The Privy Key of Heaven, Title page – Dedication

The Privy Key of Heaven · Title page – Dedication

THE Privie Key OF HEAVEN; OR, Twenty Arguments for CLOSET-PRAYER: IN A Select Diſcourſe on that Subject: With the reſolution of ſeveral conſiderable Queſtions; the main Objections alſo againſt Cloſet-Prayer, are here anſwered; Cautions propounded, and the Point improved; with ſeveral other things of no ſmall importance, in reſpect of the internal and eternal welfare of the Chriſtian Reader. Twenty ſpecial Leſſons (in the Epiſtle Dedicatory to ſome afflicted Friends) that we are to learn by that ſevere rod, the PESTILENCE, that now rageth in the midſt of us.

By THOMAS BROOKS, Miniſter of the Goſpel.

O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the ſecret places of the ſtairs, let me ſee thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for ſweet is thy voyce, and thy countenance is lovely, Cant. 2. 14.

LONDON, Printed for, and are to be ſold by John Hancock, at the firſt ſhop in Popes-head Alley, next to Cornhil. 1665.

TO My Worthy and Eſteemed FRIENDS, Mrs. Elizabeth Drinkwater. Mrs. Suſan Bell. Mrs. Hannah Bourne. Mrs. Mary Taylor. Mrs. Anne White. Mrs. Elizabeth Juxon. Mrs. Rebecah Juxon. Mrs. Mary Baxter. Mrs. Deborah Shepherd. Mrs. Anne Clemons. Mrs. Mary Sionior. Mrs. Anne Snell. Mrs. Anne Ellis. Mrs. Margaret Cutlèr. Mrs. Patience Cartwrigh. Mrs. Mary Shaw. Mrs. Phillip Garret. Mrs. Margaret Winfield. Mrs. Hannah Pippet. Mrs. Mary Chanlor. Mrs. Mary Scot. Mrs. Katherine Ʋſher. with their Husbands. &c. All Happineſs both here, and hereafter: Honoured and Beloved in our Dear Lord Jeſus.

I HAVE crowded your names together in one Epiſtle, not from any want of reſpect unto you, for I owe to each of you more than an Epiſtle; nor becauſe you are in one particular Fellowſhip, for ſo you are not; but partly becauſe the Lord hath made you one with himſelf, in the Son of his love; and partly becauſe the Lord at ſeveral times, and in ſeveral wayes hath exerciſed you all in the Furnace of Affliction; and partly becauſe this Epiſtle may reach you all, and ſpeak to you all, when I cannot, or when I may not, or which is more, when I am not.

Dear Friends, many and great have been the breaches that the Lord hath made upon your perſons, upon your neer and dear Relations, and upon your ſweeteſt comforts and contentments: There is not one of you but may truly ſay with Job, He breaketh me with breach upon breach, Job. 16. 14. God hath chaſtiſed you all round with various Rods; and O that the Lord would help you all to hear the Rod, and him who hath appointed it.

Now that you may, give me leave a little to open and apply to your particulars that

Mic. 6. 9.

The Lords voyce cryeth unto the City, and the man of wiſdom ſhall hear thy Name: Hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it.

The matter that I ſhall offer to your conſideration from this Scripture, will be not only of ſpecial concernment to your ſelves, but alſo of high concernment to all ſorts and ranks of men and women, in this ſad Day, when the Sword devours on the one hand, & the Peſtilence rageth on the other hand.

The Lords voice cryeth unto the City. Tremelius turns it thus, The voice of the Lord doth preach unto this City (for what the matter is, thy Name ſeeth) Hear ye the Rod, &c. This City, viz. Jeruſalem, and ſo conſequently to all the Iſraelites; for in this City all Offices and duties of godlineſs and humanity were more religiouſly performed, or to be performed, than in any other place, becauſe of the preſence and majeſty of God that was amongſt them: But thy Majeſty ſeeth what wickedneſs is practiſed amongſt them, as is evident in the Verſes following.

Cryeth, The word is from Kara, which ſignifies, Firſt, To Cry aloud, or, to make a noiſe, Iſa. 58. 1. Cry aloud, there is Kara: The word ſignifies to Cry ſo loud, as that all may hear, that have ears to hear. Secondly, The word ſignifies, Openly to proclaim, preach, or publiſh a thing, Exod. 33. 19. I will Proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee: Here is the word Kara. Thirdly, The word ſignifies, To Cry out, Gen. 39. 15. I lifted up my voyce and cryed: Here is Kara. The Hebrew word foreign hath nine other ſignifications in Scripture; but becauſe they are not pertinent to what is in my eye, I ſhall paſs them by at this time.

And the man of Wiſdom ſhall ſee thy name. Vethuſhiia properly ſignifies Eſſence; and therefore according to the Hebrew, the words ſhould be read thus, And the man of Eſſence ſhall ſee thy Name, &c. that is, he that is a man indeed, he that is not a ſot, aſtock, a ſtone. Moſt men are men of folly, and ſo not worthy of the name of men; but as for ſuch as are truly wiſe, they ſhall ſee thy Name. There is a great meaſure of ſpiritual Art, of Holy and Heavenly Wiſdome required, both to enable a man to hear the voice of the Rod, and to underſtand the language of the Rod: This Wiſdom is too high for a fool, Prov. 24. 7.

Shall ſee thy Name. Now the Hebrew word here uſed foreign may be better derived from Jare, which ſignifies to feare, than from Raah, that ſignifies to ſee, and ſo the words will run ſmoothly thus, The man of wiſdom, or of eſſence, ſhall fear thy Name, conſidering that, 'tis majeſty it ſelf that cryeth, and that he is immediately to deal with God himſelf, and not with a poor, weak, mortal worm.

Hear ye the Rod. The word Hear, is from foreign Shamang, which ſignifies, Firſt, To mark, obſerve, and attend, to what is ſaid, Gen. 29. 33. The Lord hath heard that I was hated; that is, he hath marked it, he hath obſerved it. So here, O mark the Rod, O obſerve the Rod, O attend to what is ſpoken by the Rod. Secondly, The word ſignifies, to underſtand what is ſpoken, ſo Gen. 42. 23. They knew not that Joſeph underſtood them: In the Hebrew 'tis, that Joſeph heard them. Now to hear the Rod, is to underſtand what is ſpoken to us by the Rod. Thirdly, The word ſignifies, to believe a thing reported to be true, ſo Exod. 6. 9. They hearkned not unto Moſes, that is, they did not believe the report that Moſes made. Hear the Rod, that is, believe the report the Rod makes. The Rod reports, that of all evils, Sin is the greateſt evil; and that of all bitters, Sin is the greateſt bitter; O believe the report of the Rod. The Rod reports that God is angry, that God is diſpleaſed; Oh believe its report. The Rod reports the creatures to be meer vanity and vexation of Spirit; O believe its report. The Rod reports our neereſt and deareſt comforts, contentments, and enjoyments to be mixt, mutable, and momentary; O believe its report. The Rod reports Sin to be vile, and the world to be vain, and Heaven to be glorious, and Chriſt to be moſt precious; O believe its report. The Hebrew word hath three other ſignifications, but being that they are not proper to our purpoſe I ſhall paſs them by.

The Rod. The Hebrew word Matte that is here rendred Rod, hath theſe three ſignifications. Firſt, It denotes Power and ſtrength, Pſal. 2. 9. A Rod of Iron. Secondly, It denotes Rigid and harſh Government, Iſa. 14. 5. The Lord hath broken the ſtaffe, or Rod of the wicked, that is, their rigorous and cruel Government. Nebuchadnezzar ſorely afflicted the Children of Judah, he was a Rod that brake them in pieces, and ruled over them with much rigour in Babilon. Thirdly, It denotes ſore afflictions, and heavy Judgements, Pſal. 89. 32. I will viſit your tranſgreſſions with a Rod. And thus you are to underſtand the word Rod in the Text.

And him that hath appointed it. 'Tis God that appoints the Rod, and ordaines it for the revenge of the quarrel of his Covenant. The Hebrew word Jegnadah ſignifies properly to appoint, or conſtitute. 'Tis God who appoints the Rod, and who conſtitutes it to do what ſervice he pleaſeth. 'Tis God that hath not only a permiſſive, but alſo an active hand, in all the afflictions that come upon his People.

And let thus much ſuffice for the opening of the words.

Now though this choice Garden affords many ſweet Flowers, yet I ſhall only preſent you with one, which is this, viz.

That all the Afflictions, troubles, and tryals, &c. that God layes upon his People, are his Rod, and that 'tis their higheſt and greateſt concernment, to hear the voyce of the Rod, and to take out thoſe Leſſons that God would have them learn by the Rod.

For the opening and clearing up of this important Point, I ſhall endeavour theſe two things.

Firſt, To ſhew you in what reſpects Afflictions are like unto a Rod.

Secondly, To ſhew you what thoſe ſpecial Leſſons are, that you are to learn by the Rod.

For the Firſt, In what reſpects are afflictions like unto a Rod?

I Anſwer, In theſe ſeven reſpects Afflictions are like unto a Rod.

Firſt, The Rod is never made uſe of, but when no fair means will prevail with the Child. 'Tis ſo here, God never takes up the Rod, he never afflicts his People, till he 2 Chron. 36. 15,—ult. Mat. 23. 37, 38.2 Chr 36:15Matt 23:37Matt 23:38hath tryed all fair wayes and means to humble them, and reform them: And when none of the offers of grace, the tenders of mercy, the wooings of Chriſt, the ſtrivings of the Spirit, northe ſmart debates of Conſcience will awaken them, nor work upon them, then God takes up the Rod, and ſometimes whips them till the blood comes. But,

Secondly, Parents chooſe what Rods they pleaſe to correct their Children with. The Child ſhall not chooſe what Rod he pleaſeth to be corrected with, O no: 'Tis the prerogative of the Father to chooſe the Rod; the Father may chooſe and uſe either a great Rod or a little Rod, a long Rod or a ſhort Rod, a Rod made up of Roſemary branches, or a Rod made up of green Birch: 'Tis ſo here, God chooſeth what Rod, what Affliction he pleaſeth to exerciſe his people with. You Lev. 26. Deut. 28. Lament. 3. 9,—18.Lev 26Deut 28Lam 3:9read in the Scripture of very many Rods, but they are all of Gods chooſing, Amos 3. 6. Is there any evil in the City and hath not the Lord done it? Though there be many Rods to be found in the City, yet there is not one of them, but is of Gods chooſing, Ruth. 1. 13. It grieveth me much for your ſakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out againſt me. verſ. 21. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty; why then call ye me Naomi, ſeeing the Lord hath teſtified againſt me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? Iſa. 45. 7. I form the light, and create darkneſs: I make peace and create evil: I the Lord do all theſe things. Mic. 1. 12. For the inhabitants of Maroth, waited carefully for good; but evil came down from the Lord unto the Gates of Jeruſalem. David was whipt with many Rods, Pſal. 39. 9. Job. 1Ps 39:9Job 1but they were all of Gods own chooſing. And Job was whipt with many Rods, but they were all of Gods own chooſing. But,

Thirdly, Parents take no pleaſure, they take no delight to uſe the Rod. Every laſh the Father gives the Child, fetches blood from his own heart: The Father corrects the Child, and ſighs over the Child; he whips the Child, and at the ſame time weeps over the Child. Nothing goes more againſt the Parents heart, nor againſt their hair, than the bringing of their Children under the Rod of Correction; 'Tis ſo here, Lament. 3. 3. For he doth not afflict willingly (or as the Hebrew runs, he doth not afflict, Millibbo, from his heart) nor grieve the Children of men. You often read, that he delights in mercy; but Mich. 7. 15.Mic 7:15where do you once read, that he delights in ſeverity, or in dealing roughly with his People? God very rarely takes 2 Chron. 36. 16. Jer. 5. 19.2 Chr 36:16Jer 5:19up the Rod, but when our ſins have put a force upon him. 'Tis grievous to God, to be a grieving his People; 'tis a pain unto him, to be a puniſhing of them, Hoſ. 11. 8. How ſhall I give thee up, Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee, Iſrael? how ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. My Juſtice, ſaith God, calls upon me to rain Hell out of Heaven upon thee, as once I did upon Sodom and Gomorah; but then Mercy interpoſeth her four ſeveral hows, how, how, how, how, how ſhall I give thee up? God puts theſe four pathetical interrogations to himſelf, becauſe none elſe in Heaven or Earth could anſwer them. The Prophet brings in God ſpeaking after the manner of men, who being provoked a thouſand thouſand wayes, by the vanities and follies of their Children, think to give them up to take their own courſes, and to look no more after them; but then their bowels begin to work, and their hearts begin to melt, and they begin to interrogate themſelves thus, How ſhall we give up theſe Children? for though they be diſobedient Children, yet they are Children; how can we turn them out of doores? how can we diſown them? how can we diſinherit them? for though they are rebellious Children, yet they are Children, &c. Afflictions are called Gods work, yea, his ſtrange work; his Iſa. 28. 21.Isa 28:21act, yea, his ſtrange act, as if God were out of his element, when he is afflicting or chaſtiſing his People. But.

Fourthly, The Rod is ſmarting, grievous, and troubleſom; and ſo are afflictions to our natures, Heb. 12. 11. Now no chaſtening for the preſent ſeemeth to be joyous but grievous. Fleſh and blood ſtartles, and is troubled at the leaſt trouble. Affliction is a ſort of Phyſick, that makes moſt ſick. Some write that Tygres will grow mad, and tear their own fleſh, Plutarch lib. de ſuperſtition….and rend themſelves in pieces, if they do but hear Drums or Tabours ſound about them. Were not Job and Jeremiah Job. 3. Jer. 20.Job 3Jer 20ſuch Tygres, who in the day of their afflictions did more than curſe the Day of their birth? O what a bitter cup, what a heavy burden was affliction to them! Job 10. 1. My Soul is weary of my life. Job 7. 15. My Soul chooſeth ſtrangling and death rather than life. Pſal. 6. 6. I am weary with my groaning. Pſal. 69. 1, 2, 3. Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my Soul. I ſink in deep mire, where there is no ſtanding. I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying, my throat is dryed: mine eyes fail, while I wait for my God. Doubtleſs many good men have ſat under Elias 1 Kings 19. 4.1 Kgs 19:4his Juniper, wiſhing themſelves out of the World (if it might ſtand with Divine pleaſure) that they might reſt from their ſins and ſorrows, and be rid of their many burdens and bondages, looking upon life little better than a Hell, were it not for the hopes of a Heaven hereafter. But,

Fifthly, When Parents take up the Rod into their hands, they will not lay it down, till Rodolphus the Emperours Motto was, (Omnia eoe voluntate Dei.) All muſt be as God will have it. And this ſhould be every Chriſtians Motto under the Rod.they have ſubdued the ſpirits of their Children, and brought them to ſubmit and to kiſs the Rod, and to ſit ſtill and quiet before them. 'Tis ſo here, when God takes up the Rod, he will not lay it down, till he hath brought us to lye quietly at his feet, Lev. 26. 40, 41, 42. If they ſhall confeſs their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their treſpas, which they have treſpaſſed againſt me, and that alſo they have walked contrary to me; And that I alſo have walked contrary unto them, & brought them into the Land of their enemies; if then their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the puniſhment of their iniquity, Then Will I remember my Covenant with Jacob, and alſo my Covenant with Iſaac, and alſo my Covenant with Abraham will I remember: and I will remember the Land. When God takes up the Rod, his Children muſt either bow or break; they muſt ſay, the Jer. 5. 3, 6.Jer 5:3Jer 5:6Lord is righteous, they muſt kiſs the Rod of Correction, or elſe deſtruction will come like a Whirle-wind upon them.

'Tis reported of the Lyon, that he ſpares thoſe creatures, that fall down before him, and ſubmit unto him; but as for thoſe that endeavour to run from him, or to contend with him, thoſe he tears in pieces. 'Tis juſt ſo with the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, as you may ſee in that Hoſ. 5. 14, 15.

King Edward riding furiouſly Acts and Mon. in Edward I.after a ſervant of his, that had highly diſpleaſed him, with a drawn Sword in his hand as purpoſing to kill him; ſeeing him ſubmit, and on bended knee ſuing for his life, did not only put up his Sword, but alſo ſpared him, and received him into his favour. The King of Kings will never put up his ſword when once he hath drawn it, till his People fall on their knees, & ſubmit unto him. God never left chaſtiſing of Ephraim Jer. 31. 18, 19, 20.Jer 31:18Jer 31:19Jer 31:20till he had brought him to his bow, till he had made him ſubmit and kiſs the Rod. But,

Sixthly, Afflictions are called a Rod, in reſpect of the hand that layes them on. Though Affliction be a Rod, it is a Rod in a Fathers hand. John 18. 11.John 18:11The Sword is in the Judges hand, and the Cudgel is in the Maſters hand, but the Rod is in the fathers hand, Heb. 12. 6, 7, 8, 9. When Balaams Aſs Num. 22. 29.Num 22:29offended him, he wiſhed for a ſword to ſlay him: But ſo doth not God; when we doe moſt highly provoke him, he doth not take up a Sword to ſlay us, but only a Rod to ſcourge us and chaſtiſe us, as indulgent Fathers do their deareſt Children. But,

Seventhly and Laſtly, Afflictions are called a Rod, in regard of the ends to which they ſerve. A Rod is not to kill, but to cure; 'tis not for deſtruction, but for correction. When David gave a full commiſſion to his Souldiers againſt Abſolom, 'Twas not to ſlay him, but to reſtrain him; 'twas not to ruine him, but to reduce him to his former obedience. The Application is eaſie. We can as well live without our daily bread, as without our dayly Rod. Now the ends of taking up the Rod are theſe.

Firſt and more generally, 'Tis for the good of the child, and not for his hurt: 'Tis ſo here, God takes up the Rod, but 'tis for the good of his People, Gen. 50. 20. But as for you, ye thought evil againſt me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to paſs, as it is this day, to ſave much people alive. Divine goodneſs did ſo over-maſter the plotted malignity of Joſephs Brethren, as that it made a bleſſed medicine of a moſt deadly poyſon. Jer. 24. 5. Thus ſaith the Lord the God of Iſrael, like theſe good Figs, ſo will I acknowledg them that are carried away Captive of Judah, whom I have ſent out of this place, into the Land of the Chaldeans for their good. When Iſrael was diſmiſſed out of Egypt, 'Twas with Exod. 11.Exod 11Gold and Ear-rings. And when Judah was diſmiſſed out of Babylon, 'twas with great gifts, Jewels, and all neceſſary Utenſils. So Rom. 8. 28. And Ezra 1.Ezra 1we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the Called according to his purpoſe. This Text like Moſes his Tree, caſt into the bitter waters of Affliction, may make them ſweet and wholſome to drink of. But,

Secondly, and more particularly, The Rod is to make the Child ſenſible of his folly and vanity, Pro. 10. 13. In the lips of him that hath underſtanding wiſdom is found: but the Rod is for the back of him that is void of underſtanding. So 'tis here, God takes up the Rod, but 'tis to make his People ſenſible of their folly and vanity, 'tis to make them look up to him, and to look into Conſcience, and to look out to their Converſations. Schola Crucis, is Schola Lucis. Gods houſe of correction is his ſchool of inſtruction; his laſhes are our leſſons, his ſcourges are our School-maſters, and his chaſtiſements are our advertiſements. Iſa. 26. 9. Pſal. 94. 12 Pro. 3. 12, 13. Job. 36. 8, 9, 10.Isa 26:9Ps 94:12Prov 3:12Prov 3:13Job 36:8Job 36:9Job 36:10Hence both the Hebrews and Greeks expreſs chaſtening and teaching by one and the ſame word (Muſar Paideia) becauſe the latter is the true end of the former, according to that in the Proverb, Smart makes Wit, and vexation gives underſtanding. Afflictions are a Chriſtians Looking-Glaſs, by which he may ſee how to dreſs his own Oculos quos peccatum claudit, paena apperit. Greg. The eye that ſin ſhuts, afflictions open.Soul, and to mend whatſoever is amiſs: They are Pills made up by a heavenly hand, on purpoſe to clear our eyeſight. 1 Kings 17. 18. And ſhe ſaid unto Elijah, what have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my ſin to remembrance, and to ſlay my Son? If God had not taken away her Son, her ſin had not been brought to remembrance. It was the Speech of an holy man in his ſickneſs, In this Diſeaſe (ſaid he) I have learned how great God is, and what the evil of ſin is; I never knew to purpoſe, what God was before, nor what ſin was before. The Croſs opens mens eyes, as the taſting of Honey did Jonathans. Here (as that Martyr phraſed it) we are ſtill a learning our A B C, and our leſſon is never paſt Chriſts Croſs, and our walking is ſtill home by weeping Croſs. But,

Thirdly, The Rod is uſed to prevent further folly, miſchief, and miſery, Prov. 23. 13, 14, With-hold not correction from the Child; for if thou beateſt him with the Rod, he ſhall not die. Thou ſhalt beat him with the Rod, and ſhalt deliver his Soul from Hell. It is ſaid of the Ape, that ſhe huggeth her young ones to death, ſo many fond Parents by not correcting their Children, they come to ſlay their Children. The beſt way to prevent their being ſcourged with Scorpions in Hell, is to chaſtiſe them with the Rod here: So God takes up the Rod, he afflicts and chaſtiſeth his deareſt Children, but 'tis to prevent ſoul-miſchief and miſery, 'tis to prevent pride, ſelf-love, worldlineſs, &c. Paul was 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8, 9.2 Cor 12:72 Cor 12:82 Cor 12:9one of the holieſt men that ever lived on earth, he was called by ſome, an earthly Angel, and yet he needed the Rod, he needed a thorn in the fleſh to prevent pride, witneſs the doubling of thoſe words in one verſe, leaſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure, leaſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure. If Paul had not been buffetted, who knows how highly he might have been exalted in his own conceit? Prudent Phyſitians do often give their Patients Phyſick to prevent Diſeaſes; & ſo doth the Phyſitian of ſouls by his deareſt Servants, Job 33. 17, 19. Job 40. 4, 5. Hoſ. 2. 6, 7.Job 40:4Job 40:5Hos 2:6Hos 2:7He is chaſtened alſo with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with ſtrong pain. That he may withdraw man from his purpoſe, and hide pride from man. Afflictions are the Lords Drawing-Playſters, by which he draws out the core of pride, earthlineſs, ſelf-love, covetouſneſs, &c. Pride was one of mans firſt ſins, and is ſtill the root and ſource of all other ſins. Now to prevent it, God many times chaſtens man with pain, yea, with ſtrong pain upon his bed, Job 34. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I have born chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more. That which I ſee not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. The burnt Child dreads the fire. Sin is but a bitter ſweet; 'tis an evil worſe than Hell it ſelf. Look as Salt brine preſerves things from, putrefying & as ſalt Marſhes keep the Sheep from rotting; ſo ſanctified Rods, ſanctified Afflictions, preſerves and keeps the People of God from ſinning. But,

Fourthly, The Rod is to purge out that vanity and folly that is bound up in the heart of the Child, Prov. 22. 15 Fooliſhneſs is bound in the heart of a Child, but the Rod of correction ſhall drive it far from him. The Rod is an Ordinance, as well as the Word; and ſuch Parents that uſe it as an Ordinance (praying and weeping over it) ſhall find it effectual, for the chaſing away of evil out of their Childrens heart. Eli and David were two very choice men, and yet by their fondneſs on one hand, and neglect of this Ordinance on the other hand, they ruined their ſons, and whether they did not undo their ſouls, I ſhall not at this time ſtand to enquire. When Moſes caſt away his Rod, it became a Serpent; Exod. 4. 3.Exod 4:3and ſo when Parents caſt away the Rod of correction, 'tis ten to one but that their Children become the brood of the Serpent. Prov. 13. 24. He that ſpareth his Rod hateth his ſon; but he that loveth him chaſteneth him betimes. Not only the care, but alſo the cure of the Child, ſo far as the Rod will reach, lyes upon the hands of the Parent.

Now Afflictions are like a Rod in this reſpect alſo, for as they are ſanctified, they cleanſ and purge away the droſs, the filth, and the ſcumb of the daughter of Zion, Iſa. 1. 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy droſs, and take away all thy tinn. Iſa. 27. 9. By this therefore ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his ſin. Dan. 11. 35. And ſome of them of underſtanding ſhall fall (that is, into great Afflictions) to try them, and to purge them, and to make them white, even to the time of the end. All the harm the Dan. 3. 23, 24.Dan 3:23Dan 3:24fire did the three Children (or rather the three Champions) was to burn off their cords. Our luſts are cords of vanity, but the fire of Affliction ſhall burn them up. Zech. 13. 9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as Silver is refined, and will try them as Gold is tryed: they ſhall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will ſay, it is my People, and they ſhall ſay, the Lord is my God. Sharp Afflictions are a fire to purge out our droſs, and to make our graces ſhine; they are a potion to carry away ill humours, they are cold froſts to deſtroy the vermine, they are a tempeſtuous Sen, to purge the Wine from its lees; they are like the North Wind, that dryeth up the vapours, that purgeth the blood, and quickens the ſpirits; they are a ſharp Corroſive to eat out the dead fleſh. Afflictions are compared to Baptizing and waſhing, that takes away the filth of the Soul, as water doth the filth of the body, Mat. 10. 38, 39. God would not rub ſo hard, were it not to fetch out the dirt and ſpots that be in his Peoples hearts.

Fifthly, The Rod ſerves to improve that good that is in the Child, Prov. 29. 15. The Rod and reproof giveth wiſdom, but a Child left to himſelf bringeth his Mother to ſhame. So Afflictions they ſerve to improve our graces, Heb. 12. 10. For they verily for a few dayes ehaſtened us after their own pleaſure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holineſs, that is, that we might more and more be partakers of his holineſs. Verſ. 11. Now no chaſtening for the preſent ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheleſs, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs, unto them that are exerciſed thereby. Hence 'tis that the Saints glory in tribulation, Rom. 5. 3, 4. And not only ſo, but we glory in tribulations alſo, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. Grace alwayes thrives moſt when Saints are under the Rod. When Chriſtians are under the Rod, then their graces do not only bud, but bloſſome, and bring forth fruit as Aarons Rod did. The Mum. 17. 8,ſnuffing of the Candle, makes it burn the brighter. God beats and bruiſes his links, to make them burn the brighter; he bruiſes his ſpices, to make them ſend forth the greater Aromatical ſavour.

Bernard compares Afflictictions to the Tezel, which though it be ſtarp and ſcratching, it is to make the Cloath more pure and fine. The Jews were alwayes beſt, when they were in an afflicted condition. Well-waters ariſing from deep ſprings, are hotter in the winter, than they are in the ſummer. Stars ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt nights. Vines grow the better for bleeding; and Gold looks the brighter for ſcowring. Juniper ſmels ſweeteſt, when in the fire. Cammomile the more you tread it, the more you ſpread it. O Sirs, this is a real, and a rare truth, but ſeldome thought on, viz. that God will ſometimes more carry on the growth and improvement of grace by a croſs, by an affliction, than by an ordinance, James 1. 3, 4. James 4. 8, 9. Afflictions ripen the Saints graces, 2 Cor. 1. 5. Firſt or laſt God will make every Rod, yea, every twig in every Rod, to be an Ordinance to every afflicted Saint. By Afflictions God many times revives, quickens, and recovers, the decayed graces of his People. By Afflictions God many times enflames that love that is cold, and he ſtrengthens that faith that is failing, and he puts life into thoſe hopes that are languiſhing, and new ſpirits into thoſe joyes and comforts that are withering and dying. Musk (ſay ſome) when it hath loſt its ſweetneſs, if it be put into the ſink amongſt filth, it recovers its ſweetn… again: So doth ſmart afflictions recover and revive our decayed graces.

I have read a ſtory of a Sexton, that went into the Church at night, to rob a woman, who had been buried the day before with a Gold ring upon her finger (according to her deſire); now when he had opened the Grave and Coffin, and looſed the ſheet, he fell a rubbing and chafing her finger to get off the Gold Ring, and with rubbing and chafing of it, her ſpirits returned (ſhe having been but in a ſwoon before) and ſhe revived, and lived many years after. Smart Afflictions are but the rubbing and chafing of our graces. The ſmarting Rod abaſeth the lovelineſs of the world, that might entice us, it abates the Iuſtineſs▪ of the fleſh within, that might incite us to vanity and folly, and it abets the ſpirit in his quarrel to the two former: All which tend much to the recovering and reviving of decayed graces. But,

The Sixth end to which the Rod ſerves, & that is, to try the child, to make a diſcovery of the ſpirit of the child. Some Parents never ſee ſo much of the badneſs of the ſpirits of their Children, as they do when they bring them under the Rod; and other Parents never ſee ſo much of the goodneſſe of the ſpirits of their Children, as they do when they chaſtiſe them with the Rod: 'Tis ſo here, when God afflicts ſome, O the pride, the ſtoutneſs, the croſneſs, the hardneſs, the peeviſhneſs and ſtubborneſs of ſpirit that they Exod. 5. 2. Jer. 44. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.Exod 5:2Jer 44:15Jer 44:16Jer 44:17Jer 44:18Jer 44:19diſcover! Iſa. 1. 5. Jer. 5. 3. When he afflicts others, O the murmuring, the roaring, the complaining, the howling, the fretting, the vexing, and the Amos 4. 6,—13.Amos 4:6quarrelling ſpirit that they diſcover! Num. 14. 27, 29, 36. Deut. 1. 27. Iſa. 58. 3, 4. Iſa. 59. 11. Hoſ. 7. 14, 15. Jon. 4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9. Sometimes when God afflicts his deareſt People, O what a ſpirit of Faith, what a ſpirit of Prayer, what a ſpirit of Love, what a ſpirit of Patience, what a ſpirit of meekneſs, what a ſpirit of humbleneſs, what a ſpirit of ſubmiſſiveneſs do they diſcover! Job 13. 15. 2 Chron. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12. Iſa. 26. 16, 17. Hoſ. 5. 14, 15. Job 1. 20, 21, 22. Lev. 10. 1, 2, 3. 1 Sam. 3. 18. 2 Kings 20. 16, 17, 18, 19. And at other times when God afflicts his poor People, O what a ſpirit of unbelief, what a ſpirit of ſlaviſh fear, what a ſpirit of impaciency, what a ſpirit of diſpleaſedneſs, &c. do they diſcover! Gen. 15. 2, 3. Gen. 12. 13, 19. Gen. 20. 2, 5. Gen. 26. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Pſal. 31. 22. Pſal. 116, 11. 1 Sam. 21. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Job. 3. 3,—13. Jer. 20. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. By ſmart Afflictions God tryes the graces of his People, and diſcovers what is in the ſpirits of his People, Deut. 8. 2. Pſal. 66. 10, 11. Rev. 3. 18. 1 Pet 1. 6, 7. The fire tryes the Gold, as well as the Touch-ſtone. Diſeaſes try the Art of the Phyſitian, and Tempeſts try the skill of the Pilot. Every ſmarting Rod is a Touch-ſtone, both to try our graces, and to diſcover our ſpirits. Prudent Fathers will ſometimes croſs their Children, to try, to diſcover, the diſpoſitions of their Children: Heb. 12. 5,—21.Heb 12:5And ſo doth the Father of Spirits deal ſometimes with his Children.

The manner of the Pſylli (which are a kind of People Plin. lib. 28of that temper and conſtitution, that no Venom will hurt them) is this, if they ſuſpect any Child to be none of their own, they ſet an Adder upon it to ſting it, and if it cry, and the fleſh ſwell, they caſt it away as a ſpurious iſſue, but if it do not quatch nor cry, nor is never the worſe for it, then they account it for thei own, and make very much of it. The Application is eaſie. But,

The ſeventh and laſt end of the Rod, Is to prepare & fit the Iſa. 48. 10.Isa 48:10chaſtiſed for greater ſervices, favours and mercies. Many a Child, and many a ſervant had never been ſo fit for eminent ſervices as they are, had they not been under a ſmarting Rod. 'Tis very uſual with God, to caſt men into very great Afflictions, and to lay them under grievous ſmarting Rods, that ſo he may prepare and fit them for ſome high and eminent ſervices in this world. Joſeph had never been ſo fit to be Governour Gen. 41. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44.Gen 41:40Gen 41:41Gen 41:42Gen 41:43Gen 41:44of Egypt, and to preſerve the viſible Church of God alive in the World, if he had not been ſold into Egypt, if his feet had not been hurt in the Gen. 45. 7, 8.Gen 45:7Gen 45:8ſtocks, and if the Irons had not entred into his ſoul. Nor Moſes had never been ſo fit to be a Leader, and a Deliverer of Iſrael as he was, if he had Gen. 50. 20.Gen 50:20not been baniſhed Fourty Yeares in the Wilderneſs before. Nor Davids Crown had never ſat ſo well, nor ſo cloſe, nor ſo long on his head, as it did, had he not for ſome years before been hunted, as a Partridge in the Wilderneſs. Nor the Three Children (or rather, the Three Champions) would never have been fit for ſo high a Rule, had Dan. 3. 29, 30.Dan 3:29Dan 3:30they not been firſt caſt into the fiery Furnace. Nor Daniel, for that exceeding high honour, and glory, and greatneſs, to which he was exalted, had he Dan. 6. 25,—ult.Dan 6:25not been firſt caſt among the Lyons. And ſo had Eſther never been a poor Captive-Maid, ſhe had never been a Queen, and ſo had never been inſtrumental in the preſervation of the Church of God in her day. Heman was one of the beſt and wiſeſt men in 1 Kings 4. 31.1 Kgs 4:31the World (in his day), and this God brought him to, by training of him up in the School of Affliction, as you may evidently, ſee in that 88. Pſalm. That of the Apoſtle in 2 Cor. 1. 4. deſerves to be written in letters of gold, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God. Mark that word, able. O 'tis one of the hardeſt and nobleſt works in all Chriſtianity, to be able divinely to comfort others that are in troubles; and yet by ſufferings God fits and prepares his People, for this noble and difficult ſervice.

Luther was of Opinion, that to comfort a diſtreſſed Conſcience, was a greater work, than to raiſe the dead to life. And yet by inward and outward ſufferings, God fits his People for this great work.

And thus you ſee, in what reſpects Afflictions are compared to a Rod.

The ſecond thing I am to do, is to ſhew you thoſe ſpecial Leſſons, that you are to learn by the Rod, (or if you pleaſe,) by the raging Peſtilence.

Now they are theſe,

The firſt Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod, or by the raging Peſtilence, is to know, what the particular meſſage or errand is, which the Rod hath to deliver to you in the day of your diſtreſſe and trouble. Your firſt work is to do as David did, in that 2 Sam. 21. 1. He humbly enquires of the Lord, to know the particular reaſon why he ſent a Famine amongſt them. You muſt do as Job doth, Job 10. 2. Shew me, O Lord, wherefore thou contendeſt with me. Job would fain know the reaſons of the controverſie between God and him. One well obſerves on the Text, that Job was very deſtrous to know, whether God did afflict him for ſin, or for tryal, not to ſatisfie his curioſitie but, his Conſcience. Elihu's counſel to Job muſt here take place, Job 34. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I have born chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more. That which I ſee not teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Job it ſeems was yet in the dark, as to the particular cauſe or reaſon, why the Lord had ſo grievouſly afflicted him; and therefore he is very importunate with God, that he would graciouſly point out the ſin, for which he had ſo ſorely ſmitten him. Thy proceedings, ſaith Job, to my underſtanding, ſeem to be very ſtrange and ſevere; I am more heavily afflicted than others, and yet I do not know wherein I have ſinned more than others: Why I ſhould be condemned and caſt, without a Tryal, why thou art ſo hot againſt me, and why thou haſt multiplied ſo many unheard of miſeries upon me, and why thou haſt ſo greatly ſubjected me to the ſaddeſt and ſoureſt cenſures of others, as if I were the worſt of ſinners, and the baſeſt of hypocrites, I know not: And therefore O Lord, I humbly deſire, that thou wouldeſt not deal with me according to thy abſolute Power, but let me know the true grounds and cauſes of all my heavy ſorrows and miſeries. And ſo he is at it again, in that Job 13. 23. How many are mine iniquities and ſins? make me to know my tranſgreſſion and my ſin. My plagues, O Lord, are unparalel'd; if my ſins are ſuch let me know it, ſaith Job. My calamities tranſcend the calamities of all others; if my ſins do ſo, let them not be hid from mine eyes, O Lord. My load, O Lord is heavier than others; and therefore if my ſins are greater than others, let me ſee them, let me underſtand them: Infirmities and weakneſſes, I confeſſe, do hang upon me, they are inherent in me, and they do too often iſſue and flow from me; but as for enormities or wickedneſſes, neither my cenſorious Friends, nor yet my worſt enemies, no, nor yet my own Conſcience, will ever be able to make any juſt, or clear proof againſt me: O Lord, I have many ſpots upon me, but if there be any upon me that are not the ſpots of thy People, let me ſee them, let me know them, that I may abhor my ſelf, and juſtifie thee, and that I may ſay, my Friends are righteous in their cenſures, and I have done wickedly before the Lord. Sometimes Afflictions are ſent only for tryal and inſtruction, and not at all for ſin; this is evident in the caſe of Job, and in the caſe of the Blind man, whoſe afflictions, though they were very great and grievous, John 3. 9.John 3:9yet were they not for ſin, but for tryal.

Now though this be true, yet it muſt be granted, that Mic. 1. 5,—10.Mic 1:5commonly ſin is the meritorious cauſe, the procuring cauſe of all Afflictions. Sin ordinarily is the Original and Foundation of all our troubles Amos 2. 4, 5, 6.Amos 2:4Amos 2:5Amos 2:6and chaſtiſements, Pſal. 89. 30, 31, 32. If his Children forſake my Law, and walk not in my Judgements; if they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandements: Then will I viſit their tranſgreſſion with the Rod, and their iniquity with ſtripes. Jer. 2. 19. Thine own wickedneſs ſhall correct thee, and thy back-ſlidings ſhall reprove thee: know therefore and ſee, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou haſt for ſaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, ſaith the Lord God of Hoſts. Amos 3. 2. You only have I known of all the Families of the earth; therefore I will puniſh you for all your iniquities.

Queſt. But what courſe muſt we take? what meanes muſt we uſe, to find out that particular ſin, for which God corrects us, or, which hath brought the Rod upon us?

Anſw. 1. Obſerve what that ſin is, that thy Conſcience doth moſt upbraid thee with, and check thee for. Conſcience is Gods Preacher in the Gen. 42. 21. Chap. 50. 15, 16, 17.Gen 42:21boſome. Now obſerve what that particular ſin is, that Conſcience doth moſt ſmartly and roundly correct, and chaſtiſe thee for, for 'tis ten to one but that is the ſin, that hath brought the Rod upon thee. The voice of Conſcience, and the voice of the Rod, do uſually eccho one to another. 'Tis very rare to find a difference between the language of Conſcience, and the language of the Rod. Conſcience is Gods Deputy, Gods Spie, Gods Notary, Gods Viceroy; and therefore do not deſpiſe the voice of Conſcience, do not turn off Conſcience, as Felix turned off Paul. If the ſecret Acts 24. 25Acts 24:25cry of Conſcience be, O this is for thy Pride, or this is for thy Paſſion, or this is for thy Self-love, or this is for thy earthlineſs, or this is for thy carnalneſs, or this is for thy hypocriſie, or this is for thy formality, &c. it will be thy wiſdome to ſubſcribe to the ſecret cry of Conſcience. But,

Secondly, Seriouſly obſerve what that ſin is, that thy ſoul would have ſpared above all, that thy ſoul is moſt unwilling to leave, and bid an everlaſting farewel to. Obſerve what thy right hand ſin, thy Mic. 6. 6, 7. Eſt. 5. 13.Mic 6:6Mic 6:7Esth 5:13boſome ſin, thy conſtitution ſin, thy complexion ſin is, for 'tis a hundred to one, but that God hath ſent the Rod; for the ſubduing of that very ſin. Commonly by the Rod God points at the mortifying of that particular ſin, to which the heart ſtands moſt ſtrongly inclined. But,

Thirdly, Obſerve what that ſin is, that doth moſt maim and mar thy confidence and 1 John 3. 20, 21.1 John 3:201 John 3:21boldneſs, in all thy addreſſes and approaches to God; for doubtleſſe that is the ſin, that God would ſubdue and bring under by the Rod. But,

Fourthly, Obſerve what the affliction, what the pain, what the diſeaſe, what the puniſhment is, that you are under; for ſometimes a perſon may run and read his ſin in his very puniſhment, Judges 1. 7. Threeſcore and ten Kings having their thumbs and their great toes cut off gathered their meat under my Table: as I have done, ſo God hath requited me. Now ſhall Adonibezek, a Heathen Prince run and read his ſin in his puniſhment; and ſhall not a Chriſtian much more? ſhall not grace do as much as blind nature? Look as a man may ſometimes gueſs at the diſeaſe of the Patient, by the prudent obſerving of the Phyſitians Bill; ſo may he ſometimes gueſs at the particular ſin that God would have deſtroyed, by the puniſhment that is inflicted. God uſually, firſt or laſt, meets with men, and payes them home in their own coyn: Is the Judgment ſhame? then the ſin was pride; is the Judgment want, famine? Hoſ. 2. 8, 9.Hos 2:8Hos 2:9then the ſin was abuſe of abundance; is the Judgment oppreſſion? then the ſin was unmercifulneſs; is the Judgment loſs of Children? then the ſin was inordinate love to them. Eli and David were too indulgent to their Children; and therefore they were puniſhed in them and by them: Is the Judgment ſickneſs, or want of health? then the ſin was, either the abuſe of health, or the non-improvement of health: Is the Judgment a famine of the Word? then the ſin was, ſlighting and loathing of the word: Is the Judgment War? then the ſin was abuſe of peace: Is the Judgment a blind, cold, carnal, prophane, formal, drunken, ſuperſtitious Clergy? then the ſin hath been ſlighting, neglecting, undervaluing, and deſpiſing, an able, knowing, zealous, ſpiritual, and powerful miniſtry: Is the Judgment, a worſhipping of God in a lazy, dry, dull, dead, formal, cuſtomary way, according to the inventions and traditions of the Elders? then the ſin hath been mens not worſhipping of John 4. 23, 24.John 4:23John 4:24God in ſpirit and in truth, and with that zeal, ſpirit, life, warmth, and fervency, as he requires: Is the Judgment, the breaking of the communion Rom. 12. 11.Rom 12:11of Gods People, and ſcattering of them into holes and corners, as it was in Ahabs, Judg. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.Judg 6:1Judg 6:2Judg 6:3Judg 6:4Judg 6:5and Jezabels, and Gideons days? then doubtleſs the ſin hath been a ſlighting, undervaluing, neglecting, or forſaking of Chriſtian Communion, or elſe a non-improvement of Chriſtian Communion. But,

Fifthly, Obſerve whether you have not been very faulty towards others, in the very things you now ſuffer your ſelves. Do others wrong you in your names, eſtates, relations, callings, dealings? &c. lay your hands upon your hearts, and ask them, whether you have never wronged others, as others now wrong you. Doe others raſhly judg Iſa. 33. 1. Rev. 13. 10. J…mes …. 13 Gen. 50 15, 16, 17.Isa 33:1Rev 13:10Gen 50:15Gen 50:16Gen 50:17you, and bitterly cenſure you, and falſly accuſe you, and unjuſtly condemn you? if they do, reflect upon your former carriages towards others; and if you muſt plead guilty, throw the firſt ſtone at your Mat. 7. 1, 2.Matt 7:1Matt 7:2ſelves, and ſay with Adonibezek, As I have done, ſo God hath requited me. Let every laſh of God upon you, put you in mind of your deportment towards others, when God hath given them Gall and Wormwood to drink. But,

Sixthly, Obſerve what that ſin is, that thou canſt not endure Prov. 1. 25, 30. Prov. 12. 1. Pro. 17. 10. Prov. 9. 8. Pro. 15. 12.Prov 1:25Prov 1:30Prov 12:1Prov 17:10Prov 9:8Prov 15:12ſhould be touched, or reproved, or ſpoken againſt. Ah how proud, how impatient, how paſſionate, how mad are many, when you come to touch their right-eye-ſin. When you come to touch them in the tender part, O then they fume, and ſwell, and rage, and take on like men and women out of their wits, as you may ſee in the Scribes and Phariſees, who were ſo angry and mad with Chriſt, that they ſought his death; and all becauſe he was ſtill a pointing at the Toads in their boſomes, viz. pride, vain-glory, hypocriſie, and ſelf-righteouſneſs: O they could not endure that the ſharp Raſor of reproof ſhould come neer their ſoreſt part. Certainly that Chriſtian muſt be under a very high diſtemper, that cannot but ſmite a righteous man with reproach, for ſmiting him with a reproof. Though gracious reproofs are choice Phyſick, yet few ſtomachs can tell how to bear them. Moſt Chriſtians are for lenitives, few for are corroſives. David was glad of a healing reproof; but there are Pſal. 141. 5.Ps 141:5but few Davids alive. Who is angry with the Phyſitian for preſcribing a bitter potion? and yet, ah how angry are many Chriſtians, when they come to fall under holy reproofs, eſpecially if there be any of that ſharpneſs and cuttingneſs in them, that the Apoſtle exhorts to, in that Tit. 1. 13. Now doubtleſs the voice of the Rod is this, Soul take heed of that ſin, that thou canſt not endure ſhould be touched Labour mightily with God to get that particular ſin mortified, that thou canſt not endure ſhould be reproved. But,

Seventhly, Obſerve what ſin that is, that doth moſt hinder Pſal. 50. 16, 17.Ps 50:16Ps 50:17thee from cloſing with the precious promiſes, and from living upon precious promiſes, and from improving of precious promiſes, and from treaſuring up of precious promiſes, and from appropiating of precious promiſes to thine own ſoul; and it is very probable, that for the ſubduing of that ſin, the Lord hath viſited thee with his fatherly Rod. But,

Eighthly, Obſerve what ſin that is, that did moſt ſting and terrefie thee in an evil day, as when thou haſt been Gen. 42. 21Gen 42:21under ſome loathſome diſeaſe, or tormenting pain, be it ſtone, gout, or burning feavour, or when thou haſt been in ſome eminent danger, or when thou haſt had a ſentence of death upon thee, and there hath been but a ſhort ſtep between thee and eternity. Doubtleſs that ſin, which hath lain as a heavy load upon thy Conſcience in the dayes of thy former diſtreſſe, that is the ſin that God would have effectually conquered, and brought under by his preſent Rod. But,

Ninthly, Obſerve what particular ſin that is, that doth moſt hinder thee in holy duties and ſervices, and that doth moſt interrupt thee in thy Communion with God, enquire what particular ſin that is, that thy Eze. 33. 31.Ezek 33:31heart is moſt apt to run after, when thou art on the Mount of holy duties. Whileſt the Diſciples were healing diſeaſes, and caſting Devils out of other mens bodies, the proud white Devil was ſtirring in their own ſouls, as is evident by that gentle rebuke that our Saviour gives them in Luke 10. 20. In this rejoyce not, that the ſpirits are ſubject unto you; but rather rejoyce becauſe your names are written in Heaven. There is no Duty that a Chriſtian performs, but one white Devil or another, one luſt or another, will be ſtill dogging and following of him to that Duty. There is no publick Duty, there is no family duty, there is no private duty, that a Chriſtian performs, but either that white Divel, Pride, or that white Devil, Hypocriſie, or that white Divel, vain-glory, or elſe ſome one or another white Devil will follow the Soul, hard at heel to it. Now mark what that particular ſin is, that moſt haunts thy ſoul, when thou art in Religious duties and ſervices, and it may be that is the very ſin that God would have ſubdued by the Rod. But,

Tenthly, Obſerve what ſin that is, that the reſt of your corruptions are moſt ſerviceable to, and that they moſt attend upon: Mark what ſin that is, that all other ſins doe moſt bow the knee to: Mark that ſin that hath a commanding power over all other ſins, that ſaith to one, go, and he goeth, & to another, come, and he cometh: Mark what ſin that is, that is ſtill uppermoſt, and that all other ſins do moſt miniſter to. You know when a man hath a great wound in his body, all the ill humours will run thither. Obſerve what ſin that is, that all the ill humours of the ſoul do moſt run after, for 'tis very likely that that is the very ſin that God would have brought under by the Rod. But,

Eleventhly, Obſerve what that ſin is, that your hearts are moſt apt to hide, and cloak, & cover over with the moſt ſpetious, and fair pretences. Saul had a covetous deſire, and he 1 Sam. 15. 20, 21.1 Sam 15:201 Sam 15:21covers it over with fair pretences, as that the people would have it ſo, and that what was ſpared was for ſacrifice. Caeſars favour was the great Mat. 27. 24.Matt 27:24darling in Pilates eyes, but he covers all over with waſhing his hands. The Scribes and Phariſees were exceeding covetous, but their long prayers, Mat. 23.Matt 23as a cloak, muſt cover all. Judas alſo was a man of the ſame mind and mettle with them, What need this wast, why was not Mat. 26. 8, 9. John 12. 5, 6.Matt 26:8Matt 26:9John 12:5John 12:6this oyntment ſold for three hundred pence, & given to the poor? This he ſaid, not that he cared for the poor; but becauſe he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Judas (as Tertullian thinks) was pretty honeſt till he carried the bag; but no ſooner was he in office, but he puts Conſcience out of office, but all muſt be covered over with a cloake of charity. Obſerve what ſin that is, that you are moſt apt to caſt the Silk, or the Satin mantle over, and 'tis ten to one, but that is the ſin that God would have brought under by the Rod. But,

Twelfthly and laſtly, Obſerve what that ſin is, that thou art moſt eaſily overcome by. Dalilah could eaſily overcome Sampſon, when all the world beſides could make no conqueſt upon him. The Apoſtle Heb 12. 1.Heb 12:1bids us, lay aſide the ſin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us. There are ſome ſins that find more eaſie approaches to us, and more eaſie acceptance with us, & accordingly they do more eaſily captivate us. Obſerve what that ſin is, that you doe moſt readily and eaſily open the door to, and doubtleſſe that is the ſin that God would have mortified and ſubdued by the Rod.

The Second Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by Pray turn to theſe Scriptures 2 Chron. 28. 10. Jer. 8. 6. Ezek, 7. 15, 16.2 Chr 28:10Jer 8:6the raging Peſtilence,) is deeply to judg your ſelves, and greatly to humble your ſouls, for that ſin or ſins that hath brought the Rod upon you, thus David did in that 2 Sam. 24. 10, 17. When you have found out the Achan that hath brought the Rod upon you, ſtone him to death, and lye humble and low under the Rod, and then the Allmighty will be graciouſly pacified, and ſweetly reconciled unto you.

The Third Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod, (or by the raging Peſtilence,) is to view the Rod on every ſide; if there be bryers on one ſide of the Rod, there is Roſemary on the other ſide of the Rod; if there be wormwood and gall at one end of the Rod, there is ſweet honey at the other end of the Rod, as there was at the top of Jonathan's 1 Sam. 14. 43.1 Sam 14:43Rod.

If we ſhould come into a Painters or a Limners ſhop, and ſee a Picture half drawn, it might trouble us and ſtartle us, if it did not fright us and amaze us; but yet when the Picture is perfected, compleated, and finiſhed, it may prove a very beauteous, lovely, taking piece. The Application is eaſie. Look as every Judgment, every Affliction, every Rod hath its black, dark ſide; ſo every Judgement, every affliction hath its bright ſide to. Mow 'tis the wiſdom of a Chriſtian to look on the bright ſide of the Rod, the Cloud; as well as 'tis his work, to look on the dark ſide of the Rod, the Cloud: When a Chriſtian looks upon the dark ſide of the Cloud, he ſhould be humbled and abaſed; but when he looks upon the bright ſide of the Cloud, he ſhould be comforted and cheered. He James 5. 11.Jas 5:11that is ſtill a looking on the briery ſide of the Rod, will be very apt to fret and faint under the Rod; but he that looks on the Roſemary ſide of the Rod, as well as the briery ſide of the Rod, he will bear up patiently, gallantly, and cheerfully under the Rod. The voice of the Rod is Look on both ſides, Look on both ſides. But,

The fourth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod, (or by the raging Peſtilence,) is to look on the Rod, not abſtractly, from the hand that holds it; but conjunctively, with the hand that holds it, thus Hezekiah did, 2 Kings 20. 16, 10, 18, 19. Thus Aaron did, Lev. 10. 1, 2, 3. Thus Eli did, 1 Sam. 3. 11,—19. Thus David did, Pſal. 39. 9. Thus Job did, Job 1. 20, 21, 22. Yea, and thus Jeſus did, John 18. 11. Shall I not drink the Cup that my Father hath given me to drink. Though the Cup was a bitter Cup, a bloody Cup, yet ſeeing it was put into his hand by his Father, he drinks it off, with a Father I thank thee. The Rod in its ſelf ſounds nothing but ſmart and blood to the Child; but the Rod in the hand of a Father ſounds nothing but love, kindneſs, and ſweetneſs, Rev. 3. 19. Whom he loves he chaſtens. You ſhould never look upon the Rod, but as it is in the hand of your heavenly Father, and then you will rather kiſs it, than murmur under it. But,

The Fifth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod, (or by the raging Peſtilence,) is to cleave and cling cloſe to God under the Rod. O how doth the Child cling and hang upon his Father when he takes up the Rod; let ſuch a Child-like Spirit be found in you, when the Father of Spirits takes up up the Rod. When the Rod was upon Davids back, O how doth he cleave to God, even as the Wife cleaves to her Husband; for ſo much the Hebrew word Dabak in that Pſal. 63. 8. imports. So when Job was under the Rod, O how doth he cling about God! Job. 13. 21. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him. Job will hang upon a killing God. So the Church in that Pſal. 48. 15, 16, 17, 18, &c. So thoſe hundred fourty and four thouſand that had their Fathers names written in their foreheads, Rev. 14. 1,—6. O Friends, you never ſhew ſo much Child-like love, nor ſo much Child-like ingenuity, nor ſo much Child-like integrity, as you do ſhew when under the ſmarting Rod, you are found clinging about the Lord, and hanging upon the Lord by an exerciſe of grace. When Antiſtenes held up his Staffe, as if he intended to beat on of his Scholers out of his School, the Scholar told him, that he might ſtrike him if he pleaſed, but he ſhould never find a ſtaffe of ſo hard wood, as ſhould ever be able to beat him him from him. When no Staff, no Rod, no Affliction, can drive us from Chriſt, it is a ſure argument that we have profited much in the School of Chriſt. But,

The Sixth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod, (or by the raging Peſtilence,) is to prepare to meet the Lord whileſt the Rod is in his hand, Am. 4. 12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Iſrael: and becauſe I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael. Now there is a two-fold preparation.

The Firſt is a Negative preparation, and this lyes in taking heed of ſinning againſt Light and Conſcience; for thoſe ſins that are againſt a clear Light, and an awakened Conſcience, are moſt wounding, waſting, terrifying, and damning.

Secondly, There is a Poſitive preparation, and that conſiſts in repentance & returning to the Lord, and in abaſing and humbling your ſelves before 2 Chron. 7. 14.2 Chr 7:14the Allmighty. As there is no running from God, ſo there is no contending with God; for what is the chaff to the Whirlwind, or the ſtubble to a conſuming fire? And therefore the voyce of the Rod is, Prepare to meet the Lord in a way of faith, and repentance; prepare to meet the Lord in an exerciſe of grace; prepare to meet the Lord with prayers, and tears, and ſtrong cryes. But,

The Seventh Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence,) is to acknowledge Gods ſoveraign power and authority over the Rod, to bow it, or break it, or burn it, or take it off, or lay it more or leſs on, as he pleaſeth. Mic. 6. 13. Deut. 28. 58, 59, 60, 61.Mic 6:13Deut 28:58Deut 28:59Deut 28:60Deut 28:61All diſeaſes and ſickneſſes are under the command of God, they are all his Sergeants, his ſervants, to execute his pleaſure: That Mat. 8. 5. is an obſervable Text; Chriſt tells the Centurion, that he would come and heal his ſervant; the Centurion tells him, that he was not worthy that he ſhould come under his roof, only if he would but ſpeak the word, his ſervant ſhould be healed; For (ſaith he verſ. 9.) I am a man under Authority, having Souldiers under me: & I ſay to this man go, and he goeth; and to another come, and he cometh; and to my ſervant do this and he doth it. Now when Jeſus heard this, he marvelled, and ſaid to them that followed, Verily, I ſay unto you, I have not found ſo great faith, no not in Iſrael, verſ. 10. But wherein did the greatneſs of the Centurions faith appear? why, in this very acknowledgment, that all diſeaſes were to Chriſt as ſervants, and that they were as much under the command of Jeſus Chriſt, as any ſervant under heaven is under the command of his Maſter: When Chriſt bids them go and afflict ſuch a man, they go; and torment ſuch a man, they go; and kill ſuch a man, they go; and ſo when he calls them off, they come off at his call. Dear Friends, it is a very great point of faith to believe theſe five things.

Firſt, that God is the author of all the diſeaſes, malladies, and ſickneſſes, that be in the World, and that he ſets them on and call them off at his own good will and pleaſure, Amos Lev. 26. Deut. 28.Lev 26Deut 283. 6. Is there any evil in the City, and hath not the Lord done it? He ſpeaks of the evil of puniſhment, and not of the evil of ſin. It was a mad Principle among the Manichees, who refer'd all calamities to the Devil for their author, as if there could be evil in the City, and the Lord have no hand in it.

Secondly, It is a great point of Faith to believe, that all diſeaſes and ſickneſſes are limited by God, in reſpect of places. God ſent diſeaſes of all ſorts into Egypt, but he forbad them Goſhen, Exod. 8. 20, 21, 22, 23. Chap. 9, 23, 24, 25, 26. Ponder ſeriouſly upon theſe Scriptures. Gods ſhooting his arrows into one Town, and not into another, into one City, and not into another, into one Kingdome, and not into another, into one family, & not into another, doth ſufficiently evidence, that all diſeaſes, and ſickneſſes, are limited by the Holy One of Iſrael, in reſpect of places.

Thirdly, It is a very great point of Faith, to believe that all ſickneſſes, and diſeaſes, are limited by God in reſpect of perſons; that they are ſo, is evident in that Pſal. 91. 3,—8. Iſa 65. 12. But who lives in the faith of this truth? Sometimes in the ſame houſe one is infected, and the other is not; ſometimes in the ſame bed, the one is ſmitten, and the other is not; ſometimes at the ſame table, the one is taken away, and the other is left, &c. and this doth roundly evidence and witneſs, that all ſickneſſes and diſeaſes are limited by God in reſpect of perſons, as well as in reſpect of places. But,

Fourthly, It is a great point of Faith, to believe that all diſeaſes and ſickneſſes are limited by God in reſpect of the degrees to which they ſhall ariſe. That God that ſets bounds to the raging Sea, and that ſaith unto it, Thus far ſhalt thou go, and no further; that God ſets bounds to all raging diſeaſes and ſickneſſes, and ſaith unto them, thus far you ſhall go, and no further: He ſets bounds to the Feaver; he ſaith to it, go and ſcorch and burn up ſuch a body ſo much, and no more; and to the Dropſie, go and drown ſuch a body ſo much, and no more; and to the raging Peſtilence, go and weaken ſuch a body ſo much, and no more; and to the Stone, go and torment ſuch a body ſo much, and no more. But,

Fifthly, It is a very great point of Faith, to believe that all diſeaſes and ſickneſſes are limited by God, as to their continuance: God ſaith to one diſeaſe, go hang upon ſuch a man, ſo many years; to another, go hang up ſuch a man but a few years; and to another, go hang upon ſuch a man but a year; and to another, go hang upon ſuch a man but a few months; and to another, go hang upon ſuch a man but a few weeks; and to another, go hang upon ſuch a man but a few dayes; and to another, go hang upon ſuch a man but a few hours, &c. and accordingly it cometh to paſs. But,

The eighth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod, (or by the raging Peſtilence) is, to Gal. 5. 24. 1 Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31. Eccl. 1. 2. Prov. 23. 5. Jer. 45. 4, 5Gal 5:241 Cor 7:291 Cor 7:301 Cor 7:31Eccl 1:2Prov 23:5Jer 45:4Jer 45:5get more weaned, and more mortified affections to all worldly comforts, contentments, and enjoyments. A man never comes to experience ſo much of the emptineſs, the nothingneſs, the uſeleſneſs, the vanity, the mutability, the impotency, the inſufficiency, and the uncertainty of all worldly comforts, and enjoyments, as when he comes to fall under the Rod. The conſtant cry of the Rod is, Be dead to the profits, pleaſures, honours, and applauſes of the world, be dead to relations, be dead to friends, be dead to every thing below a living Jeſus. But,

The ninth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence) is, to get aſſurance of greater, and better things, than any this world doth afford. That ſaying Heb. 10. 33, 34.Heb 10:33Heb 10:34is as true, as it is old, viz. That the aſſurance of an eternal life, is the life of this temporal life: But having ſpoke ſo much of this particular in my Treatiſe on Aſſurance, which is now in your hands, I ſhall ſatisfie my ſelf with this hint at preſent. But,

The tenth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence,) is, not to deſpiſe the Rod, Heb. 12. 5. My Son, deſpiſe not thou the chaſtening of the Lord. The Greek Word foreign that is tranſlated deſpiſe, ſignifies the littling of a thing: O do not little the Rod, do not leſſen it, do not ſlight it, do not make a tuſh at it, do not ſet light by it, do not ſay, I will not regard it, he that doth, ſhews himſelf, rather to be a Roman, than a Chriſtian. Now becauſe there is ſuch a deſperate aptneſs & proneſs in many to make light of the Rod, it will be your wiſdom ſeriouſly to lay to heart theſe four particulars.

Firſt, That it is an immediate hand of God; and therefore not to be deſpiſed: 'Tis a Am. 3. 6. Deut. 28. 58, 59, 60, 61.Amos 3:6Deut 28:58Deut 28:59Deut 28:60Deut 28:61ſad and ſinful thing to deſpiſe the mediate hand of God; but 'tis more ſad and ſinful to deſpiſe the immediate hand of God. But,

Secondly, 'Tis a mighty hand of God, 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your ſelves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Certainly Am. 4. 10. 11. Ez. 38. 22, 23.Amos 4:10Amos 4:11that heart muſt be mightily wicked, that dares deſpiſe the mighty hand of God. But,

Thirdly, 'Tis an angry hand of God; and therefore do not deſpiſe it, Pſal. 90. 7. For we are conſumed by thy anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Verſ. 11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, ſo is thy Num. 16. 46. Ez. 33. 27, 28. 29, Deut 29. 22. 23, 24. 25Num 16:46Deut 29:22Deut 29:23Deut 29:24Deut 29:25wrath. Shall Devils tremble under his angry hand? Yea ſhall they roar, as the Sea under his … wrathful hand, as that Greek word foreign. imports, in that James 2. 19. And will you preſume to deſpiſe his angry hand? the Lord forbid. but,

Fourthly and laſtly, Conſider, that it is a holy hand, it is a juſt and righteous hand, it is a faithful hand of God; and therefore do not deſpiſe it, Jer. 29. 17, 18, 19. Lev. 26. 25. Jer 14. 12, 13, 14. 15. 16Jer 29:17Jer 29:18Jer 29:19Lev 26:25Jer 14:12Jer 14:13Jer 14:14Jer 14:15Jer 14:16Pſal. 119. 75. I know, O Lord, that thy Judgmentt are right, (or righteouſneſs) and that thou in faithfulneſs hast afflicted me. Verſ. 137. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy Judgments. Certainly none but unholy perſons will be ſo impudent, as to deſpiſe Gods holy hand. Well,

The Eleventh Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence,) is, not to be diſcouraged under the Rod, Heb. …2. Nor Jer. 27. 13. 2 Sam. 24. 10, 17.Jer 27:132 Sam 24:102 Sam 24:17faint when thou art rebuked of him. Firſt, It is a Rod in a fathers hand; and therefore do not faint under it. Secondly, God will do much good by the Rod; and therefore do not faint under the Rod. Thirdly, You could not have been without the Rod; and therefore do not faint under the Rod.

Fourthly, The Rod that is now upon, is not according to the greatneſs of Gods anger, nor according to to the greatneſs of his power, nor according to the ſtrictneſs of his Juſtice, nor according to the demerits of your ſins, nor according to the malitious deſires of Satan, nor according to the deſignes, plots, and contrivances, of wicked and unreaſonable men, nor according to the extenſiveneſs of your fears, for you have feared worſe things than you feel, nor according to that Rod that hath been upon the Primitive Saints, nor according to that Rod, that many thouſands of the precious ſons and daughters of Zion are under in other parts of the world, and therefore do not faint under the Rod, do not be diſcouraged under the Rod.

Fifthly, by fainting under the Rod, you will gratifie Satan, reproach religion, render your ſelves unſerviceable, and make work for future Repentance; and therefore do not faint under the Rod. But,

The Twelfth Leſſon that you 2 Chron. 32. 25, 26. Lev. 26. 40, 41, 42. Mic. 7. 9. Lam. 3. 30. Luke 21. 10.2 Chr 32:252 Chr 32:26Lev 26:40Lev 26:41Lev 26:42Mic 7:9Lam 3:30Luke 21:10are to learn under the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence) is, humbly to kiſs the Rod, and patiently & quietly to lye under the Rod, till the Lord ſhall either give you a gracious or a glorious deliverance from it. What is the Rod, and what is the raging Peſtilence, to the horrors of Conſcience, to the flames of hell, or to an everlaſting ſeparation from the preſence of the Lord, and 2 Theſ. 1. … 8, 9.2 Thess 1:82 Thess 1:9from the glory of his power? And therefore put your mouths in the duſt, and be ſilent before the Lord. He that hath deſerved a hanging, if he eſcape with a whipping, hath no cauſe to murmur or complain; and we that have deſerved a damning, have little cauſe to murmur or complain of a whipping, yea, though it ſhould be with a Peſtilential-Rod. But,

The thirteenth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Peſtilence) is, highly, fully, freely, and ſignally to juſtifie the Lord, and to think well of the Lord, & to ſpeak well of the Lord, under the Rod; to that purpoſe conſult theſe Scriptures, Pſal. 119. 75, 137. Neh. 9. 33. Ezr. 9. 13. Lam. 1. 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 4, 15, 18. Dan. 9. 12. 14. 2 Kings 20. 16, 17, 18, 19. Jer. 12. 1, 2. Pſal. 129. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Pſal 22. 1, 2, 3. Pſal. 97. 2. But,

The fourteenth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence) is, perſonal reformation. When the Rod ſmarts, & the Peſtilence rageth, God expects that every man ſhould ſmite upon his thigh, and turn from the evil of his doings, 2 Chron. 7. 13, 14. If I ſhut up heaven, that there be no rain, or if I command the locuſts to devour the Land, or if I ſend Peſtilence among my people: If my people which are called by my name, ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, & ſeek my face, & turn from their wicked wayes; then will I hear from heaven, & will forgive their ſin, & will heal their Land; that is, I will remove the judgments that are upon the Land, & I will confer upon my reforming people all thoſe favours & bleſſings that they ſtand in need of. Conſult theſe Scriptures, Ezr. 10. 14, 19. 2 Chron. 30. 8, 9. And chap. 29. 8, 10, 15, 16. But,

The Fifteenth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence) is, to make God your habitation, your ſhelter, your refuge. Ponder ſeriouſly upon theſe Scriptures, Pſal. 91. 2, 9, 10. Pſal. 90. 1. Pſal. 71. 3. Pſal. 57. 1. They dwell moſt ſafely, moſt ſecurely, moſt nobly, who dwell in God, who live under the ſhadow of the Allmighty, and who every day lodge their ſouls in the boſome of eternal loves. But,

The Sixteenth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or the raging Peſtilence) is, to ſet up God as the great object of your fear, Pſal. 119. 119, 120. Iſa. 8. 7, 8, 13, 14. compared. When the Judgments of God are either threatned or executed, feared or felt, it highly concerns us to lift up God, as the main object of our fear; we ſhould fear the hand that layes on the Rod, more than Job 13. 11. Jer. 36. 24.Job 13:11Jer 36:24the Rod it ſelf. When God takes up the Rod, when he draws his ſword, and when he ſhoots his Peſtilential arrows amongſt us, O how highly doth it concern us to fear before him with a child-like fear, with a reverential fear, with a fear that fortifies the heart againſt ſin, and with a fear that fits the Soul for duty, & that draws, yea drives the ſoul to duty. But,

The ſeventeenth leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence) is, to expect Gods ſingular preſence with you, and his admirable protection over you. Conſult theſe Scriptures, Iſa. 43. 2. Dan. 3. 24, 25. Gen. 39. 39, 40. Pſal. 23. 4, 5. Pſal. 91. Iſa. 63. 9. Iſa. 26. 20, 21. Ezek. 9. 4, 6. God is above his people, and beneth them, Deut. 33. 25, 26, 27. He is under them, and over them, Cant. 2. 6. He is before them, & behind them, Iſa. 52. 12. & chap. 58. 8. He is on the right hand of his people, and he is on the left hand of his people, Pſal. 16. 8. Pſal. 121. 5. Pſ. 118. 15, 16 Exod. 14. 22, 29. God is round about his people, Pſal. 34. 7. Pſal. 125. 2. And God is in the midſt of his people, Zech. 2. 5. Pſal. 46. 5. Pſal, 12. 6 O the ſafety, the ſecurity of the poor people of God, for God is above his people & beneth them, he is under them & over them, he is before them & behind them, he is in the front, & in the rear, and he is round about them, and in the midſt of them. But,

The eighteenth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence) is to live every day in a freſh, choice, & frequent excerciſe of grace. Conſult theſe Scriptures, Pſal. 91. 2, 3, 4. Jer. 39. 17, 18. Mic. 7. 7, 8, 9. Pſal. 40. 1, 2. Hab. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4. Jer. 30. …1. That man that lives dayly in an exerciſe of grace, that man lives every day in heaven on this ſide heaven, what-ever affliction or judgment he is under.

The Ninteenth Leſſon that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging Peſtilence) is, to quicken up your hearts to ſeek the Lord by extraordinary wayes & means, viz. by faſting & prayer. Conſult theſe Scriptures, Num. 16. 46,—ult. Pſal. 106. 23, 29, 30. Iſa. 22. 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13. Jon. 3. 5,—ult. 2 Chron. 12. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 1 Kings 21. 21,—ult. Joel 2. 12, 13, 14, 15. 16, 17. But,

The Twentieth, and ſo the laſt Leſſon, that you are to learn by the Rod (or by the raging peſtilence) is, To prepare for death, it is to be in actual readineſs to dye. Ah Friends, every ach, every pain, every diſeaſe, is one of deaths warning pieces. There is not a head-ach, not a tooth-ach, not a gripe, not a grief, not a fall, not a wrench, not a plague-ſore; but is a divine warning to man, to prepare to die. 'Tis a ſoleemn work to die, and therefore we had need prepare to die. 'Tis a work that is to be done but once; and therefore we had need prepare to do that work well, that is to be done but once. In this world, we hear often, & pray often, & read often, and meditate often, & eat often, & drink often, Job 14. 14. Heb. 9. 27.Job 14:14Heb 9:27and that which is worſt, we ſin often; but we muſt die but once. Death will try all our graces, & all our experiences, & all our evidences, & all our comforts, & all our attainments, and all our He that would ſee more of this, may read my String of Pearls, and the Funeral Sermon that is at the end of my Book of Aſſurance.enjoyments; and therefore we had need to prepare to die. Though there is nothing more certain than death, yet there is nothing more uncertain than, 1. The time when we ſhall die. 2. The place where we ſhall die. And 3. The manner how we ſhall die; as whether we ſhall die a ſudden death, or a lingring death, or a violent death; or whether we ſhall fall by the ſword abroad, or by famine or peſtilence at home, or whether we ſhall fall by this diſeaſe or that; and therefore we had need be alwayes in an actual readineſs to die. No man ſhall die the ſooner, but much the eaſier, and the better, for preparing to die: And therefore let us alwayes have our loins girt, and our lamps burning. As death leaves us ſo Judgment will find us; and there fore we have very great cauſe to ſecure our intereſt in Chriſt, a changed nature, and a pardon in our boſomes; that ſo we might have nothing to do, but to die. Except, we prepare to die, all other preparations will do us no good. In a word, Death is a change, a great change, 'tis the the laſt change till the reſurrection, 'tis laſting, yea, an everlaſting change; for it puts a man into an eternall condition of happineſs or miſery; 'tis an univerſal change, all perſons muſt paſs under this flaming Sword. That Statute Law, Duſt thou art, and unto duſt thou ſhalt return, will Gen. 3. 18.Gen 3:18ſooner or later take hold on all mortals; and therefore it highly concerns us to prepare for death.

And thus I have ſhewn you theſe Leſſons that you are to learn by the Rod. The Lord grant that your ſouls may fall under thoſe freſh, thoſe choice, thoſe full, and thoſe conſtant influences and communications of his holy Spirit, as may enable you to take out thoſe twenty Leſſons that I have laid open before you. I confeſs the Epiſtle is large, but do but conſider your own conditions, and the preſent diſpenſations under which we are caſt, & then I ſuppoſe you will not call it by the name of, a tedious Epiſtle.

Dear Friends, the following diſcourſe on Cloſet-prayer, I heartily recommend to your ſerious peruſal: I have many reaſons to hope, that when you have once read it over, you will be more in love with Cloſet-prayer than ever, & that you will ſet a higher price upon Cloſet-prayer than ever, & that you will make a better and fuller improvement of Cloſet-prayer, than ever yet you have done. Conſider what I ſay in my Epiſtle to the Reader, & labour ſo to manage this little Treatiſe, that now I put into your hands, that God may be glorified, your own ſouls edified, comfored & encouraged in the wayes of the Lord, and that you may be my Crown and joy, in the great day of our Lord Jeſus. So 1 Theſ. 2. 19, 20.1 Thess 2:191 Thess 2:20wiſhing that the good will of him that dwelt in the buſh, may abide upon you and yours for ever, I take leave and reſt,

Dear Friends, Your ſouls ſervant in our Dear Lord Jeſus. THOMAS BROOKS.