faith and doe belieue And therefore I am assured also that I shall bee saued So that the generall proposition of the Gospell is most sure and certaine that all and euery one that hath faith and doth belieue in Christ shall bee saued and therefore are elected For none can be saued but one'y they that are elected predestmated and appoynted heereunto in the eternall decree and purpose of God Now if after a due search and sounding into thy self thou findest that thou hast this faith in Christ resting vpon his grace and promises and that thou art resolued in thy heart that remission of sinnes reconciliation vnto God and all the other benefits and effects of Christs death and passion doe appertaine and belong vnto thee this testimony is sure and certaine whereon thou mayst build this conclusion that thou art the sonne and elected childe of God And that the witnesse and testimony of these things to be within vs may bee had and deriued from our owne Spirit beside that place before alledged Rom. 8. that the Spirit of God and our Spirit doe witnesse together the same Apostle also seemeth to intimate no lesse 2. Cor. 13.5 bidding vs prooue our selues whether wee be in the faith and that we should examine our selues Know you not 2. Cor. 13.5 saith hee euen your owne selues how that Christ is in you except you be reprobates Now how should this proofe triall examination and knowledge of our selues by our selues bee had but by our owne Spirit 1. Cor. 2.11 For what man saith the same Apostle knoweth the things of a man saue the spirit of a man which is in him But heere it may be some will obiect against mee that these things are spirituall and of God For faith commeth not of our selues but is effected in vs by the Spirit of God and therefore by the same Spirit of God onely these must be discerned For that it followeth immediately in the same verse that these things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Whereunto I answer that although wee cannot iudge and discerne of the things of God either concerning his excellent nature or the mystery of his will in the wayes of life and saluation what and how it shall bee but by the Spirit reuealing and manifesting the same in the sacred Scriptures by the Ministery of his Prophets and Apostles yet the knowledge of these things being had it hindreth not but that by our own Spirit wee may iudge the presence of those things in our selues which the Spirit hath thus generally set downe as things necessary in the Elect of God So then being by the Word and out of the Scriptures which is the doctrine of the holy Ghost schooled and instructed in the nature of these gifts and effects of the Spirit bee it faith or other spirituall gift whatsoeuer it shall bee a matter within the compasse of our own spirits being thus beforehand furnished and prouided to iudge and discerne whether these things be wrought and effected in vs as yet or not which is sufficient for my purpose and all that I require If therefore thou wilt know if thou be elected and consequently such an one as shall bee saued enter first into thine owne heart and soule and see whether thine owne spirit and conscience doth not testifie vnto thee and beare thee witnesse that that is verified and found to be truely and indeed within thy selfe which the word of God hath set downe as a most assured and vndoubted marke of the Children and Elect of God CHAP. XXIX Of the second argument whereby the certainty of a mans election is prooued THe second argument for proofe of a mans election is brought from the Spirit of God that dwelleth in vs. For as our owne Spirits doe testifie so the Spirit of God also doth beare witnesse together with our spirits that wee are the sonnes of God if sonnes then heires also euen the heires of God and heires annexed with Christ Heereupon it is that this Spirit of God that thus giueth euidence and witnesse with vs is called the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of Promise and the very Earnest of our Inheritance It is called the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Ephes 1.13 14. because it doth approoue vnto vs our Adoption that we are singled out from the world and by grace in Christ adopted to be the sons of God And this so fully and effectually that it maketh vs confidently and boldly to cry and call vpon God by the name of Father It is called the Spirit of Promise because it sealeth vnto our hearts the vse of all Gods promises in Christ contained at large in the Gospell to bee our owne and to appertaine and belong vnto vs. And it is called the Earnest of our Inheritance for that it is as a Pledge and Pawne vnto vs whereby wee are assured that God will perfect and performe his couenant of life in Christ that hee hath made and indented with vs that are his faithfull Children Although this testimony of the Spirit be most true and in the due and appointed time of God Ephes 1.13 that is after that they doe belieue is certainely found in all the Elect of God Ephes 1.13 yet I thinke it not sufficient this to affirme but also more at large to shew what this witnesse and this seale is in the Elect of God that so euery man may the better discerne and iudge of it in himselfe For though the Spirit it selfe bee sayd to be the Earnest of our inheritance because that the Spirit which thus in part worketh in vs being a part of our glorification which is heere in this life begun and that wee are by this part as by an earnest penny assured that God in his time appointed will bring this worke in vs vnto perfection for that he is faithfull and iust of his promise and will not let passe this good worke which hee hath thus begun in vs but will perfect and performe it vntill the day of Christ yet in that the Spirit is sayd thus to witnesse and to seale vnto vs the very words doe sufficiently intimate a further thing then the Spirit it selfe For it is certaine that these are things euen in common speech and reason distinct and differing one from another the testimony or witnesse and the person witnessing the sealing and impression of the seale and the seale it selfe This testimony and print or impression of the Spirit I take not to be diuers but to be one and the selfe same thing and doe iudge it to be nothing els but the reparation or a new impression of the image of God in vs which was before cancelled and defaced in vs by reason of the fall of Adam So that when the Spirit is thus sayd to seale nothing els is meant therby but that it doth again instamp and ingraue and set vpon vs euen vpon our hearts and soules that Image of goodnesse purity holinesse wisdome sanctity truth and
loue that is of God For this is the very stamp of the Spirit which otherwise in other places is called our Regeneration and this is the testimony and witnesse that it giueth Wherefore that wee may now the better see and vnderstand how this Spirit of God in this sort doth witnesse and giue testimony with our Spirits of nor adoption into the number and fellowship of the children of God I think it good that we proceed a little further in the Apostles similitude This phrase and manner of speaking is drawn from the manner of men vsed for confirmation of contracts and bargaines made who hauing in speech concluded vpon their couenants straightway cause the same to bee first written and ingrossed and after their seales to bee to the same annexed to witnesse and assure both the truth of the bargaine and also the performance thereof So that the very print and impression abiding still in the wax is a sufficient witnesse that those writings are his act and deede whose seale is there annexed and that therfore also he will in truth surely performe the couenants therein contained Now for a further explanation hereof and to apply this according to the seuerall circumstances to our present purpose it is diligently to bee obserued and noted that the couenants or matter of the writings betwixt God and his Children are the promises of Grace in Christ through faith comprised in the Gospel These sayd promises are written and ingrossed in the tables of euery faithfull mans heart according to that saying I will write my lawes in their hearts Ier. 31.33 And this writing is when as by faith we doe apprehend the same Whereupon as is aforesayd our heart and conscience doth witnesse to vs that they doe belong vnto vs and that we are the sonnes of God Then together with this also commeth the seale and witnesse of the Spirit of God bearing witnesse as I haue sayd with our Spirit also of the truth heereof by setting his stamp and seale vpon our soules and harts wherin as in tables these couenants were written confirming most effectually and assuring vs that wee are indeede of the number of those in whom these promises shall be fulfilled that we are elect of God and such as are ordained vnto eternall life because this image and impression of the Spirit is giuen and imparted vnto none but those onely that are in the number of Gods adopted children See therefore I pray thee now in what manner the Spirit of God doth witnesse and seale vnto thee that thou art one of Gods Elect euen by setting ingrauing vpon vs such a stamp marke and impression as is onely proper and pecuilar vnto those that shall bee saued So that we seeing and beholding this within our selues are thereby to our exceeding comfort assured and confirmed that we are Gods Children and therefore also heires and co-heires with Christ of eternall life Rom. 8.17 Of this testimony then we are not in any wise to doubt but to account it vnto vs most sure and certaine for that it hath the Spirit of truth to bee the author of it which Spirit alwaies speaketh truth and nothing but truth And so much the rather also should wee haue in vs this assurance because this is applied euen vnto our hearts and Spirits and that with such efficacy and force as that it crieth that is to say it causeth vs in sight and feeling of the same to cry and call vpon our God by the louing and comfortable name of Father So that if the testimony of thine owne Spirit cannot content or suffice thee in this poynt but that thou doest desire to haue a further witnesse of thine election See if in thine heart thou canst finde this seale and impression this witnesse of the Spirit If thou canst this also will testifie with thy Spirit that thou art an elected Childe of God CHAP. XXX Of the third Argument whereby the certainety of a mans election is proued THE third Argument for the proofe of this Doctrine concerning Mans Election and the knowledge assurance thereof is brought from the notable effects and fruits following vpon our Regeneration in the course and race of our life For these also do witnesse and approue vnto vs our election as may very well be gathered by the words of the Apostle saying Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation saith hee vnto them that are in Christ Iesus that walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Who are they that walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit but euen they that shew forth the fruits of Regeneration by newnesse that is sanctuy and righteousnesse of life And what is it to bee free from condemnation but to bee one that shall in the end be saued And who are those that shall bee saued but onely they which before all times were hereunto elect and ordained This also is prooued effectually by the Apostle Peter who exhorting vs vnto these fruits willeth vs to ioyne vertue with faith with vertue knowledge 2. Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10. with knowledge temperance with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse c. And after in the tenth verse for a conclusion hee addeth Wherefore brethren giue rather diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall neuer fall Now how is our election made sure by our workes but because that these good workes and gifts of the Spirit do certifie and assure vs that we are in the number of Gods Elect in that hee vouch safeth in this sort by his Spirit to worke in vs And the reason is because that f wee doe these things that is seeing God hath so farre communicated his Grace vnto vs no doubt hee that hath begun so good a worke in vs will continue and hold on still and that in such a manner that wee shall neuer fall To these let vs adde the testimonie of Christ Joh. 13.35 By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if you haue loue one to another And the Apostle Iohn in his first Epistle 1. Ioh. 1.7 is pregnant to this effect If wee walke in the light as hee is in the light wee haue fellowship one with another and the bloud of Christ clenseth vs from all sinne 1. Ioh. 2.3 5. Againe Heereby are we sure that wee know him if wee keepe his commandements 1. Ioh. 3.14 Hee that keepeth his word in him is the loue of God perfect indeed hereby we know that we are in him And againe Wee know that wee are translated from death to life because wee loue the brethren c. Many such like places of Scriptures might bee brought tending to like effect and purpose so that as by the fruits the good or bad nature of the Tree is knowne so by thy workes as fruits thy condition and estate may be discerned For men doe not gather Grapes of Thornes Math. 7.16 nor Figges of
of God in our hearts and soules that was marred and defaced so greatly by the fali of Adam This Image or impression is easily knowne and discerned from the counterfeit and outward shew of hypocrites whose sanctity and deuotion is onely outward Glorious indeed they appeare in the outward shew like painted Sepulchres but if they looke inwardly vnto the heart there is nothing to bee found but rottennesse and corruption So that it may easily bee there seene that the ruines of old Adam are not yet againe repaired in them Look therefore I would aduise thee not vnto the outward appearance bee it neuer so glorious and goodly but looke into thy soule the inward part and looke so neere as thou canst into euery corner thereof and see if thou canst finde the rubbish of Adams fall to bee in some sort swept and cast out and the image of GOD in holinesse and righteousnesse to bee in some measure renewed and imprinted againe vpon thee Which if thou canst see and perceiue then assure thy selfe that this Testimony is in deede the vndoubted and infallible Wunesse and Testimony of this Spirit of Adoption Thirdly thou maist know and discerne it by the constancie and certainety of the testimony that it giueth For it is not like the wauering vnstedfast flash of hypocrites which think maruellous well of themselues slattering and perswading themselues for a time in a blind conceit that they are in the number of GODS Elect but cannot grow indeed to any continuall or certaine resolution therein But this Spirit if it haue liberty to speake and be attentiuely hearkened vnto yeeldeth forth a full and a settled perswasion of the truth of our Election in Christ I say if it haue liberty to speake and be attentiuely heard for that it oftentimes falleth out with the faithfull that though they haue this certaine Witnesse within them yet the Flesh sometime getting the head and mastry ouer the Spirit in them will not suffer it to speake so plainely as it would And they also being thereupon troubled with this frailty which they finde in themselues do often fall into many wauering and doubting thoughts while they do not listen attentiuely vnto this witnesse of the Spirit that now seemeth to speake more coldly and with a lower and lesse audible voice vnto their soules then heretofore For certaine it is that though the Spirit doth alwaies witnesse and giueth also a most certaine and constant Witnesse for it is the Spirit of Truth yet it is not alwaies in the like measure to the discerning of our soules but sometime more euidently and sometime lesse yea and that sometime also so obscurely as that the children of God whiles they are too much busied otherwaies in hearkening vnto the suggestions of Satan the World and the Flesh they doe seeme as though they heard it not at all Wherefore if thou hast once felt and found this testimony of the Spirit in thee let it suffice thee and be therewith content his testimony once giuen is of great force for that as I haue said hee cannot lye Therefore I say if at any time it hath witnessed the same vnto thee seale it vp for a most certaine truth For the Spirit of God which leadeth vs to all truth speaketh nothing but Truth hath spoken it And although now it seeme to waxe so cold in giuing euidence yet if it doe but whisper nay if it doe as you would say but breathe within thee that is giue neuer so secret and small a Testimony yet doe not thou misdoubt it for euen this is as sure as a thousand other clamorous and lowd witnesses to confirme the truth of thine Election And bee further assured of this that thou canst not in any wise reiect this testimonie though it seeme in thine eyes but simple and slender without exceeding iniury offered vnto the Spirit of Truth Fourthly in the manner also of the effecting this certaine Witnesse and Testimonie thou maist discerne it to bee the testimonie of this Spirit of Regeneration and Adoption for it is wholly and fully in the Death and Passion of Christ euen by by assuring thy soule and conscience that Christ with all his benefits is thine and that in and through him and him alone thou art become the adopted Childe of God and heire of euerlasting glorie Now whereas by thy question moued thou seemest to doubt of the truth of this testimony whether it bee of the Holy Ghost or not I answer further Is it any thing likely that Satan would euer perswade any man of this assurance of such incomparable benefits as Christ by his Death hath purchased for his Elect Would he euer perswade men that in Christ we are made the adopted Children of God No I assure you that is farre from Satans purpose he knoweth that this kinde of doctrine serueth not to aduance but vtterly to ouerthrow his kingdome and therefore laboureth what he may to suppresse the publike preaching of the Gospell that this kind of doctrine should bee hid from the knowledge of men so farre is he off from furthering of the inward application of the same vnto the comfort of our soules wherein the vertue of Christ his death consisteth Therefore if at any time the hypocrites do flatter and perswade themselues in their election it is not wholly alone and principally in Christ from his death Passion that this perswasion ariseth but vpon some other good liking cockering affection that they haue vnto their fayned and hypocriticall deuotion while they take such slight and slender tryall and examination of themselues Finally this Witnesse may bee knowne by two notable and excellent effects attendant and waiting vpon the same First that the Spirit doth hereby shead abroad in our hearts Rom. 5.5 the loue of God towards vs in Christ Iesus for it maketh vs to haue a certaine sense and feeling of the loue and fauour of God towards vs. Secondly vpon this followeth another effect and that is that vpon this sense of loue and sheading of his tender mercy in our hearts to the taste and feeling of our soules it causeth vs withall to cry and call vpon him by the name of Father for now when wee thus feele his loue and mercy whether wee cast our eyes downeward vpon our selues or vpward vpon the face of God in Christ wee see and behold him still as a gracious louing mercifull and compassionate Father reconciled to vs by and through Christ and our selues to bee his adopted sons and children whom hee in his eternall purpose in grace and mercy hath selected and ordained vnto life and that by and through the same our Sauiour Iesus Christ his deare Sonne Hitherto of the witnesse of the Spirit Let vs now come to the outward fruits of our Regeneration CHAP. XXXV Of the outward fruits of Regeneration HYpocrites aswell as the Regenerate haue in outward shew many good deeds wherby they gaine to themselues no small praise and commendation of deuotion and
SOVERAIGNE COMFORTS FOR A troubled Conscience WHEREIN THE SVBTILTIES OF SATAN are discouered his Reasons and Obiections fully answered AND FVRTHER The truth laid open and manifested to the great Consolation and strengthening of such as are distressed and afflicted in Minde Written by the late faithfull Seruant of the Lord Mr. Robert Yarrow And now published for the benefit of such as groning vnder the burthen of an afflicted Conscience desire Comfort MATH 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauy laden and I will giue you rest LONDON Printed for RALPH ROVNTHVVAITE and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Golden Lyon 1619. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR FRANCIS BARRINGTON Knight and Baronet my much honored and worthy friend And to the no lesse vertuous then religious Lady the Lady BARRINGTON his Wife continuance with increase of happinesse heere and eternall happinesse hereafter WOrthy Sr. and good Madam though not as I would yet as I can I shal euer be ready to testifie my respect and thankfulnes for your loue and kinde fauours towards me whereof till the Lord shall be pleased to giue further means accept I pray you this which as it is a publike so my desire is it may bee a perpetuall acknowledgement I present you here with the labours of another which comming to my hands some few yeeres since gaue mee then so good content that when I restored the originall to the owner it left another same behinde it That not long since beeing required at my hands to bee sent abroad to the publique view after some consideration thereof had and the owner to whom it more properly belonged made acquainted therewith and the originall of the Authors owne hand-writing commended and committed vnto mee to that end and purpose I condiscended And that as for their sakes who groning vnder the burthen of a troubled spirit may by the blessing of GOD receiue benefit hereby So likewise and much the rather for yours to whom I did destinate the same from the very instant that the request vvas made Vouchsafe therefore I pray you to let it passe into the world vnder the TITLE of your NAME which as it will bee a shelter to defend it against the detraction of ill disposed persons so will it bee likewise as an oyntment powred out Cant. 1. â— yeelding a sweet sauour to make it pleasing not so much to the nostrils as the hearts and minds of the well affected and more godly sort of Christians And thus commending you to that our good God Act. 20.32 and to the Word of his Grace Heb. 6.10 that is not vnrighteous to forget your worke and labour of loue which yee haue shewed towards his Name in that ye haue beene so farre from being ashamed of the Gospell of his Christ that to the good example of the godly Rom. 1.16 and the shame of others yee haue profest the same in truth and sinceritie Phil. 2.15 and beene blamelesse and harmelesse the Children of God without rebuke in the mids of a crooked and peruerse Nation among whom yee shine as lights in the world I take my leaue Yours in all due and Christian respect Iohn Maunsell To the Christian Reader ALBEIT good Reader Eccles 12.12 the words of Salomon There is no end of making many books might neuer more iustly bee turned into a complaint in that the Presse did neuer surfet so much in that kind as in these daies of ours yet haue I presumed so far vpon thy patience as in this Scribling Age to send forth vnto thy view and consequently of all men the ensuing Treatise And yet I trust there is so little cause of iust exception either to me or it as that thou wilt much rather affoord it acceptance and mee thy approbation And that first in regard of the Subiect whereupon though it bee true that some others haue formerly written yet were they many more they might all well be borne for were they three for one I should aduise the man or woman afflicted in spirit to prouide to haue and to vse them all for the ground of that rule that the Wiseman prescribes in another case Eccles 11.6 holds as well in this In the morning sowe thy seede and in the euening with-hold not thy hand for thou knowest not saith he whether shall prosper either this or that or whether both shall bee alike good So I to thee reade others and spare not yet with-hold not thy selfe from reading this for thou knowest not whether may yeeld more comfort to thy distressed soule either they or this Besides Greenham Perkins for the chiefest of those others that I haue obserued in that kinde they are annext to other larger Workes which together are of higher price then that the purse of euery one that is troubled in conscience can reach vnto them And next in regard of the Worke it selfe which when thou hast perused I trust thou shalt finde not to bee done rawly and slightly but for the points therein handled and the matters that it driues at substantially and soundly And now good Reader sith I know that it satisfies thee not to see the worke but thou desirest withall to heare what hee was that wrote it not to trouble thee with any tedious discourse I will acquaint thee with so much as is requisite for thee to know and that in few words Hee was a man for yeares but yong The Authour cropt off euen in the flower of his age as more fit for heauen then the earth Whilst he liued he was generally noted to bee a man of very great hope and to be endued with many excellent parts as well of grace as nature whereof to giue thee onely a taste hee was of a meeke spirit a sober carriage a discreete behauiour a sound iudgement and of such vncessant and indefatigable paines as promised if the Lord had beene pleased to spare him life much good and benefit to the Church of God And which was the chiefest and set the crowne vpon all the rest hee was of a truely sincere and a right gracious heart Ioh. 1.17 A true Nathaniel an Israelite indeed in whom was no guile Besides which may in no hand bee omitted hee was The Authors own inward afflictions the first occasion of this Treatise and that for a good space greatly perplexed and troubled in minde with inward afflictions which the Lord so disposing it was the first occasion that mooued him to frame this discourse Of which his conflicts and the pangs and torments that his poore tender heart endured therein more sharpe and terrible vnto him then death I and Thou good Reader and such Others as being in any measure distressed as hee was shall make vse of these his labours receiue the benefit for as the Spirit of God makes mention of our blessed Sauiour Heb. 2.18 In that hee himselfe did suffer and was tempted hee is
able to succour those that are tempted So this our Authour in that hee was himselfe afflicted in spirit and troubled in conscience through the suggestions of Satan and the temptations of the Deuill doubtlesse hee was inabled thereby as well out of his more vigilant and carefull obseruation of Satans practices as the sense and feeling of his owne extremities the better to discerne and discouer his Wiles and Stratagemes neither so alone but withall to apply vnto himselfe and to prescribe to others such comforts and remedies as out of his owne experience hee found to yeeld most ease and helpe And thus good Reader to detaine thee no longer from the perusall of the same beseeching the Lord to blesse it vnto thee I cease and shall euer rest Thine in the Lord Iesus I. M. The Contents of the seuerall CHAPTERS CHAP. I. OF the extremities and griefes of a troubled conscience FOL 1 CHAP. II. Wherein is contained the principall causes of a troubled conscience FOL 12 CHAP. III. Of the second or Assistant causes of a troubled conscience FOL 23 CHAP. IIII. A Cordiall against the assault of sinne FOL 28 CHAP. V. Soueraigne remedies against the wound of sin FOL 41 CHAP. VI. Against the assault of the weaknesse and want of faith FOL 60 CHAP. VII Of speciall things in mans conuersion FOL 81 CHAP. VIII Of another person troubled with the doubt of faith FOL 101 CHAP. IX Against the assault of the weaknes of repentance FOL 123 CHAP. X. Of the markes of true Repentance FOL 127 CHAP. XI An Admonition to the sorrowfull soule FOL 141 CHAP. XII Of loathing of sin the second marke of repentance FOL 145 CHAP. XIII Of the application of the former things to the comfort of the sorrowfull soule FOL 153 CHAP. XIIII How the man disquieted in conscience should in the same behaue himselfe FOL 168 CHAP. XV. Against afflictions and outward euents FOL 188 CHAP. XVI Of the first Position and the Obiections against the same FOL 119 CHAP. XVII Satans obiection against the former doctrine answered FOL 204 CHAP. XVIII Of the second Position and the Obiections against the doctrine thereof FOL 214 CHAP. XIX Satans Obiection against necessitie of afflictions ouerthrowne FOL 128 CHAP. XX. Other Obiections of Satan against the former doctrine confuted FOL 243 CHAP. XXI Of the third Position FOL 251 CHAP. XXII Of the fourth Position FOL 269 CHAP. XXIII Of the fift Position FOL 292 CHAP. XXIIII Against the feare of death and vnwillingnesse to die FOL 301 CHAP. XXV Of the first part of the preparation vnto death FOL 316 CHAP. XXVI Of the second part of the preparation vnto death FOL 326 CHAP. XXVII Of the preparation concerning the time of sicknesse and death FOL 343 CHAP. XXVIII That the Elect in time bee assured of their Election and how FOL 352 CHAP. XXIX Of the second Argument whereby the certainety of a mans election is proued FOL 359 CHAP. XXX Of the third Argument whereby the certainty of mans Election is proued FOL 366 CHAP. XXXI Of the Obiections against this doctrine of Assurance and knowledge of our Election FOL 370 CHAP. XXXII Of the essects whereby the truth of faith may bee knowne FOL 379 CHAP. XXXIII How the faithfull shall know that they haue the Spirit of Adoption FOL 397 CHAP. XXXIIII Of the true markes whereby the Spirit of Adoption may be knowne FOL 405 CHAP. XXXV Of the outward fruits of Regeneration FOL 415 CHAP. XXXVI Of the second Obiection FOL 423 A SOVERAIGNE COMFORT FOR A TROVBLED Conscience CHAP. I. Of the extremities and griefes of a troubled conscience INfinite and intolerable for the time seeme the extremities of a troubled and distressed mind that is throughly humbled and abased by reason of sinne In so much that were it possible that all temporall griefes whatsoeuer and paines arising from bodily diseases No temporall griefes like the distresses of a troubled conscience might or could bee heaped vpon one and the selfe same person yet would they bee found too light to weigh in the ballance with these perplexed agonies For as all riuers runne into the sea and as the man that is indebted if once hee fall into pouerty is so farre from comfort that hee hath all his creditors ready to tread and presse him downe neuer ceasing vntill they haue brought him to the Gaole and prison So likewise is the troubled minde A troubled mind is a receptacle for all griefes a receptacle for all griefes the enemies therof viz. Sinne Sathan Death and Hell are continually rushing in vpon it and triumphing ouer it writ vpon writ to attach this silly troubled conscience and by force and violence to draw it to the seat of Iudgement The multitude of sinnes doe amaze it and the intolerable weight of iudgement and of the anger of God doe continually affright it Within nothing but a most infinite masse and confused Chaos of despairing thoughts and without euery obiect is so terrible and full of feares that all things seeme to haue ioyned hands and giuen consent to increase his griefes and adde vnto his woes and miseries Great no doubt was the griefe of the wife of Phineas who hearing that the Arke of God was taken 1. Sam. 4. Ely her father in law was dead and Phineas her husband slaine with extremity of anguish fell in trauell and in her paines deceased And how was Dauid perplexed when hearing of the death of Absolon 2. Sam. 18.33 hee withdrew himselfe into his chamber howling out weeping and saying O my sonne Absolon my sonne my sonne Absolon would to God I had died for thee O Absolon my sonne my sonne But alas what is the wife of Phineas and who is Dauid that they should bee set forth as patternes to expresse this agony and distresse of a troubled soule The losses from whence these sorrowes of Phineas his wife and King Dauid did rise are farre inferiour and how is it then possible that their dolors should bee equall It is not the losse of the Arke of God that troubleth them but the losse of heauen and of all the ioyes prepared for Gods elect children Not the death of Ely but the departure of God himselfe in whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore They see him frowne which was sometime fauourable him terrible from whom they receiued comfort and him a Iudge who sometime was a louing Father It is not the death of Phineas an earthly husband but the losse of Christ the Spirituall Spouse euen that Iesus which saueth his people from their sinnes and is the onely Mediator betwixt God and Man Neither is it the death of Absolon a sonne but of a soule then the which what can be to a man more precious No maruell then if it sometime fare with these as it doth with persons lunatike For what is it that the terror of Gods eternall wrath and iudgement except
cogitation of the horrour of sin he might haue blinded thine eyes and suddenly haue giuen thee vp to lay violent and bloudy hands vpon thy selfe as he did to Saul Iudas and Achitophel Hee might haue suffered Satan to haue sugred ouer his bait of sinne with some sweet allurements to make thee the sooner to accept and the better to like it But he hath rather presented it before thee in such a gastly looke that thou mightest be the more terrified and tremble to commit it Wherefore thou must needs thinke and perswade thy selfe that God hath a watchfull care ouer thee in that hee hath thus put his hooke into Satans nosthrils hath so brideled and restrained him that he could not preuaile against thee so farre as he desired Remember that Satan is not called an old and subtill Serpent for nought And if this were the worst and most dangerous temptation of all others as thou supposest Doest thou thinke that Satan would so seldome vse it It were no policie in the Diuell to neglect this course so much and to take a quite contrary if he saw that this were most behoouefull for his state and kingdome He knoweth by long practice and dayly experience that it more auaileth him especially with those which haue some touch and feele of sinne to present vice not as a vice but as a vertue not as hurting but as helping not horrible and ougly to breed a terrour but sweet and pleasant to bring delight to men And therefore hee doth as did Iudith Judith 10.3 4. when she went to deceiue Holophernes hee trimmeth vp and decketh himselfe as though he came in courtesie to counsell not in cruelty to murther and kill Then hee will not bee a Diuell but a Saint not a fiend of hell and darknes but an Angell of light He will say as sometime he taught his Scholler Iudas All Hayle with Kisses as though hee meant least harme when indeed he intendeth the greatest hurt and mischiefe Perhaps if Satan had cunningly crept in vpon thee as he did vpon Lot Dauid and many others thou wouldest not so soone haue disliked it thou wouldest neuer haue beene so quickly terrified and appaled with it It would haue been an easie matter for this subtill tempter to haue brought thee to his lure and to haue wonne thee to follow the vanity of his inticements But it is not so with thee Which if thou do well consider thou hast no cause to bee dismayed in heart for the grieuousnes of such a temptation neither yet to feare or misdoubt the fauour of thy God but thou hast rather cause to be thankefull to fall downe adore and wonder at the mighty power and exceeding grace and mercy of thy heauenly Father that hath not giuen thee vp vnto the will of Satan nor suffered him to vse and practise his subtill and deceitfull traines against thee but viewing and considering thy frailty and infirmitie that wast to encounter with so great so mighty and so strong an Aduersarie hath chained him vp and as it were tyed his hands and cut him short of his purpose permitting him none other kinde of fight against thee but such as through Gods working should bee most for thine aduantage But thou standest vpon examples Who is it sayst thou that was euer tempted in this manner to kill himselfe Although besides some already shewed many examples may be brought in this case yet for breuities cause let one suffice which for the worthinesse and excellencie of the person against whom Satan vsed this manner of temptation may very well serue for all Recall to minde I pray thee how Satan tempted euen our Sauiour Iesus Christ and tell mee what is meant by this Math. 4.6 that hee would haue Christ wilfully to cast himselfe downe headlong from the pynacle of the Temple Howsoeuer hee smeared his temptation ouer with the Scriptures falsely alledged and applyed yet the drift of Satan no doubt was that Christ should haue killed and wilfully cast away himselfe Seeing then that Hee which was most holy most perfect and pure vnto whom all things in heauen in earth and in places vnder the earth doe bend and bow the knees was in this manner and with such a temptation assaulted and set vpon by the Aduersary Let it not seeme strange vnto thee a creature so weake so sinfull so vnholy imperfect and impure to taste of the same cup whereof thy Master Iesus Christ hath before tasted But rather apply and indeuour thy selfe by such meanes as Christ hath vsed in his owne person and left vnto thee and all his in such causes to bee followed to withstand Satan in his diuellish purpose and that is by the power and force of the Scriptures CHAP. V. Soueraigne remedy against the wound of sinne TO come now againe to that which in the beginning of the last chapter I preposed and promised and to turne my speech to the wounded soule and to apply my selfe to the ease and comfort of this distressed conscience it is to bee noted that the first and principall meane to stint the bloud and to stay the course of these distilling wounds of the afflicted soule is the sufficiency of that eternall mercy and euerlasting grace of God our Sauiour For maugre the continuall influence of thy doubting and despairing thoughts in despight of sin and conquest of the Deuill that seeketh continually to crosse out mercy with the blacke and fearefull coale of iudgement thou art to bee perswaded and fully assured that although thy sinnes in number be as the starres of heauen and the sands vpon the sea-shore which are innumerable although they bee in quality like to crimson and as red as scarlet Esay 1.18 yet can they not ouer-reach the compasse of Gods exceeding mercy and compassion Godsmercy is greater then the vilest sinne The tide whereof is continually so fluent and abundant of such vertue and power that it not onely ouerrunneth all but also rinseth purisieth and purgeth all and euery the filthy and contagious staines thereof and that in such perfection that it maketh vs to be cleane white as wooll as white nay whiter then the snow Thou therefore that obiectest and sayst thy sinnes are so excessiue and out of measure grieuous that there is for thee no hope nor meanes of mercy to be looked for tell me I pray thee art thou so notorious and great a sinner that none of all the Elect and chosen of God could euer match or equall thee Art thou worse then Noah Gen. 9.29 which was drunken and lay vncouered in his Tent Art thou worse then Abraham Iosh 24.2 which had beene an Idolater for the space of many yeeres Worse then Dauid 2. Sam. 11. which was culpable and guilty both of murther and adultery Art thou worse then Manasses whose vnwonted Paganisme and beastly abominations are registred recorded to the view of all posterities Hast thou committed greater sinnes then Peter who most falsly did sweare
against it because it findeth it offensiue vnto God And thus now you may see the difference of these two motions in these seuerall estates of men though oftentimes I know that the hypocrite doth flatter himselfe in the sight hereof as though hee had found some goodly and precious Iewell in the dunghill of his corrupted nature when as in very deed it is nothing so CHAP. XIIII How the man disquieted in conscience should in the same behane himselfe NOW as these things hitherto haue beene vttered for direction so some things also are to be annexed partly out of that which went before and partly ouer and besides the same to instruct and teach the man in conscience troubled and disquieted with the weakenesse of repentance and the manifold imperfections which hee findeth in himselfe how hee may vse and demeane himselfe in view and meditation of them and that hee may do it with greater comfort lesse distrust First therefore I would wish and aduise such a man not to passe ouer euery thing lightly in a slight maner Not rest in feare without due tryall without a due and deliberate consideration as is the common vse of the sorrowfull soule but rather to grow to a thorow triall and examination of himselfe For oftentimes it commeth to passe that for want hereof there arise many great discomforts vnto men when men either vtterly refusing or else by reason of some light causes deferring the matter doe not search so deepely into themselues as they should and so through this default they doe bereaue themselues of the sight and knowledge of those good motions of faith and the comforts thereof comming which other men doe inioy And in this point it falleth out with men refusing or delaying to make this tryall as it doth with a man diseased with a sore and grieuous impostume who if hee doe looke onely vpon the outward appearance findeth nothing but such matter as still threatneth griefe and anguish but if hee pierce into it and launce it feeleth present ease so whiles the sorrowfull soule looketh onely vpon the outward appearance of his imperfections hee shall find nothing but matter to moue and leade him to despaire but if hee pierce into himselfe and into the secret chamber of his heart by due tryall and examination of himselfe and bee not too austere a Iudge ouer himselfe hee shall finde at one time or other that which may serue vnto him as a cause of great and exceeding comfort Secondly I would not haue him in this his tryall-making to bee as I haue said either an austere Not to bee too austere a Iudge vpon himselfe or a corrupt and vniust Iudge vpon himselfe ready rashly to pronounce and giue the sentence before the cause bee well and thorowly knowne For this is a vsuall fault and too too common amongst men and hath been the cause of many great inconueniences That we may therefore be found herein the more carefull to preuent and auoid euils it is necessary that we well consider of the cause which wee haue in hand with the circumstances thereof The cause is a tryall of sin whereunto is to bee pleaded either guilty or not guilty the circumstances are the persons agents which are the Soule accused Satan and sinne the Accusers and in this the conscience is as a Iudge The silly soule now as an offender in wofull case standeth at the Barre holding vp the hand to bee tryed and found either guilty or not guilty This as I haue said the silly soule is no doubt the principall part of man and most to be accounted of as a most precious iewell For although a man haue neuer so great aboundance of earthly treasures yet is it nothing in comparison of the soule And to gaine and get the whole world it profiteth not at all to a man Luk. 9.25 if hee lose his owne soule And therefore though our posting and hasty iudgement cannot in very deed preiudice or forestall the finall sentence of the euerlasting Iudge yet it is not to bee posted ouer and passed vpon so lightly as men commonly do suppose but with good and deepe deliberation as in such a weighty cause is requisite The accusers as I haue said are Satan and Sinne Satan and sinne his Accusers and these are found oftentimes not onely false Euidencers but also enuious Witnesses and such as indeed doe not wish any good but harme yea vtter destruction vnto man both in body and soule And therefore since it is manifest to be true which I haue said of them we may see that there is no hope at all of any fauor to be had at these accusants hands but that rather it is most assuredly to be looked for that they will spew out their poyson against the true seruants of the Lord so far as they can to the vtter destruction of the children of God Against these so malicious and enuious Accusers Faith his Aduocate still vrging the haynousnesse of thine iniquities Faith as a wise and prudent Aduocate standeth to pleade the cause who although she alwaies telleth the truth and speaketh with great comfort yet is she oftentimes so shouldred out suppressed with the clamorous out cries of these malicious Accusants that she can hardly be suffered to speak in such free manner as she would And if she be suffered yet she is so interrupted that her speech is found to be but faint and feeble So that if she bee not well attended vpon she can scantly be heard And hereupon it commeth to passe that the conscience of man giuing care most to the euidence of the Accusers and not attendant to that which Faith pleadeth in defence is ready to giue sentence and iudgement against the soule to the condemnation thereof But I would aduertise euery man in this Session of tryall vpon himselfe still to haue a care that he be not ouer-hasty to pronounce the doome before the cause thorowly heard And let him consider with himselfe that as in worldly causes he being appointed as an Arbitrator or a Iudge in equity ought as well to lend one of his eares to the Defendant as hee doth the other to the Plantiffe and so not to heare onely what is obiected but also what in truth is to the same answered So in this case also of the soule let not any man attend onely and giue eare to that with these accusers shall obiect against the soule but rather hearken to that which faith vttereth in defence for that shee pleadeth still in fauorem vitae for lifes cause And herein this is worthy to be remembred also that one motion and whispering word of Faith and of the Spirit is and ought to bee accepted and accounted for a greater and sorer testimonie tending vnto life then are all the earnest cryes of these accusants tending vnto death appeare they neuer so faire and be they coloured ouer with neuer so great likelihood and probabilitie Thirdly we must consider also
and wherein soeuer it be found Doest thou not see that a Iewell and that of great price and valew may sometime bee scraped out of dung and myre And doth not experience teach thee that the finest metals are fetched from the grosest element What if other make their greatest gaine of wheate Why shouldest thou repine and grudge if thy gaine bee also like though it be gathered from the Chaffe My meaning is that though others by peace plenty haue walked in the paths of righteousnes yet if thou on the contrarie in trouble and disquiet hast attained to it in as great a measure as they and that which they haue gleaned in Prosperitie thou hast also gathered in Aduersitie in thy afflictions and misery thinke not otherwise but that God hath had as great a care to make thee prosper as he had to make them So then to conclude and shut vp this point Conclusion whensoeuer Satan thus beginneth to dispute and reason with thee to bring thee into some euill conceit of thy selfe Doe thou enter straightway as into a most sure place of refuge and securitie into the consideration of that mercifull course that God taketh with his children in the middest of all extremities which is euen as the Physician doth with the poysons that out of them he maketh a soueraigne medicine to cure a sore and grieuous sicknes Or as the Goldsmith which out of the earthy Mine tryeth and proueth Gold So God out of these extremities and troubles gathereth many profits vnto his children in regard whereof they may rightly be accounted to be prosperities for that in all these the children of God doe more then prosper And then in this or such like sort thou mayst answer or reply against thy flesh and Satan thy professed enemies and say Thou vile and corrupt flesh thou subtill and enuious Serpent why doe yee reason thus against mee and that without all sense and reason Doe I not therefore prosper and flourish because I am afflicted and am in miseries Is the pruned Tree past recoueric and doth the Hearbe dye because it is cropped Yee are very busie and earnest to tell me still of miseries and afflictions but yee make no mention of the excellent fruit of them at all these yee keepe secret and hide them from mee And why because ye see them as they are indeed to be full of all prosperity What if they seeme in themselues so bitter as ye pretend Doe not ye see and finde how the children of God haue alwayes prospered euen in the very lowest ebbe of all Aduersitie Was Ioseph then alone prosperous when as he liued with his Father Iacob or when hee was accepted as a Steward in the house of Potyphar and had the ouersight charge of all the Aegyptians substance Was Daniel onely flourishing when as hee was made a Ruler in Darius Kingdome No no it is farre otherwise for Ioseph euen in prison and Daniel in the Lyons den did prosper For I finde that euen in these stinking and dangerous places God was present with them did get them fauour and with honour deliuered them out of their distresse Ye beat much vpon the present paines but ye neuer consider how God doth temper them and qualifie his seruants in induring and sustaining of them In this case it is with the seruants of God as it was with Israel in Aegypt the more oppressed the more he prospered and increased These miseries and afflictions are not axes to cut vp by the rootes but onely the Lords pruning kniues whereby hee cutteth away the dead and rotten branches that his grafts may grow the better and their inward vertues may increase and sprout the sooner Ye neuer consider the end and issue of these afflictions that repayeth all with profit as appeareth by the examples of these and such like Were not thinke ye the miseries and afflictions of Ioseph good and profitable whereby he was aduanced to so high a place of the Kingdome as to haue all at his command Was not the fierie furnace as great aduantage to Shadrach and his fellowes being vnto them a step vnto great honour And are not these most prosperous things whereby we are fitted for a farre better Kingdome then that of Aegypt and prepared for farre greater honour then any yea all in Nebuchadnezzars Kingdoms and Prouinces For wee are prepared for him in whose presence is the fulnes of ioy and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermoe CHAP. XXI Of the third Position THese Meditations though they seeme to be a fast and a sure footing whereby the afflicted and distressed soule may be stayed yet the broken soule cannot hereby stay it selfe any long time For that Satan going about as affirmeth Peter 1. Pet. 5.8 like a roring Lyon and seeking whom he may deuoure hath his new inuentions new motions and new temptations wherewith hee doth assault the silly weake conscience For if thus as hath been related in the matter of a mans miseries and afflictions he faile and be disappointed of his purpose he then falleth from the matter and with something brought from the manner and measure of them beginneth on fresh to set vpon the broken soule By which his doings he the sooner perswadeth and by perswading preuaileth because that all men for the most part carrying an enuious eye are giuen and inclined to thinke and iudge both for the time present and the extremitie which they indure no griefe to be like or worthy to be compared vnto their owne Yea their iudgement by Satans policy is so corrupted in this respect that although euen in themselues they haue sustained farre greater and more grieuous afflictions yet because they are past and ouergone and this now present working on them they can hardly be so perswaded Thus therefore or in some such manner beginneth Satan to set vpon them Thou speakest of miseries and afflictions of others Another assault of Satan and I see how that indeed as thou sayest the seruants of God haue beene deliuered and rid from them and haue gotten the vpper hand with aduantage but what of this what is this to thee Doest thou thinke to thrust thy selfe into the company and to be accounted in the number of these seruants of thy God No no thou art gretly deceiued herein Indeed they suffered afflictions they had many troubles but neuer any like to these of thine they had troubles indeed but none so extreme so intolerable as these which thou doest indure Theirs in respect of thine were but as fly-bitings Thine are the very messengers of wrath nay they are very brand-markes of eternall Iudgement Thus or in such like manner Satan reasoneth and oftentimes greatly preuaileth in his doings whiles the broken conscience is too intentiue vpon his owne priuate extremities and too too credulous to hearken to Satans perswasions and to yeeld faith vnto his subtill inchantments hauing small or no regard at all vnto the end whereunto he directeth his practices
beene smitten of GOD and plagued and euen in earth to haue receiued the very sentence of eternall death vpon themselues But this manner of iudgement must bee suspended for notwithstanding these externall and outward accidents befalling their bodies they rested and continued still the Elect and Chosen of the Lord euen vnto the death the cup whereof in defence of their Masters cause they most gladly tasted of how grieuous soeuer the torments and afflictions were which their bodies suffered and endured And againe if thou dost vouchsafe with an vpright heart and void of all blind affection to compare together thine and their afflictions I doubt not but that both for the cause and also for the matter and manner of them euen in thine owne iudgement thou wilt be found and prooued nothing comparable but farre inferiour vnto them For they were afflicted for the testimonie of Christ but thou for sinne they at the hands of Satans instruments in most cruell manner and thou at the hands of God after a Fatherly way They vnto death and the same most extreme but in thee thy life is preserued a time of repentance is granted which is surely a great Argument of Gods great loue and fauour towards thee So that now thou maist see this my Position to bee true and that to thy great comfort that others haue tasted and drunke as deep of the cup of afflictions nay much deeper then thou hast done So insatiable a Serpent is Satan and so obstinate in his peruerse opinion that nothing bee it neuer so truely vttered can satisfie him and content him For although this which hath been said concerning this Position and the ouerthrow of Satans coloured reasons doe greatly qualifie and allay the matter yet through Satans suggestions the broken soule is not with all this contented For the enemy hath now found out another muse and starting-hole to auoid the danger of this sound doctrine and to intrap the weake conscience whose death he greedily thirsteth after within the compasse of his subtilty as by this his reason doth appeare CHAP. XXII Of the fourth Position LET it bee graunted saith this our cruell Enemy that many of Gods Elect and Chosen are found to haue suffered these A fresh assault of Satan and such like afflictions and say they haue gone beyond thee in extremities yet this helpeth not the matter neither doth it serue thy purpose at all For reade and see and thou shalt finde and that quickely a great difference for the miseries which they endure are but short and momentany with them there may bee trouble and heauinesse for a night Psal 30.5 but toy commeth in the morning But experience telleth thee that thy troubles contrary wise are of long continuance Againe when they cry and call for help and succour God doth soone release them and putteth an end vnto their troubles for hee hath so promised vnto those that are his Children Call vpon me in time of trouble and I will deliner thee Psal 50.15 And therefore wee shall also finde that Dauid a man which was so much experienced in afflictions God was alwaies ready and at hand to saue and deliuer him as hee himselfe doth witnesse saying I cryed vnto the Lord and hee heard mee c. But with thee thou seest it is not so for thou hast cryed and called a long time and yet thou art not heard thou pravest but thou canst not preuaile Cease therefore to reason what grieuous torments the children of God haue suffered for it will not satisfie nor suffice thy turne For if thou hadst beene one of Gods elect and chosen Children hee would surely haue heard thee long yer this Hee would not haue stopped his eares at so many cries nor passed ouer so many plaints without compassion shewing In this new and fresh assault of Satan made vpon the weake conscience we are to consider how that to make his reason to carry the greater shew of probability he doth make a double amplification thereof Partly by the enumeration of some examples of such persons as haue beene afflicted but yet for a short time whose cry the Lord hath quickly heard and granted their request saying Lo and see such and such an one the Saints Seruants of God indeed that haue suffered great and grieuous torments but behold and see againe how soone and quickly they were deliuered And partly by the recitall of Gods exceeding mercy and compassion vnto his Seruants alledging that his eyes are alway fixed on them his eares are euer open to their cryes that hee is tender and carefull ouer them as the Hen ouer her Chickens or the Mother ouer her yong and tender Babe and as mindfull of them as the Bride is of her Ornaments in the day of Marriage and hereupon laboureth to infer this Conclusion against the afflicted soule to driue him into despaire That it cannot be possible that God being so pittifull so louing and so compassionate should so long and in such sort deferre and put off his helping hand from him if hee were reputed in the number of GODS Elect and Chosen This reason of Satan thus amplyfied the more subtilly that it is by him couched the more forcibly it prcuaileth with the weake and distressed soule to the dangerous ouerthrow thereof For whereas it hath beene before shewed that both the Elect and Reprobate are in deed partakers of afflictions Satan by this his reason would perswade that the continuance of afflictions in respect of time and the delay vsed of God in shewing forth his helpe are vndoubted differences and plaine markes whereby the one from the other may very easily be discerned known And to further him in this his purpose he taketh no small aduantage of the imbecility and weakenesse which is found in man who so long as his wounds are but fresh and greene can the better tolerate and abide the bearing of them because hee conceiueth some hope of some quicke and speedie deliuerance But when after long expectation he perceiueth his hope to bee frustrated and after long tryall seeth hee can finde no ease although hee hath vsed all possible meanes for the same then hee beginneth to despaire of himselfe and to make a question and doubt of his estate Wherein hee is found to be like vnto a sicke man which hauing tryed all the helps of Physick and yet finding no helpe for the curing of his disease beginneth then to distrust of life whereas before such tryall made hee suspected little danger of death in himselfe To preuent Satan of his purpose and for the strengthening of the weake Christian it shall not be amisse nay I thinke it necessary as before of the other reasons of the Aduersarie so of this likewise to shew the weakenesse and insufficiencie that it being knowne wee may see and perceiue the better how little faith is to bee giuen to his perswasions In which doing as a counter-blast against this temptation of Satan I thinke it good heere