like to the saints seruants of God who haue gone before you in the flesh in the faith yea euen to Iesus christ him selfe the eternal sonne of the eternall father Dauid was a k 2. Sam. 13.14 man according to Gods own hart vpon whoÌ„ the Lord had set his eie delight for much good and yet who more afflicted this way theÌ„ he he conceiuing of God as of one that was in vtter displeasure with him and that had cleane forgotten him and quite takeÌ„ his mercy from him Of which if you doubt may it please you to peruse Psal l Psal 6. 38. 42. 77. 88. 102. 6.38.42.77.88.102 whither also for shortnes sake I do referre you I doubt not but you shal be thorowly perswaded therof m Act. 9.15 26.18 Paul was an elect chosen vessel and that not onely to carry Christs name among the gentiles but euen vnto eternal life and yet n 2. Cor. 12.7 least he should be exalted out of measure thorow the abundaÌ„ce of reuelations there was giuen vnto him a prick in the fleshe and the Angell Satan to buffet him which least we should imagine to be peculiar vnto him he doth in another place affirme of him selfe and the faythfull together o Heb. 2.17 4.15 Though wee doubt yet we despaire not But what stand we repeating these petie examples which though they be pregnant for the purpose whereunto they are produced are not yet matchable with that that followeth sith we may most liuely see it in him who though hee was compassed about with our fleshe was yet free from the taint or staine of anie corruption and though he had naturall passions was vtterly voyd of extremitie or sinne in them or any thing els whatsoeuer being the very true and naturall sonne of God and equall with the father was so farre humbled and brought lowe that hee did yet notwithstanding through fearefull feeling of Gods wrath and extreme anguishe in himselfe demand of his father p Mat. 27.46 whie hee had forsaken him Of whome also the Apostle witnesseth by the spirit q Heb. 3.7 that in the daies of his flesh he did offer vp his prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was heard also in that which hee feared Nowe if the strength of temptations coulde bring our sauiour to so lowe an estate and hard condition as a man would saie so that he seemed not onely to be at the verie brinke but to be plunged into the pit not of feare alone but of doubting and distrustfulnesse as it might seeme who yet notwithstanding was the onely beloued of God and had receiued all the graces of the Spirite generallie and therefore no doubt the spirite of fortitude and power particularlie in moste absolute and full measure shall wee thinke it strange that the sonnes and daughters of God who during the time of their mortalitie vpon earth haue sinne dwelling in their brittle bodies who also howsoeuer they be beloued of God are not affected for their owne sakes but for his sake alone and who notwithstanding many gifts they haue receiued for the gathering together and building vp of theÌ„selues and of the fellowship of saintes haue yet not so much as a sparke or crum of grace compared with the infinite and incomprehensible treasures of Gods goodnesse in Christ be greatly assaulted and daily beaten on euerie side yea as seemeth vnto them selues and others sometimes ouerwhelmed Neyther herein alone standeth your comfort good sir yea our comfort that we are r Rom. 8.19 conformed and made like vnto the seruantes of God yea the only begotten sonne of God in his and their sufferinges but that as hee caused his almightie Å¿ 2. Cor. 12 9. strength to appeare in their poore weakenesse making t 1. Cor. 10.13 an issue out of their temptations for them that they might escape that the lâ—ke mercie fauour and strength hee will shew vnto vs and in vs notwithstanding our infirmities because that as the v Esay 59.1 Arme of God is not thorowe length of time or working of wonders anie maner of waie shortned so is the fatherly affection that hee setteth vppon his children vtterly vnchangeable Whereof yet wee may be the better assured because hee hath performed these great workes not onely in some of his excellent seruauntes through his grace strength alone but in Iesus Christ our heade and Captaine whose victorie as in other respectes so in this particularlie is in such sorte become ours that we cannot chuse but in him become more x Rom. 8 37 than conquerours as the Apostle sayth For if his absolute obedience be sufficient to take awaie our sinnes and the imputation of his righteousnes powerfull inough to make vs stand as righteous and innocent in the presence of our heauenly father why shoulde not his vanquishing both of death and y Heb 2 14 him that had the power of death that is the deuill be an assured pledge also of our ouercomming sith we know and beleeue that hee conquered not for hymselfe but for vs that wee in hym might bee as was euen nowe sayd a little before more than conquerours Of great impatience or waywardnes The second point that you complain of as in regard of your selfe is the great impatience and waywardnesse that you finde at home in your owne soule the same sometimes breaking out so farre that it is not onely made manifest vnto God and men thorow disquiet behauiour and vnsauorie words but manie times also breaketh forth into better cursinges Answere This I cannot chuse buâ— acknowledge to be hard and heauie as in respect of your selfe and the iniquitie high and great as in respect of God Howbeit euen against this also you shal well perceiue and finde A Comfort that the Lord hath prouided comfort for you yea comfort in his hoâ—y worde which word of his as it farre exceedeth all humaine speach and writing that euer haue bin are or shal be and is indeede to speake propeperly the onely trueth so doubtlesse the comfortes therein conteined infinitely surmount all worldly consolations whatsoeuer and are indeede onelie to be taken for the true ioyes In which respect I wou d haue you not to be afraid for the magnifying of Gods singular mercies and for the extolling of the comfortes of the word to your spirituall ioy to vrge and prâ—â—â—e against your selâ—e as hard as you can and as farre as anie maner of way you may with trueth your owne sinne and yet I am sure you shall neuer find it to reache further than to blaspheme against the father or the sonne to which depth of iniquitie for anie thing I know it hath not atteined But suppose it had ascended so high doth not yet our sauiour being trueth it selfe in the word of all trueth assure vs 2 Math. 12.32
whome Towardes others and to whoÌ„ they practise that and thâ—t also for good example incouragement and comfort I meane humblenes of mind proceding from a quâ—et heart that they haue had from others in such like times perfourmed vnto the themselues Ne ther staieth it here but proceedeth further inabling them according to the grace that they haue receiued from God o Luk. 21.19 What doubtfulnes is in the godly in patience to possesse their owne soules before him in what estate or condition soeuer it shall please him to place them wherein howsoeuer they be sometimes seized with doubt not of God verily whose infinit power and good wil towards them they knowe by the trueth of his woord and particular experience that they them selues haue had to be incomprehensible and vnchaungeable but of themselues by reason of the weaknesse and want which they carrie about with theÌ„ which also by manifold trials in themselues and others they haue learned and not without cause iustlie to suspect yet they haue at the length recourse vnto him by earnest praier made in faith and so at the last are hearde in the thinges that they praied for according to his will in christs obeience being of his singular mercie either vtterlie freed from the thinges that they feared or els hauing strength patience and comfort communicated vnto them from aboue to vndergoe and to ouercome aâ—so but yet by such holy meanes as God hath appointed at such times as he hath set with himself froÌ„ before all times not only that which presentlie lieth vpon them but whatsoeuer afterwardes may pynch or presse downe And this much for this present touching this question wherein I coulde haue willinglie bene contented further to haue inlarged my selfe but that paper and time skanting me I am constrained to finish hoping that whatsoeuer is wanting now may be supplied some other time hereafter either by word of mouth or wryting or both as God shal be pleased by you to giue occasion and for you and some others to whome I wish all good in Iesus Christ to furnish mee with abilitie In the meane while I hope this shal be wel accepted of you which whether it be the summe of that that I deliuered when wee were â—â—st together by word of mouth and you desired mee to put downe in writing I doo not certayneke know howbeit the trueth I rest perswaded it is and though it may differ something from it in form and manner yet I am resolued that it is the same in substaunce and matter which if perhaps written it affect you not as when it was spoken lay not the blame thereof vpon your selfe as you are woont to doo charging yea surcharging your selfe with dulnesse of comprehension for doubtles God hath giuen you a great grace compared with manye other of his seruauntes to conceiue the trueth neither accuse the point it selfe with darknesse and difficultie for it is â—s the rest of gods trueth is plaine and euident vnto them that are inlightned in Sion but impute the fault of it vnto me who either thorow the ignoraunce of the cause in my heart cannot or by reason of negligence or thorow the want of a stayed minde perhaps haue not so plainely vnfolded my selfe nor waded into the cause according to the weight therof as were to be wished In the discourse whereof I haue not as yâ—u see quoted many places of scripture for neither indeede is that my manner howsoeuer some do too much affect it vnlesse some vrgent c use or the earnest request of my good friendes drawe me thereto neyther thinke I that the trueth standeth so much vpon the multitude of allegations or wordes of text it selfe as vpon sound reasons deduced from the same But if happilie you are desirous to see sentences of scripturâ—s for these pointes you may looke vpon the Concordances and tables thâ—t bee already published vpon the oâ—de and new Testament which in the tytle of Feâ—re will affoord you store whether also for breuities sake I sende you to peruse them at your leysure â—nd at your pleasure â—s you shall thinke good One or two pointes and thâ—t wâ—th places out of the woord â—s my memorie would helpe I cou d not â—or all thâ—t is written before leâ— pâ—sse as this first that feare is not contâ—â—râ—e to saith hope which is prooued Phil p. 2.11 Hebrues 3.14 1. Peter 3.17 Secondly that God by his worde Godly feare not contrary to faith hath appointed men sundrie good meanes to remoue it and amongest the rest these as minding of Gods former fauours for which see Deut. 7.18.19.20 earnest prayer and calling vppon his name for which see Meanes to remoue the griefe of feare Genis 32.7.9.13 Thirdly that the feare of the faithfull is so farre from bringing miseries with it that it hath attending vpon it as an vnseparable companion blessednesse from God for which see Prouerb 28.14 The second question of the boldnesse of the wicked and the godly Touching your second question concerning the dâ—â—ference that is betwixt the boldnesse of the godly that which the wicked seeme to haue I trust the prâ—â—â—ses considered I shall not neede to spend labour or take anie pain therein because these thinges beeing one of them contrarie to the other and contrary being opposed as we saie doe more plainly appeare they may be an enterviewe as it were and by comparing them one with another bee easily discerned Notwithstanding if you shall not thinke this sufficient doe but signifie so much in a line or two and you shal God willing with conuenient speede heare from me And so hoping that you wil assist me with your heartie prayers vnto the almightie not onely for a sanctified vse of such fauours as I haue receiued but for a blessed continuance and mightie increase of the same for the glory of him that giueth them for the peace of myne owne heart for the profite of his people and amongest them for your good I take my leaue hastily At Broingdon the 24. of this Decemb. 1588. Yours assured and readie alwaies in Iesus Christ Thomas VVilcocks the Lordes vnworthie seruant To the Christian Reader I beseech thee good reader pardoÌ„ these scapes committed amend with thy pen these faults following or whatsoeuer thou according to the iudgment and light that thou hast receiued shalt find amisse herein Pag. 1. line 17. for explicat read communicate pag. 4. line 25. for world read word Pag. 8. line 10. l. read he pag. 13 line 10. for irrepugnable read impregnable pag. 19. lin 3. meanes read mercies pag. 36. line 19. comforts read comforters pag. 48. line 8. repent read repenteth pag. 49 line 19. after works adde and. pag. 50. line 5. after it add might and line 14. for euamate euacuat Pag. 51. line 1â— for make Iesus read maketh this pag. 54. line 4. for our read one pag. 55. line 26. put out alwaies pag 61. line 10. for him read them pag. 62 line 4. put out as and line 8. for for read see pag. 63. line 22 after therefore adde neede pag. 64. line 8. for tyrannie read turning 19. for cast read cost and line 20. for peece read price paâ— 66. line 13. would read could pag. 67. line 6. naturally read naturall pag. 68. line 8 after spiriteâ— adde and. pag 70. line 1. after vnto adde you pag. 74. line 9. for 1589. read 1579. pâ—g 89. line 6. for might read weâ—gh pag. 96 line â— for expectation read exception line 15. for neither shall neuer turn nor shaddowe by turning pag 98 line 10 â—oâ— mâ—â—e â—ead work pa. 100. lin 1. for to read both pag 108. line 9 for selfe read liâ—e
diligent obseruation of naturall courses that there is no tempest or storme so greate but there insueth euen in the necke of it as a man would say a verye quiet calme nor any winter so colde and deadlye but there commeth both a springing time and summer also after neither yet by the examples of some worthie partitular persons alone as Abraham Iob Dauid and such like whose endes and issues you haue heard off to bee comfortable and as it were heauenlie but by manifolde experiences in your selfe the Lord making you in your owne hearte to finde that to bee true which as hee had promised in hys woord so hee faithfullye perfourmed to his seruauntes in all ages and hath accomplished to and in you that o 1. Cor. 10.13 he wil not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able to wit to beare thorow him but will euen giue the issue with the temptation that ye may be able to beare it Waite therefore with all christian patience for the Lordes Spring-time and haruest wherein hee will come himselfe being reconciled vnto in Iesus Christ and comfortablie call you foorth yea take you as it were by the hand walke with you into the fieldes and say p Cant. 2.11 Arise my loue my fâ—ire one come thy waie for behold vvinter is past the rain is chaunged and gone away the flovvers appeare in the earth the time of the singing of birdes is come the voice of the turtle is heard in our land meaning vnder these earthlie similitudes and comparisons all spiritutuall and heauenlie graces together with the excellent fruites and effectes that by the same he will worke in you Concerning which as you muste not bee discouraged eyther with the length of time in which they are withhelde from you or the hardnesse and sharpnesse of the instrumentes and meanes whereby they are brought to passe in you so must you assure your selfe that at the length they will come because hee is faithâ—ull and willing and able to perfourme that hath promised and their delaie doubtlesse wil be recompenced with all manner of spirituall aboundance For euen as in husbandrie the daylie moisture harde frostes and thicke snowes that fall in the winter season doo indeede nothing els but season the ground mellowing it and making it fitte for the better receiuing and bringing foorth also of that which is committed to it and shall bee sowen in it howesoeuer it seeme contrarie sometimes vnto mans iudgement So no doubt the raine the frostes the snow and the I se of your afflictions are as it were not onelie prepaparatiues for the grounde of your heart and soule fitting you for yea filling you with the pleasaunt fruites of righteousnesse and religion which are as it were Gods summer and haruest q phil 1.11 fruites and so in Christ shall be accounted and accomplished in you Till which time come assure your self of this that as he r Ioh. 14 18. wil not leaue you alwaies or vtterly no not very long coÌ„fortles for so he hath faithfully promised in his blessed woorde but when you seeme most in danger and dystresse will visite you and replenish you with all heauenlye and holie comfort that being a moste proper and fitte tyme for hym to woorke in for the manifestation of his power in the eyes of the wicked and the declaration of his loue towardes his owne people so hee will not destitute you of all necessarye strength both to vndergoe and to ouercome too whatsoeuer it shal please him as your moste mercifull father nowe or else at anye time hereafter to laye vppon you or to exercise you withall As for mee looâ—e what dueâ—ye it shall please you to prescribe and God shall vouchsafe in mercie to enable â—e to performe I will not God aiding me fayâ—e therein yea I say vnto you not onely vse me but commaund me in the same and if you finde mee not therein readie to my vttermost I am content you shall write me vp with such dissembling and faithlesse friends as abound almost euerie where This I promise and by his strength that must performe all in all I hope I shall accomplish that I will not cease in my poore measure to pray for you till such time as I shall vnderstand that as by manie other meanes so particularly by that God himselfe shal be pleased to bestowe vpon you your full deliuerance and I haue occasion to yeeld him humble thankes for graunting the graces that I others as on your behalfe haue soundly though in weakenesse and wantes prayed vnto him for And thus with hartie thanks for your manifold and continuall kindnesses towardes me and mine and humble salutations in Christ vnto you and your good bedfellowe mistresse H. I doe vnfeignedly commend you to the Lord Iesus whose sith you whollie are and to whome sith your heauenly father hath giuen you to be kept I doubt not but you shal continue fast and remaine sure â—â—en vnto the end not onely because he â—o whom you are coÌ„mitted for custodie s Math. 28.18 s Math 28 18 hath al povver giuen vnto him both in heauen and earth but also because we knowe in the trueth of his worde that is the trueth it self t Iohn 10.12 that he looseth none of those that are committed vnto him u 6.37 nor casteth anie such away as come vnto him At London the last of this May. 1589. Your worships as bounden so readie alwayes in all that he may T.W. the Lords most vnworthy seruant GRACE AND PEACE from God c. WE haue right honorable if my poore iudgement deceiue me not The afflictions of the spirite most grieuous manifolde proofs of this point that the afflictions â—f the spirite are muche more great â—nd grieuous than the diseases or trouâ—les of the outward man For first the â—olie Ghost himselfe in plaine tearmes â—ffirmeth it saying a Prou. 18.14 The spirite of â— man will sustayne his infirmitie meaâ—ing thereby his outward paines and griefes of what nature or kinde soeuer â—ut a wounded spirite who can beare â— vnderstanding thereby the troubles â—f the hart or soule speaking as though â—ee shoulde saie it is not onely a very â—ard thing to performe but that verie â—â—we also are found that can indeede indure it yea none but suche as are indued with some special grace from God himselfe Secondly the verie lamentable complaintes and earnest prayers that Gods Children who indeede are moste I had almost said onely exercised that way this I am sure of with fruite and profite haue especiallie in that distressed case made and powred forth doe plainlie proue it Take Dauid Paul in stead of manie or all if you will the one auouching that there b Psalm 38.3 was nothing sound in his fleshe because of Gods anger neither rest in his bones by reason of his sinne and the other crying out c Rom. 7.24 Oh wretched man that I am who
I confesse we shall see that we haue singular and speciall consolations and that not fewe in number alone and these weake and feeble also but manie and the same verie mightie yea euerie one of them strong and sufficient it selfe to beate backe this assault though it were muche more powerfull and forcible then it is that so being compassed about and as it were backed with such a r Heb. 12.1 cloud of witnesses our hartes might be the more stedfastly vp held not onely in present comfort but in hope of all good thinges to come I say therefore that whether we respect the father himselfe who otherwise s 1 Tim. 6 16 dwelling in light that no man can come vnto hath yet notwithstanding plentifullie and plainely reuealed himselfe vnto vs in his word or by the eye of a stedfast faith looke vppon Iesus Christ his son and our sauior who is also the brightnesse of the glory and the t Hebrew i. 3. ingrauen forme of his person or regard the blessed word of almightie God in all the parts and peeces of it but specially in the promises thereof propounded for our coÌ„fort or consider as we should and are bound The Sacramente 1 Cor. 10.1.2.3 c. Rom 4.11 the holy sacraments that he hath giuen vs in this world as pledges of his goodnes toward vs seales of the faithe that hee hath wrought in vs or might well as wee ought that right order of discipline gouernment Discipline of the Church that he hath established in his Churche for the repressing of euill or maintenance of all well dooing or diligently marke the singular fauors that hee hath plentifullie shedde out vpon those that haue gone before vs in the fleshe and in the faith or see and feele the great graces that hee of his owne good will hath bestowed vppon vs our selues poore and miserable wretches that wee are or behold with a sound iudgement sin it selfe specially as in regard of the good that God maketh to flowe from it howsoeuer it be odious and vglie in it selfe we shall certainely finde that from all and euerie one of these wee may without doubt gather strong argumentes and forcible reasons assured and continuall comfort for the forgiuenesse of all our sins by consequent also for the sound and Christian peace of our own hearts Nowe to the ende that that which hath bene generallie spoken and shortly deliuered may yet appeare to bee as true and certaine so plentiful and large let vs come more particularly and at length as it were yet without tediousnesse to deduct and laie out these poyntes For the first we haue the verie mercifull nature Of the nature of God himselfe and readie inclination of almighty God in himselfe to shew pitie and compassion to those that are humbled who howsoeuer he declare himsâ—lf in word and deede armed and that with iustice against the proud Pharisee or benummed and senselesse professor as he hath good cause indeede for their continuance in sinne and want of a trembling spirite standeth yet notwithstanding in his fatherly compassion and loue moste graciously affected to such as quake and sloupe before him Which that we might be the better perswaded of he hath bene pleased plainly to tel vs and that in his holie worde also that hee hath no desire that u Ezech. 18 23 the wicked shoulde die but rather that hee should liue and againe that hee is the x Exod. 34 6 7 Lord strong mercifull and gracious slowe to anger and aboundant to goodnesse and trueth reseruing mercie for thousandes forgiuing iniquittes and transgressions c. and that he wil giue to such as y Isaiah 61.3 mourne in Sion bewtie for ashes and the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse or as it is in the prophet Ezechiell z Ezek. 9 4 c. a marke by which they shal be known and freed from the common calamitie and destruction of the wicked Of the trueth of all which wee may bee the better assured because it is the worde not of a mortall man who will in the hypocrisie and corruption of hys heart doubt and dissemble but of the eternall God who as he is not deceiued so doth hee not deceiue and who beeing of an vnchaungeable nature remayneth fast and sure and the same with a cleare voyce and in wordes of muche euidencie published and proclaymed not once and awaie for then perhaps in the distrustfulnesse of our owne heartes wee might quickly call it into question a Psal 86 5 â—â— Psal 103.8.9 The sonne of God and mediator but sundrie times and in manie places of his holy word Secondly who seeth not that euen in Iesus Christ wee haue a mercifull measure of spirituall comfort pressed downe and running euer against this sharpe temptation and sore assault and that not onâ—ly because as he is God he is b Math. 9.5 able to forgiue sinnes and as man being c Heb. 2 17 made like vnto his brethren hee is pitifull and readie for that and all other good workes but also because in him dwelleth d Colloss 2 9 al the fulnesse of the godhead bodily we hauing in him e Colloss 1 14 redemption thorowe his bloud that as the forgiuenesse of sinnes in whome likewise f 2 Cor â— 20 all the promises of God are yea and amen hee himselfe being made of God vnto vs g 1 Cor 1 30 wisdom righteousnesse and sanctification redemption who alone was h Isaiah 53 5 wouÌ„ded for our transgressions brokeÌ„ for our iniquitie bearing the chastisment of our peace healing vs thorowe his stripes he himselfe and nowe other 63.3 treading the wine presse of gods wrath agaynst vs for our sinnes whome sith God hath bene pleased to k Rom. 8.32 giue vnto death for vs all howe shall he not together with him giue vs all thinges also If all things why not then the free pardon and ful forgiuenesse of all our sins Shal you imagine that God wil say al giue vs but some that were to make him a lier who is not Rom. 3.4 onely true but truth it selfe Or shall we deeme that for the testification of the largenesse of hys liberality he wil vouchsafe vs some pety fauours and withhold graces of muche greater excellencie that were to make god deale worse with his dear children then earthlie princes do with their dutifull seruants I say therfore againe if all things why not remission of sinnes speciallie sith in him are hidde yet so as they daylie are plainelie and in good time shall bee plentifullie displaied and aboundantlie yea perfectlie communicated vnto his people m Colloss 2 3 all the treasures of wisedome knowledge mercy and whatsoeuer els is excellent in God as in respect of himselfe or comfortable and profitable as in regard of vs. Thirdlie the blessed booke of God it selfe doeth in
effectual pledges vnto vs as of Gods great fauor shed abroad into our harts so of the crowning of those his graces in vs with wondeâ—ful honour and glorious immortality at the last Lastlie it seemeth vnto me Of sin it self that eâ—en from sinne it selfe though not in it owne nature for so it is abhominable in the Lords sight o Haâ—aâ— 1.13 whose pure eies cannot sâ—e euill neither yet in the effects that commonly it bringeth foorth for so is it alwaies bytter making a fearefull p Isaiah 59.2 seperation betweene the Lord and vs hauing for the q Rom. 6 2â— wages of it eternal death and damnation yet euen in the heynousnes and heyght thereof being accompanied with gods fauour in the forgiuenes of the same we should may reap an inuincible argument of much consolation and singular comfort For wherein shal or can the mercy of God in this life so much appear towards his people as in pardoning the sinnes of his seruants To whom had they not offended neither could gods mercie that way foorth haue bin declared nor Christ for theÌ„ haue bin r 1. Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the flesh who therefore came into the world not to call s Math. 9.13 the righteous but sinners to repentaunce and did therefore appeare amongest men not onely that he might t 1 Ioh. 3.5.8 loose the works of the deuil but also that he might take away our sins Outward tokens of Gods fauour All the outward fauours that wee haue in this life if we should reckon theÌ„ vp one by one as for example creation preseruation health wealth c. or binde them all in a bundle together cannot so sensibly set before vs Gods loue because some of them are in some sort commoÌ„ to other creatures with men reach but to the bodie for the most part this time present onely the wicked many times beeing before Gods saintes in some of the same God also v Ps 17.14 filling their bellies with his hid treasure their children hauing inough and leauing inough of their substance for their children Spiritual graces Nay I will say more many of those spirituall graces that God vouchsaseth vnto his Church as h s worde sacraments praier of which the holy ghost saith he x Psal 147.19 sheweth his word vnto Iacob his statutes and his iudgments vnto Israell and he hath not dealt so with euerie nation doe not so plainâ—iy exâ—râ—sse the fauour and loue of the Lorde towardes hys people as the free pardon and full forgiuenesse of their transgressions the reason is because y Math 22.14 manye are called and fewe are chosen and diuers bee in the Churche that bee not of the Church This grace also extending it sâ—â—e not onelye to bodye and soule in says lyfe carrying with it comfort and the peace of a good conscience here but reaching euen vnto the life that is to come eternal saluation and life euerlasting being an inseperable companion to the forgiuenesse of our sinnes And that we might the better be perswaded that this is a verie speciall fauour God himselfe taketh vpon himself as a principall point of his glory this great worke of forgiuing laying z â—saiah 42.25 I euen I am he that putteth away thine iniquities for my owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes And in an other Prophet rehearsing the graces that he will vouchsafe vnto his people in the newe Testament he reckoneth vp this as the last and chiefest a Iere 31 34. I wil forgiue their iniquitie b Rom. 5.20 and remember their sinne no more that beeing true here that the Apostle saieth that where sinne abounded there grace abounded much more To conclude then good Madam out of all that is gone before The coâ—clusion Sâ—â—h in thys poynt of the forgiuenes of sins God who is greater than al is b Rom 8 3 on our side therefore wee neede not care who be agaynst vs Iesus Christ standeth for vs who is c Math 3 17 his dearely beloued sonne in whome onely hee is well pleased and thorow whome he hath d 2 Cor 3 19 reconciled the world vnto himselfe the word generally partâ—cularly the promises in the same which are in Iesus Christ e 2 Cor 1 20 yea and amen speake comfoâ—table things vnto vs the holy sacramentes ordeined by God for the strengthning of our weake faith seale vp that great and gracious fauor vnto vs the disâ—pline and voyce of the Church which is the f 1 Tim 3 16 piller ground of trueth and as it were Gods owne voyce from heauen confirmeth it the particular examples oâ— his saintes hauing in former time found it and felt it true doe ratifie and confirme the same the peculiar fauoâ—s that God hath giuen vs our selues in this life and namely faith g 2 Thess 3 2 which all men haue not with the sound truâ—tes thereof doe pledge it vp and that god that maketh the h Psal 76 10 rage of men to turne to his praise and in the beginning commaâ—nded i 2 Cor. 4 6 the light to shine out of darkenesse now maketh sin to serue for the magnifying and manifesting of his mercie and the comfort and good of his children who is it that can distrust or rather who hath not iust cause with the Apostles and saintes of God to sing and say k 1. Cor. 15.54.55.56.57 death is swallowed vp into victorie O deathe where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the lawe But thanks be to God which hath giuen vs victorie thorow our Lord Iesus Christ And againe l Rom. 8 38 39. I am perswaded that neyther death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor height nor depâ—h nor anie other creature shal be able to separate vs froÌ„ the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Thus good Madame I haue as your honour seeth plainely deliuered my poore iudgement in this worthie point touching the comfortable feeling of the forgiuenesse of sinnes and some such assured seales and pledges of the same as by m Deut. 17 18 19 Ioshua 1 8 Psalm 1.2 Iohn 5 39 dayly reading of the holie scriptures and continuall meditation in the same holie duties that I and all other christians of what qualitie or calling so euer are bound vnto by Gods word to performe and woulde to God all did it as may knowe and confesse it the Lorde in much fauor I freely confesse it hath bene pleased in the dayes of my distresse to manifest to me miserable man that I am and that not onely for instruction and comfort vnto my self alone for God neuer bestoweth anie grace vpon vs much lesse such excellent fauors to that ende onely but for the good and consolation of others who being n 2
according to the scriptures we generally know beleue that he was c Heb. 2.17 â— 15. very man in euery respect like vnto vs sinne onely excepted but also because the Apostle speaking euen of this particular humaâ—ie affection in him plainly sayth in the Epistle to the Hebrues that hee was d â— 5 7. heard in the thinges which he feared Nowe to saie that he was touched or tainted any maner of way with anie though neuer so small spot of sin what is it els but to gainesay the holy scriptures which in d Isa 53.9 Ioh. 8 46. 1 Pet. 2 22. manie places affirme him and that most rightly to be voyd of iniquitie yea to make him no fit sauior for sinne because he that must redeeme others from inâ—quities and transgressions must be himselfe shamelesse otherwise he cannot be a price of reconciliation and which toucheth vs also to the quicke and importeth vs as nigh as life and death by consequent to depriue our selues of full pardon and forgiuenesse of all our sinnes because if Christ died not the e 1. Pet. 3.18 iust for the vniust wee remaine vnder transgression and being aliue f Ephes 2.5 are dead in trespasses and sinnes and so vnder eternal death Here then is required a right deserning spirite yea a hart indeede that is indued with a notable portion of heauenly wisedome spiritual grace froÌ„ aboue that so that which is not of it selfe euill though I speake particularly of the passion of feare yet it shall not bee amisse to practise it in all of the like nature may thorowe the great worke of the sanctfiication of the word and spirite of God growe euerie daie better and better with mightie increases from an high The sight and knowledge of al which as it cannot but strike muche terror yea horror into the hearts of the wicked and vngodly because thorowe the strength and power of their own sinne they haue made the light that was in them which in my minde may not vnfitly be resembled to the dawning of the day and was and is sufficient to make them without excuse or defence before God to become darkenesse and by that meanes are plunged into obscuritie as grosse if not more grosse as that of Egypt so should it be very comfortable to those in whom the Lord himselfe hath bene pleased by hys owne hand and ordinaunce to aduaunce that worthie worke of regeneration and that not onely while they doe not as the wicked sinne in all maner of extremitie of naturall passions adding drunkennesse vnto thirst and thorow the corruptioÌ„ of nature and Satans deadly and insatiable malice defacing their own light and so are become stocks and voyd of all sense of the same but also while they haue nature it self so inlightned by the trueth of the word and reformed by daily addition of grace froÌ„ aboue that in continuall wrestling and striuing against it speciallie the corruptions of it they gaine so much that they cause euen that as other thinges also to tend to the aduauncement of his glorie that is Lord of nature and hath it at coÌ„maund and to their owne comfort and the good of others wherat those sparks and remainders of nature that are yet in vs vndefaced doe in some sorte aime how much more may they attaine vnto it not onely when they are accompanied but when they are ayded thereto with the graces of God in vs. But to come somewhat more nigh to the point we are to deale in and yet it cannot be denied but that that which hath bene alreadie deliuered doth properly concerne the same methinketh we may betwene the two fe â—res which you desire to be satisfied in obserue a double difference the one as in respect of the causes I say causes neither let the seeme straunge vnto you that there are may be many causes of one and the self same thing from whence it commeth and proceedeth though some in the same bee more principall working causes than other as euerie petie logician wil redily acknowledge the other as in regard of the effectes and fruites that they bring forth in the seuerall parties and persons diuersly according to the diuersitie of the feares theÌ„selues affected therewith Of the feare of the wicked Whence it riseth That feare which is in the wicked ariseth either from some conceite that they haue within them of shame and disgrace before men in whose sight with them themselues it is a great and grieuous iudgement and goeth to their heart as cold as the panges of death to be clothed with confusion for being men and no more but naturall men as they like well of themselues so they woulde gladly be highly esteemed of their likes Groweth or els beeing bitten or stoong with the knowledge of some euill eyther conceiued or performed from some impression and sense that they haue of punishment before god for the same whose infinite iustice as they haue moste heynously offended so they certainly know that they cannot by anie meanes withstand and auoid Continueth this being ingrauen in their heartes by the light of nature that sinne and his punishment must alwaies goe as it were arme in arme or els from some other odde imagination and carnall conceit of their own as g Iere. 17.19 mans heart is deceitfull and wicked aboue all thinges who can knowe it and that still in selfe loue towardes themselues onelie for this neuer moueth them that by their iniquities they haue pulled wrath and displeasure vpon other men from almightie GOD all and euerie one whereof no doubt are muche furthered in them not onely through abuse of naturall feare and also by meanes of their melancholike constitution or complexion as we say a meane that God himselfe hath bene pleased to appoint and vse euen in his iustice against the wicked greatly to increase their terrors and feares but also by the horrible distrustfulnesse of their owne heartes Other causes thereof they finding no matter of true and stedfast ioy in themselues as who in the stinging testimonie of their owne soules are conuicted of moste grieuous transgressions and eternall iudgement for the same and how is it then possible for them to haue sound peace nor seeing anie sure comforte from others eyther in heauen aboue or in earth beneath among men who if they cannot when and as they would affoord themselues consolation much lesse may those other looke to receiue it at theyr hands because as in others so in this respect charitable reliefe beginneth with a mans owne selfe nor beholding any ioyfull fauour to them selues from God whose displeasure rather in hym selfe and hys creatures they haue highlie prouoked against them thorow infinite iniquities and therefore must looke not onely to haue his backe partes geuen them but all the vessels and vials of his wrath in time and in a full measure to bee powred foorth vpon them But the feare of the godlie is in them not onely