aduauncement of his Church so mightelie assailed on all sides and particularlie to bee mindfull of mee in your prayers that it may please the Father of light from whence all good gifts doo come to continue his mercies towards mee and to guide mee alwaies with his holie spirit with the increase of his giftes and graces to accomplish the rest of my life seruing faithfull and holilie to his glorie the aduauncement of the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Holie meditations and praiers CHAP. 13. O Lord God almightie al good and all wise we are confounded before thy holy maiestie not ô Lord for the troubles and extreame calamities wherewith we are oppressed in these daies full of tribulations anguishes and teares but forasmuch as we haue offended thee for asmuch as our sinnes our ingratitude rebelliōs haue kindled thi wrath against vs and chiefly forasmuch as the wicked and infidels take occasion by thy iust iudgemēts corrections to blaspheme thy holy name Alas Lord wee yeelde our selues guilty before thee confessing that we are inexcusable and vnworthie to be named thy children yea wee are worthie to bee reiected of thee wee are worthie of hel to be creatures accursed for euer For ô our good God whē we were the children of wrath thine enemies abādoned to all euil thou hadst pitie vppon vs poore and abhominable sinners Thou hast cast the eyes of thy fauour vppon vs. Thou hast giuen thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ to the shameful and cursed death of the crosse for vs. Thou hast giuen vs thy holy gospell that blessed and ioyfull tidings of our saluation Thou hast accompanied it with thy spirit to lighten vs to draw vs vnto thee to make vs partakers of the treasures of thy Kingdome of eternall life Thou hast stretched out thy hand from heauen to the depth of hell to pul vs backe and to make vs thy happie children Thou hast done according to the good pleasure of thy will inasmuch as thou shewest mercie on whom thou wilt shewe mercie Alas Lord ought not we to acknowledge the daye of thy visitation and the time of saluation Ought not we to feele the abundant riches of thy incomprehēsible grace towards vs to loue serue praise and adore thee to renounce our selues the world and the flesh and all that which is contrarie to thy glorie yea to abhorre all that doth displease thee to walke as the children of light and to consecrate our selues vnto thee to bring foorth fruites worthie of thy Gospell and becomming the Children of such a Father to be as bright lights in this darke world to giue light to the poore ignorāt ones to drawe thē with vs into the way of saluation But alas ô Lord our God we quite contrarie hauing brought into thy Church the world and the flesh haue kept in our selues these enemies of thy glory these plagues of our soules haue serued them Our infidelitie our flesh haue made vs loue the earth more than the heauen the world more than thy kingdome the filthines and dust of vaine riches more than the treasures of heauenlie and eternall good things the smoke of humane honors more thā the glorious estate to be thy childrē brethren of thy sonne Iesus Christ Couetousnes the roote of all euill hath hardened our harts to despise thy poore ones euen Iesus Christ in his members Wee haue slaundered thy holy Gospell by fraudes deceipts robbings occupying our traffique and doing our affaires as people hauing no knowledge of thee The aire in the Cities where thy word hath bin preached hath bin stinking infected with the whoredomes adulteries and other infamous acts that there haue bin committed Gluttonie drūkennes haue made brutish those that for thy blessings and bountie ought to haue praised thee Euerie man thinking onlie how to profit aduance himself in this world to the despising of thy holy seruice the building of thy Church The profession of thy holy religion hath serued many but for the cloke of their iniquities Wee haue put out trust in the arme of flesh in brokē reeds seeking cōfort for thy Church of the enemies of it in forsaking the fountaine of liuing waters and the almightie Crimes trespasses blasphemies and iniquities haue bin winked at supported in defiling the seate of thy iustice without punishmēt thy threatnings promises reiected as vanities the holy Ministerie of thy Word despised the chastisements which thou hast exercised on our brethren neglected without thinking what our selues haue deserued Wee haue not felt sorow for the afflictions of thy children to mourne with them and to feare thy iudgements And what shal we say more ô Lord Our iniquities are as mountaines our ingratitude and rebellions as the great deepe our whole life before thee being nothing else but a cōtinuall sinne and despising of thy holy Maiestie If they who neuer heard speak of thy sonne Iesus Christ and that haue not knowen thy will are iustly punished in thy wrath what iudgement what condemnation what hells and cursses haue we deserued hauing so villainously so long so obstinately despised thy holy instructions thy promises thy threatenings and the examples of thy iudgements which thou hast exercised before our eyes Also the voyce of our ingratitude is ascended before thee our iniquities haue and doo crie vengeance against vs. These are the procurers and aduocates of thy iustice soliciting these iudgements against vs. Our sinnes haue strengthned our enemies haue made them conquerours ouer vs. We haue sowen iniquitie and we haue reaped afflictions as thou seest ô Lord our God that thy children are banished spoyled and impourished that they are cruellie dealt withall trodden vnder foote and exposed to the laughter of thine enemies Our persecuters make a scorne of those ouer whō thy name is called on they make their boast of the euill that they doo They scatter thy flockes They throwe downe the scepter of thy sonne Iesus Christ They depriue thy children of the pasture of thy word Those temples O Lord those temples where not long since thy praises did sound in which thy holie Gospell was preached the Sacraments purelie ministred thy name religiouslie called on These temples O Lord are now defiled with Idols and idolatrie the abominable Masse is established againe false tales and lies are preached These temples where thy people assembled in so great number to praise thee and to behold thy louing countenance are now filled with people blaspheming thy holie name and treading vnder their feete the bloud and glorie of thy sonne Iesus Christ This youth of orphanes fondlings and others that went to schoole being brought vp in the knowledge of thee nourished in thy feare is now giuen vp to the enemies of thy trueth to be instructed in the damnable doctrine and seruice of Antichrist O good God our sunne is turned into darknes the Moone into bloud our health into sicknes our life into death And yet if thou shouldest
punish vs yet more rigorouslie than hetherto thou hast done that for one stripe wee should receiue an hundred If thou shouldest transport the kingdome of thy sonne from vs to the Turkes and the Iewes If thou shouldest send such a famine of thy word as running through the forrests to haue some refreshing and finding none our soules should faint Yea Lord if thou shouldest throw vs down into hell we confesse that it were verie right and yeeld our selues guiltie acknowledging that we haue well deserued it Notwithstanding O good God and father there is mercie with thee yea thy mercies are infinite to swallowe vp the multitude and grieuousnes of our sinnes Thou art a God gracious pitifull slowe vnto wrath abounding in mercie and trueth keeping mercie for thousands pardoning iniquitie transgression sinne Thou hast said that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee turne and liue Conuert vs then O Lord that we may be conuerted and that we may liue before thee We are poore sinners we confesse it but yet thy sonne Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Behold vs then O Lord not in our selues for wee are vnworthy of thy grace but behold vs in the face of thy sonne Iesus Christ and for his sake bee at tone with vs and be mercifull and fauourable vnto vs that in the multitude of our sinnes the greatnes of thy grace may shine if thou regard our iniquities who is he that is able to stand before thee Wee haue been vnfaithfull but thou remainest still faithfull Thou canst not renounce thy mercie and goodnes we haueforsaken thee but thou hast promised not to forsake vs. Wee haue forgotten thee but thou hast said that though a mother should forget her childe yet wouldst not thou forget vs. Thou hast made a couenant with vs wherein thou hast promised to pardon our sinnes and to remember our iniquities no more Thou hast promised that though our sins were as red as scarlet thou wouldest make them as white as wooll if they were as red as crimson that they should be made as white as snowe We are heauie laden and labour with our iniquities But Iesus Christ hath called vs to him and hath promised to refresh vs. Haue pitie thē on vs O Lord haue pitie vpon vs. Let our miseries moue the bowells of thy mercie Forgiue vs O our GOD forgiue vs for thine owne sake for the glorie of thy name and for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake Impute vnto vs the goodnes that is in him that the euill that is in vs may not be imputed Thou hast pumshed the iust that thou mightest pardon the wicked Accept thou the merites of his death and passion for satissaction of all that is in vs worthie of thy wrath and indignation and make vs to feele the fruites of our reconciliation with thee If thou wilt afflict our bodies haue yet pitie of our soules If thou wilt impourish vs on the earth depriue vs not yet of the riches of heauen If thou wilt take away the bread of our bodies yet leaue vs the spirituall bread of our soules Though wee bee in reproach among our enemies yet let not thy name be blasphemed Though we bee accursed of the world yet let vs bee blessed of thee Though the world hate vs yet let thy loue abide vpon vs. O Lord we are thine forsake vs not Thou hast saide I am the Eternall this is my name I will not giue my glorie vnto Images nor my praise vnto another For thine owne sake then euen for thine owne sake haue mercie vpon vs. For why shall thy name bee blasphemed for our sakes Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue glorie and honour in shewing foorth the riches of thy graces of thy truth and of thy might Thou art the God of glorie sanctifie thy name in drawing light out of our darknes and lift out of death making perfect thy power in our infirmitie and thy great grace in our vnworthines to thy praise and glorie Heare the blasphemies of thine enemies boasting them selues in their counsels and their forces triumphing and reioycing in our confusion as if we were not thy people thy children thy Church as if wee were cast off of thee as if thou were not able to helpe or keepe vs. Neuerthelesse thou art our creatour and wee are the worke of thy hands Thou art our shepheard wee are thy flocke Thou art our father wee are thy children Thou art our God wee are thine inheritance Thou art our redeemer wee are the people whome thou hast bought It is thou also O our God who by thy word alone hast created the heauen and the earth the sea and al that is in them it is by thee that all things liue be and haue their mouing it is of thee by thee and for thee that all things are It is thou which dooest whatsoeuer thou wilt And there is neither counsell wisedome nor strength against thee Represse then O Lord the rage and furie of thine enemies breake their forces dissipate their counsels confound them in the bold enterprises which they haue taken in hand against thee and thy sonne lesus Christ Maintaine the rest of thy flocke which thou hast kept vntill this day Establish againe the Churches that are ruined and dispersed Suffer not the memorie of thy name to be abolished from the earth rather let thy word sound and thy Gospell bee preached where it hath not yet been heard to gather thine elect vnto thee and to magnifie thy name And that so wee may see it florish more more and the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord to bee aduanced for euer more Amen The necessitie and benefite of affliction GReat trouble and vexation the righteous shall sustains By Gods determination whilest heere they doo remaine Which grieuous is and irksome both for flesh and bloud to beare Because by nature we are loath to want our pleasure heere And eke because our enemie that auncieat deadly foe Satan with cruell tyrannie the worker of our woe Doth still prouoke the wicked sort in sinne which doo delight To please themselues make great sport to vexe vs with despite Yet doo the righteous by the crosse moe blessed things obtaine Than anie waie can be the losse the dolor or the paine The losse is that which in few daies would passe fade and decay Euen of it selfe the gaine alwaies can no man take away All earthly estimation the crosse may cleane deface But heauenlie consolation the soule dooth then imbrace Afflictions worldly pleasures will abandon out of minde Then is the soule more earnest still the ioyes of heauen to finde These worldly riches goods and wealth by troubles may depart Then inward ioyes and sauing health may wholly rule the heart In trouble friends doo start aside as cloudes doo with the winde But Gods assistance doth abide to cheare the troubled minde Jfwe should feele these losses all at once by sudden change We may not be dismaid withall though it seeme verie strange Iob lost his frends he lost his wealth and comfort of his wife He lost his children and his health yea all but wretched life When all was gone the Lord aboue did still with him remaine With mercie kindnes and with loue asswaging all his paine Teaching him by experience that all things fickle be Which subiect are to humane sence and yeeld all miserie But godlinesse within the heart remaineth euer sure In wealth and woe it is her part true comfort to procure Affliction turn'th these worldly ioyes to greater paine and woe Because the loue was linck'd with toyes religion is not so For when mans heart doth most delight in pleasure wealth and pride Religion then will take her flight she may not there abide Where by our soules in wofull plight continually remaine Yet haue not we the grace or might from such lusts to refraine In which estate mest willingly though tending right to hell We compt our chiefe felicitie and loue therein to dwell Therefore the Lord which is aboue regarding vs below With mercie pitie grace and loue that alwases from him flow Doth mix with griefe these earthly things wherein we doo delight Which to our soules all sorow brings or else remoou'th them quite Then dooth the holie word of God most comfortable seeme Which we before we felt the rod mere follie did esteeme The world which earst most pleasant was now loathsome seem'th to be It doth appeare as in a glasse all fraught with miserie Then feare we hell then flie we sinne then seeke we heauen the more To vse good meanes we then begin which we despisde before Then can we pray then can we call to God for strength and grace Which things before might not at all with vs haue anie place Then heare we with attentiuenes then read we with all care Then pray we with great feruentnes no trauaile then we spare Then shall we see feele and confesse the state wherein we dwelt To be nothing but wretchednes though worldly ioyes we felt Because the soule by godlinesse more comfort doth receaue In one day than by worldlinesse for euer it can haue Then we with Dauid shall confesse that God from heauen aboue By humbling vs doth well expresse his mercie and his loue For ere we felt the scourging rod we er'de and went astray But now we keepe the law of God and waite thereon alway Then forreligion loue the crosse though it doo bring some paine The ioy is great small is the losse but infinite the gaine FINIS
OF The markes of the children of God and of their comforts in afflictions To the faithfull of the Low Countrie By Iohn Taffin Ouerseene againe and augmented by the Author and translated out of French by Anne Prowse Rom 8.16 The spirit beareth witnes to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God If we be sonnes then are we also heires the heires of God and ioynt heires with Christ so that we suffer together that we also may be glorified together AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Man 1590. To the right Honorable and vertuous Ladie The Countesse of War wicke FOrasmuch as it hath pleased almightie God of his infinite goodnesse to giue vnto the glorious Gospell of his eternall sonne so long prosperous successe in this our Countrie it is now time right Honorable and my verie good Ladie for euerie one that is a true professor of the same all carnall perswasions of humane reason deluding the soule being set aside to prepare our selues to the day of trial For although it pleaseth God sometimes for the gathering of his Church to giue vnto it as it were Halcyon daies yet common it is not that it should any long time continue in rest and pleasure Nay by the word of GOD wee know by experience sometimes of our selues her Maiesties royall person not excepted and now of our neighbours round about vs we see that the Church of God in this world as it euer hath bin so must it euer be vnder the crosse And therefore if wee will bee compted of the Church indeede and glorie in that excellent name of a Christian let vs knowe assuredlie that vnto vs euen vnto vs that haue so long liued in rest and pleasure if wee be the children of God in some sort and measure a triall must come For if God chastise euerie sonne whom he receiueth and euery member of Christes body must be fashioned like vnto the head if the afflictions of this world are manifest tokens to the children of God of his fauour and loue towards them and sure pledges of their adoptiō how can we looke or how can we desire to bee exempted from this common condition of God his owne children and household To this end therefore right Honorable Ladie I haue translated this little booke first to admonish some who for lacke of experience neuer feeling other daies than these full of peace and quietnes that they learne to applie vnto themselues whatsoeuer they heare or reade of the triall of GOD his children least falselie imagining it to appertaine either to the times that are past or to other Nations it fall sodainlie vpon them as a theefe in the night they be destitute of all hope and comfort Secondlie to awake others abounding both in knowledge and other graces whom notwithstanding satan by the deceaueable lusts vaine pleasures of this wicked world hath so rockt a sleepe that they seeme almost as they that are diseased with the Lethargie to haue forgottē both themselues their holie calling and profession Last of all to comfort an other sort whome it hath pleased GOD so to presse downe with sorrowes and to exercise with the continuall afflictions and calamities of this mortall life as no times seeming fauourable vnto thē they can scarse receiue the words of any comfort And because your Honor hath been of long time not onlie a professour but also a louer of the trueth whom the Lord exalting to an higher place of dignitie than many other hath set vp as it were a light vpō an high candlesticke to giue light vnto manie I haue especiallie dedicated vnto your Honour this my poore trauaile humblie beseeching the Lord to make it no lesse comfortable to your Honour and to those that shall reade it than it hath been vnto me who haue translated it Euerie one in his calling is bound to doo somewhat to the furtherance of the holie building but because great things by reason of my sex I may not doo and that which I may I ought to doo I haue according to my duetie brought my poore basket of stones to the strengthning of the walles of that Ierusalem whereof by grace wee are all both Citizens and members And now to returne to those whō experience hath not yet taught and whom prosperitie will not suffer to awake I earnestlie beseech them both in the Lord no longer to deceiue themselues with vaine imaginations neither to suffer their hearts so to be tied to earthlie vanities that they should despise or neglect those things that cā truely make them happie indeed When it shall please GOD to open their eyes to discerne betweene heauenlie and earthly betweene things transitorie and things euerlasting I know they will of themselues bee ashamed of this their negligence For what are all the pleasant things of this world which most bewitch the minds of men if they be compared with heauenlie and eternall things If statelie sumptuous buildings do delight what building is so statelie and glorious as newe Ierusalem If riches what so rich as that whose pauemēt is of pure gold whose foundations and walls of precious stones gates of orient pearles If friends kinsfolke and neighbours what Citie so replenished as this where God himselfe in his Maiestie Iesus Christ the head of the Church in his glorie all the holie Angels Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and Martirs do dwel together in happinesse for euer If honor what honor comparable to this to be the seruant and child of so mightie a King and heire of so glorious a kingdome where neither time doth consume nor enuie depriue of honour nor power of aduersarie spoyle of glorie that is endles incōprehensible If then there be no comparison betweene things heauenlie and things that are earthlie and no man can attaine to the things that are heauenlie but by the same way that Christ himselfe attained vnto them which was by the crosse why casting off all impediments that presseth downe doo we not runne on our course with cherefulnes and hope hauing Christ so mightie a King for our Captaine guide who as the Apostle saith for the glorie that was set before him indured the crosse and despising the shame sitteth now at the right hand of the throne of God How slowe and dull of heart are wee if as Esau who for a messe of pottage sold his birthright wee are contented for a small and short pleasure in this wicked world to leese that incomparable and euerlasting glorie which Christ the sonne of GOD with so great a price hath purchased for vs. The Lord giue vs wisedome to vnderstand grace to heare his voice while it is saide to day that when daies and nights times shall cease wee may without time enter into his ioye and rest which neuer shall haue end The Lord euer preserue your Honor and adde vnto a multitude of happie yeares spent in his feare a continuall increase of al spiritual graces to his glorie
called the house of God to giue vs to vnderstand Ephe. 2.19 that those that abide there are by good right accompted the childrē and household of God Furthermore when after wee haue protested in our Creede that wee beleeue the holie Church vniuersall we adde the communion of Saints the forgiuenes of sinnes the rising againe of the bodie and the life euerlasting is not this to assure vs that those that are the members of the Church haue a communitie in all these treasures and goods of it and consequently that they are the children of God and inheritours of euerlasting life According vnto this S. Luke also saith resolutlie Act. 2.47 that God ioyned vnto the Church those that should be saued The which is confirmed by the Prophet Ioel saying Ioel. 2.32 that there shall be saluation in Sion And S. Paule himselfe sticketh not at all 1. Thes 1.4 to call those that are the members of the Church the elect of God But yet so much the more to resolue vs let vs consider the marks of the true church touched here before The first is the pure preaching of the word of God Now Iesus Christ saith my sheepe heare my voyce and they follow me Ioh. 10.27 shewing thereby very manifestly that this is one marke to bee the child of God Ioh. 8.47 to heare the voyce of his sonne Iesus Christ As also he saith in another place 2. Cor. 5.18 Ephe. 6.15 Act. 14.3 Act. 20.32 Act. 13.26 Act 5.20 Phil. 2.15 that is of God heareth the voyce of God And indeed seeing that the preaching of the Gospell is called the ministerie of reconciliation the Gospell of peace the word of grace of saluation and of life as without doubt God by the ministerie of his word presenteth Reconciliation peace grace saluation and life So they that are the members of the Church heare and receiue the word shew therein that they are partakers of all these benefites and consequentlie the children of God The second mark of the Church consisteth in the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper As touching Baptisme it is a seale sure warrant that the sinnes of those that receiue it are washed away by the bloud of Christ Act. 22.5 Rom. 6.4 Tit. 3.5 Gal. 3.27 that they are ingrafted and incorporate into his death and resurrection that they are regenerate that they haue put on Iesus Christ Whereof it followeth as S. Paule affirmeth Gal. 3.26 that they are the children of God The like assurance of our adoption is giuen vs in the Lords supper For if the bread and the cup 1. Cor. 10.16 which are giuen to the members of the Church are the communion of the bodie and of the bloud of Iesus Christ it followeth that in this communiō of Christ they haue the foode and life of their soules And that consequentlie as the children of GOD they shall obtaine life euerlasting according to the protestation of Christ He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud Ioh. 6.54 he hath euerlasting life The third marke of the Church of God is the inuocation of the name of God in the name of that onlie one lesus Christ Now Psal 14 4. Gen. 12.7 Act. 2.21 Act. 9.14 as all the seruice of God is oftentimes signified by this inuocation So Saint Luke noteth the faithful and children of God by this description that they call vpon the name of the Lord. As on the contrarie side Psal 14.4 it is said of the reprobate that they do not call vpon the name of God And indeede when the members of the Church ioyne together and lift vp their praiers vnto God Matth. 6.9 saying Our Father which art in heauen and so calling him father by the commandement of Christ they may well assure themselues that God doth acknowledge them for his children and that he wil make them feele the fruit of their praiers according to the promise of Christ Mat. 18.19 that whatsoeuer they shall with one consent aske of GOD it shall bee giuen them By this that is aboue said it manifestlie appeareth how euerie member of the Church may and ought to assure him selfe to be the child of God and to acknowledge all other members of the Church with him in like manner to be the children of God If any alledge that we may thus accompt such a one for the child of God who possiblie is an hypocrite and may after shewe himselfe a reprobate we answere that such discourses are contrarie to charitie so much recommended vnto vs by Saint Paule 1. Cor. 13. noting amongst other properties of charitie that she thinketh not euill or is not suspitious but that she beleeueth all things and hopeth all things Wee ought then to hold the members of the Church for the children of GOD. vntill that departing from it or discouering their hypocrisie they shewe themselues reprobates Furthermore as GOD would that al those to whō he vouchsafeth to bee father should acknowledge the Church for their mother so let vs not doubt but being borne againe and nourished in the Church our mother we may call God our father and abiding vnited to the familie of the mother let vs not doubt but that wee bee the heires of the father Thus much for the outward markes Now let vs come to the inwarde markes As to the blind and deaffe the opening of their eyes and eares is needfull clearelie to see and heare the voyce of him that speaketh Of the inward marks of our adoption So being of our owne nature both blind and deaffe as touching vnderstanding the holie spirit is hee that openeth our eyes and eares to comprehend thereuelation of our adoption and to feele in our harts the assurance of it ingendring in vs faith which is as it were the hand by which wee apprehend this great benefite whereof also the fruites and effects as well of the holie ghost dwelling in vs as of the faith that is in vs are the principall most assured markes to giue vs knowledge of our adoption A ccording wherevnto Rom. 8.16 Saint Paule saith that the Holie ghost giueth testimonie to our spirits that we are the children of God so as hauing receiued this spirit of adoption wee crie with all assurance Abba father 1. Ioh. 3.24 This is it also which S. John teacheth vs saying we know that he abideth in vs by the spirit which he hath giuen vs. 1. Ioh. 4.13 Also By this we knowe that we dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen of his spirit vnto vs. In like manner the Apostle S. Paule affirmeth Rom. 5.1 that by the peace and quietnes which we feele in our consciences before GOD in the free forgiuenes of our sinnes by the bloud of Iesus Christ we shewe and prooue that wee are iustified by faith and so the children of God Wherein to confirme vs he saith in another place that after wee
for vs in heauen and to giue vs euerlasting enioying of them as when wee are depriued of them being persecuted for his name And that which more is when wee feele weakenes in faith negligence to heare the worde of GOD coldnesse in charitie impatience in our afflictions and we hauing asked of God graces cōtrarie vnto these feele no amendment his wil is to make vs feele that these graces are the gifts of God seeing we haue them not when we will and that he wil keepe vs in humilitie by the feeling of our infirmities and trie our patience faith in waighting patiently vntill hee make vs feele the fruite of our praiers I thinke well wilt thou say that those that pray vnto God feruentlie and continue constantlie in such praiers haue therin testimonies that they are the children of God are assured to be heard But what comfort may I take therein seeing my praiers are so colde and with so litle feeling of zeale faith required in them But is it not in the name of Iesus Christ that thou prayest And it is for the loue of his welbeloued Sonne Ioh. 16.23 our aduocate and mediatour that God heareth vs and not for the excellencie of our praiers It is as it were Exo. 28.38 by the mouth of Iesus Christ that we present our praiers to God to be sanctified by him and acceptable to God for his sake in whom he hath delight Mat. 17.5 Satan the enemie of our praiers by the feeling of this infirmitie would make thee leaue praying to thy God Resist thē this tēptation Thinke that it is not a thing indifferent or left in thy liberty to pray to God or not Mat. 6.9 God hath cōmāded thee to pray 1. Th. 5.17 thou owest him obedience it is an honour he requireth of thee thou canst not denie it him Mat. 22.37 God cōmandeth thee to loue him with al thy hart Wilt thou say I will not loue God at all because I loue him so coldly I will help the poore no more because I cannot doo it with a feruent charitie To conclude what infirmitie or coldnes soeuer thou feelest thou art bound to pray and to continue in thy dutie Ro. 12.12 In the mean time acknowledge thy infirmitie and in thy prayers aske double pardon first of thy sinnes which thou hast committed before secondly for this sinne that thou prayest to God so negligently See how GOD supporting the infirmitie of thy prayers will smell a sweete sauour of them as incense offered by our high Priest Iesus Christ Psal 141.2 and shall make thee at last feele the fruite of thy praiers Manie cōplaine of another infirmitie that hardly they begin their praiers but in stead of thinking of God of that which they aske of him their minde is wandring other where And for this they are vexed and troubled and in truth it is a great infirmitie for the which we ought gretly to be displeased with our selues Notwithstanding it is common to all the children of God in general Chrisostome reproouing those of his time for this infirmitie sheweth quickly the first originall and after the remedie Chrisost Homil. of the Canaanit Mat. 13 Whence commeth this saith he that if we talke of warre of merchandize or of other things of the world wee can discourse a great while without thinking of anie other thing and so soone as wee set our selues to praye vnto God our mindes wander It is because the Diuel knoweth well that in speaking of things of this world thou deost him no hurt therefore he suffereth thee to talk at thy pleasure but when he seeth that thou settest thy selfe vpon thy knees to pray to God he knoweth that thou goest to procure that which is against his heart to the ruine of his kingdōe Therfore he thrusts himself in by by trobling drawing thy thoughts hither thither to hinder the fruite of thy praiers Say then to satan who is hard by thee and fighteth against thee go behind me satan for I must pray to my God And if hee bee importunate yet must thou pray to god to driue him away frō thee So thinking to whom thou speakest to wete to the Maiestie of God and how great things thou askest of him be displeased with thy infirmity fight against it lifting vp thy hands to heauen cōtinue in praier and doo it so much the more couragiouslie and constantlie for that satan feareth nothing more thā the praiers of the children of God showeth sufficiently in going about to troble and turn away their mindes to other things that he feeleth himselfe hindred by their praiers and that hee feareth the fruite of them On the other side if it happen that by affliction either of body or of spirite thou art so cast downe that thou cast not make a framed praier vnto God bee not discouraged for that for at the least thou canst desire thine owne health saluation There is neither sicknes nor yet tyrant that can let thee to desire now desire is praier before God saith Saint Augustine according whereunto Dauid saith that God heareth the desire of the humble Psal 10.17 Say thou then with Dauid Lord all my desire is before thee Psa 38 10. and the sighs of my thoughts are not hid from thee Ezechias King o Iuda in his affliction Esai 38.14 could not distinctly pray vnto God but chattered as a Crane or a Swallowe and mourned as the Doue yet so lifting vp his eyes on high hee was heard What prayer maketh the little Infant to his mother Hee weepeth and cryeth not beeing able to expresse what hee lacketh The Mother offereth him the breast or giueth him some other thing such as shee thinketh his necessitie requireth Much more then the heauenly father heedeth the sighes the groanes the desires and teares of his children and dooing the office of a Father he heareth them and prouideth for them The 4. temtation because of the little increas of grace by the exercises of religion Mat. 13.19 There are some also that doubt of their adoption saluation because they feele not anie comfort or increase of the graces of GOD neither by reading or hearing the word neither by communicating at the holie Supper of the Lord. Now if thou feele thy selfe afflicted and troubled in this respect vnderstand that when thou goest to employ thy selfe in these spirituall excrcises satan followeth thee to make it vnsauerie to thee yea and to take out of thy minde the word of GOD that thou hast heard Pray then to GOD that he driue him away from thee Secondlie this commeth forasmuch as thou art not yet much accustomed to the language of the holie Ghost so as it is to thee as if thou didst heare an excellent sermon but of one whose language thou didst scarce vnderstand whereby thou canst neither feele taste nor pleasure and so thou canst receiue but small pro sit
Then thou must cōtinue also accustome thy selfe to read heare the word of God thinking alwaies that God speaketh to thee for the saluation of thy soule praying him that he will giue thee grace by his holie spirit to profite to his glorie and thy saluation And thou shalt feele at the last that which is said to sicke men that haue lost their tast that thy appetite will come to thee by eating And that the word of God and the participating of the bread and wine in the holie supper shall be to thee more sweet Psalm 119.103 than honie to the mouth Psal 19.11 as Dauid saith Manie sicke persons hauing neither taste nor appetite eate notwithstanding and receiue noriture So though in reading and hearing the word of God and communicating at the Lords supper thou feelest not any tast or appetite yet in continuing thou shalt receiue some noriture for thy soule And if it seemeth to thee that thou forgettest by by that which thou hast read or heard practise for thy soule that which thou dooest for thy bodie because the meates digest abide not in the bodie thou returnest to eate meat again euerie day So be thou so much more diligent to heare and reade the word and to communicate at the holie supper without leesing anie one meale for thy soule when GOD offereth it thee And as the corporall meate though it passe away yet there remaineth alwaies some noriture for the bodie so shall this spiritual meate be to thy soule Yea it may be that at one sermon thou shalt heare and remember one sentence which shall serue thee as it were for a passeport a ladder or wings at thy neede to conduct thee by and by comforting strengthening thee to lift thee vp into heauen If then when thou goest to reade or heare the word of God or to communicate at the Lords supper thou praiest to God as thou oughtest daylie to do that he will giue thee his spirit that thou maiest profite and so doest continue cōstantlie in these spirituall exercises This disposition this holy affection obedience shal serue thee for sure testimonies of thine adoption thou shalt without doubt feele increase of the graces of God Finally there are some who hauing had liuely feelings of their faith with cōfort ioy in their cōsciences The fift temptation by the interruption of the graces of God walking besides in the feare of God are afterwards greatlie troubled when these graces seem to be dead in them falling into doubt mistrust of their saluation or into crimes sinnes too vnworthie the childrē of God For satan hereby indeuoureth to perswade them either that they neuer had the true faith or that God hath cast them off taking from them the gifts and graces of his holie spirit but both the one and the other conclusion is as false as the author of them is a great lier And indeede if the trees which haue flourished borne their fruite in sommer are in winter without fruite without leaues yea and without apparance of life dooth it followe therefore either that they had not life in sommer or that they are dead in the winter When men go to bed they rake vp the fire which did burne if thou marke it verie neere there is no apparance either of heate nor of brightnes dooth it followe therfore that there had been no fire or that it is then quenched or dead Contrariwise hauing been couered ouer night men kindle againe in the morning the same fire that was hid couered and the trees that seemed to be dead in the winter flourish and beare fruite a while after If thou seest a drunken man not hauing for a time the vse of reason nor anie feeling of it wilt thou say therefore that he neuer had a reasonable soule or that hauing had it it is now dead A bide a fewe houres and thou shalt be conuict of the contrarie And so of that that thou hast not presentlie the feeling or effects and fruites of faith can it followe that thou neuer hast had them or that hauing had them thou hast lost them Matt. 26.74 When S. Peter renounced Iesus Christ three times cursing himselfe was his faith quenched On the contrarie Iesus Christ hauing praied to God that his faith should not faile Luk. 22.31 and being without doubt heard faith remained in him but verie weake and sore beaten but not destroyed nor quenched Dauid hauing committed adulterie murther Psal 51. acknowledged his sinnes and offences praying to God that he would not take his holie spirit from him Then he had not lost it rather it abode in him but as a fire couered with ashes so as it is said without hauing anie feeling of it to keepe him from such a headlong fall Faith then may bee in a man without kindling and being kindled it is not out although it be not perceiued for a time Yea but wilt thou say the Apostle to the Hebrues sheweth that there be some Heb. 6 4 5 6. who hauing been lightened hauing tasted the heauenlie gift hauing been partakers of the holie ghost and tasted the good word of God and the power of the world to come fall backe and leese these graces yea without hope euer to recouer them againe What assurance then can I haue that faith abideth in me and that GOD will yet make me to feele it hereafter For as he hath shewed mercie vnto Dauid and to Saint Peter so dooth hee exercise his iust iudgemēts vpon other as vpon those of whome the Apostle spake before Wee denie not but that there bee reprobates that are greatlie lightened in the knowledge of the mysteries of saluation which the Apostle termeth here to bee partakers of the holie ghost and yet that such apprehensions tastings and feelings as he proposeth followe not thereof For reading or hearing the testimonies and representatiōs of the mercies of God toward his Church of the loue of Iesus Christ towards his elect and of the excellencie and felicitie of eternall life they conceaue these things in their vnderstanding for the greatnes of them they are after a sort moued and when they talke of them they seeme to be partakers of them But the difference that there is betweene them the children of God lieth chieflie in this that the apprehensions and feelings of the reprobat are such as a mā may haue in the reading or telling of an historie which toucheth vs nothing at all but the feelings of the children of God are as of a matter that toucheth themselues Let vs consider for example the historie of Ioseph Who is hee that reading attentiuelie how Ioseph was sold of his brethren Gen. 37. carried into Aegypt put in prison and the sorrowe that Iacob had Gen. 39. vnderstanding that he was deuoured of a wilde beast that would not bee mooued with compassion towardes Ioseph and Iacob Who is hee that reading how Ioseph
her and that hauing restored the Iudges and Counsellers so as they had bene at the beginning it shoulde be called the righteous and faithful Citie Experience sheweth that in the prosperitie peace of the church many thrust in themselues sul of auarice ambition pride and of other corruptions and vanities to be short it hapneth euen as in a sweet rainie season that many weeds come vp amongest the good hearbes which should bee choaked of them if the Gardeiner pulled thē not out Thē when such people departe from the Church returning to their vomit it is as if God gaue a purgatiō to it to make it more holy more acceptable to her bridegrome Let vs further consider the causes of reuoltes If this hapned then when the Church was in peace prosperitie it shold seeme there were more occasion to call into dout our doctrine But it is in the time of persecution that these reuolts are seen so it is feare to leese their goods their dignities their parents their country their liues that causeth them to reuolt It is then the flesh it is the world it is the mistrust of God and not the allowing of the Papisticall doctrine that maketh them to change their religion 2. Tim. 4.10 As also S. Paule saith that Demas had forsaken him hauing loued this present worlde And indeed did this miserable Iohn Haren reuolt during the prosperous estate of the towne of Bruges wherein he was minister By no meanes But perceiuing the danger although he might yet haue exercised his ministerie he began to seeke the meanes as a hireling to forsake his flocke He knoweth what letters I writ vnto him reprouing his slothfulnes his crafts and euill conscience in the reasons which he put forth to haue some colour to withdraw himself He knoweth also what reproofes he had receyued by the letters of others that he should not defile his ministerie in intermedling so ernestly in the matters of war of policie After the Towne of Bruges was rēdred to the enemy he withdrew him self into Zeland Holand Where perceiuing that hee began as good reason was for many considerations to bee suspected in our churches and in no reputation he gote him out of the countrie So feeling in his conscience small apparance to be established in his Ministery againe hauing no hope of preferment in any other vocation and being pursued by the iust iudgement of God falling vpon euil consciences he reuolted thinking happilie that hee should receiue some recompence for the offence that he had offered against the holie Ministerie and at the least to enter againe into the possession of his goods This then is not the chaunging of doctrine which mooued him but as wee haue saide it is the flesh and the world it is enuie that maketh the Monke It is ambition the mother of heresie as saint Augustine sayth It is an euill conscience the rocke that maketh the shippewracke of Faith as Saint Paule sayth 1. Tim. 1.19 which hath made him to chaunge his profession To be short GOD could no longer suffer such an hypocrite in his church nor such a filth in his holie temple hee woulde bee sanctified in taking vengeance vpon him who so inordinately approched vnto him Hee hath set him foorth for an example of his iudgements that those that make profession of Religion and chieflie the Ministers of the worde may study more and more to walke with a good conscience to keepe themselues in their vocation to renounce the passions of the flesh the illusions of the world and so with feruent praiers to continue constantly in the grace of the Lorde Furthermore let him make as manie shewes as he wil let him sweare let him lift vp his hands and his eies to heauen let him weare a great paire of beads let him goe oft and deuoutlie to the masse yet shall hee not easily make the Iesuites who are cunninger than he to beleue that hee dooth it indeede and from his heart For those who among them haue any little more wit than the common sort vnderstand well enough if they wold confesse it that the change of the holy Supper into the Masse the worshipping of bread in it the fiery purgatory after death the opinion of meriting paradise by workes specially those of supererogation the setting foorth of God the father who is an inuisible and eternal spirit vnder the figure of an old man the worshipping of images the inuocation of Saints departed candles lighted at noone dayes borne in procession the great beads hanging at their neckes and other such idolatries superstitions are either so abhominable or so manifestly contrary to the word of God yea or so absurd that he that hath once knowne them by the light of the gospell can neuer allow thē in his heart But be it that by the inchantment of satan and iudgement of God he were indeed become a Papist and that S. Paule himself shuld reuolt preaching another gospell we ought as he himselfe protesteth to holde him accursed Gal. 1. and not to be mooued to doubt of our faith For our religion saith is not founded vpō the constancie or stedfastnesse of men but vpon the truth o our God and vppon the testimonie of the holy Ghost in our hearts If men be vnfaithfull saith S. Paule 2. Ti. 2.13 he remaineth notwithstanding faithfull and can not denie himselfe When Iesus Christ forsaken of his Disciples should aske vs if wee also would leaue him we are taught to answer with the Apostles Lord Ioh. 6.67 whether shall wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life The faithfull Pastormust without being astonished at the reuolt of manie say with Esai Esai 8.18 Behold I my children which god hath giuen me are for signes and wonders The horrible and fearfull vengeance which waighteth on and followeth these cursed apostates at the verie heeles should make vs to tremble to resolue to renounce all that is vppon the earth that we may get and hold fast all that is in heauen so leauing these poore reuolters to the iudgement of God to cast our eyes vppon those who euen in our time haue indured so constantlie the losse of their goods reproaches prisons to be short who chearfullie haue entered into the flaming fire by eruell death mounted into the kingdome of heauen to the ende that such autentique seales of the heauenlie doctrine may confirme our hearts to continue constantlie chearfullie to follow their steps and so be their companions in glorie Of the assu rāce of our adoption notwithstanding the reuolts We ought not to be troubled at these reuoltes as if we were not assured to continue in the faith whereby also it shall come to passe that wee shall be in doubt whether we are or shal continue the Children of GOD. For as the markes of our adoption set foorth here before are of two sorts the one inward before God and the other