John 16. ult I have overcome the world which would discomfort thee Christ speaks it who speaks not to the eare only as man but to the heart and soul he saies be circumcised and repent speaking to the elect yet in sin not that they have a power to repent no more then the world had to be made when he said let it be or then Lazarus being dead to whom he said come forth to arise but because he gives power with his word to the elect to the world to Lazarus to repent to be made to rise from the dead consider who bids Christ against whom all sin with the Father is committed he who is Judge he bids then thy sinnes need not cast thee down be of good cheere daughter sayes he for thy sinnes be forgiven thee thy faith has made thee whole Luke 8.48 Who now shall condemn since Christ justifies Rom. 8.33 I am neer that justifie who will contend with thee Esay 50.8 Survey thy adversaries who can dismay thee Who art thou that art afraid of a man I even I am he that comfort you of man whose breath is in his nostrils and forgettest me thy Maker of man that is as grasse and of the son of man that shall die Esay 51.12 13. Remember O Saint God tels thee man is grasse consider God gives grasse good ground to grow in Sun to cherish dew and rain to nourish though the oppressor has the blessings of the world fear him not God can blesse outwardly as he did Israel and curse inwardly and secretly the meat of God being in their mouths the wrath of God may be upon the wealthiest of them I have read of a lightning that hurts not the scabberd yet melts the sword but consider Esay 50. v. 9. they shall waxe old as a garment like a garment so the oppressour may be in fashion nay and do God service for the present but Simonides in vitam humanam shall suddenly be out of date as an old sute of cloaths another shall come in the rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One generation passeth away and another cometh Shall Satan discomfort thee true he loves to imprison Christs people but Christ having the Keyes of hell Delphis oracula cessant juven Plutarch de defectu oraculorum Cicero lib. 2. de divinatione speaks of oracles ceasing All the Idols of Egypt when Christ was there fell down of their own accord polid postea quam Jesus colitur saies the wicked Por phyrius nihil utilitatis a diis consequi possumus grave death none of his can be imprisoned without consent but wretched creatures Christ has spoyled principalities and powers triumphing over them Colos 2. v. 15. By dying his death spoyled Satans kingdom There is story in Plutarch how one Thamus an Aegyptian being in a becalmed ship at sea a voyce came to him commanding him though with sorrow to proclaime at a certaine place he sayled by the death of great god Pan which he having accordingly done there followed much sâ—â—â—â—â—…iâ—g crying howling lamentalion Pan was Christ the great Shepheard of our souls who upon search is found to have dyed about that time and so ruined Satan Christs very birth frightned him from oraculizing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divels own confession But however Satan could only bruise the heel of Christ people Christ is onely able to comfort earthly and creature-comforts are but as the white of an Egge in Iob without taste Christ will nay has sent the spirit the comforter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A spirit can only comfort a spirit he comes skipping over mountains of sin and obstacles to assist he puts by Mary Magdalens over-curious touch though she had so long waited about the Sepulchre to see him or to hear news of him to hasten comfort to his pensive Disciples and sad Peter Go saies Christ haste to my Disciples tell them and Peter that has denied me thrice that I am alive that as I dyed for their sins so I am arose for their justification Christ was annoynted for this purpose to comfort Esay 61.2 he has balme of Gilead for a sorrowful spirit and oyle of comfort for those that mourn in Sion he has promised to send the Comforter John 14.17 and though he is not bound to man to make good his promise yet because God if we beleeve not that is if we stagger through weaknesse at the promise he continues faithful and cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2 12 13. he has prayed to the Father and therefore ye shall be comforted John 14.16 creature comforts are like feasts of a Funeral seem indeed to gild sorrow over or flatter woe but are indeed as Iob's but miserable comforters we say as Rachel give me children or I die Object I have waited but he comes not Answ Christ loves thee therefore when he sees time he will come and will not tarry wait his leasure he is they Creator thy Master thy Husband thou hast much sinned against him he would have come to thee with the spirit of information oft but thou didst refuse now thou wouldst have him come to thee with the spirit of consolation if he would not at all he serv'd thee well enough but he will come then wait thou maist perceive thou hast his spirit in some measure in that thou dost endure else with Iudas or Achitophel thou wouldst end thy dayes We trust our Physician when we are very low yet he brings us lower he thinks us not low enough for a comfortable cordial God perchance sees thee not empty enough of creature-comforts not humble enough for many are humbled yet not humble believe him he will yet come and raise up If a Merchant having a ship at sea could certainly be perswaded it would come home safe and rich he patiently would wait its arrival though it be absent long as God is true beleeve his promise as Christ has been touched with the same infirmities remember his compassion he is one with thee therefore thou canst not long be comfortlesse he being happy he desires not to drink of the fruit of the Vine alone that is to partake of glory or the comforts of the spirit compared to cherishing wine but to drink it with his disciples Christ's are his Temple there are Hymns and spiritual Songs he dwels in his people how can sorrow or not comfort be there where the God of all comfort and consolation is Art thou afflicted for his cause Behold Christ with the three children in the furnace Art thou unmindful of Gods visiting his people by Angels sometimes by Christ in their shape and doth he not visit thee with the spirit who is above Angels as is his name so is he Immanuel is his name and God is with us the triple negation may confirme the point Heb. 13. v. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will never never never forsake thee No wonder then Saint Paul bids the Saints rejoyce alwaies I say rejoyce Phil. 4.4 Could Caesar think to
〈…〉 carry his crosse quire along Simon Cirenaeus helped Compare the Gospels greater love then this has no man that one should lay down his life for his friends so calle in respect of election and Christs deat foreseen and consequently reconciliation nature at his death put on mourning apparel the earth trembled to bear a dying Saviour the rocks rent because mans heart was so hard and a stranger to Israel cryed out seeing such an Eclips Vel Deus naturae patitur vel hic mundus dissolvitur So much Christ by dying has done for his that no Latine word can expresse his salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uno vocabulo Latino non potest exprimi sayes Tully fere his verbis Servator comes short of it Christ may be said to be Servator daemonum as preserving them from relapsing to nothing Salvator doth not expresse it he was Salvator angelorum keeping them safe from fall but restored man to all lost priviledges and farre better foelix lapsus qui talem meruit Servatorem Some would have the Greek rendred by Sospitator sospitantur enim ea quaefuerunt perdita Laurent in 2 Pet 1.1 Servantur vero salvantur ea quaenon fuerunt perdiâ—a But Antigonus for liberty restored to the Lacedemonians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Were we lost in Adam and are we not found 〈◊〉 Christ we were sons by creation â—o are the wicked even Dives heires we were of an earthly Paradise not comparable in any thing to Heaven we had life should have never died mors à morsu But by Christ we are sons of God adopted more are we beholding for being restored to immunities once lost then the Angels that were only preserved from fall magis gratis datur says Aqui. Christ left the 99 good Angels to seek man that was lost as well as the 99. Proud Pharisees who seem and think to need no Saviour but some temporal deliverer no repentance by Christ we are heirs of that Paradise of which Adam's but a Type and have eternal life through death Adam though great Clerks are against it should never have died not been happy and glorious but through sin and Christ yet with the phites we worship not the Serpent but God who brought good out of evill Question Why then was heaven made before the fall Solu Because God foresaw it Should all men have lived on earth for ever and still begat children the world could not have contained them which God foreknew let Christ be only our Saviour let us have neither other saviours intercessours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Pope has he saies the over-plus of other Saints good works to dispose of thus the Saints in that opinioÌ„ so derogatory from Christ save themselves and others but remember the good Angels and Saints have as wise Virgins Mat. 25. little oyle enough for themselves God can charge his Angels Saints with folly The Virgin Mary had sin as Scotus proved for she rejoyced in a Saviour the Apostles were bid to say forgive us our trespasses and those that will not God forgive them now where sin is there no merits are saies judicious Calvin Peter sinned after Christ prayed for him thus the Pope his successor not only in denying his Lord and Master but continually the Apostle Paul speaking of sinners affirms himself cheif 1 Tim. 1.15 and advises the Saints instead of censuring others and preferring themselves to think better or esteeme other better then themselvs 2 Phil. ver 3. Corne the richer in the eare the more it hangs the head the more a man is in Christ the more sensible he is of his natural misery and the more humble pray only to Christ we have one only Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 and know and acknowledge no other Intercessor unlesse prayers of Saints on earth so understand Job 5. for I am perswaded for particulars Abraham knowes us not and Israel is ignorant of us I say 63.16 and know not our particular wants but thou O Lord art our Redeemer give not his glory to another God is a jealous God Christ saves wo to them that imitate the Devil in striving to destroy and to make men sin if such out of love mercy and Christs example will not forbeare yet let me desire them to be as charitable to themselves and others as Dives I have five brethren to omit that explanation of Moses 5 Books send to them lest they come to this place of torment saies he what charity in hel Aquinas tels us there be no good thoghts there for they were to no purpose but whether a parable or no thus much gather Dives knew his bad example and life had made his brethren sin and therefore concluded he should have the greater damnation to prevent which he would have them by Lazarus admonished Go and do likewise Nothing but blood could redeem I doubt me Zipporah spake more out of passion then faith when she said thou art an husband of blood to Moses Exod. 4.25 yet it may thus be rendred thou art a husband to me preserved by blood The Creation to this was an easie work dictum factum the first but the second cost Christs hearts blood Christ was mastred and overâ—ome by sinful men he wrastled with Jacob and was overcome to prelude to his passion being then as man prevailed over consider his willingnesse I lay down my life yet the occasion ours nihil iste nec potuit mea fraus consider the deformity of sin how did Christ look appearing cloathed with sin deformity of mankind before divine justice God even absents himself from him scarce acknowledging him it was his love to lie in a grave to sweeten it to his people two dayes part of the third the Sabbath was a Type of it together with resting from sin and eternall rest now 't is the Lords day in memorial of his glorious * On the Lords day our first day of the week five things we read done only as the work of the day 1. Being in the spirit or spiritual meditations 2. Preaching ex 20. Actorum Adde in the third place prayer 4 Breaking Bread or Sacraments 5. Distribution to the Saints the Apostle ordained or commanded thus the Church of Galâ—â—ia Dr. Prideaux To worship being the Moral part of the command is kept Resurrection and Ascension let no man therefore judge you in respect of holy dayes the Iewish especially or the new Moon or the Sabbath being shadows Colos 2.16.17 consider his love unto man in giving him his reward out of mercy not merit As soon as dead thou shalt be with me this day in Paradise Luke 23.43 and Lazarus dyed and was immediately carried by the Angels to Abrahams bosome that is heaven where note since Christs death the glory of the Saints is greater then before but no Limbus Christ ascending no doubt gave some more honour to the Saints in heaven as well as his spirit on earth the head is more honourable then the bosome the glory of the S
sinne for us and a sacrifice for sinne Esay 53 10. So that in the Saints in some sense there needs no conscience of sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex Hebr. 10.2 Christ being a most perfect Sacrifice for them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sacrificium peccatum Not but that Saints make conscience of sinning nay hate it what have I to do any more with Idols sayes Ephraim pardoned Hos 14.8 They live in a higher spheare then the men of the world No lesse then Angels food as 't is called because food even fit for Angels could they eate will serve their turne I meane the true meat from Heaven they contemn huskes sinne trash being come home by repentance to their Father But the soules of the Saints need not be grieved or consciences troubled in regard of hell for sin because of Christs Sacrifice Will Christ leave these finally for whom he has been a Sacrifice He will not nor can they him the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Scripture rendred to forsake as Math. 27.46 cant be applied in a strict sense because Christ never forsakes his nor did the father Christ on the Crosse only leaves for a while Sin then cant make Christ leave his people if that could why did it not when by sinne they had forfeited themselves in Adam and were by it deformed polluted ugly He that loved them then will continue to love them being most unchangeable I have a little turned aside already to see why man the bush not burnt though fired by sin I 'le go a little neerer and see this wonder and the love of Christ the cause The Apostle writing to the Ephesians chap. 3.19 Being in an holy admiration of Christs love affirmes it to passe knowledge That God who is the eternall being should love man when hee had scarce a being nor ever could have had but through him and when he had forfeited himselfe through disobedience and made himselfe perfectly miserable worse then nothing God should be enamoured with deformity For what is more deformed then sin It seemes such was and is Gods transcendent love that mans extream misery could not abate it the deplorednesse of mans condition did but heighten the holy flame of Christs love 't is as high as heaven who can reach it 't is as low as hell who can understand it Heaven through its glory could not containe him man being miserable nor hels torments make him refrain such was his perfect love That Christs love should extend to his enemies and should long after them that rebelled against him yea not only so but hugge them in his armes lodge them in his bosome is the highest improvement of love That those most excellent creatures the once glorious Angels should never be recovered never loosed from those everlasting chains and vile sinful dust man should be redeemed as t is the envy of those wretched spirits so the admiration of Saints and Angels That Christ should come from the eternall bosome of his father to a Region of sorrow and death that God should be manifested in the flesh the Creator made a creature behold the Gods come to us in the likenes of flesh Act. 14.11 And * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwell with flesh Dan 2.11 that he that was cloathed with glory should be wrapped with rags of flesh he that filled heaven be cradled in a manger that the power of God should flye from weak man the God of Israel into Egypt that the God of the Law should be subject to the Law the God of Circumcision circumcised the God that made the heavens busie working as is supposed at the homely Trade of Joseph that he who commanded the divels to their chains should be tempted that he whose is the world and the fullnesse thereof should hunger and thirst that the God of strength should be weary the Judge of all flesh condemned the God of life put to death the deare Son of God strugling with his Fathers wrath that he that is one with his father should cry out of misery my Father my Father that he that had the keyes of hell and death should lye imprison'd in the Sepulcher of another having in his life time nowhere to lay his head nor after death to lay his body and all this for mans sake is beyond the thought of created natures If this goodly frame of Creation sayes the Bishop of Norwich should runne back to its first confusion or be reduced to its first nothing though a most strange change 'twere not so high a wonder as for God to become man the former being of things finite the latter of an infinite subject The glorious Angels could not but wonder to see their Creator humbled below themselves and humanity so advanced by Christs assuming it which Peter hints at 2 Pet. 1.12 Which the Angels desire to look into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translatio sùmpta ab iis qui prono corpore oculos admovent at rem ownem propius acuratius cognosoant sayes Beza Yea so look into as to sound if it were possible the depth of this love To see that head before which the Angels cast down themselves and worshipped as I may say crowned with thornes Caput angelic is spiritibus tremendum densitate spinarum coronatum Bernard and those eyes purer then the Sun put out by the darknesse of death those eares which heare nothing to speak to capacity but Hallelujah's of Saints and Angels to heare the blasphemies of the multitude that face which was fairer then the sons of men for being born and conceived without sin he was free from the contagious effect of it deformity and was most perfectly beautiful to be spit on by those beastly wretched Jewes that mouth and tongue that spake as never man spake accused for false doctrine nay blasphemy let the Ministers of that Master take false accusations patiently For if they have called the Master of the house Baalzebub what shall they not say to his servants Those hands which freely swayed the Scepter of Heaven nayled to the crosse those feet like unto fine brasse which in the Prophet Zacharies sense ch ult v. 4. shall stand upon the mount of Olives or thereabout it being as some say the middle of the world and the place where Christ was condemned to judge the world nayled to the Crosse for mans sins each sense annoyed his feeling or touching with a spear and nayles his smell with stinking savour being crucified about Golgotha the place of sculs whereof some might be green his taste with Vinegar and Gall Anima est aeque ubi amat ac ubi animat his hearing with reproaches and sight with his mother and Disciples bemoaning him his soul seemingly comfortlesse and forsaken is able to strike amazement to those excellent creatures Calvine judiciously affirmes Gods love and care in providing all for man before he made him concluding he would not forget him now he was made but much more of Gods
love in Christ is to be seen in provideing heaven for man when he was not and when after most sinfull the joyes of a man in Christ eare has not heard eye hath not seene nor entred into mans heart to conceive 1 Cor. 2. v. 9. those joyes are like the new name which no man knowes but he that has it Revel 2. v. 17. but the joyes in heaven with Christ exceed the Apostle that was there sayes they are not to be uttered but unspeakable and most likely since out of love provided by such infinite wisdome we see the pavement of that glorious edifice how bespangled with lights but what then must the inner glory thereof be I say modestly of it as one did I will not too earnestly covet to know its glory before I come there lest striving to know its glory I forget the â—â—ay thither then my losse will seeme greater knowing the greatnesse of the losse But with a parenthesis I know whom I have beleeved and am verily perswaded he will keep me safe and present me spotlesse at that day Consider what most intolerable yet to be undergone and everlasting and most exquisite paines Christ out of love has delivered his from What never slaking tortures what mercilesse furie of unweariable tormentors what utter despaire of any possibility of release what never dying death ever renewing torments never pitied never intermitted damnation His love appears in giving his his guard of Angels to keep them in all their wayes Bernard dixit Bonus Angelus videt te peccantem do let malus gaudet cave deus videt qui judicat ergo ne pecces those which wait upon his own throne guard the cottages of his people Psal 34.7 Whether each Saint has his Angel I affirm not saies Calvin yet two places seem plain Matth. 18.10 their Angels behold and Acts 12. v. 15. 't is his Angel See the Churches opinion then how ever 't is certaine the Angels take care of them put good thoughts into the soules which the Spirit must sanctifie why shall not they be allowed to put good thoughts into us as well as the Divel bad they oft resist Satan unknown to the Saints when he would else appear to frighten nay to devoure See the Jearned M. Leigh on the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus Daniel may be understood 12.1 Then stood up Michael your Prince which is for the people for though Christ may be meant oft by Michael the Archangel yet the Archangel is used distinct from Christ 1 Thes 4.16 the Lord shal descend speaking of Christ with a shout the voyce of the rather of an Archangel Master Perkins We read Christ shal come with his holy Angels are not the Angels distinct from Christ Now by the by If one Archangel why not more the Jewes rekon seven Michael Gabriel Raphael Daniel but to omit their testimony in Daniel 10. v. 13. Michael is called one of the chiefe Princes or the first one implies more a first a second David stirs up himself by the example of Angels praysing God the true meaning of that Psalme 103. v. 20. but whom means he they excell in strength man that were no honour hee 's but dust they excel not only the wicked spirits but one another the excellers are Archangels Peter saies as much compare Peter with Jude 9. the Angels excelling in strength bring nota railing accusation 2 Pet. 2.11 Iude saies Michael the Archangel did not bring a railing accusation quoting the same * Satan branded Moses for a murderer because of the Egyptian though hee was in commission from God but his brethren understood it not Acts 7.25 and would have the murderer his sepulchre known because a murderer but his aime was that Israel most prone to Idolatry might worship and Idolize the bones and Sepulchre story the same Agents or Disputants onely one in the singular number the other the plural A Habrâ—isme one Gospel saies theeves railed on Christ the other one of the theeves thus understand Revel 4.5 of the seven spirits before the throne not because seven is a perfect number in Scripture therefore that number used not understand septemplicem spiritus operationem qui tamen in se unissimus est but understand seven spirits or Archangels being more agreeable to that place so understand Job 38 v. 7. when morning stars sang together and sons of God shouted for joy There are no morning stars but one Venus sometime she is the morning star sometime the evening nor were stars created till the fourth day therefore could not sing at laying the foundation of the earth as these in Job did again stars cannot properly be said to sing remember the chief of Divels is called Lucifer the or a morning star Esa 14.12 Lastly God had at laying the foundation of the earth no other sons but Angels man not created long after by morning stars Archangels are to be understood as excelling by sons of God Angels Gods sons by creation Envine not man and his guard on earth more guarded then * Sine custode metuendum est multomajus a custode est metuendum C.A. dixit regarded thy guard O beloved love thee rejoyce at mans good are thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand Dan. 7. v. 10. had we our eyes opened as Elisha's servant we should see more for us then against us How great is man O Lord how hast thou in love visited him After this life they like Chariot and horses of fire convoy the soul of the Saint as conquerour through Christ to heaven mark what an honourable and safe convoy the blessed souls have John proves the Saints able to discern the truth from falshood Christ fró Antichrist and to overcome because of this annoynting of the spirit 1 John cap. 2. v. 13 20. veritas enim est index sui obliqui little doth the world think what a noble person it abuses when it abuses a Saint Think not O Saint I wrong Christ by saying he is not the Archangel only used in Scripture behold I rather praise him shewing his glory in his glorious creatures Christs love appears in giving his people his holy spirit as he has fenced them without so he has strengthened them within to resist and overcome hence those soveraign graces to stand in time of temptation to be heartned against all doubts and feares assured of Christs love and salvation enabled to cry Abba Father so in the might of God his people may bid defiance to the gates of hell let all principalities and powers rulers of darknes do their worst his people in right of him whose they are are above their malice though weak in themselves strong in him sinful in themselves but Christ is their righteousnesse How canst thou be but comforted O Christian that hast the holy spirit the Comforter with thee I will shew thee in a word or two by way of digression Be of good comfort saies Christ
David is in death and life Christ is risen so must his members he is not here sayes the Angel for he is risen the Angels Philosophy proves one body can't be in two places Amesius Bellarm. enervatus Death is but a sleepe the Nurse is not afraid to put her Babe to sleepe if he sleepe he shall do well Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Joh. 11. V. 11. Caldaico-haebraicum significat to lie to sleepe Hezekiah also slept with his fathers the grave 's asleeping place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that sleep expect a morning to rise we a morning of resurrection Neither life not the many dangers whereby t is in continuall hazard for he giveth his Angels charge over his people not afflictions of this life for they draw his people neerer I have sent ye leannesse cleannesse of teeth want of bread but ye have not turned to me saith the Lord Amos 4.6 Ye see God aimed at calling them neerer not driving them further by affliction We ought not to say depart from us for we are sinfull men but draw neere to us Gods corrections are like Jonathans Arrowes to David effects of love to warn not destroy Man is apt to misconstrue Deus unicum habuit silium sine peccato nullum sine flagello but God has given us a Commentary upon his own actions Jer. 29.11 But I know the thoughts I have towards you saith the Lord they are thoughts of Peace not of evil speaking to his people in case of Affliction The afflictors of the world intend not good to the Saints But God has the ruling of them the Assyrian is Gods rod God keeps as I may so speak the end of it in his own hand that the Assyrian smite neither deeper nor oftner then he pleases but he thinks not so Esa 10.4 7. The horsleech sucks to fill and satisfie itselfe but the Physitians aym is for good God out of love corrects his but will not vouchsafe to correct the wicked but lets them ripen in sinne till the day of vengeance the harvest Be not then troubled or cast down for affliction remember Saints are living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 and to endure they must be like the Sea receiving all waters and not changing quality or like Iob receiving evil good patiently or as a good stomach receive all meats vomit up none by murmuring reluctancy Of them in a moderate sense I dare say as divine Seneca who is said to have exchang'd Epistles with Saint Paul no evils happen to them Nihil accidere bono viro mali potest Tot amnes tantum superne de◠jectorum imbrium non mutant maris saporem nec remittunt it a adversarum impetus rerum viri fortis non mutat animum sed manet in statu est omnibus externis potentior sentitsed vincit placidusque contra incurrentia attollitur adversa exercitationes putat Vir erectus labor is est appetens honesti ad officia cum periculo promptus Videmus Athletas cum fortissimis confligere per quos certamini praeparantut marcet sine adversario virtus Dura non reformidant nec de fato queruntur quiequid accidit boni consulunt in bonum vertunt patres mature ad studia obeunda liberos excitari jubent sudorem illis interdum lachrymas excutiunt matres so vere in sinu nunquam laborare volunt Seneca de provid cap. 2. though they feel them and smart with them they change all into good in these being more then conquerours count all afflictions exercises but not only vertue they know languishes without these Champions seeke opposition they that strive for masterie desire to fight run wrastle with others before hand to stirre up their spirits and encrease activity and strength God sends his Saints afflictions partly for this end all working together for good to them that love him Rom. 8.28 Afflictions then though evil in themselves prove good The father sends his darling to the Schoole of vertue early to undergo difficulties and learn to pierce obscurities 't is a fond mother seeks to keepe them in her bosome idle What honest man refuses labour Will he not undergo honest offices with difficulty and danger As a Minister preach truth though it cost hot water For 't was once primus in Ministerio primus in Martyrio Sure idlenesse is painfull to some A good soule can as easily lack fire and water as Crosses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praeclara rara Heavens joyes are not to be obtained without sweating Nor life If we understand the frailties of life because if thou art in Christ they are pardoned Christs death has reconciled all in heaven and earth Angels as well as men had benefit of Christs death Colos 1. ver 20. Also Christ's have crucified or condemned at least the flesh with its affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 They have the spirit to conquer with which is where ever it be finally chiefe master though Satan may live not only propè but unà a while with Christ in the same house yet there is nor divisum imperium in the same beleever is the house of Saul but a kingdom of David Dagon fals at last if the Arke be there though till the last combat the spirit appeares not finally victorious Christ thus subdues sin in his people and casts their sins behind his back not intending to see them and drownes in them in the depth of the Sea that they may never float or appeare against them Micah 7.19 Nor Angels nor Principalities Principalities and powers are distinct offices if not kinds of Angels to whom God commits the managing of Princedomes so powers may be said to be the Angels in whom or by whom he manifests his power as Thrones are they in whom as in a Throne sayes Calvin Gods Majesty is declared now Satan and his assume the same priviledges God tolerating by them to punish the disobedient but these cannot separate the good Angels will not the bad cannot for they are destroyed Col. 2.15 See their power and maliceat least curbed Christs death has that efficacy that whomever he dyed for can never dye Rom. 8.34 Who condemneth since Christ has dyed had he dyed for all application should not have hindred their Salvation he that gave Christ would freely give all things Let the divel the accuser of the brethren climbe up to heaven having however his hell with him and present himselfe for their wrong they have a friend in Court Christ who is in heaven to appeare for them Heb. 9.24 Or as Rom. 8.34 who sitteth at the right hand of God that is in equal authority and power making intercession for us Christ prayes for us as I may so speake when we little think of it scarce praying for ourselves Christs prayer is more praevalent then Satans accusation or else why are not we cast Satan so often accusing He desired to sift Peter but Christs prayer for him was enough to enable him to stand Luke 22.31 32. His