Crosses Comforts Counsels Needful to be Considered, Title page – Dedication
1. CROSSES, 2. COMFORTS, 3. COUNSELS. Needfull to bee conſidered, and carefully to be laid up in the Hearts of the Godly, in theſe boyſterous broiles, and bloody times. By M. Zacharie Boyd.
Iſa. 9.5. Every Battell of the Warriou… is with confuſed noiſe, and garments rolled in blood.
Ierem. 8.22. Is there no balme in Gilead?
Pſal. 50.15. Call upon me in the day trouble, and I will deliver thee.
Printed at Glaſgow by George Anderſon, 1643.
ETSI MORS, INDIES ACCELERAT
VIVET TAMEN POST FVNERA VIRTVS
To the right Noble, and moſt Vertuous Lady, D. ANNE CUNINGAME, Lady Marqueſſe of Hamiltoun.
MADAME,
THis earth, as one hath ſaid well, is but a moat of darkneſſe, and a lump of vanitie; yea all things under the Sun, ſaith Salomon, are but vanitie of vanities; Ec. 1.2 Ec. 12.13our only wiſdome is to fear GOD, and keep his commandments, this is the whole duety of man, which ſhould be our chiefest task.
But, alas, our diviſions like harpies and horſeleaches are ready to rent and tear in pieces the very heart strings, and to ſuck out the inmoſt blood, and laſt life of our dearly beloved mother the Church of Britain.
And now your La. who have hitherto win good reputation among the Saints, Judg. 5.7is heer deſired to continue to be a Deborah, a mother in Iſrael.
It is a worthie and noble imployment to do any good for the well of Zion: your La. Note.is a branch of that noble and ancient houſe of Glencarn, who in the firſt reformation, to their eternall praiſe, while many others like Iſſachar, a dull aſſe, Gen. 49.14 Judg 5.23did couch down betweene two burdens, came out boldly, to help the LORD againſt the mightie.
The Gunpowder papiſts are now in hopes with power and policie, craft and crueltie, to take GODS Ark priſoner, and to ſet up their Dagon.
Our refuge is to the Lord of hoſtes, who in the very turning of an hand, and cloſing of an eye, can daſh down all their bloodie deſignes, as He marred the fox FAUX from fireing the powder.
How ever the matter go, Christ muſt be true, his ſervants must look for affliction; In the Text of theſe ſermons, he ſaith unto them, Ye ſhall be betrayed by parents and brethren, &c. In this little valume I have done what I could, by Gods grace, to deſcry and decipher both Croſſes, Comforts and counſell, for the well of Gods kirk in theſe bloody dayes.
Heer willing to acquit ſome part of my bounden duety towards your La. no leſſe eminant in goodneſſe than in greatneſſe, 2 Iohn. 1I dedicate this little to ſpeake in S. Iohnes words. VntoUnto the elect Lady and her children, whom I love in the truth: That both your La. and your most noble Poſteritie, may ever be on Chriſts ſide, I humbly proſtrate and powre out my ſoule, before the Throne of Grace and MercieMercy.
Your La. humble and obedient ſervant, M. Zachary Boyd.