A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 36

A Counterpoison · Religious treatise · Chapter 36

p. 257CHAP. XXXVI.

That all afflictions, from the least to the greatest, doe come to passe, not by accident, chance, or fortune, but by the especiall providence of God.

Section 1.

2. WE shall beare the crosse with more patience and comfort. If we consider, that all afflictions, from the least to the greatest, doe come to passe, not by accident, chance, or fortune, but by the speciall providence of God; who not only decreeth and fore-appointeth every particular crosse: Eccles. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 28. 29. but even effecteth them, and brings them into execution, as they are crosses, corrections, tryals, and chastisements: p. 258Isaiah. 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 owne glory, the good of his servants, and the benefit of his Church: Jeremy 30. 11. Gen. 50. 19. 20. 2 Sam. 16. 10. Psal. 39. 9. God useth them but as Instruments, wherewith to worke his good pleasure upon us. As what are our enemies but Gods Axes to cut us downe, not for the fire, but for the building: Gods Masons to hew us here in the Mountaine, that we may be as the pollished corner stones of the Temple, Ps…. 144. 12. Or admit the M…son pulls downe the House, it is not with an intent to destroy it, but to reedifie it; and raise it up againe in better form… and fashion. Gods skullains to scowre up the vessell of his House, that they may be me…t for the Masters use.

If then they be but as Instruments, or To…les in the hand of the worke-man, we must not so much looke to the Instrument, as to the Author: Gen. 45. 5. and 50. 30. Well may the Priests of the Philistims doubt whether their plague bee from God, or by Fortune: 1 S…m. 6. 2. 9. but let a Joseph be sold into Aegypt, he will say to his enemies, Yee sent not me hither, but God; when ye thought evill against me, God disposed it to good, that hee might bring to passe as it is this day; and save much people alive: or let a David be rayled upon by any cursed Shimei, hee will answer, Let him alone, for he curseth, even because the Lord h…th bid him curse David: Who dare then say, wheresore hast thou done so? 2 Sam. 16. 10. Or let a Micha be trodden upon, and insulted over by his enemy, his answer shall be no other than this, I will beare the wr…th of the Lord, be…se I have sinned against him, untill be plead my cause, p. 259and execute judgement for me: Micha. 7. 9. The beleever that is conversant in Gods booke, knowes that his adversaries are in the hands of God, as a Hammer, Axe, or Rod, in the hand of a smiter; and therefore as the Hammer, Axe, or Rod, of it selfe can doe nothing, any further than the force of the …and using it, gives strength unto it: so no more can they doe any thing at all unto him, further than it is given them from above; as our Saviour told Pilate: John 19. 11. See this in some examples; you have Laban following Jacob with one troope, Esau meeting him with another, both with h…stile intentions; both goe on till the utter most point of their execution, both are prevented …re the execution: for stay but a while, and you shall see Laban leave him with a kisse, Esau meet him with a kisse; of the one hee hath an oath, t…res of the oth…r, peace with both; GOD makes sooles of the enemies of his Church, he lets them proceed that they may be frustrate; and when they are gone to the uttermost reach of their teather, hee puls them back to the stake with shame. Againe, you have Sen…ch…rib 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 Jerusalem! wealth it had none, strength it had but a little, all the Countrey round about was subdued unto the Ass…rian: that proud victor hath begirt the wals of it with an innumerable army, scorning that such a shovell-full of earth should stand out but one day: yet poore Jerusalem stands alone blockt up with a world of enemies, helplesse, friendlesse, comfortlesse, looking for the worst of an hostile sury; and on a sudden, before an Arrow is shot into the City, a hundred fourscore & five thousand of their enemies were sl…ine, and the rest run p. 260away: 2 Kings 19. 35. 36. God laughs in Heaven at the Plots of Tyrants, and befooles them in their deepest projects. If he undertake to protect a people, in vaine shall Earth and Hell couspire against them. Nothing can be 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 Jewes ever doe 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 …ore-told that they should give him gall in his meat, and in his thirst, vineger to drinke; the very quality and kinde of his drinke 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 Gods decree, and the Prophets relation: Isay 50. 6. Yea, let the Kings of the earth be assembled, and the Rulers come together; Let Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gather themselves in one league against him, it is in vaine; for they can doe nothing, but what the hand of God and his Councell hath before determined to be done: as Peter and John affirmed to the rest of the Disciples, for their better confirmation and comfort: Acts 4. 26. to 29. No, notwithstanding the Devill raged, the Pharisees stormed, Herod and Pilate vexed, Cayaph…s prophesied, all combined, and often sought to take him: yet no man laid hands on him, (untill his houre was come that God had appointed): so that by all their Plots, they were never able to doe him any more hurt, then onelyonly to shew their teeth: John. 7. 30. If we are in league with God, we need not feare the greatest of men.

p. 261Indeed, it was Pilates brag to Christ, knowest thou not that I have power to cruci…ie thee: John 19. 10. And L…bans to Jacob: G…. 31. 29. I am able to doe you hurt; but they were but vaine cracks: for doth not Pharoabs overthrow tell all boasting Champions, that an Host is nothing without the God of Hosts. Yea, Sathan himselfe was saine to say unto God, in Jobs case, stretch out now thine hand, &c. Job 1. 11. & 2. 5.

Now it must needs comfort and support us exceedingly, if in all cases we do but duly consider, that inequalit… is the ground of order, that superiour causes guide the subordinate, that this subluna…y Globe depends on the celestiall; as the lesser wheeles in a Clock doe on the great one, which I …inde thus expressed:

As in a Clock one motion doth convay

And carry divers wheeles a severall way,

Yet altogether by the great wheeles force,

Direct the hand unto his proper course.

Who is he that saith, and it commeth to passe, when the Lord commandeth it not? Lament. 3. 37. Suppose the Legions of Hell should combine with the Potentates of the Earth to doe their worst, they are all nothing without God: as in A…ithmeticke, put never so many Cyphers together, one a…ore another, and they make nothing; but let one figure be added, it makes them infinite. So is it with men and devils; 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 thinke of, and most oppose: The Inhabitants of Jerusalem, and their Rulers, (because they knew him not, nor yet the words of the Prophets which are read every Sabboth day) have fulfilled them in condemning him: Act▪ p. 26213. 27. so that as Saint Austin speaks, by resisting the will of God, they doe fulfill it: and his will is done by, and upon them, even in that they doe against his will.

That even Satan himselfe is limited, and can go no fur…her than his chaine will reach, wee may see, Revel. 20. 2. More particularly; he could not touch so much as Jobs body or substance, no not one of his servants, nor one limbe of their bodies, nor one …aire of their heads, nor one beast of their heards, but hee must first beg leave of God, Job 2. 6. Nay Satan is so farre from having power over us living, that hee cannot touch our bodyes being dead; yea, he cannot find them when God will conceale them, (witnesse the body of Moses:) and I doubt not, but as the Angels did wait 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 doe, he cannot goe one hayres breadth beyond his commission: Being permitted, hee could bring Christ himselfe, and set him on the Pinacle of the Temple, but he could not through hi… downe; which even a little Childe might have done with permission. As the Lyon, 1 Kings 13. kild the Prophet, but neither touched the Asse whereon he roade, nor yet the dead carkas contrary to his nature.

True, Satan could boast even to Christ himselfe, that all the World was his, and all the Kingdomes thereof, but when it came to the push, he could not p. 263enter 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 he not so to the man possessed? no thankes to him, he had leave for the one, not so for the other; and therefore a whole Legion of them were not able to destroy one poore simple man, Matth, 8. vers. 31, 32.

So that all our enemies are curbed and restrained by the divine providence of our heavenly Father: Satan may be his executioner, but God is the Judge, and the Executioner cannot lay on a stroake more, than the Judge appoints.

I confesse, Satan is so strong comparatively, and withall so crafty and malitious, 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 we have showne) can doe nothing without the God of spirits. Secondly, wee have the Angels ayde as the Prophet Elisha against that bloody King, 2 Kings 6. 17. Lot against the Sodomites, Gen. 19. 10. Jacob against the feare of Esa…, Gen. 32. vers. 24, 28. Hezekiah against Zenacharib, Esay 37. 36. and England against that invincible Navy of the Spaniards in Eighty eight. True, they appeare not ordinarily, what then; no more doe the evill Angels, but the Word of God assures us it is so, the Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him, and delivereth them, Psalm. 34. 7. And doe but thou get spirituall eyes, whereby thou mayest see, as with Moses the invisible God, so the invisible Angels: doe but pray as Elisha for his servant that thine eyes may be opened, and then thou shalt see more with thee, than against thee, 2 Kings 6. 16, 17.

p. 264Yea, had wicked men their eyes opened, as Balaam once had, they would at every turne see an Angel stand in their way, ready to resist what they goe about, as hee did: for this is one of the noble imployments of those glorious spirits, to give a strong, though invisible opposition to lewd enterprises: Many a treacherous act have they hindered, without the knowledge of the Traytor. Yea, O God, many are the dangers which we see and feare; innumerable, those wee neither see nor feare; Therefore to take away all attribution to our selves, even when we know not thou dost deliver us.

Now if it be fearfull to think how great things evill spirits can do with permission; it is comfortable to think how they can doe nothing without permission: for if GOD must give him leave, he will never give him leave to doe any harme to his chosen, he will never give him leave to doe the least hurt to our soules. Now as by way of concession every greater includes the lesse, bee that can lift a Talent, can easily lift a Pound; so by way of denyall, every greater excludes the lesse. If Satan himselfe cannot hurt us, much lesse his instruments, weake men: but for proofe of this, see also an instance or two, that a Sparrow cannot fall to the ground without our Heavenly Father; and that without l…a… from him, our enemies cannot diminish one haire of our heads, we have our Saviours expresse testimony: Matth. 10. 29. 30. Let the Powder-Traytors plot and contrive the ruine of our State never so cunningly and closely, let them goe on to the utmost, (as there wanted nothing but an Actor to bring on that Catholike doomes-day;) yet before the Match could be brought to the Powder, their artificiall fire-workes were discovered, their projection, prodition, deperdition, all dis…l… sed, p. 265and seasonably returned on their owne heads: And the like of their invincible Navy. Let Jesabel fret her heart out, and sweare by her gods that Eliah shall die, yet she shall be f…strate; Eliah shall be safe. Let the red Dragon spout forth slouds of venome against the Church, the Church shall have wings given her to flie away, shee shall be delivered: Revelat. 12. Let the Scribes and Pharisees, with their many false witnesses accuse Christ never so, yet in spight of malice innocency shall finde abbetors: and rather than hee shall want witnesses, the mouth of Pilate shall be opened to his justification. Yea, let Jonas through frailty runne away from the execution and embassage of GODS charge, and thereupon be 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 he will be sure to lay no more upon us than we are able, or he will make us able to beare: yea, than shall make for our good and his glory. He hath a provident care over all the Creatures, even Beasts and Plants: and certainly wee are more pretious than Fowles or Flowers; yet the Lord cares for them. Will the Householder take care to water the Herbes of his Garden, or to fodder his Cattell, and suffer his Men and Maides to famish through hunger and thirst? Or will he provide for his Men and Maides, and let his owne Children strave? Surely if a man provide not for his owne, He hath denyed the faith, and is worse than an Infidell: 1 Tim. 5. 8. Farre bee it then from the great Housholder, and Judge of all the Earth; not to provide p. 266for his deare Children and Servants, what shall bee most necessary for them. Indeed, we may feare our owne flesh, as Saint Paul did; but God is faithfull, and will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength, but will even give the issue with the temptation, and in the meane time support us with his grace: 2 Corinth. 12. 9. You have an excellent place to this purpose: Jeremiah 15. 20. 21.

Section 2.

Objection. But we see by experience, that GOD gives wicked men power oftentimes to take away the very lives of the godly.

Answer. What then? If we lose the lives of our bodies, it is, that wee may save the lives of our soules; and attaine the greater degree of glory: Luke 9. 24. and so we are made gayners even by that losse. Now if God takes away temporall, and gives eternall life for it, there is no hurt done us; he that promiseth ten peeces of silver, and gives ten peeces of gold, breaks no promise. Peace be unto this house was the Apostles salutation, but it was not meant of an outward peace with men of the world: and Christ saith, You shall have rest, Matth. 11. 28 but it is rest vntounto your soules. Againe, then hast m…rited a three-fold death, if thou art freed from the two worser, spirituall and eternall; and God deale favourably with thee touching thy naturall death, hee is mercifull: if not, thou must not thinke him unjust. Though the Devill and the World can hurt us, aswell as other men, in our owtward and bod…ly estates: as the Devill had power over Job in his Ulcers, over his Children in their death, over Mary Magd…len that was possessed, and over that daughter p. 267of Abraham, Luke 13. whom he kept bound lo… 18. yeares: Vers. 16. yet they can doe us no hurt, nor indanger our soules; they shall lose nothing but their drosse, as in Zachary 13. 9. Isaiah 12. Let them s…uce out our bloud, our soules they cannot so much as strike; let wild beasts teare the body from the soule, yet neither body nor soule are thereby severed from Christ. Yea, they can neither deprive us of our spirituall treasure here, nor eternall hereafter; which makes our Saviour say, Feare yee not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soule; but rather feare him which is able to destroy both soule and body in Hell: Matth. 10. 28. The body is but the Barke, Cabinet, Case, or Instrument of the Soule; and say it falls in peeces, there is but a Pitcher broken; the soule a glorious Ruby, held more sit to be set in the Crowne of glory, than here to be trodden under foot by dirty Swine; and therefore so soone as separated, the Angels convey her hence to the place of everlasting blisse. Alas, what can they do? they cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus: Rom. 8. 38, 39. Yea, they are so farre from doing us harme, as that, contrarywise, wee are much the better for them; In all these things we are more than conquerours, through him that loved us: Verse 37. Whatsoever then becomes of goods, or lives, happy are we so long as (like wise Souldiers) we guard the vitall parts, while the soule is kept sound from impatience, from distrust, &c. Our enemy may afflict …, he cannot hurt us.

Objection. Neverthelesse, that which I suffer, is exceeding grievous.

Answer. Not so grievous as it might have beene, for he that hath afflicted thee for a time, could have held thee longer; he that toucheth thee in part, could p. 268have stricken thee in whole: hee that laid this upon thy body, hath power to lay a greater Rod both upon thy body and soule. Again, there is no chastisement not grievous; the bone that was disjoynted, cannot be set right without paine; no potion can cure us, if it worke not; and it workes not, except it makes us sick▪ Nay, my very disease is not so painfull for the time, as my remedy: how doth it turne the stomack, and wring the intrayles, and work a worse distemper than that, wherof I formerly complained: neither could it be so wholsome, if it were lesse unpleasing; neither could it make me whole, if it did not first make me sicke. But we are contented with that sicknesse 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 downe, but perish not: how should wee, when all the evill in a City comes from the providence of a good God, which can neither be impotent, nor unmercifull? It is the Lord, let him doe what he will. Woe worth us, if evils 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 Achitophels and Machivilians, nor the proud lookes, no… the big words of all the Amaziahs, combining themselves together, deter or dismay you. Let not the overtopping growth of the sonnes of Zerviah seeme too hard for you; for God is infinitely more strong and mighty to save us, than all our enemies are to d…stroy us; and he hath his O…re in their Boate, he hath a speciall stroke in all actions whatsoever, and can easily over-reach and make starke fooles of the wisest; by making their owne counsels and endeavour p. 269like Hushais, to overthrow those intentions which they seeme to support.

As touching the continuance of afflictions, God so ordereth and tempereth the same, in his mercifull wisedome, that either they be tollerable, or short; either our sorrowes shall not be violent, or they shall not last; if they be not light, they shall not be long: grievous and sore tryals last but for a season, 1 Peter 1. 6. A little while, John 16. 16. Yea, but a moment, 2 Cor. 4. 17. He endureth but a while in his anger, (saith the Psalmist) but in his favour is life; weeping may abide for a night, but joy commeth in the morning: Psal. 30. 5. And this had he good experience of; for if we marke it, all those Psalmes whose fi…st lines containe sighes and broken complaints, doe end with delight and contentment; he began them in feare, but they end in joy: you shall see terrible anguish sitting in the doore, irremediable sorrow looking in at the window, despaire bordering in the margent, and offering to creep into the Text; yet after a sharpe conflict, nothing appeares but joy and comfort. God loves to send reliefe, when wee least looke for it; as Elisha sent to the King of Israel, when he was rending his clothes: 2 Kings 5. 8. Heare what the Lord thy Redeemer saith by Isaiah, For a moment in mine anger, I hid my face from thee for a little season, but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee: Isaiah 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. Joseph when he lay downe to sleepe, was full of care about his Wives being with childe; Matthew 1. 20. but he awakened well satisfied: Verse 24. To day a measure of fine flower is lower rated in Samaria, than yesterday of dung. Although Christs Starre left the p. 270Wise Men for a time, yet instantly it appeared againe, and forsook them not till they had found CHRIST; which was the marke they aymed at: Matthew 2. 9. Afflictions are like running waters, which make many grounds fruitfull, but tarry with none of them. Yea, its a Rule in nature, that violent things cannot last long: The Philosophers could observe, that no motion violent is wont to be permanent; and Seneca concludes, That if the sicknesse bee tedious and lasting, the paine is tolerable; but if violent, short: and so of spirituall temptations, the which were so vehement upon Luther, that the very venome of them dranke up his spirits, and his body seemed dead; so that neither speech, sense, bloud, or heat, appeared in him; but this sharpe fitt lasted but for one day: so if we suffer much, it shall not be long; if wee suffer long, it shall not be much. Some misery is like a Consumption, gentle, but of long continuance; other like a Feaver, violent, but soone over. If our sorrows be long, they are the lighter; if sharper, the shorter. The sharpe North-East winde (saith the Astronomer) never lasteth three dayes; and thunder, the more violent, the lesse permanent. Wherefore cheere up thou drooping soule, if the Sunne of comfort be for the present clouded, it will ere long shine forth bright ag…ine: if now with the Moone thou art in the wayne, stay but a little, thou shalt as much increase; for as dayes succeed nights; Summer, Winter; and rest, travell; so undoubtedly, joy shall succeed and exceed thy sorrow. Thy griefe shall dissolve, or be dissolved; yea, it is in some measure dissolved by hope for the present. The Portingals will rejoyce in foule weather; why? because they know faire will follow; and so may the beleever in his great…st exigents: because God will shortly tread Satan under our feet; Rom▪ 16. 20. Here also the distressed p. 271soule may raise comfort to himselfe out of former experience; who is he that hath not beene delivered out of some miserable exigent? which if thou hast, thou mayest well say unto God with the Psalmist, Thou hast shewed me great troubles and adversities, but thou wilt returne and revive me, and wilt come againe, and take me up from the depth of the earth, and comfort mee: Psalme 71. 20, 21. For Gods former actions are patternes of his future; he teacheth you what he will doe, by what he hath done: and nothing more raiseth up the heart in present assiance, than the recognition of favours, or wonders passed: hee 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 cleane forgotten thee: and so thou fearest hee will for ever: Psalme 13. 1, 2.

Answer. It is but so in thy apprehension, as it was with him; Gods deliverance may over-stay thy expectation, it cannot the due period of his owne counsels: for know first, That Gods workes are not to be judged of, untill the fifth act. The case deplorable and desperate in outward appearance, may with one smile from Heaven finde a blessed issue: Dotham is besieged, and the Prophets servant distressed, they are in a grievous case; (as they thinke) yet a very apparition in the clouds shall secure them: not a squadron shall bee raised, and yet the enemy is surprised: 2 Kings 6. here was no slacknesse. The Midianites invade Israel, and are suddenly confounded by a dreame: Judges 7. Mistris Honywood, that Religious Gentlewoman, famous p. 272for her vertues, after shee had beene distressed in her minde thirty yeares, without feeling the least comfort, not being able to hold out any longer, (as a wounded spirit who can beare?) flung a Venice-glasse against the ground, and said to a grave Divine that sought to comfort her, I am as sure to be damned, as this Glasse is'to be broken; but what followed, the Glasse was not broken, but rebounded and stood upright: at the sight whereof she was so confirmed, that ever after to her dying day, she lived most comfortably: much like that of Apelles, who striving to paint a drop of foame falling from a Horse mouth, after long study how to expresse it, even despairing, flung away his Pensill, and that throw did it. How opportunely doth God provide succours to our distresses. It is his glory to helpe at a pinch, to begin where we have given over; that our reliefe might bee so much the more welcome, by how much it is lesse looked for: superstuous ayde can neither be heartily desired, nor earnestly looked for, nor thankefully received from the hands of mercy. Besides, our infirmity best sets off the glory of his strength: 2 Cor. 12. 9. Spirituall consolations are commonly late and sudden; long before they come, and speedy when they doe come, even preventing expectation: and our last conflicts have wont ever to be the forest, as when after some dripping raine, it powres down most vehemently, we thinke the weather is changing. When he meanes to ease us of our burthen, he seemes to lay on beavier; wherefore trust in God killing, and love God chiding, it is a good signe of our recovery.

Section 3.

Againe, in the next place thou must know, that p. 273mans extremity is Gods opportunity; well may hee forbeare, so long as we have any thing else to rely upon: but wee are sure to finde him in our greatest exigents, who loves to give comfort to those that are forsaken of their hope…, as abundance of examples witnesse. When had the Children of Israel the greatest victories, but when they feared most to bee overcome? 2 Kings 19. 35. Exod. 14. 28, 29. When was Hagar comforted of the Aagell, but when her childe was neere famished, and she had cast it under a Tree for dead? Genesi… 21. 15. to 20. When was Eliah comforted and releeved by an Angel, with a Cake baked on the coales, and a Cruse of Water, but when hee was utterly forsaken of his hopes? 1 King. 19. 4. to 7. When was the Sarepta… releeved, it was high time for the Prophet to visit her poore soule, she was now making her last meale, after one meane morsell, shee was yeelding her selfe over to death. As long as Aegypts flower lasted, Manna was not rained. When did God answer the hopes of Sarah, Rebeckah, Rachel, the wife of Manoah, and Elizabeth, touching their long and much desired issues? but when they were barren, and past hope of children, by reason of age, Genesis 18. Judges 13. Luke 1. 6. 7. When did our Saviour heale the Woman of her bloudy issue; but after the Physitians had given her over, and she becomming much worse, had given them over, when she had spent all she had upon them: for to mend the matter, poverty, which is another disease, was superadded to make her compleatly miserable. When mans helpe failes, then Gods begins. When did Moses finde succour, but when his Mother could no longer hide him: and he was put into the River among the Bullrushes? she would have given all she was worth to save him, and now she hath wages to nurse him: she p. 274doth but change the name of Mother into Nurse, and she hath her sonne without feare, not without great reward. When Israel was in so hard a straight, as either to be drowned in the Sea, or slaine 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 s…re famine within; how miraculously did God provide an evasion, by making the tyde their Purveyor, to bring them in an Ocean of shellfish? the like of which was never knowne before, nor since. We read how Merline, during the Massacre at Paris, was for a fortnight together, nourished with one Eggs a day, layd by a Hen, that came constantly to a Haymow, where he lay hid in that danger. When the English had left Cales, and the Spaniard was againe repossest of it; by some neglect or oversight there was an English-man left behinde, but how did God provide for his escape? its worth the remembring, hee was no sooner crept into a hole under a paire of staires, but instantly a Spider weaves 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 foole art thou, doest thou not see, its covered with a firme cobweb? and so past him, that in the night hee escaped. O Saviour, our extremities are the seasons of thy ayde: even when Faux was giving sire to the Match, that should have given fire to the Powder, which should have blowne up Men and Monuments, even the whole State together; thou that never sleepest didst prevent him, and disclose the whole designe: yea, thou didst turne our intended Funerall into a Festivall. And why doth the goodnesse of our God pick out the most needfull times for our reliefe and comfort? but because our extremities drive us to him that is p. 275omnipotent; there is no feare, no danger, but in our owne insensiblenesse: but because when wee are forsaken of all succours and hopes, wee are fittest for his redresse; and never are we nearer to helpe, than when we despaire of helpe; but because our extremities giv… him the most glory, and our comfort is the greater, when the deliverance is seene before it is expected, his wisedome knowes when ayde will be most seasonable, most welcome: which he then loves to give, when he findes us left of all other props. That mercifull hand is reserved for a dead lift, and then hee failes us not; as when Abraham had given Isaac, and Isaac had given himselfe for dead; then God enterposed himselfe: when the knife is falling upon his throat, then, then comes the deliverance by an Angell, calling, forbidding, commending him. When things are desperate, then looke most for Gods helpe; for then is the time: Psalme 119. 126. Isay 33. 9, 10.

And indeed, our faith is most commendable in the last act; it is no praise to hold out untill we be hard driven, but when wee are forsaken of meanes, then to live by faith in our God, is thought worthy of a Crowne. 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 unbeliefe thou art cast off for ever! 1 Sam. 13. 10. to 15. To shut up all in a word, were thy soule in such a straight, as Israel was betweene the Red Sea, and the Aegyptians; the spirits of vengeance, (like those enemies) pursuing thee behind; Hell and death (like that Red Sea) ready to ingulfe thee before; yet would I speake to thee in the confidence of Moses, Exodus 14. 13. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Thy word, O God, made all, p. 276thy word shall repaire all; hence all ye diffident fears, he whom I trust is omniponent.

Againe Secondly, Thou must know that God in his wisedome hath set downe a certaine period of time, within which he will exercise his Children more or lesse: and at the end whereof, and not before, he will relieve and comfort them againe. As wee may perceive by Eccles. 3. 1. Acts 7. 25. Exodus 12. 41. Gen. 15. 13. Daniel 12. 1. 4. 11. Jer. 25. 11. Gen. 6. 3. Foure hundred yeares he appointed to Abraham and his seed, that they should bee Sojourners in a strange land, where they should be kept in bondage, and evill intreated: Genesis 15. At the end of which time, even the selfe same day, they returned from the land of Aegypt: that was the precise time appointed, and the selfesame day it was accomplished: and till then Moses undertook it in vaine. Why were they so long kept from it? the land was their owne before, they were the right heires to it, lineally descended from him who was the first Possessor of it after the floud: God will doe all in due time, that is, in his time, not in ours; if at any time the Lord deliver us, it is more than he owes us. Let him (saith Saint Augustine) choose his owne opportunity that so freely grants the mercy. Againe, he appointed that the Jewes should serve the King of Babylon seventy yeares; not a day, not an houre to be abated, Jeremy 25. 11. but at the end thereof, even that very night: Daniel 9. it was accomplished; neither did Daniel, (who knew the determinate time) once pray for deliverance, till just upon the expiration. Thirty eight yeares he appointed the sick man at Bethesda's Poole, John 5. 5. Eighteene yeares to that daughter of Abraham, whom Christ loosed from her disease: Luke 13. 16. Twelve yeares to the Woman p. 277with the bloudy issue, Matth. 9. 20. Three moneths to Moses, Exod. 2. 2. Ten dayes tribulation to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna, Apocal. 2. 10. Three dayes 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 tarry the Lords leasure, thou shalt also be delivered from thy affliction and sorrow, either in the Morning of thy trouble with David, Psal. 30. 5. or at the Noone of thy life with Job, Chapter 42. 10. to 17. or toward the Evening, with M^r Glover, that holy Martyr, who could have no comfortable feeling, till he came to the sight of the stake: but then he cryed out, and clapt his hands for joy to his friend, saying, O Austin, he is come, he is come, meaning the feeling joy, of faith, and the Holy Ghost: Acts and Monuments, Fol. 1555. Or at night with Lazarus, at one houre or another thou are sure to be delivered, as time will determine. Many were the troubles of Joseph, but the Lord delivered him out of all. 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 Job, but the Lord delivered him out of all: therefore hee can and will deliver thee out of all. But if he do not, (saith Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) yet we will not do evill, to escape danger; because Christ hath suffered more for us: therefore if I perish, I perish, saith Hester. Be our troubles many in number, strange in nature, heavy in measure, much in burthen, and long in continuance; yet Gods mercies are more numerous, his p. 278wisedome more wondrous, his power more miraculous; he will deliver us out of all: Many are the troubles of the Righteous: Yea, he riseth higher, and calls them millions, for so the words may be rendered; but the Lord delivereth them out of all: Psal. 34. 19. How many, or how great soever they be, or how long soever they continue, yet an end they shall all have: F…r 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 farre beyond their expectation, as he had formerly punished them lesse than they did deserve.

Objection. Oh! but my condition is so desperate, and irrecoverable, that its impossible I should ever get out of it.

Answer. There is no impossibility (saith Ambrose) where God is pleased to give a dispensation. But bethinke thy selfe, is it worse with thee than it was with those b…fore mentioned? and yet they were delivered: Or is thy case worse than that of Jonas in the Sea, yea in the Whales belly? and yet he was delivered: Worse than Nebuchadn…zzars grazing in the Forrest among beasts, even untill his haires were growne to be like Eagles feathers, and his nayles like Birds clawes? Daniel 4. 31. to 36. and yet he againe reigned in Babell: Worse than Josephs? when he was throwne into a Pit…, and left hopelesse; or when sold to the Ishm …elitish Merchants, and then cast into prison? yet after all this, his said brethren were faine to become petitioners to him. Worse than Job, when he sate scraping his soares on the dunghill, had all his houses burn…, all his cattell stolne, and his children sl…ine? yet he was farre richer afterwards, than before.

p. 279How rashly then hast thou judged of thy Makers dealing with thee? It were more agreeable to reason, and religion, to conclude the contrary; for both experience, and reason teacheth, that violent pressures, like violent motions, are weak…st at the furthest. When the morning is darkest, then comes day: yea, usually after the lowest ebbe, followes the highest spring-tyde: And Religion teaches, that if we love God, all things, even the worst of Afflictions shall so concurre, and cooperate to our good, that wee would not have wanted them for any good. Wherefore hold but fast to God, and my soule 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 bloud in our soules, and is specially usefull to bound our desires of release; for though we may be importunate, impatient we may not be; stay he never so long, Patience must not be an Inch shorter than Affliction: If the Bridge reach but half way over the Brook, we shall have but an ill-favoured passage. Wee are taught in Scripture to praise Patience, as we doe a faire day at night; He that endureth to the end shall be saved: Matth. 24. 13. Whereas comming but a foot short, may make us misse the prize, and lose the wager we runne for: and then as good never have set f…o… out of doores. Much the better for that light, which will not bring us to bed; perseverance is a kinde of all in all; continuance is the Crowne of all other graces; and Heaven shall be the Crowne of continuance.

But not seldome doth the Lord onelyonly release his Children out of extreame adversity here, but withall makes their latter end so much the more prosperous, p. 280by how much the more their former time hath been miserable and adverse. We have experience in Job: You have heard, saith Saint Ja…es, of the patience of Job, and what end the Lord made with him. What end is that, the Holy Ghost tels you: That the Lord blessed his latter end, more than his beginning; and gave him twise as much as he had before. For whereas at first he had but 7000 Sheep, 3000 Camels, 500 yoke of Oxen, and 500 shee Asses: after his reparation hee had 14000 Sheep, 6000 Cammels, 1000 yoake of Oxen, and 1000 shee Asses, every one double: and whereas the number of his Children remained the same they were before, namely, seaven Sonnes, and three Daughters, the number of them were also doubled, as the learned observe; for whereas his Beasts, according to the condition of beasts, utterly perished; the soules of his Children were saved: so that hee had twise so many Children also, whereof ten were with him on Earth, and the other ten with God in Heaven. Job. 42. 10. to 14. And in Joseph, who was bred up in the Schoole of Affliction from his infancy; yet when his turne was come, one houre changes his fetters of Iron, into chaynes of Gold; his ragges into Roabes, his stocks into a Charriot, his Prison into a Pallace, the noyse of his Gives into a breach; and whereas he was thirty yeares kept under, he ruled in the heigth and lustre of all honour and glory the space of eighty yeares. And one minute made in Lazarus a farre greater change, and preferment. And in David, who for a long time was in such feare of Saul, that he was forc't to fly for his life, first, to Samuel where Saul pursueth him; then to Jonathan, where his griefe is doubled, than to Abim…lech, where is Doeg to betray him; after that hee flyeth to Achish, King of Gath; where, being discovered, he is in greatest p. 281feare of all, lest the King should take away his life; and lastly, when he returnes to his owne Ziklag, he findes it smitten and burnt with fire, and his Wives taken prisoners, and in the midst of all his grief, when he had wept untill he could weepe no more; the people being vexed, intend to stone him; so that, as he had long before complained, there was but a step betweene him and death; but marke the issue, though his heart were now not onelyonly brim-full, but ran over with griefe: yet within two dayes the Crowne of Israel is brought unto▪ him, and he is annointed King: 2 Sam. 1. and for the present he was able to comfort himselfe in the Lord his God: 1 Sam. 30. 6. Yea, after…his, when by that foule sinne of Adultery, and Murther, hee had brought more enemies about his eares, (God, and Men, and …ils) having once repented his fault, he was able to say with confidence, O God, thou hast shewed me great troubles and adversities, but thou wilt take me up from the depth of the earth, and increase my honour: Psalme 71. 20. 21. He knew well enough that it is Gods use to bring comfort out of sorrow, as he brought water out of the Rocke, and that cherishing was wont to follow stripes: And indeed, how oft hath a Tragick entrance had a happy end? Like that we read of Michael, who was condemned to death by the Emperour Leo, upon a false accusation; but before the execution, the Emperour dyed, and Michael was chosen in his stead. And of Mordecay, who being in the forenoone appointed to the Gibbet, was in the afternoone advanced next of all to the Throne. And Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory, who Raigned at the same time that she expected to suffer, and was Crow…ed when shee looked to be beheaded. God loves to doe by his Children, as Joseph did by his Father; p. 282first, we must have our beloved Joseph a long time detained from us, then hee robbes us of Simeon; after that sends for our best beloved Benjamin, and makes us beleeve he will rob us of all our Children at once, all the things that are deare to us: But why is it? even that when we thinke to have lost all, he might returne himselfe, and all againe with the greater interest of joy and felicity. The LORD saith Hannah, killeth, and maketh alive; first killeth, and then maketh alive; bringeth downe to the grave, and raiseth up; the Lord maketh poore, and maketh rich; bringeth low, and exalteth; he raiseth the poore out of the dust, and lifteth up the begger from the Dunghill; to set them among Princes, and to make them inherite the seate of glory: 1 Sam. 2. 6, 7, 8. And why all this, but that in his owne might no man might be strong? Verse 9. That which Plutarch reports of Dionysius, how hee tooke away from one of his Nobles, almost his whole estate, and seeing him neverthelesse continue as jocund and well contented as ever, hee gave him that againe, and as much more, is a common thing with the Lord: and thousands can witnesse, that though they went weeping under the bur…hen, when they first carried the prceious seed of Repentance; yet they still returned with joy, and brought their sheaves with them: Psalme 126. 5, 6.

Objection. But thou thinkest thou shalt not hold ou…, if God should long delay thee.

Answer. If he d…lay thee never so long, he will be sure to support thee as long: 1 Cor. 10. 13. which is much at one upon the matter. If hee suffer thee to be sorely temp…ed, hee will not suffer▪ thee to bee tempted above thy strength: 2 Cor. 4. 8. 9. 16. His grace shall bee sufficient for thee at the least: 2 Cor. 12. 9. p. 283Phil. 1. 29. which was Pauls answer, and it may suffice all suitors; the measure of our patience shall bee proportionable to our suffering, and our strength equalled to our Temptations, 1 Cor. 10. 13. Now if God doe either take away our appetite, or give us meate▪ it is enough.

True, a Ship of never so great a burthen, may bee overladen till it sinke again; or if we shall weare away all the steele with whetting, the Toole is left unprofitable. But my thoughts (saith God) are not as your thoughts, nor my wayes as your wayes: Isaiah 55. 8. God is n… Tyrant to asflict thee unmeasurably, neither will he draw a sword to kill Flyes; or call for Scorpions when a Rod is too much. Hee that made the vessell, knowes her burthen, and how to ballast her; yea, hee that made all things very good, cannot but doe all things very well. Indeed, God seemeth to wrestle with us, as he did with Jacob; but he supplyes us with hidden strength, at length to get the better: And grace to stand in affliction, and to gaine by it, is better then freedome 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 middest of it. The Ship at Anchor is shrewdly tossed to and fro, but cannot be carried away, either by waves, winde, or weather: Sinne, Satan, and the world may disturbe us, but they can never destroy us: Our head Christ being above, we cannot be drowned. There can bee no disjunction; unlesse wee could be pluckt from his armes, that is almighty: for our life is bid with Christ in God, Colos. 3. 3. Hee doth not trust us with our owne soules life; but hides it in his Sonne Jesus: because, if it were in our owne hands; we should easily be tempted to sell it; as Adam did for an Apple, and Esa… for a messe of P…t…ge▪ whereas now we are safe, p. 284for to pluck us out of his hands that is almighty, requires an adversary stronger then himselfe. Neither wants he care; he that numbers our very haires, what account doth he make of our soules? Nor love; for if he hath bought us with his bloud, and given us himselfe, will he deny us any thing that is good for us?

Wherefore sile…ce your Reason, and exalt your Faith, (how pressing, or peircing soever your sufferings be) which puls 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 beare up thy heavy heart, as bladders doe an unskilfull swimmer. Otherwise, if thou shalt walke by sence, and not by saith, 2 Cor. 5. 7. feare will no lesse multiply …oils, then faith would diminish them: and thou shalt resemble Buc…phalus, who was not afraid of his burthen; the shadow onelyonly frighted him.

Section 4.

Objection. Although Christ in the Gospell hath made many large and pretious promises, yet there are none so generall which are not limited with the condition of Faith, and the fruit thereof unfained Repentance: and each of them are so tyed, and entayled, that none can lay claime to them but true beleevers; which repent, and turne from all their sinnes, to serve him in holinesse, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12. 14. Isay 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 p. 285my sinnes are so many, and great; that these comforts nothing concerne me▪ for they that plow iniquity, and sowe wickednesse, shall reape the same: Job. 4. 8.

Answer. So our failings be not wilfull, though they be many and great, yet they cannot hinder our interest in the promises of …od.

Admit thou art a great sinner, what then? art thou a greater sinner then Matthew, or Zache…, who were sinfull Publicans, and got their livings by … ling, and polling; oppression, and extortion? then Mary Magdalen, a common strumpet; possest of many Devils? then Paul, a bloudy persecutor of Christ and his Church? then the Theefe upon the Crosse, who had spent his whole life to the last houre, in ab… inable wickednesse? then Manasses, that outragious sinner, and most wicked wretch that ever was; an Id…later, a malitious Persecutor of the truth, a desiler of Gods holy Temple, a sacrificer of his owne children unto Idols, that is, Devils; a notable witch, and wicked …orcer…r; a bloody murtherer of exceeding many the deare Saints, and true Prophets of the Lord; and on who did not runne headlong alone into all hellish impiety, but led the people also out of the way to doe more wickedly then did the Heathen, whom the Lord cast out and destroyed? I am sure thou wilt not say thou art more wicked then he was; and yet this Manasses, this wretch more like a Devil incarnate, then a Saint of God, repented him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart, was received; (I cannot speake it without ravishing wonder of Gods bottomlesse and never …fficiently admired mercy) was received, I say, to grace, and obtained the pardon of all his horrible sinnes, and most abominable wickednesse; and are not these, and many the li…e …, written for our learning; and p. 286recorded by the Holy Ghost, to the end, that we may gather unto our selves assurance of the same pardon, for the same sinnes, upon the same repentance, and beleeving?

Are thy sinnes great? his mercies are infinite; hadst thou committed all the sinnes that ever were committed, yet in comparison of Gods mercy, they are lesse then a mo…t in the Sun to all the world, or a drop of water to the whole Ocean: for the Sea, though great, yet may be measured; but Gods mercy cannot be circumscribed: and he both can, and will, as easily forgive us the debt of ten thousand millions of pounds, as one penny; and assoone pardon the sinnes of a wicked Manasses, as of a righteous Abraham, if we 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 workes, but by a covenant of grace; founded not on our worthinesse, but on the free mercy and good pleasure of God; and therfore the Prophet well annexeth blessednesse to the remission of sinnes; Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven: Psal. 32. 1.

Yea, the more miserable, wretched, and sinfull we are, the more fit objects we are, whereupon he may exercise, and shew the infinite riches of his bounty, mercy, vertue, and all-sufficiency. And this our spirituall Physitian, can aswell, and as easily cure desperate diseases, even the remedilesse Consumption, the dead Apoplex, and the filthy Leprosie of the soule, as the smallest malady, or least faintnesse. Yea, he can aswell raise the dead, as cure the sicke; and aswell of Stones, as of Jewes, make Abrahams children. Did he not without the Sunne at the Creation, cause light to shine forth; and without raine at the same time, make the earth fruitfull? Why p. 287then should you give your selfe over, where your Physitian doth not? Besides, what sinne is there whereof we can despaire of the remission, when we heare our Saviour pray for the forgivenes of his murtherers, and blasphemers? And indeed, despaire is a sinne which never knew Jesus.

It was a sweet saying of one at his death, When mine iniquity is greater then thy mercy, O God, then will I feare and dispaire; but that can never be: considering our sinnes be the sinnes of men, his mercy the mercy of an infinite God. Yea, his mercies are so great, that among the thirteene properties of God, mentioned Exod. 34. almost all of them appertaine to his mercy; whereas one onelyonly concernes his might, and onelyonly two his justice. Againe, shall it ever enter into our hearts to thinke, that God gives us rules to keepe, and yet breake them himselfe? Now his rule is this, Though thy brother sinne against thee seaven times in a day, and seaven times in a day turne againe to thee, saying, it repenteth me; thou shalt forgive him. The Sonne angers his Father, he doth not straight dis-inherit him; but Gods love to his people, exceeds a Fathers love to his sonne, Matth. 7. 11. and a Mothers too, Isay 49. 15.

I heare many menaces and threats for sinnes, but I read as many promises of mercy, and all they indefinite; excluding none whose impenitency and infidelity excludeth not themselves: every sinne deserves damnation, but no sinne shall condemne, but the lying and continuing in it.

Wherefore if our clamorous conscience, like some sharpe fang'd officer, arrest us at Gods suit, let us put in bayle, two subsidy vertues, Faith and Repentance, and so stand the tryall: the Law is on our side, the Law of grace is with us, and this Law is his that is our Advocate; p. 288and he is our Advocate, that is our Judge; and he is our Judge, that is our Saviour; even the head of our selves …esus Christ.

For the first of these, doe but rep…t, and God will pardon thee, be thy sinnes never so m…y, and innumerable for multitude; nev…r so h…ynous for quality and m…gnitud…: I say 55. 7. Ezekiell 18. & 33. 11. Yea, sinnes … Repentance are so remitted, as if they had never beene committed: I have put away thy t…ansgressions as a cloud, and thy sinnes as a mist. … 44. 22. and what by c…rrup…ion hath beene don…, by repent mee is …; …s the former examples, and many other witnesse Come and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sinnes he as sc…rl…t, they shall be as white as snow: Isaiah 1. 18. yea, white…; for the Prophet David laying open his bloud-guiltinesse, and his originall imp…ity, useth these words; Pu…ge me with H…s…p, and I shall he cleane; wash me, and I sh…ll be whiter then Snow: Psal. 51. 7.

And in reason, did he come to call sinners to repentance, and shall he not shew merey to the penitent? Or, who would not e…st his burthen upon him, that doth desire to give ease? As I live, saith th… Lord, I would n…t the death of a sinner: Ezek. 18. 32. & 33. 11.

Section 5.

Objection. Ay, but I cannot R…peat!

Answer. In time of temptation a man is not a competent Judge in his owne case: In humane Lawes, there is a nullity held of words and actions extorted, and wrung from men by feare: because in such cases a man is held not to be a free-man, nor to have power or command in some sort of himselfe. A troubled soule p. 289is like troubled waters, we can discerne nothing clearly in it; wherefore (if thou canst) lay aside p…ejudice, and tell mee in cold bloud how it fares with thee at other times, though indeed thy words at present, are enough to convince thee: For first, thou sindest sinne a burthen too heavy for thee to heare, which thou didst not formerly; what's the reason, are thy sinnes more and greater? no, but the contrary: for though they appeare more, yet they are lesse; for sinne, the more it is se…e and selt, the more it is hated: and thereupon is the lesse. M…ates are in a roome before the Sun shines, but they appeare onelyonly then.

Againe secondly, the very complaint of sin, springing from a displeasure against it, shewes that there is something in thee opposite to sinne: viz. that thou art penitent in affection, though not yet in action; even as a Childe is ration…ll in power, though not in act. Yea, more thou acc…sest, and condemn…st thy selfe for thy sinnes; and by accusing our selves, we p…ent Satan; by judging our selves, we pre…ent God. Neither was the Centurion ever so worthy, as when he thought himselfe most unworthy: for all our worthinesse is in a capable misery; nor does God ever thinke well of him, that thinkes so of himselfe. But to let this passe.

Are not your faylings your griefe, are they not besides y…ur will, are they not contrary to the current of your desires, and the maine bent of your resolutions, and endeavours? Dost thou determine to continue in the practice of any one sinne? 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? Matth. 5. 19. Dost thou not grieve for sinnes of all sorts, secret aswell as knowne, originall aswell as actuall, of omission as of commission, p. 290lesser (viz. thoughts) aswell as greater: yea, aswell for the evill which cleaves to thy best workes, as for the evill workes, Rom. 7. 21. and as heartily, and unfaynedly desire, that thou maist never commit it, as that God should never impute it? 2 Tim. 2. 19. Dost thou not feare to displease him, not so much because he is just to punish, as for his mercy and goodnesse sake; and more feare the breach of the Law, then the curse? Dost thou not love rather to be, then seeme, or be thought good; and seeke more the power of godlinesse, then the shew of it? Job. 1. 1. If so, well may Satan and thine own conscience accuse thee of impenitency, and unbelief; but Christ thy Judge never. Yea, then, notwithstanding your failings, you may say with David, I have kept thy Word: Psal. 18. 21, 22, 23. for though this be not such a measure of keeping, as the Law requireth; yet is it such a keeping, as God in Christ acc…pteth: for suppose thy knowledge is still small, thy faith weak, thy charity cold, thy heart …ll and hard, thy good workes few and imperfect, and all thy zealous resolutions easily hindered, and quite overthrowne with every small temptation: yet God that worketh in us both the will and the worke, will accept the will for the worke; and that which is wanting in us, Christ will supply with his owne righteousnesse. He respecteth not what we can doe, so much as what we would doe; and that which we would performe, and cannot, he esteemeth it as though it were performed: whereas, take away the will, and all acts (in Gods sight) are equall.

As the wicked sinne more then they sinne, in their defire, so the Righteous doe more good then they doe, in their will to doe it. If there be a …aratum cor, though there be not a perforatum cor, a profser of bloud, though no expence of bloud for the honour of Christ, it is p. 291taken for M…tyrdome, 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 Smyrua: poore in thy condition, rich in thy affection to goodnesse: Facultas secundum voluntatem, non voluntas secundum facultatem aestimanda est; God esteemes our charitable beneficence, not onelyonly secundum quod habemus, but secundum quod tribuere velimus. We are charged to forsake all, houses, lands, friends, liberties, lives, for Christ; yet many die with houses, lands, and riches, in their possession, whom Christ receives and Crownes in Heaven, because they did part with all secundum animae praeparationem: What we would have done, shall be reckoned to us as done; we doe it quoad conatum, though non quoad effectum: In like manner God taketh a heart desirous to repent, and beleeve, 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 doe, is to come short, and yet to doe it too: for God likes the will so well, that in his Sonne what wee would doe, is in acceptance done, 2 Cor. 8. 12. Which text one brings in thus: O what an unspeakable comfort was this cordiall verse to my afflicted soule! And well it might, for if we hate our corruptions, and strive against them, they shall not be counted ours. It is not I (saith Paul) but sinne that dwelleth in me: Rom. 7. 20. for what displeaseth us, shall never hurt us; and wee shall be esteemed of God to be what we love, and desire, and labour to be.

The comfort of this Doctrine is intended, and belongs to troubled consciences, and those that would faine doe better: but let no presumptuous sinners meddle with it; for what hast thou to doe to take (I say not the Childrens p. 292bread to ea…e, Matth. 15. 26. but even) the least parcell of Gods word into thy mouth, seeing thou ha…est to bee reformed: Psal. 50. 16, 17. But if thou beest a weary, and heavy laden sinner, thou maist comfort thy selfe thus: I doe hatefull things, but I ha…e that I doe; I breake the Law, but yet I love the Law, as holy, just, and good: Flesh is in me, but I am not in the Flesh. I must not six mine eyes only upon mine owne resistance▪ or f…yling…, but on Gods …ssistance and acceptance in his Sonne, by which I shall be able to leap over all wals, and impediments▪ Psalme 18▪ 29. The Law is given, that grace may be required; grace is given, that the Law may be fulfilled: by us evangelically, for us by Christ (whose righteousnesse is ou…s) perfectly, as Saint Austi… speaks. The L…w is a glasse to shew us our spots, the Gospell a foun…aine to wash th…m away. Wherefore cast not both thine …y…s upon thy sinne, but r…serv… one to behold the …emedy: looke upon the L…w to keep▪ thee from presumption, and upon the Gospell to k…pe thee from despaire.

Canst not thou aggr… thine owne sinnes, but thou …st ext…nu…te, and call in question Gods mercy, and Christs all-sufficiency, spoyle him of his power and glory? Though the grievousnesse of our sinnes should in…re…se our repen…, ye… they should n… diminish our faith, and assurance of pardon, and forgivenesse. As the plaist…r must not be lesse then the so…r…, so the tent must not be bigger then the wound. It was a sweet and even course which Saint Paul tooke, who when …e… would comfort himselfe against corruption, and evill actions, Rom. 7. 20. then not I, b… sinne dwelling in me; when hee would humble himselfe, notwithstanding his graces, then not I, but the grace of God in me: 1 Cor. 15. 10.

p. 293Section 6.

Objection. But I am not worthy the least mercy, I have so often abused it, and so little prosi…ed by the meanes of grace.

Answer. I think so too, for if thou refusest the offer of mercy untill thou deservest it, woe be …o thee: But if thou wilt take the right course, renounce the broken Reed of thine owne free will, which hath so often deceived thee; and put all thy trust in the grace of Christ: The way to be strong in the Lord, is to be weak in thy self…; be weak in thy selfe, and strong in the Lord: and through faith thou shalt be more then a Conquerour. Leave …ugging and strugling with thy sinne, and fall with Jacob to wresile with Christ for a blessing; and though thy selfe goe limping away, yet shalt thou be a Prince with God, and be delivered from Es…ues hondage. But thou stand…st upon thine owne seet, and therefore fallest so soulely: thou wilt like a Childe, goe alone, and of thy se…fe, and therefore gettest so many knocks. And thou wouldest accept of a pardon too, if thou mightest▪ p…y for it: but Gods mercies are free, and he bids thee▪ come and buy without silver, and without price; or el… he sayes, thou and thy money perish. Thou wouldest goe the naturall way to worke, What shall I doe to inherit etonall life? but it is impossible to inherit it▪ by any thing that wee can doe; for all our righteousnesses are as filthy ragges: Isaiah 64. 6. Yea, if our doings could have done it, Christ dyed in vaine; whereas, if Christ had not dyed, wee had perished every mothers childe of us: 1 Cor. 15. 22. & 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. Ephes. 2. 1. Colos. 2. 13. Ezek. 18. 4. John 11. 50. Rom. 5. 6. 8. & 14. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 3. Matth. 18. 11.

p. 294O foole! doest thou not know that our sinnes are his sinnes, and his righteousnesse our righteousnesse: Jer. 23. 6. P…al. 4. 1. and that God esteemes of faith above all other graces, deeds, or acts of thine? as what did our Saviour answer, when the people asked him, What sh…ll we doe that we might worke the workes of God? The worke of God is, that yee beleeve on him whom he hath sent: John 6. 28, 29. and yet thou talkest of thy worthinesse, and thou takest this for humility too, but it is pride; for if thou wouldest deny thy selfe, and be nothing in thine owne eyes, renounce thine owne righteousnesse, and wholly and onelyonly rest on thy Saviour Jesus Christ for thy salvation, thou wouldest not hope the more in regard of thine owne worthinesse, nor yet doubt in respect of thine owne unworthinesse. But thou wouldest first be worth…, and deserve of God; and then accept of Christ, and deserve Christ at Gods hands, by thy good workes, and graces: which pride of thine, and opinion of merit, is a greater sinne then all thy other sinnes which thou complainest of: And except you doe abandon it, and wholly rely upon the grace, and free mercy of God for salvation, Christ shall profit you nothing: Gal. 2. 16. & 5. 1. to 7. Colos. 3. 11. for nothing is avaylable to salvation but faith, which worketh by love, Gal. 5. 6. whence it is called rightuousnesse through faith: Verse 5. Faith is the staffe, whereupon we stay our selves, in life and death; by faith we are blessed: Gal. 3. 9. by faith we rejoyce in tribulation: Rom. 5. 2. by faith we have accesse unto God: Eph…s. 3. 12. by faith we overcome the world: 1 John 5. 4. the fl…sh: Gal. 5. 24. and this is the shield whereby we quench the fiery darts of Satan, and resist his power: Ephes 6. 16. Yea, whosoever seekes to bee justified by the Law, they are abolished from Christ, and p. 295falne from grace, Gal. 5. 4. Stand fast therefore in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not taugled againe with the yoake of bondage. And say, Lord we are not worthy to be servants, and thou makest us sonnes; nay, heires, and cohe…res with thee, of everlasting glory.

Objection. I grant the Lord is mercifull and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodnesse and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sinne: but hee is just aswell as mercifull, and therefore he will not acquit the wicked, Exod. 34. 6, 7. but reward them according to their workes: Revelations 20. 12, 13. & 22. 12.

Answer. He will therefore pardon all thy sinnes, (if thou unfaignedly repent, and wholly rely upon Christ for thy salvation by a lively faith) because he is just: for as the Lord cannot in justice let sin goe unpunished, (for the wages of sinne is death: Rom. 6. 23. Death in the person, if not in the surety; and therefore hath punished the sinnes of all men, either in his Son, or will throughly punish them in the partyes themselves) so the same justice will not admit, that the same sinnes should be twice punished; once in our Saviour, and againe in the faithfull: or that a debt once payd, should be required the second time: 1 John 1. 9. Now that Christ hath sufficiently satisfied for all the sinnes of the faithfull, and paid our debt even to the utmost farthing; it is evident by many places of Scripture, as Isay 53. 4, 5. 2 Cor. …. 21. Heb. 9. 26. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 3. 25, 26. 1 John 1. 7. 9. and sundry others.

Are we bound to performe perfect obedience to the Law? he performed it for us: were we for our disobedience subject to the sentence of condemnation, the p. 296curse of the Law, and death of body and soule; he was condemned for us, and bor… the curse of the Law; he dyed in our steed an ignominious death: did we deserve the anger of God; he endured his fathers wrathfull displeasure, that so hee might reconcile us to hi… Father, and set us at liberty. He that deserved no sorrow s…lt much, that we who deserved much might feele none: and by his wounds wee are healed, Isaiah 53. 5. Adam …ate the Apple, Christ paid the Price. In a word, whatsoever we owed, C…rist discharged; what soever wee deserved, he suffered; if not in the selfe same pun…shments: (for he being God could not suffer the eternall torments of Hell) yet in propo…tio…, the dignity of his person (being God and Man) giving value unto his temporary punishments, and making them o… more value and worth, then if all the world sh…uld have suffer…d the eternall to…ments of Hell: so… it is more sor one that is etern…ll to die, then for others to d…e …ally. Therefore was the Sonne of God m…de the S…n… of man, that the Sonnes of men might be made the S…s of God; and therefore was he both G…d and M…n: lest being in every respect God, he had been too gr…at to suffer for man; or being in every respect man, he had beene too weake …o satisfie God.

Seeing therefore our Saviour Christ hath fully discharged our d…bt, and made full satisfaction to his Fathers justice: God cannot in equity exact of us a second payment, no m…re than the Creditor may justly require that his debt should be twic… payd; once by the Su…ety, … by the Principall.

Againe …, … …he Lords Covenant made with his Church, and committed to writing, Jer. 31. 34 … …6, 17. …s…lm. 32. 10. Isay. 55. 7. p. 297Ezck. 18. 21, 22, 23. & 33. 11. Mal. 3. 17. Consirmed and ratified by his seales, the Sacraments; together with his Oath, that there might be no place left for doubting: for God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heyres of promise, the stablenesse of …is counsell; bound himselfe by an Oath, that by two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God s…ould lye, we might have strong consolation, as the Apostle speaks, Heb. 6. 17, 18.

And lest the asslicted conscience should object, that he entred into covenant, and made these promises to the Prophets, Apostles, and holy men of God; but not to such haynous and rebellious sinners, who have most justly deserved, that God should powre out upon them the Vials of his w…ath, and those fearefull punishments threatned in the Law: All the promises made in the Gospell are generall, ind…f…ite, and universall, excluding none that turne from their sinnes by unf…ined repentance, and beleeve in Ch…ist Jesus, resting on him alone for their Salvatino, as appeares, Isay 55. 1. Ezek. 33. 11. Marke 16. 16. John 3. 14, 15, 1. 5, 36. & 6. 37, 40. Acts 10. 43. 1 John 2. 1. Neither is there any limitation or execption of this or that sinne; for be they never so grievous and manifold, yet if wee performe the condition of faith and repentance, they cannot debarre us from receiveing the benefit of Gods mercy, and Christs merits, as appeares …y 1. 18. Titus 2. 14. 1 John 1. 7, 9.

And theresore unlesse thou conceivest of God, that he is unjust in his dealing, untrue in his word, a coven…nt breaker; yea, a perjured p…rson (which were most ho…ible bl…sphemy once to imagine) thou must undoubtedly assurethy selfe, that he will pardon p. 298and forgive thee all thy sinnes, be they in number never so many and innumerable, or in nature and quality never so haynous and damnable, if thou turnest unto him by unfaigned repentance, and layest hold upon Christ by a true and lively faith. For consider, doth the Lord say he will extend his mercy unto all that come unto him? doth he invite every one? doth he say I would have all men saved, and none to perish? and dost thou say, nay but he will not extend his mercy unto me, he 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 selfe?

Indeed God sayes not, Beleeve thou John, or Thomas, and thou shalt be saved, but he sayes, Whosoever beleeveth, and is baptized shall be saved, which is as good. And yet thou exceptest thy selfe, he excludes none, and dost thou exclude one, and that one thy selfe? hee would have all men saved, and thou commest 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 soules in a presumptuous confidence; thou by not beleeving the promises wilt cast away thine, in a sullen prodigious desperatenesse, if thou take not heed. For Insidelity on both sides is the cause of all, of presumption in them, of despaire in thee, of impiety in every one.

But be better advised, beleeve the Lord who never brake his word with any soule. Thou wilt give credit to an honest mans bare word, and hast thou no assiance in the mercyfull promises of God, past to thee by Word, Oath, Scales, Scriptures, Sacraments, the death of his owne Sonne, and (I presume) the p. 299spirits 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.

Ob. I know well that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse, unto every one that beleeveth, Rom. 10. 4. But I want saith.

Answ. This is the objection I expected (for the true Christian is as fearefull to entertain a good opinion of himselfe, as the false is unwilling to be driven from it.) But is it so? or doth Satan only tell thee so? I know it is not so, I know that thou beleevest with some mixture of unbeliefe, 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 he slandereth us to our selves, Iob 16. 9. But least thou shouldest thinke I slander Satan; Know, that you beleeve, even whiles you complaine▪ of unbeliefe: for as there could bee no shadow, if there were no light, so there cannot be this feare, where there is no faith. They that know not Christ, thinke it no such great matter to lose him. But if God once say, this is my Sonne, Satan will say, if thou be the sonne of God, Matth. 3. 17. & 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, Helpe thou mine unbeliefe. And he that doubts not of his estate, his estate is much to be doubted; doubting and resolution are not meet touch-stones of our successe: a presumptuous considence common…y goes bleeding home, when an humble feare returnes in triumph. As it fared betweene the Philistims and Israel, 1 Samuel p. 30017. 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. Vers. 51, 52. They that are proudly secure of their going to Heaven, doe 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 in spirituall things; Cantant pauperes, lugent divites, poore men sing, and rich men cry. Who is so melancholy as the rich worldling? and who sings so merry a note, as he that cannot change a groat? so they that have store of grace, mourne for want of it; and they that indeed want it, chante their abundance. But the hopes of the wicked faile them when they are at highest, whereas Gods children finde those comforts in extremity, which they durst not expect.

As there is nothing more usuall, then for a secure conscience to excuse when it is guilty, so nothing more common then for an afflicted conscience to accuse, when it is innocent; and to lay an heavy burthen upon it selfe, where the Lord giveth a plaine discharge: but a bleeding wound is better then that which bleeds not. Some men goe crying to Heaven, some goe laughing and sleeping to Hell. Some consciences aswell as men, lie speechlesse before departure, they spend their dayes in a dreame, and goe from Earth to Hell, as Jon as from Israel toward. Tarsh sh, fast a sleepe: And the reason is, they dreame their case is passing good; like a man which dreamès in his sleepe that he is rich, and honourable, and it joyes him very much; but awaking, all is vanisht like smoake: yea, they hope undoubtedly to goe to Heaven, as all that came out of Aegypt hoped to goe p. 301into Canaan, and inherit the blessed promises: when onelyonly Caleb and Joshua did enter, who provoked not the Lord. And the reason of this reason is, whereas indeed they are Wolves, the Devill and their owne credulity perswades them that they are Lambes.

The Philosopher tels us, that those Creatures which have the greatest hearts, as the Stag, the Doe, the Hare, the Coney, and the Mouse, are the most fearefull: and therefore it may be God refusing Lyons, and Eagles, the King of Beasts, and Queene of Birds, appointed the gentle Lambe, the fearefull Dove for his sacrifices: A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt net despise: Psal. 51. 17. And sure I am, Christ calls to him onelyonly weary, and heavy laden sinners: Matth. 11. 28. not such as feele no want of him, Marke 2. 17. and will fill onelyonly such with comfort, as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse; not such as are in their conceit righteous enough without him: Luke 1. 53. Matth. 15. 24. And yet it is strange, (yea a wonder) to see how many truly humbled sinners, who have so tender consciences, that they dare not yeeld to the least evill, for the worlds goods, and refuse no meanes of being made better, turne every probation into reprobation, every dejection into rejection, and if they be cast downe, they cry out they are cast away: who may fitly be compared to Arteman in Plutarch, who when ever he went abroad, had his servants to carry a Canopy over his head, least the Heavens should fall and crush him: or to a certaine foolish melancholy Bird, which (as some tell) stands alway but upon one legge, least her owne weight should si…ke her into the Center of the Earth; holding the other over her head, least the Heavens should fall.

Yet he not offended, I cannot thinke the worse of p. 302thee; for good is that feare which hinders us from evill acts, and makes us the more circumspect. And God hath his end in it, who would have the sinnes to die, but the sinner to live.

Yea, in some respect thou art the better to be thought of, or at least the lesse to be feared, for this thy feare: for no man so truly loves, as he that feares to offend; as Salvianus glosses upon those wordes, Blessed is the man that feareth alway: And which is worth the observing, this feare is a commendation often remembred in Holy Scripture, as a speciall and Infallible marke of Gods Children: as for example, Job (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: Luke 2. 25. Cornelius a devout man, and one that feared God: Acts 10. 3. And so of Father Abraham, a man who feared God: Gen. 22. 12. Joseph, a man who feared God: Gen. 42. 18. The Midwives in Aegypt feared God: Exod. 1. 17. so that evermore the fearing of God (as being the beginning of wisedome) is mentioned as the chiefe note, which is as much as to say, if the fearing of God once goe before, working of righteousnesse will instantly follow after, according to that of the wise man: He that feareth the Lord will doe good.

And this for thy comfort, when Mary Magdalen sorrowed, and wept for her sinnes: Luke 7. 50. Christ tels her, Thy faith hath made thee whole: intimating, that this wesping, this repenting faith, is faith indeed. And the like to the Woman with the bloudy issue, who presuming but to touch the hem of his garment, fell downe before him with feare and trembling: Marke 5. 27. to 35. And that humble Canaanite, Matth. 15. 22. to 29. And that importunate blinde man, Luke 18. 38. to 43. as if this humble, this praying faith, were p. 303onelyonly the saving faith, Neither can thy estate be had, for as Saint Ambrose told Monica weeping for her seduced Sonne, Fieri non potest, ut filius istarum lachrymarum pereat: It cannot be that the Sonne of those teares should ever perish.

Wherefore lift up thy selfe thou timorous fainting heart, and doe not suspect every spot for a plague token; doe not die of a meere conceit, for as the end of all motion is rest, so the end of all thy troubles shall bee peace: even where the dayes are perpetuall Sabbaths, and the diet undisturbed feasts.

But as an empty vessell bung'd up close, though you throw it into the midst of the Sea, will receive no water, so all pleas are in vaine to them that are deasened with their owne feares: for as Mary would not be comforted with the sight and speech of Angels, no not with the sight and speech of Jesus himselfe, till hee made her know that he was Jesus; so untill the holy spirit sprinkleth the conscience, with the bloud of Christ, and sheddeth his love into the heart, nothing will doe. No Creature can take off weath from the conscience, but he that set it on. Wherefore the God of peace give you the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. Yea, O Lord, speake thou Musicke to the wounded conscience, Thunder to the seared; that thy justice may reclaime the one, thy merey releeve the other, and thy favour comfort us all, with peace and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Section 8.

But secondly, if this will not satisfie, call to thy remembrance the times past, and how it hath beene with thee formerly; as David did in thy very case: Psal. 77. p. 3042. to 12. And likewise Job, Chap. 31. for as still waters represent any object in their bottome clearely, so those that are troubled, or agitated, do it but dimly, and imper…ectly. But if ever thou hadst true faith begotten in thy heart, John 1. 13. by the ministry of the word, Rom▪ 10. 17. James 1. 18, 21. and the Spirits powerfull working with it, John 3. 3. 5. 8. whereby thine heart was drawne to take Christ, and apply him a Saviour to thine owne soule; so that thou wert forced to goe out of thy selfe, and rely wholly and onelyonly on his merits: and that it further manifested it selfe by working a ha…red of sinne, and an apparent change in thy whole life, by dying unto sinne, and living unto righteousnesse; and that thou hast not since, returned to thine old sinnes, like the Dog to his vomit: if it hath som…time brought forth in th…e the sweet fruit of heavenly and spirituall j…y, if it hath purified thine heart in some measure from noysome lusts, and affections; as secret pride, selfe-love, hyp…c…isie, carnall confidence, wrath, ma…ic…, and the like: so that the spirit within thee sighteth against the slesh. If thou canst now say, I love the godly, bec…use th…y are godly, 1 John 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 soule for thine, thou hast given …alse evidence against thy selfe; for as in a gloomy day there is so much light whereby we may kn…w it to be day, and not night; so there is something in a Christi…n under a cloud, whereby he may be discerned to be a true beleever, and not an hypocrite. But to make it manifest to thy selfe, 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 p. 305sure thou hast love, I am sure thou hast saith: for they are as inseparable as fire and …eat, life and motion, the root and the sap, the Sun and its light: and so of other graces. Or dost thou feele that Christ is thy great…st j…y, sinne thy greatest sorrow; that when thou canst not feele the presence of the spirit in thy heart, thou goest mourning; notwithstanding all other comforts? assuredly as that holy Martyr said, If thou wert not a wedding Childe, thou could…st never so heartily mourne for the absence of the B…-groome. Thus I might goe on, but a few Grapes will shew that the Plant is a Vine, and not a Thorne. Take but notice of this, and severall graces will one strengthen another, as stones in an A…ch. As for example, M^r Peacock Fellow of a House, being asslicted in consci…nce, (as thou art) and at the point of despaire; when some Ministers askt whether they should pray for him, answered By no meanes doe not so dishonour God, as to pray for such a Reprobate as I am: but his young Pupi… standing by, said, (with teares in his eyes) Cert…inly a Reprobate could never be so tender of Gods dishonour; which he well considering, was thereby comf…rted and restored: when neither he with his learning, nor any other Ministers with their sage advice, could d…e any good.

Againe secondly, if ever thou hadst true faith wrought in thy heart, be not discouraged; for as the former graces shew, that thou hast with Mary made choyce of that better part, which shall never bee taken from thee: So this grace of faith is Christs wedding Ring, and to whomsoever he gives it, he gives himselfe with it; we may lose the sence, but never the essence of it: It may be eclipsed, not extinguished: Fides concussa, non excussa: The gifts and calling of God are without repentance: p. 306as it is Rom. 11. 29. Friends are unconstant, riches, honours, pleasures, are unconst…nt; the world is unconstant, and life it selfe is unconstant; but I the Lord change not: Malachi 3. 6.

In a swoune the soule doth not exercise her functions; a man neither …e…res, nor sees, nor feeles, yet she is still in the body. The F…anticke man in his m…d fits, doth not exercise reason; yet he hath it: he loseth the use for a time, not the habit. Yea, a Sober man hath not alway…s the … of his sences, reason, and understanding, as in his sleepe: shall wee therefore conclude that this man is senselesse, unre…son…ble, and without unde…st…nding? it were most absurd: for if we have pationce but a while, our argument will appeare manifestly false.

Trees (and so wee are fitly called) be not dead in winter, (which resembles the time of adversity) because the s…p is shut up in the root; and confined thither by the cold f…osts, that they cannot shew themselves in the production of leaves 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 againe, when Summer comes: Yea, even 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 wormes and ka…kers kild by it: and so are prepared, and made fit to bring sorth more fruit, when the comfortable Spring approacheth, and the sweet showres, and warme Sun-beames fall, and descend upon them. Elementary bodies, lighten and darken, coole and warme, die and revive, as the Sun presents, or absents it selfe from them. And is not Christ to our soules the onelyonly Sun of righteousness, and fountaine of all comfort? so that if hee p. 307withdraw himselfe but a little, we become like plants in the Winter, quite withered; yea in appearance starke dead: or like Trees, voyde both of leaves and fruit; though even then there remaines faith in the heart, as sap in the root, or as fire ranked up in the ashes.

Which faith, though it be not the like strong, yet it is the like pretious faith to that of Abrahams: whereby to lay hold, and put on the perfect righteousnesse 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, sayes Bradford, feeling the weakenesse of my faith, love, hope, &c. if these were the causes of my salvation, but there is no other c…use of it; or his mercy, but his mercy. Wherefore hast thou but a touch of sorrow for sinne, a sparke of hope, a graine of faith in thy heart; thou art safe enough. The Anchor lyeth deepe and is not seene, yet is the stay of all.

The Bladder blowne, may sloat upon the sloud,

But cannot sinke nor sticke in silthy mud.

But thou dreamest of a faith without doubting, which some doatingly boast they have: but as no righteousnesse can be perfect without sinne, so no assurance can be perfect without doub…ing: Take the evenest ballances, and the most equall weights; yet at the first putting in, there will be some inequality, though presently after they settle themselves in a just poyse. Sinne is a cloud that often hinders the Sunne from our eyes, yet it is still a Sunne; the vision or feeling of this comfort may be sometime suspended, the Union with Christ is never dissolved.

A usuall thing with …eleevers to have their ebbing p. 308and flowing, waxing and wayning, Summer and Winter; to be sometimes so comfortable and couragious, that we can say with David, Though I were in the valley of death, yet would I feare none ill: Psal 23. 4, other whiles againe so deaded, and dejected in our spirits, that we are like him when he said, One day I stall dye by the hand of Saul: 1 Sam. 27. 1. sometimes▪ so strong in faith, that wee can overcome the greatest assaults; and with Peter can walke upon the swelling waves: by and by so faint, and brought to so low an ebbe, that we fall downe even in farre less…r dangers; …s Peter began to sinke at the rising of the winde, Matth. 14. 29, 30. And indeed, if the wings of our faith be clipt, either by our owne sinnes, or Satans temptations, how should not our spirits ly groveling on the ground?

Section 9.

But thirdly and lastly, (for I hasten) suppose thou art at the last cast, even at the very brinke of despaire; 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 inst…nce, in creating of the world, he brought light out of darkenesse, and made all things not of something, but of nothing; clean contrary to the course of Nature.

In his preserving of it, he hath given us the Rainebow, which is a signe of raine, as a certaine pledge that the world shall never the second time be drowned. He caused Elias his sacrifice to burne in the midst of water, and fetcheth hard stones out of the midst of thinne vapours. When hee meant …o blesse Jacob, hee wrestled p. 309with him as an Adversary, even till hee lamed him: When he meant to prefer Joseph to the Throne, hee threw him downe into the Dungeon; and to a go…den chayne about his necke, he laded him with Iron ones about his legges. Thus Christ opened the eyes of the blinde, by annointing them with elay and spittle; more likely to put them out: And would not cure Lazarus till after he was dead, buried, and stunke againe; no question to teach us, that we must be cast downe by the Law, before we can be raised up by the Gospell: that we must dye unto sinne, before we can live unto righteousnesse: and become fooles, before we can be t…uly wise.

In the worke of Redemption he gives life, not by life but by death, and that a most cursed death; making that the best instrument of life, which was the worst kinde of death: Optimum fecit instrumentum vitae, quod …rat pessimum mortis genus.

In our effectuall vocation, he calls us by the Gospell …nto the Jewes a stumbling-bl…cke, and unto the world meere foolishnesse: And when it is his pleasure that any should depend upon his goodnesse, and providence, hee makes them feele his anger, and to be nothing in themselves; that they may rely altogether upon him.

Thus God workes joy out of feare, light out of darkenesse; and brings us to the Kingdome of Heaven, by the Gates of Hell: according to that 1 Sam. 2. 6, 7. And wherein does thy case differ? he sends his Serjeant to arrest thee for thy debt; commands thee and all thou h…ft to be sold, but why? onelyonly to shew thee thy misery without Christ, that so thou mayst seeke to him for mercy: for although he hides his fatherly affections, as Joseph once did his brotherly, his meaning is in conclusion to forgive thee every farthing: Matthew 18. 26, 27.

p. 310And dost thou make thy slight sufferings an argument of his displeasure? for shame mutter not at the matter, but be silent: It is not said, God will not suffer us to be tempted a… all, but that we shall not be temp…ed above that we are able to beare; 1 Cor. 10. 13. And assure thy selfe, what ever thy sufferings be, thy faith shall not faile to get the victory; as oyle over-swimmes the greatest quantity of water you can powre upon it. True, let none presume; (no not the most righteous) for he shall searcely be saved: 1 Pet. 4. 18. yet, let him not despaire, for he shall be saved: Rom. 8. 35.

OnelyOnly accept with all thankefulnesse the mercy offered, and apply the promises to thine owne soule: for the benefit of a good thing, is in the use; wisedome is good, but not to us, if it be not exercised; cloath is good, but not to us, except it be worne; the light is comfortable, but not to him that will live in darkenesse: a prefervative in our pocket never taken, cannot yeeld us health; nor bagges of money being ever sealed up, doe us any pleasure; no more will the promises, no nor Christ himselfe, that onelyonly summum bonum, except they are applyed: Yea, better there were no promises, then not applyed. The Physitian is more off…nded at the contempt of his Physicke in the Patient, then with the loathsomenesse of the disease. And this I can assure thee, if the bloud of Christ be applyed to thy soule, it will soone stench the bloud of thy conscience; and keepe thee from bleeding to death: 1 John 1. 7.

But secondly, in stead of mourning continually, as the tempter bids thee; rather rejoyce continually, as the Apostle bids thee: 1 Thess. 5. 16. Neither thinke it an indifferent thing, to rejoyce, or not rejoyce; but know that wee are commanded to rejoyce, to shew that wee breake a Commandement if wee rejoyce not: Yea, we p. 311cannot beleeve if we rejoyce not; for faith in the commandements breeds obedience, in the threatnings feare, in the promises comfort. True, thou thinkest thou dost well to mourne continually; yea, it is the common disease of the innocentest soules: but thou dost very ill in it; for when you forget to rejoyce in the Lord, then you begin to muse, and after to feare, and after to distrust, and at last to despaire: and then every thought seemes to be a sinne against the Holy Ghost. Yea, how many sins doth the afflicted conscience record against it selfe; repenting for breaking this Commandement, and that Commandement; and never repenteth for breaking this Commandement, Rejoyce evermore?

But what's the reason? Ignorance: thou thinkest thy selfe poore and miserable, and only therefore thinkest so, because thou knowest not thy riches and happinesse in Christ: for else thou wouldest say with the Prophet Habbakuk, in the want of all other things, I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation: Habbak 3. 17, 18. Thou wouldest rejoyce that thy name is written in the books of life, as our Saviour injoynes, Luke 10. 20. though thou hadst nothing else to rejoyce in.

But it is nothing to be blessed, untill we understand our selves to be so: wherefore

Thirdly, waite Gods leasure with patience, and hold fast to him in all pressures: Time (saith Seneca) is the best Physicke for most diseases, for the body, and so likewise for the soule. If it be an afflicted conscience, waiting Gods leasure; for the assurance of his love is the best remedy: and so in all others cases.

Section 10.

Objection. But when will there be an end of this p. 312long disease? this tedious affliction? this heavy yoake of bondage? &c.

Answer. 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 farre better speech of one, Lord, give me what thou wilt, as much as thou wilt, when thou wilt: Thou art Gods Patient, prescribe not thy Physitian. It is the Goldsmiths skill to know how long his gold must be in the Crusible: neither takes he it out of that hot bath, till it be sufficiently purified.

What if the Lord for a time forbeare comming, as Samuel did to Saul; that hee may try what is in thee? and what thou wilt doe, or suffer for him, that hath do…e and suffered so much for thee? as why did God se… Noah about building the Arke, an hundred and twenty yeares, when a small time might have finished it? It was for the tryall of his patience. Thus hee led the Israelites in the Desarts of Arabia, forty yeares; whereas a man may travell from Ramesis in Aegypt, to any part of Canaan in forty d…yes: this God did to prove them, that hee might know what was in their hearts: Deut. 8. 2. He promised Abraham a Sonne, in whom he should be bless…d; this he… p…rformed not in thirty yeares after. He gave David the Kingdome, and annointed him by Samuel; yet was he not possessed of it in many yeares: insomuch that he said, Mine eyes faile for thy Word, Psal. 119. 123. Joseph hath a promise that the Sunn… and Moone should do▪ him r…verence, but fi…st he must be boun… in the Dungeon. This God doth to …ry … for in … … we sh…w our selves, and our ….

Wh… saith God to his … Psal. 75. When … I …ee … …ime, I will execute jud… ment … Verse a. he doth not …y, … you thinke the p. 313time convenient. Let us tarry a little the Lords leasure, deliverance will come, peare will come, joy will come; in meane while to be patient in misery, makes misery no misery.

Againe secondly, he may delay his comming for other ends of greater consequence: Marthae and Mary send to Christ, as desiring him to come and restore Lazarus their sicke brother to health… John 11. 3. expecting him without delay; now he loved both Martha, and her Sister, and Lazarus: Verse 5. yet he neglects comming for many dayes, lets him dye, be put in the grave untill he stanke, but what of all this? he that would not restore sicke Lazarus to health, restored dead Lazarus to life; which was a greater mercy then they either did, or durst aske. Neither did this onelyonly increase their joy, and thankefulnesse, give them occasion ever after to beleeve, and hope; above, and against all hope: but it made many of the Jewes beleeve in him, which before did not. Verse 45.

Thirdly and lastly, he delayes thee the longer, that when he comes, he may bring with him the greater recompence of reward: for he will comfort us according to the dayes we have beene afflicted, and according to the yeares that we have seene evill: Psal. 90. 15.

Neither will he stay over-long; for behold, saith he, I come quickly, and my reward is with me; to give every man according as his workes shall be: Revel. 22. 12. and suffering is accounted none of the meanest workes. So that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the conquest. Wherefore hold out yet a little, and helpe shall not be wanting to the co…batants; nor a crowne to the conquerours. Yea, sight to the last minute, for the eye of thy Saviour is upon thee; if thou faint, to cheere th…e; if thou stand to it, to second thee; if thou p. 314conquer, to crowne thee: whereas no combate, no conquest; no conquest, no triumph.

Objection. But my sufferings are so great, that if they continue, I shall never be able to hold out.

Answer. True, if thou trust…st to thine owne strength, for perseverance is the gift of God; yea, it is hee that worketh in us both to will and to doe at his good pleasure: Phil. 2. 13. …irst mans will is a fugitive Onesimus, and God must call home that runnagate, subdue that rebell, besore we can chuse that which is good. Neither when we have begun, can we continue: perficit qui efficit, He that begun a good worke in …, will performe it: Phil. 1. 6. Jesus is the founder and finisher of our faith, Hebr. 12. 2. Neither can wee of our selves suffer for him: Datur pati. It is given to us to suffer for his sake: Phil. 1. 29. Without me ye can doe nothing, Iohn 15. 5. not parum, but nihil; But in him, and through him all things. I can doe all things through him that strengthens me: Phil. 4. 13. In our selves we are weake Captives, in him wee are more then Conquerours: Rom. 8. 37. Whence it is, many sicke men undergoe patiently such pressures, as when they were in health, they would not have beleeved they could have borne.

The truth of grace (be the measure never so small) is alwayes blest with perseverance; because that little is fed with an everlasting spring. Yea, if grace but conquer us first, we by it shall conquer all things else, whether it be corruptions within us, or temptations 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 doe but thy endeavour to hold out, I p. 315meane with patience; (for that Spirit which came in the likenesse of a Dove, will not come but upon a Dove) and pray for divine assistance, this sadnesse shall end in gladnesse, this sorrow in singing.

But above all pray unto God, for Prayer is the Key of Heaven, as Saint Austin tearmes it; and the hand of a Christian, which is able to reach from Earth to Heaven, and to take for…h every manner of good gift ou… of the Lords Treasury. Did not Elias by turning this Key one way, lock up the whole Heaven from raining for three yeares and six moneths; and another while by turning the same Key of Prayer, as much another way, in the turning of a hand, unlock all the doores and windowes of Heaven, and set them wide open, that it rained; and the Earth brought forth her fruit.

Yea, as all Sampsons strength lay in his haire, so all our strength lyeth in Prayer: Prayers and teares are the Churches Armour, Prayers and patience her weapons; and therefore when Peter was imprisoned by cruell Herod, the Congregation joyned their forces to pray for him; and so brake his chaynes, blew open the Iron Gates, and fetcht him out: Acts 12. 4. to 18. Arm… Christianorum in adversis, alia esse non debent quàm patientia, & precatio, saith Salmeren.

Yea, Prayer is so powerfull, that it commandeth all things in Heaven and Earth: It commandeth all the foure Elements, Ayre, Iames 5. 17, 18. Fire, Ecclesiasticus 48. 3. Dan. 3. 27. Water, Exod. 14. 21. & 15. 25. Earth, Numbers 16. 31, 32, 33. Nay, the Prayer of one devout man, is able to conquer an host of enemies in battell: Exodus 17. 11. What shall I say? it hath made the Sun stand still in the Firmament one while, goe backe another; setcht fire and haylestones from Heaven, throwne downe the walls of Iericho, p. 316subdued Kingdomes, stopt the mouths of Lyons, quencht the violence of Fire, &c. Yea, Prayer is so potent, that it raiseth the dead: 1 Kings 17. 21. overcometh Angels: Gen. 19. 23. casteth out Devils: Matth. 17. 21. and that which is yet more wonderfull, overcometh him that cannot be overcome; and mastereth even God himselfe: for doth not the Lord say to Moses, let me alone? and Moses would not let him alone, till he had obtained his petition: Exod. 32. 10. 14. And againe to Jacob, wrestling with him, let me goe; and Jacob would not let him goe, untill he had prevayled▪ Gen. 32. 16.

Wherefore Pray upon all occasions, and that without doubting: say not to God, as the Leaper said to Christ, If thou wilt, thou canst make me cleane▪ for hee both can, and will, as that very text Matth. 8. 2, 3. proves. Yea, I would to God we were but so willing as he is; for he desires to be desired: Neither hath he his owne will, except we have ours. Christ doth aske no more of us, but only that we would vouchsafe to aske 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 he forgets any of his, he hath lost his old wont; for who can nominate one, that ever came unto Christ with any lawfull sute, that received a repulse? Who ever asked any thing of him, which was profitable for him to receive, and did not obtaine his sute? Did not the sicke ever receive their health? the lame their limbes? the blinde their sight? Did ever any sinner implore the forgivenesse of his sinnes, which did not receive full remission and pardon? Yea, did not this our gracious King, and Redeemer, prevent his poore miserable subjects with his grace, in giving before p. 317they had the grace to aske; or more then they desired? The sicke of the Palsie asking but cure of his disease, received not onelyonly that, but the remission of his sinnes also: Matth. 9. Zacheus desired but to see his face, he became his guest; and gave him salvation to bo…e: Luke 19. The Woman of Samaria requested but elementall and common water, hee offered unto her the water of life: John 4. The people followed him to be fed by miracle with corporall food, hee offered unto them the bread of life: John 6. The poore blinde man desired but his bodily sight, Christ illuminated the eyes of his soule: John 9.

Neither hath honours changed manners with him, as is usuall amongst men; for he is a God immutable in goodnesse, and without change, or shaddow of turning: James 1 17. so that if thou speake, he will heare; and answer thy sute in supporting thee: so that thou shalt be sure to persevere, and hold out unto the end.

Section 11.

Objection. But I have no evidence of divine assistance, nor can I pray for it to purpose.

Answer. We have the presence of Gods Spirit, and grace many times, and feele it not; yea, when we complaine for want of it, (as Pilate asked Christ what was the truth, when the Truth stood before him.) The stomack findes the best digestion, even in sleep, when we least perceive it; and whiles we 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 decayes without his feeling, without his complaint. To know our selves happy, is good; but p. 318woe were to us Christians, if wee could not be happy, and know it not. As touching Prayer, every one is not so happy as Steven was, to be most servent when they are most in paine; yea, many in time of sicknesse (by reason of the extremity of paine) can hardly pray at all: whence Saint James wisheth us in affliction to pray our selves, but in case of sicknesse to send for the Elders; that they may, as those in the Gospell, offer up the sicke person to God in their prayers, being unable to present their owne case: Iames 5. Vers. 13, 14, 15. Yea, it were miserable for the best Christian, if all his former Prayers and Meditations did not serve to ayde him in his last straights, and meet together in the Center of his extremity; yeelding, though not sensible reliefe, yet secret benefit to the soule: whereas the worldly man in this case, having not layed up for this houre, hath no comfort from God, or from others, or from himselfe.

Besides, thou art happy in this, there is not the poorest and meanest of Gods Children, but as he hath the benefit of Christs intercession in Heaven: Rom. 8. 34. Iohn 16. 26. so hath he also the benefit of the Prayers of all the Saints on Earth: w…e have the graces and gifts, each of other in common.

Yet, because thine owne Prayer is most proper; and seeing it is the mindes Embassadour to God, and never faileth of successe, if it be servent; (as if our prayers want successe, they want heart, their blessing is according to their vigor) pray that thou maist pray better: If thy Legge be ben…ed, goe upon it a little, and it will come to it selfe againe. To which, if thou joyne fasting, thou shalt doe well; for Prayers are made fat with fasting, as Tertullian speaks: Yea, pray oft, though thy prayers be the shorter; weake stomacks which cannot p. 319digest large meales, feed oft, and little. O faith holy Bernard most sweetly, How oft hast thou (…eaning prayer) found me lamenting, and despairing; and left me rejoycing, and triumphing!

And what though thou canst not poure out thy soule in a …ud of words? The Woman diseased with an Issue of bloud, said but within her selfe, shee did not speake to be heard of others, and yet Christ heard her, and answered her request: Matth. 9. Vers. 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 deedes, but God the meaning. Hast thou but thoughts and desires, and canst thou onelyonly expresse them with sighes, and groanes? these s…eechlesse words, or rather no words, but a few poore thoughts, conceived aright, passe all the flowing eloquence of Demo…enes and Tully, yea, Turtullus and all the Orat…rs that ever were in 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 Childe, then in the eloquence of the best Grator.

Neither is hearty prayer in our owne power, but it is the gift of God, which at some times in plentifull measure he bestoweth upon his children, and at other times againe he pulleth backe his liberall hand: that by the want thereof, we may learne to ascribe the glory and prayse of this grace to the giver, who worketh in us the will and the deed: which prayse otherwise, in pride of heart, we would arrogate unto our selves, as being in our owne power. Also that we may more highly esteeme it, and with more joy and diligence use it, when we have it bestowed on us.

If it bee a…ked why God reckons so highly of a few p. 320sighes and groanes? and why the prayers of the faithfull are so powerfull? it is, because they be not ours, but the intercession of Gods owne Spirit in us, powred out in the name of Christ, his owne Son in whom he is ever well pleased: for as for us, wee know not what to pray us we ought, but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for us, with sighes which cannot be expressed: Rom. 8. 26. It is the Spirit whereby wee cry Abbu Father: Vers. 15. Gal. 4. 6.

Now if thou wouldest have the Spirits assistance, and be heard of God, when thou makest supplication to him; doe not (as too many doe) fall into prayer without preparation, and utter a number of words without devotion, or affection: for no marvell if we aske and misse, when wee thus aske amisse: James 4. 3.

Neither doe as Children, which never looke after their Arrow; but like Daniel, Dan. 9. take notice of thine inlargements in prayer, and of thy successe after.

Nor onelyonly pray, and no more; for to pray, and to do nothing else, is in effect to doe nothing lesse. But let your Prayers be ushered in by Meditation, and attended by zealous devotion; and then beleeving that you shall receive whatsoever you aske in Christs name, and according to his will, 1 John. 5. 14. John 16. 23. God will be sure to give you that you desire, 1 John 5. 14, 15. Marke 11. 23, 24. or that which is better for you, Deut. 34. 4, 5.

And suppose thou art not presently heard: yet continue asking still; as Peter continued knocking till the doore was opened: for after an ill harvest we must sowe, and after denyals we must woe God. Yea, if it be possible with the Woman of Canaan, let delayes, and p. 321seeming denyals, encrease the strength of thy cryes. And commonly they be earnest sutes, which issue from a troubled soule, like strong streames in narrow straights, which beare downe all that stands in their way. Nothing so strong as the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah, for it overcame the roring Lyon; yet the Prayer of Faith, from the knees of humility; and a broken heart, will conquer even that Conquerer: Matth. 15. 28.

And thus you see that nothing can befall us without the speciall appointment of our good God, who not onelyonly takes notice of our sufferings, but sweetneth them with his presence, takes our part, stintes our enemies, and so ordereth the whole, that our griefe is either short, or tolerable; and that though hee is oftentimes harsh in the beginning, and progresse, and late in comming; yet he comes on the sudden, and is alwayes comfortable in the conclusion. And lastly, that if he defer his helpe, it is on purpose that our tryals may be perfect, our deliverance welcome, our recompence glorious. And may not this comfort thee?