pleading of it But in vain doth the beggars sonne boast himselfe of the bloud royall or the wicked soule of partaking the diuine nature when hee cannot demonstrate his adoption by his sanctification So that as we giue comfort to them that except themselues so terror to them that accept themselues when God doth not make sure to thy soule that thou art once Gods and my life for thine thou shalt euer be his Lastly from this titular phrase obserue that the daughter of Ierusalem is our mother Ierusalem which is aboue is free which is the mother of vs all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The holy Church is our mother if the most holy God be our Father She feedes vs with sincere milke from her two breastes the scriptures of both the Testaments those Oracles which God hath committed to her keeping God doth beget vs of unmortallseed by the word which liueth and abideth for euer but not without the wombe of the Church Non enim nascimur â—edrenascimur Christianâ— wee are not Christians by our first but by our second birth Neither is she the mother of all but vs all whom God hath chosen before all time and called in time to himselfe Qui sic sunt in domâ— Dei vt ipsi sint domâ—s Dei who are so in the House of God that themselues are the house of God He that ouercommeth I will write vpon him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is now Ierusalem that commeth out of heauen from my God So that à quo dominatio ab â—o denominatio our name is giuen vs according to her name that cherisheth and is Mother vnto vs. Hence euery beleeuing soule is a daughter of Ierusalem and a spouse of Christ. Anima credentis est sponsaredimentis The soule of him that beleeues is the spouse of him that saues As a multitude is but a heape of vnites so the Church is a congregation of Saints And as that which belongs to the body belongs to euery member so the priuiledges of our mother Ierusalem are the prerogatiues of all her children not onely the daughter of Sion her selfe but euery daughter of hers euery faithfull soule ' is a pure virgin and so to be presented to Iesus Christ. As Paul to his particular Church of Corinth I am iealous ouer you with a godly iealousie for I haue espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chast virgin to Christ. Mans soule is of an excellent nature and like a beautious damsel hath many Sutours 1. First the Deuill who comes like an old dotard neatly tricked and licked vp his wrinckled hide smoothed and sleeked with tentations he comes euer masqu'd and dares not shew his face Take away his vizour and the soule is worse then a witch that can affect him And as when hee temptes wretched Sorceresses to some reall couenant with him hee assumes the forme of familiar and vnfeared creatures left in a horrid and strange shape they should not endure him So in his spirituall circumuentions for the more facile flie and suspectâ—esse insinuation into mortall hearts Hee transformes himselfe into an Angell of light The promises of this Sutour are large and faire hee offers the soule if it will bee his spouse a greater Ioynture Iudas shall haue money Esau pleasures Naball plenty Christ himselfe shall bee ioyntuâ—'d in many kingdoms but euer hee indents that wee must loue him and ioyne with him in marriage Doeg shall haue a place in the court so he will maligne Gods Priests Pilate shall be Iudge so he will ply his vsury hard The Proctor shall bee made an Eccleâ—asticall Iudge if he will promise more conuiuence then conscience and suffer Master bribery to giue the censure Euery Balâ—am shall be promoted that is readier to curse then blesse the people These things to the wicked doth Sathan forme in speculation though not performe in action Hee is an ill wooer that wanteth wordes Heare his voyce and see not his face belieue his promises and consider him not as a lyer as a murderer and he will goe neere to carry thy hart from all But he that hath two infirmities nay enormities that betray him a stinking breath and a halting foot 1 For his breath though it smell of sulphure and the hote steame of sinne and hell yet hee hath art to sweeten it So hee can rellish couetice with thriftâ—nes voluptuousnes with good diet idlenes with good quiet drunkennes because it is very sowre fulsome and odious â—uâ—n to nature and reason shall be season'd sweeten'd with good fellowship Malice is the argument of a noble Spirit and murder the maintenance of reputation Lust is the direction of nature and swearing a gracefull testimony to the truth of our speeches With such luscious confections he labours to conserue his lungs from stinking If it were not for those mists and shadowes sinne would want both fautors and factors 2 But his lame foot cannot bee hidden as they once foolishly fabled among the vulgar that his clouen foote could not bee changed for his disobedience is manifest If hee saith Steale and God saieth Thou shalt not steale Sweare when God saith Sweare not dissemble when hee cries Woe against hypocrites bee an vsurer when God sayeth thou shalt not then dwell in my glory what pretences soeuer glosse his Text his lamenesse cannot bee hidden All his pollicy cannot deuise a boot to keepe him from this halting This is the first worst Sutour 2 The World comes in like a blustering Captaine with more nations on his backe then crownes in his purse or at least vertues in his conscience This wooer is handsomely breasted but ill backed better to meete then to follow for hee is all vanity before all vexation behind by the witnesse of him that tried and knew him Sometimes trouble followes him but surely followes him The desire of money is the roote of all euill which while sons coueted after they haue erred from the faith and pierced themselues through with many sorrowes Hee is like a Bee or an Epigram all his sting is in his tayle Hee is troubled with a thousand diseases and is attended on with more plagues then euer was Galens study He is now growne exceeding olde and hath but a few minutes to liue Hee is decayed both in stature and nature especially hee is troubled with a stooping and a stopping a stooping in his ioynts a stopping in his lungs He neither hath an vpright face nor a light heart 1 For the former hee is euer poring on the earth as if he had no other heauen or were set to digge there for Paradise His eye neuer lookes vp to heauen but to obserue what weather it will be This is his curuitie hee is a warped aged and decrepite Sutour There is no straightnes in him 2 For the other hee cannot be lightsome because hee neuer did giue good conscience one nights lodging which onely truely can make the heart merry He
To The Right Worshipfull Sir Iohn Cleypoole Knight sauing health WOrthy Sir I haue ventrously traffiqued with my poore talent in publike whiles I behold richer graces buried in silence iudging it better to husband a little to the common good then to hurd much wealth in a sullen niggardize I censure none if al were Writers who should be Readers if none idle Pamphlets would present themselues to the generall eye and bee entertained for defect of more sober matter If the graine bee good it doth better in the market then in the garner All I can say for my selfe is I desire to 〈…〉 whereof if I faile yet my endeou◠〈…〉 not my conscience without some ioifull content To your Patronage this flies to whom the Author is greatlie bounden and shall yet bee indebted further for your acceptance Your loue to generall learning singular encouragement to Students opposed to the common dishartnings which pouerty contempt ignorance assaults vs with your actual beneficence to many especially to Katherine Hall in Cambridge worthie of death-lesse memorie lastlie your reall kindnesse to my selfe haue prompted mee to seale this Booke with the signet of your name and send it to the world Which in humble submission I commend to your kind acceptation and your selfe with it to the blessing of our gracious God Your Worships in all duty deuoted Tho. Adams ENGLANDES SICKENES THE First Lecture Ierem. Chap. 8. Ver. 22. Is there no balme at Gilead is there no Physitian there why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recouered SIcke is the daughter of Sion and the complexion of England giues her not to be sound If shee feele her own pulse and examin the Symptomes of her ilnes her works of disobedience shee must confesse that her health is empaired or if shee feele it not shee is obstupeâ—ied The Coast I am bound for is Israel but like faithfull Merchants if I can traffique or transport thence any good commodity into our own country I will venter the welcom of it Israel England though they lie in a diuers climat may be said right Paralels not so vnfit in Cosmographicall as fit in Theologicall comparison And sauing Israels Apostacie and punishment for it wee neede not thinke it harsh to be sampled They could plead much of Gods mercy if wee can speake of more let vs thankefully embrace our transcendent happinesse Two maine passages are directed my discourse to saile through which shall limit my speech and your attentions for this time 1. The Patient 2. The Passion The Sicke and the disease The Person labouring of griefe is the daughter of Israel her Passion or griefe is sicknes Why is not the health of the daughter of my people recouered These two coastes will affoorde vs many subordinate obseruations worthy both our trauels The Patient whom we must visite is described 1. Quâ— sit 2. Cuiui sit God speaketh of her 1. Positiuely 2. Possessiuely Positiuely what shee is of her selfe The daughter of the people Possessiuely what shee is by relation in regard of her owner populi mei Gods people Daughter This title is vsuall according to Hebraisme Daughter of Israel for Israel Daughter of Sion for Slon Say yee to the daughter of Sion Behold thy saluation commeth c. Daughter of Iudah for Iudah The Lord hath troden the daughter of Iudah as a Wine-presse Daughter of Ierusalem for Ierusalem Lament 2. Of Babilon for Babylon Oh daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed c. So Christ cals himselfe the Sonne of man because he tooke on him mans nature Esay 2 1. Oh my threshing and the sonne of my floore for the floore it selfe or the corne of it And Augustine obserues on the 72. Psalme that by the children of the poore is meant the poore themselues This is an abstractiue Phrase and vox indulgentis implying propense fauour in the speaker and tendernes in the person spoken of filia populi It is a word of relation simply taken for daughter depends on the respect of Parent Here it is Phrasicall and therefore not to be forced Yet because cunctae apices euery letter and accent in holy West is diuinely significant let vs not neglectfully passe it ouer without some vsefull obseruation There is somewhat in it that Filia non Filius dicitur the name of Daughter not of Sonne is here giuen to Israel Iaraels offspring must be a Daughter that she may be married to the God of Israels Sonne Christ is the beloued the Church is his Spouse My beloued is mine and I am his hee feedeth among the Lillies Betroathed to him in this life I will betroth thee vnto me for euer yea I will betroth thee vnto me in righteousnesse c. Solemnly maried in the next at what time the Saints shall sing Let vs be glad and reioyce and giue honour to him for the marriage of the Lambe is come and his wife hath made her selfe ready and verse 9. Blessed are they that are called to the marriage Supper of the Lambe Thus God the Father that had a Sonne by eternall generation hath now a Daughter also by adoption Hence the Church is called the Kings daughter Ps. 45. The kings daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought gold â— because shee is wedded to the Kings sonne God is a Father in many respects 1 In Creation Deut. 32. Is not he thy father that hath bought thee Hath hee not made thee and established thee Hee gaue vs all essentiam formam subsistence and forme 2 In Education Esa 1. I haue nourished and brought vp children and they haue rebelled against me We are brought vp in this House of this world and fed from the table of his blessings 3 In compassion Psal. 103 Like as a Father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him Yeeld that a mother which is rare and vnnaturall can forget the Sonne of her wombe yet God cannot forget the children of his Election 3 In Correction Heb. 12 Whom the Lord loueth hee chasteneth and scourgeth euery sonne whom he receiueth Qui excipitur à numero flagellatorum excipitur à numero siliorum He that scapes affliction may suspect his adoption Wee are not exempted from misery that wee may not be excepted from mercy The rod walkes ouer vs left wee should grow wanton with his blessings 5 In Adoption and that most principally Rom. 8. Wee haue receiued the spirite of Adoption whereby wee cry Abba Father God sent his sonne made of a woman that wee redeemed by him might receiue the adoption of sonnes All these may be reduced to three God is a Father singularly generally specially 1. singularly the Father of Christ by nature 2 generally the Father of all men and al things by creation 3. specially the Father of the Elect by adoption The first priuiledge belongs onely to Christ. The second to many who haue
striues to be merry but his mirth is madnesse Hee cannot dance vnlesse vanity be his mate and iniquity his Minstrell All his ioy is vel in vitys vel in diuitiâ—s eyther in his wealth or his wickednesse He cannot be merry if God bee in the company For the good onely keepe Christmas all the yeare in their conscience though not at their table Hee hath three inducements to perswade and three defects to disswade the soule from accepting his loue If the former induce any to him let the latter reduce them from him 1. His first allurement is a mellifluous language able to blanch mischiefe His words drop Nectar as if hee had beene brought vp at Court And by his Logicke hee can make quidlibit ex quolibet anything of euery thing so by his Rhetoricke hee can make stones hard hearted worldlings dance to his pipe as it is fabled of Orpheus Cusus ex ore non tam verâ—a quam mella fluunt as I haue read of Origem Euery syllable is like a drop of honey from his lips Magicis verborum viribus quasi transformat homines There lies a magicke in his temptâ—ng speech able to inchant and transforme mens hearts making a voluptuous man a hogge an oppressor a Wolfe the lustfull a Goate the Drunkard a Diuell His arguments are not empty but carry the weight of golden eloquence the musicall sound of profite and pleasure 2 Besides his captiuing elocution hee mends the ill fabricke of his person with rich acoutrements He weares all his cloathes as Saint Paul saith in the fashion Hee hath change of suites Hee puts on pride when he goes to the Court Bribery when hee goes to the Hall Ebriety when to a Tauerne Prodigality when he shufles in among Gallants Vsurie when hee would walke in the Exchange Oppression when hee would ride downe into the Country Onely Auarice is the girdle of his loines he is neuer without it It is fashion to be of any fashion to apply himselfe to thy humour whom he courts He hath a sute to speed of his suite to please thy affection 3 This is not all he tenders thee a faire and large iointure Giue him but marriage and he will giue thee maintenance Iura periura Defraude dissemble sweare for sweare bribe flatter temporize make vse of all men loue onely thy selfe and riches with preferment in his company shall seeke thee out Thou shalt hazard no Straights climbe no Alpes prison not thy selfe in a study nor apprentice thy life to the warres entertaine but the worlde for thy husband and thou art out of all hunger and cold wealth shal come trolling in eueÌ„ whiles thou sleepest But happy is hee that can bee rich with honesty or poore with content These are the glories whereof hee would enamour thee thus would hee possesse thee with his possessions But hee hath three deterringes heare them 1 He hath sore eyes bleare and raw with cares for hee is euer in expectation either of remedy to griefes or supply to wants What opulency can boast immunity from sorrow exemption from crosses And such is the secure worldlings impatience when once angred with afflictions that a little misery makes him greatly miserable He makes his yoke the more troublous to him because he hath not learned to draw quietly in it Though hee hath alreadie more then enough he keepes his eyes sore with seeking for addition In the quest of wealth hee denies himselfe rest Needes must his eyes be sore that sleepeth not This is one disease incident to the world 2 He hath swolne legges diseased with surfets For the world comprehends more then couetousnesse by the testimony of S. Iohn The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life is of the world Wee renounced in our Baptism with the world pompes and vanities Riot lust intemperance Epicurisme dissolutenes are members of the world as well as auarice Tam I say if not tantum And therfore our Sauiour by that terrible sentence against rich men intends not couetousnesse for a sole and singular obstacle yeelde it a principall but pride ambition lust vaine-glory luxurie the effects of an opulent state as well as couetice There are more burdens to loade the Cammell when he should passe through the smal posterne of Grace that needlesse eye then onely auarous affections What lesson of vice is not the rich man apt to learne Therefore this makes the world haue swolne legges as the other sore eyes Hee is blinde hee is lame both ill qualities in a Sutour 3 He hath a very weak tenur of al he possesseth he is Gods tenant at will hath leasse of nothing but durante Domini bene placito during the great Landlord of heauen earth his fauour At vtmost his hold is but for terme of life that a warish short and transient life scarce so long as the first line of an indenture Nay hee hath right to nothing for he holds not in Capite from the Lord of all Iesus Christ. Therefore euery wordling shall be accountant for each crumme of bread and droppe of water which they haue receiued For the right of the creatures lost in the first Adam cannot be recouered but by the second So that hee enters on them as an Intruder and possesseth them as an Vsurper his title being so bad his tenure is certaine in nothing but in being vncertaine Sic transit gloria mundi So the fashion of this world passeth away What soule soeuer marries him either he leaues his wife or his wife must leaue him without euer being satisfied You see then the fraudulent proffers of your personable wooer the world What is there in him that any daughter of Ierusalem should affect him Only be you simple as Doues in not louing him but wiâ—e as Serpents in liuing by him Loue not the world saith Saint Iohn yet make vse of it saith Saint Paule Vtere mundo fruero Deo Vse the world but enioy God for the world waxâ—th old as a garment and fadeth away but Iesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for euer The world like fire may be a good seruant will bee an ill Master Make it thy slaue it is not good ynough to be thy husband How base is it for a freewoman to marry her seruant 3 The third is the Flesh. This Sutour comes boldly in like a home-borne childe and hopes to speede for old acquaintance He can plead more then familiaritie euen inherence inheritance of what nature hath left vs. He is not only collaterall but connaturall to vs. One house hath held vs one breath serued vs one nutriment fed vs euer since one conception bred vs. Like Hippocrates twinnes we should haue inseparably liued togither and loued together if the prerogatiue Court of grace and mercie had not diuorced vs. And euen in the sanctified this impudent wooer cannot be quite
health and he now stands surer by his first fall Such is the greatnesse and goodnesse of God such his power and mercy concurring that it workes health out of sicknesse good out of euill There is an infinite Good but not an infinite euill For the Good cannot by any meanes be diuerted into euill but the euill may be converted to good By the conspiracie of Iewes Gentiles Iudas Deuils against Christ is our saluation wrought From the horridst and most vnnaturall treasons God hath aduanced his owne glory aduantaged his childrens security We labour of three diseases birth life death all these are cured by those three answerable in Christ. Our vncleane birth is sanctified by His so pure from the least spot of sinne Our transgressing life is reformed by the vertue enformed by the example of His. That tyrannizing wounding Serpent Death hath the sting pulled out by His death that we may embrace him in our secured armes The Conquerour of vs all is conquered for vs all by Him that foiled the Gyant in his owne denne the Graue Thankes be to God which giueth vs the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. Oh death where is thy sting Oh graue where is thy victory This is our insultation and holy triumph Prouided euer that He be beleeued of vs that hath thus relieued vs. Beleeue and feare not A good conscience is neuer faild of a good confidence of a good consequence Hence ariseth the soules sanity What can indanger in dammage this health no losses to the estate no crosses to the flesh The spiritually-sounde man values all the fortunes of the world lesse then the freedome and health of the mind Hee that wants this armour is wounded by euery blow of affliction Other security is but a shield of waxe against a sword of power They cannot chuse but feare euen where no feare is and testifie their inward guilt and sicknesse by their pale and trembling lookes Timida nequitia dat testimonium condemnations semper praesumit saeua perturbata conscientia Fearefull wickednesse giues testimony of it owne damnation and the troubled conscience imposeth and presumes to itselfe terrible things but the health of faith is health indeed yea this health is life a life Angelical a life Euangelical whether for obedience or peace inspired spirited sealed assured by the word of Truth Which is life to all that find it and health to all their flesh No feare shall inuade him no troubles inuolue him so that he cannot be extricated For the feare of the Lord tendeth to life and he that hath it shall not be visited with euill His innocency may speed in the world as deserts in a lottery be rewarded with a blank But he in whom he affies shall put the marrow of health into his bones distill the sap of grace inio his spirit Low in the world lowly in himselfe in his estimation who sees not that the clambring goates get vpon rockes and promontory places whiles the humble sheepe feed in the bottomes and deiected vallies Onely one day the Sheepe shall bee aduanced aboue the Sunne and starres and set in heauen with Christ when the goates shall be cast downe to the depth of depthes Rich Diues was well enough knowne to the world yet nameles in the sacred Records So we brand our sheepe let the Goates goe vnmarked God sets his seale on his chosen Nouit qu◠sui sunt lets the wicked run without his cognisance Thus different is the state of Gods seruants and the worlds slaues They thinke none sicke but wee wee know none sicke but they If equall crosses befall vs both our estate is soone descried Wee differ as the Cammell and the Camomell the one is stunted the other thriues by his burthen Afflictions that so scatter them and loosen the ioyntes of their vaine hopes doe more knit and consolidate our healthes As soone as they take themselues it is as easie to proue as to reproue their diseases Though I confesse in the dayes of their Iouialty hee hath greate wisdom that can make them sensible of their sicknes Were Solon nay Salomon aliue to declare it they see t not ' they will not feele it If the want of health were perceiued how amiable admirable would the benefit appear Gratior est saint as redita quā retenta vix aliter quā perdendocognoscimus Returning health is more welcome then if it had not beene lost We scarse know what health is but by the want Let others spend their times wits treasures to procure health to their bodies which I embrace when it is offered and would not loose by my owne errors giue mee a sound and cleare conscience and let mee not want this health till I enuy theirs 2. Thus hauing enquired what health is leauing a while the consideration therof as it is in it selfe let vs descend into it as respectiuely casting an oblique eye vnto that which is diuers from it or aduerse to it There is a significant and lightfull demonstration or commentarie which one contrary nature giues to another when they are diametrally opposed The day would not seeme so cleare if the departing Sunne should not leaue night to follow it The foile addes grace to the Iewell It no lesse then glorifies learning that the malitious tong of ignorance barkes at it He knowes the benefite of heate that hath felt the sharpenes of a freezing colde If there were no sicknesse to trouble vs health it selfe would be thought sicknesse The very enmity of these repugnances helpe the beholders iudgement eyther to embrace or reiect them Euen their opposition is an exposition of their natures deformity darknes sicknesse sinne all those priuatiue corruptiue destructiue things which as they had no creation from God so giue no direction to the good yeeld by a sober meditation an vnwilling lustre to those vertues graces and happy habites against which they vaunt their contrariety That if any lewde vaine ill iudging worse affecting mind shall still loue the desolation of sinne rather then the consolation of spirituall health it may appeare to bee not because this obiect is not wretched but because hee is blind and bewitched There is a twofolde Sicknesse incident to man 1. in sinne 2. for sinne The former of these is only spiritual the latter is not onely corporall but sometimes spirituall also and of all the Vials of Gods wrath holden to the mouth of miserable men by the hand of iustice it is the forest when sinne shall bee punished with sinne and the destitution of grace shall permitte a lapse to impenitency 1 The Sicknesse in sinne is double according to the cause which is a defect either of right belieuing or straight liuing a debility of confidence a sterility of good works lacke of faith wracke of charity These effects or rather defects are produced by two errors in our Soules diet the one excessiue the other deficient 1. By Fasting too much from Christ 2. By feeding too much on