sed Verbum Dei non alligatum Are you sicke it is not for your health not for your hurt Despaire not for our Saluation dependeth vpon the will of our most louing Brother Iesus Christ who will intreate the Father for the Children and the Father will heare the Sonne for his Brethren not refusing them but feasting them And though the best of vs haue no merits yet our Sauiour Christ hath so imparted to vs his Righteousnesse as if wee had effected it our selues By which his most gracious suffering he hath most surely signed and sealed his Diuine loue and heauenly fauour vnto vs which beleeue The Lord deliuereth his people by afflictions preserueth them vpon his borders Esdras 12.14 making them ioyfull vntill the comming of the day of Iudgement I see you rest weake and sicke I pray you bee as quiet as you can seeking no other remedy but content your selfe with Christ God oftentimes sendeth afflictions on vs to discouer our vaine Confidence which wee keepe secret to our selues Terrours and destructions make men now and then to learne that which exhortations and gentlenesse could not bring to passe As the Plow-man hath his appointed time and diuers Instruments for his labour so hath the Lord for his vengeance for hee punisheth some at one time some at another some after one sort and some after another So that his Chosen seed is beaten and tried but not broken in pieces as are the wicked The dearest of Gods Children may faint but not finally faile and vtterly fall away God will suffer his Church to bee afflicted and yet at length send it deliuerance God suffereth sometimes his dearest Children to want Consolation that his grace afterwards may the more appeare when they feele their owne weakenesse Doe wee not by our sins prouoke God to take our liues from vs euery night You are now afflicted in your bodies yet assure your selues in the Lord that you shall finde deliuerance at last both for body and soule a very translation into blisse Gods power is sufficient without the helpe of any other our Heauenly Father hath all meanes in himselfe to bring his will to passe Hee sheweth his care and fauour ouer them that are weake and tender as God hath all power in himselfe so doth hee vse the same for the defence and maintenance of his Members Church and Children See that you neither feare neither man nor put your trust in any saue onely in God you are worthy of rebuke which will not rest on the prouidence of the Almighty but thinke that hee hath forsaken you in your troubles All power rests in Gods hands to deliuer you when hee thinketh good Therefore learne to abide Gods hand with patience and not curiously to seeke out the Cause of Gods delay in your Afflictions Trust not in your owne Vertues but acknowledge all good things to come from the Lord you are in Christs protection and therefore safe against all dangers and free from the feare of our infernall foes As a woeman cannot forget her Child no more doe the Compassions of our heauenly Father faile vs at our needefull times of our seuerall distresses Seeke no Counsell in your owne deuices lest refusing the Light and Consolation which the Gospell offereth you remaine still in sorrow and neuer bee comforted Esay 51. God comforteth his Church that they should not bee discouraged for their small number but remember their Parents Abraham and Sarah of whom they are borne The punishment of the Elect is by measure according as God giueth grace to beare it But in the Reprobate it is the iust vengeance of God to driue them to an insensiblenesse and madnesse Ier. 15 16 The Church of God in time of her afflictions and Captiuity bringeth forth more Children then when she was at liberty Wherefore doth our God refuse vs and forsake for a while but that with greater Compassions and euerlasting Mercies hee may imbrace vs againe as our Redeemer for euer It is our fault that we are not soone reconciled one to another and iudge God by your selues But hee is most easie to bee reconciled offering dayly his mercies vnto vs deliuerance is from Heauen and God neuer forsaketh his Children There shall be great afflictions in the Church but God will euer deliuer his True deliuerance from sinne and Sathan belongeth to none but to the Children of God whom hee iustifieth and when Gods will and pleasure is hee will shew you fauour and feeling graces Our Heauenly Father hath no need of mans helpe for the deliuerance of his hee can easily deliuer his Children and punish his foes Consider not so much what griefes and afflictions you now beare in your Body as what Christ hath borne for you to purchase your saluation Remember why Israel was so sore afflicted that they might in their troubles call to remembrance the benefits which God had bestowed vpon them in times past Yeeld not to the Censure of thy flesh when God doth not for Causes best knowne to himselfe send succour vnto you presently You are in distresse and trouble dedicate your selfe vnto Gods Seruice and call vpon his Name let all your Ioy bee in Gods Seruice and Worship no mans helpe can saue you put your confidence in GOD looke for helpe at his hands who hath better Physicke for your soules then any that commeth from Gilead Pray with true Faith and Repentance not for the smart and griefe which you feele to be remooued but finally sanctified to your Honours saluation Remember that God is the Potter and wee the Clay hee hath power ouer vs Esay 45.9 Rom. 9.10 to doe with vs whatsoeuer seemeth good in his sight As no man that is a thirst refuseth fresh Conduit-water which hee hath at home to goe and seeke waters abroad to quench his thirst So wee ought not to seeke for helpe and succour as Strangers and leaue God which is present with vs. All which meane to enioy the Land of promise must walke in the way of truth which God there teacheth them Let your Faith still striue against each temptation and in your greatest weakenesse seeke to the Lord for strength Know this my beloued that the dearest Children of God may bee ouercome in the battell betweene the Flesh and the Spirit and great inconueniences may they fall into Iob 3.1 c. 15 10 till God rayse them vp againe The Scriptures telling vs that Iudgements begin at Gods owne house wee may not thinke it strange that we are now grieuously punished who haue now and then Ezech. 9.6 1. Pet. 4.14 17. played he part of Gods enemies Extreame are the afflictions that God appointeth for euery one as Psalme 15.8 Esay 51.17 But the Cup which the wicked drinke is more bitter then that which God giueth to his Children for hee measureth the one by Mercy and the other by Iustice If you see you rest weake commend your selues to Gods mercy who meaneth not to destroy you for your sinnes but
Christ Iesus For a time the Father hid his face from him but with euerlasting Compassion did hee most graciously looke vpon him at last God resteth our Father hauing a care ouer his Church and Children preseruing vs from fire and water and each other eminent danger God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are not able but will euen giue you the issue with the temptation that you may bee able to beare it You are the Lords workemanship and hee will vndoubtedly prouide for you both sheltering and comforting you and that euen then when you finde the heate of afflictions to shine most hottest vpon you Forget not to goe and come vnto the Lord in the time of your trouble and deepest distresses knowing Christ to be our Shepheard and preseruer in each danger Wee cannot honour God more then to depend on him in our dangers and fly vnto him in our extremities as our onely helper hope and fortresse This rests a matter of endlesse comfort that our Lord Iesus Christ will bee a place of comfort and refreshing vnto vs and as a shadow at noone-day in the greatest heate of bloody persecutions You are now cast downe as the Children of God to the disquieting of your soule within you yet for all that waite you still vpon God Let no feare or danger make you deny Christ and his Gospell who comforteth vs in his Church refresheth vs in our troubles and freeeth vs from the dread and dangers of Hells horrours if wee faithfully call vpon him for pardon of our sinnes as once did Manasses Bee you still thirsting for life and panting for Paradise powre out your hearts before him that keepeth Heauen for your house assure your selfe of Gods helpe bee you neuer so grieuously tormented the Saints of God haue still waited vpon him to teach vs all to be constant and to waite still for our seuerall deliuerances We knowing the Lord God to be the Author of each calamity may not murmure but seeke remedy at his hands who woundeth vs lift we vp our hands in hope not boasting of our vertues but declaring that wee still rest vpon God in the middest of all our afflictions It is a bad seruant that will not waite on his Master God doth not alwayes punish our sinnes but by hard afflictions calleth vs to the consideration of the heauenly Ioyes Wee doe not honour our God aright vntill wee trust in him alone taking his Maiesty to witnesse that wee hunger in heart to bee vpright towards God still crying when wee are grieued This God is my God for euer and euer and hee shal be my guide euen vnto death Psa 48.14 Psal 48.14 Life and death are in Gods hands and no man can liue for euer howsoeuer therefore you dreame of Immortality it is not to bee founded vpon earth although your disease is grieuous and dangerous yet know you this that God hath infinite wayes to deliuer you Did not God deliuer his people from Og King of Basan and other Tyrants and his owne people from the the Red sea when they were in great extremity and danger Let not your present crosses rest an occasion of your falling from God but rather a Cause of cleauing faster vnto him Howsoeuer you doe yet suffer troubles yet hath God his time wherein hee hath appointed your deliuerance A liuely faith assureth the soule that God is fauourable vnto him when hee seemeth to bee angry and then at hand when hee seemeth to be farre off Feare you not but God will heare you though Care make you thinke that the Lord long deferreth you What though to day you seeme as a Sheepe beset with many Wolues yet put your trust in God and depend still on his prouidence and you shall assuredly bee comforted at the last Vnder the temporall punishment of the Land of Canaan is comprehended the promise of life euerlasting to all the faithfull and their posterity In the time of our distresse wee must learne to pray earnestly and although God stay as if hee heard vs not yet is then our deliuerance neerest when wee seeme voide of reliefe and succour Are you in distresse God hath millions of meanes to free you from miseries and preserue you from troubles Acknowledge our heauenly Father to bee the onely Authour of all your deliuerances from dangers and death and that by his prouidence you are still enfranchised from troubles God will recompence his long tarrying with double and vndoubted comfort to your soules There rests no true praysing of God except it come from the heart Promise therefore to delight in nothing if henceforth God send you life and health but onely that wherein God may bee glorified Remember that sicknesse is Deaths messenger teaching vs to reioyce in nothing but in the Lord. The faithfull must learne to depend vpon Gods hand in the time of their miseries knowing that when things are euer at worst then will God come and set them in order and so bridle the rage of the enemy as hee shall become mightlesse were he neuer so strong before Wee may not looke to bee deliuered at our first cry our eyes may bee kept waiting for our comming with our deceitfull hearts and searching out of our owne spirits crying vnto GOD to know the Causes why wee are chastened and when our sorrowes shall haue an end Desire you to know the way from Earth to Heauen wee must ascend by Faith vp thither if wee will know the waies of the LORD or the secrets of his diuine Word and Will Then must wee learne what extremities God will suffer vs now and then to fall into and why to exercise our faith before hee set to his hands to deliuer vs. God for a time will exercise vs with his rods yet vnder the Kingdome of Christ shall wee rest assured both of our peace ioy and comfort I beseech you learne so to call and cry vpon God as you neuer become weary though GOD grant not forthwith your requests but learne rather to be more earnest with God and to call the more oâ—tâ—er vpon him Though your state rest not so glorious as you wish yet waite with patience and GOD will accomplish his most comfortable promises Acknowledge and confesse God himselfe to be the author of our saluation who very oft in loue calleth vs by his rods to consider the shortnesse of our liues and how that for our sinnes sake hee abridgeth our dayes lest that his wrathfull Iudgements should fall the more heauily vpon vs. Let this be the comfort of your heart that as God is all sufficient to defend you from dangers so resteth hee most willing to comfort you in your most perillous agonies Content your selfe with that life which God giueth you for by Death the shortnesse of this Life is recompenced with Immortality Know should wee all that God hath care ouer his and oft chastiseth them for their wealth that they should not perish for euer with the
Oh that wee would consider the profits that come vnto vs by our heauenly Fathers chastisements First of all sinne and the rebellious wickednesse of our flesh is by this meanes tamed Secondly the Lords lashes are true testimonies of his fatherly goodwill towards vs insomuch that they may shew themselues to be Bastards and no Sonnes which cannot abide to bee chastened of God Thirdly if all held this right to Fathers to whom next after God we owe this life that they may rightfully correct their Children Shall not we be much more subiect to that our Father who is the Authour of the spirituall and euerlasting life As many as will become the godly followers of Christ must as it were goe out of the world bearing their seuerall Crosses bee not faint-hearted knowing this that your faith must be tryed through manifold afflictions whether it bee pure as it ought to be we may not despise the Crosse of Christ which our heauenly Father vseth as an Instrument to polish and fine vs where we are to consider that the effect of afflictions is to polish and fit vs for the perfecting vs in Christ each seuerall moment of mans life depending vndoubtedly vpon God The knowledge of whose will doth not onely nothing at all profit vnlesse the life be answerable vnto it but rather maketh the sinner farre more grieuous Forget not to bee patient still expecting a most happy end of all your troubles because God is a most bountifull Father neuer forsaking his seruants Consider I beseech you by what way we come to eternall glory is it not by all kinde of afflictions wherein notwithstanding faith maketh vs so secure that we are not onely not ouercome with sorrow but also through the beholding of GOD himselfe with the eyes of Faith are vnspeakeably ioyfull because all such things as they are but for a time so are they not applyed vnto vs to destroy vs but as it were by fire purge vs and to make vs perfect that at the length we may obtayne saluation Art thou afflicted Christ goeth before in example and Vertue as one that suffered most grieuous torments euen vnto Death although but in one part only of him to wit in the flesh or mans Nature but yet became conquerour by the Vertue of his Diuinity Know this that GOD keepeth measure in his greatest seuerity bee not offended therefore neyther stumble at the vayne shaddow of the felicity of the wicked as though God were not the gouernour of the world nor thinke that the Wicked are in good case and the godly in Euill for we may perceiue an by Argument of comparison of them together in their last end That God who spareth not his owne but nurtureth them vnder the Crosse will at length in his time handle the rebellious and wicked farre otherwise whom he hath appoynted to vtter destruction Although that life be sayd to bee sweet yet is it chayned to a thousand miseries and the onely salue to cure affliction is to make vse of the ancient History Luke 13.3 Except you amende your liues you shall all likewse perish Thy sinnes deseruing scourges the iust hand of the Almighty striketh thee pray that thou mayest benefit thereby Christ healing of the sicke and diseased sheweth that Christ we recouer through Faith whatsoeuer we had lost by our frailty Let vs euer esteeme our diseases as whips wherewith GOD scourgeth vs for our sinnes for the bettering of our wils words and wayes Affliction doeth good vnto the Godly discerning at the length true godlinesse from fayned fashood and filthy flattery In thy greatest weaknesse reioyce in remembring Christ power ouer sinne Death and Hell We haue no cause to promise our selues rest peace and quietnesse in the world seeing they themselues which seemed to fawne vpon Christ doe shortly after crucifie him Be of good cheere being weake and sicke for Christ is come to deliuer vs from the bonds of Sathan who though once hee had bound a woman as in Chaines for 10. yeares space so that shee could not so much as hold vp her head Yet come Christ at the last saying Woman thou art loosed from thy infirmities Luke 13.12 Luke 13.12 Marke and consider how that Christ maketh death acceptable vnto vs by ouercomming in our name all the terrours of death which had ioyned with them the curse of God and the fearefull Iudgements of an angry Father For Christ our Redeemer tooke the burden of our sins vpon himselfe and was willingly betrayed and taken that by his obedience hee might deliuer vs which were guilty for the betraying of Gods glory Remember and forget not what you are a peece of worke made of the slime of the Earth sauouring of nothing but corruption ignorance dulnesse and death Forget wee not how Christ left the proud Pharisees and communicated the treasures of euerlasting life with a poore sinfull woman and stranger refelling the grosse errours of the Samarians and defending the true worship of God deliuered to the Iewes yet so that hee calleth both of them backe to himselfe as one whom onely all the Fathers and also whom all the Ceremonies of the Law had respect vnto Wee must all haue an eye to this high and soueraigne power of God which gouerneth all things insomuch that hee hath power of life and death so that we liue dye at the pleasure of God and not of men Therefore this one thing remaineth that we goe forward constantly in our vocation to Gods praise and our owne peace God seemeth now then to linger in helping vs which he doth for his owne glory and for our saluation Iohn 11 as he did once in raising vp Lazarus Ioh. 11. He beleeueth in God that beleeueth in Christ and there is no other way to confirme our mindes in our greatest distresses but that Christ is not gone away from vs to the end to forsake vs but rather that hee might at length take vs vp with him into Heauen It is a miserable thing to be subiect vnto sinne which of it owne nature maketh vs guilty of Death But wee must crye to the Lord who will by Death it selfe at length make vs conquerours As we are already in Iesus Christ wearied we may bee with continuall conflicts yet recouer our selues agayne resting in our Redeemer who is the true perfection of our soules You are in Christ doubt nothing of the happy successe of your combate because the Spirit of grace and Fruites of Righteousnesse and Seedes of Life remayne in you for you hauing the self-same Spirit which Christ hath all infirmities layed aside and Death ouer-come you shall bee cloathed with Heauenly Glory You haue already receiued the Grace of the Gospell wherein God sheweth himselfe not as before the publishing of the Law terrible and fearefull But a most benigne and louing Father in Christ so that with great boldnesse wee call him Father the Holy Ghost sealing his Adoption in our hearts by Faith Remember wee all the great
Heauen but by Hell Gods scourging vs sheweth that he loue vs and meaneth to manifest vnto the VVorld whether we be slaues or sonnes There is no greater Temptation then to thinke God our enemy going about to destroy vs in with-drawing the most comfortable signes of his fauour from vs then yet must we rest vpon the Lord and by Fayth cleaue vnto him VVhat though by outward sence we are reiected of God yet by our Faith must wee still apprehend his hidden mercies and behold it a far off in the Glasse of Gods Promises Nay although the Lord fayle vs yet let vs not leaue him vntill that he haue blessed vs well Knowing his loue that he will hold with the one hand when hee assayles vs with the other proouing and Exercising our Faith as hee did the VVomans of Canaan Matth. 15.22 First Math. 15.22 Christ gaue her Faith and by that Faith was shee mooned to seeke to him but when shee was once come vnto him he gaue her three Repulses First by saying nothing Secondly by denying her And thirdly by calling her Dogge Marke we how Christ made shew as though he would neuer haue granted her request yet at euery repulse she grew the more instant crying more earnestly vnto him shee opposed herselfe vnto Christ and would take no deniall Marke wee all here the nature of true Faith if you doe now rest faithfull though you feele your selfe ouerwhelmed with sinne turmoyled with Sathans conflicts yea and God himselfe both angry and offended with you Yet can you lift vp your eye-liddes to Heauen and giue a glimpse at the Brazen Serpent Christ Iesus flinging your selfe into the Armes of GODS mercy and catching hold of that hand buffetting you and kisse it Then feare not we must not passe for the malice of men but haue an eye vnto the mercies of God well knowing that yet it is not made manifest what we shall be But we know that when Christ shal be made manifest we shal be like vnto him for we shall see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.2 Doe not I pray you measure the Loue of God vnto your soule eyther by your prosperity or by your Aduersity well considering that these rest common both vnto bad good Take heede and beware of perswading your selues to bee in the depth of Gods fauours whilest you inioy temporall peace and externall glory for Christ fled into the mountayne when hee heard they would come to make him King choosing rather to bee there alone then for to inioy a transitory Crowne To keepe you now from dispaire consider I pray you all or some of Gods former mercies towards you He hath protected you both in your Infancy Child-hood and Youth and multiplied vpon you many positiue blessings let all these pleaders preuaile for your faithfull and hearty seruice to so heauenly a Maister If any countenance a seruant and giue him meanes and maintenance hee would take it ill to leaue him and serue his very enemies yet so doe sinners that forgetting Gods fauours towards them flye vnto the professed enemies of God yea of Christs Church and Gospell I meane the Deuill himselfe from whom to be saued sigh wee still to be anointed vntill wee be crowned anointed here with the oyle of gladnesse in this Church militant that wee may bee crowned hereafter with the Church triumphant 2. Tim. 48. Desire the Lord to make your bed in your sicknes that the voice of ioy health may bee heard in your habitation account no priuiledge so precious as to be in GODS fnuour and haue accesse to the Throne of Grace and vpon all occasions to see the golden Scepter stretched out vnto you your prayers heard your petitions granted and your suite obtained assure your selfe that Christ sendeth no sinners discontented or empty handed from him Salomon craued Wisedome Paul power against Sathans buffetings Ezechias and Dauid deliuerance from Enemies Moses from drowning and the Theefe from damning No petition put vp from a sorrowfull Soule and a beleeuing and touched Heart but receiueth a gracious answere for GODS glory and our good Serue wee Christ now vpon Earth and wee shall surely sing with him in Glory trust and rely we still vpon God and hee will take vs away as hee did Iosias from seeing of Euils or as hee did good Augustine before the sacking of Hippo by the Vandals or conuay vs to some other place as he did Lot when Sodome was burned or prouide some meanes for our stay as hee did the Arke for Noah when the World was drowned Hee that saued Moses and the Israelites when the Aegyptians were drowned wants no meanes to remooue our painefullest Maladies yea to rescue and redeeme our liues with the death of our Enemies as Haman was hanged for Mordecai saued was the Corne and burnt were the â—ares one and the same Flaile beats Chaffe to be burned and pure Corne to be preserued Be not discouraged at the feare of death knowing that with Christ all Christians must die that the remnants of sinne might bee quite taken away and abolished so as the roote of old Adam may bee most absolutely stocked vp Remember I pray you that flesh and blood must be changed before it can inherit the Kingdome of God 1. Cor. 15.50 Moreouer the blood as it is old beginneth by little and little to condensate and waxe thicke and so to corruption Againe our spirits waste by vse and labour which weares euen the Iron and hardest mettalls and both the body and the minde are weakened by corporall and mentall exercises Both of them like to vnthrifty heires spending faster then either the father or fosterer of them the Heart can digest and gather for them All these things tell vs that dye wee all must rich Diues aswell as poore Lazarus Simon the wiser aswell as Naball the foole Absolom the faire aswell as Thersites the foulest and fulsome Tall Saul must goe to the Graue aswell as little Zacheus godly Ionathan aswell as his vngodly Father both Wife and Husband must participate of the common condition of humane Nature once to dye Know this all of you that no Princes vpon the earth can with-draw their necks from this yoake howsoeuer some seeme as Gods vpon the earth yet must they die like men be they neuer so high of birth or blood Though my brethren and sisters yee weare all golden Crownes let vs all obserue how louing our LORD and Master was vnto Dauid in promising vnto him a Kingdome but for many yeares was he so hunted and persecuted therein that hee knew not which way to turne himselfe to finde peace and safety And why was all this but that hee might first become a good man and then a good King whosoeuer will weare the Crowne of Glory with Christ must likewise with him weare the Crowne of Thornes Our heauenly Father scourgeth vs to see whether wee will heartily loue him being our heauenly Phisitian or no and that with our very soules Deut.
13. Great cause haue wee all to loue him and that both with our hearts and soules because the LORD assureth vs of the Victory but that it shall vndoubtedly goe on our side howsoeuer both Sathan and Sinners shall straine themselues to the vttermost against vs Deu. 8. Moses shews vs how that it resteth Gods will that we all must bee afflicted lest wee should boast of our owne power strength and abundance It is Gods order that hee keepeth vs withall assoone as we first enter into his Schoole he beginneth with the scourge making vs to feele hunger thirst pouerty sicknesse sorrowes and sundry kinds of aduersities because wee are all for the most part of vs so wedded to our wanton wayes and wills and so peeuishly proud in our owne conceits that our heauenly Father must perforce subdue vs by some afflictions else will we not acknowledge him to be our Master Although the Theefe vpon the Crosse was receiued at the last into mercy yet must wee all learne to leaue our sinnes before they leaue vs lest our GOD forsake vs and giue vs ouer vnto Sathan It is a priuiledge belonging vnto vs all which rests Christs that God our heauenly Father accepteth our wills and endeauours of obedience for perfect obedience it selfe Eccle. 25.10 Great is he that findeth Wisedome yet is there none aboue him that feareth the Lord the feare of the Lord passeth all things in cleanenesse Prou. 14.27 It is the well-spring of life to auoide the snares of death Affliction and not prosperity resteth for the most part the badge of Gods Church and true note of the members of Christ Gods Word it selfe teacheth vs that Christ his Kingdome is not of this World The Israelites which were the people of God did soiourne as strangers and were euill intreated 400. yeares from Abrahams time to Moses for it is the condition for the most part of the Church of God still to be giuen into the hands of their enemies Ier. 12. It is truely said that Crux est Ecclesiae nota the Crosse is a note of the Church Marke not triumphs but troubles doe point out the Lords Seruants and singularize his Saints vnto whom not any disease plague or punishment can come without Gods prouidence or sending it It 's not the washing of my flesh in water but Christ my Sauiour his cleansing our soules from sinne that purgeth vs from all impurity As pure Oyle must not be beaten and the best Lamps burned so the best Christians first crossed that at the last they bee crowned and shine as Lamps before the Lord continually Let this be a medicine to each Malady that God by his scourge calls vs to glory Let no afflictions mooue vs knowing that as wee are Christs members we are borne thereunto and therefore if wee feele not Gods fauour as wee wish wee must not thinke our selues miserable because our life lieth hidde with Christ in God Col. 33. Therefore may wee not hold it as a hurt vnto vs that we rest depriued here of sundry signes of Gods fauour he louing vs neuerthelesse as it manifestly appeareth by Moses and many others who had many tempests and troubles that some euen desired to be wiped out of GODS Booke who yet haue had workes and faith towards the Almighty 2. Esdras 13.23 Blesse the Lord for his Fatherly rod and welcome his Wand Wisd 20. what he doth it 's in loue to free vs from wickednesse and conuince vs of sin Learne we therefore to be patient vnder the hand of Gods lashing vs for so it becommeth the children of God and members of Christ Iob. 33. It is by afflictions and corrections that GOD openeth our Eares that were sealed vp abating our pride verse 17. And keepeth backe our soules from the Pit our life from the Sword yea God will first cast downe vnto Hell before he heaueth thee to Heauen and doome thee to Death ere hee bring thee to Life because that neither one nor other should be pertaker of his prayse and glory It is Gods ordinance in this world that his Church and Children yea euery member of his body should be vnder the Crosse to learne the better to put their whole trust in him and seeke the comfort of the Spirit which neuer failes to help the faithful into the land of Promise Howsoeuer God leaueth vs for the tryall of our Faith The two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper remayne as pledges of our Saluation The first washing away the guiltinesse of sinne and the latter strengthning our Faith to our very soules receiuing both the body and blood of Christ Iesus though that no man liuing can deserue Saluation yet as Gods adopted sons and children must we all learne by our good VVorkes to glorifie our Heauenly Father declaring our true thankefulnesse for our Redemption through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour and by good VVorkes assuring our Election and winning others into Life by our holy conuersation in Christ Iesus Remember that GOD beeing made man for vs hath in his owne Nature suffered whatsoeuer our sins deserued and made vs with himselfe the children of God and heires of eternall life VVhereof least we should doubt the Lord hath appoynted the Sacraments as outward tokens to bee seene and felt of vs that we should not doubt of beeing partakers of Christ himselfe and his benefits his righteousnesse and Holinesse is ours wee beeing borne anew by the Holy Ghost and walking in righteousnes all our dayes Learne we all to be no lesse thankfull for sicknesses then for health for sorrowes then for comforts imprisonment then for liberty knowing sanctified sorrows open the gates of Heauen vnto the Eternall maiesty of God Our heauenly Father so loues vs that he will lay no other burthen vpon vs then shal be to our good and profit It may be that wee haue both called and cryed vnto God in our extreamities and haue not bin released what of that yet must we quiet our mindes in this that as Children wee haue layde our complaints griefes and sorrowes in the bosome of our heauenly Father who when he seeth it time conuenient wil vndoubtedly helpe vs as certaynely as you and I haue soules he neuer forgetteth the sorrows of his Seruants he still seeth their teares and putteth them in his bottle Our Heauenly Father which hath the issues of Death in his hands wil deliuer you from danger shed you neuer so many teares they shall all be dryed from your Eyes As our Victories in the field come not by our owne strength wisdome and pollicy but by the Diuine will and pleasure of our heauenly Father So in our sicknesse and weaknesse it is neyther physicke nor Physition potion or playster drugges or dainty Dishes can fit vs for Paradise but Fayth may conuay our soules past the mountaynes of Lebanon to the Paradise of God not onely to behold it with our Eyes a farre off but aboue the order of nature most comfortably to enioy it Consider often that