want of all grace and thus the godly faint not 2. Another arising from the weaknesse of grace by the opposition of temptation and corruption And thus the godly may faint in part but they shall come to a recovery of themselves againe it is with the godly in their sinkings under afflictions as with a man that is skilfull to swimme at the first when hee is cast into the water he is over head and eares and the whole body is covered but by and by hee riseth up againe and swimmes upon the water commanding the water under him whereas it is with a meere naturall and carnall man in his sinkings under afflictions as it is with a stone cast into the deepe there is a great noise made but he sinketh lower and lower and never riseth up againe Vse 2 To examine the strength and sufficiency of our spirits to our enabling under the crosses wee suffer tell me not so much of the greatnesse and grievousnesse of your crosses which you are quick enough to doe but answer me what is the spirit within you and how doth it serve and helpe you can it and doth it sustaine you rightly bearing the burden for you I yeeld 1 That some mens spirits can do sleight crosses and seemingly they make nothing of them but with the Leviathan they laugh at the shaking of the speare but this is an argument of an evill and naughty spirit not to be sensible of Gods hand and rod. 2 That men carnall and formall to outward seeming are marveilous hardie in temper and stout in spirit and have without flinching or fainting passed thorough many afflictions and endured extreame torments when alas they have brawned themselves or a spirit of slumbering and benummednesse is cast upon them and for some selfe aimes they have onely restrained passion in the meane time they doe remaine destitute of all positive joy peace and confidence and want the assurance of the goodnesse of their spirits in bearing the crosse befalling them Quest How may a man know that by a sound and good spirit he beareth the crosse and calamity which God layeth upon him Three signes of a sound spirit upholding man under the crosse Answ By these Signes 1. When the cause of suffering is good a good spirit cannot beare up in an ill cause when a man suffers as a murderer â— A good cause or as a thiefe or as an evill doer or as a busie body in other mens matters as it is written 1 Pet. 4. 15. Now conscience cannot uphold but when a man suffers as a Christian and is reproached for the name of Christ conscience can and doth uphold as you may reade in the 14. and 16. verses of the same Chapter we see the stoutnesse of the Apostles enduring the lash and the prison was grounded on this that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name Acts 5. 41. 2. When the carriage under 2. A good carriage the crosse is becomming a good spirit which carrieth a man under Six waies of the spirits carrying a man under the crosse the crosse 1. With silence stopping inward frettings and outward murmurings against the Lord making a man to say yet my soule be silent unto the Lord it layeth the mouth in the dust and dares not open the mouth against the Lord to charge him foolishly 1 Sam. 3. 28 29. Psal 39. 9. 62. 5. 2. With submission and subjection the soule is low and very humble poore and exceeding empty the man is cast downe under Gods hand and will saying it is the Lord let him doe as it seemeth good unto him 1 Sam. 3. 18. 2. Sam. 15. 25. 3. With thankefullnesse the man can kisse the rod and blesse the rod and say with Iob the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord Iob 1. 21 22. 4. With religion making God as lovely and good and worthy to be praised prayed unto under calamity as at any other time of prosperity a man under the power of a sound spirit doth loose much of his sinne nothing of his godlinesse I dare say he is more quick and hearty in his devotion then at other times the soule doth now settle it selfe upon spirituall imployment and is taken up with God Is any man afflicted let him pray Iames 5. 13. 5. With humiliation now a man shall finde the guilts of his sinne and doth consider the deserts of his sins he can and doth weepe more for the sinfullnesse of sinne then for all the evills he doth sustaine and endure he well knoweth that man suffereth for his sinne and that sinne deserveth more evill then God inflicts upon his children and that the evill of sinne being the greatest of evills can never be sufficiently bewailed 6. With hope waiting upon Gods time and pleasure for deliverance out of trouble expecting that great good shall happily befall him in and by all the troubles which he endureth he considers that as the Bee hath his sting so hee hath his honey and crosses have their comforts in the latter end as well as bitternesse in the beginning Note I say such men doe put themselves into the covenant and promise and will keep themselves there they doe see the Covenant going along with them in their trialls and troubles and doe beleeve that a little assured good is above a great deale of sensible evill and this is the moderation of their spirit in and under the rod. 3. When their comming out 3. A good issue of trouble is glorious and gratious a sound spirit doth beare afflictions with power unto profit and carrieth all painefull evills with soveraigne good unto it selfe so that when a Christian is at the end of his trouble and tossings he shall set downe with great cost and recompence having the great fruit of his patience even blessed is he that endureth and the Spirit of God and glory shall rest upon him he shall say with David before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word Psal 119. 67. And it is good for me that I have beene afflicted that I might learne thy statutes verse 71. Neverthelesse afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse unto them which are exercised thereby Heb. 12. 11. if we can finde any good by afflictions that our proud hearts are humbled that our corruptions are weakned and wasted that our graces are quickned and enlarged and that we are in any degree made more holy and heavenly this is an argument unto us that we have borne all our afflictions by the strength of a sound spirit Vse 3 Labour that there may bee found within you a good and a sound spirit to beare you up under your troubles we know not to what times of tryall God hath reserved us wee may meete with the crosse and calamity may be our portion wee know not how soone and then strength to beare will doe well but know that there is nothing
and bettering themselves in duty expecting that they may be shaken out of their fits of dullnesse I dare say that such men will reade the more and pray the more and heare the more hoping to finde some helpe in the use of the ordinances and performances of duties they have heard and doe find it to bee true that frequencie in Simile duty begets fervencie that as a man by often rubbing of his benummed parts may get heate so a Christian by forcing himselfe to the going over of duties doth get strength against his dullnesse in duty 3. That when a Christian cannot doe duties with that life he should and would doe yet hee may doe them with much sincerity and uprightnesse of heart and in a farre different way from a formall and carnall Christian I yeeld unto this that an hypocrite who hath a name to live may talke much of duty and may mount high into the visible duties of holinesse applying himselfe to many religious actions the Jewes were not failing in their services and sacrifices and solemne assemblies but yet they came short of sincerity and so all was lost labour unto them You may aske mee what is Seven differences betvveene an hypocrite and a Christian in doing duties the difference betwixt an hypocrite and a sincere Christian in doing duties I answer it is much every way which may bee seene in seven things First a Christian doth performe all duties by the power of spirituall life wrought within his soule he praieth and beleeveth and reades and heares in the Spirit by vertue of the working of the Spirit the principle of life in the soule is sufficient to it selfe to act required duties it needs not altogether those naturall and accidentall helpes which false Christians must have to set them on work the bird flies in the aire from a principle of life and motion in himselfe whereas a clock being Simile a dead thing mooveth because the weights are powerfull to the wheeles Secondly a Christian is more generall or universall in the performance of duties then any hypocrite can be he sets himselfe to duties of every kinde even those of the highest nature and excellencie duties required admit of a distinction there are the greater and the lesser things of the Law there are some duties which strike at the quick and call for strictnesse such as are selfe-deniall sinnes-mortification the sanctifying of God in a mans thoughts desires and speeches in all the conditions of life some duties there are which are exceeding high and climbing as beleeving in God and in Christ and keeping the conversation in Heaven to conclude there are ordinary and extraordinary duties publique and private duties costly and painefull duties and all these the spirit of soundnesse is for Christians are ready to act all as well as one duty of holinesse looke which way duty whose latitude is much and parts many divides it selfe thither they dispose themselves that as water will runne in all prepared channels so a Christian followeth all required duties whereas hypocrisie doth duties with partiality and delicacie it severs and divides duties it will bee upon this but not on that duty and is neither whole nor lively in any duty and no marvaile for as waters cannot rise higher then Simile their springs no more can an hypocrite rise higher then himselfe in duty Thirdly a Christian doth act spirituall duties spiritually in the purpose and resolution of his heart hee doth empty himselfe of flesh and corruption which will bee creeping into duty as much as may be such an one undertakes no duty but with selfe-examination and soule-humiliation for sin committed and remaining within such follow the Law of the spirit exercising all vouchsafed graces in the performance of duties Christians indeed doe heare and pray with much knowledge faith feare humility c. and by reason of the performance of the duty they become more spirituall I say a Christian in duty is another man from what hee is at other times such heavenly raptures and soule-ravishments doe befall him that in a manner he feeles no world no place no time whereas a formall Christian is a base and mixt mettall formality leades him into duties carnall keepes him in duties carnall and brings him off from duties not onely carnall but much more sinnefull and prophane then hee was before Fourthly a Christian doth performe duties encreasingly his desires are such and so great unto duty that he cannot give himselfe any satisfaction in doing duties his spirit within him is like unto leaven which is of a rising nature or to the graine of mustard seed which was of a spreading nature the soule wil be carried with vehement desire of bettering it selfe in duty and performing more and more duty unto God nay it riseth in duty against opposition that as a living spring doth Simile worke out its way against dammings and stoppings up so a sound Christian will doe duties wrastling with his owne lyther and sluggish nature yea and withstanding Satan in his temptations oile can bee no more kept under by water then a Christian can be kept of from duty and increasings in duties I grant that at the first a Christian is and may be little and low in duty but at length an enlargement will follow answerable to the life bestowed and duties to be performed Davids spring at sometimes did but drop gently at other times it did run freely and fully whereas the hypocrite keepes him in a circle or compasse he is confined and limited and is much like unto artificiall bodies uncapable of extension restings and sufficits overtake such men and if there be any swellings in duties it is not from an incorporated principle of grace which is within as a feeding spring but from some externall reason and influence there may bee the rising of waters in a pond by Simile the powring downe of raine from the clouds and duties may be done by an hypocrite with much abundance whilst judgements or mercies are stirrings Fifthly a Christian exerciseth himselfe in spirituall duties chearefully such doe spirituall actions pleasingly as with willingnesse of heart so with gladnesse of heart it is meate and drinke and recreation unto them to performe spirituall duties Exod. 35. 29. Psal 100. 2. Psal 110. vers 3. Ephes 6. 5 6. whereas hypocrisie is of a Bearish nature slow to the duty it is mooved it mooves not it selfe to a formall heart 1. Spirituall duties are grievous and tedious and though something bee done yet it is with secret wearinesse reluctancie and unwillingnesse there are many objections raised up against duties and many cases and questions which must be answered and resolved before such can set on to duty 2. The closing up of spirituall duties is very pleasing and delightfull the Lord knoweth that as in his heart hee wisheth there were no time nor duties belonging to God so hee is glad of a suddaine release from all duties the shorter the Sermon and the shorter the prayers the
of his in adversity Nah. 1. 7. That God will be with his in the fire and water Esa 43. 2. That all miserable evills shall end in spirituall good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. And that that God who hath shewed his great and sore evills will quicken them againe Psal 71. 20. 21. Now the spirit gathers spirits unto it selfe and is made lively and strong yea it gets upon the rocke and triumphs over all trouble Having thus opened the point unto you the Application must needs be this Vse 1 First to discover unto us that evillnesse of spirit which is in the sonnes of men I may justly complaine that most men doe want soundnesse and sincerity of spirit to beare them up in evill times considering Two evidences of weaknes of spirit 1 Feare two things 1. Some men doe overfeare troubles before they come the very empty thought and conceit of troubles is terrible and perplexing unto them when it was told the house of David saying Syria is confederate with Ephraim his heart was mooved and the heart of his people as the trees of the wood are mooved with the winde Esay 7. 2. When Belshazzar saw the comming forth of the fingers of a mans hand and writing over against the Candlestick upon the plaister of the wall his countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joynts of his loines were loosed and his knees smote one against another Dan. 5. 5 6 7. and even so is it with too too many among us the very newes and conceit of troubles or calamities which possibly may befall them doth put them into such shaking fits that they know not what to doe with themselves and now tell mee where is the soundnesse and strength of your spirit call you that a stout spirit that is daunted with the report and thought of calamity Ob. Good men have feared troubles Sol. Know that there is a A twofold fearing of troubles 1. Of faith twofold fearing of troubles before they come The one is a carefull and beleeving feare opposed to carnall security which was found in holy Iob who said the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me Iob 3. 25. Surely the good man in his prosperity did not cast of all thought of adversity but did wisely consider that a change might come upon his estate and family it might be that his sun might bee darkned and his day turned into night and he looked upon his children and wife and friends and stock and honour as things dying and fading there being no constancy in outward mercies unto any The other is a carking and 2. Of distrust distressing feare opposite unto faith and comfort a fearing either without a cause or beyond all bounds thorough the utter mistake of a miserable condition unto the sons of men wherein feares doe cut and divide the heart even emptying a man of all present joy and future hope this now is an argument that the spirit of infirmity doth possesse a man and that hee wants that spirit which will sustaine a mans infirmity 2. Some men are overburdened 2. Faintnesse by the crosses which do befall them the least crosse that is doth sink them and they cannot beare or endure any calamity indeed before that troubles come they wil brag boast as if they would could carry al the world before them and no adversity could overmaster them or their spirits but when they are put to it and the day of triall commeth alas they are men of very poore and impotent spirits Achitophel like who being under disacceptation most desperately hangs himselfe as being no way able to beare it O how do men roare and complaine and lie downe in the dust suffering crosses to binde them hand and foot and to spoile them of all their comforts it is strange to observe the weakenesse of spirit in some men who though they have many comforts for one crosse yet that one crosse doth so dampe and daunt them that all joy and comfort is gone and they are mightily overwhelmed thus doe most men want supporting spirits and surely their strength is weake who faint in the day of trouble Pro. 24. 10. and such men may doe well to suspect the soundnesse of their spirits certaine it is that there is a want of soundnesse of spirit where the supportance of spirit doth wholy faile cease to wonder that thou art so sinking and fainting and leave crying out against the greatnesse of thy present trouble knowing that there wants such a spirit within as should be which is the cause of this thy failing Quest But may not a deare childe of God faint and his spirit faile him in the day of his calamities Sol. Unto this I answer three things 1. That it may so fall out that a Christian indeed may bee to seeke of the helpe and strength of his spirit in and under crosses befalling him Suppose him 1. To have forfeited the sense of divine favour 2. To have formerly neglected or abused divine assistances 3. To be suddainely surprized by the strangenesse and the strength of the calamity comming upon him 4. To bee followed both with the continuation of some grieving affliction or the multiplication and comming in of one crosse upon the neck of another And surely in these and the like times the spirit within him which alwaies retaineth strength and might may not be so serviceable and supporting unto him as at other times it hath beene and in time to come it may be againe 2. That though there may be much fainting overtaking the spirits of sanctified men for a time yet it is not totall faintnesse there is and may be a very weake upholdment the spirit is many times well neare spent in the spirituall conflict and labouring under some grievous wounds and now it upholds in much weaknesse a horse that is almost tired carrieth his burden but not in that pace and with that mettle as when hee was fresh there are degrees of strength sometimes wee are holpen with a little helpe Dan. The strength of the spirit is graduall 11. 34. and it is a day of small things with us and it is not much that the spirit within doth for us at other times the spirit being freed is more full of assistance and carrieth us thorough all troubles one mans spirit may sustaine him under his infirmity more then another yea and the spirit of the same man may at one time and in one crosse more beare him out then in another Witnesse David who in the case of Nabal was very weake and passionate he had scarce the spirit of a man in him But now in the case of Shimei where the crosse was farre greater his spirit did with much strength beare him out 3. That there is a double sinking of the spirit under afflictions or miserable evills 1. One arising from the weaknesse of nature in the