in a mercy â—an never be truely thankfull Check your â—elves therefore often for this neglect as this â—acob did who when in his journey to Labanâ—e â—e had in a vision a sight of a Ladder whose â—oot stood on the earth and whose top did â—each to heaven and the Angels of God were â—scending descending upon it and the Lord â—ood above it All which was a lively discoâ—ery of Gods provident care of him said God was in this place and I knew it not So â—â—y you God was in this friend that relieved â—e in this ordinance that refreshed me â—n this creature that comforted me and I observed him not There are none of the wayes of God wherein he useth either thâ— ministery of Angels or the wisdome of meâ— or the strength of any creature but God is 〈◊〉 the top of the Ladder and orders all though we observe him not We may by an eye of reason see a man is his works though his person be not presentâ— As when we see a piece of ground well ploughed the fences well made the cattle well ordered we say Here is a good Huâ—band though we do not see the Farmer When we see a house built very well and every room well contrived we say Here iâ— a good Work-man though we do not see the Carpenter And may we not as well by an eye of faith behold the wisdome goodnesse and power of God in his works though he be invisible Say you therefore Here is so much of the prudence of a Pâ—â—nce so much of the policy of a State so much of the valour and faithfulnesse of a Governour but how much do you observe of God who rules the hearts and wayes of all men Here is so much of the cost of a Father so much of the affection of a Mother so much of the faithfulnesse of a Friend but how much of the mercy and wisdome of God A great Cardinall that I have read of writing down in his Diary what such a Lord did for him how far such a Prince favoured him what incouragement he had from such a King and how such a Pope preferr'd him but not a word of God one â—eading of it said This man remembred â—is friends but forgat God Like another Haman who when he told his friends and â—eresh his Wife of the glory of his riches â—nd the multitude of his children and all the things wherein the King had proâ—oted him who had advanced him above â—ll the Princes and Servants at the Court â—nd what honor Queen Esther did him who â—nvited him onely with the King to the banâ—uet never made any mention of God Do â—ou rather as David who when he had â—old King Saul how he had slain the Lion and the Bear said moreover The Lord that â—elivered me c. He comes over with it aâ—ain rather then not mention the Name of the Lord and let Saul know he observed Gods great power in that victory All the letters in the Alphabet without a â—owel will not make one word nor all the â—ars in the firmament without the Sun will make a day nor all the world the profits of it or pleasures in it can make a man happy without God The Jews some say when they read the Book of Esther let the book fall on the ground and they give this reason for that â—eremony though they esteem it a Canonitall piece of Scripture yet they somewhat undervalue it because the word of God is not found in all the Story Though a man have as much health strength and beauty as Nature can afford him and to that aâ— much wealth honor and friends as thâ— world can bring him and to all these aâ— much learning as Tutors can put into him yet if he be a man without God he falls in the thoughts and estimation of such as are spirituall and can discern him though they may acknowledge him a very discerning man 2. Labour by faith to see and observe all these good things in God For as omnia malâ— may be seen in summo malo All evils in the world may be seen in sin the chief evill as blindnesse nakednesse poverty death hell for he that is ignorant is blind indeed he that is without God is naked indeed he that hath no grace is very poor he that is dead in sins and trespasses is truely dead he that is under the power of sin and given up wholly to his hearts lusts is in an heâ—l above ground So omnia bona are in summâ— bono all good things are in God the chiefest good All creatures may be seen in the Creator as all the stars may be seen in the sun So the Apostle thought who called God the God of all comfort Honor is not the God of comfort nor liberty nor health or wealth nor hath honor the comfort of liberty nor liberty the comfort of health nor health the comfort of children or wealth c. But the comfort of all these may be found in God Hence he is called our Son He will be a Sun and a shield to those that walk uprightly The light and comâ—ort of all these things may be found in God 〈◊〉 the light of all the stars may be seen in â—he Sun As a Sun he gives all the light so 〈◊〉 a shield he gives all the protection to all â—en and means of our good The shield in â—ncient times to which the holy Ghost â—eems as some think to allude was made â—o big as it covered the whole man and all â—is armour as appears by that speech of Ajax to or of Vlysses when he contended â—im about the armour of Achilles Opposui molem clypei texique jacentem â—n his flight he came to me and I covered â—im with my shield and so saved his life So I say as a Sun and shield all comfort is from him Hence he that can call the Lord his God may call God any thing that at any time he stands in need of As David sometimes did whilest compassed about with many enemies The Lord is my rock and my fortresse my deliverer my high tower my buckler and why so He is my God and in that all If he be my God saith a believer he is my Father and no father like him for affection if my God 〈◊〉 my Friend and no friend like him for faithfulnesse my Physician and none like him for skill nay my Bed-maker and none can make my bed so easie as he So that if we lose the comfort of any creature as the comfort of a wife by death of health by sicknesse of liberty by a prison of wealth by poverty they may all be found in a God who is health in sicknesse liberty in prison yea all things in the want of all He that is the Alpha and Omega hath said it He that overcometh shall inherit all things But how shall that be I will be saith the Lord his God and he shall be my
us with all this 〈◊〉 what is to be done for thee Thou Lord haâ— been carefull of my health that it might not be impaired of mine estate that it might not be wasted of my name that it might not be reproached of my soul that it might not be damned Lord what is now to be done for thee Is there any thing too great too good to part with to such a God It was a brave speech of Lewis the 13. a late King of France in a journey neer Paw in his owne Kingdome The inhabitants understanding that he was coming sent to know how he would be received into the Towne and what honor they should do to him He asked the messengers whether there were ever a Church in the Towne if there were he would enter as their King in state if not he would receive no honour in that place where Almighty God had no house and therefore no honor given him A gracious heart would think all ill bestowed on him if he had no spirit at all to glorifie God Bolestaus a King of Poland when he was to speak or do any thing of concernment would take out a little picture of his Fathers that he carried about him and kissing it would say I wish I may do nothing at this time unworthy thy name Say you as much that can see God in every mercy and enjoy him with every favour I wish that I who every day have tasted so much of Gods 〈◊〉 may do nothing this day to the 〈◊〉 of his name but may blesse him not onely with my lips but honor him also with my life To give the same thing we receive from a friend back again is rudenesse amongst men but with God is true Religion Hannah after many prayers and tears received a Son from the Lord and she returned him back again to the Lord as long as he lived What health strength peace liberty parts gifts we receive from God are best used when they are bestowed on God in his service And there is nothing lost this way For he that offereth God praise glorifieth him and to him that ordereth his conversation aright he will shew the salvation of God that is mighty and wonderfull salvation Which made Cardinall Wolsey once King Henry the Eight his Favourite to say at his death Had I been as carefull to serve the God of heaven as I was to please the King of England he would not have left me in my old age as this man hath done 2. Put this interrogatory to your owne hearts What good do I to my neighbour It is true God hath done all this for me and he hath dealt bountifully with me but what good do others reap by me either my Prince or Countrey the Church or State What good do I in the Town where I dwell to the family where I live to my relations wife children servants with whom I converse are any of these the better for me Even Seneca could say Malleâ— mihi malè esse quà m mollitèr I had rather be sick then idle and do no good But it is the greatest affliction to a gracious heart to be wholly unusefull he had rather not bee then be idle and unprofitable If Moses the Servant of the Lord can do no good in Aegypt he will go to Midian Every man therefore shall do well to put this Querie often to his owne heart Of what use are my parts and gifts of body minde or estate Yea is my very life and example sufficient to others How do I promote the good of my neigbour by my almâ— prayers counsels labours It is not sufficient to say I do no body harm With which plea some are well enough satisfied But remember what question Christ askt his auditors not What are you or What know you more then others but What do you Hezekiah could make a good answer to such a question Lord remember how I have walked before thee in truth and have done that which is good in thy sight So could Nehemiah Remember me O Lord for good and wipe not out the good deeds that I have done for the house of God and the offices thereof Our charity should be as a running spring at our owne dores that will not onely supply our own wants but run through our neighbours pastures and water the field of a stranger yea sometimes crosse the high-way and run into a common ditch Whilest we have opportunity we should do good to all but especially to the houshold of faith Yea if our enemy hunger give him food if he thirst give him drink for in so doing we shall heap coals of fire upon his head This indeed is to have the Spirit of Christ and if ye have not the Spirit of Christ ye are none of his Christ was a friend to his enemies and kinde to the unkinde Jonathan was so friendly to David that he stript himself of his robe that was upon him and gave it him and his garments even to his sword and his bow But Christ was a better friend who did not only lay aside his robe of majesty but laid down his life for us Greater love hath no man then this that he lay down his life for his friends Christ did more for he laid down his life for his enemies Ebedmeleck was very mercifull to Jeremiah that would let down cords and old clouts and rags into the dungeon where he was and so lift him out Christ did more who would himself go down into the grave that he might deliver us who were dead in sins and trespasses and thereby free us from the bottomlesse pit It is reported of Trajan the Emperour that he rent off a piece of his robe to binde up the wound of a common Souldier Christ did more who shed his blood to heal our wounds Pompey the Great that noble Romane Generall being ready to undertake a piece of Service for the State and advised by one to desist because the designe was full of danger answered Necesse est â—t â—am non ut vivam It is necessary that I go not that I live Christ did more for being perswaded by Peter not to go up to Jerusalem where he was to suffer but to favour himself he was angry with him and said Get thee behinde me Satan thou art an offence unto me thou savourest not the things that are of God but of men Judah was a dutiful Son to his Father and a loving friend to his Brother Benjamin who was content to stay behinde in Aegypt and be a bondman to Joseph upon condition his Brother might be sent home to his Father Christ did more who would not onely be a Servant but he would die that we might live and be reconciled unto his Father Charls the fifth in a great storm neer Algiers caused many brave Horses to be thrown over-board that the lives of a few Slaves might be saved Jonah the Prophet was a better
mighty Gâ—ant But if Goliah will go out against Dâ—vid with a sword and a spear trusting onelâ— to his own strength he shall fall Moses hâ— a great charge to go to Pharaoh and to brinâ— the people of Israel out of the Land of Aegâ— and how oft doth he through unbelief cavâ— at that call as unfit for that service sevâ— or eight times he replyes upon God as unwilling because unfit to go But througâ— Gods most gracious assistance he finished thâ— work to the glory of God the comfort 〈◊〉 his people and the shame of that proâ— enemy aad this is recorded I have fougâ— the fight saith St. Paul I have finished 〈◊〉 course I have kept the faith and this is wriâ—ten down in a book Secondly assistance in withstanding viâ—lent temptations in undergoing heavy buâ— thens and conflicting with sundry evilâ— should not be forgotten There is a timâ— when Kings go not forth to War but no â—ime wherein Christians have not some comâ—ate with temptations but God either preâ—ants them or assists us in them and makes â—s victors over them and gainers by them It is written of St. Augustine that after his conversion to the Faith he was much vexed with inward conflicts and after long strugâ—ing with them in the use of means and not prevailing as he desired he heard a voyce saying to him In te stas non stas whereby apprehending that the way to fall was to stand in his owne strength by faith in prayer he did fly unto God in Christ and his tree grace and so obtained victory At my first answer saith St. Paul no man stood by me all forsook me I pray God it be not laid to their charge But God stood by me and strengthned me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion And indeed at such a time a gracious heart can better bear Gods stroke then endure his absence St. Paul makes speciall mention of this Faith is the gift of God and amongst many singular benefits that we have by that grace this is not the least It hath a singular dexterity in helping the heart at a sudden pinch in mustering up spirituall and those present forces against an unexpected temptation A lively faith is the best leaver at a dead lift See it in the case of Joseph fiercely and unexpectedly assaulted by his beastly Mistris Many arguments are brought in of a sudden by which he is fenced so impregnably against her sollicitations that he comes off more then a conqueror 1. It is a sin saith he against the great â—rust my Master hath in me He hath committed all into my hand c. 2. It is a sin against my place and dignity There is none greater in the house then I. 3. It is a sin against my Masters interest You are his wife 4. It is a wickednesse a great wickednesse against God The like you shall read of David who when he was reviled by Shimei with those words Come out thou bloody man thou man of Belial c. which so far provoked Abisha and edged his spirit against him that he could hardly hold his hands yet bare all patiently being armed against such an assault Three arguments are suddenly mustred up by Faith by which he comes off with victory 1. My Son rebels and he is more violent against me My Servant takes away my good name my Son would not only take the crown from my head but my head from my shoulders 2. The Lord hath bidden him curse me and therefore let him alone 3. The Lord will look on me and not onely do me good by this but for this affliction It is good to set down every affliction we have met with in our time and to observe Gods carriage towards us in them with the benefit we receive from them 3. Remember and for that end put into your Journal all deliverances from dangers vouchsafed to you or yours And indeed what is our whole life but a continued deliverance We are daily delivered either from the violence of the creature or the rage of men or the treachery of our own hearts either our houses are freed from firing or goods from plundering or our bodies from danger or our names from reproaches or our souls from snares This being the difference betwixt a gracious and a gracelesse heart a godly man is delivered a wicked man is but reserved God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished Jacob is delivered from the treachery of his Uncle Laban at one time and from the fury of his Brother at another both are remembred David is delivered from the paw of the Bear and the mouth of a Lion both of them are mentioned before Saul Jeremiah cannot forget the dungeon out of which he was saved nor Daniel the Lions den out of which he escaped nor Jonah the Whales belly out of which he was delivered Read their Prophesies and you shal finde the stories Mr. Beza in his last Will bequeaths thanks unto God that being infected with the plague at Lusanna and aspersed by his enemies with grievous calumnies God delivered him from both 2. That being tossed up and down in the first Civill wars of France for many moneths God had preserved him from six hundred dangers Our deliverances are more then we can number greater then we can value Who so is wise and will observe them even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Every night God setteth his watch about us and every day he commands his Angels to pitch their tents for our safeguard And alas what is all our care and prudence without his watchful eye of providence over us Except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain When Noah and all his train went into the Ark it is said the Lord shut him in It is good to open the dore in the morning and to shut the dore in the evening by prayer pray when we open them that God would dwel with us and when we lock up our dores that God would shut us in otherwise we cannot be safe Take but a little notice of the preservation of our children nay but of one childe and you will say that all our care is nothing without his watchfull eye I will give you a memorable instance of a Childes deliverance who whilest divers in the family with many other friends were met together to fast and pray went out to a pond very much frozen for it was in an hard cold Winter either to slide or to whip his top I remember not which where two holes were made in the ice for the safety of the fish and the taking up of water into one of these he fell up to the arm-holes the childe was soon mist and search being made he was found there Had the hole been wider or he not spread out his arms or he not
are worst God is ever best when we are at our wits end then he makes the storm a calm and brings us to our desired haven When we know not what to do he knows how to deliver Three persons Christ is said in the Gospel to have raised from the dead one was dead but not carryed out and that was Jairus his daughter A second was dead and carried out and that was the widows Son of Naim A third was dead and carried out and buried in the grave where he had lyen foure days so that he began to stink and that was Lazarus All these he raised at his owne time and that the best time He works as wonderfully in raising converts from the grave of sin Some are dead but not carried out these are civill persons who are dead in sin but more modest and moderate whose disorders are not so notorious and in the publick view of the world if they be drunk they are drunk in the night Some are dead and carried out these with Absalom will play their pranks on the house top that are almost in all evill in the midst of the congregation and assembly Some are dead carried out and buried whose filthy lives stink in the noâ— strils of God and men And yet when Gods time is come if he speak but the word only Lazarus come forth they shall live in his sight Even Manasseh the bloody and Mary Magdalen the filthy and Paul the persecuter shall be converted In all our tribulations both Nationall and Personall it is good to wait on God who can and will at his owne time deliver our persons from trouble and our Nation from the grave of sorrow yea even when our bones are dead and dry and scattered he can then prophesie over us and cause a gracious resurrection but we must wait till his time come as the eyes of servants upon their Masters until he have mercy upon us We are all for the time present we would all be Masters no servants Wilt thou now say the Disciples to our Saviour after his resurrection restore the Kingdome to Israel Who answered them It is not for you to know the times and seasons that the Father hath put in his owne power And it is good to wait 1. It is bonum honorandum an honorable good Happy are these thy servants saith Sheba 's Queen that stand continually before thee O King Solomon But a greater then Solomon is here 2. It is bonum utile a profitable good The longer we wait the better we speed Abraham waited long for a Son Hanna waited long for a childe so did Zachary and Elizabeth and had they not all a most gracious issue When two Monkes came to King Will. Rufuâ— to buy an Abbots place and endevoured to out-bid each other a third Monk that came to wait on them was asked what he would give and answered Not a penny I came to wait on him that shal have the place upon which he gave the waiter the place 3. It is bonum jucundum a pleasant thing to wait For all Gods wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse and all his paths are peace 4. It is bonum aequum It is most just that we should wait upon that God that would wait upon us that he might be gracious unto us Some Historians have made this difference betwixt Charls King of Sicily and Fabius the Romane Generall the first staid till the opportunity was past and so lost all the second waited till the time came cunctando restituit rem by waiting the fittest season he restored the Common-wealth to her former beauty I had fainted saith the Psalmist unlesse I had believed to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living But he adds by way of advice to others Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart Wait I say on the Lord. Waiting is nothing else but faith and patience and hope lengthened out to Gods time 3. Observe Gods wisdome and goodnesse to you in the choyce of the measure just so much comfort in the creature and no more He it is that gives us our daily bread that feeds us with convenient food that is an allowance fitted to our size and stature a proportion suitable to our condition A crust of Gods carving is better then a banquet of our owne providing I am sure that is true that the Psalmist hath taught us A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked ones Because that little is Gods allowance Plentifull provisions have oftentimes large bills of accompt How hard a matter is it to enjoy much with an Omnia bene Many rich owners are like weary Sumpter-horses who having travelled all day under the burthen of some great treasure at night lie down in a soul stable with gall'd backs so these at last are laid down in their graves with galled distressed consciences And if it so fall out that their spirits are quiet that the tears of the oppressed do not cry out against them yet high places are slippery and great estates lie open to the blasts of envy and malice It is as great a mercy to be able to want that patiently that God denies justly as to use that wisely that God bestowes bountifully Gods measure is ever best so much health and no more so much liberty and no more so much riches and no more so much content in a wife so much comfort in a childe so much love from a friend and no more It may be our neighbour hath ten talents and we but two Gods allowance is ever best beg we for our daily bread but let God be our carver Joseph thought that his good old Father had been mistaken when he laid his right hand on Ephraim's head who was the younger and his left on Manasseh who was the elder And we are ready to entertain hard thoughts of God who oftentimes layes an heavy hand upon his Saints that are his first-born and is very open-handed to others I was envyous at the foolish saith the Psalmist when I saw the prosperity of the wicked when all the day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning But God is wise and knows what is best Some live upon their lands and some by their labours and some by both some live upon their trades and some by alms and some upon their friends God often teacheth his by the want of some mercies how to value others and to be thankfull for them and fruitfull under them Fulnesse is the bane of thankfulnesse and want a good antidote against wantonnesse I am sure surfet kills more then famine more birds are taken with a net then slain with a gun The roaring of the Canon is good Rhetorick to commend peace and that Spring is usually most pleasant that is ushered in by a sharp Winter Yea further the meanest