waited for they made this their business to raise a good report and preserve a sweet savour upon the Promises which yet brought not forth as they expected they should but yet this they got by it the Promises left a good report on them Their Names by means thereof were as precious Oyntment Eccles 7.1 for that their conversation were as precious Oyntment to the Name of God Christ shews his acceptance of such by making known to such the most early discoveries of his further breaking forth of Glory beyond any other So it was in the case of the Text they that were at this early costly provision of Imbalm had the first Knowledg Evidence and Joy of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead and must be the first messengers of the blessed Tydings thereof John 20.1 14. to 18. Luke 24.10 Mark 16.9 10. They had not the first manifestation of it who were men of the greatest parts imployment or esteem Nothing is more obvious to frequent experience then the preventing Grace of Christ at least in keeping the spirits of such sweet quick lively and if any fore-tastes of approaching Glory be going such overcommers shall have the morning-star Rev. 2.28 Christ's acceptance is frequently signified this way They who do what they can to raise a sweet savour on the concerns of Christ shall be rendred the most useful blessed and a blessing of any others in their generations The blessings of the souls and bodies of them that were ready to perish shall come upon such Job 29.13 They shall be as dew frow the Lord and as the showers upon the grass that tarrieth not for man nor waiteth for the sons of men Micah 5.7 Their love to Christ laying out its self for him thus is likened to the Oyntment on the head of Aaron and the dew of Hermon and Sion for there the Lord commanded the blessing Psal 133. The Families Neighbours Fellow-members of such shall rise and call such blessed Prov. 31.28 Ezek. 34.26 The distinguishing mark of acceptation is reserved by Christ till the day of recompence which hastneth greatly in the which not the value of a cup of cold water hath been given on this sweetning design but shall have its eminent reward Upon that enquiry of the poor Disciples Mat. 19.27 Behold we have forsaken All and have followed thee what shall we have therefore It was a great All a few Fishing-Nets and Boats and the like poor things Yea but it was their All they had done and were undone as far as they could for Christ and what remaineth to them Truly they having followed Christ in the Regeneration or as Luke 22.28 continued with him in his Temptations he appoints to them a Kingdom as the Father appointed him They must eat and drink with him in his Kingdom sitting on Thrones and judging the Tribes of Israel and every one that hath forsaken Brothers or Houses or Fathers c. shall receive an hundred fold c. From the words a few things more tending to a closer Application of the whole shall serve for a close Vse 1. This might be improved by way of Information thus If Christ do put such a real high value upon all attempts that are levelled toward this design to preserve a sweet savour on his concerns when they are by the world exposed to stinking Then 1. May we gather how the heart of Christ stands aspecting such as do what they can to render him and the things of his Name and Glory odious by laying contempt and reproach upon it what in them lyeth surely it will be a bad day for such when he shall plead with them and vindicate the quarrel of his abused Name and Interest If they that honour him shall be thus honoured then they who despise him shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.20 It 's worth consideration what requitals in kind Chtist hath in store for such indignities done to him what funerals he hath reserved for such enemies See Isa 14.9 11 18 19 20. Hell from beneath is moved at thy coming Thy pompe is brought down to the grave and the noise of thy viols the worm is spread under thee and the worms cover thee They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee c. All the Kings of the Nations all of them lie in glory every one in their own house but thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch as the rayment of those that are slain thrust thorow with a sword As a carkass troden under foot thou shalt not be joyned with them in burial because thou hast destroyed thy Land and slain thy people the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned An Instance like unto this of the Lord's severity to such as have provoked him and abused his Glory we have Jer. 16.4 They shall die of a grievous death they shall not be lamented neither shall they be buried but they shall be as dung upon the face of the Earth These are some of the Lord's wayes that he can take and many times doth with such as are not tender of his Glory Consiâ—er this ye that forget God c. The funerals of Jezâ—bel that dreadful enemy to the Lord's Prophets and People may be a warning to such Persecuters 2dly It also lets us understand with what little savour he doâ—h and will regard those who have been pretenders to him in the dayes of Prosperity but in Adversity and under the passions and reproaches that â—ttend the Gospel they hide their faces as it were from him nay are ready to deal with him as the Pharisâ—es are condemned for doing Mat. 23.29 to the end Who built the Tombs of the Prophets and garnisht the Sepulchres of the Righteous and yet espouse and walk in the very spirit of thos that slew them see their doom and downfal in the same place 3dly It also shews how little thank-worthy they will be in the day of Christ and how much 't is to their loss of their comfort now and will be of their reward then who think every thing too much that they either actually lay out or put in hazard for the Name-sake of Christ. If a good wish indeed will do it or the blessing mentioned James 2.15 16. would be accepted that possibly might be spared but as for any thing that is costly or dangerous that cannot be adventured It 's an hard saying who can bear it Of such will not Christ say They that are ashamed of me and my Word before this evil and adulterous generation of them shall the Son of man be ashamed when he appears in his Glory and in the Glory of his Father and of all his Holy Angels Use 2. But I rather proceed to offer a few things that may tend to direct and ingage in this matter And here first some Cautions to prevent mistakes and miscarriages in the Preparation and Application of this Imbalm and then a few Directions and I shall conclude Caution 1. Take heed that you
his praise while I have my being so that thus 't is with me now Christ is lovely to me in all the afflictions I have met with in all I have seen and suffered wherefore rejoyce with me O my Friends let us rejoyce and bless the Name of the Lord together that hath dealt well with me and do not I beseech you disgrace the throne of his Glory because of me or this fleshly state that must be taken from you Murmur not I pray ye that yet you see not Saviours come up upon Mount Zion The reserve of Spirit is with him and the Lord hath many Children to bring in besides those that are brought that shall be brought in by vertue of fresh Anointing so as they shall be known to be Children of his that he hath blest And as I desire you would not weep for me so not inordinately for your selves neither adhere to Christ and fear none of those things ye shall suffer I have no deep insight into deep Mysteries but this I Believe God is a-rising to do some great thing in the World for Sion's sake and though it be hard for us to lose our Chariots and Horsemen some by Apostacy some by Death some by Scattering yet when the Gathering time shall be it will be no grief nor sorrow of heart to behold the way of Gods working in all these things when we shall say he hath done all things well There are many signs upon us that prognostick great things near at the doors though I dare not say I know much distinctly as to Times Means and Methods only be assured not one jot or title of all God hath spoke shall fail though our interpretations of them may fail If any ask how it stood with me as to these things at this season tell them If I die I die in as full Assurance that God will give reviving to his poor despised Cause and Interest as I do believe the Resurrection of this Body and that I know both the one and the other are founded on such a Word as shall stand as Mountains of Brass And advise them also to take heed how they wait on mens Indulgence so much talked of but let their Faith stand in the Wisdom Power and Faithfulness of God and their Prayers be directed more that way endeavouring to make Religion their business yet if any shall lean to such a deceitful Bow be not you dismayed or discouraged at it but hold on your way that shall be strength to you And now Oh now could I send Epistles to all the Churches in these things I would but that work I think is over be ye therefore as the Epistle of that to them And now my dear Brother and Sisters I desire to bless God for you and for your great tenderness to me but herein as to particulars my mouth is stopt I hope you will continue love to my poor Sister you see what a poor Creature she is yet I hope one that will find Mercy in the day of Christ And dear Sister A. L. remember me to all Saints in Plymouth and tell them I have no greater joy than to hear that they are of those Children that are walking in the Truth as to hear of any of them walking loose to Christ and loose to the Profession of him is my Souls grief Oh! tell them that as ever they hope to see my face with joy at the great Day that what they have seen and heard from me a poor worm that hath been according to the mind of the Lord they would do and the God of Peace shall be with them And now Friends as a * Sir H.V. good man once said so I say as to what you may have further to say to me or ask of me While the Oyl runs bring your Vessels His Sister asked what he had to say to her Family He answers They had been a kind poor Family the Lord make them his Family and dear Sister look over a weak Husband and Family and difficulties that may occur as to them and you You and I have been Witnesses to the Faithfulness of Christ how he hath provided for us in former dayes and I challenge you if you can to say to the contrary he hath not failed us thus far Then he said I am weak and faint A Friend by said to him The Lord the Creator to the ends of the Earth fainteth not but gives power to the faint and to those that have no might renews strength He answers Yes he doth so and will also roul away the reproach of his People in due time for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Oh this part this part of the reproaches of Christ this now almost eight years reproach What Glory is there in it to those that are helpt to bear up under it Then speaking to his Sister A. said Dear Sister Bear up bear up blessed be God for strength to you thus far bear up still I beseech you accept all in good part and pass by all weaknesses you and your Husband had Relations each of you dear to you both and also I trust to Christ I desire not complementally but really to be remembred to them all and desire they may be all gathered up to Christ to meet him at his appearing And I desire for you all that you may be strengthned to all the pleasure of God that is yet to come to pass concerning you and that you may come out of these great Tribulations as Sheep from the washing and though you may see me possibly go away from you in the fiery tryal yet it may be you may be admitted to that Mercy of being bid come out and shew your selves yet that is but little considering the snares that may yet attend such a state But Oh! how much clearer is my way to come out thus than by men Then speaking to the Maid he said I desire God may have the praise of what he hath wrought in and for you and wherever you are cast I desire you may walk as a chaste Virgin And to the Nurse he said I know not how you may think your self concerned in such discourse as this since these may seem strange things to you yet give me leave to say they are some of the true sayings of God how strange soever they may seem yea they are also needful things for you to be acquainted with Oh press after them with all earnestness Then a Friend present speaking after this manner Ah! Brother What is the meaning of these Dispensations of the Lord in snatching away his choicest Saints from amongst us and leaving the poorest and weakest to be Concerned for him in such a day making them ready in sorrow and sadness of heart to say By whom shall Jacob arise since he is so small To which he replied How small soever Jacob was yet Jacob's God was not small He is a great King and a God above all Godds and as was minded but now he
coming in a time of such weakness and when by the working of my Spleen which sent up dark and disturbing vapours clouding my imagination and made sore work within but the Lord made me see much of my own fleshly gloryings as also others in me and in my flesh which God would take down in this day of tryal when every ones work must he tryed of what sort it is even by fire and truly I was made to see to my shame much hypocrisie and formality in my converse with the Lord in one respect or other and that the Practical part of Religion I had yet arrived to little acquaintance with to what I had in dayes past but this brought me in the issue to see that I was what I was that was good only by grace and no room for flesh to glory but was brought through grace to experience this Truth that when I am weak then am I strong and that however it be yet the Lord forgetteth not his poor nor despiseth not his prisoners this is a brief account of the Way God led me in in this matter and hath so issued it that I trust through grace I shall yet come to lay down my weary head and heart in the peace of Gods speaking that will keep and carry me to the end His Friend told him here somewhat of the danger of attempting such great works under such disadvantages as these seasons and circumstances he had in these dayes past been under for such works as these minding to him That every season was not a fit season for judgement especially to be calling in question things so long and often under more clear light and leadings confirmed formerly and however that be a great Truth that every day will yet more demonstrate that we are but yet Children in Christianity far short of that manly state of things to which the present dispensation of God both publick and personal have a proper and true tendency towards which more excellent way 't is our duty to be pressing yet so to be pressing towards it as to remember both how we have heard and received and hold fast the beginning of our confidences firm unto the end that so the Tempter get not advantage against us as he doth or may do against persons ignorant of his devices But he being still weak either to speak or hear more was not said but that he his Friend was glad to see the Lord had issued the matter so well to the Preventing the Tempters design and giving his poor Servants to see how great that mercy is of all the Saints and their concerns being in Gods hand when the strength of our own hands heads and hearts fails so frequently as they do yet he remains the same for ever and in such seasons secretly succours and supports and at last brings out into a wealthy place to his own praise and encouragement of the poor and needy to trust in him at all times In the morning supposing him drawing near his end a Friend was called to him who finding him discomposed again in his head and convulsive motions renewed with shortness of breath yet soon after asking how he did He said He was a wonder unto many by reason of the rebukes of God upon him but the Lord was and he hoped would be his strong refuge to the end His Friend told him He had made know himself to him as a strong hold in this day of trouble hitherto else he had sunk under his afflictions but to â—e kept up and carried on under such great long exâ—rcises justifying God still and blessing him in giâ—ing as well as taking spake much of divine support â—iven in Yea sayes he I would not only justifie but 〈◊〉 have great reason to glorifie God as the God of my â—alvation It was answered His present posture of submission and subjection to him as the Father of Spirits was a notable way of glorifying God in the fire and giving praise to him in the Isle of the Sea And after a little pause He added He had now but a few steps more to go which he desired the Lord would also so order as he might not be left to sin against him and blessed the Lord that he had given him and yet maintained such good hope through Grace in him that he was not and hoped he should not fear to follow him through the valley of the shadow of death to which he now seemed hastning A Friend coming to him and asking him How doth this honest Watch-man Honest Watch-man saith he hath much in it to be a Watchman indeed looking out for the morn as the Watchman of Ephraim that was with his God when other watchmen are as the Prophet is said to be Hosea 9.8 A snare of a Fowler in all their wayes and hatred in the house of their God as is too evident of the Watchmen of our day by reason of deep defilements found amongst them wherefore the day of the Watchman cometh yea maketh haste now shall be their perplexity and thâ— dayes of their visitations are come the dayes of recompences are come Israel shall know it for the Lord dispensations are now very swift Being asked How he had done to Night Hâ— said I laid me down to sleep and waked again 〈◊〉 the Lord sustained me and hath not made this night night of terror by affrightning dreams and imagâ— nations as sometimes but I seem to be going on as weary traveller his way Sometimes after being asked How he did Hâ— said A poor weak creature It was answered But trust in the Lord you have strength Yea said he blessed be God everlasting strength and they that indeed trust in him shall be as Mount Zion that cannot be moved but abideth for ever for as the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so is the Lord about his People for ever A Friend telling him There was an acquaintance of his come to see him who was going to Preach amongst the poor Saints abroad He wished him prosperity in that good work saying He never found cause to repent of any of his working dayes for Christ in his life-time At the same time one coming from far to visit him and telling him He had dear Remembrances from many Friends of his who in a way of supplication with humble submission were looking to the Lord the God of all Consolation concerning him and his case He replyed He is indeed the God of all Consolation of strong Consolations which were sealed up to his soul And then added I am very much affected with this surprising visit of yours And soon after said to â—he same Friend He had in the two Nights past been graciously led and let into the understanding of that Word Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold â—he upright the end of that man is peace So as he â—as never let into it in like manner before A Friend saying How doth my Brother He â—eplyed I cannot say of you as he of old
to keep you in perfect peace Now to him that after you have suffered a while is of all power to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen 7th 3d month 60. Upon the death of some whom he honoured to two of his Acquaintance then fellow-Prisoners The Lord send you help from his Sanctuary and strengthen you out of Sion Greatly Beloved I Salute you both as is meet in the Lord. These two last Posts I have not written any Letter to you partly for that I have been out of Town some little journies but principally having been much under the surprize that those were Job 2. ult The voice indeed is loud and as if seven Thunders had at once uttered their voices the terribleness of it makes many shrink as Eliah into his den When Oh when shall we hear the still soft Voice and as men of understanding see his Name We may well cry out he hath shewn us hard things and given us to drink the Wine of astonishment which falls the heavier in that such who have obtained favour to lay nearest to heart the concernments of Sion and to be therein aided with greatest boldness and sweetest intimacy near to the heart of Christ and have had their Affections enflamed most with what they have sought and seemed to themselves and others to have been of those bosom intimates that know all that their Friend doth and have hereupon spoken openly and without clouds or reservations their confidence of things that have appeared in the issue to be mistakes how some of them bear it I do not well know but sure I am the hand is very sorely turned upon the little ones that believe in Christ great is their astonishment like that Isa 51.17 to the end I have often thought of them Acts 21.4 Who said to Paul by the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem How like the language of our spirits heightned by fervent affection and attended with providential bringing to remembrance of sutable Scriptures and all this on a soul enjoying clear access to the Lord is to the voice of the spirit in truth as he fulfils that Promise He shall take of mine and shew it unto you and shall shew you things to come And if it may please the Father after he hath graciously allayed the storminess of these perplexing waves that at present doubtless discompose for any thing to lead his holy ones into a more perfect discerning of things which in this kind do differ and in mean time instruct to think more soberly of themselves and judge more tenderly of others I shall yet hope this sharp dispensation may bring out meat and sweetness that we thought not of As for the poor Martyrs themselves when I review what was of late said of their particular perswasions and how when their departure was hid from them they enjoyed such un-interrupted joyful communion with the Lord I cannot but admire the wisdom and goodness of the Father that took that course with them to anoint them for their burial but alas they had no burial But much more grace to admiration appears to me in it that when their perswasions and expectations from the Lord in that point gave way to his determinations yet that at that very time the Tempter should be bound up who doubtless desired to have them that he might have winnowed them as Wheat and would have made a great market of the least discouragement upon them over the whole Antichristian World Oh! how unsearchable are his wayes and his works past finding out The deadly Treacle that you speak of will doubtless swiftly become a Cup of trembling to this wretched generation and entayl the guilt of all down along from Abel c. A very strange efficacy that it hath to cry and to prevail at length though it tarry long first That Abels was not answered and expiated in the Flood that destroyed the World of the ungodly nor that of Zacharias if it was his who said The Lord look upon it and require it 2 Chron. 24.22 But they both must cry against that generation that put to death the Lord of Life and neither of these cryes expire at the ruines of them and their devastation to this day but shall be found as fresh in out-cry against that great City where also our Lord is crucified Rev. 18.24 And though it 's hard to discern yet great is the pravalency of those cryes of Saints that night and day follow the Lord herein though he not only tarry long but even seem to be angry with the Prayers of his People that word hath sweetly stayed me in this hour of temptation Thou tellest my wandrings put my tears in thy bottle are they not written in a Book by thee If their wanderings staggerings be tenderly numbered and their tears bottled and their grouns booked and all this by thee a Book of remembrance before the Lord We need not be so sollicitous what becomes of them though they are above out of our sight doubtless when it comes to much Incense in the Angels hand the Censor will be cast into the Earth Rev. 8.3 4 5. Rests Yours in tears 24. 8. month 60. Unto one who had acquainted him with the departing of some from their holy Professions The early visits of the bright and morning Star be a light in your dark place till the day dawn and the shadows flee away Beloved in and of the Lord SInce my last I have received yours wherein you were pleased to remember and send such a rich Token to your poor Friend whom you are pleased to describe by that merry title of your Father who blesseth God for grace and support ministred by tracking the footsteps of the Father of Spirits in those paths of peace and pleasantness wherein he pleaseth to lead you and others of his suffering ones so contrary to the methods and expectation of men whose breath are in their nostrils Job 22.29 Psal 41.8 12 13. unto which I account it no diversion that he is pleased as your last intimates to keep you in an humble sense of the shortness of self-sufficiency for bearing you up against the hour of temptation the very fear whereof hath already cast down so many stars from their excellency on whom this inscription is manifestly engraven as a caution to us though a by-word to scorners Lo this is the man that made not God his confidence Over whom as I have little ground to glory 1 Cor. 10.12 Rom. 11.18 20. so neither is there just occasion to be greatly offended Isa 2.22 2 Tim. 4.16 17 18. Joh. 6.66 67. chap. 16.13 32. Although I find it somewhat difficult to draw the memorial of their slips into a gracious perpetual remembrance without some mixtures either of wrath or doubting I confess it makes me many times tremble to think
mixtures of this kind which are apt to steal in insensibly upon spirits influenced either with the Fear or Love of Creatures in this staggering and back-sliding hour of temptation wherein men's politick and prudential contrivances to preserve themselves from danger hath abundantly weakned and wasted the Courage if not the Conscience of Testifying Duty It 's of no small advantage I find by blessed experience to be giving daily diligence in observation how nearly and firmly the great Concerns of the Lord's Glory in his Works and Wayes are related to the Lord Jesus in his raised and exalted capacity and how directly the weight of them all rests upon his shoulders who is mighty to bear and with what infinite wisdom and according to what an exact platform of eternal counsel all these seeming Meanders and Laborynths of exteriour transactions are managed according to the integrity of his heart and the skilfulness of his hand who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working In the Faith and Hope of this the Soul of a Beleever hath gracious invitations and engagement to return to its rest knowing that in quietness and confidence is its strength and are as the secrets of a Presence-Chamber for it till these calamities be over-past and though it look on but cannot interpret signs in Heaven and on the Earth perplexity distress of Nations the Sea and Waves roaring through approaching woe to the Inhabiters of the Earth and of the Sea yet it can acquiesce in the infallible knowledge of that Interpreter one among a thousand who is concerned in all these things engaged by Covenant and resolved in absolute Will to bring about in the best time and way the Ends of his Glory and its blessedness in a most sweet harmony and conjunction This saying to the righteous It shall go well with them and commanding their fluctuating tempestuous souls into a calm is yet very far from inducing them to that carnal security and idleness wherein tyred Professors are apt to wrap and bless themselves concluding we must leave publick things to Providence and retire into a closset-converse with our selves and the Lord things good in themselves but usually abused into the generating of a private selvish narrow frame of Spirit unfit to serve God in our generation by Converting Sinners Edifying Saints or saving themselves from an untoward and adulterous generation by a faithful testimony That the contrary hereunto may be your blessed lot namely largness of Heart like the Sand on the Sea-shore accompanied with cleanness of hand and a Spirit clensed by the Blood and set free by the Spirit of the Gospel is the earnest desire for you of him who is Yours assuredly These Parts yield little only fresh gazing on a new Blazing-Star in the East and divers talks of the beautiful Star in the West few think of the Star of Jacob that bright Morning-Star they who overcome shall have him as a certain fore-runner and prognostick of a Morning without Clouds they must be up early who look to be visited with the comfortable beams of it Even so Amen 1st of the 2d month 65. Another to the like effect Supplies of every good thing from the Shepherd and Stone of Israel Dear Heart IT is in my desire for you that you may obtain the favour of a marked Mourner securing you from approaching Plagues and reserving you for expected Salvation among the Palm-bearing throng who only are competent to learn the new song as one of the One hundred forty four thousand that are redeemed from the Earth And though you are fed with the Bread of Affliction and Waters of Adversity and that also by measure and stealth yet you may not want the satisfactory sight and hearing of a Teacher that may guide you into all Truth as it is in Jesus keeping you upright in this staggering day when so many reel to the right hand and to the left I confess sometimes I have hopeful expectations of seeing some such effect as this oâ— all these slidings some of them of understanding sâ—all fall to try them and to purge and make them white even to the time of the end but yet It is a fearful thing thus to fall into the hands of the Living God My lye that promotes his Glory makes me no whit less a sinner or my doing evil that good may come thereby I think I was hinting to you last time the Caution the Lord hath ministred to me by Prov. 25.26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring detrimental and infectious to all that have any thing to do with him The accompt that you give of the Wall of the Daughter of Sion much-like his Neh. 2.13 which was once such an inviting prospect Psal 48.12 13. would engage to that Out-cry Lam. 2.18 19. but that there is hope in her end That her Children shall return though now they are not her dead men shall live together this dead body shall arise A review therefore of her from the munition of Rocks sutable to that Landschip Isa 33.20 c. is becoming the Children of the King but especially hath it been of use to me to feed upon that discovery made of the temper of his heart who is principally interested and concerned in all these mutations He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set Judgment in the Earth Isa 42.4 The youths shall faint and grow weary and young-men utterly fail they who stand upon their youthful vigour and greenness may and shall give way but he who hath such engagements with him and for him as vers 5 6. he waits without weariness and expects without impatience till his enemies be made his footstool A fellowship through faith in in his Spirit will furnish to a similitude in his patience to a being armed with the same mind that was in him Rests Yours dearly To a Friend upon the death of a Zealous Faithful and therefore Persecuted Servant of the Lord. Where is the Lord God of Elijah My true Friend IT comes to my lot to take you now by the hand though you may justly and earnestly challenge and expect it from a righter and more instructed heart and hand who being under deep pressures and considering there is a time to be silent especially when put to shame as well as a time to speak is not easily drawn forth to any thing of this nature till he can recover a little strength waited for to comfort others with the same comforts wherewith himself hath been when he hath been comforted himself of the Lord dreading especially under such a dispensation to utter any thing rashly knows that to speak his troubles will add little to the allaying of yours and that as Vinegar upon Nitre will be the singing songs to an heavy heart his own or others wisheth therefore his present silence may have no worse interpretation than the seven dayes silence of Job's Friends who answered him not a word