bee so much honour in the person that grace hath made a Christian what then is to bee found in the grace it selfe every man riseth to honour three ways 1 By Favour A Christian made honorable by favour 2 By Descent 3 By Vertue And a Christian hath all these severall rises but it is grace that makes him truly noble procul dubio ea est vera Nobilitas quae in favore Dei S. August â—onsistit there is not a greater â—onour then to bee in favour â—ith God The Bereans are called Noâ—le Act. 17. have not I planted bee a Noble vine sayth God of the Church Jerem. 21. are there not vessels of â—onour 2 Tim. 2. 20 all â—ese titles of honour are given regard of Gods especiall â—vour this is the estate of a Christian by Gods favour truly honorable Secondly a Man is honorable by descent when hee cometh 2. A Christian made honorable by descent Rom. 8. 15 Mar. 3. 35. from honorable parentage and untainted house if title descent make honorable then may the Christian bee accounted truly noble Hee calleth God Father Christ brother whosoever shall doe Gods will which is in heaven he is Christs brother and sister and Mother here is a noble alliance Matth. 12. 50. Lastly a Man is made noble by vertue and that 's the cheife A Christian made truly honorable by vertue Nobility here it is that a ChristiaÌ„ hath his primeexcellence for vertue is not to bee found out of Christianity moral vertues are but shadowes in a Christian every vertue is a grace and grace is that which ennobleth states Prov. 14. it sets the stampe of Honor upon Christians nay it ennobleth soules S. Paul S. John Ephes 3. 8. Luk. 16. 20 Lazarus to themselves they were but ragged but grace made theyr soules so honorable that they had a guard of Angells to convey them into Abrahams bosome thus the gracious calling of a Christian is made honorable both in body and soule good reason it is a calling of God distinguished from others of men other callings are honorable by way Great difference betwixt the calling of Christians and that of Men. of assignement this flowes immediately from God it hath its deduction from him doth not depend on any thing from man this is the right calling all others are but crafts and trades then surely if Christians have theyr calling from God a Christian is a man of God but if the name and practice agree not aliud professione aliud conversatione then the name of Christianity is not a Comfort but confusion the true marke of a Christian is not magna loqui but vivere it were better bee a bad Heathen then a bad Christian to have the forme of Christianity and 2 Tim. 3. 5 not the power is meere hypocrisy omne nomen ab actu a Sâ—holler is knowne by his study a Merchant by traffick to practice godlynesse is the proper Act of a Christian and the buffetings of Sathan are the markes of a Christian Souldier yet not every scratch or scarre can bee tearmed the Churches glory but when it is as some times with the Romanes quot vulnera tot ora so many wounds so many tongues to expresse the glory of God all those wounds which are received in warres for the Countryes good are Gods honour it was the saying of Maelius that hee had no armes or coate of Heraldry to bragge of Hae cicatrices sunt meae imagines Salâ—â—st In ipso non sunt vulner a sed ego habco in ipso claro loco but those honorable scarres received in combat for his Countreys safety thus Telamon upbrayded Vlisses that he had more words then wounds it was Alexanders honour to goe bare in that place where hee was wounded thus did hee likewise encourage his Father being lame of his foote goe on and shame not to limpe every step you treade is a pace of honour here was glory but not in Christ the wounds were stigmata but not stigmata Christi here was glory but in the concrete not in the Gal. 6. 18. abstract then is the true glory when Christ is made the ayme of all encounters then whatsoever The true works of a Christian Souldier blowes shall bee endured will appeare as so many honorable trophyes erected to his glory Adde unto all this for thy further encouragement the Justice of the Christian Souldiers cause Ephes 6. 7. Justice of the quarrell betwixt thee and the Enemyes no bad cause God himselfe hath commanded to put on the whole armour to resist the Jam. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 8. Devill to be sober and vigilant surely then the cause must needes bee good otherwise the Lord of hoasts would not have thus farre enjoyned it As the cause is just so the Consequence of the cause consequence is of no small importance no lesse then the glory of God the honor of the Lord of hoasts and the eternall salvation of thy poore distressed soule nay thou shalt bee no sooner in the feild but the Pax belli filia daughter of warre the peace of God and of thy owne conscience shall salute thee even Col. 3. 15. that peace of God which passeth all humane understanding that peace of conscience which is so unutterable but no such peace Phil. 4. 7. Peace the end of all the Christian Souldiers combat Psalm 2. 4. sayth God to the wicked Esay 52. 25. Hee shall bee like the troubled sea that cannot rest v. 20. he that sitteth in heaven shall laugh his security to scorne whereas thou after the Victory shalt have the golden Crown of Christs approbation the applause of Saints and Angels thus shall it bee with the man whom the King loveth Ester 6. 6. if thou dost but fight I will assure thee of Victory I know the willingnesse Matth. 26. 41. of the spirit and the weakenesse of the flesh being under Christs standard if thou Encouragement to take up armes lookest on thy owne weakenesse and the Enemyes strength there is small hope but if on Christ Jesus the Captayne of thy salvation no cause of doubting hee hath coold Heb. 2. 10. the Enemyes courage bruised the Serpents head hee may hisse Gen. 3. 15. at thee but cannot hurt thee his sting is out hee was once strong but now Christ the stronger hath spoyled him of his armor Luk. 11. 21. 22. Col. 2. 15. wherein hee trusted and divided the spoyles hee was a mighty Prince in worldly Canaan but good Josiah hath subdued him on then in the strength of Gods holy name bee not white liverd shew not thy selfe a fresh water Souldier seeing thou hast received a * The signe of the crosse Military Sacrament in Baptisme and given up thy name to Christ to whom thou owest thy life by a double right first for giving it thee then for restoring it being lost thy life through sinne was morgaged but Christ hath redeemd it
of the Disciples telling theÌ„ that through many tribulations they must enter into the Kingdome of heaven Act. 14. 22 as if they should have sayd if ever you will come to the kingdome of God or joyes of heaven if ever you expect heavenly exaâ—tation it must bee through earthly tribulation and thus also S. Paâ—â— tutord his scholler Timothy that hee should not bee ashamed of the Lord but bee partaker 2 Tim. 1. 8 of the afflictions of the gospell here 's the kingdome of heaven lock'd in with tribulations here 's the profession of the gospell hedg'd about with afflictions but for thy comfort the holy spirit of God will sanctifye all these afflictions unto thee assure thee of a free admission into those coelestiall places let the dam of opposition bee made God in his mercy will comfort all that are afflicted never so high never so strong the holy spirit will cause the great deepes of Gods mercy to bee broken up the windowes of heaven to shoure downe all coelestiall graces that in the end this poore weather-beateÌ„ barque of thine shall triumphantly ride over that dam of opposition and carry all impediments before it which brings in the second consolation that As afflictions are the Portion of Gods children so God Second Consolation will protect them in all their troubles Hee that hath God for his protection needes not care Rom. 8. 31 what man can doe against him hee that hath God on his side needes not care what afflictions he suffers David found it so God was a sheild for his glory and the lifter up of his beaed such a defence and protector that hee could lye downe and sleepe in the midst of all his troubles Psalm 4. ult when was it ever seene that the righteous were forsaken or their seede begging their bread God in affliction a sure protector Psalm 37. 25. God himselfe tels the Church when thou passest through the waters I will hee with thee and through the Rivers they shall not over flowe thee Esay 43. 2. troubles may come upon Gods Church and people but by Gods protection they shall not overflowe them persocuted they may be but not for saken cast downe but not destroyed are 2 Cor. 1. 9. there not many â—cular demonstrations of Gods protection how many have beene with Hezekiah at the very pits brime with one foote in the grave yet have beene restored to their former health againeâ— In time of Gods visitation was it not a great protection that the heavy hand of God should bee in one house and not so much as touch the next adjoyning to it was there not the same combustible stuffe in the one to fire it as well as in the other certaynely there was but the protecting hand of God was in the deliverance looke up then thou drooping soule lift up thy eyes to the hils from whence Ps 94. 17. cometh thy helpe there 's no true helpe but from those hils no protection but from heaven it is God that doth bind up thy wounds and healâ— thy sicknesse Psalm 147. 3. build not up No true help but from God then to thy selfe Castles of despayre trust in Gods helpe leane upon his protection thus much I will assure thee that troubled thou mayst bee on every side but not distressed perplexed but not in despayre 1 Cor. 4. 8. Consider thirdly thaâ— Third consolation God will hearken to the prayers of his servants anâ— give them a gracious answer in their afflictions This is that which giveâ— Christian audacity in the time God will answer the prayers of the afflicted of trouble it is a great comfort that God will protect a man in his afflictions but is a farre greater comfort to bee asured of that protection by the Receipt of a gracious answer to his petitions commenced the Prisoner desires freedome the afflicted desires ease the Captive desires liberty the distressed desires comfort what a comfort is this that they should be all of them answer'd in the fruition of their severall requests take Gods word for it that hee will answer thâ—se that call upon him nay hee will bee with them in trouble satisfie them with long life and shew thenâ— his salvation Psalm 91. 14. here 's a gracious answer to Petitioners prayers what could God have sayd more Invocaverit me eum exaudiam hee shall call I will answer here 's no neede with Baals Preist to lanch thy selfe with knives no man can say that God is a sleepe here 's quick dispatch hee is ready to heare the prayers of his servants hee is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth hee will fulfill the desires of them that feare him hee will also heare their cry and save them Gods readinesse to answere the afflicted mans prayer Psalm 145. 18. 19. nay stand still and wonder Behold saith the Lord before they call I will answer God is so nigh that the expression of the heart doth cause deliverance Goâ— sees the very preparations oâ— the heart and makes answâ—â— accordingly Mary was earlâ— Joh. 20. 1. at the sepulcher but Chrisâ— was thâ—â—â— before her he musâ— rise betimes that goes beyond God David was very early when hee confessed that his eyes prevented the nights watch Ps 119. 148 yet for all that God prevents David thou hast provented mee saith he with thy liberall blessings God is so ready to heare so nigh to answer that Ps 41. 4. he stayes not for verball expressions a sigh a sigh a sob a teare of sorrow are all of them in heaven before that words are passed out of the mouth what great inestimable love is here that every prayer whether menâ—all or vocall every crâ— every sigh every groane shall be heard and have the reâ—urne of a gratious answer this being well considered will make much for the comfort of all troubled consciences this being well applyed will set an edge on Christian fortitude it will make thee to bee in love with God and powerfull to withstand the violence of the Devill who tels thee that God doth not love thee which introduceth the fourth poynt of consolation which is That God will not only give Fourh Consolation a gracious answer in the midst of afflictions but will give a pardon for all thy sinnes and transgressions To bee protected in afflictions is comfort to bee assured of that protection is a great comfort but to have sinnes pardoned which were the cause of that affliction is the greatest comfort of all it is the prayer God pardoneth the afflicted mans sinnes of every good Christian to overcome his sinne and to have his offences pardoned knowing that sinne is the chiefe cause of crosses and troubles so that if they would remove the judgment the cause of it which is sinne must bee first removed that must bee done by prayer then doubt not of an happy issue David found it to bee his comfort Ps 32. 5.
part sweare neither by heavan or earth nor by any other oath let thy toung be made the numpet of gods glory let thy communication be yea yea and 〈◊〉 so thou â—â—alt not fall into condemnation Math. 5. 34. To summe up all if the Ring-leader of all those â—roopes that Lust the Ring-leader of all the troopes is lust whether it be fornication uncleanes or wantonnesse shall set upon thee take notice that he is a deadly dangerous Enemy he that is lead by him shall set himselfe against God the Father who ought to be gloryfied in his body 1 Cor. 2. 20. Secondly against God the sonne as he is head of the Church Thirdly agaynst God the holy Ghost in regard of his body whose Temple it is 1 Cor. 6. 19. Fourthly against the Church no such thing saith Thamar to Ammon ought to be done in the Church 2 Sam. 13. 12. Fiftly against the Common-wealth Jerem. 23. 10. The sinne of lust aggravated Sixtly against the Party whose Chastity is violated Levi. 21. 7. Sevently against freinds his owne body whose vessell is to bee possest in holinesse and not in the lust of concupiscence 2 Thes 4. 4. here it is that many are visibly marked in the faces and are never without an Almanack in their bones Eightly agaynst his owne good name he that committeth Adultry shall find dishonor and his Reproach shall never he taken away Prov. 6. 34. Lastly agaynst his owne soule whoredome and wine have taken away their hearts Hos 4. 11. thus runnes hee on like a foole to the stocks for correction Prov. 7. 22. and so hee is excluded out of heaven Rev. 21. 8. Is it so then walke honestly as in the day not in chambering and wantonnesse Rom. 13. 13. the Corinthians held lust to bee such an indifferent Wicked men make a mock of sinne adversary that at the last they swallowed downe incest how common lust hath beene with the Romanists let the discovery of the dissolution of Abbyes testifye Erasmus observing it to bee usuall amongst great ones tearmes it Lusus magnificus the Noblemans Recreation what duels have beene about a base prostitute that 's the cause why such a fogge hath lately overspread us as for thy part when thou seest this man doe this or that if hee be patronus causae he shall be socius poenae and thou shalt never burne the lesse in hell for having such company then pray more earnestly refrayne bad company thus did Joseph or if thou chance to fall into such demeane thy selfe so that thou mayst bee like fish keeping it selfe fresh in the midst of salt water Secondly looke to thy Eyes else the Enemy will creepe in at those winÌ„dowes thus Job Job 31. 1. made a Covenant with his eyes have a care of reading Iascivious bookes viewing wanton pictures freqâ—enting stage playes c. Thirdly cast off Idlenesse The way to shun lusts that 's the pillow of lust for hee that is busy in his calling shuts the doore upon many a wicked temptation Lastly meditate on Gods Iudgments fast often make good use of what hath beene all ready discovered thus goe on and prosper I wish thee good luck in the Lord up and bee doing and the Lord God of heaven be with thee The third grand Enemy to The third Grand Enemy the Devill Mans salvation is the Devill his dominion is great the other two the world and the flesh are under his command whereas the one is within thee and the other without thee so this is alwayes about thee the holy spirit of God hath set him out by divers names and titles but more especially hee is tearmed 1 A roaring Lyon 1 Pet. 4. 8. 2 A Murtherer Joh. 8. 44. 3 A Prince of the Ayre Eph. 2. 3. 4 The accuser of the faythfull Rev. 12. 10. First hee is a roaring Lyon The Devil a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may devoure and very fitly is hee called a Lyon for what the world can not doe by alluring objects and 1 Pet. 1. 8. the flesh by its inticing allurements the Devill if hee can will doe by his Lyonlike invasions he is also a roaring Lyon for as a Lyon when hee looseth his prey doth swell and roare for very anger so this roaring Lyon when hee doth but loose or rather when any child of God doth make an escape out of his pawes then hee roares then hee maketh new fetches then hee is ready to fly in the very face of God himselfe how many assaults did hee make upon the patience of Job how many Job 1. crosse blowes did hee give him one in the neck of another if the Sabeans theft and Vers 16. murther of his Cattle and servants cannot moove him then the Chaldeans shall fill Vers 17. up the measure of their theevery if this will not take then the mercilesse flames of fire shall consume his sheepe and remaynder of his Cattle Vers 18. nay the stone and timber out of the wall shall silence his sonnes and daughters in the midst of their eating and drinking onely one shall bee left a live to torment his patience with the sad Relation thereof yet further if none of all these will doe it then hee sets out a higher throate and Nebuchad nezar like heates the oven of his malice seaven times hotter then before he drawes an arrowe out of his owne bosome to shoote at him sets his wife upon him on one side to pervert him and his kinred on the other side to revile him yet for all this Job sinned not with his lippes nâ—r charged God foolishly Job 1. 22. this is that which made the Devill roare aloude The Ezek. 22. 25. scriptures every where set out the roaring of the Lyon to Esay 31. 4. bee extraordinary the Hart thirsteth after the brookes of Ps 42. 1. water the yonge Ravens cry unto God for meate and all Ps 147. 9. other creatures in theyr kindes seeke their meate at Gods hand onely the Lyon hee roares when hee hath no pray and the Devill Amos 3. 4. hee roares too when he hath not some pretious soule or other to feede on nay the Devill is worse then a Lyon The Devil more cruel then a Lyon who if credit may bee given to history spareth those that fall downe flat before him but if hee should once catch thee at that advantage hee would trample thee under his feete and teare thee into a thousand peeces Secondly as hee is a roaring The Devil a Murtherer Lyon so hee is a Murtherer Joh. 8. 44. not a murtherer of one man or of the men of one Towne one City one Kingdome but of the whole world of all Mankind It was the Devils malice that brought Invida diaboli mors intravit Bonavent death into the world it was hee that brought sinne first into the world and sinne ushered in death even eternall death as for thy life naturall how doth this