are fewll for patience are enjoyed when a man hath what his heart can wish what tryall of Patience Therefore doth God bring Iob into the Field exercise him with an hard Battell wherein hee had not onely to deale with Satan but his friends too as enemies Nay God himselfe seemes also to joyn with Satan not only by withdrawing of himselfe from him but by possitive inflicting of displeasure upon his spirit Thou fightest against mee with all thy terrours and overwhelmest me with all thy waves Iob 13. And all this while God increased his troubles to discover his heart When God brings judgements and calamities on a nation he is said to sift a nation Amos. 9.9 Troubles are Gods sieve The greater the troubles the smaller and finer is Gods sieve smal troubles they are but a course sieve they will not bee able to discover the flower from the bran much bran notwithstanding this sifting will passe through Orpha may goe farre with Ruth but will not goe throughout The Scribe came to Christ and would have gone farre if you will believe him upon his solemne protestations Master 8. Matth. 19 20 21. I will follow thee withersoever thou goest but when he heard it was a matter of paines and hardship he must bee content to lye with Christ in the fields The Foxes have holes and the Fowles of the ayre have nests but the Son of man hath not whereon to lay his head then hee returnes home to his warme bed f Quid fine domo si non sine domino sine lecto non sine Christo fulgens rather contenting himselfe to have his bed without Christ than Christ without a bed And as big professions the young man made also 19 Matth. 16. he would follow him too but when it came to the discovery that it was a matter of cost to follow Christ he was to goe sell all and give to the poore then he leaves him though sorrowing While Peace and Plenty Religion and injoyments go hand in hand together so long many will be religious but if once godlinesse comes to bee a matter of cost if once Religion and riches shake hands and must part if the world goe one way Christ another then with the young man they leave him and follow that Master they love better The Stony ground went far too 13. Matt. 20 21. It received the seed aswel as the best It sprang up promised as much as the best But the Sun scortcheth in the times of persecution when troubles and persecutions arise because of the Word by and by he is offended Many that are good for want of temptation like the Weather-Cock they stand this way for want of a stronger wind It is a strange thing to see upon what slight and easie grounds many doe adhere and more doe fall off from the cause of God Some there are that adhere to it as the Beare-bind to the Wheat * Hic est nos vulgi quod magno ex par te religionem ventris causa emolumenti colit hoc corruptum vulgi ingenium notat Propheta Chem. 2 Micac 11. or as the Ivie to the tree not because they love it but because it nourisheth them they can suck leaves and berries from it these hold to it for matter of gaine others againe because it is matter of cost therefore they fall off from it the more costly things the lesss lovely Some againe that hold to it out of private and personal ingagements Quicunque occupati sunt negotiis reipublicae debent hoc ipsum facere propter Deum Rab. Gaâ— friendship love relations and others upon the same ground or else upon some personal grudges to some that appear in it fall off from it what dis-service we have had by such private spirits wee all know to our cost It was the behaviour of Themistocles and Aristides when ever they were imployed in the publike service of the state they left all their private enmities in the borders of their owne Countrey and did not resume them till they returned and became private men It had been well for us if the publike affections to the cause in those who have appeared in it might have swallowed up all personall and private grudges and discontents Thus you see the many slender grounds and ends that weak and deceitfull spirits have and doe propound to themselves in their adhering to and falling off from the cause of God pitty it were that Religion so precious a thing should have such assertors to whose defence I know nothing so meane but is too good to bee intrusted Woe bee to us if Religion stands in need of such defenders Men whose Morives are from without are like unto clocks carried about with waights have no principle of motion within therefore * Nullum violentum est perpetuum Simulata non diu durant can never hold long to any cause he that will serve God for outward respects may be drawne to serve the Devill for the same if hee may mend his wages hee is unfit for a souldier of Christ who hath an eve to things visible 11 Heb. 27. but wants an eye to see him that is invisible 11. Heb. 27. That which inabled the Apostles to goe through all those difficulties as true souldiers of Christ which you may read at large in the 2 Cor. 4 8 9. c. 2 Cor. 4.8 9 10.17.18 It was this they looked not at the things that were seene but to those things which are * Eternitaâ—â— pingo better aeternitate pugno not seen verse 18. Christians these times will uncase you they will discover the bottome of your hearts they will not make them that are good bad but onely discover mens badnesse It is true what one saith A hypocrite is but an Apostate vayled and an Apostate is but an hypocrite revealed Had wee not had these times of tryall wee had not had so many hearts discovered As the Apostle saith â— Tim. 5 2â— Some mens sinnes goe before them to judgement some follow after So here though many had been discovered yet some men had passed this life for Saints whereas now their sins goe before them to judgement their hearts are layd open before those bookes are opened How many that in former times would have said Come see my zeal for the Lord of Hosts with Iehu who would have sided against the corruptions of the times who now with Iehu doe march furiously against the Reformation of them And as it was said of the Spaniards of Aldens Company in Germany they fired the Castle of Lippa which before they pretended to defend So now they set themselves against that which before they pretended to advance * Ficta Cito ad naturam redierint suam Luke 2.34 35 And therefore to discover the bottome of mens hearts and spirits as it was said of Christ Luke 2.34 35. That he was set up for the fall and rising of many
act our faith There is yet something more from this second effect of their feare They cryed out for feare Passion you see will have a vent Terror argumentum diffidentiae clamor desperaâ—ionis Aret. They cryed out It had been well if they had cryed up but they cryed out Feare doth the one but it must be faith which must doe the other But what a shame was this It was a sin they should be afraid but what a shame they should cry out for feare They who were the Disciples of Christ were in Gods way went out upon Christs warrant doe they feare nay doe they cry out for feare what may the Mariners say Shall such a man as I fly Mchem 6.11 saith Nehemiah what one under such protections one under so many promises one who had such a cause such incouragements from above shall I flye This he thought both Gods dishonour his shame religions scandall So shall such men as these fear nay cry out too Such as were the friends and Disciples of Christ such as were sent on Christs Errand such who were under such protections doe they feare What I say might the poore Mariners say y Ecce quales sunt qui Christum coluut Sibona discerent boni essent Salv. What a dishonour was this to Christ what a scandall to Religion what a shame to themselves You have an excellent expression in the 8. Ezra 22. Read it See how tender Gods people are of Gods honour they will rather venture themselves then hazzard Gods glory he would rather goe in danger than give occasion to wicked men to think dishonourably of God Doct. Certainly Christians should be careful they should take heed of bringing an ill report upon the wayes of God they should take heed of bringing a scandall upon religion It is a great sinne with the bad spyes to bring an ill report on the good land to cause the wayes of God to bee evill spoken of Beware of fearing Wherefore should I feare in the dayes of evill saith David the righteous should be as bold as a Lion A good cause and a good courage should goe together But though you should feâ—re yet fight against your fears pray against theÌ„ Beware of crying out He that crys up wil never cry out he whose heart hath found a vent to God hee will never complaine to man hee who is once open to God is shut up to man the more God hears of thee lesse man shall hear men cry downwards so much because they cry no more upwards if your hearts could once find a passage to God in your troubles you would finde so much comfort in it as you would never complaine to man Christians you are all publike persons there is an universality in every one of you one of you stands for many a few for all and that not onely for all Professors but profession too You had need therefore to be wary to walk exactly suffer not the Crosse of Christ the ways of God to be ill spoken of for your sake 3. Phil. 18. z Christum legunt impii sunt Christum audiunt inebriantur Christum sequuntur rapiunt Salv. de Gub. i. 4 5. 1 Sam. 12.24 Matth. 18.7 Give not you occasion to wicked men to blaspheme Religion to cast dirt in the pure face of Profession It was Davids sinne let it not be yours It lyes upon us to justifie the wayes of God by our unblameable walking Woe bee to them by whom offences come woe be to them who give just occasion of Scandall to wicked men that put a stumbling block in the wayes of others to hinder them from entring the way of life But yet you that are without suffer not the infirmities and sins of those that walke in the way of profession to bee a rock of offence a stone of stumbling to you to keep you from entring the way of life The wayes are good though all that walk in the wayes should be nought you are to walke by precepts not by the practises of others by rule not example their failings are not to be stars to sayle by but rocks to shun That which they should doe is thy Law that which they doe if they faile is not thy patterne It grieves me to see the unanswerable walking of professiors to profession and it is an addition to our sorrow to see how Satan makes use of our failings and sins to be as stumbling blocks to hinder others from entring the way of life But men whose hearts are set against the ways of God shall bee furnished with matter enough to bring them into further dislike If you be willing to be offended you shal have offences enough to your further blinding and hardning if the Word do not teach you works shall blind you if the word doe not soften you works will harden you if you stumble at the Word and at profession you are sure to fall at workes Men first take offence at the duties the Word commands and then they strengthen that offence by the failings of those who walke in those wayes This the Apostle shewes in the 1 Pet. 2.8 Christ was a stone of stumbling but you see to whom even to those who stumbled at the Word first first the stumble at the word then at Christ Beware lest this be your condition if it be all the faylings of Professors shall serve for no other end to you then for your further hardning and strengthenning your dislike against Profession it self to your utter undoing But we shall shut up this And will now come to the next Verse The end of the fifth Sermon Matth. 14.27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them saying be of good cheere It is I be not afraid HItherto you have had a black a stormy and tempestuous night and now the morning begins to appeare Hitherto you have had nothing but troubles fears outcries but now comfort begins to dawne The beginnings of Gods people may be very sad and troublesome but the end is ever comfortable and joyfull Hence David Mark the upright man observe the just for the end of that man is peace Psal 37. The end he saith not the beginnings The beginnings may be stormy but the end is calmy Noahs Ark was a long time tossed with waves but at last it came to Mount Ararat a place of rest So the Church of God may be Tost upon the stormy sea of this world for a time but at last God wil allay all stormes quiet all troubles and bring his poore tossed ship of the Church unto safe harbour There is a rest for the people of God Heb. 4.9 2 Thess 1.7 You have an Embleme of all this in this story of the ship on the sea which Augustine makes to resemble the state of the Church from Christs Ascension till his comming againe As I have shewed you before You have seen their Commission and setting forth to sea you have seene their danger and the feares they were in You
to satisfie their unbelieving hearts their feares were above all the security God tendred as you see in the sixteenth verse and you see how God meets with them Take another place in Isay 7. You may reade of a confederacy between the King of Assyria and the King of Israel to come up against Iudah and Ierusalem And in the second Verse you read how the hearts of the men of Judah were moved even as the trees of the wood are moved with the winde Now in this their feare and danger God sends a Prophet to them to tell them he would bee their security if they would trust on him the third and fourth Verses Be quiet fear not neither be fainthearted I will helpe you Verse 7. But notwithstanding all this their feare prevailed against their faith whereupon God sends the Prophet againe in the tenth Verse and bids the King Ask a signe either in the depths below or height above That is if he desired to have his faith confirmed by any visible signe either in Heaven or Earth God would condescend so farre to the weaknesse of his faith to afford it to him but yet his feares prevailed against his faith and against all the security God offered and he puts all this off very cunningly Verse 12. I will not ask a signe neither will I tempt God One would thinke he spake well he would not tempt God in asking a signe he would beleeve on his bare word doth not Christ blame the Scribes and Pharisees for asking a signe but it is one thing to aske a signe when God doth not offer it and meerly out of temptation too as the Scribes Pharises did another thing to refuse a signe when God tenders it and that for the confirming of their faith That hee spake wickedly The 13. verse tels you Is it a small thing to weary men but yor will weary God also Indeed the meaning is he will not tempt God That is he will not trust God hee would not trust on Gods promise Gods security he would run to the arm of flesh provide the best means for his own safety for he would not trust on Gods security hee would rather trust to the provision feare could make then to the provisions faith could finde in God * In periculis non bebemus otiose pendere a divino auxilio sed omnia facere quae sunt in nostra potestate Quamvis credamus in Deum faciamus tamen quae facienda sunt ne praetermittentes ea Deum tentare videamur Aug. Sometimes we tempt God in trusting upon God in the neglect of means and sometimes we tempt God in the trusting upon means in the neglect of God so did he See 2 King 16.5 to the 10. verse And so you see feare is a heart infeebling sin it betrayes the succours which God tenders God and all God is too little to secure an unbelieving man 6. It doth gratifie the enemy our feares are our weaknings the enemies strengthnings 1. Our weaknings I say feare is an army in battalia against it selfe the heart doth arme the head and the head useth all its enginery to batter the heart the heart makes use of the head to heighten a danger and that againe layes battery against the heart to lessen that Hee needs no enemies without who hath a fearefull heart within how can he stand out against enemies from without that is not able to stand against it selfe This is the nature of fear where courage lessens difficulties and makes great things conquerable such a spirit looks through a lessening glass and sees great dangers to be small the heart still riseth above the difficulty This is the nature of feare it looks through a multiplying glasse and makes small dangers great and unresistable Assure your selves feare will make a man weake amidst all the provisions of strength your forts are nothing if you retaine your feares you will be naked in the midst of armes weak in the midst of strength fear is an armory of weapons against it selfe It is our weaknings 2. And it is the enemies strengthening your feares are their courage and your courage their feares It is said in Iudges 2. That Israels sin was Eglons strength so our sin of feare is the courage and strength of our adversaries you weaken your selves and strengthen them you disarme your selves and arme them you unweapon your selves and put weapons into their hands to destroy you It is a dangerous sin and therefore God would not suffer such to goe to war they were unfit for wars Deut. 20.8 there were two qualities that were to be casheered malitia molities wickednesse of life and fearfulnesse of heart the one makes our enemies weapons successefull and the other makes our owne uselesse 7. It is a sin that indangers our forsaking of the Cause of God Solomon saith 29 Prov. 25. Prov. 29.25 The fear of man worketh a snare if once base feare get the possession of the heart what snares wil they not expose a man unto I will name some to you 1. They will make a man shie to acknowledge the Cause of God You see Nicodemus and many of the Iewes of whom it is said They believed but durst not confesse him for feare of the Scribes and Pharisees 2. Fear will make a man-decline and bawk the Cause of God the Rulers were afaid to acknowledge Christ because of the Romans if they had done so the Romans would have come and taken away their place and nation 3. Fear will blind the understaning hinder us from decerning good from evil and evil from good It is a Maxime Sin in the affection will breed Error in the understanding a corrupt heart will cause a corrupt head feare in the heart will cause darknesse in the minde It is a hard thing for a man under the power of any sinfull passion either by-assed with corrupt affections or blinded with corrupt passions to judge of the truth and justnesse of any cause though it be never so evident Men in feare are apt to judge those things good which yet are evil and they themselves would so acknowledge if they stood upon even ground if the feares and dangers had not got the hill of them And I believe this is a great ground of mens judgings in these times They think if they should acknowledge things as they are they should be at great costs for the present and run great hazards for future and therefore they will rather smother the Light and Evidences they have then let in more to their danger and cost Thus our enemies make us drive their mills with our owne breath and doe their worke with our own hands a fair policie Pyrrhus used to say of Cyneas That he had gained more Cities with his eloquence then he himself had done with his sword It is wisdom to expect most venom where there is most Art the Spider hath much Art but yet a great deale of poyson 4. The fourth snare that this
feare brings on us it doth not only blind our eyes that we cannot see the Cause of God and when we see it make us shie to acknowledge it nay prevail with a man to bawk and decline it But it will make us deny and forsake the cause of God too and here might be examples enough many there are who have forsaken Christ denyed his truth truth professed truth preached truth in some measure contended for and all for feare of men You know the sad stories of Peter Spira of Cranmer It is an easie matter to make him who is under the power of sinfull feares any thing to preserve himselfe from danger and any thing to recover himselfe out There are foure sorts of men who will never hold to any cause 1. Ignorant persons we must know and prove before we can hold fast the Apostle bids us Prove all things and then hold fast to that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 That which was never proved is easily deserted 2. Unsound hearted persons It is an easie matter to make him any thing who inded is nothing men that are carried in away onely by a byasse and not by a principle it is an easie matter if you either unbyass or counter-byass them to make them move as fast the other way l Qualitates Symbolicae facilime transmutuntur we say Symbolicall Elements do quickly slide one into another A Hypocrite and an Apostate are so neer that it 's easie to make him an Apostate who was before an Hypocrite hypocrisie is that vertually which Apostacy is actually there is Apostacy in causis in hypocrisie and there is hypocrisie in effectis in Apostasie and as times vary looke for more discoveries 3. 1 Tim. 6.10 Wordly minded men The love of Money will cause men to erre from the Faith as the Apostle saith When men are lovers of themselves more then lovers of God when they are lovers of honour more then lovers of God m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 2.3 4. lovers of pleasure of profit more then n Non amat te Domine qui aliquid amat praeter qui non propter amat Ang. lovers of God there need no great baits it will be a matter of no great difficulty to draw them from God Such men will if occasion serve raise themselves upon the ruines of others make themselves great by making others little such men they are for any service that may advance their corrupt desires It is said of Demas that he forsook Christ and imbraced this present world he forsook the faith of Christ and for gaine he became an Idoll Priest at Thessalonica as Dorotheus reports of him So easie it is to take them from God whose hearts are once taken with the world There is no cause can be sure of those whom honour or money can buy out Such men are onely this way till they can mend their wages and then they are gone it 's easie to intice him who is led away by his own lusts 4. Fearfull hearted persons Fearfull men will be unfaithfull men It 's all one to trust a coward and a traytor he that is one will quickly be made the other where there is ground to suspect any mans feare there is no ground to trust his faith his feare will make him unfaithfull o Terribilior cervorum excercitus Leone duce quam Leonum Agmen ducente cervo Plutar. Apoth and infeeble the hearts of them who follow him such dangerous snares then you see will base feares bring upon men and therefore far unworthy those who are Christians Use Oh let us learne to banish these sinfull sinking feares as unworthy men much more unworthy Christians It is a wonder to read and peruse that daring courage that the very Heathens have had I might here give you innumerable examples of their courage and valour all which might be a shame to us what though our troubles be great our God is great what can over-swell either his power or his love there is nothing can be too big for God and why should any thing be too big for faith upon whom it depends for shame let faith work more and sense lesse heare the reasonings of faith as well as the reasonings of sense when you see no help below cast your eyes upwards as Iehosaphat did 2 Cor. 20.12 We know not what to doe but our eyes are up to thee what though there be a famine on earth there is no dearth in heaven as the noble man thought what though there be weaknesse below there is strength above Well then shut your eyes to things below and open your eyes to God above Converse lesse with Sence and Reason and converse with faith and the promise Look upward more when a man hath been looking downward from the top of some high place his eyes grow dim the head growes weak But when he lookes upward he recovers himself again So it is with us while we look onely downward our spirits fail we are at the end of our faith and hope but lift your eyes upward look upon God and the promise and your spirits shall be incouraged What though the waves rise The storm be great Yet you have a Skilfull Pilot a safe Bottome a strong God who is able to allay all storms to hush all windes or to make all commotions serve to bring you to Harbour which is gods usuall way p Ita Solet Deus cum suis agere ut prius eos inmortem mergat atque omnem spem liberationis quantum humano consilio prospici potest adimat praecidat deindè vero gloriosè liberat ut apareat non humana industria aut prudentia sed Solius Dei potentia hanc salutem partem essc Moler Psal 68.20 Gods delights CHRIST I am JESUS whom thou persecutest v Haec formula loquendi ego sum duplicem habet effectum unum plenum consolationis apud credentes alterum plènum terroris apud in credulos Chem. The same words were spoken to the Iews and they Fell down backward as if they had been strucken with a Thunderbolt Iohn 18.5 The same words are spoken to the Goats Matth. 25.44 But though these words be Full of Terrour to the wicked and unbeleevers yet are they full of Comfort to Gods people The same words were spoken to Moses when he went to deliver Israel out of Egypt w 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ehjeh hath sent me to you I Am hath sent me Exod. 3.14 x Haebraei testantur hoc verbum trium temporum differencias inse continere preteriti prepresentis futuri fui sum ero lege Chem. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A word of all Tenses Past Present and to Come Rev. 1.4 Peace from him that Is and that Was and that Is-to-Come It is a word CHRIST frequently used I am the bread of lise Iohn 6.35 And it could not choose but be a great deal of Comfort to them It is I. I
and disappointment of wicked men 151 u. Not to be too much cast cown though God bring us into extremities before he help 152 There are Five times when God will help 153. to the 155 1. When we know not what to doe 153 2. When we know not what God will doe 3. When we shall sin fouly or suffer sadly 4. When the enemie is at the top of his rage 155 5. When God holds up a mighty Spirit of Prayer d. Christ may come to save his people they not discerne him 159 d. Men may sometimes look upon their deliverers as destroyers 162 Three times Christ appears as a Ghost to his people In times 1. Of Humiliation 163 2. Of Temptation 165 3. Of Desertion 165 166 Four times Christ appears as a Ghost to wicked men 168 the 171 1 When he comes to Reform his Church 2 When he comes to reform their Persons 3 At the houre of death 4 At the day of Judgement u. As you desire Cerist should not be as a Ghost to you hereafter terrible at death c. Let him not be a Ghost to you now 172 d. Christ may come to helpe his people in such a way as yet the means of help may be a terrour to them 173 u. Not to be dsscouraged though the means of help carry the face of destruction 176 u. Yet to be humbled that God takes such sad wayes to doe us good 177 u. Though the means be terrible let not the salvation be a terrour 178 d. God doth often increase when he comes to remove our trouble 179 Reas 1. To discover our hearts 183 2. To lessen our sins 183 3. To increase our Duties 195 4. To increase our deliverance 197 5. To increase our thankfulnesse 199 u Judge not of Gods purpose by his proceedings of Providence 201 u. Lift up your heads under the greatest pressures 202 Some Rules to know when troubles are at the height 207 1. When we are at the height of our graces 207 2. When we are brought to the lowest First in Passive Second in active Humiliation 208 d. Mens fears may be increased when deliverance is neerest 210 Fear is not the way to drive away a Ghost c. 210 d. Men cry out because they cry not up act fear because not faith 212 d. Christians to be carefull of bringing ill reports upon Religion 214 u. Take heed the sins of Professors breed dislike of Profession 215 d. The same Word spoken to the hearing of all the comfort of a few 222 d. It is good to be in the ship with the Disciples though on a stormy Sea 222 d. God hath mercy upon many for the sake of a few 223 d. A Word from Christ can raise a Spirit sunk in trouble 224 u. To direct us whither to sly for comfort in our times of trouble 227 1. Obj. Did Christ speak to us as to them we might be comforted Ans Christ saith as much to us now as he did to them 228 2. Ob. But we want a particular word for Englands Deliverance Ans We have as much word for Englands Deliverance as they had for the preservation of the ship 229. 1. There may be a resting on Gods Neme though you want a particular Promise 229 Unto this Five other incouragements in the Generall are laid down 1. From our relations to God 2. His generall Promises 3. Certain experiences to others To our selves 4. From the Cause 5. From those who are our enemies 232 233 3. Ob. But these afford only probable conjectures where is the particular word 223 Ans We have something comes neer a particular word Two Rules 1. What God hath done to others of his people is equivalent to Promise to us if we be in the same condition 222 2. What God promiseth to any he promiseth to all his people 14 equall state Two things God will not disappoint 1. Faith 2. Prayer 239 246 3. We have a particular word for the destruction of Antichristo 239 241 4. We have a particular word that before the end of all things God will make his Churches glorious 240 242 u. Let us upon these considerations be raised up to beleeve and expect mercy d. The reliefes of Christ are proportionable to the necessities of his Saines 245 Reas 1. Because they are the helps of God 2. The fruits of his mercy 246 c. u. To direct us whither to turne our eyes in trouble 247 to 249 u. To exhort us to rest in Gods helpe alo e. 251 d. The spirits of Christians may even sink under their troubles 253 Reas It ariseth from the lownesse of their spirits not greatnesse of trouble 254 d. All comfort in God in troubles at seth from confidence in God in troubles 255 Some reasons why Christ allaid the storme in their hearts before the storme in the sea 256 257 d. God would not have our hearts sink under the greatest trouble 260 Reas 1. Because this is offensive to God 2 It is unsuitable to Christians 3 It discovers weaknesse of spirit 1 To your calling 262 2 To your cause 263 3 To your relations 266 4 To your expectations 266 4 It discourageth others of our brethren 5 It betrayes all the succours God tenders 268 6 tâ— doth gratifie the enemy It s our weakning 271 their strengthning 272 7 It doth expose the heart to dangerous snares 273 There are four snares these sinking fears expose us too 1 They will make a man shie to acknowlege the cause of God 273 2 They will make a man bauk and decline the cause of God 274 3 They will blind the understanding it shall not discerne truth 274 4 They will make us to deny and forsake the cause of God 275 Four sorts of men will not hold to any cause 1 Ignorant 2 Vnsound hearted 3 Worldly 4 Fearfull men 276 u. Banish these sinfull fears 278 279 d. Christians should learne to know Christ by voice 281 d. The same word may be a terror to some a comfort to others 284 d. The presence and appearance of Christ to the soule in trouble is to the soule as a resurrection from the dead 284 Instanced in four sad conditions 1 In times of humiliation for sin 285 2 In times of temptation 285 3 In times of desertion 287 4 In times of outward trouble 288 u. Incouragement to Christians in their saddest condition Christ is present 289 u. Beg his presence now c. 290 d. So full of bowels is Christ to his Church that he cannot long brook them in trouble when they cry 291 Reas 1 Because he loves us 2 He intends our exercise not our ruine 3 He intends our prayses God may stay long for many reasons 293 u. To rejoyce the Church in her saddest conditions 293 u. To incourage her to wait upon God 294 READER I am here drawn forth to acknowledge those faults which all my care could not prevent I have distinguished those in the Margin from those in the Leaf and must begge
your selves he will carry it on though there be never so many appearing difficulties in the way It was said to Luther when he attempted that great work against the Man of Sin which was the greatest that ever man had to do since the Apostles dayes f Abi in cellam dic misererë mei Deus Go into thy Cell poor man and say Lord have mercy upon me But yet though were never so many difficulties in the carrying of it on and though never so many attempts against him yet he effected the one and which is the wonder of the World having a world of enemies dyes in his bed g Majestas non fracta And therefore be not discouraged if difficulties rise let your spirits rise with them you are above all things whilest you are above your selves h Audere ad nomen Christi periculum vitae fortunarum adire spiritus principalis est Luther It is a magnanimous spirit to dare to meet all dangers to undergoe all difficulties in the cause work of Christ You know what Luther said when he went to Wormes Bucer endeavoured to disswade him he replyes * Verbum dei in juriam patitur ego qui literis eo vocatus sum me conferam Haec est dies quem fecit dominus vocatus ego venio vocatus ingredior in nomine domini nostri lesu Christi etiamsi scirem tot esse diabolos Wormaliae quot sunt tegulae in aedium tectis The word of God doth suffer and I being called thither by Letters will go being called I come being called I will thither in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ although I should know there were as many Devils at Wormes as there are Tyles upon the houses Here was a Prinee-like spirit that was above the world and therefore could not be daunted with all the evils of it c. He who saith there is a Lion in the way that feares to go in a good way because of difficulties he is not fit to be a souldiour of Christ Fear is both unworthy religion which is the cause of Christ i Malus miles qui imperatorem gemens sequitur Scnec and a Christian who is the souldier of Christ Vse If those who walk in just wayes that have Gods warrant for their undertakings may yet meet with stormes then tell me what may they expect who go on in the wayes of sin if the wayes of Saints be strew'd with crosses with difficulties what shall be the end of swearers of wicked and prophane men if thus it fare with the green tree what shall become of the dry tree if thus with the wheat what with the chaffe if judgement begin at the house of God vvhere shall the sinners and vvicked appeare it is a question beyond your ansvver And so much for the first The unexpectednesse of their danger 2 We novv come to the second and that is the time of their danger vvhich is expressed in this vvord Novv The ship was now c. This points at the time of their danger now that is in the evening vvhen Christ vvas on the Mountaine * Initio satis feliciter procedit navigatio ita ut trium vel quatuor horarum spatio medium maris attigerint Chem. So that it seems hitherto they had had a prosperous voyage vvho in three or four houres vvere gotten into the midst of the Sea at the first evening they vvent to sea that vvas about three of the clock in the second evening they vvere in the midst of the sea and that vvas something after six of the clocke so that in three or foure houres space they vvere gotten into the middest of the sea but novv ariseth a storme Whence this Doct. That comfortable and promising beginnings may yet afterward finde sad and sorrow full proceedings It was so here the Disciples had a prosperous and promising setting forth but afterwards they met with stormes The stories of Moses in the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt and of the Jewes second building of the Temple tell us this plainly they had promising beginnings insomuch that they thought the work would have been done out of hand but the stories tell you what obstructions whar interruptions they met withall before the worke was finished c. Though the clauses and conclusions of Gods people are good as the Psalmist saith Mark the upright man observe the just for the end of that man is peace yet the beginnings and the proceedings may be sad and troublesome Though God will bring the ship of his Church to safe harbour at the last yet they may meet with stormes and tempests on the sea a Vt maresic mundus semper forvet nunquam quiescit So long as there be contrary windes men of contrary spirits looke for tempests expect stormes Vse This doth admonish us to beware of vaine and fleshy confidence because of promising beginnings n Nescis qusd serus vesper vehit The fairest morning may be over-cast the clearest day may bee over-clouded the most promising beginnings may meet with sad and sorrow full proceedings It was the best speech that ever Ahab had 1 King 20.11 Let not him that girds on his Armour boast himselfe as he that puts it off It is a great argument of lightnesse and vanity of spirit yea and of carnall fleshy confidence to bee puffed up upon promising beginnings a thing the world is apt to but when God sees his owne people in the same way they must then expect that God should hedge up their way with thornes and lay unpassible mountaines of difficulty in their way The case seems to bee ours it lookes like it Had not our ship in which was imbarked so much of our good and happinesse a prosperous gale at their first setting forth had they not a prosperous beginning did they not a long time goe without any contrary wind without any opposition had they not the Prayers the desires the countenance and well-wishes of all to carry them on were not the beginnings very comfortable and very promising you all know But how have they met with contrary winds sad proceedings what difficulties what mountaines of difficulties have they met withall in the carrying on of this work you all know The case is ours what must be the cure what is our work now in rhis case 1. There is something that wee must not doe 2. There is something that must bee done 1. We must not be discouraged God is able to make these troubles that are arisen in the way to help forward his own end Doe the billowes rise let the Ark let the ship rise with them do the winds blow let them but kindle and inflame your zeale and courage Assure your selves God will both bee your Pilot in the ship and your defence on the Sea That which you carry shall never miscarry nay it shal be your safety too o Perga contra tempestatem forti animo Caesarem