhen I behold my selfe into the glasse of Gods Law, I abhor the monstrous face of my Soule: **NoteI am one of those in whom Satan hath parbreaked, and spewed the spawne of all sorts of sinne: Of all sinners, I am the first: **NoteFor I hauehave not sinned of ignorance, but of knowledge, against the light of my mind, against the voyce of my God, against the workings of his Spirit, & against the cryes of mine owne Conscience: This is my greatest feare, that I hauehave done despite vntounto the Spirit of Grace. Heb. …0. 29This striketh widest wounds into my Soule, and maketh all the bowels of my bellie to wamble. O fye, fye, what a filthinesse is within this heart of▪ p. 164duplicate page p. 165duplicate page p. 166mine: **NoteThe small moats moue not thicker in the Sunne, than sinnes of all sortes hauehave reeled to and froe in this wicked heart of mine, which is nothing, but a nest of Spiders, and a cage of corruptions.

**NoteO what a shamefull discouerie should this bee, if mine heart were as well seene as my face! If all the monsters of my meditations were set in open view, if the eyes of men could spie out what thoughts hauehave beene within my breast since I was borne: If all the men of Africke a place most fertile of Monsters, were taken to bee witnesse, they would plainlie declare that the Earth cannot bring foorth such Monsters as are bredde into the heart of man.

**NoteO the great merciemercy of God, who to the ende that man may liue with man, hath hidde the heart of man from men! O my God, though thou hast sieled the eyes of man, that hee cannot see within my breast, p. 167thine eyes, which see our thoughts a far off, perceiue most clearlie all my bygone abominations. To Thee alone belongeth the discouerie of a closed heart: Would I bee dashed if the eye of a sinner tooke mee at an euill turne, and shall I not bee ashamed when I remember how the eye of my God hath followed me in all mine euill wayes?

Alas, my deare Pastour, yee speake much to mee of Christ and of his death, but what portion can such a vile stinking creature as I, hauehave with Christ? I hauehave delayed all to the after-noone, and now my Sun is readie for to set: The blacke night of darknes is posting vponupon my soule.

My Soule refuseth all sortes of comforts: I thinke that it shall die in the verie grippes of such bloodie temptations: Behold, and consider if there bee anie sorrow like vntounto my sorrow.

p. 168The Pastour.

**NoteI know Sir, that no sort of men are sooner or sorer touched for their sinnes, than are the best children of God: Sathan is most busie to blow at the coale of their corruptions.

**NoteAnd againe, there bee no sort of men more readie to appropriate to themselues the comforts of God, than they to whom they least belong.

But yet Sir, seeing yee are sicke in Soule, yee must not refuse spirituall Physicke: Christ is the onelie comfort against the guilt of sinne: **NoteHis blood is the onelie trayacle against the poyson of this pest: **NoteBut can any comfort auaile to him that will not receiue it? As meate set vponupon the Table cannot nourish, except that it bee put into the mouth, and from thence bee sent downe to the stomacke: So, neither can the wordes of comfort feede the heart, Nitraijciantur in viscera nostrae animae p. 169Bernard.& transeant in affectiones nostras, except that they enter into the bowels of our Soule, and passe thorow vntounto our affections: Your Spirit is so knappish and way-ward, that it will not admit the most solide comforts: The marke of Christs Lambes is an eare-marke: My sheepe heare my voyce.Ioh. 10. 27.John 10:27

The sicke Man.

But thinke yee Sir, that I can bee one of Gods, who hauehave beene so great a sinner? My Soule is sicke to the death with surfets of sinne: Can Gods Spirit abide where there is so great corruption? **NoteCan two Guestes of so contrarie nature, dwell together in one man?

The Pastour.

They may indeede, though they cannot agree: **NoteGrace and corruptions may be into the heart of a mā, as Israel was with the Iebusites, Hiuites, and Perezites, into Canaan: But as Israel wasted these Nations by litle & litle, so the Spirit of God p. 170with grace by little and litle rooteth out, wasteth, and foileth these nations of sinne that are within vsus: But not all at once. **NoteLest wee should grow idle, and roust for want of such spirituall exercise.

**NoteThe heart of a godlie man is like the house of Abraham, where Isaac and Ismael lodge together: Though for a space they tarie together, at death the olde scorning Ismael shall bee cast out: Hee shall not inherite the promise with Isaac the laughing man.

**NoteIf Sir yee finde a wresling within your heart, some newe working, which once yee did not perceiue, it is a token that grace is conceiued in your soule: **NoteAfter that a womā hath conceiued, she wil find some times a working about the heart, prouoking to vomite: It is so with y^e heart of a regenerat mā, so soone as grace is conceiued into it, it wil ouercast til it cast and vomite out many filthy corruptions: p. 171**NoteThough Iacob be little and weake & at the first seeme not to be a peregall vntounto the rugh man, who is full of strength, yet at last hee shall catch him by the heele, and ouerturne him in a moment: Waite but a litle, and yee shall bee vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of Hell.

The sicke Man.

I tremble all with feare, that the Lord cast mee off and banish out of the Land of the liuing this filthie festered Soule.

The Pastour.

God is more mercifull, than man can conceiue him to bee: Can a mother Isa. 49. 15Isa 49:15forget her Childe? that shee hauehave no compassion? saith the Lord: **NoteA louing Father will bee loth to cast his Childe out of doores in a deadly disease: If these who are euill can giuegive Matth. 7. 11Matt 7:11good things vntounto their Children, how much more will that Father who is goodnesse it selfe, giuegive the holie Spirit with all other good thinges to p. 172these who will seeke then? cry to God in prayer.

The sicke Man.

**NoteAlas, the sorrow of mine heart lameth the liberty of my tongue, my wordes cannot expresse the groanes of my griefe.

The Pastour.

Though yee bee not able to vtter words, sigh with your hearte vntounto God: **NoteGod heard Moses his sighs, like cryes: Why cryest thou to mee? Exod. 14. 15Exod 14:15said God to the sighing man: **NoteA sigh out of a soft melting heart, is a powerfull prayer before God.

The sicke Man.

I am both sinfull and senslesse: Though I hauehave sinned most hainouslie, yet I finde no melting in mine heart: **NoteAll the teares of my repentance within mee are become like a frozen moisture: I cannot so much as wring out one drop thereof: **NoteOh, that they were so melted, that they might rush out at the floodgates p. 173of mine eyes, that thereof I might with the sinfull woman make a bath for the feete of my Lord! OhLuk. 7. 44Luke 7:44 that mine heart were formed into another mould! **NoteOh that I could in his presence drench my Soule in a showre of teares! O how precious is the sense of a reuealed and a reconcealed God! **NoteI find my selfe so ycie and colde, yea, so benummed and blockish, as though I were voide of all sense of grace: What can this bee?

The Pastour.

**NoteHe who findeth himselfe benummed is not altogether senslesse: **NoteIn such a man there must bee some stirring of the pulse of a spirituall life: A dead man knoweth not that hee is dead, no more doeth a dead soule: A seared conscience feeleth not defertions: **NoteThat man hath the beginning of grace, who can say from his heart, I hauehave no grace in my selfe, but onelie to finde that I hauehave no grace.

p. 174**NoteThis wee must all know, that the best of Gods Sainctes will bee troubled with temporall desertions, as Ionah was, while hee was wrapt with waues and with weedes in the bottome of the sea: Out of this bellie of hell they will cry to God, Why hast thou made vsus to erre from thy wayes? Isa. 63. 17Isa 63:17and hardned our heart from thy feare? **NoteMost godlie Soules may swarfe in sinne, but they cannot die in their sins: **NoteA spirituall man may be do… ked in a sea of sin or sorrow, but can neuer be drowned: At last God shallIona. 2. 6.Jonah 2:6 make him sing with Ionah, Yet hast thou brought vp my life from corruptions, O Lord, my God: **NoteThe spirituall life and light which God hath once put into the Soule of man, can neuer be totallie extinguished: Gods graces and his giftes are without repentance: Ro. 11. 29.Rom 11:29Iudas from horrour may rin to the halter, but Peter cannot perish.

The Sicke Man.

Thinke yee then Sir, that a man p. 175cannot fall from the grace of God, if once hee hath beene receiued in Grace? **Notemay not Grace like some plants for a space take roote, and thereafter wither? May not God begin a good worke into a man, and after leaue it imperfect?

The Pastour.

**NoteGods working in the godlie is not like the doing of him that beginneth to build an house before heeLuk. 14. 29Luke 14:29 count his cost, but is not able to finish it: I am confident of this verie Philip. 1. 6Phil 1:6thing, said S. Paul, that hee which hath begunne a good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ: **NoteGods spirituall gifts and graces which are without repentance, come neuer within the compasse of Gods Reuocation. * aa1 Sam. 10 241 Sam 10:24God will make Saul a King, and againe bb1 Sam. 15 111 Sam 15:11repent that euer hee was crowned, and thereafter will put him frō his kingdome: Hee will lend out a ccMat. 25. 28.Matt 25:28Talent and after take it backe againe: **NoteHee will giuegive to man a tongue, and thereafter p. 176make him dumbe: Hee willLuk. 1. 20.Luke 1:20 giuegive Health, Wealth, Riches, andIob. 1. 21.Job 1:21 after take all backe againe: The Lord hath giuen and the **NoteLord hath taken, may be said of al things except of his spirituall and speciall graces: These hee giueth once, but neuer taketh them backe againe: **NoteSinne indeed will waken and diminish the sense and feeling of their operation, but can neuer take them quite away. **NoteGrace in a godlie Soule will beeIsa. 42. 3.Isa 42:3 betimes like flaxe smoking without a flamme, or like embers vnderunder an heape of ashes: Though all seeme to bee dead out, yet there is some little secret spunke within which shall neuer bee quenched: **NoteNew sinnes I confesse are verie dangerous, they will wonderfullie impaire the sense of merciemercy into faithfull Soules, yea, so that to their judgement the Spirit of God will seeme altogether to hauehave forsaken them, **NoteBut yet into their most desperate-like-cry there p. 177is a My of Faith in their prayer, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Mat…h. 27 46mee?

**NoteGrace in a godlie Soule will be like sappe into an Oake or Elme in the frostie dayes of December, hidde close within the barke: **NoteWhile Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse remouethMalach 4. 2.Mal 4:2 his hote beames from the faithfull Soule, the Soule drouppeth like an Herbe into a winter day.

**NoteGrace like sappe runneth in to the heart and there lurketh for a spake: **NoteBut againe, so soone as this Sunne beginneth to returne with the heat & health of his countenance in a new Spring-time, then will appeare againe first bude, then blossomes, then flourishes, and after fruites: That which was hid of before, is incontinent perceiued: **NoteAs seede now cast into the ground seemeth to bee a dead thing, and yet hath life in it, so is Gods grace aliue and quickening when it seemeth farre otherwise: p. 178**NoteIn a sowne a man liueth, though hee seeme to bee dead.

**NoteThe life of God in a man can neuer altogether bee choaked with sinne: Our miserie is not able to ouer-reach his merciemercy.

**NoteA sparkle of fire should be more able to burne vp the sea, than mans sinnes for to dry vp the blood of his merciemercy: **NoteWhere grace is begunne a man may fall, but hee can neuer fall away.

**NoteIf Sir, ye hauehave found once the life of God within your Soule, yee hauehave receiued a sure pledge & pawne of immortalitie, say to your Soule, And now my Soule returne vntounto thy Psal. 116. 7Ps 116:7rest.

The sicke Man.

There is no rest within mee: I am alas, as a man vponupon a raging Sea, tumbled and tossed with such fearefull temptations, which make all the bowels of my bellie to wamble.

p. 179The Pastour.

Sea sicknesse Sir, is sore while it lasteth: **NoteBut many seeke this sicknesse for to cure them of a worse: Take courage; God hath imbarked you into this temptation, for to cause you caste out some corruptions which lye & lurke about your heart. **NoteBee content to tarie a little space vponupon the Firth, till the filth of you stomacke bee cleane purged away: Assure your selfe that all this sore sicknesse shall worke your health in the latter end, which shall cause your to sing, For his merciemercy endureth for euer. Psal 57. 1.Ps 57:1In the shadow of Gods wings mak your refuge, vntill these calamities passe ouer.

The sicke Man.

I am euer in great doubt of my selfe.

The Pastour.

**NoteThough ye doubt of your selfe, yee must not doubt of Gods kindnesse and compassions: **NoteIf …e doubt that God can bee mercifull to your p. 180sinnes, yee deny your Creede wherein yee see forgiuennesse of sinne to bee an expresse Article of Faith.

**NoteThough for some space yee be troubled with doubts, at last ye shall knowe by his Spirite within that Christ was no more willing to suffer for sinners, than hee shall proue both willing and able to saue you: Gods custome is to choose the hardest way for the best end, partlie for to proue his power, partlie for to try our trust.

The sicke Man.

I wish it be so: But for the present I finde a feare within mee which maketh my Soule to tremble: **NoteI euer thinke that hardlie can it bee that the Spirit of God would dwell into mine heart, which is a very cage of corruption: **NoteIf the men of God, when they see bordels, abhor them, and goe by them, shall not the Spirit of God much more passe by mee, yea, & abhor me, who of mine heart p. 181hauehave made a most filthy stew: **NoteMoreouer, Satan is busie with his Bellowes blowing at the juniper coales of Gods wrath, that against mee may be kindled a consuming fire.

**NoteThe frowne of a Prince may bee the fauour of God: But when God frowneth, who shall shew fauour? **NoteO what a cry is in the dumbe choppe of the conscience!

The Pastour.

As I perceiue ye are in the storme of temptations: **NoteAs the shippe in a tempest goeth with a low saile, So is it good and most sure in the tempest of temptations to take downe the top sailes of our owne worth.

**NoteBut yet Sir, in your humilitie beware to disprise and set at nought the graces of God that are within you: Vertue standeth in the midst: **NoteAs the Publican would not brage vainlie with the Pharisee, that he was not like other men, so neither would hee desperatlie say with Cain, Mine p. 182Gen. 4. 13Gen 4:13iniquitie is greater, than that it may be forgiuen.

The sicke Man.

**NoteAlas, Sir yee know not what weight hangeth vponupon mine heart: ye are not priuie vntounto my secret sinnes which I thinke shame to vtter: O these gnawings of my wormish Conscience: hardlie can yee imagine what filthie thoughts hauehave beene into my heart, since I came into this world: Hitherto they hauehave all beene hidde from mine eyes: **NoteBut now I thinke that I see all my sinnes set in order before Psal. 50. 21Ps 50:21mee: My Soule is poisoned with the stinke of such corruptions▪ I abhorre my selfe, and what wonder that God abhorre mee?

The Pastour.

**NoteThe more a man abhorreth himselfe, God who is milde & mercifull, loueth him the better: It is good for a man to stinke in his owne nose: **NoteA wicked man may bee well compared to the Latin Cimex French Punaise p. 183Tree, Lice that stinke most vilelie, and yet feele not the stinke of their own breath: Laodicea thought her selfe happie, and yet God said, that he wold spew her out of his mouth.Reuel. 3. 16Rev 3:16

Gods thoughtes are not mans thoughts: Yee complaine Sir, of the filthines of your bygone thoughts, it is well done: But heere is your comfort,Zach. 13, 1Zech 13:1 Now is that fountaine of God in Zachrie opened to the house of Dauid for sin and for vncleannesse: **NoteThough through sin yee were lepper in soule as Na…man was in bodie, the Iordan 2 Kin. 5. 1.2 Kgs 5:1of Christs Blood is able to mak you cleane: **NoteThe precept is not of hard practise, Wash and bee cleane, belieue2 Kin. 5. 10.2 Kgs 5:10 and bee saued.

**NoteIf yee would hauehave the Spirit of God to take a Chamber into your heart, keepe your hearte cleane: Gods house must be a cleane house, it must often bee sweept: **NoteIf the dust or dirt of sinne defile the pauement thereof, it must first bee watered p. 184with the teares of repentance: **NoteThe stoure & dust must be laid with holie water, & then wee must sweepe out all filthinesse with the besome of godlie reuenge. This doing Sir, God shall delight to dwell in you.

**NoteIf Sathan blow at the juniper Psal. 120. 4.Ps 120:4coales of your sinnes kindled with sparkles of fierie wrath, runne with the Bucket of Faith to the Blood of Iesus which is onelie able for to quenche that flamme.

The sicke Man.

My cheekes are watered with teares trickling downe both day and night: * my moist eyes are soked in this salt brimie water: O but they are comfortlesse teares.

The Pastour.

**NoteGod at last shall make them comfortable like the bowle full of dewe, Iugde. 6. 38.which Gideon wrāg out of his Fleece, Gods signe of Israels Saluation: HaueHave patience a little Sir, and your waterie eyes shall receiue the other dryē p. 185signe of the fleece, all your teares shall bee dryed and wyped away, so that yee shall neuer weepe any more: The houre is fast comming, that God shall wipe away your teares, theReuel. 21. 4.Rev 21:4 waters of your weeping after that there shall bee no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor paine.

Seeke the Lord while hee may be found, and call vponupon him while hee is nigh: To him alone in Iesus must yee hauehave all your recourse, on him alone must yee relye.

The sicke Man.

I wote not where to goe: I can neither sitte, stand, nor lye: Mine heart alas, is hardened, yea, hard like the heart of the Leuiathan, whichIob. 41. 24.Job 41:24 is hard like a piece of the nether milstone: I thinke that such hardnesse is from the deceitfulnesse of sinne.Heb. 3. 13Heb 3:13

The Pastour.

**NoteIt is a sort of softnesse when we feele our owne hardnesse: He who hath begun such softning will bring p. 186his own work to perfectiō in his appointed houre: **NoteThe seedes of grace are like Corne, they are not ripe the first day they are sowen, but ripen by degrees: From this is that saying, Grace requyreth space, or in space commeth Grace.

A reprobate sense is not so neare at anie time, as when it is least suspected and most neglected: Say in all patience with the Prophet Micah, I will beare the indignation of the Lord, Mic. 7. 9.Mic 7:9because I hauehave sinned against him: He will turne againe, he will hauehave compassion vponupon you: Hee will subdue your iniquities, & cast them in the depths of the sea.

Holde vp your heart toward the Father of Lights, the giuer of euerie good gift: Let your foule flee vp to the Throne of his Grace.

The sicke Man.

My Soule is not fit for fleeing to the Heauens: **NoteIt is lik a pulled foule that wanteth the feathers: It may p. 187well nod with its head, and make a mint with the stumpts of its wings, but can by no meanes hoise it selfe from the Earth. All my comforts are clipped from me: Sinnes heauy like milstones, are hung about my necke: Oh, that I were cast into the sea with my sinnes, there to be buried for euer farre, if it were possible, from the presence of my God: Since yee came to mee mine heart was not in such a plounge of miserie as it is now: There is nothing within me but wrath and woe, warring against my Saluation: Gods heauie hand hath distressed mine heart wonderfullie.

**NoteMy Soule is so besieged with temptations that it may well be called, Magor missabib, feare round about:Ier. 20. 3.Jer 20:3 This I feare that my name bee crossed out of the Booke of Life.Reuel. 3. 5.Rev 3:5

The Pastour.

I remember of a wise counsel which a learned Diuine gaue to a man sore p. 188assaulted vponupon his death-bed with the temptations of the deuil: **NoteWhen thou art tempted of Satā, said he, & seest no way to escape, euē thē plainly close vp Luther.thine eyes, and answere nothing to his temptations: But commend thy cause to God: This said hee, is a principall point of wisedome, that we must follow in the houre of death: That is, That we daine not to giuegive Sathan an answere but say with Michael, The Lord rebuke thee Sathan. If thy flesh tremble and feare to enter into another life, and if it doubt of saluation, if thou yeeld to these things, thou hurtest thy selfe, therfore close thine eyes as before and say with S. Stephen, Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit, and then certainelie Christ will come vntounto thee with all his Angels and bee the guider of thy way.

**NoteAt the entrie of the red Sea, when Israel enuironed on both sides with mountaines, hauing the sea before and the Egyptians behind, could see no meanes of escape: Then Moses Exod. 14. 14.Exod 14:14said to Israel, The Lord shall fight for p. 189you and yee shall hold your peace: That is, ye shall seale vp your thoughtes in silence, and let God bee doing So doe yee, bee silent for a space, daine not Sathans temptations with an answere, feare not, stand still, and see the Saluation of the LORD: **NoteAs Moses said of the Egyptians, so will I say of all your temptationsExod. 14. 13Exod 14:13 within a short space, The Egyptians whom yee hauehave seene to day, yee shall see them againe no more for euer.

The sicke Man.

Oh, that with Iob I could lay mine Iob. 40. 4.Job 40:4hand vponupon my mouth, and with Iacob Gen. 49. 18Gen 49:18waite for Gods saluation: But alas, I am laden with iniquitie: Sathan besiegethIsa. 1. 4.Isa 1:4 mee so that I cannot keepe silence: Sathan hath laide downe a bloodie libell before mee wherevnto hee vrgeth mee to make answere.

The Pastour.

If yee must needes make answere, learne that notable speach of Bernard Bernard.on his death bed: * About an houre p. 190before his death, hee beeing as hee thought, presented before the great Tribunall of his Iudge, where hee found himselfe seuirelie charged with the accusation of Sathan, forsooke himselfe for to relye vponupon Christ alone: I freely confesse said he that as thou affirmest, I am most vnworthie, and that by no worthinesse of mine can I merite eternall life; **Noteyet I am assured that my Lord Christ hath a double right to heauens glorie, one by heritage, and another by conquest: The first is sufficient for himselfe, the other is for mee, ex cujus donojure illud mihi vendicans, non confundor, which by right of gift I claime and chalenge and shall not bee confounded: VponUpon this Rocke yee must cast the anchor of your soule: The Lord is able to doe vntounto vsus aboue all that wee can aske or thinke.

Take courage Sir: **NoteLet Sathan make out his processe; your deare p. 191and louing Brother is both your Iudge and your Aduocat.

The sicke Man.

Oh that I could take that counsell and keepe silence, waiting till the Captaine of Saluation bring mee thorowHeb. 2. 10Heb 2:10 this red sea of bloodie temptations: Oh that I could lay hold vponupon that right of heauen, which Christ hath conquered: But alas, I can find no ground or warrant in mine heart that such a conquest can belong to mee, for I know that in mee dwelleth no good things.Rom. 7. 18Rom 7:18

The Pastour.

**NoteThe greatest foe the faith of the godlie hath and the chiefest cause of their trembling & troubled heart, is that often they seeke in themselues grounds & warrāts of Gods fauour, as though the Lord could not louelove them vnlesse there bee in them such vertues as in euerie point should be: **NoteBecause they want perfectiō, they thinke they hauehave nothing: By this p. 192meanes Sathan shaketh sillie Soules to and fro like Reedes with the winds of distrust: Make the right vse of such temptations, let them drawe you from your selfe, for to rely onelie vponupon the merciemercy of your Lord: **NoteBee earnest to finde Gods marke in your Soule, euen Sanctification the Saluation mark whereof the marrow is Christs satisfaction: From this marke, presse toward the marke, for Philip. 3. 14Phil 3:14the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus.

The sicke Man.

Faine would I hauehave grace so to doe: But out vponupon mee, I hauehave taken such surfet of sinnes, that I find my selfe voide of all grace: **NoteO death, death, death, doolefull is that separation of a Soule dead in sin from theI…phes. 2 1. bodie dead for sinne.

I am so defiled and deformed that while I remember judgement, it maketh mee all to shake and to shiuer: Fye on mee a gracelesse creature p. 193wallowing in a myre of miserie: Oh, but for a dramme of Gods grace! Oh, for the greatnesse of the pickle of mustarde seede thereof!

The Pastour.

He that desireth grace is not altother gracelesse: It is Gods goodnesse that hath giuen you this small and weake desire of grace, in this Gods good hand is vponupon you: Hee who giueth grace to desire grace, shall giuegive also grace for grace: God often giueth to a man aboue his hopes, I Psal. 21. 4.Ps 21:4sought but life, saide Dauid, yet the Lord gaue him to bee a King: God who in sicknesse giueth you the desire of grace, shall before yee die giuegive you grace for grace, a grace which at last shall make you to sing: I sought but grace, yet God hath giuen mee glorie: **NoteIf yee feele and feare his wrath, seek the more earnestlie for his merciemercy: **NoteThis was that good counsell which Zephaniah gaue to Israel before p. 194the decree of wrath come out Seeke righteousnesse, seeke meeknesse, Zepha. 2. 3it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger: Christes cry is, Seeke, Matth. 7. 7Matt 7:7Aske, Knocke.

**NoteSeeing God desireth to be asked hee longeth to giuegive; seeing hee desireth vsus to seeke him, hee desireth to bee found; seeing hee desireth vsus to knocke, his desire is to open: **NoteGod is more rich and liberall, than wee are poore, His hand is wider for to giuegive giftes, than our heart can bee for to receiue: **NoteHee who will not belieue that God can bee mercifull to him, is twise in the wrong to God After that hee hath broken the law of his Iustice by offending, hee is not content except that hee wrong his merciemercy by distrust: **NoteGods delight is to bee with the Children of men on earth, as also to hauehave them with himselfe in heauen.

Now Sir, beeing assured of th… louelove, embrace this Lord with all … p. 195armes of your affections: **NoteSeeke earnestlie the Spirit of Grace, for hee is powred on thirstie grounds: I will powre water, said the Lord, vponupon Isa. 44. 3.Isa 44:3him that is thirstie, and floods vponupon the dry ground.

The sicke Man.

Oh, but for one droppe of that water: Oh, that my Soule were watered with the dropping bowels of his merciemercy: **NoteIn the meane time my bones with sorrow are dryed vp like an hearth: The terrours of the Almightie sticke within mine heart, and my Spirit sucketh out the vennome thereof: I thinke that I am in the verie gorge pipe of hell: If this wrath continue▪ doubtlesse it shall bee my bane.

The Pastour▪

**NoteGods wrath is fearefull I confesse, but God will not bee long wroth with his Children▪ I will not, Isa. 57. 17Isa 57:17said the Lord, contend for euer, neither will I bee alwayes wroth: For the p. 196Spirit should faile before mee, and the Soules which I hauehave made: **NoteSo soone as man beginneth to be wearied of his Isa. 63. 9.Isa 63:9sins, God beginneth to be wearied of his wrath, yea which is strange, In all our afflictions he is afflicted. There is but a moment in his wrath, but his merciemercy endureth for euer.

**NoteThere is such a merciemercy in God, that in comparison thereof all the mercies of men are but scrofe and scumme, a myte of his merciemercy, shall remoue the mountaines of your miserie, in Christ is a mine of merciemercy.

The sicke Man.

I know that it is so: But I as yet hauehave no sense of such a merciemercy **NoteWhile I seeke and cry for helpe, God either answereth not at all, or when hee maketh answere, it is like that which Elisha said to Ioram, seeking2 King. 3. 13.2 Kgs 3:13 comfort vponupon extremitie, What hauehave I to doe with thee, get thee to t… Prophets of thy father and mother, a… desire them to helpe thee, get thee … p. 197thy pleasures and profits, and preferments, which in forsaking mee, thou didst so eagerlie pursue: This maketh all the wounds of my remorse to blead afresh.

The Pastour.

**NoteAs Samuel tooke the voyce of God to bee the voyce of Eli, so manie1 Sam. 3. 5.1 Sam 3:5 take the voyce of a temptation to bee the voyce of God: Wee must try the Spirits: Sathan is craftie: **NoteHe1 Ioh. 4 1.1 John 4:1 can winde himselfe wonderfullie into the heart of men, some times by sleepie securitie, some time by fearfull despaire: **NoteWhile hee entiseth vntounto sinne, he maketh God to speak nothing but merciemercy to a sinner.

Thou may sinne, will hee say, and repent againe: **NoteBut while hee accuseth for sin, hee maketh all Gods words to bee words of wrath, that the sinner may be swallowed vp with dispaire. *Tak heed Sir, who it is that answereth to your cry: Though God should draw you thorow Hell, p. 198bee yee still assured of Heauen: His wrath is but for a moment, but hisIsa. 54. 8.Isa 54:8 merciemercy endureth for euer.

**NoteSettle your heart in the secret of God, lest it bee carried away withPsal. 91. 1.Ps 91:1 euerie light wind and gale of temptation: Seeke out of your selfe in Christ the grounds and warrands of your Saluation.

The sicke man.

I feare greatlie to be ouer-blowen, and that I make shipwracke of the1 Tim. 1. 191 Tim 1:19 faith vponupon most fearfull bankes and dangers, such a boisterous gale did … neuer feele.

The Pastour.

While temptations are most terrible to our feeling, they are often least dangerous: **NoteShallow feas are full of broken waters, while deeper though more terrible are of a softer swelling, carrying the burden more safelie aboue. Tak courage the most godlie heart must encounter with manie thorters: The Lord humbleth p. 199the hearts of his Sainctes, lest that in a vaine conceit of their owne worth they should ouer-weene themselues: **NoteThinke well vponupon that which I say, a red-warre in the SouleIudg. 18. 7Judg 18:7 is better than a sleepie laish Securitie: Away with Labans mirth, his Gen. 31. 27▪Gen 31:27songs and his Tabrets.

Flat opposition is not so dangerous as a couered agreement: Take to heart this my counsell, Though the Lord Isa. 45. 15.Isa 45:15should s…ay you, yet put your trust into him: God is not euer gotten at the first: verilie, said Isaiah, thou art a God that hiddest thy selfe, O God, of Israel, the Sauiour.

The sicke Man.

I vnderstand not what such hidding meaneth: O the fearefull Tribunall of God, whose eyes of fire seeReuel. 1. 14Rev 1:14 all the wayes of man: In his Ballance hee pondereth all his goinges: GodsProu. 5. 21Prov 5:21 merciemercy I know is a good staffe to stay vponupon, but it is farre from mine heart and hand. I am not like these sinners p. 190which but trip and stumble, and rise againe after a snapper, my fall i… with my full weight; the milstons o… his wrath are hung about my necke▪ which beare my Soule downe to the bottome of Hell, I finde now theDeut. 32. 22Deut 32:22 trueth of that saying of the wise▪ His owne iniquities shall take the wicked Proa. 5: 22himselfe, and hee shall bee holden with the cords of his sinnes.

The Pastour.

What shall I say? as truelie said the wise, By sorrow of the heart th… Prou. 15. 13.Prov 15:13spirit is broken: Seeing yee are acquaint with the speaches of the wise remember that counsell of the wise▪ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart▪ Prou. 3. 5.Prov 3:5and leane not to thine own vnderstanding. I pray you to be plaine with me, What is this that maketh you li… a reede shaken with the wind, whereinMatth. 11. 7.Matt 11:7 lyeth the strength of your temptations?

The sicke Man.

I will not conceale the matter p. 191from you: This is it, mine own heart absolueth me not: **Notewhile I put mine hand into mine owne bosome, Oh, how liprous pull I it out againe? My Conscience giueth mee a terrible twetch: * Incessantlie it cryeth out guiltie against mee: What shall I say then, to that of the Apostle, If 1 Ioh. 3. 201 John 3:20our heart condemne vsus, God is greater than our heart? Is not this the true sense of these wordes, If our owne heart condemne vsus, much more will God condemne vsus, who is more mightie than our heart? **NoteIn this I finde my selfe amidst the thickest throng of fearefull temptations, wrapped in the wrath of God: **NoteThis temptation is like a fresh post-horse▪ for to carrie mee to damnation, it is of Sathans saddling.

The Pastour.

* Indeede Sir, the judgement of a mans conscience is a liuelie image of the judgement of God: It is certaine, that whom the conscience p. 202condemneth into this world, him shall God condemne in the world to come: And againe, whom the conscience shall absolue into this world, him shal God absolue into the world to come. **NoteThe Conscience is Gods Iudge within: But this ye must know y^t it is not time for a Iudge to giuegive out sentence while his wits are troubled, or while he is in a moode or passion▪ **NoteA wise Iudge will not bee sudden, but will take time to consider well the cause before hee pronounce.

**NoteA Conscience that is troubled should not sit downe in judgement **NoteAs one appealed from drunke… King Philip to sober King Philip, so must a sinner appeale from his Conscience in a qualme, to his Conscience in a calme.

**NoteMoreouer, euerie voyce that is within a man, is not the voyce of his Conscience, but of some temptation shrouded vnderunder the coat of the Conscience, like Iacob cloathed withGen. 27. 15.Gen 27:15 Es…us garment: While Ionah was p. 203but in the bellie of a fish, his heart cryed, that hee was in the bellie of Ion. 2. 2.Jonah 2:2hell: Sathan hath a deceiuing Prospect or dioptre for sinne: At the one end sin and judgement appeare to bee farre off, little like Midges: But while the instrument is turned, these midges appeare like mountaines: Sinne in the doing is like Zoar a little one, but in repenting it is like Nineueh hudge and great: ItIon. 4. 11Jonah 4:11 seemeth before the doore of merciemercy like a Camell at a needels eye.

The sicke Man.

But thinke yee Sir, that the Conscience of a man which God hath sette within him as an Iudge, as a Watch, and a Witnesse, yea, as a thousand witnesses, can faile at any time.

The Pastour.

It is certaine, that while the Consciences of men are well wakened, and not troubled with terrours of temptations, they are into y^e breastes of men, verilie Gods voyce declaring p. 194to the Soule what God hath concerning it, ratified into the Heauen: But yee know that manie a mans Conscience will bee mightilie troubled:**Note Sometimes it will bee darkened with Ignorance, so that as Samuel tooke Eliab for Dauid, it will also take him to bee appointed to bee a King whom the Lord hath rejected:**Note Some times it will not know what ailleth the Soule, no more than Elisha knew what ailed the Shunamite, 2 King. 4. 272 Kgs 4:27while shee fell downe at his feete: **NoteSome times it will be fast asleepe like Ionah, while hee snortedIon. 1. 5.Jonah 1:5 in the hatches.

**NoteI compare the Consciences of the godlie and of the wicked to men in a dreame: One man that is lyen downe in his bed, hungrie without his supper, will dreame that hee is at a feast making good cheare: But while hee awaketh, his Soule is emptie, his dishes flee away with his dreame: **NoteIt is so that it fareth with p. 195a wicked man, whose Conscience is in a dreame: Hee will imagine that assuredlie there is nothing but Heauen for him: **NoteHee will thinke with the hungrie dreamer that hee is readie presentlie to sit downe at table, euen at that Table with Abraham, Matth. 8. 1…Matt 8:1Isaac, and Iacob in the Kingdome of God: Now while hee is euen at the sitting downe, which is at the houre of his death, his Conscience wakeneth, and hee is found emptie: Thus all his dishes fl…eth away with his dreame.

**NoteAgaine, another man shall dreame of fearefull thinges, viz. that hee is in the midst of his enemies readie to bee slaine: If any be waking in the bedde with him, hee will heare him into his sleepe sighing and sobbing with a sore mone: But so soone as hee is wakened, he findeth himselfe in suretie lying vponupon a bed of downe:**Note It is euen so that it will often fare with a godlie p. 206man, whose Conscience is in a dreame: **NoteHis heart will bee burdened with griefe as with a night mare: Hee will imagine that God is become his enemie, and that assuredlie he will cast him into hell:**Note Now while hee thinketh that hee is euen at the fall, and while for feare thereof in his sleepe hee is making his mone: God in merciemercy wakeneth him softlie, and loe, hee is lying into the armes of his God: **NoteAt last it fareth with the godlie & the wicked as it fareth with Pharaohs Butler Gen. 41. 13Gen 41:13and his Baker after their dreames, the one was restored to his office, but the other was hanged.

The Sicke Man.

**NoteI wish at God that my Conscience were in such a Dreame, and that all my troubles were but some spirituall night Mare, a disease that is cured by wakening the Soule that sleepeth: **NoteI know that the spirituall senses of the Soule may bee p. 207some times couered with a vaile of grosse dulnesse: But I cannot suspect or surmise that this can be a dreame: Behold, I speake, I heare, I see, I sauour: Howe then can this bee a dreame.

The Pastour.

**NoteHe who dreameth, will thinke all that: He will think that he speaketh, that hee heareth, seeth, and walketh, and runneth & leapeth ouer brinkes or ditches, vvhile indeede he is snorting vponupon his bed: **NoteYea, in his dreame he will think that his dreame cannot bee a dreame, but that surely hee is broad awake: This cannot bee a dreame, hee will thinke euen while as hee dreameth.

I know Sir, that your bodie is surelie awake, and not dreaming: But in all appearance your Soule is in a slumber: The Lord waken you softlie in his merciemercy.

The sicke Man.

**NoteIf I dreame, the Lord vvaken p. 208mee soone out of this dreadfull dreame: I am filled with a world of woes, euerie thought is as it were a thorne thrust into mine heart: **NoteMy feares are like the feuers, they goe by fits: **NoteA litle since I thought that my blood was calmed, and that I had some respit: Of my sinnes I had but a shallow sense, but now behold, a new fit of greater force, vvhichwhich maketh all the powers of my Soule to shiuer: **NoteAll my sinnes are in Gods quarrell, vp in armes against me: Gods vvrath followeth mee with a full faile, and chargeth mee a fresh with bloodie blowes. * While I was but breeding this feuer, I was but chained with vvorldlie enchantments: All my trouble vvas but for Bairnes, Lands, Children, Houses, and other perishing pleasures, triffling troubles, vvhichwhich I could not for a long space resolue to forsake.

**NoteBut now is paine in stead of pleasure, a sowre and bitter sauce, prepared p. 209for Adams sweete Apple, feare, shame, and remorse:**Note What recks to vvant pleasure, if so be there were no paine: I vvould not giuegive a flee for the vvorld, and all the pleasures or profite that therein is, if I could once bee reconciled to my God: **NoteMine heart is like an Anuile wherevpon the Lord striketh most fiercelie with the hammer of his wrath: **NoteThere is not a power of my Soule, which is not loaden with blowes: **NoteAll my distresses hitherto hauehave beene but light skirmishes, now I am come to the maine Battell: My Soule is hunted to and fro like a Partridge on the mountaines: Who is on my side? Who?

The Pastour.

The Lord is vvith you, though ye perceiue him not: **NoteThis is incident to the faithfull, not euer to knovv vvhen God is with them: **NoteGideon was a man renouned for his Faith▪ he vvas one of the Catologue of p. 210the faithfull, & yet while the AngelIudg. 6. 12Judg 6:12 said vntounto him, The Lord is with thee thou mightie mā of valour, hee answered,vers. 13. Oh, my Lord if the Lord be with vsus, why then is all this befallen vsus?

**NoteSee hovv the man of God knew not that God vvas vvith him.

**NoteTake courage Sir, seeing the skirmishes are past, and that yee are come to the maine Battell, God shall bee your maine helpe: Come out against all your enemies, as Dauid 1 Sam. 17. 451 Sam 17:45came out against Goliah, in the Name of the God of Battels, and Lord of Armies:**Note There is no Corslet of proofe against a stone cast out of a sling in the Name of the great IEHOVAH: Resist the Deuill and hee shall flee from Iam. 4. 7Jas 4:7you.

The sicke Man.

Gods vvrath hath heate the fierie Fornace on seuen times more thā it was of before: I am so dashed with y^e sense of my sins, & so pierced with stinging feares, y^t thereby all the powers p. 211of my Soule are shaken: **NoteHithereto I hauehave beene crossed with care, for my life, and for my Children: What care I now for my dearest Children? Would to God that I might giuegive my first borne for Micah. 6. 7Mic 6:7my transgression, and the fruite of my wombe for the sinnes of my Soule.

**NoteBehold, heere a poore distressed and distracted sinner, who knoweth not to what hād to turne him: All the enemies of my Saluation pursue mee with hue and with cry: The great God of Iustice hath set vp a Gibbet into my Soule. All the terrours of the Lord muster against me: **NoteI am galled and goared with sinfull feares, as Egypt was plagued with Flies & Frogges: Mine heart is filled with dismaiednesse, my bellie trembleth, & rottennesse is entered into my bones: **NoteWhile I had time to repent I willinglie wallowed into the myre of sinne, wherin now I necessarilie stick: **NoteFeare driueth, Hope draweth, I am p. 212tossed like a Tenice ball: O the straitnesse of that account, which I am shortlie to bee called vntounto! O that terrible Tribunall! O these chaines of darknesse, in which sinners shall be reserued vntounto Gods last Sessions: **NoteWho can stand in such a tempest, where the creature hath a combat with God and with his wrath, hand to hand? I am stricken with such amazednesse, that I know not where to finde any true refreshment▪ **NoteThis maketh death to mee as a King of feare: **NoteAll the sinnes that euer I did commit, seeme to mee malicious blowes which I hauehave set vponupon the face of my GOD▪ Hardlie can I thinke that such a Cain or cursed Cham as I, cā euer enter into Canaan▪ Thinke ye not this to be true? I find this to bee trueth: There is no peace saith my God to the wicked.Isa. 57. 21Isa 57:21

The Pastour.

**NoteThese bee but temptations of Sathan, who is seeking for to fift Luk. 22. 31Luke 22:31you as wheate: Pray Christ that hee p. 213would pray for you, that your faith faile not **NoteThere is full power in Christ for to locke vp the jawes of that roaring Lyon: Hee at last shall discouer vntounto you those Gun-powder plots.

The sicke Man.

I know that there is sufficient power in Christ for to saue mee, but I doubt of his will:**Note If Christ were minded to saue mee, would hee not giuegive mee an assurance to bee saued? This temptation passeth through the barke to the bone.

The Pastour.

Our assurance is not perfect into this life: **NoteWee are all heere like a Shippe tossed with contrarie Tydes into a raging Sea.

**NoteAs the weather beaten Barke is driuen with many contrarie courses before shee can winne her Hauen▪ so hath the Soule, manie toes and froes, before it pierce to the Skes for to enter into Heauen: **NoteGod giueth to no man heere all good p. 214things at once, but some wee receiue in hand, and some in hope: **NoteThis hope is the Christian Soules plight anchor in the swelling Seas of temptations: While all that is present is full of trouble, Hope fetcheth comfortes from the times to come: **NoteWhile it is foule, wee hope it shall bee faire: While wee are sicke, wee hope for health: While we prouid for our Children, wee hope they shall doe well: While men write Bookes, they hope they shall doe good: **NoteWhile the Mariner saileth thorow the raging waues, hee hopeth to come home againe, hee hopeth for vantage: **NoteWhile the Sower, casteth his seede from him, hee weepeth, but Hope comforteth him, that hee shall receiue againe a plentifull increase. **NoteThe hope of y^e pleasant Spring is a comfort in the colde Winter **NoteThe hope of the Day is the long Nights comfort: **NoteDeaths speciall comfort, is in hope that we p. 215shall all meete againe: Well then, Sir, seeing it is so, the comfortes which wee hauehave not receiued as yet in hand, receiue them in Hope, waite vponupon God, and vvaite vponupon him still: **NoteWhile all your senses are silent, Hope shall come with Helpe, assuring you that at last yee shall preuaile: **NoteLet the deuill doe his worst to dismay you, sticke yee fast by this Hope which shall neuer faile you: yea, though God himselfe should seeme to bee your enemie, yet say to him with Iob, Though thou should slay mee, yet will I trust in thee.

The sicke Man.

That Sir, is of verie hard practise: For if the Lord of Life put out the life, who shall put it in againe? mine Hope is small, if it be not lost: I feare to feele shortly that which shal be without either end or ease: **NoteAll sorts of temptations come haile shot vponupon mee: **NoteI am laide open to all the blowes of Gods wrath: I am lik a p. 216wind-waued tree loose at the roots: **NoteMine heart quaketh, my Soule panteth; my conscience is in a qualme: What can such torments bee but verie Postes and fore-runners of euerlasting paines? **NoteWhat can they bee but the verie smoke of Gods wrath comming before a fire that shall burne to the bottome of Hell? **NoteTheDeut. 32. 22Deut 32:22 feare of this clogeth so my Conscience that I cannot thinke but such terrours bee the verie earnest of eternall woe: This maketh my liuer to rolle in my bodie: O that merciemercy might bee Bartered for Money.

The Pastour.

Indeede Sir, such terrours are such of their owne nature, euen the smoke of a kindled wrath, neuer to bee quenched. **NoteBut vntounto the godlie, their nature is changed by grace: Such tremblings, and shakings, such thunders, and earth quakes, feares and fires, are but the preparations of the Soule for to meete with its God p. 217into the still and calme voyce.

**NoteAfter this maner as ye know▪ the Lord came vntounto his Seruant Elijah: Before he came to him, he prepared his way by three fearefull Messengers, First, by a winde which rent the1 King. 19 1….1 Kgs 19:1 mountaines and brake in pieces the Rockes; Secondlie, by an Earthquake, which made all to shake vnderunder him; Thirdlie by a fire: **NoteAll these came before for to terrifie the man of God, that by that meanes hee might be the better prepared to meete with his God in the calme. **NoteBefore Christ would shew himselfe to the world, hee sent two austere Messengers before him, First, Moses with a fierie Law, and last the Baptist like a Carpenter with a sharpened Axe in his hand▪ for to hewe downe euerie fruitlesse tree that marred the ground: **NoteAfter them came the meekenesse of the Lambe of God, crying, Come vntounto mee all yee that are Matth. 11 28Matt 11:28wearied and laden, and I will ease you. p. 218God will not be mercifull to proud selfe-sufficient men.

**NoteTake Sir these blastes of temptations to be but the Lords wind of preparation: **NoteThese heart-quackes are but earth quakes: **NoteAll your other fierie temptations are but fire from Heauen, Posts from GOD in haste for to giuegive you warning of his comming: **NoteBy such warnings the Lord will waken you, lest with the wicked in the slumber of securitie, ye should sleepe still in your sins, or with scorners should smooth them ouer, and jest them away, as thogh the sins of men shuld neuer be sentenced, nor their life examined: **NoteBee of good comfort Sir, your sharpest temptations which Sathan hath whet vponupon the whet-stone of his malice, by Gods grace shall bee to you like the Baptistes Axe for to hewe downe all superfluities of wickednesse within you:**Note It is good that God snedde the vnfruitfull and p. 219rotten branches of our life, that in our hearts a way may bee preparedPsal. 24. 7Ps 24:7 for the King of glorie.

**NoteYee must also know Sir, that such troubles and tempests, are but a preface of Gods presence, as, Hearken Psal. 81. 8.Ps 81:8and take head Israel, was sette before the Law: Suffer therefore patientlie the Lords rebukes: Let Psal. 141. 5Ps 141:5the righteous smite mee, said Dauid, and it shall bee a kindnesse, and let him reproue mee, and it shall bee an excellent oyle, which shall not breake mine head: **NoteThese feares Sir, that trouble you, are nothing but Gods reproofes: * Take them as a kindnesse, yea, & as an excellent oyle, which shall neither breake head nor heart for your hurt: **NoteThe nature of oyle is not to break▪ but rather to heale that which is alreadie broken: God by such trubles intēdeth to refine you: HaueHave patience but a little in your griefes: Yet a little while, and they shall bee no more: **NoteThe night is darkest p. 220while the dawning is nearest: **Notewhile the feuer it at the hight, the cooling sweate is at the doore of the poares: **NoteWhile the Mountaines are on both hands, and Pharaoh behind, and the Sea before, then let Israel stand still, Exod. 14. 13Exod 14:13and see the Saluation of the Lord: **NoteThese Egyptiā temptations, are but for to chasse you to Canaan with hard bondage, from a Land whereExod. 8. 26Exod 8:26 it is counted an abomination to offer Sacrifice vntounto God: **NoteSo soone as the rod of God shall strike vponupon that Sea, it shall make way, and yee shall safelie passe thorow: The Lord shall fight for you, and yee shall Exod. 14. 14Exod 14:14holde your peace: And what then? The Egyptians whom yee hauehave seene to day, yee shall see them againe no more for euer: God will afflict his owne,Isa. 28. 28Isa 28:28 but not destroy them: Bread Corne is bruised, but God will not breake it, with the wheeles of his cart.

The sicke Man.

I hauehave looked for such comforts, p. 221but alas, they are long in comming: In the meane while, my Soule is all agast, I taste nothing but gall and worme-wood, mine heart is filled with sorrow:**Note My breach is lik y^e sea, all my worldlie sweetnesse is turned into wormes of Conscience: My teares trickle downe both day and night, and yet God delayeth to send mee comfort: My God shake off the sinnes which hang so fast on.

The Pastour.

HaueHave patience Sir, but a little, and comfort shall come: **NoteBefore yee reape your fruites yee must first till and sow the ground: **NoteThe seede time is a sorrowfull time: Man soweth Psal. 126. 6.Ps 126:6his seede in teares: **NoteBut againe while hee remembereth that except he sow, he shall not reape, & that as hee soweth, so shall hee reape, hee casteth from him his seede liberallie downe vponupon the ground, smilling with his watered cheekes of sorrow in hope of a plentifull increase.

p. 222**NoteThinke it not strange Sir, that in this seede-time of grace yee sow in teares: Comfort your selfe in this▪ that joye shall arise out of your sorrow: **NoteWhile yee sow in teares, think not your labour lost: **NoteOut of your greatest sorrow shall spring your truest joy: As at the rising of Christ our Lord was a Earth quake, so at our regeneration which is the first resurrection, there is an heart-quake: Be not discouraged, though the hand of God bee heauie vponupon you, his stripes will worke to your well:**Note As an Horse or a Mule beeing once well lashed with a whippe doth euer after feare, if hee heare but y^e Bell which is tyed to the whip: So men, if he hath bene once well scoured & scourged with Gods rod, he will so tremble at the sound thereof, that he will feare to anger the Lord againe: It is good that God mingle the tartnesse and terrours of the Law with the sweetenesse of the Gospel.

p. 223The sicke Man.

I am so confounded with shame that I cannot face the Heauens: Fye vponupon my filthinesse, my course is backward from my God.

The Pastour.

It is an euill token when for sinne there is no shame in the sinner: This Scripture calleth a Whoores forehead: Ier. 3. 3Jer 3:3**NoteIn this Lot his elder Daughter bewrayed her selfe, and shew that she was not touched for her sinne of Incest: For after shee had committed vilanie with her father, she as it were shameleslie bragged of it, by calling her sonne Moab, that is, Of my father, Gen. 19. … 37.Gen 19:37that his name might cry to the world, The father of this child begat him vponupon his owne daughter: **NoteShame euer followeth sinne, if men be not ashamed of sinne, which is Repentance, God shall shame them for sin, which is Vengeance: As for your backward course, a few steps backeward, will mak you aduance further in your leaping.

p. 224The sicke Man.

I feare exceedinglie: I feare to losse both Soule and Saluation.

The Pastour.

Let Faith moderate your feare: **NoteWhen Iacob thought that hee had lossed Ioseph, and was in great feare, for Benjamin, euen then found hee both Ioseph & Benjamin: Look often vntounto God and yee shall finde him with Dauid to bee the light of your Psal. 43. 5Ps 43:5countenance.

The sicke Man.

God hath opened the floud-gates of his wrath against my Soule: O the deepenesse of my troubles!

The Pastour.

**NoteThe Soule in deepest troublesGen. 7. 13Gen 7:13 is like Noahs Arke on the waters, the higher it was tossed, the nearer it approached to the heauens: **NoteLittle Boats of little burden are but for shallow waters: But great shippes of greater lod are sent vntounto the depths: **NoteThe deepnes of your temptations, p. 225Sir, declare that God hath loden you with many graces: **NoteBrauest Captaines are put to the Front and forebrunt of the choake: **NoteBest Christians are battered with most bitter temptations: God who suffereth them to be tempted, knoweth what they can doe, and therefore to encourage others by their example, he putteth them to a proofe, for to let the world see, what his grace can worke in weakenesse, at last yee shallPsal. 66. 2.Ps 66:2 say, Wee went thorow fire and water, but thou hast brought vsus to a wealthie place: What say yee Sir? Beginneth not your heart to rejoyce? Be glad, Sir. & say to God with the Psalmist, All my springs shall bee of thee.

The sicke Man.

I hauehave little minde of springs, the Apostle said wiselie, Is any man mirrie? Iam. 5. 13.Jas 5:13let him sing: Mine Harpe and Heart both are out of tune: ThePsal. 137. 2Ps 137:2 Harpe of my joye is hung vponupon the villowes: **NoteMy fingers can guide p. 226no more this wirbling instrument: **NoteAll the joye of my light, and the light of my joye is quenched with vnspeakable griefe, as with a dampe.

**NoteMine heart is like a moth eaten cloth, all rent with temptations and eaten out with the worme of Conscience, like that worme which did eate away the pleasures of Ionah: By itsIona. 4. 7.Jonah 4:7 byte all my joye is fallen downe like that Gourd: All the good that euer was within mee is boulted out, Sathan hath sifted mee: I thinke presentlie that I am at the verie mouth of Hell, readie to fall downe to the bottome thereof.

The Pastour.

**NoteThe way to Heauen is neare by the gates of hell: The way toPsal. 16. 11Ps 16:11 pleasures for euermore, is paued with paines: Dauid first cryed to God, de profundis, out of the depthes, said he,Psal. 130. 1.Ps 130:1 hauehave I called to thee: But afterward hee praised him in excelsis, with the highest Organs of laude, euen with p. 227loud Cymbals, yea, high sounding Psal. 150. 5.Ps 150:5Cymbals.

**NoteIt was vvell said by one, Quo acerbior miseria eo acceptior misericordia, the sowrer the miserie, the sweeter the merciemercy: Let the hope of that sweete merciemercy which is to come, sweeten the tartenesse of your present terrours: **NoteHee who can bring light out of darknes, and who brought water out of the fierie flint, can mak the sweetnesse of his grace spring out of the gall of bitternesse: Woe to him whom God vvill not correct:Hos. 4. 17Hos 4:17 This was a sore word Ephraim is joyned to idoles, let him alone: Pray God that hee neuer let you so alone: Blesse God for this chastisement: Though for a space yee bee in the fearefull depths of temptations▪ Let nothing mak you to despaire, Christ the most solide Rocke of your Saluation shall turne all such surges into froth.

**NoteWhile Ionah was in the bellie p. 228Iona. 2. 2.Jonah 2:2of hell, and all the billowes of Gods wrath passing ouer him, yet vvould he not despaire into that hell, but beeing tumbled vp & downe there, hee trembled in his belieuing, and belieued in his trembling: **NoteThen I said, I am cast out of thy sight: ThereIona 2. 4.Jonah 2:4 was his trembling: Yet I will looke againe toward thine holie Temple: There was his belieuing: And the Lord spake to the Fish, and it vomited vers. 10.out Ionah vponupon the dry land; these were the fruites of his Faith.

**NoteLearne Sir of Ionah, not to despaire, were it in the bellie of hell: Though for a space ye as it were goe downe with that Prophet to the bottomes Iona. 2. 6.Jonah 2:6of the mountaines, the time shall come that yee shall sing to God, yet hast▪ thou brought vp my life from corruption, O Lord my God: **NoteGod for a space for the sinnes of his chosen, for his glorie, for his praise, for proofe▪ for example, and manie other reasons may bee ecclipsed from p. 229shining to the sillie sinfull Soules of his Turtles: **NoteBut there is none obscuritie that shall be able for euer to restraine from them y^e Celestiall influence of his blessed beams of comfort: In a litle wrath I hid my face from Isa. 54. 8.Isa 54:8thee for a moment, but with euerlasting kindnes will I hauehave merciemercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

The sicke Man.

But alas, mine heart is al…eadie wounded with vncurable wounds.

The Pastour.

In Christ is your remeede **NoteIf yee bee wounded, there is health in Mala. 4. 2Mal 4:2his winges for the healing of your wounds: Though for a space such wounds bee sore in your feeling, yet fret not: **NoteYee would gladlie suffer all that and more, if yee knew how many stripes Heauen were worth: Though Christ tarie, yet he will not tarie. He is more sensible to our sores than we can imagine: **NoteBelieue him while hee speaketh: These bee his p. 230words of sense, Hee that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine eye.

**NoteBe of good heart Sir, Christ shall bee the Iudge of our sinnes, who was judged for our sinnes: He to whom all judgement is deliuered, was deliuered for vsus vntounto death: Yee say, that your heart is wounded, let this bee a salue for your sore, a broken heart is the verie heart of repentance neuer to bee repented of: **NoteThe heart which was neuer wounded for sinne, is deadlie wounded with sinne: **NoteThe heart which was neuer wounded for sin, hath neuer known the vertue of Christes woundes, the onelie remeede of sinne: Be of good courage in this good fight, like the Church▪ 2 Tim. 4. 82 Tim 4:8who for her valour in spirituall warfare, is compared to the troopes of horses in the Chariots of Pharaoh.Cant. 1. 9Song 1:9

Now seeing the day groweth to an end, after that in my prayer I hauehave recommended you to Gods protection and direction, I will leaue you vntill morrow. Let vsus pray.

p. 231A Prayer for the sicke Man, tossed with spirituall temptations.

O LORD, how terrible art thou, when thou art angrie at thy creatures? Who can standHeb. 12. 19Heb 12:19 before thee, a cōsuming fire. When thou is prouocked, the Earth shaketh and trembleth, the foundations of the hilles are moued: When thy wrath is kindled, smoke Psal. 18. 8.Ps 18:8commeth out of thy nostrils, and out of thy mouth commeth a deuouring fire, whereby coales are kindled.

O the terrour of these euerlasting Iob. 42. 10Job 42:10burnings! Who darre approach vntounto thee? Who shall bee so bolde as to stand before thee, seeing there is none so fierce that darre stirre vp the Leuiathan, one of thy Vassals, whose p. 232scales are his pride, whose eyes are lik the eye lids of the morning, & who by his neesinges maketh a light to shine, & kindleth coals by his breath▪

O GOD, most gracious, make thy North winde to awake, and blowCant. 4. 16Song 4:16 vponupon him for the cooling of his conscience parched with fierie temptations: Change thine angrie countenance toward this sillie cast-downe Soule, sore tossed and troubled with spirituall tempest: O heare our earnest sute and bee not deafe towards vsus: O let the bright beames of thy merciemercy disperse and breake thorow the cloudie glominesse of thy wrath▪ Let the cleare skie of thy fauour appeare vntounto this darkened spirit, that in a holie boldnesse, hee may come vntounto the Throne of thy grace.

Thou hast said, Lord, Anger is not with mee: Thy word plainelie affirmeth that there is but a moment in thy wrath: In wrath thy custome is to remember merciemercy: Forget not so p. 233good a custome. O remember here a sinner, vexed with thy wrath: Breake not this bruised reede, neither Isa. 42. 3.Isa 42:3quench this smoking flaxe, but kindle vp the lurking sparkle: Make thy strength perfect in his weakenesse, 2 Cor. 12.2 Cor 12make thy Mandrakes to giuegive a smell, Can. 7. 13that his Soule may bee refreshed with the sauour of life vntounto life.

Take from him all hardnesse of heart: Suffer not his Conscience to bee seared with sinne, neither too sensible of sinne, lest that hee losse his patience: GiueGive him a soft and a yeelding heart for to admitte the comforts of thy Spirit: O take out of his breast the hard marble and flintie heart of Nature, and put in the place thereof a fleshie and melting heart, with a tender & feeling Spirit Open his eyes with thine eye-salue, that hee may see thy merciemercy thorow the crosse-barred gates of so fearefull temptations: As the weight of thy wrath hath made his Conscience to p. 234bleede, so let the might of thy merciemercy like Balme, cu…e & couer the wounds of thy wrath: O GOD of pittie▪ pittie this poore Soule weeping in secrete at thy feete: Pittie this Spirite which is filled with heauinesse: Sore sorrow, O LORD, is entered through all the powers of his Soule, euen to the diuiding of Heb. 4. 12Heb 4:12the joynts, and the marrow of his bones: Put these wordes of comfort in his minde and mouth, that thou retainest Mica. 7. 18not thine anger for euer, because thou delightest in merciemercy.

O sanctifie the force of all his paineful temptations, that they may worke to his well, let him know that thou hast an hand in all his troubles:Psal, 141. 5 Let him say, Let the righteous smite mee and it shall bee a benefite: Yea, though thou should slay mee, yet will I trust in thee.

Good GOD, giuegive him not ouer to the raging euill of his owne corruptions: Suffer not his Spirit to bee ouerwhelmed with the burden p. 235of temptations, but with the temptation giuegive him an out-gate: Make the Spiknard of thy merciemercy send out a sweete smell, whereby his fainting heart may bee comforted. GiueGive him victorie ouer all the enemies of hisIosh. 10. 10Josh 10:10 saluation: As Ioshuah made his men of warre to set their feete vponupon the neckes of their enemies, and tread them vnderunder foote; euen so, LORD, make this thy weake seruant to sette his feete vponupon the neckes of these sinnes, which like Kings hauehave swe…ed their sinfull Scepter in his heart: Thou vvho made a Cake of Barley Iudg 7. 13Judg 7:13bread to tumble vponupon the tents of Midian, & ouer turne them, thou can easilie worke great vvorkes by weak meanes: It is thy custome to make thy strength perfect in weakenesse: Let this poore sicke Patient heere hauehave the proofe of the practise of thy custome: Let his Soule like a Doue enter in at the cliftes of the Rock, let it creepe in by the wounds of Christ vntounto his blessed bowels, p. 236there to bee warmed with Gods most feruent louelove.

Whether shall hee goe? LORD, to whom shall hee make his mone, but to thee? Whom hath he in heauen but thee? O LORD, now the day is farre spent and the wearisome night approacheth: Before wee goe let vsus obtaine our sute, that thou would make thy vvrath to relent a little: Let not our prayers bee powred out in vaine, wee will not admit a refusall, & therefore set vsus not off till another time, abandon not this troubled Soule.

Thou who hast said vntounto man▪ Prou. 3. 2….Prov 3:2Say not vntounto thy neighbour, Goe and come againe, and to morrow I will giuegive thee, if thou now hauehave it: O LORD, practise thine owne precept, wee are heere come not for to buy but to begge thy merciemercy for thy distressed Seruant: Thou cannot denye but thou hast merciemercy, for this is euer true, MercieMercy is with thee: Seeing p. 237then, LORD, now thou hast it, wee vrge thee with thine owne directions, say not, Goe and come againe to morrow, I will giuegive thee. By such a delay thou should but enhance his griefe: Alas, LORD, what rest shall his wearied Soule get all this night, if thou delay and drift him vntill morrow?

O come, come, and powre into his heart the comfortable bowels of thy compassions: Powre into his Soule the powers of thy Spirit, wherby hee may bee reuiued, and goe softlie, the rest of his time in the bitternesse Isa. 38. …5Isa 38:5of his Soule. Refresh his parched Conscience with the dew of thy grace: Deare Father, for Christs sake, let not hardnesse of heart creepe any more vponupon him: Receiue him softlie into thine Armes this night, and cause his spirit to rest into thy bosome: Whether hee sleepe or hee wake, make all his thoughts to run vponupon thee: In the darknesse of the p. 238night make thy louelove like light to breake in vponupon his Conscience, as Prou. 4. 18Prov 4:18the shining light that shineth more and more vntounto the perfect day: Seeing Satan the lord of the night, the prince of darknesse, is most combersome in the night, we intreat thee, that thou would shield and preserue him by thy mercifull and powerfull protection: Make his Soule to stand vponupon a continuall watch, that it may bee readie with a well furnished Lampe for the comming of his Lord: Make the day of thy merciemercy to breake, and all the shadowes of temptations to flee away: O Father, heare & helpe, for the sake of the dearest blood of thy Sonne, the alone purger of the Soule and the chiefe softner of hardened heartes bee thou a Sanctuarie vntounto this troubled Soule: Create vponupon him a cloud and smoke by day, and Isa. 4. 5.Isa 4:5the shining of a flaming fire by night, joyne the direction of thy fire with the protection of thy cloud: O giuegive p. 239now thy blessing vntounto this halting man: Souple and loosen his stiffe and stupefied joyntes, that beeing drawne by thee, hee may runne after thee: Fence and garde his soule by thy grace, till thou bring him vntounto glorie: O Iesus, pray thou for him, whom Sathan hath sought to winnow, let him bee found as good corne vponupon thy barne floore, vntounto the praise of thy heauenly glory of thy diuine grace

Blesse thy beloued Church vniuersall, purge her from all Shifmes & diuisions which breed great thoughts of heart: Decke and decore her with puritie & vnitie. y^e two most precious spirituall jewels of thy Spouse, make her fertile like a broodie Vine.

Direct our gracious Soueraigne in all his ways, Guide him by thy Counsell, Psal. 73, 24Ps 73:24and afterward bring him vntounto glorie: Blesse his Royal Match, the Queenes Majestie, make her a Nu…se mother in Israel, a blessed Mother of blessed p. 240Children: Blesse all y^e Estates of thi… Land; blesse thy Ministerie, adorn… their breastes with thy Vrin and thy Thummim thy light of doctrine and perfection of life. Blesse vsus all who are heere humbled before thy face this night, while our bodies shall goe to bed for to rest, grant that our Soules may goe rest in the armes of thee our most louing GOD and Father: To thee with thy Sonne and the Spirit of Grace wee giuegive all praise and glorie for euer. Amen. Cause read vntounto you this night wh… ye awak Psal. 6 Ps. 49. Ps. 102 ps. 130 The grace of God and the peace o… his Spirit bee with you.

The sicke Man.

The Lord direct you Sir in all your wayes: I looke ye shall returne the morrow earelie: Thinke vponupon that where we left at last: I look that yee shall cleare that matter more a… large at our next meeting: My God bee with you.