despair endeavouring to be her own executioner but was comforted by that blessed promise Isa 57.15 For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble and contrite spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones And I have read of another man who being ready to dye Lord saith he I challenge thee by that promise Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest and so was comforted And I have read of some others that were comforted with that promise â—â—rsin and Beza John 10.29 None shall pluck them out of my fathers hand And I have read of another who having deeply wounded his conscience by subscribing to Popish errors was much comforted by that blessed Scripture 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief And I have read of another Mr. Bilney the Martyr Psal 51.17 A broken and a contrite heart O God thou thou wilt not despise This promise was a cordial to Bernard on his dying bed he dyed with this promise in his mouth And Austin found so much sweetness in the same promise that he caused it to be written on the wall over against his bed where he lay sick and dyed who was much comforted under sore distresses by that promise Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace or as the Hebrew runs Shalom Shalom peace peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee And many have gone to heaven triumphantly by the refreshing and comfort that they have found in these following Scriptures John 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Ver. 3. Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David And so Rev. 22.17 And the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely So Hos 14.4 I will heal their back-slidings and love them freely So Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy trangressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Isa 57.18 I have seen his wayes and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners Ver. 19. I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is far off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him O these have been comforting promises and upholding promises and refreshing promises The promises are pabulum fidei c. anima fidei the food of faith and the soul of faith to many doubting drooping souls 'T is impossible that such a soul should ever drop into hell that can cling fast to any of these promises that can hang upon any of these promises that can rest and lay the weight of their souls upon Christ in any of these promises Doubtless relyance upon Christ in these precious promises hath ferried many poor doubting trembling souls to heaven The promise is the golden Cabinet and Christ is the costly jewel that is laid up in it The promise is the field and Christ is the pearl of price that is hid in it all the promises they point to Christ they lead to Christ they hang upon Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen In the new Covenant God neither makes any promises nor fulfils any promises of salvation but in Christ and through Christ Now when any fears or darkness or doubts or disputes arises in your souls about your spiritual estates Oh! then run to Christ in the promise and plead the promise and hang upon the breasts of the promise and let your souls cleave closs to the promise for this is the way of wayes to have your evidences cleared your comforts restored your peace maintained your graces strengthned and your assurance raised and confirmed FINIS Books Printed and are to be sold by John Hankock at his Shop over against Gresham Colledge in Bishopsgate-street next to the White Lyon at Great St. Hellins Gate and at the first Shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Cornhil at the Sign of the Three Bibles ELeven Books lately published by Mr. Thomas Brooks late Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New-Fish-Street 1 Precious Remedies against Satans Devices Or Salve for Believers and Unbelievers sores being a companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ that slight or neglect Ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it on 2 Cor. 2.11 2 Heaven on Earth Or A serious Discourse touching a well grounded Assurance of mans everlasting happiness and blesseâ—â—ess discovering the nature of assurance the possibility of attaining it the Causes Springs and Degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty Questions on the 8. of the Romans 32 33 34. verses 3 The unsearchable Riches of Christ Or Meat for strong Men and Milk for Babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Ephes 3.8 Preached on his Lecture-nights at Fish-street-hill 4 His Apples of Gold for young Men and and Women And A Crown of Glory for Old men and Women Or the Happiness of being Good betimes and the Honour of being an Old Disciple clearly and fully discovered and closely and faithfully applyed With the young mans objections answered and the old mans doubts resolved 5 A String of Pearls Or The best things reserved till last delivered in a Sermon Preached in London June 8. 1657. at the Funeral of that Triumphant Saint Mrs. Mary Blake late Wife to his worthy Friend Mr. Nicholas Blake Merchant 6 The Mute Christian with Soveraign Antidotes against the most miserable Exigents Or A Christian with an Olive-leaf in his mouth when he is under the greatest afflictions the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles the saddest and darkest providences and changes with Answers to divers Questions and Objections that are of great importance all tending to win and work souls to be still quiet calm and silent under all changes that have or that may pass upon them in â—his world c. Lately printed and dedicated to all afflicted distressed dissatisfied disquieted and discomposed Christians throughout the world 7 An Ark for all Gods Noahs in a stormy day Wherein is shewed the transcendent excellency of a Believers portion on Lament 3.24 8 The Crown and Glory of Christianity Or Holiness the only way to Happiness discovered in 48. Sermons on Heb. 12.14 9 The Privy Key of Heaven Or A Discourse of Closet-Prayer Twenty Arguments for it with the resolution of several Questions c. 10. A Heavenly Cordial for all that have had or have escaped the Plague c. 11 Newly published A Cabinet of choice Jewels or a Box of precious Ointment Being a plain Discovery of what men are worth for Eternity and how 't is like to go with them in another World There is now in the Press a New Treatise written by Mr. Thomas Brooks called Londons Lamentations Or A sober serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation wherein the procuring causes and the final causes of that dreadful dispensation are laid open with the duties that are incumbent both upon those who have been burnt up and upon those who have escaped those consuming flames with thirteen supports to bear up the hearts of such as have been sufferers Here are many great Objections answered and many weighty Questions resolved and variety of Arguments to prove that a little that the righteous man hath is better than the riches of the wicked with several other points of grand importance all tending to the cooling quieting setling refreshing upholding and comforting of all that have been sufferers by the late fiery calamity The Godly Mans Ark Or City of Refuge in the day of his distress discovered in divers Sermons The first of which was Preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Moor. Whereunto are annexed Mrs. Moors Evidences for Heaven composed and collected by her in the time of her health for her comfort in the time of sickness By Edmund Calamy B. D. and Pastor of the Church at Aldermanbury A Book of Short-Writing the most easie exact lineal and speedy method fitted to the meanest capacity composed by Master Theophilus Metcalf Professor of the said Art Also a School-master explaining the Rules of the said Book with many new additions very useful Another Book of Short-hand by Tho. Cross A Copy-book of the newest and most useful Hands with Rules whereby those that can read may quickly learn to write To which is added brief directions for true spelling and Cyphering and making divers sorts of Ink. There is now in the Press ready to be published an excellent new Book of Mr. Ralph Vennings entituled Sin the Plague of Plagues or Sinful â—on the worst â—f Evils All Printed for and are to be sold by John Hancock at the first Shop in Popes-Head-Alley in Cornhil at the sign of the three Bibles or at his Shop in Bishops-Gate-Street near great St. Hellins over against Gresham-Colledge 1669. FINIS
the doctrine of Repentance at large but only to speak so far of it as may speak it out to be evidential of the goodness and happiness of a Christians spiritual and eternal condition NOw before I come to open my self more particularly give me leave to premise this in the general viz. That there is a repentance that does accompany salvation 2 Cor. 7.10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Acts 11.18 When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life Mat. 18.3 And Jesus said verily I say unto you except you be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Having premised thus much in the general give me now leave to say That there are three parts of true sound saving repentance unto all which forgiveness of sin is promised And the First is contrition or grief of heart for sins committed Now this is called sometimes godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10 and sometimes a contrite spirit Isa 66.2 and sometimes a broken and contrite heart Psal 51.17 and sometimes the afflicting of our souls Levit. 16.29 and sometimes the humbling of the heart 2 Chron. 7.14 Lamen 3.20 and sometimes a mourning Zech. 12.10 and sometimes a weeping Mark 14.72 All repenting sinners are mourning sinners David repents and waters his couch with his tears Psal 6.6 Hezekiah repents and humbles himself for the pride of his heart 2 Chron. 32.26 Ephraim repents and Ephraim bemoans himself and smites upon his thigh and is even confounded Jer. 31.18 19. Mary Magdalen repents and weeps and washes Christs feet with her tears Luke 7.38 The Corinthians repented and they were made sorry after a godly manner 2 Cor. 7.9 Repentance in the Hebrew is called Nacham an irking of the soul and in Greek Metamelia after grief and Metanoia after wit and in the Latine Poenitentia All which do import that contrition or sorrow for sin is one part of true repentance O! the sighs the groans the sobs the tears that are to be found among repenting sinners Luth. Tom. 3.457 c. Luther hit the Mark when he said What are all the Palaces of the world to a contrite heart yea heaven and earth seeing it is the seat of divine Majesty Secondly 'T is very observable that all mourning persons for their sins are within the compass of the promise of forgiveness of sins Zech. 12.11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo Zech. 13.1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness Jer. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning of himself c. Ver. 20. I will surely have mercy on him or as the Hebrew has it I will having mercy have mercy on him As soon as Ephraims heart is troubled for his sins Gods bowels are troubled for Ephraim as soon as Ephraim like a penitent child falls a weeping at God's foot God like a tender indulgent father falls a bemoaning of Ephraim Ephraim could not refrain from tears and God could not refrain from opening his bowels of mercy towards him So Isa 57.15 And how can the contrite heart be indeed revived and cheered without forgiveness of sins without a pardon in the bosom Melancthon makes mention of a godly woman who having upon her death-bed been in much conflict and afterwards much comforted brake out into these words Now and not till now did I understand the meaning of these words Thy sins are forgiven There is no comfort to that which arises from the sense of forgiveness Isa 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith your God speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her iniquities are pardoned And why is the mourning soul pronounced the blessed soul Mat. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted but because the mourning soul is the pardoned soul But what is that sorrow or mourning for sin Qu. that is a part of true repentance The resolution of this question is very necessary for the preventing of all soul-deceits and mistakes and for the quieting setling and satisfying of souls truly penitent and therefore I shall give these eight following Answers to it First It is a sorrow or grief that is spiritual that is supernatural no man is born with godly sorrow in his heart as he is born with a tongue in his mouth Godly sorrow is a plant of God's own planting 't is a seed of his own sowing 't is a flower of his own setting 't is of a heavenly off-spring 't is from God and God alone The spirit of mourning is from above 't is from a supernatural power and principle there is nothing that can turn a heart of stone into flesh but the spirit of God Ezek. 36.25 26. Godly sorrow is a gift from God Job 23.16 God makes my heart soft No hand but a divine hand can make the heart soft and tender under the sight and sense of sin Nature may easily work a man to mourn and melt and weep under worldly losses crosses and miseries as it did David's men 1 Sam. 30.4 But it must be grace it must be a supernatural principle that must work the heart to mourn for sin Secondly godly sorrow is a sorrow for sin as sin 't is a mourning rather for sin than for smart 't is not so much for loss of goods lands wife child credit name c. but for that a holy God is offended a righteous Law violated Christ dishonoured the Spirit grieved and the Gospel blemished c. Peter's sorrow was godly but Judas his sorrow was worldly Peter mourns over the evil of sin but Judas mourns over the evil of punishment David mourns over his sin Against thee thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight Psal 51.4 And so 2 Sam. 24.10 And David's heart smote him after he had numbred the people and David said unto the Lord I have sinned greatly in that I have done and now I beseech thee O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done foolishly David does not cry out take away the threatned famine but take away the iniquity of thy servant nor he does not cry out take away the enemies of thy servant but take away the iniquity of thy servant nor he does not say take away the pestilence from the Land but take away the iniquity of thy servant But now when Pharaoh was under judgments he never cryes to the Lord to take away his sins
impressions especially among the Romanists and within these few years have not many hundreds in this Nation fallen under the same woful delusions who are all for crying up a Light within and a Christ within c. And this you are seriously and Conscientiously to observe in opposition to the Papâ—sts who boldly and stoutly affirm That assurance of a mans Salvation can be had by no other means than by extraordinary Revelation Witness the Councel of Trent who have long since said That if any man say that he knoweth he shall certainly persevere or infallibly be assured of his Election except he have this by special Revelation let him be Anathema Without all peradventure God will one day cross and curse such a wicked Councel that curseth that Anathematizeth his people for asserting and maintaining that that may certainly be obtained in this life as I have sufficiently proved by ten Arguments in my Treatise called Heaven on Earth from page 1. to page 26. I think there is a great truth in that confession of Faith that saith that infallible Assurance doth not so belong to the essence of Faith 1 John 5.13 Isa 50.10 Mark 9 24. 1 Cor. 2.12 1 John 4.13 14. Heb. 6.11 12. Ephes 3.17 18 19. 2 Pet. 1.10 but that a true Believer may wait long and conflâ—ct with many difficulties before he be partaker of it yea being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God he may without any extraordinary revelation in the right use of ordinary means attain thereunto and therefore 't is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his Calling and Election sure But The Eleventh Maxim or Consideration ELeventhly Consider that probabilities of Grace of sincerity of an interest in Christ and of Salvation may be a very great stay and a singular support and a special cordial and comfort to abundance of precious Christians that want that sweet and blessed Assurance that their Souls do earnestly breath and long after There are doubtless many thousands of the precious Sons and Daughters of Zion comparable to fine Gold Lam. 4.2 that have not a clear and full Assurance of their interest in Christ nor of the saving work of God upon their Souls who yet are able to plead many probabilities of Grace and of an interest in Christ Now doubtless probabilities of Grace and of an interest in Christ may serve to keep off fears and doubts and darkness and sadness and all rash and peremptory conclusions against a mans own Soul and his everlasting welfare and may contribute very much to the keeping up of a great deal of peace comfort and quietness in his Soul The probable grounds that thou hast Grace and that God has begun to work powerfully and savingly upon thee are mercies more worth than ten thousand Worlds will you please seriously and frequently to dwell upon these ten particulars First That though many weak gracious souls don't enjoy communion with God in joy and delight yet they do enjoy communion with God in sorrow and tears Hos 12.4 Isa 38.3 Psal 51.17 A man may have communion wi h God in a heart humbling a heart melting and a heart abasing way when he hath not communion with God in a heart reviving a heart cheering and a heart comforting way T is a very great mistake among many weak tender spirited Christians to think that they have no communion with God in duties except they meet with God embracing and kissing cheering and comforting up their Souls And O that all such Christians would remember this once for all viz. That a Christian may have as real communion with God in a heart humbling way as he can have in a heart comforting way John 20 11-19 a Christian may have as choice communion with God when his eyes are full of tears as he can have when his heart is full of joy when a godly man upon his dying bed was askt which were his most joyful dayes either those before his Conversion or those since his Conversion upon which he cryed out O give me my mourning dayes again Give me my mourning dayes again for they were my joyfullest dayes Many times a poor Christian has never more joy in his heart than when his eyes are full of tears But Secondly Though many poor weak doubting trembling Christians dare not say that they do love the Lord Jesus Christ 'T was a famous saying of Austins he loves not Christ at all that loves not Christ above all yet they dare say that they would love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts and with all their Souls and they dare say that if it were in their power they would even shed tears of blood because they cannot love Christ both as they would and as they should Blessed Bradford would sit and weep at Dinner till the tears fell on his Trencher because he could love God no more So the poor doubting trembling Christian mourns and laments because he can love Christ no more A man may love Gold and yet not have it but no man loveth God but he is sure to have God saith Augustine A good man once cryed out I had rather have one Christ than a thousand Worlds Thirdly Though many poor weak doubting trembling Christians dare not say that they have Grace yet they dare say that they prize the least dram of Grace above all the gold and silver of the Indies Cardan saith that every precious stone hath an egregious vertue in it The same we may say of every saving Grace were all the world a lump of gold and in their hands to dispose of it they would give it for Grace yea for a little Grace Now certainly no man can thus highly prize Grace but he that has Grace No man sees the worth and lustre of Grace no man sees a beauty and excellency in Grace nor no man can value Grace above the gold of Ophir but he whose heart has been changed and whose eyes has been opened by the Spirit of Grace Bâ—t Fourthly Though many poor doubting trembling Christians dare not say that their condition is good that their condition is safe and happy yet they dare say that they would not for ten thousand Worlds change their conditions with the vain and debauched men of the World who delight in sin who wallow in sin who make a sport of sin and who live under the Reign and Dominion of sin they had rather with Lazarus Luke 16. be full of sores and full of wants and live and dye in rags and after all be carried by Angels into Abrahams bosom than with Dives every day to fare sumptuously and be cloathed gloriously and perish eternally Though they are poor and wicked men Rich though they are debased and wicked men exalted though they are empty and wicked men full though they are low and wicked men high though they enjoy nothing and wicked men enjoy every thing yet they would
delivered from sin 6. Concomitant of godly sorrow Sixthly Yea what zeal Zeal is an extream heat of all the affections set against sin and working strongly towards God David's zeal did eat up his sin as well as himself And Paul was as zealous in propagating the Gospel as he had been furious in persecuting of it Many mens zeal is hot and burning when scorns and reproaches are cast upon them but the penitent man's zeal is most hot and burning when Religion is scorned Saints persecuted truth endangered and the great and dreadful name of God blasphemed c. The zeal of a true penitent will carry him on in a course of godliness and in a course of mortification in spight of all the diversions and oppositions that the world the flesh and the devil can make Holy zeal is a fire that will make its way through all things that stands between God and the soul The true penitent is unchangably resolved to be hid of his sins what ever it cost him who ever escapes who ever lives he is fully determined his lusts shall die for it only remember this though zeal should eat up our sins yet it must not eat up our wisdom no more than policy should eat up our zeal Seventhly Yea what revenge The true penitent revenges himself upon himself for his sins 7. Concomitant of godly sorrow not by whips and scourges as the Papists do 1 Cor. 9.27 A penitent sinner loaths the very scars of his sins after they are healed Nazian but by buffetting the flesh and bringing it into subjection by fasting and prayer and by crossing of his lusts and loading of them with chains and by diâ—â—ding the sword of mortification against them and by with-holding from them that fuel that might feed them and by the use of all other holy exercises whereby the old man the body of sin and death may be subdued to the obedience and discipline of the Spirit of God Holy revenge will shew it self by contradicting of corrupt self and by a severe chastising and punishing of all those instruments that have been servants to the flesh as you may see by the daughters of Israel in dedicating their looking-glasses by which they had offended Exod. 38.8 to the service of the Sanctuary Acts 19.19 and as you may see by the Ephesians burning of their costly and curious books before all men Luke 7. and by Mâ—ry Magdalens wiping of Christ's feet with her hair wherewith formerly her fond and foolish lovers were inticed and intangled And the same spirit you may see working in Zacheus Luke 19.8 9. and in the Jailor Acts 16.23 24 29 30 31 33 34. And so blessed Cranmer thrust his right hand first into the fire that being the hand by which he subscribed the Popish Articles revengfully crying out This unworthy right hand this unworthy right hand as long as he could speak The common language of holy revenge is this Lord pour out all thy wrath and all thy fierce anger and all thy fiery indignation upon this lust and that lust Lord bend thy bow and shoot all the arrows of thy displeasure into the very heart of my strong corruptions Lord when wilt thou rain hell out of heaven upon this proud heart this unbelieving heart this unclean heart this worldly heart this froward heart this treacherous heart of mine c. I have read of Hannibal that when he saw a pit full of the bloud of his enemies he cryed out with much content and delight O beautiful sight So when a penitent Christian sees his spiritual enemies his strong corruptions all in a goar bloud O! how delightfully and rejoycingly does he cry out O beautiful sight O blessed sight that ever I have seen Exod. 15. When the children of Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the Sea-shore then they sang a song of praise the Application is easie O Sirs let no man deceive his own immortal soul for 't is most certain that repentance to life hath all these lively companions attending of it Sound repentance and the companions of it are born together and will live and continue together till the penitent soul changes earth for heaven grace for glory And let thus much suffice for the first part of true repentance c. The second part of true repentance lyes in confession of sin which flows out of a contrite heart I mean not a bare formal empty confession such as is common amongst the worst of sinners as that we are all sinners and stand in need of a Saviour God help us God be merciful unto us c. but of such a confession of sin as ariseth from a true sight and full sense of sin and from the due apprehensions of a righteous Law that is transgressed and a holy God that is provoked c. When tongue and heart goes together when the tongue speaks out of the abundance of the heart when the tongue is the faithful interpreter of the heart freely ingenuously and humbly acknowledging iniquity transgression and sin and the penitent judging himself worthy of death of wrath of hell and unworthy of the least mercy and favour from God c. Now such a confession as this is you shall find in repenting sinners and if you look again you shall find those persons so confessing to be under the capacity of the promise of the forgiveness of their sins c. First You shall find repenting sinners confessing their sins Ezra 9.6 O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face unto thee my God for our iniquities are increased over our head and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens Repenting sinners confess their sins c. Ver. 10. And now O our God what shall we say after this for we have forsaken thy commandements c. Psal 51.3 I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me Ver. 4. Against thee thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight Dan. 9.4 5. I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God c. We have sinned and committed iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments c. Ver. 8. O Lord righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of face as at this day Luke 15.18 I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him father I have sinned against heaven and before thee Ver. 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son c. 1 Cor. 15.9 For I am the least of all the Apostles that am not meet to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God 1 Tim. 1.13 Who was before a blasphemer and a persecuter and injurious c. Isa 53.6 All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all I might easily