The first dayes conference. Of carnall and worldlie temptations▪

MY Bodie is sicke, my Soule is wounded: Gods wrath is fearefull; it burneth to the Deut. 32. v. 22. bottome of Hell▪ The heate thereof already maketh my Soule to sweate: I can find no Skrine or Sconce to set betweene mee and this fire: Oh, in all appearance I shall short­lie [...]ee dissolued, for to be brought before that great Tribunall: Note Alas, [Page 4] what terrours are these, Sinne, Sick­nesse, Death, the Graue, and an vn­prepared Soule? I tremble all like Belshazzar: Mine heart is entan­gled Dan. 5. 9. with feares: my knees shiuer, and smite one against another: Mine heart is pricked, while I remember mine euill spent life: Note While I had time to doe good, I was of the fro­zen Generation: Nowe Gods glowmes like Boanarges, Sonnes of Thunder, armed with fierie furie, make heart and Soule to melt, and to fall downe in droppes within my bowles: Oh, for a drop of wa­ter for to coole the boyling heate o [...] mine heart: Is there no man heere that can affoord me a word of com­fort, for to vphold mine heart into this heauie houre?

Sir, I thinke it expedient that ye send for your Pastour, the man of God, that beareth the keyes of [...]he Kingdome of heauen: It may bee that [Page 5] the good God shall put some words of comfort into his mouth whereby your wearied Soule shall bee refre­shed* while the chosen Servants of God speake his words to the fainte heart, the Lord putteth foorth a power to enable them to doe all that wherfore they are spoken: So soone as S. Peter had spoken to the lamed man, his feete and ancle bones recei­ued Act 3▪ 7. strength: Though miracles cease now, yet this shall bee true, so long as the world standeth▪ The effectuall feruent prayer of a rightcous man a­uaileth Iam. 5. 16 much: Will it please you Sir that I goe for to fetch him?

Hee shall bee welcome vnto mee: But alas, while I might I fre­quented him too little: Note I haunted rather the cōpanie of these that de­lighted mee with sportes and jests, whereof now I haue no comfort: Note Because I thought I could repent heereafter, I did that whereof I may [Page 6] now repent, and whereof indeed, as I feare, I shall repent but too late [...] This now puts my Soule into the dumps: now al my foolish laughters are turned into mourning, for I feare exceedinglie to die, I tremble and tosse within this bed, GOD alone knoweth what shall bee the end of this lingring tryall: Goe Sir, I pray you, and desire the man of God to come and visite a bruised reede, and Isa. 42. 3. a smoaking flaxe.

I goe for him presentlie: I hope before hee leaue you, yee shall find this tempest of temptations to grow­calme: Note In the meane-time till hee come, I pray you to remember that all your paines are but a crosse sent before to crucifie the loue of the world: In your greatest distresse, striue to bee a Disciple of Iesus, the Author and finisher of our Faith, who Heb. 12. 12. for the joye that was set before him, endured the crosse: Bee not discoura­ged [Page 7] in your greatest smarts▪ Note For re­proofes Prov. 6. 13 of instruction are the way of life: In your greatest feare remember the joy that is set before you.

Sir, hauing knowne of your dis­ease by your godlie friend I am come to see you, and to impart vnto you some spirituall comforts▪ Note While the Soule is sore troubled, thereis danger in delay: A bruised Spiritis like a bone out of joynt, the longer it be let alone, the hardlier it is set. If I had knowne of your sicke­nesse sooner, I would haue visited you ere now.

I rejoyce Sir to see you, my Soule euer loued you: But alas, not as I should haue done: If God should but at this time spare my life, with the helpe of my God yee should see mee at once a farre changed man.

Come Death▪ come Life, God [Page 8] maketh all thinges to worke to the best of these that loue him.

Gods corrections are good dire­ctions: Note With one crosse hee can worke two cures, first a correction for by-past corruption, and after a direction for times to come: If God should not scourge vs betimes the reigning of the flesh should proue the ruine of the Spirit: Note This was the vtter ouerthrow of the Sonnes of Eli, God would not correct them, because the Lord would stay thē.

As for that which ye speake con­cerning 1 Sam. 2. 25 the changing & amending of your life, your resolution is good: But seeing the houre of death is vn­certaine, it is good that yee bee pre­sentlie prepared: Death commeth vpon mā with stealing steps: Let no man put far off the day of his death There is great danger, that any man sooth himselfe with the vaine hope of this mortall life: No man can tell how soone hee shall be arraigned to [Page 9] compeare before Gods Barre: None said a Pagane is assured to liue vntill the morrow.

Note It is good therefore daylie and hourelie to bee vpon our Watch-Tower, preparing our selues for death, which shall either be the end of all our miserie, or the beginning of our euerlasting woe, delay to pre­pare for death, is a strong threed in the Deuils net. A man will not die the sooner that he prepare himselfe to die: If a man bee prepared to die, and yet die not, hoc sibi ponat in lucro, that preparation is great aduantage vnto him: But if hee die, hee hath done that which hee should haue done: Note What a dangerous venture is this to a man to delay to prepare himselfe to die, because it may bee that yet hee may liue? But may it not also bee that hee die? It is a dan­gerous thing to perrell our Saluati­on [Page 10] vpon a may be, which may as well no bee: It is fearefull to bee hanged ouer Hell with the euill twined threed of a life that must end, none can tell, how, where, nor when. No man is exeemed from this necessitie.

Note The post Pale Horse wherevpon Revel. 6▪ 8 Death is mounted, caries his Rider thorow all Nations, Cities, and Houses; pulling out of their beds Princes, Prelats, and priuate men without any respect of persons: thus are their hopes cropped in their fai­rest flower: It is good therefore that wee euer bee vpon our gard: God offereth grace to day: To day if Heb. 3. 15 yee heare his voyce: But who pro­miseth to morrow? well is him that feareth alwayes.

O the terrours of Death and of the Graue! mine heart quaketh while I remember of these last strug­glings that are in death: It was not without reason that the Pagans cal­led [Page 11] it terribilium terribilissimū, of all fearefull things, the most fearefull.

Note If men knew what Christ hath made of Death, the liuing would not be so afraid with the feare ther­of, Isaiah saith, that hee hath put it into his Stomacke, hee hath swallo­wed Isa. 25. [...]. it vp in victorie: A wife man will not swallow ouer that which hee is not able to digest: Christ hath swal­lowed Death and hath digested it perfectlie: Note Nowe Death after Christs digestion, hath lost all its poyson, and is turned into a sleepe: The name thereof is changed, for to tell vs of the change of its nature: Dead Lazarus in Christs language is called sleeping Lazarus, Lazarus Ioh. 11. 11 Our Friend sleepeth, said Christ, spea­king of his death: Hee that liueth and Ioh. 11. 26 beleeueth in mee, said Christ, shall ne­uer die: Death is not death to the Friends of Christ, but a sleepe to their bodie, & a translation of their [Page 12] Soule from a prison to a Palace: Note As by the grace of God, it is made an Exodus of miserie, so is it a Genesis of a better life, the corruption of one thing beeing the generation of ano­ther: Note What is this, that men should so feare Death, which is the end of the foule & cōbersome way of our Pilgrimage? Note Hath not God made death like a Chariote to a wearied man, for to carie him to his euerla­sting rest? This was seene in a visible figure, when Elijah in a firie Chariot 2 King. 2. 11 went vp by a whirle wind vnto heauen.

All that is true Sir: But yee know that death is fearefull to all flesh: So soone as it commeth, it maketh a Soule lyable to yeeld an acoūt for all the actions of the by-past life: Note The bodie and the Soule are of olde ac­quaintance, and haue not wil to part one frō the other: I cannot expresse what a worsling I finde within mee; there is such a working feare about [Page 13] mine heart, that I tremble to thinke vpon it: This maketh my words to wade in teares, mine heart is cut with sobs of sorrow: O death, the enemie of Life, is there no comfort against thee? Is there no Balme in Gilead? Of force then must I die?

The woman of Tekoah said verie well, Wee must all needes die, and are 2 Sam. 14. 14. as water spilt on the ground, which can not bee gathered: Death is an vnauoi­dable passage, there is none entrie vnto Heauen, but by it. I will striue to let you see before that yee enter in at the doores of Death, that your Soule hath no such cause to be afraide: Indeed I confesse, that death to these that know not Christ, is in­deede a most fearefull thing▪ accor­ding to this Sathan said, Skinne for Iob. 2 4. skinne, and all that a man hath he will giue it for his life: Note See how a Natu­rall man would bee content that his skinne were pulled off him, if it [Page 14] could bee a ransone for to saue his life: Such is the feare of death, that for to bee free of it, a man would giue his skinne: Note Agag called it a 1 Sam. 15 32. bitter thing: Surelie, said he, The bit­ternesse of death is past: Note The wilde Gourdes shred into the Prophetes pottage, for bitternesse, were called Death: So soone as they had tasted them, all cryed, Death is into the 2 King. 4 40. pot: The bitter torments of Hell 2 Cor. 1. 10 are called, so great a Death: Dauid speaking of the pangs of death, cal­leth them waues: The waues of death cōpassed me: See how death is com­pared 2 Sam. 22 5. to a raging Sea, with rolling waues: To this Dauid subjoynes, The snares of death preuented mee: vers. 6. Death indeed is fearfull, armed with waues & snares: Note We in our weak­nesse make it also fearfull, painting it with bare bones, with a skul, girning with its teeth, and with its sting, like a flooked Dart, for to pierce tho­row the heart of man.

[Page 15] Note It is true that death is bitter in it selfe, but hee that made sweetnesse to Iudg. 14. 14. come out of the strong, and meate to come out of the eater, can bring both meate and sweetnesse out of death for the Christian Soule, though no thing bee stronger than death, the greatest eater of the world. One saith well, that there is in death but one bitter morsell to swallow.

The cheefe course that wee haue to tak for to win to an happie death, is that aboue all thinges, wee striue to make our acquaintance with Christ, the Lord of life: Note Till a man know Christ, who hath disar­med Death by taking away its sting and its dart, hee will tremble at its buzze: Note A Bee that wāteth the sting, will afray a Childe with its buzze, but the man of vnderstanding is not afraide for a sound. Note I am assured that the excessiue feare of Death in a wicked man, is a most powerfull meanes for to make him die before [Page 16] his day, that is sooner than by course of Nature hee should haue died: Though a mans day bee set, yet God vseth meanes, Death is a di­stresse 2 Sam. 14. 14 vnto the wicked.

Let him thē that would die in peace Luk. 2. 29 make his peace with his God: Note No man cā be willing to die, before his Conscience bee at quiet, till God and his Soule haue shaken hands, & beene friended: Note A man that is at feed with his God, will say to death Gods messenger, as Ahab saide to Gods Prophet, Hast thou found mee 1 King. 21 20 mine enemie. But as for the godlie mā whose Soule is prepared to meete with his God, he will say to Death, welcome Friend, take my Soule by the hand, and draw it out of this prison, Oh, but it is wearied. O, but it longeth to be free from these bonds of mortalitie, combersome clogges of claye. Note Hee that is assu­red to goe to Christ, cannot die vn­willinglie, what careth hee to die [Page 17] an houre, for to liue for euer? Note I will Nazian. in vita Basil. neuer feare Death, saide a Father, which can doe no more than restore me to him that made mee Note To change a life that is mortall, for an that is eter­nall, is an vnspeakable profite.

But alas: By what way may I come vnto that Life?

I am the way, said Christ, None Ioh. 14. 6. commeth to the Father but by mee: Note This way is thorow the valey of death: In this valey yee neede not to feare, if Christ bee with you. In the valey of the shadow of death, Psal. 23. 4. said Dauid, I will feare none euill: his reason was this, that God was with him: For thou art with mee.

I finde my selfe Sir exceeding Psal. 1 [...]7. weake, and that I drawe neere the doores of Death: I take great delight to heare you: I requeast you to con­tinue your comforts: I intreate you [Page 18] to call to remembrance these spe­ciall comforts yee haue had, either by your owne experience, or by reading, or by Meditation: I am assured that yee haue some laide vp in store for your selfe, against the houre of temptation: Let me heare I pray you, what yee thinke best to be said to a man in his greatest feares.

First of all, that yee may bee ca­pable of comforts, striue to bee pa­tient in your trouble: Acknowledge in this sicknesse the great mercie of your God: In this affliction hee hath giuen to you, the wish and choise of Dauids chastisement: You are not fallen into the hands of men, whose compassions are cruell, but in the hands of God, your Father, whose bowels are full of mercifull remembrance: Note Though a Mother should forget her Childe, wee are printed vpon his Palmes: It is true, Isa. 49. 15 that no afflictiō for the present seemes Heb. 12. 18 [Page 19] joyous: Note Yet afterward the bitter seed of sorrow, bringeth foorth the sweet & quiet fruit of righteousnes.

If yee would bee armed against the feare of Death, my counsell is, that aboue all things in the tempest of your temptations, yee haue re­course vnto the bloodie wounds of Christ, wherein as in the holes of the Rocke, your Soule like a Doue may find a place of refuge: Note His wounds well may I call, The secret of the most Psal. 91. 1 High: He who lodgeth there, is vn­der the shadow of the Almightie: Note An afflicted Soule is like a Bee in a tem­pest, tossed to and fro: Frae once the Bee hath winne to its Hyue-hole, it entereth into rest: The poore Soule of a man for a space will be wonder­fullie tossed with tempests, and long will it wrestle: But so soone as it can once win in at the holes of Christs wounds, then it enters into Rest: Note Out of these wounds, as out of its Castle and fortresse, it will boast the [Page 20] Deuill, Death, the Flesh, and the World: In these woundes is the Soules strongest Tower, the secret place of the most High, where none enemie of mans Saluation shall bee able to reach vnto it for to hurt it: Let your chiefest care bee to creepe in into these wounds.

Note Againe, after that yee haue sha­ken hands with Christ, and made him your friend, consider well what hee hath made of Death: Christ hath made it a friend of a foe: Is not Death now a sleepe? Christs friends sleepe: Sleepe as yee know is our Ioh. 11. 11 great friend: Hee must bee a great friend without whose friendship we can not liue: As wee can not liue without Sleepe, neither can we liue without Death: Except that wee die on Earth we can not liue in Hea­uen: Thou foole▪ said S. Paul, That 1 Cor. 15 3 which thou sowest is not quickened, ex­cept it die: Note The whole course of a Christian is contained within the [Page 21] compasse of these wordes, I liue to die, that I may die to liue: If man will not resolue to liue for to die, hee shall not die to liue: Note The course of a Christian is from a good life to an happie death, and from thence to life yea, to life eternall: Well is the man that runneth not without this compasse.

But alas, O my God, take mee not Psal. 102. 24. away in the midst of my dayes: Alas, Sir, must I die so soone?

Note The Apostle saith, That we die 1 Cor, 15 31. daylie. Tunc quoque cum crescimus vita decrescit. It is certaine, that so soone as wee beginne to liue, wee al­so beginne to die: What are all the dayes of our life, but a progresse vn­to Death, which is the putting off of 2 [...]et 1. 14 our Tabernacle? Note What is this body, but a mire of mortalitie? Homini­quid vita? cylindrus: What is mans life, but a rolling thing.

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But will the Lord take mee away in the midst of my dayes? Hath not God promised to the godlie man that his dayes shall bee long in the land? Long life is a thing whereof God hath made promise vnto these whō hee loueth.

I answere, that such a promise is vnder two conditions: First of Gods glorie, secondlie of mans well: Note If God loue a man dearlie, hee will whiles take him away in his youth, that hee may haue him neere to him selfe: Moreouer God seeth that which no man can fore-see, viz. the euill to come. The righteous saith Isa. 57. 1. Isaiah is taken away from the euill to come: God hath indeede promised many dayes to the righteous man: But if God shorten them, and take him away sooner, what wrong hath he done vnto him? Note If a Lord should giue to one of his seruants some cot­tage [Page 23] house of clay, with some little piece of ground for Colewort or Cabbage for to liue vpon, saying, This will I giue thee for thy life­time: But if afterward this Lord should say, Fetch mee my good fer­uant out of his clattie Cottage, and bring him to my Palace, that he may eate at mine owne Table for euer: Tell me, if by the change that seruāt hath lost: Would that seruant think yee, say, No Lord, I will not come to thy Table, for thou hast promised mee this Cottage-house for my life­time? Note What Lord in the Land was euer troubled with such an an­swere?

And yet indeede it is so, that God doeth with his faithfull seruantes, when they die into the midst of their dayes: Note When men are departed from this life, it is the Lord that hath sent his messenger Death for to fetch their Soules from their bodies, which Scripture calleth Tabernacles Io [...]. [...]. 19. [Page 24] of clay, vnto his heauenlie Mansions, there for to banquet eternallie at his Table with Abraham, Isaac, and Matth. 8. 11 Iacob.

Now tell mee, O man, what haue yee lost, for to goe from the Earth to the Heauens? Is there any thing in this world of such worth, that should make you desire to liue, for to stay from your God but an houre?

That which yee say Sir, is verie true: But how few are these who in this world can gladlie condescend to depart out of this life? The life is sweete.

I confesse indeede that euery one hath not attained vnto this high de­gree of grace, as to say with S. Paul, I desire to bee dissolued, &c. Yet all the Philip [...] 23. godlie will subscribe to this that all the faithfull are happie who are dis­solued: Note Though euerie man can [Page 25] not wish to die yet euerie man of God will say, That Death is better than life, Death is a salue which healeth vs of all our sores: Is not Death Gods messenger, sent for to pull the troubled Soule out of this sinfull world, as Gods Angel pulled Gen. 19. 16 Lot out of S [...]dom? Is not our life heere a warfare? Note Are we not here as Daniel was in the Dungeon a­mong Lions? Are not vvee here D [...]n. 6. 16 11 with Ieremie sticking fast into the Ier. 38. 6. myrie clay? Are not wee heere with Israel, into the House of bon­dage Exod. 20 [...] 2. ouerburdened vvith sinne as they vvere vvith bricke? Are we not Rom. 7. 24 heere with S. Paul, vnder the bodie of Death? And with Ioseph in the Psal. 105. 18 stockes, not of tree, but of sinne?

If it were well tolde a man what is heere, and what hee may looke for in the life to come, if hee had but a graine of grace, as great as of Mu­stard seede, hee should easilie dis­cerne vvhereof to make choise: Is [Page 26] not our life heere a wind, and a va­pour Iam. 4. 14. of vanitie? But which is most of all to be considered: Is there not heere a necessitie of sinning laide v­pon all the liuing? Who should not bee glad to bee fredde and ridde of these sinfull bondes? Note Is not this life continuallie sicke of the filthie flooxe of sinne, a most lothsome dis­ease? When wee seeke our daylie bread, wee must immediatelie sub­joyne, Matth. 6. 11 forgiue vs our sinnes: First, as wee see heere, wee must begge our bread, and then pardon. Note What then are wee heere, but daylie beg­gers for the bellie? The King must begge his bread from God: In the Heauens there shall bee no begging, but thanking of God for his bene­fites: Who should for all that he can beg on Earth, desire for to liue out of Heauen but one houre? Note Are we not all heere vnder a corruptible burden, a burden of corruption, vnder which the Soule is pressed [Page 27] as a Cart full of sheaues? So Amos. 2, 11 long as wee are heere, our Soules are laden with sinnes: Note A Soule burdened with such baggage runs on wheeles, as it were downe an hill all post haste, except that God stay it, it shall neuer cease, till it arriue in Hell, where God shall breake it in sunder by the tempest of his wrath.

But Death is the wages of sinne, Rom. 6. 23 who shall not feare?

Note Indeed Death is such of the owne nature: But God in great mercie hath made death to the godlie like the Raine-bow, which being natural­lie Gen. 9. 13 a signe of present raine, by Gods Couenant becommeth a perpetuall signe of faire weather to come after that raine: Note As throgh Death Christ wrought our Life, so must wee bee killed for to bee made aliue: The glorious Resurrection must bee through dust and corruption: Our [Page 28] paines must goe before our plea­sures, Psal 16. 11 and lashes before our laugh­ters: After that, in come pleasures for euermore.

If wee had the faith of God, wee should not much feare the smart of death which by Christ is made tran­situs ad vitam, a passage vnto Life: Note Let vs once passe thorow this Ior­dan, and behold, wee are in an in­stant in Canaan.

All that is true Sir: No man can controle you: yet naturallie all loue Life: The Life is sweete.

How sweete is it? I pray you: Is not our whole Life trouble and wearinesse? Note What is our sleeping, our resting, our eating, our drin­king, but a seruitude to the flesh? Who should not desire to bee rid from such seruile necessities? who for to bee free of such bondage, should not renounce his deare selfe, [Page 29] and all the loue of this irk some life? To bee with Christ, is it not our best? Yea, is it not our rest? what shame is it for Christians to dote so after this present life, who should haue lear­ned to long after the life to come?

Note Christ came downe, that wee might goe vp: If wee desire not to goe vp, wee know not wherefore hee came downe: Hee came downe to bee a Seruant, wee goe vp to bee Lords: Hee came downe to bee hungrie, wee goe vp to a perpetuall Feast: Hee came downe to bee ba­nished, where hee had not wherevp­on Luk. 658 to lay his head, we goe vp to dwell in Palaces of pleasures, into euerla­sting Luk. 16. 9. Tabernacles: Note In a word, hee came downe to distresse, to sorrow, to paine, to miserie, to fight against our enemies, Deuils, Death, and temptations, yea, hee discended vnto Hell we goe vp to Ioy, to Honour, to Light, to Life, to Libertie, to our Father, to our Friends, to our Sa­uiour [Page 30] and Comforter. What shall I say more? Euen to vnspeaka­ble Glorie in Paradise with God & his Angels: Note What a folie is this, that a man should desire to bee de­priued of such Comforts for a puffe Isa. 2, 22. of breath? Bee glad Sir, to quite the ranke Onions of Egypt, for that heauenlie Manna Sweete like Wafers Gen. 15. 31 made with honey.

If a man could bee fullie perswa­ded of that which ye say, I think that hardlie could hee with-hold him­selfe from putting hands into him­selfe, that so hee might change for the better: If all that be, why should any desire to stay from God but an houre? If I may desire to bee dissol­ued, why may I not dissolue my self. The working out of a lawfull desire cannot bee vnlawfull.

No man liuing Sir, may abso­lutelie desire to be dissolued, but vn­der [Page 31] condition, that it bee for the glorie of God, and the Saluation of his owne Soule: Note For two re­spects a man may desire to be dissol­ued: First, for to bee deliuered from the bondage of sinne, which the Apostle calleth, A bodie of death: Rom. 7. 24 Secondlie, for an earnest desire to bee with his God, a man may desire to bee dissolued. But for no reason must a man dissolue himselfe, that were selfe murther: Note If we may not kill our Neighbour whō we should loue as our selues, neither must wee kill our selues, who are the rule and square of neighbourlie loue: Note Man in this world is as a set Watch, hee must not remoue, till it please him by whom hee was set, to command him to come: Note Though lawfullie wee may desire death, that we may bee deliuered from the bodie of death, which is sinne; for to bee with Christ, which is meekle better Philip. 1. 23 for vs, yet wee must not cry for [Page 32] death for some triflles of worldlie troubles, as Ionah did for the lossing Iona 4. 8. of his leafes: Our desire of Death should bee chieflie grounded vpon a desire to bee with Christ, and to bee fredde from the spirituall bon­dage of our sins: well is him that can sincerly say from his heart, Miserable man that I am, who shall deliuer mee Rom. 7. 24 from this bodie of death? Note That Soule is happie, whose desire is vpon that which is meakle better for it: To bee with Christ, in Scripture stile is called meakle better: What say ye Philip. 1. 23 now Sir, doeth not your heart grone vnder this burden of sinfull death? Doeth not your Soule long to bee out of this bodie, for to bee with him, where it shall bee meakle better for you?

I take vp the matter better than I did: I see by your reasons, that there is no reason wherefore a man should desire to die, but for to bee [Page 33] with his Christ, and to be deliuered from the bodie of bondage, which is a death: But alas.

I see you yet Sir, into a plunge, I heard that word, Alas: Wherefore say yee Alas? Yee looke yet as one who desireth to liue: My wordes are not gifted with perswasion; yee seeme to be afraide at that word, dis­solued: What aileth you? There bee doubtlesse some thing within that troubleth you.

I am sorie to goe out of this world, wherevnto I am chained by diuerse respects: In the cutting off of my dayes, I will mourne with sicke He­zekiah in the words of his doole: I Isa. 38, 10. am depriued of the residue of my yeares, &c.

I see Sir, that yee are taking vp the Lamentations of Hezekiah: I will striue to make answere to eue­rie [Page 34] sentence apart: Yee are depriued, saye yee, of the residue of your yeeres: Note Hee is not depriued that hath changed for the better: Note The residue of your few yeeres shall bee turned into eternitie: Note Hee who seeth many yeeres, seeth many miseries, and which is worse, con­tracteth many sinnes, the cause of all our woe: Moreouer, what is a resi­due of life? Death is not farre, when it is farthest.

But if I die, I shall not see the Lord Isa. 38. [...]1 euen the Lord in the land of the liuing.

This is your ignorance: What can man see of the Lord, in the land of the liuing? Note What can a sinner see of that great IEHOVAH here? What is to bee seene on Earth, but the Backe-parts of IEHOVAH? In­to the Heauens wherevnto yee now approach yee shall see that great and glorious IEHOVAH, face to face. [Page 35] What are all men on Earth, but a number of wormes crawling and creeping vpon a clat or clod of clay?

But againe what is this that ye call the land of the liuing? What is all the Land yee see, but a dead lump of earth, where the most part of men are dead in their sins? Doe not the best part die daylie, vnto Sin, which death is our best life, and yet laden Rom. 7. 24 with a bodie of death? Note Can ye now call this earth the Land of the liuing? Call me not Nahomi pleasant, said Na­homi, Ruth. 1. 2 [...] but call me Marah that is bitter, for the Almightie hath dealt verie bit­terlie with mee: So may the Earth say, Call mee not the Land of the li­uing: No, rather call mee a dunge­on of death, a place for the burying of the dead a place where all must 2 Sam. 14. 14 needs die, and bee as water spilt vpon the ground, which cannot bee gathered vp againe.

But alas, if I die, I shall behold [Page 36] men no more with the inhabitants of the world.

This heere is your griefe, that death will strik you with a blindnes, so that yee shall not bee able to see any more the faces of these whom yee loue best into this world, as of Wife, Children, and of Friends of your old acquaintance: This is your d [...]lour thē, that ye shall see them no more: Note Let such thoughts Sir, moue these to mourne, who know not Death better than that Pagan, who speaking of a slaine man said,

‘In eternam clauduntur Lu­mina noctem.’ Virgil.

That is, Death closeth mans eyes for euermore: This is most false▪ Note A true Christian knoweth, that though both his eyes should sinke [...]owne into his head, or droppe out like blobbes or droppes of water, yet that with these same eyes runne into water, hee and none othér for him [Page 37] shall see his Redeemer: Though after Iob. 19. 26 27. my skin, said Iob wormes destroy this bodie, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for my selfe, and mine eyes shall behold; and not another. Note Lay this comfort to your heart: Though your eyes were eaten out with the wormes, if you die in the faith of Iesus, yee shall see God and none other for you, and that with these same eyes yee now looke vnto mee [...] Note If yee bee perswaded that yee shall see your God, in the Heauens, in whose face is fulnesse of Psal. 16. 11 Ioye, yee haue little cause of doole that yee shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the world: What are all the creatures of thi [...] World, but things that dwell in d [...]st? Isa 26. 18. The Sainctes and Angels that dwell into these vpper Chambers whose feete are aboue ou [...] head are so fa [...] in glorie, aboue all the glorie of the world, as the Heauens are aboue the Earth: Note As Zebah and Zalmunah [Page 38] said of Gideons brethren, so may we say of all these that dwell there, e­uerie one of them is like the Sonne Iudg. 8. 18 of a King: What are all the Crea­tures below, but beggerlie things?

But alas, if I die, mine age is de­parted Isa. 38. 12. and remoued from me as a Shep­heards tent.

What is your doole? It is all then, that yee must quite your shepheards tent. Note Now poore man, What haue yee lost? Yee shall change a poore shepheards tent for the most pleasant Palace of your God, a life mortall, for a life that is eternall: Note A man brought from age of yeeres vnto eternitie, is like Dauid, a shep­heard brought from the Ewes, for to bee made a King: What regret Psal. 78. 71 should a man haue, for to change a little Lodge for a London? Note What is this life. but a daylie dyeing?

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But alas, I haue cut off like a weauer Isa. 38. 12. my life: Hee will cut mee off with pin­ning sicknesse, from day euen to night hee will make an end of mee.

Take heede Sir what yee say: Your meaning is, that by your sins yee haue abridged and cutte short your dayes, or that yee haue pro­uocked God by your sinnes, to take away your Life from you: Note If it be so, that like a weauer yee haue cut your dayes by your sinnes; breake off now these sinnes by repentance: If by your sinnes yee haue cut like a weauer the threeds of this mortall life, beginne now by repentance to spinne the webbe of a new life, some threeds of life eternall: Let now the rotten thrummes of the vices of your life fall downe to the ground:

Note While yee haue time, weaue into your life graces thorow graces, as warpe and woft: Weaue on still, till from grace yee worke in into the [Page 40] eternitie of glorie.

But alas, Hee will cut mee off Isa. 38. 12. with pynning sicknesse: I feare great­lie that the paines of Death put mee out of all patience.

Take courage Sir: The paine shall not bee so great as yee feare: God will lay no more on you, than yee shall bee able to beare: He shall weigh all your paines in his merci­full Ballance, before that hee laye them vpon you: Hee knoweth that your strength is not like the strength of a Whale, hee breaketh not the brui­sed Isa. 42. 3 [...]eede Note God is so bent vnto mer­cie, that while he scourgeth sinners for their faults, hee is said to bring to passe, his strange worke and his Isa. 28. 21 strange act.

But I feare his cutting: Gods cuts are verie sensible: I feare to bee [...] cut off with pyning sicknesse.

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Feare not▪ God is cunning in his cut­ting Note Hee will not cut into the quicke like an ignorant Surgeon▪ The mercifull God taketh no plea­sure to cut you off with pyning sick­nesse but hee will cut off your cor­ruptions with such paines: In such paines should bee pleasure; Note The bluenesse of the wound purgeth away Prou. [...]0. 30 euill Pleasant should be that paine which is Gods Raser for cutting off mans [...]ptions▪ Away with the pleas [...]es of this [...]otten flesh Note Such in the beginning though lawfull, [...]re burning and bloodie pleasures: vnlawfull end into hellish torments, feare not pyning sicknesse.

But alas, from day euen to night he Isa. 38. 12. will make an end of mee.

I know Sir, that the night is wearisome, and that sicknesse some what light in the day, waxeth heauy [Page 42] in the night: From day to night, the sicknesse increaseth: The re­meede is this, bee strong in God, whose strength is made perfect in 2 Cor. 12. 9. weaknesse: Note If dolours increase in the night, heere is a comfort, The night time is a most fitte time for prayer: The time of silence is most conuenient for speaking vnto God: Note The night time is a speciall time whereof God hath made choise, for in it to speake secretlie vnto men: It was in the night that Eliphaz saw the vision and heard the voyce of Iob. 4. 13 14. 15. 16. instruction: In thoughts, said hee, From the visions of the night, wh [...] deepe sleepe falleth on men, feare came vpon mee and trembling, which made all my bones to shake: Then a Spirit passed before my face, the haire of my flesh stood vp it stood still, but I could not discerne the forme thereof: An Image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voyce, &c.

See how in [...]e visions of the [Page 43] night, while there was silence, Eli­phaz heard the voyce of God: Note Let no sicke man be afraid for the night, it is the time of silence, the chiefe time of cōference with God: Note Whē Creatures are most silent, then is a time for man to speake to God, and for God to speake to man: The din of the day marreth our meditatiōs.

But alas, from day to night he will make an end of mee. Isa. 38. 12

It is better that hee make an end of you, than that any other should doe it: If hee make an end of you, pray earnestlie for a good end: If the end be well, all is well: Your complaint is that, from day to night hee will make an end of you: Note Bee thankefull to God for his mercie to­ward you, in that he hath giuen you so long a time to repent as from day to night: Note Hee might haue made you sinke downe thorow the Earth Numb. 16. 32. vnto hell in a moment with Dathan [Page 44] and Abiram: Hee might haue burnt you with fire from Heauen in a thunder clappe with Corah: Hee might haue drowned you into the Sea with Pharaoh: Hee might Exod. [...]4▪ 21 haue slaine you vnder a Tower, with these eighteene at Siloe: Hee Luk. 13. 4 might haue sent a winde for to smite the foure corners of your house, while yee had beene at a banket with Iobs Children: What Iob. 1. 19. if the goodnesse of God had deser­ted you, and taken his free Spirit frō Psal. 81. 12. you? What if hee should doe so to the best of vs? Certainelie we [...] should either make away our selu [...] with Saule by the sword, or with Iu­das 1 Sam. 31 4 and Ahitophel by the cord, o [...] Matth. 27. 3 with Zi [...]rie by the fire. Many o­thers 2 Sam. 17 23 haue in an instant beene snat­ched away in the verie swea [...]e of their sinnes.

First then, I say, That is a grea [...] mercie of God vnto man, that God himselfe maketh an end of him, and [Page 45] not suffereth him to fall into the hands of his mercielesse creatures.

Secondlie, in that, from day to night hee delayeth, it is a mercyfull patience: Take heede Sir, what I say: Count this a great mercie of your God, though yee should die this night, thanke God for his pa­tience, that it was from day to night, before that hee would make an end of you: Note It is a great bene­fite of God, to get but so much time wherein wee may once cry, Lord, haue mercie vpon mee▪ Note. No man can sufficientlie esteeme the high price of a dayes laiser vnto night: Heere is the patience and the long suffering of God.

Now Sir consider, and weigh well what hath beene said: Is it not now your desire, that yee bee dissol­ued? Are yee not as yet resolued? It would seeme, that there bee some thing that yet troubleth you: As for the wordes of Hezekiahs chattering, [Page 46] which hath beene the wordes of your mourning, I hope that in some measure ye haue beene cleared with some contentment.

I confesse Sir, that yee haue per­tinentlie made answere to all these difficulties: But, alas, what shall I say?

What aileth you? Bee plaine with mee, I pray you Sir, thinke no shame to tell mee what is into your minde: Note If the Patient couer his sore from the Surgeon, the greater will his danger bee: It is an hard matter when the Patient playeth false with the Physition: Lay open your wounds, if yee would haue salue fitte for your sores.

I think shame Sir to tell you what aileth mee, yet seeing I haue neede both of instruction & of comfort, I will be no stranger vnto you, Note whom [Page 47] I know to bee a man of God, that is not curious for to ripe vp secret sores for your owne curiositie, but rather for to cure them: I vvill not conceale the matter from you: It is this: I haue filled my Barnes, and I desire to enjoye the fruites thereof: There is no man, but hee would desire after great paines, [...]o r [...]ape some fruites of his labours: I vvish that Death would excuse mee for some yeares: This is my griefe, for I must bee plaine with you, mine heart cannot well accord to forsake such comforts.

That Sir is but a worldlie tempta­tion: What are Barnes of corne on Earth in comparison of Gods most pleasant Palace in Heauen, vvhere­in are pleasures for euermore? Note Fye Psal. 16. 11 vpon Barnes, a nest for Myce and Rattons: Would yee desire to liue for to enjoye the leauinges of vn­beastes? They beginne, and as it [Page 48] vvere sit at the first messe: Thus af­ter that the Fowles of the Aire haue gotten their share, and the Rattons haue gotten their fill, poore man as it vvere commeth after all, and sitteth downe at the latter meate. Note But vvhat are all these thinges, though man should enjoye them all his alone? What can hee get of them all but a bellie full of meate? Note What is the Bellie to that spirituall Birth-right and blessing that is laide vp into the Heauens? What is the Bellie, but a thing ordained for de­struction with all that is in it? Meats for the Bellie, and the Bellie for the 1 Cor. 6. 13. meates, But God shall destroy both it and them. Cast out of your heart the care of your Bellie: Note The Bellie in the Heart maketh a man a mon­ster: Let this bee your chiefe, care, that shortlie your Soule may sitte downe at Gods Table with Abra­ham, Isaac, and Iacob in Gods King­dome: What grieueth you now S [...]

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God hath blessed mee, my Mo­neyes are increased; and now my life is but comming to the best.

Note The richest life is not euer the best life; aboundance of Moneyes is no sure token of Gods mercies: If it had beene otherwise, Christ had neuer cast the Bagge vnto Iudas. Ioh. 12. 6

That churlish Carle in the Go­spel, that would not let Lazarus Luk. 16. 20 dyne with his dogges, how soone was his Purple pulled from him, and hee made a begger into Hell, see­king a droppe of water from him, whose scabs his dogges had licked on Earth? Nabel like a foole is fea­sting 1 Sam. 25 36. to day, and tomorrow he shall become sicke, and die with an heart vers. 37 like a stone within him: What fatter then shall hee be of his Feast? Note Be­ware Sir, to marrie your mind with your Money, lest yee bee thereby diuorced from Christ: S. Augustin [Page 50] said wiselie,

‘Matrimonium inter aurum & arcam est inter Deum & ani­mam Divortium.’

A marriage betweene our Minde and our Money, is a diuorcement betweene the Soule and Christ its Spouse.

Note It is good for vs, lest that wee should loue this world too well, that like a curst Step-mother it misuse vs, and rather strike vs, than stroake vs, as it doeth with these worldlie brats, who neither liue, nor loue a Life but this. What thinke yee now Sir of this world?

I desire yet that God would grant mee some space to liue, that I might make some better prouision for my little Children: I wish that I might liue till they were better prouided, within a few dayes if God would spare mee, I hope that I should make a conquest.

[Page 51] Note Fye vpon that conquest that ma­keth a man to desire to tarie from God but one houre: Solomon after Eccles. 2. 18. all his conquests said, that hee hated all his labour: I said hee, hated all my labour, which I had taken vnder the Sunne: The reason is subjoyned by himselfe, Because I should leaue it vers. 19. vnto the man that should bee after mee: And who knoweth whether hee shall bee a wise man or a foole? Yea, hee pro­ued a foole indeed, by forsaking the 1 King. 12 13 counsell of the old wise, for to follow the folie of his young fooles: Note What folie is this I play you, for a man to desire to liue, for to conquise spa­ringlie for one that will spend it all lauishlie, crying among the drun­kards, Fill the pynt againe? Note Many children will at one cast of the dyce, cast more from them into a night, than their fathers were able to win into a yeare: Note What is great riches to the most part of Heires, but fuell to their follie? Note Is it not common­lie [Page 52] seene, that after the Father hath pined himselfe with scraiping toge­ther Habuk. 2. 6 this thick clay and pelfie dung, in cōmeth a forelorne deboched Heire with his drunkē musick, singing Veri vades, Wee haue spent more than our Philip. 3. 8 fathers haue winne. A little with GODS blessing is much worth: Note Hardlie can men conquise much with a good Conscience: From thence is the prophan prouerbe, Well is the Heire whose fathers soule is in Hell: The glose is this, hardlie can the father inrich his children, but by lossing his own Soule: What a woefull bargaine is this? Neither doeth it euer come to passe, that the euill conquist come to the hands of them for whom it was appointed: Note After that the Worldling by hook & by crooke hath taken with the an­gle, and hath catcht with the net, & gathered in his dragge, all that is a­bout him: At last it commeth to passe, that after he hath well ladned [Page 53] his Boate, and is come neere the ha­uen, there commeth a blast of judge­ment which ouer-turneth all into a moment: Note Thus in the highest of his hopes in sight of the Shore, lad­ned and fraughted with the fruite of all his labours of his lyes, his guile, and deceite, he goeth downe to the bottome of the depths, so that none is able to rescue him: Thus after that, first he hath made shipwrack of his conscience, he also maketh ship­warcke of all his goods, and so is he depriued of his imagined profite: Note What though his shippe should come in? What though all should prosper for a while? Note Let Micah steale his mothers siluer and turne it into gods, and get a Priest, & blesse himselfe, when hee hath done, thin­king that all shall prosper now: But Danites. ere it belong▪ some of the race of the Gen. 49. 17 Adder by the way, shall come and tak away his gods: And if hee run out to follow for his owne, they shall [Page 54] either scorne him with what aileth Iudg. 18. 23 thee? or shall boast him to keepe si­lence, saying, Let not thy voyce bee vers. 25. heard among vs, lest angrie fellowes runne vpon thee, and thou losse thy life with the liues of thine house-hold.

Note Let no man blesse himselfe with Micah because hee hath gods at home: Note Though men by manie meanes may become rich, and think that they shall leaue great wealth vnto their children, God can by as many meanes disapoint them, as by blood, by shipwracke, by fire, by water, by warre, by banqueroupts, by plea, and by piracie, &c. He who to day was swaggering in his Silkes and swimming in his wealth spea­king of nothing but of thousands, within a little space behold him a­gaine, and loe, all is changed: The poore man he goeth and no man re­gardeth him, he is hungrie, nacked and colde, but not so colde as the charitie of these that may helpe him: [Page 55] These who were wont to eate at his table, desire no more to see him: The thoughts of olde obligations are to them lik letters of Caption for to en­force thē to giue some what to their olde distressed friend: But cold are such comforts: Heere, beholde Sir, as in a glasse, what vanitie into these transitorie things, which men think to make permanent to their posteri­tie: Note But let a man be rich till he die; After that he hath spoiled others to make himselfe wealthie, shall his children bee his Heires? No, not: The wealth of the sinner is laide vp Prov. 13. 22. for the Iust: See how God maketh a Worlding to be as it were a drudge or a packe horse for to gather with the sweate of his browes, that wher­with the righteous man may bee sustained: Note As hee made the Rauens to flee and fetch flesh for the nou­rishing 1 King. 17 16 of his Seruant Elijah: Note Some tims also it wil befal otherwise, that thewe alth of the sinner shall be laid [Page 56] vp for one worse than himselfe, that all the world may see, and beholde, what vanitie there is in such carking care: Note O, wil some say, if hee that is dead saw such a man in his house, Master of all his labours, What would hee now thinke? Note Thus God in a manner making deboched bare men like leane Kine prey vpon the Gen. 41. 3 wicked, who while they liued, wold Iudg. 9. 9. not with the Oliue leaue their fatnes for to be Kings in Heauē, letteth the world see what folie it is to put their trust in such transitorie trashes.

What say yee now Sir? Are yee now free of such earthlie temptati­ons?

I am miserablie vexed with this world: Worldlie things, doe what I can, runne euer into my minde, and trouble mee with carking cares.

Note So long as a mans heart is clog­ged with this clay, hee hath no po­wer [Page 57] to stirre hand or foote to hea­uen-ward: There is both gall and guile in earthlie mindednesse: Well is him, whose Soule can sore farre aboue this Region of corruption, for to minde aboue all things the things Col. 3. 1. that are aboue.

My minde alas, is like Martha, bu­sied Luk. 10. 41 about manie things, or rather bu­ried in manie things.

But Christ said, One thing is ne­cessarie: Note Hee that said it, is that which hee said; euen that, One ne­cessarie thing. Note Wee may passe to life eternall without any other thing: But there is such a necessitie in Christ, that without him wee can doe nothing: Without mee, said hee, yee can doe nothing: Christ is that Luk. 10. 41 Best part, Maries choise: Well is that Soule, that maketh him its part: He is onely that which shall neuer bee taken from vs▪ But what worldlie [Page 58] thing is that, that as yet troubleth you?

Mine heart Sir, is ouer-burdened with the weight of manie cares con­cerning this Life.

Note Our Sauiour hath set downe a particular Precept concerning that, Take heede, said hee, to your selues, Luk. 21. 34. least at any time your heartes bee ouer­charged with surfetting and drunken­nesse, and cares of this life: Note Such cares may snow downe white haires vpon our hairie scalpe: But it is onelie the godlie care, the care of the Life to come, that worketh Re­pentance neuer to bee repented of: But come to the pārticulars.

I haue latelie bought some heri­tage, my seruants are plowing it, before I die I would wish once to reape the fruites thereof.

To bee worldlie minded is death:

[Page 59] Note The command is gone foorth', none can plead ignorance: Loue not the world, nor the things of the world: Ioh. 2. 16. Well is him that so liueth heere, Luk. 20. 35 that he may be counted worthie to enjoy that world: Note It is no time now Sir to thinke of ploughes, yee must now leaue all, for to follow Christ, 1 King. 19 21. like Elisha, who left his plowing for to follow his new vocation: Take now a kisse of your dearest friendes, and follow this great Elijah, the Lord Iesus, the Chariot of all his chosen, and the Horse-men of his Israel.

My Lands are laboured, the Haruest draweth neere, there is a plentifull croppe vpon the ground, Cornes and wheat, and all abound.

There is no solide comfort in Wheat or in Corne, but onelie in Gods countenance: Note I compare all worldlie things to the Tallow of [Page 60] a Candle, and spirituall thinges to the flamme thereof: If the Candle bee right set, that the flamme bee vpmost, the Candle will shin cleare­lie, and giue light: But if yee turne the Candle, and holde the flamme downe, it shall at once drowne in its owne tallow: Euen so if the Soule of man bee well set, that spirituall thoughts bee vpmost, and worldlie cōsiderations sanctified, which haue beene melted & strained from their drosse be vnder, that Soule will shine in holie life before men: But if the flamme of the Spirit bee turned downe, it will drowne vnder the droppes of such earthlie tallowe: By this at last, all our light dyeth out like a Candle, so that our hearts that were once enlightned, become lik a dampish dungeon.

Note I confesse, so long as wee are here the fire of the Spirit within the best of vs, is like ignis in materia, fire in an earthlie matter, from whence [Page 61] commeth euer some filthie reeke: But when once wee shall bee aboue all places, wherevnto no reeke can reach, this spirituall flamme abstra­cted from all earthlie matter, shall shine most clearlie into the presence of God for euer. Are yee not yet Sir resolued? Is not your desire now to bee dissolued?

The world is yet still in my mind: I haue takē much paines into it, & am now but beginning for to get some ease: I haue builded an house, glad­lie would I dwell some space into it: Mine heart is sore, yea, it bleeds for to leaue this Lodging, and neuer to come to it againe: I had trim­med it for my pleasure, and now behold, shall I bee disappointed?

There is no great matter of griefe Sir, when a man changeth for the better: Note What are all the sieled Pala­ces of Princes on earth, but like the [Page 62] house of a Spider? How soone are Iob. 8. 14. they all sweept away with the be­some of vengeance, when God is an­grie? What are all our dwellinges on earth, but Dungeons in a dung­hill? Let not your heart Sir bee on your house: It is now time to mind the things that are aboue: Eye vpon clay and stones: Note What are all the royall Palaces of the world to these statelie houses aboue, whereof the floore or pauement glisters with thousands of Starres, as with as ma­nie golden nailes, o [...] twinkling Dya­ [...]onds: There the Sun & y ^e Moone the two great Iewels of Heauen, shall bee vnder your feete, which are now aboue our heade. What is within, no mortall tongue can tell: S. Paul saw there some-thing, but 2 Cor. 12 4 hee neuer reuealed it, neither was it lawfull for him to declare what he had seene: Note This one thing wee may know, seeing the out-side of Heauen is so beautifull, how plea­sant [Page 63] must it bee within? Heauen is like the Kinges Daughter, whose whole beautie is within: There is pro­fite, Psal. 45. 13 pleasure, health, wealth, ho­nour, happinesse, beautie & blesse: In a word, there bee thinges that eye neuer saw, neither eare heard, yea, which neuer could enter into the heart of man.

But alas, must I then forsake all my wealth, and so leaue all my trea­sures behind mee▪

Note Such treasures are but traitours, though they bee counted gods: God said to Magistrats, I haue called Psal. 82. 6 you gods: But hee neuer called gold god: To call gold god, is Ashdo­dien language: Gods of gold must be forsaken, for to goe to the God of Glorie: Note What are all these world­lie thinges whereon naturall men so doe gaze? What are they, but idoles lying vanities? To ouercome [Page 64] the loue of such lyers, is the triumph of Trueth: Note If Gods Arke be with­in our heart, such Dagons will fall downe: Turne therefore your eyes from such clay, and minde the things that are aboue: Manie gather riches Col. 3. 1. as hee that earneth wages to put it into Hab. 1▪ 6. a bottomlesse bagge: Note The first lesson of Christianitie is selfe denyall.

How is it then Sir, that a man must goe through this world for to come to Heauen?

Note Euen as the Israelites desired to goe through the Land, of Sihon the King of the Amorites, for to come to Canaan the figure of Heauen▪ Let mee goe through thy Land, said Numb. 21 21, Israel, Wee will not turne aside into the fieldes, nor into the vineyards, nei­ther drinke of the waters of the wells wee will goe by the Kings high way, vn­till wee be past thy Countrey. Note It is so▪ that wee must passe through this [Page 65] world, for to come to that heauenlie Canaan, we must not turne asid into the faire fields of pleasure, nor drink our selues drunke in its vineyards: But wee must follow directlie the rule of Gods Law the King of Hea­uens high way, that so we may enter into Canaan. What say ye Sir? Is it not time to bee resolued?

Mine heart is pined within mee: It is like to breake for sorrow, when I looke to my little Children, Who shortlie shalbe fatherlesse: Alas hard shall their estate be, when I shall bee away, who will take care of them?

That which Christ said to Peter, Matth. 14 31 may bee said to you, O man of little Faith, why hast thou doubted? Hath not God promised to shew mercie vnto thousands of these that loue him? Note If the King of this Land should now come himselfe to your bed-stocke and say Iames, or Iohn, [Page 66] heere I giue to you mine hand be­for God and good witnesse, that I shall bee a Father to your Children after you, and shall so prouide for them, that they shall want nothing that may doe them good: If yee heard such a man make such promi­ses, I thinke that yee should not bee in paine for the estat of your childrē: And yet what is a King but a man? But so it is, that all men are lyares, Psal. 116. 11. or may lie: But God who can not Heb. 6. 18 lie, hath giuen his Hand and his trueth to the faithfull man, yea, hath oblished himselfe by an oath, and hath taken Heauen and Earth to bee witnesse, that hee shall neuer for­sake the godlie man nor his seede, his promise is to thousands: If yee Exod. 20, 6 beleeue God to bee true, relye v­pon his promise: Let not the care of Children trouble you any more, prepare your selfe for God, and let Death bee welcome: Put your house to an order in time: Discharge [Page 67] your selfe of all worldlie burdens: denude your hands and your heart of all temporall affaires, that your Soule haue nothing to doe, but to waite vpon your God: Note It is not time to bee combered with the world, while the whole heart should bee taken vp with heauenlie medi­tations: It is now high time to thinke earnestlie vpon that life, wherevnto yee are going by Death: It would seeme Sir that yee are not contentas yet for to remoue: What can this be that troubleth you▪ shuld not your heart rejoyce to goe vnto your God?

I finde contrarie draughts with­in mee: Your wordes indeede Sir beginne to worke vpon mine heart, and to draw vp my Soule toward the pleasures that are aboue: Note But againe I finde the desires of this life like weightie paisses drawing mee downe to the ground againe: This [Page 68] is my regret: Alas, must I then leaue this world, and the light there­of, and neuer see it againe any more? Shall I beholde man no more Isa. 38. 11 with the inhabitants of the worlde? Shall I neuer see after this into the Land of the liuing any of all these whom I haue loued so well?

Note Sir, it shall bee your farre best to suffer the loue of Christ swallow vp the loue and all other considera­tions of worldlie thinges, as Moses his serpent swallowed vp the serpents Exod. 7. 12 of the Magicians: Note What euer see­meth pleasant into this world vnto the naturall eye, it is but by juggling of the senses: If we haue the grace of God, this grace shall be indeede like as a foure nooked Clauer, is in the opinion of some, viz a most power­full meanes against the juggling of the sight: If wee could seeke this grace, it would let vs see the vanitie of such thinges which beguile the [Page 69] naturall senses: Note The eye of a mans Soule is betimes like the eye of a man come out of a bilious feuer, all things seeme to him to bee yellow, because of the bile which haue per­uerted his sight: Note Sathan can forge temptations like glasse, of whatsoe­uer colour hee pleaseth, wheretho­row all things seeme to bee of the colour of his temptations: Thorow one glasse a mans owne spouse will seeme to be filthie: Thorow a­nother a bordel-whore will seeme to bee pleasant: Thorow one the world will seeme to bee glorious, thorow another the brightest hea­uens will seeme to bee but cloudes: Thorow one, fables will seeme to be Scripture, thorow another, Scrip­tures will seeme to bee but fables▪ Thorow one if a man feast as Christ did, hee will seeme to bee a glutt [...]n, Luk. 7 34 thorow another if hee feast with the Baptist, hee will seeme to bee a de­uill: vers. 33. The chiefe gripe of your temp­tation [Page 70] is in this, that if ye were once dead, yee shall beholde man no more with the inhabitants of the world: Yee are far beguiled into the sight of the wo [...]ld, wherewith yee are so raui­shed: Note Change your Spectacles, and all that is below shall seeme to bee of another colour: Note If your Soule could once sore vp towardes Heauen, the loue of the Earth and earthlie things would fall from you, as did the Mantle of Elias, when he 2 King. 2. [...]3 was rapt and rauished vp vnto glorie.

Note But ye know Sir, that it is verie hard not to bee sore grieued to goe out of this world, Non amplius vi­sur us neque videndus, neither for to see anie more, nor yet to bee seene: Note Who without teares can say his adewes to all his joys, pleasures, and contentments that are here? Whē I once shalbe caried out of my house, yee shall see mee no more: Hence­foorth [Page 71] yee and I will speake no more together: I departing from you, must goe to the place of silence, a­mong stinke & wormes: Who can­without displeasure say to all world­lie joyes, farewell?

It is best that ye turne your backe vnto such naughtie things, as Heze­kiah turned his backe to the stocke, and his face to the wall, that hee might conferre with his God: It is great folie to bee so fond vpon such transitorie trashes: What is so plea­sant in this world that should allure vs to it? Are not all thinges incon­stant heere below? Note There is no­thing that standeth at a stay, but ei­ther it is comming in or going out like the Tyde: Note There is no crea­ture but while it beginneth to waxe it also beginneth to waine: A child of the age of a day hath lesse time to liue at Eauen, than hee had in the morning: Since hee came out of [Page 72] the bellie, from the morning vnto eauen hee hath made a dayes jour­ney in the way to his graue: In ipso ortu vergimus ad occasum: Our ari­sing vp is but a course to our fall: Note The degrees of a mans life, are as as manie stepp vnto his death: All that wee see below is in a continuall whirling from a beginning to an end: The course of all the Creatures below is in a trance of transitorie trashes: Note I can but teach you with vvords▪ as Iohn baptized with water: Luk. 3. 16. It is onelie the Lord vvho can per­swade.

I take delight to heare you, I pray God to perswade mee: Continue I pray you into that discourse con­cerning the vanitie and inconstan­cie of vvo [...]ldly things, ripe them vp, and open them wider, that I may see them within the bowels.

The vvisest among men preached, [Page 73] Vanitie of vanities, and all is vanitie: Eccles. 1. 2 All things are vaine, and all things cry vnto vs that wee are vaine, So vaine a thing is man: Note The Trees, the Herbes, the Flowrishes, the Fruites, the Fishes, the Beastes, the Spring, the Summer, the Haruest, the Win­ter, the Aire, the Water, the Earth, the Heauens, are all appointed teachers by God, to tell man of his changing: Note Their line is gone out Psal. 19. 4. through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world: All that haue eyes & eares may heare, & read their doctrine, that heere is nothing per­manent: Note One creature calleth to another, Let vs leaue this World: See wee not how vvee melt away by droppes, for to bee dryed into dust: Moses saith, that wee spend our Psal. 90. 9. yeares as a tale that is tolde; a strange speach for to declare the vanitie of lōg life so much desired: while a tale is in telling, it seemeth to bee some­thing, but when a tale is once told, [Page 74] these that haue heard it will in end say, That it is but a tale: So long as mans life is lasting, it is like a tale that is in telling: But so soone as Death the end of all commeth, it is but like a tale that is tolde: Thus as yee see all mans life in Scripture language, is called but a tale: Note All the times of our life past, present, and to come, are turned at last into a fuimus, wee haue beene: Wee that liue now, let vs remember our case, Ecce tempus nunc futurum quo dicen [...] nos fuisse, The time shall bee short­lie that man shall say of vs that wee haue beene: And thereafter a time shall come that none shall know that euer wee had a beeing: Note Our life is like a sparkle fleeing out of the fire, which dyeth out into the flight, it failleth before it falleth.

These bee wordes of great po­wer, I finde now some working thereof within mine heart: I pray you continue.

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Wee haue none abiding heere, Note We all both yong & old post swift­lie away to the graue, the last bed wherein euerie man must sleepe, we are long of comming to: But how soone are wee pulled downe? Our strength saith Moses, is soone cut off, Psal. 90. 10 and wee flee away: Note Wee are like the Yee which thaweth sooner than it froze: Note This is the Law of all flesh, Prince, People, Poore and Rich, all must goe to Golgotha: The Preacher saith plainlie, There is no discharge in Eccle. 8. 18 that warre.

Note Though a man in the morning bee proude like a Peacocke, with lif­ted vp feathers, if Death come be­fore the night come, hee must lay downe his head among dead mens Skuls: What a thing is this, that within an hundreth yeares not one of vs all that are heere shall bee left aliue, no not in this great Citie, wherein wee liue? Note Are wee not [Page 76] all as water spilt vpon the ground, 1 Sam. 14 14 which can not bee gathered vp againe▪ What memorie is now of these tha [...] are past? And what shall bee said o [...] vs, when wee are gone? It is o [...] farre best then to follow our God▪ and to turne our backe vpon all suc [...] lying vanities.

I requeast you Sir, not to be wea­ried: Proceede I pray you into tha [...] purpose, that I may learne what va­nitie is into this life, which is so▪ much desired.

Note Mans life into this world is but a Pilgrimage and a race not of great length; for man that is borne of a w [...] ­man, 2 Tim. 4. 7 Iob. 14. 1. hath but a short time to liue: Note Ia­cobs answere to King Pharaohs que­stion concerning his age, was few Gen. 47. 1 and euill haue my dayes beene? Note What is man saith one but Vermis crasti [...] moriturus? a worme that will die to▪ morrow: Note Dauid putteth the length [Page 77] of his dayes betweene his little fin­ger & his thumbe: My life said he, is Psal. 39. 5 like a span long: some get but an inch, consider well I pray you Sir, seeing it is so, what is it then of your life, which is but of the length of a span what thogh it were an ell of length? Note Is not Methusalah with his many hundreth yeeres as well in dust, as as hee that liued but a day: Note Other haue giuen place to vs, and we must also giue place to others: To mee to day, to thee tomorrow: There is no lodging for immortalitie vp­on the Earth▪

My Soule rejoyceth to heare you Sir, proceede I pray you.

Wee haue no great cause to desire to sojourne on earth: Note What are we heere on earth but like poore beggers shute downe to the lowest chambers of the world? This low Cabul, that is dirtie. contrie may well be called Cabul, as Hiram, by disdaine called the dir­tie [Page 78] cities of Solomon: Be glad no [...] Sir for to leaue this earth, a dirti [...] dwelling: Note Step vp the Staire eue [...] Gen. 28. 17 the Ladder of Iaacob, that yee may mount vp to your God, for to see what hee is doing aboue: Well is you who shall heare shortlie the mu­sicke of Angels into that Palace whose pauement is the roofe of al [...] mortall dwellings: O if yee kne [...] what is there! Fye on our ignorance Note The Childrē of God in this worl [...] are like Lords children, sent out to bee fostered into little Cottages o [...] clay, when they are sent for by sick­nesse and death; their Fathers mes­sengers they weepe to come home to their Fathers Palace, because they know not these many pleasant Man­sions that bee in their Fathers house▪ But after that they haue once trye [...] what it is to bee in Heauen with their God, they shall wonder [...] their childishnesse: Note Be not Sir l [...] these fort of men that cannot abid [...] [Page 79] to heare speake of Death, but euen sicken at the name thereof, or waxe wroth at the speaker, as Ahab, fu­med 1 King. 22 8▪ at the Prophet, because hee spake not good thinges vnto him.

Hezekiah spake more wiselie, while hee was threatned by the Prophet, Good, said hee, is the word of the Lord: 2 King. 20 19. I pray you to continue your pur­pose concerning death: Note It is good that wee remember our latter end.

Note Indeed Sir the thoghts of Death are helpefull and healthfull to the Soules of men, to bee corrections for their corruptions: Such thoughts keepe euer God in our sight: They are like a strainer, wher­through the thoughts, wordes and workes of men are purified: Hardlie can a man thinke of a sho [...]t life, and thinke euill, as hardlie can hee d [...]eame of a long life, & thinke well: Note All the sinnes of Gods Church in [Page 80] Icrem [...]es dayes vvere imputed vnto Lam. 1. 9 this, that shee remembred not her end: Note Wee for the most part deceiue our selues vvith the opinion of long life, and so did they vvho are dead alreadie: O how gracious vvould one day bee to these novv, who vvhile they liued, did scorne at these vvordes, Redeeme the Time! But Ephes. 5. 16 their ma [...]ket time is now past: Gods Faire vvas ended before they could vnderstand vvhat it vvas to buy with­out money: Well is the man vvho, Isa. 55. 1. vvhile he hath time, so liueth to dye, that hee may dye to liue: If our life be good, our death cannot be euill: Note To the godlie man death is a com­fort, as beeing a medecine for all his diseases; a cure for all his cares, Reuel. 14 13 a rest [...] from his labours: But in this is his greatest joye that by it the filthie flooxe of sinne is dryed vp into an instant: * By it also the prison doore is opened that the Soule like a Doue may flie vp to its [Page 81] God: The consideration of such Eccles. 7. 3. things made Solomon to preach, The day of death is better, than the day that one is borne: Hee spake the trueth, for the one is the beginning, the o­ther is the ending of all our woe and miserie.

Now Sir, before that I proceede any further, I pray you to tell mee what yee thinke now of this world. In this as I remember was your last temptation grounded, that going out of this world, yee should no more see nor bee seene: Note I haue let you see as in a glasse, what vanitie is in it, yea, that all is but vanitie of vanities, the verie abstract of an ab­stract, or for to speak so, vanitie fined and quintessenced out of vanitie, which I may call the spirit or quin­tessence of vanitie. Now Sir tell me what ye thinke of this world, wher­in gods must die like men? No world­lie Psal. [...]. 7. thing below in the day of neede will bee able to keepe touch vnto vs.

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Fye, fye on my faultes, and my folie: Note I foolishlie once thought that I should feather a nest into this world, that should neuer bee pulled downe: Mine heart hath beene so bent toward this vanitie that I haue neither moued foote nor finger to­ward eternall Life.

Note It is true that I haue beene nou­rished and brought vp into this world like a Child into a rurall cot­tage Note I like a Child thought that there was no better: Ionah was Iona. 4. 7. angrie for to quite his Gourd: Note The greatest pleasures that are heere bee­ing well weighed, are but like the shadow of that Gourd, euanishing and worme-eaten pleasures: All such comforts are but slender, they faile man in his greatest neede.

Note Though worldlie pleasures be sweete for a space to these whose portion is into this Life, yet as [Page 83] Abner said of the deuouring Sword to Ioab, It will bee bitternesse in the 2 Sam. 2. 26. latter end: In all the gourdes of worldlie pleasures are wormes of paine, which shall make them to wither.

That is most certaine: Note well is him that hath turned his backe to all such lying vanities: So long as a man is in nature, not reformed by grace, hee is but a stranger from hea­uen: The loue of the world in his heart like a moth, cats out all liking of Heauen. Note I haue beene too long alas, sucking the breastes of this Nourse, whereout of I haue drawen nothing but the swill of wicked­nesse: Blessed bee my God, who hath sent this affliction for to waine my Soule from the loue of all things below: I beginne now to incline for to returne to my Fathers house in Heauen, where, as I heare, it shall bee much better for mee. Oh, for­lorne Sonne that I am▪ who haue [Page 84] wandered so farre from my Father!

I thanke God, Sir, for these good motions, flesh and blood cannot teach such lessons: But one word I haue obserued into your speach, yee haue said, that ye beginne to incline to goe home to your Father: Are ye not as yet fullie resolued? Desire yee not indeede presently to be dis­solued? Note Is it not your greatest de­sire to flitte f [...]om this bodie which is but a Booth, a Shoppe, or Tabernacle Iob 4. 19. of clay? Note Is not your Soule wea­ried to sojourne into such a reekie Lodge? Is not your heart panting after God, l [...]ke an Hart, panting after the water brookes? He are yee not your Soule crying within Psal. 42. 3. you, O when shall I come and appeare before God? Note A small feeble incli­nation to goe to God is not suffici­ent, ye must now come to a stedfast resolution: He who is not resolued, is not readie for to be dissolued: Ta [...] [Page 85] courage, bee not dashed into this danger, declare your mind freely, be not nice, there bee none heere but friendes.

I am so pyned with sicknesse, that hardlie can I make answere: Note Oh▪ but I am pressed with an heaui [...] hand: I feare much my last houre: My Soule is sore troubled.

Learne of Christ in his trouble: Now, said hee, is my Soule troubled, Ioh, 12. 27 and what shall I say? Father, deliue [...] mee from this houre: But for this cause vers. 28. came I into this houre: Father glorifie thy Name: As hee did, so doe yee: Note Hee fearing the houre was earnest with God in prayer for to bee de­liuered from it; and yet most hum­blie submitted himselfe vnto his Fa­thers will: So doe yee: If ye feare greatlie that houre, pray feruentlie, that God deliuer you from it and yet notwithstanding, let God haue [Page 86] all his will of you: His will shall eu [...]r bee your well.

But alas, my paines are grea [...]: Note my breach is like the sea: Gods rod vpon mee is torne with stripes, and worne to the stomps: In my torments I both feare and feele his wrath: If hee loued mee, would he scourge mee with such scorpions?

Whom God loueth hee chasteneth, and scourgeth euerie Sonne whom hee Heb. 12. 6. receiueth: By this yee see plainelie▪ that hee will receiue none to him­selfe, but those whom hee is min­ded to scourge: Note This scourging whereof yee complaine, is Gods loue-token, telling you that hee is minded for to receiue you: Woe [...]o the Childe whom the Father will not correct: God commandeth lo­uing Fathers to chastise their chil­dren till they cry: His command is also, that they bee not hindered for [Page 87] their cryes: Chasten thy Sonne, said Prou▪ 19. 18. God, while there is hope, and let not thy Soule spare for his crying: So long as there is life, there is hope: While God chasteneth you, it is a token that there is hope: Note Woe to that man, whom GOD disdaineth to strike: It is a sore word when a Fa­ther or a Master saith to a Childe I despaire of him, there is none hope, I giue him ouer, & will strik him no more: It was a fearefull vvord that God said to the rebellious Israelites, I will not visite your Daughters when Hose. 4. 14 they are harlotes, nor your Spouses when they are whoores: That is, I will cor­rect them no more, but let them runne head-long to their owne de­struction: Woe to him vvhom God vvill not correct: Note Certe tunc ma­gis irascitur Deus cum non irascitur, God is most angrie, when hee see­meth least to bee angrie: The wic­ked are most fearefullie plagued, when God spareth them most: Let [Page 88] not therefore your sore paines dis­courage you, but rather comfort you, as beeing a speciall token that God will receiue your Soule Note What reckes what this Carion suffer, if so be that God receiue the Soule? Shall I not drinke of my Fathers Cup? said Ioh. 18. 11 Christ: * To drinke of a Kings cup it vvould bee thought an honour. See then vvhat honour is in the af­fliction of the godlie, thereby they drinke of the King of Heauens cup: This is also a token of our friend­ship vvith Christ, vvhen wee drinke vvith him of one cuppe: Men will not drinke of one cuppe with their enemies. Rejoyce then Sir, to drink vvith Christ in your Fathers cuppe Note Though this cuppe bee bitter at the brimme, the bottome will haue a pleasant farewell.

Thinke vvell vpon this Sir, and possesse your soule in patience de­spare neuer of Gods mercie, though hee seeme to bee angrie, depend [Page 89] vpon him, trust into him, though hee should slay you: Note In confi­dence of h [...]s Loue rest and sleepe in his bosome, hang on him, saue his honour by trusting in him: If this yee doe, I assure you, that yee shall dye sweetlie, resting into his armes.

I finde Sir my paines greatlie to increase.

Bee of good comfort: Note If your paines increase, God will increase your patience with your paines, he is mercyfull, and will surelie streng­then you in the weakest houre: Gods strength is made perfect in weak­nesse: 2 Cor. 12. 9. In the meane time, bee figh­ting out the good fight manfullie: Note Hold vp your hands with Moses against Amaleke: Pray feruentlie to your God, that hee would cast into Exod. 17. 11 your memorie all the good thinges that euer yee heard or reade, where­with your Soule as with a rempart [Page 90] may bee guarded against the houre of temptations: Pray oft-ten with Christ, Father deliuer mee from this Ioh. 12. 27 houre: What say yee Sir? It ap­peareth that there bee some thing into your mind yet that vexeth you.

This Soule of mine is verie loath to depart from this bodie: Note They be of olde acquaintance, haplie long shall it be before they meete againe, Friendes cannot bee but sorie while they shedde.

That is naturall to all: But grace in the Godlie must rule Na­ture: Note Wee must gladlie leaue all for to goe liue with Christ, we must deny our selues for to confesse him: we must desire to be dissolued, for to bee with him; hee who loueth any thing better than him, shall not bee found worthie of him: Your Soule, say ye, is sorie to goe from the body: Note What are our bodies for the [Page 91] present, but prisons of clay? Let them goe to clay, till the day of the Resurrection come, when those painefull prisons shall bee turned in­to pleasant Palaces: Note What reckes of an inch of time heere on Earth▪ in respect of eternitie in Heauen? Should a mans heart so itch after an inch of Earth, that hee would de­sire to tarrie from Heauen but an houre?

The Soule must turne its backe vpon the bodie, for to turne its face vnto the God of Glorie: This is but a childish temptation: Note It is for women & children to weepe, at the taking of adewes, chiefelie while these that depart are going to a bet­ter condition of life.

Because the day draweth towards Euening, it is now time for mee to remoue: I hope God willing to come againe the Morrow, and to visite you, that I may minister vnto you some Spirituall comforts: In [Page 92] the meane time, seeing your minde hath bene so perplexed with carnall temptations, concerning Life, Lāds, Children, and Riches: Cause read vnto you this night in mine absence the Book of Ecclesiastes, from the be­ginning vnto the end, where ye shall see as in a glasse, the vanitie of all these things, wherewith your Soule now is most enamoured. If ye haue time, cause also reade vnto you Iob 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Before I goe Sir it shall bee best that I recommend you vnto God by prayer.

THE SECOND DAYES Conference. Of spirituall temptations.

GOD saue you Sir: How haue yee rested this Night? Haue yee found any working of Gods Spirit with­in you, since our last conference? Is your minde so at quiet now, that yee may boldlie say, with Simeon, Now let thy seruant depart in peace? Luk. 2. 29.

Note Alas, Sir, Satans temptations are like that Serpent of Lerne called Hydra, which had fiftie heades, [Page 105] whereof one beeing cut off, two sprang vp in the place thereof: I take that serpent to haue beene but a fa­ble: But that which I say may bee written for an Historie: Many heads of temptations haue yee cut off with the sword of Gods word: But now I think that for euerie head cut off, two are sprung vp in the place thereof: Note All my temptat­ons hitherto haue beene but vpon the skin like the scratch of a pinne, wrinkles but not woundes: All my troubles hitherto hath beene but matters of trifles, viz. Feare for my Life, feare for my Children, feare for the Graue of this our muddie mortalitie, and for other such trifles and trashes, vnworthie for to trou­ble a couragious Spirit: The Spirit of a couragious man, said Solomon, Prov. 18. 14. will beare his infirmitie: But the woun­ded spirit who can beare it? Note well is the child of God in his [...]orest sicknes for while his bodie is sicke, his Soule [Page 106] is sound: His God in great loue will make all his bed in his sicknesse, and Psal. 41, 3 strengthen him into the bed of lan­guishing: Note Hee whom God loueth is armed with Faith and patience, all his troubles are but outward scrap­pings vpon the skinne: The temp­tations wherewith I am lashed are spirituall woundings for my sinnes, which neuer troubled mee before: I heard oft-ten of such troubles, but I neuer knew before this time what such things did meane: Thinke ye Sir that the Spirit of a godlie man can bee thus wise troubled? I heare Dauid crying in his mourning, There is no soundnesse in my flesh, nei­ther Psal. 38. 3. is there anie rest in my bones: But what reckes of flesh and bones, if the Spirit were free?

The most godlie that euer liued, haue suffered spirituall woundes: Christ the Captaine of our Saluation, Heb. 2. 10 said, That his Soule was sadde euen Mar. 14. 34. [Page 107] vnto the death: Note Iob cryed, that h [...]s Spirit was drunken vp with the poyson of Gods arrowes, The ar­rowes of the Almightie, said hee, are Iob. 6. 4. within me, the poyson whereof drinketh vp my Spirit: See how that holie man of God complaineth that his Spirit was like a drinke drunken vp by the poyson of Gods arrowes. Note By this yee see that spirituall wounds are al­loted to the dearest of Gods Elect, so that they are not exeemed from inward blowes: Note Trouble of Con­science is the disease of the inno­centest Soule.

That satisfieth mee not: Note As for Christ, the blowes which hee suffered in his Soule, were blowes of satisfaction for the sinnes of o­thers: As for Iob these blowes were blowes of probation & of tryall, for to let the world see that he was not an hypocrite that serued GOD for rewardes, as Sathan did alledge: But [Page 108] it is not so with me, who am a bond slaue of corruption: I suffer for my 2 Pet. 2. sinnes, which are euer before mee: The fainer I would forget them, they flow the faster into my remem­berance: Note The voyce of my Con­science followeth mee with hue & with cry. Though God hath spa­red thee long, thou hast not beene bettered, looke now for vengeance after so long delayes: I can make no answere, I can not denie, but God hath spared mee long: In this is my greatest feare: Note The higher a stroake bee fetcht, the longer it is in comming: But the higher it bee lif­ted, the heauier it will fall.

I answere to that which yee said first, viz. that Christs sufferings are no comfort to you, because they are blowes of satisfaction: Note The affli­ctions of Christ were of diuerse vses first of all, for to make payment to Gods Iustice for our sinnes: Second­lie, he suffered, that by his own ex­perience [Page 109] of sense hee beeing expert what it is to suffer, might assure vs that hee is both a mercifull and a faithfull high Priest, For in that hee Heb. 2. 13 himselfe hath suffered beeing tempted, Non ig­nara ma­li miseris succurre­re disco. he is able to succour thē that are temp­ted: Thus the Apostle declareth plainelie afterward, Wee haue not, said hee, an high Priest which cannot Heb. 4. 15 bee touched with the feeling of our infir­mities: But was in all pointes tempted like as wee are, yet without sin: Note This experience which he had of our mi­serie, is called his learning, Though Heb. 5. 8 hee were a Sonne, yet learned hee obe­dience, by the things which he suffered: Hee also suffered, for to bee an ex­ample vnto vs.

I vnderstand not well these words that Christ learned obedience by his sufferings.

NoteThe words indeed seeme obscure: The most Learned think that Christ [Page 110] is said to haue learned obedience by his sufferings, because while he suf­fered hee felt indeed how difficile a thing it is talem obedientiam Deo prae­stare, Piscator. Caluin. to yeeld such obedience vnto God: others say, that by his suffrings hee joyned to his diuine knowledge y ^e practise of his passions: that which he had before only in contemplatiō is now also knowne vnto him by suffering that which he knew: Note O­thers say. That hee learned obedience by his sufferings, that is, Re ipsa exper­tus est quid sit patrem habere cut p [...] ­rendum Beza. sit, Hee knew by Expe­rience what it was, to haue a Father to whom obedience was due: Thus Christ while hee learned obedience by his sufferinges, hath teached all the faithfull to suffer patientlie.

As for that which yee said con­cerning Iob, that his afflictions were only blowes of probation & of try­all; yee deceiue your selfe, they Lam. 3. 39 were also for his sins: Whenfore is the liuing man sorrowfull? said Ieremie, [Page 111] The answere is peremptorie, man suffereth for his sinnes.

Note That seemeth not euer to bee true: While Christs Disciples saw a man that was blind from his birth, they asked Christ saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that Ioh. 9. 2. hee was borne blind? Iesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his Parents, but that the workes of God should bee made manifest in him: Oh, that I were that borne blind, that I were not afflicted for my sinnes, but that the works of Gods mercy might bee manifested in mee!

Note These words of Christ are not to bee taken so strictlie as though God would lay any affliction vpon a man in whom is no sinne: This could not stand with the Iustice of God: If Adam & his Children had neuer sinned, not one of them could haue beene stricken either with [Page 112] blindnesse, or deafenesse: Note This blind man then was not afflicted for his sins only, or especially, or as if he had bene a greater sinner thā others, but chieflie this disease came vnto him, that the workes of Gods power and mercie might bee made mani­fest by his cure: Note So Dauid was sore afflicted for his adulterie and mur­ther, but chieflie for to stoppe the mouthes of these enemies of God, whom hee by his scandle made to blaspheme: Note God as yee see may afflict you for your sinnes, and yet not chieflie for them; but for to take a tryall of your patience, or for to make others feare to sin when they shall perceiue by you, how great paines a godlie Soule will suffer be­fore that it can bee well reconciled vnto God againe.

I confesse Sir that ye speake with the tongue of the Learned: Note But for all that I finde such temptations [Page 113] tumbling within mee, that I may Ierm. 12. 5 compare them to the swelling of Ior­dan: My sinnes, alas, hudge in great­nesse, stand vp like mountaines be­tweene mee and my God: They are so high that they hide Heauen from my Soule: What shall I doe Sir? If euer yee helped mee, helpe mee now with your comforts.

Note Though these mountaines be high, yet yee must clime the mount with Moses, if ye would see Canaan: So long as Moses was in the valey, he could not see the typ of Heauen: We must all clime vp the Hill: Wee cannot see Christ before wee bee lifted from the Earth: Wee are all but men of little stature like Zacheus: Luk. 19. 3. Wee must therefore vp the tree with him, and vp the mount with Moses, before wee can see either Christ o [...] Canaan that place of promise: Ye are sorie for your sinnes: But sanat con­fessio morbi: A sinne well confessed [Page 114] is healed: But what sinnes be these Sir whose toppes reach so high that they hide the Sunne from you?

Alas, for the sinnes of my Youth; my Riot and my Drunkennesse, my Rom. 13. 13. Chambering & my wantonnes, my strif and enuy: Fye on my Fornications, and Adulteries, my lying and decei­uing Hypocrisie: Note So I had a lampe of profession, I cared not for oyle in it, my chiefe care hath euer beene for the outward shell of my duetie, but neuer for the Kernell: Gods graces in mee haue beene like a pure liquor in a fustie vessell.

I am glad to heare of these buffets of your Conscience, such griefe is from grace: I know what shall bee the euent, euen Repentance ne­uer to bee repented of: But say on

Note This is my greatest griefe▪ that I sinned into the light with Absolom▪ 2 Sam. 16. 22 [Page 115] euen in the cleare Sunne shine of the Gospel: Now may I well be ran­ked with these who counted it plea­sure to riot in the day time: It were 2 Pet. 2. [...]3 more easie for mee to number the sand than my sinnes.

Note There is no sinne either of o­mission or commission, in the light or in darknesse, that can hinder God to bee mercifull to a sinner, if the sinner can repent: God who is in­finit in mercie can forgiue the riots of the day, sinnes of knowledge as well as night sinnes; which are sins of ignorance: Note There is one sinne of ignorance which shall neuer bee forgiuen, euen to despaire of Gods mercie: What ignorance is this, that any Creature should thinke it selfe more sinfull, than God can bee mercifull? Note To make our sinnes to ouerreach his compassions, were to make the Center to containe the Circumference: If your sinnes bee [Page 116] in number like the sand, Gods mer­cies are without number: Note The greatest number that mans braine can inuent either by telling, or by ciphering in comparison of that which is infinite, is not so much as a droppe of a Bucket compared to the great Ocean.

Note I haue alas, beene an impudent sinner, who with my sinnes haue buffeted my God on euerie side: It were now righteous with God that hee should buffet me with his judge­ments: I slept in sinne, and could not bee wakened: While Christs Cocke crowed, my Soule lay fast a­sl [...]epe: Yea, while hee crowed a­gaine, I had past the third deny all: And though I was forewarned, I had none hoe in euill doing: While God was in my mouth, he was farre from mine heart: O that bloodie scarlet scrole of so manie iniqui­ties.

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Note As yee reason with your selfe, and with mee, so let it please you to reason but a little with your God: Come now, said the Lord▪ & let vs rea­son together: Though your sinnes bee Isa. 1. 18. as scarlet, they shall bee as white as snow; though they bee red like crimsin, they shall bee as woll: Note There is no sin so red though it were double dyed, but the vertue of Christs Blood can cause it cast its colour.

Note I haue no Faith to applie anie salue to my sore: I heare your ex­plication of Gods mercies: But there is none application within mee: What better will a man bee that yee set much meate downe before him on the Table, if hee cannot eate it?

Note Manie haue sit downe at Table hauing their appetit so bound vp at the first, that they abhorred to see meate, & yet litle & litle haue beene [Page 118] broght on first to taste, & thereafter to eate a little, last of all, one piece bringeth on another, till they reco­uer their appetit: This is but a dis­ease in your Soule, which maketh it abhorre all comforts, as it is said of these that are bodilie sicke in the Psalme, Their soule abhorreth all Psal. 107. 18 manner of meate, and they draw neare the doores of death: What was their remeedie? Earnest prayer to God: Then they cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble, and hee deliuered them from their distresses: Mans extremitie is Gods opportunitie. Bee of good comfort Sir, haue the Faith of God within you: Bee earnest in prayer, and God shall deliuer you from all your feares.

Oh, that I had Faith: Oh, that I could pray! I finde my griefes to growe: I spake neuer in earnest till now: All other temptations before were but for carnall thinges: They [Page 119] were all but sport, in comparison of this of my sins where with my Soule is pressed and borne downe: Note I take this to bee the forebrunt of endlesse plagues and paines prepared for the damned: I abhorre my selfe, fye on mee: What am I, but a dead Sardian, Revel. 3. 1 15. or which is worse, a lukewarme Lao­dicean neither colde nor hote, a fitte prouocation of vomite to my God: It is a vvonder if by this death he vomite mee not out of his Church, for to cast mee into Hell: Now what pleasure can I haue of all my sinnes, where of I am ashamed? Note All the joyes of my bygone life beeing joyned together, counteruaile not the least part of my present paine.

Alas, Sir, how can I gladly draw neare the doores of death, while there bee such impedimentes be­tweene mee and the doores of Hea­uen.

I loue these lamentations: Note It is [Page 120] good that a Soule be sensible of sin: Woe to that Soule that is past all feeling: Blessed bee God, that hath wakened you out of the slumber of your sinnes: Note Gods wrath euer fol­loweth drowsie consciences, for to giue them vp to the spirit of slum­ber, or to sporting spirites, that make men to sport themselues with their own 2 Pet. 2. 13 deceiuings: Note It is good that in our af­flictions, we consider well the cause; for Affliction commeth not out of the Iob. 5. 6. dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground: leremie in this is plaine, Lam. 3. 39 Man suffereth for his sins: Note It is your part to make a carefull search for the capitall sinne, which as yee thinke may chieflie be the cause of so great a wrath: Till Achan was found Israel Ios. 7. 16. could not stād before their enemies: But say on Sir, let mee heare you to Amen.

God hath set all my sinnes in or­der before mee: I see nothing but a [Page 121] burning wrath, which Scripture cal­leth, Heb. 12. 29. a consuming fire: Note Mine euill thoughts which I euer thought to bee free, stand now vp in battell ar­ray against mee [...] O Lord, why hast Isa. 63. 17 thou made vs to erre from thy wayes, and hardened our heart from thy feare? I haue no comfort within my Soule: Note I heare a clamour within my con­science crying vnto mee, What part or interest can thou looke for in the Kingdome of him whom thou hast so highlie dishonoured? How can thou be of that number that belon­geth to the election of grace? I find my conscience raging within me lik a swelling sea, except some calme of mercie come, my Soule shalbe swal­lowed vp with some fearefull surge: Alas, Sir, what is your counsell: All that is within mee is into an vp­roare, despare is working within the bowels of my bellie.

Note These secret throwings in the [Page 122] bellie are but Gods secret reproues, tokens of his Loue: Note Such secret checkes are like the rebukes of a Fa­ther, taking his Child apart to some quiet chamber for to admonish him: This is Gods customable doing with his owne Children, if by their open and scandalous sinnes, they haue not moued y ^e enemies of God to blaspheme, hee will take them to the secret chamber of their heart, & there apart as it were, after that hee hath barred the doore, and put all out, hee will tell them what they haue done: Note Ioseph would not tell before the Egyptians how his Bre­thren had solde him: But while hee reuealed himselfe to his Brethren, hee commanded all others to goe foorth: Cause euerie man, said hee, Gen. 45. 1. to goe out from mee, and there stood no man with him, while hee made him­selfe knowne to his Brethren: Note God would not reproue Iob before Elihu & El [...]phaz his vncharitable friends, [Page 123] but a part out of the while winde: Iob. 38. 1. After that hee had rebuked and scooled his Seruant Iob in the secret whirle of the winde, and hade made him to acknowledge his faultes, hee came to his friendes and told them Iob. 41. 7. that his wrath was kindled against them: Note After that Peter had thri [...]e most shamefullie denyed his Master Christ, who heard him so perjured­lie lye, would not reproue him o­penlie before the wicked, but one­lie turned his eye with a looke to­wards him: With that secret looke which no man perceiued but Peter himselfe, hee gaue him such a secret checke and nippe of reproofe, that Luk. 22. 62. incontinent hee went out, and weeped bitterlie: * Yee shall find at last Sir, all these temptations that trouble you within, are but God, taking you apart, and telling you with Io­seph, what yee haue done: God is now in the whirle winde working secretlie with you as with Iob, till ye [Page 124] bee humble in dust and ashes: Note All this bitternesse which ye finde with­in, is but from a Loue-looke of Christ, that yee may bee saued by weeping bitterlie for your sinnes: Note Bee of good comfort Sir, all these troubles within are but God out of loue whispering some reproofs into your eare for some bygone faultes.

I wish that it were so: Note But O, what a stir is this within my Soule? I thinke those wordes of God in Ie­rimie to bee directlie said vnto mee, Thine owne wickednesse shall correct Ierm. 2. 19 thee, and thy backslidinges shall re­proue thee, know therefore, and see that it is an euill thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my feare is not in thee.

Note While the dregge and mudde of a melancholious minde is stirred vp from the bottome with grieuous temptations, the sinner must spare [Page 125] to judge, till the Soule bee settled: Let that muddie minde of yours first bee settled, and yee shall shortly see that matters are not as they seeme to bee: When Christ said to Matth. 16. 23 Peter, Get thee behinde mee Sathan, it was a speach of glouminesse: But O the sweete gloumes of Iesus more sweete than the worlds smiles: Let that righteous reproue mee, and it shall Psal. 141. 5. bee as oyle which shall not breake mine head: Note God may seeme to be an­grie at his Darlings, but yet in great loue hee hath locked vp their Sal­uation, and made it sure in his vn­changable decree.

Mine heart is pricked with paines and grieued with griefe: This is the mischiefe, I see none out-gate, my Soule is enuironed with temptati­ons.

The wordes of S. Peter are com­fortable, The Lord knoweth how to 2 Pet. 2. 9 [Page 126] deliuer the godlie out of temptations: Note If your temptations bee great, heere is matter of joye, yee haue a God who knoweth how to deliuer you. There is no temptatiō so dead­ly but God knoweth how to cure it: Note A touch of the garment of Christs righteousnesse will anone dry vp that flooxe of blood.

I am so tossed, that I am not able to touch it: Note I am like a shippe in a tempest, seeking its Hauen, but cannot come by it; whiles I am bl [...] ­wen to this side and whiles to that side: Thus beeing driuen hither & thither as with contrarie Tydes, mine heart quaketh, and my con­science is in a qualme.

Christ, who in the dayes of his flesh rebuked the windes, will calme Matth. 3. 16. such qualmes, that your conscience may bee at rest: * Though the rol­ling sea rage, so that it make the Ma­riners [Page 127] to reele to and froe, & stagger like drunken men, yet when they cry vnto the Lord, Hee maketh the Psal. 107. [...] 29. stormes a calme so that the waues ther­of are still: Hee who can still the waues of waters, can calme the most stirring surgesse of temptations: Note It is written of the Mariners, that while in the temptest all their cun­ning is gone, their last refuge is to their prayers, Then they cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble, and hee de­liuereth them from their distresses: If your distresse Sir, bee like the tem­pest which cannot bee with stood by care or cunning, runne to your God by prayer, confesse fullie and freelie your sinnes: Suffer no star­ting holes or hollownesse in your heart: But worke it to sinceritie, vse all meanes for to bee friendes with your God: Seeke earnestlie from God, for the sake of his Chirst, the peace of Conscience.

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So I doe: Note But alas, while I seeke peace, I heare from God as it were that voyce of Iehu to Iohoram▪ horse-man saying to my Soule, What hast thou to doe with peace? get 2 Kin. 9. 18 thee behinde m [...]e: What wonder that God bee angrie with mee, who was neuer carefull to please him? Note My Soule like a Night-Owle hath hated Light, and loued darknesse: Such is the weight of my transgression that I am like to finke thorow the sward of Gods wrath: Note This chec­keth mee sore, that while I sin­ned, I stroue to ouermaster my con­science arraigning mee for my wic­kednesse: When I thinke of this, [...] thinke shame to face the Sunne and the Moone.

Note The more yee bee ashamed of your sinnes, the lesse yee neede to feare euerlasting shame: The Pha­risee Luk. 18. 11 thought no shame of him selfe, [Page 129] but bragged of his worth, the Publi­can could not face the Heauens for shame: Your part shall be with the Publican, who returned justified vn­to his house: Hee who condem­neth himselfe, shall goe home to Heauen with the justice of his God. Cry vnto the Lord in your trouble.

I am not able to speake, the force of temptations is like to shiuer me in pieces: All that is within mee is in a fearefull vproare: Note O how fear [...] ­full is the racke and gibbet of an euill conscience: The blacke scrole of my sinnes which of before seemed to bee enroled, is now vnfolded & laid open, wherein euerie letter see­meth huge, great like a mountaine: Euery day is a death vnto me, all my counts are out of order, there is not a string in mine heart in a right tune: What are sinners, but stubble? Gods sentence is, Burne them: Note Alas, that while I sinned, I weighed not [Page 130] the following woe: I haue brewed my griefe, and now I must drinke in sorrow.

Note One thing I perceiue Sir, that your griefe must haue vent, till yee haue disburdened your selfe with teares and complaints, yee can not admit anie comfort.

There is no doloure lik to my do­loure: The arrowes of the Lords wrath are within mee, whereof my Spirit drinketh the poyson.

Note These arrowes are not arrowes of wrath, but of vvarning, like the ar­rowes of Ionathan, shot for to driue Dauid frō the furie of Saul: Note Heare the Spirit crying with Ionathan, Are 1 Sam. 20. 37 they not beyond thee? Gods arrowes are flowen ouer you, are they not beyond you? There is no danger.

Note My sinnes which once see­med [Page 131] little like mots, begin now to swell, and to become thicker than mountaines: I haue no peace with­in: In my Soule is kindled an vn­quenchable fire, in it is the fewell of euerlasting burnings: Note Often haue I posted off my sinnes in the lumpe vvith a slubbert generall con­fession: Now resteth nothing with­in mee but feare distrust & qualm [...]s of Conscience.

Bee strong in God Sir: Hope in his mercie, belieue in him, though he should stay you: Note If yee will not Isa. 7. 9. belieue, saith Isaiah, surelie yee shall not bee established: While the wo­man of Canaan vvas making request to Christ for her Daughter, shee found Christ at the first to bee verie harsh and sowre, in calling her a Dogge: But that little blast beeing once blowne out for the humbling of her Soule, she heard incontinent these words of comfort, O woman, [Page 132] great is thy Faith: Bee it vnto thee Matth. 15 28. euen as thou wilt: Note Gods face may seeme grimne for a space, but there is but a moment in his wrath: though he should slay you, yet must yee trust in him: In your hurt yee must hope for his helpe.

Note My strongest hope is but a stin­ging feare: My greatest confidence is but trembling of conscience: Note It seemeth to mee, that there is one knocking at the doore of mine heart and crying in a voyce, Is Faith heere? Is loue within? Is one cal­led the feare of God into this place? Is the Spouse of Christ in this heart? Alas, what can I say, hauing such an ouglie Soule within mee? Can Christ the Spouse of the Church loue such a Soule as mine, which is like a bleare or squint eyed Leah? can the dark night beguile him, that hee should take such a loathsome Leah for a beautifull Rachel?

[Page 133] Note If Death now ouertake mee, I looke for fire and faggot, the fuell of euerlasting burninges: Oh, my Faith fainteth, and mine hope ho­uereth: What say yee Sir? Doeth not your heart pittie to see mee in such a plunge? Note Yet for all this I must justifie God: All this is righ­teouslie come vpon mee, though his wrath should so settle vpon mee, that thereby my bones should bee crushed like these eighteene who were slaine vnder the tower of Siloe, Luk. 13. 4 to God should belong righteous­nesse, but to mee open shame and Dan. 9. 8. confusion of face.

Note Shame of face for sinne is the beginning of grace in a sinner; waite vpon the Lord a little, and hee shall make his mercie to appeare like a morning light, at the breake of day all the night shadowes of tempta­tions shall flee away, and Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse, shall arise and Mal. 4. 2. [Page 134] shine vpon your Soule with his bles­sed beames: This shall make your Soule like a Bird on a bush well­comming the morning with a song for joye that the night is past.

Note Sathan alas, hath so hood-win­ked my Soule with my sinnes, that I cannot get a sight of mercie, the sense of my sinnes giueth mine heart many a cold pull: I feare to die in despaire: What say yee Sir? Doeth not your heart pittie mee?

The Lord pittie you, & giue me an heart to pray for you: The Lord put the wordes into my mouth, that may comfort your comfortlesse Soule in this Iingring tryall: Haue patience in your paine, sinne is like a rotten tooth, the deeper roote it hath in the jawes, the more paine­full it is in the drawing. Continue Sir to discouer your sore; if the boile of such corruption bee ripe, I [Page 135] shall launce it, that such filthie mat­ter may bee cleansed away: I pray God so to direct mee, that I may proue a Surgeon cunning in this cure; if there bee any thing as yet that troubleth you, conceale it not, if ye think that my comforts may be helpfull vnto you: Note Many are more ashamed to confesse a faulte, than to commit a sinne. What is this that grieueth you now Sir?

The wrath of God affrayeth me; Note His anger is like a Lyon, which can not bee tamed: My sinne is past, but punishmēt is to come: Note Terrors cry out of the fire, Thy pleasures now are ended, now thou must suf­fer paines: From the toppe of the pinacle of all thy preferments, come down to the dungeon of darknes, be­cause thou hast fallen downe before the god of this world, goe downe, goe 2 Cor 14. 4 downe to him, whom thou on earth hast worshipped: These bee the ter­rours [Page 136] of God, standing in battell ar­ray against mee, which make mee to fling all comfortes from mee: My Soule is possessed with a slauish feare.

Note Indeed I must confesse, that I am much beholden vnto God, for so large a time of repentance: But alas. I haue neglected it, yea, and obstinatlie haue kicked against my Maker: Note So now I finde by doole­full sense, that I remaine into the guilt; my Soule is so sicke with this that I cannot tell: Note All comfortes are vnto it like a dead potion into the stomacke which hath no vertue to worke: God thinketh mee not wor­thie of comfort: For while I was in prosperitie, I was so couered ouer Isa. 29. 10 with the spirit of slumber, that I would not be warned nor wakened by the voyce of Gods Trumpeters, soun­ding judgements, as sonnes of thun­der, Note Because I misregarded Boanar­ges the Sons of Thunder, God will [Page 137] not daine mee with a Barnabas, a Sonne of consolation. Now be­hold Sir, what grieueth mee, what say yee for my comfort?

Note I rejoyce from mine heart not in your griefe, but in that yee are so grieued for your sinnes: God in mercie by such sorrow doeth whet vp your desires after him: Note The Child by a knocke & a fall knoweth his owne weaknesse, and perceiueth the need of his Nourse: I rejoyce to see you humbled with the sense of your sins vnder the hand of God, I am comforted to see you humbled, let this humilitie bee a comfort to your selfe: It is good to be of a hum­ble and contrit Spirit: To whom will Isa. 66. 2. I looke? said the Lord, euen to him that is of a contrit Spirit, and trem­bleth at my word: Note The more a man be humbled he is neerer to be justified: The Publicā a litle before he was justified, was knocking vpon his [Page 138] breast, and crying to God for mer­cie to him a miserable man: Note The more humble a man bee, hee is the Luk. 18. 13 farther from the dint and danger of Gods judgements.

By your discourse Sir, it would seeme that a cast downe Soule with its owne vnworthinesse, is in lesse danger of judgement, than these who are high lifted vp in their owne conceit.

It is most certaine: Note The humble & y ^e proud are like these seeds that were sowne in Egypt, when the plague of haile came, the Flaxe and the Barley Exod. 9. 31 were smitten, saith the Scripture, for the Barley was in the eare, and the Flaxe was bolled: But the Wheat and vers. 32. the Rye were not smitten, for they were not grown vp: The wicked in time of wrath are lik Flaxe & Barley, because they are lifted vp, they are smit­ten, they are in the eare, yea, and [Page 139] bolled in their pride, and therefore cannot escape: But as for the hum­bled heart of the godlie man, it is lik the Wheat and Rye, the best corne: It is not smitten because it is not growne vp, but lyeth humble be­fore the Lord: Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse Leoni: Humilia­tion maketh the Lyon to spare his aduersarie: God is pleased and pa­cified so soone as hee seeth a man humbled in heart: Ahah had killed 1 King. 21 19. & after also had taken possession Note Yet so soone as hee humbled himselfe in Sacke, though all his humilitie was but outward, the Lord looked vpon him, and would haue Elijah to see it also, Seest thou, said the Lord vers. 29. to his Prophet, how Ahah hath hum­bled himselfe before mee: Because hee humbleth himselfe before mee, I will not bring this euill in his dayes.

Blesse God Sir, for your hum­bled heart, yet relye neuer vpon any grace that is within your selfe, let [Page 140] Gods meere mercie alone bee your strength and your stay: Note The least opinion of our owne worth is a frost which nippeth Repentance in the blossome.

Thinke ye Sir, that before a man win to Heauen, that hee must bee racked and riuen as I am with feare­full temptations?

Note Before the most part of the E­lect can enjoy these joyes that are a­boue, they are not onelie racked with paine, but also as it were racked thorow hell: There must first bee an hell in the conscience with the sense of our sinnes, wee must haue a sight of wrath, before wee enter in­to Gods Rest: Note Heauen is not winne with a wish: Christ saith, that it suffereth violence, and that the vio­lent Matth. 11. 12. take it by force: Thorow manie tribulations and afflictions wee must enter into it: The Crowne is after a course of crosses.

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I am haled away with the strong streame of temptations: I cannot thinke, that if God loued mee, hee would suffer mee to bee thus way tread vnder foote like dust, with such fearefull temptations: O how feare­full is the crosse vpon the Conscience!

These whom GOD loueth best, hee chasteneth: Note The louing Mother will runne vpon her dearest Daughter with her feete, if shee per­ceiue her to bee giuen to folie: God treadeth not vpon his owne, but for profite: Note The Godlie are like Saf­fron or Camomile, which grow the better the more they bee troden downe: Grace must gripe Nature till it gaspe.

Mine heart is strained and squised with griefe: O the heauie weight of my sinnes, which hang so fast on! Note I am like a tyred horse that faine [Page 142] would bee rid of his burden.

To bee tyred of sinne, is a token that yee shall bee shortlie deliuered: Note Hee who is tyred with sin, is tyred, not to bee a drudge of sin: Note Sinne is not heauie to the Wicked, be­cause it is in them as water in its owne element, though it bee of weight, yet it weigheth not: Well is the wearied Soule, it hath Christs promise of ease: But woe to them Matth. 11. 28 who with Laodicea, haue neede of no thing: For the most part, men are drowned in drowsinesse: Securitie is farre more dangerous than despaire: As was sung of Saul and of Dauid, so may bee heere, Despaire hath slaine her thousand, but Securitie her ten thousand: Manie are not wakened till they bee so wakened, that their judgement and senses are lost.

It is a fearefull curse for a man to blesse himselfe, while hee should mourne for his sinnes: Such as blesse themselues, while the Lord pro­nounceth [Page 143] the wordes of the curse, The Lord will not bee mercifull to that Deut. 29. 20 man: Note Securitie hath shaken hands with Hell and Death: But well is him who feareth alwayes: Note Hee is greatest in Gods sight, who is least in his owne eyes.

But alas, Sir, my conscience speaketh home, that I haue beene a stranger from my God: O but I am wearied, how shall I bee deliue­red from this burden of bondage?

These who are ladened and wea­ried, may heare Christ in his Go­spel crying vnto them, Come vnto me Matth. 11. 29. Goe to him who cryeth so louingly, Come: Striue aboue all things, to get a sight of your Sauiour, by the eye of Faith: Vrge vpon your heart a deepe meditation of his mercie, his merits are able to cure our maladies.

Note There is such a mist betweene me and the Messias, that it is not pos­sible [Page 144] for me to see him. Oh, that my eyes were cleared with Gods Eye­salue, that I might clearelie be hold Reuel. 3. 10 him!

Note The great desire ye haue to see him is a sort of sight: Note All men see not Christ alike: All goe not vp to the mount with Peter, Iames, and Iohn: Matt. 17. 1. All see not God face to face with Mo­ses: Exod. 33, 11. All men lay not their head in Christs bosome, with his best beloued Ioh. 13. 23 Disciple; Be not discouraged: thogh ye cannot winne so neare to Christ, as ye would: Note If ye cannot winne to him for to embrace him, as Simeon Luk. 2. 8, did striue to touch the border of his garmēt behind with y ^e finger of faith Luk. 8. 44 and it shall stay the bloody fluxe of your Sinnes: Note Ye sigh for a sight of Christ * A sigh for a sight of him, is a sight of him indeed: Note He who wold be found of these that sought him not will bee much more found of these that seeke him, and sigh for him: Bee [Page 145] of good heart: Note Though for a space your spirituall day be mistie, yet at last your drumly sky shal be cleared: Note Christ is not euer absent, while hee is not seene: The Sunne as we see will be couered with a cloud, & the Moone will bee vnder wake, but incontinent thereafter, the cloudes beeing ouer-blowen, wee enjoye their brightnesse and their beames: What shall bee able to separate a Christian from the Loue of his Christ? Note What then shall be able to mak a Christian soule despaire? Shall Damnation? No, For Christ Gods▪ Luk. 2. 30. Saluatiō is ours: Shall Hell? No, For our Christ hath Reuel. 3. 7. the keyes both of Heauen & of Hell: Shall the World? No, For Christ hath Ioh. 16. 33. ouercome the World: Shall the Law? No, For our Christ hath Matth. 3 15. fulfilled the Law. Shall Death? No, For our Christ Ioh. 14. 6. is the Way and the Life: Shall the Fathers wrath? No, For Isa. 63. 3. Hee hath troden the wine-presse of his wrath for you, [Page 146] and for all repenting sinners: Note All Scripture pointeth at him, saying, Isa. 30. 21. This is the way, walk ye in it: Run Sir to him, & he shall deliuer you from all your sinnes, and from all your feares: Striue to curbe your owne corruptions which are so broodie within you.

I cannot alas, bee quite of my sinnes: I striue to runne away from them, but the faster they follow mee, like curre Dogges that are so accustomed to follow their Master they will not bee boasted home a­gaine: Where euer I goe with my thoughts aboue or below, my sinnes follow hard after mee: Note Though I threaten them, thogh I boast them, yea, betimes intreate them to de­part, their answere is, Wee are thy vvorkes, wee will goe with thee. This putteth my Soule out of peace and order, and thrusteth mee away from Deut. 13. 10. the Lord; my God: I haue beene long [Page 147] seeking and sighing for comforts: But as yet I can espye none appearance.

Comforts sought sought, and sighed for, are not aye seene at the first: Note Elijahs seruant went vp the hill Carmell eight seuerall times to espye some appearance of raine: The first seuen times hee could see nothing, & at the eight hee saw but a little cloud of comfort: Behold said hee, there ariseth a little cloud out of 1 Kin. 1 [...]. 44. the sea, like a mans hand: A little af­ter that, the heauens were blake with vers. 45. cloudes and winde, and there was a great raine.

Note Hold your face Sir a little space with Elijah betweene your knees, and 1 Kin. 18. 42. cast your selfe downe vpon the Earth, as hee did, that is, fall downe in all humilitie of Soule before your God in prayer: That done, send vp your prayer the spirituall spye vnto the top of the hill: Note Send it againe and a­gaine, euer till it espye some little [Page 148] cloud of comfort: If your Soule take paines in prayer till ye perceiue but an hand breadth of mercie, at last Gods comfortes shall raine downe in great aboundance vpon your wearied Spirit: What shall I say, if yee will not bee informed yee can­not bee reformed.

Indeede that is a pleasant and fit comparison, worthie to bee prin­ted with a Note on the margent: It hath beene well adapted by you▪ Oh, that it could bee as well applyed by mee: Oh, that the Lord, whose loue expelleth feare, would streng­then my weake Faith with an hand­breath, of his mercie: O for such a little cloud of comfort, it would lif [...] Heb. 12. 12 vp mine hands which hang downe, and strengthen my weake knees: But in steede of such a comfortable cloude, I see nothing but cloudes of w [...]ath, readie to fall and become a deludge of vengeance: from my birth, I must [Page 149] not dissemble, I haue dallied with my God, and haue dispised the gra­tious day of his visitations: Note And now all my comforts resemble to the Eagle, that taketh her to her wings, and flyeth aloft high into the Skye, from my sinfull reach: O feare! O horrour! O the multitude of my transgressions! how shall I be quiet?

The best way to be quite of sin, y ^t it reigne not in vs, is to bend vp our hearts to Christ, who is Emmanuel, Isa. 7. 14. God with vs: Thogh all be worthie to bee damned, yet there is no con­damnation Rom. 8. 1 to these that are in Christ: Note Hee is that heaue-offering, which wee must euer hold and heaue vp like a buckler betweene Gods wrath and our sinfull Soules: In what case finde yee your Conscience to bee for the present?

One deepe calleth to another deepe [Page 150] at the noyse of Gods water Spouts▪ Psal. 42. 7 My sorrow is like the Sea, it ebbeth and it floweth: As I haue swimmed thorow one deepe temptation, I fall into another that is deeper: My braine is turned with a whirling giddinesse.

Note There is no such deepnesse ei­ther in our sinnes or in our troubles, but the mercie of God in Christ shall bee able to ouer-reach it by in­numerable fathomes: S. Paul said, that hee was assured, that neither high nor depth shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God.

Note Though affliction raine downe v­pon vs like water falling from spouts, they may well wash vs, but shall not bee able to drowne vs: Note A godlie man should not be afraide for a spo [...] full of bitter waters: Note Though th [...] waters of the sea roare & be troubled▪ Though the Mountaines shake with the swelling thereof, yea, though [Page 151] the surges thereof should boast the cloudes, heere is the faithfull mans Psal. 46. 4. comfort, There is a riuer the streames whereof shall make glad the Citie of God: Note Thogh the Mediterranean Sea, yea, the great Ocean with its surges, should boast Gods Ierusalem, a little riuer or brooke, a Kidron of Gods grace sending out streames of com­fortes like the waters of Siloe shall make glad the Citie of God.

Note But how shall I passe thórow to Canaan, behold, before mee what floodes of iniquities ouerflowing Ier. [...] their bankes as in the swelling of Ior­dan: Such fearefull floodes ru [...] betweene me and Heauen [...] place▪ appointed for my [...]

Note [...] [...]oake with the garment [...] Christes righteousnesse will diuide the floodes of Belial, as Elisha diui­ded the Iordan by striking it with the mantle of Elijah, that hee might 2 King. 2. 14. [Page 152] safelie passe thorow: Note Christes merits are like the Arke, which made the Iordan to goe backe, for to make Ioh. 3. 16 a way for Israel vnto Canaan: Note Our heartes like the Priestes, must stand hard by the side of this Arke, till all our affections the Lords Armies be come thorow the swelling Iordan of Ier. 12. 5. grieuous afflictions.

While I beholde my selfe, I ab­horre my selfe: Note The eye of my God seeth mee, and what am I, but like a bemired Dogge trodde by Sa­than into the puddle of perdition? Alas, when good motions came in­to [...]e heart, I crosed them with my lustes▪ Now cursed be my lusts.

I am so filth [...] ▪ [...]hat I abhorre my selfe, my sinnes are so [...], that no­thing is able to make them [...]

Know yee Sir what God said of olde in Isaiah? Come now, and let vs [...]sa. 1. 18. reason together, though your sins be as [Page 153] scarlet, they shall bee as white as snow, though they be red l [...]k crimsin, they shall bee as vvoole: If yee could but rea­son a little with God, ye should find this to be true: There is no sinne, which Christes blood is not able to purge: Note What euer your sinne be, if yee can repent, he can forgiue: Note Christ can doe anie thing butthis▪ hee cannot saue him that will not re­pent: Seeing yee know him to bee infinite in mercie▪ haue all your re­course to him; Note Take once a proofe of his mercie: Humble your selfe at his feete, and see whether or not there bee mercie with him that hee may bee feared.

Note The seruants of Benhadad kno­wing that the Kings of Israel were mercifull Kings: Put sack-clot [...] vpon 1 Kin. 20. 31. their loynes, & ropes vpon their heads, for to seeke mans mercie, which al­so they found: Note Shall man finde mer [...] into the narrow bowels of a man, and [...] hee bound the holie [Page 154] One of Israel? Note Christ who is not onelie true, but Trueth it selfe hath said, Whatsoeuer yee shall aske Ioh. 14 12. in my Name, that vvill I doe: Note Hee who is true may lye, but Trueth can not lye.

That is trueth: While I consider your comfortes for the distressed Soule, Note I thinke that all your pur­pose pointeth chieflie at Christ, as though hee alone were the ground of Grace: Let mee heare I pray you more at large, what Christ is vnto vs.

Hee is Emmanuell, God with vs, Matth. 1. 2 [...] God with man, God in Man, God-Man: In Him God and Man, are but one Person: Our life is hid with Christ Col. 3. 3. in God: Note Because wee did eate of the forbidden Fruite, Hee was hanged vpon a cursed tree: Hee hath borne vs such a loue as is vn­speakeable: Note What tongue [...] forme wordes sufficie [...] [...]or to ex­presse [Page 155] the least part of the same?

By the conduite pype of his Hu­manitie Grace for Grace hath beene conueighed to our graceles Soules, who can expresse his Loue, hee lo­ueth vs to the end, and of his Loue there is none end.

Note This I will say, That hee hath borne to man such a loue, that hath made all mankind like a Banquerupt, so farre vnable to pay the principle, that though man should loue his Sauiour withall his might and his minde, yet should hee not pay so much as the interest of so great a loue: No, though hee should giue his bodie to bee brunt for the ho­nour of his Name: No, though he should for his sak haue his name if it were possible, scraiped out of the Booke of Life: Note Though all our Soules should suffer for his ho­nour the euerlasting paines of the damned, all these paines were not to bee counted the interest of his [Page 156] paines for vs: Note It is more that a Prince get a deadlie hurt in a Battell, thā that a thousand common Soul­diers were slaine: Note It is more that the Prince of Heauen suffered vpon the crosse but an houre, than that a thousand worlds had beene cast in­to a thousand hells, for to bee tor­mented for euer Note There is no pro­portion in suffering betweene the creature & him who was both God and Man into one person.

Note O then, what can be the interest of that principall loue, that moued God to die for man? Note Let this bee like a Bell ringing for to waken your drowsie Soule: Let your Soule like Iohn leane vpon the blessed bosome of Iesus: Haue euer your eye vpon this Mercie-seat.

Is it onelie then in Christ, Sir, that Saluation is to bee found? All Scripture would yee say, doeth lea­uell at him.

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The Scripture is plaine: There is Act. 4. 12 none other Name giuen vnder heauen among men, whereby wee must bee sa­ued▪ Hee is full of the bowels of loue; Hee is that onelie Sauiour, pointed out by both the Testaments: Note Like as the two Cherubims, though seuered one from another, yet loo­ked one towards another, and both vpon the Mercie seate: Euen so the Olde and New Testament looke one towards another, & yet point at one & the same Christ, the marrow and kernell of mans Saluation▪ Note All Religion is in this, that wee know Christ: This is mans Saluation, to know Christ and him crucified: Note By 1 Cor. 2. 2 his Blood the Bill and Bond of the Law, is crost and cancelled: Note Hee is that Carkasse wherevnto all faithfull Soules like Eagles must resort: Hee Matth. 24 28 is our refuge against the dint of Gods wrath: The Spouse could not come vp from the wildernesse, but [Page 158] by leaning vpon her beloued, Christ. Cant. 8, 5

Note As the Propitiatorie couered the Tables of the Law, that were in the Arke, so Christ couered our sinnes against these Tables: Note As the cloud couered the Israelites from the fight of Pharaoh hotelie following after them, so Christs righteousnesse like a cloud couered vs from the judge­ments of God his fierie wrath pur­suing vs.

Note Let men couer themselues ne­uer so carefullie, still some part of them shall peepe bare, vntill Christ come with the couering of his righ­teousnesse.

Note If by the temptations of Sathan your Soule hath beene ruffled or gal­led vpon the sore: The best balme that euer dropped from the pen of Gods Spirit vpon the leaues of his Sacred Booke, is the Historie of Christs Bloodie passion: There wee may see the dearest mercies that e­uer moued the relenting bowels of [Page 159] Gods tenderest compassions.

Note Behold the Sacred Blood of that vnspotted Lambe, which saued the Soules of those that spilt it.

Note If yee bee pined with Corrasius of terrour, in him are Cordials of compassions, the onelie salue for the sores of the Soule Note Though ye were couered with scarlet abominations, Isa. 1. 18. heere is vertue whereby yee shall be made whiter than the snow: Note Did hee not pray for them, yea, did hee not saue them, who by bitter railing, discharged vpon him the vt­most of their gall?

Such men at last were pricked in Act. 2. 37 their heartes they truelie repented: Note Their sighes and sobs were sup­ported & sinewed with the strength of Grace: Such men became godly indeede: But I did neuer passe the pitch of formall pietie: I euer desired more to seeme godlie, than so to be: I haue beene betimes sore shaken [Page 160] with awfull terrours: Note But I neuer yet could say, that the softening blood of Iesus did melt my marble heart.

Note What euer had I, but some light of reason & glimmerings of generall grace, which cannot soare so high, as to conuoy the soule to the doores of Heauen? Note The word of sauing grace implanteth it selfe into the heart of the godlie man: Hee onelie is fur­nished with a resolute & vnswayed vprightnesse.

Note Alas, alas, alas, mine heart is thro­wen with a sore wringing: There is a large haruest for Hell, many called but few chosen.

What shall I say? Note Mans thoughts are framed into a sinfull mould Note The sillie sonnes of Adam are wonder­fullie tossed with the contrarie Tyd [...] of Satans temptations: Some he be­numeth with the sweetnes of Sec [...] ­ritie, others hee troubleth with the tartennesse of terrours: Note O but Sa­thans [Page 161] Balow is sweete to the Soule in the craddle of Securitie! But O how dreadfull shall hee bee when hee appearing grieslie and fierce vnto the Soule, shall waken it with a cry and a glowre saying, Damned soule come out to fire, & faggot, come out to vnqueancheable brimstone beames, come out to weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Note A man after this manner wa­kened in conscience, is like a man wakened out of his sleepe on a sud­den: At the first hee is in such a maze, that till hee bee better wake­ned he cannot well vnderstand what is said to him: All his thoughts are into an hurlie burlie: Then his out­ward rebellions, and his inward re­pynings, with all his abominations seeme to fall downe vpon him like cloudes of blood: Note There bee no comforts that can settle his feares, till the Spirite of grace appeare vn­to him in the calme.

[Page 162]Looke vp with your eye Sir, and seeke a blinke of the face of Iesus: Hee onelie is the Prince and Pryce of our Peace, our joye, and our li­bertie: If the Sonne make vs free, wee Ioh. 8. 36. shall bee free indeede: Wrestle with him, vse violence in an holie bold­nesse: vis Deo grata.

In him are the lasting treasures of mercie and immortalitie: Note Hee it is onelie who can make this biting Conscience to bee toothlesse, he one­lie can command this raging sea: I know Sir, that your sorrowes are sore, and my Soule pittieth you, for I see you in the verie pangs and ter­rours of the new birth: I perceiue your Soule gasping for grace, as the drie and thirstie ground for droppes of raine.

O the boisterous blastes of temp­tations, able to make the tallest and deepest rooted Cedars to stagger, yea, the Sirion to skippe like an V­nicorne: [Page 163] What shall I doe?

Seeing Christ alone is our pro­tection and perfection, let all your courage bee in him: Note In him yee must bee valiant, for none but the valiant can by violence enter into the Kingdome of God: If a man know Christ well, hee shall not be discou­raged though hee were cast into a raging sea of temptations: Note Though a mā were cast into a gulfe of twenty fathome deepe, if hee can keepe his head aloft, he cannot be drowned: Note So as long as Christ our Head is a­boue, wee his members may well bee dowked, but wee cannot bee drowned: All Christian comforts runne vpon him like the title of a Booke, wherein is contained the substance of the whole.

If Christ Sir bee yours, yee can­not perish: Hee who is rooted in him, can neuer bee rooted out.

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But how can Christ bee mine, seeing I am but a bagge of corrupti­on & a bodie of Death? What hath mine heart beene, but like a vipers bellie, filled with a deadly brood? Miserable man that I am, will Christ euer daine to looke vpon such a vile wretch as I am, who hath turned my Christian libertie in a fleshlie li­cence.

These who are least into their own eyes, are in greatest account with him: Note When yee heare of the wan­dring sheepe brought home, and of Matth. 18. 13 the lost groat found, and of the for­lorne Luk. 15. 8 Sonne returned to his Father: Luk. 15, 18. Ye should cast your figure & say, Of whom is this written but of mee? for whom is it written but for mee?

Note If yee sticke fast by him, no perrell shall make an haire of your Matth. 19. 30. head to perish: Bee of good comfort, for your life is hid with Christ in God. Colos. 3. 3

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I am so vile, that hardlie darre I presume to think that Christ would die for such a filthie rotten creature as I am, who from the sole of tbe Isa. 1. 6. foote to the crowne of the head, is filled with botches, boiles, and putrifying sores: Note When I behold my selfe in­to the glasse of Gods Law, I abhor the monstrous face of my Soule: Note I am one of those in whom Satan hath parbreaked, and spewed the spawne of all sorts of sinne: Of all sin­ners, I am the first: Note For I haue not sinned of ignorance, but of knowledge, against the light of my mind, against the voyce of my God, against the workings of his Spirit, & against the cryes of mine owne Conscience: This is my greatest feare, that I haue done despite vnto the Spirit of Grace. Heb. [...]0. 29 This striketh widest wounds into my Soule, and maketh all the bowels of my bellie to wamble. O fye, fye, what a filthinesse is within this heart of▪ [Page 164] [...] [Page 165] [...] [Page 166] mine: Note The small moats moue not thicker in the Sunne, than sinnes of all sortes haue reeled to and froe in this wicked heart of mine, which is nothing, but a nest of Spiders, and a cage of corruptions.

Note O what a shamefull discouerie should this bee, if mine heart were as well seene as my face! If all the monsters of my meditations were set in open view, if the eyes of men could spie out what thoughts haue beene within my breast since I was borne: If all the men of Africke a place most fertile of Monsters, were taken to bee witnesse, they would plainlie declare that the Earth can­not bring foorth such Monsters as are bredde into the heart of man.

Note O the great mercie of God, who to the ende that man may liue with man, hath hidde the heart of man from men! O my God, though thou hast sieled the eyes of man, that hee cannot see within my breast, [Page 167] thine eyes, which see our thoughts a far off, perceiue most clearlie all my bygone abominations. To Thee alone belongeth the discouerie of a closed heart: Would I bee dashed if the eye of a sinner tooke mee at an euill turne, and shall I not bee asha­med when I remember how the eye of my God hath followed me in all mine euill wayes?

Alas, my deare Pastour, yee speake much to mee of Christ and of his death, but what portion can such a vile stinking creature as I, haue with Christ? I haue delayed all to the after-noone, and now my Sun is readie for to set: The blacke night of darknes is posting vpon my soule.

My Soule refuseth all sortes of comforts: I thinke that it shall die in the verie grippes of such bloodie temptations: Behold, and consider if there bee anie sorrow like vnto my sorrow.

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Note I know Sir, that no sort of men are sooner or sorer touched for their sinnes, than are the best children of God: Sathan is most busie to blow at the coale of their corruptions.

Note And againe, there bee no sort of men more readie to appropriate to themselues the comforts of God, than they to whom they least be­long.

But yet Sir, seeing yee are sicke in Soule, yee must not refuse spiri­tuall Physicke: Christ is the onelie comfort against the guilt of sinne: Note His blood is the onelie trayacle a­gainst the poyson of this pest: Note But can any comfort auaile to him that will not receiue it? As meate set v­pon the Table cannot nourish, ex­cept that it bee put into the mouth, and from thence bee sent downe to the stomacke: So, neither can the wordes of comfort feede the heart, Nitraijciantur in viscera nostrae animae Bernard. [Page 169] & transeant in affectiones nostras, ex­cept that they enter into the bowels of our Soule, and passe thorow vn­to our affections: Your Spirit is so knappish and way-ward, that it will not admit the most solide comforts: The marke of Christs Lambes is an eare-marke: My sheepe heare my voyce. Ioh. 10. 27.

But thinke yee Sir, that I can bee one of Gods, who haue beene so great a sinner? My Soule is sicke to the death with surfets of sinne: Can Gods Spirit abide where there is so great corruption? Note Can two Guestes of so contrarie nature, dwell toge­ther in one man?

They may indeede, though they cannot agree: Note Grace and corrup­tions may be into the heart of a mā, as Israel was with the Iebusites, Hi­uites, and Perezites, into Canaan: But as Israel wasted these Nations by litle & litle, so the Spirit of God [Page 170] with grace by little and litle rooteth out, wasteth, and foileth these na­tions of sinne that are within vs: But not all at once. Note Lest wee should grow idle, and roust for want of such spirituall exercise.

Note The heart of a godlie man is like the house of Abraham, where Isaac and Ismael lodge together: Though for a space they tarie toge­ther, at death the olde scorning Is­mael shall bee cast out: Hee shall not inherite the promise with Isaac the laughing man.

Note If Sir yee finde a wresling with­in your heart, some newe working, which once yee did not perceiue, it is a token that grace is conceiued in your soule: Note After that a womā hath conceiued, she wil find some times a working about the heart, prouoking to vomite: It is so with y ^e heart of a re­generat mā, so soone as grace is con­ceiued into it, it wil ouercast til it cast and vomite out many filthy corrup­tions: [Page 171] Note Though Iacob be little and weake & at the first seeme not to be a peregall vnto the rugh man, who is full of strength, yet at last hee shall catch him by the heele, and ouerturne him in a moment: Waite but a litle, and yee shall bee vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of Hell.

I tremble all with feare, that the Lord cast mee off and banish out of the Land of the liuing this filthie fe­stered Soule.

God is more mercifull, than man can conceiue him to bee: Can a mo­ther Isa. 49. 15 forget her Childe? that shee haue no compassion? saith the Lord: Note A louing Father will bee loth to cast his Childe out of doores in a deadly disease: If these who are euill can giue Matth. 7. 11 good things vnto their Children, how much more will that Father who is goodnesse it selfe, giue the holie Spi­rit with all other good thinges to [Page 172] these who will seeke then? cry to God in prayer.

Note Alas, the sorrow of mine heart lameth the liberty of my tongue, my wordes cannot expresse the groanes of my griefe.

Though yee bee not able to vtter words, sigh with your hearte vnto God: Note God heard Moses his sighs, like cryes: Why cryest thou to mee? Exod. 14. 15 said God to the sighing man: Note A sigh out of a soft melting heart, is a po­werfull prayer before God.

I am both sinfull and senslesse: Though I haue sinned most hai­nouslie, yet I finde no melting in mine heart: Note All the teares of my repentance within mee are become like a frozen moisture: I cannot so much as wring out one drop there­of: Note Oh, that they were so melted, that they might rush out at the flood­gates [Page 173] of mine eyes, that thereof I might with the sinfull woman make a bath for the feete of my Lord! Oh Luk. 7. 44 that mine heart were formed into a­nother mould! Note Oh that I could in his presence drench my Soule in a showre of teares! O how precious is the sense of a reuealed and a recon­cealed God! Note I find my selfe so ycie and colde, yea, so benummed and blockish, as though I were voide of all sense of grace: What can this bee?

Note He who findeth himselfe benum­med is not altogether senslesse: Note In such a man there must bee some stir­ring of the pulse of a spirituall life: A dead man knoweth not that hee is dead, no more doeth a dead soule: A seared conscience feeleth not defer­tions: Note That man hath the begin­ning of grace, who can say from his heart, I haue no grace in my selfe, but onelie to finde that I haue no grace.

[Page 172] [...] [Page 173] [...] [Page 174]

Note This wee must all know, that the best of Gods Sainctes will bee troubled with temporall desertions, as Ionah was, while hee was wrapt with waues and with weedes in the bottome of the sea: Out of this bellie of hell they will cry to God, Why hast thou made vs to erre from thy wayes? Isa. 63. 17 and hardned our heart from thy feare? Note Most godlie Soules may swarfe in sinne, but they cannot die in their sins: Note A spirituall man may be do [...] ­ked in a sea of sin or sorrow, but can neuer be drowned: At last God shall Iona. 2. 6. make him sing with Ionah, Yet hast thou brought vp my life from corrupti­ons, O Lord, my God: Note The spiri­tuall life and light which God hath once put into the Soule of man, can neuer be totallie extinguished: Gods graces and his giftes are without repen­tance: Ro. 11. 29. Iudas from horrour may rin to the halter, but Peter cannot perish.

Thinke yee then Sir, that a man [Page 175] cannot fall from the grace of God, if once hee hath beene receiued in Grace? Note may not Grace like some plants for a space take roote, and thereafter wither? May not God begin a good worke into a man, and after leaue it imperfect?

Note Gods working in the godlie is not like the doing of him that be­ginneth to build an house before hee Luk. 14. 29 count his cost, but is not able to fi­nish it: I am confident of this verie Philip. 1. 6 thing, said S. Paul, that hee which hath begunne a good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ: Note Gods spirituall gifts and graces which are without repentance, come neuer within the compasse of Gods Reuocation. * 1 Sam. 10 24 God will make Saul a King, and againe 1 Sam. 15 11 repent that euer hee was crowned, and thereafter will put him frō his king­dome: Hee will lend out a Mat. 25. 28. Talent and after take it backe againe: Note Hee will giue to man a tongue, and there­after [Page 176] make him dumbe: Hee will Luk. 1. 20. giue Health, Wealth, Riches, and Iob. 1. 21. after take all backe againe: The Lord hath giuen and the Note Lord hath taken, may be said of al things except of his spirituall and speciall graces: These hee giueth once, but neuer taketh them backe againe: Note Sinne indeed will waken and diminish the sense and feeling of their operation, but can neuer take them quite away. Note Grace in a godlie Soule will bee Isa. 42. 3. betimes like flaxe smoking without a flamme, or like embers vnder an heape of ashes: Though all seeme to bee dead out, yet there is some lit­tle secret spunke within which shall neuer bee quenched: Note New sinnes I confesse are verie dangerous, they will wonderfullie impaire the sense of mercie into faithfull Soules, yea, so that to their judgement the Spi­rit of God will seeme altogether to haue forsaken them, Note But yet into their most desperate-like-cry there [Page 177] is a My of Faith in their prayer, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Mat [...]h. 27 46 mee?

Note Grace in a godlie Soule will be like sappe into an Oake or Elme in the frostie dayes of December, hidde close within the barke: Note While Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse re­moueth Malach 4. 2. his hote beames from the faithfull Soule, the Soule drouppeth like an Herbe into a winter day.

Note Grace like sappe runneth in to the heart and there lurketh for a spake: Note But againe, so soone as this Sunne beginneth to returne with the heat & health of his countenance in a new Spring-time, then will appeare againe first bude, then blossomes, then flourishes, and after fruites: That which was hid of before, is inconti­nent perceiued: Note As seede now cast into the ground seemeth to bee a dead thing, and yet hath life in it, so is Gods grace aliue and quicke­ning when it seemeth farre other­wise: [Page 178] Note In a sowne a man liueth, though hee seeme to bee dead.

Note The life of God in a man can neuer altogether bee choaked with sinne: Our miserie is not able to o­uer-reach his mercie.

Note A sparkle of fire should be more able to burne vp the sea, than mans sinnes for to dry vp the blood of his mercie: Note Where grace is begunne a man may fall, but hee can neuer fall away.

Note If Sir, ye haue found once the life of God within your Soule, yee haue receiued a sure pledge & pawne of immortalitie, say to your Soule, And now my Soule returne vnto thy Psal. 116. 7 rest.

There is no rest within mee: I am alas, as a man vpon a raging Sea, tumbled and tossed with such feare­full temptations, which make all the bowels of my bellie to wamble.

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Sea sicknesse Sir, is sore while it lasteth: Note But many seeke this sicknesse for to cure them of a worse: Take courage; God hath imbarked you into this temptation, for to cause you caste out some corruptions which lye & lurke about your heart. Note Bee content to tarie a little space vpon the Firth, till the filth of you stomacke bee cleane purged away: Assure your selfe that all this sore sicknesse shall worke your health in the latter end, which shall cause your to sing, For his mercie endureth for e­uer. Psal 57. 1. In the shadow of Gods wings mak your refuge, vntill these calami­ties passe ouer.

I am euer in great doubt of my selfe.

Note Though ye doubt of your selfe, yee must not doubt of Gods kind­nesse and compassions: Note If [...]e doubt that God can bee mercifull to your [Page 180] sinnes, yee deny your Creede where­in yee see forgiuennesse of sinne to bee an expresse Article of Faith.

Note Though for some space yee be troubled with doubts, at last ye shall knowe by his Spirite within that Christ was no more willing to suf­fer for sinners, than hee shall proue both willing and able to saue you: Gods custome is to choose the har­dest way for the best end, partlie for to proue his power, partlie for to try our trust.

I wish it be so: But for the present I finde a feare within mee which maketh my Soule to tremble: Note I euer thinke that hardlie can it bee that the Spirit of God would dwell into mine heart, which is a very cage of corruption: Note If the men of God, when they see bordels, abhor them, and goe by them, shall not the Spi­rit of God much more passe by mee, yea, & abhor me, who of mine heart [Page 181] haue made a most filthy stew: Note More­ouer, Satan is busie with his Bellowes blowing at the juniper coales of Gods wrath, that against mee may be kin­dled a consuming fire.

Note The frowne of a Prince may bee the fauour of God: But when God frowneth, who shall shew fauour? Note O what a cry is in the dumbe choppe of the conscience!

As I perceiue ye are in the storme of temptations: Note As the shippe in a tempest goeth with a low saile, So is it good and most sure in the tempest of temptations to take downe the top sailes of our owne worth.

Note But yet Sir, in your humilitie beware to disprise and set at nought the graces of God that are within you: Vertue standeth in the midst: Note As the Publican would not brage vainlie with the Pharisee, that he was not like other men, so neither would hee desperatlie say with Cain, Mine Gen. 4. 13 [Page 182] iniquitie is greater, than that it may be forgiuen.

Note Alas, Sir yee know not what weight hangeth vpon mine heart: ye are not priuie vnto my secret sinnes which I thinke shame to vtter: O these gnawings of my wormish Con­science: hardlie can yee imagine what filthie thoughts haue beene into my heart, since I came into this world: Hitherto they haue all beene hidde from mine eyes: Note But now I thinke that I see all my sinnes set in order be­fore Psal. 50. 21 mee: My Soule is poisoned with the stinke of such corruptions▪ I abhorre my selfe, and what won­der that God abhorre mee?

Note The more a man abhorreth him­selfe, God who is milde & mercifull, loueth him the better: It is good for a man to stinke in his owne nose: Note A wicked man may bee well com­pared to the Latin Cimex French Pu­naise [Page 183] Tree, Lice that stinke most vile­lie, and yet feele not the stinke of their own breath: Laodicea thought her selfe happie, and yet God said, that he wold spew her out of his mouth. Reuel. 3. 16

Gods thoughtes are not mans thoughts: Yee complaine Sir, of the filthines of your bygone thoughts, it is well done: But heere is your com­fort, Zach. 13, 1 Now is that fountaine of God in Zachrie opened to the house of Dauid for sin and for vncleannesse: Note Though through sin yee were lepper in soule as Na [...]man was in bodie, the Iordan 2 Kin. 5. 1. of Christs Blood is able to mak you cleane: Note The precept is not of hard practise, Wash and bee cleane, belieue 2 Kin. 5. 10. and bee saued.

Note If yee would haue the Spirit of God to take a Chamber into your heart, keepe your hearte cleane: Gods house must be a cleane house, it must often bee sweept: Note If the dust or dirt of sinne defile the paue­ment thereof, it must first bee wate­red [Page 184] with the teares of repentance: Note The stoure & dust must be laid with holie water, & then wee must sweepe out all filthinesse with the besome of godlie reuenge. This doing Sir, God shall delight to dwell in you.

Note If Sathan blow at the juniper Psal. 120. 4. coales of your sinnes kindled with sparkles of fierie wrath, runne with the Bucket of Faith to the Blood of Iesus which is onelie able for to quenche that flamme.

My cheekes are watered with teares trickling downe both day and night: * my moist eyes are soked in this salt brimie water: O but they are comfortlesse teares.

Note God at last shall make them com­fortable like the bowle full of dewe, Iugde. 6. 38. which Gideon wrāg out of his Fleece, Gods signe of Israels Saluation: Haue patience a little Sir, and your wate­rie eyes shall receiue the other dryē [Page 185] signe of the fleece, all your teares shall bee dryed and wyped away, so that yee shall neuer weepe any more: The houre is fast comming, that God shall wipe away your teares, the Reuel. 21. 4. waters of your weeping after that there shall bee no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor paine.

Seeke the Lord while hee may be found, and call vpon him while hee is nigh: To him alone in Iesus must yee haue all your recourse, on him alone must yee relye.

I wote not where to goe: I can neither sitte, stand, nor lye: Mine heart alas, is hardened, yea, hard like the heart of the Leuiathan, which Iob. 41. 24. is hard like a piece of the nether mil­stone: I thinke that such hardnesse is from the deceitfulnesse of sinne. Heb. 3. 13

Note It is a sort of softnesse when we feele our owne hardnesse: He who hath begun such softning will bring [Page 186] his own work to perfectiō in his ap­pointed houre: Note The seedes of grace are like Corne, they are not ripe the first day they are sowen, but ripen by degrees: From this is that saying, Grace requyreth space, or in space com­meth Grace.

A reprobate sense is not so neare at anie time, as when it is least suspe­cted and most neglected: Say in all patience with the Prophet Micah, I will beare the indignation of the Lord, Mic. 7. 9. because I haue sinned against him: He will turne againe, he will haue com­passion vpon you: Hee will subdue your iniquities, & cast them in the depths of the sea.

Holde vp your heart toward the Father of Lights, the giuer of euerie good gift: Let your foule flee vp to the Throne of his Grace.

My Soule is not fit for fleeing to the Heauens: Note It is lik a pulled foule that wanteth the feathers: It may [Page 187] well nod with its head, and make a mint with the stumpts of its wings, but can by no meanes hoise it selfe from the Earth. All my comforts are clipped from me: Sinnes heauy like milstones, are hung about my necke: Oh, that I were cast into the sea with my sinnes, there to be bu­ried for euer farre, if it were possible, from the presence of my God: Since yee came to mee mine heart was not in such a plounge of mi­serie as it is now: There is nothing within me but wrath and woe, war­ring against my Saluation: Gods heauie hand hath distressed mine heart wonderfullie.

Note My Soule is so besieged with temptations that it may well be cal­led, Magor missabib, feare round a­bout: Ier. 20. 3. This I feare that my name bee crossed out of the Booke of Life. Reuel. 3. 5.

I remember of a wise counsel which a learned Diuine gaue to a man sore [Page 188] assaulted vpon his death-bed with the temptations of the deuil: Note When thou art tempted of Satā, said he, & seest no way to escape, euē thē plainly close vp Luther. thine eyes, and answere nothing to his temptations: But commend thy cause to God: This said hee, is a principall point of wisedome, that we must follow in the houre of death: That is, That we daine not to giue Sathan an answere but say with Michael, The Lord re­buke thee Sathan. If thy flesh tremble and feare to enter into another life, and if it doubt of saluation, if thou yeeld to these things, thou hurtest thy selfe, ther­fore close thine eyes as before and say with S. Stephen, Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit, and then certainelie Christ will come vnto thee with all his Angels and bee the guider of thy way.

Note At the entrie of the red Sea, when Israel enuironed on both sides with mountaines, hauing the sea before and the Egyptians behind, could see no meanes of escape: Then Moses Exod. 14. 14. said to Israel, The Lord shall fight for [Page 189] you and yee shall hold your peace: That is, ye shall seale vp your thoughtes in silence, and let God bee doing So doe yee, bee silent for a space, daine not Sathans temptations with an answere, feare not, stand still, and see the Saluation of the LORD: Note As Moses said of the Egyptians, so will I say of all your temptations Exod. 14. 13 within a short space, The Egyptians whom yee haue seene to day, yee shall see them againe no more for euer.

Oh, that with Iob I could lay mine Iob. 40. 4. hand vpon my mouth, and with Iacob Gen. 49. 18 waite for Gods saluation: But alas, I am laden with iniquitie: Sathan be­siegeth Isa. 1. 4. mee so that I cannot keepe silence: Sathan hath laide downe a bloodie libell before mee where­vnto hee vrgeth mee to make an­swere.

If yee must needes make answere, learne that notable speach of Bernard Bernard. on his death bed: * About an houre [Page 190] before his death, hee beeing as hee thought, presented before the great Tribunall of his Iudge, where hee found himselfe seuirelie charged with the accusation of Sathan, for­sooke himselfe for to relye vpon Christ alone: I freely confesse said he that as thou affirmest, I am most vnworthie, and that by no worthi­nesse of mine can I merite eternall life; Note yet I am assured that my Lord Christ hath a double right to hea­uens glorie, one by heritage, and a­nother by conquest: The first is suf­ficient for himselfe, the other is for mee, ex cujus donojure illud mihi ven­dicans, non confundor, which by right of gift I claime and chalenge and shall not bee confounded: Vpon this Rocke yee must cast the anchor of your soule: The Lord is able to doe vnto vs aboue all that wee can aske or thinke.

Take courage Sir: Note Let Sathan make out his processe; your deare [Page 191] and louing Brother is both your Iudge and your Aduocat.

Oh that I could take that counsell and keepe silence, waiting till the Captaine of Saluation bring mee tho­row Heb. 2. 10 this red sea of bloodie tempta­tions: Oh that I could lay hold vpon that right of heauen, which Christ hath conquered: But alas, I can find no ground or warrant in mine heart that such a conquest can belong to mee, for I know that in mee dwelleth no good things. Rom. 7. 18

Note The greatest foe the faith of the godlie hath and the chiefest cause of their trembling & troubled heart, is that often they seeke in themselues grounds & warrāts of Gods fauour, as though the Lord could not loue them vnlesse there bee in them such vertues as in euerie point should be: Note Because they want perfectiō, they thinke they haue nothing: By this [Page 192] meanes Sathan shaketh sillie Soules to and fro like Reedes with the winds of distrust: Make the right vse of such temptations, let them drawe you from your selfe, for to rely one­lie vpon the mercie of your Lord: Note Bee earnest to finde Gods marke in your Soule, euen Sanctification the Saluation mark whereof the mar­row is Christs satisfaction: From this marke, presse toward the marke, for Philip. 3. 14 the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus.

Faine would I haue grace so to doe: But out vpon mee, I haue taken such surfet of sinnes, that I find my selfe voide of all grace: Note O death, death, death, doolefull is that sepa­ration of a Soule dead in sin from the I [...]phes. 2 1. bodie dead for sinne.

I am so defiled and deformed that while I remember judgement, it maketh mee all to shake and to shi­uer: Fye on mee a gracelesse crea­ture [Page 193] wallowing in a myre of mise­rie: Oh, but for a dramme of Gods grace! Oh, for the greatnesse of the pickle of mustarde seede there­of!

He that desireth grace is not alto­ther gracelesse: It is Gods goodnesse that hath giuen you this small and weake desire of grace, in this Gods good hand is vpon you: Hee who gi­ueth grace to desire grace, shall giue also grace for grace: God often gi­ueth to a man aboue his hopes, I Psal. 21. 4. sought but life, saide Dauid, yet the Lord gaue him to bee a King: God who in sicknesse giueth you the de­sire of grace, shall before yee die giue you grace for grace, a grace which at last shall make you to sing: I sought but grace, yet God hath giuen mee glo­rie: Note If yee feele and feare his wrath, seek the more earnestlie for his mer­cie: Note This was that good counsell which Zephaniah gaue to Israel be­fore [Page 194] the decree of wrath come out Seeke righteousnesse, seeke meeknesse, Zepha. 2. 3 it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger: Christes cry is, Seeke, Matth. 7. 7 Aske, Knocke.

Note Seeing God desireth to be asked hee longeth to giue; seeing hee de­sireth vs to seeke him, hee desireth to bee found; seeing hee desireth vs to knocke, his desire is to open: Note God is more rich and liberall, than wee are poore, His hand is wider for to giue giftes, than our heart can bee for to receiue: Note Hee who will not belieue that God can bee mercifull to him, is twise in the wrong to God After that hee hath broken the law of his Iustice by offending, hee is not content except that hee wrong his mercie by distrust: Note Gods delight is to bee with the Children of men on earth, as also to haue them with himselfe in heauen.

Now Sir, beeing assured of th [...] loue, embrace this Lord with all [...] [Page 195] armes of your affections: Note Seeke earnestlie the Spirit of Grace, for hee is powred on thirstie grounds: I will powre water, said the Lord, v­pon Isa. 44. 3. him that is thirstie, and floods vpon the dry ground.

Oh, but for one droppe of that water: Oh, that my Soule were wa­tered with the dropping bowels of his mercie: Note In the meane time my bones with sorrow are dryed vp like an hearth: The terrours of the Al­mightie sticke within mine heart, and my Spirit sucketh out the ven­nome thereof: I thinke that I am in the verie gorge pipe of hell: If this wrath continue▪ doubtlesse it shall bee my bane.

Note Gods wrath is fearefull I con­fesse, but God will not bee long wroth with his Children▪ I will not, Isa. 57. 17 said the Lord, contend for euer, nei­ther will I bee alwayes wroth: For the [Page 196] Spirit should faile before mee, and the Soules which I haue made: Note So soone as man beginneth to be wearied of his Isa. 63. 9. sins, God beginneth to be wearied of his wrath, yea which is strange, In all our afflictions he is afflicted. There is but a moment in his wrath, but his mercie endureth for euer.

Note There is such a mercie in God, that in comparison thereof all the mercies of men are but scrofe and scumme, a myte of his mercie, shall re­moue the mountaines of your mise­rie, in Christ is a mine of mercie.

I know that it is so: But I as yet haue no sense of such a mercie Note While I seeke and cry for helpe, God either answereth not at all, or when hee maketh answere, it is like that which Elisha said to Ioram, see­king 2 King. 3. 13. comfort vpon extremitie, What haue I to doe with thee, get thee to t [...] Prophets of thy father and mother, a [...] desire them to helpe thee, get thee [...] [Page 197] thy pleasures and profits, and prefer­ments, which in forsaking mee, thou didst so eagerlie pursue: This ma­keth all the wounds of my remorse to blead afresh.

Note As Samuel tooke the voyce of God to bee the voyce of Eli, so ma­nie 1 Sam. 3. 5. take the voyce of a temptation to bee the voyce of God: Wee must try the Spirits: Sathan is craftie: Note He 1 Ioh. 4 1. can winde himselfe wonderfullie into the heart of men, some times by sleepie securitie, some time by fear­full despaire: Note While hee entiseth vnto sinne, he maketh God to speak nothing but mercie to a sinner.

Thou may sinne, will hee say, and repent againe: Note But while hee ac­cuseth for sin, hee maketh all Gods words to bee words of wrath, that the sinner may be swallowed vp with dispaire. *Tak heed Sir, who it is that answereth to your cry: Though God should draw you thorow Hell, [Page 198] bee yee still assured of Heauen: His wrath is but for a moment, but his Isa. 54. 8. mercie endureth for euer.

Note Settle your heart in the secret of God, lest it bee carried away with Psal. 91. 1. euerie light wind and gale of temp­tation: Seeke out of your selfe in Christ the grounds and warrands of your Saluation.

I feare greatlie to be ouer-blowen, and that I make shipwracke of the 1 Tim. 1. 19 faith vpon most fearfull bankes and dangers, such a boisterous gale did [...] neuer feele.

While temptations are most ter­rible to our feeling, they are often least dangerous: Note Shallow feas are full of broken waters, while deeper though more terrible are of a softer swelling, carrying the burden more safelie aboue. Tak courage the most godlie heart must encounter with manie thorters: The Lord humbleth [Page 199] the hearts of his Sainctes, lest that in a vaine conceit of their owne worth they should ouer-weene themselues: Note Thinke well vpon that which I say, a red-warre in the Soule Iudg. 18. 7 is better than a sleepie laish Securi­tie: Away with Labans mirth, his Gen. 31. 27▪ songs and his Tabrets.

Flat opposition is not so dangerous as a couered agreement: Take to heart this my counsell, Though the Lord Isa. 45. 15. should s [...]ay you, yet put your trust into him: God is not euer gotten at the first: verilie, said Isaiah, thou art a God that hiddest thy selfe, O God, of Israel, the Sauiour.

I vnderstand not what such hid­ding meaneth: O the fearefull Tri­bunall of God, whose eyes of fire see Reuel. 1. 14 all the wayes of man: In his Ballance hee pondereth all his goinges: Gods Prou. 5. 21 mercie I know is a good staffe to stay vpon, but it is farre from mine heart and hand. I am not like these sin­ners [Page 190] which but trip and stumble, and rise againe after a snapper, my fall i [...] with my full weight; the milstons o [...] his wrath are hung about my necke▪ which beare my Soule downe to the bottome of Hell, I finde now the Deut. 32. 22 trueth of that saying of the wise▪ His owne iniquities shall take the wic­ked Proa. 5: 22 himselfe, and hee shall bee holden with the cords of his sinnes.

What shall I say? as truelie said the wise, By sorrow of the heart th [...] Prou. 15. 13. spirit is broken: Seeing yee are ac­quaint with the speaches of the wise remember that counsell of the wise▪ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart▪ Prou. 3. 5. and leane not to thine own vnderstan­ding. I pray you to be plaine with me, What is this that maketh you li [...] a reede shaken with the wind, wherein Matth. 11. 7. lyeth the strength of your tempta­tions?

I will not conceale the matter [Page 191] from you: This is it, mine own heart absolueth me not: Note while I put mine hand into mine owne bosome, Oh, how liprous pull I it out againe? My Conscience giueth mee a terrible twetch: * Incessantlie it cryeth out guiltie against mee: What shall I say then, to that of the Apostle, If 1 Ioh. 3. 20 our heart condemne vs, God is greater than our heart? Is not this the true sense of these wordes, If our owne heart condemne vs, much more will God condemne vs, who is more mightie than our heart? Note In this I finde my selfe amidst the thickest throng of fearefull temptations, wrapped in the wrath of God: Note This temptation is like a fresh post-horse▪ for to carrie mee to damnation, it is of Sathans saddling.

* Indeede Sir, the judgement of a mans conscience is a liuelie image of the judgement of God: It is certaine, that whom the conscience [Page 202] condemneth into this world, him shall God condemne in the world to come: And againe, whom the con­science shall absolue into this world, him shal God absolue into the world to come. Note The Conscience is Gods Iudge within: But this ye must know y ^t it is not time for a Iudge to giue out sentence while his wits are troubled, or while he is in a moode or passion▪ Note A wise Iudge will not bee sudden, but will take time to consider well the cause before hee pronounce.

Note A Conscience that is troubled should not sit downe in judgement Note As one appealed from drunke [...] King Philip to sober King Philip, so must a sinner appeale from his Con­science in a qualme, to his Consci­ence in a calme.

Note Moreouer, euerie voyce that is within a man, is not the voyce of his Conscience, but of some temptati­on shrouded vnder the coat of the Conscience, like Iacob cloathed with Gen. 27. 15. Es [...]us garment: While Ionah was [Page 203] but in the bellie of a fish, his heart cryed, that hee was in the bellie of Ion. 2. 2. hell: Sathan hath a deceiuing Pro­spect or dioptre for sinne: At the one end sin and judgement appeare to bee farre off, little like Midges: But while the instrument is turned, these midges appeare like moun­taines: Sinne in the doing is like Zoar a little one, but in repenting it is like Nineueh hudge and great: It Ion. 4. 11 seemeth before the doore of mercie like a Camell at a needels eye.

But thinke yee Sir, that the Con­science of a man which God hath sette within him as an Iudge, as a Watch, and a Witnesse, yea, as a thou­sand witnesses, can faile at any time.

It is certaine, that while the Con­sciences of men are well wakened, and not troubled with terrours of temptations, they are into y ^e breastes of men, verilie Gods voyce declaring [Page 194] to the Soule what God hath con­cerning it, ratified into the Heauen: But yee know that manie a mans Conscience will bee mightilie trou­bled: Note Sometimes it will bee darke­ned with Ignorance, so that as Sam­uel tooke Eliab for Dauid, it will al­so take him to bee appointed to bee a King whom the Lord hath reje­cted: Note Some times it will not know what ailleth the Soule, no more than Elisha knew what ailed the Shuna­mite, 2 King. 4. 27 while shee fell downe at his feete: Note Some times it will be fast asleepe like Ionah, while hee snorted Ion. 1. 5. in the hatches.

Note I compare the Consciences of the godlie and of the wicked to men in a dreame: One man that is lyen downe in his bed, hungrie without his supper, will dreame that hee is at a feast making good cheare: But while hee awaketh, his Soule is emptie, his dishes flee away with his dreame: Note It is so that it fareth with [Page 195] a wicked man, whose Conscience is in a dreame: Hee will imagine that assuredlie there is nothing but Heauen for him: Note Hee will thinke with the hungrie dreamer that hee is readie presentlie to sit downe at ta­ble, euen at that Table with Abra­ham, Matth. 8. 1 [...] Isaac, and Iacob in the King­dome of God: Now while hee is euen at the sitting downe, which is at the houre of his death, his Conscience wakeneth, and hee is found emptie: Thus all his dishes fl [...]eth away with his dreame.

Note Againe, another man shall dreame of fearefull thinges, viz. that hee is in the midst of his ene­mies readie to bee slaine: If any be waking in the bedde with him, hee will heare him into his sleepe sigh­ing and sobbing with a sore mone: But so soone as hee is wakened, he findeth himselfe in suretie lying v­pon a bed of downe: Note It is euen so that it will often fare with a godlie [Page 206] man, whose Conscience is in a dreame: Note His heart will bee burde­ned with griefe as with a night mare: Hee will imagine that God is be­come his enemie, and that assured­lie he will cast him into hell: Note Now while hee thinketh that hee is euen at the fall, and while for feare there­of in his sleepe hee is making his mone: God in mercie wakeneth him softlie, and loe, hee is lying into the armes of his God: Note At last it fareth with the godlie & the wic­ked as it fareth with Pharaohs Butler Gen. 41. 13 and his Baker after their dreames, the one was restored to his office, but the other was hanged.

Note I wish at God that my Con­science were in such a Dreame, and that all my troubles were but some spirituall night Mare, a disease that is cured by wakening the Soule that sleepeth: Note I know that the spiri­tuall senses of the Soule may bee [Page 207] some times couered with a vaile of grosse dulnesse: But I cannot suspect or surmise that this can be a dreame: Behold, I speake, I heare, I see, I sa­uour: Howe then can this bee a dreame.

Note He who dreameth, will thinke all that: He will think that he speaketh, that hee heareth, seeth, and walketh, and runneth & leapeth ouer brinkes or ditches, vvhile indeede he is snor­ting vpon his bed: Note Yea, in his dreame he will think that his dreame cannot bee a dreame, but that surely hee is broad awake: This cannot bee a dreame, hee will thinke euen while as hee dreameth.

I know Sir, that your bodie is surelie awake, and not dreaming: But in all appearance your Soule is in a slumber: The Lord waken you softlie in his mercie.

Note If I dreame, the Lord vvaken [Page 208] mee soone out of this dreadfull dreame: I am filled with a world of woes, euerie thought is as it were a thorne thrust into mine heart: Note My feares are like the feuers, they goe by fits: Note A litle since I thought that my blood was calmed, and that I had some respit: Of my sinnes I had but a shallow sense, but now behold, a new fit of greater force, vvhich ma­keth all the powers of my Soule to shiuer: Note All my sinnes are in Gods quarrell, vp in armes against me: Gods vvrath followeth mee with a full faile, and chargeth mee a fresh with bloodie blowes. * While I was but breeding this feuer, I was but chai­ned with vvorldlie enchantments: All my trouble vvas but for Bairnes, Lands, Children, Houses, and other perishing pleasures, triffling troubles, vvhich I could not for a long space resolue to forsake.

Note But now is paine in stead of pleasure, a sowre and bitter sauce, pre­pared [Page 209] for Adams sweete Apple, feare, shame, and remorse: Note What recks to vvant pleasure, if so be there were no paine: I vvould not giue a flee for the vvorld, and all the pleasures or profite that therein is, if I could once bee reconciled to my God: Note Mine heart is like an Anuile wherevpon the Lord striketh most fiercelie with the hammer of his wrath: Note There is not a power of my Soule, which is not loaden with blowes: Note All my distresses hitherto haue beene but light skirmishes, now I am come to the maine Battell: My Soule is hunted to and fro like a Partridge on the mountaines: Who is on my side? Who?

The Lord is vvith you, though ye perceiue him not: Note This is incident to the faithfull, not euer to knovv vvhen God is with them: Note Gideon was a man renouned for his Faith▪ he vvas one of the Catologue of [Page 210] the faithfull, & yet while the Angel Iudg. 6. 12 said vnto him, The Lord is with thee thou mightie mā of valour, hee answe­red, vers. 13. Oh, my Lord if the Lord be with vs, why then is all this befallen vs?

Note See hovv the man of God knew not that God vvas vvith him.

Note Take courage Sir, seeing the skirmishes are past, and that yee are come to the maine Battell, God shall bee your maine helpe: Come out a­gainst all your enemies, as Dauid 1 Sam. 17. 45 came out against Goliah, in the Name of the God of Battels, and Lord of Armies: Note There is no Corslet of proofe against a stone cast out of a sling in the Name of the great IEHOVAH: Resist the Deuill and hee shall flee from Iam. 4. 7 you.

Gods vvrath hath heate the fierie Fornace on seuen times more thā it was of before: I am so dashed with y ^e sense of my sins, & so pierced with stinging feares, y ^t thereby all the po­wers [Page 211] of my Soule are shaken: Note Hi­thereto I haue beene crossed with care, for my life, and for my Chil­dren: What care I now for my dearest Children? Would to God that I might giue my first borne for Micah. 6. 7 my transgression, and the fruite of my wombe for the sinnes of my Soule.

Note Behold, heere a poore distres­sed and distracted sinner, who kno­weth not to what hād to turne him: All the enemies of my Saluation pursue mee with hue and with cry: The great God of Iustice hath set vp a Gibbet into my Soule. All the ter­rours of the Lord muster against me: Note I am galled and goared with sinfull feares, as Egypt was plagued with Flies & Frogges: Mine heart is filled with dismaiednesse, my bellie trem­bleth, & rottennesse is entered into my bones: Note While I had time to repent I willinglie wallowed into the myre of sinne, wherin now I necessarilie stick: Note Feare driueth, Hope draweth, I am [Page 212] tossed like a Tenice ball: O the strait­nesse of that account, which I am shortlie to bee called vnto! O that terrible Tribunall! O these chaines of darknesse, in which sinners shall be reserued vnto Gods last Sessions: Note Who can stand in such a tempest, where the creature hath a combat with God and with his wrath, hand to hand? I am stricken with such a­mazednesse, that I know not where to finde any true refreshment▪ Note This maketh death to mee as a King of feare: Note All the sinnes that euer I did commit, seeme to mee malicious blowes which I haue set vpon the face of my GOD▪ Hardlie can I thinke that such a Cain or cursed Cham as I, cā euer enter into Canaan▪ Thinke ye not this to be true? I find this to bee trueth: There is no peace saith my God to the wicked. Isa. 57. 21

Note These bee but temptations of Sathan, who is seeking for to fift Luk. 22. 31 you as wheate: Pray Christ that hee [Page 213] would pray for you, that your faith faile not Note There is full power in Christ for to locke vp the jawes of that roaring Lyon: Hee at last shall discouer vnto you those Gun-pow­der plots.

I know that there is sufficient power in Christ for to saue mee, but I doubt of his will: Note If Christ were minded to saue mee, would hee not giue mee an assurance to bee saued? This temptation passeth through the barke to the bone.

Our assurance is not perfect into this life: Note Wee are all heere like a Shippe tossed with contrarie Tydes into a raging Sea.

Note As the weather beaten Barke is driuen with many contrarie courses before shee can winne her Hauen▪ so hath the Soule, manie toes and froes, before it pierce to the Skes for to enter into Heauen: Note God giueth to no man heere all good [Page 214] things at once, but some wee re­ceiue in hand, and some in hope: Note This hope is the Christian Soules plight anchor in the swelling Seas of temptations: While all that is pre­sent is full of trouble, Hope fetcheth comfortes from the times to come: Note While it is foule, wee hope it shall bee faire: While wee are sicke, wee hope for health: While we prouid for our Children, wee hope they shall doe well: While men write Bookes, they hope they shall doe good: Note While the Mariner saileth thorow the raging waues, hee ho­peth to come home againe, hee ho­peth for vantage: Note While the So­wer, casteth his seede from him, hee weepeth, but Hope comforteth him, that hee shall receiue againe a plen­tifull increase. Note The hope of y ^e plea­sant Spring is a comfort in the colde Winter Note The hope of the Day is the long Nights comfort: Note Deaths speciall comfort, is in hope that we [Page 215] shall all meete againe: Well then, Sir, seeing it is so, the comfortes which wee haue not receiued as yet in hand, receiue them in Hope, waite vpon God, and vvaite vpon him still: Note While all your senses are silent, Hope shall come with Helpe, assuring you that at last yee shall pre­uaile: Note Let the deuill doe his worst to dismay you, sticke yee fast by this Hope which shall neuer faile you: yea, though God himselfe should seeme to bee your enemie, yet say to him with Iob, Though thou should slay mee, yet will I trust in thee.

That Sir, is of verie hard practise: For if the Lord of Life put out the life, who shall put it in againe? mine Hope is small, if it be not lost: I feare to feele shortly that which shal be without either end or ease: Note All sorts of temptations come haile shot vpon mee: Note I am laide open to all the blowes of Gods wrath: I am lik a [Page 216] wind-waued tree loose at the roots: Note Mine heart quaketh, my Soule pan­teth; my conscience is in a qualme: What can such torments bee but ve­rie Postes and fore-runners of euerla­sting paines? Note What can they bee but the verie smoke of Gods wrath comming before a fire that shall burne to the bottome of Hell? Note The Deut. 32. 22 feare of this clogeth so my Consci­ence that I cannot thinke but such terrours bee the verie earnest of eter­nall woe: This maketh my liuer to rolle in my bodie: O that mercie might bee Bartered for Money.

Indeede Sir, such terrours are such of their owne nature, euen the smoke of a kindled wrath, neuer to bee quenched. Note But vnto the god­lie, their nature is changed by grace: Such tremblings, and shakings, such thunders, and earth quakes, feares and fires, are but the preparations of the Soule for to meete with its God [Page 217] into the still and calme voyce.

Note After this maner as ye know▪ the Lord came vnto his Seruant Elijah: Before he came to him, he prepared his way by three fearefull Messen­gers, First, by a winde which rent the 1 King. 19 1 [...]. mountaines and brake in pieces the Rockes; Secondlie, by an Earth­quake, which made all to shake vn­der him; Thirdlie by a fire: Note All these came before for to terrifie the man of God, that by that meanes hee might be the better prepared to meete with his God in the calme. Note Before Christ would shew himselfe to the world, hee sent two austere Messengers before him, First, Moses with a fierie Law, and last the Baptist like a Carpenter with a sharpened Axe in his hand▪ for to hewe downe euerie fruitlesse tree that marred the ground: Note After them came the meekenesse of the Lambe of God, crying, Come vnto mee all yee that are Matth. 11 28 wearied and laden, and I will ease you. [Page 218] God will not be mercifull to proud selfe-sufficient men.

Note Take Sir these blastes of temp­tations to be but the Lords wind of preparation: Note These heart-quackes are but earth quakes: Note All your o­ther fierie temptations are but fire from Heauen, Posts from GOD in haste for to giue you warning of his comming: Note By such warnings the Lord will waken you, lest with the wicked in the slumber of securi­tie, ye should sleepe still in your sins, or with scorners should smooth them ouer, and jest them away, as thogh the sins of men shuld neuer be sentenced, nor their life examined: Note Bee of good comfort Sir, your sharpest temptations which Sathan hath whet vpon the whet-stone of his malice, by Gods grace shall bee to you like the Baptistes Axe for to hewe downe all superfluities of wickednesse within you: Note It is good that God snedde the vnfruitfull and [Page 219] rotten branches of our life, that in our hearts a way may bee prepared Psal. 24. 7 for the King of glorie.

Note Yee must also know Sir, that such troubles and tempests, are but a preface of Gods presence, as, Hear­ken Psal. 81. 8. and take head Israel, was sette before the Law: Suffer therefore patientlie the Lords rebukes: Let Psal. 141. 5 the righteous smite mee, said Dauid, and it shall bee a kindnesse, and let him reproue mee, and it shall bee an excel­lent oyle, which shall not breake mine head: Note These feares Sir, that trou­ble you, are nothing but Gods re­proofes: * Take them as a kindnesse, yea, & as an excellent oyle, which shall neither breake head nor heart for your hurt: Note The nature of oyle is not to break▪ but rather to heale that which is alreadie broken: God by such trubles intēdeth to refine you: Haue patience but a little in your griefes: Yet a little while, and they shall bee no more: Note The night is darkest [Page 220] while the dawning is nearest: Note while the feuer it at the hight, the cooling sweate is at the doore of the poares: Note While the Mountaines are on both hands, and Pharaoh behind, and the Sea before, then let Israel stand still, Exod. 14. 13 and see the Saluation of the Lord: Note These Egyptiā temptations, are but for to chasse you to Canaan with hard bondage, from a Land where Exod. 8. 26 it is counted an abomination to offer Sacrifice vnto God: Note So soone as the rod of God shall strike vpon that Sea, it shall make way, and yee shall safelie passe thorow: The Lord shall fight for you, and yee shall Exod. 14. 14 holde your peace: And what then? The Egyptians whom yee haue seene to day, yee shall see them againe no more for euer: God will afflict his owne, Isa. 28. 28 but not destroy them: Bread Corne is bruised, but God will not breake it, with the wheeles of his cart.

I haue looked for such comforts, [Page 221] but alas, they are long in comming: In the meane while, my Soule is all agast, I taste nothing but gall and worme-wood, mine heart is filled with sorrow: Note My breach is lik y ^e sea, all my worldlie sweetnesse is turned into wormes of Conscience: My teares trickle downe both day and night, and yet God delayeth to send mee comfort: My God shake off the sinnes which hang so fast on.

Haue patience Sir, but a little, and comfort shall come: Note Before yee reape your fruites yee must first till and sow the ground: Note The seede time is a sorrowfull time: Man so­weth Psal. 126. 6. his seede in teares: Note But againe while hee remembereth that except he sow, he shall not reape, & that as hee soweth, so shall hee reape, hee casteth from him his seede liberallie downe vpon the ground, smilling with his watered cheekes of sorrow in hope of a plentifull increase.

[Page 222] Note Thinke it not strange Sir, that in this seede-time of grace yee sow in teares: Comfort your selfe in this▪ that joye shall arise out of your sor­row: Note While yee sow in teares, think not your labour lost: Note Out of your greatest sorrow shall spring your truest joy: As at the rising of Christ our Lord was a Earth quake, so at our regeneration which is the first re­surrection, there is an heart-quake: Be not discouraged, though the hand of God bee heauie vpon you, his stripes will worke to your well: Note As an Horse or a Mule beeing once well lashed with a whippe doth euer after feare, if hee heare but y ^e Bell which is tyed to the whip: So men, if he hath bene once well scoured & scourged with Gods rod, he will so tremble at the sound thereof, that he will feare to anger the Lord againe: It is good that God mingle the tartnesse and terrours of the Law with the sweete­nesse of the Gospel.

[Page 223]

I am so confounded with shame that I cannot face the Heauens: Fye vpon my filthinesse, my course is backward from my God.

It is an euill token when for sinne there is no shame in the sinner: This Scripture calleth a Whoores forehead: Ier. 3. 3 Note In this Lot his elder Daughter be­wrayed her selfe, and shew that she was not touched for her sinne of In­cest: For after shee had committed vilanie with her father, she as it were shameleslie bragged of it, by calling her sonne Moab, that is, Of my father, Gen. 19. [...] 37. that his name might cry to the world, The father of this child begat him vpon his owne daughter: Note Shame euer followeth sinne, if men be not ashamed of sinne, which is Repen­tance, God shall shame them for sin, which is Vengeance: As for your backward course, a few steps backe­ward, will mak you aduance further in your leaping.

[Page 224]

I feare exceedinglie: I feare to losse both Soule and Saluation.

Let Faith moderate your feare: Note When Iacob thought that hee had lossed Ioseph, and was in great feare, for Benjamin, euen then found hee both Ioseph & Benjamin: Look often vnto God and yee shall finde him with Dauid to bee the light of your Psal. 43. 5 countenance.

God hath opened the floud-gates of his wrath against my Soule: O the deepenesse of my troubles!

Note The Soule in deepest troubles Gen. 7. 13 is like Noahs Arke on the waters, the higher it was tossed, the nearer it ap­proached to the heauens: Note Little Boats of little burden are but for shallow waters: But great shippes of greater lod are sent vnto the depths: Note The deepnes of your temptations, [Page 225] Sir, declare that God hath loden you with many graces: Note Brauest Cap­taines are put to the Front and fore­brunt of the choake: Note Best Christi­ans are battered with most bitter temptations: God who suffereth them to be tempted, knoweth what they can doe, and therefore to en­courage others by their example, he putteth them to a proofe, for to let the world see, what his grace can worke in weakenesse, at last yee shall Psal. 66. 2. say, Wee went thorow fire and water, but thou hast brought vs to a wealthie place: What say yee Sir? Beginneth not your heart to rejoyce? Be glad, Sir. & say to God with the Psalmist, All my springs shall bee of thee.

I haue little minde of springs, the Apostle said wiselie, Is any man mir­rie? Iam. 5. 13. let him sing: Mine Harpe and Heart both are out of tune: The Psal. 137. 2 Harpe of my joye is hung vpon the villowes: Note My fingers can guide [Page 226] no more this wirbling instrument: Note All the joye of my light, and the light of my joye is quenched with vnspeakable griefe, as with a dampe.

Note Mine heart is like a moth eaten cloth, all rent with temptations and eaten out with the worme of Consci­ence, like that worme which did eate away the pleasures of Ionah: By its Iona. 4. 7. byte all my joye is fallen downe like that Gourd: All the good that euer was within mee is boulted out, Sa­than hath sifted mee: I thinke pre­sentlie that I am at the verie mouth of Hell, readie to fall downe to the bottome thereof.

Note The way to Heauen is neare by the gates of hell: The way to Psal. 16. 11 pleasures for euermore, is paued with paines: Dauid first cryed to God, de profundis, out of the depthes, said he, Psal. 130. 1. haue I called to thee: But afterward hee praised him in excelsis, with the highest Organs of laude, euen with [Page 227] loud Cymbals, yea, high sounding Psal. 150. 5. Cymbals.

Note It was vvell said by one, Quo acerbior miseria eo acceptior misericor­dia, the sowrer the miserie, the swee­ter the mercie: Let the hope of that sweete mercie which is to come, sweeten the tartenesse of your pre­sent terrours: Note Hee who can bring light out of darknes, and who brought water out of the fierie flint, can mak the sweetnesse of his grace spring out of the gall of bitternesse: Woe to him whom God vvill not correct: Hos. 4. 17 This was a sore word Ephraim is joy­ned to idoles, let him alone: Pray God that hee neuer let you so alone: Blesse God for this chastisement: Though for a space yee bee in the fearefull depths of temptations▪ Let nothing mak you to despaire, Christ the most solide Rocke of your Salua­tion shall turne all such surges into froth.

Note While Ionah was in the bellie Iona. 2. 2. [Page 228] of hell, and all the billowes of Gods wrath passing ouer him, yet vvould he not despaire into that hell, but beeing tumbled vp & downe there, hee trembled in his belieuing, and belieued in his trembling: Note Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight: There Iona 2. 4. was his trembling: Yet I will looke againe toward thine holie Temple: There was his belieuing: And the Lord spake to the Fish, and it vo­mited vers. 10. out Ionah vpon the dry land; these were the fruites of his Faith.

Note Learne Sir of Ionah, not to de­spaire, were it in the bellie of hell: Though for a space ye as it were goe downe with that Prophet to the bot­tomes Iona. 2. 6. of the mountaines, the time shall come that yee shall sing to God, yet hast▪ thou brought vp my life from cor­ruption, O Lord my God: Note God for a space for the sinnes of his chosen, for his glorie, for his praise, for proofe▪ for example, and manie o­ther reasons may bee ecclipsed from [Page 229] shining to the sillie sinfull Soules of his Turtles: Note But there is none ob­scuritie that shall be able for euer to restraine from them y ^e Celestiall in­fluence of his blessed beams of com­fort: In a litle wrath I hid my face from Isa. 54. 8. thee for a moment, but with euerlasting kindnes will I haue mercie on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

But alas, mine heart is al [...]eadie wounded with vncurable wounds.

In Christ is your remeede Note If yee bee wounded, there is health in Mala. 4. 2 his winges for the healing of your wounds: Though for a space such wounds bee sore in your feeling, yet fret not: Note Yee would gladlie suffer all that and more, if yee knew how many stripes Heauen were worth: Though Christ tarie, yet he will not tarie. He is more sensible to our sores than we can imagine: Note Belieue him while hee speaketh: These bee his [Page 230] words of sense, Hee that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine eye.

Note Be of good heart Sir, Christ shall bee the Iudge of our sinnes, who was judged for our sinnes: He to whom all judgement is deliuered, was deliue­red for vs vnto death: Yee say, that your heart is wounded, let this bee a salue for your sore, a broken heart is the verie heart of repentance neuer to bee repented of: Note The heart which was neuer wounded for sinne, is deadlie wounded with sinne: Note The heart which was neuer wounded for sin, hath neuer known the vertue of Christes woundes, the onelie re­meede of sinne: Be of good courage in this good fight, like the Church▪ 2 Tim. 4. 8 who for her valour in spirituall war­fare, is compared to the troopes of horses in the Chariots of Pharaoh. Cant. 1. 9

Now seeing the day groweth to an end, after that in my prayer I haue recommended you to Gods prote­ction and direction, I will leaue you vntill morrow. Let vs pray.

THE THIRD DAYES Conference. Of spirituall temptations.

THE Lord blesse you Sir, ac­cording to your [...]d sire I am come againe to visite you in your bedde of languishing.

I was looking for you, for since yee left mee yesternight I may say with Iacob Sleepe departed from mine Gen. 31. 40 eyes: My conscience all this night hath beene like a boiling pot: Note O but weake man is borne to manie sorrowes! his dayes are few and e­uill: The best of them is builabour and Psal. 90. 10 sorrow: But let vs now begin where wee left.

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Our last conference, as yee may remember, was concerning Christ, in whose wings, I said, was health for healing of your woundes: Note I de­clared vnto you, that he is so tender­lie touched with the feeling of our sores, that hee hath declared that these that touch vs, touch the apple of Zach. 2. 8. his eye: Hath this beene the matter of your nights meditation?

That which ye haue said of Christ, Sir is true; There is indeed health in his wings, and helpe in his hands: But alas, Christ will not bee helpe­full but to these that are of a strong Faith: My Faith is both faint and fectlesse, nothing but a smoke of Faith.

Note Christ hath said plainlie, that Isa. 42. 3 hee will not quench the smoking flaxe▪ S. Peter was not a man of strong Faith, when in his voyage to Christ [Page 243] vpon the sea, hee beganne to sinke: Said not Christ vnto him, Thou man Matth. 14. 31▪ of little Faith, why hast thou doubted?

Note The Lord reproued him for the weakenesse of his Faith, but neuer coost him off for the littlenesse there­of.

That was another matter, Christ was with his Apostle Note There was vertue into that hand, wherewith he gripped the sinking man, as was ver­tue Mar. 6. 56 in his garment, while the hemme thereof was but touched: Such a weake Faith as mine, cannot reach vp so farre as to touch him into the Heauens.

Though your faith bee weake, & that Christ also be bodily absent, yet be not for that disquieted, his God­head is present: Note Hee himselfe hath said, concerning his bodily pre­sence, that it was expedient for vs Ioh. 16. 7. that hee should goe away: As for the [Page 244] weaknes of your Fa [...]th, pray God to strengthen it: Note Faith though it bee little yet it is of great force, a graine Luk. 17. 6 of it will cast a mountaine into y ^e sea▪

Let mee see I pray you Sir, anie particular example of a weake Faith sauing anie man.

Of this in Scripture wee haue a cloud of witnesses: I shall let you see two, one in substance y ^e other in type or figure: Note That of Peter in the New-Testamēt is substantiall: Christ called him a man of little Faith, and Matth. 14. 32 yet by that Faith, though little, hee was saued: Note The other is in the old Testament, in the type and figure: When the Israelites were bitten with the fierie Serpents, their onely refuge and remeede was to looke vp to the brasen Serpent: This was the Numb. 21 9 verie type of a Soule stung with sinne, beholding Christ with the eye of Faith: Note Of these who behelde [Page 245] that Serpent of brasse, some were bleared, and other some had weake eyes: But the weaknesse of their sight could not hinder the cure: Note Nay, the old man with his dimmed eyes beholding as through a mist that type of Christ, was as soundlie cu­red, as hee whose eyes were in their greatest vigour: Note The meate taken with a paralitique and trembling hand, will not refuse nourishment to the bodie, no more than if it were taken with a stable hand: Obserue Sir, what I say, Note Faith is the eye of y ^e soule wherof the Israelites eyes were but a figure, Christ is the trueth of the brasen Serpent: Note Though this eye bee dimmer in some, yet if it see, the Soule shall bee saued: Faith is the hand of the Soule, Christ is the foode: Note Though this Faith trem­ble, Christ trembleth not: Note The palsie is not into the foode: Bee of good courage Sir, feare not this trembling feare, the worke of Salua­tion [Page 246] cannot bee wrought out, but with feare and trembling: Note When Philip. 2. 2 the worke shall bee ended, all trem­bling shall cease, and Faith shall bee stable, then the Soule shall be made free from all palsie paine.

Oh, that I were but sicke of such a palsie paine! Oh, that I were assured to haue anie graine of true Faith! Alas, I am vndone: Note This wretched heart of mine is so wrung with wrath, that there remaineth not within it so much as a droppe of grace: All my spirituall moisture is spent, all the faculties of my Soule are so racked, that my tongue can­not vtter my griefe and smart: Note Is there no Balme in Gilead for a sor­row▪ beaten sinner? Oh, through excessiue paine my Liuer is rolled within mee: If I finde no remeede, my Soule shall shortlie bleade to death, my paines exceed, my sorrow is extreme, thorow the tortours [Page 247] thereof my Soule is compelled to roare: Oh, Lord, turne thy wrath in mercie, and thy Iustice seat in a Throne of grace, and pardon the sins which more and more ripen thy wrath against mee: Mine heart is rent and harrowed with griefe, what salue can I finde fit for such sinfull sores? The more I thrust griefe out, the more it throngeth in.

The soueraigne salue for such sores, is to get a sight of Christ, who bare all our sinnes vpon his battered backe, which was torne with merci­lesse strippes: Christ in that plight is the most fit object for the eye of a troubled Soule: Note There is no salue for the sore of sin, but y ^e sight of him who is the trueth of that brasen Ser­pent, Numb. 21. 9. the object of the faithfull eye: Note This remeede among all o­thers is like the master Bee, the best of all the hyue: * Though yee bee like Zacheus a man of little stature, Luk 19. 3 [Page 248] so that yee cannot see Christ ouer the multitude of your sins, yet run before, climbe the tree of the Crosse, and behold him: Note No, rather be­hold him now vpon the Crosse fixed vpon a mount high aboue, that all may see him, euen vpon mount Cal­uarie: Luk. 23. 32 Behold him there treading death vnder his feete: * Though there be a mount of dead mens scules; there is no dead scule so high, but Christ may bee seene aboue it: Note Christ is euer nearest in the hotest skirmish: He is the sea & the seate of mercie: If yee can seeke, yee shall finde no scant of mercie into him, ye shall wonder at his loue when yee shall relish his kindnesse.

Note To Christ then, yea, to Christ alone must ye runne and forsake all, as the Mariner, while all his cunning Psal. 107 27 is gone, runneth to God in the tem­pest: Note In him is Balme for all woun­ded spirits, there is no gash so deepe, but his blood can cure it: As all [Page 249] riuers lead to the sea, so should all comfortes guide vs vnto Christ: Note While hee was in the dayes of Heb. 5. 7. his flesh there was no miserie that could with-hold sinners from him, neither lamenesse, nor blindnesse, nor deafe­nesse, nor deuils, could stay any from him, nor stay him to doe them good, hee healed them all: Note Neuer a man came backe from him, saying▪ I haue sought to this God in vaine, I came to him, but he could not helpe me: Or as the father of the lunaticke, said, I Matth. 17. 16. brought him to thy Disciples, and they could not cure him: Note To him may all heart broken sinners say with the Prophet, My flesh and mine heart Psal. 73. 26 faileth, but thou art the strength of mine heart and my portion: Note Flesh and friends, health and wealth, and all will faile vs, but Iesus will neuer faile vs: Note Mans extremitie is his opportu­nitie▪ By him alone the Soule of man hath light, libertie, and life: All o­ther helpes and hopes are but vaine: [Page 250] Note As no water could wash & cleanse 2 Kin. 5. 10 the leprosie but one lie Iordan, so no­thing can wash away the leprosie of Ioh. 1. 28 sinne but the Blood of Christ, the Lambe of God, which is a spirituall Iordan for washing of leper Soules: Note In a word in all our stormy troubles Christ Iesus is a firme Rocke of refuge which repelleth and turneth into froth, all the waues of most tēpesttu­ous temptations: Note By his Blood alone our Soules are both healed & hallowed, vpon the right of your redemption, sute the remission of your sinnes: Bee not abashed, hee who hath Christ, needeth not to feare.

If I were one of Christs, would he leaue mee thus wise comfortlesse▪ Note He is the Sunne of Righteousnesse, in Mal. 4. 2. whose beames as in a spring time I was wont to rejoyce: But now hee is gone downe: Note My Soule is be­nighted, and I am affrighted with grudginges of despaire. Oh, that [Page 251] mine eyes of flint were melted into teares! O smite my flintie heart with the rod of thy mercie, that it may make teares the water of repentance to gush out at the Conduite pypes of my mourning eyes: O what a pal­pable darknesse!

Comfort your selfe with hope, waiting till that Sunne arise againe vpon your Soule: Note Suppose a man created vpon the earth as Adam was at the first, if hee should see the Sunne set, hee would bee afraide at that first darknesse, thinking that the Sunne were gone downe, neuer for to returne: But knowing by ex­perience y ^t hee is ordained by God, a Ruler for to rule the day by inter­course Gen. 1. 16. of the night, while hee seeth him set, hee is content, because hee looketh for his rising againe: If the yeare were euer Winter which ma­keth all things to die and wither, wee would all die for sorrow * But now [Page 252] in the deepest snowes and most hoa­rie frosts, wee haue some sparkle of joye kindled by the hope of the ap­proaching Spring.

As is in these naturall things, so it is in spirituall: Note Christ the Sunne of Righteousnes will seeme to the Soule Malc. 4. 2. to set vnder the night cloude of some fearefull temptation: In such a case the sinner will thinke that hee shall neuer see God againe: Note But for all that, after some houres of darknesse, appeareth Roseis aurora quadrigis, Christ that Day▪ spring from on high, Luk▪ 1. 17. which the Soule like a Bird on a bush welcometh with a morning spring: After deepest discomforts come dea­rest comforts

Haue patience Sir a little, till the night of your temptation bee past▪ After a litle open the window, & ye shall s [...]e the Skie of day, then againe▪ beholde that Sunne, which seemed to bee lost▪ arising with his blessed beames, with a louing and life giuing [Page 253] countenance: Bee not discouraged, though Christ absent himselfe, it shall bee but for a space, vntill the Can. 4. 6. day breake, and the shadowes flee away, Note All his absence from the godlie, is but like that which hee saide to his Disciples, Yet a little while, and yee shall not see mee, and againe, a little whi [...]e and yee shall see mee: Note It is of his helpe, as of Habbakkuks vision, Though it tarie waite for it, be­cause Hab. 2. 3. it will surelie come, it will not ta­rie: Bee stout and couragious, the bitterest of your temptations are but the sweete gloumes of a Father.

I am pricked with the poisonous rarowes of Satans spyte: I doubt if God would bee so rough to one of his owne Children as hee is to mee: Note Fathers strike with the rod, but I am scourged with Scorpions, wherwith y ^e Lord is now auenging the quarrell of his couenant: Oh, that Leuit. 26. 25 euer I came to this wretched passe.

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Yee are impatient: * There is nothing in all your affliction, but Psal. 141. 5. the smiting of the righteous, which yee should account a kindnesse: Such smiting is but smiling, in effect a loue token, Whom I loue I chasten, Gods corrections are balme which shall not breake your head.

I am both bruised & broken, my paines surpasse my power, Satan with his snares and fetters hath confined me to a wretched slauerie, my soule is out of temper: Trembling of heart Deut. 28. 65 Deut. 32. 25. and sorrow of minde: And terrours from the Chamber assault mee on all sides: O but the passage to glorie is rough and boisterous. Behold how I sweate for paine, as one rosted with a fearefull flamme.

In that heate is a comfort: The style of the godlie is to bee called▪ Brands pluckt out of the fire: Is [...] [Page 255] this a brand taken out of the fire? Zach. 3. 2. saide the LORD, in Zacharie: This manifesteth that a godlie man for a space may bee scorched vpon kindled coales, but God incontinent rescueth him, as a man will catch quicklie at that which he would not haue burnt: God will neuer leaue his own to the full rage of a stinging Conscience: Let all men haue pati­ence while God worketh: Note If for sinnes hee punisheth his deadliest enemies, why should hee not also for sinne correct his dearest Chil­dren? If man vncontrolled may sing Psal. 101, [...]. of mercie & of judgement for to keepe his house in order, shall not God haue his will to sing what song hee pleaseth vnto his owne creature Note Let the cracking Law-musicke of Sinai bee ended and then God shall rejoyce your heart with the sweete melodie of the Gospel: Note If while God in this your trouble in a maner is mourning vnto you, yee lament [Page 256] for your sinnes, hee shall in the end make you to dance at the piping of his Gospel: Note From Sinai he shall bring you vnto Sion, where all your paines shall bee turned into pleasures.

All pleasures are farre from mee for the present: A world of pleasures are deare bought with one pang of Conscience: Gods wrath hath seazed vpon mee for to dragge my Soule downe to the bottome of hell: It runneth euer into my minde that I am guiltie of the sinne against the holie Ghost: This I take to bee the marke, that such as once a [...]e guiltie of that sinne, cannot bee renued againe Heb. 6. 6. by repentance, this marke seemeth to bee in mee, for as yet for all the ho­lie wordes I haue heard out of your mouth, I find no renouation, though Gods goodnesse by you hath ledde me to repentance, I haue not beene moued: But after mine hardnesse and impenitent heart I haue treasured [...] [Page 257] vnto my selfe wrath against the day of Rom. 2 5. wrath: This spoileth mee of out­ward peace and inward joye: What can this bee but y ^e sin against the ho­lie Ghost, which shall neither bee for­giuen in this world nor in the world to come? I pray you Sir, to let me know what a fearefull sinne that is which Scripture saith, Shall neuer bee for­giuen: Let mee heare of its name Mar. 3. 28 and nature.

This sinne Sir, of all sinnes is the most fearfull, as being a sin of highest natu [...]e: In Scripture it is called Blasphemie against the holie Ghost: Be­cause Matth. 12. 31 there is no pardon for it, it is called, A sinne vnto death: Christ 1 Ioh. 5. 16 himselfe declared this plainelie▪ ve­rilie said hee, I say vnto you, all sinnes Mar. 3. 18. shall bee forgiuen to the sonnes of men, and blasphemies, wherewith soeuer they shall blaspheme, but hee that shall blaspheme against the holie Ghost hath vers. 29 neuer forgiuenesse.

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These words seeme strange that all sinnes shall be forgiuen to the sinnes of men and also blasphemies where­with soeuer they shall blaspheme, whether against y ^e Father or the Son, but that there is no forgiuenesse for blasphemie against the holie Ghost: By that speach it would seeme that there bee blasphemies against God, which are not against the holy Ghost: By that also it would seeme that the holie Ghost is greater than the Father or the Sonne, for what euer blasphemie is vttered against them it may bee forgiuen, but as for that where with the holie Ghost is wronged, it is an inexpiable staine of it, there can be had no remission: Be­fore yee proceede, cleare mee of this difficultie.

The like of these wordes are also Matth. 12. 31 in S. Matthewes Gospel, All manner of sinnes and of blasphemie said Christ, [Page 259] shall bee forgiuen vnto men, but the blasphemie against the holie Ghost shall not bee forgiuen vnto men: To this is subjoyned in the verse following, Whosoeuer speaketh a word againe the Sonne of man, it shall bee forgiuen vers. 32 him, but whosoeuer speaketh against the holie Ghost, it shall neuer bee for­giuen him.

By this at the first blinke it would seeme indeede that it were not so dangerous to offend the Father, or the Sonne, as the holie Ghost.

Wherefore, yee must consider that this sin which is called, the sin against the holie Ghost, is no lesse a­gainst the Father, and against the Son than it is against the holie Ghost.

Note But it is called the sinne against the holie Ghost, because it is a most high rebellion, and stiffe standing out against the peculiar worke of the Spirite, which is to inlighten the minde, and bow the will and affe­ctions, that man by repentance may [Page 260] bee brought home againe vnto his God.

Note As the Creation is ascribed to the Father, and Redemption vnto the Sonne, so is illumination and conuersion of Soules [...] to the holie Ghost, though all these e [...]ternall Opera trinitatis ad extra sunt com­munia. actions of Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification bee common to all the three Persons of the Trinitie.

Vnderstand then, that the reason wherefore this sinne is called, the sin against the holie Ghost; it is because it is against that energie & efficatio [...]s working of conuersion, common to all the three Persons, but parti­cularlie ascribed to the holie Ghost, as our Creation is to the Father, and our Redemption to the Sonne.

Note When man stiflie and stubburn­lie sinneth against the remeede of sin, how can that sinne bee remeeded? It must of necessitie bee a sinne re­remeedilesse. A sinne past all remeede is a desperate disease.

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Let mee I pray you heare more clearelie what this sinne is.

It is an vniuersall apostasie from a knowne Trueth with an eager, [...] ­nest & malicious persecuting of the same, by both secret and open hosti­litie.

I know that manie of the learned call that sinne an vniuersall apostasie from the Trueth, but I neuer could well vnderstand that.

The Pharisees are esteemed to haue beene guiltie of that sin, yet I cannot read that they had made an vniuersall apostasie from the trueth of doctrine: Christ said, that they sat in Moses chaire, which did signifie Matth. 23. 2 that they had kept some thing of Moses his Doctrine, though mise­rablie mixed with the leauen of their traditions. Mar. 8. 15

Thus as ye see their apostasie was [Page 262] not vniuersall: * Saul did not alto­ther renounce the religion of Israel 1 Sam. 10. 11 1 Sam. 22. 18. though after hee had beene among the Prophets, hee killed the Priestes.

Indeede Sir, that doubt is not without great difficultie:: Note Mine opinion concerning that, is that who out of malice and despite re­nounceth and persecuteth any fun­damentall point of religion, which he hath before knowne and appro­uen, is by consequence guiltie of that vniuersall Apostasie: Note My reason is foūded vpon the Apostles rule, Whosoeuer shall keepe the whole Iam. 2. 10 Law, and yet offend in one point, hee is guiltie of all: Note That is, who euer he bee that maketh no conscience of one sinne, maketh conscience of no sinne: If for the feare of God you darre not murther, how darre thou then, if thou feare God, committe adulterie? or how darre thou steale or lye.

[Page 263] Note Euen so he out of malice & de­spite, renounceth any maine ground of the Trueth, which hee hath once knowne and professed, and after that contemptiouslie with a lifted vp hand persecuteth the same, hee in my judgement hath drawne vpon himselfe the guiltinesse of an vni­uersall Apostasie.

Note If by this vniuersall Apostasie were onelie vnderstood an actuall, publick & totall renouncing of God & of all Religion, with railing and raging, such sinners should not bee (as in­deede they are) most difficile to bee knowne.

I perceiue by the definition of that sinne, that it is not common to all the Reprobates.

No not: But onelie to these who haue beene inlightened with some knowledge of the doctrine of truth, & after begin maliciouslie to perse­cute the same.

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But thinke ye that any man would bee so beastlie as to persecute a kno­wne Trueth: I cannot thinke that the Pharisees who are said to haue beene guiltie of that sinne, did euer know Christ to be come from God, for had they knowne him, they had not 1 Cor. 2. 8 crucified the Lord, the Lord of glorie.

Indeede these words are true of many, but not of those doctours which made Christ to pronounce so manie woes against them: Note They and their complices knew what hee was, and wherefrae hee came: Yee Ioh. 7. 28. both know mee, said Christ to them, and yee know whence I am.

Mercifull God, how could they then pursue him with such spight & bitternesse? I thinke that by that knowledge as by a bit their most head-strong corruption should haue beene snaffled and curbed.

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Note Man doeth not despight to the Spirit of grace at y ^e first, but by little and little like clay before the Sunne: his heart is ha [...]dened by the deceit­fulnesse of sinne.

First, a man will know the Trueth, and will loue it with some sort of feruour for a space, after a little this loue beginneth to lessen and grow cold, while at last it is turned into hatred: man beeing fallen in loue with lyes, which fill his bowels with a boiling hatred of the Trueth: From thence commeth a persecution and a finall desertion, a just recompence of re­ward 2 Thess. 2. 10 due to all these that will not receiue and keepe the loue of the Trueth, that they might bee saued

Note If the poore Pagan for abusing Rom. [...]. 25 his naturall [...]ite, by changing the trueth of God into a lye by Gods just Rom. 1. 28 judgement, was giuen ouer to a repro­bate mind; what wonder if they who Heb. 1. 6. hauing once beene inlightned fall away, bee neuer possiblie reneued againe vnto repētance, seeing they crucifie to [Page 266] themselues the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame? Such men goe about presumptuouslie to grind the face of all godlinesse.

I see then that in the sinne against the holie Ghost, there must first bee a knowledge of Gods Trueth, and then a wilfull rebellion against it with a lifted vp banner.

The Apostle is plaine: If we, saith Heb. 10. 26 hee, sinne wilfullie after that we haue receiued the knowledge of the Trueth, vers. 27. there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes, but a certaine fearefull looking for of judgement, & fierie indignation.

Note The poison of that sinne is in y ^e word, wilfullie after a preceeding knowledge: While Peter denyed his Master it was not wilfullie, but for feare of his lif: Soule persecuted most bitterlie, beyond measure, said hee, I persecuted the Church of God, Galat. 1. 13 and wasted it, but God had mercie [Page 267] on him, for it was in his ignorance. 1 Tim. 1. 13.

Note These two great men rode so neare vnto that vnpardonable sinne, that betweene Peter and it was no­thing but wilfullie, and betweene Paul and it was nothing but igno­rantlie. 1 Tim. 1. 13

Knew yee euer in Scripture or out of Scripture any that fell into that sinne.

Note In the Old Testament Saul fell into it, and therefore the Lord dis­charged Samuel to mourne for him: 1 Sam. 16. 1. * In the New Testament Iudas was guiltie thereof, and therefore Christ would not pray for him: While hee Ioh. 17. 12 prayed his holie Father to keepe through his owne Name the other Apostles, he would not speak a word for the lost son of perdition: In that hee practised his precept, There is a 1 Ioh. 5. 16 sinne vnto death, I doe not say, that hee shall pray for it.

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Is this sinne so great that Gods mercie cannot bee able to ouer­come it.

Some thinke that it is called, irre­missible, because that it is forgiuen with exceeding great difficultie: But certainelie there is no remission for it: Note The cause is this, God will not bee mocked with men, neither will he suffer his Iustice to perish for the saluation of anie, for seeing hee that despised Moses Law, died without Heb. 10. 28 mercie vnder two or three witnesses: Of how much sore punishment suppose vers. 29. yee, shall hee bee thought worthie, who hath troden vnder foote the Sonne of God, and hath counted the Blood of the Couenant wherewith he was sanctified, an vnholie thing, and hath done de­spite vnto the spirit of grace?

I desire to know how men fall in­to such a desperati niquitie.

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Note Such men hauing receiued some generall graces of God in a reason­able great measure, first vnconscio­nablie beginne to neglect them, suf­fering these sparkles of goodnesse to die out, after that they haue shaken out of their mouth, the Bridle of restraining grace while it is cast loose, lying vpon their maine, they plod on from one sinne to another, till shame bee past the shedde of their haire, so y ^t they bee passed all feeling.

Note The Spirit being often grieued and the heart made hard with a cu­stome of sinne, whereby as with a canker the noble buds of the Spirite are fretted and blasted at last the Lord in his justice rolleth vp y ^e sinner, & wrappeth him into a reprobate sense.

Note Thus men by neglecting the inward secret checkes of the Spirit, and by harbouring priuie inward r [...] ­pinings, boiling lustes, murmurings, grudgings, and vnthankfulnesse, the [Page 270] craftie empoysoners of grace, as at last come to this point, that all the good things they seemed to haue are most licentiouslie dissolued into a publ [...]ck prophanitie, whereby they vpbraid the Spirit of grace to his face, and that with base and scarrell jests, yea, and often with most filthie belghes of blasphemie.

That once done, all their grace clearelie melteth away like snailes, lik the fat of Lambes, or lik the win­ter yce which once beeing thawed floweth away, and is seene no more: All such thinges bee fore-runners posting before the prince of sinnes, euen the sinne against the holie Ghost, which is among all sinnes Luk. 11. 15 like Beclzebub among the deuils.

Note Obserue againe, I pray you, how the vnquencheable fire of this vnpardonable sin is kindled: While man suffereth diuers sins to lye dis­persed in his heart at their naturall libertie, without controlement, Sa­than [Page 271] most craftilie by some cunning slight as by an hollow burning glasse, so concentrats and vnites them together like fierie beames that they set on, fire the whole bodie of mans corruption, whereby as by a pouder plot the Soule is blowne vp in blaspheming, euen vp vnto the very Ephes. 2. 2 bosome of the prince of the aire. Well is the man who from his youth is 1 Thess. 5. 22 sensible of all appearance of euill.

Let vs then take heede, and con­sider how this sinne againe the Spi­rit of grace creepeth in sensiblie v­pon the heart of man, ordinarly this sinne followeth a long custome in sinning, as the head vncurable Scirrhus in the leuer, affected with the dropsie, cummeth after many sur­fites. Thus according to that olde saying, though a created testimonie.

‘Sero medecina paratur, Cum mala per longas invaluere moras.’

Note O happie they who curbe their corruption in time before they get edge and vigour.

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While a man is in this life may it not bee knowne if hee bee guiltie of this sinne.

Verie hardlie: for as Agrippa was Act. 26. 28 almost perswaded to bee a Christian, and yet neuer came from almost vnto altogether, so will a man almost fall into this sinne, and yet bee rescued, as a man will bee for a space in the hight of a feuer, that ye will neither know whether he be dead or quick: Many haue bene reuiued at the put­ting on of their winding-sheete: Note Euen so it will be in the sicknesse drawing vnto this sinne, which is a sin vnto death: Some will seeme to bee dead in it as a man into an Apo­plexie, & yet it will be sene that they will arise and repent: Of this asser­tion I take Manasses for a warrand, for after that hee had knowne the trueth & had persecuted the known Trueth, making the streetes of Ieru­salem 2 Kin. 21. 16 [Page 273] to runne blood, yet saith the Scripture, while hee was taken a­mong the thornes, and bound with fetters, and carried to Babylon, In his 2 Chron. 33. 12. affliction he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himselfe greatlie before the God of his fathers.

Note A mans flesh whether on his cheeke or hand cutted to atacke be­ing taken in time while the flesh and blood are yet warme, will againe sticke to and receiue the life almost lost: If such be the force of Nature, how much more powerfull are the workings of grace, except thē that a man after knowledge be as Paul was Act. 26. 11 in his ignorance exceedinglie mad in the persecuting Trueth, I darre not define his sinne to bee past remeede.

Indeed Sir, these be verie cleare si­militudes which illustrat our pur­pose wonderfullie.

But seeing as yee thinke, no man can certainelie know the particular [Page 274] man, that is now guiltie of this sin, how is it y ^t we are forbidden to pray for such a man: If any man, saith S. 1 Ioh. 5. 16 Iohn, see his brother sin a sin which is not vnto death, hee shall pray for him, but there is a sin vnto death: I doe not say, that he pray for it, so soone as such a mā dyeth, without remeed he must in all post haste gallop from the land of the liuing vnto the abhorred regi­on of euerlasting death. To what end serueth this inhabitation, if no man can know assuredlie who is guiltie of this sinne?

Note The opinion of the most learned, is that in the time of S. Iohn, the gift of discretion was giuen vnto the Church, whereby both sooner and surer they might discouer the damnable sin: Note As for vs wee can hardlie well perceiue it, but by finall impenitencie and most fearefull dis­paire, whereby such miserable Apo­stats who haue reuolted from the Trueth, declare at last with Iulian, [Page 275] that the God of Galilee hath fullie and fearefully ouercome them: Till that appeare, let vs beware to judge rashlie, seeing Peter speaking to Si­mon Magus, seemeth to set before Act. 8. 2. him a certaine possibilitie to be saued; a perhaps, that the thought of his heart might bee forgiuen him.

Now it appeareth by all your discourse, that the sinne against the holie Ghost is a reuolting from the Trueth, with a most wilfull perse­cuting: I thanke God, my Soule is free of that.

But tell mee I pray you, may not a man bee free of that most hainous sinne, and yet be damned? It would appeare that many Reprobates are free of that sinne.

It is most certaine, for it is onely the sinne of these who haue knowne the Trueth of Gods word, and hath made a fearefull reuolt from it with [Page 276] a persecuting hatred against the same: Many who haue liued in a true profession, haue denyed God in their life: There bee but too ma­nie whose hollow heartes are coue­red with outwardnesse like a potte­shard ouer laid with siluer drosse. Prov. 26. 23.

Alas, that putteth my Soule in terrible feare, for this is my consci­ence in a qualme, I haue professed with great shew, and that without substance: I haue beene one of Sa­tans reuellers, hauing a smilling coun­tenance but a bleeding Conscience: Gods judgementes haue stayed till my sinnes was rype: Note When the fire is kindled, woe to the stubble: There is no place now for to escape: In Heauen, in Earth, and in the Sea, Gods hand will finde mee out: Fye now on all my greatest pleasures, the Darlings of account: Though I haue not sinned that sinne against the ho­lie Ghost, which God cannot forgiue, [Page 277] I am guiltie of sinnes which God will neuer forgiue: O these eyes of fire, ten thousand times brighter than the Sunne, what sinne is able to escape them? what glistring gol­den shewes of outwardnesse, shall mak you to dazle, & ye euerlasting eyes?

Man had great neede to bee ware that his tongue walke not without a bit: There is no sinne, but God can forgiue it, if the sinner could repent, the Sea of his mercie is bottomles: As for that that God will or will not it is too great presumption for mā to define: Note Yee continuallie flit from one temptation to another, where­on yee feede like a Flee happing from scab to scab: Yee often seeme desirous to shift the comforts of the Spirit for to goe seeke a knot in a rush, a difficultie where none is. Bee earnest in prayer, sigh to God, for the assistance of his Spirit, that yee may bee capable of comfortes [Page 278] which y ^e Tempter most enuyeth vnto you: Note When the sillie Soule would fainest heare the words of spirituall peace, then cryeth he red-warre, stir­ring vp temptations like the fowles that cumbered Abraham when hee Gen. 15. 11 should offer sacrifice: Take heede to your selfe Sir: Note The Serpent now is more craftie than when hee poin­ted Adam to another tree, for to depriue him of the Tree of life: Re­signe Gen. 3. 24. vp your selfe in all holie obe­dience to the wil of your God: I can neuer perswade you to tak heede to that which I say: Note Betweene a good tongue, and a bored holy eare, is an happie harmonie, such musicke is me­lodious, but a deafe eare maketh a dumbe tongue: Beware of the Spi­rit of giddinesse, which maketh the Soule to runne round as it were in a Circle of needlesse doubts.

I intreat you Sir, for patience, 1 Sam. 1. 15 for I am one of a sorrowfull spirit, as [Page 279] Hannah said to Eli, a fierie wrath lurketh in my breast, which maketh mine heart to grone: Pittie mee Sir, I pray you, for now I am come to the arraignment, and am called to the barre like a Crane or a Swallow, so Isa. 38. 14 doe I chatter: The voyce of the Preacher did often glide by my faults: But now Gods Spirit spea­keth home, and setteth all my sinnes in Psal. 50. 2. order before mee: Now must I end my yeares in the bitternes of my Soule: Isa. 38. 15 Note Well may I say with that godlie Matron, Call mee not Nahomi, that is Ruth. 1. 2 [...] pleasant: But call mee Marah, that is bitter, for the Almightie hath dealt verie bitter lie with mee.

Note That which is most bitter is often most holesome: Gods course with the godlie is from the bitter to the Sweete: Note When Israel in their pro­gresse had remoued from Mara, Numb. 33. 9 they came to Elim, from a place of bitternesse they came to refreshing [Page 280] fountaines of waters, and to pleasant palme trees: Note All this worlde is but a Mara, a place of bitternesse: Note Let vs haue patience but for a space, till wee ariue in Elim vp into the Heauens, where wee shall dwell among most pleasant palmes, and drinke of the holesome springes of the well of Life, euen pleasures for Psal. 16. 11 euermore: The Amen, the faithfull and true witnes hath promised.

My troubles are farre from such pleasures: I feare that such troubles bee but the fore-runners of a greater tempest: This maketh all the bowels of my bellie to wamble.

Note Nay, by the contrarie take them as I haue alreadie said to bee messen­gers posting before the calme: Note It is good as yee knowe to see euerie season like it selfe: Note The Christian life in this world must bee like the Winter season, subject to frosts and to [Page 281] snowes for killing of weedes and of wormes: Note If the earth and mens bodies bee not nipped with cold, great are the euil which ensue: Note The earth becommeth barren, and mans bodie become sickelie and subject to many diseases: Note It is euen so with the Soule, if it remaine not heere in a wintrous estate, laide open to the tempests & nipping colds of tempta­tions profitable for to mellowe and to rot the fellow ground of the heart, there is no great appearance of anie good spirituall haruest: Note But if the winter tempests of afflictions come whereby the weeds and wormes of the conscience are killed, then may we looke for a pleantifull haruest of Heb. 12. 11 the quiet fruite of righteousnesse: God in mercie shall step with his merci­full feete thorow the fieldes of our heart, and his steps shall drop fainesse: Psal. 65. 11 Note Let such hopes comfort you in this wearisome winter of your af­flictions: Note All Gods gloumes are [Page 282] but like winter cloudes, or like the louring of the Skye, faire weather will bee nixt, let such tempests fall but in there owne season: Happie is hee whose heart with such boistrous blastes is not swaide awry.

O what a longsome winter is this, wherein I can not once see the Sun Mal. 4. 2. of righteousnesse, neither feele the heat of his beames, the comforter that should relieue my Soule is farre Lam. 1. 16 from mee.

Let not that discourage you Sir, heare what Christ himselfe the bot­tomelesse fountaine of all comforts, Ioh. 16. 22 saith, I goe away for a while, and yee shall bee sorrowfull, but I will come a­gaine, and your joye shall none bee able to take away: If yee finde Christ to bee absent, comfort your selfe with the hope of his returne: Note His ab­sence is but for a little: Note While the day is at the shortest, and the Sunne [Page 283] farthest from vs in the dead of win­ter, we are comforted with this that the day at once will grow longer, and that the Sunne will returne to vs by the degrees, by which hee went away: Note Your day now, Sir, is at the shortest, tarrie but a little & ye shall shortlie perceiue a Spring Ianuar of joy, after this dead Decēber of distres­ses: Note The more wintrous the Season of the life hath beene, looke for the fairer Summer of pleasures for euer­more. Psal. 16. 11 Haue patience a little: The Euening of your sorrowes is almost past, the day is at the breaking, your reward is a bright morning starre of Reul. 2. 28. joy: Note At the dawning of these joyes your night cloudie and darkest do­lors shal decease: Note God with some ray or beame of his reconcealed face, shall lighten you the way to heauens glorie.

Note This sinfull life of man is like a surgefull sea, tossed with many blasts and billowes. Whiles the floodes [Page 284] and waues of wrath, so catch a man till all the bowels of his bellie begin to wamble, all that is within him will be in a strange stir while he is as it were Iona. 2. 2. with Ionah, downe in the bellie of hell, at the rootes of the mountaines, hauing for his best garland the weeds wrapt about his head, in such a pit­tifull plight, hee will bee tempted to say to God with Ionah, I am cast Iona. 2. 4. out of thy sight, so darkened will the eye of his Conscience bee.

But if so bee that in the jawes of his anguish with Ionah, hee can say to his God in his deepest plunge, yet I will look againe toward thine holie Temple (which I may call the god­lie mans Pole, the directer of the Christian course) hee shall be saued: If while his Soule fainteth within him, hee can with the weake eye of Faith behold that Pole of peace, and with the Mariners in the Psalme, cry vnto the Lordin his trouble, the Psal. 107. 28 Lord shall deliuer him out of his [Page 285] distresses: He who by speaking vnto the Fish, made it to vomite out the prisoner, by a word of his mercy shall hale him out of such seas of sorrows, & shall softlie & swiftly bring him tho­row the swelling surges to the hauen of peace, rest and quietnesse, euen of pleasures for euermore: Waite on a little, and your God shall store Psas. 16. 11 you with spirituall comforts.

But Oh, for the present, I am in the extremitie of anguish, which any created nature can possiblie endure.

Note My sillie Soule is lashed with a se­uere whip of double cordes knottie at the end: Gods custome is to hādle his own nicelie and softlie like glasses for feare of crackes: But I am crushed vnder the milstones of his wrath, which are readie euerie houre to set­tle downe vpon my Soule, for to sinke it from the brimme to the bot tome of hell.

O the length and breadth of that [Page 286] flying roll and volume of wrath, that is comming vpon mee for to curse Zach. 5. 3. mee with the Theefe and the swearer.

There is such a freting canker in­to sinne, that in my judgement, if it could reach vnto the verie starres, it should mak them to roust by stai­ning their brightnesse and polish co­lour: I thinke that if sinne could at­taine therevnto it should rotte these faire celestiall bodies.

In my judgement it should strike the Sunne and Moone the two eyes of the world with a catarict suffusion or with a sort of gutta serena, so that the world should goe blind. Note All this woe is most justlie befallen mee, be­cause while Gods long suffering in­uited me to repentance, by delaying the day of my death, I turned his grace into wantonnesse, while I was threatned by his Iustice, I strained & racked his mercy beyond his truth and promise: I wonder not now that Gods judgements make me to reele [Page 287] to and fro, and stager like a drunken man: But heere is my griefe, and most piercing paine: I cannot think that GOD would suffer any of his owne Children to bee chaissed with such bloodie bickerings and not in­continent runne to his helpe: Can a Isa. 49. 15 mother forget her Childe? though shee should, God cannot forget these that are his: Gods wrath con­tinueth still against mee, my sinnes are mounted vp to his eares with a noyse, and hee hath taken notice: Be­hold, and consider, if there bee anie sorrow like vnto my sorrow.

These bee the paines of new birth: Note In such spirituall trauailing the Soule will bee in a wonderfull di­stresse, like Rachel of whom it is writ­ten Gen. 35. 17 that in trauailing, She was in hard labour: The hardest labour of the first birth is soft beeing compared to the labours of the second: No sor­row in the flesh is able fullie to ex­presse [Page 288] it: Note I see a shadow of such sorrowes in that mourning of Hada­drimmom in the valley of Megiddon.

This is a mourning joyned with fasting, making man and wife for a space to shed beds, that the man may mourne in one place and the wife in another. The familie of the house of Zach. 12. 12 Dauid apart, and their wiues apart: The familie of the house of Nathan a­part, and their wiues apart: The fami­lie of the house of Leui apart, and their wiues apart: The familie of Shimei a­part, vers. 13. and their wiues apart: All the families that remainc, euerie familie vers. 14. apart, and their wiues apart.

Note All this mourning is wrought in mans heart by a Spirit which Za­charie Zach. 12, 10 calleth, the Spirit of grace: Be­hold, & see Sir, what it is of this your great griefe: It is a sure token that the Spirit of Grace hath beene pow­red vpon your Soule: Too too ma­nie vndera smilling countenance haue a smarting Conscience, while the wie­ked [Page 289] laugh their heart is sorrowfull-Rejoyce in such a tribulation, after this short seede-time of sorrow, if yee can haue patience, ye shall reape the quiet fruite of righteonsnesse, after the Heb. 12. 11 darke cloudie night of sorrow, the day will dawne: Note At the breaking of the Skye a starre of comfort shall arise which shall neuer sette vnder a night cloud of waterie teares.

Man naturalliè is so impatient, that he cannot waite in a stayed tem­per, till the Lord hath ended his work.

I vnderstand not such working: Note I euer heard preached that God was mercifull to his owne, and that hee did proportion euen at an haires breadth, their tryals and trou­bles to their spirituall temper, neuer surcharging any aboue their force, in their greatest darknes his custome is to lighten them the way to relieue with some ray or beame of a father­lie fauour: But mine heart is alto­gether [Page 290] soacked and sacked with sor­row: Mine heart is nothing but a gulfe of griefe.

The hand of our God is wonder­fullie in his workes: as for vs, wee cannot worke vpon a Creature but by the helpe of another: Note As for God, while hee worketh, it often befalleth that either there is nothing or that which would seeme to bee contrarie to his working.

Note In the Creation hee brought some thing out of nothing, from no­beeing hee brought a beeing: Hee would not make some-thing of some thing, but made all of nothing: God would not builde vpon another foundation: Note Once hee destroyed the world with raine, now saith the Lord, I shall neuer doe it againe: But how shal a man know it? euen by his Raine-bow, a certaine signe of raine▪ Note Behold, how in the Heauens hee setteth his raine armour for a signe [Page 291] of peace to the world declaring that he will no more shoote downe a de­ludge for to drowne the Children of men: Note Before that God would send downe fire vpon the sacrifice of Elias for the tryall of the true God, hee appointed the ditch about it, first to bee filled with water: God is [...] Kin. 18. 33. best known in the contrarie meanes: So Christ would open the blinde eyes by spittle and clay, which natu­rallie are more fitte▪ to put out the sight than put it in: By the heauing vp of Moses weake hands, helped vp by others: God made choise to ouerthrow Hamalek rather then by the sword of Ioshuah: By the bluenes of Prov. 20. 30 the wound he purgeth away euill: Christ by death ouercame Death and pur­chased life: In wrath hee remem­breth mercie, where mercie would seeme to bee forgotten: Hee first killeth y ^t after hee may make aliue: His strength is made perfect in▪ weak­nesse: 2 Cor. 12. 9. Out of the seede of teares▪ hee [Page 292] bringeth an haruest of joye, applie all this to your selfe: Note Before that God make a new Creation in you, hee will let you see first that there is nothing in your selfe whereof to make it: Note Though God for a space hath opened the Windowes of his wrath and powred downe vpon you deluges of troubles and as yet seemeth to bend his Bow for a new shot: If hee were of minde to shoote hee would not shew his Bow: Be­hold, and see a signe of peace, a Bow without a string: Note Though it were bended, as a token of warre by Gods merci [...], it betokeneth peace: While the ditch about the sacrifice of the he [...]r is fullest of water viz when all is swimming with aboundance of teares, God then shall bee most readie to answere by fire.

Note Bee of good courage Sir, let Christs morter lye style vpon your eyes vntill his worke bee finished, that yee may recouer your sight▪ [Page 293] Note Though clay blind-foldeth, his spittle inlighteneth.

I am but a lumppe of clay shutte vp vnder vnbeliefe: I cannot practise your precepts: I haue a will to doe so: But I finde stronger powers within mee leading this Will into Captiuitie: What can this bee? can both good and euill tarie together in one heart that is Gods?

That is most certaine, Note There is both fish and drosse in Gods net, both corne & chaffe in his barne both Wheat & darnall in his field, both Sheepe & Goates in his folde: To will is present Rom. 7. 18 with mee, said Paul, But how to per­forme that which is good I finde not.

Note While I behold such floods of temptations my braine is so trou­bled with dizinesse that all seeme to goe round: My Soule is like a Land lying frin the sea, which is beaten [Page 294] with billowes and with waues on all sides, mine head is giddie while I beholde the strict streame of such tumbling waues.

Note The temptations and troubles of this world may well be compared to a Riuer that runneth with a quick streame: Note If while yee ride thorow ye euer look downe vpon the streame your head will waxe dizie indeede, so that yee shalbe in danger of a fall: But those who know what it is, euer behold the yonder brinke fixing their eyes vpon that which moueth not Note It is so that wee should doe while wee passe thorow the swift running streames of temptations, wee must not fixe our eyes vpon the streame which runneth but vpon yonder im­mouable shore of eternitie, where wee minde to land after that wee haue waden thorow the combersome foord of this life: In hope against hope relye vpon Gods mercie: [Page 295] Challenge your interest therein tho­row Christs bloodie merites.

Note While I desire to doe so the arrowes of fearful temptations come vpō me with poisoned points: I heare a voyce within me crying, What hast thou to doe with the shore of eterni­tie? thou who hast wearied thy selfe in the way of wickednesse, and hast spended thy whole life into blacke dismall dayes, by making others to mourne in blacke, thou shalt neuer weare the white garments of Christs righteousnesse, neither in grace nor glorie: Oh, that mine heart were in a true spirituall temper! Oh, that it were seasoned and softned with the dew of Grace! Oh, where shall I hide mee, vntill these calamities bee Psal. 57. 1. ouerpast?

Note Your Soule Sir, within you is like a man in a shippe tossed with a tempest as the Disciples on the Sea, [Page 296] fearing to drowne, cryed to Christ, Master, saue vs, for wee perish [...] ▪ So Matth. 8. doe ye; though for a space he seeme to sleepe, carelesse of your saluation, hee shall shew himselfe broad awake at your cry: Behold, hee that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleepe: Psal. 121. 4 Note My counsell is that yee wrap and infold your sillie Soule in his bloody merites, as in a close warme garment that shall keepe you safe and sure a­gainst the wind and weather of all temptations: Note I like your feares better than the securitie of these who thinking that they sleepe in a sound skin, care not whither judge­ments blast or mercie blesse: If the Hypocrite content man, hee careth not for God: All his best thinges are but forme and outwardnesse, hee hath a forme of knowledge, he also hath a forme of godlinesse: Note In this forme hee sleepeth, not troubled with any checke or counter-blast of Conscience Waite ye vpon Christ.

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Note Christ hath forgotten mee▪ If hee had minde of mee, would hee suffer my Soule thus to bee eaten a­way with the bloodie gangrene of an euill Conscience? happie are the Psal. 73. 5. wicked, for they are not plagued like other men.

Nay, vnhappie are the wicked vvhat euer their estate bee: while they studie to vvorldly joye encom­passing themselues with carnall con­tentments it is for nothing but that as the deuils desired, they should Matth. 8. 29. not bee tormented before the time: In such false joyes they are ledde hood­winkt to destruction: While God suffereth his owne for a space to bee afflicted, it is no token of forgetful­nesse, nor yet of vncomfortable strictnesse: Did hee not suffer his owne Sonne to suffer, till hee cryed, My God, my God, why hast thou for­saken Mar. 15. 34. mee? God in great mercie to [Page 298] vs hath set out his owne Sonne as a patrene of patience, for to let all the godlie see, that seeing he hath torne with bloody whipes the backe and shoulders of his onelie Son, that no man should tak exception to drinke in the same Cup, as also that no man should despaire or take in euill part to bee chastened of the Lord: But 1 Cor. 11. 32 when wee are judged, saith the Apo­stle, wee are chastened of the Lord, that wee should not bee condemned with the world: Note Many will suffer legs and armes to bee cut from them into a feaster, for to saue the rest: What reck what the body suffer if so be the Soule bee saued? what euer affli­ction ye suffer in bodie or mind, it is for the saluatiō of your sillie Soule, by such pangues, your God will pre­uent y ^e paines of hell: Note In your grea­test griefes, God is but practising his owne precept of sauing Soules by feare, vvhereby they are pulled out of Iud. 5. 23. the fire: The Sorrowes of the godlie [Page 299] end in joye: But as for the wicked they are like the Sea, whiles tossed, Isa. 50. 20. whiles tumbled, but euer inwardlie disquieted.

Is this then the estate of the god­lie heere to be betimes crossed with most fearefull temptations, where­by as vvith an Ocean sea they will seeme to bee ouer-vvhelmed?

It is certaine, for many are the trou­bles Psal. 34, [...] of the righteous: Note Christ deerest here are lik Lillies among the thornes: Can. 2. 2. Note This life are the Winter of their af­fliction: Note They are a groning gena­ration, Turtles crouding with sighes and grones vvhich their tongues cannot expresse, vvhile Abraham be­gan to sleepe, loe an horrour of great Gen. 15. 12 darknesse fell vpon him.

But in such anguish of heart will they not haue some bosome com­forts? salt Sea vvater strained tho­row [Page 300] the earth becōmeth sweete: At the greatest sense of vvrath will they not aye haue some hope of mercy though for a space they haue swim­med downe the current of the times shifting their sailes to the turning of euerie wind.

They will bee in great distresse: Note Their Soule vvill be shaken like a sea full of surges, tossed with con­trarie Tydes: Note As for their comfort it vvill be lik the smoke of flaxe with­out a flamme: Note In their deepest temptations they vvill haue some bosome secret graces into the heart as cmbers vnder an heape of ashes: Some times in all outward appearance they vvill bee so douked that they vvill seeme to be drowned: Note While they are all vnder the vvater vvith Ionah, as it vvere at the rootes of the Iona. 2. 6. mountaines they vvill thinke, and so also vvill others thinke, that they are in the bellie of hell: Note This is their [Page 301] estate, vvhile for a space they are borne downe vvith the vveight of vvrath and vvith the burden of their sinnes, they are as it vvere many fa­thome deepe vnder the vvater: But so soone as it pleaseth God▪ for to remoue that weight, incontinent they come vp to the brimme of the vvater, because there is breath and life vvithin them.

Note So long as there is life in a man, hee may vvell at the first plunge goe downe to the bottome of a Poole, but incontinent hee mounteth vp againe, because there is a Spirit and breath vvithin him. But if hee bee once deade, hee sinketh downe like Leade vnto the ground: Note It is euen so vvith the vvicked and the godlie, the wicked are dead in the vvaters of affliction and therefore vvith Pha­raoh and his armie they sinke downe like Lead into the mightie waters: But Exod. 15. 10 as for the godlie, though heauie vveights of sin for a space hang fast [Page 302] on, yet because the Spirit of God, a Spirit of life and of breath is vvith­in them, they may vvell at one plunge or other douke downe, be­cause of the vveight of their corrup­tions, but incontinent they come vp againe: Note By vertue of the Spirit as by Corke they are caried aboue, & so at last swimme thorow all the waues of their troubles and tempta­tions, till they come to the shallow, where they may set their feete vpon a Rocke, euen the Rocke Christ.

Note When Ionah was cast into the Sea, who euer thought that hee should come out againe? yet heare: how the drouked man sang at last, Yet hast thou brought vp my life from Iona. 2. 6. corruption, my Lord my God: So litle was his hope once, that hee said, beeing in the bellie of hell, The earth Vers. 2. with her barres was about me for euer

What hope of change can wee Iona. 2. 6. haue of that which we call, For euer? * See what little hope that Prophet [Page 303] had for a certaine space, before that God would bring his life from cor­ruption: Note What out-gate could the poore man see into such a darke dungeon into the bellie of the Fish, downe at the rootes of the moun­taines into the bottome of y ^e deepe?

Note That which the sillie man could not see, God saw: Hee whom the Shippe could not saue, was saued in the bellie of hell: He who could saue Ionah, in the water, could saue his seruant Sadrach and his fellowes in she fire: Note While these three poore men were bound in their coats, their Dan. 3. 21 hosen and their hattes, and cast in­to that fearfull Furnace, there came in One that afraide them all, a fourth man. euen the Sonne of God, which by an absolute soueraignetie loosed y ^e other three, so that they all foure in the Kings sight walked vp & down together without any hurt: Note All the miracles of the olde Testament were but types and figures of Gods [Page 304] mercie and spirituall blessings vnder the New: Note The passage of the Isr­aelites from Egypt to Canaan, was a type of our walking in this world▪ vnto that Canaan that is aboue: Note The Egyptians behind, the Sea before, the Mauniaines on euerie side were but types of our spirituall enemies: Some like Egyptians behind, are chaissing vs, some like Mountaines on euerie side hedge vs in to keepe vs from escape: Some before like a Sea are before vs, betweene vs and Ca­naan: Christ is a cloudy Pillar which Exod. 13. 21. in the day time is darknesse, & com­meth betweene vs and the rage of the Egyptians of this world, so that for mist they cannot see vs: Note In the darke night of our tribulations hee goeth before vs in a pillar of fire, for to be a light vnto our steps: Note At last, after we haue passed by many moun­taines of miseries, and are come to the red sea of temptations, euen to the last temptations on our death▪ [Page 305] bed, where all our sins red like scarlet Isa. 1. 18. stand like a red sea betweene vs and the place of promise, God by the rod of his mercifull power, giueth that sea, such a blow that all its billowes make roome to let his people passe thorow: Note Then all mourning is Exod. 15. 1. turned into musicke: Moses singeth with the men & Mi [...]ian with the vers. 20. women: Nothing is heard there but songs & sounding Timbrels: Ma­nie a [...]ore sigh had they before they came to this Song: Note Many a pitti­full looke gaue they backe to Pha­raoh, breathing out rage behind them, they q [...]aked lik an Haire that heareth the barke of the Dog, brea­thing to bee at it: But while at last they saw thēselues bounded with an enemy that boasted them with drow­ning, then God in their greatest feares sent a powerfull deliuerance: Note Behold, here as in a Cart y ^e draughts of the Christian mans journey vnto Heauen: Read into it, That thorow [Page 306] manie tribulations wee must enter into Act. 14. 21 the Kingdome of Heauen, euen thorow burning Riuers of Brimstone.

But alas, they come thorow all their troubles & were at last deliue­red: But I see none appearance that God will doe the like to mee: I haue beene prodigall of the peace of my Conscience, my sinnes dou­bled doe daylie ripen Gods wrath against mee: In all liklie-hood Gods decree is gone out, that I should po­rish: * My Faith faileth mee, Hope is flowne away: Oh, for that peace in belieuing. Rom. 15. 13

As by bitter Succorie the burning blood is cooled and refreshed, so by such bitter bloodie blowes, the pride of life is subdued & hemmed within a compasse: Note By such to [...]turing and tormenting feares: The good Lord is working for your well that there­by hee may driue you from all selfe­conceate [...]nesse [Page 307] & partiall ouervaluing of your own worth: Note It is Gods cu­stome by such means to doublem as zeale, to blow at the smoaking flaxe; Isa. 42. 3. till the weak reeking sparkle of grace bee kindled into a bright burning flam. By such troubles and tempta­tions the good Lord keepeth your Soule in watchfulnesse: Note Many in this world sleepe soundlie in their sinnes, beeing fullie stuft and swel­led therewith, and for all that neuer waken, till they be wakened in y ^e [...]re of Hell: Note Others who are troubled with some inward checkes, runne [...] to Tauerns for to drowne their sor­row for sinne, by powring in of strong drinke: Others thinke to smoke it out by the [...]eeke of Ta­bacca: Some runne to the di [...]ne of the vvorld among loud laughters.

Note As the Israelite [...] in Tophe [...] sounded their Drummes, that they should not beare the squeeles of their Infants burning in the fire, so [Page 308] so go some about by y ^e noise of sports & worldlie joyes to deafen so their Soules, that they should not heare the shrighes of their troubled Con­science: Note But all such comforts and companiourie are like that red wine, giuing colour in the cuppe, and mouing Prov. 33. 31. it selfe aright: But what is the end of all? Note Such things may seeme to coole & refresh for a space, lik as when a burnt finger is dipped into cold water, vvhere one qualitie encircu­loth another: But shortlie after that little an [...]iperistasis is past, in come doubled dolours with all the anwels of the principall summe, at last all such drunke comforts bite like a Serpent, Prov. 33. 32. and sting like a Cockatrice, as doeth the drunkards best claret wine.

Note Well is that Soule which God in mercie exerciseth daylie either vvith one crosse or other, not suffe­ring it to be rocked and lulled with Sathans balowes in the cradle of Se­curitie.

[Page 309]Rejoyce then in tribulation, put all your trust in God, yea, though hee should slay you, inwarpe your selfe in the Mantle of his mercies: Relye vpon him with vvhō nothing is im­posible: He vvho can make the great Camell passe thorow the needle Mar. 10. 25 eye, can open the narrow gate, and let your Soule enter into his Rest.

Note Learne of the Father of the faithfull to belieue in hope against hope: Rom. 4. 18 God thinketh himselfe most glori­fied vvhen men belieue in him, while there is least outward appea­rance: His delight is to allure in the Hos. 2. 18. wildernesse, vvhere is least appea­rance: Forget neuer that couragi­ous words of Iob, Though he should slay mee, yet will I trust in him: Note Not to haue Faith, except vvee feele and see, is to be faithlesse vvith Thomas Ioh. 20. 25 vvhile hee said, that hee vvould not belieue till hee vvas assured by the tvvo vvitnesses of his senses, viz. Sight and Feeling: Note Christ out of [Page 310] pittie granted to him contentment of [...]enle, but with a sore & a nipping checke, Because thou hast seene mee, vers. 29. thou hast belieued, blessed are they that haue not seene, and yet belieued: If yee would bee blessed, be­lieue before yee either feele or see: Hee who brought meate out of the de [...]ourer and light out of darknesse, can inlighten your mistie minde.

What then would yee me to doe Sir, while within and without I can perceiue no token of comfort, none appearance of fauour? seeing hee hath hid his countenance from my Soule, what thinke yee best that I should doe?

Note Doe as Isaiah did, I will, said he, waite vpon the Lord, that hideth his Isa. 8. 17. face from the house of Iakob, and I will looke for him: God is like a Mother Isa. 49. 15 that cannot forget her Child: Note She may hide her selfe a little, and let it [Page 311] get a knocke, that it may feare and learne to beware of greater dangers: Note Though God gloume in outward countenance at the faultes of his Children, yet in his heart are euer thoughts of peace and of mercie.

Of this Dauid produced two Psal. 72. 11 witnesses, Once I heard, saide hee, yea, twise, that mercie belongeth to God: Note Once in all appearance hee heard this read or preached by the Prophets, and another time by the Spirit the inward teacher of the Soule: Note Behold how the Spirit and the Word, once yea, twise, both out­wardlie and inwardlie haue testified that mercie is with God, yea, as a thing which most properlie belongeth vn­to him: In your more sober moode and cold blood, yee shall confesse this to bee true: Note God for a space will seeme to bee vncouth: Hee, as Nao­mie bade Ruth returne home with her Sister [...]rpah, will bidde a sinner goe seeke his comforts in his bypa [...]t [Page 312] pleasures: But if with Ruth hee see him stedfastlie minded he will incon­tinent leaue off such speaking.

I know that God is full of mercie; Of this the Deuils did neuer doubt: Note Within the compasse of his compas­sions is mercie for a thousand worlds, but what is that to mee? How shall I come by it?

The Scripture is plaine, Aske, said Mat. 7. 7. Christ, and yee shall receiue, seeke and yee shall finde: Sticke to him with a truely Christiā & vnshakē resolutiō.

What euer yee shall seeke from the Father in my Name, said Christ, hee will giue it vnto you: If yee be­leeue Christ to bee true, practise his precept: Note Take once but a proofe of his promise seeke in the Name of Iesus whatsoeuer thing may doe you good, and see whether or not God shall proue faithf [...] in his promise: * Before that a man will [Page 313] distrust another, hee will first at least bee beguiled once: Note Vpon Christs words then with freedome of Spirit, Aske, seeke, and knocke, and see whe­ther or not your Soule shall bee an­swered with these three viz, receiuing finding, and opening: Note There is a wor­thie historie in the Gospel which pointeth at this that we should doe what Christ Commandeth, though there be litle appearāce of any good successe: After that Christ had tea­ched the people out of Peters ship, the Sermon beeing ended, the Lord said, vnto Simon, Launch out into the Luk. 5. 4. 5. deepe, and let downe your nettes for a draught, Simon answered, said vnto him, Master we haue toiled all the night and haue token nothing, neuerthelesse at thy word I will let down the net: What ensued vpon his obedience? they inclosed such a multitude of fishes y ^t for the weight thereof their nette brake, the aboundance was so great that they beckned to their partners [Page 314] which were into another ship, that they shuld come to helpe them: And they came and filled both the shippes, so vers. 7. that they beganne to sinke: Note Let your wearied Soule learne of Peter to obey Christ, though they had toi­led all the night and had taken no­thing, and had lost all hope of any taking, yet at Christs word they let downe the net.

Note Christ in his Miracle would not cause the fish to leape into their Shippe, but hee would haue them to launch and labour, yea, and seeke helpe of others: Note Moreouer, be­fore Christ did this, they had toiled all the night before, without anie profit: Note Christ came not to abrogat the Law by feeding idle men, but hee came to fulfill the Law, and to giue a blessing to these that did eate their bread in the sweate of their face: Gen. 2. 19 Note Trust first in God, Sir, and at his word launch in the deepe: Note La­bour in the sweat of your face, seeke, [Page 315] aske, knocke, and bee assured to finde Reuel. 3. [...] 14. and receiue, for yea, and Amen hath spoken it: Note Though your sinnes bee great, if yee belieue his word, hee hath giuen both his word and his oath to forgiue, two immutable Heb. 6. 18. things wherein it is imposible that God should lie. O the vnlimited & bound­lesse bowels of his mercie.

I haue alreadie rapped at the doore of grace, but I haue gotten none answere: Note God will not cast vp his gates to let in such a rotten ra [...]call as I am: The dinne of temptations within mee is like the rumbling of a Linne, wherein waters rush with a [...]oise: I by my sinnes haue growne so heauie vpon the Lord▪ that I presse him as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaues: While I pray, Christ letteth not on him that hee either heareth or seeth mee.

Though at y ^e first prayer ye receiue [Page 316] not, yet cry againe, & againe: Note The poore receiue not almes at your doore at the first cry, and therefore they cry againe, and againe, till their almes come: Note That Cananitish wo­man that came from the costes from Tire and Sidon for to seeke helpe of Christ for her Daughter troubled with a deuill, was not heard at her first prayer, shee receiued none an­swere at all, at the secōd she receiued a verie hard answere, viz, That hee was sent vnto others, than to the like of her, viz. Vnto the lost sheepe of the Matth. 15. 23. 24. house of Israel. At the third prayer shee receiued the hardest answere of all, viz. That shee and her Daugh­ter vers. 27 were but dogs, to whom the Chil­drens bread, did not belong: What did shee then? Note Shee tooke the buffet for the bit: Wee are but dogs, said shee, why then, let vs eate the crumbes: At that worde Christ could refuse her no more, but gaue her all her will, O Woman, said hee, [Page 317] great is thy Faith, bee it vnto thee euen vers. 28. as thou wilt: Note Though while yee cry, Christ make none answere, yet cry againe: If hee call you a dogge, cry for a crumbe: Note Often his com­forts are folded in his Iudgements: S. Paul prayed th [...]ise before God gaue to him an answere: While the angel of the Deuill did buffet him, 2 Cor. 12. 7 hee cryed for helpe once & againe, after the third time God made an­swere that his grace should bee suffici­ent vers. 9. for him: Iacob got not his bles­sing at the first sute, no not, at last it came to worsling, and weeping, and wresting, he wept & made supplicatiō, Hos. 12. 4 and then the Lord blessed him: Did not Christ himselfe in his great ago­nie pray, and after one prayer, pray againe for the remouing of the pain­full cuppe? Note If yee haue prayed M [...]tin. 26 42 pray yet againe, were it in the same prayer, as Christ did, of whom it is said▪ That againe he went away & pra­yed Mar. 14. 39 & spak the same words: God may [Page 318] let his owne cry, and cry aga ne, but hee will not let them cry [...]ill they be confounded: At last when his time is come, hee will arise to their helpe: Note Hee can not sit the importunate cryes of wearied spirites: Note Be­cause of the importunitie of the seeker that neighbour in the Gospel could not get his friend refused, the one friende came to the other friendes doore, but for the lend of three loaues tor to set downe before another friende, who was in his journey, came late vnto his house: A friend Luk. 11. 9 of mine, said he, in his journey is come to mee, and I haue nothing to set before him: From within the other answe­red, that hee should not trouble him, because the doore was shute, and his Children were with him in­to the bed: I say vnto you, said Christ, Though hee will not rise, and giue him▪ vers. 8, because hee is his friend, yet because of his importunitie▪ hee willrise and giue him as many as hee needeth.

[Page 319]The spirituall vse of this is subjoy­ned vnto the verse following, Aske and it shall bee giuen you, seeke and yee shall finde, &c. Note Because of the earnest sute of the poore Widow, the euill Iudge who neither feared God, nor respected man, was forced to doe her justice: Note These thinges are writen for our learning, not to take a refusell from our God in any thing that may bee good for our Soule, mans importunitie in seeking, is Gods opportunitie in giuing.

These things cannot bee written for mee: What doeth Christ care for mee? haue not I treade vnder the filthie feete of mine affections that precious Blood? Haue not I counted that Blood f the Couenant as Heb. 10. 29 an vnholie thing? My Spirit is in a feare that it hath done dispight vnto the Spirit of grace: Note This is the chiefe gash and wound of my Soule, this is a gangrene, which eateth out [Page 320] mine heart, the temptation is come from the barke to the bone.

Note If yee were guiltie of that sinne, yee would not bee so grieued for it: Note These who doe despight vnto the Spirit of grace, mourne not for that siane as it is an hainous offence a­gainst God, but as it procureth the wages of euerlasting woe: Note In such a man the feare of judgement is greater than the hatred of sinne: Iudas could say, Oh, I haue sinned in betraying the Matth. 27 4 innocent Blood: The feare of judge­ment, & not the loue of Christ made him bewaile his treason: The sinne against the holie Ghost is not so great, but God could forgiue it, if the sinner could repent: Note The bosome of Gods mercy is not so streightned that it cannot receiue a sinner be­cause of the hudge greatnesse of his sinnes: There was no disease which Christ could not cure in the dayes of his flesh: But because of the vnbe­liefe [Page 321] of men, in some partes hee could not doe manie miracles: Note Obserue a strange word, spoken of God by God himselfe, Hee could not doe? Note Vnbeliefe in a manner putteth the Almightie in a sort of weakenesse, so that hee cannot doe: Note As there was no sicknesse but Christ could care it, if men could belieue, so there is no sinne, but God can forgiue it, if man can repent: Note If any sinne vnpar do­ned lye still, & beare vpon the Soule of man, it is because of his vnbeliefe: * Bee earnest with God, that hee would increase your Faith: Note Be of good courage, Sir, thogh many be the Psal. 34. 19 troubles of the righteous▪ yet heere is his comfort, the end of that man is Psal. 37. 37. peace: Your Soule is trauelling in the paines of the new birth: Let the Spirit of Christ be doing, till he end the worke of your Saluation within you: Note There is sweete in his gloumes, and loue in his looke, euen while hee seemeth to bee angrie: Note Hee who [Page 322] with a silent looke, first pricked, and then healed the heart of Peter, shall at last after your troubles wipe away your teares, and yee shall weepe no more: Note The looke of our Lord▪ is a working looke: Note Our beholding is but by reception of spaces, but Christs looking is by emission of graces, which like streames of heate and light come from the Sunne, the worldes eye, with a most powerfull influence.

Bee of good courage, Sir, be not dismayed in your afflictions: Note Such is the courage of Christes Spouse that shee calleth all her troubles but Cant. 1. 6. a looke of the Sunne, a litle black bleink wherewith the outward skin is one­lie made duskie: Note Christs will is that wee suffer heere such flea▪bitings, that wee may know what hee hath suffered for vs in sauing vs from eter­nall woe. Fixe your Faith in his merites, which are the onelie Oyle that maketh all thinges easie, euen a most precious restoratiue for a lan­guishing and sorrow beaten Soule.

[Page 323]Be wise and ware, by your doub­ting to confine the boundlesse mercies of your God, belieue and bee saued, this is the trueth of the Gospel.

But the Law of God is of a great stricknesse; it bindeth all the senses and all the thoughts and imagina­tions of the heart to a perfect obe­dience vnder y ^e paine of Maranatha: This thought straineth hard mine heart, and wringeth it together in­to a narrow roome with a predomi­nant power.

Note Indeede Sir, the Law of God, striketh vpon all that is in man, and oblisheth most strict to a perfect and sincere obedience, for not only dis­chargeth it actuall Murther, Adul­terie, Theft, and such like, but also the counsels, and plots, and desires to practise such villanies: Note Yea, not onelie such plots, which are forbid­den in the Commandement, which [Page 324] forbiddeth the euill action, but also the least desire of ill, though detasted and abhorred with speede: Note The tenth Command which is last, re­quireth such a puritie into the heart of man, that it will not onelie haue it to be cleane of grosse euill thoghts fedde and petted with yeelding and consent, but also it requireth that it bee free of the least impression of anie euill thought: Note The Soule of man is like a Cristall looking Glasse: If a man but blow vpon it with his breath, at once it is darkned with a duskie skumme, wherewith it is dim­med that till it be sweept, the image of a mans face will not appeare into it: Note So it is of sin and of our Soule, the least affection or inclination to sinne is like a dimme skumme vpon the face of the Soule, caused by the stinking breath of the deuill: What is a filthie temptation? but afflatus illius impuri Spiritus, a breathing of that vncleane Spirit? Thus as yee [Page 325] see God indeede requireth a great puritie to bee in his creature, for the hammering downe of the pride of flesh, puft vp with vaine and ouer­weening conceits: Note His Law requi­reth that his Children bee so cleane that there bee not so much as the breath of euill vpon them for to dar­ken or mak dimme the polish of their cristall colour.

Note But heere is our comfort, there is an hand in the heauen▪ that is able to sweepe away all our sinnes what­soeuer, and make our Soule were it neuer so roustie, to become cleare like gold new come out of the for­nace: Psal. 68. 13 Though yee haue lyen among the pottes yet shall ye be as the winges of a Doue couered with siluer, and her fea­thers with yellow gold. Let not the rigour of the Law affraight you: Christ is hee who hath fulfilled the Law: Note Hee hath nailed that hand writing vpon his Crosse, and so hath made vs free of its rigour: Sinne [Page 326] reigneth not in a godlie heart, but so long as man is heere, sinne hath in him some poysonous and pesti­lent * Note rootes: If wee doe not what wee can to imploy his graces faith­fullie, for to render his Talents with some profit, hee shall say vnto vs, Matth. 25. 23. faithfull seruant come & enter into thy Masters joye: Bee of good heart, after that Gods anger like the Moone is come to its hight, it shall beginne to waine as it beganne to waxe: After a full flood shall come a low ebbe.

What then thinke yee best that I doe while I am enuironed with so many troubles and temptations?

Note Your best is to runne euer vnto Christ in whom alone is vertue for to cure your filthie fluxe: Let no­thing hinder [...]ou in the way till yee bee at him: Note By his blood he shall present you harmelesse and guiltles before Gods Tribunall: Though [Page 327] swarmes of temptations wherein is Beelzebub the master flee buze about you, bee not astonished: Note Hold on your course, till yee come to him: Thogh many troubles lye into your way, gird vp your loynes and run with courage through this snakie field, ha­uing your feet shod with the preparatiō Ephes. 6. 15. of the Gospel of peace: Let griefe bee a whet stone vnto grace.

Note If I should now run to Christ, thinke ye that I would be welcome to him, after that I haue sported so long, and solaced my selfe in secu­ritie, in the soft and greene way of fa­ding pleasures: Note While his precious word was preached, I like the craftie Psal. 58. 4. Adder closed mine eares, as from the voyce of a charme: But thinke yee that hee can loue mee, who is one so vnworthie to be loued, a lazie drou­sie drooping drone, altogether car­lesse in the worke of my saluation.

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There is a great misconceit of God in most mens hearts Note Some there bee who with amplifying conceats, make the way to Heauen broader than the Scripture, like the Pharisees broad Philacteries or shaking rib­bands: Matth. 23. 5. Others againe, as Balaams Asse thrusted his master to the wall in Numb. 22. 25 a roume way, with lesse reason than the Asse, they thrust aside vpon the walles of doubts or despaire, as though Gods mercies were so narrow that no possibilitie were for to passe tho­row: By this meanes they fasten v­pon God, an impossibilitie to for­giue: But to come to the point, your question is, if I think that God can loue you, who is so vnworthie to bee loued

I thinke it verilie, and I am per­swaded: Note God, I confesse, cannot loue sinne in man, but hee may loue man in sinne: Note God inuiteth not these whom hee loueth not: Come [Page 329] vnto mee, saith hee, all yee that are Matth. 11. 28 wearied: Note Your wearinesse cryeth vnto you, that which was said to the blind man, Bee of good comfort, Ma [...]. 10. 49▪ arise, the Master calleth thee, an hum­ble confession in the mouth, is the speach of contrition in the heart: God hath sworne that hee liketh not a sinners death. Hee is more glad to finde vs for to helpe vs, than we can rejoyce to find him for to be helped by him: Note Who can thinke but hee is glad to finde vs, that tooke such paines to seeke vs, that not car­ing for the vnwholesome and noy­some night aire, came to our doore hauing his head full of dewe, and his Cant. 5. 2. lockes full of the droppes of the night? which is more, such was his loue and liking of vs, that for to saue our life hee would die a cursed death: The last wordes of your complaint are that yee are one who is vnworthie to bee loued.

* I had rather heare a sinner cal­ling [Page 330] himselfe wretched and vnwor­thie with the Publican, than boasting Luk. 18. 13 of his worthinesse with the Pharisee: Note The swelled hydropie words of than­kesgiuing that we are not lik other mē, are a sure toking of a deadlie & incu­rable disease: Man naturallie goeth about to lessen & impaire his faultes, yea, oftē rather than he will cry guil­tie hee will fasten his follie by conse­quent vpon his Maker: Adam said, The woman which thou gauest me, G [...]n. 3. 12 gaue me of the tree, & made me to eate: Note Many are caried down the muddie streame of ouerweening their owne worth. Our greatest worthinesse is in the sense of our own vnworthinesse, and in the seeking of Christs worthi­nesse: Note That man is worthie before God, who findeth himselfe vnable to doe that which is worthie, and vn­willing to doe that which is vnwor­thie: Note The verie strife and battell betweene grace and nature in there­generat, is a victorie in Gods eyes: [Page 331] A broken imperfectiō, if it be sincere without guile, is put vp in his mer­ciful count book, for a perfectiō indeed, such is the mercie of God, while we mislike our selues: Note These were the wisest words of Agur, in Gods ac­count, Prou. 30. 2 when hee said, I am more foo­l [...]sh than any man: S. Paul was ne­uer more dearelie beloued of God, as when hee hating himselfe called himselfe the first of sinners: Note Cast your eyes off your selfe, and looke vnto God your strength & your stay: Prou. [...]8, 10 The Name of the Lord is a strong towre the righteous runneth into it, & is safe.

O that I could practise your pre­cepts! O that my God would in­spire mee with such a blessed and liuelie vigour of his Spirite, that might quicken my Soule to euerla­sting life! O that it would please my God, stronglie to refresh mee with the comfort of his counte­nance! But alas, out of this most [Page 332] filthy puddle of my heart arise such filthie vapours which so ouer-cloud the Sunne of righteousnesse, that I am Mal. 4. 2. not able to behold his face: while he did shine vpon mee, his most bright and vnspotted beames were fullie darkened: Note The more the heate of his word did beate vpon mee, the more my conuersation became stin­king and loathsome like a carion cast out before the Sunne, this I cannot denie, at the rememberance there­of I finde my selfe charged afresh v­pon the Conscience with terrours and vexations: O the dead slubber of securitie, wherein I haue sleept vnto this houre! my custome euer was to post ouer my sinnes, in the lump with a generall slumbert con­fession.

There is nothing within me but matter of feare, I feele my faith fain­ting, I feare my sinnes, I feare the wrath of God, I feare the force of Sathan, the king of feare: Note I may be [Page 333] well bee called that which Ieremie called Pashur, viz. Magor-missabib, Ier. 20▪ 3. that is, Feare round about, yea, I not onelie feare, but I feele a feare­full wrath: Note My stubburnesse and stonie heart hath brought vpon my Soule Gods brasen hands: Note Now is hee doing to mee that which of olde hee threatned against these that were like mee, If yee walke stubborn­lie Liuit. 26. 27 against mee, I will walke stubborn­lie with you: In my youth I was guided by the guise of times, my de­light was to goe with the droue, now I am lost, beeing cold dead frozen in the dregges of my vncleannesse.

The force of temptation wring­eth such words out of you, as thogh yee had none hope at all: Note Your Soule Sir, is like the Moone into an ecclipse: Note There bee darknesse and changing of collours for a time, be­cause your sinnes like an earth come betweene you and the beames of [Page 334] Christ, the Sunne of righteousnesse: Note I haue seene the Moone in her ec­clipse for a space as though shee had not beene at all into the heauens, but as shee darkened by little and little, so after the greatest darknesse was past, the light returned by degrees.

Despaire not Sir, of an infinite mercie, let not your heart be wasted with wearinesse: Though the earth of your sinnes which in comparison of Gods mercie is but a point, ouer­shadow the Soule for a space, while it is in this low region, the time shall come that God shall mount your Soule aboue the circle of the Starres wherevnto the shadow of such an earth is not able to attaine: Note Thogh God for a space walke stubbornlie with you, hee is not stubborn: Whē yee shall beginne to walke humblie Micah. 6. 8 with your God, God shall walke no more stubbornlie with you, but shall deliuer you from all your feares: [Page 335] Build your selfe vpon your holie Faith. Iud. v. 20

I may well say with Iob, My stroke Iob. 13. 2. is heauier than my groning: Where­on can my Faith lay hold? Note God is armed with wrath, and Sathan is armed with despight: Note I see no­thing for the present but blowes and bloody battels, most dreadfull feares teare in pieces mine heart strings, & sucke out the inmost of mine heart blood.

Though there be many aduersa­ries, yet Christ is with you: Note Make all your boast of him who is the Captaine of your Saluation: Hee hath Heb. 2. 20 winne the field, he hath tread vnder foote principalities and powers, and hath ledde Captiuitie captiue: Note Hee Eph. 4. 8. whose Faith is founded vpon him, shall neuer bee confounded: Note His fresh bleeding wounds are cuer fil­led with compassions: * Though God by our sinnes bee moued to [Page 336] shew some wrath, heere is our great comfort, There is no condemnation Rom. 8. 1. to these that are in Christ: Belieue yee not the Scriptures? I know yee be­lieue: If Christ bee with vs, who shall bee against vs? Note These who thinke that their sinnes ouer-reach Gods mercie, make the Centre to compasse about the Circumference: Though hee should receiue a world of sinners in the bosome of his mer­cie, it will not for that bee the more streightned: O the vnspeakeable compasse of Gods compassions.

I doubt not of the infinite com­passe of his mercie, but whether or not he will shew that mercie to such sinners as I am, this often troubleth my darkned and droopping Soule.

Note To shew mercie to most mise rable persons, is most familiar to Gods Nature: * Hee neuer execu­teth judgement till we egge him and [Page 337] inforce him vnto: Note For this cause, where he punisheth, hee is said, To [...]. 28. 2 [...] doc his worke, his strange worke, and to bring to passe his act, his strange act: Hee hath sworne by his life, that he taketh no delight in our death: Note Our God is not rigorous against these that would faine doe well: No not, but lik as a father that pittieth his chil­dren, Psal. 103. 13. 14. so the Lord pittieth them that feare him, for hee knoweth our frame, hee remembreth that wee are but dust: Note Our God will not exact strictlie a perfection in the life of his Chil­dren: Note If wee haue an affection to doe well, though wee cannot affect it, hee will accept it: Note A godlie Father hath said well concerning this, Deus magis delectatur affectu quam effectu, that is▪ God is more pleased with the affection of a man than with the effect it selfe: Note Christ thought more of the poore womans mites, than of rich mens millions, and Luk. 21. 2. that all because of her good affe­ction: [Page 338] Well is the Soule in whose bosome it lodgeth.

Note But the good affection must euer bee followed with some effect: * Mine heart hath beene nothing but a filthie puddle, a false Fox hole: The more I dig into this dung hill I am the more confounded: O what a jewell is a good Conscience co [...]ered vp into the heart of a Christian! It is like a precious pearle in a Ring: I am ashamed to come into Gods pre­sence while I looke vpon my sinnes.

Shall the sicke man bee ashamed to lay out his sores to a secret and wise Surgeon: Note It is good to think shame of sinne before wee doe it, for to abstaine from it: It is also good to think shame of it after it is done, for to repent vs of it: But wee must neuer thinke shame to confesse it: Note This is the craft of Sathan, hee ta keth away shame from man at the [Page 339] commission of sinne, and restoreth it againe to man at the confession of sinne. Note That which hee hath once taken away from a man by forged cauillation like Zacheus, he▪ though in a worse sense, refloreth him foure­fold: Note A wicked man after that he hath sinned, hath fourefold more shame to confesse his sinne before a Congregation, which indeed, should bee his honour; tha [...] hee had at the committing of sinne the onelie cause of shame: Note If hee had beene as ashamed to commit sin priuilie, as hee is ashamed to confesse it publicklie, he had neuer taken plea­sure into sinne.

Note Men of widest Consciences whose hearts are s [...]uft and engrossed with wickednes, will often I confesse seeme shame▪ f [...]st before men: Note In the presence of a carnall [...] eye, they will straine the g [...]ate like [...]e Maidens, which cannot eate at Table where they are seene, their throat is so nar­row, [Page 340] that hardlie can any meate passe ouer, quasi vero: O but in se­cret greatest gluttons, deuouring blacke bread embrued with yester­dayes broth.

Note Shee that but pitissat sippes be­fore the Sober can skip at the scols with her Commers, till shee bee sicke with healths.

Euen so it is of such sinners, most modest they are & shamefast while they are seene: The gnate of a light vaine word they cannot digest if men haue heard it, but in the meane time in the polluted thoughts of their prophane hearts, they are filthy Iud. v. 8. dreamers, & if secret occasion serue; without shame of God they will swallow Camels, making no bones: Note Though their sinne bee neuer so huge in greatnesse, euen Adulterie, the wracke of most famous Families, if they can straine and passe it with a close conueyance, their heart will say of it as Lot said of Bela, Is it not a Gen. 19. 20 [Page 341] little one? Note Well is that Soule which while it is tempted to sinne, hath euer an eye vpon its God, saying with Ioseph, Now behold, my God seeth mee, and hee is a witnesse of this my doing: How then can I doe this Gen. 39 9. great wickednesse and sin against God?

As for that yee say now that yee are ashamed to come before God, while yee looke vpon your sinnes: It is good sir that ye think shame to come into Gods presence, because of your sinne, but thinke not shame in Gods presence to confesse your sin: Note Sin whether secret or confes­sed is euill, but the confession of sin is euer good, Gods word is true, If wee confesse our sinnes, hee is faithfull Ioh. [...]. [...]. and just to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse: Note Trust in God, Sir, relye vpon his mercifull bowels, who out of his great compassions hath said, I haue Iob. 33. 24 receiued a ransome: God loueth those that are feelinglie affected, & wakened [Page 342] out of the slumber of Conscience.

But thinke yee verilie that God will bee mercifull to mee? whose Soule hath beene but a soile for weedes.

Note I thinke that yee your selfe should thinke none otherwise: A good man, saith Solomon, is mercifull Prou. 12. 10 to his beast: Note It is a beastlie thing for a man, to thinke that God will not bee more mercifull to his Soule, than any man can bee to his beast: Note God was more offended at Cain for de­spairing Gen. 4. 13 of his mercie, than for kil­ling of his brother: Note Iudas kindled Matth. 27. [...]. more Gods wrath for the desperate hanging of himselfe▪ than for the be­traying of his Lord that was hanged by his treason: Note Hee who offered his mouth to receiue a kisse from Matth. 26. 49 that Treatour, had neuer refused him mercie, if hee had sought it with a repenting heart: Because [Page 343] prophane Ahab had but a shew or [...] King. 21. 27. outward scroofe of repentance, ha­uing Sackcloth neerest his skinne, the Lord spaired him all his dayes, to let men see what he will doe to true repentance, seeing hee is so gracious vnto that which is but an outward likenesse thereof.

Note There is no sinne that offendeth God more highlie as distrust: Note Here is the great injurie of doubt or de­spaire, it maketh the sinne of a little Grashopper to ouer-reach the infinite mercie of the most High, as though man a little clat of clay, could bee more sinfull, than that infinite Ma­jestie can bee mercifull: Happie is that Soule which God hath singled out in time for to make it loath its best loued pleasures: God delighteth to take vp a seat in a bruissed heart, sorrow beaten for displeasing of its God.

Take a good heart, Sir, yee haue to doe with a God, whose Name and [Page 344] Nature is mercie, a God whose mer­cie Psal. 10 [...]. 4. is great aboue the Heauens, yea, and ouer all his workes: Note That which Psal. 145. 9 ouer reacheth all Gods workes, may easilie ouertoppe all your sins & ini­quities: Note God will haue man with his narrow bowels of mercie to for­giue his brother seuen times in a day, if hee shall returne seuen times in a day, Luk. 17. 4 saying, It repenteth mee: Note If God re­quireth such mercie of man whose bowels in y ^e widest are not of a span breadth, what shall hee doe, whose compassions are rouled together in­to bowels broader than the Sea, yea, wider than the heauens? If ye can repent Sir, God can forgiue: When man ceaseth to spurne, God begin­neth to spare.

I take God to witnesse, that I am sorie for my sinnes, and so ashamed▪ that with the Publicane I cannot lift Luk. 18. 13 vp mine eyes to the heauens: Note I would be content to kisse the ground [Page 345] a thousand times for to get but one kisse of the feete of him, who is the on [...] lie helpe of the conscience, and the health of the countenance: I finde myselfe deepe to the Chine in a gulfe of miserie: Tell mee truelie Sir, I pray you: Thinkeyee that if with a mourning heart I confesse my sinnes to God, that hee will haue pittie of me? I am sore perplexed, the deepe thoughts of mine owne guiltinesse strike men with such a set silence that I am not able to vtter my griefe: My feare is that I bee of the familie of hell, an haire of horrour and vtter woe. Be free with mee, I pray you, Thinkeyee th [...]t such an hord of mi­serie as mine can euer meete with his mercie.

Note It is great ignorance Sir, to thinke that anie miserie of man can ouer reach the infinite power of his pitie, and boundlesse compasse of his compassions: It were more easie to [Page 346] turne the Sunne from his course, than God from shewing mercie to repenting sinners, both his Name and Nature is mercie: See wee not out of what myres of miserie Gods mercie hath deliuered repen­ting sinners: Note In Scripture wee may read long Catologes of pardo­ning sinnes: Consider well I pray you, thinke deepelie vpon the mer­cies of your God: Note Look well what hee hath done to others: Could the adulterie of 2 Sam. 11 4. Dauid, the incest of Gen. 19. 33 Lot, the drunkennesse of Gen. 9. 21 Noah, the murther of Gen. 34. 25. Simeon & Leui, the persecutions of Act. 8. 3. Paul, the perjurie of Matth. 26 74. Peter, or any other like sinne hinder God to be mercifull to the [...] so soone as they repented? * Where­fore wereall these pardons printed into God; Booke, but for to tell all ages that no man were hee neuer so sinfull▪ should despaire of the mercie Ezek. 33: 11. of his God: As I liue, saith the Lord, take no delight into the death of sinners▪ [Page 347] but rather that they should repent and liue: These bee his owne words: If words beare no weight▪ behold effects, God hath so loued the world, Ioh. 3. 16. that hee hath giuen his onelie Sonne, that whosoeuer belieueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life: Note This is not a verball loue when a man giueth his best beloued for to die for another: Note God hath not spared his onelie Sonne, that by his satisfying sufferings, his Iustice beeing payed, hee might shew mer­cie to man his poore vnworthie creature, not onelie the Father hath loued the world, but also the Sonne out of vnspeakable loue was as de­sirous to die for man, as the Father was to send him: This out of his owne mouth hee declared that no loue could ouer-reach his loue, No Ioh. 15. 13. man, said hee, hath greater loue than this, than when a man layeth downe his life for his friend: Note The highest of mans loue is to die for his friend: [Page 348] Note But Christs loue was greater, hee died for vs euen when wee were his enemies: Note In another point, behold the loue, of Christ scarselie, saith the Apostle▪ for a righteous mā wil one die, Rom. 5. 7. [...]. yet per aduenture for a good man some would euen dare to die: But God com­mendeth his loue towardes vs, in that, while wee were yet sinners, Christ died for vs: Note Who shall doubt of this loue which the Lord hath registred on earth with the dearest blood of his onelie begotten Sonne? Note There is such a loue in the Father, and such a loue in the Sonne, and such a loue in the holie Ghost toward the Sal­uation of man, that all the heauens are filled with loue of our well, so that at the conuersion of one sinner Luk. 15. 7. on earth, there is more joy among the Saints and Angels, than for fourescore and ninteene righteous who neede not repentance.

* If Sir, yee would haue the hea­uens to rejoyce, cast your selfe into [Page 349] the armes of your God, with these words, Lord, doe with mee what thou wilt, though thou shuld slay me, yet will I true in thee: If yee would see the picture of Gods mercy, ye must draw aside the curtaine of all carnall sur­mises.

Oh, that I might cast my Soule into his Armes! But how can I doe this? The Lord hath turned his backe on mee, shall I cast my selfe Heb. 1 [...]. 29. into a consuming fire? At the first sight of his angry face my Soule will die for feare.

Men often are deceiued: So soone as Manoah had seene the Angel, hee Iudg▪ 13. 22▪ said, to his wife, Wee shall surelie die, because wee haue seene God: But his wife answered more wiselie, If the Lord were pleased to kill vs, hee vers. 22. would not haue receiued a sacrifice from vs: As shee said to him, so say I to you, If the Lord were pleased to kill you, hee would not haue giuen [Page 350] his Sonne in a Sacrifice for you: * I is a greater loue token, that God hath giuen his Sonne in a Sacrifice for you, than that hee should receiue any sacrifice from you

It is the Apostles argument▪ that since God hath giuen vnto vs his owne Sonne, hee will not refuse vs any other thing that may doe vs good, Christ alone is the sinners re­fuge, hee is a Rocke of comfort which cannot bee shaken, a Rocke which commandeth all seas of sor­rows the pole of our peace. Be earnest in prayer with God, cry till he hea [...]e.

I am wearied with crying to God, Psal. 22. 2. my prayers may be called, The voyce of my roaring: But what shall I say? I cry, but there is none that maketh answere, God hath couered him­selfe with a cloude, that my prayers should not passe thorow, hee hath stopped his eares that my prayer should not bee heard▪ This is a most fearefull blast and blow in his bloo [Page 351] die battell.

Deceiue not your selfe, often our prayer framed and followed by the Spirit of grace is heard, though the fense of grant bee not yet brought to vs: God for causes will let a time goe betweene, seeking and finding: Dan. 9. 23. After this the Angel spake vnto▪ Da­niel. At the beginning of thy prayer God heard thee, and now I am come to tell thee: Note See how a space will in­terceede betweene Gods hearing of mans prayer, and mans knowledge that God hath heard him. Though yee as yet know not whither God hath heard you or not, yee must not infer that God hath not heard you at all: Note Waite on a little with Da­niel, till God thinke it time to send you a Messēger for to tell you that he hath heard you, yea, that hee heard you at the beginning of your prayer: till th [...]s Messenger come, depend whollie vpon Christs good will: Let all your trust bee in him, who is [Page 352] your most faithfull Aduocate for to plead your cause: Note Hee will bee a Guide to all these that seeke him: and a light to all these that see him, and life to all these that loue him: Though a Mother should forget her Isa. 4 [...]. 15 Childe, the Lord will not forget his owne, whom hee hath printed vpon the palmes of his hands: Many Mo­thers thinke it enough to beare and bring foorth their Children, that done, they send them out a foste­ring vnto others: Note▪ But Christ not onelie is as a Mother beareth and bringeth vs foorth by the second birth, but also feedeth and fostereth vs vpon his owne breasts as a louing Osea. 1 [...]. 3 Nurse, I haue, said he, caried Ephraim as a Nurse in mine armes: Note Bee of good comfort Sir, let the joye of Christ rellish all your sorrowes, hee was the man of griefe, that he might Isa. 53. 3. bring joye to the world, he was bea­ten with stripes, that of his stripes hee might make physicke for sicke [Page 353] Soules, by his stripes wee haue health: Note In a word his flesh was pierced and bored that in these holes there might bee a Citie of refuge for sinfull Soules, pursued with the tempest of Gods wrath, the auenger: Note Woe to him that maketh an idole of his own sufficiencie, as the Thunder chieflie beateth the highest steeple heades so doeth the fire of Gods wrath strike at the hight and top of proudest spirites.

By the most part of your speach Sir, I thinke that your chiefe com­fortes against Death and all other troubles, are grounded vpon Christs Blood and his wounds▪

That which I say Sir▪ is true: Note When as all things will forsake vs & fall frō vs, Christ will sticke & stand fast by vs, that I speak truelie, I darre be an­swereable for it in the presence of my God: Note As yee must one day [Page 354] make a reckoning to God, of that which yee heare, so must I that selfe same day giue an account of that which I teach: My Sermons must be read before him that sent mee to preach, for he will know how I haue fedde his Lambes: * If I build vpon Note Christ the fundamentall Stone, the perles and precious Stones of Christes 1 Cor. 3. 21 passions, I shall get a reward: But if I builde vpon him Stubble, Hay, or vers. 14 Wood: Because I holde fast the foun­dation, he will saue my Soule, when hee shall trye my Doctrine with the fire and light of his word: But be­cause I builded vpon him the com­bustible light Stubble and Hay of hu­mane words, of wordlie eloquence, I shall bee saued verie hardlie, as by the fire of great affliction: Note For this cause knowing the great danger, I wish that all my comforts to you and all others bee onelie of Christ, who is both our suretie and our Sa­uiour: Note Hee in loue swallowed the [Page 355] bitter pill of death, the cure of all our diseases: After that, for our cause his face had beene couered for our blasphemous, spittle & his backe batte­red with bruises, hee continued in his loue, and for our cause would bee hanged vpon that stinking l [...]ll Mount Caluarie, suffering a death which God had blasted with a curse.

Note I will tell you plainlie, Sir, that there is no meditation so comfor­table to a wearied Soule, as that which is concerning the bleeding wounds of Iesus, the vanquisher of hell: Note His wounds are as many win­dowes wherethrow wee may see the vnspeakeable aboundance of our Lords loue.

Note Let men runne from East to West, from South to North, they shall finde no place of auoydance from the fie [...]ie wrath, but onelie in­to these his woundes, which well may bee called, The refuge or San­ctuarie of a troubled Soule. Heere is [Page 356] libertie for a Soule that is enfolded into the snares of Gods judgements: Note Heere is a hiding place against the euill day: Heere is the hole of the Rock the window of the Arke where Exod. 33. 22. Gen. 8. 9. poore Soules like Doues, that can finde no footing, may enter in: * Heere is a Citie of refuge for chaissed sinners: The people that dwell Isa▪ 33. 24 therein shall bee forgiuen their ini­quitie: There bee wide boundes within the compasse of his compassi­ons. Seeing Christ is such an One, runne and hie you as fast as yee can vnto this Rocke of refuge: Note Hee who shall bee founded thereon, shall neuer be confounded: Note Take vp all the matter in a word, the righteous­nesse of Christ Iesus purchased vn­to vs by his Blood, is the onelie cure and couer of our sinnes: Note All other things are but like fig-leaues too short and thinne a couer, like these cutted coats of Dauids seruants, which co­uered 2 Sam. 10. 4. not their buttockes.

Note How darreanie rotten stinking [Page 357] attainted flesh attempt to attribute anie worth vnto it selfe, in the at­chieuement of that Pearle & peere­lesse work of mans Saluatiō, wherof Christ Iesus is y ^e only Author & actor.

Manie who would seeme in this world to carie away the Garland of godlinesse, are hanged in this snare: Away with such a pang of pride and eleuation of Spirit.

I see now Sir, that Christ is one­lie the Salue which is able to heale the sores of the Soule, the blisters and bitinges of our Conscience: I see that his Blood is the onelie li­quour of that Fountaine of Dauid for sinne and vncleannesse: Note But I Ezech. 33. 1. am so defiled with wilfull wallo­wing in the puddle of sinne, that hardlie thinke I that euer hee will daine to looke vpon such a bemired Dogge as I am, who haue followed the swing and the sway of the most filthie: Of mee it is written, Let him that is filthie bee filthie still.

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Let not that discourage you: * Yee cannot bee ignorant in what estate he found his Church: At the first before hee maried her, he found her in her first birth, a cast away, a bloodie brood, a misshapen creature, with a long Nauell vncut, vnsalted; Ezek. 16. 5 and not swadled, lying in the open field to the lothing of her person in the day shee was borne: Yet all that made not him to loth her: Note But after that by two cōmands of life, he had bid­den her, Liue liue, whereby she got vers. 6. strength, hee decked her, and sware vnto her, and entered into coue­nant with her and shee became His: Behold and wonder at the loue of our Lord, the Spouse of our Soules: Note All our filthie and bloodie defor­mities could not scarre him from the loue of our Soules: If any bee defiled with sinne and vncleannesse, let them come to him, who will not refuse to wash them: Hee is the [Page 359] onelie lauer of the Church: Note There is nothing pure, but that which he hath purged: It is he alone who hath repaired all our ruines: Listen vnto his voyce, crying to all sorrow beatē sinners, Come vnto mee.

Thinke often vpon this, Sir, if ye desire comfortes in your distresse: Note The great worke of mans redemp­tion finished by the Blood & death of God, is a worke worthie of con­tinuall wondering: As for the work of the Creation, it cost the Lord but his Will and his Word: Note But the worke of mans redemption was a costlie worke, it was chargeable to God, it cost him the best thing that hee could giue, euen the lif of his Loue, our Lord: Note O what a mercie! O what a liuelie Loue! The medita­tion of this worke should worke in our heart a louing compulsion and a compelling loue: Note The thought of this made S. Paul to say, The loue 2 Cor. 5. 14 of Christ constraineth mee: Note What [Page 360] shall a Christian man feare, hauing Christ his Brother to bee both his Aduocat and his Iudge, his Sure­tie and his Sauiour? Note Was not his blessed Bodie displayed abroad vp­on the Crosse, with his armes spred, a crying jesture, a jesture crying with a voyce, Come vnto mee all ye that are Matth. 11. 28 leadened and wearied? Note Oh, that we were sicke for the loue of him, who died for y ^e loue of vs! Note Oh y ^t we were wounded with loue, vvhen vvee re­member his precious wounds, from which gushed out the streames of our Saluation: Note Flee Sir, to the holes of this Rocke, flee to the bores of his woundes, runne not with Adam vnto the shrubbes for to hide your selfe from God, heere is your hiding place in the Lords deepest wounds: Note Hee is the fortresse of your Faith, our strength and our stay, the onelie helpe and ground of all our hopes, our warrantable justice: Hee onelie is the bodie of all spirituall comfort▪ [Page 361] all other things were they neuer so specious, are but shew and resem­blance: Shroud your selfe vnder his protection, and throw no more your selfe vpon temptations, whereby ye may bee disabled from manfullie fighting out the good fight, followed with a Crowne, filled with massines of glorie.

Now well is me that euer I heard tell of Christ: Blessed bee the day the Sonne of God was borne: But alas, where are the holes of that Rocke, where my wearied Soule may enter in?

Lift vp your lumpish thoughtes, seek first to the naile holes in his feet beginne humblie, creepe in into these lowest wounds, and there for a space settle your abode, kisse his sa­cred Feete, wash them with the true teares of repentance, wype them with the haires of your head, [Page 362] from thence looke vp, and come to the naile holes of his Hands: Note Bee busie there like a Bee, sucke out of them the Honey of Heauen, from thence goe to the Speare hole in his side: Note Let your Soule sit downe there, and croud like a Doue, euer till Christ let it in into the hole of the Rock, the place of its euerlasting rest: Note If once the faithfull Soule Christs Turtle win in into the fortresse of his woundes, from thence it will boast all the enemies of its Saluation: Frō thence wil it cry to the flesh, crouch: There it careth not for the Serpents hissing, nor for the Cockatrices denne, Isa. 11. 8. nor for the Graues gaping, nor for Deathes dungeon, nor for the Popes Purgatorie, his pardons, his dirges, and his Trentals, which bring fatte morsels to Baals Priestes: Christ is mine, will hee say, Hee is to mee ad­uantage both in death and life: Note As Gen. 8. 9. the Doue found no footing till shee came to the Arke, so the Soule can find no rest, till it come to Christ: I [...] [Page 363] euer totters, til it leane vpō his Loue. Happie is y ^e Soule y ^t is secured with y ^e seale & secret impression of Gods fauour.

If I had faith, to belieue, all wold be wel: I acknowledg y ^t there is suffici­ent helpe in Iesus, but such a helpe is only for these that are strōg in faith, my faith is both faint & fecklesse.

Christ hath said plainelie, that he wil not quēch the smoking flax: S. Peter was Isa. 42. 3. not a man of strong faith, whē he be­gan to sink down into the Sea: Said Matth. 14. 31 not Christ vnto him, Thou man of lit­tle Faith▪ why hast thou doubted? Note Hee reproued him for the weaknes ther­of, but cast him not off for the little­nes thereof.

That was another matter: Christ was with him, Christ took him by y ^e hād: * Ther was vertue in y ^e grip of Christs hand, as was in the hem of his garment Luk. [...]. 44 while it was touched: Such a weake Faith as mine cannot mount vp so high as that it may reach vnto Christ into the heauens.

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Though your faith bee weake, and Christ also bee absent in bodie, yet bee not for that disquieted: he is present in his God-head: As for the weaknesse of your faith, pray God to strengthen and increase your faith: Note Faith though little, is of great force, a graine of it is able Matth. 17. 20 to remoue Mountaines, and cast them into the Sea.

I pray your Sir, to intreat God for a fixed heart, for as I perceiue, endlesse are the mazes of Sathans circular temptations, which vnavoi­dablie, if they bee not barred out by grace, wind themselues into mans heart with a slie and craftie in­sinuation.

O man of little faith that I am, if I had Faith, I would belieue that I had it, if I had Faith, I am perswa­ded that I should haue Peace: Being Rom. 5. 1. justified by Faith, wee haue Peace to­wardes [Page 365] God: That Peace I seeke, and cannot finde: These troubles wherewith I am tossed plainly argue that my Faith is failed.

I answere, that who euer are justi­fied by Faith, they also haue peace toward God, though such a Peace bee not euer felt: That which a man feeleth not, is not euer absent: Note A man in a trance knoweth not that he liueth, and yet hee is not altogether depriued of life: The tree seemeth to be dead in time of Snow and frost, and yet it hath life, and sappe at the roote: These then that are justified by Faith, haue Peace, but their peace is not euer sensible, but often is di­sturbed with fearefull temptations.

I desire to know of you what is that yee properlie call the peace of Conscience.

I take the qualmes of Conscience [Page 366] chieflie to proceede from a sense of Gods wrath kindled for some sins of commission or omission: Note Sa­than also with his billowes bloweth at this fire, yea, often while God is pacified, he assaulteth the sillie Soule with false feares and counterfeit ala­rums.

Note Nowe when by the vertue of Christs intercession the fire of Gods wrath is quenched, the Conscience of man beginneth to settle and growe calme, and in stead of accusing vs any further, it beginneth to excuse and acquite vs before the Tribunall of our God: Note Vpon this doeth ensue a pleasant calmenes, quietnesse and rest, in the Soule of a sinner.

Though this Peace bee sore en­uied and often troubled by Sathans railing and [...]aging, yet the Soule ha­uing peace with God, is at last after a litle space made free of all its fear [...], & is made sensible of that truce & a­tonement, euen of that Peace which passeth all vnderstanding. Philip. 4. 7

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I would earnestlie learne of you how a man whose Conscience is troubled, may recouer that Peace which once hee had.

The best methode I know, is that a man ripe first vp his Conscience, and spy what mot of sinne is fallen into his Conscience, which is the eye of the Soule: Note The eye beeing hurt will water & powre out teares, so must the Conscience bee sore grieued for offending of God: Se­condlie, out of this griefe it must sigh before the Lord in feruant pra­yer, first, for forgiuenesse chieflie of that sinne, which lyeth heauiest vp­on the heart: Thirdlie and last of all, the Soule must sute earnestly for the restoring of that joye.

After this manner Dauid did pro­ceede in that penetentiall Psalme: First of all, he was exceedinglie grie­ued, which griefe did burst out in [Page 368] wordes watered with teares, Haue Psal. 5 [...]. 1 mercie, vpon mee, O God, according to thy louing kindnesse, &c. Thus after hee had cryed for to bee washen, & purged with Hysope, hee cryed that vers. 7. God would restore vnto him the joys vers, 12. of his Saluation: Aboue all thinges let such a person bee often groaning to God in prayer, for to catch some blinke of Gods reconcealed face in Iesus his bloodie woundes: Note That blood of sprinkling is the onelie Salue for the sores of the Soule. To all this let not these helpes bee ne­glected, viz. that such troubled Soules make vse of good Bookes, by whose helpe their deuotion may bee roused vp, for to remember the dayes of olde: Note My chiefe coun­sell is that such persons fixe stedfast­lie the eye of their Faith vpon Iesus bleeding on the Crosse, wherevpon hee payed our ransome, and trium­phed ouer all the enemies of our Sal­uation: This is the trueth whereof [Page 369] Israel had the typ in the brasen Ser­pent, which healed al the be holders: My counsell also is, that such trou­bled persons frequent the Sermons of powerfull Preachers, and seeke conference with them, whom God hath stamped with a powerfull gift of Teaching and integritie of life, men who haue had great experience in the wayes of God, and who haue smarted themselues at other times by such fearefull nipping checks, men who are not ignorant of the Deuils deuices.

It is said of Christ himselfe, the Orient and Day-spring, That in all Luk. [...]. 78. Heb. 2. 17 things it behoued him to bee made like vnto his Brethren, that hee might bee a mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining to God, to make recon­ciliation for the sinnes of the people: For vers. 18. in that he himselfe hath suffered, being tempted, hee is able to succour them that are tempted. See how it behoued Christ himselfe for to suffer tempta­tion, [Page 370] that hee might bee able to suc­cour vs in our temptations.

While the troubled sinner is in doing all these dueties, he must care­fullie watch ouer all his wayes, that by no sin either in thought, word, or deede hee grieue the Spirit of God againe: For a new sinne thrust vpon the hearte, will make all the closed woundes of the Conscience to gap and to bleed afresh: A Soule that is become relaps shall finde God har­der, to bee intreated, than of before, not without much adoe shall it get peace, that after by any knowne sin it hath quarrelled againe the Spirit of comfort.

But indeede, hee or shee whose Conscience hath beene once well lashed with Gods whip, and battered with his blowes, had rather run throw a fire, than anger the Lord againe: At the first appearance of a tempta­tion they will start for feare, and with a sigh will cry to God with a [Page 371] trembling voyce, O my God, how should I thinke this wickednesse, let bee to doe it? Who knoweth the po­wer of thy wrath? According to thy Psal. 90. 11 feare so is thine anger.

Note Too too many in this Nation affect this sicknesse of Conscience, as beeing onelie the disease of the ho­liest: This they will vtter as ye would thinke with bleeding groanes before men; while indeede they are but scorning the world▪ sporting wantons, laughing vnder a painted maske of miserie: Their teares are praeficarum la­chrymae, teares without trouble, wa­ter sold for the wind of mans praise: They are spots in the Church, which make the wayes of God to bee euill spoken of, such open a wide doore vnto Atheisme.

Fye vpon hypocrisie, God will not bee scorned, there is nothing so secret but at last it shall bee made manifest: I am assured, that who for [Page 372] to ca [...]ch mens applauses, faine a mourning for their sinnes, the Lord shall suffer them to fall either in some scandalous sinne, or other fearefull inconuenient, whereby they shalbe forced in earnest to mourne to their shame: In my judgment there is no such bitter and comfortlesse mour­ning as is that of these for their ma­nifested sinnes, who once did most faine deepe groanes for catching of applauses.

To such may well bee applyed that of the Prophet, Thine owne wic­kednesse Ier. 2. 19. shall correct thee, & thy back­slydings shall reproue thee, know there­fore and see, that it is an euill thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my feare is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hostes.

Let no man sport in secret sinnes, were it in a thought, for that which Eccles. 10. 20. hath wings will declare the matter.

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I haue often beene seeking out the reason wherefore the wicked in the world for the most part, know not what trouble of Conscience mea­neth: What thinke yee?

Their heauen is on earth: Dauid seeing their peace and prosperitie, did beare them at enuie, yea, so that his feete were almost gone: They are not in trouble, said hee▪ in trouble like Psal. 73. 5. other men, neither are they plagued like other men, &c. Euen at their death he could perceiue no bands of any ve­hement paines, after that the whole space of their life, they had enjoyed morethan their heart could wish:

Note How euer it bee that they pro­sper in this world, yet certainlie if a man will goe and seeke God in his Sanctuarie, there hee shall tell him vers. 18. that hee hath sette them in slipperie places, and that when hee awaketh, vers. 20. hee shall despise their image: There [Page 374] is a hell for them after the heauen of this earth.

I would gladlie bee instructed of you, that I might discerne betweene the true solide Peace of conscience which the godlie enjoye, and that senslesse benummednes of the wic­ked, wherein they beeing deceiued, cry, Peace, peace, euen while God is 1 Thess. 5. 3. putting the fierie lunt vnto the mosine of their sudden destruction. Let mee heare of the peace both of the one and other. I thinke all men should studie to marke the difference.

The Reprobates who haue their portion in this life, will seeme in­deede to haue that true Peace of Conscience, because nothing with­in troubleth them: Note Their peace indeede is nothing but a dead be­num nednesse of spirit, their Con­science beeing Seared, is not capable of feeling.

[Page 375]I shall giue you two speciall marks whereby yee shall discerne a true Peace and quietnesse of Conscience from the dead benummednes which the wicked haue.

First, a Conscience which hath Gods Peace is awfull of sinne, wit­tinglie and willinglie for a world it would not despite the Spirite of grace: Note But the wicked who is in a false peace, flitteth from sinns to sinne, as a Flie from scab to scab, laying all his burden securelie vpon the broad shoulders of Gods mercie.

Secondlie, the seared dead Con­science of the wicked hath but a part of that which is called Peace: Their heartes will bee senslesse of all euill, they will haue no warre within, no sorrow is there: Note But as they haue no spirituall sorrow for their sinnes committed, neither haue they anie spirituall joye for the sense of their sinnes remitted.

Heere then know the true Peace [Page 376] of God in the Conscience: Note The vnspeakable griefe for sinne is asswa­ged, the fearefull qualmes are cal­med, the raging and roaring tem­pests are allayed, the swelling seas are fallen and ebbed, God is come in the calme, not onelie for to wype away the teares of sorrow frō their eyes but also for to fill their mouthes with laughters of joye: Note So not onely are they voyd at last of the sense of most terrible horrors, but they are sensible of a joye which will make them to daunce with Dauid before the Arke, yea, to laude the Lord at a Stake, a­midst tarrie poudered flames of fire. This is that continuall feaste which cheareth the godlie Soule amidst the bloodie bickerings of Sathan, and burning persecutions of mercilesse missacrours.

Let all men try their Peace at this Touchstone, if not onely they finde their former paines lessened, but al­so a joye in GOD, whereby their [Page 377] Soule is feasted with such content­mēt, that for all y ^e gold of Ophir they wold not losse it, their estat is doubt­lesse happie: Note Who euer hee be that findeth this, hee may sing to GOD, Glorie be to God in the highest heauens, peace on earth, and toward my Soule good will.

Blessed be God who hath inligh­tened your eyes for the spying out of that remarkable difference be­tweene the true and false peace of mens Conscience: Ineuer heard it so clearelie discussed.

Note O but Sathan is euer busie to mar this Peace of the godly, who wil not war & wage battel vnder his co­lours. I haue seen these who are now godlie before their conuersion to be verie vaine, light, and wanton sin­ners, while they thus did runne ryote in sinne with the wicked world, I haue seene them most mirrie and so­lacious companie, I often won­dered [Page 378] to see them dance and sing, roare & reuell: I could see no bands of sorrowes in their life: They neuer complained of Satans malice against them.

Note But so soone as once they be­ganne to loue the Preaching of the Worde, and to loath the car­nall pleasures which once they loued, I haue seene them againe so courbed downe with griefe and mainelie crossed, as though it had no more beene they: Sathan letteth them nor rest, neither night nor day.

In that is no wonder, Sathan will bee verie loath to trouble his owne: So soone as hee hath lulled them asleepe into the credle of securitie, he will bee verie carefull that none wa­ken them: Out of a counterfeit loue hee will adjure the watch-men, by the Roes and by the Hindes, that they Can. 2. 7. waken not his beloued, till he please: Note Hee will say of him, as Christes [Page 379] Disciples said of Lazarus, but in a­nother sense, If hee sleepe, hee shall doe Ioh. 11. 12 well▪ See how carefull Sathan is for the rest of his owne, lest that be­ing wakned, they runne away from him: Note This Christ himselfe in the dayes of his flesh made cleare by a similitude, When said hee, a strong man armed keepeth his Palace, his goods are in peace.

Note So long as Sathan like a strong armed man keepeth the palace of a wicked mans heart his alone, so that none bee welcome but hee, hee will let that man bee, lest that by trou­bling and disquieting his peace, hee grow sorie and mislike his ser­uice: But if once hee perceiue the Soule to shrinke, seeking an oc­cation to bee quite of him, hee will put all the powers of hell in armes and vproare, and will driue furiouslie 2 King. 9. 20 lik Iehu for to regaine it againe, into his kingdome: Note While a Theefe or a murtherer is in the stockes fast [Page 380] in fetters, the Iaylor will bee merrie, and will sing besides him, as though hee were his friend, but if the most secret houre of the night hee heare him knocking off his bolts, and per­ceiue him to haue escaped, hee will waken all the citie, and pursew him with▪ hue and with cryes: Note Sathan is like the Iaylor, a peaceable spirit so long as the Soule is fast in his fetters and clogged with his bolts in a deepe dungeon: Note But if once hee per­ceiue that the Spirit of Iesus hath, as the Angel did to Peter in the prison, smot him on the side and raised him vp, making all his chaines to fall from him, and that the man ariseth vp quicklie, and girdeth himselfe, and bindeth on his Sandales, and casteth his garment about him as Pe­ter did, for to runne and follow his God, it is a wonder how that cruell Spirit will roare▪ and rage like a Beare Prou. 17. 12 bereeued of her whelpes: If hee gette a grippe of the poore man, hee will [Page 381] cause him roare with gasping groans, till God come with an helping hand.

Indeede Sir, yee by your both plaine and learned discourse haue dispelled y ^e mist of many difficulties.

The last difficultie wherein my Soule did sticke as yee may remem­ber, was concerning my Faith, which I concluded not to bee, be­cause I had no peace of Conscience, This did marre and deface all my comforts: My ground was from the Apostle, whose wordes are, That beeing justified by Faith, we haue peace Rom. 5. 1 toward God: I haue heard you de­clare that a man may haue Faith & yet for some space not to bee sensi­ble of that peace.

O my God, let thy mercie be close­lie applyed to my Soule, strengthen my Faith, that I may grippe and ap­prehend it with a sure and euerla­sting hold: Oh that my soule might lye downe in that peace that passeth [Page 382] all vnderstanding: I am sore trou­bled with a weake and wauering heart, which is yet tossed, and swayed to and fro with doubts and difficulties lik a feather in the wind.

Alas, Sir, I complaine of the weakenesse of my Faith: That Faith must be strōg, which is able to draw downe Saluation from the heauens, and batter downe strong holds and ouerthrow principalities and po­wers, and conqueare, and subdue, tame, represse, and repell our stron­gest corruptions.

Let mee see I pray you any parti­ticulare example of a weake Faith, wherby any at any time haue beene saued▪ by the Light of Gods word dispell this mist of ignorance: Make mee free of this shrewd temptation.

That of Peter in the New-Testa­ment Matth. 14. 31 is remarkable: Christ himselfe called him, A man of little Faith, and yet who doubteth of his Saluation? [Page 383] The other example in the Old-Testa­ment was in type and figure, when the Israelites were biten with the fie­rie Serpents, their onelie remeed was Numb. 21 9. to looke vp to the brasen Serpent: All this was a type and figure of a Soule wounded with sinne, looking vp vnto Christ with the eye of Faith: Note Now it is certaine, that some in Israel were bleared, and some of a weaker sight than others, but the weaknesse of their sight could not hinder the cure, nay, the olde man with his dimmed eyes beholding as thorow a mist that type of Christ was as soone and soundlie cured, as hee whose eyes were in their greatest vigour: Note The meate taken with a paralitick & trembling hand will not refuse nourishment to the bodie, no more than if it were taken with a strong and stable arme: Note Faith is the eye of the Soule whereof the Israe­lites eyes were but a figure: Christ is the trueth of the brasen Serpent: [Page 384] Note Though this eye bee dimmer into some, yet if it see, that sight is Saluation: Faith is the hand of the Soule, Christ is the foode▪ Though this Faith tremble, Christ trembleth not, the palsie is not in the foode.

Bee of good courage, Sir, feare not this trembling feare, the work of Saluation cannot bee wrought, but with feare and trembling: Though ye Psal. 6. 5. feare, yet despaire not, there is me [...] ­cie with God in a vnspeakable mea­sure: Note In one Psalme it is said, againe and againe, vnto sixe and twentie times, that his mercie endureth for Psal. 136. euer.

This mercie I confesse, is whiles concealed from the godlie, for ends best knowne vnto their heauenly Father: Note Who is he that often shall not spie at diuerse times his minde to bee dulled or ouer-cast with some cloud of Milancholie: Note While this humour domineeres, Sathan maketh choise of it, for therein to set a seate [Page 385] for grimme and grieuous tempta­tions. Note While he perceiueth the bo­die to bee troubled and distempered▪ hee quicklie afresh representeth vnto the veiw of our Soule the greatest & most greiuous sins of our vnregene­ration, and that into their fullest and foulest shape: By this meanes deepe gashes and wide gappes are made in mens Conscience.

Bee strong in God, Sir, saue his honour, by putting your trust in him: Note Shall Gods word cry to man, sixe and twentie times, that hee is a mercifull God; & shall man doubt of such a mercie? If such mercies were but for some dayes, [...]nners might thinke that in some dismall dayes of the yeare mercy by no meanes could bee found? But behold, the musicall twne of Gods mercie, is vpon an e­uerlasting Note for his mercie endureth Psal. 13 [...]. for euer.

Hee who doubteth of Gods fa­uour after so manie testimonies may [Page 386] prouoke the Lord against himselfe: Note Moses by his doubting at Meri­bah, made the Lords wrath to waxe hote against him: While hee should haue spoken to the Rocke he scourged Numb. 20 8. the Rocke more with these wordes of doubt, shal we cause water come foorth▪ vers. 10. than he did with the Rod: That Rock was Christ: Moses while by doub­ting hee scourged the Rocke, hee scourged Christ, for that Rocke was 1 Cor. 10. 4. Christ: Who would euer haue thought that Moses with his Law Rod would haue scourged Christ the substance both of Law and Gospel?

Who euer hee bee that doubteth thinking that God either cannot, nor will not bee mercifull vnto him, so farre as in him is hee scourgeth the Lord Iesus, as these who by their euill life are said to crucifie to themselues Heb. 6. 6. the Sonne of God afresh, and to put him to an open shame.

Beleeue & be saued: God is both mild and mercifull: Is not his Com­mand [Page 387] directeth vnto man that hee shew mercie with chearefulnesse? Is he Rom. 12. 8 not called the Father of mercies? Is it 2 Cor. 1. 3 not written, that hee is a God rich in Ephes. 2. 4 mercie? O these bleeding bowels of compassions▪ What said hee at last, while hee saw the great affliction of Ephraim? How, said hee▪ shall I giue Hos. 11. 8. thee vp, Ephraim? How shall I deliuer the Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Ze­boim? After these foure, How, how, how, how, Mercie in a manner did turne about h [...]s heart with such a force, that hee cryed out, Mine heart is turned within mee, my repentinges are kindled together: If mercie be not in his diuine breast, where shall it be found?

All that yee haue said, Sir, con­cerning the mercy of God in Christ belongeth on lie to repenting sinners, who haue bewailed the errours of their life, but not to such a varni­shed [Page 388] hypocrit as I am, who haue re­mained fast rooted in the rottenesse of must filthie corruptions, which I had neuer care to curbe or controle.

My secret sinnes like a consuming canker, haue freted out the verie heart of Grace: Note From my Youth I haue wandered from the way of happinesse, and haue beene like an idle Begger in the way readie to goe which way so euer the staffe fell.

My greatest feare now is, that I haue too long delayed the day of my repentance, what know I if God will forgiue a man so grieuous sinnes not repented of, till hee come to his death-bed? Note Hardlie can I think that in so short a time a man can bind vp friendshippe with his God, with whom hee hath beene at feede his whole life time.

O mercifull God, melt my marble heart: Put into my breast the pre­cious pearle of Faith: O that with vnspeakable groanes of griefe for [Page 389] my By past euill spent life, I might redeeme the time which I haue so la­uishlie mispent: Oh, that the moi­sture of my body were all melted in­to teares, if therby I culd be perswa­ded y ^t my sillie Soule were alreadie vtterly out of the reach of all the po­wers of Hell: I haue too long most vainelie sported my selfe in Mesech, and ruffled in the tents of Kedar: Note If I had not so long delayed to returne to my God, my Soule alrea­die in hope should be feasting vpon the joyes of eternitie.

Note Indeede Sir, it is a verie dange­rous thing for to delay repentance to the last gaspe, or to one Gods mer­cie, as many doe, who neuer lay downe the weapons of rebellion, till they can sinne no more.

Oh, that men would vnderstand their danger! Note Are not our ene­mies both strong and neare? Hanni­bal ad portas, the Deuill is at the [Page 390] doore: Note But such is the madnesse of many, were their Soules neuer so soiled with sinne, that if once they can get out but these few wordes, God bee mercifull to mee, they thinke that they shall be in heauen before their feete bee colde: Such men thinke that in death it is easie to consure the Deuill with a word.

It is but folie to put Saluation v­pon such hap-hazard as many doe: Note But yet yee must know that hee that made the Time, will not bee sub­ject vnto Time, the King of Time is Eternall: GOD is eternall, and hath all Times at his command: Note There is no Time that can hinder him to bee mercifull to a sinner, at whatso­euer time he sha [...]l repent: Note For this cause Christ for to let the world see that hee can forgiue when a sinner can repent, hee took from the Crosse the Soule of a condemned Theefe, and after that hee had absolued it, hee carried it to Paradise: God hath Luk. 23. 43. [Page 391] said, That at whatsoeuer time a sinner shall repent, that hee will put away his wickednesse out of his rememberance.

Fra once hee hath said the word▪ hee cannot take his word againe: He is constant in all his wayes, and ther­fore neuer saith and vnsaith one thing: Hath he said, & shall hee not doe Numb. 23 19. it: Note If yee can but waite a little▪ ye shall finde all the fiercenesse of his fur [...]e to bee turned into the fulnesse of his fauour: * Hee who shall seeke him earnestlie, shall not receiue an emp­tie answere: There is mercie in hea­uen, for an hell of conscience vpon earth: Cast all your cares aside, cast your selfe into the armes of your God: Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, Psal. 55. 22 and hee shall sustaine thee: Be strong in the Faith of God: In hope belieue Rom. 4. 18 against hope, though for a space your Spirit bee distempered, yet still relye vpon the mercie of your God: Goe not off this, that the Blood of Iesus [Page 392] was shed for you, & that Christ hath payed your ransome: What euer Sa­than by his temptations suggest vnto you, belieue him not: Take my counsell I pray you, Sir, that I speak the trueth, heere I darre take it vpon my Soules Saluation.

I thank God from mine heart, that euer I heard you, your words are ful of comfort: O how indebted am I to y ^e mercy of my God, who hath vn­locked the bowels of his loue towards me At our first meeting I found my selfe inuolued with much miserie and mischief but since I haue heard you, I finde, I blesse God, some stirring of God, Spirit within mine heart, mine heart before this time hath beene lik that Altar at Athens, wherin was in­grauen in great Letters, TO THE VNKNOVVNE GOD: I heard of­ten Act▪ 17. 23 of God, but I neuer knew him truelie vntill now: This is the infan­cie of my regeneration: I haue beene [Page 393] too long a stranger from so good a God: My Soule now rejoyceth after many toes and froes: Note I finde mine heart loosed from the cartropes of my sinnes, and linked vnto my Sauiour with stronger chaines than of before: There bee better motions within, than euer I did feele before this houre.

O thou who is Loue, let my Soule 1 Ioh, 4. 8 bee possest of a sound and constant loue to thy most mercifull Majestie: Bring my Soule from the shadow of Matth. 4. 16 death to the light of thy counte­nance, O Lord, my strength and my Psal. 19. 14 Redeemer.

O Lord of Hostes, giue me strength Isa. 1. 9. and courage to fight out this Chri­stian 1 Pet. 5. 4 fight, whereof the victorie is glorious, and the reward a Crowne of immortalitie: Inspire mine heart with the life of Grace: Note If thy care had not hitherto preserued my Spirit, my Soule had long since bene drow­ned in a sea of sin and sorrow: There [Page 394] haue bene such lecks, into mine heart that except the Lord in time had pumped it with repentance, my Soule long since had made ship-wracke of 1 Tim. 1. 19 Faith.

O how much am I beholden to my God, who hath taken longer day with mee, than within any others, from whom before they were proui­ded, hee hath demanded his due: Bles­sed bee my God, who hath made mee free from the frenzie of Spirite, by appearing vnto mee in a greater calme: The feeling of his wrath past, I hope shall be a sauce for to sharpen my blunted loue towardes him in all times to come, with vndaunted con­stancie.

I perceiue nowe that the day is darkened, and that the night appro­cheth: Oh, that I might cōtinue con­ference with you, but least I should wearie you, from the best of my bo­wels my deare Pastour I bidde you farewell.

[Page 395]I looke to morrow for a new con­ference, for with many difficulties mine heart is yet troubled and tossed: I requeast you before yee goe, to helpe mee with your prayers.

I blesse God, who hath begunne to intermingle the sweete honey of some comfortes with the bitter gall of painefull temptations: Note GOD who hath begunne to make you his his Prentice in Grace, shall an one mak you a free man in Glorie: Note As Mini­sters must first sit at Gamaleels feete for to learne, before they sit in Moses chaire for to teach, so must Christians first bee humbled with temptations on earth, before they bee honoured with exaltations into the Heauens.

Note Well is the man that is truelie humbled by GOD, and made a foole in his owne eyes; for hee which thinketh himselfe wise, is a foole, ipso facto: Note All naturall wisedome without Spirituall humilitie is like [Page 396] ouernights Manna which did no good, but mould and fust: God by diuers temptations, first carnall and after spirituall, hath besieged the cor­ruptions of your nature, and hath battered downe the strong holds and fortified Castles of your imaginati­ons and reasoning the high thinges which exalt themselues against the knowledge of GOD: Before hee leaue you, hee shall bring into Cap­tiuitie 2 Cor. 10. 5 euerie thought of your heart to the obedience of Christ: According to your desire wee shall bend our knees to GOD in prayer, that yee may spell his loue out of such a Fa­therlie correction, and learne in time to stay your selfe vpon his kindnesse and good will.

THE FOVRTH DAYES Conference.

ACcording to your desire, Sir, I am come againe this morning for to visite you, and for also to reape the fruites of yesterdayes conference.

This is the sweete fruits of a god­lie Prou. 14. 32 life, It hath, saith Solomon, hope in the end: I pray God to blesse you with such an hope, whereby in hope against hope, yee may cleaue fast vn­to Rom. 4. 18 your God, finde yee the storme of your temptations alayed? hath the Spirit of God giuen edge and vi­gour to these comfortes which yee heard yesterday? Haue yee put [Page 413] on a Christian courage with a reso­lute and contented patience to abid the blessed will of your God?

Well is the man and blessed, yea, thrise blessed is hee whose transgres­sions Psal. 32, 1 is forgiuen, whose sinne is coue­red, for hee is free from that sting of Conscience that will for euer torment the Soule of the vngodlie.

All this night I haue beene sore cumbered with manie spirituall temptations as yee haue heard: My Soule for a space hath beene won­derfully perplexed: The spirit of mā alas, is but too ingenious to debar it selfe from glorie: Note It is a wonder how this shuld be in such a glorious Noonetyde of the Gospel hitherto, Glorie bee to God, yee haue com­forted mee much; ye haue handled my sores with the soft and smooth hand of a most wise and charitable discretion, wiselie haue yee singled out comfortes most expedient for [Page 414] the cure of my Soule: Now seeing by your former discourse I haue rea­ped comfort, let mee bee so bold as to intreate you to declare breaflie how a man may know by the wor­kings of the Spirit within, whether he be a Reprobate or one of Gods cho­sen Ones: Note It is no time for me now to bee beguiled: Men which looke to die, haue neede to looke well what they doe.

I desire earnestlie to be instructed touching the diuerse workinges of the Spirit into the wicked and the godlie: My chiefe desire is to make my Saluation sure.

I shall doe what I can to giue you contentment in that point. The matter indeede is not without diffi­cultie: But yet the Lord God will doe Amos. 3. 7 nothing which hee will not reueale vn­to his seruants the Prophets, so farre as is needfull for his glorie & the well of his People: Mine helpe is in the [Page 415] Name of the Lord, that made Heauen Psal. 124. 8 and Earth.

The Spirit of God in man hath two sortes of operations: One generall another speciall: As for the generall common to all men, by the Spirit the wicked will say, Iesus is the Lord, I know Iesus. said the Deuill to the Act. 19. 15 sonnes of Sceuah: * By this Spirite also the wicked will refraine from outward scandals yea, they may preach, yea, prophecie with Saul, Ca­japhas, and Iudas, so that they will 1 Sam. 10 11 bee wondered at, like Soul among the Prophets, or lik Simō magus, to whom Act. 8. 10. the world for a space gaue heede from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God: Manie hauing but this superficiall gliste­ring of grace applaud and content themselues thinking that they are wise, while they indeede are fooles.

By this Spirit also they will taste the good gift of God but an one they spite it out againe: * Meate tasted in the [Page 416] mouth onelie, and not let downe to bee digested in the stomacke, is vn­profitable for nourishment.

Note By this same Spirit also they will bee inlightened, so that they will loue the deare Sainctes of God, and will reuerence them as King Herod Matth. 14. 3 did Iohn: Note But heere is their stay, they haue euer an Herodias, which they will not forsake: Some one reigning sinne or other like pestilent canker cleaueth fast vnto them and beareth rule into their mortall bodies: Either one sinne or other, secret or publicke must be their Darling: Note And this againe, like a mother, sinne must haue a dancing daughter, called, Ha­tered of reproue, whose chiefest sute is, that the preacher, were he an Iohn, either want the head, or else bee si­lenced.

This is the verie border of the wic­ked mās progresse with all his might and maine in the way to glorie: Fur­ther I cannot see that hee can winne [Page 417] but onelie to a taste in the mouth of the goodnesse of Gods giftes and to a certaine or rather incertaine, liking of that which is good, which at last shall losse the head with the Baptiste, before hee losse his pleasures with Herod: Thus as ye see manie are de­ceiued with the false flashes of an euil grounded assurance, that they are in the readie and right way to Heauen, when as indeede they are but fag­gots prepared for euer lasting burnings.

There bee one passage in Scrip­ture which hath often affrighted my Soule, in it I see a Reprobate to ma [...] such a progresse in the way to Hea­ren, that hardlie can I thinke that euer I did match him: Note The Apo­stle saith, 1. That hee will bee inligh­tened. Heb. 6. 4. 2. That hee will taste of the heauēlie gift. 3. That he will be made partaker of the holie Ghost. 4. That hee will taste the good word of GOD. 5. That he will taste the powers of the [Page 418] world to come: And yet for all that hee shall fall away, so that hee can not bee renewed by Repentance, and so shall die a Reprobate, and last after death, shall bee caried with the wic­ked into the same streame, till he fall downe into the gulfe and poole of per­dition.

I intreat you Sir, to giue mee some light for the clearing of these wordes, for often haue they trou­bled my Soule, and dryuine it deepe into the dumps, * At the first view of these wordes it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen, and yet thereafter bee diss [...]ised by some sinnes and iniquities and depriued of all hope of eternitie.

The Lord inlighten my mislie minde that I may cleare these your doubts to your well and content­ment.

I confesse that at the first sight of these words I my selfe was amazed; [Page 419] so y ^t I did wonder how all that could bee: Indeede at the first view as ye say, it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen and yet there­after bee diss [...]ised by one sinne or o­ther, whereby all his former vert [...]es shall losse their grace: Note But let a man lift vp his heart to God in prayer, and thereafter consider well the words and weigh them in the Bal­lance of the Sanctuarie, hee shall easi­lie perceiue that a Reprobate may bee endewed with all these giftes, and after all bee debarred from en­tering into glorie.

In the words ye haue obserued fiue difficulties, vnto which God wil­ling I shall make answere seuerallie. First of all, it is said that the Reprobate who is but a Bellie blind, will bee in­lightened: For to stād vnder this, yee must first cōsider that into that place of Scripture the Apostle speaketh of Apostats, that is, of men that haue for­saken the true Religion, which once [Page 420] they did professe, for to become pro­fessors of lyes, mē who haue reuolted from the Trueth after that the win­dowes of their Soule were shute close, for to barreout the Light and that willinglie and of set purpose.

Note First then it is said, That they were inlightned, that is, once they knew the Trueth: For knowledge is light: Note But because that hauing light, they wan­ted loue, God sent them strong delu­sions to belieue lyes: Note S. Paul speaking of these that had but the light of na­ture, the twilight of reason, said, That they were inlightened in such a sort that thereby they knew God. But because that when they knew God, they Rom. 1. 21 glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their imaginations, how grieuous was their punishment? Note A little after, both their sinne and their punishment is more plainely ser downe: Euen, saīth hee, as they did not like to retaine God vers. 28. in their knowledge, God gaue them [Page 421] ouer in a Reprobate minde: Note That is, hee put out and quenshed that lit­tle light of Nature which once they Matth. 16. 28 had, as hee tooke the Talent from the idle man that rolled it vp into a nap­kin: Note The greater that light bee within a mā if it be abused, the grea­ter is the punishment which is for to ensue: But to come to that Light wherewith a Reprobate brought vp in the Church may be inlightened: Note The Light of knowledge within a man who hath not the loue of the Trueth, is but like the light of a blazing Comet, which shortlie dyeth out, and filleth the world with a pestiferous stinke: Note An Apostate on earth is lik a Comet in the heauens, a star but in appearance: Such men with all their apparent eminences of zeale and dazeling shewes bee but bla­zing starres, such as the Dragon is said to sweepe downe with his taile. * S. Iude calleth them wandering Iud. v. 13. starres, they keepe not their Station,

[Page 422] Note They are Planets in their motion▪ and Comets in their substance, not fixed in the heauens, but kindled meteores in the aire which seeme to bee in the heauens, and therefore they losse at last their light, so that as S. Iude saith, To them is reserued blacknesse of darknesse: Such may haue the spirit of illumination, for the good of others, without the Spirit of Sanctification for the good of their own Soules. Note Though they haue some light of knowledge, yet in loue and life they walke by the darke side of the cloude with the Egyptians: Note There is Loue and Light in the life of all true Israelites, ▪whose course is by the light side of the fierie Pillar: Note The wicked for the most parte are with the Sodomites, either stricken with Gen. 19. 11 blindnesse, or if they see, they see as these Syrians saw that came to ap­prehend 2 Kin. 6. 19 Elishah at Dothan, they saw indeede, but their judgement was so troubled, that though they saw, yet they could not perceiue, till out [Page 423] of Dothan they were entered into Samariah, the citie of their enemies: Note That was the figure whereof this is the substance, Heare yee indeede, but Isa. 6. 9. vnderstand not, and see yee indeede, but perceiue not: O how the eyes of the Soule of man are dimmed with the mistie vapours of vanitie; thorow which it is hard euen for the godlie often to see anie glimmerings of grace.

But to the purpose obserue well what I say: Note The godlie and the wicked will both be inlightned: But the godlie is inlightned like a starre fixed into the heauens, whose light is firme and constant. But the wic­ked inlightned is but lik a blazing Co­met, which for a space will haue a greater glaunce, than a true starre in­to the eyes of the ignorants: Note But the learned Philosopher knoweth it to bee nothing but a bundle of filthie matter kindled into the Aire, which shall shortlie bee quenched: Note Thus as ye see the wicked like a Comet will bee kindled with some strange fire, [Page 424] hee will bee so inlightened, that he will giue light▪ vnto others for a space with his hoarie beames: Note But this Siella crinita, hoarie starre, be­cause hee is not fixed into the hea uens by faith, hee not beeing in the same Firmament with the Sunne of Mal. 4. 3. righteousnesse, within some fewe Moneths hee dyeth out, leauing no­thing behind him but the pestiferous smoke and stinke of an euill name, and of filthie scandales, a cause pest, where▪ with many are infected: Note Thus as yee see many like a Comet or a Candle, will for a time blaze with beautiefull brightnesse, beeing full of godlie shewes, without any life of grace, but at last dye out with a fil­thie smell: The twilight of Nature is no light but darkenesse.

Note Let therefore euerie man trie his Light, by his loue: Note Though a man should know Christ neuer so well, if hee cannot say to him, as Pe­ter said, Lord, thou knowest that I loue Ioh. 21. 17 [Page 425] Thee, the light of that man shall not continue, but soone or since with one sinne or other it shall be put out as with a dampe: Note Then many shall wonder what can bee worde of such a blazing professour, when they shall see all his rootlesse graces withered and wasted.

Now Sir, examine well your selfe: Note If yee finde a loue in your hearte with your light, a loue of God, not so much for his benefites as for him­selfe, who is most loue worthie, be not affrighted to heare that Reprobates may bee inlightened: Note All their graces at the best are rootlesse, glorious glances, foolish flashes euanishing in a moment.

Let mee yet a little illustrate the matter, that it may appeare how Re­probates are said to bee inlightened?

The Godlie & the Reprobates are both said to bee inlightened, but di­uerslie: the Godlie are inlightened like the Sun, but the wicked are like [Page 426] the Moone: In the Sunne as all know the Light, is rooted and fixed, so that not onelie doeth it shew light vnto others, but also it hath light within it selfe: Note As for the Wicked, they are inlightened like the Moone, which sheweth light vnto others beeing darke within, like a Glasse which in the sight of the Sunne will glance with some beames, vnto others hà­uing no light within it selfe: Note In this the wicked also are like the Moone, that while they are in pleni­lunio, in their fullest light, in y ^e midst appeareth some blacke spottes: In the greatest light of the wicked, if men can looke vp, and behold, they shall perceiue often one grosse sinne or other, where the light haue no re­flexe, which is like the blacke spot of the Moone.

Thus as yee see all the light of the Wicked, is but in an out­ward reflexe, whileas they are darke within: But the Godlie are like Iohn [Page 427] the Baptist, whom Christ called a burning and a shinning light: Not on­lie Ioh. 5. 35 shine they outwardlie vnto others, but also they burne within themselues, like these Disciples, whose heartes while Christ spake, did burne within Luk. 24. 32. them in going to Emaus, these were their words, Did not our hearts burne within vs, while hee talked with vs by the way?

Note The Wicked may well blaze without, but neuer burne within: God may so dispence, that like a burning Glasse they may make others to burne, while like the burning Glasse they remaine themselues cold, or at the best but lake warme: Now I thinke that all men may easi­lie perceiue how the wicked are said to bee inlightened.

Such men I confesse are hard to bee knowne at the first: Note A man at least for a month must be acquanted with the Moone before he can know that it is but a dark bodie, which hath [Page 428] no light in it selfe, but borrowed and outward: A life-time is not often sufficient for to trye Hypocrites transformed, like Sathan, into An­gels 2 Cor. 11. 14 of light: Such Moon-men beguile many with outward reflexes.

Though these which are outward­lie adorned with such colours, blesse themselues with Laodicea, as hauing Reuel. 3. 14 neede of nothing, yet their sins by the hand of Gods Iustice are written in the Register of their Conscience, yea, deepelie ingrauen as with the penne of a Dyamond.

Thus Reprobates cannot now vn­derstand because their Conscience [...] are seared & sensles: they are in such a Slumber & benummednes of Cōscience, that they cannot consider nor make a sound search into the state of their Soules: Note Nay, though they could, they would not for feare, that there by they should bee enchained to me­lancholie, a marr mirth of all their carnall delights.

[Page 429] Note Of such I will say some-thing, (I pray God that it may chasse them to seeke sinceritie) Except that such who care onelie for colours & shews of godlinesse, for to be well thought of among men, except, say I, they turne to God with true sound and timelie Repentance, in my judge­ment hardlie shall they escape some fearefull and remarkable judgement, euen in this life: Cannot God ap­point them to bee his owne execu­tioners for to bee Burriors to them­selues? After that, in his wrath hee hath kept an assise in their Consci­ence, and hath made them with Iu­das to cry out guiltie against them selues, hee can make them hang vp themselues in the loupe of a corde, for to bee spectacles of his wrath be­fore the world: Hee can mak them poyson themselues, or powre out their life with their blood by sword or by knife: Note This judgement shall cry to the liuing, Thus shall it bee done with him who dallies with his God.

[Page 430]If hee escape that: Note Woe, woe, woe vnto him on his death-bed, where Sathan with hellish malice & bloody cruelty shall woūd him with his empoysoned darts, which hee shall fasten deeplie in his Soule: Then with many a sore sigh shall hee cry, that he is enthralled in the snaires & fetters of the deuill: Some I know will win out of this world without any seene blot or blow for secret blo [...]s, they will die also with some formall & perfūctory appearance of repentance: Others will die in a quiet drousinesse and so poore like Nabal: Many a [...]ye see may die without any seene sign [...] of Gods wrath: But in the day of the Lord, God shall pull that painted vizard off their face, for the disco­uering of all their abominations, and that before the face of all Sainctes and Angels, who shall wonder to see all the filthinesse which they in their life could so cunninglie colour and couer, with most painefull pain­ting: [Page 431] Then mens applause and the worlds praise, which they did once vnder the colour of vnhallowed zeale moste eagerlie pursue, shall by no meanes auaile them; for the righ­teous Lord with a gloume of his ju­stice shall banish them to the loath­some dungeon of the bottemlesse pit.

Thus after they haue carried the matter smoothlie for a time by jugling dissimulation, at last all their abomi­nations are set in open view.

I finde my selfe satisfied concer­ning that doubt of the inlightening of the Wicked, who as I see are starke blind, grossie and palpablie ig­norant in the mysteries of Saluation. Now teach mee what this is, that he will taste of the heauenlie gift: How can vnsanctified mortalitie bee capa­ble of celestiall benefites?

By the heauenlie gift I vnderstand the fauour of God and eternall life▪

[Page 432] Note The wicked man, whose portion is only in this life, will taste these things, that is betimes hee will finde a cer­taine sweetnesse in God: Note The most wicked man that is will at one time or other lift vp his eyes to God, yea; and thinke himselfe much beholden vnto God: But all this goodnesse is but lik the morning dew; it hath none abiding, a sound of feare is euer into the wicked mans eares: * As a man Hos. 6. 4. may taste poyson and yet not bee the worse, because incontinent he spit­teth it out againe; so a wicked man may taste good things; and yet not be the better because that after he hath tasted them, hee letteth them not ouer his throat, but spitteth them out againe: Note That which hee hath tasted with the one eare, he spitteth out at the other care: Note The good words may flow a litle into his braine and rinne into his memorie, so that there of hee may prattle like a Paro­quet, but nothing goeth down to his [Page 433] heart, which I may call the stomacke of the Soule: Note If a man should but taste food, were it neuer so fitte of it selfe for to feed he shuld not be able to liue thereby: It is euen so of the wicked spiritualy: They cannot liue by tasting of graces, where God hath not opened the heart as hee opened the heart of Lydea, there is nothing Act. 16 14 but a tasted grace: Let me yet cleare the matter.

Note The wicked will get a taste of heauen, as the godlie w [...]ll get a taste of hell: Note In this doing, I obserue a secret Iustice, and a secret mercie of God: It is a mercie for the godlie that they taste the bitternesse of wrath heere, that they may esteeme the more of heauens glorie heere after. Note The baser our estate be before we he exalted, we shal thinke the more of honour whē it commeth: What am I, said Dauid, being but a shepheard, that I should marrie a Kings Daugh­ter? Who am I? said hee, and what [Page 434] is my life, or my fathers familie in Isr­ael, 1 Sam. 18. 18 that I should bee Son in law to the King Note If Dauid had beene a Kings Sonne, hee could haue well thought himselfe an equall match for a Kings Daughter: But while hee considered his owne base estate and the basenes of his fathers family, he thought him­selfe so ouermatcht, that hee won­dered at such honour, which made him say, Who am I? What am I, said 2 Sam. 9 8 lamed Mephibosheth, that I a d [...]ad dogge should sitte at the Table of a King? Note The greater aduersitie a man bee come out of, the more sweete is his prosperitie when it cōmeth: Note The tempestuous by past blasts of Winter commend the beau­tie of the Spring: * Bring me a man who is daylie accustomed to good cheare, to a Banquet, and little shall hee thinke of it, because such is his ordinarie fare: But, O if bread was not sweete to that hunger bitten for­lorne, when hee came home from his [Page 435] husks!* I think that the godly in heauē Luk. 15. 16. shall remember of the bitter taste of wrath they felt on earth, which shall so rauish them with joy of their chā ­ged estate, that no tongue shall bee able to expresse: Note But againe, heere is Iustice and wrath for the wicked: God in this life giueth vnto them a taste of his sweete thing: Some com­mon spirituall confections he putteth into their mouth, whereof they find some heauenlie relish; Note I am of this opinion, that while they shall be in hell, the remembrance of that sweete taste shall neuer goe out of their heart, which shall bee a most power­full meanes for the increasing of their smart: Note What a sting was this vnto the gl [...]tton in hell, when Abra­ham, Luk. 16. 25 said to him, Sonne remember that thou in thy life-time receiuedst thy good thinges? Note Yee may see heere that the wicked haue remembrance in hell of what good thinges they haue receiued on earth, which is an hell in hell.

[Page 436]Thus as ye see God in Iustice and and in wrath will let the Wicked heere on earth taste his good thinges, for the increase of their woe there­after: Note By the sweete taste they had of God on earth while they liued, they know now in Hell, which is a * Note part of their torment, what joye the godlie haue in Heauen: Note And againe the godly by that bitter taste of wrath which once they felt on earth, shall know, which shall won­derfullie increase their joye, what torments the wicked suffer in hell, from which the Lord in his vnspeak­able mercie hath made them free.

By this as yee perceiue both the godlie & the wicked taste here both of Hell & of Heauen: The godly taste of Hell, that Heauen, may be to them y ^e sweeter: The wicked taste of Hea­uen y ^t Hell may be to them y ^e sower: God loueth not the wicked, but ha­teth them as hee hated Esau: Note For this cause, while hee giueth them a [Page 437] taste of his good thinges, it is that while they shall bee in easlesse and endlesse torments, they may remem­ber how sweete a God they haue de­spised, and how sowre a Sathan they haue serued.

Note All these good things which are jointly in the wicked man, are but lik faire attyre vpon a leperous bodie, or like jewels about the necke of an han­ged man: Hee hath nothing but the dead portraiture of an Israelite in­deede. Ioh. 1. 47.

Note But in all this time while vnder the shewes of godlinesse, he is drin­king in iniquitie like water, a dreadfull sound is in his eares, for he knoweth that the day of darknesse is ready at his Ioh. 15. 16 hand: God at last in great wrath shall runne vpon him, euen on his necke, v­pon vers. 23. the thicke bosses of his buckler, be­cause he did couer his face with fat­nesse, and made collops of fatte on his flankes, not caring for the lean­nesse of his poore Soule: * Woe to [Page 438] these who content with bare tasting of graces, in wrappe themselues i [...] cloudes of hypocrisie.

My Soule Sir, rejoyceth to heare you speake: Note I perceiue now by your speach that the wicked will get a taste of spirituall good thinges into their mouth, but that from thence nothing commeth downe to their heart, because the passage is stopped.

It is euen so: Note Quod non deglu­tiunt multo minus concoquunt, That which they cannot swallow downe, lesse can they disgest: Note The hearts of all men are naturallie fast shute for to hold out God. Christ found Cant. 5. 2 the doore of his Spouse barred, whē hee came, neither would shee open it, till the fauour of his Mirre had vers. 5. wrought vpon her heart: At the best of mens hearts hee must often stand and knocke, againe, and againe: But as for the wicked mans hearte, it [Page 439] hath no entrie for grace, not in all his Psal. 10. 4. thoughts: The heart of a Reprobate is like a Pest-house, closed vp: Lidiahs Act, 16. 14 heart was closed, till God opened it: Note Thus as ye see the wicked may for to speake so, get a mouthfull of Gods good thinges, which they will taste as it were roll vp and downe with their tongue lik a sweete morfell with some sort of pleasure: Note But at once they loth that which they loued, and spit out these heauenly confections: Thus doing they are said to doe de­spite Heb. 10. 29. [...] vnto the Spirit of Grace. O but the hollow heart of man barboureth many close corruptions.

Now Sir, I pray you proceede: Let mee heare some thing concer­ning the third difficultie, which is that a Reprobate may be made par­taker of the holie Ghost: How can this bee? Note This seemeth to bee verie hard and knottie, that a man can be a Reprobate, a limbe of Sathan, and [Page 440] one of the familie of hell, and yet [...] made partaker of the holie Ghost: Let mee vnderstand what is that to say.

Note By the holie Ghost in Scripture are often vnderstood the giftes and graces of the holie Ghost: According to this it is said, that these of Sama­riah receiued the holie Ghost, after Act. 8. 17 that Peter and Iohn had prayed for them, and laide hands vpon them, they receiued the holy Ghost, that is spiritual gifts: it was for to haue a po­wer to giue such gifts that Simon Ma­gus Act. 8. 18 offered money to the Apostles▪ Note Whereas then it is said that Repro­bates are partakers of the holie Ghost, it is to bee vnderstood of such giftes that are common both to the God­lie and Wicked: The best temper of their religion, and the highest pitch of all their holinesse, is nothing but outwardnesse and formall Christia­nitie.

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I Desire earnestlie to know what common giftes these bee that the holy Ghost will bestow vpon a Re­probate.

A Reprobate may carrie the mat­ter smoothlie for a time: Note Hee may wonderfullie in wrappe himselfe in godlie glancing shewes, so that hee can not bee espyed for a space, by a jug­gling dissimulation he will euen bleare the eyes of the Prophetes which are Gods Seers: Note When hee is cloathed with a coats of formes, men will think that vnder such formes be y ^e true sub­stance: While he hath that [...] Rom. 2. 20 [...] forme of knowledge, and that [...] forme of godlinesse, 2 Tim. 3. 5 mē who see not as God seeth, will tak him to be some great Diuine, while indeede all the graces hee hath are but formes and outwardnesse, without any life or roote of sound inward sanctifying grace: All such formes [Page 442] in end proue starke nought.

Note A Reprobate may bee a teacher of Gods worde, a builder of Gods House like Noahs Carpenters, who builded the Arke, and yet drowned into the floode: Note Hee may blaze like a Comet with colourable preten­ces of pietie, and shew light vnto o­thers for a space, yea, so that with most glorious glances hee shall make mens eyes to dazle, and yet shall at last die out, leauing nothing behind but the smoke and stinke of an euill life like the snuffe of a Candle, when there is lothsome reeke without a flamme: Note An Hypocrite may be a mā of a milde & mercifull disposition, yea, zealous in appearance, without any sene blot or blemish: By his hypo­crisie hee may doe good to others. Men seeing him, will stand in awe to offend, thinking him to bee a sincere man: Note A Reprobate will bee like the man that beareth the Lanterne in the darke night, wherewith while hee [Page 443] giueth light vnto others, he is least inlightened himselfe: Note While o­thers by that light will see the best and cleanest way, hee himselfe and Lanterne together will fal into a mire. Note Thus after that his light is quen­ched in some scandalous puddle, the followers know what a man he was:

A Reprobate may haue immunitie from grosse and in famous sinnes, he may bee a man of great giftes, won­dered at by many as was Simon Ma­gus, Act. 8. 9. to whom all gaue heede, from the least to the greatest▪ saying, This man is the great power of God: Note A whole peoples applause is no sure token of Gods fauour.

Note As Sirion which is Hermon, was called by Moses Sion, so may a godly man both think & call an Hypocrite Deut. 8. 48 a chosen vessell▪ Note Of such a mā often may a Godly man say, as Elisha said of the Shunamite lying at his feete, The Lord hath hid it from mee, and hath not tolde mee: Note The godly and [Page 444] wicked are sibber vnto other in out­ward shewes, than Sirion and Sio [...] are sibbe in syllabes: Nay, in out­wardnesse and glorious glances, the vvicked beare the Bell, because their greatest care is cunninglie to ma­nage & eagerlie to catch such vaine applause.

Note The high stature and faire face of Eliab deceiued the Seer: Surelie, 1 Sam. 16. 6 said hee, the Lords anointed is before him, and yet for all that the voyce come out from God, declaring that God had refused him. vers. 7▪

That which is like vnto another is not that wherevnto it is lik: There is but an H betweene Sibboleth and Shibboleth, and yet the losse of that Iudg. 12. 6 Letter cost the Ephramites their liues at the passage of Iordan. The vvant of that note of Aspiration made them to losse their breath with their life: Mā vnder a maske of mildnesse may de­ceiue men with faire vvords, as Ioa [...] 2 Sam. 20. vers. 9. did Amasa; but God well kno­weth [Page 445] the Gal [...]lean accent, though Peter should denye with an oath.

The craft of Hypocrites is won­derfull: Note While they walke in a ploding course of glorious shewes, beeing fast nailed vnto outward for­malitie, they will wonderfullie bleare the eyes of men, so that they will out-steppe the best in low lou­ring and counterfeit cruching, who would not haue thought Ahab a true repenting man, while sicke in 1 Kin. 21. 27 sacke hee went sof [...]lie with sacke cloth nearest his skinne? Mans eyes are easilie, easilie jugguled with soddered shewes: But God who seeth not as man 1 Sam. 17 6 seeth, looketh on the heart: They that see such painted men, as they them­selues also, may thinke that they are alreadie possessed of the Kingdome of grace, and also intituled to the King­dome of glorie, while indeede they are but prophane men of seared Con­sciences, seeking for nothing but po­pular appla [...]ses for the aduancement [Page 446] either of their profite or preferment or reputation and worth: By some worldlie respect they euer are caried on the by, whereby they euer come short of sinceritie.

Note Woe vnto them euen when all men shall speake good of them: Note For a space they may well thinke in their owne fond conceit, that they are stored with all the riches of Gods graces, like Beggers in their sleepe dreaming that they are tumbling thē ­selues amid great heapes of gold: O but when such awake they are not onlie emptie of their imagined good, but filled with sorrow for being de­priued of that which they had in their imagination, the greatest groūd of their contentment: Thus all com­forts shalbe sweepe from them with the besome of vtter desolation.

O the deceitfulnesse of mans heart! Who can know it? said Iere­mie: Ier 17. 9. Note What eye can pierce and passe thorow all the wyles & windings [Page 447] of this juggling sinne of Hypocrites, which hauing nothing but [...] a forme of godlinesse, which beare y ^t world in hand that they are scalded & burnt with the zeale of Gods House: The best things y ^t are in such are nothing but ciuill outwardnesse clothed with colourable pretences of pietie, without any justifying faith in the heart, or renewing power in the Soule, wherin is the practise of pietie.

What shall I say more? a Repro­bate as yee see may bee both cour­tesse and kind, solatious in conuersa­tion, a man beloued of his neigh­bours, yea, such a man may driue out his dayes without any seene blot, or outward scandale: Hypocrisie may bee so small spunne, that no carnall eye can perceiue it

Such a man also may haue some troubles of Conscience, some secrete checkes of remorse for his by-goné folies, euen Iudas his [...], repen­ting or forethinking: But his Soule [Page 448] was neuer acquainted with traueling and hard labour in the newe births which is borne with that [...] euē an vniuersall change of minde, will, and affections which is onelie pecu­liar to the godlie.

I will yet say more, a Reprobate while hee possesseth a true doctrine though but outwardlie, hee may [...]aue the gift of prophecie with Saul & Cajaphas yea, of miracles, & also of healings, of helpes in gouernaments and of diuersities of tongues: Note Be­hold, how a wicked man may bee a Preacher, and a Prophet, or among 1 Sam. 10. 12 the Prophets, and a worker of mera­cles: Haue wee not cast out deuils in Matth. 7. 22. thy Name? shall many say to Christ at the day of judgement; to whom Christ shall answere, Departe from vers. 32. mee for I know you not.

All these good things may a man haue, and yet bee a stranger from the life of God: * Though such outward thinges haue a glorious appearance & [Page 449] bee great in the eye of the world▪ yet they are no sure token of Gods loue: Note Did not Christ call Iudas, Matth. 26 50. Friend? All the common giftes & graces of the wicked, are nothing but like the friendship that was be­tweene Christe and Iudas, whome Christ called friend, for to let him know that the greater was his sinne: Such for all their glistring shewes are strangers from the life of God, hol­den fast vnder the power of the first death, and yet none so much as they are puft vp with a conceit of imagi­narie perfection, so powerfull is the deuilish influence of pride: The greater Gods gifts shall-be into the wicked, y ^t greater shal be their woe.

I hau [...] heard, and am satisfied con­cerning y ^t the vvicked may be made partaker▪ of the holy Ghost: I pray you to discusse the fourth difficultie, which is, That [...] man may taste the good word of God, and yet bee a Re­probate.

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Hee vvill indeed Sir, taste the good word God, as I haue exponded that he will taste the heauenlie gift: Note Hee will taste the good word of God, That is, hee will vnderstand the word, he will take pleasure to read it, and to heare it preached, with some flashes of comfort, whereby hee will bee moued to harbour some good mea­nings and intentions, not onlie that, but also hee will doe many thinges as Mar. 6. 20. Herod who heard Iohn gladlie, and did also many things: Note But such a mā hatheuer some herodias a darling sinne secret or knowne, vvhich hee vvould preferre to the head of Iohn the Baptiste: Note While hee is in the Church it may bee hee heare the vvord with some gladnesse, yea, and vveete his cheekes vvith teares at the preaching of Christs passion, but let h [...]m goe from thence to his Banke­ting, a dancing of a daughter of this Herodias, viz. Some little tickling [Page 451] joy of his Mistresse, & predomināt sin vvill make him to forget all that was preached: A small requeast of some dauncing deuil vvill mak such a man, if hee bee of power, to lay the Prea­chers Mar. 6. 28 head in a platier.

Note There bee many vvho vvhile they heare the Word preached in the Church, are like a Siffe or Riddle into the vvater, so long as they are in hea [...]ing, they seeme to bee full of Gods word, euen to the brim: But so soone as they are once departed, all that they heard runneth out, and they to their olde by as againe. The best thing that are in the wicked are to God, as vvho for a sacrifice should cut off a Dogs necke, or offer Swynes blood.

This is a strange matter, this world as I see, is like Sardis. Thou hast a Reuel. 3. 4. few names in Sardis▪ which haue not defiled their garments: The Godlie are as the shaking of the Oliue, Two [Page 452] or three Berries in the toppe of the vp­per-most Esa. 17. 6. bough. Christ called them vvell, The little Flocke. Great as I Luk. 12. 32. see is the deceitfulnesse of sinne: Note I thought when I saw a man or a wo­man, hearing the word with great at­tention, and vvhiles vvith teares, that these could not bee but the Lords chosen and dearest Ones: And yet I see that a man may heare the word with greate appearance of godlinesse, yea and thinke the Word most sweete for the time, yea, loue and reue­rence Gods Messengers, and yet for all that bee kept short of the state of Grace.

All that is true, for Herod reue­renced Iohn for a space, and heard him gladlie: Simon magus belieued Act. 8. 13. with a temporarie faith: And Esau Heb. 12. 17 though hee wept and sought the blessing with many teares, yet could finde no place in his heart vvhere he could lodge true Repentance.

Many are endewed with painted [Page 453] Graces, which hauing but the face & not y ^t heart of grace, are meere hypo­crisie: Euen vices masked with y ^e ap­pearance of vertues: Such formal ho­lie persons come farre short of being in Christ Iesus, in whom all true goodnesse is most liuelie incorporate.

I haue heard you Sir, discusse ve­rie pertinentlie foure difficulties, the fift and last, and greatest is behind: Often haue I wondered what could bee the true sense & meaning there­of, the words are these, Hee will taste of the powers of the world to come? What can a Reprobate haue to doe with the world to come? I vnder­stand not well these words.

Indeed Sir, they want not difficulty: Some of the Learned thinke with S. Chrysostome, That by the powers of the world to come are to bee vnder­stood, the powerfull working and mi­racles vnder the Gospel, which in re­spect [Page 454] of the Lawe vvas called, The world to come, as if the dayes of the Gospel were the dayes of a new world, since Christ that Day spring from on Luk. 1. 78 high, and most glorious Sunne of Righteousnesse did appeare for to in­lighten Mal. 4. 2. euerie man that commeth into this world: But in my judge­ment that bee more subtile, than so­lide: Note I had rather thinke that Re­probats are said to taste of the powers of the world to come▪ when they finde some sort of sweetnesse in God with a kind of desire to bee out of this world, for to bee with God into the Heauens: Note Such a desire betimes will make their heartes flutter vp to­ward these heauenlie Mansions Note But such fluttering desires wanting the feathers of Faith, incontinent come short, and fall downe againe with a jumpe: Hee hath not a settled con­stancie nor well grounded resolu­tion. God at some times will let the Wicked see some glimpse of his glo­rie, [Page 455] as it were a lightning that passeth most swiftlie avvay, vvhich for a lit­tle space in the darke night letteth a man see that vvhich is before him: But so soone as it is past, his eyes be­come more dazeled and darkened, thā they were of before: such powers are but painted powers: They are in­deede like the liuing powers as an I­mage is like a man, but they want the heart of godlinesse.

Thus according to my knowledge in a serious and impartiall search is all the vvicked mans progresse toward the kingdome of glorie. All the best graces that hee hath, are but glances of graces and dreames of glorie, euen extreme pouertie, glorious sinnes, beautifull abominations.

These be Gods limets, who hath said to him, as hee said to the proud vvaues, Hitherto shall yee come and no further: Note Such a man in his best estate and conceit is but an Hypo­crite lurking vnder the Canopie of a [Page 456] counterfeit profession: His best e­state is both broken and bankerupt in spirituall thinges: Note For a space such a man may goe pleasantlie like a Shippe before the vvind; but at last downe commeth a blast of judg­ment, and sinketh him downe irre­couerablie into the bottome of hell.

I am glad to haue heard the solu­tions of these fiue difficulties, which often did trouble my minde.

By all your discourse I perceiue that the Reprobates at their best, feele but some generall good moti­ons, and that all their perswasions, that they shall at last come to heauē, are nothing but imaginations, and vaine dreames of glorie: Note Many in mine opinion are deceiued in this world, who like these that dreame, thinke they awake, while they in­deede are fast asleepe: Many in this world as I see, thinke to bee saued, whose thoghts shal proue to be but dreames: Some obscure printes of vn­sound [Page 457] joyes, though for a space they may be of good acceptance with the most godlie, and clappe their owne hands, as if they were in the passage to Paradise: They are in end disap­pointed, because they want true inward holinesse, without which no man shall see Gods face.

It is most true Sir, for [...]s men for the most part desire to bee flattered by others, so tak they delight to flat­ter themselues, feeding vpon fond fancies and phantasies, lik Hypochon­driackes, or braine sicke, who cannot bee perswaded, but that they are Kings, while indeede they are but Beggers.

This is a terrible disease: Note But to leaue the Reprobates, and come to the Elect, I desire now to know of you what bee that speciall spiri­tuall working, which is onelie pe­culiar to the Elect and chosen Ones of God: I vvish to heare of the pro­ceedings of Gods Spirite working in­to [Page 458] the hearts of the godlie vnto their Saluation: The godlie I am assured are of a more noble and heauenlie tem­per full of the Spirit of Grace.

Note In my judgement where the Spirit of God worketh to the Salua­tion of the Soule of a sinner, before it come to a full perswasion & hight of assurance, there is first a tempest of wrath against sinne going before the comming of God in his mercie, viz. A shaking wind, a trembling earth­quake, a burning fire, vvhich lik three grimme posts come running before to tell that God is comming into the calme.

Note Before that God shew his pre­sence into the still voyce, hee procee­deth by steps and degrees: First hee rebuketh the sinner of sinne, and wa­keneth his Conscience with some sight of his iniquities, & vvith some sense of that vvrath which sin hath deserued: From this ariseth a great [Page 459] heauinesse into the heart, vvhich brea­keth forth both in speach & counte­nance, so that the vvorlde which know him of before, will vvonder at his change, as if he vvere a crea­ture cast into another mould▪ Note Af­ter that God hath thus prepared the Soule of men with thundering tem­pests and tremblings with blasts and vvith burnings, and thereby hath made them more afraid of sin, than they were of before of sinne it selfe: At last he commeth vnto them into the calme of his mercie, & first giueth vnto them grace to flee all occasions of sinne, and after that, to hate the verie garment spotted with the flesh▪ Note Hee Iud. v. 23. vvho in despight can gnash his teeth against that vvherein once hee tooke pleasure to displease his God, is not a sholler of flesh and blood, not a natu­rall man that is content vvith ciuell outwardnesse. Note After that the Spi­rit hath vvrought a detestation and hatered of sinne into the heart, he put­teth [Page 460] a cry into the heart for mercie, with sighes and sobbes which cannot bee expressed: Note Some times these sighes vvill breake out into such vvords that both speaker and hearer will vvonder vvherefrae they come.

Note After that, the Spirit in his mo­tions by a sweete and silent inspira­tion, goeth forward in his progresse into the heart by little & little, with Life, Light, Libertie, and peace of Con­science, euen that peace vvhich pas­seth all vnderstanding, and so can­not be expressed in humane words: Now am I come Sir, as yee heare, ad metam non loquendi, that I can say no more: Note It were but folie for mee to dyue so deepe in Gods vvor­kings, as for to take vnto mee to de­clare vnto you that vvhich passeth all vnderstanding: Note The new name into the white Stone, is knowne to Reuel. 2▪ 17 none, but to these that haue recei­ued it: Though hee that hath this name know it himselfe, yet hee can­not [Page 461] vttter it: It is like these wordes of Paradise which S. Paul called vn­speakable. 2 Cor. 12. 4.

Now for to sum vp breaflie all that hath beene declared in a more large and ample discourse, I shall obserue three things which are onelie roo­ted in the godlie heart, & a [...]e altoge­ther strangers from the Reprobates.

Note First where true grace is, there is a remorse and painefull griefe with many sore sighes, for all by gone slips: By this as by a Bitte or Bridle the Soule of the godlie man is kept from backesladings and scandalous stumbling relapses.

Secondlie, he hath a present quicke feeling of these sins, which of before hee counted but little and veniel: If it bee sinne▪ hee will say no more, Is it not a little one? Note A [...]ye for luc [...], Gen. 19▪ 20 or for sport yea, a light idle worde will checke him at once in the Con­science, though hee were perswaded that it were neuer knowne to anie. [Page 462] Last of all, by a long practise in well doing hee acquireth in his Soule an habituall tendernesse, whereby the former good motions are so confer­med and strengthened, that it is a pleasure to him to doe well: Off this ariseth the gracious and most sweete temper of the good Conscience▪ which is to his Soule a perpetual feast: This is the Christians progresse in true godlinesse, which is neuer so calme in this world▪ y ^t it can be said to be without troubles, which maike the way vnto glorie: Thus much for the proofe of the point in hand.

Note Onelie this I desire you to ob­serue, that such spirituall workinges goe by degrees [...], like a Riuer that is waxing, like an Herbe that is growing, like a Day that is but dawning▪ or like a Victorie but beginning: At last commeth nowe full Flood▪ nowe is perfect grouth, nowe is Noone▪day, now haue I foughtē the good fight, & 2 Tim. 4. 8 now I look for the crown of righteous [Page 463] nesse: This being all finished, there­penting sinner entereth into glorie, the place of ful contentment, where the restlesse eyes of mans desire shall rest from peeping or prying any fur­ther for any greater felicitie.

Thus brieflie by waye of com­pend haue I declared vnto you: But all this is not so soone done as said: B [...]tter bee the Battels of a Christian before hee can come to this rest: There be bloodie battels against the Deuill, bloodie battels against the World▪ bitter and bloodie battels a­gainst the corruptions of his flesh: Many a stroke will hee giue vpon his breast with y ^t Publican many astroke will hee giue vpon his thigh, crying Ier 31. 19. with Ephraim, [...]ye, What haue I done? Note S. Paul was pricked with a thorne in the flesh, and buffeted by a deuill, 2 Cor. 12. 7 before hee got the Crowne: Note Christ himselfe speaking of himselfe▪ said, Ought not Christ to haue suffred all these Luk. 24. 26 things, and so to enter into his glorie?

[Page 464]It is easie to heare this short dis­course of words: Note But what paines are into the second Birth: The paines of the first Birth are so piercing, that the verie paines of hel are compared vnto them: And yet I haue known women who by their owne confes­sion, haue trauelled more into the second birth than euer they did in the first: Note Manie would bee con­tent to dye for to bee borne againe: This flesh of ours is ill to die, yet it muste die, and bee mortified, at the birth of Ichabod where is the glorie? The first wordes that this new creature learneth to speake is, 1 Sam. 4. 2 Where is the glorie? Note At the first it seeketh after Gods glorie, as the new borne Babe at the first seeketh after y ^t dug with the tongue and the lips: * It is the best foode of a regenerate Soule to sette our Gods glorie, as it was our Sauiours meate to doe his Fathers will.

After all that, the Soule maketh [Page 465] a procession in well doing, neuer stan­ding at a stand, but euer going for­ward, though some times more slowlie: The way to glorie is from grace to grace: Note Many foullie de­ceiue themselues, because that they forbeare one sinne or other, where­vnto at other times they haue beene most slauishlie addicted, they thinke themselues reformed men, and that if Death should come, incontinent the doores of Heauē shuld goe wide open to the walls, for to let in their [...] soules with their formes of godlinesse [...] 2 Tim. 3 5 Such are so high in their owne con­ceit, that they thinke to bee after death cannonized Sainctes.

Of this sorte bee so many, that Scripture calleth them a gene­ration: Prou. 30. There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceit, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.

In him vvho is truelie a childe of God, the strongest corruptions of the flesh must bee snaffled and cur­bed [Page 466] by the Law of the Spirit: Note It is not enough to beate downe one sinne, or two, or many, as many will doe, but reserue aye some, one or other▪ for which they must pray with Naaman, In this thing the Lord 2 Kin. 5. 18 pardon thy seruant.

Note Let no man deceiue himselfe, there is no place in Heauen, but for him or her whose studie is applyed to an vniuersall sinceritie of all their wayes.

Let it be that Cain was not a Theefe: But did not God curse him for his murther? Let it bee that Iudas was Gen. 4. 11. free of many sinnes, yet because hee way a Theefe, and a Traitour and Ioh, 12. 6. died so, hee was damned. Let it bee that the Pharisee was not an adulte­rer Luk. 18. [...]. as hee bragged, yet his pride was the bane of his Saluation.

Note Hee that maketh not consci­ence of the least sinne, is guiltie of the greatest: According to this God himselfe saith, That who faileth in [Page 467] one, faileth in all: If for God and for Conscience sake, a man abhorre the great sinnes of murther and adulte­rie, and such others of not orious rank▪ for these same sakes he will abstaine from lesser sinnes, otherwayes it is but some worldlie respect, either for shame or losse, which like a re­straining grace, with-holdeth him from matching the same: Many will neither kill, nor committe adulterie, and yet will make no conscience to slander, or lye either in sport or ear­nest, or by hooke or crooke catch that which is not their owne. Who euer hee bee, who without controle­ment looseth the reines to such pe­tit sinnes, hath neuer as yet sette his foote forward in y ^e way that leadeth to life: the Spirit of grace as yet hath made no residence into him: The Spirit he hath, is but a sporting Spi­rit deceiuing him vvith [...]ies: The su­rest note of the Spirit of the grace is a sanctified studie, & endeuour to an [Page 468] vniuersall sinceritie in all our wayes; of thought, worde, and dead, which vvill bee I confesse often with great vveaknesse and failing, for in many Iam. 3. 2. things wee offend all.

Now Sir, vvhat thinke yee of all that hath beene said? according to the knowledge that God hath giuen mee, I haue cleared your doubts: If my discourse hath done you good giue God the praise, yet vvould I knowe vvhat all these vvordes hath vvrought in your heart.

I blesse God for that vvhich I haue heard: Note By Gods Grace I haue catcht some hope of a better life: The desires of mine heart beginne to enter the confines of eternitie: I find the motions of the Spirit of Grace vvorking into my Soule the great vvorke of Saluation: I am now re­freshed vvith the sweete streames of spirituall comforts: I finde now my Soule lifted vp toward God, and I [Page 469] finde the loue of this vvorld falling downe like the Mantle of Elijah: I 2 Kin. 2. 13 think that I goe novv more sweetlie and swiftlie to my God, with a more holie and heauenlie desire, than euer I did heeretofore: Your comfortes Sir make mee to hyefaster: Note I take this to bee a nevv worke-man-shipe of grace: Note I hope shortlie to be at the vp shot of all my troubles: Note I finde vvithin mine heart some kindled joye, vvhich I take to bee the pawne of pleasures for euermore: The Spirite Psal. 16. 11 of God like a Doue hath brought vn­to my Soule a comfort like an Oliue Gen. 8. 11 leaue assuring mee in some vveake measure, that the floode of Gods vvrath is asswadged vpon my Soule: What shal I say? The best of Gods bles­sings are behind: Oh that now my Sa­uiour vvere into the cloudes: I had rather die, than I should liue for to anger the Lord againe: Alas, that mine heart hath beene so gleued to the ground like a shell-Snaile fastened on the wall. [Page 470] Seeing Sir God hath wrought so well by you in this great worke of my conuersion; I intreat you to continue in some good purpose, that my minde may still bee kept bended vpon that which is good: Note If yee leaue off to teach mee, my minde will but wander in vanitie. O Lord, worke all my thoughts to holie and heauenlie meditations.

Blessed bee God who hath giuen you such a resolute and conten­ted minde: See what yee desire me to speake chieflie of at this time.

Note Seeing I am shortlie for to leaue this world and to goe to the Hea­uens, for to take out of mine heart * Note the least roote of regret to quite this world: I pray you Sir, to say some­thing of the vanitie of this world, of the last Iudgement, and of the joyes of Heauen, where shortlie I hope to bee: Let mee heare how I shall losse [Page 471] nothing in the change: Striue Sir, I pray to kindle and blow vp the dying fire of my deuotion, helpe mee to goe from strength to strength▪ till I bee in Zion.

The Lord put such wordes into my mouth, which may bee able to winne your Soule vp to Heauen, and to weane it from all worldlie pleasures.

First for to speak but a word in ge­nerall cōcerning this world. Note What is it but a peece of earth, made bar­ren with Gods curse, whose fruites without sweatie labours, are but Gen 3. 8. thistles and thornes?

As for the vanitie of the world, seculum speculum, This world is a glasse wherin a drumlie eye may see its vanitie: Hee who was wisest in it, speaking of it, after that he was tyred with trying its pleasures, preached that it was but vanitie of vanities, a Eccles. 1. 2 verie Idea, that is the abstract of va­nities, [Page 472] which are the abstracts of things that are vaine: Note So accor­ding to Solomons Text all that wee account most substantiall, is but an abstract of an abstract, as if a man shuld dreame that he dreamed, which should bee the dreame of a dreame: Note This is like y ^t vanitie which Habak▪ kuke calleth verie vanitie, wherein Heb. 2. 13 are some few flashes of deceiueable comforts.

Thus as yee see the life of man in this world is nothing but a fardle of vanities, shadowes and dreames, a bundle of displeasing pleasures, vaine in inside and outside too: Note Our greatest pleasures here are but a mix­ture of miserie: They are soone marred like a mistuned song: Note The flees in the plague of flees were not so thicke in Egypt as vanities are in this world, for which the most parte of the world exchange the happinesse of their Soules: These who are most glorious in worldly pompe, are con­strained [Page 473] to say at last with that King in Homer: * The great God hath im­prisoned mee with cares: O happie they who are free of such dangers, are secured in cottages of clay.

After that man hath beene vpon the top of his pompe, and is come to the vertical point of his pleasures after which hee hath hunted with great eagernesse of heart: Hee must come downe and bee curbed with paines of diuerse diseases, distressed till hee bee turned in to dust.

Note All his pleasures, profites, and prefermentes shall slide away like a shadow: They shall passe like a Poast passing by, like water lift vp with a sife, or sand with open fingers. As the shippe passeth ouer the waues, its trace, not beeing able to bee seene on the brim, or as the fowle moun­ting to the Skye, piercing the Aire, so that no mortall eye can perceiue any token of her passage, though the eare heare the noise of her wings, [Page 474] so shall it bee of all earthlie things, when once the inch of this life being ended, our mortall Soule shall bee dislodged out of this clay, all earth­lie contentments then shall bee like a Bird, of whose flight no token can bee found after for a space by the shaking of her wings, shee hath par­ted the aire in a greater heminencie of going: In all our greatest pleasures bee lurking sorrowes like serpentes a­mong the grasse, which maketh way to a fairing man to steppe backe or start aside.

Oh, that wee were wise! What shall I say? In this transitorie life we are miserablie blind folded, because wee loue not the heauens, God let­teth vs dote vpon the earth: It is righteous with God so to doe: Of Psal. 117. 23. all this wee must say, This is the Lords doing, it is marueilous in our eyes: Oh, that wee could consider! in these last dayes of this world, there is come vpon the world a plague of vanitie, [Page 475] like a plague of flees, whereof pride is Beelzebub the master flie, which buz­zeth in most men & womens heads commanding other legions of vani­ties full of fretting sorrows, or of false flattering pleasures wherewith the sillie Soule is fettered: Note The whole life of man is inclosed in Mesopota­mia betweene two riuers of teares, First wee mourne at our Birth, and last others mourne at our Burial: Nascimur flentes morimur gementes: Note The whole bounds of our life is inclosed betweene weeping and groa­ning: Note At the first sight of the light we weepe, and last at the closing of our eyes, wee gaspe out our life with a groane: What shall I say? So soone as wee are borne, wee are gone like a shadow when it declineth. Psal. 109. 23

Oh, that wee could consider that there is nothing heere which is not mixt with some spyce of vanitie. * If wee had eyes to see, wee would say, What is below in this Region [Page 476] of corruption without corruption or contempt? Note Within vs, without vs, aboue, vs, about. vs, all is out of or­der: The powers of the heauens are shaken, the Aire about our heads is full of tempests & flashing meteors! the world is waxed old, and is come to its decrepite age: The last dayes are dayes of diseases, the compa­nions of olde age, all is wrong. The Church is sicke of Sects: The Sea is full of Pyrates, & the Land of Rob­bers, yea, and of sins and sicknes vn­knowne to former ages: The Godly are as sheepe among wolues. Matth. 10 16, Psal. 55. 6

‘O that I had winges like a Doue, for then vould I flee away and bee at rest▪’

Note Heere is nothing but Mesech & Kedar, where there is nothing but Psal. 102. 5 w [...]e for the godlie which dwell ther­in: Note Where shall a godlie man liue, or in what state shall hee liue? or how shall hee liue? but hee shall bee battered and besieged with much toyle and turmoyle? Note If hee bee [Page 477] wealthie, hee shall bee enuied: If hee bee poore, hee shall bee despised: If he bee wise, hee shall bee accounted craftie: If hee bee simple, hee shall bee called foolish: Note All that is with­in vs, all that is without vs, yea, and in our selues are readie to betray vs, & to giue vs vp into the hāds of our enemies: Note The eyes beholde, that vanitie may come in: The eares hear­ken like open floode gates to lette in streames of vanities for to drowne the Soule: The false heart within, that keepeth the keyes of all the sen­ses, while the Soule is sleeping, brin­geth in vpon it like a Delilah, a num­ber Iudg. 16. 21. of cruell Philistims: Note Thus the strong men of Israel is made a jest and mocke vnto the vncircumcised that belong not to the couenant.

This whole world is but a world of vanitie? The wise man Solomon the mirrour of wisedome, and won­der of the world, was sent into this world as a spye: from God for the [Page 478] well of man: Note By his wisedome his minde ran thorow the world like a Pilgrime from countrie to countrie, yea, like a Bee from herbe to herbe, for to taste them. Hee confidered all the trees from the Cedar to the Hys­sope, 1 King. 4. 33 for to prye into, and pierce the pith and vertues of all things abroad, for to take thorow notice thereof: After that hee had thus wandered, beeing come home againe from his pilgrimage, the world flocked about him, to search what hee had heard and seene abroad, and what hee thought of the world, and of all the glorie thereof: Note What newes, Solo­mon? did the Worldings say, whose hearte is like a Ferret in the earth: What hast thou seene or heard? So­lomon contracteth all his Newes into a Line,

‘Vanitie of vanities, and all is vanitie.’

All these thinges which are solo­ued, I haue looked into, would Solo­mon say, but I haue found nothing [Page 479] but vanitie from the barke to the bone: Note In Trees is vanitie, in Herbes is vanitie, as well in the Cedar as in the Hyssope: In Siluer is vanitie, in Golde is vanitie, in Iewels is vani­tie, in Honour is vanitie, in Cloa­thing is vanitie, in Strength is vani­tie, in Wisedome is vanitie, in Beau­tie is vanitie: In a word, all is full of vanitie, yea, all is vanitie, yea, vani­tie of vanities: All the creatures saith Rom. 8. 20 the Apostle, the spye of the New Testament, are subject to vanitie: Note For the sinne of man, all the Crea­tures haue lost that glorie and liber­tie, which once they had, and are become slaues vnder a base bondage, vnder which they grone as a woman in trauell: All earthlie comfortes which spring out of sinfull pleasures faile and fad like grasse.

* Alas, what is heere, that should moue a Soule to desire to sojourne heere, but a moment.

Note This world is a Tenise of▪ temp­tations, [Page 480] wherein the sillie Soule like a ball without any ceasing is tossed from wall to wall, as one waue of the Sea rusheth vpon another, beeing carried with a gale of winde, so do [...] all sortes of sorrowes heere as in a moued sea swell, roll, and rage with most fearefull rushinges vpon man▪ till hee bee turned into froth.

Note It is a wonder how the eyes of man should be so bleared, or rather juggled, that any thing below [...] should make him to say as they [...] on Tabor, who knew not what they Luk. 9. 33 said: It is good for vs to bee heere, and yet who is hee that is not dulled and darkened with the cloudes of folli [...]

Is not this world a wildernesse [...] the way's thereof are rough an [...] crooked, Note Mans best thinges hee [...] are like the Hartechoke, whereof the most parte is vnprofitable leaues▪ Note Our joyes are joyned with sorrowe [...] checker worke, white and blacke, lik [...] Lillies among thornes.

[Page 481] Note Our hopes heere are vaine, the profite is false, the pleasures are pas­sing, the labours are losse, the pro­mises are but lyes: Note The whole state of this Prince of Creatures is heere but a banishment, heere and there he stumbleth, where he thoght best to stand, where hee purposed to take his rest, there hee findeth his ruine: No worldlie comforts are to bee trusted into, they are like the staffe of a broken reede, whereon if a Isa. 36 6. man leane, it will goe into his hand: Doe what hee can, some painefull splinter or other shall bee fastened in his flesh: Note There is nothing on Earth which can bee managed with such cunning, that it may bee with­out cumber: The proudest and Iof­tiest waues of mens designes, are easilie broken into foame: Note Gods fauour is the surest Sanctuarie, no­thing within the compasse of this created world, can yeelde to man solide comfort or contentment, no­thing [Page 482] can possiblie fill the bound­lesse desire of his Soule: Note Such a diuine sparkle can neuer cease rising, til it bejoyned to that great SHADAI, Exod. 6. 3. GOD all sufficient, till the Soule bee at Him, it can neuer bee settled, but is euer tossed, whiles to the right hand and whiles to the left: Now it is rauished with joye, and in an in­stant againe it is surprised with amazement: Note What euer it enjoy­eth heere, it cannot bee content, but is euer foolishlie peeping and prying beyond all that which it hath affecting with a strong straine, grea­ter riches, high honours, and prefer­ments, which I may call, The guilted glorious▪ miseries of mankind▪ Woe, woe, woe dwell into that house where such things are not sanctified to their owners.

O that I could cunninglie rype vp with a Razour this worldes vanitie, that wee might see it within the bo­wels! O what depth of discomfort [Page 483] should bee there seene, if wee had eyes to see: All the pregnancie of mans Spirit, all the most rich indue mentes of his minde, without the sanctifying Spirit of Iesus, become but an idole of selfe conceite: Note As for all other outward things, in the very turning of an hand, and closing of an eye, they often remoue insalutato hospite, not taking their good night: Inconstancie is the poison of our pleasures.

Though a man euen now were neuer so happie in his owne conceit, how soone may the Lord send a change? Note He can make the fruite of all his labours to be like an vntimely birth, for whome the Mother hath suffered many woes, and yet could neuer enjoye a sight there of aliue.

The greatest glorie of this world, is like Hills which seeme highest a farre off.

Note Men in their solie may sav as Dauid said in his prosperitie, I shall Psal. 62. 6. [Page 484] neuer be moued: But, O folie! There is nothing permanent heere: Man is tossed vp and downe as the Locust, either with discountenance or disa­pointment, breaking into foame his projects vpon the rocks of disgrace. All is turned about with a continual change: There is no Time but it passeth, there is no Day but it dark­neth, there is no Fruite but it rot­teth, there is no Flower but it fad­deth, there is no Force but it faileth, there is no Strength but it weake­neth, there is no Beautie but it withe­reth, there is no Garment but it wea­reth, yea, the Heauens themselues Psal. 102. 26 waxe olde, as doeth a garment▪ Note Be­hold, how all that is aboue vs, be­neath vs, about vs, is full stuffed vvith vanitie: this at last shall world­lings know to bee true, when their laughter shall be madnesse in their owne eyes: It is a wonder how men are so blind in this glorious Noone tide of the Gospel.

[Page 485] Note All that is most esteemed in this world, the fooles Paradise, is chief­lie of those, 1. Strength, 2. Honour, 3. Riches, 4. Beautie, 5. Pleasure, 6. Wisedome, 7. Children, 8. Long life, of these things may no man say with Niobe.

‘Excessere metum mea jam bona.’

I neede not feare to losse them.

I desire to heare you discusse the vanitie of these eight thinges seue­rallie, for which men straine the vt­most vaine of their wits, as if in this region of corruption such thinges were able to stretch themselues vnto eternitie.

All such thinges are but broken staues of reede; not to be relyed vpon: Note To naturall eyes indeede such things are so glancing, that they like a starre new created in the Skye, will make them to gaze, yea, often it be­falleth that the prosperitie of such [Page 486] things enjoyed by the wicked, will not onelie drawe the eyes of the Godly vpon them, but will bee eye­fore vnto them. I was enuious at the Psal. 79. 3. foolish, said Dauid, when I saw the pro­speritie of the wicked.

Let vs relish these eight thinges a little, and orderly try what is their worth.