they bee not Reuiued if they bee not borne againe translated out of Adam and ingrafted into Iesus Christ alas they are but as a dead corps that is trimmed and stucke with so many goodly flowers yea the due consideration of that miserable estate and condition in the which they are by nature may cause them to droupe Tit. 1.15 and to hang downe their heads for by their owne filthinesse and impuritie all these their excellent ornaments are defiled and become impure for so sayth the Apostle To those that are defiled is nothing pure but euen their minds and consciences are defiled Oh if this point were wel considered how it would pull downe the pride of mans heart and make men to hasten to come out of so fearefull an estate and condition Doct. 4 The second point of Doctrine wee obserue hence by the authority of this Text is that our regeneration is as hardly wrought Regeneration a worke of new creation Rom. 5.12 Rom. 6.23 as to rayse vp a dead man to restore him againe to life as hard a thing to saue a soule that is dead as to giue life to one that hath a long time lyen rotting in the graue Death is gone ouer all sayth the Apostle and The wages of sinne is death And God told Adam Gen. 2.17 that in that day that he should eate of the forbidden fruit Hee should die the death Now in so much as wee haue all taken part with him in his disobedience wee must also partake with him in his punishment and the punishment is Death not death in respect of any being of the creature as all wicked and vngodly sinners might wish it were but Death in respect of our eternall separation from God In whose presence is life and at whose right hand is pleasure for euermore This is our estate and condition by nature vntill the Lord doe Reuiue vs and to Reuiue vs and quicken vs is as hard a matter as to rayse vp a dead man out of his graue This doth the Prophet Dauid acknowledge when he desired of God that he would Create in him a new heart Psal 51.10 And surely it is as great a matter to Create a new heart as for the Lord againe to Create a new world yea and in some respects it may seeme harder for in the Creation of the world the Lord but spake the Word and all was made there was no hinderance there was no opposition but in the creation of the heart a new there are many lets and hinderances first within a man for euery man by nature is an enemy vnto his owne saluation and the flesh resists this worke besides the Deuil he labours by al means possible to hinder so blessed a worke Besides all this it is a worke of great difficulty not accomplished without great labour and paine and therefore it is called in the Scripture A Birth a Death a Circumcision now as no Birth no Death no cutting off the Flesh can be without paine and sorrow no more can the conuersion of a sinner the Infant is not deliuered out of the Mothers wombe without paine and doest thou thinke O man to part with sinne that is within thee which was conceiued in the wombe with thee and euer since hath been nourished and brought vp with thee as a familiar companion and not taste of paine Eph. 2.1 and heart smart in thy new birth no assuredly it will not be but it will cost thee much sorrow many a sigh and many a bitter teare before this work of grace be effectually wrought in thee It is not in this case as in producing the forms of many Natural things here below which are brought è potentia materiae out of a capable pronenesse of the thing it selfe to receiue such a forme but in the worke of our Regeneration God doth by his spirit deliuer the mind from blindnesse and ignorance the will from rebellion the affections from disorder and all the powers and faculties of the soule from corruption when man is altogether opposite thereto This Doctrine doth iustly condemne most men Vse 1 women amongst vs we think it is an easie matter to be a Christian and so be saued that it is an easie maner to goe to Heauen and many men who be starke dead in sinne and blesse themselues in their euill wayes yet blush not to say they hope to come to heauen as well as the best Preacher of them all Oh poore soule thou art but a dead man in the sight of God wounded at the heart with sinne and vnlesse thou bee reuiued quickned and raysed out of the graue of sinne by the wonderfull worke of God thou canst not bee saued Our Sauiour Christ being working of some great miracle hee tels his Disciples that they should do greater works then that namely they should saue mens soules and that is farre greater then to saue and helpe the body God created all things with his bare word breathed into Adam the Breath of Life Gen. 2. Io. 11. Our Sauiour Christ raysed Lazarus with his word but before hee can rayse a Sinner out of the graue of sinne and put into vs the breath of spirituall life the Sonne of God must come from Heauen and suffer a most cruell and shamefull death 1. Cor. 1.21 Iohn 17.17 euen the death vpon the Crosse before he can quicken and Reuiue vs and therefore it is not so easie a matter as most men take it to bee to become a good Christian No no it is the hardest thing in the world to become a good Christian and so to be saued And therefore seeing this is the estate condition of vs all Oh how carefull ought wee to bee to vse all good meanes that God hath appointed Act. 15.9 to saue our soules as namely the Word preached the Sacraments Prayer Meditations in the Law of God seeing that by these meanes the Lord doth quicken and Reuiue our dead soules Ps 119. Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught heere that seeing we are all dead in Adam by nature vntill such time as the Lord doth quicken vs and Reuiue vs let no man then content himselfe with this diuelish conceit and perswasion that hee can at his owne time and leasure deliuer himselfe from the bondage of sinne and Sathan as it is the corrupt thought of many that though they haue beene the seruants of sinne and of death twentie or forty yeares together yet they thinke that one Lord haue mercy vpon me will open the Heauen gates but O thou vaine man O thou vaine woman Oh see heere that it is the Lord that must worke in thee this worke of grace for by nature thou art Reprobate vnto euery good worke And this new birth is not giuen to euery one No no onely Gods children who are carefull to vse the meanes as hearing the Word preached and taught Sacrament Prayer c. for by these doth the Lord Reuiue vs and
quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must beginne grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Reu. 20.6 He shall rayse vs vp and make vs able to walke in the duties of pietie and religion of faith and repentance and sincere obedience Holy and blessed are they that haue part in the first Resurrection for on them the second Death hath no power If then God hath begunne to Reuiue thee to Rayse thee out of the graue of sinne Oh then thou art blessed and happy for thou mayest bee sure that the second death that is eternall death shall haue no power ouer thee but as for those which are yet in the state of Nature vnregenerate not Reuiued not quickned by the life of grace Alas alas they bee at the next dore to eternall death And vnlesse they seeke vnto the Lord by true and vnfained repentance that hee may Reuiue their dead Soules and Rayse them vp from the graue of sinne they must needs perish eternally And therefore vntill such time as the Lord shall Reuiue vs and that wee shall feele the power of Christs death within vs dye to sinne whatsoeuer the vaine and foolish perswasion of our hearts may be yet we are in a most cursed and wretched estate and condition And in the third day hee will rayse vs vp These words containe in them the second degree of their deliuerance where wee may see that there Doct. 5 bee degrees of our spirituall life Regeneration begun must be continued As we see a child first learnes to stand alone then to goe in the hands of the Nurse and after comming to more strength to walke alone So fareth it with Gods Children First the Lord must Reuiue and quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must begin grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Hee shall raise vs vp and make vs to walke in the duties of Piety and religion of Faith Repentance and true obedience So that the point of Doctrine which wee are to obserue hence is this that the worke of Regeneration begunne in vs must bee continued and dayly more and more encreased so as wee may feele the power of the Spirit dayly subduing sinne in vs 2. Cor. 7.1 our naturall corruption and carnall affections that are so deepely rooted in vs by nature It is the exhortation of the blessed Apostle Heb. 6.1 That wee cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the Flesh and Spirit and grow vp vnto full holinesse in the feare of God And the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts men not to satisfie them selues with the Principles of Religion which hee calleth the Doctrine of the beginning of Christ as though it were inough that they had made an entrance and a beginning but that they bee ledde forward to Perfection q. d. It is true you haue begunne well yet yee must thinke that it is not sufficient but there is a kind of perfection to bee aymed at And Paul speaking of the excellent estate of a Christian Phil. 3.13.14 sayth I count not my selfe that I haue attayned it And yet Paul was wonderfully expert in the mystery of Christ But one thing I doe sayth hee I forget that which is behind and I endeuour my selfe to that which is before and follow hard towards the marke for the price of the highest calling of God in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3.13 It is noted as a brand of a wicked man that hee waxeth worse and worse Deu. 29 19. and fals away dayly more from one extremity to another adding Drunkennes to thirst whereas on the contrary part It is a true note of the spirit of God in a man when they grow in grace and are led nearer and nearer to perfection And this same spirituall growth in grace and in godlines is not in mans power by nature to performe no more then the beginning thereof as we heard before but it is the proper worke of the holy Ghost 1. Thess 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you through out It cannot come from our parents For who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse Iob. 13. Iob. 1.16 but Of his fulnesse wee all receiue grace for grace It is a point no doubt well knowne vnto vs in speculation that we are to goe on from one degree of sactification to another from one measure of grace to another and therefore I forbeare any further to enlarge the point This may serue to reproue those that thinke they haue got knowledge inough into their soules like the Vse 1 Church of Laodicea Reu. 3.16 and are not ashamed many times to cloake their owne neglect of holy duties to say that they know as much as the best Preacher of them all And indeed were it not so that men were so perswaded that for matters of religion they were forward inough and had learned inough It could not be that they should make so little account of the means to bring them vnto more perfection How is it possible that they should not bee ashamed of themselues to bee found out of Gods house on the Saboath day and to make their chimney corners their Chappell of ease And how could it bee that they should be now as ignorant in the grounds of Religion as they were many yeares agoe Alas how can this holde good with this Text of Scripture that those that are once reuiued by God and quickned by the Spirit of grace that they are also Raysed vp that is dayly more and more drawn away from the earth and earthly things to Seeke those things that are aboue Oh let vs looke vnto our owne wayes betimes And turne our feet into his Testimonies And when we perceiue in vs any beginning or inclination to seeke after grace resolue with Dauid to Runne the way of Gods commandements Psal 119. Not to go forward is to go backward in Religion And howsoeuer the gift of Regeneration the spirit of grace can neuer vtterly be extinguished and lost yet when wee grow not in it it is iust with God that wee should lose the comfort of that grace and the feeling of that ioy wee were wont to finde in the same and wee can neuer recouer it without much sorrow and griefe of heart Let vs therefore remember that exhortation of the Holy Ghost Hee that is holy let him bee more holy and not to content our selues with the beginning of grace Reu. 22.11 but labour to goe on in grace from one degree to another till at last wee become perfect men in Christ Iesus Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught here that if it bee so dangerous a thing not to goe forward in religion what a fearefull sinne must it needs be then to grow backeward in holy things Luk. 11.26 Their last estate sayth
to eternall life let vs then pray vnto God that he would put his feare into our hearts that wee may not sinne against him for till such time as wee haue this feare of God till wee bee truely humbled for our sinnes and mourne for them and liue and behaue our selues as in the presence of God we shall neuer attaine to this Knowledge which is the right way to bring vs to eternall life for though men haue neuer so great knowledge in the word of God can speake of it neuer so well though they can dispute of it and discourse of the Scriptures yet if our knowledge be not ioyned with the feare of God to liue according to our knowledge Alas it is but a braine knowledge it is farre from that sauing knowledge which wee ought to haue and therfore if we would be assured that our knowledge is sound and such as one day will giue vs an admittance into the kingdome of heauen and yeeld true comfort and reioycing vnto our owne soules Let vs then labour to finde our hearts humbled for sinne past and a watchfull eye ouer our owne wayes for the time to come thtt we so carry and behaue our selues as alwayes in the presence of God for otherwise though men think neuer so highly of their knowledge if these things bee wanting in vs wee can neuer attaine to this true sanctified knowledge heere spoken of Now I come to the next point that is to consider diligently of what nature and condition this knowledge is which is heere a most blessed fruit of Repentance Point and of the feare of God And surely What knowledge it is hee heere speakes of Io. 17.3 wee shall finde that this knowledge it is no carnall knowledge it is no worldly knowledge it is not the knowledge of Philosophy or of humane arts and sciences vhich in themselues are good too but this Knowledge heere spoken of it is a heauenly Knowledge whereof our Sauiour Christs speakes hauing powred foorth vnto his Father that his heauenly prayer that he would giue vnto his children eternall life in the third verse he shews wherein this eternall life consists namely This is life eternall to know thee to be the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Of this knowledge speaketh the Prophet Esay saying By this knowledge shal my righteous seruant iustifie many Esay 53.11 Io. 6.68 for hee shall beare their iniquities And of this Knowledge wee shall read of when our Sauiour Christ taught that all they which must liue for euer must eate the flesh of the sonne of man It is said that many of his Disciples departed from him Christ sayth to the twelue Will yee also goe away from mee Peter answereth in the name of the rest Master whither shall wee goe from thee Thou hast the Word of eternall life and wee beleeue and know that thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God Where marke how the Apostle ioines faith and knowledge together noting indeed that this knowledge is a fruit of faith for till men beleeue in God the Father as our Father and in Iesus Christ his sonne as our redeemer and in the holy Ghost as our sanctifier wee cannot know God as wee ought to know him Now then in that this Knowledge is promised from Doct. 2 the Lord as a fruit of true repentance which shall follow immediately vpon our conuersion vnto God and without which conuersion wee can neuer attaine vnto this sanctified knowledge of the Lord Iesus which will one day giue vs an admittance into the eternall inheritance The true knowledge of God in Christ is giuen only to the Elect after their conuersion We are taught that the true knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ is giuen onely vnto the Elect and doth follow their repentance and conuersion vnto God for so is it taught vs heere after that these beleeuing Iewes had exhorted stirred vp one another to returne vnto the Lord they promise this knowledge vnto themselues as a fruit of their repentance conuersion vnto God Then shall wee haue knowledge that is howsoeuer wee haue heretofore deceyued our own soules resting vpon our owne selues our own knowledge and righteousnesse which indeede is but generall and confused and such as the wicked themselues may partake of yet now if wee will repent of our sins and Returne againe wnto the Lord from whom wee haue departed by our manifold impieties we shal haue giuen vnto vs a sanctified knowledge of the Lord Iesus yea such a liuely knowledge that will neuer leaue vs till it set vs into the full possession of life eternall according to that of our Sauiour This is life eternall Io. 17.3 to know thee to bee the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent And againe our Sauiour witnesseth the same in another place where hee sayth Io. 6.45 All the Elect are taught of God And the Prophet Ieremy maketh it the glory of all the Elect Thus sayth the Lord Ier. 9.24 Let not the Wiseman glory in his wisdom nor the strong man glory in his strength neyther let the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth mee sayth the Lord. It is the singular gift of Gods grace not giuen as I said before vnto al men indifferently but onely to the Elect as our Sauiour testifieth of his Disciples Mar. 4.11 To you it is giuen to know the mistery of the Kingdom of God but vnto them which are without all things are done in Parables Phil. 3.9 that they seeing may not see c. Rom. 10.2 And the Apostle Paul esteemed al things but dung incomparison of this knowledge without it zeale is little worth and sacrifice is in vaine Hos 6.6 And this knowledge is brought and conuayed vnto vs by the ministery of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 1.20 It is not the knowledge of God reueiled in the Booke of his Creatures that he heere speakes of 2 Cor. 4.6 nor a knowledge of God reuealed in the morall law of God where God requireth absolute and perfect obedience but it is that knowledge which is made known vnto vs through the couenant of grace in the glorious Gospell of Christ And hence it is that the Apostle sayth Rom. 10.3 that the Iewes knowing the righteousnesse which is by the Law and went about to stablish it and to seeke to bee iustified by it being altogether ignorant of this Euangelicall righteousnesse which is by faith without the works of the Law and no maruell for as the Apostle sayth that they whose cogitations are darkned are strangers from the life of God Well then knowest thou not Christ what hee is and what hee hath done and how his death sufferings may bee auaileable for thee to the saluation of thy Soule Let mee tell thee that thou art not yet in the way to eternall life for if
sinnes and rebellions Wee learne hence this point of Doctrine Doct. 2 That the Lod is the Author of all punishments for sinne The Lord is the author of all punishments for sinne though hee vse secondary causes and some outward meanes yet hee is the Author of all iudgements and punishments vpon men and women Indeed hee vseth sometime men to do his will as his rod to punish his people for so is Ashur called the Lords rodde Esay 10.5 to whip his people and his Staffe to beat them The Lord vseth sometimes the Deuils themselues to afflict his people Iob. 1. as wee see in Iobs affliction yet so as the Lord was the chiefe Author thereof the Deuill but an instrument Euen so al iudgements come from God hee imposeth and inflicts them on his people for their sinnes Excellent is that place of the Prophet Esay to this purpose But now Esay 43.1.2.3 thus sayth the Lord that created thee O Iacob and hee that formed thee O Israel feare not for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by name thou art mine when thou passest thorough the waters I will bee with thee and thorough the flouds that they shall not ouerflow thee c. And againe Shall there be any euill in the City and the Lord hath not done it This point is fully declared by Moses when hee sayth If yee will not obey mee nor doe all these commandements Leu. 26.16.17 I will appoint ouer you fearefulnesse a consumption and a burning ague the sword famine and pestilence to destroy you and to make you few in number Let this schoole vs if the Lord so deale with vs If the Crosse come to vs as a thing iudged fit of God Let vs not set him a stint to say thus much will I beare and no more but leaue the same to his owne good pleasure expecting and enduring euen one vpon the necke of another taking hold of his promise by a liuely faith that Hee will neuer lay more vpon vs then wee shall bee able to beare but will giue vs a happy issue vnto them all that wee shall gaine more in the Spirit then we can lose in the flesh and that the Crosse in Gods due time shall depart to our aduantage to leaue a blessing behind it This Doctrine haue I cleared in the first verse of this Chapter Let this suffice for this Text. Wee come to the vses of it Let vs all take knowledge of this Doctrine that Vse 1 the Lord is the Author of all punishments whatsoeuer by what instrument soeuer it pleaseth him to vse for the accomplishing of the same Iob the faithfull seruant of the Lord acknowledgeth this when he saith The Lond giueth the Lord taketh away yet wee know that it was the Deuil and wicked men whom the Lord vsed as his instruments to afflict this his holy seruant And let vs learne to acknowledge that all punishments sent of God come from his hand and he imposeth and layeth them vpon vs eyther as punishments of our sinnes Iob. 2.10 as heere in this Text or else for the triall of our faith patience and the like graces But of this before Secondly this may serue to condemne those foolish Vse 2 men that impute all to fortune and chance all their troubles miseries crosses sicknesses losses and the like that happen vnto them in their bodies children goods cattell they impute them all to blind Fortune and chance and neuer looke vp to the hand of God to see his angry countenance turned towards thē by reason of their sinnes and horrible impieties Here is Ignorance with a witnesse Where is the prouidence of God all this while which rules and gouernes all things that are in heauen and earth Oh let vs labour to reforme this common fault amongst vs and looke higher euen vnto God himselfe from whence they come This knowledge and acknowledging that God doth inflict his iudgements punishments and afflictions vpon vs for our sinnes it is a good meanes to bridle vs and to keepe vs from impatiency murmuring and muttering against the Lord. The Lord sent Shemi to curse 2. Sam. 16.10 who dare say then why doest thou curse mee so Iob The Lord giueth the Lord taketh away blessed bee the name of the Lord And the want of this is the cause why men bee so impatient in sicknesse and misery because they do not consider that it is the hand of the Lord layd vpon them for their sinnes and so they neuer make any vse at al of Gods iudgements thinking eyther that they come by chance lucke or fortune or else looke onely vpon the outward means and instrument and not vnto the Lord himselfe Oh let vs learne to bee wise to lift vp our eyes higher to see that it is the hand of the Lord I draw my sword I kill and make aliue I send the plague and pestilence to consume to destroy And the knowledge of this is a good meanes to humble vs and to make vs to confesse our sinnes that the Lord is holy in all his wayes and righteous in all his works the which is acknowledged by the Prophet Dauid when hee sayth I know O Lord Psal 119.75 that thy iudgements are right and that thou hast afflicted me iustly And if wee can but once truely apprehend this that it is the Lord that striketh it will make vs euen to blesse God when hee seemes to deale with vs most hardly giuing him the prayse of equity as Dauid doth here acknowledging that his sharpest corrections are not so great as our sinnes And these two things will bee great motiues to patience in trouble if wee consider that the same affliction is measured out vnto vs from the Lord Who is faithfull and will lay no more vpon vs then we are able to beare And next that our stripes are not according to our sinnes for if he should beate vs with as many rods as wee haue grieued him with sinnes hee should adde yet ten times more vnto our greatest afflictions I haue cut downe and slaine them THe second point is the indgement and punishment it selfe and the manner of it The iudgement it selfe which shewes that the same is no small iudgement but a very grieuous punishment For I haue cut downe and slaine them as though the Lord should haue sayd whereas they would not receyue my Doctrine nor beleeue my Word that they might bee brought to repentance and so bee saued I haue now cut them down slaine their soules by my Word and wounded them euen to death eternall for as my Word which I would haue made the sweet sauour of life vnto life is now by their rebellion and stubbornnesse turned vnto them to bee the wofull sauour of death vnto death Hence wee may obserue that of all the iudgements Doct. 3 of God that befal a man in this life there is none more grieuous or feareful then an hard heart that wil not stoupe to
Oh let my soule bee free from this for To whom will I haue respect vnto sayth the Lord but to him that is of a contrite heart and trembles at my Word Esa 66.2.5 This Word is to the godly heart that is humbled for sinne the sweet sauor of life vnto life but to the seared heart the woful sauor of death vnto death and in this respect the Word is like to the thunderbolt the thunderbolt is of that nature that if it light vpon any soft matter it hurteth it not wounds it not nor breaks it not But if it fall vpon any hard matter as vpon a tree a stone wall it breakes it in peeces and rents it in sunder it will breake the bones and hurt not a mans flesh Euen so the Word of God it is of that nature that if it fall vpon a soft heart and tender heart it will doe it good it will comfort it and instruct it it will burne vp the drosse and filth of sin in that soft heart But if this thunderbolt of the Word of God light vpon a hard and stony heart it will wound it rend it yea kill it euen to eternall death vnlesse they repent This is the state of a wicked mans heart and therefore of al men he is most miserable Vse 2 Secondly doth the Word of God wound and kill to death eternall such rebellious and stubborne sinners doth it hurt none but such stony hearts doth the Lords thunderbolt kill none but stony hearts Oh then let vs intreat the Lord to free vs from this great and heauy iudgement of hardnesse of heart which makes the Word of God and all other meanes vnprofitable vnto vs and let vs labour to haue soft hearts broken hearts and brused hearts Oh let the Word of the Lord enter giue it passage that it may cut down sinne in thee that thy sinnes cut not thee down at the last Note this well for this bee thou sure of O man whatsoeuer thou bee that if thou find not out thy sinnes now they will bee sure to find out thee hereafter When the Lord speaketh of a great mercy that he would shew vnto a people hee sayth thus I will take away their stony hearts Ezech. 36.26 and I wil giue them hearts of flesh Oh that the Lord would take away our stony hearts and giue vs fleshy and tender hearts that his Word might not kill vs and slay vs to death eternall But alas though this hard heart bee the most grieuous iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life yet who thinks so of it who feeles it who complaines of it No no men and women haue no feeling of it yea though this hard heart and heauy iudgement of God raigne in most places and most men bee possessed with hardnes of heart and carnall security and so dead a sleepe in sinne that the Lord may thunder from heauen and his iudgements rattle about our eares yet by reason of this deadnesse and hardnesse of heart men are like the Smithes dogge sleepe still snort still though the flame and sparckles flie about his eares and sindge his haire and though men can complaine and rore at the paine of the stone in the Kidney and seeke send farre and neare for ease and say they are neuer able to endure it yet of this fearefull and most heauy iudgement The stone of the heart men feele no paine neuer cry for helpe to be eased of it Wee know Oh wee know euery man in his owne bosome the sinnes the which wee most secretly foster and will not let goe But as Saint Paul exhorteth the Iewes euen so will I you To conclude this Doctrine Take heed Heb. 3.13 Ezech. 36.26 Oh take heed lest in any of you there bee found a false and an euill heart to depart from the liuing God for of all the iudgements that Almighty God can lay vpon the sons of men this is the greatest from this estate the Lord of his endlesse mercy deliuer vs. Amen Amen Thirdly let vs marke heere how the Lord iudgeth Vse 3 of such as bee wounded and killed by his Word and cut downe by his iudgements published out of his Word the Lord accounts of this iudgement as that that is the most fearefull and terrible for the Lord heere inflicts it as the greatest punishment of all for their euill wayes their stubbornnesse and rebellion against the Lord and against all those gracious meanes that hee had vsed for their good for their hypocrisie and hardnesse of heart and the like horrible sinnes that were to bee found amongst them for the punishment of them all the Lord sayth I haue cut them downe and saine them but not with the sword not with the plague which are fearefull and terrible but with my Word q. d. I haue not onely taught and instructed you by my Word and shewed you what I would haue you to doe and what to leaue vndone but I haue by this plaine teaching of you and by my doctrine propounded vnto you euen pearced your very soules and consciences so as in spite of your teeth you must needs acknowledge though yee bee neuer so obstinate and rebellious that you haue been wounded and haue felt the force of my Word to kill you to conuince your consciences of your sinnes and rebellions and that my iudgements are most iustly brought vpon you Hence wee see what a fearefull iudgement of God it is for those which liue in sinne and delight in sinne when as they heare their sinnes condemned out of the Word of God they know that they doe euill they must needs confesse that the Word of the Lord hath conuicted their consciences of their sinnes and euill wayes so as they know it and haue felt their soules beaten and wounded and euen slaine by the power of the Word of God This is a grieuous sinne indeed to sinne against conscience to sinne against knowledge to sinne presumptuously with a high hand it is a high step to the sin against the Holy Ghost when men hearing and acknowledging the Word of God to bee true feele their consciences to checke them for their vile and wicked wayes and yet they will walke on still against knowledge and against conscience and so draw downe Gods iudgements vpon themselues Oh then if wee heare the Word of God and perceiue the Lord to touch our hard hearts so as we must needs acknowledge this Doctrine that the Lord smites thy hard and benummed heart as that thou canst say I am guilty of this sinne I heare God will punish it seuerely and cut me downe by his Word and slay mee I say Oh then especially take heed how thou liuest in thy sinne still against knowledge and against conscience It is the high way to the sinne against the Holy Ghost which cannot be pardoned but let vs rather leaue our sinnes and forsake them and take heed of going on in the same for certaine it is it is but
the fore-runner of some fearefull iudgement vnto the soule of that man I haue cut them downe by my Prophets I haue slaine them by the words of my mouth IN that the Lord doth threaten this iudgement of al Doct. 4 other as the greatest that hee could bring vpon them namely to Cut them downe and to slay them The Word of God is able to pearce the hardest heart and that not by an ordinary meanes or slaughter but by his Prophets and Word that is that he would make good his Word in their mouthes and bring to passe all those terrible and fearefull iudgements that they had denounced against them from the Lord. Hence we see the great power of the Word of God it is able to pearce the hardest heart that is The word of God makes mention of two sorts of swords The sword of the mouth and the materiall sword as that place in the Hebrewes The Word of God is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then a two edged sword Heb. 4.12 entereth thorough euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the Soule and the Spirit and of the Ioynts and the Marrow and is a decerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart The people of the Iewes before that Peter spake vnto them were full of hardnesse of heart yea their hearts before were as hard as steele nothing could pricke or pearce them Act. 2.37 they had committed monstrous murder they shed innocent bloud euen the bloud of the sonne of God and yet they were neuer touched in their hearts for that sinne But when Peter came with his weapon namely the Word of God and told them that they were those that had crucified the Lord of life this wounded them to the quicke as that they cryed out in the bitternesse of their loules O men and brethren what shall wee doe to bee saued Oh tell vs tell vs whether there be not some course yet to be taken that wee that haue beene such desperate sinners might yet againe obtaine Gods fauour and bee saued This was a blessed battel that was fought with them behold then in them the wonderfull power of the Word of God It cuts the throat of sinne and makes men become dead vnto sinne that they might become a liue vnto God Ier. 23.29 Is not the Word of Iehouah like vnto fire It is able to melt and mollifie a heart of steele it is like a hammer that breakes the hardest stone euen so this Word of God is able to bruise a stony heart which is as hard as flint Rom. 15.16 I am not ashamed sayth the Apostle of the Gospell of God because I know that it is the power of God to saluation to all them that beleeue 1. Cor. 1.21 Yea it is compared to a sacrificing knife Ephes 2.1.2 which will kill and cut the throat of sinne and make the most rebellious heart to breake It will put spirit and life in the dead hearts of dead secure sinners euen such as lay dead rotting in sin If it enter not into thee to the rooting out of sinne and the cutting downe of thy vncleannesse for then it pearceth for thy good to life eternall It wil bee sure to wound and to pearce thy dead and benummed soule to the hardning of thee in thy sinnes to death eternall Esay 55. for it neuer returnes in vaine but is eyther the sauor of life vnto life or the sauor of death vnto death The Lord sent his word vnto Pharaoh againe and againe by Moses and Aaron but hee would not bee humbled by it Exod. 9. â—7 1. Reg. 22.8 therefore hee became the more hardned in sinne And Ahab was then the deadliest enemy to his owne soule Mich. 2.7 when hee hated Michai for not speaking to his fantasie but warned him faithfully of the iudgement which afterward came vpon him Zach. 7.11 The Word of God is an aduersary to none but to such as are aduersaries to themselues Note this well neyther doth it condemne any but such as without repentance assuredly shall one day bee condemned of the Lord. And therefore let the wicked wretches of the world stoppe their eares neuer so much from the hearing of the threatnings of the Word yet they shall neuer stoppe that iudgement which the Word hath threatned There is a cry that will come at Midnight and will waken the dead But Oh blessed are they who in time are wakened out of the sleepe of their sinnes before that dreadfull iudgement come This serues to commend vnto vs the excellencie Vse 1 and power of the Word of God which is able both to kill sinners and to make them aliue again and puts a manifest difference hetweene the Word of man the Word of God All the wisdom learning eloquence and wit of men is not able to wound the hard heart of a wicked obstinate and rebellious sinner onely the Word of God can doe it euen the plaine and simple preaching of the Word can doe it 1. Cor. 1.21 Psal 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect to conuert the soule There is more power in the plaine rude and simple preaching of the Word of God to conuert a sinner then in the most learned and excellentest eloquence in men nay Rom. 10.14.15 it is impossible for all the eloquence in the World to saue a Soule it is peculiar onely to the simple preaching of the Gospell nor all the Writings of men cannot turne the heart vnto God vnlesse the Lord doe blesse the preaching of the Word to doe it and though nothing bee so contrary to our Nature as the Word of God yet nothing is so powerfull to conuert as is this word by Gods blessing vpon it being his owne ordinance appointed to that end Secondly seeing the Word of God is of this power Vse 2 that it will enter and pearce into stony hearts and seeing if it cut not downe sinne and corruption it will wound to death eternall all rebellious and hard hearted sinners Oh then let vs submit our hearts vnto it let vs suffer the Word to pearce and wound our hearts for sinne to cut downe all sinne and corruption in vs here or else it will bee the Lords Sword of the Spirit to kill vs and to wound vs to death eternall Ephes 6.1 Hee will smite the earth with the rodde of his mouth and slay the wicked and rebellious with the breath of his lippes that is the Lord will make good all those feareful iudgements which his seruants haue denounced against them in his name Esay 11.4 And as the raine that fals makes the earth more fruitfull or else more barren so it fareth with the Word it eyther cuts downe sinne to our amendment or else leaues most deadly wounds in our soules euen to death eternall Now then seeing the Word of God is so powerfull Oh how should this stirre vp euery man and woman to the hearing of
it He will reuiue vs Raise vs vp and wee shall liue in his sight For the first of these which is the person from whom all helpe comfort and deliuerance doth come it is the Lord The Person for this is that the Church acknowledgeth here when they say Hee will reuiue vs hee will rayse vs vp It was hee that had wounded them and spoyled them so they seeke onely to him for helpe and deliuerance Doct. 1 Whose example may bee a notable president vnto vs in all misery to direct vs In all our miseries wee must flie vnto God for deliuerance vnto whom we should sue for deliuerance euen to the Lord who as it is hee alone that killeth so it is hee alone that maketh aliue againe And in the performance of this duety the holy Seruants of God haue gone before vs who in the midst of all their troubles and afflictions haue euermore had recourse vnto God as that of the Prophet Dauid so oft in the booke of the Psalmes Lord how are my aduersaries increased against mee Psal 3.12 many say to my soule there is no helpe for him in his God But thou O Lord art my Buckler Psal 7.1.2 And againe O Lord in thee haue I put my trust saue mee from them that persecute me 1. King 17. Exod. 12. Deu. 32.39 and deliuer me Who was it that sent Manna to the Israelites when they wanted bread but the Lord Who was it that could giue water out of a stony rock but the Lord And who was it againe that could command the Rauens to feed his Prophet but the Lord And who was it that brought the people out of Egypt when they were so pursued by Pharaoh euen to the red Sea where through they passed safely when the Egyptians perished but the Lord This doth Moses set downe 2. Kin. 19.3 Act. 12.1.2 Io 5.14 Dan. 9.17 at large when hee speaketh in the person of God Behold now for I am hee and there is no Gods with me I kil giue life I wound and make whole neither is there any that can deliuer out of my hand This duty was practised of good King Ezechiâ—s when Ierusalem was besieged and the Temple was in danger to be desolated What was the course that this godly King did take in this time of great calamity and misery of the Church surely hee sought vnto the Lord and prayed saying Io. 11.41 O Lord I beseech thâ—e saue vs out of his hand that all the Kingdoms of the earth may know that thou O Lord art onely God Besides these plentifull examples and the like whereof the Scriptures are full wee haue the promise of God that hee will heare vs and deliuer vs if we seeke onely for helpe and deliuerance at his hands As that place of the Psalmist Psal 50.15 Mat. 7.7 Psal 34.9 37.5 Call vpon mee in the day of thy trouble and I will heare thee and deliuer thee And againe Aske and you shall haue Seeke and you shall find Knocke and it shall be opened vnto you Oh what gracious and mercifull promises hath God made vnto his Church and people and all to make vs to rely vpon him It is not tribulation it is not afflictions that shall any whit hinder our blessednesse the Lord hath promised to sanctifie them all vnto vs and that they shall worke for our good they shall neuer depart from vs but they shall leaue a blessing behind them Now let vs come to the vses of this Doctrine The Doctrine being thus cleared that as all iudgements Vse 1 and afflictions come from God so wee must seeke onely to him for helpe and deliuerance this serueth in the first place to condemne that horrible and diuelish practise of many in these dayes and times wherein wee liue that when the hand of God is vpon them Brand of a wicked man to resort to Witches for health in time of distresse and that the Lord doth strike their bodies with long and tedious sicknesse losse of Cattell or the like where they might see clearely the hand of God and the finger of the Lord What doe they out by and by â—â—nd out to some Cunning man as they call them of Cunning women or rather indeed vnto the Deuill himselfe neuer looke vnto the purpose prouidence of God which ruleth and gouerneth all things from the highest to the lowest in the world without whose purpose and prouidence nothing could come to passe no not the least ache in a mans little finger as our Sauiour teacheth The farthing Sparrow cannot light on the ground without the prouidence of your heauenly Father Oh what folly and madnesse is this in men that they should thus forsake the Lord runne to the Deuill surely it is a note and a brand of a wicked man for the child of God in the time of misery and affliction doth euer turne vnto God by true and vnfained repentance and doth bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life they beleeue in God and rest vpon him for comfort and deliuerance But of this before Secondly wee may obserue hence the endlesse Vse 2 goodnesse of God towards his Church and people that hee neuer leaueth them without comfort Comfort to the godly that hee is priuy to their miseries and will deliuer them for if the Lord command vs to seeke vnto him in time of trouble and great distresse surely then the Lord will not send vs away empty not suffer vs to depart away ashamed let our present care then bee to serue the Lord and then wee shall haue our part and portion in this perogatiue which all the wicked and vngodly wretches of the world come short off I called vpon the Lord in trouble sayth the Prophet Dauid and the Lord heard mee at large Mat. 28. All other comforts come short of this that in time of Sicknesse Triall Trouble Assaults of Sathan Temptation and houre of death wee shall finde comfort if wee Returne vnto him Oh blessed life Oh happy condition that God 〈…〉 leaue his comfortlesse but will bee thus with them 〈…〉 end of the world So that no man can now 〈…〉 vaine to serue the Lord Mal. 3.14 And what profit 〈…〉 â—â—â—ping the commandement herein wee see our Labour is not in vaine in the Lord because in the middest of all our troubles miseries and afflictions here Rom. 8.37 We are more then Conquerours through him that hath loued vs. Oh then let vs goe vnto God and seeke euer for helpe and deliuerance at his hands No Father is more ready and willing to heare his child then the Lord is ready and neare at hand to heare vs. Let vs tread in the steps of Dauid Ezechias the Prophets and Apostles and other holy men of God who haue euer in their greatest troubles resorted vnto the Lord for helpe and deliuerance And howsoeuer the Papists may teach men to pray to Saints and Angels to the Virgin Mary and
All men by nature are dead in respect of any spirituall life namely dead in trespasses and sinnes sin is the bane and death of our soules for the Wages of sinne is death Death bringeth vs into the full and absolute power of the Deuill that wee are all of vs thus seruants vnto sinne It is plain by the Apostles complaint Eph. 2.1 Rom. 6.23 Rom. 7.14 Rom. 6.16 Gen. 2.17 I am carnall sold vnder sinne and then vnto whom soeuer wee giue our selues as seruants to obey his seruants we are Now that we are all by nature seruants vnto sin and vnto death it cannot bee denied for what was it that God sayd vnto Adam In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death As soone as Adam had sinned presently the sentence tooke place and Adam is now become the child of death and eternall destruction became his portion and this is the condition of all Adams posterity there is not the greatest the noblest the wealthiest nor the fayrest amongst the sonnes of men but wee are thus bound till the Sonne make vs free Men are not onely sicke with sinne or wounded by sinne or halfe dead but starke dead bereft of all spirituall sense and motion And this doth the Apostle most liuely effectually set out vnto vs in another place when he sayth Yee were once darknes Eph. 5.8 but now are light in the Lord He doth not say we were in darknesse Io. 3.6 for then perhaps wee might haue come of our selues into the light againe But yee were darknesse Darknesse it selfe yea nothing else but Darknesse and hence againe is it that naturall men are called Flesh not Fleshly but flesh it selfe and the wisdom that is Rom. 8.7 the best part that can bee in a naturall man what is it but Enmitie with God it may bring a man to Hell but it cannot lead him one inch nearer vnto heauen and therefore being thus starke dead in sinne Alas what can a dead man doe to helpe himselfe No more can a natural man moue so much as one finger to procure saluation to himselfe no no being dead in sinne we cannot so much as thinke one good thought much lesse haue wee free will of our selues to seeke for saluation vntil such time as the Lord hath reuiued vs and quickned vs by the Spirit of grace Lazarus in the Gospell had layne dead foure dayes in the graue so as hee beganne to rotte and to stinke yet when our Sauiour Christ cryed with a loud voyce Lazarus Io. 11. come foorth hee arose incontinently and came and stood foorth This is our case and condition yea the estate and condition of euery soule in the world we be starke dead in trespasses and sinnes nay we lye rotting and putrifying in the graue of our sinnes and vntill Iesus Christ by his spirit and loude voyce of the preaching of the Gospell which is the Word of life shal breath within vs the breath of life and reuiue vs poore soules wee cannot moue so much as one little finger to the Kingdome of heauen This may serue in the first place to confute that erroneous Vse 1 Doctrine of the Papists who say that a man hath naturally Free-will in himselfe by vertue whereof hee can dispose himselfe to the worke of his regeneration Condemnes the Doctrine of the Papists touching Free Will whose opinion if it were granted then were the power of God lesse seene in our second birth then in our first birth which were iniurious to the Spirit of God so to thinke for what can a dead man do to his owne quickning and raysing vp from the graue can hee turne himselfe or any way fitte or prepare himselfe to bee raysed surely no it is altogether impossible nay let a dead man haue all the helpe that may be to bee Raysed vp yet vnlesse the soule bee giuen vnto him all is in vaine so fareth it with the naturall man he can by no meanes dispose himselfe to any spirituall action or motion vnlesse some spirituall life be put into him But what sayeth the Aduersary he may giue his consent to his quickning though hee quicken not himsele But say I what consent call wee the consent of a man that is dead but not to stand vpon their presumptuous doctrine of Free wil the which amongst many other points of Popery maintained by them hath lifted vp many so high amongst them with this vaine opinion of their own worthinesse that they find not themselues to stand in need for the Lord to lift them vp Then in the feare of God let euery man and woman Vse 2 and euery mothers child labour to see our misery to see our poore Soules how they lye rotting in sinne let vs Serues to humble vs in that wee are dead till the Lord quicken vs by his spirit seeing wee bee as the poore Flyes in Winter starke dead not able to moue our little finger to heauen pray vnto the Lord that hee would cause the blessed Sunne-shine of his Word and Gospell to shine vpon vs to warme our cold and benummed soules to quicken our dead consciences by the word of Life and the blessed worke of his holy Spirit for so long as God doth not quicken vs nor reuiue vs alas our soules be dead in sinne and this death is the next step vnto eternall death in the fire of Hell And therefore their case is dangerous and miserable which sleepe snort in sin lye starke dead in the graue of sin vntill it please the Lord to reuiue them by the preaching of the Gospell which is the Power of God vnto Saluation to Reuiue and to quicken our dead soules This being so Note we see then it is no maruell though many that are present in the Assemblies of Gods people at the preaching of the Word and yet reape no profite by it the reason is they are dead now sound a Trumpet in a dead mans eare and he heares it not Euen so Esay 58. let the Minister of Gods Word cry neuer so loude lift vp his voyce like a Trumpet men are no more moued eyther with the comforts of the Word or with the threates of the Law then the seates men sit on because they are dead till the Lord doe please to put life into them And as for those that haue eares to heare with profite and comfort blesse God for it and giue him the glory for so great a mercy for certaine it is by nature the condition of all men is alike till the Lord hath wrought in vs the worke of grace and Reuiued vs with the breath of life Oh what cause then hath man by nature to swell with pride or to bee lifted vp with any conceit at all of his owne worthinesse though they haue neuer so many excellent parts of nature as wit capacity strength beauty or outward gifts as riches honour authority c. yet surely men may see that if
doth import vnto vs the perseuerance that is required in all those that seeke for this Knowledge Perseuerance and constancy is required in seeking for sauing knowledge Act. 17.12 Wee see the Huntsman for his pleasure in his game hee can bee content to seeke in euery bush and to plod euery furrow till he find his game and then hee neuer leaues from morning till night Oh how much more should we seeke and neuer lin seeking for this heauenly and sauing Knowledge till wee find it The men of Bâ—rea are commended for seeking turning their books to confirme and to encrease this Knowledge in them So should wee not onely heare but also Search the Scriptures examine euery Chapter leafe by leafe and line by line till wee find this Knowledge It is not inough to begin to seeke bot wee must continue seeking for this Knowledge Luk. 11.62 Hee that puts his hand to the Lords Plough and looketh backe is not meet for the Kingdom of God Mat. 24.4 but hee which endures to the end shall be saued Againe 1. Cor. 16.13 Stand fast in the faith quite you like men and bee strong This is further cleared by that speech of our Sauiour to the Church of Smyrmye Reu. 2.10 Bee thou faithfull vnto death Gal 33. and I will giue thee a Crowne of life And Paul blamed the Galathians and called them Foolish for beginning in the spirit and ending in the Flesh for not holding on as they had begun and surely the estate of such men is most fearefull it had beene better for them that they had neuer known the truth Nay it had been better for them that they had neuer beene borne 2. Pet. 2.20 as Christ speaketh of Iudas as the Apostle obserues If they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the World through the acknowledging of the Lord and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet tangled againe therein the latter end with them is worse then the beginning And the reason of this Doctrine is cleare Reason for of all graces vertues it is onely constancy and perseuerance that shall bee crowned As no sinne condemns a man but this final impenitency or continuance in the same sinne so no grace or vertue shall bee crowned but that which continues to the end It is only continuance and perseuerance in any grace whatsoeuer that shall bee crowned with glory for If a righteous man turne from his righteousnesse Ezec. 18.24 and do the thing that is euill all the righteousnesse that hee hath done shall bee remembred no more hut in the wickednesse that hee hath committed in the same hee shall die And therefore wee may safely conclude that continuance perseuerance in seeking after more knowledge euery spiritual grace is that which doth crowne all our vertues whatsoeuer If then thou hast entered into the profession of Religion Vse if thou hast begunne to shew thy selfe sound in knowledge and that thou hast tasted of the power of Gods Word Oh bee constant in that soundnesse and in that sincerity Goe on in the same grow dayly more and more towards perfection let thy works be more at last then at first And surely this exhortation is very needfull and cannot sufficiently bee vrged in this back-sliding age wherein many with Demas fall into loue with the world Reu. 2.4 and with the Church of Ephesus loose their first loue and grow secure and carelesse nay neyther hote nor cold in Religion but the Lord one day will spue such back sliders out of his mouth Alas wee are hardly brought on to make a beginning in matters of Religion for it fareth with vs as it did with Zacheus Luk. 19. when hee had a purpose to see Christ the multitude stood in his way that hee was constrayned to goe vp into a Fig-tree so fareth it with euery Christian man and woman when wee haue entertained any good purpose of heart to seeke the Lord to labour to get knowledge into our Soules and to grow and encrease in the same Oh how many lets and stumbling blocks will Sathan now beginne to lay in our way inward and outward and all to keepe vs from enioying of Christ But when a man shall ouer stride them all and giue vp his name to Christ and then fall away this were a most wofull estate and condition Note they are no better then dogges and swine and it had beene better for such that they had neuer knowne the truth then after they haue knowne it to fall away for how doth this man or woman cause the Lord by degrees a little little to take away from them his Spirit that whereas in times past they had a loue to the truth were carefull to heare and to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath hee might now vpon their contempt of grace giue them ouer as prisoners to Sathan who shal so manicle their hands feet yea heart and all that by degrees they shall grow to hate and contemn both grace itselfe the meanes to obtaine the same Thirdly wee must not onely vse paines and perseuer in seeking for this knowledge Doct. but wee must also take delight in the same A godly man seekes after knowledge willingly and chearefully Wee see those that follow their sport take great delight in it this pleasure of theirs swallowes vp all their pain and makes it seem nothing vnto them So should wee in seeking for this blessed knowledge find our hearts rauished with a loue and a liking and a godly pleasure in the same You shal see that this hath beene the affection of the children of God in all ages Thus did Iob I esteemed thy word more then my appointed food Iob. 23.12 And this affection was in the Prophet Dauid when hee sayth Lord what loue haue I vnto thy Law Psal 119. all the day long is my study in them And in the description of a godly man the Prophet Dauid obserues this to bee one property in him Psa 1.2 Hee meditates in the Law of God day and night which shew vnto vs that hee takes delight in it for otherwise hee would neuer by night especially meditate vpon the same And Ieremie after hee had found the Word of God Ier. 15.16 hee did eate it and it was sweet vnto him nay it was his ioy and the reioycing of his Soule Psal 16.10 And the Prophet Dauid speaking in another place of this knowledge sayth That it is more to bee desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the honey and the honey combe And that which the Apostle setteth down concerning Almes Mat. 22.37 Rom 12.8 Deu. 6.5 2. Cor. 9.7 Ezec. 3.3 As euery man wisheth in his heart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessity but willingly for God loueth a chearefull giuer may truly bee vnderstood of euery Christian duety When wee pray wee must pray vnto God chearefully when wee are to heare
throweth his children into continuall miseries and afflictions Answere continuall pouerty and sicknesse all their dayes and the paine of a wounded conscience and troubled spirit till their last end yet it is for their good for by this meanes the Lord wil purge their corrupt cankered hearts to humble them throughly and to exercise their faith and patience to mortifie their carnall hearts to make them more earnest with God in praier and by their continuall afflictions to preserue and keepe them and preuent them from manifold sinnes and rebellions And yet notwithstanding God heares his children in their miseries and forsakes them not but in two dayes or at the most in three dayes that is in a very short time sends them comfort though hee take not their afflictions away yet he giues them that which is better for them Our Sauiour Christ prayed vnto his Father most earnestly with cries and teares to be freed from death Heb. 5.7 And was heard in that hee feared How was our Sauiour Christ heard in his Petition praying to be freed from death and yet hee must needes taste of the bitter cuppe of death Ans He was heard on this manner first in that hee was strengthned not onely to beare and suffer the death vpon the Crosse but to ouercome it and to vanquish it his Father sent an Angell to comfort him and afterward he was freed from the sorrowes of death And so it is with the poore members of Christ they be afflicted they liue in sorrow in pouerty in sicknesse in griefe of mind Well the Lord he giues them patience to suffer this affliction so as it is not tedious and grieuous vnto them and by his continuall afflicting of them he humbles them and purges them of their cankered corruption and stirres vp in them the feruency of prayer makes them out of loue with the world and makes them more to hunger after his mercy and to depend on his fatherly goodnes And thus though men thinke God forgets vs in our afflictions yet hee doth remember vs and giues vs that which is better for vs then if hee should altogether remoue his correction Iacob serued seuen yeers for Rahel and it seemed vnto him but a few dayes because hee loued her Gen. 29.20 And surely if we be perswaded of the loue of God that though hee afflict vs seuen times seuen yeares wee shall thinke it but a short time But the child of God oft complains that they be afflicted not onely with continuall pouerty and sicknesse but that they bee tormented with griefe of Soule and feele the heauy burthen of their sinnes and the anger of God against them for the same yet remember what befell thy Lord and Master Iesus Christ when hee went to execution the cruell Iewes made him carry his owne Crosse on his backe so long till hee could carry it no longer hee was so faint then behold the Lord sent a good Symon of Syren to carrie his Crosse for him So art thou crossed with affliction is thy soule wounded with the griefe and smart of sinne and doest thou pant and breath vnder the heauy burthen of the Crosse remember what thy Sauiour sayth vnto thee Come vnto mee all yee that trauell and bee heauy laden Mat. 11.28 and I will refresh you If thou canst runne to Iesus Christ in the middest of thy griefe and misery by true repentance and earnest prayer then he will become a blessed Simon to beare thy Crosse for thee hee will put vnder his owne shoulder hee will take thy sinnes and the anger of God and beare them on his owne backe and if wee can but fling our selues into the blessed Armes of his mercy hee will giue euerlasting rest vnto our soules And lastly whereas many of Gods children complaine Lam. 1.12 as Ieremy See if there were euer any sorrow like my sorrow And as the Prophet Dauid complaines Hath God forgotten to bee gracious and hath hee shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure Yet they must know and confesse that God doth in a short time comfort his children and that his afflictions are neyther troublesome nor tedious for though they last for the space of a mans life what is a mans life but a spanne long and a thousand yeares with God are but as a day Againe when they bee past and gone though they lasted many yeares it seemes but a short time And what is twenty yeares affliction in comparison of eternall ioy and happinesse in heauen who had not rather leade their liues in misery here then in eternall torment in Hell fire in the life to come Well seeing the afflictions of Gods children bee Vse 2 but light and moment any and last but for a few daies wee must learne that lesson which Saint Paul teacheth vs namely to reioyce in affliction knowing Rom. 5.3 that affliction bringeth foorth patience patience in suffering bringeth forth experience of Gods loue and fauour and experience hope and hope makes vs rest our selues wholly content to wayte the Lords leasure and were it not for this hope that God wil one day ease vs the hearts of Gods children would burst in sunder and his hope makes vs not ashamed seeing that such is the loue of God that he neuer failes nor forsakes his children Many indeed are our infirmities feares cares sorrowes and troubles heere yet in the middest of them all wee must say with the Prophet Psal 42.5 Why art thou cast downe Oh my Soule and why art thou disquieted within mee Wayte on God for I will yet giue him thanks he is my present helpe and my God Let vs not therfore despayre in the time of trouble Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall tread Sathan vnder your feet shortly he is faithfull which hath promised Affliction must bee our portion heere wee must then get faith and patience into our soules that so we may hold out vnto the end The third generall obseruation is the deliuerance it selfe with the seuerall fruits and benefites therof in these words Hee will reuiue vs hee will rayse vs vp The deliuerance it selfe and wee shall liue in his sight Eph. 2.1 which words are expounded by the Apostle Paul when hee sayth Yee that were dead in trtspasses and sinnes hath hee quickned Meaning thereby that vntill such time as wee are quickned and that the Lord doth reuiue vs by the grace of Regeneration wee be no better then dead men howsoeuer we walke and talke heare and performe the actions of men yet in respect of any spirituall life or any spirituall actions alas wee are starke dead till the Lord reuiue vs this being so wee learne hence a twofold Doctrine First that by nature we are all starke dead in trespasses and sins And secondly that our Regeneration is as hardly wrought as to raise vp a dead man and to restore him againe to life Doct. 3 For the first of these wee are taught heere what we are by nature