shew the happinesse of the godly in all estates of life these I call priuiledges These are such comforts as are not restrained vnto some certaine time but are such as he is inriched with all at all times These we ought to know as the foundation of all the rest and wee should striue to haue them perfectly in our memories so as any time we could number them if need were Euery godly Christian hath twelue priuiledges wherein hee excels all the men of this world 1 The first is the loue and fauour of God the especiall grace of God toward him this is the foundation of all his happinesse and if hee could order his owne heart aright hee could easily see that hee could not be miserable so long as he was in fauor with his God If the fauour of great persons be so much accounted of what reckoning is to be made of Gods fauour who is Lord of Lords yea King of all Kings and the more should a Christian fill his heart with ioying in this prerogatiue if hee consider three properties in the loue of God For first it is a free loue hee stands not vpon desert he is gracious looking vpon his owne goodnesse and not on ours Hosea 14. 4. Secondly it is an eternall loue and vnchangeable God will neuer bee weary of louing him Ierem. 31. 3. His louing kindnesse is better then life for it lasts vnto all eternity without alteration The fauour of man in this world is mutable Kings may extremely loath whom they yer-while loued with their intirest affection but in God there is no shadow of changing hee loues with an euerlasting loue Thirdly it is infinitely immense and great no affection in any or in all the creatures in this world if they could be fastned vpon one man can reach to the thousand part of Gods loue to vs Ephes. 2. 47. Esay 49. 15. 16. This light of Gods countenance shining vpon vs makes vs at all times more rich then they that are encreased most in corne and wine and oyle Psal. 4. 7. 8. 2 The second is the donation of Christ Christ is his God hath giuen him Christ Rom. 8. 32. so as all Christ is his proper portion and how is Christ his euen in all dearenesse of relation He is his Prince his Priest and Redeemer his Father his Lord his Master his Friend his Brother c. All these titles are giuen to Christ to signifie he is all that which those things could shaddow out No father brother friend could so loue their childe brother or friend as Christ loues the Christian. No Lord Master Prince can so prefer prouide or care for their seruants or subiects as Christ cares for the Christian Look what the fauor or power of any of those or al those could doe Christ is wil become much more vnto the godly Christian. 3 The third priuiledge is Deliuerance the Christians deliuerāce is exceeding great if hee consider seriously how he is deliuered from the Kingdome of darkenes from this present euill world frō the dominion of sin from the handwriting of ordinances that was against him from the rigour and curse of the Law and from condemnation The fourth is free pardon of all his sins past his soule being washed in the bloud of Christ from all his sins so as now they were as white as snow though they had beene redde like scarlet 1. Ioh. 1. 7. Esay 1. 18. What rest peace would this breed in our hearts if we did daily thinke of it in our owne particulars that wee had obtained pardon and remission of all our sinnes The fift priuiledge is the inhabitation of the Holie Ghost The soule and body of a Christian is the Temple of the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of God doth verily and truly dwell within the brest of a Christian and that not in a naked presence but the holy Ghost is there to teach him to guide him into all truth to tell him when hee is ready to goe out of the way on the right hand or on the left and to comfort him in all distresses and to seale the promises to his heart and to anoint him with the oyle of true knowledge and grace and to bee as a pledge and earnest of his inheritance looked for from heauen and to teach him to pray when he knowes not how to pray for himselfe and many other excellent benefits hee reapeth from this spirit of God whom the world cannot receiue Hee hath for this respect a very spring of knowledge and ioy and grace in his belly The sixth priuiledge is the Image of God restored in him by the mighty power of Christs voyce in his first resurrection being made now a new creature to God and so partaking of the diuine nature in respect of the qualities wherin hee doth excellently resemble God The seuenth priuiledge is the freedom to Gods house and to all the feasts Diuine entertainment which God makes there Psal. 36. 9. and 65. 4. Esay 25. 8. Luk. 14. 17. Reue. 2. The Word and Sacraments are his he is Gods bidden ghest he may alwaies come and welcome The fatnesse and pleasures of Gods house Oh how sweet are they Who can tell the excellency of the Manna that is hid The eight priuiledge is entrance and accesse and audience with God in all his suites He may aske almost what he will of God hee will not deny him any thing he askes in the name of Christ. And sure he is worthily miserable that will not make himself happy when hee may haue what hee will aske of him that is able to giue what he can aske Marke 11. 24. Ephes. 2. 19. The ninth priuiledge is The seruice and attendance of the Angels The Angels doe pitch their Tents about those that feare God Psa. 34. and are ministring spirits to euery heire of saluation Heb. 1. vlt. Oh the dignity and safety of that man whom the glorious Angels doe guard and attend vpon The poorest Christian hath a better guard about him then the greatest Monarch in the world that is not a Christian. The tenth priuiledge is the Communion of Saints hee is mystically vnited in one bodie to all the worthies that are in heauen or earth and doth effectually enioy the benefit of communion of Saints too large to be heere reckoned vp If it were no more but the profit hee hath by the prayers of the godly all ouer the world were it not a great fauor Ephes. 2. 19. and 3. 6. Philip. 1. 5. Colos. 2. 29. besides al the comforts hee hath in the fellowship with the godly The eleuenth priuiledge is the inheritance of the Earth which is restored to him in Christ so as hee now passeth that which he hath of the earth by as good a Title as euer Adam held Paradise yea so as whatsoeuer in the whole earth is good for him shal not bee with-held from
him Math. 3. 7. Psal. 84. 12. Outward prosperity hee is sure of so farre as it is good for him Iob 8. 7. Psalme 37. 5. The last priuiledge is that Inheritance immortall incorruptible and that fadeth not reserued for him in heauen which for excellency passeth all that which euer the eye of man saw or the eare of man heard or the heart of man can conceiue 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Now then to summe vp all this let a Christian tell his owne soule plainly and vpon cleere proofe by the signes of a child of God that hee is in fauour with God and that Christ is his and that he hath obtained strange deliuerāce and that all his sinnes are forgiuen and that the holy Ghost dwells in him that the image of God is restored in him and that he is free to Gods house and that hee may begge any thing of GOD and that hee hath Angels to waite vpon him and that he is neere of kinne to all the Saints in the World and that he is Lord of the earth and that hee shall certainely goe to Heauen when he dieth Let this I say bee told to his soule can hee be dismaid will not the Peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding keepe his heart and minde and that constantly for euer CHAP. IIII. Shewing how the godly may support their hearts against all outward afflictions HItherto of the Priuiledges Now it followeth that I should open those consolations that may support the hearts of men against al the distresses of this life And first I would shew how the Lord is pleased to comfort his seruants in seueral Scriptures against all the outward afflictions may befall his seruants in this world By outward afflictions I meane such as these wants losses wrongs troubles exile imprisonment sicknesse feares pouerty or any other thing wherewith the life of man is molested in any condition Now there are many excellent waies of aboundant comforts against these or any of these as 1 First if we consider but the commonnesse of them all things fall alike in these things Eccles. 9. 2 3. Euery man that is born of a woman hath but few daies and is full of trouble Iob 14. 1. Christ hath no Disciple but he is told aforehand He must take up his Crosse and that daily Luk. 9. 24. There can bee no affliction but what accompanieth or may accompany the nature of man 1. Cor. 10. 13. The same afflictions are accomplished vpon our brethren which are through the world 1. Pet. 5. 9. And we haue the Prophets greatest worthies of the Lord for an example of suffering Iam. 5. 10. And all the godly must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdome of God Acts 14. 22. 2 Secondly if we consider that God takes notice of vs and of all our trialls The Lord knowes the way of the righteous Psalm 1. 6. None of our griefes are hid from him All our desires are before him and our groning is not hid from him Psalm 38. 9. and hee knowes our soules in aduersitie Psal. 31. 7. And as hee takes notice of al our troubles so he takes notice of all that is good in vs Hee knowes them that are patient and trust in him Nahum 1. 7. 3 Thirdly if we consider the wonderfull compassion of God in the afflictions of his people hee doth not willingly afflict but regards vs with pitty and with loue thinkes of redeeming vs and sends the Angell of his presence to comfort and saue vs and in all our afflictions is afflicted with vs Isay 63. 8 9. 4 Fourthly if we consider the high estimation that God holds of his seruants notwithstanding their afflictions Crosses may make men loue vs the lesse but they doe not a iot discommend vs before God He can take notice of his seruants in their distresses as well as if they did shine in the greatest outward splendor in the world This is the consolation that God speakes to vs euen when he corrects as to his children and for that reason wee should not refuse his chastning Hebr. 12. 6. Prou. 3. 11. We may be honourable in Gods sight though wee bee in a most forlorne and despised condition in the world Wee may I say be precious in Gods sight and greatly beloued Isa. 43. 4. 56. The Apostle Peter shewes that a poore seruant when hee suffers hard words and ill vsage from his froward Master doth herein finde acceptation with GOD 1. Peter 2. 19. 20. Now this is an instance beyond exception For what condition more vile then of a seruant and what crosses were likely to be disregarded of God sooner then these domesticall indignities and yet wee see a proofe of the regard and loue of God euen in those things 5 Fiftly if we consider the victory of Christ ouer the world Our Sauiour vseth this as a consolation he tels his Disciples In the world they shall haue trouble but he wold haue them be of good cōfort he hath ouer come the world so as now they shall neuer be hurt by their trobles Their crosses may be too hard for them to master but Christ can order them so as in him they shall haue victory ouer them But of this more afterwards Iohn 16. 33. 6 Sixtly If wee consider the presence of the holy Ghost he is giuen of Christ and the Father to bee our Comforter and as our afflictions abound so shall our consolations also Ioh. 14. 16. 2. Cor. 1. 4. Now how shall a man be dismaied that hath Gods spirit within him to harten him and assist him and refresh him and make glad his heart 7 Seuenthly if we consider the issue out of all troubles Many may be the troubles of the righteous but God will deliuer them out of all Psal. 34. 19. If GOD make vs sore he will make whole if he wound he will binde vs vp againe In sixe troubles he shal deliuer them and in seuen there shall no euil touch them Iob 5. 18. 19. God will giue his people rest from the daies of aduersity till the pit be digged for the wicked Psal. 94. 13. Light is sowne for the righteous gladnesse for the vpright in heart Psal. 97. 11. It is well said It is sown For though God do not presently giue vs ease and comfort yet the Haruest will come if with patience wee rest vpon God and be truely sincere and keepe his way God will settle his people as in the former dayes and it may bee doe better vnto them then at the beginning Ezech. 36. 11. For Gods thoughts towards his people are thoughts of peace and not of euill to giue an expected end Ierem. 29. 11. so as Gods seruants shal sing for ioy of heart when wicked men howle for vexation of spirit Esay 65. 14. 8 Eightly If wee consider the wonderfull care of God about the measure of our crosses For God will not lay vpon man more then right
The Promises OR A TREATISE Shewing how a godly Christian may support his heart with Comfort AGAINST ALL THE distresses which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in this life Containing al the most comfortable places through the whole Bible orderly digested By N. Bifield Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex LONDON Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rounthwaite 1619. TO THE MVCH Honoured and right worthy Sir William Throgmorton Knight and Baronet and Sir Francis Darcie Knight N. Bifield wisheth the increase of all Grace and happinesse that accompanieth the loue of the Lord Iesus in sinceritie IF the many crosses temptations with which the life of all men euen the most godly is distressed be seriously weighed and withall the great disconsolation that too often surpriseth the hearts of most Christians be compassionately thought on and if with all the singular glory of a godly mind framed vnto vnmoueable rest and stedfast contentment be throughly conceiued of it cannot but bee manifest that if a way can bee shewed how a Christian may fill his heart with comfort in any condition hee can fall into in respect of affliction that such a course is profitable and all ought to take notice of it and with all care and paines imploy themselues about it This by Gods assistance vpon apparent groūds of Scripture I haue indeuoured to shew in this Treatise and doubt not but by experience humble and godly Christians will finde much refreshing and establishment of heart if they apply themselues distinctly diligently to draw of the water of life out of those wells of saluation opened for them euery where in this roule of Gods Promises This Treatise I present to your Worships and vnder the countenance of your names desire to commend it vnto the Church of God and this I am induced to doe for diuers reasons your forwardnesse in the profession of sincere Religion for many yeares the publike seruice you haue done in your Country in the administration of Iustice for the incouragement of the good and reformation of abuses your great care from time to time to plant painfull and profitable teachers in the places of your abode together with the excellent gifts with which God hath furnished your mindes deserue to be freely and publikely acknowledged in the Church of God and in mine owne particular I haue beene so many waies obliged that with much gladnesse I embrace this occasion to let the world know my desire to bee thankfull for the many helps furtherances my ministry hath receiued from the countenance endeuours of both your Worships as occasion hath at any time bin offered Desiring your acceptance hereof and praying God to preserue you in his fear without offence till the Day of Christ and to inlarge in you the desire power of wel-doing in all things I end and rest Isleworth Octo. 1618. Your Worships in the seruice of Iesus Christ to be commanded N. Bifield The chiefe Contents of this Booke Chap. 1. THE drift of the whole booke is to shew aboundant comfort against any distresse pag. 1. Two things taken for granted viz. both that godly men shall be distressed also that comfort may bee had in any distresse p. 2. 3 The worth of those promises p. 4. 5. To whom the promises belong p. 6. 7. The vse they will serue for being learned p. 7. 8. 9. 10 The infallibility of those promises proued by 13. Arguments p. 11. 12. to 20. The promises sealed 4. waies p. 17. Sixe rules to bee obserued if we will profit by the promises p. 20. 21. 22. 23 Chap. 2. 3. Sorts of promises p. 24. 25 Sorts of afflictions in which we need comfort p. 26. 27. 28. 29. Chap. 3. 12. Priuiledges of the godly p. 32. to 47. Chap. 4. What meant by outward afflictions p. 48. 10. Arguments of consolation to support vs against outward afflictions p. 48. to 64 Chap. 5. Men neede comfort against reproches p. 65. 12. Arguments of consolation against reproches p. 66. to 78 Chap. 6. Many principall obiections of the godly about reproches answered pag. 78. to 90. Chap. 7. Directions in the case of reproches p. 90. 91. 92 Chap. 8. How the godly may comfort themselues in the case of aduersaries p. 93. to 104. Chap. 9. 3. Things taken for granted about temptations p. 104. 106. Sathan tempts vs fiue waies p. 106. 107. 3. Sorts of temptations by suggestion p. 109. 110. 9. Occasions of temptation p. 111. to 118. Chap. 10. How many waies a godly man may comfort himselfe against temptations p. 118. to 126. 6. Things in Christ comfort vs against temptations p. 121. 122. How farre forth we may pray against temptations pag. 125. 126. How wee may know that wee are not ouercome of temptations p. 126. 127. Chap. 11. Two sorts of promises about infirmities p. 131. What is meant by infirmities p. 132. 9. Arguments of consolation against our daily infirmities p. 132. to 149. The goodnes of Gods nature shewed in 4. things p. 135. 136. Many things comfortable in Christ. p. 137. 138. 139. 9. Priuiledges about infirmities assured vs in the word p. 141. to 147 Chap. 12. Diuers obiections about our infirmities answered pag. 149. to 175. About ignorance diuers comfortable meditations pag. 154. to 158. The explication of two excellent places of Scripture with the sundry answers of many obiections met withall in those places from p. 159. to 174. Chap. 13. Many consolations to support vs against the feare of falling away taken from the consideration 1 Of God p. 176. to 184 2 Of Christ. p. 184. 185 3 Of our own estate in Grace p. 186. Chap. 14. Three sorts of most comfortable promises about prayer p. 187. to the end of the booke CHAP. I. Containing the Preface THE drift of this Treatise is to shew a godly Christian who is already assured of Gods fauor and knowes he shall haue abundant happinesse when he dies in Heauen how hee may support his heart with sufficient contentment against all the miseries can assault him from the time of his conuersion till his death For this purpose I shall breake open a Mine of Treasure for I intend from all parts of the booke of God to select and set before thee those rich promises which God hath there recorded to be as Wells of comfort vpon all occasions Two things must of necessity bee granted The one is that though wee haue gotten the assurance of Gods fauour and freedome from the power and guilt of our sinnes yet many things will still aile vs and oppose our consolation We shall meete with temptations and afflictions of all sorts reproches aduersaries trouble of spirit and such like The other is that there can bee no such discouragement difficulty or affliction but in the Word of God we may haue a sure consolation or direction for it able euery way abundantly to sustaine vs. But before I enter vpon the vnfolding of this great Roll of promises I
to professe the Gospell of Christ had beene occasion of terrible death then wee might haue had some pretence of greeuance But now in these daies when the hurt is done only with the tongue of infamous men it is a great weakenesse to bee disquieted Hebr. 12. 3. 7 Seuenthly let vs looke vpon the author and finisher of our Faith euen He was exposed to these indignities and yet for the glory set before him despised the shame endured the crosse and is now crowned in heauen Hebr. 12. 2. What should the seruant complaine of when his Lord and Master is called Beelzebub 8 Eightly Dauid easeth himselfe by considering the cause of his suffering For thy sake saith hee to God haue I borne reproch shame hath couered my face The zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp and the reproches of them that reproched thee haue fallen vpon mee when I wept and chastened my soule with fasting that was to my reproach Psalme 69. 7. 9. 10. Ninthly why should we be troubled at that which is the lot of all the Saints We haue heard of Dauid before how he was slandered by many and on euery side Psalm 31. 12. 13. Ieremy complaines that they consulted how to deuise deuices against him and how they might smite him with the tongue Ierem. 18. 18. False witnesses were suborned against Stephen and that in case of Religion Acts 6. 11. 13. 14. Many grieuous complaints were laid against Paul Act. 25. 7. Yea it was the condition of all the Apostles and the principall men of the Christian world to be made a spectacle to men and Angels and to be accounted forlorne and as the off-scowring of all things 1. Cor. 4. 9. 10. 13. And our Sauiour Christ supposeth the case of any blessed man that men may say all manner of euill sayings of them Matth. 5. 12 c. 10 Tenthly The Spirit of God and of glory doth rest vpon you 1. Pet. 4. 14. Yee haue the Spirit of God in you what need you care what the world accounts of you you haue aboundant treasure in your harts and you haue an heroycall or diuine spirit in you and therfore why are you troubled about such meane things and your patience and their rage is a signe you are in a happy condition and haue Gods spirit the spirit of God which in you is a spirit of glory and leades you to a better life And therefore seeing you are but trauelers here why turne you againe at the barking of euery dog yea these reproches signifie that wicked men doe see some glory of God shiuing in you which they striue by all meanes to vilifie despise being vext in their hearts at it 11 God will certainely take an order with all that reproch his people For first he will reckon all their reproches as cast out against himselfe and therefore will indite them of blasphemie Psal. 74. Col. 3. 8 1. Peter 4. 14 1. Corinth 4. 13. Secondly in his due time hee will put to silence those lying lips which speake grieuous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous Psalme 31. 18. Thirdly all that were incensed against the godly shall bee rewarded with shame which GOD will powre vpon them for the cōtempt with which they haue dishonoured his seruants Esay 41. 11. 14. And to conclude God will certainely bring them to iudgment for these things they must make their accounts before the Iudge of the quicke and dead that speake euill of other men because they will not runne with them into the same excesse of riot 1. Pet. 4. 4. 5. 12 Lastly God wil prouide for his own innocent seruants His thoughts are not to let his people be shamed Micah 4. 11. 12. and besides hee will bring forth their righteousnesse as the light they shall be cleered Psalm 37. 6. Iob 5. 15. and they shall receiue double for all their shame Isa. 61. 7. and their reward shall bee great in heauen Math. 5. 12. For which reason Moses accounted the reproches of Gods people to be greater riches then the treasures of Egypt Hebr. 11. 26. and in the meane time there is a hiding place with God from the strife of tongues Psalm 31. 20. CHAP. VI. Wherein many principal Obiections of the godly are answered NOW for the better establishment of mens hearts in the former comforts it will not bee amisse to take off the obiectons with which many times godly men doe aggrauate their distresse aboue the respect of the former consolations 1. Ob. If they were ordinary reproches it would not so much trouble mee but they are vile things which are obiected against mee Sol. They cannot bee viler things then haue bin obiected against Christ the godly For there haue beene obiected Grieuous things Acts 25 7. Gluttony Math 11. 18. 19. Madnesse Iohn 10. 20. Blasphemy Mat. 26. 65. Ac. 6. 11. 13. 14 Deceiuing Iohn 7. 12. Rebellion Acts 17. 6. 7. Railing Acts 23. 4. Schisme Acts 28. 22. Wickednes of life 1. Pet. 2. 12. 2. Ob. But base persons doe reuile mee the very scumme of the people doe scorne me Solu This is no strange thing The abiects gathered themselues together against Dauid they did teare and ceased not Psal. 35. 15. The drunkards sang of him Psal. 69. 13. Those that derided Iob were such whose fathers hee would haue disdained to set with the dogs of his flocke Iob 30. 1. 3. Ob. But I haue liued long vnder such disgraces Sol. Rest thy selfe and fret not at the man that prospereth in his way the Lord will finde a time to bring forth thy innocency as the light Psal. 37. 7. Zephan 3. 18. 19. God will find a time to get thee praise in euery place where thou hast beene put to shame 4. Ob. But I am almost buried with the almost infinitenesse of scorne and reproches Sol. That was no more then was in Dauids case he was so buried in disgrace that hee was as a man dead forgotten and out of minde Ps. 31. 14. he was a reproch of men Psal. 22. 12. A by-word Psal. 44. 9 c. A prouerb Psal. 69. 11. A wonder to many Psal. 7. 7. and the Apostles were a gazing stocke to men and Angels 1. Cor. 4. 9. 2. Cor. 6. 13. 5. Ob. But great men set against me Solu That was Dauids case Feare was on euery side he heard the railings of great men which consulted together against him Psalm 31. 13. 6. Ob. But I am sentenced and accused as an euill doer most vniustly and that publikely Sol. So was our Sauiour Christ that by a whole Councell of men Mat. 27. 1. Iohn 11. 47. 48. and so was Stephen Act. 6. 12. and so were the Apostles Act. 4. 6. 15. and 5. 27. and so was Paul Act. 23. 1. The most righteous may suffer as euill doers 2. Tim. 2. 9. The wicked so compasse about the righteous that many times wrong iudgment proceedeth Hebr. 2. 3. 4. but this