of the Disciples telling theÌ„ that through many tribulations they must enter into the Kingdome of heaven Act. 14. 22 as if they should have sayd if ever you will come to the kingdome of God or joyes of heaven if ever you expect heavenly exaâ—tation it must bee through earthly tribulation and thus also S. Paâ—â— tutord his scholler Timothy that hee should not bee ashamed of the Lord but bee partaker 2 Tim. 1. 8 of the afflictions of the gospell here 's the kingdome of heaven lock'd in with tribulations here 's the profession of the gospell hedg'd about with afflictions but for thy comfort the holy spirit of God will sanctifye all these afflictions unto thee assure thee of a free admission into those coelestiall places let the dam of opposition bee made God in his mercy will comfort all that are afflicted never so high never so strong the holy spirit will cause the great deepes of Gods mercy to bee broken up the windowes of heaven to shoure downe all coelestiall graces that in the end this poore weather-beateÌ„ barque of thine shall triumphantly ride over that dam of opposition and carry all impediments before it which brings in the second consolation that As afflictions are the Portion of Gods children so God Second Consolation will protect them in all their troubles Hee that hath God for his protection needes not care Rom. 8. 31 what man can doe against him hee that hath God on his side needes not care what afflictions he suffers David found it so God was a sheild for his glory and the lifter up of his beaed such a defence and protector that hee could lye downe and sleepe in the midst of all his troubles Psalm 4. ult when was it ever seene that the righteous were forsaken or their seede begging their bread God in affliction a sure protector Psalm 37. 25. God himselfe tels the Church when thou passest through the waters I will hee with thee and through the Rivers they shall not over flowe thee Esay 43. 2. troubles may come upon Gods Church and people but by Gods protection they shall not overflowe them persocuted they may be but not for saken cast downe but not destroyed are 2 Cor. 1. 9. there not many â—cular demonstrations of Gods protection how many have beene with Hezekiah at the very pits brime with one foote in the grave yet have beene restored to their former health againeâ— In time of Gods visitation was it not a great protection that the heavy hand of God should bee in one house and not so much as touch the next adjoyning to it was there not the same combustible stuffe in the one to fire it as well as in the other certaynely there was but the protecting hand of God was in the deliverance looke up then thou drooping soule lift up thy eyes to the hils from whence Ps 94. 17. cometh thy helpe there 's no true helpe but from those hils no protection but from heaven it is God that doth bind up thy wounds and healâ— thy sicknesse Psalm 147. 3. build not up No true help but from God then to thy selfe Castles of despayre trust in Gods helpe leane upon his protection thus much I will assure thee that troubled thou mayst bee on every side but not distressed perplexed but not in despayre 1 Cor. 4. 8. Consider thirdly thaâ— Third consolation God will hearken to the prayers of his servants anâ— give them a gracious answer in their afflictions This is that which giveâ— Christian audacity in the time God will answer the prayers of the afflicted of trouble it is a great comfort that God will protect a man in his afflictions but is a farre greater comfort to bee asured of that protection by the Receipt of a gracious answer to his petitions commenced the Prisoner desires freedome the afflicted desires ease the Captive desires liberty the distressed desires comfort what a comfort is this that they should be all of them answer'd in the fruition of their severall requests take Gods word for it that hee will answer thâ—se that call upon him nay hee will bee with them in trouble satisfie them with long life and shew thenâ— his salvation Psalm 91. 14. here 's a gracious answer to Petitioners prayers what could God have sayd more Invocaverit me eum exaudiam hee shall call I will answer here 's no neede with Baals Preist to lanch thy selfe with knives no man can say that God is a sleepe here 's quick dispatch hee is ready to heare the prayers of his servants hee is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth hee will fulfill the desires of them that feare him hee will also heare their cry and save them Gods readinesse to answere the afflicted mans prayer Psalm 145. 18. 19. nay stand still and wonder Behold saith the Lord before they call I will answer God is so nigh that the expression of the heart doth cause deliverance Goâ— sees the very preparations oâ— the heart and makes answâ—â— accordingly Mary was earlâ— Joh. 20. 1. at the sepulcher but Chrisâ— was thâ—â—â— before her he musâ— rise betimes that goes beyond God David was very early when hee confessed that his eyes prevented the nights watch Ps 119. 148 yet for all that God prevents David thou hast provented mee saith he with thy liberall blessings God is so ready to heare so nigh to answer that Ps 41. 4. he stayes not for verball expressions a sigh a sigh a sob a teare of sorrow are all of them in heaven before that words are passed out of the mouth what great inestimable love is here that every prayer whether menâ—all or vocall every crâ— every sigh every groane shall be heard and have the reâ—urne of a gratious answer this being well considered will make much for the comfort of all troubled consciences this being well applyed will set an edge on Christian fortitude it will make thee to bee in love with God and powerfull to withstand the violence of the Devill who tels thee that God doth not love thee which introduceth the fourth poynt of consolation which is That God will not only give Fourh Consolation a gracious answer in the midst of afflictions but will give a pardon for all thy sinnes and transgressions To bee protected in afflictions is comfort to bee assured of that protection is a great comfort but to have sinnes pardoned which were the cause of that affliction is the greatest comfort of all it is the prayer God pardoneth the afflicted mans sinnes of every good Christian to overcome his sinne and to have his offences pardoned knowing that sinne is the chiefe cause of crosses and troubles so that if they would remove the judgment the cause of it which is sinne must bee first removed that must bee done by prayer then doubt not of an happy issue David found it to bee his comfort Ps 32. 5.
he did but confesse and the iniquity of his sinne was forgiven consolamini populum meum saith God himselfe comfort yee comfort yee my people and speâ—kâ— comfortably to Jorusalem and cry unto her that her warfâ—re is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned Esay 40. 1. here 's comfort upon comfort but wherein lyes it first in speaking comfortably unto her then telling her that her warfare is ended but the cheifest comfort of al was that her sinnes were pardoned but what man is it that hath this comfort hee that sitteth downe in the dust who is it that shall bee Job 5. 9. thus refreshed the heavy and Math. 4. ult weary laden whose sinnes shall bee thus pardoned the Penitent mans who shall find ease to their soules those that are in affliction nay let but the wicked for sake his way and God Esay 53. 7. will abundaâ—tly pardon him too shall the wicked upon his repentance bee abundantly pardoned then much more he that suffereth for Righteousnesse Math. 5. sake hee is the vessell that God will powre consolation into it is hee that shall be anoynâ—ed with the oyle of gladnesse it is hee only that in the end of a paynfull harvest shall bring home his she aves rejoycing consider then seriously Ps 126. 5. these things with thy selfe see now whether these afflictions that God hath laid upon thee have brought thee on thy knees for mercy if they have here 's comfort in thy troubles here 's refreshment for thy heavy heart here 's ease to thy penitent soule lastly here 's pardon and that in abundance for all thy sinnes committed what can I say more to make thee happy here 's mercy abounding and comforts surrounding sinnes forgiven and the pardon sealed with the blood of the Lambâ— Christ Jesus which shall never bee disanulled but this is not all the pardon of sinne is but an entrance into the perfection of grace which brings in the fifth consolation That God Fifth consolation will perfect the work of grace in all his children What by our selves is defiâ—ient in God is sufficient God will perfect the great work of deliveverance that which was before imperfect is now through him made perfect who is perfection it self God commanded Israell that they should not feare any thing for saith he I am thy Lord and God I will strengthen thee yea I will helâ—e thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse here 's a Esay 41. 10 11 12. gradation of encouragement till all end in perfection here 's a procession from strengthning to helping from helping to upholding man through sinne lyes groveling on the ground with his mouth in the dust God omnipotent steps in and gives him strength having some strength to rise he helpes him up sets him on his legs againe but doth God then leave him to stand to himselfe Alas he would then soone fall no God will perfect the worke begun layes his hand under him and daily by his protection upholds him causing him to grow from strength to strength till be become a perfect man in Christ Jesus Esay that Evangelicall Prophet beginnes one of his Chapters with a divine Rapture Cautate coeli cxulta terra c. Sing O Heavens and be joyfull ô Earth and breake forth into joy ô mountaines let that heavenly quire of Angels chaunt out the prayfes of God let all the Creatures on the face of the earth make up the consort nay if there be any place on the earth nigher to heaven then the mountaines fuller of light then the mountaines if any mountaine better then that of holy Syon let them all come and take a part in this coelestiall song what 's the reason of all this musicall harmony why this general rejoycing God hath comforted his people and will have mercy on his afflicted yet for all this Syon is not contented the Lord ' saith Syon hath forgotten mee thou art deceived O Syon can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her wombe yes she may witnesse the exposall of divers spurious issues but yet for all that saith God I will not forget thee for a woman to forget her child is unnaturall but I that am supernaturall will not forget thee let what will come that can come if thou beest forsaken of thy freinds forgotten of thy acquaintance lost to the Gods anger is but for a moment world yet I will bee thy fast friend I will never forsake thee never forget thee I will stick close to thee till I have perfected the great love I have conceived towards thee what though for a small moment I forsake thee yet in great mercy I will gather thee in a little wrath I may Esay 54. 78 hide my face from thee but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on bee here 's wrath but it is a little wrath and that terminated but for a moment what then God will perfect the comforts of his children with everlasting kindnesse and mercy for a little wrath and momentary punishment he will bestow ever lasting kindnesse and favour for ever The Lord saith David will perfect that which concerneth mee the mercyes of the Lord endure for ever forsake not the worke Psal 138. 8. of thine owne hands what is that which God will perfect in David his everlasting mercies when is the time it must be done even in afflictions forsake not the worke of thine hands this it was that made St. Paul fillip off adversity to glory in his infirmity what 's the Reason God saith he is made perfect in my weakenesse here 's Gods 2 Cor. 12. 9 strength made perfect in weakenesse man at the lowest ebbe of misery made the subject of Gods perfection there may be comforts in misery Mans extremity Gods opportunity by the accesse of friends by wholsome counsell c. but miserable comforters are they all and imperfect there 's a mixture in them of carnall corruption every good gifts and every perfect gift comes from above Jam. 1. 17. God is the perfect Operator it No perfection in any earthly thing is he that perfecteth that gracious worke in the heart such perfection cannot be found in nature Philosophy cannot do it Morality cannot Lypsius in his booke de constantia may perswade thy unsetled affections Seneca in his booke de tranquilitate animae may allay thy raging passions Boetius in his booke de consolatione may somewhat raise thy drooping soule these volumes alas are too litle to cover thy No booke so perfect as that of Gods word nakednesse looke for perfection in the word of God there 's holes enough in that rocke to hide thy selfe there 's the true fountaine of purity and perfection it is Gods own word who is perfection it selfe and without all doubt he wil be as good as his word he will make his strength knowne 2 Cor. 12. 9 in
and the old cannot live long hence it is that mans life is compared to a flower not for the stalk it growes on that 's too strong a simile but to the flower which the breath of a child may blow off nay not every flower neither as the blossome Mans life compared to a flower of a tree that may stick fast two or three dayes nor the flower of sonie strong herb which may continue longer nor the flower of the garden that may be preserved but the flower of the fieldâ— subject to all wind and weather Psalm 103. 15. Such is the brittlenesse of mans nature if hee were made of glasse saith S. Augustine there were more security let him be never so charily Mans life more brittle then glasse kept he must dye a glasse is subject to nothing but a fall it feares no feaver nor age nor plague but man is subject to a thousand accidents he finds but one way to come into the world but may easily see a thousand dores to goe out at It is not policy nor Riches nor strength that will carry it out Goliah had an helmet of brasse upon his head a Coate of brasse upon his body weighing five thousand shekels of brasse a burthen fitter for an asse then a man he had also bootes of brasse upon his legges a sheild of brasse upon his shoulders when this beast was thus set out 1 Sam. 17. 15. with all his Caparisons hee might be rather tearmed homo aereus then homo carneus a man of brasse then a man of flesh yet David found out a place in his fore head where there was no brasse so kild him if death come with a Commission to breake up this house of clay no man can say to him as hee saith to his Neighbour come againe tomorrow is death thus unavoydeable is the time so uncertaine do men so number Ps 90. 12. their dâ—yes that they apply their hearts unto wisedome Alas men live as though there were no death at all like those that go to the India's never take notice how many have beene swallowed up in the waves but what some few have got by the voyage looke onely upon those that are now surviving not upon the many Millions that are gone downe into the grave before them they thinke on death as the Athenians did treate of peace never but when they are in blacks It is a Custome in Constantinople that on that day the Emperor is crowned one presents unto him many stones out of which hee is to choose his tombestone Philip of Macedon had a boy to say unto him on all occasions Memento Philippi c. Remember Philip thou art but a man shall Turkes and Heathens do this and shall not Christians remember their end It is reported that the birds of Norwey fly faster then any others birds of the ayre not that nature hath given any agility to their wings more then others but they knowing the day to be very short in that climate make the greater hast to their nests this is that which God himselfe complaynes of the storcke knoweth her appointed time and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their comming but my people know not the judgements of the Lord. Jerem. 8. 7. Strange that birds shall make such practicall use of their knowledge and that man who is the Lord over all the Creatures should not make use of his time and so Psalm 8. 5 mend his pace to his long home the house appoynted for all living hee that hath a great journey to ride and a short time to ride it in must needes ride the faster hee that hath a great taske of worke to doe and but a small time to worke in must worke the harder here 's no abiding place where then the Heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 13. 14. that 's a great Pilgrimage a long way thither many rubs in the way and but a very short time to go it in a short life which in the twinckling of an eye may be taken away there is need then to pluck up the heeles and to mend the pace thither and as it is a longe way and but a short time allotted so there must be a great deale of worke done in the way too that great worke of salvation the greatest worke of all other a worke that will make that a man sweate at it a worke that must not be done by starts not be wrought onely but worked out not easily Phil. 2. 12. neither but with feare and trembling set on then upon this great worke the time wil come when there shall be no working boc est momentum unde pendet aeternit as the time past thou canst not recall the time to come thou art not sure of the time present is that thou must make use of Christ that good man of the house hath not yet shut too the doore yet it stands open doe but knock and it shall be opened unto thee now is the time to day if thou wilt heare his voyce this present houre this very instant is the faire kept as I may say of forgiving of sinnes It Time present to be used may be now had at an easy rate onely for forgiving them that trespasse against thee but if thou tarry till the faire be ended and who knowes how soone it may bee seeing it hath lasted so long already there will then be no pardons to be purchased at any rate but thou must pay for thy improvidence with the uttermost farthing put not off then from day to day least thou come as it is said a day after the faire but while it is called to day call thy selfe to an accompt let not the Sunne go downe upon thy impenitency to God or upon thine anger to thy neighbour deferre not til the last and hope to creepe into heaven with a Lord haue mercy upon me there was never but one that leaped so soone thither he was one that no man might dispaire but one that no man might presume at that time there will be but a little sand left in the glasse the houre of mortality will be soone runne out then will the Devill like a subtle Logician come upon thee with his best argumeÌ„t casting such a mist of darkenesse betwixt God and thy soule that thou wilt hardly discerne the throne of grace would'st thou not then sell all that thou hast to buy that pretious pearle of time the Rich man tooke care for the enlarging his barnes but God would not stay the building of them yet it is not certaine that thou shalt haue the warning that foole had doe not the weekely bils informe thee of sodaine death ther 's thunder without lightning death without a warning A great manlying on his deathâ—bed sent first for his Phisition to advise with him about the recovery of his health no meanes was left untryed but all in vaine the Phisition gaue him up for a
he quite forgot the day of his martirdom holy S. Hilary having spent 70 yeares in devout contemplation was yet afraid of the Judgment-day the Remembrance Job 23. 15. of that day was Jobs trouble and terrour if these be in such a case ad quos Index to whom the Judg appeares in mercy what shal they doe contra quos against whom he comes in Iudgment if starres of such a magnitude beginne to twincle what dimnesse will there be then in those of a lesser body if such pillars shrinke under the burthen what will become of slender tressles surely they'lbe crush't in pieces if this be done in the sappy greene tree what will be done in that which is more zere dry my advice shall be that of Moses to the Israelites be ready on the third day and on the third day when it was morning there was thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the Mount and the sound of the Trumpet exceeding lowd so that all the People that were in the Campe were afraid though there be many dayes Exod. 19. 15. assigned to Man yet there are three dayes in especiall his birth life and death that of his ingresse into the world progresse in the world egresse out of the world but this last day is the third day looke to that day aboue all dayes stand ready for it then it is that God who formerly came as a loving Father will appeare as the great Judg both of heaven and earth then shall be heard the thunderings of accusations then shall be seene the very flashy lightning of hell fire in the consciences of most men then shall the thick Cloud of their sinnes interpose betwixt them and the throne of grace the Trumpet shall sound the aire shall rattle the noise shall be the awakening of all flesh in so much that the very elect who are within the campe of Gods predestination shall be afraid what then will become of them which are without the Campe such as never tooke up armes against the common Enemy they shâ—ll then stand amazed at the barre being accused by the Heavens and the Earth and all the Creatures therin coÌ„tained convicted by a Jury of Heavenly Earthly Inhabitants the blessed Saints and Angels their consciences pleading guilty in stead of a Conscintia mille testes thousand witnesses then doth the Devill sinne the world and the flesh cry out for sentence to be pronounced against the Offenders at the barre which is no sooner desired but performed Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels a sentece most fearefull because intolerable because irrevocable intolerable because of the quality of the punishment pinching cold scorching heat more greevious then the cursed water to the suspected woman that caused her thigh to rot her belly to swell and made her detestable to all the People ibi erit fletus c. there shall be Num 5. 18. weeping for the fire that shall never be quenched gnashing of teeth for the worme that never Paines of hell intollerable dyeth if wee be sick here in this life wee may haue soft beds to lie on Phisitions to advise our health friends and kindred to come by way of comfortable visits though all these faile yet there is to be had a good and gracious God to haue mercy on us one that will lay his hand under our heads and comfortably support us but there 's no soft beds but fire the most cruell of all other elements to wallow in and not a drop of cold water to coole the scorched tongue no Phisition to advize but Devils to torment no God to haue mercy on us but hell and dispaire to seaze upon us thus shall it be with them that forget God miserable shall they be at their first ingresse into hels torments there to heare the yelling the howling the crying of damned spirits there 's no comfort no solace no ease no helpe but horror and vexation on every side Bern. Med. cap. 19. alwayes burning yet never consumed alwayes dying and never dead the best sights and cheefest companions shall be Legions of damned ghosts and furies the dyet and fare shall be pinching hunger and famine the drinke shall be lakes of fire and brimstone Rev. 14. 10 mingled with the pure wine of Gods wrath and to make up the meale there shall be musick too curses shall he the Hymnes houling the tunes blasphemy the ditties lachrymae the notes lamentation shall be the song and shricking the straines sighs sobs and teares shall bee the dolefull descant and division the Purple Rayments shall there be flames of fire the hand shall there be seared the heart wounded the eyes blinded the eares dulled the feet scorched and Paena sensus all the body utterly confounded this shall be the state of the body in that day but shall the soule go free No It was to the body as Simeon to Levi a brother in iniquity and shall therefore participate of punishments with the body The memory shall call to mind that which is past the understanding shall consider that which is present and doth shall joyne together to disquit themselves then shall it be thought upon how many good motions have beene neglected how often God knocking at the doore hath beene disregarded what joyes are Paena damni lost what sorrowes are found how easily they might have beene avoyded and how impossible it is to abtayne the least mitigation this of all is the greevous punishment of the damned in hell hitherto I have shewed but the skirts and suburbs of hell but this is the entrance within the walls and the very gates of hell that punishment of the body was paena sensus a payne sensible enough but this of the soule paena damni though it be but a privative punishment yet it hath a miserable positive effect if ever misery deserved weeping of eyes if ever losse deserved Horresco referens gnashing of teeth this is the misery that there shall be No losse like the losse of Gods favour never any comfortable fight of the blessed face of God and this is the losse that there shall be an exclusion from all society with saints and Angels if when the Arke of God was taken old Eli was so overtaken with griefe that he fell backward and dyed what a losse shall they be at that have lost the presence 2 King 14. of God Adam did but Gen. 2. 15. see the apple to be good for the taste but to be turned out of Paradise he found it very distastfull what greater griefe even in this life then to live in Mâ—sheck and Psalm 84. sojourne in the tents of Kedar it was Davids well day so to do can the Israelites be merry in their Captivity there 's no musick with them Psalm 127 they cannot sing under a strange king their harpes hang upon the willowes as sad and silent as themselves