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A17310 The anatomy of melancholy vvhat it is. VVith all the kindes, causes, symptomes, prognostickes, and seuerall cures of it. In three maine partitions with their seuerall sections, members, and subsections. Philosophically, medicinally, historically, opened and cut vp. By Democritus Iunior. With a satyricall preface, conducing to the following discourse. Burton, Robert, 1577-1640. 1621 (1621) STC 4159; ESTC S122275 978,571 899

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to behold THE fift and last thing concerning the testimony of the Prophets is the successe of their enquiry and diligent search and that in generall is that they were answered and resolved of God Now in the Lords answer there are two things to be observed 1. The manner how God gave his answer that is to say by Revelation To whom it was revealed 2. The matter of the answer which stands here of two parts The first concernes the persons the second concernes the things promised of God The persons are considered both negatively and affirmatively Negatively the Prophets were resolved that they themselves were not the men whom those Oracles concerned Affirmatively they were told that those things which they prophesied of they did minister unto us Christians Thus of the persons Now the things promised or prophesied of are not onely propounded but commended and further described and that two wayes 1. By the glory of their efficient causes and those are either lesse principall namely the Apostles and other Ministers of the Gospel or more principall namely the holy Ghost sent downe from heaven 2. By the adjunct respect of the Angels in heaven who are said to desire to look unto those things that are thus treasured up in the Arke of the Church Now from the coherence and generall consideration of these words we may be assured of this generall doctrine that such as diligently seek unto God shall be satisfied and resolved and answered God is no accepter of persons he that resolved the Prophets will answer us also it is an unchangeable order of promise such as seeke shall finde such as aske shall have such as knock shall be opened unto Mat. 7.8 yea he saith every one that asketh c. yea it is certaine that God will make this good unto the diligent use of every one of his ordinances as Prayer Esay 30.19 Ioel 2.19 Ier. 33.3 Reading Iob. 5.29 Hearing Esay 56.3 Mich. 2.7 Conference Esay 19.24.25 The use is first for confutation of their wretched Atheisme that scorne Gods ordinances as bare and empty actions but if there were no more to commend them then what this doctrine assures it might sufficiently censure them for their just contempt For in these and every of these the Lord meeteth his servants and doth as it were by a heavenly entercourse conferre with his people and familiarly make himselfe knowne unto them as one man is knowne unto another by conversation or his name therefore are they called his name in the third commandement 2. Secondly we should be incouraged in all distresses and doubts and ignorances to have recourse unto God and in all humility and constancy and faith to seeke unto him in the name of Christ who was ever knowne to be a Councellour unto his people but then let me adde this that wee looke to our selves when we come unto God for there are divers men whom God will not answer or if hee doe it is in justice as Mich. 3.7 Zach. 7.11 Ezech 20.3.31 But what must we doe that God might answer us 1. First we must be such as will answer when God calls else it is just we should call when God will not a●swer Zach. 7.11 2. Secondly when ever we receive a●swers from God wee must be sober and humble and take heed of swelling and pride else the Lord in freed of feeding u● with revelation may buffet us by the messengers of Sathan 2 Cor. 12.17 ● Thirdly we must take heed of security and spirituall sleepinesse for that will silence God and not answering may be iustly the scourge of it or else the Lord may permit the watchmen in stead of comfort to smite us with their words of reproofe and discouragement Cant. 5.6 7. 4. Fourth●y we must take heed of Idols in our hearts beloved sinnes For then either the Lord will not answer at all Ezech. 20.31.3 or he will give u● bitter a●swers Ezech. 14.3,7 or he will make our sins answer against us Esay 59.12 or his creatures as instruments of iudgements shall answer us Heb. 2.11 or if when our sins doe answer against us the Lord yet do heare it is meerely for his names sake Ier. 14.17 yet meere infirmities are no hinderances Rom. 11.4.3 5. Fiftly wee must bring a mind that will give glory to God without limiting God or daring to neglect or contemne Gods answers an instance of Gods indignation at such as will inquire at God what to doe and yet take their owne course i● evident Ier. 23.35,36 6. We must carefully distinguish betweene answers of tryall and direct answers Paul received an answer of death 2 Cor. 1.9 but yet he died not at that time The Lord will reserve the glory of absolute infallibility to his word As for private and secret revelations they are not alway to be infallibly trusted unto but such inward answers as have warrant from some promise of the word such are infallible but such could not Pauls sentence of present death be Thus of the generall viz. that God will answer Now the first thing in particular is how they were answered viz. by revelation Vnto whom it was revealed God answers divers waies For at some times extraordinarily hee hath given men their answers in dreames Mal. 2.12 sometimes by his Angels to men awake Act. 10.22 sometimes by the extraordinary revelation of the holy Ghost as Luke 2.26 Ordinarily also God answers more waies then one as sometimes by his works by giving what we desire of him sometimes by his word directing or comforting us sometimes by his Spirit especially in time of private prayer The first is by operation the second by information the third by consolation but here it is by revelation Againe Revelation is either uncreated or created There is an uncreated Revelation which is infinite and such is that which the Father reveales to the Son from all eternity The created Revelation hath three degrees 1. Imperfect 2. Perfect 3. And most perfect The most perfect revelation is in Christ-man in whom are all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge The perfect revelation is in Angels and blessed soules in heaven the imperfect is in men on earth The revelation vouchsafed to men on earth is either ineffectuall or effectuall The ineffectuall is a revelation not availeable to salvation such is that revelation which may befall wicked men For they may prophesie as is granted Mat. 7. But I call this revelation ineffectuall because they may be Castawaies for all this But properly Revelation is the heritage of the Saints For in them onely it is effectuall and thus the Lord doth grant revelation in two degrees 1. Sometimes it is such an illumination as works a full assurance sometimes it is an illumination that works onely a perswasion In weak Christians the work of the spirit of revelation is perswasion but in strong Christians it is full assurance Unto the revelation of full assurance I refer also these revelations of the Prophets
these words but the word of the Lord endureth for ever and explained by shewing of what word he speaketh in these words and this is the word which is preached unto you THE METAPHRASE OF THE FIRST CHAPter of the first Epistle of ST. PETER PETER by immediate calling and commission from IESUS CHRIST the Embassador for the Churches to the dispersed servants of God strangers and Pilgrims in this world that dwell here and there in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithinia Who for their spirituall estate were chosen of God from everlasting and fore-seene of God with speciall approbation above the rest of mankinde and loved with a fatherly love as appeares by the inward sanctification of their hearts which can be found in none but the Elect of God separated of God to these ends namely that both they might glorifie God by their holy conversation and be glorified of God by the fruition of the benefits purchased by the blood of IESUS CHRIST and now estated upon them by the application of the merits of CHRIST The grace of God even his continuall free favour and the gifts of his spirit and peace even tranquillitie of heart and conscience and all comfortable and needfull prosperity be established upon you and more and more increase in you Eternall thankes bee given unto God who is the God of our Lord Iesus Christ in respect of his humane nature and his Father in respect of his divine nature for all the consolations wherein he hath given us reason of singular rejoycing and in particular for that he hath regenerated us and made us his children by adoption when we deserved nothing but his eternall wrath meerely out of the abundance of his owne matchles mercies and sets us in such an estate as whatsoever our trials affli●tions may be yet he hath given us effectual assured hope of full happine●se the pledge and undoubted testimony whereof we have in that ●esus Christ is risen from the dead which shewes evidently that all is discharged For else hee could not have come out of prison till hee had paid the uttermost farthing And to shew that he will acknowledge us for sonnes he hath reserved for us in heaven such an inheritance as shall never bee lost or taken from us and shall have no fault nor defect in it nor ever decay in the incomparable worth and glory of it And that we may be sure of possession his owne almighty power will be as a strong garrison about us to keepe us and he hath given us also a lively faith that well preserve us till we be possessed of that glorious and full salvation which he hath prepared for us and is ready to be revealed in the full perfection of it when the day of death or judgement shall come If you object that you cannot take that comfort in these Arguments of consolation because of the many tentations inward and outward with which you are daily disheartned I answer that for all your crosses you may have exceeding much joy even in the midst of your tribulations and besides the trouble of your crosses is but for a little while they are but short tryalls nor are you bound alwaies to be pensive for your crosses but onely when neede requires namely when you neede to be humbled for some corruptions that get too much head in you or for other profitable ends And lastly you lose nothing by your tentations and afflictions For your saith which i● a thing more precious in Gods account than all the gold in the world for that will perish and come to be of no use one day is hereby tryed and what though the fire of the furnace of affliction bee somewhat hot yet remember what wonderf●ll praise and honour and glory you shall have for the stedfastnesse of your faith when Iesus Christ shall appeare and with his owne mouth commend you and glorifie you before all the world If you object that you doe not know whether the former consolations doe belong unto you or no I will put you in minde of three infallible signes that you are converted and shall goe to heauen 1. The first is your unfained affection to the Lord Iesus Christ though yee never yet saw him with your bodily eyes 2. The second is your continuall ●aith relying upon him alone for your reconciliation and salvation 3. And the third is the wonderfull matchlesse and unutterable and celestiall joy that at sometimes yee feele in the presence of God in his ordinances And therefore yee neede make no doubt but beleeve confidently that God will reward your trust in him by giving such an end to your course as that your soules shall be sure to be saved And that you may be the more abundantly confirmed in the former consolations thinke of the Testimony of the Prophets that were men extraordinarily raised up of God and did Prophesie of this great salvation which is now come to passe and fulfilled in us Christians and being appointed and inspired of God to soretell the singular priviledges of the Christian Churches they tooke marveilous paines about it inquiring diligently by all the meanes they could Studying to finde it out if it were possible what and what manner of time the Holy Ghost which was in them meant when it made them foretell both that the MESSIAS should suffer so many things and withall that after his suffering there should be wonderfull glorious times for the Church Now they were answered by revelation that they themselves must never see those glorious daies on earth but that they were used only as Gods servants to signifie to the Church what should be the estate of Christians after the sufferings of Christ according also to the doctrine of the Apostles who have published the same things to you in the preaching of the gospell being men inspired by the Holy Ghost from heaven and assisted with the visible gifts of the Holy Ghost and your happinesse is so great that the Angells ●f heaven like the Cherubins that stood looking into the Arke doe with singular admiration stand and wonder at and search into the manifold wisedome of God in the happinesse to which you are brought by Christ. And as you neede to be comforted so have I thought it fit to exhort you and first in things that are generall to you all both concerning the matter of holinesse and concerning the meanes of it There are three things you should labour after 1. The first is the restraining and resisting of all l●ts of godlinesse which within from corruption of nature are wont like long garments to hinder you in the labour and race of a holy life 2. The second is the moderation of your selves and that right temper in your hearts and lives especially in the use of the outward things of this world 3. The third is the perfecting of the assurance of your hope concerning the glory of heaven which
It should teach us by all means to labour about assurance that we might with boldnesse and confidence goe unto God and cry Abba Father 2. That he that is the Father of the Elect will be the Judge of the world Though it be hard for a pittifull man to be strict in punishing yet with God his mercy and justice doe not fight one against another The Use is to warne wicked men to take heed how they apply the promises and prerogatives of the godly to themselves for God will certainely judge them according to their estate 3. Constant prayer is a great meanes of comfort against the feare of judgement in this life and against the hurt of it in the last day Luke 21.34 The Use is to shew us how wee may remedy the feare of death and judgements much prayer and calling on the Name of God will exceedingly availe 4. That to call on God as a Father will not serve turne unlesse our practice answer our prayers unlesse we passe the time of our sojourning in feare it is not any pattering our of words will serve the turne nor praying for customes sake it must be such a prayer as makes us afraid to sin before such a Father 〈◊〉 such a Judge 5. Wh●n he saith if we call it imports that many professe God to be their Father who yet doe not shew it to be so by daily and constant calling upon his name It is a great question whether many that professe God and his truth doe indeed conscionably pray unto him which should awaken us and make us settle close to the practice of daily prayer 6. It is a lawfull prayer that is directed to one of the persons of the Trinity in the outward forme of words I meane that though we should name onely the Father and not mention the Son or holy Ghost yet the prayer were lawfull so as 1. We doe not exclude the other persons in our judgements and affections 2. That we desire upon the present occasion to compell our hearts to a more speciall meditation of the glory of one of the persons as the occasion of the matter requireth But the maine and principall doctrine is that God as he is our Father shall be our Judge If any aske How then is Christ commonly said to be our Judge Act. 17.30 I answer that the last judgement being a work ad extra is common to all the three Persons and is so attributed in Scripture but in different respe●ts for the authority of the last judgement is in the whole Trinity but the execution of it is in the Sonne This doctrine must needs be comfortable to the godly who would feare the tryall when his owne Father is Judge yea and law-giver and hath before promised infinite mercy and is an everlasting Father 〈◊〉 compassion never failes for so is God to us and hath given pledge and seales and earnest of assurance that it shall goe well Thus of the person who shall judge The manner followeth Without respect of persons The●e are 〈◊〉 downe many admirable praises of the justice of these last Assises whereof this is one that here shall be no respect of persons It pleaseth God in so great mysteries as this is not to set downe all at once but to distill some few memorable things and those severally both to excise diligence in the study of the Scriptures and to imply the disability of our na 〈…〉 comprehend much at once of such dreadfull things Not to respect persons in judgement hath divers things in it It is to judge without 〈◊〉 ●t is to judge without care how the judged takes it it is to judge without respect of their strength or disgrace it is to take no reward 〈…〉 accept the persons of great men for their greatnesse or riches sake it is to be led with no colours or vain pretences it is to judge according to truth and not according to opinion or the common voice and t●us much and much more is imported in this justice of the Lord at that day The Use is 1. For humiliation and terror to wicked men This should wonderfully pierce them ●o hear how they must speed at that day their judgement shall not be to amend them but to confound them the same God that hath dealt with other men in justice will judge them also and this may increase the terror that there will be no taking of rewards nor can riches availe in the day of wrath Iob 36.18 19. unlesse it be to increase their judgement Iam. 5.1 3. 2. For instruction it may teach divers things 1. To chase out all evill conceits and secret boilings of the heart against God Iob. 34.19 2. To humble our selves now in the dayes of our flesh and make our peace with God before this day come Deut. 10.17 Iob 34.19 32 33. 3. To imitate this praise in God not to know men after the flesh or to judge of things according to outward appearance or the opinion of the world especially not to give titles to men Iob 32.21 and especially Judges and such as rule others should looke to this 2 Chron. 19.7 Col. 3.25 4. To long to see that day every body delights to be at the Assises and we see how men are pleased and that wonderfully when Princes doe justice upon great persons we gladly hearken after it and continually talke of it how then should we long to see this last and greatest judgement the like to which never was in the world scarce any glimpse of it 3. It may serve for singular consolation to all the godly especially it may incourage the poore and all inferiors to doe their duties since here they shall be assured of acceptation and the oppressed shall here be righted Act. 10.34 Col. 3.11 Eph. 6.9 Rom. 2.11 Iudgeth The manner of propounding the time is to be obserued There is a threefold judgement 1. The first judgement was that executed upon Angels and men fallen in the beginning of the world 2. There is also a middle judgement even that by which God in this life judgeth the righteous and the wicked every day 3. Now there is also the last judgement to be performed in the end of the world and that is here meant yet the Apostle well expresseth it in the present tense to note 1. The speedinesse of it he will come to judgement wonderfull quickly either by particular or generall judgement Phil. 4. Iam. 5. 2. The suddennesse of the judgement he many times comes on a wonderfull sudden Iob 36.33 and at the last he will come as a theefe in the ●ight 1 Thes. 5.2 3. But principally it noteth the certainty of it it is as sure as if it were now a doing certainty I say in freedome both from inconstancy and impediments There are many things may assure us of the certainty of the last judgment 1. The constant doctrine of it before the Law Iud. 15. under the ●aw by David Psal. 50.