A Christian Library, Chapter 36
CHAP. 36. That all afflictions, from the least to the greatest, do come to pass, not by accident, chance or fortune, but by the especiall providence of God.
Section 1.
2. WEe shall bear the cross with more patience and comfort. If wee consider, that all afflictions, from the least to the greatest, do come to pass, not by accident, chance, or fortune, but by the speciall providence of God; who not onelyonly decreeth and fore-appointeth every particular cross, Eccles. 3.1. Rom. 8.28.29. but even effecteth them, and brings them into execution, as they are crosses, corrections, trialls, and chastisements: Isa. 45.7. Amos 3.6. and also ordereth and disposeth them; that is, limiteth and appointeth the beginning, the end, the measure, the quality, and the continuance thereof: yea▪ hee ordereth them to their right ends; namely, his own glory, the good of his servants, and the benefit of his Church: Ier. 30.11. Gen. 50.19, 20. 2 Sam. 16.10. Psal. 39.9. God useth them but as instruments, wherewith to Work his good pleasure upon us. As what are our enemies, but God's Axes to cut us down, not for the fire, but for the building: God's Masons to hew us here in the Mountain, that wee may bee as the pollished corner stones of the Temple, Psal. 144.12. Or admit the Mason pulls down the House, it is not with an intent to destroy it, but to re-edifie it; and raise it up again in better form and fashion. Gods scullions to scowre up the vessell of his House, that they may bee meet for the Masters use.
If then they bee but as instruments, and tools in the hand of the workman; wee must not so much look to the instrument, as to the Author, Gen. 45.5. and 50 20. Well may the Priests of the Philistims doubt whether their plague bee from God, or by fortune, 1 Sam. 6.2, 9. but let a Ioseph bee sold into Egypt, he will say to his enemies, Yee sent not mee bither, but God; when yee thought evill against mee, God disposed it to good, that hee might bring to pass as it is this day; and save much people alive: Or … a David bee railed upon by any cursed Shimei, hee will answer, Let him alone, for hee curseth, even because the Lord hath bid him curse David: who dare then say, wherefore hast thou done so? 2 Sam 16.10. Or let a Micha bee trodden upon, and insulted over by his enemie, his answer will bee no other than this. I will bear the wrath of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, untill he plead my cause, and execute judgment for mee: Micha 7.9. The believer that is conversant in God's book, knows that his adversaries are in the hands of God, as a hammer, ax, or rod, in the hand of a smiter; and therefore as the hammer, ax, or rod, of it self can do nothing, any further than the force of the hand using it, …ves strength … to it: so no more can they do any thing at all unto him, further than it is given them from above; as our Saviour told …late: Ioh. 19.11. See this in some examples; you have Laban following Iacob with one troop, Esau meeting him with another, both with hostile intentions; both go on till the uttermost point of their execution, both are prevented ere the execution: for stay but a while, and you shall see Laban leave him with a kiss, Esau meet him with a kiss; of the one hee hath an oath, tears of the other, peace with both. God makes fools of the enemies of his Church, hee lets them proceed that they may bee frustrate; and when they are gone to the uttermost reach of their teather, hee pulls them back to the stake with shame. Again, you have Senacherib let loose upon Hezekiah and his people, who insults over them intolerably: 2 Kings 18. Oh! the lamentable and (in sight) desperate condition of distressed Ierusalem; wealth it had none, strength it had but a little, all the countrey round about was subdued unto the Assyrian: that proud victor hath begirt the walls of it with an innumerable army, scorning that such a shovell-full of earth should stand out but one day: yet poor Ierusalem stands alone, block'd up with a world of enemies, helpless, friendless, comfortless, looking for the worst of an hostile fury; and on a sudden, before an Arrow is shot into the City, a hundred fourscore and five thousand of their enemies were slain, and the rest run away, 2 Kings 19.35, 36. God laughs in heaven at the plots of Tyrants, and befools them in their deepest projects. If hee undertake to protect a people, in vain shall earth, and hell conspire against them. Nothing can bee accomplished in the Lower House of this world, but first it is decreed in the Upper Court of heaven; as for example, what did the Iews ever do to our Saviour Christ, that was not first both decreed by the Father of Spirits, and registred in the Scriptures for our notice and comfort? They could not so much as throw the Dice for his Coat, but it was prophesied: Psal. 22.18. and in Psal. 69.21. It is fore-told that they should give him gall in his meat, and in his thirst, vinegar to drink; the very quality and kind of his drink is prophesied: yea, his face could not be spit upon without a prophesie; those filthy excrements of his enemies fell not upon his face, without God's decree, and the Prophets relation: Isa. 50.6. Yea, let the Kings of the earth bee assembled, and the Rulers come together; Let Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gather themselvs in one league against him, it is in vain; for they can do nothing, but what the hand of God and his Counsell hath before determined to bee done: as Peter and Iohn affirmed to the rest of the Disciples; for their better confirmation and comfort: Act. 4.26. to 29. No, notwithstanding the Devill raged, the Pharisees stormed, Herod and Pilate vexed, Caiaphas prophesied, all combined, and often sought to take him: yet no man laid hands on him (untill his hour was come that God had appointed): so that by all their plots, they were never able to do him any more hurt, than onelyonly to shew their teeth, Ioh. 7.30. If wee are in league with God, wee need not fear the greatest of men.
Indeed, … was Pilates brag to Christ, knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee … Ioh. 19.10. And Labans to Iacob, Gen. 31.29. I am able to do you …hu… but they were vain cracks: for doth not Pharaohs overthrow tell all boasting Champions, that an Host is nothing without the God of Hosts. Yea, Satan himself was fain to say unto God in Iob's case, stretch out now thine hand, &c Iob 1.11. and 2.…. True as Themistocles once said of his son, this boy can do more than any man in all Greece: for the Athenians command the Grecians, and I command the Athenians, and my wife commands mee, and my son commands my wife: so the Churches adversaries in some places, may boast what their Father the Devill can do: for hee commands the Pope, and the Pope commands the Iesuites, and the Iesuites command such a King, or Emperour, Rev. 17. ver. 12.13. and that Emperour, or King, commands his Officers of State; and they command the common people. And yet to speak rightly, even all these can do just nothing of themselvs, for hee that sits in the heavens laughing them to scorn, commands all.
Now it must needs comfort and support us exceedingly, if in all cases wee do but duly consider, that inequality is the ground of order, that superiour causes guide the subordinate, that this sublundry Globe depends on the celestiall; as the lesser wheels in a Clock do on the great one, which I finde thus expressed:
As in a Clock one motion doth convay,
And carry diverse wheels a severall way;
Yet altogether by the great wheels force,
Direct the hand unto his proper course.
Who is hee that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Lamenta. 3.37. Suppose the Legions of hell should combine with the Potentates of the earth to do their worst, they are all nothing without God: as in Arithmetick, put never so many Cyphers together, one before another, and they make nothing; but let one figure bee added, it makes them infinite. So is it with men and Devills; if God bee not with them, they are all but Cyphers: And yet for the praise of his glory, and the good of his Church, these enemies of his, whether they rise or sit still, shall by an insensible ordination performe that will of the Almighty, which they least think of, and most oppose: The inhabitants of Ierusalem, and their Rulers, (because they knew him not, nor yet the words of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day) have fulfilled them in condemning him, Act. 13.27. so that as Saint Austin speaks, by resisting the will of God, they do fulfill it: and his will is done by and upon them, even in that they do against his will.
That even Satan himself is limited, and can go no further than his chain will reach, wee may see Rev. 20.2. More particularly; hee could no… touch so much as Iob's body or substance, no not one of his servants, nor one limb of their bodies, nor one hair of their heads, nor one beast of their heards, b…t hee must first beg leave of God, Job 2.6. Nay Satan is so far from having power over us living, that hee cannot touch our bodies being dead; yea, hee cannot find them when God will conceal them, (witness the body of Moses): and I doubt not, but as the Angells did wa…t at the Sepulchre of their and our Lord: so for his sake, they also watch over our graves: he could not seduce a false prophet, nor enter into a Hog without licence; the whole Legion sue to Christ for a sufferance, not daring other than to grant, that without his permission they could not hurt a very Swine.
And when he hath leave from God, what can hee do? hee cannot go one hairs breadth beyond his commission: being permitted, hee could bring Christ himself, and set him on the Pinacle of the Temple, but hee could not throw him down; which even a little child might have done with permission. As the Lyon, 1 King. 13, killed the Prophet, but neither touched the Ass whereon hee road, nor yet the dead carkas contrary to his nature.
True Satan could boast even to Christ himself, that all the world was his, and all the Kingdoms thereof, but when it came to the push, he could not enter into a very Hog, without asking him leave, and having leave given him, hee presently carryed the whole heard headlong into the Sea: Why did hee not so to the man possessed? no thanks to him, hee had leave for the one, not so for the other, and therefore a whole Legion of them were not able to destroy one poor simple man, Matth. 8. ver. 31.32.
So that all our enemies are curbed and restrained by the divine providence of our heavenly Father: Satan may bee his Executioner, but God is the Iudge, and the Executioner cannot lay on a stroke more than the Iudge appoints,
I confess Satan is so strong comparatively, and withall so crafty and malicious, that wee may with reverence and love, wonder at the mercy of God in our delivery: But this is our comfort, first, that Spirit (as wee have shewn) can do nothing without the God of Spirits. Secondly, wee have the Angells aid, as the Prophet Elisha against that bloody King, 2 King. 6.17. Lot against the Sodomites, Gen. 19.10. Iacob against the fear of Esau, Gen. 32. ver. 24.28. Hezekiah against Senacherib, Isa. 37.36. and England against that invicible Navie of the Spaniards in Eighty eight. True, they appear not ordinarily, what then? no more do the evill Angels, but the Word of God assures us it is so, the Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them, Psal. 34.7. And do but thou get spirituall eyes, whereby thou mai'st see, as with Moses, the invisible God, so the invisible Angels: do but pray as Elisha for his servant, that thine eyes may bee opened, and then thou shalt see more with thee, than against thee 2 King. 6.16▪ 17.
Yea, had wicked men their eyes opened, as Balaam once had, they would at every turn see an Angel stand in their way, ready to resist what they go about, as hee did: for this is one of the noble imploiments of those glorious spirits, to give a strong, though invisible opposition to lewd enterprises: Many a treacherous act have they hindred, without the knowledge of the Traytor. Yea, O! God, many are the dangers which wee see, and fear ▪ innumerable, those wee neither see nor fear. Therefore to take away all attribution to our selv…, even when wee know not thou do'st deliver us.
Now if it bee fearfull to think how great things evill spirits can do with permission; it is comfortable to think how they can do nothing without permission: for if God must give him leave, hee will never give him leave to do any harm to his chosen, bee will never give him leave to do the least hurt to our souls. Now as by way of concession, every greater includes the less, hee that can lift a Talent, can easily lift a Pound; so by way of denyall, every greater excludes the less. If Satan himself cannot hurt us, m…ch less his instruments, weak men: but for proof of this, see also an instance or two: that a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without our heavenly Father; and that without leave from him, our enemies cannot diminish one hair of our heads; wee have our Saviour's express testimony, Matth. 10.29.30. Let the Powder-Traytors plot and contrive the ruin… of our state never so cunningly and closey, let them go on to the utmost, (as there wanted nothing but an actor to bring on that Catholick doomsday) yet before the match could bee brought to the Powder, their artificiall fire-works were discovered, their projection, prodition, deperdition, all disclosed, and seasonably returned on their own heads: And the like of their invincible Navie. And of Pope Alexander the sixth, who prepared a feast for diverse Cardinalls and Senators, purposing to poyson them: but by the providence of God, they escaped; and hee alone was poysoned. Let Iezabel fret her heart out, and swear by her gods, that Eliah shall die, yet shee shall bee frustrate; Eliah shall bee safe. Let the red Dragon spout forth floods of venom against the Church, the Church shall have wings given her to flie away, she shal be delivered, Rev. 12. Let the Scribes and Pharisees, with their many false witnesses accuse Christ never so, yet in spite of malice, innocency shall find abbettors: and rather than hee shall want witnesses, the mouth of Pilate shall bee opened to his justification. Yea, let Ionas through frailty run away from the execution and embassage of God's charge, and thereupon bee cast into the Sea, though the waves require him of the Ship, and the Fish require him of the waves, yet the Lord will require him of the Fish: even the Sea, and the Fish, had as great a charge for the Prophet, as the Prophet had a charge for Niniveh: for this is a sure rule, if in case God gives any of the creatures leave to afflict us, yet hee will be sure to lay no more upon us than we are able, or he will make us able to bear: yea, than shall make for our good, and his glory. Hee hath a provident care over all the Creatures, even Beasts and Plants: and certainly wee are more precious than Fowls and Flowers; yet the Lord cares for them. Will the House-holder take care to water the herbs of his Garden, or to fodder his Cattell, and suffer his Men and Maids to famish through hunger and thirst? Or wil hee provide for his Men and Maids, and let his own children starve? Surely, if a man provide not for his own, Hee hath denyed the faith, and is worse than an Infidell: 1 Tim. 5.8. Far bee it then from the great Hous-holder, and Iudge of all the earth, not to provide for his dear Children and Servants, what shall bee most necessary for them: indeed wee may fear our own flesh, as Saint Paul did; but God is faithfull, and will not suffer us to bee tempted above our strength, but will even give the issue with the temptation, and in the mean time support us with his grace, 2 Cor. 12.9. You have an excellent place to this purpose, Ier. 15.20, 21.
Section. 2.
Objection. But wee see by experience, that God gives wicked men power often times to take away the very lives of the godly.
Answ. What then? If wee lose the lives of our bodies, it is, that wee may save the lives of our souls; and attain the greater degree of glory, Luk. 9.24. and so wee are made gainers even by that loss. Now if God takes away temporall, and gives eternall life for it, there is no hurt done us: hee that promiseth ten pieces of silver, and gives ten pieces of gold, breaks no promise. Peace bee unto this house, was the Apostles salutation, but it was not meant of an outward peace with men of the world: and Christ …aith, you shall have rest, Matth. 11.28. but it is rest unto your souls. Again, thou hast merited a three-fold death: if thou bee'st freed from the two worser, spirituall, and eternall; and God deal favourably with thee touching thy naturall death, hee is mercifull: if not, thou must not think him unjust. Though the Devill and the world can hurt us, aswell as other men, in our outward and bodily estates: as the Devill had power over Iob in his ulcers, over his children in their death, over Mary Magdalen that was possessed, and over that daughter of Abrahams, Luk▪ 13. whom hee kept bound 18. years, ver. 16. yet they can do us no hurt, nor indanger our souls; they shall lose nothing but their dross, as in Zachary 13.9. Isa. 12. Let them sluce out our blood, our souls they cannot so much as strike; let wild beasts tear the body from the soul, yet neither body, nor soul are thereby severed from Christ. Yea, they can neither deprive us of our spirituall treasure here, nor eternall hereafter; which makes our Saviour say, Fear yee not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell, Matth. 10.28. The body is but the Bark, Cabinet, Case, or Instrument, of the soul; and say it falls in pieces, there is but a pitcher broken; the soul a glorious Ruby, held more fit to bee set in the crown of glory, than here to bee trode… under foot by dirtie swine; and therefore so soon as separated, the Angels convey her hence to the place of everlasting bliss. Alas, what can they do? they cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Iesus, Rom, 8, 38.39. Yea, they are so far from doing us harm, as that contrariwise wee are much the better for them; In all these these things wee are more than conquerours, through him that loved us: ver. 37. Whatsoever then becoms of goods, or lives, happie are wee so long as (like wise Souldiers) wee guard the vitall parts, while the soul is kept found from impatience, from distrust, &c. Our enemie may afflict us, hee cannot hurt …
Objection. Nevertheless, that which I suffer, is exceeding grievous.
Answer. Not so grievous as it might have been, for hee that hath afflicted thee for a time, could have held thee longer; hee that toucheth thee in part, could have stricken thee in whole: hee that laid this upon thy body, hath power to lay a greater Rod both upon thy body and soul. Again, there is no chastisement not grievous; the bone that was dis-jointed, cannot bee set right without pain; no potion can cure us, if it work not; and it works not, except it make us sick: Nay, my very disease is not so painfull for the time, as my remedy: how doth it turn the stomack, and wring the in trails, and work a worse distemper than that whereof I formerly complained? neither could it bee so wholesome, if it were less unpleasing, neither could it make mee whole, if it did not …i…st make mee sick. But wee are contented with that sickness which is the way to health. There is a vexation without hurt, such is this: wee are afflicted, not overpressed: needy, not desperate: persecuted, not forsaken: cast down, but perish not, how should wee? when all the evill in a City, com… from the providence of a good God, which can neither bee impotent, nor unme…cifull▪ It is the Lord, let him do what hee will. Woe worth us! if evills could come by chance, or were let loose to light where they list; now they are over-ruled, wee are safe. In the name of God then, let not the tall stature of the Anakims, nor the combination of the Edomites, nor the politick counsels of all the Achitopels and Machivillians, nor the proud looks nor the big words of all the Amaziahs, comb…ing themselvs together, deter or dismay you. Let not the over-topping growth of the sons of Zerviah seem too hard for you; for God is infinitely more strong and mighty to save us, than all our enemies are to destroy us: and he hath his Oar in their Boat, he hath a speciall stroke in all actions whatsoever, and can easily over-reach, and make stark fools of the wisest; by making their own counsels and endeavours like Hushai's, to overthrow those intentions which they seem to support.
As touching the continuance of afflictions, God so ordereth and tempereth the same, in his merciful wisdom; that either they be tolerable, or short; either our sorrows shall not be violent, or they shal not last; if they be not light▪ they shal not be long: grievous and sore trialls last but sor a season, 1 Pet. 1.6. A little while, Ioh. 16.16. Yea, but a moment, 2 Cor. 4.17. Hee endureth but a while in his anger, (saith the Psalmist) but in his favour is life; weeping may abide for a night, but joy cometh in the morning, Psal. 30.5. And this had hee good experience of; for if we mark it, all those Psalms whose first lines contain sighs and broken complaints, do end with delight and contentment; he began them in fear, but they end in joy: you shal see terrible anguish sitting in the door, irremediable sorrow looking in at the window, despair bordering in the margent, and offering to creep into the text; yet after a sharp conflict, nothing appears but joy and comfort. God loves to send relief, when wee least look for it; as Elisha sent to the King of Israel, when he was rending his cloaths, 2 Kings 5.8. Hear what the Lord thy Redeemer saith by Isaiah, For a moment in mine anger, I hid my …a…e from thee for a little season, but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee: Isa. 54.8. It is but a little, for a moment that his anger lasts, his mercy is everlasting: and I hid my face, never turn'd my heart from thee: Ioseph when hee lay down to sleep, was full of care about his Wives being with child; Matt. 1.20. but hee awakened well satisfied: ver. 24, To day a measure of fine flower, is lower rated in Samaria, than yesterday of …ung. Although Christ's Star left the wise-men for a time, yet instantly it appeared again, and forsook them not till they had found Christ; which was the mark they aimed at, Matt. 2.9. Afflictions are like running waters, which make many grounds fruitfull, but tarry with none of them. Yea, it is a rule in nature, that violent things cannot last long: The Philosophers could observe, that no motion violent is wont to bee permanent; and Seneca concludes, That if the sickness bee tedious and lasting, the pain is tolerable; but if violent, short: and so of spirituall temptations, the which were so vehement upon Luther, that the very venom of them drank up hi… spirits; and his body seemed dead; so that neither speech, sence, blood, or heat, appeared in him; but this sharp fit lasted but for one day: so if wee suffer much, it shall not bee long; if wee suffer long, it shall not bee much. Some misery is like a Consumption, gentle, but of long continuance; other like a Fever, violent, but soon over. If our sorrows be long, they are the lighter; if sharper, the shorter. The sharp North-East wind (saith the Astronomer) never lasteth three days, and thunder, the more violent the less permanent. Wherefore cheer up thou drooping soul, if the Sun of comfort bee for the present clouded; it will er…long shine forth bright again: if now with the Moon thou art in the wane, stay but a little, thou shalt as much increase; for as days succeed nights, Summer, Winter; and rest travell: so undoub…edly, joy shall succeed, and exceed, thy sorrow. Thy grief shall dissolve, or bee dissolved; yea, it is in some measure dissolved by hope for the present. The Portugals will rejoyce in soul …eather why? because they know, fair will follow; and so may the believer, in his greatest exigents; because God will shortly tread Satan under our feet, Rom. 16.20. Here also the distressed soul may raise comfort to himself out of former experience; who is hee that hath not been delivered out of some miserable …igent? which if thou hast, thou maist well say unto God with the Psalmist, Thou hast shewed mee great troubles and adversities, but thou wilt r…turn and revive mee, and wilt come again, and take mee up from the depth of the earth, and comfort mee Psal. 71.20.21. For God's former a…tions are patterns of his future ▪ hee teacheth you what hee … do, by what he hath done: and nothing more raiseth up the heart in present affiance, than the recognition of favours, or wonders passed: he that hath found God present in one extremity, may trust him in the next: every sensible favour of the Almighty, invites both his gifts and our trust.
Objection. But thou wilt say with the Psalmist, thine enemies have long prevailed against thee, and God seemeth altogether to hide his face, and to have … forgotten thee ▪ and so thou fearest hee will for ever, Psal. 13.1, 2.
Answer. It is but so in thy apprehension, as it was with him; Gods d… liverance may over-stay thy expectation, it cannot, the due period of his own counsels: for know first, that Gods works are not to bee judged of▪ untill the fifth act. The case deplorable and desperate in outward appearance, may with one smile from heaven find a blessed issue: Dotham is besieged, and the Prophets servant distressed, they are in a grievous case (as they think); yet a very apparition in the clouds shall secure them: not a squadron shall bee raised, and yet the enemie is surprised: 2 Kings 6. here was no slackness. The Midianites invade Israel, and are suddainly confounded by a dream, Iudg. 7. Mistris Honywood, that Religious Gentlewoman, famous for her virtues, after shee had been distressed in her mind thirty years, without feeling the least comfort, not being able to hold out any longer, (as a wounded spirit who can bear)? flung a Venice-glass against the ground, and said to a grave Divine that sought to comfort her, I am as sure to bee damned, as this glass is to bee broken; but what followed? the glass was not broken, but rebounded and stood upright: at the sight whereof, shee was so confirmed, that ever after to her dying day, shee lived most comfortably: much like that of Apelles, who striving to paint a drop of foam falling from a Horse mouth, after long study how to express it, even dispairing, flung away his Pencill, and that throw did it. How opportunely doth God provide succours to our distresses? It is his glory to help at a pinch, to begin where wee have given over; that our relief might bee so much the more welcome, by how much it is less looked for: superfluous aid can neither bee heartily desired, nor earnestly looked for, nor thank…ully received from the hands of mercy. Besides our infirmitie best sets off the glory of his strength, 2 Cor. 12.9. Spirituall consolations are commonly late and suddain; long before they come, and speedy when they do come, even preventing expectation: and our last conflicts have wont ever to be the forest, as when after some dripping rain, it powres down most vehemently, wee think the weather is changing. When hee means to ease us of our burthen, hee seems to lay on heavier▪ wherefore trust in God killing, and love God chiding, it is a good signe of our recovery.
Section 3.
Again, in the next place thou must know, that man's extremity is God… opportunity; well may hee forbear, so long as wee have have any thing else to rely upon; but wee are sure to find him in our greatest exigents, who loves to give comfort to those that are forsaken of their hopes, as abundance of examples witness. When had the Children of Israel the greatest victories ▪ bu… when they …eared most to bee overcome? 2 King. 19.35. Exod. 14. ver. 28, 29. When was Hagar comforted of the Angell, but when her child was neer famished, and shee had cast it under a Tree for dead? Gen. 21.15. to 20. When was Eliah comforted and relieved by an Angel, with a Cake baked on the coals, and a Cruise of Water, but when hee was utterly forsaken of his hopes? 1 Kings 19.4. to 7. Whe… was the Sareptan relieved? it was high time for the Prophet to visit her: poor soul shee wa… n…w making her last meal: after one mean morsell, shee was yielding her self over to death. As long as Egypts flower lasted, Manna was not rained. When did God answer the hopes of Sarah, Rebeccah, Rachel, the wife of Manoah, and Elisabeth, touching their long and much desired issues? but when they were barren, and past hope of children, by reason of age, Gen. 18. Iudges 13, Luke 1.6.7. When did our Saviour heal the woman of her bloody issue? but after the Physitians had given her over, and shee becoming much worse, had …iven them over, when shee had spent all shee had upon them: for to mend the matter, poverty, which is another disease was super-added, to make her compleatly miserable. When mans help fails, then Gods begins. When did Moses find succour, but when his Mother could no longer hide him, and hee was put into the River among the Bullrushes? shee would have given all shee was worth to save him, and now shee hath wages to nurse him: shee doth but change the name of mother into nurse, and shee hath her son without fear, not without great reward. When Israel was in so hard a straight, as either to bee drowned in the Sea, or slain by the Sword; how miraculously did God provide an evasion by dividing the waters? When Rochel, like Samaria, had a strong enemy without, and a sore famine within; how miraculously did God provide an evasion, by making the tyde their Purveyor, to bring them in an Ocean of shelfish? the like of which was never known before, nor since. Wee read how Merline, during the Massacre at Paris, was for a fortnight together, nourished with one egge a day, laid by a hen, that came constantly to a haymow, where hee lay hid in that danger, When the English had lest Cales, and the Spainard was again repossest of it; by some neglect or oversight, there was an English man left behinde: but how did Go… provide for his escape? it's worth the remembring, hee was no sooner crept into a hole under a pair of stairs, but instantly a Spider weavs a web over the hole, and this diverted them; for when one of them said, here is surely some of them hid, another replyes, What a fool art thou, doest thou not see, it's covered with a firm cob-web: and so past him, that in the night hee …scaped. O! Saviour, our extremities are the seasons of thy aid: even when Faux was giving fire to the match, that should have given fire to the Pow…der, which should have blown up Men and Monuments, even the whole State together; thou that never sleepest didst prevent him, and disclose the whole design: yea, thou didst turn our intended Funerall into a Festivall. And why doth the goodness of our God pick out the most needfull times for our relief and comfort? but because our extremities drive us to him that is omnipotent; there is no fear, no danger, but in our own insensibleness: but because when wee are forsaken of all succours and hopes; wee are …ittest for his redress, and never are wee nearer to help: than when wee despair of help; but because our extremities give him the most glory, and ou… comfort is the greater, when the deliverance is seen before it is expected His …isdom knows when aid will bee most seasonable, most welcome: which hee then loves to give, when hee finds us left of all other props. That merci…ull hand is reserved for a dead lift, and then hee fails us not; as when Abraham had given Isaac, and Isaac had given himself for dead; then God interposeth himself; When the knife is falling upon his throat, then, then coms the deliverance by an Angell, calling, forbidding, commending him. When things are desperate, then look most for God's help; for then is the time, Psal. 119.126 Isa. 33.9.10.
And indeed, our faith is most commendable in the last act; it is no praise to hold out untill wee bee hard driven, but when wee are forsaken of means, then to live by faith in our God, is thought worthy of a Crown. O! wretched Saul, hadst thou held out never so little longer without offering, and without distrust, Samuel had come, and thou hadst kept the favour of God, whereas now for thy unbelief, thou art cast off for ever, 1 Sam. 13.10. to 15. To shut up all in a word, were thy soul in such a straight, as Israel was between the Red Sea and the Egyptians; the spirits of vengeance, (like those enemies) pursuing thee behinde; Hell and death (like that Read Sea) ready to ingulf thee before; yet would I speak to thee in the confidence of Moses, Exod. 14. ver. 13. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Thy Word O! God, made all, thy Word shall repair all▪ hence all yee diffident fears, hee whom I trust is omnipotent
Again Secondly, thou must know that God in his wisdome hath set down a certain period of time, within which hee will exercise his children more or less; and at the end whereof, and not before, hee will relieve and comfort them again. As wee may perceive by Eccles. 3.1. Act. 7.25. Exod. 12.41. Gen. 15.13. Dan. 12.1.4.11. Ier. 25.11. Gen. 6.3. Four hundred years hee appointed to Abraham and his seed, that they should bee Sojourne…s in a strange land, where they should bee kept in bondage, and evill intreated, Gen. 15. At the end of which time, even the self same day, they returned from the land of Egypt: that was the precise time appointed, and the self same day it was accomplish'd: and till then Moses undertook it in vain. Why were they so long kept from it? the land was their own before, they were the right heirs to it, lineally descended from him who was the first possessor of it after the food: God will do all in due time, that is, in his time, not in ours; if at any time the Lord deliver us, it is more than hee owes us. Let him (saith Saint Augustine) choose his own opportunity, that so freely grants the mercy. Again, hee appointed that the Iews should serve the King of Babyl…n seventy years; not a day, not an hour to bee abated, Ier 25.11. but at the end thereof, even that very night, Dan. 9. it was accomplished; neither did Daniel, (who knew the determinate time) once pray for deliverance, till just upon the expiration. Thirty eight years hee appointed the sick man at Bethesda's Pool, Ioh. 5.5. Eighteen years to that daughter of Abraham, whom Christ loosed from her disease, Luk. 13.16. Twelve years to the woman with the bloody issue, Matth. 9.20. Three months to Moses, Exod. 2.2. Ten days tribulation to the Angell of the Church of Smy…na, Apocal. 2.10. Three days plague to David, 2 Sam. 24.13. Each of these groaned for a time, under the like burden as thou doest; But when their time which God had appointed, was come, they were delivered from all their miseries, troubles, and calamities; and so likewise ere long, if thou wilt patiently sorry the Lord's leasure, thou shalt also bee delivered from thy affliction and sorrow, either in the Morning of thy trouble, with David, Psal. 30.5. or at the Noon of thy life, with Iob, Chap. 42.10 to 17. or toward the Evening, with Mr Glover, that holy Martyr, who could have no comfortable feeling, till hee came to the sight of the stake: but then hee cryed out and … his hands for joy to his friend, saying, O! Austin, hee is come, hee is come, meaning the feeling joy of faith, and the Holy Ghost: Acts and monuments, Fol. 1995. Or at night with Lazarus, at one hour or another thou art sure to bee delivered, as time will determine. Many were the troubles of Abraham, but the Lord delivered him out of all. Many were the troubles of David, but the Lord delivered him out of all. Many were the troubles of Ioseph, but the Lord delivered him out of all. Many were the troubles of Iob, but the Lord delivered him out of all. therefore hee can and will deliver thee out of all. But if hee do not, (saith Shadrath, Meshach and Abednego) yet wee will not do evill to escape danger; because Christ hath suffered more for us: therefore if I perish, I perish, saith Hester. Bee our troubles many in number, strange in nature, heavy in measure, much in burthen, and long in continuance; yet God's mercies are more numerous, his wisdom more wondrous, his power more miraculous; he will deliver us out of all: Many are the troubles of the righteous. Yea, hee riseth higher, and calls them millions, for so the words may bee rendered; but the Lord delivereth them out of all: Psal. 34.19. How many? or how great soever they bee? or how long soever they continue? yet an end they shall all have: For the Lord either taketh troubles from them, or takes them from troubles, by receiving them into his heavenly rest; where they shall acknowledge, that God hath rewarded them as far beyond their expectation, as hee had formerly punished them less than they did deserve.
Objection. Oh! but my condition is so desperate, and irrecoverable, that it's impossible I should ever get out of it.
Answ. There is no impossibility (saith Ambrose) where God is pleased to give a dispensation: But bethink thy self, is it worse with thee than it was with those before-mentioned? and yet they were delivered; Or is thy case worse than that of Ionas in the Sea, yea, in the Whales …elly? and yet hee was delivered: Worse than Nebuchadnezzars grazing in the Forrest among beasts, even untill his hairs were grown to bee like Eagles feathers, and his nails like birds claws? Dan. 4.31. to 36. and yet hee again reighed in Babell. Worse than Iosephs? when hee was thrown into a Pit, and left hopeless; or when sold to the Ishmaelitish Merchants, and then cast into prison? yet after all this, his said brethren were fain to become petitioners to him. Worse than Iob when hee sate scraping his soars on the dungbill, had all his houses burnt, all his cattell stollen, and his children slai…? yet hee was far richer afterwards, than before.
How rashly then hast thou judged of thy Makers dealing with thee? If were more agreeable to reason and religion, to conclude the contrary for both experience, and reason reacheth, that violent pressures, like violent motions, are weakest at the furthest. When the morning is darkest, then coms day: yea, usually after the lowest ebbe follows the highest springtyde: And religion teaches, that if wee love God, all things, even the worst of afflictions shall so concurre, and co-operate to our good, that we would not have wanted them for any good. Wherefore hold but fast to God, and my soul for thine, neither affliction, nor ought else shall hurt thee. You know, while Adam was at peace with God, all things were at peace with Adam.
Now this doctrine well digested will breed good blood in our souls, and is especially, usefull to bound our desires of release; for though wee may bee importunate, impatient wee may not bee; stay hee never so long, patience must not bee an inch shorter than affliction: If the bridge reach but halfe way over the brook, wee shall have but an ill favoured passage. Wee are taught in Scripture to praise patience, as wee do a fair day at night; Hee that indureth to the end shall bee saved Matth. 24 13. Whereas coming but a foot short, may make us miss the prize, and loose the wager wee run for: and then as good never have set foot out of doors. Much the better for that light which will not bring us to bed! perseverance is a kind of all in all, continuance is the Crown of all other graces; and heaven shall bee the Crown of continuance.
But not seldom doth the Lord only release his children out of extreme adversity here, but withall makes their latter end so much the more prosperous, by how much the more their former time hath been miserable and adverse. Wee have experience in Iob, You have heard, saith Saint James of the patience of Iob, and what end the Lord made with him. What end is that? the holy Ghost tells you. That the Lord blessed his latter end, more than his beginning; and gave him twice as much as hee had before: for whereas at first hee had 7000 Sheep, 3000 Camels, 500 yoak of …xen, and 500 shee Asses: after his reparation he had 14000 Sheep, 6000 Camels, 1000 yoak of Oxen and 1000 shee Asses, every one double: and whereas the number of his children remained the same they were before, namely seven Sons, and three Daughters, the number of them were also doubled, as the learned observ: for whereas his Beasts, according to the condition of Beasts utterly perished; the souls of his Children were saved: so that hee had twice so many children also, whereof ten were with him on earth, and the other ten with God in heaven. Iob 42.10, to 14. And in Ioseph, who was bred up in the school of affliction from his infancy; yet, when his turn was come, one hour changes his setters of Iron into chains of Gold; his rags into Robes, his stocks into a Chariot, his prison into a Palace, the noyse of his Gyves into a brooch; and whereas he was thirty years kept under, hee ruled in the height and lustre of all honour and glory the space of eighty years. And one minute made in Lazarus a far greater change, and preferment. And in David, who for a long time was in such fear of Saul, that hee was forc'd to flie for his life, first to Samuel, where Saul pursued him; then to Ionathan, where his grief is doubled, then to Ahimeleck, where is Doeg to betray him; after that hee flieth to Achish, King of Gath; where being discovered, hee is in greatest fear of all, lest the King should take away his life; and lastly, when hee returns to his own Ziklag, hee finds it smitten, and burnt with fire, and his wives taken prisoners, and in the mid'st of all his grief, when hee had wept untill hee could weep no more; the people being vexed, intend to stone him; so that, as hee had long before complained, there was but a step between him and death; but mark the issue, though his heart were now not onelyonly brim full, but ran over with grief: yet within two days the Crown of Israel is brought unto him, and hee is anointed King, 2 Sam. 1. and for the present hee was able to comfort himself in the Lord his God, 1 Sam. 30.6. Yea, after this, when by that foul sin of Adultery and Murther, hee had brought more enemies about his ears, (God, and men, and Devills) having once repented his …auls, hee was able to say with confidence, O God! thou hast shewed mee great troubles and adversities, but thou wilt take mee up from the depth of the earth, and increase my honour, Psal. 71.20, 21. He knew well enough that it is Gods use to bring comfort out of sorrow, as hee brought water out of the rock, and that cherishing was wont to follow stripes: And indeed, how oft hath a Tragick entrance had a happy end? Like that wee read of Michael, who was condemned to death by the Emperour Leo, upon a false accusation; but before the execution, the Emperour died, and Michael was chosen in his stead. And of Mordecay, who being in the fore-noon appointed to the Gibbet, was in the after-noon advanced next of all to the throne, And Queen Elisabeth of blessed memory, who reigned at the same time that shee expected to suffer, and was Crowned, when shee looked to bee beheaded. God loves to do by his children, as Ioseph did by his Father; first, wee must have our beloved Ioseph a long time detained from us, then hee robbes us of Simeon; after that, sends for our best beloved Benjamin, and makes us beleeve hee will rob us of all our children at once, all the things that are dear to us: But why is it? even that when wee thinke to have lost all, hee might return himself, and all again with the greater interest of joy and felicity. The Lord, saith Hanna, killeth and maketh alive; first, killeth, and then maketh alive; bringeth down to the grave, and raiseth up: The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich; bringeth low, and exalteth; hee raiseth the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the begger from the Dunghill; to set them among Princes, and to make them inherit the seat of glory: 1 Sam. 2.6, 7, 8. And why all this? but that in his own might, no man might bee strong. ver. 9. That which Plutarch reports of Dionysius, (how hee took away from one of his Nobles, almost his whole estate, and seeing him nevertheless continue as jocund and well contented as ever, hee gave him that again, and as much more) is a common thing with the Lord: and thousands can witness, that though they went weeping under the burthen, when they first carried the precious seed of repentance; yet they still returned with joy, and brought their sheave… with them, Psal. 26.5.6.
Objection. But thou thinkest thou shalt not hold out, if God should long delay thee.
Answer. If hee delay thee never so long, hee will bee sure to support thee as long, 1 Cor. 10.13. which is much at one upon the matter. If hee suffer thee to bee sorely tempted, hee will not suffer thee to be tempted above thy strength: 2 Cor. 4.8, 9, 16. His grace shall bee sufficient for thee at the least, 2 Cor. 12.9. Phil. 1.29. which was Pauls answer, and it may suffice a…l suitors; the measure of our patience shall be proportionable to our sufferings, and our strength equalled to our temptations, 1 Cor. 10. ver. 13. Now if God do either take away our appetite, or give us mear, it is enough.
True, a Ship of never so great a burthen, may bee over-laden till it sink again; or if wee shall wear away all the steel with whetting, the Tool is left unprofitable. But my thoughts (saith God) are not as your thoughts, nor my ways as your ways, Isa. 55.8. God is no Tyrant to afflict thee unmeasurably, neither will he draw a sword to kill flies; or call for Scorpions, when a rod is too much. Hee that made the vessell, knows her burthen, and how to ballace her; yea, hee that made all things, very good, cannot but do a…l things very well. Indeed, God seemeth to wrastle with us, as he did with Iacob; but bee supplies us with hidden strength at length to get the better: And grace to stand in affliction, and to gain by it, is better than freedom or deliverance. The Bush which was a Type of the Church, consumed not all the while it burned with fire; because God was in the midst of it. The Ship at Anchor is shrewdly tossed to and fro, but cannot be carried away, either by waves, wind, or weather: Sin, Satan, and the world may disturb us, but they can never destroy us: Our head Christ being above, wee cannot bee drowned. There can bee no disjunction, unless wee could bee pluck'd from his arms, that is Almighty; for our life is hid with Christ in God, Colos. 3.3. Hee doth not trust us with our own souls life, but hides it in his Son Jesus: because if it were in our own hands, we should easily bee tempted to sell it, as Adam did for an Apple, and Esau for a mess of Pottage: Whereas now wee are safe, for to pluck us out of his hands that is Almighty, requires an adversary stronger than himself. Neither wants hee care; hee that numbers our very hairs, what account doth hee make of our souls? Nor love, for if hee hath bought us with his blood, and given us himself, will hee deny us any thing that is good for us?
Wherefore silence your reason, and exalt your faith, (how pressing, or peircing so ever your sufferings bee) which pulls off the vizard from his face, and sees a loving heart, under contrary appearances. Trust the mercy of God, which is of infinite perfection; and the merits of Christ, which are of perfect satisfaction: and then hope will bear up thy heavie heart, as bladders do an unskilfull swimmer: Otherwise, if thou shalt walke by sence, and not by faith, 2 Cor. 5.7. fear will no less multiply evills, then saith would diminish them: and thou shalt resemble Bucephalus, who was not afraid of his burthen, the shadow onelyonly frighted him.
Section 4.
Objection. Although Christ in the Gospel hath made many …arge and preoibus promises, yet there are none so generall which are not limited wi…h the condition of faith, and the fruit thereof, unfained Repentance: and each of them are so tied, and entayled, that none can lay claim to them but true beleevers which repent, and turn from all their sins to serve him in holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Heb. 12.14. Isa. 59.20. But I want these qualifications, without which, how can I expect supportation in my sufferings; or an happy deliverance out of them? however it fares with beleevers, whom Christ hath undertaken for: yea, I have such a wicked heart, and my sins are so many, and great; that these comforts nothing concerne mee: for they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, shall reap the same, Joh. 4.8.
Answer. So our sailings bee not wilfull, though they be many and great; yet they cannot hinder our interest in the promises of God.
Admit thou art a great sinner, what then? art thou a greater sinner than Matthew, or Zacheus, who were sin…ull Publicans, and got their livings by pilling, and polling, oppression, and extortion? than Mary Magdalen, a common strumpet; possest of many Devills? than Paul, a bloody persecutor of Christ and his Church? than the Theef upon the Cross, who had spent his whole life to the last hour in abominable wickedness? than Manasses, that out-rageous sinner, and most wicked wretch that ever was; an Idolater, a malitious Persecutor of the truth, a defiler of Gods holy Temple, a sacrficer of his own children unto Idols, that is, Devills; a notable witch, and wicked sorcerer; a bloody murtherer of exceeding many of the dear Saints, and true Prophets of the Lord; and one who did not run headlong alone into all hellish impiety, but led the people also out of the way to do more wickedly than did the Heathen, whom the Lord cast out and destroyed? I am sure thou wilt not say thou art more wicked, than hee was; and yet this Manasses, this wretch, more like a Devill incarnate, than a Saint of God, repented him of his sins from the bottome of his heart, was received. (I cannot speak it without ravishing wonder of Gods bottomless and never sufficiently admired mercy) was received, I say, to grace, and obtained the pardon of all his horrible sins, and most abominable wickedness: And are not these, and many the like examples, written for our learning; and recorded by the holy ghost, to the end that wee may gather unto our selvs assurance of the same pardon, for the same sins, upon the same repentance, and beleeving.
Are thy sins great? his mercies are infinite; hadst thou committed all the sins that ever were committed, yet in comparison of Gods mercy, they are less than a mote in the Sun to all the world, o… a drop of water to the whole Ocean: for the Sea though great, yet may bee measured; but God's mercy cannot bee circumscribed: and hee both can and will, as easily forgive us the debt of ten thousand millions of pounds, as one penny; and assoon pardon the sins of a wicked Manasses, as of a righteous Abraham, if wee come unto him by unfaigned repentance, and earnestly desire and implore his grace and mercy, Rom. 5.20.
The Tenure of our salvation is not by a covenant of works, but by a covenant of grace; founded not on our worthiness, but on the free mercy, and good pleasure of God; and therefore the Prophet well annexeth blessedness to the remission of sins; Blessed is hee whose transgression is forgiven, Psal. 32.1.
Yea, the more miserable, wretched, and sinfull wee are, the more … objects wee are, whereupon hee may exercise, and shew the infinite riches of his bounty, mercy, virtue, and all-sufficiency. And this our spirituall Physitian can aswell, and easily cure desperate diseases, even the remediless Consumption, the dead Apoplex, and the filthy Leprosie of the soul, as the smallest malady, or least faintness. Yea, hee can aswell raise the dead, as cure the sick, and aswell of Stones as of Iews, make Abrahams children. Did hee not without the Sun at the Creation, cause light to shine forth; and without rain, at the same time, make the earth fruitfull? why then should you give your self over, where your Physitian doth not? Besides, what sin is there whereof wee can despair of the remission, when wee hear our Saviour pray for the forgiveness of his murtherers, and blasphemers? And indeed, despair is a sin which never knew Iesus.
It was a sweet saying of one at his death, When mine iniquity is greater than thy mercy O God, then will I fear and despair; but that can never bee: considering our sins bee the sins of me…, his mercy the mercy of an infinite God. Yea, his mercies are so great, that among the thirteen properties of God mentioned Exod. 34. almost all of them appertain to his mercy, whereas one onelyonly concerns his might, and onelyonly two, his justice. Again, shall it ever enter into our hearts, to think that God gives us rules to keep, and yet break them himsef? Now his rule is this, Though thy brother sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, it repenteth mee; thou shalt forgive him. The son angers his father, he doth not straight dis-inherit him, but Gods love to his people, exceeds a fathers love to his son, Matth. 7.11. and a mothers too, Isa. 49.15.
I hear many menaces and threats for sin, but I read as many promises of mercy and all they indefinite, excluding none whose impenitency and infidelity excludeth not themselvs: every sin deservs damnation, but no sin shall condemn, but the lying and continuing in it.
Wherefore if our clamorous conscience, like some sharp fang'd officer, arrests us at Gods suit, let us put in bail, two subsidue virtues, Faith, and Repentance; and so stand the triall: the Law is on our side, the Law of grace is with us, and this Law is his that is our Advocate; and he is our Advocate, that is our Iudge; and hee is our Iudge, that is our Saviour; even the head of our selvs, Iesus Christ.
For the first of these; do but repent, and God will pardon thee, bee thy sins never so many, and innumerable for multitude, never so hainous for quality and magnitude, Isa. 55.7. Ezek. 18. & 33.17. Yea, sins upon Repentance are so remitted, as if they had never been committed: I have put away thy transgressions as a cloud, and thy sins as a mist, Isa. 44.22. and what by corruption hath been done, by repentance is undone, as the former examples, and many other, witness. Come and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, Isa. 1.18. yea whiter; for the Prophet David laying open his blood-guiltiness, and his originall impurity, useth these words: Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than Snow, Psal. 51.7.
And in reason; did hee come to call sinners to repentance, and shall he not shew mercy to the penitent? Or, who would not cast his burthen upon him, that doth desire to give ease? As I live, saith the Lord, I would not the death of a sinner, Ezek. 18.32. and 33.11.
Section 5.
Ojection. Yea, but I cannot Repent.
Answer. In time of temtation, a man is not a competent Iudge in his own case: In humane Laws, there is a nullity held of words and actions extorted, and wrung from men by fear: because in such cases, a man is held not to bee a free-man, nor to have power or command in some sort, of himself. A troubled soul is like troubled waters, wee can discern nothing clearly in it; wherefore (if thou canst) lay aside prejudice, and tell mee in cold blood, how it fares with thee at other times, though indeed thy words at present are enough to convince thee: For first, thou findest sin a burthen too heavy for thee to bear, which thou didst not formerly; what's the reason? are thy sins more and grea…er? No, but the contrary: for though they appear more, yet they are less; for sin, the more it is seen and felt, the more it is hated; and thereupon is the less. Motes are in a room, before the Sun shines, but they appear onelyonly then.
Again secondly, the very complaint of sin, springing from a displeasure against it, shews that there is somthing i… thee opposite to sin: viz. that thou art penitent in affection, though not yet in action, even as a child is rationall in power, though not in act. Yea more, thou accusest, and condemnest thy selfe for thy sins; and by accusing our selvs, wee prevent Satan; by judging our selvs, wee prevent God. Neither was the Centurion ever so worthy, as when hee thought himself most unworthy: for all our worthiness is in a capable misery; nor does God ever thinke well of him, that thinkes so of himelf. But to let this passe.
Are not your failings, your grief? are they not besides your will? are they not contrary to the current of your desires, and the main bent of your resolutions, and indeavours? Dost thou determine to continue in the practice of any one sin? Yea, dost thou not make conscience of all Gods Commandements, one aswell as another; the first table, aswell as the second, and the second, aswell as the first, Matt. 5.19. Dost thou not grieve …or sins of all sorts, secret aswell as known, originall, aswell as actuall, of omission, aswell as commission, lesser, (viz thoughts) aswell as greater: yea, aswell for the evill which cleavs to thy best works, as for the evill works, Rom. 7.21. and as heartily and unsaignedly desire that thou maist never commit it, as that God should never impute it? 2 Tim. 2.19. Dost thou not fear to displease him, not so much because, hee is just to punish, as for his mercy and goodness sake; and more fear the breach of the Law, than the curse? Dost thou not love rather to bee, than seem or bee thought good; and seek more the power of godliness, than the shew of it? Iob 1.1. If so, well may Satan, and thine own conscience accuse thee of impenitency, and unbelief; but Christ thy Iudge never. Yea, then, notwithstanding your failings, you may say with David, I have kept thy Word, Psal. 18.21.22.23. for though this bee not such a measure of keeping as the Law requireth; yet it is such a keeping, as God in Christ accepteth: for suppose thy knowledge is still small, thy faith weak, thy charity cold, thy heart dull, and hard, thy good works few and imperfect, and all thy zealous resolutions easily hindred and quite overthrown with every small temtation: yet God that worketh in us both the wil and the work, wil accept the wil for the work; and that which is wanting in us, Christ will supply with his own righteousness: Hee respecteth not what wee can do, so much as what wee would do; and that which wee would performe, and cannot, hee esteemeth it as though it were performed: whereas, take away the will, and all acts (in God's sight) are equall.
As the wicked sin more than they sin, in their desire, so the righteous do more good than they do, in their will to do it. If there bee a paratum cor, though there bee not a perforatum cor; a profer of blood, though no expence of blood for the honour of Christ, it is taken for Martyrdom, as Origen testified of one: Non ille Martyrio, sed Martyrium illi defuit. I know thy poverty, but thou art rich, saith the Spirit to the Church of Smyrna: poor in thy condition, rich in thy affection to goodness: Facultas secundum voluntatem, non voluntas secundum facultatem estimanda est; God esteems our charitable beneficence, not onelyonly secundum quod habemus, but secundùm quod tribuere velimus. Wee are charged to forsake all houses, lands, friends, liberties, lives, for Christ; yet many dy with houses, lands, and riches, in their possession, whom Christ receives and Crowns in Heaven, because they did part with all secundùm animae preparationem: What wee would have done, shall bee reckoned to us, as done; wee do it quoad conatum, though non quoad effectum? In like manner God taketh a heart desirous to repent and believe, for a penitent and beleeving heart; volens & dolens, The vehement desire of godly sorrow, or a sorrow because we cannot sorrow, goes for godly sorrow with God: so that to sigh and grieve for what wee cannot do, is to come short, and yet to do it too: for God likes the will so wel, that in his Son what we would do, is in acceptance done, 2 Cor. 8.12. which textone brings in thus: O! what an unspeakable comfort was this cordiall verse to my afflicted soul; And well it might …for if wee hate our corruptions, and strive against them, they shall not bee counted ours. It is not I (saith Paul) but sin that dwelleth in mee: Rom. 7.20 for what displeaseth us, shall never hurt us; and wee shall bee esteemed of God, to bee what wee love, and desire, and labour to bee.
The comfort of this doctrine is intended, and belongs to troubled consciences, and those that would fain do better: but let no presumptuous sinners meddle with it; for what hast thou to do to take (I say not the childrens bread to eat. Matth. 15.20. but even) the least parcell of Gods Word into thy mouth? seeing thou hatest to bee reformed, Psal. 50.16.17. But if thou beest a weary and heavy laden sinner: thou maist comfort thy self …hu…: I do hatefull things, but I hate that I do; I break the Law, but yet I love the Law, as holy, just, and good: Flesh is in mee, but I am not in the Flesh: I must not fix mine eyes onelyonly upon mine own resistance, or failings, but on God's assistance and acceptance in his Son, by which I shall bee able to leap over all walls and impediments, Psal. 18.29. The Law is given, that Grace may bee required; Grace is given, that the Law may bee fulfilled: by us, evangelically, for us, by Christ (whose righteousnesse is ours) perfectly, as Saint Augustin speakes. The Law is a gloss to shew us our spots, the Gospell a fountain to wash them away. Wherefore cast not both thine eyes upon thy sin, but reserve one, to behold the remedy: look upon the Law to keep thee from presumption, and upon the Gospel, to keep thee from despair.
Canst thou not aggravate thine own sins, but thou must extenuate, and call in question Gods mercy, and Christs all-sufficiency, spoil him of his power and glory? Though the grievousness of our sins should increase our repentance, yet they should not diminish our faith, and assurance of pardon, and forgiveness. As the plaister must not be less than the sore, so the ten… must not bee bigger than the wound. It was a sweet and even cours which Saint Paul took, who when hee would comfort himself against corruption, and evill actions, Rom. 7.20. then; not I, but sin dwelling in mee: when he would humble himself, notwithstanding his graces, then; not I, but the grace of God in mee, 1 Cor. 15.10.
Section 6.
Objection. But I am not worthy the least mercy, I have so often abused it, and so little profited by the meanes of grace.
Answer. I think so too, for if thou refusest the offe… of mercy until thou deservest it, wo bee to thee: But if thou wilt take the right course; renounce the broken reed of thine own free will, which hath so often deceived thee; and put all thy trust in the grace of Christ: The way to bee strong in the Lord, is to bee weak in thy self, bee weak in thy self, and strong in the Lord… and through faith thou shalt bee more than a Conquerour. Leav tugging and strugling with thy sin, and fall with Iacob to wrestle with Christ …or a blessing; and though thy self go limping away, yet shalt thou bee a Prince with God ▪ and bee delivered from Esau's bondage. But thou standest upon thine own feet, and therefore fallest so soully: thou wilt like a child, go alone, and of thy self, and therefore ge…rest so many knocks. And thou wouldest accept of a pardon too, if thou mightest pay for it: but Gods mercies are free, and hee bids thee come and buy without silver, and without price; or else he says, thou and thy money perish. Thou wouldest go the naturall Way to work, What shall I do to inherit eternall life? but it is impossible to inherit it by any thing that wee can do; for all our righteousnesses are as filthy ragges, Isa. 64.6. Yea, if our doings could have done i…, Christ dyed in vain; whereas, if Christ had not died, wee had perished, every mothers child of us, 1 Cor. 15.22. and 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. Ephes. 2.1. Colos. 2.13. Ezek. 18.4. Ioh. 11.50. Rom. 5.6.8. and 14.9. 1 Cor 15.3. Matth. 18.11.
O …ool? dost thou not know that our sins are his sins, and his righteousness, our righ…eousness: Ier. 23.6. Psal. 4.1. and that God esteems of Faith above all other graces, deeds, or acts of thine? as what did our Saviour answer, when the people asked him, What shall wee do that wee might work the works of God? The work of God is, that yee beleeve on him whom hee hath sent, Ioh. 6.28, 29. and yet thou talkest of thy worthiness, and thou takest this for humility too, but it is pride; for if thou wouldest deny thy self, and bee nothing in thine own eyes, renounce thine own righteousness, and wholly and onelyonly rest on thy Saviour Iesus Christ for thy salvation; thou wouldest not hope the more in regard of thine own worthiness, nor yet doubt in respect of thine own unworthiness: But thou wouldest first bee worthy, and deserve of God; and then accept of Christ, and deserve Christ at Gods hands, by thy good works, and graces: which pride of thine, and opinion of merit, is a greater sin then all thy other sins which thou complainest of: and except you do abandon it, and wholly rely upon the grace, and free mercy of God for salvation, Christ shall profit you nothing, Gal. 2.16. and 5.1. to 7. Colos. 3.11. for nothing is available to salvation, but faith, which worketh by love, Gal. 5.6. whence it is called righteousness through faith, ver. 5. Faith is the sta…fe, whereupon wee stay our selvs, in life and death; by faith wee are blessed, Gal. 3.9. by faith wee rejoice in tribulation, Rom. 5.2. by faith wee have access unto God, Ephes. 3.12. by faith we overcome the world, 1 Ioh 5.4. the fl…sh, Gal. 5.24. and this is the shield whereby wee quench the fiery darts of Satan, and resist his power, Ephes. 6.16. Yea, whosoever seeks to bee justified by the Law, they are abolished from Christ, and f…ln from grace, Gal 5.4. Stand fast therefore in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath made us free, and bee not tangled again with the yoke of bondage. And say, Lord wee are not worthy to bee servants, and thou makest us sons; nay, heirs, and co-heirs with thee, of everlasting glory.
Objection. I grant the Lord is mercifull and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin: but hee is just, aswell as mercifull, and therefore hee will not acquit the wicked Exod. 34.6.7. but reward them according to their works, Revel. 20.12.13. and 22.1….
Answer. Hee will therefore pardon all thy sins, (if thou unfainedly repent and wholly rely upon Christ for thy salvation by a lively saith) because hee is just: for as the Lord cannot in justice let sin go unpunished (for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23. Death in the person, if not … the surety; and therefore hath punished the sins of all men, either in his Son, or will throughly punish them in the parties themselvs) so the same justice will not admit, that the same sins should be twice punished; once in our Saviour, and again, in the faithful: or that a debt once paid, should be required the second time, 1 Ioh. 1.9. Now that Christ hath sufficiently satisfied for all the sins of the faithful, and paid our debt even to the utmost farthing, it is evident by many places of Scripture, as Isa. 53.4.5. 2 Cor. ….21. Heb. 9.26. 1 Pet. 2.24. Rom. 3.25.26. 1 Ioh. 1.7.9. and sundry others.
Are we bound to perform perfect obedience to the Law? bee performed it for us: were wee for disobedience subject to the sentence of condemnation, the curse of the Law, and death of body and soul? hee was condemned for us, and bore the curse of the law; hee died in our stead an ignominious death; did wee deserve the anger of God? hee indured his fathers wrathfull displeasure, that so he might reconcile us to his father, and set us at liberty. Hee that deserved no sorrow felt much, that wee who deserved much might …eel none: and by his wounds wee are healed, Isa. 53.5. Adam eat the Apple, Christ paid the price. In a word, whatsoever wee owed, Christ discharged; whatsoever we deserved, he suffered; if not in the self same punishments: (for hee being God could not suffer the eternall torments of Hell) yet in proportion, the dignity of his person (being God and Man) giving value unto his temporary punishments, and making them of more value and worth, than if all the world should have suffered the eternall torments of Hell: for it is more for one that is eternall to die, than for others to die eternally. Therefore was the Son of God made the Son of man, that the Sons of men might bee made the Sons of God; and therefore was hee both God and man: lest being in every respect God, he had been too great to suffer for man; or being in every respect man, hee had been too weak to satisfie God.
Seeing therefore our Saviour Christ hath fully discharged our debt, and m…de full satisfaction to his Fathers justice: God cannot in equity exact of us a second paiment, no more than the Creditor may justly require that his debt should bee twice paid; once by the Surety, and again, by the Principall.
Again secondly, it is the Lords Covenant made with his Church, and committed to writing, Ier. 31.34. Heb. 10.16, 17. Psal. 32.10. Isa. 55.7. Ezek. 18.21, 22, 23. and 33.11. M…l. 3.17. Confirmed and ratified by his seals, the Sacraments; together with his Oath, that there might be no place left for doubting: for, God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of promise, the stableness of his counsell; bound himself by an oath, that by two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lie, we might have strong consolation, as the Apostle speaks, Heb. 6.17.18.
And lest the afflicted conscience should object, that hee entred into covenant, and made these promises to the Prophets, Apostles, and holy men of God; but not to such hainous and rebellious sinners, who have most justly deserved, that God should pour out upon them the Vialls of his wrath, and those fearfull punishments threatned in the Law: All the promises made in the Gospel are generall, indefinite, and universall, excluding none that turn from their sins by unfained repentance, and beleeve in Christ Iesus, testing on him alone for their salvation, as appears, Isa 55.1. Ezek. 33.11. Mark. 16.16. Ioh. 3.14, 15, 16.36. and 6.37.40. Act. 10.43. 1 Ioh. 2.1. Neither is there any limitation or exception of this or that sin; for bee they never so grievous and manifold, yet if wee perform the condition of faith and repentance, they cannot debar us from receiving the benefit of God's mercy, and Christ's merits, as appears, Isa. 1.18. Titus 2.14. 1 Ioh. 1.7.9.
And therefore unless thou conceivest of God, that hee is unjust in his dealing, untrue in his Word, a covenant-breaker; yea, a perjured person, (which were most horrible blasphemy once to imagine,) thou must undoubtedly assure thy self, that hee will pardon and forgive thee all thy sins, bee they in number never so many and innumerable; or in nature and quality never so hainous and damnable: if then turnest unto him by unfained repentance, and laiest hold upon Christ by a true and lively faith. For consider, doth the Lord say hee will extend his merciemercy unto all that come unto him? doth hee invite every one? doth hee say I would have all men saved, and none to perish? and dost thou say, nay, but hee will not extend his mercy unto mee, hee will have mee to perish, because I am a grievous sinner? What is this but in effect, and at a distance to contradict the Lord, and give the lye to truth it self.
Indeed God says not, Beleeve thou Iohn, or Thomas, and thou shalt bee saved, but hee says, Whosoever beleeveth, and is baptized, shall bee saved, which is as good. And yet thou exceptest thy self, hee excludes none; and dost thou exclude one, and that one thy self? Hee would have all men saved, and thou comest in with thy exceptive, All but mee; Why thee? a precious singularity, but beware of it: For whereas others that beleeve not the threatnings, flatter away their souls in a presumptuous confidence; thou by not beleeving the promises, wilt cast away thine, in a sullen prodigious desperateness, if thou take not heed. For infidelity on both sides is the cause of all, of presumption in them, of despair in thee, of impiety in every one.
But bee better advised, beleeve the Lord who never brake his Word with any soul. Thou wilt give credit to an honest man's bare word, and hast thou no affiance in the mercifull promises of God, past to thee by Word, Oath, Seals, Scriptures, Sacraments, the death of his own Son, and (I presume) the Spirits testimony, if not now, yet at other times: take heed what thou dost, for certainly nothing offends God more, then the not taking of his Word.
Section 7.
Objection. I know well that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness, unto every one that beleeveth, Rom. 10.4. But I want faith.
Answer. This is the objection I expected: (for the true Christian is as fearfull to entertain a good opinion of himself, as the false is unwilling to bee driven from it). But is it so? or doth Satan onelyonly tell thee so? I know it is not so, I know that thou beleevest with some mixture of unbelief, and that this is but a slander of Satans; for as Satan slandereth us to God, Iob 1.9. and God to us, Gen. 3.4.5. so hee slandereth us to our selvs, Iob 16.9. But least thou shouldest think I slander Satan; know, that you beleeve, even whiles you complain of unbelief: for as there could bee no shadow, if there were no light, so there cannot bee this fear, where there is no faith. They that know not Christ, think it no such great matter to loose him. But if God once say, this is my Son, Satan will say, if thou hee the Son of God, Matth. 3.17. and 4.3. That Divine testimony did not allay his malice, but exasperate it. Neither can the happy building of, Lord I beleeve, stand without that columne to under-prop it, Help thou mine unbelief. And he that doubt… not of his estate, his estate is much to be doubted of; doubting and resolution are not meet touch-stones of our success: a presumptuous confidence commonly goes bleeding home, when an humble fear returns in triumph. As it fared between the Philistims and Israel, 1 Sam. 17.10.11. The Philistims and Goliah were exceeding confident of the victory, but Saul, and all Israel much discouraged, and greatly afraid: yet Israel got the victory, and the Philistims with their great Goliah were overcome, ver. 51.52. They that are proudly secure of their going to heaven, do not so frequently come thither, as they that are afraid of their going to hell.
As it is in this world for temporall things, so for the World to come i… spirituall things; Cantant pauperes, lugent divites; poor men sing, and rich men cry. Who is so melancholly, as the rich worldling? and who sings so merry a note, as hee that cannot change a groat? so they that have store of grace, mourn for want of it; and they that indeed want it, chant their abundance. But the hopes of the wicked fail them when they are at highest, whereas Gods Children find those comforts in extremity, which they durst not expect.
As there is nothing more usuall, than for a secure conscience to excuse when it is guilty: so nothing more co…mon than for an afflicted conscience to accuse, when it is innocent; and to lay an heavie burthen upon it self, where the Lord giveth a plain discharge: but a bleeding wound is better than that which bleeds not. Some men go crying to heaven, some go laughing and sleeping to hell. Some consciences aswell as men, lie speechless before departure: they spend their days in a dream, and go from earth to hell, as Ionas from Israel towards Tarshish, fast a sleep. And the reason is, they dream their case is passing good, like a man which dreams in his sleep that hee is rich and honorable, and it joyes him very much, but awaking, all is vanish'd like smoak. Yea, they hope undoubtedly to go to heaven, as all that came out of Egypt hoped to go into Canaan, and inherit the blessed promises: when onelyonly Caleb and Ioshua did enter, who provoked not the Lord. And the reason of this reason is, whereas indeed they are Wolvs, the Devill and their own credulity perswades them that they are Lambs.
The Philosopher tells us, that those Creatures which have the greatest hearts, as the S…t…g, the Doe, the Hare, the …oney, and the Mouse, are the most fearfull: and therefore it may bee; God refusing Lyons, and Eagles, the King of Beasts, and Queen of Birds; appointed the gentle Lamb, the fearfull Dove for his sacrifices. A broken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise, Psal. 51 17. And sure I am Christ calls to him, onelyonly w…ary, and heavy-laden sinners, Matth. 11.28. not such as feel no want of him, Mark. 2.17. and will fill onelyonly such with comfort, as hunger and thirst after righteousness; not such as are in their conceit righteous enough without him, Luk. 1.53. Matth. 15.24. And yet it is strange, (yea, a wonder) to see how many truly humbled sinners, who have so render conscience… that they dare not yield to the least evill, for the worlds goods, and refuse no means of being made better; turn every probation into reprobation, every dejection into rejection, and if they bee cast down, they cry out… they are cast away: who may fitly bee compared to Artemon in Plutarch, who when ever hee went abroad, had his …ervants to carry a Canopy over his head, least the heavens should fall and crush him: or to a certain foolish melancholly Bird, which (as some tell) stands always but upon one leg, least her own weight should sink her into the Center of the Earth; holding the other over her head, least the Heavens should fall.
Yet bee not offended, I cannot think the worse of thee; for good is that fear which hinders us from evill acts, and makes us the more circumspect. And God hath his end in it, who would have the sins to dye, but the sinner to live.
Yea, in some respect thou art the better to bee thought of, or at least the less to bee feared, for this thy fear: for no man so truly loves, as hee that fears to offend; as Salvianus glosses upon those words, Blessed is the man that feareth alway: And which is worth the observing, this fear is a commendation often remembred in holy Scriptur… as a speciall and infalible mark of God's Children: as for example, Iob (saith the holy Ghost) was a just man, and one that feared God, Job. 1.1. Simeon a just man, and one that feared God, Luk, 2.25. Cornelius a devout man, and one that feared God, Acts 10.2. And so of Father Abraham, a man that feared God, Gen. 22.12. Ioseph a man who feared God, Gen. 42.18. The Mid-wives in Egypt feared God, Exod. 1.17. So that evermore, the fearing of God (as being the beginning of wisdom) is mentioned as the chief note, which is as much as to say, if the fearing of God once go before, working of righteousness will instantly follow after, according to that of the wise man: Hee that feareth the Lord, will do good.
And this for thy comfort, when Mary Magdalen sorrowed, and wept for her sins, Luke 7, 50. Christ tells her, Thy faith hath made the whole: intimating, that this weeping, this repenting faith, is faith indeed: And the like to the Woman with the bloody issue, who presuming but to touch the hem of his garment, fell down before him with fear and trembling, Mark 5.27. to 35. And that humble Canaanite, Matth. 15.22. to 29. And that importunate blind man, Luke 18.38. to 43. As if this humble, this praying faith, were onelyonly the saving faith. Neither can thy estate bee bad, for as Saint Ambrose told Monica weeping for her seduced Son, Fieri non patest, ut filius istarum lachrymarum pereat: It cannot bee, that the son of those tears should ever perish
Wherefore lift up thy self thou timorous fainting heart, and do not suspect every spot for a plague token; do not dye of a meer conceit: for as the end of all motion is rest, so the end of all thy troubles shall bee peace: even where the days are perpetuall Sabbaths, and the diet undisturbed feasts.
But as an empty vessell bung'd up close, though you throw it into the mid'st of the Sea, will receive no water, so all pleas are in vain to them that are deas'ned with their own fears: for as Mary would not bee comforted with the sight and speech of Angels, no not with the fight and speech of Iesus himself, till hee made her know that hee was Iesus; so untill the holy Spirit sprinkleth the conscience with the blood of Christ, and sheddeth his love into the heart, nothing will do. No creature can take off wrath from the conscience, but hee that set it on. Wherefore, the God of peace give you the peace of God which passeth all understanding. Yea, O Lord, speak thou Musick to the wounded conscience, Thunder, to the feared; that thy justice may reclaim the one, thy mercy relieve the other, and thy favour, comfort us all, with peace and salvation in Iesus Christ.
Section 8.
But secondly, if this will not satisfie, call to thy remembrance the time past, and how it hath been with thee formerly, as David did in thy very case, Psalm 77.2. to 12. And likewise Iob, Chapter 13. for as still waters represent any object in their bottome clearly, so those that are troubled, or agitated, do it but dimly, and imperfectly. But if ever thou hadst true faith begotten in thy heart, Ioh. 1.13. by the ministry of the Word, Romans 10.17. Iam. 1.18.21. and the Spirits powerfull working with it, Ioh. 3.3, 5, 8. whereby thine heart was drawn to take Christ, and apply him a Saviour to thine own soul; so that thou wer… forced to go out of my self, and rely wholly and onelyonly on his merits: and that it further manifested it self by working a hatred of sin, and an apparent change in thy whole life, by dying unto sin, and living unto righteousness; and that thou hast not since, returned to thine old sins, like the Dog to his vomit: if it hath somtime brought forth in thee, the sweet fruit of heavenly and spirituall joy; if it hath purified thine heart in some measure from noysome lusts and affections; as secret pride, self-love, hypo…risie, carnall confidence, wrath, malice, and the like: so that the spirit within thee sighteth against the flesh. If thou canst now say, I love the godly, because they are godly, 1 Ioh. 3.14. and hast an hungring after Christ, and after a greater measure of heavenly and spirituall graces, and more lively tokens of his love and favour communicated unto thee: My soul for thine, thou hast given false evidence against thy self; for as in a gloomy day there is so much light whereby wee may know it to bee day, and not night; so there is something in a Christian under a cloud, whereby hee may bee discerned to bee a true beleever, and not, an hypocrite. But, to make it manifest to thy self, that thou art so.
Know, first, that where there is any one grace in truth, there is every one in their measure. If thou art sure thou hast love, I am sure thou hast faith: for they are as inseparable, as fire and heat, life and motion, the root and the sap, the Sun and its light: and so of other graces. Or, dost thou feel that Christ is thy greatest joy, sin …hy greatest sorrow; that when thou canst not feel the presence of the spirit in thy heart, thou goest mo…rning, notwithstanding all other comforts? Assuredly as that holy Martyr said, if thou wert not a wedding Child, thou couldest never so heartily mourn for the absence of the Bridegroom. Thus I might go on, but a few Grapes will shew that the Plant is a Vine, and not a Thorn. Take but notice of this, and severall graces will one strengthen another, as stones in an Arch. As for example, Master Peacock, Fellow of a House, being afflicted in conscience, (as thou art) and at the point of despair; when some Ministers ask'd whether they should pray for him, answered, By no means do no so dishonour God, as to pray for such a Reprobate as I am: but his young Pupill standing by, said▪ (with tears in his eyes) Certainly a Reprobate could never bee so tender of Gods dishonour; which hee well considering, was thereby comforted and restored: when neither hee with his learning, nor any other Ministers with their sage advice, could do any good.
Again secondly, if ever thou hadst true faith wrought in thy heart, bee not discouraged; for as the former graces shew, that thou hast with Mary made choice of that better part, which shall never bee taken from thee: So this grace of faith is Christ's wedding Ring, and to whomsoever hee gives it, hee gives himselfe with it; wee may lose the sence, but never the essence of it: It may bee eclipsed, not extinguished: Fides concussa, non excussa: The gifts and calling of God are without repentance: as it is, Rom. 11.29. Friends are unconstant, riches, honours, pleasures, are unconstant; the world is unconstant, and life it self is unconstant; but I the Lord change not, Malachi 3.6.
In a swound the soul doth not excercise her functions; a man neither hears, nor sees, nor feels, yet shee is still in the body. The Frantick man in his mad fits, doth not exercise reason; yet hee hath it: he loseth the use for a time, not the habit. Yea, a sober man hath not alway… …he use of his sences, reason, and understanding, as in his s…eep: shal we therefore conclude that this man is senceless, unreasonable, and without understanding? it were most absurd: for if we have … but a while, our argument will appear manifestly …als….
Trees (and so wee are fitly called) bee not de…d in Winter, (which resembles the tune of adversity) because the sap is shut up in the root; and confined thither by the cold frosts, that they cannot shew themselv… in the production of leavs and fruits: for by experience wee know, that for the present they live, and secretly suck nourishment out of the earth; which maketh them spring and revive again, when Summer coms: Yea, eve… whiles they are grievously shaken with the winds, and nipped with cold frosts, they are not hurt thereby; but contrarily they take deeper root, have their worms and cankers kill'd by it; and so are prepared, & made fit to bring forth more fruit, when the comfortable Spring approaches, and the sweet showres, and warm Sun-beams fall and descended upon them. Elementary bodies, lighten and darken, cool and warm, die and revive, as the Sun presents, or absents it self from them, And is not Christ to our souls the onelyonly Sun of reghteousness, and fountain of all comfort? so that if hee withdraw himself but a little, wee become like plants in the Winter, quite withered … yea, in appearance stark dead: or like Trees void both of leavs and fruit: though even then there remains faith in the heart, as sap in the root, or as fire raked up in the ashes.
Which faith, though it bee not the like strong, yet it is the like precious faith to that of Abrahams: whereby to lay hold, and put on the perfect righteousness of Christ. The Woman that was diseased with an issue, did but touch, and with a trembling hand, and but the hem of his garment, and yet went away both healed, and comforted.
Well might I doubt of my salvation, says Bradford, feeling the weakness of my faith, love, hope, &c. if these were the causes of my salvation: but there is no other cause of it; or, of his mercy, but his mercy. Wherefore hast thou but a touch of sorrow for sin, a spark of hope, a grain of faith in thy heart? thou art safe enough. The Anchor lyeth deep, and is not seen, yet is the stay of all.
The Bladder blown, may float upon the …ood,
But cannot sink, nor stick in filthy mud.
But thou dreamest of a saith without doubting, which some doting by boast they have: but as no righteousness can bee perfect without sin, so no assurance can bee perfect without doubting: Take the evenest ballances, and the most equall weights; yet at the first putting in, there will bee some in-equality; though presently after they settle themselvs in a … is a cloud that often hinders the Sun from our eyes, yet it is still a Sun; the vision or feeling of this comfort may bee somtime suspended, the Union with Christ is never dissolved.
An usuall thing with beleevers to have their ebbing and flowing, wa…ing and waning, Summer and Winter; to bee somtimes so comfortable and couragious, that wee can say with David, Though I were in the valley of death, yet would I fear none ill, Psal. …3.4. otherwhiles again so de…ded and …jected in our spirits, that wee are like him when hee said, One day I shall die by the hand of Saul, 1 Sam. 27.1. Somtimes so strong in faith, that wee can overcome the greatest assaults; and with Peter, can walk upon the sw…lling waves: by and by so faint, and brought to so low an ebbe, that wee fall down even in far less dangers, as Peter began to sink at the rising of the winde, Matth. 14.29.30. And indeed, if the wings of our faith bee clipp'd, either by our own sins, or Satans temptations, how should not our spirits lye groveling on the ground?
Sect. 9.
But thirdly and lastly, (for I h…n) suppose thou art at the last-cast, even at the very brink of despair; and that thy conscience speaks nothing but bitter things, of Gods wrath, hell and damnation; and that thou hast no feeling of faith, or grace; yet know that it is Gods use (and I wish wee could all take notice of it) to worke in, and by contraries: For instance, in creating of the world, hee brought light out of darkness, and made all things not of somthing, but of nothing; clean contrary to the course of Nature.
In his preserving of it, hee hath given us the Rain-bow, which is a signe of rain, as a certain pledge that the world shall never the second time bee drowned. Hee caused Elias his sacrifice to burn in the mid'st of water … and fe…cheth hard stones out of the mid'st of thin va…ours. When he meant to blesse… Iacob, hee wrestled with him as an Adversa…y… even till he lamed him: When he meant to preferr Ioseph to the Throne, hee …rew him down into the Dungeon; and to a golden chaine about his neck, he la…ed him with Iron ones about his legges, Thus Christ opened the eyes of the blind, by annointing them with clay and spittle; more likely to put them out: And would not cure Lazarus till after hee was dead, buried, and stunk again; no question, to teach us, that wee must bee cast down by the Law, before wee can bee raised up by the Gospell: that wee must dye unto sin, before wee can live unto righteousness: and become fools, before wee can …ee truly wise.
In the work of Redemption, hee gives life, not by life, but by death, and that a most c…sed death; making that the best instrument of life, which was the worst kind of death: Optimum seci… instrumentum vitae, quod era… pessimum moriis genus.
In our effectuall vo…ation, hee calls us by the Gospell, unto the Iews, … stumbling-block, and unto the world meer foolishness: And when it is his pleasure that any should depend upon his goodness, and providence, hee makes them feel his anger, and to bee nothing in themselvs; that they may rely altogether upon him.
Thus God works joy out of fear, light out of darkness; and brings us to the Kingdom of heaven, by the Gates of hell: according to that 1 Sam. 2. … ….7. And wherein does thy case differ? Hee sends his Serfeant to … thee for thy debt; commands thee and all thou hast to bee sold. But why? onelyonly to shew thee thy misery without Christ, that so thou … seck so him for mercy: for although hee hide, … is futherly affections ▪ as Ioseph once did his brotherly, his meaning is in conclusion to forgive thee every …arthing, Matth. …8.26, 27.
And dost thou make thy flight sufferings an argument of his displeasure? for shame mutter not at the matter, but bee silent: It is not said, God will not suffer us to bee tempted at all, but that wee shall not bee tempted above that wee are able to bear, 1 Cor. 10.13. And assure thy self, what ever thy sufferings bee, thy faith shall not fail to get the victory; as oil over-swims the greatest quantity of water you can powr upon it. True, let none presume; (no not the most righteous) for hee shall scarcely bee saved, 1 Pet. 4.18. yet let him not despair, for hee shall be saved, Rom. 8.35.
OnelyOnly accept with all thankfulness the mercy offered, and apply the promises to thine own soul: for the benefit of a good thing, is in the use; wisdom is good, but not to us, if it bee not exercised; cloth is good, but not to us, except it be worn, the light is comfortable, but not to him that will live in darkness: a preservative in our pocket, never taken, cannot yield us health, nor baggs of money being ever sealed up, do us any pleasure; no more will the promises, (no nor Christ himself, that onelyonly summum bonum) except they are applied: Yea, better there were no promises, than not applied. The Physician is more offended at the contempt of his Physick in the Patient, than with the loathsomness of the disease. And this I can assure thee if the blood of Christ bee applied to thy soul, it will soon sta…ch the blood of thy conscience; and keep thee from bleeding to death, 1 Ioh. 1.7.
But secondly, instead of mourning continually as the tempter …ids thee; rather rejoice continually as the Apostle bids thee, 1 Thes. 5.16. Neither think it an indifferent thing, to rejoice, or not to rejoice; but know that we are commanded to rejoice, to shew that wee break a commandement if wee rejoice not: Yea, wee cannot beleeve if wee rejoice not; for …aith, in the commandements breeds obedience; in the threatnings, fear; in the promises, comfort. True, thou thinkest thou dost well to mourn continually; yea, it is the common disease of the innocentest souls: but thou dost very ill in it: for, when you forget to rejoice in the Lord, then you begin to muse, and after to fear, and after to distrust, and at last to despair: and then every thought seems to be a sin against the holy Ghost. Yea, how many sins doth the afflicted conscience record against it selfe; repo…ting for breaking this commandement, and that commandement; and never repenteth for br… ing this commandement, rejoice evermore.
But what's the reason? Ignorance… thou thinkest thy self poor and miserable, and onelyonly therefore thinkest so, because thou knowest not thy riches and happiness in Ob…st: for else thou wouldest say with the Prophet Habbakuck, in the want of all other things, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation, Habbak. 3.17, 18. Thou wouldest … that thy name is written in the book of life, as our Saviour injoines, Luk. 10.20. though thou h…dst nothing else to rejoice in.
But it is nothing to be blessed, untill we understand our selvs to be so; wherefore
Thirdly, wait Gods leisure with patience, and hold fast to him in all pressures: Time (saith Seneca) is the best Physick for most diseases, for the body, and so likewise for the soul: if it bee an afflicted conscience, waiting Gods leisure for the assurance of his love, is the best remedy: and so in all other cases.
Section. 10.
Ob. Bu… when will there bee an end of this long disease? this tedious affliction? this heavie yoake of bondage? &c.
Answ. It is a signe of cold love, scarce to have begun to suffer for Christ and presently to gape for an end. It was a far better speech of one, Lord, give mee what thou w…lt, as much as thou wilt, when thou wilt. Thou ar… Gods Patient, prescribe not thy Physi…ian. It is the Gold-Smiths skill to know how long his gold must bee in the Crusible, neither takes hee it out of that hot bath, till it bee sufficiently purified.
What if the Lord for a time forbear coming, as Samuel did to Saul; that hee may try what is in thee? and what thou wilt do, or suffer for him, that hath done and suffered so much for thee? as why did God set Noah about building the Ark an hundred and twenty years, when a small time might have finished it? It was for the triall of his patience. Thus hee led the Israelites in the desarts of Arabia forty years; whereas a man may travell from Ramesis in Egypt, to any part of Canaan in forty days: this God did to prove them, that hee might know what was in their hearts, Deu. 8.2. Hee promised Abraham a son in whom hee should bee blessed; this hee performed not, in t…irty years after. Hee gave David the Kingdom, and anointed him by Samuel, yet was hee not possessed of it in many years: … so much that hee said, Mine eyes fail for thy Word, Psal. 119.123. Ioseph hath a promise that the Sun and Moon should do him reverence, but first hee must bee bound in the Dungeon. This God doth to try us, for in these exigents we shew o…r selvs, and our dispositions.
What saith God to his people in their misery? Psal. 75. When I see convenient time, I will execute judgment, ver. 2. hee doth not say, when you think the time convenient. Let us tarry a little the Lords leisure, diliverance will come, peace will come, joy will com; in mean while to … …ient in misery, makes misery no misery.
Again secondly, hee may delay his coming for other ends of greater consequence, Martha and Mary send to Christ, as desiring him to come and res…re Lazarus their sick brother to health, Ioh. 11.3. expecting him without delay, now hee loved both Martha and her Sister, and Lazarus ▪ … ▪ 5. yet hee neglects coming for many days, lets him die, bee put in the grave untill hee stank; but what of all this? he that would not rest…re … Lazarus to health, restored dead Lazarus to life; which was a grea…e… …cy than they either did, or durst ask. Neither did this onelyonly increase … joy, and thankfulness, give them occasion ever after to believe, and … above and against all hope: but it made many of the Iews believe in him, which before did no…, ver. 45.
Thirdly and lastly, hee delaies thee the longer, that when hee coms, he … may bring with him the greater recompence of reward: for hee will comfort us according to the days wee have been afflicted, and according to the years that we have seen evill, Psal. 90.15.
Neither will hee stay over-long, for behold, saith he, I come quickly, and my reward is with me; to give every man according as his works shall bee, Rev. 22.12. and suffering is accounted none of the meanest works. So that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the conquest. Wherefore hold out yet a little, and help shall not bee wanting to the combatants; nor a crown to the conquerours. Yea, fight to the last minute, for the eye of thy Saviour is upon the; if thou faint, to cheer thee; if thou stand to it, to second thee; if thou conquer, to crown thee; whereas no combate, no conquest; no conquest, no triumph.
Object. But my sufferings are so great, that if they continue, I shall never bee able …o hold out.
Answ. True, if thou trustest to thine own strength; for perseverance is the gift of God; yea, it is hee that worketh in us both to will and to do at his good pleasure, Phil. 2.13. For first, mans will is a fugitive Onesimus, and God must call home that runagate, subdue that rebell, before wee can chuse that which is good. Neither when wee have begun, can we continue: perficit qui efficat, Hee that begun a good work in us, will perform it, Phil. 1.6. Jesus is the founder and finisher of our faith, Heb. 12.2 Neither can wee of our selvs suffer for him: Datur pati, it is given to us to suffer for his sake, Phil. 1.29. Without mee yee can do nothing, Ioh. 15.5. not parum, but nihil; But in him, and through him, all things. I can do all things through him that strengthens mee, Phil. 4.13. In our selvs wee are weak Captives, in him wee are more than Conquerours, Rom. 8.37. Whence it is, many sick men undergo patiently such pressure… as when they were in health, they would not have beleeved they could have born.
The truth of grace (bee the measure never so small) …s always blest with perseverance: because that little is …ed with an everlasting spring. Yea, if grace but conquer us first, wee by … shall conquer all things else, whether it bee corruptions within us, or temtations without us: for as the fire which came down from heaven in Elias time, licked up… all the water, to shew that it came from God; so will this fire spend all our corruptions: No affliction without, or corruption within, shall quench it. Wherefore do but thy endeavour to hold out, I mean with patience … that Spirit which came in the likeness of a Dove, will not com but … Dove,) and pray for divine assistance, this sadness shall end in gladne… ▪ this sorrow, in singing.
But above all; pray unto God, for Praier is the key of heaven, as … Austin tearms it; and the hand of a Christian, which is able to reach from Earth to Heaven, and to take forth every manner of good gift out of … Lords Treasury. Did not Elias by turning this K…y one way, lock up the whole Heaven from raining for three years and six months; and another while by turning the same Key of prayer, as much another way, in the turning of a hand, unlock all the doors and windows of heaven, and set them wide open, that it rained, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Yea, as all Samsons strength lay in his hair, so all our strength lyeth in Praier: Praiers and tears are the Churches Armour, Praiers and patience her weapons; and therefore when Peter was imprisoned by cruel Herod, the congregation joined their forces to pray for him; and so brake his chains, blew open the Iron Gates, and fetch'd him out, Act. 12.4. to 18. Arma Christianorum in adversis, alia esse non debent quam patientia, & precat… saith Salmeron.
Yea, praier is so powerfull, that it commandeth all things in Heaven and Earth: It commandeth all the four Elements, Air, Iam. 5.17.18. Fire, Ecclesiasticus 48.3. Dan. 3.27. Water, Exod. 14.21. and 15.25. Earth, Num. 16.31.32.33. Nay, the Praier of one devou… man, is able to co…quer an host of enemies in battell, Exod. 17.11. What shall I say? it hath made the Sun stand still in the Firmament one while, go back another; fetch fire and hail-stones from heaven, thrown down the walls of Iericho, subdued Kingdoms, stopt the mouths of Lyons quencht the violence of fire, &c. Yea, Praier is so potent, that it raiseth the dead, 1 King. 17.21. overcometh Angels, Gen. 19.22. casteth our Devills, Matth. 17.21. and that which is yet more wonderfull, overcometh him that cannot be overcome; and mastereth even God himself: for doth not the Lord say to Moses, let mee alone? And Moses would not let him alone, till he had obtained his petition, Exod. 32.10.14. And again to Iacob, wrestling with him, let mee go: and Iacob would not let him go, untill he had prevailed, Gen. 32.16.
Wherefore, Pray upon all occasions and that without doubting: say not to God, as the Leper said to Christ, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean: for hee both can, and will, as that very text, Matth. 8.2, 3. proves. Yea, I would to God wee were but so willing, as hee is, for hee desires to bee desired: Neither hath hee his own will, except wee have ours. Christ doth ask no more of us, but onelyonly that wee would vouchsafe to ask him. True, the fainting heart that hath waited some time, may with the Psalmist mutter out some such speech, as this, Hath God forgotten to bee gracious? Psal. 77.9. But if hee forgets any of his, he hath lost his old wont▪ for who can nominate one that ever came to Christ with any lawfull suit, that received a repulse? Who ever asked any thing of him which was profitable for him to receive, and did not obtain his suit? Did not the sick ever receive their health? The lame, their limbes? the blind their fight? Did ever any sinner implore the forgiveness of his sins, which did not receiv full remission and pardon? Yea, did not this our gracious King and Redeemer, prevent his poor miserable subjects with his grace, in giving, before …hey had the grace to ask; or more then they desired? The sick of the Pal… asking but cure of his disease, received not onelyonly that, but the remission of his sins also▪ Matth. …. Zacheus desired but to see his face, he became his guest; and gave him salvation to boot, Luk. 1…. The Woman of Samaria requested but elementary and common water, hee offered unto her the water of life, Ioh. 4. The people followed him to bee fed by miracle with corporall food, hee offered unto them the bread of life, Ioh. 7. The poor blind man desired but his bodily sight, Christ illuminated the eye of his soul, Ioh. 9.
Neither hath honours changed manners with him, as is usuall amongst men; for hee is a God immutable in goodness, and without change, or shadow of turning, Iam. 1 17. so that if thou speak, hee will hear; and answer thy suit in supporting thee: so that thou shalt bee sure to persevere, and hold out unto the end.
Section 11.
Object. But I have no evidence of divine assistance, nor can I pray for it to purpose.
Answ. Wee have the presence of Gods Spirit, and grace many times, and feel it not; yea, when we complain for want of i…, (as Pilate asked Christ what was tru…h, when the truth stood before him). The stomach findes the best digestion, even in sleep, when wee least perceive it; and whiles wee are most awake, this power worketh in us, either to further strength, or disease, without our knowledge of what is done within; and on the other side, that man is most dangerously sick, in whom nature decays without his feeling, without his complaint. To know our selvs happy is good; but woe were to us Christians, if wee could not bee happy, and know it not. As touching Praier, every one is not so happy as S…even was, to bee most fervent when they are most in pain; yea, many in time of sickness (by reason of the extremity of pain) can hardly pray at all: whence Saint Iames wisheth us in affliction, to pray our selvs; but in case of sickness, to send for the Elders: that they may, as those in the Gospell, offer up the sick person to God in their praiers, beeing unable to present their own cas…, Iam. 5.13.14.15. Yea, it were miserable for the best Christian, if all his former Praiers and Meditations did not serve to aid him in his last straights, and meet together in the Center of his extremity; yielding, though not sensible relief, yet secret benefit to the soul: whereas the worldly man in this case, having not layed up for this hour, hath no comfort from God, or from others, or from himself.
Besides, thou art happy in this, there is not the poorest and meanest of Gods Children, but as hee hath the benefit of Christs intercession in heaven, Rom. 8.34. Ioh. 16.26. so hath hee also the benefit of the Praiers of all the Saints on Earth: wee have the graces and gifts, each of other in common.
Yet, because thine own Praier is most proper; and seeing it is the mindes Embassadour t… God, and never faileth of success, if it bee fervent▪ (as if our prayers want success, they want heart, their blessing is according to their vigor) pray that thou mayest pray better: If thy Leg …e be… m…d, go upon it a little, and it will come to it self again. To which if thou join fasting, thou shalt do well; for prayers are made …at with fasting, as Tertullian speaks: Yea, pray oft, though thy prayers bee the shorter; weak … which cannot digest large …, feed …, and l…tle. O! (saith holy Bernard most sweetly), How oft hast thou (meaning praier) found mee lamenting, and despairing; and lest mee rejoycing, and triumphing!
And what though thou canst not powr out thy soul in a flood of words: The Woman diseased with an issue of blood, said but within her self, shee did not speak to bee heard of others, and yet Christ heard her, and answered her request, Matth: 9.21.22.
The Lord esteemeth the will for the deed, and the affection for the action; Man sees the countenance, God the heart; man the deeds, but God the meaning. Hast thou but thoughts and desires, and canst thou onelyonly express them with sighs and groans? these speechless words, or rather no words, but a few poor thoughts, conceived aright, pass all the flowing eloquence of Demosthenes and Tully, yea, Tertullus, and all the Orators that ever were in the world; for this matter is not expressed with words, but with groanings; and these groanings are from the blessed Spirit. A Father delights more in the stammering of his little Child, than in the eloquence of the best Orator.
Neither is hearty prayer in our own power, but it is the gift of God, which at somtimes in plentifull measure hee bestoweth upon his children, and at other times again hee pulleth back his liberall hand: that by the want thereof, wee may leern to ascribe the glory and praise of this grace to the giver, who worketh in us the will and the deed: which praise otherwise, in pride of heart, wee would arrogate unto our selvs, as beeing in our own power. Also that wee may more highly esteem it, and with more joy and diligence use it, when we have it bestowed on us.
If it bee asked why God reckons so highly of a few sighs, and groans? and why the prayers of the faithfull are so powerfull? it is, because they bee not ours, but the intercession of Gods own Spirit in us, powred out in the name of Christ, his own Son, in whom hee is ever well … for, as for us, wee know not what to pray as wee ought, but the Spirit it self maketh request for us, with sighs which cannot bee expressed, Rom. 8.26. It is the Spirit whereby wee cry Abba Father, ver. 15. Gal. 4.6.
Now if thou wouldest have the Spirits assistance, and bee heard of God, when thou makest supplication to him; do not (as too many do) fall into prayer without preparation, and utter a number of words without devotion or affection: for no marvell, if we ask and miss, when we thus ask amiss, I…. 4.3.
Neither do as Children, which never look after their Arrow; but like Daniel, Dan. 9. take notice of thine inlargements in prayer, and of thy success after.
Nor onelyonly pray, and no more, for to pray, and to do nothing else, is in effect to do nothing less. But let your Prayers be ushered in, by Meditation, and … by zealous devotion, and then beleeving that you shall receive whatsoever you ask in Christs name▪ and according to his will, 1 John 5. … John …6.23. God will bee … to give you that you desire, 1 John 5.14.15. Mark 11.23.24. or that which is better for you▪ … And suppose thou art not presently heard: yet continue asking stil, as Peter continued knocking till the door was opened: for af…er an ill harvest wee must sow, and after denials wee must woo God. Yea, if it bee possible with the Woman of Canaan, let delays, and seeming denialls encrease the strength of thy cries. And commonly they bee earnest suits which issue from a troubled soul, like strong streams in narrow straights, which bear down all that stands in their way. Nothing so strong as the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah, for it overcame the roaring Lyon; yet the Praier of Faith, from the knees of humility, and a broken heart, will conquer even that Conquerour, Matth. 15.28.
And thus you see that nothing can befall us without the sorciall appointment of our good God, who not only takes notice of our sufferings, but sweetneth them with his presence, takes our part, stints our enemies, and so ordereth the whole, that our grief is either short or tolerable; and that though hee is oftentimes harsh, in the beginning, and progress, and late in coming; yet hee coms on the sudden, and is always comfortable, in the conclusion. And lastly, that if hee defer his help, it is on purpose that our trialls may bee perfect, our deliverance welcome; our recompence glorious. And may not this comfort thee?