that failed him and his portion for euer Like as they who to day doe beleeue and haue now the comfort of their saluation which they doe much ioy in to morrow may haue their faith so shaken that they cannot beleeue as they did before and so the comfort and ioy of their saluation for the time may be gone but God is the strength of their faith and the vpholder of their saluation for euer who himselfe is so faithfull as though they cannot beleeue yet hee cannot denie himselfe Gods children haue learned therefore more to ioy in God who is the strength of their faith and the vpholder of their saluation then in the stedfastnes of their beleeuing or any assurance that they haue of the same their owne saluation If a man haue a rich and royal portion he is much pleased and delighted therein the Lord being the portion of his seruants and their chiefe treasure all their longing desire is to enioy him which if they can obtaine it is enough to them and that which their soules are fully satisfied in this is the making vp of their ioy their chiefest solace and their hearts onely delight Giue a man his delight hee asketh no more hee is then content Gods children thinke they want nothing so long as they haue him for their owne aboue all ioyes aboue all pleasures aboue all that their hearts can delight in they delight in the Lord and in his loue and fauour continually when they know him to be their God and father reconciled in Christ Iesus and doe feele his loue shed abroad in their hearts so as they know he loues them by tasting the sweetnesse of his loue which is better then wine such is the goodnesse and the greatnes such is the glorious excellencie of God his owne maiestie as the better he is knowne the more he must needs be loued delighted and ioyed in for his owne maiesties sake Gods children doe therefore loue God dearely yea they cannot but of force they must loue him so doe they loue him ioy and delight in him as they loue the habitation of Psal 26. 8. his house and the place where his honour dwelleth they loue as wee vse to say the very ground he goeth vpon they are neuer well but when they are with him their soule is a thirst for God euen the liuing God they vse to long for Psal 42. 2. Psal 84. 2. Cantic 5. 8. him euen to the very fainting of their heart and to grow sicke with the loue of him there is nothing they can lesse beare then his absence and for him to be estranged from them for any time it is as death to them to want his presence but they aske no more then to haue the light of his Psal 4. 6. countenance lifted vp vpon them for they finde contentment enough in him this causeth to them more ioy then the abundance of corne and wine and oyle though neuer so increased can Yea the louing kindnesse of God is better Psal 63. 3. 5. then is loue it selfe they are euer satisfied with the sweetnesse of his mercie as with marrow and fatnes This makes them to reioyce in the Lord alwaies and to reioyce in his strength Psal 18. 31. Psal 77. 13. Psal 34. 2. 44. 8. continually to praise him to make their boast of his praise for who is God but the Lord and who so great a God as is their God and who so gracious and good as he They are as I may say proud of their Master his greatnes and excelcencie being as it is many are seene to get them vnder great men to serue them A noble man thinkes himselfe honoured if he may but hold the basen to a King it may be the reioycing and counted for the greatest dignitie that the highest Kings in the world can be aduanced vnto to serue so great a God as is he there is no place in his seruice meane his Maiestie is so great there is none so honourable a Master as the Lord to waite vpon for his throne is prepared in heauen therefore doe the faithfull serue the Lord with gladnesse and much ioyfulnes of heart as thinking themselues greatly honoured that they may serue him neither doe they as mercenarie seruants only respect their wages and hire they shall haue for their seruice but they looke vpon the high dignitie the great worth and glorious excellencie of him they attend vpon whose highnesse and greatnes is such as that touching him it may well be said Worship him all ye Gods In seruing the Lord they neuer thinke any dutie sufficient nor seruice great enough that can be performed to so eminent a Master so mightie and so gracious a God as is the Lord for God is with such an affection with such a desire and minde to be loued serued and ioyed in that hee himselfe may be esteemed and reckoned reward great enough of his owne worship of all the loue that is borne to him and of the best seruice that any can doe vnto him otherwise hee that serueth God for any other respect then for the Prosper lib. sent Lords own sake serueth not so much God as that which by seruing him he aimeth at and desireth to haue CHAP. XX. Of the second dimension of ioy wherein they differ which is the depth of a deiected and disconsolate estate THE second dimension that the ioy of a true beleeuer exceedeth the ioy of a true beleeuers counterfeit in is in the depth of a deiected and low estate and condition whereinto they both as well the one as the other may at sometimes indifferently be brought which so happening the ioy of one vnsound in the faith is altogether extinct and can no more be had when distresse commeth vpon them they begin to mourne as those that had outliued all their ioyes But the ioy of a true beleeuer which is the ioy of faith it is either felt in it according to the power of faiths working as hee then can get to beleeue or it is vndoubtedly in the end fetched out of it and many times doubled afterwards for the little time that it then was ecclipsed Both of them may Psal 140. 10. be cast into a labyrinth of troubles and into a sea of miseries they may be in wofull distresse and brought to False ioy in sorrow doth sinke the state of the forlorne hope as wee vse to speake the one by biding the aduenture is blessed with such successe and scapeth happily out of danger when the other shifting for himselfe miscarrieth in all that he endeuoureth and so commeth short home in the end A true beleeuer True ioy riseth out of sorrow is neuer in such a sea of misery but he escapeth drowning and swimmeth safely out of it againe for hee is alwaies held vp as by the chin either by the strength and comfort of his hope which maketh him to reioyce in hope that hee shall be deliuered in the
then to himselfe for beyond himselfe vpward it truly and properly cannot be said to go it mounteth not so high as to reach vnto God aboue as vnto the most worthy and principall obiect that it can find to settle vpon and to solace it selfe and take delight in Such a one seemeth to haue a delight indeede and take some great pleasure in the fauour of God which hee standeth perswaded he now abideth in and which he holds by misapplying of promises and mistaking of grounds without all controuersie to belong vnto him Those fauours of God how slightly superficially or wtongfully soeuer they be laid hold vpon hee can well enough ioy in when once they are descended and come downe so low as they are found to light vpon him as he conceiues that now he may seeme to touch them and take hold of them reckoning without all faile to bee saued by them as well and as soone as the best Neither need any to marueile though they are seene to haue such a ioy for what reprobate is there that is so foolish that would not with that foolish prophet Balaam that was more blind and brutish then the dumbe Asse he rode vpon be ioyfull and glad if he knew he might bee saued at the last and share with the righteous in his latter end this differeth not much from the pleasure delight and contentment which a very bruite beast may haue the Hogge which hunteth after nothing more then to get his rauenous appetite satisfied seemeth to bee glad when hee can get vnder an Acorn tree greedily gathering vp the Acorns that fali from the tree and neuer leaues eating till he hath eaten his fill it is the fruit onely that he ioyes in as for the tree he neither cares for nor any whit doth looke after Much after this manner is the ioying of these kind of beleeuers they ioy in Gods fauours so farre as they may any benefit by them but God himselfe they little care for neither doe they so much delight themselues in him if saluation might fall to their lot they would leape and be glad but to haue the Lord himselfe their portion that doe they not so greatly desire nor so much reckon vpon The faith the loue the feare and ioy of such sore of men and all whatsoeuer else they doe proceede but of corrupt selfe loue whereby they loue their owne welfare their present and future good estate they desire Gods fauour and they ioy in conceiting that they shall haue it not simply for it selfe but in a by-respect either to escape some euill as Pharaoh desired fauour to haue the plague gone or to obtaine some greater good as Balaam that wished hee might be saued and Esau as prophane as he was could yet desire to bee blessed They pretend the loue of God when yet they loue him not for himselfe but in respect of his benefits as Saul loued God for a Kingdome The ioy then of this sort of beleeuers arising out of a wrong perswasion which they haue entertained into their hearts that they are in Gods fauour and are as well loued as any and therefore shall be saued with the best in the end is but a fruit of selfe-loue and therefore no fruite of faith but a fruit of the flesh which is wholly thus occupied about themselues for as it tooke the first beginning from themselues alone so endeth it in themselues and in no other thing that being the vttermost aime that it euer hath to respect their owne good higher then themselues simply it cannot be said to reach and further then to themselues properly it cannot be said to goe On the other side the ioy of the iust and righteous seruants Beleeuers ioy is spirituall of God who are true beleeuers indeed is fruite of a more noble off-spring and of a farre higher descent for it is said to be the fruit of the spirit and ioy of the holy Ghost Gal. 5. 22. 1. Thes 1. 6. It is spirituall heauenly and diuine like the wisdome that is said to be from aboue which is pure and pcaceable so doth this come from 2n high as being giuen of God and comming from him that is the Father of light euen the Father of mercies and God of all consolation hee that created all things of nothing in the beginning createth still the fruite Isaiah 57. 19. Isai 65. 18. of the lipps to be peace to his people it is he that createth Ierusalem a reioycing and her people a ioy He that is the heauenly Psal 97. 11. husbandman is he that hath sowne light for the righteous and ioy for the vpright of heart and in due time when this that is sowne shal once come vp and be ripe for them and they be come ready for it then shall they that mourne Isai 61. 3. Psal 125. 5. 6. in Zion haue beautie in stead of ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning and garments of gladnesse for the spirit of heauines then shall they that haue sowne in teares reape in ioy in the time of that haruest bringing not their armes full but their hearts full of these bundles of gladnesse that will make them reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious This ioy of the faithfull is said to be the ioy of the Lord because hee is the onely author of it and it alone is giuen by him none can either take ioy or comfort for himself or giue it to another that doth want it if God doe with-hold it but on the other side if hee doe giue comfort and peace none can make trouble if he doe giue ioy none can take that away Nehem 8. 10. againe and this ioy of the Lord is said to be his peoples strength This ioy is so high and so heauenly as it is part of the kingdome of heauen and is the beginning of the glory that is to come this ioy it is part of the kingdome of God here which our Sauiour Christ saith to bee within Luke 17. 21. vs the Lord setting vp his kingdome in the hearts of his elect and ruling mightily there by his Word and by his Spirit Now this kingdome saith the Apostle consisteth not in meate and drinke but in righteousnesse and peace and Rom. 14. 17. ioy in the holy Ghost It is called the ioy of the holy Ghost because it is not so much our ioy as the ioy of the holy Ghost that moueth our ioy and causeth our ioy especially this ioy of our saluation to haue the assurance thereof and comfortably to stand perswaded of the loue of God towards vs and of his sauing mercies in and through Christ Iesus for it is he that is the Comforter that was promised Iohn 14. 16. 17 Ephes 4. 30. to be sent vnto vs it is he by whom we are sealed vp to the day of our redemption he is giuen vnto vs not alone to be with vs but to be in vs that wee may haue him remaining with vs and
promises of the Gospell which is the word of truth are the proper obiects which faith hath Act. 24. 14. Mark 1. 15. respect to and is the ground it setleth vpon Therefore is the word called the word of faith the speciall operation Rom. 10 8. and working of it is to let the soules and hearts of those men in whom it is placed to know and to feele that they are now brought neere vnto God and haue fellowship Eph. 2. 12. 13. with him who were but strangers before and farre off by reason of their sinne that is to settle and stablish our mindes in a comfortable perswasion of Gods fauour and towards vs in and through Christ Iesus and that by him Gods heart for euer is so wonne vnto vs as nothing shall be able more to separate vs from his loue It quieteth Rom. 8. 38. and cheareth the heart with vndoubted assurance that whatsoeuer was the oddes and enmitie that was betweene God and vs before by meanes of our sinnes yet Coloss 1. 21. so are wee now receiued into fauour and so is all agreed and set thorough betweene God and vs that we are at Rom. 5. 1. Luke 2. 14. peace with God and God with vs. They that haue great ventures abroad are alwaies thinking of them how they may be got safely home they giue much for assurance they cannot sleepe till that be done their mindes are euer so running vpon them Of all aduentures there are none like to the aduenture that wee beare of our selues our soules and our bodies while we liue in this most perilous and dangerous world that they be got well home and be brought to eternall safetie in the end Now faith secureth our hearts herein and giueth vs good assurance that we shall neuer perish but haue in the end euerlasting Iohn 3. 16. life with God in Christ Iesus Faith setteth the heart at peace and secureth the conscience it giueth better and more strong assurance then any bond of the best Merchant though made in Statute-merchant nay then can doe the bond or assurance of any Prince though they should lay their Crownes in pawne or be bound in the forfeiture of their kingdomes For faith hath Gods truth laid in pawne for the making good the assurance and God hath bound himselfe in the forfeiture of his truth which he will not lose for the whole world and is vnto Gods maiestie of greater weight and regard then is the state of a kingdome to any Prince that he will be accounted no more a God of truth if hee faile in his promise This giueth vs boldnesse for the present to enter in before God euen into the holiest of holy places and to Heb. 10. 19. Heb. 4. 16. come boldly to the throne of grace that wee may obtaine mercie and finde grace to helpe in time of need But for so much as all this could neuer haue been effected or brought to passe for vs otherwise then that by the hand of some meete Mediatour this attonement might bee made and peace might be wrought for vs thus to reconcile vs vnto God And seeing that neither in heauen nor in earth there could any other be heard of or found that euer could be fit and able to vndertake and thoroughly and perfectly to goe through with this so great a worke of reconciling the world vnto God but he alone whom the Father had sealed who is Christ the Lord who is our Eph. 2. 14. Isai 9. 6. peace euen the Prince of peace Therefore the worke of faith is before it can thus iustifie vs and set vs at peace with God to seeke and finde out Christ for vs and to get the true and sauing knowledge of him yea to seaze and lay such hold vpon him as wee may apprehend him and embrance him for our owne appropriating and after a sort ingrossing him for our selues that so causing vs to reioyce with the ioy of Gods people in his fruition and to Psal 106. 5. glorie with Gods inheritance And with the Spouse in the Canticles wee once truly beleeuing with the heart imboldening vs in most ioyfull and gladsome manner to professe with the mouth as doth she in that place My Cantic 2. 16. 7. 10. beloued is mine and I am his and his desire is vnto me That thus hauing found and apprehended Christ embracing and holding him in the armes of our faith as our blessed Aduocate and attonement-maker vnto God we may so come before the Lord and treate with him for our peace as did old Simeon when he had Christ in his armes and Luk. 2. 28. 29. 30. his eyes did see his saluation desire the Lord then to let him depart in peace Yea we may then with lesse feare and much more comfortable boldnesse shew our selues in Gods presence and appeare in his sight then could Hester though neuer so well beloued of the King aduenture Hest 5. 2. to goe in before Ahashuerosh who did kindly accept of her when hee held out the golden scepter vnto her Yea farre more warrantably and safely may we bearing Christ with vs in the armes of our faith approch and come neere to the throne of the greatest maiestie of him that is the highest Lord and Soueraigne ruler of the world who hath prepared his throne for iudgement and shall iudge the world in righteousnesse reckoning vpon Psal 97. 8. 9. a more kinde welcome and gratious acceptation at his hands then euer durst the Patriarchs Iacobs sonnes shew themselues before Ioseph then Lord of Egypt though they did carrie their younger brother Beniamin in their Gen 43. 15. 16. 30. hands at the sight of whom the heart of Ioseph yearned within him and his eyes burst out a weeping that hee could not forbeare any longer but manifest himselfe and shew his brotherly affection vnto them and falling vpon their neckes kissed and embraced them forgetting and Gen. 45. 2. 3. 14 15. forgiuing all the iniuâ—ie and wrong that euer before they had done vnto him Thus yea farre more then thus yea farre aboue all that can be vttered conceiued or comprehended is that loue of God in Christ which he beareth to Eph. 3. 19. all the faithfull and wherewith he standeth most kindly and fatherly affected to his redeemed in and through Christ Iesus as to accept of their persons and be delighted Eph. 1. 6. Cantic 2. 14. Isai 63. 7. 9. Ierem. 31. 20. Hosea 11. 8. 9. Iohn 16. 23. with their presence so to be most affectionatly moued towards them in all fatherly kindnesse and compassion that he hath of them as also to heare al their prayers and to deny them nothing which they shall aske when they come to the Father in the name of his Sonne Yea so is the heart of God the Father wonne to al that truly do beleeue in Iesus Christ his Sonne as though Christ Iesus Ioh 16. 26. 27. himselfe should seeme not to
pray for them yet would he deny theÌ„ nothing Nay so doth it please him to vnbowel himselfe and to open and manifest the loue of his heart which he beareth to his children that as touching their good and concerning them he saith after a sort they may Isai 45 10. command him By all which it may appeare before wee can warrantably beleeue in God as reckoning vpon his fauour and loue to finde mercie at his hands for the pardon of our sinnes and our owne gratious acceptation with him or for the receiuing any blessing from him or any righteousnesse as from the God of our saluation wee Psal 24 5. must first get the knowledge of Christ Iesus and by faith seeke to apprehend him that being first ingrafted into Christ Iesus by faith and admitted to a holy vnion and communion â—ith the Sonne wee may haue fellowship with the Father and so be brought to God by him according Ioh. 14 6. as he is said to be perfectly able to saue all that doe Heb. 7. 25. come to God by him And this is that which Peter speaketh of when hee saith that the faithfull doe by Christ beleeue in God who raised him vp from the dead and 1. Pet. 1. 21. gaue him glorie that their faith and hope might be in God CHAP. V. The manner of knowledge of Christ with the perswasion that is necessary to faith Question WHat manner of knowledge is that which is necessary for vs to haue of Christ Iesus that so we may the better beleeue in him A. Not a confused or a generall knowledge Knowledge of Christ of Christ alone not a bare speculatiue knowledge of him and of the mysterie of saluation by him which is the best knowledge that the most haue of Christ which is yet but idle and vnfruitfull and auaileth Mat. 7. 21. Luk. 6. 46. nothing to saluation But a cleare and distinct knowledge of the mysterie of saluation in Christ Iesus as the same is reuealed in the Gospell whereby we may know assuredly that it is he and hee onely whom the Father hath sealed sent into the world that the world by him might be saued who being fore-ordained to this great 1. Pet. 1. 20. and blessed worke of mans redemption and sauing the world before the very foundation of the world it selfe was laid and promised to the Fathers as God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which haue been since Luk. 1. 70. the world began was sent of God when the fulnesse of time was come though being his owne Sonne to become Galath 4. 4. also the Sonne of man and to be made of a woman And as concerning the flesh to descend of the Fathers though from all eternity in himselfe he is God ouer all blessed Rom. 9. 5. for euer A person truly that hath no peere most admirable and wonderfull who is the only Phoenix in the world that hath no fellow euen as the worke was great and difficult yea very admirable and wholly impossible by any other euer to haue been effected about which hee was to bee employed which was the redeeming of the world and reconciling of man to God This will better appeare if we consider first that God himselfe was the partie that was wronged man was the partie that had offended God was to be satisfied man stood in need to be saued necessary it was that there should come satisfaction to God for man that man being saued Gods iustice might not be lost Now the infinite Maiesty of God being wronged there could bee no satisfaction made sufficient by any that were but finite none therefore could thus satisfie but God as none ought to satisfie but man For which cause our Sauiour Christ Iesus was the onely meete person that was to be imployed about this worke which vnto all others was wholly impossible who being God became also man and tooke our nature vpon him that as he was man he might offer the sacrifice and as he was God he might make it precious and conferre worthinesse and dignitie vnto it that it might euery way be sufficient that so by that one sacrifice Heb. 9. 26. 28. of himselfe once offered that being a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour vnto God he might satisfie God Ephes 5. 2. Heb. 5. 9. for man and become the authour of eternall saluation to all them that will obey him Secondly and as wee are to know that in person hee was right wonderfull and in worke no lesse powerfull yea most singular most glorious and excellent so are we to know that the offices were most high and honourable vnto which he was assigned and which he bare vpon him for the accomplishment of the same as being annointed of God to those offices of greatest dignitie and respect both before God and man of being our high Priest King and Prophet by whom we might be reconciled vnto God deliuered from the hands of our enemies ruled by his lawes guided by his teaching and shewed the path and way of life that so in the end we might bee saued by Psal 16. 11. him A high Priest indeed but made not after the law of a carnall commandement in a policy that was perishable Heb. 7. 16. but after the power of an endlesse life in the promise of a dignity that should bee euerlasting A King of greatest Apoc. 1. 5. and 17. 14. Heb. 12. 27. 28. 1. Tim. 1. 17. Luk. 1. 33. Maiesty and glory but not such a one as euer may bee deposed or put out of his throne not such a one whose kingdome can euer bee shaken but who is a King euerlasting and immortall and of whose kingdome and gouernment there shall neuer bee end A Prophet mighty indeed and in word doing such workes as no other Luk. 24. 19. Ioh. 15. 24. Ioh. 7. 46. man did and speaking such words as neuer man spake who was annointed to that holy function as well as others but yet with the oyle of gladnesse aboue all his fellowes Who receiued not the Spirit by measure as Psal 45. 7. doe others for it pleased the Father that in him all fulnesse should dwell of whose fulnesse we haue all receiued Ioh. 3. 34. Colos 1. 19. Ioh. 1. 16. Mat. 17. 5. Isa 42. 4. euen grace for grace him are we willed to heare and the Isles are to wait for his law Now we are to pray without ceasing that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory would giue vnto vs the Spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the true knowledge of him making daily more and more manifest this great mysterie of Christ Ephes 1. 17. which in other ages was not made knowne to the sonnes Ephes 3. 5. of men as it is now reuealed by the Spirit that wee may after this manner both know and acknowledge him Q. Beside the true knowledge of Christ in the description you made of faith
you said there must be a laying hold of Christ with a perswasion that God will be fauourable to vs in and through him A. Indeed that laying hold of Christ is most necessary To lay held on Christ to be ioyned with our knowledge and in no case may be wanting for therein is the maine difference found to be consisting betweene true iustifying and sauing faith 2. Pet. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 1. which is called precious faith or the faith of Gods elect from such a faith as men may haue and yet perish with it which is very vnsound and but temporary when it is at the best either false or faigned or but the faith of the history to beleeue that which the Gospell setteth downe touching Christ Iesus the Sauiour of mankind which is the common faith and as I may say euery bodies faith yea no better then the diuels faith for they beleeue all this and yet shall neuer bee saued they get no comfort Iam. 2. 19. by it but are made to tremble and to be more tormented for it This laying hold of Christ that we may rest vpon him to make him our owne and to get our part of saluation out of him is the chiefest worke about which true iustifying and sauing faith is to be occupied and most busily to be employed which is no other then a placing of our affiance and reposing our whole trust and confidence in Christ for saluation We first knowing and apprehending him to be giuen vs of God to the end that we Ioh. 3. 16. so beleeuing in him should neuer perish but be saued by him These two we must haue to be ioyned together for the making vp of that faith that must saue vs to know Christ and to beleeue that is to lay hold of and apply to our comfort that which we know of Christ as relying and resting vpon the same Wee beleeue and know saith Ioh. 6. 69. Peter to our Sauiour that thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God we are with the Spouse in the Canticles first to seeke the knowledge of Christ to seeke his acquaintance Cant. 1. 27. and more familiarly to know him daily and therefore to entreate him as doth shee that hee will shew himselfe vnto vs According as elsewhere hee doth promise himselfe that he will so doe to all that doe loue Ioh. 14. 21. him And when wee haue once found him wee are with her to lay sure hold of him and not to let him goe till wee Canti◠3. 1. 4. haue brought him to the best roomes and chambers of our hearts there to haue him resident and euermore dwelling in our hearts by faith Christ by his death and Ephes 3. 17. suffering hath prepared medecine to cure our deadly disease he hath giuen his flesh to be broken and his blood to be shead to make a plaister and a bath to heale and to supple the stiffe and starke wounds of our soules which haue been made by our sinnes Medicines will doe no good if they bee not applied plaisters will heale no wounds if they be not taken hold on by the hand and laid vpon the sores So is it with all that Christ hath done for vs if it be not laid hold vpon and applied by vs for our owne benefit There is indeed a different laying hold of Christ according to the differing degrees of faith that are found to be among them that doe beleeue according to the free dispensation of this grace giuen out vnto euery one by him that is the authour and finisher of the faith of all the Heb. 12. 1. elect of God who best knoweth what is the meetest and fittest portion for euery one to receiue To some is giuen a greater to some a lesser measure of it some there bee that are strong others that are but weake in faith as some 1. Cor. 3. 1. are but babes in Christ when others are come nearer to the measure of the fulnesse of Christ and yet all true beleeuers Ephes 4. 13. Faith though it be not perfect so it be true though it bee feeble like a young borne babe and that sore diseased too is sufficient for saluation Faith doth not saue because it is a perfect vertue but because it apprehends a perfect obiect hauing faith in the truth of it alike though not in the measure and degree of the strength of it alike and therefore all shall vndoubtedly and most assuredly in the end be saued alike for the least measure of sauing faith doth giue title to men to all the mercifull promises of God the weakest shall as certainly and as soone bee saued as the strongest because it is not by the measure but by the manner and kind of faith it being precious faith and faith not fained whereby men are saued Yea more because men are not saued by faith at all otherwise then after a figuratiue manner of speaking but by the obiect of faith and that which faith layeth hold vpon which is Christ Iesus alone in whom our life and saluation 1. Ioh. 5. 11. Colos 3. 4. is wholly abiding Now Christ who is our life may be laid hold vpō according to the differing strength that is in the hands of them that doe apprehend him Those that are younglings and babes in Christ cannot lay so strong hold of Christ as those that are ancient and men growne in Christ but though they hold him not so strongly yet may they hold him as truly as doe the other A child that eateth the meate which is put into the hand that holdeth that meate holdeth it as truly and is nourished by it as soundly and as certainly as a strong man or a Gyant that doth the like though there is great difference for the strong manner of holding of that which both doe eate and are in like manner nourished by Q. But what is to be done of them who as touching their owne feeling seeme to haue no manner of strength to lay any hold of Christ yet indeed doe onely they know that hee is the alone Sauiour of mankind and doe desire that they with others might haue part in that saluation which he hath purchased A. If they cannot with Simeon take Christ in their armes and as Mary did in her wombe yet they conceiue How feeling of faith may be attained him in their hearts vntill Christ be formed in them as the Apostle speaketh there to hold him as dwelling in their Luk. 2. 28. Luk. 1. 31. Galath 4. 19. Ephes 3. 17. Mat. 11. 12. hearts by faith Secondly if they cannot as violent persons presse strongly vpon him and as those that will haue no nay but be saued in spight of the diuels teeth offer violence vnto Christ by plucking him vnto them and pulling life and saluation with a strong hand out of him If they cannot as strong men set fast hand vpon him and take a full gripe of him as did Paul by
and vnderstanding that doth discerne that which is seene and so the same obiect is both in the eye and in the mind at one and the same instant apprehended together the eye by looking on a thing becommeth one with it after a manner to looke then to Christ is after a fort to lay hold of him and such a kind of looking to him as causeth a distressed soule in greatest extremities to looke for helpe from him alone doth so affect him as it doth rauish his heart and in a manner ouercome him faith being the beautiful eye of the Church that woundeth the heart of Christ with loue to the same Therefore doth Christ himselfe will the Spouse to turne her eyes vpon him as Tremelius doth reade it which if she shall Cantic 6. 2. doe she shall euen lift him vp with great ioy and gladnesse after Tremelius reading to see her so to beleeue in him and to depend vpon him Now who would not bee glad to cast vp such an eye to the Lord as he might be thus delighted withall If this also seemeth to be more then well can be performed by them they being in their owne conceiuing as those that are past all hope of recouerie and as men that are alreadie dead yet seeing there is no name vnder heauen Acts 4. 12. that is giuen nor any other meanes in the whole World beside to be vsed by which any can be saued but only by the name of the Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour Let them as knowing there is no other for them to rest vpon for saluation but vpon him him alone by some meanes or other get themselues to be rowled cast vpon him and let them not feare but that as the dead man that was cast into the Sepulcher of Elisha so soone as hee touched the 2. King 13. 21. bones of the Prophet he was made to stand vpon his feet and to liue againe so such being cast vpon Christ though they were dead yet should they surely liue there being Iohn 11. 25. infinitely more vertue in Christ that was crucified then euer was in the bones of the Prophet that was dead to reuiue and cause to liue againe all that are cast vpon him as seeking so to haue life from him Lastly if they bee able no manner of way to doe any thing to helpe themselues and further their owne saluation but onely desire to bee holpen and desire that they might be saued by Christ Iesus let them make of that desire keeping it and nourishing it and comforting themselues yet in this that God hath giuen them a desiring heart to hunger thirst and long after the saluation that is in Christ Iesus He that giueth them so to desire will also in due time giue them to haue the thing so desired onely let them waite for Christ his helping hand vsing the best meanes that possibly they can and let them keepe themselues within the compasse of Christ his walk where he vseth to come louing and resorting to the habitation Psal 26. 8. of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth that he may see them there And they shall find by good experience in the end that as our Sauiour going by the Poole of Bethesda saw that impotent man who had an infirmitie 38 yeeres and hearing him complaine of his vnablenesse Ioh. 5. 5. 6. 7. 8. to helpe himselfe and that there was no other that would helpe to put him into the Poole but while he was a comming some other was more ready to step in before him our Sauiour hauing compassion put no other taske vpon him but onely to desire to be made whole asking him if hee would bee made whole and so presently restored him to his desired strength againe willing him to take vp his bed and walke So doubtlesse these weaklings in faith that can do no more for themselues through their great infirmitie then desire to bee holpen and to haue saluation from him our blessed louing and most mercifull Sauiour who will not breake a bruised reede nor Matth. 12. 20. quench the flaxe that smoaketh beholding their great distresse and lamentable plight that they are in will be moued in pitie to relieue them And knowing that they are able to doe no more in the matter of beleeuing in him for their saluation then to desire they could beleeue better and depend more vpon him that they might be saued wil accept of such a desire in stead of the deed it selfe and as vndoubtedly saue them with such an earnest and true desire of beleeuing better as they shal euer be saued that beleeue best of all Q. In the description of faith which you made at the first beside the true knowledge of Christ and laying hold of him you ioyned therewith a comfortable perswasion also of the fauour and loue of God towards vs in and through him Doe you take it that this comfortable perswasion of Gods fauour towards vs as it is felt and perceiued by vs doth alwaies accompany true and sauing faith in Christ and that it is so necessary to the essence and being of faith as without it true faith cannot at all consist A. Not so but I take such a setled perswasion of Perswasion of Gods fauour Gods vnalterable loue towards vs in and through Christ Iesus to be necessary rather to the well-being of faith and euen to the finishing and perfecting of it when it is growne to the greatest strength and perfection that it can come vnto in this life then to the being of faith at all for to a higher pitch or degree of greater perfection faith cannot grow nor rise vp vnto so long as wee haue any being in this life euen then when it hath made the best proceedings and prospered most happily increasing with the increasings of God and hath runne through all the degrees that are set vnto faith in this life till the best and highest be attained vnto then for faith to settle the heart in a cleare full and vndoubted perswasion of Gods loue and fauour towards vs in Christ Iesus to bee so sure and vnchangeable as nothing shall euer be able to separate vs Rom. 8. 38. from the same againe like to that of the Apostles but that true faith may haue existence and being in the heart of a good Christian where such an vndoubted and comfortable perswasion is either very seldome or peraduenture neuer at all felt by the true beleeuer especially in such a degree of clearenesse and vndoubtednesse of assurance as had the Apostle may appeare first if we consider the first beginnings of faith with what great feeblenesse and imbecillitie it hath his being in vs when it is new begotten and as I may say first bred and borne lying in the swathing cloutes vnder as great weakenesse and with as little feeling and apprehending of the operation of God Coâ—oss 2. 12. in giuing it selfe being as doth the infant that is
may there much guile and deceit be found to be in it and the worke will appeare to bee vnsound and falsely wrought if good triall thereof be made that only hauing guile for the refuge and vnder falsehood and vanitie it Isai 28. 15. delighting euer to lie hid for there it resteth and setleth it selse there it findeth best cherishing and kindliest being as the dorres doe in the dung But this may better beé considered in some particulars Temporarie faith which yet is as good as no faith if it be not worse for if any withdraw himselfe the Lord will haue no pleasure in Heb. 10. 38. 39. 2. Pet. 2. 21. him And Peter saith it had been better not to haue knowne then to turne away againe seemeth to haue all the complements that can bee found in true faith and that in as goodly a shew and in as glorious a manner as the most pretious and sauing faith hath or can haue if goodly shewes and appearances might bee sufficient to serue the turne for if wee consider the nature of true faith and what be the parts whereof it doth consist if wee marke well what be the graces which principally doe concurre in true beleeuers for the making vp of that faith in them How true saith is wrought which is true and vnfained and by which they assuredly shall be saued it will be found that first their minds come to be illuminated and lightened from aboue with diuine Acts 26. 18. Eph. 1. 17. 18. Col 1. 9. 26. 27. and ◠2 2. Cor 4. 6. Iohn 17. 3. Acts 28. 24. Ioh 6. 68 69. Acts 15. 11. Iohn 1. 12. Phil. 3. 12. 1. Tim. 6. 12. 2. Tim. 2. 14. Rom. 4. 20. 21. Rom. 8. 38. Iohn 3. 16. Rom. 15. 13. Acts 8. 39. 1. Pet. 1. 7. T it 3. 8. 14. Coloss 1. 10. Gal 5. 16. 22. 2. Pet. 1. 8. Phil. 1. 11. Rom. 12 2. 1. Cor. 6. 11. Eph 4. 22. 24. Eph 4. 20. 21. knowledge of Gods truth especially with the sauing knowledge of Christ Iesus whom to know is eternall life Secondly then their hearts are strengthened as to assent to that they know so to relie vpon Christ whom they know apprehending him and laying hold of the promises of life and saluation which are made in him Fourthly from thence they proceed further and doe grow at the length to be assured in the truth and setledly perswaded of God his vnchangeable loue towards them in and through Christ Iesus so as they beleeue comfortably they shall neuer perish but haue eternall life by him Whereupon next followeth fifthly Ioy and gladnesse to be bred in their hearts euen such as is said to be vnspeakable and glorious All which former graces haue following and accompanying them the fruites of the Spirit Sixthly in good workes breaking out in their liues which may plainly be discerned by the generall change of their whole course of life from euill to good casting off the old man which is corrupt through the deceiueable lusts and putting on the new which is created after God in holinesse and righteousnesse And thus haue true beleeuers learned Christ heard him and been taught by him as the truth is in Iesus as the Apostle saith Now a temporarie beleeuer who is but a cunning reprobate and a true beleeuers counterfeit may haue the shadow and resemblance of all these graces and that with so liuely colours so workmanly set out and painted forth as shall cause them to carrie a goodly glosse and to shine out with such a glistering brightnesse as if they were comparable with the best when there is nothing at all sound but How farre areprobate may go all is bastardized adulterated and no better then plaine counterfeit stuffe such a man may haue common graces in so good a degree as a naturall man may in the possibilitie of his nature be capable of euen so much as his nature not renewed may permit him to haue As to instance in the former particulars he may haue great measure Heb. 6. 4. 1. Cor. 13. 2. Isai 42. 20. 1. Cor. 1. 19. 20. 8. 2. Rom. 2. 13. 19. 20. Acts 26. 27. Iames 2. 19. Iohn 12. 42. 43. Luke 8. 13. Mat. 23. 2. 3. Rom. 2. 20. 21. Rom. 1. 31. 3. 19. 20. Phil 1. 16. Mat. 7. 21. 22. of illumination and may attaine to much knowledge not alone humane but diuine also to know the truth of God to vnderstand the Scriptures to beleeue the Word of God to bee true crediting it in his iudgement and approuing of it in his affection hee may not alone become expert in the vnderstanding and opening of the Law thereby to know himselfe and all others to be guiltie of sinne but he may grow also acquainted with the mysteries of the Gospell thereout to know Christ and him crucified for the sinnes of the world and to know him to bee theone and onely Sauiour of all mankind he may haue a confused perswasion and conceit in his mind though vnwarrantably that Christ and all his benefits doe belong to him and laying claime to them as the woman that was not the mother did to the child that was not hers apprehend 1. King 3. 22. and lay hold of them all as his owne He may out of this conceit that he is now in the state of grace and in the Luke 8. 13. way of life haue his heart rapt and lift vp with much ioy he may take delight and after a manner grow proud of the good estate which as hee doth thinke he now standeth Luke 18. 11. in as in regard of the outward reformation of his life the vncleane spirit may be said to be gone out of him Mat. 12. 43. and another spirit to be giuen vnto him as was giuen to Saul when another heart was giuen vnto him after Samuel 1. Sam. 10. 6. 9. 10. had once annointed him after which it is also said that the Spirit of the Lord came vpon him He may bee found much humbled before the Lord with Ahab for many 1. Kin. 21. 27. 29. euils hee hath done and much commended before men with Herod for many good things hee hath done of Marke 6. 20. whom it is said that he heard Iohn gladly and that hee did many things after that he had heard him These also many seuerall gifts and graces which are very glorious to look vpon and faire in shew may concurre and meete together in one man and yet neuer a one of them right nor the man himselfe sound at the heart All these thus coupled thus compact and ioined together meeting in one person may seeme to carrie before them a faire resemblance of the comely feature of true sauing faith when yet it is but as a dead image which hauing all parts and lineaments of a well proportioned body wanteth the spirit and breath of life to animate the whole and agitate all the parts with liuely motion
to their idle and their single sold faith and they runne away counter with this in their minde and this in their mouth the iust shall liue by his faith as though they had now found out such a way to heauen as doe what they will in all their life time they can neuer come short of the place that they seeme so to hunt for But they and their faith are like to perish together and their assurance is as sure to trust to as is a reede or broken staffe which will be sure to leaue them in the ditch when they trusting vnto it most doe reckon and looke to leape ouer thereby True beleeuers who know of Gods loue and fauour towards them indeed and apprehend thâ—se euerlasting sweete mercies of God in Christ Iesus which haue eternall life and saluation accompanying them whereof they haue good assurance giuen them and wrought vp in their hearts by their so beleeuing their soules being now satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse which makes them praise God with ioyfull lips they doe not receiue this grace of God in vaine but because they finde such mercie from God they feare him the more with a child-like feare which makes them awfully to serue him and willingly to performe euery good dutie vnto him Yea the loue of God in Christ Iesus constraines them to doe their Psal 18. 1. dutie and to professe with Dauid that of force they must loue God Now are not his commandements grieuous vnto them but their delight is in the law of God which they haue learned Iob to preferre before their appointed food The more assurance they haue of Gods loue towards them whereby they know God to bee their God and haue boldnesse to crie abba father vnto him the more surely hath the Lord their hearts ioyned vnto him in true loue againe they being tyed fast with the cords of his owne loue wherewith first hee loued them which causeth them reciprocally to loue him backe againe And because he hath giuen them the Spirit of adoption whereby they know him to be their father the more may hee reckon vpon the naturalnes of their loue and child-like dutie vnto him because hee now knoweth them as being so made by him to be his owne true children indeed whom he hath made partakers of his owne diuine nature setting 2. Pet. 1. 4. his owne image vpon them and giuing them a heart and disposition to be like minded to himselfe to loue that he loueth and hate that hee hateth euen to loue righteousnesse as their life and hate all manner of wickednesse which God doth most hate He may now reckon vpon them as vpon his peculiar ones to haue seruice done at their hands though others will doe none that they will stirre when others sit still and though others doe grumble and snuffe when they are spoken vnto yet for them to be found willing chearefull and vnwearied in their well doing CHAP. XVI How easie it is to get a false perswasion but difficult to attaine sound assurance of saluation which is another difference betweene them THe assurance of an hypocrite is of no such excellencie but it is easie to come by and may bee as soone light vpon as euer it is looked after for it is as refuse stuffe that lieth in euery mans way not worth the taking vp No marueile then that they are so full of it for of such rubbish there be cart load fuls ro be had in euery ditch and throwne out vpon euery dunghill which hee that hath vnderstanding to discerne between things that differ would rather throw from him then euer take vp though it lay in his way A wise Christian will rather emptie his heart of such idle conceits as these set so great store by if any such he found there then so to fill himselfe as with emptinesse and winde that will put him more to paine then profit him any whit Such Christians as these they are no sooner borne but they are growne men the first so soone as euer they begin to make any profession of Christian religion they attaine to their perfection so fast as they make any beginning they by and by know as much as any can teach them as to loue God aboue all things and their neighbour as themselues This they reckon to be all that can be taught them there is no more to be learned they know al are to be saued only by faith in Christ Iesus what need they any more they are now sure of their saluation for euer they will neuer doubt after It may be said of the assurance that these men haue according to that which goeth in the prouerbe it is soone ripe and it will be as soone rotten it is brought foorth at once like Ionahs gourd they neuer laboured for it no more then hee did for his gourd for such weedes as these idle conceits and fond fancies wherewith such sort of Christians vse to flatter their owne hearts they wil grow fast enough of themselues but as it is easily come by so it is as easily lost againe it may grow in one night as did Ionah 4. 10. his gourd and perish in another and then it will be with them as it was with him they will fret more for the want of it then euer they ioyed in their first hauing of it The good assurance of Gods faithfull seruants is very True assurance hardly gotten hard to come by The assurance of faith like faith it selfe as it is most pretious so it is most rare and not common to be found In this particular the truth of that which runneth in another prouerbe that is common is much confirmed that daintie things are deare things and things of most excellencie will not be attained to without great difficultie Great is the cost many of Gods seruants haue been at and hard hath been the labour which they haue taken about this one point of their assurance they haue sweat much and taken sore paines hereabout night and day doe they seeke it yea daies and yeeres haue they bestowed vpon it in seeking after it and yet hardly can finde 〈◊〉 and with much difficultie can euer attaine vnto it the Lord seeing it meete so to haue them exercised so to deâ—erre them and so long to put them off before euer hee will giue them to haue their hearts desire herein For he knoweth such to be the worth and excellencie thereof as it will quit well the cost they haue been at and pay well for the trauaile and paines they haue taken for the comming by it when once they shall haue obtained it hee holds it therefore at so deare a price that knowing what it cost them before they could purchase it they may the better esteeme of it when they haue it The Lord seeth well enough that the things we easily come by wee vse as little care for and as lightly to set by Neither doth the Lord vse to giue this to be had
difference to be both betweene the knowledge of one that is vnsanctified and vnsound in the faith and of him that is a true beleeuer whose heart is purified by sound and sauing faithâ— indeed and in like sort betweene the manner of their apprehending and laying hold of Christ for saluation As also no lesse difference to bee betweene the assurance and perswasion that either of them doe ground themselues vpon for the obtaining of life and saluation in Christ by meanes of such their laying hold vpon him Proceed now to declare what you thinke concerning such difference as may be found betweene the ioy that followeth heereupon and maketh glad the hearts of either of them once truly hauing or supposing themselues to haue good and warrantable assurance of their saluation A. Ioy and gladnesse which is an affection of the Difference in ioy heart that is deriued and springeth out of the loue and liking of a present good or out of an assured hope and expectation of some good that is to come wherby the heart is dilated and set out and the spirits therein stirred to liuelinesse and cheerfulnesse cannot but according to the measure of the apprehending of such a ioyfull obiect as promiseth all good contentment and pleasure to be found therein be more or lesse felt in the heart and follow abundantly when there is a full assurance an abundant and confident perswasion of obtaining so great a good as is indeed the greatest good of all that can be wished or hoped for or possibly may be looked for by any to be enioyed which is the euerlasting good of soule and body for euer whereby they doe not onely know they shall bee deliuered from the wrath that is to come but be made partakers of that glorious inheritance which is prepared for the Saints in light and that for the present their state is so comfortable and they so highly in Gods fauour at least in their owne consciences perswaded as of the children of wrath power is now giuen them to become the sonnes of God yea heires and heires apparant of life and glory with Christ Iesus This cannot but raise vp in their hearts great and abundant ioy yea ioy that is vnutterable and vnspeakable such as will make their hearts to dance in their bellies for ioy and merrines in the good liking they haue of this their so blisse-full an estate and most happie condition that both presently they now stand in and yet hereafter farre more fully doe looke for to enioy Now both these hauing such a perswasion they likewise haue and doe feele ioy in their hearts following therupon And the ioy is answering to the kind of assurance and perswasion that is had of so comfortable an estate and condition that doth cause the same And for so much as it hath been sufficiently cleared and made manifestly to appeare that there is as great odds and difference betweene the assurance of a true beleeuer and of a true beleeuers counterfeit as is betweene the boldnesse of faith and the blindnesse of folly betweene humble obedience in beleeuing what God doth promise and proud presumption in promising to themselues without any word or warrant from God what themselues alone doe fancie the causes being so differing and found to bee so farre at odds betweene themselues the effects rising from such causes must needs be seuered as farre asunder and differ as much the one from the other The deceiueable and vnwarrantable assurance of misbeleeuers False ioy fades cannot produce any better effect then a carnall lying a false and a fading ioy that is not to be trusted vnto but will vanish away and not be found nor felt in times of the greatest need when their beguiled hearts shall then most of all be left void of all sound comfort and contentment when trouble shall be hard at hand the greatest light of their ioyes is soone ecclipsed and ouercast with any sad remembrances and but the very heare-say of any trouble or danger towards them is able to dash all their mirth at once yea to strike them so as was Nabal strooken when his hart died within him and he became 1. Sam. 25. 37. as a stone Their smiles are but faint and heartlesse they may sometimes counterfeit a laughing gesture when yet the heart within taketh no such pleasure as they do make shew for they be but false and durelesse pleasures they vse to make themselues merry with in the middest wherof though they doe what they can yet their hearts for all that will be felt to be in heauinesse they may be full iocund and all on the hoigh for a time and yet by and by the case as much altered with them as euer it was with Belshazzer when he saw the hand-writing against him Dan. 5. 6. 30. what time hee was most merry in his cups and carowsings drinking in that wine which the swords of his enemies did soone draw out of his body againe for euen that night he was slaine then will their merrie Comedies bee turned into sad and heauy Tragedies their pleasantnesse into pensiuenesse their mirth into wofull mourning and they desperately sorrowing as those that haue out-liued all their ioyes they being for euer left in distresse and heauinesse when all ioy and gladnesse shall flie farre away Contrarily the stable firme and good assurance of the True ioy lasting other will beget breed and bring forth a sure solid spirituall and true lasting ioy which with a sweete and heauenly motion vâ—ill cause their hearts to reioyce in Christ Iesus as in their chiefest good and present good The nature of this ioy is to enlarge and exhilarate the heart and so much to affect him that hath it as it will cause him to exult and leape with reioycing This is not a halfe ioy a giggling from the teeth outward but a thorow and full ioy that affecteth soule and body spirit and flesh to make Psal 84. 2. Iob 35. 10. all reioyce together such ioy as will giue songs to a man in the night season euen such songs to God his people as in the night when a solemne feast is kept and such gladnesse of Psal 77. 6. Psal 30. 29. heart as when one goeth with a pipe as the Prophet speaketh Euen such ioy as is not only unspeakable to them that haue it and doe feele it but it is incredible to them that haue it not and doe but heare of it as who by their owne experience did neuer come yet to taste of the like Many thinke that good Christians are depriued of all comforts they haue no ioy nor gladnesse they know not what a merry life meanes they thinke for any to doe as they do is to liue but a mopish and melancholy life there is no cheare in their course But Gods seruants are allowed to haue their delights in this world to haue ioy and gladnesse of heart in this life as well as any others nay aboue and
before others they may haue more fuller contentment more solide ioy more sweeter delight more stable and sure comfort then any in the world beside not the merriest Greekes and lustiest galllants in the World beside that powre out themselues to the satisfying of their pleasures and bathe themselues in all manner of carnall delightes that take so much care for the flesh to fulfill the lustes thereof can come neare them for a true comfortable life indeede all the pleasures that they haue being but counterfeite shaddowes in comparison of the soundnesse and substance of the ioyes that these haue theirs are but bastardly false pleasures that will end in sorrowes these are true ioyes indeed that will neuer haue an end The sweete musicke of the Temple was typicall figuring the ioy of the Church where is assurance of forgiuenesse of sinnes and of Gods fauour in Christ Iesus how sweete is the musicke and heauenly melodie that the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding maketh in that conscience wherein it is so felt how great is that ioy that cannot be contained and kept within the heart that hath it but must needs breake out and bee expressed by singing for very ioy of heart It is Isai 65. 14. Psal 25. 13. Prou. 15. 15. said that the soule of him that feareth the Lord shall dwell at ease and he that hath a good conscience hath a continuall feast Put these two together and let them meete in a good Christian and tell mee whose state is so happie as is the state of a righteous man easie dwelling and merry-making what would any desire more if things bee rightly compared together the Friday as we vse to speake of a good Christian is better then the Sunday of a worldling And though the wicked haue their bellies in this world filled with his hid treasure yet the very scrapings of the Psal 17. 14. trenchers of Gods seruants are better then all the dainties that the wicked haue when their fare is all the best For that is true which is said by one if Christians be not merrie it is not because they are Christians but because they are not Christians enough and if Gods seruants haue not comfort and ioy of heart it is not because they serue God but because they serue him not as they might and as they ought Vnto them therefore who cannot conceiue how this possibly can be it may be said as Cyprian out of his owne experience did write vnto a certaine friend of his of Lib. â—p 1. this matter concerning himself who before his conuersion thought it impossible if he should change his manners to find such comfort in a vertuous life as afterwards hee felt saith thus to him in his writing accipe quod sentitur antequam discitur heare the report of that which is sooner knowne by feeling it to be so then learned by any teaching that it is so for he by his owne experience now felt and found that to be which before he so felt it he would not haue beleeued whosoeuer should haue told it him that it euer would haue so been As then the sense of Gods loue is the surest ground of our stable peace and the mainest prop of our greatest assurance so the same assurance so long as it can be felt causeth the heart that so feeleth it to reioyce with such a ioy as Peter saith to be vnspeakable as passing 1. Pet. 1. 8. all speech and vttering and glorious in regard that it is diuine spirituall solide and continuall which bringeth no shame with it that it may so bee differenced from the shamefull reioycings which many wicked in the world are found often to haue and to vse called glorious or ioy Rom. 14. 17. full of glory because it is part of the kingdome of heauen and the beginning of that glory that is to come To the getting of which ioy our Sauiour Christ exhorteth and inciteth his disciples when he recalling them from reioycing too much in other things though otherwise very great and excellent preferments bestowed vpon them and gifts giuen vnto them such as was the hauing of the very diuels themselues to be subdued vnto them which one would thinke might minister cause of much reioycing vnto any yet because that alone is not a ground sufficient for any to stay vpon that would haue a stable and sure lasting comfort neither can there bee found enough therein for the soule to rest vpon that desireth euery way to bee satisfied and the ioy thereof to be made full he willeth them to fetch their chiefest comfort and take their greatest ioy and reioicing from the knowledge of this that their names Luke 10. 20. were written in the booke of life this allowed them to reioyce in as that which hee knew was able to make their ioy euery way to be full This ioy of a true beleeuer that can thus know his name to bee written in the booke of life and thereupon feeleth his heart filled with much comfortable assurance and perswasion of his present most happy condition as being well assured of his now standing in God his fauor and so in the state of saluation for euer It doth goe farre beyond all the ioy that any hypocrite or misbeleeuer in the whole world of what sort so euer he be can euer haue or possibly attaine vnto when he hath done what he can And it exceedeth their ioy in all the sundry dimensions if after that sort these seuerall ioyes should be considered and compared together namely in height in depth in bredth in length in all which seuerall respects the ioy of an hypocrite commeth not neare the ioy of a true beleeuer but is in many degrees cast behind the same and these ioyes by a great distance are kept asunder and farre remoued the one from the other CHAP. XIX Hypocrites differ from sound beleeuers in all the dimensions of ioy whereof the first is the height both from whence it commeth and to which it reacheth to FIrst for height and altitude the ioy of an Hypocrites ioy is from himselfe hypocrite is neither fetched so high as is the ioy of a true beleeuer and as doth the ioy of one whose heart is sanctified and purified by his faith his ioy hath no higher descent then to comefrom himselfe and to be fetched out of the idle fancies and false conceites of his owne seducing and seduced heart which the deceiuer of the world together with the deceit that is in it selfe hath so much abused and beguiled as to bring it into such a fooles paradice as now to thinke no mans estate to be better then his owne and that therefore none may bee merrier then hee may be nor any haue better or greater ioy then he may haue so that this his ioy being but home-bred is no better then a carnall ioy and a fruite of the flesh And as it is fetched no higher then from himselfe so doth it reach no higher
hold him abiding in vs as the earnest Ephes 1. 14. of our purchased and promised inheritance and as a pawne and gage left with vs in our hand neuer to be taken away till we come to haue the full bargaine It is he that is the Spirit of adoption that imboldens vs to crie Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. 16. and makes vs to know God to be our Father testifying to our spirits as a most true and faithfull witnesse that we are his children So that all the sound comfort which at any time we haue wee may well father it vpon him and this ioy of our saluation may truly be said to be the ioy of the holy Ghost and not our owne And a the ioy of a true beleeuer surmounteth in height the others ioy in respect that it is more highly descended as that which commeth from aboue and is giuen him of God and wrought in his heart by his spirit the others ioy hauing no higher descent then to be descended of himselfe hee heing the father of his owne ioy which being but a bastardly ioy it is all the while but a bastard of his owne breeding so in this respect also that it reacheth higher then the others doe which resteth but in himselfe as from himselfe it tooke the first beginning but this reacheth vnto God that first gaue it and first instilled it True ioy reacheth to God into the heart that is so replenished with it and therefore in right it ought to returne from whence it came neither can it euer find any full contentment or satisfaction elsewhere till it bee got to him as being the truest and most perfectest obiect it can possibly finde euer to respect and to seate and settle it selfe vpon but when the ioy of a true beleeuer is extended vnto God and is once fastned vpon the happy fruition of him there hath it all satisfying and full contentment indeed there findeth he enough to make his ioy full yea more then heart can thinke or euer wish to haue may there be found and abundantly to bee had for in the presence of God thtre is fulnesse of ioy to be had and Psal 16. 11. that for euermore A true beleeuer hath indeed great ioy in the assurance he hath of his owne saluation howbeit not so great ioy in his saluation as in his Sauiour himselfe that hath saued him that he now knoweth God to be his God that God himselfe is for him and that God is with Rom. 8. 31. him for so he need not care who possibly can be against him and that he knoweth Christ himselfe to bee his Sauiour that hath loued him and giuen himselfe for him apprehending Gal. 2. â—0 him assuredly to be his owne for now hee knoweth he hath not onely saluation as a streame flowing out of him but in hauing the Sauiour himselfe he hath so the whole fountaine of saluation it selfe to be his owne And therefore a true beleeuer if hee should expresse his ioy in singing he would sing the song of Marie the blessed Virgine My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit Luk. 1. 47. reioyceth not so much in my saluation as in God that is my Sauiour for though other things may cause ioy to Gods seruants yet God himselfe is their exceeding ioy and Psal 43. 4. the gladnesse of their ioy as the Psalmist speaketh And doubtlesse if God and our selues his glory and our saluation could not both be respected and regarded together but the one must be forsaken that the other may bee followed and the one left yea hated that the other may bee loued a good Christian and faithfull seruant of God would according to the precept of Christ labour to deny Luk. 9. 23. 14. 26. himselfe yea to hate father mother and his owne life to to follow Christ or else he were not worthy to be his disciple and according to the practice of Moses and Paul shew the naturalnes Exod. 32. 32. Rom. 9. 3. of their loue how mucb they stand affectioned to God and to his glory in so much as in respect of the pretious and high account they haue God and his glory in they would not sticke to set behind and vnder-valew the regard of themselues and their owne saluation more desiring that God should bee glorified then their owne selues saued If a true beleeuer can find his name to bee written in the booke of life and that the lot is fallen vnto him as that hee shall now share with the rest in that inheritance which is prepared for the Saintes in light hee worthily may and indeede ought to reioyce therein for so doth our Sauiour will his Disciples to reioyce in this that they knew their names to be written in the booke of life and hee may vpon good cause sing with Dauid The lines are fallen to me in a faire place I haue a goodly inheritance But all this cannot giue him the like contentment nor make his ioy so full as when hee knoweth that the Lord himselfe is become his portion for God being our God and Christ our Sauiour in hauing him to be ours all is ours and giuen vs with him And this was that which Dauid seemed most of all to take his greatest pleasure and chiefest delight in by his often repeating of this that the Lord himselfe was his saluation and become his ioynter and happie portion and though the lot did otherwise fall out wel and happily for him yet he acknowledgeth that it was God who maintained that lot and caused Psal 16. 5. it to fall out so as it did that be might shew if the lot was to be loued and liked of by him how much more he that caused it who ordered that lot and maintained it in that sort as he might haue it and enioy it was aboue all to be loued and liked for it teaching all good Christians by his example and practice that if they doe greatly account of their saluation and ioy much therein that they doe farre more highly account of God himselfe that is the God of their saluation and hath freely bestowed it vpon them that hee may haue the loue and ioy of their hearts principally and aboue all things else to bee most delighted in Dauid had many preferments in earth hee had good euidence also to looke for something in heauen as well as another his owne heart did often affoord him much comfort when he desired but to haue those ioyes againe restored vnto him that he was wont to finde and yet there was nothing in heauen nor nothing in earth that he desired to haue besides the Lord and in comparison of him yea hee esteemed more of hauing the Lord for his portion then of all the comfort his heart could affoord him for his flesh did often faile him and his heart would also faile him much but God failed him neuer but became Psal 73. 25. 26. the strength of his heart when
furthest from him The one therefore findeth comfort and the other hath none They differ also in that which causeth the sorrow of the one and of the other and in that which is caused by either That which causeth the sorrow and repentance of hypocrites is more vsually plagues and punishments either inflicted and felt or threatned and feared when they are imminent and hang ouer their heads their hearts resemble flint stones which will cast no sparkles vnlesse they be strooke Rarely will it be found that any of them are brought to bee humbled by the sole ministery of the Word or if by that rather by the denouncing of iudgements and by the threatnings and thundrings of the Law then by the sweet and amiable voice and sound of the Gospell whereout the promises of life and offers of grace are made vnto vs. Foelix trembled when Paul preached of temperance and righteousnesse and iudgement to come but Festus mocked when hee heard him preach Christ and begin to open the secrets and mysteries of the Gospell in his hearing then hee cried out against him that he was beside himselfe and that too much learning had made him mad They be not for the most part words but blowes and stroakes and those well laid on too by the powerfull hand of a reuenging and irefull Iudge that will serue to maule and breake downe the stoutnesse and stubbornesse of the hearts of proud hypocrites though so well able is the Lord to smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and to slay the wicked with the breath of his lippes as hee can make his word quicke and powerfull and forcible enough to pierce deepe and cut sharper then a two edged sword and out of that quiuer can draw out such arrowes to shoot into the sides of all hypocrites as shall be sharpe enough to pierce and to split the hearts of all the Kings enemies and be able to draw blood out of their sides and to fetch sighes out of their hearts yea to make them for the time to roare out of their throats for horrour and feare bee they neuer so secure though in the end they become little the better for it The Lord can make the threatnings of his iudgements out of his word denounced come bleake to the hearts of offenders which shall send a terrible shaking through all their bones and become as thunder strokes doubled that are able to daunt the stoutest stomack that is the Lord can make the terrour of the Law and the thundring out of the threatnings thereof to flash as the lightening in euery conscience that hath guiltinesse in it and to be as fier to make their hearts to melt though otherwise as hard as brasse Thus either by the mighty strokes of Gods reuenging hand inflicting iudgements plagues and punishments or by the terrour of the Law that doth nothing but thunder out threatnings of vengeance doe the hearts of most secure hypocrites many times come to bee daunted yea in a manner strucken dead with horrour and feare and trembling for the time And these are the things that breed and bring out the repentance that they haue and causeth all their sorrow to be such as it is On the other side the true and godly sorrow the sound and vnfained repentance the best conuersion of true beleeuers that is freest from suspition of being counterfeit is that which is caused by the ministery of the Word and by the powerfull working thereof vpon the conscience which is as a hammer to breake the stonie hardnesse of the heart that it may goe all to dust and powder and is as fier with the heate thereof to melt the heart though it were neuer so hard frozen in the dregges of sinne before as shall cause such a thaw to bee in that heart and to abound of weeping mourning and shedding teares for sinnes committed as if the very springs of sorrow were all opened and loosened that might cause whole streames The teares and waters of repentance are as that red sea wherein the whole armie of our sins which are our most dangerous enemies that do pursue vs are deeply drowned and brookes of teares to run downe and flow from the eyes of him that is truly penitent sufficient to lay in soak the very heart it selfe in that abundance of teares yea to cleanse both heart and life and wash away all filth of sin that euer before haue been committed When such a worke is wrought vpon a mans heart by the ministerie of the word and the conscience feeling it selfe wounded and strucken at the hearing thereof shall find no rest till it hath eased it selfe by abundant weeping sorrowing and mourning that God should euer be so offended by him and vntill direction bee giuen him what better course is now to bee taken crying out with those true conuerts and penitent persons in the Acts Men and brethren what shall we doe that we may be saued When the word doth thus worke vpon any without any other inforcement of outward crosse or affliction that else doe happen it is an excellent good signe and one of the best euidences that can bee brought out of the truth of that sorrow that hath been bred thereby and of the soundnesse of that repentance that hath followed thereof I denie not but that by crosses and afflictions the Lord doth oftentimes recouer and fetch home his stray-seruants and reclaime them out of their sinnes The Lord hath many meanes and hee can make all or any of them effectuall to doe good to those that are his he sometimes awakeneth his seruants by the sound of his word knocking at the doore of their hearts sometimes Act. 2. 37. 2. Sam. 12. 1. 7. 13. Neh. 9. 30. Gen. 6. 3. by his Spirit wherewith he striueth within vs somtimes by striking and whipping our naked consciences leauing them dismayed with feare and dread and hiding the light of his countenance from vs so as wee feele not the ioy we were wont to haue sometimes by corrections and punishments 2. Sam. 24. 10. Psal 38. 2. 3. 8. Iob 33. 16. 17. Ionah 1. 17. and 2. 1. 2. on our bodies for our sinnes opening our eares by them and sealing our instruction that so he may keepe back our soules from the pit and our liues from perishing the Lord making this the fruit of all the affliction he sendeth to his children euen the taking away of their sinne For Isa 27. 9. which cause it is that the heauenly iustice and fatherly care of God is often shewing vs his rods sometimes shaking them at vs sometimes striking them vpon vs to make vs awake and leape out of this miserable filthy and dirty puddle of our sinfull life If then the Lord bee faine to lay on bodily crosses vpon vs the better thereby to breake our hearts they being blessed of God may well be made auailable this way to doe vs good But it is not so free from suspition it is better to
been able to endure these things but their zeale about them hath euen consumed them as Dauid professed that his zeale had euen consumed Psal 119. 139. 136. him because his enemies did forget Gods word A true conuert then that is thorowly penitent for his sinnes whose soule melteth within him and as it were droppeth away Psal 119. 28. with heauinesse for his sinne where he thinketh how God hath been dishonoured by him what euill he hath done by the sinne he hath fallen into How doe his eyes gush out with riuers of teares when he considereth of these things his zeale compelleth him so to doe hee can doe no otherwise And as he is thus troubled about his owne sinne such is his zealous hating of sinne wheresoeuer hee findes it committed and done as his soule within him is vexed and tormented as was Lots from day to day in seeing and hearing mens outrage in wickednesse and all the abominable and filthy words and deeds of vngodly men on the other side how is the heart of such a one inflamed with the loue and zeale of the glory of God what a burning desire hath he that as God hath been dishonoured by him through his falling into sinne so hee might now bring some glory to his name by his rising againe from the same and by doing of things worthy of amendment of life labouring to keepe the commandements of God with zeale as hot as fier what an earnest care hath he ouer the good of his brethren lest any of them should be hurt by his example in sinning how ready is he found to be in his true zeale to God and loue to so many as he that way hath wronged to make them the best mends he is able and to giue them any satisfaction he stands not vpon his credit among men how that may be hindred neither cares hee for worldly shame so hee may be sure God may be honoured and well pleased by him He hath burning in his breast such a fier of ardent zeale as soone will consume all such trashie counsell if any such should be giuen so to let and hinder him and bring it so to nothing that as nothing it would be esteemed by him The seuenth and last grace mentioned by the Apostle which godly sorrow causeth in the heart of him that is truly penitent for his sinne is reuenge All the other things being done it doth not yet content a true penitent person he will not forgiue himselfe though God should forgiue him he would not spare his sin himselfe though God should spare him for it and neuer at all be found to smite him The reason why he is thus implacable and vnappeasable towards his sinne is for that he knoweth hee hath not the like enemie in all the world beside no not excepting the very diuell of hell himselfe with all his malicious working that possibly could doe him the like hurt and mischiefe as his sinne alone either hath or might haue done which so long as it is spared by vs and no execution seene to be done vpon it that sinne is all the while in hand with doing that against vs as may become our vtter vndoing for enough is done by it so long as it is contained and maintained as may cast vs out of Gods fauour for altogether and cause the Lord to take no more delight nor pleasure in vs but to hide his countenance and to withdraw the loue of his heart and his fauour from vs yea to incense his anger and cause the fier of his wrath to flame out vpon vs enough is done by it to set Gods Angels and men against vs yea the diuels of hell also and all other the creatures with them to become ministers of God his vengeance to doe execution vpon vs because we haue not done execution vpon our sinnes that they might not haue stirred vp such displeasure and wrath against vs. What child would not be reuenged of such a mischieuous and spitefull enemie as is neuer ceasing to set his father against him so as hee can haue no countenance at his fathers hands when he commeth before him but is the cause why the father looketh with a most irefull countenance vpon his sonne and is euer frowning and bending his brow vpon him in such sort as is intollerable and cannot be abidden yea is euer vpon the point of disclaiming him to bee his sonne and so for altogether to dis-inherit him All which is done by sinne against euery party offending Who could euer endure the mischieuous working of such a spitefull enemie and malitious make-bate as will be sure to worke a mans vnquiet at home and see that hee shall haue no long peace nor rest abroad but is euer running to the Iustice often to the Councell to haue him vp to the Starre-chamber yea preferring to the King himselfe many and grieuous complaints against him for which warrants are still out for him to fetch him coram that he can neuer rest nor abide in quiet by him if such an enemie could be knowne would not a man bee prouoked rather to die vpon him then not to bee reuenged on him to the full But such a despitefull enemie haue we of sinne which setteth all that it can against vs it being the greatest make-bate that is in all the world putting vs to more trouble then doe all the enemies we haue beside It is the onely cause wee can haue no peace nor rest in our consciences at home because it euer leaues there a sting of guiltinesse behind it which neuer ceaseth to torment vs. It breedes vs al the trouble the molestation and the griefe which we at any time doe meet withall abroad that is euer crying in the eares of the Lord against vs the cries thereof still going vp to heauen Whence it commeth that wrath oftentimes goes out from God and then whole armies of sorrowfull troubles afflictions crosses losses sicknesses paines diseases and death it selfe are sent out against vs and come vpon vs as ministers of his vengeance to execute such iustice as is meet for such offenders Will any one then maruell that a true penitent person that hath been much humbled and whose soule hath thorowly smarted for his sinne should carry such an vnappeasable hatred against it and be at such deadly fewd therewith as nothing can turne nor stay him from taking vengeance to the full vpon the same seeing by reuenging his sinne himselfe he knoweth he shall spare God a labour who 1. Cor. 11. 31. then will bee reuenged thereof no more Therefore is it that you shall see true penitent persons take the whip and rod into their owne hands and whip their sinnes starke naked not after a Popish fashion with opinion of meriting for the same but after a child-like fashion that mourneth before his father whom he hath wronged and wounded when hee knew not what hee did as one that was for a time beside himselfe and looking vpon him whom he
thing as it were not easie to be discerned which were found to be formost or forwardest therein all things diligently working together one thing as well as another to worke good to them that doe truly loue God as if they had all their power and all their willingnes bent only vpon this to doe that man good but had no power nor any manner of inclination at all to doe him the least hurt in any respect at all as the Apostle speaking how hee stood affected to stand for the truth 2. Cor. 13. 8. and for the maintenance thereof said hee could doe nothing against the truth but that all he could doe was for the very truth alone Let this be apprehended and beleeued by such a man and then tell me if you can finde in all the world throughout a more ioyfull creature a more happier or a merrier man then is a true beleeuing Christian who standeth thus confident and comfortable in his perswasion that blow where the winde blow will it shall euer blow good to him This may to very good purpose in this behalfe be instanced in those things which were lastly mentioned and spoke of before namely the many troubles that may befall a good man during his life time which are things that the most make no small doubt of how possibly this can be true in them let vs therefore grant that changes and armies of sorrowes may come vpon such a man as Iob complaineth Iob. 10. 17. they came vpon him and let them come as fast one in the necke of another as did the messengers who came to bring Iob all the ill newes of the sundrie and many euils that were at once befallen vnto him one hauing no sooner Iob. 1. 16. ended the telling of such heauie newes as he came to bring but another at hand to tell one as bad after him yea for haste beginning his tale while the other was yet a speaking such a multitude of troubles comming so by heapes and rushing all at once so suddenly vpon a man may for the present not a little astonish and amaze a right good and sound Christian though otherwise neuer so well setled and knowne to bee a most constant and a most resolute man and may for the time as much disquiet and affright him as one would be much troubled yea in a manner wholly ouerwhelmed with dreadfull feare who trauelling alone in the twilight or in the darknesse of the night ouer New-market heath Gads hill or Salisbury plaine of in the most theeuish and dangerous places where the borderers were wont to make their greatest Inroads to rob and steale and carry all away before them that possibly they could set hand vpō should there of the sudden be ouertaken with a troope of horsemen that hauing followed after him should all at once come rushing in vpon him now in that case who would merueile if such a man were found to be much dismaied at that time and to tremble and shake with feare in euery ioynt of him for hee might well thinke being thus fallen into their hands at that time of the night and in such theeuish places too besides the losing of all that he had about him he were like neuer to die any other death but if in the meane time contrary to his expectation and beyond all that he feared these should be found and proued to be his good friends all that intended no manner of hurt vnto him but come in a meaning to comfort him and to doe him all the good that they can if his father or dearest friend hee hath hauing care for his welfare and knowing the dangerousnesse of the way that hee were gone should of purpose haue sent all this companie in haste to ride post after him that they might be a safe conuoy vnto him till they might see him set past all danger and safely gotten to the place whereunto hee were trauelling and if by reason of their comming thus suddenly vpon him they finding him to bee thus strucken with feare and trembling should for the better staying of him comforting and chearing of his heart againe all of them begin at once to tell him they meant him no manner of hurt but were all his friends who were come to doe him what good they could if one after another should begin to speake vnto him after some such manner as this I see you are much disquieted and dismaied by our hastie and vnlooked for manner of comming vnto you at this time but stay your selfe and feare you nothing you shall receiue no manner of harme by our comming we are al sent from your louing father who hath a speciall care of your welfare and would that no euill might come vnto you to the end that we might be with you beare you companie and see to you in this time of your neede that nothing might hurt you and as for my part I protest and sweare vnto you by a solemne oath that as I will do you no hurt so will I doe you all the good I can to stand betweene you and all your harmes for therefore am I sent and in token thereof for your better satisfaction and securitie loe here I doe vnarme my selfe and deliuer into your hands all my weapons that so you shall not need to feare any thing And while he were yet a speaking another should begin and say as much for himselfe and the third likewise and so all the rest till euery one had spoken vnto him after the same fashion All this being done wee may well thinke the case would be much altered from that it was with this man and a great change would be found in him now would he begin to reuiue and to be cheared againe that heart of his which was so much ouercome with inward heauinesse and skarred with feares and frights of the perils and dangers that were iminent before being now made glad for it selfe and all the fellow members beside would euen dance for ioy of this happie change of things and those chearfull spirits which before were retired into the heart as into the chiefe center of nature and had been there locked vp for a time with feare and affrightnes of that which was expected would breake foorth and issue out all againe vpon this occasion to giue a chearefull welcome and comfortable gratulation of that wherein they could not but take singular contentment and much pleasure and delight in yea so would this sudden and rare ioy occacasioned by this vnlooked for and vnexpected change rauish his conceit and astonish his heart as all would bee turned into nothing but much wonder and admiration then would he after a little recouering of himselfe out of that amazednesse and astonishment wherewith Nature it selfe before seemed to be benummed and after a sort dazeled bee ready to exult and leape for ioy euen clap his hands for gladnesse and sing for very ioy of heart then would he perceiue what loue his Father did
beare him and what care he had of him wondring at such a kindnes as herein should be shewed vnto him His feare and trembling did not so much distract him before as boldnesse and assurance would settle him in peace and put courage and comfort into his heart now Hee would see that his feare was causelesse he being now in better case then hee was before for as there was not an enemie neare him to doe him any harme so they were all his vndoubted friends that were about him that were ready to stand him in the best stead they could and to doe him the best good they were able and should see that hee were in the midst of most sure and vndoubted friends whom before in his great feare he doubted to haue been most dangerous and The world a tedious wildernes Gods seruants walking therein hardly find any place where to refresh their wearied members Afflictions like gnats and flies importune them that they can haue no rest therein deadly enemies vnto him that would haue wrought his destruction Much after this manner it is with Gods poore seruants in the sore trauell of this life which they doe indure and wearisome pilgrimage they are to passe ouer through this most vncomfortable and vast roaring wildernesse of this troublesome world which needes must be gone through before euer they can be brought to that heauenly Canaan that is aboue innumerable are the dangers which they lye open vnto and the hazzards are more then can bee shewed that they may light vpon If any desire to haue some particulars named especially by one that hath had the triall of them in himselfe there is none can bring in a better reckoning from his owne experience nor speake more fully of this thing then that most blessed Apostle Paul himselfe hath already done in that rehearsall he hath made writing to the Corinthians of the sundry and manifold afflictions and tribulations that had befallen him after his conuersion who comparing himselfe with the other false Apostles saith that he was in labours more abundant 2. Cor. 11. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. in stripes aboue measure in prison more plenteously in death often of the Iewes siue times he receiued fortie stripes saue one hee was thrice beaten with rods hee was stoned hee suffered thrice shipwracke night and day he was in the deepe sea in iourneying he was often in perils of water in perils of robbers in perils of his owne Nation in perils among the Gentiles in perils in the Citie in perils in the wildernesse in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in wearinesse and painefulnesse in watchings often in cold and nakednesse besides other daily incumbrances which he there doth speak on These and the like things thus incident to Gods best seruants makes them in their passage through this Psal 84. 6. Psal 23. 4. world to goe as through a valley of teares and brings them sometimes to walke as in the valley of the shaddow of death where nothing can be looked for but vtter miscarrying so great are the distresses of Gods children in this life their troubles so many and those so dangerous too sometimes as they are euen brought with the Apostle 2. Cor. 1. 8. 9. to receiue in themselues the very sentence of death as thinking they shall neuer be able to shift with them nor escape with life but crie out with the Psalmist This will be Psal 77. 10. my vndoing or my death The endlesse pursuit of Dauid by Saul who hunted him as a Patridge in the mountaine and persecuted him as a Flea made Dauid at the length to grow heartlesse to faint and to quaile so much as he was neare giuing ouer his hope and to say in his great weakenesse and much feare and doubt that he was in One day or other I shall surely fall into his hands Yea Gods seruants are sometimes so beset so inuironed and compassed about with innumerable troubles and most dangerous on euerie side as they are brought to the like passe as Dauid was brought vnto when he cried out that his heart was pained Psal 55. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. within him and the terrors of death were fallen vpon him fearefulnesse and trembling doe then come vpon them and a horrible feare doth ouerwhelme them then are they ready to crie out and say with him Oh that I had wings like a Doue then would I flee away and be at rest behold I would take my flight farre off and lodge in the wildernesse I would hasten my escape from the windie storme and tempest So neare are they sometimes brought to the very iawes of death that after a sort it euen breatheth vpon them and they in as great straits and brought to as soare exigents and as narrow pinches as were the poore Israelites who departing out of Egypt to find better liberty in another land vnto which God promised to bring them before euer they could get themselues clearely gone and rid away out of the Egyptian Countrie had such a farewell giuen them when they were euen vpon the point of parting out of that land as brought then greater distresse and more feare vpon them then euer they were in before and caused them to haue lesse hope of their liues then when they were in Egypt vnder the soarest bondage and pressed with the heauiest burdens which Pharaoh with all his crueltie had willed to be imposed vpon them For marching as with a double pace from Etham towards the valley of Pihahiroth they were forced to sit downe as not seeing how they could goe any further betweene two ledges of Mountaines adioyning to the red sea and so being come to the brinke and wash of the sea the Egyptians getting sight of them and they of the Egyptians then was the time of Iacobs trouble and the greatest pinch Ier. 30. 7. of their hardest trouble for the sea was now before them the Mountaines on either side of them and their fierce and furious enemies at their backs pursuing of thē so as there was no hope left of euer escaping for though they did all they could to flee before the Egyptians yet death seemed to come running after them in Pharaohs chariots this made them to murmure against Moses and to crie out for feare because of the present danger According as it is vsuall with Gods seruants when they are in soare Psal 40. 11. 12. affliction and in heauy distresse then doe their hearts begin to faint within them and their hope to quaile hobeit if they would but hold their peace a while and labour to throw out that feare that hath such painefulnesse in it 1. Iohn 4. 18. possessing their soules with patience if they would but stand still as Moses willed the Israelites to doe and behold Exod. 14. 13. 14 the saluation of the Lord waiting for the happy issue that the Lord would make for them out of all their greatest distresse then should