LARGE LETTERS Three in number containing much necessarie matter for the instruction and comfort of such as are distressed in conscience by feeling of sinne and feare of Gods wrath WRITTEN HEERETOfore by T. W. for some deare friends of his and now published and printed for the raising vp of such as labor vnder the heauie burthen of an afflicted Spirite PSAL. 42.11 â—â—y art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me wait on God for I will yet giue him thanks hee is my present hâ—lpe and my God AT LONDON Printed by Roger warde for Thomas Man 1589. TO HIS FAITHFVLL friends and verie deare brethren in Christ Mast Roger Ofield Robert Washborne George Smith Thomas Shipton Iohn Field Robert Iones Iohn Harper Iohn Hounsell and all the rest of his Christian acquaintaunce in London as well as though they were particularlie named together with all those that els where in the land vnfaignedly feare the Lord and looke for the glorious appearing of his sonne and our sauiour T. W. wisheth all spirituall goodnes heauenly comfort in this life and in the end the eternall glorification of their bodies and soules in euerlasting blisse through Christ MY loue in the Lorde and the affectioÌ„s of my hart in him haue bin in some measure of soundnes I humbly thanke God for it in Christ strongly carried generallie tovvardes all the Israell of GOD wheresoeuer and more particularlye tovvardes you my good Breethren vvhereof ouer and besides the assured testimony of mine owne soule I haue for faithful witnesses the Lord himselfe in heauen and many of his saints vppon earth and amongst others you your selues Causes leading me hereto are manye but as in respect of God none more powerfull than his grace and holy spirite shed abroad into my heart and as in regard of you none more effectuall than sundry sincere fruites of your faith and the comfortable feeling of the communion of saints in which holy fellowship standeth not onely the spiritual felicity and good of the whole bodie but the very ioy and contentment also of euerie sounde member therein For outward kindnesses that I haue receiued from you I must will euerie where acknowledge my selfe much beholding vnto you And yet this I may vvith all boldnes professe that as that is not the onâ—ly or principall cause moueing me to affect you so though I haue beene beholding to you all yet not to all alike but to some more than to other some Which also I rehearse not now either to breed anie disdaine or emulation in you one of you towards another for that vvere to breake the bond of charity and vnitie of the spirit or to lessâ—n any fauour though neuer so small that I haue receiued from you for that wer to depriue you of your praise and to declare my selfe ingratfull nor craftilie clavving after the maner of the vvorld to craue newe benefiâ—es for that vvere nothing els but deceit and flatterie to procure mine own good from all vvhich corruptions I haue hitherto as in respect of my selfe and you through Gods goodnesse beene graciouslie freed But to let you vnderstand that your benefits haue not bene bestowed vpon an vnskilfull or an thankefull person but vpon such a one as by the light that he hath receiued from God hath vveighing them in an equal ballance esteemed of them according to the goodnes of the gift and the christian affection of the Partie giuing The thinges indeede which haue most speciallye lincked mee fast in the Lorde vnto you are your precious faith towards God vnfaigned loue to the saints christian consciences amongest your selues and holie praiers in presence and absence one of you for an other and all of you I am assured for the holy causes and faithfull members of the whole Church and amongest the rest euen for me pore and wretched man that I am In which duties of yours as my heart hath greatly reioiced in the lord for the graces that in great mercy he hath bin pleased to vouchsafe vnto you I my selfe haue as in some sort though not to the ful in regard of your spirituall fauours performed to me by reson of weaknesse and wants in my selfe aunswered them again with the like I write not as a vaine glorious boaster so I doubt not but that therby God him selfe hath receiued glorie at your hands his childreÌ„ goten much good and you your selues reaped a gracyous measure and increase of religyous knowledge and dutifull obedience As for the worldly fauours that you haue shewed me and bodily benefites that vvay I confesse my selfe to be far behind hand with you and much indebted in deed though not in affection surely and readinesse of good vvill for so my heart is verie large in humilitie I speake it neyther will I wish better witnesses of it than your selues yet in regard of action vvherein still my griefe groweth great and increaseth daily vpon me as vvell by the feare that I haue of my future wants as by the feeling of my former and present disabilities Hovvbeit sith thys is the Lords doing and that he is pleased thereby to sift me and to sound you mee for my patience and comfortable induring of these necessities and you for your faithfull obedience and vnfaigned loue I can not but vvith some measure of spirituall ioy vndergoe mine owne lacks and againe recomfort my spirites because hauing to deale vvith God and his seruaunts vvho haue learned from his holie example greater than all exception to accept of men according to that they haue and not according to that they haue not I rest resolued my good vvill shall bee accounted as a deed specially sith I am ready euery vvhere vvithout flatterie in my self or favvning vpon you to acknovveledge to the glorie of God and the good of his people the great good turnes that by you I haue receiued euen from the Lords ovvne handes And yet gladly vvould I if I could tell hovve some vvay recompence though not all yet som part peece thereof And in that respect indeede haue I long looked vvished for as some good occasion from you wherin it might haue pleased you all or any of you to haue imployed and vsed me to my pore vttermost So some sufficiencie in my selfe at the leastwise in some mean measure to haue requited that ouerflowing heape of your kindnes and holy loue But hitherto I deliuer it with my griefe of heart as a man sensiblie seeing and feeling gods hand vpon my selfe both that and other waies also my expectation and hope hath bene frustrat and my power very short and skant A small thing the Lorde vvas pleased some years ago to inable me in two or three Letters to performe for the comfort of some of my christian acquaintance whose conflicts in conscience vvere great and many which lying by mee vvith some other simple thinges that I haue done and I beeing earnestly requested to make that coÌ„mon to many which was written for
of those whome God hath marked out to eternall life Wherein I would first haue you to know and perswade your heart of this that as the miseries of the reprobate The reprobate cannot truely conceiue much lesse feele their condemnation and their condemnation also is more I will not say than is well felt for feeling they haue little or none but well conceiued their harts not beeing fit to thinke either of their sinne or iudgement due vnto them for the same so many times the fauour of God is certaynly muche more towardes and in his seruantes than eyther they themselues or others for them can well perceiue For as it is most true that naturall blindnesse and benummednesse of heart with a sensual delight the wicked take in sinne pursuing all maner of iniquitie with pleasure wil not suffer theÌ„ to see their damnable estate at the least wise to dwell vpon the contemplation of it with fruite because thorowe impenitencie of heart they bee r 2. Tim. 2.26 held captiues of Satan at his pleasure so it is as certaine that by reason of the remaynders of a darke minde which resteth euen in the godly as yet in parte vnreformed they be sometimes as farre off from conceiuing spirituall fauours from God And no marueile because beeing spirituall things they must be s 1. Cor. 2.14 spiritually discerued and we knowe that as other graces so that of a discâ—â—â—ing spirite is not onely in vs in part but maâ—â—e times seemeth to be quenched in vs and hidden from others thorowe the ashes of our corruption And what reason can be shewed to the contrarie but that if want of sight and feeling in the wicked can for the time though not for euer put out feare and paâ—ne and all sense of the same but also that the reliques of sinne in the righteous and the sight they haue of it and the â—eare and griefe of heart that they conceiue for it should for the time though not alwaies bleare and deface the hope and the ioy that God would haâ—â— them to conceiue Satan also in his makeâ— working no doubt in all these tempâ—ations of the wicked and the godly that â—o he might if he coulde tâ—â—l how preuaile vpon all both good and bad By which you may well perceiue that in this most high What the godly in such a case ought to doe yet moste comfortable point you are to goe beyond your owne reache and feeling yea to depart from your selfe who by reason sometimes of blindnesse and soâ—etimes of partialitie are vnfit to bee a iudge in thâ—s cause that so being spoiled oâ— trust and donfidence in your selâ—e oâ— in the t Iere. 17.5 arme of flesh and bloud â—ls where you may repaire vnto him thâ—â— alone is the God of all strength both ouâ—ward and inward and who will indeede for you and all his effect that which shal be most meete for his glorie and your eternall comforts And this is the second thing that I would pray you well to weigh namely that as according to the trueth of the holie scriptures God hath pleased thorowe the infinite multâ—tude of his mercies in Iesus Christ to elect you to liâ—e euerlasting t Ephâ—s 1 4 before the foundaâ—ions of the world were laid so hath he in time plainly manifested vnto you and by you vnto others that his great grace of your eternall etettion first in vouchsafing you though vnworthie of your selfe yet for Christ Iesus his sake thorowe the ministerie of his holy worde and by the powerfull working of his blessed spirite an effectual calling so that he t Act. 13.48 16.14 no sooner spake vnto you but withal pearsed your eares and boared your heart to vnderstand and beleeue he working in you also this readinesse with vnfeigned affection to saie v 1. Sam 3.10 speake Lord for thy seruant heareth God dealing with you heerein for your soule The spirituall meanes of Gods mercie as hee hath done alwaies with you for your body that is bestowing vppon you the spirituall meanes of his mercie and making them mightie in you to worke his will not vnto iudgement as in the wicked but to eternall saluation as in his saintes and seruantes And this I take to be that which the Apostle saith Roman 8. x Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinate them also he called Secondly by giuing you care and conscience to adorne these excellent graces of his eternall election from before all times and effectuall vocation in time with the fruites of faith and the deedes of blessed obedience and that both in the seruices of pietie towards his maiestie The duties of pietie you hauing a minde to be often and earnest with him in prayer and thankesgiuing adioyning thereto for your better direction therein dayly reading of the word deepe meditation and christian confeference therein and also in the duties of charitie towardes men Of charitie you not onely not deteming from anie that which belongeth vnto them but rendring vnto euerie one that which is right equall and specially hauing care of the coÌ„munion of saints y Rom. 12.15 vveeping there with them that weep and reioycing with theÌ„ that teioyce And this is that that the Apostle saith in another place that z Ephes 1.4 God hath chosen vs in Christ that we should be holy without blame before him in loue And againe a 2. Tim 2.19 The strong foundatioÌ„ of God remaineth sure hath this seal the lord knoweth who are his let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie In which respect also it is that Peter admonisheth vs b peter 1.10 Why these duties are propounded to vs in the word to giue diligence to make our calling and election sure by good vvorkes Not that eyther the one or the other either as in respect of God are vncertaine c Rom. 11.29 for his giftes and calling are such as he repent him not thereof are vnsure as in regard of our selues because we haue fouÌ„d thorow his goodnesse in vs though not that that wee should yet a minde bowable and ready to harken vnto to loue and obey the fatherly voyce and calling of our gracious God But therefore are these thinges propounded vnto vs in the word on the one side to stop the mouthes of carelesse blasphemers who in the vaine imagination of their owne heartes feare not to affirme that if they he elected they may liue as they list and on the other side to lift vp the weakned spirites of many of Gods deare seruantes who finding eyther the faith of their election or the fruites following the same fewe and skant in them beginne to call their election into question wherein ouer and besides the discomfortes and discouragementes that causelesly they cast vpon themselues they doe great iniurie to God whilest they make him that is certaine in his purposes and acts to be d Num. 23.29 Isa 51.8 Iâ—a
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
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
euen such doubtles is the state and condition of many distressed in conscieÌ„ce and amongst the rest your case particularlie wherein whatsoeuer you say of your selfe or vtter against your selfe yet I â—t many other though not the best phisitions yet your vnfeigned familiars that haue nowe a long time knowne you in God and his trueth haue seene in you since the daie and hower of our firste acquaintaunce vntill this present time and yet still doe beho de such euidencie clearnes of the graces of Gods spirite notwithstanding your long and continuall complaintes as all the smoke â—muther mystes and fogges and whatsoeuer els els that Sathan by him selfe and his suppostes hath or can cast out against you shall neuer bee able to take away the cleare sight of them from vs or mooue vs so much as once to doubt of the comfortable reuiuing of them in you euen vnto eternall lyfe And I hope wee haue the spirit of God and by the grace thereof as also by the light of his Woorde and experience that hee hath giuen vs are able to deserue some thinge in this behalfe though not so well in others as in our selues for that shall wee neuer bee able to doo yet in others also Wherefore to make an end where I began Be of good comfort good sir I beseech you and waite with patience the Lords ioyfull appearing whose you are doubtles and whereof you may be assured because you haue him x Rom. 8.31 on your side therefore not feare who shal or can be against you because also you haue his children standing with you and for you not onely suffering the same afflictions in bodie and soule that you do and so learning by themselues to remeÌ„ber you in bonds as those that are bound with you but with all holie comfort as in respect of your selfe and with all earnest praier as in regard of the Lord ayding you to their vttermost yea because he that z Iames. 1.17 Gracs from God bestowed on his elect is free from shaddowe of tyranny hath bestowed so many excellent graces of his his vpoÌ„ you as sound knowledge stedfast faith vnfained loue christian patience and a notable measure of holie obedience to his blessed trueth although that in some of these many go before you yet in al of them I hardly know any of my godly acquaintance in Christ that goeth beyond you And yet farther you may the more certainely perswade your selfe of the trueth of this point because you haue cast him so dear a peece euen the hart blood of his best beloued sonne whom he hath giuen as for the testification of his singular loue towardes man so to this end also a Iohn 3.16 that euerie one that beleeth in him shall not perish but haue eternal life And if that which men buy dear they esteem precious and cannot abide at any hand to haue it perish surely God will not see that lost that hee loueth so tenderlie and which he hath redeemed to him selfe with so great and high a ransome b 1. Pet. 1.18 yea with such and excellent an most pretious iewell To all which if you wil ad the manifold victories that here to foâ—e he hath giuen you against sinne and sathan and all their cruell and craftâ—e assaultes he euen then as it weâ—e most miraculously deliuering you wâ—en neither you nor any for you could so much as once dreame of a way much lesse beholde it how you mighte scape certainlie you may take it as the voice of God from heauen that hee will not now specially sith hee hath vouchsafed you so many mercifull meanes of a ioifull deliueraunce throwe you off or taste you awaye but deale rather with you as hee dooth with other his seruauntes c Phillip 1.6 make perfâ—ct in you the good thing that he hath begunne in you euen vntill the day of Iesus Christ and cause you d Act. 24.22 thorow manifold tribulations to enter into his owne kingdome e 1. Cor. 9.25 2. Tim 4.8 Iâ—mes 1.12 1. pet 5.4 and crowne you there with eternall glorie And what though you thinke it long before the Lord come in comfort to you yet knowe f 2. pet 3. that the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slacknes but that hee that will come wil come quicklie and wil not tarie His nature is not g psal 103.9 alwaies to bee chiding neither vvill he keepe his anger for euer as the Prophete saith Ioseph woulde not continuallie dissemble his tender affection towards his vnkinde brethren but must of necessitie h Gen. 43 30. breake forth into teaâ—es and weepe vpon Beniamins necke And shall wee thinke that the Lord is lesse compassionate If wee doo so we belie God and dallie with yea deceiue our owne soules I denie not but he maie for a time indeede hâ—de his louing countenance from vs Exâ—d 33 23. and shewe vs after a sorte as it were his darke partes and that the better eyther to prooue our patience in trying howe wee canne for a while forbeare that which wee exceedinglie desire and as it were hunger and thirst after or else to cause vs the more highlie to esteeme of the same For this is naturallie in vs in the continuance of Gods fauours to make little account thereof Howbeit this wee may assure our seâ—â—ues of that though k psal 30 5 vveeping may abide at euening yet ioy shall come in the morning l psal 89 2â— and that his louing kindnesse hee vvill not take from vs for euer nor falsifie the vvoord yea the oath that is gone out off hys mouth And mee thinketh that heereof you not onelye amongest but aboue manye other shoulde bee throughlie perswaded as well by the viewe of your owne estate as by the consideration of his most gracious nature wee beleeue his mercies yea you beleeue them to bee so greate yea so infinite that they cannot bee as a man would say conteyned within himselfe but must of necessitie ere long euen as continuall springing fountaines that will ouerflowe all and make euerie thinge fruitful and pleasaunt where they come breake foorth and shewe themselues not onely generallie to all but in a speciall maner to some chieflie m Esay 66.2 to those that are poor of contrite spirits treÌ„ble at his word n 62.3 and mourn in Sion for to such is it in verie deede that the Lorde vvill looke and haue a speciall regard Amongest the which sith if I knowe any you your selfe may iustlie bee numbred you can not but beleeue that you shall haue a plentifull portion of thys ouerflowing fauour because you bee as certaynelye inrolled in that number as if your name were particulerlye put down And as for your state you and wee together knowe it to bee long tedious and hard where in notwithstanding you ought to comfort your selfe because you are assured of this and that not only by
say but such n 1. Cor. 5.1 iniquitie as is not heard of no not among the Gentiles that one shoulde haue his Fathers wyfe Concerning which facte and reconciliation vppon repentaunce for the same the Apostle saieth els where o 2. Cor. 6.72 It is sufficient for the same man that hee was rebuked of manie so that nowe contrariwise you ought rather to forgiue him and to comfort him leaste the same shoulde be swallowed vppe with ouer much heauinesse wherefore I praye you that you would confirme your loue towardes hym In the holie scriptures or woorde of God we haue infinit store of examples Examples of Gods mercie and bee compassed about on euerie side as it were p Heb. 12.1 with a thick cloude of witnesses which both for their multitude and for their faithfulnesse are greater then al expectation and to whom for theÌ„selues and in whom for others God hath bene pleased plentifullie to declare as the riches of his mercie generallie so particularly that he q Deut. 7.9 2 Chron. 6.5 hath kept faith and trueth with them and will doe so for euer with al those that succeed them in faith and a Iame. 1.17 good conscience that so our hope and harte might relie vppon him alone with whom is no variablenesse neither shall neuer turne Let two verie woorthy and plaine one wherof is in the olde and the other in the newe Testament serue for all s Psal 32.5 Psal 1â— 3.3 Dauid from an vnfeigned heart acknowledgeth it and that more then once that the Lord in the multitude of his mercies forgaue both the punishment of his sinne and all his iniquitie whatsoeuer And Paule with a franke and free mouth openlie confesseth and that others might heare it and beleeue it saith t 1. Timoh 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and woorthy by all meanes to be receiued that Ieâ—us Chrâ—st came into the world to saue â—â—â—ers of whom I am chiefe And if wee respect their persons â—â—ey were men notwithstanding their â—â—â—â—s dearelie beloued of God the one taken t Psal 8 7â— by the Lord from the shâ—pâ—â—â—d and following the ewes with yong to â—eed his people in Iacob the other pulled from persecuting the church to preach to cary the Lords name among the gentilâ—s u Act. 9.15 If we consider the sins that they speak of we shall find them no lesse x 2. Sam â—1 than adulterie murther y 2 Sam 24. pride z â— Tâ—â— 1 1â— blasphemy persecutioÌ„ oppression suâ—dry such like If we regard the souâ—dnes sinceritie of their hearâ—s they speaking deliuering that as withouâ— a mind doubtlesse to deceiue otâ—eâ—s so without partialitie and respect as in regard of themselues and euen as they feâ—t Goâ—s fauour for themselues for others we cannot choose but beleeue it that we haue our part portion in it the rathâ—r because God hath geuen vs thâ—se and 〈◊〉 like holy examples to be as it wer seals set vnto the promises for the more strong establishing of the same in our hearts we perswading our selues that as we may and ought to profit by the presidents of gods a 1. Cor. 10.11 iudgement to work in vs vnfeigned feare reuerence of his maiesty and care of a better course theÌ„ euer we haue practised b Rom. 15.4 so we shal make vse of exaÌ„ples of his mercy to styr vs vp to make in vs a holy feeling of all spirituall coÌ„fort heauenly ioy And that the graces of Gods holy spirite Tâ—e â—â—â—ces of â—ods â—pirit which hee himselfe in Christ hath bin pleased plentifully to bestow vpon vs moâ—e particularly that our c Iude. 20. precious holy fa th together with the sâ—uâ—rall fruâ—ts efâ—â—cts that flow froÌ„ the samâ— shold pledge vnto vs this great fauour of God in the forgiuenes of our siâ—s thorow the death obedience of his sonne it â—s as cleare as the sunne in his glorie and brightnesse and that not onlie becaâ—se if that which is from sinne and from our selues may iustlie discourage vs and beat vs downe then that which proceedeth from God who is d greater than all and e onely good can not choose but being liuely felt and sensiblie perceiued but raise vs vp againe also because the scripture it self in terms that will admit no darke or doubtfull interpretation aduoucheth that God f 2 Cor 8.12 accepteth vs according to that wee haue and not according to that wee haue not For fayth wee haue amongst others that comfortablâ— promise of holie writte Oâ— Fayth g Habaâ— 2.4 Rom 1.17 The iust shall liue by faâ—th which cannot be vnderstood of life here as well because it speaketh of the tune to come as also because as in respect of breaâ—â— and being in this world the wicked haue â—t as well as the godly and we knowe that it was the Lords purpose by his spâ—râ—â— in that speach to discerne betweene h Ezâ—ch 22.26 the pretious and the vile If we well consider Vnfained lâ—ue either the loue that God hath wrought in our heartes towards his saintes or the vâ—â—â—ygned mind that thorow his great goodnes we find in our selues to forget and forgeue other mens trespasses wee shall finde that to the one the other may giue vs firme hope assured comfort of the forgiuenes of our own sins the holy ghost affirming of the former that by this we i 1. Iohn 3.14 know wee are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren for the other our sauiour himselfe not only teaching vs to say k Math. 6.12 forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespas against vs but also declaring in plain tearmes that except wee forgiue from our heartes each one to his brother his trespasses l Math. 18 3i ther is no forgiuenes of ours before God declaring withal that wher that is the other cannot bee wanting because God is not onelye much more readye but infinitely much more able to shewe sinners that notable fauour then men are so manifest it one to another Wherein it shall not bee amisse for vs to marke this further Of merits that howsoeuer all the good things we are enabled to no cannot as they come froÌ„ vs nor yet of theÌ„selues in that respect merâ—te Gods mercie because m Esay 64.6 al our righteousnesses are as filthie and stained cloutes before him n Luke 17.10 when we haue done al that we can wee are yet vnprofitable seruants much lesse any one of theÌ„ seperated from the rest the weaknes whereof arising not from the good things themselues in their owne nature as they come from God for so they are and must be verie strong exceeding good but by reason of our corruption the imperfection the thorow the same cleaueth therto yet all of them together and euery one of them selues may bee
some particulars lay at it vvere buried in forgetfulnes by me the same also being at the last ouer-viewed by some good breethren whome I much loue and reuerence in the lord I was at the length ouercome could not choose but yeild Wherein though some perhaps may suppose that I labour in publishing an vnnecessarie impertinent matter because these ignorant dayes require Doctrine for building of men vp in knovvledge and iudgement and these carelesse and contemptuous times abounding vvith all manner of loosnes and levvdnes craue rebuke rather and exhortation for care and conscience in the dueties vve knovve as a more fit and meete argument for this dissolute age◠yet being assured of this both by mine owne knovvledge and other mens faithfull reportes that sundrie there are abroad in this land and amongst the rest euen some of you and yours that as in regarde of your spirituall combats and bickerings and the bitter assaultes and temptations you haue found therein had need of holy and heauenly comfort I could not but as in a generall care for all the afflicted ones to vvhome I wishe all the comforts of God as to my ovvn soule so in particular good vvil tovvardes you your selues vvhose invvard comfort and outvvard ioy I vvould bee glad and ready to procure at all times and by all meanes if I could tel hovv but acquaint you and them specially sith it is one principall portion of the svveet Manna that the lord hath prouided for you vvith such pleasaunt and delightfull consolations that out of the word as God by his spirit hath vvrought in mee for the peace of mine ovvne heart and by me though vnvvorthie euery way communicated vnto som others What root they may take or effects they may bring forth I knovv not Sure I am of this my earnest praiers vnto God as in regard of his religion and vvorship and heartie purpose in my selfe as in respect of Christian good vvill is that all that mourne in our Sion might reape some good by the same vvhich if it cannot bee effected either by meanes of my sinne that medle therin or by reason that the svveet things published cannot so seasonablie or for lacke of oportunitie come to their knovvledge or because that through diffidence they fore-close the vvaie and passage of consolation vnto themselues in all and euerye of vvhich desertes I shall surelye mourne muche yet my hope and heartes desire is that all of you my good friendes might receiue some vvorthie fruite thereby as vvell those amongest you that haue not as yet tasted of thys bitter cuppe a matter that you must looke for and make an account of if euer you vvill feele hovve sweete the Lord is indeed vvhile you perceiue GOD sitting you and furnishing you vvith the best armour of proofe that can bee before the day of battaile dravve nigh as those that haue beene or are tried that beeing the verie state and condition of all Gods children God according to your present distresses prouiding for you and reuealing vnto you the present comfortes of his most faithfull vvorde and infallible trueth that so both the one sort and the other hauing the povver of your ovvne sinnes in the sufferinges of his sonne if not vtterlie remooued and cleane taken avvay yet verie much lessened and as it vvere beaten dovvne you might not onelye the more earnestlie oppose your selues agaist satan in his sleights and haue an assured hope of a glorious and ioyfull victorie against him and his assaults but also may be inabled to stand yea to ouercome in the day of euill and to be more than cōquerors thorow him that hath loued you washed you in his bloud vvho I doubt not shall shortly and mightilie also tread him and all his forces whatsoeuer down vnder your feet Now the very god of peace sanctify you and al yours thorowout I pray God that your whole spirite and soule and bodie may bee kept blameles vntill the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ vvhereof I doubt not because he is faithful which hath called you who also wil doe it Good brethren pray for vs that we may be readie in all things with vnfaignednes to do the Lords vvill At London the tenth of of this December 1589. Yours readie and assured euer in Iesus Christ T. W. the Lord his vnworthy seruant GRACE AND PEACE from God c. BEcause I haue not nowe a long time eyther by wryting or by worde of mouth heard from you good Sir I grow into some vncertain imaginations concerning your estate and by meanes thereof I freely confesse it not onely into neglect of some duety towardes your selfe I meane comming to visite you and writing vnto you such simple comfortes as God hath bin pleased to explicate vnto me which I call simple not as of thēselues for so they are high and excellent but as I haue them in my a 2. Cor. 4 7. earthen vessell but also into cold performance at the least of som seruice vnto God I meane my supplications and praiers vnto his maiestie The duti◠of a Christian and faithfull friend towardes hys friend as on your behalfe To pray for you when God hath bene pleased to giue you and in you me for I take the fauours bestowed vpon you to be kindnesse heaped vp vpon my selfe thorow his merciful deliuerance of you a iust and holy occasion to prayse his name should be the sinne of mine owne soule because it were the offring vp of a wrong sacrifice and presenting vnto God a b Malac. 1.8 blind beast as it were As on the other side to striue to yeeld you comfort when you haue receiued a riche aboundance of the same from God himselfe thorowe his holie worde and blessed spirite were as it might be thought to doe a needlesse and vnnecessarie worke for where there is fulnesse and plentie scarsitie and barrennesse will little appeare and doe small good From the former though I would gladly as in regard of the lack of sound knowledge touching your present condition and in respect of the dulnesse and heauinesse of my soule as to other good workes so to that particularlie cease till eyther from your selfe or others that are as your selfe I should be faithfully certified of the state wherein you are that so I might as a feeling member with you eyther vnfeignedly c Rom. 12.15 reioyce in the asswaging of your trobles and trials or else heartily weepe and pitie you and pray with you and for you in the continuance and increase of these distresses yet wil not the doubts that I haue in me touching the continuance of these calamities and the dutie that I owe vnto you as in that behalfe let me vtterly leaue off but needes I must nowe and then according to my poore measure present you before God and that by name in my requestes and prayers though poore and faynt In the other surely I cannot God ayding me but inlarge my selfe to my
vttermost yea beyond it if I could tell how because I know it to be the Lordes assured trueth that I shall deliuer and though not fit perhappes now for your selfe by reason of your present comfort and ioy yet heereafter i may bee of more then necessary vse for your selfe and others also when these darke and glomie daies of assaultes shall againe take holde of you In both which respectes as I rest perswaded that my poore paynes shall not vtterly perish so cannot I but thorowly assure mine own heart that both the one and the other shall be well accepted of you who are woont much to make of euerie thing that commeth from me In consideration whereof I will the more willingly assaie God assisting me the performance of the matter I purpose that is the yeelding of you some such comfortes as d 2. Cor. 1.3.4 the God of all consolation hath giuen vnto me not onely for the staie of mine owne conscience but to the ende also that I might acquaint others that are in tribulation with the same The dealings of God with his dearest saintes and seruantes in this behalfe especially are as we knowe by the light of the world and by experience in our selues and examples of others that haue gone before vs or liue with vs diuers and sundry he throwing vs downe and lifting vs vp and e psal 90.3 turning vs to destruction and yet saying returne you sonnes of Adam whose wayes as euerie maner of way so in this respect especiallie are much more vnsearchable and past finding out than f pro. 30 19 is the way of an Eagle in the ayre the waie of a serpent vpō a stone or the way of a ship going with a right fore winde and full sayle in the midst of the mayne sea till God be pleased in the multitude of his mercies in some measure to discouer the same vnto hys seruantes What God will doe with you good sir after so manifold and long trials is vnknowne to me because neither I nor any other haue g Rom 11 34 bene of his councell in such secret and particular purposes speciallie concerning others whatsoeuer we may feel touching our selues Howbeit I cannot otherwise thinke or be perswaded but that you haue bene are and so shal be for euer h 9.23 Tokens to assure men to be the vessels of mercie a vessell of his mercy wherein I am dayly more and more confirmed not onely by the christian carrying of your selfe in the dayes of your former and present troubles you patiently bearing them and earnestly calling vppon God for heauenly strength to vndergoe and ouercome but euen by the verie afflictions themselues that you felt or feele God by them setting as it were his own marke vpon you the better to knowe you for one of his owne sheepe and sonnes and so conforming you i Rom. 8.29 vnto the image of his best beloued in his sufferinges that in the same you might haue a certaine pledge of glorification with him Manifold and long afflictions a verie grieuous temptation Wherein though I acknowledge that it cannot be but verie greeuous to be long held and much exercised and the rather because it is not one but manifold assaultes and temptations with which you are troubled on euerie side yet doubt I not but that the issue and end that God shall worke of all these An answere to it of the end shal be exceeding good not onely in regard of k 2. Cor. 4.17 a far most excellent weight of eternal glory that I know they pledge vp in you other of Gods children but of the effects also that for the time present they bring forth in you Of the effects as adding an edge vnto your prayers which for the time seemed to be colde or dead rather lessening yea beating backe the force of many other temptations which no doubt might strongly assault and mightily encounter with you conforming you in vnfeigned affection to the obedience of Gods good will a worthy worke doubtlesse and a matter of no small difficultie filling you and that for your selfe and others also with the comfortes and consolations which are from aboue Afflictions to the faithfull not so much a cause of discouragement as to looke to themselues and to cal vpon God for ayd and strength whiche hardly but by such meanes wee taste of or attayne vnto with sundrie such like In my poore iudgement therefore you may yea you ought to be so farre off from beeing discomfited and cast downe in this estate wherein you are that you haue rather iust occasion offered you to l Heb. 12.12 lift vp your handes which hang downe and to strengthen your weake knees yea to raise vp your decaied spirites assuring your selfe that howsoeuer the Lord lead you along in manifolde and manifest afflictions and carry you as it were from one sorrow to another yea howsoeuer hee seeme to bring you to the pits bruicke and make all the surges and m Psal 42.7 waues of his displeasure to rise vp against you and mount ouer your head that yet I will not n 2. Cor. 4 8. destitute you nor o Heb. 13.5 fayle you for euer as well because hee trieth you no otherwise Two reasons nor exerciseth you no further than he hath done those that haue bene deare and precious in his owne eyes as also because he is both faithfull and powerfull to perfourme both in heauen and in earthe whatsoeuer hee hath promised to the sonnes of men much more to his owne seruauntes Two apt similitudes declaring Gods loue towardes his children Wherein also no doubt he dealeth no otherwise with you than earthly parentes doe many times with their owne deare children who to make them the more plainly see and the more strongly to be perswaded of their fatherly loue towardes them and manlike strength for their deliuerance bring their sayd children to the fire side that so they may feele more than a woonted heate thereof and learne to feare it withall The like they practise towards them also in another element namely in water not onely carrying them all along the edge brimme or bancke of some pond or riuer but nowe and then making semblance as if they would throw or thrust them into the same And yet wee knowe they loue them no whit the lesse for all this nay we are assured of this the more nigh they are to daunger whether it arise from the negligence and ignoraunce of the children themselues or seeme to be layd vppon them from the very louing and naturall parentes the more sure and fast hold they take of them And shal not we be much more perswaded I wil not say of the like loue but of farre p Esay 49.15 more exceeding loue in God towards his sonnes and daughters with whose fauour towardes his people and power for his childrens good no affections 〈◊〉 might I dare auouch this not of
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
shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death By fearefull effectes Thirdly the fearefull effectes that the one bringeth foorth more than the other it taking for the time appetite from the stomake sleepe from the eye hearing from the eare and all maner of delight lawfull and vnlawfull outward and inward from the whole man as particular examples of Gods saintes doe manifestly shewe for which see the places quoted in the margine Psal 77.2.3.4 c. Psal 102.3.4 5.6.7 c. and some such like and experience in our selues if euer we haue bene in that estate or the condition of other men if wee haue heedily obserued it will sufficiently warrant the same vnto vs. Neither yet are these thinges propounded to dismaie and discourage those that are after that sorte exercised for surely their afflictions and troubles be hard and heauie inough and indeede doe rather craue all maner of comfort than anie depressing at all their sinne and the sight of the same with the apprehension of Gods iustice and iudgement against them for it beeing as the Prophet saith in another Psalme vz. 38.4 gone ouer their head and become as a weightie burthen to heauie for thē to beare or to throwe downe aboue measure when they come to it such as haue not entred into that course or combate For howsoeuer as yet they haue not felt weakenesse or wantes in themselues or Gods strength assisting them agaynst sinne yet then shall they finde that true that the Apostle sayth d 1. Cor. 10.13 that God is faithull and will not suffer them to bee tempted aboue that they are able but will euen giue the issue with the temptation that they may be able to beare it or to stop anie from striuing to yeeld to particular persons in that distresse anie reliefe or comfort that God hath giuen them themselues for that were to cause them to neglect the best duties of holie loue towardes men in their miserie we being enioyned by the Lord to e Galat. 6.2 beare one an others burthen f Rom. 12 15 and to weepe with them that weepe and to depriue themselues of comfort in the daies of the like daunger for howe can they looke to be pitied that haue had no care to expresse the same to others But rather to comfort them that are afflicted and that euen in the greatnesse of their griefe whilest they see no g ◠Cor 10 13 other temptation to haue taken holde of them but such as appertaineth to man yea to the best men that haue bene in this life which also the greater they are the more are they therein conformed vnto the h Rom 8.17 image of the sonne of God Iesus Christ in his sufferinges who patiently vnderwent and mightily ouercame not onely for himselfe but for vs all that that we beare but in part yet shal at the last thorow him be in and of the same i 29 more than conquerours and to prepare others before they come into those conflicts that so neither an imagination of their own strēgth neuer as yet assaied nor a conceit of the weake force of the foe neuer well felt nor the vnwontednesse of the troubles that they must indure nor the greatnesse or length of the trials that they are to sustain k Ephes 6.10 11. c. nor any other thing whatsoeuer may cast thē downe much lesse ouercome them but prouoke thē rather to be prepared in the strēgth of God the power of his word and the might of his spirite valiantly to encounter with the same l Luke 21 2◠lifting vp their heads harts knowing that the time of their redemption draweth nigh to excite and stir vp the last sort in al christian pitie bowels of compassion to inlarge thēselues to their vttermost yea beyond it if they coulde tell howe towards such afflicted soules that so according to the m 2. Cor. 1.4 consolations which they themselues haue receiued from God they may minister comfort vnto others distressed perswading themselues further of this that the more hard the cure and worke is speciallie if they feele the same left them as a spurre to pricke them forward the more glorie shall thereby rebound vnto God the n Phillip 2.13 Iames. 1.17 onely worker and giuer of all good thinges and the more comfort to themselues whome God hath bin pleased to vse as worthie instrumentes that not in some meane affaire or businesse but in this great dutie of comforting the distressed o Iud. 23. and sauing them with feare pulling them out of the fire Nowe as by that which hath bin alreadie deliuered wee may sensibly see a difference betweene bodily afflictions and the inward sorrowes of a troubled spirite so it is not to be doubted but that euen amōgst those inward griefs temptations and assaultes that such indure some are more sharpe and sore than other some though indeede the least and shortest of them be verie grieuous to flesh and bloud or to speake as the Apostle doth p Heb. 12 11 no chastisement for the present seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous rather I will not say to bear for I suppose verily euerie man will confesse it but euen to thinke of which were the point doubtfull wee might labour to proue but being a manifest and confessed trueth it shall not be amisse to spare that pains and to trauaile in that which is somewhat more hard and may be of much better vse Amongest those troubles of the inward man that are greatest indeede none in my simple iudgement fitteth more nigh to or pincheth or presseth more hard the hearts of the deare saints and seruauntes of God in the dayes of their fleshe and combating than the sight or memorie of the fearefull sinnes that they haue committed against hys blessed maiestie which also as they aggrauate vnto themselues not onely in their owne nature that is to say as they are sinnes and violations or breaches of the law of God but in the circumstances of time place persons and maner of doing as that they were committed in the daies of knowledge publikely and by men of great note name c. all which doth adde vnto iniquitie causeth the same to be more grieuous so they increase it vnto thēselues as in regard of the bitter effects they bring forth as separation between God and man a taint and curse vpō the creatures horror of heart in our selues infirmities vpon the flesh temporall eternall death both of bodie and soule without great grace singular fauor from almighty god c. in all which respects the weake heart had neede to be g Can. 2.5 1. Thess 5.14 stayed least it faint and fall downe without hope of rysing vp and the wounded spirite calleth indeede for some of the wine and oyle of God to be powred thereinto least otherwise it fester and become irrecouerable But against al and euery one of these though sore assaultes
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
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