The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 25 – Chapter 27
CHAP. XXV.
AND this is the next occasion daily occurring euen to vse aduersity a right.Of aduersity and the right vse therof.
A direction very needfull.
1 Because the deerest children of God hauehave failed herein.Sect. 1. How necessary. Psalme 73.
2 Wee profit in nothing more then in an holy vse of afflictions. Psal. 119. 71.
3 God sheweth himselfe in no occasion so marueilous as in this. Psal. 107.
4 Satan hopes in nothing to trip vsus as herein. Iob 1.
5 The world hath no more effectuall meanes to condemne the generation of the iust, then by their troubles. Iob 8. Acts 28. 4.
That we may therefore vse aduersity aright:
First, Learne we to informe our iudgements concerning the same,Sect. 2. How to be vsed well. as
1 Concerning the causes:
1 That they come not by chance but are appointed of God and sealed vponupon vsus. Iob 33. 15. Amos. 3.
2 That they are imposed in louelove and of very faithfulnesse. Psal. 119.
3 That there is some cause of them in vsus, though presently not knowne to vsus.
And these causes may be,
1 Either chastisement for some sinne past, or present. 2. Sam. 21. 1.
2 Preuention of some sinne wherein wee are like to fall: as securitie, pride, &c. 2. Cor. 12.
3 Triall and exercise of some graces of God in vsus. 1. Pet. 1. 7.
4 Conuincing the world of standerous imputations, as that we serue God for these things. Iob 1. &c.
5 To draw vsus neerer to God, and cause vsus to hauehave experience of his power and goodnes. Ioh. 11.
6 Recouery of some graces which by prosperity hauehave beene decayed in vsus. Hosea. 5. 15.
7 Prouoking vsus to a daily iudging of our selues, that we be not cō demned with the world. 1. Cor. 11. 30. 31.
8 To weane vsus from the louelove of this life, and cause vsus to long and sigh for our deliuerance. Apoca. 6. 10. Apoca. 22. 20.
Secondly, That wee may vse afflictions rightly, we must bee alwaies prepared to them. 1. Pet. 4. 12. and that
1 By submiting our wils simply in al things to the prouidence of our gracious father. Mat. 26. 39.
2 By considering that wee were predestinated and ordained vntounto them. Rom. 8. 22.
3 Wee must in the purpose of our hearts make choice of this ordinance. Mat. 7. and be readie to vndergoe it. Heb. 11. 25.
4 That this is the narrow way and strait gate that leads to heauen. Act. 14.
5 That all the saints of God hauehave traced this way before vsus. Heb. 12. 1
6 That this yoake is easie and the burthen passing light, as hauing the sting thereof taken a way by Iesus Christ and yet that he beares the burthen now with vsus. Esay. 53. and indeed wholy takes it vponupon him. Mat. 10.
7 That these trobles are enemies to the flesh, and therefore the rather to be vndergone to subdue so treacherous an enemy. 2. Cor. 12.
8 By Imposing voluntarie troubles vponupon our selues that so we may better digest such as God, shall necessarie inflict vponupon vsus. 1. Cor. 9. 27.
And these are,
9 Let vsus enter into the house of mourning, and obserue the chastisements of the Lord vponupon others, laboring to stirre vp our bowels towards them, and to weepe with them that weepe. Rom. 12.
10 At no hand presume we of our strenght before the time, but feare wee our selues, and cast wee our selues wholy on God. Mat. 16. 33.
11 Discerne we wisely our fitnes for trobles & auoyd we al vnnecessary and vnseasonable afflictions. Ioh. 18. 8. Mat. 10. 23. 2. Cor. 11. 33.
12 Iudge we wisely of the troubles of others and take heed we ad affliction to their affliction. Ps. 41.
13 Meditate we often of the former ends and benefits of troubles which are manifold. Psal. 119. 67.
14 Vse we an holy moderation in the time of our prosperity in our diet, apparell liberty. &c. 1. Pet. 5. 8.
15 Mainetaine wee especially tendern…s of conscience & soundnes of heart by daily examination, and iudging our selues, so shall we be fit for any affliction. Cor. 1. 12.
16 If our estate seem to diminish outwardly let vsus be contented with it, & so shal we by degrees be prepared to further emptying 2. Cor. 4. 16.
17 Consider wee that we hauehave our captaine Iesus Christ to be our cōpanion in all troubles. 1. Pet. 4. 13
18 And that we hauehave the strength of the holy Ghost to lead vsus throw them. Phil. 4. 13.
19 And be we assured of the protection of Angels to defend vsus in the same. Psal. 34.
20 And let vsus be thinking, of the shortnes of life, & so of troubles, and preparing to death & so no afflictiōs shal be vnwelcome to vsus. Phil. 1. 20.
21 Forget we not to meditate oftē on the ioyes of heauē, that so whē afflictiōs cōe we may be encouraged the rather to vndergoe them in respect of the inestimable reward which is set before vsus. 2. Co. 4. 16. 17.
And thus shall we be happily prepared to afflictions & so make a comfortable vse of them when they are vponupon vsus. To this end consider further:
1 Not what God hath laid vponupon vsus,Sect. 3. Helpes hereto. but what we hauehave deserued. Rō. 6. 23. Dā. 9. 7. Ps. 119. 75. Ps. 103. 9. 10.
2 How long God heretofore hath spared vsus, & in how many corruptions he hath in great patiēce waited vpō vsus, though now he meet with vsus.
3 That we are not swallowed vp of the crosse, which is an euiden… note of Gods hand put vnderunder, and that the Lord laies no more vponupon vsus then we are able to endure. Psalm. 37. 1. Cor. 10. 13.
4 View wee the impatience of Gods children vnderunder the crosse, to preuent, or remedie the like in vsus. Iob. 3. Ionah 4.
5 Meditate we on Gods promises, and so quiet our hearts. Ps. 46. 56.
6 Call we to mind former deliuerances & so we shal strengthen our faith for the present & to cōe. Ps. 77.
7 Take we heede of iudging our case singular, as if neuer any were so much afflicted as we are. Lam. 1. 12
8 Be we diligent in following our callings to auoyd distraction, & preuent worse afflictions.
9 Pray we for our enemies & the rods of our correction. Mat. 5: 44▪
10 Be we earnest with God rather to sanctifie then to remooue the crosse. Phil. 1. 19.
11 And yet presse the remouall, as may stand with his glorie, our owne and the good of the Church.
12 Yet with wisdome & patience, neither tying the Lord to the time, nor manner, nor measure of the deliuerance, but for the temporal chastisement, yelding absolutely vntounto God. 2. Sam. 15.
13 Be we thankful vntounto God for thē & reioyce we vnderunder the crosse.
14. If we bee buffeted vnderunder the crosse with impatiency, or such like tētations: let it cōfort vsus, that feeling these corruptions, and acknowledging, yea striuing against them, it is a certaine token of a future victory.
15 Consider we the euils that are prepared for sinners, that so we may the better endure light afflictions 2. Thess. 1.
16 Forget we not to compare the present profit in troubles with the sensible losse, that sin is hereby lessened, and the matter of sinne weakened. 2. Cor. 4.
17 Liue we especially by faith and not by sense, beleeuing the things we see not, and hoping the things that are desperate. 2. Corint. 1. Heb. 11.
18 That Gods power is more seene in the issues out of trouble, then in keeping vsus out of them altogether, and therefore this serueth to the magnifiing of Gods power. Ps. 98. 1.
19 Heereby Satan also is most confounded, that whereby he labours most to ouerthrow the Church, and Gods children, they are by the same confirmed and profited Phil. 1. 12.
20 Promise we to further others in the waies of God. Psal. 51.
21 Vow we the praises of God in the great congregations. Psal. 35. &c.
22 Moue we the Lord from the insolency of our enemies. Psa. 119. 126. Psal. 41.
23 As also by testifying our zeale to his glory, that it may not be blasphemed of the wicked.
24 Labor we especially to comfort our hearts with the testimony of our innocency, & that good cause for which we suffer. 1. Sam. 24. 12.
25 Yet acknowledge we before God that we are not cleare, and so abhorre we ourselues in sackcloth and ashes. Iob 11.
26 If we suffer as euill doers, yet remember wee that the crosse is not so much sent as a punishment for sinne, as a remedie against it. Psa. 119. 77.
27. Moue we the Lord from the sense of our owne weakenes. Iob 6. and vtter inability as of our selues. Psal. 6.
28 Protest we our faith in God. Iob 13. 15. and patience in waiting vponupon him. Psal. 123. 2. Micah 7. 9.
29 Bind we the Lord to vsus from the manifestation, and making good of his fauour in that he suffers not our enemies to triumph ouer vsus. Psal. 41. 11.
CHAP. XXVI.
THus behauing our selues in troubles we shall vndoubtedly find a good issue in them:Of Family exercises. heereunto will further much such spirituall exercises as are incedent to the day.
And these are:
First, to humble our selues often in the day before God in priuate prayer. Daniel 6. 10.
Secondly, to exercise with our familie prayer, catechizing, reading of the word, & singing of spiritual… himnes. Genes. 18. Col. 3. 2. Tim. 3.
And this must daily be performed▪ because,
1 We are most ignorant and forgetfull. 2. Pet. 1. 13. 15.
2 New tentations doe daily assault, vsus which by these meanes ar… to be resisted. Luk. 9. 23.
3 Hereby we are fitted to the publick duties of the sabbath. Act. 13. 16▪
4 The soule is spiritually nourished and hath sweete felloship and communion with God. Iohn 5. 39▪ Gen. 18. 17.
5 We hauehave our conuersation in heauen. Phil. 3. 20.
6 We sanctifie all our outward occasions vntounto vsus. Iob 1.
7 And obey Gods will in declaring his mercies vntounto our families, and propagating his truth and Gospell, and hereby approue our selues liuing stones of the house of God. Pet. 2. 5.
8 We increase hereby in the heauenly thrift, and strengthen our selues in our iourney towards heauen. Col. 1. 10. 11.
9 We prepare our selues cōfortably to our accoūt & rekoning which daily we are to cast vp.Sect. 1. Of the daily account. Mat. 24. 46.
CHAP. XXVII.
ANd this is the last duety daily to bee performed of vsus, Euen to take an account of our daily actions. And that:
1 Because hereby we approoue and much confirme the same.
2 Wee purge our hearts of all dregges and remainders of sinne.Why to be performed.
3 We hauehave experience of the excellēcie & certainty of a christiā life
4 We make our account readie against the day of the Lord Iesus.
5 We procure stability and constancy for the time to come.
6 We yoake and diminish our daily tentations.
7 We keepe sinne from sleeping, with vsus.
8 By repentance remouing it, our sleepe becomes more sweete and comfortable.
9 Our labours afterward prouelesse irksome.
10 We walke with God and expresse the true pilgrimes life.
Now that we may the rather performe this duetie. Consider we,
1 That the very heathen in some sort by the light of Nature practised it.
2 That if trouble here be, it is to the flesh, to which wee are not debtors. Rom. 8. 12.
3 That it is no more then God commands and christianity requites at our hands.
4 That when we hauehave done all we can, wee are but vnprofitable seruants, and therefore we had need striue to the vtmost.
And for our better direction herein, learne we,
First, that the fittest time for performance hereof is after prayer.
Secondly, For the manner hereof beginne we,
1 From the cogitations of the first awaking from sleepe.
2 So proceed we to consider of our morning actions, how we hauehave confered with our God in priuate, how sanctified our families.
3 Examine such occasions as hauehave befell vsus in our callings.
4 What vse wee hauehave made of company, what of our being alone: how wee hauehave receiued and vsed Gods creatures, and hauehave bin knit vntounto God by them.
5 How we hauehave beene buffited by Satan, the world, &c.
6 What comfort we hauehave found in the word & spirituall exercises.
7 If thou shalt find the testimony of a good conscience and peace, so reioyce and praise thy God. If thou findest thy failings, so be humbled and cast thy selfe vponupon Iesus Christ, in Prayer.
2 Recounting vntounto God, as neere as thou mayest thy particular slips, and so acknowledging thy selfe an vnprofitable seruant, seeke thy peace in the merits of thy Sauiour, and so lie downe in his bosome, and so thou shalt find rest for thy soule.
Thus farre of the daily Sacrifice. The Lord enable vsus to the oblation therof, for his Sonne Christ Iesus his sake, our most full and sufficient saecrifice. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Cooper, The Christians Daily Sacrifice (1608)