bloud The Atheist that is abominable and disobedient and unto good works reprobate though his cauterized conscience and senselesse heart hardened through the custome and habit of sinne seeme to rest and sleepe for a while yet shall hee be awakened with a The misery of the Atheist dolefull wakening when the dreadfull sense of the wrath of the Lord of hosts shall lash and whip him naked as hee did Cain and as the furies of hell did monstrous Nero. Then shall he cry out with cursed Caligula A wounded conscience Gen. 4. Sueton. in Ner. who can beare it Where shall he rest then all his former pleasing courses then shall he condemne as Job did his friends miserable comforters are ye all Job 16. 1. Thus Pro. 18. 14. is the wicked like the raging sea that cannot rest whose waters cast up mire dirt there is no peace to the wicked saith my God Isay 57. 20 21. The proud Pharisee and Justiciarie Hypocrite that flatters and deludes his soule with a groundlesse opinion of his owne righteousnesse shall in stead of peace and rest inherit trouble and sorrow for all his righteousnesse is instar panni menstruati like a filthie Of the proud Pharisee clout Isay 64. 6. and therefore when Isaiahs hungry man after his dreame Isay 29. 8. and Passets the Juglers guests shall be satisfied filled with the phantasticall shewes and vaine appearances of imaginary and vanishing dishes then shall the hypocrites heart be quieted and refreshed through Isay 29 8. his owne righteousnesse for his most plausible workes of morality and seeming devotion are so imperfect polluted Jewel that they are not able to abide the examination of Jehovaes all-seeing eye and triall of his dreadfull tribunall none but that pure and perfect righteousnesse of Christ can endure it none but the contrite heart that is clothed and armed therewith shall ever bee able to stand before him If such smooth formalists finde no true rest what shall Of those that seeke for helpe of wizzards c. we say then of such as seeke for comfort and ease not through any appearance of goodnesse or so much as any shew of holinesse but by the meanes of the devill as wizzards and witches cold is their comfort it is like a draught of cold water to a man that is sick of the dropsie as that hasteneth him to his grave so doth this diabolicall comfort drive the Sonnes of Belial to the pit of hell What fruit reaped Saul by his conference and consultation with the witch at Endor and with the devill himselfe A wofull answer Tomorrow shalt thou and thy Sonnes be with mee the Lord shall give the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines And what was the effect of this answer Surely nothing but bitter feare and fainting infirmity 1 Sam. 28. 20. Ahaz died the death because he sent to enquire of Baalzebub the devill god of Ekron 2 Kin. 3. 4. Thus are all the enemies of Christ and such as are strangers from him ever confounded CHAP. 6. An Exhortation to come unto Christ WHosoever then would find rest unto his weary soule must come unto Christ for hee is that Ladder 1 Sam. 28. Christus scala coeli which Jacob in the way to Haron saw reaching to Heaven whereby God and man are joyned together and by whom the Angels minister unto us all graces joyes and rest by him are given unto us and we by him ascend into heaven Gen. 28. 12 13. Neither is there salvation in any other for among men there is given none other name under heaven whereby wee must be saved Act. 4. 12. And this is our glorious prerogative and consolation that if any man sinne Jesus Christ the just is our Advocate with the Father and he the atonement for all our sins 1 John 2. 1 2. For the office of his intercession and redemption are joyned together And howsoever he prove a stumbling block to the Jewes and foolishnesse unto the Grecians yet unto them which are called both of Jewes and Grecians Christ 1 Cor. 1. 23 14 is the power of God and the wisedome of God yea hee is all in all Col. 3. 11. Hee is our hope 1 Tim. 1. 1. Without Christ then and the grace of his Kingdome there is nothing in the world but vanity and vexation of spirit Learning and victory plenty and pleasure honour and length of dayes vanity of vanities without Christ all is vanity As Aristotles learning increased so did the care and toyle of his restlesse wandring spirit ever till the first borne of death had the dominion over him As Quint. Curt. Vâ—us Pellaeo Iuveni non sufficit orbis c. Iuven. Sat. 10. was the master so was his Scholler Alexander the great when he had conquered and subdued Grecia Asia and India all these triumphant victories could not content his unsatiable heart but he wishes that Phlegra field had beene full of Giants like Porus that most magnanimous and mightie Indian Prince to fight withall and that the vast Ocean had beene firme land There is no earthly materiall thing that can satisfie the heaven-borne immateriall soule none but that infinite God of spirits is able to content Eccles 12. 7. mans unsatiable spirit For the Lord made it for himselfe to feed on his immortall joyes and dainties Plutarch therefore derides and mocks the Epicure and sensuall man that would delight and please the soule with the pleasures of the body This is impossible Let the Ruffian labour to drowne his melancholy fit and cheare up and refresh his pensive and languishing heart with quaffing and swilling and healthing yet shall he be confounded drink may make him mad but never truly merry he may roare but never rejoyce for this is the privilege of the sober Saints of Christ Jesus Psal 32. 11. Be glad in the Lord rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all yee that are upright in heart But some man will object What did not the noble Object and brave Philosophers and learned of the Gentiles as Socrates who called as it is reported and brought as it were Philosophy downe from Heaven and divine Plato who taught the Art of prayer and wise Seneca who wrote so In Alcib 2. vel de voto Null secund Plutar. learnedly of the tranquillitie and peace of the mind c. Did they never attaine unto true blessednesse and rest Surely no for though they sought and searched for consolation and peace to their troubled minds yet did they never labour for this peace of God which passeth all naturall understanding Phil. 4. 7. For they knew it not and why Because they knew not Christ the Lord of glory and peace 1 Cor. 2. 8. So without Christ the way unto peace they wandered out of the path of peace without Christ the Truth of peace they obtained at the most but Iohn 14. 6. a shadow of peace as Ixion embraced an
and lusts of his flesh by obeying and following the same but hee is grossely deceived for as oyle being cast into the sea mitigates the violent surges of the same but for a moment and by and by they become a great deale fiercer so the thing that a voluptuous man desires though it abate the toile of his labouring minde it is but for a while and never fully but presently afterward it befalleth him as it did the monster Hydra when Hercules Simile had cut off one head two did rise in the place so the Epicures labour and vexation of his swinish heart after it is a little mitigated increaseth and ariseth to an higher pitch than ever it did afore As then he that hath the dropsie can never quench his thirst by drinking so can no carnall and unregenerate man content and quiet his spirit with the vanities of this world nor the sensuall soule its brutish desire with pleasures CHAP. 3. All and onely the weary members of Christ are refreshed HO every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters c. for thus saith hee that is high and excellent hee Isay 55. 1. that inhabiteth the eternity whose name is the holy one I dwell in the high and holy place and with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to give life to them that are of a contrite heart Isay 57. 15. And againe Come unto me all ye that labour Mat. 11. 28. and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Such as feele the burthen of their sinnes originall and actuall and grone under the same labouring to have the release and ease of Matth. 5. 3. them and such as are poore in spirit and sensible of their spirituall wants and weaknesse lowly in heart and base in their owne esteeme and therefore labour for the free pardon of all their offences for the righteousnesse of Jesus Phil. 3. 9. Christ which is by faith and a joyfull sense of the love and favour of God which is better than life it selfe and pray for that peace of God even that tranquillity of conscience that passeth all naturall understanding such as are thus humbled are fit objects of mercy and compassion C. 4. 7. for the Lord giveth grace unto the humble they are capable of rest and refreshment Such broken hearts are the sacrifices Iam. 4. 6. Psal 51. 17. of God a broken and a contrite heart O Lord thou wilt never despise who so doth pray with David hide thy V. 9 10 11 12. face from my sinnes and blot out all mine iniquities Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renue a right spirit within mee Cast me not away from thy face and take not thy holy spirit from me Restore unto mee the joy of thy salvation c. that poore soule shall be liberally comforted and fully refreshed in the bowels of Christs endlesse compassions Never did any Faithfull penitent heart depart from the throne of Grace without some sensible consolation Never did Christ since the foundations of the Isa 1. world reject any of his poore ransomed members but though their sinnes were as red as crimson they became as white as snow so that the bones which the Lord had broken did ever thereafter rejoyce in his mercy CHAP. 4. The reason of the former point ALl the weary Saints of Christ are refreshed whether Gal. 3. 28. Eph. 6. 9. these be rich or poore Jewes or Greeks bond or free mals or female for with God there is no respect of persons but as many as walke according to this rule peace shall be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Who Gal 6. 16. else should be invited unto the participation of mercy to be partakers of the privileges and comforts of the Kingdome Phil. 2. 8 9. of Christ but such as he came into the world to save whom should he refresh but those whom he hath redeemed Matth. 10. 6. And whom should hee exalt but those for whose sakes he was humbled and afterward highly exalted Now it is evident that Christ was sent of the Father into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance and to save the lost sheepe of the house of Israel for the same was prophesied of him by the holy Ghost long before his Incarnation Isa 61. 1. c. And when Christ himselfe came to Nazareth where he had beene brought up he went as his custome was into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and the booke of this Prophecie being delivered of the Minister unto Luke 4. him he expounded the same The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anoynted me that I should preach the Gospell to the poore hee hath sent mee that I should heale the broken hearted that I should preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind that I should set at liberty them that are bruised and that I should preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord Luk. 4. 16 17 18 19. Hence it is evident that our blessed Saviour was sent of God the Father not for his owne cause but for his afflicted members sake neither came he to be Lord over all but to redeeme all his owne So God the Father delivered Mat. 11. 27. all things unto him he gave him all power both in heaven and in earth made him Lord over all that hee might deliver C. 28. 18. us wretched soules from the jawes of hell and pull us out of the pawes of that infernall Lion Satan whose bondslaves we were sitting in darknesse in the region and shadow of death till that day-spring from on high visited Isay 9. 1. Luke 1. us and set us at libertie Thus our blessed Redeemer sitteth at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for us he helpeth his afflicted servants and sends them release in Rom. 8 34. Gen. 45. 5. their distresses So was Joseph sent into Egypt by God and there exalted for the preservation of his Church and so he was a type of Christ So David was preferred and advanced Psal 18. unto the Kingdome of Israel and so was hee likewise a figure of Christ 2 Sam. 22. CHAP. 5. Damnable is the case of all such as are strangers from Christ WHat shall wee say then of those that are enemies unto the Crosse of Christ Jesus what is the condition Eph. 2. of such as are strangers from the life of God aliens from the common wealth of Israel and forrainers from the Covenants of promise who have hope but are without God in the world walking according to the course of the same according to the Prince of the power of the aire the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Their estate is most damnable wofull the tragicall plight of all such impenitent and senselesse sinners is to be deplored even with teares of
empty cloud in stead of his beloved Juno and without Christ the life of peace they ended their lives and their peace together Wherefore if any man would live in peace and joy with God and his owne conscience which is Gods continuall Deputie he must begin continue and end in Christ No beginning of true peace till a man begin truly to live in Christ and no continuance and perpetuity of rest unlesse 1 Pet. 2. 25. hee continue and rest in that God of rest If after wee are received in the sheepfold of that Shepheard and Bishop of our soules wee goe astray at any time and passe beyond the limits and bounds of his blessed will then doe wee disquiet and trouble our soules wee refuse Isay 8. 6. the waters of Shiloah that runne softly and sweetly and goe to the swelling and raging waters of Jordan What trouble and sorrow and bitter anguish of heart did poore David suffer by the meanes of his sinnes how heavy complaints and lamentations did he expresse Psal 6. 25. 32. And how strong teares and prayers sent he up to the Lord againe for mercy and forgivenesse and for the renewing of his holy Spirit of peace and joy in him Psal 51. So doth every sanctified sensible soule feele the smart of sinne and breach of peace by the same When God is offended the conscience is troubled and till he be pacified peace cannot bee recovered Therefore the wounded soule must runne unto Christ and rest in him Now the man that commeth unto Christ for mercy How we should come unto Christ and peace hee must run unto his Redeemer with the two spirituall feet of faith and repentance of faith because it is impossible without faith to please God for he that commeth to God must beleeve that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them that seeke him Hebr. 11. 6. And he that asketh and beggeth of Christ what he needeth must aske in faith and not waver For hee that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea tossed of the wind and carried away Neither let that man that doubteth of Gods will thinke that he shall receive any thing of the Lord Jam. 1. 6. 7. He must runne likewise with the foot of Repentance For wee know that God heareth not impenitent sinners contemners of God and such as delight in wickednesse John 9. 31. Which that blessed man after Gods owne heart confessed Psal 66. 18. If I regard wickednesse in mine heart the Lord will not heare mee Hee that commeth unto Christ to bee comforted and exalted must first bee 1 Sam. 13. 14. humble and dejected and in the humiliation and lowlinesse of his heart enter in at the strait gate and walke in the narrow way that leadeth unto life For the man that is stuffed up with sinne and puffed up with pride and arrogancy with lust and covetousnesse with a naturall conceit of righteousnesse with malice and envy c. such a one is too too big to enter in at that strait gate and walke in Matt 7. 13. that narrow way he can no more get in and walke there than a Camell can goe through the eye of a needle But the contrite and broken heart the soule sorrowfull for sinne entreth in at that gate and walketh in that narrow way which leadeth it assuredly unto solid and true rest The Jer. 6. 16. true penitent is conducted and led unto true rest and his joy is certaine For Christ promiseth the same assuredly Matth. 11. 28. Refocillabo vos I will give you rest He promiseth more than any corporall Physician dare or can doe to his patient he can but offer his paines and promise to doe his best endevour but he cannot promise recovering of health to the sicke But Christ doth infallibly assure his spirituall patient of true health and peace to his soule Never was there from the foundations of the world any contrite spirit disappointed of this joyfull refreshment nor ever shall be A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt never despise Psal 51. 17. Christ the God of truth hath ever fulfilled his promise And as this rest is certaine so is it solid and true the remission of sins the sense of Gods love and the peace of conscience is heaven upon earth is it a continuall Feast which maketh a chearfull countenance and causeth good health Prov. 17. 22. yea it sustaineth and beareth the infirmities and all the crosses and vexations of this life Prov. 18. 14. Prov. 15. 13. And finally being the first fruits and beginning of eternall blisse it is the infallible note and token of the same Who so findeth and enjoyeth this rest the same shall be glorified after this life with Christ in the heavens world without end Amen FINIS Imprimatur Tho Wykes Lond. Oct. 10. 1637.