A Sovereign Salve, Example 9 – Section 6
Another comfortable Example of a wonderfull Combate betwixt Mris. Katharine Stubbes, lying upon her death-bed, and Satan; wherein ſhe had the Conqueſt: Taken out of her life and death, ſet forth by Philip Stubbes, Gentleman.
THis vertuous Gentlewoman had no ſooner made an end of the confeſſion of her faith, but Satan was preſently ready to bid her the Combate; whom yet ſhe mightily repulſed, and vanquiſhed by the power of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, on whom ſhe conſtantly believed: And whereas before ſhe looked with a ſweet, lovely and …ledge…miable countenance, red as the Roſe, and moſt beautifull to behold; now upon the ſudden, ſhe bent her browes, ſhe frowned, and looked as it were with an angry, ſterne and auſtere countenance, as though ſhe ſaw ſome filthy, and ſome ugly, and diſ-pleaſant thing, and ſo burſt forth into theſe ſpeeches following, pronouncing her words ſcornfully and diſdainfully, in contempt of him whom ſhe ſpake unto.
How now Satan, what makeſt thou here? Art thou come to tempt the Lords ſervant? I tell thee (thou Hell hound) thou haſt no part, nor portion in me, nor by the grace of God ever ſhalt have. I was, now am, and ſhall be the Lords for ever. Yea, Satan, I was choſen and elect of Chriſt to everlaſting ſalvation, before the foundation of the world was laid; and therefore thou muſt get thee packing, thou damned Dogge, and goe ſhake thine eares, for in me thou haſt nought. But what doeſt thou lay to my charge, thou foule Fiend? Oh, that I am a ſinner, and therefore ſhall be damned. I confeſſe indeed, that I am a ſinner, and a grievous ſinner, both by originall ſinne, and by actuall ſinne, and that I may thanke thee for: And therefore, Satan, I bequeath my ſinne to 1 Chron. 21. 1. Joh. 13. 2. 1 Joh. 3. 8.thee, from whence it firſt came, and I appeal to the mercy of God in Chriſt: For Jeſus Chriſt came to ſave ſinners (as he ſaith himſelfe) Math. 9. 13.and not the righteous: Behold the Lambe Joh. 1. 29.of God (ſaith John) that taketh away the ſinnes of the world. And in another place he cryeth out, The bloud of Jeſus Chriſt doth 1 Joh. 1. 7.cleanſe us from all our ſins. And therefore, Satan, I conſtantly believe, that my ſins are waſhed away in the precious bloud of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſhall never be imputed unto me any more.
But what ſayst thou now Satan? Doeſt thou aske me now, how I dare come to him for mercy, he being a righteous God, and I a miſerable Sinner? I tell thee, Satan, I am bold through Chriſt to come unto him, being aſſured and certaine of pardon, and remiſſion of all my ſinnes for his names ſake: For doth not the Lord bid all that be heavy laden with the burthen of ſinne, to come unto him, and Math. 11. 28.he will eaſe them? Chriſts armes were ſpread wide open (Satan) upon the Croſſe (and with that ſhe ſpread out her armes) to embrace me, and all penitent Sinners; and therefore (Satan) I will not feare to preſent my ſelfe before his footſtoole, in full aſſurance of his mercy for Chriſt his ſake.
What more Satan? Doeſt thou ſay it is written, That God will reward every one according to his deſert? So it is written againe (thou deceitfull Devill) that Chriſts righteouſneſſe is my righteouſneſſe; his workes, my workes; his deſerts, my deſerts; 1 Cor. 1. 30.his merits, my merits; and his precious bloud a full ſatisfaction for all my ſinnes.
O but God is a juſt God! thou ſayſt, and therefore in juſtice muſt needs condemne thee: I grant, Satan, that he is a juſt God, and therefore he cannot in juſtice puniſh me for my ſinnes, which he hath puniſhed already in his owne Sonne; it is againſt the law of juſtice, to puniſh one fault twice. I was, and am a great Debtor unto God the Father, but Jeſus Chriſt hath paid the debt for me; and therefore it ſtandeth not with the juſtice of God to require it againe.
And therefore, avoyd Satan, avoyd thou Firebrand of Hell; avoyd thou damned Dogge, and tempt me no more; for he that is with me, is mightier then thou, Even the mighty and victorious Lion of the tribe of of Judah, who hath bruiſed thy head, and hath promiſed to be with his children to the end of the world.
Avoyd therefore, thou Daſtard; avoyd thou cowardly Souldier; remove thy ſiege, and yeild the Field wonne, and get thee packing; or elſe I will call upon my grand Captaine Chriſt Jeſus, the valiant Michael, who beat thee in Heaven, and threw thee down to Hell, with all thy Helliſh traine, and Deviliſh crue.
She had ſcarcely pronounced theſe laſt words, but ſhe fell ſuddenly into a ſwee…redge… ſmiling laughter, ſaying, Now he is gone, now he is gone: Doe you not ſee him flee like …redge… Coward, and runne away like a beaten Cock? He hath loſt the field, and I have wonne the victory, even the Garland and Crowne of everlaſting life; and that not by mine owne power, and ſtrength, but by the power and might of Jeſus Chriſt, who hath ſent his holy Angels to keepe me.
And ſpeaking to them that were by, ſhe ſaid, Oh would to God you ſaw but what I ſee: For behold, I ſee infinite Millions of moſt glorious Angels ſtand about me, with fiery Chariots ready to defend me, as they did the good Prophet Eliſha. Theſe holy Angels, theſe miniſtring Spirits, are appointed by God to carry my ſoule into the Kingdome of Heaven, where I ſhall behold the Lord face to face, and ſhall ſee him, not with other, but with theſe ſame eies.
Now I am happy and bleſſed for ever, for I have fought the good fight, and by the might of Chriſt, have won the victory—From henceforth is laid up for me a Crowne of life, &c.
And in this comfortable aſſurance of Gods mercy and favour towards her in Chriſt, ſhe perſevered even to her laſt gaſpe; as is further ſhewed in that Diſcourſe of her life and death formerly mentioned.
Another comfortable Example of one terrified in Conſcience for ſinne; who from the conſideration of what mercy and pardon God requireth from man to man, concluded much more Gods unſpeakable mercy, and pardon towards himſelfe. Related by Mr. Bolton, in his Inſtructions for the right comforting of Afflicted Conſciences, pag. 345, &c.
THere was (ſaith he) a certaine man, who being terrified in Conſcience for ſinne, reſolved ſpeedily to returne to the waies of God.
But the cry of his good-fellow Companions, ſtrength of Corruption, and cunning of Satan, carry him backe to his former courſes; a good number of yeares after, he was ſo throughly wounded, that whatſoever came of him, he would never returne againe unto folly. Then comes into his minde the firſt of the Proverbs, whence he thus reaſoned againſt himſelfe: So many yeares agoe God called, and ſtretched out his hand in mercy, but I refuſed; and therefore now, though I call upon him, he will not anſwer; though I ſeeke him early, I ſhall not finde him. Whereupon his heart was filled with much griefe, terrour and ſlaviſh feare.
But the Spirit of God leading him at length to that place, Luke 17. 4. If thy Brother treſpaſſe againſt thee ſeven times in …redge… day, and ſeven times in a day turne againe unto thee, ſaying, I repent; thou ſhalt forgive him: He thence happily argued thus for himſelfe; Muſt I, a ſilly, ſinfull man, forgive my Brother, as often as he repents? And will not then the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, entertaine me, ſeeking againe, in truth, his face, and favour? God forbid. From which he bleſſedly drew ſuch a deale of divine ſweetneſſe, and ſecret ſenſe of Gods love, that his trembling heart at firſt received ſome good ſatisfaction, and afterwards was ſetled in a ſure and glorious peace.
Another comfortable Example of one recovered, and cured, that upon a ſuppoſition of Gods irrevocable Decree paſſed upon him, could not for a long time be perſwaded to make uſe of any meanes for his ſoules good. Related by divers Authors.
THere was one †See Mr. Henry Morley in Mat. 8. 2, &c. of the cleanſing of the Leper, pag. 130. &c.Ludovicus, an Italian, who never conſidering the order, and cauſes of our ſalvation, grew at laſt to that deſperate Concluſion (which many Atheiſts and prophane Wretches in theſe daies ſeem to have learned of him) in having this ſpeech commonly in his mouth, If I am predeſtinated, I am ſure to be ſaved; if not, doe what I can, I am ſure to be damned. In which his wicked aſſertion, he continued a long time, till at length he grew dangerouſly ſicke; whereupon he ſent for a learned and cunning Phyſician, to requeſt his advice and helpe: The Phyſician being made acquainted with his former aſſertion, how he would uſually ſay, If I am ſaved, I am ſaved, &c. he likewiſe directed his Speech to the ſame purpoſe, and ſaid unto him, Sir, it ſhall be needleſſe to miniſter any phyſicke unto you, or to uſe meanes for your recovery, neither doe I purpoſe to take any ſuch courſe; for if the time of your death be not come, you have no cauſe to feare, you ſhall live, and doe well enough without phyſicke; and if the time of your death be come, all the phyſicke in the world will not helpe you becauſe it is impoſſible to avoyd it. Ludovicus muſing in his bed of the ſtrange ſpeech which the Phyſitian uſed, and having conſidered a while adviſedly of it, began to ſee his own folly, and to finde by reaſon, that as meanes was to be uſed for the health of the body, ſo God alſo had ordained meanes for the health of the ſoule: Whereupon he reverſed …ledge… former opinion, tooke phyſicke, and ſo was cured both in his body and ſoule at one time.
Another comfortable Example of Gods extraordinary providence and mercy towards a poore ſoule, that had long doubted of her ſalvation. Related by Mr. Yates, in Gods Arraignment of Hypocrites, pag. 357.
THere was a vertuous Gentlewoman in this Land, which doubting very often of her ſalvation, made her caſe knowne to a worthy Miniſter of Gods Word, who often counſelled her, to take heed of inquiry further then Gods Word; and to truſt aſſuredly, that ſhe might conclude her ſalvation out of Gods Word, without any further revelations: yet ſtill did the temptation grow upon her, inſomuch, that having a Venice Glaſſe in her hand, and the ſelfeſame Miniſter ſitting by her, preſently ſhe breakes forth into lamentable words; You have often told me (ſaid ſhe) that I muſt ſeek no further then Gods Word; but I have beene long without comfort, and can endure no longer: therefore if I muſt be ſaved, let this Glaſſe be kept from breaking; and ſo ſhe threw it againſt the Wall: (here might the Lords hand, for this tempting of his Majeſtie, have left her to the everlaſting woes of her diſtruſtfull heart; yet the Lord, that is rich in mercy, having ſtamped her with the ſeale of his election, was content to ſatisfie her languiſhing ſoule with a miracle) The Glaſſe rebounds againe, and comes ſafe unto the ground; which the Miniſter having gotten into his hands, ſaith, Oh repent of this ſin, bleſſe God for his mercy; and diſtruſt him no more of his promiſe; for now you have his voyce from Heaven in a miracle, telling you plainly of your eſtate. This was curioſity, and might have brought deſpaire; yet it was the Lords mercy to remit the fault, and grant an extraordinary confirmation of her faith.
And every poore deſpairing ſoule may make this uſe of it, to aſſure them, that rather then God will ſuffer thoſe that be his, to be ſwallowed up in deſpaire, he will find meanes, or miracle, to aſſure them of his mercy.
Another comfortable Example of one whom the Devill ſought to bring to deſpaire of Gods mercy. Related by Mr. Moulins, in his Coale from the Altar.
THere was one (ſaith he) to whom the Devill divers times ſuggeſted thoughts of Deſpaire; telling him, that his ſinnes were ſo many, and ſo great, and God ſo juſt, and ſinne-revenging a God, that he could not hope ever to have them pardoned; and withall ſhewed him a Catalogue of all his ſinnes, that ever he had committed. With the ſight of which, he was at firſt very much aſtoniſhed; but at laſt, recovering himſelfe, he thus ſpake unto him, Satan, this that thou haſt ſhewed me, is all true; and I cannot deny, but that I have committed all theſe ſinnes: but yet, Satan, there is one thing here wanting, which I would have thee to write underneath; and that is this;
That the Bloud of Jeſus Chriſt, my Saviour, hath clenſed me from all my ſinnes.
At the hearing of which, the Devill left him, and he was comforted and confirmed in the aſſurance of Gods mercy towards him.
Another comfortable Example, ſhewing, how Gods child may, in ſuch Diſtreſſes, even challenge God to make good his promiſes of mercy to his penitent ſoule. Set downe by G. Abbot, Doctor of Divinity, in the Preface before the Examination, Arraignment, and Conviction of George Sprot, Notary in Ayemouth, pag. 23.
THere was (ſaith he) a Scottiſh Penitent, who a little before his execution, freely confeſſed his fault, To the ſhame of himſelfe (as he ſaid) and to the ſhame of the Devill, but to the glory of God. Yea, he acknowledged it to be ſo hainous, and horrible, that had he a thouſand lives, and could he die ten thouſand deaths, he could not not make ſatisfaction. Notwithſtanding (ſaid he) Lord, thou haſt left me this comfort in thy Word, that thou haſt ſaid, Come unto me all ye that be weary, and heavy laden, and I will refreſh you: Lord, I am weary; Lord, I am heavily laden with my ſinnes, which are innumerable; I am ready to ſinke (Lord) even unto Hell, unleſſe thou in thy mercy put to thine hand, and deliver me. Lord, thou haſt promiſed by thine own Word, out of thine owne mouth, That thou wilt refreſh the weary ſoule: And with that he thruſt out one of his hands, and reaching as high as he could, with a loud voyce, and ſtrained, cried, I challenge thee Lord, by that Word, and by that promiſe which thou haſt made, that thou performe, and make it good unto me, who now call for eaſe and mercy at thy hands, &c.
And agreeable to this, was that which Saint Auguſtine, in his *Lib. 5. cap. 9.Confeſſions, reports of his Mother Monica, who very often and earneſtly prayed unto God for him, when he was an Heretike.
Lord (ſaith he) ſhe urged thee with thine owne †Chirographa tua ingerebat tibi.hand-writing; ſhe challenged in an humble and fearfull confidence, the performance of thine owne obligations.
And in the like manner may every diſtreſſed ſoule (which can make good the †See Mr. Edw. Reynolds …erm. on 2 Cor. 7. 1. pag. 350. And on Eccleſ. 1. 14. pag. 31. And Mr. Boltons Inſtruct. for comforting afflicted Conſcienc. pag. 397. &c. Mat. 5. 6.Condition annexed to any of Gods gracious promiſes, made unto them in Chriſt) with a holy humility, even challenge God to make good that promiſe unto them. As thus, Lord, thou haſt promiſed in thy Word, that thoſe which hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, ſhall be filled.
Thou haſt promiſed, *Eſay 55. 7.That thoſe which will forſake their wicked waies and returne unto thee, ſhall finde mercy at thy hands, and that thou wilt abundantly pardon them, and the like.
Lord, I am ſuch a one, I doe hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe; I doe deſire with my heart to forſake all my former ſinfull courſes of life, and to returne unto thee, as a true penitent ſoule ſhould doe.
And therefore (Lord) I challenge thee by that Word, and that promiſe of thine which thou haſt made, that thou performe, and make it good unto me.
THE END.
THE SICK SOVLES EIACULATIONS.
WHEREIN He may (if he have no better of his owne) lift up his heart, and powre out his ſoule unto God, either by way of Prayer, or Thankſgiving, ſhortly and ſuddenly, as his preſent neceſſity doth require.
1 THESSAL. 5. 17.
Pray continually.
LONDON, Printed for RICHARD ROYSTON.
M. DC. L.
THESE Ejaculations, or ſudden Dartings out of our deſires unto God, comming from a truly penitent Soule, and Zea…ledge…ſly performed, are, though ſhort, yet …ledge…eet and pleaſing to Almighty God, and …ledge… prove an aide to the Soule, a Sacrifice …ledge… God, and a ſcourge to Satan. See …ledge…r. Robert Wolcombes Serm. in 1 Pet. …ledge…. 8. Dr. Sclater in 1 Theſſal. 5. pag. …ledge…10. Dr. Davenant in Coloſ. pag. …ledge…71.
Theſe were *Vide Auguſt. de Orand. Deo. ad Probam. Epiſt. 121. cap. 10.practiſed by the Chri…ledge…ians in Egypt, and are commended by …ledge…aint Auguſtine to Proba.
THE Sick Soules Ejaculations.
For grace to pray.
O Lord prepare my unprepared heart to prayer.
Lord quicken me by thy Spirit, that I may call upon thy …ledge…me.
Lord grant me thy Spirit of ſupplication, …ledge…o ſanctifie my thoughts, to guide my …ledge…ongue, to helpe mine infirmities in this …ledge…me of prayer.
O thou which haſt the Key of David, …ledge…nd openeſt, and no man ſhutteth; and …ledge…hutteth, and no man openeth; open thou …ledge…y lips, that my mouth may ſhew forth …ledge…hy praiſe.
Lord inable me, that in feare and reve…ledge…ence of thy great Name, and in the faith …ledge…nd confidence of thy gracious aſſiſtance, and in a feeling ſupply of my preſe…redge… wants, I may now be able to put u…redge… and to powre out my ſupplications un…redge… thee.
For audience in prayer.
LOrd heare my prayer, Lord let my c…redge… come unto thee.
Hearken unto my voyce, O Lord, wh…redge… I cry; have mercy upon me, and hea…redge… me.
O hearken thou unto the voyce of m…redge… cry, my King, and my God, for unto th…redge… doe I make my prayer.
Let the words of my mouth, and the m…redge… ditations of my heart, be now and alwai…redge… acceptable in thy ſight, O Lord, my ſtrengt…redge… and my Redeemer.
Heare my prayer (O Lord) and hearke…redge… unto my cry, keepe not ſilence at m…redge… teares.
Give eare (O Lord) unto my praye…redge… Lord hearken unto the voyce of my humbl…redge… ſupplication.
Lord heare the prayer of thy poore di…redge… ſtreſſed Servant.
O Lord heare, O Lord forgive, O Lor…redge… conſider, and doe it: Deferre not, fo…redge… thine owne Names ſake, for thy Sonn…redge… Chriſt Jeſus his ſake.
For grace to be truly penitent and ſorrowfull for ſinne.
LOrd turne thou me, and I ſhall be turned.
Lord grant me true repentance for my …ledge…nes.
O that my ſorrow were true godly ſor…ledge…ow, which might cauſe in me repentance …ledge…ever to be repented of.
O thou which broughteſt water out of …ledge…e hard rock, ſmite my flinty heart with …ledge…e remorſe for my ſinnes.
Oh that mine head were full of water, …ledge…d mine eies a fountaine of teares, that I …ledge…ight weepe day and night for the ſinnes …ledge…f my ſoule.
Lord grant me that broken, and contrite …ledge…pirit, which thou wilt never deſpiſe.
Oh that I could weepe bitterly, with Peter; that I could waſh my bed, and …ledge…eter my couch every night with my …ledge…eares, with David; yea, that my teares for …ledge…inne, might be to me (as his teares were to …ledge…im) my meate day and night.
For mercy and pardon of ſinne.
O God be mercifull unto me a Sinne…redge… Lord heale my ſoule, for I ha…redge… ſinned againſt thee.
Have mercy upon me, O God, accordi…redge… to thy great goodneſſe; and according …redge… the multitude of thy mercies, doe aw…redge… mine offences.
For thy Names ſake, O Lord, be me…redge… cifull unto my ſinne, for it is great.
Oh remember not the ſinnes, and offe…redge… ces of my youth, but according to thy me…redge… cie thinke thou upon me for thy goodneſ…redge… ſake.
O thou Lambe of God that takeſt awa…redge… the ſinnes of the world, have mercy upo…redge… me.
Lord, enter not into judgement with m…redge… thy Servant, neither be extreme to mark…redge… what I have done amiſſe.
Caſt my ſinnes, good Lord, behind th…redge… backe.
Lord remove them as farre from th…redge… preſence, as the Eaſt is from the Weſt: Blo…redge… them out of the Booke of thy remembrance; lay them not to my charge; waſ…redge… them away with the bloud of Jeſus Chriſt …redge… that they may never be more ſeene.
Lord let not my ſinnes riſe up in judge…redge…nt againſt me, either to terrifie my con…ledge…nce any more here, or to condemne my …ledge…e hereafter.