against mee and my prayers Lam. 3.8 who shall giue me accesse to the throne of Grace None but Christ thy onely mediator 1 Ioh. 2.2 1 Tim. 2.5 who by the vaile of his flesh hauing made thee a new and liuing way into the holy place Heb. 1â— 19 20. sits at the right hand of God the Rom. 8.34 Father Rom. 8.24 making request for thee so as in stead of fearing to haue free accesse thou maiest with reuerence be bold to goe to the Throne of grace Heb 4.16 with confidence to haue all thy lawfull suits granted Heb. 10 19. for thy Mediators sake 1 Ioh. 5.14 Ioh. 14.13 23 Conscience But for all this I yet feele secret griping of conscience continually affrighting me with a world of accusing thoughts Rom. 2.15 who now shal be as able so willingly to appease and quiet them None but Christ who being stiled the Prince of Isai 9.6 peace and therefore our peace-maker in heauen and in earth Luk. 19.38 and 2.14 became first in his own person a preacher and publisher of peace both to them that were affarre off Act. 10.36 Ephe. 2.13.14 and to them that were neer yea and as if that had beene to little did at the last by the blood of his Crosse purchase for thee that peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstanding Col. 1.20.2 Act. 20.28 of which that none might depriue or strip thee off Ioh. 14.27 16.33 Looke into his last Will and Testament where thou hast this legacy by himselfe bequeathed thee to haue and to hold as thine owne for euer Therefore now comfort thy selfe with these words ¶ Here the afflicted began a little to pause and hauing receiued much refreshing and good satisfaction from those seuerall answers which a good conscience hitherto framed to his seuerall demands and doubtings â— Pet. 3.21 ceased from further obiectings and began thus to be a little cheared and reuiued Well then I finde and feele to my no litle ioy and contentment that there is None indeed but Christ in heauen or earth according as thou O good conscience hast still affirmed that can fully set mee a poore captiue free from my fearefull downfall and misery Mat. 1.21 Psal 73.25 1 Pet. 3.21 Luk. 4.18 1 Tim. 1.15 And then after some further pantings and breathings faith hauing put as it were a new life into him he brake foorth into this passion 2 Cor. 4.13 of admiration and thankfulnesse And it is true indeed O thou louer of men Pro. 8.31 Iob. 7.20 O thou preseruer of men â—â—b 7.20 that thou hast set thine eyes and thy heart vpon such an one Iob. 14.3 7.17 Was thy loue to mee so ardent and thy compassion so exceeding abundant that from thy seat of Maiesty and glory â—oh 17.5 Pro. 8.22 thou wouldest for my sake bow the heauens yea after a sort euen thence Isai 64.1 break thorow the fulnesse of time being come in thine owne person to visit me Gal. 4.4 Luk 1.78 and to expose thine holy selfe to shame Isai 50.6 Luk. 22. â—4 Ioh. 19.34 and spitting to sweating bleeâ—ing and last of all to dying that thou mightest preserue such an one as I from euerlastingly perishing Ioh. 3.14 15. Lord Psal 116.1 that I knew what by way way of thankefulnesse now to render thee Thou farre excellest aboue all the praise Nehe. 9.5 Psal 106.2 that a poore creature on earth can giue thee And yet for as much as thou hast said that who so offereth thee praise glorifieth thee Psal 50.23 O let my poore soule which from deadly thrall thou hast redeemed magnifie thee Luke 1.46 47. Psal 103.5 Let my spirit also which by the sauour of thy good oitnments thou hast so cheered and reuiued reioyce Cant. 1.2 Isa 61.10 and alwaies make her songs of thee Let my tongue mouth Isai 45.23 and vncircumcised lips confesse thee Sweetly O Lord Iesus hast thou Cant. 1. â— with the kisses of thy mouth kissed me therefore shall my knees euer bee bowed vnto thee Phil 2.9.10 Psal 119.106 Tit. 2.14 Rom. 12.1 2 Cor. 7.1 Yet I haue sworne and will also performe it that my selfe soule body life liberty c. and all shall thy grace assisting beâ— vowed and consecrated to thy honor and glory 1 Cor. 10.31 For thou Lord art holy Isai 57.15 inhabitest the eternity and yet dwellest with the contrite and humble spirit and with such an one as trembleth at thy word So as in mee sweet Lord is now fulfilled the saying that is written the sacrifices of a contrite spirit and a broken heart thou neither hast nor neuer wilt despise Psal 51.17 Well may I now say that thy name to mee a desolate wretch hath beene as an ointment poured out Cant. 1.3 and therefore hath thy seruant out of the abundance of his heart found in his heart after this sort 2 Sam. 7.27 to expresse and poure forth the loue and thankefulnesse of his soule Luk. 7.47 vnto thee To thee therefore O Father of mercies and God of all comfort and consolation 2 Cor. 1.3 who hast so loued mee vnworthy Ioh. 3.16 1.18 as out of thine owne bosome to send thy onely begotten Sonne for mee and all mankinde lost into the world Gal. 4.4 made of a woman that thus hee might become our true and very Immanuel Mat. 1.23 And to thee O Lord Iesus Christ Ioh. 10.18 who voluntatily laidest downe thy life for mee to preserue mee from eternall death And to thee also O holy Spirit by whose diuine light my blinde eyes haue beene illuminated to see as by the Law Eph. 1.17 18. Rom. 3.23 1 Ioh. 3.1 Ephes 2.4 3.19 my wofull misery so comfortably by the Gospell to behold this superexcellent and surpassing loue and mercie of the Father and the Sonne and thereto hast wrought that wonderfull grace of Faith in my heart Rom. 10.17 to beleeue that all this loue is and hath bin extended to me as wel as to any other Gal. 2.20 yea that it hath bin by thee O blessed Spirit shed abroad abundantly in my heart Rom. 5.5 and hast so sealed mee vp to the day of redeÌ„ption that I shall not so vncomfortably Ephe. 1.13 4.30 as formerly I haue done call into question the certainty and assurance of my free adoption Gal. 4.6 To Father Sonne and holy Ghost I say one diuine Essence three distinct persons be ascribed in heauen and earth by Angels and men as is most due all wisedome power praise and glory eternally Amen and Amen A NECESSARIE aduertisement to the Reader AS it is an infallible truth that neither a mans person Gen 4.4 Rom 8.8 Heb. 11.4 Ioh. 14.6 nor actions can please God till himselfe be in Christ so it is as true
None but CHRIST NONE BVT CHRIST Intimating THAT IN HIM WHO is the Lord of Lords and Prince onely is to be found the full and absolute cure of Mans misery The fifth Edition with some new Additions Acts 4.12 Neither is there saluation in any other for among men there is giuen none other Name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued LONDON Printed by Io. Beale for Na. Newbery and are to be sold at the Star in Popes head Alley 1629. TO THE RIGHT HONORABEL ALLEN COTTON Lord Maior of the City of London all comfort in Christ Right Honourable AS Christ is said to bee the Author and finisher of our Heb. 12.2 faith so is he the proper cause of all spirituall ioy and reioycing Ioh. 8 5.6 Luk. 1.44 Christ alwayes brings with him all true health and happinesse Maâ— 4. â— By Christ Gods iustice is satisfied Ephes 5.2 his wrath appeased 1 The. 1.10 the curse of the Law abolished Gal. 3.13 Sin 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. Death and Hell vanquished the Deuill subdued Heb. 2.14 and our selues and soules onely by Christ eternally saued 2 Tim. 1.10 Seeing Christ then is not ashamed to own vs Heb. 2.11 wee should not bee ashamed to owne him no not if neede be Mar. 8.38 before an adulterous and sinfull generation But as in heart to beleeue in him Rom. 10.10 so with mouth and tongue to confesse him with our soule to magnifie him Luke 1.46.47 and with our spirit within vs euermore to be vttering foorth of his most worthy praises To this end I presumed some yeers since with the poore widdow to cast into the Lords Treasurie this small Mite called None but Christ the which howsoeuer it hath beene often imprinted yet hitherto dedicated to none but vnto your Honourable Selfe The causes moouing me hereunto are not a few Especially when I call to remembrance that vnfained loue which at the first sprang towards mee from your deare Brethren and my faithfull and worshipfull good friends Mr William and Master Roger Cotton both well reported of for good workes and euer since their decease hath been most freely and firmely rooted and settled toward mee in your worthie selfe And not onely so but for many yeeres really expressed to the no little comfort of mee and mine In lieu whereof Right Honorable Lo here by way of gratitude and thankefulnesse a little Balme Gen. 43.11 a little Honey a little spices Myrrh c. of each I say a little which out of my extreme pouertie 2 Cor. 8.2 I doe most willingly ioyfully and cheerefully present your Honour withall at your first initiation into your so great and weighty a calling wherein that as another happie Boaz you may carry your selfe worthily in Ephratah and bee famous in this our * London a plentifull store-house as of corporall so of spirituall bread Bethelem there shall not bee wanting his poore prayers who euer rests Your Honors humbly at commandement CLEMENT COTTON TO THE READER AMongst the many miseries that haue light vpon vs by the fall of our first parents those of the soule are chiefest and amongst them this is not the least that though we be conuinced by the Word and Spirit to be forlorne creatures yet we naturally shun to take any knowledge thereof No man is rocked so fast asleepe in the cradle of securitie but at one time or another this alarum rings in his eares Rom. 3.19 2â— Eccle 11 9. 12.14 Thou hast sinned and therefore must come to iudgement But who trembleth in himselfe at the sound thereof that he might finde rest in the day of trouble Hab. 3.16 It cannot bee but these troubled thoughts will now and then fasten vpon the most hard-hearted and impenitent sinner Dan 5.6 Act. 24.26 surely all things are not wel betweene God and me and what will become of me another day 1 Pet. 4.10 And yet where is he for all that who will presently fall to searching iudging of himselfe Lam. 3.40 1 Cor. 11.3 that he might not be iudged of the Lord No the heart of man is naturally swolne with such a diuellish pride Rom. 8.7 8. Isai 65.2 that though hee know God is and will bee his Iudge Rom. 2.16 yet will hee not make supplication to his Iudge Iob 9.15 1 Pet. 5.5 6 And albeit we know that GOD resisteth the proud and hath decreed in himselfe to staine all the glory thereof Isa 23.9 Dan. 4.34 yet walke we on still in our pride against him But who was euer fierce against him and prospered 1 Cor. 10.22 Iob 9.4 Thou then that art as yet in thy naturall estate I wish thee in the name of GOD speedily to examine thy selfe vpon thy bed Psal 6.4 Zeph. 2.1 and betweene the Lord and thee propound these questions to thy soule Soule what saist thou to the guilt of Adams sinne Rom. 5.12 It is imputed to thee I pray thee how shall wee answer it Thou knowest that this guilt binds vs ouer to eternal death Rom. 5.16 6.23 Psal 139.7 2. Cor. 5.10 there is no fleeing for vs from the face of the Iudge what shall become of thee and me Act. 17.31 in the day of the Lords wrath Thou knowest that all our righteousnes is but as filthy clouts Isai 64.6 Iob 14.4 Psal 67.7 how shall wee be able to stand before the Lords pure eyes Hab. 1.13 which can behold no impurity Thou knowest also that our sinnes are aboue measure sinfull yea Ezra 9.6 farre exceeding the sands of the sea Rom 7.13 both for weight and number Psal 40.11 Psal 38.4 must they not needs then sinke vs to hell without recouery For Gods sake O my soule let vs looke about vs whilst space Reuel 221. place and meanes are allotted vs Isai 55.6 ponder wee seriously these things in time Let vs I pray thee take vnto vs words and now Hos 14.2 euen now turne againe vnto the LORD from whom wee haue too too long Isa 53.6 most wofully erred Beseech we him that he would take away all iniquity and receiue vs graciously that wee may euâ—r hereafter render him the calues of our lips Thus or in the like manner should euery one that meane to escape the iudgement of GOD Rom 2.30 and the iust damnation of hell Mat. 23.33 question and reason with his owne soule For it is not the guiltlesse Luk. 15.18 19. 18.13 but the guiltie that prizeth a pardon it is not the whole but the sicke Mat 9.2 that is glad of the Physician So if sin make thee not sicke at the very heart Act. 2.37.4.38 thou wilt not esteeme of Christ nor of the saluation which hee hath brought for all broken-hearted sinners Luk. 4.18 no more than of a rush Math. 22.5 A little to helpe thee then that hast
2 Cor. 3.5 that a man hath neither ability of himselfe to doe good or abstaine from euill aright vnlesse hee be assisted by the power of Christ and this appeareth both by the testimony of Christ himself Ioh. 15.5 For without meâ— yee can doe nothing as also by the testimony of Paul who saith that by the power of Christ he was able to doe all things Phil 4.13 Implying according to that place of Iohn that without Christs power Ioh. 15.5 he could doe nothing Doth the power and strength of corruption then any way annoy thee Rom. 7.23 and wouldest thou faine get the masterie ouer the same flie then foorthwith out of thy selfe and get thee directly vnto Christ Rom. 7.24 25. and say thus vnto him Lord thou biddest mee mortifie al inordinate lusts and affections as wrath Col. 3.5 vncleannes couetousnesse c. But thou knowest there is no strength in me to mortifie these nor any corruption of nature besides See 2 Câ—â— 20.12 further foorth than I haue assistance from thee Phil. 4.13 2.13 Rom. 6.6 apply therefore to this viciousnesse of my sinfull nature the vertue of thy precious death and buriall by the worke of thy holy spirit Rom. 8.13 which alone is able to kill sinne in me that sin and corruption of what nature soeuer may not as heeretofore rule nor raigne ouer me Rom. 6.12 but that wageing battaile still by thy streÌ„gth ther-against I may yet therein haue peace 1 Ioh. 5. â— 5 and expect the full victory in the time thou hast appointed Also wouldest thou heare reade meditate or pray profitably thinke how insufficient thou art 2 Cor. 3.5 as of thy selfe to performe these holy exercises or any the like with out a Whose power in this case must be perfected in thy weaknesse or it will not be 2 Cor. 12.9 Christ but hasten immediately to him and say It is meet Lord that I doe these duties at thy command Isai 55 3. Reu. 1.3 1 The. 5.17 for in mercy thou hast appointed them for my good but without thee Ioh. 15.5 thou knowest I can doe nothing Oh let me therefore feele power and vertue by the worke of thy spirit as from thy death to mortifie and kill all sinne in me Rom 6.5.6 Col. 2 12. so from thy resurrection both to quicken and enable mee aright to performe all such duties as thou requirest of mee that the power of effecting all good may alwaies be of thee and not from mee 2 Cor. 4.7 And yet euen in this regard thou requirest of mee as in other things that as a poore fraile vesssell I should put foorth all the powers of body and soule Eccle. 9.10 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Pet. 1.2.10 Mat. 25 14. 10 30. wherewith thou hast endowed me the better heereby to serue thy diuine prouidence Phil. 2.12 13. Now good Reader if thou approuest of this aduertisement in thy iudgement I pray thee giue thy diligence to bring it by degrees but vnto a daily practise for thou shalt haue need of it daily and by gooâ— experience thou shalt in the end finde I hope that the gaine will counteruaile the paine 1 Cor. 15.58 Gal. 6.9 HEREVNTO IS added three steps to sound conuersion 1 Act. 26.17.18 FIrst God by his word and spirit enlighteneth the vnderstanding of a sinner truely to conceiue the doctrine of mans misery and of his full recouery by Christ 2 Secondly by the same meanes he workes in his heart both such sound sorrow for his misery and feruent desire after Christ the remedy Act. 2. â—7 that hee can neuer be at quiet till hee enioy Christ 3 Thirdly GOD so manifesteth his loue in freely offering Christ with all his benefits Ioh. 3.16 vnto him a poore sinner lost that thereby hee drawes him in such wise to giue credit vnto God heerein that hee gladly accepts of Christ offered vnto him These three workes of God whosoeuer finds to haue bin truly wrought in himselfe may thereby know certainly 1 Ioh. 5.10 that hee hath true faith Act. 15.9 and therefore sound conuersion Now hauing obtained this mercy at the hands of Almighty God for the merit of Christ Col. 1.12 Ephes â— 5 Luke 1.74 hee ought in thankefulnesse to him therefore endeauour daily euer after Tit. 2.11 12. in his whole conuersation to expresse and shew forth the vertues of him that hath thus called him out of darknesse 2 Pet. 2.9 into his maruellous light THE SECOND PART CONTAINING A PASSIONATE Prayer to Christ With his gracious answer thereto ISAI 65.24 Before they call I will answere O Christ who art my Lord and my God Ioh. 20.28 thou who art the promised seed Gen. 3.15 Gen. 22.18 in whom all the Nations of the earth should be blessed Mich. 5.2 thou whose goings forth haue beene of old from euerlasting Ier. 23.6 Thou who art called the Lord our righteousnesse and Sonne of righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 and art worthily stiled Wonderful Isai 9.6 Counsellor The mighty God the euerlasting Father the Prince of Peace Thou in whom the Father is well pleased Mat. 3.17 and in whom his soule delighteth Isai 42.1 Thou who art the blessed â— Tim. 6.15 and only Potentate the King of Kings Lord of Lords Thou who art the Prince of life Act. 3.15 1 Cor 2.8 and Lord of Glory who art saued thy selfe Zache 9.9 and art mighty to saue Isai 63.1 O thou who who art white and ruddie Cant. 5.10 the fairest among ten thousand who art that Immanuel euen God with vs Isai 7.14 who art giuen to mee Isai 9.6 wert borne for me who hast loued mee Gal 1 20. and giuen thy selfe for me Oh when wilt thou draw mee Cant. 1.4 that I may runne after thee When shall I see thee Isai 64.1 Ioh. 14.23 Oh when wilt thou come vnto mee abide Ver. 21. and shew thine owne selfe vnto mee When O good Christ wilt thou giue mee an heart to know thee Ier. 24.17 Oh that thou wouldest once circumcise mine heart to loue thee Deut. 30.6 that in loue it might euer and in all things 1 The. 5.18 be praising of thee When shall I feele thee Col. 3.11 to bee all in all vnto mee my Husband Hosea 2.19 my Head Ephes 5.23 my Surety Heb. 7.22 my Sauiour Luke 1.47 my light Iohn 8.12 and my life Col. 3.4 Shall I neuer haue an heart to beleeue in thee Ro. 10.10 and as to loue 2 Tim. 4.8 so to looke and long for thy blessed appearing 2 Pet. 3.12 Col. 2.3 In thee Lord are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge When shall I feele thee to be to mee as thou art to all thine 1 Cor. 1.30 my wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption It pleased the Father that in thee Col. 1.19 my Lord and my God should
thee Hos 14.8 and obserued thee And though I bee the high and loftie one Isai 57.15 that inhabiteth the eternity whose Name is Holy dwelling in the high and holy place yet doe I also dwell with them that are of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to reuiue the heart of the contrite ones Isai 30 1â— I will be gracious vnto thee at the voice of thy cry I haue heard thee and will answer thee Because thou hast set thy loue vpon me Psal 98.14 therefore I will deliuer thee I will set thee on high because thou hast knowne my Name Yea hee that loueth mee Ioh. 14.21 shall bee also loued of my Father and I according to thy request will manifest mine owne selfe vnto thee very meet it is that all men should honour the Son Isai 49.14 euen as they honour the Father for hee that honoureth not the Sonne honoureth not the Faeher which sent him Iohn 5.23 And though to thy seeming thou art now and then neglected of mee yet can I not forget thee ouer-long Isai 54.7 it is but for a moment for for a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with euerlasting compassions will I haue mercy vpon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Psal 84.11 I wil be both Sunne and shield vnto thee I will giue grace and glory nor shall any good thing at any time bee wanting at all vnto thee 1 Pet. 1.13 onely hope to the end for that grace which is brought vnto thee Humble thy selfe daily to walke in all the exercises of piety and true charity Mich. 6.8 Take vp the crosse cheerefully which I shall it may bee daily lay vpon thee Luk. 9.13 And when thou art ready to sinke come vnto me Mat. 14.30 For I will assure thee on my faith full word they shâ—ll not for euer bee ashamed Isâ—i 49 â—4 who haue the grace to wait for mee Cast not away then thy confidence which hath promise of great reward Heb. 10.35 Poor soul wherefore diddest thou doubt Mat. 14.31 But I see thou hast neede of patience Heb. 10.36 that after thou hast endeuoured to doe my will heere on earth thou mightest receiue the promise Luk. 21.2 By patience therefore possesse thy soule I will stand by thee I will neither leaue thee nor forsake thee Hebrewes 13.5 Thou art as deare vnto mee Zech. 2.8 as the apple of mine eye Thou shalt bee couered in the shadow of mine hand Mine Angels shall attend thee Psalm 91.11 Isai 51.16 my grace shall bee sufficient for thee my presence shall go with thee Exo. 33.14 neither shall my Spirit nor Word depart away from thee Isaiah 59.21 When thou art tempted I will succour thee Hebrew 2.18 Isai 40.29 when thou faintest I will sustaine thee If thou offend against my heauenly Father 1 Ioh. 2.1 Rom. 8.34 the merit of my satisfaction and intercession shall euermore pleade thy cause at the throne of grace for thee I am returned vnto thee Zech. 8.3 I will no more be terrible vnto thee Ier. 17.17 Isai 57.16 for so the Spirit should faile before me and the soule which I haue made Wherefore comfort thy selfe with these words 1 Thes 4.19 Goe eat thy bread with ioy and drinke thy wine with a merry heart Eccles 9.7 for God now accepteth thy workes Nor shall it bee long yer thou with the residue of those who loue and long for my appearing enter into thy Masters ioy Mat. 25.21 where is fulnesse of ioy and life for euermore So saith Amen Reu. 3 14. the faithfull and true witnesse Amen and Amen FINIS THE SICKE MAN 's A B C. In Questions and Answers Written purposely for such as long after a sanctified vse of Gods Fatherly corrections With a short admonition touching the heart PSAL. 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastisest O Lord and teachest him in thy Law LONDON Printed by Io. Beale for Na. Newbery and are to be sold at the Star in Popes head Alley 1629. To the Christian Reader THe hand of the Lord hath been long stretched out against vs in this Citie by sending sundry sorts of diseases and sicknesses amongst vs where of my selfe of late haue had some experience To maâ—y these haue prooued mortall and deadly and this it is that hath moued mee to pen these few lines following I grant they are appropriated especiallâ— to the person of the sicke yet so that the whole should not be excluded from reaping benefit thereby which if by Gods grace they attaine thâ—n haue I the end of my labour And so I euer rest Thy faithfull welwiller in Christ C. C. The Sicke Man 's A B C. Q. WHat art thou by nature A. Oh Sir a a Rom. 5 12 sinner a b Psal 51.5 sinner a c Iob 40.4 vile and an abominable sinner Iob 1â— 6 Q The soule that sinneth must d Ezek. 18.20 die Thou knowest there is no escaping for thee A. I will not hide my sinne as e Iob 31.33 Adam did but with Dauid I will f Psal 32.5 confesse it and with Iob I wil repent in dust and ashes for it Iob 42.6 Q. Say thou doe so thou art not ignorant that sinne and death will still be dogging of thee at the heeles A. I doe not greatly feare what sinne and death can doe against me Heb. 2.14 15. Q. Why I pray thee A. Because I haue to deale with a gracious God Q. Who told thee that Exod. 34.6 A. Euen his owne selfe Q. Hee is also a deuouring fier Isai 33.14 Heb. 10 27 A. Hee is so but it is to his enemies and to them that perish Q. Mayst thou not also perish A No I cannot beleeue it Q. Wherefore A. Because Iesus Christ by his bloud hath k Rom. 3.25 pacified Gods anger toward mee Q. How could the blood of Christ effect it A. Because hee was l Act. 20 2â— God that shed it Q. But hee shed it not for thee A. Oh yes yes 1 Tim. 1.15 Q. Why for thee A. Because Sir I do from the very hart root m Psa 51.2 Luk. 18.13 long after the sauing and healing vertue of it Eph. 1.7 1 Iohn 1.7 Luke 8.13 Q. Possible this thy longing will not be lasting A. Yes by Gods grace Phil. 3.12 whilest I haue any breathing Q. Well I must needs thus farre for thy comfort yeeld vnto thee that Christ by his death hath giuen sinne and death their doome so as resting vpon that thou hast professed they cannot hurt thee But yet thou art not restored for all that into Gods fauour wherein alone consisteth life and true happinesse Psal 30.5 A. I expect and looke for that onely by his o 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 8.33 and 10.4 imputing vnto me Christs perfect righteousnesse Q. Thou talkest