a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercie on thee saith the Lord thy redeeâ—â—er and 57. 16. For I will not contend for euer neither will I be alwaies wroth for the spirit should faile before mee and the soules which I haue made Likewise the Prophet Ieremie in his time witnesseth the same in the name of the Lord Iere. 3. 12. saying For I am mercifull saith the Lord and I will not keepe anger for euer and to the same effect Ezek. 16. 42. So will I make my fury towards thee to rest and my iealousie shall depart from thee and I will be quiet and will be no more angry Notable to this purpose is that of the Prophet Micah 7. 18. Who is a God like vnto thee that pardoneth iniquitie and passeth by the transgressien of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for euer because he delighteth in mercie and to conclude with that of the Apostle 2. Cor. 4. 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for vs a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory Thus may we behold Gods wise dealing with his children in all his chastisements Application obseruing the fittest seasons and iust measure both for the quantitie of the correction and for the continuance thereof all as is most agreeable to the strength of the patient qualitie of the disease which if it be beleeued must needs in further degree make vs contented to beare the hand of the Lord and neither to fret at nor faint vnder any affliction which the Lord so wisely doth order for our good euery way And therefore so oft as we shall finde any affliction to lye heauy vpon vs either for the greatnesse of it or long continuance in our feeling so oft let vs runne to some of these promises wherein the Lord assureth vs that he will lay no more vpon vs then wee shall bee able to beare and will suffer no affliction to lye longer vpon vs then shall be needfull and for our good that thus resting vpon Gods word wee may waight Gods leasure for our ease and full deliuerance For our better furtherance herein Gods loving dealing with his in affliction we are to consider Gods louing and tender dealing with his children in all their afflictions which is plentifully set set forth vnto vs in the holy Scriptures both by many comparisons expresse testimonies and examples all little enough to hold vs vp from sinking if the affliction seeme great or long in which we are ready to feare God forgetteth vs or at least doth not pitty vs. For this cause the Lord is said to be a Father of the fatherlesse Psal 68. 5. and a Iudgâ— of the widdowes And Psal 103. 13. Like as a father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him For hee knoweth our 〈◊〉 he remembreth that we but dust Yea more The Prophet Esay 49. 13. c. notably sets out this comparison in God towards his afflicted people saying Sing O heauen and be ioyfull O earth and breakâ— foorth into singing O mountaines for God hath comforted his people and will haue mercie on his afflicted But Zion said the Lord had forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten mee Can a woman forsake her sucking childe that she should not haue compassion on the some of her wombe Yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee So Dauid Psal 9. 18. For the needy shall not alwaies be forgotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer To the same purpose he said to God Psal 31. 7. I will be glad and reiâ—yce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble thou hast knowne my soule in aduersitie And Psal 38. 9. Lord my desire is before thee and my grâ—â—â—ing is not hid from thee And to the same end it is said Ps 56. 8. Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my teares into thy bottle are they not in thy booke which shewes such tender compassion that he was so affected with the calamities of his seruant that he most narrowly obserued euery one yea he made so pretious a reckoning of their griefes and sorrowes that not a teare fell to the ground but he kept them in memory as men preserue pretious liccours in bottles that in due time he might comfort and succour them For which cause it is said Psal 116. 15. Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints And to like effect Esa 63. 9. In all their affliction hee was afflicted and the Angell of his presence saued them in his loue and in his pitie hee redeemed them and hee bare them and carryed them all the dayes of old Wherein as in many other places of Scripture for it would be to long to recite all wee may see most admirable ApplicatioÌ„ compassion in Almightie God towards vs in all our afflictions that euen as the bowels of a tender hearted mother are mooued within her when shee seeth her childe in any perill so is the Lord troubled to see his children in any extreamitie that he doth as much pitie them and is as ready to succour them as if his bowels were mooued within him Mat. 14. 14 which was in very deed so in our Sauiour Christ in his humanity Marke 1 41 and 6. 34. as is * often testified of him in the holy story This should yet more comfort vs in all our afflictions that he who is God ouer all of such infinite power to helpe both whom he will and how and when it pleaseth him is so tenderly affected towards vs that he doth not onely take speciall notice of all our grieuances but doth after a sort euen as a tender mother suffer with vs and by his Spirit doth beare the burthen of our infirmities with vs as it is said Rom. 8. 20. This compassion of the Lord if well waighed must needes allay the heate of such fiery tryals as Gods children doe oft fall into and make vs more patiently indure whatsoeuer so tender hearted a Father shall lay vpon vs. And therfore these promises in which Gods louing and compassionate dealing with his is set forth vnto vs must be oft in our minde and thoroughly thought on that in time of neede wee may rest vpon them to finde like fauour at the hands of our most louing Father And thâ—s shall suffice for this second ground of comfort in all afflictions taken from the manner of Gods dealing with his as in great wisedome so in like loue 3. Ground of comfort in afflictions from the ends of them Wee are now in the third place to consider what be the worthy ends why God so exerciseth his children to beare the crosse euen from their youth to their old age these we heard be generally three First glory to God secondly example to others third profit to our selues all which should strongly mooue vs to be so farre from repining to suffer them
to beleeue and for an example to set before them Gods dealing with the Ephesians of whom the Apostle saith Eph. 2. 3. That when they were dead in trespasses and sinnes which is as bad as may bee yet hee heapes more of their wofull condition verse 2. 11. 12. yet these were quickned in Christ so likewise the Colossians Col. 1. 21. being before their conuersion strangers and enemies because their mindes were set on euill workes were reconciled to God c. And to say the truth so is it with all that bee conuerted as Paul testifieth of himselfe and all other beleeuers before their effectuall calling that they had their conuersation in times past in the lusts of their flesh in fulfilling the will of the flesh of the minde and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others All which if a poore sinner shall consider that others in as bad a state as he and many farre worse were receiued to mercy and that God doth in mercy as freely offer it to him as them and is as faithfull as euer to performe what he saith this doubtlesse will in time moue him to expect like mercy at Gods hands if hee shall with patience waite the Lords leisure and neuer giue ouer earnest supplication to God to draw him and daily meditation on Gods mercy Thus will I leaue this point hauing said more then I purposed Peace only I desire to be considered that vnder this reconciliation I containe that peace which Christ makes betweene God and vs whereof Rom. 5. 1. Eph. 2. 17. and elsewhere oft that it may bee referred to this head Now we come to the second fruite of our Iustification which is Adoption Adoption whereby I vnderstand that high fauour of God whereby hee maketh those who be iustified by Christ and so reconciled his owne children and heires of all his blessings If Dauid thought it no small preferment to bee sonne in Law to King Saul 1 Sam. 18. 23. what may bee thought of this And therefore the Apostle Iohn calleth all to an admiration of that vnspeakeable loue of God in calling vs to be the sonnes of God 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Wherein we haue to consider not only the excellencie of this estate but the certainetie of it without which we could haue no comfort by it This certaintie appeares as in this that God hath called all true beleeuers to be his sonnes so further in the next verse where he saith Dearely beloued now are we the sonnes of God though as he saith is appeares not what wee shall bee To this purpose well serueth that gracious promise which the Apostle citeth out of the Prophet Hosea And it shall be in the place where it was said vnto them Rom. 9. 26. yee are not my people that there they shall bee called the children of the liuing God So likewise when the Lord promiseth to such as shall separate themselues from the wicked And I will bee a Father vnto you 2 Cor. 6. 18. and yee shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almightie Reu. 21. 7. Againe Hee that ouercommeth shall inherit all things And I will be his God and hee shall be my sonne these promises must be the cause of our faith and our faith the cause of our obedience as hath beene said And therefore it is said Yee are all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus Gal. 3. 26. And yet much more to our present purpose is that excellent Scripture Gal. 4. 4 5 6 7. which containes much for the strengthening of our faith in this whole point of the assurance of our saluation therfore I rehearse it all But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Law that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the Law that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes And because ye are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father Wherein to passe ouer all the rest this is euident that a maine end why God sent his Sonne to redeeme vs miserable sinners who are by nature vnder the curse of the Law was this that wee might by this redemption by Christ bee made Gods children and as the Apostle saith Rom. 8. 17. If children then also heires euen the heires of God and coheires with Christ as it followeth in the former Scripture Gal. 4. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a seruant but a sonne now if thou bee a son thou art also an heire of God through Christ If this be so as the deuill himselfe cannot denie who can sufficiently admire and magnifie the bountifulnesse and loue of God to man Vse by so great a price to purchase so high a dignitie Tit. 3. 4. as the Apostle John calls it that wee should be the sonnes of God Ioh. 1. 12. and partakers with Christ of all his glory in his Fathers kingdome But me thinkes I heare some one say It is true this is a most blessed estate if a man might bee assured it were his owne but seeing the Scripture oft witnesseth that they be but few who attaine this fauour Obiection how may I who am so vnworthy so full of sinne and voide of grace euer hope to bee a partaker hereof This beeing so great an obiection and so common whereby many be kept from beleeuing it is meete to be well answered It hath two partes first that so fewe come to bee Gods children to which I answer first the fault hereof is not in God who as oft hath beene said hath so largly proclaimed life in the Gospel to euery sinner Again if there were an almes of great value cast among many which a few onely could enioy what scrambling is there who could get it A memorable story of late yeares I will relate to be a witnes against all such wicked seruants Mat. 25. 26 and slothfull as our Sauiour calls them who hearing that a few shall bee saued will let others striue for it and be content to goe without it themselues which is indeede and so the Lord will count it a flatte despising of his mercy offered vnto them A rich woman gaue at her death a dole of sixe pence to the poore that came to Leaden Hall in London for which there was such striuing that many were troden to death how shall these rise in iudgement against our dainty idle ambitious couetous and voluptuous worldlings who euery one in their kinde striue extreamely for their desires but take no paines to be saued But to leaue these and to come to the second part of the obiection which concerns a better sort and farre neerer saluation who be kepr backe by their vnworthinesse whom as I much pitty for their vncomfortablenesse so can I no lesse blame for their ignorance that after so long preaching of the Gospell wherein all the mercies of God be
proclaimed vnto yea bestowed vpon sinners yea great and all vnworthy as in the last point before this was shewed yet theese poore soules doe sticke so fast in the mudde of their naturall pride of Popery as to seeke for some worthinesse in themselues for which God should make them his sonnes To conclude then this point seeing God is a free giuer of this high fauour of Adoption and no seller of it and seeing he so freelie offers it to thee in Christ beware that neither by idlenesse nor proud ignorance thou depriue thy selfe of it but thankfullie accept it so shalt thou bee saued The last speciall benefit which we receiue from Christ Hope of glory as a fruit of our iustification seruing for strengthening of our faith in the assurance of our saluation is the Hope of Glory whereby I vnderstand that God hath prepared for vs sinners this singular comfort that wee may enioy in this life such a hope and expectation of euerlasting glorie as may both inwardlie cheere our hearts and cause vs outwardlie to professe the same to the glorie of God encouragement of other faithfull people of God amazing of the wicked and strengthening of our selues to hold out to the end against al discouragements whatsouer That God hath prouided such a stay to support vs in all the changes of this life may sufficiently appeare by that which we reade Hebr. 6. 17. 18 19. a Scripture containing great force for the strengthening of our faith in the certaintie of our saluation as we shall see Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise the immutability of his couÌ„sell confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things in which it was not possible that God should lye wee might haue a strong consolation who haue fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before vs which hope we haue as an anker of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that which is within the vaile whither the forerunner is for vs entered euen Iesus made an high Priest after the order of Melchisedech Wherein bee these heauenly matters contained which I wil only laie open so gather out that which makes most for our presentintention to make vs more sure of this grace the hope of glorie 1. Gods decree and euerlasting counsell concerning our saluation is vnchangeable 2. It was Gods good pleasure to make this exceedinglie manifest 3. The persons to whom God would thus manifest his counsell were the heires of promise 4. The meanes whereby God would thus manifest his counsell was this That what he promised he bound with an oath 5. These two euidences of Gods counsell bee sure and vnchangeable 6. It is impossible that God should lye in these 7. By these wee may haue strong consolation 8. They who shall haue strong consolation must make hope their refuge that is holde fast on ir 9. That hope is set before them to hold fast by 10. This hope is to our soules in tentations as an Anker to a ship in stormes 11. This Anker which will holde it is sure and stedfast 12. It is entred vpward into heauen as our earthlie ankâ—â—â—e cast downewards 13. Christ our forerunner is gone to heauen for vs. 14. Christ is our euerlasting high Priest Behold what store of heauenlie matters be here contained which when I did consider so closelie folded vp and so well furthering the point in hand I was drawne thus to vnfold them Among all this is speciall for our purpose that Almighty God as a louing Father hauing prouided for his children a good estate was very carefull to make it sure vnto them and therefore hath giuen two such euidences as cannot deceiue his promise and oath that wee being perswaded heereby might in all our feares for out refuge cast our hope vpon his fidelitie so shall we bee safe and haue strong consolation Wherein we see the singular vse of this hope of eternall life that it is hope which makes vs not ashamed Rom. 5. 5. as the Apostle speaketh and the Prophet Dauid exceeding oft the same Psal 25. 3. Yea that we are saued by hope that is Rom. 8. 23. we are so assured of our saluation as if wee possessed it already and therefore doe with patience waite for it There is much in this Scripture to this end that as the whole Creation as it were groaneth and trauelleth in paine with earnest expectation waiting for the manifestation of the sonnes of God what time they shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God So all true beleeuers who haue the first fruites of the spirit groane in themselues waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of their bodies that is for a full glorification of soule and body This is to bee seene in the liues and deaths of Gods faithfull seruants Heb. 12. 2. who for this hope endured the crosse and despised shame as is testified of our Sauiour himselfe and of Moses that hee did choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God Heb. 11. 26. then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the reproch of Christ greater riches then the treasures in Egypt for hee had respect to the recompence of reward The same is to be seene in all that honourable company mentioned Hebr. 11. And so in all the holy Martyrs in all ages what was it but this hope of glory after a short suffering which made them willingly to endure so great and sore persecutions I might bee long in this for the Scripture speakes much hereof exhorting vs to reioice in hope making it th' end of our vocation and regeneration God hath called vs to his kingdome and glory 1 Thes 2. 12. God according to his mercy hath begotten vs againe to a liuely hope 1 Petr. 1. 3. by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible vndefiled that fadeth not away reserued in the heauens for vs c. And more to like effect as doth follow well worth our reading and carefull consideration seruing much for the comfort of Gods children Out of all which this is that I gather Vse seeing this hope of glory is so sure an Anker in all storms so strong a helmet in all our battailes that we therefore carefully prouide our selues of this grace yea rather seeing God hath so plentifully prouided it for vs and giuen vs so many promises hereof and hath called vs hereunto and so oft exhorteth vs to reioyce in this hope of glory all this should mooue vs to hold fast the profession of our hope without wauering For hee is faithfull that promised Heb. 10. 23 as the Apostle exhorteth otherwise we shal call Gods truth and faithfulnesse into question which is a high degree of tempting God and no lesse prouocation of his high displeasure whereas on the other side by casting this anker in
promised and how little we enioy for howsoeuer it cannot be denied but in these daies of peace many haue ioy enough and too much too yet this vpon search shall be found to be carnall and fleeting not that spirituall and lasting ioy which God bestoweth on those whom hee loues It may euidently appeare by Gods word that as a father would haue his children to liue cheerefully so would God and therefore doth hee so much call vpon them to reioyce as plentifully is to be seene in the bookes of the Psalmes Prophets and Apostles That one for many may serue Reioyce in the Lord alway Phil. 4. 4. and againe I say reioyce Which if there were no more might let vs see Gods mind that he would haue vs not now and then sometimes to reioyce that is when all goes well with vs for so the hypocrites doe but alwaies euen in afflictions as the Apostle Iames exhorts My brethren Iam. 1. 2. count it all ioy when ye fall into diuers temptations Which is not simply for the afflictions but for the good wee are assured they shall bring to vs as is said Rom. 8. 28. That all things worke together for our good Few attaine ioy But yet they be but few who attaine vnto this blessed estate to reioyce alwaies in the Lord as any one may well perceiue if he shal consider either how seldome his heart is rauished with admiration of Gods goodnesse towards him so vnworthy and so to stirre vp his soule with the Prophet Dauid to praise the Lord which must needs be where the heart is well affected with this ioy as there can bee no true thankes where this ioy is not oâ— how often his heart is disquieted when any thing crosseth his will and desire which would not be if the heart were filled with this spirituall ioy which would make bitter things sweete It shall be therefore our wisedome to hearken to Gods word wherein we shall see how plentifully the Lord hath prepared this pleasant fruit of the Spirit and promised it to all the true members of Christ that so they may claime their part therein This is notably set out vnto vs in the booke of the Psalmes As first Psal 19. 8. The statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart Psal 23. 4. Thy rod and thy staffe they comfort mee 36. 8. 9. Thou shalt make them drinke of the riuer of thy pleasure for with thee is the fountaine of Life and in thy light shall we see light 89. 15 16. Blessed are the people that know the ioyfull sound they shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance In thy name shall they reioyce all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted So Psal 45. 15. Speaking of the members of the Church saith With gladnesse and reioycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the Kings pallace Psal 64. 10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in the Lord and all the vpright in heart shall glory Psal 68. 3. But let the righteous be glad let them reioyce before God yea let them exceedingly reioyce 97. 11. 12. Light is sowne for the righteous and gladnesse for the vpright in heart Reioyce in the Lord ye righteous and giue thankes at the remembrance of his holines 118. 15. The voice of reioycing and saluation is in the tabernacle of the righteous The right hand of the Lord doth valiantly 126. 5 6. They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Hee that goeth foorth and weepeth bearing pretious seed shall doubtlesse come againe with reioycing bringing his sheanes with him 132. 16 I will cloathe her priests with saluation and her Saints shall shout aloud for ioy It were not hard to gather many more out of the Psalmes Likewise the bookes of the Prophets be full of these Notable is that sweet song of Esai 12. 2. 3. Behold God is my saluation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jeâ—ouah is my strength and my song he is become my saluation Therefore with ioy shall yee drawe waters out of the wells of saluation Esa 24 14. They shall lift vp their voyce they shall sing for the Maiesty of the Lord. Esa 29. 19. The meeke also shall increase their ioy in the Lord and the poore among men shall reioyce in the holy one of Israel Esa 35. The whole chapter is full of heauenly comforts to vs Gentiles vers 1. The wildernes and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall reioyce and blossome as the rose Esa 56 vers 7. I wil make them ioyfull in my house of prayer Esa 62. 13. 14. Beholde my seruants shall reioyce but ye shall be ashamed Beholde my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howle for vexation of spirit Likewise in the last of Esa bee many sweete consolations Hee shall appeare to your ioye c. ver 10. Reioyce ye with Ierusalem and bee glad with her all ye that loue her reioyce with ioy for her all that mourne for her That ye may sucke and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations that ye may milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory c. to vers 14. And when you see this your heart shall reioyce and the hand of the Lord shall be known towards his seruants and his indignation towards his enemies In like sort spake our Sauiour to his Disciples that their hearts should reioyce Ioh. 16. 22. and their ioy should no man take away from them Ieremy also hath the like chap. 31. 12 13. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Sion and shall flowe together to the goodnes of the Lord c. Then shall the Virgine reioyce in the dance both young men and old together for I will turne their mourning into ioy and will comfort them and make them reioyce from their sorrow Zach. c. 18. 19. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the fast of the fourth moneth c. shall bee to the house of Iudah ioy and gladnes and cheerefull feasts I will end with that Rom. 14. 17. The kingdome of God is righteousnes peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Thus haue I gathered store of these promises Vse in which the Lord promiseth to giue ioy and gladnesse to his people yet I suppose not halfe so many as might bee collected out of the scriptures for I doe not meddle with the many exhortations vnto this duty nor the many examples of it nor prayers for it all which shew the necessity of it But the marke I aime at is to perswade all who feele the want of this holy reioycing in the Lord whereby their whole life is the more vncomfortable that God hath prouided this for them and that there is nothing but their vnbeleeuing hearts which keepes it from them For if true faith be the breeder of this ioy as both scripture
they bee most humbled come to God in Christ for pardon beleeuing that their imperfections should bee couered by the full and perfect satisfaction of Christ they might finde comfort in their weakest obedience and so bee more encouraged to serue God This then is that I would perswade all that would finde sound and lasting comfort in their praiers and other holy exercises Remedy in their best duties to beware of pride which accompanieth them and to that end euer to thinke of their failings to humble them and driue to Christ that so they may offer vp their sacrifice in faith and bee accepted On the other side when they be most deiected then to beware of despaire doubting and discouragement which bee vsuall companions of vs in the sense of our wants and to comfort our selues by faith in Christ in that wee know hee is as able and willing to cure great diseases as small to pardon our fowler falles as our lesser slippes In all which wee now see that which I intended how needfull it is to be stored and strengthened with faith that wee may finde comfort in our prayers and other holy exercises which I know is much wanting in many true hearted Christians for whose sake in speciall I write these and will now for their further comfort lay out some store of pretious promises which God our Father hath treasured vp in his word to this purpose that wee his children might bee imboldened to come with confidence to him in all our necessities Perusing these I finde that the farre greater number of them doe specially promise that God will accept our prayers grant our desires and doe not so expresly assure vs that God will assist vs and make vs able to pray which yet sundry promises doe God promiseth to make vs able to pray I will therefore heere gather such as expresly promise Gods helpe to teach vs to pray for that we are no lesse subiect to doubt of our ability to pray aright then of Gods readinesse to heare our poore and weake prayers Among all that comes first to minde which might serue in stead of all if we could hold it fast where the Apostle labouring to comfort the hearts of Gods children ouer all their corruptions and afflictions Rom. 8. 26. doth answer a great obiection which many a heauy heart makes namely this Many troubled that they cannot pray I am oft so distressed that I am not able to pray and how then may I looke for any helpe at Gods hand Thus it fareth oft with Gods children and those not of the weakest sort that their hearts bee so â—ore oppressed that they can doe nothing but sigh and groane not able to set aright their hearts to pray to God As wee reade of Hezekiah Esa 38. 14. that he like a Crane or Swallow did chatter and did mourne as a Doue not able to vtter his griefes to God The like we reade of Dauid oft Psal 32. how hee roared for griefe but could not come to make his moane to God and the like many Yea what more ordinary complaint doe wee heare made by many worthy Christians in their extremities then this to their friends O helpe me I cannot pray To this sore tentation the Apostle answers Rom. 8. 26. saying Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for 27. as we ought But the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings that cannot bee vttered And hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Wherein he freely confesseth that he and all the rest of Gods children doe know this by woefull experience that they in such cases know not what they should pray as they ought But yet for all this God hath not left vs comfortlesse for he hath giuen vs his own Spirit to succour and helpe vs as it were to beare that part of the burthe which is too heauy for vs to beare and whereas we cannot pray as we ought that selfe same Spirit shall by his power make vs able to pray with such feeling faith and feruencie as no words can expresse in such sort that God who both knowes and regards the secret desires of the heart beholding the worke of his Spirit doth graciously accept and approoue of those prayers of his children I make no doubt but this is the intent of the Apostle in this Scripture In which if there were no more is enough to comfort any poore afflicted soule against this temptation that they cannot pray In that God hath giuen vs his Spirit so to helpe vs that our poore prayers are said to be the prayers of Gods Spirit in vs which God cannot deny This I take to bee the cause why else-where we be called vpon to pray in the Spirit Eph. 6. 18. and in the holy Ghost Iude v. 20. that is as he doth teach vs not as any naturall gift can Where I note a speciall difference of true prayer from counterfeit Difference of prayers true and counterfeit which may be excellent in speech but wanting this breath of Gods Spirit it is but a dead sacrifice vnpleasing to God and vnprofitable to him that offereth it And therefore I aduise all who looke for comfort by their prayers more to labour for Spirit then speech in prayers And so much for this Scripture whereupon I haue stood the longer for that it may suffise in stead of all But seeing the Lord knowing our weakenesse hath in all ages of his Church comforted his people with the like it shal more confirme vs to heare more of these sweete promises To this may well be referred that which one of Iobs friends said to comfort him which doubtlesse was good comfort howsouer misapplyed when after some good exhortations he makes many moe gracious promises among all hee addes these For thou shalt haue thy delight in the Almightie Iob 22. and shalt lift vp thy face to God 21. and 6. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him 26. and he shall heare thee and thou shalt pay thy vowes c. 27. And in like manner doth another of Iobs friends say Hee shall pray vnto the Lord Iob 33. 26. and hee will be fauourable to him So Dauid in his time said For this shall euery one that is godly pray vnto thee Psal 32. 6. in the time when thou mayest be found Esa 58. 9. And the Prophet Esay makes such promises to the people in his time Then shalt thou call and the Lord will answer thou shalt cry and hee shall say Here I am So Ieremie Ier. 29. 12. Then shall yee call vpon mee and yee shall goe and pray vnto me and I will hearken to you 13. And yee shall seeke me and finde me when you shall search for me with all your heart Againe They shall come with
weeping and with supplications wil I lead them 31. 9. I will cause them to walke by the riuers of waters in a straite way wherein they shall not stumble for I am a Father to Israel and Ephraim is my first borne 50. 4. And againe In those dayes and in that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Iudah together going and weeping they shall goe and seeke the Lord their God Hosea 3. 5. c. So Zacharie in his time prophesied that God would powre out vpon the house of Dauid Zach. 12. 10. and vpon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplications They shall call vpon my name 13. 9. and I will heare them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Our Lord Iesus Christ in his time comforted his Disciples that they should not so hang vpon him as to haue no confidence in God the Father Ioh. 16. 23. but they shall boldly pray to the Father in his name 24. and shall receiue whatsoeuer they aske 26. No doubt but more places to this purpose might be cited The maine intent of them all Vse is not so much to shew it is our duty thus to seeke the Lord and to call vpon him or to perswade thereunto which is in many Scriptures required but rather whereas many are very willing to call vpon God according to his will and so as might please him but finding so small abilitie to pray as they would they be discouraged all this is to draw them to beleeue that God by his Spirit will teach them to pray so as he will heare them the certainty whereof depends not vpon any worthinesse of our persons or prayers but only vpon the mercy of God in promising and vpon his truth in performing his promise both which we deny and so robbe God of his chiefest honour if wee beleeue not that God will make vs able by his Spirit so to call vpon him as he will accept in his Son And therefore in all our doubts and feares about this matter our onely refuge must bee to these promises and so to giue credite vnto them that we comfortably seeke and looke for helpe from God when we can finde none in our selues And thus much for our comfort that God will assist vs by his Spirit in our prayers which also might suffise to assure vs that he will also accept vs for so much is expressed in the most of them and necessarily imployed in them all But seeing the Lord who better sees what we most need That God will accept our prayers then we doe our selues hath made so many promises that he will accept our poore seruices though neuer so weake if they be in truth which will be welcome newes to many an humble heart I may not defraud them of these comforts but will lay them open for their vse and beseech the Lord to make them profitable to all that vnfainedly desire it When Moses from God had sharply denounced feareful iudgments against Israel for their sin and namely a scattering among the heathen he addes this comfort But if from thence thou shalt seeke the Lord thy God thou shalt finde him Deut. 30. if thou seeke him with all thy heart and with all thy soule and to like effect hee addes much more This promise may be specially comfortable Vse to any poore soule cast downe in sense of some grieuous fall whereby he may see Gods readinesse to receiue any poore sinner comming vnto him The like promise did the Lord make to Salomon after his prayer saying Mine eyes shall be open 2. Chron. 7. 15. and mine eares attend to the prayer in this place And full oft we reade that the Lord promised to his people that if they should seeke him he would bee found of them as 2. Chron. 15. 2 the Prophet told Asa the King Ierem. 29. 13. And 1. Chron. 28. 9. Dauid said the same to Salomon his sonne Psal 34. 10. They that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing The selfe same thing is truly to be gathered out of all these places where the faithfull professe either that God hath heard their prayers or their faith and confidence in God that hee will heare their prayers both which be grounded on Gods promises that hee will heare them Of this sort there be many as in the Psalmes so in sundry other Scriptures The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping Psal 6. 8 9. the Lord hath heard my supplication the Lord will receiue my prayer And Psal 9. 10. Thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine eare to heare Psal 18. 3. I will call vpon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I bee saued from mine enemies Psal 20. 6 Now I know the Lord saueth his annointed hee will heare him from his holy heauen with the sauing strength of his right hand These are sufficient to manifest this truth But seeing my scope is rather to stirre vp to beleeue I hope it will not be more tedious to any to reade these and consider them then it is to me to gather them and I may truely say I haue often read them with comfort For sometimes one sometimes another doth more affect I will therefore not spare to adde many moe To this purpose notable is that in the Psalme 34. 15. The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open to their cry verse 17. The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and deliuereth them out of all their troubles Which is oft repeated Psal 107. 6. 13. 19. 28. Psal 50. 15. the Lord saith Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me And For thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue Psal 86. 5. and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee c. verse 6. 7. Psal 102 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer to verse 20 to heare the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death Psal 145. 18. The Lord is nigh to all that call vpon him to all that call vpon him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him 19. he also will heare their cry and will saue them Prou. 15. 8. But the prayer of the vpright is his delight and verse 29. But hee heareth the prayer of the righteous He will be very gracious vnto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall heare it he will answer thee Ioel 2. 32. And it shal come to passe that whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shall be deliuered Act. 2. 21. the same is repeated and Rom. 10. 13. Thus wee see how plentifully
without the preaching of the word so whosoeuer shall conscionably attend to it shall certainly be saued which if it were beleeued it could not but make men runne to it with great alacritie and so should they finde much comfort thereby To this purpose bee there so many commendations of the word throughout the scriptures specially in the bookes of the Psalmes and of the Prouerbs It would be too long to cite all yet all are to be referred to this end to breede in vs a greater delight in this word which bringeth such incomparable benefits Of this sort are these Psal 19. 7 c. The Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule The testimonie of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart And so followeth to like effect in the same place The whole Psalme 119 was written to this purpose to set out the excellencie of this word in all respects and specially for the worthy effects and fruits which it bringeth foorth in euery one who truelie embraceth it so that it is obserued by many learned Diuines that omong 176. verses there be scarce foure or fiue at the most wherein there is not some commendation of the word to stirre vp all Gods people better to esteeme it and more diligently to attend to it that they may enioy the fruites of it at all times and in all estates To which end I require euery true Christian to be much exercised in this Psalme that they may be familiarlie acquainted with it and so haue it in readines for their vse in all their necessities I might say as much for the booke of the Prouerbs wherein besides the many and most wise directions for the well ordering of our whole life are contained especially in the first nine chapters admirable commendations of those heauenly instructions which God as a Father by his seruants doth giue vnto his children Prou. 4. 13. A few for many Take fast hold of instruction let her not goe Keepe her for she is thy life Wherin what can bee more contained then this that instruction is our life meaning that thereby wee attaine all things pertaining to the comfort of this life and of that to come This might be set out at large in particulars both in the escaping of manifold euills sinnes and punishments which they fall into who want or will not receiue these instructions as also in the enioying of many blessings bodily and spirituall which others want but I leaue the further consideration of these to euery ones particular meditation who desires to see the truth hereof No doubt Dauid meant no lesse when he said Psal 119. 165. Great peace is and shall be to them that loue thy Law and nothing shal offend them Who would not highly prise that word which brings all manner of wisedome to all sorts learned vnlearned wise and silly olde and young Yet all this doth that one booke of the Prouerbs as is expresly said in the sixe first verses of the first chapter as you may there reade and therefore how much more is this to bee found in the whole Scripture Which Vse me thinkes should put life into any good heart to bee much conuersant in the hearing reading and meditating of the word of God For further quickning herein I will onely quote the places and referre euery one that listeth to heare more of this matter to peruse them and so shall he finde enough to hearten him to this duty Prou. 1. 9. 23. 2. from 1. to 13. 3. 1. to 4. 13. to 24 4 5. to 13. 20. to 22. 6. 20. to 24 7. 1. to 5. 8. the whole chapter In these and many other places of the olde and new Testament Applicatiō the Lord knowing our exceeding backwardnesse in true receiuing and keeping his word which yet is so necessary as that there is no saluation without it doth make so many pretious promises as I know not whether to any thing more That at least by some of them we who bee so full of doubting how wee may attaine to the right vse of the word may be more heartened to a conscionable and constant attendance vnto it that so we may in due season reape the sweete fruit thereof This then must be the care and labour of euery one who feeles the want of this comfortable vse of Gods word and earnestly desires it to bee well acquainted with these promises and out of all to gather some of the chiefe such as seeme to him most speciall and so commit them to memory that whensoeuer he goeth to the word he may meditate vpon these and so be more encouraged to attend vnto Gods word with expectation of Gods blessing vpon his labour The want of this meditation vpon Gods promises when wee goe to the word is one chiefe cause of that great sinne of vnfruitfull hearing and consequently of that little growth in grace which is euery where to be seene among ordinary resorters to the publike ministery as the Apostle reporteth of the Hebrewes that the Word preached did not profite them Heb. 4. 2. being not mingled with faith in them that heard it Out of this which hath beene saide of the word in generall Sacramēts which well may bee referred to all the seuerall exercises therein publike or priuate to euery of which many of these promises doe pertaine we may safely gather comfort in the vse of the Sacraments which be truely called a visible Word because that which is spoken in the word to the eare is in visible signes represented to our eyes sealed to our hearts that wee may bee the more assured of them to bee ours so that if wee had no speciall promises made expresly to them yet wee might out of the former receiue sufficient encouragement to looke for the benefite of them that is to be made partakers of Christ and life in him which is the summe and substance of all that which is promised in the word But seeing the Lord who in all ages of his Church ordained these holy signes and seales of his Testament in which he bequeathed Christ and all his benefits to true beleeuers and their seede knowing our great weakenesse of faith in receiuing these seales hath so laboured to giue vs assurance that if wee thinke there is any truth in him we may bee as sure that Christ and al his merits are ours as the outward signes which we see with oureies and our hands doe handle let vs for our comfort carefully consider hereof Not to meddle with the Sacraments of the olde Testament Circumcision and the Passeouer both which were to the people of God sure seales of the righteousnes of faith Rom. 4. 11. as the Apostle speaketh of Circumcision and doth as truely belong to all the Sacraments of the olde and new Testament this one Scripture might sufficiently assure any that hee truely receiuing the outward seales according to Gods appointment should
example to others and our own good 4. The last is that hee will both helpe vs in them and giue vs a good end of them For the first that all our afflictions come from God as the supreme judge and disposer of them needs not so much proofe of the truth of it as due consideration to make the right vse of it It is said by the Prophet Amos 3. 6. Shall there be euill in a City the Lord hath not done it meaning of the euill of affliction not of sinne further then it is a punishment of sinne So likewise the Prophet Hosea 6. 1. Come let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will binde vs vp And this is manifest in that common speech The chastening of the Lord so often vsed especially Heb. 12. 5. c In which one Scripture be contained many speciall consolations against all manner of afflictions as we shall see euery one in his place heere onely I would joyne this with the former that as all the afflictions which Gods children doe suffer come from the hand of God Afflictions bee common to all Gods children so hee spareth none of them but as it is said verse 6. He scourgeth euery sonne whom he receiueth and verse 7. What sonne is he whom the father correcteth not and more to like effect both there and else-where Application Both which that all our afflictions come from God and that hee dealeth so with all his children may minister much comfort vnto vs in all our afflictions first seeing what God doth must needs be good how euill and bitter soeuer it seemes to vs Yea Psal 39. 9. wee must hold our peace because he hath done it Although we cannot see any reason thereof yet we may be sure the Lord doth neuer correct his children but he seeth iust cause so to doe As the Prophet Dauid plainly professeth Psal 119. 75. I know oh Lord that thy iudgements are right and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted mee But more seeing God who correcteth vs is our Father we may much more comfort our hearts in all that hee sends that he will neuer send any crosse but such as shall bee for our good as we shall more see And seeing this is no other then such as befals the rest of Gods children As the Apostle Peter affirmeth saying 1. Pet 5. 9. Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world Yea more seeing God did not spare his owne Sonne but he was a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe Yea smitten of God and afflicted as Esa 53. 3 4. These should much more make vs willing to beare the crosse yea and much the rather seeing it is the way to glory as more heereafter But this will yet be more effectuall for our consolation in all troubles In what manner God correcteth his in Wisedome Loue. if we shall aduisedly waigh in what manner God dealeth with his children when he corrects them which as it is euery way and in all repects very well so this may epecially be seene in these two In wisedome and loue both which well regarded will make vs much more willing to beare any thing at Gods hand and to looke for some good issue out of all the afflictions which hee shall lay vpon vs. Although those two diuine properties in God be vnseparably ioyned together in all his dealings with his owne children Both ioyned Yet it shall much more increase our comfort in any affliction which befalles vs to consider them apart and first that wee may behold how wisely God ordereth the matter in all his chasti sements vpon his owne children Most wisely This may sufficiently be seene in these two With meet corrections in iust measure First that God doth chastise his with most meete corrections and secondly in iust measure The fitnesse of Gods correction stands in this that God knoweth all circumstances both when and how to chastise his children and so accordingly dispenseth this spirituall Physicke as he seeth most fit for the good of the patient and qualitie of the disease This me thinkes may be well gathered out of that comparison which the holy Ghost makes betweene our naturall parents and our spirituall Father in correcting their children saying Furthermore Heb. 12. 9 10. we haue had the fathers of our flesh which corrected vs and we gaue them reuerence shall we not much rather be in subiection to the Father of our spirits and liue For they verily for a few dayes chastised vs after their owne pleasure but hee for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse Wherein besides other differences this is manifest that earthly parents oft correct their children after their owne pleasure to satisfie their will not so respecting wisely what might be euery way best for them but God our heauenly Father in great wisdome considereth with what correction and when to chastise his so as may be most for their profite yea the best profite to repaire his Image of holinesse in them which is a chiefe end and vse of all afflictions as wee shall hereafter see This wisedome of God in chastising his children may cleerely be seene in the histories of all ages of the Church Memorable is that of the children of Iacob Gen 37. 28. who mooued with enuy sold Ioseph their brother into Egypt and deceiued their old father verse 33. 42 who thought that an euill beast had deuoured him Wherat the Lord holding his peace for many yeares they were quiet all was well But afterward the Lord tooke a fit season and meanes to make them see their sinne namely by their brother Ioseph who though they knew him not roughly handled them accused them for spies cast them into prison and many other waies sorely grieued thē then their guiltie consciences could make them confesse their sinne and say We are verily guiltie concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soule when he besought vs and we would not heare therefore is this distresse come vpon vs. And another time Iudah confessed to Ioseph what shall we say vnto my Lord what shall we speake God hath found out the iniquitie of thy seruants The like course did the Lord take with Dauid 2. Sam. 12. 15. in correcting his grieuous sinnes in the matter of Vriah both by the death of the childe so borne in adultery and by the fact of Absolon not onely rising vp in rebellion 16. 22. to driue him out of his kingdome but openly before all Israel defiling his wiues concubines as was denounced by Nathan vnto him So likewise the Lord corrected his pride in numbring the people by that fearefull plague whereof dyed threescore and ten thousand 2. Sam. 24. 15. In like manner the Lord denounced his iudgement against his owne people Deut. 2◠47. Because thou
seruedst not the Lord thy God with ioyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things Therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst c. The Prophets also in their times did oft foreshew like chastisements to the peoples trespasses As Haggai and Malachy Because they were sumptuous in their owne houses and neglected the Lords house therefore the Lord sent a great dearth and scarcitie among them So for the contempt of the word God threatned to send a famine of the word Amos 8. 11. The same might we see in Gods dealings with our selues if we would obserue them When we set our affections on any thing too much whereby our hearts be stolne from God whether they bee persons or things pleasures or profits It is vsuall with the Lord either to take them from vs or to make them bitter vnto vs that wee may lesse esteeme them and haue our hearts free for better things The comfort which we are to take by this wise dealing of God with vs Application is this that as we know all afflictions to Gods children to be Physicke to cure their corruptions so knowing also they all come from so wise skilfull a Physician who cannot erre but alwaies sends such Physicke and in such season as shall surely doe vs good This must make vs not onely quietly to beare them but to be thankfull to God for them and to labour to be the better by them But this will more appeare if we shall well consider Gods wisedome in moderating all his chastisements both for the measure and continuance of them 2. In measure so as may be most fit both for the strength of the patient and qualitie of the disease both which may be shewed in all the afflictions which God layeth vpon all his children though he chastise some much more seuercly and holdeth the rod longer vpon them then vpon others who either haue not so much prouoked the Lord or be not so able to beare the hand of the Lord. This is plainely taught by the Apostle 1. Cor. 13 saying There hath no tentation taken you but such as is common to man But God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able but will with the tentation make way to escape that ye may be able to beare it In which one sentence we haue these speciall incouragements to beare such afflictions as God our heauenly Father shall lay vpon vs first that God deales no otherwise with vs then with others euen of his owne children whereof before secondly that God neuer ouer-loadeth his but wisely moderateth the burthen according to his strength that beares it And this he doth according to promise most faithfully nothing shall mooue him to deale otherwise yea more God will so assist vs by his Spirit to endure and beare that in due season wee shall haue a good end and deliuerance out of all which if there were no more might be sufficient to vphold vs from sinking in any triall though neuer so great But because the Lord well saw how hardly we be perswaded heereof and be euer thinking our burthen too heauy for vs to beare therefore the Lord is faine oft to beate this into our mindes and memories as Elâ—hu told Iob Iob 34. 23. That God will not lay more on man then is meete that he should enter into iudgement with God and so much the Apostle Peter intendeth when he saith that the faithfull did greatly reioyce in their saluation purchased by Christ Though for a season they were in heauinesse through manifold temptations 1. Pet. 1. 6. yet he addeth if neede be meaning that this is neuer but when God seeth needfull in all respects for this cause also doth the Prophet Esay notably set out this wise dealing of God with his people Esa 27. and with the wicked comparing these to thornes and bryers but his people to a vineyard which the Lord did keepe and water euery moment least any hurt it Verse 3. As for the bryers and thornes he would burne them together And thereupon saith Verse 7. Hath he smitten him as hee smote those that smote him or is he slaine according to the slaughter of them that are slaine by him Verse 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it c. Which I vnderstand that wheras God will stub vp as thornes by the rootes and cast into the fire the wicked aduersaries of his Church hee will but shred and prune as a vine his Church that they may bring more fruit as our Sauiour plainly speaketh Iohn 15. 2. And more plainly doth Ieremie 46. 28. and 30. 11. say Feare thou not O Iacob my seruant saith the Lord for I am with thee for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I haue driuen thee But I will not make a full end of thee but correct thee in measure yet I will not leaue thee wholy vnpunished Wherein we see great oddes betwixt Gods dealing with his children and with the wicked whom he vtterly consumeth when he most wisely moderateth the corrections of his children that they may better beare and profite by them which must needes allay the sharpnesse of them if well considered And this no doubt was that which the Prophet Dauid and Ieremie so earnestly begged of God Psal 6. 1 that he would not correct them in his anger Iere. 10. 24 neither chasten them in his hot displeasure But with iudgement that is most wisely considering what they were able to beare least otherwise they should bee consumed and brought to nothing This wisedome of God in chastening his children as it manifesteth it selfe in the measure of the burthen laid vpon them Gods wisedome in moderating the continuance so also in moderating the time of the continuance of it least it should be ouer tedious and make them faint and giue ouer Heereof the Prophet Dauid had great experience as hee oftentimes professeth Psal 30. 5. For his anger indureth but a moment in his fauour is life weeping may endure for a night but ïoy commeth in the morning Psal 103. 9. He will not alwaies chide neither will he keepe his anger for euer Psal 129. 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest vpon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquitie The Prophet Esay in the name of the Lord professeth the like Esay 10. 25 For yet a very little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction and Chap. 26. 20. Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut the doores about thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation be ouer-past and 54. 7 8. For a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for
And first to begin with those earthly blessings which be generall and containe all the particular blessings of this life It may appeare that this is Gods gracious intent to succour our weaknes who although we enjoy many good blessings for this present life as health and wealth food and raiment and the like many yet if we wanted but one it would much molest vs and take away our comfort and chearfulnesse in his service for this cause the Lord as a tender father desiring the welfare of his beloved child bids him be a good and obedient child and so promiseth him he shall not want any thing So I say the Lord our kind and tender father bids vs as good children hearken to his voyce and to be ruled by him and tels vs we shall not want any thing that is good as is expresly sayd Psal 34. where Dauid led by a late experience of Gods mightie delivering him out of a great danger composeth a Psalme of thankesgiuing vnto God for the same wherein he provoketh all other the faithfull servants of God as to praise God with him Psal 34. so to consider this bountie of the Lord Vers 3. saying O â—ast and see that the Lord is good 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him 9. And againe O feare the Lord yee his Saints for there is no want to them that feare him Yea more speaking as I vnderstand him of the mightie and cruell oppressours of the world who like devouring beasts doe eat vp as sheepe Gods poore people Vers 10. sayth The Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing and to like effect much more in that Psalme as you may read Psal 84 11. The Lord God is a Sunne and shield c. and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly Againe beholding how much it vexed Gods children to see the wicked prosper in this world and the godly many wayes distressed â—e of purpose made the 37. Psalme to hearten the godly against this sore tentation which hath in all ages much troubled Gods people as may be seene by the complaints of Iob and Ieremy Iob. 21. and many others Ier. 12. In this Psalme the Prophet doth plentifully handle this point Psal 37. that the state of the godly is farre better even in this life then the wicked besides the infinite oddes in the life to come for proofe whereof as he in many words sets out the short and soone fading prosperitie of the wicked so doth he more largely lay downe the blessed condition of the godly in things belonging to this life As vers 3. Trust in the Lord and doe good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Vers 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thine heart Vers 5. Commit thy way vnto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Vers 1â— But the meeke shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselues in the abundance of peace Vers 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked With many other like in the same Psalme as you may see To the same purpose was made the 73. Psalme where he begins Yet God is good to Israel and to such as are of a cleane heart and doubtlesse many other Psalmes were made to comfort the faithfull in this life that God would be their portion and reliefe in all their necessities as Psal 16. 5. 6. Psal 23. is wholly to the same end which he propounds v. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want and so proues it in the verses following I might heape vp many other scriptures to this end for God hath not beene sparing in this kinde as every one who is exercised in the Scriptures can witnesse Mat. 6. 33. But seeke yee first the kiâ—gdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these shall be added vnto you This is that which is so oft repeated Deut. 5. 16. 5 33. 6. 3. 18. 22. 25. 28. That it may goe well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee This also must needs be meant in those Scriptures which set out the goodnesse of the Lord as Psal 3â— 19. O how great is thy goodnes which thou hast layd vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men And Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good and his tender mercies are over all his workes Its needles to cite more of these which be so common wherein Gods goodnesse louing kindnes and mercy and that specially in things belonging to this naturall life are commended vnto vs For seeing godlines hath the promises of this life aswell as of the life to come It cannot be doubted but in all those generall promises wherein God sayth He will dwell with his and not forsake them That God will loue and blesse his people That he will be their God Will reioyce ouer them to doe them good Will compasse them with favour as with a shield Will keepe his covenant with them That he will see peace in their borders and prosper them in all they goe about In these I say and the like many it cannot be doubted but all needfull blessings of this life be contained And therefore this should be the Vse Vse of all these generall promises we should make of them all that whensoever we feele our selues pinched with any earthly necessitie then to runne to any one of these gracious promises that so well considering what abundant reliefe is contained in them we may quiet and content our minds therewith assuring our selues that seeing he is faithfull who hath promised we shall not want any earthly blessing at what time and in what measure it shall be good for vs. These generall promises of all good things for this life are the more to be observed in reading the Scriptures and at least some of the most principall in our conceit to be kept in memory that they may be ready for our vse in time of need both for that these be many mo and more oft repeated in Scripture then any particular and also for that we cannot alwayes haue ready the particular promises for our speciall necessities when we haue most need of them And this might be sufficient to haue spoken of this point for the strengthning of our faith in the assurance that we shall not want any earthly blessing which shall be needfull for vs. But seeing the Lord hath so far yeelded to our infirmitie Speciall promises as to apply his promises to our speciall necessities it shall be available for our comfort to take knowledge of them that so we may make our vse of them as need shall require Among all earthly blessings Long life life it selfe is the chiefe for vpon it
what he promiseth we may come to beleeue them and so 〈◊〉 vpon Gods mercy for his blessing on our childrenâ— as well as vpon our selues which if we doe I cannot well see what shall be wanting to the full contentâ—â—â—â— of all Gods children even in earthly blessings which are so much desired and the want whereof is so distastfull and vnwelcome to our nature And thus to conclude this fift point I haue shewed how we may liue by faith that we shall not want any earthly blessing neither for our selues nor for our posteritie which being added to all the former will proue there is no life comparable to the life by faith and therefore this about all is to be laboured for by all that desire true comfort in this life and thereby hope of a farre better to come THE SIXT AND LAST GENERALL HEAD Of living by Faith is for Perseverance THere is now but one thing wanting as farre as I can see to the making vp of the full comfort of the true beleever so much as may be attained in this life namely how he being so frayle every way his enemies so many and strong should be sure that he shall hold out to the end and so overcomming receiue the end of his faith the salvation of his soule which being a matter of so great difficultie and so rarely attained they be not a few who flatly deny this certaintie of perseverance and many moe doe mistrust themselues herein and thereby much weaken all the comfort of their life It shall be therefore highly needfull to adde this to the former how a true beleever may attaine to this certaintie by faith that notwithstanding all his owne weaknesse and strength and malice of his spirituall enemies yet he shall persever to the end I intend not to make a treatise of this point of the perseverance of the Saints either to proue the truth of the doctrine or to confute the contrary errour which is done already and that soundly as by argument so by example both by auncient and latter Divines But as in the former points I haue chiefly laboured to strengthen the faith of Gods children to depend vpon God with hope and patience for succour in all their necessities spirituall and earthly so in this my onely labour shall be to establish our hearts in this confidence that he who hath begun a good worke in vs Phil. 1. 6. will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ Which as it was the confidence of the Apostle for the beleevers in his time so ought it to be ours in all succeeding ages to the worlds end seeing we haue the same promises whereon to build our faith which they had and which the Lord made to his people of old Let vs now then consider of these promises and so make our vse of them It is not to be doubted but this was intended in the first promise which God made that the seed of the Woman should bruse the head of the Serpeâ—t Gen. 3 15 and in that made to Abraham that he would stablish his covenant with him for an everlasting covenant Gen. 17. 7. Which is oft repeated but seeing we haue very many more cleare promises hereof we will passe by these This was plainely promised by God to David concerning 〈◊〉 2. Sam. 7. 14. and afterwards as truly performed I will bee his father and he shall be my sonne if he comâ—â—â— iniquitie I will chasten him with the 〈◊〉 of men and with the 〈◊〉 of the children of men â—5 But my mercy shall 〈◊〉 depart from him Psal 89. verse 28. the like is recorded Ths is more generally spoken of the blessed man Psal 1. 3. His 〈◊〉 shall not 〈◊〉 The booke of the Psalmes is full of these comfortable promises Psal 9. â—0 They that know thy name will 〈…〉 for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee and verse 18. for the needy shall not alway bee for gotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer Psalme 15. 5. Hee that doth these things shall never bee moved the like Psal 112. 6. 125. 1. Pro. 10. 30. and 12. 3. Psalme 23. 6. Surely goodnes and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life Psa 48. 14. For this God is our God for ever and ever he will bee our guid even vnto death Psalme 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and shalt receiue me vnto glory verse 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strergth of my heart and my portion for ever Psalme 103. 17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting vpon them that feare him In the writings of the Prophers we may reade many such promises for perseverance Esâ—â— 54. 8. But with everlasting kindnesse will haue mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer chap. 55. 3. Heare and your soule shall 〈◊〉 And I will make an everlasting covenant with you eveâ— the sure mercies of David the like Ezek. 16. 60. and 37. 26. is a speciall promise to this purpose I will put my feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Iere. 32. 39. 40. Many moe might bee gathered out of the old Testament Esay 59. 21. but I feare some wil thinke them to many who if they shall well waigh either the excellency of these promises or their owne backwardnes to beleeue them when they most stand in neede of them then will they finde all to little to vphold them against their feares of falling away Wee will therefore proceede to see what comforts for our perseveraÌ„ce are delivered in the new Testament which we shall find to be more cleere then the former for that as I thinke we bee in more danger in this last age of the world seeing the Devill knoweth his time is but short Revel 12. 12. is more full of wrath against Gods people to seeke their overthrow This moved our Saviour Christ himself so much to comfort Mat. 28. 20. his Disciples and so all the faithfull that hee would bee with them vnto the ende of the world Luke 〈◊〉 22. and bids them feare not little flocke Iohn 16. 33 for it is your Fathers good pleasure to giue you the kingdome Bee of good comfort I haue overcome the world which wee see is of great force to perswade them they should never be overcome but should hold out till they were received to glory for further assurance whereof he confidently affirmeth saying Iohn 6. 47 veritly verily Hee that beleeveth on me hath everlastingly 〈◊〉 and therefore can never perish or fall away for further assurance it is sayd Iohn 13. 1. That 〈◊〉 Christ loved hee loved vnto the end And what greater assurance can we desire and looke for then this 1. Thes 5. 24. that God fâ—ithful who hath called vs who also will doest that is as goeth before immediatly Presâ—rve our whole spirit soule and body blameles vnto