his grace to liue for euer in himselfe he is onely all goodnesse and from whome onely being onely good we receiue this first good of our election how great a proofe of the glorious essence of the goodnesse in God is this that not by perswasion of Angelles nor the merrite of any power of nature this free election of man aboue all creatures vnder him to be Lord ouer them fell vnto vs by the onely gratious working of his holy wil to his onely infinite glory our vnspeakable comfort Now let vs againe consider a further goodnes that from his grace we receiue in our election not onely to be made the best best of his creatures but to serue him with such loue that wee maic liue with him in glory he hath not onely chosen vs for his best creatures but also for his best seruants yea his beloued sonnes and not onely sonnes but coheires with his blessed Sonne in the heauenly kingdome he hath chosen vs before the worlde to preserue vs in the worlde and to take vs out of the worlde to eternall ioyes aboue the worlde Oh what tongue can expresse the greatnes of this his goodnes towards vs besides the infinite comforts graces and blessings that euer in this life he bestoweth vpon vs hee created all things could giue him nothng to perswade or allure him to make vs to his Image being created we were so poore that wee had nothing but what he gaue vs therfore could giue him nothing for our creation when hee had giuen vs dominion ouer his creatures what could wee giue him but what was his owne and whereof he had no neede but might commaunde at his will naie more what did man giue him but vnthankfulnesse in being disobedient to his commaundement and lastly being fallen through sinne so farre from the state of grace that there was no meanes but the death of his dearest Sonne and our Sauiour for our redemtion what could wee giue him hauing nothing and if we had had al the worlde it was but his owne and as nothing to recompence this admirable point of his goodnes in our redemption Consider then for our election we could giue him nothing and therefore it was only of his grace for our creation we had nothing to giue him for we had nothing but what he gaue vs for our redemtion the least drop of the pretious Bloud of his deere beloued Sonne was more worth then the whole worlde Oh then thinke wee coulde giue him nothing worthy of so greate a loue as to dye for vs with the grace of his holy spirite hee doth sanctifie vs and who can thinke or dare presume to buy that glorious blessing of him shall with Symon Magus perish in the horror of such a sinne the least sparke of his grace being more worth then the whole worlde and the worlde all his and man but a creature in the worlde Againe for our iustification his onely righteousnesse in his life and death his patience and his Passion is the onely substance of our iustification for as wee are iustified by faith in his Bloud an effect of grace in the inspiration of his holy spirite so is that pretious Bloud of his the glorious ground of our beleife whereby onely wee are iustified our election then from grace our creation in grace our redemption by grace out sanctification by grace our iustification by grace and our glorification by grace what hath the world or man if he had the whole worlde to purchase the least parte of the glory that the onely goodnesse of God hath in his mercie ordained and reserued for the good of man Let then no man be so blinde or blinded with the mist of arrogancie as to runne into merite in himselfe or to mingle our saluation Oh let vs a little consider how many are the sundry yea and infinite varieties of God that by the goodnes of our election wee receiue from the mercie of the Almightie first to be created to his owne Image to be inspired with a Diuine knowledge aboue all his creatures to haue dominion ouer so many creatures to be feareles of damnation by the assurance of our election to saluation to vse the things of the world as if wee had them not to accompt the worlde with all the pompe and pride thereof but as vanitie to haue a loathing of sinne and a loue to vertue to be furnished of what is necessarie to be deffended from euill preserued from hurt to dread no danger to be weary of the worlde and longe to be with Christ To speake of the goodnes of his bountie dayly bestowed vpon his creatures as beautie to some strength to other to other wealth to other wisdome to other honour to other diuine inspirations these I say are no small causes to make vs consider of his goodnesse towards vs but aboue all to giue vs himselfe in his loue to bee with vs with his grace to guide vs with his power to defend vs with his word to instruct vs with his holy spirit to inspite vs to finde the way made for vs to our eternal ioyes that none shall take from vs to which before the worldes world without end he hath only elected vs oh man how canst thou thinke humblie enough thankfully enough and ioyfully enough of the goodnes of thy God in this good of thy electioÌ„ in summe what goodnes can be greater vnto vs then to know y t God to his dearest loue through his beloued only dearly Son Iesus Christ hath elected vs as it were chosen his loue aboue al his creatures in his Son Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour to be bestowed vpon vs iâ— that loue to liue with vs and that euer-liuing loue neuer to leaue vs here on earth with his infinite blessings in his gratious goodness to comfort vs and in heauen to reserue a Crowne of glory for vs to create vs when we were not to redeeme vs being lost to preserue vs from destruction to giue his deerest Sonne to death for our sinnes to assure vs of saluation and to receiue vs to glory All this did hee and all good that euer was is or euer will or can be for vs to shew and make vs consider of his goodnes towards vs for let vs in breefe a littltle consider how freely and onely of his grace hee hath thus made manifest his vnspeâ—kable goodnes in this our election when wee were not wee gle his corrupt actions with the pure merite of Christe Iesus for his saluation but say with Iob all our righteousnesse is as a filthie cloth and with the Prophet Dauid Psalme 116. verses 11. 12. meditating vppon the greatnesse of his goodnes towards him what shall I giue the Lord for all that hee hath done vnto me I will take the Cuppe of Saluation and be thankfull to the Lord see here all that wee are and all that wee can giue him for all the good that wee receiue from him bare thanks
I cannot but with admiration speake of that grace that through his loue made him haue such a fauour vnto man as to elect him to his loue to frame him to his image to inspire him with his spirit to instruct him in his word to defend him with his power to preserue him in his mercie to dye for him in his loue and to receiue him to glorie all these and what euer other good wee receiue either through the loue or mercye of God are free guifts of his grace and not for any merrit in man How can this beame of glorious brightnes bee beheld with the cies of humilitie but that the soule wold be rauished with the contemplation therof and say with the Psalmist Psalme 103. verse 8. Gratious is the Lord and mercifull long suffering and of great goodnesse Furthermore of so great effect in the working of comfort in the hearts of the faithfull is this vertue of grace in God that wee finde the writings of the Apostles in their Epistles commonlye to begin with this word Grace Grace mercie and peace from our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ As if from grace came mercie and from mercie peace Oh consider the works of grace our election out of a speciall fauour our creation out of a gratious wisdome our vocation out of a gratious kindenes our sanctification out of a gratious holines our iustification out of a gratious merit our redemptioÌ„ out of a gratious loue our glorification out of a gratious mercy So that still we see that grace worketh in all thinges to the onelye glorie of God in whome it worketh to the good of man Oh how sweet a salutation was deliuered to the blessed Virgin Mary by the Angell Gabriell Haile Mary full of grace God is with thee So that if God be with any soule it is full of grace where the fulnes of grace is there is surely God but as it is written of Christ Iesus Psalme 45. vers 7. That hee was annointed with the Oyle of Grace aboue his fellowes So may wee well say of the Grace of God it is so excellent in working to the Glorie of God that as it is infinite in goodnes so must it haue the same measure in glorie I say to be glorified aboue all things Note a little the varieties of the guiftes of this grace of God vnto his seruants Moyses hee made a leader of his people and gaue him the tables of the law to Abraham he gaue the blessing that should follow in his seede in Isaack shall the seede be called at the prayer of Eliah hee sent raine after a long drought to Dauid hee gaue a kingdome and a treasure more worth then many kingdomes the enlightning knowledge of his holy loue the spirit of prophesie the confession of sinne the repentance of offence the passion of true patieÌ„ce the constancie of faith and the humility of loue To Salomon he gaue especiall wisdome to sit in the Throane of iudgement with the greatest maiestie and wealth of any earthlye creature in the world To the blessed Virgin Marie hee gaue the fulnesse of grace in the conception of his only Sonne but to him he gaue that grace that filled heauen and earth with his glorie Let vs then consider not only the vertue goodnesse and glory of grace but with all the height and glorie therof which being only in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour let vs in him onely beholde the summe and substance the beautie brightnesse the goodnesse and glorie thereof forsaking our selues in the shame of our sinnes only flie to his mercie for the comforte of those blessings that receiuing onelye from him may make vs giue all honour and glorie to him And so much for consideration vpon the grace of God The seauenth consideration of the glorie of God HAuing thus considered of the greatnes the goodnes the wisdom the loue the mercy grace of God towards man I cannot but finde in this good God an admirable glory who containing all these excellencies in himselfe and beeing indeede the verie essence of the same doth in the vertue of his bountie appeare so gratious vnto this people But since to speake or thinke of the glory of God or the least part thereof is â—o farre aboue the reach of the power of reason as in all confession must be onely left to admiration Let me onely say with the Apostle Glory only belongeth vnto the Lord in his presence so glorious is his brightnesse as nothing can see him and liue and therefore in a bush of fire hee spake but not apeared vnto Moyses vpon the mount in a cloud and a piller went before his people in the wildernesse was as it were inclosed in the Arke in an Angell did appeare vnto his Prophets and in his Sonne Iesus Christ so farre as he would and might be seene to his Apostles and Disciples but for his glory his diuine essence cannot be seene of any but himselfe verified by his own word Iohn 1. chap. verse 18. No man hath seene the Father but hee that came from the Father euen the Sonne of man that hath reuealed him and againe verse 28 I came from the Father and I goe to the Father for the Father I am one with his glory he filleth both heauen earth as it is written Heauen and earth are ful of the Maiestie of thy glory and againe in the Psalme 19. verse 1. The heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke his workes speake of his glorie his Saintes write of his glorye his Angelles sing of his glorie and all powers doe acknowledge his glorie It is higher then the Heauens larger then the Earth deeper then the Sea purer then the fire cleerer then the skye brighter then the Sunne The power of strength the life of Loue the vertue of mercie the beautie of grace the honour of Wisdome and the Essence of Maiestie The Angelles tremble before it the Saintes fall at the feete of it the Prophets beholde it a farre off and the soules of the elected doe adore it and being then so farre aboue the power of man to come neerer the thought of it How can the heart of man but in admiration speake of it it liues in the wisdome of the wise in the vertue of the valyant in the liberalitie of the Charitable in the patience of the Temperate in the virginitie of the chaste in the constancye of the faithfull in the humilitye of the louing in the truth of the Religious it dyrects the will of the Trinitie in the vnitie of the Deitie it commaundes the seruice of the Angells it blesseth the prayers of the Saints it pardoneth the sinnes of the repentant it prospereth the labours of the vertuous and loueth the soules of the righteous in summe it is the Maiestie of Maiesties the power of powers the vertue of vertues the grace of graces the honour of honors the Treasure of treasures the Blessing
soules releife haue I laide open all my misery THE First part of consideration concerning God Consider THis word Consider in a few letters containeth a large volume wherein the eies of iudgement may read what is necessarie for the vnderstanding of humaine reason yea and the best parte parte of the moste perfect and diuine contemplation of the moste gracious and blessed spirites in the worlde for if it please the Almightie God of his infinite goodnes so farre to inspire the soule of man with the grace of his holy spirite as that being by the heauenly power thereof Drawen from the worlde to beholde the courses of higher comforts when leauing the delights of fading vanities he shall be rauished with the pleasures of eternall life Then may he saye with the Prophet Dauid entring into the contemplatiue consideration that may well be called the admiration of the greatnes and goodnes of God as it is written in the 8. Psalme verse 3. Lord when I consider the heauens the Moone and the Starres that thou hast made what is man say I that thou wilt looke vpon him yea let me saye vnto thee Oh man if thou couldest with an humble spirit looke into the greatnes of the goodnes of God in the power of his creation in the wisdome of his workemanshippe in the preseruation by his grace and in the increase by his blessing if with all this thou couldest note the difference of Heauen and earth the brightnesse of the heauens the darkenesse of the world the purenesse of the Sunne and Moone and Starres and the dimnes of the obscured light of earthly natures the perfection of the Angells and the corruption of man the glorie of the diuine and the disgrace of our humaine nature well mightest thou say to thy selfe oh what am I a worme dust ashes a substance of all foule and filthy corruption that my GOD the pure and bright gratious holy good and glotious essence of the incomprehensible Deitie will vouchsafe to cast downe the least looke of his mercie vppon me Since therfore there is nothing that can be so truely pleasing to the spirit of man as knowledge neither is there any thing well knowne but by the true consideration of the substance nature or qualitie thereof let me begin to enter into this necessary course of consideration in which we shall finde what is most necessary fit and conuenient for the vse profit pleasure and honor of man that the obiect of the eye considered by the sence of the spirit the substance digested by the power of reason nature may finde most comfort in the vertue of the application Touching Consideration in generall FIrst and aboue all things we are to consider what is aboue all things to be considered then for the excellencie of the goodnes in it selfe and last for the good that from it wee receiue for in the instinct of nature wee haue planted in ourselues an insatiable desire of knowledge whereby we finde in our selues somewhat more then our selues leading vs to a longing after somewhat aboue our selues which if by a light inlightning our mindes we be led out of the darkenes of our blinded sence of nature to the cleare beholding of the glorious brightnes of Gods graces wee shall see that in him onely and altogether is the infinite goodnes and incomprehensible greatnes of all perfect knowledge and knowledge of all perfection and that so much neerer cōmeth our nature vnto the diuine as by the light of grace wee feele in our selues an apprehension or participation of those graces that essentially doe onely dwell and are inheritant in the diuine nature To come to a plainer explanatiō of the first due point of consideration euery thing is to be desired for some good that it doth containe in it selfe and may bring vnto other the goodnes therefore of euery thing must be considered before the thing it selfe be effected Then if good be for the goodnes desired the better that the good is the more it is to be desired and so the best good for the best goodnes to be best and most desired Now who is so euill that hath the least sparkle of Gods grace but by the light of the same doth see in the wonder of his works the glory of his goodnes but leauing al doubts ther is no doubt to be made that God is in himselfe the essence of all goodnes the first moouer the continuall actor and the infinite furnisher of all good in thought word deed where when in whatsoeuer this first position thē grāted that god is only good the onely essence of al goodnes what obiection can be made why he should not be aboue all things to be desired humblie to be affected faithfully to be loued louingly to be serued duly to be obeyed and infinitely to be glorified for the Athists whom the Psalmist calleth fooles Psalme 53. verse 1. that said in their hearts there is no God because they knowe no good I saie nothing to them but their soules shal finde there 1 a Deuill that taught them and will reward them for their euill◠but for them that knowe there is a God and haue a feeling of his goodnesse in the comfort of his grace let me a little speake vnto them touching the pointes that I meane to speake of in the considaration of the greatnesse of God aboue all thinges and for which for all thinges in all aboue all thinges hee is to be admired loued and honoured and first touching the greatnesse of God The first consideration touching the greatnesse of of God TO consider the greatnesse of God at least that greatnesse in which himselfe only knoweth himselfe is incomprehensible therfore aboue the power of cōtemplation meditation consideration of man or Angelles whatsoeuer for in the maiestie of his power hee is incōprehensible in his wisdome vnsearchable in his graces incomparable and in his glorye infinite in all which he doth so far exceede the compasse of all consideration as in the humilitie of confession must be left only to admiration But for so much as of his mercie he hath left to our contemplation let vs with such humilitie consider thereof as may be to his glory and our comfort Touching therefore his greatnesse let vs humbly lift vp the eyes of our hearts to the beholding of those thinges that in the excellent great workmanship of the same wee may finde that there is a further greatnes then wee can euer finde againe Let vs consider in the Creation of al creatures his admirable power who but spak the word they were made oh powerfull word by which all thinges were created and if his word was so powerfull how much more powerfull is he that gaue such power vnto his word loath I am to enter into particularities to set downe the greatenesse of his power though the least of his workes shewe not a little and the greatest of his workes shew but a little of that greatnes
which his glory doth contain where such varieties as well of the formes as natures of creatures aswell in their differences as agreement in number so innumerable as prooue an infinitenes in the power of their creation yet when the greatest of all things vnder the heauens yea the heauens themselues shall waxe olde as doth a garment and as a vesture shal be chāged how great is his power who shall loose no part of his grace but increase infinitely in his glory Who hath spand the heauēs but the finger of his hand who hath settled the earth but the word of his mouth who hath digged the greate deep but the wisdome of his will Looke vp the heauens they are the works of his hands look downe to the earth it is the worke of his word beholde the Seas how they are obedient to his will now to beholde in the Sunne the light of the daye the Moone and the Starres as it were the lampes of the night yet these so keepe their courses in a continuall order that one is not hurtfull to another but all and euery one in their seruice to man performe their dueties to their Creator Doth not the consideration of these obiectes to our eyes strike an impression in our hearts of an admirable power in the greatnesse of his workmanship Again to behold the thicke cloudes whereby the Sun is obscured the boisterous tempestious windes wherby the highest Caedars are shaken and the terrible lightning and thunders that amaze the hearts of the beholders are not these great proofes of a great power But let vs looke downe a little lower vppon the earth and consider how it is possible that so great and huge a Masse shold be carried in such a circūference Again the world of great huge trees in the woods with great and strange wilde beastes in the wildernes the one to beare fruit the other to feede and breede as it were to an infinite increase yet place and foode enough for all Again to beholde the raging Seas how they roare against the bankes of the earth to whose boundes they are limitted to cōsider of the great huge fishes that make their walks in these watry pathes are not all these spectacles great aparāt proofes of a moste great and admirable power Again to note the great and stout Foules that with the force of their winges make their passage through the ayre yet neither the lights of the heauēs the creatures in the earth nor seas nor birds in the ayre shall lōger retain their places then stādeth with the pleasure of the Almightie Oh how admirable is that greatnes to whom all things are in such obedience which in him onely hauing their being are onely at his will in their disposing But let me come a little lower to thee Oh man compounded of the worst matter the very slyme of the Earth how great a power is in thy God that hath created thee not by his worde onely as he did all other creatures in the Earth but aboue them all in a Diuine nature of grace so neere vnto himselfe as that he woulde in the greatnes of his loue cal thee his Image to this Image of himselfe giue so great a power ouer all his creatures that both Sunne Moone and Starres in the heauens the beasts in the fielde the birdes in the aire the fishes in the Sea the Trees in the woods and the mineralles in the earth shoulde all be subiect to the disposing of thy discretiō obedient to thy commaund Hath he not made the great horse to cary thee the great Lyon to be led by thee the Beare the Wolfe the Tygre and the Dogge yea withall other beastes to stand affraid at the frowne of thy countenance yea doth he not coward their spirits to become seruiceable to thy cōmaund doth not the Faulcon stoope her pitch to come downe to thy fist and make her fight at the Fowle to feede thy hunger or pleasure doth not the Dog leaue his kennell and make his course at the Deere for thy food or thy sport doth not the fish come out of the deepe waters and hang vppon thy baite for thy profit or thy pleasures what a greatnesse is this to haue this commaund ouer so many creatures but againe consider withall how much greater is that infinite greatnesse in thy Creator that hath giuen such greatnesse to his Creature Againe consider withall the greatnesse of his glorie and glorye of his greatnesse that his Angelles tremble at his brightnesse if hee touch the hilles they shall smoake and the Mountaines shall melt at his presence and no man can see him and liue so greate is his Brightnesse as no eye can beholde so pure his essence as exceedes the sence of nature so deepe his wisdome as is vnsearchable in reason so infinit his perfection as surpasseth the power of consideration and therefore let vs consider that in regarde of that Almightie power in his greatnesse the greatest yea and all power without him is so greate a smalnesse as nothing can be lesse Againe let vs in admiration of his greatnes and knowledge of his goodnes consider whom we are to thinke on how we are to thinke of him what we are to thinke of our selues without him and what we are onely in him For the first whō we are to thinke on is the incomprehensible Maiestie of all powers the biginner of all times the Creator of all thinges the Cōmaunder of al natures the disposer of al properties the life of all beings and the endles glory of al graces absolute in his power resolute in his will incomparable in his wisdome and admirable in his worke thus I saye let vs consider whome wee are to thinke of not a Creature but a Creator not a King but a King of Kinges not a power but a power of powers and not an Angell but GOD now howe shall wee thinke of him with feare and trembling and remember the sayings of Mathew Chapter 10. verse 28. Feare not him that can destroy the bodie but feare him that can destroye both body and soule And therefore when wee fall into sinne let vs feare the greatnesse of his wrath and the greate power in his furie for though hee fedde Elias in the Wildernesse by the Rauens and preserued Daniel in the Den from the Lyons made the Dogges licke the sores of Lazarus and made the Sunne to stay his course at the prayer of Iosuah yet with the wicked he maketh his Creature in the vengeance of his wrath tooke another course for the Lyons deuoured the false Prophets The Beares came out of the wood to destroy the children that mocked the Prophet the dogs fed vppon Iesabell and the darkenesse blinded the Sodomites till fire came downe from Heauen to consume them Consider therfore I say whom wee are to thinke on in one word which concludeth all that can be spoken God not man for in God is all greatnesse without whome
and yet as much as hee requireth and more then from a great many the more their shame hee receiueth But let those that feele these great effects of grace in the goodnes of the liuing God say with the holy Prophet Psalme 136. verse 1. be thankfull to the Lord and speake good of his name for his mercie endureth for euer but since so infinite is his goodnes in all things and to al things and specially to man aboue all things let me onely wish al men for their own good to acknowledge all goodnes onely to bee in the Lord the onely Author and substance thereof whatsoeuer is good in heauen or earth is onely a free guifte of his grace that must onely work to his glory the election of man to be an effect of loue in the grace of his goodnes and not to dreame of merite but to giue glory vnto mercie for the benefit of such a blessing as being freely giuen to man through our Lord Iesus Christ by his merite is onely confirmed to the eternitie of his glory and thus much touching the goodnes of God Touching the wisdome of God the third Consideration TO speake of the wisdome of God is so farre aboue the capacitie of man that it is rather with all humble reuerence to be honored and admired then either to be spoken of or considered yet for so much as the creature doth giue glorye to his Creator in praising and with admiration beholding the excellent workmanshippe in the varietie of his workes and finding it so farre aboue the reach of reason as must noedes proceede from a vertue of diuine grace hee doth in contemplation acknowledge a wisdome of that excellencie that maketh him saie with the Prophet Dauid in the 104. Psalme 24. verse Oh how wonderfull are thy workes in wisdome hast thou made them but though the wisdome of God as it is in it selfe is an other himselfe and not to be comprehended of any but himselfe yet the effectes thereof in all things doe giue him so greate a praise as make him aboue all things to receiue the highest of all glory for to enter into particulers let vs beginne to looke into his creation in the power whereof hee sheweth no small parte of wisdome as in the brightnes of the Sun Moon Stars and the cleernesse of the skie the courses of the Planets the motions of the Celestiall powers in the opperations of the elements in the perfection of proportiōs in the diuersity of creatures in the wōder of arte and quicknesse in working what excellent arte hath he taught nature in painting all the Trees fruits and flowres of the earth yea and all the haires skinnes feathers and scales of beasts fowles and fishes the eeuennes purenes of euery one of whome being truly considered wil startle the best witts in the due consideration of that onely point of wisdome Againe what a further secret cunning hath he taught nature in perfuming so many Trees hearbs and flowres all growing out of this darke and dusky earth by what wisdome he doth vnite the people and hauing deuided the languages how hee giues the meanes of vnderstanding how hee makes the fishes paths and the shippes passages through the seas the birds walkes through the ayre and the Salamanders dwelling in the fire and the wormes howses in the earth how admirable is this wisdome that so worketh all things by it selfe To speake of the excellency of Arts in the secrecie of their working what can it finally approoue but an admiration of knowledge in the maister of them But hauing with Salomon found by the light of grace and experience of labor that al things are vanity except onely the vertue of that grace that enricheth the soule with inestimable treasure what a pointe in wisdome is this not onely to instruct the soule of man in knowledge of natures with their qualities and effects but through the power of it selfe to breede a kinde of spirituall knowledge in the apprehension of Faith that in contemplation of heauenly treasure maketh trash of the whole worlde Oh superexellent exllencie in wisdome that frameth the heart vnto the soule to seeke out the waie of life and in the prison of the flesh preserues it from the perill of infection that man being created the Image of perfection can neuer be destroyed by the venome of corruption but in the daies of iniquitie being guided by grace escaping the snares of hel shall fly to the ioyes of heauen Consider that if man by the wisdome of God attaine to this excellent knowledge how to walke through the passages of nature to make vse of them for his seruice to withstand the temptation of sinne to receiue the instructions of grace to dispise the delights of the worlde to bridle the affections of the flesh and ouercomming the power of death to finde the path vnto life if this I say and more then can be said by the instruction of the diuine wisdome man hath power to attaine vnto thinke how infinite is that wisdome from whome only commeth the essence of this and all knowledge in whome it onely liueth and without onely whome all is but meere ignorance And since it is written that the beginning of wisdome is the feare of God learne onely that lesson and feare to be otherwise learned Paule thought he knew enough in Christ him crucified and enough wise shalt thou be if thou canst applie his knowledge to thy comfort But to returne breifely to speake of the wisdome of God it is in the heauens so highe in the earth so large in the water so deep in the aier so secret and in the fire so powerfull in all things so exquisite and in perfectiōs so infinite that I will onely in the admiration thereof giue glory to the same and saie with the Apostle 1. Corin. chapter 3. verse 19. The wisdome of the worlde is foolishnesse before God And againe with the Prophet Dauid Psalme 104. verse 24 Oh Lord how excellent are thy workes in wisdome hast thou made them all Psalme 139. verse 6. Such knowledge is too excellent for mee O all ye workes of the Lorde praise him and magnifie him for euer but since so many and so infinite are the praises that may worthyly bee giuen vnto it I cannot so leaue off but I must speake a little more of the consideration of it for the power of it It maketh all things for the knowledge of it it knoweth all things for the direction of it it ordereth all thinges for the goodnesse of it it is good in and to all things for the greatnesse of it it comprehendeth all things for the grace of it it is gratious in all good things and for the maiestie of it it is glorious aboue all things for in the power of it is the life of vertue in the life of it is the mercie of loue in the loue of it is the blessing of grace and in the grace of it is the eternitie of
comfort for the penitent Oh how sweete are the reports and proofes of the mercie of god vnto man in all the world For is it not written by the Prophet Dauid Psa. 145. vers 9. His mercy is ouer al his works And again speaking of his mercy Ps. 103. 13 As a father pittieth his owne Children so is the Lord merciful vnto all that feare him and in Psa. 103. vers 12. As far as the East is from the west so far hath he set our sins from vs and in the 136. Psalme through euerie verse speaking to all his workes both in heauen earth he vseth these words Blesse him and praise him for his mercie endureth for euer In mercie hee turned his wrath frō y e Israelits whē Moyses stood in the gap in mercy hee saued Moyses floating in the reedes in mercy he preserued the children in the surnace of fire in mercye hee preserued the the Israelites from the hoste of Pharaoh in mercy hee preserued Dauid and deliuered him from all his troubles in mercy he deliuered Ioseph from the pit and the prison in mercy he sent his Prophets to warne the world of their wickednesse and to pronounce comfort to the penitent in mercy he sent Iohn Baptist to deliuer the tydings of saluation and in mercie hee sent his onely Sonne Iesus Christ to be a Sauiour of all his people Oh infinite mercie worthy of infinite glorie Consider againe how powerfull is his mercie in all his workes to feede fiue thousand people with a few Loaues and Fishes and with the fragments to fill more baskets then the Loaues when they were whole to heale the disseased that touch ed but the hem of his garment to giue sight to the blinde knowledge to the simple health to the sicke soundnesse to the lame comfort to the penitent to driue the Diuells from the possessed to giue life to the deade and ioy to the faithfull These words of glorious mercy doth the moste gratious and glorious word of truth plainely and truly lay before vs to make vs with the holy Prophets iustly say Oh the infinite light and bottomles depth of the mercies of our God! Glorie be to the Lord for his mercy indureth for euer Againe how absolute he is in his mercie where he saith I will haue mercie where I will haue mercie and therefore be free both in his power and will hath mercye for all that will humblye and faithfullye call vppon him and againe all are vnder sinne that all may come to mercie Oh how all glorious is that mercie which is extended ouer all Let vs therefore looke a little into the blindenesse of man in the immagination of his owne merrit of the mercy of the liuing God which is onelye a fruite or effect of grace or free guift of his onely glorious loue How did Adam merit mercie when hee fled from his presence What merited Moyses when hee angred the Lord What merrited Noah when hee was drunkens What merrited Lot when hee committed Incest What merited the Israelites with their goulden Calle What merited Dauid when he comitted murther and adulterie Againe what merited Mary Magdalen that had seauen Deuils within her what merited Paul that persecuted Christ in his people what merited Peter that denyed his maister what merited the world to work y e death of the Son of God all euerie one in the iudgement of Iustice nothing but dānation Look thē into the inexplicable glorye of y e mercie of God which not only forgaue all these but saued all and blessed all and so will euer al those whom and whersoeuer that ashamed are of their sinnes and confessing their merrit of nothing but wrath and destruction in the humble faith of repentance flye onely to the mercie of God in the merrit of Christ Iesus for theyr saluation Oh the powerfull mercy in the loue of God that will not suffer his Iustice to execute his wrath vpon sinne and though such be the pure and glorious brightnes of his grace as cannot endure the foule and filthie obiect of sinne yet doth his mercy so rule the power of his wrath as will not let him destroye the sinner with his sinne many are the afflictions that hee layeth vppon his belooued many are the corrections that hee vseth to his Children manye are the sorrowes that hee inflicteth vppon his Elect but all is for sinne in the loue of a Father in the care of a Maister mercy of a God as onely meanes to purge them of those euills that are hinder ances to their good and being healed of their corruption to bring them to their first and a far better perfection For in the correction of mercy is the sinner saued from destruction by the regeneration of grace brought to eternall saluation Oh the vertuous gratious and glorious nature of mercye which hath such power with God in the preseruation of his people It keekeepeth the fire that it fall not from heauen to consume vs it keepeth the water that it riseth not to drown vs it keepeth the ayre that it doth not infect vs keepeth y e earth that it doth not swallow vs it keepeth vs in peace that discention do not spoile vs it keepeth vs in plenty that want doe not pinch vs it keepeth vs in loue that mallice cannot hurt vs and keepeth vs to God that the Deuill cannot confound vs. In summe it is a gift of grace a worke of glorie a bountie in God a blessing to man to speake of these daies wherin we liue and of the late times which we cannot forget Let vs a little consider the mercies of God towards vs how often were we preserued from forraine enemies by Sea and ciuill or vnciuil enemies at home when not the pollicy of mā but the only mercy of god did break the forces of the one and reueale the deuises of the other And while our Neighbor Countries by continuall warres haue shed a world of blood we haue beene preserued in increase of people and while they haue bin mourning in the punnishmēt of sinne wee haue beene singing in the ioy of grace oh how are wee bound to giue glorye vnto God for the aboundance of his mercie and say with the Prophet Dauid Psal. 136. verse 26 Great is the God of Heauen for his mercie endureth for euer But as I said of loue the life of mercy so of mercy the glory of loue since it is so infinite in goodnesse as exceedeth in worthinesse the height of all praise that the heart of mā can think or the tongue of man can expresse I will onely say with the Prophet Psalme 106. verse 1. to all powers whatsoeuer Blesse ye the Lord and praise him for his mercie endureth for euer And thus much touching the consideration of the mercy of God The sixt consideration of the grace of God IN the mercy of God finding so great a measure of his grace as in the bountie of his goodnes deserueth no little glory
from thy filthinesse admit thee into his prefence take thee into his seruice loue thee as his Sonne and make thee coheire in that Heauenly inheritance which no power shall take from thee but in ioyes euerlasting with his Saints Angels thou shalt cōtinually sing the true and due Halleluiah to his holy Maiestie Thus I say apply these spirituall considerations to thy spirituall comforts that God may the better blesse thee thy reading well considered may the better profit thee and my labour may bee the better bestowed vpon thee which with praier for thy good leauing to thy best cōsideratiō wishing the acknowledging the goodnes of God in all things aboue all things to giue him all glory I end with the Prophet Dauid O al ye works of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him magnifie him for euer Finis A Prayer O Most gratious almighty most mercifull and holye glorious euer louing GOD who from the highest Throne of thy heauenly mercie doost vouchsafe to beholde the meanest creature on the earth aboue all with a comfortable eye of a fatherly kindenesse doost beholde man as the chiefe matter of thy workmanship and considering since his first fall by temptatiō his weaknes in resisting the like assault doost by the light of thy grace make him see the difference betwixt good and euill and by the inspiration of thy holye spirit doost leade him from the traine of sinne the true way to eternall happinesse glorious God that knowest whereof we are made that our daies are but as a shadow and we are as nothing without thee who hath reuealed to the simple and hid from the wise the secret wisdome of thy wil to me thy most vnworthy seruant hast so often shewed those fruits of thy loue that makes mee asham'd to think of my vnthankfulnesse to thy holy Maiestie my forgetfulnesse of thy grace and vnworthinesse of thy mercy Oh my Lord when I consider these things with all other the manifolde blessings that from time to time I haue receiued from the onelye bountie of thy blessed hand what can I doe but in admiration of thy greatnesse and contemplation of thy goodnesse giue glorie to thy holy Maiesty with thy chosen seruant Dauid in the griefe and shame of my sinne and only hope of thy mercie in true contrition of heart fall prostrate at thy feete and flie only to thy mercie for my comfort beseeching thee so to direct me in the waies of thy holy will that seeing thy greatnes in thy good nes thy wisdom in thy loue thy grace in thy mercie and thy glorie in thy grace and confessing my weakenesse vilenesse folly malice sloath basenes attend the worke of thy will in working mee to thy holye will giue me power to cōsider that although I read neuer so much beleeue all I reade and remember all I beleeue yet without one drop of the deawe of thy grace it will take no root in my heart but good Lord consider the corruption of nature through the infection of sinne in which I accuse not excuse my selfe vnto thee make me to know thy will let me rather crie before thee Hosanna with the little Babes then with the Pharisies make boast of my righteousnesse and as it hath pleased thy holy Maiestie to make mee consider of thy mercies so let these considerations by taking root in my hart be so comfortable to my soule that loathing the world with al the vanities therof I may in the teares of true penitence shewe the sorrow of my sin and in the ioy of thy mercie I may sing to thy glory Amen FINIS Errata First Consideration Page 4 line 3 for looke vp the heauens reade looke vp to the heauens The second Consideration page 12. line 4. for God reade good The last page of the third consideration the tenth line for deuine reade dimme