was in Scotland by Gowries conspiracie diuided into 3. parts togither with his deliuerances frō the same The Kings thanking of God for his victory and the great reioycing of all the land for his deliuerance A Prayer for the King An Application to the Auditorie wherein sixe reasons are set downe why troubles should not trouble any of them though they be manie THE LOT AND PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOVS Psalme 34.19 Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all MOses an holy man of God speaking to the people of God concerning the Institution of the Passe-ouer to be kept at his appointed season from yeare to yeare saith Exod. 13.14 When thy Sonne shall aske thee What is this Thou shalt say vnto him With a mightie hand the Lord brought vs out of Egipt out of the house of bondage and in remembrance hereof wee celebrate this Feast In like manner when your children right reuerend father right worshipfull and wel beloued brethren in Christ Iesus shall aske of you what this our assemblie meaneth You shall answer that it is to giue God thankes for that great benefite which wee receiued at his hands as on this day when in his mercie hee saued our King after a miraculous manner and deliuered him out of the hands of bloody and desperate traitors who had vowed his death to the hurt of vs all and to the harme of Gods whole Church besides This is the day Psalm 118.24 which the Lord hath made let vs reioice and be glad therin Vpon this day God shewed vs the light of his gracious countenāce and had mercy vpon vs in preseruing for vs so great a treasure so good a gouernour so learned a Maister so worthie a King The Lord graunt that wee may enioy him many happie yeares and become most thankfull vnto his Maiestie for him But to draw to my text in it you shall finde two points most worthy of your obseruation and most correspondent vnto this our dayes celebration In the first you shall see what entertainment you are to expect for heere in this world In the second you shall behold what fauour you are to look for frō the Lord your God out of this world The first of these will shew you you troubles the latter your deliuerance from your troubles and both of them ioyntlie together will shew you both the hands of God the one like a wound maiming you the other a plaister healing you Oh marke and consider things well The righteous must looke for more troubles then others And againe they must hope for greater deliuerances then others Their afflictions heere will bee many like the Hoast of the Aramites and their redemptions also will bee as many like the Hoast of the Israelites Dauid beeing a righteous man and one according to Gods owne heart found this most true by his own experience He had many troubles yet he was deliuered out of all his troubles For this cause doth hee here measuring as it were other men by his owne foote declare vnto vs what is the estate or condition of all righteous persons On the one side hee doth tell vs that they are subiect to manifold troubles and afflictions On the other side he doth assure vs that they shall not continue in these their troubles and afflictions but in time conuenient be deliuered out of them all and that by the gracious hand of the Lord their God who doth watch ouer them still for their good So that the spirit of God directed him to those two chiefe things which make men take their crosses grieuously One because they do not look for them before they come another because they do not behold their deliuerer frō them when they are come The prophet doth preuent both these and tell vs that the righteous shall haue many troubles that the Lord wil deliuer him out of all his troubles I pray remember you both the sentences how to wit you must goe through a Sea of troubles And how then you shall come to an hauen of rest that so when any troubles do come on you they may not trouble you like other men who looke not for their troubles nor knowe not where to haue a remedie against their troubles Thus you haue heard the Analysis now marke the sum parts The sum sets down the state or condition of the righteous The parts are two The first doth note out his miserie The second his deliuerance from his miserie His miserie is described out two wayes First by the nature or quality of it Then secondly by the magnitude or quantitie of it The nature or qualitie in this word Troubles The magnitude or quātitie in the other word Many Many are the troubles of the righteous His deliuerance from his miserie containes two branches vnder it The first is the person who doth deliuer him The second is the thing from which he is deliuered The person that doth deliuer him is the Lord. The thing from which hee is deliuered are all his troubles but the Lord deliuereth him out of all his troubles Now of these in order But before I beginne with them because the whole Tsaddik and euery part doth concerne the Righteous and whatsoeuer is now to be spoken must haue a secret relation vnto them necessitie and opportunitie doe require of mee that I should speake a fewe words concerning them Yet speaking of the righteous I will not speak of all the things which doe belong to the Righteous There are foure questions which may iustly be moued cōcerning them The first is whether there bee any righteous persons in all the world yea or no Seeing Iohn doth teach vs that the whole worlde doth lye in wickednes a Iohn 5.19 The second is that if there bee any who they be and what they are The third is How and by what meanes they that bee and are are made Righteous seeing all by nature are corrupt and vnrighteous according to Christes wordes when hee saith That which is borne of the flesh is flesh b Iohn 3.6 The fourth and last is by what tokens or signes they that are and are made righteous may be knowne from other men considering that they doe liue amongst others like men If I should be long in the opening of these things before you I must haue a large time to open them vnto you But now seeing that I must measure my speech by the measure of the clock in running his houre you must giue mee leaue to runne ouer these pointes and rather to point at them then in any point to dwel vpon them Wherfore referring all these matters rather vnto your owne priuate meditation then pursuing any one of them by any long declaration Thus I shut vp all in a fewe words as followeth 1. Though the whole world doth lye in wickednes yet there are righteous persons in the world for as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or world there in that
amongst them all You know that as vpon this day heeretofore in Scotlād his Highnes was neer vnto his death but the Lord did deliuer him frō that his death Alexāder Ruthwen one of the Gowryes the Earls own brother through a wicked traine drew his Ma into a little study in the Earles owne house the plotter of that treason to the which none could come for his rescue it was so far remote and so many dores were fast lock't betwixt them In that study he had set a man with a weapon a dagger at his girdle They three only being now in the studdy and the studdy-doore fast lockt vpon them Alexander put on his hat on his head and drawing the dagger from that other mans gyrdle held the point of it to the Kings breast avowing now that the King behooued to be in his will and to be vsed as he list swearing many bloody oaths that if the King cryed one word or opened a window to looke out that dagger should presently goe to his heart affirming that hee was sure that now the Kings conscience was burdned for murdring his father Behold here was one part of his highnes trouble Now marke how the Lord did deliuer him from the same First hee made the man there set to do nothing but to tremble and quake and to beg Alexander for Gods sake not to meddle with his Maiestie nor to doe him any harme Secondly he stayde Alexander that hee thrust not at all at the King with his weapon Thirdly he put into the K mouth such an holy and powerfull speach and directed his tongue with such a perswasiue language that Alex himself appeared to be somwhat amazed and vncouering his head againe swore and protested that his Maiesties life should be safe if hee would behaue himself quietly without making noyse or crying that he would onely bring in the Earle his brother to speake with his Maiestie And so he went forth vnto his brother looking the dore behinde him and leauing his Ma with that man he sound there before him To proceede back againe comes Alex to the King with a sword at his side after that he had talked with the earle his brother and at his incomming to his Maiestie he did cast his hands abroade in a desperate manner and said hee could not mend it his Maiestie behoued to dye And with that offered a garter to binde his Maiesties hands with swearing hee behooued to be bound Behold here was an other part of his highnes trouble now marke how the Lord did deliuer him from the same First he caused the man that remained with the King to do nothing against the King as before but in the absence of Alexander when he went to talke with his brother He opened the studdy-window at the request of the K which was a benefite vnto the King Secondly he did so besotte Alexander that he left the studdy doore vnlockt at his comming in at this time for haste did not goe about to kill the King with his weapon but to bind him with his garter Thirdly he gaue that strength and ability to the King that he was hard enough for Alexander with struggling drew him out of the studdy Fourthly he directed the Kings traine to come vnder the studdy window at the same time when the King and Alexander were griping togither who heard and knewe the Kings voyce crying out that they were murthering him in that trasonable forme Fiftly he moued the said K traine to retire and in returning hee caused some of them to hit vpon an open way which was a turn-peck-doore prouided onely for the Earle and his seruants as appeared for that purpose For euer before it was wont to be shut and was onely then left open to come immediately to the King Lastly he caused Sir Iohn Ramsey after he was entred into the chamber and had found his Mai and Alexander strugling togither to strike Alex with his dagger some two or three times taking him by the shoulders to throw him down the staires who was no sooner shut out at the doore but was met by Sir Thomas Erskin Sir Hugh Hereis who there vpon the staires ended him To conclude this point no sooner could the said Syr Thomas Erskine Syr Hugh Hereis with an other seruant enter into the chamber where his Maiestie was but that the said Earle of Gowrie before they could get the dore shut followed them in at the backe hauing cast him directly to come vp that priuie passage as is before saide who at his first entrie hauing a drawne sword in euery hand and a steele bonnet on his head accompanied with seuen of his seruants euery one of them hauing in like manner a drawne sword Cryed out with a great Oath that they should all dye as Traytors Behold here was an other part of his highnes trouble now marke how the Lord did deliuer him from the same First he moued the harts of his seruants to shut his maiestie backe into the little studie and the doord shut vpon him that so he might be put in safely from all strokes Secondly hee gaue them that courage and strength that though they were but foure against eight yet they durst encounter with the earle and his seruants and after many strokes on all hands got the victory of them the said Earle of Gowrie being stricken dead with a stroake through the heart which the said Sir Iohn Ramsey gaue him without once crying vpon God and the rest of his seruants dung ouer the staires with many hurts So let all thine enemies perish ô Lord but they that loue him shall be as the sunne when he riseth in his might The victory thus going on his maiesties side hee being now safe and his enemies being destroyed before him howsoeuer they were many euen to the number of some three or foure score and his company was but small not aboue fifteene persons in all who also were without any kind of armour except swords no not so much as daggers and whingers downe he falles vpon his knees in the midst of his seruants who also kneeled round about him euen immediately before he came out of the chamber and with his owne mouth hee thanked God for that miraculous deliuerance and victory assuring himselfe that God had preserued him from so desperate a perill for the perfitting of some great worke behinde to his glory and for procuring by him the weale of his people that God had committed to his charge The which being done and the whole town of Saint Iohn Stone being appeased his maiestie returned home with the great ioy and loue of all sorts of persons throughout the land who triumphed exceedingly for his deliuerance and gaue manifold thankes vnto the Lord for the same Wherein my beloued brethren let vs labour to paralel them and striue rather therein to goe beyond them then in any sort to come behind them O let vs pray daily vnto the Lord for him and
place of Iohn doth not note out all men which are in the world but the wicked onely who are the greatest part of the world and who also are scattered ouer all the world beeing as it were a world of it selfe So the scripture else-where doth witnes in many places that the Lord hath some Righteous persons still here in this world howsoeuer this world be not worthy of them c Heb. 11.28 Such an one was Noah of whome it is said That hee was a iust and vpright man and one that walked with GOD d Genes 6.9 Such an one was Iob of whom it is said that hee was an vpright and iust man one that feared GOD and eschewed euill e Iob. â— 1 Such an one was Lot of whome it is said That hee being righteous and dwelling among the Sodomites in seeing and hearing them vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their vnlawfull deedes f 2. Peter 2.8 Such an one was Zacharie and his wife Elizabeth of whoÌ„ it is said that both were iust before GOD and walked in all the commandements admonitions of the Lord without reproofe g Luke 1.6 Such an one lastly is euery faithful man and woman vpon the face of the earth Of whome it is saide The Righteous doe loue thee h Cant. 1.3 2. Those that are righteous and such as are purged from their sinnes wherewith they are naturally defiled and are qualified also with new and heauenly graces to doe such things as are well pleasing vnto the Lord They are not only clensed from their filthinesse but are renued also according to the image of God to walke in his commandements Surely whosoeuer faileth in either of these commeth too short of being righteous For both must be ioyned together in all those that will be righteous Agur speaketh of the former wheÌ„ he saith There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceyâ— yet are not washed from their filthinesse i Prou. 30.12 And Iohn the Apostle doth make mention of the latter in these words Little children let no man deceyue you hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous as hee is righteous hee that committeth sinne is of the diuell and so foorth k 1. Iohn 3.7.8 3. The meanes whereby men are made righteous is two-fold The one is by Iustification and the other by Sanctification For there is a righteousnes of Iustification and a righteousnes of sanctification the one as it were to make vs righteous before God the other to make vs righteous before men The first of these is without vs the second is within vs. That which is without vs is from Christ and that which is within vs is from the spirite The former of these which is the righteousnes of Christ is apprehended of vs by faith and made our owne by Imputation The latter of these which is the righteousnes of the spirit is possessed of vs by loue made our owne by inhesion Now both these righteousnesses must concurre to make a man truly righteous to saluation as they did in the Corinthians of whoÌ„ we read thus And such were some of you but yee are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are iustified in the Name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God l 1. Cor. 6.11 And surely where both these are there may men and women truely be called righteous though that sinne doth stil remaine and dwell within them First because one manner of righteousnes is in them in a full perfection euen the righteousnesse of Christ which is imputed and applyed vnto them by their faith Then secondly because an other manner of righteousnes is in them in the operatiue beginnings of it euen the righteousnes of the spirit who doth worke daily within them and labour to renue them more and more according to Gods image wherein they were created at the first The markes or signes by the which the righteous may bee knowne from others are chiefly foure The first is by the Generalitie of their obedience For euery righteous man who is righteous indeed hath a care of the whole course of his life and lookes respectiuely to all the commandements of God He doth not take libertie in any one sinne but striueth to auoyd all sinnes nor omitteth one good duty but endeuoureth to performe all good duties He is not like to Naaman the Syrian who professed the true God of Israel and promised to serue and worship him alone yet desired to be borne withall for one speciall sinne which was to be in the house of Rimmon m 2. King 5. and there to vphold his Master leaning on his hand and to bowe before that Idoll whome hee did worship Neither is hee like to Herod who feared Iohn the Baptist reuerenced him heard him gladly and did many things after his teaching but yet hee kept still his brothers wife and would not put her away according to Gods commandement n Mat. 16.18 But hee is like to Iosiah who turned to the Lord with all his hart and with all his soule with all his strength according to all the law of Moses o 2. King 24.25 And vnto Zacharie and Elizabeth who were iust before God and walked in all the commaundements and ordinances of the Lord without reproofe p Luk. 1.6 And no maruell For he doth know full well that whosoeuer shall keepe the whole Lawe and yet faileth in one point hee is guiltie of all q â—â—â— 2.10 That a shippe though it be sound in all partes saue one and leaketh in no place saue onely one yet it may be drowned by meanes of that one That the walles of a Citie though they be strong and well fortified in all places saue one and haue no breaches in them saue only one yet they may be taken of the enemy by means of that one That lastly a bird though it be free in all members saue one and be tyde in no member saue onely one whether legge or wing yet may be held fast by meanes of that one Hereof is it that he doth labor to purge himselfe from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit and to grow vp vnto full holinesse in the feare of God according to Paules exhortation to the Corinthians r 2. Cor. 7.1 2. The second is by the end wherevnto all their works or deeds do tend For euery righteous man who is righteous indeed hath a speciall eye vnto the praise and honour of his God in all things which he doth take into his hands according to our Sauiours saying Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heauen s Mat. 5.16 And after the Apostles rule when he saith Whether yee eate or drinke or whatsoeuer else ye doe doe all to the gory of God t 1. Cor. 10.31 Surely though men practise neuer so many good works yet if in doing of them
they propound not this ende vnto themselues they are not to be accounted righteous men no more then he is to be esteemed a good Archer which can draw a strong Bowe hath a faire loose and doth shoote farre and yet alwayes shootes a great way off from the marke In this regard the Scribes and Pharisies in the dayes of our Sauiour were not accounted by him in the number of righteous men but stiled rather of him by the name of Hypocrites because all that good which they did at any time was not for Gods glory but for their owne praise that they might be seene of men They did fast and pray and giue almes but all was for to haue a name a commendation of the world u Mat. 6. ◠In like sort the Papists faile in this point now in our dayes For they doe all their good works in a manner to merite thereby like to hyred seruants and labourers who worke for their wages and would doe little or nothing for their Maisters vnles they might be well paide for their paines But Christians must acknowledge themselues not to bee seruants but children and not children of the bond-woman but of the free-woman and that they ought of duety to serue the Lord all the dayes of their liues though they should receyue nothing for their labour Doubtlesse in all our workes wee must seeke his glorie and if he bestow any reward vpon vs we may take it as an vndeserued gift of his bountifull goodnesse For when wee haue done all that wee can doe or which is enioyned vpon vs we must confesse that wee are vnprofitable seruants x Luke 17.10 True it is that righteous persons haue some hypocrisie and vaine glorie mingled with sinceritie in their best actions and doe some things as wel for their own praise as Gods glory yet if their sinceritie preuaile ouer their hypocrisie they lose not the name dignitie of righteous persons For as the philosopher teacheth concerning elementarie bodies that they are not made of one element onely but of all foure yet haue their names of the predominant element And as the physitions say of the humors in mans body that although they be not pure but mixed one with another yet euery one doth carrie the name of that humor which doth most abound So may we say and that truely too of the generall conuersation and the particular actions of men that if in them they seeke more the glorie of God then their owne praise pleasure or profit they are truely righteous though imperfectly righteous The third is by their perseuerance in righteousnes For euery righteous man who is righteous indeed will continue in his righteousnes vnto the end Hee will not begin onely well but he wil end also wel He is not like vnto the snaile that pusheth out a long paire of hornes which being touched neuer so little goe in againe Neither is his righteousnes like a morning cloud or as a morning deaw which is dryed vp quickly and vanisheth away so soone as the Sunne ascendeth on high But hee is rather like vnto the tree that neuer fadeth but beareth fruite still And his righteousnes is like to the Iuie that is alwayes greene though the Sunne parch it to the Diamond that is alwayes hard though the hammer beat it to the good vine that is always growing thogh the knife cut it Whosoeuer is borne of God saith S. Iohn sinneth not for his seede remaineth in him neither can he sinne because he is borne of God x 1. Ioh. 3.9 And surely true and sauing righteousnesse is one of those gifts of God which are without repentance y Rom. 11.29 It cannot be lost fully finally Those which turne frō their righteousnes commit iniquitie shall not liue their former righteousnes shal be forgotten and they shall dye in their sinnes which they haue committed z Ezek. 18.24 He onely which continueth righteous to the end shall be saued a Mat. 10.22 Wherfore as God neuer ceaseth to bestow blessings vpon vs so let vs neuer cease to doe seruice vnto him for proemium aeternum aeternam requirit seruitutem a continuall reward doth require a continuall seruice Doubtlesse the Heauens aboue vs the earth vnder vs the beasts about vs and our people with vs doe daily crie vpon vs for the performance of this dutie by vs for they all serue vs euermore and howsoeuer we doe abuse them often in their seruice yet they do continue therin still and neuer giue it ouer Let this then bee the conclusion of this point that howsoeuer wee hire seruants but for a yeare and take Apprentices but for seuen or eight yeares yet must wee our selues serue the Lord our God for all our yeares and that in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of our liues b Luk. 1.17 doing as Paul did when he said Brethren I count not my selfe that I haue attained vnto it but one thing I doe I forget that which is behinde and endeuour my selfe vnto that which is before and follow hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus c Phil. 3.13.14 The fourth and last is by their affection to righteousnes in others For euery righteous man who is righteous indeed will loue righteousnes as well in others as in himselfe yea hee will loue all others in whom he beholdeth any seeds of righteousnes His delight will be in the Saints that are on the earth and in the excellent according to Dauids example in these words My well-doing extendeth not to thee ô Lord but to the Saints that are in earth and to the excellent all my delight is in them d 〈…〉 It is well obserued by the Prophet in the fifteenth psalme and the fourth verse thereof That those that shall dwell in Gods Tabernacle and rest in his holy mountaine doe honour all such as feare the Lord. You know that he which loueth a childe for his fathers sake as Dauid loued Mephibosheth for Ionathans sake loueth the father himselfe better So hee which loueth righteousnes for righteousnes sake declareth thereby that hee loueth righteousnes it selfe farre better Besides this a righteous man loueth righteousnes so well that hee will labour to make others as righteous as himselfe Dauid promised that if the Lord would create in him a cleane heart and renew a right spirit within him and so referre him to the ioy of his saluation hee would then teach his way vnto the wicked and vse means to conuert sinners vnto him e Psalm 51.13 And Peter when he is conuerted must strengthen his brethren f Luke 22.32 Doubtlesse as euery thing seeketh to beget his like so a righteous person seeketh to make an other righteous And as fire cannot be smoothered when once it hath taken holde in any place and findeth matter sufficient to worke vpon but will burne further and further till it hath consumed all before it So
true righteousnes wrought in the soule of one cannot there bee suppressed but will spread it selfe abroad and worke vpon others for their conuersion In one word then hee which would be reputed righteous and yet keepeth in all his righteousnes to himselfe and doth not impart it vnto others may iustly bee suspected to haue little or no sound righteousnesse at all within him Thus farre for the person of whome the Prophet doth speake Now let vs come to the things whereof hee doth speake The troubles saith hee of the righteous are many By the word Troubles you must vnderstand all such things as doe molest or disquiet him The Hebrew word is Ranghoth in the plurall number Ranghoth of Raughah in the singular And howsoeuer it be taken now and then Adiectiuely for that which is sinfull or painefull yet here it is put substantiuely and doth note out Euils or afflictions not euils as they are sinnes but as they are chastisemeÌ„ts For euill is of 2. sorts the one is Malum Culpae and the other is malum paenae the one the euill of sinne the other is the euill of punishment And well may euils or afflictions be called Troubles euen of the effects of them because they are wont to trouble such as haue them You see now the meaning of the words the doctrine arising from them is this That good men and good women shall haue troubles heere in this world Looke how many will truely feare the Lord and taking hold of Christ Iesus by a liuely faith will carefully endeuour to walke in Gods commandements to the ende of their dayes they shall haue crosses and troubles there afflictions tribulations do belong to them and they shall be sure to haue their portion therein So much may we gather out of Esayes words when hee saith Behold I and the children meaning the true members of Christ that were willing to heare obey the words of God wherof he spake before whome the Lord hath giuen me are as signes and wonders in Israel by the Lord of Host which dwelleth in mount Sion g Esay 8.18 So much we may gather out of Ieremies words when hee saith Heare I pray you all people and behold my sorrow speaking of the church of God vnder his owne person My Virgines and my young men are gone into captiuitie I called for my Louers but they deceiued mee my Priests and mine elders perished in the city while they sought their meate to refresh their soules Behold ô Lord how I am troubled my bowels swell mine heart is turned within me for I am full of heauines the sword spoyleth abroad as death doth at home They haue heard that I mourn but there is none to comfort me all mine enemies haue heard of my trouble are glad that thou hast done it h Lament 1.18.19 20 21. So much we may gather out of Zacharies words when he saith Arise ô sword vpon my Shepheard and vpon the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hoasts smite the shepheard and the sheepe shal be scattered I will turne mine hand vpon the lettle ones And in all the Land saith the Lord two parts therein shall bee cut off dye but the third shall be left therein And I will bring that third part through the fire and will fine them as the siluer is fined and will trie them as the gold is tryed They shall call on my Name and I will heare them I will say It is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God i Zach. 13.7.8.9 So much we may gather out of Christs words when he saith Behold speaking to his disciples I send you as sheepe in the mids of wolues Beware of men for they will deliuer you vp to the councels will scourge you in their Synagogues And the brother shall betray the brother to death and the Father the Sonne and the Children shall rise against their Parents and shall cause them to die And yee shall be hated of all men for my Name k Mat. 10.16.17.18.21.22 So much wee may gather out of Paules wordes when hee saith For wee are made a gazing stocke vnto the world and to the Angels and to men vnto this houre we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and haue no certaine dwelling place and labour working with our own hands we are reuiled and yet we blesse wee are persecuted and suffer it wee are euill spoken of and we pray wee are made as the filth of the world 1. Cor. 4.9.1 the off-scowring of all things vnto this time So much lastly may wee gather to omit many other places out of Dauids words when he saith haue mercy vpoÌ„ meô Lord for I am iÌ„ trouble mine eye my soule my belly are consumed with griefe For my life is wasted with heauinesse my yeares with mourning my strength faileth for my paines and my bones are consumed I was a reproach among all mine enemies but especially among my neighbours and a feare to mine acquaintance who seeing mee in the streete fledde from mee I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde I am like a broken vessell for I haue heard the rayling of great men feare was on euery side while they conspired together against me and consulted to take my life m Psalm 31.9.10.11 Obiect But what may the causes heereof bee Is it because they are more base then others by their stocke and parentage Answ No For in that respect they are the honourablest persons in all the world as beeing begotten and borne not of mortall but of immortall seed euen of GOD himselfe n Ioh. 1.13 Is it because they are more wicked then others by their workes and wayes No for in that respect they are the holiest persons in all the world as beeing washed from their sinnes o Reu. 1.5 and as hauing their conuersation aboue in the heauens themselues p Phil. 3.20 Is it because they are more detestable in the eyes of God then others by their estate and condition No for in that respect they are the dearest q Prou 15.9 Acts 10 â—5 Ioh. 14.23 persons vnto him in all the world as being incorporated into the body of his Sonne and made his children by adoption r Ephes 1.4.5 Is it because they are more beggarly then others by their portion of goods and inheritance here below No for in that respect they are the richest persons in all the world if not by profession yet by right as beeing the heires of all things yea coheyres with Christ of euery thing s Rom. 8.17 So that a man may say to them as Paul did to the Corinthians in these words Let no man reioyce in men for all things are yours whether it be Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death whether they bee things present or things to come euen all are yours t 1. Cor. 3.21.22 It is
because they are more troublesome then others by their quarrelsome contentions and brawlings No for in that respect they are the quietest persons in all the world as turning their speares and swords into mattocks and sythes v Esal 2.4 and as going like sheepe to the slaughter-house to bee slaine of others themselues w Rom. 8.36 So that a man may say most truely as Esay hath-it in his prophesie that in the mount of the Lord there is no hurt done x Esay 11.9 Is it because they are more carelesly attended vpon for defence then others by their place and calling No for in that respect they are the safest persons in all the world as hauing the Angels of heauen aboue them for their guard y Psalm 91.11 and the almighty himselfe for their protection z Palm 125.2 Is it lastly because they are more fruitles then others by their idlenes and want of care to doe men good No for in that respect they are the profitablest persons in all the world as being full of good workes and doing good vnto all men a Iob 29.120 Acts. 9.39 Acts 10.2 So that many doe fare the better for their sakes As Laban did for Iacobs sake b Genes 30.27 Potiphar for Iosephs sake c Gen. 39 5. the Israelites for Moses sake Zoar d Exod. 32.14 for Lot sake e Gen 19.21 the marriners for Pauls sake f Acts. 17.24 You see then that it is not for any of these causes nay for these causes a man may wonder why they haue any troubles at all seeing thus that they are the honourablest the holiest to God the dearest in right to all things the richest by a sweete courage the quietest through angels protection the safest and to men of the world the profitablest persons that are in the world a wonder I say may be made why they should haue any troubles at all Reas But the causes are euident and they are these First because God in loue will correct them Secondly because the diuell in malice will assault them And thidly because the world in hatred will pursue them How God in loue will correct them you may read in the Prouerbs in the Hebrews and in the Reuelations In the prouerbs in these words My sonne refuse not the chastening of the Lord neither be grieued with his correction for the Lord correcteth him whom he loueth euen as the father doth the childe in whom he delighteth g Prou 3.11.12 In the Hebrews in these words My sonne despise not the chastning of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receiueth h Heb. 12.4.6 In the Reuelations in these words As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and amend i Rom. 3.20 The ende that God doth aime at in correcting his is alwayes good In respect of them it is twofold The one is principall the other is subordinate seruing to that principall The principall is their saluation according to Pauls saying in these words For this cause many are weake and sicke among you and many sleepe For if wee would iudge our selues we should not be iudged but when wee are iudged we are chastned of the Lord because wee should not be condemned with the world k 1. Cor. 11 31.32 The subordinate seruing to the principall is their Sanctification accordingly as wee read in the Hebrues in these words For they verily speaking of the fathers of our bodies for a fewe dayes chasteneth vs after their owne pleasures but hee speaking of God the Father of our spirits chasteneth vs for our profite that we might be partakers of his holinesse l Heb 12.20 In which Sanctification of theirs the Lord hath an eye eyther to their sinnes or to their graces To their sinnes either past that they might repent for them or present that they might leaue them or to come that they might preuent them To their Graces eyther for the receiuing of them that they might be fit to entertaine them or for the discouering of them that they might appeare to the world to the praise of the giuer to the comfort of the possessor and to the profite of the beholder or for the exercising of them that they might not rust by lying still like yron or grow vnsauorie like standing-water but glister like golde in the fire and prosper like the tree by the riuers side How the Diuell in malice will assault them You may finde in Iob in Zacharie in Mathew in Marke in Luke in Paul in Peter and in the Reuelations He tormented Iob and spared not m Iob. 1. 2. He stood at the right hand of Iehoshuah the high Priest to resist him n Zach. 3 1. Hee tempted Christ in the wildernes o Matt. 4.26 Hee set vpon the Apostles and winnowed them like wheate p Luke 22.31 Hee threw a young man often into the fire and into the water to destroy him q Mar. 9.22 Hee buffeted Paule and was a pricke to him in the flesh r 2. Cor. 1.2.7 Hee cast out water after the Woman like a flood to drowne her and went and made warre with the remnant of her seede which keepe the commandements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ s Reu. 12.15.16.17 Beeing losed out of his prison hee goeth out to deceiue the people which are in the foure quarters of the earth euen Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell against the Saints t Rou. 20.8.9 In a word hee walketh vp and downe like a roaring lyon seeking daily whom hee may deuour v 1. Pet. 5.8 How lastly the world in hatred will pursue them you may see in the Psalmes in Obadiah in Matthew in Iohn in Paul and in the Reuelations In the Psalmes in these wordes Thou makest vs to turne backe from the aduersaries and they which hate vs spoyle for themselues Thou giuest vs as sheepe to be eaten and doest scatter vs among the Nations w Psal 144.10.11 In Obadiah in these words For thy crueltie against thy brother Iacob shame shall couer thee and thou shalt be cut off for euer When thou stoodest on the other side in the day that the strangers carryed away his substance strangers entred into his gates cast lottes vpon Ierusalem euen thou wast as one of them x Obad. 10.11 In Mathew in thesew words Beware of men for they will deliuer you vp to the councells will scourge you in their Synagogues And the Brother shall betray the brother to death and the Father the Sonne and the children shall rise against theyr parents and shall cause them to die And yee shall be hated of all men for my Name y Matt. 10.17.21.22 In Iohn in these words If you were of the world the world would loue his owne but because you
wherein troubles doe come are many and diuerse For sometimes they come in the morning sometimes at noone sometimes in the euening and sometimes in the night Sometimes in our infancie somtimes in our childhood sometimes in our youth sometimes in our middle-age sometimes in our olde-age sometimes in our dotage The sorts by which troubles do come are many and diuerse For some are the diseases of the bodie as the goute the stone the collicke the ague the feauer the toothach and the like Some are wants of outward things as of houses Cattell money Apparell Dyet Friends libertie and the like Some are losses of goods as when a man is robbed of his money of his plate of his clothes of his beasts of his seruants of his children and the like Some lastly to passe ouer other sorts are the cōmon plagues of the world as burnings by the fire as drownings by the water as infectings by the aire as deuourings by the Sword as destroyings by the pestilence as slanderings by the tongue and the like The parts to which troubles doe come are many and diuerse For somtimes they come vnto the soule somtimes to the bodie and sometimes both to the soule and body together Likewise in the bodie they come now and then vnto the head now and then to the bellie now and then to the backe now and then to the stomack now then to the arms now and then to the thighs now and then to the legs now then to the feete now then to the hands and now then in a word to all the ioynts and members of the body together The effects which troubles do bring forth at their comming are many and diuerse For somtimes they make men mery and sometimes againe they make them sad sometimes they make them pray sometimes againe they make them curse sometimes they make them quiet and somtimes againe they make them rage somtimes in a word they make them the worse somtimes again they make them the better Thus the troubles of the righteous are many Innumerable troubles saith Dauid haue cōpassed me i Psalm 40.12 The Church doth thus complain They haue oftentimes afflicted mee from my youth may Israel now say they haue oftentimes afflicted mee from my youth but they could not preuaile against mee The plowers plowed vpon my backe and made long surrowes k Psalm 129.1.2.3 And wee must saith Paul and Barnabas through many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God l Acts 14.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through many compressions or twistings together of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth import For this cause afflictions are compared to waters because as one waue falleth vpon another so one trouble commeth after another m Psalm 42.7 I might make this more manifest vnto you by manifolde examples out of Gods word as by the example of Iacob of Ioseph of Iob others but at this instant I will giue you instance only in two namely in Dauid and Paul wherof the one is in the old Testament and the other in the new n 1. Sam. 17.34 A lyon you know came to Dauid to deuoure him a beare to teare him o 1. Sam. 17.41 a giant to kill him p 1. Sam. 20. 21. a king to behead him q 2. sam 15.12 a sonne to vnthroan him r 2. sam 20.10 a subiect to reiect him many s 2. sam 8.10 out-lādish princes to captiue or conquer him These were troubles yea many troubles but yet they were not all For besides these you may reade how his wiues were taken by the enemies like prisoners t 1. sam 30.5 how his concubines were defloured openly like whores v 2. sam 16.22 how his children were defiled with incest and murder like pagans w 2. sam 13.14.32 how his subiects were destroyed with pestilence and famine like beasts x 2. sam 21.1.24.15 how his souldiers were vp in a mutinie for to stone him like rebells y 1. sam 30. how his friends were in a confederacie against him like traitors z Psalm 41.9 55.12 lastly how hee himselfe was strangely handled both in body and soule by God himselfe like a cast-away a Psal 38.2 and 32.4 But to leaue him and to come to Paul in the 2. Epistle to the Corinthians and 11. chapter you may plainely see how manie his troubles were by his owne report who knew them best He had many labors many stripes He was often in prison he was neere vnto death many times Of the Iews he receiued 5. times 40. stripes sauing one He suffered shipwrack 3. times Night and day was he in the deepe Sea In iournying he was often in perill of waters in perill of robbers in perill of his owne nation in perill among the Gentiles in perils in the citie in perils in the wildernes in perill in the sea in perils among false brethren In wearines and painfulnes in warchings often in hunger thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednes Besides the things which are outward he was cumbred daily and had the care of all churches So that this is a cleere doctrine that the troubles wherevnto the children of God are subiect are many and diuerse Reas Now the reasons thereof are these First because they haue many sinnes For sinne is the generall and vniuersall cause of all troubles Man suffereth for his sinne saith Ieremy in the Lamentations b Lam. 39.3 And fooles saith Dauid by reason of their transgressions and because of their iniquities are afflicted c Psal 107.17 You may see more of this at your leisure in Psalm 40.12 in Esai 57.17 in Lament 1.22 and Iohn 5.14 God doth knowe that we are like dogges who so long as they are hungry they fasten their eyes vpon their maister but he no sooner casteth downe a crust or a bone but they looke downward run after it little regarding him who feedeth them So is it with vs so long as wee are kept vnder wee looke vnto the Lord our maister and haue a respect to his commandements but when we are full and laden with fatnesse we spurne with the heele and regard not the strong GOD of our saluation d Deut. 32.15 For this cause doth the Lord oftentimes send a deluge vpon the face of our earthly pleasures and throwe vs downe into the floods of teares that so thereby hee might extinguish the heate of vnlawfull desires within vs clense the corruptions of our sinfull liues and all to this ende that wee might not be condemned with the world but might be saued at the day of iudgement as the Apostle doth well obserue in his epistle to the Corinthians according to that which was quoted before the first Epistle the 11. chapter and the latter ende of the same Secondly because they haue many enemies For all the world doth hate them and the diuell and his power is
surely he that wanteth it is like a man that standeth trembling in the field without his Armour because euery one can strike him and he can strike none againe The least push that is of disgrace or of losse or of sicknes or of pouerty or of paine doth trouble those persons more which haue not patience to beare the same then forty tryalls can moue such as are armed with patience to vndergoe them like a golden shield in their hand to breake the stroke of euery crosse and to saue the heart though the bodie suffer For while the heart is whole all is well A sound spirit saith Salomon will beare his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can sustaine it l Prou. 18.44 Lastly considering the afflictions of the godly are many we that are godly must neuer promise to our selues peace quietnes here but after one trouble we must still looke for another saying with the Poet Finis alterius mâ—li gradus est futuri the end of one euill is a step towards another Many do deceiue themselues with vaine hopes in this respect They thinke that all shal be well with them that they shal haue the Sunne euermore to shine vpon them if they can but rid themselues out of their present troubles But let them marke it well it shall not be so oh my brethren suppose you were as wise as Salomon as strong as Sampson as warlike as Dauid as meeke as Moses as louely as Ionathan as beautifull as Absalom as rich as Croessus as great as Assuerus as swift as Asahel as free born as Paul as noble as Foestus as big as Goliah as patient as Ioh and as wise as Christ himselfe yet you shall haue troubles still during your liues so long as any of you shall breath with any life As the life of Christ your Lord and maister was a warfare vpon the earth so your liues that are Christians must be a warfare vpon the earth Here we liue in a sea of troubles The Sea is the world the waues are calamities the Church is the ship the anchor is hope the sailes are loue the Saintes are passingers the hauen is heauen and Christ is our Pilot. Now when the Sea can continue without waues the ship without tossings and passengers not be sicke vpon the water then shal the Church of God be without triall but not before Therefore I beseech you beloued in the Lord promise your selues no security in this world but look still for troubles and when you haue slaine a lyon look for a beare and when you haue killed the beare looke for a Goliah and when you haue ouercome Goliah looke for a Saul and when Saul is wounded to death looke for the Philistims that is when you haue ouercome one trouble or vanquished one enemie looke still for an other trouble and for an other enemie and that vntill you die and the spirit returne to God that gaue it Obiect True it is that God hath not appointed to all his children a like measure of troubles but to some more and to some lesse to some after one manner and to some after an other Yet all must haue them all must continue in the hauing of them without starting from his Maiestie For none must look to be more nicely or daintily handled then the very naturall Sonne of God himselfe was who was the onely darling and the best beloued of his Father Yet for all that his whole life here vpon the earth was nothing else but a continuall crosse And therefore let this be our daily meditation that when we haue borne one trouble wee doe prepare our hearts to beare an other euermore to looke for new troubles so long as we liue here in this world like new men And so I leaue the miserie of the righteous and come to his deliuerance from his miserie But the Lord deliuereth him out of them all Here are two points to be stood vpon The person who doth deliuer the righteous and the thing from which the righteous is deliuered But because the time is well neere spent Idfrustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora That is done in vaine by more things which fewer to perfection brings I will conioyne them both together and from thence deliuer vnto you this doctrine IEHOVAH that there is no trouble which the righteous haue but the Lord doth deliuer them out of the same This you may see by Ieremies words when he saith For the Lord will not forsake for euer but though he send affliction yet wil he haue compassion according to the multitudes of his mercies ô Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule and hast redeemed my life m Iam. 3.31.32.58 This you may see by Esayes words wheÌ„ he saith I will not contend for euer neither will I be alwayes wroth I haue seene his wayes and will heare him I will leade him also and restore comfort vnto him and to those that lament him I create the fruites of the lippes to be peace peace vnto them that are a farre off to them that are neere saith the Lord for I will heale him n Esai 57.16 This you may see by Dauids words when hee sayth Beholde his eye is vpon them that feare him and vpon them that trust in his mercie to deliuer their soules from death and to preserue them in famine o Psalm 33.18 This poore man cryed and the Lord heard him and saued him out of all his troubles p Psal 34.6 The Lord preserueth the simple I was in miscrie and hee saued me Returne vnto thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath bene beneficiall vnto thee because thou hast deliuered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my feete from falling I shall walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing q Psalm 116.6 The Lord vpholdeth all that fall and lifteth vp all that are ready to fall The Lord is neere to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in Truth hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare him Hee also will will heare theyr crye and saue them The Lord preserueth all that loue him r psal 145 14.18 Then they cryed to the Lorde in their trouble and he deliuered them from their distresse and led them forth by the right way that they might goe to a Citie of habitation s psal 107.6.7 This you may see by Pauls words when hee saith But thou hast fully knowne my doctrine maner of liuing purpose faith long suffering loue patience persecutions and afflictions which came vnto me at Antiochia at Iconium and at Lystra which persecutions I suffered but from them all the Lord deliuered me t 2 Tim. 3 10.11 Finally this you may see by many particular examples Abraham was in exile Lot was in captiuity Iob was in bodily extremity See more for this in my Sermons on the second psalme page 24.
poore adultresse woman alone onely with Christ there being not so much as any one left behinde either to condemne her or to stone her with stones c Iohn 8.9 So doe all troubles vanish away from the righteous one by one and leaue them safe and alone without one either to vexe them or to destroy them with destructions For be it that the lawier cannot deliuer his client but from his strife the Physition his patient but froÌ„ his sicknes the maister his seruaÌ„t but from his bondage the father his childe but from his pouerty the tutor his scholler but from his ignorance the captaine his souldier but from his wounds yet God can and will also deliuer his from all their troubles whatsoeuer And howsoeuer these their troubles doe come in a thousand waies like waters through many grates yet he can and will also meete with them all For hee can worke doth also often worke by meanes without meanes and contrary to all meanes By meanes yea by weake meanes he saued Israel when hee ouerthrew the innumerable army of the Midianites by Gedeons three hundred men d Iudg. 9.7 By meanes yea by weake meanes he saued Saul and his people when he slew a garrison of the philistins by Ionathan and his armorbearer e 1. Cor. 14. By meanes yea by weake meanes he saued Lot when he conquered Chadorlaomor three other kings with him by Abraham and his familie f Genes 14. Lastly by meanes yea by weake meanes he saued the nation of the Iewes when he destroyed Goliah by Dauid Sisera by Iael and Abimilech by a woman g 1. Sam. 17. Iud. 4. 9. Without meanes he saued Iehosophat and his people when hee himselfe did ouerthrow the Moabites the Ammonites and them of mount Seir which made warre against them h 2. Chron. 20. Without meanes he saued Moses and his people when he himselfe drowned Pharoah and his army in the red sea pursuing after them without meanes he saued Ezechiah and his people i Exod. 14. when he himselfe slew the huge army of the Assirians who came with a purpose to destroy them k 2. King 17. Lastly without means he saued Elisha and his man when he himselfe smote with blindnes the Syrians who besieged Dothan the city where the prophet was and came to take him l 2. King 6. Contrary to all meanes hee saued the three children from burning being in the fire m Dan. 3. Contrary to all means he saued Ionah from consuming being in the Whales belly n Ionâ—â— 2. Contrary to all meanes he saued Daniel from deuouring being in the Lions den o Dan. 6. Finally contrary to all meanes be saued the Isralites froÌ„ drowning being in the bottome of the sea p Ezod 14. Wherefore my beloued brethren faint not whatsoeuer your troubles be but be of a good comfort and cheere vp your harts in the Lord doubt nothing but all shall be well with you in the end Oh say with Dauid wheÌ„ your harts are disquieted Why art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me waite on God for I will yet giue him thanks he is my present helpe and my God q Psalm 42.11 Doubtles he will come he will come waite but a little and you shall see your deliuerance And so I conclude this worthy obseruation with the prophets needful exhortation in these words Hope in the Lord be strong and he shall comfort thine heart and trust in the Lord. r Psalm 27.14 The fourth and last is an Instruction to the world to warne them in their euill courses that they goe not about to trouble the righteous and to qualifie them in their ioyfull mirth that they doe not exult too much in the misery of the righteous For seeing that the Lord will deliuer the righteous out of all their troubles it is a great folly for the world to goe about to trouble them and a greater vanity in them to reioyce at their troubles as though they should continue euer in their troubles and neuer see an end of their troubles Here here let the wicked remember what is in Zophonie when the Lord saith After a certaine time will I gather the afflicted that were of thee and them that beare the reproach for it behold at that time I will bruise all that afflict thee and I will saue her that halteth and gather her that was cast out and I will giue them praise and fame in all the lands of their shame s Zoph 3.18.19 Here here let the wicked remember what is in Esay where the almighty saith But thus saith the Lord euen the captiuity of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the tyrant shall be deliuered for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee and I will saue thy children And will feede them that spoile thee with their owne flesh and they shall be drunken with their owne blood as with sweete wine and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy sauiour and thy redeemer the mighty one of Iacob t Esai 49.25.26 Here here let the wicked remember what is in the Prouerbes when Salomon saith The righteous escapeth out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his fleede v Pro. 11 8. Againe the wicked shall be a ransome for the iust and the transgressor for the righteous w Prou. 21.18 Here here lastly let the wicked remember what is in Micha when the prophet saith Reioyce not against me ô mine enemie though I fall I shall arise when I shall sit in darknes the Lord shall be a light vnto me I will beare the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he plead my cause and execute iudgement for me Then will he bring me forth to the light and I shall see his righteousnes Then she that is mine enemy shall looke vpon it and shame shall couer her which said vnto me where is the Lord thy God mine eyes shall behold her now shall she be troden downe as the mire of the streetes x Mic. 7.8.9.10 Hitherto you haue had welbeloued in the Lord such things onely as concerned my text and which in a generall manner flowed out of the same for the good of vs all But now I pray giue mee leaue in a few words to make some particular application thereof vnto that honourable and most worthy person our most high and mighty king for whose sake we are here this day assembled together You are not ignorant how his troubles haue bene many neither are you ignorant how his deliuerances also haue bene manie Out of all doubt that which Dauid doth here say his Maiesty may truly say Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord doth deliuer him out of theÌ„ all For he hath had good experieÌ„ce of theÌ„ both in his own person But not to speake of al but only of one thing
vpon our knees giue him most harty thanks euery day because we doe enioy him Gratious God we beseech thee couer him euermore vnder the shaddow of thy hand make him a chosen shaft and hide him still in thy quiuer Let him reioyce euer in thy strength and in thy saluation giue him ô giue him his harts desire and deny him not the request of his lips preuent him with â—iberall blessings and set still a crown of pure gold vpon his head Giue the nations before him subdue the kings that rise vp against him giue them as dust to his sword and as scattered stuble to his bow Let iudgement also run downe in his daies as waters and righteousnes as a mighty riuer yea let him feede his people according to the simplicitie of his heart and guide them by the discretion of his hands Thus ô Lord thus ô Lord let it be done vnto him that so he may raigne here with vs many yeares prosperously and with thy selfe in the heauens for euer triumphantly to thy glory and his euerlasting happinesse Amon Amen But now to end all and to speake a word or two vnto you all by way of application who are now my present Auditory I beseech you my beloued brethren remember what now hath bene deliuered vnto you Though troubles fall vpon you yet shrinke not but stand fast and quiet your selues like men There be many I confesse in the world I wil not say amongst you who fain would haue a Church as it were of sugar and a spouse of Roses They would feede vpon Manna and tread vpon veluet In seruing of God they would be serued themselues and be made free from all afflictions They loue Canaan but they loath the wildernes They like the crowne but they loue not the crosse They are like Iames and Iohn who sought to sit in the seate of honor but not to drinke of the cuppe of afflictions But the truth is as you haue heard and you must belieue it The way to heauen is no easie way it is not strewed with flowers but it is a sharpe way it is set with thornes and happily in your own experience you shal finde that to be true which the Prophet doth here say Many are the troubles of the righteous Yet be not discouraged at it For first though your troubles be many yet you are able for to beare them Theâ—e is no more laid vpon you then you can carry God is like a wise Physition in this case who doth weigh his Drugs and fitte them according to our strength Wee are afflicted on euery side saith Paul yet are not in distresse in pouertie but not ouercome of pouertie wee are persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but we perish not z 1. Cor. 4 8. Secondly though they be many yet somtimes you are alone without them As you haue a time of fasting so haue you a time of feasting as you haue a time of mourning so haue you a time of laughing as you haue of sicknes so haue you a time of health as you haue a time of shame so haue you a time of praise in a word as you haue a time of miserie so haue you a time of felicitie Thirdly though they be many yet they doe not hurt you but rather doe you good you come forth better often from them then euer you went into them Consider with your selues how they set your wits to studie your conscience to examine your memory to repeate your will to affect your heart to pray your tongue to entreate your eare to hearken your foote to goe your hand to work euery member to doe his dutie Call to minde also how they doe cause you to seeke knowledge to vnderstand Gods promises to seek Faith to apprehend Gods promises to seeke Hope to waite for the performance of Gods promises to seeke lastly Prayer to hasten God to accomplish his promises Fourthly though they be many yet you haue deserued them yea more theÌ„ that you haue deserued more then them GOD hath not dealt with vs saith Dauid after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities a Psalm 103.10 Fiftly though they be many yet you are not alone in them but others are conioyned with you in the partaking of them yea men and women I doubt not in your owne iudgement better then your selues as you may see in Matth chapt 5.12 and in Peter 1. Pet 4.12.13 Lastly though they be many yet you shall not continue still in them but come forth in time conuenient from them according to the latter part of my Text But the LORD doth deliuer him out of them all Marke the word well Out of them all We startle at the crosse often because we are like the Prophets seruant who did see his foes but not his friends We see our sore but not our salue Deliuerance seemes a farre off like Abraham in the Heauens as though it would neuer come so long as we be But let vs know and euer remember for our comfort that the Lord will come and deliuer vs And as Moses would leaue no hoofe behinde him when hee was to deliuer the Israelites out of Aegipt so when the Lord commeth to deliuer vs who are his hee will not leaue a trouble behinde him but rid vs out of al our troubles Comfort your selues oh comfort your selues I beseech you with these sayings And the God of all grace be euer with you all to instruct you to direct you to defend you to redeeme you to comfort you to enrich you and in a word to blesse and to saue you through IESVS CHRIST our SAVIOVR to whome with the FATHER and the HOLYGHOST one Eternall GOD and three distinct persons be rendred as is most due all honour all glorie all praise all power all dominion and all thanks-giuing both now and euermore Amen Amen FINIS