thee and therfore feare not be not any whit dismayed hold out vnto the end and trust in the Lord for euermore Hence we learne that as many as desire to be truly happy blessed may here behold the way to bee happy blessed Wouldst thou be truely happy and blessed here in this life and hereafter in the life to come Wouldst be assured that thou art the child of God in his fauour reconciled vnto him in Iesus Christ Wouldst thou be assured of saluation of thy soule Oh labour then to become a godly and a religious man repent of thy sinnes past amend thy life walke before God in new obedience labour to keepe Faith and a good Conscience hate euery euill way cleaue vnto the Lord delight in his Word let it be the ioy of thine heart then certainly thou shalt be blessed and happy for euermore To conclude if the godly man and hee that trusts in the Lord be blessed then the wicked man must of necessitie be cursed if the estate of the righteous and religious man be so comfortable and blessed then the estate of the wicked and vngodly must needes be miserable and cursed According to that of Moses vnto the Israelites Deu. 28.15 If thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God as indeede Obedience is farre from a wicked man howsoeuer hee may come with Sauls painted Sacrifice what followes Thou shalt be cursed in Body and cursed in Soule Psal 119.21 c. Againe Thou hast destroyed the proud and cursed are they that erre from thy Commandements Verse 2. The Hills stand about Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord about his people from this time forth for euermore WHere many hundred thousands of men are there are scarcely seuen thousand which know God or beleeue in God and yet for their sakes the whole multitude is called Gods people euen so was it in Ierusalem albeit the greater part was wicked and godlesse yet was Ierusalem called Holy not onely in respect of a small number of the godly but also because God had his abiding there So when there was not one iust person in Sodome but Lot Gen. 19.22 with his two Daughters yet could not the Angell destroy Sodome with Fire so long as Lot was in it Likewise where foure or fiue or tenne godly persons are to bee found for their sakes the whole Cittie is called Holy For these are the Elect Corner Stones these are the precious Pearles which GOD so highly esteemeth and for those sakes hee spareth the wicked Therefore sayth Dauid As Ierusalem is compassed about with Mountaines so doth the Lord compasse his people and mightily defend them on euery side In like manner Zacharie prophecyeth of a Citie whose Wall is of Fire These similitudes doe set forth vnto vs the safetie of Gods people that weake and little poore Flocke against all Dangers vpon this promise if wee also doe rest which at this day doe enioy the inestimable benefit of Gods Word wee shall be defended against the rage of Sathan and the whole World These things albeit we cannot comprehend yet should wee beleeue them so certainely as if wee did see them with our bodily eyes If wee should see our selues compassed about with brazen Walls wee should be without all feare and triumph against Sathan but it is a matter of Faith not to trust vnto that which the eyes see but which the Word offereth and promiseth This one thing therefore is lacking in vs that wee haue not the eyes of the Spirit but wee iudge according to the eyes and sence of the Flesh We must not doubt therefore but if we beleeue we are compassed about with fierie and brazen Mountaines that is to say wee abide for euer inuincible against the rage of Sathan and all the powers of Darkenesse Blessed therefore is hee that beleeueth These Mountaines are the Angels which compasse vs on euery side that Sathan with his Angels and Ministers cannot hurt vs as he would whose malice and power is such if they did not continually behold vs continually defend vs and watch ouer vs hee would destroy vs euery moment This can all they testifie which know that Sathan is a Murtherer and a Lyar which cannot abide to see the godly prosper and therefore he seeketh by all meanes to roote them out from the face of the Earth That wee are not then vtterly consumed it is the benefit of these Mountaines by whom wee are so compassed and defended Sometimes Sathan hurleth his Darts at vs as it were through the Window to destroy vs and worketh vs indeede some sorrow but he cannot hurt vs nor moue vs. This similitude seemeth to be taken out of the storie of Helizeus where the seruant of Helizeus saw the Hills about him full of fierie Chariots and Horsemen 2. Kin. 6.17 compassing Helizeus round about and mightily defending him This succour which the seruant of Helizeus saw and the Prophet beleeued when he saw nothing is sayth the Prophet round about all them which trust in the Lord The Angell of the Lord pitcheth his Tent round about them that feare him and haue a charge of them Psal 34.7 The Saints of Heauen and Earth are their fellow Brethren the Creatures of Almightie God are their Friends yea their Seruants to doe them good all their dayes The Deuils nor all the powers of Darkenesse shall not hurt them Psal 37.25 Psal 34.7 Psal 91.11 for Christ hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and hath made a shewe of them openly Hosea 2.18 and hath triumphed ouer them vpon the Crosse yea that which is more Col. 2.15 the Lord Iesus Christ to whom all Iudgement is committed is become their Lord and Sauiour so that they shall neuer come into condemnation Ioh. 5.24 but shall passe from Death vnto Life This Promise then will neuer deceiue vs onely let vs neuer deceiue our selues If therefore wee did beleeue no doubt wee should sleepe wee should liue wee should dye wee should suffer whatsoeuer Sathan and all the World can doe against vs without all feare for thus should wee thinke If I suffer any thing it is not without the will of God nor without good cause well knowne though not vnto me yet vnto God Therefore although Sathan breake through the wall in one place yet shall he neuer bee able vtterly to ouerthrow it altogether thus should wee thinke in our troubles and afflictions and comfort our selues with the good will of God The Lord will be a wall of fire round about Ierusalem and the glory in the midst of her he will keepe her as the apple of his eye and make Ierusalem a cup of poyson to all her enemies and a heauy stone which whosoeuer striueth to lift shall bee torne therewith though all the people of the earth were gathered together against it the weapons made against her shall not prosper and euery tongue that shall rise against her in iudgement shall be condemned this
haue heard of the Patience of Iob and haue seene the End which the Lord made and that the Lord is very mercifull and full of pittie Hee that shall set himselfe to consider in his mind how poore Ioseph was handled and sold of his Brethren and how refusing to consent to the shamefull request of his Mistresse hee was cast into Prison and kept there two yeeres surely a man would take pittie on him as on a miserable person But let vs see the accomplishment of the Worke of God Let vs consider him by this meanes exalted to the Gouernment of all the Kingdome of Egypt and then wee shall count him happie aboue all If wee behold Iesus Christ mocked scourged crowned with Thornes crucified betweene two Theeues who would not be offended that the Prince of Glory and Sauiour of the World should be so handled But let vs behold him risen againe ascended into Heauen and sitting at the right hand of God aboue all Principalities and Power and wee will admire and prayse the Worke of God Hee that neuer saw a Haruest seeing the Plough-man taking much paines to tyll the Earth to spread it with Dung and after to cast faire Wheat into the Field so tylled hee would thinke that this Man were mad and that a Child were to be whipt that should doe such a thing But seeing the Haruest hee would change his minde and acknowledge that the Husbandman had done an excellent Worke. Now this is the time to Tyll to Dung and to Sowe the Haruest shall follow Let vs not change the course of the Season neyther let vs separate them the one from the other but let vs ioyne the time of the Death with the day of the Resurrection and let vs assure our selues as wee haue it in the Psalme that hauing sowed in teares wee shall reape with ioy Hee that had seene poore Lazarus full of sores Luke 16.9 at the Gate of the Rich man and the Rich man at the Table in all Delights and Pleasures hee would not haue chosen to be Lazarus but the Rich man but if tarrying a while hee saw the Soule of Lazarus carried straight by the Angels into Heauen and the Rich mans Soule goe to Hell hee would change his minde and would desire to be Lazarus Let vs then derest the glistering state of cursed Riches and let vs account of the poore and afflicted Condition of the Lazarusses of our Time wayting to bee carryed vp into euerlasting glorie The wicked haue nothing in Heauen nor wee in the World Blessed is the man saith Dauid whom the Lord instructeth by the power of his Spirit and by the Doctrine of his Law to haue contentment and rest in the time of aduersitie while the Graue is digged for the vngodly for the end of his felicitie Not to feare death Yea if we were called to suffer Death for the Name of Christ what other thing is this Death but after a long Conflict the day of Victorie the Birth of a blessed Soule after a great Trauell the Hauen desired after so furious Tempests the end of a dangerous and troublesome Voyage the healing of all Wounds and Sicknesses the deliuerance from all feare and terror the accomplishment of our Sanctification the gate of Heauen the entrance into Paradise the taking possession of the Inheritance of the Father the Day of our Marriage with the Lambe and the enioying of our Desires Who is then among vs who feeling with Saint Paul the Bondage of sinne would not crye out with him Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this Body of Death And feeling the good that Death bringeth vnto vs will not also say with him I desire to bee dissolued Rom. 7.24 and to bee with Christ If Death vvherewith God threatened our first Parents is a feeling of the Wrath of God in the Soule and in the Body because of Sinne wee may well say that Death and Life are two Twinnes vnited and knit together vntill the separation of the Soule and Body and this separation which is commonly called Death is rather the deadly stroke of Death the Body being then exempt from paine and the Soule from vice and corruption wayting vntill the rest of Death bee swallowed vp in Victorie at the day of the Resurrection First therefore it is to be considered that there is no Creature more enemie vnto Man nor more able to hurt then the Deuill and indeed he is called the Enemie the Murtherer 1. Pet. 5.8 and the roaring Lyon seeking whom hee may deuoure but the Historie of Iob sheweth plainely that God holdeth him bridled so as hee can attempt nothing nor goe eyther forward or backward more then God will permit him And this which is more hee hath not power to enter so much as into the Swine vvithout the leaue of Christ What is this then that we should feare Men Are not they also vnder the prouidence power and gouernment of God It is God said Hannah 1. Sam. 2.3 the Mother of Samuel who weigheth their Enterprises so as they cannot passe one Ounce of the Weight ordayned of God It is hee that killeth and maketh aliue againe which bringeth downe to the Pit and lifteth vp againe hee maketh poore and maketh rich hee abaseth and exalteth Psal 115.3 It is hee alone as Dauid sayth which doth whatsoeuer hee will Now wee doubt not but hee will doe that which hee hath promised vs yea and that hee hath taken vpon him to make vs happie If then the Doctrine of the Prouidence of God importeth that hee hath not onely ordayned in his eternall Councell the end and issue of his Worke which is his Glorie and the Saluation of his Elect but also the fit meanes according to his infinite VVisdome and requisite for execution and accomplishment of it Let vs be assured that there is no creature that can let or alter his VVill as Saint Paul sayth Rom. 8.30 If God be for vs who shall be against vs Let vs also be assured that whatsoeuer happeneth vnto vs it is the way whereby hee hath ordayned to leade vs to Life and euerlasting Glorie c. Secondly The end of our regeneration is that there may appeare in our Life an holy melodie and consent betweene the Righteousnesse of God and our Obedience Yee haue vnderstood here before that the desire of the heart to consecrate your selues to God is a marke of your election and adoption but see yee that this desire may shew it selfe by the workes of Godlinesse and Charitie If you make profession that yee know Christ know yee him according to the Doctrine of Saint Paul that yee haue not knowne him as yee ought if yee mortifie not the Old Man and put on the New walking in righteousnesse and true holinesse God hath drawne you out of the power of Darknesse and hath transported you into the Kingdome of his beloued Sonne Walke yee then as the Children of Light renounce this cursed
vexation of spirite there is a short abridgement of our life Iob 6.4 Man commeth into vanitie and goeth into darkenesse it is no better if wee do no more but follow the course of nature Let vs therefore goe aboue the Sunne seeke rest ioy and contentment in our God in whom onely it is to be found As for such as turne backe vnto their owne wickednesse the Lord shall leade them forth with the euill doers but peace shall be vpon Israel There hath beene of this sort of men euer since the Apostles time which hath corrupted the Church and with a shew of holynesse deceiued the simple which because God punisheth them not but spareth them and suffereth them to prosper in this world become so proud that they will be counted amongst the holiest and of the world are so commonly taken Wee see that not onely the godly are mixed with the wicked in this world but in the Lords floore also the wheat lyeth hidden vnder the chaffe Wee must pray therefore that God would bring these Hypocrites to light and giue vnto them their iust punishment with the workers of iniquitie then shall peace ensue to the Church of God for whiles the Lord powreth forth his iust vengeance vpon the wicked which vex and persecute his true members he gathereth together the good and vpright of heart and openly declareth his fatherly good will and tender loue towards them This doctrine serues to let many men see their folly they hope to be saued and make full account when they die to goe to God but yet shall neuer come there because they are not in the wayes of God If a man should say he would goe from Yorke to London yet shall hold the direct way to Barwicke would not euery man laugh at him so is it with him that walkes in the path of perdition and yet saith he will come to Heauen Aske them what way they walke in and they must needs giue themselues the lye if they say it is Gods way And in this conceit thousands are deceiued and slip into their place before they would or be aware First Many by-wayes beaten by many some walke in the blind way of Ignorance a darke and vncomfortable Way as Men walking in the night in which is no safetie nor direction numbers care not for the Lanthorne of the Word and walking in the night know not whither they goe nor where they shall lodge Aske Papists what way they are in Oh they are in the way of Catholikes in the way wherein the Martyrs and Confessors died in the way of their Fore-fathers what way soeuer it be And I would this Ignorance were among them onely but alas it is the way of too many who professe the Light Secondly some walke in the crosse wayes of Superstition and mens Deuices as many of our people who thinke Common prayers better in Lent then all the yeere after and some can be deuout on high dayes and come to Church but other dayes Gods Seruice is not so effected And some receiue the Sacrament at Easter and they were damned if they did not but all the yeere besides the Sacrament hath no sweetnesse These are superstitious wayes whereas Gods wayes are the same and to be walked in with the same affection Thirdly some goe in the crooked wayes of Humane Reason Will Policie and Affections and cannot yeeld to the Wisdome of God their owne Lusts are their Lawes who should controll them Here is an infinite number of Rodes all of them full of wanderers from God whereas Gods way is but one and of Gods describing cleane contrary to mans corrupt Reason Will Affections and Conuersation Fourthly some goe in the detestable and damnable wayes of wilfull spurning against the truth 2. Pet. 2.2 Many shall follow their damnable wayes by whom the way of truth shall be euill spoken of Is it not damnable ynough for men to walke on in the wayes of damnation themselues vnlesse they rayle at the way of truth and life Fiftly some walke in the filthie myrie wayes of voluptuousnesse profanenesse as foule Fornicators Drunkards Gamesters Gluttons Epicures daintie and delicate persons who seeme to be made for nothing but idlenes effeminate care of their skin fruition of their owne sensuality appetite to such Salomon speaketh in the person of the yong man Walke in the sight of thine eyes and in the lusts of thine heart but know that for all this thou must come to Iudgement Lastly numbers walke in the rugged stonie thornie and clayie wayes of Earthlinesse Couetousnesse Vsurie and Oppression setting themselues fast in the gall and guile of earthly-mindednesse not hauing power ouer themselues to stirre hand or foot to Heauen-ward Where their Treasure is there haue they locked vp their hearts too or rather burying them for so they may being dead in the earth and earthly desires the Heauen that they wish for they haue what then care they for any way that leads to another First wee learne hence that in our Christian conuersation there should be a continuall progresse in godlinesse For as in walking saith Basil the steppes of the feet by a mutuall strife among themselues are changed in such sort that the foot which now is hindmost is formost next continuing alway this motion till we come to the place of our rest so should there be in the Christian such a continuall promoouing of his heart toward God that thâ— affection which this day is behind coldest in the loue of God slowest to obey him should the next day be made formost Bern. For in this life nothing standeth in one state it is most certaine that hee that goes not forward goes backward Yet I would not so be vnderstood as if the Christian had not his owne fainting and falling in the way of godlinesse yet blessed be God who keepes our Soules in life wee so faint that wee reviue we so fall that wee rise againe of our former Follies wee learne to bee wise of the experience of our weakenesse wee gather strength we walke then more warily because so oft we haue stumbled and fallen of our sinnes we make vantage he who is truly penitent walkes alway in sorrow and feare because hee hath fallen so oft in feare least hee should fall againe Secondly What to be done in our fals let vs be circumspect both to preuent and recouer our selues out of our fals in this way by reason of Sathans fierce temptations the weaknesse of grace the frailtie of the flesh Many are the fals and knocks of the best Psal 19.12 In many things we sinne all saith S. Iames and who knoweth his errors Now if we will preuent these we must beware of occasions of sinne as a traueller steps ouer stones rubs in his way Eue preuented not the occasion of her fall when shee entred talke with the Serpent Wee must make a couenant with our eies not to looke vpon a Woman nor on
Psal 119. Behold mine affliction And notwithstanding godly men be full of afflictions sorrowes and sicknesses necessities molestations and disgraces yet al these or whatsoeuer other calamities vanish away in time and the hope of Gods fauor blessed reward from him shal out liue all these and take place when these are abolished Psal 37.37 Marke well the vpright man and hehold the iust for the end of that man is peace that which he desired hee shal enioy a faithfull man shal not be frustrated of his expectatiō nor defeated of that hee hopes for According as the Psalmes sayth The poore man shall not alway be forgotten Psal 31.29 the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer for that is euer grounded vpon faith and faith is surely grounded vpon Gods promises Dauid was a godly man and dearely beloued of the Lord his God yet he was sore humbled by affliction Ioh. 15.2.1 for euen those branches which are fruitfull God will purge to make them more fruitful Our nature is so rebellious that without sore afflictions it cannot bee tamed and subdued Stones cannot bee squared for Pallace worke without strokes of the hammer gold cannot be purged and prepared for worke without fire neither is corn separated from the chaffe without winde we are Gods corne let vs abide the winde of temptation to clense vs from the chafe of our corruption wee must suffer the fire of afliction that wee may bee fined and made vessels of honour for the house of God and we must be content that the hammer of God strike vpon vs to beat away the prowd lumps that so we may bee squared and made readie like liuely stones to be layd in heauenly Ierusalem By the which examples we may learne to know the will of the Lord and to seeke our helpe and safety at his hands which suffereth his people to bee exercised in the furnace of Egypt not to their vtter destruction but onely to kill the old man with his vain hope and confidence which hee hath in his owne strength this is the cause why God suffereth his people so to be exercised For it is not hearing reading talking or teaching onely which maketh a Christian man but practise is that which is further required in a true Christian That is to say the crosse to plucke downe the flesh and bring it to nothing that man dispairing of his owne strength and seeing no succour in himselfe should resigne himselfe wholy to the Lord looking with patience and hope for helpe at his hands To know this doctrine is one peece of the victory for they that know it not when temptations assayleth them either doe dispayre or seeke other helpes Let vs learne then out of this Psalme that it is the will of God to exercise his Saints with troubles and afflictions Iam. 1.12 Blessed is the man who endureth temptation for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the Crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them who loue him Therfore this is a necessary conclusion our helpe is in the name of the Lord it is a short sentence but it setteth foorth most worthy doctrine and consolation whereof especially in these latter dayes we haue great need seeing the Pope together with the greatest part of the world so cruelly persecute the doctrine of the Gospel c. In respect of these huge mountaines what are we small mole-hils yea though they were no force nor powe of man for vs to feare how are wee able to stand against not onely so many Diuels but euen the very gates of hell also and yet this experience wee haue of the great mercy and goodnesse of the Lord our God that when we are euen in the hands and neuer so much oppressed yet are we not forsaken but are safe through our confidence and trust in his helpe but to this wisedome it is impossible for vs to attaine without continuall afflictions The fruit of afflictions Whereby it is necessary that the confidence of all worldly succours should be beaten downe for vexation and trouble bringeth vnderstanding as Isaiah sayth whereby we are compelled to cry Helpe Lord for else wee perish So in the last houre when death approcheth there is nothing wherein mans heart can repose it selfe or finde comfort but in the helpe of the Lord there is rest and quietnesse there is perfect peace he that can then say my helpe is in the name of the Lord and lay hold on Iesus Christ by a true and iustifying faith dyeth happily and is out of all danger Thus we may learne what it is to haue and enioy God euen to rest in sure trust of his mercyfull helpe and succour in all dangers these are the words therefore of a triumphing and victorious faith our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord which made heauen and earth as if he sayde the maker of heauen and earth is my God and my helper Ye see whither he flyeth in his great distresse hee dispaireth not but cryeth vnto the Lord as one yet hoping assuredly to finde reliefe and comfort rest thou also in this hope and doe as he did Dauid was not tempted to the end he should dispaire In the temptations of sinne and of the wrath of God what we ought to doe thinke not thou therefore that thy temptations are sent vnto thee that thou shouldest bee swallowed vp with sorrow desparation if thou be brought downe to the very gates of Hell beleeue that the Lord will surely rayse thee vp againe If so thou be bruised and broken know it is the Lord that will helpe thee againe If thy heart be full of sorrow and heauinesse looke for comfort from him who said Psal 51.17 That a troubled Spirit is a Sacrifice vnto him Thus hee setteth the eternall God the Maker of Heauen and Earth against all Troubles and Dangers against the flouds and ouerflowings of all Tentations and swalloweth vp as it were with one breath all the raging furies of the whole World and of Hell it selfe euen as a little drop of water is swallowed vp of a mightie flaming fire and what is the World with all his force and power in respect of him that made Heauen and Earth Let the World fret then let it rage then so that this succour neuer fayle vs and if it be the will of God that wee shall suffer Trouble and Affliction yet in him wee shall ouercome at length Onely happie and sure is the estate of that man who is in Christ neither Life nor Death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God in Christ Iesus Our helpe standeth in the Name of the Lord which hath made Heauen and Earth Hence I gather this Doctrine That no elect child of God that is truely regenerate and borne anew and a liuely member of Christs mysticall Body can perish and finally fall away Rom. 8.30 For whome hee predestinateth him hee calleth whom
he turned Water into Wine so in the other will hee turne all sorrow into ioy To haue ioy without griefe is the condition of them who are glorified in Heauen to haue griefe without ioy is the condition of them who are damned in Hell I meane to bee without sence and hope of ioy but the godly on earth haue their ioy mixed with griefe and griefe tempered with ioy and albeit sometimes they want the sence of ioy yet doe they neuer want all hope and expectation of ioy They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Reasons mouing vs to mourning And to moue vs yet more to this mourning disposition let vs consider two things the euill we incurre if we mourne not and the good that shall ensue to vs if we mourne for the sinnes of others As for the first amongst many wayes whereby the sinnes of other men become ours If wee mourne not for other mens sinnes they become ours 1. Cor. 5.1 2 3 4 5. this is also one if we know their iniquities and bee not grieued therewith And therefore are the Corinthians reproued that they sorrowed not for the incestuous man that was among them by so doing they were defiled by his sinne and became one polluted Lumpe with him Ezek. 9. all the chapter And Ezekiel not onely in Iudgement determined vpon the committers of sinne but of such also as mourned not for sinne They are inuolued in the same Iudgement as partakers of the same sinnes by reason that they mourned not for them And as for the great good wee get by mourning for the sinnes of the Wicked If wee mourne many blessings follow it Matth. 5.4 whereby they dishonour the Lord our God it is also euident Blessed sayth our Sauiour are they that mourne for they shall be comforted When the Heauen waters the Earth in due season there followeth a fruitfull encrease but when the Earth waters the Heauen then shall follow a more plentifull Haruest of spirituall Comfort And this is done when a sinner powres the teares of his penitent Heart into the Bosome of God Then the Heauens are vvatered by the Earth For the teares of the godly fall not to the ground but the Lord gathereth them like most precious pearles vnto him and puts them in his bottle and they bring still increase of comfort to such as shed them They are sowne like good Seed on earth the first fruit whereof is reaped on earth but the fulnesse thereof in Heauen In trouble it is expedient to looke vnto the end thereof Worldlings wrestle for their corruptible Crowne as vncertaine whether they shall obtaine it or no but it is not so with the Christian we runne not as vncertaine we are sure Rom. 8.17 that if wee suffer with Christ Heb. 12.11 wee shall also reigne with him Though for the present no trouble be sweet yet is the end thereof most comfortable and wee are by the eyes of Faith to looke vnto it lest our present manifold Tentations driue vs to impatience For as hee that goeth through a strong running Water is in danger to fall and to be drowned by reason of the dizzinesse of his Head or Braine vnlesse hee fixe his Eyes vpon the Bankes euen so shall wee be readie to faint in Affliction vnlesse wee looke to the comfortable end thereof If wee shall looke to Lazarus vpon the Dunghill and Ioseph in the Prison what can we iudge them but miserable men But if wee consider their end we shall see the one in Abrahams Bosome and the other raigning in great glory vnder Pharoah in Egypt Then shall we say Verely there is fruit for the righteous and we shall find it true which here the Prophet sayth They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Verse 7. He that now goeth on his way weeping and beareth forth good seed shall doubtlesse come againe with ioy and bring his sheaues with him HOw could the state of the Church or the passage wherein it walketh vnder the Crosse be more liuely expressed whereby we may learne so to arme our mindes that wee lose not that Laughter which by Faith we haue apprehended but may encrease and waxe strong and feele this Laughter more and more in vs. For Faith and the life of Christians is not Hypocrisie but the Christian life is that which is here described that is to be exercised with Tentations and Afflictions vnder the Crosse and to apprehend the Word This is our true Vnion wee must dayly encrease because of the Flesh the World and the Deuill which doe exercise vs with continuall Tentations For except in these Dangers wee haue recourse vnto the Word and Prayer wee are gone The Crosse therefore is the meane wherewith God will haue vs not swallowed vp and consumed but exercised that wee may dayly grow more and more towards perfection To goe forth and weepe and to carrie Seed for so the Holy Ghost calleth it It cannot be then but that a Christian must needes bee such a Sower as must reape not in Laughter but in bitter Sorrow and Teares But thou wilt say Where is then the Laughter which is preached to the Redeemed whereof Dauid spake a little before in the Spirit For looke how much Faith thou hast so much Laughter thou hast also But sometimes this Laughter is lost and turned into Mourning yet are wee not forsaken for the Promise is sure and certaine and the Victorie ouer Sinne Hell and Death is ours but yet in hope notwithstanding so long as we are in this life we remaine alwayes in teares and mourning as Christ sayth Ioh. 16.20 The World shall reioyce but you shall sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy Psal 30.5 Heauinesse may endure for a Night but Ioy commeth in the Morning Eccl. 3.1.4 To all things there is an appointed time a time to weepe and a time to laugh a time to mourne and a time to dance All times are limitted by God to the faithfull but first for sorrow and then for ioy onely the godly men truely reioyce with sound and lasting ioy My seruants shall reioyce Exo. 15.27 and yee shall be ashamed My seruants shall sing for ioy of heart Isa 65.13 and yee shall crye for sorrow of heart and howle for vexation of Spirit The stranger shall not enter into his ioy Pro. 14.10 And it is called the ioy of Gods people Thus the Scriptures euer limit this ioy to the saithfull Let them that seeke the Lord reioyce Therefore if they sorrow Psal 40.16 they onely shall out-grow their sorrow and their sorrow shall bee turned into ioy as Christ promised the Apostles Isa 35.10 The redeemed of the Lord shall returne and come to Sion with prayse and euerlasting ioy shall be vpon their heads Isa 61.3 they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse and sorrow and mourning shall flye away Christ hath appointed vnto them that mourne in Sion Beautie for Ashes
Bondage of Sathan shew that yee are faithfull and not Traytors to Iesus Christ be ye without reproach and single hearted The Children I say of God vnreproueable in the middest of this crooked and peruerse Nation Phil. 2.15 amongst whom ye shine as Lights in the World which beare before you the Word of Life shew your selues to feele the wholsome Grace of God which teacheth you to renounce all Infidelity and worldly lustes to liue soberly Titus 2.12 iustly and godly thinke in your selues that the friendship of this World is Enmitie to God and that ye cannot be friends to the World but that ye must needs be Enemies to God Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse Iames 4.4 Eph. 5.11 but rather reprooue them so as your holy conuersation may serue for a proofe and checke to such as walke disorderly Remember what God said to Man Isaiah 33.6 The feare of the Lord is true wisedome and to depart from euill is Vnderstanding Let the fauour of God bee our Treasure walke as it were before him as he commaunded Abraham Thinke that ye are not your owne to liue for your selues according to your owne wisedome and pleasure but that ye appertaine vnto God that ye might liue vnto him and according to his Wisedome and Will reuealed in his Word vnto vs. That Man hath much profited who knowing that hee is not his owne hath taken away from himselfe and his owne reason all Lordship Dominion Rule and Power to resigne it to God and to suffer himselfe quietly and directly to be guided according to his pleasure There is no vice more common more pernitious or more hard to cure then the loue of our selues and therefore there is no lesson more necessarie then that which Iesus Christ taught his Apostles that to be of the number of his Disciples wee must renounce your selues renouncing then our selues hate yee that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good inclined by Charitie to loue one another procure things that are good not onely before God Col. 3.12 but also before men If it be possible so much as in you lyeth haue peace with all men be we as the elect of God holy and beloued clad with the bowels of compassion of kindnesse of humility of meekenesse of long suffering forbearing one another and forgiuing one another euen as Christ hath forgiuen you loue one another as God hath loued you For heerein is the difference betweene the children of God and the children of the Deuill and wherein ye may be knowne to be the Disciples of Christ yee are all members of one body let there be no diuision or parts taking among you 1. Cor. 12.19 but feele the afflictions of them that weepe to weepe with them and reioyce with those that reioyce to praise God with them 3. If ye be the Citizens of the Ciâ—ie of Ierusalem and will haue a sure dwelling in it Psal 15. walke in integrity labour to deale iustly speake the truth from your hearts keepe you from slandering couetousnes â—nd all other corruption acknowâ—edge in all men the Image of God whereunto you owe honor â—nd helpe especially those that are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 Ye are debtors to your neighbours of all that ye haue or are able to doe to bee disposers of it with condition that ye render to God an accompt Fourthly honour the graces of God in your Brethren and couer their infirmities by Charitie Iames 1.19.20 c. Bee quicke to heare but slow to speake and slow to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous in the sight of God Doe not desire hope or imagine any other meanes to prosper by then by the blessing of God and doe not looke that hee should aduance by the aide of his blessing that which he hath accursed by his mouth so goe forwards in the amendment of your liues that this day may passe yesterday Zeale to the puritie of the Doctrine with the holinesse oâ— your liues that the ignorant seeing your blamelesse conuersation and esteeming you by your good workes may glorifie God 1. Pet. 2.12 and imbrace the Gospell with you when it shall please God to call them haue minde of that great Curse pronounced by the high Iudge against such as offended any of the verie least Furthermore reioyce in the Lord indeuour to be perfect be comforted be of one consent 2. Cor. 13.11 liue in peace and the God of Loue and Peace shall be with you But as it is God that worketh in vs both to will and in worke to accomplish according to his good pleasure so aboue all things imploy your selues to pray feruently and continually Chrysostom Prayer saith Saint Chrysostome is the Soule of our Soules for it also is the soule which quickeneth all the actions of the Children of God It was the lifting vp of Moses hands to heauen which strengthened Iosua and his army Exod. 17.11 and gaue him victorie ouer the Amalekites and indeed without the grace of God that which we obtaine by prayer all that we doe is but vanitie Faith is the key that openeth the Cofers of the treasures of our God Prayer is the hand to draw it out to inrich our selues Prayer lifteth vp our hearts from earth to heauen it renueth the memorie of the promises of God to confirme vs it assureth vs against all that we can feare it obtaineth all that we can desire it giueth rest and contentment to our soules it keepeth and strengtheneth the feare to offend God it increaseth the desire to goe vnto him whom in praying we feele to be the spring and fountaine of all good things it ingendereth in vs a stedfast dispising of the World and renouncing of the Flesh it representeth vnto vs the heauenly and euerlasting felicities that we may aspire to the inioying of them There is nothing more to be desired then to be conuersant with him without whom wee cannot be happy but he that will alwaies bee with God hee must alwaies pray or reade For when we pray we talke with God and when wee reade God talketh with vs the more we are exercised in Prayer to God the more we increase in godlinesse therefore also we may not be wearie or faint-hearted in Prayer although the Lord deferre to make vs feele the fruit of our Prayers for we haue a promise of him that cannot lye that whatsoeuer wee aske of God in the name of Iesus Christ it shall be giuen vs if he deferre for some time to make vs feele the fruit of our Prayers it is for our greater benefit Let vs continue still wayting knowing assuredly that he according to his fatherly loue and bountie desireth our good can according to his infinit power giue that which we aske of him and according to his truth will heare vs. He also according to his wisedome knoweth the fittest time as is before said
the Oyle of Ioy for Mourning and the Garment of Prayse for the Spirit of Heauinesse Hee that now goeth on his way weeping If now wee mourne not wee shall not reioyce hereafter It is onely Mourners whom God hath marked in the fore-head to saue from the Wrath to come Such a continuall Mourner was Dauid who protests that in the Night hee watered his Couch with teares Psal 6.6 and in the day mingled his Cup therewith Iob. 3.24 And Iob in like manner sayth My sighing comes before my eating The Saints of God are not ashamed to professe that of themselues which the Mockers of this Age esteeme a Womanly affection there is nothing to be found amongst them but eating Luk. 6.25 drinking singing a contracting of one sinne after another with carnall reioycing Matth. 5.4 But woe be vnto them that now laugh for assuredly they shall weepe the end of their ioy shall be endlesse mourning and gnashing of teeth they shall shed teares abundantly with Esau but shall finde no place for mercie Gen. 27.38 And albeit the wicked laugh when the godly weepe and greatly insult when they which feare the Lord grone vnder heauie pressinesse the time will come when the one shall obtaine freedome from calamities and the other be compelled to take their turnes to fall into them Then he that mourned with griefe shall exult with ioy and he that triumphed with gladnesse shall howle with desperate woe and sorrow Let vs therefore goe to the house of Mourning with the godly rather then to the Banqueting house of the wicked reioycing in their sinfull pleasures Maries teares pleaseth Christ better then the Pharisies delicats Luk. 7.38.44 At one time Symon the Pharisie gaue our Sauior a Dynner and Marie who had beene a sinner brought him the Sacrifice of a contrite heart and the Lord esteemed more of her Teares then of the Pharisies Delicates No Banquet pleaseth the Lord Iesus so well as a Banquet of Teares powred from a heart truly penitent The Lord is said to gather the Teares of his Children and keepe them in a Bottle whereby to tell vs that they are precious in his sight For hee is not like the fooles of this world who gather into their Treasures things which are vaine and needlesse But alas how shall hee gather that which we haue not scattered Where are our Teares the Witnesses of our vnfained humiliation before God The deplorable hardnesse of heart in this Age that cannot mourne The hardnesse of heart hath ouer-growne this Age that albeit there bee more then cause yet there is no mourning The sonnes of Cain learned without a Teacher Gen. 4.22 to worke in Brasse and Iron and the wit of Man can make the hardest Mettall soft to receiue an impression but cannot get their owne stonie heart made soft Yea the Children of God finde by experience how hard a thing it is to get a melting heart The Rocke rendred Water when Moses strucke it Num. 20.11 at the second stroke but alas many strokes will our hearts take before they send out the sweet teares of Repentance Seeing wee haue so many causes of sorrow without vs our mourning the troblesome estate of Gods Church Nehemiah 1.4 For herein is our case so much pittifull that hauing matter ynough of Mourning yet wee doe not mourne Without vs should not the troublesome estate of the Church of God be a matter of our griefe though our priuat estate were neuer so peaceable Godly Nehemiah being placed in the honorable seruice of King Artashashte the Monarch of the World was not so much comforted with his owne good estate as grieued at the desolation of Ierusalem Decay of Religion and encrease of Idolatrie made Eliah wearie of this life The Arke of God captiued and the Glory departed from Israel droue all comfort out of the heart of the Wife of Phineas Amos 6.6 These and many moe may teach vs that the affliction of Ioseph should be matter of our sorrow The causes of Mourning within vs are partly our sinnes Causes of mourning within vs our manifold sinnes partly our manyfold tentations As our sinnes are contracted with pleasure so are they dissolued with godly sorrow It is the best Medicine which is most contrarie to the nature of the Disease Our sinne is a Sicknesse wherein there is a carnall delight to doe that which is forbidden and it is cured by Repentance wherein there is a Spirituall displeasure and sorrowing for the euill which wee haue done This mourning for sinne lasteth in the Godly so long as they liue in the Body Rom. 7.24 yea those same sinnes which God hath forgiuen and put out of their affection are still in their remembrance for their humiliaâ—ion So that with good Hezekiâ—h they recount all their dayes and their former sinnes in the bitternesse of their heart So long as sinne remayned in their affection it was the matter of their ioy but now being by grace remooued out of the affection it becomes the matter of their Sorrow And our manyfold Tentations The other cause of our Mourning is our manyfold Tentations For this World is no other thing but a stormie Sea wherein so many contrarie Windes of Tribulation blowes vpon vs that wee can hardly tell which of them to feare On euery side Sathan besets vs with Tentations on the right hand and on the left that the House being shaken at all the foure Corners may fall downe in one part or other No rest nor quietnesse for vs in this Habitation for the which it is best for vs with one aduice to conclude that wee will remoue and in the meane time send vp our Complaint to our Father in Heauen as the Gibeonites did to Ioshua Ioshua 10.6 shewing him how wee are besieged and enuironed for his sake and praying him to come with haste and helpe vs. Which who so doth shall doubtlesse come againe with ioy and bring his sheaues with him as we haue heard This teacheth vs not onely to sigh and mourne for our present miseries but also comforts vs with the hope and expectation of Deliuerance Though in this life wee haue trouble yet haue wee no trouble without comfort Blessed be God 2. Cor. 1.3 4. who comforts vs in all our Tribulation and besides that which wee presently haue it is yet much more which wee looke for The men of this World haue no ioy without sorrow euen in laughter their heart is sorrowfull pretend what they will in their Countenance there is heauinesse in their Conscience arising of the weight of Sinne. But it is farre otherwise with the godly for euen in mourning they doe reioyce and vnder greatest heauinesse they carry a liuely hope of ioyfull deliuerance Alway this difference of estates betweene the godly and the wicked should learne vs patience Let vs not seeke that in the Earth which our gracious Father in his most wise Dispensation hath reserued
for vs in Heauen Let vs not be like the foolish Iewes who loued the place of their banishment in Babel better then their Home Now our life is hid with God in Christ and wee know not yet what wee shall be but wee know when hee shall appeare wee shall be like him The Lord shall carry vs by his Mercie and bring vs by his Strength into the holy Habitation He shall plant vs in the Mountaine of his Inheritance euen the Place which hee hath prepared and Sanctuarie which hee hath established Then euerlasting ioy shall be vpon our head and sorrow mourning shall flie from vs for euer The Lord strengthen our Faith that through these mystie clouds of Affliction which now compasse vs wee may see that comfortable end which God in his Word hath discouered vnto vs. So that this Seâ—d thus prolonged and carryed for a long season is nothing else but Tentations continuing and succeeding one after another one still following vpon another But what is the end of this continuance euen this that they shall possesse eternall ioy and felicitie As the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes doth notably declare Now no chastising for the present seemeth to be ioyous Heb. 12.11 but grieuous here you heare of Teares neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousnesse vnto them that are exercised thereby Here you heare that they shall returne with ioy Albeit then that this Seed is prolonged and deferred yet it is not so for euer but the ioy that shall follow is euerlasting Thus the Kingdome of Christ consisteth not in the power and riches of the World but in eternall Redemption which wee must attayne vnto through great Afflictions and infinite Crosses wherein notwithstanding wee are supported by the Word and Prayer vntill we come to the fulnesse of our saluation in the Kingdome of Heauen Therefore euery day should we gird vp our Loynes remembring that Warning which the Angell gaue to Eliah as most pertinent vnto vs Arise and walke thou hast yet a great Iourney to goe 1. Kin. 19.7 Of the children of God sayth Theophilactus some are at home in their owne Countrey some are in the Iourney homeward but woe vnto them who are neyther in their owne Countrey neyther in the way vnto it We are not therefore to settle our selues here as if wee had no â—urther to goe but must walke forward through this valley of teares from strength to strength till at last we appeare before the face of God in Sion Wee are still detayned in Egypt wee haue not yet obtayned the Land of Promise Psal 84.7 How then shall I sing the Songs of the Lord in a strange Land Wee are not yet past the Red Sea nor the waste Wildernesse nor the fierie Serpents what shall we doe but water our Couch night and day with teares and with feare and trembling walke on the rest of the way which yet is before vs Seeing our life is walking take heed wee keepe the right way And seeing we are in a Iourney let vs take heed that wee keepe the way otherwise our life shall be a wandring from God not a walking toward God The way is Christ I am the way Iohn 14.6 if we abide in it we shall walke with God as Enoch did before God as Abraham did toward God as Dauid did O happy turne wherein Christ is both the End the Way and the Guide Let vs walke after Christ Bernard because hee is the Truth let vs walke toward Christ because hee is the Life If yee looke to the companies of men in the World yee shall see some in stead of following Christ flying from him for he who doth euill hateth the Light Others where they should follow him runne before him not waiting vpon his Light and Direction in matters of his Worship but follow their owne Spirit doing that which is good in their owne eyes they runne with zeale but not in the right way And we haue so much the more to take heede vnto the way For he that walketh after the flesh shall at length encounter with death Gal. 6.8 because euery mans course declareth what kinde of man hee is whether carnall or spirituall and what will be his End Hee that soweth to the Flesh of the Flesh shall reape corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting I am perswaded there is no man among vs who will not say hee would be at the best end which is eternall Life But here is the wonderfull folly of Men the proposed end of their Pilgrimage whereat they would be is Heauen but the way wherein they walke is the way that leadeth close to Hell Who will not esteeme him a Foole who in word sayth his Iourney is toward the South and yet for no mans warning will refraine his feet from walking toward the North but more foolish is hee who professing himselfe a Pilgrim trauelling towards heauenly Ierusalem keepes notwithstanding a contrarie course hauing his backe vpon Heauen and his face toward Hell walking not after the Spirit but after the Flesh O pittifull Blindnesse and Folly How many Witnesses of God haue forewarned thee in thy life all crying to thee with a lowd voyce This way wherein thou walkest O sinfull man is the way of Death Hee who liues after the Flesh shall die assuredly Yet wilt thou not returne nor change the course of thy life to walke after the liuing God that thou mayest be saued And hauing once found the right way Three profitable helps of a godly life which may leade vs vnto God let vs strengthen our selues to walke in it by those three most notable helpes of a godly Life deliuered vnto vs by the Prophet Dauid in three Verses of the 119. Psalme Psal 119. Verse 57. O Lord I haue determined to keepe thy Word 58. I haue made my Supplication in thy presence with my whole heart 59. I haue considered my wayes and turned my feet vnto thy Testimonies 1. Determination Determination is the first It is a good thing by settled resolution to conclude with thy selfe that thou wilt liue godly 2. Supplication Supplication is the second Except by continuall Prayer our Determination bee confirmed and strengthened by grace from God our conclusion which wee take to day shall vanish tomorrow 3. Consideration Consideration is the third and it is profitable to reduce vs againe into the way of God so often as of weakenesse we wander from it contrarie to our first determination These are the three helpes to keepe our heart in the way of God so necessarie that if without them wee doe any worke it is not possible but wee shall be snared And therefore as in a Ship which is readie to sayle so soone as the Sayles are hoysed vp presently some skilfull Mariner starts to the Rudder so euery morning wherein wee rise from our rest and make our selues