A most comfortable and Christian dialogue, betweene the Lord, and the soule. By Mr. William Covvper, minister of Gods word Cowper, William, 1568-1619. 1617 Approx. 38 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 36 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A19502 STC 5930 ESTC S115089 99850308 99850308 15499 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A19502) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 15499) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 830:09) A most comfortable and Christian dialogue, betweene the Lord, and the soule. By Mr. William Covvper, minister of Gods word Cowper, William, 1568-1619. The seuenth edition. [8], 63, [1] p. Printed by G. P[urslowe] for Iohn Budge, and are to be sold at the great South-doore of Paules, and at Brittaines Bursse, London : 1617. Printer's name from STC. Running title reads: A dialogue betweene the Lord and the soule. Reproduction of the original in the Folger Shakespeare Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Meditations -- Early works to 1800. 2003-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-07 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-01 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2004-01 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A MOST COMFORTABLE AND Christian Dialogue , betweene the Lord , and the Soule . BY Mr. WILLIAM COVVPER , Minister of Gods Word . MATTHEVV 11. 28. Come vnto mee , all yee that are wearie and heauy laden , and I will refresh you . The seuenth Edition . LONDON , Printed by G. P. for Iohn Budge , and are to be sold at the great South-doore of Paules , and at Brittaines Bursse . 1617. TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull , Sir DAVID MVRREY , Knight , speciall Gentleman of the Prince his Bed-chamber . IT is ( right Worshipfull ) the common condition of all Christians , howsoeuer disioyned in place , that they are militant in one warfare against Sathan with his Principalities , Powers and spirituall wickednesse , whose stratagems are innumerable , and the manner of his assaults manifold : he troubleth not all Gods children one manner of way ; for so euery one might easily espie wherein his strength lyeth , but makes choise of the temptation , as by long experience he hath learned it may bee most effectuall to worke vpon our naturall disposition . Like as on the other hand , the Grace by which God strengtheneth his Children to resist him , is much more manifold ; whereby they are instructed to vse the Armour of God , with such variety of heauenly wisedome , that is a wonder to see , how by one and the selfesame sentēce of Gods word , at sundry hands , sundry manner of wayes , Sathan is confounded : & therefore it is very needfull that in the spirituall warfare there should be a mutuall intelligence among the Souldiers of Christ , as well for discouering of Sathans seuerall sleights in assaulting ; for the more his policie is detected , the better may we eschew it ; as also , for the manifestation of GODS rich mercy in assisting . For this cause haue I been induced to communicate vnto others , these Meditations , as it pleased God by experience , to communicate them vnto me , for in the middest of darknesse which couered the mind , and restlesse feare which disquieted the conscience , the Lord made them sodainely to breake out , like sparkles of light , sent from his owne Throne of Grace , bringing with them light , peace , and ioy , which in a moment remoued the former feares , and pacified the perturbations of my troubled soule . As they were vnto me , so I wish they may be meanes of comfort vnto others : but I know that the same argument of comfort , which hath comforted one in temptations , doth not alwaies comfort another : Nay , not in the selfe-same temptation ; for the Lord will haue his praise reserued to himselfe , that hee onely is the God of al comfort . It is not the word , ( saith Dauid ) but God by the word that did quicken him , Psal. 119. 9. Yea , the most comfortable promise of the Gospell is most terrible to the troubled conscience , except the Lord by it worke in the heart a sence of his mercy : and therefore such as want comfort , let thē seeke it from the God of comfort . Neuerthelesse , that which we haue , we giue euen as we haue receiued it ; that it may stand as a memoriall of my thankfulnes to God who shewed his great mercy vpon me , when within my selfe I had receiued the sentence of death ; and a testimonie of my loue toward them who are militant against Sathan : And specially of that Christian remembrance I haue alway of you in the Lord Iesus ; to whose grace I commend you , now , and for euer . Your Worships in the Lord Iesus , William Cowper , Minister at Perth . A RIGHT COMFORTABLE DIAlogue , betweene the Lord and a troubled SOVLE . The LORD . O My beloued , why fearest thou , and art so cast downe and disquieted within thy selfe ? dost thou well to bee angry with my chastisements ? and why art thou offended , that I should make thee like to my selfe , causing thee to walke in that way of inward & outward griefes , which I did tread before thee ? why refusest thou to take vp my crosse and follow me , and to taste of that cup which I dranke before thee , and for thee ? The SOVLE . O Lord , giue mee of thy Spirit , and all trouble with thee , or for thee , shal be sweete vnto me : what euer thou didst beare ( O Lord ) it was for me : and if I were so disposed as I should , then would I be content to beare all that thou ( my God ) shouldest please to lay on me . But alas , it is my cursed corruption that makes me think thy crosse my burden . Lord , therfore vphold mee with thy grace , that I may count thy yoke easie , and finde ioy in these sufferings with thee . The LORD . I Know the cause of thy griefe and terror to bee the cōsideration of thy sins : but I pray thee , why lookest thou so to thy sins , that thou lookest not also to my mercies ? why wouldest thou so extoll thy euill deeds , that thou shouldest extenuat my rich mercies ; or in any way cōpare the one with the other ? was it for thy good deedes that first I entered into friendship with thee ? & thinkest thou now , that for thy euill deeds I will vtterly forsake thee , seeing it is among my praises , that the worke which I begin , I perfect it ? I like it well indeed , to see thee grieued for the sinnes thou hast done against me ; but I would haue thee also comforted in the mercies that I haue shewed thee . Call to minde my workes of old , and what I haue done to thee since thou canst remember : how cared I for thee in thy young and tender yeeres ? Looke backe now & see ; did not the Angel of my presence leade thee , whē thou haddest neither wisedome nor strength to gouerne thy selfe ? did I not then begin to acquaint thee with the knowledge & feare of my Name ? canst thou denie now , that my mercy preserued thee from many sins , whereunto thy nature was prone , and ready to haue declined ? and when thou sinnedst , with what long patience haue I wayted thy turning ? & how louingly haue I winked at thy transgressions ? & when I had giuen thee grace to repent of thy sins , and to seeke my fauour & mercy for the sins of thy youth , with a melting heart , & a mourning eie , canst thou denie that I haue filled thy heart with my ioyes , and made thy toung burst out in glorying speeches ? and why thē wilt thou not trust in my mercies to the end ? The SOVLE . I Were , O Lord , most vnthankfull , if I should not confesse , that many a time in the multitude of my thoughts thy mercies haue comforted me : but alas , I haue not answered thy louing kindnesse : for after many mercies receiued , I haue sinned against thee , contrary to my light , & my sins are now before me , witnessing that I am vnworthy to taste of the sweetnesse of thy mercy any more . The LORD . IS my mercy onely for a day , or for a yeere ? or is it for euer & euer toward those whom I haue made mine in Christ Iesus ? wilt thou restraine my mercies , and limit them within so narrow bounds , as to think they cannot be extended ouer all thy transgressions ? wilt thou measure my mercies with so narrow a span , as to think I haue no more to giue , then thou hast an heart to receiue ? Is it not among my praises , that I am able to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all that my Children can aske or think of me ? Knowest thou not , that as the Heauens are aboue the Earth , so my thoughts are aboue thine ? hast thou not considered that my mercy is aboue all my workes ? how much more then is it aboue thee , who art nothing in comparison of my works ? and if it bee aboue thee , how much more aboue all that thou canst do ? why thē wilt thou match thy sins with my mercies ? If require such mercy in my childrē , that I will haue one of them to forgiue another , not onely seuen times , but seuenty times seuen times : what pitty and compassion and readinesse to forgiue is in my selfe ? Therefore , my beloued , despaire not for the multitude of thy sins ; but be cōforted with my promises of mercy : I haue made them without any exception of time ; For , at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sins , I haue promised to put away his wickednes out of my remembrance . I haue made them without exception of sins ; for , albeit your sins were as skarlet , they shall be made as white as snow . I haue made them without exception of persons ; for , whosoeuer shal depart from his wicked waies & turne to me , I shall receiue him . Let this threefold vniuersality of my promises sustaine thee , that thy infidelitie contract not my mercies into narrower bounds then I haue extended them . The SOVLE . BE mercifull ( O Lord ) to my infidelity : I beleeue in part , Lord , helpe my vnbeliefe , stablish & confirme my vnstable heart with thy good and holy spirit . My conscience doth in such sort condemne mee , that I stand in feare of thy iustice ; for thou art greater then the conscience , & wilt much more condemne me , if thou dost enter into iudgement with me . The LORD . O My beloued , consider that the cause of thy present vnquietnes , is , because with the one eye , thou lookest to thy sins , & my Fathers iustice : & with the other lookest not to me ; in whome his iustice is satisfied , and thy sins punished already . Tell me ( I pray thee ) thinkest thou to get in thy selfe , and the holines of thy dispositiō , that which shall exempt thee from the feare of his Iustice ? Or art thou content to seeke it in me ? If in thy selfe thou seekest it , remember what thou art doing : wilt thou haue the Lord bound and obliged to thee ? wilt thou be thine own Sauiour ? or shall it be sayd ▪ his mercy saued thee not ? if no miserie were in thee , whereupon should his mercy be manifested ? and if thy disposition in the earth were such as it should be , then what remaineth , but that the prais of his mercy should fall to the ground ? turne thee therefore to mee , and seeke thy life in mee . If thou wilt know what is thine : thou art a sinner ; let my praise bee reserued to my selfe , I am thy Sauiour . Esteemest thou that my wounds are ineffectuall ? or that there is no force in my sufferings ? countest thou thy sinnes so deadly , that my merit and vertue cannot cure them ? Will any Phisicion powre out a rare oyntment , either where no need is ; or else , where it cannot profit ? and thinkest thou , that my Father would haue my bloud to be shed in vaine ? If his iustice terrifie thee , remēber his iustice was satisfied in mee , and that he pronounceth this sentence himselfe , This is my wel-beloued Son , in whom I am well pleased . I came into the world , not to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance . Tarry not from mee because thou art a sinner , but for that cause come to mee , and I will refresh thee . The SOVLE . O Lord , I know that there is a clensing and reconciling vertue in thy bloud ; that life is in thy death : but still I feare , my sins deserue thou shouldest neither apply thy vertue nor thy merit to me : for , alas , I find that yet the old man is strong and liuely in mee : and that yet the motions of sinne haue power in mee , to bring foorth fruite vnto death . The LORD . BE not , I pray thee , iniurious to the worke of my Grace in thee ; complaine not so of thy corruption , but that thou maist giue vnto mee mine own praise . Canst thou deny but that thou hast felt my power working in thy Soule ? Haue I not sprinkled thy conscience many times with the pacifying bloud of Christ ; frō which hath flowed to thee such a witnessing of good things ; such a sense of mercy , as for the time , hath filled thy heart with ioy , and thy mouth with song of praise ? Haue I not sometime stirred thee vp in great feruencie , to call on the Name of the Lord ? Haue I not made thee to giue Christs name a publike testimonie , with thine owne disaduantage ? and how oft hath thine heart been effectually moued at the hearing of my word , in such sort , that it hath wrought in thee an holy remorse , & an inward contrition for thy sins , which hath broken out into teares ? haue I not made thee a wrestler against thy inordinate lusts ? haue I not giuen thee strength many a time to stand against Sathans temptations , whereas if I had left thee to thy selfe , how oftē haddest thou bin made a prey to thine enemie ? Remembrest thou not that the Tempter hath assaulted thee , but I haue with-drawne the occasion of sin ? and when the occasion serued , did not I restraine and hold back the Tempter ? 〈◊〉 , when both the Tempter and occasion were present , haue I not filled thy heart with the feare & loue of my name , and so kept thee from sinning against me ? & wheras many times of thy weaknes thou hast offended , did I not with a melting heart & mourning eye , raise thee againe , and renew my former familiarity with thee ; so that thou canst neuer say , from the first houre that I begun to renew thee , that I suffered thee to lie in thy sin , as I haue done others that are strangers from my grace ? And many moe notable effects of my working in thee thou canst not deny . Are not these the vndoubted tokens of my Grace in thee ? will Nature doe such things ? mayest thou not feele by these , that I haue begun to apply to thee Christs merit for the remission of thy sin , and Christs vertue for quickening thee to a new life ? Therefore think of thy selfe as basely as thou wilt , but let the worke of my grace be esteemed of thee according to the excellencie of it , be humble & cast downe when thou lookest to thine owne corruption ; I finde no fault with thee , but I reioyce , & am glad at the new Workmanship which I haue begunne in thee . Indeed , if there were nothing in thee , but that which thou hast of nature , thy estate were miserable : but seeing thou seest a new workmanship in thee , be comforted : art thou so in darknesse , that there is no light in thee ? or doth sin so possesse thee , that beside it , also there is not in thee a will to do good , & a loue to righteousnesse ? If thou saist thou hast no sin in thee , thou art a lier : and if thou saist that there is no other thing in thee but sin , thou art also a lier . And thinkest thou , that seeing I haue begunne to translate thee from darknes into my light , and to make thee a new Creature ; thinkest thou that I will leaue thee , vntil I haue done my work in thee ? Therefore , my beloued , giue not such eare to Sathan , or thine owne corruption , as to take their testimonie against me , or to make thee thinke that my pledges which I haue giuen thee , are not worthy of credit , that by thē thou shouldest be assured of mercy . The SOVLE . I Cannot deny , O Lord , but that many times I haue felt the sweetnes of thy heauenly consolations , which haue greatly reioyced my Soule . But alas , my griefe is so much the greater , that by mine owne default I should now be depriued of them : for I haue grieued thy holy Spirit : yea , I haue done what I could to quench him : & therfore it is that the Comforter , who was wont to refresh my soule , is away , nor can I feele his presēce with me as before . The LORD . BEcause I am not changed , therefore is it that ye , O Sons of Iacob , are not consumed . Many indeed are the changes whereunto ye are subiect , but I remaine the same , & there is no shaddow of alteration with me , I am . 1. 17. Be not therefore afrayd ( O my Wel-beloued ) neyther esteeme thy selfe to be reiected of me , albeit that sometime I hide my face from thee ; al my wayes are mercy and truth to mine . It is for thee , that sometimes I go from thee ; and it is for thee , that againe I returne vnto thee : for if I come , it is for thy consolation , that continuall heauines , through thy manifold temptations , should not oppresse thee . How oft hast thou found this , when thou wert sicke of loue , I haue strengthened thee with the Flagons of my Wine , & comforted thee with my Apples ? My fruit hath beene sweete in thy mouth , & I haue put my left hand vnder thy head , and with my right hand I haue embraced thee , Cā . 2. But lest the greatnesse of my consolations should exalt thee to disdaine thy brother , and offend me , by imputing that to thine owne disposition , which thou hast of my dispensation : I haue againe withdrawne these glorious feelings from thee : giue me the praise that I know best what is expediēt for thee . Had my Seruant St. Paul need to be humbled with the buffets of Sathan , lest he should haue been exalted out of measure by the greatnes of his reuelations , & hast not thou need that by thy inward exercises I should hold thee humble ? If my comforts were alwayes present with thee , thou wouldest thinke thy heauen & permanent City were on the earth , & so cease to enquire for a better to come : thou wouldest take the place of thy banishment for thy home ; and the earnest for the principall summe which I haue promised thee . Consider this wisely with thy selfe , that albeit I laugh not alike on thee at all times , & fil thee not alway with my ioyes , yet I alwaies loue thee : for whom I loue , I loue vnto the end . If I close the dore of my Chamber vpon thee , it is not to hold thee out , but to learne thee to knock . If I couer my selfe with many vailes , that thou canst not see a glance of my louing countenance , it is onely to stirre thee vp to seeke me : & if sometime I seeme to goe from thee , it is to prouoke thee to follow me , that thou mayest make haste from the earth to heauen , where thou shalt inioy me without intermission . Was Ioseph so wise , as to conceale his tender affection from his brethren , till he brought thē to an humble acknowledging of their sin ? & was he againe so louing , that when hee saw them humbled , his affection was inflamed , & compelled him to reueale himselfe vnto them ? & thinkest thou that I am lesse wise and louing in dealing with mine ? I gaue at the first , sharpe answeres to the petitions of that Woman of Canaan ▪ & so will I sometimes seeme to deale roughly with those whome I loue , and to be angry euen at their prayers ; but in the end I will make my loue manifest to them , and with my endlesse mercies embrace them . The SOVLE . SVffer me yet once againe ( Lord ) to speake vnto thee , that thou maist answere me , and I shall complaine no more . If we saw that such were our disposition as thy holy word doth require in vs , then should thy comforts reioyce vs : but alas , how far am I from that which I should be ? My strength is enfeebled , therfore do my inordinate affections oft-times ouercharge me . If I turne me to pray , I cannot for the hardnesse of my heart : the contrite spirit , the melting heart , the mourning eie , is gone from me : If I seeke comfort in thy word , I finde it not , I am troubled also with doubtings , armies of feares and sorrowes are against me , & all through weaknes of my Faith : for partly for wāt of that light that should informe me , my infidelity abuseth me , to think that thy visitations come from thine anger , & causeth me to answere the errours of my conscience , as if they were iust accusations , and partly for want of that apprehending and applying vertue that is in Faith , I am spoyled of the comfort that thy word hath offered vnto me : Therefore , O Lord , haue pittie on the desolate state of my soule . The LORD . LEt not ( my beloued ) the consideration of thy wants , defects , and imperfections discourage thee : remember that the measure of Grace which I haue giuen to my Saints vpon earth , I haue called it an earnest-penny , & the first fruits of the Spirit , to tell them , that what euer grace they haue gotten , it is nothing in comparison of that which they wil get . Seeke not therefore that in the earth , which I haue resolued to giue thee no wayes , till thou dost come to heauen : thy blessednes in this life stands not in a sacietie and full inioying of that which thou wouldest haue , but in an hungring and thirsting for it . If I had pronounced them blessed that are now satisfied with righteousnesse , thē thy wants might most iustly haue discouraged thee ; but I called them blessed that hunger . If therefore thou dost follow after sanctification , & art weary of the seruitude of thy sin ; If thou doest seeke comfort in my Word , & canst finde none of these at the first , as thou wouldest ; yet remember I haue promised to fulfill the desires of them that feare mee . If it grieue thee , that thou canst not pray at all times alike , remember that my Children are oft-times euill Iudges of thēselues , and that their estate is not alway to be measured according to their feeling , for many prayers may be made in them to me by my Spirit , with sighs and sobs , which they thēselues are not able to expresse , yet are knowne to me , and are like loude crying voyces , which I cannot but answere . The SOVLE . O My Soule , content thee with the Lords dispensation , and doubt not , but all thy wants and holy desires shall once be satisfied : remember how carefull thy Sauiour was of those people that followed him . I haue compassion ( saith he ) on this people , because they haue continued with me already three dayes , and haue nothing to eate : I will not let them depart fasting , lest they faint in the way . O most sweete and comfortable speeches ! they seeke not from him , and he is carefull to giue them . If he was so carefull to satisfie their bodily necessities , will he neglect the spirituall necessities of his owne ? They followed him three dayes , and he counteth it a long time ; they are to goe from him , and hee feareth lest they faint . O my distrustfull Soule , wilt thou once learne to trust in the mercy of thy God assuredly ? will he not saciate thee , who seekes him ? will he not answere thee , who cries vnto him ? will he not care for thee who hast waited vpon him , not three dayes , but many yeeres ? & will he let thee faint in following him , who would not let thē faint , who were to go from him ? O sweet Sauiour , happy are they who trust in thee . ( Lord ) therefore increase my faith in thee , that nothing be able euer to sunder me from thee . The LORD . AS for the weaknes of thy Faith , which I see is the ground of all thy trouble , it proceedeth either from the want of knowledge , or else from the want of application . It is indeede a speciall benefit to haue the minde enlightened with true light . Seeke therefore my light to shine vnto thee by continuall prayer and searching the Scriptures , that thou be not troubled with the error of Conscience , as if it were a iust accusation . I haue set conscience indeed to be a warner vnto thee ; but then shalt thou take heed to her warnings , when they are warranted by my word . If the error of thy consciēce terrifie thee in any thing , and make thee think that thy crosses and visitations do come from mine anger , go and informe conscience better by the Word ; remember whom I chastise , I loue : & when I chastise thee , I am not seeking a satisfaction to my iustice : what maruell such thoughts disquiet many ? Consider , I pray thee , that notable promise of mine , made to my seruant Dauid , and in him to all the rest of my Saints . If they breake my statutes , I will visite their transgressions with my rods , yet my louing kindnesse will I not take from them , neither alter my Couenant . The SOVLE . O Word full of comfort ! my Soule , forget it neuer , that euen when his rods are layd on thee , yet his louing kindnesse is not taken from thee ; and though thy transgressions be many , yet will hee not alter his Couenant with thee : remember it ( I say ) that in thy trouble thou giue no more place to these misconceptions of Gods working with thee . As godly Iob thought in his trouble , that the Lord was pursuing him for his sins , and making him to possesse the iniquitie of his youth , which as yet appeares by the course of that Historie , was not the Lords intention : so haue I thought many times , that the heauie hand of the Lord laid on me , had proceeded from his wrath , as if hee had shut vp his tender mercie in displeasure from me for euer but ( Lord ) let thy light abide with me , that I sinne no more with such distrustfull motions against thee : and now ( Lord ) speake on yet further to thy Seruant , for thy comforts haue reioyced my Soule The LORD . NOw concerning the weaknesse of thy faith in the apprehension and the application of my promises : remember that I am he who will not breake the bruised Reede , nor quench the smoking flaxe : what smaller thing is there then a graine of mustard-seed ? albeit the measure of thy faith were no more , yet haue I not excluded it from the participation of my promises . A louing Father will delight to be holden by the hand of his tender Child ; and knowest thou not , that as a father spareth his son , so will the Lord spare thē that feare him ? hast thou not read , that although the faith of my seruant Iacob was very weak , as thou maist perceiue by the great feare he conceiued of Esau , yet his weak faith was able to hold me till I blessed him ? Be not therefore discouraged ; for albeit thou canst not lay hold on me with the hand of strong faith , if thou canst but touch the hem of my garment with thy finger , thou shalt draw vertue out of me . Consider also with thy selfe , that the Faith of my children is neuer greater , then when their feeling is weakest , and least perceiued . It is easie for euery one to beleeue in the middest of glorious feelings , and vnspeakeable ioyes ; but when a man can feele no sensible comfort in mee , and yet beleeueth in mee , and waiteth on me for comfort , certainely the Faith of that man is great : and such was the Faith of my seruant , who in his greatest trouble gaue mee this answere , Albeit thou wouldest slay me , O Lord , yet both against sence & feeling will I trust in thee . And did not also that woman of Canaan with inuincible Faith cleaue to my mercy , euen then , when she had no feeling of mercy , and I gaue her no fauourable answer ? for which in the end I called her faith , a great Faith. The SOVLE . O My Sauiour , thou art the strength whereby I stand in temptation : cursed be he that would make my Soule to conceiue wrongfully of thee . Be mercifull , O Lord , vnto me , and neuer let the malice of mine enemie preuayle ouer me . Sweete Iesus , keepe the heart , that through thine own Grace would faine keep thee : and now , my Soule , remember that this is but the time of fighting ; the time of triumphing will come : why then shall the continuance of these restlesse assaults disquiet thee ? If thou haddest neuer beene victorious but ence in all thy life-time ; yet what mercie had it beene , that the Lord in the middest of the battaile , should make thee to triumph ? but thou canst not deny , that many ioyfull victories now and before , hath the Lord giuen thee . Therefore now , my Soule , reioyce and returne to thy former rest : For the Lord hath been beneficiall to thee , and account thou euery one of these temporall victories a pledge to thee of that full and finall victorie that once thou shalt enioy ouer all thine enemies , when the God of peace shall tread downe Sathan vnder thy feete . The SOVLE reioyceth in the LORD O Lord , if such comfort be in thy crosse , what is in thy Crowne ? and if thou dost giue vs such ioy , when thou takest vs into thy hand to correct vs with thy rods Lord : what wilt thou make vs to finde , when thou shalt imbrace vs in thy armes , to kisse vs with the kisses of thy mouth ? Oh that these feelings might for euer abide with me : what trouble would not be easie , where thy comforts are present ? Surely , O Lord , all trouble vanisheth , so soone as thou dost beginne to glance vpon my soule . Therefore O my Loue , my light , my life , my ioy , my crowne , my glory , my strength , my helpe in the time of neede , stand thou on my side , and I will not feare what my enemy can doe to me . O happie time that euer I know thee . Blessed be the name of the Lord for euermore . The SOVLE doth triumph ouer Sathan . O Enemy Sathan , albeit thine enmity be troublesome vnto mee : yet I thanke my God through Iesus Christ , that thou art against mee , and that he hath put mee in his warr-fare to fight against thee . When I consider , that in Paradise the Lord proclaimed irreconciliable emnitie betweene thee and my blessed Sauiour , the seede of the woman , Christ Iesus , I account my hope happy , that thou art against mee : and that grace is giuen vnto mee to fight against thee : for thereby I know that I am none of thine , but that I doe stand on that side , whereof Christ is the Captaine , all his Saints are Souldiers , and the victorie is most certaine O deceitfull Serpent ! if I haue found such errour arising of those sinnes , which foolishly I did by thy intisements : what should I haue found , if I had followed thee in all the rest , from the which , the LORDS preuenting mercies did keepe mee ? I haue learned by experience , that thou art a faithlesse Traitor ; thou dost tempt a man to sinne , and for the same sinnes , which he did by thy instigation , thou art the first that doth accuse him . The Lord confirme this good purpose of my heart , that I neuer harken any more to thy lying words , and suffer not my Soule to bee circumuented with thy deceitfull snares . And as for the worke of my saluation , seeing it is a worke that my GOD will worke in despite of thee , wherefore shall I regard thy testimonie ? Thou didst put it in question to my Sauiour , whether or no he was the Sonne of GOD : and what maruell , if thou darest say to his Children , that they are none of his ? Is there any truth so vndoubted , but thou darest deny it at any time ? why therefore shall I enter into disputing with thee any more ? My saluation standeth neither in thy questioning , nor in any answering , but vpon the Lords vnchangeable decree of Election . If thou shouldest speake for mee , yet should I not bee the better ; neyther if thou speake against me , am I the worse . When thou didst confesse that Iesus was the Sonne of GOD , hee rebuked thee , and thought it no honour to him to haue thy testimonie . When thou didst cry out , that Paul and Silas were the seruants of the most high GOD , albeit thou spakest the truth , yet did thy not accept of thy testimonie : so although thou wouldest say to mee , that I were the elect Child of GOD , shall I thinke my selfe the surer for that ? and if on the contra●● thou doest denie it , a●● therefore the more vnsure of saluation ? Speake what thou wilt ; thou art alwaies alike thy selfe , thou hast beene a lyar from the beginning . Cursed of the LORD art thou in all thy wayes , and with all thy confederats : Cursed are they that are in friendship with thee : and blessed for euer be the Lord , who hath deliuered me from thy deceit and tyranny . The Conclusion of the Dialogue . BLessed be thou ( O LORD ) for that it hath pleased thee to visit the base estate of thy seruant , to succour mee in my distresse , and to comfort me with thy mercies : LORD , euermore feede me with this Manna , and refresh mee with the Springs of the Water of Life . Shew at all times some signe of thy mercy on mee , that mine enemie Sathan , who laboureth to disquiet mee , may be ashamed , because thou art with mee to succour mee . A comfortable Meditation . IF yee will marke and consider , yee shall find that the Children of God , in all their temptations , are not so much doers with their will , as sufferers against their will. This Cogitation comming to my minde , suddenly comfort did spring in the midst of trouble , God giuing me Grace to vnderstand , that these motions wherewith I am troubled , were not so much actions done by mee : for in truth , neither do I like or allow of them , but as spiritual oppressions of mine enemie , who still warreth against me , sometimes with armies of feares ; sometimes with armies of doubtings ; and sometimes with bandes of vncleane and wandring motions ; and sometimes with troopes of worldly cares making inuasion vpon my Soule , and labouring to quench that sparke of spirituall Life , which the LORD had begunne in mee : therefore answere for mee ( O Lord ) for I suffer violence . My enemie would oppresse mee , but Lord , my hope for euer is in thee : succour mee with thy strength and I shall liue : and Lord , impute not to me any of those sinfull motions , which my enemie raiseth in me against my Soule . Consider this wisely , O my Soule , and remember it : GOD that hath entred thee into this warfare , and is thy spectator and helper , will neuer reckon vp to thee Sathans deedes for thine : and learne thou wisely how to distinguish them , and faint not for them , but comfort thy selfe as long as thou art able to stand to thy protestation , that thou doest suffer violence in them , and canst say with the Apostle : This is not I , but sinne which dwelleth , in mee . O LORD , deliuer me from the rage of this spirituall tyranny . Many a time haue I looked to haue beene swallowed ; vp but thou hast sustained mee . Blessed bee my God for euer , and the LORD bee my strength to the end . A Prayer . O Lord , how can it be possible , that my Soule can liue here in this absence from thee ? or walke in the middest of these continuall snares , or stand against these raging temptations , except it please thee now and then to shew thy face vnto me ? Iosephs state in prison was not so heauy as mine ; his temptations in Potiphers house were not so continuall as mine are . And Daniels feare in the midst of Lions , was no greater then mine , who euery day tastes of a thousand deaths . Ieremy in his darke dungeon was not vexed with such horrors as daily gather themselues against me . The only comfort of my Soule is in thy mercies : thou wert with Ioseph , and therefore the prison was more pleasant to him then Potiphers Palace : thou wert with Daniel , and therefore the raging Lyons were peaceable to him . Lord , bee with mee , and increase thy strength in my soule and I shal liue . Though the time be not yet come , wherein I shall appeare in thy presence and see thee ; yet Lord , let me haue in this land of my Pilgrimage those glāces of thy sweete and louing countenance , that may sustaine me ; for thou Lord art able to let me see as much ioy in thy sweete face in one hower , as may sustaine me for euer : and without this sight , how can my Faith but faile , my Hope but houer , and my Life but languish ? therefore O Lord , hide not thy face from my Soule for euer , but as thou doest acquaint mee with troubles , so let me see at all times , that as my sufferings do abound in me , so my consolations may abound through Christ Iesus . I know , thou alwaies beholdest mee in mercy ; but Lord , let me see that thou lookest vpon me , that I may feele thy mercies sweete vnto my soule , Amen . FINIS ,