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A19716 The care of a Christian conscience Ten sermons on the 25 psalme, preached in Tewkesburie in the countie of Gloucester, By Richard Curtis. Curteys, Richard, 1532?-1582. 1600 (1600) STC 6134; ESTC S111010 79,468 216

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mercy I am excluded from being in the number of them that kéeping thy couenant and Testimonies receaue thy great mercies and true promises Therefore O Lord séeing I see how farre I am from kéeping the same by heaping vp daily howrely so many and greeuous sinnes I humbly euen for thy glorious name and not for my deserts sake beséech thée to pardon and forgiue them all so shall all thy pathes be mercy and truth to mée Doct. 1 1. Doctrine Whosoeuer desireth that all thinges that the Lord doth to his Church procéeding of his mercy and truth should turne to his good that hée may be not onely a member of it but also with it to be partaker of his mercies must feruently zealously and earnestly pray vnto God that for his names sake he would vouchsafe to pardon him al his sinnes The 1. Reason is Except our sinnes be pardoned which without our prayer to GOD shall neuer bée all that the Lord doth to vs shall euen our meate drinke hearing the holy worde receiuing the holy Sacramentes temptations afflictions prosperities and what else soeuer wée receyue from his hand redound from him not of his mercie and so hée a blessing but from his wrath and so bée a curse against vs. Vse The vse thereof is First let vs striue against that temptation which perswadeth vs to cease praying to God for remission of our sinnes Sathan our aduersary tempteth vs on the right hand and on the left that is by aduersity and prosperity By aduersity to distrust in God as he tēpted our Sauiour when he was hungry to diffidence and distrust in the prouidence of God when he perceiued that by aduersity he could not preuaile to ouercome him he tempteth him by his confidence Math. 4. Luk. 4. That séeing he trusted in Gods protection that therefore if hée cast himselfe downe from the pinacle of the Temple he should be protected of the Lord by the ministery of his holy Angels Lo we sée that by his confidence he would haue him to tempt God Euen so he tempteth vs if he perceiue that we haue no faith he will perswade not to pray for it if he sée that we are perswaded that the Lord loueth vs he will perswade vs that we need not pray to him for that which we already haue for although we are in our consciences to the great comfort thereof in all afflictions perswaded that the Lord loueth vs yet notwithstanding we must continually pray to his maiesty for the fame and the forgiuenes of our sinnes els we kéepe not his testimonies so by consequence it is but a vaine perswasiō that we haue that God fauoureth vs which may proceede from an opinion thereof onely which the infidels may haue but as for a true faith they onely that haue the Spirite of Praier and exercise the same haue it and so by consequence they onely shall receyue remission of their sinnes Let vs therefore resist this temptation Let vs vse this holy exercise for thereby we both encrease in godlines and all things that the Lord doth to vs euen temptations and afflictions shall redound to our good and from the Lords mercie Text. For thy names sake be mercifull to my sinnes Doct. 2 2. Doct. We must be perswaded that God when he forgiueth sinnes doth for his owne sake not for any other cause whatsoeuer pardō the same The reason is He is good and gracious of himselfe Vse The vse is That we acknowledge that there is none other name giuen vnder heauen whereby we are saued that our sinnes are forgiuen vs without the which there is no saluation but onely the name of our Lord Iesus none other meanes none abilitie power aucthoritie in any neyther in man or Angel but in the Lord onely * Similit Euen as an horseman holding the reynes of his horse guideth him as he wil euē so the Lord holdeth vs to guide vs at his pleasure either not to pardō or to forgiue vs our sins Act. 10. God holdeth the reynes in his handes to guide men at his pleasure and if it please him to punish our sinnes we haue nothing to reply why he should not condemne vs and if it please him of his great mercy wholy to pardon vs who shall resist him who shall let him to shew vs fauour True it is that this is strange to mans vnderstanding at the first sight For seing that God accepteth not the persons of men we aske wherefore he forgiueth some forgiueth not othersome wherfore tolerateth he the wicked seing him so disorderly Then may we trouble our heads to be curious to know wherefore doth the lord so deale But what cōclusiō must we make Euē only to refer al things to his wisdome purpose knowing that it is not in vs to rule him we cānot cōprehend those thinges that are aboue our reach And if it please God to forgiue vs let vs vnderstand that it is not for our deserts but of his frée mercy through Iesus Christ onely And this must bee well marked because the matter that I haue already spoken of comming naturally into mens imaginations hath béene the cause that false wicked doctrines haue ouerflowed in Christendome Psal 25.12 What man is hee that feareth the Lord Him wil he teach the way that he shall chuse The 2. part of the fifth Sermon 12. What man c. The sence is ALthough we know not of our selues what is right acceptable and pleasant to the Almightie what we might to Gods approuing and our owne profiting elect and chuse so that we feare the Lord in suffering our selues to be directed by him to a godly life wee shall alwayes find him a sure and holy guide vnto vs. Doct. 1 1. Doct. Whoso doth feare the Lord shall by his holy Spirite be directed how to frame his life The reason is Iob 1.1 Iob by fearing God is said to eschue euill was an vpright man and a iust man Vse The vse is That wee pray feruently vnto the Lord our God to giue vs his holy Spirite that wee thereby may lead our liues in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of our life Luke 1. The feare of GOD is not a slauish feare Rom. 8. but filiall yea it is a reuerence and an honor which wee owe and performe vnto the Lord our God séeing he is our good and gracious God mercifull master and louing father Haue wée then the feare of God before our eyes Then without all doubt all other things we estéeme not in comparisō of doing him homage seruice and honor then we will wholly addict our selues to his seruice It also comprehendeth the knowledge of our good God Do wee know him Then we do it in such maner as hee hath vttered made himselfe to be knowen not otherwise that is that he is our maker our maintainer and one that hath shewed such fatherly goodnesse towards vs that wee of dutie
notwithstanding God findeth meanes whereby the euill that is in Sathan and in our selues are turned to our good And here we sée how S. Paul was cured as it were Heb. 2.14 with a medicine as he himselfe confesseth after he had spoken of those high Reuelations which God gaue him 2. Cor. 12.1 2. Co. 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. It is not expedient for me no doubt to reioyce for I will come to visions and reuelations of the Lord. ver 2. I know a man in Christ aboue fourteene yeeres agone whether hee were in the bothe I cannot tell or out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth which was taken vp into the third heauen ver 3. And I know such a man whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth ver 4. How that hee was taken vp into Paradise and heard words which cannot bee spoken which are not possible for man to vtter ver 5. Or such a man will I reioyce of my selfe will I not reioyce except it bee of mine infirmities ver 6. For though I would reioyce I should not be a foole For I will say the truth but I refraine lest any man should thinke of me aboue that hee seeth in me or that hee heareth of me c. to the end of the ninth verse God hath prouided for me that I should not exalt my selfe too much Loe here a good preuision and very profitable for him For we know that pride is ready to throw vs headlong into hell and there is nothing that more prouoketh Gods displeasure then it For hee must of necessitie shew himselfe an enemie to the proude and to such as presume aboue their owne strength after what maner so euer it bee And S. Paul was in the same daunger if God had not remedied it In what sort did hee it It was saith Paul by sending me the messenger of Sathan to buffet me Sée how Sathan worketh in S. Paul euē by Gods permission And what was the issue Questionlesse he meant vtterly to haue ouerwhelmed him and his intent was to haue drawne him into wickednesse to the end that hee would haue him haue giuen ouer the seruice of God and by little little to haue withdrawne himselfe from Christianitie by reason of the wearisome miseries and troubles which he endured without ceasing Behold heere Sathans purpose Notwithstanding this God purposed another end to binde his deare seruant that he should not forget himselfe and so exalt himselfe to the great displeasure of God For this cause he was buffetted The Apostle doth purposely chuse the phrase of buffetting God vsed him not as a man of armes that fighteth in the fielde to giue him a glorious victorie but buffetted him like a boy to his shame and reproach Thus the holy Apostle whome God had endued with so excellent gifts of the holy Ghost was so farre made an vnderling to Sathan that he as it were spit in his face and wrought him many other villanies We sée then how God turneth the euill into good when hee maketh all Sathans stings to serue vs as medicines whereby he purgeth vs of the vices that Sathan hid in vs. And therfore we haue cause to praise God in al respects yea euē although at the first sight his iudgemēt séemeth to our imaginations ouer-boysterous and that by our fleshly vnderstanding wee cannot vnderstand them When we haue well considered all these and many more of these his mercies we shall euer haue wherewith to glorifie and magnifie our good God and father To bee yet better confirmed in this truth let vs consider how afflictions serue for our profit and saluation First for as much as the reliques of sinne abide still euen in the perfectest in this life which maketh them hardned in their sinnes Fruite to awake vs out of our sinnes Rom. 12.1 and inclined to offend GOD we haue néede of helpes to be awaked to be humbled and drawne from our sinnes to kéepe vs in the time to come and so to dispose vs to a perfect obedience holy and acceptable to God And to this end tend the afflictions of them which kéepe the couenaunt and testimonies of God his deare children which for this cause are called chasticements corrections and medicines of our selues Iosephs brethren Gen. 42 21. The children of Iacob hauing committed a detestable crime in selling their brother Ioseph neuer thought of it vntill they being in Egypt oppressed with reproches and imprisonment called to mind their sin saying one to another Surely wee haue sinned against our brother for we sawe the anguish of his soule when hee besought vs and we would not heare him therefore is this trouble come to vs. Manasses king of Iudah Manasses hauing set vp Idolatrie persecuted those that would haue purely serued the Lord 2. Chro. 33. so that Ierusalem was full of bloud and hauing shut his eares to the admonitions of the Lord in the end was taken by the army of the king of the Assyrians bound with manacles fettered in chaines and carried prisoner into Babylon Then being in afflictions he was excéedingly humbled before God hee praied to the Lord and was heard and carried backe vnto Ierusalem The fifth Sermon vpon the 25. Psalme the 11 and 12. verses 11 For thy name sake O Lord be mercifull to mine iniquitie for it is great THis is a prayer of the holy Prophet king Dauid after his holy meditation of the vnspeakable mercy and eternall truth of God in kéeping his promises to them that truely worship him and obey his holy lawes Two special branches it containeth The first an earnest and zealous prayer to GOD for his name sake not for his merites to pardon his sinne Secondly is a déepe search of them without soothing excusing or hiding them Text. For it is great The forme that the Prophet obserueth in ioyning this prayer to his former meditation of the mercie and truth of GOD towards them that obey him is this When he had throughly meditated with himselfe that God was good gracious towards his seruants he considered himselfe acknowledging that except the Lord of his great mercie would pardon his great and gréeuous sinnes he should be none of them Therfore he praieth as the like he did at another time before when hee spake of the reward which God layeth vp for the faithfull that kéepe his holy Lawe Psalm 19.10 Psal 19.10 11 12. And more to be desired meaning the holy lawes of God thē gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the hony the hony cōbe verse 11. Moreouer by them is thy seruant made circumspect in keeping of thē there is great reward vers 12. Who can vnderstand his faults clense me frō my secrete faults that GOD for his name sake would pardon him The sence is briefly this My sinnes O Lorde as a great burden sore oppresse mee for whose sake except thou pardon them of thy
although being in the Sea the waues beate against it yet after a certain maner it is brought to land against windes and tempestes euen so against the temptations of this our pilgrimage our hope being fownded in that celestiall Ierusalem maketh vs as it were to be turned into stones Laur. Iustinianus Patriarcha Sim. Hope is as it were a piller which holdeth vp the spiritual building which fayling the building ruineth and into the pit of despaire falleth Heb. 6.19 Which hope we haue as an anchor of the soule both sure and it entreth into that which is within the vayle Psalm 52.2 My God I trust in thee let me not be confounded Doct. 1 1. Doct. Whosoeuer haue a strong cōfidence in God will also ioyne prayer to God onely with their trust in him that their enemies may not preuaile against them to their confusion 1. Reason is Prayer is a strengthning of our hope in God and a meanes whereby we are deliuered from cōfusion Psal 50.15 Call vpon me saith God in the day of thy trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt glorifie me Whoso praieth not to God to be deliuered from confusion which his enemies would bring him vnto doth not onely oftentimes fall into it as many exāples in the holy word are shewed but is destitute of the hope of a Christian and so by consequence is voide from all comfort in his affliction seing in trouble nothing comforteth the afflicted but his hope and confidence in God ●●w for his deliuery Let not mine enemies reioyce ouer me Doct. 1 1. Doct. The property of the wicked is to reioyce at the confusion of the godly Reason Because they hate nothing neither any persons somuch as the truth and the professors thereof Vse The vse is first to teach vs that the greatest part of men shall alwaies be against the godly Secondly not to trust the friendship of the wicked Lam. 2.16 All thine enemies do open their mouth against thee they hisse and gnash their teeth saying Wee haue deuoured it certainly this is the day wee looked for we haue found and seene it Hee saith not enemy but enemies Doct. 2 2. Doct. The wicked will ioyne together to vexe the godly although otherwise they agrée not among themselues Psal 2.2 The kings of the earth band themselues and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord and against his Christ Example Luk 23.12 And the same day Pilate and Herode were made friends together for before they were enemies one to another Vse The Vse is that we beware lest we be spotted with that fault Doct. 3 3. Doct. The wicked be often so enflamed with malice against the godly that nothing will satisfie them but their life Prou. 1.11 If they say Come we will lay waite for bloud and lie priuily for the innocent without a cause 12. wee will swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole as those that go downe into the pittes 13. wee shall find all precious riches and fill our houses with spoile 14. Cast in thy lot among vs we wil haue but one purse Ps 79.2 The dead bodies of thy Sainctes haue they giuen to the fowles of the heauen and the flesh of thy Sainctes vnto the beasts of the earth vers 3. Their bloud haue they shed like water round about Ierusalem there is none to bury them vers 4. Wee are a reproch to our neighbors euē a scorne and derision to them that are round about vs. The Reason is They thinke to florish without controlment and to be reuerenced and to haue rest when they are dead which during their life they thinke and know that they shal not haue as they expected Esth 3.5 And when Haman sawe that Mordecai bowed not the knee vnto him nor did reuerence vnto him then he was full of wrath Vse 1 The Vse is First that bloudy cruelty being the property of the wicked that we labour with our selues that it be farre from vs. Vse 2 2. Vse To looke for all mischiefe from the wicked that they can accomplish against vs. Psalm 25.2 Let not mine enemies reioice Doct. 4 4. Doct. Though the wicked do alwaies hate the godly yet they wil oftē dissemble friendship shew forth their malice only whē they haue oportunity thereunto Psalm 5.9 For there is no constancy in their mouthes within they are vaine corruption their throte is an open sepulchre and they flatter with their tongue Amos 1.9 Thus saith the Lord For three transgressions of Tyrus and for foure I will not turne to it because they haue shut vp the whole captiuitie in Edom and haue not remembred the brotherly couenant The Reason is Because they are wise in their owne generation Luk. 16. and can waite their best aduantage Vse The vse is To teach vs First neuer to trust the faire wordes of a prophane man but so to behaue our selues that we shall beware of him Text. Let not mine enemies reioyce ouer mee Doct. 5 5. Doct. If we fall and our enemies reioyce ouer vs it is the Lords doing The 1. Reason He is almighty and doth all thinges although euill bée of Sathan and man The 2. Reason He hath the dominion of all creatures Vse The Vse is to teach vs First to learne to feare him and obay him especially in whose fauour nothing can hurt vs. Secondly that in all afflictions we looke vp and lift our soules to him that striketh and examine our selues what cause we haue giuen him Thirdly to séeke reconciliation with him by praier and repentance so shall the meanes that are against vs be employed for vs as Hamans galowes for Mordecai which God chaunged that hée himselfe was hanged thereon and his 10. Sonnes Esth 10. Goliahs sword cut off his owne head 1. Sam. 17. Text vers 3. So all that hope in thee shall not be ashamed but let them be confounded that transgresse without cause Paraphr And surely thou wilt not suffer them that depend vpō thée to be put to shame but rather must these faithlesse persons that persecute the innocent be brought thereunto Doct. 1 1. Doct. An assured hope of deliuerance grounded vpon Gods promise is the onely cause of the patience and humility of Gods childrē in their troubles The Reason is First because the corruptiō of mans nature being of it self wayward cannot take afflictions patiently without supernaturall helpe therefore we say Without Hope the heart would breake Secondly where there is no hope there is no faith where there is no faith there is no patience Thirdly else the damned might haue patience which they haue not as appeareth by their gnashing of téeth Vse The Vse is To teach vs to be careful to vse the meanes of obtaining hope and growing in it praising God for such meanes we haue and mourning for that we want Psal 25.3 So all that hope in thee shall not be ashamed but let them be part of confounded that transgresse without a cause The 3.
sclender because the Image of God by Adams sin is as it were blotted out in vs. But for as much as God of his infinite mercie hath renewed vs and in Iesus Christ our Lord hath adopted vs to be his children and imprinted his Image againe in vs therein also chiefely we bee his workmanship and may boldly with reuerence call vpon him and assure our selues that he will not shake vs off but that we shall bee welcome to him It followeth Text. In thee doe I trust all the day And because it is expedient that our trust should be answerable to his goodnes therefore the Prophet saith that his hope was continually in him Doct. 4 4. Doct. The goodnesse of God towards vs must cause vs continually to trust in him And this is the propertie of faith among our greatest troubles to haue respect to GOD to trust in him for our deliuerie and not to séeke sinister meanes for it and as it were with a still and calme quietnesse to rest our selues in his promised helpe and assistaunce Moreouer that the remembraunce of his benefites might the better feede and sustaine our hope let vs learne to call to mind his former benefites bestowed vpon vs. When we be heauie and sorrowfull the onely remembrance of Gods benefites must cheare vs or at the least-wise asswage our miseries and griefes so as if any aduersitie pinch vs and we bethinke our selues of the great number of benefites that God hath bestowed vpon vs the same must assway our sorrow And séeing the case standeth so no afflictions ought to make vs to forget the knowledge which we haue of Gods benefites and graces For whatsoeuer miseries wee endure yet ought we to acknowledge for a great mercie of God that wee are made reasonable creatures that wee beare the Image of God that we are cherished and maintained to the ende wee may know God to bee our Father Dauid saith Psal 22.10 Lord thou diddest draw me out of my mothers wombe thou hast shewed thy selfe to bee my GOD before I could know thee or call vpon thee Dauid did set this before him purposely to render thankes vnto GOD to trust in him and to sing vnto his name in the middest of his sorrowes afterward hée established himselfe in good hope for the time to come not doubting but God regarded him still with compassion considering that diuers times yea at all times before he had shewed him so gracious pitifull towards him Let vs lift vp our minds aloft to yéeld him his worthie praise and moreouer let his benefites serue for spurres vnto vs to trust in him not doubting but that he wil shew himselfe the same hereafter whome we haue felt him heretofore Psal 25.6 Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnesse For they haue beene for euer The 3. part of the second Sermon THe sence is So many great and grieuous are mine afflictions that thou appearest to me as though thou haddest vtterly forgotten thy former tender mercies and louing kindnesse which not only of long time but for euer before time haue béene Wherefore O Lord I beséech thée of thy goodnesse remember them so that I may féele them in deliuering me from all my miseries which now I suffer Doct. 1 1. Doct. Remember When afflictions lie heauie on the shoulders of the children of God they cause them many times to thinke that the Lord hath vtterly forgotten them The Reason is For that no mans faith is so firme at all times Psal 77. but in afflictions somtimes he shall haue such motions séeing that no man hath perfection of regeneration nor at al times fulnesse of faith The Vse is to teach vs to striue with our selues against this temptation assure our selues that although the Lord séemeth as though he were asléepe Math. 8. yet he that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe Esay Although a mother should forget her owne childe yet will the Lord neuer forget those that are his Text. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and louing kindnesse Doct. 2 2. Doct. The godly neither can nor will looke to escape destruction by any other meanes then onely by the mercies of the Lord. The Reason is 1. King 20. Benhadad 31. Kings with their traine Vaine is the helpe of man or any other meanes whatsoeuer The Vse is First to feare and tremble that wee fall not into Gods displeasure but to séeke especially for his mercie estéeming it aboue our liues or any earthly thing that wee can desire 2. Vse To acknowledge that it is of Gods méere mercie and aboundant kindnesse that wee liue and to praise him dayly for it Doct. 3 3. Doct. The tender mercies and louing kindnesse of the Lord are sufficient to deliuer his children from all the punishments that they can fall into 1. Reason They are infinite as his maiestie is 2. Reason Els none shoulde bee saued séeing there is none other meanes of saluation The Vse is First to take awaie from our mindes the vaine confidence in any creature as Angels men horses or any other thing whatsoeuer 2. Vse Confutation of Poperie which standeth vpon workes for deliueraunce at the least from the punishment of sinne Secondly it confirmeth vs from despaire Heb. 6.19 Text. séeing the Lords mercies are an anchor both sure and stedfast For they haue beene for euer Doct. 4 4. Doct. Although by our afflictions which wee suffer God séemeth to forget vs yet séeing he hath shewed mercie towards our selues and others and that for euer before time so must wee still be perswaded that he will neuer forsake those that are his The 1. Reason For he is not as man is that is changeable but GOD is immutable The 2. Reason His gifts are without Repentance The Vse is to teach vs although the goodnes of God lyeth as it were buryed yet it is not extinguished although it shew not at selfe but seemeth as it were couered in the ashes yet in time it will shew it selfe And therefore let vs in all our miseries and afflictions beseech his maiestie of his tender mercy and immutable goodnesse so to remember vs that wee may be deliuered from all inconueniences and promise and purpose amendment of our liues with further praises of his holy Name for his mercies The third Sermon vpon the 25. Psalme the 7 and 8. verses 7 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy kindnesse remember me euen for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. The sence is O Lord my God although mine enemies maliciously and without cause vexe and persecute mee yet I acknowledge that both the sinnes which in my youth I haue committed against thée as also the sins and rebellions which euer since to this day I haue done against thy diuine maiestie are the cause of this mine affliction which I humbly praie thée of thy kindnesse and goodnesse sake to forgiue me then shall I be deliuered from this
that wée need not but in necessity to call vpon God No Then should we be too rechles if wée should not call vpon him but constraynedly Therefore it behoueth vs to call vpon him at all times as more largely shall be shewed Yet the Lord prouoketh vs by his whippes and in so doing he correcteth our slouthfulnes and quickneth vs to come vnto him It is expresly said that that is the time to call vpon him and that that is the due and very conuenient season as in the Psalm 32.6 Therefore shall euery one that is godly make his praier vnto thee in a time when thou maiest be found surely in a floud of great waters they shall not come neere him In the time that is when aduersity presseth them Not that we haue not occasiō to do so cōtinually but our occasiō then is greater thē at any other time of prosperity And hereby we are taught that whē soeuer pouerty pincheth vs persecution afflicteth vs to the vttermost so that we can endure no more let vs not faint but rather be encouraged to come to our gracious God louing father knowing that not onely by his worke but by his word he allureth vs that as a louing mother when shée seeth that her child cannot stand but by meanes of his weakenes is ready to fall flat to the ground reacheth out her kind hand to stay him from falling euen so our good gracious father doth not only reach vs his merciful hād willeth vs to take it but also as it were by force draweth vs by reason of our great sluggishnes wée haue to come to him Also here withall let vs vnderstand the fruit of our faith what it is This it is In al our aduersities we are happy all the curses that God turneth vpō mē for their sins are by the means thereof turned to our good profit when we pray vnto God haue our recourse to him Wherefore for in the middest of our troubles he sheweth himselfe our Sauiour and causeth vs to féele that he is néere at hand with vs. Let vs therefore with the good Prophet Dauid assure our selues if our féet be in the nets of our aduersaries if wée lift vp our eies and affections to God in our feruent prayers that he will when he seeth it fit in his wisedome deliuer vs out of them all for he neuer faileth them that trust in him Psal 25. verse 16. Turne thy face vnto me and haue mercy vpon mee for I am desolate and poore The 2. part of the 7. Sermon The sence thereof is SO great is the malice of mine enemies O Lord my GOD who like Bees compassing and like the fat Buls of Basan enclosing mée on euery side haue so greatly preuailed against mée that I am desolate without dwelling poore without possessing of such things as I in my calling stād in néed of wherby thou séemest as though thou regardest not thy seruant I humbly euen for the Messias thy déerely beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake beséech thée to shew thy louing countenance and care towards mée in extending thy mercies towards me in deliuering me from the handes of mine enemies by which meanes my dwelling shal be restored my pouerty redressed so shall I magnifie thy great mercies all the daies of my life Doct. 1 1. Doctr. God hideth his face from vs when he afflicteth vs eyther by our enemies or sicknes desolation pouerty imprisonment banishment persecution or the like when thinges séeme straunge vnto vs when wée know not the reason why hée worketh after that sort What is the face or countenance of God It is not a shape like vnto a mans visage which hath nose eies and mouth but the face of God is the fauour of God the care that he hath of his déere children the record that he giueth when we know his will God therefore sheweth vs his face when he telleth sheweth vs why hée doth this or that thing as wherfore he afflicteth his and spareth them that are none of his it is all one as if we saw him before our eies Therefore when God holdeth vs in ignorance of his will it is an hiding of his face from vs. Vse The Vse of this doctrine is Let vs marke that whensoeuer it shall please GOD to shew himselfe vnto vs it behoueth vs to know him and to consider his workes as hée teacheth vs them and to be attentiue to marke the reason why hée doth so And when he worketh after a straunge fashion vnknowen vnto vs let vs reuerence such secrets acknowledging neuertheles that hée is righteous howsoeuer the world go Let vs dwell continually in that beléefe and hold vs quiet and contented wayting patiently vntill hee shewe vs more fully those things that are hidden frō vs assuring our selues that during this life our knowledge must be onely in part Do wée then sée the state of the world so troubled that wée know not what to say It is all one as if GOD should hide his face from vs. And in this case what haue wée els to do but to humble our selues wée are hereby exhorted to modesty and sobriety because our wittes are too rude and grosse to comprehend the secrets of GOD and moreouer the Lord purposeth to humble vs when he withdraweth himselfe from vs. If odious and detestable sinnes bée committed as if quarrelling and brawling ariseth and if snares be layd by the wicked so that by them the godly are desolated and impouerished so that they know not how to escape then doth GOD as it were turne his face from vs. True it is that hée is neuer the farther from vs nor hath the lesse care of vs howbeit wee can neyther sée nor perceyue it On the other side when wée cannot consider what is done it séemeth to vs that GOD regardeth vs not wée sée nothing but darknes the light that should guide vs shineth not vnto vs. Now thē what must we do but shrink downe our heads close our mouthes wait Gods leysure patiētly vntill he remedy the incōueniēces that trouble vs Also let vs alwaies be at this point neuer to enquire farther then it is lawfull for vs. Wée must be well perswaded that God doth nothing without great causes let vs enter rather into the consideration of our sinnes for if we curiously enquire the secretes of God and his incomprehensible determinations it is a pride that will vtterly ouerthrow vs. And therefore let vs learne not to be ouerwise knowing that God sometimes leadeth vs like poore blind soules And wheras good Dauid was by his enemies the wicked oppressed let vs learne that although it be a sore temptation to sée the wicked florish and triumph ouer the children of God and to sée that might ouercōmeth right so that a man knoweth not whither to go for refuge verily it is a very hard crosse to ouercome neuerthelesse the holy Ghost purposeth to set it before vs to the intēt we should be armed
preferment as it is probable did allure and tempt him If Iob the iust abstained from euill If Ioshua whatsoeuer others would yet hée and his houshold would serue the Lord ought not wee then in these daungerous dayes to doe the like especially séeing the Lord giueth vs warning that we cannot liue holy without great battailes The Lord of his vnspeakeable goodnesse giueth vs power and grace to ouercome all Sathans assaults in such sort as there is none excuse for vs if wee doe not as they did For they liued not in times when all things were well ordered or when men were as Angelles No they liued among Idolaters aboundance of wickednesse raigned in their time there was as great store of vice that raigned in the world then as there is at this day Yet notwithstanding they followed not the bent of other mens bowes as the Prouerbe is but they retired to them selues being well assured that they ought to serue God So then let none of vs in these daies wherein wickednesse hath gotten the vpper hand alleadge the corruption of the time in that all goodnesse is turned topsi-turuy but rather let vs consider that God by the meanes thereof prouoketh vs to bee so much the more careful by all possible meanes to shunne and auoyd those things that may any way infect vs. For seeing that wee plainely perceiue that vices are as it were an euill aire we must flie from them as if a man should tell me if I trauell such a way théeues lie in wait for me I shall be robbed my meat is poisoned I shall be slaine if I escape not another way Wherefore then are we not carefull séeing that the Lorde himselfe sheweth vs that all the vices in the world are as badde as deadly plagues And séeing that the Lord of his great mercy had giuen them his spirite to abstaine euen from not onely euill but from the appearance of euill let vs not doubt but if we by feruent and deuout prayer repaire vnto him that at this day he will assist vs with like power The second part of the eight Sermon Psal 25.18 Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauaile and forgiue me all my sinne The sense thereof is MAny and grieuous are the trauailes troubles and afflictions which I thy dutiful seruant and obedient sonne doe suffer in such sort as though thou haddest no regard thereof I most humbly beséech thée O Lord my God for the Messiahs thy dearely beloued sonnes sake to behold and looke vpon thē that thou mightest powre forth thy bowels of mercie and compassion vpon me in ridding and deliuering me out of them and because I am not O Lord onely outwardly afflicted but inwardly tormented the cause of all I most humbly and sorrowfully confesse vnto thine vnspeakeable goodnesse to be the huge and odious multitude of my sins which for filthines do stincke in thy nostrils for whose sake thou layest this heauie burthen both of outward and inward griefes vpon me I humbly beseech thee to burie them in the pit of obliuion that they neuer come into thy remembrance to cast them into the bottome of the sea that thou neuer sée them and to remitte and forgiue them al through the meanes and mediation of the Messiah thy dearly beloued sonne Christ Iesus who shal when the fulnesse of time is come take vpon him our nature and suffer the most bitter death and passion on the crosse for the redemption of all that beléeue in him both of them that liued before his incarnation in whose number and in which time I am one as also after his incarnation to the worlds end Text. Looke vpon mine affliction Doct. 1 1. Doctr. Generally out of the whole verse The principall desire of the godly is that the Lord would weigh their wofull estate The reason is Because first they know him to be a righteous iudge euer dealing fauourably with his people Secondly their consciēces do tel thē that notwithstanding they are gréeuous sinners against the Lord yet their enemies abuse them for the truthes sake Vse The Vse is to teach vs in all our miseries vnfainedly to repent vs of all our sinnes against the Lord so may wée with good consciences come vnto him with complaints in all our miseries Chastisemēts we sée are profitable for they cause the godly afflicted to come to God by praier to confesse and craue pardon for their iniquities transgressions and sinnes But yet notwithstanding we daily and hourely see that these said chastisements profite not all men also that hée giueth not all men the grace to returne vnto him For it is not enough for God to strike vs with his hand except hée touch vs within also by his holy spirit If God soften not the hardnes of our hearts it wil be with vs as it was with Pharaoh Similitude For men are like vnto stithies or Anuiles the beating vpon them is not able to change their nature for we sée how they beat backe the blowes againe Euen so then vntill God haue touched vs to the quick within it is certaine we shal in our afflictions do nothing but kicke against him and gather rancour more and more whensoeuer hée chastiseth vs we shall gnash our teeth at him and vntill regeneration alwaies storme at him And without all doubt the wickednes of men is so mischéeuous so head-strong and so desperate that the more that God chastiseth them the more do they vomit vp their blasphemies shew themselues to be vtterly past amendment so that there is no way to bring them vnto reason Let vs learne then vntill God hath touched vs with his holy spirite that it is vnpossible that his chastisements should serue to bring vs to repentance but rather to make vs worse and worse yet can it not be said that God is not righteous in so doing for thereby men are conuinced euen so much as if God held them not at a bay in such sort by punishing their sinnes they might pleade ignorance that they neuer knew of it and that they had ouer-shot themselues because God had not prouoked them to acknowledge their faults but when they haue felt the hand of God so as they haue béene faine to perceiue his iudgements in despight of their téeth and haue bene as it were summoned yet notwithstanding haue not onely gone forward from euill to worse but also bin puffed vp with open rebellion against God Héereby wee sée they haue their mouthes stopped and that they haue not any more to say for themselues You see then how God sheweth his iustice as often as he punisheth men notwithstanding it be not a correction for their amendment Obiecti ∣ on Furthermore when God chastiseth the reprobate it is all one as if he should out of hand begin to shew his wrath vpon them and that the fire of it were alreadie kindled Soluti ∣ on True it is that they are not vtterly consumed for the present time howbeit they are
great miserie and affliction for thou hast promised to saue all them that call vpon thy name for the remission of their sins Remember not the sinnes Doct. 1 1. Doct. In vaine doe wee pray to God to be deliuered from our afflictiōs except we pray for the remission of our sinnes both of our youth and all other afterward committed by vs. The 1. Reason is There is no hope for vs to obtaine grace except the Lord be mercifull vnto vs and how doth he loue vs except we be first reconciled to him and that by our Sauiour Christ Iesus and our confession and repentaunce of our sinnes Vse The Vse is therefore to teach vs in all our afflictions to acknowledge our sinnes to GOD onely séeing hee is gracious and fauourable to all his Doct. 2 2. Doct. It is necessarie for Gods people in their praiers to God to make vnto him onely a frée confession of their sinnes Psal 32.5 Then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hidde I mine iniquities for I thought I will confesse against my selfe my wickednes vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne Selah Dan. 9.5 We haue sinned and haue committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly yea we haue rebelled and haue departed from thy preceptes and from thy iudgements Nehem. 1.6 I pray thee let thine eares bee attent and thine eyes open to heare the praier of thy seruant which I pray before thee day and night for the children of Israel thy seruants and confesse the sinnes of the children of Israel which wee haue sinned against thee The 1. Reason is Els we obtaine no forgiuenesse Secondly Els we haue no assurance that we haue repented séeing confession doth alwaies accompany repentance Thirdly Otherwise wée cannot rightly and throughly condemne our selues and cleare the Lord for punishing vs. Fourthly By the confession of our sinnes we are the more humbled and the better prepared to praier The Vse is First to reprooue all them that iustifie themselues like the proud Pharise and offer vp their owne workes as the Papistes doe Secondly to reprooue them that will not beare sharpe rebuke for their sinnes nor bee contented to be censured by those meanes that God hath prescribed by his word for the same purpose Thirdly it teacheth vs to loue them that admonish vs often and reprooue vs sharpely when wee haue offended estéeming them our déerest friends and auoiding them that flatter vs Leuit. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not to sinne Math. 18.18 Whatsoeuer you binde in earth c. seeing it is the meanes to bring vs to this confession which is so necessarie Text. Remember not the transgressions of my youth nor my rebellions Doct. 3 3. Doct. True repentance worketh in vs earnest and heartie praier The Reason is First In it we see our miseries in our selues and what néede wee haue to séeke to GOD for helpe Secondly It assureth vs of Gods loue to vs and readinesse to heare vs. Thirdly It encourageth vs to call on the name of the Lord who in our conuersion hath giuen vs experience of his vnspeakeable mercies The Vse is to teach vs to bee as diligent to performe this praier aright as wee are desirous to prooue to our owne hearts that our repentance is vnfained Doct. 4 4. Doct. All our praiers are to bee made to God alone Psa 50.15 Call vpon me c. Rom. 10.14 How shall they call vpon him of whome they haue not heard The 1. Reason It is he onely that can graunt vs our request Secondly We are not commaunded in the holy Scripture to call vpon any other and therefore if we doe it is not of faith and consequently it is sinne The Vse is First to reprooue the dotage of the heathen that praied to the Sunne Moone and Starres and of the Papistes that pray to Angels and Saints Secondly to teach vs to make all our praiers to GOD alone in the name of his Sonne Christ for such things as he hath promised in his word and in such maner as hee hath prescribed Nor my rebellions Text. Doct. 5 5. Doct. It is rebellion against the Lord to despise any of his lawes although all humane lawes should approoue vs therein The 1. Reason Reu. 19.16 God is King of Kings and will bee serued without exception Secondly Els God should yéeld vnto men Thirdly Wee are to obey men onely in the Lord and no further The Vse is First to reproue rulers that require obedience of their subiects to all their owne decrees not regarding whether God be disobeyed therby or no. Secondly to reprooue them that pretend mans lawes to excuse themselues in their sinnes as in the breach of the Sabboth contentednesse with the dumbe Ministerie putting of money to vsurie Thirdly it teacheth vs alwaies to hold this both in iudgement and practise It is better to obey God then man Act. 5.29 Doct. 6 6. Doct. It is our dutie so often as the Lord shal terrifie vs with his iudgements not onely to mourne sigh and lament but to repent vs not onely for our former sinnes committed in our youth but all other sinnes since which we can either call to mind hidden or vnknowne The Reason is The Lord may laye them all to our charge The Vse is that wee neuer flatter or stroke our selues in our vices but narrowly prye into them not into others as hypocrites doe but into our owne not to espie a moate in our brothers eye to cloke our hypocrisie but to pull out of our owne eyes not onely the beames but euen the verie moates therein But according to thy kindnesse remember me euen for thy goodnes sake Text. O Lord. Doct. 7 7. Doct. The children of God expect remission of their sinnes from none but from the mercy of God onely The Reason Sinne prouoketh Gods anger which is infinite and cannot be satisfied by any that is no more then a creature Secondly The Scriptures make the Lords mercie the first part of our righteousnesse Psal 32.1 Blessed is he whose wickednes is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered The Vse is To confute them that thinke they haue it in their owne fréewil to be saued Secondly To confute them that thinke to obtaine heauen by their merites Thirdly To reprooue them that seeke for the Popes pardons and Indulgences seeing it is the Lord of his méere mercie that doth pardon vs our sinnes Psal 25.8 Gracious and righteous is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way The sence is The 2. part of the 3. Sermon I Doubt not at all of the remission of my sinnes neither yet heereafter to leade an holy and innocent life séeing I consider and weigh the great goodnesse and gracious bountie of the liuing Lord as also his righteousnes in performing his promises which among others are that he will pardon the sinnes of the penitent and direct the way
the people of my wrath to take the spoyle and to take the pray and to treade them vnder feet like the mire in the streetes Ieremie 25.9 Beholde I will send and take to mee all the families of the North sayth the Lord Nabuchadnezzar the king of Babel my seruant and will bring them against this land and against the inhabitants thereof and against all these Nations round about and will destroy them and make them an astonishment and an hissing and a continuall desolation Exodus 1.13 Wherefore the Egyptians by crueltie caused the children of Israel to serue verse 14. Thus they made them wearie of their liues by sore labour in clay and in bricke and in all works in the fielde with all manner of bondage which they layde vpon them most cruelly Examples of their cruelties are many in all ages The Reason is because first they wil not do that worke of God negligently and so shall wee bee the more afflicted with it and the better humbled Secondly God wil thereby kéepe his people from familiaritie with the wicked Thirdly that his loue to vs may the better appeare in burning the rod vpon our repentance Vse The vse is to teach vs first that it is the lot of the godly to be punished by the wicked so was Christ so were the Apostles and Prophets then let vs looke for it and not murmur at it nor shrinke from the truth of it Secondly that sinne is a most vglie thing in Gods sight that causeth him to deale so seuerely with his dearest children Thirdly that we take héede of béeing in league with the wicked for they are our enemies and must scourge vs. If men do hate vs and despise vs let it put vs in mind that wée haue not loued our GOD and therefore it is good reason that wee should receiue such reward of hatred vpon our heads God then entendeth to trie our lowlinesse and patience in this behalfe by our méeke receiuing of the iniuries that men do to vs without stomaking thē For this delicate bringing vs vp in ease without enemies at our pleasures causeth vs to bee impatient so as wee cannot beare any thing so as if a man do but passe by vs with a frowning countenance it gréeueth vs yea it is such a corosiue vnto vs that wee know not which way to turne vs. Then if the Lord our God inure vs to the suffering of enmities wrongs and reproches let vs learne that therein hee procureth our welfare and profite to the intent that wee should be all whole and sound as they say And this is the cause that S. Paul saith 2. Cor. 6.7 that it behooueth vs to bee armed on both sides that wee may passe through enmitie shame and reproch as through amitie glorie and honour If men hate and detest vs let vs neuerthelesse take all patiently considering that we haue heretofore not walked in the wayes of God although that now wee doe For this is a most true saying and worthie of al men to bee receiued and learned that no affliction commeth vpon vs but for our sinnes and if he now afflict vs and we walke in his wayes hee doth it that wee may not bee ouercome of the same séeing hee nowe giueth vs power to beare it And thereupon it behooueth euerie one of vs to bethinke himselfe aduisedly and as soone as any man shall hate and persecute any of vs we must learn to acknowledge that God putteth vs in minde to make our owne accusation Euen the heathē Philosophers would say that our deadly enemies doe many times profite vs more then our friends Wherefore Our friendes beare with vs oftentimes which causeth vs to féed our owne vices For although their intent bée not to flatter vs yet notwithstanding the gentlenesse or rather the crueltie that they vse in bearing with vs is a cause that wée thinke not vpon our imperfections to amende them But our enemies doe praye vpon vs and séeke all the meanes that may bee to lay open all the faults that are in vs. Therefore when any man hateth or findeth fault with vs it behooueth vs to thinke thus I sée that God here citeth mée to make mine owne proces and to accuse my selfe that I may bee mine owne Iudge to condemne my selfe that by so doing my shame may be couered and buried And if wee know that such as hate vs haue cause so to doe although they doe it of malice yet notwithstanding lette vs not replie to say that this man is ledde by Sathan to reuenge although it bee true lette vs not looke on any such things but let vs pleade guiltie and pray vnto GOD in the name of Iesus Christ to blot out all our offences to the end wée may bee quitte both before GOD and the world Yea although wee know not any reason why our enemies should hate vs in that behalfe yet let vs acknowledge that although we bee not guiltie in that poynt whereof wee are blamed yet haue wee many other vices whereof wee are guiltie but our good God spareth vs and will not haue them come to the knowledge of men If it pleased him to stirre abroad all our filthinesse what a stinke would there be Let vs consider that by that meanes God intēdeth to set secretly before our eies the sinne which wee would haue cast behind our backs and that is to make vs to hate the euill that is in vs without any flattering of our selues If men do blame vs for executing of our offices and duties faithfully for following Gods word zealously and sincerely lette vs assure our selues that Gods will is that our receiuing of such a reward shall bee to the end that wee should looke for a better at his hand And if wee sée no cause at all but are vtterly abashed in our selues let vs not therefore cease to say O Lord thou art righteous whatsoeuer come of it And herewithall let vs endeuour to profite our selues by all the chastisements which God sendeth vs from day to day and let vs vnderstand that therby God intendeth to fashiō vs to praise and glorifie him euen when wee sée good men hated and persecuted For as euerie one of vs ought to bee patient and by his patience to praise God for all things that hee suffereth so also must we not blame him but rather as Dauid here doth pray vnto him when we sée him suffer good men to bee hated and persecuted wherefore lette vs not bée too much grieued when wee sée them so hardly vsed Wée sée Dauids estate he was a patterne of al holinesse a man after Gods owne heart and yet notwithstanding we sée him in such misery by the hatred of his enemies that he seemeth to bee vtterly past recouerie Can we blame God in this behalfe Nay rather when wée sée such afflictions come vpon others or our selues lette vs humble our selues And although the reason why God doth so be not apparant vnto vs yet notwithstanding let vs assure
our selues that GOD doth it not without cause and therefore wee ought to glorifie him in all his iudgements although they bee incomprehensible to vs. Psalme 25.20 Keepe my soule deliuer me let me not be confounded for I trust in thee The second part of the ninth Sermon The sence is FOrasmuch O Lord my God as all my whole trust and confidence I repose in thy mercie and none in flesh bloud nor any other meanes whatsoeuer to be deliuered from perill and danger which mine enemies to the losse of my life yea to my vtter confusion doe lie in waite to inflict vpon mée and forasmuch as thou art a God of power and therefore art able to deliuer a God of compassion and therefore regardest the afflictions of thy déere children trusting and calling vpon thée in their afflictions and aduersities I humbly beséech thée for Iesus Christs sake the Messiah to come to kéepe and preserue my foule from destruction and my bodie from the tortures which mine enemies would lay vpon it so shall I glorifie thy name among thy Saints in the great congregation and after this life sing prayses with the Saints and Angels in thy kingdome to thy glorious name for euer Doct. 1 1. Doct. Whoso trusteth in the Lord in the time of persecution by his enemies will flie to him to preserue his soule and his body by prayer The Reason is Where hope in God is there is also prayer to God seeing it springeth necessarily from it as the fruit doth from the trée The vse is That as we would be assured that we hope in God so also that wee exercise prayer séeing that wee cannot assure our selues of the cause without the effect Lette vs therefore according to his commandement in our afflictions and necessities seeke to GOD in the name of Iesus Christ for succour by continuall prayer and calling vpon his name Let vs call vpon him in the day time and in the night season lette vs powre out our complaints before him daylie and hourely let vs make our prayers vnto him although wee feele our selues nothing released but oftētimes worse worse which maketh vs oftentimes almost to doubt of his goodnes Psa 77. that he doth reiect and giueth no heede vnto them whereby we almost thinke it in vaine to pray séeing that we finde no release But this is our weakenesse and frailtie of our flesh which will not willingly bee subdued to the spirite Which lette vs beséech the Lord to forgiue vs for hee séeth our conflicts and looketh vpon our continuall sighes and petitions but hee deferreth and prolongeth his helpe the longer and doth not at the first helpe vs to this ende that wee may sée fully our owne weaknesse learne by little and little to subdue our rebellions to his gratious will who knoweth better what is meete for vs then we for our selues Therefore lette vs beseech him to strengthen vs by his holie spirite that wee may still perseuere and continue in prayer and with longing desires patiently waite for him being fully assured that although it presently appeare not yet hee is alwaies present with vs and heareth our sighes and complaints and will when hee seeth his time declare himselfe manifestly in kéeping our soules and deliuering our bodies in preseruing vs from confusion and in renuing our harts with spirituall ioy Lette vs earnestly entreate him to stirre vp our dull and sluggish nature to call vpon him continually appoynting him neither the time nor the meanes of our deliuerance but leauing al to his good will and pleasure we may in the meane time neuer cease by continuall prayer to call for his merciful helpe and assistance vntil such time it shal please his goodnesse to send vs full deliuerance Although wee féele our selues through the malice of Sathan verie vnwilling to prayer seeing that wee doe not fully perceiue them to bee heard but goe on still languishing in our sorrowes as though GOD had no care of vs. Yet this our dulnesse let vs entreate our mercifull father to pardon in vs and grant that wee may bee raised vp and pray for aide and reliefe of him continually and although we should sée no signe of fauour yet that we may continue still with the faithfull woman of Canaan and neuer cease in heart mind and mouth till he graunt our requests at his appoynted time when he knoweth it shall be most méete for our behoofe and his glorie And that when the Lord shall mercifully looke vpon vs we then fully with our whole hearts acknowledge his goodnesse towards vs and let it neuer slippe out of our hearts but continue thankfull for the same all the dayes of our liues whereby his glorie in vs may be declared and our soules relieued The tenth Sermon vpon the 25. Psalme verses 21.22 21. Let mine vprightnes and equitie preserue me for my hope is in thee The sence is O Lord my God whereas mine aduersaries persecute me thou knowest that they haue no iust cause so to doe séeing that thou hast giuen me integritie vprightnesse and iustice and seeing that it is not sufficient to bee of a sound and vpright conscience to bee deliuered from dangers but to trust to thy swéete promises therfore my safetie O Lord I committe to thy protection 1. Doct. The best way to stay vs in the time of our trouble to kéep our patience inuiolable is to look in for a good conscience sée that we be falsly accused which if we find thē al goeth well we are ioyfull at home howsoeuer the world shall say or doe abroad for wee may say with Salomon See the root therof Leu. 16.17 Prou. 28.1 Euerie wicked man flyeth when none pursueth but the iust are like a yong Lyon which is couragious This holy Prouerbe teacheth that wickednesse maketh the wicked verie fearefull and that righteousnesse maketh the innocent secure and bold In it first the wicked man is resembled to a bird or some such timorous creature which betaketh it selfe to flight when no cause is offered For the guiltie person after he hath committed some abominable act as theft or murther imagineth that some lie in waite for him doubteth he shal be taken the reason is for the although none is néere to pursue him yet the sound of terrour is in his eares as the Aramites are for example who cāping about Samaria 2. Kin. 6.7 The Lord had caused the campe of the Aramites to heare a noyse of chariots and a noyse of horses and a noyse of a great armie so that they sayd one to another Behold the kind of Israel hath hired against vs the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to come vpon vs. vers 7. Wherfore they arose and fled in the twylight and left their tents and their horses and their asses euen the campe as it was and fled for their liues The sting of conscience will not suffer him to be quiet in any place But the iust as