a fearefull heart Esa 21.14 be strong feare not he brings wine to the thirsty and prevents those that faint for bread These beloved such are they whose wayes are grievous unto you the Preachers of peace the ministers of the Spirit And how is it then will some man say Nay it is the demaund of the Lord himselfe How is it that the health of the Daughter of my people is not recovered Ier. 8.22 Iob 24.12 Behold the teares of the oppressed and they have no Comforter men groane out of the Citie and the soule of the wounded cryeth out There is Lamentation and mourning there are sighs even to the breaking of the loynes There are threnes of the poore in spirit and yet as if they may not bee comforted as if their wounds were incurable there is none to binde them up Ier. 30.13 Esa 1.6 They have no healing medicines as the Prophet speaketh for such as should bee Physitians in Israel they are as St. Cyprian saith of Novatian they are like the Levite or the Priest in the Gospell that are so farre from powring Oyle into the wounds of the poore Samaritane Cyprian ad Novationum Haereticum Epist Vt Ingeniosâ novâ potiùs crudelitate occiderent They speake the piercings of swords their teeth are speares and arrowes and their lips of knives nothing but Law and that louder than Synai nothing but thundring but a storme and tempest is sounded in the eares of the bruised Spirit in the hearing of the wounded Soule Plinij Epist lib. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Pliny hath it of Pericles Such sonnes of Thunder as these Solatium aeternae spei adimunt arborem à radice subvertunt Cyprian navem ad scopulos ne perveniat illidunt They take away all hope of salvation They overturne the tree by the rootes They dash the ship least it should come to the haven where it should bee they dash it against the rockes If the Lord be angry yea but a little they helpe forward the affliction they binde one evill to another they persecute him whom sinne hath smitten and they talke how they may vexe those whom their owne Conscience have wounded So that in the labour of Repentance in the travell of contrition to multiply sorowes there are they that are ready to strangle the fruit of the Soule I have heard a voyce Ier. 4 31. as of a woman in travell sayth the Lord as of her that bringeth forth her first Child saying The voyce of the Daughter of Syon Ier. 4 31. that bewayleth herselfe that spreadeth her hands saying Woe is mee because of murderers Ier. 4 3◠There are such as these even untill this very day there are man-slayers of the Soule there are bloudy Preachers that if it were possible would murther Saints themselves with the edge of their wordes their tongues that are set on fire of hell That speake nothing but despaire nothing but death and destruction And what then beloved What shall we judge of these Doe they bring tydings from a farre Countrey Are they come out from God No they bring a vision of their owne and not of the mouth of the Lord whose song it is of Mercy and Iudgment Psal 101.1 Though of Iudgement a Song and for the most part his mercy rejoyceth against it Iam. 2.13 Heare I pray you how hee bemones his people Ierem. 8.22 Is there no balme in Gilead Is there no Physitian in Israel And againe these thinges are come vpon thee Esa 51.19 desolation and destruction and the famine the sword by whom shall I comfort thee How much more is hee solicitous about the consolation of those that are prest aboue measure that are crusht with the weight of their sinnes that are affrighted with the horror of hell With a feareful expectation not of these light and momentany not of temporall but eternall judgments To him that is afflicted pitty should bee shewed from his friend so sayth Nature it selfe Iob 6.14 So Grace So the Lord by the mouth of his seruant Iob. How much more is it his pleasure in a case of conscience that the plaister should couer the wound That consolation should spread and effectually answeare the anguish of the Soule the sorrow of his Saincts Hence the large the exundant command to his Prophet Esa 33.21 hence that place of broad waters and streames Comfort yee Comfort yee my people sayth your God Esa 40.1 2. Speake ye comfortably to Hierusalem And againe O Hierusalem that bringest glad tydings lift vp thy voyce Esay 40 9. lift it vp with strength Now beloued you haue the person exhorting I say First hee speakes by himselfe Secondly hee speakes by his word And thirdly by those that tread out the new wine by those that breathe as it were the Holy ghost vpō vs. So you Vse 1 see to vse the wordes of the Apostle how on euery side hee confirmes his loue towards you 2. Cor. 2.8 And how then to make some vse of the poynt how shall we grieue that God that comforteth vs in all our griefes how shall wee doe despight vnto the Spirit that at all times that in euery place administers joy and consolation vnto vs. Doe yee remember how inhumane was the Act of Haman in the 2. Sam. when David sent to comfort him by the hand of his seruants Hee returned hatred for his good-will 2 Sam. 10.4 Hee euill intreated the messengers Hee shaued the halfe of their beards and cut off their garments in the middle Beloved as much as in vs lyes wee doe the same The same and more also When with sinnes of malice wee affront his goodnesse When wee oppose with presumptuous wickednesse the comforts that hee administers vnto vs wee doe despight that is the word we doe despight vnto the spirit of Grace and so to our selues wee sinne against our owne Soules So that instead of a comforter for joy and gladnesse what can wee expect but a trembling heart but fayling of eyes and sorow of mind What can we expect but the same which happened vnto Hanun and more also Sen. Epist That the Lord vt à nobis tractatur ita nos tractat That the Lord set himselfe in array against vs that hee muster vp his charriots and come foorth with all his armies that are created for vengeance They rebelled saith the Prophet of the house of Israel they rebelled and vexed his Spirit Heare what immediately followes Therefore was hee turned to bee their enemy and fought against them Esa 63.10 Esay 63.10 Vse 2 The next use we are to make of the point it is in our straites in our sorrow and distresse to have recourse unto the author unto the Orator of our joy When I am in heavinesse I will thinke vpon God Psal 77.4 sayth he that had as much as a Kingdome can yeeld for to comfort his soule but all these things it should
the Sonne of Syrach the living and sound in heart shal praise the Lord. Ecclesiasticus 17.28 Cum sit Lilium inter lilia commoratur cum sit candor delectatur candidis Bern. in Cant. Serm. 71. My beloved is white and ruddy and as hee is so he loves to be among the Lillies Hee rejoyceth to be with them that rejoyce The troubled spirit 〈◊〉 confesse the broken and the contrite it is a sacrifice to God and so without doubt so is the merry and joyfull In the 8. of Nehemiah you may see Neh. 8.9 That the sanctity of Ioy it is not inferiour to say no more it is not inferiour unto that of sorrow This day say the Levites that taught the people This day is holy vnto the Lord your GOD mourne not nor weepe Do but observe the words and you shall perceive not only an imparity betweene the affections but a kinde of difference betweene sanctification and sorrow betweene Holinesse and griefe of mind which for the most part interrupts and hinders all divine and heavenly exercise So that though it be the curse of the heart though it breaketh the strength though it dryeth up the bones it is nothing so prejudiciall to the body as it is unto the health of the Soule in that which is her spirit and life Preaching and Prayer For the first Gregogius propter tristitiam Intermi sit Ezechielis Expositionem saith Aquinas Aquinas That blessed Byshop a Master a nursing father in Israel by reason of overmuch sorrow hee desisted from opening the book that is sealed from the Interpretation of EZECHIEL the Prophet Now for the disciple and hearer If affliction and sorrow be extreame it so oppresseth the heart it straightens it so that a Barnabas that hee that knoweth how to administer a word of comfort in his season the Sonne of consolation himselfe is not able to open it Though MOSES and AARON bee fitted and prepared of the Lord though they bring unto Israel glad tydings of great joy yet they wil not hearken unto them and the reason it is giuen for anguish of spirit and cruell bondage Exod. 6.9 Now for Prayer Muscae morientes corrumpunt vnguentum Eccles 10. sayth the wise King Dead Flies cause the oyntment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking sauour So doth bitternesse and vexation of spirit so doth anxiety and sorow it pollutes it corrupts that which is as oyntment powred out That which for the most part is a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour supplication and prayer Yee have not yet halfe the Evill or the Sinne of sorow Semper malitiatur contristat Spiritum sanctum Athan apud Bern. de moâ—dâ— bene vovendi Serm. 11. sayth Auncient ATHANASIVS It is the poyson of Dragons and the cruell venome of Aspes it is full of envie and malice it grieves the Holy-Ghost by which we are sealed to the purchased possession And not onely so but it takes off or at least it defaces the Seale of the spirit Aug. apud Aquin. in Gen. 12. IACOB sayth Saint AVGVSTINE vpon Genesis Hoc timuisse videtur ne tristitia sic perturbaretur vt non ad regnum beatorum iret sed ad inferos peccatorum Hee that was an heyre of the promise the royall seed of the father of the faithfull by reason of our much heavinesse drew nigh unto hell hee was affraid hee should not goe unto the place of blisse not unto ABRAHAMS bosome but unto the Region of death unto the Land of darknesse The ground of this opinion I cannot conceiue how be it it is certaine there is a diffidence and distrust there is feare and trembling horrour and euen almost despaire in the sorrow not onely for crosses and afflictions but for transgression and Sinne. In the sorowes of the Saints what aduantage Sathan hath taken by the griefe which causeth Repentance not to bee repented of by the hearty contrition for sinnes committed against GOD the neere approaching of so many afflicted soules unto death whom the conscience of Sinne sayth that venerable Hooker hath brought unto the very brinke of extreame dispaire Hooker Serus doth but too abundantly expresse deepe disconsolate and something diffident is the sorow of such as mourne in Syon they sayle lower than the Grave by the gates of hell They sayle unto Heaven heare I pray you their inundation their Sea of anxiety and sorow Hee hath given vs waters of gall to drinke Ierem. 8.14 because wee have sinned against him Ier. 8.14 So the Prophet DAVID though hee were of a sanguine complexion and by consequence naturally cheerfull though hee were acquainted with the instrument of musick yet see how his Harpe is turned into mourning and his Organ into the voyce of them that weepe There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure Psal 38.3 neyther is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Psal 38.3 And againe The sorrowes of death compassed mee and the overflowing of vngodlinesse made me afraid Psa 18.3.4 The paines of death came about me and the snares of Hell overtooke mee These and the like are the voyce of the mourning Turtles the Lamentations and Threnes even of the Saints themselves unto whom not as if I did disswade from repentance let them weepe still and still desire to weepe but let their teares be as the rayne in the Sun-shine comfortable and hopefull We are to inculcate consolation Dr. Hall to preach the good and acceptable yeare of the Lord to make them heare of joy and gladnesse that the bones that were broken might flourish give strong drinke the double exhortation in my Text give strong drinke unto him that is ready to perish Prov. 31.6 and wine to those that are of heavie hearts If the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 2.7 concerning him that was guilty of a sinne that was not so much as named amongst the Gentiles themselves to comfort him least peradventure such an one bee swallowed up with overmuch sorow how should we powre out our soules How should we heape our consolation on those that come short of his sinne and yet in sorrow doe exceed Comfort yee Esay 4.1.2 comfort yee my people saith your God speake yee comfortably to Hierusalem and cry vnto her that her warfare is accomplished and that her sinne is pardoned See there is remission there is forgivenesse for Man and there is mercy with God it is over all his works so and much more over ours We cannot offend so much as he is able to forgive Neyther may wee imagine that our sorrow is sufficient for sinne were our head a fountaine of water were our breach as the Sea did our eyes gush out with teares should wee weepe as much as the cloudes from the beginning of the world untill this very day it were too little to make our agreement with God too little to wash away the least of our sinnes Wee have
the everlasting light and that unspotted mirror of Heaven All these things which in some measure may expresse the affection they plucke off the covering from the face of the Saints Esay 64.5 and the vaile from such as mourne in Syon Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse as the Lord doth us so we the Lord both by nature and Grace doe we goe out as it were doe we meet him in this Injunction of Ioy. Ita se beatos esse omnes velle consonant quemadmodum consonarent Aug. Conf. lib. 10. Si hoc interrogetur se velle gaudere saith Saint Augustine in his Confessions As all men doe affect felicitie so that which is the Diamond in the Ring that which is inclosed within it Ioy and gladnesse of heart O how happy then are we how good and gracious is the Lord that enjoynes that which is the desire of our soules that which we so earnestly seeke of our selves Opto vt ea potissimum iubear Plin Epist quae me deceat vel sponte fecisse saith Plinie and it is the wish of the world too Who but would willingly bee injoyned that which is the Ioy and reioycing of his heart Let the Lord command us what he will so that we will but what hee commands Ioh. 5.3 Mat. 11.30 Psal 19.8 Praecepta cius non sunt gravia his yoake is easie and his burthen light His Statutes are right and rejoyce the heart All that he requires of man it is his felicitie it is his happinesse it is his Heaven upon Earth To reioyce Eccles 3.12 and to doe good in our life Both these as they are united by the Spirit so they may not bee severed by a man for as there is no good under the Sun but to rejoyce so there is no Ioy but in doing good Let the righteous saith the Prophet David once and againe nay a third time hee names in effect who they are unto whom our Apostle speakes Psal 68.3 Let the righteous be glad and reioyce before God let them also be merry and ioyfull See how affluent how exundant is the joy of the Saints how full and copious is the Prophet in the point Though not a cypher in the Psalmes he hath many words to expresse one and the selfe-same thing This is the Dialect of the Holy Ghost these things are written That his Ioy which no man can expresse Ioh. 15.11 but he that hath it nay hee that hath it cannot expresse it might bee fulfilled in us Bee glad Psal 32.12 ô yee righteous and rejoyce in the Lord and be joyfull all yee that are true of heart There are many moe places that I might produce to shew you the superabundance the streames of consolation the joyfull gladnesse of such as are in the state of Grace but as St. Paul to his Corinthians Ye are our Epistle 2. Cor. 3.2 So I unto you yee are the proofes you your selves are the places unto which I referre you Have yee received the first-fruits of the Spirit Have you tasted of the heavenly gift Have you beene made pertakers of the powers to come the Songs of Syon the Anthemes of Heaven they are more than written within you A stranger may not intermeddle with neyther can hee possibly conceive this joy It is farre beyond that of the Sonnes of men Prae consortibus Psal 45.8 true not onely of Christ but of all those that are his They that love righteousnesse and hate iniquitie they are anoynted with the Oyle of Gladnesse above their fellowes for the worke of righteousnesse it is peace Esay 32.17 Is not that enough It is more quietnesse and assurance for ever Oh how erronious then is the opinion of such as imbrace this present world Such as suppose all our wayes to be grievous That imagine Religion to be nothing but melancholy full of anxietie vexation and feares Oh that they would but turne into her that they would but repose their Soules with her without doubt they should find more pleasure than in that which they so eagerly pursue Her consolation hath no bitternesse and to live with her hath no sorrow Prov. 3.17 but mirth and joy Her wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse and all her paths are peace Bern. de vit solitar pag. 1027. Delectationes enim non perdimus sed mutamus de corpore ad animum de sensibus ad conscientiam saith St. Bernard We doe not lose our delights but wee change not for the worse but for the better from the body to the soule from the senses to the Conscience In stead of the pleasures of Pharaohs Court we have those of the Land of Canaan for the delights of the Sonnes of men we have the consolations of God Quietnesse Peace and Ioy in the Holy-Ghost joy unspeakable and full of Glory Goe to then you that rejoyce in that which is naught You that spend the time in mirth Iob. 21.13 and in a moment goe downe to the Grave you that say as they in the second of Wisedome Wisd 2.6.9 Come on let us inioy the good things that are present let none of us passe without part of our voluptuousnes let us leave the tokens of our ioy in every place Doe but joyne your selves to the Saints doe but adhere to Heaven Let your soules but cleave unto God and he shall give you the desire of your hearts you shall be satisfied with the plenteousnesse with the pleasures of the life that now is and of that which is to come even in this Valley of teares Psal 36.8 He shall give you drinke out of his pleasures as out of a River Wherefore you that have wearied your selves in the wayes of wickednesse and destruction returne unto your rest and for famine Lu. 15.15.25 huskes and Swine or if you will strange women Harlots and the like you shall heare of joy and gladnesse you shall be received with musicke and dancing not onely of others but of your owne Soules Doe this then Haec ante omnia fac sayth Seneca as divinely as if he had beene St. PAVLS Disciple indeed Above all things doe this Disce gaudere Sen. Epist 23 Learne to Rejoyce It is a lesson unto which though we are incited of our selves though we are schollers by nature yet no man attaines unto it but he that breaks off his transgression hee that forsakes his sinne he that purgeth his conscience from dead workes to serve the living God who hath reserved the bloud of the grape the purest pleasure for piety and appropriated his joy unto those that are his But as for the ungodly he writes bitter things against them and in the middest of their mirth he makes them to possesse the sinnes of their youth so that as their mercies are cruell so their very joyes are but Wine mingled with Mirrhe Plut. Moral de Audiendis poetis alibi saepius They are like the City in Sophocles of