4. 28 while the word was into his mouth the same very â—oure was fearefully punished The Å¿ Act. 12. 23 Angell of the LORD smote Herod so that hee was eaten of wormes and dyed miserâ—blie And surely if one consider duely it is not wonder albeit the LORD plagne the wicked suddainly For t Zach. 5. 2 hee hath a flying booke of his curse which goeth foorth over the whole earth He u Psal 45. 5 hath arrowes that are sharpe and swift to pearce the heart of his enemies suddenly For x Zach. 9. 14 they shall goe foorth as the lightning â—he vngod ie shall bee visited y Isaiah 29. 6 with thunder and shaking a great noise a whirlewinde and a flame of devouring fire And albâ—rt the punishment of the proâ—ane before a short season Sera tamentacitis paena venitpedibus suâ—pended and continued yet certainly it will come to passe at the appointed tyme for it iâ— most sure and without all question that the z Revel 1.3 tyme is at hand that day a Rom. 13.12 draweth neere the mâ—ssinger death commeth The b Revel 1. 7 Master the judge commeth quickly with clouds in c Math 24. 50 a day that one lâ—oketh not for and in an houre that one is not a-ware off Thirdly If thou prayest not thy punishment is inevitable If thou d Amos 9 vers 1. 2. 3 fleest thou shall not flee away If thou escapest thou shall not bee delyvered Though thou digge into hell thence shall his hand take thee though thou climbe into Heaven thence will hee bring thee downe and though thou hide thy selfe in the toppe of Carmell thence will hee find thee out and take thee hence and though thou be hidde in the bottome of the sea from his sight there will hee command a serpent and it shall bite thee Albeit e 1 Sam. 19. 12 David did escape the furie of Saul his cruell enemy Elijah f 1 King 19. 3 did flee from Iezabell who threatnâ—d to take his lyfe from him and that suddainly Peter was g Act. 12. 11 delyvered from the hands of Herod who intended to kill him as hee did lately to IAMES before Yea although that mâ—st worthy Sozom. lib. 3 cap 7. hist Magd. admired Athanasius when mightie Emperours Constantius and â—ulian almost with the whole world conspired against him no Doctor no Bishop did ever suffer such persecution and by all meanes laboured to procure his disgrace and destruction yet by the power of GODS grace hee was delyvered out of all his troubles and being full of dayes and honour dyed peaceably But who shall eshew or flee away from GODS punishment seing that all things g Hebr. 4. 13 are naked and open to his eyes Whether h Psal 139.7 shall one flee from his spirit or goe from his presence None i Ierem. 50. 29 of his enemies shall escape for it is remedilesse which is sent from Heaven like to the judgement of Sodom Gomorrha Lastly If thou call not vpon Wretchednes GOD thine k Act. 8. 21 heart is not right in the sight of GOD thou l Rom. 3. 12 art made not only vnprofitable altogether but also wicked and abhominable Thou m Heb. 6. 8 art the earth that drinketh vp the raine and beareth thornes and briers thou art neare vnto cursing thy end is to be burned For if the deceaver be cursed that n Malach. 1. 1â— hath a male in his flock and yet offereth a corrupt and vnworthie sacrifice will not farre rather that caâ—iue be cursed with an heavier curse that offereth no sacrifice at all They o Psal 53.4 goe backe they are altogether corrupt they dishonour GOD they devoure his people they seeke not GOD they call not vpon him and because of their wickednesse vnspeakeable will be their wretchednesse grievons paine and destruction will bee vpon their bodies Anguish and p Rom. 2. 9 tribulation shall bee vpon their soules NOW consider Christian with carefulnesse and with attention the number and weight of those fearefull judgements that Illyâ—icus will befall the wicked who call not vpon GOD surely none can declare sufficiently their punishment and miserie and shortly concluding this with the learned and judicious divines Sine oratione res in oratiòne Dominica compraehensas Iâ—dex â—aber habere non potâ—rimus quibus destituti quid potest nobis esse aerumnosius Without prayer wee can not receaue these good things which are contained in the LORDS prayer whereof if wee bee deprived what can bee more miserable and wretched than wee This is also most seriouslie to be remarked that other dueties of the LORDS service for a tyme may bee omitted as to giue almes when one is altogether vnprovided as to heare the holie Word and to receaue the blessed Sacraments when one is heavily diseased and such like But no impediment no sicknesse no crosse nor calamitie should hinder vs from this duetie and divine exercise there is nothing into this point that can or may excuse vs. OF THE GOOD OF PRAYER The tenth Chapter WOnderfull and manifold is the good of prayer it is incomprehensible and â—nspeaâ—able aâ—beit oâ—e hadde a wise a 1 King 3.12 and vnderstanding heart as Salomons and b 1 Cor. 13. 1 the toungue of Angels and c Psalm 45. 1 the pen of a swift writter yet neither could he consider in himselfe nor vtter with Et precibus sanctis quaenaÌ„ solatia quinam Exsurgunt fructus nemo referre potest his mouth noâ— write vnto others how great is the excellencie and profite of prayer what inestimable blessings they receaue who truely call vpon GOD As none can tell the sweetnesse of hony but these who haue tasted it so none can declare the comfort and contentment which the sanctified soule enjoyeth by that familiarity that shee hath with her GOD in her fervent prayers shee is privie thereto and rejoyceh therein Let vs consider some of these Great profite in prayer commodities 1. When thou art carefull of his service GOD will bee carefull of thy safetie when thou humbleth thy selfe vnder the mightie hand of GOD and prayeth earnestly thou declarest that thou d 1 Peter 5. 7 casteth thy care on him then thou may bee perswaded assuredly that hee careth for thee O how great a benefite is this The properties of GODS care how comfortable will this care bee vnto thee seeing it hath so notable good properties 1. It is It is Heavenly Heavenly and so from all eternitie GOD cared for thee his eyes did e Psal 119. 16 see thee when thou was without forme and in his Booke were all things written which in continuance were fashioned when there was none of them before If he f Math. 25. 34 prepared a Kingdome for thee before the foundation of the world he then cared for thee before g Psalm 90. 2 the mountaines or
si confessio praecurrat humana the revenge of GOD ceasseth if the confession of man preceedeth and in an other place he thus exhorteth Fatere peccata ô homo vt Idem lib 1. de interpellatione cap. 5. veniam consequaris dic iniquitates vt justificeris quid erubescis fateri ea in quibus natus es O man acknowledge thy faults that thou mayest haue pardon tell thine iniquitie that thou mayest be justified wherefore art thou ashamed to confesse these in the which thou art borne An other Ancient affirmeth Gregorius Nazianzen in oratione consolaorta de pacis silentio thus Magnum remedium malitiae est confessio fuga peccati that confession is a great remedie of maliciousnesse and a flight of sinne An other so speaketh Basilius in Hexamero homilia vndeci ma. Septuplam retributionem peccatoribus delatam remittet DOMINUS in hac vita per confessionem ac resipiscentiam à nobis placatus the LORD being pleased by vs in this lyfe by confession and repentance will forgiue that sevenfold retribution objected to sinners dicito peceata saith Chrysostome vt Chrysostom homilia 2. deleas dicito in hac vita vt requiem habeas tell thy sinnes that thou mayest put them away tell them in this lyfe that thou mayest get rest in an other lyfe Absque confessione Bernard 2 â—ep cap 14. justus judicabitur ingratus peccator mortuus reputatur confessio igitur peccatoris est vita justi gloria without confession the just is judged vnthankfull and the wicked is esteemed dead confession then is the lyfe of the sins and the glory of the just Moreover another writeth thus Confessio sanat confessio justificat confessio peccatis vemam donat omnis spes in confessione consistit in confessione locus misericordia est nulla est tam gravis culpa quae per confessionem non habeat veniam Confession healeth confession justifieth confession giveth pardon to sinnes all hope consisteth into confession in confession there is a place for compassion there is no fault so greevous but by confession it will bee pardoned But principally let vs giue attendance August pas sim in multi locis to Augustin in this point assevering Damnaberis tacitus qui possis liberari confessus being silent thou shall bee condemned who being confessed may be delyvered Againe Confessio malorum operum initium bonorum operum est the confession of evill workes is the beginning of good workes And furthermore Confessio nos humiles facit Confession maketh vs humble Confessio jungit nos DEO confession conjoyneth or vniteth vs to GOD Confessio judicat vivos confession declareth that wee are aliue now enjoying the lyfe of grace referved to haue eternall fruition of the lyfe of glory yea that Philosopher Seneca Seneca saith Somnium narrare vigilantis est vitia confiteri sanitatis indicium est It is a token of one awake to tell their dreame and of health to confesse their sinnes And not to bee too tedious in such trie testimonies for concâ—ution of the same wee will offer to your due consideration that fathers saying Ratio DEI inducendi August citante Spinaeo in lib depeccatorum confessione vt peccata nosira excuset ac tegatâ— ea est si ea detegamus ac nos ipsos accusemus nos ille evehit cum ipsi nos abijcimus nos justificat cum nos ipsi condemnamus obliviscitur peccatorum cum nos ipsi meminimus eorum denique nos in prctio habet cum nobis ipsi vilescimus nos invenit cum nobis ipsis perditi videmur pluriminos facit cum nos ipsos nihili facimus â—he mâ—ane most remarkable are the sentences to moue GOD that hee may excuse and cover cur sinnes is that if wee shall vncover them accuse our selues hee exalteth vs when wee cast downe our selues hee justifieth vs when we condemne our selues hee forgetteth our sinnes when wee remember on them Finalie wee are pretious vnto him when wee are vile in our owne sight hee findeth vs when wee seeme lost to our selues and he maketh much of vs when we make nothing of our selues Sicut sumus praecedit incendium sic flammam Similitude fidei charitatis praecedit peccatorum confessiâ— As smoake goeth Primasius in Apocalypsin before burning so confession of sinnes goeth before the flamme of faith and charitie Thirdly Experience showeth vs that the parient will declare his disease to the Physitian the wounded man will vncover his soares to the Chirargion the Client will manifest the weaknesse of his cause or action to his Advocate the poore Beggar will vtter his wants to the helping Passenger and cry pittifully and earnestlie for some support that the child will tell his necessitie to his loving parents that the oppressed subject will signifie his hurt to a gratious King or pittiefull Magistrate Now answere mee truely is not GOD thy perfite Physitian who will heale all thine q Psal 103. 3 infirmimities Is not CHRIST a faithfull r 1 Iohn 2. 1 Advocate who will defend thy right and bee thy reconciliation for thy sinnes to purchase an Heavenly Kingdome for thee Is not thy LORD a most liberall benefactor who Å¿ Iob. 22. 18 can fill the house of the wicked with good things at sometimes and will multiplie his t Hezek 36.11 benefites towards thee more than at the first Is not Hee the Father u 2 Corinth 1.3 of mercy and the GOD of all consolation Will not He satisfie x Psal 91. 16 thee with long lyfe and glorifie thee with salvation Is not He the King of y Isaiah 44. 6 Israell the LORD of Hostes and thy Redeemer Will not Hee looke z Psalm 102 19. 20 downe from the hight of his Sanctuarie out of Heaven Will Hee not behold the Earth that he may heare the mourning of his prisoners and delyver the children of death Wherefore then will thou hide thy woes and offences from him Wherefore will thou a Iohn 8. 24 die in thy sinnes and perish eternally in thine iniquities Why concealeth thou thy cancred corruption for thine owne destruction in b 2 Pet. 3. 47 the day of judgement and perdition of vngodly men or before that dreadfull day Why will thou vexe thine owne soule with continuall griefe and molestation When DAVID himselfe did hold his c Psal 32. 3. tongue his bones consumed fearefully his hand was vpon him continually his very moisture was turned into the drought of summer But when hee did not hide his iniquitie but acknowledged his trespasse then he got remission and so joy and consolation It is written of Creusa by an Ethnick that being troubled in Euripides in Iovem her minde and grievouslie perplexed in conscience to mitigate the extremitie of that vexation shee did vse the remedie of confession and shee did discover her secret fornicatios and did declare openly her whoordome that shee had
borne a bairne quietly and exposed him Should not a Christian then privily confesse his faultes and enormities to be delivered from the anguish of an evill conscience and to obtaine peace and traâ—quillitie to himselfe Thinke not in thine owne minde that this sentence was onely said to David this sinne thou didst c 2 Sam. 12. 12 secretly saith GOD but I will correct thee before the sinne most openly but also to every one of vs without confession so sayeth that father and it is also contained in the canon law Is it not then mâ—st fit commodious and necessary for thee that thou thy selfe make a plaine and open confession of thine owne fearefull sinnes and terrible transgressions that thou may altogether eshew that d Math. 37 wrath to come that also e Luke 21. 36 thou mayest be counted worthie to escape the vengeance of the Almightie even the curse of GOD and the damnation of the vngodly yea that f Heb. 4.16 thou may receiue mercie and find grace to helpe thee in tyme of neede that thou mayest obtaine â—anctification which is a maine end of thy vocation For g 1 Thess 4.7 GOD hath not called thee vnto vncleannesse but vnto holynesse that thou may obtaine wholesome instruction and the knowledge of GOD when rightly to know is h Iohn 17. 3 life eternall that thou mayest get constant consolation i 2 Cor. 1. 4 to comfort thee in all thy tribulation that thou may serue GOD in sinceririe For thou can doe no serâ—ice acceptable to an vnknowne k Eccles 27. 33 God that thou mayest get furniture from him who l Psal 104. 27 giveth foode to every living creature in due season and filleth them with his free benefits Shortly that thou mayest receiue remedie for trespassion absolution from thy sinne reconciliation with GOD and conjunction with him peace heere rest honour and happinesse in the life to come To the end that thou may receiue this incomprehensible good vnspeakeable blessings goe on to make this confession of our sin and haynous iniquities But in the third place advert The right maner of confession attentiuely and take diligent heed that thou acknowledge and confesse thy faultes in the right maner and forme otherwise assuredly thy confession will never neither comfort thee not profite thee for thou may know by the reading the sacred Scripture that many wicked wretched men who lived lewdly and died profainly haue made a fashion of confession as m Exod. 6. 27 Pharoah n Numb 22 34 Balaam o Ioshua 7. 20 Achan p 1 Sam. 26. 21 Saul wicked q 1 King 21 27 Achab yea the the traitour r Math. 27. 4 Iudas Their confessions brought to them no consolation but paine and confusion Therefore if thou desires thy confession acceptable to GOD and steadable to thy selfe labour with most diligent endevoure that the same may bee well conceived in the right manner vttered having all the good properties belonging therevnto Thy comfortable confession must See Bi. Thom conteene sixteene conditions composed in these verses by the schoole men Sit simplex humilis confessio pura fidelis Atque frequens nuda discreta lubens verecunda Properties of confession Integra secreta lachrymabilis accelerata Fortis accusans se punire parata For a briefe explanation 1. let thy confession bee without hypocrisie â— plaine If ever thou lay aside guile r Pet. 2. 1 and dissimulation remoue the same chiefly in this action and studie most carefully to bee an r Israell indeede to be the true sonne of Iakob who was a plaine Å¿ Genes 25 man or simple and so is all his posteritie sinceere and ingenuous in all their proceedings and particularly in this point Secondly thy confession must 2 Humble confession bee without pride or arrogancy for the proude t Luke 18. 12 Pharisees confession shall never bring joy nor justification as the earth wherein Ieremias u Ierem. 13. 7 Similitude 〈◊〉 girdle was hid and wherewith it was covered made the girdâ— corrupt and profitable for nothing So will pride make thy person as it were putrified before GOD to be as the Ammonites were to DAVID to stinke x 2 Sam. 10 6 in GODS sight and all thy actions to bee but abhominations Let thy confession therefore be in great humilitie and submission as y Genes 18. 27 Abrahams like the Publicans like St. z Timoth. 2. 15 Pauls like all the godliesâ— this humilitie will be to thee in all thy proceedings like as Benjamins was to his brethren without him they would not haue beene accepted by Ioseph nor their gifts receaved but having him in their company they were welcomed they were brought a Genes 43. 16 to Iosephs house they were feasted and gotte giftes before their departure So without humilitie thou will bee despised of GOD and punished but loving humilitie GOD will greately regarde thee Hee will accept of thy offerings and giue gifts vnto thee most plentifully Thirdly thy confession must be without filthinesse or pollution 3 Holie confession thou shouldst with David wash thine b b Psal 26. 6 hands yea thine heart first in innocenâ—ie and compasse GODS Altar and then acknowledge thine iniquitie If thou haue Cains wickednesse the LORD will haue no c Genes 43.16 respect to thy sacrifice and as Abraham left his servants and beastes behind him when hee was to goe to the mountaine to d Genes 22.4 Similitude worshippe So when thou art of this purpose for to goe to doe this service leaue thy sinnes and wickednesse behind thee which otherwise will altogether hinder thee and take great care to bring holynesse with which will make thee most to resemble thy GOD and bee most acceptable to his Heavenly Majestie as David said to Abner that hee was content to make a covenant with him but vpon this condition see e 2 Sam. 3. 13 my face no more except thou bring Michall with thee when thou commeth to mee So as it were GOD saith vnto thee I am content to haue a covenant with thee but come not in my sight except thou bring piety with thee Fourthlie Let thy confession 4 Faithfull confession be without infidelitie Take heede least f Heb. 3. 12 at any tyme there bee in thee an evill heart and vnthankfull to departe from the living GOD. If it was evill for Lot to departe from Abraham to goe to Sodom then vexation g 2 Peter 2.7 of heart and captivitie h Genes 14. 12 came vpon him Was it not worse for Gehazi when hee departed from Elisha then an incurable disease and filthie i 2 King 5. 27 leprosie did cleaue vnto him and his posteritie but worst of all it is to departe from the living LORD then anguish affliction captivitie calamitie death and eternall miserie will come vnto thee without faith confession
subiects safetie such was his care of their wellfare Will not thy heavenly Father lighten m Psal 13. 3 thy eyes that thou sleepe not in death when the eyes n Psal 69. 2â— of the wicked shall bee blinded that they cannot see and having o Eph. 4.18 their cogitation darkned as strangers from the life of Christ shall walke in the vanitie of their mind When their p Iob. 21. 17 candle shall bee put out when they shall bee as stubble before the wind and as the chaffe that the wind and stâ—rme carriâ—th away In the meane sâ—ason surelie q Psal 18. 28 the Lord will light thy candle and lighten thy darkâ—â—sse hee will illuminate the eyâ—s of thy mind r 2 Tim. 2. 7 and giâ—e thee vnderstanding in all things thâ— LORD will never leaue thee though Å¿ Psal 27. 10 Father and mother should forsake thee yet the â—â—rd will gather thee vp and regard thee though thy Prince ruler would miâ—-know yet the LORD more loving than Moses who for the welfare of his people would haue beene content to haue â—ab his t Exod 32.32 name rased out of the booke of life will never depart from thee nor cast u Psal 51. 11 thee away from his presence neither take his holy presence from thee but he will giue thee good counsell and shew thee the x Psal 16. 11 path of life will set thee at his right hand where there are pleasure for evermore Fistly Seing that GODS care is continuall most firme and permanent Gods care is continuall which will not decay nor bee diminished by length of time hee will care for thee when thou art young and foolish as he cared for Moses y Exod. 2. 5 of three months age when hee was put in the river he will care for thee when thou art old and â—eeble as hee cared for Simeon z Luk. 2. 28 and rejoyced him by beholding CHRIST the LORD of consolation hee will haue a care of thee when thou art living as he had of his servant David he will haue a care also of thee while thou art dying as he had of his servant Steven a 2 Sam. 16.12 passim who then saw the glorie of GOD and CHRIST standing at his right hand Yea GOD will haue a care of thy buriall after death as hee accompanied Iaakobs b Genes 46. 4 funerall he will haue a care of thy dead bodie he will lose c Iohn 6. 39 nothing but he will raise it vp againe at the last day The LORDS care is not like the care of man which continueth not but evanisheth and weareth away by tyme but GODS care is constant and permanent as d Psal 136. 1 passim is his mercy which endureth forever Secondly If thou prayest arightlie thou may be surely perswaded The Lord will performe the request of the that pray that thou shall receiue this exceeding great benefite strong consolation to wit the Almightie GOD will giue eare vnto thy supplication he will performe thy request and grant thy petition Behold saith the Prophet the LORDS e Isaiah 59. 1 hand is not shortned that hee can not sauâ— neither is his eare heavie that he can not heare for certainly GOD f Isaiah 65. 1 himselfe was found of them that sought him not as he himselfe assureth vs will not thou then find him comfortably if thou seeke him diligently then the LORD g Psal 21. 2 will giue thee thy hearts desire and will not deny thee the request of thy lips he will looke to thee with the eyes of his pittie hee will declare himselfe a liberall and bountifull GOD towards thee It was thought that Salomâ—n would not refuse the request of his mother Bethsheba nor say heâ— nay and thus he promised saying Aske h â— King 2. 20 on my mother for I will not say thee nay vndoubtedlie hee was most respectiue and loving Also Assuerus showed great kindnesse and affection vnto Esther while hee thus offered What i Ester 5. 6 is thy petition that it may bee given thee What is thy request it shall even bee performed vnto the halfe of my Kingdome Yet Salomâ—n will sooner deny the Marcellinus request of his mother Bethsheba and Alexander the great will sooner deny the request of his mother Olympias remembering him that for the space of nyne months shee had borne him in her womb And Constantine the great a k Isaiah 49. 32 nursing father to the Church and a great comfort will rather giue a refusall to Antonius an holy and famous man whom for his vertues and devotion hee much honoured and respected when hee Hisâ— Magd. Cent. 4 lib. 9 was interceeding for the returne of Athanasius from banishment than the LORD will deny the supplications of his owne servants and therefore shall everie one of the godly make l Psal 32. 6 his prayer vnto thee in a tyme when thou mayst bee found If thou aske then grace to thy selfe who art graceâ—â—sse of m Iohn 1. 19 his fulnesse thou shall receaue grace If n Iam. 1. 5 thou lacke wisdome aske it of him that reproacheth no man and hee will giue it liberally If thou shall seeke his holy Spirit with o Psal 51. 12 David hee will vouchsaâ—e it on thee comfortably yea thou will sooner wearie in asking than hee will wearie in granting as it may appeare in p Genes 18.22 Abrahams requesting clearely who first deâ—isted in â—â—cting before GOD lâ—ft off yeelding to his supplication GOD sometimes will giue more than is asked yea which is very admirable and most comfortable thy bountifull â—ather will often-tymes bestow more than his servants will request for Abraham wished Oh that q Genes 17. 18 Ishmael might liue then GOD said to him Sarah thy wife shall beare thee a sonne Iaakob wished with the LORDS presence and protection breade r Genes 28.20 to eate and clothes to put on only foode and raiment yet the LORD did more to him than hee desired â—ee gaue him before his returne to his father wife children and a familie hee Å¿ Genes 30.42 encreased exceedingly hee had many slockes and maâ—â—e-servants and man-servants and camels and asses he was made very rich Salomon required of the LORD only wisdome t 2 Chron. 1.10 and knowledge the most bountifull GOD most gratiouslie answered I u haue done according vnto thy e 1 King 3. 13 word I haue given thee a wise and vnderstanding heart and I haue given to thee also that which thou hast not asked both riches and honour The prodigall sonne resolved to pray his father to x Luke 15. 16 make him oâ—e of his hired servants but his father dealeth not so with him to wit as an hireling but receaved him as his owne sonne and entertained him accordingly The LORD IESUS was requested to put y Mark 7. â—3 his
obtaine health and salvation Fourthly and finally Wonderfull Thou shall find â—undry im pediments great is the difficultie of prayer in regard of these stayes and impediments that will meete with thee partly in respect of Sathan thine adversarie Surely as hee x Thess 2. 18 hindered the Apostle Paul from going to the Thessalonians much more will hee striue to his vttermost power to hinder thee from going to thy GOD and from making of prayers and supplications and as Amalek y Ezech. 17. 8 faught with Israell when they were in their journey to earthly Canaan so much rather will the devill fight against thee with all his force and firie z Eph. 6 16 dartes when thou art in thy journey and making humble prayer and petition Againe partly in respect of thy selfe for with the Disciples thou shall find thy eyes a Math. 26.43 heavy thy selfe subject to sleepinesse and with Moses thy hands b Ezech. 17. 12 heavy thou will let them fall downe and thy knees c Heb. 1â— 12 weake that thou can not endure of thy selfe vnlesse thou bee strengthned Thus farre of the wonderfull great difficultie of prayer now it is meete to giue some consolations that thou be not too much discouraged and dismayed CONSOLATIONS FOR WEAKE CHRISTIANS The twelfth Chapter FOR as much as the weake Christian a a 1 Cor 14.20 child in vnderstanding vpon the deepe meditation of the difficulty of praying may bee heavily perplexed and greatly discouraged and with feare sorrow and bitternesse of minde thus reason if so it be that true prayer bee so hard a worke to doe it is impossible for mee to performe the same Surely I say as a faithfull Messinger b Iob. 33. 23 a wise interpreter is very rare one of a thousand who can declare to a man his righteousnesse so a feeling petitioner is also very rare who with a wounded conscience complaineth in this poynt of his owne weaknesse and of the Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima â—igno difficultie of this exercise But of a great number if one be found who is exceeding sorrowfull that he can not pray powerfully as hee desireth to doe and therefore lamenteth bitterly and is troubled c 1 Sam. 1. 15 in spirit inwaâ—dâ—y when hee considereâ—h that dâ—fficultie and these many impediments which trouble him I most humbly and earnestly intreate GOD who d 2 Cor. 1. 4 comforteâ—h his owne in all tribâ—lation to maâ—e me aâ—â—â— to comfort these that are in this afflâ—ction and â—o giue them some conteâ—tment in this tribuâ—ation Now first if thou complaine that thy heart is tyed and so fixed into this vaine world so that as A comfort to a Christian coÌ„plainiâ—g that he cannotleaue the world Moses e Heb. 11. 27 forsooke Egype so thou can not forsake this present world I say it is of trueth and veritie thou can not doe it boldly yet if thou labour to leaue it spiritually it is verie well for thee and if as Hadad the Edomite in Egypt enjoyed honour pleasure and plentie taking f 1 King 11. 22 nothing yet would not remaine there but in any wayes would goe to his owne country so if thou abiding in this earth where is g Ecles 1. 14 vanitie and vexation sinne and transgression and wearie of this world which h 1 Iohn 5. 19 lyeth in wickednesse shall in some measure haue thy conversation i Philip. 3. 20 in Heaven seek those k Col. 3. 1 things which are aboue beg for the helpe of GODS Spirit that the LORDS power l 1 Cor. 12. 9 may bee made perfect in thee that he who did separate m Gal. 1. 15 thee from thy mothers wombe and who did separat the n Genes 1 4 light from darknesse may also giue thee grace to o 2 Cor. 6. 17 come out from among the wicked and separate thee to himselfe that thou mayest sit p Eph. 2. 6 together with the Saints in such Heavenly places prepared for thee before the foundation of this world was laide Secondly If thou bee sorrowfull that it is too hard for thee yea altogether impossible â—or to goe vp to Heaven yet I may bee Comfort to one who cannot ascend to Heaven bold to persâ—ade thee that thy Saviour ascended q Ephes 4. 10 farre aboue all Heavens to fill all things He will r Psal 37. 24 put his hand vnder thee Hee will Å¿ Iohn 12. 32 draw thee to himselfe If there bee force and veâ—tue in that Similit Plinius August pretious stone the Magnet to draw heauie yron to it assuredly there is much more stâ—ength in CHRIST IESUS to draw t Cant. 1. 3 thee vnto him to knitte u Psal 86. 11 and vnite thine heart vnto him that thou mayest feare his holy Name And Similit Aâ—isâ—ot Zanâ—hius if there bee power in the naturall Sunne by the hotte vigour thereof to dâ—aw vp from the sea and earth vapours and exhalations to the mid region of the aire experience and Naturalists teach the same Certainly there is much more power without comparison in the SONNE x Mal. 4. 2 of Righteousnesse CHRIST IESVS to draw vp thy heart and affection vnto the third Y Heaven He in his owne tyme will giue grace and furnish strength to thee that thou shall say with DAVID z Psal 25. 1 Vnto thee O LORD lift â— vp my soule and â— lift a Psal â—21 1 vp my eyes aboue the mountains vnto thee O LORD from whence mine helpe commeth I b 1 Tim. 2. 8 lift vp to thee pure hands without wrath And c Act. 4. 24 I lift my voyce to GOD to pray to thy Majestie to praise thy holy Name as it becommeth mee Thridly If thou thinke it both dreadfull and dangerous for thee Comfort for a Christian to draw neerâ— to GOD. who art filthie who art guiltie who art as chaffe before the fire and dust d Gen 18. 25 and ashes before the wind for to approach and appeare before GOD who e Iob. 15. 15 found no stedfastnesse in his Saincts and in whose sight the Heavens are not cleane not f Iob. 25. 4 the Moone nor Starres I answere thee albeit that bee of veritie yet thou may come before his Maiestie with courage and thou may be well hearted to goe boldly g Heb. 4. 16 vnto the throne of grace for these reasons 1. because hee h Math. 11. 28 calleth vpon thee favourably who art weariâ— and laden as the Patriarchs were i Genes 45. 3 astonied at Iosephs presence because of their sinne against him and of their evill conscience yet when he said to them come k neere vnto me they came neere 2. As Ahasuerus l Esther 5. 2 held out his golden scepter to Esther fearing danger she found faâ—our so the breaking m Ierem. 10.7 of the nations holdeth