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
like to the saints seruants of God who haue gone before you in the flesh in the faith yea euen to Iesus christ him selfe the eternal sonne of the eternall father Dauid was a k 2. Sam. 13.14 man according to Gods own hart vpon whoÌ„ the Lord had set his eie delight for much good and yet who more afflicted this way theÌ„ he he conceiuing of God as of one that was in vtter displeasure with him and that had cleane forgotten him and quite takeÌ„ his mercy from him Of which if you doubt may it please you to peruse Psal l Psal 6. 38. 42. 77. 88. 102. 6.38.42.77.88.102 whither also for shortnes sake I do referre you I doubt not but you shal be thorowly perswaded therof m Act. 9.15 26.18 Paul was an elect chosen vessel and that not onely to carry Christs name among the gentiles but euen vnto eternal life and yet n 2. Cor. 12.7 least he should be exalted out of measure thorow the abundaÌ„ce of reuelations there was giuen vnto him a prick in the fleshe and the Angell Satan to buffet him which least we should imagine to be peculiar vnto him he doth in another place affirme of him selfe and the faythfull together o Heb. 2.17 4.15 Though wee doubt yet we despaire not But what stand we repeating these petie examples which though they be pregnant for the purpose whereunto they are produced are not yet matchable with that that followeth sith we may most liuely see it in him who though hee was compassed about with our fleshe was yet free from the taint or staine of anie corruption and though he had naturall passions was vtterly voyd of extremitie or sinne in them or any thing els whatsoeuer being the very true and naturall sonne of God and equall with the father was so farre humbled and brought lowe that hee did yet notwithstanding through fearefull feeling of Gods wrath and extreme anguishe in himselfe demand of his father p Mat. 27.46 whie hee had forsaken him Of whome also the Apostle witnesseth by the spirit q Heb. 3.7 that in the daies of his flesh he did offer vp his prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was heard also in that which hee feared Nowe if the strength of temptations coulde bring our sauiour to so lowe an estate and hard condition as a man would saie so that he seemed not onely to be at the verie brinke but to be plunged into the pit not of feare alone but of doubting and distrustfulnesse as it might seeme who yet notwithstanding was the onely beloued of God and had receiued all the graces of the Spirite generallie and therefore no doubt the spirite of fortitude and power particularlie in moste absolute and full measure shall wee thinke it strange that the sonnes and daughters of God who during the time of their mortalitie vpon earth haue sinne dwelling in their brittle bodies who also howsoeuer they be beloued of God are not affected for their owne sakes but for his sake alone and who notwithstanding many gifts they haue receiued for the gathering together and building vp of theÌ„selues and of the fellowship of saintes haue yet not so much as a sparke or crum of grace compared with the infinite and incomprehensible treasures of Gods goodnesse in Christ be greatly assaulted and daily beaten on euerie side yea as seemeth vnto them selues and others sometimes ouerwhelmed Neyther herein alone standeth your comfort good sir yea our comfort that we are r Rom. 8.19 conformed and made like vnto the seruantes of God yea the only begotten sonne of God in his and their sufferinges but that as hee caused his almightie Å¿ 2. Cor. 12 9. strength to appeare in their poore weakenesse making t 1. Cor. 10.13 an issue out of their temptations for them that they might escape that the lâ—ke mercie fauour and strength hee will shew vnto vs and in vs notwithstanding our infirmities because that as the v Esay 59.1 Arme of God is not thorowe length of time or working of wonders anie maner of waie shortned so is the fatherly affection that hee setteth vppon his children vtterly vnchangeable Whereof yet wee may be the better assured because hee hath performed these great workes not onely in some of his excellent seruauntes through his grace strength alone but in Iesus Christ our heade and Captaine whose victorie as in other respectes so in this particularlie is in such sorte become ours that we cannot chuse but in him become more x Rom. 8 37 than conquerours as the Apostle sayth For if his absolute obedience be sufficient to take awaie our sinnes and the imputation of his righteousnes powerfull inough to make vs stand as righteous and innocent in the presence of our heauenly father why shoulde not his vanquishing both of death and y Heb 2 14 him that had the power of death that is the deuill be an assured pledge also of our ouercomming sith we know and beleeue that hee conquered not for hymselfe but for vs that wee in hym might bee as was euen nowe sayd a little before more than conquerours Of great impatience or waywardnes The second point that you complain of as in regard of your selfe is the great impatience and waywardnesse that you finde at home in your owne soule the same sometimes breaking out so farre that it is not onely made manifest vnto God and men thorow disquiet behauiour and vnsauorie words but manie times also breaketh forth into better cursinges Answere This I cannot chuse buâ— acknowledge to be hard and heauie as in respect of your selfe and the iniquitie high and great as in respect of God Howbeit euen against this also you shal well perceiue and finde A Comfort that the Lord hath prouided comfort for you yea comfort in his hoâ—y worde which word of his as it farre exceedeth all humaine speach and writing that euer haue bin are or shal be and is indeede to speake propeperly the onely trueth so doubtlesse the comfortes therein conteined infinitely surmount all worldly consolations whatsoeuer and are indeede onelie to be taken for the true ioyes In which respect I wou d haue you not to be afraid for the magnifying of Gods singular mercies and for the extolling of the comfortes of the word to your spirituall ioy to vrge and prâ—â—â—e against your selâ—e as hard as you can and as farre as anie maner of way you may with trueth your owne sinne and yet I am sure you shall neuer find it to reache further than to blaspheme against the father or the sonne to which depth of iniquitie for anie thing I know it hath not atteined But suppose it had ascended so high doth not yet our sauiour being trueth it selfe in the word of all trueth assure vs 2 Math. 12.32
diligent obseruation of naturall courses that there is no tempest or storme so greate but there insueth euen in the necke of it as a man would say a verye quiet calme nor any winter so colde and deadlye but there commeth both a springing time and summer also after neither yet by the examples of some worthie partitular persons alone as Abraham Iob Dauid and such like whose endes and issues you haue heard off to bee comfortable and as it were heauenlie but by manifolde experiences in your selfe the Lord making you in your owne hearte to finde that to bee true which as hee had promised in hys woord so hee faithfullye perfourmed to his seruauntes in all ages and hath accomplished to and in you that o 1. Cor. 10.13 he wil not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able to wit to beare thorow him but will euen giue the issue with the temptation that ye may be able to beare it Waite therefore with all christian patience for the Lordes Spring-time and haruest wherein hee will come himselfe being reconciled vnto in Iesus Christ and comfortablie call you foorth yea take you as it were by the hand walke with you into the fieldes and say p Cant. 2.11 Arise my loue my fâ—ire one come thy waie for behold vvinter is past the rain is chaunged and gone away the flovvers appeare in the earth the time of the singing of birdes is come the voice of the turtle is heard in our land meaning vnder these earthlie similitudes and comparisons all spiritutuall and heauenlie graces together with the excellent fruites and effectes that by the same he will worke in you Concerning which as you muste not bee discouraged eyther with the length of time in which they are withhelde from you or the hardnesse and sharpnesse of the instrumentes and meanes whereby they are brought to passe in you so must you assure your selfe that at the length they will come because hee is faithâ—ull and willing and able to perfourme that hath promised and their delaie doubtlesse wil be recompenced with all manner of spirituall aboundance For euen as in husbandrie the daylie moisture harde frostes and thicke snowes that fall in the winter season doo indeede nothing els but season the ground mellowing it and making it fitte for the better receiuing and bringing foorth also of that which is committed to it and shall bee sowen in it howesoeuer it seeme contrarie sometimes vnto mans iudgement So no doubt the raine the frostes the snow and the I se of your afflictions are as it were not onelie prepaparatiues for the grounde of your heart and soule fitting you for yea filling you with the pleasaunt fruites of righteousnesse and religion which are as it were Gods summer and haruest q phil 1.11 fruites and so in Christ shall be accounted and accomplished in you Till which time come assure your self of this that as he r Ioh. 14 18. wil not leaue you alwaies or vtterly no not very long coÌ„fortles for so he hath faithfully promised in his blessed woorde but when you seeme most in danger and dystresse will visite you and replenish you with all heauenlye and holie comfort that being a moste proper and fitte tyme for hym to woorke in for the manifestation of his power in the eyes of the wicked and the declaration of his loue towardes his owne people so hee will not destitute you of all necessarye strength both to vndergoe and to ouercome too whatsoeuer it shal please him as your moste mercifull father nowe or else at anye time hereafter to laye vppon you or to exercise you withall As for mee looâ—e what dueâ—ye it shall please you to prescribe and God shall vouchsafe in mercie to enable â—e to performe I will not God aiding me fayâ—e therein yea I say vnto you not onely vse me but commaund me in the same and if you finde mee not therein readie to my vttermost I am content you shall write me vp with such dissembling and faithlesse friends as abound almost euerie where This I promise and by his strength that must performe all in all I hope I shall accomplish that I will not cease in my poore measure to pray for you till such time as I shall vnderstand that as by manie other meanes so particularly by that God himselfe shal be pleased to bestowe vpon you your full deliuerance and I haue occasion to yeeld him humble thankes for graunting the graces that I others as on your behalfe haue soundly though in weakenesse and wantes prayed vnto him for And thus with hartie thanks for your manifold and continuall kindnesses towardes me and mine and humble salutations in Christ vnto you and your good bedfellowe mistresse H. I doe vnfeignedly commend you to the Lord Iesus whose sith you whollie are and to whome sith your heauenly father hath giuen you to be kept I doubt not but you shal continue fast and remaine sure â—â—en vnto the end not onely because he â—o whom you are coÌ„mitted for custodie s Math. 28.18 s Math 28 18 hath al povver giuen vnto him both in heauen and earth but also because we knowe in the trueth of his worde that is the trueth it self t Iohn 10.12 that he looseth none of those that are committed vnto him u 6.37 nor casteth anie such away as come vnto him At London the last of this May. 1589. Your worships as bounden so readie alwayes in all that he may T.W. the Lords most vnworthy seruant GRACE AND PEACE from God c. WE haue right honorable if my poore iudgement deceiue me not The afflictions of the spirite most grieuous manifolde proofs of this point that the afflictions â—f the spirite are muche more great â—nd grieuous than the diseases or trouâ—les of the outward man For first the â—olie Ghost himselfe in plaine tearmes â—ffirmeth it saying a Prou. 18.14 The spirite of â— man will sustayne his infirmitie meaâ—ing thereby his outward paines and griefes of what nature or kinde soeuer â—ut a wounded spirite who can beare â— vnderstanding thereby the troubles â—f the hart or soule speaking as though â—ee shoulde saie it is not onely a very â—ard thing to performe but that verie â—â—we also are found that can indeede indure it yea none but suche as are indued with some special grace from God himselfe Secondly the verie lamentable complaintes and earnest prayers that Gods Children who indeede are moste I had almost said onely exercised that way this I am sure of with fruite and profite haue especiallie in that distressed case made and powred forth doe plainlie proue it Take Dauid Paul in stead of manie or all if you will the one auouching that there b Psalm 38.3 was nothing sound in his fleshe because of Gods anger neither rest in his bones by reason of his sinne and the other crying out c Rom. 7.24 Oh wretched man that I am who
according to the scriptures we generally know beleue that he was c Heb. 2.17 â— 15. very man in euery respect like vnto vs sinne onely excepted but also because the Apostle speaking euen of this particular humaâ—ie affection in him plainly sayth in the Epistle to the Hebrues that hee was d â— 5 7. heard in the thinges which he feared Nowe to saie that he was touched or tainted any maner of way with anie though neuer so small spot of sin what is it els but to gainesay the holy scriptures which in d Isa 53.9 Ioh. 8 46. 1 Pet. 2 22. manie places affirme him and that most rightly to be voyd of iniquitie yea to make him no fit sauior for sinne because he that must redeeme others from inâ—quities and transgressions must be himselfe shamelesse otherwise he cannot be a price of reconciliation and which toucheth vs also to the quicke and importeth vs as nigh as life and death by consequent to depriue our selues of full pardon and forgiuenesse of all our sinnes because if Christ died not the e 1. Pet. 3.18 iust for the vniust wee remaine vnder transgression and being aliue f Ephes 2.5 are dead in trespasses and sinnes and so vnder eternal death Here then is required a right deserning spirite yea a hart indeede that is indued with a notable portion of heauenly wisedome spiritual grace froÌ„ aboue that so that which is not of it selfe euill though I speake particularly of the passion of feare yet it shall not bee amisse to practise it in all of the like nature may thorowe the great worke of the sanctfiication of the word and spirite of God growe euerie daie better and better with mightie increases from an high The sight and knowledge of al which as it cannot but strike muche terror yea horror into the hearts of the wicked and vngodly because thorowe the strength and power of their own sinne they haue made the light that was in them which in my minde may not vnfitly be resembled to the dawning of the day and was and is sufficient to make them without excuse or defence before God to become darkenesse and by that meanes are plunged into obscuritie as grosse if not more grosse as that of Egypt so should it be very comfortable to those in whom the Lord himselfe hath bene pleased by hys owne hand and ordinaunce to aduaunce that worthie worke of regeneration and that not onely while they doe not as the wicked sinne in all maner of extremitie of naturall passions adding drunkennesse vnto thirst and thorow the corruptioÌ„ of nature and Satans deadly and insatiable malice defacing their own light and so are become stocks and voyd of all sense of the same but also while they haue nature it self so inlightned by the trueth of the word and reformed by daily addition of grace froÌ„ aboue that in continuall wrestling and striuing against it speciallie the corruptions of it they gaine so much that they cause euen that as other thinges also to tend to the aduauncement of his glorie that is Lord of nature and hath it at coÌ„maund and to their owne comfort and the good of others wherat those sparks and remainders of nature that are yet in vs vndefaced doe in some sorte aime how much more may they attaine vnto it not onely when they are accompanied but when they are ayded thereto with the graces of God in vs. But to come somewhat more nigh to the point we are to deale in and yet it cannot be denied but that that which hath bene alreadie deliuered doth properly concerne the same methinketh we may betwene the two fe â—res which you desire to be satisfied in obserue a double difference the one as in respect of the causes I say causes neither let the seeme straunge vnto you that there are may be many causes of one and the self same thing from whence it commeth and proceedeth though some in the same bee more principall working causes than other as euerie petie logician wil redily acknowledge the other as in regard of the effectes and fruites that they bring forth in the seuerall parties and persons diuersly according to the diuersitie of the feares theÌ„selues affected therewith Of the feare of the wicked Whence it riseth That feare which is in the wicked ariseth either from some conceite that they haue within them of shame and disgrace before men in whose sight with them themselues it is a great and grieuous iudgement and goeth to their heart as cold as the panges of death to be clothed with confusion for being men and no more but naturall men as they like well of themselues so they woulde gladly be highly esteemed of their likes Groweth or els beeing bitten or stoong with the knowledge of some euill eyther conceiued or performed from some impression and sense that they haue of punishment before god for the same whose infinite iustice as they haue moste heynously offended so they certainly know that they cannot by anie meanes withstand and auoid Continueth this being ingrauen in their heartes by the light of nature that sinne and his punishment must alwaies goe as it were arme in arme or els from some other odde imagination and carnall conceit of their own as g Iere. 17.19 mans heart is deceitfull and wicked aboue all thinges who can knowe it and that still in selfe loue towardes themselues onelie for this neuer moueth them that by their iniquities they haue pulled wrath and displeasure vpon other men from almightie GOD all and euerie one whereof no doubt are muche furthered in them not onely through abuse of naturall feare and also by meanes of their melancholike constitution or complexion as we say a meane that God himselfe hath bene pleased to appoint and vse euen in his iustice against the wicked greatly to increase their terrors and feares but also by the horrible distrustfulnesse of their owne heartes Other causes thereof they finding no matter of true and stedfast ioy in themselues as who in the stinging testimonie of their owne soules are conuicted of moste grieuous transgressions and eternall iudgement for the same and how is it then possible for them to haue sound peace nor seeing anie sure comforte from others eyther in heauen aboue or in earth beneath among men who if they cannot when and as they would affoord themselues consolation much lesse may those other looke to receiue it at theyr hands because as in others so in this respect charitable reliefe beginneth with a mans owne selfe nor beholding any ioyfull fauour to them selues from God whose displeasure rather in hym selfe and hys creatures they haue highlie prouoked against them thorow infinite iniquities and therefore must looke not onely to haue his backe partes geuen them but all the vessels and vials of his wrath in time and in a full measure to bee powred foorth vpon them But the feare of the godlie is in them not onely
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
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