blessings to his servants and of their deliverance from evills he retayneth and exerciseth divine liberty and soveraignty Some he maketh high others low some rich and others poore Iob 34.19 To one he giveth five talents to another two to another one Matthew 25.15 He suffered no man to doe wrong to Abraham Isaac and Iacob but rebuked Kings for their sakes Psalm 105.14 Yet he will suffer Ioseph to be sold for a servant and to be layd in irons wrongfully verse 17 18. and hee suffers his servant Iob to be robbed of his goods bereaved of his Children sore afflicted in his body and grieved by his dearest friends so as he escaped but with the Skin of his teeth Iob 19. verse 19 20. 3. Gods good pleasure to exercise his Children in affliction for their good foure wayes 1. To purge out some corruption For the third it pleaseth God many times to exercise his deere children under sore afflictions for his glory in their good sundry wayes as First to purge out some corruption and to make them white Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge and to make them white Iob 23.10 When hee hath tryed mee I shall come forth as the gold 2. To teach them obedience Secondly to teach them obedience as well in eschewing evill Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word as also in doing good so Christ Iesus learned obedience by the things he did suffer Heb. 5.8 and the Apostles learned by afflictions to trust in God 2 Cor. 1.9 Thirdly 3. To try their faith and patience to try their faith and patience as hee did in Iob whence great afflictions are called fierie tryalls sent to try Gods Children 1 Pet. 4 12. as Hebr. 11.36 37. Others also were tryed by cruell mockings and scourgings yea by bonds and imprisonments they were stoned sawen asunder tempted slaine with the sword c. Fourthly 4. To further them in holines and happinesse for their furtherance in grace and holinesse here and in joy and happinesse hereafter Iames 1.3 The tryall of faith worketh patience Hebr. 12.10 God doth chasten us for our profit that we might bee partakers of his holinesse verse 11. though it bee not joyous for the present yet after it yeeldeth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse Affliction is Gods Schoole wherin he teacheth the soules of his Children many a sweet lesson as Psalme 119.71 It is good for me that I have beene afflicted that I might learne thy statutes This brings down their hearts and causeth them to be more frequent in humble and earnest prayer and more carefull to meditate on Gods word and works as Psalme 77.2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord verse 3. I remembred God I complained I considered the dayes of old c. all which are notable means of growth in grace whereby no doubt their present joy future glory shall bee much increased for our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The tryall of faith shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ Iesus 1 Pet. 1.7 If wee suffer we shall also raigne with him 2 Tim. 2.12 All which are great benefits of afflictions and may well perswade us that in the very extremity of them Gods love in Christ is constant towards us For what shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword c. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8.35.37 38.39 God correcteth every son whom he receiveth and therein offereth himselfe unto us as to sonnes Hebr. 12.6 7. These things well understood and thought upon will much enable faith to quiet and stay the heart in any distresse whatsoever Application of the doctrine in a case of spirituall distresse through feare of damnation For to beginne with the greatest matter of all say thy soule is perplexed about thy salvation thou hast great feares of hell and little hopes of heaven what must thou now doe Answ First look thou stand rightly in covenant with God through faith in Christ Iesus in whom hee revealeth himselfe to bee the God of grace and mercy justifying the ungodly and saving sinners and believe in the Lord Iesus Secondly whether thou use the means ordained to this end Now Gods meanes for this blessing is to believe in the Lord Iesus Acts 16.31 Beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life What it is to believe Now thus to beleeve is to rest and rely upon that which Iesus Christ as Redeemer and Mediator hath done and suffered for the salvation of his Church Aske then thine owne heart whether thou bee not perswaded that which God in Christ Iesus is plentifull redemption and salvation and in none other demand againe whether thou doe not unfeignedly desire to be found of God in Christ and to rest and rely upon that which hee hath done and suffered for thy justification and salvation Then consider whether thou doe use Gods Ordinances conscionably and in an holy manner to get this grace of faith and to grow therein Gods Ordinances we know GODS means for faith the Word and Prayer are the word and prayer for faith commeth by hearing the word of God preached Rom. 10.14 17. and prayer obtaines the HOLY GHOST Luke 11.13 Which is the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore did the Disciples by prayer seeke faith at Christs hands saying Lord increase our faith or put faith into us The holy manner of using the meanes of faith in 3. things 1. Breaking of the course of every knowne sinne Luk. 17.5 The conscionable and holy manner of using the foresaid Ordinances stands in three things First breaking off the course of every knowne sinne which is a worke of darkenesse wherein wee cannot live and have fellowship with Christ 1 Ioh. 1.6 Therefore Solomon saih Turne you at my correction Lo I will powre out my spirit upon you Proverbs 1.23 and Iohn Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by preaching repentance unto the people Matth. 3.1 2 3. without which there is little hope of attayning true faith in Christ Mat. 21.32 Secondly 2. Hartily desiring the grace we seeke for we must truly and hartily desire the grace we seeke for This desire is spirituall hunger and thirst whereto God
Pro. 14.10 It is one of the mysteries of the kingdome which is not knowne by nature but by the gift of grace Matthew 13.11 The Philistims could not read Sampsons riddle till they had plowed with his Heyfer Iudges 14.18 No more can naturall men discerne the sweet content of grace but by the operation of the Holy Ghost the only worker of grace But whence is it 2. Objection saith the natural man that some who are strickt and zealous in Religion and seeme to make great conscience of their wayes doe yet spend their dayes in much bitternes and sorrow giving smal evidence that any such joy is to be found in their Religion Answ Answer Surely God doth then visit upon them the dayes of Baalim Hos 2.13 wherein they went after their owne sinfull pleasures and forgot the Lord therefore doth the LORD write bitter things against them and make them to possesse the sinnes of their youth Iob 13.26 Because they have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord therefore is this evill happened unto them Ieremy 44.23 But yet if this their sorrow for their former sinnes bee godly which wil best appeare by the amendment of their lives they shall finde by good experience that of very faithfulnesse God afflicted them as David did Psalme 119.75 For the LORD will not cast off for ever but though hee cause griefe yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Lam. 3.31 32. In duetime he will comfort all such mourners and give them beauty for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Isaiah 61.2 3. For to the upright there ariseth light in darkenesse that is joy and gladnesse in distresse Psalme 112.4 And though for a time they be in heavinesse yet peace shall come They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength Isaiah 40.31 Many be the troubles of the righteous but the Lord will deliver them out of all Psal 34.19 2. Vse for reproofe Worldly care is unworthy the holy profession of adoption Secondly this shewes plainly how unworthy of the Lord and of their holy profession of adoption many that live in the bosome of the Church doe lead their lives For what is more ordinary than to call God Father in saying the Lords Prayer And yet who can say my heart is cleane I am free from these worldly carking cares For though like bitter sap it sometime lye hid in the root of the heart yet indeed hath it a daily spring time as may appeare by these bad fruits which doe fearefully abound in many mens lives First Five evidences of worldly care 1. Vngodly practises to get worldly wealth manifold unjust and ungodly practises to get or encrease worldlie wealth as false weights and measures lying swearing and forswearing extortion stealing oppression and the like Where any of these are in use practice plaine evidence is given of distrust in GODS providence and so of the dominion of this sinfull worldly carking care For were men indeed perswaded that the power to get wealth came from God Deut. 8 18. and that his blessing made them rich Proverbs 10.22 they would content themselves with the moderate use of lawfull meanes to serve his providence wherein they might comfortably wait for his blessing and not betake themselves to such ungodly courses as are plaine services of the Divell the God of this world for the wealth thereof 2. Ordinary use of wicked meanes to remove corporall evills Secondly the ordinary use of wicked and forbidden meanes to prevent or remove worldly losses and corporall evils as to consult with Magicians witches or Sorcerers as Saul did when he was distressed by the Hoast of the Philistims 1 Sam. 28.7 Seeke me a woman that hath a familiar spirit c. And Ahaziah King of Israel who sent to enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron whether hee should recover of his disease 2 Kings 1.1 2. This is a most fearefull proclaiming of distrust in GOD when they seeke to the divell Gods utter enemy Is it not because there is no God in Israel that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron ver 6. Thirdly 3. Neglect to sanctifie the use of lawfull meanes by prayer the ordinary neglect to sanctifie the use of lawful means by prayer to GOD for his blessing Thus Asa one of the good Kings of Iudah sinned when being diseased in his feet he sought unto the Physitians and not unto the Lord 2 Chron. 16.12 And it is the common course of many families to follow their worldly busines diligently but seldome or never to sanctifie their labour and paines by prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God the giver of all blessings 4. Excessive sorrow and feare in times of danger Fourthly excessive sorrow and feare in times of danger and distresse with great deadnesse of heart when outward meanes do faile and dangers approach as though the power and mercy of God for their helpe and safety were tyed to the meanes This was the sinne of Israel at the Red Sea when the Hoast of Pharaoh drew neere unto them they were sore afrayd and cryed out against Moses for bringing them out of Aegypt Exodus 14.10 11 12. Hence also came all their murmurings in the wildernesse when they wanted bread or flesh or water as Exodus 16.3 and 15 24. They had not yet learned to rest and rely upon his power and providence that brought them thither Fifthly 5. Frailties hearing of GODS Word fruitlesse and unprofitable hearing of Gods word For the cares of this world are one kind of spirituall thornes that choake the seed of grace in the ground of mens hearts that it brings no fruit to perfection Luke 8. verse 14. All these give plaine evidence of worldly carking care justly deserve reproofe for transgressing this holy command that bids us Be carefull for nothing 3. Vse for admoni ion This lesson most needfull though hard to corrupt nature For admonition it serves fitly to move every one to endeavour obedience to this command in labouring to free his heart in every thing from distrustfull worldly care A lesson most needfull in these evill dayes and perillous times hard indeed to our corrupt nature which the Scripture calleth flesh and bloud But the child of GOD must looke to a better guide and not plead for it for flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15.50 The wisdome of the flesh is death and so rebellious to the will of God that they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.6 7 8. Now the practise of this duty stands in this Wherein the practise of this duty stands that using lawfull meanes moderately for the fruition of blessings or freedome from evils we then sanctifie the same by prayer to GOD for his mercy and blessing and then leave the issue and successe wholly to
Crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Matthew 27.46 know therefore thou that makest conscience of thy wayes that this feare of Gods forsaking thee in times of distresse is from humane frailty which the best have in them while they bee in this world and will more strongly assault them upon the remembrance of former sinnes though repented of and upon the conscience of corruption remaining though it doe not raigne as wee may see in Iob when he saith unto God wherefore hidest thou thy face and holdest mee for thine enemy For thou writest bitter things against me and makest mee to possesse the iniquities of my youth Iob 13.24 26. and more fully in David acknowledging his frailty in this very case My spirit saith he was overwhelmed I am so sore troubled I cannot speake Will the Lord cast off for ever Is his mercy cleane gone Hath God forgotten to be gracious And I said this is mine ininfirmitie that is this is my great weakenesse to doubt of Gods mercy because of my present troubles Psalme 77.3.4 7 8 9 10. Here thou must bring thy heart to the third thing before commended to thy observation viz. That GOD is pleased to exercise his own deare children under great and sore afflictions for most excellent ends as before is shewed And indeed what distresse can befall thee wherein faith set a worke to consider of Gods dealing with his own children may not set before thy view some of the Lords worthies better than thy selfe who have suffered the like or far greater evills then are upon thee Was not righteous Lot taken captive in Warre with all his goods Gen. 14.12 14 Was not Ioseph sold for a servant cast into prison and layd in irons Psa 105.17 18. Was not the Prophet Ieremy smitten and cast into the myrie dungeon Ier. 37.15 16. Was not David hunted after to bee slaine by Saul as one hunteth a Patridge in the Mountaines 1 Samuel 26.20 Was not Ziklag where David and his men dwelt burnt with fire by the Ama lakites and their wives and Children with all their goods taken captives 1 Sa. 30.1 2 5. Were not the Lords Priests to the number of fourescore and five persons their City both men Women and Children and sucklings Oxen Sheepe and Asses smitten with the edge of the sword by the command of their owne King upon a false surmise of conspiracy with innocent David 1 Sam. 22.13 18 19. Was not Ionathan Davids dearest friend slaine by the uncircumcised Philistims 1 Sam. 31.2 Nay was not good King Iosiah slaine by Pharaoh-Neco at Megiddo like unto whom there was no KING before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart with all his soule c. 2 King 23.25 27. Was not Iohn Baptist greater than whom there rose none before him among them that are borne of women Matthew 11.11 imprisoned by Herod for doing his duty in telling him it was not lawfull for him to have his brother Philips Wife and afterward beheaded upon a most triviall occasion even to gratifie a damsell for her dancing Mar. 6.18.26 27. Which of the Prophets did not the people of the Iewes persecute Acts 7. 52. Had not other of Gods servants before Christs incarnation triall of cruell mockings and scourgings of bonds and imprisonments Were they not stoned sawen asunder tempted slaine with the sword did they not wander about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented though the world were not worthy of them Hebrewes 11.36 37 38. And were not Christs own Disciples and holy Apostles sent forth as Lambes amongst Wolves Luke 10.3 and set forth as men approved unto death made a spectacle to the world reviled persecuted defamed made the filth of the world and the of-scouring of all things 1 Cor. 4.9 13. Was not Paul in labours abundant in stripes above measure in prison frequent in death oft Received hee not of the Iewes five times forty stripes save one was hee not thrice beaten with rods once stoned and thrice suffered shipwracke was he not in journyings often in perills of waters in perills of robbers in perills by his owne country men in perills by the heathen in perills in the City in perills in the wildernesse in perills in the Sea in perills among false brethren in wearinesse and painefulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse c. 2 Cor. 11.23 24 27. Nay which is more than all the former was not our blessed Saviour himselfe persecuted and apprehended by the hands of the ungodly Was he not buffeted and spit upon crowned with thornes scourged and most shamefully condemned and crucified Now then what thinkest thou of thy selfe art thou better than these dost thou thinke God forsooke them in their afflictions Why then stirre up thy heart to say unto the Lord with subjection to his will even for the sustaining of death it selfe It is enough Lord take away my life for I am no better then my fathers 1 Kings 19.4 When affliction increaseth and death approacheth then look unto Iesus the Author and finisher of thy faith lest thou be wearyed and faint in thy mind He left himselfe an example that we should follow his steps in suffering affliction patiently Now when Peter would have rescued his apprehension by force of armes he forbade him saying The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Iohn 18.11 And remember this word of his The servant is not greater than his master If they have persecuted mee they will also persecute you Iohn 16. ver 20. Adde hereunto the consideration of Gods speciall providence over thee in all thine afflictions whereupon Christ Iesus bids thee not to feare them that can kill the body but are not able to kill the soule Are not two Sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father The very haires of your head are all numbred Feare ye not therefore for yee are of more valew then many Sparrowes Matthew 10.29.30 31. God is faithfull who will not suffer you to bee tempted above that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to beare it 1 Cor. 10.13 Lastly remember that his love in Christ Iesus is firme and constant unto thee in thy greatest affliction See Romans 8.35 38 39. What shall seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus Surely nothing can doe it as the things there named and accounted unable doe plainely shew tribulation anguish or distresse persecution famine perill sword c. For whom hee loves in CHRIST his Son he loves to the end Iohn 13.1 his gifts and calling to grace and favour in CHRIST are without repentance Rom. 11.29 Nay more rest assured that as the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to bee compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 so our light affliction which
is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The conclusion of the whole By these and such like considerations will the spirits of the godly sustaine their infirmities Thus will true beleevers with godly David encourage themselves in the Lord their God even when violent death approcheth towards them 1 Sam. 30.6 In the multitude of their owne perplexing thoughts within them will the Lords comforts delight their soules Psal 94.19 Take notice therefore of this duty to strive against distracting worldly cares Consider the grounds or reasons wherby it is pressed as that thine heavenly father careth for thee these worldly cares discredit and disgrace thine holy profession they are a great and needlesse nay a very hurtfull burthen to thy poore soule for the avoyding wherof thou must set faith a worke in every difficulty small or great according to the direction before prescribed So though thou bee weake in thy selfe yet shalt thou be strong in the Lord and in whatsoever state thou art thou shalt bee therewith content Thou shalt know how to be abased and how to abound both to bee full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need yea to doe all things through Christ which strengtheneth thee Phil. 4.11 12 13. FINIS A REQVEST By the Executors of Mr. Pierson occasioned by the concealing and detaining of some of his writings and papers by such as borrowed them in the life time of Master PIERSON WHeras in the former epistle intimation is given of some other writings of this reverend Author fit to be published I thinke it not amisse to let the Reader understand that the thing chiefely intended therein is an excellent Exposition of the first Epistle of Saint Iohn a work as is conceived both of extraordinary worth and use and which should have first bin offered to the publike view but that upon perusall there was found a great breach in it by reason that the whole third Chapter and a few verses in the beginning of the fourth were wanting that part being as others had been imparted to some private friend who hitherto hath neither made restitution nor given any notice of it Wherupon it is thought fit by those that are interested in the whole that this opportunity should be taken to give notice of the defect in that part being fully perswaded that none will either be so envious at others or deale so unfaithfully with him whose life and labours were wholly devoted to the publike good as privately to detaine the papers themselves or any knowledge that they have of them or their probable conjecture to whom they have heard any of his writings have bin lent when as by giving notice of that part they shal not only deale justly with those whose right it is but wisely likewise for themselves who by that meanes in stead of a broken part may come to have the whole in such sort as will be fitter both for their own and others use and withall prevent that imputation which wil lye upon them if it be discovered otherwise which they may easily conceive is neither impossible nor improbable For charity bids me hope that the concealement of it hitherto hath only beene out of ignorance in what hand the rest did lye unto which it ought to be restored and that since it is thus publikely now called for it wil be no longer detained I will not say from them that are particularly interested only but from the Church of God in generall and all good Christians that might reap benefit and comfort by it
hath made a promise of satisfaction Isaiah 44.3 I will powre water upon him that is thirstie and flouds upon the dry ground I will powre my spirit upon thy seed Mat. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall bee satisfied Thirdly 3. Yeelding conscionable obedience to that wee know we must yeeld concionable obedience to that we know as well in eschewing evill as in doing good for to such belongs the gift of the Holy Ghost Acts 5.32 Wee are witnesses and the Holy Ghost which GOD gives to them that obey him Thus every one that would bee saved must bee carefull to doe And when we have so done we must cast our burthen upon the Lord Psalme 55.22 that is rest and rely upon the LORD for that thing which wee so seeke for in the foresaid use of meanes and then have we his promise for the obtaining thereof for he hath said Commit thy way unto the Lord trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe Psalm 37.5 On which promise if wee rest and wait patiently wee shall bee sure to speed for hee hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 What though wee yet feele not the joy of his salvation whereto David desired to be restored Psalme 51.12 Yet if wee wait upon God in the use of meanes wee may say to our selves as David did Why art thou cast downe ô my soule why art thou disquieted in me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psalme 42.11 When Abraham beleeved God so as it was imputed to him for righteousnesse hee had in himselfe no sense or feeling of any thing wheron to ground his hope of that blessing which GOD promised but only looked at God being fully perswaded that hee who had promised was able to performe it Romans 4.18 19 20 21 22. And on this practice of Abraham must we cast our thoughts when wee our selves are perplexed with doubting in our selves about our salvation so shall wee give glory to God and receive his gift of eternall life promised to all that believe As Abraham and Sarah gave glory to God in beleeving his promise and received a sonne when they were past age in themselves hopelesse Hebr. 11.11 Againe Application of the doctrine in cases of distresse with outward evils say thou be distressed with outward evills as warres famine sicknesse banishment poverty imprisonment or the like Nay say that many of these come together upon thee so as thou art pressed out of measure above strength and in thine owne thinking thy case is desperate must thou not be carefull now Answ Surely no further than to use lawfull meanes for thy comfort and deliverance sanctifying the same by prayer to God for his blessing thereupon which when thou hast done though thy misery bee with much extremity yet if thou hast faith and canst set it a working thou shalt undoubtedly by some of the three forenamed considerations much quiet thy selfe and free thy soule from excessive feare of evill For first doth this trouble thee that thou art so sore distressed with sickenesse poverty want imprisonment or the like Here then call to remembrance GODS right to inflict upon thee any or all of these evills when and where and in what manner he pleaseth For if thou bee a true beleever thou wilt not think thy selfe exempted from any of those evils which the Scripture saith be incident to Gods children It is the thought of the wicked to say to himselfe I shall not be moved I shall never be in adversity Psalme 10.6 Indeed sometime corruption remaining will suggest the like into the godly hence David said in his prosperity I shall never bee moved but GOD quickly taught him another lesson Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Psalme 30.6 7. and though godly Iob said in the dayes of his honour and prosperity I shall dye in my nest I shall multiply my dayes as the sand Iob 29.18 Yet it seemes he had many times thoughts of his changeable estate for saith hee when his sore afaffliction was upon him The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me Iob 3.25 And no doubt if true faith be called to councell in the dayes of peace it will say it is the Lords mercies thou art not confounded the continuance of thy freedome is the fruit of his patience thou art debtor unto GOD for the suffering of any outward evill yea and of many inward feares either for correction of sinne or tryall of grace whensoever he is pleased to call thee to it Now shall the debtor thinke it strange that his creditor doth demand his due Here the thiefe upon the Crosse that repented will shame thee for repyning though thou shouldst suffer a shameful and painfull violent death fearest thou not God saith he to his fellow seeing thou art in the same condemnation meaning with Christ Iesus wee receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amisse Luke 23.40 41. Looke therefore unto Iesus the Author and finisher of thy faith who endured the Crosse and despised the shame Hebrewes 12.2 He was led as a sheepe to the slaughter and as a Lambe before the sheerer dumb so opened he not his mouth Acts 8.32 And hereunto we are called that is to suffer afflictions patiently because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steppes 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. But here thou thinkest upon GODS promise of deliverance made to his servants that call upon him in the day of trouble Psalm 50.15 and because thou hast prayed and art not delivered therefore thou doubtest of his favour as Psal 22.1 2. Answ Here then according to the second thing before commended to our consideration call to remembrance the different nature of Gods promises and the exception of the Crosse to bee understood in all promises of blessings temporall and spirituall also which are not simply necessary to salvation Let thy heart also think upon Gods prerogative royall for time measure and manner of performing these promises and know that if God have given thee faith and patience in afflictions though they bee great and of long continuance yet he hath vouchsafed gracious audience to thy prayers even the same that he did to our blessed Saviour in the time of his passion as before is shewed Thirdly when thy distresse and griefe is very great is thine heart affraid of Gods forsaking of thee and canst thou hardly think he will suffer it to goe so ill with those that bee his Children as it doth with thee Answer Yet bee not dismaid it is no marvell to see the weake reeds shaken with those blasts which make the strong cedars to bow and bend When Ionas the Prophet was in the Whales belly hee saith to GOD I am cast out of thy sight Ionas 2.4 Nay our blessed Saviour himselfe cryed out upon the