Two Sermons on Lamentations 3, Sermon 2

Two Sermons on Lamentations 3 · Sermon 2

p. 33THE SECOND SERMON.

Lamentations, chap. 3. verſ. 55. &c.

55 I called vponupon thy name O Lord, out of the low dungeon.

56 Thou hast heard my voice: ſtoppe not thine eare from my ſigh and from my crie.

57 Thou dreweſt neere in the day that I called vponupon thee: thou ſaidſt, Feare not.

58 O Lord thou haſt maintained the cauſe of my ſoule, and haſt redeemed my life.

59 O Lord, thou haſt ſeene my wrong: iudge thou my cauſe.

60 Thou haſt ſeene all their vengeance, and all their deuiſes againſt me.

61 Thou haſt heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations againſt me.

YOu heard in the words immediatly going before, The connexion.the wofull diſtreſſe that the children of God were driuen vntounto: how they were caſt into the dungeon, and ſtript of all outward and inward comforts.

Now here he ſhewes what remedie they vſed: they caſt their burden vponupon the Lord, and hoped for ſuccour at his hands: and the reaſons that mooue them ſo to doe, are ſet downe in the text to be two.

p. 34Firſt, The diuiſion and meaning of the words.one is taken from their preſent behauiour towards God; which was, that they prayed and ſighed, and cryed, verſ. 55.56. And that they might bee ſo much the more regarded, they declare that it was not without cauſe, that they were ſo earneſt with God: for they called vponupon him out of the low dungeon: verſ. 55. that is, out of great and grieuous affliction. And yet further miſchiefe was intended, and their aduerſaries did ſpeake and plot all crueltie againſt them, verſ. 60. Thou haſt ſeene all their vengeance, and all their deuices againſt me: 61. Thou haſt heard their reproch, &c. And that this might appeare not to be a falſe imagination and conceite of their owne, he ſaith; Lord thou hast ſeene my wrong, &c. Thou haſt ſeene all their rage, 59. 60. They are all euident and apparant before thee, how cloſely and couertly ſoeuer matters be caried in reſpect of men.

2 The ſecond reaſon is drawne from Gods former goodnes, and gratious dealing towards them, Hee had heard them and drawne neere vntounto them: he had conſidered of them and of their cauſe: and they knew hee was ſtill as good as he was wont to be, and they vſed as good meanes as they were wont to doe; and therefore they conclude, that he that drew neere vntounto them heretofore, would now doe the like againe; verſ. 57.58. Theſe conſiderations doe reuiue their ſpirits, and raiſe their hearts euen out of the pit of deſperation. And thus much for the meaning and order of the words. Now let vsus harken vntounto ſuch doctrines and inſtructions as are therein contained for our learning.

Verſ. 55. I called vponupon thy name.] This is the ſpeech of the whole Church, who by reaſon that they are members of one bodie, and temples of one ſpirit, are brought in ſpeaking throughout this whole booke, as if they were but one perſon. By [low dungeon] is meant deſperate euils: they were as it were ſhut vp in a dungeon, where they had no hope of eſcaping: yet out of the depth of miſerie and anguiſh and horror, they called vponupon the Lord. Whence naturallie ariſeth this doctrine.

p. 35Doct. 1. The faithfull can neuer be driUen from prayer.That there is no diſtreſſe, no breaking and cruſhing, whatſoeuer, that ſhall hinder Gods people from praying vntounto him. It may for a paſſion and a fit, cauſe them to bee at a ſtand, and bring them euen to their wits end, as it did theſe here; but they will recouer themſelues and get heart againe: and though in their diſtempers they ſay God hath forſaken them (which is a wofull thing) yet they recall their words againe, and at length betake themſelues to the right meanes of recouerie; which is, to make their griefes knowne vntounto God, who is able to ſaue and readie to ſuccour thoſe that ſeeke vntounto him. This may bee euidentlie ſeene in Pſal. 88. verſ. 6. Pſal. 88.6.Ps 88:6where the man of God bemoneth his caſe, ſaying: Thou hast laid mee in the loweſt pit, in darkneſſe, and in the deepe. Thine indignation lieth vponupon mee, and thou haſt vexed me with all the waues.

From which words, together with the reſt in that Pſalme, wee may gather, that hee was in wonderfull fore perplexitie. Now in this extremitie what doth hee? O Lord God of my ſaluation (ſaith he) I cry day and night before thee; as if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid: Though thou haſt cut off mee, yet I call vponupon thee: and though thy hand lie heauie vponupon mee, yet I pray ſtill. Iſaiah 38.1.21. 2. Kings. 20.1.Isa 38:1Isa 38:212 Kgs 20:1So Hezekiah was ſmitten (as it ſeemes) with the plague, and that vntounto death: and was in ſuch extremitie, That hee chattered like a crane or a ſwallow; and mourned like a doue: and concluded, that hee ſhould goe to the gates af the graue, and bee depriued of the reſidue of his yeares: His caſe in appearance was deſperate, ſo that it was as hard to recouer him, as to make the ſunne in the firmament to goe backward: yet hee ſet vponupon the matter by prayer, and obtained his deſire; inſomuch that fifteene yeeres were added to his daies, ſo that no man in the world had euer ſuch a leaſe of his life as hee had. So Ionah when hee fled from the preſence of the Lord, and was therefore caſt into the Sea and ſwallowed vp of the whale: beeing in a low dungeon, where hee had neither ſunnelight nor candle-light: yet hee doth not thinke his caſe remedileſſe, (as indeede it was not) but hee cryed in his affliction p. 36vntounto the Lord, Ionah. 2.1.2Jonah 2:1Jonah 2:2and hee heard him: Out of the bellie of hell did hee crie, and God heard his voice: and then as ſinne and paſſion had brought him into danger, ſo repentance and prayer did helpe him out of it.

Yea the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, when the burden of our ſins and of his fathers wrath for the ſame was ſo grieuous, that it made his ſoule heauie vntounto the death, and preſſed bloud out of his vaines: Luke 22.42 44. Heb. 5.Luke 22:42Heb 5yet the more horror hee was in, the more feruently hee prayed vntounto his father.

Reaſon. 1 And the reaſon why Chriſtians cannot by any diſtreſſe be driuen from prayer,is:

1 Becauſe hee that is once Gods child, is euer ſo: and eueryevery child of God, Rom. 8.26.Rom 8:26hath the ſpirit of prayer, which will alwaies ſtirre vsus vp, to make requeſts with ſighs and grones that cannot bee expreſſed.

If thoſe that caſt Gods ſeruants in priſon, could withall pull Gods ſpirit out of their hearts, then they had done ſomewhat to the purpoſe: but they may as well plucke the ſunne out of the firmament, as the holy Ghoſt out of their ſoules. And therefore they can neuer bring them ſo low, but they can caſt their eyes vp towards heauen, and make their complaint vntounto their God. And if he be with them in priſon, as hee was with Ioſeph, their reſtraint ſhall be farre more pleaſant than their aduerſaries libertie: and they ſhalbe able with Paul and Silas to ſing Pſalmes at midnight through ioy and gladnes.Act. 6.25.Acts 6:25

2 Secondly, Gods children hauehave faith in their hearts, and the nature of faith is to beare downe all before it, and to breake thorow al manner of lets and hindrances. Therefore Gods ſeruants hold vp their heads, becauſe their faith ouercomes the world: Joh. 5.4.John 5:4And therefore wicked hypocrites faint, becauſe the world ouercomes them. When Gods child goes vntounto the dungeon, faith goes with him; and then hee will neuer giuegive ouer praying, but bee more feruent in praying.

And this is certaine, that in worldly helpes, the deeper diſtreſſes wee bee in, the leaſt comfort they will affoord p. 37vsus: ſo ſpirituall helps, the greater extremities we be in, the more comfort will they miniſter vntounto vsus. When wee are helpleſſe and hopeleſſe, then faith workes wonders, and neuer ſhews forth it ſelfe ſo mightilie and powerfullie as when it workes alone. Beautie, and wealth, and ſtrength, and other outward things of the ſame kinde, when miſeries lie heauie vponupon vsus, and wee beginne to caſt an eye to them, expecting ſome reliefe and comfort from them; will deale with vsus, as the high Prieſts did with Iudas: When all went well with him, they made ſhew of fauor and friendſhip towards him: but when in the horror and anguiſh of his ſoule hee makes his mone vntounto them, crying out that he had ſinned, betraying innocent bloud; they ſent him away with a cutted and vncomfortable anſwere: VVhat is that to vsus? (ſay they) Such cold comfort ſhall we receiue from any earthly ſupports and props whereon we reſt and ſtay our hearts: when we hauehave moſt neede of them, they will ſtand vsus leaſt in ſtead. So that wee may truely ſay of them, as Iob did of his friends; miſerable comforters are yee all. But as for thoſe that liue by faith in Chriſt Ieſus, they are vnderlaide with better props than the world can afford: for when they hauehave none other to deliuer them, they can deliuer themſelues by prayer, and by calling vponupon Gods name out of the loweſt dungeon.

Ʋſe 1 Firſt,this may ſerue to ſhew vsus the difference betwixt the wicked and the godly, in times of outward or inward affliction, when they drinke both of the ſame cup, and are plunged in the ſame miſeries. Caſt a wicked man into a dungeon and lay him full low, where hee can meete with no worldly helpe, and what courſe will he take? You ſhall ſee that either he will blaſpheme God, and bite his tongue for madnes, as they that are ſpoken of, Reuel. 18. Or elſe hee will grow deſperate, and make away with himſelfe, as Iudas and Achitophel and other monſters hauehave done. But let a godlie man bee laid faſt in the ſame dungeon, Act. 16.25.Acts 16:25hee wilbe full of ioy, when the other is full of deſperate griefe, and ſing Pſalmes and powre forth many holy prayers, in p. 38ſtead of the others imprecations, and blaſphemous ſpeeches. Peter and Iudas had both dealt vnfaithfully (though in a farre different degree and manner) with their Lord and maſter, and were both in the dungeon euen in great perplexitie; but Peter goes out, confeſſeh this fault, weeps bitterlie, and gaines exceedingly by it. Iudas on the other ſide ſorroweth deſperately, and ſpeedily diſpatcheth himſelfe. Whereby doth manifeſtly appeare the different cariage of the faithfull and of infidels, when they are both ouerburdened with ſorrowes and miſeries.

Vſe 2 This is for ſingular comfort vntounto Gods people,in that no croſſe can befall them, to hinder their prayers; but all ſhall quicken and inflame the ſpirit of prayer in them. The iſſue of their trouble, muſt needs be good, when they are watered with many holie teares, and ſanctified by many holie requeſts. If they can waite till their harueſt come; ſuch a ſeede time muſt needs bring them a plentifull and bleſſed croppe of comfort.

Obiection. Oh,but what if the peſtilence ſhould enter into the familie, and the houſe ſhould be ſhut vp, that no body could come to me? Anſwere. What of that? The queſtion now wilbe, whether you be a hypocrite or a Chriſtian? If you bee ſure that you are no hypocrite, then though no bodie come vntounto you, yet God will come vntounto you: and though you cannot goe to your friends, yet you may goe to God, and that will ſerue the turne well enough; the ſpirit of prayer will neuer faile you: Rom. 8.Rom 8and if you can make your requeſts knowne vntounto the Lord, he will cauſe all to worke together for the beſt, and giuegive an happie iſſue, either by life or death, vntounto all your diſtractions, doubts and feares.

Verſ. 55. I called vponupon thy name.] This was it that ſtirred them vp to prayer, euen the knowledge of Gods name; his maieſtie is ſo glorious, that it would make them flie from him: and his eſſence is ſo incomprehenſible, that it is a light that none can hauehave acceſſe vntounto, and a huge ſea that will drowne ſuch as will aduenture to wade into it: but the knowledge of Gods ſufficiencie to helpe, and of his merciemercy p. 39and free fauor, whereby hee is readie to helpe; and the like is it that incourageth them to come before the Lord. Which affordeth this doctrine:

Doct. 2. The right vnderſtanding of Gods name, very helpfull in prayer.That the name of God is the onelie cauſe that brings Chriſtians into Gods preſence, and makes them to call vponupon his name with ſtrong cries, and comfortable requeſts. This is euident, Pſal. 9.10. where the Prophet ſheweth, how they come to ſeeke vntounto God: They that know thy name will truſt in thee, for thou neuer faileſt them that feeke thee. How come they to ſeeke God? They firſt truſt in God. And how come they to truſt in God? By the knowledge of Gods name: which till men doe know, they can neuer truſt in God, nor ſeeke to God. Therefore it is ſaid in the ſongs of Salomon: Thy name is an ointment powred forth: Cant. 1.2.Song 1:2like vntounto that ointment mentioned in the Goſpell, which filled all the houſe with the odour of it. No ointment can ſo delight the naturall ſenſe, as the name of God doth the hearts of the faithfull; in which regard it is added in that place, Therefore the virgins louelove thee: That is ſuch as do not goe a whoring after fleſhly luſts, and after the vanities of the world. They muſt needs louelove Chriſt, becauſe they know that there is no euill; but in this name they ſhall hauehave a medicine againſt it. No doubt, but there they ſhall finde a reſolution for it: no good thing, but there they may get a certaintie of obtaining it. This name of God is notably and comfortably ſet downe: Exod. 34.6. and Iſa. 9.6.

In Exodus thus: The Lord, the Lord, ſtrong, mercifull, The name of God.and gratious, &c.

1. Jehouah.The firſt thing that wee may for our comfort here conſider of, is the word Iehouah: ſignifying the eſſence of God, and his abſolute perfection in all his attributes, and ſhewing his conſtancie in all his properties that follow, as hauing his beeing in and of himſelfe; ſo that this preuents an obiection, concerning all that which followes. For one might ſay, God indeede hath ſhewed himſelfe ſtrong, mercifull and gratious, &c. But what is that to vsus now? Why he is Iehouah, the ſame for euer: and therefore looke what he p. 40hath beene in the daies of olde, you may bee aſſured …ee will be the ſame ſtill. But becauſe this part of Gods name is handled elſe where; it ſhal be needeleſſe at large to intreat of it in this place.See Mr. Dods expoſition of the Command. the preface thereof. I am Iehouah.

2. Strong.2 The ſecond thing to bee conſidered is, the ſtrength of God, the Lord, the Lord ſtrong, &c. Whence wee are to learne, that all power is in him, and from him, and for him. And in like manner, is Chriſt called the mightie God: Thereby implying not onelie that hee is mightie in his owne nature, but that hee hath his might to vſe for our ſaluation, and our enemies deſtruction: and that hee doth and will vſe it to that purpoſe.Iſa. 9.6.Isa 9:6

In which regard it is ſaid in that place; that hee is giuen to vsus. Reuel. 1.13.15.Rev 1:13Rev 1:15And in the firſt of the Reuelation, hee is ſaid to walke in the middeſt of the ſeuen golden Candleſticks: that is, in the midſt of his Church, and to hauehave feete of burning braſſe: Not onelyonly to tread downe all inward and outward enemies, but to conſume them when they are downe: for in that reſpect are his feete ſaid not onelyonly to bee of braſſe, but of burning braſſe.

Ill weedes when they are cut vp, if the rootes be left behinde, will quickly ſpring vp againe: therefore will Chriſt burne vp roote and branch, that there may be no feare nor danger of their ſecond growth.

So that if we knew this part of Gods name, to wit, his alſufficient power, what affliction or triall ſhould make vsus faint?

The leaſt temptation or affliction, Rom. 4.19.20.21.Rom 4:19Rom 4:20Rom 4:21if God ſupport vsus not in it, will bee too ſtrong for vsus: the greateſt, yea all ruſhing at once vponupon vsus, if this mightie God bee on our ſide, ſhall not he be able to hurt vsus or daunt vsus.

This was it that confirmed Abrahams faith; as the Apoſtle Paul witneſſeth. Though Sarahs wombe were dead, hee knew God was not dead, but that he was able to giuegive him a ſonne of her: And that that God who ſhall at length raiſe vsus out of the dead graue, could and would raiſe him vp a ſonne out of her dead wombe.

p. 41And ſo Moſes, Exod. 16. & 17.Exod 16when hee had ſixe hundred thouſand and vpward, to prouide for in the wildernes, where he had neither bread not drinke for them; yet hee truſted and relied on God, who could bring water out of the flint, as well as out of the riuer: and bread out of the clouds, as well as out of the barne. Canaan hee knew could not maintaine them, without Gods bleſſing, and with it the barren wildernes could.

So Jonathan when hee went againſt a great manie thouſand Philiſtimes, 1. Sam. 14.61 Sam 14:6he knew Gods name to be [Mightie] For hee flood reſolued of this; that God could deliuer with few, as well as with many. And yet Aſa went further: for when hee had a very huge armie comming againſt him, and no equal forces in any proportion to withſtand them, hee notwithſtanding comes confidently to God for helpe, aſſuring himſelfe, that God could ſaue and deliuer with none, 2 Chron. 14.11.2 Chr 14:11as well as with many.

And ſo may it as truelie bee ſaid, that God can helpe by fewe friends as well as by many: yea, without all friends and meanes, as if wee had all that the world could afford vsus.

Obiestion. Oh but my miſerie is deſperate!

Anſwere. Neuer ſay ſo: What if you be in the low dungeon?Was not Ionah ſo? And yet hee prayed and was helped: therefore neuer be diſmayed: Your troubles are great, but your God is greater and mightier to helpe you out of them, than they are to holde you faſt ſtill. The Lord hath made the heauens and the earth, by his worde, and that drowned the whole world in his diſpleaſure. This mighty Lord, I ſay, rides vponupon the heauens (as it is Deut. 33.) full of maieſtie, and full of abilitie to deliuer you; and to ſet you free from the ſtrongeſt bonds of affliction.

3. Merciful.3 The third thing in Gods name is, that hee is mercifull. Which worde ſignifieth, that God hath ſuch bowels of compaſſion towards his ſeruants, as a mother hath towards the child of her wombe. There neede not many exhortations, much leſſe an eloquent oration to a mother, to p. 42ſtirre her vp to ſuccor, and relieue her child, when it ſtands in neede of her helpe: and yet put all the kindneſſe of all the men and women in the world together, and it wil come but to a drop, in compariſon of that ſea of merciemercy that is in our mercifull God.

Obiect. And this propertie is well ioyned with the former:for a poore afflicted ſoule hearing of Gods power might ſay: I know God is powerfull, but what is that to me? perchance hee may vſe his power to my ouerthrow.

Anſwer. Nay (ſaies he) God is as mercifull as hee is powerfull,why then ſhould any bee diſcouraged by miſerie; ſith that is the verie obiect of merciemercy? Whence it is that this argument is often vſed in the ſcripture: Pſal. 6.2.3. Pſ. 86.1.2.Ps 6:2Ps 6:3Ps 86:1Ps 86:2Lord helpe mee, for I am ſore troubled: Lord ſaue mee, for I am poore and needie.

And this merciemercy of God wee may more cleerely ſee in the Father of the prodigall ſonne, Luke 15.Luke 15who perceiuing his loſt child comming towards him, hee runnes towards his ſonne, and falls on his necke and kiſſeth him, giuing him all kinde entertainment that might bee: his verie miſerie was a ſufficient motiue to worke vponupon his fathers heart: neither doth hee at all vpbraide him with his former leaud behauiour. Now if any earthly father can bee and ought to be thus mercifull, how much more will our heauenly father, eſpeciallie ſince that hee loueth vsus better than any earthly father can louelove his children? and ſhews forth his louelove vponupon eueryevery occaſion as the Prophet Hoſeah teſtifieth, ſaying; Hoſea 14.4.Hos 14:4In thee the fatherleſſe findeth merciemercy.

Obiection. Oh but I am worthy of no merciemercy.

4. Gratious.Anſwer.What of that? Gods name is alſo gracious] That is, louing and ſhewing merciemercy without any merit: he will not tarrie till wee deſerue it, but will freely ſhew forth his goodnes towards vsus. Doe not wee giuegive foode and raiment to little children that hang on the breaſts? If parents ſhould ſtay till they deſerue it, they would neuer grow to bee men and women. Therefore it is ſaid of Abraham, Rem. 4.5.that hee beleeued in him that iustifieth the ſinner. Noting thereby, that ſinne cannot hinder Gods fauor from p. 43offenders, but that through faith they ſhalbe iuſtified, and made innocent in Gods account, as if they had neuer offended at all.

Let vsus not then when wee are in diſtreſſe, be diſcouraged, by reaſon of our corruptions, but goe to the Lord who wil ſhew himſelfe gratious notwithſtanding them all.

Obiection. Oh but what comfort can I ſinfull wretch hauehave,to goe to ſo holy a God?

Anſwer. Why doe you not know his name? He is a gratious God:and when wee can finde no matter of worthineſſe in our ſelues, he can finde matter enough in his owne nature and in his ſonnes merits. If wee could finde any deſart in our ſelues, or our workes, God ſhould loſe his name of beeing gratious.

Obiection. But alas, I hauehave prouoked him,and iuſtly drawne his hand vponupon mee by mine owne ſinnes.

5. Slovv to anger.What if you hauehave, hee is ſlow to anger. That is, long ere hee be prouoked, and when hee is prouoked, eaſie to bee appeaſed. Wee can no ſooner fall out with our ſinnes, but hee falls in with vsus. An earthly father will not take euerie aduantage againſt his child; and when the child is grieued for a great fault, will not good parents be eaſilie ſatisfied? And why ſhould wee thinke God harder than our ſelues? At leaſt let vsus make him as good as our ſelues, and be aſſured that when wee hauehave kindled his wrath againſt vsus, one teare of true repentance will quench all the flame thereof, and draw downe his pitie and compaſſion vponupon vsus. To this Dauid giueth teſtimonie, ſaying: Pſ. 103.8.9.Ps 103:8Ps 103:9The Lord is ſlow to anger, and of great kindneſſe: he will not alwaies chide, nor keepe his anger for euer. And this hee himſelfe found by experience. For when he, beeing a King, and that of Gods owne choiſe, ſet ouer his owne people, and withall a holy Prophet: in both which reſpects, hee was to bee a patterne of all godlines and righteouſneſſe vntounto others: when hee (I ſay) after many mercies receiued, had grieuouſly prouoked the Lord, inſomuch as hee was angrie with him: 2. Sam. 11.27.2 Sam 11:27and then did not repent for his ſinne, but lay in it, and added diuers p. 44other hainous offences vntounto it, yet after all this God doth not reiect him, but ſends his Prophet Nathan vntounto him, 2. Sam. 12.132 Sam 12:13and is more readie to offer him pardon than hee is to aske it, and when hee did but beginne to make confeſſion of his ſinne, God tells him forthwith, that hee had put away his ſinne.

And this wonderfull readineſſe in God to bee appeaſed towards penitent ſinners, the Prophet Iſaiah maketh mention of; bringing in God himſelfe, ſpeaking in this manner: Iſa. 57.16.Isa 57:16I will not contend for euer, neither will I be alwaies wroth: For the ſpirit ſhould faile before mee, and I hauehave made the breath. Where wee ſee, that as Pſal 103. there is a reaſon drawne from Gods nature why, hee cannot deale rigorouſly with vsus; namely becauſe hee pities vsus, as a father doth his child: So here there is a reaſon brought from our nature, why hee cannot be ouer-ſeuere, to wit, that then the ſpirit would faile before him: and thoſe whom hee hath made and redeemed, would periſh and bee vtterly conſumed. Men were not able to beare the continuance and grieuouſneſſe of his hand, but would ſinke vnderunder their burden, and ſo ſhould be a greater loſer than they, in that he ſhould loſe them, whom hee hath ſo long and ſo intirely loued, for whom hee hath ſo deerely paide: and therefore hee ſaith, that hee will not contend for euer, &c.

Obiection, But ſome might ſay,it is true indeede, there is no fault on Gods part: if I could fit my ſelfe to ſeeke for merciemercy, and to receiue merciemercy, as I ought to doe. But alas, I come farre ſhort eueryevery way: my prayers are fewe and weake: my memorie is fraile and ſlipperie, I cannot conceiue nor carie away the Sermon, nor profit by the Sacrament, and other of Gods ordinances.

Anſwere. What of all this?You muſt remember that God is abundant in kindneſſe, Abundant in kindneſſe.hee will not breake the bruiſed reede, nor quench the ſmoking flax. It is the propertie of kindneſſe to take ſmall things in good worth, to paſſe by infirmities, and to bee eaſie to bee intreated. And this is euident in earthly parents: for they will accept of verie ſmall matters p. 45at the hands of their children, that would doe better if they could: how much more will God, who is the author of all kindneſſe both in men and beaſts? Pſal. 103.Ps 103who knoweth whereof wee are made, and remembreth that wee are but duſt.

Indeede, if wee liue in preſumptuous ſinnes, and bee proud and ſtomackfull, and will not ſtoupe vnderunder Gods hand, then Gods greateſt kindneſſe is to ſcourge vsus, vntill hee bring vsus home to himſelfe. But if wee be once pure and humble in heart, though wee cannot attaine to that meaſure of ſanctification as others hauehave, nor powre out our ſoule in prayer as wee ſhould, and as wee would, yet God will take all in good part. Hee that will reward a cup of cold water, hee will reward a cold prayer. God lookes not for perfection from poore weake creatures, that are full of imperfection.

Obiection. But how ſhall I know that this kindneſſs of God ſhalbee performed vntounto me,ſeeing that I hauehave prayed and waited long, and yet am neuer the neerer?

Anſwere. Becauſe (as it followes in the next place) God is abundant in truth as well as in kindneſſe. 7 Abundant in truth.As hee neuer threatens any thing, but he executes it: ſo hee neuer promiſeth any thing, but hee performes it. Neuer any yet could charge him with breach of promiſe. He hath ſaid, Pſal. 34.9.10. Pſal. 50.15.Ps 34:9Ps 34:10Ps 50:15that thoſe that feare him, ſhall want nothing that is good: Call vponupon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliuer thee, &c. And the like, who euer did ſo, and found not according to his expectation? If then none hauehave euer failed of his hope, why ſhould not we reſt vponupon his promiſe? Take away his truth and take away his Godhead.

Many there are in the world, who, when their money and friends, and outward ſtaies are taken away, beginne to thinke with themſelues, what ſhall wee doe now? What will become of vsus? Wee ſee all is gone: But is Gods truth gone? Hath not hee promiſed to prouide for vsus when we are poore, as wel as when we are rich? When we are in ſickneſſe, as well as when we are in health? Hath not he ſaid: I p. 46will not leaue thee nor forſake thee? Heb. 13.….Heb 13Did not hee prouide for vsus in our infancie? And why ſhould not wee truſt in him as well in our age? Oh, then we had good friends to looke vntounto vsus. And who raiſed vp thoſe friends? Cannot God, that inclines the hearts of ſome to pitie vsus then, draw others hearts to hauehave compaſſion on vsus hereafter?

Oh, but I know no friends that will ſhew me that fauor? Neither did you in your infancie, and yet God did prouide ſome, and that without your intreatie. How much more will hee doe it vponupon your faithfull prayers? Or els (which is beſt of all) take you to himſelfe, where you ſhall ſtand in no more neede of friends and helpers.

But becauſe wee are much led by example, 8 Reſeruing kindnes for thouſands.and looke how God hath dealt with others: therefore hee addeth next, [reſeruing merciemercy for thouſands] Giuing vsus to vnderſtand thereby, that hee hath flouds of merciemercy for all that ſtand in neede thereof. Neuer any went to God for merciemercy, but hee found merciemercy; if hee ſought in faith, as God bids him.

With earthly Kings, hee that comes not firſt ſpeeds worſt: but it is not ſo with the King of heauen: hee hath ſufficient for thoſe that come to him laſt, as well as for thoſe that come to him firſt. Wee ſee this in a creature of God, euen in the ſunne, which communicates his light to all, though they bee neuer ſo many, as well as if they were but a fewe. And what ſhall wee thinke of God the Creator of the ſame; cannot he comfort many thouſands as well as one perſon, and yet his ſtore not bee leſſened a whit? Yes ſurely, there are many thouſands in heauen, that were once as bad as wee are, and yet now they are in a Paradiſe of reſt, out of the reach of all ſinne and ſorrow. And who would not come to ſuch a Phyſition, as hath wrought a perfect cure of ſo many, and that of free coſt, and neuer ſuffered any one to miſcarie that was willing to be his patient?

Men would lie at the poole of Betheſda many yeares, expecting to bee healed: Ioh. ….wee neede not lie ſo long at the p. 47gate of heauen, for the curing of our ſoules, but wee are ſure to be perfectly helped, when wee are truely humbled and fitted for helpe.

Obiect. But my miſeries doe not trouble mee ſo much as my ſinnes,which are many and grieuous and of long continuance.

Anſvver. For anſwere to that hee faith,that God forgiueth iniquitie, tranſgreſſion, and ſinne.] 9 Forgiuing iniquitie.And if he ſhould not ſhew himſelfe to bee ſuch a God towards the militant Church, hee ſhould loſe his name and his people at once: but hee pardons all theſe kinds of ſinne. Iniquitie] That is, originall ſinne, and the peruerſeneſſe of our nature, that cleaues ſo faſt vntounto vsus: Tranſgreſſion:] That is, ſinnes of rebellion and preſumption: And Sinne:] That is, ſinnes of cuſtome, and ſuch as are growne to a habit. If any one be wearie of this burden, God will giuegive him a ſpeedie diſpatch. This a man may boldly claime at Gods hand, and intreat him to bee God: for that hee could not bee, vnleſſe hee ſhould performe this for vsus.

This is alſo the name of his ſonne, who is called Ieſus, Math. 1.21.Matt 1:21becauſe hee doth ſaue his people from their ſinnes. Therefore let vsus take the accuſation and humiliation for ſinne vponupon vsus, and pray to God to pardon vsus according to his name: and then God will take away the guilt and puniſhment of ſinne it ſelfe from vsus, and be fullie pacified towards vsus.

Obiect. But yet there might ariſe an other obiection (as vnbeliefe is full of them) which is this:for all that hath beene ſpoken of Gods goodneſſe towards his choſen, yet wee ſee wicked men proſper and hold vp the head: and Gods children ſinke and are trampled vnderunder foote. And then there comes muttering and repining thoughts, that God doth not gouerne the world righteouſly: Magiſtrates looke not to their dutie well: That thoſe that are men of place and authoritie, hauehave not courage for the truth, and ſo the righteous are wronged, and the Church ouer-runne by the vngodly of the world.

Anſvver. Nay (ſaith Moſes) hee holds not the wicked innocent] let p. 48them take their ſwinge, Not holding the wicked innocent. Nahum 1.2.3.Nah 1:2Nah 1:3and make hauocke for a time: God may ſpare them long, yet will viſit them at the laſt. According to that of Nahum: God is iealous, and the Lord reuengeth: The Lord reuengeth, euen the Lord of anger, the Lord will take vengeance on his aduerſaries, and he reſerueth wrath for his enemies. The Lord is ſlow to anger, but hee is great in power, and will not ſurely cleere the wicked, &c. For as Habakkuk ſaith, Hab. 1.12.Hab 1:12hee hath ordained them for iudgement, and eſtabliſhed them for correction.

Obiect. Yet wee ſee they goe to their graues in peace,and are not in trouble like other men.Pſal. 73.5.Ps 73:5

Anſwer. Say they doe:yet God will meete with them in their children, and puniſh their ſinnes in their poſteritie: as it is ſaid in the text, 11. Viſiting.Viſiting the iniquities of the parents vponupon their children, and vponupon their childrens children, vntounto the third and fourth generation. They ſhall taſt of the bitter cup of Gods wrath here, as their fathers doe in hell. Obiect. Oh, but who ſhall doe this? There is none to curbe them! Yes God himſelfe will doe it: Anſwer. hee will viſit them for their ſinnes.

Here wee ſee what a number of temptations are ſwept away, by the right vnderſtanding and applying of the name of God.

Now for that other place, Iſaiah 9.6. Chriſt is there ſaid to bee a counſeller, Chriſt a counſeller.the prince of peace, &c. Such a counſeller as is alwaies at hand to aduiſe vsus: for hee walkes in the mids of vsus. Such a one as is furniſhed with wiſedome ſufficient to counſell vsus: Reuel. 1.Rev 1for hee is the ancient of daies, and the verie wiſedome of the father. Such a one as will giuegive vsus his aduice freely. And laſtly ſuch a one as can and will make his counſell effectuall, for hee is the mighty God, and can do what hee will. Therefore what ſhould a Chriſtian trouble himſelfe? Hath hee craftie enemies? Goe to Chriſt for direction, whoſe wiſedome is infinitely beyond their policie. Hath hee ſtrong enemies? Goe to him who is mightier than they all. In a word, hath he any out ward affliction or inward corruption, that doth annoy and trouble him? Let him hauehave recourſe to this name of God, and there he p. 49ſhall finde a remedie for all; which beeing ſo many waies profitable and helpfull to a Chriſtian, that muſt needes follow, which was at firſt ſet downe, to wit, that the knowledge of the name of God, is a moſt effectuall meanes to draw vsus vntounto feruent and faithfull prayer.

Vſe 1 This therefore ſerues firſt to confute ignorant perſons,and to ſhew that their prayers are but the exerciſing of their tongues, and of their lips; becauſe they are not acquainted with Gods name: and thence it is that they giuegive ouer praying in time of miſerie. When they hauehave money and friends, health and ſtrength and the like, Pſal. 30.Ps 30they beginne to thinke and ſpeake with Dauid: That their mount is ſo ſtrong, that they ſhall neuer be caſt downe: and conclude with the rich man in the Goſpell, that they hauehave riches laid vp for many yeares, and therefore bid their ſoules take their reſt. But what ſaith God, thou foole, &c. Theſe are ignorant fooles indeede: Pſal. 62.Ps 62for doe they not know that power belongs vntounto God? Is it not his name to bee called the mightie God? Riches hauehave no power at all in them, they cannot make a man liue one houre longer or happier.

When Dauid boaſted of his ſubiects and ſouldiers, and of the arme of fleſh that hee had gotten, what became of it? God withdrew his face a little, and his ſonne and ſubiects and all were againſt him. And as riches hauehave no power in them, ſo neither doe they procure any iot of kindnes: for kindneſſe belongs vntounto God: Pſal. ….it is his name to be abundant in kindneſſe: And therefore wee muſt goe to him for theſe things, and not to the world: and it is Gods merciemercy that men ſhould ſometimes deceiue vsus, that ſo we might learne to truſt in God, and to ſeeke to God for theſe things, and not ſo much vntounto outward meanes. Carnall men in their proſperitie will bragge, that they can call vponupon God as well as the beſt of them. But this is ſure, if Gods name be not as an ointment powred out and ſpread vponupon their hearts, in time of diſtreſſe, they will ſeeke vntounto any rather than vntounto God. And thence it is, that when outward things faile them, they are altogether hartleſſe, and comfortleſſe: p. 50They complaine that they want many things, and ſo they doe indeede: but all is for that they want the knowledge of Gods name: which whoſoeuer knows, he will not diſtruſt God though hee hauehave no meanes: nor truſt in them, though they hauehave all meanes.

Ʋſe 2 Secondly,this is for inſtruction: if we would hauehave comfortable hearing in heauen, in all our wants and miſeries, wee muſt labor to know Gods name, as it is reuealed in his worde, that ſo wee may bee able to reioyce in all diſtreſſes, and to quiet our hearts in all diſtempers. And when we find more than ordinarie diſcomforts, let vsus take occaſion thereby to condemne our ſelues for our ignorance of Gods name.

Many that are accounted wiſe men, are too much caſt downe in the time of miſerie, which is an euident ſigne that how excellent ſo euer they be for worldly policie, yet they want this heauenly wiſedome. For if they were acquainted with Gods name, they ſhould be able comfortably to powre out their hearts before God, knowing that the Lord which created all things of nothing, is able to ſaue without meanes, and againſt meanes.

Vſe 3 Thirdly,this is for fingular conſolation to thoſe that by many wofull miſeries, and ſore temptations, hauehave gotten ſome experimentall knowledge of Gods name: not a verball, but a working knowledge. They hauehave felt his power, and taſted of his merciemercy, and grace, and kindneſſe, &c. Such hauehave enough, yea more than all the world to ſtay vponupon: As Salomon ſaith; Pro. 18.10.Prov 18:10the name of the Lord is a ſtrong tower, the righteous runneth vntounto it, and is exalted. Here is a refuge and a hiding place for all iuſt men, and for none els.

Others may make a kinde of offer, to goe towards that Tower: but if they faile in righteouſneſſe, they will bee ſo farre from running, that they will goe limping, nay, halt downe right, and neuer come thither: but all that are vpright in heart, may hauehave free acceſſe, and ſufficient ſhelter when they come thither, not onelie from the inuaſions of men, but from the wrath of God, and from the ſtroakes of p. 51God, as the peſtilence or the like: yea, from the furie of Satan, and from the aſſaults of ſinne.

All other towers are but poore weake cotages. Let men dwell where they will, whither can they goe, but death wil finde them out? They may flie from the Plague, but God will purſue them: for he is not an archer that hath but one arrow, or ſuch arrowes onelie, as will reach thoſe that are neere: but though they ſhould runne to the end of the world, hee is able to ſhoote at them, and the arrowes of his vengeance will finde them out. No ſtrength can defend them, when he comes againſt them with his ſtrength: nay, all the power of men is but a broken reede, and all meanes of no force in themſelues. If wee onelie vſe them in obedience, they will bee as a ſtaffe to leane vponupon: if wee reſt on them, they will be as a broken ſtaffe that will deceiue vsus, and giuegive vsus a fall.

Verſ. 56. Thou hast heard my voice, ſtop not thine eares. 57. Thou dreweſt neere, &c. Whence this doctrine ariſeth:

Doct. 3 That Gods children in their prayers and ſeruices,doe marke and know how they ſpeed: VVe muſt obſerue how we ſpeed in religious exerciſes.ſo that they cannot onlie ſay, I thanke God, at ſuch and ſuch a time I prayed, but O Lord thou diddeſt then heare my voice, then diddeſt thou draw neere vntounto mee: at ſuch a time I was put to it, and thou deliueredſt mee out of great danger. This wee ſee in the ſpouſe, who when her beloued was departed from her, ſaith, In my bed night by night I ſought him, Cant. 3.1.2.Song 3:1Song 3:2whom my ſoule loueth, and found him not. Shee had not that ioy and refreſhing, as ſhe was wont to hauehave, from the vſe of the priuate meanes, and ſhee knew it, and obſerued it full well. Then ſhe went abroad, and there found as little ſucceſſe. Afterwards ſhee comes to conferre with Gods Miniſters how ſhe might recouer her louelove to Chriſt, and the feeling of Chriſts louelove vntounto her, and yet there ſhee had not that full ſucceſſe, as ſhe expected. Then ſhe goes a little further, that is, (as was before ſhewed) waits patiently vponupon God, and then ſhe found him whom her ſoule loued, and tooke hold of him; that is, faſter hold then euer ſhe had done before. She p. 52had paid ſo dearely for her negligence, that ſhe would be warie how ſhe failed in her dutie any more. So that when ſhe ſped well or ill, ſhe knew how it went with her. This point is further proued vntounto vsus out of another verſe of this Chapter of the Lamentation, Lament. 3.8Lam 3:8where theſe words are vſed: VVhen I cry and ſhoute, hee ſhutteth out my prayer: Not but that God tooke notice of it, and had a time to reward it: but for the preſent he gaue them no anſwere.

They had hard hearts, and God ſaw that one crie and ſhoute would not be ſufficient to mollifie and ſoften them: and therefore he lets them pray and cry againe and againe, and yet ſtill they had the repulſe, and they obſerued to their great griefe. Pſal. 66.18.19.Ps 66:18Ps 66:19Anſwerable to this, is that in the Pſalme, where Dauid ſaith, If I regard wickedneſſe in my heart, the Lord will not heare me: But God hath heard me, and conſidered the voice of my prayer.

Reaſon. And there is reaſon why as they did marke how they ſped,ſo ſhould wee alſo.

For vnleſſe wee doe ſo, it is impoſſible that wee ſhould euer bee thankfull for that wee receiue, or lay vp any ſtore of comfort againſt the time to come. If wee ſpeed ill, wee ſhall goe away without any care or ſtudie to grow better: if wee ſpeed well, wee ſhall depart without any deſire of glorifying God, or of confirming our hearts for afterwards.

Whereas diligent obſeruation how God deales with vsus, would worke in vsus great experience, both for our humiliation and conſolation.

For ſometimes Gods ſeruants hauehave a comfortable anſwere to their ſutes, and then they come away as freſh, and nimble, and ioyfull, as if their hearts had beene made glad by ſweet and pleaſant wine. Pſ. 109.15.Ps 109:15At another time, they come limping, and fainting away, as if they had beene ſtrucke on the head. So for the Sermon, now and then they depart from it, as from ſome notable feaſt, ſo merrie and comfortable, as if they had made the beſt bargaine that euer they did in their liues: at ſome other times they come p. 53out of the church hanging downe their heads and full of penſiueneſſe, as if they had receiued the ſentence of death. What is the cauſe hereof? Profane perſons thinke they are the melancholieſt, and vnconſtanteſt people in the world. But will not they themſelues looke heauilie on the matter, when they are croſſed in things that are moſt deere vntounto them? And why then ſhould they blame Gods ſeruants, if they be ſometimes merrie, and ſometimes heauie, according as they are croſſed or comforted in the worde of life, which is more deare vntounto them, then all the treaſures of the earth? Howſoeuer they may charge them to be vnconſtant, yet indeede they themſelues are more vnconſtant: For let them hauehave to deale with ſome great Iudge, about matters of their eſtate, and let them be told this day, that they are likely to hauehave good and fauourable hearing: that the Iudge likes well of them, and of their cauſe; how ioyfull and iocund will they be? How will they talke of it, and in a ſort boaſt of it? But let them come to the Iudge themſelues the next day, and let him frowne vponupon them, and tell them: I vnderſtand you are a leaud fellow: I know your practiſes well inough: looke to your ſelfe and acquite you well, leſt I ſtrip you of your lands and life together. Will not ſuch a ſalutation caſt them into their dumps, and make them looke heauie and ſad, as if they were halfe dead? And if one ſhould aske them: why are you ſo variable? They would wonder why he ſhould make ſuch a queſtion. HaueHave wee not iuſt cauſe to bee caſt downe (would they ſay) when the Iudge that gaue mee ſuch good hopes before, doth now looke and ſpeake ſo wrathfullie againſt mee? And wherefore then will you finde fault with Gods ſeruants, who deale with the King and Iudge of heauen and earth, in the matter of their ſaluation: whoſe fauor they eſteeme more than all things in the world: and whoſe diſpleaſure they feare more then all the mens in the world: yea then death it ſelfe? Why (I ſay) doe you finde fault with them, if their comforts ebbe and flow, as matters goe better or worſe betwixt God and them?

p. 54Vſe 1 This is for cōfutation of carnall hearers,who are affected at all times alike. They hauehave heard many hundred ſermons, but they were neuer more comforted at one, than at another. They are none of theſe changelings, but the ſame men ſtill. But let ſuch know, that hee that doth neuer feele himſelfe ſicke, it is greatly to bee doubted hee is quite dead. Rom. 7.Rom 7Paul was once aliue, before the Law came, and ſo are all vnregenerate men in their owne conceite: they can heare the word without feare and trembling (they thanke God) and bee neuer troubled in their conſciences as ſome are. Doe you thanke God for this ſenſleſneſſe? Nay, doe not ſo, for that is a ſhamefull taking of his name in vaine: but rather repent before God, and craue pardon for the ſame. For they that feare leaſt, are the moſt hard-hearted people of all other, and they neuer ſucceed well.

The like may be ſaid of them who are alwaies alike affected in prayer: Pro. 28.13.Prov 28:13they neuer yet knew what a faithfull prayer meanes.

Ʋſe 2 Secondly,this is for comfort to thoſe that ſee how they thriue, and marke when they ſpeed well or ill, when they come to the word, to prayer, or the Sacrament: if they find a good effect, they may bee aſſured that God loues them; and ſo be thankefull for his merciemercy, and confident thereof for afterwards: If they goe away without an anſwere, and without comfort (as many times the Saints of God doe) they ſhall gaine a greater meaſure of humilitie, and bee more broken hearted: and though they cannot end with thankſgiuing, yet they may end with the prayer of the Publican; Lord be mercifull vntounto mee a ſinner.

And there is as great gaine by humiliation at ſometimes, as by conſolation and ſweet feelings at other times. For if wee ſhould hauehave alwaies a preſent anſwere, wee ſhould grow ſecure, and contemne theſe anſwers of God. For ſuch is our vile nature, that when things grow common, they grow by degrees out of reckoning and eſtimation with vsus: therefore God will not ſuffer vsus alwaies to hauehave preſent hearing.

p. 55Queſtion. What is the difference then (may ſome man ſay) betweene the regenerate and vnregenerate?ſith both of them pray, and neither of them hauehave hearing.

Anſvver. Here is the difference,that the one ſort are not dead as the other are. He that feeles an ague or any other diſeaſe, and is vexed and pained with it, any ſimple bodie will ſay, ſurely ſuch a one is aliue: and ſo it may be concluded of euerie Chriſtian that is troubled in his ſoule, that his prayers finde no better acceſſe vntounto Gods throne: it is ſure ſuch a one hath the life of grace in him, which is an euerlaſting life.

But as for wicked men that neuer feele their ſickneſſe, but grow to compariſons, that they can pray as well as the beſt of them: they are dead in ſinne, and without repentance ſhall periſh in their ſinnes.

Doct. 4 Verſ. 56. Thou haſt heard my voice, therefore ſtop not thine eare,] Whence this doctrine may bee gathered:That thoſe whom God hath once heard in merciemercy hee will alwaies heare, preuaile with God once and euer. VVhom God once heares in merciemercy he euer heares.With men it is not a good argument to ſay, Sir you paid ſuch & ſuch a debt for me: you holpe me out of priſon, ſuch and ſuch a time, therefore doe it againe: for it may be hee hath by that meanes ſo weakened his eſtate alreadie, that he is not able to doe the like againe. But it is otherwiſe with God, all his former benefits, are of ſo many bonds for new bieſſings: if hee inclined his eare vntounto vsus, ſuch and ſuch a time, when wee powred out our prayers and teares before him, wee ſhall finde the like ſucceſſe againe, vponupon the vſe of the like meanes.

Reaſon. The reaſon hereof is drawne from Gods nature:He is Iehouah, yesterday, to day, and the ſame for euer. Heb. 13.6.Heb 13:6If hee hauehave receiued vsus veſterday, he can and will doe it in like ſort to day, yea, and hence-forward for euer, there is no change in him. There remaines the ſame cauſe of merciemercy ſtill in his nature: hee had as much reaſon to louelove Peter after his ſall, as before. And when Chriſt prayed that Peters faith might not faile, that proceeded from Chriſts goodneſſe, not from p. 56Peters. If our prayers hauehave beene once a ſweet ſmelling ſacrifice in the noſtrils of the Lord, they ſhall neuer bee reiected by him: once welcome to him and alwaies. It is an argument that will ſurelie preuaile with God, Heb. 12.2.Heb 12:2Lord thou dreweſt neare once, therefore doe it ſtill. To this purpoſe it is ſaid, that Chriſt is the author and finiſher of our faith: where once he hath laid the foundation, hee will reare vp the building, and bring it to perfection. So is it ſaid in the Pſalme: Pſal. 90.2.Ps 90:2From euerlasting to euerlasting thou art our God. If euer God ſhould hauehave refuſed to ſhew vsus fauor, it would hauehave beene then, when wee were dead in ſinne: but euen then hee ſought to vsus, ere wee ſought after him, and before wee imagined any ſuch matter, hee was at the coſt to beſtow his ſonnes bloud vponupon vsus, that his ſpirit might bee ſhedde abroad in our hearts, that wee might hauehave experience of his louelove: that wee might hauehave title to his ſonnes death and merits, and beeing once his ſonnes and daughters might ſtill bee fauoured, relieued and ſuccoured by him.

Let vsus conſider what wee doe, and be thorowly grounded and perſwaded vponupon good warrant, before we take comfort to our ſelues in Gods mercies: but when wee hauehave a good foundation to build our aſſurance vponupon, let vsus know that all Gods mercies are euerlaſting mercies.

Vſe 1 Firſt,this doctrine makes for the reproofe and terror of ſuch men and women, as hope that if the peſtilence, or death, or any other heauie affliction ſhould come, they ſhould bee in caſe good enough, and doe as well as the beſt. And why? They will make many good prayers, and deſire God to bee mercifull to them, and to forgiue them. Well, what wil they anſwere to this? They hauehave made good prayers (as they call them) heretofore, but what entertainement did they find with God? They hauehave heard manie a ſermon, but what grace hauehave they gotten thereby? They hauehave come to the Sacrament as often as their neighbors, but what mortification hauehave they gained by it? Nay ſurelie they cannot ſay much for ſuch matters: they are p. 57thigns that they neuer marked. Then their caſe will bee hard when trouble comes. If they hauehave no old ſtore, they will bee ſhut out as the fooliſh virgins were.Math. 15.Matt 15

A Chriſtian hath an old ſtocke which he liues vponupon: God hath heard him often, hee hath giuen thankes to God as often, or at leaſt verie often: hee hath gone through the pikes, but ſtill God hath beene at his right hand, the remembrance whereof, will much ſuſtaine the heart.

But as for them that hauehave no experience of Gods former fauors, in anſwering them in the daies and times when they hauehave called vponupon him, they can hauehave little hope that they ſhall finde any kindneſſe from him, when afflictions take hold of them.

If a priſoner that hath deſerued death ſhould ſay, hee hopes well, and lookes for fauor: And why? He hath euerie day, put vp two or three ſupplications to the Iudge: we would aske him preſently, But what anſwere receiued you? If he ſhould tell vsus, nay I neuer lookt to that, we would not thinke hee ſhould ſpeed much the better for all his ſupplications. Such is the caſe of hypocrites, that draw neere vntounto God with their lips, but not with their hearts: though they thinke themſelues the ſafer and better for that, yet in truth they are not, becauſe they had neuer in their liues any ſigne of Gods louelove towards them for good, vponupon the making of their ſuites knowne vntounto him. And therefore let them get ſome of this ſtore: for that is it that will ſtand them more in ſtead than all the goods in the world.

Vſe 2 Secondly,here is a vſe of comfort for them that hauehave loſt the ſight and feeling of Gods fauor. Had they it euer at all? Then they ſhall bee ſure to hauehave it againe. Pſal. 77.3.4.5.6.Ps 77:3Ps 77:4Ps 77:5Ps 77:6For this was Dauids caſe: Hee did thinke on God, and was more troubled: hee prayed, and his ſpirit was full of anguiſh, and all ſeemed to make againſt him. What then? I conſidered (ſaith hee) the daies of old, and the yeeres of ancient time: I called to remembrance my ſong in the night, I communed with mine owne heart, and my ſpirit ſearched diligently, &c. He recounts with himſelfe, how faithfull hee had beene vntounto God: how p. 58mercifull God had beene vntounto him, and then his little ſparke of hope and comfort became a great flame.

If a man hauehave old prouiſion, he will doe well enough in the hardeſt times. If one can ſay frō an humble and ſincere heart: Lord thou knoweſt that I hauehave ſhed many a bitter teare in ſecret for my ſinnes: I hauehave often with ioy praiſed thee for thy mercies, and powred out my heart in ſinging Pſalmes in priuate: I hauehave ſought thee in the night, when no bodie was by, when no eye was priuie vntounto it: and at ſuch times thou haſt vouchſafed to looke downe from heauen with a mercifull eye vponupon me, and haſt filled my ſoule with ioy vnſpeakeable and glorious, &c. If (I ſay) one hauehave theſe and the like euidences from former experience, hee may aſſure his heart that God will ſtill be found of him in goodneſſe till the ſhutting vp of his daies, and neuer withdraw his louing kindneſſe from him. Obiect. Oh, but now God frownes vponupon mee, and withholds his louing countenance from me: Anſwer. What then? Hath there not beene a time when you could ſay, God drew neere vntounto you, and beheld you with a fauourable eye? Yes, they cannot denie that: why then neuer feare, he will returne againe, though hee hide his face for a time: Albeit, heauineſſe may indure for a night, Pſal. 30.5.Ps 30:5yet ioy ſhall come in the morning. For if God bee once ours, hee is euer ours. And this ſhould bee the ſtaffe and ſtay of Chriſtians, when they hauehave loſt their feeling.

Verſ. 56. Stop not thine eare from my ſigh, and from my cry.] Here is ſhewed what ſeruice they brought vntounto God: they did not pray alone, but ſigh; nor ſigh alone, but cry. That is, they drew forth their prayers from a feruent heart, which was as a thirſtie land that gapes for the raine, and is euen readie to eate vp and to deuoure the clouds. Which words afford vsus this doctrine:

Doct. 5 That they that would not hauehave God to ſhut his eares againſt their prayers, Feruencie in prayer requiſite. Ioel 2.13.Joel 2:13muſt bee ſure that they ſigh and crie: and that their petitions proceede from a broken heart, and from an humble ſpirit. So the Prophet Ioel bids them, rend p. 59your hearts, and not your garments, &c. For till the heart be euen puld in pieces by godly ſorrow, ſinne and luſt will not out: and then there can bee no acceptance looked for with God, either of vsus or of our ſeruices. Pſal. 51.17.Ps 51:17Therefore Dauid ſaith; the ſacrifices of God are a contrite ſpirit: a contrite and broken heart, O Lord, thou wilt not deſpiſe. Mark 7.34. 1. Sam. 1.15.Mark 7:341 Sam 1:15Therefore did Chriſt grone in his ſpirit, when he prayed for that poore man in the Goſpell. So did Hannah ſigh and weepe ſore, and powred out her ſoule before God.

Reaſon. And there is good reaſon,to moue vsus to labor thus inwardly to bee touched: For till wee hauehave the ſenſe and feeling of our wants, wee may well ſpeake, but wee can neuer pray: till the heart be pained with ſinne and corruption, it is impoſſible to be feruent for the pardon of it, as it is for one that hath no feeling of pouertie, earneſtly to intreat for a ſupply of his neceſſities: and for one that hath no ſenſe of his ſickneſſe, to be an inſtant ſuter for the meanes of health.

Vſe 1 Firſt this ſerues for the reproofe of thoſe that come with drowſie and verball prayers:who deale like corrupt and naughtie Lawyers, that looke for a fee, and yet when they are at the barre, tell a drowſie and idle tale, without any feeling of their clients cauſe: So many there are that come with words of courſe to intreat God to pardon their ſins, and ſtrengthen their faith, but neuer powre out their ſoules before God, but onelie ſpend a little breath: And they ſpeed accordingly; for their cold prayers bring but cold ſucceſſe.

And this is true not onelie of the wicked, Pſal. 32.Ps 32but euen of the godly. Dauid rored and cried, but hee was neuer the better, till hee confeſſed his ſinne, being inwardly grieued for the ſame: but then both ſinne and puniſhment were remoued at once.

This may teach vsus to ſtriue with the Lord in our prayers and ſupplications; laboring for this crying and ſighing that is ſo needefull: and then dooing as here the Church did, wee ſhall ſpeed as they did. Many there are that ſigh p. 60in their troubles. Iam. 5.9.Jas 5:9But how? Iames telles vsus: They ſigh one againſt another, and not vnderunder the burden of their ſinnes, nor through an earneſt deſire of Gods merciemercy: They ſigh vnderunder the waight of vnkindneſſes that lie vponupon them, and clamor againſt men, but hauehave little feeling of their owne vnkindneſſes againſt God to bee humbled for them. But theſe are ſighs of the fleſh, and not of the ſpirit. Let vsus grone from a broken heart, and the Lord will giuegive vsus life, Iſa. 57.15.Isa 57:15when wee are troubled in ſpirit: and the longer we waite and crie, the greater meaſure of comfort we ſhall hauehave, and the longer it ſhall tarrie with vsus.

Verſ. 57. Thou dreweſt neere.] Not in his eſſence: (for ſo is hee alwaies alike neere) but in his mercifull preſence and with gratious deliuerance. Which words thus vnderſtood, doe yeeld vsus this point of doctrine:

Doct. 6 That in the day that wee draw neere to God in prayer,God will draw neere to vsus in merciemercy: God is as readie to heare as vve to pray.when we ſend vp our petitions vntounto him, he will ſend downe ſpeedie and comfortable helpe vntounto vsus. Thoſe that are ſuters vntounto God, ſhall bee alwaies ſure of good ſucceſſe: euen aboue that that they can aske or thinke. Whether their requeſts bee that their enemies may bee repreſſed, or that their owne corruptions may be ſubdued, or whatſoeuer els, they ſhall bee ſure to ſpeed well. Math. 7.8.Matt 7:8So ſaith our Sauiour; VVhoſoeuer aſketh receiueth, and hee that ſeeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it ſhall bee opened. Let one knocke at the chamber of Preſence of an earthly King, if he be poore and baſe, he ſhall be bid to ſtand backe: and if he make not the more haſt, hee may chance to hauehave a rappe to ſend him backward: but let one knocke at Gods preſence chamber, how meane and contemptible ſo euer hee bee, hee ſhall hauehave no repulſe. Pſ. 145.18.19.Ps 145:18Ps 145:19As Dauid teſtifieth; God is neere to all that call vponupon him, yea to all that call vponupon him in truth: hee will fulfill the deſires of thoſe that feare him. Though their hearts bee ſo oppreſſed that they can bring no words, that is no matter: God will hauehave reſpect to their verie deſires.

Men will not heare ſuch many times as hauehave beene good p. 61and faithfull ſeruants vntounto them: but God will heare ſuch as hauehave beene rebels againſt him, if once his feare be planted in their hearts.

This wee ſee in the booke of Chronicles, where it is ſaid, 2 Chron. 13.3.2 Chr 13:3that the Iſraelites liued many yeares without the true God: And why? becauſe they had no preaching, nor powerfull miniſterie, no Prieſt to teach them, as there it is ſaid: yet whoſoeuer returned in his miſerie and ſought God, Ast. 2.hee was found of him: according to that ſaying, VVhoſoeuer ſhall call vponupon the name of the Lord ſhall be ſaued.

An example of Gods goodneſſe in this regard, we hauehave in Ionah, who albeit hee had dealt fooliſhly, and was caſt into the ſea for it, Luke 23.42.43.Luke 23:42Luke 23:43yet God heard him out of the bellie of the fiſh, and ſet him vponupon the dry land againe. So the theefe on the croſſe, had beene a notable malefactor, yet hee no ſooner opened his mouth for merciemercy, but Chriſt (though in great extremitie at that time) reſpected him, and his ſuite: neuer caſting him in the teeth with his old ſinnes. 2. Chron. 33.2 Chr 33So Manaſſes had beene a wofull and miſerable ſinner, yet when hee cried to the Lord in his diſtreſſe, hee heard him, ſet him free, and reſtored him againe to his kingdome. Hee had done euill in the ſight of the Lord, like the abominations of the heathen: hee reuiued Idolatrie which his father had aboliſhed, worſhipped the hoſt of heauen, defiled the Temple of God, cauſed his ſonnes to paſſe thorow the fire, gaue himſelfe to witchcraft, and charming, and ſorcerie: and did very much euill in the ſight of the Lord, and that to anger him. After all this, God admoniſhed him by his Prophets, but hee would not heare. Then the Lord brought vponupon him the captaines of the hoſt of Aſhur, which put him in fetters and bound him in chaines, and caried him to Babell.

Now being in ſore tribulation, he prayed vntounto the Lord his God, who was intreated by him, and heard his prayer.

And to ſhut vp all, whatſoeuer our caſe bee, in Pſalme 107. it is ſhewed, that if wee ſeeke to the Lord, wee ſhal hauehave helpe. Pſal. 107.10. &c.Ps 107:10Some are rebels and care not for the word of God, but deſpiſe the counſels of the moſt high; then he caſts p. 62them in priſon, and binds them in braſſe and iron, ſo that all their hope is gone: at length they lay about them to cry vntounto the Lord; which they can no ſooner doe, but hee breakes the gates of braſſe and the barres of iron a ſunder, and ſets them at libertie: ſo that an humble and feruent prayer, wee ſee, draws vsus out of bondage, and ſets vsus at large: and in ſtead of mourning and heauineſſe, giues vsus matter of reioycing, and praiſing of God.

Another is caſt into the ſea, eueryevery foote readie to bee ſwallowed vp, the Pilot hath neither skill nor will to helpe; yet when their prayers aſcend vntounto heauen, God rebukes the ſea and the winds, and they are quickly at the hauen where they would be.

And ſo for famine and euerie other miſerie, God hath a medicine for euerie ſickneſſe, and a ſalue for eueryevery ſore: and when men crie vntounto him, hee is readie to help them in all extremities, as is there more particularlie and at large ſpecified.

Vſe 1 1 Which ſerues to reprooue our miſerable blindneſſe and hardneſſe,who notwithſtanding Gods ſufficiencie and readines to helpe, yet will ſeeke vntounto vaine helps, digging to our ſelues ceſterns that will hold no water. If the Lord had euer failed vsus, or any other that reſted on him, there had beene ſome reaſon to doe ſo: but ſeeing God would hauehave vsus beholding vntounto him, and he hath neuer failed any that waited vponupon him, why ſhould we not turne to God, rather than goe to any other?

Obiect. Oh,but the times are hard, and the world is naught.

Anſvver. It is ſo to you,becauſe you are ſo to God: and iuſt it is that you ſhould not finde reliefe, becauſe you ſeeke it not where it might bee found.

Ʋſe 2 Secondly,this makes for ſingular conſolation: would wee know how it ſhall goe with vsus for bodie and ſoule, for name and ſtate and all; then let vsus looke what courſe wee take. Doe wee call vponupon the name of God? Then help and comfort is at hand: God is neere vntounto all them that call vponupon him in truth: though not with that ſtrength of faith as p. 63they ſhould. If wee ſeeke him, hee will be found of vsus. Math. 7 8.Matt 7:8Hee limiteth vsus not for time nor things; and therefore we may looke for helpe at all times, and in all things: and when wee hauehave moſt neede, then wee ſhall bee ſure of the beſt helpe.

But if wee would be certaine of this comfort, wee muſt withall obſerue theſe rules:Rules to be obſerued. Iob 11.14.Job 11:14

1 That wee put all wickedneſſe out of our hearts, and out of our hands: that wee humble our ſelues, and turne from our wicked waies. Let vsus remoue our ſinnes, 2. Chron. 7.14. Jam. 4 8.2 Chr 7:14Jas 4:8and God will remoue our croſſes. So Iames exhorts them, Purge your hands yee ſinners, and your hearts yee hypocrites: that is it that they muſt doe, if they would hauehave God to draw neere vntounto them. For God loues not to dwell in a heart defiled with ſinne: he will turne his eyes and eares from vsus, if we continue in our euill waies: becauſe when our tongues crie for merciemercy, our ſinnes crie for vengeance.

Obiect. But, will ſome man ſay,who can looke for hearing from God, if the caſe ſtand thus? for who can come to him without iniquitie?

Anſwer. Though wee cannot come without iniquitie,yet wee may come without the louelove and liking of iniquitie, and with ſorrow and ſhame for our iniquitie: and then it neuer hinders our prayers, as wee ſee in the examples before alleaged.

2 An other rule is, Cant. 3.1. &c.Song 3:1that wee muſt ſeeke God by all his meanes, as in that place of the Canticles before alleged, when the Church had loſt Chriſt, that is, the feeling of his louelove, and the ſenſe of that communion which formerlie ſhe had had with him, ſhe vſeth all priuate and publike meanes, and at length commeth to conference with Gods ſeruants, (which few will doe till they be driuen to it of neceſſitie) and then hauing waited a while, ſhe finds him whom her ſoule loued. The ſame muſt bee our practiſe: if one medicine will not ſerue the turne, vſe another: Pray, faſt, meditate, conferre, and then at laſt the Lord will be found in merciemercy. But as we are ſlacke in vſing any of the meanes, ſo p. 64ſhall wee faile in our comfortable expectation of fauor from God.

3 The laſt rule is, that we muſt vſe the meanes diligentlie, and in good earneſt: for if wee hauehave a baſe account of Gods mercies, Iam. 5.16. Pſal. 72.12.Jas 5:16Ps 72:12it is iuſt wee ſhould goe without them. The prayer of the righteous auailes much, but with this condition, if it bee feruent. God deliuereth the poore when he crieth. If they would hauehave hearing, there muſt bee crying. God powres forth floods of grace: Iſa. 44.3.Isa 44:3but vponupon whom? On the thirſtie ground.

Hence is it that a number reade, and heare, and pray, and yet preuaile not, becauſe they doe it ſo drowſilie and careleſſelie. The Lord deferres to helpe them, becauſe they are not fit for helpe, and doe not ſtriue and wreſtle in their prayers as Iacob did. Hoſea. 12.3.Hos 12:3Let vsus therefore vſe all the meanes, and that with conſtancie and carefulneſſe, and then wee ſhall obtaine our hearts deſire in merciemercy.

Verſ. 57. Thou ſaiedſt, Feare not.] Not that there came any ſuch voice vntounto their eares, or that God vſed any extraordinarie meanes to ſpeake vntounto them, but when they drew neere to God, and caſt their cares vponupon him, and laid open their ſorrowes vntounto him, God did ſo comfort them, as if hee had ſpoken vntounto them: they were content to make him their ſtay, and to truſt him with their ſoule and ſtate and all, and then hee pacified their hearts, and gaue them an expected anſwere to their prayers. Now in that God ſaid, Feare not, the point is:

Doct. 7. God onelie frees the heart from feares.That God onelie cancure the heart of feares.If ten thouſand Prophets had ſaid vntounto them, feare not, if God had not ſaid ſo by his ſpirit, they would hauehave feared for al that. Reaſons 1 For firſt, men cannot remoue the cauſe of feare, which God can. Thence it is that the wicked flee, when none purſueth them: Pro. 28.1.Prov 28:1whereas the righteous are bold as a Lion. Becauſe their ſinnes are remoued, and they reconciled to God through Chriſt, who hath made a ſufficient paiment for them, to ſatisfie his fathers iuſtice.

2 Secondly, God onelie can giuegive ſaith, which rids the p. 65heart of feare: in which regard Chriſt ſaith; Math. 8.Matt 8why did you feare; O yee of little faith? Implying thereby, that all our troubleſome diſtempers, proceede from want of faith.

Now becauſe none can giuegive that but the liuing God, therefore none can heale the heart of feares but onelie God.

3 A third reaſon is, becauſe God onelie can put his true feare into our hearts, Ieremy 31. Ezekiel 3.6.Jer 31Ezek 3:6which is a mightie defence againſt falſe feares. Godly ſorrow is a ſtrong fortreſſe againſt worldly ſorrow: and godlie ioy a ſtrong bulwarke againſt carnall ioy. Therefore it is ſaid, Pſal. 102.1. Bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord, &c. Hee ſhall not bee afraide of ill tidings.

Vſe 1 Firſt this confutes their follie and error,that thinke if they goe two or three miles from the place where the ſickneſſe is, and there hauehave their gates ſhut, and all things carefullie looked vntounto, then they ſhould not bee ſo fearfull as they are: as if that outward meanes could cure the heart of feares; nay that muſt bee the Lords worke. If they carrie with them the peſtilence of an ill conſcience, an heart full of couetouſneſſe, full of pride, and of worldly luſts, death will enter into the window, if it cannot at the doore, and will finde them out, and ſet vponupon them at midnight, as well as at midday. For God hath a quarrell againſt their ſinnes, and hee will purſue them whitherſoeuer they goe: and how can they ſtand, when the curſe of God hath them in chaſe? Will you feare the plague ſore vponupon the bodie; and will you not much more feare it vponupon your ſoules? Will you fly from that that is but a medicine vntounto the godlie; and not from that which is the verie bane of the whole man? In truth thoſe that carrie with them a heart full of pride, and luſt, and ſuch iniquities as God abhors, whereſoeuer they liue, are in greater danger than the godly that liue in the peſt-houſe it ſelfe, hauing their hearts purified by faith, and their hope ſetled vponupon Ieſus Chriſt.

And therefore thinke not to put away ſuch feares, by gaming and companie-keeping, by eating and drinking p. 66and laughing: for they will returne againe, though they may be ſmothered for a time, and an ill conſcience will be a fearefull conſcience.

Vſe 2 Secondly,this doctrine miniſtreth vntounto vsus this inſtruction, that if we would be disburdened of feares, we ſhould go to God, that can worke in vsus a thorow cure. Not as if the meanes of ſeruing Gods prouidence, were to be neglected, or as if wee ſhould not walke circumſpectlie, and auoide the occaſions of danger: But when wee doe ſo, we ſhould not reſt on the meanes, nor thinke, I am out of the place where the plague is, therefore I am free from Gods ſtroke. If one ſhould ſay, I cannot die till God hauehave appointed, and therefore I may goe into places of infection, this were a tempting of God: but it were worſe for a wicked ſinner to thinke, I am not neere places of infection, therefore I am ſafe.

If then wee would bee ſoundly cured of feares, Helps againſt feares 1. Prayer.firſt let vsus goe vntounto the Lord with a broken heart, and beſeech him to put courage into vsus, and to giuegive vsus aſſurance of eternall life; and the ioy of the holy Ghoſt; then come life or death, wee ſhall not bee much diſmayed. This is one ſpeciall meanes, to free our hearts from vnneceſſarie feares, euen faithfull prayer: as the Apoſtle ſhews, where hee ſaies, Phil. 4.6.Phil 4:6In nothing bee carefull, but in all things let your requeſts be made knowne to God, &c. He bids them not take away the occaſions without but heale the heart within; for then they ſhall bee ſafe enough: The peace of God that paſſeth all vnderſtanding, ſhall keepe their hearts and minds in Chriſt Ieſus: that is, in a bleſſed communion with Chriſt Ieſus, whereby they ſhall bee poſſeſſed with ſuch peace as none knoweth what it meanes, but thoſe that hauehave taſted of it: which quiets and ſets downe the heart and minde, and ſettles the ſame in the aſſurance of a happie iſſue, out of all ſtraites and difficulties: as wee ſee in Dauid, who hauing committed himſelfe to God, Pſal. 3.Ps 3who was able and had promiſed to helpe him, hee triumphs ouer all his enemies, and ſaith he will not feare though ten thouſand ſhould p. 67compaſſe him round about. That was ſome oddes: and one would thinke he had little neede to vſe ſuch ſpeeches, but rather to runne away as faſt as hee could, at leaſt hee ſhould take little ſleepe in the night, ſo long as hee was in ſuch danger: or if hee did lie downe and ſleepe, hee ſhould hauehave little hope to riſe againe in the morning: yet wee ſee verſ. 5. that hee laid him downe and ſlept, and roſe againe, becauſe the Lord ſuſtained him: and this he got by calling vponupon God: as it is verſ. 4.

2 Secondly, if we would not be oppreſſed with feares, labor to be righteous: for wickedneſſe makes men daſtardlie, whereas righteouſneſſe makes men ſtout as Lyons, 2. Righteouſnes. Pro. 28.1.Prov 28:1that will not looke ouer the ſhoulder, for the barking of eueryevery dogge, but walke on without all feare. Indeede the child of God, will not bee preſumptuous; neither will hee bee timorous: though his enemies, ſinne, Satan and the world bee ſtrong, yet hee knows God is ſtronger, and that none euill can come vntounto him without the Lord.

Which if wee can thorowly meditate vponupon, and take this receite euerie morning, to ſeaſon our hearts with the feare of God, and to waſh our hearts and hands from vnrepented ſins; walke where wee will, ſo it be in our waies, nothing ſhall be able to hurt vsus.

Verſ. 58. Thou haſt maintained the cauſe of my ſoule.] That is, thou haſt ſtood on my part, and freed mee from death, that was intended againſt mee. For though my name and libertie and riches bee taken from mee, yet my life is redeemed: and that is thy merciemercy that bodie and ſoule are not yet parted. Whence the doctrine is:

Doct. 8. God vpholds his. Iſa. 44.23.Isa 44:23That God is the maintainer and vpholder of his people. Howſoeuer Kings and Princes bee nurſing fathers vntounto Gods Church, yet that is not becauſe hee needs them, but becauſe he would doe them a good turne, in imploying them in his ſeruice. And therefore may God be called the vpholder of his people, becauſe he ſaues them frō their p. 68firmes; and from the puniſhments due to their ſins, which no man can doe: He watches ouer them night and day, and waters them euerie moment; Jſa. 27.3.Isa 27:3and hee will contend with them that contend againſt his people.

This ſhould ſtrike a terror into the hearts of thoſe that are iniurious vntounto Gods ſeruants: they are bold where the hedge is loweſt; euerie dwarfe aduentures to leape ouer. But let them know, that God is as a wall of fire about his Church, and hee will maintaine the right of his children.

Indeede their props are and ſtill hauehave beene ſo weake, their enemies ſo ſtrong, the ſtanders againſt them ſo ſhamefull, and the oppoſitions ſo continuall, that it is a miracle the Church ſtands to this day: but God hath beene, and euer will bee the vpholder of it, and therefore it muſt needs goe ill with thoſe, that lift vp themſelues againſt it.

Ʋſe 2 Secondly,here is a notable conſolation for the afflicted people of God. Howſoeuer they hauehave fewe meanes and few friends; and where they ſhould hauehave moſt helpe they hauehave leaſt; where they looked for comfort, they finde diſcomfort; and where they thought to bee enriched, they are impoueriſhed: yet if they can pray, all ſhall bee well.

If money and friends, and large reuenues and the like, had beene the vpholders of the Church, it would hauehave gone to the ground long ere this. But what ſaith the Church here? O Lord thou hast maintained the cauſe of my ſoule. There is our ſtay: let vsus bee ſure wee hauehave a good cauſe, and lay it before Gods iudgement ſeate, and then though wee be ouerborne, God will not bee ouerborne, but hee will ſtand on our ſide, euen hee that loues goodneſſe, and hates wickedneſſe, and will be auenged on thoſe that bend themſelues and their endeuors to do miſchiefe vntounto his people.

Wee would willinglie hauehave him to bee our Iudge, who is moſt iuſt, who carries the greateſt louelove to vsus and our cauſe, and the hardeſt mind againſt our aduerſaries: ſuch p. 69an one is God. And therefore ſeeing we hauehave a good cauſe to ſtand in, euen the matter of our ſaluation; and enemies whom God hates with a deadly hatred, the diuell, the world and the fleſh, &c. this ſhould put life and heart into vsus, to goe vntounto Chriſt Ieſus our Iudge, who hath ſo dearely loued vsus, as to lay downe his life for vsus, and for the deſtruction of all our enemies. When wee are ouercharged with burdens and temptations, let vsus lay them vponupon him, and ſay, Lord, thou haſt vndertaken to comfort thy children: I am not able to vndergoe this that is vponupon mee; therefore doe thou maintaine my cauſe, and helpe and deliuer mee from my miſerie.

Verſ. 59. Thou haſt ſeene my wrong.] From theſe words this doctrine may be collected:

Doct. 9. All vvrōgs knovvne to God.That there is nothing done,ſpoken or thought againſt any Chriſtian, but God takes knowledge of it: there is not one practiſe, ſlander or deuice of cruell beaſts againſt the ſheepe of Chriſt, but God ſees it, and markes it. And this muſt needs be ſo:

Reaſon 1 1 Firſt, becauſe they are his flocke,and therefore hee loues to looke vntounto them, eſpeciallie ſith hee hath paide ſo deerely for them.

2 Secondly, it is his nature to behold all things. Pſal. 94. Eph. 4.6.Ps 94Eph 4:6For he that made the eye, ſhall not he ſee? &c. He is aboue vsus all, and through vsus all, and in vsus all. Yea, wee are as it were the apple of his eye. Now it is a hard matter for one to come with thornes to put out anothers eye, and he not take notice of it: and

3 Thirdly, God doth the rather obſerue the indignities that are offered vntounto his children, becauſe their profane aduerſaries doe hate his image in them. For when they were as bad as themſelues, they could liue with them twentie or thirtie yeares, and be good friends with them: but when once they renounce the ſeruice of Satan and of their owne luſts, vntounto which they are in bondage ſtill, then they oppoſe with might and maine againſt them: Pſal. 69.7.Ps 69:7and therefore it is ſaid, for thy ſake hauehave we ſuffred rebuke, ſhame p. 70hath couered our face.

4 The fourth and laſt reaſon, why God muſt needs take notice of the wrongs done vntounto his ſeruants, is, becauſe it belongs to him to reward euerie one according to their workes. Reuel. 20.12.Rev 20:12Hee muſt and will giuegive them full pay, and therefore hee keeps all vponupon iuſt and due record. As the workes of the righteous ſhall ſtand for them, ſo ſhall the workes of reprobates be written in great capitall letters againſt them, that all the world may take notice of them at the laſt day.

Vſe. This offers vntounto vsus matter of ſingular comfort.Howſoeuer the aduerſaries be buſie and watchful to plot and procure the hurt of Gods Church; they cannot be ſo vigilant for the hurt of it, as God is watchfull for the good of it: and therefore they may bee ſure they ſhall hauehave a happie iſſue out of all their troubles, if ſo be they can make their mone to God, and waite patientlie for his merciemercy.

Obiection. But what neede wee lay open our griefes before him,ſeeing that hee knows them all before hand?

Anſwere. Though he doe know them,yet he would hauehave you to preferre your bill of complaint, and that will be for the increaſe of your comfort, and further experience of his louelove: and howſoeuer hee purpoſe to deſtroy the wicked, yet would he hauehave you to go on in your ſuite againſt them ſtill.

Neither is this to bee reſtrained onelie to corporall enemies, but it holds much more ſtrongly for ſpirituall enemies. Say a man bee ſurcharged with ſinne and Satan, let him bemone his caſe before the Lord, and it will be a marueilous eaſe vntounto him. If one of our children ſhould but ſay, father or mother, I am exceeding ſicke, readie to ſaint vnderunder my paines &c. hee neede ſay no more: this would ſet their hearts and hands a worke to doe him good. And is there not far more louelove in our heauenly Father? Yes ſurely: and therefore in all ſuch extremities, let God be our refuge, and let vsus caſt all our cares and ſorrows vponupon him, who is able and willing to beare them, and in due ſeaſon to free vsus from them, and in the end, to make vsus gainers by them.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Dod, Two Sermons on Lamentations 3 (1608)