the same but so disposes of euery particular accident that it turnes to the generall good of his seruants The Merchant venturer puts to Sea rides out many a bitter storme runnes many a desperat hazard vpon hope of a gainfull returne The stout Souldier takes his life into his hand runnes vpon the mouth of the Canon dares the Lyon his owne Den vpon hope of victory Euery man hazards in his calling yet are but vncertaine Venturers ignorant of the issue The Greedy Aduenturer seeking to encrease his stocke loses many times both it and himselfe The Couetous Souldier gaping after spoyle and victory finds himselfe spoyled captiuated But the Christian runnes not at vncertaine he is sure of the goale when he sets forth We are sure of the day before wee enter into the field we may ante victorian Triumpham canere sound the Triumph before the victory When we put on our harnesse wee dare boast as he that puts it off before a stroke be stricken We know wee shall be more then Conquerours thorough Iesus Christ What made that stripling Dauid that Noble Diuine Sparke of Magnanimity runne hastily to encounter with that Gygantean Monster 1. Sam. 17 37 Goliah He knew Iehouah would close his Enemy in his hand What whetted Gedeons valour to march on so boldly with a handfull of men and a few earthen pitchers against so numerous an hoast of armed Midianites Iudges 7 15. He knew the euent God assured him of victory What encoraged the three Children and so animated them that they ran as willingly into the hot fiery Furnace as it were to a bed of Doune or Roses They knew theyr God was able to deliuer them Dan. 3 17. Why should we then be affraide if our Lord and Master call vs forth to grapple with the Goliah of Affliction to encounter with a whole hoast of crosses to drinke of the bitter water of Marah or to vndergo the fiery Tryall Lord strengthen our faith that we quaile not in the day of Battell but rather by that Eagle eye piercing through the vncomfortable mistes and clouds of Affliction we may behold that comfortable close how this bloud-red Sea shall but minister to vs a passage to our heauenly Canaan Pardon my iust indignation if in the falling off from this point I fal foul upon those fresh-watered white liuer'd Souldiers who sailing vpon the rough seas of this World are gashed with euery storme and frighted with euery gust The least apparant danger settes them quite besides themselues driues them into Dauids dissident conclusion I said in my hast all men are lyars Psal 116.11 Or makes them cry out with Peter Master saue me Mar. 14.30 I perish Whence this but because we look only on things which are seene not on things vvhich are not seene 2. Cor. 2.18 because wee liue by sight and sense not by faith Hinc illae lachrymae Hence those feares those feares those vnlawfull shifts plotted and practised to wind our selues out of such greeuous perplexities These haue no faith or at best are but men of little faith as our Sauiour increpates his Disciples Mat. 8.26 if their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were come to full growth to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they wold doubtlesse stand still and behold the saluation of the Lord. They wold say with Paul Exod. 14.17 we know that al things c. Thus are we falne ere wee are aware into the body of our Discourse these Skirts and Subburbes haue led vs into the heart of the City If any thinke I haue dwelt too long in the Portall let this content them we are now in the Palace we haue beene long in cracking the shell that your appetites might bee whetted to long for the kernell All things Now few not many but All none excepted worke together Many and sundry Agents are found in the world whose course and scope whose aime and ends and actions are not the same they communicate not their secrets each to other yea their intentions are diuers nay aduerse one thwarting crossiing another yet the ouer-ruling Prouidence of that supreme Moderator and sole Monarch of Heauen and earth so swaies all subordinate and inferior instruments that in the midst of their mutuall iarres and oppositions they conspire in a sacred Harmony as if they were entred into a holy league or some sacred combination for the good of his chosen where euer they be in respect of their places whosoeuer in regard of their persons howsoeuer dis-ioynted in regard of their affections all their proiects and practices tend or shall turne to the good of the Elect. If I were discoursing among Philosophers me thinks they might excellently be shadowed out by the Reuolution of the Heauens Euery Planet moues in it owne proper Orbe their motions are not all alike but various nay opposite each vnto other Hence those different Coniunctions Oppositions and Aspects of the Planets yet by the wheeling round of the Primum Mobile they are brought about to one determinate point If I were to discourse among States-men I would wish them to obserue the wise and politicke carriage of a Prouident Prince who meeting with opposite factions in his State while each man takes his owne way one seeking to vndermine another he serues his owne endes of both so wisely managing the good so powerfully ouer-awing the bad that all turnes to the common good I leaue the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the iudicious Reader For good so some Interpreters for the Best so others the former exposition is good and warrantable the latter I take is Best and most Emphaticall There is a fourefold good incident to mankinde Naturall Ciuill Spirituall Eternall Naturall which respects the good of our bodies the Ciuill the good of our states Spirituall the good of our soules in this life Eternall the happinesse of body and soule both in the life to come The Naturall good is common to man and beast the Ciuill is common to the wicked with the Godly onely the Spirituall and Eternall aduances the righteous as much aboue the prophane as the Ciuill aduances a Man aboue a Beast It is apparant enough what Good the Apostle driues at not euery good but the best good not the Naturall or Ciuill good both these vanish as drosse in the furnace of affliction but the Spirituall the Eternall good which abides the fiery triall and as pure Gold is refined rather then empaired by it All things shall worke for their good this is shall make for the good of their soules for their eternall good shall further their Sanctification their Saluation shal make them more holy heere more happie hereafter more gracious on earth more glorious in heauen A Paradox which soundes harsh and must needs grate the eares of a carnall Nichodemus a conceit most absurd in the iudgement of flesh and blood contrary to sense and experience no meruaile if a worldling will not subscribe to it Who more base
righteous are exalted the City shall flourish If their Cup ouerflow their Brests bee full of Milke and their Bones full of Marrow there wordly Wealth makes them rich in good Workes 1. Tim. 6.18 to doe good and to distribute they forget not Now they are Eies to the blind Clothes to the naked Iob 31 17 18 19 20. c. Feete to the lame their Morsels are neuer eaten alone the loines of the poore shall blesse them My promise was not to dwel on this branch which requires not confirmation but onely illustration Why should I waste the time in prouing what none denies Here 's the maine Scruple a Quaere not easily assoyl'd What do all euil things turne to their good I All euill too by accident whether of Sin or Punishment of Sinne whether that of our first Parents or what flowes from thence That of our first Parents Our Apostacie from God in the first Adam made way for the incarnation of the Second Had wee not fallen in Adam wee could neuer haue stood in Christ Our Happinesse at the first was put into our owne hands but how easily were we beguiled by that wily Serpent like little Children that will part with Gold for a Nut-shelle to let goe God Heauen our Soules and all for an Apple Whereas now this Iewell is kept vnder looke and key in the Bosome of God conueighed to vs by our Head Christ Iesus and as soone may Satan pull Christ their Head out of Heauen as snatch a rib a member a limbe from his body Loe how we haue gayned by our lossel our Happinesse is enlarged confirmed we may triumphingly conclude with the Philosopher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wee had perished if we had not perished That which flowes from our first Parents whether Originall Corruption or Actuall Transgression Originall Corruption howeuer it sticke close to all the sonnes of Adam as an Hereditary Leprosie bred in the flesh wil not our of the bone Wel may it bee subdued rooted out it cannot be If it doe not Regnare it will Inhabitare So hath it fretted into our Nature as the Leprosie eate into the walles that it cannot be scraped out till the house be pulled downe like that poysoned Vestiment which the Poets faine was giuen to Hercules that would not off till it had torne the skinne from the flesh and the flesh from the bone This tainture sieges on the wholeman in the vnion of the Soule to the Body and therefore cannot be extirpated eradicated till the finall separation of the Body from the Soule This Fomes Malorum workes for their Good many waies It serues to humble them it lets them see that they carry in them the Spawne of all Sinne the sourse of all Impiety lurkes in their vile Nature that by Nature they are Slaues to sinne Vassals to Satan Daenen eti priusquam nati Aug. Firebrands of Hell heyres of Condemnation that they are naught starke naught worse then naught Now the first step to Christianity is Selfe-Deniall If any man will be my Disciple he must deny himselfe and follow me If the recognition of this poyson and venom which lurketh in the Nature of Man and renders him more odious in the sight of God then a Toade Snake or Serpent can be hateful to vs doe not make him out of loue with himselfe I know not what will Certainly Paul was not enamored with his owne worth when he cryeth out In me that is in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7. ver 18. It driues them to Christ with lamentable sighes and groanes O miserable man that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of Death Thankes bee to God thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7 24 25. verses These diseased creatures sicke as life can hold how eagerly doe they run vnto the Physitian accounting it a most singular Happinesse if they may with the poore Woman in the Gospell but steale a touche of the Hemme of our Sauiours Garment Luk. 8 43 44 that so this Issue of blood may bee stanched and this Spring of Corruption dryed vppe which of it selfe like a seething pot Ezech. 16 16. Ezech. 24 6 7 is euer sending vp a filthy Scumme and like the raging Sea is euer foaming out myre and dirt Esa 57 20 21 Actual transgressions the cursed fruit sprowting from that roote of Bitternesse whether Lesser or Greater are made vsefull to the Elect. Smaller in the Vnderstanding Errours and doubting occasions them to get a surer resolution a scrupulous mind I meane not of such as are more nice then wise which makes doubts where none is and seeke knots in a Bulrush Like those trees which are shaken of the Northerne windes take deeper root and stands firmer The doubting of some few make for the satisfaction of many The Corinthians staggering in that high point of the Resurrection 1. Cor. 15. gaue a hint to Paule for the wiping out of all scruples both in themselues and others No truths more cleare now then those which haue beene heretofore most controuersall In the Affections Their proanenesse to anger wrath dissention Aemulation secret heart-burning open distaste These humaine frailties make them more wary more watchfull Acts. 15.39 Paule and Barnabas fall at variance their discord breakes into a rent or separation this separation tended much to the spreading of the Gospell Howsoeuer these slips let them see their owne weaknesse now they know they are but men now they learne to curbe their exorbitant passions and will not be not so foolish as to lay the reines on the neckes of those vnruly horses which if they once get head will indanger their owne necke and their Masters too I but what shall we thinke of the greater euills Grosse sinnes howsoeuer they seeme to make Hauocke of the graces of the Spirit like a Thiefe in the Candle wasting all or like some blazing Comets prodigiously portending ruine and desolation to that Soule which is so fouly ouer-taken yet out of this Ranke poison the Grand Physitian fetches a Soueraigne Treacle vsing the blood of the Scorpion to cure the sting of the Scorpion This turnes to their owne good the good of their Brethren To their owne Good many wayes making them more humble more meeke more wise more cautelous more wary and more Zealous These foule Enormities whereby they become Publike scandals to God and Man are those stinging Coraziues which eate downe that Pride of heart and selfe-conceitednesse to too much ouerweening their owne worth A sinne which though it make little noise in the eares of the world yet appeares farre more odious and abominable in the sight of God then those Carnall fleshly sins which the world censures so deepely Secondly as it make them more humble in themselues Gal. 6.1 so it renders them more gentle to their Brethren If any man be fallen by occasion into any fault restore such a one with the Spirit of meeknesse is the Iniunction of
new sinne is as it were a new Snake euery renewed act of sinne giues a new stab euery stab more mortall then the biting of a Serpent or sting of an Adder Prou. 23.32 Yet euen those teares are the foode of Angels those sighes sweet musicke in the eares of God that griefe the ioy of heauen By this rough tract thorny path their feete are guided into the way of Peace those Agonies make way for the Prince of Peace who came not to Call the righteous Mat. 2.17 but sinners to Repentance Sinners Mar. 11.28 that labour and are laden with the weight of their sinnes to them he giues that peace which passeth all vnderstanding Philip. 4.7 Both these put together carry an Image of Hell Spirituall disertion is that poena Damni punishment of losse Anguish of minde is that poena sensus punishment of sense an estate little differing from that of the Damned saue onely in Degree and Continuance By these Gates of Hell many times the deerest Saints of God saile to Heauen If these inward Euils which doe pierce thorough our very soules become thus profitable much more those outward miseries which though great enough in themselues are but Flea-bitings in comparison of the other May it please you to see this fulfilled in the Generals in the Particulars Generally all outward affliction works to their good whoeuer plowes not with the Heifer of the Spirit shall neuer vnfold this Riddle How meate comes out of the Eater Sweet out of the Sowre Iudg. 14 18. Hony out of the Lyon Rom. 5 3 4. Tribulation brings forth Patience Patience Experience Experience 1 Cor. 4 17. Hope that maketh not ashamed The light momentarie affliction of this life cause to vs a far more excellent an eternal weight of Glory This Lesson the Holy ones learne in the Schoole of Experience that howeuer no affliction but is greeuous for the time not ioyous Hebr. 12 11. yet after it brings the quiet fruit of peace to them that are thereby exercised They finde more solid ioy in suffering for Christ Hebr. 11 25. then in all the pleasures of sin which last but for a season Gods Sheepe thriue best in Salt marshes his Corne is parest from Chaffe when it is vnder the Flaile his Gold freest from drosse when cast into the fiery furnace these stars shine brightest in the darkest night their feete tread surest in the roughest way The Prodigall spend-thrift thinks not of Home till hee was pinched with Famine Luke 15 17. brought to a morsell of bread Hagar was proude and pierke in the house of Abram but gentle and tractable in the wildernesse Ionah lyes snoring and snorting in the ship watching and praying in the Whales belly Those noble Vines planted with Gods owne hand would run wilde into Luxuriant branches and bee ouergrowne with many noisome lustes were they not euer and anone pruned with some sanctified trouble In their affliction they will seeke mee early Hosea 5.15 While the Sunne-shine of Peace and Prosperity lasted God sent his Prophets rising vp early and lying downe late stretching out their hands and throats al the day long but these deafe Adders stoppe theyr eares at the voice of the Charmer till the Aule of Afflictions come then their eares are boared then they seeke them as eagerly as he sought him earely Let mee then for the Generall conclude with Ieremy Lamen 3 27. It is good for a man to beare the yoake from his youth Psal 119.71 with Dauid It is good for vs that we are afflicted with Paul All things worke together for the good of them that loue God For the Particulars Priuate Publike Calamities make all for the best too Priuate whether in their Estate or in their Name or on theyr Persons In their Estate Are they pinched with want and penurie Dan. 1 12. fed with pulse and water as Daniel this lets them see Prou. 15 16. a little vvith the feare of the Lord is better to the righteous then great riches to the vngodly Howeuer poore in this world yet they are rich in God and this corporall pouerty fittes them for the Kingdome of God They haue a Feast which the world knows not of Besides whether I beseech you hath better experience of the Loue Goodnesse and Care of his Heauenly Father he that wallowes in his wealth and sacrifices to his owne Net or he who is fedde from hand to mouth as it were from heauen Who will not preferre the course fare brought to Elijas by those straunge Catorers the Rauens before all the dainties which were serued vp to Ababs Table 1 Kings 17.6 In their Good Names If their reputation be blacke with infamy if some stinking Fly be falne into that sweete Oyntment which makes it putrifie either this staine is drawne vpon themselues deseruedly or some dirt is cast in their faces by the hand of Malice or Enuy. What comes through their owne default they beare it patiently improue it profitably These are the thoughts wherewith they entertaine themselues What is it such a hell to bee in disgrace with Men that a man had as good be halfe hanged as haue his credit cracke oh what a hell is it to be out of fauour with God to be shamed discarded before Men and Angels at the Generall Assise of the whole World What Malice or Envy casts vpon them if for a good cause 1 Peter 4.14 they glory in that shame counting it the greatest grace in all the world to suffer disgrace for vvell-doing Euils on their persons vvhether Diseases or Death For Corporal deformities God often recompences outward defects with a supply of inward Grace If Naaman the Syrian had not beene a Leaper in his body the Leprosie of his soule I feare had neuer beene cured How many flocking to Christ for the cure of their bodies obtained the saluation of their Soules like Saul who seeking for Asses stumbled on a Crowne 2 Cor. 4 16. As the outward man decayes so the inward is strengthened Could we performe in our health what we promise on our sicke-bed wee should liue more like Angelles then Men. Death it selfe that King of Terrors to a natural man Iob. 14 18. as the Philosopher obserues of all fearfull things the most fearefull to them is but the Gate to Life The Sting of this Serpent is pulled out and they dare lay it in their bosome It vvas first threatned as a Curse The soule that sinnes shall Dye Gen. 2.17 it is now turned to a Blessing If wee had our hope in this life onely 1 Cor. 15 19. We were of all men the most miserable Blessed are they that dye in the Lord Reuel 14.13 for they rest from their labours and theyr Workes follow them Their whole life is a continuall Combate with the world the flesh and the diuell euery day they bring home new Spoyles new Trophees but are neuer
crowned til the last These Sampsons make foule hauocke of their Enemies many terrible slaughters and massacres do the Philistms suffer from their hands during their life but the dead which they slay at their death Iudg. 16.30 are farre more then those which were slaine in their life They bow downe with all their might the pillars of the clay Cottages fall and at once they are auenged of all their Aduersaries Thus is the day of Death better to them Eccles 7.3 then the day of their Birth being indeed the Doomesday of their misery their Birth-day of Glory As for their Carkasses which they leaue behinde them as the Snake his skin in the thicket that they might renew their strength as an Eagle are they not committed as Good seede into the Granary of the earth there to die that they may bee quickned Shall not those leaues which fall in this Autumne at the spring of the Generall Resurrection sproute forth againe 1 Cor. 15.42 Sowen they are in Corruption but shall be raised in Incorruption sowen in dishonour but shall bee raised in Glory With theser very eyes shall I see my Redeemer sayd Iob. 17.26.27 that Mirror of Patience As prîuate and personall miseries so publicke and Nationall Calamities aduance their Good Put the case some strange iudgement ouertake a People which threatens nothing but Ruine Desolation Deuastation a iudgement the very sound whereof would make any Mans eares to tingle that heares it a sweeping storme that beares all downe before it when the Lord it should seeme intends To cut roote and branches Isaiah 9.14 head and taile and wipe out their name from vnder Heauen this makes for them many waies Sometimes they are housed before the storme Tender hearted Iosiah 2 King 22.20 1 King 14.13 2 King 20.19 good Abijah vpright Hezekiah were they not all Gathered to their Father in peace and as the Prophet speaks more generally of the Righteous taken away from the euill to come Isaiah 57.1 Sometimes they are shrouded from the storme Noah rides safely in a well-pitch'd Arke when the whole world was couered with the waters of the Deluge Gen. 7.23 Lot escapes with his wife Gen. 19.21.22 and finds a shelter in Zoar when Sodome and Gommorah were turned into Ash heapes Sometimes they haue a Calme in the midst of the storme Exod. 10.23 There was light in Goshen when all Aegypt was clouded with a thicke and grosse darkenesse Gideons fleece was dry Iudg. 6.39 when all the earth was wet The Mourners in Ierusalem Ezek. 9.6 were secured in that Generall massacre When Israel was led into captiuity then was Ieremy set at liberty The Prophet finds more fauour with the Princes of Babel Ier. 40.4 then from the Peeres of Israel Sometimes as vsually it fals out they are enwrapped in the Common Calamities yet that is in mercy to them which to others becomes a iudgement For first God euer threatens before he strikes The storme hanges and houers a long time ouer their heads ere it fal The messengers of God summon them to Repentance lay open there sins denounce iudgement As Ionah to Nineueh yet forty dayes and Niniueh shall bee destroyed Ionah 3.4 These peales sounded in their eares those visions presented to their eyes rouze them from the deepe sleepe of Security and now how doe they bestirre themselues considering their wayes ransacking their hearts renouncing their sinnes Preparing to meete their God with Ashes on their heades Sackcloth on their backs Feares in their eyes Sorrow in their hearts Prayers in their lips and ropes in their hands Secondly admit the Sentence bee irreuocable the Iudge be inexorable his wrath vnplacable they haue ioyn'd in the sinnes and therefore must share in the plagues of their Nation euen this is in fauour they are but corrected heere that they might not bee condemned heereafafter These plagues may kill them but cannot hurt them they may rent the garments of their bodies but their soule is invulnerable they do but shorten their misery and hasten their Glory Yea euen that Spirituall iudgement which of all others is most fearefull makes to their aduantage If the Golden Candlesticke bee remoued from one Nation is it not giuen to another The Gospell like the Sea it looseth ground in one place getteth footing elswhere If the Sun set to one Horizon it ariseth to another The falling of the Iewes was the rising of the Gentiles when they were cast off with a Lo-ruhamah a Lo-anni Hos 1.8.9 to vs that were not the people of God was it said Yea are the Sons of the liuing God When the shaddowes of the Euening were stretched ouer Asia the day dawned to vs in Europe If our vnworthinesse should depriue vs of this light Quod omen Deus Auertat it would doubtsly bee giuen to a Nation that shall bring foorth better fruits adorning the glorious Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ with their holy and Christian Conuersation which wee haue soulely blemished with our horrible and hainous Abominations Thus you see what a rich Mine of Consolation is heere conueighed vnto vs a Mine that cannot be exhausted The Well is deepe the deeper we go still the sweeter it is It is not the weake Backet of our shallow Capacity though let downe neuer so often that can dreine this Spring Much water haue we drawn vp already and perhaps the Reader may thinke too much yet nothing in comparison of what is left behinde What is a drop to the Ocean May I not safely and boldly conclude now All thinges all Good God Angels Men the ordinances of men Ciuill Ecclesiasticall gift of body Ornaments of the minde and estate All euill of sinne Originall Actuall smaller grosser of punnishment inward spirituall disertion horror of minde outward priuate miseries on their goods good name or persons publike calamities temporall spirituall iudgements all worke for the best of those that loue God Ere I proceed to the application of the point I must cleare the way by remouing some scruples which otherwise will lye as so many rubs to blocke vp our passage How does all euill worke for the Good of Gods chosen when euen Good things proue sometimes snares to the Righteous Psa 30 6.7 Was not the man after Gods owne heart puffed vp with his prosperity I said I shall neuer be moued Was not Hezekiah sicke of the same disease 1 Kings 10.15.17 who tooke so deepe a surfet of plenty that the Prophet was forced to minister a sharpe purgation To this I answere For the most part as the Lord conferres his fauours vpon them so hee giues them Grace to make a right vse of them as he wrings to them waters out of a full Cup so hee giues them a steady hand to carry this Cup without spilling Ioh. 1.10 If they be hedged in with blessings as sometimes Iob this hedge serues as awal of brasse wherby the suggestions
left Reprobate to euery good Worke. As for euill of Punishment Let God forsake them with Saul 1 Sam. 28 6 7.8 1 Samuel 28. verses 6 7 8. they will forsake God and runne from his presence like Cain turne Vagabonds Genesis 4. verse 16. Gen. 4.16 If the Euill of Sinne pursue them and their owne Conscience haue raysed a Heu and Cry against them with Achitophell they flye to a Halter for Remedie and for feare of Hell leape into Hell Outward Crosses do them no good Esay 1.5.7 Esay 1. verses 5 7. I haue smitten them yet they haue not turned vnto me is an olde Complaint nay much hurt Ahaz in his Affliction transgresseth more and more 2 Chro. 28 22. The wicked King cries out This euill comes from the Lord shall I serue him any longer 2 Kings 9 33. 2 Kings chap. 6. verse 33. Iobs Wife will Curse God Iob. 2.6 and Dye Iob 2. 9. Is their Credite crackt They grow as shamelesse now as they were gracelesse before proclayming their sinnes as Sodome and fearing neyther God nor Man Is their state impouerished The stick not to put foorth their handes to vnlawfull shiftes adding Sin to Affliction In the Diseases of their Bodies with Asa they seeke not vnto God 2 Chro. 16.12 but trust to the Physitian In extreamity of paine they soone loose themselues and their patience like the raging Sea they vomit out their owne shame In Death they goe away lumpishly as Nabal or ridiculously with a Sardonicall Laughter or desperately like that Gallant M. Perkins in gouernment of the tongue who spurring his Horsse till hee sprang aside into the water as hee was tumbling ouer the Bridge cryed out Horse Man and all to the Diuell All this is but the beginning of Sorrow Isaiah 66.24 Death giues them vp to the Gnawing of that worme which neuer dyet the burning of that Lake which shall neuer slake and the scorching of those flames that shall neuer cease Death cuts off their Hope which endeth with their Life and giues life to those Torments which shall neuer end Thus is their Life Miserable their Death Lamentable their End Damnable The last Grape which I shall plucke from this Goodly Cluster and presse forth is An Exhortation to Patience vnder the Crosse If all things shall worke for thy Good why dooest thou murmure and mutine against God because hee followes thee with a Succession of Crosses Thy Afflictions are many and great tedious and greeuous say not thou with Caine Gen. 4.13 My punishment is Greater then I can beare Genes 4. verse 13. Whateuer euill it bee that lyes so heauie whether on thy Bodie Name or State whether inward Temptation or outward Tribulations is it not for thy Good Wilt thou be such an Enemy to thine owne Soule as to repine at thine owne Good The Cup is bitter I but happily the lesse toothsome the more wholesome Thy teeth are set an edge with eating sowre Grapes this bitter Aloes must set them right Thou canst happily make a shift to turne ouer a draught of Worme-wood Beere euery morning next thy heart Is it not bitter as Gall Is it not distastfull to the Palate Why doest thou drinke it Oh the Phisitian assures me it 's for my good Thou sufferest the Surgeon to launce thy raging vlcer to lay a sharpe Corazine which may eate downe the dead flesh It stings cruelly smarts terribly yet thou endurest it patiently Why The Surgeon tells thee it is good for thee If the Grand Phisitian of thy Soule prescribe a bitter draught next thy heart murmure not if that skilfull Soule-Surgeon clap on a Coraziue murmure not hee assures thee it 's for thy Good Stay not here neither this will teach thee to vndergoe thy trouble not onely patiently but chearefully according to that of the Apostle Reioyce in Tribulation Why Tribulation brings forth Patience Patience Experience Rom. 4.3.4 5. Experience Hope that maketh not ashamed Oh the sweete Fruite that growes from this bitter roote S. Iames. 1.23 Iames seconds Paul My Brethren count it great ioy when you fall into diuers tentations knowing that the trying of your faith bringeth foorth Patience and let Patience haue her perfect worke Set before your eyes that Mirrour of patience remember Iob when crosses came thronging thick and threefold one vpon the necke of another like a showre of haile-shot Luke 21.19 yet the Holy man possesses his soule by his patience Set before you that Mirrour of Mirrours the Sauiour of the vvorld how willingly did hee drinke of that bitter Potion Mat. 26.39 Iames. 1.13 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for vvhen he is tryed hee shall receiue the Crowne if life which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him Thou art now in the furnace waite till the drosse bee consumed thou art now in the Scouring-house stay till the soile be wiped off then shalt thou bee translated from this valley of teares to that Region of ioy where all sinne shall bee wiped from thy soule all sorrow from thy heart all teares from thine eyes that ioy shall no man take from thee FINIS Gentle Reader I thought good to fill vp this vacant Page with this Table All things worke for the best to the Godly whether Good Supreme God consider'd in his Nature Atributes Workes Either of Mercy Iudgement Or By meanes without means Against means Subordinate Persons Angels Men in their ordinances Ciuill Magistrates Ecclesiasticall Ministers Things Gifts of Minde Ornaments of Body Gifts of Fortune so termed Euill Sinne whether That of our first Parents That which flows thence Originall Actuall Smaller in the Vnderstanding Errours Will. Passions grosser Punishment Inward Spirituall Dissertion Horror of Conscience Generall All Affliction Outward Priuat euill of State Pouerty Name Ignomy Persons Diseases Death National Plagues Publike A Post-script Gentle Reader if I seeme to breake off abruptly and to doe my worke by halues the truth is my desire was to present this my first and imperfect essay to the world for a tast onely If it may finde fauour acceptation I shall be encouraged to perfect what is left vnfinished if not little said soone amended Errata For bee read is Pag. 1. line 4. for his read this p 3. l. 6. read to p. 4. l. 3. read the crowne p. 7. l. 10. read gastred p. 27. line last read make p. 44. l. 1. read lockes p. 51. l. 26. read him p. 56. l. 18. them l. 19. read Lo-ammi p. 64.13