on the other side of him and there hee sees infernal fiends in fearful shapes amazing and terrifying of him and waiting to receive his despairing soul as soon as shee shall take her leave of his wretched body hee looks above him and there hee sees the gates of Heaven shut against him hee looks beneath him and there hee sees hell gaping for him and under these sad sights hee is full of secret conclusions against his own soul there is mercy for others saith the despairing soul but none for mee grace and favour for others but none for mee pardon and peace for others but none for mee As that despairing Pope said the cross could do him no good because hee had so often sold it blessedness and happiness for others but none for mee there is no help there is no hope no Jer. 2. 25. ch 18. 1â— this seems to be his case who died with this desperate saying in his mouth spes fortuna vâ—lete farewel life and hope together Now under these dismal apprehensions and sad conclusions about its present and future condition the despairing soul sits silent being filled with amazement and astonishment Psal 77. 4. I am so troubled that I cannot speak But this is not the Silence here meant But Seventhly and lastly There is a prudent Silence a holy a gracious Silence a Silence that springs from prudent principles from holy principles and from gracious causes and considerations and this is the Silence here meant And this I shall fully discover in my Answers to the second Question which is this Quest 2 What doth a prudent a gracious a holy Silence include Answer 1 It includes and takes in these eight things First It includes a sight of God and an acknowledgement of God as the author of all the afflictions that come upon us And this you have plain in the Text I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it The Psalmist In second causes many times a Christian may see much envy hatred malice pride c. But in the first cause he can see nothing but grace and mercy sweetness and goodness looks through secondary causes to the first cause and so sits mute before the Lord. There is no sickness so little but God hath a finger in it though it bee but the aking of the little finger As the Scribe is more eyed and properly said to write than the pen and hee that maketh and keepeth the Clock is more properly said to make it go and strike than the wheels and weights that hang upon it and as every work-man is more eyed and properly said to effect his works rather than the tools which hee useth as his instruments so the Lord who is the chief Agent and mover in all actions and who hath the greatest hand in all our afflictions is more to bee eyed and owned than any inferiour or subordinate causes whatsoever So Job hee beheld God in all Job 1. 21. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away Had hee not seen God in the affliction hee would have cried out Oh these wretched Chaldeans they have plundred and spoiled mee These wicked Sabeans they have robbed and wronged mee Job discerns Gods Commission in the Chaldeans and the Sabeans hands and then laies his own hand upon his mouth So Aaron beholding the hand of God in the untimely death of his two sons holds his peace Levit. 10. 3. the sight of God in this sad stroak is a bridle both to his mind and mouth hee neither mutters nor murmurs So Joseph saw the hand of God in his brethrens selling of him into Egypt Gen. 45. 8. and that silences him Men that see not God in an affliction are easily cast into a feaverish fit they will quickly bee in a flame and when their passions are up and their hearts on fire they will begin to bee sawcy and make no bones of telling God to his teeth that they do well to bee angry Jonah 4. 8 9. Such as will not acknowledge God to bee the author of all their afflictions will bee ready enough to fall in with that mad principle of the Manachees who maintained the Devil to bee the Author of all calamities As if there could bee any evil of affliction in the City and the Lord have no hand in it Amos 3. 6. Such as can see the ordering hand of God in all their afflictions will with David lay their hands upon their mouths when the Rod of God is upon their backs 2 Sam. 16. 11 12. If Gods hand bee not seen in the affliction the heart will do nothing but fret and rage under affliction Secondly It includes and takes in some holy gracious apprehensions of the Majesty Soveraignty Dignity Authority and presence of that God under whose afflicting hand we are Hab. 2. 20. But the Lord is in his holy Temple let all the earth bee silent or as the Hebrew reads it bee silent all the earth before his face When God would have all the people of the earth to bee husht quiet and silent before him hee would have them to behold him in his Temple where hee sits in state in majesty and glory Zephan 1. 7. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God Chat not murmure not repine not quarrel not Whist stand mute bee silent lay thy hand on thy mouth when his hand is upon thy back who is totus oculus all-eye to see as well as all hand to punish As the eyes of a well-drawn picture are fastened on thee which way soever thou turnest so are the eies of the Lord and therefore thou hast cause to stand mute before him Thus Aaron had an eye to the soveraignty of God and that silences Levit. 10. 3 Job 37. 23 24. 1 Sam. 3. 11 19. him And Job had an eye upon the majesty of God and that stills him And Elie had an eye upon the authority and presence of God and that quiets him A man never comes to humble himself nor to bee silent under the hand of God till hee comes to see the hand of God to bee a mighty hand 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God When men look upon the hand of God as a weak hand a feeble hand a low hand a mean hand their hearts rise against his hand Who is the Lord said Pharaoh that I should obey his voice Exod. 5. 2. And till Pharaoh came to see the hand of God as a mighty hand and to feel it as a mighty hand hee would not let Israel go When Tiribazus a Noble Persian was arrested at first hee drew out his sword and defended himself but when they charged him in the Kings name and informed him that they came from the King and were commanded to bring him to the King he yeelded willingly So when afflictions arrest us we shall murmure and grumble and struggle and strive even to the death before wee shall yeeld to that God that
I know not what is As there are two kinds of Antidotes against poison viz. hot and cold so there are two kinds of Antidotes against all the troubles and afflictions of this life viz. prayer and patience the one hot the other cold the one quenching the other quickning Chrysostome understood this well enough when hee cryed out O! saith hee it is more bitter than death to be spoiled of prayer and thereupon observes that Daniel chose rather to run the hazard of his life than to lose his prayer Well this is the second thing a holy Silence doth not exclude prayer But Read the 9th of Ezra the 9th of Nehemiah and the 9th of Daniel and Psalm 51. with that 7th chapter of Job Thirdly A holy a prudent Silence doth not exclude mens being kindly affected and afflicted with their sins as the meritorious cause of all their sorrows and sufferings Lam. 3. 39 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sin Let us search and try our waies and turn again to the Lord. Job 40. 4 5. Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my hand upon my mouth Once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I proceed no further Micah 7. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned In all our sorrows wee should read our sins and when Gods hand is upon our backs our hands should bee upon our sins It was a good saying of one I Vivaldus hide not my sins but I shew them I wipe them not away but I sprinkle them I do not excuse them but accuse them The beginning of my salvation is the knowledge of my transgression When some told Prince Henry that delitiae generis humani that darling of mankind that the sins of the people brought that affliction on him O no said hee I have sins enough of mine own to cause that I have sinned saith David but what have these poor sheep done When a Christian is under the afflicting hand of God hee may well say I may thank this proud heart of mine this worldly heart this froward heart this formal heart this dull heart this backsliding heart this self-seeking heart of mine for that this cup is so bitter this pain so grievous this loss so great this disease so desperate this wound so incurable it is mine own self mine own sin that hath caused these floods of sorrows to break in upon mee But Fourthly A holy a prudent Silence doth not exclude the teaching and instructing of others when wee are afflicted the words of the afflicted stick close they many times work strongly powerfully strangely savingly upon the souls and consciences of others Many of Pauls Epistles were written to the Churches when hee was in bonds viz. Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Philemon hee begot Onesimus in his bonds Phil. 10. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxed bold and confident by his bonds and were confirmed and made partakers of grace by his Ministery when hee was in bonds Phil. 1. 7. 13 14. As the words of dying persons do many times stick and work gloriously so many times doth the words of afflicted persons work very noblely and efficaciously I have read of one Adrianus who seeing the Martyrs suffer such grievous things in the cause of Christ hee asked what that was which inabled them to suffer such things and one of them named that 1 Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him This word was like Apples of Prov. 25. 11 Gold in Pictures of Silver for it made him not onely a Convert but a Martyr too And this was the means of Justin Martyrs conversion as himself confesseth Doubtless many have been made happy by the words of the afflicted the tongue of the afflicted hath been to many as choice silver the words of the afflicted many times are both pleasing and profitable they tickle the ear and they win upon the heart they slide insensibly into the hearers souls work efficaciously upon the hearers hearts Eccles 10. 12. The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious or Grace as the Hebrew hath it and so Hierome reads it Verba oris sapientis gratia the words of the mouth of a wise man are grace They minister grace to others and they win grace and favour from others gracious lips make gracious hearts gracious words are a grace an ornament to the speaker and they are a comfort a delight and an advantage to the hearer Now the words of a wise mans mouth are never more gracious than when hee is most afflicted and distressed Now you shall finde most worth and weight in his words Now his lips like the Spouses are like a threed of Scarlet they are red with talking much of a crucified Christ and they are thin like a thred not swell'd with vain and unprofitable discourses Now his mouth speaketh wisdome and his tongue talketh judgement for the Law of the Lord is in his heart Psal 37. 30. now his lips drop hony-combs Cant. 4. 10. now his tongue is as a tree of life whose leaves are medicinable Prov. 12. 18. Numb 10. 10 As the silver Trumpets sounded most joy to the Jews in the day of their gladnesse so the mouth of a wise man like a silver Trumpet sounds most joy and advantage to others in the daies of his sadnesse The Heathen man could say Quandâ— sapiens loquitur aulea animi â—perit when a wise man speaketh hee openeth the rich treasures and wardrobe of his mind so may I say when an afflicted Saint speaks Oh the pearls the treasures that hee scatters But Fifthly A holy a prudent Silence doth not exclude moderate mourning or weeping under the Psal 6. 6. Psa 39. 12. Jer. 9. 1 2 Lam. 1. 2. chap. 2. 11. 18. afflicting hand of God Isa 38. 3. And Hezekiah wept sore or as the Hebrew hath it wept with great weepings But was not the Lord displeased with him for his great weeping no vers 5. I have heard thy prayer I have seen thy tears behold I will add unto thy daies fifteen years God had as well a bottle for his Psal 56. 8 tears as a bagg for his sins There is no water so sweet as the Saints tears when they do not overflow the banks of moderation tears are not mutes they have a voice and their oratory is of great prevalency And the Greeks call the apple of the eye the damsel of the eye the girle of the eye and the Latines call it the babe of the eye with the Almighty God And therefore the weeping Prophet calleth out for tears Lam. 2. 18. Their heart crieth unto the Lord O wall of the daughter of Zion let tears run down like a river day and night give thy self no rest let not the apple of thine eye
upward And they shall look unto the earth and behold trouble and darkness dimness of anguish and they shall bee driven to darkness Ah how fretful and froward how disturbed and distracted how mad and forelorn are these poor wretches under the rebukes of God! they look upward and downward this way and that way on this side and on that and finding no help no succour no support no deliverance like Bedlams yea like incarnate Devils they fall upon cursing of God and their King Isa 59. 11. Wee roar all like Bears and mourn sore like Doves wee look for judgement but there is none for The Beaâ— as Aristotle observeth licketh her whelps into form and loveth them beyond measure and is most fierce roaring and raging when she is robbed of them salvation but it is far off from us They express their inward vexation and indignation by roaring like Bears when Bears are robbed of their whelps or taken in a pit O how dreadfully will they roar rage tear and tumble So when wicked persons are fallen into the pit of affliction O how will they roar rage tear and cry out not of their sins but of their punishments As Cain my punishment is greater than I am able to bear Isa 51. 20. Thy Sons have fainted they lye at the head of all the streets as a wilde Bull in a net they are full of the fury of the Lord the rebuke of thy God When the huntsman hath taken the wilde Bull in his toil and so intangled him that hee is not able to winde himself out Oh how fierce and furious will hee bee how will hee spend himself in strugling and striving to get out Such wilde Bulls are wicked men when they are taken in the net of affliction It is said of Marcellus the Roman General that hee could not bee quiet nec victor nec victus neither conquered nor conquerour it is so with wicked men they cannot bee quiet neither full nor fasting neither sick nor well neither in wealth nor want neither in bonds nor at liberty neither in prosperity nor in adversity Jer. 51. 37 38. And Babylon shall become heaps a dwelling place for Dragons an astonishment and an hissing without Amos 3. 8. an inhabitant They shall roar together like Lions they shall yell as Lions whelps When the Lion roars all the beasts of the field tremble Ambrose When the Lion roars many creatures that could out-run him are so amazed and astonied at the terrour of his roar that they are not able to stir from the place such roaring Lions are wicked men when they are under the smarting rod Rev. 16. 8 12. They gnaw their tongues for pain and they blaspheme the God of Heaven because of those sores pains and plagues that are poured upon them and they repented not of their deeds to give him glory And therefore gracious souls have cause to bee silent under their sorest trials that they may difference and distinguish themselves from wicked men who are like the troubled Sea when it cannot Isa 57. 20 rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt The verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to make a stir to be exceeding busie unquiet or troublesome Ah what a stir do wicked men make when they are under the afflicting hand of God! As the Sea is restless and unquiet when there is no storm it cannot stand still but hath his flux and reflux so it is much less restless when by tempest upon tempest it is made to roar and rage to foam and cast up mire and dirt the raging Sea is a fit emblem of a wicked man that is under Gods afflicting hand Reas 3. A third reason why gracious souls should bee silent and mute under their sharpest trials is that they may bee conformable to Christ their head who was dumb Justin Martyr being asked which was the greatest miracle that our Saviour Christ wrought answered Pattentia ejus tanta in laboribus tantis his so great patience in so great troubles and silent under his sorest trials Isa 53. 7. Hee was oppressed and hee was afflicted yet hee opened not his mouth hee is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her shearers is dumb so hee opened not his mouth Christ was tongue-tied under all his sorrows and sufferings 1 Pet. 2. 21 22 23. Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that yee should follow his steps Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth Who when hee was reviled reviled not again when hee suffered hee threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Christ upon the cross did not onely read us a lecture of patience and silence but hee hath also set us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Copy or Pattern of both to bee transcribed and imitated by us when we are under the smarting Rod It will be our sin and shame if wee do not bear up with patience and silence under all oâ—â— sufferings considering what an admirable copy Christ hath set before us It is said of Autiochus that being to fight with 1 Macch. 6. 34. Judas Captain of the host of the Jews hee shewed unto his Elephants the blood of the grapes and mulberries to provoke them the better to fight So the Holy Ghost hath set before us the injuries and contumelies the sorrows and sufferings the pains and torments the sweat and blood of our dearest Lord and his invincible patience and admirable silence under all to provoke us and incourage us to imitate the Captain of our salvation in patience and silence under all our sufferings Hiorome having read the life and death of Hilarion one that lived graciously and died comfortably â—olded up the book saying well Hilarion shall bee the Champion that I will follow his good life shall bee my example and his good death my president Oh! how much more should wee all say wee have read how Christ hath been afflicted oppressed distressed despised persecuted c. and wee have read how dumb The Arabians if their King bee sick or lame they all feign themselves so how tongue-tied how patient and how silent hee hath been under all Oh! hee shall bee the Copy which wee will write after the Pattern which wee will walk by the Champion which wee will follow But alass alass how rare is it to finde a man that may bee applauded with that Elogie of Salvian singularis Domini praeclarus imitator An excellent Disciple of a singular Master The Heathens had this notion amongst them as Laâ—tantius reports that the way to honour their Gods was to bee like them and therefore some would bee wicked counting it a dishonour to their gods to bee unlike to them I am sure the way to honour our Christ is in patience and silence to bee like to Christ especially when a smarting rod is upon our backs and a bitter cup put into our hands Reas 4. A fourth reason why the people of God should
quiet for that God that hath taken away one childe might have took away every childe and hee that hath taken away one friend might have taken away every friend and hee that hath taken away a part of thy estate might have taken away thy whole estate therefore hold thy peace let who will murmure yet bee thou mute Sixthly It may bee thy sins have been much about thy near and dear injoyments it may bee thou hast over-loved them and over-prized them and over-much delighted thy self in them it may bee they have often had thy heart when they should have had but thy hand it may bee that care that fear that confidence that joy that should have been expended upon more noble objects hath been expended upon them thy heart Oh Christian is Christs bed of spices and it may bee thou hast beded thy mercies with thee when Christ hath been put to lye in an Luk. 2. 7 out-house thou hast had room for them when thou hast had none for him they have had the best when the worst have been counted good enough for Christ It is said of Gen. 49. 4. Ruben that hee went up to his Fathers bed Ah! how often hath one creature-comfort and sometimes another put in between Christ and your souâ—s how often have your dear injoyments gone up to Christs bed It is said of the babylonians that they came in to Aholah Ezek. 23. 17. and Aholibahs bed of love may it not hee said of your near and dear mercies that they have come into Christs bed of lovâ— your hearts they being that bed wherein Christ Cant. 3. 7 delights to rest and repose himself Now if a husband a childe a friend shall take up that room in thy soul that is proper and peculiar to God God will either imbitter it remove it or bee the death â—f it if once the love of a wife runs out more to a servant than to her husband the Master will turn him out of doors though otherwise hee were a servant worth gold The sweetest comforts of this life they are but like treasures of Snow now do but take a handful of Snow and crush it in your hands and it will melt away presently but if you let it lye upon the ground it will continue for some time and so it is with the contentments of this world if you grasp them in your hands and lay them too near your hearts they will quickly melt and vanish away but if you will not hold them too fast in your hands nor lay them too close to your hearts they will abide the longer with you There are those that love their mercies into their graves that hug their mercies to death that kiss them till they kill them Many a man hath slain his mercies by setting too great a value upon them many a man hath â—unk his ship of mercie by taking up in it over-loved mercies are seldome long-liv'd Ezek. 24. 21. when I take from them the joy of their glory the desire of their eyes and that whereupon they set their minds their sons and their daughters the way to lose your mercies is to indulge them the way to destroy them is to fix your minds and hearts upon them thou mayest write bitterness and death upon that mercie first that hath first taken away thy heart from God Now if God hath stript thee of that very mercy with which thou hast often committed spiritual Adultery and Idolatry hast thou any cause to murmure hast thou not rather cause to hold thy peace and to be mute before the Lord Christians your hearts are Christs royal Throne and in this Throne Christ will bee chief as Pharaoh said to Joseph Gen. 41. 40. hee will endure no competitor if you shall attempt to throne the creature bee it never so near and dear unto you Christ will dethrone it hee will destroy it hee will quickly lay them in a bed of dust who shall aspire to his royal Throne But Seventhly Thou hast no cause to murmure because of the loss of such near and dear enjoyments considering those more noble and spiritual mercies and favours that thou still enjoyest grant that Joseph is not and Benjamin is not yet Gen. 42. 36 Heb. 13. 8 Jesus is hee is yesterday and to day and the same for ever thy union and communion with Christ remains 1 Joh. 3. 9. still the immortal seed abides in thee still the Sun of Righteousness shines upon thee still thou art in favour with God still and thou art under the anointings of the Spirit still and under the influences of Heaven still c. and why then shouldest thou mutter and not rather hold thy peace I have read Jerom. of one Dydimus a godly Preacher who was blind Alexander a godly man once ask'd him whether hee was not sore troubled and afflicted for want of his sight Oh yes I said Dydimus it is a great affliction and grief unto mee then Alexander chid him saying hath God given you the excellency of an Angel of an Apostle and are you troubled for that which Rats and Mice and brute beasts have So say I Ah Ephes 1. 3 4 Christians hath God blessed you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places hath the Lord given you himself for a portion hath hee given you his Son for your redemption and his Spirit for your instruction and will you murmure hath hee given his gracâ— to adorn you his promises to comforâ— you his ordinances to better you and the hopes of Heaven to encourage you and will you mutter Paulinus Nolanus when his City was taken from him prayed thus Lord said hee let mee not bee troubled at the loss of my gold silver honour c. for thou art all and much more than all these unto mee in the want of all your sweetest enjoyments Christ will bee all in all unto you my Jewels are my husband said Phocion's wife Col. 3. 11 Plutarâ—h in vita Phocion my ornaments are my two sons said the Mother of the Gracchi my treasures are my friends said Constantius and so may a Christian under his greatest losses say Christ is my richest Jewels my chiefest treasures my best ornaments my sweetest delights look what all these things are to a carnal heart a worldly heart that and more is Christ to mee Eighthly If God by smiting thee in thy nearest and dearest injâ—yments shall put thee upon a more thorow smiting and mortifying of thy dearest sins thou hast no cause to murmure God cures David of adultery by killing his endeared childe There is some Dalilah some darling some beloved sin or Psa 18. 23 Heb. 12. 1 other that a Christians calling condition constitution or temptations leads him to play withall and to hug in his own bosome rather than some other As in a ground that lieth untilled amongst the great variety of weeds there is usually some master-weed that is rifer and ranker than all the rest And as it
10. 13. But God is faithful who will not suffer you to bee tempted above that yee are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that yee may bee able to bear it Rom. 16. 20. And the God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly 1 John 2. 13 14. I write unto you Fathers because yee have known him that is from the beginning I write unto young men because you have overcome the wicked one I write unto you children because yee have known the Father I have written unto you Fathers because yee have known him that is from the beginning I have written unto you young men because yee are strong and the word of God abideth in you and yee have overcome the wicked one 1 John 5. 18. Wee know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not that is that sin that is unto death vers 16. nor hee sinneth not as other men do delightfully greedily customarily resolvedly impenitently c. but hee that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not The glorious Exod. 14. victory that the people of God had over Pharaoh and his great Host was a figure of the glorious victory that the Saints shall obtain over Satan and his instruments which is clear from that Rev. 15. 3. Where wee have the song of Moses and of the Lamb but why the song of Moses and of the Lamb but to hint this to us that the overthrow of Pharaoh was a figure of the overthrow of Satan and the triumphal song of Moses was a figure of that song which the Saints shall sing for their overthrow of Satan As certainly as Israel overcame Pharaoh so certainly shall every true Israelite overcome Satan The Romans were worsted in many fights but were never overcome in a set war at the long run they overcame all their enemies though a Christian may bee worsted by Satan in some particular skirmishes yet at the long run hee is sure of an honourable conquest God puts a great deal of honour upon a poor soul when hee brings him into the open field to sight it ouâ— with Satan by fighting hee overcomes hee gains the victory hee triumphs over Satan and leads captivity captive Augustine gives this reason why God permitted Adam at first to be tempted viz. that hee might have had the more glory in resisting and withstanding Satans temptation it is the glory of a Christian to bee made strong to resist and to have his resistance crowned with a happy conquest Sixthly By temptations the Lord will make his people more frequent and more abundant in the work of prayer every temptation proves a strong alarm to prayer When Paul was in the school of temptation hee prayed 2 Cor. 12. 8 9 thrice that is often daies of temptation are daies of great supplication Christians usually pray most when they are tempted most they are most busie with God when Satan is most busie with them a Christian is most upon his knees when Satan stands most at his elbow Augustine was a man much tempted So Bernard Basil Gâ—rgonia Trucilla James Jacob Daniel and a man much in prayer holy prayer saith hee is a shelter to the soul a sacrifice to God and a scourge to the Devil Luther was a man under manifold temptations and a man much in prayer hee is said to have spent three hours every day in prayer hee used to say that prayer was the best book in his study Chrysostome was much in the school of temptation and delighted much in prayer Oh! saith hee it is more bitter than death to bee spoiled of prayer and hereupon as hee observes Daniel chose rather to run the hazard of his life than to lose his prayer But Seventhly By temptations the Lord will make his people more and more conformable to the Image of his Son Christ was much Luk. 4 tempted hee was often in the school of temptation and the more a Christian is tempted the more into the likeness of Christ hee will bee transformed of all men in the world temâ—ted souls do most resemble Christ to the life in meekness low liness holiness heavenliness c. The Image of Christ is most fairly stampt upon tempted Heb. 12. 1 2 2 Cor. 3. 18. Heb. 2. 17 18 souls tempted souls are much in looking up to Jesus and every gracious look upon Christ changes the soul more and more into the Image of Christ tempted souls experience much of the succourings of Christ and the more they experience the sweet of the succourings of Christ the more they grow up into the likeness of Christ temptations are the tools by which the Father of spirits doth more and more carve form and fashion his precious Saints into the similitude and likeness of his dearest Son Eighthly and lastly Take many things in one God by temptations makes sin more hateful and the world less delightful and relations less hurtful by temptations God discovers to us our own weakness and the creatures insufficiency 1 Pet. 5. 8 in the hour of temptation to help us or succour us by temptations God will brighten our Christian Ephes 6. 10 18 Armour and make us stand more upon our Christian watch and keep us closer to a succouring Christ by temptations the Lord will make his ordinances to bee more highly prized and Heaven to be more earnestly desired Now seeing 2 Cor. 5. 1 2 3. that temptations shall work so eminently for the Saints good why should not Christians bee mute and silent why should they not hold their peace and lay their hands upon their mouths though their afflictions are attended with great temptations Object 8 Oh! But God hath deserted mee hee hath forsaken mee and hee that should comfort my soul stands afar off how can I bee silent the Lord hath hid his face from mee clouds are gathered about mee God hath turned his back upon mee how can I hold my peace supposing that the desertion is real and not in appearance only as sometimes it falls out I answer First It hath been the common lot portion and condition of the choicest Saints in this world to be deserted and forsaken of God Psal 30. 6 7. Psal 77. and 88. Job 23. 8 9. Cant. 3. 1 2 3 4. ch 5. 6 7. Isa 8. 17. Micah 7. 7 8 9. If God dealâ— no worse with thee than hee hath dealt with his most bosome friends with his choicest Jewels thou hast no reason to complain But Secondly Gods forsaking of thee is onely partial it is not total God may forsake his people in part but he never wholly forsakes them he may forsake them in respect of his quickning presence and in respect of his comforting Psal 9. 4. Gen. 49. 23 24 presence but hee never forsakes them in respect of his supporting presence 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Psal 73. 23 24. The steps
the Father of the Prodigal could say of his lost son Luk. 15. ult This my Son was lost but is found hee was dead but is alive but how few Christians can say this my good name was lost but is found it was dead but now it lives As when Orpha once left Naomi shee returned Ruth 1. 14 no more to her so when once a good name leaves a man it hardly returns to him again a crack'd credit will hardly bee sodered anew new Wine is rarely put into old bottles a man should stand upon nothing more than the credit of his conscience and the credit of his Act. 24. 16 name In Japan the very children are so jealous of their reputation that in case you lose a trifle and say to one of them sirrah I beleeve you have stollen it without any pause the boy will immediately cut off a joint from one of his fingers and say Sir if you say true I wish my finger may never heal again Three things a Christian should stifly labour to maintain 1 The honour of God 2 The honour of the Gospel 3 The honour of his own name If once a Christians good name sets in a cloud it will bee long before it rises again Thirdly Though all this bee true yet it hath been the portion of Gods dearest Saints and servants to bee slandered reproached vilified Mat. 5. 10 11 12 1 Pet. 3. 14. ch 4. 14 Psal 69. 7 Gen. 39. Psal 52. 2 Sam. 16. 11 12. 6. 13. 15. ch of Job Jer. 51. 51 and falsely accused Psal 31. 18. Let the lying lips bee put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous How sadly and falsely was Joseph accused by his wanton Mistress David by Doeg and Shimei Job of hypocrisie impiety inhumanity cruelty partiality pride and irreligion Job 22. Was not Naboth accused of speaking blasphemy against God and the King did not Haman represent the Jews to the Esth 3. King as Refractories and Rebels was not Elias accused to bee the troubler of Israel and Jeremy the Jer. 20. 7 8 9. Rom. 3. 8 2 Cor. 6. 8 1 Cor. 4. 12 13 trumpet of rebellion the Baptist a stirrer up of sedition and Paul a pestilent incendiary were not the Apostles generally accounted deceivers and deluders of the people and the off-scouring of the world c. Athanasius and Eustathius Act. Mon. were falsely accused of Adultery Adultery Heresie and Treason were charged upon Cranmer Parricide upon Philpot sedition upon Latimer As the primitive persecutors usually put Christians into Bears skins and Dogs skins and then baited them so they usually As Tertullian Minutius Faelix and others declare loaded their names and persons with all the reproach scorn contempt and false reports imaginable and then baited them and then acted all their malice and cruelty upon them I think there is no Christian but sooner or later first or last will have cause to say with David Psal 35. 11. False witnesses did rise up they laid to my charge things that I knew not they charged me with such things whereof I was both innocent and ignorant It was Hippias the saying of one that there was nothing so intollerable as accusation because there was no punishment ordained by Law for accusers as there was for theeves although they stole friendship from men which is the goodliest riches men can have Well Christians seeing it hath been the lot of the dearest Saints to bee falsely accused and to have their names and reputes in the world reproached and flie-blown do you hold your peace seeing it is no worse with you than it was with them of whom this world was not world The Kimchi Rabbins say that the world cannot subsist without patient bearing of reproaches But Fourthly Our Lord Jesus Christ was sadly reproached and falsely accused his precious name that deserves to bee alwaies writ in characters of gold as the Persians usually write their Kings was often eclipsed before the Sun was eclipsed at his death his sweet name that was sweeter than all sweets was often crucified before his body Oh the stones of reproach that were frequently rowled upon that name by which wee must bee saved if ever wee are saved Oh the jears the scoffs the scorns that were cast upon that name that can onely bless us The name of Jesus saith Chrysostome hath a thousand treasures of joy and comfort in it The name of a Saviour saith Bernard is hony in the mouth and musick in the ear and a jubile in the heart and yet where is the heart that can conceive or the tongue that can express how much dung and filth hath been cast upon Christs names and how many sharp arrows of reproach and scorn have been and daily yea hourly are shot by the world at Christs name and honour Such ignominious reproaches were cast upon Christ and his name in the time of his life and at his death It is a foolish thing saith Cato to hope for life by anothers death the world practically speaks as much every day that the Sun did blush and masked her self with a cloud that hee might no longer behold them Mat. 11. 19. The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say behold a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber a friend of publicans and sinners but was hee such a one no wisdome is justified of her children Wisdomes children will stand up and justifie her before all the world Mat. 27. 63. Saying Sir Wee remember The Greek word signifies one who doth profess an Art of couzening people to their faces that that deceiver said while hee was yet alive after three daies I will rise again but was hee a deceiver of the people no hee was the faithful and true witness Rev. 1. 5. chap. 3. 14. John 7. 20. The people answered and said thou hast a Devil who goeth about to kill thee chap. 8. 48. Then answered the Jews and said unto him say we not well that thou art a Samaritane and hast a Devil ch 10. 20. And many of them said he hath a Devil and is mad why hear ye him It was a wonder of wonders that the earth did not open and swallow up these Monsters and that God did not rain Hell out of Heaven upon these horrid blasphemers but their blasphemous assertions were denied and disproved by some of wisdomes children vers 21. Others said these are not the words of him that hath a Devil can a Devil open the eyes of the blind The Devil hath no such power nor any such goodness as to create eyes to him that was born blind Will you yet see more scorn dirt and contempt cast upon the Lord of glory why then cast your eyes upon that Luk. 16. 14. And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him or as the Greek reads it They blew their noses at him in scorn and Exe mukterizon
is renewed day by day As Aristarchus the Heathen said when hee was beaten by the Tyrants Beat on it is not Aristarchus you beat it is 1 Tim. 5. 23 3 John 2. onely his shell Timothy had a very healthful soul in a crazy body and Gaius had a very prosperous soul in a weak distempered body Epictetus and many of the more refined Heathens have long since concluded that the body was the organ or vessel the soul was the man and Merchandize Now all the troubles and afflictions that a Christian meets with they do not reach his soul they touch not his conscience they make no breach upon his noble part and therefore hee hath cause to hold his peace and to lay his hands upon his mouth the soul is the breath of God the beauty of man the wonder of Angels and the envy Heb. 12. 9 Zach. 12. 1 of Devils it is a caelestial plant and of a divine off-spring it is an immortal spirit souls are of an Angelick nature a man is an Angel cloathed in clay the soul is a greater miracle in man than all the miracles wrought amongst men the soul is a demi-semi-God dwelling in a house of clay Now it is not in the power of any outward troubles and afflictions that a Christian meets with to reach his soul and therefore hee may well sit mute under the smarting Rod. Ninthly If thou wouldest bee silent and quiet under the saddest providences and sorest trials then keep up Faith in continual exercise Now Faith in the exercise of it will quiet and silence the soul thus 1 By bringing the soul to sit Joh. 14. 8 Psa 17. 15 down satisfied in the naked enjoyments of God 2 By drying up the springs of pride self-love impatience murmuring unbeleef and the carnal delights of this world 3 By presenting to the soul greater sweeter and better things Heb. 11. 8 9 10 14. Phil. 3. 7 8 in Christ than any this world doth afford 4 By lessening the souls esteem of all outward vanities do but keep up the exercise of Faith and thou wilt keep silent before the Lord. No man so mute as hee whose Faith is still busie about invisible objects Tenthly If you would keep silent then keep humble before the Lord. Oh! labour every day to bee more humble and more low and little in your own eyes who Job 7. 1 18 am I saith the humble soul but that God should cross mee in this mercy and take away that mercy and pass a sentence of death upon every mercy I am not worthy of the least mercy I deserve not a crum of mercy I have forfeited Prov. 13. 16 every mercy I have improved never a mercy Onely by pride comes contention it is onely pride that puts men upon contending with God and men an humble soul will lye quiet at the foot of God it will bee contented with bare commons As you see sheep can live upon the bare Commons which a fat Oxe cannot A Dinner of green herbs relisheth well with the humble mans palate whereas a stalled Oxe is but a course dish to a proud mans stomack an humble heart thinks none less than himself nor none worse than himself an humble heart looks upon small Gen. 32. 10 11. Austin being asked what was the first grace answered humility what the second humility what the third humility mercies as great mercies and great afflictions as small afflictions and small afflictions as no afflictions and therefore sits mute and quiet under all do â—ut keep humble and you will keep silent before the Lord pride kicks and flings and frets but an humble man hath still his hand upon his mouth Every thing on this side Hell is mercy much mercy rich mercy to an humble soul and therefore hee holds his peace Eleventhly If you would keep silence under the afflicting hand of God then keep close hold fast these soul-silencing and soul-quieting maxims or principles As First That the worst that God doth to his people in this world is in order to the making of them a Heaven on Earth hee brings them into a wilderness but it is that hee may speak comfortably to them he Hos 2. 14 casts them into the fiery furnace but it is that they may have more of his company doe the stones come thick and threefold about Stephens ears it is but to knock Act. 7. him the nearer to Christ the corner-stone c. Secondly If you would bee silent then hold fast this principle viz. That what God wills is best Heb. 12. 10 when hee wills sickness sickness is better than health when hee wills weakness weakness is better than strength when hee wills want want is better than wealth when hee wills reproach reproach is better than honour when hee wills death death is better than life As God is wisdome it self and so knows that which is best so hee is goodness it self and therefore cannot do any thing but that which is best therefore hold thy peace Thirdly If thou wouldest bee silent under thy greatest afflictions then hold fast to this principle viz. That the Lord will bear thee company in all thy afflictions Isa 41. 10 ch 43. 2. Psal 23. 4. Psal 90. 15. Dan. 3. 25. Gen. 39. 20 21. 2 Tim. 4. 16 17. These Scriptures are breasts full of divine consolation these wells of salvation are full will you turn to them and draw out that your souls may bee satisfied and quieted Fourthly If you would bee silent under your afflictions then hold fast this principle that the Lord hath more high more noble and more blessed ends in the afflicting of you than hee hath in the afflicting of the men of the world The stalk and the ear of corn fall upon the threshing flore under one and the same flail but the one is shattered in peeces the other is preserved from one and the same Olive and from under one and the same press is crushed out both Oil and dreggs but the one is tunn'd up for use the other thrown out as unserviceable and by one and the same breath the fields are perfumed with sweetness and annoyed with unpleasant savours so though afflictions do befall good and bad alike as the Scripture speaks yet Eccles 9. 2 the Lord will effect more glorious ends by those afflictions that befall his people than hee will effect by those that befall wicked men and therefore the Lord puts his people into the furnace for their trial but the wicked for their ruine the one is bettered by affliction the other is made worse the one is made soft and tender by afflictions the other is more hard and obdurate the one is drawn nearer to God by afflictions the other is driven further from God c. Fifthly If you would bee silent under your afflictions then you must hold fast this principle viz. Matth. 15. 21 29 That the best way in this world to have thine own will is
to lye down in the will of God and quietly to resign up thy self to the good will and pleasure of God Luther was a man that could have any thing of God and why why because hee submitted his will to the will of God hee lost his will in the will of God Oh soul it shall bee even as thou wilt if thy will bee swallowed up in the will of God Sixthly and lastly If thou wouldest bee silent under the afflicting hand of God then thou must hold Psa 94. 19 Dan. 9. 19 24 Gen. 28. 7 Act. 16. 27 ch Hos 2. 14 fast to this principle viz. That God will make times of affliction to be times of special manifestations of divine love and favour to thee Tiburtius saw a Paradise when hee walked upon hot burning coals I could confirm this by a cloud of witnesses but that I am upon a close Ah Christians as ever you would be quiet and silent under the Smarting Rod hold fast to these principles and keep them as your lives But Twelfthly and lastly To silence and quiet your souls under the afflicting hand of God dwell much upon the brevity or shortness of mans life this present life is not vita sed via ad vitam life but a motion a journey towards life mans life saith one is the shadow of smoak yea the dream of a shadow saith another mans life is so short that Austin doubtâ—th whether to call Aug. l. 1. Conf. it a dying life or a living death thou hast but a day to live and perhaps thou mayest be now in the twelâ—th hour of that day therefore hold out faith and patience thy troubles and thy life will shortly end together therefore hold thy peace thy grave is going to bee made thy Sun is near setting death begins to call thee off oâ— the stage of this world death stands at thy back thou must shortly sail forth upon the Ocean of eternity though thou hast a great deal of work to do a God to honour a Christ to close with a soul to save a race to run a Crown to win a Hell to escape a pardon to beg a Heaven to make sure yet thou hast but a little time to do it in thou hast one foot in the grave thou art even a going a shore on eternity and wilt thou now cry out of thy afflictions wilt thou now mutter and murmure when thou art entring upon an unchangeable condition what extream folly and madness is it for a man to mutter and murmure when hee is just a going out of prison and his boults and chains are just a knocking off Why Christian this is just thy case therefore hold thy peace thy life is but short therefore Rom. 8. 18 thy troubles cannot bee long hold up and hold out quietly and patiently a little longer and Heaven shall make amends for all FINIS A TABLE Shewing the Principal things in this TREATISE THe words opened and the Doctrine raised viz. That it is the great duty and concernment of gracious souls to be mute and silent under the greatest afflictions the saddest providences and sharpest trials they meet with in this world from p. 1 to 4. For the opening of the point First 1 There is a sevenfold silence p. 4 to 16. 2 What doth a prudent a gracious a holy silence include shewed in eight things p. 16 44. 3 What a prudent a holy silence under afflictions doth not exclude shewed in eight things p. 44 67. 4 Eight Reasons why Christians must bee mute and silent under their greatest afflictions c. p. 67 92. Vse This Truth looks sourely upon five sorts of persons p. 92 102 Six considerations to prevent men from using sinful shifts and courses to deliver themselves out of their afflictions c. p. 102 116. Twelve considerations to prevail with Christians to bee mute and silent under the sharpest afflictions c. that they meet with in this world p. 116 145 The hainous and dangerous nature of murmuring discovered in twelve particulars p. 145 169 Object 1 Did I but know that my afflictions were in love I would bee quiet I would hold my peace c. Answered eight waies p. 169 187 Object 2 The Lord hath smitten mee in my nearest and dearest comforts and contentments and how then can I hold my peace Answered twelve waies p. 187 116 Object 3 Oh! But my afflictions my troubles have been long upon mee and how then can I hold my peace Answered ten waies p. 216 236 Object 4 I would bee mute and silent under my afflictions but they daily multiply and encrease upon me c. how then can I bee silent Answered eight waies p. 236 242 Object 5 My afflictions are very great how then can I hold my peace c. Answered six waies p. 242 252 Object 6 Oh! But my afflictions are greater than other mens c. how then can I bee silent Answered six waies p. 252 260 Object 7. I would hold my peace but my outward afflictions are attended with sore temptations c. how then can I bee silent Answered five waies wherein eight advantages are discovered that Saints gain by their temptations p. 260 279 Object 8 Oh! But God hath deserted mee hee hath forsaken mee and hid his face from mee c. how can I then bee silent Answered six waies Also eight advantages the Saints gain by their being clouded p. 279 304 Object 9 Oh! But I am falsely accused and sadly charged and reproached in my good name c. how then can I bee silent Answered ten waies p. 304 325 Object 10 I have sought the Lord in this my affliction for this and that mercy and still the Lord delaies mee and puts mee off c. how can I then hold my peace how can I bee silent c. Answered six waies p. 325 333 Quest But what are the reasons that God doth so delay and put off his people Answered seven waies p. 333 343 Quest What are the means that may help persons to bee silent and quiet under their greatest afflictions their sharpest trials c. Answered from p. 343. to the end of the book ERRATA Page 67. l. 20. read hear for bare pag. 235. l. 17. r. heal for heat p. 258. l. 5. r. that for than â—p 268. l. 26. add was p. 274. l. 12. add you p. 276. l. 3. r. sight for fight p. 299. Margent read Chaiim p. 311. l. 7. r. world for worthy Books printed and are to be sold by John Hancock at the first shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Cornhill A Book of Short-writing the most easie exact lineal and speedy method fitted to the meanest capacity composed by Mr. Theophilus Metealf Professor of the said Art Also a School-Master explaining the Rules of the said Book Another Book of new Short-hand by Thomas Cross A Coppy-book of the newest and most useful hands with Rules whereby those that can read may quickly learn to write To which is added Brief Directions for true spelling and cyphering c. Six Books lately published by Mr. Thomas Brooks Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New Fish-street 1 Precious Remedies against Satans Devices OR Salve for Beleevers and Unbeleevers Sores being a companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ that sleight or neglect Ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it on the ad of the Corinthians the 2d and the 11th 2 Heaven on Earth OR A serious Discourse touching a well-grounded Assurance of mens everlasting happiness and blessedness discovering the nature of Assurance the possibility of attaining it the Causes Springs and Degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty questions on the 8th of the Romans 32 33 34 verses 3 The Vnsearchable Riches of Christ OR Meat for strong Men and Milk for Babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Ephesians 3. 8. preached on his Lecture-nights at Fish-street-hill 4 His Apples of Gold for Young Men and Women And A Crown of Glory for Old Men and Women Or the Happiness of being Good betimes and the Honour of being an Old Disciple clearly and fully discovered and closely and faithfully applied 5 A String of Pearls OR The Best Things reserved till last Delivered in a Sermon preached in London June 8. 1657. at the Funeral of that Triumphant Saint Mris. Mary Blake late Wife to his worthy friend Mr. Nicholas Blake Merchant 6 The Silent Soul with Soveraign Antidotes against the most miserable Exigents OR A Christian with an Olive-leaf in his mouth when hee is under the greatest afflictions the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles the saddest and darkest providences and changes with answers to divers Questions and Objections that are of greatest importance all tending to win and work souls to bee still quiet calm and silent under all changes that have or that may pass upon them in this world c. Altum Silentium OR Silence the Duty of Saints under every sad Providence An Occasional Sermon preached after the Death of a Daughter by her Father viz. By John Durant Preacher of the Gospel in Christ's-Church Canterbury The Godly Mans Ark OR City of Refuge in the day of his Distress discovered in divers Sermons The first of which was preached at the Funeral of Mris. Elizabeth Moore Whereunto are annexed Mris. Moores Evidences for Heaven composed and collected by her in the time of her health for her comfort in the time of sickness By Ed. Calamy B. D. and Pastor of the Church at Aldermanbury The Scriptures Stability OR The Scripture cannot be broken Proved explained and several waies applied whereby all Scripture may with singular advantage come to bee improved By Robert Perrot Minister of Gods Word at Deane in Bedfordshire The Expert Physician Learnedly treating of all Agues and Feavers essential whether simple or compound confused Erratick and Malignant shewing their different Nature Cause Sign and Cure written originally by that famous Doctor in Physick Bricius Bauderon and translated into English by Doctor Wells Licentiate in Physick by the University of Oxford To bee sold by John Hancock at the first Shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Cornhill