The Royal Robe, Tract

The Royal Robe · Tract

p. 1THE ROYAL ROBE: OR, A TREATISE OF MEEKNESSE.

COL. 3. 12.

Put on — Meekneſſe.

THere is mention in Scripture of a firſt, and ſecond. 1 Cor. 15. 47. Nam ut ille fuit humani generis princeps, ſecundum carnalem1 Cor 15:47Adam; the firſt is of the earth earthly: the ſecond is the Lord from heaven. Theſe two are the two principles of mankind diſtinguiſh'd into p. 2a twofold eſtate of Nature and propagationem; ſic iſte princeps ſecundum ſpiritualem regenerationem; ille princeps ſecundum eſſe naturae, ille ſecundum eſſe gratiae, &c. Eſt. in 1 Cor. 15. 45. Pet. Mar. In 1 Cor. 15. 21. Sunt tanquam duo principia, vel duae radices generis human…. Calv. apud Marl. in 1 Cor 15. 45. Rom. 5. 19. Videtur autem hoc loco duos homines Apoſtolus ab oculos ponere; ſpiritualem & animalem, quorum unus ab Adamo, alter vero a Chriſto derivatur; etenim qu…ſque noſtrum ut naturalit…r vivit, ex radice Adam propagatu; qua vero ſpiritualiter, Chriſto inſitus eſt. Calvin. apud Marl. in 1 Cor. 15. 45.1 Cor 15:451 Cor 15:21Rom 5:19Grace. The firſt Adam is the author or principle of our natural life, he being the Root of all mankind.

The Second is the Author of our Spiritual life, he being the root of the Elect, the head and Saviour of his body Eph. 5. 23.Eph 5:23the Church. Now as all men derive their nature from the firſt … dam; ſo alſo the Corruption▪ that Rom. 5. 12Rom 5:12it hath contracted, being all covered 1 Cor. 15. 22.1 Cor 15:22over with it, conceived in ſinne, and borne in iniquity, filled Pſa. 51. 5.Ps 51:5with deprav'd affections and evil Epheſ. 2. 1, 2, 3.Eph 2:1Eph 2:2Eph 2:3concupiſcence, breaking fort… into p. 3ſinfull thoughts, words and actions; James 1. 14, 15Jas 1:14Jas 1:15altogether defiled and unclean, and this Corruption derived from the firſt Adam, wherewith mans nature is tainted, is called the Old man which muſt Col. 3. 9.Col 3:9be cut off with his deeds. The new Man growes out of the ſecond Adam, the effect of his Merit, Grace and ſpirit; compleat in all the parts of righeouſneſſe, and true holineſſe, filled with Rom. 15. 13. Col. 3. 10.Rom 15:13Col 3:10all heavenly Gifts in believing; this new man muſt be put on.

Here the Apoſtle inſtructs us in the two fundamentals of Chriſtianity, Mortification and Renovation; and that his Exhortation may take the better, and make the deeper impreſſion, he uſes the Metaphor of putting on and off, that it may be knowne whoſe we are, and to whom we belong, whoſe livery we wear, and whoſe Colours we bear; if we be Chriſts, and belong to the ſecond Adam we muſt put on the Garbe of Chriſtianity, put p. 4on as the Elect of God, holy and beloved, Bowels of Mercies, kindneſſe, humbleneſſe of mind, meekneſs, Long-ſuffering.

Now of the Graces, vertues, fruits of the Spirit here mentioned, I have ſingled out one, a choiſe one, and it is Meekneſs, of which I am now purpoſed to ſpeak, and to ſpeak of it as it is here propounded as a Garment to be put on. And indeed Meekneſſe is a Garment Rom. 13. 14. Gal. 3. 17. Eph. 4 24. Eph. 6. 11. foreign Ariſt. lib. 2. Ethic. c. 6. foreign. idem ibid.Rom 13:14Gal 3:17Eph 4:24Eph 6:11meet for a Chriſtians wear; the Apoſtle hath ſuited it for us, and here commends it to us, to be put on; Put on meekeneſſe. It is a Metaphor wherewith the Apoſtle ſeemes to be much delighted, by which he would give us to underſtand, that vertues and vices are habits; and Habits to the minde are as Apparell to the body, to be put on and off. And as a ſorbid ragged and filthy Garment doth vilifie, diſgrace and diſhonour the body, ſo do vioes the ſoule; and as a clean and comely p. 5Garment doth honour and beautifie the body, ſo do vertues beautifie and adorne the ſoul. And as it is unſightly and unſeemely to appear in publike on an high and ſolemne day in a torne and filthy Garment; ſo in the light of the Goſpel and in the day of Salvation it is diſhoneſt and uncomely to be cloathed with ſin and vice. St. Paul Rom. 13. 12Rom 13:12condemnes it as a practice unreaſonable and abſurd, that we who are dead to ſin, ſhould live any longer therein. The father could tell his ſon Rom. 6. 2Rom 6:2now come to perfect years, jamque haec aetas aliam vitam, alios mores poſtulat; Teren. in Andr.before the light of the Goſpel, the times of that ignorance God winked Acts 17. 30.Acts 17:30at: now the time of the Goſpel requires another courſe of life; let it ſuffice to have miſpent the time paſt; for the time to come, bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life, 1 Pet. 4, 3. Mat. 3. 8. Luke 3. 8. Joh. 5. 14.1 Pet 4:3Matt 3:8Luke 3:8John 5:14ſaith John the Baptiſt. Sin no more (ſaith Chriſt). Iniquity is a diſparagement p. 6to Chriſtianity; and therefore let every one that calleth upon the name of the Lord depart from Iniquity; 2 Tim. 2. 19.2 Tim 2:19let not him that is filthy be filthy ſtill, but let him cleanſe himſelfe Rev. 22. 11Rev 22:11from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the 2 Cor. 7. 12 Cor 7:1feare of God.

We muſt ſtrippe our ſelves of the Ragges of Old Adam, (our ſins and vices) by true and unfained repentance, and put on the New Man, which according unto God is Created in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe; Iuſtification and Sanctification, which are put on by faith and love, wherewith Col. 3. 10.Col 3:10the Spouſe of Chriſt is all glorious within, is the ground work: her Pſal. 45. 13, 14.Ps 45:13Ps 45:14cloathing of Wrought Gold with raiment of needlework, wrought about with divers colours, are thoſe ſeveral vertues and graces wherewith a Chriſtians converſation is adorned, wherewith the ſpouſe of Chriſt is decked, ſet p. 7forth in the Canticles in the Roſe and Cant. 2. 1.Song 2:1Lillie, the Beril and the Saphire, rowes of Jewels, chaines of Gold, Borders of Cant. 1. 10, 11.Song 1:10Song 1:11Gold, with ſtuds of Silver, that is, Bowels of Mercies, kindneſſe, humbleneſſe of mind, Meekneſſe, long ſuffering, which the Coloſſians are, and we in them, here exhorted to put on.

Put on—Meekneſſe.

Meekeneſse, is the ſubject I am to ſpeake to.

The uſe we are to make of it; It muſt be put on.

Firſt of the ſubject, Meekneſſe.

Meekneſſe is of excellent uſe in our Chriſtian Converſation; we can better be without our Apparel then with out it; for we can neither live Contentedly, nor die Comfortably p. 8with out Meekneſſe. The holy Scripture highly commends it: Chriſt Crowns it with eternal bleſſedneſſe: Matth. 5. 5.Matt 5:5and God he will guide the meek in judgement: and the meeke he will Pſal. 25. 9.Ps 25:9teach his way: he will ſave all the Meeke of the earth, he will beautifiie Pſal. 76. 9.Ps 76:9the meeke with Salvation; and therefore put on Meekneſſe.Pſ. 149. 4.Ps 149:4

And now, about to ſpeake of Meekneſſe, I cannot begin better than to crave a taſte of it in your Attention, in the words of the Apoſtle, Receive with Meekneſſe the ingrafted Jam. 1. 21.Jas 1:21word, &c. In ſpeaking of Meekneſſe, I will ſay ſomewhat of the nature of it, and ſomewhat of the kinds of it.

For the nature of it, it is a moral Ariſt. lib. 4. Ethic. c. 5.vertue; and vertue, to ſpeak plainly, is the right uſe of Reaſon in the goverment of the affections and paſſions of the ſoule; for knowledge or reaſon being an Act of the ſoule reſulting p. 9from the prime faculty the mind or underſtanding, by diſcourſe, doth worke upon the Inferiour part of the ſoule, the will and affections, informes them in the choice, and rectifies them Nil ſunt virtutes niſiordinatae affectiones. Bern.in the uſe of things good and lawfull; hence comes paſsion to be ruled by reaſon, and Reaſon to be guided by Religion, and then is a Christian Man in his right temper when the Will and Affections with all external actions are ordered according to the enlightened rule of Rectified Reaſon.

Affections we cannot be without, for they are natural, implanted in the Affectiones utiles & à natura ad virtutem datae. Juſt. Lipſ. in Manuduc. ad Stoic. Philo. lib. 3 diſſert. 7. 121. b. Affectus velut ubertas eſt naturalis, ad quam cum verus cultus acceſſerit, ſtatim cedentibus vitiis, fruges virtutis oriuntur. Lact. l. 6. cap. 15. ad Juſt. Lipſ. in lib. 3. Manud. ad Sto. Philoſ. diſ. 7.ſoule by the Maker of it, and the operations of them are not in vaine; for of great uſe they are in Religion; they helps to devotion and to dutie; they are the wings of the ſoul that carrie it up to Heaven in Devotion; and they are p. 10the Wind of the ſoul that carries it on in Sine iis (i… affectionibus) languebit omnis actio, & vis ac vigor animi reſolvetur. Sen. lib. 1. de Ira. Conſule Juſtum Lipſium in lib. 3. Manud. ad Stoicam Philoſophiam, diſſert. 7. p. 121. …. Non enim ratio Omnem prorſus evellere perturbationem animi conatur, cum neque fleri id poſſit neque expediat: ſed proponit finem ei quend…m qui imponit o…dinem, ingeneratque virtutes mo…ales quoe non ſunt vacuatates motuum ſeu affectuum animi, ſed eorum mediocritates, & concinitates, &c. Plutarch. de virtute Moral. cap. 10.dutie to God; were there not affections, we ſhould neither feare God, nor love Goodneſſe, nor hate evil, nor deſire happineſſe, nor rejoyce in the Lord, nor be zealous for his glory; yet the affections when they are in their Elevation, and grow into exceſſe, they degenerate into paſſions; and paſſions are fell and fierce; qua data porta ruunt; upon any occaſion break forth into diſtemper to the great diſquiet and diſturbance of the mind; Now vertue it is that does Moderate, finds out a meane, ſets the affections in a right frame and temper; brings into the ſoul a ſweet conſent, a heavenly harmony, a bleſſed tranquillity.

The affections and paſſions are of p. 11themſelves unruly, head-ſtrong and Unde Plutarch. Moral. in lib. de virtute morali. cap. 13. Bruta pars devincitur rationi, ac contemperatur, mirabili exornata obedientia, ac tranquillitate &c. Ita vehementes, furi…ſos rabidoſque motus ralio extinxit, &c. Per tot. cap. 20. lib. Plutarch. de virtute moral.violent; the Wiſdome and Grace which God gives to keep in and under theſe brutiſh affections, and ſweetly to temper them, is vertue; it bounds the affections, and binds up the paſſions, which like nocent beaſts (if they enjoy'd their own liberty) would do much harme and ſtrangely diſtemper the world as well as man.

The act of vertue then is to obſerve foreign. Ariſt lib. 2. Ethic. c. 6.a golden mean between two extremes; and ſo we ſee in temperance, whereof Meekneſſe is a ſpecies, it is liberal without laviſhneſſe: Frugal without Covetouſneſſe: Civil without ſullenneſs: Stai'd without ſlothfulneſſe: affable without wantonneſſe: Modeſt without affectation: Shamefac'd without ignorance: Zealous without p. 12Raſhneſſe: devout, and yet not ſuperſtitious: preciſe, but not ſcrupulous: ſevere but not injurios: Auſtere, but not malicious: ſtrict, but not Contentious; in a word, it bridles Anger, mitigateth griefe, moderateth joy, that a man is neither over-joyd at the fruition, nor over-griev'd at the want or loſſe of things moſt dear and delightfull. It ſheweth, when, and how farre, and for what, we may be angry, or glad, or ſorrowfull; where we muſt love, and what we muſt hate; and ſeaſons all our Actions with that due time which is appointed for every thing under the fun. And as for Meekeneſse, it is chiefely ſhewn in bearing and forbearing.

For he is Meeke that being provoked by injuries, doth patiently beare, and having opportunities of Revenge put into his hands, doth quietly forbeare.

The Meeke (ſaith Beza) are the p. 13gentle, mild, and courteous, oppoſ'd to ſuch as are wild, fierce and ſavage.

He is Meeke (ſaith Hemingius) that bridles his affections, who is not eaſily provokt, and very ready to forgive Mites ſunt qui cedunt improbrationibus, et non reſiſtunt in malo, ſed vincunt in bono malum. Aug. in Ser. Domini in monte.an injurie.

He is Meeke (ſaith Melanchthon) that poſſeſſes his ſoul in patience, contents himſelf, and leaves vengeance unto God.

He is Meeke (ſaith Calvin) that reſiſteth not evill, but overcometh evill with good.

He is Meeke (ſaith Ambro. Cath.) who bridleth his affections that he is not Angry; or being Angry, ſinneth not.

He is Meeke (ſaith Caſſiodorus) that ſuffers all wronges, and wrongs none.

He is Meeke (ſaith Hierom) who is ſo farre from doing hurt, that he thinks none.

By theſe deſcriptions which theſe

p. 14Author give of the Meeke, we eaſily underſtand what the nature of Meekneſſe is. It is a rare vertue, the true Character of a Saint, the proper Garbe of Election, Sanctification, Adoption.

By it we reſemble God the Father who is the Father of Mercies, and God of all Conſolation.2 Cor. 1. 3.2 Cor 1:3

By it we reſemble God the Son, whoſe proper Attribute is to be Meeke and lowely.Mat. 11. 29Matt 11:29

By it we reſemble God the Holy Ghoſt the Comforter, who to ſhew the meek and Gentle properties of his nature, appeared in the ſhape of a dove.Mat. 3. 16.Matt 3:16

It is a Certaine ſigne of heavenly-mindedneſſe; for as the ſuperior part of the world, and that which is neareſt Pars ſuperior mundi & ordinatior, ac propinqua ſideribus, nec in nubem cogitur, nec in tempeſtatem impellitur, nec verſatur in turbinem: omni tumultu caret, inferiora fulminant. Seneca lib. 3. de Ira. cap. 6.the ſtarres, hath neither Clouds nor Stormes, nor any Meteors engendered p. 15in it, nor is it ſubject to perturbation; omni tumultu caret; all is calm & quiet there: whereas thundering, lightning, ſtormes, and tempeſts, are engendered in the lower parts. So the good Chriſtian whoſe Converſation is in heaven, whoſe thoughts are above the Clouds, and is mov'd with nothing here below is free from Mallice, envie, revenge, hatred, diſdain, and is alwayes Calme, quiet, modeſt, mild, gentle.

Meekeneſse it is placed betweene foreign. Ariſt. lib. 2. Ethic. cap. 7.two extreames.

On the one ſide is Anger, a hot fierce and fiery paſſion.

ON the other ſide Lenitude, or rather dulneſſe and ſtupidity, a ſlow, idle, dull affection.

The formet of theſe I may compare to fire; the Prophet hath done p. 16it for me: ſhall thy wrath burn like fire? the latter unto water, which of it ſelfe without an higher Principle of Nature, is cold and chill, very hardly either moved to good, or remov'd from evil; thus the Meek man is ſet in the midſt of evil: if he incline to foreign. Ariſt. Eth. l. c 6. foreign. Ariſt. lib. 4. Ethic. c. 5.one hand, he is in danger to be ſcorch'd with the burning fire of anger: if to the other hand, to be drown'd in the dead: ſea of dulneſſe or ſenſeleſſe ſtupidity; medio tutiſſimus, no ſafety but in a meane between the two, and that is Meekneſs.

Thus the meek man muſt paſſe through fire and water; ſo the Pſalmiſt ſpeaking of the injuries Gods people endured, ſets forth how hardly they were put to it, We went (ſaith he) through fire, and through water: but thou broughteſt us out into a wealthy place. The meek man in the Pſal. 66. 12Ps 66:12midſt of miſchief hath the promiſe p. 17of Gods preſence and protection, Iſa. 43. 2. When thou paſſeſt througb the water, I will be with thee: and Iſa. 43. 2.Isa 43:2through the rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee: when thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee; and this for the Nature of Meekneſse.

For the kinds of Meekneſſe; There is a Meekneſs towards God, and a Meekneſſe towards man.

For Meekneſſe reſpecteth both God and man; it ſets the ſoul in a right temper to God, and alſo to man.

Meekneſſe towards God, is a willing and ready ſubmiſſion of our judgements and affections to the will and pleaſure of God in all things, without fretting, murmuring or repining.

For as we muſt not queſtion the the Juſtice of God in ſuffering the wicked to proſper:

So neither muſt we murmure at p. 18the godneſſe and providence of God in ſuffering the godly to be afflicted. Why God doth ſuffer it to go ill with the good, and well with the bad; that the worſt proſper beſt, and the beſt ſuffer moſt, is a ſecret of divine providence which we muſt ſubmit unto, not queſtion: knowing that wicked men, the more happy they are, the more wretched they are; for what greater Wretchedneſs can there be then to proſper in evil Courſes? Gods dealing… … this particular, & his diſpenſation of outward bleſſings is both wiſe and juſt. Why God doth ſo or ſo, he is not bound to give us an account; ſecret he may be, unjuſt he cannot be.

Here then let us acquieſce; the Juſtice of God herein is not to be accuſed of partiality, as if he lightly paſſed by, and ſlightly paſſed over the ſins of ſome, as an Accepter of perſons (when God knows there is nothing in their perſons he ſhould accept) but we muſt p. 19let God alone with his own Work, and ſuffer him to take his own way; for though he permit the wicked to proſper, to proceed and go on in an uninterrupted ſtate of outward felicity and immunity from dangers; though he ſeeme to order and diſpoſe all occaſions and occurents for their advancement in this preſent world; and although they be not unfurniſhed of pretences both plauſible and pleaſing (as a thing Cuſtomable and Common in the world, and therefore the leſſe queſtionable, and more excuſable in the judgments of corrupt men) entertaining any means, undertaking any condition, laying hold of any advantage, ſticking at nothing that may help or further their intereſt, or mount them to the top of their deſires; yet that light, and thoſe notions they labour to quench, and eradicate, breaks in upon them; and many times in the midſt of their p. 20confidence they are brought into ſtraights; and at length thoſe dreadful curſes and maledictions, which continually dogge them, will ſurely overtake them, either at their paſſage out of this life, or entrance into another, (though Babylon ſit as a Queen, and ſee no ſorrow, yet God doth know her day is coming). So God may connive at them, he conſents not to them: He may ſeeme to pave their way to hell with oyle and butter: ſuffer them to play with the Waſpe and Hornets neſt, till they be ſtung to death; they have all things they can deſire, but as nets and ſnares, and a curſe withal, as the Iſraelites had Quailes; we ſee their open pride, we ſee not their ſecret pinches. Envie not therefore the proſperity of wicked men, fret not thy ſelfe becauſe of evil doers, but obſerve the end of the Lord.Pſal. 37. 1Ps 37:1

Surely their condition is uncertain, p. 21they have no ſure ſtanding; God hath ſet them in ſlippery places, and their foot ſhall ſlip in due time, which Pſal. 73. 18. Pſal. 34. 35.Ps 73:18Ps 34:35ſhould invite them to repentance, or a greater fall: and therefore that God doth ſuffer them, and ſuſpend his vengeance, as it doth commend his patience and abundant clemencie; ſo ſhould it ſilence our murmuring, cauſe us applaud his wiſdom and juſtice, to be contented with hi dealings, Job. 21. 7. Pſal. 10. 13. Pſal. 73. 3. &c. Jer. 12. 1.Job 21:7Ps 10:13Ps 73:3Jer 12:1and put on meekneſs.

I know how many good men have been ſtrangely affected at Gods doings in this kind. Job and David, and Aſaph and Jeremiah with others. But after a thorough ſearch and examination of Gods waies, they reſted therewith not contented only but thankful, acknowledging their errors and overſight, and admiring the juſtice of heaven, who ſooner or later will not ſuffer the wicked to go Gen. 15. 16.Gen 15:16unpuniſhed. When their iniquitie p. 22is full, and the harveſt of their ſins Rev. 14. 15.Rev 14:15ripe, God will put in his ſicle, and they ſhall ſoon be cut down as the graſs, and wither as the green herb. Pſal. 37. 2Ps 37:2And if they ſcape free in this life as ſeldome they do, yet in the life to come they ſhall meet with wrath and vengeance in full vials: and therefore though ſtout and ſtubborn ſinners do think to bear up themſelves againſt the juſtice of heaven, yet know there is placed over them an armed revenger who will not acquit the wicked of his doings; for Gods patience and ſilence have fixed bounds; he will plead his own cauſe, will right his Saints, and puniſh the wicked after their deſervings: For the time when he will do it, that we muſt leave to God; it is not for us to know the times and ſeaſons, which the Father hath kept in his own power. Acts. 1. 7.Acts 1:7All that we know is, that there is truth in Gods word, and power in his p. 23hand. He is not (as Caecilius in Minutius Felix alledges) invalidus aut iniquus, unable and cannot, or unjuſt and will not; but he both can and will make good his word upon them. For the time when, and the means how he will do it, we muſt leave to his ordering: we have ſeen Meteors blaze by night, and periſh the next morning with the Riſing Sun. They have their Heaven here, till Pſal. 55. 23. Job. 21. 15. Pſal. 37. 9, 10. Pſal. 73. 19 2 Pet. 3. 22. Pſal. 22. 12. 2 Pet. 2. 12. Luk. 23. 30. Rev. 6. 16. Iſa. 2. 19. Hoſ. 10. 8.Ps 55:23Job 21:15Ps 37:9Ps 37:10Ps 73:192 Pet 3:22Ps 22:122 Pet 2:12Luke 23:30Rev 6:16Isa 2:19Hos 10:8ſuddenly the Oracles of God take place, and then in a moment they tumble into the pit.

Their good is not in their hand; for a moment ſhall devour them with their portions. Though they ſcape for a time, thinking, ſpeaking, doing what they pleaſe, wallowing as Swine in the mire, and fatted as Buls of Baſan for the day of ſlaughter; yet when the Heavens ſhall melt, and the Mountains be moved, what covert ſhall hide them from that wrath p. 24which they ſhall not be able to abide Victima ſacra Deo comburitur, abripit offam Hinc Aquila, ad pullos ſert que ineunda ſuos; Farali igniculus praedae interce…tus adhaeſit, Sa…r legaequ… ſacer.or evade?

No mans miſery then being greater then theirs whoſe impiety is moſt fortunate, there is greater cauſe for them to bewail their own unhappineſs, then others to envy or murmure at their happy eſtate.

There is a woe for him that encreaſeth that which is not his; we read of the Eagle ſnatching a morſel from the Altar, carried therewith the Coal that conſum'd her neſt, and Hab. 2. 6.Hab 2:6burnt up her young ones: means ill Pſal. 27. 14. Pſal. 31. 24. Iſa. 28. 16. Raro antecedentem ſceleſtum deſeriut pede poe…a claudo, Ro. 12. 19.Ps 27:14Ps 31:24Isa 28:16Rom 12:19gotten will one day more torment a man, than ever it did enrich him; and a ſucceding age (if not before) ſhall ſee them melt to nothing.

In the mean time let us take the Pſalmiſts advice, to tarry the Lords leaſure, and to wait his good pleaſure; For they that believe, will not …ke haſt. Vengeance is Gods, he will repay; if wickedneſs go before, vengeance p. 25is not far behind: it follows cloſe at the heels of wickedneſs; though hand go in hand, yet ſhall not the Pro. 11. 21.Prov 11:21wicked go unpuniſhed. For God will wound the head of his enemies, and the Pſal. 68. 21.Ps 68:21hairy ſcalp of ſuch an one as goeth on ſtill in his wickedneſs.

I know ſome are too haſty, and would prevent God; will take upon them to preſcribe him waies and means, like the two ſons of Zebedie, Luk. 9. 54.Luke 9:54fire they muſt have from heaven: our Saviour reproves their raſh and Luk. 9. 55.Luke 9:55heady Zeal, and tels them they know not of what ſpirit they are. Chriſt was their Maſter; and it is fit the Diſciples ſhould be of their Maſters ſpirit. It was a prime leſſon he would have them learn, Learn of me for I am meek and lowly: it ſeems Mat. 11. 29.Matt 11:29St. Paul had well cond this leſſon, and therefore commends it to the practiſe of his Brethren as the beſt ornament Gal. 6. 1.Gal 6:1of their profeſſion.

p. 26The ſpirit of Chriſt is a ſpirit of meekneſs; He came not to deſtroy mens lives; but to ſave them. And ſuch a Lu. 9. 56.ſpirit beſt becomes them who call themſelves by the name of Chriſt; they are much to ſeek who think Chriſt will have his cauſe vindicated with fire and ſword. That the enemies of Chriſt deſerve no better, no man doubts; but if every one ſhould have his deſert, the world would have an end; and therefore Peter muſt up with his ſword: James and John Mat. 26. 52.Matt 26:52muſt out with their fire: there will be uſe of both, but they muſt ſtay his leaſure until he call who hath the command of both.

But men are impatient, think the time long, which meaſured by their diſtempered appetites, they flie out into paſsion, and accuſe God of ſlackneſs, and think they are wrong'd, if they be not preſently reveng'd, when their betters forbear and are ſtill unreveng'd: p. 27we dayly ſee it; God is provoked every day, he ſuffers much, and Pſal. 7. 11.Ps 7:11he ſuffers long, as a Cart is preſſed that Amos 2. 13.Amos 2:13is full of ſheaves; He bears the ſins of men, and forbears his Judgments, not this day, and the next, but how Mat. 23. 37. Pſal. …5. 10. Gen. 6. 3.Matt 23:37Ps 5:10Gen 6:3often? he bore with the Iſraelites fourty years; with the old world one hundred and twenty years; and ſtill every day, and all the day long, he reacheth forth the hand of mercy to a Iſa 65. 2. Ro. 10 21.Isa 65:2Rom 10:21gain-ſaying people. God hath vengeance in his power, but not in his will; if he were as impatient as man is, the Idolator in his Sacrifice: the ſwearer in his blaſphemy: the unclean perſon in his Adultery: the formaliſt in his Hypocriſy: the Epicure in the midſt of his drunkenneſs and gluttony: and Tyrants in their rage and cruelty had been conſum'd.

God is wronged, yet he endures if: God ſuffers, what no man would endure. Nay, the Son of God, Jeſus Chriſt p. 28nor Lord is not yet avenged of the injuries that have been done unto him, the Indignities that have been caſt upon him: the Blaſphemies ſpoken againſt his name; the Cruelties done againſt his ſervants; How long Lord holy and true? oh! the meekneſs, gentleneſs and patience of a bleſſed Saviour, to ſuffer a company of worms Rve. 6. 10.and vermine upon earth to blaſpheme that name, whom all the hoſt of heaven do adore: He is judged of men: but he judgeth no man: and although the Father hath committed all judgments Jo. 8. 15.John 8:15to the Son; yet the Son ſuſpendeth Joh. 5. 22.John 5:22his judgment until the appointed time, to which he hath reſerved the unjuſt to be puniſhed, Act. 17. 31.Acts 17:31when he ſhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming 2 Pet. 2. 9.2 Pet 2:9fire, taking vengeance on all them that know not God, and obey 2 Theſ. 1. 7, 8, 9.2 Thess 1:72 Thess 1:82 Thess 1:9not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And the holy Ghoſt is greived p. 29every day, reſiſted, deſpited, blaſphemed; Eph 4. 1. 3. Act. 7. 50. Heb. 10. 29 Mat. 12. 31. Lu. 12. 10. Act. 18 6. 1 Theſ. 5. 19. Rev. 3. 20. Gen. 6. 3.Eph 4:1Eph 4:3Acts 7:50Heb 10:29Matt 12:31Acts 18:61 Thess 5:19Rev 3:20Gen 6:3his motions quenched: his inſpirations ſmothered: his operations interrupted: yet ſtill he waits, expects, ſtands at the dore, and knocks: thus he doth yet, but thus he will not alwaies do; the ſpirit of the Lord will not alwaies ſtrive with man: for that he is but fleſh: he will withdraw, and will at laſt give place to that heavy indignation, which ſhall break forth from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Let us do as 2 Theſ. 1. 9. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Pſal. 14… ▪ 17.2 Thess 1:91 Cor 4:5Ps 14:17God does, judg not before the time; he is righteous in all his waies, and the diſpenſations of his providence are moſt wiſe and good. Wherefore let us not judg amiſs in repining or murmuring, either at our own ſufferings, or at his long-ſuffering thoſe that are not his. But let every one in the Phil. 2. 12.Phil 2:12fear of God, be careful to work out their own Salvation: and as for Gods enemies and theirs, let them pray for p. 30their converſion, and not ſolicite their ſubverſion before the appointed time.

Peter was chek'd for his curioſity in demanding concerning John, what ſhall this man do? If I will (ſaith Chriſt) that he ſtay till I come, what Joh. 21. 21.John 21:21is that to thee? follow thou me. What and if it be the will of God both tares and wheat ſhould grow up together Mat. 13. 30.Matt 13:30to the harveſt? What and if God willing to ſhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endure with much patience the veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction? ſhall man repine Ro. 9. 22.Rom 9:22at the doings of his Maker? rather in all humility let us ſubmit our ſelves to his moſt juſt and wiſe deſignments, reſt contented with his proceedings, and put on meekneſs.

Secondly, as we muſt not call in Queſtion the juſtice of God in ſuffering the wicked to proſper, ſo neither muſt we murmure at the goodneſs and providence of God in ſuffering p. 31the godly to be afflicted.Jo. 16. 20, 33. Jo. 15. 20. Pſ. 34. 19. Act. 14. 22 1 The. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 3. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Job. 14. 1. Eccl. 40. 1. 1 Pe. 4. 12.John 16:20John 16:33John 15:20Ps 34:19Acts 14:222 Tim 3:122 Cor 5:21Job 14:1Sir 40:1

For affliction is the Saints lot; the portion of the Righteous; the Legacy Chriſt bequeathed his own Diſciples: in the world ye ſhall have trouble; and in the whole book of God we read of one that ſinned not, but not of any one that ſuffered not.

Nullus ſervus Chriſti, ſine tribulatione eſt; ſi pu…as te non habere perſecutiones▪ nondum coepiſti eſſe Chriſtianus, Aug.

Si exceptus es paſſion… flagellorum, exceptus es a munere ſi i…um. Idem de paſſ. Vide Hieron. ad Euſtoch.

And therefore reaſon ſhould teach us to put on meekneſs, to ſuffer affliction with a quiet and contented mind: for who can think to eſcape that which hath befaln all? and not to do willingly, what muſt of neceſsity be done?

Fer quod ſors praeſens tibi fert; nam, ferre recuſans te laedes; & te ſors tam…n abriviet Baſilius. Proximus Deo plenus est flagillis. Amb. Clem. Alex. lib. 2. Stromat.

And Religion teaches that it is the way of all Saints; no man ever came p. 32to heaven but by it: and if we be no worſe us'd then Gods beſt beloved friends, we have no cauſe of complaint.

See firſt what they endur'd: and how they endur'd it.

They endured ſorrows not to be endur'd: they had tryal of cruel mockings and ſcourgings: yea moreover of Bonds and impriſonments: they were ſtoned: they were ſawn aſunder: were tempted: were ſlain Heb. 11. 36, 37, 38.Heb 11:36Heb 11:37Heb 11:38with the ſword: they wandered about in ſheep-skins, and goat-skins; being deſtitute, afflicted, tormented. This they ſuffered.

How ſuffered they this? They went away rejoycing that they were accounted worthy to ſuffer for the Act. 5. 41.Acts 5:41name of Chriſt. And the Apoſtle tels us of the Hebrews, that they ſuffered Heb. 10 34Heb 10:34with joy the ſpoiling of their goods. And if we look higher, and take our direction from a clearer ſight, let us p. 33look to Jeſus the author and finiſher Heb. 12. 2. Lam. 1. 12. Joh. 8. 46. Joh. 10 32 Mat. 9. 36. Mat. 14. 14 Mat. 15▪ 32 Mat. 4. 23. Joh. 1. 11. Joh. 5. 44, 46. Joh 6. 64. & 12. 37. Mat. 11. 19 Mar. 3. 22. Mat. 17. 17 Joh. 11. 33 Mar. 3. 5. Pſal. 2. 1. Iſa. …3. 7.Heb 12:2Lam 1:12John 8:46John 10:32Matt 9:36Matt 14:14Matt 15:32Matt 4:23John 1:11John 5:44John 5:46John 6:64John 12:37Matt 11:19Mark 3:22Matt 17:17John 11:33Mark 3:5Ps 2:1Isa 3:7of our ſaith: no mans ſufferings were ever like his (while he lived upon earth,) though he walked unblamably, never hurt any, pitied all, helped all that came unto him, yet he was not believed in his word, he was reproached in his life, hated in his perſon, greived in his ſpirit, the whole way of the world went againſt him, yet his meekneſs was as great as his ſufferings. To ſuffer what he ſuffer'd with patience, was much: but to ſuffer with ſilence, was much more: many times in the midſt of their afflictions, men uſe to releive themſelves with complaints: But He was led as a lamb to the ſlaughter, and as a ſheep is dumb before the ſhearer, ſo opened he not his Iſa. 42. 23.Isa 42:23mouth. There was no complaint in his lips: no clamour in his tongue: he did not cry, neither was his voice heard in the ſtreets; and Saint Paul would have all Chriſtian men to be p. 34of the ſame temper: for hereunto Phil. 2. 5.Phil 2:5are we call'd (ſaith Saint Peter) to be partakers of his ſufferings; for he ſuffered for us, leaving us an example that we ſhould follow his ſteps.

Not only to ſuffer what he did: 1 Pet. 2. 21.1 Pet 2:21but to ſuffer as he did, with the ſame quietneſs of mind, meekneſs and humility.

Can there be a ſtronger inducement to meekneſs in the midſt of afflictions then the example of Chriſt? The Author to the Hebrews adviſeth to conſider him that endur'd ſuch contradiction of ſinners leſt, ye be wearied and Heb. 12. 3.Heb 12:3faint in your minds. Thus whether we look upon the example, (our Saviour Chriſt) or the virtue exemplified (meekneſs) both are worthy out imitation. Such a virtue were to be imitated in any perſon: ſuch a perſon to be followed in any virtue. So then the more meek a man is, the more like Chriſt he is, & conſequently p. 35the more heavenly and happy he is; and therefore put on meekneſs.

Our enemy the Devil knows how uſeful a garment our meekneſs is, and therefore would rob us of it.

God ſuffer'd him to practice upon Job. 1. 12.Job 1:12Job; but by all the loſſes and croſſes he brought upon him, he could not provoke him to murmuring and impatience. Job. 1. 22.Job 1:22He had thought to have given his meekneſs the foyl, by laying his hand upon his body. For he ſaid, put forth thine hand upon his bone, and upon his fleſh, and he will curſe thee Job. 2. 5.Job 2:5to thy face.

But as cunning as the tempter was here, he was deceived: for Job was Job. 2. 10.Job 2:10reſolv'd nor to curſe God though he kild him: he knew the utmoſt extent Job. 13. 15Job 13:15of Sathans power was but his body, and if it muſt be ſo, he is willing to lay it down with meekneſs, in aſſurance to have it reſtor'd: and to receive it again, compleat in all the p. 36Job. 19. 25▪ 26, 27.Job 19:25Job 19:26Job 19:27parts of it. Though Job could object his innocency againſt Satans calumny, he will not therefore preſently murmur and call in queſtion Gods goodneſs, but will attend with patience, the further manifeſtation of his good will and pleaſure; and in the mean time put Ad aliquem uſum ſanctorum ordinatur omnis actus impiorum a ſummo Deo, a qui pro ſui regiminis aequitate, bene utitur etiam malis, ut qui ſuo arbitrio injuſte vivunt, illius judicio juſtè diſponantur. Aug. contra Fauſt. Manic. lib. 16. cap. 21.his mouth in the duſt. Oh then when God threatens, let us meet him on our knees, and like obedient Children kiſs the rod, and give glory to the hand that guids it, and ſay with holy Job, Shall we receive good from God: and ſhall we not receive evil alſo? God is the fountain of all goodneſs, and if he be pleaſed to turn our ſweetneſs into a little bitterneſs, ſhall we repine at the omnipotent wiſdom of our Maker? God is ſo good, that he would ſuffer none evil to befal us, except he were ſo wiſe, as to know how to extract good out of evil, and to make the afflictions of his Children (like ſo many parallel lines) meet in the p. 37center of his glory and their good: making all things work together for the Rom. 8. 28Rom 8:28good of them that are his.

There are divers caſes men frame to themſelves, which cauſes them to entertain their ſufferings with impatience.

Firſt, they are not thorowly perſwaded Amos. 4. 6, 7, 8, 9.Amos 4:6Amos 4:7Amos 4:8Amos 4:9their afflictions are from God, and therefore they fly out and are unquiet, they blame their ſtars, they rail on fortune, and after a brutiſh manner like unreaſonable creatures they let fly at the ſtone, and never eye the hand that ſent it (Subordinate means, ſecond cauſes, and ſuch men and things which God only makes inſtrumental to his providence) they imputing their ſufferings to any thing rather than God; wheras indeed they ſhould look beyond all things below unto an hand above that guideth all: for what can any thing do, or be, without him, who is the firſt Agent p. 38Amos. 3. 6.Amos 3:6and original of all being? both producing Job. 5. 6.Job 5:6and imploying ſubordinate means to his own wiſe purpoſes: contriving and fetching about all things, and acting them according to own will?

This not well conſidered, but men in their afflictions poring too much upon immediate Inſtruments, and ſecond cauſes, break out into paſsion and impatience, fretting and fuming and meditating revenge: but when they conſider they have to do with God, this ſilences all complaints, makes the ſufferer quietly to ſubmit, and to acknowledg the hand of God, Pſa. 39. 9.Ps 39:9and that there is no ſtriving with his Iſal. 4. 59.Maker; when Saint Pauls friends underſtood the mind of God concerning his Bonds and Impriſonment, and that no fear of danger could divert him from his peremptory reſolution of going to Hieruſalem, they ceaſed to importune him, ſubmitting unto p. 39the will of the Lord, the diſpoſer and Act. 21. 13 14.Acts 21:13orderer of all events. And David was ſilent when he was ſatisfied concerning his ſufferings, that they were from God; he laies his hand upon his mouth, and ſaies no more, But I became dumb and opened not my mouth, Pſal. 39 9Ps 39:9for it was thy doing.

Yea, in our bleſſed Saviours ſufferings See all the Goſpels, Mat. 26. 27. Mar. 14. 15 Luk. 22. 23 Joh. 18. 19 Joh 19. 11Matt 26:27Mark 14:15Luke 22:23John 18:19John 19:11the gates of hell, and powers of darkneſs, the Jews and Judas, Pilate and Caiphas, the Prieſts and the Soldiers, active inſtruments all of them, but their power was derived from God, their malice limited by God; and they did that, and no Joh. 19 36John 19:36more could they do, but what the hand of God and his Counſel determined before to be done: and all that Act. 2. 23Acts 2:23was done unto him, and all that was ſuffered by him, he acknowledges to be Gods doing, not theirs, the ſorrow wherewith the Lord afflicted him. Could we take this courſe in p. 40Lam. 1. 12Lam 1:12our private and publick calamities, to Rev. 3. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Pſal. 119. 75. Mat. 10. 29. Luk. 12 6. 7.Rev 3:192 Pet 2:9Ps 119:75Matt 10:29Luke 12:6Luke 12:7take them as from God, the effects of his love, wiſdom and faithfulneſs, without whoſe providence a ſparrow fals not to the ground, nor a hair from our heads: that theſe things are done unto us in ſingular wiſdom, and ſpecial love to our ſouls: ſo David took them; I know (ſaith he) O Lord, that thy Iudgments are right: and that thou in faithfulneſs haſt afflicted me. This will quiet our hearts, and ſuſtain our ſpirits in the Pſ. 119. 75Ps 119:75midſt of afflictions: Be ſtill and know that I am God. When Mauritius the Pſa. 46. 10Ps 46:10Emperor his wife and five ſons were taken, his wife and five ſons put to death before his eyes, and himſelf waiting for the like fatal blow, Pſalm 119 137. Secreta …ſſe poſſunt juditia Dei, injuſta eſſe noa poſſunt. Aug.Ps 119:137concluded thus, Righteous art thou O Lord, and right are thy Iudgments. let our thoughts quietly reſt here: the cauſe of Gods Iudgments may be ſecret, and unknown to us, they cannot p. 41be unjuſt; how unjuſt ſoever Conſule de hac re Philip. Melan. locis communibus Theologicis decalamitatibus & de c…uce, ubi tractat de quatuor generibus afflictionum; foreign Non v…nit ſine merito quia Deus eſt juſtus; n…c erit ſine co…modo, quia Deus eſt bonus. Aug. foreign. Baſil. Hom il. 21.the Agents be, by which the just God ſcourges his own, who deſpightfully do their own wils, whilſt they unwittingly do Gods.

Conſider not how unjuſt the Agent is that gives the blow, as how juſt God is that guides it.

And this would be our meditation in al caſes to think whoſe hand ſtrikes: whether in Epidemical viſitations, of famine, peſtilence, or the ſword; or perſonal, as ſickneſs, poverty, ſorrow, loſs or croſs; and to conclude the blow is Gods, whoſoever or whatſoever is us'd as the weapon. Yea, it comes not without deſert, becauſe God is juſt: nor ſhall be without profit, becauſe God is good.

It is to be conſidered likewiſe that God who ſendeth afflictions, ordereth them to very good ends, as namely, to conform men to the Image of Chriſt **Heb. 2. 10 Luk. 24. 26. Iſa. 53. 3. Heb 5. 8.Heb 2:10Luke 24:26Isa 53:3Heb 5:8, who was a man of ſorrows and learn'd p. 42perience by the things he Don is ſuis Deus flagella permiſeet, ut nob is omne quod nos in ſecu'o delectabit, amareſeat: &c. Greg. ſuper Ezec. vide Sanctum Hieronymum Tom. 9. ep. 20. Anne eſt aliquid tam durum, &c. ut miſericordiam exigamus? Aug. in Pſa. 39. ad gratiam commendandam. Aug. de verb is Domini. Omnis divina percuſsio purgatio in nobis vitoe praeſent is eſt. Greg. moral. lib. 18. cap. 13. Adverſitas provatio virtut is eſt, non indicium reprobationis. Greg. in Regiſt. 1 Pet. 1. 7. Rom. 5, 3 4. Patien…ae in proſperis nullus eſt uſ…s Greg. moral. lib. 11. cap. 19. in malis quae quiſque paetit ur, non in bonis quibus fruitur, opus eſt patientia. Aug. in Joh. 12. 4. vide Tert. de paenit cap. 10. ad explorandum, deplorandum, im…lorandum. Alſted. Syſtem. Theol. Aug. in Pſ. 49. idem lib. 2. confeſſ opus enim eſt ad ſui notitiam experimento, &c. Sen. lib. de Pro. Deus utique qui quem corripit diligit quando corripit ad hoc corripit ut emendet. Cyp. lib. 4. ep. 4.Ps 391 Pet 1:7Rom 5:3John 12:4Ps 49ſuffered; To wean them from the love of this world: to make them fit for mercies: to make his mercies more choice and dear unto them: to ſoften & melt their hearts; to purge out their corruptions: to kindle their zeal: to inflame their devotion: to ſtrengthen their faith: to exciſe their hope: to beget in them charity and compaſsion towards others: to make tryal of their patience: to break the pride of their ſpirits, that they may ſearch and try their waies: to teach them to deny themſelves, and caſt off their carnal confidence: to p. 43amend whatſoever he finds Deus corruptelam noſtram non patitur longius procedere, ſed plagis ac verberibus …mendat. Lact. div. Inst. lib. 3. c. 27 Aug. in Pſ. 21. in Pſa. 60. …n ſ…m. ad Lippium. Salvian. de provid. Dei. Greg. lib. 11. moral. Quos amat emendat, ſcele…ique impon…t habenas. Bapt. Man. de fortun… Genzagae Cavendum eſt vulnus quod cum dolore curatur. Adverſa corporis, remedia ſunt animae. I ſidorus de ſummo bono, lib. 3. Ad virtutes ſpectat tribulation…s fo…titer ſuſtinere. Bern. ſuper Cant. ſerm. 85. In Deo certa eſt ſiducia, quando pro bono opere adverſitas additur, in hoc mundo recipitur, ut pulchrior merces in r…tributione oeterna ſervetur. Greg. in R…giſtro. vide etiam Greg. mor. lib. 26. cap. 18.Ps 21Ps 60amiſs: making them more wary of their ſteps: and to have their converſation in the world more humble and void of offence: with a greater hatred and deteſtation of ſin: and with a more fervent deſire and care to ſerve and pleaſe God: yea, God orders their afflictions for the exerciſe of the graces he hath beſtow'd upon them in this life: and for the further encreaſe of the glory he hath prepared for them in the life to come.

Men therefore being once perſwaded of this, that all afflictions are from God, of his ſending, and of his ordering, they ſhould take up the reſolution of old Ely, It is the Lord, p. 44let him do what ſeemeth him good; for 1 Sam. 3. 18.1 Sam 3:18whatſoever ſeemeth good to him, is good indeed, howſoever it ſeem to us.

Thus God chaſteneth us for our profit, (ſaith the Author to the Hebrews) Heb. 12. 10.Heb 12:10& therfore we ſhould accept of his corrections, not with meekneſs only, but with thankfulneſs. So David thanks God for his troubles as for a ſpecial favour; It is good for me that I have been in trouble: and Pſal. 119. 71. Pſa. 94. 12Ps 119:71Ps 94:12pronounces ſuch for bleſſed, Bleſſed are they whom thou chaſteneſt. For Gods love is the ground of all bleſſedneſs; and that may conſiſt with affliction, inſomuch that God loveth not whom he afflicteth not: So that afflictions Heb. 12. 6. Rev. 3. 19. Pro. 3. 11, 12. Heb. 12. 7. Job. 5. 17. Jam. 1. 12.Heb 12:6Rev 3:19Prov 3:11Prov 3:12Heb 12:7Job 5:17Jas 1:12are tokens of Gods love, markes of Adoption, teſtimonies of eternal happineſs, and therefore we ſhould prepare our ſelves patiently to endure them, by putting on meekneſs.

But there are ſome caſes eſpecially p. 45wherein men are apt to murmure; as firſt when their troubles are extream, very great, and many, and hard to be endur'd.

Secondly, When they are tedious and of long continuance, when a man can ſee no end of his troubles, find no way to get out of them.

Or Thirdly, when they are alone, ſuffering what no man elſe, when no man beſides themſelves doth ſuffer.

Here are hard caſes put: yet ſuch as the beſt Saints of God have undergone.

This was Davids cauſe; read the 38 and the 88 Pſalm, and ſee into what a ſad and forlorn condition David was brought: what heavy complaints and grieveous lamentation doth he make, that the Arrows of Pſal. 38. 2.Ps 38:2God did ſtick faſt in him, that his hand preſſed him ſore, that their was 3.no ſoundneſs in his fleſh, that he was p. 46bowed down greatly, and went 6.mourning all the day long: that 11. Pſal. 88. 3.Ps 88:3there was none to comfort him; lovers, friends, neighbours, acquaintance ſtood a far off, that his ſoul was full of troubles, that his life drew nigh unto the grave; that the wrath of God lay heavy upon him: 7.that he afflicted him with all his waves.

This was Jobs caſe, for he acknowledgeth he wanteth words to Job. 6. 4.Job 6:4expreſs his grief: for (ſaith he) the Arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poyſon whereof drinketh up my ſpirit; the terrors of God ſet themſelves in array againſt me. That Moneths of vanity and weariſome nights were appointed to him; That he could Job 7. 3.Job 7:3not reſt day nor night; But was full of toſſings too and fro; ſo diſquieted 4.he was, that he curſed the day of his nativity, and wiſhes that he had been as an untimely birth: or p. 47Job. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10Job 3:4Job 3:5Job 3:6Job 3:7Job 3:8Job 3:9Job 3:10as infants vvhichwhich never ſee the light; Job. 3. 16.Job 3:16yea his diſtemper grevv to that heighth that he breaks forth and cries out, O that it vvould pleaſe God Job. 6. 9. O utinam è noſtro ſecedere corpore poſſim.Job 6:9to deſtroy me, that he vvould let looſe his hand and cut me off. Thus Jobs ſufferings vvere great, vvhichwhich vvere the cauſe of much diſquiet to that good-man: his life vvas full of Job. 14. 1. Job. 1—. Job. 2. 7. Job. 7. 11. 14, 15.Job 14:1Job 1Job 2:7Job 7:11Job 7:14Job 7:15miſery, he ſuffered loſſe in his Eſtate, fear in his children, pain in his body, horror in his ſoul, diſcouragement from his friends. Now to ſettle the mind, & Job. 16. 2.Job 16:2quiet it in the midſt of theſe troubles, vvhen at any time they come thick and threefold:

It muſt be conſidered that God is with his children in their greateſt afflictions, and his preſence ſweetens Iſa. 42. 2. 3.Isa 42:2Isa 42:3every condition; for where he is, he is not as an idle ſpectator of their miſeries: but there is with him help, Iſa. 50. 9.Isa 50:9and comfort, and light, and life.

Where he is, no evil can be feared, p. 48no greater good deſired; he raiſes Pſal. 23. 4. Pſalm 73. 25. Iſa. 40. 1, 2 Pſal. 84. 11Ps 23:4Ps 73:25Isa 40:1Isa 40:2Ps 84:11the ſpirit, comforts the heart; he is a Sun ro give light unto them, and a Shield to defend them; when one is brought to that extremity, that not an Angel, nor any creature can help; when friends, and means, and fl…ſh, and heart, and life, and all do fail, he ſtands by and is the ſtrength Pſalm. 73. 26.Ps 73:26of the heart, and our portion for ever: where God is, there no true comfort Pſal. 23. 1. Pſalm 37. 16. Pro. 15. 17, & 17. 1. 1 Kin. 17. 14. Exod. 17. 6. Exod▪ 16. 4. 13, 14. Pſal. 46. per tótum. Mat. 4. 4. Gen. 22. 14. Micah 7. 8, 9, 10, 11 Haggai 2. 19.Ps 23:1Ps 37:16Prov 15:17Prov 17:11 Kgs 17:14Exod 17:6Exod 16:4Exod 16:13Exod 16:14Ps 46Matt 4:4Gen 22:14Mic 7:8Mic 7:9Mic 7:10Mic 7:11Hag 2:19can be wanting.

If means, be little, he can bleſſe it, and make it a ſufficiency.

If there be no means, he can create it, and cauſe a plenty.

And in greateſt Exigencies God can ſo ſupply that he can make the eſtate of his Children as Comfortable as if they had all good things at hand. God will be ſeen in the Mount: mans extremity is Gods opportunity: there's no man can be brought to that deſperate ſtate whom he cannot p. 33eaſily and ſpeedily Recover.Hagga. 2. 19. Pſal. 23. 4. 1 Sam. 30. 6. Act. 12. 6. Acts 26. 25. Dan. 6. 22. Dan. 3. 25. 27. 2 Cor. 1. 5. Pſ. 94. 19.Ps 23:41 Sam 30:6Acts 12:6Acts 26:25Dan 6:22Dan 3:25Dan 3:272 Cor 1:5Ps 94:19

If God be with him, David will fear none evil, though he walk in the midſt of the valley of the ſhadow of death, and his own people talk of ſtoning him. Peter can ſleep ſecurely; and Paul ſing ſweetly in the Priſon, if God be with them. Daniel in the Lyons den, and the three Children in the fiery Furnace, are ſafe through the preſence of God. He proportions his Conſolations to their afflictions: let Iſa. 50. 10.Isa 50:10not then their hearts faint, nor their faith faile, but when they ſit in darkneſſe, and ſee no light, let them truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay Jer. 2. 13. Jer. 17. 13. Pſal. 36. 9. Prov. 9. 17. Revel. 22. 17.Jer 2:13Jer 17:13Ps 36:9Prov 9:17Rev 22:17themſelves upon their God, let them not flye to broken Ciſterns, ſeeing they have the fountain at hand; and let them not long for ſtoln waters when they may drink their fill at the ſpring or well of Life. Wherefore ſtands God by them, but to fill them with his Grace, to ſupport them in p. 50times of danger and difficulty? then hope holdeth up the heart; and faith aſſures their hope, that eaſe, and reſt, Iſa. 57. 2.Isa 57:2and peace and deliverance will come: and who ever truſted in God, and was Pſal. 22. 4. 5.Ps 22:4Ps 22:5diſappointed? the conſideration here of made David to check the diſquietneſſe of his own heart, and to put it Pſal. 42 5. 11.Ps 42:5Ps 42:11upon Record as one of his experimented Obſervations, that in all his time he never ſaw the Righteous forſaken.Pſalm. 37. 25.Ps 37:25

Indeed they may find much trouble, feel much ſadneſs, be brought to Aſſligeris quidem aliquandiu; ſed ſi ad eum redieris, te ita proſperabit ut vehement…r gaudeas & prae gaudio inriſum ſolvaris. Mercerus in Job, cap. 8.a very low ebb: but God will bring them up again: **Iſa. 60. 14, 15▪ 16, &c. Deut. 32. 36. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Pſ. 51. 8. 12. Pſal. 126. 5, 6, Mark 2. 5. Iſa. 61. 3, & 49. 19. Pſal. 30. 5. Iſa. 55, 12. Iſa. 61. 2. Mat. 5. 4. Joh. 14. 16.Isa 60:14Isa 60:15Isa 60:16Deut 32:362 Pet 2:9Ps 51:8Ps 51:12Ps 126:5Ps 126:6Mark 2:5Isa 61:3Isa 49:19Ps 30:5Isa 55:12Isa 61:2Matt 5:4John 14:16or if he do not, hec hath ſupplies, and ſupports for them.

p. 51Men ſee their ſorrows and ſufferings; Habe…t intus q…o gaudeat. Aug. in Pſ. 30. Boni latent▪ quia …onum ipſorum in occ…lto e…, & tam merita …o…um ſ…n… in abſcondito conſtituta q…m…ae…i…. Aug. ſ…nt 201. Judg…s 14. 8. 1 Cor. 7. 30 Prov. 14. 10. Joh. 16. …0. Luk. 1. 47. Gal. 6. 24. Mat. 5. 12. Pſalm. 86. 4. 1. Cor. 2. 9 Joh. 16 22. Iſa. 31. 1….Ps 301 Cor 7:30Prov 14:10John 16Luke 1:47Gal 6:24Matt 5:12Ps 86:41 Cor 2:9John 16:22Isa 31:1but their Comforts and joyes men ſee not, which are ſuch as the world knows not of, ſuch as the world cannot deprive them of.

God hath a hottle for their teares; Pſal. 56. 8. Pſal. 69. 9. Ro. 15. 3. Judges 10. 16 Pſal. 41. 3. Deut. 33. 27. Pſal. 37. 17. 24. Pſal. 57. 2. 1 Sam. 25. 29.Ps 56:8Ps 69:9Rom 15:3Judg 10:16Ps 41:3Deut 33:27Ps 37:17Ps 37:24Ps 57:21 Sam 25:29in all their afflictions he is afflicted; he is about their bed; he putteth under his everlaſting Armes, and upholdeth them with his hand from ſinking: their bodies may lye in pain, but their ſouls ſhall live at eaſe; and however it fare with them in their outward eſtate, their Soul ſhall be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord their God: Nay, he will ſo ſtrengthen them with his Grace, arm them with patience, endue them with Wiſdome, protect them with his p. 36power, and cheer them with his Spirit, that neither paines of death, nor powers of hell, ſhall be able to prevaile againſt them.

For when the World and the Devil diſcover their greateſt malice, he reveales his greateſt mercies: the comforts of his love, the joy of his preſence, the light of his countenance, the bleſſing of his aſſiſtance, found and felt in the forgiveneſſe of ſins, in the teſtimony of Conſcience, in the ſupplyes of his Spirit, and aſſurance of Salvation, are ſufficient to convince all accuſations of Men or Devils; to ſilence all murmurings and impatience of our own hearts, to heal all diſtempers of mind, and to eſtabliſh and ſettle the Soul in quietneſſe and meekneſs.

For the continuance of ſorrow:

To ſuffer much, and to ſuffer long, is a ſtrong temptation, too ſtrong for p. 37fleſh to ſuſtain; for one to live many Pſal. 90. 10. Gen. 49. 7. Job. 5. 7. Job. 9. 25. Ita ſit miſeris mors, ſine mors finis ſine fine, defectus ſine defectu, quia & mors vivit, & finis ſemper incipit, & deficere defectus n…ſcit. Greg. Moral lib. 9. cap. 47. Pſal. 88. 5▪ 14. Pſal. 40. 12. Pſal. 8. 15. Pſal. 77. 8, 9. Iſa. 33. 14.Ps 90:10Gen 49:7Job 5:7Job 9:25Ps 88:5Ps 88:14Ps 40:12Ps 8:15Ps 77:8Ps 77:9Isa 33:14daies, and not ſee one good day, to begin ones life in ſorrow, and to ſee no end of it, is a ſad condition; who can bear it, and not be diſtracted? it was Davids caſe, and who of us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? (ſaith the Prophet Iſaiah.)

Yet here's the comfort, when God lengthens the day of Affliction, he enlarges his conſolation, and he will John 2. 5. Pſal. 94. 13 14. Pſal. 27. 1…. Pſal. 37. 28. Iſa. 41. 17. Heb. 13. 5. Pſal. 55. 22. Pſal. 40. 1, 2. Pſal. 50. 15. Nemo poteſt valde dolere & diu.John 2:5Ps 94:13Ps 27:1Ps 37:28Isa 41:17Heb 13:5Ps 55:22Ps 40:1Ps 40:2Ps 50:15never ſuffer his faithfulneſs to faile, or his Grace to forſake thoſe who in their ſufferings ſeek unto him; and this is one comfort in greateſt tryals, that if the affliction lye very heavy, it cannot laſt very long. The Winter dayes, they are the ſharpeſt, but they are the ſhorteſt dayes; the day of Calamity begins ſadly. Alaſs! for that day is great; none hath been like p. 54it, it is the day of Jac…bs trouble; Jer. 30. 7.Jer 30:7but abbreviatum eſt tempus; God in Righteouſneſſe will cut it ſhort; for Rom. 9. 28 Pſal. 125. 3.Rom 9:28Ps 125:3the rod of the Wicked ſhall not reſt upon the lot of the Righteous. God doth limit the times of their ſufferings, they ſhall be but for a little Pſal. 39. ult.Ps 39while, a little little while, In a little wrath I hid my face from them: for a Iſa. 54 8.Isa 54:8ſmall moment have I forſaken thee: for God is faithfull, and will not ſuffer Pro brevibus lachrymis gaudia longa met…nt. Paulinus Nolan. in Po…m. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Pet. 5. 10.1 Cor 10:131 Pet 5:10his Children to be tempted above their ſtrength, but with the temptation will make a way of Evaſion; and after they have ſuffered awhile, make them perfect; eſtabliſh, ſtrengthen, and ſettle them.

Sometimes God ſetteth down a prefixed time how long the trouble ſhall laſt; the Jewes Captivity for ſeventy years: Nebuchadnezzars humiliation Jer. 2… 11. Dan. 4. 25 Gen. 41. 1.Jer 2:11Dan 4:25Gen 41:1for ſeven years: Joſephs impriſonment for two years; the Tribulation p. 55of ſome in the Church of Smyrna for ten dayes; and when the …ev. 2. 10. Pſal. 118. 18. Pſal. 71. 20Ps 118:18Ps 71:20appointed time is come, comes eaſe.

For if God ſet down a Day, hee'l Luk. …4 6, 7. Prorſus tanquam aegrotos reficiens medicus, & quod opus eſt hoc dat, & quando opus eſt …u…c d…t. A…g. in …ſal. 14…. Pſa. 27. 14 & 3…. 35. Heb. 1…. 35, 36, 37. Hab. 2 3. Iſa 8. 17. Pſa. 2 7. 13. Pſal. 9. 18. Pſal. 77 8. 9.Luke 4:6Luke 4:7Ps 27:14Ps 3:35Heb 1:35Heb 1:36Heb 1:37Hab 2:3Isa 8:17Ps 2:7Ps 2:13Ps 9:18Ps 77:8Ps 77:9keep his Word, and his time to a minute; and therefore let our ſorrows be never ſo great or ſo grievous, ſtay Gods leaſure, waite upon his will and pleaſure; be not impatient; but with all meekneſs expect deliverance: and if the viſion ſtay, waite for it. It was Iſaiahs Reſolution, Yet will I wait upon God, though he have hid his face from us. And it was Davids Conſolation, That he verily believ'd to ſee the goodneſs of God in the Land of the living; for the poor ſhall not alwayes be forgotten; the patient abiding of the meek ſhall not periſh for ever; but hope defer'd maketh the heart ſick, this made David think and ſay that God had quite forgotten him, that he had caſt him off for ever, p. 40that he ſhould never ſee good day more.

But he acknowledges his Error, blames his Infirmity and folly thus Pſal. 77▪ 10Ps 77:10to question the nature and faithfulneſs of God.

For God is not forgetfull of his promiſe, nor unmindfull of the ſufferings of his ſervants, if he delay the actual performance of his promiſe and come not in to their help, when foreign. La…rt.and how they would have him, they muſt not murmure againſt God, nor accuſe him of ſlackeneſs, or account of what he hath promiſed after the manner of Men, as if it were only a promiſe (that is a verbal comfort) without any purpoſe of performance; for what he promiſeth he purpoſeth, and what he purpoſeth he will ſurely performe.

And therefore reſt upon his word and faithfulneſs which will never faile. We muſt not Indent with p. 41God: we may not preſcribe to him: But leave him to his own liberty: he is free, though we be bound. Let him take his own time, and go his own way; he will not be limited: he knows his time, and his time is the beſt time.

If the mercy of God appear not for Pſal. 123. 2. Judith. 9. 15, 16, 17. foreign. Greg. Naz. adverſus Eunom. Pſal. 6. 2. Num. 12.Ps 123:2Jdt 9:15Jdt 9:16Jdt 9:17Ps 6:2Num 12our Salvation this day or the next, nor perhaps for many dayes to come, wait ſtill, and in its time there ſhall be an accompliſhment of all that is promiſed.

But we are impatient; when we want any good, or feele any pain, then is our time; but then perhaps is not Gods time: we are not yet fit for mercy, though he be ever ready to ſhew it when we are, his mercy will appear; Micah 7. 18.Mic 7:18for mercy pleaſeth him.

When men are better'd and amended by afflictions, their vain imaginations caſt down, their rebellious luſts ſubdued, their minds humbled, p. 58their compaſſions towards others ſtirred up, their hard hearts ſoftned, their affections weaned from the world: when they ſearch and trye their wayes and turn to the Lord, he Acts 3. 19. 2 Chron. 7. 14.Acts 3:192 Chr 7:14will then return to them; and if he do not, let them caſt themſelves down before him with David, and ſay with him, If I ſhall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, &c. But if he thus ſay, 2 Sam. 15. 26. Jam. 1. 4. Iſa. 30. 18. Pſal. 44. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Tu, inquit, avertis faciem tuam à me; ſed ego non ſum averſus a te. Ruffin. in Pſal. 29. Nec iratum colere deſtitit numen. Sen. ad Marc. cap. 13.2 Sam 15:26Jas 1:4Isa 30:18Ps 44:17Ps 44:18Ps 44:19Ps 44:20Ps 44:21Ps 29Mark 13I have no delight in thee! Behold here am I; let him do to me, as it ſeemeth good unto him.

Patience is a grace that pleaſeth God: let it have its perfect work, and never think of leaving God, though he may ſeem to have left us.

God knows our frame and temper, and the metal we are made of: he knows our hard and ſtubborn nature that will never work kindly without the fire. Our hearts are like ſteele and iron, eaſie to be wrought any way, in the fire of affliction. If this be the, p. 59way he will work us to his purpoſe, let us yield our ſelves to be wrought upon with meekneſs; we muſt be content to endure many heates and blows untill his work be done; for when that is finiſhed, our ſufferings ſhall have an end; or if they have not, but laſt as long as life laſts, Chriſtians muſt be, Phil. 2. 8.Phil 2:8as Cbriſt was, obedient unto death.

Let us not murmure againſt God, Quid eſt q…od nos queramur deo, cum Deus magis queri d… nobis omnibus poſſ…t? quae ratio eſt ut dole…mus nos non audiri a Deo, cum ipſi Deum non audiamus? & ſuſurremus non reſpici a D…o t…rras, cum ipſi non eſpiciamus ad Caelum; & mol ſtum ſit d…ſpici a Domino preces noſtras, cum praecepta ejus d…ſpiciantur a nob…s? q…d dignius? q…id juſtius? non audivimus, non a…dimur: non reſpeximus, non reſp…cimur; quis ergo ex carnalibus dominus hac cum ſuis lege agere contentus eſt ut contemn… tantum modo ſervos ſ…os, quia fuerit ab eis ipſe contemptus? Salvianus de Gubern. Dei lib. 3. pag. 85. 86.though he ſeem to have left us and to have quite forgotten us: but let us feel our own pulſes, and lay our hands upon our hearts; for doth not God deal with us, as we have dealt with him, and pay us in our own Coine? p. 44**Hoſ. 4. 6. 9.Hos 4:6Hos 4:9have not we forgotten? have not we neglected? have not we refuſed? have not we delayed him? what can be more juſt and equal, than that he ſhould do by us as we have done by him? we are too apt to forget God and our ſelves, when all things go well with us: therefore God will have it go otherwiſe, will lay afflictions upon us, and leave us to ſtruggle under the burden, then we begin to remember there is a God, and that we our ſelves are but men; then we admire no man, and deſpiſe no man: but look up to God, and throw down our ſelves, not fretting or repining, but with all meekneſs acknowledging that God is Righteous in all his wayes, and holy in all his works.

But what if a man be alone? What Co…ia tribulationis, inopia conſolationis, quando multifaria quis patitur, & a nemine relevatur. Aug. Iſa. 63. 3. Mark 14. 50. Math. 26. 56. 2 Tim. 4. 16.Isa 63:3Mark 14:50Matt 26:562 Tim 4:16if he have none to bear a part with him in his ſorrows and ſufferings? none to pity him, to help him, to ſtrengthen him, to comfort him? this p. 45is a heavy caſe. It was our Saviours, for he trod the wine-preſs alone; and when he was ready to be offer'd, all his Diſciples forſook him and fled.

It was Saint Pauls caſe, for he complains that no man ſtood with him, but all men forſook him in his ſoreſt trials.

It was Davids caſe; I looked (ſaith he) on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would knovv Pſal. 142. 4.Ps 142:4me; refuge failed me, no man cared for my ſoul. Company is a comfort Solamen miſeris ſocios habuiſſe doloris. Eccleſ. 4. 9, 10. Gen. 2. 18.Eccl 4:9Eccl 4:10Gen 2:18in calamity, and two are better than one: but wo to him that is alone; man could not be happy in Paradiſe vvithout a companion: God ſavv it vvas not good that he ſhould be alone (nullius rei ſine ſocio jucunda eſt poſſeſſio) hovv heavy then and diſcomfortable muſt it be, in deepeſt ſorrovvs, and greateſt extremities, to have none to pity a mans caſe? all againſt him, none for p. 62him. Yet here let this be the Chriſtians Motto, Bear, forbear, for as our Saviour John. 4. 32.John 4:32ſaid to his diſciples, I have meat to eat that ye know not of; ſo Chriſtians, Vobiſcum illic in carcere quodammodo & nos ſumus: ſeparari dilection…m ſpiritus non ſinit: vos illic confeſſio, me affectio includit. Cyp. Eph. 16.though they ſeem alone in their ſufferings, have Comforts and companions the World knows not of. You ſhall leave me alone (ſaith Chriſt to his Diſciples) yet am I not alone, becauſe the Father is with me, ſo may the afflicted Chriſtian: he is not alone, God is with him, Chriſt is with him, and he is Emanuel God with us. When deareſt friends, neareſt Relations, ſtand afar off, the Lord is at hand; ſo David, when my Father and my Mother forſake me, then the Joh. 16. 32.John 16:32Lord will take me up. So St. Paul, when no man ſtood with him, but Pſa. 27. 10Ps 27:10all men forſook him, the Lord, ſaith he, ſtood with me, and ſtrengthened me. Chriſt is the Lord, and he is Emanuel, 2 Tim. 4. 16, 17. Mat. 1. 23. Iſa. 7. 14.2 Tim 4:162 Tim 4:17Matt 1:23Isa 7:14God with us.

If the trouble be any difficulty, in p. 63matter of duty to be done, he puts Da quod jubes, Domine, & jube quod vis. Aug. Mat. 11. 30. Iſa. 53. 4. 7Matt 11:30Isa 53:4Isa 53:7his neck under the yoak, and draws with us, and it becomes eaſie.

If it be any danger, any croſſe to be endun'd, he puts his ſhoulder under, helps to bear it, and the burden becomes light.

Let him never murmure at his ſufferings, that hath God and Chriſt Heb. 1. 14 Dan. 10. 19. Pſ. 34. 7. Rev. 12. 7.Heb 1:14Dan 10:19Ps 34:7Rev 12:7to bear a part with him that hath the bleſſed Angels aſſiſting, ſupporting, ſuſtaining, and as bleſſed Guardians preſerving him from all evil; and bearing him in their armes, that he Pſal. 91. 11, 12.Ps 91:11Ps 91:12daſh not his foot againſt a ſtone; the Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth Pſal. 34. 7.Ps 34:7them.

Beſides, being in the Body every Quod eſt in corpore noſtro anima, id eſt ſpiritus ſanctus in corpore Chriſti qui ſi eccleſia. Aug. Serm. 186. de temp. Oculus ſolus videt in corpore; ſed nunquid ſoli ſibi oculus videt? & manui videt, & pedi videt, & caeteris membris videt, Aug. Tract. 32. in Johannem. Si enim tauri cum taurum mortuum invenerunt, plorant, mugiunt, & quaſi qui buſdam debitis humanitatis obſequijs fraterna funera proſequuntur: quid debet homo homini, quem ratio docet, & trahit affectio? ſicut ergo ſanctis animabus imitationem. ſic mnius ſanctis compaſſionem debemus, &c. Bern. Serm. de triplici gen. bonorum. pag. 382. col. 2. F.part partakes of the priviledge of the whole; and the members ſhould have the ſame care one of another; as whether one member ſuffer, all the members ſuffer with it; for we are called p. 48and commanded to bear one anothers burdens; there is in the body a Sympathy becauſe there is a neer Conjunction of members in one body, and of the body with one head; nor can the diſtance of place diſſolve or break off that Union which the members have in the body, or the body with the head, for although the head be in Heaven, and the body upon Earth; although one member be in England, and another in India, yet the whole body being moved p. 65If we ſhould ſuppoſe a body to be as high as the Heavens, that the head thereof ſhould be where Chriſt our head is, and the feet where we his members are: no ſooner could that head think of moving one of the toes, but inſtantly the thing would be done, without any impediment given by that huge diſtance of the one from the other, and why? becauſe the ſame ſoul that is in the head, as in the fountain of ſence and motion, is preſent likevviſe in the loweſt member of the body. Uſher Archiep. Armach. in Serm. coram Dom. Com. apud Weſt. Feb. 18. 16. 20. in 1 Cor. 10. 17.1 Cor 10:17by the influence of our In toto univerſali, quicquid totius eſt, etiam partis eſt. Log. Max. Ecce spinam calcat pes: quid tam longe ab oculis quam pes? longe eſt loco, proximè eſt charitatis affectu. Lingua dicit, quid me calcas, non ipſa calcata eſt, calcas me charitas dicit. Aug. Tract. in 1. Jo. magnum profecto habituri ſunt teſtimonium quos in coelo pater ſuſceperit tanquam filios & haeredes, filius aſciverit tanquam fratres & cohaeredes, ſpiritus ſanctus adhaerentes Deo unum ſpiritum faciat eſſe cum eo. Eſt enim ſpiritus ipſe indiſſolubile vinculum trinitatis per quem ſicut pater & filius unum ſunt, ſic & nos unum ſumus in ipſis. Bern. mort. Paſch. ſer. 1. de tribus teſtimoniis in coelo & in terra pag. 189. Col. 1. in fine▪ D. E. totius orbis comunione firmamur. Aug. de unit. Ec. c. 2.Col 1head: animated and acted by one and the ſame ſpirit, whereby it came to paſs that the chiefeſt and nobleſt part is ſenſible of the hurt and ſmart of the meaneſt and feebleſt part. He then that is in the body cannot complain he is alone; ſeeing God himſelf, and the Son of God; and the ſpirit of God; and the Angels of God; and the Churches of God: all the Servants of God ſtand by him: and ſo he hath many eyes to ſee for him: many hands to work for him: many tongues to intercede for him: all bearing a part with him: enough to quiet him, to ſilence his complaints, and to let him know he ſuffers not alone.

p. 66But in another caſe, meekneſs is ſore aſſaulted, when one ſuffers what no man elſe doth. To be in trouble when all others are quiet: to lie in pain when others live at eaſe, to be in want when others have what they can deſire. To ſee wickedneſs exalted Pſa. 12. 8. Job. 24. 24 Eccl. 7. 7. Deut. 27. 25. Pſal. 10. 8.Ps 12:8Job 24:24Eccl 7:7Deut 27:25Ps 10:8& innocency oppreſſed: oppreſſion (ſaith Salomon) will make a wiſe man mad. But if God would have it ſo, there is no remedy but meekneſs.

God deals with his Children as the Embroiderer with his cloath of gold and other rich ſtuffes; cuts them into many peeces, laies them confuſedly on an heap, until he reſume them to make up his imagery. So God firſt cuts in peeces his children foreign. Greg. Naz. Orat. 19.with croſſes and afflictions, but ſets p. 67them together again in excellent forms, to be look'd upon as examples to the world, thus he dealt with Abraham, with Moſes, and with Job; that he might preſerve them, and preſent Gen. 12. Exod. 2. Job. 1. Job. 2. 7, 8.Gen 12Exod 2Job 1Job 2:7Job 2:8them as patterns of obedience, meekneſs, and patience; to all ſucceeding ages. Now if we conſier what God does to particulars, we may perhaps Quaeritur itaque, cum haec ita ſint, ſi totum quod in hoc mundo eſt, cura & gubernaculo & judicio Dei agitur; cur melior multo ſit Barbarorum conditio quam noſtra? cur inter nos quoque ipſos ſors bonorum durior quam malorum: cur probi jaceant, improbi convaleſcant? poſſim quidem rationabiliter & ſatis conſtanter dicere: neſcio ſecretum, & conſilium divinitatis ignoro, &c. Sufficiat tibi quod Deus a ſe agi ac diſpenſari cuncta teſtatur. Quid me interrogas, quare alter major ſit alter minor? alter miſer alter beatus? alter fortis, alter infirmus? qua cauſa quidem haec Deus faciat non intelligo; ſed ad pleniſſinam rationem abunde ſufficit, quod a Deo agi iſta demonſtro; ſicut enim plus eſt Deus quam omnis humana ratio: ſic plus mihi debet eſſe quam ratio, quod a Deo agi cuncta cognoſco. Nihil ergo in hac re opus eſt, novum aliquid audiri, ſatis ſit pro univerſis rationibus autor Deus, Salvianus de Guber. Dei lib. 3. ab Initio.find juſt matter of complaint, p. 68& think there is diſorder and injuſtice in the works of God, but when… Genuinus ergo Chriſti diſcipulus non ſibi praeſumit ſcrupulo ſe Deo praeſcribendi quid & quantum ſibi imponere, aut quomodo ſecum agere debeat. Neque etiam ſub truce conſtitutus, oculos curioſè ad alios convertit, & cum Petro dicit, quid autem hic? multo minus impatienter, queritatur quaſi Deus aliis breviora ſibi autem graviora & difficiliora portanda impoſuerit. Sed in bona Dei voluntate patienter acqui…ſcit, certus Deum optime omnium noviſſe quid ipſi ad refraen…ndam carnem laſcivientem ſit maxime conducibile, &c. Kemnitius. Har. Evang. cap. 86. pag. 1647. col. 1.we lay them all together we ſhal find the compoſition excellent, and of ſingular uſe and benefit to us. And that God doth not, nor permitteth any thing to be done unto the righteous but only for their good. And therefore to murmure or repine againſt God, or to queſtion why he affl…cts one man more than another, were in effect to queſtion why he loves one man more than another.

But what if the cauſe of trouble be the conſciouſneſs of ſome known ſin with the apprehenſion of Gods p. 69juſt anger? when a man ſees God ſet againſt him, and his own conſcience againſt him: Gods anger and a wounded ſpirit who can bear?

When the ſpirit is overwhelmed with grief and fear, it drives a man out of his right mind, which in its diſtemper apprehends nothing but bitterneſs: the bed of eaſe is a torment, Job. 7. 3, 4 Job. 7. 13, 14, 15, 16Job 7:3Job 7:4Job 7:13Job 7:14Job 7:15Job 7:16where dreams do ſcare, and viſions terrefie, ſo that the ſoul chuſeth ſtrangling and death rather then life. Job. 7. 14, 15.

This trouble David felt in a great meaſure: which made him complain there was no ſoundneſs in his Pſal. 38. 3Ps 38:3fleſh: no reſt in his bones: no quiet in his mind: no comfort in his ſoul: Pſ. 38. 4.Ps 38:4the ſight of his ſins, and ſence of Gods anger, had ſo diſtracted him, that he roared for the very diſquietneſs of Pſa. 38. 8.Ps 38:8his heart.

In this caſe take meekneſs; and this will bear up and bear out the ſpirit, p. 70and beware by any means of ſaying as Cain ſaid, mine iniquity is greater then can be forgiven; (my Gen. 4. 13Gen 4:13puniſhment greater then I can bear.)

But pluck up thy heart, and ſay Jer. 10. 19 M…c. 7. 9. 1 Joh. 1. 7 2 Cor. 12. 9. Mat. 20. 29. 30. 1 Joh. 1. 9 Eph. 2. 4. Jo. 3. 16. Pſa. 25. 8. Pſ. 52. 1. Pſa. 86. 5. Ro. 11. 22 Pſa. 33. 5. Pſ. 100. 5. Pſ. 145. 9. Pſa. 34. 8. Pſal. 103. 8, 9, 13. Rom. 2. 4.Jer 10:191 John 1:72 Cor 12:9Matt 20:29Matt 20:301 John 1:9Eph 2:4John 3:16Ps 25:8Ps 52:1Ps 86:5Rom 11:22Ps 33:5Ps 100:5Ps 145:9Ps 34:8Ps 103:8Ps 103:9Ps 103:13Rom 2:4with Jeremiah, This is my ſorrow and I will bear it. And with the Prophet Micah, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſt him.

And in this caſe there is no cauſe of too much dejection and diſtemper. For if we conſider,

The excellency of the merits of Chriſt: the ſufficiency of his grace: the wiſdom of Gods providence: the faithfulneſs of his promiſes: how rich he is in mercy: how infinite in love: and that his goodneſs neither is nor can be exceeded by any wretchedneſs or ſinfulneſs of man.

He is ſo patient, that he is long ere he be provoked; and when he is provoked, he is ſo gracious, that he p. 71is eaſie to be appeaſed: men cannot Iſa. 57. 19 17, 18. Num. 14. 18. Exod. 34. 6, 7. Ez. 18. 21, 22, 23. Ez. 18. 31, 32. Mat. 11. 28. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Mat. 1. 21. Iſa. 49. 15. Pſal. 3 27, Pſ. 89. 30. Pſ. 51. Pſ. 37. 24. Mat. 24. 24. Rom. 5. 20 1 Joh 5. 9. Jam. 2 17 Rom. 11. 1. Mal. 3. 6. Rom. 11. 29. 1 Joh. 4. 4. Jer. 32. 40. 2 Tim. 4. 18. Deus non deſerit etiamſi deſerere videatur Aug, in Pſ. 44. Delicta non videt vis amoris. Chryſologus Serm. 3. de filio prodigo. By ſuch erroneous ſins they greatly off…nd God, incur the guilt of death, greive the holy ſpirit, break off the exerciſe of faith, moſt grievouſly wound the conſcience, now and then for a time looſe the ſenſe of grace, until upon their returning into the way by true and earneſt repentance Gods Fatherly countenance ſhine again upon them. The judgment of the Synod of Dort. d… quinque Art. controv. in Eccleſ. Belg. cap. 5. de perſev. Sanct. Sect. 5. As in Peter and David 2 Sam. 12. Luk. 22. See it in Origen, and others in primitive times. Putas hic eſt, non pot…ſt non eſſe, ſed later. Hyems eſt; intus eſt viriditas in radice. Aug. in Joh. 9. Habitus non amittitur: actus intermittitur: gradus remittitur. Vide Aug. in lib. de correp. & gra.Isa 57:19Num 14:18Exod 34:6Exod 34:7Matt 11:281 Tim 1:15Matt 1:21Isa 49:15Ps 3:27Ps 89:30Ps 51Ps 37:24Matt 24:24Rom 5:201 John 5:9Jas 2:17Rom 11:1Mal 3:6Rom 11:291 John 4:4Jer 32:402 Tim 4:18Ps 442 Sam 12Luke 22John 9ſo ſoon fall out with their ſins, though they have grievouſly offended: but he fals in with them, and becomes graciouſly reconciled.

And as a compaſſionate and an indulgent Father forſakes not his Child when he is ſick, ſo neither will God leave his Children when they have ſinned; He may take diſtaſt: they may be dejected (but being his) his grace and their faith ſhall never fail.

p. 72For although the exerciſe and former comforts of grace may be leſſened: Pſ. 42. 5. 11 Pſ. 38. 6. Mat. 13 4, 5, 6, 7. Rev. 2 4. Pſ. 51. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Rom. 11. 5. 1 Jo. 3. 9. Heb. 6. 10. Pſa. 55. 22 2 Tim. 2. 13. Pſa. 34. 8. Joh. 6. 47. Mal. 3. 6. Pſ 10. 2, 27. Heb. 13. 8. Iſa. 59. 1. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Jo. 10. 28, 29. Joh 13. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 4, 5. Pſa. 89. 35. Luk. 22 32. Eph 4. 3. For God who is rich in mercy according to uncha…geable purpoſe of election, doth not wholly take away his holy ſpirit from his, no not in their grievous ſlips, nor ſuffers them to wander ſo far as to fall away from the grace of adoption & ſtate of juſtification, or to comit the ſin unto death, or againſt the holy Ghoſt, or to be altogether forſaken of him. Judicium. S…n. Dodr. de. 5. Art. Controv. in Eccl. Belg. c. 5. de perſev. Sect. 6.Ps 42:5Ps 42:11Ps 38:6Matt 13:4Matt 13:5Matt 13:6Matt 13:7Rev 2:4Ps 51:122 Tim 2:19Rom 11:51 John 3:9Heb 6:10Ps 55:222 Tim 2:13Ps 34:8John 6:47Mal 3:6Ps 10:2Ps 10:27Heb 13:8Isa 59:12 Tim 2:12John 10:28John 10:29John 13:11 Pet 1:41 Pet 1:5Ps 89:35Luke 22:32Eph 4:3the good motions of the ſpirit ſuppreſſed: the wonted fervour of it abated: and the ſenſible operation of it interrupted: yet ſtill it is there, when it is not felt: they have it though they know not of it. For it cannot be, God ſhould forget, though man may be forgetful; God cannot deny himſelf; nor will he deny his favour to them that come unto him for it: what God hath been he is ſtill: and can do, as much as he hath done: He will not leave the claim where he hath taken poſſeſſion; reject what he hath receiv'd: nor diſclaim what he hath once own'd: He p. 73will not ſuffer his truth to fail; nor his ſpirit to forſake the heart, into which it hath been once admitted.

When doubts are raiſed concerning things promiſed let them call to mind what they have known performed, and let this aſſure them of receiving more. It were extream weakneſs for men to forſake their own 2 Pet. 3. 172 Pet 3:17ſtedfaſtneſs, and overwhelmed with the waves of temptation and corruption, to leave their hold of that vvhichwhich can only keep them from ſinking.

Let the temptations of Sathan be never ſo ſtrong: the corruption of their ovvn hearts never ſo great; their ſins never ſo many; yet the mercies of God, and the merits of Chriſt applied to the contrite ſpirit, the humbled ſoul: the believing heart by the ſoveraign and healing hand of divine Grace doth over-povvre all that can be oppoſed; vvhoſe operations cannot p. 74either by Satans ſubtlety, or mans frailty be fruſtrated or hindred, for ſo long as there is power in God to make him able: and goodneſs in God vvhichwhich vvill make him willing to help and eaſe the afflicted (for vvho is a God like unto him, forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſin) fall they may: utterly fall away they cannot, for the Mic. 7 18.Mic 7:18Lord upholds them vvith his hand; Pſa. 37. 24Ps 37:24though ſome be of tender hearts apt to entertain troubleſome fears and to have a hard opinion of themſelves: yet let them not Judge amiſs of God vvho hath mercy laid up for all that vvill ſeek it. God ſaith not to the humbled ſinner as Chriſt ſaid to the Jews (you ſhall dye in your ſins) but as he ſaid to the ſiſters of Lazarus, of Lazarus ſickneſſe, this ſickneſs Joh. 8. 21.John 8:21(this ſin) is not unto death. Sin is the ſickneſs of the ſoul, the Soul may Joh. 11. 4.John 11:4be far ſpent vvith ſin as the body vvith ſickneſs: but though the humors be p. 75Iſa. 66. 2. Iſa. 61. 1. Iſa. 35. 3. 4. 5. 6. Iſ. 61. 2. 3. Ro. 8. 26. Jo. 4. 3. 4. Mat. 12. 20. Iſa. 37. 15 Joh. 14. 18 Iſa. 42. 3. Iſa. 55. 12 Mat. 9. 2. Col. 2. 13. Iſa. 53. 1. Iſa. 65. 18 Chryſoſt. in Gen. Hom. 19. Pſ 51. 12. Pſ. 22. 14, 15, 17, 24. 1 Tim. 4. 10 1 Tim. 2. 4. Jo. 11. 25. Act. 3. 19. Joel. 2. 12 2 Pet. 3. 9 Iſa. 55. 7 L…. 24. 49 Ez. 33. 11 Iſa. 1. 18. Iſa. 43. 25, Jer. 3. 1, 2, 13, 22. 1 Tim. 2. 4. Pſ. 103. 10, 11, 12. Kin. …. 15▪ &c. Rom. 5. 15, 16, 17, &c. Veh…m…nter & ſupra omnem modum exuperat gratia Dei delictorum magnitudinem, copiam & gravitatem. Laur. Alex. pag. 95.Isa 66:2Isa 61:1Isa 35:3Isa 35:4Isa 35:5Isa 35:6Isa 61:2Isa 61:3Rom 8:26John 4:3John 4:4Matt 12:20Isa 37:15John 14:18Isa 42:3Isa 55:12Matt 9:2Col 2:13Isa 53:1Isa 65:18Ps 51:12Ps 22:14Ps 22:15Ps 22:17Ps 22:241 Tim 4:101 Tim 2:4John 11:25Acts 3:19Joel 2:122 Pet 3:9Isa 55:7Isa 1:18Isa 43:25Jer 3:1Jer 3:2Jer 3:13Jer 3:22Ps 103:10Ps 103:11Ps 103:12Rom 5:15Rom 5:16Rom 5:17corrupted and the bloud diſtempered: yet if nature be not quite exhauſted, and the ſpirits of life extinguiſhed, the ſkilfull Phyſitian hath hope to cure the body.

In like manner the ſoul Phyſitian will bind up the broken heart: quiet the troubled ſpirit: cheriſh the ſeeds of grace: forgive the ſins of the ſoul; and reſtore to a ſinner the joy of his ſalvation. If they have faith to believe the promiſes of God, and repentance to bewaile their ſins: God hath mercy to heal their ſouls: the medicine and means of recovery is neither weak nor wanting to him that can apply it.

If Sa…an put a conceit into the head of the ſinner, that God will not be entreated: let it not get the conſent of the heart.

To ſin is dangerous; but to caſt away all hope of forgiveneſs is deſperate, and therefore give not way to p. 76your own corruptions, and Satans 1 Cor. 15. 56 Ro. 6. 23. Ez. 18. 20. Lu. 13. 3. Ja. 1. 15. Eph. 5. 6. Pſ. 31. 22. Job. 33. 10 Omne peccatum grave eſt. Greg. ſup. Ez. li. 2. For every ſin muſt be accounted for. Mat. 12. 361 Cor 15:56Rom 6:23Eph 5:6Ps 31:22Job 33:10Matt 12:36temptations: if you be weak, yet in any caſe be not wilfull; and take heed that a ſin of infirmity, become not a fall of Apoſtacy. It is the Apoſtles advice, caſt not away your confidence, but keep your hold ſtill: which Job would not forgoe, though God kill'd him. It is an evil heart, and unfaithfull, that thinks of departing from the living God. Chriſtians in their conflicts muſt not do as **Plut. in vitae Demoſthenis. Merito perit aegrotus qui m…dicum non vòcat, ſed ultro qui venientem reſpuit. Muſculus. Heb. 10. 35 Job. 13. 15 Heb. 3. 12 1 The. 5. 8. Dan. 9. 9.Heb 10:35Job 13:15Heb 3:12Dan 9:9Demoſthenes did in the battel, caſt away their ſhield (the hope of ſalvation,) for God hath not loſt the bowels of compaſſion, if men have not loſt all ſence of grace. There is no ſin ſo great: but is pardon'd to the penitent: if man have the power to repent: God hath a will to forgive, his hand is never ſhortned, but when mens hearts are hardned.

Think of Manaſses Idolatry: Davids adultery: Noahs drunkenneſs: p. 77Peters denial, and Pauls blaſphemy, all theſe ſinned greatly but being greatly humbled for their ſins by prayer and true repentance they obtained pardon: they could plead nothing Hab. 2. 5. Pſa. 5. 15. 1 Tim. 6. 7, 8. Nam ideo fines tranſilimus, quia ad mille vitas, quas falſa imagine concipimus, ſolicitud… noſtra ſe extendit—unuſquiſque votis immenſa latifundia non ſecus abſorbet, quam ſi alvum haberet dimidii mundi …capacem. Calv. in 1 Tim. 5. 7.Hab 2:5Ps 5:151 Tim 6:71 Tim 6:81 Tim 5:7but mercy; and this may any one plead as well as they, and therefore never murmure at God, or repine at thine own condition: but be contented, and thankfull, and put on meekneſs: Repent and be converted, and a time of refreſhing will come.

But nature is a great enemy to this excellent grace, for the nature of ſome is peeviſh and tachie, and content in no condition; never well either full or faſting (as we uſe to ſay.)

Some when they have what they can deſire, yet enlarge their deſires as hell; and grudge if they be not ſatisfied: they murmure under plenty, and whereas neceſſaries ſhould ſuffice, they are not content with ſuperfluities. It is not enough that their covetouſneſs p. 78is anſwer'd with plenty: but their curioſity longs after novelty; and if the multiplied devices of a luxurious wanton age, do not preſent themſelves to their longing appetites: if their dyet be not ſome choice delicacy; and their apparrel of the coſtlieſt ſtuff and neweſt cut and faſhion: they are ſick of the ſullens, and out of charity: both with God and man, ſuch Humoriſts were the Iſraelites who murmured Quum alimenta & veſtiarium nominat, delicias & abundantem copiam excludit. Calv. in 1 Tim. 5. 8. Prodiga rerum luxuries nunquam parvo contenta paratu: & quaeſitorum terra pelagoque ciborum ambitio ſa…fames, & lautae gloria menſae. Lucan. lib. 4. de bel. civil. In Coccino & Tyrio, &c. cedo acum crinibus diſtinguendis, & pulverem dentibus elimandis, & biſulcum aliquid ferri vel aeris unguibus repaſt…nandis: ſi quid ficti nitoris, ſi quid coacti ruboris, in labia aut genas urgeat, &c. Tert. lib. de Paenit. cap. 11. Pſal. 78. 31. Num. 11. 33.1 Tim 5:8Ps 78:31Num 11:33againſt God, untill he corrected their corrupt humors by ſtaying the wealthieſt of them in the wilderneſse.

Some again are troubled, and they p. 79know not where, nor know not why, but diſcontent they are, and out of all patience, conplain of croſſes, and loſſes, and wants, of diſappointments and pains, when they cannot tell where the pain holds them.

In this caſe take heed there be not ſome Canaanite, ſome Jebuſite in the Land, ſome ſecret ſin in the ſoul Joſ. 23. 13.Josh 23:13unrepented of; which (as a ſcourge in the ſide, and a thorne in the eye) will ſuffer a man to take no Reſt.

Moreover, ſome are naturally ſad, penſive and melancholy, fall out with themſelves, repine againſt God, and every man, they abandon all comfort, and repell all occaſions of joy, delighting to nouriſh grief, and to entertain a penſive ſoul, they eate up their own hearts, and drink up their own ſpirits, this is a dangerous (I had almoſt ſaid) a devilliſh humor (one hath ſaid it) Spiritus melancholicus eſt ſpiritus Diabolicus, the Devil loves p. 80to fiſh in troubled waters, and is the moſt diſcontented ſpirit in the World.

Diſcontent is oft deſperate: Sathan hath a Cord, a knife, &c. Hang: drowne: ſtab: a violent hand, a virulent tongue are his Inſtruments to deſtroy man and blaſpheme God, they are impatient of all pain: the leaſt croſs overwhelmes them; and ſo affects them; that they know not: they care not what they ſay or do, they Quarrel with God, with themſelves, and with all men; a ſad condition, and enemy to meekneſs. But all this while I have not clear'd the Saints of that ſcandal that is taken againſt them for their diſtempered behaviour in their afflictions. Jobs uncharitable friends Job. 11 2. & 8. 2. Job. 15. 2, 3. Job. 35. 16 Act. 14. 15 Jam. 5. 17Job 11:2Job 8:2Job 15:2Job 15:3Job 35:16Acts 14:15Jas 5:17in effect tell him to his face (that he rav'd and talk'd idlely,) That the Saints have tranſgreſſ'd in their fits, cannot be deni'd, they were men of like paſſions with us, and in their paſſions p. 81ſometimes mutin'd againſt God, and in the weakneſs of their ſpirits did ſhrink under the croſs. Jacob for the loſs of a Son will go down into the grave ſorrowing: Gen. 37. 35. Pſal. 106. 33. Jonah 4. 1 1 Kin. 19. 4. Job. 10. 20 Job. 13. 25 26, 27. 1 Cor. 3: 1, 3, 4.Gen 37:35Ps 106:33Jonah 4:11 Kgs 19:4Job 10:20Job 13:251 Cor 3:11 Cor 3:31 Cor 3:4Moſes ſpeaks unadviſedly with his lips: Jonas frets, and is angry: Elias is weary of his life; and Job expoſtulates and reaſons with God, and thinks him too ſevere: and in this they were carnal (as St. Paul ſpeaks) walkt as men by ſenſe, and not by faith: but reaſon corrects ſenſe: and faith rectifies reaſon: and when they come to their right reaſon, they acknowledge with David, it was their infirmity. Pſ. 77. 10.Ps 77:10It is ſure the Saints of God have a body of fleſh, as well as a ſpiritual ſoul: their fleſh is ſenſible and their ſouls affectionate; and as the one is ſenſible of the pain, ſo the other is moved with it; indeed to be more affected than there is cauſe is ſinfull: and it is ſinfull not to be affected, where cauſe is given.

p. 82And if the Saints have been much affected under the Croſs: they are therein not to be excus'd only but juſtified: if from a juſt ground for ſin committed, and God offended. To …ob. 7 21. Jona. 3. 8. 10. Joel 2. 12. 17. Iſa. 9. 13. Jer. 2 30. Jer. 5. 3. Jer. 6. 26. 2 Cor. 7. 11. Let Tert. ſpeak the diſcipline of Primitive Chriſtians. Nos ver… jejuniis aridi, et omni continentia expreſſi, ab omni vitae fruge dilati, in ſacco & cinere volutantes invidia Caelum t…n…imus, &c. Tert. Apol. adverſ. gent. cap. 40. in fine p. 71. Pſa 51. 17 1 Pet. 5. 6. Gal. 5. 24. Col. 3. 5. Rom. 8. 13 1 Cor. 9. 27. Ne frena an…mo perm…te calen…i. Stat. 8. Theb. imperat hunc f…enis, hunc tu compeſce catena. Hor. ep. lib. … ep. 2. Pon… irae frena modumque. Horat. Sa…r▪ 8. Heb. 13. 33 1 Cor. 4. ….Jonah 3:8Jonah 3:10Joel 2:12Joel 2:17Isa 9:13Jer 2:30Jer 5:3Jer 6:262 Cor 7:11Ps 51:171 Pet 5:6Gal 5:24Col 3:5Rom 8:131 Cor 9:27Heb 13:331 Cor 4apprehend God offended, and angry: and angry he will not be but for ſin: and for this we find the Saints to have been both ſtrangely and ſtrongly affected, read the Pſalms of David, the Lamentations of Hieremy, and ſee what impreſſion the effects of Gods anger did make upon their affections; and this God not only approv'd: but commanded, and blames them when they were not as was meet affected at his ſmiting them.

He layes a Charge on them to rend their hearts, to afflict their ſouls, to put on ſack-cloth: to ſit in aſhes: to ſigh and cry: to weep and mourn: and to make other deep expreſſions of troubled affections even to indignation and revenge (two main parts of p. 83Repentance as Saint Paul ſets it forth) for God will have them break their ſpirits: humble their ſouls: be angry with, and take revenge of themſelves by the wholſome diſcipline of ſpiritual mortification.

Thus to do in dear affection, and true devotion unto God, unfained contrition for their ſins: and compasſion towards man may well conſiſt with that meekneſs which the Apoſtle requireth to be put on.

But here two extreams muſt be avoided, a mean muſt be obſerved: and it is a bleſſed thing to hit it, to know both when to be affected and how far.

Affections of themſelves are apt enough to run into exceſs, have more need of the curb than the ſpur, Saint Paul ſpeaking of the Apoſtles and their ſufferings, ſayes, they were made as gazing-ſtocks, a ſpectacle to the world and to Angels and to men, ſuch p. 84are the Saints they have many eyes upon them, and therefore ſhould have a care to comport themſelves decently and exemplarily that no pains or paſſions diſcompoſe or diſorder the decencie of their thoughts or duties. It may be, by their ſufferings God intends the instruction of others: and it is a heavenly thing, when others as well as themſelves, are better'd by their afflictions.

To do otherwiſe were to fall ſhort of their duty, or to exceed it, they fall ſhort of their duty, that being afflicted are not humbled: not ſenſible of Gods anger, nor moved with it.

This ſome would bear the world in hand is their Patience, Meekneſs and Calmeneſs of ſpirit: but indeed it is a ſtoical negligence and careleſsneſs, a ſenceleſs dulneſſe and ſtupidity.

When Gods hand is lifted up they will not ſee; they will not grieve, nor fear, nor be humbled, nor troubled, not p. 85Iſa. 26. 11.Isa 26:11daunted or dejected: there is no man but would diſlike that in his Child, and repute it ſtubbornneſs rather than meekneſs and ſo will God, who is greatly afflicted when he ſees affliction has no kindly work upon men.

For men to be affected and paſſionate to be moved and troubled at the effects of Gods anger may ſtand both with Reaſon and Grace.

To this end God hath given man a ſoft and flexible nature to take impreſſion of every pasſion, So that when God is angry he will have us to pour out our ſupplications and complaints to lament after him, and to be very Pſal. 14…. 2. Jer. 4. 8.Ps 14:2Jer 4:8much diſpleaſed with our ſelves, that judging of our ſelves, we may 1 Cor. 11. 31.1 Cor 11:31not be judged of the Lord.

They exceed their duty that in their afflictions are too much troubled, our nature urgeth downwards, and our paſſions have their ſelf aptneſs and p. 86proneſs to that which is evill, men otherwiſe Gen 6. 5. & 8. 21.Gen 6:5Gen 8:21unblameable, herein are worthy to be blam'd; that any little or light affliction doth too much diſquiet them, and makes them wondrous impatient, yea many for a ſmall loſs do ſo vex and fret, that like Rachel they refuſe to be comforted, and Jer. 31. 15Jer 31:15become ſo peeviſh that no good counſel can charme them to patience, like Jonah they will defend their frowardneſſe, Jon…. 4. 9.and with him will tell you they do well to be angry, but as God to him ſo I may ſay to them, do you well to be angry for a trifle? what is this or that man? or what is any man? that he ſhould be ſo tender and tachie, there are very few that can be found better than David, or if than David better than Chriſt, I am ſure they cannot be, yet David in the perſon of Chriſt ſaies of himſelf (I am a worm and no man) the beſt man Pſa. 22. 6.Ps 22:6compared with God is but as a worm of the earth.

p. 87If then God ſhall tread upon us ſhall we turn againſt him: if he ſhall ſet againſt us: ſhall we ſtrive againſt him! no! rather let us ſubmit unto him, and humble our ſelves before him, adoring his wiſedome, and admiring the unſearchableneſs of his wayes who ordereth all things if againſt our wills: yet according to his own.

Yet there are ſome that ſhoot their arrows againſt heaven even bitter words, fearfull execrations, heavy curſes, reviling God and Man if they Atque Deos atque aſtra vocat crudelia mater. Virg. Ecclog. 5.be croſs'd in their deſigns, and all things anſwer not their deſires, they break out into exclamations and accuſations againſt God, and in their furious and frantick fits with great horror they utter ſuch prodigious ſpeeches that are inconſiſtent altogether with Chriſtianity or humanity, they forget themſelves to be Chriſtians, to be men, and behave themſelves as brutes and devils, ready to p. 88forſake God, to revolt from Religion, full of bitter thoughts, breaking forth into ſuch horrid expreſſions, which will make the heart of any moderate man to quake and tremble for to hear them in the heighth of their madneſs, raging againſt God and his creatures. Good men under the ſenſe and pain of ſome heavy affliction, may be affected, may be moved, but affected or moved above meaſure they may not be, rayling, and reviling, curſing and blaſpheming is the language of Hell, and that man that uſes it, is no better than an incarnate Devil, a paſſion to be tamed, and with much caution, as a dangerous pitfall to be ſhunned; and begge of God an humble, and a meek ſpirit, and thus much for meekneſs as it relates to God.