An Offer of Farther Help to Suffering Saints, Title page – To the reader
AN OFFER OF Farther Help TO SUFFERING SAINTS: OR, The beſt Work in the worſt Times.
WHEREIN The neceſſity, excellency, and means of preparation for Sufferings are clearly evinced, and preſcribed.
… which, as in a Glaſs, the people of God may ſee how … to dreſs themſelves for Death, or any other Suffering … to which the Lord ſhall call.
Added as an Appendix to the Sufferers Mirrour.
… and therefore, having your loynes girt about with Truth, and having on the Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, and your feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace, Epheſ. 6.14, 15.
…hold I come as a Thief. Bleſſed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, leſt he walk naked, and they ſee his ſhame, Rev. 16.15.
…pienti meliora ſunt in votis, deteriora vero in expectatione, Plut. de tranquil.
…avius eſt vulnus quod non expectatur, & illa aegrius tollerantur, quibus homo ſe non prius aſſuefacit, Aug.
London, Printed for the Authour, and are to be ſold by Robert Boulter, 1665.
The Epiſtle to the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
TRuth is the proper object of the Underſtanding; which when ſanctified, reliſhes Spiritual Truths with a ſtrange delight and pleaſure, Job 12.11. The ſoul in all its laborious reſearche…; and diſquiſitions (ſometimes climbing up from the Effects to the Cauſes, and ſometimes deſcending from the Cauſes to the Effects) is making enquiry after Truth.
It racks and tortures it ſelf upon knotty Problems to find it out, and with vehement anhelations, and inſatiable longings, followes the pleaſant (though painfull) chaſe of Truth. All the objections, doubts, and ſcruples it meets with, are but the pauſes of a bivious and heſitateing ſoul, which is at a ſtand, not able to reſolve whether Truth lie on this ſide, or on that. And as its deſires are vehement in the purſuit of Truth, ſo is its joy proportionate in the acquiſition thereof. For no ſooner doth the Underſtanding diſcover it, but the ſoul runs to it as it were with open arms, to embrace, hug, and welcome it. And though Truth be welcome in any dreſs to a ſoul that loves it for its native excellency, yet it may be clothed with ſuch taking circumſtances and conſiderations, as may commend it to the ſoul with greater advantage, and be to a truth what health is to a good feature, which enammels and ſprinkles it over with a raviſhing beauty.
Now amongſt all thoſe beautifying and endearing circumſtances and conſiderations, that of ſeaſonableneſs is not the leaſt. If it be a preſent truth, as the Apoſtle calls it 2 Pet. 1.12. it is for that the more gracefull and highly acceptable, becauſe it bears upon the ſouls preſent occaſions, and is of preſent uſe and ſervice to it. Prov. 15.23. A word ſpoken in due ſeaſon, how good it is?
Reader, under this great advantage (for I can beſtow no other ornaments upon them) do the truths of Jeſus, held forth in the following Treatiſe, preſent and commend themſelves to thine acceptance. If therefore thou be an ingenuous ſoul, that loveſt the Truth as it is in Jeſus, thou wilt entertain theſe Truths in love, which make as ſeaſonable an offer to aſſiſt and relieve thy ſoul engaged in this hour of temptation, as Joab once did to Abiſhai in the day of battel, 1 Chron. 19.12. It may poſſibly prove a caſtly Truth to thee; but be confident it will pay thee richly for its entertainment. That great Truth which in the following diſcourſe is commended to thee, is the ſame which God is now preaching to all the world in a louder dialect by his preſent dreadfull diſpenſations. Say Reader, Do they not all with one mouth call upon us to prepare for fiery Trials? Is there not a dreadfull ſound of approaching judgements in thine ears? and will they not be by ſo much the more ſinking and intolerable, as they come by way of ſurprize upon thee? Expected evils are the more comportable. For look as expectation deflowreth any temporal enjoyment, and ſucking out much of the ſweetneſs of it beforehand, we find ſo much the leſs when we come to enjoy it, even ſo the expectation of evils abateth much of their dread and terrour. They ſeem not new or ſtrange to a perſon that hath often converſed with them beforehand in his thoughts; and beſides that, hath had the advantage of fortifying and preparing his ſpirit for them. When the Keepers Wife came running into Mr. Bradford's Chamber, ſaying, O Mr. Bradford! I bring you heavy tidings, for to morrow you muſt be burned, your Chain is now buying, and preſently you muſt go to Newgate. He put off his Hat, and looking up to Heaven, ſaid, O Lord, I thank thee for it, I have looked for this a long time: it comes not ſuddenly to me, the Lord make me worthy of it. See in this example the rare advantage of preparation for ſufferings.
Believe it Reader, Sufferings are a very bitter Cup, and thou hadſt need to provide ſome ſweething thing to drop into that Cup, that thou mayeſt be able to receive it with thanksgiving. And though it be true, that God may immediately do that for thee when he delivers it into thine hand, yet if thou neglect his calls to thy preſent duty, thou haſt no ground to expect ſuch a mercy in thy future ſtreights. It is an excellent thing for a Chriſtian to prepare for trials, as if he expected no immediate aſſiſtance; and then when the trial comes ſo entirely to depend upon immediate aſſiſtance, as if he had made no preparation for it. It grieves my heart to ſee how the generality of the Profeſſours of this Age are ſeized by a Spirit of ſlumber, and having got a ſoft Pillow of Creature-comforts under their heads, are fallen aſleep, and *Mundus erſceus ſpatitur phantaſias. Gerſon.dream pleaſant dreams of Halcyon golden dayes at hand, not conſidering what ſtorms or tempeſts muſt uſher in the glory of that day, nor making proviſion to grapp…e with the intercurrent difficulties that ſo nearly approach them, and are their next work. That God will appear in his glory to build up Sion. And that the New Jeruſalem ſhall come down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride for her Husband is no dream, but a moſt certain and comfortable truth, but that therefore it is needleſs for the Expectants of that day to make themſelves ready for the worſt of Sufferings; that they may aſcend in a fiery Chariot into the glorious Kingdome above, not knowing whether ever they may live to ſee this New Jeruſalem come down to them: this I ſay is a dream which will be of ill uſe to the Saints, except the Lord ſeaſonably awake them out of it. If this ſpirit of ſlumber, which our Lord hath fore-ſhewen ſhall fall even upon the Virgin Churches at the laſt dayes, Mat. 25.have not invaded thee, but thou ſtandeſt with Habakkuk upon thy Watch-Tower, expecting and fitting thy ſelf for a day of greater temptation and trouble; ſuch a diſcourſe cannot but be welcome to thee, and thou wilt bleſs God for affording thee any help in ſo important an affair as this is. Thou art not at all the nearer death for laying thy head voluntartly upon the Block, God can provide himſelf another ſacrifice, and yet accept thy readineſs to ſuffer for him as if thy blood had been actually ſhed. This will reflect much honour upon Jeſus Chriſt in the ſight of the world, to whom it will hereby appear, that there is a reality in godlineſs, and that you do indeed deſcry ſomething beyond theſe preſent viſible enjoyments, that infinitely preponderates and excells them all. And as Chriſt will be magnified, ſo a double benefit will hence reſult to thy ſelf. Hereby thou wilt gain peace in thy ſpirit, and a proof of thy ſpirit. Peace of ſpirit in dayes of confuſion and perplexity is no ſmall mercy. This is ordinarily the effect and reward of a wiſe and provident preparation for them, I trembled in my ſe…, that I might reſt in the day of trouble, Hab. 3.16.
And this will alſo give thee a proof of thy ſpirit. Upon this account (Chriſtian) they may be the beſt days that ever thou ſaweſt. Now thou mayeſt diſcover not onelyonly the truth but the ſtrength of thy graces; being called unto ſome high points of ſelf-deniall for Chriſt. For look as ſelf-love is not onelyonly a ſin, but the meaſure of all other ſins, ſo ſelf-deniall is not onelyonly a grace, but the true meaſure and touch-ſtone of all thy graces. Now in order to thy attainment of this bleſſed and choice frame of Spirit, the eying of ſuch examples as theſe cannot but be of ſingular uſe. Here you have a Cloud of Witneſſes. And the Cloud encompaſſeth you round. Turn which way you will, you may find ſomething in them parallel to your caſe. Oh what cauſe have the Saints of this Age, to bleſs the Lord for ſuch rare Advantages. We that live in the laſt Times, have the beſt helps.
But certainly, our applauſe and commendation of them, is not all the uſe that God expects you ſhould make uſe of them, but that you ſhould be followers of them, who through Faith and patience inherits the Promiſes; and that you take them for an example of ſuffering affliction and of patience, Heb. 6.12. Jam. 5.10. It's ſtoried of great Tamberlain, that he never went into the Field, but he would carry the Lives of his Anceſtors with him, which he would always read e're he gave Battail, to rouze his Courage, that he might not ſtain their Noble Blood by his Cowardize: And had you but the skill to improve ſuch Examples as theſe, you would find a ſingular advantage thereby, when you come to be tryed in like manner. I would have you look upon all theſe Worthies, as ſo many Souldiers returning from the …eld with Victory and Honour, and the ſeveral Graces in which they excelled, as ſo many Swords and Shields, by which they atchieved their glorious Conqueſts: but all taken from the Tower of David, built for an Armory, whereon there (ſtill) hang a thouſand Bucklers, all Shields of mighty men, Cant. 4.4. They have now put off their Armour of War, and put on their Armour of Light, not to fight, but triumph in: if ever you hope to be fetched off the Field in Triumph as they were, and wear the Crown of Victory as they do, then go to this Tower of David, (i. e.) take from Chriſt theſe Shields of the Mighty, and learn the uſe of your Spiritual Weapons as they did. And ſee that you learn theſe Leſſons from ſuch glorious Paterns and Precedents.
1. Learn by this to obviate the ſcandal of ſingularity, which Satan and his Agents would faſten upon you, and your ſufferings. Say not as Elijah, I am left alone; nor yet as the Church in Captivity, Was ever ſorrow like my ſorrow? Certainly, you are not alone in your ſufferings for Chriſt, here is ſtore of good company in the ſuffering way with you. Oh think not ſtrange of fiery Trials, as though ſome ſtrange thing had happened to you, 1 Pet. 5.9.
2. Learn by this to deſpiſe the ſhame that may attend your ſufferings, be not aſhamed of the Chain and Croſs of Chriſt. See here how thoſe that were the glory of the Ages, they lived in ſuffering more vile and ignominious things than you do, and yet reckoned it their glory. So did the Apoſtles, when they went from the preſence of the Council rejoycing, foreign, that they were honoured, to be diſhonoured for Chriſt.
3. Learn from hence to checque that nicence and unbecoming delicacy of ſpirit, which effeminates, melts, and ſoftens your ſpirits. When Fleſh reluctates at ſufferings, and ſaith, How wilt thou be able to endure ſuch hardſhips, or ſuffer ſuch Torments, ſay as Elijah, Am I better then my Fathers? What better than ſuch Saints as theſe, who have patiently ſuffered as hard things as can befall me?
4. Learn hence to ſhake off deſpondency and faintneſs of Spirit, when the greateſt ſufferings approach you. Say not they are invincible, impaſſable. See here how the Enemy with whom you are now to grapple and enter the Liſts, hath been beaten hand to hand, how poor Women and Children have triumphed over him. And why may not you be as victorious in the ſtrength of Chriſt as they were? They were men of like paſſions with you, they had the ſame temptations and corruptions with you, all troubled with a buſie Devil, and complaining of a buſie Devil as well as you; and you have the ſame Maſter, Spirit, Promiſes, and Rewards with them. Oh therefore rouze up your Courage, and play the Men.
5. Laſtly, learn hence to ſcare your ſelves unto your Duty, and tremble at the thoughts of Apoſtacy. Fear leaſt this Cloud of Witneſſes ſhould riſe up to condemn thee in that great day, if thou now follow them not. O beloved, it will be ſad to have ſo many Witneſſes as theſe are, to give teſtimony againſt you before the Lord.
Thus you ſee how theſe Examples may ſubſerve the deſign and end of this Diſcourſe of preparation for ſufferings. Now the good Lord give thee an heart to know what a price is in thy hand, and to improve ſuch choice helps as theſe, that thou maiſt be able to ſtand in the evil day, and h…ving done all, to ſtand.
Farewel.
ACT. 21.13.
Then Paul anſwered, What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? for I am ready, not to be bound onelyonly, but alſo to die at Jeruſalem, for the Name of the Lord Jeſus.
THE ſeveral motions of the Apoſtles were guided by the ſpecial direction of the Holy Ghoſt. They could not go where ſometimes they had a mind to go, but where the Spirit pleaſed to direct and carry them, Act. 16.6, 7. At this time Paul ſtood engaged by the ſpecial direction of the Spirit, to go to Jeruſalem, Act. 20.22. And now behold I go bound in the Spirit to Jeruſalem, not knowing the things that ſhall befall me there. [bound in the Spirit] It's an alluſion, as ſome conceive, to a priſoner, that is bound with Cords, and carryed away by a potent Conquerour: Or, as others, to the Watery Vapours, which are bound up in the Clouds, and carrved by the Wind, according to the motion of the Clouds. Even ſo, was the Spirit of this Holy Man effectually ſubdued and determined to his Duty, notwithſtanding the hazards attending it, that he could no more keep himſelf back from his duty, to which the Spirit ſo ſtrongly impell'd him, than a man that is wedged in with a Crowd can chuſe but move as it moves. So powerfully doth the Spirit of the Lord, by his convictions and ſecret perſwaſions, ſubdue and determine the Spirits of the Saints to the Work God hath to do by them, Jer. 20.9. Act. 4.20.
And it was well that the Will of God, concerning this dangerous Journey to Jeruſalem, was ſo convincingly revealed unto Paul: For ſhortly after he met with three ſtrange Rubs in his way, able to have ſtagger'd any man that had not an extraordinary degree of clearneſs and ſatisfaction in his own Spirit.
The firſt was from the Diſciples at Tyre, who pretending to ſpeak to Paul by the Spirit, ſaid unto him, that he ſhould not go up to Jeruſalem, Act. 21.4. The Lord by this trying the Spirit of his Apoſtle, much as he did the young Prophet coming from Judah to Bethel, 1 King. 13.18.
Shortly after this, he met with another great diſcouragement at Caeſarea, where Agabus (whom Dorotheus ſaith was one of the 72 Diſciples, and had before propheſied of the Famine in the time of Claudius, which accordingly came to paſs) he takes Paul's Girdle, and binding his own hands and feet with it, ſaid, Thus ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, ſo ſhall the Jews at Jeruſalem bind the man that oweth this girdle, and ſhall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles, Act. 21.11. And he well enough knew, what the rage and malice both of the one and other againſt him was, and what he muſt expect, if ever he fell into their hands.
And then laſtly, he meets with a greater diſcouragement and pull-back then any of the forme, even that paſſionate ſtorm of affection and love wherewith his Friends aſſault him, begging him with tears to decline that Journey. Oh they could not give up ſuch a Miniſter as Paul was, and therefore fell upon him with their pathetical Entreaties, and multitudes of Tears, which even melted him down, and almoſt brake his heart.
Whence, by the way, you may note, that we cannot judge our ſelves diſcharged from any ſervice by God, becauſe we meet with ſtrange hinderances, and croſs providences in our way. Divine Precept, not Providence, is to rule out our way of Duty. Never man met with ſorer ſet-backs and remora's then Paul here did; but notwithſtanding all this, being fully ſatisfied, it was the Lords will he ſhould accompliſh that ſervice at Jeruſalem, he reſolutely breaks through all thoſe intercurrent difficulties, with this heroick and truly Chriſtian Reſolution in the Text, I am ready not to be bound onelyonly, but to die at Jeruſalem for Chriſt.
The words conſiſt of two general parts.
1. Paul's loving and gentle rebuke of the peoples inordinate and unſeaſonable ſorrow for his departure, foreign. What do ye? Or, as it's render'd, What mean ye? Pray forbear your tears, reſtrain your unruly paſſion; if you continue thus, I ſhall not die at Jeruſalem for Chriſt indeed, you'l break my heart here. The words in the Greek are emphatical, foreign, comminventes, breaking it all to pieces, crumbling it into duſt. Oh what a temptation was this? but it moved him not from his purpoſe. They had even broken, but could not divert his heart from the Work of the Lord.
2. The Conſiderations or Argument he uſeth to quiet them, For I am ready, foreign. I am in a ready poſture, fitted for the Work, be it a Priſon, or be it Death. Liberty is a dear thing, the very Birds of the Air had rather be in the Woods with their liberty, though lean and hungry, than in a Golden Cage with the beſt attendance, ſaith one: But I am fitted for Bonds, ſaith Paul. Nay, that's not all, but I am ready alſo to die at Jeruſalem. To part with life is the higheſt point of Self-denial, becauſe all lower Self-Intereſts in the World, are as it were twiſted with, and wrapt up in this Intereſt of Life. He that is ready to deny his life for Chriſt, is alſo ready to ſacrifice all other, even his deareſt enjoyments for him alſo, becauſe theſe are all wrapt up in Life: Yet for this he profeſſeth to them he was ready.
But what was in this to ſatisfie them whoſe trouble it was to ſee him ſo forward: Why there are three things hereby ſuggeſted to them, in order to the calming of their ſpirits.
1. In this they might ſee a Divine Hand that had been at work upon his heart, fitting it thus for that ſervice: for certainly fleſh and blood could not produce this: And if it were of God, there was reaſon enough for them to be quiet, and not ſtrive againſt God: For there is nothing in the World will ſooner ſtill and quiet a gracious Soul than this, to ſhew him how God hath ſignified his Will in the thing.
2. I am ready, my heart ſtands fully bent to Jeruſalem, and therefore you had as good be quiet, and ſatisfie your ſelves, for I am fixt and reſolved upon it: my Will is ſubdued to the obedience of the Divine Will in this thing: your Tears and Entreaties are all in vain, 'twill be but loſt labour.
3. As it would be in vain to them, he reſolving not to gratifie them in that, ſo it would be of very ill uſe to him. I am now ready (ſaith he) God hath fully ſatisfied my Soul in the thing: and not onelyonly am I clear in this that it is my duty, but in a good meaſure I am fitted for it. I have overcome the Contradictions and Reluctations of the Fleſh, and brought my heart to a quiet ſubmiſſion to the Will of God. It is therefore as great a diſſervice as you can imagine to do me. Now to unfix and diſorder my heart again, by caſting ſuch Temptations as theſe in my way, and by your tempting Tears to make the fleſh rebel, and the Enemy that is within to renew its oppoſition.
Thus you ſee the equipage and preparation of Paul's Spirit for Chriſt's ſervice at Jeruſalem. And as this was not a bravado before he ſaw the Enemy, but real and in earneſt, appears by his acting full up to this his noble Reſolution, when it came to the tryal, 2 Tim. 4.6, 7. So that it was a very glorious and excellent Spirit, by which he did exceedingly glorifie the Lord: and this readineſs of Spirit was of ſingular uſe alſo to himſelf, for this enabled him to break his way through the many and ſtrange hinderances and diſcouragements that he met withall in that Journey.
Now though the Text be pregnant, with many excellent and uſeful Notes, yet the main Point that I level at is this.
DOCT.
That it is a bleſſed and excellent thing for the people of God to be ready for the hardeſt ſervices, and worſt ſufferings, to which the Lord may call them.
This is that which every gracious heart is reaching after, and aiming at, but how few attain it? Certainly, there are not many that can ſay as Paul here did, I am ready to be bound, or die.