It is as true that euery member of the Chusch wherof Christ is the Head must of necessity or else no true member of the Head Christ sympathize with their particular fellow members in all their wealth and woe euen the meanest of them so sayth that worthy Apostle Paul b 2 Cor. 11.29 who is weake and I not weake with him who is scandalized but I burne with it and so elsewhere c 1 Cor. 12.26 If any one member he honoured all the rest reioyce with it if any one suffer all the rest suffer with it Thus is it in the naturall body if any tread vpon or kicke the least toe or foot will no the head feele will not the tongue say why do you tread vpon or kicke me and thus it cannot but be in the mysticall body of Christ O Lord if this be true where are there any true members of Christ to be found in this age let mee but finde such a man or woman that when they see Christs members I meane his beleeuing neighbours hungry thirsty naked sicke imprisoned scandalized and he or shee humbly careth for them for care and ioy are the two fairest daughters of Loue and out of his care is affected with his miserie prayeth to God for his reliefe and indeauors to furnish his necessities So on the contrary if God turne the wheele of prosperity then to rejoyce with them especially in spirituall prosperitie after desertion and then I will beleeue that such a man or woman is the child of God hath attained to this blessed godly sorrow as a mostnecessary true symptome character thereof and if it be otherwise it plainly proueth is a black marke of reprobation as will appeare if wee consider these reasons 1. It plainely intimates d 1 Ioh. 5.14 we are but dead men and not translated from death to life e 1 Ioh. 2.10 that wee are still in darknes and without the true light it testifies to our selues Angels and men that we are not onely benummed or paraliticke members but rotten putrified mortified members which must be cut off these are like wooden legges that feele nothing of the bodies or members maladie how canst thou thinke thy selfe a true member of Christ and cryest not out vnder the afflictions of the poorest true beleeuer and expressest not thy sorrow by thine earnest indeauour to ease the crosse affliction what liuing members and feele nothing It is impossible that a true beleeuer member of Christ should bee thus blockish and sencelesse 2. It plainely manifests want of zeale to GOD and his glory when either the cause of the Churches calamitie or the particular afflictions of Gods people strike vs not at the very heart which should be more deare vnto vs shall I say then our owne wealth safetie life yea I may truely say then our owne saluation where is the zeale of Moses blot me out of the booke of life f Exo. 32 32. rather then destroying this people the heathen should insult and say because God was not able to bring his people into Canaan therefore hee destroyde them in wildernesse it was Gods Name that stroke Moses at the heart and this is oft eclipsed by the afflictions of Gods people Oh the miseries woes of infinite millions of men and women with whom it is all one what conditioÌ„ befals the Church or any particular member thereof Were old f 1 Sam. 4.18 19. Eli his daughter the wife of Phineas now aliue would not the captivity of the Arke be their deaths to heare of the desolations that are made in that famous and most auncient Church of Bohemia and her sister the Palatine with other partes thus wasted and depopulated the Name of the Lord of hostes to be dishonoured by that relation which our adversaries make of the victories triumphs and successes had by that Popish and Iherian faction and that vnnaturally by the Natiues and Popish English which should bee his Maiesties loyall subiects in this Iland But alas what doe I insist vpon these reasons to incite vs to commiserate the afflictions of the Churches of Christ abroad great is the dishonour of God at home euen in this Kingdome the state of both Sion and Ierusalem is so miserable that it giues vs just cause oh that wee had their affections to cry out g Laâ— 1.2.16 Laâ— 2.18 Ier. 13.27 mine eye droppeth c. Oh that we had not onely cause to say with the Prophet Ieremie Because of eathes the land mourneth but we haue just occasion to say with the Lord by the Prophet Hosea that h Hos 4.1.2 c. God hath a controuersie with vs because there is no mercy truth nor knowledge of God in the Land by swearing lying killing stealing whoring they breake out and bloud toucheth bloud therefore shall the Land mourne and all that are therein shall be cut off with the beasts of the field c. I may adde the abominable drunkennesse oppression idolatry with swarmes of those Locusts the Friers Priests and that Ignatian brood the Iesuites swarming in euery corner by scores seducing and beguiling vnstable soules robbing and impouerishing not only the poore Natiues but the whole Kingdome by their intollerable exactions it is almost incredible the masse and summes of money that they daily rake together I could not beleeue it vntill I saw it by probable demonstrations that at the least 500000 pound sterling and vpward of treasure is exhausted out of this poore Kingdome yearely to maintaine that woful generation at home and corroborate and animate the enemies abroad that the Kingdome of necessity must grow full of penurie their insolencie increaseth so fast and our sinnes provoking the Highest in such degree that except l Amâ—s 4.12 wee prepare to meet the Lord by speedy repentance as the Eternal himselfe adviseth his people what may we looke for but some bloudy massacres as in Paris and Vastie in the dayes of Charles the ninth in France or at Antvverpe in the Netherlands or else some other grieuous judgments another way Oh that we which are k Is 62.6 â— the Lords remembrancers vvould giue him no rest till he repaire his Ierusalem and Zion Oh yee Reuerend Fathers let these silent lines speake in your cares and be not incensed against them why doe you not imploy rhe Churches weapons which are praeces lachrymae to implore his Maiestie and the State for reformation of these horrible and detestable abominations GOD perswade your hearts to this I know it is the desire of sundry of your soules to see the prosperitie of Bethell and Zion the ruine and desolation of Bethauen and Babell and you Right Honorable the Nobility State of this Kingdome pardon the importunity of these rude lines and let them incite your noble spirits to intreat our God by vnfeigned and carnest supplications prayers l Heb. 5.7 with strong cryes and teares as our
sweete and pleasanc to the vpright or should I be a false Prophet to speake peace to the wicked h Isa 57.21 to whom there is no peace This subiect that I purpose to intreat of is to direct the humbled sinner as the i Gen. 11.19 Angel did Hagar to the spring of water to refresh her thirstie Son Ishmael to the liuing waters of spirituall and true consolation a Riddle a Mysterie and a Paradoxe to nature the world to whom it is a true axiome maxime that euerie like begets his like as beasts birds fishes and creeping things being the sensible creatures and all plants hearbs and trees being the vegetatiue creatures hauing onely the life of increase it is also a position true in nature that contraries doe not beget or preserue their contraries but destroy and consume them as the fumes being hote and dry and the vapors and cloudes cold and moyst k Iob. 36.33 What combate and opposition is there as appeares in thunders and lightnings which are neuer quieted but by the rupture and breaking of the cloudes and vapory substance to make way for the fiery exhalations evacuation But behold here one of the wonders of the most high for his works in creation prouidence and the regenerating of men are contrarie to all the vnderstanding of nature as he brought l Gen. 1.3 light out of darkenesse the rainebow m Gen. 9.12 a signe of present raine for the most part and yet an euerlasting signe of the Couenant that God made after the deluge that hee will neuer destroy the earth any more with water He brings life to all his elect but out of death euen the death of his Sonne hee brings good out of euill euen out of the most exquisite villanies that euer were as out of Iudas his treason and all the wicked conspiracie of the high Priests Scribes and Pharisees against his eternall Sonne so in this particular ioy comfort peace and felicitie is promised to the righteous but arising out of a strange branch and that which is opposite thereto in all mens opinion euen sorrow and howsoeuer it cannot be a true position in naturall things yet it is a sound sure position in Diuinitie for being both graces of the spirit of God they doe conserue and not destroy each other The inducements perswading me to this subiect are 1. If it were possible to awaken this sinnefull world to consider that God cals them to mourning girding with sackcloth fasting and prayer in the sence of their owne sinnes and the sinnes of the time and land where wee liue and behold as the Prophet sayth m Isa 12.13 Killing Oxen and slaying sheepe eating and drinking c. a horrible sinne to be set vpon their jovall and mad mirth as the wise man speakes throwing axes edge-tooles firebrands and deadly weapons at the faces each of other saying am I not in jest When the Lord cals for lamentation and mourning Luk. 6.25 O ponder the woe of our Sauiour you that forget God Woe be to you that now laugh for you shall mourne it may be when it is too late 2. That I might direct the poore humbled Soule which though they be but few scarce one of a family or ten of a Tribe the true way to the consolations of GOD n Isa 55.1.3 that they may receiue the wine and milke of comfort and their soules may liue time hath beene Oh that I might truly say time is when wee that are the dispensers of the mysteries and treasures of God I speake experimentally haue not inioyed time three or foure houres after a Sermon to eate or refresh our selues for answering the doubts of perplexed and afflicted consciences a happy worke But now Oh the obdurate and adamantine hardnesse of heart an afflicted spirit is as a signe wonder in Israel yet blessed be God some there are for whose cause and of a tender commiseration and respect my soule desires to vndergoe any taske or trauaile for their ease refreshing and releefe I haue knowne some in terrors of conscience Prou. 18.14 and vnder the vexation of a wounded spirit which the wise man saith Who can beare tenne twentie yeares when I was not so able to administer consolation which might haue beene soone directed and recouered with the assisstance and blessing of the spirit of God Now for the point it is a certaine truth that there is no true ioy to bee expected before the heart be humbled with sorrow in the sence and feeling of a mans sinne 1. Because the current of all the promises runne thus Our Sauiour who best knew to administer a word in season pronounceth mourners onely to be happy o Matt. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comforted and Dauid by the spirit of God teacheth this p Ps 126.5 They that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Againe q Ps 30.5.11 Weeping may abide in the Euening but ioy commeth in the Morning And in the 11. vers Thou hast turned my mourning into ioy thou hast loosed my sacke and guirded mee with gladnesse thus he proclaymeth this experiment to the comfort of all succeeding ages and professeth that hee will for that favour prayse God for euer 2. A broken heart are the sweete odours and sacrifices acceptable to him and the Prophet vtters it as if it were all better then all r Psa 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart and that he will neuer despise it what could be spoken more amply then this 3. The Lord himselfe professeth that hee will take vp the contrite heart to keepe his royall Court of refidence there and to reuiue that spirit Å¿ Isa 66.2 To him will I looke euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word that is receiueth my word and doctrine with feare and trembling Quest But doth the promises of happinesse and beatitude belong to all sorrowes indefinitly Answ That were too large and layes open a doore of happines to many which sorrow and that excessiuely yet shall vndoubtedly perish there must be therefore issued out as the Lawyers say a Writ of melias inquirendum which I will doe by a distribution of sorrowes and mourners into their seuerall rankes and answere till I come at the true sorrow as the Lord answered t 1 Sam. 16.7.12 Samuel when he sent him to annoint Dauid King of Ifrael the sonnes of Ishai being brought Eliab Abinadab Sbamuah the Lord said to each seuerally the Lord hath not chosen him nor any of Ishais seuen sonnes vntill Dauid came and then the Lord answered annoint him King ouer my people for this is he We are therefore to obserue three kindes of sorrowes 1. Naturall sorrowes 2. Vnnaturall diabolicall or diuelish sorrowes 3. Supernaturall The sorrowes of the afflicted scandalized I call naturall because they proceed from nature and naturall causes The sorrowes
and lament and the world shall reioyce but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy Woe be to that ioy that hath not humiliation anteceding it it is hypocriticall and vnsound 2. This true ioy is knowne by the degree for it carrieth a man into an extasie for as the obiect therof excels all terrene earthly things as the obiect of true ioy being God himselfe Christ Iesus the assurance of the graces of the Spirit the word increase and spirituall growth in grace c. so doth the Christians joy in them exceed all other ioyes Thy Law is better to me then thousands of siluer and gold Ps 119 7â— Ps 137.6 Againe If I preferre not Ierusalem to my chiefe ioy The hypocrites ioy neuer exceedes the ioy in the world the profites and pleasures of this world doe more affect their hearts then the ioy of these supernaturall superexcellent heauenly things The truely wise marchant sels all for the blessed Pearle of the Gospel Mâ—â— 13.46 and goeth away reioycing also And if this be so how few found beleeuers doth this world afford that for the measure degree of their ioy can free themselues froÌ„ being hypocrites and who if this be a truth shal be saued 3. It may bee discerned and knowne by the blessed effects thereof 1 This ioy stands by a man when all other ioyes fade relinquish forsake him euen in adversity as wel as prosperity and this the Prophâ— Hab. 3.17 â—â— Habakack liuely expresseth For the sigge tree shall not flourish neither shal fruit be on the vines the labour of the oliue shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meate the sheepe shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no bullocke in the staules What more miserable condition can befall the sonnes of men yet behold this sweet ioy comforts them But I will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my saluation So that no condition of the true childe of God can bee so miscrable in this world but that the ioy of God will comfort and sustaine them The same doth Paul testifie we reioyce in tribulation Rom. 5 3. Phil. 2.17 and of himselfe and the rest of the Apostles he saith And though I be offered vpon the sacrifice and seruice of your faith I am glad and reioyce with you all 2. This ioy marres distastes all carnal ioyes whatsoeuer it makes a man sind little or no relish or taste in earthly delights they will be to him as the white of an egge wherein saith Salomon what sauour is there If men had receiued this true ioy once wee should soon see a change in their conuersation there would not be such wide gaping and laughter in vaine and foolish jestes apparel and a thousand things of this sort as now there is 3. Iaâ—â—â— It will keep a man from masterlines and censoriousnes of others as also to be compassionate and tender hearted to sympaâ—hize in the wants and sorrowes of others especially such as are vnder spiritual afflictions 4. And last effect of true ioy is as it springs from true humilitie and godly sorrow so it ends in it and destroyes not but preserues that blessed grace it keepes the soule in a preparednesse and apeâ—esse to acknowledge his owne vilenesse vuworthinesse of so great a portion and mercy from God as this ioy is Thus haue I according to my vnderstanding and gift receiued from God expressed my thoghts and meditations touching this sacred point and the true tryall thereof whereas the joyes which are temporarie or from the illusisions or methods of Sathan comfort no man in adversity finde sweetnes in carnal ioyes are masterly and censorious and make men proud and aduaunce themselues and are in all things contrary vnto the holy true ioyes which the Spirit of GOD doth exhibite and giue vnto those which seek true ioy in vnfeigned and godly sorrow 1. Quest. But may some humbled beleeuer say I can finde little comfort or ioy what aduite will you giue me or what shall I doe to get this sweete grace of happy ioy into my heart Answ 1. Take heede of such things as grieue the fountaine of true ioy which is the blessed spirit of God as the Apostle sayth And grieue not the holy spirit of God by which yee are sealed vp to the day of redemption of which I will giue you a taste 1. Beware thou neglect not the renewing of thy holy faith dayly nor the duties of mortification as examination of thy slippes and faylings which will bring thee to vnfeigned confession and acknowledgement of thy sin to God that prouokes the soule to godly sorrow and so to prayer opens a doore to consolation for the heart gathers soyle euery day and if it be not washed and kept cleane by these mundifying waters the vncleanenesse of the soule will grieue the blessed guest the spirit and so keepe out these blessed ioyes 2. Beware of a barren and vnfruitefull heart for vnprofitablenesse is the cause of much disrest to the soule 3. Beware of neglecting the meanes by which the spirit exhibites this true consolation which are both publike and prinate a Christian must not looke for miracles but if he would haue it he must diligently attend the meanes which are the ministrie of the word Sacraments and prayer and for the priuate especially neglect not priuate prayer from whence the spirit of God doth most frequently administer this ioy 4. Take heede thou bee not oner borne and ouer ruled by euill affections as passion enuie pride immoderate cares and the loue of the world all which and many more doe exceedingly quench and dead the consolations of the spirit of God 5. Lastly beware of the loue of any one sinne though neuer so secret for it betraies the euidence of thine vprightnesse and how eanst thou expect any other then blasted ioy and comfort when thou hast lost or forfeyted the euidence of thy assurance 2. Be exceedingly carefull to do such duties as bring true comfort as 1. Be diligent to know the difference betwixt counterfe it graces and true sauing graces for the Deuill mans corruption hath framed a counterfeit shaddow of euery vertue so that if thou be ignorant of the methodes deceites bee not able to get good cuidences and signes of the truth and soundnesse of them the heart will be distracted with feares and doubts and be a meanes of vnrest and vnquietnesse Is 55.15 and so depriue thee of this ioy to bee Gods seruant which otherwise thou mightest inioy be sure 2. Voluntarily seeke godly sorrow and try it according to the former rules be importunate with God by prayer and the vse of all the rest of Gods ordinances and neuer giue ouer drinking euery day a draught of humiliation vntill thou feele in thy selfe some good degree of softnesse of heart that it may oft bleed inwardly in the sence and feeling especially of thy beloued sins committed not