I. PART. Betraying.

IN all the parts of this text, the Lord forwarneth his disciples both present and to come, of very great troubles; yee, said he, shall be betrayed both by parents and kinse­folkes and friends, &c.

Observe heere first in generall, The do­ctrine. the great mercy of God towards his own children; he sensibly giv­eth them warning before troubles come; he telleth them most plainly that heer is not their rest, but that they must look for many troubles, even troubles of all sorts: The Lord in forwarning his children of troubles, hath one of these two ends before him; either he doeth so that his servants may escape the danger, Gen. 6.13 so Noah was warned by God to make an Arke, and to save himself and his familie from the [Page 11]flood; Gen. 19.15 so Lot was warned by the Angel to flee from Sodome, before fire came down and destroyed it; or else God giveth to his servants forewarning of troubles, that they may prepare themselves to beare them the more patientlie and cou­ragiously; for this end especiallie hee made his Apostles acquain­ted before hand, that very great troubles were to fall upon them.

The use, The use. let us all take this war­ning to our selves wee have had a long peace, but let us not look, for a perpetuall prosperitie; Gods Church below is a militant Church ever in a warfare; as long as the di­vell and wicked men are permit­ted to goe loose in the world, the church shall not want her enemies; Psal. 30.6 It was a verie foolish word that David said, I said in my prosperitie, I shall never bee moved, but what followed? thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled. Note. God for the [Page 12]sins of this land doeth threaten to hide his face; if he do so, we all shall be troubled: how ever it go, we are much beholden to the Lord who these years bypast hath giv­en us so many warnings, whereas he might have suffered us with the wicked to returne and be ashamed suddenly; Psal. 6.11 Note. He hath not at the first said to us as he said to his own people Israel, Exo. 33.5 I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and con­sume thee; these five or six years bypast, the Lord hath been still threatning with judgements after judgements, to come up into the midst of us, for to consume us; he hath not spoken of moments but of years, and for moments, hath given us years to repent in; and woe unto us if we make not good use of such a rare and wonderfull mercy.

Let us now from the generall come to the particulars; the Lord in this text giveth his disciples war­ning [Page 13]of three particular evils, first betraying: secondly, putting to death of some; thirdly an univer­sall hatred for his names sake; first we have to speak of betraying.

The first evill he forewarnes them of, is betraying; the word in the originall signifieth to yeeld, to commit, to give over, or betray; these by whom they should bee betrayed, are here foure in num­ber: 1. their parents: 2. their bre­thren: 3. their kinsemen: 4. their friends; Christ in Mathew mak­eth mention of the like unnaturall dealing; the brother saith he, Mat. 10.21 shall deliver up the brother to death and the father the childe, and the chil­dren shall rise up against their pa­rents, and cause them to be put to death: Note. The sense of all these words is, as if the Lord had said to his Apostles, & to all the faithfull; your troubles shall be very great, for they shall proceed not only [Page 14]from strangers, but from your dea­rest and nearest in nature, even from your parents, children, bre­thren kinsmen, friends, from whom in all worldly appearance yee might expect your greatest com­forts, as being these whose bowels should be full of favour and tender love for to procure your good.

Observe here that Gods dearest children, The do­ctrine. who are Psal. 119.38. de­voted to Gods fear, are subject to great afflictions; the trouble is very piercing when we are crossed by these who should be our speciall comfort. Note. After that David had spoken of many that had troubled him, he melting for heavinesse subjoyned this as more then all, Psal. 41.9 yet my familiar friend in whom I tru­sted which did eat of my bread, hath lift up his heele against me, this was said of Ahitophel in the first place, and after of Judas his treachery, against Christ, of whom Christ said [Page 15]in the new Testament, Iohn 13.18 He that eat­eth bread with me, hath lift up his heele against me, when a master is betrayed by his servant, when a Father or a mother is crossed by their children, the affliction is very painfull to bear; Jobs friends were a great grief unto him, their words wounded him more on the doung hill, then the evill he had received by the Sabeans and Caldeans, who had robbed him of all his goods.

The 1. use; The 1. use. when such things be­fall us, that our nearest friends trouble us, let us remember that such hath beene the case of the dearest of Gods children; Note. 1 Sam. 14.44 2 Sam. 15.12 Iohn. 18.2 Jona­than had a persecuting father and David a persecuting sonne, and Christ had a traitour servant: and to all the apostles it is said here, yee shall be betrayed both by parents and by brethren, Psal. 116.19 and kinsmen and friends;

The 2. use: The 2. use. Note. Let us learn here [Page 16]neither in the cause of God, nor yet in things that concerne our selves to trust in any man; Job said, my friends scorn me, Job. 16.20 many may say the like: behold here how parents and brethren and kinsemen and friends turne all traitours to betray the servants of the Lord; Note. There is only one father that cannot betray his children even God our father, only one Brother, and only one friend, only one kinseman Christ, that changeth not in his love; but as for men all men are lyers, Psal. 73.26 Da­vid said that God failed him ne­ver. Note. If men in these last dayes had the eyes of Elishah, to see within the breasts of men, 2 King. 8.11 as hee looked into Hazael, they would see in many familiar friends things to be done, for which they might justly in Hazaels words. be called dogges rather then men. Note. God hath hid many particulars from our eyes, but he hath told us this in ge­nerall, [Page 17]that many who seeme to be our greatest friends, will not faile to betray us. A man sitting at the Sermon like a childe sucking his mothers breasts, will bee ready to betray the preacher; when he finds his time, hee will spit out the sin­cere milk of Gods Word, 1 Pet. 2.2 and call it the bitter gall of treason: Note. As Jrijah the Captaine of the Ward falsly accused the Prophet Jere­miah, saying, Thou art a Traitour, Jer. 37.13 Thou fallest away to the Caldeans; to such many Preachers may say, Job 19.2 as Job said to his naughtie friends, How long will yee vexe my soule, and breake me in pieces with words?

Note. In my judgement Satan in this land hath a nest of cockatrices egges, where for a time he sitteth very still and quyet, untill he hath hatched a number of traitours, di­velish Doegs, who being his chick­ens, will anone come out of his nest, and flie abroad for the de­lating [Page 18]and betraying of many.

Note. There bee in this land many professours, they are not papists; but what then? Give them peace and plentie, and let them see the rivers, Job. 20.17 the floods, the brooks of honey and butter, and little shall they care for any Religion; all is one to them to be for God or for Baal; they have a stomach of an Ostrich, that will be able to digest a service book, before they losse a ridge of their land: before such take up Christs Crosse to suffer, they will rather take up the Tabernacle of Mo­loch, Act. 7.43 and the star of the god Rem­phan; Such with all their faire out­ward profession in dayes of peace, are but like a potsheard, Pro. 23.23 covered with silver drosse. Others are Judas like, who first served Christ for the bagge, Math. 27.3 and afterwards served his enemies for thirtie pieces of silver. Note. Thousands if they once imagine that there is more profite by ser­ving [Page 19]the queene of Heaven, then the KING of Heaven, will keepe all their incense and drink offerings for her; who would have thought that ever Gods people would have spoken these words, Jer. 44.18 Since wee left off to burne incense to the queene of Heaven, that is, to the Sunne or Moone, we have beene consumed by the sword, and by the famine.

Note. Thousands in this land who have subscribed with their hand un­to the LORD, Isa. 44.5 and surnamed them­selves Covenanters, are this day readie, like Ahola and Aholibah, Ezek. 23.5 to play the harlot with idoles, before that for Religion they put on the sheep-skins, and the goat-skins, Heb. 11.37 for to go wander up and down, or for to dwell in caves; Note. or to quite their dainties, for like poor bodies, to go in rags, Job 30.4 and cut up mallowes by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meate. Alas, the love of Christ constraineth few in this land to [Page 20]have but a resolution to suffer; Wee of this nation, for the most part, are like the church of Sar­dis, Rev. 3.1. wee have a name that wee live, but are dead; yea, Eze. 24.6. we are like a pot whose scumme is not gone out of it: there be few that regard that glo­rious Covenant of life and peace: Mal. 2.5. to many may be said, Mal. 2.8. Yee have cor­rupted the Covenant of Levi.

Note. Fy, fy upon the treachery of many, fy upon our divisions, Have we not all one Father? Mal. 2.10 Hath not one God created us? Are we not all men of one countrey? Have we not of late beene all compassed with the common enemie, papists, atheists, and Armenians? Have we not all sworne one Covenant? Have wee not abjured all divisive motions? And now, why do we deale treache­rously every man against his brother, Mal. 2.10 by profaining the Covenant of our Fathers? And now why are we be­come treacherous to Christ our hus­band, [Page 29] as women that breake wedlock? Eze. 16.38 Our danger, Gen. 4.7. like Cains sin lieth at the door: our iniquities have highly provoked God to wrath; He in a rage may justly say to this nation, as in Hoseas time hee said to Israel, Yee have transgressed my Covenant, Hol. 8.1 and trespassed against my Law.

If we repent not in time, he in his furie shall joine the bloody sword with this threatned famine, Ezek. 14.17 saying, Sword goe through the land. At such a time as this it was heard in Israel, Thus saith the Lord, Ezek. 21.9. Say a sword, a sword is sharpened, and also fourbished. 10. It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter: it is fourbished, that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? Is this a time for laughter? We are called to lamen­tations, Zeph. 2.2 for the Decree is so far ad­vanced against us, that except with all haste wee returne to God, wee shall be made a spectacle of amazement; though these three men, No­ah, [Page 22]Daniel, Eze. 14.20 and Job were all three this day living in Scotland, they should not be able to deliver us.

Who doth not see most fear­full breaking out of monstruous sins in all the quarters of the land? Hos. 4.2. We all may well say with Jeremi­ah, Jer. 14.7 Our iniquities testifie against us, and our backslidings are many, Note. yea we have pressed God under us, Amos 2.13 as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaves, and therefore we most justly de­serve to bee abhoreed of all, so that in our greatest trouble none should go aside for once to aske how wee doe. Jer. 15.5

Seeing this land is so crammed with numbers of men, who dayly by their divisive motions breake Gods Covenant, let not a man ei­ther trust in his father, or in his son, or in his kinsmen, or in his friends; the world is full of trea­son, Christ and his Servants are betrayed by many: of too many [Page 23]in Scotland this day may God say to his Servants, as he said to Eze­kiel concerning Israel, Son of man, Eze. 22.18 the house of Israel is to me become drosse; Note. Many are like Jeremiahs rotten linnen girdle, Jer. 13.10 which was good for nothing.

II. PART. Putting to Death.

After betraying, the Lord heer speaketh to his disciples of putting some of them to death; Some of you, said he, shall they cause to be put to death.

Observe heere how wicked men, The do­ctrine. Hos. 4.8. who, as the Prophet speaketh, set their heart on iniquitie, can not be tyed by any bonds of love; they e­ver grow worse and worse; behold heer how after they have betrayed Gods servants, they can not rest, untill they cause some of them to be put to death; under colour of freind­ship [Page 24]they confer with them fami­liarly, or come to heare them, for to steal some wordes, which they may so wrest, as to make them treasonable, and the speakers trai­toures; If any man should defend us and save our life it is a father, a friend, a brother or kinseman, or friends; a freind, saith Solomon, is borne for affliction, Pro. 18.24 and there is a freind that sticketh closer then a brother.

Note. Worldly friends and kinse­men are often very sensible in wrongs done to their friends in earthly maters, as carnall quarrels, O then they will hive together like Bees, and cluster like burres; but if the cause of Christ be in question, Satan draweth away unsanctified mens hearts, and of freinds turn­eth them foes, for to delate them, and cause some of them to be put to death The use.

The use, Note. Let us learne that car­nall [Page 25]bands can not tie men in spiri­tuall matters; neere in bloud, but not in GOD, can not have solide love, Dan. 2.43 they are like the yron and my­rie clay of the feet of Nebuchad­nezzars image, which could not cleave one to another: By this let us know, what it is of all sortes of friendship that is not grounded u­pon God.

Observe here againe, The do­ctrine. that Christ saith heere, they shall cause some of you to be put to death: some but not all; where wee may learne, that God calleth not all his servants to be Martyres: Note. When Peter had heard of Christ that in his old dayes he should bee a martyre, hee incontinent enquired what should become of John; Lord said he, Ioh. 21.21 and what shall this man doe? as if he had said, shall hee bee bound and led a­way also? the Lords answere was, what is that to thee? * The Lord in his wisdome, permitteth some [Page 26]of his servants to be all their dayes like Peter when hee was young, having libertie to gird themselves and goe whether they would to bee free of fetters and prison; Iohn 21.18 Some­times hee will hide his servants from troubles, Isa. 26.20 Come my people said he enter into thy chambers and shut thy doores about thee; hide thy self for a little moment, untill the indig­nation be past; Some of his servants he will laden with temporall bles­sings in aboundance; Eze. 34.15 I, said the Lord, will feede my flock, and I will cause them to lie downe all they that worship; as upon fat leasures.

Note. All the true worshippers of God are not alwayes poore and leane no not, the psalmest saith, that they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship, Psal. 22.29 that is, the rich and wealthy as well as the poore shall be servants to the Lord. Abra­ham was rich, and Jacob was rich, and Job was rich, and the three wise [Page 27]men that came to worship Christ in the cratch were wealthy, they opened their treasures and presented unto Christ gifts; gold, Mat. 2.11 frankincense and myrrhe: All these and many moe were by God made fat upon the earth, and they did eate and did truely worship the Lord in all sinceritie.

Note. Others againe by his divine dispensation, he will appoint in a poore estate to wander about in sheepeskins, and goatskins, Heb. 11.37 being like Joshuah clothed with filthy gar­ments, Zech. 3.3. or like Gibionites going with old and clouted shooes. Iosh. 9.5

Others hee will put to a strict forme of life, in a sober diet, Ier. 35.9. like the Rechabites, who had no houses to dwell in, and did drink only water: others as here he will suffer to be put to death; of all these I will say, this is the generation of them that seeke him. Psal. 24.6

The use. The use. Note. If the Lord permit [Page 28]our lot to be so, that we like those of my text be put to death, let us count it an honour; to die for Christ, is truely to die in the bed of honour. How many Souldiours for a triffle by day will goe bold­ly, and adventure their life upon the mouth of a Canon, upon a breach, or in the open field? But, O, for a kingdome, and for a king­dome in Heaven, what should a man refuse either to do or suffer?

III. PART. Hatred for his Names sake.

WE have heard how the Lord hath given his disciples war­ning of three particulars evils that were to come upon them, the first was a betraying of them by their pa­rents, brethren kinsmen and friends, the second was, a causing of some of them to be put to death, of those we have spoken: Now the third followeth, which is an universall [Page 29]hatred for Christs Names sake, Ye, said he, shall be hated of all men for my Names sake.

In these words I shall consider these three things; first there is a hatred against Gods servants fore­told, Yee shall be hated, said Christ; secondly, hee declareth that this hatred shall be very great, even u­niversall, Yee shall bee hated of all men; thirdly, he sheweth for what cause, For my Names sake.

I. PART. Comforts.

IT was a very terrible speach, which the Lord uttered unto his Disciples, in the preceeding verses, that they should be betray­ed, and that some of them should be put to death, and that they should be hated of all men: Behold heere how he giveth unto them a singu­lar [Page 50]comforts, Jer. 8.22 as Balme of Gilead, for healing of their hearts that were wounded; But, said he, there shall not a haire of your head perish.

Observe heere first what me­thod the Lord keepeth in dealing with his servants, The do­ctrine. their worse things goe first and comforts come last; their estate is like that wine in Cana, John. 2.10 the best came last. Gods walk­ing towards his owne is like his comming to Elijah at the cave of Horeb, before God came in the calme, a great and strong winde went before him, which rent the mountaines, and brake the rocks, and after the winde, came an earth­quake, 1 King 19.12 & after the earthquake, came a fire; after these three were past, the Lord came in a still small voice. At the first, Mary Christs mother got a hard answere from him, John 2.4 wo­man, what have I to doe with thee? But a little after, he did more then she required; at the first he called [Page 51]the woman of Canaan a dog, Mat. 15.27 but a little after he shew himself all love; the childe of God beareth Gods yoke in his youth, Lam. 3.27 his first dayes are har­dest; God casteth downe before he raiseth up; 1 Sam. 1.7 many a sore heart had Hannah, before her Samuel came; Job suffered much before he could say, God maketh my heart soft. Job 23.16 Note. Zech. 1.19 The Prophet Zechariah saw first foure hornes scattering Judah, but after anone came the comforts of the Carpenters that came to fray them.

The use, The use. Note. When troubles ly heavy upon us, let us comfort our selves in this, better is coming; a foule Februar is a comfort to the labourer, because he looketh for a dry March: Sanctified afflictions in youth, should be a comfort, telling us, that God is comming in the calme: The way to the wealthy place is to passe through fire and wa­ter; Psal. 66.12 the Lord said to his two dis­sciples, [Page 52] O fooles! Luke 24.26. Behoved it not Christ to suffer all these things, and so to enter into his glory? Gaping of wounded men, Isa. 9.5 and tumbling of gar­ments into blood, goe before the songs of victory: Christ himselfe was hanged on a crosse on earth, before he was honoured on a throne in Heaven; He was first cast down on his face upon the earth, yea de­seended into hell, before hee was set at the right Hand of GOD in Heaven. Note. The Gardener when hee setteth a tree, at the first set­ting downe hee shaketh it to and fro, and treadeth downe its roots with great force, for to fasten it the more surely; so doth GOD with his dearest servants, that Hee may cause those that come of Jaakob to take root. Jsa. 27.6

It is for those that goe to hell to receive all their good things on earth: Luk. 16.25 Job speaking of the Wic­ked, said They have no changes; wic­ked [Page 53]mens eyes stand out with fat­nesse: Psal. 73.7 the portion of Kings meate is a defiling thing, Dan. 1.8 beasts that goe in fattest pastures are neerest the slaughter: The portion of Gods children is not heere, their rest is in another place, their last shall be best; Psal. 34.19 If many be the troubles of the righteous, within a short space the Lord shall deliver him out of them all; yea in the midst of the fierie tryall wee shall still bee in safetie, though in some hours of tempta­tion wee may bee as David like a bottell in the smoak, Psal. 119.83 Psal. 23.4 Psal. 119.109. Psal. 68.1 Psal. 37.37 or in deaths val­ley, having our soule in our hand; but O tarry a little, and God will arise, and help his servants, The end of that man is peace: troubled Da­vid said to God with great bold­nesse, Psal. 73.24 Afterward thou shalt receive mee to glory; let this be like a staffe of steele for our faith to lean upon in a stormie day; Gods children must be bold, Job 18.14 not subjects to the King of terrours.

Let us now come to the parti­cular comfort mentioned in my text: the Lord here saith, that there shall not a haire of your head perish. Note. The wicked are mighty and cru­ell, they as on horse back ride over the heads of the godly, Psal. 66.12 yet are they not able to carry a hair with them, but by Gods permission; not a hair of your head, said Christ, shall perish.

Observe heere that the LORD hath a singular regard to all those that love him; The do­ctrine. they are to him as the apple of his eye, Zech. 2.8 hee most care­fully keepeth them: Note. Hee is not like idoles, that care not for their worshippers, Hos. 8.5 Thy Calfe, O Samaria hath cast thee off, but God will ne­ver cast off his servants; Baal did not regard the cryes of his priests, though they cryed from morning unto noone, 1 King 18.26. and cut themselves with knives, but the Lord alwayes re­gardeth his servants, his eyes are still upon all the haires of their [Page 55]head. The tender hearted mother and nurse are very carefull, to keep their young suckling, yet their care faints, when they are over­come with sleepe: but hee who is above, and keepeth his servants, doth neither slumber nor sleep; ma­ny hairs may fall from the childe, and the mother never know what becometh of them, but a haire of our head falleth not to the ground but he hath an eye on it: Note. This is no hyperbolick speach, for the Lord as he is omnipotent to do all things, so is hee omniscient to know all things, even to the number of all the haires of all the heads in the world; he knoweth the full num­ber of the sand, and of the drops of the sea, as perfectly as we know how many eyes wee have in our head; he preserveth us so, that the least things that concerne us shall not perish.

The Angel Gabriel said well to [Page 56]Mary, Luk. 1.37 nothing shall bee unpossible with God; no not, were it to make a virgine to conceive a Son, or a Camel to go thorow a needle eye; Markio. 25 Job 37.18 He who hath spread cut the skie, which is strong, and as a molten looking glasse, Hee with whom is terrible Majestie; 22.He who is almightie and excellent in power, 23.can most easily preserve his servants, so that not a haire of their head shall perish, no not in a most bloody time, even when it is said of the sword, Eze. 21.15 Ah it is made bright, it is wrapt up for the slaughter.

When God had said, Ier. 30.7 It is even the time of Jacobs trouble, he in the same verse subjoineth, but hee shall be saved out of it; Mans extremitie is Gods opportunitie: Jer. 30.6 Aske yee now, said the Lord, whether a man doth travaile with childe? Wherefore doe I see every man, with his hands on his loines, as a woman in travaile, and all faces are turned into palenesse? [Page 57]Behold terrible things, and very strange, every man in trouble as a woman in travaile, but in the eight verse followeth a faire deliverance, I, said the Lord, 8. will breake the yoke from off thy neck: See how the Lord was ready to save his servants in greatest danger, so that not a haire of their head did perish: When Je­remiah was in prison among mire, the Lord sent unto him an Ebed­melech, with old cast clouts, Ier. 38.12 and rotten ragges, to put under his arme holes, to draw him out of the dun­geon; the Lord would not suffer his servant to perish.

The use: The use. Note. Psal. 119.122. Let this serve for com­fort unto you; If yee serve God well, Hee will bee suretie for you for good, and likewise will safely keepe you, and all that ye have in these dayes of warre, he will pre­serve your husbands and sons, that they be not killed, your wives that they be not abused, your virgins [Page 58]that they be not deflored, you [...] houses that they bee not spoiled, your cattell, and coffers that the [...] be not carried away; yea, more [...] yee faithfully serve him, their sha [...] not a haire of your head perish; no [...] a haire of Shadrach was burnt in the fiery furnace; Dan. 3.27 no King can do the like to any at his service: God only is a shelter and strong tower o [...] defence; Psal. 61.3 none but God can keep a man that he perish not, his preser­vation reacheth to the smallest hai [...] our head: Note. And to speake in th [...] words of a Kings oath, Ier. 38.16 As the Lord liveth that made us this soule, there shall not a haire of your head pe­rish; This is most easie to him that by his hand of power overturneth the mountains by the roots. Ier. 28.9

THE SECOND PART. Christs Counsell and Direction.

IN the second and last part of this text, the Lord after he hath both let his servants see their trou­bles, and also their preservation, [Page 71]he giveth them a counsell and di­rection what they have to doe in their greatest straite; In your pati­ence, saith he, possesse yee your souls.

There be here two things requi­red, first, that we have patience; secondly, that in our patience wee possesse our soules; David said well, Psal. 119.165. great peace have they which love thy law. Hupomone Sustenta­tio qua impetus & incursus a­licujus rei sustinetur. As for patience, the word in the originall signifieth a remaining still under any thing, a willing undergoing of any difficulty; this is done when a man flings not like a beast to shake off the burden, but with all submission tarrieth under the burden, untill God give a deli­verance, like a worthy watch who goeth not from his place untill his hour come, and that another come to fill his roome: In a word, pati­ence is a grace of God, whereby a man in trouble, humby meekly, and submissely taketh in good part wrongs and injuries, and withall, [Page 72]waiteth untill the good hand of God come to his help Note. It is such a glorious grace, and so pleasant unto God, that he writeth himself the God of patience. Rom. 15.5

Wee have heard what patience is; Now it followeth that we con­sider what we have to do with our patience. Christs counsell and di­rection heer is, that in our patience we possesse our soules. To possesse properly signifieth to have a thing in our power; Possideo, qui potest sedere, id est, sedem vel habita­tionem in loco ali­quo collo­care. The Latine word from which this English word is driven, signifieth a power to sit still for to enjoy that which we have: so to possesse our souls in patience, declareth that a firme and stable patience is heere commanded, which a man should as strongly and carefully keepe as his dearest earthly possession; This the Lord heer required of his servants, when he said unto them, In your patience possesse yee your soules, as if he had [Page 73]said, Strive to be master over your selves, that yee may take in good part all sorts of crosses and cala­mities.

This is a very powerfull forme of speach; I read in Scripture di­vers speaches concerning patience; the psalmist saith, Psal. 37.7 Rest in the Lord and waite patiently for him, this is a very sweet saying, The poor ser­vant that was not able to pay his masters rent cryed pitifully, Mat. 18.26 Lord have patience with me: Note. But in all the scriptures, yee will not finde a more powerfull speach then this, In your patience possesse your souls; that is, let your souls be possessed with patience, or have patience in your hearts as a possession, that is, keep patience as fast as a man main­taineth his possession, Obad. 1.17 or as it was said of Jacob, that hee possessed his possessions; what Christ heere com­mands he gives unto his servants. The do­ctrine.

Observe heer the great mercy [Page 74]of GOD towards his servants, whereas the wicked in affliction pine away in their sins, and fret out their hearts with comfortles grief. Gods servants by his grace in grea­test calamities, possesse their souls in patience; in whatsoever estate they be in, they are content, in poverty in nakednesse, in prison, in persecu­tion and banishment, they beare all patiently; in all these things they are more then conquerours; it is the desire of a couragious Captain to bee in such a war, wherein his va­lour may most appear: so patience delighteth in hardnesse; Dan. 1.12 Pulse by Gods blessing is more pleasant to a godly Daniel, then the Kings portion; royall dainties are of a de­filing power: Dan. 3.20 Shadrah at the mouth of the fierie furnace got worke for his patience, Job 2.8 and so did Job upon the dung hill Note. It is the honour of patience not to lie upon beds of yvo­rie, Amos 6.4 and drink wine in bowls, but ra­ther [Page 57]to endure hardnesse, to passe through difficulties, to climb up the hill with Jonathan, and passe betweene the two sharp rocks, 1 Sam. 14 4 Bo­zez and Seneh, hurt and hatred.

The use; The use. let us all strive for this grace, that in dayes of great dist­resse wee may possesse our soules in patience; when Genazi at Dothan saw the city compassed with ene­mies, he said to his master Elishah, Alas my master, how shall wee do? 2 King 6.15 Our master Christ heere directs us all how to do in such a case, In your patience, saith he, possesse yee your soules; Note. A patient soule is a faire possession; he that hath it, will not sell it to a king, for his kingdome: 1 King 21.3 A good man like Naboth will not sell his possession; a man that hath a possession, esteemeth much of it; he dresseth it, he adorneth it, he pulleth out the weeds, hedgeth it about; seeing man is so carefull for a earthly triffle, O what care [Page 76]should we have for this most excel­lent possession? that we may pos­sesse our soules in patience; let us not sell this possession, though we might have a Kingdome in ex­change for it.

Observe heere also that great is the difference betweene the suf­ferings of the godly and the wic­ked; The do­ctrine. the wicked having once lost their earthly possession have no other possession when they are spoiled; such say as Micah said to the Da­nites, Judg. 18. 24 yee have taken away my gods and what have I more? but when the wicked have robbed and spoiled the godly man of all earthly pos­sessions, hee hath still the best be­hind, he possesseth his soul in patience: Truely hee hath better reason for him then the wicked man: Note. For the wicked man having lost his earthly possession hath no promise of any recompense of reward, for all that he had, whether corne, [Page 77]wine, oyle, silver, or gold, were all prepared for Baal, Hos. 2.8 or rather for his belly, which having no ears, can no more heare, or help him in the dayes of his trouble, then Baal could hear the praiers of his priests, Ioel 1.8 this having lost his gods like Micah he mourneth and lamenteth like a virgine girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth, and will not be comforted like Rachal in Ramach weeping for her slaine sucklings; Mat. 2.18 A worme hath smitten his gourd, Iohn 4.7 and it is withered and he is out of patience, because he never under­stood this counsel, and direction of Christ given to his servants, In your patience possesse your soules.

The use, The use. Let the consideration of all these things effectually move us to possesse our souls in patience, when tribulations and calamities shall come upon the land; let us resolve to suffer losse of earthly things, that we may gaine the heavenly: Note. If [Page 78]men had hearts to believe, everie one wuld be readier then another, to suffer for the name of Christ: as men that have moneys strive to get a good hand, or as Masters that have land, strive to get good ten­nents, that will pay well, so should we all be glad, when Christ calleth us to losse any thing for his names sake, for by so lossing we shall pro­fite much: There is nothing that causeth our feares in troubles, but either want or else weaknesse of faith; flesh and blood understands not in worldlie losses, to possesse their soules in patience.

I confesse, that we are compas­sed about with many infirmities, a little blast of winde terrified Peter in a miracle; yea, in a miracle of love in the very presence of Christ, who like a loving master had com­manded him to come unto him u­pon the sea; there was no remedie for his fear, Mat. 14.31 untill Christ tooke him [Page 79]by the hand, and reproving him for his weak faith put him up into the ship; we have all great need to pray that he would take us by the heart, and pity our infirmities which are great and many: O how hard a thing it is in time of wrongs to pra­ctise this precept, In your patience possesse ye your souls; It is to a carnal man like Shibboleth to an Ephra­mite, Judg. 12.6 a word which he could not pronounce, so is it a precept which he can not practise: what shall we do then? As long as we are heere, troubles are fearfull to flesh; but as soone as wee beginne to tremble, let us cry to Christ for faith, that in our patience wee may possesse our soules; wee had never more need then in these most terrible dayes of most bloody wars, wherein all men are exhorted to fasting and prayer, from Dan even to Beershebah. 2 Sam. 24.

* And now to end this whole sermon in a word; know ye all this [Page 80]day that the servants of the Lord upon their watch tower, as like Eli­jahs servants, upon the top of Car­mel, have at last spied a cloud, not of comforts but of wrath, arising like a mans hand; 1 King 18.44. except the Lord avert it, it is like that cloud ready to cover the whole heavens, and to fall down upon his Majesties three dominions in showres of blood: ex­cept that with all diligence wee returne unto the Lord, all this evill shall surely come to passe: Dearly beloved, what I say unto you, I say unto all, Heb. 10 36 yee hav [...] need of patience, yea, and in your patience to possesse your souls. The Lord teach and en­able us all to doe so, for Christ his sons sake, Amen.

To whom with our hearts this day, Psal. 119.54 Hos. 14.2 in the house of our pilgrimage, we humbly render the calves of our lips, To him be glory for ever.