bodily death but becommeth eternall Whosoeuer then he bee that is once surely catcht in this net of desperation hee needes no mo accusers to come against him then his former vnrepented sinnes which lye at the doore to arrest him his owne heart will giue euidence against him and his owne iniquity wil plead him to be guilty and that to his owne face Vpon consideration of these things I haue now in this treatise following good Christian Reader endeuoured my selfe to set downe First a definition of Desperation then the grieuousnesse thereof after this certaine principall causes thereof together with remedies for the same and lastly a generall preseruatiue against Desperation arising of what cause soeuer To the intent that the Children of GOD falling by some occasions into some degrees of it for if it rage in extremities in the opinion of some learned Writers it is an euill incurable and vnrecouerable may with the more case and quietnesse bee recouered and saued as it were out of the Diuels clawes euen out of as great danger as euer were the poore Sheepe that Dauid tooke out of the Beares or Lions mouth 1 Sa 17. Accept heereof gentle Reader â—â—h no worse a minde then I haue atâ—mpted to bee the Writer and then â—oubt not but it shall either miniâ—r vnto thine heart some comfortable Physicke or else giue thee occasion to seeke reade or collect a better Thine in all Christian affection W. W. The Contents of this Booke entreated of in euery seuerall Page as followeth A Definition of euery thing which is to bee â—puted or reasoned of is necessary 〈◊〉 wherefore The Definition of Desperation of two sorts Page 1 Two kindes of Desperation the one wicked 〈◊〉 other good and holy pag. â— Three thinges especially to be noted in the Treatâ— of Desperation Page â— GOD is constant and faithfull and how aâ— wherein Page â— The duty of the faithfull towards God in regaâ—â— of Gods faithfulnes towards him Page â— The horriblenes of the sinne of Diffidence Mistruâ—â— or Desperation Page â— When especially the Diuell beginneth to tempt 〈◊〉 Desperation Page â— What kinde of Phisicke and Surgery the Diueâ— practiseth Page â— The absurd dealing of such as yeld to Desperation Page â— What great inconueniences they fall into that yeeâ— to Desperation Page â— Saint Bernard his opinion concerning the haynousnes of the sinne of Desperation Page â— Scilla and Charibdis is not so dangerous as Desperation Page â— The dangers of Desperation Page 10 11 Of the degrees by which the Diuell draweth meâ— into Desperation Page 13 The Diuell the chiefe cause of Desperation Page 13 The forerunners of Desperation Page 14 â—hat the Diuell will obiect to bring vs to desperation Page 15 â—norance the second cause of desperation Page 16 â—norance the mother of Desperation Page 17 â—eruitude or bondage of sinne the third cause of â—esperation Page 17 â—he wofull effects of sins Page 18 â—he fourth cause of Desperation Page 18 â—he manifold aduersaries of mans saluation all â—hich the Diuel vseth as meanes to Desperation Page 19. â—he fift cause of Desperation Page 20 21 â—he sixt cause of Desperation Page 22 â—ong custome groweth into a second nature Page 22 â—he first preseruatiue against Desperation Page 88 â—n example shewing that many men put more trust â—n mortall man then in God Page 89 â—nother proofe that many put more trust in mortall 〈◊〉 man then in God Page 90 â—he second generall helpe against Desperation Page 91 â—he third generall helpe against Desperation Page 92 â—hatsoeuer could be looked for at Gods hands or whatsoeuer man could be charged with that hath Christ performed Page 93 â—he fourth generall helpe for the auoyding of Despeâ—tion Page 94 The fift generall helpe against Desperation Page 95 â—aint Paul and Saint Iames their counsell against the temptations and assaults of Sathan Page 24 〈◊〉 description of the Armour with which Saint Paul would haue Christians to resist the Diuell Page 25 The first kind of Armour to resist the Diuell with Page 25 The second kinde of armour werewith the Diuell is 〈◊〉 to be resisted Page 25 Whereby the Diuel is emboldened to tempt wherby on the other side he is discouraged Page â— The third kind of armour against Sathan Page â— The fourth kind of Armour against Sathan Page â— What â—aith is Page â— The stâ—t kâ—nd of armour to resist the Diuell Page â— The Scriptures do minister store of Armour agaiâ— euery kind of temptation Page â— The sixt kind of Christian Armour Page â— Remedies against igno ance Page â— The danger of wilfull Ignorance Page â— What the Ignorant must do Page â— Counsell very necessary for the ignorant Page â— What the ministers of Gods word are Page â— How the Ministers of Gods word are to bee accoâ—ted of Page â— Of the great seruitude and bondage of sinnes and the remedies thereof Page â— Examples tending to the strengthening of our Faâ— Page â— Hope and Patience against Desperation Page 39. 4â— Wherefore Christ came into this world Page 41. 42. 4â— What manner of righteousnes God requireth at oâ— hands Page â— Sinne dwelleth euen in the beleeuers in the mâ— righteous in the world but yet raigneth not neythâ— can it condemne them and why Page 46 4â— Places of Scripture letting forth Gods great merâ— Page 4â— A Catalogue or rehearsall of many things whereâ— the Diuell craftily tempteth many men to sin aâ— Desperation Page â— How the Diuell tempteth by riches Page â— How the Diuell tempteth by pouerty Page â— How the Diuell tempteth by friends Page â— â—ow the Diuel tempteth by enemies Page 52 â—ow the Diuel tempteth by carefulnes Page 52 â—ow the Diuel tempteth by security and carelesâ—es Page 52 How the Diuell tempteth by strength by health ablenesse of body beauty by honour and dignity by quicknes of spirit and sharpnes of wit Page 52. 53. How the Diuel tempteth by Gods word how hee wil abuse wrest and misapply Gods word Page 53. 54. The true vse of those Scriptures which the Diuell seeketh to abuse to bring men to Desperation thereby Page 55 The comforts and commodities of the crosses and aflictions of Gods children Page 57 58. Why God sendâ—th euils to his children and how he sendeth comforts in the midst of euils Page 59. How God loueâ—h and dealeth with his children Page 60 Gods â—odâ— of what sort they are Page 61 What God séeketh to worke by dealing hardly with his children Page 62 Goâ—s affection to his children like vnto a kind louing mothers affection Page 63 64. God dealeth with his children as Phisitions Surgeâ—ns do with their Patients Page 65 God vseth sometimes the seruice and ministry of Diuels and of wicked men Page 67 The wicked are not beâ—tered by their troubles and aflict on s Page 67 Whence it commeth that afflictions and crosses profit Gods children Page 67 The conceits and opinions of the wicked in their aduersities and troubles
satis liqucat quid quisque sperat Desperation and Mistrust draweth back from all desire of well doing Desparation draweth men back from all wel doing and why for it thinketh all to be but lost labour for so doe all mens labours and endeauours flowe and spring from Hope and trust that euery mans doings doe plainly testifie what he hopeth or trusteth for And now let this suffice briefely to giue a taste how great and grieuous hurtfull and pernitious this sinne of Desperation is CHAP. 3. The third Chapter conteining the chiefest and most principall causes of Desperation THat memorable and notable saying of S. Gregory in one of his Homilies moueth mee to thinke and here to commit it to writing that one cause of Desperation and not the least but rather the primary and principall cause of all other ariseth from the subtile cunning and cosoning counsell inducement perswasion and allurement of the Diuell for saith S. Gregory Greg. in quadam Hom. Quum in graui peccato miser homo labitur suadet ei diabolus ne peniteat ne coÌ„fiteatur peccatum leue et modicum in corde affirmat misericordiam praedicat longum spaciuÌ„ vitae promittit permanere in peccato suggerit vt sic in contemptum dei dâ—sperationem sui inducat pereat When wretched man slippeth into some grieuous sinne the Diuells councell is that he repent not at al for it that he confesse it not hee tells him in his heart The degrees by which the Diuell draweth men on into desperation that it is but a light and small offence hee saies God is full of mercie hee promiseth him long life he suggesteth vnto him to lie still in sinne that by these meanes hee may bring him at last into contempt of God and into vtter Desperation and so hee may become a cast-away for euer Here doth S. Gregory in most manifest and plaine words describe and decipher the Diuell himselfe to bee the author and so consequently the cheefest causer and cause of this horrible soule murthering Desperation and here also doth he set down by what steppes and degrees hee brings and leades a poore carelesse wretched man into despayre Now consider this moreouer that if Satan that arch-enemy of mans welfare Iob. 1. durst very boldly and sawcely without any bidding presume to thrust himselfe into Gods presence amongst his holy Angells if hee durst so subtelly and cunningly dissemblingly and lyinglie assayle and assault our first Parents Adam and Eue Gen. 3. being yet innocents vnstained and pure from all sin Nay more then all this if he durst approach and with diuers temptations assault and allure Christ Iesus himselfe Maâ— 4.3 both God and Man and yet Man frée from any spot or blemish of sinne endeuoring himselfe to the vttermost of his skill and power if it had beene possible to haue brought him and wrought him to his owne wicked will Alasse is it any maruele then if he doe as diligently and busily bestirre himselfe with his manifould wiles and guiles to assaile vs weake poore and miserable sinners Who without the dayly and howerly strengthning of Gods holy spirit are of our selues prompt apt and ready The forerunners of desperatioÌ„ except we looke to our selues in time euery hower to decline and fall away from God and to fall vnto Idolatry Blasphemy Periury Murther Whoredome Theft Pride Disobedience and what not wherin after wee be once plunged ouer head and eares and ouer runne with thee guilt of many sinnes then will Sathan lay about him and apply his busines like a most valiant Champion to catch vs in the most dangerous snare of all other euen deepe Despayre He will challenge our soules by the seuere iustice of GOD let vs say against him whatsoeuer we can and argue against him as long as wee will yet will hee insult reioyce and reply saying Neither Gods mercies nor Christs merits can any thing help but thou must needs be damned What the Diuell wil obiect against vs to bring vs to despaire so lightly heretofore hast thou esteemed God and his precepts so smally hast thou regarded Christ Iesus and his merits or rather so willingly wittingly and seeingly hast thou vilipended and contemned them and so obstinately carelesly and desperately troden them vnder-foote that euen as thou hitherto hast made noe reckoning of God and hast not opened the doore of thy heart to receiue him and giue him entertainment when heestood without and knocked to bee letten in there so now God will requite thee with Legetalionis with like for like hee will make no reckoning of thee hée will not open his eares vnto thee when thou cryest vnto him hee will not let thee haue though thou aske hee will not let thee finde though thou seeke hée will not open vnto thee though thou knocke Behold now art thou tossed like waues of the Sea thy Faith wauereth betwéene Hope and Dread and therefore canst thou receiue nothing at the Lords hands with these and infinite such like disputations will Sathan set vpon and vexe the very elect of God to bring them if it were possible to desperation And if the elect shall bee thus fifted as Peter was in what case then shall the wicked and reprobate bee CHAP. 4. The second cause of desperation THe second cause of Desperation is ignorance of God want of knowledge of the will of God vnto mankind reuealed by his holy word Mat. 22. for as ignorance of the scriptures as it was pronouÌ„ced by the mouth of Christ Iesus himselfe speaking against the Saduces 2 Kin. 17.26 Ps 23.10.11 Pr. 28.29 30.31 Esa 1.34 Hos 4.7 Eph. 4.18 concerning the resurrection of the dead was the cause of that their so great error Euen likewise the ignorance of God is oftentimes the occasion cause of Gods heauie displeasure and so of diuers sundry inconueniences and mischiefes Ber super Cant. and amonst the rest it is also a cause of this cursed Desperation as writeth S. Bernard Vtraque cognitio dei scilicet tui tibi necessaria est ad saluteÌ„ quia de ignoraÌ„tia tui venit superbia ac de dei ignoraÌ„tia venit desperatio The knowledg both of God of thy selfe are necessary vnto saluation because out of the ignorance of thy selfe ariseth pride Ignorance the mother of desperation likewise out of the ignorance of God commeth Desperation Out of this ignorance of God must Desperation needs arise for how can it otherwise be but that hee that is altogither without any knowledge of God must despayre to receiue any good thing of him for as no man can take pleasure nor any profit by hid and vnknowne Treasure so no man can looke for grace mercy and forgiuenesse of sinnes or any other benefit or good gift at his hands of whom he is vtterly ignorant and of whom he hath no knowledge CHAP. 5. The third cause of desperation THe third cause of
Desperation is the great seruitude or bondage or sinne with which whosoeuer is clogged hee becommeth thereby the seruant of sinne Iohn 8.34 And the wofull and hurtfull effects of sinnes are the procurements of Gods curses and plagues vpon bodyes The woful â—urtfull effects of sinne soules lands children stocke croppe and euery thing else that a man hath or goeth about at home or abroade in town or in field in Citty or in Contry by land or by water Deu. 28. Leu. 26. Sin hardeneth the heart Heb. 3.13 It fighteth against the soule 1. Pet. 2.11 It gnaweth tormenteth the conscience 1. Sa. 25.31 And bringeth men into the most damnable gulfe of Desperation wherein multitudes of Worldlinges Matcheuillians Epicures impious Atheists are dayly implunged and irreuocably drowned for euer CHAP. 6 THe Fourth cause of Desperation do many gather to themselues vpon the wordes of Christ in Mat. 7.13 The fourth cause of Desperation Strait is the gate narrow is the way that leadeth vnto life few there be that find it And againe out of Mat. 20.16 Many are called but few are chosen And againe out of Luk. 13.24 Striue to enter in at the straite gate for many I say vnto you will seeke to enter in shal not be able All which places doe plainly teach that few shall be saued for in bidding to striue to enter in Christ giueth vs to vnderstand that it is no easie matter but a matter that requireth great strife paines and earnest diligence against the World the Flesh and the Diuell Vpon these considerations The feare and doubt of many many begin to feare and to tremble to stagger and no doubt whether they may thinke themselues to be in the number of those few that shall be saued yea or no and so are drawne into dispayre whiles that they finde this present euil world against them with all the baytes snares nettes and lets pleasures and profits thereof to catch them The great and manifold aduersaâ—es of mans saluation all which the diuel vseth as meanes to Desperation fetter them and intangle them whiles they finde their own flesh their owne corrupted nature against them their reason poysoned their wils and affections blinded their naturall wisdome concupiscences and lusts ministring strength to Satans temptations taking part against them daily and howerly ready to betray them into his hands whiles that they see and perceiue euen legions of Diuells euen all the Diuells in hell against them with all their crafty heades maruailous strength infinite wiles cunning deuises déep slights and tryed temptations lying in ambush against their poore soules who séeth not the thousands are caried headlong to destuction through the temptations of either the world the flesh or the diuell And thus are we poore wretches in a most pittiful case assaulted and betraied on euery side CHAP. 7 THe fift cause of Desperation ariseth from the manifold crosses afflictions of this present life The fifth cause of desperation for from hence it is that some men being daily feretted followed on euen almost pressed down with temporall afflictions and troubles Sundry kinds of crosses and afflictions as penury pouerty hunger nakednes sicknes of body troubles of mind vnquiet suggestions of the flesh temptations of the Diuel persecutioÌ„s imprisonments losse of friends losse of goods losse of good name and fame a wicked crooked froward mate in matrimony disobedient vntoward children vnkind vnthankfull friends vnderserued malice enuy hatred of froward neighbours many other such like crosses as daily in one sort or other befal men When they once feele themselues touched and tryed herewith Ier. 20. anon they take occasion hereby to cry out and lementably to houle and curse the day wherein they were borne Ier. 15. to call that an vnhappy houre wherein their mothers brought them forth Iob. 3. to wish they had dyed in their birth that they had perished so soone as they came out of their mothers wombe that some hill might fall vpon them ouerwhelme them that so they might shortly bee rid out of their paines Yea they will not be perswaded that these thinges are sent of God for the most part to such as he loueth but rather to such as he hateth and that neuer a louing father wil handle his children so as they are handled Now the Diuell most subtilly lying in wayte for his aduantoge taketh hold on this their weakenesse and striueth by little little by such occasioÌ„s as these to worke vtter desperation in them and by these meanes oftentimes forceth some to sodaine wretched and desperate ends CHAP. 8 THe sixt cause of Desperation is long custome of sin The sixt cause of Desperation whereby a man yeeldeth and submitteth himselfe as an obedient ready bonâ—-slaue to the Diuell little respecting if not vtterly contemning both God and his word whose dull conscience through giuing himselfe ouer to impurity filthines of life is waxed hard in iniquity and corrupt waies and as it were burned with a hot iron so that he is now past all sense féeling of sinn Long custome groweth into a second nature this long costome groweth as it were into a second nature in processe of time which to expell is a matter of great difficulty This is it which the Prophet Ierim meant where he affirmed that it is as hard a thing for such to doe any good that haue bin continually inured with doeing of euil as it is to wash a Blackamoore or Aethiopian skinne white or to chang the spots of a Leopard And therefore according to our English adage as that which is bred in the bone will neuer lightly out of the flesh so an old wont or custome of any vice be it of lying swearing gaming drinking whooring or any other such like will seldome or neuer be remedied whereby it oftentimes commeth to passe that in the end the Diuel by this meanes hauing laid a foundation so fitting his purpose to worke on bringeth his old customers to dispaire CHAP. 1. The first Chapter concerning the Remedies against the temptations assaults of Satan being the first speciall cause of Desperation before intreated of in Ch. 3 TO méete with the dangerous and manifould temptations of Satan that great enemy of mankind wherewith hee continually after other sinnes first committed laboureth to bring vs into the deepe gulph of desperation It shall not be amisse nay rather it shall be our best course and remedie to learne practise that most sure safe and excellent counsaile which the holy ghost giueth by those two worthy Apostles of our Sauiour Christ Eph 6. Iam. 4. Saint Paul S. Iam s their counsel against the temptatâ—â—ns assâ—ults of Sath n. S. Paul and S. Iames wherof S. Paul saith Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to staÌ„d against the assaults of the Diuel S. Iam. saith Resist
the Diuell he will flie from you that is to say we must stâ—iue against all vnlawful forbidden lusts by which hee eggeth draweth and haleth men from sinne to sinne from bad to worse and finally to desperation the worst of all sins Had Cain thus resisted the Diuell hee had neuer bene so far drawn as he was from faithlesse hypocrisie to enuy from enuy to murther and from murther to Desperation Had Iudas the traytor thus resisted the Diuel when he by his intisement first yeelded to couetousnesse and so for a little filthy lucre to betray his most louing gentle and kinde Lord Maister he had not from those sins one in the neck of another finally fallen into despayre wherein he became his own hang man to the euerlasting testimony of his owne damnation Full worthy therefore and very néedfull in this case is S. Iames his counsaile Resist the Diuell c. yea and that in the beginning A discription of the manner of armour with which Saint Paul would haue Christians to resist the Diuell And S. Paul goeth further on with the like good counsaile and setteth downe very plainely with what manner of Armour he would haue Christians to buckle and furnish themselues with that so they may be found the more ready and able to encounter their generall enemies temptations As first with Verity or Truth which is the arming of themselues with true and sincere knowledge of God Tit. 1.1 The first kind of Armour to resist the Diuell with In the true seruice of God with out hypocrisie in Spirit and truth Iosua 24.14 Iohn 4.24 3. Kin. 2.4 And likewise with vprighr true speaking dealing with our neighbours in word and deed Eph. 4.25 Ex. 23.1 The secoÌ„d kinde of Armour wherwith the Diuell is to be resisted Secondly with the Brest-plate of righteousnes that is with the earnest appliyng and endeauouring of our selues to all vertue and godlines in our liues and conuersations Where note that the Apostle hauing placed Verity Truth or true knowledge of God in the first place in very fit good ranck order he placed this Righteousnes the is to say practise of true knowledge in holines of life in the second place as a godly father herevpon hath very well obserued in these words Vera dei cognitioÌ„e animi sinceritate puritate pr muÌ„ deinde pia et sancta vita ornari debeÌ„t Christiani milites Christian Souldiars ought first to haue their hearts minds decked furnished with true knowledge of God with true sincerity purity of mind secondly with Godly holy life answerable to their true knowledge Hereby all slighty cunning forcible entries vnto Satans engines and subtile snares shal be debarred and shut vp hereby all the passages of our thoughts and imaginations shal be preuented and taken vp Whereby the Diuell is emboldened to tempt and Whereby on the other side he is discouraged resisted that he shall not so easily find any breach or weake place to inuade For as on the one side by loosenesse licentiousnesse of the flesh by lewdnesse of our liues by our iniquity and vngodlines the Diuell is animated fleshed and emboldened dayly to tempt and assault vs for he seeing in the corruption of our nature a forwardnesse to wickednes he bloweth the bellowes and kindleth the flame of our bad inclination he stirreth vs vp pricketh vs forward till after the heaping vp of one sinne after another at the length he casteth vs downe headlong into the bottomlesse pit of Desperation So on the other side by this Armour of righteousnesse sincerity and integrity to an holy life is the Diuell withstood and resisted and we become the more able to stand fast in the day of our temptation So that it is not without iust cause that the Apostle compareth this Righteousnes the second kind of spiritual Armour vnto a corporall Braest-plate for that like as a Brest-plate saueth and fenceth the vitall parts of man The good fruites of vprighteousnes holines of life as his heart liuer entrailes which once being stricken and pierced mans life is lost so doth vprightnesse and holines of life preserue the heart and conscience of man free safe from the inuasion confusion wrought by Satan from the fierie darts of infidelitie hardnes of conscience coldnesse in religion wickednes of life corruption in conuersation finally from DesperatioÌ„ the very vp-shot of al mischiefs The third kinde of Armour for a Christian against Sathan Thirdly must we arme furnish our selues to resist Satan the Diuell with the Gospell of peace the is our hearts must be throughly acquainted fully fraughted with the knowledge of that glad tidings of great ioy which the Angells of the Lord brought at the birth of Christ L. 2.10 that tydinges of great ioy which must be vnto all nations with that most comfortable ioyfull embassage of the Reconciliation of man with God which may ful wâ—l be called the Gospel of peace for that it onely maketh the Conscience of man quiet at peace with God and it selfe then the which what one thing in all the world can set a man more frée from all Desperation The fourth Armour 1. Cor. 16 13. Fourthly with Faith in Iesus Christ wherewith the same S. Paul arming men against spirituall assaults by Sathan and his ministers and preparing them to the spirituall battaile agaiast the Diuell and his members encourageth them not to shrinke but to cleaue fast to this Faith whereby we may resist and beat backe our spirituall enemie And likewise S. Peter instructing vs to prepare and make oure selues strong to encounter with the common enemy the Diuell teacheth vs to resist him by faith especially Be sober saith he and watch 1. Pet. 5.8 for your aduersary the Diuell goeth about seeking whom hee may deuoure whom resist stedfast in faith For this cause Saint Basil vpon the 32. Psalme saith Basilius in Psal 32. What man is able to make war with the Diuel vnles he flee for help to the Captain of the Hoast through faith in him to wound and thrust through his enemy And likewise S. Augustine accounted this faith to be so powerfull Aug. lib. 3 Cap 20. de lib. arbitrio that it resisteth vanquisheth and ouer-commeth the Diuell What faith is And this true ChristiaÌ„ Faith which is of such power as aforesaid is a sure trust in the mercy of God the Father through the merits of Christ Iesus when we do perswade our selues most certainly of the pardon of our sins through Christs righteousnes and of eternall saluation by his passion heereby obtaining peace in our consciences with God rest walke in obedience to his will commandements by his word vnto vs reuealed Of this kind of faith is entreated in Abac. 2.4 Rom. 3.38 Rom. 51. Ephe. 2.8 The fift kind of Armour The fift kind of Armor to resist the
Diuell with whereof S. Paul in the catalogue of a Christian Souldiars armor maketh rehersal is the word of God this is the Sword of the spirit whereby the suggestions and wicked temptations of Sathan are beaten backe propelled kept off euen as a man kéepeth backe his enemy at the poynt of his Sword With this kinde of Armour did our chiefe captaine Christ Iesus in his manhood here on earth resist and put backe al the Diuell his subtle and faulse temptations answering euery one of them with Scriptū est It is written whence we may learne by the like meanes Christ him selfe an example how to resist the Diuels temptations after his most excellent example to combate with the Diuell and to giue him the foyle whensoeuer by him or any his wicked instruments we shall be tempted to this Desperation or any other sinns whatsoeuer If we be tempted to sweare and blaspheme the holy name of God it is to be resisted with Sciptum est It is written Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine If to pollute and break the Lords Sabboth day through either labouring about our pleasures or profits answer It is written Remember that thou kepe holy c. If to murther shedding of blood by any forbiddē way or means or vpon any vnlawfull occasiō whatsoeuer answere It is written Thou shalt doe no murther If to steale and purloyne by any vnlawfull means directly or indirectly answere it is written Thou shalt not steale If we be tempted to vsury Exo. 22.25 Deu 23.19 Le. 25.39 Psal 15.5 let vs drawe out the Sword of the Spirit Thou shalt not giue to Vsury vnto thy brother Vsury of mony Vsury of meat or of any other thing If he moue vs to deceipt fraudulent dealing 1 Thes 4.5 Leu 25.14 let vs resist him with It is written Let no man oppress or deceaue his brother in bargaining for the Lord is a Iudge in such things If we be sollicited to disloyalty disobedience to Princes let vs striue against that with It is written Rom. 13.1 2 3 Let euery soule be subiect to the higher powers c. Finally to be short to what kind of sin mischiefe or inconuenience so euer any of vs shall happen to be drawn The Scriptures doe minister store of swords against euery kinde of temptation inticed or inueigled let vs search the Scriptures we shal soone finde store of swordes of one kind or other to answer foyle and recoyle whatsoeuer this mortal enemy of ours can vse or obiect against vs here is armour enough to finde him occupied with The sixt kinde of spirituall Armour and heauenly furniture wherewith S. Paul or rather the holy Ghost by Saint Paul The sixt kinde of Christian Armour would haue vs complet and furnished against all the dangerous combats conflicts and wicked suggestions of this wicked and damned spirit thereby to auoid repell vanquish him vtterly is deuout hearty zealous Godly prayer Ouer besides S. Paul his instruction and most needfull exhortation in this case his our Lord Maister and Sauiour Christ Iesus hath commended vnto vs this kind of weapon when he taught to pray with this petition And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Let vs then apply this Armor this kind of propulsatiue weapon and feruentlie and heartily vse it And firmely belieue that which Dauid the Prophet for our good incouragement hath written in Ps 145.19 God is nere to those which cal vpon him will fulfill the desire of them that feare him and deliuer thē Whensoeuer therefore we are tempted allured and drawne on by Sathan through couetousnesse to riches through ambition to honour through enuy to murther through cōcupisence to adultery through intemperance to gluttony or to be short through any other sinne to iniquity Let vs straight waies by prayer craue for power and strength from aboue to ouercome these temptations and especially the most dangerous suggestion of Despayre This kind of Armour is alwaies ready at hand so that Satan can no sooner attempt any thing against vs but this weapon is as soone ready if we heartily and zealously lay hold thereon to repell and vanquish al his practises against vs And therefore Pray pray pray CHAP. 2. The second Chapter concerning remedies and helps against ignorance the second cause of Desperation entreated of before in Chap. 4. COncerning the second cause of Desperation to wit ignorance Our Lord Iesus Christ who was nothing ignorant of the manifold mischiefes and of the manifest dangers that the Diuell leadeth silly men into as it were blindfolded through blinde ignorance and hee knowing that Ignorance is rather the mother of desperation as heretofore in the 4. Chap. of the causes of Desperation hath beene sufficiently prooued then of Deuotion as the Papists haue in this point ignorantly taught maintaind hath in his owne person with his owne mouth exhorted and admonished all men Io. 5.29 to Search the Scriptures which is a lesson in this case most necessary for all men to learne thereby to deliuer themselues out of the dangerous gulfe of Ignorance and so consequently out of many other sinnes and finally out of desperation where-into thousands through Ignorance haue bene implunged and drowned for euer Let vs therefore for the remedie and auoiding of finall Desperation Remedies against Ignorance wherevnto so many runne headlong through Ignorance little knowing and lesse regarding what they doe vntill it be too late receiue the word of God which as S. Iames saith is able to saue our soules with al readines like vnto the Noblemē of Berea search the Scriptures daily Act. 17.11 Let vs seeke after the knowledg of God in time And as the Prophet Esay said Esa 55 6. Seeke the Lord whiles he may be found cal vpon him whils he is neere The danger of wilfull Ignonorance And let vs be assured of this that al māner of Ignorance is perillous but wilful Ignorance of all other is most perilous For it is as a learned Writer hath affirmed a plain Prognostication A. D. in the plaine mans path to heauen a demonstratiue argument of eternall death It is a most horrible and fearefull thinge for a man to refuse instructions dispise counsaile harden their Hearts stoppe their eares and close vp their eyes against God this is the very vp shot of euerlasting ruine What the Ignorant must doe Let the ignorant therefore that stand in this dangerous estate repayre with al diligence and attentiuenesse vnto the learned Ministers dispencers of Gods most sacred word and at their mouths enquire the knowledge of Gods lawes This doth God himselfe commaund vs by the Prophet Malachie Malac 4. And when we feele our consciences wounded let vs after the example of the Godly faithfull and deuout people who after the hearing of Gods word preached came vnto Peter and the
Page 68 69 The ends that the Diuell brings the wicked vnto by their aflictions troubles and crosses Page 70 Two commodities to bee reaped by the liues and manner of the deaths of the wicked Page 71 The great danger of customâ— in sinne and of delaying of amendment of life Page 71 72 A comparison shewing the danger of long custome and wâ—ltring in sinne Page 72 73 Whence repentance and amendment of life are to be had and how they are to be come by Page 74 Many are and may bee deceiued in the manner and time oâ— their repentance Page 75 A note for such as defer repentance vnto their last day Page 75 Examples shewing that it is dangerous trusting vnto the last howre Page 76 Notable examples of sodaine and vnprouided death out off holy Scriptures other writers Page 76 77 78. A catalogue or rehearsall of sundry lets and impediments which oftentimes fall out when we come to our last houre to hinder and pur by that late repentance which so many trust to at the end of their liues Page 81 82 The effects of choller in time of extreame sicknes Page 82 The manner how the Diuell will busie himselfe to hinder repentance at our last pant Page 38 The example of Ioseph of Arimathia most worthy to be imicated Page 85 The vse and custome of the Egiptians to bridle euill actions Page 86 The notable and imitable example of King Ezechias Page 86 Finis Of Desperation CHAPTER 1 The first Chapter conteyning the Definition and Diuision of Desperation M T. Cicero that most worthy Father of the Roman eloqueÌ„ce was of that mind A definition of euery thing which is to be disputed or reasoned of is necessary and wherfore that euery thinge which was to be reasoned disputed of should first begin at the definition thereof that â—o it might briefly be vnderstood what the substance of the matter was whereâ—f reasoning or disputation was to be â—olden Of the like opinion and minde â—m I at this present concerning the â—angerous peste of most wicked and â—amnable Desperation being the matâ—er which now I haue in hand through Gods assistance to write of Definition of Desperation is of two sorts The Definition then of Desperation I finde and read to bee of two sortes as concerning the words and yet in sense and substance of matter little differing one from the other Whereof the one is Desperatio est horribilis mentis cordis seu coÌ„scientiae â—repidatio ex sensu irae diuinae propter peccatum concepta cum metu aeternae damnationis The first Definition of Desperation sine vlla expectatione veniae Desperation is an horrible feare or trembling of the mind and heart or conscience conceiued through a sence and feeling of Gods wrath for sin with a feare of eternal damnation without all expectation or hope of pardon or forgiuenesse thereof The other which is a far more ancient Definition is this Desperatio est malum quo quis diffidit de voluÌ„tate dei The secoÌ„d Definition of desperation aestimaÌ„s malitiam suaÌ„ magnitudineÌ„ diuinae misericordiae bonitatis excedere Desperation is an euil through which a man mistrusting despaireth vtterlie is past all hope of the good will of God verily thinking that his naughtines or sins excell the mercies and goodnes of God according to that saying of the first desperat man Cain Mine iniquitie is greater then can be pardoned Gen. 4.13 Gen. 4.13 Thus it being made plaine and easie what desperation is by these aforesaid Definitions it followeth in the next place to procéed after the same order that the said Cicero vsed that I speak of diuision of Desperation Two kinds of Desperation the one wicked the other holy which I likewise finde and read to be of two kinds the one a wicked kind of Desperation of Gods promises power goodnes mercy towards sinners the matter which here I am to entreat of The other an holy Desperation of a mans owne power in the obtaining of eternall life conceiued and wrought by a sense or feeling of a mans owne defects infirmitie corruptions Concerning this former kinde of Desperation being especially the marke which I would haue poore silly distressed soules to haue a diligent and a watchfull eye vnto to the intent that both my selfe and my poore brethren liuing and warring yet with mee in the militant Church of Christ here on earth may be the better fore-warned for that as they say Tela raeuisa minus nocent of this most subtil â—nd deadly stratageme concerning this most dangerous and fatal assaulting engine of the Arch-enemy of our soules this deepe dispayre and diuelish soule-poyson I haue thought good by the penning of this short Treatise to put my selfe and others in remembrance of these three points Three thinges especially to be noted in this Tr atise of Desperation to wit first of the haynousnesse grieuousnesse and pernitiousnes of Desperation Secondly of the causes thereof and thirdly of the remedies CHAP. 2. The second Chapter wherin is described how hainous grieuous hurtfull and pernitious the sinne of Desperation is IN sundry and manifold places of holy Scriptures are we taught that Goâ— is faithfull 1 Cor. 1.9 2. Thes 3 3 1 Ioh. 1.9 2 Co. 1.20 faithfull in his words anâ— true in all his promises All the promises of God are Yea and amen Faithfulâ— in his mercies for they neuer fayle 〈◊〉 Faithfull Iust True are his waies 〈◊〉 according to the song of the holy Angells GOD is constant faithfull how and wherein Reu. 15.3 Yea moreouer God is carefull for the Faithfull and hatâ— promised to be their God Reu 15.3 2 Cor. 6.18 and they shall be his people It is thy duty therfore O Man to doe GOD this honour to belieue without all wauering doubting or despairing The duty of the faith full towards god in regard of Gods faithfulnes towards him that GOD hath both Power and Will to doe all thinges that hee promiseth and not to permit any such cogitations thought or conceite once to enter into thine heart as that God should proue himselfe a lyer or that it should not come to passe which he hath promised But if thou once suffer the distrust and diffidence in Gods promised mercies through the multitude of thy sinnes and the grieuousnesse of thine offences through the nature of â—inne it selfe and the crafty ingestion and â—uggestion of Satan to take hold of The horriblenes of the sinne of Diffidence Mistrust or Desperation and possesse thine heart O horrible and â—rieuous is this last sin of Despayring â—hich thou addest to thy former sinnes â—o hainous so hurtfull and pernitious â—s this thy sin of Diffidence and distrust â—n Gods mercies to be obtained accorâ—ing to his promised word that I may â—y of thee Aug in lib de vtilitate paenitentiae agendae as S. Augustine said of Iudas â—e traytor
rest of the Apostles saying Men brethren Act. 2. what shall we do Euen thus I say let vs come vnto Gods Ministers Counsell fâ—r the ignorant very necessary and confesse acknowledge our great blindnes and ignorance and say vnto them Help vs instruct vs teach vs set vs in the way guid vs in the paths of the knowledge of God and of our saluation What the true Ministers of gods word are for surely they are the Phisitions and Surgions of our soules so that if wâ— repayre vnto them they shall giue vs tâ— drinke of the holesome waters of knowledge to quench our thirst of Ignorance they are the dispencers of the manifolde graces of God the Lords Stewards to giue each one of vs our portions in due time We haue not Christ alwaies amongst vs as appertayning to his bodely presence but as himselfe saith we haue the Poore alwaies amongst vs euen so also we haue not Christ himselfe that body I meane which sitteth at the right hand of God the father alwaies with vs but yet our Lord Christ ascending vp on high gaue vnto men among other giftes this gift also if we could rightly coÌ„sider of it of no smal value eueÌ„ Pastors Doctors that is the Ministers of the Gospell of Christ that might instruct informe and teach vs in the way of life that might declare vnto vs the secret counsailes hiden misteries of God How the true ministers of Gods word are to be accounted of thet might arme vs with the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to encounter resist our deadly enemy the Diuel therwith Let vs ioyfully receiue them for who so receiueth them as they ought to be receiueth also with theÌ„ him that sent them whose Messengers they are Let vs heare them for they bring vnto vs the word of life Let vs giue credit vnto the Lords Ministers Glory vnto the Lord himselfe that hath giuen in his great loue this blessing vnto vs to haue his messengers and Ambassadours abiding among vs to declare and make known vnto vs by them what his own good will and pleasure is in all thinges to the auoiding of this blind ignorance the very mother of Desperation and so consequently of eternall Damnation with the Author thereof and his cursed Angels for euer CHAP. 3 Of the great seruitude bondage of sins and of the remedies thereof COncerning the great seruitude and bondage of sin being the third before noted cause of Desperation for the helpes and remedies thereof this haue I briefly to say that what though we haue bin seruants vnto sinne and haue bene pressed and surpressed with the bondage thereof so that we must néedes confesse vnlesse we should proue our selues lyars and thrt there were no truth in vs that we through our often doing of those thinges which we should not haue done on the other side through our leauing off those things vndon which we should haue done haue most iustly deserued Gods threatned curses and plagues to light on our bodies our soules our children our stockes our croppes euery thing else we goe about put our hands vnto What though our sinnes fight against our soules and gnaw our consciences and be ready euen out of hand to lead vs into the most dangerous state of Desperation Examples tending to the strengthning of our faith hope and patience against desperation What though wee haue contended fallen out with our brethraÌ„ as did Paul and Barnabas who were so hot in contententioÌ„ one against another that they forsooke one an others company in high displeasure and heat of their stomacks the one taking with him Luke the other Iohn What though wee haue yeelded vnto practised and followed Oppression Extortion polling pilling and wresting that wee can by hooke or crooke from our brethren Luke 19 2 So did Zaoheus yet notwithstanding after his repentance his forsaking ceasing from bad getting his restitution and almes giuing receaued that most chearefull and comfortable saying of Chiist This day is saluation entred into thine house Luk. 19 9 What though we haue bin théeues robbers stealers of our neighbours goods so was the théefe that was crucified with Christ and yet vpon eis humble contrite and sorrowfull confession of his sinnes he heard this most sweete word from Christ This day shalt thou be with mee in Paradise What though we haue murthered and shâ—d the blood or caused the bloud to be shed of some of our brethren so did Dauid to Vrias and yet vpon his zealous inward true vnfained sorrowfulnes repentance hee was not taken away in his sinne but found pardon And so did the Iewes which put to death the Lord of life 〈◊〉 Manasses was an Idolater he defâ—â—â— thâ— Temple of God hee with stood 〈◊〉 beat downe the truth 2 Kâ—â—â— hee set vp Idoâ—â—â—ry he was a coniurer a Southsaâ—â—◠〈◊〉 shed aboundance of Innocent 〈◊〉 so that the streets flowed therewith he committed more abhominations theÌ„ the Cananites or Amorites whoÌ„ for their filthines the Lord cut off out of the land of the liuing he sacrificed his sonnes and daughters to Diuells and yet vpon his true returning to the Lord from the bottom of his heart he found fauour and mercy If our sinnes then 2. Chr. 33. or the sins of any one of vs were as grieuous as euer were the sins of Manasses yet vpon our true and vnfained returne to the Lord shall we despayre of his mercy shall we or may we or daie we thinke that the mercy and power of the Lord is shortened or that God is not the sâ—â—â—e God he was Is he not as ready to pardon forgiue sinnes the sinnes of a mâ—â— repenting returning faithfully câ—â—ling vpon him as euer he was the sinnes of Manasses All these examples and many more are written for our learning comfort strengthning of our faith hope and patience that we should in no wise despayre vpon our true repentance neither for the multitude nor grieuousnesse of our sinnes And likewise also it is written for the brusing as it were euen for the breaking of the backe of all damnable Desperation and to hold the hearts and to restore the fainting and dull spirites of all such as the seruitude and bondage of sinne this our third cause of Desperation doth vexe and presse downe It is I say written that the Sonne of man is come to saue mens liues Luk. 9.56 And he himselfe hath said I am come to call not the iust but sinners Math. 10. Math. 20 Ioh. 3. Wherfore Christ came into this world And againe Iesus Christ is come to giue his life a redemptioÌ„ for many Also God the father hath not sent his Son to iudge the World but to the end the world may be saued by him Now what is it to saue not to iudge but to deliuer from death and damnation wherein we lay in
gods word And finally the very Word of God giuen through Gods great and infinite goodnesse to be our spirituall Sword to resist and encounter the Diuell with which as S. Iames saith is able to saue the souls of men which as S. Paul saith is the power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth which as holy Dau. saith was a lanterne vnto his feet a light vnto his paths This euen this wil the Diuil so far forth as euer he may with al the cunning fetches crafts policies that euer he can deuise How the Diuell will abuse wrest and misapl◠gods word seeke to abuse wrest and misapply from the true meaning sence and signification thereof to confirme lies vntruths and heresies therby he will draw some texts and sentences thereof to bring men into presumption of their owne Vertues Worthines and merits to their vtter ouerthrow And likewise with some other places sentences thereof he will bestir himselfe to bring men to wauer in faith to doubt of Gods graces and mercies through Christ so finally to fall into vtter desperation And thus doth he dayly abuse and wrest all those places of holy Scriptures before noted and alledged in the fourth cause of Desperation tending to prooue the small number of those that shall be saued in comparison of the huge and great number of the reprobate Those places I say doth he vrge vpon the consciences of many in the world by his misapplying of them and by his misconstruing of Christs purpose drift and meaning therein draweth and driueth them to feare and to tremble to doubt and despayre that they are none of that small number seeing so few shall be saued But O thou man that art thus tried The true vse of those Scriptures which the Diuell seeketh to abuse to bring men to desperation thereby tempted and drawne towards temptation for thy remedy and helpe herein Search the Scriptures and consider vpon those places to what end and purpose Christ deliuered this doctrine and thou shalt anon proue and finde that his meaning was nothing lesse then to driue men into dispayre but rather hereby to exhort perswade and to giue caueats and warning peeces vnto all men that run at randome after the world to remember them selus and their dangers and tickle states to awake rouse them vp that are so fast lulled a sleepe in the dangerous cradle of security and retchlesnesse that so they might be touched mooued and stirred vp to embrace in time when time serues a farre more diligent and watchfull care of their saluation that by such meanes they may bee found in the number of Christs litle flock and of those few that shal be saued whō the Apostle Paul exhorteth to make an end of their saluation with feare trembling Phi. 2.1 by which they might be made more carefull and more diligent in that theire so waighty a busines CHAP. 5 The fift Chapter wherein are contained the comforts helpes remedies against the fift cause of desperatiō which is the heauy and great waight of crosses afflictions troubles and necessities that God suffereth to fall vpon many in this life MOst true most notable and most comfortable for the distressed afflicted children of God Ro. 8.22 is that golden sentence of the holy Ghost penned by his chosen vessell S Paul Rom. 8.28 All things work together for the best to thē that loue God For euen the afflictions troubles of Gods children are so sanctified vnto them by the spirit He. 12.10 that by the same they are made pertakers of Gods holines Heb. 12.14 1 The. 1.6 By the same they enioy the quiet frut of Righteousnesse By the same they attaine vnto a greater measure of Ioy in the holy Ghost Gal. 6 14 1 Cor 11 32 By the same the world is crusified to them and they to the world By the same they are made conformable to Christs death By the same they are kept from the condemnation of the wourld Rom 5 5 By the same they learne experience patience hope c. The comforts and commodities of the crosses and afflictions to Gods children So that these things rightly pondred weighed and considered their Crosses are mercies their losses gaines ther afflictions are their schoolings and their aduersity their learned Vniuersity Auoide thou Sathan thou canst not make these afflictōs crosses and trubles neither good nor likely causes of Desperation so they be taken borne and vsed as they ought to bee for it is written for the learning comfort helpe and remedie of all Gods afflicted children whome thou wouldest full gladly perswade that their afflictions are signes prognosticating tokens of Gods wrath and so consequently if thou couldst thou wouldst draw them therby to despaire of Gods loue mercy Pro. 2.12 It is written I say That the Lord correcteth him whom he loueth euē as the father doth the child in whom he delighteth And againe My son He. 12.5 6 7.8.9 c. despise not the chastning of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth he scourgeth euery son that he receiueth If ye indure chastning God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto sons for what son is it whō the father chasteneth not If therfore ye be without correction whereof al are pertakers thē are ye bastards not sons so forth vnto the 12 .v. These many other such like sayinges sentences of the holy scriptures are most euidēt testimonies that afflictions troubles crosses and vexations are sure tokens of Gods grace mercy and fauour wherby God assureth vs of his merciful will and fatherly good heart towards vs and not signes of his wrath heauy displeasure as the diuell would perswade vs thereby to cause vs to dispaire God indeed oftentimes sendeth euilles euen vpon his owne beloued children Why God sendeth euils to his children how he sendeth comforts in the middest of euils but yet to the intent to doe them good thereby and withall in the middest of those euils which he toucheth them with hee sendeh them some comforts to hold their hearts with Examples hereof you may see in Adam and Euah for whē for their disobedience God would banish them out of that most pleasant place in all the world wherein at the first he had placed them yet in the middest of that punishment which he had laid vppon them his fatherly kindnesse shewed it selfe for before he droue them out hee made them coates to arme them against all weather and he comforted them with a promise of the blessed seed Iesus Christ which should restore that saluation to mankind which they had lost by yéelding to the Serpents entisings Gen. 3.12 This was and this is the most kind louing dealing of God with man he wil make vs to smart a little for our sinnes here is his iustice but yet so that he will not vtterly
trust in mortall man then in God wee then call on them and if they promise vs any such thinges we can set our hearts at ease count it as a thing done we doubt no thing of their good will towards vs nor of the performance of their word vnto vs we depend vpon them we relye only on them none other and what they giue their word to do for vs wee make as sure reckoning of it as if it were already in our hands Another example shewing that many men put more trust in mortall man then in God Againe if wee stand in néed of a piece of money as of x. l xx l. xxx l. or be it more or lesse to discharge some dangerous bond or for any such like vse by a set day or to saue our bodies out of prison in the meane time before the day appointed come some one of our honest rich neighbors that is counted an honest substantiall man of good credit promise vs certainely so much mony as we want and stand in need of to serue our turne with bids vs trust vnto it that before that day hee will be sure to helpe we heerevpon trust his honest promise we beleeue his word make as sure account of it as if we had it already in our purses and take no more thought nor care for it O how much more should we trust Gods most faithfull iust and true word and promise beleeue him without all distrust doubting or dispaire depend vpon him who is a thousand times more able and more willing to doe vs good and to keepe touch with vs then euer was to euer shall bee any mortall earthly father or friendly neighbour The second thing in this case to bee considered of is that euery one of vs The second generall help against desperation is particularly to beleeue that hee is in the number of theÌ„ that shall be saued by the merits of Christs death and passion for the promises of saluation in Christ are indefinite excluding no particular man as for example God so loued the world Ioh. 3.16 that he gaue his only begotteÌ„ son to the end that all that beleeue in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting In with generall words is included euery particular beléeuing persoÌ„ although he haue not his name seuerally particularly set down here God excludeth none from his promise vnles through their vnbeleefe despaire they exclude their owne selues If the King of Great Brittaine of his owne méere mercy motion of compassion or at the sute and mediation of some Noble-man or other that is deare vnto him should freely pardon and forgiue all the malefactors and prisoners of any Gaile within his kingdoms may we not account them very fond foolish men and not worthy the benifit of the Kings gratious Pardon if some two or three should doubt and despaire that this generall Pardon appertaineth not vnto them because their owne particular and seuerall names were not therein specified and expressed Euen thus is our case Let not therfore any illusion of Sathan nor feare of our owne vnworthines nor want of our particular names nor any other argument or reason whatsoeuer withdraw vs from challeÌ„ging our own portions and parts of Gods most mercifull promises of his free pardon and remission of our sins Let vs not doubt nor distrust the performance and truth of Gods promisses Thirdly to comfort our selues and to suppresse Satans temptations to despairing The third generall helpe against desperation we may further meditate and ponder with our selues these two poynts especially First that séeing the Lord hath promised to forgiue vs our sinnes and to put all our wickednes out of his remeÌ„brance as by plaine and most manifest euidence of holy scriptures it may easily be proued then it standeth with his iustice and truth to performe the same and that vpon such a necessity that hee must either forgiue vs our offences according to his own worde or els we must count him vnfaithfull for the breach of his promises or els which were horrible to thinke iudge him an hippocrite or a dissembler if he should pretend one thing and intend another or at the least-wise vnconstant in altering changing that which hee hath spoken with his owne mouth so to be thought which is monstrous to be vniust for the second point we may consider likewise to our comfort and to the weakning ouerthrow of all desperat conceits that God hath already punished Iesu Christ for our offences Esa 75. Whatsoeuer could be looked for at mans hands or whatsoeuer man could bee charged with that Christ performed discharged therfore cannot in iustice punish them againe in vs. We offended Christ was punished for the same Whatsoeuer in iustice God could either demand or man owed that payed our Lord Christ Man ought to dy Christ satisfied for the same man ought to haue born the heauy wrath displeasure of the father Christ did beare the same man ought to haue bin cast down into hell Christ satisfied for that also yea hee so fully contented payed pleased God the Father for all whatsoeuer the Lord could looke for at mans hands that the father himselfe acknowledged and in thunder from heauen confessed the same in the hearing of many witnesses present and hearing the same at the baptizing of our Lord Christ by Iohn Baptist in the flood Iorden and so all faithfull beleeuers heereof are heere-by fuâ—ly and freely acquitte and discharged from all debt of sin they owed vnto God for euer Why shouldst thou then O Sathan so busily charge vs with any such matter to driue vs into desperation séeing that Sublata causa tollitur etiam et effectus The cause whereby thou so vrgest desperation by Iesus Christ being taken away the effects also must needs then cease The 4. generall help for the auoyding of despairing The fourth thing to be vsed and practised for the better auoyding of despaire is that at what time soeuer we feele our hearts through Sathans crafty suggestion assaulted and molested with this venomous sting of desperation we should then straight conuey our selues into some quiet and secret place and there in some humble manner powre out our harts before God with inward harty zelous prayer desiring him of his infinit mercies to worke in our harts increase of faith and to suppresse and vanquish all our vnbeleefe and vtterly to expell from thence all despaire The fift and last remedie that now I purpose to handle heere against Desperation The fift generall helpe against desperation is that we frame our selues carefully dilligently and with godly zeale to vse and often-times to frequent such godly meanes as God hath appointed and set forth vnto vs for the obtaining and increasing of faith as ouer and besides earnest prayer last before spoken of the vse of reuerent reading hearing and meditating of Gods word and the receiuing of the Sacraments being holy Signes and as it were Seales seene with our outward or bodily eyes which inwardly doe signifie and set forth to our hearts the secret and inward graces of GOD. FINIS