beleeued in him Ioh. 1.12 to them gaue he this power to be made the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue on his name And againe We are saued by faith No man can haue the spirit of adoption that wants faith to beleeue Now for the obtayning of this grace of sauing faith the ordinary meanes is the preaching of the Word Rom. 10.17 faith commeth by hearing and the Gospell is called the word of faith vpon that then wee are to attend with all care and diligence as we looke to get faith and so consequently the saluation of our owne soules Vse 2 Secondly the Apostle giues this note how to know our adoption and so consequently whether wee be in the state of saluation or not Rom. 8.16 His spirit beareth witnesse to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God Now concerning this testimony of Gods spirit I will not make my selfe so skilfull to define what it is it is better felt then exprest The Prophet cals it The hearing of a voyce behinde vs Esa 38.21 whereby the heart comes to be perswaded of it reconciliation with God But how shall I know that my perswasion is not presumption Quest There be two speciall markes whereby we may distinguish betwixt them Ans First that vndoubtedly is the voyce of Gods spirit when comfort and assurance is felt in the heart after such time as the heart hath first beene humbled and cast downe in the sight and sence of sinne Psal My heart saith Dauid is as waxe it is molten in the middest of my body for in the time of a mans securitie when hee hath little or no apprehension of sinne then for a man to hope well and to conclude of his owne saluation is no strange thing nothing is more vsuall in the world amongst meer naturall men that neuer felt the smart of sinne then to bragge and boast of this assurance of saluation but alas they raise vp this building but vpon a sandy foundation which will neuer stand in the time of tryall for it is Gods manner of dealing vsually in this work of mans saluation to lay full low whom hee intendeth to aduance full high by sorrow to bring them vnto ioy by death to bring them vnto life and by their humiliation for sinne to bring them to glory so that when a man hath once truely felt the smart of sinne when a man hath once combated with Gods wrath and the terrors of hell haue possessed his soule here is a good foundation to build the hope of heauen vpon for humiliation is the ground of exaltation and after this to stay a mans selfe vpon the promise of God in Christ is vndoubtedly the voyce of Gods spirit a token of true comfort and a note of true ioy Secondly when comfort ariseth Vse 2 from the comfortable vse of the meanes God himselfe hath appointed such as are the preaching of the Word the reuerent vse of the Sacrament prayer reading of the Scripture meditation c. for the Lord is euer a maintainer of that course which hee himselfe hath sanctified and set apart to the same end so then try thy assurance thus hath it beene layd in godly sorrow for sinne hast thou attended the poasts of the Lords Sanctuary c. This is vndoubtedly the voyce of Gods spirit and not of presumption But if on the contrary part thou neuer yet feltest such griefe of heart for sinne thy conscience did neuer yet torment thee in the sight and sence of sinne neither hast thou euer had any delight in the Lords Sabbaoths nor the duties of holinesse c. O deceiue not thy own soule thy hope of heauen of eternall life and saluation is meere presumption and no true assurance Text. Thou shalt be with me 2 To whom The next thing wee are to obserue is the person to whom the promise is madâ— and that is the Penitent that had confessed a good confession and hâ—d giuen so good testimony of his faith in Christ acknowledging his deitie at this time when all the world despised him and resting on him alone for life and saluation to him is the promise made Thou shalt be with me Whence we may note first of Doct. 1 all The prayers of the godly very effectuall with God The wonderfull force of the prayers of the godly how powerfull and effectuall the same are with God Such as lay a good foundation in humiliation for sin and haue laboured by true repentance their reconciliation with the Almightie these are they that preuaile most of all with God in prayer See we this in the example of this poore Penitent who hauing giuen good testimonie of his true repentance and conuersion vnto God how powerfull is he in prayer what a gratious answer doth the Lord giue vnto him Verily thou shalt bee with me The best way to haue our wills satisfied and our requests granted is to be godly for to such is the promise made Psal 145.18.19 God is neare to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in truth Hee will fulfill the desires of those that feare him he also will heare their cry and will helpe them We may see this in the Lords mercifull dealing with the people of Israel who being sore oppressed by the Canaanites who tooke of them prisoners they humbled themselues and besought the Lord and the Text saith The Lord heard the voyce of Israel Num. 21.3 Yea the Lord to testifie that his readie disposition to hâ—are and to grant the prayers of his seruants declareth by his Prophet saying Before they call I will answer Isa 65.24 and whilest they speake I will heare Thus Dauid Psal 120.1 I called vpon the Lord in trouble and he heard me The faithfull being suters vnto God are alwayes sure of good successe yea many times aboue that they aske or thinke as wee shall see hereafter in this Penitent that the Angell telleth Cornelius a godly man Act. 10.4 that his praiers were heard Yea the more Gods people can get their hearts to be broken and humbled in the sence of their sinnes the more powerfull and effectuall are their prayers with God A broken and contrite heart Psal 51.17 O God thou wilt not despise This Dauid found by comfortable experience in himselfe that when in the pride of his heart hee had numbred the people for whose sinne the Lord sent that grieuous plague vpon them When hee humbled himselfe before the Lord confessed his sinne 1. Chron. 21.17.27 It is I that haue sinned But what haue these sheepe done How suddenly vpon this did the Lord command the Angell to put vp his sword When Israel was in great affliction and distresse still They cried vnto the Lord in their troubles and the Text saith Psal 107.10 He deliuered them out of their distresse How powerfull were the prayers of Moses against the Amalekites Exod. 17. that Israel preuailed all the while
the hands of Moses were held vp and he besought the Lord in the behalfe of the people Yea Ioash doth acknowledge that the prayers of Elisha 2. King 13.14 an holy Prophet of God stood his kingdome in more stead then all the chariots and horsemen of Israel could do Neither is this to be wondred at that the prayers of the faithfull are of this force with God to preuaile with him For Reas 1 First God giueth vnto his chosen ones the Spirit of supplication and prayer Zach. 12. Which doth so enable the faithfull vnto this duty that they will haue no nay or receiue no repulse at Gods hand according to that of the Apostle 1. Ioh. 5.14.15 This is the assurance we haue in God that if we aske any thing according to his will he heareth vs. And if we know that he heareth vs whatsoeuer we aske we know that we shall haue the petitions we desire of him Secondly to comfort the Reas 2 hearts of his seruants and to minister vnto them a comfortable expectation to be heard in praier he is pleased to passe his promise out of his owne mouth and to assure vs by his owne word that we shall obtaine our desires saying Aske and ye shall haue seeke Mat. 7.7 and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you For euery one that asketh receiueth c. This is indeed the very ground-worke and foundation of the Christian prayer namely Gods promise which is as true and vnchangeable as himselfe is without which wee could neuer so confidently come vnto him Obiect But many of the godly haue praied much and often vnto God and yet the Lord seemeth not to heare nor to answer Answ God doth not forget his seruants though for a time he defer to answer God made Abraham a promise of a sonne by Sarah this Abraham expected ten twentie yea almost thirtie yeares who would haue thought all this while that God had forgot his promise but yet we know at last in a seasonable time God remembred the couenant and promise that he made with Abraham and Sarah had a sonne The Lord promised the posteritie of Abraham the Land of Canaan yet in what a miserable bondage were they in in Egypt vnder Pharaoh and that for the space of foure hundred and thirtie yeares who would not haue thought that surely God had not remembred his promise to Abraham yet at last the Lord brought them out with a mightie hand and stretched out arme But what might be the reason of the Lords dealing with his people after this manner Quest Doubtlesse God delayeth to answer the requests of his seruants till a more seasonable time Ans like a skilfull Physitian whom when his Patient being sicke of a burning Feauer shall aske wine will not giue it him knowing indeed that that is no time to drink wine The Lord in whose hands are times and seasons chuseth euer a fit time to answer the requests of his seruants Secondly the Lord will haue many times the case of his seruants desperate and they themselues past all hope of deliuerie in respect of any humane helpe to the end his owne power loue goodnesse and mercy should bee acknowledged in sending vnto them vnexpected deliuerance How could the Iews but acknowledge Gods goodnesse towards them in the time of Hester when they were all appointed vnto death when besides all hope the Lord sent them deliuerance How could Israel but acknowledge his mightie power and stretched out arme when they came out of the land of Egypt when the Sea was before them the Egyptians behinde them the mountaines on each hand of them and they left voide of all humane helpe and meanes to escape Exod. 15. Now was it a seasonable time for the Lord to steppe in that his owne power and stretched-out arme might be seene At what a low ebbe did the Lord bring Daniel Dan. 3. and those three worthies when one in the Lyons den the other in the fierie fornace when all hope of deliuerance was past and humane help failed then was his power most seene and then was deliuerance most seasonable Thirdly in Gods delayes then is there a seasonable time for the exercise of all those graces that hee hath betrusted his seruants withall such as are patience faith hope c. For it is the storme that proues the Mariner and the battell the Souldier whose experience and valour till then cannot be knowne Vse 1 If the prayers of Gods seruants be thus powerfull and effectuall with him This may be a notable incouragement for all Gods people to be frequent in this dutie and to be incessant in their prayers and not to giue him ouer though wee be not answered at first No doubt Hanna and Zachary had often prayed for children yet obtained not Notwithstanding they prayed still and at last the Lord heard them So Daniel he was in heauinesse three weekes of dayes Dan. 10.12 and to his thinking God heard him not yet the Lord heard him indeed from the first day as hee said to Daniel From the first day that he had set his heart to vnderstand Paul when the pricke of the flesh was giuen vnto him the messenger of Sathan was sent to buffet him hee therefore besought the Lord that it might depart from him But he receiued this answer My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.7.8.9 my power is made perfect in thy weaknesse Paul was heard though not at the first and therefore when wee shall pray for some blessing of the Lord which we stand in need of or when we shall craue power of the Lord ouer some vnruly affection of ours though we haue not answer by and by yet wee are not to leaue off This Christ teacheth vs when he saith Shall not God auenge the elect that cry day and night vnto him Luk. 18. Marke there Christs sweet application of that vnrighteous Iudge to teach vs to continue our suites and to hold out and then we shall not misse in the end Secondly this shewes the happie Vse 2 priuiledge of Gods Church and people that no man should say Mal. 3.14 It is in vaine to serue the Lord and what profit is it that we haue kept the commandements and haue walked humbly before him It is sure to go well with them they are in great credit esteeme in the Court of heauen they are all Fauourites to the great King of heauen and earth and he hath commanded such at all times to haue free accesse vnto him and to inlarge their desires with a promise of a gracious answer Ioh. 16.24 Aske saith our Sauiour and ye shall receiue that your ioy may bee full What though for a time they lie vnder troubles and sorrowes miseries and afflictions Rom. 8.37 Are they not herein more then conquerours through him that hath loued them The present miseries of the faithfull cannot hinder their happinesse but through the Lords
THE ADMIRABLE CONVERT OR THE MIRACVLOVS Conuersion of the Thiefe on the Crosse With the finall Impenitency of the other By SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the Word of God LONDON Printed by Thomas Harper for Thomas Alchorne and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1632. TO The Right Worshipâ—ull Sir Richard Greeues Knight one of his Maiesties â—ustices of the Peace Quorum for the Countie of Worcester and to the vertuous and religious Lady the Lady Anne Greeues his wife increase of grace in this life and eternall glory in the life to come Right Worshipfull IT may bee wondred at of many especially in these daies wherin there is such a satietie if not a surfet of bookes and that vpon this subiect of Repentance that I should thus carry timber to the Wood or water to the Sea And the rather for that my late publication of my exercises of the same subiect The Eunuchs Conuersion my reasons are these First the good content my hearers had at the publike preaching of the same was no small motiue vnto mee to present the same things to their eares which were so acceptable to their hearts And oh that the Lord would be pleased to co-operate to make them partakers of that sauing grace Secondly for that there hath bin none in our Church for ought I know that hath fully handled the History And lastly for that no one place of Scripture or example of Gods mercy is more abused then this of the Penitent for alas how many desperate sinners haue beene imboldened to sinne by his example for what say they Did not the Thiefe on the Crosse at last repent and was hee not saued Not considering that repentance is Gods gift and that as an Antient doth well obserue Though God giue forgiuenesse of sins to al that repent Qui promisit poenitenti veniam non promisit peccanti poenitentiam Aug. he giues not repentance to all that sinne Neither consider they that the conuersion of this man was not ordinary besides it was particular and that particular examples are not to be vrged for a generall practice especially in so weighty a matter as the saluation of the soule is nor how Christ now vpon a speciall occasion to shew the effect of his bloud the power of his sufferings and to manifest to the sinfull world the truth of his God-head euen at the lowest ebbe of his humiliation would conuert a sinner These things they remaine willingly ignorant of whereas indeed it is a thousand fold more probable that such shall dye as they haue liued impenitently wickedly and desperately with the Impenitent and so be damned rather then to haue such a singular grace giuen them and mercy shewed at last hour to repent with the Penitent and so be saued This being the condition of so many in the world oh how doâ—â— it concerne euery faithfull Minister of Christ to strike oft vpon this string to presse hard vpon this duty and to bring them to see if it be possible the miserable condition of an impenitent life These are the motiues that haue so preuailed to bring these collections to light And now Right Worshipfull I beseech you that the world may receiue them at your hands and vnder your name which why should I doubt of since your zeale for Gods house loue of the truth with that incouragement you daily giue to such as bring the tidings of peace may assure mee that a Present of this nature cannot but bee acceptable vnto you Now if this poore worke may adde to the benefit and good of Gods Church and further the worke of Repentance which these times call for as my hope is through Gods mercy it may And that you and yours who deserue so large a measure of honor respect froÌ„ Gods Church may hereby bee further incouraged in your godly course who I confesse deserue a greater gift and better Present then I am able to giue it is all I desire and therein shall much reioyce and glorifie God in that behalfe And thus I commend you both to God and to the word of his grace who is able to build you vp further and to giue you at last an Inheritance amongst all those that are truely sanctified So prayeth hee who desireth to bee and remaine Your Worships Petitioner to the Throne of grace SAMVEL SMITH THE ADMIRABLE CONVERT Luk. 23. vers 39.40 c. ANd one of the euill doers which were hanged railed on him saying If thou bee Christ saue thy self vs. But the other answering rebuked him saying Doest thou not feare God seeing thou art in the same condemnation We indeed are iustly here for we receiue the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amisse And he said vnto Iesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome And Iesus said vnto him Verily I say vnto thee to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise OF all Doctrines to be preached none more necessarie then the Doctrine of true Repentance which as it is most necessarie to life and saluation as our Sauiour witnesseth saying Except ye repent Luk. 13.5 ye shall all perish So neuer more neglected then in these times wherein too many of Israels Watchmen bend themselues not to serue to the edification of the faith of the Church as to disturbe the peace thereof wherein the malice and policie of Sathan in the purest Churches to corrupt the purity of doctrine hath beene euer seene But to leaue such as wearie themselues and Hearers with knotty questions tending rather to strife then edification therein many times to get a name of profunditie they leade their people rather into a labyrinth then work them to true piety It is the Doctrine of true repentance we haue now in hand and herein of that Admirable Conuert or that Mirror of Gods mercy the Thiefe on the Crosse whose example as it is full of consolation vnto the godly so no one example of Gods mercy in the whole Scripture more abused by wicked and licentious men Before we come to these particulars it will not be amisse that we first cast our eyes vpon the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe who as the Prophet Isaiah saith Isa 53.12 was numbred with transgressours And as Saint Luke obserueth in this Chapter Vers 32. There were also two other malefactours led with him to be put to death Verse 33. And when they were come to the place which is called Caluary there they crucified him and the Malefactours c. The foure kindes of death in vse among the Iewes There were foure kindes of death in vse amongst the Iewes as capitall punishments for capitall offences 1 Stoning Leuit. 24.14 Deut. 17.7 First stoning a kinde of death commonly inflicted vpon Blasphemers and Idolaters where the hand of the witnesse was first to be vpon him Secondly Beheading 2 Beheading Thirdly Burning Fourthly Strangling 3 Burning Deu. 21.22 which punishment
this mercy shewed him euen at the last to bee conuerted by Christ and so saued Note hence first the generall Instruction and herein first That the Lord many times of Doct. 1 his infinite mercy doth call home of the most desperate and wretched offenders God can make of great sinners great Saints and makes of great sinners great Saints Yea where there is true repentance it is not the greatnesse of sinne the numberlesse number of our sinnes no nor the long continuance in the same that can any whit hinder vs of his mercy Yea the Lord hath of all sorts and conditions of men some that belong vnto the election of grace and appertaine vnto his glorious kingdome Here wee haue an example of Gods mercifull dealing towards a most desperate malefactour one that had spent his life in a most desperate course of sinning yet now at last brought home by repentance What a fearefull estate was Paul in before his conuersion Act. 9. a grieuous persecuter and bloud-succour yet called of God and made an instrument of much good in his Church Heb. 11. Rahab an Harlot that came of cursed Cain a Cananite of a cursed people of a cursed Citie yet had mercie shewed her and is honoured with a blessed memory in the Catalogue of Gods Saints for her admirable faith Ionas the Lords Prophet Ionas 1. how fouly and fearefully fell he And so Dauid likewise in the matter of Vriah 2. Sam. 11. yet vpon their repentance restored againe to fauour Mary Magdalene branded with a brand of notable infamy yet is she one of the witnesses of Christs glorious resurrection And why should this seeme strange vnto any since First Gods gifts depend not Reas 1 vpon any respect to man but are free on Gods part and altogether vndeserued on ours Rom. 9. I will haue mercy on whom I will haue mercy Secondly the Lord herein will Reas 2 shew his owne power wisedome and goodnesse that can when it pleaseth him make his enemies his friends and such as haue been bloudly persecuters blessed Preachers and great and grieuous sinners on earth blessed Saints in heauen Reas 3 Thirdly the Lord doth it that he may magnifie his own mercy by turning the crimosin dye of scarlet sins into the whitenes of snow that where sinne hath abounded grace might superabound Vse 1 This serues first of all to magnifie the wonderfull wisedome and goodnesse of God who knoweth how to vse all things to his owne glory and can when and where it pleaseth him make of great sinners great Saints and bring backe some from their wicked wayes as a Brand plucked out of the fire Vse 2 Secondly we are taught here to esteeme of men as they are and not as sometimes they were according to their present condition and not as in times past The Apostle reckoning vp many horrible sinnes that were committed amongst the Corinthians saith Such were some of you 1 Cor. 6.11 but now ye are washed now ye are sanctified It is indeed a common fault in the world the fals and infirmities of Gods seruants are still laid in their dish albeit they haue giuen good testimony of their hearty sorrow and true repentance for the same It is not seuen yeares that can weare out of minde such a sinne in such a one the world keepes Registers of such mens faults and as occasion serueth still they shall heare of it This is not the Lords manner of dealing with vs. Thirdly this may warne vs to Vse 3 take heed how we censure others that yet wander and goe astray thou dost not know what is to come a man that should haue seene this penitent Theefe how vile and sinfull hee liued euen to the end that now a shamefull and miserable death doth ouertake him could not but haue thought him in a wretched and miserable case So likewise Paul hee that should haue seene him trotting and trudging vp and down from Office to Office to get his Commissions sealed to commit vnto prison all that made profession of Christ could not but haue thought him with Simon Magus to be in the gall of bitternesse O but stay a while this is one of Gods secrets that belongeth vnto him he in whose hands are times and seasons hath his time to call home those that belong vnto the election of grace in the meane time wee may not passe a finall doome vpon any Indeed when I see a man liue a dissolute life liuing in drunkennesse swearing vsury c. and in all manner of prophane courses I may say this man is in the way to destruction but yet there may bee a time wherein the Lord may call home such a one I may come to a tree and say here is little fruit or no fruit or bad fruit but I cannot say with Christ Neuer fruit grow on thee any more Luke 11. for God may shew mercy at last vpon their vnfained repentance And last of all this may bee a Vse 4 forcible motiue vnto vs to moue vs vnto repentance and to bee a spur in mens sides to make them speedily to returne and to seeke God art thou a Drunkard a Swearer a prophane and beastly liuer that hast spent thy time in vaine prophane and licentious courses O behold here Gods mercifull dealing now at last with this poore penitent vpon his repentance the Lord doth freely receiue him againe to fauour Be not then out of heart albeit thou art compassed about with many infirmities wrong not the Lord neither wrong thy owne soule as to thinke it will bee too late for thee at last to returne vnto him It was a cursed speech of a cursed wretch Gen. 4. My sinne is greater then God can forgiue no no labour for a broken and a contrite heart and the Lord in mercy will couer all thy sins And indeed this is the true vse we are to make of all the fals and infirmities of Gods children as they are recorded in Gods book not to incourage vs in a course of sinning by their examples The true vse of other mens fals but First to put vs in minde of our weakenesse for if Dauid Peter Ionas and the like worthy stars in the Church haue fallen whither shall we fall if the Lord shall but a little leaue vs vnto our selues Secondly to keepe vs from despaire and therefore we can as ill spare the examples of their infirmities for our consolation as the examples of their vertues for our imitation What would become of vs had not the Lord left vs the examples of great land grieuous offenders whom he hath againe receiued into fauour surely wee should euen sinke vnder the burthen of those sins whereof our own hearts cannot but condemne vs. But the other rebuked him Wonderfull are the fruits of this Penitents repentance and faith beleeuing confessing giuing testimony of Christs innocency rebuking his fellow accusing himselfe and hoping aboue hope in this crucified Sauiour whom all the world
contemned and despised to finde life the particulars whereof now follow in order But whence was this that he is become such a worthy confessor excusing Christ and pleading his cause who so lately before by his sinfull and wretched life had so dishonoured him No question this proceeded from the Lords free grace and mercy shewed vnto him giuing him to see his sins to be humbled for the same and by a liuely faith to lay hold on Christ It was Christ that had first looked on him with the eye of mercy that had in him no merit before he could behold his godhead now at this time vailed and he himselfe so much abased He was by nature in the same estate and condition with the other malefactor guiltie of the same sinne ouertaken with the same punishment and so had perished euerlastingly had not the Lord Iesus of this stone made a sonne of Abraham and framed his heart anew making a difference through grace where there was none by nature for so was it his good pleasure The instruction we may learne Doct. 2 hence then is this All men are alike by nature vntill God make a diâ—ference by grace that by nature there is no difference betwixt Gods children and wicked men vntill the Lord make the difference by grace we are all hewed out of the same rocke that the vildest wretch and cursedst Canibal was that euer breathed vntill the Lord doe frame the heart anew wee are all folded vp in the state of nature and are the children of wrath as well as others Doe but consider what the Scripture speaketh of this particular that we are all by nature the children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Eze. 16. that our father was an Aramite and our mother a Hittite such as wee are indeed without the couenant without God in this world Corrupted with iniquity from the womb Psal 51.7 conceiued of vncleane seed Iob 14.4 yea all the faculties of our soules how are they depraued through this originall corruption Eph. 4.18 The vnderstanding is blinde Hauing their vnderstandings darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them The will is froward and rebellious Rom. 7.15 what I would that doe I not but what I hate that I doe hauing not so much power to thinke that is good And the same is true of our affections 2. Cor. 3.5 which are likewise disordered being set vpon transitorie things which profit not and altogether auerse from heauenly things inasmuch as the Apostle saith Rom. 3.23 We are depriued of the glory of God Hauing in vs no inclination at all to any thing which is good but rather indeed an inclination to all things that are euill Gen. 6.3 And in this miserable estate and condition doth the Lord finde vs when he is pleased to call vs as we may see in Saul Zacheus Acts 9. Luke 19. Ioh. 7. Mary Magdalene this penitent Thiefe and of all the faithfull it is God Who worketh both the will and the deed Phil. 2.13 and that of his owne good pleasure 1. Cor. 4.7 Who separateth thee saith the Apostle or who causeth thee to differ It is the Lord that makes this difference betwixt vs and wicked men Yea wee shall finde the whole worke of grace of Conuersion and saluation to be wholly attributed vnto him he is the Alpha and Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end that is all in all in the worke of our saluation First Election which is the ground foundation of al grace Election this comes from him Hee hath predestinated vs to bee adopted through Iesus Christ in himselfe Epees 1.5 according to the good pleasure of his will Secondly vocation and a Christian mans effectuall calling Vocation outwardly by the word and inwardly by the Spirit this proceeds likewise from him and his free and vndeserued grace and fauour alone 2. Tim. 1.9 He hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling Gal. 1.6 Not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace Thirdly Faith is the instrument or the hand Faith by the which we come to lay hold vpon and apply Christ and his righteousnesse vnto our owne soules in particular Heb. 11.6 and without which we cannot please God Now from whence haue we this grace truly to beleeue Ephes 2.8 for By grace ye are saued through faith and that not of your selues it is the gift of God Fourthly Obedience from him alone proceedeth what will what power or abilitie soeuer we haue for any holy duty Ezek. 36.27 28. A new heart saith the Lord will I giue you and a new spirit will I put into you I will take away the stony heart out of your body and I will giue you a heart of flesh I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes Fifthly to haue the Word and Sacrament effectuall vnto vs this comes from him otherwise Paul may plant 1. Cor. 3.6 and Apollo water but all in vaine I haue planted and Apollo watered but God gaue the increase 6 Perseuerance Finally the gift and grace of perseuerance to hold out in our Christian race vnto the end this is likewise from him I will giue them one heart and one way Ie. 32.4.41 that they may feare me for euer I will put my feare in their hearts and they shal not depart from me And That God who hath begun that good worke Phil. 1.6.29 will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ So that it is he that is the Alpha and Omega the first and the last that is all in all in the matter of grace and saluation So as we must say with the Church Isa 26.12 O Lord thou hast wrought all our works for vs. And it must needs be thus For Reas 1 First God will haue the whole glory of this worke of our conuersion and saluation and none other That all matter of glorying in our selues might bee taken away and that we might say with the Psalmist Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy Name giue the praise He will haue the glory of his owne worke and the praise of his owne mercy and will teach vs to go out of our selues and to say with Paul By the grace of God I am that I am Secondly we haue nothing of Reas 2 our owne or within vs that should moue the Lord to elect vs vnto life or to adopt vs as sonnes wee are miserable orphans and haue naught else to plead vnto God to commiserate our misery we are beggers and destitute of all good things Our penury is such as that we are faine to begge at his hands Our daily bread he oweth vs naught and they are but his owne gifts and graces giuen vnto vs that he crowneth with glory Vse 1 This serues first of all to humble vs
rod. Neuer childe was more submissiue to the corrections of a Father then Dauid was Memorable is that speech of his Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy iudgements are good and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused mee to be troubled To this accordeth the example of old Eli when Samuel told him That the Lord would do a thing in Israel 1 Sam. 3.18 that whosoeuer should heare thereof his eares should tingle Meaning indeed the iudgement the Lord would bring vpon him and his house how doth he behaue himselfe vnder this heauie denunciation threatned It is the Lord saith hee let him do as it pleaseth him By which answer of his we may collect how sensible he was of his own sin in his indulgent behauiour towards his sons takes the same as a iust punishment from heauen vpon the same Of this spirit no doubt sauours that of the Prodigal Luk. 15. I will go to my Father and I will say vnto him Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Reade wee ouer the prayers of Gods Church and people at such times as Gods wrath hath broken out vpon them and his iudgements haue layne heauie vpon them Haue they not still acknowledged the Lord to bee most iust Thus Ezra in the behalfe of the people â—zra 9.10 Now our God what shall we say for wee haue forsaken thy commandements â—ch 9.33 Thus Nehemiah Surely thou art iust in all that is come vpoÌ„ vs. â—an 9.7 Thus Daniel O Lord righteousnes belongs vnto thee but vnto vs shame Yea Micah personating the whole Church and people of God in times of great affliction and sore aduersity â—ich 7.9 I wil beare with patience the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him By which examples and diuers more of that kinde recorded in Gods Booke we may see the propertie of a true conuert and of an heart truly humbled for sinne it can willingly and readily take all vpon it selfe and still acquite the Lord of iniustice or hard dealing when his iudgements lie most heauie vpon them Whereas on the contrary if wee looke vpon the behauiour of wicked men when the Lord most iustly hath ouertaken them in their wickednesse wee shall heare them grudging repining and complaining as if the Lord were not iust in punishing them so seuerely Gen 14.13 My punishment saith Cain is greater then I can beare Saul can plead for himselfe 1. Sam. 15.20 as if his punishment were not iust And so the Prophet Malachy brings in the wicked pleading against God Mal. 1.6 Wherein haue we despised thy Name or wherein haue we beene stout against him As if the Prophet had taken his ayme amisse and done them great wrong to charge them on that wise O the wickednesse that is in an impenitent heart The point is cleare and plaine the reasons briefely are Reas 1 First his word and spirit hath informed the iudgements of his seruants teaching them how to conceiue of the Lords distribution of his iudgements that are executed vpon them that the Lord therein cannot but bee iust Hee rewardeth euery man according to his works Psal 62 12 saith the Psalmist God doth not proceed against any in iudgement vpon malice or vpon suspition but vpon iust ground before whom all things are open and naked And hence is it that the Lord pleads this his integritie and iustice against the people of Israel Are not my wayes equall Eze. 18.2 and are not your wayes vnequall Secondly the conscience of their owne sinne causeth them to iustifie the Lord and to accuse themselues Psal 39.9 I was dumbe saith Dauid and opened not my mouth because thou didst it And againe My soule keepeth silence vnto God The godly cannot but know that they are their sinnes that haue prouoked God to anger and prouoked him to displeasure Lam. 3.39 Man suffereth for his sinne And the consideration hereof doth humble them and cause them to beare with patience the Lords corrections Seeing then in this Penitent Vse 1 Thiefe acknowledging that his punishment to be so iust we haue beene taught the propertie of a true Conuert namely to submit to Gods seuerest corrections without grudging or repining Hereby then we may take good triall of the integritie of our owne hearts and of the truth of our owne repentance Hath the hand of God beene vpon vs at any time in any kinde whether on our bodies by long and tedious sicknesse or any other misery on our goods names estates of what kinde soeuer how haue we behaued our selues and beene affected vnder the same Corrupt nature in this case will be ready to stand vpon tearmes of iustification as if wee were hardly dealt withall But a sanctified spirit and gratious heart can willingly stoope vnto God Isa 39.8 and say with Hezekiah The word of the Lord is good which thou hast spoken And with good Nehemiah Neh. 9.33 Lord thou art iust in all that is come vpon vs. If in times of affliction and aduersitie wee haue behaued our selues in this sort This is a good testimonie vnto our owne hearts of the true humiliation and conuersion of the same vnto God But if on the contrary part vpon triall had we finde that we were neuer yet so sensible of our sinnes nor apprehensiue of our misery to know and acknowledge that we haue deserued at Gods hand his sharpest plagues and seuerest corrections so that in the middest of them all wee could say Lam 3.39 It is the Lords mercy we are not consumed We can haue no sound comfort in our soules that the true worke of grace conuersion is wrought in vs. Secondly this may teach vs in all our afflictions to labour with our selues to see that sinne is the cause thereof and to learne to profit thereby to amendment of life for such men are farre enough from repentance and true conuersion which goe on sleepily in a course of life and are not humbled when the Lord correcteth And last of all wee are taught here euen in our sharpest afflictions still to iustifie God and to acknowledge that he is euer iust in his iudgements before whom the most holy that are cannot be innocent Text. But this man hath done nothing amisse 3. Iustifieth Christs innocency In these words wee haue the third proofe that manifesteth the truth of this Penitents conuersion and that is his iustifying of Christs innocency This man hath done nothing amisse 5 Argument Ab innoceâ—â—tia Christi And this is that fift and last Argument that hee vseth to his fellow to disswade him from reproaching of Christ and so to stop him in his course of sin and this is taken from Christs innocency Q. d. Wretched man that thou art thinkest thou that because this man suffereth the like punishment with thee and me that therefore his cause was alike no Wee are
Land-lord or some great man in the Country that is a Papist or an Atheist vpon whom he hath some dependency whose displeasure he is not able to beare doth make him pull in his head that he dares not bee too forward that way These men are like Symon of Cyrene who bare the Crosse but suffered nothing So these weare the cognizance of Christ but will suffer nothing for Christ O this is a grieuous and a fearefull sinne I would commend vnto such a one these places of Scripture to bee duely thought vpon Heb. 10.38 The iust shall liue by faith but if any man draw backe my soule shall haue no pelasure in him Reu. 21.8 The fearefull and vnbeleeuing shall haue their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Mar. 8.38 Whosoeuer shall bee ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinfull generation him shall the sonne of man be ashamed of when hee commeth in the glory of his Father with all his holy Angels O that these things were duely thought vpon how would they make vs tremble to consider how vpon euery light occasion we are ready to pull in our heads euery threat euery mocke and disgrace euery frowne of a mortall man that is but dust is ready to make vs stagger in the good way of righteousnesse and to abate our zeale in our holy profession An euident demonstration that the zeale of the Lords house hath not yet consumed vs. Secondly learne from this Penitent thus clearing Christs innocency pleading his cause and acknowledging his Deitie when all besides scorned and derided him neuer to thinke thou hast profited aright in the Schoole of Christ if either feare or shame abate thy zeale or cause thee to deny that truth thou hast professed or any way to estrange thy selfe from the professours of the same especially in time of their afflictions Heb. 11.25 It was Moses praise and an argument of his loue to God and his people that he could chuse rather to share with them in their present afflictions then to enioy the pleasures in Pharaohs Court There is no one thing that doth yeeld more sound comfort vnto a mans owne soule then this that he hath stood for Christ and his truth and howsoeuer such a one may meet with troubles and persecutions here hee is faithfull that hath promised Great shall be your reward in heauen Mat. 5.12 Hee that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it saith Christ And therefore as Caesars eye made his souldiers prodigall of their bloud so Gods eye that alwayes is vpon vs and his cause which principally ought to affect vs should cause vs stand to his truth aboue our owne credit libertie life and all But this man hath done nothing amisse Text. It came not to passe but by an extraordinarie prouidence that this Penitent Theefe should in this wise giue testimony vnto Christs innocēcy especially at this time of his wonderfull abasement when all contemned and despised him Iudas betrayeth Pilate condemneth the Scribes and Pharisees and Elders mocke and reuile him the common people and passers by wagge their heads at him the other Thiefe reproacheth him yet in the middest of them all here is one that will take his death on it that Christ dyed an Innocent Note we hence That in all ages and from time to time In all ages God hath had some witnesses of his truth God hath had some that haue giuen testimonie vnto his truth At all times hee hath had some to defend him and cleare his innocency in times of the hotest persecution some that sticke fast to the truth when others denie him No doubt this could not but be a corrasiue at the very heart of the high Priest and Elders and people that pursued Christ to this death to haue this man thus to acknowledge Christ For it is commonly a matter of great weight whereon one taketh his death So in rebuking exhorting admonishing or any other dutie when one vrgeth it dying it leaues the greater impression behinde it The brethren of Ioseph can pleade this to their brother Gen. 50.16 Thy father say they commanded a little before his death that thou shouldest forgiue the trespasse of thy brethren Here wee haue the last words of a dying man now leauing the world and going to giue vp his last account and behold this is the testimonie he giues of Christ This man hath done nothing amisse When Gods truth hath beene most of all oppugned and resisted God hath had at all times some witnesses of his truth When Antichrist should most of all flourish I will giue power saith the Lord vnto my two witnesses c. Reu. 11.3 Let Ieremy be cast into the dungeō Ie. 38.8 the Lord hath a Ebedmelech to plead his cause to the King and to be a meanes of his delivery If the Scribes and Pharisees go about to condemne Christ Nichodemus will pleade his cause whatsoeuer come of it Let Christ be mocked and derided of all yet this poore Penitent confesseth him to be the Lord of life Luk. 23.50 and will take his death vpon it that Christ dyeth an Innocent Yea when they sat in councell to condemne Christ there is in the company one Ioseph a good man and a iust That consented not vnto his death When Christ was risen againe from the dead he appeares to the two Disciples that went from Ierusalem to Emaus that they might giue testimonie of the truth of the same So are Mary Magdalene Luk. 24. and Mary the mother of Ioses made witnesses likewise of the truth thereof And for the further clearing of this truth the Apostle Paul saith 1. Cor. 15.6 Hee was seene of moe then fiue hundred brethren at once The Reasons are Reas 1 First the Lord will haue wisedome to bee iustified of her children though others regard it not and his truth to flourish and to remaine to posterities 1 Pet. 1.24 All flesh saith the Apostle is grasse and the glory of man as the flowre of the field The grasse withereth the flower fadeth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for euer Secondly he it is that hath the Reas 2 hearts of all men in his hand to turne them at his pleasure and can when it pleaseth him make of a persecuting Saul a preaching Paul Acts 9.15 and appoint him to bee a witnesse of his truth to beare his Name vnto the Gentiles that had beene a persecuter of the same yea as Christ saith Luk. 19.40 If these should hold their peace the stones would crie But why should Christ make choice of such meane witnesses to giue testimonie to him and his truth Quest Answ Why Christ chuseth such weake witnesses to giue testimony to him and his truth For two respects First that he might haue the glory of the worke who commonly chuseth the weake and foolish things of the
world to confound the wise and the mightie putting this treasure in earthen vessels that the power might be in God and not in men Secondly that there might appeare a cleare difference betwixt the kingdome of Christ and the kingdome of Antichrist The kingdome of Christ doth not stand in need of humane power of earthly and carnall props to leane vpon but is supported with Gods almighty power which watcheth ouer it continually Whereas the kingdome of Antichrist must haue all the wit and policie of man to support it Equiuocation deuilish plots and practices such as are Gun-powder Treasons murthering of kings c. or else it could neuer stand This lets vs see the wonderfull Vse 1 care God hath of his Church and truth that albeit they are both opposed by many and mightie enemies yet hee is euer mindfull of his couenant and oath that he made to a thousand generations Yea when Popery most of all preuailed what Instruments hath God stirred vp in all places in Spaine Germany France Bohemia England c. to oppose that Antichristian pride As also to teach vs that when we shall see the Church of God in her wane and the beautie glory thereof eclipsed and ouer shadowed to rest vpon this that God can neuer want instruments of the Churches deliuerie he can make their enemies their friends as here hee opened the mouth of this Thiefe to giue testimonie vnto Christ As in the time of the Prophet Elias the Lord had seuen thousand that neuer bowed the knee vnto Baal Hee can neuer want mouthes to confesse him that out of the mouthes of very babes sucklings ordaineth such strength to perfect his owne praise Hitherto of his speech to his Fellow and therein of the three first testimonies of the truth of his Repentance and conuersion vnto God VERSE 42. And he said vnto Iesus Text. Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome FRom his speech to his fellow rebuking him and iustifying the Lord Iesus he comes now to direct his suite to Christ Lord remember me c. It was a temporall deliuerance and corporall life the blasphemous Thiefe desired Saue thy self and vs and because hee iudged Christ to be Man onely and not God and so not able to giue this therefore he blasphemed him But the Penitent Thiefe that liues by faith and not by sence beholds Christs glorious power euen in this low degree of his humiliation and through faith raiseth vp himselfe to the hope of a better life Not regarding so much a temporall life or corporall deliuerance so that it might go well with his soule in death and therefore prayeth Lord remember me c. And herein as before he manifesteth likewise the admirable fruite of his faith and repentance whether wee consider the condition of the person of this Supplicant or petitioner or of Christ himselfe to whom hee sues for mercy First if we consider the Supplicant or petitioner himselfe a man not trained vp in the Schoole of Christ but rather in a denne of Theeues a man giuen vnto all manner of Rapine like a rauenous beast vpon the prey liuing by cutting of throats theft and the bloud of men for such a wretched creature as this to be brought at last to see his sinnes and to repentance for the same and to seek so earnestly for mercy for his soule this must needs declare the almightie power of God Secondly if we consider withall the condition of Christ himselfe at this time to whom he directeth his sute euen crucified Christ Betrayed by Iudas condemned by Pilate mocked of Priest and people denied by Peter forsaken at this time of all his Disciples for the Text saith They all forsooke him and fled At this time I say to acknowledge Christs Deitie to performe diuine honour vnto him by praying vnto him was wonderfull indeed Had hee in times past heard Christ preach and beene familiar with Christ or his disciples had he heard his heauenly word or seene those glorious miracles that hee had wrought Haply there might haue beene wrought some grace in the heart which howsoeuer it might be kept in for a time as fire raked vp in the ashes yet now at last at the time of his death might reuiue As it was the case of Peter who had forgot Christs words Mat. 26. which said Before the Cocke crow thou shalt deny mee thrice Yet afterwards the Text saith He remembred the words of Christ then had not this beene so much to bee wondred at But this being the first meeting and greeting the first sight he got of Christ who suffered now the same cursed shamefull and ignominious death together with him this could not but make greatly for the commendations of his admirable faith Before wee come to the particular handling of the words wee haue a two-fold instruction to bee handled in generall First then wee may note what a happy progresse this Penitent maketh in the wayes of godlinesse and in the worke of repentance He groweth vp still in Christ and goeth on from vertue to vertue and from one measure and degree of grace vnto another as it were by steps and stayers ascending vp into Gods kingdome first hee rebuketh is fellow secondly confesseth their sinnes thirdly cleareth Christs innocency And now againe maketh earnest supplication vnto him and herein will teach vs. Doct. 1 That a daily growth and increase in grace is necessary vnto saluation True grace is known by the growth in grace True grace will shew it selfe by the daily growth in the measure and degrees thereof Where grace is well vsed it will increase It is not with grace as it is with the materiall things of this life the more they are vsed the more they decay but grace is of a generatiue nature one grace well vsed and rightly improued brings forth another We glory in tribulation saith the Apostle knowing that tribulation worketh patience Rom. 5.3.4 and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed This duty of daily growth and increase in grace is often vrged and pressed in the Scriptures We beseech you brethren 1 Thes 4.4 and exhort you in the Lord Iesus that ye increase more and more 2 Pet. 3.18 So Peter grow in grace and againe Heb. 6.1 Pro. 1.5 Let vs be led forward towards perfection A wise man will heare and increase in learning saith Salomon Gods Church in the Scripture is compared to an Orchard or a Garden the Ministers of the Word are Planters and Waterers and all the faithfull are trees of righteousnesse and such as are thus planted in the Courts of the Lords house they bring forth much fruit in their age and are fat and well liking Psal 92.14 The blessing vpon the Creatures was increase and multiply Gen. 1.22 Euen so the blessing on the new Creatures is Grow in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ This is
excellently shadowed out vnto vs by Ezechiels vision of waters Eze. 47.12 which increased more and more which shadoweth out vnto vs the power of the Word in the hearts of beleeuers in the time of the Gospell And wheresoeuer these waters should come they should cause admirable fruitfulnesse And this is that which our Sauiour noteth that his Father is the Husband-man himselfe the Vine euery true beleeuer a branch of this Vine And such saith he my Father purgeth Ioh. 15.1 that they may bring forth more fruit Salomon cōpareth the righteous to the Sun that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day Pro. 4 18. The poynt is clear neither is there any duty whereunto a Christian is more vrged and pressed in the Scripture then this And the reasons are Reas 1 First in regard that the greatest measure of grace that the faithfull in this life can possibly attaine vnto is not more then needfull to saluation As the least measure of sanctifying grace truely wrought shall be auaileable vnto saluation so the greatest measure that any haue will but serue the turne It is with grace as with the Manna the Israelites gathered none had to spare of that they gathered So the time will come when he that hath the greatest measure of knowledge faith repentance c. shall finde the same little enough to keepe the head aboue the water when a man shall come to combate with death The king of feares and to wrestle with Sathans temptations Secondly such as improue Reas 2 their graces receiued the Lord is pleased daily to adde to the stocke of grace making them more and more to abound therein as faith our Sauiour Luk. 8.18 To him that hath shall be giuen whereas wicked and vngodly men which haue but the out-side of religion onely the Lord will take from such that they seemed to haue Thirdly the great cost the Reas 3 Lord is daily at with vs may prouoke vnto this duty First hee bought vs at a deare rate from our sinfull vile and vaine conuersations to the end we might serue him in righteousnesse and holinesse all our dayes Againe hee hath planted vs by the riuers of waters euen his sacred Word with the dayly dewes and spirituall moysture flowing from the same he daily watereth our soules Besides all this hee hath come vnto vs with the pruning knife of his iudgements and corrections of all sorts both nationall and personall to shred off sinne and corruption and so many superfluous and luxurious branches that hinder fruitfulnesse so as the Lord may plead with vs as with his people of old Esay 5. What should I haue done more that I haue not done All which may prouoke vnto this duty Reas 4 And last of all the Scripture compareth a Christian to new borne Babes As new borne Babes 1 Pet. 2.2 desire yee the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby Now infancy and childhood of all other ages is an age of growing It were a wonder in nature to haue an infant liue and not grow the Word truely heard and receiued breeds no such staruelings Againe the Scripture compares a Christian to a building Now what is it to lay a foundation of a worke and not to build vpon it If it bee not followed wee see it comes to nothing Thus is it with the building vp of the inward man Is this daily increase growth Vse 1 in grace so necessary as that without it we can haue no sound comfort of the truth of grace Miserable then and fearefull is the state and condition of those that haue lost their first loue and haue fallen away from that measure of loue zeale and other graces that appeared in them in times past Surely the estate of such men is lamentable and fearefull If they saith Peter after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the world 2 Pet. 2◠20 21 22. through the acknowledging of the Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet tangled againe therin and ouercome the latter end is worse with them then the beginning for it had beene better for them not to haue acknowledged the way of righteousnesse then after they haue knowledged it to turne away from the holy Commandement giuen vnto them but it is come vnto them according to the Prouerbe The dog is turned vnto his owne vomit and the Sow that was washed to the wallowing in the mire This was the case of Demas Hymeneus and Philetus mentioned by Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 1 20 2 Tim. 2. they were counted famous in their times yet at last fell away But woe bee vnto Sathan for his malice and woe bee vnto such men for their backsliding the estate of such is fearefull Secondly this serues to condemne Vse 2 the common securitie of men in these dayes and times wherein wee liue who are strongly perswaded in themselues that they haue attayned to a sufficiency in religion for knowledge and grace they haue plyed it hitherto and now they may sit still as if they had as much as they needed or God could require at their hands Lamentable is their estate and wofull is their condition Of all the diseases of the Asian Churches this was the most dangerous that the Church of Laodicea was sick withall who thought themselues rich and increased in wealth and needed nothing no more knowledge no more grace whereas indeed they were miserable poore and blinde and naked the very opinion of sufficiency shewes our penury Dost thou put forth thy childe to Nurse thou desirest that it should thriue and prosper and not stand at a stay if it prosper not euery one will say the childe will not continue long Thus is it with vs when the Lord shall feede vs with the wholsome milke of the Word and we daily lugge the breasts of our Mother the Church and yet profit not but stand rather at a stay as ignorant as before as dull heauy and vntoward in holy performances as before O this is a fearefull signe of a spirituall consumption and this wee may feare will follow in the end that God at last will bee prouoked to giue such a one ouer to hardnesse of heart and to reprobate sence that haue made no better a vse of the grace that hath beene offered vnto them And last of all it may serue for Vse 3 matter of comfort and consolation vnto the godly that are on the mending hand though they finde many defects and imperfections in them and be often drawn aside through their owne corruptions yet the increase in knowledge zeale loue and the like graces proues the truth thereof in the heart Bur how shall I know whether I increase in grace yea or no Quest Thou mayest know it by these signes Answ First by thy daily increase in humility for God resisteth the proud but giueth grace to the humble Humility is a Mother-grace as we thriue in it we prosper in all other graces Whereas on the contrary
The Lord declared by his Prophet how detestable the sacrifices of the people were vnto him Isa 1.14 My soule hateth your new Moones and your appointed feasts c. What then must they obserue these solemne feasts no more because the Lord hated them No. What then Take away the euill of your doings from before my eyes Vers 16. Repentance will remoue the cloud and that partition wall that is betwixt God and vs and giue our prayers accesse before him Secondly this shewes the misery Vse 2 of those who trust onely to their prayers and other good deeds as they say to pacifie Gods wrath to escape the vengeance to come and to make amends for all their euill wayes Though in the meane time their consciences are defiled their conuersations are sinfull and which is worst of all their hearts are no way humbled for the same Poore soules doe they thinke the Lord will be beguiled thus Thinke they that the Lord is driuen to such a necessitie that either he must take their seruice or not to bee serued at all No no the Lord hath Angels and Saints to doe him seruice though thou serue but for his iustice vpon whom he may glorifie himselfe in thy euerlasting confusion and so will the Lord be glorified by the wicked at last Vse 3 Thirdly this may serue to admonish vs all in the feare of God that as we desire to bee heard in prayer and to auoid this fearefull curse to haue our prayers turned into sinne that wee lay a good foundation with this Penitent here By confessing our sinnes vnto God by giuing good testimonie of our vnfained sorrow and repentance for them with a godly resolution of newnesse of life That wee first wash our hands and so come to his Altar For if wee regard wickednesse in our hearts the Lord will not heare vs. Sinne stoppeth Gods eares that he cannot heare and is that cloud that hindereth the accesse of them into his presence Now what can be more vncomfortable vnto the soule of man then this Not to be heard in misery when Sathan shall tempt vs sinne disquiet vs troubles oppresse vs death affright vs what is now the last refuge of a poore soule but to flie vnto God by prayer Now alas when our prayers shall become abhominable and turned into sinne who is then able to put to silence the voice of desperation And on the contrary part what can bee more comfortable then when troubles and miseries shall come sicknesse and death it selfe shall approach that we may haue free accesse vnto the throne of grace there to powre out our soules into his bosome The very thoughts hereof comforted Dauid ouer all his sorrowes I shall saith he finde trouble and heauinesse but I will call vpon the Name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliuer my soule Vse 4 And last of all this may teach vs how to esteeme of godly and righteous men howsoeuer the world esteemeth of such doubtlesse they are in high esteeme with God they are the Lords Fauourites they are seldome or neuer denyed in their suites vnto God they haue euer accesse into the presence chamber of the Almightie they preuaile for themselues and others being in grace and fauour Surely howsoeuer the world doth iudge and esteeme of Gods people there is not a wicked man liuing but fareth the better euery day for their sake They are they that with Moses and Aaron are euer and anon readie to stand in the gap to turne away the Lords wrathfull indignation against a Land and people Thus much for the generall Instruction Lord remember me when thou commest c. Text. The next thing we are to obserue is the Prayer it selfe Lord remember me c. Though faith which is the life of the soule be hidden in it selfe yet it is perceiued by the fruites thereof As we see the naturall life is a secret in nature yet perceiued by the Symptomes of life such as are motion breathing c. And as the sappe in the root is secret yet perceiued by the blossomes and fruite that the same sends forth Euen so is that spirituall life in the soule made manifest by the blessed fruites and effects thereof such as are affiance in God prayer c. The faith of the Penitent admirable in two respects Now the faith of this Penitent is admirable in two respects First in respect of the things beleeued Secondly in respect of the circumstances thereunto belonging which makes the same so much the more admirable The things he professeth here to beleeue touching Christ are 1 That he is a Lord. 2 That he is a King howbeit that his kingdome be not of this world but spirituall in the hearts of men Secondly the circumstances thereto belonging serue much to commend the excellency thereof 1 In respect of the Petitioner First in respect of the Petitioner such a one that had not beene brought vp in the schoole of Christ but rather in a den of theeues hauing none to instruct him hauing not heard Christs heauenly doctrine nor seene those glorious miracles that hee wrought and yet notwithstanding to acknowledge him thus to be a Lord and a King this serues greatly for the commendations of his faith Secondly 2 In respect of the Petitioned in respect of the Petitioned and that is Christ now at this time so much abased despised forsaken yea of his owne Disciples themselues Now there is no healing of the sicke no giuing sight to the blinde no raising vp of the dead At this time I say to acknowledge Christs Deity and to seeke at his hands for a kingdome must needs shew his faith to be admirable Lord Christ a Lord two wayes The first title that hee here assigneth vnto Christ is he calleth him Lord. Now Christ is a Lord 1 In himselfe 2 In his relation to vs. 1 In himself Ioh. 1.3 Heb. 1.3 First in himselfe and so is hee Lord ouer all blessed for euer Both in respect that he giueth essence and being vnto all things sustaining all things by his Almighty power As also for that he is the Soueraigne Lord of all Luke 2.11 Acts 10.36 and therefore called Lord of the Angels much more of all other inferiour creatures Yea the title of Soueraigntie to be called Lord is so proper vnto Christ as that many times in the Scriptures he is called by no other name As that of the Apostle Saint Paul God hath raised vp the Lord 1 Cor. 6.14 1 Cor. 12.3 and no man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost and againe 1 Cor 8.6 Vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father in whom are all things and one Lord Iesus Christ Yea this is that title which Christ doth assume and take vnto himselfe as a proper name by the which he will be knowne of vs. Ye call me Lord and Master Ioh. 13.13 and ye say well I am so Now
this title of Lord doth most truely and properly belong vnto him Christ Lord in himselfe in foure respects because he is Lord indeed and that in foure respects First by right of creation in that he made vs of nothing when we had no being Ioh. 1.3 Col. 1.15 For all things were made by him and without him was made nothing that was made Secondly by right of inheritance Heb. 1.2 for he is made Heyre of all things Thirdly by right of dominion or Lordship in regard of that power rule and dominion hee hath ouer all things of whom we hold all things wee haue and inioy bodies soules goods and all and that but in Capite and onely durante beneplacito so long as he shall please And lastly in regard hee hath no partners with him in his dominion 1 Cor. 12.5 Though there be differences of administrations yet there is but one Lord and it is hee that is sole Monarch and onely Potentate ouer the whole earth and is therefore called King of Kings 1 Tim. 6.15 and Lord of Lords 2 In his relation to vs foure wayes Secondly as he is Lord in himselfe so is hee also in his relation to vs and that foure wayes First by right of redemption for it is he that hath ransomed vs out of the hands of Sathan and power of hell to whom wee were once in bondage Now hee redeemes vs with his bloud and payes that matchlesse price for vs and thereby makes vs his owne We were not redeemed saith the Apostle with corruptible things 1 Pet. 1.18 19. as Siluer and Gold but with the pretious bloud of Christ Secondly in respect of that spirituall marriage that is betwixt Christ and euery faithfull soule For the Lord hath coupled vs vnto himselfe in holy wedlocke I will marry thee vnto me for euer Hos 2.19 yea I will marry thee vnto mee in righteousnesse in iudgement and in mercy and in compassion And againe As the Husband is the Wiues head Eph. 5.23 so Christ is the head of the Church Thirdly in the right of conseruation by whom we are kept and maintained Heb. 1.3 Sustaining all things by his mighty power For as he hath redeemed vs out of the power of Sathan he leaues vs not without any further care but still watcheth ouer vs for good for if the wings of his speciall prouidence were not spred ouer vs and mercy compassed vs about wee had not liued to this present hour but our bodies long ere this had beene in the graue and our soules in hell And last of all because all the elect of God are a chosen generation giuen him of God the Father ouer whom hee should rule and therefore called his peculiar people cast vpon him onely to bee cared for So then consider we Christ as a Redeemer as a Husband as hee that hath vndertaken for vs and his Church likewise as his peculiar people cast vpon him by good right must Christ needs be Lord. But how can Christ be such a Lord Obiect seeing he is so often called in the Scriptures by the name of a Seruant Phil. 2.7 He tooke vpon him the forme of a Seruant Christ is to be considered as a Mediator Answ and so is he in a speciall manner Esa 37.35 a Seruant vnto his Father because he faithfully serued him therein being first sent of God and therein became obedient vnto his Father in all things Yet this doth no whit derogate from Christs dignitie who still remained a Lord in himselfe and Lord ouer vs his redeemed ones The vses arising hence are these First if Christ be such a Lord in Vse 1 himselfe and such a Lord ouer vs we are taught to esteeme of him accordingly and to yeeld vp all holy obedience vnto him Doth not the Lord require it vpon this very ground Mal. 1.6 If I be a Lord where is my feare Luke 6.46 And againe Why call ye me Lord and doe not the things I command you And because an hypocrite may yeeld Christ this homage in words to cry Lord Lord Mat. 7 21. we must by our deeds yeeld vp our selues as seruants to obey him in all righteousnesse Vse 2 Secondly wee must labour to be acquainted with the will of our Lord for otherwise we can neuer performe any acceptable obedience vnto him Our good meanings will not goe for payment with him such seruice can neuer please him Pro. 19.2 for without knowledge the minde is not good Vse 3 Thirdly the consideration of this that Christ is our Lord should worke our hearts to contentation in all estates and conditions of life whatsoeuer whether weale or woe prosperity or aduersitie It was a godly resolution of old Eli when he heard of that strange iudgement the Lord would bring vpon his house It is the Lord 1 Sam. 2.18 let him doe as it pleaseth him He kisseth the rod like a good natured childe and submitteth himselfe to the Lords sharpest corrections without repining And this was Dauids case when the Lords hand lay heauy vpon him I became dumbe Psal 39. and opened not my mouth because it was thy doing And so the Church in great affliction and distresse It is the Lords mercy that wee are not consumed Lam. 3.40 Iob 1. vlt. because his compassions faile not And last of all we are taught to Vse 4 depend vpon him for food rayment and all things necessary that is our Lord and hath vndertaken for vs. Children can doe this hauing earthly fathers and seruants can doe this that haue earthly Masters and Lords ouer them Why then should not Gods people doe this with hope and boldnesse especially seeing he hath commanded vs to cast all our care vpon him being God alsufficient Gen. 17.1 Text. Thy Kingdome Secondly as he acknowledgeth Christ to be a Lord yea the Soueraigne Lord of all so doth he likewise acknowledge him to be a King yet so as that his kingdome is not of this world Lord remember me when c. 2 Christ is a King This regall and Kingly office of Christ is clearely manifested throughout the whole Scripture Psal 2.6 I haue set my King vpon my holy mountaine Christ taketh this honour vnto himselfe Mat. 28.18 Esay 9 7. All power saith he iâ— giuen me in heauen and earth And againe he hath vpon his garment and vpon his thigh a name written The King of Kings Reu. 19.16 Luk. 1.33 Dan. 2.44 Dan. 7.14 1 Cor. 15.24 and Lord of Lords Thus the Euangelist Saint Luke Hee shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall bee no end Againe that this kingdome of Christ is not of this world otherwise then in the hearts of men but it is a spirituall and celestiall kingdome so Christ Ioh. 18.36 Rom. 3. Ioh. 6.15 My kingdome is not of this world though he were Heyre apparent vnto the Crowne and kingdome of
Israel being the seed of Dauid Luke 12.13 yet hee withdrew himselfe when the people sought to make him King and refused to determine cases of Inheritances betwixt brethren The things peculiar vnto Christ and his kingdome Now there are many things peculiar vnto Christ wherein hee excels all the Kings of the earth First in regard of the excellency of his person other Kings are the sonnes of mortall men Christ is the Sonne of the euerliuing God Secondly in respect of the extent of his Kingdome hee is that vniuersall Monarch King of Kings Reu. 19.16 Psal 2.8 from the ends of the earth Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vtmost parts of the earth for thy possession Alexander neuer saw many parts of the world much lesse subdued them but Christ is King ouer all Acts 10. Col. 2.9 yea hee raigneth and ruleth ouer Angels principalities and powers Thirdly in respect of those victorious conquests that are made by Christ he hath the preheminence of all Princes he hath conquered siâ—ne death hell Col. 2.15 Sathan and hath spoyled Principalities and powers And last of all in regard of the perpetuitie of Christs Kingdome His Kingdome shall haue no end 1 Tim 1.17 Other Kings and Kingdomes haue their periods and determination but thus is it not with this King and Kingdome for hee is The King eternall immortall inuisible and onely wise God Now the vses are First of all seeing Christ is our Vse 1 King we are taught with Iob to acquaint our selues with God and with the statute lawes of his kingdome Subiects must not be ignorant of the Princes lawes To plead ignorance will not purchase immunitie from punishment if men offend against the lawes of the kingdome All Gods people must be acquainted with Gods will reuealed in his Word Mat. 28.20 Heb. 12.25 Teaching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I command you See that ye despise not him that speaketh for if they escaped not which refused him that spake on earth much more shall we not escape if wee turne away from him that speaketh from heauen Vse 2 Secondly seeing Christ is our King and we are his Subiects we we are taught to carry our selues accordingly Christs Subiects must differ in manners from all other Nations and people in the world they are a Royall generation a peculiar people vnto the Lord and therefore are to shew forth the power of him that hath thus called vs out of darkenesse into the maruellous light And herein to approue our selues for his Subiects and People by our holy conuersation in the world He hath chosen vs Eph. 1.4 that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Thirdly 3. The meanes to inlarge Christs kingdome we are to labour by all meanes possible for the comming of Christs Kingdome that is for the inlargement thereof in the world in the hearts and consciences of men Christs kingdome of power Christs kingdome of grace and his kingdome of glory Now the meanes are either Externall or Internall The Externall meanes for the inlarging of Christs kingdome 1 Externall are 1 The Word 2 The Sacraments 3 Discipline The Word is the Scepter of Christs kingdome The Sacraments are the Churches magna charta confirming the Couenants betwixt Christ and his people And Discipline is the due execution of Christs lawes for the incouragement of the good and reclaiming of the euill 2 Internall The Internall meanes for the enlarging of this kingdome of Christ is the effectuall working of Gods Spirit without which no outward meanes whatsoeuer can be effectuall And therefore God is earnestly to be sought vnto by prayer to second his owne ordinances by the effectuall working of his owne Spirit that the same may be effectuall for the building vp of the elect and the gathering together of the body of Christ And this is that which all good Subiects must desire and labour for euery particular man according to his place Princes and Magistrates especially Then Ministers who are the Dispensers of Christs Lawes yea and all people for herein shall wee approue our selues true and loyall Subiects indeed to Christ our King And thus haue we seene how Christ is both Lord and King And now for this poore Penitent thus to behold Christs excellencie and glory at this time when he was at the lowest ebbe of his humiliation I say to behold Christs Godhead when it was most vailed in such a death to behold life and in such ignominie and reproach to behold such glory this makes greatly for the commendations of his faith Had hee in times past beene conuersant with Christ had hee heard his heauenly doctrine or seene those glorious miracles which he wrought as the disciples did there might haply that seed be fallen into his heart that howsoeuer buried for a time as it waâ— the case of Peter yet at last might bring forth this happie fruite But this being the first sight that hee got of Christ for ought we know and that at such a time when Christ is most of all abased and when all his Disciples had forsaken him Surely this must needs declare the almightie power of God in him and commend his faith and conuersion to be admirable indeed But this will faith do the nature whereof is Doct. True faith raiseth vp a man aboue this life To raise a man aboue this life Not to liue by sense or to iudge of things according to the outward appearance but to beleeue Gods Word and things incredible and in some sort impossible against sence and aboue reason Thus was it with this Penitent Thiefe at this time What great things beleeueth and conâ—â—sseth hee here of Christ against â—ll sence and reason that he was Lord and King of heauen and â—arth able to giue eternall life and â—aluation to whom it pleased him when there was no outward appearance of any such power in Christ but rather indeed of the contrary This shewes the wonderfull force of faith yea hee beleeueth aboue hope and contrary to hope hauing no ground at all in naturall reason to persuade him thereunto Faith saith the Apostle is the euidence of things not seene Heb. 11.1 and the ground of things hoped for Where outward sence and naturall reason takes place there faith is not exercised It is the excellencie of faith to beleeue where we see not when we shall come to walke as the Apostle saith by faith 2. Cor. 5.7 and not by sight Yea when outward sence and naturall reason failes then doth faith most of all bestiâ— it selfe Fortifying it selfe daily in all the attributes of God such as are his wisedome power truth iustice c. We may see this in Abraham in the very act of sacrificing his sonne Isaac Gen. 22.2 in whom the promise was made He consulted not with flesh and bloud what should become of the same if Isaac should faile But his faith
3 The time when As this Penitent Theefe at this time acknowledgeth Christs Deity that hee was Lord and King and desireth as we haue heard before principally mercy for his soule that it might goe well with it in death or after death So now he comes to the time wherein especially he desired to bee remembred of Christ â— when Christ should come into his kingdome Q.d. O Lord now is the time of thy humiliation wherein thou art pleased to vndergoe the punishment for the sinnes of all the elect and to beare the burthen of thy Fathers wrath and all to free thine from the wrath to come I know this price will be payd and this misery thou now sufferest for sinne will be ouer and thou thy selfe againe restored into thy glorious kingdome there to liue and raigne for euer I beseech thee now heare mee against that time Doct. 1 and remember mee in mercy The happinesse of a Christian not to be looked for here but hereafter when thou commest thither Note we hence That the happinesse of a Christian is not to be looked for here but hereafter The fruit of repentance of righteousnesse and of holinesse is not to bee looked for here but hereafter The Christian hath not his happinesse in present possession but in reuersion In hope and expectation are they kept here liuing by faith as the Heyre being not of ripe yeares is not possest of the inheritance but after death they come then to bee possest of that glorious inheritance layd vp for the Saints This doth this Penitent Theefe acknowledge here in this his request to Christ as if he should say O Lord it is not life for a time which cannot be long that I so much stand vpon since death I haue deserued I am willing to dye but it is this I specially desire aboue al the world besides that when this life shall haue an end I may haue a resting place in thy kingdome If in this life onely wee haue hope in Christ 1 Cor. 15.19 wee are of all men most miserable And this the holy Ghost obserueth as an admirable fruit of the admirable faith of the Primitiue Fathers Heb. 11.13 14. who albeit they receiued not the promises but saw them a farre off were perswaded of them and imbraced them and confessed that they were strangers and Pilgrims on earth declaring plainely that they seeke a Country 1 Ioh. 3.2 Now we are the Sonnes of God saith the Apostle But it doth not appeare what we shall be It is true the Lord giues vs now the first fruits of the spirit the earnest of our inheritance which is peace with God and peace in our owne consciences and ioy in the holy Ghost to comfort the hearts of his seruants and to cheare them vp in their pilgrimage But the full fruition of their happinesse is not to be expected here but in heauen This made the Apostle Paul to say â—hil 3.3 â—3 14 I forgat that which was behinde and reaching forth vnto those things which are before I presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus as knowing that the happy recompence of reward was not to bee looked for here but hereafter And the reason is Reas 1 First we know but in part and therefore can beleeue but in part can be sanctified but in part and so cannot be capable of the perfection of our happinesse till all our imperfections be done away â— Cor. 13.9 and our sanctification shall bee perfected Reas 2 Secondly this is the time in this life of a Christians warfare where wee are to combate with sinne Sathan and the world Now as it was said Let not him that putteth on his Armour reioyce but him that putteth it off for this battell endeth not vntill death come when then we shal be out of the Gun-shot of Sathans temptations and set free from all the enemies of our peace Besides the Lord will haue Reas 3 the graces in the hearts of his seruants first exercised and made manifest to the praise of his owne Name and that in this life before he crowne them with glory hereafter Seeing then that the happinesse Vse 1 of a Christian is not to be looked for here but hereafter in the kingdome of heauen This may teach vs in the first place to vse the world as if we vsed it not and not to pitch our Tabernacle here but rather to resolue that heauen is our portion and our inheritance Heb. 11.13 and therefore as Strangers and Pilgrims we should seek and prouide for an abiding City Vse 2 Secondly seeing our chiefest happinesse and comfort is not to be looked for here nor in any sublunary thing vnder the Sunne but reserued for vs in Gods kingdome This should teach vs to lift vp our hearts thither Col. 3.2 and to set our affections on heauenly things and not on things below nothing can more dishonour a Christian then this to make the world his chiefest study and care whereas the Lord hath reserued vs for a more durable and lasting inheritance Text. When thou commest into thy kingdome This Penitent Thiefe albeit truely humbled for his sinnes and obtayning mercy at Christs hands in the pardon of them as we shall see hereafter yet is not freed from his temporall punishment but suffereth with Christ And herein will teach vs That release from temporall Doct. 2 afflictions doth not alwayes follow true repentance Release from temporall afflictions doth not alwayes follow true repentaÌ„ce but many are punished temporally that are not condemned eternally Wee may see this in that manner of the Lords dealing with Adam and Eue after they had sinned God made with them a couenant that The Seed of the woman should bruse the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 which was a cleare promise and prophecie of Christ by whom he was againe to bee restored into fauour Yet notwithstanding Cursed bee the earth for thy sake And In sorrow shalt thou bring forth c. This we may see in Moses Deu 34.5.10 an excellent seruant of God and so often stiled in Scripture a man highly in Gods fauour to whom God spake face to face a Ruler and Sauiour vnto his people Israel Yet for his sinne the Lord would not suffer him to go into the land of Canaan I do not doubt of the saluation of Miriam the sister of Moses that repined against Moses because she was no Prophetesse or at least in that authoritie as Moses himselfe was yet God stroke her with the Leprosie Though the Lord pardoned the sinne of Dauid vpon his true repentance 2. Sam. 12.10.11 yet the sword is sent against his house and his owne wiues are defiled We may see this in the Israelites in their iourneying towards the Land of Canaan for whose sinne of murmuring against Moses and Aaron Psal 90. the Lord brought heauie iudgements vpon them vntill they were almost wasted and consumed
the Apostle writing to the Ephesians saith that he is rich in grace Eph. 1.7 Psal 23. a most bountifull master making the cup of his seruants to ouerflow and is therefore called the Father of mercy 2 Cor. 1. and God of all consolation Vse 1 Seeing then that God is so liberal a master giuing many times vnto his seruants more then they aske or seeke this may be an excellent motiue with vs to bring christianitie into request inasmuch as we serue such a bountifull master Seruants commonly inquire after such masters and will desire to liue in such places where they shall bee bountifully rewarded This we are sure of that the Lords seruants shall bee bountifully rewarded with him he is euer better then his word vnto his people Why are we then so backward in our suits vnto him Are we in misery and distresse As a father pittieth his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him O but I am vnworthy of mercy God giues mercy not for our merit but it is his free gift O but I am a great sinner and prouoke him daily Hee remembreth whereof wee are made hee considereth that wee are but dust He hath said it and he will doe it He will fulfill the desires of them that feare him Psal 145.18 hee also will heare their cry and will helpe them Vse 2 Secondly seeing we are to deale with so liberall a Lord that giues vnto his seruants more then they desire hence ariseth our comfort and incouragement in prayer to flye vnto him in al times of misery and distresse for so hath the Lord said Psal 50.15 Call vpon me in the time of thy trouble and I will heare thee and deliuer thee Doe wicked men persecute vs doth Sathan continually solicite vs doe our corruptions preuaile with vs doe the thoughts of death and of thâ— graue affright vs yet still we haue the bosome of a louing Father to flye vnto Behold this Penitent now at this time astonished no doubt at the sight of death and thoughts of his account hee is to make before the great tribunall O happy he that could now flye into the bosome of his Sauiour as the 〈◊〉 to the Arke that elsewhere could finde no rest Now may hee sing â—â—at sweet Requiem vnto his soule Returne vnto thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath rewarded thee We shall not need to feare any â—xcesse in faith as if wee could beleeue more then the Lord would or could do vnto vs for his grace is euer more plentifull then our petitions hee giueth more then we aske hauing his hand ready to giue before we can get our mouthes open to desire This day As Christ is pleased to answer his seruant and to grant him the thing hee prayeth for So it is a thing remarkable to consider in the circumstance of time the speedie performance of the Lords promise This day q.d. thou shalt not onely be remembred of mee which is the thing thou desirest but thou shalt euen this present day haue an end put vnto thy miserie and thy soule receiued into glory Note hence Doct. 2 That a man may be in miserie and ioy in an houre A man may be in miserie ioy in an houre Though the afflictions of Gods seruants are many times sharpe and grieuous yet the Lord makes them many times but short and of small continuance Psal 94. Heauinesse may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning The miseries of the righteous are neither durable nor incurable In the multitude of the sorrows of my heart saith Dauid Thy comforts haue refreshed my soule The Lord doth aswell foresee their arriuall as their launcing forth and the end of their troubles as the beginning of the same Many are the troubles of the righteous Psal 34.19 but the Lord deliuereth them out of all And indeed If the Lord should not deale Reas 1 thus with his seruants they would haue their hearts ouerwhelmed with sorrow and themselues faint and sinke vnder the burthen of their sufferings Now it is his gracious will not to breake the brused reed nor quench the smocking flaxe Secondly the end of all afflictions Reas 2 and miseries that betide the godly here is but to humble them and bring them nearer vnto God Now when any affliction sent hath wrought this effect God presently remoues the affliction as a wound when it is whole the plaster falls off Thirdly life it selfe is not long Reas 3 but short and of small continuance Now miseries cannot bee long where life is so short Vse This serues then to teach vs in all our miseries still to waite on God with this Penitent here for as Mordecai said to Hester Deliuerance will come There is nothing more sure and certaine then the deliuerance of Gods people out of miserie As God makes prouision for his children of correction as of food and not at sometime to taste of correction is a signe rather of a Bastard then of a Sonne So will the Lord see to 〈◊〉 that they shall not want a seâ—sonable deliuerance Let no man then say in time of prosperitie Psal 30.6 I shall neuer be moued Neither let any say in times of aduersitie I shall neuer be restored For God can turne thy night into day thy heauinesse into ioy and thy mourning into gladnesse and all in a moment of time Oh but thou hast laine long among the poâ—â— and thou hast often sought the Lord. What then By so much the more precious will deliuerance bee and thou fitted to praise his name when the Lord shall deliuer thee This day The last Instruction we are to Doct. 3 obserue hence is Such as haue shewed mercy in an euill day shall find mercy in the euill day That they that shew mercy in an euill day shall themselues find mercy in the euill day Christ being now to suffer and lying vnder many reproaches This poore Penitent pitieth Christ in his miserie pleades his cause and cleareth his innocency This man saith he hath done nothing amisse And now Christ shewes mercy to him in time of his greatest need The Penitent pitied Christ and commiserates his misery being an innocent Christ pitieth the Penitent in time of his misery and receiueth him to mercy That which our Sauiour had formerly taught his disciples Mat. 3.7 Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy hee maketh good to this poore Penitent His mercy to Christ is recompensed with mercy from Christ Onesiphorus that good man shewed mercy to Paul 2. Tim. â— 16 Hee often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chaine but when he was in Rome he sought me diligently and found me What then The Lord grant vnto him that he may finde mercy of the Lord in that day Verse 18. An excellent example whereof we haue in Ebedmelech who vnderstanding that Ieremy was in prison Ier. 38.9 and there ready to perish for hunger He