was certified by the infallible and plain word of God from which I praise my most merciful father I am not this day one iote remoued Neither 〈◊〉 I of that my blessed and most happie societie with the trueth of Christes Gospel vnto which it hath pleased God â—o â—alme the most wretched of others neither fore think I that God hath made me an open and manifest enemie to Papistrie superstition and to al that â—ilthie idolatrie which newly is erected in Gods hotte displeasure neither yet would I recaÌ„t as they terme it one sentence of my former doctrine for al the glory riches rest that is in earth And in conclusion I would not bowe my â—nee before that most abhominable idol for al the tormeÌ„ts that earthly tyrantes can deuise God so assisting me as his holie spriâ—â— presently moueth me to write vnfainedly And albeiâ— that I haue in the beginning of this battel appered to play the fainte Hearted and feeble soâ—â—â—our the cause I remit to God yet my prayer is that I may be restored to the battel againe And blessed bee God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ I am not left so bare without coÌ„forte but my hope is to obtaine such mercie that if a sodaine ende be not made of all my miseries by final death which to mee were no smal aduantage that yet by him who neuer despised the sobbes of the sore afflicted I shalbe so incouraged to fight that England and Scotlande shal both knowe that I am readie to suffer more theÌ„ either pouertie or exile for the profession of the doctrine and that heauenly religion whereof it hath pleased his merciful prouidence to make me amongst others a simple souldiour and witnesse bearer vnto men And therfore mother let no feare enter into your hearte as that I escaping the furious rage of those rauening wolues that for our vnthankfulnes are lately loosed from their bondes doe repent any thing of my former feruencie no mother for a fewe Sermons by me to be made within England my heart at this houre coulde bee content to suffer more then nature were able to sustaine as by the grace of the most mightie and most merciful God who onelie is God of comfort and consolation through Iesus Christ one day shalbe knoweÌ„ In the meane season yet once again as it were my final good night and last testament in this earth in the bowels of Christ Iesus I exhort and admonish you constantly to contine we with the veritie which yet shal triumph obtaine victorie in despite of Saâ—â—an and of his malice And auoid ydolatrie the â—aintainers obeyers where of shal not escape the sodaine vengeance of God which shalbe powred sorth vpon them according to the ripenesse of their iniquitie And when they shal cry quietnes peace which neuer remained of any continuance with the vngodly then shal their sodaine destruction come vpon them without prouision The God of peace and consolation who of his power infinite and inuincible hath called from death the true and great bishop of our soules and in him hath placed our flesh aboue principalities powers of what preheminence soeuer they bee in heauen or in earth assist you with his holie spirite in such constancie and strength that Sathan and his assaultes bee confounded now and euer in you and in the congregation by Christ Iesus our Lord. To whome with the Father with the â—oly Ghost be al praise and honour eternally Amen Yours with sorowful heart I. K. Watche and pray The Argument of the Epistle A comfortable Epistle sent to the afflicted Churche of Christ exhorting them to beare his crosse with patience looking euery houre for his comming againe to the greate comforte and consolation of his chosen with a prophecie of the destruction of the wicked Whereunto iâ— ioyned a most wholesome counsel howe to he haue our selues in the middest of this wicked generation touching the dayly exercise of Gods most holy and sacred word Written by the man of God I. K. Eze. 9. Passe through the citie and put a signe on the foreheads of those that mourne for the abhominations that are committed WHen I ponder with my self beloued in the Lord what the state was of Christes true Churche immediately after his death and passion and what were the changes great mutations in the common wealth of Iudea before the final desolation of the same as I cannot but feare that like Plagues for like offences shal strike the Realme of England and in fearing God knoweth I lament morne so can I not but reioice knowing that Gods most merciful prouidence is no lesse careful this day ouer his weake and feeble seruants in the Realme of Englande than it was that day ouer his weake and sore oppressed flocke in Iurie What was the state of Christes churche betweene his death and resurrection from his resurrection to the sending of the holy Ghost vppon his disciples and from that time also to the finall destruction of Hierusalem The plaine Scripture doeth witnesse that it was most afflicted without al comforte and worldly consolation and that it was so persecuted that hauock was made ouer the church of God And what were the mutations and troubles in Iudea and Hierusalem before the destruction of the same such as are expressed in histories and principally in Iosephus and Egesippus can not bee ignorant For they witnesse that ouer that vnthankeful people were peâ—mitted to reigne cruel tyranâ—ous and most vngodly magistrates by whome the people were oppressed and spoyled of their liberties by which occasion was stirred vp sedition and therevpon followed so cruel tyrannie that vnder the name of iustice no smal number of the people were burned quicke After which crueltie followed such murder vniuersallie in the citie and in the fieldes that the fathers feared their sonnes and the brethren their brethren Which vnquietnesse ceased not vntil Gods seuere vengeance was once powred forth vppon such as obstiâ—ately refused and persecuted Christ Iesus and his doctrine But to returne to the entreatement and preseruation of Christes church at this time it is euident that most sharply it was persecuted and yet dayly did it increase and multiply It was compelled to flye from citie to citie from Realme to Realme and from one Nation to another and yet so wonderful was it preserued that a greate number of those whome the wicked Priestes by their blooddie tyranny exiled and banished from Hierusalem were kept aliue til Gods vengeance was powred forth vppon that most wicked generation The remembrance of this beloued in the Lorde is vnto my hearte such comforte and consolation that neither can my tongue nor penne expresse the same For this assuredlie is my hope and expectation that like as Christ Iesus appeared to his Disciples when there was nothing in their heartes but anguâ—she and desperation and like as hee preferred and multiplyed their number vnder the most extreeme persecution so shal hee doe to his afflicted
A ¶ Fort for the afflicted Wherin are ministred many notable excellent remedies against the stormes of tribulation Written chiefly for the comforte of Christes little flocke which is the smal number of the Faithfull by Iohn Knoxe Iohn 16. 33 In the vvorlde yee shall haue affliction but be of good comfort I haue ouercome the vvorld Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson 1580. To the Religious Reader WHo art thou O Christian that beeing sicke in soule and desirest to be sound Sorowfull in spirit crauest comfort vnquiet in minde seekest to be at rest wounded in conscience and wouldest be in safetie tormented in thought and longest for reliefe Who art thou I say that hauing offeÌ„ded thy God and art therfore punished tried with tribulation and criest out to bee refreshed visited with affliction and faine wouldest be deliuered Get thee to Gods woorde and there learne thy lesson heare his holy Gospell preached and thereby receiue instruction peruse and ponder examine and consider meditate and exercise thy selfe in the good bookes of Gods faithful seruants and they shall teach thee wisedome And among all bookes tending to this 〈…〉 Christianâ— to bee imbraced and followed this notable exposition of that zealous man of God Maister Iohn Knoxe vppon the sixt Psalme contayning sundry comfortable and excellent doctrines in number many in matter weightie vnder the person of that Princely Prophet Dauid and after his example and patterne too bee applied vnto all suche as are touched eyther in minde or bodie with any kind of crosse or calamitie to direct them to the path of patience and to shew them by a president vnto whom they must run for refuge in the time of their visitation if they desire eyther partly too haue theyr miseries mitigated or themselues wholly from troubles to be deliuered The benefite of this Booke belongeth to euery particular member of Christes Mysticall bodie and they onelie haue the grace to vse this and the like at conuenient seasons Moreouer the manifolde comfortes of this woorthy Authors most fruitefull Epistle written for the consolation of Christes afflicted flocke are of no lesse force and vertue in cases of calamitie then his other treatise the one commodious the other necessary both beneficiall Thine to doe thee good Abraham Flemming To his beloued Mother I. K. sendeth greeting in the Lorde THE desire that I haue to heare of your continuaÌ„ce which Christ Iesus in the day of this his battell which shortly shall end to the confusion of his proud enimies neither by tong neither yet by penne can I expresse beloued Mother Assuredly it is such that it vanquisheth and ouercommeth all remembrance solicitude which the fleshe vseth to take for feeding and defence of herselfe For in euery realme and nation God wil stirre vp some one or other to minister those thinges that appertaine to this wretched life and if men wil ceasse to doe their office yet will hee sende his rauens so that in euery place perchaâ—ce I may finde some fethers to my body But alas where I shal finde children to be begotten vnto God by the worde of life that can I not presently consider And therfore the spiritual life of such as somtime boldly professed Christ god knoweth is to my hearte more deare then all the glory riches and honour in the earth And the falling backe of such men as I heare dayly to turne backe to that idol againe is to mee more dolorous then I trust the corporal death shalbe when euer it shal come at God his appointment Some wil aske then why did I flie assuredly I cannot tel But of one thing I am sure that the feare of death was not the chiefest cause of my flying I trust that one cause hath beene to let mee see with my corporall eies that al had not a true heart vnto Christ that in the day of rest and peace bare a faire face But my flying is no matter by God his grace I may come to battel before al the conflict be ended And haste the time O Lord at thy good pleasure that once againe my tongue may praise thy holy name before the congregation if it were but euen in the very hourâ— of death I haue writteÌ„ a large treatise touching the plagues that assuredly shall apprehende obstinate Idolaters and those also that dissembling with them deny Christ in obeying to idolatrie which I woulde you should reade diligently If it come not to you from the South I shal prouide that it shal come to you by some other meanes Touching your continual trouble giuen vnto you by God for better purpose then wee can presently espie I haue begunne vnto you the exposition of the sixth Psalme And as God shal graunt vnto me opportunitie and health of body which now is very weake I purpose to absolue the same The Argument IT appeareth that Dauid after his offeÌ„ce fel into some great dangerous sicknes in the which he was sore tormented not so much by corporal infirmities as by susteining drinking some large portion of the cup of God his wrath and albeit that he was deliuered as then from the corporal death yet it appeareth that long after yea and I verily beleeue that all his life he had some sense and remembrance of the horrible feare which before he suffered in the time of his sicknes And therfore the holy Ghost speaking in him sheweth vnto vs what be the complaintes of God his elect vnder such crosse howe diuersly they are tormented how that they appeare to haue no sure holde of GOD but to be abiect from him and yet what are the signes that they are Gods elect And so doeth the holy Ghost to teach vs to seeke helpe of God euen when hee is punishing and appeareth to bee angrie with vs. The sixth Psalme 1 O Lorde rebuke mee not in thine anger nor chastice mee in thy hot displeasure DAuid sore troubled both in body and spirite lamentably praieth vnto God which that you may more surely vnderstande I will attempt to expres in moe woordes Dauid speaketh vnto God as hee would speake vnto a man in this manner O Lorde I feele what is the waight and strength of thy displeasure I haue experience howe intollerable is the heauinesse of thine hande which I most wretched man haue prouoked against my selfe by my horrible sinnes Thou whippest me and scourgest mee bitterly yea thou so vexest mee that vnlesse thou withdrawe thine hande and remit thy displeasure ther resteth nothing vnto mee but vtterly to bee confounded I beseeche thee O Lorde rage not neither bee commoued against mee aboue measure remit and take away thy heauie displeasure which by mine iniquitie I haue prouoked against my selfe This appeareth to haue beene the meaning of Dauid in his first woordes whereby he declareth him selfe to haue felt the greâ—uous wrath of God before that hee burst foorth to these wordes In which first is to bee notedâ—
against the spirit euen in the howre of their greatest perfection in such maner that al power al iustice and al vertue proceeding from vs is so contaminate and defiled that the very workes which wee doe must be purged by an other and that therefore can none of them be infallible groundes of our praier neither yet a sufficient cause why we should be heard But the goodnesse of God as it is infinite so can it not bee defiled by our iniquitie but it pearceth through the same and wil shewe it selfe to our consolation euen as the beames of the bright Sun pearce through the mystie and thicke cloudes and bring downe his natural heate to comforte and quicken suche hearbes and creatures as through violence of colde were almost falne into deadly decaie And thus the onely goodnesse of God remaineth in al stormes the sure foundation to the afflicted Against which the Deuil is neuer able to preuaile The knowledge of this is so necessarie to the afflicted conscience that without the same it is verie harde to withstande the assaultes of the aduersarie for as he is a spirite most suttle and vigilant to trouble the children of God so is it easie to him to deâ—ace and vndermine al the groundes and causes that be within man especially when wee are in trouble yea he can persuade that we lacke those thinges which most assuredly we haue by Gods free gift and grace As for example if wee desire to bee deliuered from trouble and anguishe of conscience with Dauid and Iob sodeinely can the Deuil obiect what appertaineth their example vnto thee they had many notable and singular vertues which thou lackest if wee desire remission of sinnes with Magdalen with Peter or with any other offenders he hath these dartes readie to shoote they had Fayth but thou hast none they had true repentance thoâ— arâ—e but an hypocrite they hated sinne and continued in good woorkes but thou reioycest in sinne and dooest no good at al. By these meanes can hee who is the accuser of vs and of our brethren â—uer finde out some craftie accusation to trouble the weake conscience of the afflicted so long as it resteth vppon any thing that is within it selfe and til by operation of the holie Ghost wee are ranished and refte vp to the contemplation of our GOD so that our mindes are fixed onely vppon Gods infinite goodnesse clayming by the same to receiue mercie as Iob doeth in his former woordes the sense and meaning whereof is this O Lord thou madest mee when yet I was not thou gauest mee soule and bodie when I neither knewe nor vnderstoode what thy power was thou seddest and nourishedst mee when I coulde doe nothing but weepe and mourne And thy mercifull prouidence vnto this day hath preserued my life and yet neither I nor my woorkes coulde profite thee for thou whose habitation is in heauen needest not the helpe of man And as for my woorkes such as the fountaine is such must the water be my heart is corrupted how then can any thing that is cleene proceede from the same And so what euer I haue receiued that either was is or hereafter shalbe within my corrupt nature al proceedeth froÌ„ thine infinite goodnesse which begunnest to shew thy mercie before that I knew thee caÌ„st thou then leaue mee thus in my extremitie I graunt and confesse that I haue offended but is there any creature cleane and perfect in such perfection that without mercie he may abide the trial of thy iustice or is there any iniquitie now in me which thy wisedom did not know before And thus I appeale to thy mercy which springeth from thy infinite goodnes O deere mother when thy afflicted soule can thus forsake and refuse what euer is in man can stay it self how litle soeuer it be vpoÌ„ Gods infinite goodnes theÌ„ are al the firie darts of the Deuil quenched he is repulsed as a coÌ„founded spirit It shal hurt nothing albeeit the stormie teÌ„pest cease not sodainely It is sufficient that this anker be cast out which assuredly shal preserue your ship that shee violently runne not vpon the forelande of desperatioÌ„ This I write beloued in the Lorde knowing what hath beene your complaintes heeretofore in that you found your faith faint that you could not repent your former euil life chat yee found no disposition nor readinesse to good workes but were rather carried away of sinne wickednesse If al this had beene true yet had yee beene in no worse case then was the Apostle Paule when hee cried O wretched and vnhappie man that I am who shal deliuer mee from this body of sinne But I assuredly know that the chiefe part of your trouble proceedeth from malice enuie of the Diuel who would perswade to your hearte that yee delighted in those things which to you were most displeasing For howe oft haue ye complained vpon the weakenes of your faith How oft haue yee lamented the imperfection of your fleshe The teares of your eies haue wiâ—nessed before God that yee delighted not in such thinges as your aduersary falsly layeth to your charge For who vseth continually too mourne in those thinges that are pleasing to his hearte if they bee present with him at al times Or who wil desire thinges pleasing to bee remoued from him yee haue mourned for your weakenesse and haue desired your imperfection to bee remoued and yee haue detested all sortes of idolatry How then can yee think that yee can take any pleasure in the same Despâ—ire not although that al remembrance of Gods goodnesse or worthinesse bee remoued from your minde yee haue Dauid Iob Daniel and al other the Saints of God in equal sorte with you of Dauid and Iob yee haue hearde and Esay making his heauie complainte for the plagues of the people of Israel openly confesseth that al had sinned that their right eousnes was nothing but filthinesse that none sought God that none called vpon his name And Daniel in his prayer like wise confesseth that al had wrought wickedly that al had declined from God yea and that none had submitted them selues to GOD nor yet had made supplication vnto him albeit hee had punished their former inobedience and therefore saith hee that they did not alledge their owne iustice in their prayers Consider deare Mother that no mention is made of any righteousnessâ— that was within them selues neither yet doe they glory of any workes or vertues that they had wrought before for they vnderstood that God was authour of all goodnesse And therefore to him only apperteineth the praise But as for their sinnes they vnderstood them to bee the infirmities of their owne fleshe and therfore boldly called they for mercy And that by Gods infinite goodnesse which is no lesse free vnto you then vnto theÌ„ according to the riches of his liberal graces which plentifully he powreth foorth vpon al them that cal on the name of the Lord Iesus The third and
accuse their former negligence then lament they the miserable affliction of their brethren and then crye cal they in their heartes and openly where they dare for free passage of the Gospel This hunger and thirst doeth prooue the life of their soules But of suche men as hauing libertie to reade and exercise them selues in Gods holie scriptures yet begin to be wery because froÌ„ time to time they reade but one thing I aske why are not they weary euerie day to eate bread to drink wine to behold the brightnesse of the Sun to vse the rest of gods creatures which euery day do keepe their own substaÌ„ce course and nature They shal answere I trust Because such creatures haue a strength to preserue the life O miserable creatures who dare attribute more power strength to the corruptible creatures in nourishing preseruing the mortal carkas then to the eternal woorde of God in the nourishment of the soule which is immortal To reason with their damnable vnthankfulnesse at this present is not my purpose But to you my deare brethren I wryte my knowledge and do speake my conscience That so necessarie as the vse of meate drink is to the preseruation of corporal life and so necesâ—arie as the heate and brightnesse of the Sunne is to the quickening of the hearbes and to expel darknesse So necessarie is also to the life euerlasting and to the illumination and light of the soule the perpetual meditation exercise vse of Gods holie word And therfore deere brethren if that yee looke for a life to come of necessitie it is that yee exercise your selues in the booke of the Lorde your God Let â—o day slip or want some comfort receiued from the mouth of God open your eares and he wil speake euen pleasant thinges to your heart close not your eyes but diligently let them beholde what portion of substance is left to you within your fathers Testament Let your tongues learne to praise the gracious goodnesse of him whose meere mercie hath called you from darkenesse to light and from death to life Neither yet may ye do this so quietly that ye wil admit no witnesse no brethren yee are ordained of God to rule your owne houses in his true feate according to his word Within your houses I say in some cases ye are Bishops and Kinges your wife children seruantes and family are your Bishopprike and charge of your it shalbe required howe carefully and diligently ye haue alwayes instructed them in Gods knowledge how that ye haue studied in them to plant vertue and suppresse vice And therefore I say ye must make them partakers in reading exhorting and in making common praiers which I woulde in euerie house were vsed once a day at least but aboue al thinges deare brethren studie to practise in life that which the worde of God commandeth and then be yee assured that yee shal neuer heare nor reade the same without fruite And thus much for the exercise within your houses Considering that S. Paule calleth the congregation the bodie of Christ wheâ—eof euerie one of vs is a member teaching vs therby that no member is of sufficiencie to susteine and feede it selfe without the helpe and support of an other I thinke it necessarie for the conference of scriptures assemblies of brethren be had The order therein to be obserued is â—xpressed by S. Paule and therefore neede not I to vse many woordes in that behalfe only willing that when the conuent are come together which I woulde were once a weeke that your beginning shoulde be from confession of your offences and inuocation of the spirite of the Lorde Iesus Christ to assist you in al your godly enterprises And theÌ„ let some place of scripture bee plainely and distinctly redde so much as shal be thought sufficient for one day or time which ended if any brother haue exhortation questioÌ„ or dout let him not feare to speake or moue the same so that he doe it with moderation either to edifie or to be edified And hereof I dout not but great profite shal shortly ensue For first by hearing reading and conferring the scriptures in the assemblie the whole bodie of the scriptures of God shal become familiar The iudgements and spirites of men shalbee tried Their patience and modestie shalbee knowne and finally their giftes and vtterance shal appeare Multiplication of wordes prolixe interpretations and wilfulnesse in reasoning is to be auoided at al times and in al places but chiefly in the congregation where nothing ought to be respected except the glorie of God comfort or edification of brethren If any thing occurre within the text or els arise in reasoning which your iudgements can not resolue or capacities comprehend let the same be noted and put in writing before yee dismisse the congregation that when God shal offer vnto you any interpretor your dout beeing noted and knowne may haue the more expedite resolution or els that when ye shal haue occasion to write to such as with whoÌ„ ye wold communicate your iudgementes your letters may signifie and declare the vnceasing desire that ye haue of God and of his true religion And they I dout not according to their talents wil endeuour and bestow their faithful labours to satisfie your godly petitions Of my selfe I wil speake as I thinke I wil more gladly spend ten houres in communicating my iudgement with you in explayning as God pleaseth to open to me any place of scripture then halfe an houre in any matter beside Further I would in reading the scriptures ye should ioine some bokes of the olde and some of the newe Testament together as Genesis and one of the Euangelistes Exodus with an other so forth euer ending suche bookes as yee begin as the time wil suffer For it shal greatly comforte you to heare that harmonie wel tuned song of the holie spirite speaking in our fathers from the beginning It shal confirme you in these dangerous and perillous dayes to behold the face of Christ Iesus his louing spouse and Church from Abel to him selfe and from him selfe to this day in al ages to be one Be frequent in the Prophets and in the Epistles of S. Paul for the multitude of matters most comfortably therin contained requireth exercise good memorie Like as your assemblies ought to beginne with confession inâ—ocation of God his holie spirite So woulde I that they were finished with thanksgiuing commoÌ„ praiers for princes Rulers Magistrates for the libertie and free passage of Christ his Euangelie for the coÌ„fort and deliuerance of our afflicted brethren in al places now persecuted but most cruelly within the realmes of Fraunce and Englande and for such other thinges as the spirit of the Lord Iesus shal teach vnto you to bee profitable either to your selues or to your brethren whersoeuer they be If thus or better I shal heare that yee exercise your selues deare brethren then wil I praise God for your great obedience as for them that not onely haue receiued the word of grace with gladnesse but that also with care and diligence do keepe the same as a treasure and iewel most precious And because I can not suspect that ye wil doe the coÌ„trarie at this present I wil vse no threatnings for my good hope is that ye shal walk As the sonnes of light in the middest of this wicked 〈◊〉 That Ye â—hal be aâ— Starreâ— in the night â—eason who yet aâ—e not chaunged into 〈◊〉 That ye shal be wheat amongst the 〈◊〉 and yet that yee shal not chaunge your nature which ye haue receiued by grace through the â—elowship and parâ—icipatioÌ„ which we haue with the Lord Iesus in his bodie and blood And finally that ye shalbe of the number of the prudent viâ—gins dayly renuing your 〈◊〉 with oyle as you that patiently doe abide the glorious apparition and comming of the Lord Iesus whose omnipotent spirit â—ule and instruct illuminate and comforte your 〈◊〉 and mindesâ— in al assaules 〈◊〉 and euermore Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus rest with you I.K. Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson dwelling at the three Cranes in the Vintree 1580. The dolorous coÌ„plaint of Dauid in his trouble His praier His confession God his very elect sometimes accuse God Rom. 10. Let this bee vvel noted Enimies driue vs from God vnder this crosse Esay 38. Iob. 9. Obiection of the fleshe Ansvvere by a similitude Ier. 18. Marke vveâ— In trouble Dauid remebreth vvhat God sometimes bad vvrought by him The most spiritual man desireth rest Mercie appertaineth to al the creatures of God that cal for the same vnfainedly Iob. 9. The eye of faith The most pure vvorkes that maâ—â— can do are in the sight of God vâ—cleane Oh most faithfâ—â— confession The care of God is alvvaies one oâ—er his chosen Egesip lib. 1. cap 44. Actes 12. As God did to his afflicted Church in Iudea so shaâ— be doe the same in England Our imperfection may not hinder God to be merciful Gods elect are permitâ—ed sometimes â—orribly to fal The state of Christes Church before shortly after his death Note 〈◊〉 22. 〈…〉 2. Tiâ— 1. Luke 2. â— Cor. 3. The â—ause of â—â—mforte VVby God should sodainely strike the Papistâ— in England VVhat vvee ought to auoid in extreeme trouble Mat. 5. Psalm 119. Perfect and godly hatred 〈…〉 〈…〉 Exo. 7. 8. 14. â— Kings 15. 3. Kings 13. Papistes haue bin summoned Papistes haue bin acâ—used and conâ—icted Time of repentance hath beene graunted vnto Papistes The due execution approcheth Papists shal 〈◊〉 against God to the end Toâ—stal conuicted of murther and theft to his face at Bervvicke The last plague of the Papists Iob. 5 Iob. 15. Esay 12
commeth vnto vs by Christ Iesus his sonne But they are causes by operation of the holy Ghost helping our weaknes to beleeue to trust that God who is the father of mercies wil not be angry for euer at the sore afflicted neither yet that hee wil punishe without mercy suche as cal for his helpe and comforte as also that GOD who hath alwaye declared him selfe enemie to pride wil not suffer the proude and obstinate coÌ„temners of his poore Saintes long to blaspheme his lenitie gentlenes but that he wil powre foorth his plagues vppon them according to his threatninges and so are our troubles and the tyrannie of our enemies in that behalfe fundaments wherupon our prayâ—rs may stande as here appeareth Dauid describeth his dolour and the continuance therof in these wordes I am consumed away with sicknesse al my bones are vexed my soule is in horrible feare But how long lord wilt thou thus intreat me I am weeried for sobbing I water my bed with my teares Let vs imagine that Dauid thus speaketh O Lord maiest thou who euer hast taken care for me from my mothers wombe nowe forget mee the woorke manship of thine owne hands Maiest thou that hast declared thy selfe so merciful vnto me in al my tribulatioÌ„s nowe in the ende take thy mercies cleane from me Hast thou no pitie O Lordâ— Doest thou not beholde that I am pined and consumed by this greeuous torment wherein is not onely my tender flesh but also my verie bones the stroÌ„gest parte of my bodie so vexed that neither is there beautie nor strength left vnto mee If thy anguishes occupied the bodie onely yet were the paine almost intollerable but O Lord so horriblie is my soule tormented that albeit it be immortal yet it so quaketh and treÌ„bleth as verie death should deuour it And thus doe I sustaine most grieuous tormentes both in bodie soule of so long continuance that it appeareth vnto me thou hast forgotten to be merciful O Lorde howe long wilt thou intreate me in this maner Hast thou forgotten thy louing mercies Or hast thou lost thy fatherly pitie I haue no loÌ„ger strength to cry yea and for sobbes and grones I am so weery that my breath faileth me the teares of mine eyes â— herewith nightly I haue wette my bed haue borne witnesse of my vnfained dolour but nowe my eyes are waxen dimme and my whole strength is dried vp In al these lamentable complaintes Dauid speaketh vnto God as he would speake vnto a man that were ignorant what an other man suffered whereof it may bee vnderstood howe the most prudent and the most spiritual man iudgeth of God in the time of troble assuredly he thoght that God taketh no care for him and therfore doeth hee as it were accuse God of vnmindfulnesse that he loketh not vpon him with the eyes of his accustomed mercie as clearely by these worodes may be espied And yet are Dauids troubles the first ground cause why he maketh his praiers claimeth to be heard not that troubles as before is noted are sufficient by them selues for Gods deliueraunce but in recounting his dolour Dauid hath a secret accesse to Gods mercie which chalengeth clameth of dutie to appertein to al his who in the time of trouble cal for his support help aide And it is the same ground that Iob taketh where he saith is it profitable vnto thee that thou violently oppresse me wilt thou despise the worke of thine own hands thou hast formed made me altogether and wilt thou now deuour me RemeÌ„ber I beseech thee that thou hast fashioned me as a moulde and that thou shalt bring me to dust thou hast couered me with skin flesh with sinowes bones hast thou ioyned me with life geÌ„tlenes hast thou beautified me thy prudence hath kept my spirit Here may be espied vpoÌ„ what grouÌ„d these two stood in this most grieuous paynes Their trouble mooued them to complain and to appeale to the great mercie of God which as they alledge euen so is it most sure he may deny to none that aske it for as the troubles of his creatures is none aduantage vnto God so to denie mercie when it is asked were to deny himself herein dearely beloued I hartily wish you to reioyce For I can be witnesse howe constantly yee haue called for grace in your anguishes and your owne conscience must testifie that ofteÌ„times ye haue found release and comfort in suche measure that you haue bin bold to triumph against your aduersaries in Christ Iesus our sauior Be nothing afraid albeit presently ye feele not your accustomed consolation that shal hurt you no more then the trobles of Dauid Iob did hurt theÌ„ who in the time that they spake these former words found no more consolation then you do now in the most extremitie of your troble Neither yet did they hastily obtain coÌ„fort for Dauid saith O Lord howe long wilt thou so cruelly punish me And yet we know most assuredly that they were heard that they obtained their own harts desire as no dout euery man shal that in time of troble be it spiritual or corporal appeareth only to Gods mercie The second ground and foundation wherupon the prayers of Dauid doe stande is the infinite goodnesse of God for thus hee saieth Saue me O God for thy goodnesse Dauid before had asked mercie and declared his complaintes but now searching reasoning with him selfe secretly in his conscience after this maner Why should God shewe mercie vnto him that so hainously had offended and that iustly was tormented by Gods hande for his transgression sin No other grounde that is alwayes sure permanent findeth he except Gods infinite goodnesse which he espieth to bee onely the staie which neither tempest of windes neither floodes of water are able to ouerthrow nor vndermind And oh how pearcing are the eyes of Faith that in so deepe a dungeon of desperation can yet espie in the midst of those troublesome darknesse goodnes to remaine in God yea and such goodnesse as is sufficient and able to ouercome deuour and swalow vp al the iniquities of his elect so that none of them are able to gainstande or hinder Gods infinite goodnesse to shewe his mercie to his troubled childreÌ„ Hereby are we taught beloued mother in the extremitie of our trobles to run to Gods only goodnesse there to seeke comfort by Iesus Christ and no where els I feare nothing the blasphemous voices of such nor their raging against God and against his onely eternal veritie that are not ashamed to affirme that this kinde of doctrine maketh men negligent to doe good workes against whom no otherwise wil I contend then doth the Apostle saying their damnation is iust For my purpose and minde is to edifie those whoÌ„ God hath called from darknesse to light whose eyes it hath pleased his mercie so to open that euideÌ„tly they feele the flâ—sh to rebel