consider your owne waies Wee will keepe a reckoning what we run vpon the score with men but rare are they that thinke how deepe they are in Gods books such ill husbands wee are for our soules Now wee must heere marke warily whether wee haue not lost some graces which wee haue had I mean haue them not so powerfully as we haue felt them Whether wee doe not giue place to sloth doing Gods seruice coldly sleightly whether wee haue not forgotten our couenant which wee haue made with God in Baptisme viZ. of dying to our owne thoughts words and deeds daily and labouring in our whole course to feele that not now we liue but Christ in vs as Paul speaketh his spirit teaching vs to doe euery thing as before him in conscience of his will to his glory Yea you here must call to mind the most ſ Deut. 9 7. grieuous sinnes which you at any time haue prouoked God with wee must not bid adieu to the remembrance of our sinnes past and pardoned but must euer beare them in memory so far forth as may help vs with godly sorrow holy bashfulnesse and lowlinesse of minde Deut. 9. Now then thus setting the matter before you if you finde not your harts pricked with it then you must as the Prophet speaketh take words to your selues t Hos 14 3. and trouble your owne soules as thus What shall I thinke of my sins against God not grieue nor blush at them If I haue ouershot my selfe so that men may haue a saying to me it doth cut mee at the heart I am ashamed if somthing crosse but my corrupt nature ere while I haue griefe at will and shall I not grieue for offending my God If I had broke day and not kept touch with man I could not looke him in the face shall it not goe nigher me that I haue kept my couenant no better with God If my seruant haue loytered his day ouer and not done my worke he blusheth and is afraid to come before mee and shall not I change my countenance and be moued that I haue been so vnprofitable in the works of God Thus as men in swoones being chafed come again so shall your soules while thus you bestirre them feele some warmth returning to them But if yet the heart will not relent you must in the third place seeing your barrennesse and inabilitie turn you to Christ speaking to him in this wise Were it to grieue at earthly occasions or that my selfe were displeased heere my affections would come to mee before I sent for them but for godly sorrow none of it groweth in our gardens our foolish hearts loue not holy mourning our hard hearts will not relent to thinke how we displease thee we knowing there is no strength in vs to any thing is good look to thee thou art the Christ u Act. 5.31 Lord thou giuest repentance to thy Israel and forgiuenesse of sinne thou Lord dost circumcise the heart thou hammerest x Ezech. 36.26 and breakest by thy Spirit the stone of them making them fleshie tender y Lam. 5.21 Lord do thou turne vs and we shall be turned Thus while you turne your eies to Iesus that quickning Spirit he will bee present to quicken this grace in you But what if yet your harts should not so kindly melt with in you as you desire yet al◠is safe for this is the smoke of repentance z Mat. 12.20 which Christ will not leaue till it blaze forth hee will not put forth a smoking weeke This desire and labouring after it is happines it self Blessed a Mat. 5.6 are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnes yea vsing this course to consider of your wants to chide after some sort your own soules and to look to Christ the giuer of repentance the stone of your hearts the hardnes wil come away by little litle whē in bodily wounds the approuedst plaisters must be often laid on you must not thinke that these spiritual euils so long growing on vs should bee quite gone on the sudden I doe beseech you therefore as euer you would taste the comforts of God as you would find ease in euill houres when nothing but God can refresh you yea as you loue to escape much worldly sorrow which tendeth but to death so acquaint your selues betime with this exercise of a broken heart b Mat. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comforted and wee know much more earthly sorrow then we should because we will not trouble our owne soules a little blowing vp that godly sorrow which is required at our hands Now for the second of helping you forward in obedience the sum of the couenant twixt God and vs is this he in Christ saith he wil take vs for his c Hos 2.23 people wee promise to him that we will haue him for our God This therefore doth comprise our duty to God that we set him vp in our harts as God which thing wee doe first when we grow vp to know him and to acknowledge him in all things Secondly when we make him our trust Thirdly when we loue him aboue all Fourthly when wee feare him Fifthly when we reioice in him Sixthly when our hearts are thankfully affected to him making him their song and praise This is to haue him for our God when we know nothing trust in nothing loue feare reioice in nothing whē our hearts are thankfull aboue all to him To speake a little to the seuerals We cannot haue God our God till wee come to know him in Christ ignorance doth d Eph. 4.18 estrange vs from God and knowledge doth acquaint vs with him This Paul prayeth for in the behalf of the Colossians 1.10 that they might be filled with the knowledge of God the spirits of their mind being opened to look towards him Euen as our image in the glasse doth looke to vs from whom it is reflected so Gods Image in vs doth make the eie of our mindes view him the author of it in vs. Now this knowledge considereth of God two waies either simply apart frō al other respect and thus it conceiueth a spirituall essence in respect of his properties or persons into which this diuine selfe same nature is distinguished the Father Sonne and Spirit al of them hauing the same spirituall nature as if I and you with som third man might bee supposed all to haue but one and the selfe same soule and body being distinct persons Or else it considereth God as made manifest in our Nature for Iesus the Sonne hauing one and the same Nature with the Father hath taken such a soule body as we haue sinne excepted to fellowship of his person and thus is become e Mat. 1.23 Emmanuel God with vs or God f 3. vlt. manifested in our Nature in which humane Nature God the Sonne suffered death for vs in which likewise hee manifested his
Diuine power raising it vp glorifying it in heauen so that he who was dead in his humane Nature is now aliue in it for euer hauing swallowed vp death into victorie Thirdly it considereth God manifested in Christ as he is become our God by Couenant in regard of such things which his faithful mercies doe worke for vs. He in Christ is our Iustifier our Sanctifier that helpes vs against the remnants of our corruption our Redeemer that deliuereth vs from all troubles the God that careth for vs giueth vs euery good gift blesseth vs in our estates feedeth vs giueth vs and all his beloued ones sleep defendeth vs from al euil keepeth vs by his power to saluation is the beginner and ender of all his good graces in vs. Now how short are we in this point wee are like infants in a manner new borne they are kept by the louing Parent from fire water are fed laied to sleepe made readie vnreadie shifted in their scape but they know not who doth all this for them So doth our heauenly Father by vs in Christ but he knoweth little vnderstanding haue we of him for though God be light it selfe a Spirit which brightly seeth all things through heauen earth to whose pure shine the Sun is darkenesse yet the weakenes of our sight is such wee cannot look against it as the Bat and Owle cannot indure to see the bright beames of the Sun in the firmament you must therefore take notice of your spirituall blindnesse and come vnto him that selleth eyesalue g Reue. 3.18 that hath the spirit of illumination which openeth the eies of the blind and crie to him for mercie Why if your eyes were sore bloud-shot c. your eies wherewith you see but one another creatures like your selfe you would seeke out for them and wash with strongsmarting waters but you would restore them wil you not seeke to your God in Christ for to restore that sight of your spirits wherewith you see him and the things of your peace within the vale euen in the heauens nay you must bee ashamed you take knowledge no more of your God through the whole day If our children when wee are by them should through rudenesse and carelesnesse not once cast a looke to vs as acknowledging our presence would we take it at their hands might not euery one say these children they are better fed then taught they are thus gracelesse Let vs apply it to our selues who serue our God and Father little better and you must set vpon this suite with better hope because God hath promised to vs this is his couenant wee g Ier. 31.34 shall know him from the greatest to the least of vs the eye looking on a thing becōmeth one with it in some manner But least I grow too tedious I come to the second wee must trust on him hanging all our hopes on his mercie and truth toward vs. And these two go together men somtime the better wee know them the lesser we trust them and that deseruedly but Psal 9. Psal 9.10 such as know God shall trust in him and who so reposeth al his confidence in God hee takes him in so doing for his God as the Scripture in this respect saith the couetous man is an idolater taketh his money for God because hee putteth his trust in vncertaine riches his wealth is a strong tower in his thoughts and hee that trusteth in the creature with-draweth his heart from God saith the Prophet teaching that our hearts are vnited to God Jer. 17.3 when the affiance of them is set on him Now though we should liue by faith h Gal. 2.20 on the Sonne of God trusting vpon him for the giuing and maintaining of all our good both temporall and eternall leaning vpon him for defence and deliuerance from all euils spirituall yea and corporall i 1. Pe. 5.7 casting all our cares on him k Phil. 3.3 hauing no confidence in the flesh but reioycing in Christ Iesus though this is our dutie yet we are exceeding weake in faith and full of vnbeleefe this will appeare by our want of feare at the thretnings of Gods word and by our carelesnesse which maketh vs loosly looke after his promises Did wee beleeue such threatning if you liue after the flesh you shall die Rom. 8.11 wee would tremble when we fauour our selues in our owne wayes the diuels beleeue and trēble Againe trusting ciuilly in mans word or bond we do seek them carefully and are glad when we haue got thē and as we say wee write vpon them to haue so much at such a day vpon a substantiall mans word or bond giuen vs. But Gods word that promiseth all good things in this life as wel as the life to come his seales wee seeke not after them wee are not glad of them which is a signe of our great vnbeleefe in them Secondly by the resting of our hearts in outward things and our being disquieted when we want them is a token that our hearts are vnbeleeuing while wee haue meanes and good likelihoods of this or that wee are well let these faile we are troubled which sheweth that wee rest not on the word of God which is as sure in the want of all things as in abundance but leane on such things as wee see and haue at hand Suppose a man had crutches vnder his armes but leaned not at all to them as hee goeth take them away he walketh as before So wee did not we trust and leane on the things seene but on God who is not seene but by the eye of faith wee should goe as vpright when al things to sense speake the contrary to that wee beleeue as when our feeling is fed abundantly hoping against hope Thirdly did we rest on God and trust to him as who is all in all we would seeke to him for his blessing more then for meanes which by his blessing doe this or that whereas we labour not to make him sure to vs but to get the meanes and then wee thinke all is well with vs. Now when you find your vnbeleef you must make it odious to your selfe by such like considerations Shall I seeke after the word of a mā sometime to secure but a twentie shillings matter and shall I not seeke after the precious promises of my God shall I trust to a man promising this or that and shall I not trust my God who is truth it selfe that cannot lie will not a substantiall man thinke much if I take not his bare word and shall I not trust my Lords word and seale oath he hath sworn to blesse vs with all blessings in Christ vnlesse he leaue me a pawne also Then in the third place when you finde your vnbeleeuing heart trouble you Heb. 12.2 you must looke to Christ who is the authour and finisher of your faith speake to him Thou hast begun thou must finish Encrease my faith I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe
of some earthly businesse and shal I not reioyce in the Gospel of God in good newes from heauen touching the saluation of my soule Againe shall I laugh and bee cheary in being with my frieÌ„d and shall I be all amort when I draw neere my God Shall I be glad of acquaintance with a man and not bee glad that I know my God in Iesus Christ which is life euerlasting Iob. 1.17.1 The wicked they exult in seruing sin SataÌ„ to their destruction shall I bee without ioy in seruing my God who giueth of his free grace to me life euerlasting O our reioycing is earthly little ioy of the holy Ghost dwelleth with vs. We are like such as are sicke of light phrensies they â—ill laugh at their shadâ—ow at their own phanâ—es but can see nothing â—â—to nay distaste that which sauoreth of right reason As therefore against the former so against this also we must fight the good fight of faith looking to him who hath said hee will make our hearts glad in his house who hath promised to send his spirit to vs that our ioy may bee full praying him that in this regard hiâ— Kingdome may come and that hee would rectifie this affection in vâ—to make vs able to takâ— comfort in that whicâ— is matter of true reioâ—â—cing Now for praysiâ—â— God and thankfulneâ—â— to him wee haue this commandement * Phil. 4.6 in al things giue thanks yea in euils Iohn 1. Psal 104. end shal we receiue good things from God and not euill the Lord hath giuen the Lord hath taken blessed bee his name No wonder for medicine is as good in due season as the delightfullest dainties Now our inward and outward crosses are by Gods graces made wholesome physicke to purge out our corruptions and make vs partakers of the quiet fruit of righteousnesse and holinesse Yea our hearts should be so thankfully affected that like a fire it must breake forth and inflame others My soule my heart al within me praise the Lord Psal 104 35. My soule praise the Lord praise yee the Lord. He doth stirre vp himselfe and prouoke others as the Cocke that first clapping his wings about his bodie rowseth vp himself and after crowing awaketh others Otherwise coÌ„mon termes of thankfulnesse without affectioÌ„ are a court-holy-water as we say which our God that looketh at heart and raines doth not respect And truly there is great cause looke at benefits past eaten bread must not be forgotteÌ„ thanks must still be greene doth not the particular deliuerance when many fell on each hand of you bind you still to thankfulnesse If all things you enioy you know the temporall blessings as tolerable health good name and reputation freedom from suite and seruice ability rather to â—e helpful then chargeble the domesticall peace your liberties without feare of restraint all of them in their place no small matters Will you consider spiritual blessings that which you haue downe in hand is as great a work of his mercie as the glorious staâ—e you looke for hereafter Is not the Lords worke more admirable in his first making and quickning the infant in the wombe then in feeding it there drawing it forth and nursing it vp to full stature so his begetting vs who were dead to bee aliuâ— though yet in the wombe of our mother the Church is more then the bringing of vs to a perfect man in Christ Iesus when now we are new borne babes in him And though it seeme strange yet it is onely in this respect because we are like infants who liue but know not in comparison that they liue so wee hauing in small measure that Spirit which teacheth vs to know the things bestowed on vs know not how great that grace is which is already shewed vs. It is no smal thing when wee were dead in ignorance and the lusts of our ignorance to bee quickned with the life of God in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse when wee were enemies to bee made friends yea sonnes and daughters The Apostle doubteth not to reason from this as the greater to life euerlasting as the lesser Ro. 5.10 If God when we were enemies hath recoÌ„ciled vs by his death how much more wil he saue vs with perfect saluation of soule and body by his life that is by putting forth the power of his Spirit now hee liueth to die no more These then are great things his acquitting you from the sinne and death for Christ the suâ—â—ties sake his sending his Spirit into your heart and giuing you part in the first resurrection Beside these you must remember what aduersities he hath holpen you in how he hath eased the yoke of your corruptions which haue had more power in you then now they haue yea what euils he hath put by you Haue you not been tempted in â—his or that kind it is because God in mercie would not leade you into temptation Yea this is in some respect more to bee acknowledged theâ— victorie when you are tempted For not to bee tempted is more immediately from God and lesse in mans power then to preuaile against temptations For nothing doth ouercom vs without our will but without our wills God doth leade vs into triall for he knoweth we would taste little of these if it were in our power to bee our owne caruers You must bee as thankful for such sins which God hath not let you know as for those which hee hath pardoned in you hauing committed them Whither doe you thinke you are bound to praise God more if hee restore you when you are sicke or if he keep you so that you feele no sicknesse Now if you weigh what things God hath prepared for you they are such as neuer eye saw neuer entred fully into the hart of mortal man Compare the state of Prince Henrie in his Queen Mothers womb with his condition at full age in all the glory of his Fathers Court there is a broad difference which may fitly resemble the diuersitie of our present and future condition We are borne sons and daughters of God heyres apparant to the Kingdom of heauen but while the Church doth heere trauell of vs we are pent vp in darke cloysters annoied with much stincks of sinne in ouâ— selues and others but hereafter our state shalâ— be altogether lightsome happie and glorious So that wee may well say to God O how great is the good which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee How great things dost thou worke before the sonnes of men for such as hope on thee You see then how for things past for things present and things God hath in store for vs wee are bound to bee thankfull Now if you aske what it is in which our thankfulnesse standeth I answere first in a heartie acknowledgement of Gods goodnesse to vs in all things with conscience of our owne vnworthinesse as who are lesse then the least of his mercies Compare Genes 32.10.33.5 1. Ch. 29.14 Moses