Crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Matthew 27.46 know therefore thou that makest conscience of thy wayes that this feare of Gods forsaking thee in times of distresse is from humane frailty which the best have in them while they bee in this world and will more strongly assault them upon the remembrance of former sinnes though repented of and upon the conscience of corruption remaining though it doe not raigne as wee may see in Iob when he saith unto God wherefore hidest thou thy face and holdest mee for thine enemy For thou writest bitter things against me and makest mee to possesse the iniquities of my youth Iob 13.24 26. and more fully in David acknowledging his frailty in this very case My spirit saith he was overwhelmed I am so sore troubled I cannot speake Will the Lord cast off for ever Is his mercy cleane gone Hath God forgotten to be gracious And I said this is mine ininfirmitie that is this is my great weakenesse to doubt of Gods mercy because of my present troubles Psalme 77.3.4 7 8 9 10. Here thou must bring thy heart to the third thing before commended to thy observation viz. That GOD is pleased to exercise his own deare children under great and sore afflictions for most excellent ends as before is shewed And indeed what distresse can befall thee wherein faith set a worke to consider of Gods dealing with his own children may not set before thy view some of the Lords worthies better than thy selfe who have suffered the like or far greater evills then are upon thee Was not righteous Lot taken captive in Warre with all his goods Gen. 14.12 14 Was not Ioseph sold for a servant cast into prison and layd in irons Psa 105.17 18. Was not the Prophet Ieremy smitten and cast into the myrie dungeon Ier. 37.15 16. Was not David hunted after to bee slaine by Saul as one hunteth a Patridge in the Mountaines 1 Samuel 26.20 Was not Ziklag where David and his men dwelt burnt with fire by the Ama lakites and their wives and Children with all their goods taken captives 1 Sa. 30.1 2 5. Were not the Lords Priests to the number of fourescore and five persons their City both men Women and Children and sucklings Oxen Sheepe and Asses smitten with the edge of the sword by the command of their owne King upon a false surmise of conspiracy with innocent David 1 Sam. 22.13 18 19. Was not Ionathan Davids dearest friend slaine by the uncircumcised Philistims 1 Sam. 31.2 Nay was not good King Iosiah slaine by Pharaoh-Neco at Megiddo like unto whom there was no KING before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart with all his soule c. 2 King 23.25 27. Was not Iohn Baptist greater than whom there rose none before him among them that are borne of women Matthew 11.11 imprisoned by Herod for doing his duty in telling him it was not lawfull for him to have his brother Philips Wife and afterward beheaded upon a most triviall occasion even to gratifie a damsell for her dancing Mar. 6.18.26 27. Which of the Prophets did not the people of the Iewes persecute Acts 7. 52. Had not other of Gods servants before Christs incarnation triall of cruell mockings and scourgings of bonds and imprisonments Were they not stoned sawen asunder tempted slaine with the sword did they not wander about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented though the world were not worthy of them Hebrewes 11.36 37 38. And were not Christs own Disciples and holy Apostles sent forth as Lambes amongst Wolves Luke 10.3 and set forth as men approved unto death made a spectacle to the world reviled persecuted defamed made the filth of the world and the of-scouring of all things 1 Cor. 4.9 13. Was not Paul in labours abundant in stripes above measure in prison frequent in death oft Received hee not of the Iewes five times forty stripes save one was hee not thrice beaten with rods once stoned and thrice suffered shipwracke was he not in journyings often in perills of waters in perills of robbers in perills by his owne country men in perills by the heathen in perills in the City in perills in the wildernesse in perills in the Sea in perills among false brethren in wearinesse and painefulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse c. 2 Cor. 11.23 24 27. Nay which is more than all the former was not our blessed Saviour himselfe persecuted and apprehended by the hands of the ungodly Was he not buffeted and spit upon crowned with thornes scourged and most shamefully condemned and crucified Now then what thinkest thou of thy selfe art thou better than these dost thou thinke God forsooke them in their afflictions Why then stirre up thy heart to say unto the Lord with subjection to his will even for the sustaining of death it selfe It is enough Lord take away my life for I am no better then my fathers 1 Kings 19.4 When affliction increaseth and death approacheth then look unto Iesus the Author and finisher of thy faith lest thou be wearyed and faint in thy mind He left himselfe an example that we should follow his steps in suffering affliction patiently Now when Peter would have rescued his apprehension by force of armes he forbade him saying The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Iohn 18.11 And remember this word of his The servant is not greater than his master If they have persecuted mee they will also persecute you Iohn 16. ver 20. Adde hereunto the consideration of Gods speciall providence over thee in all thine afflictions whereupon Christ Iesus bids thee not to feare them that can kill the body but are not able to kill the soule Are not two Sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father The very haires of your head are all numbred Feare ye not therefore for yee are of more valew then many Sparrowes Matthew 10.29.30 31. God is faithfull who will not suffer you to bee tempted above that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to beare it 1 Cor. 10.13 Lastly remember that his love in Christ Iesus is firme and constant unto thee in thy greatest affliction See Romans 8.35 38 39. What shall seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus Surely nothing can doe it as the things there named and accounted unable doe plainely shew tribulation anguish or distresse persecution famine perill sword c. For whom hee loves in CHRIST his Son he loves to the end Iohn 13.1 his gifts and calling to grace and favour in CHRIST are without repentance Rom. 11.29 Nay more rest assured that as the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to bee compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 so our light affliction which
blessings to his servants and of their deliverance from evills he retayneth and exerciseth divine liberty and soveraignty Some he maketh high others low some rich and others poore Iob 34.19 To one he giveth five talents to another two to another one Matthew 25.15 He suffered no man to doe wrong to Abraham Isaac and Iacob but rebuked Kings for their sakes Psalm 105.14 Yet he will suffer Ioseph to be sold for a servant and to be layd in irons wrongfully verse 17 18. and hee suffers his servant Iob to be robbed of his goods bereaved of his Children sore afflicted in his body and grieved by his dearest friends so as he escaped but with the Skin of his teeth Iob 19. verse 19 20. 3. Gods good pleasure to exercise his Children in affliction for their good foure wayes 1. To purge out some corruption For the third it pleaseth God many times to exercise his deere children under sore afflictions for his glory in their good sundry wayes as First to purge out some corruption and to make them white Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge and to make them white Iob 23.10 When hee hath tryed mee I shall come forth as the gold 2. To teach them obedience Secondly to teach them obedience as well in eschewing evill Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word as also in doing good so Christ Iesus learned obedience by the things he did suffer Heb. 5.8 and the Apostles learned by afflictions to trust in God 2 Cor. 1.9 Thirdly 3. To try their faith and patience to try their faith and patience as hee did in Iob whence great afflictions are called fierie tryalls sent to try Gods Children 1 Pet. 4 12. as Hebr. 11.36 37. Others also were tryed by cruell mockings and scourgings yea by bonds and imprisonments they were stoned sawen asunder tempted slaine with the sword c. Fourthly 4. To further them in holines and happinesse for their furtherance in grace and holinesse here and in joy and happinesse hereafter Iames 1.3 The tryall of faith worketh patience Hebr. 12.10 God doth chasten us for our profit that we might bee partakers of his holinesse verse 11. though it bee not joyous for the present yet after it yeeldeth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse Affliction is Gods Schoole wherin he teacheth the soules of his Children many a sweet lesson as Psalme 119.71 It is good for me that I have beene afflicted that I might learne thy statutes This brings down their hearts and causeth them to be more frequent in humble and earnest prayer and more carefull to meditate on Gods word and works as Psalme 77.2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord verse 3. I remembred God I complained I considered the dayes of old c. all which are notable means of growth in grace whereby no doubt their present joy future glory shall bee much increased for our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The tryall of faith shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ Iesus 1 Pet. 1.7 If wee suffer we shall also raigne with him 2 Tim. 2.12 All which are great benefits of afflictions and may well perswade us that in the very extremity of them Gods love in Christ is constant towards us For what shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword c. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8.35.37 38.39 God correcteth every son whom he receiveth and therein offereth himselfe unto us as to sonnes Hebr. 12.6 7. These things well understood and thought upon will much enable faith to quiet and stay the heart in any distresse whatsoever Application of the doctrine in a case of spirituall distresse through feare of damnation For to beginne with the greatest matter of all say thy soule is perplexed about thy salvation thou hast great feares of hell and little hopes of heaven what must thou now doe Answ First look thou stand rightly in covenant with God through faith in Christ Iesus in whom hee revealeth himselfe to bee the God of grace and mercy justifying the ungodly and saving sinners and believe in the Lord Iesus Secondly whether thou use the means ordained to this end Now Gods meanes for this blessing is to believe in the Lord Iesus Acts 16.31 Beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life What it is to believe Now thus to beleeve is to rest and rely upon that which Iesus Christ as Redeemer and Mediator hath done and suffered for the salvation of his Church Aske then thine owne heart whether thou bee not perswaded that which God in Christ Iesus is plentifull redemption and salvation and in none other demand againe whether thou doe not unfeignedly desire to be found of God in Christ and to rest and rely upon that which hee hath done and suffered for thy justification and salvation Then consider whether thou doe use Gods Ordinances conscionably and in an holy manner to get this grace of faith and to grow therein Gods Ordinances we know GODS means for faith the Word and Prayer are the word and prayer for faith commeth by hearing the word of God preached Rom. 10.14 17. and prayer obtaines the HOLY GHOST Luke 11.13 Which is the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore did the Disciples by prayer seeke faith at Christs hands saying Lord increase our faith or put faith into us The holy manner of using the meanes of faith in 3. things 1. Breaking of the course of every knowne sinne Luk. 17.5 The conscionable and holy manner of using the foresaid Ordinances stands in three things First breaking off the course of every knowne sinne which is a worke of darkenesse wherein wee cannot live and have fellowship with Christ 1 Ioh. 1.6 Therefore Solomon saih Turne you at my correction Lo I will powre out my spirit upon you Proverbs 1.23 and Iohn Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by preaching repentance unto the people Matth. 3.1 2 3. without which there is little hope of attayning true faith in Christ Mat. 21.32 Secondly 2. Hartily desiring the grace we seeke for we must truly and hartily desire the grace we seeke for This desire is spirituall hunger and thirst whereto God
his good pleasure whatsoever the case be Thus doing we shall neither tempt God by neglect of meanes nor yet perplex our selves about the successe What ground we must lay that wee may do so through distrust in his mercy And that wee may so doe wee must lay this good foundation Make sure we stand rightly in covenant with GOD through faith in CHRIST IESUS for hee that commeth unto God must beleeve Hebrewes 11.6 and then we have good title to all Gods promises whereat true faith doth ever looke and to them that have obtained that pretious grace are given exceeding great and pretious promises 2 Peter 1.1 4. All the promises of God are in him yea and in him Amen that is in Christ Iesus most sure and certaine to true beleevers 2 Cor. 1.20 This estate once had we must in every thing that may perplex us stir up this pretious grace of faith and set it a working which seemes to be the Lords meaning in that golden sentence oft repeated The just shall live by faith That faith may have its perfect worke three things to be considered Hab. 2.4 Rom. 1.17 Hebr. 10.38 And that this grace may have its perfect worke to free our hearts from distrustfull and perplexing worldly cares wee must rightly informe our selves in three things First in Gods soveraigne right to inflict upon his dearest servants when where and how hee pleaseth either death it selfe or any evill that is a forerunner thereof for their sinnes originall and actuall Secondly in the different nature of Gods promises and in his divine royalty for time measure and manner of performance Thirdly in Gods good pleasure to exercise his Children and servants many times under sore afflictions all of which he will cause to worke for their good out of his tender love in Christ which remaineth constant unto them under their greatest miseries 1. Gods right and soveraignty For the first that God hath right and soveraignty to inflict upon his dearest servants either death it selfe or any evill that is a forerunner thereof as famine sicknesse sword of the enemy and the like when and where he will for their sinnes originall and actuall is most plaine Romans 5.12 By one man sinne entred into the world and death by sin and death went over all in as much as all have sinned Hebr. 9.27 It is appointed unto man once to dye Death then being our debt to God who shall deny him liberty to call for his due And for his right to inflict upon them hunger thirst sicknesse sorrow and the like none can deny it that considers the afflictions of the godly as of Iob in losse of goods and of all his Children by sudden death Iob 1.15.16 19. in grievous boyles upon his body from the sole of his foot unto his crowne Chapter 2. ver 7. and of David who complaines that hee had no soundnesse in his flesh Psal 38.3 his wounds stanke and were corrupt verse 5. his loynes were filled with a loathsome disease verse 7. he was feeble and sore broken yea hee roared for the very disquietnesse of his heart verse 8. 2 〈◊〉 different nature of Gods promises For the second Gods promises are of two sorts some concerne the life that now is others that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 And among these latter which be heavenly and spirituall there is a difference Some are of blessings absolutely necessary to salvation as justification adoption regeneration and the like others are very comfortable but yet not simply necessary to salvation as the sensible feeling of Gods love and inward joy therupon strength of faith and great increase in other graces farre above that measure which is simply needfull to the being and truth of grace Now GODS promises of blessings simply needful to salvation be absolutly made in Christ to true beleevers without exception as Acts 16.31 Beleeve in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt bee saved But other spirituall graces lesse necessary and all temporall blessings must bee understood to be promised with the exception of the Crosse to wit that true beleevers shall have them upon their sober and sanctified use of lawfull meanes unlesse it seeme good to GOD by the want of such blessings to correct them for their sins as he did David 2 Sam. 12.10 11. The sword shall never depart from thy house because thou hast despised me Psalme 118.18 The Lord hath chastened me sore but hee hath not given mee over unto death Or else to make tryall of their faith and patience as hee dealt with Iob in his afflictions Iob 2.3 Thou movest mee against him to destroy him without cause and Chapter 23.10 He knoweth the way that I take when hee hath tryed mee I shall come forth as gold Also Gods royalty for time manner Gods royalty and measure of performing his promises is very remarkeable In these circumstances he retayneth and exerciseth divine liberty and looketh that his Children should wait for the evidence of his good pleasure and rest contented therewith when he doth manifest the same though it doe not answer their desires And he blameth those that will limit or confine him in any of these as his people did in the wildernesse when they would as it were point out their own provision For time Psalme 78.20 41. In particular for the time when GOD will do this or that thing which hee hath promised indefinitely he shewes his royalty to his Disciples Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the times which God hath put in his owne power In this circumstance he requireth the patience of faith saying Manner Hee that beleeveth shall not make hast Isa 28.15 And for manner of performance sometime he giveth the particular blessing asked As upon Elias prayer he sent first drought and then after rayne Iames 5.17 18. Other while instead of the blessing asked hee giveth some other thing answerable thereunto making more for his owne glory and the good of his servants as when Paul besought the Lord thrice that the thorne in the flesh the messenger of Satan might depart from him God said my grace is sufficient 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9. GOD did not free him from the assault but gave him ability of grace to resist Yea our blessed Saviour in his bitter agony in the Garden offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Hebr. 5.7 Not by a totall freedome from the Cuppe of his bitter passion though he had said Father if it be possible let this Cuppe passe from me Matthew 26.39 but by making him willing and able to beare it and in suffering to overcome For after this prayer he said to Peter The Cuppe which my Father hath given mee shall I not drink it Iohn 18.11 and in suffering bee overcame And measure of performing his promises Rev. 3.21 Likewise in the measure of his gifts and
is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The conclusion of the whole By these and such like considerations will the spirits of the godly sustaine their infirmities Thus will true beleevers with godly David encourage themselves in the Lord their God even when violent death approcheth towards them 1 Sam. 30.6 In the multitude of their owne perplexing thoughts within them will the Lords comforts delight their soules Psal 94.19 Take notice therefore of this duty to strive against distracting worldly cares Consider the grounds or reasons wherby it is pressed as that thine heavenly father careth for thee these worldly cares discredit and disgrace thine holy profession they are a great and needlesse nay a very hurtfull burthen to thy poore soule for the avoyding wherof thou must set faith a worke in every difficulty small or great according to the direction before prescribed So though thou bee weake in thy selfe yet shalt thou be strong in the Lord and in whatsoever state thou art thou shalt bee therewith content Thou shalt know how to be abased and how to abound both to bee full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need yea to doe all things through Christ which strengtheneth thee Phil. 4.11 12 13. FINIS A REQVEST By the Executors of Mr. Pierson occasioned by the concealing and detaining of some of his writings and papers by such as borrowed them in the life time of Master PIERSON WHeras in the former epistle intimation is given of some other writings of this reverend Author fit to be published I thinke it not amisse to let the Reader understand that the thing chiefely intended therein is an excellent Exposition of the first Epistle of Saint Iohn a work as is conceived both of extraordinary worth and use and which should have first bin offered to the publike view but that upon perusall there was found a great breach in it by reason that the whole third Chapter and a few verses in the beginning of the fourth were wanting that part being as others had been imparted to some private friend who hitherto hath neither made restitution nor given any notice of it Wherupon it is thought fit by those that are interested in the whole that this opportunity should be taken to give notice of the defect in that part being fully perswaded that none will either be so envious at others or deale so unfaithfully with him whose life and labours were wholly devoted to the publike good as privately to detaine the papers themselves or any knowledge that they have of them or their probable conjecture to whom they have heard any of his writings have bin lent when as by giving notice of that part they shal not only deale justly with those whose right it is but wisely likewise for themselves who by that meanes in stead of a broken part may come to have the whole in such sort as will be fitter both for their own and others use and withall prevent that imputation which wil lye upon them if it be discovered otherwise which they may easily conceive is neither impossible nor improbable For charity bids me hope that the concealement of it hitherto hath only beene out of ignorance in what hand the rest did lye unto which it ought to be restored and that since it is thus publikely now called for it wil be no longer detained I will not say from them that are particularly interested only but from the Church of God in generall and all good Christians that might reap benefit and comfort by it