Heart-Salve for a Wounded Soul, Text 1 – Title page 2

Heart-Salve for a Wounded Soul · Text 1 – Title page 2

p. 1HEART-SALVE FOR A WOUNDED SOUL.

PSAL. 143.7.

Hear me ſpeedily, O Lord, my ſpirit faileth, hide not thy face from me, leſt I be like to them that go down into the Pit.

IN this Pſalm we have the Picture of David without his Harp, having laid aſide all his pleaſant Tools, he is now in his poenitential plight: ſadneſs ſorts not with Muſick: If we ask the reaſon of the metamorphoſis of this holy man, from his heights of joy to ſuch depths of ſorrow, he may anſwer with him p. 2who was a Patriarch of the ſame Tribe of affliction,Job 30.30, 31.Job 30:30Job 30:31 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burnt with heat, my Harp alſo turned into mourning, and my Organ into the voice of them that weep. Or with the words of this Verſe, My Muſick fails, for my ſpirit fails: Let the living rejoyce, but I am as one dead and ready to be laid in the pit. The Septuagint intitle the Pſalm, In Hieronym. quadrupl. Pſalterio. Quum furgeret Saulem. Piſcator.A Pſalm of David when he was perſecuted by his ſon Abſalom; the Original has no ſuch matter. The ground of the former is fetcht from the 3, and 9, and laſt Verſes of the Pſalm: True it is, this wicked Son often made his Father ſing with a heavy voice, where David was deceived in impoſing on him the name of Abſalom, his Fathers Peace, his life ſignified no ſuch thing, he being Benoni, a Son of ſorrow and miſchief to his Father; whatſoever were the occaſion, the matter of the Pſalm is evident, the light of Gods countenance, Gods audience of his Prayers, the comforts of his Spirit, p. 3his power to ſuſtain him, his Grace to quicken him, all earneſtly deſired; theſe are the ſubſtance of this holy Pſalm: what the Father ſaith of that Verſe,Monachus qui non vigilat hunc verſum non poteſt dicere. Hieron in Pſal. 77.Ps 77 Pſal. 77 4. Thou holdeſt mine eyes waking, &c. a ſleepy Monk cannot ſay that Verſe; the ſame may I ſay in another kinde, a ſleepy ſecure Chriſtian, that mourns not for his ſins, and by faith and patience not earneſtly truſting and waiting upon God, cannot truly ſay this. The Pſalm is a congreſs for a Combat, or a pitched field 'twixt faith and diſtruſt, the old and new man in the Soul of a ſanctified man; diſtruſt of the fleſh arms it ſelf with a multitude of ſorrows, and fainting with waiting for Gods delayed help: Faith in the new man comes ſtrengthened with a multitude of Gods mercies againſt the multitudes of miſeries, waiting to ſpie Gods face, though he do for a while hide it; yea, as winning the Battel,Ver. 9, 10 ſtedfaſtly concluding, Though thou hide thy face, yet art thou my God, and my hiding place. Here, about p. 4Gods help, we have David requeſting and reaſoning with God. The requeſt are two, the reaſons two, to move the Lord to grant his re-requeſts. 1. Requeſt is for audience, and that ſpeedily. Hear me ſpeedily, O Lord. And that is backt with reaſon, why? What haſte? why begeſt thou for ſo ſpeedy hearing? He gives the reaſon, My ſpirit fails, I can hold out no longer. 2. Requeſt is for light of Gods countenance, Hide not thy face from me.

2. Reaſon, for that is the preſent peril he is in, even ready to die: If thou hide thy face, Lord, I ſhall periſh, and accompany them that lie in the pit. We may frame him to our underſtanding, as if he thus pleaded with the Lord,Sum and Senſe. How long, O Lord, wilt thou ſhut out my prayers, look upon me, and behold how low I am brought; O hear me quickly, leſt my tired ſpirit give over, leſt my faint heart, which has now no more ſtrength to ſubſiſt without thy help, do quite break off, as drowned p. 5in the whirl pit of my deep ſorrows. Now at length, O Lord, after my long waiting, ſend, and let ſhine the light of thy countenance upon me, which may glad my Soul, ſhew me thy face, which may raiſe me up again, elſe if thou ſtill delay, what is there can keep me alive any longer from the company of them that are laid in the grave, and ſleep under the c…o…s of death; my life (without ſenſe of thy love) being worſe than death..

Doctr. Firſt requeſt, Hear me ſpeedily: David he is in trouble and he betakes him to prayer: Prayer is the ſovereign Remedy the Godly flie to in all their extremities. The Saints in ſorrows have fled for comfort and healing unto Prayers and Supplications. Heaven is a ſhop full of all good things, there are ſtored up bleſſings and mercies; this the Children of God know, who flie to this ſhop in their troubles, begging for help from this holy Sanctuary;Pſal 77.2.Ps 77:2 In the day of my trouble I ſought the Lord. p. 6When any vexation makes our life grievous unto us, what ſhould we ſeek but help? of whom ſhould we ſeek, but of the Lord? how ſhould we ſeek,Pſal. 116.3, 4.Ps 116:3Ps 116:4 but by prayer? My ſore (ſaith he) ran and ceaſed not; ſo his Soul ran and ceaſed not to pray to the Lord. When the ſorrows of death compaſſed him, and the pains of hell got hold upon him, what was his courſe? then he got hold of the Lord, and prayed unto him right humbly: Then called I upon the name of the Lord, O Lord, I beſeech thee deliver my Soul. We have to confirm this, for a ſure and ſaving way, Precept, Practice, Promiſe, Performance.

1. Precept, God commands us to pray at all times, eſpecially in ſad times.Pſal. 50.15.Ps 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. He commands us to depend on him for deliverance, and calling upon him is the beſt dependance.

2. Practiſe, the Godly have walked in this way, which God has preſcribed: All Davids Pſalms p. 7will witneſs, that he coupled his troubles and prayers together, Pſa. 6. Pſal. 38. So Hezekiah, Eſa 38.2.Isa 38:2at hearing the meſſage of death, ſent to the Lord a meſſage of Prayers. So Nehemiah in Jeruſalems deſtruction,Nehem. 1.4, 5.Neh 1:4Neh 1:5 ſought ſuccour to her diſtreſs by prayer.

3. Promiſe, the Lord hath armed us in our Petitions with hope,Eſa. 65.24 John 16.23.Isa 65:24John 16:23 which is made up of ſure Promiſes; we ſhall not pray to one that is deaf, aſſoon as we can finde our tongue, we ſhall finde his ear: Every humble praying ſinner, ſhall have a hearing and helping Saviour.

4. Performance; all Saints are ready to ſubſcribe, We prayed, the Lord has performed and delivered, This poor man cried, Pſal. 34.6.Ps 34:6and the Lord heard him, and ſaved him out of all his troubles. This poor woman, even Hannah prayed,1… a…. ….19, 2…. and the Lord heard her, he gaver her Samuel, the thing ſhe asked of God, as the name ſignifies: All the Saints cry, and by experience witneſs the Lords performance p. 8upon their prayers: we have ſwimmed (ſay they) in all Seas of ſorrows, ready to ſink, but prayer hath held up our heads. I was in the ſtocks, I prayed and am delivered, ſaith Joſeph; in the Lyons den by prayer I muzzeled thoſe cruel Beaſts, that they did not bite, ſaith Daniel: our bed was made in the fire, our coverings violent flames, prayer prevailed with the Lord to cool all this heat, ſay the three Children. God has thus performed, he will ſtill perform; our evils are no greater, God is not deafer; he can ſtill deliver, for he is as ſtrong; he will ſtill deliver, for he is as loving and gracious; he muſt hear and deliver us, for he is faithful, and will not deny his Seal and Promiſe, which he hath given us.

Uſe. Away then with all broken reeds, learn we not to lean on, or to truſt to vain confidences, & flying to carnal remedies in our evils. Is there any evil which the Lord hath not wrought? Are we in ſome trouble? the arm of Heaven p. 9ſent it, the arm of fleſh cannot remove it. Has God wounded thee? ſeek not then to the Devil, or the Witch his Agent for a Plaiſter: Art thou in poverty? truſt not to unlawful ſhifts, they may raiſe thee up again in the world, they caſt thee twice as low in the world to come. O the folly of worldly men, who think with pleaſures to drown their ſorrows, with mirth to ſtop the mouth of Conſcience, and to laugh away the burden of their evils.Jer. 3.23.Jer 3:23 In vain is ſalvation hoped for from the mountains; if God wound, worldly comforts are but fooliſh Phyſick. There is no way like this, to fly to him by Prayer; when we truſt to earthly helps, we take no notice of Gods hand.

Secondly,2 Uſe. Lawful means may not be neglected; carnal and ſinful means may not be uſed: Better uſe none but prayer, then uſe all without prayer: As carnal and evil helps are to be avoided, ſo let this give an exhortation for direction to the Sovereign means of help in all our neceſſities and exigencies, p. 10to betake us unto prayer, that, even for the time we pray, will mitigate and alleviate the evil, and in Heavens appointed time will obtain a removal of it. The voice of a good heart is that of the Prophets,Hoſ. 6.1…Hos 6:1 Come let us return to the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heal us, &c. Tender before God your troubled ſpirits, lay before him all your ſorrows, he will be overcome by fervent prayer, to lay unto them an equal, yea a far more ſurpaſſing weight of mercies, in giving a gracious deliverance. The Prophet knew the vertue of prayer to be ſo powerful, that he falls a wondring why God can be angry with his people that prays:Pſal. 80.4.Ps 80:4 For how can God be angry with a …ruly praying heart? unleſs he will be angry with his own Spirit, which teaches to pray, yea which frames the Petitions his Children put up unto him. God cannot be diſpleaſed, and continue his wrath, if there continue in me his Spirit of prayer, for then there ſhould be diſcord 'twixt God the Father p. 11and the Holy Spirit, when yet they are but one God. If we pleaded with the bare ſpirit of man, our Weapons were but Vitrea tela, Weapons of Glaſs, Auſtin.as the Father calls Hereticks Arguments, quickly broken, of no force, but being aſſiſted by the Spirit of Grace, what ſhall ſtand in our way? not tribulation, not anguiſh, not ſorrow of minde, not temptations of Devil, not malice of men, not the failings of our own hearts, for he that hath given us his Son to intercede above, and his Spirit to intercede below for us, and in us, how ſhall he not wtth them give us all things elſe, eſpecially things concerning his Service? If God have any marks for his ſheep, ſure this is one, that they call upon God, and are accuſtomed in all their needs to ſhew their rent fleeces, their weakneſs, their evils to the eye, and ear of the great Shepherd of their Souls by prayer. If there be and ſo carnally fooliſh, as will cavil at, and ſe…m this Heavenly habit of prayer, ſaying, Who can p. 12ſhew us any good that comes from it? many pray, but where is their Croſs removed, and bleſſings conferred by it?Zcch 12.10. to ſuch this good we can ſhew, that though their deliverance do not appear, yet this appears a ſigne of their adoption, and which ſhall certainly bring them peace at the laſt, when all carnal men ſhall be accurſed,Pſal. 14.4.Ps 14:4 who have carried this mark of Goats, that they loved not to call upon God. Beſides, this good ſhall certainly come, their afflictions are ſanctified to them by prayer, and a ſweet communion and fellowſhip is maintained 'twixt God and the Soul, which is the only Heaven to be had upon earth.

Verſe.Here are two errors about prayer would be avoided. The firſt of wicked men, who deſpiſe ſmall evils, and uſe not to fly to the remedy of prayer, but at ſome ſore plunge and laſt pinch, when the Boat has tried all other Oars, and cannot be brought ſafe into the Haven. It is not the cuſtom of them that are unaccoſtomed to Godlineſs, p. 13not to betake themſelves to prayer, till worldly helps are out of joynt and cannot help them? Then when worldly means will not delp our decayed eſtate, the laſt refuge is to call on God. When the Apothecaries pots cannot draw them out of the bed of ſickneſs, (after all) prayer chuſes God for the Phyſition.Mark 5.Mark 5 When 12 years Phyſick will do no good, then the diſeaſed woman cares not to ask Chriſt his counſel. When death or the utmoſt end of any evil approaches, then doth the worldly ſpirit turn to God, becauſe he cannot work it out himſelf: an evil ordering, when God muſt be put in the ſecond and laſt place. Thus juſtly doth God ſuffer men to deſpiſe ſmall Croſſes, till they by neglect of prayer grow vehement and immenſe, like waters from the ankle to the chin. Well worth St. Auſtine, who,In Confeſſ. lib. 9. when his teeth did but ake, did flie unto prayer, and deſired them that were preſent with him to pray for him, and with him: whereas we p. 14only fooliſhly, ungodlily, do deſire the prayers of others, and fly to our own prayers, only when evils are grown great and ripe. Be our evils never ſo ſmall, yet they may grow greater, unleſs we take prayer the remedy for prevention.

Second error is of Godly men, who by the greatneſs of their ſins, or afflictions are kept and affrighted from prayer, as if it were only able to remove lighter burdens; nay rather, they ſhould be more diligent in prayer, by how much more vehement their anguiſh is. If your evil be ſo great, why do you encreaſe it? Expectation of deliverance from the moſt leaden and heavieſt weights is not hopeleſs, unleſs we be prayerleſs. This is as if ſome ſilly one ſhould argue, Strong ropes and good tacklings, firm Maſts, and whole Sails are profitable in a calm Sea, but in a ſtorm and violent tempeſt nothing will hold, all will be broken with the Win…s, yea, …leſs, if in our calm or evil… …e… be profitable, p. 15much more is it neceſſary when the winds blow, the rain fall and the ſtorms beat, for this will underprop and ſtabliſh a Chriſtian to keep him from falling.

But againſt prayer in thoſe caſes the Godly (deeply afflicted) have to ſhifts.

Fain would we pray,1 Shift. but in our prayers we finde no delight, no ſpiritual relliſh in this duty: and what ſhall we get in that if we go about it, for which we are ſo unfit and indiſpoſed? ſo ſhall we rather provoke God than any way pleaſe him. This is called drineſs and barrenneſs in ſpiritual exerciſes; yet why ſhould this hinder us? be our hearts never ſo dry and barren, this is the way to moiſten them: It may be through the trouble of our hearts we finde no delight in our devotions;John 5.John 5 we know the Angel was in the Pool when the waters were ſtirred and troubled; ſo though we think our troubled tumultuous thoughts, unfit to meet and commune with God in prayer, yet even then Gods p. 16Spirit can move in thoſe troubled waters: our unfitneſs cannot hinder the fitneſs of Gods Spirit, whoſe beſt and moſt prevailing language is troubleſome groans and ſighs that cannot be expreſt.Rhm. 8. We may go to God unfit for prayer, and yet be marvellouſly fitted by him that works upon hearts in the very act of prayer. Yea, ſurely, a prayer which is put to God conſtrainedly, not to pleaſe our ſelves, for we find no taſt pleaſant in it, but reemly to obey God, becauſe it is his will, is very acceptable to him. The more humble we are in miſliking our prayers, the more commonly doth the Lord like them. This hindred not the Prophet in his diſtreſs,Pſal. 77.34Ps 77:34 I am ſo troubled (ſaith he) that I cannot ſpeak; yet for all this he prays:Eſa. 38.14.Isa 38:14 And Hezekiah, when his great ſorrow ſo diſturbed his prayers, that he ſeemed rather to chatter like a reaſonleſs Crane, than to ſpeak like a man or pray like a Servant of God; yet this cackling, chattering, troubled prayer brought to him the ſealed p. 17Patents of Gods Promiſe, for ſpinning out the thred of his life to fifteen years length; what better prayer could the freeſt prayer have brought? God knows our broken fighs, and loves our undigeſted troubled groans, for he commonly dwells moſt pleaſingly in troubled hearts; he takes our prayers, not as they are heavy and diſtracted, dead and dull, but ſuch as we would have them, quick and fervent, lively and earneſt.

Yea,2 Shift. but God ſeems to be our enemy, he hides away his face, and if the face be turned away, the ear goes with it. Here the Serpent ſhews his tail, this is one of Hells Arguments, to withhold the humbled heart from approaching the welſpring of comfort. Suppoſe God ſeem to be thy enemy, is not Chriſts counſel good,Matth. 5.Matt 5 to agree with thine adverſary quickly, to appeaſe him and make him thy friend by ſupplication unto him? When two are at odds, the beſt way is to bring a third perſon, to mediate betwixt them. Doſt thou feel a p. 18ſeeming ſenſe of Gods diſpleaſure, then ſay I in like adviſe to that given to Abraham, Go take his ſon, his only Son Jeſus, offer him up to his Father upon the Altar of thy contrite heart, pray him to be the third Perſon to mediate betwixt God and thee; beſeech this Heavenly Proctor and Advocate, to plead the cauſes of thy Soul unto his Father; ſay unto Chrip, I dare not ſpeak to God, he ſeems to be my enemy, let thy blood ſpeak for me, ſtand thou betwixt him & me & be my reconciler, for in thee he is well pleaſed. The Prophet was in this caſe, he would gladly pray to God,Mat. 3. Tantum aberat ut cogitatio de Deo mentem inquietam micaret, ut contra nil aeque me perturbaret. Beza in Pſal. 77.3. in Paraphraſi.Matt 3Ps 77:3 but the remembrance of God troubled him, when he ſaw (to his judgment) that the tokens of Gods diſpleaſure were upon him. But againſt this fear we may be bold and confident in it, that if God be diſpleaſed, he cannot refuſe the ſighs of a contrite heart, let this ſacrifice ſmoke before him, and Gods diſpleaſure cannot long ſmoke againſt thee; Satan may be diſpleaſed at it, but believe him p. 19not when he tells thee, that for all this God is diſpleaſed.

Speedily: his requeſt is not only for hearing, but for ſpeedy hearing: Hear me, and hear me ſpeedily: anſwer, and anſwer quickly; this is the tone and tune of men in diſtreſs. Man in miſery earneſtly ſues for ſpeedy delivery. In our afflictions and troubles, deliverance though it ſhould come with wings, we never think it comes ſoon enough. Weak man cannot content himſelf to know he ſhall have help, unleſs it be preſent help.Accelera quia magna eſſet poena mea tarditas tua. Card. de Aliaco in Pſal. 31. Qui nunquam Solem nec orientem, nec occidentem viderunt. Cicero de finib. lib. 2. Smyndirides the Sybarite bragged of his bleſſed voluptuous life, that for 20 years he never ſaw the Sun either riſing or ſetting. Athen. Dipuoſ. li. 6. c. 8.Ps 31 If evil fall upon us in the night, we would have it removed ere the morning; if in the morning, we would not have it our bed fellow in the evening. We would have the Lords Promiſe run thus, Your ſorrows ſhall not endure the whole night, your joy ſhall come long before the morning. The luxurious Emperour and his drunken mates p. 20eat and drank all the night, and ſlept all the day, in ſo much as it was ſaid of them, they never ſaw Sun-ſet nor Sun-riſe. Such would we have our evils we ſuffer, of ſo ſhort continuance, as might neither have Sun-ſet nor Sun-riſe, to ſee us in our miſery. Which makes me marvel at that ſtrange Aegyptian Beaſt called Pharaoh, who being demanded by Moſes, when he would have Gods Plague of the Frogs removed, anſwered,Exo. 8.1….Exod 8:1 To morrow. Surely here he ſpake not as a man, to whom an hours trouble is accounted a day, a day a month, a month ſeems a year. For in leaving of two things we change our deſires, and are much different.

1. In leaving of ſin, there we procraſtinate and put off; and when God ſays, to day hear my voice, we anſwer, to morrow, and are like the Levites Father too kind hoſts to ſuch bad Gueſts;Judg. 19.6.Judg 19:6 O my ſins, you ſhall not be left to day, tarry till the morning; our pace to repentance is ſlow, far from haſte.

p. 212. But for afflictions to leave us,Pſal. 55.6.Ps 55:6 there we wiſh they had feet like hindes feet, to run away from us, or we the wings of a dove to fly away from them, and be at reſt. The Prophet, who had good ſhoulders to bear much, yet cares not how ſoon the weight were off them:Pſal. 40.13Ps 40:13 Be pleaſed (O Lord) to deliver me. How long time would he willingly lie under his troubles? doth he deſire God to help him after ſome months and years? alas, no, within ſome few hours; Make haſte (ſaith he) to help me. Yea, becauſe God ſeems to come ſlowly, he intreats him to amend his pace, Make no long tarrying, O my God, Ver. 17.in the day when I call, anſwer me ſpeedily. He would be helpt the firſt day of his trouble; nay,Pſa. 102.2.Ps 102:2 and he would not have the day ſpent neither; ſpeedily let it be, betimes, even in that day. What Priſoner deſires not to be preſently ſet free, and that liberties ſoft hand may looſe his Iron knots? what Mariner wiſhes a long ſtorm? what Servant ſighs not for p. 22his hard Apprentiſhip? yea, who is he, th… if there were an appear… of … offering to take the C…p o… calam…ty …om his mouth, ſaying, Thou ſhal… …ri…k no more, would anſwer, This Cup ſhal… not yet paſs …om me. I delig… to carouſe and drink deeply of theſe bitter waters: yea, this deſire extends ſo far, as it comes to the Son of Man, the bleſſed Seed of the Woman, who was ſo clad with our humane weakneſs, as that he earneſtly prays for ſpeedy help from his heavy anguiſh, and that not once, but often, O my Father, if it be poſſible, &c. and when his Father anſwers not, he cries like one ready to fall under the burden, Reaſ. 1 My God, my God, &c. The reaſon in Chriſt thus complaining is to be fetcht from thence, whence his fleſh came, even from us; it was our humane fleſh not his divine Spirit which was ſo weary of ſuffering; his Spirit was willing, it was our fleſh that was ſo weak.

And the reaſon in us is that to the Hebrews, Heb. 12.11.Heb 12:11all chaſtiſement for p. 23the time is ſharp and uncoo…h ſome; affliction is grievo… … preſent to mankind…, … … mong ſome Prieſts … Baal, th… … …e lancing of … fooliſh …rs of the Romans Baal, … d…ght fo… penance to laſh and whip their own skins; few or elſe none but they ſhrink at the Croſs.

Or we may fetch the Reaſon Reaſon. 2 from the common appetite, and deſire of the unreaſonable Creatures; the withered hand of meer ſenſe leads the pooreſt Creature to ſeek for its own eaſe and quiet; the ſimple Bird would have ſpeedy deliverance from the Cage.

Uſe. Take we heed, that we do not ſo dote upon ſpeedy help, that for it we venture the loſs of Gods love, and the breach of his Commandments: Never ſo affect ſpeedy releaſe, unleſs it may come in at the right door. Do we ſuffer hard things, do we cry, how long, O where is he that ſhall deliver me! yet take we heed that Gods p. 24wiſdom be not thruſt out of the Chair, and carnal Policie put in the room of it. There are ſuch unlawful ſhifts and ſhifters, that when they have waited a while and help comes not, they bid farewel to dependance on God, and as it were reſolve, we will tarry no longer, come brains plod for releaſe; now Policie and arm of fleſhly helps play thy part; now carnal ſhifts invent a means of ſafety. I do confeſs, we may thus get a deliverance, but it's a deliverance with a vengeance, when there is neither Gods Hand and Seal at it, nor our faith in it; it proceeds from an incredulous, impatient heart to ſay, when help is deferr'd (with that impious King) Why ſhould I wait for the Lord any longer? 2 King. 6.33.2 Kgs 6:33If we love help and releaſe, let us cleave only to God that Rock of help, and look for it only at his hand, It comes ſoon enough, and in a good time, what time ſoever it come, if it come from him.

p. 25Uſe. 2 2. Let them that are in diſtreſs learn not only to call upon God, but to call waiting, and to tarry the Lords leiſure, leſt we make too much ſpeed; God may love thee though he do not preſently deliver thee, and thou muſt learn to truſt in God, though (with Simon of Cyrene) thou travel a long way with an heavy Croſs upon thy neck. He that believeth maketh not haſte, for in too much haſte we we may come to ſtumble in Gods ſervice. As the Prophet confeſſes, his haſtineſs made him ſtumble; being long afflicted,Pſal. 116.11.Ps 116:11 He ſaid in his haſte, all men were lyars, that thought there were hopes of deliverance. When we in paſſion cry out, God has forgotten me, do's not our patience ſtumble? our confidence, doth it not here cath a fall, and cannot keep his feet? Beware leſt Satan give thee a reed inſtead of a ſtaff, and cauſe thee in thy weakneſs to think God is weak, and I am now paſt remedy; or his truth is weak, he will not keep promiſe to deliver me. Oftentimes p. 26Satan raiſes in the minds of Gods afflicted ones an hard conceit of God, that he loves them not, that he cares not for them, and all is by daſhing them upon this Rock, becauſe he delays and doth not ſpeedily help them. It is a point of precious wiſdom to learn with Paul and Silas to ſing in the ſtocks; to be a Scholar in Jobs form, praiſing God even upon the dunghil, patiently expecting deliverance, though it come with a ſlow foot.Quod non veriſimile ſcribit, Joan. Gerar. 1 Voſſius de Orig. Idololat. lib. 3. cap. 44. The Jews Hebrew Language ('tis thought by ſome) ſhall be uſed in Heaven, but their words in the deſart are the very Language of Hell, to murmure, grumble, and repine at the Lords doings, if the Salve be not as ready as the ſore, and meat as ready as their appetite. This ſame ſpeedy deliverance is good, but to truſt and depend upon the Lord in his Word of Truth, when help lingers and is long a coming, this is far better. Gladly would I with good Jonathan ſhoot ſome Arrows,1 Sam. 20, 55 36.1 Sam 20:55 to let David in his trouble p. 27know what to do, and how to collect, that we may have the Lords love, and the Lords Rod both together, and a long time to ſcourge us without eaſe, and ſpeedy help: and thus I ſhoot them in theſe conſiderations, it may be ſome inſtead of Jonathans Boy will gather them, and take them up.

1. Conſider that the Lords reaſons are for thy good, though he do not ſpeedily deliver thee; now the Lord means to try what is in thee; thou madeſt good ſhews in the day of proſperity and eaſe, now he has brought thee to the proof, to ſee if thou madeſt not falſe flouriſhes and gave the view of Clouds without any water in them:Jude ver. 12. He has brought thee into the field, to ſee how thou canſt claſp hold of him, and wraſtle with faith and patience. There were fair promiſes as great as Peters in thy mouth, he has brought thee into the High Prieſts Hall, to try what is in thy heart:2 Chron. 32.31.2 Chr 32:31 thus he tried Hezekiah. God loved Joſeph, p. 28though in the ſtocks, yet he made not that haſte he deſired to help him; he ſuffered the Butler to forget him; this was harſh, that both God and man ſhould ſeem to fail him, yet was it for his profit and proof, all this while was the Lord a trying him in his affiance, patient dependance, and then he muſt be delivered, and the Prince looſes him, and ſets him free,Pſal. 105.28, 19, 20.Ps 105:28Ps 105:19Ps 105:20 when the time of Gods Word is come, and when the Word has tried him: our time of deliverance is come, when time of trial ends. Thus is it with thee, look to thy ſelf, the Lord is trying thee, play thy part of confidence, and hope in God well in thy troubles & then for one bleſſing thou expecteſt, thou ſhalt have two; God will both releaſe thee and praiſe thee. Art thou not yet helpt? why, ſuffer a while longer, thou art not yet tried, the Lord knows well enough the way he takes with thee, and when thou art tried,Job. 23.10Job 23:10 thou ſhalt not only come forth, but thou ſhalt come p. 29forth as gold that is tried in the fire, fitter by the fire to make a veſſel of honour.

2. Conſider, the great benefit that the Lord would beſtow on us by deferring help: the Lord by this means teaches thee an Art beyond all the ſeven liberal Sciences, the Art of prayer: In prayer we have ſpecial familiarity with God; but prayer in deep affliction comes nearer him than at any other time, and is more welcome to him! We ſhould never learn to beg right and ſoundly, but by begging often and frequently. Often viſits breed ſtronger and dearer acquaintance 'twixt friends. I will willingly be acquainted with troubles to get acquaintance with the Lord, and his Court of mercy. When we are fain to pray again & again, it teaches us to ſeek out ſeveral Arguments and motives to move God; ſome from his power, he is able to help us; ſome from his truth,Pſal. 77.8, 9Ps 77:8Ps 77:9 Lord what is become of thy true promiſe, is thy Covenant come to an end for evermore? p. 30ſome from his love and mercy, Haſt thou forgotten to be gracious? Art thou that God of whom they ſing. His mercy endureth for ever; and haſt thou no mercy to hear and help me? Thus like a ſcruple in our eſtates, which makes us ſeek all the Court Rolls, do our longing affections lead us to God with earneſt and urgent prayers, and ſeek out the wiſeſt and movingſt Arguments to put life into our Prayers. O the excellent learning of afflictions, which teach us to ſearch out all Gods Promiſes, to lay to our own hearts and before his eyes by faithful prayer. There is a great deal of difference betwixt a prayer in eaſe,Coloſſ. 4.12. Agonizein en tais proſeuchaisCol 4:12 and that in adverſity, eſpecially ſpiritual troubles: there is more Art and Arms, more wiſdom, more life, and feeling in the one, than in the other: it is one thing to pray, another thing to ſtrive in prayer.

III.Conſider that the longeſt trouble is but ſhort in ſeveral reſpects

p. 311. In reſpect of the time of our ſinning: Thou ſuffereſt but a week, thou haſt lived in ſin many weeks and months; or, thy grief laſts a year, haſt thou not provoked God many a year?Job 11.6.Job 11:6 We love indeed long faults and ſhort rods: we ſhould never be free from ſcourges, if the Lord continued ſtriking ſo long as we continue ſinning, God exacts leſs than our iniquities deſerve.

2. In reſpect of God it is long to us, it is ſhort to him: with him a thouſand years are but as one day; we ſeem to ſuffer a thouſand hours, this unto him is but as one minute.2 Pet. 3.82 Pet 3:8 It is not our ſentence, but Gods Judgment that muſt ſtand for giving eſtimation to any thing. He calls our ſuffer…gs but a To 'nun, ſufferings of this preſent time.

3. In reſpect of tha… … a…d en…leſs eaſ… … bo… ſuc…eds … …eſe ſorrow …d ſufferings … now crieſt, make haſte to help me, hear me ſpeedily, how long ſhall I be p. 32vexed in my Soul? thou wilt one day ſay, O happy heavy afflictions, for a night, which have brought ſuch joy in the morning: Bleſſed temptations, which though grievous and tedious in the end, have brought me to glory and peace without end. Who will be afraid of ſuffering a little while with Chriſt here, that he may be a partner of everlaſting glory with him hereafter? Jacobs hard ſeven years ſervice, he counted but ſhort, compared with that ſweet ſociety he ſhould have with his wife at the end. We ſuffer an hour, we ſhall reign for ever. Compare a moment and eternity together: we ſhall weep but a ſhort time, we ſhall have a long time of joy for it. The Lord would have us conſider how he will make amends for our ſufferings.Eſa. 54.7,Isa 54:7 It is but for a ſmall moment that I have forſaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee: In … little wrath I hid my ſelf from thee, for a moment, but with everlaſting kindneſs will I have mercy on thee, p. 33ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer. It is good being ſcourged an hour, to have the Rod caſt away for ever. O how well ſhould we endure the ſoreſt afflictions, if we did but conſider that they are light and momentany, yet work unto us an exceeding ſurpaſſing weight of glory?

4. Conſider,1 Cor. 4.1 Cor 4 thou haſt a ſafe way by reſignation of thy ſelf in to the Lords hands;Non corrigat aeger Medica menta ſua Austin. Pſal. 146.Ps 146 Caſt thy ſelf upon him, he brought thee in, truſt him with it, he will in good time bring thee out: Conclude with thy ſelf, if releaſe do not yet come, it muſt and will chme, for God is faithful who hath promiſed; Submit to his hands and handling; being ſick do not correct and find fault with thy Phyſick; the Phyſitian knows beſt what and when any thing is fitteſt for us; when theſe corraſives have eaten out ſins foul matter, then the Cordials of Gods Spirit of Peace ſhall refreſh thy Soul.Paterete curari ita ſananduses. Aug. We would have no tart nor bitter Medicine, when God knows it may p. 34be Sugar would mar our Phyſick. Impatient man would have the Plaiſter pulled off the ſore too ſoon, before the wound be either drawn or cloſed. Give the Lord leave to do his pleaſure, he continues thy grief, becauſe haſty Phyſick might do thee hurt. If the Lord heals us ſlowly, ſay to thy ſelf, Be contented, O my Soul, it is for thy good, that he may do it ſoundly.

5. Conſider, that when one eye ſails thou muſt get another, when the eye of ſenſe is ſhut up, open the eye of faith, and thou ſhall ſee wonders. Look up and wait upon God with that eye, and then thou ſhalt ſweeten darkneſs with the hope of light, peep under the black leaves of ſorrow, and ſee a goodly fruit of joy budding forth; which ſhall appear in time. Exerciſe faith to ſee him that is inviſible, and that ſecret arm which all this while ſupports thee. O! if thou couldeſt well look upon that eye, thou ſhouldeſt ſee there is one at Gods right hand, who cannot forget thee, yea, in thy p. 35troubles he is at thy right hand,Pſal. 16.Ps 16 ſtopping and breaking the ſtrength of temptations blowes, ſo as thou ſhalt not greatly be moved; yea, he carries thee in his arms,Pſal. 22.14. Pſa. 34.20Ps 22:14Ps 34:20 ſo that not one of thy bones ſhall be broken, though they may be aſtoniſht a while, ond out of joynt. And if the Lord take care and count of thy bones and hairs, ſurely his care is more for thy Soul, it ſhall never miſcarry; only learn thou a Leſſon over, and beyond the leaf of ſenſe, and preſent feeling, to ſee ſomething in nothing, to believe that the Buſh ſhall not be hurt, though the fire be in it; to hope for a ſweet kernel within the hardeſt ſhell, and to ſee the Son of Man walking with thee in the midſt of thy furnace. Look as well upward to the Crown,Revel. 2.17.Rev 2:17 on which is writ, Vincenti dabitur, To him that overcomes, as to the bottom of thy deep Croſs; with an holy indifferencie reſolve to indure the Lords good pleaſure: Say unto him, this trouble (O Lord) is grievous, O haſte to deliver me: yet (O Lord) my will ſhall wait p. 36(as a ſervant) upon thine: I will ſuffer any thing, only ſanctifie thou my ſufferings, and ſtrengthen me to bear them.

6. Laſtly, conſider and often ruminate upon the Saints carriage, and words in the like extremities; if thou be wearied running with footmen, how wouldſt thou ever have kept with the Horſes? if thou be ſo diſcouraged in ſhallow foords, what wouldſt thou have done if thou hadſt ſwimmed with them in the ſwellings of Jordan? J…. 12.9. Eſa. 8.17. Pſa. 31.24 Eſa. 43.1.Isa 8:17Ps 31:24Isa 43:1I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the houſe of Jacob, and I will look for him. Habak. 2.3. See Jonah 2.2. Micah 7.7, 8, 9. Pſal. 73.25, 26, 27, 28. Pſal. 23.4. Pſal. 42.11. Pſal. 130.5.6, 7. Job 23.10, 11. Jerem. 30.11. Lament. 3.24, 25, 26. and 31, 32. Rom. 8.18. and 35. to the end 2 Tim. 1.12. Heb. 10.35, 36, 37. To this purpoſe the prayer of Fulgentius in his ſore ſickneſs was not ill-beſeeming a Saints behaviour, Do…ine, da mihi modo patientiam & poſtea indulgentiam: Lord, here p. 37give me a little patience, and hereafter thy merciful indulgence.

Doct. My ſpirit faileth: This is Davids firſt reaſon to move the Lord, he is at the laſt caſt and even giving up the ghoſt, with long waiting for help: from his low condition we may ſee what is often the condition of Gods Children, That the beſt of Gods ſervants have waited for comfort …nd the feelings of his Spirit, to the very failing of their own ſpirit. David, a man after Gods own heart, is yet brought low with the faintneſs and failing of his heart, in waiting for help from God.Gen. 3.19Gen 3:19 In the ſweat of thy brow ſhalt thou eat bread; this lies upon the Sons of men. But here not to ſweat of face only, that were but ſmall, but to ſighs and fainting of the heart lies upon the Sons of God, in ſeeking and hungring after a taſte of Gods Bread of life, inward comfort, aſſurance, and joy of the Holy Ghoſt: Thus the Church was brought to this ſick bed, ere her comfort came.Lam. 1.16Lam 1:16 For theſe things p. 38I weep, mine eye, mine eye runs down with water, becauſe the comforte… that ſhould relieve my Soul is fa… from me. The Diſciples ſpirits were even failing in the Tempeſt when Chriſt ſlept, and ſeemed to neglect them, as if he cared not though they periſhed. How ſhould our ſpirits do other bu… fail, when our Comforter ſleeps when our only friend ſeems to b… our enemy?Pſa. 88.15.Ps 88:15 I am afflicted (ſaith the Prophet) and even ready to di… while I ſuffer thy terrors diſtracted or, with a troubled minde.

The good man of an houſe may ſit quietly at peace within his own houſe, and under his roof, though there be quarrellings and tumults without doors: but if there be no troubles without, if there be wounds, and fightings and terrors within, this wounded ſpirit is hard to bear up, have we never fo… ſtrong reins of patience, all is little enough to keep it from fainting. The heart of man is much like an unquiet Dame of an houſe, if ſhe be not pleaſed, all is in a p. 39tumult, the houſe is full of tempeſts, this dry land is more ſtormy than the Sea; and till ſhe be pacified,Pro. 21.9.Prov 21:9 Solomon thinks if a man get to the houſe-top, he gets him not far enough from the miſchief. Such tumults in the thoughts, ſuch fears in the minde doth the heart diſquieted ſtir up, if it want a pacifying feeling, an inward ſettling, it diſturbs all without and within, it maks that there is no reſt in the bones, no ſoundneſs in the fleſh, all ſtrength fails, and all the Orderly Offices of this little Common-wealth of Soul and body are thruſt out of order. This ſpiritual inward War being like a Civil War in a State,Faelix ille defectus non veniens ex infirmitate animi, ſed ex fortitudine deſiderii i… promoſſum Dei. Alhinus in Pſal 98.Ps 98 which brings the ſtrength of the beſt things in it to weakneſs: So we hear the Saints complain of eyes failing with waiting, hands with ſtretching forth, Soul with ſighing, and body pining, when God hides his face, delays grant of prayer, removes not the hideous face of ſin from being preſented to the Souls eye, without hopes of pardon; p. 38duplicate page p. 39duplicate page p. 38duplicate page p. 39duplicate page p. 40and thereby ſuffering the heart to be ſteept in gall and wormwood that if their ſtrength were ſtrength of ſtones, and fleſh o… braſs, yet it can harldly hold out, as Job argued.Job 6.12.Job 6:12

Reaſ. Unto ſuch ſtraits will the Lord have his Children brought, becauſe comforts thus earneſtly, and long ſought, and thus dearly bought, are the beſt for Chriſtians,Ex difficultate & delatione ſanitatis, fit diligentior cuſtodia receptae ſanitatis. Card. de Aliaco in Pſal. 6.Ps 6 they will do them the moſt good when they get them. When we come ſo hardly to the ſenſe of Gods love, it will make us hug it, and embrace it the more, and ſafely lock it up in our hearts, that we loſe it not, to be put to as much coſt and care in recovering it. When as the Captain ſaid of his Romiſh freedom, ſo we can ſay of our ſpiritual freedom, With a great ſum I obtained this freedom: we ſhall then count t a precious prerogative, and look well to it that we loſe not the comforts of it. None is ſo careful of that Leſſon,1 Theſ. 5.1 Thess 5 Quench not the Spirit, as he whom it hath coſt much labour to p. 41kindle the ſparks of that fire. Bid ſuch an one in Pauls Text preached to him, Quench not, Epheſ. 4.Eph 4and grieve not that good Spirit; he will anſwer, I have good cauſe to look that I grieve it not, for with great grief obtained I the joy of it. The Spouſe in the Canticles repreſents every careful Soul that comes hardly to its comfort,Cantic. 3.1, 2, 3, 4.Song 3:1Song 3:2Song 3:3Song 3:4 when ſhe has had weary heart and foot in ſeeking Chriſt in bed, City, ſtreets, broad ways; at laſt when ſhe finds him, ſhe lays not a ſlack hand on him, but careful to keep her dearbought comfort, ſhe holds him faſt, and will not let him go, and carries him to her Mothers houſe, and Chamber, is very watchful in keeping him, whom ſhe (after long labour) found. And indeed if God ſhould let us come to our deſires more eaſily, we ſhould be the more careleſs in keeping thoſe good things. Short gettings have commonly ſhort cares, or leſs eſteem, and valuing of them.

p. 42Reaſ. 2 Failing of Spirit, is both a motive which God means to yiel… unto and to be won withal; and it is alſo his opportunity, when h… uſually helps. It is a ſtrong motive in our prayers to move him for he is pitiful, and will not le… his Children utterly fail and periſh; he is a pitiful Spirit to failing Spirits. I will not contend ſait… the Lord) for ever, neither will be always wroth; Why? we deſerve his wrath ſhould laſt an… take fire for ever againſt us; yea but (ſaith the Lord) this is the reaſon,Eſa. 57.16.Isa 57:16 The ſpirit ſhould then fai… before me, and the Souls which … have made: I love and pity the fainting Souls and Spirits of men, I will help my Children; how can I ſee my Creatures whom I made, and do love, to periſh for want of my help? David knew the Lords nature, and that this was a ſpeeding argument in prayer, which made him here and elſewhere, ſo often uſe it. A p…tiful Father will no… … …his Children utte… … p. 43opportunity, he uſually helps when all other helps fail, that we may …he more ſtrongly cleave to him, and ground our ſelves upon him, as knowing how infirm we are, if he confirm us not. When mans Cruſe of Oyl is dry, and fails, can drop no more, then is Gods time to prepare his. Thus helpt he the Iſraelites at the Red Sea, when all mans ſtrength and wiſdom was at a ſtand. He loves to be ſeen in the Mount, in extremities. Theſe are the trueſt glaſſes to ſhew Gods truth, power, wiſdom, goodneſs, and to ſhew to man his own Nothingneſs,Valeant humana praeſidia quae nos deſerunt modo in anima ſpes firma ma…eat, Deum nobis ſervatorem non de fore, qui ſaepe gentem harc eripuit exitio. Philo Iud. in Legat. ad Cajum. Emptineſs, Vanity, that he can do nothing with the ſtrongeſt brawn of his own fleſhly arm. We ſhould never learn rightly this Leſſon of dependance upon God alone, if he did not delay deliverance ofttimes to the very failing of our Spirits.

p. 441. Art thou then in that ſhi… which is toſſed, and Chriſt ſleep… and helps thee not? doth thy ſp… rit fail in ſtruggling with the ſtro… ſenſe of inward miſery, want … Grace, or want of the joy … Grace? Learn at that time t… look on thy condition aright: Loo… not on thy ſelf in thy ſelf, but loo… upon thy ſelf in the Saints ſe… thy caſe in the Saints commo… caſe. Thou art not ſingular, God ſheep have commonly been thu… markt.

Thou thinkeſt God has forgotten thee: yes, he has forgot thee as he forgot his Children heretofore. Thus he forgot David, Job Paul, they were brought to perplexity, though not to deſpair; we are caſt down but not deſtroyed I intreat thee, tell me if this …hy, comfortleſs eſtate, ſhall bring thee the jocund offspring of the world, whom conſcience ſleeping never troubles;… Cor. 4.8, 9. Cain the Builder, Juba… the merry Muſitian, worldly Nabal, carnal Iſhmael, temporizing Demas, or any of that fleſhly p. 45Tribe, who never knew one ſigh of a penitent heart, nor ever came …ear to the failing of their ſpi…it in waiting upon God. O no, …hou ſayeſt, it is fearful to be ſor…ed with theſe, whoſe Candle God will put out, who ſpend their days in jollity,Job. 11.13.Job 11:13 and in a moment …umble into the grave. But now the Lord has dealt well with thee, having joyned thee to the number of his own; thus hath he ſcourged (though not in the ſame degree) every Son and Daughter he has received, thus have they been taught to mourn before him. Great joy ought it to be to us, that we bear the ſame Livery and Badge upon earth, which they once wore, who are now the bleſt Courtiers of Heaven.

The Apoſtle was ſo far from troubling himſelf for it, that he bids all others ceaſe troubling him, and take heed what they do to him, for he carries in his body the noble marks of ſufferings, and wounds for Chriſt; he gloried in it:Gal. 6.Gal 6 Let no man henceforth trouble p. 46me, for I bear in my body the mar… of the Lord Jeſus. O high dign… tion, to be like Chriſt in any … ſtate, yea, though it be in h… ſweating, ſuffering, and ſighi… out his My God, my God, why ha… thou forſaken me? 2 Cor. 4.10.2 Cor 4:10For if we bear … bout the dying of the Lord Jeſus, is for our future comfort that the li… of Jeſus may be manifeſt in our mo… tal bodies. Remember we the… always, that be our ſpirits neve… ſo low, Gods deareſt Childre… have been in the ſame pit yea, an… lower than we, and yet God a… length raiſed them up from theſ… hopeleſs depths.Pſal. 22.15. Pſal. 119.82.Ps 22:15Ps 119:82 They cried til… their tongues failed, with long praying for deliverance; thei… eyes failed with waiting, thei… hands failed with being lif… up. And yet which of theſe waited upon God in vain? None of them; tell us amongſt all theſe failings that God failed, and did not at length give them their hearts deſire.

p. 47Meque iſtis potius ſociet quam congreget illis,Proſper. in Verſe de Providentia.

Quos jam ſummoto permiſit verbere, curſu

Ire voluntatis—

Uſe. 2 Let the failing ſpirit be directed to take Davids courſe, though he cried out of failing, yet he failed not of crying to his God. The weaker we are, it ſhould make us cry the faſter. So long as the Spirit of prayer fails not in us, ſo long the Spirit of power will not fail to uphold us: only cry we as men far caſt down, Lord, if thou wilt forſake me, yet Lord, forſake me not long:Pſal. 119.8. Defect enim Spiritus meus, ut impleat me Spiritus tuus Proſper. in Pſalm. Eſai. 40.29, 30, 31.Ps 119:8Isa 40:29Isa 40:30Isa 40:31 My ſpirit now fails me, that thy Spirit may help, & fill me; for ſo ſome gloſs upon this Verſe. For this is is the ground of the application of Gods Promiſe, and for our encouragement. Are we weak? now is the time come he promiſed to help us: He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he encreaſeth ſtrength: Even p. 48the youths ſhall faint and be wear… and the young men ſhall utterly fall But they that wait upon the Lor… ſhall renew their ſtrength, &c. An… again, when we are thinking, … I ſhall never get out of this troubleſome evil: the Lord anſwers Fear not, Eſa. 41.10.Isa 41:10for I am with thee, be n… diſmayed, for I am thy God. Ye… but I have no more ſtrength t… wait upon God; then have w… Gods anſwer, I will ſtrengthe thee, I will help thee. O but th… Croſs is ſo heavy, I ſhall fail an… periſh under it. No (ſaith he) will uphold thee with the right han… of my righteouſneſs. Here is … large and liberal promiſe: Tho… haſt Gods Word, Gods hand… Gods help, Gods ſtrength, tho… mayſt utterly fail if his ſtrengt… fail thee. If thou crieſt on him t… look at his Promiſes, and remember his Covenant with his Children, he cannot finally neglec… thee, unleſs Chriſt ſleep in his ſea… of interceſſion, or his memory periſh that he forgets his Children, or he forget his own hands, p. 49where his Childrens names and neceſſities are ingraven.Eſa. 54.11Isa 54:11 For this end in crying and calling upon him, the failing ſpirit may plead with theſe two ſtrengthening Arguments.

As firſt, that it ſtands much for Gods glory that he do help us in reſpect of ungodly and impious men. Thus may it be urged, If thou ſuffer my ſpirit to fail and me to periſh, then Lord thou loſeſt not only thy Creature, but thy Glory alſo: let none of thy glory be diminiſht;Pſal 79 10.Ps 79:10 For why ſhould the Heathen ſay, where is now their God? If God caſt off his Children, and give them not deliverance, Religion would receive a great blow, and ungodly men would ſpeak evil of his ways and worſhip. They whoſe ſervice is ſin, when they ſee Gods devout Children are at a low ebb, & in a deep extremity, then they throw dung in the face of Religion, and cry, there, there, Pſal. 35.25. Job 4.6.Ps 35:25Job 4:6ſo would we have it. Is not this the fruits of your fear, confidence, uprightneſs p. 50of your ways, and your hope? This is the fruits of Religion and profeſſion, it ſpoils all our mirth, ſee how it makes them melancholly and penſive, they are all alike unſociable, and uncomfortable; who will enter that path which leads to ſuch ſadneſs? Beſeech God to let thy caſe be no impediment to his Glory, by hindring and deferring thoſe that are without, from coming in, leſt they diſlike Religion for thy ſake. God has ſometimes ſaid, he would do good to his Children,Deut. 32.26, 27.Deut 32:26Deut 32:27 that their enemies might not have cauſe to lift up their Horns.

Call on him to do it for his own Childrens ſake, that are within the Church;Pſal. 69.6.Ps 69:6 Let not them that wait on thee be aſhamed for my ſake, O God of Hoſts, let not them that ſeek thee be confounded for my ſake, O God of Iſrael. As if he ſaid, There are many weak in the the faith, O Lord, who truſt in th…e, and if thou fail me, they will be ſcandalized, their weakneſs will make them ſtagger, and ſtart back, when p. 51they ſee thy Promiſes fail towards me; how ſhall they truſt in thoſe Promiſes for themſelves, which they ſee have failed others? Nay, Lord, rather deliver me, that the weak thereby may be the more ſtrengthened thou ſhalt get glory by bringing many both to praiſe thee, and truſt in thee more confidently for my ſake, or for thy promiſes gracious performance towards me;Pſal. 66.16.Ps 66:16 They that fear thee will be glad when they ſee me, becauſe I have hoped in thy Word, yea, the righteous ſhall then reſort unto my company; I will call them and tell them what great things thou haſt done for my Soul: Further, in thus delivering me, much praiſe and glory ſhall come to thy name, thankſgiving ſhall be ſent to thee by many in my behalf, who will ſhout for joy, and ſay,Pſal. 35.27.Ps 35:27 Praiſed be the Lord, who hath pleaſure in the proſperity of his ſervant.

Uſe. 3 If the comforts of the Soul be bought ſo dear, as they will coſt us the very fainting, and almoſt failing of our Spirits, let him be p. 52leſson'd who hath his Soul replea… with peace and quietneſs in his God,…eatus es, ſi cor tuum triplii timore repleveris; ut ti…eas quidem pro accepta ratia, amplius pro amiſſa, nge plus pro recuperata. …rnard ſupra Cantic. Serm. 4. to lock the Promiſes within his heart, to cheriſh and keep burning that good fire leſt wit… many ſtrong blaſts of prayers he cannot get it kindled afreſh, when once it is ſomewhat quenched, and dying out. For this purpoſe it behoves thoſe who are yet in the Sun-ſhine of peace, and lightſomneſs of heart, to rejoyce in God and his mercies, to labour as much to keep it, as ever they laboured to get it.

1. To beware of ſin, that they fall not into any wickedneſs, for that will devaſtate the Conſcience, and ſpoil its peace.

2. They ſhould cheriſh and make much of Gods Spirit, and the joyous motions it ſtirs up in them. Gueſts ſtay with us according to their welcome; bad ente…tainment, and neglect of p. 53them, gives us their backs inſtead of their faces:Epheſ. 4.Eph 4 Grieve not the Spirit of God.

3. Keep we our hearts exerciſed in good things, prayer, hearing, reading, meditation, thoſe put forth our Talents we have, to come in with more increaſe. Take we heed, if ſuch good means be not uſed, we may come to ſee our Candle burn dim, and with perplexed hearts, and ſorrowing ſpir…ts, as Joſeph and Mary, we may come to ſeek our Comforter, and be long without him, till our ſpirits be ready to fail in ſeeking, becauſe our care and diligence failed in keeping.

Uſe 4 Laſtly, though all the Saints of God have cryed ther ſpirits fail, yet this may make for their exceeding comfort, none of their ſpirits did ever yet ſo utterly fail, but they have had their reſurrection to ſome lively hopes, who ſeemed hopeleſs. We have our p. 54ſpiritual dejections, and ſpiritua… reſurrections. Where is …ha… man, and who is that Saint an… Servant of God, that periſhed in waiting upon God, and expecting his help? Our comfort may be long in coming, but at length it ſhall come and not deceive us: either the tongue ſhall cry it after long waiting,Mr. Glo…r Mattyr in Fo…es Acts and …onum. He is come, he i… come; or the heart ſhall feel it, or finde it, it may be without, but certainly beyond expreſſions. It may be that the noon, afternoon, evening, night, may all hold him in the bonds of vexation, but (undoubtedly) joy comes in the morning: If it cannot be found in the beginning, no nor in a long time in the proceedings; yet, Mark the perfect man, Pſ. 37.37.Ps 37:37and behold the upright, for the end of that man ſhall be peace. There are who have been brought from thoſe deſperate concluſions made in the ſtrength of temptations,Geoffry of Peronne in vita St. Bern. lib. 4. c. 3. I ſhall never be mermerry again ſo long as I live, to tell the ſame party, being ſtrongly fill'd with new quickning hopes, p. 55If I told thee before I ſhould never in my life be joyful,2 Tim. 2.2 Tim 2 now I aſſure thee, I ſhall never any more be ſorrowful. Though we ſhould be ſo low, as we were hopeleſs, yet God muſt continue faithful, he cannot deny himſelf,1 Cor. 10.13.1 Cor 10:13 he will not ſuffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but will with the temptation make a way to eſcape, that we may be able to bear it.

Doctr. The next requeſt is, that God would not hide his face, and the reaſon, becauſe in the light of his countenance is life, in the hiding of it is very death: From Davids requeſt that God would not hide his face, ſee this Poſition, That God hath his times of hiding and ſhewing his face to his Children, and all for their good: both by declared favour, and ſeeming diſpleaſure, God leads on his Children unto bleſſedneſs. All the months of the year are not alike, ſome make the earth horrid with froſts and miſts, and large expences out of the Lords Treaſury of Hail and Sow, as in Job, Job 38.22.Job 38:22the Lord calls …t; others make the fiel… … with abundance of flower … fruits, the Sun with his revi…ing heat, putting life into bird bud, and beaſt. Shall, we than… God for May and not for March The diſpenſing of fair and foul ſeaſons are both acts of Divine Providence, for the good of man and beaſt.Epiphan. He that is God of the Summer, is as good a God of th… Winter, in ſpite of the blaſpheming Manichees, procuring our good in the one, as well as in the other. Thus is it with Man the abridgement of Gods Creation, and with the holy man the object of his more ſpecial love; The Sun ſhines not always alike on him, he is ſometimes joyed with a ſenſe of Gods love, by and by in ſorrow through ſome growing afflictions: his months are ſometimes watry as April, ſometimes mirthful as May, and yet by all theſe varieties his field of ſanctification becomes more fruitful. All the months of Jobs years were not alike,Job 29.2.Job 29:2 O that I were (ſaith he) as in p. 57the months paſt: What were thoſe ſeaſons? lightſome days, proſperous, favourable, Gods Candle burnt over my head, all went with a ſweet ſtream. But now he poſſeſſes months of grief and darkneſs, he goes mourning without the Sun,Job 30.Job 30 yet we know all theſe wrought for his good, the glory of his patience, the excellencie of his affiance, the worthineſs of his hope, when the blind eye of man could eſpie nothing but what appeared hopeleſs. Theſe changes of joy & ſorrow are not becauſe the Lord is changed, for he is immutable and changes not; but they ſignes of our changeableneſs. When God beſtows good things on us, and his favour is towards us, we are ready to change this into occaſion of pride, and ſecurity; thereupon the Lord ſtrips us of our conſolations, and ſends ſome Meſſenger of Satan to buffet us, leſt we ſhould be puft up, or becauſe we are puft up.2 Cor. 12….2 Cor 12

1. Leſt we ſhould, for prevention: And is not this for o…r good, p. 58when the poyſon is taken out … our hands, which we are ready t… drink?

2. Becauſe we already are, fo… our humiliation: and is not this fo… our good alſo, that like Tenant we might acknowledge of whom we hold? In a ſhort time yo… ſhall ſee David both up and down,Pſal. 30.6.Ps 30:6 by the Lords hand ſo ſetting him in proſperity; up, by his own ſecurity,Ver. 7. I ſhall never be moved: Preſently he is down; down, by the Lords hiding his face, as a pricking of this windy Bladder, that his proud confidenec may fall; and down in own ſad apprehenſions; then I was troubled, and ſaw how quickly the Lord can abaſe our higheſt thoughts, and turn away his face from us.

We do not always finde God writing pleaſant Epiſtles to his Children, he ſometimes writes bitter things.

Reaſon. It muſt be thus to make good the difference 'twixt Earth and Heaven: Earth is a place of change and variation, in Heaven p. 59all things always continue alike. The Sun if it riſe with us, in its very riſing it is paſſing from us to the Weſt. In Heaven the glorious light rides always in the Eaſt, there is no declination, nor ſetting; the Lord is an everlaſting light. Here all things are full of Tranſitions, joy ſits but while, then ſorrow takes the room.Eccl. 1, 4.Eccl 1:4 One generation paſſeth, and another cometh. In our way to Heaven we muſt look for change of ways, many turnings; only at our journies end we finde a good, and always remaining good eſtate, durable and immutable: When once we come in preſence of that face of glory, there is no Cloud can ever be interpoſed 'twixt us and it, to hide it from us. Earth would be too like Heaven, if our good things did faſten their foot with us, and we ſhould know no change.

Reaſon, 2 This ſorts with the nature of man, who cannot well coniinue and endure in any ſtayed eſtate to uſe it aright. He cannot keep within his meaſure: If he be full, p. 60he will burſt like a bottle, unle… God give him ſome vent: If … be empty, he will burſt with impatience, unleſs God put ſom meal into the barrel. Mans han… is paralytick, cannot hold the ballance even, one of the Scales goe too low by too much ſorrow, o… is lifted up by too much preſumptuous and ſecure joys.2 Cor. 2.2 Cor 2 We cannot well grieve, but over-grieve; and when we joy, we are ſubject to be over joyed. Only we have a wiſe God, that knows our temper and whereof we are made, and ſo diſpoſes of us, that we ſhall ſometimes have matter o… patience in our afflictions, other times matter of praiſe and thanks in a condition more eaſie and proſperous. Surely I think theſe two excellent vertues would ſcarcely be found, were it not for the viciſſitude and changes of ſweet and bitter. For where would God get his due thanks, if he did not ſometimes manifeſt his face and favour to his Children? and what uſe had we for patience,Heb. 10.36,Heb 10:36 if God p. 61ſuffered us not ſometimes to wait for his countenance to ſhine on our perſons, and his accptance of our prayers, and grant of our deſires? Here is now ſome work for that Grace.

Uſe. Doth God work our good by ſuch contrary means? This ſhould teach us to weigh Gods work with his own weights, and to look into his dealings with us with better eyes than thoſe of humane wiſdom. The wiſdom of men is but fooliſhneſs with God, it cannot give a true cenſure of his actions. If God work not by viſible and probable means and inſtruments, ſuch as man would imagine the fitteſt, we then conclude our vain expectance of a good end from ſuch ſtrange proceedings. We, if we had ſeen Chriſt put clay and ſpittle in a mans eyes, ſhould be ready to ſhoot our bolts of folly, and to think what fault has the man committed, thus to have his eyes put out? Alas, weak wiſdom!

p. 62Conſider the workman, it is Chriſt, who can bring light out of darkneſs, heal with wounding, fetch water out of flints, and beget good to be brought out of the womb of evil. That God who made waters ſtand like a wall, who quickned the dead and barren womb of Sarah; that God who made a Maiden a Mother,Was not the Virgin Mary meter anandros parthenos brephotrophos. Joan. Euchaitenſ. in Jambic. Gen. 1.11 & 16.Gen 1:11Gen 1:16 who raiſed the Prince of righteouſneſs & glory out of a Manger who made the earth bring forth fruit before there was a Sun to ſhine upon it; that God, I ſay, who works by contrary means, and without means, why ſhould we diſtruſt him working by unlikely means? He turns away his face from thee, it is for thy good, to ſtrengthen thy faith in waiting and praying, to bring thee to loath and diſtaſte worldly comforts, when thou findeſt ſo little health and help in them, and to raiſe thy affections to run the faſter him. When we think God is ſo angry with us,Pſal. 39.Ps 39 as no better end can be expected, than p. 63that his ſore ſtrokes ſhould conſumes us, and make an end of us, then has the Lord worthy ends intended; working for his own glory, and his Childrens fuller conſolation thereby; for it is the priviledge of his Divine Power to effect matters far above all that we can either ask or think, or conceive with the moſt quick eye of humane wiſdom.Epheſ. 3.Eph 3 What if we be caſt into the dungeon with Joſeph, cannot God bring him through this room, and make it the high way to ſeat him a Compeer with Pharaoh? though caſt out with Moſes into the Bullruſh-boat, it may be God ſees this the ready way to advancement. When we look upon a man rowing in a Boat, we ſee him look one way, and row another way; he looks from home; but his boat goes homeward. Whatſoever the Lords dealings be, caſt not away thy confidence, O diſtreſſed heart, though he ſeem to be a going from thee: he is coming to thee: Thou thinkeſt the Lord in anger turns away his face from p. 64thee, yet the Boat of thy Soul for al… this is rowed homeward and Hea… venward. Theſe afflictions of thy ſpirit, faintings of heart, ſtrong groans after ſenſe of his love, are infallible Sea-marks in thy way to the Haven of life and comfort: only keep thy ſelf in the Boat, leap not out with diffidence, though great waves leap in, truſt the Lord with the rowing, commit thy ways unto him,Pſa. 37.5.Ps 37:5 and he will bring it to paſs.

Uſe. 2 Learn to ſuſpect, rather than envy that eſtate which knows no changes: It is the ſinners ſaddeſt lot to be ſettled on the Lees, and never moved nor changed from Bottle to Bottle.Jer. 48.11Jer 48:11 Let my Soul never ſleep the ſinners unbroken ſleep of ſecurity; they have no change,Pſa. 73.5.Ps 73:5 and are not in trouble like other men. But the righteous and whom God loves, find manifold diverſities of Gods proceedings with them, becauſe he means to make ſomething of them.

His reaſon for his laſt requeſt, Lest I be like them that go down into p. 65the pit: Not the Pit or Lake of Hell or Purgatory; nor the depth and profundity of ſins, as ſome would have it; but the pit of Golgotha, the place of dead mens skulls, the Chambers of mortality, the Grave. Elſewhere he ſeems ſo to reaſon,Pſa. 30.9.Ps 30:9 Shall the dead praiſe thee? what profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Note here how David joyns Gods love and his life together, and counts the hiding away his face to be death, and that which carries him to the grave.

Doct. The faithful heart finds no life, but in Gods love. Gods favourable face is the Chriſtians health and life; his maintenance lies all in Gods countenance. The baſeſt low condition'd life is royalty with Gods favour, and the royalliſt life, is but a painted dunghill, or a golden grave, if his face be hid from it, and ſhine not there. Yea, but David, thou may'ſt be a living man, eat, drink, and ſleep, though his face be hid from thee; Thou haſt Muſick to chear p. 66thee, art thou not a Prince? th… haſt the Sovereignty of a Kin… dom to comfort thee, Nobles a… High Eſtates to attend and a… company thee, thou mayſt ha… all the delights of the Sons of m… and earthly contentments to e… hilerate thee; why doſt thou th… ſpeak of a grave or pit? can man die among ſo many livin… comforts? Thus indeed mig… reaſon reaſon the caſe: But D… vid ſpoke adviſedly, he did n… (as ſometimes he did) ſpeak … his haſte, he is often ſaying th… ſame,Pſal. 119.77. ver. 88.Ps 119:77 Let thy tender mercies co… unto me that I may live: There's n… life without aſſurance of his me… cies: Quicken me after thy lovin… kindneſs: He counts himſelf dea… without his loving kindneſs, th… quickens him, and puts new li… into him. It is a great dignit… and comfort to a man to hav… birds, beaſts, fiſhes, Sea, Ai… Earth and all things to be mad… for him, and ſubjected to him Now David looks higher than th… p. 67Pſal. 8.Ps 88th Pſalm, there muſt be more than all this to make a man to have a true and worthy life. Though the body live by the Soul, yet there wants Gods favour and face, which is the Soul of the Soul, and more to it, than it is to the body. The ſpiritual life, to have to have the vital powers of grace, the inſpiration of Gods quickning Spirit, an inward ſight …iewing of Gods face in Chriſt, and ſweet ſ…nſe of his loving coun…enance, as John ſaith of the true …ight, ſo this is the true life. In anotner place he has the very words, His anger endureth but for a moment, Pſal. 30.5. ver. 7. Anima hominis Chriſtiani Tulipae inſtar eſt, quae ſe ad Spiritus Sancti radios explicat, iiſdem abſentibus contriſtatur. Cauſin. Parab. Hiſt. lib. 10.Ps 30:5and in his favour is life. Again, Thou didst turn away …hy face, and I was troubled: There is death in …he hiding of his countenance. In the firſt Pſalm the righteous man is compared to a tree, and here methinks the righteous man is p. 68compared to a flower, the Tuli… or Marygold; if the Sun open h… bright lightſome face upon them theſe open their leaves; but if … ſet and ſhut up his ſhining ſhopi… Heaven, theſe lour, and claſp t… gether their leaves on earth Such is Gods favour and fac… of love; Davids Soul, and ev… ry Chriſtians holy Soul riſes a… ſets with it. Abſalom cou… tell us, though he had lands a… maintenance from his father, y… he lived bion 'abion, Principis ſideris abſentiam gemere diceres.a lifeleſs liſ… ſo long as he might not come in his fathers preſence, and beho… his face. The face of God reco… ciled, has more raviſhing ſwe… neſs in it for every adopted Chil… who has taſted how gracious t… Lord is: and how can they b… droop, when that is hid fro… them, under ſe… and feeling of diſpleaſure?Pſal. 90.9. Redde oculos mea vita tuos ni cenere pergam, Frigidus exanimi pectore diſpeream, Jan. Lernut. in Poem. Ocelli. Cain, Saul, Judas, Spira.Ps 90:9 W… thou art angry our days are go… The Idolizi… Lover will t… p. 69you his life lies in his Mrs eyes; an amorous and pleaſant look quickens him, a frown or neglecting countenance caſts him into deep vexations of heart. This is but the Creature; ſhall there not be thought there is more power of life and death in the Creator, appearing graciouſly favourable, or diſpleaſed?

Real proofs of this have been the horrible vexations, even to diſpair, of wretched men, when the ireful face of God has been ſet againſt them for their ſins, and preſented to their Souls. As alſo thoſe bitter cries, and prayers of the Godly in deep afflictions, when no glaſſes could ſhew unto them the face of Gods favour, this made them averſe and pull back their hand from all offered comforts,Natura ſpeciem ita formavit oris, ut in ea penitus reconditos mores effingeret. Is qui appellatur vultus, qui in nullo amimante eſſe praeter hominem poteſt, indicat mores, Cicero de Legib. lib. 1. Pſal. 51.Ps 51 becauſe they wanted the ſenſe and ſight of this only comfort. And this p. 70is a common phraſe of Gods favour and love, the ſhewing of his face, becauſe the heart acts all the parts of its ſeveral affections upon the Stage of the face, it is the outward Map of the inward paſſions of the mind. If there be fear within, it may be ſeen in the trouble of the countenance, and paleneſs clothing the face without. If anger riſe, then cloudy frowns and angry demonſtrations give warnings of it. If love and favour ſweeten the diſpoſition of the Soul, then a pleaſed look, a chearful eye, a gladſome contented countenance will declare the good pleaſure and acceptation of the mind. According to thoſe variations of Gods face do the Saints vary their prayers; one while praying the Lord to ſhew them his face, and the light of his countenance to ſhine upon them; that is, to ſhew them his divine favour, and fatherly good pleaſure; otherwhiles praying him to turn away his face, that is, his angry p. 71countenance, and face of diſpleaſure.

Reaſ. Reaſon why the life of the faithful lies in Gods loving face, is, becauſe it is the very life and happineſs of the Saints in Heaven. For thoſe even in Heaven in the preſence of all good things, and want of all evils, had but a miſerable happineſs, if either God were not preſent with them, or, being preſent, if they did not always behold his bleſſed face of …ove and favour. If this be the …ife of Heaven, much more muſt …he comfort of it quicken the …aints upon earth.

Uſe. Here will be a fair trial of the …incerity of a good Chriſtian …eart, hereby may be known, 2 Corint… 8.8.To …neſion tes 'agapes, the ſincereneſs and genuineneſs of our love whe…her our ſervice and obedience be grounded upon a right love to God or no. How are we affected to the Lord, do we lay up all our treaſure in his love and loving countenance? can we content and …uiet our hearts with this, that p. 72God is well pleaſed with us in the midſt of our calamities? Canſt thou ſay in the midſt of eaſe, riches, friends, honour, and the fulleſt ſtreams of wordly contentment. Alas! fooliſh vanities, one glance of Gods face, the perſwaſion of Gods favour do I delight in more than all you? yea, I had rather be the baſeſt footſtool of the world with Gods love, than a glorious Monarch with a graceleſs Soul. Wicked men always love Gods hand, better than his face, the gifts better than the giver. Give them the worlds marrow and fatneſs, let their Corn and Wine, and Oyl increaſe, let them walk in Sunſhine of earthly proſperity, and they never finde a want of inward aſſurance of Gods love in the Soul, they want eyes to ſee the want of ſpiritual life, and want Grace to long after Gods countenance, to ſhine upon their Souls in ſanctification and true peace. The worlds voice is, who will ſhew us any good? that is, gifts of Gods hand: but the p. 73Godlies voice is,Pſal. 4.Ps 4 Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. If thou canſt make it all thy care to keep the aſſurance of Gods love, and all thy joy to rejoyce in his face when thou haſt it, and make it all thy grief that nothing can comfort thee when thou wanteſt it, & all thy labor for to regain it; doubtleſs thy love to God is ſincere and true, you are reconciled ones, for one friend cannot brook the abſence of another.

Uſe. 2 What eſteem will this teach us to give to the life of a wicked man? doth he live who wants the Spirit of life, the face of Gods favour, which is better than life? No, his life is a ſpiritual death, he may live in the eyes of men, but he is a dead ſtinking Carrion in the eyes of God, Dead, nay, that is not enough, he is thrice dead and pluckt up by the roots.Jude ver. 12. For firſt, he is dead in ſin; next, he is more miſerably dead, becauſe Gods face is turned away from him, he loves him not, delights not in him, and which is worſe p. 74than death, this wretched Soul perceives it not, and is not grieved for it. O man, pray for an Heavenly light, that thy eyes may be opened to ſee thy miſery. Thou art merry and jolly, for all things fall out to thy wiſh. Thou groweſt from weak to ſtrong, from young to old; this is but the life of trees and plants. Thou walkeſt, eateſt, drinkeſt, ſleepeſt well, this is but the ſenſual life of birds and beaſts. Thou buildeſt, talkeſt, reaſoneſt, this is but the life of men, even Heathens, and ſtrangers to Chriſt: thus thy life paſſes; but alas! among all theſe thou wanteſt the life of Grace, the loving countenance of God in Chriſt, the aſſurance of ſalvation by faith in him. Thou yet wanteſt the ſeeds and principles of a true Chriſtian life, and therefore art a poor dead wretch before God, and canſt not but periſh, if thou ſeekeſt not for better comforts, and a better life than theſe; even that Chriſt may be thy life, and viſit thy dead Soul with his p. 75quickning Spirit,Coloſ. 3.4Col 3:4 and ſet his face of favour upon thee for his own choſen One. This is the miſery of a ſenſeleſs ſenſual Soul, Ahab. like, to grieve for no wants, but only of earthly things. If the Children of the moſt High ſo hardly come to Heaven with faintings of ſpirit, and approachings to the very grave and pit, in ſeeking Gods face, what ſhall become of them then, that count Gods face not worth looking after? ſure againſt ſuch the Lord hath ſet his face of wrath and diſpleaſure for ever.

Uſe. 3 This will diſcover the common ſpring, whence theſe troubled waters ariſe, which ſo often almoſt drown the godly: Their anguiſh flows from a miſtaking, and miſinterpretation of this face of favour.Facìes hominis eſt ſpeculum cordis. Bernard. ad ſorot. de modo bene viv, cap. 65. Whenſoever they fall into any temptations they paſs an hard ſentence againſt themſelves, that God has turned awy his face from them, and is angry with them, becauſe their anguiſh continues, and he doth not preſently p. 76deliver them. When Gods face is towards thee, why doſt thou deny it? the Sun ſhines, though there be a Cloud 'twixt it and me; and even now Gods face ſhines upon thee, though Satan hath placed ſome foggy vapours and clouds of diſtruſt and temptations 'twixt thy Souls eye and it. It is no difficulty to prove, that we complain of Gods hiding his face, when it is not hid from us. The beſt parts of a mans face for comfort, is the eye, and the ear; the one to ſee, and look kindly on us, the other to hear us willingly. Doſt thou (though ſore afflicted) truſt in God, and wait on him, are thy eyes to him? then I am ſure his eyes are upon thee, his eye of pity, of love, of tender compaſſion; he will not withdraw his eyes from the righteous; and his ears are open unto their prayer. What wouldſt thou have more than an open ear, and piteous eye? what doſt thou in this thy trouble, thou calleſt on God by prayer, thou p. 77mortifieſt every known ſin, thou laboureſt to finde God in every promiſe? who guides thee to do this? not the tempter, for this is the way to break in pieces all his Temptations; not thy ſelf, for thou knoweſt not aright what courſe to take; it is becauſe Gods eye is upon thee, for his eye guides thee to theſe ways.Job 36.7. Pſal 34 14. Ignoras Agrippa, me oculis non minus quam v…ce, loqui ſolere? Cajus Agrip Philo Iud de Legat. ad C…um. Profecto in oculis animus habitat. Plin. lib. 11. cap. 37.Job 36:7Ps 34:14 I will guide thee (ſaith the Lord) with mine eye. And they ſay the ſeat of Love, though it be in the face, yet it is ſpecially in the eye. Again, Gods ear is towards thee, thou prayeſt, and he hears; thou beggeſt ſtrength and comfort, he gives the firſt? he delays but the laſt: he gives thee the comfort of ſtrength, makes thee able to hold out in thy trouble; though he do not yet give thee the ſtrength of comfort, to get out of thy trouble. Surely we want not his face and favour, p. 78when we have thus his good eye and gracious ear, and can ſay to to the Tempter, Thou haſt thruſt ſore at me that I might fall, Pſal. 32.9. Vid. Guazzum de civil converſ. lib. 4. de oculorum vi in amore. Sunt cordis feneſtrae & pediſſe qui.Ps 32:9but the Lord hath been my helper. What wanteſt thou then of his face? nothing but one word from his mouth, that he would ſpeak peace to thee, and ſay within thee in the voice of his Spirit, I am thy ſalvation: This I know is that the Saints oft-times want,Pſal. 118.13. Pſal. 35.3. Proverb. 12.25. Cupiendi amoris viſus eſt anſa. Plutarch. His mouth is moſt ſweet. Cant. 5.16. Cant. 2.14.Ps 118:13Ps 35:3Song 5:16Song 2:14 that God is long ſilent, ſpeaks not comfort to them. Heavineſs having ſeized upon the heart of man makes it ſtoop, but then a good word makes it glad. One good word from God would build up thy Soul, if he ſhould but ſay, Be of good chear thy ſins are forgiven thee. And doubtleſs, this thou haſt alſo, he ſpeaks to thee in his promiſes; only Satan, p. 79and thy wreſtling heart drown his voice, that thou canſt not hear his promiſes ſpeaking particularly and diſtinctly to thee. In the mean time call and pray unto God, that is a ſeeking of his face, and howſoever for a while he ſtand behind the wall, thou ſeeſt him darkly, but through the windows, and he ſhew himſelf to thee but through the lattice,Cant. 2.9.Song 2:9 yet thou ſhalt in good time enjoy his face of comfort more fully, and have a more compleat preſence of him bringing ſweet conſolations to thy wearied Soul. Thou haſt already his countenance, he will grant thee the joy of that countenance.

I conclude with that diſcourſe of the Father concerning Gods face.

If God ſhould come (ſaith he) and with his own voice ſpeak to you (though he is not ſilent, but ſpeaks by his Letters) and ſhould ſay to man; Wilſt thou ſin, ſin on; do what delights thee; what ever thou loveſt on earth, let it be thine, whom thou art angry at, p. 80let him periſh; whom thou wouldſt have taken away, let him be taken away; whom thou wouldſt ſtay, let him be ſlain; whom condemned, let him be condemned; whom poſſeſs, thou mayeſt poſſeſs him: Let none reſiſt thee, none ſay to thee, ſo much as, What doſt thou? &c. Take thee abundance of all earthly things thou deſireſt, live in them, and not for a time, but for ever; only upon this condition, thou ſhalt never ſee my face. Wherefore is your heart ſmitten, if God ſhould ſay, Thou ſhalt never ſee my face. Behold, thou ſhalt be full of all earthly felicity, of all things, all temporal good things ſhall flow about thee, thou loſeſt them not, never forſakeſt them; what wouldeſt thou have more? Surely chaſte fear would weep and lament, yea, and ſay, Rather let all theſe things and this felicity be taken from me, ſo I may but ſee thy face; chaſte fear would cry out with the Pſalmiſt,Auguſt. in Pſal. 127.Ps 127 Turn us again, O Lord of Hoſts, let thy face ſhine on us, and p. 81we ſhall be ſaved; Pſal. 80.19. And, One thing I have deſired of the Lord, that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to viſit his Temple, Pſal. 27.4. O Brethren, would you know where Paradiſe is ſcituate, and what Quarter Heaven lies in? It lies in Gods countenance, and in his reconciled face; and the ſoreſt torments of Hell lie in the everlaſting hiding away of Gods face. O Lord, we are helpleſs,Pſal. 42.5.Ps 42:5 give us the help of thy countenance When we are in darkneſs, O lift thou upon us the light of thy countenance, and our darkneſs ſhall be as Noon-day: When we are full of ſorrow, thou ſhalt make us full of joy with thy countenance: Turn thou unto us, Act 2.…8, Pſal. 80.Acts 2:8Ps 80O God of our ſalvation, cauſe thy face to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved.

The end of the firſt Book.

EYE-SALVE FOR The blind World: OR, An Excitation to the ſecure World, to ſee and fear the Judgments of God are a coming upon it, when God frequently calls his Rare Saints by death to go out of it.

By THO. CALVERT, Mr. of Arts, and Miniſter of Gods Word in York.

Luke 10.42.

But one thing is needful: Mary hath choſen that good part, which ſhall not be taken away from her.

Foelix domus & beata ſemper congregatio eſt, ubi de Maria Martha conqueritur. Bernard. in Aſſumpt. 6. Ma. Serm 3.

London, Printed by Fr. Leech for Th. Paſſenger, at the Signe of the the three Bibles upon London-Bridge. 1675.