Crosse God esteems vs not Esay 27. I The Lord do kéep my vineyard that is my Christians and water it quickly that his leaues doo not wither I will preserue it day and night Héer doth God the Lord comfort vs that his Christians should not bee grieued with the Crosse for he compareth his Christendome to a pleasant Vineyard that standeth open on all sides that euery one may come in and no man keeps it but lets it ly yea that it wants rain and all will wither and bee dry So doo wee also think vnder the Crosse that God careth not for vs else should wee hée better But it is certain that God himself wil be Guardian ouer his Christians and will send them the rain of grace comfort in all their temptations as hee héer saith â—â—â—e Lord doo keep it and will quickly water it I will keep it both day and night that no man hurt it that is My Christians shal not méet with any euill so graciously will I watch and ward them But hoâ—â— is such watching and warding and yet a man doth not see it Although it séemeth God hâ—th no great respect with his guarâ—ing of temporal things and whatsoeuer is corporall whilâ—st they belong not to his Kingdom yet must the world and the diuell let it alone and not doo all things as pleaseth them seeing the hairs of our head are numbred As wee haue an example thereof in Mat. 8. that the diuell without Christs leaue could not goe into a filthy Swine And such doo the Histories sufficiently shew But the right guard and protection of vs Christians goeth inwardly to the heart which God with his holy Spirit and Word puts into vs and day and night keeps vs that sin growe not quite ouer vs and that Satan be not too mighty for vs. Of such guard speaketh he shortly after The sin of Iacob shall thereby cease that is through the Crosse God defends vs against sinne and mortifieth the old Adam Many a one doth lie in his bedde who if hee were well would doo all mischief Many a one hath another assaulting which driueth him to Sermons and Praiers and to amendment of his life who if that were not would care nothing at all for God or his Word Against such assaulting should we earnestly think vpon this defense of our Lord God for the world doth not sée it and the Christians also somtimes do forget it in their néed and think God doth not regard them he hath forgotten them So did Dauid comfort himself Psalm 32. Thou art my dâ—fense thou wilt keep me from sorrow A Praier O Lord thou kéeper of Israel which doost neither slumber nor sléep and hast promised to thy faithfull that lift vp their eies toward heauen to thee and tarry for thy godly grace comfort help that thou wilt kéep them day and night in their tribulations and with the comfort of thy holy Spirit wilt moisten their hearts and graciously accept of them which is easie for thee to doo I pray thée let mee not forget thy watching and warding in my aduersity nor bee weak in mine owne cause that thou wouldst kéep me from trouble O kéep me from all tribulation O kéep me from all euill O kéep my soule and deliuer me let me not be ashamed O kéep thou my going out and comming in both now for euermore Amen II. Against the other aâ—saulting God is our enemy Esay 27. With me is no anger Lamen 3. The Lord troubleth but he hath compassion again according to his great goodnes for hee vereth not nor troubleth man from his heart O God whosoeuer could beléeue this should yet bee merry although hee were ill But all sorrows and complaints come of this that we think God is angry with vs. Therefore he giueth vs in Esay a pleasant similitude I cannot bee so angry with my Vmeyard that is with my Christians because I attend the same so diligently It is a deare Iewell vnto me Therefore doe I dresse it I hack it I cut it not that I hate it but because I loue it and will further it that it bring forth fruit which otherwise would not come foorth if I should not in such sort hack it and cut it for although it seem not friendly that the hedger standeth ouer the Vine with his knife and cutteth it hath the Mattocke in his hand and heaweth it with all his might yet is it but for the good of the Vineyard that it beare the more fruit So shall you my deare Christians saith the Lord vnderstand it sol kewise and hold it for a certaine that I loue you Prouerbs 3. when I come ouer you with the Crosse with the Wine-hook and Mattocke cut and hack you Another fine similitude giueth he afterward of plowing in chapter 28. Hearken with your eares and heare my voice When a Husbandman breaketh and ploweth his field it séemeth that hée doth much harme especially when hee oftentimes in the yéere yea thrée or foure times turneth it ouer and ploweth through the same Wherefore doth hee it It goeth heere after the common Prouerb The fourth kinde bringeth the fourth Sheaf Therefore dooth hee not let it rest after plowing but when hee hath plowed thorow his field hee soweth it then followeth faire and goodly fruit So saith the Lord GOD doo I also I plow you with the Crosse and send one thing after another now pouerty then sickenesse c. which dooth grieue you but it procéedeth not of anger as if I were your enemy it is done for your good that the stones and rocks may be rooted out and the ground made readie for fruit Therefore doe I chastise you thorow right and doctrine Likewise doth leremy in this place also comfort The Lord troubleth me c For that is his work as Psalm 4 saith Hee dealeth strangely with his Saints he thrusteth them first unto hell and lets them come into need before he do help them out hée lets one bee first sick before hee make him whole But in such Crosses and Tribulations doth hée leaue them helplesse No but hath such a heart as is full of loue and compassion Therefore is hee mercifull againe according vnto his great goodnesse and sheweth himselfe like a helpfull GOD and beareth a fatherly heart toward vs. For like as a father dooth carry an heart towards his deare childe in that hee restraineth him to the end he come to goodnes and may see both ioy and honesty in him So in GOD's heart towards vs also that he vexeth not nor troubleth vs men from his heart but that he may preserue vs his deare children to his glory kingdom and euerlasting life Heer of hast thou a fine example of Ioseph which praied a long time hee was guiltlesse and cast into Prison God heard him not so soone else had he come home to his parents and béen a poor shepherd all his life time but afterward God took pity of his misery released him of his imprisonment
mee out of my troubles Looke vpon mine aduersitie and miserie and forgiue me all my sinnes O kéepe my soule and deliuer mee let mee not be confounded for I haue put my trust in thée The Lord is my light and my saluation whom then should I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then should I bee afraid Though an hoast of men were laide against mee yet shall not my heart bee afraide and though there rose vp war against mee yet will I trust in him O hide not thou thy face from mée cast not thy seruant off in displeasure Thou art my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God my Sauiour The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart hopeth in him In thee O Lord is my trust let mee neuer bee put to confusion Bowe downe thine eare to mee make haste to deliuer mee Thou art my strong hold and my castle O bee thou my guide and leade mee for thy Names sake Into thy hands I commend my Spirit deliuer me O Lord God of truth O Lord consider my trouble and know my Soule in aduersitie My hope is in thee O Lord thou art my God Shew mee the light of thy countenance help me for thy mercies sake Let mee not be confounded O Lord for I call vpon thée Thou art my defence in the trouble that is come about mee O compasse thou mee about also with the ioy of deliuerance Striue thou with them O Lord that striue with mee fight thou against them that fight against mee and stand vp to helpe me Awake Lord and stand vp auenge thou my cause my God and my Lord. Thou art my helper and redéemer make no long tarrying O my God Arise O Lord help me and deliuer mee for thy mercies sake Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord after thy goodnesse and according to thy great mercies do away mine offences For I acknowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Against thée onely haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight Cast mee not away from thy presence Heare my prayer O Lord and hide not thy selfe from my Petition Take heede vnto mee and heare me and preserue my soule Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon mee and an horrible dread hath ouerwhelmed me Bee mercifull vnto me O God bee mercifull vnto mee for my soule trusteth in thee and vnder the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge Heare my crying O God giue heede vnto my prayer for thou art my hope a strong Tower for mee against the enemy Take mee out of the myre that I sinke not Heare mee O Lord and turne thee vnto me according vnto thy great mercie I am poore and in miserie haste thée O God for to helpe mee For thou art my helpe my Redéemer and my God oh make no long tarrying In thee O Lord is my trust let me neuer bee put to confusion For thou art the thing that I long for thou art my hope euen from my youth Forsake mee not O Lord when my strength fayleth mee for mine enemies that lay white for my soule take their counsell together Go not farre from mee O my God my God hast thee to helpe mee O remember not mine iniquities but haue merey vpon me and that soone Helpe me O Lord my Sauiour for the glorie of thy Name O deliuer mee and forgiue mee my sinnes for thy Name sake Comfort the soule of thy seruant for thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercie vnto all them that call vpon thee In the time of trouble I call vpon thee turne to me haue mercie vpon mee giue thy strength to thy seruant Thou O Lord God art full of compassion and mercie long-suffering great in goodnesse and truth The snares of death compassed mee round about the paines of hell gat holde vpon me I found trouble and heauinesse O Lord deliuer my soule Thy mercie O Lord endureth for euer despise not the worke of thine owne hands Enter not into Iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Bring my soule out of trouble for I am thy seruant A Prayer O My God my Lord and Father now shew vnto my poore soule that she may perceiue that thou art my strong rock castle shield tower defence hope succour refuge defender and goodnes that I in this great trouble for mine enemies through thy godly grace helpe and assistance may bee preserued Lord in thee I put my trust let me not bee put to confusion Into thy hands I commend my spirit deliuer mee Lord God of truth Amen A Prayer O Father receiue againe the thing which thou hast created O Sonne receiue the thing which thou hast gouerned O Holy Ghost fetch the thing which thou so bountifully hast preserued Three persons and one verie God I beséech you remember not mine offences for euer For I crie Lord God and Father mercie Lord God Sonne mercie Lord God Holy Ghost mercie Amen When thou departest from a sicke person say vnto him IN your trouble and necessitie call vnto the Lord and crie vnto your God and hée will heare your voice and your crying commeth before him in his eares And God which called you vnto his eternall glorie by Christ Iesu shall his owne selfe after you haue suffered a little affliction make you perfect shall settle strength stablish and saue you To him be glory and dominion for euer and euer FINIS
through Christ thou wouldst forgiue mee all these my sins and poure thy holy Ghost into my heart that I may constantly abide in a godly life All which grant vnto mee for thy deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauior Amen Another prayer to our Lord Iesus Christ the euerlasting Son of God for grace and forgiuenesse O My deare Lord Iesus Christ I confesse vnto thee from the bottome of my heart with great sighing that I am alas a pooâ—e sinner conceiued and home in sinne and iniquity to haue liued wickedly against thee and thy holy Word with vngodly and vnthankefull heart for which I am heartily sorry But I am comfored in my heart that thou wilt not the death of a sinner which thou hast sworne and confirmed with an oath That thou wilt not be angry with me for euer nor yet for euer punish mee Thou dost call and entice all them that are weary oppressed comfortlesse sorrowfull bearts and consciences to thee and thy holy Word and namest thy selfe A heauenly Physicion which takest vpon thee our woes and miseries wherein wee through sinne are fallen and bringest to vs thy euerlasting helpe and refreshing by Preaching of thy holy Gospell wherewith wee may be holpen for euermore vpon such thy gracious promises come I to thee and pray thee from the bottome of my heart O my Lord God and Sauiour to be mercifull to me poore sinner like as thou hast promised such mercy for the loue of thy owne grace merits Amen Lord Iesus Christ Amen The Lords Prayer contained in a short forme ABba deare Father wée thy vnworthy children call vpon thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ through thy holy Ghost vphold vs by thy holy Word giue vs honest and true Teachers and Preachers to distribute the same amongst vs Release vs quickly out of the Diuels kingdome bring vs to thy Kingdoom of Grace and to euerlasting life And giue vs thy holy Spirit that wee as the Angels of God may liue holily according to thy will and pleasure Nourish blesse and preserue our households Wiues Children and Seruants in this life couer our trespasses and of fences and giue vs a louing heart to forgiue all those that haue offended vs. Let vs not consent vnto sinne nor fall from thy onely Word of saluation but keepe vs from the euill Fiend and from all his deceites Thou art a most mightie King powerfull to rule thou canst and wilt grant vs all these things For which wee will giue thee thankes and praise thee for euer Amen A Prayer wherein the confession of our Christian Faith is simply contained wherewith a man may cal vpon God for stâ—engthening of his faith O Almightie and euerlasting God which art a Father of all grace and mercy and a God of all comfort for vs poore sinners which I and all Christians through reuealing of thy Word doe acknowledge and beleeue for certain Therefore doe I land honour and praise thee deare Father of heauen for such thy vnspeakable loue wherewith thou hast graciously had respect to vs thy enemies transgressors of thy commandements and damned creatures Namely in that thou hast not spared thy onely Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ who is equall with the God head and with the holy Ghost Especially that thou hast let him bee incarnate for our sinfull nature and doings with our actuall misdeeds and howsoeuer we haue thereby deserued and into manifold horrible reproches and finally to yeeld himselfe to the shamefull death of the Crosse And so of pure fatherly loue hast ordained him a Lambe to carry my sinnes and the sins of the whole world vpon the Crosse and to be a perfect Oblation therefore and dost proffer proclaime and promise the same throughout the whole world commandest also the same to be beléeued vpon paine of losing euerlasting saluation for thereby and by no other meanes must it onely bee applyed and impropriated to me and to all the faithfull and to bée our owne Therefore deare Father do I constantly beleeue according to the same reuealing of the holy Gospell all this same and doubt not thereof any thing at all as I thy Childe am bound and will doe not respecting my vnworthinesse In Christ thy onely Sonne are all my sins and all which beleeue and boldly trust vnto it sufficiently punished corrected spent and through his perfect obedient death of the Crosse all killed and taken away And that I am and also all ChristiaÌ„s through such faith planted in the Kingdome of thy deare Sonne as the holy Scripture saith by whom we haue redemption through his bloud namely remission of sinnes I beleeue also verily that in the death of Christ thy deare Sonne my death is ouercome that it shall neuer hurt mee nor consume mee into damnation as the Scripture saith Christ hath â—aâ—ed of death for all hath taken into his power and brought to lighten vntransitory life and being through his Gospell I beleeue also that the destroying of â—â—ell which was done by thy deare Sonne is destroyed and torne asunder for mee and all faithfull that the same cannot consume or deuoure mee nor any of the right beleeuers as the Scripture saith â—â—ll where is thy victory And in another place The gates of Hell shall not preuaile against the right Beleeuers And The Prince of this world is iudged I beleeue also that thy Commandements with all the power thereof which they haue haue no more right ouer mee although I cannot absolutely keepe them For the Lord Christ thy deare Sonne hath through his obedience perfectly kept the same for mee and taken from them the right and interest which they had in mee wherewith thou almighty Euerlasting and Mercâ—full God and Father art satisfied I beleeue also that the resurrection of Christ thy deare Sonne is a new life vnto mee and to all faithfull vnto euerlasting life Finally I beléeue also as the Scripture saith that hee is ascended into Heauen and hath taken rule on the right hand of his Father and answereth for me and al the faithfull that hencefoorth the Diuell and all his power is taken must bee subiect and lie at the feete of mee and all the Faithfull Therefore I pray thée O Lord GOD thou infinite Fountaine of all grace that through the power working of the Holy Ghost thou wilt giue mée such faith and acknowledging this day and lawaies to the end of my life And I pray thee also my Lord Iesus Christ which art true and perfect GOD with the Father and the Holy Ghost forasmuch as thou hast put thy selfe vnder the tyranny of the Law which by reason of sinne it had towardes mee and all mankind and hast taken on thée my sinne Death Hell and damnation which I by all reason right and rigour thereof should haue borne that thou wilt help to still and pacifie these great misdeedes betwéene GOD our heauenly Father and mee especially in my conscience which continually disquieteth mee through the power
mine Psalme 31. Lord on thee doe I trust let mee neuer bée confounded deliuer mee through thy righteousnesse Item Be comforted and not dismayed all you that tarry for the Lord. Psal 32. The vngodly hath many sorrowes but hee that trusteth in the Lord shall be compassed with goodnesse Psal 91. Though a thousand fall at thy side and tenne thousand on thy right hand yet shall it not touch thee Psal 91. Vpon the Lion and Adder shalt thou goe and tread vpon the young Lion and Dragon Psal 23. Goodnesse and mercifulnesse shall follow mee all my life time and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for euermore Iohn 14. In my Fathers house are many dwellings if it were not so I would haue told you I goe hence to prepare the places for you Iohn 14. I will not leaue you fatherlesse I liue and you shall also liue Iohn 14. I will come againe and take you vnto mee that you may be where I am Iohn 12. Where I am there shall also my seruant be Item When I shall be lifted vp from the earth then will I draw them all vnto me Iohn 10. I knowe my shéep and am knowne of mine and no man shall pull them out of mine hands Rom. 8. If God bée with vs who shall bée against vs who also hath not spared his onely son but hath giuen him for vs how can hes not but giue vs all with him Rom. 8. I am sure that neither death nor life neither Angell nor principality nor power neither things present nor to come neither height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Amen A Prayer LAud praise and thankes bee vnto thée my Lord Iesus Christ for thy holy incarnation for thy martyrdom and litter passion out of which I acknowledge that thou art my Redéemer and Sauiour and do beléeue that thou hast ouercome sin death hell and the diuell that they cannot hurt me With this onely doo I comfort me héervpon build I there standeth my hope there will I bée found Onely bee gracious and mercifull vnto mee as I doubt not of thy sure promise O Lord let mee not sink or despaire in this my great tribulation and necessity but preserue mee happily by such sure comfort Amen Esay 49. Thou shalt vnderstand that I am the Lord of whom they shall not bee ashamed which tarry for me c. A comfort for poore sicke people which are troubled by reason of their grieuous sicknes Psal 118. THe Lord thastiseth mée but giueth me not ouer to death Psal 119. It is good for mée that thou hast chastised me that I may learn thy Lawes WHen any outward mis-fortune crosse or sicknesse falleth vpon vs then are wée sundry waies assaulted wée behaue our selues impatiently and doo comolain and wéep for it Such impatience is a great torment to a Christian for when the diuell can doo nothing else on him then commeth he with impatience that many in their miseries doo snarle and powt But if we could remember this onely word as Dauid saith It is good Lord that thou hast chastised mee we should rather wéepe and cry when we are without crosses sickenesse or other aduersity But what prosit or goodnesse this Crosse is of should euery Christian earnestly thinke on in all his temptations The chiefest profit of the Crosse is this First that thereby fleshly lust and desire may bée hindred that it be not lasciuious and throwe vs not into damnation as our noerest enemie which wée daily carry in our bosomes for as a man must spurre a Horse and hold him with the bridle and bring him forward Psalm 32. so must the Lord God also spur and bridle our olde Adam through the Crosse without which correction wée shall neuer come there whereunto woe through the Crosse haue cause 2 Then shall wee thereby be driuen to the Word and to Prayer and brought also to be penitent as the Prophet Esay saith Onely mischance and tribulation teach vs to mark the Word or as Dauid chastised mee that I might learn thy Lawes 3 If it should alwaies bée with vs according to our own carnall wils then should wée be proud and insolent c. But when God catcheth hould on vs with sicknes or any other crosse then wee acknowledge our disability 4 Wee shall bee thereby occasioned to esteeme and acknowledge Gods gracious and almighty help that hee is to vs a Rock a Bulwark Defense Protection Help and Strength in all our néed and necessity without which gracious help wée despaire of all things and must bee without comfort Now when the diuell with his poison pestilence and beggerly sicknesse is worst-minded towards vs and scattereth his plagues and sickenesse among vs yet then haue wee Christians GOD for a sure comfort wee are vnder his godly protection defense and do trust alwaies on Gods help therfore shall we neuer be ashamed 5 Then when wée haue obtained and gotten GOD's helpe others shall in like maner be therewith strengthned and comforted that they in all their tribulation and néed may set their comfort hope on the Lords gracious help 6 Although the Crosse doo bring such profit that many more causes might bee rehearsed yet the greatest comfort vnder the Crosse is that wee bee thereby assured that wee are the children of God for euer and so shall remain seeing that euery father correcteth his deare childe if hée take it vp to the end it may bée kept in kindly obedience Hebrews 12 Prouerbs 20. And héer it goeth after the common Prouerb as often as the honest Parents do say before their Children O dear Rod Thou makest me good Thou makest me gētle to be That the Hangman Be not troubled with me Such causes how fatherly soeuer our Lord God means that hée layeth so many kinde of crosses vpon His and withall the great bountifull goodnesse and profit that the same tribulations bring vnto vs let vs earnestly thinke vpon when we are in misery sicknesse or other calamities and not murmure against GOD for he knowes his creatures best and can tell what is good and profitable both for soule and body So did the Lord Iesus well see before the tribulation that his Disciples should haue after his death and passion but he comforted them Iohn 16. It is good for you that I goe hence for if I goe not the Comforter wil not come to you but if I go hence I will send him to you Therefore should wée set our will to GOD's will as Syrach in the 2 Chap. admonisheth My Childe if thou wilt bee Gods Seruant then prepare thee to tribulation leane thou vnto God and shrink not that thou maist bee alwaies stronger Suffer whatsoeuer happeneth vnto thee and bee patient in all thy troubles for like as gold is tried in the fire so shall they whom God pleaseth bee tried through the fire of aduersity I. Against the first assaulting vnder the
and made him a great Prince ouer all the Land of Egypt So will God also doo with vs his deare children a certaine time will he leaue vs to bée troubled in misery but afterwards will he accept of vs and take pity with his euerlasting mercy will perfectly reioyce vs preserue and bring vs to euerlasting glory A Prayer O Lord God heauenly father which of thy fatherly well meaning wilt keep me thy deare Child héere on earth vnder thy rodde to the end I may bée like thine onely Sonne both in passion and afterwards in glorie I pray thee comfort mee in my tribulations and crosses with thy holy Spirit that I despaire not but according to the promises of thy Sonne doe take sure holde of this comfort that the crosses of me and all faithfull be but a little and that thou wilt with thy grace accept of vs againe in our troubles with euerlasting pitty that euerlasting ioy may follow That I through this hope may with patience ouercome all misfortunes Amen Lamen 3. It is a precious thing for a man that he carry the yoke in his youth MAny a one doth GOD lay his crosse and yoke vpon betimes in his young bloud and youth Although our flesh and bloud doe shrinke for it and would gladly forbeare it yet should wee know that it is a costly thing for a man that hée be exercised from his youth vnder the Lords yoake and bée rocked with the deare Crosse for thereby teacheth hée not onely to estéeme much of Gods help but also to thanke God from his heart for his gratious care hath kept him thereby from so many terrible sinnes which the Aduersarie in his youth did trouble him with And because hee is from his youth vsed to the Crosse therefore is hee patient for hée knoweth well that he shall find no better life heere Therefore hath hee is minde and longing to another world and occasioned to pray vnto GOD for the gracious coâ—â—â—ing of his kingdome For such and the like causes will GOD preserue vs alwaies vnder his yoke For when one crosse is scant past there cometh soone another And heere must 〈◊〉 tell an example of a Christian Pastor and Preacher which soone after the beginning of the Gospel did preach in the precinct of Weida This honest and godly man without doubt loued the Lord GOD and his holy Word entirely therefore was the Diuell his sore enemy And GOD the Lord through many afflictions did trie his faith For first not onely hée but his whole houshold wife and children were taken with a long lasting sickenesse of the French disease on which his wise and children died Not long after the horrible plague of Pestilence fell vpon him in the time of which sickneg the wilde-fire kindled in oâ—e of his armes that hee was forced to haue the same sawed off and was after wards bereaued of his senses that hée was kept in chaines Vpon whom the Lord shewed himselfe so gracious and merciful that he gat his senses againe But shortly after when hee sound himselfe very ill and weake hee called on his deare God with these and such like words O Deare God I thanke thee for thy gracious helpe and euerlasting Redemption which thou hast shewed to mee poore sinner through thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and let so happen vnto me that thou mightest preserue mee in the same thy euerlasting grace and mercie Oh how many tribulations and sicknesses hast thou layd die vpon me from my youth hast visited me with the French disease Pestilence hast let my wife children die sent the wilde fire into my arme to bee bereaued of my wits and memorie and hast giuen mee the same againe O my deare GOD what wilt thou doe more with me and what is thy pretence Euen at that houre as he thanked his deare GOD for his euerlasting helpe that hee had so heartily accepted of his Soule and yeelded him further to GODS will and pleasure without doubt for dissoluing of this life praying with Saint Paul with his heart the falling sicknesse tooke him by the meanes whereof hee departed out of this life but was perfectly heard As God now dealt with this Christian in sending him one sorrow after an other First on his wife then shortly after vpon his children and his owne bodie c. So will hee often times do with his Christians in this life from their youth and it shall stand vs in good stead For nothing can bee dannable to them which bée in Christ Iesus This same is somewhat a horror for our senses to hear but a Christian should yéeld himselfe with patience vnto Gods will and pleasure as this Christian man did For like as the Lords yoake is a very costly thing so againe is it also a costly thing to beare the same with patience and tarry for his helpe Therefore whosoeuer is subiect vnder the Lords yoke and crosse let him here learne with the Prophet Dauid to comfort himselfe and to pray thus O deare God behold how I am heere in subiection vnder thy yoke with many miseries and troubles I know if it bée thy will that thy right hand can turne away all But if it bée not thy godly pleasure to helpe mee bodily as thou knowest what is best then giue mée the comfort of thy holie Spirit I reioyce and am glad of thy goodnesse that thou hast respect of my miserie and knowest my soule in aduersitie Psalme 31. I hope vpon thee for thou art mercifull My heart reioyceth that thou so willingly helpest Therefore O deare God although thou kill mee and let mée die vnder thy yoake and crosse yet will I not doubt nor despaire of thine euerlasting helpe A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ the flesh is weake and vnpatient O deare Lord burne hew strike and plague mée how thou wilt I onely pray thee for patience and méekenesse Amen III. Wherefore God layeth the Crosse vpon vs. Esay 48. Behold I wil cleanse thee but not as siluer but I will make thee selected in the Furnace of Affliction for my sake will I doe it WE poore Creatures haue often gone away from God and forgotten him Therefore it is néedfull that he do cast vs into the melting Quen like vncleane and falsified siluer to bée clensed and purified to the end hée may againe haue a pleasure and delight in vs And so wée deliuered from sinne and comne againe into the feare of God may kéepe his word This is for all that no euill thing but the chiefest pretence and meanes that God spareth thy Soule taketh a while thy body thy goods wife and children c. Therewith hee thrusteth thée into the furnace of affliction that thou maiest thereby learn to acknowledge thy sinnes to be sorry for them to humble thy selfe before GOD and pray for Gods grace c. whereas otherwise if thou diddest not sticke in this furnace thou wouldest alwaies goe forward in sin and more and more fall into damnation But now whilst