that are his he corrects but for a time but his anger never asswageth towards the reprobate though for a long time he deferre And therefore grudge not to see the wicked flourish like a green Bay-tree for a time passe but by a little and upon your return his place will not be found for God holds not the wicked innocent But for you though you be afflicted here you shall be comforted hereafter for through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdome of Heaven This is the Kings high-way to happinesse and there is not a Saint in Heaven but hath led this way and beaten this path before us For Stones cannot be squared for Pallaceworke without the stroke of the Hammar and we must be content to endure the stroaks of Gods Hammar of afflictions that we may be polished and squared and made lively Stones fit to be layd in the Heavenly Jerusalem What matters it then to see Dives here flant it in Purple and fare deliciously every day when at last he must be tormented in flames while hunger-starved Lazarus though afflicted here yet his comfort is hereafter and is transported from the Porch of a Tyrant to the Bosome of Abraham Besides though God useth many wayes to bring us home unto him yet none more then affliction It was Hunger that drove the Prodigall home to his Father And surely nothing so opens the Eyes of the soule as misery and trouble O how correction opens those Eyes which prosperity kept shut O how often doth the paining of the Body work the saving of the Soule O how often doe missortunes like the Rungs in Jacobs Ladder serve to mount out soules up to Heaven Let God then wound us so he will but heale us let him strik our Bodies with sicknesse with sores with restraint so he will but with these wounds heale out Soules Let come what will come so it but chase us to God drive us home to his House end in Prayer and make us cry unto the Lord. 10. But still the afflicted soule goeth on and sayeth Though God tell us that he holds not the wicked iunocent and will not surely cleare them but ordains them for judgement and reserves them for correction yet we dayly see that they doe not onely flourish here in this world but goe to their graves in peace and are not to any outward appearance in trouble like other men Well saith God in the tenth or last place Say they doe yet will I meet with them in their Children and punish their sins in their posterity Visiting the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children and upon their Childrens Children unto the third and fourth Generation they shall be sure to tast of the bitter Cup of Gods wrath here as their Fathers doe in Hell Thus if this name of God in these ten severall properties were but rightly understood and applyed were it but as oyntment poured out and spread upon our hearts there is nothing in distresse nothing in trouble nothing in misery could hinder us from crying to the Lord considering he is strong mereifull gracious abundant in goodnesse and truth and forgiving iniquity transgression and sin c. But without any further enlargement upon these proparties in their severall particulars I will onely clap them altogether and make Application and so hasten you again to the House of Mourning to cry unto the Lord. Is the Lord thus strong and mercifull and gracious c. then why should a Christian trouble himselfe at any thing that befals him here Hath he crafty enemies let him goe cry to the Lord for direction his wisedome is infinitely beyond their policy Hath he strong enemies let him goe cry to the Lord he is mightier and stronger then they all In a word hath he any outward affliction or inward corruption that doth annoy or trouble him let him goe cry to the Lord and have recourse to his God and there he shall find remedy for all nay whatsoever mans ease be if he hut seek the Lord he shall have help Psal 145.18.19 So sayes that Princely Prophet God is neer to all that call upon him yea to all that call upon him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he also will heare their cry and will save them And though their hearts be so oppressed that they can utter no words that 's no matter God will have respect to their very desires and surely their teares speak highest and their sighs cry loudest in the Ears of God Let us then groane for a broken heart and sigh and fob and weep and cry Cry unto the Lord. Thus having done with this peoples behaviour in the time of Famine and likewise with the Remedy they used they east their burthen upon the Lord as also with the Motives inducing them thereunto because he is able being the Lord and willing because their God Let us now close up all in our mourning garments and robing our soules with the inward sackcloth of sorrow not onely Pray but Weep nor Weep alone but Cry Cry unto the Lord. From whence the Point is this They who would not have God to shut his eares against their Prayers must be sure that they not onely Pray but Cry and that their Petitions proceed from a broken heart and an humble spirit For till the heart be even pulled in pieces by godly sorrow and rent in sunder with godly griefe sin and lust will not out and then there can be no acceptance looked for from God either of us or of our services The sacrifice of God saith David Psal 51.17 is a sorrowfull spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Mar. 7.35 And therefore did Christ groane in his Spirit when he Prayed for that poor man in the Gospel So did Hannah sigh and weep sore 1 Sam. 1.15 and poured out her soule before God And there is good reason to move us to labour thus to be inwardly touched for till we have a sense and feeling of our wants we may well speak but we can never Pray till the heart be pained with sin its impossible it should be fervent for the pardon of it He that hath no feeling of poverty cannot earnestly intreat for a supply of his necessities He that hath no feeling of his sicknesse can never be an instant suiter for the means of health So he that hath no feeling of his spirituall poverty can never covetously hunt after those true treasures which onely enrich his soule to all eternity And he that hath no sense of his sin-sick soule can never seek to that true Physitian who onely can apply Physicke to his bleeding heart and sin-sick burthened soule This serves for the reproofe of those that come with drowsie verball Prayers those that come with words of course to intreat God to pardon their sins and strengthen their Faith but never poure out their soules before God but onely spend a little breath and they
speed accordingly for their cold Prayers bring but cold successe And this is true not onely of the wicked but even of the godly Psal 32.3.4.5 David roared and cryed but was never the better till he confessed his sin and was inwardly grieved for the same and then both sin and punishment were removed at once Therefore let us strive with the Lord in our Prayers and Supplications labouring for this fighing and crying this inward sorrow which is so needfull that doing as this people did in the time of Famine we may speed as they did in this time of our calamity For thus saith he that is high and excellent he that inhabiteth eternity Isa 57.15 whose name is the Holy one I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to give life to them that are of a contrite heart And the longer we wayt and cry the greater measure of comfort we shall have and the longer it shall tarry with us And therefore since servency in Prayer is so requisite let us not onely Pray but Cry Cry unto the Lord. And for our comforts we shall find God as ready to heare as we are to cry and if we send up our Petitions unto him with sighs and groans he will send down speedy and comfortable help unto us and we shall be sure of good successe even above that we can ask or think As it is in the Lamentations Lamt 3.5 c. Thou hast heard my Voyce thou drewest neer in the day that I called upon thee Whether we desire the suppression of our enemies or subduing of our own corruptions or whatsoever else we shall be sure to speed well God will draw neer unto us by his mercifull presence and with gracious deliverance if we draw neer unto him in our miseries and afflictions So saith our Saviour Mat. 7.8 Whosoever asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Let us then knocke at Gods presence Chamber-doore and though we be never so mean never so contemptible we shall have no repulse For he will fulfill the desires of those that feare him he will also heare their cry their sins though never so many in number or grosse in nature cannot hinder Gods favour Witnesse the Israelites who lived many years without the true God 2 Chron. 13. yet whosoever returned in his misery and sought God he was found of him Another example of Gods goodnesse in this regard we have in Jonah who though for his Rebellion he was cast into the Sea yet God heard him out of the belly of the fish and set him upon the dry land again A third shall be that notorious Theefe who had spent all his life in the Devils service yet no sooner cryes Lord remember me Luke 22.42.43 but Christ not once casting him in the teeth with his sins gives him this good and quick and comfortable dispatch To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise The last for this shall be Manasses who had been a most weefull and miserable sinner 2 Chron. 33. yet When he cryed to the Lord in his distresse he heard him set him free and restored him to his Kingdome Here then is comfort for every distressed soule let us but call upon the name of our God and then help and comfort is at hand for God is neer to all that call upon him in truth though it be not with such strength of Faith as we should yet if we seek him he will be found of us and he limits us not to time conditions or things but we may look for help at all times in all straits and in all things and when we have most need then we shall be sure of the best help But now if we would be certain of this comsort we must observe these three Rules Job 11.14 First We must put all wickednesse out of our hearts and out of our hands we must humble our selves and turn from our wicked wayes we must remove our sins and then God will remove our crosses James 4.8 So Saint James exhorts Purge your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts ye double minded And this is it we must doe if we will have God to draw neer unto us for God will not dwell in an heart defiled with sin he will turn both eyes and ears from us if we continue in our evill wayes because that when our Tongues cry for mercy then our Sins cry for vengeance and though we cannot come to him without iniquity yet we may come to him without the love and liking of iniquity we may come with shame and sorrow for our iniquity and then our sins neither hinder our Prayers nor stop or keep back Gods favour from us Secondly We must seek God according to all his means as we find in the Canticles Cant. 3.1.2 c. Who when the Church had lost Christ that is the feeling of his love and the sense of that Communion which formerly she had with him she then useth all private and publick means and at length commeth to conserence with Gods servants which few will doe till they be driven to it of necessity and then having wayted a while she finds him whom her soule loveth The same must be our practice if one medicine will not serve the turn use another Pray Fast Meditate Confer and then at last the Lord will be found in mercy but as we are slack in using any of the means so shall we fayle in our comfortable expectation of favour from God Thirdly We must use the means diligently and in good earnest for if we have a base account of Gods mercies its just that we should goe without them James 5.16 The Prayer of the righteous avayleth much but upon this condition Psal 72.12 if it be fervent God delivereth the poor when he cryeth but if they would have hearing there must be crying God poures forth Floods of grace but upon whom The Prophet tells us Isay 44.3 Onely on the thirsty ground God filleth the hungry with good things but they must be hungry they must be such as feel themselves pincht and starved with spirituall famine Luke 1.53 Christ was sent to Preach the acceptable yeare but not to the mighty and States of the world To whom then even to Prisoners and Captives that is to such as could grieve and mourn for their Captivity Hence is it that a number reade and heare and pray and yet prevaile not because they doe it so drowsily and carelesly the Lord desers to help them because they are not fit for help because they doe not strive and wrastle in their Prayers Let us therefore use all the means with constancy and carefulnesse and then we shall obtain our hearts desire even above that we can ask or think for if we would not have God to shut his ears to our Prayers we must not
Christianity when others troubles are theirs others losses theirs others reproaches theirs others sufferings theirs and when any distresses and straits of others are made theirs And they that thus lament for Sion shall be comforted with Sion God hath promised them singular consolation it is their Portion and they may confidently expect it But it may be demanded If Sorrow be our onely safely and best Remedy in misery and trouble How long must we continue our humiliation our sorrow our mourning our crying The Answer shall be this Never cease mourning till God cease afflicting never make an end of crying till God make an end of punishing never cease Humiliation till God give Consolation VVhen the Lord ministreth unto us occasion of Griefe let us never cease untill he againe revive our Hearts we must not begin in the Spirit and end in the Flesh but having a good entrance we must goe on with our worke and bring it to perfection and if God give us an heart to mourne set to it and never give over till he set us free Hence the Point shall he this That we should never make an end of Mourning and Weeping till God make an end of afflicting and scourging For this Looke upon Ieremy and see him never making an end of Weeping Mine Eye saith he droppeth without stay and ceaseth not till the Lord looke downe and behold from Heaven Mine Eye breaketh my heart Lam. 3.49 c. And so he exhorteth the People Let teares runne downe like a River Day and Night take thee no rest neither let the Apple of thine Eye cease Arise Cry in the Night in the beginning of the Watches poure out thine Heare like Water before the Face of the Lord Lam. 2.18.19 But for Proofe enough If you will have Examples for this continued forrow and mourning Then first take theirs who are mentioned in Nehemiah Who Wept at the Hearing of the Law till they were bid to rejoyce Neh. 8 9. It was a notable commendation of that People that they would not leave off till they had warrant to leave off The next shall be Mordecai who when Queene Esther sent him Garments to Clothe him and would have his Sackcloth to be taken from him he would not receive them Esther 4.4 but humbled himselfe so long till he was assured of deliverance The third shall be Iacob Who would never let goe his hold Gen. 32.26 Hos 11.4 but still wrastled with the Angel and continued weeping and praying till he obtained a blessing The last shall be the Weman of Canaan who stuck so close to her businesse and was so importunate with Christ for her Daughter Matth. 15.22 c. and would never desist nor let her Suit fall till she had prevailed with our Saviour I might produce you a cloud of witnesses but these shall serve worldly helps the deeper distresses we be in the least comfort they will afford us so in Spirituall helps the greater extremities we be in the more comfort will they minister unto us when we are helplesse and hopelesse then Faith works wonders and never shewes forth it selfe so mightily and powerfully as when it workes alone Wealth Strength Friends and all other outward things and worldly comforts when miseries lye heavy upon us and we begin to cast an Eye to them expecting some reliefe and comfort from them will but deale with us as the High Priests did with Judas when all went well with him then they hug'd him and who but Judas they then made shew of all favour and friendship towards him but when in the horrour and anguish of his soule he makes his moane unto them Mat. 27.45 Crying out that be had sinned betraying Innocent bloud they then set him packing with a cutting and uncomfortable answer What is that to us And such cold comfort shall we receive from any Earthly props and supports whereon we rest and stay our Hearts when we have most need of them they will stand us least in stead So that we may truely say of them as Job did of his Friends Miserable comforters are ye all Job 16.2 But as for those that live by Faith in Christ Jesus they are underlayed with better props and supporters then the world can afford for when they have none other to deliver them they can deliver themselves by Prayers by tears by sighs by cryes and by calling upon Gods name out of the lowest Dungeon And if no distresse no breaking no crushing can hinder Gods People from Praying and Crying Then first This may serve to shew us the difference betwixt the wicked and the godly in times of outward or inward affliction when they drinke both of the same Cup and are plunged into the same miscries Cast a wicked man into a Dungeon and lay him full low where he can meet with no worldly help and what course will he take You shall see that either he will blaspheme God and bite his Tongue for madnesse Rev. 18.15 as they that are spoken of in the Revelations or else he will grow desperate and make away with himselfe as Judas Achitophel and other monsters have done But let a godly man be layd as fast and low in the same Dungeon and he will be full of joy when the other is full of desperate griefe and sing Psalmes and poure forth many Prayers and mighty Cryes in stead of the others imprecation and blasphemous speeches Take one example for all Peter and Judas had both dealt unfaithfully though in a farre different degree and manner with their Lord and Master and were both brought into great perplexity but Peter goes out confesseth his fault weeps bitterly and gaines exceedingly by it Iudas on the other side sorroweth desperately and speedily dispatcheth himselfe whereby doth manifestly appeare the different carriage of the Faithfull and of Insidels when they are both overbarthened with sorrowes and miseries Secondly Can no distresse no crushing nor breaking hinder Gods People from Praying and Crying This is for singular comfort unto the Children and servants of God that no crosse can befall them to hinder their Prayers or stop the passage of their cryes from the Eares of the Almighty but all shall quicken and inflame the spirit of Prayer in them surely the issue of their trouble must needs be good when it is watered with Teares and sanctified with requests if they can wait till their harvest come such a seed-time must needs bring them a plentifull and blessed crop of comfort And therefore if you have the holy Ghost in your Soules and Prayer in your Hearts if you have Teares in your Eyes and sighs in your Breasts then blesse God for so good an inside for it s your present help in trouble it s your meat in Famine your preservative in Plague your strength in Warre your help in Affliction and your comfort at all assayes therefore in all distresse fly unto God end in Prayer and cry unto the Lord. And no wonder if these people
may gather three other Rules which in a speciall manner fit us for a decent behaviour in Gods House 1. We should alwayes be as green Olive-trees in the House of the Lord But I shall be like a green Olive tree in the House of God For howsoever it goe with men in the world yet when we come before the Lord our hearts should rejoyce and revive and our spirits be fresh and cheerfull and our affections should be healed of all the cares and distempers that were in them before Gods Ordinances should have such a power over us as to make a suddaine fresh spring of desires and holy thoughts in us there is that power in the Ordinances of God to effect this if the fault be not in us I meane when these Ordinances are exercised in the power and life of them Let us then rejoyce to have a place among the servants of God that we may grow in the knowledge of godlinesse and be like green Olive-trees in the House of God 2. We must trust in the mercy of God For I trusted in the mercy of God for ever and ever bringing an heart ready to beleevâ— every good Word of God and resolving that if the Lord will speak comfortably to his servants we will not dishonour his consolations through carelesnesse and unbeleefe but receive them with all our hearts and establish our selves in the safe keeping of his good word Let us trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever 3. We must resolve to be thankfull I will alwayes prayse thee for that thou hast done Let us be thankfull with all earnestnesse for all experiences of Gods presence and goodnesse towards us in the means vowing with David to prayse him for ever for them and if the Lord doe with-hold hiâ— power and presence for a time so as we feele not the effectualnesse of his Ordinances yet we should resolve withouâ— distemper to wait upon the Lord and observe him according to the seasons of his grace and alwayes prayse him for that he hath done Thus having hitherto endevoured to tye you all to such good behaviour in the House of the Lord in all your publick service and worship of God as shall become the glory of his presence wishing that these my weak and unskilfull labours might wooe some more excellent Wits and more skilfull Pens to better this Discourse so needfull to be sounded in our Ears in these unhappy and unmannerly times wherein so many come so saweily and irreverently into the presence of the God of glory never once considering with Jacob How dreadfull is this Place and that this is no other but the House of God I shall now likewise endeavour to tye you all to the good-behaviour in your hearing of the Word of God for which these three directions will order you aright whereof some will bind us to the good-behaviour before we come to heare some at the time of hearing and some after we have heard 1. Before we come to heare We must bring with us two things First A resolution to deny our own wits reasons opinions and conceits and empty our heads of all perswasion of our own skill to judge of the things of God being ready to beleeve and think in all things as God shall teach us out of his Word 1 Cor. 3.18 We must be fools that we may be wise humbling our selves at his very feet to receive his law Deut. 33.3 They are humbled at thy feet to receive thy words Secondly We must bring with us a meek and quiet spirit a mind quieted from passions and perturbations and at rest from the turmoiling cares of this world The Word is able to doe great things in us if we receive it with meeknesse Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse and receive with meekenesse the ingrafted Word which is able to save your soules James 1.21 2. At the time of hearing two things are to be observed First We must hearken without distraction we must heare as it were for our lives we must incline our Ears and shake off all impediments arising from our own drowsinesse or vain thoughts or distracting objects Encline your Eares and come unto me heare and your soule shall live Isay 53.3 For indeed the Preaching of the Word saveth the soule it is able to make the soule immortall if it be once ingrafted in us For this cause the Word is called 1 Pet 1.23 Incorruptible Seed that endureth for ever because it maketh us incorruptible and happy for ever for he that hath his soule saved liveth for evermore Now would you be sharers in this unspeakable blessednesse the Word must then be ingrafted in your hearts this heavenly plant of the Word must be set into your understandings and affections for when a man heareth the VVord with understanding it entreth into the heart as the impe into the stocke and when with love and affection he imbraceth it it is closed about that it may grow and prosper therein but this Word cannot be ingrafted in our hearts except the heart first be cleansed sin must be put out that the VVord may be ingrafted in the filthinesse of sin and all the sprouts of malice must be put away of harsh hasty and churlish we must become meek milde Mat. 18.2.3 and gentle The Disciples must become like little Children that is they must put away those evill affections of Envy Pride deceit c. which grow upon them with yeares otherwise they should but follow and heare their Master in vaine the VVord could not be ingrafted in them to save their soules You may see the Prophet Isaiah reproving the Jewes Isa 1.16 That they came to holy duties in their sins So that first of all there must be a putting away the evill of their doings and then a comming together to heare the Lord to their comfort No wise man will sow his Corne or plant his delicate Fruit-trees but will have the bryars and thornes first taken away and whatsoever filthy stuffe may hinder the prospering of his seed and thriving of his plants He will not poure Wine or Milke into filthy Vessels Every man cleares his Table books of the old writing when he intends to put in any new matter Now the VVord of God is seed the Preaching of it is a Planting it is VVine and Milke and a writing in the table of mens hearts all filthinesse of sin therefore must be removed this ground must be cleared from the bryars of Anger Hatred c. that the VVord may be Planted in we must like the Disciples and the first Christians leave off all that we may attend the VVord of God we must put away worldly things which cause pollution in the heart we must be like Zacheus Luke 19.8 who that he might heare Christ to his salvation put away Extortion Bribery and Oppression Or like the beleeving Ephesians Acts 19.19 who put away their curious Arts Or like Saul
whosoever doth desire the word to be saved thereby let him tremble at it and yet embrace it let him prepare his heart better to entertaine it let him stirre up the spirit of his mind to understand it let him not lose such precious seed for want of harrowing in by due Meditation and let him cherish it in his inward thoughts continually that it may grow and prosper and more shew it selfe in his speeches actions and company then those bryar-like sprouts of his owne naturall corruptions Secondly we must see to it that we be doers of the word as well as hearers we must not onely know but observe and doe for Knowledge without Practice will availe nothing and so much of the truth as is put into practice is sure for ever the rest may be lost and it is a singular help to a Christian to set upon his obedience while the Doctrine is yet fresh in his mind for delay will compasse him about with many difficulties and he will want those inward incitations that might stirre up his heart with power and strength to obey And that this is the duty of every man as well to doe as to heare James 1.22 Rom. 2.6 see that in Saint James Now ye heare these things blessed are ye if ye doe them And Saint Paul saith That every man shall be judged not by his hearing but by his doing by his works Then up and be doing every one of you whilst time and strength permits for not onely that Fig-tree which had no Fruit was accursed but that Tree likewise which brought not forth good Fruit was to be hewen downe and cast into the Fire Luke 3.9 And those who have not fed the poor and clothed the naked c. will be bidden Depart ye oursed into everlasting fire Mat. 25.41 Then what shall become of those shadows and Ciphers among Christians who place their Religion onely in hearing surely they want all substance of grace and being put into the Ballance as Belshazzar was they shall certainly be found too light when the rewarding of every one shall be according to his works then can they expect nothing but tribulation and anguish which shall be to every soule that doth evill And it is to be feared if inquisition were made more then our common sort might be taxed for this neglect in doing even some of those who pretend a great deale of Zeale to the Word and are frequent and attentive hearers and will runne to Meetings and make glorious shewes of Devotion giving Religion a thousand good words but for this duty of doing procul absit they have no heart unto it Covetousnesse still prevailes in them and some of them who would be thought rare Professors can perhaps sometimes be content to drinke a draught of stollen Waters as well as others making Religion a pretext onely the more covertly to wallow in the mire of their sins but such Kind of Professors what Zeale soever they may shew to the world are but Painted Christians beautifull onely outward and woe unto them that are such for notwithstanding all their glistering shewes they are but whited Sepulchers and comely out sides not like unto Christs Spouse all glorious within but full of rottennesse and corruption But as for you be you both hearers and doers alter you the course of your lives breake off your sins shake off the bands of Sathan dissolve the Cloudes of your iniquities fly wickednesse shun evill doe well doe good and aspire to such perfection in doing the will of your God as that you may not onely cease from evill but fill your lives with good workes and thus shall you be blessed ipso facto in the very deed for he that doth the Word is blessed he is no longer under the Curse a Vassall of wrath and a Child of perdition but blessed with Gods favour and love and in the certaine way to that unspeakable happinesse that shall hereafter be revealed But he that heateth the Word and doth it not deceives himselfe cheats and cousens his own soule and is but a forgetfull Foole a very Childe and no Man he dallieth with the Word as a Babe with a Looking glasse beholding it not for any end but to sport it selfe therewith never intending any thing about the Face to rectifie it or to set it in order Saint John doth divide the whole world into two sorts of Persons Qui ex Deo est non peccat Qui peccat ex Diabolo est The Children of God and the Children of the Devill the one hears Gods Word the other heares it not He that is of God heareth Gods Word John 8.47 Ye therefore heare it not because ye are not of God And to be hearers of the Word of God is a great pledge or testification that we are the Children of God especially our hearing of Gods word being accompanied with these foure concurring Circumstances The first is Audire to heare the word Blessed are they that heare the Word of God this is the first step and he that doth not put a Foot forward to this he is not to be accounted a Child of God The second is Audire cum frequentia to heare the word frequently and often The Earth that is extraordinary dry and scorched with heat the drops of water which it receiveth it turneth into Toads So he that seldome frequents Sermons it is to be scared they worke little good upon him if not turne to his hurt For the word of God is the Soules sustenance and being Ministred slowly it is no marvaile if the Soule not onely grow leane but fall into a Consumption The third is Audire cum attentione to heare diligently and with attention freeing the Soule from all worldly incumbrances for as the Eye cannot joyntly and at once behold both Heaven and Earth so the Soule cannot attentively at one and the same time behold the things of the world and of God If any Man love the World the love of the Father abideth not in him When a great and principall River is divided into many rivolets or little streames so much the lesle water will every one of them have The like succeedeth with that Heart which is divided into many cares and desires Foolish and noysime lusts drowne men in destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 And Solomon saith When thou sittest with a Prince observe what is before thee And put a Knife to thy throat if thou beest a man given to appetite Prov. 23.1.2 A Christian sitting at the King of Heavens Table is the hearing of his Word this is that board to which wisedome inviteth us where the Bread of wholesome Doctrine is set before us which strengthneth our hearts and the wine of Grace which cheereth and comforteth our Soules at which Table whosoever shall come to sit must consider with attention that which is set before him casting out of his minde all other worldly things Those Ministers that were employed for the apprehending of our Saviour
mercy for the Lord our God is good and gracious and mercifull and of great kindnesse unto all them that call upon him Then cry unto the Lord. 3. But least that any poor soule should be disheartened as unworthy to cry for mercy by reason of his owne corruptions and spots and staines and leprosie of sin The next to hearten and encourage him is That the Lord as he is strong and mercifull so he is gracious that is loving and shewing mercy without any merit Art thou not worthy of mercy Hast thou not deserved the least favour at Gods hand what of that God tells thee for thy comfort that he is gracious The Lord our God is so gracious as that he will not tarry till we deserve favour nor till we be worthy of mercy but even while we are unworthy will freely shew forth his goodnesse and mercy towards us How worthy was Saul Acts 9 1. when he was even breathing ouâ— threatning and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord And therefore it is said of Abraham Rom. 4.5 That he beleeved in him that justifieth the ungodly noting thereby that sinne cannot hinder Gods favour from offenders but that through Faith they shall be justified and made as innocent in Gods account as if they had never offended at all Then let us not when we are in distresse be discouraged or dismayed by reason of the soulenesse of our sinnes but let us goâ— to the Lord and come but penitently and he will shew himselfe gracious notwithstanding them all Then cry unto the Lord. 4. But still the wounded soule perhaps may say Alas I have provoked God to wrath I have incensed him and justly drawne his heavy hand upon me by my sins and therefore though the Lord be gracious with what comfort or hope can such a sinfull wretch as I goe to cry to that God I have so hainously offended Hast thou provoked and offended thy God yet let not that dismay nor hinder theâ— but goe cry unto the Lord for he tells thee himselfe That he is slow to anger that is long ere he be provoked Witnesse the cryes of Sodome which pierced the Eares of the Almighty yet so loath was God to showre downe Fire and Brimstone as that he expostulates the matter as if he had bin jealous of his owne Eares and answers with an Ego vadam videbo I will goe downe and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry that is come unto me And thus as he is hard to be provoked making as though he saw not our sins because he would have us to amend so when he is provoked he is as easie to be appeased And this is seen in Mary Magdalene a notorious sinner in the City of Iernsalem who was grown so shamelesse as that the whole City suffered in regard of the bad report that went of her yet she no sooner stands at his Feet behind him weeping but Christ presently tells Simon Luk. 7.38 that many sins are forgiven her For we can no sooner fall out with our sins but God falls in with us An Earthly Father will not take every advantage against his Child and when the Child is grieved that he hath committed a great fault good Parents are easily satisfied The Lord our God piâ—tieth us as a Father his Children and whensoever we kindle his wrath against us one Teare of true Repentance will quench all the Flame thereof And to this David giveth sufficient testimony saying Psal 103.8.9 The Lord is slow to anger and of great kindnesse he will not alwayes chide nor keep his anger for ever And this he himself found by good experience for when after many mercies received he had grievously provoked the Lord in that matter of Vriah and did not repent but still lay in his sin insomuch as God was angry with him David no sooner begins to make confession of his sin but God forthwith tells him by the Prophet 2 Sam. 12.13 That he had put away his sin so that the Lord was more ready to offer him pardon then he was to aske it And therefore since the Lord is slow to anger and easie to be intreated let not our sins though never so many hinder us from Crying to the Lord. 5. But still some poor soule perhaps may say T is true indeed I know there is no fault on Gods part he is slow to anger and easie to be intreated But what am I the better when I cannot fit my selfe to seek for mercy as I ought to doe Alas I am weake and full of infirmities I come farre short every way I cannot Pray as I ought my Prayers are few and cold and weake I cannot keep Gods Word my memory is fraile and slippery c. What of all this let no weaknesse nor infirmities dismay thee for the Lord himselfe tells thee in the next place that he is abundant in goodnesse or abundant in kindnesse and it is the property of kindnesse to take small things in good worth and to passe by infirmities and weaknesse and to be easie to be intreated he will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax if we can but once come to be humble in heart though we cannot attaine to that measure of sanctification as others have nor poure out our Soules in Prayer as we should yet God will take all in good part he that will reward a Cup of cold Wateâ— he will reward a cold Prayer for God looks not for perfection from poor weak creatures that are full of imperfection And therefore since he is abundant in kindnesse let not our infirmities and weaknesse hinder us from crying unto the Lord. 6. But the poor afflicted soule may perhaps still say Though the Lord be abundant in goodnesse and kindnesse yet how shall I know that this goodnesse and kindnesse of God shall be performed unto me for I have Prayed and Cryed and waited long â—nd yet am never the neerer so that though he be good and yet not good to me kind and yet not kind to me what am I the better Hast thou Prayed and Cryed and wayted and hath not God seemed to regard nor answered thy requests in releeving thy wants easing thy torments removing thy pressures c. yet Cry still and in the Lords due time thou shalt be sure of reliefe for he never promiseth but he performeth if we persevere without fainting And so he himselfe tells thee in the next place that he is abundant in truth As he never threatens any thing but he executes it so he never promiseth any thing but he performes it You may beleeve him without an Oath But I have sworne by my holinesse saith God that I will not forsake David And never any yet could charge him with breach of promise hath he promised and shall he not performe Then cheare up your hearts and pluck up your spirits your God hath promised Psal 34.10 that those that feare him shall