and so in due time to apply the same Though his sin against God be pardoned yet there is a trespasse committed against men and therfore the child must die for the making vp of this breach and Dauid must haue his heart broken hereby in mourning for the childe and so making way hereby for a more hearty sorrow for his sin the cause therof And this sorrow for the child shal be in the end accompanied with rest for the departure thereof to confound the wisdome of the flesh therein so to testifie his subiection to the wil of God thereby in the particular assurance of the welfare of the child to include his owne interest in that happinesse which the child had attained And so he that had yet little sensible comfort of the pardon of his sinne yet makes conscience to adde sinne vnto sinne whereof before he was too lauish and therefore hee comforts Bathshaba as a pledge that God sanctified his former sinne and changed his adulterous estate into holy wedlocke and so the Lord giueth a blessing hereunto by sealing vp the same with the fruit of the wombe and blessing the fruite to sit vpon his loynes and the destruction of the enemies Thus doth the wise Lord mingle his comforts with his chastisements that so he might bee the better able to endure what was to follow and to answer the Lord thereby in the worke of repentance And was there not great neede that he should be preuented with such cordials that so hee might the better endure such bitter storms that fel thick afterward vpon him euen to the wasting not only of his marrow but euen of his secret parts purest quintessence that he is not only forced to cōplaine that his bones were dis-iointed his flesh putrified his skin parched but also that his soule claue vnto the dust and refused comfort his ioy was gone and bitter sorrow of spirit ouerwhelmed him on euery side And that so farre forth that he was afraid that he was cast off quite that the spirit of God was vtterly departed from him that the worke of his renued heart was vtterly abolished Psal 51.10 What stormes here also fell vpon his good name by the raylings of Shimei because he had caused the Name of God to be blasphemed 2. Sam. 16. What heauie stormes fell vpon his Estate when hee was not onely thrust out of his Kingdome but pursued for his life What trecherie of his dearest Councellors because he had reiected the councell of God As the Word doth plentifully witnesse so doth it hereby make it good vnto vs that the deare seruant of God so deepely smarted for his sweet sinne that not onely in the iudgement of others but to his owne apprehension he felt himselfe no better then a Cast-away as forsaken of men so also forsaken of God as one free among the dead and quite out of mind whose hope was perished from the Earth Thus is it apparant in Dauids case that the Saints haue not onely fallen into grieuous and desperate sinnes but haue also thereby beene plunged into such desperate extremities as that in stead of growing in grace they may seeme to haue lost all yea so to haue lost them as that they haue neuer recouered againe at least not that Measure they formerly had The like may be instanced in the case of Salomon that Iedidiah beloued of God that type of Christ as also in Samson another figure of Christ in Peter the Apostle of the Iewes Ionas and many others And yet euen out of this darkenesse ariseth this light for our comfort herein that seeing these were the deare seruants of God called effectually by the blessed spirit and sealed vp to be his not onely by the inward worke of the spirit but also by outward euidences manifest to the Church of God therefore notwithstanding their grieuous falls and faintings they were still the same in the inward purposes of God howsoeuer they differed in the outward exhibition thereof and so did secretly thriue in the generall howsoeuer they might fayle for a time in particulars And so hereupon the Conclusion may be drawne for the stablishing of all others that haue sinned accordingly that notwithstanding their desperate falls and desertions yet they were and so still are the children of God and so shall in time be recouered out of their faylings shall bring forth yet more fruit in their old age though not sensible to the world which must stumble at them yet apparant to the spirit yea also in some measure to their owne hearts For the manifestation hereof a second Conclusion is to bee added Namely That the desertions and fallings of the Saints both into sinne and tentations thereon are farre different from those of the Hypocrite and Reprobate and so such as are neyther totall nor finall but rather tend to their exceeding good and furtherance in the worke of Grace As may appeare by these foure circumstances First by the extent of God in leauing his children to these desertions Secondly by the causes of these desertions Thirdly by the measure of them and Fourthly by the issue of the same Concerning the purpose of God in exercising his children with these great abasing and desertions It is not as the world imagines because they are greater sinners then others and so howsoeuer they made glorious shewes in Religion yet now are found out in their hypocrisie and iustly confounded therein Iob 4.5 6. Neither is it as the Saints themselues doe foolishly imagine that the Lord in anger meets with them for their sinnes and so hath iustly forsaken them for then in stead of finite and moderate stripes they should feele an vnsupportable weight and be vtterly swept away therewith But the maine ground of Gods dealing with them is his free grace and singular goodnesse 1. To reforme in them former faylings 2. And so to preuent them from future and those most dangerous euils 3. To manifest his wonderfull power in sustaining them vnder the burthen 4. And to prouoke them to hunger after his euerlasting presence 5. For the more glorious triall of their precious Faith 6. And to discouer vnto them the power of their Head Christ Iesus Col. 3.3 in whom their life is hid wonderfully when it seemes not to expresse it selfe at all euen as when one is in a swoune the spirits retire to the head or heart and are safely preserued therein howsoeuer the body seemes to be deuoid of life or motion 7. Yea to enable hereby to deale more effectually and yet tenderly with others vpon experience of their own tentations and abasing 8. And so to walke more humbly and closely with their God in the rest of their Pilgrimage These I take to be some of those gracious purposes which the wise and mercifull God discouereth in these grieuous abasings of his Children All which as they proceede from his exceeding loue so they tend to his great glory and their exceeding good For as the reforming of
the symptomes of the season our generall vnprofitablenesse therein and refusall of the same accompanied with many warnings summoning vs thereto and yet so desperatly reiected by our securitie and prophanenesse we are not vnlikely to be called shortly to account for the same And therefore as one borne out of due time and hauing spent the most part of my best daies in the wayes of death seeing it hath pleased God to respite me hitherto and renue my spirituall life by offering yet more gratious oportunitie and meanes to improue the same I haue thought it high wisedome now at length to endeuour the Redeeming thereof by establishing my selfe and others in the worke of Grace to the daily encrease and building vp of the bodie of Christ that so we may all grow vp to a perfect stature euen to a perfect man in Christ Iesus To this end because words are but winde and preaching without sealing and confirming thereof by Practice Experience is of smal or no moment to build vp forward to perfection I haue therefore endeuoured to ioyne with my publike Ministerie my priuate experiments in the worke of Grace that so I might not be as sounding Brasse or as a tinckling Cymball partly for the approuing and improuing of the worke of Grace in my selfe and also for the triall and encrease thereof in others And this hath beene the cause of my Publishing diuers Treatises in their places as my experience and occasions haue ripened the same As First The Lord hauing renued our life and meanes by that wonderfull deliuerance from the Gunpowder Treason I haue therefore laboured to commend that great Mercy vnto Posteritie in diuers Treatises both Latine and English vpon the 64. Psalme and vpon the Historie of Hâ—ster vnto the Church of God That this being written for the Generations to come the People so wonderfully new born and renued may praise the Lord yea Posteritie might magnifie God for the great things he hath done for vs. Next that we might be truly thankfull vnto our God in offering vnto him our soules and Bodies as a reasonable sacrifice all the daies of our life To this end I published the Christians daily Sacrifice as being a liuely Image of this Spirituall Sacrifice and a gratious direction how to offer the same daily vp vnto God in truth and righteousnesse Thirdly because contraries are best knowne by their contraries in that our Profession and practice of sinceritie is reproached and hindered by the faire shew of Hypocrisie so neerely resembling and so iustling out the same therefore haue I laboured to discouer the differences betweene sinceritie and hypocrisie that so by the wise discerning of things that differ wee may wisely decline the Counterfeit and more carefully entertaine the true Paterne Fourthly Because the outward prosperitie of the time hath beene much abused to securitie and spirituall Pride and so hath beene a meanes of much decay in zeale and courage for the truth therefore I haue supplied hereto a Preseruatiue against Apostasiâ— that so we might strengthen the things that are ready to die and remembring from whence we are fallen might repent and doe the first workes least our Candlesticke be iustly taken from vs. Fiftly Because it hath pleased God to exercise me with many Buffetings of Satan to preuent these Spirituall euils and so thereby hath acquainted me in some measure with his sleights and methods yea hath called me by the Magistrate to communicate my Experience herein vpon occasion of the practise of Witchcraft questioned by some in these Atheistical daies Could I do lesse then publish my Experience herein haue I not giuen some light hereunto in The discouery of the Misterie of Witchcraft Sixtly Seeing the fulnesse of the Gentiles is well-neere come in as a plaine euidence of some great alteration both by some grieuous Iudgement for our contempt of the Gospell as also by some great Mercie ensuing thereupon in the calling of the Iewes for the perfecting of the Churches Glorie in this life Therefore haue I giuen warning also heretofore In the blessing of Iaphet wherein the calling of the Gentiles and fulfilling thereof is auouched as a Presage of some great storme hanging ouer our heads euen by the Gentiles abusing and reiecting the Gospell and also a comfort of some gratious calme after that heauie storme by calling in of the Iewâ—s to make vp the breach and repaire the old waste places to dwell in And that we Gentiles that are with them to make vp one sheepfold vnder Christ our only shâ—pheard may be better fitted to that glorious Vnion To this ende haue I laboured to make sure the foundation by discouering on the contrarie the hopâ—lesse fearefull estate of the worldling in his desperate aduenture by losing his pretious soule for the gaining of this transitory world that so we may not run with â—he present streame and also by laying downe the maine euidence of our sound building vpon the Rock in that sacred mysterie of the Gouernment of the Thoughts being the surest and most comfortable euidence of our true estate in Grace And now behold that we may yet minister a word in due season when was there euer more neede of Growing in Grace when generally there is deceit thereof in the most and decay therein euen of the Best when euer more neede of fighting the good fight of Faith and laying hold of eternall life by labouring and following hard after perfection when we are summoned by Rumors of wars nay by our owne vnprofitablenes To giue account of our stewardship This is the end and vse of this Treatise Which I am bold to call a wonderfull Mysterie not only by the warrant of the Holy Ghost That great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse but also in regard of the Meanes effecting the same Christ Preached in a Mysterie yea in regard of the entertainment thereof in the world esteeming it as a Mysterie because it is sealed vp thereto but specially in that euen to vs that are acquainted therewith It is yet a wonderfull Mysterie not being able to conceiue the measure thereof not being able to expresse what thereof we doe conceiue And I call it a Mysterie of growing in grace because it pleaseth the Spirit to resemble it vnto vs by Mysteries And the way to discerne the truth and manner thereof and so to attaine the measure of the same is still in and by a Mysterie By the Mysterie of the Word Preached as only effectuall thereto ordinarily and in a Mysterie not discernable by sense no not alwaies by Faith that still we may liue by Faith in the iudging thereof and by the power of Faith be led forward to perfection therein And therefore if I speake of this great Mysterie vnto thee in a Mysterie I aduise thee in the Feare of God to get that spirituall Eie-salue by prayer and repentance with thy God that so thou maist so farre discerne the same as that still finding somewhat herein whereat carnall wisedome may
furnished with meanes dayly to thriue in grace and by our care on this day may be the better enabled to serue him sincerely and constantly in all other occasions 17 And though the Lord hath specially separated this day for his more publicke and entire worship yet he hath redeemed vs that we might serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Luk. 2.49 Therefore that we may grow in grace make we conscience of constant holinesse dayly by dayly examining our hearts renuing our repentance encreasing our knowledge our faith by meditation in the word prayer relying on Gods blessings in our ciuill callings and watching therein against couetousnesse discontent worldly wisedome earthly mindednesse deceit and such like least our neglecting or slubbering of dayly duties greeue the spirit procure a remisnesse and formalitie therein and so in sted of hauing more that which we haue may be taken from vs at least for the present vse and comfort thereof 18 Seeing securitie is a maine hinderance to our Spirituall growth and it is the mercie of our God to exercise vs daily with some afflictions in diuers kinds to preuent the same therefore that we may daily grow in grace let vs prepare our soules daily to afflictions submitting to whatsoeuer our gratious Father shall lay vpon vs making them glasses to see our daily failing and purgations to emptie vs of them vsing them as spurres to prouoke vs daily to perfection by weaning from the loue of the world and giuing daily experience of the power of Christ in vs. 19 Whereas it much furthers our growth in grace to haue a good conscience in whatsoeuer we doe therefore labour we to maintaine tendernesse of conscience in all things as well to conuince vs of secret euils and so to preuent grosse offences as also to humble vs in wel-doing and cast vs vpon Christ as to prepare vs more conscionably to all holy duties to cary vs more vprightly and constantly through out the same and still to prouoke vs out of the sense of our daily failings to renue our strength in Christ so in him to grow vp to perfection 20 To this end also haue we alwaies the feare of God before our eies to preuent hypocrisie and securitie and 2 Cor. 7.1 21 Nourish we daily an holy feare and iealousie ouer our selues yea Pro. 28.13 when we doe our best and feele greatest comforts least Spirituall pride beget securitie and confidence in the flesh and so produce luke-warmnesse and falling into grosse euills Reuelations 3.17 22 Aboue all take we heede of contenting our selues with any measure of holinesse already attained but that we may grow in grace grow we in humilitie and daily deniall of our selues forgetting what is behinde that we may hasten to that which is before euen for the price of our high calling in Christ Iesus Phil. 3.13 23. And seeing our liues are vncertaine and our master may come in an houre we know not of therefore that we may grow in grace prepare we dayly for our death and so for indgement adding dayly to our Christian stature and abounding in the worke of the Lord that so we may be found in peace at our masters comming 1. Cor. 15.58 24 Resigne our selues dayly into the hands of our gracious father committing our selues in well doing continually vnto his faithful keeping that so he may quiet our hearts in what we haue receiued by enabling vs to a conscionable vse thereof and so furnish vs with whatsoeuer may yet further our perfection vnto the day of Christ 25 Seeing our want of spirituall wisdome is a maine hinderance to our growth in grace as casting vs oft-times into many vnnecessary troubles and so to much distraction and horror thereby and casting vs vpon many doubtfull and intricate occasions both of matters of knowledge concerning things vaine and curious as also vpon many a rash and vndiscreete practice to wound the conscience and hinder our peace and so our proceeding in grace therefore labour we to attaine the Spirituall wisedome First by cleauing fast to the Word And secondly experience of Gods former dealings Thirdly by comparing Spirituall things with Spirituall things Fourthly and looking as well to the end as the beginning thereof that so wee may still make choice of the most familiar and excellent decline doubtfull and vnnecessary occasions submit our spirits to the spirits of the wisest and so maintaine loue which is the bond of perfection Col. 3.15 26 Lastly seeing though fulnesse of ioy be expected in another life yet heere also the Saints may enioy some comfortable measure thereof Psal 4.4 5. in all occasions and the more they partake thereof the more they are encouraged in holy duties and enabled to go forward therein Therefore labour we to maintaine this Spirituall ioy First by entertaining the motions of the Spirit And secondly the occasions of wel-doing Thirdly by walking constantly with our God And fourthly comforting others Fiftly by daily repentance for sinne And sixtly renouncing our best righteousnesse Seuenthly daily cleering the euidences of our election That so we may daily grow in grace and follow after perfection And thus of the causes and helpes to grow in grace It remaineth yet to consider the manner of our growth in grace CHAP. 4. Of the manner of our Spirituall growth with diuers comfortable obseruations therein and vses thereof HItherto of the Necessitie Nature and Causes of this Spirituall growth It now followeth that we discouer the Manner thereof as beeing a part of the reuealing of this great mysterie and very necessary for the triall of the truth thereof and also to resist such tentations as doe oppose the same or hinder the increase thereof To this end it shall be necessarie to enter into the Sanctuarie of the Lord and thereinto obserue such Mysteries wherein this wonderfull Mysterie is wisely infolded to stumble carnall wisedome and yet gratiously vnfolded to satisfie the humble spirit The first Mysterie wherein this sacred Truth is infolded is the New Creature 2. Cor. 5.17 The Spirit vouchsafing to resemble our Spirituall renuing in the second Adam by our Naturall beginning in the Old 1. Both because there is very great and neere similitude betweene them and also 2. That this of Nature being familiar to each capacitie the other of grace may be better discerned thereby and yet 3. Might stumble heere in carnall wisedome either in stretching the similitude to square euery way to the establishing of Natures abilitie and helpe to grace or to confound carnall wisedome in the discerning thereof if it looke with no other spectacles then those of Nature Labour we then in the feare of God to search the secrets of this Mysterie by the power of the Spirit that so we may hereby discerne the Manner of this Spirituall growth To this end consider we first that as the New birth in regard of the better part is immediatly created a New of God and infused into the body
so is it with the grace of God which though it be perfect seede yet being cast into the fallow and plowed ground of our hearts in regard of the vnaptnesse of the ground and season it yeelds not fruit presently but in due season according to the prouidence and blessing of God fittest for his glorie and the good of the ground 2. As the seede is not discerned in growing at the first and yet it growes so neither can the worke of grace be discerned in the beginning no not in the infancie thereof and weaker proceedings of the same 3. As the seede in it growing vp is rotted first in the ground Iohn 12. and dead yea appearing past hope so is it with the worke of grace so farre from being discerned sometimes to grow as that rather contrarily to sense it dieth the old Man must be daily mortified that the new Man may encrease yea the new Man must be abased in the sense of it owne attained measure that still it may grow vp in Christ to attaine perfection And that by reason of the mixture of the Old man with the New challenging the imperfection and staine of any goodnesse attained and the preuailing of the flesh sometimes in some degrees ouer the Spirit drawing vs contrarie to our maine purposes to many euils and yet furthering hereby our growth in nourishing more necessarie graces of humilitie and deniall of our selues of Faith in Christ contrarie to sense of spirituall pouertie and hungring after Christ of holy thirsting after the comforts of the life to come And this affordeth also diuers gratious consequences for our better discerning of the Manner of our growth As first that we may not expect perfection at the first nay we must not be discouraged though as the seede dies and rots before it come vp and yeeld fruit so it is with vs euen after the seede of Grace is sowen in vs for this doth tend to the more glorious triall of our faith and patience and to the greater aduancement of the power of God in sustaining vs in these kindes of desertions of his wisedome and mercy in turning them about to the best vnto vs. 2. Though wee discerne not the worke of grace at the first no not for some time yet is the seede sowen and will come vp at length and he that beleeueth maketh not haste Isay 8. Thirdly and lastly seeing the seede comes vp by contraries by dying c. therefore as we must not be discouraged in those particular blasts and oppositions those desertions and contradictions which doe occurre herein so neither for the generall must we liue by sense in any measure when we are at the hight as we thinke to rest herein but still we must liue by Faith denying our selues and relying only vpon Christ in the meanes that so by him wee may be lead along to perfection Thirdly A third Mysterie shadowing out the New birth is that it is resembled vnto Light Prou. 4.18 19. Heb. 10.34 1. Which as it receiueth it power from the Bodie of the Sonne and this from the ordinance of God so our conuersion is a sparke of the light of Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse and this from the good pleasure and Fountaine of Gods eternall loue And therefore Howsoeuer it may seeme to be as the light subiect to many Ecclypses and vicissitudes yet in Gods purpose and practise of his grace it is constant and eternall 2. As the light shineth more and more vnto the perfect day so is it in our Conuersion At the first our light is dimme and weake but still in growing The longer we liue in the Schoole of Christ the more we shine in holinesse the neerer wee attaine to the life of glory And therefore as There is a continuall worke of proceeding though not alwaies discernable as the Sunne shines alwaies though not apparant in our Horizon Nay though the light be not discernable alwaies in that measure yet as the with-drawing of the light and heat of the Sunne is very necessary and vsefull least it extreame heat alwaies continuing should burne the earth so the absence of this sense and feeling of the worke proues very profitable to humble and trie our faith to make it expresse it selfe in other more necessarie fruits of Patience Repentance Compassion c. Yea as the Sunne when it sets in one Circumference yet it shines in another so that when it is night with vs it is day with others and yet we and they make but one Vniuerse so is it in the worke of the Spirit Though it bee with-drawne from one part yet it shines in another it fayling in some graces is the meanes to expresse it in others that are more necessarie And therefore though it shine not in one Climate yet it shines in another and so while it is absent from one part it supplieth else-where and so by this dispensation by times and degrees illustrateth the whole and so though we daily grow yet it is not without some interruptions and intermissions to our sense for the present by reason of such tentations which ouercast trouble the same of such open sinnes as to grieue the spirit and so suspend it working in somethings and degrees for the present or that we grow carelesse and formall in holy duties and so for the present want the comfort of them yet as the light shineth more and more vntill the perfect day so is it with the New birth 4. The worke of the Spirit is compared vnto Winde Iohn 3.8 Now as the winde bloweth where it listeth and though wee heare the sound thereof yet we cannot discerne whence it commeth and whither it goeth so is it in the worke of the Spirit It is alwaies free in working and therefore neither can any goodnesse in vs moue the same to worke otherwise then it pleaseth neither can the euill that is in vs hinder the same from working otherwise then that still may stand with the libertie and purpose thereof for our maine good howsoeuer in some subordinate graces it may seeme to faile and cease it working And hence arise many comfortable conclusions both to discerne the manner of our growth and also to comfort vs therein As first in that no goodnesse in vs can moue it to worke further then it pleaseth because it motion is the cause of our goodnesse and disposeth the same as it pleaseth for it owne sake Therefore though the best we doe be in great weakenesse yet may not this challenge the worke of the Spirit who sheweth his power in our weakenesse and by our corruptions raiseth daily matter to abase the flesh and reserue the Glorie intierly vnto God and thereby also prouoketh vs daily to renue our strength in Christ that in him we may grow vp to perfection that so the worke of Gods free grace may be daily led forward by the power of Christ which dwelleth in vs Col. 1.19 2. Seeing the Spirit worketh freely therefore howsoeuer when we haue done
enough to wrong his Bedfellow but in stead of making her amends her deare husband must be murthered that so all hope of giuing him satisfaction might be preuented and so her sinne hereby encreased and her conscience perplexed And marke I pray you the particulars in this sinne all as so many circumstances tending to aggrauate the same First the notable trecherie of Dauid herein arguing yet a greater measure of carnall wisedome and so aduisednesse in the pursuit thereof Behold though Vriahs death be plotted yet still must hee bee entertained with great kindnesse and sent away with fauour yea a Letter must bee sent as in his commendation to the Campe and yet including the sentence of his death And who must carry it but Vriah himselfe that so the former sinne may be further conceited and the trecherie proue more notorious in the eye of the generall Thus poore Vriah goes as a sheepe to the slaughter and carries the fire in his bosome to consume himselfe carries the knife along with him to cut his owne throate and yet must come nigh no other herein but great fauour from his Lord good successe in his message And now he comes to the campe he comes to receiue his doome and will you see how and when hee receiues it behold a heape of diuellish conspiracies Ioab must be the instrument thereof who should haue preuented it and rather rewarded him for his former good seruice and so he must be pertaker in the sinne and concealement thereof Yea Vriah must be then murthered when hee is in his calling fighting for his Lords life when when his Lord plots his death Oh vnspeakeable treachery yea hee must be murthered in hote blood when passion preuailing his soule might bee distracted or endangered and it must bee done too vnder a colour to trie his valour by setting him in the foremost rankes contrary to his place that so he might be more distracted by this alteration and put to some desperate exigent yea there must be a recoyle of his company hee must be left alone to grapple with the enemy that so the treacherie of his followers might more amate his soule and plunge him in despaire and so death suddenly surprizing him he might be swallowed vp thereof and which makes vp the measure not only Ioab the Captaine but euen the whole host must hereby drinke deepe of the cup of his iniquitie yea bee also endangered by the fall of so valiant a Captaine Oh see how costly a thing sin is how luxurious spreading how deceitful dangerous it begins in pleasure it goes on in subtiltie and great perplexitie it ends not but in blood and extreme crueltie For marke I pray you did not Vriahs blood crie for vengeance and did not the wrath light heauily vpon the Authours head Yea certainely holy Dauid payed dearely for his sinne The more hee hardned his heart by adding to the measure of his sinne the more need he had of sound and strong purgations to clense him hereof And had he not his fill of sorrow for this little dram of pleasure Yea certainly the wise Physitian lets him alone for a while to slumber herein that it may appeare to bee his onely arme that can raise vs out thereof Well may wee sinke our selues more deepely therein and sleepe in sinne though it bee vnto Death yea till wee stinke in the Graue But it must bee the power of God that can onely awaken vs it must bee onely his mercie to raise vs vp againe that so hee may haue the glory of his excellent goodnesse And how I pray doth the Lord recouer his seruant Is it not by plunging him deepely into this pit of sorrow Indeed hee beginnes with a sweete and gracious promise of pardon thereof but not before that Dauid had shamed himselfe in confessing thereof that so the sense of Gods mercie might preuent extremitie of despaire now the conscience was throughly awakened by his ordinance and so might also leade on to a kindly sorrow for sinne vpon hope of further application of that gratious pardon and preuenting of such iudgements which might further tend to the dishonour of God and yet this tender of pardon is not obtained before there bee an inward sense of sinne and open confession thereof that so the Lord seconding his ordinance by the seasonable effect thereof his seruant might be preuented of presumption and so led on gratiously to wait vpon God in his sound healing and recouerie And marke I pray how the Lord doth herein proceede with him though he hath a proclamation of pardon and some hope no doubt thereof yet how long is it before it be sealed vp vnto him what strange interruptions and spirituall distresses come betweene the proclamation and sealing thereof to his comfort First he that heard the proclamation of the pardon of his sinne yet hee heares it with such bitter preambles ingredients it is prepared vnto him with soure hearbs such heauy news as might make him see himself altogether vnworthy thereof and so waite vpon God for his sound recouery Secondly he shall be encountred with multitudes of sorrowes as hee had multiplyed his sinnes The sword shall not depart from his house who had smitten with the sword and hee that had abused the wife of his friend shall haue his own wiues abused by his neighbours and children ver 10 11. And so the Lord will meet with him also in his kinde meating vnto him such measure as hee had wayed to others that so he might acknowledge the righteousnesse of God and by seeing his sinne more cleerely in the glasse of his iudgements so seasonably proportioned vnto him in their seuerall times in measure in the branches thereof hereby hee might renew and perfect his repentance Thus roughly doth the wise Lord begin with his seruant and yet mercifully too denouncing but a temporal iudgement to such high handed and desperate sins that so his seruant might be in hope of eternall mercie howsoeuer he might feele some temporary chastisements And thus doth this Physicke worke with his seruant It brings him to an hearty confession of his sinne in thankefulnesse vnto God for not exacting the extremitie of his iustice and so if it may be for remitting or qualifying the temporall iudgement that it might not tend to the dishonour of God And yet because howsoeuer he had carried the matter secretly yet it could not but bee whispered and bruited to the dishonour of God Ioab was but an hollow friend and might blab it out the detayning of Bathsheba might proclaime the same giue ill example to the subiect cause religion to be traduced Therefore marke I pray you how the wise Physitian tempers his potion His sinne shall bee pardoned and yet chastised too that so Dauid may see that there is great difference betweene the proclamation of the pardon and applying thereof that so his heart may be better fitted by the humiliation of the flesh and spirit to prize and hunger thereafter
comfort herein and so waiting on our God for the issue in his time labouring more intention and intirenesse when wee come before him 12. Being wise to recouer with all speed out of any slip and sleight failing 13. Watching ouer our speech with all feare and reuerence speaking alwayes as in Gods presence as vnto God with all vprightnesse and faithfulnesse 14. Being carefull of our societie that we make choyse thereof and seeke to better the same or be bettered by them that wee may not returne to them if they will not returne to vs. 15. Meditating by our experience of the vanitie of earthly things and yet not neglecting such speciall worke of God which may confirme our faith and raise vs to the hope of more durable riches 16. Entertaining wisely all occasions to doe good by all holy meanes especially to the house-hold of Faith 17. And labouring to haue a fellow feeling of the troubles of others iudgeing wisely of the cause studying carefully the issue thereof And preparing by their afflictions for our owne and by our owne carrying our selues more tenderly towards them 18. Aboue all striuing to encrease and maintaine the assurance of Gods fauour by prayer meditation spirituall experience dayly cleering of the heart of all carnall ioyes 19. And so endeauouring to make all euen betwixt God and the soule by examination and iudging of the heart and renuing the couenant 20. And so lying downe in this assurance as to bee prepared for the graue and iudgement of this looke more in the Dayly Sacrifice in the last Chapter concerning our lying down with God in the account of the day Thus if we walke dayly wee shall be sure to be kept from all fretting euils in a comfortable stay with God and ioy of his spirit Auoyding carefully herein specially those sinnes that doe robbe God of his glory as Hypocrisie spirituall Pride vaine Glory which are the causes that wee are giuen vp to grosse euils And still keeping our selues in the feare of God and dayly labouring to cleere the euidences of our saluation Striuing to haue more familiaritie and entire fellowship with the Lord that we may bee more and more knit vnto him and kept by him in peace Aboue all learning still to liue by faith and not by sense and so preparing against the comming of Christ Iesus And thus of this fourth Case The Conclusion of the Treatise with promise of further light Thus hast thou beloued in Christ some further fruite of Gods patience and mercy towards me his vnworthy and vnprofitable seruant concerning this wonderfull Mystery of spirituall Growth My humble request is that thou wouldst seriously consider of the strange distractions and confusions of the time wherein hee that refraines himselfe makes himselfe a prey And then I hope as thou hast great cause to blesse God for any light that shineth in so great darkenes so thou wilt patiently beare with whatsoeuer obscurities and defects may appeare in these meditations and so further mee with thy prayers vnto the throne of Grace that these fogges being dispelled and darke clouds passed ouer we may see more cleerely into the great mystery of Christ and so therein of our spirituall Growth in him Promising thee shortly some further light to direct thee herein as God shall minister leysure and abilitie And so I commend thee to the power of Gods Grace whereby thou maist be kept from falling away with this present euill world and so preserued blamelesse in the midst of a froward generation to shine as a light in a darke place and to continue constant and immoueable in the worke of the Lord watching for the conuersion of the Iewes and vtter downfall of Antichrist and so maist be prepared as a Bride vnto the Bridegroome euen to the glorious appearance of our Lord Iesus And euen so come Lord Iesus come quickely In whom I rest The poore brother ready in all things to further thy reckoning Th. Cooper FINIS