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A16479
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The saints solace: or, The condition, and consolation of the saints in the earth Deliuered in certaine sermons at Eatonbridge in Kent. By the minister there.; Saints solace
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Bostock, Peter.
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1630
(1630)
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STC 3395; ESTC S117350
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48,100
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246
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world Gen. 19.6 and these troubles as the Angels on him lay hold on mee the Lord being mercifull vnto mee to bring me forth and to set me without the bounds of destruction I will therefore take in all that come for in doing this as other in their tents I may entertaine in this earthly tabernacle Angels vnawares Heb. 14. â—â— An Angell sent from God for some speciall good to me is my tribulation and this is my comfort in my affliction 8. By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions demonstrate faithfull and fruitfull branches Euerie branch of the vine that beareth fruit is purged that it may bring forth more fruit Io. 15.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defractionem partium luxuriantium Aret. in loc Fert vberiorem fructum post refectionem Aret. vbi sup Vitis foditur circuÌ„ciditur sterceratur putatur aliisque multis exercetur laboribus c. Aret. vbi sup For as after the refection defraction of the parts luxuriant the branches of the vine yeeld more fruit so the faithfull in their afflictions which are as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rusticke purgations are the more fruitfull not pruned at ease and grow wilde apace or their grapes wilde but purged afflicted wounded within and bruised without euerie gift is stirred vp and set to work euery grace that is in them the lights put vnder a bushell before shine afterwards as in candlestickes set vpon hills What vse before of faith or of patience before what hope or ioy in the holy Ghost As the wine forced runs out of the presse and as the weights of a clocke turne all the wheeles about so the loads of afflictions presse out of them that are Christs the praises of Christ * 1 Pet. 2.9 and shew forth the hidden vertues of them that are the hidden ones of God * Psal 83.4 This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Pinched I am pruned and pared nigh yea cut to the quicke that I bleed in spirit but needfull the compunction it is the first degree of inward humiliation if a wound bee it is the second and not hurtfull nor the third which is the contrition it selfe Better is a conscience wounded D. Slater Salue for a wounded spirit than a conscience seared better a heart grownd to powder with the millstone of wrath turning about vpon it than one dedolent and past feeling of sin and wrath better a soule to be lopped in the passions of sinnes than to be obducted with ranke lusts or neglected and reiected Not meerely poenall the wounded spirit in the children of God as in Cain and Iudas the beginning of their hell but either castigatory for the chastisement of some particular disobedience as Dauids or probatory for triall as Iobs or percursory for preuention as Pauls thorne in his flesh lest through the abundance of reuelations he should be exalted aboue measure 2 Cor. 12. or purgatorie for the cleansing of vncleane and euill thoughts imaginations and reasonings touching Gods prouidence the word the profession the power of nature selfe-abilitie to conuert inherent righteousnesse good works freewill and security in the arme of flesh How such sparkles rise in vnswept chimneyes the fire blowne with the bellowes of hell who knoweth not that knoweth the deuices of Satan Phil. 2. Therefore I will through him that worketh the will and the good deed giue all diligence to search and try mine own wayes In euery crooked way I may finde a crosse * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my crosses indigitate mine exorbitancies As I deprehend them I will amend them and bring forth fruit meet for repentance new obedience in all things the old things in mee shall become all new When I shoot forth Isai 27.8 the Lord will in measure debate with mee and stay the rough wind in the day of the East wind when I blossome and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit in its season for I will approue my selfe as the seruant of Christ 2 Cor. 6.5 6. in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in tumults in labours by the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by good report and euill report as persecuted yet not profligated as chastened and yet not killed as sorrowfull and yet reioycing as pruned being pampinous too full of needlesse sprigges and superfluous twigges yet not taken away as the fruitlesse branch nor cast forth nor withered nor gathered of men nor cast into the fire but purged for fructification Io. 15.6 and this is my comfort in my affliction 9. By the word of God through faith they vnderstand that afflictions are necessary exercises Heb. 12.13 a kind of wrestling betweene the Lord and his seruants Troubles on them his hands on them and theirs on him the right hand of faith 2 Tim. 2.5 Thus it is wrested and who preuaileth Alwayes the afflicted striuing lawfully The lawfull striuing learned of Iacob Hoseah his interpreter hee had power with God and preuailed for hee wept and made supplication vnto him Hos 11. so may all ouercome if the Lord may ouercome the heart yeelded vp the strife is ended humbled in the sight of God immediately lifted vp Iam. 5.10 teares seene hee yeelds supplications made he takes away his hand the victory with facility had grieuous the conflict for the present time yet ioyous afterwards Heb. 12.11 the Lord not let goe the blessing not obtained This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Is the euill vpon me the hand of the Lord Doth hee thereby wrestle with mee wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee Rom. 7.24 Hee will himselfe hold mee downe with his left and vphold mee with his owne right hand my faith his gift Io. â— 2â— his worke that I beleeue in him beleeuing in him I cannot nor shall be cast downe of him or out of his sight Gen. 35.25 touched happily the hollow of my thigh as hee wrestleth with mee it may slip out of ioynt or the sinew may shrinke and I may halt vpon it but my faith shall not faile Therefore will I while the Lord with mee striue lawfully with him holding my selfe fast by him weeping before him and making incessant supplications vnto him exercised this shall bee my exercise vntill I preuaile and through him I shall preuaile with him he will hold me fast see my teares Psal 6.8 heare the voyce of my weeping Isai 38.5 giue mee the petitions that I desire of him blesse me with the new name Reuel 2.17 in the white stone giuen to him that ouercommeth I shall haue princely power with God and men Psal 118.6 I will not feare what men can doe vnto mee aduantagious the disaduantage the agitation requisite lucratiue the luctuation And this is my comfort in my affliction Lastly By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions precede the ioy of the Lord and glorie to come as the pleasures of sinne destruction and damnation To them that make their bellies their Gods Phil. 3.18 and that minde earthly things as the enemies of the crosse of Christ Rom. 29 10. Tribulation and anguish indignation and wrath but to them that lye amongst the pots in stocks in the dungeon in the briars and in the burning bushes induring the fierie triall of their faith fulnesse of ioy and brightnesse of glorie the triall of their faith being much more pretious than of gold which perisheth though it bee tried in the fire shall bee found vnto praise and honour and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ The Passouer of the great * Reuel 5.14 tribulation celebrated or the same passed ouer they shall wash their robes Phil. 3.21 and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe their vile bodies also be fashioned like vnto the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ shall shine as the firmament yea as the Sun in the height of his glorie This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Of a truth I perceiue Rom. 8.18 that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to bee compared to the glorie which shall be reuealed in me I reckon not the temporall euill but haue respect to the eternall good I faint not 2 Cor. 4.16 17. for though mine outward man perish mine inward is renewed day by day my light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for mee a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie Therefore vnder my pressures Rom. 2.10 I will by patient continuance in well-doing seeke for glorie and honour and immortalitie and eternall life for I am perswaded that neither tribulation nor distresse nor persecution nor famine Rom. 8 3â— nor nakednesse nor perill nor sword nor death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to preuent the ioy or to separate me from the glorie to come the spirit of glorie resteth already on me and full is my heart of ioy in the Holy Ghost The God of all grace hath by Christ Iesus called me into his eternall glorie and after that I haue suffered a while * 1 Pet. 5.10 will cause mee to enter into his ioy which is fulnesse of ioy and crowne mee with his glorie which is eternall glorie To him be glorie and dominion for euer and euer Amen FINIS
would bee remembred with all his afflictions b Psa 132.1 particulars inducted in Psal 22.102 and this 119. c Psal 119.23.61 69.85 86 87. Psal 102.3 4.8 Vers 23 Vers 78. Vers 61. the princes the powers the proud the wicked combined against him yea sworne against him and mad against him Vers 6â— what lies sorged they what pits digged they Vers 84. persecuted wrongfully Vers 36. consumed on the earth Vers 87. waited for to be destroyed Vers 95. hunted with dogs Psal 22.16 their feet swift their mouths deepe as wide and their teeth as sharpe compassed about with many bulls Vers 10. beset round with strong bulls inclosed with the assemblies of the wicked Vers 16. gaped on with their mouthes Vers 13. laughed to scorne Vers 7 smitten with their tongues Psal 52.2 3 4. 120 3 4. their tongues as speares and razors and words as swords powred out liâ—e water all his bones sundred his heart like wax melting in the midst of his bowels Psal 12.14 his strength dried vp like a potsheard Vers 15. the reproach of men Vers 6. yea a worme and no man cast out and brought into the dust of death Vers 15. Preuention Maruell not that Dauid the seruant of the Lord sound faithfull as Moses in all his house a man after his owne heart which fulfilled all his will Acts 13.22 Beloued as his name sounds and beloued of the Lord was exercised with such anxious and crieuous afflictions for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Beloued d Eph. 1.6 i. Iesus Christ the elect of God are all accepted as Dauid was and called all Iedid his beloued e Psal 127.2 yet none exempted from the sufferings of the present time no not one not one amongst the excellent from Adam to Christ from Christ to this our day that hath not in some measure tasted of the cup which is full of mixture f Iude v. 3 common as the saluation and the grace of God which bringeth saluation * Tit. 2.11 tentation and tribulation g 1 Thes 1.6 The Thessalonians receiued the word with much affliction h Heb. 10.32 The Hebrewes inlightned indured a great fight of afflictions A conclusion offered The whole houshold of faith all the fellow citizens all that liue godly all the sons of God all the children of light all that hold forth the word of life are in this life partakers of afflictions Thus I might conclude Obiect Obiect But this doore opened some will oppose themselues speaking on this wise Hard is this saying to the Non-afflicted that enioy this worlds ioy prosperity and peace for being without any manner of affliction whereof all are partakers that are i Heb. 12 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sons elect beloued and accepted are they not Sp. hated reiected reprobated as Edom k Mal. 1.2 3 4. reserued as the wicked to the day of destruction Answ Answ Carnall the peace altogether and without truth or pride and security the fruit thereof with hardnesse of heart it 's as the prosperitie of fooles a blessing cursed and the praeludium to destruction m Psal 92.6 A brutish man knoweth not ☞ neither doth a foole vnderstand this but the spirit speaketh expresly When the wicked spring as the grasse Psal 92 7. and when all the workers of iniquity flourish it is that they shall bee destroyed for euer Take for example the two notorious fooles n 1 Sam. 25 the one the man of Maon whose possessions were in Carmel a very great man hauing three thousand sheepe and one thousand goats and liuing in prosperity yet smitten in a moment his heart died within him and he became as a stâ—ne o Luc. 12.19 the other the man in the parable who when his ground brought forth plentifully wanted roome where to bestow his fruits would therefore inlarge his barnes and hauing therein laid vp much goods for many years sing without grace requiem to his soule Soule take thine ease eat drinke and be merry but the same night his soule was required of him Contrà this I say and testifie in the Lord that outward peace and prosperity had with the peace of God and of conscience the Kingdome of God first sought and found with his righteousnesse it s the blessing of the Lord without affliction or sorrow added with it p Pro. 10.22 Saint Iohns prayer for Gaius was that he might prosper and be in health as his soule prospered q Io. ep 3. 2. A man behauing himselfe wisely in a perfect way walking within his house with a perfect heart r Psal 102.2 Gen. 17.2 Micah 6.7 vprightly before God humbly with him doing iustly louing mercy casting on the waters dispersing giuing to the poore communicating with the affliction of others in distresse if peace truth be with him in his dayes it s the face of God shining on him the light of his countenance and the euidence of his prouidence how otherwise should the poore afflicted bee releeued and their soules sustained Å¿ 1 Reg. 18.13 Obadiah not in case to doe it who shall hide the Prophets in a caue and feed them with bread and water Nehemiah not in fauor with Artaxerxes t Neh. 4 2 3 4 c. who shall procure any fauour to Ierusalem Onesiphorus u 2 Tim. 1.16 Philo. â— 7 Philemon and others not enriched and enabled how shall Paul or the bowels of the Saints be refreshed Dauid poore afflicted had friends of ability through the Lord to vphold his soule x Psal 54 4. for the Lord he said was with them y Psal 35.27 The Lord loueth the prosperity of his seruants Therefore blessed with it they blesse him for it and z Iob 31.22 the loynes blesse them of all that are refreshed by them their righteousnesse endureth for euer and their borne shall be exalted with honour * Psal 112. vlt. Neuerthelesse afflicted without controuersie Outwardly Inwardly 1. Outwardly reproached and enuied for following and doing the thing that good is a Eccle. 4.4 I considered saith the Preacher all trauell and euery right worke and for this a man is enuied of his neighbour Cain who was of the wicked one slew Abel wherefore because his workes were euill and his brothers righteous b 1 Io. 3.12 Ioseph was afflicted of his brethren c Gen. 37.4 Daniel accused of the Presidents d Dan. 6.4 Iesus Christ reiected of his owne e Io. 1.11 and they that exercise themselues to liue godly in him f 2 Tim. 3.12 persecuted of vnreasonable and wicked men * 2 Thes 3.2 wherfore know ye not that there is enmity put betweene the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent g Gen. 3.15 Demetrius had a good report of all men h Io ep 3. 10 12. yet Diotrephes prated