vilenesse oâ—… our sinnes wholely before the throne of thy iustice that wee finde it to be a throne of grace and mercie vnto vs in Iesus Christ our Lord. Now O Lord the searcher of the hearts and reynes thou knowing this to be the humble and single desire of our hearts we flye vnto thee for refuge beseeching thee by thy holy spirit to worke in vs a clearer sight of the wisedome of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby our mindes may be further cleared from blindnes and we haue a clearer sight of the whole misterie of our saluation in him and graunt vs God a fuller perswasion of the discharge of all our sinnes in his death and of the imputation of his righteousnesse vnto vs in his resurrection that the guiltinesse of our conscience may daily more and more goe away from vs and peace of the same be confirmed in vs especially in the time of our temptation and trouble the day of our death and the houre of iudgement And next most mercifull Father graunt vs a more powerfell experience of his death killing sinne in vs and of his resurrection raising vs vp vnto a new life that daily we may be lesse sinfull and more holy righteous and sober in this present life that so also wee may haue a more sure and stedfast hope in his redemption and may more strongly resist the vanities of this world in false pleasures profits and glories and more patiently endure all manner of miseries of the same which may befall vs vntill his glorious appearing when he shal come to bee glorious in his Saintes and made maruellous in all those which beleeue in him Amen Furthermore O Lord whereas we are priuie to our selues or it is knowne vnto others or vnto thee that thereby any sinne or sinnes more strange in vs through our corrupt nature or custome or the temptatioÌ„ of others or of the tempter we beseech thee that there we may labour to finde the precious death of our Lord Iesus Christ more powerfull in subduing the same and whereas through vnabilitie of nature want of meanes or grace wee are weaker in any duties of well-doing there wee may striue to finde the vertue of his glorious resurrection more effectuall in raising vs vp in meanes of life so that our familiar corruptions being cured and our speciall infirmities beeing relieued wee may be also endued as with generall graces meete for all Christians so with such peculiar graces as may be meete for our callings and inable vs to gloriâ—…ie thy holy name build vp others in well doing and treasure vp the fruites of a good conscience for our selues at all times and especially in our neede And in this behalfe the desire of our heart is that thy holy spirit worke in vs the renouncing of our reason so farre forth as it is blinde and the crucifying of our affections so farre forth as they be corrupt that so wee may offer them vp with soule and body in sacrifice of humiliation and that hauing receiued these graces we may also oâ—…er them vp in a sacrifice of obedience vnto thy gracious Maiestie And wherein soeuer wee haue doe or shall with thy graces obey thee wee desire to offer vp thy graces our obedience and our selues in a sacrifice of thankesgiuing and praising of thy holy and blessed name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen All thy waies O Lord we acknowledge to be mercie and truth we beseech thee therefore giue vs the holy fruites of all the good meanes thou hast heretofore wrought our good by as thy holy and sweete promises preached vnto vs red of vs meditated vpon by our selues or conferred of with others the prayers thankesgiuings Psalmes Hymnes of our selues our friends and thy church thy sacred Sacraments the ministeric of thy holy Angels the coÌ„munion of thy Saints admonitioÌ„ which hath bin giueÌ„ vs for our good most humbly entreating that we may haue sanctified vnto vs the remembrance of thy former mercies bestowed vpoÌ„ thy church vpoÌ„ any member therof or vpoÌ„ our selues either in benefits or in crosses albeit our nature is most impatieÌ„t either of reproches offred vnto vs by our enemies or any iniuries by our friends yet herein we feruently aske of thy wise and mercifull goodnes that wee may reape a good fruite euen of such euill meanes And because wee grow to be acquainted with the pride of ourspirits and sloathfulnesse of our flesh and fewe meanes are left vs and many offences by our selues conceiued by others and Sathan offered do alreadie and are daily like more to assaile vs O Lord thou which hast bene our God euen from our first birth especially since our new birth bee thou the God of our middle age yea of our old dayes if wee liue so long vntill thou finish the last worke of our new birth begun and continued thus farre in vs. To this ende we aske of thee that we may vow and receiuing grace from thee wee doo vowe to vse all these forenamed good meanes of our saluation more mercifully then yet euer we vsed them in vsing of them wee aske more feare of thy Maiestie faith of thy promises purenesse of our hearts loue vnto others and withall blessing and fruite more aboundant that our latter workes may be better then our former Wofull experience O blessed Sauiour teacheth and moueth vs to call vpon thee as for these former things so to be preserued and protected by thy almightie and mercifull grace from our owne corruption to come from all Sathans temptations and accusations from all manner of contagion of the vngodly in their iniuries reproches and in their benefites praises their sorceries inchantments yea from any hurt of thy children as they be not regenerate from any hurt by thy creatures so farre forth as any of these things may hurt our saluation Former experience Ô mightie God and mercifull Father ought not onely to teach but also to enforce vs to giue thee thankes praise and glory for thy former mercies vpon vs and thy Church bestowed but wherein thou hast prouided for vs many arguments of strength of faith or ignorance forgetfulneâ—…e negligence and want of reuerence of thy mercies receiued minister iust cause of humiliation and therefore in some faith in and thankfulnesse for thy former mercifull blessings and yet in much weakenesse in the merits of Iesus Christ our Lord with our whole heart we beseech thee giue vs a good portion of thy spirit to call carefully thy benefites to our remembrance wisely to vnderstand them and reuerently to regard and truly to be thankfull for them in minde in heart in word and deed through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Wee beseech thee most mightie God and mercifull Father to make partakers of our praiers and thankesgiuings all the whole Church and euery member therof especially where dutie most chargeth promise bindeth necessitie craueth and thy glory chalengeth c. LEt the rich seeke for the godly wise and learned
SPIRITVALL PRESERVATIVES against the Pestilence OR SEVEN LECTVRES ON the 91. Psalme First Printed in Anno. 1593. And now reuised corrected and published as generally for the instruction of ignorant people so specially for the confirmation of the weake seruants of Iesus Christ describing the most diuine and most soueraigne Preseruatiues against the pestilence By H. Holland Hereunro is added a sweete Prayer of M. R. Greenhams neuer before published Leuit. 26. 25. I will send a sword vpon you that shall auenge the quarell of my couenant when ye are gathered in your cities I will send the Pestilence among you LONDON Printed by T. C. for Iohn Browne and Roger Iackson 1603. The Contents of this Booke 1 Q. What benefit comfort and rest Gods peop'e receiue by faith against the Pestilence 2 Q. Wherefore the Lord smiteth his people with the Pestilence 3 Q. How the wicked spirits are Gods speciall instruments in the Pestilence 4 Q. That a good conscience is a speciall preseruatiue against the Pestilence 5 Q. How graciously the Lord preserues his people by his holy Angels in the Pestilence 6 Q What wonderfull communion there is betweene Christ and his holy members best knowne to Gods people in afflictions 7 Of the visitation of the sicke in all diseases TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SYR ROBERT LEE LORD Maior of the Citie of London and to the Right Worshipfull Syr Iames Pemberton and Syr Iohn Swinerton Knights and Sheriffes and to the Right Worshipfull the Aldermer their brethren H. H wisheth all graces to be mulâ—…plied by Gods holy spirit as for the gouernment of the said Citie so for their owne euerlasting saluation in Iesus Christ. THe Almightie God Right Honourable and Worshipfull in all ages of the woride hath euer reclaimed his people from their sinnes by sundry his most iust indgements and correstions and warned them by his manifold mercies and blessings saith the holie psalmist To walke vprightly in his statutes and to obserue his lawes There is no nation in all Europe freed from the bondage of Antichrist and professing the bolie Gospell of Iesus Christ so entreated both waies for many yeares as we haue bene The Lords mercies and blessings cannot be numbred take a short view of his chasticements and fatherly corrections vppon vs. He hath put vs in minde of our disobedience often by the pestilence which is one speciall reuenger of his couenant And for many yeares past he neuer left pleading with vs by warres famine or by pestilence but in all euils when we cried vnto him he soone called backe his anger and did not stir vp all his wrath against vs. Now againe when we thought all our sorrowes to be paft that our blessed King should seale vp conclude our peace with God man yet still the Lord proclaimes his wrath against vs For we be not vpright with him neither are we faithfull in his couenant Sundrie stories haue recorded how in all ages the Lorde hath swept away multitudes with the pestilence In the yeare of Christ 81. when Vespasian was Emperour and againe in the yeare of Christ 188. in the daies of Commodus the Emperour there dâ—…d daily in Rome of the pestilence no lesse then 2000. Againe in Anno. 254. there were fifteene prouinces of the Romane Empire Incredibiliter exhaustae saith one wonderfully wasted with the pestilence In the yeare 530. in Iustinians time in Constantinople and there-abouts there died 5000. euery day interdum etiam decem millia sometimes 10000. And in an other part of Greece it is said the plague destroied so many that there were none liuing to bury the dead The stories of the Church speake often of most greeuous plagues vpon the Pagans for afflicting Gods people for this cause Anno. 540. there was an vniuersall plague 50. yeares togither which most greeuously consumed and tormented saith Euagrius all the world And in Italy it is said that An. 1359. the pestilence destroied so many that there scarce remained 10. of a thousand And in Rome where the sonne of perdition sitteth as God in the Temple of God was a plague Ann. 1521. that consumed aboue an hundreth thousand people And since the Gospel began to shine foorth in Germany and other parts of the world the Lord hath consumed and wafted diuerse Cities in the Popes dominions in Italy again as Millan Padua Venice and many moe about the yeare 1576. and 1577. with a most greeuous pestuence which destroied a hundreth thousand in a Citie And it is thought the litle kingdome of Bohemia lost no lesse then 300000. of the plague about the same time In the elder Church of the Iewes the Lorde often in a short time destroied thousands millions as for the sinnes of his people with the Moabites the plague burst in vpon them saith the psalmist and smote 24. thousand And in Dauids time in three dates 70000. When we consider this hand of God so mightie in consuming thousandes in great wrath both in the Church and without both in elder times and of late yeares both in forrein nations otherwhiles in this land and in this Honorable Citie how is it that we do not extoll the most admirable lenitie and fatherly forbearing hand of the Lorde vppon vs in these daies for we shall seldome read or see such gleaning of a few with such patience and long suffering as the Lord hath done with vs. Manie haue a brutish feare worldly sorow as it seemeth because of the losse of their long peace prosperitie but some again on the other side are so foole-hardie that they feare nothing and thinke these louing warnings of the Lord to be but ordinarie and therefore not to be feared and neither regard as Christians anie amendment of life nor as good Citizens good and wise orders appointed for the preseruation of this honorable Citie and the health of the Lordes people The greatest sort flie alwaies from the Lord as in the lesser euils so in this great calamitie to all the naturall helps that can be found and yet receiue small benefit as we all see in the end because they seeke not in the first place to those most precious spiritual preseruatiues helps which the Lord offereth vs against the pestilence Reason phisicke daily experience can teach vs that some secret causes worke in this plague more then in any other For this cause R. H. W. and to satisfie the request of some friendes I was content this Treatise containing I trust some comfortable spiritual helpes against the pectilence should be published for the benefit I hope of some of Gods people Now my humble request vnto your Honor and Worships is that as you be wise prouident and circumspect and verie carefull to remoue all naturall causes which seeme to breede and do indeede give strength vnto this venemous contagion by obserâ—…ation of politicke orders in all the parts of this Honorable citie so
Pestilence 3. To what ende the Lorde thus smiteth his owne people in the Church with the Pestilence and what vse we are to make of this and of all kindes of afflictions To come then to the Booke of God first let vs learne I say wherefore the Lord hath sent in all ages this destroyer into the world And next we will in like manner consider of the instruments and meanes whereby the Lorde poysoneth the Elements and so smiteth man with the Pestilence And lastly to what ende hee thus proceeds in execution of his feareful iudgements The causes which moue the Lorde to persecute the worlde vniuersally with the Pestilence are the intollerable sinnes of men and in the Church these speciall impieties and wickednesses which followe as motiues and causes of this euill are offered vnto our wise and godly consideration First I sinde that ignorance contempt and negligēce in the pure worship of God causeth the Lord to smite vs with the Pestilence Moses saith to Pharaoh Exod. 5. 3. Let vs goe three dayes iourney into the wildernesse and sacrifice vnto the Lord our God Then hee addeth this reason Least he bring vpon vs the Pestilence or sword Contrarily to the true worshipper it is said The Lord shall blesse thy bread and thy water and I will take away all sicknesse from the midst of thee A second cause is infidelitie and rebellion against the word and the holy ministrie of the same Thus saith the Lord Num. 14. 11. 12. How long will this people prouoke me◅ How long will it be ere they beleeue me Here is the cause I will smite them with the Pestilence Here is the effect A third cause is this to trust to the creatures in extremities and not in the Lorde as to men and armour in times of warre this was Dauids sinne for it is said Sathan stood vp against Israel and prouoked Dauid to number Israel 1. Chron. Chap. 21. verse 1. Here is the cause So the Lord sent a Pestilence and there feli of Israel seuentie thousand men verse 14. Here is the effect Contrary vnto this sinne is the patient resting of the faithful vpō god in aducisities to whom it is said Who so dwelleth in the secret of the most high shall abide in the shadow of the Almightie A fourth cause wee finde is spirituall and corporall whoredome and all superstition whatsoeuer of this cause Moses writeth Num. 25. and Dauid Psalme 106. 28. 29 They ioyned themselues vnto Baal-peor and did eate the offerings of the dead thus they prouoked God to anger with their owne inuentions thus farre the cause the effect And the Plague breake in vpon them A fifth cause is blasphemie and all the prophanation of the most great and glorious name of God and the want of a due feare and reuerence in his worship according to his name power and maiestie If thou wilt not feare this glorious and fearefull name of the Lord thy God Here is the cause want of reuerence of God and all that is contrary to this feare all prophanation of this great name of God the effect followeth Then will I make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed euen great plagues and of long continuance and sore diseases and of long durance all the diseases of Egypt e◅ery plague c. A sixt cause is the gracelesse contempt of the holy word and of the messengers and Ministers of the same Thus saith Ieremie to the Iewes in Ierusalem which would not be taught by Gods word and despised the Prophets of God chap. 29. 18. I will persecute them with the sword with the famine and with the Pestilence Here is the effect first the cause followeth because they haue not heard I. obeyed my word saith the Lord which I sent vnto them by my seruants the Prophets c. In the seuenth place all the sins of Sodome pride fulnes of bread want of mercy idlenes c. may be numbred These caused the famine warres and pestilence in Zedekiahs miserable kingdome Ezech. 16. 46. 47. and Iere. 29. 17. 18 And the eight cause is the affliction grieuance of Gods people Tyre and Sidon they shal be smitten from the Lord with the pestilence saith Ezechiel for afflicting Gods people I will send her pestilence and blood into her streetes the cause is added they shall be no more a pricking thorne vnto the house of Israel nor a grieuous thorne Eusebius speaking of the famine warres and pestilence in the East parts vnder Maximinius and at the same time in Rome and West parts vnder Maxentius he sheweth the cause in these wordes Quis autem sicausam tantorum malorum inquirat persecutionem aduersus nos motam causae loco assignare dubitauerit c. Who shall doubt to affirme that the persecution or affliction of Gods Church and people was the cause of all the euils that fell vpon the world vnder those two Tyrants for tenne yeares space for when they gaue libertie to the Christians their plague ceased To the same purpose he writeth againe in the same story shewing how all the calamities which came vpon the world they are sent from God for the affliction of his people Let the ninth cause bee the abuse of the holy Sacraments as in generall of all diseases so no doubt one especiall of the pestilence Thus the Apostle speaketh For this cause meaning the abuse of his Sacrament first many are weake secondly many are sicke thirdly many are asleepe i. dead already I. Cor. 11. 30. This also is a generall impietie which hath ouer-spread Citie Towne and Countrey for Saboths and Sacraments be exceedingly prophaned by reason of the blinde ministrie of the land Christ is not preached his diuine mystries be not opened to the people The precious and the vile are alike accepted to the Lordes Table The idolater and blasphemer the murderer and bloody man the adulterer and whoremonger the vsurer and oppressor are thought worthy men to sit and feast with Iesus Chaist The tenth cause the Lorde Iesus saith the Pestilence is one of the messengrs of his comming These messengers some of them are long before Luke 21. verse 12. as persecution for the Gospell Before all these they shall lay hands on you c. Some not long before as famine warres Pestilence earthquakes c. verse 9. But after these the ende followeth not by and by some shall be euen in his comming verse 26 the powers of heauen to be shaken the Sun to be darkned the Moone to loose her light the starres to fall the whole frame of heauen to passe away with a noise 2. Peter 3. 10. the element◅ and the whole earth to consume away with heat and lastly the great signe of the sonne of man shall appeare The Plague then in these times is the sword of reuenge drawne foorth against all nations when the Lorde sendeth it for the contempt of the Gospell of
serue him 3. They do Gods will 4. They do it faithfully according to his word Thus far for the first point The 2. thing to be knowne is their loue to Gods Church and great care ouer the faithfull members of the same And certainly their loue is great For it is saide they reioyce ouer one sinner that repenteth and turneth vnto God The Psalmist testifieth of their loue and care when hee faith They pitch their tents round about them which feare the Lorde and desiuer them And here it is said they beare them like as louing parents nurces do their children in their hands and armes to keepe them from scandals and offences And the Lord giueth them in charge thus to doo faith this Prophet heere And hence it is the Author to the Hebrewes describeth them to be Ministring spirits sent from their sakes which shall be heires of saluation And as for their number wee must not curiously search how many each man hath to keepe him for the scriptures tell vs that sometimes many are sent to one man and againe sometimes one Angell is sent for the deliuerance of the whole Church To saue Elisha against the king of Syria the mountaine was full of horses and chariets of fire round about Elisha But in Daâ—â—els time one Angell seemeth to be sent for the protection of the whole Church And in Ezechias time one was of streÌ„gth sufficient to kil and destroy in one night 185000. of the enemies of Gods people And if yet we further desire to learn what ther causes besides that speciall charge of God moue them so to loue vs affect vs and to minister vnto vs for our protection and deliuerance the holy Ghost teacheth vs that first they are members with vs of one bodie which is the whole catholicke Church wherof part is triumphant in heauen part militant vpon earth secondly they haue with vs one spirit for their Lord as to conuert and sanctifie 〈◊〉 so to confirm them in the truth Thirdly they haue with vs one Gospel of comâ—…ort for the Angels saith Peter desire to â—…ehold the mysteries therein contained â—…or their confirmation and our conuersion and euerlasting saluation They are present in the holy assemblies reioyce no doubt greatly to see the Gospell of Iesus Christ preached vnto theiâ—…â—…retheren Lastly they haue one head with vs euen Iesus Christ our Lorde this the Apostle speaketh Christ is set at the right hand of the father in heauenly places farre aboue all principalitie and power and might and domination and euery nâ—…me that is named not in this worlde but also in that that is to come and hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feete and hath giuen him ouer all things to bee the head to the Church which is his boâ—…y euen the fulnesse of â—…im that â—…th all things Here foolish Rabbims obiect by occasion of the words of this Psalme Of bearing in their hands That the holy and elect are more worthy persons and more honorable then the Angels because the Angels must as it were attend vpon them and keepe them Their reasons are weake and they too too curious for parents beare children and yet the children are not the â—…re worthy the good shepheard finâ—…th the sheepe which was lost and carrieth it home on his shoulders and yet is not the sheep more worthy then the shepâ—…eard An other question is here demanded of their appearance what letteth it now more then in elder times They know now their visible appearance is both needelesse and dangerous 1. Needlesse for instruction for they know we haue now in the booke of God all the counsell of God reuealed vnto vs so they had not in the old times in that cleare maner that we haue 2. Needlesse for our protection for they can do this inuisibly as well as in sight Elishas guard was as strong and as faithfull before he sawe them as after Lastly their â—…ppearance now is dangerous since Antichrist hath peruerted many with the false worship and inuocation of Angels for since this Idolatrie crept into the Church wee know assuredly that wicked spirits haue taken the forme of good Angels and haue bene adored of miserable men and so deluded many And the visible appearance vnto men would be more terrible in these daies then it was to Manoab and his wife Iudg. 13. And thus farre of their loue towardes the Saints The third and last point to be considered briefly is how long their charge lasteth ouer vs the answere is So long as they walke in their wayes This is that which Sathan left out when hee made assault against Christ for hee can both pare and shred the scriptures and stretch them also otherwhiles to serue his purpose So he can heape vp iudgements to terrifie and amaze poore consciences which are humbled and multiply mercies before such as stand to breede in them dangerous presumptions By these words Their wayes The Psalmist vnderstandeth our seuerall vocations wherein we must walke circumspectly and not rashly runne forth to any vnlawfull meanes as Sathan would haue Christ to do for so doing wee shall tempt God as Christ answereth the diuell in the second temptation Here then we are taught to walke wisely within our boundes and not to vse vnlawfull meanes or to neglect the good meanes giuen vs of God for our benefit and good We must not â—…lie in the ayre for God hath not giuen vs wings to flye but legges to walke We must not talke of reuelations for God doth not so teach vs now but by his written word Wee must not goe to witches in extremitie to theft in pouertie for so wee walke out of our wâ—… and the holy Angels forsake vs 〈◊〉 wicked spirits will maister vs and confound vs. The workes of our calling are called in scripture the way wherein we must walke desiring the Lord to blesse them and all lawfull meanes appointed for vs. Now to make vse of this doctrine briefly for our present purpose no doubt of all other spirituall preseruatiues this of the Angels is one of the best against the pestilence For we may not doubt but â—…mly beleeue they pitch their tents and â—…et as it were an hedge about vs for our custodie and preseruation as the diuell conâ—…esseth it of Iobs protection So then consider euill angels are cruel good Angels are mercifull euill angels are olde and subtile good Angels are of â—…ke yeares and more wise euil angels are very expert to send forth venimous exhalations to poyson the ayre the good Angels are more wise to purge the same the euill angels are strong and mightie but they be fearefull and feare abates strength the good angels are more mightie and excell them in strength and voyd of feare for that they be voyd of 〈◊〉 To bee short looke wherein the euâ—…â—…ngels haue any might to hurt vs and annoy
speaketh we shall hardly finde one such amongst a thousand Thirdly he addeth they must be the Elders of the church that is such as are best knowne to thee thine owne wise pastor c. which can best discerne al thy sores or that minister which hath bene Gods most holy ordinance either for thy conuersion or confirmation Question BVt here now a question may bee demanded whether the same Ministers of God which serue the Lord in their publike ministry and come to the holy assemblies are charged also in this place to attend vpon the visitatiō of the sicke in time of pestilence Answere TO this I answer with men of iudgement that it were very expedient that at such times there should be certaine speciall men chosen for this purpose men knowne both for their ministery godlinesse and sinceritie of life who should not neglect their dutie concerning eyther the soules or bodies of the faithfull which they could performe or cause any way to be done for their good Secondly I answere that I cannot see how the Pastor notwithstanding can neglect any of his slocke committed of the Lord vnto his charge in any calamitie or the pestilence For the Apostles charge is so general in my iudgement that it excludeth all exceptions of persons time and sicknesse Any man may send in any sicknesse for the Elders of the Church But here let wise Christians be carefull as not to abuse the loue of their kinsfolkes and friends so to preferre the health of all the congregation before their own and so to striue to content themselues with the presence of such as the magistrates haue selected and appointed for this purpose This religious loue care for the church was in Boz who being sicke himselfe of the plague at Lausanna would not haue M. Ioh. Caluin and P. Viret to come vnto him when they offered freely most lo◅ingly to come visit him because saith he we must preferre the benefit of Gods Church and the glorie of God before our owne comforts and the preseruation of our owne life Fourthly these men must be men of great loue mercy compassion for this cause hee willeth vs to take the Elders of our Church that is such louing knowne mercifull men as can will mourne with vs and for vs. Psal 41. 1. Blessed is hee that iudgeth wisely of the poore the Lord shall deliuer him in time of trouble A notable example of this compassion is in Iobs friends for first they came to comfort him secondly they wept greatly when they sawe him thirdly their great griefe is signified in renting of their cloathes fourthly their compassion in sitting by him seuen dayes and seuen nights in silence This is the time when Gods children must striue to shew their affection and brotherly kindnesse towards the Saints Fifthly these holy Elders which visit the sicke must affect one thing be of one minde and of one accord for the cri◅s and praiers of such men be very strong and can soonest and best preuaile with the Lord according to his owne truth holy promise Uerely I say vnto you that if two of you shall agree in earth vpon any thing whatsoeuer they shall desire it shall be giuen them of my father which is in heauen for where two or three are gathered togither in my name there am I in the midst of them The truth of this promise is to be seene in the practise and praier of the holy Saints The disciples which were met togither to pray for the good successe of the gospel for spirituall courage boldnesle in their ministry for the cōfirmatiō of their doctrine by signes wonders I it is said of the whole multitude of thē which beleeued there prayed That they were of one heart of one soule Ast. 4. 31. 32. They lift vp their voyces vnto God with one accord ver se 24. 3. After prayer they obteined all that they asked For it is said first that they were confirmed presently with a myracle The place was shaken where they were assembled togither and all were filled with the holy Ghost vers 31. 2. They receiued their second request spirituall boldnesse courage for it is said they spake the word of God boldly ver 31. 3. Lastly the Gospell was more glorified had a more free passage daily And the day of Penticost when they waited togither in praier for the gifts of the holy Ghost It is said they were altogither with one accord in one place And the holy Disciples which beleeued they are said that in hearing the word in praier they continued with one accorde daily in the Temple These Elders then of whom Iames speaketh must be thus affected Religious men faithfull men deuout men righteous men and such will not lightly iarre or disagree but be most carefull to keepe the bandes of loue in holy peace and vnitie with heart and minde affecting one thing and bearing with them of weaker iudgement till the Lord hath reuealed better things vnto them These men thus hauing one heart and one mouth may send forth such cries vnto the Lord as shall be heard and none other Sixtly S. Iames requireth that they be faithfull men righteous men and m◅n of good feeling They must haue faith for otherwise they cannot pray as wee haue before shewed ver 15. of that 19. Psalme they must be righteous men for otherwise they shall be reiected of God in this sacrifice which they offer Pro. 21. 27. and the sicke can haue no comfort in them And they must haue a good feeling of the wants of their brother otherwise their praier will not worke and be effectuall so the promise is to be vnderstood the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much which is working and effectuall Seuenthly they must instruct and admonish the patient and by mutuall conference so stirre him vp to open and re◅eale such sinnes and euils as most grieue his hart and conscience They must know his passions his life his calling his knowledge his feare his affections his loue and all his conuersation and how long he hath knowne Iesus Christ. Againe here they must be wise to discerne whether Sathan hath wounded him with any siery dart and so hath caused him to doubt of his election vocation faith repentance c. They must be prouided of examples which may shewe him how that other of Gods children haue so bene smitten haue languished long and yet at last were graciously restored But nothing comparable to our owne experience Here let them pray earnestly for the spirit of iudgement for that Sathan hath many strange inuisible delusions and remember the prouerbe That a gracious speech heateth the passions of the soule A word spoken in his place is like app◅es of golde with pictures of siluer Eightly Saint Iames requireth in the visitors of the sicke verse 15. a praier of faith They must