〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was made flesh q Io. 1.14 and hee the God r Rom. 15.5 of all consolation but of him the Prophet speaketh not here the sure word of prophecie there is also which was vnto Ieremie hauing found and eaten it the verie ioy and reioycing of his heart ſ Ier. 15.16 Dauid made his heart an hiding place for it t Psal 119 11. so became it a Sanctuarie for him yea a fortresse against the assaults of Satan and during the obsession Ammunition for his soule u Coloss 3.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle of Christ All and in all Therefore stiled Sermo Inscriptus Insititius Many good words and comfortable words in the little Booke which we hold in our hand but the word which comforteth is The Inscribed Word The Ingrafted Word 1. Sermo inscriptus Sermo consolatorius inscriptus sermo The word inscribed and written not with inke but with the spirit of the the liuing God x 2 Cor. 3.3 not in Tables of stone or books like this but in the fleshie Tables of the heart the heart mollified the spirit sent into it which writeth therein the comforting word euen the word of grace in the New Couenant i. worketh within the heart a disposition correspondent to the word which commeth y Io. 10.35 and the grace which appeareth x Tit. 2.11 As face to face in a glasse or in the waters as Tally to Tally as Indenture to Indenture as the Impression in the Wax to the Seale that made the same so the holy disposition which is The Consolation answereth to the word which is in the heart written yea grauen by the spirit of God as letters in marble neuer wearing out Let a man therefore examine himselfe and brethren proue your owne selues whether such a disposition and correspondence to the Word be in you yea or no If your heart and the word meet as friends euen as mercie and truth and kisse each other as righteousnesse peace a Psal 85.10 If your heart close with the word as the clay with the mold and the inke to the paper fixt and faire without any blurre or foule fault quarrell or difference It is inscribed it is the word which comforteth in affliction but if enmitie be put betweene or if your heart and the word looke as enemies the one vpon the other no comfort is therein nor in the affliction 2. Sermo insititius Sermo consolatorius The word of consolation S. Iames calleth the ingrafted word b Iam. 1.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which when Paul planteth c 1 Cor. 3.6 he cleanseth 1. the stocke 2. maketh insition 3. inserteth the impe 4. closeth it about 5. fenceth it finally expecteth fruit Suffer me to reuiew and open these vnto you that your eyes opened by the euidence produced yee may see the things that pertaine to your peace in your warfare on the earth 1. The stocke which is the heart is to bee cleansed foule it is in all all filthinesse and superfluitie of naughtinesse about it which is to be laid aside d Iam. 1.21 with all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and enuies and euill speakings e 1 Pet. 2.2 or else the sincere word will bee turned aside If the stomack rise the soule bee lifted vp f Hab. 2.4 when the heauenly husbandman about to plant the word is about to purge the stocke If any rancor or excrescencie of malice bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour be g Ephes 4.31 Now hee striketh mee he intendeth mee hee cutteth mee who can heare him who can endure him Aërem coedit Hee beateth the aire hee washeth the Aethiopian his labour is in vaine Cut to the heart ye know who were with the words of Stephen and to what effect h Act. 7.54 who were pricked and healed by the same Word receiued with meeknesse ye also know i Act. 2 37. verily as the Apostle of him that praying wauereth like a waue of the sea driuen with the wind and tossed k Iam. 1.6 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let not that man thinke that hee shall receiue any thing of the Lord So may we of the man that hearing the word and hauing it nigh him paring or pricking or cutting or cleauing him to bee ingrafted in him is like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast vp mire and dirt l Isa 57.20 is moued wexeth angrie flingeth it off in furie and kicketh against pricks Non existimet homo ille Let not that man think that the word shall bee or possiblie can be in him doing thus effectually ingrafted Qui aurem audiendi habet He that hath an eare to heare let him heare and heare yee it my beloued brethren if yee would receiue the ingrafted word for your comfort in that day sanctifie your selues and cleanse your selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit m 2 Cor. 7.1 prepare your heart or as Ieremie phraseth it n Ier. 4.14 wash your heart from the desperate wickednesse and deceitfulnesse thereof or keepe your feet o Eccles 5.1 when yee enter into the house of God and bee more readie to heare the hardest word than to cast it off as a burthen too heauie for you to beare Hard as iron is the heart of man therefore is the word first as fire and an hammer for it p Ier. 23.29 full of knots and wilde stems which must bee cut off therefore is the word sharper at the first than any two-edged sword q Heb. 4.12 yet to bee suffered without any preiudicate or preuaricate opinion of malitious personating or enuious particularizing your soules deare Brethren must if ye would bee numbred with the elect of God and reckoned of his peculiar people be dealt with in particular and your particular sinnes reproued yea hewed and hewed as Agag by Samuel in peeces before yee can feele any comfort by the word Many things wee speake in loue to warne you r 1 Cor. 4.14 not in malice to shame you but the more wee loue you thus ſ 2 Cor. 12.15 the lesse we are loued of you wee loue your persons wee tender your soules but as our owne wee hate your sinnes and would if wee could strike them dead because they worke by their passions t Rom. 7. ◠and motions in your members as in ours to bring forth fruit to death vnto death But how can a Preacher smite a mans sinne really and not touch his person intentionally Our controuersie writers in that great dispute about iustifying faith D. Abbot against Bishop pag. 481. Whether faith iustifieth alone without charitie and good workes distinguish thus Separation of things one frō another is either real in the subiect or mentall in the vnderstanding that denied this subdistinguished negatiue or priuatiue that when in the vnderstanding there is an affirming of one thing and denying of another this
finde I for thee in the Oracles of God Art thou a Libertine vsing all libertie for an occasion to the flesh x Gal. 5.13 a contemner of Gods ordinances his words and Sacraments his Ministerie and Ministers Thou art not spirituall y Rom. 7.14 cap. 8.14 nor led by the Spirit but carnall altogether and sold vnder sinne thou despisest God z 1 Thes 4.8 thou committest sacrilege a Rom. 2.22 thou iudgest thy selfe vnworthy of euerlasting life b Act. 13.46 thou puttest from thee the meanes thereof and turnest the same into lasciuiousnesse c Iude ve 4. no remedie remaineth nor healing to thee that mocketh the Messengers of God that despisest his words that misusest his Prophets d 2 Chron. 36.16 These things I finde in the Scriptures against thee but except thou repent No comfort finde I for thee in the Oracles of God I personate no man but if the witnesse within the Conscience accuse any testifying and saying Thou art the man to whom it is spoken spoken bee to him and this further in the Spirit of our God against the workes of the flesh which are manifest and are these Adulterie fornication vncleannesse lasciuiousnesse idolatrie witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies enuyings murthers drunkennesse reuellings and such like Qui talia agunt e Gal. 5 21. They which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God Gal. 5.21 Seeing then that these things are so that some comfort themselues without the Word and that without the Word there is no solid comfort A necessitie is laid vpon vs both for the vse of edifying and the issue of the point to reason in plaine euidence and demonstration of the Spirit De Afflicto consolabili De Sermone consolabundo De Ratione consolandi Touching The afflicted that are consolable The word which comforteth the afflicted The manner of comforting them by the same word 1. De afflicto consolabili Of the afflicted that are consolable All men haue not faith f 2 Thes 3.2 nor the knowledge of God g 1 Cor. 15 34. nor bee in their affliction comforted by the Word neither indeed can be because they are not corrigible not docile not humble nor humbled The shaking of the hand of the Lord which hee shaketh ouer them not feared nor had to worke any feare in their heart the spirit of bondage But had once this and but once had Running there is to God and flying to Iesus Christ without back-sliding in heart or any departing from him Contrà Not hand nor receiued at all no comfort at all nor conuersion at all neither any constant worship In Rom. 8.15 Yee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare Not to feare againe as bondslaues but first they feared hauing the spirit of bondage as all haue that labour and are heauie laden the curses of the Law may be denounced a thousand times and ten thousand kinds of strong iudgements inflicted in vaine except the spirit of bondage be sent into the heart to worke feare therein and in that feare to bring men home vnto God in Christ Thunder and raine and earthquakes haue beene and yet mens hearts haue beene little moued but the spirit of bondage D. Preston of the new Couenant pag. 392 393. or of feare on the people they feared exceedingly when it thundred and rained in wheat haruest h 1 Sam. 12 18. likewise at the great showres of raine in Ezra's time i Ezra 10.9 likewise the Iaylor although all was safe k Act. 16.29 This spirit the plough of God with which hee ploweth vp the heart before hee soweth therein the word of his grace which bringeth saluation This spirit obliterates the image of the old man and prepares a place for the impresse of the new whose motto is l Pro. 28.14 Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes i. in a filiall manner for the seruile is the Deuils Ye see the reason brethren why some afflicted are not consolable not consolable Actus actiâ—oâ—um est in patiente pradisposito not corrigible not corrigible not fearing not fearing not hauing to feare the sprit of bondage Therefore if yee feare not nor haue had to feare the spirit of bondage Yee haue cause to feare because ye haue not Christ * Rom. 8. yee know him not nor what hee hath suffered for you yee haue no fellowship in his sufferings not being made conformable to his death But afflicted if ye feare as sonnes in bondage if feeling the weight of the iudgement inflicted and seeing your sinnes yee flie from them as from the face of a serpent vnto the Propitiatorie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Io. 16. vlt. which is Iesus Christ Be of good cheere the good spirit of God is vpon you for good and truly and thorowly humbled thereby yee shall be deliuered from the temporall bondage into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God As the Law is good Rom. 7.12 so the spirit of bondage As the Law but a temporarie Schoole-master vntill faith bee informed so the spirit of bondage vntill the spirit of Adoption be infused and as the Sunne of righteousnesse ariseth with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 So the Spirit of adoption commeth with libertie in his armes God hauing sent the spirit of his sonne into the hearts of his sonnes they cry Abba father m Gal. 4.6 the loue of an indulgent father apprehended not the seueritie of an austere Iudge and God beheld not as a consuming fire n Deut. 4.24 that will deuoure them but as a faithfull Creator that will haue a desire to the workes of his hands o Iob 14.15 Afterwards there 's no seruile but a filiall feare i. a mixture of feare and loue the spirit of loue leading in the way euerlasting the spirit of feare preuenting Reconciliation and fetching home againe them that being brought home turne againe vnto folly lose themselues and runne as sheepe astray Loue hauing respect vnto all the Commandements to keepe the same feare preseruing the heart from the deceitfulnesse of sin for as feething liquor filthy fâ—um so the heart boyling with feare casts out sinne suffers it not to oestuate it selfe into the inward parts adhere it may but enters not into the frame fabricke or constitution of the heart to bee mingled and confounded The feare of the Lord is cleane p Psal 19.9 they also pure in heart that haue it in their heart hauing such an heart that admits not the mixture of any sin but as base and reprobate stuffe resists and reiects it So then we say for the verdict of the Inquest That without the humbling and cleansing feare there 's no token for good in or out of affliction nor comfort by the Word 2. De Sermone consolatorio Of the word which is the comfort in Affliction The substantiall Word there is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
against him with malitious words the riotous speake euill of the frugall and moderate that will not runne with them into the same excesse of riot i 1 Pet 4.4 Thus may the seruants of the most high God liuing otherwise in as great peace and prosperity as the Carmelite Nabal bee enuied of euill men Ier. 18.18 and afflicted with the scourge of the tongue yea Iob cap. 1. and suffer some losse in some other things but the LORD as the seer to Amaziah is able to giue them much more than that 2 Chron. 25.9 and to make all grace to abound towards them that they alwayes hauing sufficiency in all things maugre the malicious that enuie and reproach them may abound vnto euery good worke 2 Cor. 9.8 2. Inwardly they are afflicted also but how who knoweth What feare and trembling in interiori domo yea what carefulnesse 2 Cor. 7.11 yea what clearing of themselues from the aspersions of the euill yea what indignation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Io. 17.5 yea what vehement desire yea what zeale yea what reuenge vpon themselues ouertaken with a fâ—ult vnknowne to the world This so to be who will deny Not one Bâ—sides if not in themselues for themselues yet afflicted they are or may be In the afflictions of the Church of the brethren of the Lord. 1. Of the Church k Psal 137.1 Riuers of waters ranne by the riuers of Babylon Sion remembred l Neh. 1.3 4. the sonne of Hachaliah the people of God his countreymen in great affliction and reproach the wall of Ierusalem broken downe and the gates burnt with fire sate down and wept and mourned certaine daies and fasted and prayed m 2 Sam. 1. Vriah the arke and Israel and Iudah in their tents will not goe downe to eat and drinke and to sleepe with his wife The Lord saith himselfe that in all the afflictions of his people he was afflicted himselfe n Esai 63.9 The spirit of God vpon him can any man say lesse of afflictions of the Churches In the afflictions of the Chuches in France and Germany who is not afflicted that is of the Church of the liuing God the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 2. Of priuate persons especially the holy brethren * Hob. 3.1 Other sicke and though hard friends yet Dauid would put on sackcloth and bee afflicted for them o Psal 35.13 2 Sam. 3.32 33. 2 Sam. 1.26 For Abner how much and for Ionathan as Ionathan for him Lazarus dead Thomas said to his fellowes Let vs goe that wee may die with him p Io. 11.16 Epaphroditus full of heauinesse for the Philippians q Phil. 2 2◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they heard that he had bin sicke they heauie for his sicknesse and he for their heauinesse full of heauinesse feeling members should it not be so The members haue the same care one for another r 1 Cor. 12.25 26. and if one member suffer all the members suffer with it members we one of another one body in Christ no sympathy being in a man how is he in the body the rule is Å¿ Heb. 13.3 Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer aduersity as being your selues also in the body 3. Of the Lord. Suffers he not when the wicked rise vp against him t Psal 139.21 make vâ—id his law u Psal 119.126 prouoke the eyes of his glory put downe his worship and him to open shame x Heb. 6.6 When they presse him and hee is pressed vnder them as a cart with sheaues y Amos 2.13 suffers he not or suffers he and not his seruants with him How did Eliakim Shebua and Ioab rent their cloaths at the blasphemie of Rabshakeh z Isaiah 36.22 How did those that were marked at Ierusalem sigh and cry for all the abominations that were done in the midst therof a Ezek. 9. â— How was iust Lot vexed with the filthy conuersation of the wicked b 2 Pet. 2.7 8. that righteous man dwelling among the Sodomites in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their vnlawfull deeds He that can heare see the Lord dishonored his name blasphemed his Sabbaths prophaned his Word despised his Ministers mocked basely misused his worship polluted and perfunctorily performed and is not afflicted The Lord knoweth whose he is and to whom he belongs that comes not to his helpe nor beares his reproach nor grieues for that which is said to grieue the holy spirit of God As Haman said honoured of all but of Mordecai c Esther 5.13 All this auaileth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Iew sitting at the Kings gate so say those whose hearts are vnited to the Lord and that feare his Name Although of themselues by place and authority they are mighty in power their seed established in their sight their off-spring before their eyes their houses safe from feare their friends as the starres of heauen for eminence and multitude their wisdome and wealth and worlds delight as Salomons All these auaile vs nothing so long as we see our Lord and our God set behinde not before the sons of men forgotten not remembred exposed to shame not honoured in the world Pondered these things I may as I was about conclude vnder affliction the whole houshold of God and set downe this position to stand fast for euer without opposition That the righteous seruants of God his beloued of his houshold haue all their times in seuerall kindes as Dauid had in his of suffering in this life Psal 34.19 Many the afflictions or euils of the righteous the crosse on their shoulder the yoke on their necke and on their backe the rod of the wicked e Esay 48 10. Israel which is the Israel of God is refined and chosen in the furnace of affliction Demanded vnde From whence afflictions come from whom the euils let Iob answer f Iob 5.6 Not forth of the dust nor out of the ground but from the Lord. g Amos 3.6 Shall there be euill in the Citie and the Lord hath not done it The Lord causeth griefe h Lam. 3.32 and because he loueth them he scourgeth his beloued whom he calleth his called i Isai 48.12 14. whom hee loueth he chasteneth k Heb. 12.6 yea he hath said l Reuel 3.19 As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten Enquired of Quorsum to what end he doth it By the sure word of prophecie the answer is 1. For the profit of his owne 2. And his owne glory First for the profit of his owne his owne thereby being 1. Viuified 2. Sanctified 3. Purged 4. Preuented 1. Viuified or quickned Dead in comparison of the liuing or dull of hearing sometimes the generation of hs children and remisse in seeking in their prosperity as the inhabitants of Lebanon
them in pouerty what 's their pouerty He with them in persecution what 's their persecution much aduantage and euery way much What protection from the Lord what propagation of the Gospell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what recompence of reward without persecution With persecution in this life an hundred sold shall be receiued * Mar. 10.30 in what but in the presence of the Lord and the efficacie of his grace which is equiualent yea an hundred fold more excellent than the losse I know not what better sense can be giuen or how otherwise that reading is to bee vnderstood Had he said that after the cessation of persecution peace shall bee and wealth c. plaine it had beene but he saith with persecution in the time thereof a man shall receiue an hundred fold and that is as plaine to them that haue the witnesse in themselues In few to shut vp the whole matter Marke the man that shrinketh vnder the hand of God and behold him that maketh the Lord his Committee that prayeth being afflicted that waiteth patiently carrying the Lords leasure and satisfied with the presence of his grace as sufficient endureth to the end for the end of that man is peace k Psal 37.37 Vse 4 4. For the instauration of them l â—am 3 15 16 17. That giue willingly their cheekes to him that smiteth them that are filled with bitternesse and made drunken with wormewood couered with ashes and their teeth broken as with grauell stones their soule remoued far off from peace and prosperitie forgotten * Scriptura vâ—cat bonos fâ—umentum malos paleam eritur ventus c. Fonsec Sabb. ante Dom. Quad. For good men the Scripture calleth wheat the euill chaffe ariseth a great wind of persecution or commeth from the wildernesse some terrible Blast of other sore affliction to dissociate the good and the euill to segregate the pretious from the vile and as wheat from the chaffe to separate true Israelites in whom no guile is from potsheards couered with siluer drosse * Temporizers hypocrites Are the Heauens now blacke with clouds and winds doe the winds blow be the times boysterous the dayes euill the world troublous The Lord is about to purge his floore and will purge it thorowly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m Mat. 3.12 the wheat he will gather into his garner but the chaffe hee will scatter yea burne it with vnquenchable fire After a fierie triall professours may be fewer but shall be better farre n Conjectae ecclesia in catinum excocta igne afflictionum minor quidem euadit sed pâ—â—ior Amand. polan in Dan. 11.35 Necessarie therefore as schismes o 1 Cor. 11.19 and spurres that they which are approued might bee made manifest and the slothfull in businesse more feruent in spirit seruing the Lord. But after Theodoret Affliction is the Hostorie or * Strickle Stichel of God in the hand of his Iustice with which he striketh off in his chosen vessels the sins that against Iustice his mercie cannot beare The gracious Lord saith hee vsing a balance and a measure Theod. Eccles hist lib. 5. cap. 1. composed of Iustice and Mercie striketh off here by his Iustice the faults which are aboue weight and measure Is any among you afflicted let the afflicted among you looke vnto the Lord who doth it for their good euen to strike off with the hand of his Iustice or that rod in his hand on them the sinnes which in them surpoise the sealed balance and surpasse the marked measure of his mercie Moreouer know yee not that in the lowest condition is found the best successe Had not Iacob Ioseph Dauid in the winter of their affliction the spring of the soule Is not Gaius his prosperitie which is of the soule better than that of fooles which is not p Pro. 23.5 or is nothing in Salomons iudgement but extreme vanitie and vexation of spirit or an euident token of perdition and destruction As the greatest tentation is to feele no tentation so the greatest affliction not to be afflicted An argument of infirmitie not of maturitie of infancie not of manhood The promises of outward beauties to the Church of the Iewes were confined to the nonage thereof grown vpto some height what promises of great things Duo â—d te attrahunt Dei oculos c. Fon. sec vbi sup Two things there be that draw the eyes of God vnto men Humble and prompt obedience Pressure and persecution Of that Abraham of this an instance Israel in Aegypt An heart trembling at the word of God a contrite and humble spirit doth the like Suffering doth a man tremble at the word The Lord looketh to him Isa 66.3 Is hee of a contrite and humble spirit the high and loftie one that inhabiteth eternitie dwelleth with him to reuiue his spirit and to reuiue his heart Isa 57.15 Deadnesse a sore euill and dulnesse the graue of many graces after some ioyes conceiued afflict sometimes the Chosen generation q 1 Pet 2.3 CAVSES either sorrow or excessiue care or obliquitie in the vse of the meanes giuen of God to strengthen the soule in the houre of tentation or temporarie desertion or else the commission of some sin or the omission of some good dutie or else some other subtill deuice of the Deuill but CVRATIONS or Remedies none better know I than feare and trembling contrition and humilitie for from such the Lord is not far but at hand to reuiue them and wearie with labouring vnder the heauie crosse to giue them happie rest For a small moment he forsaketh but with great mercie he gathereth r Isa 54.5 6 7 8. In a little wrath he hideth his face for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse he hath mercie on them that â—s a wife of youtâ— are betrothed vnto him Å¿ Hos 2.19 20. in righteousnesse and in iudgement and in louing kindnesse and in mercies Haue I made a step out of the way Suppose it was to call on a friend ☜ The externall sufferings are not so grieuous as the internall are and without the internall the externall are not effectuall vnto sound humiliation Therefore expedient both both also light and but for a moment The sufferings of the present time t Rom. 8.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 styled and a kinde of leuitie u 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that passeth as it commeth in the twinckling of an eye or staying all night the accidentall mourning Rico prateriens leuitas Bez. ioy commeth in the morning x Psal 30.5 A reioycing is created y Isa 65.18 yea appointed vnto them that mourne in Sion z Isa 61.3 beautie giuen for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heauinesse power for faintnesse strength for weaknesse a Isa 40.29 the humbled lifted vp b Iam. 4.10 the ruined places builded
when of things that cannot indeed bee separated the one is vnderstood and omitted the other ver grat light and heat cannot bee separated in the fire yet the light may he considered not the heat or the heat and not the light So charity and good works are not negatiuely separated but priuatiuely made as effects consequents not concurring causes of iustification Sembably my Beloued although we cannot really separate betweene your sinnes and your persons yet negatiuely we say that we intend not your persons but priuatiuely in our mindes we consider your sinnes bearing the image of Satan at which wee strike I say at the image of the Deuill and Satan not at your persons made as we our selues after the similitude of God O that yee would beleeue this and when your sinnes are smitten on the face with the rod of the mouth u Isa 11.4 or with that sharpe two edged sword which goeth out of the mouth of the Lord x Reu. 1.16 ye would reason with your selues or commune with your owne heart and be still or speake on this wise one vnto another in the faithfull assemblies This Preacher speakes with authority aboue himselfe it s the very word of God which hee preacheth the word which he preacheth is quicke and powerfull y Heb. 4.12 pierceth and diuideth things asunder in vs discerneth the thoughts and intents of our hearts pulleth downe strong holds z 2 Cor. 1â— 4 5. casteth downe imaginations and euery high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God apprehendeth our sins grappleth with them euinceth them conuinceth vs 2 Tim. 2.15 dealeth as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly diuiding the word of truth applying it according to the rule thereof Are wee not our selues or many of vs husbandmen what doe we our selues in our profession doe wee cast our seed into vncleane places or amongst bryars thorns and stones rubbish no we first clense and manure our ground sowe afterwards our seed and haue long patience for the precious fruit besides in our orchards when we plant or graffe doe we suffer to grow the fiens of the crab-tree No we cut them off and cleanse the stocke What then doth the spirituall husbandman more in his spheare than we in ours before he will sowe the holy seed or let in the heauenly plant hee laboureth with great difficulty to prepare the ground where he would sowe and purge the stocke on which he would ingraffe the word Must hee therefore be blamed or slouenly would we haue him to doe his worke or negligently or vnfaithfully Absit God forâ—id This in our owne seruants is not tolerated much lesse it to bee in the seruants of the Lord * Ier. 8.11 To cry peace peace when there is no peace is to heale hurts slightly * false Prophets will doe it but otherwise the man that is sent from God Consider what I say and God giue you vnderstanding The word to be ingraffed the stock is to bee cleansed The stocke cleansed incision for insition is made a diuision made betweene the soule and the spirit a Heb. 4.12 Nomen aâ—timae saepe idem valet quod spiritus sed cum simul iunguntur prius comprehendit sub se affectus omnes c. Caluin in lic Allegoria quadam hyperocha â—dumbrare vâ—luit Apostolus diuinisermonis vim efficaciâ—m c. Bâ—llinger naturall things and spirituall things reason and the light which is the life of men the affections and the intellectuall facultie This diuision Experience reacheth tacitè and conuerts best know how it is How were the first pricked in their hearts and diuided in themselues nâ—t knowing what to doe b Act. 2.37 after the incision made before before the immission of the heauenly plant nor doth any man The word which saueth the soule of whom receiued without much affliction by the internall diuision after the infition Such it is I thinke as the groanings of the Spirit making intercession according to the will of God it cannot be vttered the Thessalonians receiued the word with much affliction but what kind of afflâ—ction or how grieuous it was he saith not Therefore whensoeuer incision is made your heart smitten and smiting you being smitten by the word attend still or diuided in you selues all the faculties slit and clouen the affections your reason visited with the day-spring from on high your vnderstanding illightened your soule fainting your spirit panting a conflâ—ct begunne and a striuing within you as in Rebeccahs wombe betweene Esau and Iacob Nature and Grace Bee not dismaied for this must be and is where the word is about to bee ingraffed to the sauing of the soule 3. Incâ—sion for insition made the sien of holy science is infited and set in the word let in that heauenly plant by heauenly Art into the vnderstanding The sense giuen thereof and the reading vnderstood Therefore hearing the word of the kingdome apply your heart to wisdome and your minde to vnderstand the wondrous things d Psal 119.18 the mysteries which were kept secret since the world began e Rom. 16.15 yea pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit that it may bee giuen vnto you to know the mysterie of God f Coloss 2 2. 1 Tim. 3.16 and of godlinesse that seeing yee may see that hearing yee may heare and vnderstand h Mat. 13.16 Dauid prayed how often Gâ—ue me vnderstanding make me to vnderstand An vnderstanding heart Salomons hearts desire i Reg. 3.9 and Pauls that the Churches might abound more and more k Phil. 1.8 9. in all knowledge and in all iudgement in all wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding This by the Word The word read or heard and not vnderstood profiteth not but by reading and hearing and prayer made to God entrance is made into the vnderstanding heauenly light let in and worldly darknesse out l Psal 119 130 The entrance of the word giueth light it giueth vnderstanding to the simple 4. The sien insited is bound fast and closed about with all louing affections stirred vp vnto it yea shut vp and riuetted in the heart to dwell richly therein in all wisdom not left loose for graffes so let fall out anon or be blowen out Therefore loue yee the incitiue word lest ye lose it vnawares embrace it with all complacencie of affection so shall no storme stirre it nor force amoue it it is not enough to receiue the word except ye receiue the loue of the word Shall not some be damned because they receiued not the loue of the truth m 2 Thes 2.10 O how I loue thy laws n Psal 119.97 saith Dauid it is my meditation all the day yea day and night the exercise of the blessed man it is inclosed within him it is in his heart and loued with his heart the heart as soone to be lost as the word ingraffed therein and
incorporated Psal 40.8 Psal 51.6 desired in the inward parts and hidden in the hidden part 5. bound fast and closed about the impe of the word inserted it is consepted and strengthened yea as an orchard or vineyard with wals and hedges fenced and fortified with holy cares and godly iealousies lest wilde and harmefull beasts breake it off or bite it off or come nigh it to hurt it How many caueats hath the Apostle in his Epistles to this purpose Deceiue not your selues Be not deceiued r 1 Cor. 6.9 Gal. 6.7 Let no man deceiue you with vaine words Å¿ Ephes 5.6 Let no man beguile you with inticing words Let no man spoile you through Philosophie and vaine deceit after the tradition of men or after the rudiments of the world t 2 Coloss 2. â— Besides the beasts of Ephesus u 1 Cor. 15.32 and the grieuous wolues x Act. 20.29 what care tooke he to detect and defeat to preuent and preuince * Prauincire Gal. 2.5 propugning the truth oppugning the aduersaries not giuing to them place by subiection no not for an houre that the Gospell stablished might continue for euer Let the same minde be in you which was also in him The word ingraffed hedge yee about fence and keepe safe from malignant persons euill cogitations cares riches the pleasures of this life vnbeleefe Apostasie and such like The enuious man will if he can make a breach vpon it and bring in these destroyers Therefore take yee heed yea let him that thinketh he standeth z 1 Cor. 1â— 11 12 take heed lest he fall or bee surprized in an houre that hee knoweth not Finally fruit is expected to bee had vnto holinesse and the end euerlasting life a Rom. 6.22 Summer and winter the plant the same fat in old age and flourishing as the Palme tree not blasted with the winds of other vaine doctrines not nipped with the frosts of hearts hardnesse or natures remissenesse not beaten downe by the messengers of Satan buffeting the branches nor withered so much as in one leafe with the extremities of the times but as those that be planted b Psal 92.13 in the house of the Lord the c 1 Cor. 3. â— increase giuen of God fruitfull in old age and comfortfull in affliction Let a man therefore examine himselfe and brethren proue your selues whether yee haue or no the comforting word which is the ingraffed word The heart vncleane incision not made for insition no siâ—ns immitted nor closed about with louing affection no sensure about it nor any fruit appearing it is not ingraffed nor affordeth it refreshment to the soule that is wearie But the heart cleane through the word which is spoken incision made the impe setled and closed on euery side with embracements of loue fenced and fruitfull it is ingraffed and THE WORD which is comfort in affliction Remaineth what is expected De ratione consolandi how and in what manner the poore afflicted are comforted by the word In Isay 30.21 it is said Thine eare shall heare a word behinde thee saying This is the way c. d Emphaticè verbum audiendi ponitur Deum hic padagoge comparat quâ— pueret sibi ante occulas statuit c. Marloâ—â—t in loc As pupils from behinde them heare the voice of their Schoolemaster or Tutor teaching and admonishing them so the seruants of the Lord his heauenly-voice and in their affliction they are by the word mixed with faith incordiated hid in the heart inscribed and ingraffed informed and comforted as here followeth 1 By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions are effects of Gods decree which is sealed and remaineth sure as e Psal 125.1 Mount Sion not to be remoued fals a sparrow to the ground f Mat. 10.29 or an haire from the head without him The sufferings of the Saints are fore-ordained as themselues foreknowne g Rom. 8.29 Thus when I remember I powre out in mee my soule thus * Psal 42.4 Hath God decreed to me and appointed mee to beare the euill vpon me I will without any reluctation beare it the stiffe-necked striue with the yoke to their hurt it is good to yeeld in youth h Lam. 3.27 in the first houre in the last all must Dâ—th Shimei curse mee The Lord hath bidden him i 2 Sam. 16.10 Doth Saul persecute me Vexed he is with an euill spirit sent from the Lord k 1 Sam. 19 9. Doe other men vnreasonable and wicked insedable and absurd insest oppose plot against me thrust sore at me that I might fall and fal into the pit which they haue digged for me l Gal. 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are as Paul of the Galatians mad men distracted in their minds they know not what they doe what m Io. 8.44 doe they but the lusts of the deuill What are they but his agents and instruments yet permitted all of my Lord my God to humble me to proue me n Deut. 8.2 to know what is in me whether I wil trust in him cleaue to him or * Tentatio probatio in non perditionis it is a tentation of probation not of destruction Doth sicknesse afflict me it is the seruant of the Lord comming and going as the Centurions o Mat. 8.8 9. according to his word Doth any pressure or other disaster ingrauate or grieue me nothing happeneth or is done nor shall happen or bee done vnto me but what the hand of God and his counsell hath before determined to be done p Act. 4. â—â— Therefore being vile in mine owne eyes and base in mine owne sight q 2 Sam. â— 22 I say as he that went vp barefoot by the ascent of Mount Oliuert r 2 Sam. 15 2â— Behold here I am let the Lord doe to me as seemeth good vnto him Surely hee will not cast off for euer but though hee cause griefe Å¿ Lam. 3 32 yet will he haue compassion and This is my comfort in my affliction 2 By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions are arguments of the adoption of sonnes vnto God t Heb. 12.6 euery sonne whom hee receiueth flagellat hee scourgeth yet not in his anger but with iudgement to teach them his iudgements Impunity a note of bastardy yea saith the spirit u Verse 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if ye be without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sonnes Bastards may escape that increpation correction discipline nurture which sons must suffer many vile seruants haue much more liberty and mony in their purse than many dears children The naturall sonne a bodâ—e prepared him had his eares bored and opened as other mens Isay 50.6 x Isa 50.6 A man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefes y Isa 53.3 tempted himselfe z Heb. 2. vlt. buffeted and smitten yet not rebellious neither turned hee away