The Silent Soul, Part 7
Conſider firſt, The greatneſſe, ſoveraignty, majeſty and dignityRev. 4. 10, 11. Jer. 10. 7. chap. 5. 22. 2 King. 2. chap. 3. 5. of God, and let that move thee to ſilence. Pſal. 46. 8, 9, 10. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what deſolations hee hath made in the earth. Hee maketh wars to ceaſe unto the end of the earth: hee breaketh the bow, and cutteth the ſpear in ſunder, hee burneth the chariot in the fire. Bee ſtill, and know that I am God: I will bee exalted among the Heathen, I will bee exalted in the earth. Who can caſt his eye upon the greatneſs of God, the majeſty of God, and not ſit ſtill before him? Zeph. 1. 7. Hold thy peace at the preſence of the Lord God. Oh chat not, murmure not, fret not, but ſtand mute before him! Shall the childe bee huſh'd before his Father, the ſervant before his Maſter, the ſubject before his Prince, and the guilty perſon before the Judge when hee majeſtically riſes off his judgement ſeat, and compoſes his countenance into an aſpect of terrour and ſeverity, that his ſentence may fall upon the offender with the greater dread? and ſhall not a Chriſtian bee quiet before that God that can bathe his ſword in Heaven, and burn the chariots on earth? Nay, ſhall the Sheep bee huſh'd before the Wolf, Birds before the Hawk, and all the Beaſts of the field before the Lion? and ſhall not wee bee huſh'd and quiet before him, who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah? Rev. 5. 5. God is mighty in power, and mighty in counſel, and mighty in working, and mighty in puniſhing; and therefore bee ſilent before him. It appears that God is a mighty God, by the Epithite that is added unto El, which is Gibbor, importing that hee is a God of prevailing might; in Daniel hee is called El Elim, the mighty of mighties. Moſes magnif…ing ofExod. 15. his might, ſaith, Who is like unto thee among the gods? Now certainly this Epithite ſhould bee a mighty motive to work ſouls to that which Ha…akkuk perſwades to, Hab. 2. ult. The Lord is in his holy Temple: let all the earth keep ſilence before him. Upon this very conſideration,Exod. 14. 13, 14 Moſes commands Iſrael to hold their peace.
It is reported of Augustus theTurk. Hiſt. 236. 415. Emperour, and likewiſe of Tamberlain that war-like Scythian, that in their eyes ſate ſuch a rare Majeſty, that many in talking with them, and often beholding of them, have become dumb. Oh my brethren! ſhall not the brightneſſe and ſplendor of the Majeſty of the great God, whoſe ſparkling Glory and Majeſty dazles the eyes of Angels, and makes thoſe Princes of glory ſtand mute before him, move you much more to ſilence, to hold your peace, and lay your hands upon your mouths? Surely yes. But
Secondly, Conſider, That all your afflictions, troubles and trials, ſhall work for your good, Rom. 8. 28. And wee know that all Afflictiones Benedictiones. Bern. Afflictions are bleſſings. Doubtleſs Manaſſeh would not exchange the good hee got by his Iron chains for all the gold chains that bee in the world.things ſhall work together for good to them that love God. Why then ſhould you fret, fling, fume? ſeeing God deſigns your good in all. The Bee ſucks ſweet hony out of the bittereſt herbs: ſo God will by afflictions teach his children to ſuck ſweet knowledge, ſweet obedience, and ſweet experiences, &c. out of all the bitter afflictions and trials hee exerciſes them with; that ſcouring and rubbing which frets others, ſhall make them ſhine the brighter, and that weight which cruſhes and keeps others under, ſhall but make them like the palmtree, grow better and higher. And that hammer which knocks others all in peeces, ſhall but knock them the nearer to Chriſt the corner-ſtone. Stars ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt night: Torches give the beſt light, when beaten: Grapes yeeld moſt Wine, when moſt preſſed: Spices ſmell ſweeteſt, when pounded; Vines are the better for bleeding; Gold looks the brighter for ſcouring; Juniper ſmells ſweeteſt in the fire; Camomile, the more you tread it, the more you ſpread it; the Salamander lives beſt in the fire; the Jews were beſt, when moſt afflicted; the Athenians would never mend, till they were in mourning; the Chriſt's-croſs (ſaith Luther) is no letter in the book, and yet (ſaith hee) it hath taught mee more than all the letters in the book. Afflictions are the Saints beſt benefactors to heavenly affections; where afflictions hang heavieſt, corruptions hang looſeſt. And grace that is hid in nature, as ſweet water in Roſe-leaves, is then moſt fragrant, when the fire of affliction is put under to diſtill it out. Grace ſhines the brighter for ſcouring, and is moſt glorious, when it is moſt clouded.
Pliny in his natural hiſtory,Lib. 12. cap. 9. writeth of certain Trees growing in the red Seas, which being beat upon by the waves, ſtand like a rock, immoveable, and that they are bettered by the roughneſs of the waters. In the Sea of afflictions God will make his people ſtand like a rock, they ſhall bee immoveable, and invincible, and the more the waves of afflictions beat upon them, the better they ſhall bee, the more they ſhall thrive in grace and godlineſs. Now how ſhould this ingage Chriſtians to bee mute and ſilent under all their troubles and trials in this world, conſidering that they ſhall all work for their good? God chaſtiſes our carkaſſes, to heal our conſciences, hee afflicts our bodies, to ſave our ſouls, hee gives us gall and wormwood here, that the pleaſures that bee at his right hand may bee the more ſweet hereafter; here hee layes us upon a bed of thorns, that wee may look and long more for that eaſie bed of down (his boſome) in Heaven.
As there is a curſe wrapt up in the beſt things hee gives the wicked, ſo there is a bleſſing wrapt upPſa. 25. 10. Deut. 28 26 in the worſt things hee brings upon his own. As there is a curſe wrapt up in a wicked mans health, ſo there is a bleſſing wrapt up in a godly mans ſickneſs: As there is a curſe wrapt up in a wicked mans ſtrength, ſo there is a bleſſing wrapt up in a godly mans weakneſs: As there is a curſe wrapt up in a wicked mans wealth, ſo there is a bleſſing wrapt up in a godly mans want: As there is a curſe wrapt up in a wicked mans honour, ſo there is a bleſſing wrapt up in a godly mans reproach: As there is a curſe wrapt up in all a wicked mans mercies, ſo there is a bleſſing wrapt up in all a godly mans croſſes, loſſes, and changes: and why then ſhould hee not ſit mute and ſilent before the Lord? But
Thirdly, Conſider, That a holy ſilence is that excellent precious grace, that lends a hand of ſupport to every grace. Silence isRom. 15. 4 Custos, the Keeper of all other virtues, it lends a hand to Faith, a hand to Hope, a hand to Love, a hand to Humility, a hand to Selfdenial, &c. A holy ſilence hath its influences upon all other graces that bee in the ſoul, it cauſes the Roſe-buds of grace to bloſſome and bud forth. Silence is (virtus verſata circa adverſa) a grace that keeps a man gracious in all conditions; in every condition Silence is a Chriſtians right hand; in proſperity, it bears the ſoul up under all the envy, malice, hatred and cenſures of the world; in adverſity, it bears the ſoul up under all the neglect, ſcorn and contempt that a Chriſtian meets with in the world; it makes every bitter ſweet, every burden light, and every yoak eaſie. And this the very Heathen ſeemed to intimate in placing the Image of Angeronia with the mouth bound upon the Altar of Volupia, to ſhew, that ſilence under ſufferings, was the ready way to attain true comfort, and make every bitter ſweet. No man honours God, nor no man juſtifies God at ſo high a rate, as hee who layes his hand upon his mouth, when the Rod of God is upon his back. But
Fourthly, To move you to Silence under your ſoreſt and your ſharpeſt trials, conſider, That youLam. 3. 39 Mic. 7. 7, 8, 9 have deſerved greater and heavier afflictions than thoſe you are under; hath God taken away one mercy? thou haſt deſerved to bee ſtript of all; hath hee taken away the delight of thine eyes? he might have taken away the delight of thy ſoul; art thou under outward wants? thou haſt deſerved to be under outward and inward together; art thou caſt upon a ſick-bed? thou haſt deſerved a bed in Hell; art thou under this ach and that pain? thou haſt deſerved to bee under all aches and pains at once; hath God chaſtiſed thee with whips? thou haſt deſerved to bee chaſtiſed with1 King. 12. 11, 14. Scorpions; art thou fallen from the higheſt pinacle of honour to be the ſcorn and contempt of men? thou haſt deſerved to bee ſcorned and contemned by God and Angels; art thou under a ſevere whipping? thou haſt deſerved an utter damning. Ah Chriſtians! let but your eyes bee fixt upon your demerits, and your hands will bee quickly upon your mouths; whatever is leſs than a final ſeparation from God, whatever is leſs than Hell, is mercy; and therefore you have cauſe to bee ſilent under the ſmarteſt dealings of God with you. But
Fifthly, Conſider, A quiet ſilent ſpirit is of great eſteem with God: God ſets the greateſt value upon perſons of a quiet ſpirit, 1 Pet. 3. 4. But let it bee the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet ſpirit, which is in the ſight of God of great price. A quiet ſpirit is a ſpark of the divine nature, it is a ray, a beam of glory, it is a heaven-born ſpirit: No man is born with a holy Silence in his heart, as hee is born with a tongue in his mouth: this is a flower of paradiſe, it is a precious Jem that God makes very great reckoning of. A quiet ſpirit ſpeaks a man moſt like to God, it capacitates a man for communion with God, it renders a man moſt ſerviceable to God, and it obliges a man to moſt accurate walking with God: A meek and quiet ſpirit is an incorruptible ornament, much more valuable than gold.
Firſt, There is a natural quietneſs, which proceeds from a good temper and conſtitution of body.
Secondly, There is a moral quietneſs, which proceeds from good education and breeding, which flows from good injunctions, inſtructions, and examples.
Thirdly, There is an artificial quietneſs; ſome have an art to impriſon their paſſions, and to lay a Law of reſtraint upon their anger and wrath, when they are all in a flame within: As you may2 Sam. 13. 20,—33 ſee in Cain, Eſau, Abſalom, and Joab, who for a time caſt a cloſe cloak over their malice, when their hearts were ſet on fire of Hell: ſo Domitian would ſeem to love them beſt, whom hee willed leaſt ſhould live.
Fourthly, There is a gracious quietneſs which is of the ſpirits infuſion, Gal. 5. 22,—25. Now this quietneſs of ſpirit, this ſpiritual frame of heart, is of great price in the ſight of God. God values it above the world, and therefore who would not covet it more than the world, yea more than life it ſelf? Certainly the great God ſets a great price upon nothing but that which is of an invaluable price; what ſtretching, ſtrugling and ſtriving is there for thoſe things that the great ones of the earth do highly prize? Ah what ſtretching of wits, intereſts, and conſciences is there this day, to gain and hold up that which juſtice will caſt down? how much better would it bee if all perſons would in good earneſt ſtruggle and ſtrive, even as for life, after a quiet and ſilent ſpirit, which the great and glorious God ſets ſo great a price upon? this is a pearl of greateſt price, and happy is hee that purchaſes it, though it were with the loſs of all. But
Sixthly, Conſider, that if you ſit not quiet and ſilent under your greateſt troubles, and your ſoreſt trials, you will bee found fighters againſt your own prayers. How often have you prayed that the will of God may bee done, yea, that it may bee done on the earth as the Angels (thoſe gliſtering Courtiers,Mat. 6. 10 thoſe Princes of glory) do it now in Heaven? when troubles and afflictions come upon you, the will of God is done, his will is accompliſhed, why then ſhould you fret, fling, and fume, and not rather quietly lye down in his will, whoſeVoluntas Dei neceſſitas rei, every gracious ſoul ſhould ſay Amen to Gods Amen; hee ſhould put his fiat, his placet, to Gods, go it never ſo much againſt the hair with him. will is a perfect will, a juſt and righteous will, a wiſe will, an over-ruling will, an infinite will, a ſoveraign will, a holy will, an immutable will, an uncontroulable will, an omnipotent will, and an eternal will; certainly you will but add affliction to affliction, by fighting againſt your own prayers, and by vexing and fretting your ſelves when the will of God is done; it is ſad to ſee a man to fight againſt his friends, it is ſadder to ſee him fight againſt his relations, it is ſaddeſt of all to ſee him fight againſt his prayers, and yet this every Chriſtian doth, who murmures and mutters when the Rod of God is upon him; ſome there be that pray againſt their prayers, as Auguſtine, who prayed for continency, with a proviſo, Lord give mee continency, but not yet; And ſome there bee who fight againſt their prayers, as thoſe who pray that the will of God may be done, and yet when his will is done upon them, they are like the troubled Sea, when it cannot reſt, they are ſtill fretting againſt the Lord. Ah Chriſtians! have you not ſins to fight againſt, and temptations to fight againſt, and a Devil to fight againſt yea a whole world to fight againſt? why then ſhould you bee found fighting againſt your own prayers? But
Seventhly, Conſider, A holy Silence under the heavieſt burdens, the greateſt afflictions, the ſaddeſt providences and changes, will make all tollerable, and eaſie to a Chriſtian; the ſilent ſoul can bear a burden without a burden; thoſe burdens and troubles that will break a froward mansMicah 7. 7, 8, 9, 10 Pſal. 62. 1,—6 back, will not ſo much as break a ſilent mans ſleep; thoſe afflictions that lye as heavy weights upon a murmurer, will lye as light as a feather upon a mute Chriſtian; that bed of ſorrow, which is as a bed of thorns to a fr…tful ſoul, will bee as a bed of down to a ſilent ſoul; a holy Silence unſtings every affliction, it takes off the weight of every burden, it adds ſweet to every bitter, it changes dark nights into Sunſhiny daies, and terrible ſtorms into deſirable calms; the ſmalleſt ſufferings will eaſily vanquiſh an unquiet ſpirit, but a quiet ſpirit will as eaſily triumph over the greateſt ſufferings. As little mercies are great mercies, ſo great ſufferings are but little ſufferings in the eye of a ſilent ſoul; the ſilent ſoul never complains that his affliction is too great, his burthen too heavy, his croſs too weighty, his ſufferings too many; Silence makes him victorious over all; And therefore as ever you would have heavy afflictions light, and bee able to bear a burthen without a burthen, labour as for life after this holy ſilence. But
Eighthly, Conſider, That a holy Silence under afflictions will bee your beſt armour of proof againſt thoſe temptations that afflictions may expoſe you to; timesLuk. 22. 31,—34. Job 1. 3 Zach. 1. 2, 3, 4 Mat. 4. 1, 2, 3 of afflictions, often prove times of great temptation; and therefore afflictions are called temptations, James 1. 12. Bleſſed is the man which endureth temp…on, for when hee is tried, hee ſhall receive the Crown of life, &c. The Greek word foreign, is to bee underſtood of temptations of probation, of afflicting temptations, and not of temptations of ſuggeſtion,James 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 9 of ſeduction, for they are not to bee endured, but reſiſted and abhorred. Now affliction is called temptation,
1 Becauſe, as temptation tries what metal a Chriſtian is made of, ſo do afflictions.
2 Becauſe, as Satan uſually hath a great hand in all the temptations that come upon us, ſo hee hath a great hand in all the afflictions that befall us. As you ſee in that great inſtance of Job.
3 Becauſe, as temptations drive to God, 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8. ſo doe afflictions, Iſa. 26. 16. Hoſea 5. ult. but mainly, becauſe Satan chuſes times of afflictions as the fitteſt ſeaſon for his temptations; when Job was ſorely afflicted in his eſtate, children, wife, life, then Sa… lets flie, and makes his fierceſt aſſaults upon him; now Satan tempts him to entertain hard thoughts of God, to diſtruſt, to impatiency, to murmuringMany Saints have experienced this truth, when they have been upon their ſick and dying beds and muttering: As when Iſrael was feeble, faint and weary, Amaleck aſſaulted them, and ſmote the hindmoſt of them, Deut. 25. 17, 18. So when Chriſtians are moſt afflicted, then uſually they are moſt tempted.
Luther found this by experience, when hee ſaid, I am without, ſet upon by all the world▪ and within, by the Devil and all his Angels. Satan is a coward, and loves to ſtrike us, and trample upon us, when afflictions have caſt us down. When beſiedged Towns, Cities and Caſtles are in greateſt ſtraights and troubles, then the beſiedgers make their fierceſt aſſaults: So when Chriſtians are under the greateſt ſtraights and trials, then Satan aſſaults them moſt, like a roaring Lion. Now ſilence under afflictions is the beſt antidote and preſervative againſt all thoſe temptations that afflictions lay us open to. Silence in afflictions is a Chriſtians armour of proof, it is that ſhield, that no ſpear or dart of temptation can peirce; whilſt a Chriſtian lies quiet under the Rod, hee is ſafe; Satan may tempt him, but hee will not conquer him, hee may aſſault him, but hee cannot vanquiſh him, Satan may entice him to uſe ſinful ſhifts, to ſhift himſelf out of trouble, but hee will chuſe rather to lye, yea dye in trouble than to get out upon Satans terms. But
Ninthly, Conſider, That holy Silence under afflictions and trials, will give a man a quiet and peaceable poſſeſſion of his own ſoul, In patience poſſeſs your ſouls; now next to the poſſeſſion of God, theLuk. 21. 19. Vide Greg. in Evangel. Hom. 35. poſſeſſion of a mans own ſoul is the greateſt mercy in this world. A man may poſſeſs honours & riches, and dear relations, and the favour and aſſiſtance of friends under his trials, but hee will never come to a poſſeſſion of his own ſoul under his troubles, till hee comes to bee mute, and to lay his hand upon his mouth. Now what are all earthly poſſeſſions, to the poſſeſſion of a mans own ſoul? he that poſſeſſes himſelf, poſſeſſes all, he that poſſeſſes not himſelf, poſſeſſes nothing at all; hee poſſeſſes not the uſe, the ſweet, the comfort, the good, the bleſſing of any thing hee enjoyes, who enjoyes not himſelf; that man that is not Maſter of himſelf, hee is Maſter of nothing; holy Silence gives a man the greateſt Maſtery over his own ſpirit, and Maſtery over a mans own ſpirit, is the greateſt Maſtery in theProv. 16. 32 world. The Egyptian Goddeſſe they paint upon a rock ſtanding in the Sea, where the waves come roaring and daſhing upon her, with this Motto, Semper eadem, ſtorms ſhall not move mee. A holy Silence will give a man ſuch a quiet poſſeſſion of his own ſoul, that all the ſtorms of afflictions ſhall not move him; it will make him ſtand like a Rock in a Sea of troubles; let a man but quietly poſſeſs himſelf, and troubles will never trouble him. But
Tenthly, Conſider the commands and injunctions that God in his word hath laid upon you to bee ſilent, to bee mute and quiet, under all the troubles, trials and changes that have or may paſs upon you. Zach. 21. 3. Bee ſilent, O all fleſh! before the Lord; for hee is raiſed Gods commands are like thoſe of the Medes, that cannot bee changed.up out of his holy habitation, Iſa. 41. 1. Keep ſilence before mee▪ O Iſlands. Hab. 2. 20. The …ord is in his holy Temple; let all the earth keep ſilence before him. Amos 5. 1…. Therefore the prudent ſhall keep ſilence in …hat time, for it is an evil time. Pſa. 46. 10. Be ſtill, and know that I am God. Pſa. 4. 4. Commune with your heart, and be ſtill. Exod. 14. 13. Stand ſtill, and ſee the ſalvation of God. 2 Chron. 20. 17. Stand yee ſtill, and ſee the ſalvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jeruſalem. Job 37. 14. Hearken unto this, O Job: ſtand ſtill, and conſider the wondrous works of God. It is a dangerous thing for us to neglect one of his commands, who by another is able to command us into nothing, or into Hell at pleaſure; to act or run croſs to Gods expreſs command (though under pretence of revelation from God) is as much as a mans life is worth, as you may ſee in that ſad ſtory, 1 King. 13. 24, &c. DivineObedientia non diſcutit Dei mandata, ſed facit. Proſper. Rom. 7. 12, 14 commands muſt bee put in ſpeedy execution, without denying or delaying, without debating or diſputing the difficulties that may attend our ſubjection to them. Gods commands are ſpiritual, holy, juſt and good; and therefore to bee obeyed without muttering or murmuring: Divine commands are backed with the ſtrongeſt reaſon, and attended with the higheſt encouragements. Shall the ſervant readily obey the commands of his Maſter? the ſubject the commands of his Prince, the ſouldier the commands of his General, the child the commands of his Father, the wife the commands of her husband, and ſhall not a Chriſtian as readily obey the commands of his Chriſt? nay, ſhall vain men readily and willingly obey the ſinful and ſenſeleſs commands of men, and ſhall not wee bee willing to obey the commands of God? 2 Sam. 13. 28, 29. Now Abſalom had commanded his ſervants, ſaying, Mark yee now when Amnons heart is merry with Wine, and when I ſay unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be couragious, and be valiant. And the ſervants of Abſolom did unto Amnon, as Abſolom had commanded: they made no bones of obeying the bloody commands of Abſolom, againſt all Law, Reaſon and Religion.
I have read of one Johannes Abbas, Caſſian. de Inſtitut. renunciant. lib. 4. cap. 24who willingly fetched water neer two miles every day for an whole year together, to pour upon a dry ſtick, upon the bare command of his Confeſſor.
I have alſo read of the old Kings of Peru, that they were wont to uſe a taſſel or fringe made of red wool, which they wore upon their heads, and when they ſent any Governour to rule as Vice Roy in any part of their Country, they delivered unto him one of the threeds of the taſſel, and for one of thoſe ſimple threeds hee was as much obeyed, as if hee had been the King himſelf: Now ſhall one ſingle threed bee more forcible to draw Infidels to obedience, than all thoſe golden commands laſt cited, ſhall bee of force to draw you to bee quiet and ſilent under the troubles and changes you meet with in this world? the Lord forbid.
Shall carnal and wicked perſons bee ſo ready and willing to comply with the bloody, and ſenſeleſs,Non parentum aut majorum authoritas, ſed Dei docentis imperium. Jerom. The commands of God muſt out-weigh all authority and example of men. and ſuperſtitious commands of their ſuperiours? and ſhall not Chriſtians bee more ready and willing to comply with the commands of the great God? whoſe commands are all juſt and equal, and whoſe will is the perfect rule of Righteouſneſs. Prior eſt autoritas imperantis, quam utilitas ſervientis. Tertul. The chief reaſon of obedience, is the authority of the Lord, not the utility of the ſervant. Ah Chriſtians! when your hearts begin to fret and fume under the ſmarting Rod, charge one of thoſe commands laſt cited upon your hearts, and if they ſhall mutter, charge another of thoſe commands upon your hearts, and if after this they ſhall vex and murmure, charge another of thoſe commands upon your hearts, and never leave charging and rubbing thoſe commands one after another upon your hearts, till you are brought to lay your hands upon your mouths, and to ſit ſilent before the Lord under your greateſt ſtraights, and your ſoreſt trials.
Eleventhly, Conſider, That mercy is neareſt, deliverance andAct. 27. 20,—26 Dan. 9. 20,—24. Iſa. 58. 8, 9. chap. 30. 19. & ch. 65. 24 ſalvation is at hand, when a Chriſtian ſtands ſtill, when hee ſits quiet and ſilent under his greateſt troubles, and his ſoreſt trials. Exod. 14. They were in very great ſtraights; Pharaoh with a mighty Army was behinde them, the Red Sea before them, Mountains on each hand of them, and no viſible means to deliver them: But now they ſtand ſtill to ſee the ſalvation of the Lord, verſ. 13. and within a few hours their enemies are deſtroyed, and they are gloriouſly delivered, verſ. 24,—ult. Pſal. 39. 9. David is dumb, hee ſits mute under his ſmart afflictions, but if you look to the ſecond and third verſes of the fortieth Pſalm, you ſhall finde mercy draws near to him, and works ſalvation for him. Hee brought mee up alſo out of an horrible pit, out of the mire and clay, and ſet my feet upon a rock, and establiſhed my goings. And hee hath put a new ſong into my mouth, even praiſe unto our God: many ſhall ſee it and fear, and ſhall truſt in the Lord. And ſo when Abſalom had made a great conſpiracie againſt him, and his ſubjects fell off from him, and hee was forced to flee for his life, his ſpirit was quiet and calm, 2 Sam. 15. 25, 26. And the King ſaid unto Zadock▪ Carry back the Ark of God into the City: if I ſhall finde favour in the eyes of the Lord, hee will bring mee again, and ſhew mee both it, and and his habitation. But if hee thus ſay, I have no delight in thee, Behold here am I, let him do to mee as ſeemeth good unto him. And the ſame calmneſs and quietneſs of ſpirit was upon him, when Shimei bitterly curſed him, and railed upon him, chap. 16. 5,—14. And within a few daies, as you may ſee in the two following Chapters, the conſpirators are deſtroyed, and Davids Throne more firmly eſtabliſhed; mercy is alwaies neareſt, when a man can in quietneſs poſſeſs his own ſoul; ſalvation is at hand, when a Chriſtian comes to lay his hand upon his mouth; mercy will bee upon the wing, loving kindneſs will ride poſt, to put a period to that mans troubles, who ſits ſilent in the day of his ſorrows and ſufferings. Ah Chriſtians, as you would have mercy near, as you would ſee to the end of your afflictions, as you would have deliverance come flying upon the wings of the wind, ſit mute and ſilent under all your troubles. As Wine was then neareſt when the water-pots were filled with waterJohn 2. 1,—12. even to the brim: ſo when the heart is fulleſt of quietneſs and calmneſs, then is the Wine of mercy, the Wine of deliverance neareſt.
The twelfth and laſt Motive to work you to ſilence under your greateſt trials, is this, Seriouſly conſider the hainous and dangerous nature of murmuring; now that you may, let mee propoſe theſe following particulars to your moſt ſober conſideration.