on the almighty nor call vpon God at all times For that is a speciall gift of God and peculiar vnto the Saints and as any one maketh more such holy prayers so may he be confidently perswaded that he hath the Spirit of grace in a greater measure And they shall looke vpon me whom they haue pierced that is vpon Christ and that by the eye of faith setting their heart and hope on him and through him expect to be heard and relieued whence obserue this doctrine that the Spirit of prayer doth alwaies leade men vnto Christ Iesus Doct. 3 It causeth them wholly to go out of themselues The Spirit of prayer doth alwaies direct men vnto Christ Iesus and to offer vp their supplications in and through their Sauiour and redeemer This was figured in the sacrifices that were offered vnder the Leuiticall law at which time if any one were polluted by any occasion or otherwise clogged with sinnes that hee had committed he was to bring his offering vnto the Priest and was to be sprinckled with the bloud thereof which did signifie the bloud of Christ by which all Gods elect were to be cleansed and a reconciliation betwixt God and them was to be procured For this cause Daniel though hee were a man much beloued of God and endued with the Spirit of prayer in an wonderfull measure yet he desireth the Lord to heare him not Dan. 9. 17. for his sake or for his peoples sake but for the Lord Christ Iesus his sake Therefore doth our Sauiour tell his disciples that whatsoeuer they should Ioh. 16. 23. aske the Father in his name hee would giue it vnto them Reason Now the reason why the Spirit of grace doth alwaies direct vs vnto Christ in our prayers is because it maketh vs see our owne vilenesse and wretchednesse and so consequently that we stand in need of the mediation of Christ Iesus Therefore in the couenant of grace after Gods people haue receiued the holy Ghost it is said Then shall Eze. 36. 31. ye remember your owne wicked waies and your deeds that were not good and shall iudge your selues worthy to haue bene destroyed for your iniquities and for your abhominations This is the first worke of the Spirit euen to set them downe that they should haue nothing to say for thēselues but plainly acknowledge that shame and confusion that destruction and eternall condemnation is due vnto them if the Lord should enter into iudgement with them Now when they are thus abased and humbled in themselues then will they seeke to haue a part in Christ his merites that so both they and their seruices may be accepted of the Lord through his righteousnesse and through his intercession which he doth continually make for them which serueth Vse 1 First for the confutation of the Papists and to shew that they are not led by the Spirit because in their prayers they rest not vpon the mediation and intercession of Iesus Christ but ioyne thereunto their owne merits and the merits of the Saints thinking by that meanes to preuaile in their suites and to obtaine their hearts desire Secondly it maketh also for the confutation of a number of ignorant men and women among vs that wil bragge of their daily stint of prayers which they runne ouer and how they make no doubt but the Lord will accept of their requests will grant the same and why because they liue honestly among their neighbours do no body any harme and they hope withall that their good words prayers do deserue somewhat at Gods hands Alas poore simple people they little consider what it is to make a good praier for if they did they would go quite out of themselues vnto Christ Iesus and labour for acceptance onely for his sake And as for these prayers which they so much stand vpon if euer it please the Lord to open their eyes and to waken their drowsie consciences they will be so farre from thinking that they merite any thing thereby as that they will see great cause to be humbled therefore for that they haue dealt so hypocritically and carnally drawing neere vnto God with their lips when their hearts haue bene remoued farre from him Thirdly here is another vse of consolation and of instruction both that if we will haue this testimony vnto our soules that we pray in the Spirit then when we haue the most feeling affections and purest desires let vs offer them vp in Christ Iesus let vs not play the Priests our selues as king Vzziah did lest wee be smitten with a worse leprocie in our soules than he was in his bodie but let vs make Christ our high Priest to present our offerings before the Lord. So also when our prayers and thanksgiuings are most imperfect and weake let vs present them through him that so they may finde acceptance with God being perfumed by the righteousnesse of his deare sonne Obiect Oh but I cannot striue nor wrestle with God in prayer as others do and as I my selfe haue sometimes done Answer What of that did not Christ Iesus offer vp Heb. 5. strong cryes vnto his Father And for whom shall those be effectuall but for such poore Christians as cannot so feruently call vpon God for themselues It is said Hebrewes 12. That the bloud of Christ speaketh Heb. 12. 14. better things then the bloud of Abel Now we can easily beleeue that Caine was in a dangerous case when the bloud of Abel did call for vengeance against him and why should we not as throughly beleeue that they are in an happy case who haue the bloud of the son of God to cal for redemption and saluation acceptation of all holy seruices in their behalfe as all true hearted Christians haue The want of this perswasion is the cause why we omit many excellent praiers thanksgiuings which would be very pleasing vnto the Lord being offered vp as sweet incense by our high Priest Christ Iesus and therefore let vs labour for an encrease of faith in this poynt that so God may not be depriued of seruice nor our selues of those comforts and blessings which are promised to all that call vpon him in truth And they shall looke vpon me whom they haue pierced and they shall lament for him c. In that this great lamentation is set downe as an effect of their beholding of Christ whom by their sinnes they had crucified this doctrine may hence be gathered Doct. 4 The due consideration of the death of Christ is The consideration of Christ his sufferings is a forcible meanes to godly sorrow a most forcible means to breake the hearts of Christians with godly sorrow There is no such motiue to make men weepe bitterly for their offences as to weigh with themselues in a serious manner that they by their sinnes haue slaine the Lord of life that his bitterest aduersaries were not the causes of that his shamefull and painfull death which he endured
beare it at his hand are not you his better haue you not him at an aduantage why should you not take him downe and giue him as good as he brings Nay saith the Spirit you must not render euill for euill but rather ouercome euill with Rom. 12. Matth. 5. goodnesse and blesse them that curse you and pray for such as hate you persecute you in word or deed they haue too much fire in them already therfore do not you adde more fuell thereunto lest the flame be redoubled but rather cast water vpon it that it may be extinguished Thus doth the Spirit bring the weapons of God to subdue the flesh eueÌ„ as the flesh doth come armed with the weapons of the Diuell to resist the Spirit Indeede there is many times in vnregenerate persons a fight betwixt carnall reason and their naturall conscience but that is not generall throughout all the powers of the soule neither doth it extend it selfe vnto the motions inclinations that are euil to curbe represse them nor breede humility and pouerty of spirit in the parties in whom it is found and so driue them to the Lord to craue aide and strength from him to subdue tâ—eâ— corrupâ—â—â—ns but these checks of the naturall consâ—iâ—nâ—e doe rather make men more fierce and froward and at length more violent and outragious in sâ—â—ning especially if they haue bene occasioned either by the hearing of the terrible curse of the law denâ—unced against them in the publicke ministery or by the faithfull dealing of some Christian friend which hath throughly applied the threatnings of the word vnto their drowsie consciences wherewith they were moued for the time but afterwards returne to their vomit againe then I say they wil be much more boisterous in their sinfull courses then euer they were before And as there is a conflict in the vnderstanding part so is there the like in the affections for the flesh is ready to draw them vnto pride enuy and vncleannes and couetousnes c. But the Spirit stirreth moueth them vnto better things shewing withall that those forenamed vices will harden the heart make it vnfit for prayer or thankesgiuing or any such spirituall exercise and in the end will bring manie bitter troubles and afflictions vpon those that let them to haue sway and dominion in their soules all which euil inconueniences we shall escape if our affections be heauenly and spirituall and set on their right obiects So likewise in the will this fight will appeare wheresoeuer true sanctification is begun For the flesh wil be vnwilling to pray to heare to meditate to conferre and in a word as any duty tendeth more to the crucifying of the lusts thereof so will it be more auerse therefrom and more prone to delay and to put off the performance thereof But the regenerate part is contrarily disposed and chearefully embraceth that which is good though it be clogged and hindered in the performance of the same setting down this for a certaine truth that the more painfull any seruice is the more gainfull it is that though we begin our prayers in heauinesse yet we may end in gladnesse that the more vntractable and vntoward the flesh is the more glorious our conquest is if we can get the maistery of it and bring it into Gods presence and that if we cannot do as well as we would yet if we do as well as we can we shall be accepted and blessed of the Lord and by the sight and sense of our manifold failings grow more humble and lowly in our owne eyes and more pittifull and gentle towards others And lastly for the memory before their conuersion Gods owne children are prone to remember iniuries and vnkindnes which others haue offered vnto them and to forget such as they haue offered vnto others they can hold fast all such things as will further corrupt them but they let slip whatsoeuer may benefite and helpe them in good and holy courses but after their regeneration the case is altered with them for theÌ„ they striue to disburden their memories of all things that may hurt them and to retaine onely such matters as may make them more humble and mercifull and thankfull This spirituall fight in the inward man is a most infallible marke of the spirit of grace which is the rather to bee noted because many of Gods seruants through ignorance take it to be quite contrary We finde say they such a deale of carnall reason so many sinfull affections and lusts and such vnwillingnesse and vnfitnesse for euery holy duty that we much doubt whether we haue Gods spirit in vs or not But who tels you that there are so many things amisse in you who is it that causeth you to see the errours of your minde and the corruptions of your heart who is it that causeth you to hate them and to be out of liking with your selfe for them who is it that enableth you to take Gods part against them and to striue by all meanes to be freed from the bondage of them Is it not the spirit of God that worketh all these good things in you and why then should you make question whether it dwell in you yea or no these are fruits of the Spirit which are neuer found in any but in spirituall men And if any desire yet a further triall let him examine whether there bee in him those other vertues of the Spirit which are recited Gal. 5. 22. viz. 1. Loue vnto God to his word to his Saints to mankind yea to our very enemies so far as to desire their conuersion and saluation 2. Ioy in Gods fauour in that he hath giuen vs any sparkles of grace thereby assured vs that he wil prouide al good things for vs in this life and afterwards saue our soules and bodies euerlastingly 3. Peace with the Lord himselfe with our consciences and with our brethren If I say any desire further assurance that the Spirit of grace doth possesse his heart let him try whether he can finde in himselfe these fruites thereof together with the rest there mentioned to wit long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meekenesse temperance and as these doe more or lesse abound in him so may he be assured that he is more or lesse spirituall Vse 4 A fourth vse of this point may be this that seeing our happinesse doth ebbe or flow according to the working of the holy Ghost within vs therefore we should vse all meanes to get and increase the same in our hearts How Gods Spirit may be obtainned Now one meanes is exceedingly to desire it and earnestly to long for it for the Lord saith in the prophecy of Isaiah I will powre water vpon Isa 44. 3. the thirstie and flouds vpon the dry ground I will powre my Spirit vpon thy seed and my blessing vpon thy buds In which place wee see there is a large promise made but to whom To poore desolate Christians that doe feele
their owne miserable and wretched estate and doe euen thirst for a supply of Gods graces as the dry and parched ground doth for the raine to fall vpon it which doth euen gape for it before it comes as if it would deuoure the clouds before they fall Concerning such the Lord saith that he will powre water vpon them neither shall they haue grace by drops but whole flouds thereof shall be powred vpon them for God can as easily ouerflow their soules therewith as the ground with waters when it stands in need thereof But what shall they be the better for this what benefite shall they finde thereby The Prophet telleth vs in that very place Vers 4. They shall grow as among the grasse and as willowes by the riuers of waters No raine can make the grasse so fresh and greene no riuer can cause the trees that are planted thereby so to flourish and prosper as the Spirit of God will euery thirsty soule when it is plentifully powred thereupon A second meanes to obtaine the Spirit with a daily increase of the gifts and graces thereof is to pray for it as euery one will that doth heartily long for it and to beleeue that we shall haue it and that wee may doe so our Sauiour maketh a notable argument for vs. Aske saith he and it Luk. 11. 13. shall be giuen you seeke and ye shal find c. Obiect Oh but I am vnworthy might some say both to aske and to receiue any thing at Gods hand Ans Why saith Christ If ye which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy Ghost to them that aske it As if he should haue said You haue no matter of desert in you and therefore you are discouraged from prayer but what merite is there in one of your little children which are full of frowardnesse of brawling and vnquietnesse yet if they aske any thing of you that you conceiue to bee good for them you will presently grant it vnto them Now if you that are sinfull can passe by the infirmities of your children and giue them such things as are needfull though you haue made them no promise and you cannot relieue them without cost and paines vnto your selues nay many times not without pinching your selues and sparing from your owne backs and bellies if you I say that are euill can deale thus louingly and kindly with your children how much more will your heauenly father who is the God of al goodnes yea goodnesse it selfe deale fauourably with his children hauing made a promise vnto them and it being no paines nor charges vnto him to bestow a plentifull measure of spirituall graces vpon them and especially seeing that the more liberall hee is that way vnto them the more glory shall thereby redound vnto his great name If then we desire the Spirit of grace in an aboundant measure let vs craue it at the hands of the Lord who giueth of the same liberally and casteth no man in the teeth and we may the more comfortably and confidently do thus because we liue in those happy times wherein the Lord hath promised to powre his Spirit vpon all flesh and to bestow Ioel 2. 28. as excellent gifts and graces vpon ordinary Christians as the most worthy men had in the time of the law A third meanes to get and increase the vertues of the holy Ghost is with reuerence and conscience to hearken vnto the word for as the Apostle saith the Spirit is not bestowed for any goodnesse Gal. 3. 2. in vs or through any workes wrought by vs but God of his free mercy giueth it and conueigheth it vnto his children by the preaching of the Gospell And againe the same Apostle perswading the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit for that is the best fire in the house and without it men must needes freeze in woe and sorrow and misery he saith despise not prophacying that is the ordinary ministery of the word when it is truly expounded 1. Cor. 14. 3. and faithfully and wisely applied as may be most for the edification of the hearers This is as it were the fuell whereby the fire of God is continued and increased in our soules and as we are more carefull in this duty of laying vp the word in our hearts so shall we finde the warmth or rather heate of the Spirit to be more aboundant and in more constant vs. Lastly if we would haue the holy Ghost continually working in vs with great efficacie let vs labour euermore to keepe an humble and broken heart and beware of pride and all vaine conceipt of our selues as the very rocke against which the shippe wherein the Spirit is caried doth as it were make shipwracke for God resisteth the proud and 1 Pet. 5. 5. giueth grace to the humble If one haue a hauty heart though there be no body else that seekes his ouerthrow the Lord will bring him downe but if any haue a meeke and lowly heart there is a palace for the Lord himselfe who will dwell with him that is of Isa 57. 15. a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to giue life to them that are of a broken heart Vse 5 In the last place here is an vse of comfort for all such as are endued with the Spirit of grace sith that is the fountaine of all happinesse therefore are they blessed people and shall bee blessed what courses soeuer they meete withal And what oppositions soeuer they finde either from Sathan himselfe or from any of his limmes those that are once ingraffed into Christ and are become plants of the liuing God haue the streames of liuing waters running through their hearts and therefore must of necessity prosper and flourish though the heate of persecution or any manner of affliction beate neuer so violently vpon them Indeed if wicked enemies of the Church could withdraw and withhold Gods spirit from the hearts of his children then might they hinder their happinesse and make them truly miserable but seeing they can no more stay the operation thereof then they can stop the course of the winde from blowing whither it will therefore shall they neuer be able Iohn 3. to defeate Gods seruants of that blessed estate which in Christ Iesus he hath promised vnto them and through his precious bloud-shedding purchased for them The Spirit of grace and of praiers From these latter words ariseth this second poynt that Doct. 2 None can make any acceptable praier vnto the Faithfull prayers proceede frō Gods Spirit Lord vnlesse he be assisted and directed by the Spirit of grace Howsoeuer men imagine it to be an easie matter to call vpon God yet the truth is that it is as hard for any of himselfe to make a faithful prayer as it is to make a world Therefore is it said in the Epistle to the Romanes Ye haue receiued the Spirit of adoption
Rom. 8. 15. wherby we cry Abba father So that none can confidently call God father but by the helpe of his blessed Spirit If vnregenerate men will pray to their father Christ telleth them who he is when speaking to such kinde of persons he saith You are Ioh. 8. 44. of your father the Diuell And how proueth he that The lusts of your father yee will do As those that are willing to do the workes of God are assuredly the children of God euen so they that are ready to doe the workes of Satan are without doubt the children of Satan and if they wil pray vnto their father they must pray vnto the Diuell Againe in that very place it is sayd that the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what to Rom. 8. 26 pray as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh requests for vs with sighes that cannot be expressed where it is euident that the best of Gods seruants without the helpe and assistance of the holy Ghost are ignorant both of the matter and manner of prayer but the Spirit doth informe their mindes what to aske and frame their affections how to aske in an holy and acceptable sort so that albeit sometimes they want words to expresse their meaning yet they are full of inward sighes and heauenly desires But what are they the better for them will some say if they cannot powre them forth before the Lord in an outward forme of prayer They are much the better because as it is in the 27. verse He that searcheth the hearts knoweth the meaning of the spirit and he so knoweth it that he approueth of it and delighteth in it If there be neuer so many good words and those vttered by the very Saints of God themselues yet if they proceede not from the Spirit but from the flesh as sometimes they may they are not pleasing vnto the Lord but abhorred of him And on the other side albeit there be no words at all as many times it fals out when the heart is oppressed through extremity of griefe yet if there bee a multitude of holy desires in the soule stirred vp through the powerfull working of the holy Spirit they are accepted of him and shall bee rewarded by him for as it is added in the place aboue named The Spirit euen at such times maketh requests for the Saints according to the will of God And therefore their suits according with his will he cannot but yeeld vnto the same Againe it is the proper worke of the Spirit to conuince the iudgement of sinne and to humble Iohn 16. 8. the heart therefore without which there can no faithfull prayer be made vnto the Lord. Bring neuer so strong reasons to adulterers or gamesters or Saboth-breakers or any that liue in the continuall practise of such dangerous and damnable sinnes and presse them neuer so forcibly to cause them to forsake their lewd and wretched courses and yet can they not see why they should leaue them but rather imagine that they may lawfully follow the same still And no maruell for till the God of heauen do set downe their carnall reason it can neuer be set downe and till he stop their mouthes they will neuer be silenced but still haue somewhat to say for their wretched and vile behauiour Reasons collected from the former places Seeing then it is euident that Gods Spirit alone can perswade vs of the loue and fauour of our heauenly Father towards vs that so we may be in case to pray vnto him and withall must furnish vs with the matter and helpe vs in the manner of our praiers and humble vs in the sight of our owne miserable wants that so we may bee more earnest and feruent in the requests that we make the point now in hand may hence be strongly concluded to wit that none can make a faithfull prayer without the speciall ayde and direction of the holy Ghost which serueth Vse 1 First for the confutation of those sencelesse people that will be talking and bragging how they pray day and night They that know what it is to lift vp a feruent prayer vnto the heauens doe easily discerne that they are but meere braggers and boasters and that indeede they neuer made one faithful prayer since they were borne because they are and still haue bene sensuall and carnall and vtterly void of any sanctifying grace of Gods spirit and therefore so farre are they from hauing any cause of reioycing in regard of their good prayers as they call them that they haue great cause to be humbled for them as being workes of the flesh and not of the Spirit such as doe rather prouoke the Lords displeasure against them then pacifie his anger or any way procure his fauour towards them Such are the prayers of all blind and ignorant Papists who pray in an vnknowne tong to whom it may be said as it was by our Sauiour vnto the sonnes of Zebedeus Ye know not what yee aske They may speake what they list of their often praying and how readily they can goe through with their stint and taske but they that vnderstand what it is to bring God and their owne soules together in earnest requests and feruent supplications cannot but iudge them to bee bragging Pharises who thinke that the Lord is beholding vnto them and indebted vnto them for such prayers whereas in truth he may iustly condemneth em vnto hell for the same and will do so if they be not humbled for them as well as for the rest of their iniquities And therefore they that haue indeed the Spirit of prayer are of another mind for when they haue vsed the best preparation that possibly they can they finde so many defects in their prayers that they are driuen to make a new prayer for the pardoning of those their wants and are stirred vp heartily to praise the Lord when they can in any poore measure powre out their soules before him as knowing that it is not from any strength that they haue in themselues but from the helpe and furtherance of his good Spirit Secondly let this be an instruction vnto vs that if we would pray aright and speede accordingly we labour as Iude exhorteth to pray in the Iude V. 20. holy Ghost For those be the petitions that pierce the heauens and bring peace comfort vnto the conscience But how shall we know whether our prayers proceed from Gods Spirit or not for our sinfull hearts are apt to deceiue vs on both sides viz. either to make vs thinke through Satans suggestion that we doe not pray in the holy Ghost because we haue so many frailties when in truth we doe or that we pray as we ought to doe because we haue matter and words at will when indeed there is no such thing but onely a naturall gift of vttering that which is in our mindes and memories in apt and fit tearms and in a fluent manner of speech Therefore if wee
after and you shall finde it settled againe Therefore Christians should not be discouraged though they finde a passion of feare and vnbeliefe now and then if so be ordinarily they send foorth pure water for there is a great difference betwixt them and hypocrites who are filthy puddles hauing a little faire water running on the toppe but if they be stirred and raked into they will appeare to be most loathsome neither will they be easily settled againe And it fell by and by and the fall of that house was great Carnall men make it a small matter for one to forsake the profession of the truth But the Lord esteemeth that a great fall yea greater then if the Sunne and the starres fell from heauen so that the point is that of all fals the fall from religion is the most woefull Doct. 4 Nebuchadnezzars fal was great when he was stript Apostacy is a most grieuous sinne of his Empire and in steed of ruling men was turned into the wildernesse to liue amongst beasts to eate and drinke with the wilde asses and that for seauen yeares together this was a marueilous great fall yet not comparable to theirs that of professours become profane persons For whereas Nebuchadnezzar went from men to beasts they go from godly men to wicked Atheists that are worse then beasts yea to the company of diuels and of all the damned spirits And whereas Nebucadnezzar had a stumpe left in the ground which after seauen yeares should sproute foorth againe and so he should returne to a better estate then he enioyed before those that are reuolts and backesliders haue no stumpe at all left in the ground but are vnrecouerable For if we sinne willingly Heb. 10. 26. 27. after we haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinne but a fearefull looking for of iudgement of a violent fire which shal deuoure the aduersaries Nothing doth so prouoke the vengeance of God against men as this wretched apostacie doth For a man to fall from riches to pouertie from promotion to debasement c. it is a matter of nothing God loues him neuer the worse but to fall from profession to prophanenesse from God to the Diuell from heauen to hell from life to death this is a lamentable thing indeede Dauid did not sustaine the fall of his house but had onely some tiles and a part of the roofe blowne off yet was that a greater losse than if he had bene depriued of his kingdome neither would that haue so rent his soule and crusht Psal 51. his bones and grownd his heart to powder as the committing of those offensiue euils did nay if he had bene set vpon a steepe rocke with a milstone about his necke and from thence had bene cast headlong into the sea it had bene but a trifle in comparison of the other Oh then how fearefull must their case be that do vtterly forsake the liuing God If his deadnesse and hardnesse of heart and inabilitie to do duties to God and men were more bitter then the most violent death vnto him if I say the very decay in grace did bring with it such torture what must they expect either in this world or in that which is to come or both who do not onely in part but wholly lose that taste of good things which once they had and do not onely in a passion as Peter did deny Christ but quite and cleane forsake him Reasons Now the reasons to proue that this fall is the greatest are these 1. Because the things which they lose are most precious being spirituall things 2 The ruine is in the soule which is the more excellent part And furthermore the effects will proue as much which are 1. Monstrous shame for when any one fals from profession all the world sees he was but an hypocrite at best and then prophane persons will insult and triumph These are your professors these are they that will heare Sermons they are as badde people as any liuing I will trust none of them all for such a ones sake and thus they purchase infamy and disgrace vnto themselues as Achitophel and Iudas did 2 And not onely so but also euerlasting paines as we see in Iudas who did not onely dye a base kinde of death being his owne executioner and hauing his filthy bowels that had bene so full of couetousnesse and cruelty gushing out but also seeking to exempt himselfe from the paines and gripings of an ill conscience hee cast himselfe into the torments of hell which are easlesse and endlesse Vse 1 For instruction that we should labour to set sure in the thinges of God for better is it to haue any decay then a decay in the conscience and to haue any losse and hurt then those which are in the soule Now if we would not haue a great and shamefull fall let vs take the direction of Iude which Iude 20. he giues as a preseruatiue against apostacie But yee beloued saith he edifie your selues in your most holy faith That is the first thing that we must still bee building vp of our selues and striue to be better and better for we are like a boate that goes against the streame if we labour not with might and maine to rowe vpward we shall be carried violently downeward A second thing is that we must pray in the holy Ghost Many will bragge that they say their praiers morning and night but do they pray their praiers A parrot may say a praier but Christians must pray in the holy Ghost that is with such petitions as the Spirit warranteth and with sighes and groanes which it worketh in the heart These two things whosoeuer can practise namely to build vp himselfe daily and offer vp faithfull prayers vnto God he shall be sure to stand fast and firme Vse 2 Secondly this is for comfort to those on whom the Lord hath bestowed his good Spirit for if it be the greatest fall to fall from religion then it is the greatest rising to rise vnto grace and if they be cursed that fall away then blessed are those that draw neare vnto God and with full purpose of heart cleaue vnto him growing daily in humility and in contempt of the world in conscience towards God and in care to leade a good and holy life before men This is indeed the greatest promotion and therefore Iames saith Let the Iames 1. 9. brother that is of low degree reioyce in that he is exalted Exalted might some say what exaltation is that when they are as poore as euer they were A marueilous great exaltation it is for they are made Christians and so consequently kings both in respect of grace and glory Caine and Nimrod Reuel 1. 6. and many other reprobates went beyond ten thousand of vs for outward things but all that aduancement was to their greater shame and confusion For earthly promotion is nothing else but an high stage and if one be an
would know what it is to pray in the holy Ghost it is this First we must haue a warrant for the things Rules for prayer 1 that we aske and that from the word of God where the Lords will is reuealed according whereunto 1. Ioh. 5. 14 all our petitions must be framed In which regard we must acquaint our selues with the holy Scriptures and often exercise our hearts in the meditation thereof That is as it were the wood whence we must fetch timber for this building and the mine out of which we may take many golden arguments to bring before the Lord in our prayers which he cannot deny because they are his owne hand writing whereby he doth graunt vs liberty to aske and assurance to obtaine all needfull things So that spirituall graces we may aske simply without any exception or limitation for outward blessings we may craue them so farre as they may be good for vs and for crosses we may lawfully desire either to haue them kept from vs or sanctified vnto vs so that we may haue strength and patience to beare them and grace and wisedome to make a right vse of them Secondly we must be touched with an inward longing and earnest desire of the things which we aske for it is said that the Spirit maketh request for vs Rom. 8. 26. with sighes which cannot be expressed As we see in Hannah who came with a heart full of heauenly meditations and of holy desires which she did not expresse in words but made them knowne vnto the Lord with whom her heart was labouring all the time of her prayer Now if we would obtaine this inward affection we must ponder much on Gods goodnesse and readinesse to heare and to helpe vs and of our owne miserable wants which moue vs to become suiters vnto his Maiesty and then if we can get a good perswasion of God and a due estimation of the things which we beg at his hands wee shall not chuse but be instant and earnest in our prayers not taking vp the time in words of course and in making vaine and idle repetitions or drowsie and lumpish petitions as if we cared not whether we lost or found but we shall be able to cry feruently vnto the Lord and then cannot he deny our requests For he heareth the cry of them that feare him and fulfilleth their Ps 145. 19. Iam. 5. desires and the prayer of the righteous auaileth much when it is feruent Thirdly if wee would haue this testimony vnto our soules that we pray in the holy Ghost then must we propose a right end in our suits not asking See M. Dods Sermon on Iam. 4. 3. any thing with an intent to spend it vpon our lusts but with a purpose to vse it vnto the glory of God the furtherance of our owne saluation and the good comfort of mankind especially of such as are of the houshold of faith Fourthly we must beleeue that we shall obtaine that which we aske according to that of our Sauiour VVhatsoeuer ye desire when ye pray beleeue Mar. 11. 24 that ye shall haue it Which faith of ours will be vnto vs a sure argument that we pray in the Spirit which stirreth vs vp to make such requests alone as it assureth vs shall be performed But by the way let vs obserue that sometimes spirituall men may make carnall prayers as Iob and Eliiah and Ionah did when they desired that God would take away their liues which proceeded from the pride of the flesh and from the rebelliousnesse of their wils in that they could not content themselues to liue in that estate wherunto the Lord had brought them Such fleshly petitions may we sometimes put vp before the Lord but we shall haue checks and rebukes in our hearts for the same and no assurance that they shall be granted but when our suits are spirituall the holy Ghost which moueth vs to aske will also perswade vs that God is able and willing to heare vs and to relieue vs and that therefore we shall obtaine a blessing sooner or later Let vs therefore labour to aske in faith as the Apostle Iames exhorteth and not wauer for he that Iames. 1. 3. wauereth and maketh question whether God will heare him or not is like a waue of the sea tost with the winde and caried away being neuer at quiet in himselfe but sometimes imagining that the Lord will helpe him he runneth vnto him and then hauing a conceipt that such and such men will doe somewhat for him he leaueth prayer and betaketh himselfe vnto them but finding no reliefe there he will to prayer againe and yet hauing not a present answer nor faith to waite vpon the Lord he fals to shift for himselfe by vsing of ill meanes and so is altogether vnstable and vnsetled euen as the waues of the sea that are neuer at rest euery vaine cogitation euery slight temptation tossing and turmoyling and disquieting his heart Thus it ought not to be neither will it be thus with those that aske in faith for they know that they shall obtaine that it shall be vnto thē according to their faith that either they shal haue the particular thing that they aske or a better in steed thereof and therefore they pray still and waite Gods leasure and herein they much honour the Lord in that they cast themselues vpon the truth of his promise and do not trouble their hearts with vnnecessary feares and cares about the successe which is Gods worke and not theirs Men will be glad to be rid of importunate suiters that they should not bee still hanging vpon them especially if their suite bee weighty and the things that they craue of some importance but the Lord would in no case haue men to let their suits fall nay he takes delight in such as will not haue a repulse but still depend vpon him and daily renew their petitions for they shew euidently that they haue a liuely and strong faith they would not presume to aske vnlesse they had a warrant and hauing a warrant they dare not make question of obtaining for that were to make doubt of Gods truth and fidelity Thus we see what it is to pray in the holy Ghost viz. to haue a good ground for that which we aske a good end and a good affection in asking and faith to beleeue that we shall obtaine whatsoeuer we aske in such a maner Vse 3 A third vse of this poynt is for a singular consolation to such as can pray in that sort howsoeuer the Diuell would perswade them that they haue not the sanctifying Spirit of God in them but onely such flashings as hypocrites sometimes haue yet hereby they may be assured that the holy Ghost dwelleth in them indeed because they constantly powre out strong cryes and faithfull supplications before the Lord which no hypocrite can doe for as Iob speaketh He cannot set Iob. 27. 10. his delight
why such are blessed are these First because they shall be able to stand it out in all manner of temptations so that though all the diuels in hell were turned loose vpon them they should bee more then conquerours ouer them all Secondly this maketh for the increasing of their happinesse that they shall still grow in knowledge For our Sauiour saith If any one will do his wil he shal Iohn 7. 17 know of the doctrine whether it be of God or no. You shall haue many who before the receiuing of the Sacrament and at such like times will deale with their Minister that he would not examine them for they are not booke learned and besides they are old and their memories will not serue them And will you know the true reason hereof it is euen that of our Sauiour They will not do the will of God and therefore they know it not For their capacities and memories and all the faculties of their soules and bodies will serue them well enough for their couetousnesse for craftie and subtill dealing and for such pleasures as they are addicted vnto c. Thirdly this practising of the word will be a testimony of an honest heart for that is the propertie of it to heare and receiue to vnderstand and hold fast the word and to bring forth fruite with patience Many doubt that they haue vnsound hearts let them bring themselues to this touchstone Do they grow to some fruitfulnesse in good workes by the hearing of the word and are they not discouraged though some heat of affliction do arise then our Sauiour testifieth that they haue good and honest hearts So long as one desires to do his duty and from his desire is drawen to praier and by prayer gets vertue from Christ whereby the commandements are made easie so long he needeth not to feare his estate for it is good and comfortable Vse 1 Seeing therefore that the doers of the word and not the hearers are blessed this should teach vs to make conscience to do as we heare to practise euery duty that is enioyned and to eschew euery sinne that is reproued otherwise we shall be cursed for our hearing when others are blessed and be beaten with manie stripes because we knew our maisters will and did it not Secondly here is a singular consolation for those that desire in their hearts to do the whole will of God then they do it in Gods account for with him we are reputed as we are affected if one giue but two mites as the poore widow did with a willing and chearefull heart it shall be accepted and commended yea though it be but a cup of cold water it shall not go vnrewarded A father doth not respect so much how exactly his child doth any thing as how obediently he performes it and though he cannot doe as he would if he weepe and desire his father to helpe him to doe better it sufficiently contenteth a parents minde so if we be ready and desirous to do euery thing that is commanded and to beleeue euery thing that is promised and to auoyde euery euill that is condemned Christ hath said it and we shall finde it one day whatsoeuer we feele now that we are blessed and happy people members of the Sonne of God temples of the holy Ghost and the sonnes daughters of the euerliuing God Our Sauiour saith vnto his disciples VVithout me ye can do nothing Ioh. 15. 5. Doe we then something in truth of heart then we are in Christ branches of the true vine and bringing forth fruit in him we shall be still purged to bring forth greater abundance thereof And when the waters arose the floud beate vpon that house and could not shake it In that he commendeth the goodnesse of this building because it stood when the stormes did beat vpon it the doctrine is that Doct. 3 Euery man is that in truth out of temptation Tryall sheweth what euery man is which he sheweth himselfe to bee in temptation A wise builder is wise before stormes arise though he be not put to it but how shall that be knowne by the standing of his house in extremitie of weather If in the midst of all tryals he hold his owne and stand it out and proue the same man still then is his wisedome apparant to all he that builds on the sand hath it may be as faire and goodly a house in shew as the other but when the winds arise it quickely tumbles downe And so it is with hypocrites if troubles be approching towards them especially if they once beginne to pinch them they are gone one puffe of temptation one shew of promotion one storme of affliction makes all their building in matters of religion to become altogether ruinous So for the grounds what could the good ground say for it selfe for a time which the ill grounds could not They were all plowed they all receiued the seede and brought it aboue ground those that did least Whence was the difference then The bad grounds had not the stones digged out nor the thornes grubbed vp and therefore the seede springing vp in the one sort when the parching heat came withered away and that in the other was choaked by the thornes and so came to nought each of thē failing when their tryall came whereas the good ground held out vnto the end Peter was a good house Iudas was an ill house therefore when a storme came though Peter lost a slatte or two as the best house may yet the foundation and the side-wals stood firme he wept bitterly for his sinne and craued pardon for it and so all was repaired But what of Iudas he stood indifferently well for a while but at length when Christ rebuked him he was full of wrath and when the high Priests offered him money he was full of couetousnesse and so thinking to gaine more by selling of Christ than by seruing of him hee quite forsooke his Maister and sought how to betray him to his most mortall aduersaries So Ioseph being good vnder his fathers gouernment continued good also vnder the gouernment of Infidels where he had all meanes of damnation but none of saluation yea though he were at first in an vnchast house where he was set vpon by his vnchast mistres and afterwards cast in prison amongst the notablest malefactors in all the country yet looke what manner of man Ioseph was in his fathers house the same he was still both in Potiphars house and in the prison and the same he continued to be when he came to great aduancement in Pharaohs court which was the most dangerous temptation of all the rest Hereunto we may adde that Ioseph was a young man and therefore more likely to be caried away but all was nothing when his heart was sound all the powers of hell could not preuaile against him On the contrary part it is said of Amaziah that 2 Chron. 25. 5. he did that which was vpright in
the eyes of the Lord but not with a perfect heart Therefore marke what came of it after that he had ouercome the Edomites his heart was lifted vp and he contrary to common sense fell to worship their Idols whom he had vanquished in battle he would not bee so precise any longer nor be at the command of euery Prophet but would take his liberty and so being an hypocrite in the beginning he manifested himselfe to be a miserable hypocrite in the end So Ioash all the while the good Priest 2 Chron. 24. Iehoiadah liued that would not suffer him to take ill courses was very forward yea in some things more forward then Iehoiadah himselfe but as 2 Kings 12. 7. soone as Iehoiadah was dead his religion was dead with him and of a professour he became a persecutour and nothing could stay him from his wicked courses vntill he was taken away by a violent death But that the point may be yet more cleare we wil giue instance in some particular things wherein men iudge themselues to be very strong when as the truth is they are exceeding weake Many will thanke God that though in other things they come short yet they are endued with patience but what doe they when wrongs are offered them why then they take on as bad as the worst Such neede not brag of the aboundance of their patience for they haue neuer a iot more then they finde when iniures are offered them So others there are that hope they loue the truth but let one of the Family of loue or of the Brownists set vpon them and what will they doe presently beginne to thinke and speake hardly of the seruantes and seruices of God and of the truth of God This plainely argueth that there was in the heart but little loue of the truth but much pronenesse aptnesse vnto errours and heresies He is the truely couragious souldier that wil stand to it when the skirmish is at hottest as for those that will bragge much before and betake them to their heeles or ioyne for feare with the aduersarie when the battle beginnes they are meere cowards vtterly vnworthy of the name of souldiers Againe others are conceited that they haue merciful hearts but hereby they manifest the quite contrary that they giue so little of their superfluity to those that are in necessity whose hearts might be gladded and whose soules might be stirred vp to offer praises and prayers vnto the Lord for them in regard of their liberality Others againe will not be perswaded but they make conscience of the Sabboth but if there be occasion of trauell offered on that day will they not rather God should lose his glory than they their commodity Yes surely and thereby they shew themselues to be but prophane persons that did neuer conscionably sanctify the Sabboth for if they had done so euery sleight temptation would neuer carry them so farre wide Vse 1 This serueth for comfort vnto those that haue laid a sure foundation it is impossible that they should fall away for temptations doe not make those that are good to become ill but onely try what euery one is Gold is as good when it comes out of the fire as when it is cast in nay better many times whereas copper that was before glistering in shew appeares to be that indeed which formerly it was though men discerned it not so wel til it had gone through the fire This comfort the Apostle Iohn giueth vs saying VVhosoeuer is borne of God 1 Ioh. 3. 9. sinneth not and why for his seed remaineth in him c. that is he can neuer be brought vnder the dominion of sin any more because the immortal seed of the word sowne in his heart can neuer die It is as possible to pull the Sunne out of heauen as to pul grace out of such an ones heart because all such are kept by the power of God himselfe Adam at first Pet. 1. 5. stood by his owne strength but euery Christian now standeth by Gods strength VVho is greater then Ioh. 10. 29. all so that none can take them out of his hand Obiect This then serues to answere the obiections of diuers that are troubled with doubts and feares What if the pestilence should take hold of mee and I should be shut vp and all my friends forsake me Why now examine what foundation Ans you haue laid before this storme assaile you if your heart be vpright with God all the powers of hell can doe you no hurt Obiect But what if the pangs of death should be very bitter Ans If they be Christ can sweeten and sanctify them Obiect But what if religion should change how should I doe then Ans As well as any time before for God neuer changeth and therefore if you be a branch of the true vine once you shall neuer be cut off but remaine in the vine for euer Therefore we should be so farre from being afraid of any fiery tryals that we should reioyce when we fall into diuers Iam. 1. 2. 3. temptations And the Apostle yeeldeth 2. good reasons First because thereby our faith is refined Other weapons the more they are vsed the worse they are but it is otherwise with this shield of faith the more blowes it receiues the better it is Secondly these tryals do work patience as is plaine Rom. 5. 3. in Iob who by his weaknesse and humble submission vnto God vnder his grieuous crosses did much honour the Lord so that sathan is the lesser in all such conflicts Vse 2 Secondly this is for terrour to them that haue not a sound inside when afflictions come as come they will sooner or later they that are vnsound will shew themselues to be vnsound and they that are false-hearted in the sight of God will appeare to be so in the sight of men Therefore let euery one looke vnto his heart or else his fall will be fearefull and shamefull Neither let men dreame that it will be alwaies Summer nay the Lord hath said that those that peruert their waies shall be Pro. 10. 9. knowne hypocrites shall be sifted first or last and then their filthy nakednesse will appeare In the Acts of the Apostles we reade of many that made Acts 26. 1â— profession of Christ who when Paul brought amongst them the fire of persecution to try what mettall they were they in steed of standing for Christ fell to blaspheming of his name Pauls cruelty was but the occasion of this the cause was in themselues for if they had bene faithfull Christians they would rather haue denyed their life than the Lord of life and haue endured a temporall death than an eternall Indeed Gods deare children may be somewhat frighted and terrified at first but they quickly recouer themselues againe being therein like a pure spring which being trodde in by beasts or any other way stirred will be somewhat muddy for a while but come within an houre
bee readie to supplie our necessities whatsoeuer they be and to grant vs aboue that that we can aske or thinke And as for our owne priuate cases so for the publike state of the Church and Common-wealth if wee would haue the pestilence or famine or any other iudgement remoued the way to procure this is to repaire thither where wee shall meete with many of the faithfull that will be ready to ioyne with vs in praier and to wrestle with the Lord by feruent and earnest supplications for the remouing of his deserued strokes And this should much incourage vs and adde life vnto our prayers as often as wee haue occasion to aske any thing in publike that God will vouchsafe vnto vs his gratious presence and shew by good effect that hee is in the generation of the righteous Vers 6. Ye haue made a mock of the counsell of the poore In that the holy Prophet doth lay this vnto wicked mens charge as a hainous crime and as the cause of his strokes that were to bee inflicted vpon them this Doctrine offereth it selfe for our learning that Doct. 3 Iesting and scoffing at Gods children is a grieuous kinde of persecution and such as the Lord Mockers are grieuous persecutors Heb. 11. takes speciall notice of In which regard the Apostle Heb. 11. 36. speaking of the wonderfull great trials which sundrie of the Saints did by faith vndergoe reckoneth vp this as none of the least of them that they had been tried by mockings In like sort when the holy Ghost yeeldeth a reason of the vtter ouerthrow of the kingdome of Iudah and of their long and wofull captiuitie he setteth downe this to be one of the principall causes thereof viz. That they mocked 2. Chro. 36. 26. the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets vntill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and till there was no remedie This kinde of persecution Ismael vsed against Gal. 4. 29. Isaac as the Apostle witnesseth for which hee Gen. 21. 9. was cast out of the Church of God And this was one of the meritorious sufferings of our Lord Iesus Christ that they spit vpon him and nodded Mat. 26. 27. Psal 22. their heads at him and vsed taunting and disgracefull speeches vnto him and put as it were a fooles coate vpon him to disguise him and called him in mockage the King of the Iewes c. This I say was not the least part of his bitter passion through which hee purchased eternall saluation for all his elect namely that hee endured much contempt and reproch both in the course of his life and at the time of his death Now the reason why Satan maketh choice of this weapon aboue others therewith to fight against Gods seruants is Reasons First because mans nature is subiect greatly to abhorre contempt and therefore cannot easily endure to bee vilified and disgraced by scoffing and reprochfull speeches and gestures Secondly the diuell knoweth that he can get many souldiers to be imployed this way Euery Note limme of his cannot imprison nor spoile Christians of their goods or of their liues but there are few or none but they can frame scoffes and iests against the members of Christ Iesus Euery boy can quickly grow skilfull at this as we see in Ismael and in the two and fortie children that 2. King 2. were torne in pieces of two beares for their mocking of the Prophet Elisha the very scumme of the people the vagabonds and rogues that run vp and downe the countrie can doe their master the diuell good seruice this way those that were the children of fooles and the children of villaines Iob 30. 8. 9. as Iob speaketh who were more vile then the earth it selfe could make Iob their song and their talke and in like sort did the drunkards and Psal 69. 12. Psal 35. pot-companions deale with Dauid and the thiefe vpon the crosse with our Sauiour euen at that time Matth. 27. 44. when the fierce wrath of God was manifested vpon his bodie hanging on the crosse for that he had been a notorious and hainous malefactor Vse 1 First this doctrine must teach vs to beware of deriding and taunting at good men for taking of good waies lest by so doing we become persecuters and bee proceeded against as enemies vnto God and his people It is not so safe for vs as many take it to be to exercise our selues in such kind of scoffing he is commonly held to be a sillie fellow that cannot gird at a Minister and at such as vsually resort vnto Sermons But let vs take heed of such nipping and biting speeches as tend to the defaming of any of Gods seruants or seruices lest we be cast out from hauing any communion and fellowship with God as scoffing Ismael was and be exposed to such plagues and punishments as the wicked Iewes were who mocked the messengers of God and reuiled our blessed Sauiour in such an opprobrious and disgracefull manner as the Scriptures doe record Vse 2 Secondly for as much as contemptuous and reprochfull scoffes and girds are such weapons as Satan putteth into the hands of his instruments let vs prepare for them and arme our selues against them Christs Disciples must not looke to be aboue their master if wicked sinners reuiled and derided him we must not imagine to escape their virulent and venemous tongues and therefore the Apostle exhorteth vs that seeing he hath Heb. 13. 12. 13. borne our reproch wee should beare his and for the ioy that is laid before vs endure the crosse Heb. 12. 2. and despise the shame and so at length wee shall receiue the crowne of glorie which is prepared for all those that in patience doe waite for his glorious appearing Now that wee may be better inabled to beare How we may be inabled to beare contēpt these taunts and reproches let vs take this direction following 1. First labour against that inbred pride that Labour against pride is naturally in euery one of our hearts which maketh vs vtterly vnable to vndergoe disgrace therefore was it that though many of the chiefe rulers of the Iewes beleeued in Christ yet they durst not confesse him because of the Pharisies who would haue excommunicated them and disgraced them to the vtmost and the reason is rendred in that place viz. That they loued the John 12. 43. praise of men more then the praise of God they stood vpon their carnall credite and reputation among their neighbours and countriemen more then vpon that true credite and estimation which they might haue had with the Lord and his children and therefore was it that they were so loath to expose themselues for Christ his sake vnto the shame of the world whereas if they had had humble and lowlie hearts they would haue denied themselues in their estimation among men and haue taken vp the reproch of Christ as an honorable
shall be turned into ioy But by what meanes should they attaine vnto this the words following doe make it manifest Ask saith he and ye shall receiue that your ioy may be verse 2. 4. full When Christians do enioy wealth credit and ease they are oftentimes made so dull and secure thereby that they haue little mind to powre out their soules before God in prayer but when once they are throughly pinched and pressed with miseries and calamities then they begin to renue their acquaintance with God and so bringing before him abundance of holy and heauenly prayers he replenisheth them with store of sweet and celestiall comforts A third reason hereof may be taken from the end of Gods afflictions which is as he himselfe testifieth in the booke of Deuteronomie that he may doe his children good in the latter end that hee may make them partakers of his holinesse and so by Heb. 12. 10. consequent of the consolations of his spirit Whē God will doe his enemies a notable displeasure he setteth them aloft in slipperie places that so their Psal 73. fall may bee more fearefull and vnrecouerable euen so on the contrarie when hee purposeth some extraordinarie benefit vnto his seruants he will lay them full low and afflict them full sore as he did Ioseph and Dauid that so they may be more capable of his fauours Vse 1 Heere commeth to be reprooued that faint-heartednesse that is in many of Gods children in the daies of their affliction who seeing that they haue many and great and strange crosses lying vpon them begin to bee cleane out of heart and out of hope and to make these or the like desperate conclusions Surely I shall neuer winde out of these distresses my state is past recouerie I neuer looke to see ioyfull day more These are base and naughtie and vnbeleeuing speeches which doe dismay the soule and cause the parties that vse them to desist from seeking vnto the Lord for help and reliefe and wretched is that sorrow that driueth vs from hope and from prayer What can the Lord wound and can he not heale can he cast downe and can hee not raise vp can hee kill and not make aliue shall our faults be more forcible to procure his displeasure then Christ his merits to recouer his fauour Away with these vnbeleeuing conceits and distrustfull thoughts and speeches for he that saith he shall neuer liue a comfortable life more doth in effect say thus much that either he is no true Christian o◠the Lord no true God of his word who hath said that light is sowen for the righteous and ioy for all Psal 97. 11. that are vpright in heart Why then should we not sustaine our selues with the expectation of deliuerance to come and why should we not sweeten our present teares with the hope of future comforts The Apostle Iames presseth the example of the husbandman who though his barne be emptie and his seede that he hath cast into the earth not yet appearing aboue ground yet hee waiteth for the precious fruite of the earth and hath Iames 5. 7. 8. long patience for it vntill hee receiue the former and the latter raine And what of this Be ye also patient therefore saith he and settle your hearts c. And indeede all Christians haue reason so to doe for they are good seeds-men that are euermore sowing prayers and teares in the bosome of Iesus Christ and therefore they haue a crop growing that cannot possibly miscarrie howsoeuer it fall out vnto others they shall be sure to speede well and to haue an happie issue out of all their temptations Obiect Oh but my crosses and trials are strange and extraordinarie Answere What of that were not Iobs so in so much that no instance could be giuen by him of any of the Saints that had endured the like yet the Lord made a good and happie end of all his distresses and miseries and so will he do of yours if in faith and patience you can waite vpon him And in truth it is a great dishonor and indignitie that we offer vnto the Lord when wee imagine that hee can doe somewhat for vs in small and light afflictions but if our case bee any thing extraordinarie that then there is no hope of helpe and succor from him for thereby we make the Lord such a Pilot as can doe somewhat vpon a shallow riuer where there is little or no danger but vpon the maine Ocean especially if the Sea begin to swell and rage wee dare not trust vnto his skill what vile and base vnbeliefe is this The Prophet Dauid was otherwise affected when hee saith God is our hope and strength a helpe in troubles readie to bee Psal 46. 1. 2. 3. found Therefore will we not feare though the earth be moued and though the mountaines fall into the midst of the Sea Though the waters thereof rage and the mountaines shake at the surges of the same And therefore let vs be ashamed and grieued that wee haue been so heartlesse and hopelesse in great extremities Secondly is it so that all the perplexities and anguishes of the righteous shall end in ioy Is this a priuiledge and prerogatiue peculiar vnto them then how wretched and wofull is the conditiō of all the vngodly ones of the world whose sorrow shall end in sorrow and who shall goe from their present paine and griefe vnto perpetuall tortures and torments in hell fire let them make mcrrie and bee as iocund as they will for a time and seck to put away melancholy fits as they tearme them they haue a crop growing as well as Gods children but what is that euen a crop of shame and horror and anguish which shall seise vpon their soules at vnawares and that to their euerlasting ruine and the vtter destruction of their bodies and soules for euermore And therefore as the godly are to bee exhorted not to enuie the prosperitie of the wicked though they flourish for a season so are the vngodly to bee admonished that they doe not esteeme Gods children to be miserable albeit they bee in heauinesse for a time for their light and momentanie afflictions 2. Cor. 4. shall bee recompenced with a farre most excellent and eternal weight of ioy and of glory whereas the short and vaine delights of wicked sinners shall be infinitly ouerpeised and weighed downe with the vnsupportable miseries which if not in this world yet in that which is to come they shall most certainly meete withall Thirdly heere is matter of very great consolation to all such as are mourners in Sion though they be weeping when others are reioycing and fasting when others are feasting yet a time shall come when sorrow and trouble shall flie away and comfort and peace shal succeed in the roome thereof God hath said it and they shall finde it that it shall goe well with the righteous and that the Isaiah 4. Psal 37. end of such men