A Sovereign Salve, Part 1

A Sovereign Salve · Part 1

p. 1THE FIRST PART, Containing Directions for the Practice of Gods Child in the time of Spirituall Distreſſe.

THE INTRODUCTION.

THe Child of God troubled in Mind, and diſtreſſed in Conſcience, needeth Directions for two things: for his Practice, and for his Knowledge.

I put Practice firſt, becauſe, though in all …ledge…ther eſtates of Gods Child, Knowledge …ledge…uſt goe before Practice, yet in this parti…ledge…lar, there can be no ſound knowledge attained p. 2unto, without precedent **Practica eſt praevia introductio ad theoricā. Olympiodor. in Eccleſ. 7. Moſt true in this caſe.Eccl 7practic…redge…

Now the practice of Gods child in th…redge… diſtreſſed eſtate, hath reference, either …redge… that which he is to doe, or to that which …redge… is to leave undone.

That which he is to doe, hath farther r…redge… ference to foure particulars: for either …redge… reſpects himſelfe who is Diſtreſſed: or …redge… God, who is the Author of his Diſtreſſ…redge… or his ſpirituall Enemy, Sathan, the mean…redge… and inſtrumentall cauſe of his Diſtreſſe: …redge… his Brethren, the fellow members of Ch…redge… his body, who formerly have beene th…redge… Diſtreſſed.

SECTION I.

TOuching himſelfe who is Diſtreſſed this is carefully to be practiſed.

1. And before all things, let him loo…redge… to the eſtate of his body: for though (a)(a)See M. Boltons inſtruct. for comfort. afflict. conſc. pag. 207. touching the differences between Melancholy, & an afflicted Conſcience.trouble of mind doth not alwayes ar…redge… from diſtemperature of body, yet ſ…redge… dome is there trouble of minde ſeen…redge… which is not accompanied with very gre…redge… diſtemperature in this kind, eſpecially …redge… Complexions ſubject to (b)(b)See M. Bur. Melanc. p. 536. &c. & pag. 46.Melancholy whereby the former trouble is much (c)(c)This humour doth naturally give extraordinary entertainment and edge …redge… terrors and ſorrowes. Boltons Inſtruct. for comf. afflict. Conſc. p. 464▪i…redge… p. 3creaſed, the parties being by this meanes made leſſe capable of good Counſell, and more fit for Sathans Temptations to work on, who are thus Diſtempered.

And therefore my firſt adviſe, and counſell to ſuch, is this. Aſſoone as thou doeſt begin to be thus troubled in minde, **See Ecclus. 38. 4. &c. M. Burtons Melanc. p. 544.Sir 38:4ſend ſpeedily for ſome Godly, and learned Phyſitian for thy body, and be content to be ruled, and adviſed by him in the courſe of Phyſick, that he ſhall preſcribe thee, whatſoever Sathan ſhall ſuggeſt into thy minde to the contrary. For I know, **Barbara immanitate, & deplorandâ inſcitiâ contemnunt praecepta ſanitatis, mortem & morbos ultro accerſunt. Melanct. de anima.he will be …ledge…ufie with thee (as he hath beene formerly with others of Gods Children in like caſe) to ſeeke to diſſwade thee (if poſſibly he can) from this courſe, as knowing none to …ledge…e more prejudiciall unto him, and more …ledge…eneficiall unto thee, then this (through the …ledge…leſſing of God) will be.

And this adviſe of mine, I limit with …ledge…heſe Caveats. I. That this Phyſitian to …ledge…hom thou ſendeſt be not Baal-zebub, the God of Ekron; **2 King. 1. 3.2 Kgs 1:3I meane ſome cunning …ledge…an, or woman (as they are commonly …ledge…ermed) though indeed they be very Wit…ledge…hes: For this were to caſt out **Mat. 12. 24.Matt 12:24Sathan by …ledge…athan, they being no other then the very …ledge…ſtruments, and limbs of the Devill. And …ledge…uch better were it to want Cure, then to …ledge…ave the Devill for thy Phyſitian. And ſurely p. 4he is thy Phyſitian, and not God, whe…redge… thou ſendeſt to ſuch people for health. An…redge… therefore though thy ignorant neighbours and graceleſſe friends that are about thee ſhall adviſe, and urge thee in this time o…redge… neede to ſend to ſuch juſtly ſuſpected perſons, (b)(b)See the Pract. of Piety, pag. 782. All our Divines, Schoolmen, and ſuch as write Caſes of Conſcience, are againſt it. See M. Burtons Melanc. p. 191.hearken not unto them, nay hat…redge… their adviſe, as bad as Sathan himſelfe, an…redge… reſolve rather to ſuffer any inconvenienc…redge… in thy body, where more lawfull meane…redge… cannot be had for helpe, then to uſe ſuc…redge… whoſe help cometh wholly from Satan. Fo…redge… be thou aſſured of this, that Sathan, who …redge… thy deadly enemy, (c)(c)1 Pet. 5. 8. A ſeductoribus fallacibus, à patre mendacii, ab hoſte crudeliſſimo, quid boni, quid veri, quid commodi ſperas, tu videris. Gerſ. de error. mag. part. 3. Daemones et ſi ſanarent, Deo irato ſanarent: Corpora ſanarent, ut necarent animas, &c. ib.1 Pet 5:8and deſireth nothi…redge… ſo much as thy deſtruction, cannot wiſ…redge… thee ſo well, as to procure thee health …redge… body, unleſſe it be to procure greater hu…redge… by it unto thy ſoule.

Another caveat is this, that though tho…redge… uſe the bodily Phyſitian for thy neede, y…redge… that thou have a care not to truſt in th…redge… Phyſitian but in God for thy health. It w…redge… Aſa his fault, and he felt the ſmart of i…redge… The Phyſick he uſed could not helpe hi…redge… becauſe he relied more upon the Phyſitia…redge… then he did upon God, 2 Chron. 16. 12.

2. (d)(d)Ubi deſinit Medicus, ibi incipit Theologus. Never ſo true as here.After thou haſt thus rectified t…redge… diſtemperature of thy body, and art …redge… meanes of it made capable of good cou…redge… ſell for thy ſouls health: my next adviſe …redge… p. 5that thou ſpeedily ſend for ſome **Ex his vocandi ſunt, ſi noveris, peritiores & curioſiores.—Et ſi dici liceat ſpiritaliores. Aug. tom. 9. p. 2. de viſitat. infirmorum, l. 2. c. 7.Godly and learned Miniſter of Gods Word, (that Interpretour, one of a thouſand, as Job calls him, Job 33. 23.) upon whoſe fidelity, and ſecreſie thou dareſt relie; and diſcover unto him what that is, that doth moſt trouble thee, that ſo he by his learned adviſe and Godly counſell, may through Gods bleſſing afford thee comfort. And in caſe thou knoweſt not, or art not acquainted with any ſuch Miniſter, or canſt not ſpeedily come to him, or he to thee, open thy minde to any (d)(d)In caſu neceſſitatis quilibet Chriſtianus eſt ſacerdos. Magdeburg. Epiſt. Dedicat. praefix. centur. 7. Et ſi defuerit ſacerdos, proximo, vel ſocio facienda eſt confeſſio Lombard. Scot. alii in ſent. 4. diſ. 17.neer, or dear friend about thee: For temptations ſmothered, as fire, burn more inwardly: And like inward (e)(e)See M. Boltons inſtructons for comforting afflicted conſciences, p. 549. B. Halls pract. caſes of conſ. decad 3. ſect. 9.wounds do drown the heart with bleeding before any hurt be diſcerned. Whereas the readieſt way to put out this fire is to give it vent, and the readieſt way to cure this wound, is to draw it to an outward iſſue by confeſſion.

I know that this is a thing, which Sathan by ſuggeſting ſhame, (f)(f)Many are pudoris magis memores, quàm ſalutis, ſaith one. Stulto…ledge…um incurata pudor malus ulcera celat. See M. Bolton ubi ſupra, pag. 466.or fear (g)(g)Sua vulnera nutrit, Qui tegit, & plagam trepidat nudare medenti. Sedul. li. 3. oper. paſchal. M. Burtons Melanc. pag. 242.of danger or the like unto thee, will ſeeke to diſſwade thee from, but beleeve him not in this neither: for the ſhame, or danger be it what p. 6it will be, cannot be comparable to the leaſt comfort that will by this meanes redound unto thy ſoule. Others of Gods Children in this caſe have tryed it, and their experience may be to thee a proofe ſufficient of the truth of it.

But here I muſt alſo give thee theſe Caveats. I. If it be ſinne that troubleth thy conſcience, content not thy ſelfe onelyonly with a generall acknowledgment of ſinne, but deſcend further to particulars, yea to that very particular ſinne, which above all others doth moſt trouble thee. I have ſeene ſome thus diſtreſſed dealing with God, and his Miniſters in confeſſion of their ſinnes (h)(h)Dan. 2. See M. Bolton ubi ſup. p. 209, 210.Dan 2as Nebuchadnezzar with his inchanters about his Dreame that he had dreamed, he told them, and deſired an interpretation, but what his Dreame was he could not tell. So theſe confeſſe themſelves Sinners, and cry out that they are grievous Offenders, and deſire pardon, but wherein they have ſinned, and what their ſinnes are, they cannot, or will not tell.

But how can the (i)(i)Si vis curari agnoſce languorem. P. Chryſolog. Serm. 30. Abſque cauſarū obſervatione, morbos nec praecavere, nec curare licet. Fernel. Patholog. li. 7. c. 11.Phyſitian help him that ſaith he is not well, but will not tell him where? And how can the Phyſitian of the Soule comfort that ſinner, which is thus Soule-ſick, and will not tell what ſinne it is that troubleth him? Nay perhaps though he may doe it to others, not thus p. 7diſtreſſed, by applying generall comforts to generall diſtreſſes: Yet in this caſe where there is a particular cauſe of a particular Diſtreſſe, I never heard of the particular Diſtreſs cured, without the particular cauſe firſt opened: and let me tel you mine (k)(k)And others have found the ſame, for Mr. Bolton tells us of one that he knew, who concealed for 20. yeares together a temptation of Blaſphemy, by meanes of which the Devill all that time kept him in perpetuall terror, and oftentimes urged him to make himſelfe away, and from this fearfull eſtate was never freed, till he diſcovered it. Bolton ubi ſupra, pag. 550.experience in this kinde. I have obſerved the diſpoſition of moſt in this miſerie to be ſuch, that except they can finde Comfort touching the very particular thing that was the occaſion of their Diſtreſſe, there is little or no eaſe brought to the Diſtreſſed.

2. As I doe perſwade thee to diſcover thy particular ſinne, which is the cauſe of thy Diſtreſſe, ſo I would alſo perſwade thee to diſcover with it (as neere as thou canſt) all the circumſtances whereby Sathan ſeeketh to aggravate it unto thy conſcience. For ſometime Sathan frameth his Diſtreſſes not ſo much from the ſinne it ſelfe, that is committed, as from the circumſtances of it, attending it in the committing, uſing thoſe as tenter-hookes to ſtretch it by, to the utmoſt rack of aggravation. And therefore the ſafeſt courſe here, and that, that is likely ſooneſt to finde eaſe, is to diſcover p. 8even theſe circumſtances too. To the Phyſitian thou wilt diſcover even thy moſ…redge… ſhamefull Diſeaſes, the fruits of thy filthieſ…redge… wickedneſſe; and in caſe thou ſhouldeſt her…redge… conceale but one circumſtance, it may coſ…redge… thee thy life: ſurely ſo thou muſt doe her…redge… too, or thou muſt looke for the like iſſue. Let me here alſo tell thee, what I have knowne: I have known in this kinde many circumſtances diſcovered, and yet one circumſtance undiſcovered (on which Sata…redge… hath eſpecially wrought) to have kept th…redge… Conſcience ſtill on the rack.

3. And laſtly, as in this kinde thou muſ…redge… take heede, and beware of Spirituall guile in hiding ought; ſo of the ſame Spirituall guile too, in relating ought for a (l)(l)Medicus quando aegritudinem diſcutit, ſi curet quod per aliquam cauſam factum eſt, & ipſam cauſam per quam factū eſt non curet, ad tempus videtur mederi, ſed cauſa manente morbus repetitur. Aug. in Joh. 25cauſe of thy trouble, which is not: For, herein thou wilt give Satan a greater advantage againſt thee, then before he had, and thou thy ſelf wilt be as farre to ſeek of Comfort, and Eaſe, as ever thou wert, notwithſtanding this thy Confeſſion. Nay, many times ſuch deceitfull dealing with our Spirituall Phyſitian, makes him apply a cleane contrary Salve to our Soare, which will put us to farther Smart for the preſent, and to greater Anguiſh too afterwards, as oftentimes we have ſeen it proved. And therefore when thou doſt thus diſcover thy minde, be as carefull to avoid Colluſion, and Deceit, as Reſervation.

p. 9SECT. II.

THe ſecond ſort of things which the Child of God is to doe in this time of ſpirituall Diſtreſſe, reſpects his God. And they are two: the firſt is to Pray unto him, and the ſecond is to give him Thankes.

Thouching Prayer, this advice I give thee. 1. (Becauſe they that are thus Diſtreſſed, commonly complain that they cannot Pray.) I would have thee alwayes to remember, that thou doe pray as thou canſt, though not as thou wouldſt, or ſhouldſt: For better is (a)(a)Dr. Sclatter, Mr. Schudder, and others.weak performance in this kind, then whole Omiſſion; and ſafer it is to pray weakly, then not to pray at all. For if we pray as we are able, we have this Comfort. 1. That Gods Spirit (b)(b)Rom. 8. 26, 27.Rom 8:26Rom 8:27within us will help our infirmities, and make us pray (c)(c)Etiam ſolis vagitibus infans matrem commovet ad miſericordiam. Macar. hom. 31 Videmus vulgò parentes magis delectari balbutienti infantiá infantium quàm univerſa eloquentia hominū eloquentiſſimorum. Rolloc. in Johan. cap. 4.acceptably, though (to our ſeeming) we pray uneffectually: it being a priviledge …ledge…elonging unto God, to know the meaning of his Spirit, praying in us, when we know it not our ſelves. And 2. That our Prayers, though in themſelves; and as they come from us, be never ſo unperfect, yet before they come unto God, they are made perfect (d)(d)Rev 8. 3. 4.Rev 8:3Rev 8:4by Jeſus Chriſt: It being a part of his Advocation to propitiate as well for p. 10our weakneſſes, and imperfections i…redge… Prayer, as for any other of our Sinnes whereof we ſtand guilty in the ſight of God.

Againe, (becauſe ſuch diſtreſſed Soule…redge… doe moſt commonly more diſtaſte the Form of Prayer, then the Action of Praying, a…redge… not enduring any long, or ſet Forme o…redge… Prayer to be made, either by themſelves, o…redge… others in this time of their Diſtreſſe) therefore my ſecond advice is this. If the caſe ſtand thus with thee, have a care that tho…redge… be the more frequent in ſhorter, and Sententiary **For which ſee the ſick Souls Ejaculations hereafter ſet down. Luke 18. 13.Luke 18:13ejaculations, and Expreſſions o…redge… thy minde unto God, ſuch as was that o…redge… the Publican, O God be mercifull unto me …redge… ſinner: That in the Lords Prayer, Lord lea…redge… me not into temptation, or the like, according as the preſent ſenſe of thy want, doth teach thee, and enforce thee to pray. For ſuch Prayers as theſe are, ariſing (as moſt commonly they doe) out of the ſenſe of our preſent wants, do paſſe from us with greateſt ardency of Affection, and therefore cannot but finde ſooneſt audience with God for our preſent ſupply: his Word aſſuring us, That the Prayer of a Righteous James 5. 16.Jas 5:16man ſhall much prevaile with him, where it is Fervent.

But here remember two Rules. 1. In all thy Prayers for Eaſe, and Deliverance p. 11…ledge…eferre all to the good will and pleaſure of Mat. 26. 39.Matt 26:39…ledge…od, to be granted, or denied, as will ſtand …ledge…eſt with his Glory, and the Good, and …ledge…alvation of thy Soul. 2. Have a care that …ledge…hou do not limit, and preſcribe God, the …ledge…me, or meanes of thy Deliverance, but …ledge…eave that wholly to the diſpoſing of his …ledge…iſe Providence, who knoweth better then …ledge…hou doeſt, when, and how to give thee Eaſe, Comfort, and Deliverance.

The other thing, reſpecting thy God, which thou art to performe, is to give him Thankes. And touching that, this is alſo …ledge…ine advice. If thou receive never ſo little Eaſe, Releaſe, or Comfort, give thankes …ledge…nto God for that, and this will be a means …ledge…hat in Gods good time thou ſhalt finde * Gratiarum actio eſt ad plus dandum invitatio. Ambroſ. Mat. 25. 29.Matt 25:29…ledge… more: For he hath promiſed in his Word, That to him that hath, and uſeth what he …ledge…ath, to the Glory of God that gave it, …ledge…here ſhall be more given, and he ſhall have it …ledge…n abundance.

SECT. III.

THe third ſort of things which Gods Child is to doe in this time of Spiri…ledge…uall Diſtreſſe, reſpects his Spirituall enemy, …ledge…atan. And they are two.

The firſt is, that he have a care to with…ledge…and his Temptations when they are firſt p. 12ſuggeſted. And touching this, this is min…redge… advice. That whenſoever Satan doth ſuggeſt unto thee any wicked Temptation: …redge… to Blaſpheme God, for the preſent ſma…redge… which thou feeleſt under his viſiting hand which was Jobs Temptation. Or that tho…redge… Job 2. 9.Job 2:9art wholly caſt out of his ſight, becauſe he th…redge… grievouſly afflicteth thee: which was Jona…redge… Jonah 2. 4.Jonah 2:4his Temptation. Or that it is in vaine …redge… ſerve God, conſidering he ſo puniſheth thoſ…redge… that ſerve him, and letteth the wicked go free…redge… which was Davids Temptation, or the like Pſal. 73. 13.Ps 73:13Let it be thy care to withſtand them, (…redge… poſſibly thou canſt) at the **See D. Tailor in Matth. 4. 1. p. 35. & 372. M. Downames Warfare, part 4. p. 355. 357. &c. Jam. 4. 7. Ma…. 4. 10, 11.Matt 4:1Jas 4:7firſt ſuggeſtio…redge… for ſo thou ſhalt be ſure to be ridde of Satan for the preſent, it being his propert…redge… cowardly to flie from, where he findes he i…redge… reſiſted: and ſhall free thy Soule from …redge… great deal of Trouble and Miſery; in which ſuch Temptations uſually implunge thoſe that give any way unto them without reſiſtance.

The other thing, reſpecting Satan thy Spirituall enemy, which I would alſo have thee to performe, is this, to have a care that after one Temptation is ended, thou expect, and prepare for Sola hic ſecuritas est, nunquā eſſe ſecurū. Rob. Groſthead, Epiſt. 65.a new aſſault, uſing the time of Satans Intermiſſion, as a breathing time to recover ſtrength againſt the next Encounter. For as Souldiers beſieged, after they have ſuſtained one aſſault, and p. 13given their Enemies the Repulſe, doe not ſecurely give themſelves to idleneſſe, and ſleep, but prepare all things ready againſt the next Conflict, mending the Breaches, and repairing thoſe places, which in the time of Fight they found to be moſt weak **See D. Sclatter in 1 Theſ. 3. pag. 218. B. Lakes Serm. part 1. pa. 248. Nanquam bella bonis, nunquam diſſidia ceſſant. Proſp. in Epig.1 Thess 3. So when thou haſt withſtood ſome of Satans Temptations, and given him the Repulſe, thou art not to give thy ſelf to reſt, ſleeping in ſecurity, as though thine Enemy were wholly overcome **See Mat. 4. 3, 5, 8, &c. & Luk. 4. 13.Matt 4:3Matt 4:5Matt 4:8Luke 4:13: But rather, in the Intermiſſion of this Spirituall Conflict, thou art to prepare thy ſelfe againſt the next aſſault, uſing all meanes to confirme thy ſtrength, where thou diſcernedſt in the time of Fight, that thou wert moſt weake, and more ſtrongly to Arme thy ſelf againſt thoſe Temptations which thou foundeſt moſt forcible, and powerfull to prevaile againſt thee.

SECT. IV.

THe fourth and laſt thing which the Child of God is to doe in this time of Spirituall Diſtreſſe, reſpecteth the Godly, his Fellow-brethren in Chriſt, who formerly have been thus Diſtreſſed, but are now (through Gods mercy) Delivered. And that is, to confer with them, or with p. 14others about them, the better to lea…redge… what God hath done for their Soules; th…redge… ſo, he taking the like Courſes that the…redge… have done, may expect the like mercy fro…redge… God towards his Soul.

And touching this, this is mine advic…redge… 1. That thou doe conferre with ſuch, …redge… often as thou canſt, that can Experime…redge… tally relate unto thee, what God in th…redge… kinde hath done for their Soules, or ca…redge… ſhew thee what God hath done for othe…redge… in like caſe. For, hearing them relate th…redge… deep Diſtreſſes wherein they have been, an…redge… Gods wonderfull mercy towards the…redge… in their Deliverance; it will both encourage thee to beare with more patience thy preſent Trouble, and with greater aſſurance of Comfort, to waite for Gods appointed time of thy Deliverance hereafter.

And ſecondly, if thou ſhouldſt meet with no ſuch living precedents of Gods favou…redge… vouchſafed in this kinde, I would then adviſe thee to peruſe the (a)(a)Anima, quae amat, aſcendit frequentèr, & currit familiaririter per plateas coeleſtis Hieruſalem, viſi tando Patriarchas, & Prophetas, ſalutando Apoſtolos, admirando exercitus Martyrū, &c. Aug. to. 9. p. 2. pag. 1003.Monuments o…redge… the Dead, and to call to minde the Examples of (b)(b)See Job 13. 24, 26. & 19. 11. & 30. 21.Job 13:24Job 13:26Job 19:11Job 30:21Job, (c)(c)Pſal. 38. 4, 8. & 77. 7. & 8. &c. Pſal. 51. 11.Ps 38:4Ps 38:8Ps 77:7Ps 77:8Ps 51:11David, (d)(d)Pſal. 88. per totum.Ps 88Heman…redge… and the like Saints of God Regiſtred in Scripture of purpoſe for the Confirmation, and encreaſe of thy (e)(e)Rom. 15. 4Rom 15:4Patience, Comfort, and Hope, evermore remembring, that though they were implunged in far deeper p. 15Diſtreſſes, then thou art, or canſt be, yet they found an happy Iſſue in the end (f)(f)Jam. 5. 10, 11.Jas 5:10Jas 5:11to Gods Glory, and their own Souls unſpeakable Comfort.

And thereby aſſure thy ſelf, that thou ſhalt have the like happy Iſſue of all thy trouble, if thou doſt continue in their Holy practice of Patience, and repoſed Truſt in God. For Gods dealing with his Children in this kinde, is (g)(g)1 Tim. 1. 161 Tim 1:16Exemplary, he ſhewing in one, what all in like caſe may on like Conditions expect. And thus have we ſeen what the Child of God is to doe in this time of Spirituall Diſtreſs.

SECT. V.

THe other things reſpecting practice, wherein the child of God at this time needeth adviſe, are ſuch things, as he is to leave undone. And thoſe are eſpecially two.

The Firſt is, that he doe not muſe, and meditate on his preſent Miſeries, or recall to minde thoſe that are paſt, or through feare anticipate thoſe that are to come.

And the Second is, that he doe not reaſon, and diſpute with Sathan in his private thoughts, or otherwaies.

Unto both which (we finde by experience) that the child of God is too too p. 16much ſubject at this time: And that many of them for want of a godly care, and Chriſtian endeavour to withſtand them, have beene driven by meanes of them to feareful extremities. Now that thou mayeſt the better take heede of them, and learne to prevent them, I give thee this adviſe.

Firſt, touching muſing, and meditating, the better to avoid that, I would have thee carefully to ſhun Solitarineſs, and Idleneſſe, which are the (h)(h)Nemo eſt ex imprudentibus qui relinqui fibi debeat: tunc mala conſilia agitant, tunc aut aliis aut ipſis, futura pericula ſtruunt, &c. Senec. Epiſt. 10. Nihil agend…redge… diſcunt homines malè agere. Cato. Non eſt aliqua cogitatio, tam turpis, abominabilis, mala, & execranda, quam non inveniat otioſitas, &c. Gerſon de modo habendi, ſe contra mal▪ immiſc.Parents commonly, or the Nurſes of ſuch muſing thoughts.

As for Solitarineſſe, the beſt way to avoid that, is to keepe thy ſelfe alwaies i…redge… the company of God, or good Men.

Thou art in Gods company then more eſpecially, when either God talkes to thee or thou to God. And this is done by two Exerciſes eſpecially, by Prayer, and by Reading the Bible, or ſome other good Books For by Prayer thou ſpeakeſt unto God, and by Reading theſe Books God ſpeaketh unto thee. So that which ſoever of them thou doeſt performe, and in performing of i…redge… doeſt intend, and minde what thou art about, thou maiſt truly ſay of thy ſelfe a…redge… ſometimes that Romane (i)(i)Nunquam minùs ſolus, quā cum ſolus. Scipio in Cicer. Offic. li. 3.Captaine di…redge… p. 17of himſelfe, **Nunquam minùs ſolus, quàm cum ſolus. Scipio in Cicer. Offic. lib. 3Thou being alone, thou art not alone, for thou haſt God to beare thee Company. The company of good men, is alſo a very good meanes to avoide ſolitarineſſe. I ſay of good men, for if they be not good, I …ledge…eane ſuch as feare God, and are able by …ledge…heir gracious words, or godly deeds to …ledge…oe thee good, thou wert better be alone, …ledge…hen be in their company.

And here I would adviſe thee to ſhun …ledge…he company of foure ſorts of People eſpeci…ledge…ly: which in this caſe, are likely to prove …ledge…ore dangerous unto thee, then Solitari…ledge…eſſe would be.

The firſt are men notoriouſly Wicked, who …ledge…ould perſwade thee to laugh theſe thy …ledge…rrowes out of countenance, by joyning …ledge…ith them in mirth, that is either immode…ledge…te, or immodeſt, or to drowne thy griefe …ledge…y exceſſive drinking, ††See Maſter Hierons Works, in fol. vol. 1. pag. 159. Mr. Greenham in his Sermon of Repentance. Mr. Dike of Repent. cap. 3. Mr. Marbury in his Sermon upon Pſal. 32.Ps 32or the like. For the …ledge…eſt good that theſe can doe thee, is but to …ledge…rocure thee a ſeeming Truce, no ſound …ledge…eace: Their beſt comforts proving but as …ledge…ater caſt on the Smiths Fire, which …ledge…aketh for the preſent an abatement of …ledge…e flame, but in the iſſue we ſee it is a …ledge…eanes to increaſe both the flame, and the …ledge…eate too; the return of the trouble, and …ledge…ſquietneſſe, paying the intereſt of the for…ledge…er deferring with more then once multi…ledge…ied uſe.

p. 18The ſecond, are men notoriouſly Ignora…redge… who at ſuch times come more of cuſtom…redge… to ſee, then of Conſcience to ſay any thi…redge… that may be for thy Comfort: or if th…redge… chance to ſay ought tending that way, …redge… many times proves (through their want …redge… Spirituall wiſdome and Chriſtian expe…redge… ence in buſineſſes of this Nature) mo…redge… hurtfull, then helpfull to thoſe to whe…redge… they ſpeake it.

The third, are men extreamly Rigid, a…redge… See Mr. Down. Warfare, part 3 lib. 2. chap. 32. Sect. 3.too too tart, and harſh in their beh…redge… viour and carriage towards Gods afflict…redge… ones. For theſe are more likely to g…redge… thy new skinned wounds, and to ma…redge… thy Soares of ſorrow almoſt healed, …redge… to bleed afreſh; then by the balſame …redge… Comfort, and diſcreet counſell, to g…redge… unto thee (the grieved patient) any …redge… freſhing.

And the fourth, and laſt, are thoſe w…redge… being in the contrary extreame are too …redge… ſorrowfull, and over paſſionate, for th…redge… will **See Maſter Downam, ubi ſupra.weep over thy Wounds, inſtead …redge… curing them, and by their Sorrow rede…redge… thine: thou thinking that they ſee, …redge… are grieved for more, then thou ſeeſt in, …redge… by thy ſelfe.

The other meanes to prevent ſuch …redge… ſing, and Meditation in time of Spiriti…redge… Diſtreſſe, is to avoid Idleneſſe: for …redge… p. 19…ledge… Idle mans Head is the Devils Shop, wherein **Vide Cornel à lap. in Pauli' Epiſt. p. 725. Col. 1. &c. B. B. King. on Jon. p. 433. Eccleſ. 33. 28. Idleneſs teacheth much evill, Graec. foreign. See Dr. Saund…ledge…rſ Sermon on 1 Cor. 7. 24. pag. 411. Maſter Burtons Melancholly. pag. 73. 74.Col 1Sir 33:281 Cor 7:24…ledge…e is never more at work, then when we are …ledge…dle: Idleneſſe laying a man open to all …ledge…elliſh Snares and temptations; and ma…ledge…ing the heart, like unmanured ground, fit …ledge…or nothing but the wildeſt, and rankeſt …ledge…eedes of Sinne; like ſtanding Pooles natu…ledge…ally prepared, and pregnant to breed, and …ledge…eed the Vermine of vileſt thoughts, and …ledge…nnaturall Filth: yea, like thorow-fares for …ledge…atans moſt hideous, and horrible injecti…ledge…ns to wander, and walk up and down in, …ledge…ithout reſtraint, or remedy.

And the better to avoid this too, I would …ledge…dviſe thee to take this courſe: 1. What …ledge…me thou haſt to ſpare from thy formerly …ledge…reſcribed exerciſes of Religion and Pie…ledge… ††Res age, tutus eris. Ovid. de remed. Amor. See Dr. Saunderſon, ubi ſupra. Semper b…ni aliquid operis facito ut Diabolus te, ſemper inveniat occupatum. Hieron. ad Ruſticum. Tom. 1 Epiſt. 4.: which are Prayer unto God, reading …ledge… Gods Word, Godly Conference, and the …ledge…ke: I would have thee carefully, and con…ledge…ionably to imploy thy ſelf in the honeſt workes …ledge…d labours of thy particular Calling. For …ledge…eſe conſcionably followed, as they are …ledge…od to free the minde from preſent evill …ledge…oughts, ſo they have ſeldom gone without **See Luk. 2. 8.Luke 2:8bleſſing from God for the further com…ledge…rt of thoſe that have followed them.

But yet ††See M. Downams Warfare, part. 3. l. 2. c. 32. …ledge…ct. 4. In ludi defectu poteſt eſſe peccatum. See M. Gataker of Lots, …ledge…g. 188. M. Burtons Melancholly. pag. 73.exceſſive and unremitted labour, …ledge…th proved to ſome in this caſe as hurtfull p. 20as Idleneſſe; and therefore to preven…redge… the like inconvenience in thee, my ſecon…redge… adviſe to thee is this. That as thou do…redge… ſpend the chief part of thy time in takin…redge… paines, and in performing the duties o…redge… piety, and of thy calling, the better to p…redge… out of thy minde ſuch falſe apprehenſion…redge… and idle conceits: ſo thou wouldſt alſ…redge… allot ſome ſhare thereof for thy Recreatio…redge… and refreſhment. But here take heed of fo…redge… things.

1. That the recreation which thou uſe…redge… be not **That is neither forbidden by the Lawyer, as againſt the Statutes: nor by the Phyſitian, as againſt Health: nor by the Divine, as againſt Conſcience. Maſter Fullers holy State. pag. 183. See M. Gataker of Lots. pag. 94. &c. 189. &c Mr. Fenner of Recreat. Rules ſpeciall Sect. 1.unlawfull, or at leaſt of ill rep…redge… amongſt the Children of God, and ſuch …redge… fear him. For this will be ſo far from …redge… freſhing thee, and giving thee comfo…redge… that it will rather put a new whip into S…redge… tans hand for the further laſhing of thy …redge… ready-wounded Soul, as ſome of Go…redge… Children in this caſe can tell thee out …redge… their miſerable, and much to be pitied e…redge… perience.

2. Take heed that the recreation whi…redge… thou uſeſt, be ſuch a one, as in the time …redge… recreating thy ſelf therewith, may exerc…redge… and keep thy minde imployed, as well (if …redge… more) then thy Body; thoſe being the b…redge… ††See Maſter Burtons Melancholy. p 230Recreations at this time, that doe wh…redge… take up the mind, and keep it from wo…redge… thoughts; ſuch as is playing at Cheſſe, whi…redge… I have therefore judged ever beſt, and m…redge… p. 21conducible to this preſent eſtate: but herein let every man be fully perſwaded in his owne minde, ††Rom. 14. 5.Rom 14:5as the Apoſtle exhorteth in like caſes.

3. Take heed that thou doe not uſe this recreation, more like a work of thy **See Maſter Gataker of Lots. pag. 229.ordinary Calling, then like a Recreation: my meaning is, that thou doe not ſuffer it to take up thy moſt, and beſt houres; for the Devil, that ſubtle Adverſary of thine, is like enough to draw thee, thus (if thou wilt be drawn) from one extreame to another.

4. And laſtly, I would have thee eſpecially to take heed that thou doe not uſe ſuch …ledge…ecreations too much at the firſt ††See Mr. Dow. Warfare. part 3 l. 2. c. 32. Sect. 4.approaching of this thy felt affliction: for by ſo doing …ledge…hou wilt be kept from applying it to thine Heart, and from making that Holy, and Sanctified uſe of it for the furthering of …ledge…hy Repentance and Mortification, which otherwayes thou wouldſt, and oughteſt to make. And therefore in the firſt place alwayes remember to give way unto Godly …ledge… ſorrow for ſinne, which is the cauſe of this * Dolor melancholicus converti debet in dolorem qui eſt ſccundum Deum. Alſted. Theolog. Caſuum, cap. 5.…ledge…hy preſent affliction, and uſe this Croſſe …ledge…s a Hammer to drive Repentance the more …ledge…eeply into thine Heart: and when that …ledge…s done, then ſpare not to refreſh thy mind with ſuch recreations, which otherwayes would be tyred with the waight, & continuance p. 22of this thy felt Calamity, But yet ſo, a…redge… that neither firſt, nor laſt, theſe thy recreations may leſſen thy godly ſorrow for Sin, which is alwayes too little, and farre ſhor…redge… of that it ſhould be: but onelyonly mitigat…redge… thy grief for thy preſent miſery, which to…redge… too often is exceſſive, and immoderate▪ For as the Salve being rightly applyed t…redge… the Soare doth heal, and cure it; ſo this medicine of lawfull Recreation, if it be we…redge… applyed to that ſorrow which is occaſione…redge… by this thine Affliction, will doe thee mu…redge… good, and help to recover thy Spiritu…redge… health: whereas otherwayes, if it be mi…redge… applied unto thy ſorrow for Sinne, whi…redge… is a ſaving Grace, and one of the ſounde…redge… parts of a true Chriſtian, it will be like …redge… plaiſter laid upon the whole Skin, whi…redge… many times doth raiſe a Bliſter where the…redge… was none, and putteth the Patient to a ne…redge… and a needleſſe paine:

SECT. VI.

SEcondly, touching Reaſoning and **Affectavit quandoque, Diabolus veritatem defendendo concutere. Tert.D…redge… ſputing with Satan, which was the la…redge… ter of thoſe two things, that the Chriſti…redge… Soul, and dear Child of God was to lea…redge… undone in the time of ſpirituall Diſtreſſe…redge… I give thee this adviſe.

p. 23That (whenſoever **There be both temptations to ſinne, and temptations for ſinne.Satan doth lay any ſin to thy charge which thou haſt committed, or doth further tempt thee unto any ſin which he would have thee to commit) thou do not ſtand ††See Maſter Boltons Inſtruct. for comforting afflicted Conſcien. p. 545, & 546. Gerſon. de modo hab. contr. mal. immiſſ.reaſoning and diſputing the caſe with him in thy private thoughts, or otherwayes, (for this is that that he deſireth) but rather, 1. Repell him, and his ſuggeſtions with vehement deteſtation and diſdaine, as Chriſt did, ſaying, Avoid Satan, Mat. 4. 10. Or 2. as Hezekiah did ſpread that blaſphemous Letter, Eſay 37. 15. before the Lord, ſo doe thou lay open before the Lord his Helliſh ſuggeſtions, and with him cry mightily unto God, ver. 16, 17. &c. that he would ſtop the mouth of this railing Rabſhakeh of Hell, or give thee ſupport againſt him, and his accuſations. Or laſtly, put him over to Jeſus Chriſt thy Saviour, who hath taken upon him to be not onelyonly thy Redeemer, and thy Mediatour, and Interceſſour unto God his Father, but alſo to be thine **Epiſt. John, c. 2. ver. 1.Advocate to plead thy cauſe, and to anſwer ††Rom. 8. 33. 34 See M. Burtons Melancholly. pag. 551.Rom 8:33Rom 8:34all ſuites commenced againſt thee, both by Gods Juſtice, and the handwriting of the Law, and alſo by Satan, and all his Helliſh inſtruments. Nay, he is not onelyonly thine Advocate, but thine **Eſai. 54. 5. Jer. 31. 32. See Dyke on John 3. 29.Isa 54:5Jer 31:32John 3:29Husband too, and as thine Husband he both muſt, and will defend thee in all juſt Actions brought againſt thee, either by Satan, thine owne p. 24Conſcience, or any other. For the Husband ſtandeth anſwerable for the Wife: & it is a…redge… idle plea in the Law **Uxeri lis non intenditur., to lay the Action againſt the Wife, the Husband being alive. An…redge… therefore in all accuſations of Conſcience when Satan ſhall drag thee before God Tribunall, and lay thy ſins to thy charge; le…redge… this be thine anſwer. Away Satan, neve…redge… ſtand thus accuſing, or pleading againſt m…redge… I am but the Wife, goe to mine Husban…redge… he ſhall, nay, he hath already anſwered th…redge… Law for me to the full.

And thus haſt thou Direction for tha…redge… which thou art to practiſe in this time o…redge… ſpirituall Diſtreſſe. That which followet…redge… is for the Direction of thy knowledge.

JOHN 13. 17. If ye know theſe things, bleſſed are ye if y…redge… doe them.