not despised our heauenly calling therefore in the day of trouble we shal haue rest when destruction shall come vpon the secure like an armed man God most glorious Lord of lords although hee make sicknesse his messenger and death his minister till he shall destroy them both yet his mercies are vnspeakeable that forgiueth vs all our sinnes his goodnesse is great who hath regard to the children of men CON. 72. All trouble should be rather matter of ioy then displeasure EXPLA. This is our prayer thy will be done we must be contented with all hee hath done that our hearts may beare vs witnesse that of all things the Lord is most deare vnto vs for if wee giue our heart to loue the Lord our troubles shall seem neither great nor strong vnto vs for what can be great if our heart bee prepared to say We reioyce in afflictions because they shall breede in vs a hope which shall neuer make vs ashamed oâ— what can bee great if God hath taught vs that the momentany afflictioÌ„s of this world they are not worthy of the glory that shall be reuealed vnto vs or what can be great if wee can reioyce in afflictions reioyce exceedingly when we fall into many and great tribulations All is but vanity what should dismay vs Nay how should we not be glad if death were euen at our bed sides that we might euen once see the vtmost malice of the Deuill and after for euer bee deliuered from him O! how God is delighted with vs when we bee faithfull to abide these light chastisements How many things haue all the â—odly suffered are we not ashamed to refuse the crosse which they haue borne yea weight well thy case what it is and thou shalt fee little cause of sorrow in it or if thou compare it with others none at all and it all things were as euill as thou couldst imagine what then Where is our loue to Iesus Christ that gaue his pretious blood to the death vpon the Crosse for our sakes if we will not leaue all for him One haire cannot fall from our head but at his commandement He is head of his Church and all things happen they not vnto vs as he will Onely when wee sin let vs bee sorrowfull to offend such a Sauiour let it grieue vs more then death it selfe but to remember againe so assâ—red hope we cannot but reioyce in the Lord and alwayes reioice so let Gods wil peâ—swade you that whether you liue or whether you die you may bee wholly his The world hath taken vp enmity against vs and striueth dayly to separate vs from the Lord but there is no ioy to this that wee know our selues to bee the children of God to bee ioyned to Iesus Christ and made a chief member of a glorious body with whom we shall be ioyned for euer And what is this world to immortality What are fulnesse of delights to the grace of God the fellowship of Saints the forgiuenesse of our sins the loue of Gods countenance the assurance of our life the brightnesse of his glory and these vnutterable eternall blessings Let vs count then all things dung that wee may winne Christ desire to be dissolued and be with Christ that we may say O death where is thy sting All things of the world are but seruants of death and serue to make his power more fearefull vnto vs vanquish death and thou hast vanquished all height and depth life and death all is ours and we are Christs CON. 73. To confesse sin and not to hide it is a ready way to saluation aduancement of Gods glory EXPLA. Satan is enemy to vs and his sleights are many tread Satan vnder foote and triumph with Christ so shalt thou shame the Deuill For hee that hideth his sinnes shall neuer prosper but hee that confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy To Achan Ioshua said I beseech thee giue glory to God and shew mee what thou hast done This is to giue glory to God to confesse So did Dauid acknowledge his iniquity the Israelites before their absolution and forgiuenesse confessed to the Priest and thereafter their sinnes were layd on the beasts Adam did cloake his sin but we must be borne anew So did Cain but wee are of a better kinred then he God will once reueale the â—ecrets of hearts and then wee shall reioyce that there is nothing of ours hid better to receiue the reproach of flesh and after receiue the glory of God Iohn his preaching began at confession the prodigall Son called heauen and earth to witnesse his impiety Paul did euer tell vs hee was a persecutor the Theefe entred not into Paradise til he first in the hearing of Israel sayd We are rightly punished and receiue things worthy of that wee haue done This then touched the glory of God and therefore wee must forsâ—ke the loue of our selfe we must not dissemble with him that cannot bee mocked in the middest of the congregation I will praise thee I will declare thy Name vnto my Bretheren saith Christ. Gods graces must neither be locked vp in our hearts but will burne within like fire I haue beleeued therfore I spake A fire I say shut vp in our bones wee shall bee weary with forbearing I will speake thy name before Kings and will not be ashamed CON. 74. God hath giuen his Elect as a free gift to Christ. EXPLA. The Apostle telleth vs Behold the children which thou hast giuen me This teacheth vs to acknowledge his gift and grace and not any wisedome in vs why hee would choose vs or any constancy in vs by which wee would cleaue vnto him but God in his grace drew vs that we might come vnto him and with his power he strengthneth vs that we should abide with him All that my Father giueth vnto me commeth vnto me and the reason is because my Father hath giuen them to me and he is greater then all and hee prayeth oftentimes in that long prayer for them that beleeue because his Father hath giuen them vnto him that we may be taught humility that in vs that is in our flesh ther dwelleth no goodnesse but that he chose vs he did it of his free grace and mercy which he would shew vnto vs and as wee know that once God hath freely giuen vs vnto Christ so wee know our election standeth sure because it is according to his promise who hath loued vs for euer CON. 75. To know the sufserings of Christ aright is our greatest consolation EXPLA. Christ suffered the death ouer which the Deuil had power the same death which is the reward of sinne by bearing it he ouercame it and he conquered no more then hee submitted himselfe vnto for by death hee ouercame death and he hath brokeÌ„ the force of it no further then he had felt the sting of it in himself for body and soule hee was made a sacrifice sor our
sins My soule is heauy vnto death yea he was astonished at his griefe at the very entry at it for his sweat was drops of blood falling from hâ—m and God sent an Angell from heauen to comfort him Was this for the death of his body His seruants that receiue of his fulnesse doe they not easily despise this death that either they desire to be with Christ or reioyce in the middest of it before the persecutor The Apostles did sing in prison Paule gloried in his tribulations which were many And did hee cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Here is no comparisoÌ„ that which made him tremble wold haue crushed them that which made him sweate blood would haue made them sinke into the bottome of hel and that which made him cry would haue held both Angels and men vnder euerlasting woe But Christ was as water powred out and all his bones out of ioynt his heart like waxe molted in the middest of his bowels his strength was dried vp like a potsheard and his tongue cleaued vnto his iawes hee was brought with his sorrowes to the dust of death for hee bare our sinnes in his body he submitted himselfe to the death of them and by the wounds of his stripes we be healed For our sinnes deserued not onely a bodily but also a second death in hell fire hee suffered the torments of body and the anguish of the soule the wrath of his Father which wounded his flesh spirit vnto death would haue holden him in that condemnation for euer if he had not bene stronger then we that had deserued it but beeing the Sonne of God in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelled bodily the eternall Spirit that was within him did loose the chaines of death and hell of which it was impossible that hee should bee holden and hath left his enemies the Deuill death and hell in ignominy and darknesse and hath abolished them for euer CON. 76. We are presented faultlesse before the presence of Gods glory by beeing made one with Christ. EXPLA. Of Christ onely is it true This is my well-beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased this is the Saluation wee haue by him to bee grafted in him and made partakers of his life All the faithfull before Christ were righteous in him for wee must leaue all our works in the earth where they were done and they must dye with the corruptible hands and feete with which they are wrought we must go naked and bare and offer nothing but that which is Christs yea our selues wee must present in his body for in our owne persons wee cannot possibly be accepted Euen as the Vine branch can haue no life except it abide in the body of the Vine no more we either life or righteousnesse except wee be and abide in Christ. He is our substance and being in the inheritance of glory his righteousnesse is ours his loue ours his life our life his Spirit our spirit of his fulnesse we receiue all This is a great mistery which the eye seeth not nor heart can vnderstand yet it is a reall ioyning with him faith comprehendeth it and when wee shall see that wisedome which is called vnity in one person God and man wee shall see the wisedome which hath made vs all the body of that head and members one of another In him he is well pleased I say with vs. If that couenant wherin it was once promised to Abraham to giue a land vnto the Iews and all their rebellion could not falsifie his promise in him wee haue a couenant greater and better therefore let vs trust vnto his promise which cannot change his grace nor repent him of his mercy for euer for this is a holy couenant which shall not be broken but God will make all our enemies our footstooles and will surely take vs vp into his glory and briefly the presence of God to which Christ leadeth vs is a throne of Grace for by his merits we bee brought vnto God as before a Iudge who from his tribunall Seat doth acquit vs for euer of his own grace and free mercy For whosoeuer looketh to bee iustified by any other thing the Lord can no more shew mercy vnto him then he can change the property of his Iudgement seate to make it no more the Throne of Grace CON. 77. A perfect beauty of all excellent loue appeareth in the great worke of Christs mediation for hee became man Secondly Hee was ordained to accomplish whatsoeuer was betweene God and man Thirdly This was giuen to Christ by God both by word and by oath and all was to haue compassion on vs. EXPLA. Neither Angell nor Archangell nor Principalities nor Powers can doe this worke to present flesh and blood vnto the Maiesty of God when themselues are but spirits He tooke not the Angels nature but the seede of Abraham But in his sufferings his loue is most euident in that it was so feruent and so deepely rooted that neither feare nor trembling nor any anguish of spirit could make him shake nor the force of death nor any bloody sweats could pull it out of his bowels this is the depth of the Gospell which the Angels doe desire to behold it skilleth not how many our sins are and how great in our eyes the Lord will scatter them as the clouds from the heauens and they shall not turne away his louing countenance from vs if our sinnes bee as scarlet and not ours onely but the sinnes of the whole world they rested all vpon Christ he prayeth for deliuerance and hath obtained and therefore we may say with boldnesse forgiue vs our trespasses We then which are laden but with our owne sins should lift vp our hearts in the great assurance of hope and heare with ioyfulnesse the word of promise I will be mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sins and iniquities no more There is nothing comparable to his passions by whose stripes we are healed and therefore may bee fully perswaded that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ for the Lord hath appointed to giue to all that mourne in Sion beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse for hee was wounded for our transgressions and broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him his prayers are ours his supplications for vs availeable for more sins then we are able to commit This is the victory that shall ouercome the world euen our faith For his Father hath broken him with one breaking vpon another so he kindled his wrath against him and accounted him as one of his enemies hee cryed out aloud in silence he could finde no ease his face was wrinckled with weeping and the shaddow of death was vpon his eyes wheÌ„ he was the brightnesse of glory and the Sunne of Righteousnesse that
and iustified them hee glorified because hee called and iustified none but whom he had predestinated to glory and therefore giueth them perseuerance for the attainement of the same glory Yea and they also account all things but losse for the excellent knowledge of Christ Iesus our Lord and doe iudge them but dung that they may win Christ and bee found in him not hauing their owne righteousnesse which is by the Law CON. 21. There was neuer any meere naturall man for Christ was God also void of all sinne EXPLA. Surely if any at any time was it must be she who by speciall prerogatiue nine moneths togither entertained Christ within the closet of her slesh the hope of all the ends of the earth the honor of the world the common ioy of men but hee of whom all things had their beginnings had his beginning from her of whose body he tooke the blood which was to be shed for the world yet of her hee tooke that which for her he payed The world cannot shew a righteous man much lesse perfectly righteous but Christ is made to vs wisedome reuealing his Fathers will Iustice in offering himselfe a sacrifice for sinne SanctificatioÌ„ because he hath giuen vs his spirit Redemption because he had appointed a day to vindicat his children out of the hands of corruption into a glorious liberty CON. 22. There is a glorifying righteousnes in the world to come as there is a iustifying sanctifying righteousnesse here EXPLA. The righteousnesse wherewith we shall bee clothed in the world to come is both perfect and inherent that whereby here wee are iustified such as is the faith of Abraham is perfect but not inherent that whereby wee are sanctified the workes of Abraham is inherent but not perfect for the righteousnesse wherein we must be found if wee will bee iustified is not our owne for in Christ God findeth vs and the man altogether vnrighteous beeing found in Christ through faith God putteth away his sin by not imputing the same takes quite away the punishment due thereunto by pardoning it and accepted him in Christ Iesus as perfectly righteous as if he had fulfilled all that was commanded him in the law for God made him sinne for vs who knew no sinne that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him that is such we are in the sight of God the Father as is the very Sonne of God himselfe this is all men had sinned God had suffered God had made himselfe the sonne of man and men are made the righteousnesse of God and the grace which elected vs is no grace at all if it elect vs for our workes sake CON. 23 There is no mans case so dangerous as his whom Satan had perswaded that his own righteousnesse shal present him pure blamelesse in the sight of God EXPLA. The more wee haue our fruite in holinesse the more we abound therein the more neede we haue to craue that wee may bee supported and strengthned our very vertues are snares vnto vs it is harder for Sathan to ouerthrow an humble sinner theÌ„ a proud Sainct if we could say as we cannot doe wee are guilty of nothing God sees farther into our hearts then we our selues can doe with hands we neuer offered violence yet a bloody thought doth prooue vs murtherers before him our secret cogitations are laid in the eyes of God and our best things intermingled with many defects God respects the intention of the doer which is seldome vpright our best actions are prayers but how in them are wee distracted little reuerence to the great Maiestie of God little remorse of our owne miseries little influence of his mercies doe wee feele vnwilling to beginne and glad to make an end wherefore wee must euer say Lord beare with our infirmities and pardon our offences CON. 24. Onely man can escape the iudgement of God by appealing to the seate of his sauing mercy EXPLA. God had fixed the limits of his sauing mercy within the compasse of these terms God sent not his Sonne to condemne the world but that the world thorow him might be saued and thereafter mercy is restrained to beleeuers for he that beleeues shall not be condemned hee that beleeues not is condemned already because he beleeues not in the Son of God and in another place mercy is restrained to the penitent Of Iesabel and her sectaries thus hee spake I gaue her space to repent and she repented not behold I will cast her into a bed and them that commit fornication with her into a great affliction except they repent them of their workâ—s and I will kill her children with death If thou be therefore not altogether faithlesse and impenitent there is mercy in store for thee abundantly CON. 25. Faith is the fountaine of prayer and God in keeping of our faith continueth our prayer because the stream cannot faile so long as the fountaine faileth not EXPLA. Prayer is the breath of faith which neuer ceaseth to breathe so long as it is aliue Prayers are the beames of faith if the light of faith bee not quenched it certainely sendeth forth these beames of prayer wherefore they neuer giue ouer to pray that it may bee fulfilled in them which is promised Euery one that calleth vpon the name of God shall be saued God vseth instruction of the word and Sacraments and correction of crosses and tentation to preserue both faith prayer by afflictions he fretteth off the rust and blotteth away the ashes of carnall â—ecurity Wherefore it is said Lord in affliction they visited thee they haue powred out a prayer when thy chastisement was vpon them Thus God keepeth the fire of his Spirit continually burning in our hearts opening our eares by his corrections to cause vs to ceasse from our euill enterprizes and to heale our pride and to keepe backe our soule from the pit Wherefore when wee are iudged wee are chastned of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world CON. 26. Doubting or distracting feare cannot stand with assurance of faith but awfull and regarding feare is an vndiuided companion of true faith EXPLA. As feare is opposed to faith we heare God appointing his Ministers to call his people from it Say vnto the fearefull bee thou strong feare not behold our God commeth with vengeance and hee will come and saue you and againe Feare not for I am with thee be not afraid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee and helpâ— thee and sustaine thee with the hand of my Iustice And againe Feare not for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by name thou art mine And againe Feare not for thou shalt not be ashamed nor confounded in righteousnesse shalt thou bee established and be farre from feare for it shall not come neere thee this is the heritage of the Lords seruants whose righteousnesse is of me for Christs merit is our
shined in the world yet to see his dayes as it were at an end and his enterprizes broken his carefull thoughts to bee so deepe grauen in his breast that they changed euen the day into night vnto him and al light that approched into darkenesse When his excellency was such aboue all creatures that the world was not worthy to giue him breath yet hee to bee made a worme and not a man a shame of men and contempt of the people all that saw him to haue him in derision and to shut vp his life in shame and reproches so vnworthy a reward of so precious a seruant He was righteous aboue measure yet was he accouÌ„ted among the wicked and briefly hee was called a glutton but had his appetites bridled with all holy moderation his behauiour without all reproofe yet slandered as a friend of Publicans hee loued the Law of his Father that he would not suffer one iot or title vnaccomplished yet accused as enemy to Moses he loued his Father with all his heart and was obedient vnto him to the death euen the death of the Crosse yet they said he blasphemed He was an enemy to Sathan euen to death and by death ouercame him that brought death into the world he hated him with so perfect hatred and held stedfast the enmity that was betweene them vntill hee had spoyled his principalities and powers and trampled ouer them in an euerlasting victory yet they said he had a deuill such a loathsome sinke was couered in the heart of man and now the thoughts of many hearts made open And if Moses Ieremiah Isaiah and Paule had sorrow for the Iewes of their time how did Christs great loue boyle in sorrowes of heart to see their destructions ouer whom before hee had wept but prayed still Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe Behold therefore his person here and know his loue it was griefe to see all vertue troden vnder feete by them and yet it was more infinite to behold Satan to preuaile against man to his euerlasting condemnation and which is more the sin that he hateth bee must take it vpon his owne body and beare the wrath of his Father that was powred out against it the anger of his Father burned in him euen vnto the bottome of hell O! who can stand before his wrath or who can abide the fiercenesse of his wrath his wrath is powred out like fire and the Rockes are broken before him Yea maketh the forlorne wildernesse to tremble For thus the Sun is darkened the Moone doth not shew her light the Stars of heauen doth fall away and the powers of heauen are shaken Heere then is the picture of perfect loue being full of goodnesse is rewarded of euill full of obedience is punished as wicked full of faith yet had the reward of a sinner Lord of all yet nothing to doe him duty the God of glory yet compassed with shame the Author of life yet wrapped in the chaines of death the onely begotten and best beloued of the Father yet cast off as a stranger the beauty of the highest heauens yet throwne down into hell well might he say The snares of death compassed me and the paines of hell tooke hold vppon me I haue found trouble and sorrow he did say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me CON. 78. We know then best how we loue the Lord when we feele by experience what we will suffer for hts sake EXPLA. It is an easie thing to bee valiant before the combate to dreame of a good courage before the heart bee tried but indeed to be vnshaken in the middest of the tempest to stand vpright when the ground trembleth vnder thee this is to know assuredly thou art strong indeede The heauen earth elements were Christs enemies his Father in whom he trusted shewed him an angâ—y countenance yet said he still Thy will be done O Father We must account it for an exceeding ioy when we salâ— into sundry troubles for what can be more ioyfull to the heart oppressed then to giue this in experience that neither height nor depth shall remooue him from the Lord This was Abrahams glory that hee would forsake his Countrey and kinred and fathers house at the commandement of God to goe whither hee would shew him Iob his patience was not thorowly knowne till all his goods were spoyled and wee must haue witnesse that our election is sure when wee may speake by experience that neither life nor death can remooue vs from the loue of God Thus the good ground is knowne what it is when the heate cannot scorch it nor briers and thornes turne the good corne into weedes but through all stormes it will giue nourishment vnto the seede till it giue greater encrease to Gods honor and glory This is a profitable experience for before it come vnto vs we know not how great the rebellion of the flesh will be The Apostles bragged they would neuer forsake their Master he alone had the words of eternall life and they would not change him for another they beleeued him that they knew him to be the Christ the Sonne of the liuing God and there was no other Sauiour but wheÌ„ they saw the Crosse at hand their courage fell downe they forsooke him all Peter said he would dye for him drew his sword that he had almost slaine one but this boldnesse was but a blast of words he swore hee knew him not So experience is the greatest warrant to know what our selues can beare The Lord and our duty requireth that wee shold approue our selues the witnesses of the Gospell in patience in afflictions in honour in dishonour in shame in life in death but how violently the flesh will fight against vs wee cannot well declare till wee haue made the triall And therefore in griefe of body learne to say with patience I haue held my peace O Lord because thou hast done it If thy minde bee full of sorrow say I will waite patiently vpon the Lords leasure he will heare my prayer CON. 79. We should not be discouraged vnder the Crosse since Christ is the patterne whose similitude we beare EXPLA. Those whom God hath fore-knowne hee hath also predestinated to be made like vnto the image of his Sonne Death once reigned through sinne and hee hath found a way to rise from it again into greater glory This victory because it was too great for Sainct or Angell to obtaine he had appointed it to be the worke of his onely begotten Sonne hee tooke vpon him our nature to make and in his owne person hee filled it with the fulnesse of miseries with all sorrowes of flesh with all anguish of minde with persecutioÌ„ with death with sinne with hell with condemnation and from all these by the mighty power of his Godhead hee is risen againe in our flesh ascended vp into glory and sitteth on the right hand of Maiesty being a mighty Sauiour vnto
euery one that shal follow him So that this is our glory in afflictions we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ and wee are made like vnto him So it pleased God when hee would bring many children vnto glory to consecrate the Prince of their saluation through afflictions and to make both him that sanctifieth and them that are sanctified all one that they that suffer with him should also liue with him So we when we feele many troubles to rest vpon vs we may say now we are like vnto Christ especially when wee feele the greatest trouble the minde oppressed it maketh vs like vnto him and to say Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the afflictions of Christ in nothing in this world as wealth honor c. can I behold the liuely Image of Christ. Affliction and trouble a minde broken with the remembrance of sinne a troubled spirit horrors of death and a conscience burdened with the wrath of God here light shines out of darknes and hope out of despaire When I thinke my selfe furthest off from the Lord them am I neerest vnto him and when I thinke my selfe fullest of confusion then the Image of Christ is most liuely within me The Lord may hide his face for a while for a moment in his anger aâ— he did from Christ but hee will returne vnto me with euerlasting mercies for the Image of his Sonne is cleere within me Wee are afflicted one euery side but not so as that wee are shut from hope wee are in pouerty but not ouercome with pouerty we are persecuted but not forsaken we are cast down but wee perish not wee are troubled in all things fightings without and terrours without but God that comforteth the abiects he will comfort vs. Vnto this he hath predestinated vs that we should bee like vnto his Son in afflictions and so be glorified with him in the day of honour CON. 80. God sendeth vs sundry chastisements especially the anguish of heart and affliction of the soule that we should be warned how to be free from the plague when it commeth EXPLA. The iudgements of God daily preached vnto vs pierce deepe into the hearts of the true beleeuers and the word that they heare it worketh mightily in them more sharpe in their eares then a two edged sword and it entreth through them euen to the diuiding asunder of the soule and of the spirit and of the ioynts and of the marrow and examines all the thoughts and the intents of the heart so that it is impossible that any part of theÌ„ should be hid but they are al open vnto iudgement and heare the voice of the Lord. Then their sinne is reuiued in the middest of their bowels their conscience hath no rest they feele death working in their hearts and hell is before them they see sin on their right hand and Satan on the left shame vnder their feete and an angry Iudge aboue them the world full of destruction without and a worm gnawing the heart within the poore sinner knoweth not what to doe to hide himselfe it is impossible and to appeare it is intollerable then hee breaketh out into loud crying O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death He giueth no rest vnto his eyes nor sleep vnto his eye-lids vntil he find that which is able to saue him from this wrath In his bed by night hee seeketh him whom his soule loueth in the streetes and open places hee enquireth after him and after many daies in which hee cannot finde him Christ sheweth himselfe at the last a perpetuall deliuerer a victorious Lion of the Tribe of Iuda in whom he hath strong saluatioÌ„ when he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him Christ will approch neere and wipe away al the tears froÌ„ his eies So said he When I heard the word of God my belly trembled my lips shooke at the voyce rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might finde rest in the day of trouble So is it with vs all the plagues of God because they are pronounced against iniquity maketh the childe of God to feare that foreseeing the harme he might prâ—pare himselfe For though Christ hiâ— himselfe at the first the wounded spirit and troubled spirit must needes finde him out We are ful of griefe but we are chastised of the Lord because we should not be coÌ„deÌ„ned with the world we dye with Christ because we should liue with him we lament and weepe but because Christ might wipe away all teares from our eyes wee are deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake but because the life of Iesus should be manifest in our slesh We beare about vs the mortification of our Lord Iesus but because also the life of Iesus might bee manifest in our bodyes We haue anguish of spirit and vexation of minde for this cause that when destruction shall come vpon the careles world wee might lift vp our heads and behold our redemption at hand let vs then in patience poffesse our soules for for these causes wee are now afflicted that wee may receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede and for this cause we tremble and are affraid that after many prayers wee might bee deliuered from the things which we haue feared CON. 81. That our life is in the hand of God that we shold not be pleased with it but as it pleaseth him ready to lay it downe when it pleaseth him EXPLA. This is the great commandement to loue God aboue all and this is the greatest obedience required of man to be ready to dye at the will of God Against this commandement the nature of man striueth the delights of this life rise against it we are loth to make our beds in the darke we would see the Sunne our eares would heare worldly elements our flesh indeed is grasse yet grasse hath a flowre and our frayle bodies haue vanishing fantasies agreeable vnto them from which we cannot bee pulled away So Patriarches and Prophets were afraid yea Peter and Paule loued that life which they saw in hope but they did feele the death which did fight in their members they were men as we are yet obtained at last to bee dissolued and bee with Christ. If we be weaker then they the graces of God shall bee more exalted in vs and wee shall also say at the last Let thy seruant O Lord depart in peace And â—â—ough wee feare for a little â—â—ile yet feare shall bee cast out and we shall say with a free spirit O death where is thy sting Our greatest enemy last is troden vnder our feet what else can hurt vs The Lord of life hath crushed him in pieces vnder vs. It is a blessed day that bringeth vs into this battel a blessed sicknesse that maketh vs indure this fight and most blessed end in which wee get victory This doth he
who said O death I will be thy death for while wee liue we liue in him and no man can take our ioy from vs and when we dye we dye in him and then death shall be no more death for then the burthen of sinne the malice of the Deuill and terrour of hell shall cease All things that fill with ioy shall be full within vs as the fellowshippe of Saints and Angels the forgiuenesse of sinnes the Resurrection of the body and life euerlasting c. yea and the God of glory Our eyes shall bee enlightned with a pure faith and we shall think our time wearinesse if then our time were prolonged and be a soiourner in this body in which wee are strangers from the presence of the Lord. And the neerer our time approcheth the gladder wee shall bee of the end of our iourney when our heart shalâ— feele it For when the earthly house of this Tabernacle shal be destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God a house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens where the God of al mercy and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ shall bee before vs for euer There wee shall see the Patriarches of whom wee haue heard so much the Prophets whom we haue loued the Apostles whose society wee wish for where our time shal not be tedious and glory haue no change O happy daies that shall neuer end O blessed inheritance that shall neuer waste There shall be no more sorrow nor crying c. For the first things are past and what haue we here that can please vs Feare of our enemy griefe in pouerty paine in labour care in riches vnstedfaftnesse in friendship enuy in Authority emulation in Honor change in Nobility feare in a Kingdome what but vexation of spirit in all things that is vnder the Sunne So true it is Vanity of vanities and all is but vanity What then can disquiet vs if in the face of Christ Iesus we see our rising againe from the graue Who hath giuen vs inheritance in pleasant places and our portion in a happy lot the dead man feareth no euill he is only bitter to them that haue peace in their riches then we shal be bold to say Surely the Lord wil deliuer mee from the snare of the hunter and from the noisome pestilence I shall not be afraid of the feare of the night nor of the arrow that flyeth by day nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkenes nor of the plague that destroyeth aâ— noone I haue set the most high to be my refuge and there shal no euâ—ll come neere my tabernacle For among the dead I haue seene Christ and in the graue I haue found the glory of God and therfore do say Let me dye with the righteous and let my latter end be as vnto him for Christ is my life death is my aduantage why then should we not desire to see the louing kindnesse of the Lord which is better then life Yea as the Hart longeth after the water brookes so our soules long to see the Lord. Lord grant wee may haue euen here our conuersation in heauen from thence looking for a Sauiour euen Iesus Christ the righteous who shall change this corruptible body to make it like to his glorious body in that blessed time which shall scatter away all affliction and seale within vs the happy assurance of immortality which shall bee in the presence of the God of Grace Amen FINIS Mr. Hooker Mr. Deering Ioh. 4.14 Rom. 3.5 Rom. 12.6 Math. 17.20 Mar. 12.13 Col. 1.9 2. Pet. 3.18 Can. 4.12 Rom. 10. Act. 13.26 Eph 3.29 2. Cor. 5.20 Rom. 9.33 Psal. 27.8 Zach. 13 9 Mat. 9.23 Ps. 40.7.8 Rom. 8.16 Iohn 5.6 Phil. 1.6 Rom. 9.33 Ioh. 10.28 Ier. 32.40 Phil. 3 12 Rom. 11.29 14 8 8 23. Ps. 23 6 Ier. 31 33 Esa. 25 9 Ioh. 6.54.55 Ioh. 6.35 Rom. 3 34 Rom 4 16 Gal. 3 10 Gal. 5 4 Rom. 4 14 Gal. 3 18 Gal. 5.3 Mat. 5.6 Heb. 12 1 Exo. 12 15 Numb 15 28 Act 16 31 Mat. 8 26 Mat. 15 20 Rom. 4 21 Iohn 6 99 Ioh. 14 29 Mat. 14 28 31 Mat. 8 25 Psal. 31 22 Luke 17 5 Rom. 5 1. 1. Ioh. 5 13 1. Thes. 5 17. 2. Cor. 5.7 Rom. 8 23 2. Sam. 12 13. Psal. 51 1. Heb. 6 18 1. Cor. 2 12 Isa. 9 6 2 Cor. 1 20 a Rom. â— 32 b 1 Iohn 4 13. c Act. 5 31 d Eph. 2.8 e Rom. 5 17. f 2 Tim. 1 7 g Phil. 1 29 h 2 Pet. 1 3 i Rom. 6 23. k Eph. 1 3 3 5. 1. Pet. 1 12 Mat. 26 28 Iob 2 8. Ier. 1 1. 2. Cor. 6 4 Tit. 3 7. Eph. 1.11 Mar. 1 7. Mat. 8 10. Dan. 9 7 Psal. 143 2 Psa. 130 3 Rom. 8 28 Isa. 54 13 Ier. 31 33 Ier. 23 54 Isa. 27 3 Mat. 16 18 Ier. 32 40 Luk. 22 32 Ioh. 17 11 20. 1. Pet. 1 5 Phil. 3 8 1 Cor. 1 30 Rom. 8 21 Rom 4 5 1. Ioh. 3 7 2. Cor. â— 21 Rom. 11 6 Mat. 6. Ioh. 3 17. Reu. 2 22. Rom. 10.13 Isa. 26.16 Iob 33.16.17 1. Cor. 11. Isa. 35.4 Isa. 43.1 Isa. 54 14 Luk. 11 74. Heb. 2.15 Rom. 8 15. 2. Tim. 1.7 Iob 31.23 Eph. 6.10 Isa. 26.12 1. Sam. 2.9 Gen. 18.12 Heb. 11.11 Num. 11.24 Psa. 73 2 â— Hab. 1.2.13 Rom. 10 6. 1. Cor. 3.15 Eph. 2.20 1. Tim. 3.16 Ioh. 1.49 Ioh. 4.24 Act. 4 12. 1. Cor. 3. Rom. 4 23. Is. 2.19 Hos. 10.8 Luk. 23.30 Reue. 6.16 Ps. 51 12. Ioh. 3.16 Ioh. 8 47. Rom. 10 13 Ioh. 1.12 Iam. 1.18 1. Pet. 5.12 1. Ioh. 3.1 Rom. 8 15.16 Ioh. 14 17. Zech. 12.10 Eze. 18.24 Phil. 1 29 Col. 1 11 2. Cor. 1 5 Heb. 13 5 Rom. 8 10 Phi. 2 15 Col. 3 4 Eph. 2 5 1. Ioh. 5 12 1. Ioh. 5 13 Rom. 6 10 Eph. 3.6 Ioh. 14.19 Mat. 28.20 1. Pet. 1.23 1. Ioh. 3 9. Eph. 1 14 Ioh. 4 14 Num. 23 19 Col. 1 23 1 Tim. 2.15 Ioh. 10. 1 Ioh. 3 9 Act. 15.5 Gal. 4 25 28 31. Eph. 1.13 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Cha. 5 5. Ps. 116 16 Ps. 119 125 Ps. 143 2 1 Io. 3 4 15 Act. 16 31 Rom. 1 27 Ps. 84 7 Rom. 8.33 Gal. 3 13 Heb. 8.9 Mat. 1 21 1 Thes. 1 10 Luk. 2 10.11 Is. 9 6 Act. 10.43 1. Ioh. 5.10 Hebr. 3 6 10 22. Rom. 4 18 1. Pet. 2 25 Eph. 3.20 Eph. 1 20 Eph. 2 5. Eze. 36,22 1. Cor. 5 21 Rom. 3.25 Eph. 1 3 1. Cor. 1 30 Rom. 3 25 Rom. 6 6 Eph. 4 24 Tim. 1 2 4 Eph. 5.25 2 Ti. 1 3 5 1. Ioh. 3 9 Psal. 37 24 Ier. 33 16. 2. Cor 12 9 Dan. 9 7 Eph. 1.6 1 Cor. 1 29 Is. 2.11 2 Tim. 1.18 Rom. 7.23 Heb. 12 1 Gal. 5 17 2. Pet. 3 13 Mat. 5 6 Rom. 7 24 Rom. 3.27 2 Cor. 8.12 Mat. 5.26 Ps. 103.4 2. Tim. 4 Is. 53.6 1 Pet. 2.24 Rom. 3 24 Eph. 1 7 Col. 1 14 Ro. 4 6 7 8 Tim. 1 2 14. Gal. 4 5 Luk. 22 10 1. Thes. 5.10 Act. 3.26 Mat. 3 1â— Rom. 8.33 Exo. 28.38 Ps. 143.2 Pro. 24.16 Luk. 22.61 Rom. 5 15 2 Cor. 5 21 Ier. 23 6. Act. 15 9. Gal. 3 14. Rom. 8.2 a Gal. 4 28 b Cha. 3.29 c Heb. 6.17 d 2 Pet. 14. e Gal. 3.14.26 f Eph. 1.13 g Gal. 3.18 h 1. Ti. 1.2 i 2 Pet. 3.13 k 2 Cor. 1.20 l Heb. 11.13 m Gal. 3.14 n Ibid. 22. o Mat. 8.13 p Mat. 21. Ioh. 6 56. Eph. 5 30. Rom. 3 27 Mat. 2 29 Gal. 5.8 Iob 13. Psal. 73. 2 Cor. 12. Iob 2.8 Ier. 11. 2 Cor. 11. Hebr. 13. Psalm 78. Psalm 89. Ioh. 13. Psalm 31. Luk. 22. Hebr 13. Rom. 8. Col. 3.4 Ier. 31. Hebr. 2. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. Heb. 12. Rom. 6. Psal. 103. Psal. 8. Mat. 6. Rom. 5. Rom. 8. Iam. 1. Heb. 12. Phâ—l 4. Prou. 28. Heb. 2. Heb. 2. Mat. 26.56 Mar. 14.33 Luk. 22.44 Psalm 22. 1. Pe 1.2.24 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 4. Hebr 2. Heb. 8.12 Rom. 8. Esay 61.3 Esay 53.5 Psalm 22. Heb. 2. Luk 2. Nah. 1.6 Genes 12. Heb. 2. 2. Cor. 4. Heb. 4. Rom. 7. Can. 3. Hab. 3.16 1. Cor. 11. Ps. 91. c. Psal. 42.1