A Sovereign Salve, Part 2 – Title page 2

A Sovereign Salve · Part 2 – Title page 2

p. 25The Sick Soules Guide.

THE SECOND PART, Containing Directions for the Knowledge of Gods Child in the time of Spirituall Diſtreſſe.

THE INTRODUCTION.

THE other thing for which the Child of God needeth Direction in this time of Spirituall Diſtreſſe, is his Knowledge.

And touching that, I give thee this adviſe, whoſoever thou art, that art thus Diſtreſſed.

1. That thou labour to know thoſe things which may help to encreaſe thy patience. And

2. That thou labour to know thoſe things which may help to further thy comfort.

SECT. I.

IT will help much to the increaſing of thy patience: if thou wilt but know, and take notice of the particulars which here follow.

p. 261. That God is the **Eſai. 45. 7. Amos 3. 6. 1 Sam. 2. 5, 6. Ruth 1. 20, 21. Hoſ. 6. 1. See Micah 6. 9.Isa 45:7Amos 3:61 Sam 2:51 Sam 2:6Ruth 1:20Ruth 1:21Hos 6:1Mic 6:9Author of thy Diſtreſſe, whoſe almighty power is guided by …redge… moſt wiſe providence, and tempered with …redge… fatherly love; and therefore in afflicting thee thus, can intend nothing but what ſhall be for his glory, and for thine unſpeakable good in the end. And that this hath been…redge… an excellent meanes, and help to beget patience in Gods afflicted ones, the Scripture doe plentifully ſhew us.

The conſideration of this made **Levit. 10. 3.Lev 10:3Aar…redge… to hold his peace, ††Pſal. 39. 9.Ps 39:9David to be dumbe, a…redge… not once to open his mouth: And the like w…redge… read of **Eſai. 38. 13.Isa 38:13Hezekiah, ††1 Sam. 3. 18.1 Sam 3:18Eli, **Job 1. 21. 22.Job 1:21Job 1:22Job, and others of Gods Saints mentioned in t…redge… Scriptures.

Nay not onelyonly Scripture, but even N…redge… ture too, doth teach us this truth, for what † See M. Dow. Warfare. part. 3 l. 2. c. 6. Sect. 3.beaſt doe we ſee, or know, though nev…redge… ſo Savage in himſelfe, or fierce towar…redge… others, which will not take Blowes fro…redge… his Keeper that tendeth him, without Sn…redge… ling, or repining? And therefore tho…redge… muſt be much more brutiſh then theſe, …redge… thou wilt not with patience take this Ch…redge… ſtiſement at the hand of thy God, who do…redge… more then feede thee, even give thee wha…redge… ſoever thou art, or haſt, and (as if all t…redge… were too little) hath promiſed to give t…redge… more, even eternall happineſſe hereafter.

p. 27SECT. II.

SEcondly, it will much helpe to the increaſe of thy patience, if thou wilt but conſider, that thy ſinnes **Si deus peccata reſpiciat, & iniquitatis merita, nullum eſt adeò ingens ſupplicium quo non meritò affligamur omnes, quotquot originem noſtram ex Adamo ducimus. Brent, in John c. 9.John 9have deſerved this, and a great deale more at the hands of God; Yea Hell fire it ſelfe, if God ſhould have dealt with thee in his juſtice. For if every ††See M. Down. Warfare part 3. l. 2. c. 18. Sect. 12Malefactour quietly, and patiently ſuffereth his leſſer puniſhments, as ſuppoſe whipping, or the like, when he knoweth he hath deſerved hanging, and thankfully acknowledgeth the mercy of the Judge therein: Then …ledge…ow much more patiently, and thankfully ſhouldeſt thou endure this thy light, and momentany affliction, ſeeing that God by this freeth thee from everlaſting torments? For when thou art thus judged (ſaith **1 Cor. 11, 32.1 Cor 11:32Saint Paul) thou art chaſtened of the Lord, that …ledge…hou maiſt not be condemned with the world.

SECT. III.

THirdly, it will much helpe to the increaſe of thy patience, if thou wilt but conſider, ††Nec enim fortuna querenda Sola tua eſt; fimiles aliorum reſpice caſus, Mitiùs iſta feres. Ovid. Metamorphoſ. l. 15.that others of Gods Children, as …ledge…eare unto him as thy ſelfe, have endured the …ledge…ike affliction before thee, and that others after …ledge…hee muſt endure the like too: It being a p. 28thing incident to all that are ††Heb. 12. 8.Heb 12:8Sonnes, and not Baſtards in Gods account, in one degree, or other, firſt, or laſt to be thus afflicted. Now how can that **Onus eſt levius quod ab omnibus portatur. See M. Down. Warfare. part 3. l. 2. c. 29. ſect. 10 Mr. Burgis his Chain of Graces. pag. 147.burthen bu…redge… be eaſie to one, which is carried by all? I…redge… thou hadſt gone alone in an uncouth way…redge… which had not beene beaten, and tracke…redge… by others of thy godly Brethren, thou had…redge… had ſome cauſe of complaint, and mighte…redge… have beene diſmayed in the paſſage: B…redge… there being in it the prints of ſo man…redge… footſteps of Gods deareſt Children, whic…redge… have gone before thee, and thou having …redge… † Patienter ab uno ſuſtinendum quod multis accidit. Bern. de modo vivendi cap. 42.many to accompany thee now, and t…redge… follow thee hereafter, why ſhould it be …redge… ſo tedious, ſo irkſome unto thee to goe i…redge… that way?

SECT. IV.

BUt, Fourthly, it will much more help…redge… to increaſe thy patience, if thou wilt b…redge… conſider, that **See Maſter Boltons inſtruct. ubi ſupra pag. 527.others of Gods Saints, ha…redge… endured not onelyonly the like, but a farre great…redge… meaſure of affliction in this kinde, then th…redge… haſt endured: As ††Job 6. 4. & 9. 17, 18. & 13. 24. 26. & 16. 9. & 19. 11.Job 6:4Job 9:17Job 9:18Job 13:24Job 13:26Job 16:9Job 19:11Job, **Pſal. 6. 3. 6. & 38. 2, 3. & 88. 7. 14, 15, 16. & 77. 7, 8, 9, 10.Ps 6:3Ps 6:6Ps 38:2Ps 38:3Ps 88:7Ps 88:14Ps 88:15Ps 88:16Ps 77:7Ps 77:8Ps 77:9Ps 77:10David, and ſu…redge… other Saints of God. I confeſſe it is a fau…redge… too generall, and common for men in th…redge… caſe, falſely to complaine, that their bu…redge… then of affliction is heavier then other me…redge… p. 29But I make no queſtion, but if ††See Maſter Downam, ubi ſupra. Babing. in orat. Domin. in fol. pag. 130. Burtons Melanchol. p. 255.all the faithfull, that either are, or have beene thus afflicted, ſhould agree together to caſt all their Croſſes, and miſeries in this kinde into one common heap, to the end that there might out of the whole be an equall part ſhared to every one; that the moſt of thoſe who came thither whining, and complaining, would rather take again their owne burthen which they brought, and goe their way, then yeeld to have a ſhare in that proportionable diviſion; and that thou amongſt the reſt wouldſt be one.

SECT. V.

FIfthly, it will much helpe to the increaſe of thy patience, if thou wilt but conſider what thy Saviour **Vide Chamier. Panſtrat. Tom. 2. l. 5. c. 12, & 13. M. Leeches Sermon on Heb. 12. 4. pag. 20. Biſhop Lakes Sermons. part 2 pag. 145.Heb 12:4Chriſt hath endured in this kind for thee. His bodily paines were many, and great, but they were nothing in compariſon of thoſe which his Soule endured. Neither man, nor Angell can conceive the taking, in which that heart was, which without all outward violence, meerely out of the extremity of his owne paſſion did ſend forth, through his fleſh, and skinne, not ſome faint dew, but ††Luk. 22. 44. foreign.Luke 22:44ſweat like drops of bloud trickling downe to the ground. OnelyOnly this much we doe beleive, **Biſhop Hall in his paſſion Sermon.that p. 30what the infinite ſins, of almoſt infinite me…redge… committed againſt an infinite Majeſty, deſerved in infinite continuance, all that he i…redge… the ſhort time of this his agony, and paſſio…redge… ſuſtained in his Soule for us.

And if Chriſt have endured ſo much for thee, **Parva tolerabimus ſi recordemur quid biberit ad patibulum, qui nos invitat ad coelum. Caſſian. ſuper Pſalmos.why ſhouldeſt thou thinke it much to endure ſo little for him, ſo little fo…redge… thine own ſinnes, which made him endur…redge… ſo much, that was without ſinne? ††Prior bibit medicus ſanus, ut bibere non dubitaret aegretus. Auguſt. Serm. 18. in Mat. & in Pſal. 48.Ps 48A Patient cannot have a ſtronger reaſon to move him to take a loathed, and ſuſpected potion, then to ſee his Phyſitian before him, content not onelyonly to taſt the medicine, bu…redge… to drink a much ſtronger draught of the ſame kind in a double quantity: So there cannot be a more effectuall **Cur ita asperum creditur ut à Deo homo toleret flagella pro malis, ſi tanta Deus ab hominibus pertulit mala pro bonis? Greg. paſtor part. 1. c. 13.motive to perſwade thee to drinke of this bitter C…redge… of Chriſt, then to conſider that he himſelfe, hath not onelyonly begun to thee in the ſam…redge… Cup, but hath drunke a far greater draught, then he expecteth thou ſhouldeſt pledg…redge… him, even the very dregges thereof unto th…redge… bottome.

SECT. VI.

SIxtly, it cannot but much help to th…redge… increaſe of thy patience, if thou wilt b…redge… conſider the ends, for which God doth exerciſe p. 31thee under this affliction: which (as farre as we may conjecture) is one of theſe ††Vel ad demonſtrationem debitae miſeriae, vel ad emendationem labilis vitae, vel ad exercitationem neceſſariae patientiae temporaliter hominem detinet poena. Aug. in Joh.three, either for the chaſtiſment of ſinne paſt: or for the triall of Grace preſent: or for the preventing of ſinne to come. For which end ſoever it is, it cannot be but for thine unſpeakeable good.

Suppoſe it be for the firſt end, for the chaſtiſement of ſome ſinne paſt, and how can the conſideration of this but make thee patient? When thou haſt in thy Body a wound, or deep feſtered Soare, thou wilt voluntarily ſend for thy Chirurgion, and yeeld thy ſelfe into his hands, to be uſed at his diſcretion for the curing of thy Body: yea thou canſt be content, that he ſhall not onelyonly apply healing Plaiſters, but tormenting **foreign. Medicum etiam urentem & ſecantem diligimus. Chryſ. in Pſal. 148.Ps 148Coraſives, and that he ſhould ſearch the Soare to the bottome, launce, and ſeare it, yea and cut off a Member too, rather then the whole Body ſhould be by that meanes endangered: and fearing leſt thou ſhouldſt not have courage, and ſtrength enough to endure theſe torments, thou wilt be content to be bound, that ſo thou maiſt not by ſtriving, and ſtrugling hinder him in his Courſes. And therefore if in uncertaine hope to recover the health of thy Body which can laſt but for a moment, and is ready preſently after curing by relapſe to fall againe into his old griefe, or by ſome new p. 32accident into a worſe: thou art content to endure ††Videte fratres mei in iſtis languoribus corperis, quanta homines tolerent, ut paucos dies victuri moriantur, & hos paucos dies incertos, &c. Auguſt. Enarrat. in Pſal. 102.Ps 102all theſe miſeries at the appointment of a mortall man, who often is unfaithfull, ſeeking more his owne gaine then thy health; and often unskilfull, neither truly knowing the nature of thine infirmity, nor the meanes how to cure it: How much more then ſhouldeſt thou with all alacrity, and cheerfulneſſe endure this thy preſent affliction, ſeeing it is uſed as a Medicine, and Salve by thy heavenly Chirurgion for the curing of a moſt dangerous Soar in thy Soul, to wit, thy ſin, which would bring thee in the end unto everlaſting death? Eſpecially ſeeing thou art aſſured that he wil by this means recover thee unto a perfect, and never decaying health, as being one that is moſt faithfull, and carefull over thee, and in his wiſdome, and skill infinite, and all-ſufficient for the effecting o…redge… the cure, ſay therefore here with that goo…redge… Father **Domine hîc ure, hîc ſeca, ut in poſterum ſanes.O Lord here lance me, here ſea me, that thou wilt be pleaſed hereafter …redge… cure me.

Secondly, ſuppoſe it be for the ſecond en…redge… that God doth thus afflict thee, to wit, f…redge… ††1 Pet. 1. 7. Deut. 8. 2. 2 Chron. 32. 31 See Maſter Downams Warfare. part 3. pag. 387. &c.1 Pet 1:7Deut 8:22 Chr 32:31the triall of thy graces preſent: and how can this but ſerve to increaſe thy patienc…redge… too?

Thou art content to have thy Gold trye…redge… to know the goodneſſe of it: thy Diamo…redge… p. 33tried, to know the worth of it; thine Armour tryed to know the proof of it, &c. And wilt thou be angry with thy God, for that he thus trieth thee? ſhall not he have as much command over that which is his, as thou haſt over that which is thine? Yea, but thou wilt ſay, God knoweth me, and all that is in me already, and therefore he needeth not to make any ſuch triall.

True; but the end of Gods triall of thee at this time, is not to better (a)(a)Tentat Deus ut ſciat, id eſt ut ſcire nos faciat: non ut ſciat ipſe, quem nil latet: ſine tentatione enim, nemo ſatis probatus eſſe poteſt, ſive ſibi ipſi, ſive alii. Auguſt. diverſis locis Operum.his own knowledge of thee, but to make thee better known, both to thy ſelf, and others.

As for thy ſelf, thou art ſo naturally blinded with Pride, and Self-love, that thou overweeneſt thy Graces, and good Parts, thinking that thou art, or haſt that, which thou neither art, nor (b)(b)Multa videntur quae non ſunt.haſt. Or contrarywiſe thou art many times ſo dejected at the ſight of thine owne infirmities, that thou (c)(c)Multa ſunt quae non videntur.thinkeſt that thou art not, or haſt not that, which indeed thou both art, and hast. And therefore the Lord bringeth thee unto this triall, that thou maiſt come to a true eſtimate of that which is in thee: and neither overweene, nor magnifie thy Gifts, and good Parts to be thereby (d)(d)2 Cor. 12. 72 Cor 12:7puffed up in …ledge…ride through a conceit of thine own excel…ledge…ency: nor too much vilifie, and undervalue …ledge…he Gifts and Graces which thou haſt received of him, and ſo rob him of that glory p. 34and praiſe which his due unto him▪

So alſo for others: they perhaps heretofore have either overvalued, or undervalue…redge… thy vertues, and good parts, and hav…redge… through miſ-conceit either judged the…redge… more, and better, or leſſe, and worſer, the…redge… indeed they have been. And therefore, tha…redge… men may not any longer rob Gods ſubſtantiall vertues, and ſaving graces in thee, o…redge… their due eſteeme, and deſerved comme…redge… dation, nor too highly prize thoſe which t…redge… them thou makeſt a ſhew to have, but ha…redge… not, he is content to bring thee to the Touc…redge… ſtone, and by putting thee into this **Prov. 17. 3.Prov 17:3Fier…redge… furnace of tribulation to diſtinguiſh his tru…redge… Golden gifts from the counterfeit Copper, an…redge… impure Droſſe of thy naturall, and ſeemin…redge… abilities, which otherwayes through men…redge… ignorance would never have been diſtinguiſhed.

But it may be this is not the end neithe…redge… for which God doth at this time humb…redge… thee; but it is rather for the third, and la…redge… end, which is to **Quandoque ei qui peccato quovis obligatus tenetur, pie immittit Dominus amaritudines quaſdam, quae mentem occupant homines, & expellunt p…redge… nicioſam dilectionem peccati. Bern. de tripl. miſericord. Job 3…redge… 16, 17. Hoſ. 2. 6, 7.Job 3Hos 2:6Hos 2:7prevent in thee ſome ſin…redge… in the time to come, to which he ſeeth th…redge… naturall propenſity too much inclining, an…redge… into which thou art ready to fall.

p. 35Suppoſe this: and how can this but ſerve to increaſe thy patience too? For if a valiant Souldier is willing with all cheerfulneſs to runne through a world of miſeries, rather then he would be vanquiſhed, and led Captive by his Enemies: and is content to bear his heavy Armour to endure hunger, thirſt, heat, cold, to ſpend the night in watching, and the day in fighting, that he may in the end **See M. Down. Warfare. part 3. pag. 433. &c.vanquiſh, and put his Enemies to flight: And if the wiſe Patient be content not onelyonly to ſuffer, but to reward his Phyſitian, when he goeth about by bitter Pilles, and loathſome Potions, by long Abſtinence, and ſtrict Diet to prevent diſeaſes when they are approaching: then how much more cheerfully, and willingly ſhouldſt thou endure the miſeries of this Spirituall Warfare againſt Sinne, Satan, and the other Enemies of thy Salvation, when as they ſerve as meanes, and helps, whereby thou art enabled to vanquiſh theſe deadly Foes, and to obtaine over them ſo glorious a Victory? And with how much more patience ſhouldſt thou at the appointment of thy Heavenly Phyſitian take theſe bitter Pilles, and Potions, of inward Diſtreſſe, ſeeing he uſeth them as Soveraigne preſervatives to keep thee ſafe and ſound from the contagion, and poyſonous infection of ſinne, and from falling into thoſe p. 36dangerous diſeaſes which would bring Body, and Soul to everlaſting death.

SECT. VII.

SEventhly, and laſtly, it cannot but much help to the increaſe of thy patience, if thou wilt but conſider what further good this thy preſent Affliction ſhall bring unto thee, if it be patiently endured: namely, a moſt excellent, and eternall waight of (a)(a)2 Cor. 4. 17.2 Cor 4:17glory: the (b)(b)Jam. 1. 2.Jas 1:2crown of life; and everlaſting (c)(c)Job 5. 17.Job 5:17bleſſedneſſe in Gods Kingdome when this life is ended. Worldly men (d)(d)See Maſter Downams Warfare. part. 3. pag. 561.we know are content to endure any labour, to hazard themſelves to innumerable dangers, and to ſuffer many, and grievous miſeries, that they may be aſſured of earthly things, and yet their ſtrongeſt aſſurances are but uncertainties, and the beſt things aſſured but trifling vanities. The Husbandman, he is content alſo to toi…redge… and labour, and to endure much hardneſſe in the Seed-time for the hope of a plentifu…redge… Harveſt afterwards, and yet his expectation is often fruſtrated, and in the end h…redge… hath many times but his labour for hi…redge… paines. The Marchant alſo is content to compaſſe Sea and Land, and to run man…redge… hard, and hazardous courſes, and all t…redge… get ſome little wealth, which he is uncertaine p. 37whether he ſhall obtaine, or having obtained it, whether he ſhall retaine, and enjoy it one day to his comfort.

And if theſe **Si tanta ſuffert anima mundana ut poſſideat unde pereat, quanta debet ſufferre ne pereat? Auguſt. li. de patient. c. 6.men can be content to endure all theſe miſeries for ſuch temporary trifles, which they are not ſure to obtaine, after all their paines and travell, nor to retaine them for one day, though they ſhould have them in poſſeſſion. Then how much more ſhouldſt thou be content to indure this thy preſent miſery, ſeeing this gives unto thee (if thou take it patiently) moſt certaine aſſurances of ſuch riches, as being unvaluable, and unconceaveable, and are alſo out of all danger of comming by an accident, to end, or loſſe, I mean the everlaſting poſſeſſion of God himſelf, and his everlaſting Kingdome. And thus farre of thoſe things which are fitting for thee to know for the better increaſe of thy patience in the time of Spirituall Diſtreſſe.

Now follow thoſe things which are fit for thee to know, for the better furthering of thy comfort.

And becauſe Gods Children thus diſtreſſed ſeldome finde any eaſe, or comfort, till their owne very particular Diſtreſſe be touched, and they be comforted in reſpect of that: therefore for the better furthering of thy comfort in this kind, I will here p. 38ſet down the particular Diſtreſſes, which (out of mine own experience) I have found, and (out of other mens obſervation) I have learned, to be the moſt uſuall Diſtreſſes of Gods Children at this time; together with the particular Comforts, that may ſerve to comfort them in reſpect of any ſuch particular Diſtreſſes, applying every one of them to thee in particular, that ſo whatſoever thy Diſtreſſe may be, thou mayeſt find comfort accordingly.

SECT. VIII.

TOuching theſe then, this I would have thee to know: That there are three ſorts of Diſtreſſes, which above all others, doe moſt perplex, and trouble the mindes, and Conſciences of Gods Children exerciſed in this Spirituall conflict.

The firſt are ſuch as reſpect the time paſt; the ſecond are ſuch as reſpect the time preſent; and the third are ſuch as reſpect the time to come.

Thoſe that reſpect the time past, are either ſuch as are occaſioned by former Diſtreſſes; or ſuch as are occaſioned by former Sinnes.

The former Diſtreſſes which occaſion preſent Diſtreſſe to the Children of God, p. 39are either ſuch as they have eſcaped, or ſuch as they have endured.

SECT. IX.

TOuching the former, the Diſtreſſe is The Diſtreſſe.this. I have ever heretofore (ſaith the Child of God) taken my ſelf for one that hath been Regenerate, and one whom God hath effectually called, and converted: but alas, now I ſee there is no ſuch matter, for I have never been hitherunto (a)(a)See Maſter Bolton, ubi ſupra. pag. 443.troubled in minde, or diſtreſſed in Conſcience with the fear, or feeling of Gods wrath due unto me for my ſinnes, as Gods Children uſe to be at their converſion. And therefore woe is me, ſure I am ſtill in Satans poſſeſſion, and that (b)(b)Luk. 11. 21.Luke 11:21ſtrong man armed keepes the pallace of my heart, or elſe all things would not be thus ſtill in peace within me.

If this be thy caſe, know this for thy The Comforts.comfort. 1. Howſoever it be moſt true, that there can be no new (c)(c)See Dyke of Repentance. cap. 5. Boltons Inſtructions, ubi ſupra. pag. 469. Mr. Schudders Chriſtians dayly walk. pag. 626.Birth without ſome terrours of the Law, and straits of Conſcience going before it; as there can be no Birth without ſome paines going before that: yet God handleth not all alike, that are thus regenerated, and made partakers of the new Birth, but ſome have gentler fits by oddes, then others have; ſome being p. 40but ſprinkled onelyonly in this (d)(d)Mat. 20. 22.Matt 20:22Baptiſme, whereas others are even dowſed over head and eares; and ſome but onelyonly made to ſip of that Cup, whereof others drink to the very dregs. It is with the travell of a Sinner in his Converſion, juſt as it is with the travell of a woman in Child-birth: (e)(e)Vide Lorin. in Pſal. Tom. 1. pag. 783. a.None travells here without paine, ye…ledge… ſome are like thoſe (f)(f)Exod. 1. 19Exod 1:19Hebrew women, which have a quicker, and eaſier diſpatch, then others have. Thoſe converts, Acts 2. in their Converſion had ſome grudgings, and (g)(g)Act. 2. 37. foreign. pungendo penetro.Acts 2:37prickes of Conſcience, but yet they had none of Jobs, or Davids fits, which held them many dayes together: for the ſame (h)(h)Verſe 38.Peter that wounded them, preſently healed them.

And herein God applies himſelf for the moſt part to the ſeverall natures, and conditions, and diſpoſitions of his Children. Amongſt which ſome have been more hainous Sinners, and of longer ſtanding then the reſt, and the more feſtered, and dangerous the wound is, the ſharper muſt be the cure; and the more viſcous, and gluttonous the Humour is, the ſtronger muſt be the Purge. Whereas others perhaps are not, either ſo great Sinners, or of ſo long ſtanding as the reſt; and therefore gentler, and eaſier Remedies will ſerve for them: For ſome ſoares (we know) will as eaſily be let p. 41out with the pricking of a pinne, as others with the Chyrurgions launcing. And this perhaps is thy caſe. Thou art one, who in thy tender yeares, by meanes of Religious mourture, haſt been ſeaſoned with the Grace of God, dropping by little and little into thee, and hereby haſt been kept from the groſſer defilements of Actuall tranſgreſſions, wherein others have voluntarily wallowed, and therefore no marvell, if thou have not beheld that grimme, and ſevere countenance of the Law, with ſo quick an apprehenſion, as thoſe uſe to doe who have been of ſo long ſtanding in the wayes of wickedneſſe, and have ſo long purſued it with ſuch eager delight.

2. It may be this thy Religious education hath taught thee as well to practice daily repentance after thou haſt ſinned, as to watch carefully over thine heart that thou maiſt not ſinne; and ſo thou eſcapeſt that by a daily practiſe, which others but once practiſing in all their lives, doe feel, and ſmart for. The houſe that is daily ſwept hath but little duſt in it, and is eaſily made cleane, but if it lie long unſwept, then it asketh much ſcraping, rubbing, and waſhing, and all is little enough to get up the dirt that by continuall uſe is growne hard to the floore. So in caſting up of Accounts, he that caſteth them up every day, ſhall the p. 42eaſier caſt them up at the Weeks end: b…ledge… he that lets them alone to run on from D…ledge… to Day, from Weeke to Weeke, ſhall find them ſo perplex'd and intricate in the en…ledge… that much paines taking will hardly ſ…redge… them right.

And why may not this be thy caſe? tho…redge… maiſt have done that by little, and little, an…redge… daily, which others doe but once, and the…redge… all together. And this may be the cauſ…redge… that thy fits have been ſo eaſie, and ſcarc…redge… diſcernable, theirs ſo harſh, and ſo notorious.

3. And laſtly, it may be God hath reſerved the evidences of thy New Birth to this very time, and will have thee by theſ…redge… after-throwes to be aſſured of that, of which thou hadſt but ſmall aſſurance in the forme…ledge… time of thy travell. If it be but ſo, thank Go…redge… for it with all thine heart, for the aſſurance of Regeneration is a bleſſing worthy the receiving, worthy the acknowledging whenſoever it commeth.

SECT. X.

THe ſecond kind of former Diſtreſſes, which uſually cauſe preſent Diſtreſſe to the Children of God, are ſuch as they have endured. And from theſe there ariſeth this Diſtreſſe.

p. 43Oh (ſaith the Child of God) many, and The Diſtreſſe.…ledge…reat have been the Diſtreſſes, which hi…ledge…herunto I have endured, and I had well …ledge…oped, that in them all I had ſuffered as a Child of God, and not as an Alien: but …ledge…ow I perceive there is no ſuch matter; …ledge…or Gods Children uſually profit by their Diſtreſſes, and are bettered, and amended …ledge…y them, but in me there is no ſuch amendment to be ſeen, no reformation to be …ledge…eard of: nay, contrary-wiſe this I find in my ſelf, that when the hand of God is thus …ledge…pon me, I rather grow worſe, and worſe, …ledge…ewraying more impatiency, and uttering more inconſiderate ſpeeches, which tend …ledge…o Gods diſhonour, give offence to others, …ledge…nd wound mine owne Conſcience, then …ledge…eretofore I have done. And therefore, howſoever in ſuch Diſtreſſes, others may have ſuffered as the Children of God, and to them theſe their Diſtreſſes may have beene Teſtimonies, and Aſſurances of Gods love: yet I cannot but think that I have ſuffered in all theſe Diſtreſſes of mine, rather as an Alien, then as the Child of God, and that to me theſe my Diſtreſſes have been rather Teſtimonies of Gods hatred, and heavy diſpleaſure, then any way aſſurances of his love.

If this be thy caſe, know this for thy The Comforts.Comfort. 1. That this very particular caſe p. 44of thine, was (a)(a)Job 3. 3. &c. & 6. 8, 9, 10.Job 3:3Jobs caſe, (b)(b)Pſal. 88. 14. & 77. 8, 9. & 32. 3, 4. & 38. 8. 10.Ps 88:14Ps 77:8Ps 77:9Ps 32:3Ps 32:4Ps 38:8Ps 38:10Davids caſe (c)(c)Jer. 20. 14, 15, 18.Jer 20:14Jer 20:15Jer 20:18Jeremies caſe, (d)(d)Jonah 4. 3. 8, 9.Jonah 4:3Jonah 4:8Jonah 4:9Jonahs caſe, and y…redge… all theſe were the dear Children of Go…redge… notwithſtanding: and therefore why ma…redge… not thou be ſo too, notwithſtanding tho…redge… canſt not for the preſent perceive in th…redge… ſelf any amendment, or any reformatio…redge… to ariſe from thy former Diſtreſſes?

2. Thou ſhouldſt alſo know, and conſider, that there is no time ſo unfitting fo…redge… a man to judge of his Spirituall ſtrength…redge… and ſtate of Grace in, as is the time …redge… Temptation, and Spirituall conflict. If a ma…redge… ſhould come unto thee after thou haſt endured much, and tedious ſickneſſe, an…redge… ſhould ſay unto thee, thou didſt imagin…redge… thy ſelf a while agoe very beautifull, an…redge… exceeding ſtrong, but waſt much deceived for if thou wilt but look in a Glaſſe, tho…redge… ſhalt preſently perceive that thou art lean…redge… pale, and deformed, and if thou wilt bu…redge… make triall of thy ſtrength, that it is ſcarc…redge… ſufficient to ſuſtain the waight of thine ow…redge… body. I ſay, if a man ſhould thus come unto thee, and reaſon with thee after this manner: I make no queſtion, but thou wouldſt deride ſuch fond reaſoning, as knowing that judgement is not to be taken of the Beauty, and ſtrength of the Body in the time of Sickneſſe, but in the time of health. And is not thy caſe here the like? p. 45Thou ſayeſt, that thou hopedſt, that in all …ledge…hy former Afflictions, thou hadſt ſuffered …ledge…s a Child of God, and not as an Alien: but …ledge…ow thou perceiveſt there is no ſuch mat…ledge…er, for thou haſt not profited by theſe thine Afflictions, as Gods Children uſe to doe.

Is there any reaſon that thou ſhouldſt thus judge of the grace and ſtrength of thy Soul, in the time of this thy Spirituall ſickneſſe, when as thou wilt not judge of the beauty, and ſtrength? of thy Body in the time of thy Bodily ſickneſſe? Surely there …ledge…s as little reaſon for the one, as for the other.

3. Thou ſhouldſt alſo know, and conſider, that as there is no time ſo unfitting for a man to judg of his Spirituall ſtrength, and ſtate of Grace in, as is the time of Temptation, and Spirituall conflict: So in that time, none is ſo unfit to judge of himſelf, as is the party himſelf, that is thus tempted. For though at other times men are commonly ſick of ſelf-love, and are too partiall in their own caſe, yet in this eſtate, and at this time they are moſt **Feſtucam quaerunt, unde ocutum ſibi cruant. Bern. de bon. deſer.uncharitable to themſelves of all other men. At other times they can be content to extenuate their ill Deedes, and to magnifie their good, ſtretching them to the utmoſt rack that ſelf-conceit, or vaine applauſe can miniſter. Yet at this time how witty, and p. 46even Rhetoricall are they to extenuate …redge… that is good in them, and to **As if they had been hired by Satan, the accuſer of the Brethren, to plead for him in accuſing themſelves. Doctor Sibbes bruiſed Reed. pag. 94.aggravate b…redge… yond meaſure, that which is evill, and ſ…redge… full? And therefore why ſhouldſt th…redge… thus credulouſly believe thine owne judg…redge… ment at this time touching thy ſelf, w…redge… art not now a competent judge either of t…redge… ſelf, or others?

In point of Law, and Equity, if th…redge… findeſt not thy judge Competent, thou w…redge… ſoon appeal to another that is more Co…redge… petent: and why wilt thou not doe t…redge… like at this time? A more uncompete…redge… judge then thy ſelf, thou canſt not me…redge… with poſſibly at this time, of thy ſelf: an…redge… therefore appeal from thy ſelf at this tim…redge… unto thy God, who is a more compete…redge… Judge, and doth ſee, and diſcover more …redge… his Children many times then either themſelves, or others can diſcover in them. …redge… ſay, appeal unto him, and in the defect o…redge… thine owne knowledge, comfort thy ſelf in Gods. So did Hezekiah in that hi…redge… grievous triall. O Lord (ſaith **Eſay 38. 3.Isa 38:3he) th…redge… knoweſt that I have walked with a perfe…redge… heart before thee. And ſo did ††John 21. 15, 16, 17.John 21:15John 21:16John 21:17Peter in th…redge… ſtrict examination that Chriſt took of hi…redge… concerning his Love. Simon, Loveſt th…redge… me? ſaith Chriſt. For herein, though hi…redge… own Conſcience told him that he was faulty, as having ſo often denied Chriſt before, p. 47yet he notwithſtanding comforts himſelf with this meditation of Gods knowledge; and when he could not ſay, Lord, I doe love thee, he ſaith thus, and therein he reſteth contented: Lord (ſaith he) thou which knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt that I love thee. And no marvel, for they were ſure that God, who ſeeth all things, both could, and would take notice of that in them; which, for the ſmallneſſe, and littleneſſe of it, they could not take notice of it themſelves: it being **See B. Andrewes Sermons. part 1. pag. 621. Doctor Sibs his Bruiſed Reed. pag. 58. &c. M. Schudders Chriſtians daily Walk. p. 583. Mr. Perkins Workes. vol. 1. pag. 638. Col. 2. c. & ibid. pag. 639. Col. 2. b.Col 2his uſe (at ſuch times eſpecially) if there be but a ſigh, a good thought, a holy deſire in the midſt of a great deal of Ignorance, and perturbation, not to let that paſſe unſeene, unregarded, unrewarded.

And thus farre touching former Diſtreſſes occaſioning preſent Diſtreſſe in the Child of God. Now follow Distreſſes ariſing from former ſinnes.

SECT. XI.

ANd theſe former ſinnes which occaſion preſent Diſtreſſes in the Child of God, are either ſuch as he knoweth he hath committed, or ſuch as he feareth he hath committed.

And for the former of theſe, he is eſpecially p. 48The Diſtreſſes.troubled, either for that he thinket…redge… them ſo many; or for that he thinket…redge… them ſo great; or for that he hath contin…redge… ed ſo long in them without Repentance, …redge… for that he hath ſo often fallen back agai…redge… into them after Repentance.

If the firſt of theſe be thy caſe, that tho…redge… The firſt Diſtreſſe.art troubled for the multitude of thy Sin…redge… and becauſe they have been ſo many …redge… know this for thy Comfort.The Comforts.

1. That though thy Sinnes be many, y…redge… Gods **He is the God of Mercies, Neh. 9. 1. the Father of Mercies, 2 Cor. 1. 3. He hath a multitude of Mercies, Pſal. 51. 1. Yea, he is full of Mercy, Pſal. 103. 8. Our Sinnes be the ſinnes of Men, b…redge… his Mercy is the mercy of an infinite God. Doctor Sibs Bruiſ…redge… Reed, Preface to the Reader.Neh 9:12 Cor 1:3Ps 51:1Ps 103:8mercies are more; for his mercy i…redge… like himſelfe, infinite, whereas thy ſinne…redge… (were they never ſo many) can be b…redge… finite. Now betwixt finite, and infini…redge… (we know) there can be no proportio…redge… and ſo no poſſibility of reſiſtance: ar…redge… therefore even many ſinnes may be pardoned as well as few.

2. Know this alſo, that many ſinn…redge… have been pardoned too: Why elſe di…redge… Chriſt ſay of Mary Magdalen, That ma…redge… ſinnes were forgiven her? Luk. 7. 47.

3. Know this too, that even thy ſinne…redge… (a)(a)Si quis univerſa peccata mundi commiſiſſet, & doleret, &c. Deus talem nunquā damnaret. de quinque partit. Conſ. lib. 3. cap. 44.how many ſoever they have been, a…redge… alſo pardoned, and ſhall never be impute…redge… unto thee for Condemnation, (b)(b)Rom. 8. 1.Rom 8:1if tho…redge… haſt truly (c)(c)Eſay 55. 7.Isa 55:7repented thee of them, an…redge… p. 49doeſt reſolve to caſt thy ſelfe wholly upon (d)(d)Math. 11. 28. Galat. 2. 20.Matt 11:28Gal 2:20Chriſt Jeſus, and Gods (e)(e)Pſal. 51. 1. The ſecond Diſtreſſe.Ps 51:1infinite mercies in him for the pardon of them.

But perhaps this is not thy caſe, thou art not ſo much troubled at the multitude and number of thy ſinnes, as at the greatneſſe and hainouſneſſe of them. And if this be thy The Comforts.caſe, know this for thy comfort.

1. That no (f)(f)Eſay 1. 16, 17, 18.Isa 1:16Isa 1:17Isa 1:18ſinne is capable of repentance, but the ſame is alſo capable of pardon. Even the very (g)(g)Math. 12. 31. compared with Heb. 6. 6. & 1 Epiſt. Joh. 5. 16.Matt 12:31Heb 6:6Heb 6:1John 5:16ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt ſhould be forgiven, if it could be repented for.

2. That even the greateſt ſinners upon their true repentance, have beene (h)(h)See Dr. Biams Serm. on Rev. 2. 5. p. 67.Rev 2:5forgiven: Witneſſe, Adam, Manaſſes, and the Jewes that crucified Chriſt, who committed …ledge…he moſt tranſcendent ſinnes that ever were committed by any that we reade of in Scripture, who were afterwards ſaved.

As for (i)(i)See M. Perkins workes in fol. vol. 1. p. 19. col. 2. 6. and M. Hierons workes in fol. vol. 2. pag. 147.Adams ſinne, we know, it caſt …ledge…oth himſelfe, and all mankinde, from the Creation, to the Worlds end, into (k)(k)Rom. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 2…. Epheſ. 2. 3.Rom 5:121 Cor 15:2Eph 2:3a …ledge…amnable eſtate, and alſo empoyſoned with …ledge…he contagion of Originall Corruption, the …ledge…odies and ſoules of all that ever were, or …ledge…hall be borne of woman, the (l)(l)Heb. 4. 15.Heb 4:15Lord Je…ledge…us onelyonly excepted. And yet this man (as the (m)(m)Via… Mol. in Pſal. 77.Ps 77beſt Divines be of opinion) though …ledge…e had thus caſt away himſelfe, and undone …ledge…ll mankinde, was received to mercy.

p. 50Secondly, for (n)(n)See 2 King. 21. 16. 2 Chron. 33. 2. &c.2 Kgs 21:162 Chr 33:2Manaſſes, he alſo was a man of moſt prodigious impiety, and matchleſſe villany; he ſhed innocent bloud very much, till he had filled Jeruſalem from one end to another: He did that which was evill in the ſight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the Heathen, whom the Lord had caſt out before the Children of Iſrael. He cauſed his Children to paſſe through the fire, i…redge… the valley of the Sonne of Hinnom. Alſo, He obſerved times, and uſed inchantments, and uſed witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar ſpirit, and with wizards. He wrought much evill in the ſight of the Lord, to anger him, &c. And yet this great ſinner, humbling himſelfe greatly before the God of his Fathers, was received to (o)(o)2 Chron. 33. 12, 13.2 Chr 33:122 Chr 33:13mercy.

Thirdly, for thoſe which crucified (p)(p)See M. Smiths Munition againſt mans miſerie, pag. 107.Chriſt; a man would have thought, that if ever Gods juſtice ſhould have triumphed …redge… ver his mercy, and have denied mercy unto any, it ſhould have beene to theſe: What…redge… To (q)(q)Acts 3. 13, 14, 15.Acts 3:13Acts 3:14Acts 3:15Crucifie the Sonne of God, the Lord …redge… life! Him, who (if any) was to be the Saviour and Redeemer of them, and all mankinde! To crucifie him (I ſay) and to expoſe him to ſuch ſhame and ſorrow as they did! Could there be imagined a greate…redge… ſinne? And yet behold upon their true repentance, Saint (r)(r)Acts 3. 19.Acts 3:19Peter doth even promiſe them, that their ſinnes alſo ſhall be put away pardoned and forgiven.

p. 513. Know this alſo for thy comfort, that what mercy God hath ſhewed to theſe, he both can and will ſhew to thee, if thou ſhalt truly repent thee of thy ſinnes, as theſe did. For he is the ſame God, and Father of mercies, that ever he was; and hath the ſame mercies (ſ)(ſ)Exod. 20. 6. & 34. 7. Numerus finitus pro infinito. Beumler. Rhetor. l. 2. c. 14.Exod 20:6Exod 34:7for thouſand of others, as well as for theſe: And the more to comfort thee remember, that theſe are of (t)(t)Rom. 15. 4.Rom 15:4purpoſe Regiſtred in the Scriptures, that thou, and all true penitent ſoules, might confirme their hope in the like aſſurance of mercy thereby; God ſhewing (u)(u)1 Tim. 1. 16.1 Tim 1:16in theſe, what all may expect upon the like conditions.

But it may be this is not thy caſe neither The third Diſtreſſe.thou art not ſo much troubled and diſtreſſed, becauſe thy ſinnes are ſo many, and ſo great, as for that thou haſt continued ſo long in them without Repentance.

If this be thy caſe, know this for thy The Comfort.Comfort, That the longeſt (x)(x)See M. Smiths Munition againſt mans miſerie, pag. 85. &c.continuance in ſinne is no way prejudiciall to his ſalvation, to whom God at the laſt vouchſafeth the Grace of true Repentance. He that came into the (y)(y)Math. 20, 9. Ad ſpem omne tempus eſt liberum, & mercedē non operis, ſed miſericordiae, undecimae horae ope…ledge…rii conſequentur. Hilar. in Pſal. 129.Matt 20:9Ps 129Vineyard to worke at the eleventh houre, had his peny at night, as well as he that came at the firſt. And who knoweth not that the penitent (z)(z)Luk. 23. 43.Luke 23:43Thiefe, repenting at the laſt gaſpe, was promiſed by Chriſt a place in Paradiſe?

p. 52And therefore if thou have (a)(a)1 Pet. 4. 1, 2, 3.1 Pet 4:11 Pet 4:21 Pet 4:3ſpent never ſo much time of thy life paſt in ſinne, and canſt now aſſure thy ſelfe, that thou doeſt truly and unfeignedly repent thee of this thy ſinfull courſe of life paſt, and art deſirous to (b)(b)Eph. 5. 16.Eph 5:16redeeme the time, that is yet left thee, to conſecrate it, to more (c)(c)Rom. 6. 18, 19.Rom 6:18Rom 6:19holy, and ſanctified courſes; thou haſt no great cauſe to be diſmayed for thy former long continuance in ſinne: for though late Repentance be (d)(d)Legi & perlegi Scripturam, & neminem inveni in duobus millibus aunorū ſalvatum in fiuc, niſi latronem in cruce. Aug. Vide Nic. Laurent. adverſ. deſper. pag. 371. Aug. tom. 10. de verae poenit. hom. 41. B. B. Wincheſt. Serm. pag. 180.ſeldome true, yet true Repentance is never too late.

But perhaps this is not thy caſe neither; goe on then to the fourth and laſt: What Art thou troubled becauſe rhou haſt ſo ofte…redge… fallen backe againe into the ſame ſinnes after Repentance?

If this be thy caſe, know this alſo for thy Comfort.

1. That even the deare (e)(e)See M. Downhams Divinity. p. 500. M. Pemble of the Sacrament, pag. 53. M. Smiths Munition againſt mans miſerie, pag. 90. &c.Child of Go…redge… may fall again and again into the ſame ſi…redge… after Repentance: for what ſhould hinde…redge…

Firſt, the ſame imbred Corruption (thoug…redge… not in the ſame meaſure, and power) remaineth in the beſt of Gods Children afte…redge… Regeneration, that was in them before and is as ready againe, to yeild to Sata…redge… temptations for the committing of t…redge… ſame ſinnes, if God ſhould leave them t…redge… themſelves, as ever it was at the firſt. S…redge… that in reſpect of themſelves, and their i…redge… p. 53bred Corruption, they may fall into the ſame ſinnes againe into which they have formerly fallen.

Secondly, there is the ſame Devil to tempt; and ſeeing his deſire is to make us beyond meaſure ſinfull; and knowing there is no way better to doe it, then by implunging us often into the ſame ſinnes; and eſpecially into thoſe, whereof we have (f)(f)Luk. 11. 24, 25, 26.Luke 11:24Luke 11:25Luke 11:26made ſhew and profeſſion to have repented: how can we but thinke that he will be as buſy to tempt us (if God permit him) to the ſame ſinnes, as well (if not more) then to any other?

Thirdly, the ſame cauſes ſtill remaine, which may move the Lord to leave them to themſelves, and ſuffer them to fall again into ſinne, yea the ſame ſinnes as he did before: Namely, that hereby they may be the more humbled, and more ſeriouſly bewaile their corruption; that they may the more earneſtly implore his mercy, and he the more manifeſt it in pardoning their ſinnes, to the praiſe of his Glory.

2. Thou ſhould'ſt alſo know, and conſider, (g)(g)See M. Smiths Munition againſt mans miſerie, pag. 90. &c.that the promiſe of pardon in the Scriptures, is not made onelyonly to divers ſins once committed, but is extended to the ſame ſinnes committed divers times (h)(h)Peccaſti? poenitere. Millies peccaſti? Millies poenitere. Millies poenitet? Adhuc etiam poenitere. Chryſoſt. Vide Lorin. in Pſal. tom. 1. pag. 844. Heming. in Joh. 8. col. 509. &c.John 8Yea, to all ſinnes whatſoever, whereof we truly repent. And therefore though thou have p. 54fallen againe into the ſame ſinnes after Repentance, yet this may be thy comfort, that none of all theſe thy ſinnes ſhall be able, either to exclude thee out of the number of Gods children, or debarre thee of his pardon, if thou canſt as duely, and as truely repent thee of them, and aske God forgiveneſſe for them, as thou doeſt daily commit them.

3. And laſtly, thou ſhould'ſt alſo remember and call to minde (as (i)(i)See M. Boltons Inſtruct. ubi ſupra, pag. 346.others of Gods children have done in the like caſe) what mercy in this kinde God requires of man, and he would have him to ſhew to his offending Brother; for he would have him to forgive him, although he commit the ſame offences often againſt him, if he come and acknowledge his fault, and be ſorry for it: And ſhall not he himſelfe, upon our true repentance, then (thinke we) forgive us, although after the ſame manner we doe offend him?

For what? Shall he practice leſſe mercy towards us, then he requireth that we ſhould practice one towards another?

Our mercy is but a ſparke of his, infuſed into us by his Spirit; and ſhall a ſparke doe more then the whole fire? Shall there be more in the ſtreame, then in the fountaine▪ More in the river, then in the maine ſ…redge… No, no, it cannot be. Farre be it then from p. 55thee to deſpaire of Gods mercy towards thee in that, wherein (by Gods owne appointment) man may not deſpair of mercy from his offended Brother.

SECT. XII.

THe ſecond kinde of former ſinnes, which doe occaſion preſent diſtreſſe in the child of God, are ſuch as he feareth he hath committed. And here I have obſerved the feare of two ſinnes eſpecially to have occaſioned diſtreſſe to the child of God. The firſt is a feare leſt he have any way, or at any time in his extremity, and through the violence of temptation, yeilded his conſent to Satan, in that fearfull temptation of giving himſelfe body and ſoule to him. And the ſecond is a feare leſt he have committed that great and unpardonable ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt.

If the former be thy caſe, know this for thy comfort,

Firſt, that Satan (who telleth thee that in this particular thou haſt yeilded thy conſent unto him) is a Lyar, and ſuch a Lyar, Joh. 8. 44.John 8:44as in whom there is no truth; and that therefore thou haſt little reaſon to give credit to that which he ſaith.

In other buſineſſes, if thou hadſt to doe p. 56with one that is a common Lyar, and ſuch a one as thou knoweſt doth ſeldome or never ſpeake truth, thou wouldſt be well adviſed, before thou wouldſt give any great credit to him, or his words; yea, though he ſhould not onelyonly ſay, but ſweare it were true: And therefore how much more ſhouldſt thou be well adviſed, before thou give credit to Satan in this particular, who can ſpeake truth in none, unleſſe it be to gaine further credit to his lyes in ſome other thing.

But Secondly, ſuppoſe this, that Satan now ſeekes to affright thee with, were true; yet even herein are there ſome things which thou mayſt know, and take notice of for thy comfort notwithſtanding.

As 1. that it is one thing, which Satan in thine extremity, hath (through the violence of his temptations) enforced thee to doe …redge… ſay; and another thing, which thou wouldſt doe: or ſay, of thine owne accord, being out of that extremity. Now whatſoever thing, in this caſe, Satan doth, through the violence of Temptation, enforce thee to doe or ſay, reſt thou aſſured of it; it is ††See M. Abernethies phyſick for the ſoule, pag. 144. M. Boltons Inſtruct. ubi ſupra, pag. 535, 539.his ſinne, and not thine; and that he ſhall anſwer to God for it, and not thou.

Againe, 2. know this, that it is one thing to give that which is a mans owne, and which he may freely diſpoſe of; and another p. 57thing to give that which is another mans, and to which he hath no right: If herein thou hadſt given Satan that which had beene thine owne, and of which thou might'ſt freely have diſpoſed, then ſurely thou hadſt had juſt cauſe of feare: But here the caſe is otherwaies; for if thou have thus given thy ſelfe, body and ſoule, to Satan, (as thou art affraid thou haſt done) thou haſt herein given that, which is none of thine to give, and which thou haſt no power to make good. For thou muſt know, that ſince thy Redemption, thou art (a)(a)1 Cor. 3. 23.1 Cor 3:23Chriſts, and not thine (b)(b)1 Cor. 6. 19.1 Cor 6:19owne; and therefore it is not in thy power to make good this thy gift, but in Chriſts; and Chriſt hath promiſed, that he for his part will never make it good; for he hath ſaid it, and we may believe it, that (c)(c)Mat. 16. 18.Matt 16:18Hell gates ſhall never prevaile againſt thoſe that are his; and that thoſe whom God his Father hath given unto him, (d)(d)Joh. 17. 12.John 17:12he will keepe; not ſuffering Satan, or any (e)(e)Joh. 10. 28. Rom. 8. 35, 38, 39.John 10:28Rom 8:35Rom 8:38Rom 8:39other, either by force, or fraud, to deprive him of them.

3. And laſtly, know this alſo, that even in this caſe too, thy true, and ſound Repentance, can take off all Satans right, title, and intereſt, which by this, or any other meanes, he may pretend to have in thee; and the bloud of Chriſt apprehended and applied to thy ſoule by a lively faith, can p. 58cancell any (f)(f)Col. 2. 13, 14. Heb. 2. 14, 15. See ſick Soules preſidents hereafter, pag. 7. The Diſtreſſe.Col 2:13Col 2:14Heb 2:14Heb 2:15handwriting which he ha…redge… againſt thee, though ſigned with thine ow…redge… bloud.

The other ſinne which Gods child fe…redge… reth that he hath committed, is that gre…redge… and unpardonable ſinne againſt the Ho…redge… Ghoſt.

And if this be thy caſe, know this for th…redge… The Comforts.comfort,

1. That he that is the child of God ca…redge… not commit this ſinne. There is no (g)(g)Nullum eſt peccatum quod fecit homo, quod non poſſit facere alter homo, ſi defit rector à quo factus eſt homo. Auguſt.other wickedneſſe ſo odious, or abominable but even the deare child of God (being le…redge… to himſelfe) may fall into it: But into thi…redge… he cannot poſſibly fall. And this (h)(h)1 Ep. Joh. 5. 18.John 5:18Sain…redge… John aſſureth Gods children of, We know (ſaith he) that he that is borne of God ſinne…redge… not. And there he ſpeaketh of this very ſinne, as the (i)(i)Hierome. Athanaſius. Chryſoſtome. Baſil. Ambroſe, &c. Beda. Huge. Gloſſa ordinaria, &c.beſt Expoſitors generally both Antient and Modern, doe with o…redge… conſent affirme.

2. Know this alſo, that not every grievous ſinne againſt knowledge and conſcience, is this great and unpardonable ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt; for even thus David offended, 2 Sam. 11. 4.2 Sam 11:4who was (k)(k)1 Sam. 13, 141 Sam 13:14a man after Gods owne heart. Neither is it every denying of the knowne truth, if it proceed from feare a…redge… infirmity, and not of malice and obſtinate rebellion; for thus (l)(l)Mat. 26. 70.Matt 26:70Peter ſinned in denying p. 59his Maſter. Neither is it all kind of oppoſing and perſecuting the truth, if it be not againſt knowledge and conſcience, but upon blindneſſe and ignorance: For thus (m)(m)Acts 22. 4. & 26. 11. & 1 Tim. 1. 13.Acts 22:4Acts 26:111 Tim 1:13Paul offended before his converſion, and many of the Jewes (n)(n)Acts 3. 17.Acts 3:17who crucified Chriſt. Neither is it all malitious oppoſing againſt every knowne truth ſet downe in the Scriptures, but onelyonly againſt Chriſt (o)(o)Heb. 10. 29. and 6. 6.Heb 10:29Heb 6:6, and ſalvation by him, our hearts having beene firſt (p)(p)Heb. 6. 4.Heb 6:4enlightened by the (q)(q)Heming. in Johan. c. 3. col. 230. b.Spirit of Chriſt, and rightly informed of it by the Word, and the Miniſtery thereof. Neither is it laſtly any of theſe, except it be accompanied (r)(r)See Doctor Donnes Serm. in fol. pag. 569. a. Qui ad mortem peccant, tantam habent ignorantiam & caecitatem, ut nec turbentur in ſceleribus, nec poenitentiae dolore crucientur. Gloſſ. ordinar. in Math. 27. 3, 4, 5.Matt 27:3Matt 27:4Matt 27:5with impenitibleneſſe in the way, and with actuall impenitency in the end.

And therefore though thou have at any time ſinned againſt knowledge and conſcience through infirmity, and not of malice; though thou have denied the truth, through feare and weakneſſe; though thou haſt alſo perſecuted it, through blindneſſe and ignorance; yea, though thou haſt wittingly oppoſed, and willingly perſecuted any truth, but onelyonly that, that concernes (ſ)(ſ)Nemo peccat in Spiritum ſanctum, niſi qui finalitèr & voluntariè rementiat Chriſto. &c. Heming. Antidot. adverſus deſperationem.Chriſt Jeſus, and ſalvation by him, after that God hath enlightened thee with the true and right knowledge of it: yea, though this too without finall impenitency, yet haſt thou not committed this great and unpardonable p. 60ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt, and therefore art neither excluded from Repentance, nor upon thy true Repentance for it from pardon and forgiveneſſe (t)(t)He that deſireth further ſatisfaction touching this ſinne, let him reade, M. Willia…redge… Bradſhaw. Dr. Donnes Serm. on Math. 12. 31. Dr. Deniſo…redge… Serm. on Heb. 10. 26. Sebaſt. Benefield. Henry Hoddeſdon. Joh…redge… Meredith. Gouges Armour, pag. 596. &c. Downams Divinitie, pag. 384. Byfield in Symbol. pag. 547. Zanch. de Redemp. pag. 158. &c.Matt 12:31Heb 10:26.

3. And laſtly, know this alſo, and remember it for thy comfort, (u)(u)See M. Schudder Daily Walk pag. 527. Abernethy phyſicke for the ſoule, pag. 144. D. Deniſon, ubi ſupra, pag. 59.That ſo long as a man would not commit this ſinne, or feareth that he hath committed it, or grieveth becauſe he hath committed it, he is moſt free from committing of it. For this ſinne is not committed of infirmitie, or unawares, but upon a malitious will, cleare knowledge, and ſetled reſolution; and they that have committed it, have neither feare nor contrition of heart for ſo ſinning; final…redge… impenitency being the inſeparable companion, and attendant of it. And therefore this being not thy caſe, thou haſt no cauſe thus to be diſ-comforted, whatſoever Satan, or thine owne conſcience, ſhall tell thee to the contrary.

And thus farre touching thoſe diſtreſſes of Gods children which reſpect the time paſt: Now follow thoſe which reſpect the ti…redge… preſent.

p. 61SECT. XIII.

ANd theſe ariſe commonly either from a conceited want of love in God, or from a conceited want of grace in themſelves.

Touching the former, there are divers things which make the children of God to thinke that God doth not love them.

1. Conſciouſneſſe of ſelf-unworthineſſe.

2. Spirituall deſertion.

3. Satanicall moleſtation.

4. Want of audience in prayer.

5. Outward and inward afflictions.

6. Long continuance under the croſſe.

If the firſt of theſe be the cauſe of thy The Diſtreſſe.preſent diſtreſſe, and thou thinkeſt that God doth not love thee, becauſe thou art in thy ſelfe ſo unworthy of any love from him: then know this for thy comfort,

1. That Gods love towards his children The Comfortsis not grounded upon their worthineſſe, but upon his (a)(a)See M. Ed. Reynolds Serm. on Phil. 3. 10. pag. 510.Phil 3:10owne meer mercy, and free good will. And this may evidently appeare throughout the whole worke of our ſalvation, and in every act thereof: For our (b)(b)Rom. 11. 5.Rom 11:5election, (c)(c)Epheſ. 1. 7.Eph 1:7redemption, (d)(d)2 Tim. 1. 9.2 Tim 1:9vocation, (e)(e)Rom. 3. 24.Rom 3:24juſtification, (f)(f)Tit. 2. 11.Titus 2:11ſanctification, (g)(g)Eph. 2. 8.Eph 2:8ſalvation, are all of his meer (h)(h)See M. Hierons workes, vol. 1. pag. 104. & 121.grace and mercy, without any deſert of ours.

p. 62And therefore reſolve thus with th…redge… ſelfe, and let this reſolution afford the…redge… comfort in thy deepeſt diſtreſſe, for wa…redge… of merit, or worthineſſe in thy ſelfe. Th…redge… thy (i)(i)Meritum meum miſerationes Domini non ſum planè meriti inops, quamdiu ille miſerationum non fuerit. Bern. in Cant. Serm. 61.merit is the Lords mercy; and th…redge… therefore ſo long as he wanteth not mercy thou ſhalt never want merit.

2. Thou ſhouldſt alſo know and conſider this for thy comfort, that there is n…redge… (k)(k)Math. 8. 8. Math. 15. 27, 28.Matt 8:8Matt 15:27Matt 15:28unworthineſſe felt, grieved for, and laboured againſt, but is accounted worthineſſ…redge… in the ſight of God.

3. Take notice alſo of this, that thoug…redge… in thy ſelfe thou art, and doeſt finde thy ſelf…redge… moſt unworthy; yet as long as God is pleaſed, in Chriſt, to account thee worthy, tho…redge… art (l)(l)There is, Dignitas ex dignatione, as well as, ex dignitate.worthy enough: for it is not wha…redge… thou accounteſt thy ſelfe, but what Go…redge… doth account thee to be, (m)(m)Eph. 1. 6.Eph 1:6in his So…redge… Jeſus Chriſt, that ſhall make thee to ſtan…redge… or fall before his Judgement ſeate. An…redge… therefore let not thy unworthineſſe diſhearten thee, and make thee believe th…redge… God doth not love thee; but rather fro…redge… this aſſure thy ſelfe that he doth love thee becauſe he makes thee to acknowledge …redge… ſelfe every way ſo unworthy of his love.

p. 63SECT. XIV.

ANother occaſion of preſent diſtreſſe in the child of God, is ſpirituall deſertion: Oh (ſaith the child of God) there The Diſtreſſe.was a time when I thought my ſelfe highly beloved, and favoured of God (ſuch comfortable aſſurances of his gracious preſence had I alwaies in my ſelfe) but now (a)(a)Vide Caſm. Tent. Schol. 2. c. 2. p. 51, & 56. See M. Joſ. Symonds caſe and cure of a deſerted ſoule, per totum. M. Rob: Yarrowes Soveraign comforts. The Comforts.a…ledge…as that joy of my ſalvation is gone, I feele no ſuch comfortable aſſurances of Gods gracious preſence in me; nay, to my preſent ſeeming, I am as one quite forſaken of God, one wholly bereft of his Spirit; and therefore I feare I was never indeed belo…ledge…ed of him, as I tooke my ſelfe to be.

If this be thy caſe, know this for thy comfort,

1. That God never (b)(b)Non deſerit etiamſi deſerere videatur: Imò non deſerit etiamſi deſerat. Auguſt.withdraweth his …ledge…reſence, and favour from his child indeed, …ledge…o whom he hath once vouchſafed it, …ledge…hough in the preſent feeling, and appre…ledge…enſion of his child, he ſeemeth to with…ledge…raw it. For (c)(c)See M. Boltons Inſtruct: ubi ſupra. p. 512.God is not fickle and inconſtant in his love, to love a man to day, …ledge…nd to caſt him off to morrow; no, there …ledge…here is no ſuch (d)(d)Jam. 1. 17.Jas 1:17variableneſſe nor ſhadow …ledge…f change in him; but whom he (e)(e)Joh. 13. 1. Jerem. 31. 3.John 13:1Jer 31:3loveth …ledge…nce, he loveth unto the end.

2. Thou ſhouldſt alſo know, and conſider p. 64the (f)(f)See M Gatakers Serm. on Pſal. 13. 1. M. Boltons Inſtruct. ubi ſupra. pag. 508. &c.Ps 13:1ends, for which God dot…redge… ſeeme thus to withdraw his preſence an…redge… wonted favour from his child; all which thou ſhalt finde to be for the (g)(g)Ne timeas … ſponſa, nec exiſtimes te contemni, ſi pauliſper tibi ſponſus ſubtrahit faciem ſuam: omnia iſta tibi cooperantur in bonum de acceſſu, & receſſu lucraris. Aug. de Scala Paradiſi. Or Bernard. de Scala Clauſtralium.good, and not one for the hurt of him.

One is for the chaſtiſement of ſinnes paſt▪ whereof he hath not yet truly repented▪ Thus did God withdraw his gracious preſence and wonted favour from (h)(h)Pſal. 51, 11, 12. & 77. 7, 8. Vide Moller. in loc.Ps 51:11Ps 51:12Ps 77:7Ps 77:8Davi…redge… and yet all was in love, and out of Gods fatherly care over him, leſt he ſhould periſh in his ſinnes of adultery and murther, and thoſe other (which either occaſioned, o…redge… were occaſioned by them) through imperitency.

A ſecond end is, for the better triall of h…redge… eſtate preſent: Not that God is ignorant what is in man, but becauſe he would by this bring man the better to know what i…redge… in himſelfe, and make others alſo to acknowledge it, which otherwaies would no…redge… have believed it: For this end did Go…redge… withdraw his gracious preſence, and wonted aſſiſtance from Peter, and for the ſame end alſo from Job; yet from bot…redge… out of his love, and fatherly care over the…redge… From (i)(i)Math. 26. 75.Matt 26:75Peter, that by this meanes h…redge… might be brought to the ſight of his own frailty, which otherwaies would have periſhed in his preſumption. And from J…redge… that by this meanes his ſincerity might b…redge… p. 65juſtified againſt the mercenarineſſe of well doing, with which he ſtood charged by Satan.Job. 1. 9.Job 1:9

A third end of Gods withdrawing of his preſence, and wonted favour from his child, is for the preventing of ſome ſinne in him in the time to come. And thus did God withdraw the ſenſe of his preſence and favour from Paul, yet out of his love and fatherly 2 Cor. 12. 7. There is preventing phyſick for preſervation of health, as well as that when the diſeaſe is dangerouſly upon us for recovery. Boltons Inſtruct. ubi ſupra. pag. 460.2 Cor 12:7care over him ſtill, that hereby he might the better prevent that ſpirituall pride in him, into which he was likely to fall through abundance of Revelations.

A fourth end of Gods withdrawing of his preſence, and wonted favour from his child, may be to ſtirre ††Recedit, ut abſens magis deſideretur: deſideratus avidius quaeratur, diu quaeſitus tandem gratiùs inveniatur. Aug. fivè Bern. ubi ſuprà. Sic enim pios interdum judicio Dei terreri neceſſe eſt, ut bonitatis ejus defiderio magis officiamur. Calvin in Eſay 38. 13, 14.Isa 38:13Isa 38:14him up the more earneſtly to deſire it, and the more highly to prize it, and the more thankfully to uſe it.

For how many, by this meanes, have …ledge…eene brought to a higher eſtimation of Gods favourable preſence, then otherwaies they would have beene? What earneſt ſuits and prayers for the regaining of this, hath this deſertion cauſed in ſome? Yea, what …ledge…hankfull acceptance, and gracious uſe of this, once regained, hath it cauſed in all? And is not all this for the good of Gods child?

Laſtly, it may be the Lord doth ſome…ledge…imes thus withdraw his preſence, and won…ledge…ed favour from his child, to make him the p. 66more earneſtly to long after the full perfection, and perfect enjoyment of it in Heaven **Via eſt vita praeſens qua ad patriam tendimus, & idcircò hic occulto Dei judicio, frequenti perturbatione conterimur, ne viam pro patria diligamus. Greg. Moral. l. 23. cap. 15.. For if the Lord ſhould alike at all times afford us his gracious preſence, and favour here, how ready would we be to ſet downe ou…redge… reſt here, and to grow careleſſe of minding any better eſtate hereafter? And therefor…redge… that we may not take the place of our baniſhment, for our ††Ne exilium deputemus pro patria, & arrham pro pretii ſumma venit ſponſus, & recedit viciſſim, nunc conſolationem afferens, nunc univerſum ſtatum noſtrum in infirmitatem commutans. Vide Auguſt. ſive Bernard. ubi ſupra.Countrey; and the earneſt of our inheritance, for the full payment; the Lord commeth, and departeth from …redge… by courſe; ſometimes miniſtring comfo…redge… by his preſence; at other times greateſt diſcomfort by his abſence; by the taſt of t…redge… one, to teach us what is reſerved for us i…redge… Heaven; and by the touch of the other, t…redge… let us know what may not be expected by …redge… here on earth.

But howſoever the Lord for theſe, or other cauſes beſt known to himſelf, doth ſee…redge… thus to forſake his child for a while: yet t…redge… may be his comfort, that he will never fo…redge… ſake him **Eſay 49. 14, 15, 16. Eſay 54. 7, 8.Isa 49:14Isa 49:15Isa 49:16Isa 54:7Isa 54:8totally, never ††Heb. 13. 6. S…redge… electus ſemper dilectus. See that moſt cordiall and comfortable S…redge… mon of Dr. Donnes in Eſay 50. 1.Heb 13:6Isa 50:1finally.

p. 67SECT. XV.

A Third occaſion of preſent diſtreſſe to the child of God, and whereby he is occaſioned to thinke that God doth not love him, is Satanicall moleſtation. Oh (ſaith The diſtreſſe of Satanicall moleſtation.the child of God) can God love me, and leave me thus to the Devils power, to be thus continually troubled and moleſted by him?

Yes, God can love thee, and doth love The Comfort.thee ſtill, though he thus leave thee to the Devils power, to be thus troubled, …ledge…nd moleſted by him. And this will evi…ledge…ently appeare in all the particular troubles …ledge…nd moleſtations of the Devil towards Gods child.

1. It may be the Devil troubles thy bo…ledge…y: The firſt diſtreſſe. The firſt comfort for it.And hath he not done the like to the …redge…eſt of Gods ſervants? To the deareſt of …redge…is children?

Did he not carry the body of Chriſt him…ledge…elfe Math. 4. 5. 8.Matt 4:5Matt 4:8from place to place? Did he not fill …ledge…he body of Job with botches and ſoares? Did Job 2. 7.Job 2:7…ledge…e not exceeding grievouſly bow the body Luk. 13. 16.Luke 13:16…ledge…f that poore woman (mentioned in the Go…ledge…pel) eighteene yeares together? Did he not …ledge…iſerably vex the body of the Daughter of …ledge…e woman of Canaan? Did he not poſſeſſe, Math. 15. 22.Matt 15:22…ledge…nd that in a fearfull manner, the body of p. 68Mary Magdalen? And in as fearfull Luk. 8. 2.Luke 8:2manner, or rather worſe, the body of him i…redge… whom were a whole Legion at once. Ye…redge… Luk. 8. 29, 30.Luke 8:29Luke 8:30did he not kill the bodies of Jobs children…redge… Job 1. 19.Job 1:19And dareſt thou ſay, that theſe were no…redge… the children of God, and dearly beloved o…redge… him?

Firſt, for Chriſt, the Scripture witneſſet…redge… that he was Gods beloved Sonne, in whom …redge… Math. 3. 17. Job 1. 8.Matt 3:17Job 1:8was well pleaſed. Job, God himſelf acknowledgeth to be his Servant. The woman th…redge… had that ſpirit of infirmity eighteene year…redge… is called by Chriſt himſelfe, A Daughter…redge… Luk. 13. 16.Luke 13:16Abraham: And can any doubt, but th…redge… all the reſt were the deare ſervants, a…redge… children of God, that ſhall reade the teſt…redge… mony which thc Scripture gives of them i…redge… the fore alledged places, and others whi…redge… might be produced? And if ſo, why th…redge… ſhouldſt thou doubt, that God doth n…redge… love thee, dealing no otherwaies with the then he hath done with them?

2. Know this for thy comfort, th…redge… The ſecond Comfort.though the Devil may thus have power …redge… ver thy body, yet can he not hurt thy ſoul…redge… nay moſt commonly we ſee, that this …redge… poſſeſſion of the body, doth prove, thro…redge… Gods great mercy towards his child, …redge… diſ-poſſeſſion of his ſoule. So that that wh…redge… Chriſt ſaid of the Devils inſtruments, (…redge… can kill the body, but not the ſoule) the ſ…redge… p. 69Luk. 12. 4.Luke 12:4may we ſay of Satan himſelfe, he may, by Gods permiſſion, moleſt, hurt, wound, yea kill the bodies of Gods deareſt children, but hurt their ſoules he cannot; their better part is ſtill out of his reach, out of his power.

3. Know this alſo, that even in this moleſtation The third Comfort.of thy body, the Devil cannot goe one jot further, then God gives him leave. He can bring Chriſts body, and ſet it on the Math. 4. 5, 6.Matt 4:5Matt 4:6Pinnacle, but throw it downe from thence he cannot. He can inflict grievous and loathſome botches and ſoares on the body of Job, but take away his life he cannot. He could Job 2. 6.Job 2:6poſſeſſe the body of that poore man in the Goſpel, but throw him headlong into the Sea, as he did the herd of ſwine, he could not; no, though there were a whole Legion of them Luk. 8, 27. &c. See M. Dyke or Repentance, pag. 381. &c. Dr. Tailour on Math. 4. pag. 213. B. B. Cowpers Workes, pag. 607. col. 2. c.Luke 8:27Matt 4in him at once. And the reaſon of all is this, becauſe his power is limited; for even the Devil himſelfe is ſubject to the Kingdome of Gods power, and providence; and will he, nill he, he muſt obey; till God let him looſe, he cannot goe in any errand to doe hurt; and when he is looſe, and going about it, as farre as God permitteth him he may goe, but one jot further he cannot paſſe, be his might, or malice, never ſo great. A Lyon, a roaring Lyon indeed he is, but this Lyon is ſtill in chaines, and (which is the ſtay and comfort of Gods child) the p. 70end of the chaine God ſtill keepes in his owne hand, to let him looſe, or to reſtraine him at his will. And if this be ſo (as certainly it is) this may be thy comfort, and ſtay too, That God will never permit him to moleſt and trouble thee further then he ſeeth it expedient for his glory, and thine everlaſting good.

4. And laſtly, know this alſo for thy The fourth Comfort.comfort, that whatſoever paſſeth from thee in this time of thy extremity, whether it be irreligious geſture, or prophane and ſinfull ſpeech, thou art but a meere patient in it; they be the Devils ſinnes, and not thine, and he muſt anſwer unto God for them. And therfore comfort thy ſelf in thy God, & be not overmuch diſmayed at this thy preſent diſtreſſe; for though it afford cauſe of pity from others, and of ſorrow in thy ſelfe, yet of deſpaire of Gods love towards thee, it affords no cauſe at all.

But it may be Satan doth not ſo much The ſecond Diſtreſſe.trouble and moleſt thee in body, as he doth in minde, by ſuggeſting unto thee ſinfull temptations.

If this be thy caſe, know this for thy comfort,

1. That the ſinfull temptations to which The firſt Comfort.the Devil ſhall tempt any of Gods children, are not ſignes of Gods hatred, but of the Devils; for Chriſt himſelf was thus tempted, p. 71Math. 4. 3, &c. Heb. 4. 15.Matt 4:3Heb 4:15and yet was ſtill Gods beloved Senne, in whom Math. 3. 17. & 17. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 17.Matt 3:17Matt 17:52 Pet 1:17he was well pleaſed.

2. Such ſinfull temptations to the child of God, are certaine evidences to his ſoule, that he is none of Satans: for when the ſtrong Multiplicatio tentationem ſignum eſt quod aliquis de manibus Daemonum evaſerit. Gregor.man armed keepes the houſe, the things that he poſſeſſeth are in ††Luk. 11. 21. 22.Luke 11:21Luke 11:22peace; they neither feele temptation, nor feare diſtreſſe. But when a ſtronger then Satan commeth, even Jeſus Chriſt by his Word, and Spirit, and getteth away this poſſeſſion from him, then begins he to **Quantò diſtrictiùs non exhibet membra ſua, arma iniquitatis peccato, tantò ſtrictiùs hujuſmodi Spiritu quatitur, & pulſatur. Bern. lib. de Conſc. De multip. variet. cogitat. Boltons Inſtruct. ubi ſupra, pag. 557.tempt the diſ-poſſeſſed ſoule of Gods child, and to try if by any meanes, faire or foule, he can bring it backe againe to his antient ſubjection; whilſt the Priſoner lyeth in the Dungeon, loaded with bolts, and tied in chaines, the Keeper ſleepeth ſecurely, becauſe he knoweth he is ſafe: But if his bolts being filed off, and his chains looſed, he have eſcaped out of priſon, then the Jaylour begins to buſtle, and purſueth him ſpeedily with hue and cry. So whilſt ††Ex qua re nobis factus eſt adverſarius Diabolus, niſi ex hac quia videt liberòs quos videbat ante captivos. Auguſt. de Symbol. ad Catechum. lib. 2. c. 1.Satan holdeth us impriſoned in the darke Dungeon of ignorance, loaded and tied with the heavy bolts and chaines of ſinne, he is ſecure, and quiet: But if our Saviour by his Ambaſſadours in the preaching of the Word, doe once looſen and unburden us of theſe chaines and bolts, and by the light of his Spirit doe ſo illuminate the eies of p. 72our underſtanding, that we ſee the way ou…redge… of Satans Dungeon of ignorance, and ſo eſcape out of his captivity: then he rageth and purſueth us with his temptations, that See Touchſtone for a Chriſtian, pag. 81.ſo either he may bring us backe againe into our former bondage, or elſe deſtroy us if we make reſiſtance.

Againe, when the dore is open, and there is free ingreſſe and egreſſe, we know there is no knocking: but if the dore be once ſhut, then ſtill one or other is ever rapping and bounſing. So it is here, the wicked have the dores of their hearts ſet wide open to Satan, and therefore he rappes not there by temptations: but the godly having the dores of their hearts ſhut up, and faſt barred againſt him, they are ſeldome free from them.

Let it not diſmay thee then that thou art thus tempted, but rather rejoyce, and take comfort, that thou art ſo, becauſe this gives thee good aſſurance that thou art come ou…redge… of Satans kingdome, and doeſt belong unto God: and can God hate any? or not love any that are his?

3. Remember this for thy comfort, that all temptations are not ††Dyke of Chriſts temptation, p. 219. Wilſon in his helps to faith, pag. 150.ſinnes in the tempted; for then Chriſt Jeſus himſelfe could not have beene (as the **Heb. 4. 15.Heb 4:15Scripture ſaith he was) free from ſinne, ſeeing he was not free from ††See Math. 4. 6. 9.Matt 4:6Matt 4:9ſuch temptations. Nay this is a ſure p. 73ground in Divinitie, That no more of Satans ſinfull temptations become ſinnes in us, then we doe ††Non eſt peccatum ſine conſenſu mentis. Auguſt. Epiſt. 142. Gerſon. de diver. Tempt.like, love and approve of: Without this I confeſſe they may be our **See Perkins Caſes of Conſcience, lib. 1. cap. 10. ſect. 2. Downams Warfare, part 1. lib. 3. cap. 11. Gerſon. de Remedio contra puſillan. Alſted. Theolog. caſ. cap. 24.croſſes, but our ſinnes they are not; nay, they are Satans, God ſo accounts of them; and for them muſt he, and not we, be accountable unto God.

4. And laſtly, let not this be forgotten, that all Satans temptations, whether they be temptations for ſinne paſt, or temptations to ſinne to come, are all through the wiſe diſpoſing ††Fit enim mira divinae bonitatis diſpenſatione, ut unde malignus hoſtis cor tentat, ut interimat, inde miſericors Deus boc erudiat ut vivat. Greg. Mor. l. 2.providence of Almighty God, made to turne to the **See B. B. Cowpers Works in fol. pag. 143. col. 1. b. &c.good of Gods child. For who would not reaſon thus with himſelfe, If mine enemy, Satan, doth thus diſquiet my minde with inward terrours, with thoſe ſinnes which fooliſhly I did by his entiſement; why ſhall I hearken to him hereafter any more, and ſo increaſe the matter of my trouble? For what have I of all the ſinnes wherein I tooke pleaſure, but onelyonly ††Rom. 6. 21.Rom 6:21terrour and ſhame? And can I expect any better fruit from this forbidden tree hereafter? Oh what a faithleſſe traitor is Satan? He entiſeth man unto ſinne; and when he hath done it, he is the firſt Accuſer and Troubler of him for it. Stoppe thine eare p. 74therefore (O my ſoule) againſt the voyce of this deceitfull Charmer.

And as for the latter kinde of temptations, are they not all in Gods child ſo many ſtrong provocations, ſpurring him forward to the throne of grace? So many Schoolmaſters, to teach him humilitie? I am ſure Luther was wont to ſay, that Temptation, Meditation, and Prayer, were the three Maſters, under whom he profited moſt: And I doubt not but every one of Gods children doth or may experimentally finde the ſame true in himſelfe.

I know this is farre from the Devils purpoſe, when he tempteth us unto ſinne; but thus doeth our good God evermore order and diſpoſe of it for the good of his child. And therefore the Devil in this caſe may not be unfitly compared unto that ††Phereo Jaſoni profuit hoſtis qui gladio vomicam ejus aperuit, quam ſanare medici non poterant. See Mr. Charles Richardſon of Peters Repentance, pag. 49.Combatant of whom we reade, who ranne his ſword into his Adverſaries body, thinking thereby to have killed him: but Gods providence ſecretly guiding his hand, he opened an Impoſtume, which no Phyſicians could heale; and ſo thinking to kill him, he preſerved his life. So the Devil in great rage thruſteth ſore at Gods children, ſeeking to wound them to death by ſome notorious fallyet by the gracious deſpenſation of God, he is ſo far from hurting thee, as that by this meanes he launceth and letteth out p. 75their Ʋlcers of privy pride, and overweening of themſelves, which otherwaies might prove their deſtruction.

SECT. XVI.

A Fourth occaſion of preſent diſtreſſe to the child of God, whereby he is occaſioned to thinke that God doth not love him, is want of audience in Prayer. For thus The Diſtreſſe.he reaſoneth, If God did love me, then certainly would he heare my prayers, and grant me the requeſts which I have ſo often made unto him: But alas, I finde no ſuch comfort by any of my prayers; nay, inſtead of the bleſſings which I have ſo often, and ſo earneſtly begged at the hands of God, I finde the cleane contrary evils either ſtill continued, or newly, and that in a greater meaſure inflicted on me. And can God love any with whom he thus dealeth? No, no, he cannot.

If this be thy caſe, know this for thy comfort,

1. That a man may be the deare child The Comforts.of God, and yet not preſently heard of God in prayer. For was not Job ſuch a one, and yet doth not he complaine, that God did not heare him, when he did cry unto him? Job 30. 20.Job 30:20Was not David ſuch a one, and doth not p. 76he complaine after the like manner? O my God (ſaith he) I cry by day, but thou heareſt Pſal. 22. 3.Ps 22:3not; and by night, but have no audience. And are there not others of Gods deare children, See Hab. 1. 2. Lam. 3. 44. & 3. 8. Pſal. 80. 4.Hab 1:2Lam 3:44Lam 3:8Ps 80:4mentioned in the Scriptures, which have uttered the like complaints? Therefore thou ſeeſt thy caſe is not ſingular, others have wanted audience, as well as thy ſelfe, in their prayers unto God, and have beene never the leſſe beloved of him; and therefore why mayſt not thou be ſo too?

2. Know this alſo for thy comfort, that God may ††See Mr. Tbomas Goodwins Returne of Prayers. Dr. Preſtons Saints daily exerciſe.have heard thy prayers, and have granted thee thy requeſts, and yet thou mayſt not know ſo much for the preſent. For may not thy caſe be as **Dan. 9. 23. & 21.Dan 9:23Dan 9:21Daniels was, whoſe prayer was heard, and his requeſts granted at the very beginning of his ſupplications; and yet he knew not ſo much, till afterwards he was informed of it by the Angel, that was ſent unto him from God for that very purpurpoſe?

3. Know this alſo, that God may have heard thy prayer, though he have not granted thee the ſame thing that thou haſt prayed unto him for. For ††See M. Schudders Chriſtians daily walke, pag. 578. M. Gatakers Serm. on Pſal. 13. 1. pag. 25. & 59. Dr. Playfaires Serm. on Pſal. 6. 6. p. 55, &c. Dr. Mountague, of Invocation, pag. 47, & 52.Ps 13:1Ps 6:6God is ſaid in Scripture to heare the prayers of his children two manner of waies; ſometimes by giving them the very thing they have asked; and ſometimes p. 77againe, by giving them ſomething anſwerable thereunto, when he granteth not the thing it ſelfe. Examples of the former are every where in Scripture: And of the latter, we have the examples of Saint Paul, 2 Corinth. 12. 8, & 9. Heb. 5. 7. compared with Luk. 22. 42, & 43.2 Cor 12:82 Cor 12:9Heb 5:7Luke 22:42Luke 22:43and of our Saviour Chriſt himſelfe; both which had their prayers heard, and yet neither of them had that granted him which in prayer he deſired. Paul deſired to have that Meſſenger of Satan, which did ſo buffet him, to be taken from him: God ††Deus & denegans exaudit, & exaudiens denegat: tribuens aufert, non tribuens donat. Simon Caſſ. in Evangel. lib. 5. c. 24.heard his prayer, but yet granted him not that; but inſtead thereof, grace ſufficient to be able to withſtand the temptation of it. So our Saviour Chriſt prayed to be delivered from that Cup of his paſſion; and herein God heard him too, but yet granted him not that; but inſtead thereof, ſtrength and power, whereby he was enabled to overcome the wofull pangs of that death. And may not God have thus heard thee, though thou, as yet, take no notice of it? Certainly he may. It may be thou haſt contentment granted thee inſtead of health and wealth; patience inſtead of peace; grace to ſupport inſtead of deliverance; or if none of theſe, yet grace to continue ſtill thy prayers unto God; which of Gods child ought to be held a recompence ſufficient for all his prayers, if he ſhould never receive other.

p. 784. This would alſo be conſidered, that it may be the things thou haſt ſo long prayed for, will not be for thy weale, but rather for thy hurt; and God foreſeeing this, hath with-held them from thee of purpoſe that thou mighteſt not be hurt by them. And if he have done ſo, canſt thou doubt whether he doth love thee? Will a loving and tender See Dr. Slatter in 1 Theſſ. 5. pag. 516. &c.1 Thess 5hearted Father give his little child a knife, though he cry never ſo eagerly for it? And doth not the very denying of ſuch a thing argue **Aliquando Sancti non recipiendo quod petunt magis exaudiuntur, quàm exaudirentur ſi illud reciperent. Euſeb. Emiſ. Homil. in Litaniis majoribus, pag. 138. Aut dabit quod petimus, aut quod noverit eſſe utilius. Bern. Serm. 5. in quadrageſ.great love in the Father towards his child, then the giving of it unto him would doe? Surely it doth: And this, it may be, is thy caſe; Thou wouldſt have riches, honours, libertie, health, peace, and ſuch like things; but God foreſeeth that thou wouldſt (if thou hadſt theſe) uſe them to his diſhonour, or to thine owne, or others hurt; and therefore he denieth them unto thee: And if ſo bleſſe the Lord for it, and magnifie him for his love, and doubt no more of it.

5. And laſtly, this alſo ought to be conſidered, that there is a great deale of difference betwixt the Lords delaying, and his denying of his child that which may be for his good; for the Lord for a time delayes that, which he will not ſtill deny; and that for theſe reaſons, or other beſt knowne to himſelfe, and yet all out of love to his child.

p. 79Sometimes he doth it, the more to ſtirre us up, to be the more instant, and earneſt in **Tardiùs dando quod petimus, inſtantiam nobis orationis indicit. Chryſoſt. Hom. 10. in Math. Beneficium diſtulit, ut deſiderium accenderet. Stell. in Luk. 24.Luke 24Prayer. It may be he ſeeth that we pray not with that feeling of wants, or fervency of deſire that is convenient; and therefore delayeth to give, till he ſee us more ſenſible of the one, and more fervent in the other.

Sometimes he doth it, the more to make us in love with, and the better to eſteeme of the gifts and bleſſings which we would receive from him. ††Citò data vileſcunt, deſiderata diu, dulciùs obtinentur. Aug. Merx ultronea putet. Hieron. ad Demetr.Things eaſily, or quickly gotten, are ſoone forgotten; whereas things long deſired, and hardly obtained, are the more ſet by when we have them.

Sometimes againe it may be he doth it, the rather to try our faith, our patience, or ſome other of his graces in us, to ſee what we would do; **See BB. King on Jon. p. 588.what means we would uſe; whether we would ſeeke to any other for helpe, and comfort, in caſe he ſhould not ſo ſuddainly helpe, and comfort us as we deſire.

It may be for ſome one of theſe; it may be for ſome other reaſons beſt knowne to the Lord himſelfe, he delayeth to grant that, which we have ſo long deſired. Which way ſoever it is, this may be our comfort, if wee receive not the thing wee crave ſo ſoone as we have deſired it, yet p. 80have it we ſhall, if God ſee it expedient for his glory, and our good; or ſomething in lie…redge… of it, that ſhall be better for us, when God thinkes it good to give it us.

SECT. XVII.

A Fift occaſion of preſent diſtreſſe to The Diſtreſſe.the child of God, is the ſmart of outward and inward afflictions; and this as much as any of the former, doth make him to doubt whether God doe indeed love him.

But if this be thy caſe, thou muſt know The Comfort.this for thy comfort, That a man may be the deare **Deus unicum habet Filium ſine peccato, nullum ſine flagello. Auguſt.child of God, and highly beloved and reſpected of him, though he be here in this world never ſo much outwardly or inwardly afflicted.

And this doth appeare plainly, both by expreſſe teſtimonies, and evident examples of Scripture: Expreſſe teſtimonies we have theſe.

Firſt, Solomon uſeth this argument to Prov. 3. 11, 12.Prov 3:11Prov 3:12perſwade us with patience to beare the chaſtening of the Lord, and not to be grieved with his correction, becauſe He correcteth him whom he loveth, even as the Father doth the child in whom he delighteth. And the Apoſtle ſaith even the ſame, My Sonne p. 81Heb. 12. 5, 6.Heb 12:5Heb 12:6(ſaith he) deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the Lord, neither faint thou when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every Sonne whom he receiveth. Nay the Lord himſelfe avoucheth Revel. 3. 12.Rev 3:12even the ſame, As many (ſaith he) as I love, I rebuke and chaſten.

And hereof we have not a few examples in Scripture. For who was more in Gods favour then Abraham, the Father of the Eſay 41. 8. Jam. 2. 23. Gen. 12. 1:Isa 41:8Jas 2:23Gen 12:1faithfull? And yet how many afflictions did he undergoe? As in leaving his Country, and Kinred, to goe to live amongſt an unknowne and barbarous people; in the fear Gen. 12. 11, 12. & 20. 11. Gen. 22. 1. &c.Gen 12:11Gen 12:12Gen 20:11Gen 22:1of his life for his Wife Sarah; in the offering up of his Sonne; in the unkindneſſe and diſ-agreement of his Nephew Lot; not Gen. 13. 8.Gen 13:8to inſtance in more. Againe, who was more deare unto God then Jacob? for did he not ſay of him before he was borne, Jacob Mal. 1. 2. Rom. 9. 13.Mal 1:2Rom 9:13have I loved? And yet ſo many were his afflictions, that he affirmed his daies to have Gen. 47. 9.Gen 47:9beene few and evill.

But the examples of Job and David may ſerve in ſtead of all other. For whom doe we reade of in all the Scripture (excepting onelyonly the Prince of our ſalvation, Jeſus Heb. 2. 10.Heb 2:10Chriſt himſelfe, who was conſecrated through afflictions) that ever underwent more outward and inward afflictions both, then they two did? And ſhall we ſay, that God p. 82did not love them, when he did thus afflict them? No, no, we cannot. The very end and iſſue which the Scriptures record of theſe their afflictions, doth prove the contrary. Touching the afflictions of Job, the end of them was twice as full of comfort, as the beginning was of diſ-comfort; as appeares both by that which Saint James Jam. 5. 11.Jas 5:11ſaith of it, and that which is ſet downe in the laſt Chapter of the Booke of Job. And Job. 42. 11, &c.Job 42:11as for the afflictions of David, the end of them was ſo comfortable, that himſelfe not onelyonly profeſſeth, It was good for him that he Pſal. 119. 71.Ps 119:71had beene thus afflicted: but alſo calleth upon others to take notice thereof with him, Come (ſaith he) and I will ſhew you what the Pſal. 66. 16.Ps 66:16Lord hath done for my ſoule. Neither of which ends could have betided them, if the Lord had not loved them. And therefore comfort thy ſelfe in thy God, whoſoever thou art, that art thus afflicted; for by theſe teſtimonies, and examples of Scripture (beſides many more that might be alleaged) thou ſeeſt, that a man may be as grievouſly afflicted every way as thou haſt beene, and yet be the deare child of God, and one that is beloved of him.

p. 83SECT. XVIII.

BUt it may be, this is not thy caſe, it is The Diſtreſſenot ſo much the meaſure of thy preſently-felt afflictions that doth make thee to doubt of Gods love towards thee, as thy long continuance under the Croſſe.

And if this be thy caſe, know this for The Comforts.thy comfort,

1. That long continuance under the croſſe; may betide the beſt of Gods children, and thoſe whom he loveth moſt dearly. For were not the Iſraelites of old more dearly (a)(a)Pſal. 135. 4.Ps 135:4beloved of God, then any Nation in the world beſides? And were not they for all this in the land of Egypt, in the (b)(b)Exod. 20. 2.Exod 20:2houſe of bondage, under great (c)(c)Exod. 3. 7.Exod 3:7miſery and affliction for the ſpace of (d)(d)Gen. 15. 13.Gen 15:13foure hundred yeares together? Were not the ſame people afterwards carried away captives …ledge…nto Babylon, where they lived in as great miſery for (e)(e)Jer. 25. 11.Jer 25:11ſeventy yeares more? Againe. …ledge… was not this the caſe (f)(f)Pſal. 105. 18, 19.Ps 105:18Ps 105:19of Joſeph? (g)(g)Pſal. 13. 1, 2.Ps 13:1Ps 13:2Of David? (h)(h)Hab. 1. 2. & 2. 3.Hab 1:2Hab 2:3Of Habakkuk? And of ſundry others that we reade of in the Scriptures? All which no doubt God loved dearly, and …ledge…et continued them under the croſſe for a …ledge…ong time together. And (i)(i)Multi humi…ledge…iantur, & humiles non ſunt. Bern. in Cant. 34. Plectimur à Deo, nec …ledge…ectimur tamen; corripimur, ſcd non corrigimur. Salv. de provident. l. 5.therefore why p. 84may not this be thy caſe too, though for the preſent thou canſt find neither end, nor eaſe of theſe thy ſo long continued afflictions?

2. Thou muſt conſider, that God ever in continuing theſe thy afflictions upon thee may more dearly love thee, then if he ſhoul…redge… take them ſpeedily away.

Perhaps he ſeeth that thou art not ye…redge… ſufficiently humbled: And will a Father tha…redge… loves his child, lay aſide the rodde till h…redge… have brought his ſtubborne and diſobedie…redge… Sonne to his knees? Perhaps he ſeeth th…redge… there is a great deale of proud fleſh yet i…redge… thine heart: And will a skilfull and lovin…redge… **Medicus crudelis eſt, qui exaudit hominem, & parcit vulneri, & putredini. Aug. in Pſal. 34. & in Pſal. 90. & in Pſal. 98. & in Pſal. 130. & in 1 Joh. 6. & alibi.Ps 34Ps 90Ps 98Ps 130Chirurgion take away his Corraſives from the wound of his Patient, as long as th…redge… proud fleſh remaineth? Perhaps he eſpiet…redge… in thee a great deale of droſſe, not yet refined, and purged off: And can we bla…redge… for want of love to his gold, that Goldſmi…redge… that will ſuffer his gold to remaine in th…redge… fire till ††Vide Chryſoſt. ad popul. Antioch. 4. de patientia.the droſſe be all off? Or if no…redge… of theſe, it may be he foreſeeth, that if th…redge… rodde were once off thy back, thou would to thy old ſinfull courſes againe; and therefore for his greater glory, and thy great…redge… good, he thinketh it fitteſt to keep thee …redge… under the laſh: For ſome are of that diſp…redge… ſition, that they are never well affected, …redge… when afflicted; And it may be this is t…redge… caſe: Which way ſoever it be, reſolve …redge… p. 85this, either God (if thou wilt be content to waite his leiſure) will, in his good time, ſet Eſay 40. 31. & 49. 23. & 64. 4. Hab. 2. 3.Isa 40:31Isa 49:23Isa 64:4Hab 2:3an end to theſe thy croſſes here; or, if he ſee not that expedient, he will crowne thee with glory and immortality in the world to come, which he knoweth will be better for thee.

SECT. XIX.

ANd thus farre touching thoſe diſtreſſes of Gods children, which, reſpecting the time preſent, doe ariſe from a conceited want of love in God. The other diſtreſſes reſpecting the time preſent, are thoſe which doe ariſe from a conceited want of grace in themſelves.

And hence commonly ariſeth a three-fold The Diſtreſſes.diſtreſſe.

The firſt is for want of grace it ſelfe.

The ſecond is for want of ſome certaine meaſure of grace.

And the third is for want of ſincerity in that grace which they conceit they have.

If the firſt of theſe be the cauſe of thy The Comforts.preſent diſtreſſe, then know this for thy comfort,

1. That there is a great differenee betwixt the being of grace, and the ſenſible working of it; for ††Vide Spin. de juſtit. Chriſti.grace may be where it doth not ſenſibly worke.

p. 86There may be **See P. Baine Triall of a Chriſtians ſtate, pag. 4. Taffin. markes of Gods children, cap. 4.life in the root of a tree, though in the winter ſeaſon the ſame be without leafe and fruit: In a mans body there may be life, although for the preſent, being in a ſwound, he doth neither move nor breathe. And in a dry ſummer there may be a ſecret ſpring of a well in the earth, though not ſo much as a droppe of water doe flow from it: So there may be in thee at this time, grace, though now, for the preſent, it doe not by any outward act diſcover it ſelfe to thee, or any other.

2. Thou muſt know, that there is alſo a great deale of difference betwixt a mans having of grace, and a mans being aware that he hath it: So that a man may have grace even then, when he ſtandeth moſt peremptorily to it, that he hath none at all. Phyſicians report of men ſubject to melancholly paſſions, that ſome have ††See Mr. Burtons Melanch. pag. 169.thought themſelves dead, and could not be perſwaded otherwaies; when as yet all that have beheld them, have knowne them to be living: And ſuch like ſpirituall perturbations are many times in the minds of Gods children in the time of ſpirituall diſtreſſe; ſo thereupon they will conclude directly of themſelves, that they have no grace at all; and they that come to talke with them, and to comfort them, cannot beate them from that conceite, although they ſee in them p. 87many, and thoſe apparent evidences of grace, and gracious goodneſſe. And it may be, this is thy caſe.

But ſuppoſe, 3. that thou hadſt indeed neither faith, nor repentance, nor any other ſaving grace: yet finding that thou **See Perkins in his Graine of Muſtard ſeed, Cor. 3. Downams Warfare, part 1. cap. 42. Dyke of Repent. cap. 15. Byfield in Col. cap. 1. v. 4. Crooke, Serm. 3. Greenham, pag. 144.Col 1:4ſeeſt and feeleſt in thy ſelfe the want of theſe, art grieved for it, doeſt wiſh and deſire it might be otherwaies: this may be thy comfort, that even this, in Gods account and acceptation, is as much as if thou hadſt theſe graces themſelves.

A child of God in the time of ſpirituall diſtreſſe, cannot be made to believe, that he doth believe; and yet even then he will tell you, that he doeth wiſh he could believe, that he is grieved for his unbeliefe, &c.

A child of God in the time of ſpirituall diſtreſſe, cannot be made to believe that he is ††Ad dolorem contritionis pertinet etiam hoc, dolere quòd non poſſumus de peccato ſatis dolere. Chemnit. Exam. de Contrit. Perkins Caſes of Conſc. lib. 1. cap. 5. Sect. 2. caſe 2. Chamier. panſtrat. tom. 3. de ſatisfact. propriis, lib. 23. cap. 21. Refert confeſſorem dixiſſe matri Gratiani, Lombardi, & Comeſtoris, Si non habes tantum dolorem, quantum exigit tam horrendum ſcelus, de boc tamen doleas, quod non potes dolere.ſorry, and grieved as he ſhould be, for his ſinnes; and yet even here he will tell you, that he is ſorry and grieved, becauſe he can be no more ſorry and grieved.

A child of God in the time of ſpirituall diſtreſſe, cannot be made to believe that he can pray; and yet even then you ſhall hear come from him, ſobbes, and ſighes, and p. 88groanes; yea, even prayers with teares fo…redge… the grace of praying.

And if either of theſe be thy caſe, thi…redge… thou muſt know for thy comfort, that ever…redge… ſuch complaint and griefe for want of theſ…redge… and the like graces, is a ſure argument, and infallible teſtimony of the preſence of that which yet thou complaineſt of, and grieve…redge… for, as if it were not in thee. For no ma…redge… but a Believer can complaine of the lack…redge… of faith; and the want of grace cannot b…redge… taken notice of without grace.

But ſuppoſe, 4. that thou didſt not onelyonly ſee and feele in thy ſelfe the want of theſe graces, but didſt alſo inſtead of them ſenſibly perceive the contrary corruptions; a…redge… inſtead of faith, infidelity; inſtead of griefe and ſorrow for ſinne, obſtinacy and obdurate hardneſſe, and the like. Yet this would have thee to know for thy comfort, **Corruptions felt, hated, and ſtriven againſt, are no markes that we are not the Lords, but the contrary. See Mr. Rogers of Dedham, Doctrine of Faith, cap. 2. pag. 177.That if thou doeſt (to the utmoſt of thy power) ſtrive againſt theſe thy corruptions which thou feeleſt, this is ſo farre from being an evidence of the want of theſe graces, as that it may on the contrary moſt certainly aſſure thee that thou haſt them. For even the very feelings, and ſtrivings againſt unbeliefe in the child of God, are the beginnings of faith; and the feeling and bewailing of hardneſſe of heart, is the ſeed of godly ſorrow.

p. 89SECT. XX.

A Second thing that troubleth the Child of God labouring under the ſenſe of want of Grace, is not ſo much the fear of wanting Grace it ſelfe, as of wanting ſuch, or ſuch a meaſure of Grace, as he formerly had, or which he thinketh Gods Word doth oblige him to have.

Touching the former, thus have I heard The Diſtreſſe.ſome Diſtreſſed Soules to ſay: There was a time when I felt that true of my ſelfe, which Job ſo comfortably profeſſeth of himſelfe, That I preferred the words of the Lords mouth before mine appointed food. I have known the day when I could with earneſtneſſe of affection, and feeling of wants pour out my Soul unto God. I could once have wept heartily for my ſinnes, &c. But now alas (and with teares he uttereth it) I can find none of all theſe things in my ſelfe, and therefore what can I think, but that all this which I have formerly felt, is other then the Hypocrites vaniſhing flaſhes?

If this be thy caſe, know this for thy The Comfort.Comfort. Firſt, that there may be in the beſt of Gods Children decayes of Grace in part, and for a time. For of the Church of ††Revel. 2. 4.Rev 2:4Epheſus it is ſaid, That ſhe was fallen p. 90from her firſt love; and yet retained the eſteeme of a Church, and that even with her Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And of the Philippians the **Phil. 4. 10.Phil 4:10Apoſtle ſaith, That their care did begin to ſpring againe; which, what elſe can it argue, but that this their care had had his fall, and winter of decay? And of the beſt of Gods Saints living, who is there, that doth alwayes hear with equall attention, reverence, and cheerfulneſſe; or pray with like earneſtneſſe of deſire; feeling of wants, and aſſurance to be heard? Or doth doe any thing in Gods Service at all times, as at ſome times? Secondly, thou muſt alſo know, that there is no decay of Grace in Gods Child ſo great, but by Gods bleſſing in the uſe of the meanes ſanctified to that end, may be repaired againe, and reſtored to its wonted perfection. The Church of Epheſus formerly mentioned, was fallen from her firſt love; yet is ſhe adviſed by ††Revel. 2. 5.Rev 2:5Chriſt, To remember from whence ſhe is fallen, to repent, and to doe her firſt workes again. The Church of **Revel. 3. 2.Rev 3:2Sardis likewiſe was ſo farre decayed in reſpect of her former eſtate of Grace, as that all her firſt Graces were even now ready to die: and yet is ſhe exhorted ſtill to ſtrengthen that which remaines, yea, though it be ready to die. And doth Chriſt exhort to that (thinkeſt thou) which he will not have, or p. 91may not be done? Oh farre be this from thee, or any other, to think!

Well then, if this be thy caſe, and thou findeſt thy ſelf clean alter'd from what thou formerly haſt been, I will not deny but that thou haſt juſt cauſe of Sorrow, but of Deſpaire thou haſt no cauſe at all; for loe, there is yet a poſſibility for thee to ſtrengthen that which remaines, and is ready to die: there is yet a ſpark left within thee, which being ſtirred up **foreign. 2 Tim. 1. 62 Tim 1:6and blown, may be brought to ſuch a meaſure of Holy Heat, as may reſtore thee again to thy wonted Fervency.

And therefore, when this dull fit doth at any time come upon thee, doe not (as the Devill would have thee) conclude from hence, That there is no help for thee in thy God, but rather doe as ††Pſal. 51. 10, 11, 12.Ps 51:10Ps 51:11Ps 51:12David did: Goe unto God, and pray unto him to quicken thee, and to put new life of Grace into thy Soul, and to reſtore unto thee the wonted joy of thy Salvation: uſing, together with it, all other meanes ſanctified by God to that end; and amongſt the reſt eſpecially, a more carefull, and conſcionable attendance on the Publique Miniſtery of the Word.

p. 92SECT. XXI.

BUt it may be thou art not ſo much The Diſtreſſe.troubled at the want of that meaſure of Grace which thou formerly haſt had, as at the want of that meaſure of Grace which thou doſt think that Gods Word obligeth thee to have. Thou thinkeſt perhaps, that thy Faith is not ſo ſtrong, thy Love not ſo affectionate, thy Obedience not ſo entire; no Grace in thee ſuch, and ſo great as it ſhould be, and therefore canſt not perſwade thy ſelfe that thou art one of Gods Choſen, ſeeing ſo little a meaſure of Grace appeareth to be in thee.

If this be thy caſe, thou muſt know this The Comfort.for thy Comfort. 1. That the leaſt meaſure of Grace, is as truly Grace as the greateſt. Perhaps another Man may have a ſtronger Faith then thou haſt, yet thou mayſt have as true a Faith as his: and ſo of all other Graces: for diverſity of Degrees in the quantity of a thing doth not take away, & annihilate the Exiſtence of Being thereof. A ſmall drop of Water is as well, and as truly Water, as the whole Ocean. A little ſpark is as well, and as truly Fire, both in reſpect of ſubſtance, and quality, as the greateſt Flame. And a little Man, is as truly a Man, p. 93as the greateſt Gyant. And ſo is it with Grace, the ſmalleſt meaſure thereof that Gods Child hath, or may have, is as truly Grace as the greateſt.

2. Thou muſt know that the leaſt meaſure of Grace which Gods Child hath, or may have, being in ſincerity, findes acceptation with God **See Doctor Slaters Serm. on Prov. 18. 14. Non ex gradu aut menſura fidei vel poenitentiae dependet juſtificatio, ſed ex veritate. Davenant. in Coloſ. pag. 21.Prov 18:14: for he meaſureth the Graces of his Children not by quantity but by quality, not by muchneſſe, but by ſincerity. He will not enquire how great, or how little, but how ſincere thoſe Graces are which are in his Children. Faith, if it be (a)(a)1 Tim. 1. 5.1 Tim 1:5unfaigned, though it be but as a grain of muſtard-ſeed: Obedience likewiſe, though it be mingled with many weakneſſes, yet if it be (c)(c)Rom. 6. 17.Rom 6:17hearty, hath promiſe (b) Mat. 17. 20Matt 17:20of gracious acceptation. It is now under the Goſpell, as it was in the Sacrifices under the Law, where not the price, and value of the gift, but the ability, and affection of the offerer was reſpected. For (d)(d)Nec intuetur Deus quantum quilibet valeat, ſed quantum velit, & quicquid vis & non potes, Deus factum computat. Aug.God reſpecteth not ſo much what we can doe, as what we would doe, and that which we would performe, and cannot, he eſteemeth it as if it were performed. And ſo much the Apoſtle witneſſeth in a caſe not much unlike; If there be firſt (e)(e)2 Cor. 8. 12.2 Cor 8:12(ſaith he) a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that a man hath not.

3. Thou muſt alſo know this, that the p. 94ſmalleſt beginnings of Grace, are (f)(f)Mat. 25. 29Matt 25:29pledges, and aſſurances of a greater meaſure, where there is thankfull acceptance, and conſcionable uſe of thoſe already received to the glory of the Beſtower.

4. And laſtly, let not this be forgotten, that what thou wanteſt in reſpect of any meaſure of Grace in thy ſelfe, thou haſt it ſupplyed in Chriſt, thine Head (g)(g)Joh. 1. 16.John 1:16: For of his fulneſſe we all receive, and that Grace for Grace: And my God (ſaith (h)(h)Phil. 4. 19.Phil 4:19Saint Paul) ſhall fulfil all your neceſſities through his riches with glory in Jeſus Chriſt. Or if this were not ſupplyed in him, yet in him it is ſo fully puniſhed, as that to thee which art (i)(i)Rom. 8. 1. 33. 34.Rom 8:1Rom 8:33Rom 8:34in him, it ſhall never be imputed.

SECT. XXII.

THe third and laſt thing that troubleth the Child of God, labouring under the ſenſe of the want of Grace, is a fear, and jealouſie, that in the Graces which he hath, he wanteth ſincerity.

For thus, ſome of them in the time of Spirituall Diſtreſſe uſe to ſay; True it is, that heretofore I have performed many excellent things ſavouring of Grace; but what will all theſe profit me, conſidering that in them all, I have played the groſſe p. 95**See Doctor Sclaters Serm. on Pro. 18. 14. pag. 21. &c. See Mr. Boltons Inſtruct. ubi ſupra. pag. 473.Prov 18:14Hypocrite; for my Conſcience (which is to me in ſtead of a thouſand witneſſes) doth now tell me, that either for fear, or faſhion, or vain-glory, or hope of temporall benefit; or for ſome other carnall reſpect, I have performed them all. And it may be this is thy caſe.

If it be, this thou mayſt know for The Comfort.thy Comfort; that ſuppoſe thou hadſt been ſo groſſe an Hypocrite in the performance of all theſe, as thou doſt conceit, and imagine; yet Hypocriſie, as long as it is felt, and grieved for, and is by preſent purpoſe of heart, and future endeavour of life, intended to be ſtriven againſt, and reſiſted, is no more prejudiciall to the Salvation of Gods Child, then is any other ſinne which he hath committed. I deny not but that Hell fire is the ††Mat. 24. 51.Matt 24:51portion of Hypocrites, but it is of thoſe Hypocrites onelyonly which live, and die Hypocrites without Repentance, and of no other. And therefore, if heretofore thou haſt been ſuch a one, call now upon God for mercy for it, pray to him for grace to be more ſincere hereafter; and withall, uſe the **See Mr. Dyke of the deceitfullneſſe of the Heart. pag. 380. Doctor Downā on Pſa. 15. pag. 26 & 53. &c. M. Byfield on 1 Pet. 2. pag. 29 M. Hierons Works. vol. 2. pag. 160. &c. M. Harris on Mat. 5. pag. 295. M. Schudders Dayly Walk. pag. 373.Ps 151 Pet 2Matt 5means of ſincerity which Gods Word hath ſet down for that end, and then thou needſt not doubt, but that this thine Hypocriſie ſhall p. 96be forgiven thee, how foul, and abominable ſoever it hath been in the eyes of God, or of thine owne Conſcience. And thus far alſo touching thoſe Diſtreſſes of Gods Children which reſpect the time preſent. Now in the laſt place follow thoſe which reſpect the time to come.

SECT. XXIII.

ANd all theſe we may referre to one generall, and common head, and that is a fear ariſing in the hearts of Gods Children leſt they ſhould not (conſidering their own weakneſſe, and their Adverſaries great ſtrength) be able to perſevere, and hold out unto the end, without which they know there is no hope of Salvation. And if this be that which troubleth thee, then know thou this for thy Comfort. That he, which is (a)(a)See Maſter Hookers Serm. in Hab. 1. 4. pag. 6. 7. &c. Mr. Hierons Workes. vol. 1. pag. 365. & 626.Hab 1:4once the Child of God, and in the eſtate of Grace, though he may fall fearfully, (as David, Peter, and others of Gods Children have done) yet (b)(b)Jer. 8. 4.Jer 8:4fall totally, or finally, from Grace he cannot.

And that this is ſo, it may plainly appear by that which we read to this purpoſe in the Scriptures. For therein we find, firſt, touching God, that he will never totally, p. 97or finally, withdraw his Grace from his Child, which he hath once given him: For with him there is no (c)(c)Jam. 1. 17.Jas 1:17ſhadow of turning. The (d)(d)Eſay 54. 8.Isa 54:8mercy wherewith he hath compaſſion on his Elect, is like himſelf, Everlaſting, and ſo is his (e)(e)Jer. 31. 3.Jer 31:3Love. Yea, thoſe gifts of his which accompany an effectuall Calling, (f)(f)Rom. 11. 29. foreign.Rom 11:29are without Repentance: that is, they be ſuch, conferring of which he never repenteth him: Nay, he rather (g)(g)Luk. 8. 18.Luke 8:18addes more Grace alwayes to his Children, then takes ought from them.

Secondly, as God will not withdraw his Grace, ſo the Devill cannot extinguiſh it: he will endeavour indeed to doe it, but his power is abridged. For (h)(h)1 Epiſt. John 4. 4.John 4:4greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world. And Chriſt hath promiſed, That (i)(i)Mat. 16. 18.Matt 16:18Hell-gates ſhall never be able to prevaile againſt thoſe that are his.

And thirdly, if we fear our (k)(k)See Doct. Sclatcr on 1 Theſ. 5. pag. 443.1 Thess 5owne weakneſſe, this may be our Comfort, as the ſame Scripture will tel us (l)(l)2 Cor. 12. 9.2 Cor 12:9. 1. That God will perfect his power in our weakneſs, and make us (m)(m)Ibid. ver. 10ſtrong in him when we are weakeſt in our ſelves: at leaſt, he wil not **1 Cor. 10. 131 Cor 10:13ſuffer us to be tempted above that we are able to bear. Or 2. If at any time he ſhould, he will keep us even then by his owne (n)(n)1 Pet. 1. 5.1 Pet 1:5power unto Salvation: and though we ſhould take a fall, yet ſhall we not utterly be p. 98caſt off, for he will not put under (o)(o)Pſal. 37. 24Ps 37:24his hand, and ſtay us.

Againe, here might be conſidered for our further Comfort, that our eſtate now, is better then was (p)(p)See B. B. Lakes Sermons. part 2. pag. 48.Adams in his Creation: for he was left for ſtanding, or falling, to the power of his own will, he had his perſeverance in his own hands, which we have not; but Chriſt hath it for us, who is a ſurer keeper, and will keep both it for us, and us by it unto the end, in deſpight of all his, and our Enemies. For none can take us out (q)(q)Joh. 10. 28.John 10:28of his hands, nor ſeparate us from (r)(r)Rom. 8. 35. 38, 39.Rom 8:35Rom 8:38Rom 8:39his love. And therefore doe not caſt thy ſelfe down any longer with ſuch cauſeleſſe feares of thy finall, and future eſtate, but rather comfort thy ſelf, both in reſpect of theſe, and all other thy Spirituall Diſtreſſes, with ſuch Comforts as God in his Word doth afford thee. And becauſe thou mayſt alwaies have at hand, ſuch places of Scripture whereon to ſtudy, & meditate; I have hereafter following, ſet downe a Catalogue, or ſummary Collection of ſuch Scripture Comforts as may be moſt for thy preſent uſe.

THE END.

THE SICK SOVLES BIBLE.

OR, A Catalogue of Scripture-Comforts, fitted to the ſeverall Diſtreſſes of Gods Afflicted ones, who labour under the ſight of their ſinnes, and the ſenſe of Gods wrath due unto them for the ſame.

ROM. 15. 4.

Whatſoever things are written aforetime, are written for our learning, that we through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope.

LONDON, Printed for RICHARD ROYSTON.

M. DC. L.

p. 101SCripture Comforts exceed all other Comforts in three reſpects.

1. They are more ſolid, becauſe more true.

2. They are more (a)(a)Nulla eſt in humana natura, vel corporis, vel animae paſſio quae medicinam hinc accipere nequeat. Chryſoſt. in Gen. Hom. 29.univerſall.

3. They are more effectuall. See Dr. Sclatter in 1 Theſſal. 4. ver. 18. pag. 348, 349.

And all other Comfort which is ſought with neglect of this Comfort, brings two great evils.

1. It increaſeth griefe, however for a time it ſeems to mitigate it.

2. It leaves a man deſtitute, when he hath moſt need of Comfort. See BB. Cowper in Pſal. 119. ver. 92.

p. 102Pſal. 119. 50. It is my Comfort in mine affliction.

Ibid. ver. 92. Unleſſe thy Law had beene my delight, I had periſhed in mine affliction.

p. 103The Sick Soules Bible.

OR, A Catalogue of Scripture-Comforts, fitted to the ſeverall diſtreſſes of Gods afflicted ones, who labour under the ſight of their ſinnes, and the ſenſe of Gods wrath due unto them for the ſame.

I. DISTRESSE.

That they are none of Gods children, nor belonging to him, becauſe they are thus diſtreſſed.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade theſe places of Scripture,

Eſay 50. 10. Pſal. 88. throughout. Pſal. 6. 3. Pſal. 77. from the 1. v. to the 11. Pſal. 22. 1, 2. Pſal. 31. 9, 10. Pſal. 38. from the 1. v. to the 11. Pſal. 42. 3. Pſal. 69. 2, 3. Pſal. 80. 4, 5. Pſal. 102. 3, 4, 5. Pſal. 109. 22. Eſay 48. 10. p. 104Pſal. 43. 5. Job 1. throughout. Job 2. to the 10. v. Job 6. 4. Job 7. 3, 4, 5. 13, 14, 15. Job 10. 6. 17. Job 13. 24, 26. Job 16. 8, 9, 13, 14, 16. Job 19. 10, 11, 12. Job 30. 16, 17, 20, 21. Prov. 3. 11, 12. Heb. 12. 6, 7, 8. Rev. 3. 19. Eſay 63. 15. Job 5. 15. Job 33. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

II. DISTRESSE.

That they are not Gods children, nor belonging to him, becauſe he permitteth the Devill thus to tempt and trouble them.

FOr Comfort in this Diſtreſſe, reade theſe places of Scripture.

Math. 4. from the 1. v. to the 12. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Luk. 22. 31. 1 Cor. 10. 13. Jam. 1. 12. Gen. 3. 15. Rom. 16. 20. Rev. 2. 10. Epheſ. 6. 12. Rev. 12. 17. Luk. 4. 13.

p. 105III. DISTRESSE.

That they are not Gods children, nor belonging to him, becauſe they have ſuch fearfull thoughts ſuggeſted unto them, as to blaſpheme God, his Word, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, &c. to make away themſelves, or to kill ſome other body.

FOr comfort in this Diſtreſſe, reade theſe places of Scripture, Heb. 4. 15. compared with Math. 4. 6. 9. Job 7. 15.

IV. DISTRESSE.

A feare leſt they are wholly forſaken of God.

FOr comfort in this Diſtreſſe, reade, Eſay 49. 14, 15, 16 Pſal. 9. 18. Pſal. 30. 5. Pſal. 112. 4. Eſay 54. 7, 8. Lam. 3. 31. Deut. 4. 30, 31. Joſh. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 6. 1 Sam. 12. 22. Job 8. 20. Jer. 31. 3.

p. 106V. DISTRESSE.

Doubting of mercy, and pardon.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade, Prov. 28. 13. Ezech. 18. 21, 22. Eſay 55. 7. 1. Joh. 1. 9. Eſay 1. 18. 1 Chron. 21. 13. Nehem. 9. 17. Exod. 34. 6, 7. Numb. 14. 18. 2 Sam. 12, 13. 2 Chron. 5. 13. 2 Chron. 33. 12, 13. Pſal. 145. 8, 9. Eſay 43. 25. Eſay 30. 18, 19. Eſay 57. 15. Eſay 66. 2. Jerem. 31. 34. Mic. 7. 18, 19. Math. 11. 28. Luk. 7. from the 37. v. to the end of the Chap. Luk. 15. throughout. Luk. 18. 13, 14. Luk. 18. 8, 9. Acts 2. 23. 37, 38. Acts 3. 13, 14, 15, 19. Rom. 5. 20. Rom. 5. 8, 9, 10. 1 Corinth. 6. 9, 10, 11. 1 Tim. 1. 15, 16. 1 Epiſt. Joh. 2. 1, 2.

VI. DISTRESSE.

A feare leſt they have committed the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade, 1 Epiſt. Joh. 3. 9. & 1 Epiſt. Joh. 5. 18.

p. 107VII. DISTRESSE.

Conſciouſneſſe of their great unworthineſſe to aske or receive any thing at the hands of God.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade, Eſay 55. 1. Luk. 15. 19, 21. Luk. 18. 13. Gen. 32. 10. Math. 8. 8. Math. 15. 22. to the 29. v. Deut. 7. 7, 8, 9. 2 Chron. 30. 18, 19, 20. Pſal. 40. 17. Pſal. 51. 17. Pſal. 103. 13. Math. 5. 3. Rom. 3. 24. Rom. 5. 8, 9, 10. 2 Corinth. 9. 8. Joh. 1. 16. Jam. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 26, 27. Revel. 8. 4. Hoſ. 4. 5. 1 Epiſt. Joh. 4. 10.

VIII. DISTRESSE.

Conſciouſneſſe of their owne weakneſſe, and feare of the Devils power.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade, 1 Epiſt. Joh. 4. 4. 2 Chron. 32. 7, 8. …ledge… Chron. 20. 12. Pſal. 16. 8. Pſal. 29. 11. Pſal. 37. 39. Pſal. 46. 1. Pſal. 145. 14. Eſay 35. 3, 4. Eſay 40. 29, 31. Eſay 41. 10. Rom. 8. 31. Luk. 11. 21, 22. Joh. 10. 28. Math. 16. 18. 2 Corinth. 12. 9. Zechar. 12. 8. Revel. 1. 18.

p. 108IX. DISTRESSE.

Conſciouſneſſe of their wants, and imperfections.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade 2 Cor. 8. 12. Luk. 15. 20. 2 Chron. …redge… 8. Gen. 22. 16. compared with Heb. 11. 17 Eſay 42. 3. 2 Chron. 19. 3. Luk. 22. 32 Mal. 3. 17. Luk. 17. 5. Phil. 4. 13. Mat…redge… 25. 29. Phil. 4. 19. Phil. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 9. 8 Rom. 7. 19, 20. Mark. 9. 24.

X. DISTRESSE.

Doubting of Perſeverance.

FOr comfort in this Diſtreſſe, reade, 1 Pet. 1. 5. Luk. 22. 32. compare…redge… with Joh. 17. 20.

p. 109XI. DISTRESSE.

Touching Recidivation, and falling backe into the ſame ſinne after repentance.

FOr comfort in this Diſtreſſe, reade, **Scarlet ſins twice dipped, or died; that is, againe, and committed.Eſay 1. 18. Jer. 3. 1. Hoſ. 14. 5. 1 Epiſt. Joh. 1. 7. Gen. 12. 19. compared with Gen. 20. 2. Luk. 17. 4.

XII. DISTRESSE.

For want of wonted joy in believing, and aſſurance of Gods favour.

FOr comfort in this Diſtreſſe, reade, Pſal. 43. 11. Pſal. 51. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Pſal. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Pſal. 13. 1, 2, 3. Pſal. 22. 1, 2, 3. Pſal. 77. from the 1. v. to the 13. Pſal. 88. throughout. Eſay 63. 15.

p. 110XIII. DISTRESSE.

Doubting of deliverance from the preſent felt affliction, becauſe ſo long continued.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade, Hab. 2. 1, 2, 3. Jam. 5. 7, 8. Pſal. 9. 18. Pſal. 34. 24. Pſal. 37. 7. Eſay 49. 23. Eſay 64. 4. Micah 7. 7. Pſal 13. 1. Pſal. 22. 1, 2. Pſal. 147. 11. Pſal. 101. 1, 2. Eſay 8. 17. Eſay 25. 9. Eſay 26. 8. Eſay 57. 16. Pſal. 9. 9. 1 Corinth. 10. 13. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Pſal. 40. 17. Pſal. 34. 18. Pſal. 121. 5. Eſay 41. 10, 13, 14. Pſal. 103. 9.

XIV. DISTRESSE.

A feare leſt they have outſtood the day of Gods viſitation, and calling; and that therefore it is now too late to call for mercy, and pardon.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, reade, Heb. 3. 14, 15. 2 Chron. 6. 36, 37, 38, 39. 2 Chron. 33. 10, 12, 13, Math. 23. 37. compared with Lev. 26. 44, 45.

p. 111XV. DISTRESSE.

Becauſe this is not the firſt time that they have been thus troubled in mind at the ſight of their ſinnes, and the ſenſe of Gods wrath due unto them for the ſame; which they feare is not an eſtate that may betide Gods child: becauſe they that have once received the ſpirit of Adoption, never receive the ſpirit of Bondage to feare againe, Rom. 8. 15.

FOr comfort in this diſtreſſe, **See Dr. Sclatters Serm. in Prov. 18. 14. Mr. Boltons Inſtruct. ubi ſupra. pag. 460.Prov 18:14reade, Job 33. 14. to the 31. v.

FOr the further comfort of Gods child thus diſtreſſed, I would adviſe him, beſides the former places of Scripture here before ſet downe, to peruſe theſe hereafter following, or to have them read unto him by thoſe that be about him.

Luke 15. Rom. 8. Pſal. 103. Heb. 12. Eſay 54.

p. 112I Have of purpoſe forborne to ſet downe the words of theſe fore-quoted places of Scripture, that the Sicke Soule may ſpend ſome of his vacant time in turning to them, and peruſing of them, the better to keepe him from idleneſſe, and melancholly muſing.

2 PET. 3. 16.

Amongst which, ſome things are hard to be underſtood, which they that are unlearned, and unſtable, **Evangelium pertrabunt ad Sententiae ſuae praecipitium. Juſtin. Martyr. Ep. ad Zenam.wreſt, a…redge… they doe alſo other Scriptures, unto their owne deſtruction.

THE END.

THE SICK SOVLES MISTAKES.

WHEREIN Thoſe places of Scripture, (which being miſtaken, doe many times prove the very rack of tender Conſciences, and make them to draw from them fearfull Concluſions againſt themſelves) are vindicated and cleared, and the Concluſions confuted.

MATH. 22. 29.

Ye erre, not knowing the Scriptures.

LONDON, Printed for RICHARD ROYSTON.

M. DC. L.

p. 115The Sick Soules miſtakes.

WHEREIN Thoſe places of Scripture (which being miſtaken doe many times prove the very rack of tender Conſciences, and make them to draw from them fearfull concluſions againſt themſelves) are vindicated and cleared, and the Concluſions confuted.