Physitian This is fleshlie Securitie 4. And the last are worse they tak not the information of Pastours neither can they abide their Admonitions when they are rebuked for sinne Then they cry out as against Ieremie The Earth dow not beare this mans words and railings And take vpon them to prescriue to their Pastours both mater and manner of Doctrine They say to the Seers See not to the Prophets Prophecie not vnto vs right things But speak vnto vs pleasant wordes prophecie deceites Isa. 30. 10. They will gladlie heare the sweete Doctrine of the Gospel but not of the Law Theorie but not practise discoursing of Doctrine and Controuersies but not usefull application And will heare the sinnes of other men other callings other Countreyes and Superiours but not their owne sinnes reproued This is a desparate resolution not to bee cured at all This is the pittifull state of this Land in all Callings and Persons From the crowne of the Head to the sole of the Foote there is nothing whole therein but wounds and swelling and sores Isa. 1. 4. 5. 6. c. He may justlie pronounce against vs as hee did against the Iewes Shall I not visite for these thinges sayeth the Lord and shall not my Soule bee auenged on such a Nation as this Ierem. 5. 9. Therefore the Lord hath that same plea with vs that hee had with rebellious Israel Heare the Word of the LORD ye Children of Israel For the Lord hath a controuersie with the Inhabitants of the Land because there is no Trueth nor Mercie nor Knowledge of GOD in the Land By swearing and lying and killing and steeling and Whoring they breake out and blood toucheth blood Therefore shall the Land mourne and euery one that dwelleth in it shall languish Hos. 4. 1. 2. 3. Hee seeth vs lying in our sinnes and is going to his Place to see if wee will seeke him I will returne and goe to my Place till they acknowledge their offence and seeke mee in their affliction they will seeke mee earlie Hos. 5. 15. The third cause of our Humiliation is for an happie successe to our Kings Majesties weightie Affaires at Home and abroad both in Peace and Warre To pray to God who hath the hearts of Kings in his hand to multiplie more and more on his Ma. all Princelie Giftes and Graces that Hee may walke before GOD in the Vprightnesse of Dauid the Sinceritie of Hezekiah and Tendernesse of heart like Iosiah That Hee would inlarge his heart more and more like Solomon to goe out and in before his people And because His MAIESTIE is ingaged in a necessarie and dangerous Warre for the defence of Trueth and His Royall Allyance whereby great Princes are become His Enemies and His Kingdomes are threatned with a bloodie inuasion It is the duetie of all to intreate the LORD for preseruation to his Ma. and His Dominions When Iehoshaphat was beset by the Moabites and Ammonites He set himselfe to seeke the Lord with Fasting and Prayer And all his people gathered themselues together to aske helpe of God and all Iudah with their Wiues and little Ones stood before him who commanded them to stand still and see the Saluation of the Lord and gaue them a glorious deliuerie 2. Chron. 20. And when Hezekiah receiued the blasphemous and boasting Letter of Senacherib hee went vp to the Temple and sprede it before the Lord and prayed for saftie and the Lord sent away his enemies with slaughter and shame Wee haue at these times to pray to God that hee would bow downe his eare and heare the blasphemie and boasting of the Enemies and open his eye and behold their bloodie decrees and the plotting of Princes to execute them and their insulting for preuailing against vs. And since God hath put it in our Kings Ma. Heart both to appoint to all His Subiects and to keepe in His Royall Person a solemne Fast wee may the more confidentlie pray that the Lord of Hostes to whom pertaineth the issues of Death would merche before our Armies Psal. 68. 20. That hee would wound the head of our Kings Enemies and thrust them through the thigh And giue to Him their neckes and backes alwayes That hee would cloath them with shame and make his Crowne to flourish on His Head Psal. 132. Two punishments are most to bee feared at this time the remouing of the Gospel and the Sword of man The one to destroy the Soule the other the Bodie 1. God is threatning the remouing of the Word because it hath beene long among vs without fruite Wee haue not receiued it as the word of God to belieue and obey it and to delight and walke in the light of it Though God haue his owne amongst vs yet the most parte doe contemne it and the Preachers of it It is counted an intolerable burden because it curbes their lustes and reproueth their sinnes so plainelie they would bee glad to want it that they might sinne freelie God brought it wonderfullie amongst vs few Martyrs sealing it with their blood and yet great opposition made to it But God by his owne good meanes lighted that Candle amongst vâ— At that time this Nation was as a new laboured ground with little labour it rendered great increase Light was then pleasant to men comming out of darknesse and the taste of Grace was sweete at the first hearing of the Gospel But now after long hearing of it Wee haue lost our first zeale and are become as an out-worne barren ground VVee are as the Earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft vpon it but bringeth out nothing but thornes and briers which is neere vnto cursing whose end is to be burnt Heb. 6. 7 8. The Lord hath patientlie waited on our fruits and hath spared vs like that figge tree not for three but three score and seuen yeeres and yet neither is there fruite nor Repentance for want of fruite VVhat remaineth in his Iustice but that hee cutte vs downe and cast vs in the fire Let vs not feede our selues with idle and groundlesse conceates as that the Gospel is pure amongst vs and wee haue a true Religion a glorious Profession c. The lik conceat possessed the Iewes in their greatest guiltines danger They cryed The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord this is the Temple of the Lord Ierem. 7. 4. But ye trust sayeth the Lord in lying words which cannot profite VVill ye steale murther and commit adulterie and sweare falslie and come and stand before mee in this House which is called by my Name and say VVee are deliuered though wee haue done all these abominations But goe yee now into my Place which was in Shiloh where I set my Name at the first see what I did to it for the wickednes of my people Israel Ier. 7. 8. 9. 10. They thought they vvere secure vnder their profession and God would not forsake them but hee tolde them
SCOTLANDS WARNING Or a Treatise of Fasting Containing a Declaration of the causes of the solemne Fast Indyted to bee kept in all the Churches of Scotland the third and fourth Sundayes of this instant Moneth of May Anno 1628. the Weeke dayes betwixt them as they may be goodly keeped in Townes Together with a Direction how to proceed in the Religious Obseruation of any soleme Fast. Written at the appointment of Superiors By Mr. W. STRVTHER Preacher of the Gospel at EDINBVRGH Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of Andro Hart. Anno Dom. 1628. Ieremiah 36. 5. 6. 7. And Ieremiah said vnto Baruch I am shut vp I cannot goe into the house of the Lord. Therefore goe thou and read in the roule which thou hast written from my mouth the words of the Lord in the eares of the people in the Lordes House vpon the Fasting day and also thou shalt read them in the eares of all Iuda that come out of their Cities It may bee they present their Supplications before the Lord and will returne euerie one from his euill way For great is the anger and wrath that the Lord hath pronounced against this Place 2. Chron. 34. 27. 28. Because thine heart was tender and thou didst humble thy selfe before God when thou heardest his wordes against this Place and against the Inhabitants thereof and humblest thy selfe before me and diddest renâ— thy clothes and weepe before mee I haue euen heard thee also saith the Lord. Behold I will gather thee to thy Fathers and thou shalt bee put in thy graue in peace neither shall thine eyes see all the euill that I will bring vpon this Place and vpon the Inhabitants of the same SCOTLANDS WARNING Or a Treatise of Fasting Containing a Declaration of the causes of the solemne Fast indyted to be keeped in all the Churches of Scotland IT is the duetie of the LORDS Watch-men whom hee hath sette on the Walls of Ierusalem Ezech. 3. 33. To consider diligentlie both the estate of it within and the dangers imminent from without And according as they see to giue faithfull and tymous aduertisement to the people Habac. 2. 1. Isa. 21. 8. That thereby they may both deliuer their owne Soules and direct the people by speedie Repentance to preuent the approaching wrath This their Calling craueth for they stand betwixt God and his people as the Interpreters of his will to them Iob. 33. 23. And as their Remembrancers to God to present them and their necessities to him continuallie Isa. 62. 6. 7. Hee calleth them vp to the Mountaine to see further than other and beside their giftes ând graces as Christians giueth them a Pastorall eye to see and a pastorall heart to consider and a pastorall mouth to declare what they see and consider This also he commandeth them vnder a most heauie paine Sonne of man I haue sette thee a Watch-man vnto the House of Israel therefore thou shalt heare the word from my mouth warne them from mee When I say to the wicked O wicked man thou shalt surelie die if thou doest not speake to warne the wicked from his way that wicked man shall die in his sinne but his blood will I require at thine hand Ezech. 3. 17. 33. 7. 8. And God commnendeth this as wisedome in Pastors according to his heart Who is the wise maÌ„ to vnderstand this and who is hee to whome the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that hee may declare it for what the Land perished Ier. 9 12. Vpon these considerations the Clergie of this â—and taking to heart the Estate of the Church of God both in this Kingdome and other reformed Countries haue thought it necessaâ— Suppreme authoritie commanding also the same That all the Congregations of this Land keepe a solemne and publicke Fast the third and fourth Sundayes of this instant Moneth of May and the weeke dayes betwixt these two Sabbaths To intreat GOD in all humilitie and repentance for pardon of our sinnes and for auerting of his just wrath where it is alreadie begunne and to hold it off these who are threatned with it And for the better informing of euery one in the equitie necessitie of that religious work of Fasting and Prayer and their better stirring vp therevnto The just and weightie causes thereof are to bee considered which may bee reduced to these heads 1. First the most lamentable estate of the reformed Churches of Germanie and other Countries in Europe Where the Gospel did shine and Gods worshippe was exercised fruitfullie to his glorie But nowe by the crueltie of the preuailing Papists fearefull desolation is wrought in these places GODS Sainctes bereft of their liues their blood spilt as water in the streetes their women shamefullie abused their goods taken from them And the estate of them who haue escaped the rage of the sword worse than the slaine Their liberties lost and themselues either driuen from their dwellings or compelled to forsake their God Religion take themselues to Romish Idolatrie or to banishment And vnder the name of an Imperiall reformation there is nothing but a Godlesse deformation setting vp the abomination of ignorance and errour where the light hath beene How many Prouences sometimes pleasant in a peaceable professing of the Trueth as the Paradise of God are now turned in a wildernesse And the Houses of God prepared sometime on the top of the Mountaines and exalted aboue the Hills wherevnto people did flowe are destroyed And the Lords displayed banner vnder which many did merch in comelie order is cast down manie mothers in Israel famous Colledges and Universities are scattered and the abomination of desolation erected in them So wee may say with the Prophet Come behold the workes of the Lord what desolations hee hath wrought in the Earth Psal. 16. 8. The Heathen are come in the inheritance of the Lord his holie Temple haue they defiled and made Ierusalem heapes of stones The dead bodies of Gods Saincts haue they giuen to bee meate to the Fowles of heauen and the flesh of thy Saincts to the beastes of the earth Their blood haue they shed as water about Ierúsalem and there was none to burie them They haue deuoured Iacob and made his dwelling place waste Psal 79. 1. 3. 4. God hath forsaken the Tabernacle of Shiloh the tent which he placed among them He deliuered his strength in captiuitie and his glorie in the enemies hand Psal. 78. 61. And wee may lament with Ieremie How doeth the Citie remaine solitarie that was full of people Shee is a widow Shee that was great among the Nations And Princesse among the Prouince is made tributarie And wee may wish with that same Prophet Oh that mine head were waters and mine eyes a Fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the Daughter of my people Ierem. 9. 1 This worke is a part of Antichrists persecution for now hee is both breathing threatnings slaughter against
plainelie hee vvould cast them off as hee did Shiloh The Iewes had his presence and now they are casten off The Greeke Church in Asia Africke and the Easterne partes of Europpe had the Gospel but abused it and now are giuen ouer to Mahumets carnall and absurde delusions And the Westerne places of Europ and Rome at the first did shine as a glorious Church It vvas then an hammer of Heretickes and an harbour of distressed and persecuted Sainctes and yet falling from that Trueth is novv for manie Ages the nest of Antichrist And this Nation at the first inlightned with the Gospel enjoyed Peace when other Nations were ouer-runne with Warre and had almost lost both learning and Religion Then this Church proued a Mother Church and sent out her Schollers as Apostles to conuert the most parte of England and other Nations beyond Sea But when shee was therafter first compelled and then willingly yeelded to Romane superstition God put out that candle of the Gospel which had shined some seuen or eight Ages And now since many Ignorants relapse to Poperie and the most part fall in Atheisme who are we after so many fearfull examples to thinke that God will still dwell amoÌ„gst vs not withstaÌ„ding of all our rebellions This fleshly conceat is an high degree of fleshly securitie as odious to God as our other sins for it would blemish him whose eyes are purer than that they can behold iniquity as a fauourer of sin As though he were tyed to dwell with obstinate and impenitent sinners whom his Soule abhorreth to keepe his couenant with them who proudlie breake it which is all one as to make GOD and Beliall dwell together The discouerie of the Newe found Land reserued till the laste times offereth a remarkable consideration for this purpose Some doe rest vpon naturall causes as the perfection of sailing the inuention of the Sailers compasse and other naturall reasons But Diuinitie leadeth vs a steppe further in the cause of this diuine prouidence That as Light came out from Sion at the first and spred it selfe through all parts error and heresie came after treacing the steps of trueth to the out most-parts of the earth yet many Nations either remaining in or returning to Paganisme other falling in Mahumetisme other were caried in that horrible Apostasie within the Church to anti-christianisme The Kirk groning vnder these abuses heresies within it selfe did lute for Reformation In this mean time God discouered another world to tel this old one that if they wold not reforme theÌ„selues he had prouided him a soyle dwelling place set vp a people that were not of our knowledge to prouocke vs to Iealousie God hath indeede taken vs by the hand but when nothing can moue vs to our duetie what can hee but giue vs a bill of deuorcement and put vs from him God this day and wee in his Name are speaking as hee did to the Church of Ephesus I haue something against thee that thou hast forgotten thy first Loue. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and doe the first workes or else I will come against thee shortlie and remoue the Candlesticke out of his place except thou repent Rev. 2. 4. The Iewes promised continuance of all happinesse to themselues because they were Abrahams seede But Christ telleth them that God will not want a people though they were destroyed For hee could raise vp Children vnto Abraham out of the stones of the fielde And hee letteth them see if they would see it to the griefe of their hearte that hee is better serued of the Gentiles than euer hee was of them If we joyne to our other sins this fleshlie conceat also that hee will want a people if hee cast vs off He can make either Barbarians or Iewes or thâ—se who now are the enemies of the Gospel turning them to the Gospel better seruants to him than wee are And will teach vs to our by eternall sorrow that hee can haue a people though wee bee not his people But where shall wee finde a God if in his Iustice hee cast vs off for our sin He will euer prouide himselfe a Church But woe to vs when hee departeth from vs. Hos. 9. 12. The second plague to bee feared is the Sword of Man God hath shaken many roddes on vs and smitten vs with them but we mend not Hee hath broken the staffe of bread and giuen vs cleannesse of teeth in our Cities and multitudes in the streetes dying for famine Hee hath stricken vs with Pestilence and made that flying arrow rage fearfullie And great Mortalitie on men and beastes hath almost latelie taken the tith of this Land and yet wee haue not amended The Sword onlie remaineth as the last and most fearfull plague which God then useth when all other chastisements haue not wrought his end to bring vs to repentance Wee are as Israel whome God did smyte with plague after plague And yet for all this they returned not to me sayeth the Lord. Amos. 4. And therefore why should I smite them any more Isa. 1. 4. And thou hast forsaken mee saith the LORD thou art gone backeward Therefore will I stretch out mine hand against thee and destroy thee I am wearie with repenting Ierem. 15. 6. When hee had taken paines on them and they were not mended hee cast them a way The bellowes are burnt the Leede is consumed in the fire the Founder melteth in vaine for the wicked are not plucked away Retrobate siluer shall men call them because the Lord hath reiected them Ier. 6. â—9 30. It is now dangerous to sleepe in Securitie as though our enemies were farre off and wee coÌ„passed with the walls of a great Sea We haue our enemies within so long as sin increaseth is not repented we waÌ„t not enemies to destroy vs God wanteth neuer instruments wheÌ„ he wil punish a Land He can hisse on the Flee at the Riuer of Egypt and on the Bee in the Land of Ashur Isa. 7. 18. And though there were but men halfe wounded and halfe dead they shall rise vp euery man in his tent and burne Ierusalem with fire when God is angrie with her Ierem. 37. Grashoppers are but weake Creatures yet when God sent them on Israel they could not bee resisted because the Lord uttereth his voyce before his Armie for his camp is very great for he is strong that executeth his word Ioel. 2. 10. As for our walls of Water if our sinnes remaine they will bee Shippes and bridges for our Enemies to bring ouer the wrath of God vpon vs Though wee would build our nest into the toppe of Rockes yet the hand of God can pull vs downe where euer a man dwelleth hee is a blacke marke for God to shoote at and the arrowes of his wrath to light on so long as guiltines abideth in him Wee should not indeede neglect or contemne lawfull meanes of our defence
and Veluets out-cryeth the groanes of their Spirits The sorrowfull Iewes rent their garments and cast dust on their heades Dolour in the heart biddeth the bodie hing out sorrowfull ensignes and these in blacke or base clothing But in a busked bodie there is not no such dulefull ensigne and therefore no sorrow in the heart These painted Puppies seeme to bee sent of Sathan to Congregations to bee blots in them and scoffers of God in his Face The Primitiue Church enjoyned their Penitents to come before the Congregation in sackcloth and cast themselues on the ground so that oft-times their teares moystening the dust defiled their faces with clay A face so ouerlaide is more beautifull in the sight of God than Iezabells fairding They seeme to read Silke for Sacke in the Prophets exhortations to Fasting at least they put on Silke in stead of Sacke To heare Doctrine of Humiliation and to bee richlie â—led doe not agree To pretend griefe in heart and bee sumptuouslie arrayed is abomination in the sight of God and a uisible Solecisme in the eyes of Man 2. The second thing to bee joyned with Fasting Is a large offering for the support of the Poore It is our tyme of supplication to God for his grace whereof wee both desire and expect a large measure VVhy should vve not theÌ„ bee liberall to the Poore As vvee vvould haue him open handed to fill our hearts with grace VVee should be free to helpe their necessities Beside the measure of our daylie offering to them wee are bound to conuert the charges of our house to their comfort that vvhat wee spare on our selues in Fasting may bee lent to God and giuen to the poore Vnlesse this way wee helpe them vvee offer to God but a lame sacrifice and turne his seruice to our owne worldlie gaine because that vvhich we spare on our selues remaineth vvith vs To be large in DeuotioÌ„ niggard in our contributioÌ„ to the poore is to proue that we count more of our moneyes than of Deuotion And to moue God to respect it as little as wee doe This hath also beene a great fault in our former Fastings Wee ought therefore to giue our dinner to them that are hungrie that Christ hungring in the poore may receiue that which the fasting Christian doth abate And so our Fastes may bee filled and fatted with Almous deedes and wee may reioyce that our Fasting hath made another to eate 3. Thirdlie wee must also joyne heerewith all requisite godlie Exercises to bring our hearts to that holie Disposition that God requireth as 1. The reading and hearing of the Law of GOD that vvee may see our dittay in the Commands that wee haue broken and our Doome in the threatned wrath vvherevnto vvee are lyable by these breaks So Iosiahs heart melted when hee heard it read because hee saw great sinne in Iudah and heauie wrath hinging ouer their heads 2. The hearing of Pastours apply that Law to vs and lance our Conscience by their Doctrine So Peters Sermon pierced the Iewes hearts vvhen their sins vvere layed to their charge they were forced to seeke ease to their wounded Conscience Act. 2. And when the Leuits did expound the Law the people mourned before the Lord. Nehem. 8. That piercing sharpnesse of the worde chaseth them that are wounded to God The heart pierced with conscience of sinne can find no rest but in him 3. The reading of Bookes of deuotion which among other good ends are vvritten by godlie men to stirre vp the heart to a tendernesse and affectuousnesse in the worshippe of God 4. Conference with Pastours and other well affected Christians For the mutuall stirring vp of our hearts to that holie Exercife As coales joyned to coales augment the heate so godlie conference increaseth both zeale affectioÌ„ 5. Heerewith must be joyned holie Meditation All worldlie thoughts must bee put out of our Soule and the thoughts of God onelie keeped in it Our heartes are hard and not soone moued wee must labour on them painefullie and hold them on the benâ—sell of spirituall disposition Hard stones are dissolued by strong waters and Vineger and the hardest heart will be softned by laying it in the strong water of Contrition that piercing Vineger of bitter remorse all which things are furdered by constant meditation 6. And aboue all feruent prayers to God and singing Psalmes of Repentance that our desires be not a sound and multitude of words but a powring out of our verie heartes as water before him We must wrestle with him as Iacob in power of his owne grace and not suffer him to depart till hee blisse vs with the remission of our sins It is not enough that one sort of people fast but all of euery sort and state For all haue sinned and are impannelled at the barre of Gods Iustice Gather the people sanctifie the Congregation assemble the Elders gather the Children and these that sucke the brests Ioel. 2. 16. And the King of Ninivie did fast made all his seruants to fast also Ionah 3. 1. Pastours haue their part in this worke To informe the people of their sin and danger of wrath and waken vp their conscience by the terrours of the Law that being priked in their hearts they may cry out Men and Brethren what shall wee doe Act. 2. 2. And not that onelie but also in example to goe before them Let the Priestes the Lordes Ministers weepe betweene the Porch the Altar Ioel. 2. That thereby they may shew to the people that they themselues belieue the things which they speake of sinne and death and that the worke of Humiliation is good when they practise it affectuouslie 3. To interceede with God for their people that hee would pardoun and spare them Spare thy people O Lord and giue not thine Inheritance to reproach Ioel. 2. Moses was so zealouslie carefull of the peoples safetie that hee wished his name to bee rased out of the Booke of Life rather than they were destroyed And Phineas seeing the plague breake into the Campe made atonement for them This is to stand in the gappe and make vp the breach from staying the proceeding of Gods anger Ezech. 22. 30. And the bearing of the names of the Tribes of Israel on the Breast-plate of our heart in a Pastorall loue and on the two Shoulders of an earnest care and assiduous labour Presenting them and their necessities daylie to God Our tyme is like the tyme of Ieremiah and Ezechiel God hath now presented the roule of his Booke vnto vs and it is all written within and without Lamentation mourning and woe Ezech. 2. 10. Our duetie is as Noah to fore-warne the world of the Floode As Ionah to denounce destruction against Niniuie And as men that stand in the counsell of God to discouer the iniquitie of the people to turne them from their sinne and turne away their captiuitie Ierem. 23. Now the Shippe of Gods Church is tossed and
priuate worship is not onlie to be vnderstood when the whole Family meeteth together in their Hall or other conuenient roome but beside that when the Master of the house hauing discharged that duety with his Family goeth a part to some reteered corner of the house there is yet more free in his deuotion than hee can bee in the sight of his Familie And so other of the house who are come to vnderstanding or any measure of Grace This is the Familie aparte and their wiues aparte In end we haue three thinges to consider in all his work 1. First our preparation for it The worke is transcendent to the naturall man and craueth preparation to lift him aboue Nature in so heauenlie an exercise Though sudden ejaculations waite not on preparation because in them wee are set to worke vpon an instant by some urging occasion yet in the set dyet of his worshippe we are bound to an holie preparation And in this solemnitie we haue neede to double the measure of our deuotion beeing called to the highest extent both of afflicting Nature and stirring vp the grace of God in vs. It is therefore needfull to try if God prepare vs for the worke This we shall know 2. If he open our eyes to see how needfull this humiliation is for vs by seeing our sin his just wrath that wee may be driuen to that resolution that wee must either breake off our sinne by Repentance or else be consumed in his anger 3. And by this sight if he wakeÌ„ our sleeping conscience and make it to set vs to worke that we giue God no rest till hee giue rest to his beloued 4. This is some proofe of that which God telleth I haue beene sought of them that answered not and found of them that sought mee not And before they call I will answere Isa. 65. 1. Where our miserable State hid from our selfe is seene of him so as hee pittieth it to helpe it that our miserie vnwitting of vs calleth for mercie As the sores of a sleeping Childe moue the Father to compassion And though wee neither seeke him nor call on him in anie knowne or sensible incalling yet his Fatherlie pittie answereth the cry of that our necessitie when wee know not This is a preuenting Grace in this point Whereby God finding vs in the pitte of miserie setteth downe Iacobs Ladder to vs afore wee know of our estate or thinke of a deliuerie Next wee should try our disposition in the worke it selfe if Gods preuenting Grace in preparation bee seconded by an assisting Grace which standeth in those points 1. If hee soften our heart to powre out it selfe as water before him and bruse it so as to bee an acceptable Sacrifice 2. If hee powre vpon vs the Spirit of Grace and Supplication his Spirite making intercession for vs to helpe our infirmities in teaching vs both what to aske and how to pray with groanes that cannot bee expressed 3. If hee giue vs Boldnesse to draw neere to the Throne of Grace and to finde accesse to him in the blood of Christ and libertie of Spirit in all our deuotion 4. If he giue vs the desire of our heart in disposing it as we desire to be both casten down for his offence and raised vp in hope and confidence of his mercie To feele our hearts melting in a godlie sorrow is matter of vnspeakable joy while that sorrow is melting the heart the sense conscience of that disposition coÌ„forteth our heart wheÌ„ we find Gods Spirit hath giueÌ„ vs our will ouer our hard heart to sacrifice it to God 5. If wee see his beautie in the Sanctuarie when hee holdeth the golden Scepter of Peace like Assuerus and commeth downe and moueth people to teares and groanes When the Angel of the Lord or the Prophet charged the people of their sins they did mourne so that the place was called Bochim or mourners And assisteth euery one according to their necessitie and place making the Pastours as Trumpets to speak and not spare his words in their mouth is as the Hammer that breaketh the Rocke in pieces Ierem. 23. 23. When hee casteth downe and raiseth vp woundeth and healeth vs againe and worketh so in the Congregation that it may bee seene hee hath appointed that meeting and keepeth it to reconceale his people to himselfe 6. If as hee worketh a godlie sorrow in our heartes so bee putteth wordes in our mouth for his intreatie Take to you wordes and turne to the LORD and say to him Take away all our iniquitie and receiue vs gratiouslie so will we render the calues of our lippes Hos. 14. 2. And againe Let them say Spare thy people Lord and saue thine Inheritance Ioel. 2. 17. It is a token God will heare vs when he giueth vs his Spirit to helpe our infirmities and dytteth our bill Hee cannot refuse that supplication which hee formeth himselfe Hee heard Daniel and send him comfort while he prayed While I was speaking and praying and confessing my sinne the Man Gabriel beeing caused to flee to mee swiftlie touched mee and said At the beginning of the supplication the Commandement came foorth Dan. 9. 20. So sonne as wee are humbled on Earth and send vp our supplications to God hee is readie to answere vs to our heart Thirdlie how vvee close that Exercise If as it beginneth in sorrow for our felt miseries so it end in ioy because our sacrifice is turned in ashes VVee haue sufficient grounds of good successe vpon his promises But beside these promises in his vvord his vvorke in preparing vs for it and disposing vs in it are a good inducement to our hope When hee powreth out the Spirit of Supplication on Ierusalem then assuredlie hee will breake vp a Fountaine to the house of Dauid for sinne and for vncleannesse Zac. 13. 1. VVee know not his purpose and thoughts concerning vs but his Spirit vvho knoweth his minde reuealeth them and this is an sort of reuelation by his working For as he knoweth the minde of God so hee vvorketh the godly to that disposition vvhich he knoweth is most requisite for obtaining the purposed blessing Therefore that holie and heauenlie libertie is â—ome sort of euidence to vs that God hath both purposed for vs and will giue vs the blessing which wee craue after that manner When he strengtheneth vs to wrestle with him like Iacob hee will not depart till hee blesse vs and of wrestling Iacobs make vs his preuailing Israel on whom is his peace But let none deceiue himselfe by a voluntar apprehension of Peace or fainzie to himselfe a ioy where hee hath none God hath giuen vs the infalible mark of good successe of Fasting in new obedience Who so after Fasting walketh not in a newnesse of life is deceiued by his seduced heart This is cleare both by the Nature of Repentance and remission True Repentance is not onelie in a sorrowing for sinne and refraining from it for a day or