fit cause them to bee at a stand and bring them euen to their wits end as it did these here but they will recouer themselues and get heart againe and though in their distempers they say God hath forsaken them which is a wofull thing yet they recall their words againe and at length betake themselues to the right meanes of recouerie which is to make their griefes knowne vnto God who is able to saue and readie to succour those that seeke vnto him This may bee euidentlie seene in Psal 88. vers 6. Psal 88.6 where the man of God bemoneth his case saying Thou hast laid mee in the lowest pit in darknesse and in the deepe Thine indignation lieth vpon mee and thou hast vexed me with all the waues From which words together with the rest in that Psalme wee may gather that hee was in wonderfull fore perplexitie Now in this extremitie what doth hee O Lord God of my saluation saith he I cry day and night before thee as if hee should haue said Though thou hast cut off mee yet I call vpon thee and though thy hand lie heauie vpon mee yet I pray still Isaiah 38.1.21 2. Kings 20.1 So Hezekiah was smitten as it seemes with the plague and that vnto death and was in such extremitie That hee chattered like a crane or a swallow and mourned like a doue and concluded that hee should goe to the gates af the graue and bee depriued of the residue of his yeares His case in appearance was desperate so that it was as hard to recouer him as to make the sunne in the firmament to goe backward yet hee set vpon the matter by prayer and obtained his desire insomuch that fifteene yeeres were added to his daies so that no man in the world had euer such a lease of his life as hee had So Ionah when hee fled from the presence of the Lord and was therefore cast into the Sea and swallowed vp of the whale beeing in a low dungeon where hee had neither sunne-light nor candle-light yet hee doth not thinke his case remedilesse as indeede it was not but hee cryed in his affliction vnto the Lord Ionah 2.1.2 and hee heard him Out of the bellie of hell did hee crie and God heard his voice and then as sinne and passion had brought him into danger so repentance and prayer did helpe him out of it Yea the Lord Iesus Christ when the burden of our sins and of his fathers wrath for the same was so grieuous that it made his soule heauie vnto the death and pressed bloud out of his vaines Luke 22.42 44. Heb. 5. yet the more horror hee was in the more feruently hee prayed vnto his father Reason 1 And the reason why Christians cannot by any distresse be driuen from prayer is 1 Because hee that is once Gods child is euer so and euery child of God Rom. 8.26 hath the spirit of prayer which will alwaies stirre vs vp to make requests with sighs and grones that cannot bee expressed If those that cast Gods seruants in prison could withall pull Gods spirit out of their hearts then they had done somewhat to the purpose but they may as well plucke the sunne out of the firmament as the holy Ghost out of their soules And therefore they can neuer bring them so low but they can cast their eyes vp towards heauen and make their complaint vnto their God And if he be with them in prison as hee was with Ioseph their restraint shall be farre more pleasant than their aduersaries libertie and they shal be able with Paul and Silas to sing Psalmes at midnight through ioy and gladnes Act. 6.25 2 Secondly Gods children haue faith in their hearts and the nature of faith is to beare downe all before it and to breake thorow al manner of lets and hindrances Therefore Gods seruants hold vp their heads because their faith ouercomes the world Joh. 5.4 And therefore wicked hypocrites faint because the world ouercomes them When Gods child goes vnto the dungeon faith goes with him and then hee will neuer giue ouer praying but bee more feruent in praying And this is certaine that in worldly helpes the deeper distresses wee bee in the least comfort they will affoord vs so spirituall helps the greater extremities we be in the more comfort will they minister vnto vs. When wee are helplesse and hopelesse then faith workes wonders and neuer shews forth it selfe so mightilie and powerfullie as when it workes alone Beautie and wealth and strength and other outward things of the same kinde when miseries lie heauie vpon vs and wee beginne to cast an eye to them expecting some reliefe and comfort from them will deale with vs as the high Priests did with Iudas When all went well with him they made shew of fauor and friendship towards him but when in the horror and anguish of his soule hee makes his mone vnto them crying out that he had sinned betraying innocent bloud they sent him away with a cutted and vncomfortable answere VVhat is that to vs say they Such cold comfort shall we receiue from any earthly supports and props whereon we rest and stay our hearts when we haue most neede of them they will stand vs least in stead So that wee may truely say of them as Iob did of his friends miserable comforters are yee all But as for those that liue by faith in Christ Iesus they are vnderlaide with better props than the world can afford for when they haue none other to deliuer them they can deliuer themselues by prayer and by calling vpon Gods name out of the lowest dungeon Vse 1 First this may serue to shew vs the difference betwixt the wicked and the godly in times of outward or inward affliction when they drinke both of the same cup and are plunged in the same miseries Cast a wicked man into a dungeon and lay him full low where hee can meete with no worldly helpe and what course will he take You shall see that either he will blaspheme God and bite his tongue for madnes as they that are spoken of Reuel 18. Or else hee will grow desperate and make away with himselfe as Iudas and Achitophel and other monsters haue done But let a godlie man bee laid fast in the same dungeon Act. 16.25 hee wil be full of ioy when the other is full of desperate griefe and sing Psalmes and powre forth many holy prayers in stead of the others imprecations and blasphemous speeches Peter and Iudas had both dealt vnfaithfully though in a farre different degree and manner with their Lord and master and were both in the dungeon euen in great perplexitie but Peter goes out confesseh this fault weeps bitterlie and gaines exceedingly by it Iudas on the other side sorroweth desperately and speedily dispatcheth himselfe Whereby doth manifestly appeare the different cariage of the faithfull and of infidels when they are both ouerburdened with sorrowes and miseries Vse
contrarie to the Law and if I die I die But our Lord Iesus Christ goes beyond them all for when hee was in supreme excellencie hee was so affected with the wofull case of his Elect into which they had brought themselues by their owne rebellions against him that hee humbled himselfe Philip. 2.6.7 and tooke on him the state of a seruant and submitted himselfe to many sorrowes disgraces and sufferings not onely while hee liued but principallie when hee dyed as hath beene before in part declared that so he might deliuer his people from the wrath to come and from eternall death which they had deserued and must haue els indured Reasons 1 And there is great reason why the affliction of the Church should so affect vs and that first in regard of the communion that is betwixt God and them for they are called the Lords flocke his chiefe treasure vnder heauen his first borne yea the very apple of his eye and therefore being so deere vnto the Lord they should be deere vnto vs and we should haue a tender care of them and mourne in our hearts for any euill that befalls them as Ieremie did chap. 30. that the Lords flocke should goe into captiuitie Secondly we should be thus affected in regard of the communion that is betweene them and vs for they are our members yea neerer vnto vs then our bodilie members and wee should haue greater care of the whole Church than of our selues because it more concernes Gods glorie Howbeit indeede in caring for them wee care for our selues too labouring to preuent their afflictions wee preuent our owne and weeping for others miseries we get armor that will keepe off miserie from our selues And that there is no danger in dealing for the seruants of God may appeare in Exodus One would haue thought there had beene some great euill neere Moses and Aaron when they must fetch out of Egypt such a people from such a King not onely by petition but by command and threatning if hee would not yeeld wee would haue imagined that Pharaoh a proud man would neuer haue indured this at their handes and yet wee see they were in perill but of all others most safe 3 Thirdly the affliction of the church must needs work most vpon the hearts of Gods chosen because of the insultations and triumphs of the wicked against them when they cry out where is now there God Exod. 32.1 Numbers 1416. And that was it that Moses did vrge to moue God to spare his people when he threatned to destroy them for their Idolatry he intreats God to remember his great name and to spare them lost the Egyptians should say that hee had brought them out maliciously to slay them in the mountaines and to consume them from the earth or that hee was not able to bring them into the land of Canaan This is it that goes to the heart of the faithfull when they heare profane persons reuilling the hoast of the liuing God Oh these are your professors say they these are they which runne with their bibles to sermons these are they that were wont to brag that prayer would preuent or remoue Gods iudgements doe you not see that they are swept away by the pestilence as well as others that they were pinched with pouertie and necessitie as well as others that these and the like despitefull and bitter speeches and taunts doe wound the verie hearts of such as loue Gods glory and desire the prosperitie of his Saints and so cause them much to bewaile the tribulation of the Church Vse 1 Here are to be reproued all carelesse persons who so it goe well with themselues regard not the Church at all let it sinke or swimme all is one to them So they may bee free from the contagion and sitte quiet in their houses whatsoeuer becomes of their neighbours it skills not They drinke wine in bowles Amos. 6.6 and giue themselues to all excesse but no man is sorie for the affliction of Ioseph This is a great fault in these daies now many Christians are taken away and the sword of the Lord is stretched out still and many are smitten downe on euery side yet there is as much feasting and sporting and frequenting of wakes and that on the Lords sabboth as if all thinges went well with vs. Which argues strange infidelitie and is such a sinne as the Lord will pursue euen vnto death if it bee not reformed Isa 22.12.13.14 as the Prophet Isaiah threatneth In that day saith he did the Lord of hostes call vnto weeping and mourning and to baldnesse and girding with sackcloth and beholde ioy and gladnesse slaying Oxen and killing sheepe eating flesh and drinking wine eating and drinking for tomorrow we shall dye and it was declared in the eares of the Lord of hostes And what followes therevpon Surely this iniquitie shall not bee purged from you till yee die saith the Lord God of hostes Which being so it stands Magistrates vpon to vse their authoritie for the redresse of such things as are so dangerous to the whole state of the land But there is yet another greater fault amongst vs than this that hath beene named For many do not only walke securely in the affliction of their brethren but desire the continuance and increase of it in hope that they shall enlarge their possessions and better their estate by meanes thereof as if scarsitie of people did bring abundance of riches whereas in trueth it is quite contrarie But howsoeuer those that haue but a glimpse of Christianitie in them would rather haue the societie of others than liue alone in the middest of the earth 3 There is yet a third and worser sort than the former which come iustly vnder this reproofe Such I meane as long for sturs and mutinies and insurrections Poore men say they can get nothing but some fewe great ones carry away all and so they grow to murmuring and repining multiply speeches of discontentment grieuing and lamenting that at the taking away of the former Prince al things should bee so quiet and peaceable Downe say they with these Magistrates and with these Preachers this too much plentie yeelds vs nothing and therefore they could also bee glad of vnseasonable weather that through scarsitie of things there might arise some tumults and so they might get prouision from such as fall into their hands These haue bloudy hearts 4 Yet others there are that are worse than these who doe not onely wish for such troubles on the Church and Common-wealth before they come but reioyce at them when they are come And when others eyes are full of teares their mouths are ful of laughter as Ieremie chargeth the Moabites Hee magnified himselfe against the Lord Ieremie 48.26.27 Moab shall wallow in his vomit and hee also shal be in derision For diddest thou not deride Israell as if hee had beene found among theeues For when thou speakest of him thou art moued This was
they here take and that which wee must take in the like distresse according to the measure of the affliction and as it is more publike or priuate so must be the measure of our lamentation To this there is a promise made in the prophesie of Isaiah c. That when our hands cannot help our selues nor our tongues preuaile with others yet then wee may relieue our selues by our prayers vnto God Isaiah 61. 12. c. for in that place the Lord vndertaketh that mourners shal be comforted c. God the Father sends his owne sonne and the Father and the Sonne doe send the holy Ghost that when men are mourning and seele their pouertie so as it breakes their hearts the spirit which is the comforter may minister comfort vnto them that when they feele their captiuitie and imprisonment as it were Christ Iesus may set them at libertie be they neuer so weake neuer so meane neuer so miserable neuer so sinfull if once they come thus to mourne they shall haue their hearts comforted though they bee couered with ashes God will giue them beautie for ashes and put on them the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heauines bestowing vpon them that which shall make them cheerefull euen the oyle of ioy not an earthly but an heauenly oyle And there is great cause why God should deale so with such kinde of persons for Reasons 1 1 Hee is full of pitie and compassion and therefore the prophet Ioel in his 2. Chap. vers 13. biddeth vs rent our hearts and not our garments Ioel. 2.13 that is bring inward sorrow that may crush and breake the heart and then turne vnto the Lord which if we doe wee shal be sure of reliefe and why the Lord is mercifull saith hee and our God is very readie to forgiue When wee see our children mourning and confessing their faults wee cannot but haue our bowels of compassion earning towards them If Iacob had stood by and heard his sonne Iosephs pitifull moane that in the anguish of his soule hee made vnto his brethren when they dealt so vnnaturallie with him would hee not haue pitied him and by strong hand haue rescued him from his cruell sonnes What shall wee then thinke of God he is farre more mercifull than Iacob was and wee are neerer vnto him than euer Ioseph was vnto his father And therefore when wee mourne in a holy manner certainely hee will arise and haue mercy vpon vs. Hee cannot slay when he sees our hearts full of sorrow and our eyes full of teares for the sighs and groanes of his people doe giue him no rest in heauen Secondly this godly mourning must needs be a speciall remedie in all manner of afflictions because it makes our prayers very forcible it sets an edge vpon our petitions and makes vs pray heartily feruently and strongly When Iacob wept in his prayer it was so effectuall that hee preuailed Genesis 32.11 When Gods people ioyned together to powre forth buckets full of teares drawne from the bottome of their hearts before the Lord they were marueilously helped 1. Sam. 7.6 for the great measure of their teares made their supplications more feruent and therefore it is said of Christ Iesus himselfe that in the dayes of his flesh hee did offer vp prayers with strong crying Heb. 5.7 and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death When our Sauiour was about the principal point of his mediatorship then did he gather strength vnto himselfe by this meanes Thirdly this must needs be very effectuall because it is exceeding forcible against sinne for when sorrow comes into the heart sinne goes out it will not lodge there vnlesse it bee cockered and made much of When euery one laments his iniquitie and mournes ouer Christ Iesus whom hee hath pierced by his sinnes then there is a fountaine opened to wash them from all euen from sins that made a separation betwixt God and vs. Zacharie 12. 13. Seeing then that this godly and holy sorrow is a means to make God pitie vs to make vs call earnestly vpon him and to expell sinne which might hinder vs from preuailing with him it must needes follow that of all remedies in times of distresse this is the best and surest Vse 1 This serues for instruction vnto vs to vse all meanes and furtherances whereby wee may attaine vnto this There are many afflictions abroad many neerer home in our owne townes and families nay there are many things amisse in our owne hearts here is a medicine for euetie one of our maladies let vs get it and vse it and all arguments and helps that may continue and increase it as the Nineuites hauing direction by the spirit of God as many of them as were his did when Ionah threatned destruction against their citie within fortie dayes they abased themselues and fell to mourning and vsed fasting to helpe it onward the people must shew it in their countenances the lowing of the beasts and crying of the infants must further them to this holy remorse and griefe for their great and haynous transgressions They had grieued the Lord by their iniquities and therefore now they would grieue themselues with godly contrition for them Hence it was that Gods people amongst the Iewes vsed to weare sack-cloth to lie on the ground and to put dust vpon their heads which were then meanes to further them in the worke of humiliation Therefore now that wee feare danger is neere vs let vs betake our selues to this holy mourning if wee refuse to doe it and still continue to be hard-hearted if the pestilence come into our families wee are likelie to be taken away with the first and to haue not only our bodies but our soules in danger and that of Gods wrath and euerlasting displeasure Therefore let vs seeke to haue our hearts mollified by this excellent meanes of God and for this end consider of the blessings of God plentifully powred downe vpon our nation Nehemi 9. and vpon out selues in particular as they did in the day of their humiliation of whom Nehemiah maketh mention Let vs seriously recount how many mercies wee haue enioyed and how much they haue beene abused how many afflictions wee haue felt and how little wee haue beene bettered how many deliuerances wee haue found and yet how carelesse nay how rebellious we haue beene notwithstanding them all Let vs weigh with our selues what hurt our sins haue done vnto vs how many good thinges they haue turned from vs and how many euils they haue puld vpon vs and aboue all let vs remember what a huge weight and multitude of miseries they haue brought vpon our Sauiour namely debasement and humiliation sorrowes and sufferings assaults and temptations the heauie burden of our guiltines and the greeuous punishment due for our deserts the rage and violence of most malicious men and the wrath and displeasure of the most righteous God torments of bodie and terrors
their manner of dealing and this is the propertie of all such wicked Moabites they cannot speake of the calamities of the faithfull but they are wonderfully affected with ioy so that they cannot sit still in their places they are so moued with mirth and laughter These haue cruell hearts and shal be met withall accordingly as Moab was 5 But especially are those here to be condemned that doe not onelie reioyce at the troubles but at the sinnes of those that are religoiously affected if they slippe through infirmitie and fall into any sinne if they bee ouergone with worldlines which is greatly to be taken heede of if they be lifted vp with pride and manifest the same by violence of words or actions or be stained with any the like vices presently they exclaime against them and take on beyond measure â—ot you what say they the great professor hath spoken or done this or that and so they are as glad together as if they had gotten a kingdome and came home in triumph Herein they shew themselues to bee right Satans who takes pleasure in nothing so much as in sinne 6 And yet there is one higher degree of sinne contrarie to the practise of these holy ones which is when men are so farre from grieuing that it goes ill with Gods seruants that if they be somewhat amisse they will make them worse and help forward their misery and for that end misinforme and incense such against them as they know will inflict punishments vpon them These are inspired by the spirit of Satan as those who are mentioned in this text are inspired by the spirit of God Vse 2 2 This is for great comfort vnto them that can mourne for the calamities of the church This is a notable testimonie that they are feeling members and haue in them the life of christianitie when others troubles are theirs others losses theirs others reproches theirs and any distresses and straites of others are made theirs They that lament for Sion Isa 66.10 shal be comforted with Sion God hath promised them singular consolation it is their portion and they may confidently expect it Vers 49. Mine eye droppeth without stay From which words this doctrine may bee gathered Doct. 3. How long humiliation must be continued That wee must neuer cease our humiliation till God giue consolation When the Lord ministreth vnto vs occasion of griefe wee should neuer surcease vntill he reuine our hearts We must not begin in the spirit and end in the flesh but hauing a good entrance wee must goe on with our worke and bring it to perfection and if God giue vs a heart to mourne set to it and neuer giue ouer till hee set vs free Lament 2. vers 18.19 So they are exhorted in an other chapter of this booke Let teares runne downe like a riuer day and night take thee no rest neither let the apple of thine eye cease arise cry in the night powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord c. And iust it is that we should neuer make an ende of mourning till God make an ende of afflicting accordnig to their example who are mentioned in Nehemiah that wept at the hearing of the Law Mehemi 8.9 till they were bid to reioyce It was a notable commendation of that people that they would not leaue off till they had warrant to leaue off So Mordecai when Queene Hester sent him garments to cloath him and would haue had his sackoloth to be taken from him hee would not receiue them Hester 4.4 but humbled himselfe so long till hee was assured of deliuerance So Iacob would neuer let goe his holde Gen. 32.26 but stil wrestles with the Angell and continues weeping and praying till hee obtained a blessing so the woman of Canaan stickes close to it Math. 15.22 c. and is importunate with Christ for her daughter and would neuer desist nor let her suite fall till shee had preuailed with our Sauiour And there are reasons why wee must neuer breake off but still continue our humiliation and feruencie till God shew by good effect that he hath mercifully respected vs and our supplications Reason 1 1 For first what is the ground of true humiliation Is it not sinceritie Now wheresoeuer there is sinceritie there is faith and faith will neuer make an ende till it conquer it neuer giues the onset but it obtaines the victorie For it hath to deale with God and hee neuer bids it make an ende vnlesse it be by way of triall as hee dealt with Iacob and with the woman of Canaan till it haue gotten the desired successe 2 A second reason may be that Gods children haue hope as well as faith now hope neuer makes ashamed Rom. 5.5 because it is neuer disappointed of the thing hoped for 3 Thirdly they haue loue which makes vp a threefolde corde euery twist whereof is stronger than all the cords of the world for loue is strong as death c the coales thereof are fierie coales Cant. 8.6.7 and a vehement flame Much water cannot quench loue neither can the floods drowne it c. In regard of all these it is impossible that those that foundly begin the worke of humiliation should bee put backe vntill they haue obtained their purpose Which may be further seene in the spouse Canticles 3. who neuer giues ouer seeking till shee had found him whom her soule loued Vse 1 1 This therefore is to encourage men to godly constancie and importunitie when any distresse lies vpon the people of God If they be earnest for their deliuerance they shall not misse of their marke but those that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy in the due time of the Lord. Whether they bee futers for the church or commonwealth or for themselues in regard of crosses on their bodies anguishes in their soules or afflictions in their estate the Lord will looke downe from his holy place in heauen vpon them and heare and helpe them at length if they perseuere without fainting This is liuely and notably expressed vnto vs in the parable of the vnrighteous Iudge who though hee feared not God Iub 18.12 nor reuerenced man yet heard the poore widow and in the end did her right against her aduersarie because of her importunitie Oh then what shall wee thinke of God will a man will a wicked man will a mercilesse man bee moued by importunitie and wil not God will not the gratious God will not the God that is full of compassion be moued to auenge his seruants and to minister iustice vnto theÌ„ I tell you saith Christ I that am the wisedome of the Father Luk 18.8 and know all things euen I tell you that he will do it He will auenge them and that quickly It is as possible that God should bee without ease as that they should be without helpe Vse 2 2 Secondly they come iustly here to be reproued that will
set vpon Gods seruices only by fits and starts If they haue not present helpe from God they will seeke vnto the world and vnto Satan and to carnall meanes If they cannot mend their estate by prayer they will patch it vp by odde shifts if their hearts haue not present comfort from Gods spirit they will seeke comfort from iesters and leaud companions Commonly such people grow of all other most bitter against those holy exercises which they haue profaned and therefore could haue no benefit by them Such were they of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh who are so impudent and shamelesse that they dare expostulate the matter with God himselfe VVherefore haue wee fasted say they wee haue punished our selues and thou regardest it not Isa 48.3 c See what bragges they make of their seruices they that doe least and worst commonly brag most But what saies the Prophet Behold in the day of your fast yee will seeke your owne will and require all your debts 4. Beholde yee fast to strife and debate c. 5. Is it such a fast that I haue chosen that a man should afflict his soule for a day and bow downe his head like a bull-rush c. Thus wee see what reckoning God makes of their fasting what account so euer they themselues make of it and yet if they faile of their expectation they will quarrell with the Ministers of God with the word of God and with God himselfe because vsing such exercises carnally they receiued no benefit by them Vse 3 3 This must be an instruction vnto vs whē we are to deale with those that are afflicted in their soules that we handle the matter warilie and circumspectly when their hearts are wrought vpon we should not help them too soone out of their sorrow but exhort them to waite for comfort frō heauen for all cannot be presently well with the soule and therefore it is good wisedome to aduise such still to hold on their course Haue they begun to examine their hearts let them rifle yet further into them Haue they begunne to dislike their sinnes and themselues for their sinnes let them get a more thorow detestation and holy indignation against them It is not good for one that takes physicke to giue vp the potion forthwith as soone as it begins to worke Peter as a wise physition gaue other counsell to his hearers that began to bee moued by his doctrine They had beene mockers and scoffers they had crucified the Lord of life and so exceedingly endangered their owne soules wherewith beeing charged by Peter and being pricked and stung in their hearts and consciences they aske the Apostles Men and brethren Act. 2.37.38 what shall wee doe He doth not tell them as some vnskillfull Ministers would your case is good bee not discomforted my soule for yours you shall doe well but hee bids them amend their liues repent and get sound and heartie sorrow for their sinnes that so beeing throughly humbled they might afterwards bee soundly comforted Doct. 4. The eye must affect the heart Vers 51. Mine eye breaketh mine heart The meaning of which words is that his heart was marueilously moued with the things that his eye did behold Whence this doctrine offreth it selfe for our learning That good men must vse their eyes to stirre vp their hearts to pitie and compassion that so they may be pierced with griefe and sorrow This wee haue proued vnto vs in the example of Christ Iesus the most absolute paterne of all holinesse Mark 6.34 For it is said of him by the Euangelist Marke That when he lifted vp his eyes and sawe the multitude which had no faithfull Ministers to instruct them his very bowels were moued with commiseration towards them because they were as sheepe without a shepheard In this regard it is that Salomon describing a good man Pro. 22.9 calls him a man of a good eye and saies of such an one That hee will bestow his bread vpon the poore hee seeth the faces of some pale and of others blacke by reason of long want and forbearance of foode Others hee beholdeth naked and colde and exposed to the iniurie of the ayre and of all sorts of vnseasonable weather Now hauing a good eye hee will not onely take a view of them but bee inwardly affected with the sight of them and from a tender and pitifull heart minister reliefe vnto them Hence was it Act. 7.23 Exod. 2.11 that Moses did not content himselfe to know of the miseries of his poore brethren the Israelites by heare-say but hee would goe out to see their burdens and how they spent their paines and their strength and after all were recompenced with stripes from their taske-masters which did so worke vpon him that it made him stretch forth his hand to auenge some of them So likewise in the Gospell of Matthew it is set downe as the propertie of all holy and religious persons Mat. 25.36 that they will goe to the prison to see and to the house to visit the distressed members of Christ and take all occasions to bring their owne hearts to pitie their poore brethren and will euen compell their inward parts to beare a burden with them that they may bee more helpfull vnto them Vse 1 Which makes greatly for the reproofe of those whose eyes and eares are as filthy sinkes to conuey all vncleanenesse into them who haue eyes full of adulterie 1. An adulterous eye that they cannot looke about them but they are stirred vp to beastly and vile lusts Who haue eyes full of enuie 2. An enuious eye that they cannot beholde their brethren that are equall vnto them or goe before them or come neere vnto them but presently they fret against them and others welfare is their woe and miserie Others haue a wicked eye 3. A couetous eye that they cannot looke vpon their neighbors cattle houses possessions and the like but forthwith their hearts are poisoned with a couetous desire of them and then they cast about how they may make them theirs and if they cannot they eate vp their hearts with discontentment as Ahab did Pro. 28.22 Agreeable to this is the place of Salomon where hee saith A man of a wicked eye lusteth after riches but hee shews there that God meetes with him for hee shal be so farre from getting more that hee shall not keepe that which hee hath but the more he runnes after riches the faster pouertie shall pursue him Another kinde of ill eye is a niggardly eye 4. A niggardly eye spoken of by the wise man in the Prouerbs Pro. 23.6 where hee giueth this counsell Eate not the bread of him that hath an euill eye c. that thinkes all lost that goes from him and all taken out of his stomacke that goes into other mens bowels hee will giue men a welcome for fashion sake but all that eate of his meate are a vexation vnto him and
guiltie soules though they haue beene full of boasting in the daies of their iolitie and haue vaunted what a notable faith they haue yet as Zephanie saith in that day the strong man shall cry bitterly Zeph. 1.14 Howsoeuer they imagine to put off these things yet let them know that their strength wil be found too weake and their skill too small to ward off the Lords blowes The thiefe that hath courage enough to rob and steale vpon the high-waies side yet hath hee little enough when his poore executioner is to deale with him euen so shall it bee with all wicked and proud men when the time of their execution doth approach their hearts shall faile them for the things that shall come vpon them and continue vpon them for euermore Vse 2 2 Secondly this doctrine offereth vnto the godly matter of great consolation albeit their case many times seeme vncomfortable yet they must not iudge according to that which they see for God many times laies such afflictions vpon them that their case is thought both by themselues and others to be desperate and vnrecouerable and yet indeede it is happie and blessed As it fared with Paul who had the sentence of death past vpon him 2. Cor. 4.11 and died dailie almost so that when hee went out in the morning hee was in danger to be slaine ere he returned home againe and yet God did vphold him and made him hereby more confidently and comfortably to rest and relie vpon him So the good Prophets wife thought all help was gone 2. Kings 4.1 c. her husband was gone her goods gone her labor gone her children like to be gone and she had no meanes in the world to relieue her selfe yet euen then when she was almost past hope God prouided a competent estate for her So Hezekiah concludes that hee was gone he should neuer goe to the temple any more Jsa 38.10 neuer see man more among the inhabitants of the world his webbe was cut off c. with many speeches to this effect and yet wee reade how God restored him againe and prolonged his life for many yeares Say then that one haue great discomforts in his soule great breaches in his estate grieuous and dangerous sicknesse vpon his body c. yet here is his comfort that God that raised vp others can and will in due time raise vp him Obiect Oh but my faith faileth me and is it not said according to your faith it shal be vnto you Answer True if you haue no faith you can looke for no mercie but if you haue any faith at all it shal be with you according therevnto but how farre beyond it God tels you not for hee doth for vs many times aboue that that wee can aske or thinke But you imagine you haue no more faith than you haue feeling whereas it is farre otherwise there may be much faith and little feeling faith may be strong and yet strongly assaulted comfort may be departed and yet not vtterlie lost wee may feare wee are cut off and yet not perish for Gods strength and perfection is seene in our weakenesse and imperfection though wee cannot beleeue yet God is still faithfull though children will not credit their parents yet they will relieue their necessities and so will God ours albeit through weakenes of faith wee cannot so fullie apprehend and apply his promises to our selues He sees it is not maliciousnesse nor grosse infidelitie in vs and therefore he will pitie vs and beare with vs rather than in seueritie proceede against vs. FINIS THE SECOND SERMON Lamentations chap. 3. vers 55. c. 55 I called vpon thy name O Lord out of the low dungeon 56 Thou hast heard my voice stoppe not thine eare from my sigh and from my crie 57 Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee thou saidst Feare not 58 O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule and hast redeemed my life 59 O Lord thou hast seene my wrong iudge thou my cause 60 Thou hast seene all their vengeance and all their deuises against me 61 Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord and all their imaginations against me YOu heard in the words immediatly going before The connexion the wofull distresse that the children of God were driuen vnto how they were cast into the dungeon and stript of all outward and inward comforts Now here he shewes what remedie they vsed they cast their burden vpon the Lord and hoped for succour at his hands and the reasons that mooue them so to doe are set downe in the text to be two First The diuision and meaning of the words one is taken from their present behauiour towards God which was that they prayed and sighed and cryed vers 55.56 And that they might bee so much the more regarded they declare that it was not without cause that they were so earnest with God for they called vpon him out of the low dungeon vers 55. that is out of great and grieuous affliction And yet further mischiefe was intended and their aduersaries did speake and plot all crueltie against them vers 60. Thou hast seene all their vengeance and all their deuices against me 61. Thou hast heard their reproch c. And that this might appeare not to be a false imagination and conceite of their owne he saith Lord thou hast seene my wrong c. Thou hast seene all their rage 59. 60. They are all euident and apparant before thee how closely and couertly soeuer matters be caried in respect of men 2 The second reason is drawne from Gods former goodnes and gratious dealing towards them Hee had heard them and drawne neere vnto them he had considered of them and of their cause and they knew hee was still as good as he was wont to be and they vsed as good meanes as they were wont to doe and therefore they conclude that he that drew neere vnto them heretofore would now doe the like againe vers 57.58 These considerations doe reuiue their spirits and raise their hearts euen out of the pit of desperation And thus much for the meaning and order of the words Now let vs harken vnto such doctrines and instructions as are therein contained for our learning Vers 55. I called vpon thy name This is the speech of the whole Church who by reason that they are members of one bodie and temples of one spirit are brought in speaking throughout this whole booke as if they were but one person By low dungeon is meant desperate euils they were as it were shut vp in a dungeon where they had no hope of escaping yet out of the depth of miserie and anguish and horror they called vpon the Lord. Whence naturallie ariseth this doctrine Doct. 1. The faithfull can neuer be driUen from prayer That there is no distresse no breaking and crushing whatsoeuer that shall hinder Gods people from praying vnto him It may for a passion and a
three supplications to the Iudge we would aske him presently But what answere receiued you If he should tell vs nay I neuer lookt to that we would not thinke hee should speed much the better for all his supplications Such is the case of hypocrites that draw neere vnto God with their lips but not with their hearts though they thinke themselues the safer and better for that yet in truth they are not because they had neuer in their liues any signe of Gods loue towards them for good vpon the making of their suites knowne vnto him And therefore let them get some of this store for that is it that will stand them more in stead than all the goods in the world Vse 2 Secondly here is a vse of comfort for them that haue lost the sight and feeling of Gods fauor Had they it euer at all Then they shall bee sure to haue it againe Psal 77.3.4.5.6 For this was Dauids case Hee did thinke on God and was more troubled hee prayed and his spirit was full of anguish and all seemed to make against him What then I considered saith hee the daies of old and the yeeres of ancient time I called to remembrance my song in the night I communed with mine owne heart and my spirit searched diligently c. He recounts with himselfe how faithfull hee had beene vnto God how mercifull God had beene vnto him and then his little sparke of hope and comfort became a great flame If a man haue old prouision he will doe well enough in the hardest times If one can say frō an humble and sincere heart Lord thou knowest that I haue shed many a bitter teare in secret for my sinnes I haue often with ioy praised thee for thy mercies and powred out my heart in singing Psalmes in priuate I haue sought thee in the night when no bodie was by when no eye was priuie vnto it and at such times thou hast vouchsafed to looke downe from heauen with a mercifull eye vpon me and hast filled my soule with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious c. If I say one haue these and the like euidences from former experience hee may assure his heart that God will still be found of him in goodnesse till the shutting vp of his daies and neuer withdraw his louing kindnesse from him Obiect Oh but now God frownes vpon mee and withholds his louing countenance from me Answer What then Hath there not beene a time when you could say God drew neere vnto you and beheld you with a fauourable eye Yes they cannot denie that why then neuer feare he will returne againe though hee hide his face for a time Albeit heauinesse may indure for a night Psal 30.5 yet ioy shall come in the morning For if God bee once ours hee is euer ours And this should bee the staffe and stay of Christians when they haue lost their feeling Vers 56. Stop not thine eare from my sigh and from my cry Here is shewed what seruice they brought vnto God they did not pray alone but sigh nor sigh alone but cry That is they drew forth their prayers from a feruent heart which was as a thirstie land that gapes for the raine and is euen readie to eate vp and to deuoure the clouds Which words afford vs this doctrine Doct. 5 That they that would not haue God to shut his eares against their prayers Feruencie in prayer requisite Ioel 2.13 must bee sure that they sigh and crie and that their petitions proceede from a broken heart and from an humble spirit So the Prophet Ioel bids them rend your hearts and not your garments c. For till the heart be euen puld in pieces by godly sorrow sinne and lust will not out and then there can bee no acceptance looked for with God either of vs or of our seruices Psal 51.17 Therefore Dauid saith the sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise Mark 7.34 1. Sam. 1.15 Therefore did Christ grone in his spirit when he prayed for that poore man in the Gospell So did Hannah sigh and weepe sore and powred out her soule before God Reason And there is good reason to moue vs to labor thus inwardly to bee touched For till wee haue the sense and feeling of our wants wee may well speake but wee can neuer pray till the heart be pained with sinne and corruption it is impossible to be feruent for the pardon of it as it is for one that hath no feeling of pouertie earnestly to intreat for a supply of his necessities and for one that hath no sense of his sicknesse to be an instant suter for the meanes of health Vse 1 First this serues for the reproofe of those that come with drowsie and verball prayers who deale like corrupt and naughtie Lawyers that looke for a fee and yet when they are at the barre tell a drowsie and idle tale without any feeling of their clients cause So many there are that come with words of course to intreat God to pardon their sins and strengthen their faith but neuer powre out their soules before God but onelie spend a little breath And they speed accordingly for their cold prayers bring but cold successe And this is true not onelie of the wicked Psal 32. but euen of the godly Dauid rored and cried but hee was neuer the better till hee confessed his sinne being inwardly grieued for the same but then both sinne and punishment were remoued at once This may teach vs to striue with the Lord in our prayers and supplications laboring for this crying and sighing that is so needefull and then dooing as here the Church did wee shall speed as they did Many there are that sigh in their troubles Iam. 5.9 But how Iames telles vs They sigh one against another and not vnder the burden of their sinnes nor through an earnest desire of Gods mercie They sigh vnder the waight of vnkindnesses that lie vpon them and clamor against men but haue little feeling of their owne vnkindnesses against God to bee humbled for them But these are sighs of the flesh and not of the spirit Let vs grone from a broken heart and the Lord will giue vs life Isa 57.15 when wee are troubled in spirit and the longer we waite and crie the greater measure of comfort we shall haue and the longer it shall tarrie with vs. Vers 57. Thou drewest neere Not in his essence for so is hee alwaies alike neere but in his mercifull presence and with gratious deliuerance Which words thus vnderstood doe yeeld vs this point of doctrine Doct. 6 That in the day that wee draw neere to God in prayer God will draw neere to vs in mercie God is as readie to heare as vve to pray when we send vp our petitions vnto him he will send downe speedie and comfortable helpe vnto vs. Those that are suters vnto God shall bee alwaies
of a happie issue out of all straites and difficulties as wee see in Dauid who hauing committed himselfe to God Psal 3. who was able and had promised to helpe him hee triumphs ouer all his enemies and saith he will not feare though ten thousand should compasse him round about That was some oddes and one would thinke he had little neede to vse such speeches but rather to runne away as fast as hee could at least hee should take little sleepe in the night so long as hee was in such danger or if hee did lie downe and sleepe hee should haue little hope to rise againe in the morning yet wee see vers 5. that hee laid him downe and slept and rose againe because the Lord sustained him and this he got by calling vpon God as it is vers 4. 2 Secondly if we would not be oppressed with feares labor to be righteous for wickednesse makes men dastardlie whereas righteousnesse makes men stout as Lyons 2. Righteousnes Pro. 28.1 that will not looke ouer the shoulder for the barking of euery dogge but walke on without all feare Indeede the child of God will not bee presumptuous neither will hee bee timorous though his enemies sinne Satan and the world bee strong yet hee knows God is stronger and that none euill can come vnto him without the Lord. Which if wee can thorowly meditate vpon and take this receite euerie morning to season our hearts with the feare of God and to wash our hearts and hands from vnrepented sins walke where wee will so it be in our waies nothing shall be able to hurt vs. Vers 58. Thou hast maintained the cause of my soule That is thou hast stood on my part and freed mee from death that was intended against mee For though my name and libertie and riches bee taken from mee yet my life is redeemed and that is thy mercie that bodie and soule are not yet parted Whence the doctrine is Doct. 8. God vpholds his Isa 44.23 That God is the maintainer and vpholder of his people Howsoeuer Kings and Princes bee nursing fathers vnto Gods Church yet that is not because hee needs them but because he would doe them a good turne in imploying them in his seruice And therefore may God be called the vpholder of his people because he saues them frō their firmes and from the punishments due to their sins which no man can doe He watches ouer them night and day and waters them euerie moment Jsa 27.3 and hee will contend with them that contend against his people This should strike a terror into the hearts of those that are iniurious vnto Gods seruants they are bold where the hedge is lowest euerie dwarfe aduentures to leape ouer But let them know that God is as a wall of fire about his Church and hee will maintaine the right of his children Indeede their props are and still haue beene so weake their enemies so strong the standers against them so shamefull and the oppositions so continuall that it is a miracle the Church stands to this day but God hath beene and euer will bee the vpholder of it and therefore it must needs goe ill with those that lift vp themselues against it Vse 2 Secondly here is a notable consolation for the afflicted people of God Howsoeuer they haue fewe meanes and few friends and where they should haue most helpe they haue least where they looked for comfort they finde discomfort and where they thought to bee enriched they are impouerished yet if they can pray all shall bee well If money and friends and large reuenues and the like had beene the vpholders of the Church it would haue gone to the ground long ere this But what saith the Church here O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule There is our stay let vs bee sure wee haue a good cause and lay it before Gods iudgement seate and then though wee be ouerborne God will not bee ouerborne but hee will stand on our side euen hee that loues goodnesse and hates wickednesse and will be auenged on those that bend themselues and their endeuors to do mischiefe vnto his people Wee would willinglie haue him to bee our Iudge who is most iust who carries the greatest loue to vs and our cause and the hardest mind against our aduersaries such an one is God And therefore seeing we haue a good cause to stand in euen the matter of our saluation and enemies whom God hates with a deadly hatred the diuell the world and the flesh c. this should put life and heart into vs to goe vnto Christ Iesus our Iudge who hath so dearely loued vs as to lay downe his life for vs and for the destruction of all our enemies When wee are ouercharged with burdens and temptations let vs lay them vpon him and say Lord thou hast vndertaken to comfort thy children I am not able to vndergoe this that is vpon mee therefore doe thou maintaine my cause and helpe and deliuer mee from my miserie Vers 59. Thou hast seene my wrong From these words this doctrine may be collected Doct. 9. All vvrōgs knovvne to God That there is nothing done spoken or thought against any Christian but God takes knowledge of it there is not one practise slander or deuice of cruell beasts against the sheepe of Christ but God sees it and markes it And this must needs be so Reason 1 1 First because they are his flocke and therefore hee loues to looke vnto them especiallie sith hee hath paide so deerely for them 2 Secondly it is his nature to behold all things Psal 94. Eph. 4.6 For he that made the eye shall not he see c. He is aboue vs all and through vs all and in vs all Yea wee are as it were the apple of his eye Now it is a hard matter for one to come with thornes to put out anothers eye and he not take notice of it and 3 Thirdly God doth the rather obserue the indignities that are offered vnto his children because their profane aduersaries doe hate his image in them For when they were as bad as themselues they could liue with them twentie or thirtie yeares and be good friends with them but when once they renounce the seruice of Satan and of their owne lusts vnto which they are in bondage still then they oppose with might and maine against them Psal 69.7 and therefore it is said for thy sake haue we suffred rebuke shame hath couered our face 4 The fourth and last reason why God must needs take notice of the wrongs done vnto his seruants is because it belongs to him to reward euerie one according to their workes Reuel 20.12 Hee must and will giue them full pay and therefore hee keeps all vpon iust and due record As the workes of the righteous shall stand for them so shall the workes of reprobates be written in great capitall letters against them that all the world may take notice of them at the last day Vse This offers vnto vs matter of singular comfort Howsoeuer the aduersaries be busie and watchful to plot and procure the hurt of Gods Church they cannot be so vigilant for the hurt of it as God is watchfull for the good of it and therefore they may bee sure they shall haue a happie issue out of all their troubles if so be they can make their mone to God and waite patientlie for his mercie Obiection But what neede wee lay open our griefes before him seeing that hee knows them all before hand Answere Though he doe know them yet he would haue you to preferre your bill of complaint and that will be for the increase of your comfort and further experience of his loue and howsoeuer hee purpose to destroy the wicked yet would he haue you to go on in your suite against them still Neither is this to bee restrained onelie to corporall enemies but it holds much more strongly for spirituall enemies Say a man bee surcharged with sinne and Satan let him bemone his case before the Lord and it will be a marueilous ease vnto him If one of our children should but say father or mother I am exceeding sicke readie to saint vnder my paines c. hee neede say no more this would set their hearts and hands a worke to doe him good And is there not far more loue in our heauenly Father Yes surely and therefore in all such extremities let God be our refuge and let vs cast all our cares and sorrows vpon him who is able and willing to beare them and in due season to free vs from them and in the end to make vs gainers by them FINIS