they here take and that which wee must take in the like distresse according to the measure of the affliction and as it is more publike or priuate so must be the measure of our lamentation To this there is a promise made in the prophesie of Isaiah c. That when our hands cannot help our selues nor our tongues preuaile with others yet then wee may relieue our selues by our prayers vnto God Isaiah 61. 12. c. for in that place the Lord vndertaketh that mourners shal be comforted c. God the Father sends his owne sonne and the Father and the Sonne doe send the holy Ghost that when men are mourning and seele their pouertie so as it breakes their hearts the spirit which is the comforter may minister comfort vnto them that when they feele their captiuitie and imprisonment as it were Christ Iesus may set them at libertie be they neuer so weake neuer so meane neuer so miserable neuer so sinfull if once they come thus to mourne they shall haue their hearts comforted though they bee couered with ashes God will giue them beautie for ashes and put on them the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heauines bestowing vpon them that which shall make them cheerefull euen the oyle of ioy not an earthly but an heauenly oyle And there is great cause why God should deale so with such kinde of persons for Reasons 1 1 Hee is full of pitie and compassion and therefore the prophet Ioel in his 2. Chap. vers 13. biddeth vs rent our hearts and not our garments Ioel. 2.13 that is bring inward sorrow that may crush and breake the heart and then turne vnto the Lord which if we doe wee shal be sure of reliefe and why the Lord is mercifull saith hee and our God is very readie to forgiue When wee see our children mourning and confessing their faults wee cannot but haue our bowels of compassion earning towards them If Iacob had stood by and heard his sonne Iosephs pitifull moane that in the anguish of his soule hee made vnto his brethren when they dealt so vnnaturallie with him would hee not haue pitied him and by strong hand haue rescued him from his cruell sonnes What shall wee then thinke of God he is farre more mercifull than Iacob was and wee are neerer vnto him than euer Ioseph was vnto his father And therefore when wee mourne in a holy manner certainely hee will arise and haue mercy vpon vs. Hee cannot slay when he sees our hearts full of sorrow and our eyes full of teares for the sighs and groanes of his people doe giue him no rest in heauen Secondly this godly mourning must needs be a speciall remedie in all manner of afflictions because it makes our prayers very forcible it sets an edge vpon our petitions and makes vs pray heartily feruently and strongly When Iacob wept in his prayer it was so effectuall that hee preuailed Genesis 32.11 When Gods people ioyned together to powre forth buckets full of teares drawne from the bottome of their hearts before the Lord they were marueilously helped 1. Sam. 7.6 for the great measure of their teares made their supplications more feruent and therefore it is said of Christ Iesus himselfe that in the dayes of his flesh hee did offer vp prayers with strong crying Heb. 5.7 and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death When our Sauiour was about the principal point of his mediatorship then did he gather strength vnto himselfe by this meanes Thirdly this must needs be very effectuall because it is exceeding forcible against sinne for when sorrow comes into the heart sinne goes out it will not lodge there vnlesse it bee cockered and made much of When euery one laments his iniquitie and mournes ouer Christ Iesus whom hee hath pierced by his sinnes then there is a fountaine opened to wash them from all euen from sins that made a separation betwixt God and vs. Zacharie 12. 13. Seeing then that this godly and holy sorrow is a means to make God pitie vs to make vs call earnestly vpon him and to expell sinne which might hinder vs from preuailing with him it must needes follow that of all remedies in times of distresse this is the best and surest Vse 1 This serues for instruction vnto vs to vse all meanes and furtherances whereby wee may attaine vnto this There are many afflictions abroad many neerer home in our owne townes and families nay there are many things amisse in our owne hearts here is a medicine for euetie one of our maladies let vs get it and vse it and all arguments and helps that may continue and increase it as the Nineuites hauing direction by the spirit of God as many of them as were his did when Ionah threatned destruction against their citie within fortie dayes they abased themselues and fell to mourning and vsed fasting to helpe it onward the people must shew it in their countenances the lowing of the beasts and crying of the infants must further them to this holy remorse and griefe for their great and haynous transgressions They had grieued the Lord by their iniquities and therefore now they would grieue themselues with godly contrition for them Hence it was that Gods people amongst the Iewes vsed to weare sack-cloth to lie on the ground and to put dust vpon their heads which were then meanes to further them in the worke of humiliation Therefore now that wee feare danger is neere vs let vs betake our selues to this holy mourning if wee refuse to doe it and still continue to be hard-hearted if the pestilence come into our families wee are likelie to be taken away with the first and to haue not only our bodies but our soules in danger and that of Gods wrath and euerlasting displeasure Therefore let vs seeke to haue our hearts mollified by this excellent meanes of God and for this end consider of the blessings of God plentifully powred downe vpon our nation Nehemi 9. and vpon out selues in particular as they did in the day of their humiliation of whom Nehemiah maketh mention Let vs seriously recount how many mercies wee haue enioyed and how much they haue beene abused how many afflictions wee haue felt and how little wee haue beene bettered how many deliuerances wee haue found and yet how carelesse nay how rebellious we haue beene notwithstanding them all Let vs weigh with our selues what hurt our sins haue done vnto vs how many good thinges they haue turned from vs and how many euils they haue puld vpon vs and aboue all let vs remember what a huge weight and multitude of miseries they haue brought vpon our Sauiour namely debasement and humiliation sorrowes and sufferings assaults and temptations the heauie burden of our guiltines and the greeuous punishment due for our deserts the rage and violence of most malicious men and the wrath and displeasure of the most righteous God torments of bodie and terrors
and comfort if there were a thousand worlds and all against one of vs yet one comfort of Christ is able to counteruaile all their oppositions If God giue vs assurance of a better life what great matter is it if they depriue vs of this life If wee see the Angels and Saints and Christ Iesus and the whole Trinitie to bee with vs what perill is it if all leaud base sinfull men bee against vs If God promise to make our names and persons glorious what neede wee feare though they seeke to make vs ignominious Not one haire of our head can fall without Gods prouidence Wee are not in their power though we be in their hands They may proceede so farre as to arraigne vs conuict vs and condemne vs and yet except God will they shall not execute vs though our naturall brethren and sisters and friends forsake vs God will giue vs new brethren and sisters and friends that shal bee more kind and faithfull vnto vs than euer they were But if men for feare of difficulties and dangers will not aduenture vpon religion are they sure to keepe themselues from troubles by that meanes Nay if am an will not suffer for a good cause God can and will make him suffer for an ill cause Achitophel would leaue Dauid and take the stronger side though the worser side but was not that to his destruction So Iudas hee would turne from Christ to the Pharises but did that bring him any peace No it tended to his vtter confusion Vse 2 This teacheth vs another lesson that when we see men so hunted and pursued wee doe not condemne them presently and say Surely these are bad fellowes for otherwise they would neuer be so much maligned nor molested But what shall wee thinke of Gods people here that were hunted and chased and that for their liues shall were say that these were the worst in the world Nay rather if we would conclude any thing let it be this These men are enuied and wronged and wee see no euident cause why it should bee so therefore it is likelie they are good men and deale faithfullie Vers 54. Then thought I I am destroyed This was the case not onely of Ieremie but of the rest of Gods seraunts in captiuitie they were euen past hope for any recouerie Doct. 6. Outward afflictions vsually accompained with inward teÌ„ptations The doctrine that here may bee gathered is That when troubles arise against our bodies and states Satan labors to breed troubles in our soules when there are fightings without vsuallie there are terrors within This is manifest in the Chapter that wee haue now in hand vers 17.18 VVhen they were farre from peace and prosperitie then they conclude their strength and hope is perished from the Lord. Hee had made them many gratious promises they could not deny but now they neuer expected the performance of them all their hope was gone And this we see that Gods children haue still beene exercised with great terrors and feares within when they haue beene set vpon by grieuous trials without the trueth whereof we see in Iob and in Ieremie Iob. 3.3 c Ier. 15.10 the violence of whose inward conflicts made them to breake forth into marueilous great distempers Reason And this stands with reason for in those times Satan will be readie to perswade them If God loued you hee would neuer let you bee in this estate 〈…〉 as he dealt with 〈◊〉 Sauiour If thou bee the Sonne of God command that these 〈…〉 should haue said Is this the God 〈…〉 all this while See how hee deales with you 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—ainely forsaken if you will eate stones you may 〈◊〉 prouision he makes none for you and is it likelie then that you are the sonne of God If you thinke you are so still trust no more in him but prouide for your selfe and command that these stones bee made bread that so you may haue reliefe that way Vse 1 Since the case stands thus let vs in time of prosperitie arme our selues with strong reasons whereby we may assure our hearts that the Lord is our God and this will appeare to be no more than needefull if we consider how Gods dearest seruants haue beene and are put to it and though they haue had a good measure of confidence yet their grounds haue beene shaken and they themselues much perplexed God hath turned away his face from them Psal 30. and they haue beene troubled Since I say the case stands thus let vs get good euidence for our happie estate in Christ and for our interest vnto eternall life Let vs haue our hearts seasoned with true pietie with the loue of Gods word with the feare of his name with zeale for his glorie and the like vertues and graces of Gods holy spirit and that before distresses come that so in the euill day we may haue good assurance of Gods vnvaluable and vnchangeable fauor in his sonne For if wee be slacke and negligent herein and onelie hope well and trust that God wil bee mercifull vnto vs and accept of vs for his children then when Satan and affliction and our flesh ioine together and make an assault against vs our hope will proue but a broken reede wee shal be tossed with euerie waue yea sore perplexed and vtterlie ouerwhelmed in the gulfe of distresse if not of despaire it selfe Therefore let men make sure worke before hand especiallie before death approch For otherwise the diuell will tell them that then it is too late to set vpon matters of godlines as hee euer perswaded them before that it was too soone then will hee bring before them all former reckonings and charge vpon them the iniquities of their youth and if their grounds be not very good their hearts will vtterly faile them and then they are vndone for euer For if the Church of God make this wofull complaint that their hope and strength were perished from the Lord how shall wicked vnregenerate persons be able to stand when God shall come against them Not with matters of temptation as he doth against his children but with matters of truth not of mercie but in iudgement not that the diuell makes them beleeue so but that indeede it is so When God shall once begin to draw out his sword against them where will they bee then If Gods children doe feele such a heauie burden of it doe not you thinke it will presse them downe to the gates of hell When no friend shall stand by them no shifts and inuentions of wit shal bee auaileable for them when all mirth will be vncomfortable and euerie thing frowne and looke heauily vpon them God and Satan and sinne and their owne consciences beeing all vp in armes against them When this I say comes vpon them as come it will sooner or later which way can they turne them and how can they shift off that heauie loade of Gods wrath and indignation which will lie as a mountaine vpon their
their manner of dealing and this is the propertie of all such wicked Moabites they cannot speake of the calamities of the faithfull but they are wonderfully affected with ioy so that they cannot sit still in their places they are so moued with mirth and laughter These haue cruell hearts and shal be met withall accordingly as Moab was 5 But especially are those here to be condemned that doe not onelie reioyce at the troubles but at the sinnes of those that are religoiously affected if they slippe through infirmitie and fall into any sinne if they bee ouergone with worldlines which is greatly to be taken heede of if they be lifted vp with pride and manifest the same by violence of words or actions or be stained with any the like vices presently they exclaime against them and take on beyond measure â—ot you what say they the great professor hath spoken or done this or that and so they are as glad together as if they had gotten a kingdome and came home in triumph Herein they shew themselues to bee right Satans who takes pleasure in nothing so much as in sinne 6 And yet there is one higher degree of sinne contrarie to the practise of these holy ones which is when men are so farre from grieuing that it goes ill with Gods seruants that if they be somewhat amisse they will make them worse and help forward their misery and for that end misinforme and incense such against them as they know will inflict punishments vpon them These are inspired by the spirit of Satan as those who are mentioned in this text are inspired by the spirit of God Vse 2 2 This is for great comfort vnto them that can mourne for the calamities of the church This is a notable testimonie that they are feeling members and haue in them the life of christianitie when others troubles are theirs others losses theirs others reproches theirs and any distresses and straites of others are made theirs They that lament for Sion Isa 66.10 shal be comforted with Sion God hath promised them singular consolation it is their portion and they may confidently expect it Vers 49. Mine eye droppeth without stay From which words this doctrine may bee gathered Doct. 3. How long humiliation must be continued That wee must neuer cease our humiliation till God giue consolation When the Lord ministreth vnto vs occasion of griefe wee should neuer surcease vntill he reuine our hearts We must not begin in the spirit and end in the flesh but hauing a good entrance wee must goe on with our worke and bring it to perfection and if God giue vs a heart to mourne set to it and neuer giue ouer till hee set vs free Lament 2. vers 18.19 So they are exhorted in an other chapter of this booke Let teares runne downe like a riuer day and night take thee no rest neither let the apple of thine eye cease arise cry in the night powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord c. And iust it is that we should neuer make an ende of mourning till God make an ende of afflicting accordnig to their example who are mentioned in Nehemiah that wept at the hearing of the Law Mehemi 8.9 till they were bid to reioyce It was a notable commendation of that people that they would not leaue off till they had warrant to leaue off So Mordecai when Queene Hester sent him garments to cloath him and would haue had his sackoloth to be taken from him hee would not receiue them Hester 4.4 but humbled himselfe so long till hee was assured of deliuerance So Iacob would neuer let goe his holde Gen. 32.26 but stil wrestles with the Angell and continues weeping and praying till hee obtained a blessing so the woman of Canaan stickes close to it Math. 15.22 c. and is importunate with Christ for her daughter and would neuer desist nor let her suite fall till shee had preuailed with our Sauiour And there are reasons why wee must neuer breake off but still continue our humiliation and feruencie till God shew by good effect that he hath mercifully respected vs and our supplications Reason 1 1 For first what is the ground of true humiliation Is it not sinceritie Now wheresoeuer there is sinceritie there is faith and faith will neuer make an ende till it conquer it neuer giues the onset but it obtaines the victorie For it hath to deale with God and hee neuer bids it make an ende vnlesse it be by way of triall as hee dealt with Iacob and with the woman of Canaan till it haue gotten the desired successe 2 A second reason may be that Gods children haue hope as well as faith now hope neuer makes ashamed Rom. 5.5 because it is neuer disappointed of the thing hoped for 3 Thirdly they haue loue which makes vp a threefolde corde euery twist whereof is stronger than all the cords of the world for loue is strong as death c the coales thereof are fierie coales Cant. 8.6.7 and a vehement flame Much water cannot quench loue neither can the floods drowne it c. In regard of all these it is impossible that those that foundly begin the worke of humiliation should bee put backe vntill they haue obtained their purpose Which may be further seene in the spouse Canticles 3. who neuer giues ouer seeking till shee had found him whom her soule loued Vse 1 1 This therefore is to encourage men to godly constancie and importunitie when any distresse lies vpon the people of God If they be earnest for their deliuerance they shall not misse of their marke but those that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy in the due time of the Lord. Whether they bee futers for the church or commonwealth or for themselues in regard of crosses on their bodies anguishes in their soules or afflictions in their estate the Lord will looke downe from his holy place in heauen vpon them and heare and helpe them at length if they perseuere without fainting This is liuely and notably expressed vnto vs in the parable of the vnrighteous Iudge who though hee feared not God Iub 18.12 nor reuerenced man yet heard the poore widow and in the end did her right against her aduersarie because of her importunitie Oh then what shall wee thinke of God will a man will a wicked man will a mercilesse man bee moued by importunitie and wil not God will not the gratious God will not the God that is full of compassion be moued to auenge his seruants and to minister iustice vnto theÌ„ I tell you saith Christ I that am the wisedome of the Father Luk 18.8 and know all things euen I tell you that he will do it He will auenge them and that quickly It is as possible that God should bee without ease as that they should be without helpe Vse 2 2 Secondly they come iustly here to be reproued that will
set vpon Gods seruices only by fits and starts If they haue not present helpe from God they will seeke vnto the world and vnto Satan and to carnall meanes If they cannot mend their estate by prayer they will patch it vp by odde shifts if their hearts haue not present comfort from Gods spirit they will seeke comfort from iesters and leaud companions Commonly such people grow of all other most bitter against those holy exercises which they haue profaned and therefore could haue no benefit by them Such were they of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh who are so impudent and shamelesse that they dare expostulate the matter with God himselfe VVherefore haue wee fasted say they wee haue punished our selues and thou regardest it not Isa 48.3 c See what bragges they make of their seruices they that doe least and worst commonly brag most But what saies the Prophet Behold in the day of your fast yee will seeke your owne will and require all your debts 4. Beholde yee fast to strife and debate c. 5. Is it such a fast that I haue chosen that a man should afflict his soule for a day and bow downe his head like a bull-rush c. Thus wee see what reckoning God makes of their fasting what account so euer they themselues make of it and yet if they faile of their expectation they will quarrell with the Ministers of God with the word of God and with God himselfe because vsing such exercises carnally they receiued no benefit by them Vse 3 3 This must be an instruction vnto vs whē we are to deale with those that are afflicted in their soules that we handle the matter warilie and circumspectly when their hearts are wrought vpon we should not help them too soone out of their sorrow but exhort them to waite for comfort frō heauen for all cannot be presently well with the soule and therefore it is good wisedome to aduise such still to hold on their course Haue they begun to examine their hearts let them rifle yet further into them Haue they begunne to dislike their sinnes and themselues for their sinnes let them get a more thorow detestation and holy indignation against them It is not good for one that takes physicke to giue vp the potion forthwith as soone as it begins to worke Peter as a wise physition gaue other counsell to his hearers that began to bee moued by his doctrine They had beene mockers and scoffers they had crucified the Lord of life and so exceedingly endangered their owne soules wherewith beeing charged by Peter and being pricked and stung in their hearts and consciences they aske the Apostles Men and brethren Act. 2.37.38 what shall wee doe He doth not tell them as some vnskillfull Ministers would your case is good bee not discomforted my soule for yours you shall doe well but hee bids them amend their liues repent and get sound and heartie sorrow for their sinnes that so beeing throughly humbled they might afterwards bee soundly comforted Doct. 4. The eye must affect the heart Vers 51. Mine eye breaketh mine heart The meaning of which words is that his heart was marueilously moued with the things that his eye did behold Whence this doctrine offreth it selfe for our learning That good men must vse their eyes to stirre vp their hearts to pitie and compassion that so they may be pierced with griefe and sorrow This wee haue proued vnto vs in the example of Christ Iesus the most absolute paterne of all holinesse Mark 6.34 For it is said of him by the Euangelist Marke That when he lifted vp his eyes and sawe the multitude which had no faithfull Ministers to instruct them his very bowels were moued with commiseration towards them because they were as sheepe without a shepheard In this regard it is that Salomon describing a good man Pro. 22.9 calls him a man of a good eye and saies of such an one That hee will bestow his bread vpon the poore hee seeth the faces of some pale and of others blacke by reason of long want and forbearance of foode Others hee beholdeth naked and colde and exposed to the iniurie of the ayre and of all sorts of vnseasonable weather Now hauing a good eye hee will not onely take a view of them but bee inwardly affected with the sight of them and from a tender and pitifull heart minister reliefe vnto them Hence was it Act. 7.23 Exod. 2.11 that Moses did not content himselfe to know of the miseries of his poore brethren the Israelites by heare-say but hee would goe out to see their burdens and how they spent their paines and their strength and after all were recompenced with stripes from their taske-masters which did so worke vpon him that it made him stretch forth his hand to auenge some of them So likewise in the Gospell of Matthew it is set downe as the propertie of all holy and religious persons Mat. 25.36 that they will goe to the prison to see and to the house to visit the distressed members of Christ and take all occasions to bring their owne hearts to pitie their poore brethren and will euen compell their inward parts to beare a burden with them that they may bee more helpfull vnto them Vse 1 Which makes greatly for the reproofe of those whose eyes and eares are as filthy sinkes to conuey all vncleanenesse into them who haue eyes full of adulterie 1. An adulterous eye that they cannot looke about them but they are stirred vp to beastly and vile lusts Who haue eyes full of enuie 2. An enuious eye that they cannot beholde their brethren that are equall vnto them or goe before them or come neere vnto them but presently they fret against them and others welfare is their woe and miserie Others haue a wicked eye 3. A couetous eye that they cannot looke vpon their neighbors cattle houses possessions and the like but forthwith their hearts are poisoned with a couetous desire of them and then they cast about how they may make them theirs and if they cannot they eate vp their hearts with discontentment as Ahab did Pro. 28.22 Agreeable to this is the place of Salomon where hee saith A man of a wicked eye lusteth after riches but hee shews there that God meetes with him for hee shal be so farre from getting more that hee shall not keepe that which hee hath but the more he runnes after riches the faster pouertie shall pursue him Another kinde of ill eye is a niggardly eye 4. A niggardly eye spoken of by the wise man in the Prouerbs Pro. 23.6 where hee giueth this counsell Eate not the bread of him that hath an euill eye c. that thinkes all lost that goes from him and all taken out of his stomacke that goes into other mens bowels hee will giue men a welcome for fashion sake but all that eate of his meate are a vexation vnto him and
three supplications to the Iudge we would aske him presently But what answere receiued you If he should tell vs nay I neuer lookt to that we would not thinke hee should speed much the better for all his supplications Such is the case of hypocrites that draw neere vnto God with their lips but not with their hearts though they thinke themselues the safer and better for that yet in truth they are not because they had neuer in their liues any signe of Gods loue towards them for good vpon the making of their suites knowne vnto him And therefore let them get some of this store for that is it that will stand them more in stead than all the goods in the world Vse 2 Secondly here is a vse of comfort for them that haue lost the sight and feeling of Gods fauor Had they it euer at all Then they shall bee sure to haue it againe Psal 77.3.4.5.6 For this was Dauids case Hee did thinke on God and was more troubled hee prayed and his spirit was full of anguish and all seemed to make against him What then I considered saith hee the daies of old and the yeeres of ancient time I called to remembrance my song in the night I communed with mine owne heart and my spirit searched diligently c. He recounts with himselfe how faithfull hee had beene vnto God how mercifull God had beene vnto him and then his little sparke of hope and comfort became a great flame If a man haue old prouision he will doe well enough in the hardest times If one can say frō an humble and sincere heart Lord thou knowest that I haue shed many a bitter teare in secret for my sinnes I haue often with ioy praised thee for thy mercies and powred out my heart in singing Psalmes in priuate I haue sought thee in the night when no bodie was by when no eye was priuie vnto it and at such times thou hast vouchsafed to looke downe from heauen with a mercifull eye vpon me and hast filled my soule with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious c. If I say one haue these and the like euidences from former experience hee may assure his heart that God will still be found of him in goodnesse till the shutting vp of his daies and neuer withdraw his louing kindnesse from him Obiect Oh but now God frownes vpon mee and withholds his louing countenance from me Answer What then Hath there not beene a time when you could say God drew neere vnto you and beheld you with a fauourable eye Yes they cannot denie that why then neuer feare he will returne againe though hee hide his face for a time Albeit heauinesse may indure for a night Psal 30.5 yet ioy shall come in the morning For if God bee once ours hee is euer ours And this should bee the staffe and stay of Christians when they haue lost their feeling Vers 56. Stop not thine eare from my sigh and from my cry Here is shewed what seruice they brought vnto God they did not pray alone but sigh nor sigh alone but cry That is they drew forth their prayers from a feruent heart which was as a thirstie land that gapes for the raine and is euen readie to eate vp and to deuoure the clouds Which words afford vs this doctrine Doct. 5 That they that would not haue God to shut his eares against their prayers Feruencie in prayer requisite Ioel 2.13 must bee sure that they sigh and crie and that their petitions proceede from a broken heart and from an humble spirit So the Prophet Ioel bids them rend your hearts and not your garments c. For till the heart be euen puld in pieces by godly sorrow sinne and lust will not out and then there can bee no acceptance looked for with God either of vs or of our seruices Psal 51.17 Therefore Dauid saith the sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise Mark 7.34 1. Sam. 1.15 Therefore did Christ grone in his spirit when he prayed for that poore man in the Gospell So did Hannah sigh and weepe sore and powred out her soule before God Reason And there is good reason to moue vs to labor thus inwardly to bee touched For till wee haue the sense and feeling of our wants wee may well speake but wee can neuer pray till the heart be pained with sinne and corruption it is impossible to be feruent for the pardon of it as it is for one that hath no feeling of pouertie earnestly to intreat for a supply of his necessities and for one that hath no sense of his sicknesse to be an instant suter for the meanes of health Vse 1 First this serues for the reproofe of those that come with drowsie and verball prayers who deale like corrupt and naughtie Lawyers that looke for a fee and yet when they are at the barre tell a drowsie and idle tale without any feeling of their clients cause So many there are that come with words of course to intreat God to pardon their sins and strengthen their faith but neuer powre out their soules before God but onelie spend a little breath And they speed accordingly for their cold prayers bring but cold successe And this is true not onelie of the wicked Psal 32. but euen of the godly Dauid rored and cried but hee was neuer the better till hee confessed his sinne being inwardly grieued for the same but then both sinne and punishment were remoued at once This may teach vs to striue with the Lord in our prayers and supplications laboring for this crying and sighing that is so needefull and then dooing as here the Church did wee shall speed as they did Many there are that sigh in their troubles Iam. 5.9 But how Iames telles vs They sigh one against another and not vnder the burden of their sinnes nor through an earnest desire of Gods mercie They sigh vnder the waight of vnkindnesses that lie vpon them and clamor against men but haue little feeling of their owne vnkindnesses against God to bee humbled for them But these are sighs of the flesh and not of the spirit Let vs grone from a broken heart and the Lord will giue vs life Isa 57.15 when wee are troubled in spirit and the longer we waite and crie the greater measure of comfort we shall haue and the longer it shall tarrie with vs. Vers 57. Thou drewest neere Not in his essence for so is hee alwaies alike neere but in his mercifull presence and with gratious deliuerance Which words thus vnderstood doe yeeld vs this point of doctrine Doct. 6 That in the day that wee draw neere to God in prayer God will draw neere to vs in mercie God is as readie to heare as vve to pray when we send vp our petitions vnto him he will send downe speedie and comfortable helpe vnto vs. Those that are suters vnto God shall bee alwaies
c. that wee must seeke God by all his meanes as in that place of the Canticles before alleged when the Church had lost Christ that is the feeling of his loue and the sense of that communion which formerlie she had had with him she vseth all priuate and publike meanes and at length commeth to conference with Gods seruants which few will doe till they be driuen to it of necessitie and then hauing waited a while she finds him whom her soule loued The same must bee our practise if one medicine will not serue the turne vse another Pray fast meditate conferre and then at last the Lord will be found in mercie But as we are slacke in vsing any of the meanes so shall wee faile in our comfortable expectation of fauor from God 3 The last rule is that we must vse the meanes diligentlie and in good earnest for if wee haue a base account of Gods mercies Iam. 5.16 Psal 72.12 it is iust wee should goe without them The prayer of the righteous auailes much but with this condition if it bee feruent God deliuereth the poore when he crieth If they would haue hearing there must bee crying God powres forth floods of grace Isa 44.3 but vpon whom On the thirstie ground Hence is it that a number reade and heare and pray and yet preuaile not because they doe it so drowsilie and carelesselie The Lord deferres to helpe them because they are not fit for helpe and doe not striue and wrestle in their prayers as Iacob did Hosea 12.3 Let vs therefore vse all the meanes and that with constancie and carefulnesse and then wee shall obtaine our hearts desire in mercie Vers 57. Thou saiedst Feare not Not that there came any such voice vnto their eares or that God vsed any extraordinarie meanes to speake vnto them but when they drew neere to God and cast their cares vpon him and laid open their sorrowes vnto him God did so comfort them as if hee had spoken vnto them they were content to make him their stay and to trust him with their soule and state and all and then hee pacified their hearts and gaue them an expected answere to their prayers Now in that God said Feare not the point is Doct. 7. God onelie frees the heart from feares That God onelie cancure the heart of feares If ten thousand Prophets had said vnto them feare not if God had not said so by his spirit they would haue feared for al that Reasons 1 For first men cannot remoue the cause of feare which God can Thence it is that the wicked flee when none pursueth them Pro. 28.1 whereas the righteous are bold as a Lion Because their sinnes are remoued and they reconciled to God through Christ who hath made a sufficient paiment for them to satisfie his fathers iustice 2 Secondly God onelie can giue saith which rids the heart of feare in which regard Christ saith Math. 8. why did you feare O yee of little faith Implying thereby that all our troublesome distempers proceede from want of faith Now because none can giue that but the liuing God therefore none can heale the heart of feares but onelie God 3 A third reason is because God onelie can put his true feare into our hearts Ieremy 31. Ezekiel 3.6 which is a mightie defence against false feares Godly sorrow is a strong fortresse against worldly sorrow and godlie ioy a strong bulwarke against carnall ioy Therefore it is said Psal 102.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord c. Hee shall not bee afraide of ill tidings Vse 1 First this confutes their follie and error that thinke if they goe two or three miles from the place where the sicknesse is and there haue their gates shut and all things carefullie looked vnto then they should not bee so fearfull as they are as if that outward meanes could cure the heart of feares nay that must bee the Lords worke If they carrie with them the pestilence of an ill conscience an heart full of couetousnesse full of pride and of worldly lusts death will enter into the window if it cannot at the doore and will finde them out and set vpon them at midnight as well as at midday For God hath a quarrell against their sinnes and hee will pursue them whithersoeuer they goe and how can they stand when the curse of God hath them in chase Will you feare the plague sore vpon the bodie and will you not much more feare it vpon your soules Will you fly from that that is but a medicine vnto the godlie and not from that which is the verie bane of the whole man In truth those that carrie with them a heart full of pride and lust and such iniquities as God abhors wheresoeuer they liue are in greater danger than the godly that liue in the pest-house it selfe hauing their hearts purified by faith and their hope setled vpon Iesus Christ And therefore thinke not to put away such feares by gaming and companie-keeping by eating and drinking and laughing for they will returne againe though they may be smothered for a time and an ill conscience will be a fearefull conscience Vse 2 Secondly this doctrine ministreth vnto vs this instruction that if we would be disburdened of feares we should go to God that can worke in vs a thorow cure Not as if the meanes of seruing Gods prouidence were to be neglected or as if wee should not walke circumspectlie and auoide the occasions of danger But when wee doe so we should not rest on the meanes nor thinke I am out of the place where the plague is therefore I am free from Gods stroke If one should say I cannot die till God haue appointed and therefore I may goe into places of infection this were a tempting of God but it were worse for a wicked sinner to thinke I am not neere places of infection therefore I am safe If then wee would bee soundly cured of feares Helps against feares 1. Prayer first let vs goe vnto the Lord with a broken heart and beseech him to put courage into vs and to giue vs assurance of eternall life and the ioy of the holy Ghost then come life or death wee shall not bee much dismayed This is one speciall meanes to free our hearts from vnnecessarie feares euen faithfull prayer as the Apostle shews where hee saies Phil. 4.6 In nothing bee carefull but in all things let your requests be made knowne to God c. He bids them not take away the occasions without but heale the heart within for then they shall bee safe enough The peace of God that passeth all vnderstanding shall keepe their hearts and minds in Christ Iesus that is in a blessed communion with Christ Iesus whereby they shall bee possessed with such peace as none knoweth what it meanes but those that haue tasted of it which quiets and sets downe the heart and minde and settles the same in the assurance