diligence saith he to ioyne with your faith vertue as if he should say that all is lost without it and Ieremy saith that he is cursed that doth Gods busines negligentlie And of constancie what saith S. Iames He that looketh in the perfect law of libertie and abideth therein if he be not a forgetfull hearer but a dooer of the worke shall be blessed in his deede that is in so behauing himselfe Therefore by the first of these two namely diligence let them be readie to take all occasions and opportunities to the doing of some good and to shunne idlenes and vnprofitablenes that so they may bring foorth much fruite redeeming the time wisely while they may and that with a thousand times more gaine then others doe and not as slouthfull and vnthriftie persons passe it ouer idly and vnprofitablie for the pleasing and satisfying of their foolish appetite for the present time By the second namely constancie and continuance let them not onely keepe their hearts and liues in the same good estate which by diligence they haue alreadie nourished in themselues but also waxe more fruitfull and their hearts more inlarged and so daily become followers of euery good worke vntill their latter yeares be better then the former and vntill they haue finished their course with ioy And being once acquainted with the gaine that these bring with them they shall doe as the merchants who hauing their mindes set vpon their aduantage suffer not themselues to range after pleasures but busily follow their trade which bringeth in commoditie so that whatsoeuer part of the Christian life they are occupied about holding these for their companions they may count it the most happie time which is so bestowed For in so doing they weane their hearts and mindes from much draffe and worldly lusts which would if they might be lodged there much annoy them and thereby they are much more readily disposed vnto dutie then such as will not imbrace them who being contented with any vncertaine and deceiueable perswasion of Gods fauour and refusing to bee holden within such narrow streights and compasse of this holie and Christian counsell that is of going forward by diligence and constancie in their course breake out oftentimes to their trouble daunger and discredit when the other are quiet and merie And because they account it bondage to bee held in after that manner therefore they finde that they pay deare for their liberties when they be after constrained to repent the seeking of them and yet cannot easily recouer their inward peace which they lost for them nor shake them off againe when yet most gladly they would And for want of these two and through the contrarie slouth and inconstant vnsetlednes in that they doe not settle themselues to one good thing or other euen the most of the godly doe not finde that sweete fruite in their life which is to bee found namely of safetie vnder Gods protection from time to time but by improuidence and wearines of well doing they doe by little and little plunge themselues into some deepe vnsetlednes out of the which it is hard to arise againe Therfore Salomon in two words hath fitlie expressed them both saying Let the feare of the Lord be in thy heart continually which is as much as a diligent care to please him with constancie therein Thus as I haue said to these former rules and vertues which guide vs to liue godlie these two are commanded diligence and constancie By the one that we be readilie prepared as wee ought to practise good and so resist euill whereas slacknes and no care or too little is condemned By the other that thereby wee may continually goe forward in doing good and fleeing euill wherein all staying ficklenes or going backward is very dangerous Hereto belongeth that to the Corinthians when he hath said Awake to liue righteously and sinne not he addeth Be stedfast and vnmoueable alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord knowing that your labour is not in vaine And after Watch stand fast in the faith quite your selues like men and be strong And this is necessarie aboue all things that so wee may become that simplicitie which is meete for them who are in Christ Now that this our diligence and care in all good duties ought to bee for continuance and euen while life lasteth let vs know that the Lord commaundeth it to all his children according to that which is written He that abideth to the end he shall be saued And in another place If ye continue in my word and it abide in you then are ye my disciples indeed and Aske what ye will and it shall be done to you And yet this might bee spoken to small purpose if the Lord had not promised as much to his faithfull seruants that they shal haue grace to perseuere giuen them from aboue as he saith by the Apostle He that hath begun this good worke in you will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ Also to the Thessalonians Faithfull is he that hath called you which will also doe it If it be demanded how he will inable them seeing there are many feares in their life of finall falling away the same Apostle answereth this in the Epistle to the Colossians saying To the end ye may walke worthie of the Lord and please him in all things and be fruitfull in al good works increase in the acknowledging of God ye must be strengthened with all might through his glorious power vnto all patience and long sufferance with ioyfulnes And S. Iohn speaketh to the same purpose thus Greater is he that is in you that is the spirit of God then he that is in the world that is the diuell The fruite of such a course is both an happie end here as it is written Marke the end of the vpright and iust for the end of that man is peace and happines for euer after As wee reade where Paul saith I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course and kept the faith from henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all that loue his appearing But I haue been long in the former points and by occasion haue shewed throughout the whole discourse of the godly life that it must be continued to the end I cease now to say any more Thus hauing set downe these vertues which must guide vs to practise the godlie life throughout our whole course it may easily bee seene how euerie man who is come thus farre may prooue himselfe a repentant person and be apt and fit to bring foorth the fruits of amendement in his particular actions and how his whole conuersation may bee such as may beseeme a man of God so farre as humane frailtie will suffer wherein
it as they are directed and as many of them also haue done sometime that they may see themselues to goe forward I appoint to them no new or strange way but faithfulnesse and constancy in keeping of that which already hath beene shewed them and the same or like direction for the daily gouerning of themselues which hath already bene set downe to them assuring themselues that God will not be wanting from time to time in blessing the same vnto them Then as the corne rooted in good ground through the blessing of God by seasonable weather becommeth farre vnlike that in few moneths which it was at the new comming vp and appearing aboue the ground so shall they by the same meanes daily continued reuerently and in faith become farre vnlike themselues which they were at their first beginning and they shall finde as I haue said through the same shine and dew of Gods blessing that increase which before they neuer looked for But seeing there are many of Gods deere seruants who being by the malice of the diuill either altogether depriued of teaching or seldome taught or not so taught that they may grow heere I am inforced to bewaile their estate and mourne with them exorting all such that as they see any further light and liberty then in times past so they indeauour to goe forward though they cannot attaine to that which others may And withall I say vnto the other which may profit better as hauing greater helpes that they forslow not the time nor neglect to reape the benefit daily which thereby is offered them For as in the glory of the kingdome of heauen the highest degree of happines shall be inioied because men shall then be wholly subiect vnto God and obey him willingly in all things so the next is to be more subiect to his will and in more things and vpon better ground and to be better acquainted with the minde of God and his secrets then in times past which may make them more forward then when they first beleeued As for them which thinke there is no nearer fellowship to be inioied with God while they are heere on earth then they themselues haue attained vnto nor any greater measure of grace then they are partakers of let them inioy their opinion alone till they be ashamed of it let vs rather hope to the further glorifying of God to see that to be our ordinary diet which hath beene sometimes our banquetting cheere I meane to be able better and better to reioice in all things that we goe about through the day whereas sometime we could scarsely doe it at any time in the day and in nothing be discouraged whiles we haue the Lord both in precept and promise to goe before vs. Little perswasion should need heereunto if mens hearts were set vpon this Christian course as they are vpon deceitfull vanities It is not seene with bodily eie and therefore slender credit is giuen to it It is almost vnknowen what bewty and contentation the beleeuing soule findeth in it and therefore in small request no not with many of the better sort and therefore few grow vp to that which they might But ô earthly peace and prosperity an especiall occasion of this through the deceitfulnesse of the heart how hast thou wounded many with thy outward and flattering looke by meanes whereof they cannot loue that which should be their greatest glory And of this priuiledge thus much CHAP. 13. Of the ninth priuiledge That the beleeuers shall perseuere vnto the end NOw out of this proceedeth another as necessarily as it selfe ariseth out of the former and that is Perseuerance vnto the end and continuance in faith and repentance For as he which groweth to excell himselfe in all goodnesse must first of necessitie make a beginning be rooted wel setled therein so he which increaseth daily more and more shall at length make a good end proportionable at least vnto his course of life For the faithfull Christian hauing obtained of the Lord a delight in his seruice and by the same a proceeding from grace to grace he maketh an easie way for him to perseuerance graunting this vnto him as another priuiledge That he shall not reuolt and turne aside with the workers of iniquitie but shall holde out in this holy course vnto his end This appeareth to be true by the Scripture which saith Hee which hath begun this good worke in his will also finish and make an end of the same Agreeable heerunto is that saying of our Sauior This is the Fathers wil which hath sent me that of all which he hath giuen me I should lose nothing but should raise it vp againe at the last day And againe None shall take them out of my hands Therefore if God will finish the worke that he hath begun in his children if he will keepe them safe vntill all danger be past that is to the day of the resurrection and if none shall take them out of his hands it is manifest that all such as are grafted into Christ by faith and who haue beene effectually called into the number of Gods children through the preaching of the Gospell vnto the sure and certaine hope of eternall life setting their faces daily toward the same shall be safely conducted home and abide in the same estate vnto the end But as great a benefit as it is That they shall continue to the end yet if the Lord would hide it from them and keepe them from the knowledge of it it should be much lesser and therfore this is further to be added that they which know themselues to be the Lords may also know that they shall be preserued and kept safe against all aduersarie power of the deuill and his instruments and so perseuere vnto the end For although it seeme to be a mysterie and a secret that the determinate will and counsell of God concerning this matter should be knowen yet it is a secret vnto such only as lie in darkenesse in the shadow of death which through vnbeleefe are not able to see into it because it is a mystery but the secret of the Lord is not hidden from his owne seruants but shall in time be reuealed vnto them whom because he calleth his friends therefore he sheweth them his will and minde in the most precious secrets which it is expedient for them to know For by often hearing the doctrine of perseuerance plainly preached vnto them God draweth their hearts to beleeue it that as they heare the Lord will perfect the good worke which he hath begunne in his people and withall doe know themselues to be his people so they hold this in persuasion though they see not how by any thing in themselues that he will continue his fauour towards them vnto their end For they which know that they shall haue eternall life must needs also know that they shall be kept by God in this present world from all
them their sinne is their owne and shall double their punishment in as much as they haue deceiued our hope which we had of them for if there were any sparke of goodnes in them our good hope of them would make them ashamed to deceiue our expectation Yet let vs not be fooles in iudging well of them whose mindes and purposes we know to be euill by their words conuersation and long knowledge of them or by such like testimonies of their profanenes and boldnes in sinne for that were vnsauorie and silly foolishnes and whiles we would goe about to be charitable to shew our selues vngodly in calling euill good and to forget the commaundement of our Sauiour who saith beware of men therefore much more beware how ye commend them Of such we should make no scruple nor doubt to know and thinke of them to be wicked as they be and to giue warning to others who are simple and innocent and therefore might easily be deceiued and mocked by them as Peter did to them who were conuerted when he said to them Saue your selues from this froward generation meaning those who had been their companions Thus it behooueth vs to examine our dealings with our neighbors credit and good name that as we haue learned to thinke and conceiue so we teach our tongues to speake the best of all men and ill of none whose doings haue not in an obstinate and stifnecked manner spoken worse of themselues so that they haue cast away their good name themselues although more pretious then gold and not we who giue that due to them in making this account of them which they themselues seeme to desire and doe most truely deserue So we shall in this part of righteousnes also as in the former make our reioycing sound But aboue all that hath been said of this argument let our chiefest care be that we staine not our owne good name and credit any way but maintaine and preserue it The last part of dutie to our neighbour is to acquaint our hearts with the thoughts and desires of his good and to bring our selues to this custome and practise that whatsoeuer in these fiue former precepts and fountaines of neighbourly dutie we are commaunded to performe to him the same by vertue of this we oft wish desire and delight in seeing our God will haue it so that thus the contrarie lustings after that which is his may as the most vnsauorie vomit be cast vp and auoyded of vs. But this dutie of desiring that our neighbour may prosper which should be felt to dwell in vs as a daily guest and which should rise vp and lie downe with vs and throughout our course accompanie vs behold it is at this day such a stranger to the most euen who goe for good Christians that it is almost buried amongst men saue that God of his goodnes hath some few who keepe it in remembrance that the rest may know that such practise he looketh for of all his seruants For though it be written in the booke of God neuer to be raced out by the Serpents subtiltie yet except some liuely paterne of it may be seene in mens liues the practise of it as of many other excellent truths beside doe grow into vnaccustomednes euen as the manifest and cleere path being not vsually troden is soone couered with weedes and grasse And this part of righteousnes must finde more care in vs for the performance of it because the well regarding of this dutie maketh vs the better able to serue our neighbour in all the former And ought we not to weane our hearts from dreaming after any thing that is his when wee can in no wise abide that the like measure should be offered vs and also because wee haue consecrated our hearts to the Lords vse to bee taken vp in the delighting in those things which please him And if wee loue him wee should consider that loue thinketh none euill of our neighbour nor intendeth any hurt against him yet when his profits and lawfull liberties and delights are wished to be ours I denie not but we can and doe perswade our selues that for all this we loue him but the Scripture which saith as ye would that men should doe vnto you euen so doe ye vnto them shall condemne vs for it Alas doe we not see that all the incouragements and helpes which wee haue in this life through the exceeding naughtines of our hearts are all little enough to carrie vs through all hindrances and shall we then adde sorrow to sorrow vpon such as wee our selues are or repine that they may more easily go on to eternall life by such helpes as God giueth them and therefore desire that which is pretious to them that so they may be holden backe if not vtterly oppressed through the want of them with heauines It was farre from him who said I would thou wert altogether as I am that is vnfainedly a Christian but yet without the bands which I haue Therefore let vs know and rest in this that the marke which we must aime at is this that in liuing with our neighbor we desire neither his hurt in person goods or name but count it the greatest ioy y t wee haue by our fellowship and acquaintance with him when we can reioyce in his welfare prosperitie both outward and inward and therefore heartily desire and wish it from time to time and in one thing as well as in another and giue those thoughts or lusts small rest in vs which stirre vs to the contrarie That so wee may declare that we haue the same spirit which was in the Apostle which taught him to say I wish that thou prosperedst euen as thy soule prospereth And here to shut vp this matter with a word or two of sobrietie which is a vertue more properly concerning our selues rather then the person of God or our neighbour consisting in the moderating of our affections in the vse of things lawfull this I say in few words that we must haue speciall care to vse al our lawfull liberties both in the workes of our calling and in buying selling moderatly and aright And the same I say of eating drinking mariage recreation prosperitie youth age beautie friends strength because I would briefly conclude with the Apostle in this wise This I say brethren because the time is short hereafter that they which haue wiues be as though they had none and they that weepe as though they wept not and they that reioyce as though they reioyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that vse the world as not abusing it For the fashion of this world goeth away He therefore that looketh to these things so that hee liue in the vse of his lawfull liberties to make them serue him that he may better serue God and not he them that man may be said to
is a greater honour that he hath of a rude vnbridled and vncleane diuell made a well ordered sober and meeke Christian yea a sanctified person as the Scripture calleth him for by his holy spirit through the worke of the Gospell he hath made of an extortioner and oppressor a liberall and bountifull giuer as Zaccheus of an adulteresse a penitent woman reclaimed from the course of vncleane life as the woman in Luk. 7.47 and of a persecutor a preacher yea himselfe a persecuted man euen Paul the Apostle And how doth such a change thinke we when it is seene of men and the reporte of it heard among such as knew them before cause them to say The Lord hath done great things And such grace doth God giue to them I meane that feare him that he causeth by their light which shineth among men euen their very enemie to be at one with them yea to speake well of them and to glorifie their father which is in heauen And yet their beautie is to speake as the truth is chiefly within and not seene with eye As all was not heard of Salomon a farre off which was to be seene at home and yet not all seene that might be knowne to be in him The faithfulnes innocencie and rare continence of Ioseph with other graces which were in him when they brought him into such fauour credit and admiration amongst men how thinke we was God honoured who was the giuer of them Thus doth God honour them that honour him that he may be all in all and by them shewed to be most honourable And to speake of our owne time wherein we liue notwithstanding it affoord not so many examples of so excellent gifts and graces of holy life though in learning and knowledge few haue gone beyond it as so long libertie vnder the Gospell might iustly challeng which sinne I pray God be not laide to our charge but speedily repented of so yet we will not be ashamed to affirme to the great praise of God that both many gratious and godly people since the raigne of our most noble Prince haue been alreadie gathered to their fathers who in the dayes of their flesh did honour God highly and many remaine God be blessed amongst vs who haue and doe and to their end shall we doubt not to the great comfort of many weake ones commend the power of the Gospell preached amongst vs and cause that vnfained thankes be giuen to God by many for them And that both of the ministerie though nothing be more ridiculous to the Papists our aduersaries the Lord hath raised vp many who both preach sincerely and diligently and walke warily and worthie the Lord Col. 1.10 and vnoffensiuely seeking to please him in all things and of the people he hath drawne not a fewe who doe beautifie their profession and carrie themselues vnrebukeable among them who can iudge aright and are free from reprochfull and daungerous euils In such as I haue said is the Lord made admirable As it is written In Sion his Church shall God be praised and why because for them he hath done great things The Lord maketh the weake strong the ignorant prudent and such as sate in darkenes to see great light holy and glorious is his name Yea further the Lord teacheth his beloued ones in their prosperitie to count themselues but strangers in this world he causeth the things of greatest price to be little set by of them in comparison of his treasures which are not seene This honour haue many of his Saints The Lord giueth strength in tribulation aboue hope and maketh anguish and sorrow to become comforts false accusations and contumelious reports to be crownes to their heads and chaines of golde to their neckes which beare them And to be short he teacheth his to sucke sweetenes out of sowernes and to make good vse of all estates and they are able to doe all things through him that maketh them able yea persecution it selfe he maketh tolerable and ioyfull and when our weakenes can see so farre the greatest aduancement If these gifts of God with other such doe not greatly honour the Lord in the congregation of the righteous and if they which inioy them being gratious and of high estimation doe not most highly commend the giuer which is God where will men say that God is honored at all And so doth the Apostle require that it should be with Gods people Haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles that they which speake euill of you as of euill doers may glorifie your father which is in heauen And yet I haue said nothing of their peace of conscience which Salomon saith is as continuall banquetting to them Saint Paul saith it passeth all vnderstanding euen in this one thing which the vngodly because they haue not they therefore know not for the stranger is not partaker of the childrens ioy know not I meane as it is felt and knowne of them which haue it In this one thing I say doth God get himselfe great glorie For they beleeuing in their hearts they cannot choose but vtter with their mouthes their deliuerances and the wonderfull things that he hath done for them And though they be for the most part contemptible in the world yet is the meanest of them more happie then the greatest of the world And if these things be well weighed which haue been said of this matter it shall not be marueiled at that the Prophet thus speaketh in the Psalme Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou citie of God! Yea glorious indeede as we here inioy them though we haue but a small part of our glorie in this life and so glorious that if they could be seene with eye they would so inflame men with the beautie of them that they would force them to set all their loue vpon them And thus by the graces which are in the life of Gods seruants and which are not to be found in other men it may be seene how God is honoured of them the contrarie whereof is done most apparently by the vngodly as much as lyeth in them Therefore to conclude this first reason except we can like to see Gods name ill spoken of his Gospell lightly accounted of and his person dishonoured and that by our selues the recompence whereof cannot be borne nor abidden of vs let vs not onely come out from the vncleane conuersation of the vnbeleeuers but let vs so lay hold on eternall life that we presse hard vnto the marke for the price that is set before vs and let the words of the wise be as goades to pricke vs forward out of our slouthfulnes and as nailes to fasten vs ioyntly and closely to Christ our head without hypocrisie that we faint not neither fall away but grow vp vnto the perfect age of Christians that so we may giue good testimonie that God is truely honored of vs
exercise vs sinne or trouble neither were it profitable for vs to the end we may be euer in combate Though we doe a good thing yet if it be not in knowledge it is sinne Ioh. 13.17 No good thing abideth long with vs in his strength and beautie without new quickning yea quailing and deadnes sometime groweth vpon vs what meanes soeuer we vse We cannot rest in any estate how prosperous soeuer except we see the Lord goe with vs to guide vs. We should not suffer our selues to be carried from the best things whatsoeuer weightie dealings or matters be in hand and hauing been imployed in Gods businesse in liuing fruitfully and cheerefully among men we should be loath now to faint and chaunge our course When wee feele any wearines in a godly course by what occasion soeuer it be the diuell hath met with vs. Complaine therefore and relent wee for our vnkindnes and wandring from God and he will be found and returne right soone Hos 4.3 Cant. 3.3 It is well prooued that faith and godlines are the vpholders of our ioy and peace Rom. 5.1.6 and 2. Cor. 1.12 and that they make an hard estate easie and a prosperous fruitfull 2. Cor. 6.10 Act. 9.31 Among many reasons to moue vs to goe vnder afflictions meekly these are two Thinke that God will exercise and frame vs for hard times Lam. 3.27 and perhaps an end of our daies is at hand Matth. 24.39 God is not only the same to vs in afflictions that he hath been but will be felt more sweete when the world becommeth more bitter That seeking of ease profit or pleasure ought to be restrained which holdeth from seeking the common good of others We may obserue that when our Christian state is at the best it is no better then it had neede to be but when wee consider how many waies wee might decline we may thanke God it is no worse Hardly is a good Christian brought to giue ouer many vaine liberties some hee will but not others but after his excursions from God hee hath much adoe to returne into a good course againe This causeth much vncheerefulnes in the life and till we cleaue to him with delight to serue him it will neuer be otherwise A great difference there is betwixt the continuall obseruing and viewing of our life from day to day and the doing of it by fits now and then in the one we are safe cheerefull and fruitfull in the other rash offensiue and after vnquiet for it walking in feare and with little comfort If thou wilt finde Christ sweete thou must euer finde sinne sowre If thou wouldest forgoe thy riches willingly and readily vse and enioy them soberly and moderatly set little by them and lose little It is to be feared that many professing the Gospell with some liking doe onely generally aime at godlines and therefore they haue many vnsetlings and rangings out but they doe not particularly looke to themselues therefore they gather not experience nor finde any great fruit of it Feare euer to offend God and thou needest feare no other perill as ill tidings Psal 112.7 Exod. 20.20 for he keepeth thee Psal 32.7 and 91.11 It is strange that we hauing no good part in our life but through the well framing of our hearts yet that wee should thinke it much to keepe them in compasse Prou. 4.23 They who can neglect and set meanely by a little vaine glorie and credit with men may gaine and enioy much peace with God A man by Gods spirit shall doe a thing well which another without it shall doe very ill Iosh 6.4 compared with 1. Sam. 4.4 Looke not to tie God to thee in thy neede who regardest not him in thy ease 1. Sam. 4.5 They are rare men who are not led by their passions into extremities seeing they are rare who so looke to themselues that they may keepe from extremities 1. Sam. 4.5.6 Many at their death hold that they ought to be godly but is it not good at one time which is at another He is a rare person who is in fauour with God when he afflicteth Psal 2. vers 12. and he oft afflicteth because wee should beleeue that he will deliuer vs. It is follie yea madnes to be heauie to death for any earthly thing when yet a man desires nothing more then life All our life ought to be a prouiding for a good end and a keeping away of woe by sinne which few will doe for they will not lose an inch of their libertie and yet but for this what were the life of Gods people When the Scripture telleth vs of the happinesse of the Church as Psalm 89.11 and 87.3 we may thinke we come short very much when we esteeme not our estate better then the best of the world If wee would euer through the day be at peace with God and know wee are pardoned wee must be euer readie to remoue our sinnes which raise a controuersie betwixt vs. We would willingly please our selues in some vnlawfull liberties when we haue pleased God in some duties But a wise man will keepe well while he is well and not trouble himselfe with an ill conscience when God doth not trouble him with hard afflictions seeing it is written Hebr. 3.12 and 1. Cor. 10.31 whether we eate we see many fall fearefully and offend but few returne againe therefore it is to be feared that many perish or at least are in great daunger The more grace we perceiue in any man and constancie and the more he is like to God the better we ought to loue him as Christ did Iohn and contrariwise Ioh. 13.23 Psal 15.4 This is a worthie thing when in feare of or by great afflictions our innocencie and repentance is so sound that wee haue bold confidence to claime Gods promise of helpe in the time of neede and are vpholden by it from the strength of feare till wee see an issue as Israel did in feare reade 1. Sam. 7.8.10.11 Where there is wilfulnes in sinning there is great difficultie in relenting as also no power nor boldnes in beleeuing As for such as count it more then needeth to seeke and to make chiefe reckoning of godlines let them learne what these Scriptures meane are they not for vse Psalm 87.3 and 84.11.12 One day in thy house O God is better then a thousand elsewhere And Psalm 4.8 Trie out therefore the truth of them When we become to the highest degree of seruing God with much trauaile yet wee abide hardly and a short time therein at least much vnprofitablenes and barrennes will meete with vs againe after euen by meanes of our corrupt hearts which being so we neede not thinke that we be too forward when we be at the best Many beginning well in godlines haue fainted and quailed or been iustly reproched before their end that others may the more feare their owne weaknes When pettie troubles arise in families and other waies we should stay our selues thus These are small
that they loue to lie in it still more foolish then children who cannot bee made to come nigh the water when they haue once been in perill of drowning and so they verifie the words of Christ Prou. 1.22 O ye fooles how long will ye loue foolishnes Which is the cause why not onely the most part of hearers are dead and cold practisers but euen many of the teachers though they do boldly vtter that which they haue read yet are faint followers of that which they teach or conceale much of that which they should deliuer because they finde the contrarie to be done of themselues which they see they should teach others and would shunne the reproch of the prouerbe Physition heale thine owne disease But they who turne their thoughts consideration wisedome and studie to this marking what is the blessed course of life and how it is attained vnto as they shall declare that they are wise so shall they bee sure to finde a singular helpe to godlines which they shal neuer repent of trauailing for It followeth in the next place that we see how God hath prouided no lesse helpe for vs in companie which because we haue much vse of and occasion to be often in it therefore least we might possibly returne out from it worse then we went into it as the most companies are such as doe make men more corrupt then they were before therefore the Lord hath taught his people how to carry themselues in all their meetings with others in such wise as not onely they may shunne the harme which is easily gotten therein but also haue much helpe and furtherance thereby to goe better forward in Christian duties But this point is handled at large in the next treatise Therefore I referre the reader thither CHAP. 10. Of prayer and the parts thereof thankesgiuing and request whereunto is added confession of sinnes HAuing now made mention of the two first kindes of the priuate helpes the third followeth containing the helps which may be vsed by ones selfe alone or with others also as prayer and reading Prayer is a calling vpon God according to his will and hath these two parts thanksgiuing and request whereunto is added the confession of sinnes Thanksgiuing is that part of prayer in which we being comforted by some benefit which in fauour God bestoweth vpon vs are drawne to loue and praise him and shew forth the fruites thereof In the which description we see three duties to be required of vs and three motiues or perswasions to drawe vs to performe them I will first mention these latter and then proceede to the duties The first motiue is knowledge and remembrance of some benefit receiued or promised vs. Which may be seene in the thanksgiuings of all Gods seruants as in Dauid after that he had receiued the sauorie and seasonable counsell by Abigaile and in Abrahams seruant when God had blessed him in his iourney to Aram. The same may be said of the leaper when he saw that he was clensed after he had made request for it to Christ And where there is no knowledge and due consideration of some particular mercie how can there be any true and hartie thanksgiuing howsoeuer in words there be a protestation for fashion sake as in them who say we must thanke God for all when yet they consider of nothing that moues them thereto The second motiue to thanksgiuing is ioy and gladnes of heart for the benefit which we thinke of or call to minde As appeareth by the psalme in them which returned out of the captiuitie saying When the Lord brought againe that is turned away the captiuitie of Sion his Church we became like them that dreame then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with ioy And except we finde such sweetenes in Gods benefits either alreadie receiued or by faith embraced being promised the dutie of thankes can in no good sort be performed But that is verified which is commonly spoken that is a worke is vntowardly done which is not cheerefully gone about The third thing that should moue vs to this dutie of thankes is that which is most fit to worke the foresaid ioy and that is a perswasion that the benefit for which we giue thankes commeth to vs from Gods fatherly loue which is a farre greater matter to make vs glad then the benefit it selfe which is bestowed on vs. For if we should feare that it is sent as a snare to intangle vs or to heape hot coales vpon our head and to make our condemnation the more iust smal sweetenes should we finde therein but that which would be quenched with that feare and by an accusing conscience As for example what hartie ioy or sound thankes could that of the Pharisie be though in tongue he gaue the one and in countenance shewed the other when he had not this perswasion But God be thanked it is not so with his beloued ones but they knowing that their most louing father hath giuen them his Christ which is the greatest doth much more of fauour giue them all other things which are of lesse account which both reioyce their hearts when they remember any of these his blessings and stirreth them vp to a much more heartie performing of this dutie And as these three former things must be found in vs to moue vs to true thankfulnes for our comfort so to make it effectuall three duties are required First a continuance of our loue to God Secondly a desire to set foorth his glorie and in words to professe and confesse his goodnes Thirdly a further proceeding in obedience and walking worthie his kindnes For how can we choose but loue and set our hearts vpon him when wee may see the fruites of his fauour on euery side whither soeuer we turne our selues and the same euery morning renued Euen as the Prophet saith I loue the Lord because he hath heard my request and for his great and many mercies which there hee reckoneth vp So that they whose loue is set vpon the gift it selfe and the benefit being little affected towards the giuer and bestower of it how wide soeuer their mouthes are open in giuing thankes they are farre from the right offering of thankes to God Now if we loue the Lord we cannot but be carried with a feruent desire that God might bee knowne and beleeued on by others that they might come out of darknes neither can we satisfie our selues in seeking to aduance and magnifie him As wee may see in Dauid who being stirred vp by the consideration of Gods benefits had this affection in him thus declaring the same What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits As if he should say Oh that I knew and could satisfie my selfe herein And where this affection and desire is can it otherwise be but that by all good opportunities there should be an expressing and
may be addresse thy selfe to be ready to any duties which thou hast to do and be strongly perswaded and confident that God who loueth thee so dearly as in thy prayer thou beleeuedst and in thy thanksgiuing thou didst acknowledge that he I say will be with thee to guard thee from all aduersary power of Sathan and his instruments which might rise vp against thee and by the comfort of his holy spirit keepe thee from euill for he which hath all power in his hand looketh downe from heauen and beholdeth all the earth to shew himselfe strong with them which are of an vpright heart towards him and therefore be incouraged thereby with confidence to set vpon any duty and to withstand any euill And further remember that thou art armed by God with all furniture meet for the seruant of God with faith to beleeue all Gods promises with hope to be kept from fainting with righteousnesse to performe all duty with sincerity to do it with a single heart with knowledge of the word of God to direct thee aright and with the preparation of the Gospell of peace to be shod against troubles and dangers in thy voyage to Gods kingdome Remember all these and that thou hast not the right vse of these except thou beest setled against the discouragements which might stand vp in thy way And therefore be chearfull and of good courage although there are many things which may one time or other put thee to trouble and many occasions of vnquietnesse and vnsetlednesse may arise which also would otherwise vndoubtedly soreshake thee Thus before thou goest about any thing it is requisite for thee to renew thy faith that thou mayest rest freshly on God for his protection throughout the day and waite to see it so and obserue that thou mayst be guided by him and make thy heart mery in him considering that he is more to thee then all the world beside And this for the declaration and further laying open of this first duty as with any conuenience it may be done to teach vs how to awake with God CHAP. 13. Of the declaration of the second duty of beginning the day with prayer NOw when thy heart shall after thy first shaking off thy sleepe be lifted vp to thy God set thy selfe to the next part of thy duty prayer confession of sins and thanksgiuing in solemne maner vpon thy knees casting off and renouncing such foolish and fruitlesse thoughts and fantasies as were wont and still may hold thee from this duty and set vpon it as soone as thou canst conueniently yea if it may so be let it be the first worke that thou shalt take in hand in the morning season except in time of sicknesse when thou keepest thy bed and then ioyne it with the former rule and make of both one and pray shortly when paine giueth thee no further libertie but yet feruently and more often But if it cannot be thy first worke yet let not thy deferring of it be a breaking it off if thou mayst performe it neither let a light occasion cause thee to deferre it for such shall neuer be wanting especially thine owne vnwillingnes or slouth but when for some especiall and weightie cause thou doest deferre it returne if it may be after thy necessarie businesse ended to the performing of it therwith renew thy couenant of amendment of life And to expresse my meaning about this more plainely remember and acknowledge the kindnesse of thy God in benefits daily and hourely receiued both to soule and bodie and sometime particularly that so thou mayst be more nearly knit vnto him and delight in him For daily and oft thankfulnesse to God is of great force to subdue thee vnto God and to maintaine a thankfull heart in thee all the day following And let another part of this morning worship of God adioyned to this be an hearty recording and viewing of thy sinnes a bewailing and confessing of them to God and accusing of thy selfe with an especiall remorse for those which haue most troubled thee and be humbled vnder the burthen of them that so thou mayest see thy selfe a wretched person and infinitely indebted to God and so withhold thy heart from insolencie and securitie and be broken-hearted that thou mayst the better abide so after And with both these send vp loud cries vnto the Lord through Iesus Christ confidently looking for pardon of them that thus thou mayst find the death of Christ daily fresh sweete and sauorie to thee which the most do make too common and vnsauorie And pray also in faith for grace and power to mortifie thy sinne and to direct thy wayes and for all earthly blessings and by thine owne necessities be moued with compassion towards thy brethren euen the whole company of the militant Church who haue the like need of Gods blessing as thou hast and withall that those which are yet without and strangers from the common-wealth of Israel may be brought home that thus thou mayst both testifie thy loue to them and daily remember and consider how thy selfe and all other do depend vpon him for whatsoeuer is good and necessarie And to helpe forward this dutie the better some meditation or musing vpon such things as may asswage the bitternesse and corruption of the heart and season it with grace were a thing most requisite as euerie one may be brought to it As for example sometime of our mortalitie of the vncertaintie and slipperie estate of all things vnder the Sunne of the change of persons times estates of the glorie of the kingdome of heauen sometime of our saluation to make it more sure of the duties we are to do in the day and how we may keepe our selues from the defilements and sinnes which we are in danger to fall into of the occasions by which we are most like to be led to euill and of the helpes and meanes with the sundrie priuiledges of a Christian which we haue to withdraw vs from the same and sometime of any particular branch of any of these and the corruptions of the heart and of the Christian armour of some of these or of the like matters let meditation be raised before prayer be entred into if it may be And because meditation is much out of vse euen among Christians and therefore it will be found the harder matter to go about and take it in hand I haue therefore set downe some meditations of all sorts both briefly and in larger manner to helpe those which without helpe cannot draw matter from their owne experience to meditate vpon as I haue before set downe a short Treatise about the same that through the helpe of both they may want nothing about this dutie and Christian exercise so that their hearts be framed and fitted thereto This part of Gods worship namely prayer confession of sinne thanksgiuing and meditation being conscionably and carefully vsed and gone about before
that many walke loosely and carelesly in their calling and are slouthfull and negligent in the performance of the duties thereof whereas they should faithfully and diligently be taken vp in their honest and lawful vocation which comming either of the ignorance of their duty or of a mind too much giuen to seeke carnall libertie or of both cannot be without daungerous discommodities For what should the multitude of Christians do through the whole yeare if they should not euery one walke and be daily occupied in some certaine estate some at home some abroad and therein haue triall of their faith patience and obedience not that they might thereby waxe worldly minded and the further from God but get encouragement to serue him better as shall be said afterwards For God in appointing but one Sabbath of all the seuen dayes hath sufficiently declared that they cannot attend onely to spirituall actions as prayer meditation reading and such like and therefore hath for the most part of the weeke appointed them to shew foorth their knowledge and religious keeping of a good conscience in being occupied about things of this life in their honest calling wherein they may haue worke enough to be employed and taken vp Of the which matter as the Scripture speaketh many things to great purpose so the Apostle chargeth euery man to abide in that same vocation wherein he was called and commaundeth them in the name of our Lord Iesus to withdraw themselues from euery brother that walketh without labouring that so he might be ashamed And that one place of Salomon is worthy our consideration to the perswading of vs to faithfulnesse and diligence in our calling and to loath slouth and idlenesse where he saith The sluggard lusteth but his soule hath nothing but the soule of the diligent shall haue plentie And againe The riches of vanitie shall diminish but he that gathereth them with the hand that is with his owne labour shall increase them And againe The slouthfull man will not plough because of winter therefore he shall beg in sommer but haue nothing yet a woman that hath a diligent hand buildeth and vpholdeth her house with many other such like In which he doth not onely shew what commoditie a mans labour and diligence in his calling bringeth and contrariwise but especially commendeth painefulnesse and trauell how good and beseeming Christians they be He alloweth not we see slouth idlenesse and ouer-reaching heads in the seruants of God but sheweth that it agreeth well with the best of them to be diligent and well occupied and that it is not too base and vnbeseeming the honour of their profession to labour and take paines which the diuell too readily perswadeth many yea and therefore he saith in another place seeing a meane and poore estate might be thought reprochfull that better is a litle euen a dish of greene hearbes with peace and loue then a stalled oxe with an vnquiet conscience and strife It is the more lamentable to see how numbers degenerate in this point to their owne great hurt and drawing others after them Some not so well aduised and stayed as were meete for them are euer medling in other mens matters and leauing off their owne calling spend much time in prying and searching into other mens liuing titles of their lands and leases and busying themselues needlesly yea and oft times to the great hurt offence and iust complaint of them with whom they liue and seeke to haue to do Others as busie-bodies and as though religion consisted therein do as it were make a trade of obseruing other mens faults neglecting too much their owne and sow dissention and set debate betwixt neighbours and with their euill tongues bite and reproch such as are better then themselues Others trifle out their precious time in seeking of acquaintance not such wherby they may take good or do good but spend it in play ieasting and merry-making amisse and prophanely c. Others occupie themselues in dealings and merchandize not appertaining vnto them but farre aboue their abilitie yea and skill also many times occupying their trades with other mens goods and whiles they keepe within no bounds by ayming at great matters without any warrant do gaine lesse then nothing for their labour and disable themselues to their owne calling besides this that their vnwise dealings that way and departing from that businesse which they were more fit for and appointed vnto doth iniurie yea and vndo others oftimes as well as spoile themselues till they come to this that they cannot digge and to begge they are ashamed There are many other waies beside these drawing men from their callings which seeme pleasant but the issue thereof proueth farre otherwise whereby many and those also of good hope haue giuen themselues to seeke their libertie and to be vnburthened from their callings wherein whiles they remained they thought themselues to be in a kind of prison and therefore till foolish experience had taught them how they had bene deceiued could in no wise be perswaded to serue God in them as had bene most meete for them to haue done These men and such like of which sort there are many in the world might haue kept both peace to their consciences and good report and bene freed from many euils if they would haue hearkened to the voyce of God which saith He that laboureth not let him not eate And again that man is borne to labour as the bird to flying But they depart from the ordinance of God and shew that howsoeuer they professe themselues to be religious they fell to these indirect courses from diligence in their callings for want of religion which onely doth rightly direct men how to follow them as it doth to order all other things aright But it may well be a dutie of some account commaunded of God to make conscience of diligence in our particular callings it is so few mens cases to performe it But whiles I commend faithfulnesse in mens calling and find fault with negligence therein I attribute no godlinesse to the very act of labouring neither defend that they are good Christians all who are diligent workemen and painefull labourers in any calling magistracie ministerie or any other I haue said otherwise to them which marke well my words onely this I say that to a faithfull Christian who reformeth and studieth daily more and more to amend his life diligence in his outward calling is no small helpe to liue well and godly and to keepe him from many euils but otherwise if there be not good gouernment ouer the heart and life daily he may find sorrow and miserie enough seeing he will not take his direction from God But the right following of our calling to enter into the third branch is in such manner and sort to vse and walke in it that it may be no let nor hinderance to vs from exercises of religion and growing in grace thereby
but once in all his life what a manner of priuiledge then is this to be accounted that we may grow from faith to faith and from a darker knowledge of it to a clearer from day to day and that with better assurance then we hold any thing in this life by seale writing witnesse or any other way that law can deuise For indeed the benefit of knowing this so great a treasure to be fallen vs were by many degrees lesse if it were when it is once knowne to vs afterward to be doubted of and called into question againe and that our assurance might not both grow greater and daily continuance of the same be obteined But thanks be to God for his vnspeakable mercy who hath prouided that the longer we liue the better we may know it For the longer that we haue beleeued Gods promise and beene acquainted with it who doubteth but that we may much more cleerely be perswaded of it then in former times when we first beleeued and when we had not as yet so often considered it nor so deepely weighed what might hinder and weaken our faith or come against it For at the first enlightning of our hearts with this sunne-shine of faith we haue many mistes and cloudes cast before our eies to dim darken it many doubts arising from our owne weaknesse vnworthinesse feeling of our sins when we haue had as yet little experience of Gods tender compassion care ouer vs or at least when little marked of vs much feare troubleth vs then because we see many things to accuse vs and for that we doe not many duties which we heare taught vnto vs but when we are better acquainted with him we more easily beleeue that he will forgiue them all vnto vs. And as the yoong childe is not able to stand and go alone till time hath brought more strength euen so it fareth with vs. But when we haue after longer time seene the will and minde of God to be constant vnchangeable our own care to please God to be vnfeigned though vnperfect more then which nothing is required of vs and that the best of Gods seruants haue had the same infirmities as well as we that we haue liberty when we see our weaknesse to seeke pardon of the same at the hands of our good God these and such like considerations after longer time when we haue oft weighed God hath giuen vs greater strength of faith and strengthned vs to waxe more confident euen as we haue withall become more humble and obedient So farre is it off that this assurance the longer time we haue inioied it should be further off from vs. And as for that many obiect that sundry of Gods children after they haue knowen it doe fall to doubt of it after this gainsaieth not that which I affirme For that it may be and is thus I deny not the deuils subtilty and malice being stronger then men haue faith to resist it But the trueth is that as the godly are renewed but in part so through corruption they may waxe wearie oftentimes of that care which should procure their welfare and may as no doubt but many doe neglect to nourish their faith daily and slake their delight in vsing reuerently the best meanes for the conforming of the same and therefore such doe the oftner taste of the hard dyet of other men because they will sometimes choose to follow their waies Besides there are others which though they offend not that way yet they giue too much place to distrust hauing no iust cause by an euill conscience which is the greatest enemie to faith and heereby they depriue themselues of the benefit of this faith and confidence Which kind of people must labor to stay themselues by the perswasion of such Scripture as is written of purpose for their comfort as Take my yoke vpon you and yee shall finde rest to your soules also A contrite heart God will not despise c. Mat. 11.29 Psal 51.17 Mat. 12.20 Psa 43.5 But to returne seeing they may hold abide in Gods loue and hold fast this knowledge of it the longer they liue they see this must be granted them also That none shall take them out of the Lords hands or custodie but that he will care for them vnto the resurrection day Wherein this is a further degree flowing from the former that this loue of God being shed into their hearts plentifully by the holy Ghost it maketh them more quiet ioyfull and better satisfied then all that can be desired of them besides according to that which Saint Peter saith Though we see him not yet we beleeue in him and we reioice with ioy vnspeakable and glorious For what is there in the world that can raise the like ioy in our hearts as this that we know that we shall see the good pleasures of the Lord in the land of the liuing that is in his militant church heere and haue an house not made with hands but eternall in his triumphant heereafter who doeth not see as the former ages haue found and felt and they who yet remaine on earth shall finde that to all other things euen the best there is an appointed end And therefore the ioy that men conceiue for them is but flitting and momentanie not vnspeakable and euerlasting So that the peace and ioy which arise from the certeinty of our saluation is woorthely rekoned as a singular priuiledge in as much as it doeth not onely exceed all worldly treasures but also because it is proper to the children of God and the other haue no part in it And further this should better appeare how great a priuiledge it is to be beloued of God if we could possibly conceiue the dreadfull feare of the reprobate in desperation and how little comfort such an one taketh in all his wealth and delights which he hath in this world in whatsoeuer price and account they are with fooles but would giue them all for one quarter of an houres feeling of Gods louing kindnesse and sweet countenance towards him if it could be inioied and the sound peace and comfort that commeth with it And therefore if any will know the benefit and greatnesse of this priuiledge let him aske of them who hauing hardned their hearts through vnbeliefe are growne into despaire who with wearisome sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed doe thinke with themselues and speake many times Oh how happy are those which are saued yea and what would they giue if they had it how many thousand worlds for a part in Gods kingdome Or if the damned soules in hell could speake they would tell you whether this be a prerogatiue to be kept so safely from the torments thereof and honoured with the assurance of heauen and happinesse as partly may be gathered by that which Saint Luke writeth of the Epicure in the Gospel saying Oh that the tippe of a
yet as soone as they perceiue that they haue gone too farre and haue passed their bounds in their lawfull liberties eating drinking recreation vse of mariage pleasuring in goods trusting in friends and making flesh their arme they returne speedily as out of open and manifest sinnes and thereby become more carefull another time and when they see how many buffets light vpon others who haue small regard of sobrietie or measure keeping they see their portion to be great in restreining themselues from that excesse in lawfull things which they keepe no measure in And thus much be said of the first part or branch of this priuiledge Wherein may be seene that the Lord hath offered great fauour to his children to so many as esteeme of it that the glorie of present things and prosperitie in this world which vndoe many shal yet not bewitch nor deceiue them but they shal be able to escape these snares by the spirituall wings that he hath giuen them for that purpose to mount aboue them as godly Ioseph Moses many of Gods deare seruants did before them But if it be asked Why hath he giuen them to one and not to another I answere Seeing one setteth more store by it than another I speake it to the shame of those who giue occasion though they be otherwise well to be hoped of For the custome and boldnesse in this sinne of intemperancie and worldlines which we see in the most men doth draw after them and their example some euen of those which are religious causing them to haue their teeth set on edge so eagerlie to follow them in their prophane course and the abundance of iniquitie doth coole their feruencie in seeking to weane their hearts from such poisoned and deceitfull baits and dainties as they see them so greedily to deuoure For otherwise though they are fraile yet hauing receiued a taste of the heauenly doctrine which is the onely mother and nourisher of true sobrietie they should not so easily forget themselues and be ouercome of their vaine desires For if popish dreames and fantasies without all ground of Gods word haue so inchanted princes and other persons of great possessions that they haue drawen them from their pompe and many solemnities into Monasteries and Nunries for the deceiuable hope of saluation should not the word of trueth much more preuaile with them who haue had a right taste of it to renounce dangerous and vnlawfull liberties And although they were led from one errour to another yet if errour might doe so much with them should not the trueth doe much more with the children of the trueth to abide in it and be gouerned by it It is pitie that any of the Lords beloued should offer such dishonour to the glorious word of God as to refuse the gouernment of it and giue occasion to the vnbeleeuers to say That God dieteth his people so meanly in his owne house that they be driuen to eat with the intemperate at their table as it were their poisoned dainties But let this reproofe make any such of Gods seruants ashamed as haue giuen occasion of it and let them not follow the excesse of such as know no better And when they shall finde this doctrine hard to be practised that is to vse their prosperitie rightly and soberly if then such matter as this is were read and well weighed of them and the examples of those which are contrarilie minded what bondage they are in I doubt not but that the hardnesse which they complaine of should in good measure be asswaged CHAP. 9. Of the seuenth priuiledge Concerning the afflictions of the godly and namely of the first branch of the same that is How they may be free from many of those troubles which do light on and meet with the vnreformed NOw followeth the prerogatiue that they haue about afflictions Of the which although they are not void yet if we diligently marke Gods dealing with them heerein we must needs confesse that he sheweth exceeding fauor vnto them Which seeing it is not one way but many and sundry declared vnto them I will in some order as I can lay them forth particularly And they may all be referred to three kinds For first he holdeth many tribulations from them altogether in that they be his children which others by their sinnes do plucke vpon themselues Ps 32.10.11 Secondly he deliuereth them out of manie which otherwise would sore oppresse them when yet he leaueth others in them still And thirdly he teacheth them aright and well to beare them when he thinketh it not meet to deliuer them And of these three I will handle the first in this chapter Concerning the which point it may easily be gathered by that which hath beene said of the former priuiledges how true this is that many troubles neuer take hold of such as walke after those rules which I haue spoken of and which inioy the said priuiledges and seeing all Gods children be such as may doe so therefore euen they may be deliuered from many troubles and afflictions one as well as another which yet the vngodly and vnregenerate cannot escape For they whose hearts are cleansed and sanctified so that they truely hate all maner of sinne and more specially renounce in their liues the sinne which they know who indeauour to haue a good conscience in all things and doe all this with delight and with delight also doe daily vse the meanes to grow forward in this course how can the plagues and calamities take hold on them which doe on other men who are strangers to such a course For the greatest and sorest punishments and troubles that fall vpon any are brought vpon them by their sinne contrary to the erronious opinion of them who thinke that religion is the chiefe cause of troubles they are nothing els but the fruite thereof and the greater sinners that men are the sharper and heauier iudgements outward or inward doe meet with and take hold of them and the deepelier doth God drawe his bowe against them and wherein is the scripture more plentifull then in this argument and matter For sinne came the first punishment into the world namely death and Gods curse which without sinne had neuer beene knowen in all the world with the casting off our first parents and their posteritie out of the fauour of God Through sinne came all kindes of plagues and punishments vpon men as hunger nakednesse diseases the pestilence bondage to enemies and inuasion of them imprisonment losse of goods losse of life and such like For sinne both person and place whole cities and villages haue beene destroied from the king to the begger both Pharao and the raskall souldiers that peirced Christ through and platted a crowne of thornes vpon his head and Iudas the pursebearer who was also the traytour euen all these did by sinne purchase to themselues the reward of iniquity All which plagues they which were voide of those sinnes and
the things which they leame therein what is the happiest estate of life that heere can be inioied euen that which hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come They grow wise in obseruing that God verifieth indeed all that he hath spoken in his word and not a iotte thereof doth faile and therefore they become more resolute euery day against all euill and sinne because they see that God will be reuenged vpon euery euill way and that it is certaine if they sinne as others doe he smiteth and they grow to see that he keepeth promise towards his who rest on him euen in their greatest streights Which how great a benefite it is may be gathered by this that it bringeth most neare communion with God by his spirit which worketh in them and which the world cannot receiue as our Sauiour saith He that loueth me shall be loued of my father and I will loue him and will shew my selfe vnto him He that keepeth my word as he shall be loued of my father so we will come to him and abide with him whereby he meaneth that he will make knowen his minde and will to them as familiarly as they which vse to conuerse one with another and eate and drinke together for the which cause also he calleth them his friends which doe the things which he commandeth them as to whom he will open euen his secret as men vse to doe to their friends and not to seruants For he loueth Zion his militant church which he hath chosen and will dwell there and delight in her more then all the habitations of Iacob that is then all other beside it And what fruite this neare communion with God doth bring which his faithfull seruants haue offered them it may easily be coniectured because as Salomon saith The heart of a friend resteth in his friend and a friend is neerer than a brother and if the perfection of loue be ioy there must needs be great ioy to Gods faithfull people when they are so deare to the Lord and he beloued of them so intirely Therefore as God giueth to his many comforts and that also he doth many waies and in many respects through the hope of eternall life through true praier and by a good conscience as hath beene said so in that they know his will and haue proofe of his familiarity with them as it pleaseth him to call it their ioy is yet more increased especially after a longer continued acquaintance with the Lord in his word And what is happinesse such I meane as in this present life may be inioied if this be not namely to partake all these with him thus to goe in and out before the Lord and to haue him thus the staffe of our comfort in al estates Which maketh ready to die and fit to liue and giueth greater gaine in both then in any other condition or course can be found and inioied yea this maketh the inioiers of it happy heere and certaine that afterwards they shall be happy for euer and though sathan doth much quaile this by occasion of troubles and our frailties yet it is certaine that it shall be recouered againe This in few words is that which I wish the true Christian reader to meditate on and consider which all Gods people haue so great need to inioy and partake by faith as it must needs grieue all that doe vnderstand and loue the excellency of it to see so many to be void thereof to whom yet the Lord hath graciously and freely bequeathed it And I pray God in most feruent maner to inlarge the hearts of all his good seruants that seeing many mourne in Sion and are holden downe with sundry and sore afflictions till they faint againe as though there were no comfort to be found for them to the easing of their heauy hearts that they may consider what the Lord hath prouided for the easing of them euen this to beleeue that all the forementioned priuiledges belong vnto them that though their sorrowes be many and great yet they may not driue them from hope in God but send them more earnestly to grone to him by praier that they may receiue and take these things to their comfort which he for that very cause hath committed to writing that those his children which are brought low and into distresse and almost to vtter despaire may lift vp their heads and reioice for so great hope of redemption and deliuerance at hand comming towards them And this will recompence aboundantly all the labour that hath beene taken and need no more be lost when it is once inioied And therefore if the beleeuers may know by Gods word that they haue a part in all the forementioned prerogatiues and therefore delight in his word which bringeth such tidings to them if they may thereby be made acquainted with that maner of conuersation which pleaseth God best and maketh most for their owne comfort and by his spirit may haue communion with him which the world cannot haue I cōclude I say that the beleeuers haue great prerogatiues bequeathed them and that the priuiledges which God hath granted out vnto his beloued are most precious and worthy all labour and trauell to be come by And that I say no more of this it is no hard matter to conceiue what sweet consolation a beleeuing heart inioyeth which hath experience of this for he beleeuing the promises of these things from day to day and hauing most sweet peace of conscience with confidence as a fruite of beleeuing them already how great must his comfort needs be which ariseth from both and especially for the hope which he hath of that which is yet to come Oh that all who feare God did beleeue this as they may boldly and ought confidently to doe that they might inrich themselues by hauing their part in it from time to time So that nothing is more to be lamented in the world then this that God hauing called men to be partakers of so excellent priuiledges and appointed for them such varietie of blessings whereof I haue mentioned but some part that they should be so ignorant as not to desire to know them so carelesse as to reiect them so obstinate as to tread them vnder foote and so to lead a life I may truely say full of misery for want of them But whiles I set downe this me thinkes I heare some obiecting thus How can we be perswaded that God hath prouided this liberty for his in this world when both Scripture calleth our life heere when we be in greatest prosperity a wandring vp and downe heauily as in a pilgrimage or wildernesse and a sowing in teares that is to say full of griefe and Christ telleth his that in the world they shall finde tribulation and that by many afflictions and persecutions we must enter into his kingdom And experience also teacheth that these things are euen so