some particulars lay at it vvere buried in forgetfulnes by me the same also being at the last ouer-viewed by some good breethren whome I much loue and reuerence in the lord I was at the length ouercome could not choose but yeild Wherein though some perhaps may suppose that I labour in publishing an vnnecessarie impertinent matter because these ignorant dayes require Doctrine for building of men vp in knovvledge and iudgement and these carelesse and contemptuous times abounding vvith all manner of loosnes and levvdnes craue rebuke rather and exhortation for care and conscience in the dueties vve knovve as a more fit and meete argument for this dissolute age◠yet being assured of this both by mine owne knovvledge and other mens faithfull reportes that sundrie there are abroad in this land and amongst the rest euen some of you and yours that as in regarde of your spirituall combats and bickerings and the bitter assaultes and temptations you haue found therein had need of holy and heauenly comfort I could not but as in a generall care for all the afflicted ones to vvhome I wishe all the comforts of God as to my ovvn soule so in particular good vvil tovvardes you your selues vvhose invvard comfort and outvvard ioy I vvould bee glad and ready to procure at all times and by all meanes if I could tel hovv but acquaint you and them specially sith it is one principall portion of the svveet Manna that the lord hath prouided for you vvith such pleasaunt and delightfull consolations that out of the word as God by his spirit hath vvrought in mee for the peace of mine ovvne heart and by me though vnvvorthie euery way communicated vnto som others What root they may take or effects they may bring forth I knovv not Sure I am of this my earnest praiers vnto God as in regard of his religion and vvorship and heartie purpose in my selfe as in respect of Christian good vvill is that all that mourne in our Sion might reape some good by the same vvhich if it cannot bee effected either by meanes of my sinne that medle therin or by reason that the svveet things published cannot so seasonablie or for lacke of oportunitie come to their knovvledge or because that through diffidence they fore-close the vvaie and passage of consolation vnto themselues in all and euerye of vvhich desertes I shall surelye mourne muche yet my hope and heartes desire is that all of you my good friendes might receiue some vvorthie fruite thereby as vvell those amongest you that haue not as yet tasted of thys bitter cuppe a matter that you must looke for and make an account of if euer you vvill feele hovve sweete the Lord is indeed vvhile you perceiue GOD sitting you and furnishing you vvith the best armour of proofe that can bee before the day of battaile dravve nigh as those that haue beene or are tried that beeing the verie state and condition of all Gods children God according to your present distresses prouiding for you and reuealing vnto you the present comfortes of his most faithfull vvorde and infallible trueth that so both the one sort and the other hauing the povver of your ovvne sinnes in the sufferinges of his sonne if not vtterlie remooued and cleane taken avvay yet verie much lessened and as it vvere beaten dovvne you might not onelye the more earnestlie oppose your selues agaist satan in his sleights and haue an assured hope of a glorious and ioyfull victorie against him and his assaults but also may be inabled to stand yea to ouercome in the day of euill and to be more than cōquerors thorow him that hath loued you washed you in his bloud vvho I doubt not shall shortly and mightilie also tread him and all his forces whatsoeuer down vnder your feet Now the very god of peace sanctify you and al yours thorowout I pray God that your whole spirite and soule and bodie may bee kept blameles vntill the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ vvhereof I doubt not because he is faithful which hath called you who also wil doe it Good brethren pray for vs that we may be readie in all things with vnfaignednes to do the Lords vvill At London the tenth of of this December 1589. Yours readie and assured euer in Iesus Christ T. W. the Lord his vnworthy seruant GRACE AND PEACE from God c. BEcause I haue not nowe a long time eyther by wryting or by worde of mouth heard from you good Sir I grow into some vncertain imaginations concerning your estate and by meanes thereof I freely confesse it not onely into neglect of some duety towardes your selfe I meane comming to visite you and writing vnto you such simple comfortes as God hath bin pleased to explicate vnto me which I call simple not as of thēselues for so they are high and excellent but as I haue them in my a 2. Cor. 4 7. earthen vessell but also into cold performance at the least of som seruice vnto God I meane my supplications and praiers vnto his maiestie The duti◠of a Christian and faithfull friend towardes hys friend as on your behalfe To pray for you when God hath bene pleased to giue you and in you me for I take the fauours bestowed vpon you to be kindnesse heaped vp vpon my selfe thorow his merciful deliuerance of you a iust and holy occasion to prayse his name should be the sinne of mine owne soule because it were the offring vp of a wrong sacrifice and presenting vnto God a b Malac. 1.8 blind beast as it were As on the other side to striue to yeeld you comfort when you haue receiued a riche aboundance of the same from God himselfe thorowe his holie worde and blessed spirite were as it might be thought to doe a needlesse and vnnecessarie worke for where there is fulnesse and plentie scarsitie and barrennesse will little appeare and doe small good From the former though I would gladly as in regard of the lack of sound knowledge touching your present condition and in respect of the dulnesse and heauinesse of my soule as to other good workes so to that particularlie cease till eyther from your selfe or others that are as your selfe I should be faithfully certified of the state wherein you are that so I might as a feeling member with you eyther vnfeignedly c Rom. 12.15 reioyce in the asswaging of your trobles and trials or else heartily weepe and pitie you and pray with you and for you in the continuance and increase of these distresses yet wil not the doubts that I haue in me touching the continuance of these calamities and the dutie that I owe vnto you as in that behalfe let me vtterly leaue off but needes I must nowe and then according to my poore measure present you before God and that by name in my requestes and prayers though poore and faynt In the other surely I cannot God ayding me but inlarge my selfe to my
of those whome God hath marked out to eternall life Wherein I would first haue you to know and perswade your heart of this that as the miseries of the reprobate The reprobate cannot truely conceiue much lesse feele their condemnation and their condemnation also is more I will not say than is well felt for feeling they haue little or none but well conceiued their harts not beeing fit to thinke either of their sinne or iudgement due vnto them for the same so many times the fauour of God is certaynly muche more towardes and in his seruantes than eyther they themselues or others for them can well perceiue For as it is most true that naturall blindnesse and benummednesse of heart with a sensual delight the wicked take in sinne pursuing all maner of iniquitie with pleasure wil not suffer theÌ„ to see their damnable estate at the least wise to dwell vpon the contemplation of it with fruite because thorowe impenitencie of heart they bee r 2. Tim. 2.26 held captiues of Satan at his pleasure so it is as certaine that by reason of the remaynders of a darke minde which resteth euen in the godly as yet in parte vnreformed they be sometimes as farre off from conceiuing spirituall fauours from God And no marueile because beeing spirituall things they must be s 1. Cor. 2.14 spiritually discerued and we knowe that as other graces so that of a discâ—â—â—ing spirite is not onely in vs in part but maâ—â—e times seemeth to be quenched in vs and hidden from others thorowe the ashes of our corruption And what reason can be shewed to the contrarie but that if want of sight and feeling in the wicked can for the time though not for euer put out feare and paâ—ne and all sense of the same but also that the reliques of sinne in the righteous and the sight they haue of it and the â—eare and griefe of heart that they conceiue for it should for the time though not alwaies bleare and deface the hope and the ioy that God would haâ—â— them to conceiue Satan also in his makeâ— working no doubt in all these tempâ—ations of the wicked and the godly that â—o he might if he coulde tâ—â—l how preuaile vpon all both good and bad By which you may well perceiue that in this most high What the godly in such a case ought to doe yet moste comfortable point you are to goe beyond your owne reache and feeling yea to depart from your selfe who by reason sometimes of blindnesse and soâ—etimes of partialitie are vnfit to bee a iudge in thâ—s cause that so being spoiled oâ— trust and donfidence in your selâ—e oâ— in the t Iere. 17.5 arme of flesh and bloud â—ls where you may repaire vnto him thâ—â— alone is the God of all strength both ouâ—ward and inward and who will indeede for you and all his effect that which shal be most meete for his glorie and your eternall comforts And this is the second thing that I would pray you well to weigh namely that as according to the trueth of the holie scriptures God hath pleased thorowe the infinite multâ—tude of his mercies in Iesus Christ to elect you to liâ—e euerlasting t Ephâ—s 1 4 before the foundaâ—ions of the world were laid so hath he in time plainly manifested vnto you and by you vnto others that his great grace of your eternall etettion first in vouchsafing you though vnworthie of your selfe yet for Christ Iesus his sake thorowe the ministerie of his holy worde and by the powerfull working of his blessed spirite an effectual calling so that he t Act. 13.48 16.14 no sooner spake vnto you but withal pearsed your eares and boared your heart to vnderstand and beleeue he working in you also this readinesse with vnfeigned affection to saie v 1. Sam 3.10 speake Lord for thy seruant heareth God dealing with you heerein for your soule The spirituall meanes of Gods mercie as hee hath done alwaies with you for your body that is bestowing vppon you the spirituall meanes of his mercie and making them mightie in you to worke his will not vnto iudgement as in the wicked but to eternall saluation as in his saintes and seruantes And this I take to be that which the Apostle saith Roman 8. x Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinate them also he called Secondly by giuing you care and conscience to adorne these excellent graces of his eternall election from before all times and effectuall vocation in time with the fruites of faith and the deedes of blessed obedience and that both in the seruices of pietie towards his maiestie The duties of pietie you hauing a minde to be often and earnest with him in prayer and thankesgiuing adioyning thereto for your better direction therein dayly reading of the word deepe meditation and christian confeference therein and also in the duties of charitie towardes men Of charitie you not onely not deteming from anie that which belongeth vnto them but rendring vnto euerie one that which is right equall and specially hauing care of the coÌ„munion of saints y Rom. 12.15 vveeping there with them that weep and reioycing with theÌ„ that teioyce And this is that that the Apostle saith in another place that z Ephes 1.4 God hath chosen vs in Christ that we should be holy without blame before him in loue And againe a 2. Tim 2.19 The strong foundatioÌ„ of God remaineth sure hath this seal the lord knoweth who are his let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie In which respect also it is that Peter admonisheth vs b peter 1.10 Why these duties are propounded to vs in the word to giue diligence to make our calling and election sure by good vvorkes Not that eyther the one or the other either as in respect of God are vncertaine c Rom. 11.29 for his giftes and calling are such as he repent him not thereof are vnsure as in regard of our selues because we haue fouÌ„d thorow his goodnesse in vs though not that that wee should yet a minde bowable and ready to harken vnto to loue and obey the fatherly voyce and calling of our gracious God But therefore are these thinges propounded vnto vs in the word on the one side to stop the mouthes of carelesse blasphemers who in the vaine imagination of their owne heartes feare not to affirme that if they he elected they may liue as they list and on the other side to lift vp the weakned spirites of many of Gods deare seruantes who finding eyther the faith of their election or the fruites following the same fewe and skant in them beginne to call their election into question wherein ouer and besides the discomfortes and discouragementes that causelesly they cast vpon themselues they doe great iniurie to God whilest they make him that is certaine in his purposes and acts to be d Num. 23.29 Isa 51.8 Iâ—a
vttermost yea beyond it if I could tell how because I know it to be the Lordes assured trueth that I shall deliuer and though not fit perhappes now for your selfe by reason of your present comfort and ioy yet heereafter i may bee of more then necessary vse for your selfe and others also when these darke and glomie daies of assaultes shall againe take holde of you In both which respectes as I rest perswaded that my poore paynes shall not vtterly perish so cannot I but thorowly assure mine own heart that both the one and the other shall be well accepted of you who are woont much to make of euerie thing that commeth from me In consideration whereof I will the more willingly assaie God assisting me the performance of the matter I purpose that is the yeelding of you some such comfortes as d 2. Cor. 1.3.4 the God of all consolation hath giuen vnto me not onely for the staie of mine owne conscience but to the ende also that I might acquaint others that are in tribulation with the same The dealings of God with his dearest saintes and seruantes in this behalfe especially are as we knowe by the light of the world and by experience in our selues and examples of others that haue gone before vs or liue with vs diuers and sundry he throwing vs downe and lifting vs vp and e psal 90.3 turning vs to destruction and yet saying returne you sonnes of Adam whose wayes as euerie maner of way so in this respect especiallie are much more vnsearchable and past finding out than f pro. 30 19 is the way of an Eagle in the ayre the waie of a serpent vpō a stone or the way of a ship going with a right fore winde and full sayle in the midst of the mayne sea till God be pleased in the multitude of his mercies in some measure to discouer the same vnto hys seruantes What God will doe with you good sir after so manifold and long trials is vnknowne to me because neither I nor any other haue g Rom 11 34 bene of his councell in such secret and particular purposes speciallie concerning others whatsoeuer we may feel touching our selues Howbeit I cannot otherwise thinke or be perswaded but that you haue bene are and so shal be for euer h 9.23 Tokens to assure men to be the vessels of mercie a vessell of his mercy wherein I am dayly more and more confirmed not onely by the christian carrying of your selfe in the dayes of your former and present troubles you patiently bearing them and earnestly calling vppon God for heauenly strength to vndergoe and ouercome but euen by the verie afflictions themselues that you felt or feele God by them setting as it were his own marke vpon you the better to knowe you for one of his owne sheepe and sonnes and so conforming you i Rom. 8.29 vnto the image of his best beloued in his sufferinges that in the same you might haue a certaine pledge of glorification with him Manifold and long afflictions a verie grieuous temptation Wherein though I acknowledge that it cannot be but verie greeuous to be long held and much exercised and the rather because it is not one but manifold assaultes and temptations with which you are troubled on euerie side yet doubt I not but that the issue and end that God shall worke of all these An answere to it of the end shal be exceeding good not onely in regard of k 2. Cor. 4.17 a far most excellent weight of eternal glory that I know they pledge vp in you other of Gods children but of the effects also that for the time present they bring forth in you Of the effects as adding an edge vnto your prayers which for the time seemed to be colde or dead rather lessening yea beating backe the force of many other temptations which no doubt might strongly assault and mightily encounter with you conforming you in vnfeigned affection to the obedience of Gods good will a worthy worke doubtlesse and a matter of no small difficultie filling you and that for your selfe and others also with the comfortes and consolations which are from aboue Afflictions to the faithfull not so much a cause of discouragement as to looke to themselues and to cal vpon God for ayd and strength whiche hardly but by such meanes wee taste of or attayne vnto with sundrie such like In my poore iudgement therefore you may yea you ought to be so farre off from beeing discomfited and cast downe in this estate wherein you are that you haue rather iust occasion offered you to l Heb. 12.12 lift vp your handes which hang downe and to strengthen your weake knees yea to raise vp your decaied spirites assuring your selfe that howsoeuer the Lord lead you along in manifolde and manifest afflictions and carry you as it were from one sorrow to another yea howsoeuer hee seeme to bring you to the pits bruicke and make all the surges and m Psal 42.7 waues of his displeasure to rise vp against you and mount ouer your head that yet I will not n 2. Cor. 4 8. destitute you nor o Heb. 13.5 fayle you for euer as well because hee trieth you no otherwise Two reasons nor exerciseth you no further than he hath done those that haue bene deare and precious in his owne eyes as also because he is both faithfull and powerfull to perfourme both in heauen and in earthe whatsoeuer hee hath promised to the sonnes of men much more to his owne seruauntes Two apt similitudes declaring Gods loue towardes his children Wherein also no doubt he dealeth no otherwise with you than earthly parentes doe many times with their owne deare children who to make them the more plainly see and the more strongly to be perswaded of their fatherly loue towardes them and manlike strength for their deliuerance bring their sayd children to the fire side that so they may feele more than a woonted heate thereof and learne to feare it withall The like they practise towards them also in another element namely in water not onely carrying them all along the edge brimme or bancke of some pond or riuer but nowe and then making semblance as if they would throw or thrust them into the same And yet wee knowe they loue them no whit the lesse for all this nay we are assured of this the more nigh they are to daunger whether it arise from the negligence and ignoraunce of the children themselues or seeme to be layd vppon them from the very louing and naturall parentes the more sure and fast hold they take of them And shal not we be much more perswaded I wil not say of the like loue but of farre p Esay 49.15 more exceeding loue in God towards his sonnes and daughters with whose fauour towardes his people and power for his childrens good no affections 〈◊〉 might I dare auouch this not of
1.17 as wauering as mutable man and then to be subiect to alteration change when they idessie fantasie or imagine the same Yea they speake contrarie to common sense and reason for if the sins that are from our selues may as they ought indeede iustly cast vs down shall not the graces that are in vs from god be much more mightie to raise vs vp What is God become lesse than man or are his mercies inferiour to mans transgressions But we will put the case that we failed in those good workes that that hitherto hath bin put downe that out of the very word of trueth concerning the fruites of our faith were false yet see what euen in such a case also if it wer so the holy Ghost saith for our full perswasion and resolute comfort e It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth The whole worke of sâ—luation dependeth altogether on Gods mercie in Iesus Christ but in God that sheweth mercy that so the whole worke of our saluation and euerie part and peece of it bee ascribed onely and wholie to his free fauour towardes vs in Iesus Christ For as this is sure that God saueth not vs for our good workes be they neuer so manie or excellent because hee shall haue alwaies some thing for matter or maner or ende and all to saie against them and vs for their sakes and to holde that were indeede to euamate Gods free mercie and to annihilate Christes sufferings and to puffe vp fleshe and bloud beyond all measure and trueth so he will not condemne vs vs I saie and not men because of our euâ—ll woorkes though they be neuer so manie and grieuous alwayes prouided that no man abuse this doctrine of trueth and comforte to licenciousnesse and carnalitie nor extend it beyond the persons of whome we meane it namely the elect and faithfull who as they haue receiued this sweete promise from God f 8. â— that to them that are in Christ there is no condemnation so they haue this giuen vnto them that they walke not after the flâ—she but after the spirite g Exod. 33.19 Rom 9. â— For hee will haue mercie on him to whome he will shewe mercie and he wil haue compassion on him on whome hâ—e will shewe compassion And this is it that the Lorde hym selfe sayth in Esaiah h Isa 43 25. I euen I am hee that putteth awaie thâ—ir iniquities for myne owne sake and will not remember theyr sinnes And in Ieremiah establishiâ—g as â—t were a newe contract with hys Seruauntes hee make Iesus a principall part of the couenaunt i Iâ—re 31.34 Heâ— 8.12 That hee will forgiue all theyr iniquities and remember theyr sinnes no more or as it is alâ—eadged by the holie Ghost in the eight Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrues I will be mercifull to theyr vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more vsing all these wordes of vnrighteousnesse sinnes iniquities c. to assure vs that neyther the heynousnesse nor the multitude of our transgressions shall for euer separate betweene the Lord vs but that of his infinite mercie he will receiue vs though we had not offended A comparison or similitude Of which wee may be the better assured by this that if we would giue credit vnto the worde of an earthly man speciallie if wee had some experience of his fidelitie and that in matter of greaâ— importance and yet we know meÌ„ to be but men that is fraile inconstant we should much more beleeue the trueth of the eternal our God confirmed vnto vs by the deathe and bloudsheding of hys sonne the best pledge of immutabilâ—â—â— that can be and that in causes of greatest weight concerning vs who alwais k Mala 3.6 remaineth like vnto himselfe and who rather than he will fayle vs in hys promise or falter with vs in the performance of the same giuing vs lesse thâ— hee hath said will inlarge himselfe I cannot saie beyond his word and trueth for that remaineth alwaies as large as himselfe and God the God of trueth shall neuer bee found a lier but beyond our heart and hope I am sure And surely for your selfe in my mind this is one point that much perswadeth me and may yeeld you comfort that neuer can be vtterly taken awaie howsoeuer it may for the time be somewhat lessened that you belong vnto the election of God are as it were l Isa 49.16 grauen vpon the palme of his right hand that you haue not onely patiently susteined which is a rare vertue but mightely vanquished and subdued which is a greater grace doubtlesse in him that is the God of your strength many and the same long and bitter temptations which had you not belonged to God and hee himselfe had not reserued you for daies and times not onely of comfort in this life but of eternall ioy you coulde not haue indured much lesse ouercome for as this is a certaine trueth that m Psal 34 19â— manie are the miseries of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all and that hâ—s children are conquerours ouer many assaults by the strength and power that they haue receiued from n Iohn â—6 33. Rom 8.37 him lo our onely temptation and the same as short and small as may be is able to quaile the strongest Giaâ—t amongst the reprobate and to throw him downe headlong into the bottomlesse pit of hell as experience of the wicked who in this respect to withstand aâ—t weaker then waâ—er and sundrie particular examples of former ages and of our present time doe playnely pâ—oue vnto vs if I thought it conuenient to alleadge them Thus you see my minde and poore iudgement concerning your scruples in such measure and maner deliâ—â—red as God hath inabled me Where also I must confesse I woulde gladly end as beeing almost wearie in my selfe and tedious I feare me vnto you sauing that the dutie of holie loue that I beare you will not suffer mee to let slippe a neceâ—sarie admonition that euen nowe commeth to minde and sauing also that your present distressed estate as I feare calleth for the inlarging of my selfe so farre as I may accomplishe some more particular course of comforte than as yet I haue deliuered Touching the former of these two An admonition let mee intreate you I beseeche you as the trueth is not to imagine as I knowe some doe that there are alwayes like effectes and fruites of Gods grace in the heartes and conuersation of hys people I meane eyther as in regard of feeling or action for wee knowe by that that we haue noted in others and obserued in our selues if euer God gaue vs grace to marke the one or the other that there is euerie day yea almost euery houre in a daye an entercourse of the same God by hys spirite manie tymes mouing vs to good thinges and ouerruling in the strength thereof
euen such doubtles is the state and condition of many distressed in conscieÌ„ce and amongst the rest your case particularlie wherein whatsoeuer you say of your selfe or vtter against your selfe yet I â—t many other though not the best phisitions yet your vnfeigned familiars that haue nowe a long time knowne you in God and his trueth haue seene in you since the daie and hower of our firste acquaintaunce vntill this present time and yet still doe beho de such euidencie clearnes of the graces of Gods spirite notwithstanding your long and continuall complaintes as all the smoke â—muther mystes and fogges and whatsoeuer els els that Sathan by him selfe and his suppostes hath or can cast out against you shall neuer bee able to take away the cleare sight of them from vs or mooue vs so much as once to doubt of the comfortable reuiuing of them in you euen vnto eternall lyfe And I hope wee haue the spirit of God and by the grace thereof as also by the light of his Woorde and experience that hee hath giuen vs are able to deserue some thinge in this behalfe though not so well in others as in our selues for that shall wee neuer bee able to doo yet in others also Wherefore to make an end where I began Be of good comfort good sir I beseech you and waite with patience the Lords ioyfull appearing whose you are doubtles and whereof you may be assured because you haue him x Rom. 8.31 on your side therefore not feare who shal or can be against you because also you haue his children standing with you and for you not onely suffering the same afflictions in bodie and soule that you do and so learning by themselues to remeÌ„ber you in bonds as those that are bound with you but with all holie comfort as in respect of your selfe and with all earnest praier as in regard of the Lord ayding you to their vttermost yea because he that z Iames. 1.17 Gracs from God bestowed on his elect is free from shaddowe of tyranny hath bestowed so many excellent graces of his his vpoÌ„ you as sound knowledge stedfast faith vnfained loue christian patience and a notable measure of holie obedience to his blessed trueth although that in some of these many go before you yet in al of them I hardly know any of my godly acquaintance in Christ that goeth beyond you And yet farther you may the more certainely perswade your selfe of the trueth of this point because you haue cast him so dear a peece euen the hart blood of his best beloued sonne whom he hath giuen as for the testification of his singular loue towardes man so to this end also a Iohn 3.16 that euerie one that beleeth in him shall not perish but haue eternal life And if that which men buy dear they esteem precious and cannot abide at any hand to haue it perish surely God will not see that lost that hee loueth so tenderlie and which he hath redeemed to him selfe with so great and high a ransome b 1. Pet. 1.18 yea with such and excellent an most pretious iewell To all which if you wil ad the manifold victories that here to foâ—e he hath giuen you against sinne and sathan and all their cruell and craftâ—e assaultes he euen then as it weâ—e most miraculously deliuering you wâ—en neither you nor any for you could so much as once dreame of a way much lesse beholde it how you mighte scape certainlie you may take it as the voice of God from heauen that hee will not now specially sith hee hath vouchsafed you so many mercifull meanes of a ioifull deliueraunce throwe you off or taste you awaye but deale rather with you as hee dooth with other his seruauntes c Phillip 1.6 make perfâ—ct in you the good thing that he hath begunne in you euen vntill the day of Iesus Christ and cause you d Act. 24.22 thorow manifold tribulations to enter into his owne kingdome e 1. Cor. 9.25 2. Tim 4.8 Iâ—mes 1.12 1. pet 5.4 and crowne you there with eternall glorie And what though you thinke it long before the Lord come in comfort to you yet knowe f 2. pet 3. that the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slacknes but that hee that will come wil come quicklie and wil not tarie His nature is not g psal 103.9 alwaies to bee chiding neither vvill he keepe his anger for euer as the Prophete saith Ioseph woulde not continuallie dissemble his tender affection towards his vnkinde brethren but must of necessitie h Gen. 43 30. breake forth into teaâ—es and weepe vpon Beniamins necke And shall wee thinke that the Lord is lesse compassionate If wee doo so we belie God and dallie with yea deceiue our owne soules I denie not but he maie for a time indeede hâ—de his louing countenance from vs Exâ—d 33 23. and shewe vs after a sorte as it were his darke partes and that the better eyther to prooue our patience in trying howe wee canne for a while forbeare that which wee exceedinglie desire and as it were hunger and thirst after or else to cause vs the more highlie to esteeme of the same For this is naturallie in vs in the continuance of Gods fauours to make little account thereof Howbeit this wee may assure our seâ—â—ues of that though k psal 30 5 vveeping may abide at euening yet ioy shall come in the morning l psal 89 2â— and that his louing kindnesse hee vvill not take from vs for euer nor falsifie the vvoord yea the oath that is gone out off hys mouth And mee thinketh that heereof you not onelye amongest but aboue manye other shoulde bee throughlie perswaded as well by the viewe of your owne estate as by the consideration of his most gracious nature wee beleeue his mercies yea you beleeue them to bee so greate yea so infinite that they cannot bee as a man would say conteyned within himselfe but must of necessitie ere long euen as continuall springing fountaines that will ouerflowe all and make euerie thinge fruitful and pleasaunt where they come breake foorth and shewe themselues not onely generallie to all but in a speciall maner to some chieflie m Esay 66.2 to those that are poor of contrite spirits treÌ„ble at his word n 62.3 and mourn in Sion for to such is it in verie deede that the Lorde vvill looke and haue a speciall regard Amongest the which sith if I knowe any you your selfe may iustlie bee numbred you can not but beleeue that you shall haue a plentifull portion of thys ouerflowing fauour because you bee as certaynelye inrolled in that number as if your name were particulerlye put down And as for your state you and wee together knowe it to bee long tedious and hard where in notwithstanding you ought to comfort your selfe because you are assured of this and that not only by
the holie commandementes of it call vs and in the comfortable promises thereunto adioyned and conteyned therein allowe vs that notwithstanding the haynousnesse and heauinesse of our sinnes yea the rather for that because without the sense of it neither can we well perceiue our owne estate and miserie nor effectually feele the excellencie and riches of Gods mercie and fauour to n Iames. 4. draw nigh vnto God that so he may draw nigh vnto vs who neuer thrusteth them backe much lesse driueth them awaie that come vnto him In the olde testament none seemeth vnto me more plaine and pregnant then these that are in the book of the prophet I say the holie ghost ther saying o Isay i 18 Come now and let vs reason together saith the lord though your sinnes were as crymosin they shal be made white as snow though they were redde as Scarlet they shall be as wooll And in an other place p Isay 55.1 biddeth euery one that is thirstie come ye to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buy eat Come I say buy wine and milke without siluer and without money In the new Test And in the new Testament these of our sauiour Christ which is the eternall wisedome of the eternall father are most comfortable and sweet sayings q Math. 7.7 Aske and it shall be geuen you seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you and againe r Math. 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and heauie laden and I will ease you Take my yoake on you c. and you shal find rest vnto your soules for my yoke is easie my burthen light What can be more lightfull or delightfull By this commandement we knowe that our comming to him shall bee accepted of him for hee commaundeth not the dooing of that which he abhorreth And by the promises wee are incouraged yea assured to receiue because s Mat. 5. â—1 no one iot or tytle of his woord much lesse his faithful promises shal fall to the ground it is yet more and more coÌ„firmed vnto vs in the person of of him that speaketh it I meane Iesus Christ who being t Iohn 1.18 in the bosome of the father hath fully reuealed him al his wil vnto vs. As for the sacraments The Sacraments the end why the they were ordayned the very cause end of their institution doth propound comfort vnto vs in this point they being ordained by God appointed to be administred in his Church not only to put vs in mind of him and his graces but to be as helpes aides to guide our weak faith to Christ himselâ—e yea to make vs partakers of him all his merites specially the forgiuenes of our sins In whoÌ„ sith there is not onely of himselfe all fulnesse but that that also is true v Iohn 1 â—6 which is els where spoken in the Scripture of him that of his fulnesse wee haue all receiued and grace for grace that is grace vpon grace or graces heaped one vppon another or as a man woulde saie all aboundaunce of all manner of grace we may assure our selues that with him and in him we shall finde thys grace of the forgiuenesse of sinnes and eternall life also because as there is no other sacrifice for remission of sinnes but he alone as the Apostle plainelie proueth in the epistle to the Hebrues so ther is no other x Act 4. i2 name geuen vnder heauen wherein men must bee saued but the name of Iesus That which is spoken indefinitlie of both the sacraments together shal better appeare in the particular consideratâ—on of them by theÌ„selues and a part Concerning baptisme Gods spirit in many places affirmeth that it Baptisme saueth vs which yet least any shold ty to the deed done c Mark 16.16 it adioineth with it faith the z Titus 3.5 renuing that is wrought in vs by the holy ghost termeth it a 1. Peter 3.21 not a putting away of the filth of the flesh but a confident demanding that a good coÌ„science maketh to god which yet it could not do without forgiuenes of sins before going b â— Cor. 15.50 for flesh blood cannot inherit eternal life but to what end we vrge this sith Peter Acts 2 saith be baptised euerie one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes And that which the seruant sayth yet by the spirite of God touching Baptisme that the maister himselfe d Iohn 4.34 The Supper who hath not the spirite by measure auoucheth in plaine tearmes touching the supper saiing e Math. 26.28 this is my bloud of the newe testament that is shed for many for the remission of sinnes And that the holie Discipline of the Church it selfe Discipline of the Church should affoord vs much comfort against this temptation who is it that either can will or dare denie that will either consider the author of it euen God himselfe in Iesus Christ f Psal 56.5.15 most inclinable to mercy and of great goodnes or the endes whereunto it was ordayned it being appointed not onely for the preuention of euill g 2. Thes 3.14 in the seuerall members and whole bodie but for the h 1. Tim. 5.20 gaining of men vnto God euen after sinne and transgression hath enâ—red or preuailed they being i 1. Cor 5.5 chastised a little in this life that their soules might bee saued in the daie of Christ or the persons exercising or executing the same that is the Church and such woorthie men therein as the Church from among theÌ„selues for their rare excellent graces bestowed vpon them from God haue choout vnto themselues who hauing not onelie the promise of the presence of god that is that k Mark 18.20 whersoeuer two or three are gathered together in his name hee is in the middest of them but also the assistance and direction thereof for where the spirite is there is power also ready to receiue admit vpon repentance euen as the Lord himselfe whereof that we our selues might be the better assured the holy ghost hath bin pleased to coÌ„mit into their handes and to giue vnto them power also l Iohn 20.23 to absolue to loose such as are bruised in spirite and touched with a godlie sorrow for their sin yea for the further strengthening of our weake faith therein hee hath not onelie graunted them and vs together with them his most certaine promise m Mat. 18.18 that whatsoeuer they loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen hee meaning thereby a most sufficient and full confirmation thereof ratifieng it as verelie to our spirites euen as though we had heard hys owne voyce speaking vnto vs out of the cloudes but also hath left vs some example of it in the Woord and that not of one man committing some smal transgression or petie sinor offence as wee
Cor. 1 3 4 the father of mercies and God of all comfort doth not onely comfort vs in all our tribulations but also inableth vs to comfort them which are in anie affliction by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of him what it is I will not affirme because the holie Ghost hath taught mee saying o Prouer. 27.2 let an other man prayse thee and not thyne owne mouthe a straunger and not thine owne lips yet sure I am of this that Gods trueth it is and vpon the certaine perswasion that I haue thereof I shal be readie the Lord assisting me not onely to confesse it wholie and in all places and before all persons but Christ Iesus guiding me and assisting me p Iohn 15.5 without whom I cannot do any thing to laie downe my selfe and to seale as if it were with my bloud the certaintie of the same What effect it may bring forth in your honor at whose religious request I was vnfeignedly forward and willing to vndertake these trauailes which also I haue accomplished in the simple measure and maner that you see for the testification of my christian affection or what it may worke in the afflicted party for whose good I doubt not it was and is of vs both in all sinceritie and soundnesse performed q 2. Cor. 2.17 euen as in the sight of God I knowe not This I am sure of wee be vsed as Gods instruments to r Philip. 2.12 plant and to water but it is he alone s 1 Cor. 3.6 who working in vs both the will and the deed according to his good pleasure must also of his singular fauor graunt the increase t 1 Cor 10 13 and with the temptation giue the issue also that wee may be able to beare and ouercome which I beseeche him heartily euen for Iesus Christes sake to vouchsafe as generallie to all his saintes so particularlie to that his distressed seruant that as we haue learned u Rom. 12.15 to weep with him in his affliction so in the effectuall feeling of the communion of saints we may learne to reioyce with him in his spirituall ioy Your Hon. much bounden and readie alwaies in Iesus Christ Tho. Wilcockes the Lordes moste vnworthe seruant GRACE AND PEACE from God c. AS I cannot but reioyce good sir in your godly loue and holie care loue towardes me that it will please you to vse me your poore friend and one that is and will be readie according to my small abilitie for anie dutie you shall enioyne me and care towardes your selfe in seeking for your seke in the middest of your troubles and tâ—â—aâ—les some Christian comforce and instruction both which are plaâ—â—â—e manifested in those two recâ—â—â—rie questions that by you in your letter were prâ—â—ounded vnto me so I 〈◊〉 soâ—â—what Two quâ—stions propounded to â—e answered I must confesse it seized wâ—â—â— sorowe partly for that prouiding for my publike pâ—ace lacke of leysure wâ—â—l 〈◊〉 nowe let me and partlie for that want of abilitie to wade into such weightie causes sufficiently will not suffer me to deale therein as gladly I would in respect of sincere affection towards you and as religiously I ought both in regard of the worthinesse of the causes themselues and of the peace of mine owne heart Howbeit this somewhat recomforteth me that as I rest perswaded that you will accept whatsoeuer I shall deliuer speciallie sith in the same I shoote at your sprituall consolation and good so I hope that God whose cause it is that I deale in and whose glorie I would gladly principallie aime at in the same will by his blessed spirite so guide me that I shall propound nothing but the trueth from imbracing whereof though you may be somewhat hindered because it is deliuered in a simple and meane both manner and meane as I my selfe denie not yet let the glory of the trueth it selfe which needeth no mans colours to adorne and bewtifie the same so farre preuayle with you I beseech you that both for iudgement and feeling it may finde a blessed entertainement in you The first of the difference of the feare of the wicked and the feare of the godly Concerning your first question about the difference that is betwixt the feare of the wicked and the feare of the godly I suppose it shall not be much amisse to knowe this that feare being a passion of the heart and arising not so much from touching Natural feare what it is for that properly respecting the body and outward man rather breedeth paine as from cogitation and thought which directly concerning the minde and inward man doth more liuely strike the same according vnto which also the bodie it selfe by reason of the sympathie or fellow-feeling that the one hath with the other is for the most part affected cannot of it selfe and simply considered be vicious and euill The reason wherof is verie plaine and euident because it being of nature simple the same infused or put or powâ—ed into vs by â—â—ration from God who can not be euill vnlesse we wouâ—d holde that God made some thing euill which were horrible blaâ—phemie and quite cleane contrarie to the fulnesse of goodnesse that is in himself and coÌ„municated vnto all his workes but specially vnto man I further taking it in it selfe to be no more euill to haue feare in the heart than to haue paine in the flesh nor that passion of feare to be no more sin in the soule than appetite in the stomacke to eate and drinke or disposition in the bodie to sleepe c. and such like naturall affections and passions Besides if this and other naturall passions were simply and of themselues faultie then this would ensue thereupon that the creatures speciallie those that we call sensitiue manie of them as effectuallie in their kinde feeling this and other passions also as man himselfe should of themselues carrie about in theÌ„selues a lump of iniquitie which indeed caÌ„not be true both because as in regard of their creation they were good the a Gen. 1.3 scripture affirming it after Gods own view of them whose iudgement cannot be deceiued that they were exceedingly good and also because if they had sinne in themselues and of themselues eyther they must haue a reconciler to passe betweene God and them who also partaking of their nature must in the nature that had sinned satisfie Gods wrath against sinne but it is too too beastly to say eyther that our Sauiour Christ had their nature or that hee dyed for brute beastes or els they must of necessitie perishe vnder condemnation for sinne because the b Rom 6.23 hier of sinne in whomsoeuer without a price to satisfie it is eternall death and there is no meane we are sure betweene these two But which is most notoriously euill absurd and erronious aboue all the rest Our sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe should by this meanes be polluted with same not onely because
as a naturall passion for so that condition they haue common wyth the wicked of the world Of the feare of the Godly and some of the creatures of God Where it â—â—seth as hath in part bene prooued alreadie but prooceedeth also from an vnfaigned loue and a sincere reuerence of God his maiestie and whatsoeuer generallie is in him more particularlie his iudgementes groweth beeing shead abroade into their heartes and effectually planted continued and increased in them thorow the holy exercises of his word and powerfull working of hys blessed spirit accompanieng the same they beeing also styrred vppe thereto not for worldlye respectes or carnall considerations Continueth as shame before men or outward punishment that they must vndergoe for sinne committed or transitory glorie which they must forgoe and loose c. as the wicked and vngodlie but vpon holy regardes euen as wel be seemeth Gods saintes and seruauntes noâ— onelie professing but sincerelie imbracing godlinesse namely for that they haue set God against them selues not as a iudge sharpe and seuere but as a most louing tender father the remembraunce whereof euen in that respect as vnto them as if it wer the darts of death and the sensible feeling for the time of the verie panges and paines of hell and the state of the damned there being litle or no difference betweene the one the other but as in regard of length of time of this life present and the causes moouing such distresse in also which they are lead not so much to respect themselues for many of them in vnfeigned loue to others haue after a sort desired their own destruction as the glorie of God their most gracious father the honour of that blessed religion which they professe and loue of others that not onely in the flesh but also in the faith are deare and precious vnto them fearing indeede least all or any of these should in them or by them bee any manner of way though neuer so smallie wounded or hurte hauing alwayes and that in such a portion as God seeth fit for his glorie and their good notwithstanding their manifold wantes and vnwoorthynesse that pretious gifte of faiâ—h which as it commeth from God alone and is begun continued and encreased in his children by the ministerie of preaching perticipation of the sacramentes and powerfull working of his owne spirit so is it peculiar to the elect onelie to appropriate Gods mercies vnto them selues for the coÌ„fort of their own soules and to sanctifie as other things â—o them so this naturall feare within them and to keepe it in so that it bâ—eake not forth either into sinne against God or offence before men And as concerning the effectes or fruites the which they yeeld and bring foorth which is the seconde difference betweene them wee shall find as great ods and diuersitie as in the causes whereof also there is good reason because such as the cause is such is the effecte which who is it almost that knoweth not and then the causes being sundrie the effectes likewise must be so too Concerning the feare that is in the wicked it either maketh them frefull in themselues as we may see by that little quietnesse they haue whether they be at home or abroad sleepâ—ng or waking in sicknesse or in health The effects of feâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the wiâ—ked their life being nothing els but a sea of continuall troubles which fire though they seeme for a time to rake vp vnder the ashes of counterfeyt rest and dissembled ease In themselues yet will it at the length breake foorth as a mightie flame to consume them or els causeth them to be much disquiet towardes others â—owards oâ—â—ers they plainely bewraying the same either by some hard woordes or sharpe deedes or furious countenances that many times not onely against them whom they cannot abide but against them also that in manifolde respectes should be dear vnto them as their wiues that lie in their bosomes theâ—r children that issue out of their loines their frieÌ„ds that be as themselues their seruauntes that haue walked dutifullie towardes them c. Impacience or murmuring against God Or prouoketh them to bee impatient and murmuring euen against God himselfe not only because his hand for sinne lieth hard heauy vpon them but also because they can see or finde no way how eyther to soften or to shift or to auoid the same For though they seek to run away would gladly flie if they could tell how from the face presence of his eternal maiesty as we may see in our first h Gen. 3.8 parents Adam and Heuah and in the practise of all ages and euen of this present time who bitten as it wer with the teeth wounded with the dart of this deadly feare do not only faint in theÌ„selues and i Dan. 5.6 strike their knees together but manifest to men by sorrowful sighes lamentable coÌ„plaints yea and desperate dealings also sometimes against their own soules bodies that without any remorse of heart or godlie griefe at all whereof wee haue manyfold examples both in the holye scrpitures other writers also knowne I am sure vnto you so well exercised in the word as I take and iudge you to be yet they know there is no way to escape his reuenging hand against them for their sinnes and Rom. 2.5 hart that cannot repent and that is it that increaseth their feare and augmenteth their wo and causeth them to enter into these furious both wordes and deeds Th'effectes of feare in the godly But the â—eâ—e that is in the godly being yet notwithstanding mingled both with hope and ioy as we may perceiue by the Apostles wordes who speaking of the faithfull-saith l 2. Cor. 4 8 We are afflicted on euerie side yet are we not in distresse we are in doubt but yet we despaire not and by that which is reported in the gospell of the women which came to Christes sepulâ—hâ—e of whom the Euangeâ— st Matthew affirmeth that m Math 28.8 they dâ—parted with fear In themselues great ioy maketh them in the daies of their prosperitie considering in what a ticklysh estate In the daies of prosperitie they are and howe easily caried into pride against men I time of aâ—uersitie and forgetfulnesse of God carefull and watchfull ouer themselues ta walke in a good conscience before God and men according to the measure of mercies both past and present that they haue receiued from God and causeth them in the middâ—st of their distresses weighing how quicklie by the remainders of since they may be thrust into impatiencâ—e to labour the attaining of a quiet spirite within themselues beeâ—ng assured that n Râ—m â— 28 all things shall worke toge her to the best for them that loue and feare God yea it prouoketh them to be humble lowly yea and that in all sound maner towards others before
our corruption and sometymes agayne the power of oure iniquitie preuayling and alwayes getting the vpper hand the Lord no doubt thereby prouiding for hys glorye whilest wee attribute all the praise of our well doing vnto him to whome indeede alone all praise and honour belongeth and for our good and that in a double respect not onely whilest by this meanes wee are made humble and lowly before him and men and in our owne eyes especiallie hauing speciall recourse vnto him by praier for heauenly strength and comming to our brethren for such spirituall ayd as they haue receiued from him but also whilest we learne on the one side to loth that which is from our selues as corrupt and defiled and on the other side to cherish and foster that which is from him as good and pure according to that rule of the Apostle o 1. Thes 5.19 20. Quench not the spirits despise not prophesie A similitude The Sunne it selfe a verie glorious creature is not no not in the summer time alwaies alike hote and bright but sometimes is couered with cloudes that keepe backe the brightnesse hinder the heate of the same from vs. The like may we saie of another celestial body the moone it self An other which ouer and besides the ordinarie eclipses that it doth indure somtimes ascendeth higher sometimes commeth sower is many times in the winter season Others especially kept from vs by thicke mists and darke fogs Neither neede we for this to looke so high for from terrestriall or earthly bodies may we perceiue the same The trees in the fields and the plants and hearbs in the gardens all winter long not onely want any good fruite but seeme not so muche as to haue a leafe on them yea the verie truncke and stocke it selfe maketh shewe in mans eyes to be dead and to lacke that life that we call vegetatiue And yet there is a sappe or naturall moysture that lyeth hid in the root which when it is refreshed with the heate of the sinne and comforted as it were with the dewe that falleth from heauen will yet notwithstanding in due time proue vnto vs that the tree plant or herbe was neuer dead whatsoeuer we supposed But what neede we to go out of our selues and from our own bodies to viewe this matter we haue as plaine a demonstration as may be Our bodies to daie fresh and lustie and to morrowe wythered and dried vp p Psal 118.83 as a skinne bottle that hangeth in the smoke Another and yet in time raised vp againe to haue naturall moisture and to performe with strength and agilitie as woorthy deedes as before And euen such doubtlesse for a while is the state of the children of God The application of these similitudes who thorow the heynous offences that they haue committed the strength of temptations that they doe indure speecially when they are pressed vpon them by the sting of their own heart or Satans malice and wherein oftentimes thorow the power of naturall corruption they lie sleeping snorting as it were a great while appeare vnto men yea very many thinke and saie so of themselues as persons forsaken of God and remedie lesse in this life and past hope of recouerie for that which is to come It is true that such mens cases are for the time specially before men in theÌ„selues hard and heauie And if wee shoulde say or thinke otherwise wee shoulde contradict Gods truth which telleth vs that g Heb. 12 1â— no afflictions much lesse this great one is for the present ioious but grieuous rather and stand vp against common sense and reason which plainly prooueth to our faces their condition to be pitifull And yet for all this it is not as they affirme desperate and vnrecouerable but rather thought not as in respect of it selfe yet as in regard of the consolations that God interminglâ—th with it and the good fruites that he bringeth foorth by it very comfortable And therefore how ought you A consolation such as you are to be raised vp I come now to the second point namely consolation vpon whome the Lorde himselfe hath sette such infallible notes of your adoption and election vnto eternall life in Iesus Christ that no cloude that the enemie hath interposed betwixt you and God or no myst that in imagination you haue raysed vp in your selfe to stoppe the comfortable Sunne-shine of Gods fauour vnto you nor no extreame frost or colde of winter howsoeuer it bee harde or sharpe for the tyme and sensibly felt of you can kill the seed that is sowen in your heart by Gods word and spirite or disanull the r 1 Iohn 2.27 annoynting s Ephes 4.30 wherewith you are sealed against the day of Christ so louing so faithfull and powerfull is God in and for his Saintes and that not onelie when they are assaulted with forraigne forces but when they are assayed from within and haue as a man would say the motions of their owne minde and the imaginations of their owne hearts and heades not only to conspire agaâ—nst them but euen to betraie them into the handes of their most cruell and deadlie enemies Obiections answered Howbeit it may bee that you will saie your selfe thinketh otherwise of of your selfe But be not your owne iudge I pray you as wel because iudgement in the especially beloÌ„geth not to you but vnto god t t. Cor. 4 4 to whoÌ„ only it appertaineth to pronouÌ„ce a right sentence as also because the way is slipperie here and men yea otherwise good men may easilie be deceiued For as in persons that are sicke in the bodie it sundry times falleth out A similitude that of som melancholike conceit in themselues or feare that they haue to die they receiue the sentence of death in theÌ„selues yea and sometimes the Phisitions giue him ouer and they are readye to take their leane of them and yet God the Lord of life saith they shal liue and as a proofe of his power restoreth them from deathes doore so is it many times with Gods children in this spirituall disease and sicknesse of their soule wherein as it is much more easie to bee mis-led than in bodily sicknesse so many times when al haue â—orsaken vs and we haue destituted our selues and failed in our own spirites yet God the v 2. Cor. 1.3 God of all mercie and father of all comfort renueth his vnspekeable fauour vpon vs calleth vs backe againe as if it were from death to life Againe Another as men that in their owne iudgments seeme sick vnto death and are so farre from hoping after health that they can not so much as thinke of it euen with imagination as many times wast and weare awaie aâ—d bee brought to deathes dore and yet for all that the standers by as learned phisitions and faithâ—ull friendes for certaine and vndoubted tokens of happie health and good recouerie