Consolations for the Afflicted, Title page – Dedication
CONSOLATIONS FOR THE AFFLICTED: OR, THE THIRD PART OF THE CHRISTIAN WARFARE: wherein is shewed, how the Christian may be armed and strengthened against the tentations of the World on the left hand, arising from trouble and affliction; and inabled to beare all crosses and miseries with patience, comfort and thanksgiuing.
By I DOVVNAME, Batchelar in Diuinitie, and Preacher of Gods word.
IAMES 1.2. My brethren count it exceeding ioy, when ye fall into diuers tentations.
2. COR. 4.17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vntounto vsus afar most excellent and an eternall weight of glory.
AT LONDON Printed by IOHN BEALE, for W. WELBY, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Swan. 1613.
To the most ReueREND FATHER IN GOD, GEORGE, by Gods prouidence, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, and Metropolitan, and one of his Maiesties most honourable Priuie Councell, I. D. wisheth all riches of Gods graces in this life, and of glory in the life to come.
IT will not (I hope) bee thought vnprofitable, (R. Reuerend Father in God) that in this time of peace and flourishing prosperitie of our Church and Country▪ I write of our warfare with the world, and our combat with afflictions, seeing we hauehave no assurance that these temporall blessings and Halcyon daies will be continued; but rather may probably expect & iustly feare, that according to that vicissitude and mutuall interchange of worldly things, which both the scriptures & the experience of all ages past hauehave made knowne vntounto vsus, there may happily come a wane after this full, a low …ebbe after this high tide, and a darke night of sorrow and mourning, after this bright sunshine day of gladnesse and reioycing. And that the rather, because by our sinnes long agoe wee hauehave deserued to bee dispoiled of Gods long continued fauours, and with vnresistable violence doe pull and hale his iust iudgements vponupon our guilty heads. For to say nothing of the desperate wickednesse of prophane men, who being rotten members of this body of our Church and Countrey, doe deserue to be cut off (which is not commonly effected without the griefe and smart of all those sounder parts which are neere about them) who doth not see that the best seruants and dearest children of God, are by long ease growne so slothfull and secure, and so corrupted with continuall peace and prosperitie; that they need to bee quickened and rouzed vp with Gods scourges of correction, and to bee purged from their drosse and rust by the fiery triall? And therefore it will not bee amisse, if in this summer and sunshine of our prosperity, wee erect shelters to shade vsus against the stormy tempests of approching troubles; and in the daies of our peace, doe prepare our selues for this spirituall warfare, building fortresses and bulwarks for our defence before wee bee assaulted by the enemie, and putting on our spirituall armour, before our great Commander doe summon vsus to the fight, and cause the alarme to be sounded to the battell. For then shall wee most securely inioy our peace, when as we stand vponupon our guard, and hauehave our weapons in readinesse to resist the enemy; and then shall our ioy of prosperity bee most sweet and delightfull, when it is not embittered with the feare of losing it, nor with the expectation of those afflictions, whose force and fury wee are by due preparation enabled to ouercome. Yea though the body of our state had a sound constitution, and did not onelyonly for the present inioy the health of flourishing prosperitie, but were also assured that it would continue for the time to come: yet are there many members of it, which being diseased with the sores of affliction, doe need to hauehave the plaisters of comfort applied vntounto them. And though the whole armie of our Church militant do not yet ioyne in a maine battell with these spirituall enemies, yet are there many of Gods souldiers picked out by our Lord and Generall, to skirmish in their courses with them, who need to be instructed in this spirituall warfare, and to be so trained in the skill of this fight, that when they are assaulted, they may manfully stand vntounto it and obtaine the victory. In which respects, I tendring the future benefit of the whole body, and the present good of eueryevery particular member, hauehave vndertaken this paines in preparing them for this fight. In which my endeuors, if God so blesse mee, that I attaine vntounto my end I shall hauehave no small ioy, seeing I shall communicate with them in all their consolation, and triumph together in their victorious conquest. Or if I faile hereof, yet shall I not lose all my labour, seeing whilest I prouided these cordials of comfort for the curing of others, I my selfe hauehave been cheered by them in my wants and weakenesse; and whilest I cooked others meat, hauehave somewhat staied my fainting stomack by licking mine own fingers, & tasting of these meats, as they passed thorow my hands.
Now these my labours I humbly offer to your Graces patronage, as an vnfained testimony of that louelove and duty which your worth and merit doe iustly challenge. For if the Elder that doth gouerne well, bee worthy of double honour, especially if hee labour painfully in the word and doctrine; how much are wee bound to shew by all meanes, with what zeale wee honour you, who by your gouernement (as chiefe Liuetenant vnderunder our dread Soueraign) preserue among vsus the purity of our christian religion, from being tained and corrupted by errours and heresies (herein extending your care not only vntounto vsus, but also to our neighbour Churches round about vsus) and continue with increase the peace of our Church, defending vsus all you may, from the inroades and inuasions of our Romish enemies: and also (as though you were quite freed from the waight of this burthen) doe continually imploy your selfe in sound doctrine, and painfull preaching; not only vrging those, who are vnderunder your gouernment to take like fruitfull paines, by your graue authority, fatherly admonitions, and earnest exhortations; but also shaming those who neglect it, by your example, seeing they come farre short of you, in that which they hauehave only to intend, who are otherwise taken vp in such multitude of busines. The which I write not to get vntounto my self the base reward of a seruile flatterer, (for who yet could euer challenge me of such self-respecting flattery) but that God may bee glorified in those excellēt gifts wherewith he hath inriched you; and that they being continued vponupon this record for after ages, you may not only be acknowledged a worthy President & Gouernour vntounto vsus, but be imitated as a praecedent & pattern vntounto those who shall come after you; and so leaue behind you such a sweet sent of a good name, as it were of a pretious ointment, that those who yet breathe not, may be refreshed by it.
The Lord long continue, increase and multiply these his good gifts and graces in you, that hee more and more may hauehave the glory of them, his Church & children the vse & benefit, & your self both the present comfort of a good conscience, and the greater measure of glory & happinesse at the day of Christs appearing.
Your Graces in all obseruant duty, to be commanded, IOHN DOWNAME.