I finde another lawe in my members Rom. 7.23.24 rebelling against the law of my minde and leading mee captiue unto the law of sinne which is in my members And after this bursteth he not foorth into that languishing complaint O wretched man that I am who shall deliver mee from this bodie of death Besides this O my Soule is not miserable man thus depryved of all righteousnesse and corrupted throughout in bodie and soule made a miserable Beggar beeing before so great a Monarch that hee hath no title to anie of the creatures of GOD so that beeing out of CHRIST the verie meate which hee eateth the verie cloathes which cover his nakednesse the verie aire which hee breatheth into c. shall procure his condemnation suppose hee sinned not otherwayes against his GOD. But which is moste lamentablie miserable O my Soule not onelie is man thus depryved of good and corrupted with evill made a miserable Beggar but a monstrous Slaue yea a Slaue unto a fearfull Slaue even unto Satan that evill one who not onelie lodgeth but even worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 fighting against man by those his ugliest champions Sinne the Worlde Death and the Graue When shall this bee seene and perceived by us O my Soule Surelie could this bee seene Sinne should bee hated by us with an unfained hatred Satan should bee resisted by us as our onelie deadliest enemie Wee use to say O my Soule Burnt Bairne Fyre dreaddeth Hath not that fierie Dragon long agoe burnt us all alace in our first parentes Feele wee not even to this day the fearfull hurt which wee received by that burning Yea carrie wee not about with us goe where wee will the scarres and markes of that burning Should wee not then abhorre to looke to that Dragon to obey anie of his counsels were they never so apparantlie profitable or pleasant For albeit his coate appeareth somewhat to bee friendlie his heart shall remaine alwayes the heart of an irreconcilable Foe SCarre scarre O my Soule with sinne as thou lovest thy GOD and thy selfe for hath not thy GOD who loveth thee with a great loue with a wise loue tolde thee That whosoever sinneth against Him must not onelie receiue wages for his sinnes but besides his wages that boontieth which is due unto Sinne also The wages of Sinne O my Soule as thou knowest is Death Rom. 6.23 even that first death with all those diseases which leade a man unto it separating the soule from the bodie and the bodie from the soule and that second death banishing soule and bodie from the comfortable sight of Gods saving Face and gracious presence for ever and why wilt thou die thus O my soule The boontieth of sinne ô my soule is shame Rom. 6.21 procuring such confusion to man that he dare not lift up his head before GOD before Angels before Men unlesse in soule he bee senselesse both of his GOD and of his sinne This shame was that boontieth wherewith our Iust GOD propined our first parents the first sinners O my soule for howbeit Adam and Evah being free of sinne were naked altogether in respect of materiall naturall seene cloathes yet they were not ashamed but could stand before their GOD and looke one upon another with a good heart and chearfull countenance so glorious were they through the beautie of the Image of GOD which then covered them Alwayes O my Soule no sooner are they infected with Sinne by disobeying the Voyce of their GOD Gen. 3.7.8 but as soone they were so covered with Shame that they dare not looke upon GOD and are confounded while they beholde themselues VVOuldest thou bee freed O my Soule from that Death which is the Wages of Sinne and delivered from that Shame which is the bontieth of Iniquitie I beseech thee shake off that Shame which alace too manie misseled by Satan in this our Age are clogged with albeit it procure daylie matter of new death and greater shame unto them and with a good heart smyling countenance put thou on that Shame where-with too few alace in this our Age are covered albeit it bee able GOD beeing mercifull unto us not onelie to slay Death and shake off confounding Shame but also to procure quickening Grace and saving Glorie Alace O my Soule how manie with Vincentius the Hereticke beside Augustine in his fourtie-eight Epistle while they thinke shame to amende their Faultes thinke no shame to continue in their Faultes Corah with his companions lift up themselues against Moâ—ses Numb 16. and Aaron A certaine space is graunted unto them to advise themselues about this their sinne But dare they not face the matter peartlie beeing as readie to present themselues upon the morrow before the LORD as Moyses and Aaron were What wonder then that our GOD just in all His Wayes cover them with Death and with Shame to their destruction who would not confesse their sinne and willinglie acknowledge That Death and Shame belonged unto them because of it to their conversion Fewe Sinners alace O my Soule in these our dayes with Moyses with David with Daniel with that Great Apostle Paul can acknowledge and confesse their sinnes crying yea crying aloude That Shame yea open Shame belongeth unto them and That Glorie and Righteousnesse belongeth to their GOD and therefore what wonder that amongst our Sinners there bee fewe who haue our Blessed GOD to looke their eyes with Moyses to put away their sinnes with David Deut. 34.6 2. Sam. 12. Dan. 9. 1. â—â—m 1. to heare them with Daniel to receiue them to mercie with Paul Pronounce thy selfe heerefore O my Soule worthie of death because of thy sinnes that GOD through His CHRIST may receiue thee to Life Take the Coate of Shame to thee for thy sinne O my Soule to the ende that thy GOD for thy Saviours sake who for a while was covered with Shame for thee may cloathe thee with Grace heere and with Glorie heere-after for ever FOrget not forget not O my Soule to giue in a Bill of Complaint against thy selfe unto thy GOD accusing thy selfe condemning thy selfe before His Majestie for the secret sinnes committed by thee hid from the Worlde yet knowne by Him And with this forget not to giue in the like Bill against thy selfe before GOD before Angels yea before Men for thy manifest and knowne sinnes seene by that Sunne which shineth by day and not kept secret from that Moone which governeth the night For if thou O my Soule deceived by that olde cunning Deceiver vvho as yet taketh pleasure to deceiue shalt attempt to refuse for anie alluring promise can bee made unto thee for anie harming threatning can bee pronounced against thee to giue in those Billes against thy selfe to the ende that thou happilie judging thy selfe bee not justlie condemned with the Worlde I know one beeing taught of my GOD who will both peartlie and fearcelie giue in his Bill against thee ayming at no lesse than thy
loupe for Ioy within me For by this vvould not thy blessed powerfull GOD whose wayes passe finding out not onlie overthrow but also mocke the malice and craft of the devill to His Majesties great Glorie to Satan his sensible shame and to thy everlasting comfort ô malicious subtill Serpent thou canst cunninglie convey by Evahs eares that fearefull poyson towardes her foule which was able to slay her her husband and their posteritie but is not my good GOD both mercifull and powerfull able to convey to my Soule even by mine eare that wholesome Salue whereby that thy poyson is not onlie made ineffectuall but whereby I am made to liue for ever Thou seest thou smellest thou touchest thou tastest yea thou readest ô man manie thinges alwayes understand it is not by thy sight by thy smelling by thy touching by thy tasting yea it is not by thy reading if thou attempt to despise hearing and so to contemne the Worde preached that thou canst be saved ô when shall that shining Golden Chaine of Salvation presented to us by Paul first be reverenced and then be embraced and keeped by us Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the LORD shall bee saved but how shall they call on Him in whome they haue not believed and how shall they belieue in Him Rom. 10.13.14.15.17 of whom they haue not beard and how shall they heare without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent then faith is by hearing and hearing by the Worde of GOD. EVerie man naturallie loveth life and loving life desireth to liue but alace scarce one of a thousand doth know and consider wherefore life should bee loved and so wherefore man should desire for to liue The Ambitious man with Haman desireth for to liue to the ende his Honour may bee increased The leacherous man with Ammon desireth to liue to the ende hee may satisfie his beastlie Lust The seditious man with Ahitophell desireth to liue to the ende that accomplishing his crooked plottes hee may throw downe such as hee hateth and advaunce those which followe him The avaritious man with the Foole in the Gospel would liue to the ende hee may inlarge his Boundes and augment his Summes The Bellie-god would liue that with the rich Glutton hee may please his taste and fatte his vylde Bellie with the daintiest Fare But bee not those men O my Soule with their desires more than abominable in the Eyes of that holie GOD who made all men for Himselfe and no man for anie thing beside Himselfe Wherefore O my Soule if thou loving thy lyfe wouldest loue it as it becommeth the Childe of GOD to loue life and so if desiring to liue thou wouldest liue for the right ende I would advertise thee to learne of that wise graue Heavenlie-learning Father David That this lyfe is not to bee loved but for GODS cause onelie and so man should not desire to liue Psal 119.17 Genes 3. Luke 1.74.75 Rom. 8.11.12.13 but to the ende hee may keepe GODS Lawe This was the Ende wherefore man having lost himselfe in Adam was redeemed by IESVS CHRIST Yea this is the ende wherefore dead uncleane man is quickened renewed and sanctified by the Spirit of the Father and of His dearest Sonne A Lace ô my Soule as men desire to liue and in desiring to liue doe sinne grosselie because they desire not to liue for the right ende so men desire also to die but alace they sinne in desiring to die because the groundes of their desire are vylde before GOD and nowayes profitable but hurtfull to themselues Could wee desire to liue submitting humblie and holilie our crooked willes to the straight will of GOD to the ende that with David wee might keepe His Law and with Hezekiah that wee might benefit His Children on Earth heere Could wee desire to die submitting also heerein our will to the good will of GOD to the ende wee might cease to breake the Lawe of our GOD and so to sinne against His Majestie yea to the ende that wee might bee with IESVS who is our onelie advantage both in lyfe and in death holie should this our desire bee and happie should wee prooue having such a desire wrought in our Soules Vnderstand understand O my soule that this naturall life is no benefit unto man can bee no benefit for man at all but onelie in so farre as it goeth before Spirituall and aeternall life and so in so farre as it hath Spirituall and aeternall life following it for as that olde Saying ever remaineth true Nemo renatus qui non prius natus None hath GOD bearing them over againe by His Spirit to bee a Christian but such who were borne first of flesh and bloode to be men and women So that shall ever holde true which our Master spake of Iudas It had beene good for that man who is not borne over againe by the holie Spirit that hee had never bene borne of a Woman For Death seazing on that man cannot possibly but sende him to Hell unlesse before death man cease for to sinne And if through GODS Grace man die to sinne before hee die before the worlde hee shall cease from his laboures and rest with GOD for ever Bernhard meditating long agoe upon this and subscrybing to the trueth of it from a renewed humble honest heart drewe up this Prayer unto his GOD I beseech Thee O LORD my Father to bestowe upon mee Thine hungrie Childe three Bread Even that I may knowe that I may loue and that I may doe Thy will So shall I liue for in these three standeth the whole lyfe of my Soule And againe It is commonlie sayde amongst men Hee who feedeth well liveth well But heere Wickednesse doeth most grosselie ô my GOD bewray it selfe for none can possiblie liue well but such who liue ordinatelie sociallie and humblie ordinatelie studying to procure honest thinges both before GOD and man that neyther hee sinne against his GOD nor by his sinfull lyfe offend his Brethren Sociallie living so that hee studie to bee beloved of others and to loue others Humblie that while hee is made thus through the Grace of his GOD to carrie himselfe he be not puffed up with pryde as alace too manie bee But contrarie-wise that with the holie Sainctes of GOD yea with His most blessed Angels Rev. 4.9.10 hee cast himselfe alwayes downe before that Majestie who hath beene so mercifull and beneficiall unto him O My Soule When shalt thou beginne to loue that GOD truelie who hath loved thee dearelie with that sincere loue which His Majestie will accept of as of that loue which commeth from Him and sendeth thee backe unto Him againe Belieue mee ô my Soule albeit there bee some yet there bee not manie who be beautified and gifted with this sorte of loue for thou must know ô my soule that the heart of man hath beene and is clogged and cloathed with a foure-folde loue which would be considered by our
Yea knowest thou not Him who knewe the verie thought of the heart of Simeon the Pharisee speaking thus within himselfe of thy Saviour If this Man were a Prophet Hee would surelie haue knowne what manner of Woman this is which toucheth Him Luke 7.39.40 for shee is a Sinner Oh! ô my soule when shall that which was seene felt and confessed by olde Bernhard who lived in that blinde Age which was couched under grosse Darknesse bee seene bee felt and bee confessed by us who liue nowe hauing that great shyning light of the Gospel continuallie with her hote pearcing Beames stryking as it were our verie Eyes so that wee cannot hyde our selues from them eyther LORDS Day or Weeke day yea eyther by day or by night Bringeth hee not in the wicked man speaking thus to himselfe Parietes inquit sunt undiqueue quis me videt I am inclosed on all sides with walles vvho seeth me Alwayes how is that wicked man answered by him Esto nemo te videt non tamen nullus videt te Angelus bonus videt te angelus malus Bernhard videt te bonis malis Angelis major Deus I giue thee sayeth Bernhard that no man seeth thee yet darest thou say that none seeth thee the good Angell seeth thee the evill angell seeth thee also and vvhich is more one who is greater than good and evill angels seeth thee to wit GOD. When that evill angell the devill O my Soule seeth thee thy irreconciliable Adversarie and bitter Accuser ô my Soule seeth thee When GODS good Angell seeth thee that witnesse seeth thee who vvill beare testimonie against thee yea thy loving Brother seeth thee whom by thy sinne thou grievest fearefullie When thy GOD seeth thee that judge seeth thee who neyther can bee possibilie frustrate of His purpose nor anyways corrupted when He goeth to judgement Attempt not heerefore O my Soule to commit sinne upon hope of secresie for I must assure thee from the mouth of thy GOD that if thou shalt sinne against Him thou shalt bee seene by Him SInne and Evill are so joyntlie knit together O my Soule let Satan alleadge vvhat he will let men misled by Satan alleadge what they please that vvhosoever committeth sinne doeth evill albeit neither in the eyes of other men neither in his owne eyes yet in the eyes of that good GOD before whome sinne was never good before whom sinne shall never be good yea before whom sinne hath ever beene evill sinne shall ever remaine evill commit it who so will I pray thee heerefore O my soule while thou breathest heere forget not to thinke grauelie upon that warning and vvakening Sentence which is delivered by the Spirit touching David his adulterie and murther And when the wife of Vriah heard that her husband Vriah was dead 2. Sam. 11.26.27 shee mourned for her husband So when the mourning was past David sent and tooke her to his House and she became his Wife Alwayes hearken hearken O my soule unto that which followed But the thing that David had done was evill in the sight of the LORD Alwayes lest this evill which ever accompanieth sinne be mistaken by thee O my Soule thou must know that howbeit Sinne bee evill in the sight of the LORD yet the evill of Sinne is not hurtfull to the LORD against whom it is committed but onelie unto that Soule by the which it is committed For as mans goodnesse cannot profite his GOD Ioh 35.6.7 8. so his sinne cannot harme His Majestie Oh! ô my Soule When shall the deboashed Gospellers of this our Tyme suffer these Oracles of GOD to take roote downwarde in their heartes to the ende they may bring foorth Fruite upwards in their lyues Doe they provoake Mee to wrath sayeth the Lord and not themselues to the confusion of their owne faces Ierem. 7.19 Eccles 8.13 It shall not bee well with the Wicked neyther shall hee prolong his dayes but hee shall bee lyke a shadow because hee feareth not before GOD. As thou lovest thy selfe then ô my soule strengthen thy selfe against all Sinne if thou wouldest not haue mee to repent albeit alace out of tyme after death and judgement That ever I was borne For that Evill which ever accompanieth the Sinner for Sinne must in despight of Devils and men at length ceaze upon the Sinner unlesse by sincere repentance GOD beeing mercifull unto him for His Sonne IESVS His sake hee quyte himselfe tymouslie of Sinne. THE Wyse Gardener judgeth of his Tree by its Fruite as the vertuous Husbandman judgeth of his Seede according to his Harvest But oh O my Soule When shalt thou learning to bee holilie and truelie wyse beginne to judge of Sinne thine onelie Enemie by that fruite by that harvest alace which it bringeth foorth Oh LORD GOD oh LORD GOD how fearfullie bitter is that fruit which that rotten poysoning tree of Sin bringeth foorth How fearfullie hurtfull is that uncouth harvest which followeth it I must tell thee heere O my Soule that that Sinne whereinto I was conceived and borne and which alace I must alwayes keepe within my bosome while I liue heere bringeth foorth fruite bringeth foorth sheaues yea such stoukes such stackes which bee so fearfullie bitter so horriblie hurtfull that if this bitternesse and hurt coulde bee perceived even by us who call our selues GODS Children wee should bee easilie mooved with that chosen Vessell of GOD uncessantlie to crye out O miserable man that I am who shall deliver mee from this bodie of death Knowest thou not ô my Soule Roman 7. that thou and this my bodie came joyntlie in one minute joyned together in this Worlde as two kynde Twinnes loving other moste entirelie embracing other most kyndlie Yea knowest thou not ô my Soule that thou and this my bodie haue lived since that time of my birth in this Worlde some yeares together as husband and wife moste strictlie married one to another even before GOD and by GOD and yet that bitter roote of Sinne which alace was conceived was borne and which hath lived with us will haue in despight of all wee can devise or doe thee O my soule separate from this bodie of mine and this my bodie separate from thee But will bitter Sinne stay heere notwithstanding this bee a sharpe stroake Not ô my Soule For Sinne even after this separation is made will haue that bodie within the which it some-time lodged for heere I am speaking ô my Soule of the verie condition of GODS Sainctes onelie albeit it bee dislodged and put out of the bodie by death couched under the vildest stinke and most pestiferous flewar that ever came to the nosthrils of man notwithstanding that that bodie was sometime pleasant to the eyes of the beholders and savourie to the smell of such as approached neare unto it in such sorte that the loving father may not suffer that his tender childe beeing dead to abide in one house with him that the pittiefull hearted mother can bee
comfortlesse confusion and remedilesse condemnation Alace alace O my Soule When shall the dead senselesse sinners of this Age reade with attention consider with meditation that fearfull Stile vvhich that good Spirit of GOD our Teacher giveth to that Evill spirit the Devill our irreconcilable Adversarie Is not that evill spirit stiled by that Good Spirit The Accuser of the Brethren Where-by thy Teacher Rev. 12.10 ô my Soule the Spirit of thy Father and of thy Saviour vvould teach thee That no sooner doe anie of the Children of our GOD commit especiallie anie grosse knowne sinne against His Majestie but as soone that Evill one praesenteth craftilie albeit maliciouslie the names and sur-names of those vvith their sinnes before GOD crying O LORD Thy Majestie madest this Man to Thine owne Image Thy Majestie delivered Thy Sonne to death for him Thy Majestie vvast readie by Thy Spirit to renewe him and yet for all this Thy great loue hath hee not defiled him selfe vvith abominable Idolatries blooddie Murders filthie Adulteries and Fornications brutish Drunkennesse mercilesse Oppressions c. Wilt Thou not ô just Iudge of the Worlde rub Shame upon the face of such a one vvho hath so grosselie rubbed Shame upon Thy Name and upon Thy Blessed Gospel professed by him Yea vvilt Thou not ô just Iudge of the World adjudge such a one to bee mine for ever vvho hath after the offer and proofe of such rare loue and kindnesse refused to bee Thine O my Soule vvouldest thou not bee loath that such an Accusation should bee made against thee especiallie by such an Accuser Forget not then forget not then to accuse thy selfe before thy GOD to the ende that His Majestie may bee mooved out of pittie for thy Savioures sake to excuse thee yea to defende thee even before and against the Devill thine Accuser and deadliest Enemie BLinde Man slipping the first Path in the which hee should stay his steppes is made to fall from that high vvay in the which alone hee should walke heere and to deboash him selfe in that by-way vvhich leadeth him alace towardes that Lake out of the which there is no redemption because man cannot seeke after that true Director and Guide vvho neyther can deceiue nor bee deceived While hee looketh for Life hee findeth in ende nothing but Death yea vvhile delighting unhappilie in his praesent foolish sportes hee promiseth great commodities and comforts to himselfe confusion yea condemnation proue in ende to bee his portion What Noble wise man ô my Soule having his young Childe to put to Schoole doeth not even after deliberation make choise both of that Master by whom hee would haue him to bee taught and of that Pedagogue by whom hee would have him attended O Man I must tell thee were thy Raiment never so course were thy Cheare never so sober yet thou lodgest within thy Clay Bodie an immortall Soule which would bee wiselie committed to some good Master to some faithfull and painfull Pedagogue But where shall such a one bee found Let no man seeke after Man to bee his Pedagogue seeke after Man to bee his Master but after that Blessed GOD vvho onelie made Man and is able to instruct man truelie to governe man rightlie And so let man seeking after a Master after a Pedagogue runne to the Face of GOD runne to the Mouth of GOD even unto holie Scripture by the which Hee sheweth Him selfe to man by the which Hee speaketh unto man inquiring there To what way he shall take him selfe in what way he shall keepe him selfe while hee so journeth heere to the ende when that Night of Death shall fall downe upon him hee may set his feete upon the Thresholde of the Gate of that Citie and bee received with joye to lodge even for ever in the inwardest Palaces of that Citie Rev. 21.27 within the which no uncleane thing can possiblie enter Oh my Soule when shall the men of this Worlde prooue as holilie wise about the governing of their Soules which must necessarilie either liue or die for evermore as Monoah the father of Sampson was circumspect about the dressing of the bodie of that his sonne who was onelie to liue for a while with him Hee was not praesent with his Wife vvhen the Angel of God appeared unto her but can hee not runne to his God and say I pray Thee my Lord let the man of God whome Thou sentest come againe nowe unto us Iudg. 13.8 and teach us what wee shall doe unto the Childe when hee is borne Alace alace ô my Soule who runneth thus to God Who prayeth thus to God That Hee by His Spirit would teach them by that blessed Booke of His Worde what they shall doe to their owne Soules and to the Soules of those who belong unto them while they liue heere Oh Lord God vvhen shall that true aunswere given by Thy Majesties gracious Mouth made unto David Thy Scholler inquiring Thy Majestie about this purpose bee hearkened unto by the men of this Age bee believed by the men of this Age By what meanes shall a young man redresse his way By taking heede there-unto according to Thy Worde Psal 119.9 That which our Master spake to the vylde Sadducees touching the grounde of their fearefull errour denying the rising againe of the dead may bee moste truelie applied unto all kinde of sinners debording from the vvayes of Pietie of Righteousnesse or of Sobrietie Thou art an Idolater a Blasphemer a prophaner of Gods Sabbath a Traitor an Oppressor a Murderer a false man an Adulterer a Fornicator a Drunkard because thou knowest not and believest not the Scripture to bee that Booke vvhere-by God thy Master teacheth thee vvhat is that thou shouldest eschew vvhat is that thou shouldest imbrace IN manie respectes ô my Soule is the estate of man now alace couched under Sinne to bee pittied but in this respect especiallie That beeing naturallie sensible of the mortall Clay Vessell hee is naturallie senselesse of the immortalt heavenlie Soule What man having a maimed or diseased bodie hearing vvho can cure him knowing vvhere he may find that Cure seeketh not incontinent for that man longeth not even with wearinesse to be with that man and yet alace while man is not onlie wounded but dead in soule through a greater number of sinnes lying on it than there be haires on his head he cannot only refuse to heare that Physician to come to that Physician who is onelie able to cure him but he can finde an heart to hate such a tongue to revile such yea now and then a verie hand to stryke such as advise him to heare that Physician to belieue that Physician and to bee content to receiue his Potions and to use that his Salue which is only able to cure his soule Naaman the Syrian beeing infected with Leprosie 2. Kings 5. informed by that base handmaid who served in his house That there was a man in Israel able to cure him will not stint till he
Gospellers who professe That they know and loue that CHRIST who hath dearelie loved them if they had heartes to perceiue His loue towards them The first sort of loue is most corrupt in the corrupt heart of corrupt man whereby man loveth himselfe and beside himselfe nothing hunting after nothing while hee liveth but that which may profite or please himselfe yea not reguarding suppose the whole worlde were overthrown with Sodome after that his eyes were closed by death The sesend loue is corrupt also in the corrupt heart of corrupt man whereby man seeing and considering that hee is not of himselfe sufficientlie able eyther to procure unto himselfe such thinges as hee accounteth to bee good or to defende or deliver himselfe from such thinges as hee holdeth to bee evill he is mooved not onelie to loue himselfe but to loue his GOD also And yet while hee loveth GOD thus hee loveth not GOD for GODS cause but GOD for his owne cause and so as Demetrius loved Diana Acts 19.25 who lived by making Silver Shrines unto her The thirde sorte of loue is holie and renewed in the new sanctified and softened heart of the regenerate Childe of GOD whereby he having happilie through the effectuall working of CHRISTES Spirit dwelling in him tasted the Sweetnesse of the bountie and of the goodnesse of his GOD beginneth to loue GOD even for GODS cause that with a more fervent loue than he loveth Father Mother Wife Childe or anie other whosoever The fourth sorte of loue is altogether Spirituall and Heavenlie transporting even with exceeding joye and alacritie the Soule of man from all thinges heere beneath towardes the third Heavens whereby the Childe of GOD is not onelie mooved to loue GOD for GODS cause but to loue himselfe for GODS cause and all other thinges beside himselfe no otherwayes but in GOD and for GOD. This was that loue O my Soule where-with Moyses loved his GOD when hee forsooke the Court of Aegypt and choosed to suffer trouble for CHRISTES cause This was that loue where-with Paul loved GOD vvhen hee sayde My life is not deare unto mee so that I may fulfill my course vvith joye I am readie not to bee bound onelie but also to die at Hierusalem for the NAME of the LORD IESVS And this sorte of loue vvhich is begun onelie heere shall bee fullie perfected in the Heavens Oh LORD GOD vvhen shall I beginne to loue no Honour but that vvhere-by I may honour Thee No Pleasures but those which may please Thee No Wealth but where-with I may haue my Soule enritched by Thee and with Thee for the better seeking and finding of Thee Yea vvhen shall I begin onlie to loue to liue to the ende that Thy Majestie mayest liue in mee and mayest bee glorified by mee Yea ô LORD GOD let me steppe one Steppe higher VVhen shall I beginne to delight to bee shamed to the ende that Thou mayest bee glorified to delight to bee grieved and pained to the ende that Thou mayest bee pleased to delight to bee stripped mother-naked of all the earthlie thinges vvhich I possesse or can possesse to the ende that I may possesse Thee Yea vvhen shall I long and desire to die to the ende that I may liue with Thee And yet could I doe all this vvhat should I doe vvhat could I doe I could doe nothing but prooue myndfull but prooue thankfull and that not through anie grace in mee vvhich is from mee for alace ô my Soule forgettest thou not thy GOD fearfullie art thou not unkinde to thy GOD grosselie but through thine undeserved favour onelie Would not that blessed Sonne of GOD yea that verie GOD of Glorie thy Saviour IESVS ô my Soule bee shamed to honour thee bee pained to please thee bee grieved to grace thee bee made poore to make thee rich Yea would Hee not die to quicken thee And so ô my Soule vvhen thou hast shamed thy selfe to whome Shame is due for Sinne vvhen thou hast grieved thy selfe to whome Griefe is due for sinne vvhen thou hast depryved thy selfe of all thinges to whome nothing is due because of sinne yea vvhen thou hast layde downe thy lyfe vvhome sinne must bereaue of lyfe having death for its Wage vvhat hast thou done considering that Hee who never sinned beeing that GOD of Glorie unto vvhome all Honour all Pleasures all Wealth and onelie lyfe did belong depryved Himselfe of all these thinges and cloathed Himselfe willinglie with the contrarie evils and that for thee Bee myndfull of these thinges ô my Soule and forget not to beg Grace from thy GOD to prooue thankefull for them FOolish Man pittying manie cannot alace pittie himselfe yea hee cannot so much as dreame that hee is to bee pittied and yet what creature is to bee pittied as man who should prooue GODS best creature heere beneath is to bee pittied Oh LORD GOD howe manie men lay downe their lyues daylie and so are remooved from this Earth by death before they know by whom and wherefore they were gifted with lyfe and placed on this Earth And if man in this respect bee not to bee pittied let all such who be sensible of humane miserie judge O my soule if living heere I knowe not of whome I haue my lyfe for vvhome I haue my lyfe and so vvho is Hee unto whome I shoulde looke after whome I shoulde seeke studying alwayes to serue and to please Him even in the whole course of my life had it not beene better for thee ô my Soule that I had never tasted of lyfe That man who never was who never shall bee shall never indeede taste of that sweetest Milke and moste wholesome Honey which is to bee founde in that Heavenlie Canaan which is aboue But with that hee shall never bee tormented with that ever-burning Fire which cannot bee but found in that deepest Gulfe out of the which there is no redemption But as for that man ô my soule who lives and knoweth not Him from whom and for whom hee hath his life bee sure die he before his minde be enlightened to see his GOD before his heart bee mooved to loue Him to belieue in Him and his life bee so sanctified that in some measure hee may serue and please Him not onlie shall hee bee depryved of that immortall Heavenlie Inheritance but also adjudged to remedilesse and comfortlesse condemnation Oh oh when shall the Inhabitantes of this Earth hearken to that wise advise given by that wise Preacher Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth while the evill dayes come not Eccle. 12.1 nor the yeares approach in the which thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them When shall they suffer that great Conclusion to bee brought to their heartes which vvould quicken the deadest and waken the most secure which the same Preacher bringeth to our eares in the same place Let us heare the ende of all Feare GOD and keepe His Commandements for this is the whole duetie of man for GOD will
bring everie worke uto Iudgement with everie secret thing whether it be good Eccl. 12.13.14 or evill Oh oh when shall Preachers when shall Hearers out of a sense hereof learne to cry unto GOD with David Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of Thy Law Teach me Psaml 119.18.33.34 ô LORD the way of thy Statutes and I will keepe it to the ende Giue mee understanding and I will keepe it with my whole heart Yea ô would to GOD that thou ô my soule couldest in this last age see and feele that which Augustine saw and felt in his time to the ende that out of that sight and sense thou mightest make the like confession before GOD which hee made and send up the like Petition to GOD which hee sent up unto Him My Bodie ô LORD liveth by my Soule and my Soule liveth by thee ô my GOD Be neare me heerefore ô GOD neare in mine heart neare in mine eares neare in mine eyes yea neare in my whole body and everie member of it that they may all serue Thee KNewest thou ô my Soule how blessed IESVS hath loved thee be sure thou wouldest loue Him and out of that thy loue thou wouldest be carefull to keepe His Commandements Iaakob loved Benjamin dearely but ô how more dearelie hath IESVS loved thee Iaakob pintched with Famine is content for the safetie of his owne life Gen. 43.11.12.13 to twinne with Benjamin and to send him downe to Aegypt but blessed IESVS to the ende that Hee might feede thee and keepe thee O my soule will not onlie subject Himselfe to Hunger 2. Sam. 1.26 but unto cruell death Ionathans loue towards David exceeded the loue of Women but IESVS His loue towardes thee O my Soule exceedeth not onlie the loue of Women but the loue of Ionathan Scripture telleth mee Historie telleth mee That Mothers haue slaine their owne children 2. King 28.29 to keepe in their owne lives but neither acquainteth Scripture nor Historie mee with anie Woman who ever was contented to cutte and dresse her owne flesh for the safetie of her chylde Alwayes Scripture largelie telleth mee That Thy blessed IESVS O my Soule is that kindliest Pelicane who could be content to giue His owne flesh not onlie to be scourged to be nailed to be pearced but to be crucified and die on the Tree to the ende that thou O my soule mightest feede upon Him unto life aeternall IESVS His loue towards thee O my Soule exceedeth also the loue of Ionathan Ionathan indeede loued David so that he incurred his fathers wrath for David that he was contented heartfullie that David should succeede to his father in the Kingdome yea Ionathan oft times hazarded his verie life for David alwayes thy Ionathan IESVS O my soule beeing a King yea that King of kinges by whom and under whom all kinges doe reigne would not onlie become poore to make thee rich under-goe that intollerable weight of His Fathers wrath to the ende that thou mightest attaine unto and enjoy His everlasting favoure but also He would die to the ende that thou beeing quickened by Him mightest bee made a king to liue and reigne in Heaven with Him for ever Yea telleth not Scripture mee O my Soule That IESVS hath loved thee so that He hath married thee that He hath tochered thee yea that Hee hath provided a Dourie for thee Abigall is dashed when David Ambassadours come unto her shewing to her 1. Sam. 25.41 That David would marrie her It was a wonder that Salomon King of Iudah married the King of Aegypts Daughter But shouldest thou not bee much more astonied O my Soule vvhen thou hearest That even IESVS the great Sonne of David that mightie KING of everlasting Peace Ezek. 16.4.5 hath married thee while thou wast dead in sinne lying in thy blood in the verie open Fielde having none eye pittying thee Hosea speaking of this Marriage bringeth in thy blessed kynde Spouse speaking thus unto thee O my Soule I will marrie thee unto Mee for ever yea I will marrie thee unto Mee in Righteousnesse Hosea 2.19.20 in Iudgement in Mercie and in Compassion Men marrie Women for a while yea for an uncertaine troublesome while Alwayes O my Soule IESVS hath married thee for evermore in such sorte that neyther distance of place nor death nor the graue can possiblie sever thee from Him or Him from thee Yea vvhich is more that the nearer death draweth unto thee and thou approachest to thy graue the more strictlie art thou united with Him and Hee joyned with thee Beside this IESVS hath so loved thee O my Soule that Hee hath tochered thee but vvhere-with I pray thee I heare Saul craving from David an hundreth fore-Skinnes of the Philistims 1. Sam. 18.25.26.27 Acts 20.28 1. Pet. 1.18.19 for his Daughter and I see David laying downe two hundreth for her Alwayes IESVS hath tochered thee O my Soule not with Silver not with Golde not with precious Stones but with Blood Alwayes vvith vvhat Blood O my Soule Not vvith the blood of Rammes of Lambes of Goates or anie man But with His owne onelie moste precious moste honourable and moste cleane Blood Beside this yet O my Soule IESVS hath so loved thee that Hee hath provyded a Dowrie for thee But what a Dowrie Beare vvith mee O my Soule if heere I must confesse that I cannot tell thee because my GOD hath not tolde mee For vvho living heere can possiblie acquaint the Childe of GOD sufficientlie and perfectlie vvith the Valour and Excellencie of that Inheritance which is appointed for thee Some sparkes of the Excellencie and Majestie of it are praesented indeede unto our consideration Luke 12.32 1. Corin. 2.9 1. Iohn 3.2 Coll. 3.3.4 by Scripture but fullie it shall not bee knowne untill wee bee where our dearest Spouse IESVS is Loue this IESVS O my Soule sincerelie Seeke this IESVS O my soule busilie Serue this IESVS O my Soule chearfullie and let nothing content thee untill thou bee where Hee is who hath so loved thee IF thou O my soule wouldest prooue truelie wise to that last day after the which there shall bee no day it were good that thou werest carefull in time to bee certified of the loue of IESVS thy Saviour and Master as of that first thing as of that chiefest thing thou shouldest bee carefull to bee certified of before all thinges so that publicklie before GOD. Angels and Men and privatelie betwixt thy GOD and thine owne heart thou mayest say and sing Blessed bee that IESVS who hath loved mee Blessed bee that IESVS who loveth mee But heere O my Soule there would bee three thinges wiselie considered by thee First wherefore should this bee thy first and chiefest care Secondlie Whereby is it that that loue wherewith IESVS hath loved thee is intimate unto thee Thirdlie how mayest thou bee certified that IESVS loveth thee Let mee possesse all the Worlde ô my soule if IESVS loue mee not woe
to mee Want what I can ô my Soule if IESVS loue mee well is mee I want that Honour that Wealth that Health those Pleasures which sometime I enjoyed yea I am depryved by death of a loving Father of kynde Brethren of true Friendes of deare Companions alwayes IESVS loveth mee IESVS is with mee and therefore well is mee And must I not bee well ô my soule having Him who was the sole solace and desire of that holie man David who was a man according to the heart of GOD For can hee not treading all Want under foote and triumphing as one possessing all Wealth crye out thus Whome haue I in the Heavens but Thee And I haue desired none in the Earth with Thee But O my Soule Psal 73.25 how hapned I to bring in David before thee when I was speaking unto thee touching the happinesse of that man who possessed IESVS Was not IESVS was not IESVS not onelie with GOD His Father but the verie daylie delight of His Father Prov. 8.26.27.30 2. Sam. 19. when Hee praepared the Heavens and made the Earth Mephibosheth hath a worthie Speach unto David after hee returned to Hierusalem Let Ziba take all seeing my lorde the King is come home in peace And wilt thou not gladlie bee contented to say ô my Soule O LORD my GOD let all that I haue bee taken from mee seeing my Loue and LORD IESVS is come to mee even Hee in vvhom Thou O LORD my Father art vvell pleased with me even Hee Matt. 3.17 Iohn 8.12 And 14.6 O LORD who is my Life my Light and my Salvation This loue vvherewith IESVS hath loved thee O my Soule is intimate to thine eares is sprinkled as it vvere on thy bodie is put into thine handes is presented to thy mouth Yea is as it were eaten drunken and digested by thee It is intimate to thine eare by the sweet voyce of the Gospell preached unto thee It is sprinkled as it were upon thy bodie by that Sacrament of Baptisme vvhereby thou wast entered into the House of GOD It is put into thine hand presented to thy mouth eaten drunken and digested by thee as it vvere by and in that Sacrament of the LORDS Supper administrate in broken Bread and Wine powred out Telling thee ô my soule that blessed IESVS being that cleane and wholesome Wheate was heartfullie contented to bee ground betwixt the Mil-stones of His Fathers wrath to the ende that He might become sweet and pleasant Bread to feede thee Yea that blessed IESVS being that true vine full of heavenlie sappe and juyce would bee pressed in the Wine-presse of His Fathers indignation to the ende that He might be made a quickening refreshing and comforting Drinke to quicken thee O my Soule beeing deade to refreshe thee ô my Soule beeing wearied and to comfort thee O my Soule being cast downe Thou mayest be perswaded O my soule that IESVS loveth thee if thou lovest Him for hee never loved GOD who was not first loved of GOD. 2. Iohn 4.10 Iohn 8.47 And 14.15 Psalm 15.4 Now thou shalt know that thou lovest IESVS if thou lovest His Worde if thou be carefull to keepe His Commandements and if thou delight in in the societie of such who loue Him and walke in His wayes ALbeit Sinne which is thine onelie Enemie O my Soule be a most alluring sweet Potion yet Sinne is a deceiving and destroying Traytor and no wonder it being the Arrow of that evill one who is not onlie a subtill Foxe but also a bloodie Lyon O! how easilie suffer vilde men themselves to be perswaded that Sinne may be committed yea that Sinne is committed behinde backe albeit there was never anie sinne committed but in sight It may be that sinne be committed behinde the backe of blinde man who seeth nothing and of sand-blinde man who seeth little yet is it ever committed in His sight Psalm 94.8.9.10 who made the eye of man to see and who knoweth his thoughtes a farre off And so in the eyes of that holie One Revel 1.14 whose eyes are like a flame of fire Yea who is all eye as Augustine speaketh Knowest thou not O my soule that Abell was slaine behinde backe and yet in sight behinde the backe of Adam Genesis 4. the father of his flesh yet in the sight of GOD the father of his spirit Vriah was slaine by David being farre from David 2. Sam. 11. behinde the backe of all Iudah yea and of Ammon by whose sworde hee fell David and Ioab onlie beeing excepted yet Vriah was slaine by David in his sight who filleth the Heavens and the Earth and from whom none can hide himselfe in secret place Ier. 23.24 and this I thinke David vvas compelled afterwardes to knowe notwithstanding of all his policie Who in all Israel coulde possiblie thinke That Naboth was cruellie put to death and so 1. King 21.17.18 that Ahab and Iezebel who should haue prooved his Protectors were his fierce Persecuters even unto death seeing hee was convicted by a formall Assize having Witnesses testifying that hee had blasphemed GOD and the King And yet that blessed GOD vvho searcheth the heartes and vvho judgeth not according to the outward appearance but righteous judgement can both accuse Ahab of Oppression and Murder and punish him for the same Oh! ô my soule When shall the blinde men of this dead Age learne to hearken unto and to belieue that blessed Spirit of Trueth vvho cannot lie teaching us clearlie That no sinne can bee committed in secret Came never that Sentence ô my Soule to thine Eares Vnderstand yee unwise amongst the People And yee Fooles when will yee bee wise Hee that planted the Eare shall Hee not heare Or Hee that formed the Eye shall Hee not see Psal 94.8.9.10 Or Hee that chastizeth the Nations shall Hee not correct Or Hee that teacheth man knowledge shall Hee not know Hath that come to thine Eares O my soule Whither shall I flee from Thy Spirite If I ascende unto Heaven Thou art there If I lye downe in Hell Thou art there Let mee take th◠Winges of the Morning Psal 139.7.8.9.10.11.12 and dwell in the uttermost partes of the Sea yet thither shall Thine Hand leade mee and Thy Right Hand holde mee If I say Yet the Darknesse shall hyde mee even the Night shall bee light about mee yea the Darknesse bydeth not from Thee but Night shyneth as the Day the Darknesse and Light are both alyke Came ever that unto thine Eares ô my Soule Woe unto them that seeke deepe to hyde their counsell from the LORD for their workes are in darknesse Esai 29.15 and they say Who seeth us And who knoweth us I haue seene thine Adulteries and thy Lyinges the filthinesse of thy Whoredomes Ier 13.27 upon the Hilles in the Fieldes and thine Abominations O my Soule knowest thou not Him who saw Nathanael before Philip called him when hee was under the Figge Tree Iohn 1.48
onlie they slew them not but that the haires of their head were not burnt neyther were their Coates chaunged nor anie smell of Fire upon them O abusers of Davius yee are so maliciouslie set against the Servant of GOD Daniel that yee will haue him casten into the Denne of Lyons Daniel 6. because hee prayed unto his owne GOD as hee was wont contrarie to that wicked decree vvhich yee by your malicious subtiltie made your king to subscribe unto And yet those Lyons will haue him saved whom yee resolved to haue slaine No refreshment can hungrie Lazarus finde at the handes of the rich Glutton and yet he can finde ease from the tongues of bloodie Dogges Luke 16. How manie wicked men in this our time O my Soule haue soft Doane Beds and Pillowes to lye upon while the Religious Childe of GOD cannot finde a Feather Bedde no not a Fodder Bedde and yet the Earth is contented to be a Bed unto him But ô my soule what if the cruell Princes of the Earth will not suffer so much as this hard earth to be a bedde unto thee O then what shalt thou doe what canst thou looke for be sure either this thy provident pittifull powerfull GOD who hath absolute commandement over all shall O my Soule eyther alter their hearts and make them pittie thee or furnish thee with a strong contented heart able to beare out all that they can devise or doe against thee or make death which is a cruell Burrio to the Wicked but a loving friende to His secret ones to finish thy Laboures and to sende thee to His Rest IOyne ô my soule the thirtiefiue and thirtiesixe verses of the twelft of Exodus with the sixt seventh and tenth verses of the fift Chapter of that Booke that thou mayest learne even with joy to put on that Head-piece of Hope possessing thy selfe alwayes in patience confidentlie and leasurelie depending upon thy GOD even when the King vvhen the Task-masters vvho command under the King yea even when with the King his Task-masters the whole People of the Land are set against thee and busied about nothing but thine overthrow and destruction But vvherefore but vvherefore should I doe this O my soule because He who hath the hearts of all men in His hands can alter both Court and Countrey so that that man vvho this day who this yeare would neither grant thee for begging nor sell thee for Silver a poore Sheafe of Straw to make Bricke of to thy King will another day another yeare giue the willinglie and freelie all his Golde Chaines all his Bracelets all his Ringes and so spoile himselfe to make thee rich And vvould ye not thinke this a vvonder of vvonders Liue there not manie this day who having experience of this in their owne person may say that that King vvho sometime vvas seeking mee to haue offered my bodie to the Gallowes mine head to the Axe hath since that lovinglie embraced mee graciouslie accepted mee to kisse his hand and set mee higher than ever I was before Hast thou compared ô my Soule the ende of the third of Ester with the ende of the eight of Ester In the ende of the third of Ester the Scrybes are writing Letters the King is signating Letters and the Postes are riding and running through the Countrey with Letters In the ende of the eight of Ester the Scribes are writing Letters also the King is signating Letters also and the Postes are running and riding upon Horses of Pryze and Dromidaries with Letters Alwayes tell me vvhat Letters are the Scribes writing is the King Signating are the Postes carrying in the ende of the third of Ester And what Letters be those which the Scribes are writing the King is signating the Postes are carrying in the ende of the eight of Ester In the ende of the third of Ester Letters are vvryting signating and carrying by the Scribes King and Postes to roote out to kill and to destroy all the Iewes both young and olde Children and Women in one day In the ende of the eight of Ester Letters are vvriting signating and carrying by the same Scribes by that same King by those same Postes who vvrote signated and carryed the former granting the Iewes in vvhat Cities soever they were to gather themselues together and to stand for their liues and to roote out to kil and to destroy all the power of the People and of the Province that vexed them both Children and Women and to spoile their goodes Hast thou compared ô my Soule the 19 20 and 21 verses of the third of Daniel vvith the 28 29 and 30 verses of that same Chapter In the 19 20 and 21 verses fearce Nebuchadnezar is so furiouslie set against Hananiah Mishael and Azariah and that GOD vvhome they worshiped that hee would haue them casten into and devoured by the hote fierie Fornace But in the 28 29 and 30 verses pacified Nebuchadnezar thinketh so reverentlie of their GOD and is so favourablie disposed towardes them that blessing their GOD hee maketh a Decree That everie People Nation and Language which spake anie blasphemie against their GOD should bee drawen in pieces and haue their Houses made a jaxe And besides this hee promoted those three in the Province of Babel highlie whom hee decreed before to burne cruellie We use to say and would to GOD our tongues were onelie accustomed with such speaches Blessed bee hee who can make friendes of fremde folke And vvhen I consider this O my Soule I must say Blessed be hee who can make deare Friendes of deadlie Foes Alwayes what must thou doe ô my soule to the ende thou mayest finde this to thy comfort and benefite Let that wise King Salomon informe thee as he was informed by that true Salomon the King of wisdome When the wayes of a man please the LORD Prov. 16.7 he will make his enemies to be at peace with him If thou haue compared O my Soule the 41 verse of the 27 of Genesis with the 4 verse of the 33 of Genesis and with the 29 verse of the xxxv of Genesis thou shalt find this to be most true In the 41 verse of the 27 of Genesis I heare cruell Esau avowing to slay his brother Iaakob when the dayes of mourning for his Father should come Alwayes not onlie see I this same Esau in the 4 verse of the 33 of Genesis embracing this Iaakob falling upon the necke of this Iaakob but in the 29 verse of the thirtiefiue of Genesis I see Esau and Iaakob most kindelie as it became Brethren burying their dead Father Isaac So great advantage reaped Iaakob by walking before GOD and amongst men so that his wayes pleased GOD. If a Subject then find that he is wrōged by his king let him not doe that which may grieue GOD and please his King to the ende hee may obtaine his Kinges favour If a Childe finde that he is wronged by his Father let him not doe that
it I Must confesse O my Soule that thou canst not but bee much mooved when considering Gods Fatherlie direction plainelie given to thee when weighing Gods Gracious Promises clearlie made to thee thou askest Matt. 7.7.8 but receivest not seekest but findest not knockest but hast none to open unto thee for as then Satan cannot but prease to take some advantage of thee so thou canst not but at the first considering this bee much amazed Alwayes ô my Soule I must charge thee not to murmure so much as in secret against thy good God albeit Hee appeare not to heare thee when thou callest unto Him Yea I must command thee not to attempt to suffer that loue wherewith thou art oblieged alwayes to loue thy good God aniewayes to waxe colde albeit His Majestie deferre to grant thee that which thou hast bene craving yea albeit He denie altogether to giue thee that which thou hast bene long seeking yea which is more albeit He put into thine hand and lay upon thy backe that which is flat contrarie unto that which thou hast beene even for manie dayes with manie sighes having thy knees bowed before Him and thine handes lift up unto Him desiring Him to giue thee For I must tell thee O my Soule that the frowning lookes of God thy Father are more pleasant to the sight of his well schooled Childe than the smyling of all living can bee unto Him that the hand of God thy Father taking from his owne that which the blinde worldling accounteth onlie to be profitable for him yea that the hand of thy Father laying that upon the backe of His owne which the dead worldlings account onlie hurtfull to them is even then more kinde more liberall unto him and more mercifull towardes him than the handes of all living being opened wide to giue them liberallie to clappe them kindliest that possiblie can bee Till this world shall stand those comfortable Oracles shall alwayes bide inviolablie true The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and His Eares are open to their cryes The Lyones doe lacke Psal 34.15.16 Roman 8.28 and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shal want nothing which is good All thinges worke together for the best to them that loue God And so ô my Soule I must assure thee that thy God cannot but alwayes heare thee but alwayes helpe thee for He heareth thee either so that Hee granteth thee that which thou cravest as thou cravest it or as good as thou cravest albeit not that same which thou wouldest be at or a better than that is which thou thinkest onlie to bee best Anna maketh a sute to her God and is heard as she craved for as she powred foorth her soule before God 1. Sam. 1. for a sonne so she receiveth a sonne from God Paul cryeth over and over to God alwayes that same which he craveth is not granted him and yet that which was as good is not refused him 2. Cor. 12.7.8.9 for while he besought his Lord that the angell of Satan which buffetted him might depart from him hee is not fred from that angell but Gods Grace is made sufficient for him to make him stand under that assault and in ende to triumph valiantlie David a man according to the heart of God dealeth with his God most earnestlie by prayer by teares and by fasting for the life of that childe which Bathseba bare unto him alwayes that is not granted for that childe died neverthelesse a better is given unto him for was not that wise Salomon who built a Temple to God borne afterwards of that same Bathseba unto him for if that childe had lived according to Davids sute being begotten by him upon her while Vriah her Husband was aliue would hee not haue lived alwayes as a manifest note of Davids Adulterie and Murder and so bene casten up unto him by prophane people who could easilie grippe his sinne but no wayes consider his repentance Forget not O my soule that comfortable Oracle sounded by thy Master and Saviour What man is there amongst you who if his sonne aske him Bread would giue him a Stone or if he aske Fish will hee giue him a Serpent Luk. 11.11.12 or if he aske him an Egge will he giue him a Scorpion And shall thy God ô my Soule even the God of my spirit who is more loving and wise than the father of my flesh can be if I craue that which Hee accounteth to be a Stone albeit I account it to be Bread which he accounteth to be a Serpent albeit I esteeme it to be a Fish which He accounteth to be a Scorpion albeit I account it to be an Egge Thou seekest the Bread of Honour from God and He knoweth that if thou hadst Honour thine Honour would proue a Stone to dishonour Him and slay thee and therefore He refuseth to giue it Thou cravest the Fish of Health and Wealth from God but he knoweth that Health and Wealth would proue a Serpent to bite thy soule unto death Thou wouldest bee at the white Egges of sweet Pleasure but Hee knoweth that they would proue a biting Scorpion to hurt thee and therefore Hee denyeth them to thee Thou abhorrest ignominie and shame before men as an hurtfull Stone but God knoweth it will be Food and Bread to thee therefore Hee covereth thee with it Thou abhorrest Sicknesse Povertie Imprisonment Banishment inward Temptations outward Crosses yea Death it selfe as byting Serpents and Scorpions able to slay thee alwayes thy God knoweth that even those be the only savoury sweet Fishes and Egges which are able to saue thee and therefore He propyneth thee with them Forget not O my soule that sweet speach of Augustine subscrybing unto the trueth of these three comfortable alleadged Oracles Bonus Dominus qui saepe non tribuit quod volumus ut magis attribuat quod malimus Augustine O! how good a Lord is our Lord who oftentimes giveth us not that wiselie which wee would haue to the ende Hee may graciouslie giue us that which wee rather should haue craved Bernhard embracing Augustine in this point can say to thee sweetlie O my Soule Saepe multos Deus non exaudit ad voluntatem ut exaudiat ad salutem Our God oftentimes refuseth Bernhard to heare manie of His owne according to their will to the ende Hee may heare them for their weale But heare O my Soule lest thou deceiue thy selfe thinking that thou hast right to the hearing eare to the pitiful heart to the helping hand of thy God so that He heareth thee that Hee pitieth thee and that at length Hee will helpe thee howe mayest thou bee assured that thou art even then heard of Him pitied of him and that thou shalt receiue helpe from Him even when in appearance thou must thinke that He heareth thee not at all Hearken hearken O my soule findest thou Grace while thus thou art used by thy wise pitifull God to continue
distressed Israel hearest thou not Moyses and Aaron the Commissioners of thy God Exod. 4.29.30.31 to day sweetlie telling thee that they were sent of God to bring thee out of Aegypt that thou mightest celebrate a Feast to the Lord thy God in the Wildernesse Alwayes must thou not bee contented the next day to heare Pharaoh his Taske-masters speaking thus to thee bitterlie Thus sayeth Pharaoh Exod. 5.10.11 I will giue you no more Straw goe your selues get you Straw where you may finde it notwithstanding the number of Brickes which you made in time past shall not be diminished O David telleth not Samuel thee 1. Sam. 16.27 that thou shalt be a King of Iudah yea anoynted he thee not with Oyle in the Name of the Lord to certifie thee hereof Alwayes after this must thou not be contented not onlie not to finde a nightes lodging in thine owne house but not so much as a Caue or hole to hide thy selfe in in all Iudea and Israel Thus he who to day heareth blessed Iesus who is Loue it selfe promising unto him a Crowne must be contented to morrow to haue wise Iesus ladening him with a Crosse But O! wherefore dealeth our wise God with His owne thus For speciall graue reasons ô my Soule is this done I assure thee for hereby He tryeth the faith the hope the patience of His owne hereby He stirreth them up earnestlie to deale vvith Him by continuall Prayer for He will haue His owne to aske that from Him which He is to giue unto them yea this He doeth to moue His owne being set at libertie to be the more thankefull and to use Gods good thinges bestowed on them the better to make the Wicked His and their unjust enemies the more inexcusable and to conquish the greater Glorie to His owne Name when having in spight of all oppositions performed that liberallie which Hee did promise graciouslie to His owne He advanceth them and overthroweth His and their enemies LEt it not grieue thee ô my Soule that some day hid up from thee that in some place unknowne to thee thou must lay downe this dustie tabernacle vvherewith thou hast for some yeares bene cloathed as with a Garment but see that thou being now happilie ingraffed in Christ and through His grace dying to sinne daylie for the which He died Philip. 1.23 and living to Him who died for thee and rose againe even with an holie languor submitting alwayes thy will to the good will of God long for that day with that great Apostle And when that day shall draw neare I charge thee ô my soule that in that day thou lift up thy self rejoice What wise man being wearied all the day long with laboures abroade will grieue to draw home at night First to refresh himselfe with some entertainment and thereafter laying aside his Garmentes to goe to his rest knowing that so pleasing God when the morning shall arise hee will finde his Garment againe And darest thou O my Soule bee grieved when that night of Death shall approach all thy wearie Labours sustained by thee here being finished to lay down this thy clay bodie and to haue thy selfe conveyed by those Angels of God unto that refreshing Palace of that Paradise which is Aboue nowe wyde open to keepe thee because of the obedience of that second ADAM who died for thee Yea darest thou O my Soule be grieved in that night of Death to haue this clay bodie conveyed to that resting Bedde of the Graue sweetelie nowe perfumed by the Buriall of the Sacred Bodie of thy gracious Saviour IESVS For knowest thou not when that glorious brightlie shyning Morning of Iudgement shall approach in the which that Mightie GOD thy Saviour whom the Heavens doe now containe shall manifest Himselfe in Glorie accompanied with thousands of His Angels and with the sound of the last Trumpet that thou shalt not onlie meet with that wonted Garment of thy Bodie but take it up againe but put it on againe Alwayes not as men take up their Garments here in the morning after their rest in the night but farre otherwayes more comfortablie joyfullie and profitablie by a thousand thousand degrees As men here lay aside their Garments at night going to their rest so they take them up in the morning having taken them up they goe foorth againe eyther to their wonted or some new labour But I must tell thee O my Soule to thy great comfort That thou shalt take up this tabernacle of my bodie in that shining Morning of Iudgement in a farre more excellent estate than it was laide downe into by thee into that darke night of Death and when it was laide downe in the Chamber of the Graue It was laide downe in corruption it shall be taken up in incorruption it was laid down in dishonour 1. Cor. 15.42 43.44 it shal be taken up in glorie it was laid down in weaknes it shal be takeÌ„ up in power it was laid down natural it shal be taken up Spiritual Could this be well coÌ„sidered O my soule would I cease while I liue here to imploy all the members of my bodie holilie And when Death should approach mee would I not undoubtedlie be heartfullie contented even with joye to lay down this earthlie tabernacle Again I will assure thee O my Soule because so hath my Lord and Master IESVS by the sweetest words of His owne sweetest Lippes assured me that thou having in that day of Iudgement taken up and put on that Garment of this Bodie shalt never goe foorth to anie olde or new Laboures againe But shalt alwayes rest in endlesse rest for evermore free of all suspition of future griefes and filled with a verie Sea of unexpressible Glorie For in that day thou being happilie praesented a chaste Virgine well decked and trimmed 2. Cor. 11.2 with the Ornamentes of thy Glorious Husband IESVS before thy Glorious Husband IESVS shalt haue that Marriage nowe contracted with Him joyfullie solemnized and perfectlie consummated And then thy Blessed Husband having wyped away all Teares from thine eyes shall take thee in to His most secret Cabinet of Glorie there not onelie to see but to possesse for ever that Glorie vvhich Hee possessed before the Worlde was made Could this bee well weighed by thee O my Soule wouldest thou not crye with David As the Hart â—â—ayeth for the Rivers of Waters so panteth my Soule after Thee Psal 42.1 O GOD My Soule thirsteth for GOD even for the living GOD. When shall I come and appeare before the praesence of GOD Yea wouldest thou not crye with Paul O wretched Man that I am Who shall deliver mee from this Bodie of Death Rom. 7.24 Philip. 1.13 I desire to bee loosed and to bee with CHRIST which is best of all Yea thou wouldest uncessantly crye with the Kirke CHRISTES Bryde Come LORD IESVS Rev. 22.20 Even so Come quicklie Amen FINIS