was in Scotland by Gowries conspiracie diuided into 3. parts togither with his deliuerances frō the same The Kings thanking of God for his victory and the great reioycing of all the land for his deliuerance A Prayer for the King An Application to the Auditorie wherein sixe reasons are set downe why troubles should not trouble any of them though they be manie THE LOT AND PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOVS Psalme 34.19 Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all MOses an holy man of God speaking to the people of God concerning the Institution of the Passe-ouer to be kept at his appointed season from yeare to yeare saith Exod. 13.14 When thy Sonne shall aske thee What is this Thou shalt say vnto him With a mightie hand the Lord brought vs out of Egipt out of the house of bondage and in remembrance hereof wee celebrate this Feast In like manner when your children right reuerend father right worshipfull and wel beloued brethren in Christ Iesus shall aske of you what this our assemblie meaneth You shall answer that it is to giue God thankes for that great benefite which wee receiued at his hands as on this day when in his mercie hee saued our King after a miraculous manner and deliuered him out of the hands of bloody and desperate traitors who had vowed his death to the hurt of vs all and to the harme of Gods whole Church besides This is the day Psalm 118.24 which the Lord hath made let vs reioice and be glad therin Vpon this day God shewed vs the light of his gracious countenāce and had mercy vpon vs in preseruing for vs so great a treasure so good a gouernour so learned a Maister so worthie a King The Lord graunt that wee may enioy him many happie yeares and become most thankfull vnto his Maiestie for him But to draw to my text in it you shall finde two points most worthy of your obseruation and most correspondent vnto this our dayes celebration In the first you shall see what entertainment you are to expect for heere in this world In the second you shall behold what fauour you are to look for frō the Lord your God out of this world The first of these will shew you you troubles the latter your deliuerance from your troubles and both of them ioyntlie together will shew you both the hands of God the one like a wound maiming you the other a plaister healing you Oh marke and consider things well The righteous must looke for more troubles then others And againe they must hope for greater deliuerances then others Their afflictions heere will bee many like the Hoast of the Aramites and their redemptions also will bee as many like the Hoast of the Israelites Dauid beeing a righteous man and one according to Gods owne heart found this most true by his own experience He had many troubles yet he was deliuered out of all his troubles For this cause doth hee here measuring as it were other men by his owne foote declare vnto vs what is the estate or condition of all righteous persons On the one side hee doth tell vs that they are subiect to manifold troubles and afflictions On the other side he doth assure vs that they shall not continue in these their troubles and afflictions but in time conuenient be deliuered out of them all and that by the gracious hand of the Lord their God who doth watch ouer them still for their good So that the spirit of God directed him to those two chiefe things which make men take their crosses grieuously One because they do not look for them before they come another because they do not behold their deliuerer frō them when they are come The prophet doth preuent both these and tell vs that the righteous shall haue many troubles that the Lord wil deliuer him out of all his troubles I pray remember you both the sentences how to wit you must goe through a Sea of troubles And how then you shall come to an hauen of rest that so when any troubles do come on you they may not trouble you like other men who looke not for their troubles nor knowe not where to haue a remedie against their troubles Thus you haue heard the Analysis now marke the sum parts The sum sets down the state or condition of the righteous The parts are two The first doth note out his miserie The second his deliuerance from his miserie His miserie is described out two wayes First by the nature or quality of it Then secondly by the magnitude or quantitie of it The nature or qualitie in this word Troubles The magnitude or quātitie in the other word Many Many are the troubles of the righteous His deliuerance from his miserie containes two branches vnder it The first is the person who doth deliuer him The second is the thing from which he is deliuered The person that doth deliuer him is the Lord. The thing from which hee is deliuered are all his troubles but the Lord deliuereth him out of all his troubles Now of these in order But before I beginne with them because the whole Tsaddik and euery part doth concerne the Righteous and whatsoeuer is now to be spoken must haue a secret relation vnto them necessitie and opportunitie doe require of mee that I should speake a fewe words concerning them Yet speaking of the righteous I will not speak of all the things which doe belong to the Righteous There are foure questions which may iustly be moued cōcerning them The first is whether there bee any righteous persons in all the world yea or no Seeing Iohn doth teach vs that the whole worlde doth lye in wickednes a Iohn 5.19 The second is that if there bee any who they be and what they are The third is How and by what meanes they that bee and are are made Righteous seeing all by nature are corrupt and vnrighteous according to Christes wordes when hee saith That which is borne of the flesh is flesh b Iohn 3.6 The fourth and last is by what tokens or signes they that are and are made righteous may be knowne from other men considering that they doe liue amongst others like men If I should be long in the opening of these things before you I must haue a large time to open them vnto you But now seeing that I must measure my speech by the measure of the clock in running his houre you must giue mee leaue to runne ouer these pointes and rather to point at them then in any point to dwel vpon them Wherfore referring all these matters rather vnto your owne priuate meditation then pursuing any one of them by any long declaration Thus I shut vp all in a fewe words as followeth 1. Though the whole world doth lye in wickednes yet there are righteous persons in the world for as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or world there in that
amongst them all You know that as vpon this day heeretofore in Scotlād his Highnes was neer vnto his death but the Lord did deliuer him frō that his death Alexāder Ruthwen one of the Gowryes the Earls own brother through a wicked traine drew his Ma into a little study in the Earles owne house the plotter of that treason to the which none could come for his rescue it was so far remote and so many dores were fast lock't betwixt them In that study he had set a man with a weapon a dagger at his girdle They three only being now in the studdy and the studdy-doore fast lockt vpon them Alexander put on his hat on his head and drawing the dagger from that other mans gyrdle held the point of it to the Kings breast avowing now that the King behooued to be in his will and to be vsed as he list swearing many bloody oaths that if the King cryed one word or opened a window to looke out that dagger should presently goe to his heart affirming that hee was sure that now the Kings conscience was burdned for murdring his father Behold here was one part of his highnes trouble Now marke how the Lord did deliuer him from the same First hee made the man there set to do nothing but to tremble and quake and to beg Alexander for Gods sake not to meddle with his Maiestie nor to doe him any harme Secondly he stayde Alexander that hee thrust not at all at the King with his weapon Thirdly he put into the K mouth such an holy and powerfull speach and directed his tongue with such a perswasiue language that Alex himself appeared to be somwhat amazed and vncouering his head againe swore and protested that his Maiesties life should be safe if hee would behaue himself quietly without making noyse or crying that he would onely bring in the Earle his brother to speake with his Maiestie And so he went forth vnto his brother looking the dore behinde him and leauing his Ma with that man he sound there before him To proceede back againe comes Alex to the King with a sword at his side after that he had talked with the earle his brother and at his incomming to his Maiestie he did cast his hands abroade in a desperate manner and said hee could not mend it his Maiestie behoued to dye And with that offered a garter to binde his Maiesties hands with swearing hee behooued to be bound Behold here was an other part of his highnes trouble now marke how the Lord did deliuer him from the same First he caused the man that remained with the King to do nothing against the King as before but in the absence of Alexander when he went to talke with his brother He opened the studdy-window at the request of the K which was a benefite vnto the King Secondly he did so besotte Alexander that he left the studdy doore vnlockt at his comming in at this time for haste did not goe about to kill the King with his weapon but to bind him with his garter Thirdly he gaue that strength and ability to the King that he was hard enough for Alexander with struggling drew him out of the studdy Fourthly he directed the Kings traine to come vnder the studdy window at the same time when the King and Alexander were griping togither who heard and knewe the Kings voyce crying out that they were murthering him in that trasonable forme Fiftly he moued the said K traine to retire and in returning hee caused some of them to hit vpon an open way which was a turn-peck-doore prouided onely for the Earle and his seruants as appeared for that purpose For euer before it was wont to be shut and was onely then left open to come immediately to the King Lastly he caused Sir Iohn Ramsey after he was entred into the chamber and had found his Mai and Alexander strugling togither to strike Alex with his dagger some two or three times taking him by the shoulders to throw him down the staires who was no sooner shut out at the doore but was met by Sir Thomas Erskin Sir Hugh Hereis who there vpon the staires ended him To conclude this point no sooner could the said Syr Thomas Erskine Syr Hugh Hereis with an other seruant enter into the chamber where his Maiestie was but that the said Earle of Gowrie before they could get the dore shut followed them in at the backe hauing cast him directly to come vp that priuie passage as is before saide who at his first entrie hauing a drawne sword in euery hand and a steele bonnet on his head accompanied with seuen of his seruants euery one of them hauing in like manner a drawne sword Cryed out with a great Oath that they should all dye as Traytors Behold here was an other part of his highnes trouble now marke how the Lord did deliuer him from the same First he moued the harts of his seruants to shut his maiestie backe into the little studie and the doord shut vpon him that so he might be put in safely from all strokes Secondly hee gaue them that courage and strength that though they were but foure against eight yet they durst encounter with the earle and his seruants and after many strokes on all hands got the victory of them the said Earle of Gowrie being stricken dead with a stroake through the heart which the said Sir Iohn Ramsey gaue him without once crying vpon God and the rest of his seruants dung ouer the staires with many hurts So let all thine enemies perish ô Lord but they that loue him shall be as the sunne when he riseth in his might The victory thus going on his maiesties side hee being now safe and his enemies being destroyed before him howsoeuer they were many euen to the number of some three or foure score and his company was but small not aboue fifteene persons in all who also were without any kind of armour except swords no not so much as daggers and whingers downe he falles vpon his knees in the midst of his seruants who also kneeled round about him euen immediately before he came out of the chamber and with his owne mouth hee thanked God for that miraculous deliuerance and victory assuring himselfe that God had preserued him from so desperate a perill for the perfitting of some great worke behinde to his glory and for procuring by him the weale of his people that God had committed to his charge The which being done and the whole town of Saint Iohn Stone being appeased his maiestie returned home with the great ioy and loue of all sorts of persons throughout the land who triumphed exceedingly for his deliuerance and gaue manifold thankes vnto the Lord for the same Wherein my beloued brethren let vs labour to paralel them and striue rather therein to goe beyond them then in any sort to come behind them O let vs pray daily vnto the Lord for him and
Ioseph was in prison Moses was in the water Ieremy was in the dungion Dauiel was in the Lions denne Ionah was in the whales belly Mordecay was in the power of Hamon Peter was in the Gaile the three children were in the burning furnace and Israel was in the bondage of Aegipt yet all these were deliuered and came out of their troubles euery one of them So that wee may conclude this point with the saying of Dauid in these words For the Lord loueth iudgement and forsaketh not his saints they shall be preserued for euermore marke the vpright man and behold the iust for the ende of that man is peace the saluation of the righteous men shall be of the Lord he shall be their strength in the time of trouble for the Lord shall helpe them and deliuer them he shall deliuer them from the wicked and shall saue them because they trust in him Ob. But here it may be obiected v psal 37.28.37.39.40 that the righteous are not alwayes deliuered out of their troubles but doe now and then continue in them still and doe rather miscarry by them then euer come out from them considering that they die and perish through them Ans For answere herevnto you must know three things The first is that God hath appointed times when to deliuer his out of their troubles as it is said in the Psalme Hee sent a man before them Ioseph was sold for a slaue They held his feete in the stockes and he was layd in irons vntill his appointed time came and the counsell of the Lord had tryed him w psal 105.17 The second is that small and short troubles will not amend some and fit them well either for the worship of their God while they be here or for their owne actuall enterance into the kingdome of heauen hereafter they are so seated in their sinnes and so double died in their transgressions And therefore the Lord is compelled as it were for his owne glorie and their good to continue them still in their afflictions vntill hee hath renued them made them tractable to his voyce Read more of this in my 1. sermon vpon the second psalme The third and the last is that these that end their liues by their troubles are most of al deliuered from their troubles because then they are no more molested with any trouble but presently doe enter into their ioy of rest as Iohn doth shew saying Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord euen so saith the spirite for they rest from their labours and theyr workes doo follow them x 1. Cor. 14.13 Reas But to passe the doctrine and the doubt which hath bene moued against the doctrine let vs now come to the reasons of the doctrine and search what are the causes why the Lord doth deliuer the righteous out of all their troubles who are subiect to many troubles In few words they are foure in number The first is because they loue him according to that which is in the Psalme in these words Because he hath loued me therfore will I deliuer him I will exalt him because hee hath knowne my Name hee shall call vpon me and I will heare him I will be with him in trouble and I will deliuer him and glorifie him with long life I will satisfie him and shew him my saluation y Psal 91 14 The second is because he doth loue them and is bound vnto them by his promise according to that which is in Deuteronomie in these wordes The Lord did not set his loue vpon you nor choose you because you were more in number then any people for you were the fewest of all people But because the Lord loued you and because hee would keepe the Oath which hee had sworne vnto your Fathers the Lord hath brought you out by a mightie hand and deliuered you out of the house of bondage from the hand of Pharach king of Aegipt z Deut. 7.7 8 The third is because he is touched with their grieuances and all their troubles doe trouble him according to that which is in Esay in these words In all their troubles he was troubled and the Angell of his presence saued them in his loue and in his mercie he redeemed them and he bore them and carried them alwayes continually a Esay 〈◊〉 9 Heerevnto adde that whith is in Iudges His soule was grieued for the misery of Israel b Iudg 〈…〉 The fourth and last is because he hath glory and honour by their deliuerance according to that which is in Ezechiel in these words But I fauoured mine holy Name which the house of Israel had polluted among the heathen whither they went Therefore say vnto the house of Israel Thus saith the Lord God I doe not this for your sakes ô house of Israel but for my holy names sake which you polluted among the heathen whither you went And I will sanctify my great name which was polluted among the heathen whom you haue polluted and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord saith the Lord God when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes for I will take you from among the heathen and gather you out of all countries and will bring you c â—â— 16.22 into your owne land Herevnto you may well ioyne that which is in Esay where he saith For my Names sake will I deferre my wrath and for my praise will I refraine it from thee that I cut thee not off Behold I haue fined thee but not as siluer I haue chosen thee in the furnace of afflictions for mine owne sake for mine owne sake will I doe it for how should my name be polluted surely I will not giue my glory vnto another d Esa 48.9.10.11 So that his loue his promise his feeling and his glory together with their loue goodnes doe stirre God vp to helpe the righteous and to deliuer them out of all their troubles The consideration whereof may afford vnto vs plentifull obseruations Vse The first is that God must haue the praise and honour of all these deliuerances which the godly haue at any time They must ascribe nothing to themselues or to others therin but all to God as Moses did e Exod. 15.1 as Deborah did f Iudg. 5.1 as Samuel did g 1. Sam. 12.8 as Dauid did h Psalm 12.4 as Iehosophat did i 2. Chro. 20.26 as Daniel did k Dan. 6.22 as Paul did l 2. Tim. 3.11 as all must doe m Psalm 107.16 Praised be the Lord said Dauid euen the God of our saluation which leadeth vs daily with benefits this is our God euen the God that saueth vs and to the Lord God belong the issues of death Againe he saith praise ye the Lord for his mercy endureth for euer Let them which haue beene redeemed of the Lord shew how he hath deliuered them from the hand of the oppressor and gathered them out of
poore adultresse woman alone onely with Christ there being not so much as any one left behinde either to condemne her or to stone her with stones c Iohn 8.9 So doe all troubles vanish away from the righteous one by one and leaue them safe and alone without one either to vexe them or to destroy them with destructions For be it that the lawier cannot deliuer his client but from his strife the Physition his patient but froÌ„ his sicknes the maister his seruaÌ„t but from his bondage the father his childe but from his pouerty the tutor his scholler but from his ignorance the captaine his souldier but from his wounds yet God can and will also deliuer his from all their troubles whatsoeuer And howsoeuer these their troubles doe come in a thousand waies like waters through many grates yet he can and will also meete with them all For hee can worke doth also often worke by meanes without meanes and contrary to all meanes By meanes yea by weake meanes he saued Israel when hee ouerthrew the innumerable army of the Midianites by Gedeons three hundred men d Iudg. 9.7 By meanes yea by weake meanes he saued Saul and his people when he slew a garrison of the philistins by Ionathan and his armorbearer e 1. Cor. 14. By meanes yea by weake meanes he saued Lot when he conquered Chadorlaomor three other kings with him by Abraham and his familie f Genes 14. Lastly by meanes yea by weake meanes he saued the nation of the Iewes when he destroyed Goliah by Dauid Sisera by Iael and Abimilech by a woman g 1. Sam. 17. Iud. 4. 9. Without meanes he saued Iehosophat and his people when hee himselfe did ouerthrow the Moabites the Ammonites and them of mount Seir which made warre against them h 2. Chron. 20. Without meanes he saued Moses and his people when he himselfe drowned Pharoah and his army in the red sea pursuing after them without meanes he saued Ezechiah and his people i Exod. 14. when he himselfe slew the huge army of the Assirians who came with a purpose to destroy them k 2. King 17. Lastly without means he saued Elisha and his man when he himselfe smote with blindnes the Syrians who besieged Dothan the city where the prophet was and came to take him l 2. King 6. Contrary to all meanes hee saued the three children from burning being in the fire m Dan. 3. Contrary to all means he saued Ionah from consuming being in the Whales belly n Ionâ—â— 2. Contrary to all meanes he saued Daniel from deuouring being in the Lions den o Dan. 6. Finally contrary to all meanes be saued the Isralites froÌ„ drowning being in the bottome of the sea p Ezod 14. Wherefore my beloued brethren faint not whatsoeuer your troubles be but be of a good comfort and cheere vp your harts in the Lord doubt nothing but all shall be well with you in the end Oh say with Dauid wheÌ„ your harts are disquieted Why art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me waite on God for I will yet giue him thanks he is my present helpe and my God q Psalm 42.11 Doubtles he will come he will come waite but a little and you shall see your deliuerance And so I conclude this worthy obseruation with the prophets needful exhortation in these words Hope in the Lord be strong and he shall comfort thine heart and trust in the Lord. r Psalm 27.14 The fourth and last is an Instruction to the world to warne them in their euill courses that they goe not about to trouble the righteous and to qualifie them in their ioyfull mirth that they doe not exult too much in the misery of the righteous For seeing that the Lord will deliuer the righteous out of all their troubles it is a great folly for the world to goe about to trouble them and a greater vanity in them to reioyce at their troubles as though they should continue euer in their troubles and neuer see an end of their troubles Here here let the wicked remember what is in Zophonie when the Lord saith After a certaine time will I gather the afflicted that were of thee and them that beare the reproach for it behold at that time I will bruise all that afflict thee and I will saue her that halteth and gather her that was cast out and I will giue them praise and fame in all the lands of their shame s Zoph 3.18.19 Here here let the wicked remember what is in Esay where the almighty saith But thus saith the Lord euen the captiuity of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the tyrant shall be deliuered for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee and I will saue thy children And will feede them that spoile thee with their owne flesh and they shall be drunken with their owne blood as with sweete wine and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy sauiour and thy redeemer the mighty one of Iacob t Esai 49.25.26 Here here let the wicked remember what is in the Prouerbes when Salomon saith The righteous escapeth out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his fleede v Pro. 11 8. Againe the wicked shall be a ransome for the iust and the transgressor for the righteous w Prou. 21.18 Here here lastly let the wicked remember what is in Micha when the prophet saith Reioyce not against me ô mine enemie though I fall I shall arise when I shall sit in darknes the Lord shall be a light vnto me I will beare the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he plead my cause and execute iudgement for me Then will he bring me forth to the light and I shall see his righteousnes Then she that is mine enemy shall looke vpon it and shame shall couer her which said vnto me where is the Lord thy God mine eyes shall behold her now shall she be troden downe as the mire of the streetes x Mic. 7.8.9.10 Hitherto you haue had welbeloued in the Lord such things onely as concerned my text and which in a generall manner flowed out of the same for the good of vs all But now I pray giue mee leaue in a few words to make some particular application thereof vnto that honourable and most worthy person our most high and mighty king for whose sake we are here this day assembled together You are not ignorant how his troubles haue bene many neither are you ignorant how his deliuerances also haue bene manie Out of all doubt that which Dauid doth here say his Maiesty may truly say Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord doth deliuer him out of theÌ„ all For he hath had good experieÌ„ce of theÌ„ both in his own person But not to speake of al but only of one thing
THE LOT OR PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOVS A COMFORTABLE SERMON PREACHED AT THE Cathedrall Church of Glocester vpon the fift day of August Anno Domini 1615. By Richard Web Preacher of Gods word at Rodborough in Glocestershyre Iob. 13. vers 15.16 Loe though hee slay mee yet will I trust in him and I will reprooue my wayes in his sight He shall be my saluation also For the Hypocrite shall not come before him LONDON Printed by Tho Creede for Roger Iackson and are to be solde at his shoppe in Fleetstreet ouer against the Conduit 1616. TO THE MOST HIGH and mightie King King Iames King of great Brittane France and Ireland defender of the true Christian faith grace and peace from God the father and from our Lord Iesus Christ MOst deare and gratious Soueraigne before whom I bow in all subiectiue manner I doubt not but that worthy saying of Dauid a worthy king is worthily written in the heart of your maiestie our king Rabboth Ranghoth Tsaddic Vmirrullam Iattsilennu Iehouah 1. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all Of all the states in the world your highnes the onely great state of the world hath had best experience of the truth of this point your troubles we know to the griefe of our hearts haue bene many and your deliuerances also we know to the comfort of our soules haue bene as many This sentence of the prophet most worthy to be written not only in sheetes of gold but also in the hearts of all men by the point of a Diamond was my text vpon the fift of August last past which day was kept solemnely by vs in our solemne city of Glocester to the Honour of your Highnes and for the triumph of your blessed victory out of Gowries wicked conspiracy Since that day I haue bene sollicited and importuned by friends that my Sermon might be printed in papers which then I desired onely to be imprinted in the hearts of my hearers which being done I make bold if not too bold to dedicate to your maiestie as being your owne for that it was preached on your day for your sake to your Honour and by your subiect who is your deuoted seruant to death it selfe My hope and hearts desire is that as Christ rewarded the poore widowes Mite which was cast into the treasury of the Temple though it were nothing in quantity comparable to the great summes of mony which the rich cast into the same so your highnes will respect this litle booke of mine your poore seruant though it be nothing to those great volumes which are consecrated to your maiestie by the learned Rabbins of the land The almighty blesse your highnes and grant in fauour vnto vs all that your maiestie may be euermore in wisedome most admirable like Daniel in courage most valiant like Dauid in zeale most feruent like Phinehas in godlines most singular like Iosiah in care most prouident like Ioseph in riches most abundant like Saloman in counsell most sound like Achitophell in loue most kind like Ionathan in body most healthfull like Moses in minde most ioyfull like Simeon in raigne amongst vs in our English coasts most long like Manasses And lastly that your highnes at the last may be carried by the Angels into the bosome of Abraham like Lazarus And hereunto let all your subiects and friends both domesticall and forraigne say Amen And so vpon the bended knees of my heart I aske pardon for this my boldnes and rest Your Maiesties most humble and truely deuoted Subiect Richard Web. The Contents of the Sermon following THe Exordium or Praeface The Analysis or Paraphrase The summe and parts Foure Questions about the righteous There are Righteous persons in the world Who they be that are righteous By what meanes men are made righteous The markes whereby Righteous men may be knowne from others Christians must haue a respect to all the commandements of God In all good workes men must haue an eye to Gods glorie Godly persons must continue in their godlinesse to the ende Men must loue goodnesse in others as well as in themselues and labour to make others good like vnto themselues The righteous shall haue troubles here in this world God in loue will correct the Righteous The diuell in malice will assault the righteous The world in hatred will pursue the righteous There are seuen things wherein righteous persons passe others The end which God doth aime at in correcting the righteous is alwayes for their good Afflictions are no signe of reiection but a marke rather of Election to euerlasting life Comfort succour must be ministred vnto the righteous in their troubles Holy persons must prepare their hearts for troubles The preparation that must be made against troubles standeth chiefly in the meditation of 3. things viz. of the necessitie of trouble of the vtilitie of troubles and of the multiplicitie of those promises which God hath made vnto vs about our troubles The commodities which troubles do bring vnto the righteous are foure two belonging to this life two others respecting the next life Godlinesse and credit for this life An assurance of glory and a larger measure of glorie for the next life The troubles of the righteous are many Many for the persons from whome they come many for the meanes through which they come many for the times wherein they come many for the parts to which they come many for the sorts by which they come many lustly for the effects which they bring at their comming Sixe causes why the troubles of the righteous are many viz because their sinnes are many their graces many their enemies many their blessings many their exercises of religion many and their contentions against the world the flesh and the diuell many A comfort to the godly who haue many troubles The difference between the troubles of the wicked and the godly which standeth in 3. things viz. the cause of their troubles the māner of bearing their troubles the end or fruite which doth follow vpon their troubles Righteous persons must labour to haue patience as a most needfull thing for them in all their troubles Holy persons must euermore looke for crosses in this life God will deliuer the righteous out of all their troubles Foure reasons why God doth ridde the righteous out of their troubles viz his loue towards them his promise vnto them his feeling with them and his glory from them ioyned with their louing trust in him and trusting loue towards him GOD must haue the onely praise of those deliuerances which the righteous haue In all miseries holy persons must resort vnto the Lord and relye onely vpon him for their deliuerance therefrom A comfort to the Saints against all their tribulations GOD doth saue his sometimes by meanes and sometimes without meanes and sometimes contrary to all meanes A cooling-card to the world who oppose themselues against the righteous The troubles wherein the Kings Maiestie
martyrem It is not the punishment but the cause that doth make a martyr Some are like to Ismaell of whom it is saide He shall be a wilde man his hand shall be against euery man euery mans hand against him x Geneâ— 16.12 Because they trouble others therfore they haue many troubles themselues But if any be railed vpon for the Name of Christ they are blessed and all those who suffer not as a murtherer nor as a thiefe nor as an euill dooer nor as a busie-body in other mens matters but as a Christian they are happy need not to be ashamed but may glotifie God in that behalfe y 1. Pet. 4.14.15.16 The second is the manner of bearing their troubles For righteous persons doe quietly vndergoe the same and blesse the Lord their God in the midst thereof saying with olde Ely It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good z 1. sam 3.18 With valiant Dauid carry the Arke of GOD againe into the Citie if I shall finde fauour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me againe and shew mee both it and the tabernacle thereof But if he thus say I haue no delight in thee behold here am I Let him do to me as seemeth good in his eyes a 2. sam 15.25.26 And with patient Iob Naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne againe the Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken it blessed bee the Name of the LORD b Iob. 1.21 But vngodly persons doe breake out exceedingly and not onely seeke vnlawfull meanes to helpe themselues in their troubles as Saul resorted to the witch of Endor c 1. Cor. 10.13 and many enquire at them that haue a spirit of diuination and at the Sooth-sayers which whisper end murmure forsaking the liuing to goe to the dead and the Creator to goe to the creature d Esay 8.19 But they also storme and rage now and then like mad-men and withdrawe all their trust from the Lord the fountaine of all happinesse not praying vnto his Maiestie for succour and helpe but rather blaspheming his glorious name with their leaud wicked tongues as was obserued a little before out of the Reuelations The third and last is the ende what fruit doth follow vpon their troubles For the godly are bettered by them but the wicked are not Dauid other righteous men receiued goodnes from them as was proued before but Saul and other vngodly wretches remaine still in their sinfulnes notwithstanding them yea by them they grow worse and worse according to Pauls words when he saith Yea and all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution But the euill men and deceiuers shall waxe worse and worse deceiuing and being deceiued e Mi. 27.3.12.13 Whereunto agreeth that which the prophet Esay hath in these words they haue forsaken the Lord they haue prouoked the holy one of Israel to anger they are gone backward Wherefore should you be smitten any more for you fall away more and more the whole head is sicke and the whole heart is heauy f Esay 1.4.5 Now to conclude this point if the cause be holy for which you suffer if it be for God and a good conscience and not for your owne defaults or foolishnes if secondly you take your troubles quietly and possesse your soules with patience in the midst thereof relying onely vpon God and vsing no vnlawfull meanes for your helpe therein if lastly you be amended and made better by such chastisements as are laid vpon you so that now you doe become more deuout and religious in the whole course of your liues then euer you were before you may assure your soules that your case is good and thinke the better of your selues for these your troubles and not the worse They must be so many pledges and seales to you of your euerlasting happines Secondly seeing the troubles of the righteous are many righteous persons haue neede of great patience a little part or portion therof will not serue their turnes And therefore let all those who intend to be righteous indeede endeuour to the vttermost of their power to attaine to a good measure of patience which is like a priuy coate vpon the soule to saue it a marble pillar in the house to vphold it a strong post vnder the tree to stay it a pretious balme about the head to heale it and a two edged sword in the hand to defend it Doubtles Sampson neuer gained so much by his haire vpon his head and yet when his haire was on his head he did alwaies ouercome and was neuer ouercome as we shall gaine by patience to helpe vs in all our troubles For this will be a generall salue to vs for all our sores and as the lid about the eye is made to shut and open to saue the eye so this is placed in our soules by the Lord to guard and keepe our soules For as a light burden borne at the armes end weigheth heauier by much then a burden of treble weight if it be borne vpon the shoulders which are made to beare So if a man set impatience to beare his crosse which is not fit to beare it will start and shrinke and let the burden fall on his head like a broken staffe which promiseth to helpe him ouer the water and leaueth him in the ditch But if you put it to patience and set her to beare it which is appointed to beare she will vndergoe it and carry it away as nothing For she is like the harty spies that came from Canaan and saide Surely the Lord hath deliuered into our hands all the land for euen all the inhabitants of the countrey faint because of vs. g Ioshua 2 2â— Or like to Caleb that stilled the people before Moses and said Let vs goe vp at once possesse it For vndoubtedly we shall ouercome it h Numb 13.31 So patience doth euermore hart vs on against all troubles that may bee and perswade our hearts that wee shall ouercome them well enough in the end She doth tell vs that it is nothing to fast nothing to watch nothing to read nothing to labour nothing to be enuied nothing to be slandered nothing to be buffeted nothing to bee imprisoned nothing in a word to be racked or to be put to death for the Lords cause Shee doth assure vs that we shal be more then conquerorstherin according to Pauls words in his epistle to the Romanes i Rom. 8.37 Labour then I beseech you for patience and follow the Apostles counsell in this repect when he saith Be patient therefore brethren vnto the comming of the Lord Behold the husbandman waiteth for the pretious fruites of the earth and hath long patience for it vntill hee receiue the former and latter raine Be yee also patient therefore settle your harts for the comming of the Lord draws neere k Iam. 5.7.8 And
surely he that wanteth it is like a man that standeth trembling in the field without his Armour because euery one can strike him and he can strike none againe The least push that is of disgrace or of losse or of sicknes or of pouerty or of paine doth trouble those persons more which haue not patience to beare the same then forty tryalls can moue such as are armed with patience to vndergoe them like a golden shield in their hand to breake the stroke of euery crosse and to saue the heart though the bodie suffer For while the heart is whole all is well A sound spirit saith Salomon will beare his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can sustaine it l Prou. 18.44 Lastly considering the afflictions of the godly are many we that are godly must neuer promise to our selues peace quietnes here but after one trouble we must still looke for another saying with the Poet Finis alterius mâ—li gradus est futuri the end of one euill is a step towards another Many do deceiue themselues with vaine hopes in this respect They thinke that all shal be well with them that they shal haue the Sunne euermore to shine vpon them if they can but rid themselues out of their present troubles But let them marke it well it shall not be so oh my brethren suppose you were as wise as Salomon as strong as Sampson as warlike as Dauid as meeke as Moses as louely as Ionathan as beautifull as Absalom as rich as Croessus as great as Assuerus as swift as Asahel as free born as Paul as noble as Foestus as big as Goliah as patient as Ioh and as wise as Christ himselfe yet you shall haue troubles still during your liues so long as any of you shall breath with any life As the life of Christ your Lord and maister was a warfare vpon the earth so your liues that are Christians must be a warfare vpon the earth Here we liue in a sea of troubles The Sea is the world the waues are calamities the Church is the ship the anchor is hope the sailes are loue the Saintes are passingers the hauen is heauen and Christ is our Pilot. Now when the Sea can continue without waues the ship without tossings and passengers not be sicke vpon the water then shal the Church of God be without triall but not before Therefore I beseech you beloued in the Lord promise your selues no security in this world but look still for troubles and when you haue slaine a lyon look for a beare and when you haue killed the beare looke for a Goliah and when you haue ouercome Goliah looke for a Saul and when Saul is wounded to death looke for the Philistims that is when you haue ouercome one trouble or vanquished one enemie looke still for an other trouble and for an other enemie and that vntill you die and the spirit returne to God that gaue it Obiect True it is that God hath not appointed to all his children a like measure of troubles but to some more and to some lesse to some after one manner and to some after an other Yet all must haue them all must continue in the hauing of them without starting from his Maiestie For none must look to be more nicely or daintily handled then the very naturall Sonne of God himselfe was who was the onely darling and the best beloued of his Father Yet for all that his whole life here vpon the earth was nothing else but a continuall crosse And therefore let this be our daily meditation that when we haue borne one trouble wee doe prepare our hearts to beare an other euermore to looke for new troubles so long as we liue here in this world like new men And so I leaue the miserie of the righteous and come to his deliuerance from his miserie But the Lord deliuereth him out of them all Here are two points to be stood vpon The person who doth deliuer the righteous and the thing from which the righteous is deliuered But because the time is well neere spent Idfrustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora That is done in vaine by more things which fewer to perfection brings I will conioyne them both together and from thence deliuer vnto you this doctrine IEHOVAH that there is no trouble which the righteous haue but the Lord doth deliuer them out of the same This you may see by Ieremies words when he saith For the Lord will not forsake for euer but though he send affliction yet wil he haue compassion according to the multitudes of his mercies ô Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule and hast redeemed my life m Iam. 3.31.32.58 This you may see by Esayes words wheÌ„ he saith I will not contend for euer neither will I be alwayes wroth I haue seene his wayes and will heare him I will leade him also and restore comfort vnto him and to those that lament him I create the fruites of the lippes to be peace peace vnto them that are a farre off to them that are neere saith the Lord for I will heale him n Esai 57.16 This you may see by Dauids words when hee sayth Beholde his eye is vpon them that feare him and vpon them that trust in his mercie to deliuer their soules from death and to preserue them in famine o Psalm 33.18 This poore man cryed and the Lord heard him and saued him out of all his troubles p Psal 34.6 The Lord preserueth the simple I was in miscrie and hee saued me Returne vnto thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath bene beneficiall vnto thee because thou hast deliuered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my feete from falling I shall walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing q Psalm 116.6 The Lord vpholdeth all that fall and lifteth vp all that are ready to fall The Lord is neere to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in Truth hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare him Hee also will will heare theyr crye and saue them The Lord preserueth all that loue him r psal 145 14.18 Then they cryed to the Lorde in their trouble and he deliuered them from their distresse and led them forth by the right way that they might goe to a Citie of habitation s psal 107.6.7 This you may see by Pauls words when hee saith But thou hast fully knowne my doctrine maner of liuing purpose faith long suffering loue patience persecutions and afflictions which came vnto me at Antiochia at Iconium and at Lystra which persecutions I suffered but from them all the Lord deliuered me t 2 Tim. 3 10.11 Finally this you may see by many particular examples Abraham was in exile Lot was in captiuity Iob was in bodily extremity See more for this in my Sermons on the second psalme page 24.