the Lord he obteined a glorious deliuerance Iehosophat seemed to be in as great perill as Ahab and Ahab was of as great wealth as Iehosophat yet God gaue direction to the hand of one archer vnwittingly to shoote and to the arrow to light vpon him and to finde a chincke in his armour and to hit him in such a place as through which it pearced to his life And contrariwise hee perswaded the hearts of many others who pressed vpon Iehosophat to withdraw their hands and to let him alone in safetie Thirdly the death of Iesus Christ hath plucked out the sting and taken away the venome of their naturall death as that it is conuerted into a quiet and comfortable rest Fourthly the Resurrection of Iesus Christ shall at the last day subdue and destroy this death that now houldeth their bodies in the graue and death shall dye and they shall liue in immortalitie and euerlasting blessednesse Instruction to euery one to get a sure possession of sound Vse 1 and vnfained righteousnesse such as will hould weight in the ballance of Gods righteousnesse before his iudgement seate and therefore let him obserue these three generall rules which bee effectuall and necessarie First that he put off the old man with the carnall reason and shewes thereof disclayming for authentick and alowable goodnesse all counterfait natural and ciuill vertues and bee clothed with Christ and his merites and sanctified with his holy Spirit Phil. 3. 9. 10. Secondly that hee make a narrow search to finde out all his sinnes and that with godly sorrow and repentance for the same obtaining also pardon and remission for them through the bloud of Iesus Christ Thirdly that he make a conscience constantly and totally to walke in the commandements of God endeuoring to please him in all things For hee that leaueth off well doeing in the end shal loose all the comfort of his beginning And he that is content to serue God but in a part may bee suppected to serue him soundly in no part Consolation to them that haue attained to this righteousnesse and bee furnished with it in heart and behauiour they are throughly armed not onely with the brestplate but with the whole and complete armour of God against Sathan and all his forces And so likewise are they in safety from the perill of all places the violence of all persons and the terrours of all times and seasons When they are in health they neede not to feare sicknesse when they are sicke they neede not to feare death when they are to die they neede not to dread the daunger of damnation The Lord will not famish the soule of the righteous but Verse 3 hee casteth away the substance of the wicked These words bee inferred vpon the former as an answere to a secret obiection that might bee made against them why should it bee thought that men get no good by gathering riches in what manner soeuer They stand them in steade in time of dearth scarcety when others that want them though neuer so iust are like to perish Now heere hee sheweth the case to bee otherwise good men are not vnprouided of foode because they are vnfurnished with wealth and sinfull men haue no assurance of prouission though they haue riches for the Lord will not famish the soules of the righteous that is will not suffer the men themselues to starue though they haue neuer so little But will cast away the substance of the wicked that is he will depriue them of the possession or vse or vertue of it when they are in greatest neede The Lord will not c. Poore Christians be in better estate Doct. then wealthie wicked men euen in respect of bodily prouision A poore Christian better then a rich worldling and maintenance Such a comparison is made Psal 34. 10. that lyons that is mightie strong and boysterous men suffer hunger and sustaine want as was notably seene in the case of Nabucadnezzer who in the middest of his greatest power his ample dominions and large possessions was yet turned a grasing like a beast amongst the beasts But they that seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good They may sometimes bee without that which they wish for because they may wish for that which will not well agree with their safetie But whatsoeuer is good and there neede requireth it that shall vndoubtedly be ministred vnto them Obiect But may not a godly man dye of hunger shall wee condemne all that are afamished Answ There is no doubt but many men euen faithfull seruants of god in sieges extreame dearthes c. be brought to their ends through penury and want of food but then it is good for them so to come to their end The Lord doth call them home to heauen by such a messenger In the like sence it is said in the former Psal 34. 20. that not one of their bones is broken that is to their hurt or through neglect of gods prouident care ouer them But one may haue his bones broken be hewed or sawed asunder in great mercie Heb. 11. 37. So there is a promise to Gods people to preserue them from the pestilence Psal 91. 7. and yet many blessed saints bee taken away by it to euerlasting glory Else Dauid would not haue giuen them that testimonie who so dyed at that time calling them poore harmelesse sheepe or haue offred himself to that kinde of death to preserue them aliue The meaning is then that religious men shall neuer bee plagued with the venome and sting of scarcetie and famine hauing it executed as a curse vpon them as it falleth out with sinners First they haue the good prouidence of God continually Reasons 1 for them his eyes are open to see their neede his eares are open to heare their prayers his hand is open to releeue their necessities his treasury and rich store house is open and able to supply all their wants They haue his loue and fauour they haue his power and sufficiencie they haue his word and promise they haue his truth and fidelitie that the will neuer faile them Heb. 13. 5. Secondlie the wealthie misers of the world haue the hand of God against them to consume that which they haue augmented to scatter that which they haue gathered together and to cast away that as a cursed thing which they haue laid vp as a precious treasure They trust not in him but make that their hope and therefore hee will make that to deceiue them when they haue greatest neede of helpe They doubt not but it shall goe well with them when others be in extremitie and therefore they shall bee brought into straits when it shall goe well with others And so much the rather beecause they doe not onely glory in their wealth and lift vp themselues aboue poore Christians but arme themselues therewith and make it a weapon of oppression Consolation to good men that haue inward store of grace Vse 1 though
it stand they shall fall And looke how much safety is to the house them that be in it so much perill is to the enimies and them that assault it for he is not onely a wall of defence round about his people but a wall of site to consume their enimies Zach. 2. 5. Thirdly consolation though the enimies of the Church be neuer so many or mightie yet doth it stand still impregnable and inuincible the gates of hell that is the power of all the Mat. 16. 18. Diuels shall not preuaile against it And such is the safety of euery particular Christian both for soule and body for if one stone could bee cast downe the whole building might bee demolished Shee hath killed her vitailes mingled her wine c. Verse 2 Mention was made before of Wisedomes house and the strength of it and heere of her hospitalitie and house keeping in it where heauenly things are represented by earthly and the bountie and magnificence of the Lord by the plentifull prouision of a liberall feast-maker For the graces of his spirit by the ministery of the word are compared to daintie meates and delicious wines either spiced or mingled with choise kinds of coole waters whereby in those hot countries they were much refreshed Wherevnto is added the circumstances of readinesse that there needeth no tariance or long wayting but all things are in order and commodiously prepared for the present refection of the guests Killed her vitailes c. The best cheere is that which is Doct. 1 made for the soule in Gods house which is declared by diuers The soules food is the best fare circumstances in the Parable of the great feast Mat. 22. 2. 3. As that it was made by a King and therefore not common but costly according to his royall state and greatnesse and was also a wedding feast which is vsually great and full of solemnitie and made at the marriage of his owne sonne which consequently would cause it to bee much more sumptuous and magnificent then if it had beene for a seruant or kinsman or ordinary person By all which is meant the Gospell wherein euery faithfull man is feasted and made Gods sonne and maried to Christ himselfe One reason to proue this doctrine is the resemblance and Reason 1 agreement that is betweene the spirituall foode and corporall meates it is delightfull to the soule as they bee to the sence that reuiueth the afflicted and troubled conscience as they refresh the spirits of a faint and feeble person and addeth increase of strength and stature to the inward man as they doe to the outward Another reason is the differences that are betweene them wherein this heauenly celestiall banquet doth far surmount the earthly First this onely is perpetuall day night through the whole yeere and whole life and at death and euermore whereas all others are but for a few daies and commonly not for many houres Secondly heere is no surfet or danger by excesse though wee continue eating and drinking vncessantly without intermission which is contrary in corporall repasts Thirdly this is a durable meate and doth minister an abiding nourtriture that hee that hath once digested it shall neuer after perish by hunger Fourthly this doth not onely sustaine life for a time but giue it and preserue it for euer Fiftly wheras all other meates and drinkes though neuer so plentifull are onely for the belly and helpe against nothing but the present hunger and thirst this bringeth with it safetie wealth dignitie and all happinesse Sixtly and lastly heere is open house kept continually for all commers nations ages and states without any disparagement to the greatest or contempt of the meanest none is excluded that is willing to bee admitted none is vpbrayded for comming too often the more they frequent the house the more they shall be made of and the better welcome Confutation of such as stand vpon the merit of man for saluation Vse 1 all the grace wee partake of is bestowed vpon vs at Wisedomes royall feast and that is franke and free and from his owne goodnesse Great personages especially Princes vse not to take a shot when they haue giuen entertainement Instruction that wee come to the word and Sacraments and all the holy ordinances of God as an hungry man to a good feast with a willing minde a large desire a good appetite Isa 55. 1. and a certaine expectation to bee satisfied Consolation for poore Christians that finde such plenty of spirituall prouision in Gods house though they feele penury of earthly things in their owne For the fruition of the greater doth counteruaile the want of the lesse and the comfortable refreshings of the soule will make men more patiently to endure the distresses of the body Psal 63. 1. 5. Mingled her wine c. It is not the wit of man but the Doct. 2 wisedome of God that doth make the ministery of the word comfortable This doth hee assume to himselfe in a peculiar manner saying I create the fruit of the lippes to bee peace It is Isa 57 19. as proper to him to giue peace by the preaching of the word Gods wisedome not mâ—ns wit makes the word comfortable as to giue being and forme to a creature or to take away the corruption and punishment of sinne Else what need had Dauid to call vpon him to make him heare of ioy and gladnesse if it had beene in mans power hee might haue commaunded it at his subiects hands and the Priests and Prophets would Psal 51. 8. haue thought it a preferment to be admitted to that seruice but he knew it was no more possible for the best qualified of them to remoue his sorrow without Gods blessing then for a surgeon to cure a wound with his white hand without a plaister First ioy is a fruit of the spirit Gal. 5. 22. Secondly to giue Reasons 1 true comfort is to speake to the hart and to assure it of the pardon of all iniquitie Isa 40. 1. True it is that men may bee the instruments of both these but the author of neither Thirdlie it is seene by wonted experience that they which haue the finest wits the greatest art and sweetest tongues not guided by the counsell of God are lesse profitable in their Ministrie than men of meaner parts bringing onelie the power of the word and spirit in their doctrine Ier. 23. 31. Reproofe of such ministers as iudge it a base thing to content Vse 1 themselues with the plaine simplicitie of the Scriptures but powder their doctrine with the dust of mens deuises and authorities Secondly of such hearers as depend vpon the persons of the preachers esteeming so far of the Sermon as the minister is graced with outward ornaments and according to that rule they measure all the doctrine that is deliuered and so many times they thinke good wine to bee harsh because it is brought in a pewter slagon and vineger very pleasant
duetie that is required of them so will they also carefully regard their parents dealings towards them the father giueth counsell and the sonne is directed by it the father giueth rebuke and the sonne trembleth at it the father giueth correction and the sonne doth humbly submit himselfe vnto it Now at the handes of a foolish child what is to be expected but folly contempt of commaundements and counsell murmuring against admonition and reproofes resistance against correction and chastisements if their parents bee in wants they are ashamed of them and thincke it an intollerable burthen to bee charged with them and so shorten their dayes by opprobtious and hard vsage if they haue wealth they seeke to make a spoyle of them if they be like to leaue them patrimonie or inheritance no enemie doth so much desire their death if they bee simple and want vnderstanding they eyther vse contemptuously to checke and sâ—â—b them or else to mocke and deride them If they declare their wisedome and true pietie they shew then bitternesse against their godly zeale and sincere profession Instruction First to children to take it as a motiue to stirre Vse 1 them vp prouoke them to Christian conuersation that they shal minister comfort to their parents and pleasure themselues and please the Lord for all those concurre and meete together in one The sonne doth neuer giue iust occasion of gladnesse to his father but hee hath a iust cause to be glad for his owne sake because God hath so seasoned him with grace and made him acceptable to his friends and vouchsafed vnto him his owne fauour Whereas on the contrary side when the parents are much grieued for the childes misdemeanours the child ought to bee more grieued for his owne wretchednesse for he shall bee most punished for his rebellion Secondly to parents that for as much as their childrens vice or vertue is their woe or welfare therefore they doe their best indeauour to haue their seede to be vertuous and holy And he that will How a man may be a ioyfull father doe this must lay the foundation of beeing a comfortable father beefore hee bee a father and take the way to haue good children beefore hee haue children and that is by a due care that himselfe doe marry in the Lord that he propose such an ende and vse such proceeding and match with such a wife as will bring the blessing of God vpon his house and posteritie Secondly if he be desirous that his children should yeeld him the crop of comfort he must bestow vpon them the seede of instruction and the tillage of good education Thirdly great care is to be had for the wise and orderly disposing of them in marriage that all the former hopes be not cut off through the neglect of this dutie For diuers times good people in this regard are like to corne that prospereth well in the blade but afterwards is either blasted or withered in the eare Many ingenious and towardly young men and maidens haue beene vtterly ouerthrowne by coupling themselues to profane yoke-fellowes and being ingrafted into sinfull families Reproofe of those that take least care to get wisedome for their children but onely labour to prouide them wealth and thereby they are made idle and proude and vnthriftie and prepared to wast with riot all that they haue gotten with care and trauell And yet they bee far worse and altogether vnworthie of the name of fathers that grieue at the graces of the children and restraine them from all the meanes whereby they might attaine vnto knowledge and wisedome Consolation to them that be inriched with this treasure of good children howsoeuer the world goeth with them in their state otherwise If they be wealthy and stored with possessions they haue such to leaue them vnto as are fitted for them and know how to vse them and are like long to inioy them Wheras many parents doe leaue portions that are better than the children to whom they are beequeathed and the good creatures of God are put into the hands of vnworthie men who are therefore vnable long to retaine them If they be pore and destitute of other riches maintenance yet the want of things of lesse value is supplied by that which is of more worth one good child is better then many wedges of gold and no earthly inheritance is so faire a demaines as a religious seede which God doth giue in goodnesse and by his owne testimonie commendeth as a blessing that maketh a man to be happy Psal 127. 3. 4. The treasures of wickednesse profit nothing but righteousnesse Verse 2 deliuereth from death The treasures of wickednesse that is the greatest abundance of wealth which is euill gotten and euill vsed or possessed by an euill owner profit nothing doe him no good at any time but least of all at his death or in time of misery for so it is intended by the Antithests and expressed Chap. 11. 4. But righteousnesse that is vprightnesse of heart and holynesse of behauiour deliuereth from death that is from destruction and all other hurtfull dangers Yet not by any merit of man but by the mercie of God through Iesus Christ The riches of iniquitie No wicked worldling is any thing Doct. the better for his wealth which thing the Prophet Dauid had Wicked mens wealth doe them no good well considered of and therefore confidently affirmeth Psal 39. 6. doubtlesse saith hee Man walketh by a vaine image hee heapeth vp riches cannot tell who shall gather them He speaketh not of a particular as though some one man were falne into that errour but of the whole body of mankinde in that case as they are descended from Adam Euery man that hath nothing but the nature of man doth take a shew for a substance the image in the glasse for the face represented by it the picture of happinesse which is painted on riches for true and solide felicitie and therefore they misse of that which they make most account of for they haue gathered together goods and others shall gather the good comfort and fruite of them and whether they haue prouided for their owne or for aliants for friends or for foes they are altogether vncertaine But if it be said that thus far it profiteth them to bee wealthie that they eate and drinke and liue thereby our Sauiour answeareth that no mans life consisteth in the abundance of his riches doe not poore men liue also are not sheepe and Luke 12. 15. kine and all other cattell nourished Obiect But they fare better then others and in that respect they haue a commoditie in their wealth aboue others Answere But better fare doth not make their state better it helpeth not their health it sweetneth not their sleepe it refresheth Eccles 5. 11. not their harts it furthereth them to no good seruice That meate doth a man good which inciteth him to prayer thanckfulnesse which moueth him to compassion mercie and which
the truth of God and take it for a glory to giue it a foyle But howsoeuer their prompt wits ready tongues together with art and Sathans assistance may sometimes perplexe and trouble a poore Christian yet shall they nothing preuaile against Christ and his veritie nor gaine any thing at his hands but shame and punishment It were safer for them to incounter with tenne Sampsons then to try their manhoode with one point or article of Gods holy doctrine But their case is worst of all which obstinately peruersely and of wilfull malice doe reiect all that is taught them out of the word It is in vaine to admonish them as the Prophet saith Hos 4. 4. Thy people are as they that rebuke the Priest that is presumptuous persons sinning with an high hand in refusing to heare or be directed by the Priest then of the law Deut. 17. 12. or to giue eare to the ministers of the Gospel now but contentiously disobey the truth and so bring vpon their owne soules indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2. 9. Hee that walketh vprightly walketh bouldly but hee that Verse 9 peruerteth his waies shall be knowne He that walketh vprightly that is doth carefully looke to his waies with an honest heart walketh surely hauing both the affection and ground and effects of Christian bouldnesse but hee that peruerteth his waies that is doth allow himselfe in any course though neuer so secretly shall be knowne his sinnes shall be detected The sence of the whole verse may be thus expressed Hee that walketh vprightly walketh surely because his faithfulnesse shall bee knowen to his praise And hee that peruerteth his waies walketh dangerously beecause his lewdenesse shall bee knowne to his shame All sound safetie and boldnesse proceedeth from sinceritie Doct. of heart and integritie of life liuery religious man that feareth He liues safely that liues sincerely the Lord hath this promise Psal 112. 7. 8. That no euill tidings shall make him afraid because he beleeueth in the Lord if all the world would tell him of perill when God himselfe doth warrant him safetie he will giue most credit to him that hath most truth and most power also to dispose of all euents And his heart is not as a pole that is pitched vp or a stake that is sticked vp which euery hand may plucke away or euery blast of winde may blow downe nor like a dry wall without a quoine or buttresse or any other binding to fortifie it but it is fixed and established as a tree that is well rooted groweth strongly or a building that hath a sure foundation and standeth fast and so is freed from feare and all slauish terrour First his heart hath Gods owne eye to behold it and his spirit Reasons 1 to testifie the faithfulnesse of it and so receiueth comfort from him Iob. 31. 31. whereas the hearts of hypocrites beeing searched by him are found most fraudulent and deceitfull Secondly the course of their actions is such as will indure light and the more they are examined the better they will prooue and therefore they need not feare any might or malice or cunning aduersaries that shal seeke their disgrace Isa 50. 7. 8. And though their enemies for a time doe falsely slander them yet the Lord in due season will make their righteousnesse as cleare as the noone day Psal 37. 6. Thirdly their bodies and state are in Gods custodie and he hath vndertaken the defence and preseruation of them Cap. 3. 26. Psal 91. whereas the wicked are out of Gods protection and goe perpetually in perill Fourthly their soules are prepared for death and the iudgement seate of Christ and therefore more desire to bee dissolued then are afraid to heare of the neerenesse of their dissolution which is contrary in the wicked who all their dayes are in bondage to the feare of death and damnation Heb. 2. 15. Instruction to get apparant and euident testimonies of Vse 1 vprightnesse which will make our liues comfortable keep off many miserable vexations and horrors that come vpon the wicked And this wee shall doe if wee labour to know all that God would haue vs to learne to indeuor to practise all that wee know and to confesse to God all that we faile to practise for so farre as wee are willingly ignorant of any dutie or carelesse to performe it or secure when we neglect it conceale Psal 32. 2. 3. our sinnes not acknowledging them that the Lord may remit them so far wee come short of a good conscience Consolation for all that be vpright that whether they walk abroad or stay at home whether they be in company with others or alone by themselues whether it be in the day or in the night whether they bee walking or sleeping they are well assured of certaine safetie Terrour for sinfull men whose consciences be at all times readie to assaile them Naturall courage will not help them in the time of extremitie how many seeming very valient as Saul for example haue through desperate feare laide violent hands vpon their owne bodies And let power and courage concur to gether yet both wil be insufficient to strengthen a heart that Gods iudgement and their owne guiltinesse doe weaken As Balshazzar being bold to defie Cyrus and to bid battell to the Lord himselfe profaning his holy vessells in despight of him yet now in the middest of iolitie amongst his friends in his owne house in a strong cittie garded with an hoast of armed souldiers hee was so frighted and terrified that his countenance was changed his heart was resolued into dastardlinesse the ioyntes of his loynes were loosed and his knees smote one against an other And what was it that so danted him the sight of an hand writing vpon the wall There were neither more enemies nor fewer friends nor any other alteration then beefore but God wakened his conscience and his conscience shewed him his guiltinesse and altogether threatned his destruction and heereby his great courage was so quickly killed And this also may serue to take away the vaine confidence of foolish men that be bold to commit iniquitie yet looke to escape the reproach of it hoping neuer to be found out But they forget that the Apostle saith that mens sinnes come to light in diuers maners some presently vpon the fact some long after some in their life time some after they be dead some reserued to the last day but so that all shall certainely be manifested one day Caine had as faire possibilitie 1. Tim. 5. 24. 25 and likelihood to couer his crueltie as euer any sinner had or possibly can haue to conceale his offences no man but himselfe knowing of it no circumstances beeing to sift it out by if hee would keepe his owne counsell and yet what fact almost is more notoriously knowen and published and that with detestation then his murdering of Abel And it is not to be imputed to his owne sillinesse or
be sharp and soure doe set the teeth an edge and smoake We must bee carefull whoâ— we imploy in our affaires doth bring both smart and hurt to the eyes so doth the slothfull person or he that is giuen to any other lewd behauiour doth worke vexation of heart to them that send him or commit matter of moment vnto him He that imployeth in any seruice vnworthie and carelesse persons shall bring sorrow and molestation vpon himselfe There is another prouerbe which tendeth to the same purpose though the similitude be different As though he should cut off his messengers feete so hee drinketh violence or hurt that sendeth a message by a foole Prou. 26. 6. He doth as much iniurie to himselfe as if he should maime his messenger of his feete or make him lame of his legs for as the one in that case should not be able to dispatch his iourney so neither can the other well performe the things that are committed to his care and wisedome It is a speech that is ordinarie in vse that hee must neuer looke to speede well that sendeth a foole on his errand First there is perill of falsehood and treachery or of much Reasons 1 remissenesse and negligence or want of discreation and skilfulnesse by all which there groweth hurt or losse or trouble to him that put him in trust with his affaires as Mephibosheth and Benhadad found by the seruices of Ziba and Hazaell The curse of God doth vsually accompany the actions and waies of cursed sinners and therefore they that aduenture to entertaine them haue many times a part of the punishment with them Thirdly all the faults and absurdities in word or worke of foolish and sinfull seruants are imputed to the reproch of their maisters that imploy them and so the sorrow is caused by shame and infamie Fourthly the contrary will cleare the truth of this point For if good seruants and faithfull messengers be for the comfort and credit the safetie profit of such as do vse them then they that are altogether of an other manner of affection and disposition cannot but worke an other manner of effects and consequents Admonition to bee very heedefull to auoide that noisome Vse 1 sinne of slothfulnesse which bringeth so many michiefes with it both to our selues for soule and body and state and name and to others also and those especially whom in speciall manner we owe dutie vnto Secondly to make a wise choise prouidently of such as wee haue occasion to vse in any businesse that their industry and diligence their prudencie and discreation their faithfulnesse and sound dealing may bee a refreshing and not a torment to vs. Prou. 25. 13. 3. If wee haue obtained such as bee not as smoake to offend our eyes but our eyes may behold them and their good behauiour with delight let vs not bee vineger to their teeth or smoake to their eyes let not our sourenesse and discontentment our niggardlinesse and ouermuch sparing be any meanes of their discouragement Deale kindely with them and bee liberall to them that thou maist not onely retaine them still to be thy seruants but giue all good furtherance to the continuance of their vprightnesse The feare of the Lord increaseth the daies but the yeares Verse 27 of the wicked are cut short The feare of the Lord c. That is true pietie and religion with the exercise also of iustice and righteousnesse increaseth the dayes That is as a meanes it preserueth those that are indued with it from an vntimely death but the yeares of the wicked shall bee cut off Their vngodly and sinfull course of life is sometimes an instrument to bring them speedily to their end as by surfets and euill diseases or falling into the hands of the magistrate or by quarreling and such like Sometimes it prouoketh the Lord to stay them in the middest of their race and not to suffer them to come to that age which by their strength and constitution of body they might haue attained vnto And in this sence the Prophet saith in the Psalmes that the wicked Psal 55. 23. shall not liue out halfe their dayes This doctrine of this verse hath beene handled already in the eleauenth verse of the former Chapter The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladnesse Verse 28 but the hope of the wicked shall perish After that the children of God haue once imbraced his promises afflictions and temptations doe vsually ensue thereupon that it would seeme to sence and fleshly reason that misery and troubles were the onely rewards of pietie and obedience and nothing else performed to them that trust in his word Now therefore he sheweth that a better state and condicion remaineth for them that their sorrow shal be turned into ioy their mourning into gladnes when the Lord shall deliuer them from troubles and fulfill all his promises Which is illustrated and further amplified by the contrary case of the wicked which howsoeuer now they seeme to haue the preheminence and are most likely to preuaile heereafter shall yet be depriued of their present prosperitie frustrated of all future expectation This then is the opposition The hope of the righteous shall preuaile and bring them gladnesse but the hope of the wicked shall perish and so worke them sorrow The patient abiding c. They which depend on God in their Doct. afflictions shall in due season be deliuered from them Vpon They that in affliction wait on God shall timely finde ease this ground an exhortation is raysed in an other place of this booke Let thy heart be in the feare of the Lord continually For surely there is an end and thy hope shall not be cut off Prou. 23. 17. 18. Though troubles and sorrowes are in appearance perpetâ—ll endlesse yet they are but temporarie and come quickly to an end though hope possibilitie of help seeme readie continually to vanish away yet it neuer ceaseth nor is taken away First there is nothing in all the world that is more infalliblie Reasons 1 assured of certaine successe then the hope of christians It neuer misseth of that which it aymeth at nor any time disapointeth them that possesse it Rom. 5. 5. For faith doth support it the truth and fidelitie of God himselfe is the foundation of it Secondly that which is long delayed and much waited for is the more welcome and acceptable when it is performed so sayth the holy Ghost The hope that is deferred is the Prou. 13. 12. fainting of the hart but when the desire commeth it is a tree of life The vertue of it cureth al the former faintings the delightfull tast doth swallow vp all the sorrowes If Isaacke had beene borne to Abraham or Iacob to Isaacke the first yeere after they were married their ioy would haue beene but ordinarie wheras the long barrennesse made their birthes exceeding comfortable to them as the benefits were memorable to posteritie Thirdly the delay doth draw