〈…〉 carry his crosse quire along Simon Cirenaeus helped Compare the Gospels greater love then this has no man that one should lay down his life for his friends so calle in respect of election and Christs deat foreseen and consequently reconciliation nature at his death put on mourning apparel the earth trembled to bear a dying Saviour the rocks rent because mans heart was so hard and a stranger to Israel cryed out seeing such an Eclips Vel Deus naturae patitur vel hic mundus dissolvitur So much Christ by dying has done for his that no Latine word can expresse his salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uno vocabulo Latino non potest exprimi sayes Tully fere his verbis Servator comes short of it Christ may be said to be Servator daemonum as preserving them from relapsing to nothing Salvator doth not expresse it he was Salvator angelorum keeping them safe from fall but restored man to all lost priviledges and farre better foelix lapsus qui talem meruit Servatorem Some would have the Greek rendred by Sospitator sospitantur enim ea quaefuerunt perdita Laurent in 2 Pet 1.1 Servantur vero salvantur ea quaenon fuerunt perdiâ—a But Antigonus for liberty restored to the Lacedemonians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Were we lost in Adam and are we not found 〈◊〉 Christ we were sons by creation â—o are the wicked even Dives heires we were of an earthly Paradise not comparable in any thing to Heaven we had life should have never died mors à morsu But by Christ we are sons of God adopted more are we beholding for being restored to immunities once lost then the Angels that were only preserved from fall magis gratis datur says Aqui. Christ left the 99 good Angels to seek man that was lost as well as the 99. Proud Pharisees who seem and think to need no Saviour but some temporal deliverer no repentance by Christ we are heirs of that Paradise of which Adam's but a Type and have eternal life through death Adam though great Clerks are against it should never have died not been happy and glorious but through sin and Christ yet with the phites we worship not the Serpent but God who brought good out of evill Question Why then was heaven made before the fall Solu Because God foresaw it Should all men have lived on earth for ever and still begat children the world could not have contained them which God foreknew let Christ be only our Saviour let us have neither other saviours intercessours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Pope has he saies the over-plus of other Saints good works to dispose of thus the Saints in that opinioÌ„ so derogatory from Christ save themselves and others but remember the good Angels and Saints have as wise Virgins Mat. 25. little oyle enough for themselves God can charge his Angels Saints with folly The Virgin Mary had sin as Scotus proved for she rejoyced in a Saviour the Apostles were bid to say forgive us our trespasses and those that will not God forgive them now where sin is there no merits are saies judicious Calvin Peter sinned after Christ prayed for him thus the Pope his successor not only in denying his Lord and Master but continually the Apostle Paul speaking of sinners affirms himself cheif 1 Tim. 1.15 and advises the Saints instead of censuring others and preferring themselves to think better or esteeme other better then themselvs 2 Phil. ver 3. Corne the richer in the eare the more it hangs the head the more a man is in Christ the more sensible he is of his natural misery and the more humble pray only to Christ we have one only Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 and know and acknowledge no other Intercessor unlesse prayers of Saints on earth so understand Job 5. for I am perswaded for particulars Abraham knowes us not and Israel is ignorant of us I say 63.16 and know not our particular wants but thou O Lord art our Redeemer give not his glory to another God is a jealous God Christ saves wo to them that imitate the Devil in striving to destroy and to make men sin if such out of love mercy and Christs example will not forbeare yet let me desire them to be as charitable to themselves and others as Dives I have five brethren to omit that explanation of Moses 5 Books send to them lest they come to this place of torment saies he what charity in hel Aquinas tels us there be no good thoghts there for they were to no purpose but whether a parable or no thus much gather Dives knew his bad example and life had made his brethren sin and therefore concluded he should have the greater damnation to prevent which he would have them by Lazarus admonished Go and do likewise Nothing but blood could redeem I doubt me Zipporah spake more out of passion then faith when she said thou art an husband of blood to Moses Exod. 4.25 yet it may thus be rendred thou art a husband to me preserved by blood The Creation to this was an easie work dictum factum the first but the second cost Christs hearts blood Christ was mastred and overâ—ome by sinful men he wrastled with Jacob and was overcome to prelude to his passion being then as man prevailed over consider his willingnesse I lay down my life yet the occasion ours nihil iste nec potuit mea fraus consider the deformity of sin how did Christ look appearing cloathed with sin deformity of mankind before divine justice God even absents himself from him scarce acknowledging him it was his love to lie in a grave to sweeten it to his people two dayes part of the third the Sabbath was a Type of it together with resting from sin and eternall rest now 't is the Lords day in memorial of his glorious * On the Lords day our first day of the week five things we read done only as the work of the day 1. Being in the spirit or spiritual meditations 2. Preaching ex 20. Actorum Adde in the third place prayer 4 Breaking Bread or Sacraments 5. Distribution to the Saints the Apostle ordained or commanded thus the Church of Galâ—â—ia Dr. Prideaux To worship being the Moral part of the command is kept Resurrection and Ascension let no man therefore judge you in respect of holy dayes the Iewish especially or the new Moon or the Sabbath being shadows Colos 2.16.17 consider his love unto man in giving him his reward out of mercy not merit As soon as dead thou shalt be with me this day in Paradise Luke 23.43 and Lazarus dyed and was immediately carried by the Angels to Abrahams bosome that is heaven where note since Christs death the glory of the Saints is greater then before but no Limbus Christ ascending no doubt gave some more honour to the Saints in heaven as well as his spirit on earth the head is more honourable then the bosome the glory of the S
lovingly when he disobeyed God they renounced obeysance to him or his Soveraignty and he civilly dyed even the same day he sinned thus sayes the Apostle account your selves dead to sinne Rom. 6.11 Thus every good Christian esteems sin dead not to be obeyed bâ—… yeilding to it or acknowledging it Christ has dealt with sin in part as thâ— Philistines did with Israel they had no Smith to make sword or speare only file for forkâ—s and mattocks he leaves sin no deadly weapon it can fray us not * Considerata Christi morte slay us Thirdly naturally sin is slaine Christ has given it its deathâ—s wound by his death resurrection it can't live long though it may linger a while in a Saint as a Tree that is cut at the root with a sore gash or two must dye within a yeer perhaps within a month or two though for the present it may have leaves and fruit it secretly dies and will suddainly shew it selfe withered Wouldst thou know whether sin dye in thee or no Doest thou when Summer comes I mean temptation bring forth fruit of sin or no If thou doest not thou art dead to sin sin is dying in thee Christ that for the future his people sin not to hinder his everlasting love gives them preventing grace heales their nature restraines them them whom he redeemed by his word from sin shewing them the deformity of it the reward of it perchance sometime propounding to them the glory of heaven and above all the * If there were neither a hell to punish nor a heaven to reward the Saints would love Christ Yet as in Moses and our Saviour the reward may be lookt at to sweeten sorrow Heb. 11. ver 26 12. v. 2. Non pleno sed semiple no anima love of Christ dehorts from sin by the voice of his spirit the voice behind that when they are about to sin sayes this is the way walk ye in it That we walke more in his feare enjoy more of his favour St. John sayes he that is born of God sins not unto death presumptuously and constantly In a choyce garden weedes may grow up without the consent of the gard'ner against his will Sin in a Saint borne of God is as those weedes not of his own sowing nor of his own growing willingly to whom he intends a day of weeding A Saint can't sin unto death because of the holy seed 1 Joh. 3. ver 9. In an Oake in winter we see seemingly at the least death but there is juyce to conserve it in the root Esa 6. ver ult though that text has another meaning so Christ our root by the juyce of his word grace the holy seed keeps us from sining to death then we have life like the Oak in the winter or more dangerous time of sinne when we seem even dead We may say of death the effect of sin and sin the cause of death as the sons of the Prophets death is in the pot Sin is in our nature put in flower wheat ground or Christ bruised for our sins and all is well the sons of the Prophets the Saints need not feare The Papists hold sin in a Saint Veniall but with judicious Calvin we affirm all deadly Omne peccatum mortale est quia adversus dei voluntatem rebellio est legis praevaricatio in quam edictum est sine exceptione dei judicium Sanctorum delicta venialia esse non ex suapte natura sed quia eâ—dâ—i misericordia veniam consequuntur Calvin Libroz cap. 8 sect ultima because t is rebellion against God but thus far Veniall because Christ has satisfied for the sins of all his of some even before their actuall committing so they since God is just be pardoned That there is a restraining grace in the Saints so that they sin not so eagerly as before nor so oft to remove if it were possible Christs love finally from them see Psal 103. ver 3. Which forgiveth all thy sin and healeth all thy diseases that that the wound burst not forth to a new sore So Hos 14. ver 2. Take away all iniquity and give grace vid. to restraine as some read it or as ver 4. I will heale their back-slidings God will love his people to the end for though they have sin Num. 23.21 yet he will not behold their sin as to condemn them for â—t neither indeed can he since Christ has safeguarded them satisfying for them though he may bring as is said a temporal punishment for every act of sin yet am not ignorant how many affirm since Christ has satisfied the Saints sufferings are only exercises of faith trials not punishments But Jeremy in behalf of the captive people whereof some sure Saints seeming to correct any private murmuring against Gods punishing hand proves the truth of the point Non solum non maliciam adversus Moabitas eorum regent in vob is non vidi Verum neque vestruÌ„ O Israel pee catum sed filium pro te peccatum factum videbo Neque maledictionem immittere decrevi naminferni Portae contravos non valere pâ—terint ex Lament 3.39 Why doth a living man complaine for the punishing of sin Gospel texts hold forth the same But to returne to the confession of the Sorcerer Balaam as the famous Dr. Hall cals him Numb 23. v. 21. he hath not beheld iniquity Jacobs sinne shall not be looked on by me but my Sons death to cause a curse on my people Non maledixit populo Deus non ergò peccatum in iis videret Parallel is that of Mica 7. v. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by transgression not seeing it as Jer. 50.20 In those dayes they shall look for the sin of Judah but it shall no where be found for I will pardon whom I reserve their sins shall not prevail totally to ruine them or curse them I will not behold their sin but being sasatisfied in my Son will passe by it his death shall prevail to divert oft temporal judgments ever eternal curses See Jer. 31. v. 35 36. If the Sun and Moon can cease to be or the heaven and the earth be measured then my people typifying the Church shall cease to be a Nation for what they have done And what had they not done I say by way of repetition Christ loves his to the end knowing a full satisfaction to be paid for their offences so though their sins in themselves never so much mortified be deadly yet cannot damne because redeemed and must obtaine mercy the word of God is Salt and keeps his people from stinking in his nostrils the word is truth and sanctifies all his Christ is a Sun and that of righteousnesse now the Sun exhales corrupt vapours that the sea and waters corrupt not even so behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World both guilt and punishment healing our nature Christ was made
t s before Christs death was expressed by being received into Abrahams bosom now being gathered to Christ the head and Dives dying was in hell in torment though a Parable Luke 16.22 23. yet Keckerman hence fetches his greatest argument to prove a fire in hell why not I to prove the gluttons immediate being there after death hence know there is a particular judgment immediately after the souls departure as well as a general at last as 't is appointed for man once to die so after death comes judgement Heb. 2.27 viz. particular else how could Dives be in hell except this private judgement passed the just judge does not as the memorated judge of the Stannery's in Devon who hanged a man in the forenoon and sate in judgment after there is a general asize to be hereafter to condemne the wicked but to acquit the righteous the wicked Angels also are in torment before the great day being in chains restrained in darknesse and as Sodom and Gomorrah suffering not to suffer the paines of eternal fire Iude 6.7 Object If Christ's are in glory immediately after death did he not wrong them to returne them to the body in raising them up Answ It was heaven to them to glorifie God by their raising Paul though in the third heaven most contented to glorifie Christ on earth Perchance they were said to be dead and the spiâ—tt to come again because people did beleeve so 2. Answ No mention being made by Lazarus or any of them of heaven but Paul who was there before death I rather conceive they were not in joy but God miraculously sure much beyond nature kept the soule in some traunce as it were or extacy to glorifie Christ and shew his power in quickning the body from which the soule not departed but slept she is not dead but sleepeth sayes our Saviour the sicknesse is not unto death but unto the glory of God speaking of Lazarus perchance had their time as we say beene come it had been otherwise I hope I wrong not Christs miracles or come neer the errour of soul-seekers But to returne to Christs love he loves the father and the children see the continuance of it If a beleeving parent willing or desiring to have his child baptised in whom suppose no visible grace it ought not to be refused baptisme know God hears desires and looks on a willing mind signs of grace considering especially the promise to beleevers children Mark 10.13 14 Acts 3.25 2.39 Psal 10.17 I wonder why the Antipoedobaptists wrong their children and curtaile the promise imprisoning Christs love only in the Beleever 't is not the nature of grace or this Sacrament to finde or look for a praedisposition the Parents desire sufficeth Pardon the digression if I use a word or two to set forth Gods love in the promise and its freenesse but first take it from Origine who lived but 200 yeers after Christ that Baptisme of infants was received by the Church from the very Apostles declared in Rom. 6. and Augustines fourth Book against the Donatists cap. 24. affirmes Baptisme of Infants not to be by mans authority no nor counsels but the Apostles doctrine Peter tels the Jewes the Promise is made to them and to their children Acts 2.39 the answer of the Antipaedobaptist is if the children do beleeve but let us consider well and we shall find the text to be otherwise meant God promised Abraham to be a God to him and of his seed and commands him Circumcision and his seed at eight dayes old Gen. 17. Peter preaching to the Jewes repeats the substance of the Promise affirming Christ would be so to them beleeving and to all afar off beleeving and to their seed by vertue of the Promise God promises to Israel his spirit and consequently himself to be Israels God and to his seed and seeds seed Esay 59. ult Israels children were Circumcised and are not we Gentiles the spiritual seed of Abraham are not our children capable of the Promise too does not Peter so repeat the tenure of the Covenant Acts 3.2 ult yee speaking to the Jewes are the children of the Covenant first what means that word first if the Covenant belong'd not to us Gentiles secondly the Apostle was loth to say the Covenant in the second place did belong to us Gentiles whom they hated least it might keep them off Paul after but saying he would turne to the Gentiles saw their rage when they said away with such a fellow from the earth but remember he joynes Circumcision and Baptisme together Col. 2.11 12. but yee are circumcised being buried with Christ in Baptisme Num jung antur jam Gryphes equis it seems Baptism Circumcision may stand almost in the same verse as if they might have some affinity or acquaintance as if Paul would have said ye being baptized are in Covenant as those circumcised Could Moses give a greater priviledge then Christ Could he afford children Circumcision and not Christ Baptisme Suppose a Landlord make a Lease to a man and his heirs then recall that and make or give it to the man and not his heirs which is the greatest priviledge the first that 's Moses to the righteous and their seed freely the second is Christ's to the beleever not his seed or heir unlesse he have some ability to hold the farme as I may say eased according to the Antipaedobaptist But you 'l say 't is no priviledge for the child to be baptised and in Covenant by vertue of the father not having faith I willingly omit that t is in the world a priviledge to be a Gentleman by the Father though the son have not that stock of riches but why may not they be said to have faith is it because actually they expresse it not then neither may they be accounted reasonable sure Children have had grace Iohn Christ the spirit from the womb We read not that either in John or Christ grace and the spirit much appeared when children yet sanctified from the womb Johns grace as himselfe seemed to be in the desert till the time of his showing Christ had a patent dorâ—ient for a time John expressed his having the spirit once when in the womb he leaped so that Christ though he be said to encrease in wisdom stature favour with God man Luke 2. ult increased not in wisdome but in appearance of men and so in favour with God and really with men only in the exercise of it having the spirit at first in a plentiful manner but these examples are extraordinary but did not Christ blesse the children and consequently give them grace deny not Baptism to known grace yet you 'l say he baptised them not how is it known but his Disciples did they were brought by friends was not here the forenamed desire perchance faith he that gave the greater the blessing will he deny the lesse Baptisme to these belongs the Kingdom of Heaven sayes Christ What
times Prov. 17. v. 17. Now Christ is our friend so he has proved himself so he cals Lazarus John 11. v. 1. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Such he professeth himself to be to all his people such he was to them while his enemies Greater love then this has no man Ante omnia tempora in toto vitae tempoâ—e cùm non crit tempâ—s amabaâ—amat amabit suos Deus that a man should lay down his life for his friends John 15.13 Observe Christ calls his friends before he died for them so God is said to love them before his â—on was sent John 3.16 Our friend Christ loved us before all time through all time after all time or when time shall be no more O let me then obtain the love of God and I value not the hatred of the whole kingdom of darknesse Ought not we to love this God that loved us first 1 John 4.19 and continues to loves to the end therefore neither sin nor Satan of which more in the progresse shaâ—l finally be able to remove us from the love of God which is in Christ lesus Rom 8. v 2. last He is angry with sin and his sinful people hates sin but not his people God does not hate whom he once loved though they fall into divers and great sins he hates their sins loves themselves thus God seems plainly to affirme when he bids the Prophet go love a woman an Adulteresse yet beloved of her friend Pone te foen inà amare moechantem Hos 3. v. 1. The woman is the people Israel committing Idolatry yet beloved of God God loved Solomon once therefore David called his name Jedidiah 2 Sam. 12. v. 24 25. therefore God never hated Solomon notwithstanding his strange sin of Idolatry unlesse you 'l make him a changling God may justly punish his beloved for every act of sin with a temporal punishment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dilectus Dominus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dilectus à Domino as he did Solomon in his son yet love them nay because he loves them therefore he punishes Amos 3.2 If any object Christby death has given satisfaction for the sins of his beloved therefore God were unjust to take a double account Answ Christ died to take away eternal punishments chiefly yet temporal punishments may be mitigated through him oft quite forgotten by God and not inflicted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to correct or instruct one being the end of the other quae nocent docent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But secondly know Christ only dyed to satisfie for sin no created nature can satisfie divine wronged justice God punishes his redeemed people not to make satisfaction but to drive them to repentance his corrections are for instruction not satisfaction The Lord has torne come let us return to him and he will heale Hos 6. v. 1. Farre sweeter are the corrections of God then the mercies and embracements of the world they are as oyle saies the Psalmist which will not break the head if the very righteous smite me as from God it shall be a kindnesse Psal 141. v. 5. The reason of Gods loving to the end is because he is by nature most the same I am the Lord thy God and change not therefore yee sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3. v. 6. with him is no variablenesse nor shadow of changing Jam. 1. v. 7. thus much his name imports * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exod. 3.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 absolute sic Lxx. interpretantur I Am the same yesterday to day and for ever Hebr. 13 v 8. Now if God should love one once and then hate the same God were not the same unchangable one But may some say God is said to repent Jonah 2. v 10. and he repented of the evill of punishment which he said he would do to them So Adam is threatned to die see his servant-ike-servile condition undoubtedly Gods childrens now farre beyond it in the day thou eatest thereof non mutar voluntateÌ„ sed vult mutationem yet lived many hundred yeers so that if you consider how many years he would have been growing to the stature he was created in and adde them he was the most long lived in all the world so Hezekiah threatned yet lives 15. yeers To which I Answer as some Schoolmen God changes not his will Scriptura loquitur per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad captum no strum but he willeth a change in others when he is said to repent he repents not but causes repentance in others whom he threatned Repentance sorrow joy are not in God only Scripture useth such expressions speaking to our capacity and according to our wont but God is most perfect and free from such passions and imperfections I am not a man that I should lye nor the sonne of man that I should repent Numbers 23. v. 19. But this is to be noted the better to understand Gods unchangablenes that his threatings are conditional Mutar sencentiam non consiliam Deus he will bring destruction on Nineve unlesse she repent on Ahab unlesse he humble himself on Abimelech unlesse he restore her untouched on whom noli me tangere was writ Sarah on Adam unlesse he lay hold on the promised seed this condition is expressed Jer. 18.7 8. oft times upon repentance God doth reverse his sentence not change his mind Lastly God verified his word in threatning Adam he was condemned to dye the very day he sinned and so was Hezekiah both dead men according to Law as we say though repreiv'd for a season but you 'l say why doth not God expresse the condition alwayes I answer as another has in that case It 's needlesse and hurtful needlesse Qui dedit paenitenti veniam non promisit peecatori paenitentiam because expressed in Jeremy hurtful because sinful and secure men hearing God upon repentace will grant pardon grow the more secure supposing it time enough to repent at any time as if they could repent at any time when they please Having thus cleared the truth let us see more of Christs everlasting love or loving to perfection as the Greek bears it Christ loves his to perfection because they are one with himself that several wayes therefore he will love them till they be perfectly happy and glorious as himself First they are one as father and Son are one I desire saies Christ they may be one O Father as we are John 17 v. 20 21. Now Christ and his Father are one partaking of the same nature and so are the Saints one with Christ partaking of the very Divine nature 2 Pet. 1. v. 4 So that of the Psalmist may even be applyed hither 1 Joh 2.14 2 Pet. cha last v. ult Eph. 4.13 I said yee are gods Christ in Scripture is called the Father of the Saints the Word the incorruptible seed Paul saies he travels with them till Christ be formed
love in Christ is to be seen in provideing heaven for man when he was not and when after most sinfull the joyes of a man in Christ eare has not heard eye hath not seene nor entred into mans heart to conceive 1 Cor. 2. v. 9. those joyes are like the new name which no man knowes but he that has it Revel 2. v. 17. but the joyes in heaven with Christ exceed the Apostle that was there sayes they are not to be uttered but unspeakable and most likely since out of love provided by such infinite wisdome we see the pavement of that glorious edifice how bespangled with lights but what then must the inner glory thereof be I say modestly of it as one did I will not too earnestly covet to know its glory before I come there lest striving to know its glory I forget the â—â—ay thither then my losse will seeme greater knowing the greatnesse of the losse But with a parenthesis I know whom I have beleeved and am verily perswaded he will keep me safe and present me spotlesse at that day Consider what most intolerable yet to be undergone and everlasting and most exquisite paines Christ out of love has delivered his from What never slaking tortures what mercilesse furie of unweariable tormentors what utter despaire of any possibility of release what never dying death ever renewing torments never pitied never intermitted damnation His love appears in giving his his guard of Angels to keep them in all their wayes Bernard dixit Bonus Angelus videt te peccantem do let malus gaudet cave deus videt qui judicat ergo ne pecces those which wait upon his own throne guard the cottages of his people Psal 34.7 Whether each Saint has his Angel I affirm not saies Calvin yet two places seem plain Matth. 18.10 their Angels behold and Acts 12. v. 15. 't is his Angel See the Churches opinion then how ever 't is certaine the Angels take care of them put good thoughts into the soules which the Spirit must sanctifie why shall not they be allowed to put good thoughts into us as well as the Divel bad they oft resist Satan unknown to the Saints when he would else appear to frighten nay to devoure See the Jearned M. Leigh on the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus Daniel may be understood 12.1 Then stood up Michael your Prince which is for the people for though Christ may be meant oft by Michael the Archangel yet the Archangel is used distinct from Christ 1 Thes 4.16 the Lord shal descend speaking of Christ with a shout the voyce of the rather of an Archangel Master Perkins We read Christ shal come with his holy Angels are not the Angels distinct from Christ Now by the by If one Archangel why not more the Jewes rekon seven Michael Gabriel Raphael Daniel but to omit their testimony in Daniel 10. v. 13. Michael is called one of the chiefe Princes or the first one implies more a first a second David stirs up himself by the example of Angels praysing God the true meaning of that Psalme 103. v. 20. but whom means he they excell in strength man that were no honour hee 's but dust they excel not only the wicked spirits but one another the excellers are Archangels Peter saies as much compare Peter with Jude 9. the Angels excelling in strength bring nota railing accusation 2 Pet. 2.11 Iude saies Michael the Archangel did not bring a railing accusation quoting the same * Satan branded Moses for a murderer because of the Egyptian though hee was in commission from God but his brethren understood it not Acts 7.25 and would have the murderer his sepulchre known because a murderer but his aime was that Israel most prone to Idolatry might worship and Idolize the bones and Sepulchre story the same Agents or Disputants onely one in the singular number the other the plural A Habrâ—isme one Gospel saies theeves railed on Christ the other one of the theeves thus understand Revel 4.5 of the seven spirits before the throne not because seven is a perfect number in Scripture therefore that number used not understand septemplicem spiritus operationem qui tamen in se unissimus est but understand seven spirits or Archangels being more agreeable to that place so understand Job 38 v. 7. when morning stars sang together and sons of God shouted for joy There are no morning stars but one Venus sometime she is the morning star sometime the evening nor were stars created till the fourth day therefore could not sing at laying the foundation of the earth as these in Job did again stars cannot properly be said to sing remember the chief of Divels is called Lucifer the or a morning star Esa 14.12 Lastly God had at laying the foundation of the earth no other sons but Angels man not created long after by morning stars Archangels are to be understood as excelling by sons of God Angels Gods sons by creation Envine not man and his guard on earth more guarded then * Sine custode metuendum est multomajus a custode est metuendum C.A. dixit regarded thy guard O beloved love thee rejoyce at mans good are thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand Dan. 7. v. 10. had we our eyes opened as Elisha's servant we should see more for us then against us How great is man O Lord how hast thou in love visited him After this life they like Chariot and horses of fire convoy the soul of the Saint as conquerour through Christ to heaven mark what an honourable and safe convoy the blessed souls have John proves the Saints able to discern the truth from falshood Christ fró Antichrist and to overcome because of this annoynting of the spirit 1 John cap. 2. v. 13 20. veritas enim est index sui obliqui little doth the world think what a noble person it abuses when it abuses a Saint Think not O Saint I wrong Christ by saying he is not the Archangel only used in Scripture behold I rather praise him shewing his glory in his glorious creatures Christs love appears in giving his people his holy spirit as he has fenced them without so he has strengthened them within to resist and overcome hence those soveraign graces to stand in time of temptation to be heartned against all doubts and feares assured of Christs love and salvation enabled to cry Abba Father so in the might of God his people may bid defiance to the gates of hell let all principalities and powers rulers of darknes do their worst his people in right of him whose they are are above their malice though weak in themselves strong in him sinful in themselves but Christ is their righteousnesse How canst thou be but comforted O Christian that hast the holy spirit the Comforter with thee I will shew thee in a word or two by way of digression Be of good comfort saies Christ
John 16. ult I have overcome the world which would discomfort thee Christ speaks it who speaks not to the eare only as man but to the heart and soul he saies be circumcised and repent speaking to the elect yet in sin not that they have a power to repent no more then the world had to be made when he said let it be or then Lazarus being dead to whom he said come forth to arise but because he gives power with his word to the elect to the world to Lazarus to repent to be made to rise from the dead consider who bids Christ against whom all sin with the Father is committed he who is Judge he bids then thy sinnes need not cast thee down be of good cheere daughter sayes he for thy sinnes be forgiven thee thy faith has made thee whole Luke 8.48 Who now shall condemn since Christ justifies Rom. 8.33 I am neer that justifie who will contend with thee Esay 50.8 Survey thy adversaries who can dismay thee Who art thou that art afraid of a man I even I am he that comfort you of man whose breath is in his nostrils and forgettest me thy Maker of man that is as grasse and of the son of man that shall die Esay 51.12 13. Remember O Saint God tels thee man is grasse consider God gives grasse good ground to grow in Sun to cherish dew and rain to nourish though the oppressor has the blessings of the world fear him not God can blesse outwardly as he did Israel and curse inwardly and secretly the meat of God being in their mouths the wrath of God may be upon the wealthiest of them I have read of a lightning that hurts not the scabberd yet melts the sword but consider Esay 50. v. 9. they shall waxe old as a garment like a garment so the oppressour may be in fashion nay and do God service for the present but Simonides in vitam humanam shall suddenly be out of date as an old sute of cloaths another shall come in the rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One generation passeth away and another cometh Shall Satan discomfort thee true he loves to imprison Christs people but Christ having the Keyes of hell Delphis oracula cessant juven Plutarch de defectu oraculorum Cicero lib. 2. de divinatione speaks of oracles ceasing All the Idols of Egypt when Christ was there fell down of their own accord polid postea quam Jesus colitur saies the wicked Por phyrius nihil utilitatis a diis consequi possumus grave death none of his can be imprisoned without consent but wretched creatures Christ has spoyled principalities and powers triumphing over them Colos 2. v. 15. By dying his death spoyled Satans kingdom There is story in Plutarch how one Thamus an Aegyptian being in a becalmed ship at sea a voyce came to him commanding him though with sorrow to proclaime at a certaine place he sayled by the death of great god Pan which he having accordingly done there followed much sâ—â—â—â—â—…iâ—g crying howling lamentalion Pan was Christ the great Shepheard of our souls who upon search is found to have dyed about that time and so ruined Satan Christs very birth frightned him from oraculizing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divels own confession But however Satan could only bruise the heel of Christ people Christ is onely able to comfort earthly and creature-comforts are but as the white of an Egge in Iob without taste Christ will nay has sent the spirit the comforter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A spirit can only comfort a spirit he comes skipping over mountains of sin and obstacles to assist he puts by Mary Magdalens over-curious touch though she had so long waited about the Sepulchre to see him or to hear news of him to hasten comfort to his pensive Disciples and sad Peter Go saies Christ haste to my Disciples tell them and Peter that has denied me thrice that I am alive that as I dyed for their sins so I am arose for their justification Christ was annoynted for this purpose to comfort Esay 61.2 he has balme of Gilead for a sorrowful spirit and oyle of comfort for those that mourn in Sion he has promised to send the Comforter John 14.17 and though he is not bound to man to make good his promise yet because God if we beleeve not that is if we stagger through weaknesse at the promise he continues faithful and cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2 12 13. he has prayed to the Father and therefore ye shall be comforted John 14.16 creature comforts are like feasts of a Funeral seem indeed to gild sorrow over or flatter woe but are indeed as Iob's but miserable comforters we say as Rachel give me children or I die Object I have waited but he comes not Answ Christ loves thee therefore when he sees time he will come and will not tarry wait his leasure he is they Creator thy Master thy Husband thou hast much sinned against him he would have come to thee with the spirit of information oft but thou didst refuse now thou wouldst have him come to thee with the spirit of consolation if he would not at all he serv'd thee well enough but he will come then wait thou maist perceive thou hast his spirit in some measure in that thou dost endure else with Iudas or Achitophel thou wouldst end thy dayes We trust our Physician when we are very low yet he brings us lower he thinks us not low enough for a comfortable cordial God perchance sees thee not empty enough of creature-comforts not humble enough for many are humbled yet not humble believe him he will yet come and raise up If a Merchant having a ship at sea could certainly be perswaded it would come home safe and rich he patiently would wait its arrival though it be absent long as God is true beleeve his promise as Christ has been touched with the same infirmities remember his compassion he is one with thee therefore thou canst not long be comfortlesse he being happy he desires not to drink of the fruit of the Vine alone that is to partake of glory or the comforts of the spirit compared to cherishing wine but to drink it with his disciples Christ's are his Temple there are Hymns and spiritual Songs he dwels in his people how can sorrow or not comfort be there where the God of all comfort and consolation is Art thou afflicted for his cause Behold Christ with the three children in the furnace Art thou unmindful of Gods visiting his people by Angels sometimes by Christ in their shape and doth he not visit thee with the spirit who is above Angels as is his name so is he Immanuel is his name and God is with us the triple negation may confirme the point Heb. 13. v. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will never never never forsake thee No wonder then Saint Paul bids the Saints rejoyce alwaies I say rejoyce Phil. 4.4 Could Caesar think to
we say they are but truths of Scripture more apparent Hence O Christian thou having the spirit of love and power maist conclude no finall falling away as the Papist and Arminian teach For how then should Christ love to the end if he let go his hold and let thee sink at last See a few reasons and proofs for thy future strengthening Consider to this purpose what God is to us and what he promises God is our husband and no finall divorce to be allowed no woman the Churches condition has power over her self no not in this case but the man No Saint has power to give away himselfe for he is not his own but Christs Christ is the life the Saints lives are not in their own power but hid feofewed with Christ in God Colos 3.3 As Christ is safe so is their life Christ is their head as long as the head 's alive so shall the members ex loco Joh. praecitato 14.19 the Saints being the members how were Christ perfect or compleat if they lost Yet in this mysticall body the best joynts are subject unto spraines yea perhaps to bruises and gashes but no bone so shattered in pieces but may and still is set againe God has promised his people eternall life Joh. 10.28 They shall never perish He that gave them is greater then all and none shall pluck them out of his hand v. 9. Nay those that believe in regard of the certainty of the performance of the promise are said to have eternall life Joh. 5. ver 24 He that has once faith to believe shall never lose it though it may seeme lost for the present for he that is the author of it will be the finisher Heb. 12.2 The Alpha and Omega if God promise so he has sworn to make it good God abundantly more willing to shew to the heyres of Salvation the immutability of his Counsell confirmed it with an Oath that we might have strong consolation Heb. 6.17 18. He will confirm you to the end to bee blamelesse 1 Cor. 1.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Triplex negatio vehementiffimè negat I have already quoted his promise I will never never never leave thee Heb. 13.5 Indeed the Saints and he being one 't is impossible they be should lost being part of himself So the Apostle is perswaded that neither life nor death nor Angels principalities nor powers shall be able to separate the Saints from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.38 39. The will of God is like the Law of the Medes and Persians which alter not Du Moulin against Armin. or like Pilates quod scripsi scripsi For whom he hath once written in the booke of life he never blots out there is a difference between the book of life and living or naturall life blot them out of the book of the living let them not be written among the righteous this naturall life the Psalmist means and the world where the righteous and wicked live together Let me examine the grounds of the Apostles perswasion Rom. 8. Death can't for in Scripture sense 't is not worthy of that name though in a Philosophique sense it may because it can't separate a St. from Christ nor is' t a curse nor punishment since Christ dyed but a passage to him the hurt of death is taken away Christ has destroyed him that has the power of death the divel the executioner Heb. 2.14 Where then is death casheer'd Why Because sayes one an Officer that arrests the Kings son is to be discharged of his Office so death for Arresting Christ The sting of it by which Satan prevailed to destroy is blunted abated I will not say plucked out because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in many things we offend all yet John sayes behold the Lambe of God which takes away the sins of the world remember the power of the word * De medio tollere as Budaeus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there to take away Joh. 1.29 Quis neget Aeneae magni de stripe Neronem Sustulit hic matrem sustulit ille Patrem Sin in the Saints Christ dying for them is much like the Viper on Pauls hand has not a sting to wound to eternall death Christ took away the guilt and pnishment of sinne and sactifyes his people much subduing sin in them ex Mica ult antep to have a Snake in ones bosome with poyson and teeth out may as cold water thrown into ones face more startle feare one then hurt one But I forbear because carnal men will make a sport of sin Though then that counted death continue among us yet it continues not to be what it was The name is more terrible then it think not lying in a grave an argument of the continuance of the power of death but rather to have all conformable to our Saviour or to lay aside corruption in the grave Musculus Thy body as now it is is not capable of immortality flesh and blood cannot inherit eternall life wouldest thou bring a corruptible carkase into heaven to be a glorifyed member of Christ No then lay aside corruption suppose it be sowen in weaknesse it shall be raised in power Thou foole that which thou sowest is not quickened except it dye Keep thy Corne above ground for fear of corruption where then shall the fresh greene blade appeare When shall the staâ—ke grow up When shall it eare When shall it flower All this glory and advantage will be lost if thy Corne be not cast into the furrows of the earth Doth not corruption within thee trouble thee more then death Wert thou not better once dye then be continually disquieted with the motions of corruption Ther 's no finall subduing them till the body be destroyed which doth so cline and draw thee to thee to the service thereof * Death to us is beneficiall though death thinks to do hurt as Phereus lasons enemy was to him he having an Aposthem in his body the enemy prickt the Aposthem and so gave him life whom he thought to kill Cic. Nat. Deor. Lib. 3. See if death be not advantage If a Crab-stocke having his head and boughs cut oft be grafted with a Pippin or some other pleasant fruit can it reasonably complain of hurt Or has he any wrong done him that has his Cottage of Clay pulled down and a goodly Pallace of stone built for his dwelling This is thy case O beloved But foolish men thinke there is no such life in Christ Let death be fearfull to Heathens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some Philosophers feared it not but said Si mors est nos non sumus mors non est and let us not through feare from which by Christs death we are delivered ex Heb. 2.15 be any longer subject to bondage Lâ—ing in a grave is so sweetned by Christs lodging there that that need not trouble a Saint they like the good subject Ittai are content to be where their
David is in death and life Christ is risen so must his members he is not here sayes the Angel for he is risen the Angels Philosophy proves one body can't be in two places Amesius Bellarm. enervatus Death is but a sleepe the Nurse is not afraid to put her Babe to sleepe if he sleepe he shall do well Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Joh. 11. V. 11. Caldaico-haebraicum significat to lie to sleepe Hezekiah also slept with his fathers the grave 's asleeping place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that sleep expect a morning to rise we a morning of resurrection Neither life not the many dangers whereby t is in continuall hazard for he giveth his Angels charge over his people not afflictions of this life for they draw his people neerer I have sent ye leannesse cleannesse of teeth want of bread but ye have not turned to me saith the Lord Amos 4.6 Ye see God aimed at calling them neerer not driving them further by affliction We ought not to say depart from us for we are sinfull men but draw neere to us Gods corrections are like Jonathans Arrowes to David effects of love to warn not destroy Man is apt to misconstrue Deus unicum habuit silium sine peccato nullum sine flagello but God has given us a Commentary upon his own actions Jer. 29.11 But I know the thoughts I have towards you saith the Lord they are thoughts of Peace not of evil speaking to his people in case of Affliction The afflictors of the world intend not good to the Saints But God has the ruling of them the Assyrian is Gods rod God keeps as I may so speak the end of it in his own hand that the Assyrian smite neither deeper nor oftner then he pleases but he thinks not so Esa 10.4 7. The horsleech sucks to fill and satisfie itselfe but the Physitians aym is for good God out of love corrects his but will not vouchsafe to correct the wicked but lets them ripen in sinne till the day of vengeance the harvest Be not then troubled or cast down for affliction remember Saints are living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 and to endure they must be like the Sea receiving all waters and not changing quality or like Iob receiving evil good patiently or as a good stomach receive all meats vomit up none by murmuring reluctancy Of them in a moderate sense I dare say as divine Seneca who is said to have exchang'd Epistles with Saint Paul no evils happen to them Nihil accidere bono viro mali potest Tot amnes tantum superne de◠jectorum imbrium non mutant maris saporem nec remittunt it a adversarum impetus rerum viri fortis non mutat animum sed manet in statu est omnibus externis potentior sentitsed vincit placidusque contra incurrentia attollitur adversa exercitationes putat Vir erectus labor is est appetens honesti ad officia cum periculo promptus Videmus Athletas cum fortissimis confligere per quos certamini praeparantut marcet sine adversario virtus Dura non reformidant nec de fato queruntur quiequid accidit boni consulunt in bonum vertunt patres mature ad studia obeunda liberos excitari jubent sudorem illis interdum lachrymas excutiunt matres so vere in sinu nunquam laborare volunt Seneca de provid cap. 2. though they feel them and smart with them they change all into good in these being more then conquerours count all afflictions exercises but not only vertue they know languishes without these Champions seeke opposition they that strive for masterie desire to fight run wrastle with others before hand to stirre up their spirits and encrease activity and strength God sends his Saints afflictions partly for this end all working together for good to them that love him Rom. 8.28 Afflictions then though evil in themselves prove good The father sends his darling to the Schoole of vertue early to undergo difficulties and learn to pierce obscurities 't is a fond mother seeks to keepe them in her bosome idle What honest man refuses labour Will he not undergo honest offices with difficulty and danger As a Minister preach truth though it cost hot water For 't was once primus in Ministerio primus in Martyrio Sure idlenesse is painfull to some A good soule can as easily lack fire and water as Crosses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praeclara rara Heavens joyes are not to be obtained without sweating Nor life If we understand the frailties of life because if thou art in Christ they are pardoned Christs death has reconciled all in heaven and earth Angels as well as men had benefit of Christs death Colos 1. ver 20. Also Christ's have crucified or condemned at least the flesh with its affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 They have the spirit to conquer with which is where ever it be finally chiefe master though Satan may live not only propè but unà a while with Christ in the same house yet there is nor divisum imperium in the same beleever is the house of Saul but a kingdom of David Dagon fals at last if the Arke be there though till the last combat the spirit appeares not finally victorious Christ thus subdues sin in his people and casts their sins behind his back not intending to see them and drownes in them in the depth of the Sea that they may never float or appeare against them Micah 7.19 Nor Angels nor Principalities Principalities and powers are distinct offices if not kinds of Angels to whom God commits the managing of Princedomes so powers may be said to be the Angels in whom or by whom he manifests his power as Thrones are they in whom as in a Throne sayes Calvin Gods Majesty is declared now Satan and his assume the same priviledges God tolerating by them to punish the disobedient but these cannot separate the good Angels will not the bad cannot for they are destroyed Col. 2.15 See their power and maliceat least curbed Christs death has that efficacy that whomever he dyed for can never dye Rom. 8.34 Who condemneth since Christ has dyed had he dyed for all application should not have hindred their Salvation he that gave Christ would freely give all things Let the divel the accuser of the brethren climbe up to heaven having however his hell with him and present himselfe for their wrong they have a friend in Court Christ who is in heaven to appeare for them Heb. 9.24 Or as Rom. 8.34 who sitteth at the right hand of God that is in equal authority and power making intercession for us Christ prayes for us as I may so speake when we little think of it scarce praying for ourselves Christs prayer is more praevalent then Satans accusation or else why are not we cast Satan so often accusing He desired to sift Peter but Christs prayer for him was enough to enable him to stand Luke 22.31 32. His
compared to the vomit of a dog the menstruous cloth the mire of the street in which the sow wallows do not live as Heathen under the name of Christians Muta nomen vel age fortius Let not Christ be wounded in the house of his friends never more pretences for Christ then now if the wine good what need so great a bush cur pudeat nos dicere quod non pudeat hos facere Bishop Jewel Contemn the world sine mundum vadere ut vult sayes Luther thou art not of the world Say to it as Diogenes to his servant Manes in Seneca which run away from him as the world will serve thee in time of trouble turpe esset Manen posse vivere sine Diogene Diogenem non posse vivere sine Mane If thou canst live without me I se strive to live without serving thee think not of husks being converted think of thy joy and spirituall food of comfort since thy coming home by repentance say as the Father I have wanted my sweets too long already remember how the Father fetcht thee home being a great way off in sin he went not softly but ran not a step or two but quite to meet did not barely bid welcome but fell upon his neck and kissed him Run not then back to sin do not retexere telam but remember Lots wife she became a pillar of salt which Josephus sayes he saw being after Christs death why into a pillar of salt ut te sale condiat to season thee Hate sin thou Gentile and a beleever Christ died for thee the superscription was in Hebrew for the Iews in Greek and Latine the language of the Gentiles for thee Thou O man which continuest in sin what good is it to thee to hear of Christs love which reacheth thee not to hear of water in a well and hast not a vessell to draw even faith or to hear of Abraham Isaac aad Jacobs being in heaven and thou shut out presume not on mercy love or peace what hast thou to do with them as long as thy rebellion against God which is witchcraft and thy sins are so many Know as one thief was saved to teach us not to despair so another was damned to teach thee not to presume Exemplum latronis servati est admirandum non imitandum Mane is the devils verb he bids tarry time enough to repent but Manè is Gods adverb he bids repent early in the morning of thy youth The ancient warriers would not accept an old man into their Army as unfit for service when thou knowest not what else to do with thy time and self art sure of his entertainment because he accepted one at the eleventh hour answerable neer to six a clock at night with us a time to discharge servants sayes Mr. Goodwin in his Moses and Aaron rather then to hire new are sure of thy repentance and acceptance at last Christ loved us and gave himself for us when in the prime of age being supposed to be about 33. deserves he thy worst verifie not that of Pamphilius Cum nemini obtrudi potest itur ad me God called for the first of all things in the Law to teach thee to give him thy heart primum vivens thy youth and strength he gave thee all give not him the worst even those dayes wherein thou hast no pleasure when occasion of sinning doth leave thee not thou sin If thou lovest Christ thou wilt not easily hear his Name blasphemed a good son or servant will not hear his father or master abused Do not I hate them that hate thee sayes the Psalmist If thou continuest in his love see thy happinesse hereafter thou shalt see Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 face to face or as the apostle see him as he is that is not darkly as in a glasse now but more plainly without reflecting upon the Creatures in which he is now seen Christs humane nature shall be seen most glorious but no created nature can behold God in full glory or is capable to comprehend his essence perfectly but shal comprehend him to content satisfaction though some more some lesse as buckets cast into the sea all are full yet some have more water others lesse as the capacity of the vessell is what manner of love is this that Christ should die justifie giving faith to lay hold on him and eternall life et opera illius nostra sunt Christ has left a letter for us behind him in which we may see his love to us our duty to him keep this letter safe God has most strangely kept it from ages for thee slight it not nor so great Salvation as is in it offered it is rich enough in it self without humane literature yet as a handmaid use it to Divinity the queen of knowledge slight not a pearl though in a dunghill vero nil verius Paul himself has quoted a Poet yet sure here is knowledge enough search not too deep into the earth for hidden treasure lest a damp endanger thee and it Here in Scripture is copia without which all knowledge is but inopia which can guide our feet into the way of peace * Nonest attendentum quid alij ante nos secerint sed quid christus qui ante omnes est faciendum praeceperit Cyprian then follow Christ speaking in the word seek to gain the Apostles spirit to understand the Apostles writings as for Commentaries and Ministers do not jurare in verba ministri follow them as they follow Christ Jesus amicus Plato amicus Aristotelis sed magis amica veritas follow none in an errour Siquid legem sibi dixcrit nihil contra Zenonis Chrysippive dictum committere et unius sequi sententiam non id vitae sed factionis est sayes Seneca Gods word is plain a light a lanthorn God out of love Justice would not leave his word over dark or difficult since to guide his people he has moreover left us an able Commentary his Spirit Vas vitreum ut lambimus sicet pultim attingimus Take heed of imbracing new Cannons orders for worship if they be Scripture which is full use Scripture if not if an Angel from heaven bring them let him be accursed Plow up O Lord the furrows of our hearts by sorrow and contrition for sin sowe in the incorruptible seed of thy word water it with the dew of heaven thy grace from above make it bring forth fruit in some sixty in some thirty in all some and in some all to the praise of thy Name the good of our own souls the edifying of our brethren through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Phosphore redde diem quid gandia nostra moraris Caesare venturo Phosphore redde diem Day-star bring the day make no delay Our Caesar is to come in his kingdome ô Saviour bring that day make no delay Even so come Lord Jesu come quickly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS To the Reverend His carefully-loving Father Mr. RANDOL HOLLAND A Minister of the Gospel in IRELAND SIR MY Letters seldome arrive safely with you in Ireland by reason of the distance Wherefore I have annext this printed to my Book which I doubt not but in time if alive you 'll receive It will certifie you somewhat the state of my soule though not of my body If you ask me the reason of my publishing so mean an Exercise in a time of such Paper-prostitution among many reasons I le give you Sir this as most concerning your self The death of my ever gallant Vncle Captain Stephen Hussey and the never enough by me deplored losse of my two deare Brothers Henry and Joshuah Holland slain in these unnaturall warres made me first apply my self to this subject I have comforted my self considering the graces God formerly wrought in them as footsteps of himself and then considering his loving to the end considering that afflictions are signes of love that death is beneficiall and sodain death no argument of his hatred Josiah's death was such And indeed I had scarce with sighs dryed the teares off my face which I had shed for them when God blest me with a son I thought God had sent me a summers day in the winter of my sorrow little did I dream its sun would set so sodainly I baptized it with your name and thought with Hannah to have given it to the Lord all his dayes But indeed it proved but an April sun-shine which had a present shower waiting on it God saw me not humble enough nor fitted for such a blessing For by that time it had twelve moneths blest me with many a smile peor babe as if it had performed the errand God sent it for it returned to him that gave it doubtlesse it hath took possession of the heaven of Saints for me of which our Saviour long since took possession for us all This made me more earnestly study on this subject Gods love in affliction that I might the more willingly kisse the rod that scourged me This was one reason made me publish these lines That whiles I could not enjoy my friends here nor my sweet Randol I might at least have as it were their Funerall sermon to read Thus thanking you for your care to wards me in my Education for your Prayers of which I believe I have had benefit desiring the continuance of them and your health I rest Your dutiful sonne Hezek Holland Sutton-Valence July 10. 1649.