For the Troubled in Mind or Afflicted in Body, Text 1
❧ A most Comfortable Treatiſe written by Andrew Kingeſmill to his ſiſter, very profitable for all men, eſpecially for ſuch as are any maner of way afflicted in body or minde, &c.
God forbid that I ſhould reioyce in any thing, but in the Croſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, whereby the world is crucified vntounto me, and I vntounto the worlde.
Gal. 6.14.
DEare ſiſter in our Lord and Sauiour Chriſte Ieſus, wheras I vnderſtād of your preſent ſtate and condition,The cauſe that mooued the Authour to wryte this Treatiſe. that it hath pleaſed God our heauēly Father, ſomewhat to viſite & touch you with his heauie hand, to chaſtize you with the rodde of his correction, and to lay vponupon you ſome part of the croſſe of his Chriſt: Had I a farre better talent then I hauehave, which (God knowes) is but ſimple, yet I thought I could not any otherwiſe better beſtowe & occupie the ſame, then ſo, as it were, to lay it with you in exchange & bāke, as by ye grace of God to vtter vntounto you ſome ſaying or ſentence, whereout you might receiue ſome piece of relief or comfort: for this vſurie, and thoſe that hauehave any, ſo to occupie their talents, as to viſite the afflicted, to comfort the comfortleſſe, and to beſtow although as it were but one poore penie, to ſtrengthen the penſiue in patience,Mat. 26.10 euen as our Sauiour commended the deuoute womans worke, for beſtowing her oyle vponupon him toward his burial: So I doute not but this taſke which it hath pleaſed God now to ſet me, ſhall appeare vntounto him a lawful and gaineful vſurie, a wel beſtowed oyntment, and ſuch a worke, that as it lacketh not his charge, ſo it ſhal not be either to you fruitleſſe, either with him altogether thankeleſſe.Rō. 12.15. Reioyce with them that reioyce (ſayth the Apoſtle) and weepe with them that weepe.Eccle. 7.34 And the ſonne of Sirach likewiſe, Let not them that weepe be without comfort, but mourne with ſuch as mourne. Now (Siſter) conſidering ſuch & the like ſayings, calling to minde howe we hauehave reioyced together, enioying the good dayes, that God of his goodneſſe hath heretofore giuen vsus, and nothing doubting, but he will driue away thoſe ſtormie cloudes, and cauſe againe his cherefull ſunne to riſe and ſhine vponupon vsus: and (that which I can not forget) what a mourner you were wt me in the time of my mourning: verely now in the time of your diſtreſſe if my heauineſſe would eaſe you, or my ſorow might turne to your ioye, I thinke my heart be not ſo harde, but that I ſhould beſtowe ſome teares vponupon you, although that I foreſee mine owne portion in the worlde to be none other but paines without pleaſure.2. Sam. 1.12. Dauid we reade lamēted Sauls death, although one that ſought his bloud. And likewiſe Abſolon that wicked childe & vnnatural ſonne, with what a fatherly affection did he pitie his caſe? crying whē he heard the certaintie of his death, in ſuch ſort as is expreſſed in ye 2. of Sam. 18. My ſonne Abſolon, my ſonne, my ſonne Abſolon, would God I had died for thee: So verely ought our caſes and calamities to be common, and I eſpecially hauehave iuſte occaſion to beare the burthen with you, being vntounto me a true Siſter, a Siſter by naturall natiuitie, a Siſter by heauenly regeneration, one with whome I hauehave enioyed the ſweete, and who with me hath not refuſed the ſowre: wherefore as I cannot but with brotherly affection be ſorie for your ſadnes, ſo when I ſomewhat lift vp mine eyes toward heauen, & hauehave in conſideration the infinite mercies and marueilous working of God our heauenly Father, concerning his choſen children and ſanctified Sainctes here on earth, then (me thinkes) I receiue ſo plentifull ioye of ſpirit, and prouiſion of patience againſt thoſe ſtormes and tempeſtes of aduerſities and afflictiōs, which I know I hauehave in the way of my pilgrimage to paſſe, and which I know by the courſe of Gods working abyde certainly for all true & ſtedfaſt Chriſtians, that in vttering the ſame vntounto you it may be I ſhall giuegive you ſome occaſion of comfort. God therefore I beſeeche him guide my hand, and direct my heart, and ſo beholde you with his Fatherly eye, and cherefull countenance, that we may both receiue comfort of his holy Spirit the true cō forter, promiſed by our Sauiour, that we may reioyce one with another, and both in the Lord.
Now there are diuers meanes that God hath ordeined & prouided for the cheriſhing and refreſhing of heauie heartes and ſorowful ſoules:Comforts, ſome are temporall, ſome eternall. for ſome there are which are proper to the bodie, as earthly and temporall, other concerne the minde, as Ghoſtly and continual, which wheras they are to be had,Temporal comforts. neither of them are to be refuſed, foraſmuch as God therein with our vſe and commoditie, looketh to reape the fruite of his owne glorie.1. Tim. 5.23. S. Paul alloweth Timothie and counſelleth him for his weake ſtomaks ſake moderately to drinke wyne: and Salomon lykewiſe, GiueGive the ſtrōg drinke vntounto him that is readie to periſhe,Prou. 31.6 and wine vntounto them that hauehave griefe of hearte. Concerning theſe, although they be ſomewhat beſides my care, yet this I may truely ſaye, that you hauehave to thanke God with a moſt chereful ſpirit, yt he hath not left you ſo deſtitute in this behalf, as he hath thouſands of other our brethren.
Meate & drink, &c.Howe many are there, not far from you, if you liſt (as I thinke you doe) to beholde them, and conſider them with ſome compariſon, in reſpect of whom you muſt nedes cō feſſe your ſelfe and happie handmaid of God: as whoſe hope is their cōfort, patience their pleaſure, their wine a cuppe of colde water, and whom for their apparel, neceſſitie alloweth no more then their bare naked ſkin? how many poore Lazars are there that would be glad to gather vp the crummes vnderunder that table, where your hand is free without grudging? You ſay peraduenture ſometimes in your fit, I am a miſerable woman: But what may they ſaye, that hauehave neither cloth nor clout to defend them from the bitter byting colde? what may they ſay, which many times hauehave neither bitte of bread, neither droppe of drinke, wherewith to ſatiſfie ye griedie worme of hunger, or to quenche the drie diſeaſe of thirſt? How many are there, which in compariſon of you, and me although peraduenture the leaſte of xiiii, who being driuen to the draffe of hogges, may ſay with the prodigal ſonne, In how farre better caſe are the hired ſeruantes of that houſe, then we ſeely ſoules are? doutleſſe hauing as we hauehave, although we did get it hardly, & buye it dearely, yet ſhould we be in farre better ſtate then a great number, which by experience knowe what the want of thoſe neceſſaries are, which God of his gratious goodnes hath with a liberall hand, beſtowed on vsus his euill deſeruing ſeruantes: and who for any thing to be ſene in our ſelues, deſerue as euill and worſe thē many of thoſe nedy naked ſoules, which at ſundrie times faint for want of foode, & as the bare beaſtes ſtand open to all winde and weather, ſubiect to all aduentures, free from no aduerſitie. Dauid well conſidered theſe benefites of God, which we, becauſe that we hauehave not felt the lacke of them, make litle accompt of. God ſatiſfieth ſaith he,Pſal. 107.9 the thirſtie ſottle, and filleth the hungrie ſoule with good things: and numbring diuers other the like benefites, which Gods people dayly receiue at his hande, hee crieth out twiſe or thryſe with earneſt zeale, O that men woulde acknowledge before the Lord his louing kindnes, and his wonderous workes before the ſonnes of men: Let vsus likewiſe acknowledge the goodnes of God toward vsus in this behalfe.
Kinsfolkes & friends.And me thinkes (Siſter) if theſe outward earthly thinges may anie thing make in the matter, you hauehave iuſt cauſe to reioyce. Dauid you know complaineth often times that his familiars and kindred ſtarted from him in his aduerſitie, for beſide the multitude of his enemies, which as he maketh his accoūt were more then heares vpō his head, he ſaith alſo,Pſal. 69.8. I am become a ſtranger vntounto my brethren, euen an aliant vntounto my mothers ſons: In another place, he vttereth as a part of his griefe, that he was bereft of his Father and Mother: Concerning thoſe pointes you are not ſo farre in as Dauid was: you hauehave brethren, you hauehave ſiſters, I know, that account your caſe their common caſe. That God hath viſited our Father, I craue as great part of that plague as the beſt or the worſt of you: that God hath ſo preſerued our Mother, the mirrour of al mothers, therein you hauehave as great part as the beſt of vsus. As for open enemies that ſeeke your hinderance, or that reioyce at your aduerſitie, I know none you hauehave: but you know your ſelf a number of your friends, that vnfainedly wiſhe your proſperitie.
Our Sauiour, you may remember, complained that the Foxes had holes where to couch them,A houſe or dwelling place. and the birdes of the aire hauehave their place of reſt, but the Sonne of man had not where to hide his head. O that we could, that we would compare our ſelues in our aduerſities with our Sauiour, the Sonne of man, the verie Sonne of God, of him to learne patience: then no doubt but by him we ſhould receiue comfort. Cōſider therfore the goodnes of God, how he hath prouided for vsus by the gentlenes of our deare Mother, a place which we vſe as an home and habitation, and that no Foxe hole, but thankes be to God a warme and wel feathered neſte, where we hauehave free egreſſe and regreſſe.
This ſcripture was fulfilled in our Sauiour,Concord of brethrē They of a mās owne houſe are his enemies, and he thereof complaining ſaide, He that eateth bread with mee hath lift vp his heele againſt me: but thankes be vntounto our heauenly Father, who hath ioyned our houſe in ſuch an vnitie, that we do not (as farre as I ſee) one diſdeine the other in neceſſities and aduerſities, neither enuie ech other in things ſucceeding proſperouſly. God of his merciemercy graūt that band long to continue in ye houſe of Sidmountaine, that it may deſerue the commendation of Ieruſalem, euen to be as a Citie which is at peace within it ſelf.Pſal. 122.3 This was it whereof Dauid receiued much comfort, that after great diuiſiōs, God had graū ted in his kingdome the peace and concorde of his people, ſo he ſaith of his experiēce, Behold how good a thing it is,Pſal. 133.1 and how comely, for brethren to dwell euen together. He compareth it vntounto the precious oyntment powred on the head, that ſpreadeth abroad to the refreſhing of the whole bodie, and vntounto the dewe of Hermon, and that which falleth vponupon the mountaines of Sion, places ryche and fruitfull both with temporal benefites, & with the ſpirituall bleſſings of God. This cherefull oyle and freſhe dewe of vnitie and concord betwixt you, your brethren, ſiſters and friendes, God hath bleſſed you withall: ſuche dewe falleth not in all places, ſuch oyle is not to be found in al houſes, the freſh flower of vnitie and amitie is not to be found in euerie fielde: but this as it groweth greene in the Garden of Sidmountaine, which if it fade, then farewell my part: but now flouriſhing as it doth by the gratious goodneſſe of God, me thinke you ſhould not but reioyce in the Lord, who hath reſerued vntounto you this piece of Paradiſe, that you may hauehave the full fruition of that beautiful and ſweet ſmelling flowre of concord. Thus I hauehave endeuoured ſomewhat to lead you into the conſideration of the temporall benefites and bleſſings of God beſtowed vponupon you, whereout it may be you ſhal pick ſome piece of comfort, if things worldly and earthly, outward and temporall, may make any thing in this medicine. But it may be, that as to the ſicke, things otherwiſe ſweete become ſowre & vnſauerie, and to the weake and ſickely ſtomake, the ſweet hony is lothſome: ſo the mothe of penſiuenes hath entered your heart, that theſe weaker medicines may not hauehave their full force, and due operation.
Nowe after that you hauehave ſtoode on this place, to ſee and looke about you what comfort is to be had on earth, where you may well eſpie more then I hauehave ſhewed you: hencefoorthe (Siſter) let vsus get on the mounting wynge of fayth,Euerlaſtīg and heauenly comforts. let vsus rayſe our ſelues vp through the clouds, euē to the heauens, let vsus come from the foteſtoole of God to his glorious ſeate, and that cannot be but comfortable vntounto vsus to conſider.Reue. 4.4. For S. Iohn (as he deſcribeth his viſion) when he ſaw the Maieſtie of God ſitting on his glorious throne, declareth that the throne of God is compaſſed about with a rainbow, a ſure ſeale and token of Gods merciemercy towards vsus, that although he often times raine vponupon vsus, yet he wil no more drowne vsus. This hath euer bene the chief comfort of the godly in al their diſtreſſes and afflictions, they all had an eſpecial eye this way: Reade you ye 121. Pſal. the 123. Pſalme, there to conſider the practiſe of the Prophet, how he looked toward ye throne of God. I will lift mine eyes to the Mountaines (ſaith he) from whēce mine helpe ſhall come, mine helpe commeth from the Lord which hath made heauen and earth, &c. I lift mine eyes to thee that dwelleſt in the heauens: beholde, as the eyes of an handmayde marke the eyes of her miſtres, ſo our eyes wayte vponupon the Lord our God, vntill he hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus. Now then (Siſter) laying aſide all earthly conſiderations, if they will not worke with you, let vsus looke vponupon that helpe that commeth from heauen.
This as I remember is one amongſt the wiſe ſayings of Salomon: Heauines caſteth downe the hearte of man, but a good worde rayſeth it vp againe: If any mans worde or wiſedome may any thing herein preuaile, then eſpecially the good word of God,Gods worde. which as Dauid ſayth is mighty in operation. It is ſo ful of comfort, that if grace wanted not to vtter and receiue it accordingly, I nothing doubte but if you were halfe dead, it would ſoone quicken and ſet you vpright againe.Rom. 15.4. So ſayth S. Paul, whatſoeuer is written, is written for our learning, that we through comfort and pacience of the Scriptures, might hauehave hope. Seing then the Lord hath left vsus this heauenly treaſure here on earth, euen to our ſo great commoditie thereby to learne patience, and receiue comfort, let vsus vſe theſe as our ſpectacles to behold the mercies of God, which of our ſelues being nothing but blindeneſſe it ſelfe, are not able to ſearche out or to ſee: and this ſhalbe as your diet, that you reſort to thoſe ſweete running ryuers, ſpringing vp vntounto eternall life, counſelling and aduiſing you, here to laye out the whole line of your life: no day, nor houre cō meth amiſſe, but in the Scriptures you may find comfort: Yea, there ye ſhall meete with the fountaine of all comfort, the Spirit of God chering and cheriſhing you after a heauenly and marueylous maner. Preſently for my part, I chiefly commit your cauſe to his cure, and by his grace, I ſhall endeuour to giuegive you ſome taſte of that precious liquour: God graunt it be not marred for lacke of a better veſſell.
Firſt therfore, I am perſuaded yt you nothing dout of your adoption and election in Chriſt Ieſus,Election in Chriſt. that your name is entred in the booke of life, and that you are ſurely ſealed vp for a ſaued ſanctified ſoule. This foundation being layd on ſo ſure a groūd, hauing our hands faſtened on this hold, what ſtorms or floods of affliction may there ariſe, but we may (conſidering ye tender mercy of God towardes his choſen children) endure with patience, ouercome with comfort, and wade thorowe with ioy, knowing ſure we ſhal hauehave a day, and ſeeing certainely although a farre of, the quiet and glorious hauen we hauehave to arriue at? It is a moſt comfortable ſaying which the Apoſtle vttereth vntounto you:Rom. 8.28. We knowe (ſaith he) that all things worke together for the beſte vntounto them that louelove God, euen to them that are called of his purpoſe. This one ſentence ſo ſetting foorth the care that God your heauenly Father hath ouer you, might ſatiſfie you, if you could weigh it as it is worthie.
Great and manifolde were the miſeries which that choſen of God ſuffered, reade you the 11. of the 2. to the Corinthians. Paul.You ſhal finde there at what hard meat, & how ſowre ſauce the Lord ſet that his paineful and faithfull ſeruant: as ſtripes, perilles both on Sea and land, euill entreatie both of the Iewe and the Gentile, the deceit of falſe brethrē, wearineſſe, painfulneſſe, watching, hunger, thirſt, colde, nakedneſſe, and all kinde of perſecutiō. Yet he hauing that confidence and ſtedfaſt perſwaſion of the eternal prouidence of God, that he turneth all things to the commoditie of his electe, euen in the middeſt of theſe miſeries he ſhewed a moſt chereful ſpirit, as hee ſaith numbring many kindes of perſecutions,Rom. 8.37. in all theſe thinges we are more then conquerours, by him that loued vsus.
In what diſtreſſe thinke you was that iuſt Ioſeph, being endangered to periſh in the pit,Ioſeph. throwne in by the handes of his owne brethren,Gen. 37.24. and afterwarde ſolde of them into a ſtrange countrey, where alſo being taken of ſuſpicion to hauehave abuſed his Maſter Potiphars wyfe, was caſt into priſon: yet he alſo ouer theſe and the like temptations,Gen. 39.20 became in time a conquerour, well perceiuing in the ende, that it was the Lordes doing to ſome good ende, although he did not ſtraight vnderſtand the ſame. And therefore beſides his owne comfort, he quieted alſo the troubled mindes of his brethren, declaring vntounto them the prouidence of God, wheron he wholy depended.Gen. 45.4, 5. I am Ioſeph your brother (ſayth he) whom ye ſolde into Egypt: now therefore be not ſadde, nor grieued with your ſelues that you ſolde me hither, for God did ſend me hither for your preſeruation: neyther did hee ſo much attend the fact of his brethren, as the prouidence of God in the matter, ſo that he ſeemeth in reſpect flatly to denie that they had done ought in the matter:Gen. 45.8. as in theſe wordes, Now then you ſent me not hither, but God who hath made me a Father vntounto Pharao, and Lord ouer all his houſe, and ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. And by this meanes and conſiderations, God gaue him that he made the leſſe accompt of the abſence of his parentes, the ingratitude of his brethren, the lack of his countrey, and alſo the ſlaunderous and vniuſt impriſonement.
Likewiſe Dauid beeing in flight for the feare of his owne ſonne Abſolon, heard, and bare with patience, rayling Shimei, taking as it were his pleaſure of him in his aduerſitie, throwing ſtones at him as though hee accounted no more of him then of a vyle dog, curſing and calling him murderer: & whereas Abiſhai his courage ſerued him to reuēge Dauids quarrel, and would hauehave fet his head,Dauid. if that he would hauehave but ſaid the worde: Beholde the humilitie, the patience of a Prophet, the comfort of a King, verely he lifted vp his eyes to the hill, the holy hill of God, from whence he was aſſured all thoſe things proceeded, to ſome commoditie and furtherance of his: wherfore this was his anſwere to Abiſhai that ſought reuengement, he curſeth me, euen becauſe the Lorde hath bidden him curſe Dauid. This was the holde and handfaſt, that that princely Prophete tooke wherewith to ſtaye him ſelf, euer depending vponupon the prouidence of his liuing God. He knewe that whatſoeuer befell him, God had a ſtroke in it, yea and further, being fully perſwaded of the merciemercy of God, he knewe moſt aſſuredly thoſe chaſtiſements and corrections ſhould turne him to God, as he maketh proteſtation, in the 119. Pſal. It is good for me that I hauehave bene afflicted: ſo that beſide his pacience and comfort he accompted it a gaine, and none of the ſmaleſt benefites of God, that he was ſo corrected at his iuſt and mercifull hand.
You may alſo conſider the example of patient Iob: How he waded through his temptations, as who knowing that all thoſe hils of miſerie, fell vponupon him, no otherwiſe then by the determinate appointment of the moſt hieſt, with the conſideration thereof he refreſhed himſelfe, after that all worldly ſuccours and comforts were taken from him, and ſo became a conquerour ouer all the grieuous aſſaultes of Satan, as who, he was aſſured, could go no further then he had his limittes appointed and aſſigned vntounto him, by the iuſt ruling and mercifull diſpoſing hand of the euerliuing God: wherfore he made it no matter of miſfortune (as we commonly do in the like caſes) that his cattel were made a praye for his enemies, that his ſonnes & daughters had that ſtrange ende, the houſe falling on their heads: but by ſuch his words he openly ſheweth the inward comfort of his hearte, The Lord hath giuē (ſaith he) ye Lord hath taken away, as it pleaſed the Lord ſo is it come to paſſe, bleſſed be ye Name of the Lord: & by this we vnderſtand that he had not ſo much regard of his enemies the Caldeans and the Sabeans, whome he knewe to be but the inſtruments of the Deuill the chiefe workeman, but alwayes had his eye ſtedfaſtly bent vponupon God his Creator and redeemer, without whoſe ordinance and appointment, neither of them could hauehave any whit mooued or preuailed againſt him, no more then the ſenſleſſe winde had power of it ſelfe, ſo to ouerthrowe the houſe vponupon his children. And for as much as he was the ſeruant of God, he aſſured himſelfe, that Satan with his ſlaues could not doe or intend him ſo much hurt, but his Lorde and God woulde euen by the ſame meanes turne it to his great furtherance & commoditie, as we are giuen to vnderſtand in ye end of the hiſtorie that God did in deede perfourme ye ſame: So that by this he became ſo humble and patient, ſo ſtedfaſt in hope, that he ſaid, that if the Lords pleaſure were to kill him, to take his life from him, yet would he not let go his holde, giuegive ouer his hope, or blaſpheme the Name of God, to the which he was marueilouſly prouoked.
Behold likewiſe the behauiour & courage of thoſe three noble yong men whom Nabuchodonozor threatened the terrible fire,Three childrē in the fornace. for that they refuſed to worſhip his golden god: ſee how they take holde on the merciemercy, and prouident care of God their Lord. For thus they anſwered the King, Beholde, our God whom we ſerue is able to deliuer vsus from the hote firie fornace, & he wil deliuer vsus out of thine hand (O King.) But if not, be it knowen to thee (O King) that we wil not ſerue thy gods, nor do worſhippe to thy golden Image, which thou haſt ſet vp: and according to that their cōſtant hope and faith, the Lord fayleth not, as you know, marueilouſly to deliuer them.
Daniel.And what other comfort had their fellow Daniel being encloſed to be deuoured of the Lyons in the Denne?Dan. 6.16. &c. according to whoſe hope, likewyſe the Lorde ſent his Angel to ſhut and mouzle vp the Lyons mouthes, ſauing him harmleſſe. The Scripture yeldeth plentifull ſtore of the like examples and ſayings, whereout if we ſtand to conſider them, we hauehave inough ſo to arme vsus againſt all aduentures, that no tribulation, no anguiſh may bee ſo extreme, but that by patience we may ouercome them, no calamities ſo great or grieuous, but that they are to be conquered by comfort of the Scriptures. So ſayth the Apoſtle,1 Cor. 10.13. God is faithfull which wil not ſuffer you to bee tempted aboue your power, but will euen giuegive the iſſue with the temptations, that you may bee able to beare them: where he ſo cōforteth the afflicted among the Corinthians, and doth ſtrengthen them vnderunder the croſſe, leading them no farther then into the conſideration of Gods eternall prouidence, which maketh the ſharpe and the ſowre, ſoft and ſweete in the ende,Heb. 12.11 although no maner of chaſtiſement (as he ſaith) is ioyous for the preſent time. I hauehave in thoſe former examples according to my ſimplicitie, ſent you ſome of the righteous and tried ſeruants of God, to ſtand you in ſteade of Apothecaries and Surgeons, of whom you may learne to cure your wound without douting, foraſmuch as they miniſter you euen ſuch ſoueraigne medicines, as they them ſelues hauehave taſted and tried (as you ſee) to their endleſſe comfort: but yet the chief phiſition is to come,Chriſt. Chriſt Ieſus (I meane) the ſalue of all our ſores, the paterne of al patience, and moſt aſſured comfort of all ſorowing ſoules, and readie redreſſe in all aduerſities. You hauehave ſeene in the examples afore, the experiēce of good ſouldiours fighting a good fight, and how they hauehave quitte themſelues againſt the temptations of the worlde, and the aſſaultes of Satan: Nowe turne your eyes towarde Chriſt our redemer the great Captaine, and moſt renowmed conquerour of all that euer taſted theſe worldly infirmities, whoſe euill entreatie and hard handling the time ſerueth not now to deſcribe vntounto you, but I ſend you to the head ſpring, the hiſtorie of the Goſpel: you may alſo at your leaſure reade that mine exerciſe concerning the louelove of God,This is ſince imprinted and called, The viewe of the eſtate of man, &c. Philip 2.5.6.7.8. where I hauehave aſſayed to ſay ſomewhat to this purpoſe. OnelyOnly now I giuegive you S. Pauls exhortation, Let the ſame minde be in you which was euen in Chriſte Ieſus, who being the Sonne of God, and very God, one with his Father, made himſelf of no reputation, tooke on him the forme of a ſeruāt, he humbled him ſelfe and became obedient vntounto the death, euē to the death of the croſſe. Here learne of your Sauiour, patience and humilitie, and marke where lay his comfort, verely that way that other his ſaued ſoules hauehave ſought, euen the prouidence of his God, and by him our God his Father, & (thākes be to him) our Father: for ſo he ſaid when that loſt childe went out from him and his other diſciples to worke his purpoſed treaſon, Verely (ſaith he) it goeth with the ſonne of man, as it is written of him: and at this marke he ſeemed to ayme, when as Pilate vaunted himſelfe and triumphed ouer him, ſaying, that he had power to crucifie him, and likewiſe to looſe him: then our Sauiours anſwere was, thou couldeſt hauehave no power againſt me, except it were giuen thee from aboue. So when he did with deepe cōſideration as it were aforehand, taſte the bitterneſſe of his cuppe, this way he foūd out of his temptatiō, ſaying to his father, thy will be fulfilled and not myne: this was his comfort in the extremities of the croſſe,Act. 2.26, 27. and his fleſh alſo reſted in this hope, that the Lord would not ſuffer his holy one to ſee corruption. By theſe you may be ſufficiently ſtored with diuerſe kinde of medicines, you hauehave both the gentle and the ſtrong working before you.
The next care concerneth the vſe hereof,The applying of the former examples. that they be applied and placed to the ſore. Now therefore if you wil ſet theſe glaſſes of the afflicted ſeruants of God, and eſpecially Chriſt crucified before your eyes, I doubt not but that it ſhall quicken all the dead fleſh that lieth about your heart. For firſt if you wil compare quantitie with quantitie, ſurely yours may ſeeme but an April ſhowre in cō pariſon of theſe bloudie floudes and ſeas of ſorowes that paſſed ouer their heads. But make your caſe comparable with others the aforeſaid (as peraduenture it is more then I am aware of) yet being grounded on Chriſt Ieſus with ſtedfaſt faith, hauing your election certaine by your honeſt conuerſation in the works of light, and the Spirit of adoption bearing witnes with your ſpirit that you are a choſen childe of God, hauing in iuſt conſideration the iuſt dealing and mercifull prouidence of God towardes his veſſels prepared to honour, although in your ſelfe you be humbled (as neceſſarie it is) yet in God you cannot but reioyce and glorie with his ſeruants and Saintes on the earth. Were it ſo that men reuiled you as Shimei did Dauid, why ſhould you not content & quiet your ſelf as Dauid did, ſaying, the Lord hath ſent him for this purpoſe? yea, whatſoeuer kinde of croſſe it ſhall pleaſe God to viſite vsus withall, we ought by his example to cōſider the good purpoſe of God therein, & to ſay, It is good for vsus that we taſte of ſome trouble,Heb. 12.8. leſt we be found for baſtard children (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh.) If you had ſuſteined loſſe of friēds, parents, childrē or huſbands, ſtanding at one ſtaye with Iob, then for your comfort you hauehave to ſay, The Lord hath giuen, the Lorde hath taken away. Let the caſe be (I am ſure it is not ſo ill) that you were peſtered with Iobs miſerable diſeaſe, as wee are all in the hands of God, vponupon vsus to worke his wil, and there is neither of both vndoutedly, but hauehave deſerued far worſe then iuſt Iob: yet he hath prouided for vsus before hand a ſtaffe to ſtaye on, and hath giuen vsus a leſſon of patience in that anſwere which he made his wyfe, prouoking him to yelde to the aſſault of Satan, and to blaſpheme his God: Thou ſpeakeſt like a fooliſh woman (ſaith he) ſhall wee receiue good at the hand of God, & not receiue euill? If you had loſt your countrey, which now you enioye by the benefit of God, might you not well conceiue with your ſelfe of the will and worke of God therein, to ſome ſuch purpoſe as he wrought by Ioſephs ſale and banniſhment? whereſoeuer you ſhall come, whatſoeuer entertainement or entreatie you ſhould finde, would you not ſay as he did, it is God that hath ſent me hither? Suppoſe you were in the pit with Ioſeph, in the dēne with Daniel, or that you made vp the meſſe with thoſe three appointed to the fyer, Sidrach, Miſach, and Abednego: would you miſtruſt now eſpecially that they hauehave made the waye before you, but that God would prouide ſome iſſue for you in the middeſt of theſe temptations, either to ſaue you harmleſſe by a mightie deliuerance, or els as it ſhould be beſt for you to make you a conquerour by patience?
And to come to Chriſt that fountaine of all conſolation for all Chriſtians: O Siſter,Chriſts to… ments and afflictiōs. we neuer felt with our litle finger that fyer wherein he was conſumed for our ſinnes, we hauehave not taſted with the typ of our tongue, that bitter cuppe, wherein he ſwallowed vp death due vntounto vsus for our offences: wee ſleepe in whole ſkinnes, his hands, his feete, his ſydes were pearced of merciles murderers: we for the moſt part hauehave eaſe and reſt, he found no place on earth where to reſt his head: we thinke much if we be ſomewhat diſeaſed with a litle paine or griefe of bodie, he ſwet and ſhed bloudie water to eaſe vsus, and releaſe vsus of perpetuall paines. Nowe then (Siſter) thruſt in your finger with Thomas the Apoſtle, and feele with faith the bloudie woundes of your ſauiour and redemer: and theſe being conſidered, what are our greateſt griefes, but fleabites in compariſon, beſides that inward anguiſhe and paſſion of the ſoule, farre paſſing his outwarde apparent pangues, whereby he felt the ſeuere iudgement and wrath of God, the rewarde of our euil deſerts? Come you hither (Siſter) with your heauie burthen and here refreſh you, for here is the well and the water of life, receiue you hence the moſt comfortable aqua vite, ſtilling downe from the croſſe of oure redeemer and peacemaker Chriſt Ieſus the righteous. God hath laide vponupon you ſome kinde of croſſe, but none ſuch as his owne Sonne your Sauiour hath borne before you, God hath thought good for ſome purpoſe appertaining to his glorie, to put you to ſome paines: O why ſhould you or any of vsus grudge to take on vsus the yoke of God? he hath not ſpared his deare and onelyonly Sonne, to make him a mā, a ſeruant, a ſacrifice for our ſoules redemption, which were once ſolde vnderunder ſinne, the ſlaues of Satan. But were it (happie were you if it were ſo in deede) that you had to pledge your ſauiour where he hath begun vntounto you, if that you hong on the croſſe together with him, had you not then comfort enough by you: could you not well content your ſelfe to be baptized with his baptiſme, whoſe handmaid, I know you will not denie your ſelfe to be? is it not enough for the ſeruant to be ſerued as his maſter? were you in the place of the penitent theefe, crauing his pardon as he did hang together with our ſauiour, would you hauehave deſpaired, would you hauehave miſtruſted, might you be comfortleſſe, would you not reioyce?
But you will ſay he had his Sauiour preſent before his eyes. But O you of litle faith, if you hauehave not as good aſſurāce of mercy as he: do you not cōſider that by the iudgement of our Iudge, they are moſt bleſſed which beleue and ſee not? But he happie mā heard thoſe ioyfull wordes at his redemers mouth, To daie thou ſhalt bee with me in paradiſe.Warrants out of the ſcriptures for our cō fort. And is that ſufficient? why then hauehave not you as ſure an obligation, the warrant of his word, his teſtament ſealed with his moſt precious bloud? or els are you left out of that will? Doth he not ſay vntounto you as directly as to any other, Come vntounto me and I ſhall refreſh you? Doth he not ſay vntounto you, Aſke and hauehave, ſeeke and find, knocke and it ſhall be opened? are you not aſſured of that abſolution in the daye of the Lord his appearance, Thy faith hath ſaued thee,Mar. 7.29. goe thy waye in peace? are you not to be numbred among them to whom it ſhalbe ſaid, Come ye bleſſed of my father?Iohn. 3.16. when that Chriſt ſaith vntounto you, he that beleueth hath euerlaſting life: when that he ſaieth, I bring the water of life, I am the bread of life, I am the vine, you are the braunches: I am the good ſhepherd, the true Meſſias, the redemer of the worlde, the phyſition of the ſicke, comming to ſaue that which is loſt: in al theſe can you not picke out that promiſe to be with him in paradiſe? I dare not doubt (Siſter) that you are to ſeeke concerning theſe thinges, you hauehave (I nothing miſtruſt) laide the foundation of your fayth on Chriſt the right rocke of ſaluation: then can you no more doubte, then if you had the poſſeſſion of paradiſe alreadie, euen as it was prepared for you from the beginning, ſeing that he made the graunt, that hath the whole matter in his handes, and in whome there is no guile. Stand therfore, ſtand ſtiffe and fall not, let not go this handfaſt, which if you doe, no winde or weather may riſe in the worlde that ſhall any whit moue you or your ſo ſure building,1. Iohn. 1.4 ſtanding on ſo good a groūd and ſo ſounde a rocke. S. Iohn in his firſt epiſtle, ſetting Chriſt Ieſus before thē to whom he writeth, This we write vntounto you (ſaith he) that your ioy might be full. Verely (Siſter) if we coulde fully conſider Chriſt with his merciemercy and merites, our heartes might not but be filled vp full with ioy: for there is nothing ſo ſowre, but in Chriſt it becommeth ſweete and ſauourie, there is no want of any earthly thing, but Chriſt ſupplieth with a greater meaſure. The braunches that abide in that vine, no weather may make them to wither: and although they ſeeme for a ſeaſon much like to the naturall vine, to be as drie and rotten ſtickes, ſuch as men would ſcarce gather vp in the way, yet the heauenly huſbandman ſo cheriſheth and tendereth them, yt in time which he knoweth to be moſt conuenient, euen then they ſhal ſhew themſelues in their kinde, and freſhly flouriſhe in their fruits, when all other flowers are faded, and other trees which are not planted by him may not longer ſtand for their rotten roots.
Anſweres to certain obiections cōcerning the want of things.Let vsus therefore ſtand a litle and ſee what more comfort we may ſucke out of that freſh and fruitfull vine, ſo ſhall our hearts receiue ioye, and our ioye ſhalbe full. You hauehave no landes, nor liuinges (I thinke) in deede any thing ſuperfluous, but yet competent. and if you were much more needie, euen vtterly deſtitute, yet you hauehave not to take great thought for the matter, ſeeing Chriſt telleth you, you ſhall hauehave life euerlaſting, paradiſe is your inheritance, his owne kingdome is your poſſeſſion.
Cōpanie.Companie in deede is comfortable: but be it that you were berefte of the companie and comfort of your brethren and ſiſters, yet the true Chriſtian cannot be ſolitary.1. Iohn. 1.7 S. Iohn ſaith, If we walke in the light as he walked, we hauehave felowſhip with him. And he him ſelfe ſaieth, he will not leaue vsus comfortleſſe or ſolitarie, yea he wilbe preſent with vsus vntounto the worldes ende, that is, with all his, at al times ſending vsus the Comforter his holy ſpirit. If we do that which he commaundeth vsus, then he accompteth vsus his friendes, his brethren, his ſiſters, and that which is chiefeſt, becauſe it is endleſſe, after we hauehave rūne out our courſe, we ſhalbe with him in Paradiſe, making continually that prayer for vsus vntounto his Father, which he began here on earth, Father I will that they which thou haſt giuen me be with me where I am, that they may beholde my glorie.
Beholde,Worldly eſtimation you ſhall beholde the glorie of Chriſt: what then will you take thought for any piece of worldly eſtimation? All the glorie of man (ſaith the Prophet) is as the flower of the fielde, ſone ripe, ſone rotten, but the crowne of glorie, which you ſhall receiue by Chriſt, is incorruptible, once founde, neuer loſte, once ripe, neuer rotten: what neede you paſſe vponupon the wicked earthly Mammon, whereas you be moſt aſſured of that treaſure laied vp for your ſtore in heauen, euen Chriſt Ieſus the riches of the riche, and high God of heauen?
It would be a comfort for you peraduenture,Mariage. to hauehave an head and huſband to defende you, & in whom you might delite as in your owne ſoule, by whom you might hauehave the increaſe of godly children, vntounto many in deede the verye bleſſing of God: but in this alſo you muſt ſubmitte your ſelfe to the mightie hande of God, knowing that he worketh diuerſe wayes in diuerſe veſſels, and thoſe ordained to honour, for to ſome mariage is expedient, to ſome it bringeth ioy and gladnes: but contrarily in many you may ſee it is a ſnare of the worlde, a ſtumbling blocke, and plaine diuorcement betwixt God and them. And this inconuenience I knowe commeth not of mariage it ſelfe, as the proper and principal cauſe, which God hath ordained as holy and comfortable: but by their abuſe, and for their iuſt plague. Whereas ſome ſucke hony, ſome other meete with gall, and venyme: and yet the flower beautifull enough, and goodly in the eye. Wherefore God of his high wiſedome, knowing much better what is good for vsus then we for our ſelues, doth at ſundrie times cut vsus ſhort from the fruition of many his good creatures, benefites and ordinances, leaſt by abuſe we ſhould in maner turne the nature of them to our owne hinderance and confuſion, ſo that it may bee better for vsus to lacke them then to hauehave thē. Diuerſe I thinke there be good men, and honeſt maydens, which peraduenture would be hard huſbandes, and ſhrewd wiues: neither would it be any ſtraūge caſe to ſee, that ſome bare the firſt yoke honeſtly and godly, which at the ſecond match ouerrule & weary their yoke fellows, cauſing them with repentance to wiſhe their former libertie againe. Such is the diuerſe working of God, that in ſome he is better pleaſed with mariage, and other he holdeth in ſingle life as moſt expedient for them.
Some againe he bleſſeth with the fruite of children,Barennes. other he maketh baren and fruitleſſe, yet both for the better, both ſeruing to the glorie of God, and cōmoditie of his choſen. Looke on the compariſon made by Salomon, the 4. of the book of wiſdome: he ſaith, that barennes is better with vertue, then to hauehave a multitude of children. Neither doe I write this as one that deſpaireth of your proſperitie this way: I know you hauehave had good offers, which by iudgement of man, might hauehave bene conuenient for you to hauehave followed, but I hauehave tolde you the worſte, and yet nothing doubting but that ye beſt is to come. Anna you may remember mentioned in the firſt of Sam. 1. the wife of Elkanah, Anna.the happie handmaid of God, how he exerciſed her a long time in patience with the ſhame of barrennes, as it was coūted in thoſe dayes. But the Lorde when hee had brought her lowe enough, then he rayſed her againe, heard her humble petition, and gaue her for her comfort that iuſte Iudge her ſonne Samuel, his true ſeruant.Tob. 3.10. In the hiſtorie of Tobias, we reade in what diſtreſſe that humble mayden Sara was,Sara. whom it pleaſed God to viſite, and chaſtiſe her with ſeuen huſbandes, ſo that ſhe became a reproche vntounto her owne fathers maydes, laying to her charge that ſhe had ſtrangled her huſbandes. Thinke you (Siſter) your caſe is comparable to this? If it be ſo, then take that remedie which ſhe vſed, and miſtruſte not of the ſucceſſe that folowed, as you hauehave in the exāple of Anna. So ſhe made her prayer to God the almightie, which is expreſſed in the hiſtorie, deſiring him to pitie her caſe, and by ſome meanes to take awaye her reproche: and accordingly the Lord (as his eares are alwayes open to the prayers that proceede from an humble ſpirit) gaue her to wife to good Tobias, with whom ſhe ſawe many a good day, and alſo for token of Gods bleſſing, iſſue of children. Euen ſo if we may hope for the beſt (and why ſhoulde you miſtruſt the matter,Abraham. ſeeing that Abraham in a more deſperate caſe, hoped againſt hope?) the Lord our God I doubt not, pitieth your caſe ſo farre, that he will ſende you a truſtie Tobias, to whom you may betake your ſelfe without feare, with whom you may leade out your life in peace and comfortable quietnes, by whom you may conceiue and beare ſome ſuch ſonne as is reported of Samuel, in whome you may reioyce as in an obedient ſonne, and in whom God may be glorified as his ſeruant. But if the example of Anna, and Sara, do not ſo much moue you, if it be out of your hope to hauehave their good happe, let vsus then returne againe to Chriſt our ſweete ſauiour & righteous redeemer, at whoſe hand, when all other aydes do faile, we may be bold to fetche comfort, and that moſt plentifully.
If Tobias come not,An excellent compariſon betwene the profite & cōfort that the wife may hauehave of her huſband, and the ſame we hauehave of our head and huſbād Chriſt yet you may wel content your ſelfe with Chriſt, finding that in him you ſhalbe ſped as fully as you can wiſh. You are of the flocke of the faithfull: then will he ſtande you to all purpoſes in ſtead of an huſband, not after an earthly, but after an heauenly ſort. Hee is the heade to defende and gouerne that bodye, whereof you are a member. Such as the huſbād is to the wife, ſuch is Chriſt to thoſe that are of the Chriſtian Congregation, as S. Paul hath made cō pariſon. It is a great comfort in deede for Adam to hauehave his Eue, and contrariwiſe: but Chriſt it is, that bleſſed ſeede, that hath bleſſed them both. There is a narrow bond and copulation betwixt the wife & her huſband, for they are reckoned one in fleſh: Euen ſo hath Chriſt, to make vsus vntounto him an holy ſpouſe, taken bone of our bones, and fleſhe of our fleſhe. Your huſband would cleaue vntounto you when your other friends would forſake you, and Chriſt will accompanie and aſſiſt you when your huſband hath left you. He muſt ſometimes of neceſſitie be abſent from you, death ſhall make a grieuous diuorcement betwixt you: but no time may tye Chriſt from you: by him it is that you liue, & that you liue well, he ſhall aſſiſt you at your dying day, and at the latter day he ſhall rayſe you againe. Your huſbande peraduenture, would thinke no money, no meate, no apparell to deare for you, and ſo doing, you would thinke him a good huſband: but whether he would die for you I doubt. But Chriſt Ieſus that good ſhepheard hath ſhewed you ſo much louelove, that he hath layd downe his life for you, he hath ſhed his bloud for you, he died euē the death of the croſſe, he died for your ſinnes, and roſe againe for your iuſtification, and now maketh interceſſion for you, which he will continue vntill the time he hath placed you in his kingdome to reigne with him for euer.
Thus (Siſter) as my ſimplicitie ſerueth me, I hauehave attempted that, which I feare I hauehave not obtained, (if it might be) to comfort you, or rather to tell you where you may ſeeke and finde comforte, then of my ſelf to make you any deede of gift: For God is called the authour of al conſolation, therefore I referre you to him by your prayer, and by reſort vntounto his worde, written for all our comfortes. I hauehave but ſomewhat aſſaied to playe Iohn Baptiſtes parte, I am not he of whom you muſt receiue this good gifte, but you muſt looke toward an other: Therefore I ſay vntounto you of him whoſe ſhoolatchet I am not worthy to vnlooſe, Behold the Lambe of God who bringeth this comfort with him, a ſalue (me thinkes) ſufficient to heale all ſores, as that he is that Lambe that taketh away the ſinnes of the worlde. Nature hath ſo prouided that if we receiue any wound in the head, the whelke that is in the hande, the corne that is in the foote, we ſoone forget & loſe the ſenſe thereof. O conſider (Siſter) howe your head was wounded, then ſhall your handes and your feete the leſſe grieue you: Nowe againe our head is whole, triū phing in heauen: why then ſhould our hearts be heauie on earth, as though the head had forgotten the bodie, or any part thereof? No (Siſter) doubte you not, he will not ſuffer an heare to periſhe of that bodie which he ſo dearely purchaſed, ſeeing that this mightie Michael hath ſubdued our archenemy,Reuel. 12. that terrible dragon, and ſubtill ſerpent with his petie captaines, death and hell, what ſhould we be ſo much moued with any force of the fleſhe, or any miſchiefe that the worlde may worke vsus? Yea, here alſo your Sauiour ſpeaketh cōfortably vntounto you, ſaying, Be of good there, I hauehave ouercome the world. Seeing that he hath broken the head of our enemy, what ſhould his taile ſo much trouble vsus? ſeing hee hath taken away our ſinnes, what ſhould any ſorowes remaine amongſt vsus? & if we ſorowe not for our ſinnes, why doe we lament for any other earthly trifle? So (Siſter) if your eye be fully fixed on Chriſt your redeemer, ſeing his paines and his patience, you may not but quiet your ſelfe, conſidering his merites and his merciemercy, you can nothing miſtruſte but he that tooke away the greater burthen of your ſinnes, will alſo open you a waye out of your ſorowes, ſo that nowe you hauehave no occaſion left of miſtruſt in the goodnes of God. For he that gaue vsus his Sonne,Rom. 8.32. howe ſhould hee not with him giuegive vsus all things alſo? and now your ioye muſt needes be full, as S. Iohn ſaieth. Say not then you are in miſerie, for you ſee preſent remedie hauing good aſſurance of eternall felicitie. And if a mā ſhould aſke you how you proue your ſtate to be miſerable, I am ſure you can not proue ſo faſt as I can diſproue.
You will ſay, I am an abiect in the world:Comforts againſt the contēpt of the world, and ſorow and heauines. 1. Cor. 12. I anſwere, the more meeter for God, the liker you are to your Sauiour: ſo ſaieth the Apoſtle to your comfort and mine, The vile thinges of the worlde, things deſpiſed and things of nought, hath God choſen.
I am ſad and penſiue, (you will ſay) my meat doth mee no good, I enioye not the world. But theſe are no arguments, hereby to conclude miſeries. For euen the holy and happie Dauid had ſuch ſugar and ſauce to his meate, he mingled his bread with aſhes, and where was moſt likelyhood of reſt, his bed he watered with teares, ſo that of your ſorow it ſelfe you may receiue comfort, becauſe that ſhorte worldly ſorowes are but a paſſage vntounto vnſpeakeable, incredible, and eternall ioye and conſolation. Our Sauiour ſaith they are happie that lament, for they ſhalbe comforted, but hee ſetteth a woe vponupon thoſe that laughe: ſo that by his iudgement happines (and heauenly happines he ſpeaketh of) commeth rather by lamenting then laughing. Yea,Reue. 21. God himſelf wil take ye paines to wipe away the teares of the eyes of ſuch as ſheade any vnderunder the croſſe, & eſpecially in the cauſe of his Chriſt. You hauehave litle comfort peraduenture in the worlde, yet I am ſure more then Lazarus in his penurie, or Iob in his perplexitie: and the leſſe you finde on earth, the more belike you ſhal hauehave in heauen. You knowe the anſwere to the riche man, in the parable, that he had his earthly pleaſure for his portiō.Luk. 16.25 But what an exchange made Lazarus? euen eternal pleaſure for temporal penurie. If you hauehave not your portion with the riche man here; you may the leſſe doubte to hauehave parte and place with Lazarus in the kingdome of God. And here let Chriſt be your comforter: You ſhall lament (ſaith he) but the world ſhall reioyce, and in him, hee ſaith you ſhall hauehave peace. O ſee that pitifull and ſauing Samaritan, how he powreth wine and oyle into your woundes, euen the peace of conſcience, the peace of God that paſſeth all vnderſtāding.Ioh. 15.18. If the world hate you (ſaith he) you know that it hated me before you: & if our Sauiour hath lead vsus the waye, what ſhould we ſticke at the matter? where as he hath ouerlept ſo great blockes, why ſhould we ſtumble ſo at eueryevery ſtrawe which the deuill caſteth in our way? The Apoſtle ſaith,2. Tim. 2.11, 12. If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall raigne with him: and if we die with him, we ſhall liue with him. O Siſter, let vsus not ſhrinke from our Captaine, whome we ſee already to be a conquerour. Let vsus prepare our ſelues patiently to abide the pleaſure of God: let vsus exerciſe patience in the lighter, that we may the better beare the greater burden. Let vsus liue and die with our Sauiour, let vsus ſuffer with him in all patience, that we may reigne with him in glorie, to the which the afflictiōs of this world with all extremitie (as S. Paul hath caſt the matter) are nothing comparable. We hope to hauehave our part in the kingdome of Chriſt Ieſus, let vsus not then looke for it there where he hath tolde vsus it is not to be found: Let vsus not ſeeke after worldly wealth or earthly felicitie, let vsus not looke here to rule the roſte, but to be roſted rather of Rulers. Our kingdome is where Chriſt reigneth, let that content vsus, knowing that his kingdome is aboue all powers, al things being in ſubiection vnderunder his feete.
Here I leaue you (Siſter) betaking you to Chriſt, who couereth you as one of his choſen chickens, vnderunder the ſhadow of his cō fortable winges, againſt whom as long as you liue, neither the world, which he hath cō quered, neither death, which he hath ſwallowed vp, neither the gates of hel, which he hath cloſed vntounto you, ſhal any thing preuaile. That which I hauehave ſaid, I hauehave ſaid once, & peraduenture as good vnſaid: but Chriſt cō tinually cōforteth you with his ſweete promiſes and euerlaſting word of ſaluation: he ſtill crieth vntounto you, Be of good chere, I hauehave ouercome the worlde: reioyce in this (ſayth he) that your name is written in the booke of life. Betake you therefore wholy to him, reioyce in his croſſe, reſorte to his word, whence, as out of paradiſe you may gather flowers ſufficient to fill you with ioye. And if it hath pleaſed almightie God any thing to refreſhe you with this my poore poſy, his wil be done, his name be glorified, Amen: I hauehave my rewarde: and he the God of all conſolation graunt vsus the heauenly comfort of his holy Spirit, that peace which the world can not giuegive, and that conſtant patience in all his fatherly corrections, that we be not founde falſe hirelings, but true and truſtie ſeruants: no baſtard children, but by vnfained faith, the bleſſed poſteritie of the bleſſed Abraham, and true regenerates of God by our Sauiour Chriſt. And the holie ſanctifying Spirit of trueth, and God be bleſſed for euer, Amen.