MAster D. I in­clude your wife in you, both your loues to that Saint departed, and to my self, doth bind me vnto you in all Christian du­tie, especially to exhort you to repentance, and prouoke you to loue, the neglect whereof, [Page 4] though hitherto it hath been somewhat excusa­ble, yet hereafter it might iustly bee con­demned in me; where­fore I will breake off si­lence, laboring to build you forward in the graces aboue named. First to deale with you in repentance, then to helpe you forward in new obedience. The Lord preacheth repen­tance still to vs: If a mes­senger knocking at our doores haue their an­swere returned, they are gone forthwith to them that sent them; so if the plague and such like [Page 5] messengers which God sendeth to vs, had that they came for, they would not still ring the bel at our dores, and cal vpon vs. Neither doth God waite for repen­tance onely from the wicked, but hee would haue his dearest chil­dren meete him con­demning themselues; if ye also repent not more and more (when you see the examples of Gods wrath) you shal also pe­rish). First, to shew you what this is, so I shall stirre you vp to it more fruitfully. By repen­tance I meane nothing [Page 4] else, but 2. Co. 7.10 godly sorrow for sinne, wherein the soule humbleth it selfe before God, and com­meth home to him. It is not a worldly sorrow (like theirs in the 7. Hos. 7.14. of Hosea) which maketh vs whine, because the world is hard, nor yet a hopeles griefe Ge. 4.13. in feare of punishmēt like Cains: but a griefe for Ps. 51, 3.4 sinne as it displeaseth God, whose loue through Christ, wee haue felt Zac. 12.10 shed into our hearts, Lam. 3.22 whose mercies we see in that we are not cōsu­med, yea, Heb. 12.6 whose father­ly affection doth seeke [Page 5] to recall vs home by lo­uing correction. Now in this sorrow, the soule doth humble it selfe, for this is the nature of repentance, it wil make vs Ezech. 36.31. take shame to our selues, giuing glory to God, partly by seaso­nable acknowledging those waies wherein we haue Psal. 51.14. Dan. 9.5. most prouoked God, partly by Ezech. 36.30. iudge­ing our selues as wor­thie to bee cut off, that we may finde grace in his eyes, and not bee condemned. And toge­ther with grieuing and abasing it selfe, the stray soule Act. 26.20. commeth home [Page 8] to God, purposing (through his strength) to leaue the waies wherin it hath grieued him, and to cleaue to God in all his commande­ments. Looke then if entring into your heart you finde, that as much hath beene amisse, so discerning Rom. 2.4. Gods mer­cy and patience, yea his goodnesse, in giuing you the cal of his word and corrections, you are grieued that you haue been so vnkinde, and vndutifull, to so kind and carefull a fa­ther; if you finde that where it is to his glory [Page 9] you loue to confesse your vnfruitfulnesse, & to condemne your self, and doe with true pur­pose of heart strike a new couenant with God to forbeare your owne waies, to walke more fruitfully before him, so far as his grace shall preserue you from the one, and strengthen you to the other, (for all our sufficiencie is in him); if you find these things in any measure, then reioyce, for God hath giuen you Act. 11.12 repen­tance to eternall life. But if your hearts haue neglected this exercise [Page 8] of a broken spirit, and that your consciences tell you there hath been little or no griefe this way; then you must be entreated that whilest it is called to day, that Gods grace doth still inuite you, you would not harden your hearts, but prepare to meete him. Luk. 23.28. Weepe not for me, weepe for your sins, saith our Sauiour, and blessed are they that mourne in this kinde, the Lord carrieth a handkercheife to wipe away those teares, he is neere to comfort these hearts; these Aprill [Page 9] dewes bring May-flo­wers; such as sowe in teares shall Psal. 126.5. reape in ioy. Is it not better for vs to take the rod into our owne hands, and beate our selues gently, then force the Lord to take vs into his hand, who is a consuming fire: if the Lord do but see you are willing to cast downe your selues, and to deale with your owne soules, he will co­uer your heads in the euill houre, and make loue to your soules, whē his negligent chil­dren shall taste of his temporarie displeasure. [Page 12] Delay not this: our foules in their swar­uings from God, are like two bones beside their ioynt, the longer they go they proue the more painfull, if wee take them in time they are set more easily. We wil take Physick, purge, sweat, to preuent the growing of disease vp­on vs; shall we not bee wise for our soules; the vomit of the soule, is the griefe of repētance, take it betime, driue not of till the Lord bee forced to visit. Now if God giue you to desire that your hearts were [Page 13] broken in his sight, but yet you finde that you cannot (partly for the hardnesse in your harts, partly for outward di­stractions) do the thing you would, I will helpe you a little at this lift. There is an art in blow­ing vp euery grace in the spirit, and this with the rest.

First therefore you must Deut. 30 1 Lam. 3.40. Apoc. 2.5. enter into your hearts, & consider your owne waies. Wee will keepe a reckoning what we run vpon the score with men, but rare are they, that thinke how deepe they are in Gods [Page 12] books, such ill husbands wee are for our soules. Now wee must heere marke warily, whether wee haue not lost some graces which wee haue had; I mean, haue them not so powerfully as we haue felt them. Whe­ther wee doe not giue place to sloth, doing Gods seruice coldly & sleightly; whether wee haue not forgotten our couenant which wee haue made with God in Baptisme, viZ. of dying to our owne thoughts, words, and deeds daily, and labou­ring in our whole [Page 13] course to feele that not now we liue, but Christ in vs, as Paul speaketh, his spirit teaching vs to doe euery thing as be­fore him in conscience of his will, to his glory. Yea, you here must call to mind, the most Deut. 9 7. grie­uous sinnes which you at any time haue pro­uoked God with, wee must not bid adieu to the remembrance of our sinnes past and par­doned, but must euer beare them in memory, so far forth as may help vs with godly sorrow, holy bashfulnesse, and lowlinesse of minde. [Page 16] Deut. 9. Now then thus setting the matter be­fore you, if you finde not your harts pricked with it, then you must (as the Prophet speak­eth) take words to your selues, Hos. 14 3. and trouble your owne soules, as thus; What? shall I thinke of my sins against God, & not grieue nor blush at them? If I haue o­uershot my selfe, so that men may haue a saying to me, it doth cut mee at the heart, I am asha­med; if somthing crosse but my corrupt nature ere while, I haue griefe at will; and shall I not [Page 17] grieue for offending my God? If I had broke day, and not kept touch with man, I could not looke him in the face, shall it not goe nigher me, that I haue kept my couenant no better with God? If my ser­uant haue loytered his day ouer, and not done my worke, he blusheth, and is afraid to come before mee: and shall not I change my coun­tenance, and be moued that I haue been so vn­profitable in the works of God? Thus as men in swoones, being cha­fed, come again, so shall [Page 16] your soules, while thus you bestirre them, feele some warmth return­ing to them. But if yet the heart will not re­lent, you must in the third place, seeing your barrennesse and inabi­litie, turn you to Christ speaking to him in this wise: Were it to grieue at earthly occasions, or that my selfe were dis­pleased, heere my affe­ctions would come to mee before I sent for them; but for godly sorrow, none of it gro­weth in our gardens, our foolish hearts loue not holy mourning, [Page 17] our hard hearts will not relent to thinke how we displease thee, we know­ing there is no strength in vs to any thing is good, look to thee, thou art the Christ & Act. 5.31. Lord; thou giuest repentance to thy Israel, and for­giuenesse of sinne; thou (Lord) dost circumcise the heart, thou hamme­rest Ezech. 36.26. and breakest by thy Spirit the stone of them, making them fleshie & tender. Lam. 5.21 Lord do thou turne vs, and we shall be turned: Thus while you turne your eies to Iesus that quick­ning Spirit, he will bee [Page 20] present to quicken this grace in you. But what if yet your harts should not so kindly melt with in you as you desire, yet al [...] is safe, for this is the smoke of repentance, Mat. 12.20. which Christ will not leaue till it blaze forth, hee will not put forth a smoking weeke. This desire and labouring af­ter it, is happines it self; Blessed Mat. 5.6. are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnes; yea, vsing this course to consider of your wants, to chide after some sort your own soules, and to look to Christ the giuer of [Page 21] repentance, the stone of your hearts, the hardnes wil come away by little & litle, & whē in bodily wounds the approuedst plaisters must be often laid on, you must not thinke, that these spiri­tual euils so long grow­ing on vs, should bee quite gone on the sud­den. I doe beseech you therefore, as euer you would taste the com­forts of God; as you would find ease in euill houres, when nothing but God can refresh you; yea, as you loue to escape much worldly sorrow, which tendeth [Page 22] but to death, so ac­quaint your selues be­time with this exercise of a broken heart; Mat. 5.4. Bles­sed are they that mourne, for they shall be comforted, and wee know much more earthly sorrow then we should, because we will not trouble our owne soules a little, blowing vp that godly sorrow which is requi­red at our hands.

Now for the second, of helping you forward in obedience, the sum of the couenant twixt God and vs is this; he in Christ saith, he wil take vs for his Hos. 2.23. people, wee [Page 23] promise to him, that we will haue him for our God. This therefore doth comprise our duty to God, that we set him vp in our harts as God; which thing wee doe first, when we grow vp to know him, and to ac­knowledge him in all things. Secondly, when we make him our trust. Thirdly, when we loue him aboue all. Fourth­ly, when wee feare him. Fifthly, when we reioice in him. Sixthly, when our hearts are thankful­ly affected to him, ma­king him their song and praise. This is to haue [Page 24] him for our God, when we know nothing, trust in nothing, loue, feare, reioice in nothing, whē our hearts are thankfull aboue all to him. To speake a little to the se­uerals: We cannot haue God our God, till wee come to know him in Christ: ignorance doth Eph. 4.18 estrange vs from God, and knowledge doth acquaint vs with him. This Paul prayeth for in the behalf of the Co­lossians, 1.10. that they might be filled with the knowledge of God, the spirits of their mind be­ing opened, to look to­wards [Page 25] him. Euen as our image in the glasse doth looke to vs from whom it is reflected; so Gods Image in vs doth make the eie of our mindes view him, the author of it in vs. Now this know­ledge considereth of God two waies, either simply apart frō al other respect, and thus it con­ceiueth a spirituall es­sence, in respect of his properties, or persons into which this diuine selfe same nature is di­stinguished, the Father, Sonne, and Spirit, al of them hauing the same spirituall nature, as if I [Page 26] and you with som third man, might bee suppo­sed all to haue but one and the selfe same soule and body, being di­stinct persons. Or else it considereth God, as made manifest in our Nature, for Iesus the Sonne, hauing one, and the same Nature with the Father, hath taken such a soule & body as we haue (sinne excep­ted) to fellowship of his person, and thus is be­come Mat. 1.23 Emmanuel, God with vs, or God 3. vlt. mani­fested in our Nature, in which humane Nature God the Sonne suffe­red [Page 27] death for vs, in which likewise hee ma­nifested his Diuine power, raising it vp, glorifying it in heauen; so that he who was dead in his humane Nature, is now aliue in it for e­uer, hauing swallowed vp death into victorie. Thirdly, it considereth God manifested in Christ, as he is become our God by Couenant, in regard of such things which his faithful mer­cies doe worke for vs. He in Christ is our Iu­stifier, our Sanctifier, that helpes vs against the remnants of our [Page 28] corruption; our Redee­mer that deliuereth vs from all troubles; the God that careth for vs, giueth vs euery good gift, blesseth vs in our estates, feedeth vs, gi­ueth vs and all his be­loued ones sleep, defen­deth vs from al euil, kee­peth vs by his power to saluation, is the begin­ner and ender of all his good graces in vs. Now how short are we in this point, wee are like in­fants in a manner new borne, they are kept by the louing Parent, from fire, water, are fed, laied to sleepe, [Page 29] made readie, vnreadie; shifted in their scape, but they know not who doth all this for them. So doth our heauenly Father by vs in Christ, but (he knoweth) little vnderstanding haue we of him: for though God be light it selfe, a Spirit which brightly seeth all things through heauen & earth, to whose pure shine the Sun is darke­nesse, yet the weakenes of our sight is such wee cannot look against it: as the Bat and Owle cannot indure to see the bright beames of the Sun in the firmament; [Page 30] you must therefore take notice of your spirituall blindnesse, and come vnto him that selleth eyesalue, Reue. 3.18 that hath the spirit of illumination, which openeth the eies of the blind, and crie to him for mercie. Why if your eyes were sore bloud-shot, &c. your eies wherewith you see but one another, crea­tures like your selfe, you would seeke out for them, and wash with strongsmarting waters, but you would restore them; wil you not seeke to your God in Christ for to restore that sight [Page 31] of your spirits where­with you see him, and the things of your peace within the vale, euen in the heauens? nay, you must bee asha­med you take know­ledge no more of your God through the whole day. If our children when wee are by them, should through rude­nesse and carelesnesse not once cast a looke to vs, as acknowledging our presence, would we take it at their hands? might not euery one say, these children they are better fed then taught? they are thus [Page 32] gracelesse. Let vs apply it to our selues, who serue our God and Fa­ther little better, and you must set vpon this suite with better hope, because God hath pro­mised to vs, this is his couenant, wee Ier. 31.34 shall know him from the greatest to the least of vs: the eye looking on a thing becōmeth one with it in some man­ner. But least I grow too tedious, I come to the second, wee must trust on him, hanging all our hopes on his mercie and truth to­ward vs. And these two [Page 33] go together; men som­time the better wee know them, the lesser we trust them, and that deseruedly, but Psal. 9. Psal. 9.10. such as know God, shall trust in him, and who so reposeth al his confi­dence in God, hee takes him in so doing for his God: as the Scripture in this respect saith, the couetous man is an ido­later, taketh his money for God; because hee putteth his trust in vn­certaine riches, his wealth is a strong tow­er in his thoughts: and hee that trusteth in the creature, with-draweth [Page 34] his heart from God (saith the Prophet) tea­ching that our hearts are vnited to God, Jer. 17.3. when the affiance of them is set on him. Now though we should liue by faith Gal. 2.20 on the Sonne of God, trusting vpon him for the giuing and main­taining of all our good both temporall and e­ternall, leaning vpon him for defence, and deliuerance from all e­uils spirituall, yea, and corporall, 1. Pe. 5.7. casting all our cares on him, Phil. 3.3. ha­uing no confidence in the flesh, but reioycing in Christ Iesus, though [Page 35] this is our dutie, yet we are exceeding weake in faith, and full of vnbe­leefe: this will appeare by our want of feare at the thretnings of Gods word and by our care­lesnesse, which maketh vs loosly looke after his promises. Did wee be­leeue such threatning, (if you liue after the flesh you shall die), Rom. 8.11. wee would tremble when we fauour our selues in our owne wayes? the diuels beleeue and trē ­ble. Againe, trusting ci­uilly in mans word or bond, we do seek them carefully, and are glad [Page 36] when we haue got thē: and as we say, wee write vpon them, to haue so much at such a day, vp­on a substantiall mans word or bond giuen vs. But Gods word that promiseth all good things in this life, as wel as the life to come, his seales wee seeke not after them, wee are not glad of them, which is a signe of our great vn­beleefe in them. Se­condly, by the resting of our hearts in out­ward things, and our being disquieted when we want them, is a to­ken that our hearts are [Page 37] vnbeleeuing; while wee haue meanes and good likelihoods of this or that, wee are well, let these faile, we are trou­bled: which sheweth that wee rest not on the word of God, which is as sure in the want of all things, as in abun­dance, but leane on such things as wee see and haue at hand. Sup­pose a man had crut­ches vnder his armes, but leaned not at all to them as hee goeth, take them away, he walketh as before. So wee, did not we trust and leane on the things seene, but [Page 38] on God who is not seene, but by the eye of faith, wee should goe as vpright, when al things to sense speake the con­trary, to that wee be­leeue, as when our fee­ling is fed abundantly, hoping against hope. Thirdly, did we rest on God, and trust to him, (as who is all in all) we would seeke to him for his blessing, more then for meanes, which by his blessing doe this or that, whereas we labour not to make him sure to vs, but to get the meanes, and then wee thinke all is well with [Page 39] vs. Now when you find your vnbeleef, you must make it odious to your selfe by such like consi­derations. Shall I seeke after the word of a mā, sometime, to secure but a twentie shillings matter, and shall I not seeke after the preci­ous promises of my God? shall I trust to a man promising this or that, and shall I not trust my God, who is truth it selfe, that can­not lie? will not a sub­stantiall man thinke much, if I take not his bare word? and shall I not trust my Lords [Page 40] word and seale & oath (he hath sworn to blesse vs with all blessings in Christ) vnlesse he leaue me a pawne also? Then in the third place, when you finde your vnbelee­uing heart trouble you, Heb. 12.2. you must looke to Christ, who is the au­thour and finisher of your faith, speake to him. Thou hast begun, thou must finish. En­crease my faith, I be­leeue, helpe my vnbe­leefe. The third dutie is, you must loue him, for loue we know ma­keth the man and wo­man one, so it doth cou­ple [Page 41] vs to God. Wee must labour to say from our hearts, Lord, what haue wee in heauen but thee, Psal. 73.25. or in earth in comparison of thee. Now though we think wee doe loue him, and doe so, yet it is weakly, and aboue all things we had need to mende in this behalfe. Trie your loue and then iudge of it. Those you loue, doe you not loue to be present with thē, as you two one with another? if one of you be forth of towne, doe you not thinke long til you meet together? are [...] [Page 44] but should bee affectio­ned toward euery stran­ger; if shee should not care how long she were absent from him, but thinke her selfe best while they were asun­der; if shee cared little how her louing hus­band were offended, casting that at her heele which hee taketh to heart, were not this shamelesse behauiour in her? and shall not we be ashamed to shew no lesse want of loue to thee, to whom our souls are married in Christ? Then you must turne you to God, confessing [Page 43] that your hearts are full of harlotry and false-loue. You can loue your selues, you haue affectiō enough to the things of this world, the gifts of God, and that the meanest, more then the giuer, as harlottes to rings, gold, bracelets, more then the senders, and beseeching him to purge your hearts of this, and fill you with his loue: for this is his promise, I will circum­cise your hearts, and make you loue mee with all your hearts. The fourth thing is the feare of God: Sanctifie [Page 44] the Lord in your har [...]s, make him your feare: Esa. 8.13. Mat. 10.28. feare to offend him, who when the body is killed can cast the soule into hell fire. We shold reuerence his excellent Maiestie, and dread to offend him, because hee hath been gracious to vs, and hath power to doe with vs what euer he pleaseth. And with good reason were there from whom wee hold our house and stocke, so that hee could turne vs out of all at his plea­sure: would wee not walk very circumspect­ly, fearing that which [Page 45] might alienate his fa­uour from vs? Againe, if the Maiesty of a mor­tall man doth affect vs (as of the King) with reuerence; how much more should wee be af­fected with the glori­ous Maiesty of the most high God? Now you must know your hearts are much void of this also. The thing speaketh it self. Do you not feele when in prayer you are to speake to God, that there is no reuerence in your hearts beseeming so high a Maiestie? Do you not feele the want of dreade at his iudge­ments, [Page 46] which so long haue been vpon vs, and still houer about vs and what awe is in vs, ma­king vs fearefull by sin to displease him? Alas, presumption, securitie, hardnesse of hart, these weeds grow so hic, that wee can scarce discerne y ^e fruit aboue named. In the third place thē you must worke this want vpon your heart, as the former, saying: If I were in the presence of some great personage, and should carrie my selfe rudely, without due respect, would I not blush? shall I not [Page 47] bee ashamed I haue no more reuerence when I come before thee, Iam. 2.19. O thou God of glory? so for want of dread shall the beasts tremble whē the Lion roreth: yea shall the diuels tremble to thinke of thy iudge­ment? O shall I be sens­lesse and no whit moo­ued? So for want of awe in regard of break­ing Gods law: shall I dare as well to take a beare by the tooth, as to breake the Kings law, where especially it threatneth life, limme, or liberty? and shall I not bee afraid to tres­passe [Page 48] against thy [...] ­tutes, the breach wher­of is punishable with e­ternall death. Is there none but thee that wee may make bold with shall I bee so foolish as to feare sicknesse, po­uerty, mens displea­sure, and not bee afraid of sinne, and thy wrath which is Heb. 12. vlt. a consuming fire? what were this but with little childrē to bee scarred with a harmelesse bul begger, and to bee dreadlesse of fire and water. In the last place, you must looke to God in con­science, how this affe­ction [Page 49] is peruerted in you, confessing to him that you can feare the face of men, things that are, or seeme hurtfull to your selues: you can [...]emean your selues re­uerently toward such as are great amongst mē, but toward him you finde great want; and goe pray him to worke it in your hearts, who hath couenanted to put his Ier. 32.40 feare in our harts, so that we shall not de­part from him. Fifthly, to haue God for your God, bindeth you to re­ioyce in him: Phil. 2.4. Reioyce in the Lord, againe I [Page 50] say reioyce. Ie [...]. 9.23. Psal. 37.4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord, and hee will giue thee thy hearts desire? let not the rich man re­ioyce in wealth, the strong man in strength, the wise man in wise­dome, but in this, that he knoweth mee, saith the Lord. For what wee make our chiefe ioy, that is our God, for the heart resteth chiefly in that with which it is most delighted. Now what is more equall, then that we should so­lace our selues in him, with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious, who hath [Page 51] deliuered vs from death sinne and Satan (who as Gods executioner hath power in sin and death) in him who is a light and a shield, that is a fountaine of all good, and a defender of vs from all euill; one able to maintaine all the good spiritual and cor­porall which we haue, and giuē vs whatsoeuer is wanting: but if wee marke our hearts, their ioy is much depraued, (so that Salomon saith not without cause, Eccles. 2.2. our laughter is become madnesse); for our harts are not cheary this way: [Page 52] tell thē of the precious benefits are giuen vs in Christ, pardon of sinne, peace, the beginning of euerlasting life through the work of grace, hope through Christ of the heauenly Kingdome; why they can heare this and be so farre from lea­ping within vs, that we can hardly discerne them any whit moued. Nay, if we marke them the better, we shall see, that when wee would hold them to the re­membrance of such things, till they haue broke loose from vs, they are not in their [Page 53] kind, cannot bee light­some; as if God were the dampe of our mirth, not the matter of our exulting gladnes. Now when you obserue, that you cannot reioyce in the Lord, you must shame your soules, by laying before them their owne course in o­ther matters. If I see some toy & heare some iest, I cannot containe my selfe; if I heare some goodnesse, or meete with prosperus successe in my worldlie affaires, I can bee plea­sant enough; if I be pas­sing the time with my [Page 54] friends at their curte­ous inuitements, it go­eth on merily, dead­nesse and vncomforta­blenes I feele them not for the time. Fie, shall I haue laughter euen till I tickle at a feather at some merry conceit, at good newes of some earthly businesse, and shal I not reioyce in the Gospel of God in good newes from heauen tou­ching the saluation of my soule? Againe, shall I laugh and bee cheary in being with my friēd, and shall I be all amort when I draw neere my God? Shall I be glad of [Page 55] acquaintance with a man, and not bee glad y ^t I know my God in Ie­sus Christ, which is life euerlasting? Iob. 1.17.1. The wic­ked they exult, in ser­uing sin & Satā to their destruction, shall I bee without ioy in seruing my God, who giueth of his free grace to me life euerlasting? O our re­ioycing is earthly, little ioy of the holy Ghost dwelleth with vs. We are like such as are sicke of light phrensies, they [...]ill laugh at their shad­ [...]ow, at their own phan­ [...]es, but can see nothing [...]to, nay, distaste that [Page 56] which sauoreth of right reason. As therefore a­gainst the former, so a­gainst this also we must fight the good fight of faith looking to him, who hath said hee will make our hearts glad in his house, who hath pro­mised to send his spirit to vs, that our ioy may bee full; praying him that in this regard hi [...] Kingdome may come and that hee would rectifie this affection in v [...] to make vs able to tak [...] comfort in that whic [...] is matter of true reio [...] cing. Now for praysi [...] God, and thankfulne [...] [Page 57] to him, wee haue this commandement, Phil. 4.6. in al things giue thanks, yea in euils; Iohn 1. Psal. 104. end. shal we receiue good things from God, and not euill, the Lord hath giuen, the Lord hath taken, blessed bee his name. No wonder, for medicine is as good in due season, as the de­lightfullest dainties. Now our inward and outward crosses are by Gods graces made wholesome physicke to purge out our corrupti­ons, and make vs parta­kers of the quiet fruit of righteousnesse and ho­linesse. Yea, our hearts [Page 58] should be so thankfully affected, that like a fire it must breake forth and inflame others. My soule, my heart, al with­in me praise the Lord, Psal. 104, 35. My soule praise the Lord, praise yee the Lord. He doth stirre vp himselfe, and prouoke others, as the Cocke that first clap­ping his wings about his bodie, rowseth vp himself, and after crow­ing awaketh others. O­therwise cōmon termes of thankfulnesse with­out affectiō are a court-holy-water (as we say) which our God that [Page 59] looketh at heart and raines doth not respect. And truly there is great cause, looke at benefits past (eaten bread must not be forgottē, thanks must still be greene); doth not the particular deliuerance, when ma­ny fell on each hand of you, bind you still to thankfulnesse. If all things you enioy, you know the tem­porall blessings, as tolerable health, good name and reputation, freedom from suite and seruice, ability rather to [...]e helpful then charge­ble, the domesticall [Page 60] peace, your liberties without feare of re­straint, all of them in their place no small matters. Will you con­sider spiritual blessings, that which you haue downe in hand is as great a work of his mer­cie, as the glorious sta [...]e you looke for hereaf­ter. Is not the Lords worke more admirable in his first making, and quickning the infant in the wombe, then in fee­ding it there, draw­ing it forth, and nur­sing it vp to full stature? so his begetting vs who were dead, to bee aliu [...] [Page 61] (though yet in the wombe of our mother the Church) is more then the bringing of vs to a perfect man in Christ Iesus, when now we are new borne babes in him. And though it seeme strange, yet it is onely in this respect, be­cause we are like infants who liue, but know not in comparison that they liue; so wee hauing in small measure that Spi­rit, which teacheth vs to know the things be­stowed on vs, know not how great that grace is, which is already shew­ed vs. It is no smal thing [Page 62] when wee were dead in ignorance, and the lusts of our ignorance to bee quickned with the life of God, in knowledge, righteousnesse and ho­linesse, when wee were enemies to bee made friends, yea sonnes and daughters. The Apo­stle doubteth not to reason from this (as the greater) to life euerla­sting (as the lesser) Ro. 5.10. If God, when we were enemies, hath re­cōciled vs by his death, how much more wil he saue vs with perfect sal­uation of soule and bo­dy by his life, that is, by [Page 63] putting forth the pow­er of his Spirit, now hee liueth to die no more. These then are great things: his acquitting you from the sinne and death for Christ the su­ [...]ties sake; his sending his Spirit into your heart, and giuing you part in the first resurre­ction. Beside these, you must remember what aduersities he hath hol­pen you in, how he hath eased the yoke of your corruptions, which haue had more power in you, then now they haue; yea, what euils he hath put by you. Haue [Page 64] you not been tempted in [...]his or that kind, it is because God in mercie would not leade you in­to temptation. Yea this is in some respect more to bee acknowledged the [...] victorie when you are tempted. For, not to bee tempted is more immediately from God and lesse in mans pow­er, then to preuaile a­gainst temptations. For nothing doth ouercom vs without our will, but without our wills, God doth leade vs into tri­all; for he knoweth we would taste little of these, if it were in our [Page 65] power to bee our owne caruers. You must bee as thankful for such sins which God hath not let you know, as for those which hee hath pardo­ned in you, hauing com­mitted them. Whither doe you thinke you are bound to praise God more, if hee restore you when you are sicke; or if he keep you, so that you feele no sicknesse? Now if you weigh what things God hath prepa­red for you, they are such as neuer eye saw, neuer entred fully into the hart of mortal man. Compare the state of [Page 66] Prince Henrie in his Queen Mothers womb with his condition at full age in all the glory of his Fathers Court, there is a broad diffe­rence which may fitly resemble the diuersitie of our present and fu­ture condition. We are borne sons and daugh­ters of God, heyres ap­parant to the Kingdom of heauen: but while the Church doth heere trauell of vs, we are pent vp in darke cloysters, & annoied with much stincks of sinne in ou [...] selues and others, but hereafter our state shal [...] [Page 67] be altogether light­some, happie and glori­ous. So that wee may well say to God, O how great is the good which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee! How great things dost thou worke before the sonnes of men, for such as hope on thee? You see then how for things past, for things present, and things God hath in store for vs, wee are bound to bee thankfull. Now if you aske what it is in which our thank­fulnesse standeth. I an­swere; first, in a heartie acknowledgement of [Page 68] Gods goodnesse to vs in all things, with con­science of our owne vn­worthinesse, as who are lesse then the least of his mercies. Compare Genes 32.10.33.5. 1. Ch. 29.14 Moses ex­ample, Exo­dus 18.8. Secondly, we must tell of Gods kind­nesse, that we may glo­rifie him before others; come, I will tell you (saith Dauid) what God hath done for my soule. Thirdly, it doth make vs cast about, what we may returne to God in way of thankfulnesse, Psal. 116. What shall I giue the Lord for all his benefits vnto mee. Fourthly, it will make vs accuse our selues, if [Page 69] we bee backward in du­tie. Thus we see when wee receiue any more speciall kindnesse from our frinds, first, our in­ward affections doe ac­knowledge and inter­taine it gladly. Second­ly, we tell what such an one hath done for vs. Thirdly, we will thinke how wee may requite him, or testifie our thankfulnes at the least toward him. Lastly, we challenge our selues (if time goe on, and no to­ken of our good will be returned) as to blame that forget so great cur­tesie as was shewed to [Page 70] vs. Now then that you haue heard what it is to bee thankfull, what good reason wee haue; wee must lay our selues to this rule, and we shal find wee come as short here, as in those afore­named. O wee are hor­ribly vnthankfull! what good blessings do we re­ceiue, not once casting a look to the donour of them. When wee are kept in the night, our houses from fire, brea­king into, &c, when re­freshed with sleepe, when kept al day in our out-going and incom­mings, when fed, doe [Page 71] wee acknowledge our God heartily in these, yet it is hee that watch­eth, or in vaine they keepe the Citie; it is he that rocketh vs asleepe, and draweth the cour­taine of the night about vs; he giueth sleep to his beloued, Psal. 137. It is hee that wardeth about vs all day, keeping vs in our waies, Psal. 120. He openeth his hand, and like a great house-kee­per giueth vs our daily bread. If in earthlie things which wee see, & tast, we cannot praise him, what taking shall wee bee found in about [Page 72] heauenly, whē you haue your daily sins forgiuen you in Christ; when you are kept from the sin of your own hart, the cor­rupt examples of worldly men, the spirituall wickednesses that fight against vs; when you go in spirituall peace from morning to night, which alone is a gift passing vnderstanding, Phil. 4.7. doe you acknowledge God with affection to­ward him in these things? it is he that shifts vs out of the scapes of our corruptiō, wash­ing vs in the bloud of his Christ from the filth [Page 73] of our sinne; hee forgi­ueth vs euery day our trespasses; it is his pow­er, 1. Pet. 1.5. in which as in a tower, we are kept safe against all our enemies vnto saluation. Hee is the God of peace, the Prince of peace in Christ, who stilleth the [...] accusing, and subdueth the rage and vsurpation of sinne in vs: we are like infants, that haue much done about them, but knowe not who doth it, take no knowledge of them. Our God doth carry vs on in the armes of his tender mercy. But alas, little doe wee vn­derstand [Page 74] of him. In be­nefits receiued often, I meane not meate and drinke, but many other which in the course of the day are giuen vs of God. our spirits do not once looke vp to him, but as swine take the mast, so doe wee our blessings: or if we do any thing in way of thankfulnesse, how ouerly do we turne ouer this duty? our af­fections and inclinati­ons more bent another way, thē to that we haue in hand, euen the thank­ful praising of our God: we serue him as our chil­dren serue vs, whē they come in to vs frō their play, and haue got som­thing of vs they wanted, away they goe without [Page 75] looke or leg to vs; but if they know we will haue it, then they doe them in some fashion, but so, as we may see their hart is in their game abroad more then their dutie: so for speaking what our God hath done for vs, (thankfulnes will not slip ouer a benefit re­ceiued) when doe wee with delight tell of his kindnes? When doe we beat our heads, not suf­fering our tēples to rest till wee haue giuen our God some argument of our thankfulnesse? Alas, we vse our God, as if it greatly mattered not [Page 76] how he were dealt with. Now then take words to your selues, condem­ning frō your harts this grieuous sinne. Say if a man doe bid mee to supper once a quarter, I thanke him then, when I meet him after, I thank him of my last being with him, I tell what kinde welcome, what good cheere hee made mee, bid him home a­gaine, check my selfe if I forget him. But if some greater matters be be­stowed on vs, how kind­ly doe wee take them, how doe we loue to tell of them, how doe wee [Page 77] yeeld our selues vp to them to bee at their cō ­mands to the vtmost of our abilities. Shall I thanke him that giueth me a supper in loue, and tell of his louing enter­tainment, bee ashamed if I make no neigh­bourly requitall? and shall I not bee affectio­nately thankfull to my God, who giueth me all my daily bread; yea, who feedeth my soule with himselfe in Iesus Christ (heere is my bo­dy, my blood) that I might liue for euer? Shall I not tell of those fined wines, those fatte [Page 78] things euen of my God, broken in his body and soule with sorrowes, sheadding his precious blood, wherewith my vnworthy soule hath beene fed and feasted? Shall I for some small kindnesse tell a man I am his to bee com­manded? and shall I not resigne my selfe to my God, who hath paid my debt, and purchased mee a new stocke, euen the hope of eternall life with his precious blood? shall I blush vpon some more vnthankfull part to mā, and not be ashamed of [Page 79] vnthankfulnesse toward God? What? shall I be worse to my God, then an Oxe or an Horse is to his owner? If I should shew one exceeding great loue, & he should not at all regard mee, or returne mee some common countenance, could I endure it? Thus then turne your selues to God, I am become worse to thee, then the whelpes that feede vn­der my boord are to me: they will open and fawne in their kinde on me, but my heart hath no power to bee thank­full to thee, to praise [Page 80] thee. O thou who requi­rest of me in all things to giue thee thankes: & hast promised to write thy commandemēts in my heart, put into my heart a law of thankful­nesse, O thou quicken­ing spirit, quicken my soule this way: labour for thankful hearts: God asketh vs but this as a rent for all his blessings bestowed on vs: I will deliuer thee, and thou shalt praise my name, Psalm. 50.15. Wee will not forfait things to men for not payment of rent: let vs not giue God cause to re­enter [Page 81] and straine vpon vs, and all wee haue, for not magnifying and praising him. Thus if my God helpe you to stirre vp your hearts to repentance, and to sur­render your hearts to him by eying him, tru­sting on him, louing him, reioycing in him, by making him your feare, by prai­sing him with spirit, word, and worke: then happy shall you bee. If new plagues breake forth, you shall haue comfort in the hottest: and if you la­bour to see how farre [Page 82] your hearts are out of frame, in their confi­dence, loue, feare, ioy, thankfulnesse, in regard of the impenitent hard­nesse, and impudencie that is in them; for they cannot blush for that God knoweth by them, though our eares will glow on our heads, if men know ought re­prochfull by vs. If you labour to finde this out, and then in sight of your misery, looke to Gods promise, who hath pro­mised to giue you a new hart, a tender hart, in which his comman­dements shall bee writ­ten [Page 83] by the finger of his spirit, then you shall see this course will neither let you bee idle nor vn­profitable; yea it shall returne you much com­fort and true peace: in life and death wise men will take the sowre with the sweet, and the world is not gotten without paines taking; therfore if it seeme to haue a­ny bitternesse, or to re­quire labour, you must not be dismayed, I will promise you it is but brackish on the toppe, the deeper you go, you shall find it the sweeter.

MY Christiā friend if I had sooner knowne of your heaui­nes, I would before this haue written vnto you. For the more argu­ments we haue of loue borne vs by Gods chil­dren, the more testimo­nies we haue of his fa­uour towards vs. It pleased God in Decem­ber last, to change his hand toward you, and to touch you in your wife, whom now hee hath againe visited, & I hope all with both your [Page 85] cōforts. Truly our God (through Christ Iesus is so mercifull, y ^t all things are sanctified by him vnto our good, all affli­ctions though for the present not ioyous, yet they bring vs afterward the quiet fruit of righ­teousnesse. These euils which here euer and a­non are present with vs they are fitly cōpared to wayward & touchie guests, which while they stay, watch euery officer, but when they depart, they pay freely. So it is with these, they oftentimes disquiet the frame of the whole [Page 86] soule, but when they go away they leaue en­crease of grace, of faith, of patience, of ex­perience, that the soule saith well, it is good I knew these things. But the present working of sorrowes seemeth often farre otherwise: for in stead of encreasing in faith, our faith seemeth to bee shaken and wea­kened, rather then o­therwise; and in stead of breeding patience and holines, our soules doe discouer more im­patiencie, rebellion, more vnholinesse eue­ry way. Now the soule [Page 87] thinketh when thus it is shaken in beleefe, how doe these crosses confirme faith? and when such euill dwel­ling in vs doth breake out, how (saith the soule to it selfe) doe afflicti­ons beget the quiet fruit of righteousnesse? I wil answere you these questions familiarly: when faith is shaken by euils befalling vs, you aske how it is confir­med? I answere you by a double comparison: When a linke burneth dimme, to helpe the light, we knocke it, be­ing beaten to any thing [Page 88] it seemeth almost to go forth; yet this beating it, doth cause it cast light farre more cleere­ly. Againe, how doth the shaking of a tree by stormy blasts settle the root and the tree more firmely, though for a while it threaten the downefall? Conceiue of these, and you may vnderstand, how faith though it seeme to bee cast downe, yet tried by tentations it com­meth to bee streng­thened. Now then if you aske, how they bring forth encrease of righteousnesse, seeing [Page 89] you see more vnrighte­ousnesse breake from you by occasion of thē, then you haue obser­ued in your selfe here­tofore. When a vessell of any liquor, hath mud and dregs setled in the bottome, it must bee stirred, that which seemed pure must bee made muddie before it can bee cleansed: euen so his troubling of vs, vessels full of vnclean­nesse, is the way where­by God doth cleanse vs. Now if God bee so tenderly present by vs, as it pleaseth him ere-while to be, it falleth so [Page 90] out that much gold, many precious graces are discerned, which wee before could not discouer: and these are such sweete sowers, so pleasantly tempered, that the griefe is not so bitter, as the working of grace in vs is de­lightfull. But what way soeuer, calamities doe not so hurt vs, as scarre vs; vs who are lo­ued of God, and called home according to his purpose. Thus wishing your peace, and hoping y ^t all shall turn to good, the good of you both, I cease to trouble you.