A Grandfather's LEGACY; OR, Maltbey's Morsels for Mourners.  
Divided into several Meditations for every Day in the Week.  
Being a Comfort to all wounded and oppressed Consciences, which seek for comfort by the Word of Truth.  
By john Maltbey late Minister of God's Word at Buckland in .  
LONDON: Printed by N. OKES and are to be sold at the Crown in Paul's Churchyard 1633,   

TO THE Worshipful and well respected Gentleman Mr. JOHN ROBINSON Esquire, of Denston-hall in Suffolk. And to the Virtuous and well-affected Gentlewoman his wife, Mris. Bridget Robinson, all terrestrial happiness.  
AS there is an appointed time for the end of all our Acts, and by the Almighty's Decree once to dye; so hath it pleased God, (that this Reverend Divine) having paid that debt to Nature that we must all pay. And leaving behind him this new borne Babe, which might have been obscured and buried with him, had it not with a Religious Care been preserved. And being brought to the view of the World, and past the Press, I have selected you, amongst many others, knowing you most fitting to Patronise this Work; and do desire you to answer for this Child, and to receive it into your protection.  
And withal, which was the chief motive, having been often Resident with you, and knowing in myself your pious and religious Government in your Family, in offering up your first and latter Fruit of Prayer and Thanksgiving morning and Evening, made me the more desirous to choose You. The Subject being of Divine Meditations, gathered out of the Holy Scripture, for the comfort of all oppressed and wounded souls.  
For which causes, I have emboldened to fix your name as a Patron of this and the like Subjects: and present it (though unworthy from my hand, being of this Subject) as a token of my respect, showing my grateful mind to you (if it came within my compass) for all your courtesies bestowed on me. I do therefore presume to tender this my love, only as a remembrance of my thankfulness, and witness of my true meanings. I will now cease troubling you, only turning my Writing into praying for your good health: thus taking my leave, wishing you all happiness in this life, and a correspondency in the world to come.  
Your loving kinsman to command, I. OKES.   

The Printer to the Reader.  
IT is a saying of Solomon, that it is better to go unto the house of Mourning, then to the house of Banqueting; The house of Banqueting consisting of full Dishes, which becomes not Mourners, but rather Fragments and Morsels. Our blessed Saviour feeding four thousand with seven loaves, and a few little Fishes, Matthew the 15. Chapter, and the 34. verse. The morsels or Fragments that were left, were seven baskets full. The same number hath this Reverend Divine observed in giving Method to the Book, in comparing them unto seven Baskets full of wholesome Consolation, for the seven several Days in the Week, in a plain and easy way, for the better understanding of the simplest. Whose aged Life and Conversation, was well liked and approved of, amongst that little Flock he had in his Pastoral charge, whose Loss was much Lamented by many, who were his hearers. And leaving behind him this godly Work, which he thought to have set forth in his Life time, 
Mistress Margaret Maltbey.  committed it on his death bed to his loving Wife, whose great care herein hath been largely expressed, and now desires that it may be courteously received at the hands of all good Christians, Farewell. So I rest thine.  
I. O.   

A Grandfather's Legacy, OR, MALTBY his Morsels for Mourners.  

The Introduction.  
AS jonathan saul's Son hearing of the troublesome perplexity of David, sought him out in the wood and comforted him in his God, 1. Sam. 32.18. So I now having heard of your misery and weakness, am come to comfort you as a neighbour, job. 6. ver. 24. who desire your happiness from my heart, and therefore would have you to consider, that God who caused Saul to return from pursuing David, and to go against the Philistines, 1. Sam. 23. last verses, can suddenly change your grief into gladness, and your misery into mirth, so that you cry with faithful David, Psal. 39.15 O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen. 
Psal. 39.15. Psal. 33.17  Psal. 33 17. The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and put their trust in his mercy. verse 18. To deliver their souls from death, and to feed them in the time of trouble and days of dearth.  
God grant you may long for your appointed time, as the Servant for the shadow, or the Hireling for the end of his work: cry and say, Lord, let thy spirit within me, so make request for me, that thy hand may convey me from this vale of tears to eternal bliss. Like as thine Angel guided Peter from prison to liberty, Lord protect me, you, and us all from Satan's assaults, keep us from despair, and secure us from evil, give to every one Comfort in Conscience, joy in the Spirit, Peace in believing, and a most settled expectation of life by thy Son, our Saviour Christ jesus.   

Monday Meditations.  
NOthing more profiteth God's Children then his Cross, this bringeth a loathing of our troubles here below, and an ardent love of enjoying such things as rest above in the Heavens. When Israel had peace in Egypt, they thought not upon Canaan, so we bewitched with the world, forget our salvation. But as the Angel caught Lot when he lingered in Sodom. Gen. 19 
Gen. 19  So doth sicknesses and distastes withhold us from Hell, investing us into everlasting habitations in the Heavens.  
We must not look to be carried into Heaven in a featherbed; all God's Saints knowing this, that afflictions rest as Porters to the Kingdom of Paradise, the Cherubins keeping the East-side thereof with a blade of a shaking Sword. Gen. 3.24.  
When we have health, we should praise God for it, and beware it become not the cause of our ruin: You are sick, it is a sign of your heavenly Father's love, and of your everlasting happiness: this should make the cogitations of your heart to strive as did the Children in Rebeccas' womb; Leap we for joy that our names, as the names of God's Children are written in Heaven: what though we be poor, sick, full of sores, and contemned of men, yet being the Elect Children of God, and our names in God's Book, we may have sound Comfort both in life and death. Remembering that sanctified Crosses rest assured notes of God's favour, and therefore as soon as ever we read Gene. 6.12. of Abraham's coming to Moreb, it is presently said, this Cannanite was then in the Land, by whose cruelty God meaneth to exercise both him and his; and the like must all God's Children look for.  
Say not thou that afflictions rather drive us from God then to God, for where the Holy Ghost sanctifieth, all things there do prove most excellent. Albeit Gods dear beloved Children are put into strange extremities, yet look they up with comfort at the last.  
The body of Anaxarchus might be brayed in a Mortar, but never his soul: jeremies' body might be sawed in pieces (of Manasses his own Cousin German) not his sanctified soul. Amos was killed with a wooden beam, St. Laurence broiled on a Grid-iron, St. john had like to have been boiled in an hot Cauldron of scalding oil. Do not think but that your present Crosses may be seconded with manifold comforts, and those cares on your Couch with Peter in God's kingdom. It may be the time is approaching (of putting off your Mortality, and passing through death as through a gate into everlasting life) to put you in mind to bewail your misdeeds, and to beg remission of your sins, with pouring out of your tears, which are so gracious in Heaven, that every sin is washed away with such a flood, no weeds ever springing after such rain or sanctified shower: Depend upon God's divine providence, have patience with your Crosses, attend mercy for your comfort, beware of pride, too often the overthrow of Honour, be weary of this world, make now your way towards the kingdom of God.  
Who long having tried you with Calamities, may bless you with eternal Comforts, be you never comfortless, for no doubt God which tryeth his servants, will likewise bless and comfort them.  
As now sickness makes you sigh and be sorrowful, so much more let the Cause thereof grieve your heart which is sin: And be you comforted in this, that Christ jesus suffered for you: lay away Melancholy, pluck up your spirits, and put yourself only upon God; live not like a woman, but die like a living Saint. Let not Impatience prejudice your heart, neither let thought pierce your heart, but make patience and mirth the best physic to your mind, and surest comfort in your lives.  
Entreat the Lord to help you to bear your Crosses, and so to strengthen you with his Spirit, that you become not hopeless of recovery, and let no sorrows so afflict you, but as sacred Comforts may soon relieve you: Consider your whole life to be nothing else but a continual trial of your Conscience in the spiritual Warfare.  
Remember that such as depend upon any thing but on God alone, refuse their own felicity, and that goodness which they should else receive of God. Who knows not this, that there is no Salvation but by Christ? There is no true rest till I first feel Gods judgements, and the weight thereof which shall serve, through Christ, to my good.  
God doth now and then use to defer his help for a time, before he will comfort his Church, People, or Children, yet when it is most expedient for them, his help is ever ready at hand. Consider we all that the end of God's chastisements to his Children, is, to save them from Satan, and withhold them from Hell.  
As God hath strooken you, so hath he power to restore you; as you are God's servant, you have an Angel to defend you from your enemies, you are so dear unto God, that he can no more suffer your enemies to hurt you, than a man can abide to be thrust in the eyes. 
Psal. 17.8.  Psal. 17.8. Satan sought to jehoshuah when he was doing his Office, Zacha. 3.1. that is, praying for the state of the Church; where you must note, that Satan seeks to afflict and trouble the Children of God, and hinder their salvation, from doing their duties unto God if he could.  
The Lord hath punished you for a time, desire him now to be pacified, and visit your sins no more, but that you may live in peace and quietness, as in the Kingdom of Christ. Esay 2.2. Micha. 4.4. Haggia 2.10. 
Esay 2.2. Micah 4.4  The Lord's hand of help never faileth his faithful servants, but resteth so powerful in itself, that it bringeth all his promises and purposes to pass, although he have no help of mortal man. Zachariah in the 14. Chapter of his Prophecy telleth, that these should be the great troubles in the Church, in the Evening whereof the Lord will send comfort by a plentiful supply of spiritual graces; marry into the new jerusalem to continue for ever, where there shall be one God, one Faith, one Religion.  
In any wise beware of prosperity, premit & praeterit, it presseth and passeth, staying by thee to thy hurt, and flying from thee to thy grief. Prosperity is like the golden Bracelets that Turpeus had for betraying the Roman Castle to the Sabines, wherewith she was pressed to death. Pharaoh was humbled being afflicted, but enjoying prosperity he was hardened. Noah was sober in the Ark, but overtaken with Drunkenness in the Vineyard. 
Gen. 9  Lot vexed in Sodom abhorred all uncleanness, but once safe in the Mountains, 
Gen. 19  he fell into gross Impiety. David being persecuted gave himself to Meditation and Prayer, but once advanced in the Kingdom, committed bloody sins. 2. Sam. 11. The best do commonly fall when they are furnished with abundance, as the Moon is not Eclipsed but when she is in the full.  
Learn therefore what to do, when God casteth you down, or depriveth you of any comforts you have formerly enjoyed, under so gracious a Lord, and loving Father as is our God. Learn we this Lesson, that either God punisheth us for our sins, or for the probation of our faith, when he either compasseth us with his net, or taketh from us the joy of our Honours, the pleasure of our Eyes, and the Crown from our head, with the desires of our hearts.  
Now know this, that our earthly house of this Tabernacle being destroyed, we have a building given us of God, that is an house not made with hands, but eternal in the Heavens: Strive we therefore to be clothed with a House which is from Heaven, because if we be clothed, we shall not be found naked.  
For indeed we which are in this Tabernacle, sigh, and are burdened, because we would not be unclothed, but would be clothed upon that Mortality might be swallowed up of Life. God that hath Created us for this thing, hath also given unto us the Earnest of the Spirit: Therefore we are always bold, though we know, that whiles we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; for we walk by faith, and not by sight nevertheless we are bold, and love rather to remove out of the body, and to dwell with the Lord.  
Wherefore we also covet, that both dwelling at home, and removing from our home, we may be acceptable to him; For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, 
2. Cor. 5 1  that every man may receive the things which are done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil. 2. Cor. 5.1. etc. to the end of the tenth Verse: the eighth to the Romans all throughout it is comfortable. It is the saying of St. Chrisostome, Crucem tollere & sequi Christum omnibus imperatur, alligatus sum ego, sed Verbum Dei non alligatum. Are you sick? it is not for your health, not for your hurt: Despair not, for our Salvation dependeth upon the will of our most loving Brother jesus Christ, who will entreat the Father for the Children, and the Father will hear the Son for his Brethren, not refusing them but feasting them.  
And though the best of us have no merits, yet our Saviour Christ hath so imparted to us his Righteousness, as if we had effected it ourselves: By which his most gracious suffering he hath most surely signed and sealed his Divine love and heavenly favour unto us which believe. The Lord delivereth his people by afflictions, preserveth them upon his borders, 
Esdras 12.14.  making them joyful until the coming of the day of judgement. I see you rest weak and sick, I pray you be as quiet as you can, seeking no other remedy, but content yourself with Christ: God oftentimes sendeth afflictions on us, to discover our vain Confidence, which we keep secret to ourselves.  
Terrors and destructions make men now and then to learn that which exhortations and gentleness could not bring to pass: As the Ploughman hath his appointed time, and diverse Instruments for his labour, so hath the Lord for his vengeance, for he punisheth some at one time, some at another; some after one sort, and some after another: So that his Chosen seed is beaten and tried, but not broken in pieces as are the wicked.  
The dearest of God's Children may faint, but not finally fail and utterly fall away. God will suffer his Church to be afflicted, and yet at length send it deliverance. God suffereth sometimes his dearest Children to want Consolation, that his grace afterwards may the more appear when they feel their own weakness. Do we not by our sins provoke God to take our lives from us every night? You are now afflicted in your bodies, yet assure yourselves in the Lord, that you shall find deliverance at last, both for body and soul, a very translation into bliss: God's power is sufficient without the help of any other, our Heavenly Father hath all means in himself to bring his will to pass.  
He showeth his care and favour over them that are weak and tender: as God hath all power in himself, so doth he use the same for the defence and maintenance of his Members, Church and Children; See that you neither fear neither man, nor put your trust in any save, only in God: you are worthy of rebuke which will not rest on the providence of the Almighty, but think that he hath forsaken you in your troubles. All power rests in God's hands to deliver you when he thinketh good.  
Therefore learn to abide God's hand with patience, and not curiously to seek out the Cause of God's delay in your Afflictions. Trust not in your own Virtues, but acknowledge all good things to come from the Lord; you are in Christ's protection, and therefore safe against all dangers, and free from the fear of our infernal foes.  
As a woman cannot forget her Child, no more do the Compassions of our heavenly Father fail us at our needful times of our several distresses. Seek no Counsel in your own devices, lest refusing the Light and Consolation which the Gospel offereth, you remain still in sorrow, and never be comforted. Esay 51. God comforteth his Church that they should not be discouraged for their small number, but remember their Parents Abraham and Sarah of whom they are borne. The punishment of the Elect is by measure, according as God giveth grace to bear it. But in the Reprobate it is the just vengeance of God to drive them to an insensibleness and madness. jer. 15 16 The Church of God in time of her afflictions and Captivity bringeth forth more Children, then when she was at liberty. Wherefore doth our God refuse us and forsake for a while, but that with greater Compassions and everlasting Mercies he may embrace us again as our Redeemer for ever.  
It is our fault that we are not soon reconciled one to another, and judge God by yourselves: But he is most easy to be reconciled, offering daily his mercies unto us, deliverance is from Heaven, and God never forsaketh his Children.  
There shall be great afflictions in the Church, but God will ever deliver his. True deliverance from sin and Satan, belongeth to none but to the Children of God whom he justifieth, and when Gods will and pleasure is, he will show you favour and feeling graces.  
Our Heavenly Father hath no need of man's help for the deliverance of his, he can easily deliver his Children, and punish his foes. Consider not so much what griefs and afflictions you now bear in your Body, as what Christ hath borne for you to purchase your salvation.  
Remember why Israel was so sore afflicted, that they might in their troubles call to remembrance the benefits which God had bestowed upon them in times past. Yield not to the Censure of thy flesh, when God doth not for Causes best known to himself, send succour unto you presently. You are in distress and trouble, dedicate yourself unto God's Service, and call upon his Name: let all your joy be in God's Service and Worship, no man's help can save you; put your confidence in GOD, look for help at his hands, who hath better Physic for your souls then any that cometh from Gilead. Pray with true Faith and Repentance, not for the smart and grief which you feel to be removed, but finally sanctified to your Honour's salvation.  
Remember that God is the Potter, and we the Clay, he hath power over us, 
Esay 45.9 Rom. 9.10  to do with us whatsoever seemeth good in his sight. As no man that is a thirst, refuseth fresh Conduit-water which he hath at home, to go and seek waters abroad to quench his thirst: So we ought not to seek for help and secure as Strangers, and leave God which is present with us. All which mean to enjoy the Land of promise, must walk in the way of truth which God there teacheth them.  
Let your Faith still strive against each temptation, and in your greatest weakness seek to the Lord for strength: Know this my beloved, that the dearest Children of God may be overcome in the battle between the Flesh and the Spirit: and great inconveniences may they fall into, 
job 3.1. etc. 15 10  till God raise them up again. The Scriptures telling us, that judgements begin at Gods own house: we may not think it strange that we are now grievously punished, who have, now and then, 
Ezech. 9.6. 1. Pet. 4.14 17.  played he part of God's enemies. Extreme are the afflictions that God appointeth for every one: as Psalm 15.8. Esay 51.17. But the Cup which the wicked drink, is more bitter than that which God giveth to his Children: for he measureth the one by Mercy, and the other by justice.  
If you see you rest weak, commend yourselves to God's mercy, who meaneth not to destroy you for your sins, but to correct and chastise you, till he have pardoned and purged your offences; and so burn his rod by which he hath punished you. Esay 33.1. Remember that as God was the Author of Israel's Captivity for their sins: so was he for his mercies their Redeemer, to restore them to Liberty.  
God in the midst of all his threatenings remembreth his, and comforteth them: There is no greater sign of our Heavenly Father's love, then when he correcteth us for our amendment, preserving us in despite of our Enemies; to that end whereunto he hath appointed us, even to the Glory of God's Name, and good of his Church. See Esay 44.2. and Chap. 30.10. & 10.24. What though we be forsaken for a time, yet the Lord casts us not off utterly, as though he our Husband were dead; but in our dreadfullest afflictions still followeth us with his fatherly favours and manifold mercies, to make us all praise God in Zion; let us still acknowledge God to be the Author of our afflictions, to the intent that we may still seek to him for remedy.  
Let your heavy sins be continually before your eyes, as one that tieth a thing to his hand for a remembrance: so will he forget them, cast them behind his back, and tread them under feet. The Lord comfort and refresh your soul, still treading down the insurgent Enemies that rise up against you: Let no adversity utterly discomfort you, but wisely consider that there may be cause of a Woman's separation from her Husband, and a joyful meeting and coming of them both together again.  
We can never be too timely exercised under our Cross, but we are to pray, that when our afflictions grow greater, our patience also (by experience) may be stronger; and thou Lord, become a Sanctuary unto us in the soarest times of our saddest afflictions. Desire the Lord so to mitigate your afflictions, as you lose thereby neither Sense, nor Reason; nor arrogate any thing to yourself: but trust in the Lord your God, who alone doth save souls. Let no sins so throw you down, as once to despair of your heavenly father's mercies.  
In the days of your afflictions and miseries, remember that God promised to comfort his Church in all heaviness and deepest distresses: bless God for your punishments, for thereby he calleth you from your iniquities; as from the beginning God hath exercised his people under the Cross; so since Christ was offered, hath he left this exercise unto his Church, until the Dead rise again, and Christ gather his into his Kingdom in the Heavens.  
The Lord give you patience and constancy to abide the pains and plagues, which the Lord inflicteth upon you, for the humbling of your soul, and hasting it to eternal happiness. And doubt not, but for your enduring a painful death, the Lord our God will give you a precious Life: and as you yet mourn with men, cause you to triumph with jesus Christ; and for anguish here below, dwell and rest with Angels above.  
Remember the three Children in the fiery Furnace, they would not come out, nor departed thence for any fear, till the Lord bid them: neither came Noah out of the Ark, till the Lord called him forth.  
Stay your soul upon God who is now only to comfort you, and remember how that our abominable sins bring upon our souls these horrible afflictions in our last days: As you are one of Christ's members, you may not hasten too much; but learn patiently to abide the Issues of God's promise. As the Majesty of God hath strooke you down, so I do not fear, but that his powerful and heavenly hand will again raise you up: God that by one Angel could destroy all the world, assureth his Children so of his love, that rather than they shall perish, he will send forth double power, even Christ jesus, the Head of Angels to deliver us.  
What troubles soever befall the Church of Christ and his Members, they come by the Counsel and providence of God, 
Dan. 12.  and still have happy Issues to all faithful believers. Dan. 12. The Angel noteth first how the Church shall be in great afflictions, and trouble at Christ's coming; but God shall send his Angel to deliver it: meaning Christ that is promised by the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore be not discouraged, though Christ come not so soon as we cry and call for him: for what he doth, is to try our patience, that we with the Elect of God might be the more pure in our hearts, and purged truly with his Church.  
Be you never so weak or sick, yet remember who hath said, 
Hosea 13.14.  Hosia 13.14. I will redeem thee from the power of the Grave, I will deliver thee from Death. O Death I will be thy death, O Grave I will be thy destruction. Fly to the Lord in Death, and he will be thy Life: to avoid the Lords judgements, you must learn to become obsequious to his Will; so will he take away your Iniquities, and receive you most graciously.  
Love we the Lord God of Hosts, who is in Christ jesus now become our heavenly Father; whosoever so doth, are blessed: their branches shall spread, their beauty shall be like the Olive-tree, and their smell like Lybanon, which shall revive as the Corn, flourish as the Vine, and their scent shall be like Wine of Paradise; yet for all that shall the godliest be so shaken with terrible temptations, that they shall not look for continual quietness in this world, but still assure themselves and souls, that we and they shall be preserved in our deepest dangers: because God may destroy his Enemies, but will deliver his Children.  
Doth any adversity come without God's appointment. Esay 45.7. God dealeth not with you as he doth with other people, but warneth you both by punishments and Prophets, to beware of his plagues: you are told by Esdras the mildness of the Almighty, 2. Book, 1.28. I have prayed you as a Father his Sons, as a Mother her Daughter, and as a Nurse her young Babes: 
2 Esd. 1.28  that you would be my people, as I am your God: and that you would be my Children, as I am your Father. God our heavenly Father compareth himself to an Hen gathering her Chickens under her wings, Math. 23.37. And can we once think that he will cast us out from his sight? 
Mat. 23.27.   
Although you see no Prophets, yet should you hate your Iniquities; and though the Lord God Almighty be not seen with bodily eyes, yet should our hearts believe what he doth both teach, and tell us, what best tendeth to his Glory. 2. Esdras 3.28. Are they that dwell at Babylon better than they which have dominion in Zion? The Heathen may flourish there which never once think on the Commandments of God: but in the world to come, true Israelites find peace with God and Angels. 2. 
2 Esd. 7.33.  Esd. 7.33. Remember that the Almighty shall appear upon the seat of judgement, when miseries shall vanish away, and long suffering shall have an end. Thy Servant Esdras hath told us of an eternal Paradise, whose fruit remaineth incorruptible; wherein is safety and health if we will enter into it. verse 53.  
Draw we near therefore unto the Lord for an Inheritance, because we walk in great pride in these latter days of this world, therefore do many miseries meet us, and sundry calamities overtake us: But the wise must withhold sorrows in themselves, to allow God's purpose, and receive his Corrections in patience, if they look to be commended of him, and allowed by him: Be of good comfort O Israel, and be thou not heavy-hearted O thou house of jacob, 2. Esdras 12.46. For the most High hath you in remembrance, and the Almighty hath not forgotten you in temptation. 1.12.47. Neither will he leave Zion desolate, but still mercifully remembreth the low estate of his distressed Sanctuary.  
The Lord giveth us all good things, so doth he enable us when he will, and as he will: Remember we therefore his Commandments, neither let we them at any time be put out of our minds, but fear we the Lord as we flee from each sin; still doing the things which are acceptable to the Lord our God: As the Lord doth scourge, so doth he pity; he leadeth to Hell, and bringeth up, neither is there any that can avoid his hand. Our Heavenly father scourgeth us for our iniquities, but again gathers us out of all Nations amongst whom we shall be scattered. Wait ye for Salvation from God, call upon him to help you, and he will hear your voice if it please him.  
God hath not tried you as he did the Patriarches, to the examination of your very hearts; neither doth he take vengeance on you, but punisheth you for Instruction, to bring you nearer to himself: God seeing us to be unruly Children, doth therefore swing us, that we may be come quiet; and go from under his fingers as tame Lambs, seeking for no other rest or peace, then is found in jesus Christ. Know you not this, that he which offereth the most blows is Crowned? Whither should we resort but unto the Lord in the times of our dangers, and there cry most earnestly: death being still before us in our own sight, humble we our bodies with fasting, and desire the Lord to help us being desolate: Praise God in your misery, and magnify him for his mercy; the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God where no torment can touch them: the departure from us may seem as it were destruction, howbeit they were in peace. What though you now suffer pains before men; yet is your hope full of immortality: although you be prevented with Death, yet shall you be in rest: God taketh away his, lest wickedness should beguile the mind: It is a matter of endless comfort to the poor members of Christ, to see how upon earth, none are more full of woeful pains in body and souls than God's children: who so full of sores as job, Lazarus, even from the top to the toe?  
Some are maimed in their bodies; job 5. The Pool called Bethesda, with her five porches, was filled with multitudes of sick folk, blind, halt, and withered, waiting for the moving of the Waters, after the Angels stirring: whereof, whosoever first stepped in, was made whole, whatsoever disease he did languish of.  
It is a comfort very cordial, to all God's children, to remember their former miseries, now turned into felicity, joy, and happiness; what though you rest poor, yet may you possess a Kingdom.  
Are you here hungry and thirsty? you shall assuredly taste of the Tree of Life: Are you now wretched and naked? you shallbe clothed with the Robes of Christ's Righteousness, and in the stead of the rags of infamy and Reproach on earth, you shall be crowned with the Dyadem of immortal glory, in the highest heavens.  
Be not sad either for the sickness of yourself, or your friends, for you cannot perish, neither shall you be cast away, for your souls shall be presently in joy, and your bodies buried in the Grave, as in a Bed of Down, to take a sweet sleep till the day of judgement, and then you shall rise to glory. And according to your Religion, Faith, and good deeds, in feeding and clothing Christ jesus in his members, he will pity you in mercy, and now provide comfort for you in the time of your Troubles. Assure your heart, and persuade your own soul, that Christ jesus resteth the most true and absolute Shepherd, who feedeth his sheep with most wholesome pasture, not suffering us to Rot upon earth, but assuring our souls to sing with Angels in Heaven.  
We must not forget in the midst of our miseries, that Christ our Redeemer was wounded for our transgressions, broken for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Esay 53.5.  
We are saved by coming unto God by Christ, 
Heb. 7.  he everliving, that maketh intercession for us. Hebr. 7, And by none other name can we be saved. 
Acts 4.  Acts 4. Remember and forget not, how we are made partakers of Christ and his benefits, even by being of an humble spirit, by Faith apprehending and applying jesus Christ with all his merits unto ourselves. Thus are we justified before God, and sanctified for Christ's sake, and therefore we must all be content to undergo shame, disgrace, trouble, persecution and bonds, yea death itself, for Christ his sake. The Remembrance of Christ's coming to judgement, must cheer up your heavy souls. So labour now your heart, as you may cry with the Spouse of Christ, Come Lord jesus, come quickly. Hope we to live with Christ in the Church Triumphant, then must we dye with him in the Church Militant: None shall live with Christ above, unless they suffer with him here below: nor none shall have their tears wiped from them in Heaven, unless they have first shed them on Earth.  
It is the Lords usual dealing, after long time of peace, to bring some trials that the Elect and true Christians may be discerned: It is known to us all how a Christian man's life rests a war-fare; so that there is no dreaming of a Victory, before we fight. It is our lot to suffer, and our comfort still to stay upon Christ, who will so dispose of us, and our several troubles, as they shall leave a blessing behind them, and we shall gain more in the Spirit, than we can lose in the flesh. Which GOD grant we may.   

Tuesday Meditations.  
THis rests a Maxim in Religion, that God will have his own true Church and Children to be tried, and undergo the heat of persecution: We must learn therefore to be wise, and not to think ourselves out of God's favour when we are tried; nor deem worse of the Gospel, because the Cross still goeth with it, and wicked people still hate it.  
But still let us all learn to look at Christ jesus, remembering that we Servants, may not look for any larger privilege than had our Lord and Master Christ jesus. For a time the Father hide his face from him, but with everlasting Compassion did he most graciously look upon him at last: God resteth our Father, having a care over his Church and Children; preserving us from fire and water, and each other eminent danger.  
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are not able; but will even give you the issue with the temptation, that you may be able to bear it: You are the Lords workmanship, and he will undoubtedly provide for you; both sheltering and comforting you, and that even then, when you find the heat of afflictions to shine most hottest upon you.  
Forget not to go and come unto the Lord in the time of your trouble and deepest distresses, knowing Christ to be our Shepherd, and preserver in each danger. We cannot honour God more, then to depend on him in our dangers, and fly unto him in our extremities, as our only helper, hope, and fortress.  
This rests a matter of endless comfort, that our Lord jesus Christ will be a place of comfort and refreshing unto us, and as a shadow at noonday in the greatest heat of bloody persecutions.  
You are now cast down as the Children of God, to the disquieting of your soul within you, yet for all that wait you still upon God: Let no fear or danger make you deny Christ and his Gospel, who comforteth us in his Church, refresheth us in our troubles, and freeeth us from the dread and dangers of Hell's horrors, if we faithfully call upon him for pardon of our sins, as once did Manasses. Be you still thirsting for life, and panting for Paradise; power out your hearts before him that keepeth Heaven for your house: assure yourself of God's help, be you never so grievously tormented; the Saints of God have still waited upon him, to teach us all to be constant, and to wait still for our several deliverances.  
We knowing the Lord God to be the Author of each calamity, may not murmur, but seek remedy at his hands who woundeth us; lift we up our hands in hope, not boasting of our virtues, but declaring that we still rest upon God in the midst of all our afflictions: It is a bad servant that will not wait on his Master.  
God doth not always punish our sins, but by hard afflictions calleth us to the consideration of the heavenly joys. We do not honour our God aright, until we trust in him alone; taking his Majesty to witness, that we hunger in heart to be upright towards God, still crying when we are grieved, This God is my God for ever and ever, and he shallbe my guide even unto death. Psa. 48.14. 
Psal. 48.14   
Life and death are in God's hands, and no man can live for ever; howsoever therefore you dream of Immortality, it is not to be founded upon earth: although your disease is grievous and dangerous, yet know you this, that God hath infinite ways to deliver you. Did not God deliver his people from Og King of Basan, and other Tyrants? and his own people from the the Red sea, when they were in great extremity and danger?  
Let not your present crosses rest an occasion of your falling from God, but rather a Cause of cleaving faster unto him.  
Howsoever you do yet suffer troubles, yet hath God his time wherein he hath appointed your deliverance: A lively faith assureth the soul that God is favourable unto him, when he seemeth to be angry; and then at hand, when he seemeth to be fare off.  
Fear you not but God will hear you, though Care make you think, that the Lord long deferreth you: What though to day you seem as a Sheep beset with many Wolves, yet put your trust in God, and depend still on his providence, and you shall assuredly be comforted at the last.  
Under the temporal punishment of the Land of Canaan, is comprehended the promise of life everlasting to all the faithful, and their posterity.  
In the time of our distress, we must learn to pray earnestly, and although God stay as if he heard us not, yet is then our deliverance nearest, when we seem void of relief and succour.  
Are you in distress, God hath millions of means to free you from miseries, and preserve you from troubles. Acknowledge our heavenly Father to be the only Author of all your deliverances from dangers and death, and that by his providence you are still enfranchised from troubles: God will recompense his long tarrying with double and undoubted comfort to your souls. There rests no true praising of God, except it come from the heart.  
Promise therefore to delight in nothing (if henceforth God send you life and health) but only that wherein God may be glorified.  
Remember that sickness is Death's messenger, teaching us to rejoice in nothing but in the Lord.  
The faithful must learn to depend upon God's hand in the time of their miseries, knowing that when things are ever at worst, then will God come and set them in order; and so bridle the rage of the enemy, as he shall become mightless, were he never so strong before.  
We may not look to be delivered at our first cry, our eyes may be kept waiting for our coming with our deceitful hearts, and searching out of our own spirits, crying unto GOD to know the Causes why we are chastened, and when our sorrows shall have an end.  
Desire you to know the way from Earth to Heaven, we must ascend by Faith up thither, if we will know the ways of the LORD, or the secrets of his divine Word and Will.  
Then must we learn what extremities God will suffer us now and then to fall into, and why to exercise our faith before he set to his hands to deliver us.  
God for a time will exercise us with his rods, yet under the Kingdom of Christ shall we rest assured both of our peace, joy, and comfort.  
I beseech you learn so to call and cry upon God, as you never become weary, though GOD grant not forthwith your requests: but learn rather to be more earnest with God, and to call the more o●t●er upon him.  
Though your state rest not so glorious as you wish, yet wait with patience, and GOD will accomplish his most comfortable promises.  
Acknowledge and confess God himself to be the author of our salvation, who very oft in love calleth us by his rods to consider the shortness of our lives, and how that for our sin's sake he abridgeth our days, lest that his wrathful judgements should fall the more heavily upon us. Let this be the comfort of your heart, that as God is all sufficient to defend you from dangers, so resteth he most willing to comfort you in your most perilous agonies. Content yourself with that life which God giveth you, for by Death the shortness of this Life is recompensed with Immortality. Know should we all that God hath care over his, and oft chastiseth them for their wealth, that they should not perish for ever with the wicked.  
Faint not in trouble, and you shall assuredly find help: let me entreat you to remember, that God requireth two things at your hands, and of all his Children in the world. First, that you detest vice, secondly, that you put your trust in God for your deliverance; which though they appear not suddenly, yet rest they most sure, and are all laid up in store for you I fear not. Be you in never so great misery, yet is there ever left place for your prayers: see therefore that you labour to have a lively feeling of that which you desire, steadfastly believing to obtain it: Despair not of God's mercies, for as great as the World is, yet is it fraught with the signs of his favour; his mercies removing sins, as the blast of winds do the dust. You have nothing in yourself to move God to mercy, but only the Confession of your infirmities and misery: and though you be naturally flow to praise God, yet stir up yourselves to the performance of all the several duties of godliness.  
Be not careful for those you leave behind you, for God which provideth for bruit beasts, will much more extend his provident care unto the Children of his sons and servants: there being no part of the world so barren, but that most evident signs of God's blessings appear therein.  
God provideth not only Herbs, and things necessary for us, but also things to rejoice and comfort our hearts, as Wine, Oil, and ointments.  
Doubt ●ou not of GOD'S providence i● caring for your Wife and Children, knowing that he provideth even for the bruit Beasts: he provideth for all Creatures their daily food, and he withdrawing his blessings from us, we all perish.  
As God's merciful face giveth strength unto the earth, so doth his severe countenance burn up the Mountains: we sinners do so infect the world, that GOD our heavenly Father cannot so rejoice in his works as he would.  
Praise (I pray you) for his benefits passed, and be you throughly strengthened and encouraged against all present and future sorrows whatsoever.  
So inestimable is God's goodness, that he would rather change the order of Nature, then that his people should not be delivered. 
Exo. 14.27  Exodus 14.27. although they were wicked.  
Not any one of God's Elect, but early or late shall feel God's help in their necessity, neither rests there any afflictions so grievous, out of which God will not deliver his: whereof we must learn to be mindful all the days of our life. Not once forgetting this, that God doth punish and correct us seldom extremely, but because we cannot be brought unto him by any other means.  
When in man's judgement there seemeth in sickness no recovery, but all things are brought to despair: then GOD chief showeth his mighty Power, and brings us by sharp and heavy rods to call mightily upon him, until we find mercy and compassion.  
So by healing and helping us when all secondary Causes, and means of Physic failed us, it causeth us with praise and glory to confess God's benefits, yielding unto him the sacrifices of our own souls.  
When Humane arts fail, then doth God's providence preserve and bring unto the Haven, where we would be. Such love did GOD bear unto his Church, that he changed the order of nature for their commodities; even at the Red Sea, where the Israelites went through the midst of the Sea, upon the dry Land: The water being a Wall unto them on their right hand, 
Exod. 14.  and on their left. Exod. 14.  
It is God's manner sometimes to exalt us, and then again to humble us by afflictions, that we may know ourselves. Know that you belonging to the Lord, all things shall turn to your profit; trust still fully on the Lord, and he will finally free you from your troubles and sorrows. Care not for your outward sorrow's assailing you, so the Spirit within comfort you: Show yourself a faithful servant of the Lord God: In this your present adversity, still remembering, that as the Lord is a a just God, so resteth he a most merciful father; and when we are in distress, then is it our time to seek him, and his help when we rest destitute of aid, succour, counsel, and comfort.  
God hath a care over us, disposing of our Death, and taking account of our Life: yet rests our best payment but thankes, laud, and praises for his mercies. Refuse you not to be tried with temptations, but entreat the Lord so to secure you in time, as you faint not through infirmity: Know this, that with out the maintenance of God's word, our life droppeth away like water.  
Doubt not of God's power yet, of each lawful means, and never abuse his graces: and so shortly you shallbe comforted. GOD will not suffer such as have set forth his glory, to groan overlong in grief, and to be overcome with misery, but with sound Doctrine will comfort our corrupting flesh, and languishing desires, with the society of Saints, and melody of Angels in Heaven.  
Understand this I pray, that we which are not yet punished for our transgressions, have no cause to rejoice at others which are afflicted, but rather to fear, that the dilation of our punishment will be more grievous: for though our God doth come with leaden heels, he striketh with iron hands, recompensing the tardity of his stroke, with the gravity of the wound.  
Do not grieve to departed out of the miserable cottage of this World, in-into Heaven, the City of Saints: where possessing Christ, we shall enjoy all things with him. 
Rom. 8.32  Rom. 8.32. Farewell Riches that are vanity, pleasures that are hurtful, and sin which is damnable. Come to me, O my God, for thou art Truth, and thou O Christ, my Redeemer, with thy merits; and thou Holy Spirit, my Guide and Comforter: Regard no earthly things, for they are of short continuance: make the joys of Heaven the objects of your soul, which are eternal: Desire God either mercifully to prevent the plagues, or else to grant you patience to sustain them when they come.  
It was Paul's advantage to have Agabus Prophesy of his Chains, that so by his flight he might either defeat the jews, or by premeditated Resolution lighten or prevent his bonds.  
Although no Repentancs can alter the Almighty's decree, yet resolved patience may the better endure it: the safest shelter in all our afflictions, is our faithful relying upon God's assistance. And our best improovements of God's power, is by our infirmity.  
No stronger instigation of mercy, than our acknowledgement of misery, as the privilege of greatness is to relieve the impotency of distressed supplicants.  
We must labour to gain by faith, and not to lose by infidelity, well knowing prosperous issues daily to attend the living images of the Deity: your faithful weakness becometh not any disadvantage for glorious triumphs.  
No Martyr insulted upon by the furious tyranny of his enraged adversity, but hath faith for his Advocate; naked Truth for his Guardian; and the Holy Ghost to keep him fare from disconsolate distress. Let your still armed confidence tire out your tormented sorrows, or sicknesses whatsoever: Let us all rest undaunted, well knowing that God sustains us, who doubts of the Sun's being, although it do not always shine? Or of the faith of job, though it were overwhelmed for a while. Know this, we should all, that the Elect themselves may fall, though built upon the Foundation of GOD: yet the Lord keeps them from perishing, though when they stand, he keeps them not from falling.  
That blessed Apostle Saint Paul, took between Damascus and jerusalem, the happiest fall that ever the Earth was honoured withal: In via judaeus cecidit, ut resurgat Christianus, saith Chrisostome. He fell in the way a jew, or rather from a jew, that he might arise a Christian. It is our heavenly Father's mercy that raiseth us when we are fallen, but our faith must keep us from falling: When we are raised we stand by Faith, and we come through Faith into this Grace, wherein we stand: Shall we stand by the habits of God's mercy and grace, Rom. 5.2. and shall we fall from the act thereof by a wilful Apostasy, God forbidden? Let us rather persever in Faith, and that unto the Death; weighing what wavering Age we are fallen into, and strange opinions, even of the pillars of these times.  
Content we ourselves to pass from troubles and calamities, into everlasting joys: for Death is but an entrance into bliss, and as it were, a casting Anchor into the Haven of Heaven: Cry to God with David, What profit is there in my Blood, when I shall go down into the grave of forgetfulness.  
Likewise Hezekiah prayed against Death, desiring to be reconciled unto God, to give satisfaction to God, and his children.  
None so free from sin, but stand in great need to be purified from sin, and purged from the sores, blains, and blemishes of iniquity: Beware of grudging when the Lord striketh you, because it is always for our good, and he resteth both able and willing to deliver us at his pleasure. Psal. 33.17. Behold, the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, 
Psal. 33.17  and put their trust in his mercy, to deliver their souls from Death, rest there never so many turbulent trials: Yea, it is indeed our commodity that God doth not accomplish his promises, so soon as we could wish, that staying with patience his leisure, we may be crowned with the more glory in the end. As every father nurtureth his son, so doth the Lord his children, but it is to walk in his ways. The Children of God shall know this, that all sorrows and sicknesses, crosses, and troubles, are to prove us whether we will: Love the Lord God with all our hearts and Souls, 
Deut. 13.3  in our greatest griefs, and saddest sorrows, yea or no. Deut. 13.3.4. God's servants must be no flinchers, but both followers and fighters in the Lord's quarrel, preferring the Lord's glory, before their own soul's safety.  
Do not think that each trouble cometh on you, because the Lord is not with you: For the most tender hearted mother will now and then hide herself from her Child, to try the kind and loving affection thereof towards her, that afterwards finding the love of her little one, she may, as it were, put it in her bosom: So our heavenly father, to find out our corruptions (whereof we ourselves are ignorant) he doth swinge us for our follies, that falling weeping at his feet, he might lovingly take us up, and kiss us with his mouth.  
No evils come upon us, but when we forsake God, who rideth upon the Heavens for our help, and on the Clouds for his own glory. Deut. 33.16. When the hand of God is upon you, repent of your sins hearty, rather than by your power and policy to resist the working thereof: whatsoever your disease is, fail not for to consecrate yourself, both soul and body, to the Lord of glory, and you shall not do amiss. No remedy but we must needs enter into the way of all the World, know we all therefore in our hearts, and persuade our souls, that all the good things which the Lord hath promised us, shall come to pass unto us, and no evil can come unto us, but by our Disobedience. God that plagued Egypt, brought Israel out of Egypt: He that brought Israel into the Red Sea, knew how to bring them out to their enemy's confusion, and the comfort of his children. Do we according to the course of nature, we may hope undoubtedly to live in the state of grace: the Lord being fare more willing to bless then to curse: But alas, it is the nature of our flesh, no longer to obey God, then when we are under the Whip or scourge.  
Therefore doth the Lord make it oftentimes the end of his punishment: to call us to Repentance, that we may seek both for health and help at his hands: The Church of Christ now is, and must be still subject to manifold afflictions, how be-be it, God at length will give joyful issue, delivering them from all troubles.  
Desire rather the comfort of your poor souls, than the ease of your bodies; for the Almighty giveth much bitterness to their souls, that now and then had the fairest bodies, to cause us to have more care and respect to the inward man, then to the outward form. It is usual with God to plunge into adversities, not to hurt but to heal, not to kill our bodies, but to save our souls from destruction.  
It is GOD'S mercy towards his Children, and his favour unto his Friends and followers, to make them partakers of piety, and examples of Holiness in their places. I desire you call unto mind this one thing, which is, that although David were anointed King, and that by a Prophet, yet God would try him in sundry sorts, before he had the use of his Kingdom. Art thou a David? think it not much to fall upon thy face to the ground, before jonathan, to crouch knees, and kiss to save thy life; much more for a while to be sick (that in fine) thou mayest become a Saint. In man resteth no justice, what's good in us, rests all of God's mercy, from him we receive it. It is our infirmity that in time of our sorrows we do no more comfort ourselves in the Lord our God then we do.  
In each trouble and adversity we are to consider the providence of God, and not like raging Beasts to forget both our own duty, and contemn GOD'S appointment over us. It is God's pleasure, to make as though he would leave us for a time, yet if we trust in him, we shall be sure to find comfort.  
Our heaviest lamentations ought not to be excessive, but moderate; well considering this, that we are to praise and glorify GOD in all his doings, and remembering that many sobs and fears both follow and befall the faithful ones: yet shows GOD himself most liberal to his servants, when they seem to be utterly destitute of any comforts at all.  
Holy Scriptures do warn us at large, that there is neither rest nor quietness to be looked for in the world, but variety & change of things both in Church & Commonwealth, longer than God preserves them by his protection; where his Word is truly set forth, Virtue! esteemed, Vice punished, and Concord maintained, there all things flourish: but abominable vices must whither before commendable Virtue can grow: we must loathe the way to the dungeon of Hell, before that with courage we can climb to the Kingdom of Glory.  
The sufferings of the faithful have their privileges. 
1 Reg. 2.26.  1. Reg. 2.26. King Solomon would not slay Abiather, because he had borne the Ark of the Lord God before his father David, and because he had suffered in all wherein his father bade been afflicted. Eliah was a good man, and both beloved of God and man; yet wearied in the Wilderness, fate down under a Tree, willing to dye, said; It is enough O Lord, take my soul, for I am no better than my Fathers. And why was this? because he was jealous for the Lords Glory, which we all should stand out for to the loss of our limbs and lives.  
God's punishments are not to destroy us utterly, but to chasten us, and to bring us to the knowledge of ourselves: and to know how much better it is to serve God, than Tyrants. God never seeketh the Death of a sinner, but his Conversion. Ezec. 18.32. etc. 33.11.  
The Lord is with us while we be with him, and will be found of us, if we forsake him not: God doth reserve unto himself a number whom he will hear, both for himself and others: Pray faithfully, and your confidence cannot be frustrate. Be wiser than Asa, who when he was sick, in the extremity of his disease, sought rather unto the Physicians, 
2 Chron. 16.12.  then unto God. 2. Chron. 16.12. Where all Christians should know, that first we should seek God to purge our sins, which rest the chief causes of our Diseases; and afterwards use the help of the Physician, as a means by whom God waketh. Remember I pray you, that affliction giveth understanding; so that such as have hated God in their prosperity, must now in their miseries both sue and seek to him.  
The best of us are no better than was King Manasseh, who never regarded God till he was put into fetters, and bounden in Chains, and carried to Babel: Where being in tribulation, he then prayed to the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the GOD of his Fathers; and God was entreated of him, and heard his prayer; and brought him again to jerusalem, into his Kingdom: then knew Manasseh that the Lord was God.  
See how God by our afflictions doth give us understanding, so that whereas we hated God in our prosperity, now in our misery we seek unto him. When God punisheth us, it is to make us see our miseries: he would not exercise us under our Crosses, but to make us loathe the Earth, and love the Heavens. Why are we all exercised with woeful crosses, and most bitter calamities? not to hinder, but further our passage to Paradise.  
I hold it fare better in time of your sicknesses, to commend and commit yourself to God, and his protection; then by seeking ordinary means to give an occasion to others, to think you doubt of God's power.  
Are we in misery, let us all fast and entreat God for mercy, and he will not finally forsake us: we should consecrate ourselves to him that made us, so shall we be delivered at the last from each malady, hell, death, and dangers: Our loving God and heavenly father would not afflict us, but to the enforcing of us to the better keeping of his Commandments, whereunto we could not be brought by God's great benefits. Ahashuerus and Haman sat merry, and drinking Wine, when Esther was fasting, and Mordecai mourning; yet went merry Haman to the Halter, and Mordecai to preferment.  
I entreat you that you never do mistrust the rare providence of God, who turneth the joy of the wicked into sorrow, but the tears of the godly into gladness. It's the lot of holy men not only to be afflicted outwardly in body, but also inwardly in mind and conscience, with temptations of seeming friends, and diabolical disputations urging to despair.  
Satan will tell thee, that God is a severe judge, and thy mortal enemy; and therefore it is but in vain to sue to him for succour: Such comforters as these be not come to comfort you, but torment you and to add one affliction to another. Be you therefore constant to resist the Devil, and all his temptations; and so at length you shall be sure of good success.  
I know my Brethren, that ye rest not like a block, insensible; but that in your patience you feel afflictions and grief of mind: yet keep you a mean herein, and rebel not against God as the wicked and  do: But confess you that God is wise and good, although his hand be soar upon you, yet doth he all things in justice and Equity.  
Cease not therefore to fear God, when his plagues are most upon you: for the more you suffer, the more glorious shall be your Crown: Satan can go no farther in punishing you, than the Lord will permit him for your good.  
job teacheth us not to measure God's favour by the vehemency of the disease wherewith we are perplexed: for than might job, and peradventure yourself suppose that God had cast you off, because he useth often to leave his own without help, and most wonderful afflicted with sores, sorrows, and diseases. As we rest contented with prosperity: so should we be with adversity, acknowledging his mercy in the former, and his justice in the latter; still bridling our Impatiency or murmuring against God.  
judge none the more sinful because of their sorrows, neither ought we to be weary of our lives, because we are subject to infirmities: But because we are given to sin and rebellion against God; therefore should we fear and tremble, and the rather because murmuring against God in affliction doth but increase the pain, and uttereth man's folly. job 5.17. Behold, blessed is the man whom God correcteth. Therefore refuse not thou the chastisements of the Almighty: vers. 18. For he maketh the wound, and bindeth it up, he smiteth, and his hands make whole. God sendeth trouble after trouble, that his Childred may not for one time, but continually trust in the Lord; and how they shall have a comfortable issue even in their greatest and last temptation: which promise though it be not always performed, yet it doth the LORD recompense it otherwise, to their advantage.  
My GOD might damn me to Hell, whilst he whippeth me for Heaven: the afflictions I sustain, came for my own sins; and promise to my soul through my Saviour Christ jesus, a most happy conquest over them all.  
By afflictions God keepeth us as in prison, and restraineth us from doing evil; neither can any set at liberty but God our Lord, who is not rigorous to any, but righteous to all. God sanctify your afflictions, and free you from misery, comfort you in Paradise, and establish you really with Glory, Amen.   

Wednesday Meditations.  
WHen the LORD doth visit us, and not presently free us out of trouble; we must beware and take heed that we murmur not against God: to require, or grudge at his chastisements. God sometimes suffers his even to wrestle against desperation, and to see no glimmering of his mercies; sometimes again he causeth the hearts of his dearest Children to leap for joy, then making his Majesty most known, when it may tend most for the comfort of the Elect; Learn we all to wait the Lords leisure for our deliverance, not to prescribe his time, but stay his leisure; and willingly wait till he comfort us again.  
God forgetteth not to be gracious, though sometimes he seemeth, as though he would shut up his loving kindness in displeasure: Howsoever it pleaseth GOD now and then to humble his Children, yet he forsaketh them not for ever.  
What are many nights of afflictions in comparison of the joyful morning, and sunshine of the everlasting mercies and favours of God: These, these rejoice our souls, and comfort our hearts which are oppressed with sorrow. Deutro. 8.16. The Lord humbleth his Chosen people, and proveth them that he may do them good at their latter end.  
A man may gather more undoubted assurance of GOD'S everlasting favours towards his soul, by inward afflictions, then by any outward prosperity in the world.  
Let us all consider the manner of Gods dealing with his people in the world, he will now and then spoil us of all our Senses, and feeling of his Mercies in Christ; yea, suffer us to lie bleeding in our miseries, yea, scorhed and tormented with the heat of God's anger for sin. But when our hope rests even gone, then doth our heavenly Father send a gracious rain, and a blessed shower, to quench the heat of our poor afflicted souls for sin, which shall be as mercy to men in smart and misery.  
Object. But tell me this, Object. why seeketh God his servants in so much misery?  
Ans. To make us all to depend of him only with faith and patience. Answ.  
Secondly, to make us to know and see that we are nothing of ourselves, but that all the strength we have, it is only in Christ. Thirdly, to stir up our hearts to seek and pray unto the Lord more earnestly for help and secure. Fourthly, to make us esteem the mercy of God more highly, because things easily come by, are lightly esteemed; but things long in getting, costing much trouble and pains, are most set by: often therefore doth the Lord defer his mercy unto the last gasp, that so it might be the more esteemed.  
Oh wait we GOD'S leisure, though he defer long, and seem to forget us: we hope Lord, for life in the midst of death, and say, though thou kill us, yet will we trust in thee; although thou defer thine help and comfort for many years, yet will we never let go our hold, but still hang on thy mercy with our hands of Faith, saying thus; Lord, though thou hast already whipped me diverse ways, yet will I never forget to meet thee with my repentant tears: well knowing thou esteemest nothing when Reformation of heart and life is wanting.  
judgements come eftsoons from God for our sins, yet layeth he no more crosses upon us, than he in mercy will make us well able to bear: granting such an issue, as we shall gain more in the Spirit, than we shall lose in the flesh.  
Content yourself my Brethren, the Cross in GOD'S due time shall be your advantage, and leave a sure blessing behind it; GOD imposing no punishments upon us but for our sins, the trial of our Faith, Patience, etc.  
For our Heavenly Father doth afflict us with light affliction, to make us run unto him and kiss his rod: he afflicting us for our good, the reformation of our lives, and the salvation of our souls.  
I deny not but the best of God's children may be afflicted with sickness and wounds, with troubled Consciences. God's rod being good both to purge our corrupt and cankered hearts, and for the humbling of them throughly to the exercise of faith, patience, and prayer.  
He knows little that knows not this, how the poor Members of CHRIST must be afflicted, and live in sorrow, sickness, and grief of mind; yet granteth the Lord patience to endure all.  
By tears, sorrows, and grievous sickness, doth God file away the cankered rust of our Rebellions, that we might be more fervent in Prayer, hunger more after Heaven, and the more eagerly depend of his fatherly goodness, and divine graces. When we do ask one thing, he giveth us another that's better for us, that we might learn wholly to depend of his goodness all the days of our lives. Are you in distress, fling yourself into the blessed Arms of the LORDS mercy, so will he undoubtedly give you everlasting rest unto your souls: such is the love of GOD, that he never fails nor forsakes his Children.  
Never despair for any troubles, but persuade your soul this, that the God of peace will shortly tread down Satan under your feet: he is faithful that have made us this promise. Rom. 16.20. 
Rom. 16.20.   
Affliction being our portion on earth, we must labour to get faith and patience in our souls, that so we may hold out unto the end. As we are God's Children, we find no promise in the Word of God to be freed from temptations and trials, poverty, sickness, etc.  
Howbeit as we are God's Children, we have this promise, that these things shall never hurt us, because the Lord will so sanctify them unto us, as they will surely leave a blessing behind them.  
In time of danger and death, nought in the world should more comfort us then this, to remember that we have walked before GOD in truth, and with an upright heart. Esay 28.3. This cheered Ezechiah when he was going the way of all flesh, that he had undertaken much pains to know the LORDS Will.  
The best Christian is the most covetous in all heavenly knowledge of God, and our salvation by jesus Christ; the Child of God is no sooner in peril, but the Lord putteth under his own hand to deliver him from death and danger.  
Forget not God who saith, Esay 54.17.8. For a little time have I forsaken thee, but with great compassion will I gather thee. 
Psal. 34.17 18.  Psal. 34.17.18. The Lord is near unto all those that are of a contrite heart, and will save such as are afflicted in spirit.  
Doth not our Saviour comfort his Disciples thus, john 14.18. I will not leave you comfortless, but I will come unto you, even I, and I am with you to the end of the world.  
Doubt not but there is coming a time of refreshing, that will break out as the rising of the Sun, and the bright beams of the Morning after a tempestuous Night: which of all things will be then most joyful and comfortable. When deliverance shall be most welcome, then will she break forth: Howsoever the hope that is deferred, may for a time be the fainting of the heart, yet when the desire cometh, it is as a Tree of Life. Proverbs 13.12.  
The Children of God learn by Adversity to come home to their heavenly Father's house. For when neither preaching, nor praying, blessings, nor threatening will cause them to come: then come the Plague and Pestilence, Famine, and War of themselves, mere crosses, but sanctified by God unto us, if we make right use of them: wherefore the state of affliction is safer than the estate of prosperity. The Philistines could not understand Sampsons' Riddle, how sweet came out of sour, and meat out of the eater. No more can the worldly minded understand, that tribulation bringeth out patience, and momentary afflictions a most excellent weight of eternal glory.  
Crosses for the present, it's true; they are not pleasant: but afterwards they bring the quiet fruit of Righteousness unto them which are thereby exercised. 
Esay 26.16 Luke 15.18.  See Esay 26.16. Psal. 1.17. Luke 15.18.  
Know this all ye people, that there is more solid joy in suffering rebuke with Christ our Master, then in all the pleasures of sin which are but for a season. Why doth God oft thus visit our English Nation, and as it were the very City and Seat of our Sovereign, with the famous Academies of Oxford and Cambridge? but to this end, that troubles visiting us, we, even this whole Nation might pour out our prayers, whilst his chastening is upon us, or our brethren; as Hager prayed while Ishmael cried.  
The Israelites in time of their prosperity, forgot God and all the mighty works which he had done for them. Psalm 119.71. Therefore suffered he them to wander in the Wilderness, 
Psalm. 119  where they found no City to dwell in: then cried they unto the Lord in their troubles, and he delivered them out of their distresses.  
Did the Prodigal son ever intent to return home again to his Father, till the Famine Pinched him? No, no, it was the Famine that met him and pinching him at the heart, made him to resolve to pack home to his Father, acknowledge his fault, and entreat him for pardon. jonas slept in the ship, but he both watched and prayed in the Whale. It is good, saith jeremy, Lam. 3.27. 
Lam 3 27  for a man to bear the yoke in his youth: And David acknowledgeth it good for him to be afflicted. And our Saviour Christ telleth us, that our heavenly Father's manner is, to purge every branch that it may bring forth more fruit.  
Afflictions are of singular use, to turn us unto God: Suffer we them therefore to turn us, and to bring us home to our Heavenly Father's house and presence.  
Truly there is nothing better for any of us all, young or old, man or Woman, than afflictions, if God sanctify them unto us, and give us the true use of it, it will make us search our hearts, and call our lives to account: yea compel us to run unto God by earnest and hearty Repentance and prayer, denying ourselves, and relying on the mercies of God in Christ.  
True it is, that no Visitation for the present is sweet, but afterwards it bringeth the Fruit of Righteousness to such as are thereby exercised, more solid joys in suffering with Christ, then rest in Worldly pleasures, that endure but for a season.  
Whatsoever befalls us, look we always to the hands of God, and observe we his angry Countenance towards us by reason of our sins, and horrible impieties: Labour we to reform our faults, and mark we from whose hands our punishments come.  
This observation will be a good means to bridle us, and keep us from impatience, murmuring, and muttering against the Lord: Think this of God's judgements, that they come not by chance unto us, but look we unto the hand of GOD: Who saith, I draw my sword, I kill and make alive, I send the plague and pestilence to consume and to Destroy.  
In all this, let us say with the Psalmist 119.75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right, and that thou hast afflicted me justly, laying no more upon me, than thou enablest me to bear: The Spirit of GOD teacheth us wholly to rely, depend, and wait duly upon his gracious promise, whose Countenance is still towards us: Weigh well what true comfort and happiness it is unto a poor distressed soul to hear, come thou hither, I am thy Salvation. It is the manner of me (the God of all flesh) never to strike with my judgements, but first to give warning: so as if men willbe wise to believe my Word, and amend their lives, they may avoid my judgements, or going on in Vice and folly, be most worthily plagued and punished.  
It is the Lords mercy to admonish before he correct us: He speaks sometimes unto us by himself, and sometimes by Christ jesus: the wisdom of the Father crying and calling us to hear his voice, and to receive Instruction, using fair means to win us, rather than threatenings to fright us.  
Let us all, I beseech you, be reclaimed by his Word and gentle Voice, before his Wand showing Wrath, and the prepared rod both Wrath and Displeasure: Are we weak; they are means to Repentance and Reconciliation: look we back therefore unto our former Race of years, craving his Majesty to deal mercifully with us. Let us take heed that we accuse not God of any hard dealing, but rather accuse the hardness of our own hearts, that are so unwilling to be warned by his Word and judgements.  
The Lord doth often humble us, to bring us home to himself, by his Word and by his judgements; yea, his mercies, & the motions of his spirit doth our heavenly Father use to humble us. So plagues and judgements, woes and miseries doth the Lord cause to light upon us, mealting even away (as it were) our corruptions in the boiling Cauldron of common Calamities.  
God by sickness teacheth us not to trust in our strength, for we are as a staff in a man's hand; except the Lord hold us up, we cannot stand, but down we fall one way or another; as Peter had into hell, if Christ had not held out his helping hand.  
We are all the Lords Servants, hired to labour in his Vineyard, and therein to persever unto the very evening of our days, dedicating unto him both Cure, Souls, and Substances, Lives, and Labours.  
Lay hold betimes of the mercies of God in Christ jesus, and let neither sorrows nor sicknesses make us to shrink from him. Afflictions are of excellent use, to turn us unto God, both the Church of God in general, and the servants of God in particular: When they do not profitably use prosperity, nor behave themselves thankfully in the day of peace, they must be touched with Crosses and Troubles, sicknesses and sorrows, which will cause us all to call our evil ways to remembrance, and turn our feet to God's Testimonies.  
It is the Promise of God, 2. Samu. 7.14.15. To David and his Posterity, 
2. Sam. 7.14.15.  that he will be his Father, and the Father of his Seed; and sinning he will chasten us with the rod of men, and with the plagues of the Children of men: That is, gently as Fathers chastise their Children, but never take his mercies from us.  
Why are we often scourged of our heavenly Father? but because we are frozen in the dregs of corruptions, we spend our days in careless security, without an holy fear of his Name: Therefore cometh his holy hand to change our estates, to awaken us from wickedness, to chasten us with his rods, and to purge us with fire. Turn we our hearts towards our heavenly home, cease we never until we get fast hold of his most holy hand, that can powerfully draw us through Hell to Heaven. It is God's favour to call us from Hell by afflictions, and thereby to break in us the power of sin, and to let out such corrupt blood, as else would much hinder the thriving of the best graces (of our most merciful Father) more souls, and this is oftentimes one cause: why we are eftsoons held long in the Cabin of Care, and bed of Afflictions and woes, by reason that through wilful wantonness, we abuse our strength, and to the great dishonour of God, and ruin of our souls. Did not the sufferings of our Saviour shield us from damnation? Seek ye ever to be bettered in Obedience, reform in the whole man, humbled under God's hands, examining your hearts what sinful actions have passed from you, that the Lord should thus strike and visit you. After sight of your sins, be sorrowful in soul, and humbled in heart; marking well what God doth still aim at: Not by sorrowful sickness to destroy you, or to confound you; but to enforce you to call your own soul to sigh, and your very heart so to see your own sins, as (in a sanctified course) you may come home to yourself, and say from your soul, this surely resteth the correcting hand of God, which now striketh me for my sins. I will now therefore return unto my heavenly Father by true repentance: for he that now striketh me, will both heal me, and help me; or perceiving of God's anger, and feeling of his judgements upon us, should cause us to sigh and sob, and go softly; yea, to seek the Lord early, who in judgement remembreth Mercy: and howsoever God whip and scourge us (that are his Children) yet his mercies will he never take from us.  
Be you sure that God humbleth you no otherwise in the world, than he handled his only Son, who hath begun to drink to you this bitter potion; not only assaying it, but drinking to you a full draught. It's not only a comfort, but a glory, to be partner, and fellow-sufferer with CHRIST, who delighteth to see in us some representation of himself.  
We are no members of Christ, if we participate not with him of the persecutions and injuries of this life. Our heavenly Father will never hold back his mercies from those, whom our Saviour entreateth mercies, we can not be overcharged who are charged with Christ, who from every cross hath now taken away both the Infamy and the Curse, and hath made it a Tribunal and a Throne of judgement for for all the World. Christ hath now made the action of bearing the Cross both inblameable and honourable.  
Are you afflicted in Conscience, get you unto Christ, that good Samaritane, who will pour Wine and Oil into our wounds.  
Christ suffered, all had all against him for us, and will we contentedly suffer nothing for him? did ever any trust in God, and was not delivered?  
Or did God ever finally forsake those whom he favoured? Or is deliverance from temporal calamities an assured sign of God's favours? Surely no; for the judgements of God are both secret and unsearchable; nothing making us miserable or happy, but that which is eternal: Cry we therefore, Lord, so sanctify our griefs, as thou communicate therewith thy Graces unto us. Let every calamity and cross admonish us of our Disobedience, that first brought into this world sicknesses, and sorrows, molestations, and miseries, diseases and death. O let us be glad to suffer troubles, and travels in this world, esteeming our whole time of life, as the forty year's travel into the Land of promise; or as the six days of labour which go before the Sabbath of rest.  
O Lord, we are all but as Lamps of Clay, and as unpolished pieces of Wood, yet do we humbly present ourselves unto thee, make of us what it pleaseth thee: We offer ourselves wholly unto thee, desiring to depend altogether upon thee  
This World jere. 30.7. is a time of jacobs' travel, yet shall he be defrom it.  
The Lord of Hosts will break the enemy's yoke from off his own people's neck, so that Strangers shall no more serve themselues of jacob.  
This is the comfort of God's people, that howsoever God punisheth, yet it is to save them▪ though he correcteth us by his judgements, yet will he not utterly cut us off in his anger.  
If our bruisings were incurable, then were our wounds dolorous, if no Plaster or Medicine could help us, than were our case most desperate.  
But we have a Saviour, and most kind Samaritane, restoring our souls both from death and danger: yet as the Iron must be well heated in the fire, ere it can be wrought with the Hammer, and driven out on the Anvil: So may we not pass to the Palace of Paradise, till first we suffer many strokes of holy temptations, and pass through the fire of piercing trials. The holy Saints, and blessed Martyrs have thus passed through this world of woe, and come to the Crown of glory.  
God is eftsoons sending troubles and afflictions to such as he best loveth, because they should not busy their thoughts with worldly occasions, but still be labouring and hasting on their journey towards Heaven. It is the wisdom of God to deal roughly with his chosen Children, making their lives both painful and laborious to them, to cause them to make the more haste to finish their journey, without loitering in the shadow of this world, and so to lose the daylight, and go on stumbling in the dark.  
Nothing is more honourable for any Knight or Soldier, then to bear the Arms of his King and Captain, neither to any true Christian, then for to suffer travel and persecution, as his forgiver and keeper jesus Christ hath done.  
Learn we all to wade through calamities after our Captain, looking for that Day which may enrich us with eternal happiness: I beseech you make benefit of your present tribulation.  
God's people must remember that it is safer sailing through the bitter stormy seas of afflictions, then dancing at pleasure upon the calm streams of Vanities. But who flies from Prosperity, as from the Pestilence. Or think themselves safest, when it is farthest from them.  
Our way to Heaven, is not by prosperity or high looks, treading on our Neighbour's necks, and contemning of the poor: but through persecutions and crosses, revile, scoffings, and all ignominies of the world, which patiently we must endure and suffer, for our Saviour's sake.  
Shall the Ostrich digest hard Iron to preserve her health: The Soldier endure hardness, to achieve the Conquest: the sick Patient swallow bitter pills, to be eased of his grief: and shall we neither abide soars nor sicknesses, storms nor tempests to get into the place of bliss, and Kingdom of Glory.  
As jacob thought his seven year's service short, for the great Love that he bore to Rachel: So should all the tribulations of this World, for the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord will surely save the souls of his Servants that put their trust in him, Psal. 86.2. and call daily upon him.  
He would not bid us call and cry unto him, unless he meant to ponder our humble desires; let us truly worship him on earth, and he will surely glorify us in Heaven: If we but once hearty desire to walk in the truth, God will so knit our hearts unto him, that we shall surely find deliverance from the nethermost Hell.  
God will not finally fail to strengthen his Servants, to show some token upon you for good, so as you shall be both helped and comforted. Psal. 86. Though the Lord our God sometimes turns his face from us, yet will he at last satisfy us with his mercies, and being his servants, show us his glory, Psal. 90.16. Yea, 
Psal. 90.16  the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God shall be upon us, verse 17.  
O persuade yourself to be under the defence of the Lord, and to abide under the shadow of the Almighty: so shall you be safe under the Wings of God; his faithfulness and Truth shallbe your shield and buckler: So high hath God set an house of defence for all his Children; 
Psa. 91.15  as he will deliver them from horror, and bring them to honour. Psalm 91.15. Oh happy, and thrice happy are you, when for the voice of your groaning, your very bones will scarce cleave to your skin; and when you do now and then mingle your drink with Weeping, and washing your bed with brinish tears, wailing for your sins: never think but that God which hath cast you down, will undoubtedly take you up. 
Ps. 101.10  Psalm 102.10.  
What though your Spirit be vexed within you, and that your heart within you be desolate and gasping; yet lift your souls to God, fly unto him to hide you, so shall he lead you into the Land of Righteousness, keep you from trouble, and guide you into the Celestial chamber of Presence, where as no enemies shall vex you, because you are his Servants.  
O the mercies of our most gracious God and Heavenly father, who whilst in justice he might consume you for sin: He sanctifieth unto you your present visitation, that your flesh being wounded with fear, you might possess your souls by dreading the mighty power of God, and escape his Wrath, neither strucken with terror, nor once tasting his judgements. Look you never Despair, because God which smiteth, healeth. Hosea 6. 
Hosea 6.  And tendereth his pardon, before that we perish. jonas 3. Desire we should still to have our Heavenly Father to correct us in mercies to amendment, but not to plague us to our destruction. judith 8. job. 
job. 11.  11. Wis. 11.  
You cannot call faithfully upon God, but he helpeth: Nor trust truly in him, and be confounded. job 5. The Lord bringeth back from the gates of Death, and restoreth the sick to their former health: yet use we must the Physician, and medicinable potions, for the procuring and maintaining of our health. As King Hezekiah being sick, he prayed and wept, using these means to pacify God's anger: And though GOD could have healed Hezekiah without means; yet God directed his Prophet to apply a plaster of Figs to his sore, to ripen and heal it.  
Thus are we taught how to behave ourselves in times of our sickness: First to pray to our heavenly Father for health, and that with troubled tears, and penitential cries. And then to use profitable means, and not to neglect them: If at any time men think to prepare themselves to dye, especially when they are in the greatest dangers, sick and in the way to the Grave, and so to judgement: now see you have a charitable heart towards all men. David was careless in God's service, before he was afflicted. Psalm 119. jeremiah never thinketh it too soon to suffer the Cross. Luke 9.23. Our Saviour saith, that we must take up the Cross daily, although nothing did better befit us, than afflictions. There is nothing better than it, so God doth vouchsafe to sanctify it unto you, and give you the true use of it.  
For it will make you search your heart, and call your former Life to account: sickness humbleth, makes you see your weakness, compels you to run to God by most earnest and hearty prayer: Enforceth you to deny yourself, and to put your trust and confidence in GOD'S mercies, through the merits of jesus Christ.  
The Lords bringing any calamities upon us, or upon our family, is to seek him early, that he may remove his judgements from us the sooner: All chastisements and afflictions, yea all judgements and corrections come from the Lord alone, he sendeth them, he imposeth them, and lays them on us, he moderates them at his pleasure, his quiver rests full of such Arrows, to hit, hurt, and consume us, or in his Fatherly kindness to correct and better us in our courses.  
Remember we ever, that Satan who could not enter into the heard of Swine without Christ's leave: he hath his power bounded and limited by God, so as he cannot either touch us, or torment any of God's people without his leave and permission, God's providence being over the Sparowes in the Field, and hairs of our head, will never neglect the Salvation of our Souls, being a matter of much more weighty worth and moment.  
This being clear, that all our Afflictions come from God unto us, we must needs learn patience under the cross: knowing that the times thereof are still determined by God, and how they will leave a blessing behind them, giving us fare more in spirit, than we lose in the flesh. Assoon as we are afflicted by the hands of God, we should presently labour to have our Souls and Consciences disburdened of sin. Yea, we should learn to be bettered by our afflictions, confess our sins, and bewail them with tears: and not with Pharaoh to harden our hearts: but to Remember with Trembling, that the Righteous themselves shall scarcely be saved.  
We may not measure God's favour towards us by our outward blessings or crosses. Eccle. 9.2. All things come a like to all, to the Just as to the wicked: Nay afflictions are tokens of the Lords love, the Child is corrected the servant cashiered.  
Are we God's Wheat Math. 13.12. we must be cut with the Sickle, threshed with the Flail, undergo many blows, and be ground to powder, with the Millstones of afflictions, nay baked in the Oven of a Wounded conscience, before we can be bread for the Lords Table.  
Art thou the servant of God? thy heart must be wounded for thy sins: Who ever were more dejected then David and job; 
job. 31.  job 13. Psalm 6. Wounded they were both in bodies and souls: the Lord seemed to shoot at them, as at a mark; the venom of his Arrows pierced their souls, and drunk up their spirits: yet at the last were Their Prayers heard, and their tears seen. Esay 38.5.  
One drop of the blood of Christ jesus, to a dying man, for the Salvation of his soul, is worth ten thousand Worlds. We being wounded, must learn to fly to God, who only heals and binds up the wounds of our souls: Our God is merciful and gracious, yea his bowels earn within him to do us all good. Build we upon his promises, as upon a sure foundation, that shall never be removed, Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but his Word shall not pass away.  
We have the Word and Oath of God, as two unchangeable witnesses so that we cannot be deceived. Again, we have the Sacraments of God as two Authentic Seals, to ratify his promises, and to make them sure unto us: Again, we have the pawn of his Spirit to assure us of his love and favour.  
Now as with sickness God chasteneth for sin: so is he indeed the spiritual Physician of our souls, to heal all our sores, and bind up our wounds. Be not ashamed to lay open your sins, the sores of your souls to Christ jesus: Are you now spiritually wounded, make your moan to Christ jesus, beg as for life and death for one drop of his precious blood, to cure your diseased souls, there is no plaster to cure us but the blood of our Saviour.  
To him therefore let us run, and make our moan unto him; fear we not to lay open our wounded souls and distressed consciences unto him, that is a most merciful Physician to our diseased souls. The plaster is tempered, & wilt thou none of it? shall thy soul rot in sin, & wilt thou despise God mercies in Christ jesus? Is not Christ jesus the Physician of our souls? binds he not up our wounds? powers he not the oil of Grace into our hearts? Cures not he our wounded Consciences? Doth not he wrap us in the robes of his own Righteousness, and pour out the oil of Grace, even the precious blood of his own heart for our everlasting Salvation? I desire you to know this, that it cometh to pass many times in God's Children, that the sense and feeling of God's favour is oftentimes extinguished, as the comfortable heat and light of the Sun is taken away by some thick Clouds. Our faith is so weak, that some times we think God himself to have forgotten us, and hide his face from us, that he will see us no more.  
But as after night the Sun herself doth comfort us, so after the cloudy night of affliction, the light beams of God's mercy do rejoice our souls.  
So long as it pleaseth God to sanctify our crosses, they shall work for our good, and never departed from us, till they leave a blessing behind them. Doubt you not but he that is privy to our prayers, will in love deliver us at last from all troubles and calamities.  
God's humbling us, is to break down our pride and conceitedness, to pray the more earnestly, never to be left to ourselves, lest we run and rush headlong into Hell: No crosses should daunt us, but rather drive us fast forward in the way unto Heaven. Herein are we discerned to be the Servants of God, and Disciples of Christ, in that we bear stoutly whatsoever burden the LORD layeth upon us, the patiented enduring the heavy hand of the LORD, is the way to save our lives, and not to lose them. Mark 8.35.  
Our bodies are all like old rotten Houses, which must be pulled down, and new builded again; else can we not dwell in them with safety and delight; our souls lament soar, and desire to be settled in more heavenly habitations, still groan we for that glory which cometh after the Resurrection. God will hedge thy ways, darken thy paths, spoil thee of thine Honour, take the Crown from thine head, remove thy hopes, and beset thy soul with the Armies of afflictions, causing thy familiars to forget thee, and thy kindred to forsake thee in the midst of all thy maladies: yet depend thou on Christ our Redeemer, and peace shall come: Doth the Lord tarry? we must wait and comfort our hearts until he help us.  
Whatsoever our troubles be, peace is our best plea; stay we the Lord's leisure, and he will comfort our hearts, and solace our sighing souls, and will thereby make us more glorious to God and man.  
Care we for no crosses whilst we have such inward comforts, the world's buckering, and buffet with Satan's winnowings, rest all as comfortable crosses to help us to the Crown.  
As there is no rest without toil, no Peace without War: so look we for no place of bliss, until we be with Christ our Master, well buffeted before hand in the Service of God, there is little looking for freedom from afflictions, the way to Heaven being strawed with thorns, rather than flowers.  
jacob wrestled four times, first, in the womb with Esau, Gen. 25.22. 
Gen. 25.22.  secondly, in his journey with Esau, Gen. 32.3. thirdly, in Mesopotamia with Laban, fourthly, at bethel with the Angel. To teach us, that if we willbe the Israel of God, we must be armed for all trials, at all times, in all places, and with all persons, well knowing this, that at the length we being the Israelites of God, shall never be left without a blessing at the last, God's Children shall never be without trouble, till the world be with out hatred, the Devil without envy, and our Nature without corruption, we must be fined from our dross, and renewed as the Eagle, never resting safe and sure until we soar up into the bosom of our Saviour.  
God doth not only by his Word, but also by his justice make us fit for his Kingdom: Do you think me now to be your friend, and to speak truth unto you; trust me, there hath no temptation befallen you, but that which appertaineth to the Children of God; our GOD is faithful and true, and hath promised to give an issue with the temptation.  
Against temptations hear Esay comforting Gods Children, and crying to jerusalem, that her warfare is accomplished, her iniquity pardoned, and that she hath received at the LORDS hand double for her sins. Esay 40. Dost thou faint? art thou weary? in him that hath no strength God out Heavenly Father increaseth power, verse 31. Such as wait upon the Lord shall receive their strength, run without wearisomeness, and walk without fainting, verse 31.  
Are we not by faith the Israel of God, as his servant jacob whom he hath chosen, and the seed of Abraham his friend? Chap. 41.8. listen to the Lord, verse 9 Thou art my Servant, I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away, verse 10. Fear not, for I am with thee; be not afraid, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, and help thee; and will sustain thee with the right hand of my justice. Esay 41.14. I the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not; I will help thee. verse 14. Fear not thou worm jacob, and ye men of Israel, I will help thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the holy one of Israel. Esay 42.16 I will not forsake thee, but make darkness light, and crooked things strait unto thee.  
Esay 43.1. Thus saith the Lord that created thee O jacob, and he that form thee O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, thou art mine; when thou passest thorough the water, I will be with thee thorough the floods that they do not overflow thee. When thou walkest thorough the very fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Fear not, for I am with thee; I will bring thy seed from the East, and gather thee from the West, Esay 43.11. I, even I am the Lord; besides me, there is no Saviour. And verse 25. I, even I am he that putteth away thine iniquities for mine own Names sake, and will not remember thy sins.  
Math. 11.28. Come to me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will ease you.  
And learn this Lesson should we all, to suffer according to the will of God, committing our souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1. Pet. 4.19. When our heavenly Father's rods light upon us as it did upon job 9.34. then must we entreat him with tears, not so to astonish us with fears, but that we may speak unto him, when once he hath clad us with the robes of his Righteousness, and washed us white in the blood of the Lamb, Reuel. 7.14.  
If we be afflicted in body or mind, cry mightily unto God, 
Reuel. 14.15.  saying; Reuel. 14.15. Reap O Lord, thine own Corn, thrust in thy Sickle, the time is come to reap, I thy haruest-corne am ripe and ready for the Garner: Yea, a Cluster of thy Vineyard, and a Grape for thy Press, yea, in Christ jesus a draught to delight thee, gather me O my Redeemer as wheat into thine own Garner. But why do I cry so long unto my God and gracious Father? sure I am I shall not dye until my Lord and God speak the word, saying unto me as once he did unto Israel, You have dwelled long enough in this place. 
Deu. 1.16  Deutro. 1.16.  
Let no pangs or pains fright us from our heavenly Father, we knowing that our eldest Brother Christ jesus, the very Author of our life, was condemned to death Matthew 20.18. and that even then when he came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life a Ransom for many. The Lord jesus so open your eyes, that receiving the true sight, you may follow him that courageously through Death went himself unto life.  
Fear no danger to be in death, it cannot be but a good Entry that the faithful pass unto by death's cruelty.  
Dread not, neither be afraid, for when we renounce our own strength, and constantly follow our own vocation, and depend on the Lord; this resteth the true boldness, and most agreeable to God: such Calebs' rest fittest to enjoy the land of promise, as treading it with the feet both of themselves and of their Children, do most constantly still follow the LORD Deuteronomy 1.36.  
Know this, there is no strength in ourselves, where the hand of God is not ready pressed to yield help: there is no standing but falling, when we fight without our Captain.  
You must know this, and all such as now fear the Lord, that God will ever help his beloved in their necessities, marry, the times and hours are best known to him who at his pleasure most mercifully revealeth them unto us by his Spirit. 2. Kings 7. verse 7. to teach us both to look, stay, and wait upon his holy and divine pleasure and will. Be you not afraid God will comfort you, you have lived long like a Christian, die now like a Saint, surely sanctified with Grace from on High. Foelix somnus cum requie, requies cum voluptate, voluptas cum aeternitate Petrus Daws de Stephan. Pleasant and happy is that sleep which cometh with rest, rest with pleasure, and pleasure with Eternity. Send your thoughts before you into Heaven, as holy Harbingers of your happy soul, and see whether there be not a desire in you to receive the blessed Sacrament, Viaticum aeternitatis, a blessed bait for each devout soul ready to travel for another life. It is the mercies of our God to make death the way to life, and by the way of mortality to  us with Immortality. Oh the ineffable Mercies and Wisdom of God, to sever our souls from the dregs of our bodies, to enjoy the presence of God, and be environed with troops of Angels, and souls of blessed Saints.  
Let us not with the old Arcadians mourn one night for the setting of the Sun, for we shall be comforted by the breaking of the day; when we shall see him to shine again in his Sphere.  
The people that were enraged at the death of Romulus, were quieted by Proculus his news, that he saw him in Glory riding up to Heaven. Much more must we Christians remain full of hope at the death of the Righteous, which are laid to sleep with their Fathers.  
Who amongst you do not mourn to behold the manifold outrages of the Children of Beliall in this so glorious a Sunshine of the Gospel: Fear not death my dear Brethren, but rather desire with hearty tears to be removed from the seat of sinners, and scorners. Where some rest so unchaste, that moderate and modest Christians may not safely consort with them: Some so insolent and proud, that you may not plainly rebuke them of their faults: Some so unsatiable and gluttonous, that you may not long sit with them: and generally amongst sinners of unsanctified hearts was godliness never more urged, yet never less regarded, though malice by every mouth debased, yet never did she bear more rule.  
Godly Preachers were never more publicly painful: yet public pains did never less profit in private: The Catholic and Apostolic faith, was never since the Apostles times taught more truly, yet seldom seen less to Fructify: Such is yet the Satanical seminary of green growing iniquity and sins amidst the sons of men. Few now in these days do remember how that the Cherubins of gold upon the two ends of the Mercy Seat, were a Work beaten with the Hammer: Places of Prerogatives and Honour, are not easily come unto: Neither can we pass to Heaven, but by Hell: Gods scourging us, showeth that he love us, and meaneth to manifest unto the World whether we be slaves or sons.  
There is no greater Temptation, then to think God our enemy, going about to destroy us, in withdrawing the most comfortable signs of his favour from us, than yet must we rest upon the Lord, and by Faith cleave unto him.  
What though by outward sense we are rejected of God, yet by our Faith must we still apprehend his hidden mercies, and behold it a far off, in the Glass of God's Promises: Nay, although the Lord fail us, yet let us not leave him, until that he have blessed us, well Knowing his love, that he will hold with the one hand, when he assails us with the other, proving and Exercising our Faith, as he did the Woman's of Canaan. Matth. 15.22. First, 
Math. 15.22.  Christ gave her Faith, and by that Faith was she mooned to seek to him: but when she was once come unto him, he gave her three Repulses. First, by saying nothing; Secondly, by denying her: And thirdly by calling her Dog. Mark we how Christ made show, as though he would never have granted her request: yet at every repulse, she grew the more instant, crying more earnestly unto him; she opposed herself unto Christ, and would take no denial.  
Mark we all here, the nature of true Faith, if you do now rest faithful, though you feel yourself overwhelmed with sin, turmoiled with Satan's conflicts, yea, and God himself both angry and offended with you. Yet can you lift up your eyelids to Heaven, and give a glimpse at the Brazen Serpent Christ jesus, flinging yourself into the Arms of GOD'S mercy, and catching hold of that hand buffetting you, and kiss it: Then fear not, we must not pass for the malice of men, but have an eye unto the mercies of God, well knowing, that yet it is not made manifest what we shall be: But we know that when Christ shallbe made manifest, we shallbe like unto him, for we shall see him as he is. 1. joh. 3.2.  
Do not I pray you, measure the Love of God unto your soul, either by your prosperity, or by your Adversity: well considering that these rest common, both unto bad & good: Take heed and beware of persuading yourselves to be in the depth of God's favours, whilst you enjoy temporal peace, and external glory: for Christ fled into the mountain, when he heard they would come to make him King, choosing rather to be there alone, then for to enjoy a transitory Crown.  
To keep you now from despair, consider I pray you all, or some of God's former mercies towards you: He hath protected you both in your Infancy, Childhood, and Youth, and multiplied upon you many positive blessings, let all these pleaders prevail for your faithful and hearty service to so heavenly a Master. If any countenance a servant, and give him means and maintenance, he would take it ill to leave him, and serve his very enemies: yet so do sinners, that forgetting Gods favours towards them, fly unto the professed enemies of God, yea, of Christ's Church and Gospel, I mean the Devil himself; from whom to be saved, sigh we still to be anointed, until we be crowned, anointed here with the oil of gladness in this Church militant, that we may be crowned hereafter with the Church triumphant, 2. Tim. 48. Desire the Lord to make your bed in your sickness, & that the voice of joy & health may be heard in your habitation, account no privilege so precious as to be in GOD'S fnuour, and have access to the Throne of Grace, and upon all occasions to see the golden Sceptre stretched out unto you: your prayers heard, your petitions granted, and your suit obtained; assure yourself that Christ sendeth no sinners discontented or empty handed from him. Solomon craved Wisdom, Paul power against Satan's buffet, Ezechias and David deliverance from Enemies, Moses from drowning, and the Thief from damning. No petition put up from a sorrowful Soul, and a believing and touched Heart, but receiveth a gracious answer for GOD'S glory and our good: Serve we Christ now upon Earth, and we shall surely sing with him in Glory, trust and rely we still upon God, and he will take us away as he did josias from seeing of Evils, or as he did good Augustine before the sacking of Hippo by the Vandals; or convey us to some other place, as he did Lot when Sodom was burned; or provide some means for our stay, as he did the Ark for Noah when the World was drowned.  
He that saved Moses and the Israelites when the Egyptians were drowned, wants no means to remove our painefullest Maladies; yea to rescue and redeem our lives with the death of our Enemies, as Haman was hanged for Mordecai: saved was the Corn, and burnt were the ●ares, one and the same Flail beats Chaff to be burned, and pure Corn to be preserved. Be not discouraged at the fear of death, knowing (that with Christ) all Christians must die, that the remnants of sin might be quite taken away and abolished, so as the root of old Adam may be most absolutely stocked up. Remember (I pray you) that flesh and blood must be changed, before it can inherit the Kingdom of God, 1. Cor. 15.50 Moreover, the blood as it is old, beginneth by little and little to condensate, and wax thick, and so to corruption. Again, our spirits waste by use and labour, (which wears even the Iron and hardest metals) and both the body and the mind are weakened by corporal and mental exercises. Both of them (like to unthrifty heirs) spending faster than either the father or fosterer of them (the Heart) can digest and gather for them. All these things tell us, that die we all must, rich Dives aswell as poor Lazarus, Simon the wiser, aswell as Naball the fool, Absolom the fair, aswell as Thersites the foulest and fulsome. Tall Saul must go to the Grave, aswell as little Zacheus, godly jonathan aswell as his  Father, both Wife and Husband must participate of the common condition of humane Nature, once to dye. Know this all of you, that no Princes upon the earth can withdraw their necks from this yoke, howsoever some seem as Gods upon the earth, yet must they die like men, be they never so high of birth or blood.  
Though my brethren and sisters, ye wear all golden Crowns, let us all observe how loving our LORD and Master was unto David, in promising unto him a Kingdom: but for many years was he so hunted, and persecuted therein, that he knew not which way to turn himself to find peace and safety. And why was all this, but that he might first become a good man, and then a good King: whosoever will wear the Crown of Glory with Christ, must likewise with him wear the Crown of Thornes.  
Our heavenly Father scourgeth us, to see whether we will hearty love him being our heavenly Physician, or no; and that with our very souls, Deut. 13. Great cause have we all to love him, and that both with our hearts and souls, because the LORD assureth us of the Victory, but that it shall undoubtedly go on our side, howsoever both Satan and Sinners shall strain themselves to the uttermost against us Deu. 8. Moses shows us, how that it resteth God's will, that we all must be afflicted, lest we should boast of our own power, strength, and abundance. It is God's order that he keepeth us withal, as soon as we first enter into his School, he beginneth with the scourge; making us to feel hunger, thirst, poverty, sickness, sorrows, and sundry kinds of adversities, because we are all for the most part of us so wedded to our wanton ways and wills, and so peevishly proud in our own conceits, that our heavenly Father must perforce subdue us by some afflictions, else will we not acknowledge him to be our Master: Although the Thief upon the Cross was received at the last into mercy, yet must we all learn to leave our sins, before they leave us, lest our GOD forsake us, and give us over unto Satan.  
It is a privilege belonging unto us all, which rests Christ's, that God our heavenly Father accepteth our wills and endeavours of obedience, for perfect obedience itself: Eccle. 25.10. Great is he that findeth Wisdom, yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord, the fear of the Lord passeth all things in cleanness. Prou. 14.27. It is the wellspring of life to avoid the snares of death. Affliction and not prosperity resteth for the most part the badge of God's Church, and true note of the members of Christ: God's Word itself teacheth us, that Christ his Kingdom is not of this World. The Israelites which were the people of God, did sojourn as strangers, and were evil entreated 400. years, from Abraham's time to Moses: for it is the condition (for the most part) of the Church of God still to be given into the hands of their enemies, jer. 12. It is truly said that Crux est Ecclesiae nota, the Cross is a note of the Church: Mark not triumphs but troubles, do point out the Lords Servants, and singularize his Saints, unto whom not any disease, plague, or punishment can come without God's providence or sending it. It's not the washing of my flesh in water, but Christ my Saviour his cleansing our souls from sin, that purgeth us from all impurity: As pure Oil must not be beaten, and the best Lamps burned, so the best Christians first crossed, that at the last they be crowned and shine as Lamps before the Lord continually. Let this be a medicine to each Malady, that God by his scourge calls us to glory.  
Let no afflictions move us knowing that as we are Christ's members, we are borne thereunto; and therefore if we feel not God's favour as we wish, we must not think ourselves miserable, because our life lieth hid with Christ in God. Col. 33. Therefore may we not hold it as a hurt unto us, that we rest deprived here of sundry signs of God's favour, he loving us nevertheless as it manifestly appeareth by Moses, and many others, who had many tempests, and troubles, that some even desired to be wiped out of GOD'S Book, who yet have had works and faith towards the Almighty. 2. Esdras 13.23.  
Bless the Lord for his Fatherly rod, and welcome his Wand; 
Wisd. 20.  what he doth, it's in love to free us from wickedness, and convince us of sin. Learn we therefore to be patiented under the hand of Gods lashing us, for so it becometh the children of God, and members of Christ. job. 33. It is by afflictions and corrections, that GOD openeth our Ears, that were sealed up, abating our pride. verse 17. And keepeth back our souls from the Pit, our life from the Sword: yea God will first cast down unto Hell, before he heaveth thee to Heaven, and doom thee to Death, ere he bring thee to Life, because that neither one nor other should be partaker of his praise and glory.  
It is God's ordinance in this world, that his Church and Children, yea every member of his body should be under the Cross, to learn the better to put their whole trust in him, and seek the comfort of the Spirit, which never fails to help the faithful into the land of Promise: Howsoever God leaveth us for the trial of our Faith.  
The two Sacraments, Baptism, and the Lords Supper, remain as pledges of our Salvation. The first, washing away the guiltiness of sin, and the latter strengthening our Faith to our very souls, receiving both the body and blood of Christ jesus, though that no man living can deserve Salvation: yet as God's adopted sons and children, must we all learn, by our good Works, to glorify our Heavenly Father, declaring our true thankfulness for our Redemption, through jesus Christ our only Saviour, and by good Works assuring our Election, and winning others into Life, by our holy conversation in Christ jesus.  
Remember that GOD being made man for us, hath in his own Nature suffered whatsoever our sins deserved, and made us with himself, the children of God, and heirs of eternal life.  
Whereof, lest we should doubt, the Lord hath apppointed the Sacraments, as outward tokens to be seen and felt of us, that we should not doubt of being partakers of Christ himself and his benefits: his righteousness and Holiness is ours, we being borne anew by the Holy Ghost, and walking in righteousness all our days. Learn we all to be no less thankful for sicknesses then for health: for sorrows then for comforts; imprisonment then for liberty; knowing sanctified sorrows open the gates of Heaven, unto the Eternal majesty of God. Our heavenly Father so love's us, that he will lay no other burden upon us, than shallbe to our good and profit: It may be that we have both called and cried unto God in our extremities, and have not been released: what of that, yet must we quiet our minds in this, that as Children we have laid our complaints, griefs, and sorrows, in the bosom of our heavenly Father, (who when he seethe it time convenient) will undoubtedly help us, as certainly as you and I have souls, he never forgetteth the sorrows of his Servants, he still seethe their tears, and putteth them in his bottle.  
Our Heavenly Father, which hath the issues of Death in his hands, will deliver you from danger, shed you never so many tears, they shall all be dried from your Eyes.  
As our Victories in the field come not by our own strength, wisdom, and policy, but by the Divine will and pleasure of our heavenly Father. So in our sickness and weakness, it is neither physic, nor Physician, potion or plaster, drugs, or dainty Dishes can fit us for Paradise; but Faith may convey our souls past the mountains of Lebanon, to the Paradise of God; not only to behold it with our Eyes a fare off, but above the order of nature, most comfortably to enjoy it, Consider often that the Word of God standeth not in bare Knowledge, but in the practice of life: It's not an half service but our full obedience that GOD looketh for: he often promiseth us rewards, not for our merrites, but to encourage that our labour shall not be lost. It is the Lords manner in our greatest weakness, to manifest his power, and in deepest danger make known unto us our salvation.  
Content thyself a while with the water of tears, and thou shalt be refreshed with the Wine of comfort. Acknowledge Christ jesus to be now thy Saviour, and thou shalt not once fear him to become thy judge. After trouble, God sendeth comfort to all them which patiently wait on him, and constantly put their trust in his mercies.  
The Almighty put jobs soul in bitterness; but it was to teach him to keep righteousness, and not forsake it. God dealeth with some, as he did with job, he turned his Harp unto mourning, and his Organs into the Voice of them that weeps. As often as God striketh us with any kind of troubles or afflictions, whether inward in outward in our goods: It is to beat down our pride, and to free us from afflictions, that we feel not the weight of them, nor the heaviness of his Wrathful hand or judgements, when he rests angry.  
Sickness is GOD'S Herald, which he sendeth to thy house, home, and heart: Our loving God will not afflict thee above measure, that thou shouldest have occasion to contend with him. It belongeth unto God to moderate your Corrections, and not man.  
Can you pray with vehemency? fear not, but that both your secret complaints and sigh are seen of God, and sealed up with Christ in your deepest temptations: God both can and will deliver you. Although your deeds have deserved destruction, yet doth God in mercy, pity your frailty. The more your Conscience is touched with the fear of GOD'S judgements, the more hope may you have to praise God in the Congregation of the faithful, who sendeth comfort and boldness in time of our afflictions, who else were ready to drop down to destruction. Howsoever either sorrows or sickness may somewhat discourage us, yet rest our miseries good means to cause us to feel Gods present care over us. When the Lord afflicteth us, and we cry unto him, we think by and by that he should help us: but that is not his due time, he hath some work to work with us, we must wait and stay the time, before we be comforted; and then Physic and all humane means failing, God helpeth, that we may learn ever after to look still to Heaven, knowing that not only our sickly bodies, but our sinful souls, and unsanctified senses, such as all ours be: must hence be purified, or else perplexed: Say, O my God, let neither Man nor misery, drive thy Servant from his Hope of God's promise, and joy in the highest Heavens, and also Eternal felicity: Lord be moved with the complaint of thy poor Servant, and d liver me in the end, from all manner of fearful dangers.  
Remember that the Lords word and promise is true and unchangeable, he preserveth the poor from the peevish, and maintaineth the pious against the proud. Cry mightily to our God for this one thing, that whilst your afflictions last, your faith may not faint.  
Desire the Lord to comfort you both in soul and in body: without whose favour there is no perfect felicity, nor hope of blessed immortality: What though Satan hath many ways to hurt you, yet hath our heavenly Father many millions more to save out of his mere mercy. The great power of Christ's Kingdom against all Adversaries thereof, teach us all patiently to endure the Cross, till God destroy the Adversaries. The more your afflictions do increase, the more near shall you feel the helping hand of God, assisting you with his spirit of comfort. Be not persuaded but that God loveth you fare better than ever your Parents did, which very thought should pacify and bridle your rage. Depending upon the Lord, who never broke promise with any of his servants. Content yourself, for the treasures of God's mercies are always laid up in store for his Children, albeit, at all times, they do not feelingly enjoy them. How many seem to be swallowed up of grievous afflictions; yet rests God at hand to deliver you. And it is our heavenly Father's love, to cause us all to feel that we are mortal, and that there is no estate wherein we can live, to have perfect quietness in this world.  
Christ jesus is come to redeem the souls of his servants, that put trust in him: how then shall the darts of Death endanger us, when death having done his worst: Christ himself then, becomes our Redeemer, giving us for a poor Cottage, a rich Kingdom: God knoweth what dangers hang over our heads, and by what means to deliver us from them.  
Stay his leisure, and the LORD will content your mind with that which is most necessary; remember how our Faith must be exercised with diverse temptations. Though the just man dye, yet God's blessings are extended to his posterity: and though God suffer some just man to want temporal benefits, yet he recompenseth him with spiritual treasures: such shallbe continually preserved under GOD'S Wings, and have at last inward peace and rest in their minds.  
The patiented hope of the Godly is never in vain, but in the end hath good success, though for a time God prove them with sundry temptations: why doth God visit any one with sickness, but to put both yourself and others in mind of his chastisements for sin: desire not to be exempted from God's rod, but that he would so moderate his hand, that you might be able to bear it: let prayer therefore become your refuge, yield unto God, and not to your own desire.  
Let us not despair, be our torments never so great; but cry we to God with sure trust for our deliverance: doth humane means fail? wait we for the help of God, the weaker in body, strive we with crying sighs to be stronger in soul by Faith, to the conquering of diseases, Death, Devils, and danger: cry still for Patience to endure the punishments and chastisements which the Almighty sendeth, and entreat the Lord not to be severe against his poor creature, neither to wrap him up with the wicked, to be put to shame.  
This know, that it is a very hard thing for the Saints themselves to keep measure in Words, thoughts, and gesture, when Death and Despair assails them: though God defer help, yet must we learn to abide with Patience, till he hear and help us, still remembering that such souls as please him, God hasteneth to take them from wickedness.  
Howsoever you feel God's hand to lie heavy upon you, yet rest upon his promise, and comfort yourself and soul therein.  
Account it God's mercy to be touched with his fatherly hand, for each one of us all is like an untamed Calf, till the use of God's rod, call us home to Heaven. We are so rebellious by nature, that we stand in need to be chastened every hour. It is a true trial to praise God in adversity, and that Faith is sure, that is grounded upon God's Word, who will undoubtedly be at hand, when as his children be oppressed.  
Know and never forget this lesson, that God's providence doth not only watch over his Church in general; but also every member thereof in particular: So as neither heat nor cold, nor any incommodity shallbe able to destroy God's Church, albeit for a time they may molest it.  
Be you not tired with your trials, for there is help from above, if you faithfully cry and stay for it. Though you suffer under the Cross, lest you should embrace wickedness, yet the Cross shall not so rest upon you, as to drive you from hope, but to Purge you from Hypocrisy, and make you zealous of God's testimonies and truth, and as one of the Lords People, still to depend on God's power: To whom all glory, and honour be given, for ever. Amen.   

Thursday Meditations.  
Sharp punishments that pierceth even to the inward parts, are profitable to the wicked, to bring us one by one, to amendment; we have no true trial of our strength until troubles do assail us: what God hath appointed, that shall come to each one of us all. Keep and look unto the assured evidences, and undeceiving forerunners of an happy departure.  
First, see that you live with a good Conscience, so shall you be sure to dye with great comfort.  
Secondly, see that your holiness of life and conversation in this same world, before men, be the Way and the path unto our future happiness.  
Thirdly, you must labour and endeavour here to glorify God, if you desire to be glorified with him in Heaven.  
Fourthly, you must fight a good fight against Satan, which hath been our enemy from the beginning, and then against the world, and your own corruptions: you must faithfully fulfil your course, and perform the service unto which God hath appointed you.  
Labour whilst you live, still to know the truth, keeping faith in soundness and sincerity to the end, (or else expect you in vain) a crown of righteousness.  
Christ still dwelleth in his Church, and therefore will not departed from them, but will hast to help them in their troubles.  
The hand of God being upon any, teacheth the party to examine his life, and to beware of our murmuring against God, who is Almighty, who may justly, for our transgressions and iniquities, throw us down into Hell. Eccles. 11.8. We are warned by the Preachers, to remember the days of Darkness, Affliction, and troubles, 
Eccle. 11.  knowing GOD will call to an account for carnal lusts, whereunto youth is given.  
We may seek the Lord in all our troubles, and yet not be incontinently heard, to cause us to continue and persevere in Prayer, till we feel comfort.  
Whatsoever adversity, tribulation, or calamity, men or Women endure, they must attribute it unto their own incredulity, and disobedience, and be moved with a zeal of God's glory.  
And if any sorrows or troubles bring such sadness, the very thought of a Messiah Christ jesus, may greatly cherish and comfort us, who will never suffer his Church to be destroyed utterly. Be patiented therefore in adversity, looking for God's help, and fearing to do any thing contrary to his Will and Word.  
God defendeth his Elect, and rejecteth all the rest. Let this be a consolation in your troubles, that nothing can come unto you, but by the will of the Lord.  
As you are God's Children, so of whom should you, I, or any other seek succour, but only of him? Refuse not to be taught of the Ministers of GOD, who now are his mouth. When GOD punisheth his people, his plagues must continue, till sinners begin to feel them. The intention of GOD'S chastizing, is for our amendment, but the Devil's malice aimeth only at our destruction  
GOD will chasten his own people, begin at his own House, and when he hath do●e, burn the rod.  
The end of God's plagues to his Children, is to bring them to trust in himself, and to forsake all confidence and trust in others.  
God's rods and corrections do ever bring forth some fruit, causing his to turn from their sins and transgressions, and to humble themselves in his sight with contrition. There is no power so high and mighty, but the Lord will visit him with his rod, and again so comfort him in his troubles, that the shining of the Moon and Sun shallbe darkness in comparison, of the joy and eternal happiness thereof. Again, the arrogant and proud that will not know GOD, are by his Wand and correcting rod, brought to fear GOD'S wrath, and for to glorify his holy name.  
Be comforted all yea that are grieved, for the time of your deliverance is at hand, the defence and protection of the Almighty shallbe sufficient for you. Think not much of your present captivities, as of your happy return to the Heavenly jerusalem: Know what God hath decreed, it cannot be altered, no power so high that can let him of his project: Endeavour we therefore constantly to endure and abide all manner of adversities, where with God afflicteth us, well knowing thereby that if we learn to fear God, and to be bettered, are evident signs of God's grace, and especial favour.  
The Lord moveth you by his rod and chastisement, to pray, cry, and call earnestly unto him, for your deliverance.  
Be you comforted, my faithful and afflicted brethren, knowing that even in Death, you shall have Life, and may assuredly rise to glory: remember how Herbs die in the winter, and yet flourish again, by the rain, in the Spring time: So they that lie in the Dust shall rise up to joy, when they feel the dew of GOD'S grace and Heavenly power: Strive we all therefore, as faithful ones, to be patiented in all our troubles and afflictions, to wait upon God's work, until by his mighty and all-sufficient power, he call us into his Presence, to dwell with him in Paradise. Afflictions which God layeth upon us, are much like unto a storm, which cometh and goeth: wherein God will not leave you or forsake you, but deliver you rather (by miracle) than you shall be overcome, or utterly perish.  
Our God will not suffer us to be destroyed to the contempt of his Name, but magnify still his Divine Majesty for ever, by delivering us out of so many eminent dangers, that all praises for our enfranchizement may be rendered, through Christ jesus unto our God.  
Though Death were even now ready to destroy, yet hath the Lord Power enough to deliver and secure you, as need requireth. There is nothing that more strengtheneth our Faith, than our remembrance and calling to mind God's deliverance in times past.  
Know this, that Satan will tempt you to murmur against God, but depend you still upon the LORDS promise, bearing your Cross patiently, and you shall undoubtedly inherit the Kingdom of glory. Give yourself now wholly unto God, by putting away all things that are contrary unto his Commandments: so where the wicked feel God's power, you and I, being godly, shall find his mercies. Desire we God to be our sufficiency, above physic, meat, or drink.  
Are we in the depth of misery, let us contemplate his Power and glory, as if we were in his Sanctuary assured of his Spirit. Afflictions dwelleth with the best of God's servants, who have no leisure to swallow down their spittle: Such is the estate of the poor members of Christ jesus, that oftentimes they be soar groaning under the Cross of tribulation: yet suffereth not our Saviour any of his, to pass from under his shadow, till our heavy and oppressed hearts comforted and fully refreshed. Our heavenly Father's scourge is undoubtedly a forerunner of God's gracious favour and blessing, and the only way to salvation.  
Cry and call faithfully, and God will still hear thee, what time the storm falleth on thee: It is our Heavenly Father's favour, to open our ears by his correction, thereby keeping back our souls from the pit, and our lives from passing by the Sword: He striketh us with sorrows upon our beds, making our souls to loath and abhor even the daintiest meats.  
By careful Crosses, God openeth our ears, so as neither health may hurt us, nor Prosperity undo us: The cause why God sendeth us sundry afflictions, is to beat down our pride, and to turn us from evil and impiety. Our gracious GOD withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, neither will he still be fettering us with the cords of afflictions.  
But he will be opening our ears to Discipline, and commanding us to return from iniquity. My GOD and Heavenly Father, so move your and every one of our hearts, to the feeling and seeing of all our sins and iniquities, that we may all come to him by repentance (as did Manasses) at the last. Assure, we shall, our souls of this, that to the afflicted God showeth Grace. The scourge of the Lord is upon us, we ought the more humbly to pray unto our God, that he hide not his face from us. But rather to endue us with his Spirit, as still resting in misery and afflictions, we might be driven from man to God: As was the Prophet David, When his Friends forsook him, and all his Acquaintance hid themselves from him. Then got David unto God most humbly, with these words. Oh Lord hear my Prayer: O let my cry come unto thee: Hid not thy face from me, in time of my trouble; but incline thine Ears unto me, that do mingle my drink (every morning) with my Weeping.  
Learn we each one, neither to have fellowship with the deceitful, nor yet to stay with the , but to wash our hands in innocency, and so to go unto the Lord's Altar.  
See you never forget the love of our Saviour Christ to mankind, who was content for to become a Redeemer to mankind, and not for the Angels which fell, as did both man and woman: For the ground of our Redemption is the special love of Christ, not the foreseen works of our faith, in the eternal Counsel of God. But like as the Israelites got not Canaan by their own sword and power: No more can we gain Heaven, but by Gods favouring us in Christ jesus his Son. The faithful are chastened ere they be Crowned: yea checked and advised for to leave their bad manners, and particular vices, and to follow and practise holy & religious duties in faith, fear, and feeling, with holy Obedience both to God and man.  
Both Paul and Barnabas teach us this Lesson, that we must through many tribulation, Enter into the kingdom of God.  
Few things came into the Host of Israel, but such as were purified either by fire or water: How much more ought the sinful souls of men, to be purged, ere they come to their Heavenly heritage. 
Num 31.23  Num. 31.23.24. As Hester was first purified six months with Myrrh, after that with sweet Odours, and then come unto Ahashuerus: So bitter trials and travails must touch our hearts, ere we can lodge with the LORD of Life, under whom King Ahashuerus lived, but as a Lieutenant: It is the Privilege of Christ's members to be troubled and afflicted, but not for ever to be fined as silver in the furnace of affliction, and tribulation.  
What was once spoken unto the old jews, I do now understand it as applied to the Elect, whose privileges in this life, are pangs and pains, troubles and tortures, calamities, and crosses, so that it is now grown to a Proverb, Athemata mathemata passionis documenta; The Lords lashes are lessons to lead us a long the right and straight way to Christ, the true Sanctefier of our souls, to all that believe in him.  
David penning his sweetest and harmonious Psalm, in his bitterest afflictions, teacheth us every one to profit by God's Rod; because that afflictions Bringeth home the Prodigal Son. Luke 15. 
Luke. 15.  And maketh Nebuchadnezzer lift up his eyes to Heaven, honouring him that liveth for ever. As many as rest sons, must be scourged of their father: we just ones knowing God, but must look for messengers to salute them, with shrieking sounds of sorrowful news. For our learning, it pleaseth God oftentimes to conclude the best people's lives with very fearful evils. As we see in the death of jesus Christ his best Apostles; jonathan, Lazarus, and the LORDS two Witnesses. Reuel. 11.7. Who having finished their Testimonies, are killed for so doing, and their Corpses thrown into the streets of the great City; the Gentiles in their courses three days and a half, not suffering their Carcases to be put in their Graves: See how the Lord scourgeth deeply where he loveth most dear; stay but the LORDS leisure, and he will undoubtedly comfort your distressed heart and mind, if you will patiently abide, seek, and wait for him in the Way of sincerity and truth.  
Remember we should all, that Israel's portion is not passed into by following of vain and unlawful pleasures; not by embracing the Earth in our arms, or sending out our Children by flocks, to dance after music: Till the Lords Vae mane surgentibus; 
Esay 5.  seize upon us: Israel's portion is not so easily come unto: There is no other way to the Crown, but by the cross; we must suffer our afflictions as the good soldiers of Christ, before the Lord will receive us into Eternal Glory. Learn we all therefore, that the Cross of Christ is the best Schoolmaster, to bring us to Christ. As Naaman did wash ere he could be whole, so must good Christians be content to suffer trials.  
Whilst God threatneth afflictions to our flesh, he would have us to prepare Faith and Patience in our hearts, to entertain the LORDS chastisements with tears. The rod of God to man, is as the press to the Grape; the fan to the Corn, and the fire to the Gold.  
How was good jacob troubled? first to have his only brother (as it were) to swear his death; then to leave his father and mother, house and home, Country and friends, and to seek for services in the world abroad. Remember still Gods spy, (your conscience in your bosom) see you, and we are his secret intelligencer (our conscience, that willbe undoubtedly) most true and faithful unto God, and intelligencer against Achitophel, Haman, Shebnah, and others, yea against thine own self, if thy soul be unsanctified: you must hunger after Heaven, ere it will be had. Our heavenly Fathers correcting still whom he loveth and liketh; teacheth us not to despair of his fatherly favours, and friendly affections; but rather that he nurtureth us for our Salvation, fining us as the Silver, and choosing us in the fire, as the purest gold: Mark Christ's dealing with his chosen members, by convincing their faults, when he chasteneth us to break us of our evil ways, and thereby he bringeth us to reformation, correcting all of us according to the quality of our offence: The hardlier we are broken from our sins, the heavier judgements will he lay on us, to work our deeper humiliation and repentance.  
Fears shall make us to understand that which exhortations and gentleness could not bring us unto: We must be first humbled, ere we can be advanced, and have fainting souls on earth before we can feel, the high, Holy, and helping hand of GOD from on high, to stay and heave us out of our distresses: Rely we still on God, and he will not forsake us in our dangers. But give us still such pledges of his never failing mercies, as may assure our hearts of greater in Heaven, where more joys are prepared, than we can either ask or once think of. It is well that you think sin to be the ground of your afflictions, and your offences the cause of God's displeasure: wherefore he sendeth crosses and curses upon sinners.  
Consider we first, how we have fall'n by wantonness of life, and  conversation, our neglecting Gods word and will, hath brought the cup of God's indignation upon us, to reclaim our feet from folly, and our souls from sin.  
Not to acknowledge ourselves to have deserved Gods judgements (because we yet feel them not) is Pride of heart, and a state most perilous until we be humbled.  
God therefore pulled David down (though he were a chosen Vessel) when he saw him walk awry. God corrects us to reform us, making his judgements as messengers, to recall us from sin, before he enter into judgement with us. Beware of grudging at thy crosses or afflictions, for our Heavenly father useth them to amend us, being unwilling the death of any sinner.  
We having all sinned, stand in need of this Physic of correction, to reclaim us from straying from our heavenly father's dwelling: beware of being ashamed of our father's visitation, neither love we the pleasures of this World, more than the joys of heaven.  
Be we never ashamed of GOD'S rod, for David confesseth, and saith, thy Rod thy Staff doth comfort me: 
Psalm 23.  the rod to correct, when I am out of the way, and the staff to comfort and uphold me, when I am in the way: But  we his correction as a benefit and blessing sent from on high, profitable for our souls, and no way hurtful to our hearts: and still more and more fit you for the company of God's Children.  
The more sorrowful and sick you are, the more like you are unto our elder brother Christ jesus, who finished our Redemption through the Cross, and made the way, to the joys of heaven, through tribulations. Which way, whosoever is a shamed to follow, can neither come to his Kingdom, nor set foot in the palace of Gods most joyful inheritance. If you are now wounded without in your body, be careful to see, to the sores of your souls.  
I fear not but that the seeds of Faith lies still in your heart, although the fruit thereof do not yet plainly appear: I do persuade my heart, that though your eyes wax dim, yet the Holy Ghost will still give unto you, the true illumination of your heart, soul, and several senses.  
If our Sons and Daughters have been dear unto us, how much more dear hath Christ our Redeemer once bought with his blood, both our souls and our bodies. I beseech you hold it a joy to dye, and to be out of this sinful World, and to be delivered from the thraldom of this sorrowful life.  
Death is our refuge, the help of our souls to Heaven, there we live eternally, where is no pain, but all pleasure, no sorrow but solace, no sighing but singing, no fear of death, but assurance of everlasting Life. It is good for your children to be afflicted, that they may not stray from God's house, but keep his Word, and to learn and observe his Divine statutes.  
Though we have been long chastened of the Lord, but it is that we should not be condemned of the Lord. Gods punishing us doth withhold us from Hell, stirring us daily and earnestly to desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ our Saviour in glory.  
Consider I beseech you, that when the earthly House of this Tabernacle shallbe dissolved, we have a building of GOD, an house not made with hands, but eternal in the Heavens: which who so inheriteth shallbe eternally saved.  
I entreat and advice every one, to be more careful of their souls, then of their bodies, still comforting their hearts in their afflictions, knowing that the sender thereof is God, and the causer thereof, our sins: the longer we be and languish in sin, the more appeareth God's love in our sickness, for the which think God to be the sender, and likewise our deliverer in danger and adversity.  
As the Husbandman doth not put the sickle into the Corn until it be ripe: So doth not God inflict his grievous judgements upon us, until our sins do call down vengeance for the same.  
Art thou desirous to avoid contagious diseases, see thou fear more thy sin then the infected City: Canst thou remove thy transgressions from the face of the Lord: The City's contagion shall not hurt thee; but if our sins remain unrepented, all the wholesome air in all the Country cannot help thee, or comfort thee.  
In this world, we can see but God's backeparts, as Moses did: that is but a little of the favour of God: but after this Life is ended, we shall see God, face to face, having the full fruition of him: as we therefore wish the salvation of our souls, let us all beware of security, or to defer our repentance, lest we be cast into Hell fire, having no lease of our uncertain lives.  
Labour we all to have the Candle of Faith burn in the Lamps of our hearts, still nourished with the oil of love and good works.  
It may not a little comfort us in the time of our afflictions and troubles, that our heavenly Father hath showed such love unto us, that we should be called the sons and Daughters of God. O what a comfort it is to my heart and soul, that I pray not to an inexorable judge, but to a most merciful Father, who can deny me nothing. As I most comfortably read. Matthew. 3.9.10.11. 
Math. 3.9.  It is no impudence to call upon the LORD, we have his promise. Eze. 
Eze. 36.28.  36.28. that we shall be his people, and he will be our GOD for evermore.  
We have Christ's warrant when we pray, to have the Holy Ghosts instructions, whereby we may Cry Abba Father: fearing God as our master, and more reverencing him, than our parents. We that are Gods children should so esteem of our trials, as always tending to his own glory, and our salvation: the matter of temptation (I mean mine own concupiscence) is in myself; the Devil brings his bellows to this fire, and it is forthwith Kindled: But craving Grace to repel this power, we are not swallowed up of them, but freely delivered from the slavery of sin and Satan. Saint Augustine asketh, What our life is? He answereth himself, saying, 
Saint Augustine's resolution.  Arming to death, our Life while it increaseth, decreaseth; and when our Life is dying, our Death is living. This Life is the time wherein we must be admitted into the Kingdom of Grace, if ever we look hereafter, in the Kingdom of glory and happiness.  
All Gods Children must in this World be tempted, that being tempted, they may resist, resisting, they may overcome, and overcoming they may be Crowned: Be not weary of painful walking to the Kingdom of Heaven; fix your eyes on Christ jesus, and never leave running until you come to him; neither fear you any Foe rising up against you, for the professing of God's truth, so long as we may win Christ jesus for our reward. Think not yourself to be a fit stone for the LORDS building, unless you be hewn with the Axe of afflictions, and then slit through the heart with a Saw of correction.  
Whosoever will hereafter taste the sweet joys of Paradise, must first on earth (with Christ jesus) taste of the cup of salt tears and afflictions with David: here he wattered his bed, and hast thou none to bedew thy Couch with? God would not afflict thee, but to wean thee from wickedness, he would not have the weeds to overgrow the good Corn, nor the flesh to domineer over the Spirit: therefore by afflictions are we often brought to hate, that which before we did love, and to embrace what before we did loath.  
Tribulation doth upon the ears of the heart, which worldly prosperity doth oftentimes shut: 
1 Cor. 11  the Lord in mercy often chasteneth here, that we might not be proud, nor condemned with the world. 1. Cor. 11.32. God woundeth us, not to make us worse, but wiser, that we might weep each one for our several sins and wickedness, which we have committed against our good God. Oh remember that the afflictions of the body, is wholesome physic for the Soul, it killeth the flesh, but cureth the Spirit.  
One compareth afflictions to the Goldsmith's Forge, which tryeth the pure gold from the dross: or as Physic expelling corrupt humours from the body: Or as a Shepherd's crook whereby God bringeth again his wand'ring sheep unto the fold: Sickness and sorrows are as a watchful rod to make us vigilant, that are in ourselves naturally both sleepy and sluggish. You know this that by afflictions are the Children of God, and the sons of Belial discerned and taken notice of. We are oft therefore enthralled, that our Faith might be tried, hope, love, and obedience exercised, and our Crosses cheerfully welcomed; sent of God for our good, learning in affliction to abase thyself in the sight of God Almighty, acknowledging and confessing that earthly scourges are but as flea-bite in respect of the torments of Hell, which by our lewd lives, for ever, we have deserved.  
Do you ask me why God afflicteth you in this world? I answer. That the greatness of his power, and the infiniteness of his mercies might be showed in the delivery of us, you, and such others.  
There is no surer sign of the Lords Writing your names in the Book of Life, than this, that the LORD humbleth before he exalteth, and showeth us our damnable estate, through sin by the Law, before ever he signifieth unto us, that he is our Salvation. And why dealeth God thus with his own Children?  
First, until we be humbled, we never seek after Christ, nor desire him; without which we can never find him: for God hath apppointed that by seeking, we should find him.  
A second reason is, that our Redemption might be the more precious unto us, as our health rests more pleasant after sickness, liberty after imprisonment, plenty after scarcity, and peace after war.  

From the Spanish Navy in 88 From the Gunpowder treason. From the last great sickness. And many particular dangers.  Thirdly, that God's mercy in our deliverance, might be prised in his kind, the Redeemer in Heaven; for this especial cause, extol the Lord and the Lamb with a perpetual Haleluiah, for an everlasting Redemption, from an everlasting damnation, requireth an everlasting glorification.  
This general truth is confirmed by a particular example, when the poor jailor was most grievously tormented through the horrors of the Law: before ever he can find his soul recovered by the salvation of the Gospel: He cries, Sirs, what must I do to be Saved? Perhaps Paul and Sylas told him what to do: Even believe in the Lord jesus Christ, and thou shalt be Saved, and thine household.  
It is no ill sign to be humbled as the servant of God, wounded in Conscience, or pricked in heart, not knowing what to do. Niniveh was humbled, before he sought to God. Thus doth the Law prepare us unto Christ, salvation and eternal bliss belonging to none but to the humble. 
Esay 66.2.  All Gods Children must go through the Hell of a wounded conscience, before they can taste of any heavenly refreshing, even as Merchant's wax must be softened with a Candle before it can take an impression; the terror of our sin must languish our souls, before we can come to the remission of them.  
The coming of GOD into the Souls of the Faithful and chosen, is notably resembled by his appearance unto Eliah. 1 Reg. 19.11.12. First, 
1 Reg. 19.11.12.  there came a mighty strong Wind, that rend the Mountains, and broke the Rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind: After the wind came an Earthquake, but the Lord was not in the Earthquake: after the Earthquake came fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, at last came a soft and still voice.  
So the Lord appeareth to his Redeemed ones, by the Wind of his wrath, breaking their hearts. Secondly by the earthquak of his anger, shaketh God our souls. Thirdly, by the fire of displeasure smoketh he our Consciences; but in the end, by the still voice of his mercies, he refresheth our souls, were they never so sinful. As the jailor had an Earthquake in his Castle, so must each Christian in his Conscience, before ever he perceive his Election and Salvation. The saying is as true as ancient, We must go by the gates of Hell to Heaven; we must after a sort, be in Hell before ever we can be capable of Heaven above. That is in the Hell of an ashamed countenance, and a confounded conscience, before ever the Lord will say unto our souls, that he is our Salvation and Redemption.  
Our humiliation by the Law, must first preceded the salvation of the Gospel, so than they are not converted, that more or less are never humbled. To be troubled and amazed for our sins, is to be fitted for Heaven; and first we must be lost, ere we can be found, and must be condemned before we can be reprieved or saved. We must be ashamed of our sins, affrighted at our follies, and confounded in our consciences, before the Lord will once say to our souls, I am thy Redemption. Are you amazed at your sins? be not disparaged, so fare you are in this your Hell, from Hell, as you are composed thereby and made fit for Heaven, which is the throne of the Euerliving Lord GOD.  
Again, we must labour to have the spirit of Bondage become the Spirit of Adoption to our souls; and we must acknowledge our several diseases, before Christ will heal us.  
As every one can rest content to have Cstrist our jesus, so must we rest content to have him our Lord and be conformable unto him in bearing the Cross, if ever we mean or look to be glorified with him, in Heaven: We must needs feel our sickness, ere we befit for Righteousness; soul afflictions must not fright you from Almighty God, but make you rather run unto him for defence, as the Chickens do from the Kite to their Hen, 2 Cor. 12.17, 18.  
The more you trust in God, the sooner will he support you; and the more earnestly you cry and crave for justice, the sweeter will be your end, and the more joyful your deliverance.  
Forget not to be thankful for the least measure of Faith and Grace, well knowing that the want of these, soon worketh man's overthrow. Understand I beseech you, that though Death be the deliverer of every faithful man and woman, from the body and prison of sin, to Eternal Felicity: Our Saviour by his Death and Passion, having killed the sting of death in us; and a though Paul, once ravished with an high Contemplation, Wished to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. Philip. 1.23. Yet have we no warrant every man to pray for the hasting of his own death, being to every Faithful particular man (the same thing) that the general transmutation willbe at the latter day, to the whole body of the just and Elect, except that the Elect after the general dissolution, attain to a greater degree of Glory.  
Christ came not to Call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance: To seek the lost Sheep; to find the lost Great; and reclaim the lost Son, or meet with the lost treasure. Submit your desires to GOD'S will, and leave your endeavours with patience to be ordered by the Lord's providence, earnestly desiring preservation from Death, you patiently submitting yourself unto GOD'S pleasure, either for Life or Death. For the best and surest way to find Favour in the Eyes of the LORD Almighty: is to desire him to do with us what he seemeth or thinketh good, for referring ourselves to his Divine providence, he will ever deal most graciously and lovingly with us.  
God is our GOD willing to show us grace and mercy, he will turn to us and be favourable, 〈◊〉 he takes away our manifold iniquities, and cast our sins in the depth of the Sea.  
Again Psalm 103.8.9.10. The Lord is full of Compassion, and mercy, long suffering, and of great goodness: He will not be always chiding, neither keepeth he his anger for ever: He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewards according to our iniquities. But look how high the Heaven is in comparison of the Earth; so great is his mercy towards them that fear him. Look how wide also the East is from the West, so fare hath he set our sins from us. Yea like as a Father pitieth his own children; even so is the Lord pitiful to them that fear him: For he knoweth whereof we be made; he remembreth that we are but dust. 
Psal. 145.8. joel. 2.13. Mat. 26.11 2. Cor. 1.3 Ephe, 2.4. 2 Tim. 1.13   
Of the great mercies of God towards us sinners, read at your leisure. Psalm 145.8.9.147.8.10, and in joel 2.13. Math. 26.11. 2 Cor. 1.3. Ephes. 2.4. 1 Tim. 1.13. unto 18. verse: All these places yield words of rare comfort pronounced by the Eternal Verity itself, and therefore not to be mistrusted or despaired of: Let us not abuse GOD'S mercies, making them a cloak to cover our sins: presume we not saying, Eccles. 5.6. 
Eccle. 5.6  The mercy of our God is great, he will forgive my manifold sins, for mercy and wrath come from him. Forget not that golden saying of St. Paul, Rom. 8.28. All things work together for the best, to them which fear God. 
Rom. 5.4   
Yea, the afflictions and troubles of God's children, are so sanctified unto them by God's spirit, that by the same they are made partakers of God's holiness. Hebr. 1.12. 
Heb. 1.12.  By the same they enjoy the quiet Fruit of Righteousness; by it likewise they attain to a greater measure of joy in the Holy Ghost. Again, Hereby is the world crucified unto you, and you unto it. 
Rom. 8.8  Hereby are we made conformable to the death of Christ: by this are we kept from the condemnation of this World; and by the same likewise learn we experience, patience, Hope, etc.  
I beseech you all to ponder, weigh, and consider how your crosses are mercy, your losses gains, your afflictions schooling, and each adversity as a Lesson: receive your Crosses as coming from Christ, written both for thy Learning and Comfort, manifesting by these tokens that he loveth you, meaning thereby to draw you even into his Bosom: hereby we are assured of our heavenly Father's good will towards us. We may not in our miseries still look for Gods, but likewise at his ineffable mercy: (our Parents disobedience in eating the forbidden Fruit) did banish them out of the most pleasant place of the World: yet shown GOD his fatherly Kindness unto them, before he driven them out, for he made them Coats to arm them against all weather.  
More than that, he comforted them with the promise of the blessed Seed, jesus Christ, which should restore that Salvation unto mankind, which they had lost, by yielding to the Serpent's enticements.  
Lo here the most loving and Kind dealing of GOD with Man, he will make us smart a little for our sins: here is his justice, but yet so, that he will not utterly forsake us, or give us over for ever, here is loving mercy.  
Avoid therefore Satan once, I say again avoid, cease to suggest or ingest into any man's heart, that he should think because that God doth cross and afflict him; therefore GOD doth hate, forsake, and utterly cast him off, those with whom he so now dealeth,  
It is true that Christ jesus hath taught us to call upon him, by the name of a Father, who now loveth us more than our mothers did: First instructing us, as parents do their children: Secondly, admonishing us as Schoolmasters, scourging us now and then with his Rod. Thirdly, if we grow stubborn, spendthrifts, wanton, and prodigal, using ill company, than God draweth us out by the ears, whipping, or beating us till our bones do crack, yet with a fatherly true affection still to bring us to amendment, or he utterly cast us off. Our heavenly Father warneth us by his rods, to walk in his ways, and to live in his obedience, which if we despise, and refuse to follow, then will the Lord use his scourges, poverty, sickness, diseases, crosses in Children, stock or crop, fire or sword, till that we humbling ourselves under God's mighty hand, shall subject ourselves to his government, suffering in ourselves a holy reformation of manners, and amendment of life: Learn we also to rejoice in the midst of our troubles and afflictions with contented minds and sanctified affections, no Parents so loving to their Children as is our heavenly Father for our safety in our sufferings, cling we therefore the faster and the more faithfully unto God in our troubles God hath turned heretofore the penury and the captivity of his people unto their good by greatest crosses, working his people their greatest comforts: God doth oftentimes make our sicknesses and sorrowful diseases as purgations to evacuate our pride, vainglory, hypocrisy, and the corruptions of our putrified souls. And sometimes for preservatives, to keep us from falling into those, or the like sins; And sometimes God useth them as Cordials, to strengthen our decaying graces, and to animate us unto holy duties: to pray, Read, and hear the more attentively; to bear the Rod of God more patiently, and to perform each holy duty with the more cheerfulness.  
Be not ignorant of that Lesson which David teacheth us all; 
Psalm 119  It is good for us that we have been afflicted. For the learning of God's Statutes and Keeping of his word and testimonies, withhold us from going a stray in ill ways: so that each one of us may truly say of our troubles, sorrows and sicknesses, that we have suffered them, and have learned to love God more, and our own deserts the less: let us all learn to make holy medicines for our souls, out of such calamities as do often befall us in the World; and so shall we have no cause to vex ourselves with cures for the sanctified crosses that do us much good: we grieve at the untimely death of our Children, which we hoped should have been the staff of our old Age, inherit our houses, and keep still our name: but we mind not how many children (of as good hope as ours) have proved parents crosses, and some mothers upon their knees have wished, they had never been borne, or that they had then carried them to their graves, when they had them to wean: Sure it is, that God for the most time, doth lay such afflictions upon us, either because he will procure us some good, or prevent some Evil by them.  
Which things, if we commonly see them come to pass, why mourn we so that which tendeth unto our welfare, and greater comfort?  
There is nothing in the world, but still works for the best to the children of God, aswell the stratagems of Satan, as the imaginations of men, are for the Weal of God's children. Yea, out of one of the most poisonful things (as sin and death) doth the Lord draw healthful and medicinal preservatives to them that love him, still strengthening their Faith, whilst they give glory unto God.  
Care you not what outward punishment you endure, so that you may feel the guilt of your sins washed out of your Conscience, and the loving countenance of our heavenly Father in Christ jesus, to wipe your trespasses clean away.  
Let the goodly sorrows of our several wounded consciences drive us to GOD, who hath undoubtedly physic for our sickly and sinful souls: Are you weak, and sick, sad and confounded in mind, desire the LORD so to stamp the impression of his sacred spirit into your hearts, as washing yourselves in the water of Repentance, you wallow no more in the mire of former filthiness: the Lord so kill and clarify your flesh, as the life of Grace may assure your souls of election to glory. Remember what Queen Esther did being in danger of death, Chap. 14.1. She resorted unto the Lord, she laid away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments of sighing and mourning, instead of precious ointment scattering ashes and Earth upon her Head, humbling her body greatly with fasting: filling all the places of her joy with the hair she plucked from her Head. It is very good for GOD'S Children that this world, now and then, much discourageth them, and that we and they likewise rest seldom free from one calamity or another: to make us to cry (with Christ) in our troubles unto God, that he may pitch his Tents about us, so as we finally miscarry not, nor go astray from the Kingdom of God: apply our hearts wholly unto Christ and cleave we all still unto him with sure purpose of soul, to rest throughly sanctified. Beware of temporary faith which is lame of one hand, only able to take Christ, but not to give himself to Christ: This is to offer the same offering without the  offering; hast thou Hope against Hope, feelest thou Hell in thy Conscience, yet here must thou apprehend Heaven, and with jonas (in the Whale's belly) call upon GOD in faith, for faith is the subsistence of things that are not, much more than of things that in deed are, though not in appearance. Be of good cheer, for Christ hath fastened Satan, Sin and Death to his Cross. Now amidst thy bitterest torments and tortures, remember how Christ drunk the most bitter and sharp Cup of his Father's wrath in our name. Remember that Peter suffering for the truth of God, returned from the Council with joy and gladness, when he had been whipped, and had heard, that he should dye a violent death, through which conflict and repugnance he striven still with violence, not for other people's pleasure, but for his own salvation. There is no Christian but he must fight before he can triumph: and be daily calling, yea earnest by praying and craving for help at God's hands, remembering that against the ignomy of the Cross, we have to set the decree and purpose of God, foretell by the Prophets of Christ: How that first of all he should be crucified here upon Earth: And then he should appear from Heaven, the judge and Restorer of all things: that all Believers might be saved, and all unbelievers utterly perish.  
Understand and Know this, that God useth to wrap up his Church with the wicked, in his scourges and plagues which he sendeth upon the Earth: and yet notwithstanding he provideth for it conveniently, though he doth most commonly grant but a short time of Truce, unto his Church and children, to be at rest and quiet in.  
Learn we all to set the glory of Christ his Resurrection, against the shame of the Cross and grave; seeing seeing it may aswell be proved by witness which saw it, as by testimony of the Prophets; learn we all therefore to go forward in one way, in our vocation, through a thousand death.  
God's providence taketh not away the causes which God useth as means, but rather ordereth and disposeth them to their right use, even then when he openeth an extraordinary issue: for then, and not till then came we to the promised and sure salvation, thorough the midst of tempest and death itself. Then are perplexities most to be looked for, when the Port and Haven is nearest. The godlier you be, the more sure shall you be to have danger upon danger; but always most sure to have a glorious issue.  
What, though adversity be the punishment of sin, yet God in punishing doth not always respect sin they judge too rashly which either do not wait for the Lord, or do judge and esteem all men according to prosperity or adversity: let this be still your comfort, the Lord never afflicteth his above their strength: what though now we behold miseries and calamities in a Church; yet is the hope of felicity harboured in our hearts, as if we presently enjoyed it.  
Know this, that it is of the Lords mercy that you are either helped or healed, Wis. 18. It is the power of righteousness that Saints receive good and evil in like manner, singing praises for the one aswell as for the other.  
It is not wisdom's care to walk with ease by crooked paths, and to bring us into fear and dread, and to torment us with her discipline, until she hath tried our souls, and proved us by her judgements, then will she comfort us, and show us her secrets, and heap upon us the understanding of righteousness.  
The Lord now and then sendeth us away weeping and mourning: but with joy and perpetual gladness will he bring us again unto himself.  
Remember that Zion may be in Captivity, and yet see her Salvation from God to come with great glory and everlasting brightness: suffer we therefore as Children the wrath of God patiently, hoping at last to tread upon the necks of our foes, and ever hereafter to rejoice, though now for a time we mourn. Who would not make haste to the Kingdom of GOD living uprightly, and be of a good and honest conversation, as Christ once offered himself willingly to be taken, that we might be delivered.  
Remember in your present misery, how Christ being innocent, was condemned of the Highpriest for that wickedness whereof we are guilty.  
Christ our Saviour found no comfort (any where) that in him we might be fulfilled with Celestial joys and solace every where, he was made a curse, that in him we might be blessed, he was spoilt of his Garments that we might be enriched with his Righteousness: Christ healing the manifold miseries of mankind, showeth that he came to make clean and wipe away the sins of the world with his touching hand from Heaven. Fear we not any accusers before God, seeing that GOD himself absolveth us as just, much less need we fear damnation, seeing that we rest upon the death and resurrection, yea the Almighty power and defence of jesus Christ. Therefore what can there be so weighty in this life, or of so great force and power, that might now fear us, although we might fall from the fear of God wherewith he loveth us in Christ: Surely nothing; it is in it lelfe most constant and sure, and also in us conformed by steadfast faith by Christ that loveth us: we are perfectly just, and through him are we conquerors over miseries and calamities, although we seem as broken in pieces with the woeful weight of woeful dangers, yet as good Christians let us grow more and more courageous, that the ways and wills of GOD may be throughly known in this world. Remember that the matter of our salvation is Christ, in whom only we are endued with spiritual blessings unto salvation. Oh persuade your own souls that God hath chosen us from the beginning in his Son, the end of afflictions being true joy, and that through the virtue of the Spirit of Christ which he giveth to them which ask it. We ought not to be discouraged, but rather to be encouraged by the persecutions which the enemies of the Gospel imagine and practise against us, seeing that they are certain witnesses from GOD himself both of our salvation and of the destruction of our enemies that hate us. Persecution is a sign of our salvation, because it's a gift of God to suffer for Christ which gift he rendereth to his own, as he doth the gift of faith. Grieve not for your great afflictions, no not although you should dye to make perfect your oblation with your blood as with a drinke-offering.  
The way to eternal salvation is, to follow Christ his steps by afflictions and persecutions, until we come to Christ himself, who is our mark whereat we shoot, and receive the reward whereunto God calleth us to him. Therefore be not disquieted through impatiency, seeing that God is at hand to give you remedy against all your miseries, neither be you careful for any thing, but with sure confidence give God thankes, and crave of him whatsoever you have need of, that with a quiet conscience you may wholly and withal your heart submit yourself to him, that you may with David begin with tears and end with thankes.  
The afflictions of the Church may be said to be Christ's afflictions, by reason of that fellowship and knitting together, that the body and the head have one with the other, not that there is any more need to have the Church redeemed, but that Christ showeth his power in the daily weakness of his members, and that for the comfort of the whole, and holding of his children's hearts together, whose assured comfort is, to enter by afflictions into the Kingdom of Glory.  
Know this that our God being just will punish the unjust, and will do away the miseries of his own people. Remember always to set the invisible power of God's Spirit, which God hath given you, against those storms which may or will come upon you. I pray remember that the gift of God's Spirit, is as it were, a certain live flame kindled in our hearts, which the flesh and the Devil seek to put out: And therefore you and I (on the contrary side) must labour as much as we can, to foster and keep it burning, and not to be pierced through, as people whom the Lord will destroy.  
Doubt we not, but that our Salvation doth hang upon Christ, who was exhibited in our days, and suffered fare more grievous things than we can: Oh that we would consider the profits that come unto us by our heavenly Father's chastisements. First of all sin and the rebellious wickedness of our flesh, is by this means tamed: Secondly, the Lords lashes are true testimonies of his fatherly goodwill towards us insomuch that they may show themselves to be Bastards and no Sons, which cannot abide to be chastened of God. Thirdly, if all held this right to Fathers, to whom (next after God) we own this life, that they may rightfully correct their Children: Shall not we be much more subject to that our Father who is the Author of the spiritual and everlasting life.  
As many as will become the godly followers of Christ, must (as it were) go out of the world, bearing their several Crosses: be not faint-hearted knowing this, that your faith must be tried through manifold afflictions whether it be pure as it ought to be; we may not despise the Cross of Christ, which our heavenly Father useth as an Instrument to polish and fine us: where we are to consider, that the effect of afflictions is to polish and fit us for the perfecting us in Christ, each several moment of man's life depending undoubtedly upon God. The knowledge of whose will doth not only nothing at all profit, unless the life be answerable unto it, but rather maketh the sinner fare more grievous.  
Forget not to be patiented, still expecting a most happy end of all your troubles, because God is a most bountiful Father, never forsaking his servants. Consider I beseech you by what way we come to eternal glory: is it not by all kind of afflictions? wherein notwithstanding faith maketh us so secure, that we are not only not overcome with sorrow, but also through the beholding of GOD himself with the eyes of Faith are unspeakeably joyful, because all such things as they, are but for a time; so are they not applied unto us to destroy us, but as it were, by fire, purge us, and to make us perfect, that at the length we may obtain salvation. Art thou afflicted, Christ goeth before in example and Virtue, as one that suffered most grievous torments even unto Death, although but in one part only of him, to wit, in the flesh or man's Nature, but yet became conqueror by the Virtue of his Divinity.  
Know this, that GOD keepeth measure in his greatest severity, be not offended therefore, neither stumble at the vain shadow of the felicity of the wicked, as though God were not the governor of the world, nor think that the Wicked are in good case, and the godly in Evil; for we may perceive an by Argument of comparison of them together in their last end: That God who spareth not his own (but nurtureth them under the Cross) will at length in his time, handle the rebellious and wicked fare otherwise, whom he hath apppointed to utter destruction.  
Although that life be said to be sweet, yet is it chained to a thousand miseries, and the only salve to cure affliction is to make use of the ancient History, Luke 13.3. Except you amend your lives, you shall all likewse perish: Thy sins deserving scourges, the just hand of the Almighty striketh thee, pray that thou mayest benefit thereby. Christ healing of the sick and diseased: showeth that Christ we recover, through Faith, whatsoever we had lost by our frailty. Let us ever esteem our diseases as whips, wherewith GOD scourgeth us for our sins, for the bettering of our wills, words, and ways. Affliction doth good unto the Godly, discerning at the length, true godliness, from feigned fashood, and filthy flattery. In thy greatest weakness, rejoice in remembering Christ power over sin, Death, and Hell.  
We have no cause to promise our selves rest, peace and quietness in the world, seeing they themselves which seemed to fawn upon Christ, do shortly after crucify him: Be of good cheer being weak and sick, for Christ is come to deliver us from the bonds of Satan, who though once he had bound a woman as in Chains for 10. year's space, so that she could not so much as hold up her head: Yet come Christ at the last, saying: Woman, thou art loosed from thy infirmities. 
Luke 13.12.  Luke 13.12. Mark and consider how that Christ maketh death acceptable unto us, by overcoming in our name all the terrors of death which had joined with them the curse of God, and the fearful judgements of an angry Father: For Christ our Redeemer took the burden of our sins upon himself, and was willingly betrayed and taken; that by his obedience he might deliver us, which were guilty for the betraying of God's glory. Remember and forget not what you are, a piece of work made of the slime of the Earth, savouring of nothing but corruption, ignorance, dulness and death. Forget we not how Christ left the proud Pharisees, and communicated the treasures of everlasting life with a poor sinful woman and stranger, refelling the gross errors of the Samarians, and defending the true worship of God, delivered to the jews; yet so that he calleth both of them back to himself, as one whom only all the Fathers, and also whom all the Ceremonies of the Law had respect unto. We must all have an eye to this high and sovereign power of God, which governeth all things, insomuch that he hath power of life and death, so that we live & dye at the pleasure of God and not of men. Therefore this one thing remaineth, that we go forward constantly in our vocation to God's praise, and our own peace. God seemeth now & then to linger in helping us, which he doth for his own glory and for our salvation, 
john 11  as he did once in raising up Lazarus, joh. 11.  
He believeth in God, that believeth in Christ, and there is no other way to confirm our minds in our greatest distresses, but that Christ is not gone away from us, to the end to forsake us, but rather that he might at length take us up with him into Heaven.  
It is a miserable thing to be subject unto sin, which of it own nature, maketh us guilty of Death. But we must cry to the Lord who will by Death itself, at length make us conquerors: As we are already in jesus Christ, wearied we may be with continual conflicts, yet recover ourselves again, resting in our Redeemer, who is the true perfection of our souls: You are in Christ, doubt nothing of the happy success of your combat, because the Spirit of grace and Fruits of Righteousness, and Seeds of Life remain in you, for you having the selfsame Spirit which Christ hath, all infirmities laid aside and Death overcome, you shall be clothed with Heavenly Glory. You have already received the Grace of the Gospel, wherein God showeth himself not [as before the publishing of the Law] terrible and fearful: But a most benign and loving Father in Christ, so that with great boldness, we call him Father; the Holy Ghost sealing his Adoption in our hearts by Faith.  
Remember we all the great Glory which we look for, a thousand times sur-mounting the misery of our afflictions. You Know well that this whole World looketh for a restoring groaning as it were for it, and that not in vain: Let it not grieve us therefore, to sigh for our Saviour's coming, being now certainly persuaded of our Redemption at hand, especially we having the first Fruits of the Spirit.  
Call to mind how it was imputed unto Abraham for Righteousness, in this, that he was found Faithful in Temptation. It is josephs' commendation, that in time of trouble, he kept the Commandment, and was made Lord of Egypt. Forget not that Elias, for his zealous Fervency in the Law, was taken up into Heaven: And the Children, by Faith, delivered out of the flame. Trust still in God and you cannot want strength: as for the glory of man, it is but dung and Worms; to day Dust, to morrow nothing.  
Show yourself willing to change your life manfully, and such a one as your Education and your years now requireth. The Lord God Almighty so moderate our troubles and torments, that we may dye holily, put our whole trust and affiance in him. O remember how Christ was tempted all manner of ways, and did overcome, that we through his Virtue might likewise be Conquerors.  
Esteem not the joy and Felicity, commodities, and pleasures of this life, to be any ways better than vexing perplexities; the way to Heaven is strait and narrow; we must pass through the rough way, suffering to be thrust and thronged before we can enter into Life: And although Christ seem sometimes to neglect his in most extreme dangers; yet in time convenient he assuageth all tempests, and bringeth them to the haven they hope for. Who knoweth not our sins to be the causes of our afflictions, and Christ only to forgive them: then when we believe, the children of God are to sail through many tempests, but Christ will never forsake them, so that they still aim at the mark which God commandeth them: Strive we all by Faith to tread under our feet all our troubles and afflictions, by the virtue of Christ's power.  
Let all know this, that it is Christ which healeth the sick, and from him must we all seek remedy, for our spiritual diseases: to whom we are all bond not only to turn and run ourselves, but to bring others to him also, preparing our minds more and more, against the offences of the Cross, that with patience may endure, for to gain Christ, to whom be all glory. Amen.   

Friday Meditations.  
GOD having given us his only begotten Son, how shall he not with him, give us all things else. We are taught in Holy Scriptures, that the Church shall have a continual conflict, with infinite miseries and offences, and that more is, with false Prophets, until the day of victory and triumph cometh: Let not your soul be discouraged with any sorrow, for Christ hath made full satisfaction for us all: First, in suffering, and then in overcoming, not only the torments of the body, but also the most horrible tortures of the mind. Be not dismayed for any sorrows that assail you, but remember that Heaven itself was darkened, for very horror, when jesus cried in the bitterness of his sufferings; and in the mean time was mocked in the midst of his miseries.  
Neglect not the Doctrine of the Gospel, by the which Satan is driven out of the World; neither do you forget that Christ, by his healing of diverse Diseases, showeth that he hath brought true life into the world, for all believers.  
The Faithful servants of GOD in their few labours on Earth, must still be crying unto Christ, so to moderate their miseries, as after all our Earthly tossing tempests, bring us to the happy Haven of Heaven, that we so long sigh for.  
The true Disciples of Christ must bear stoutly, what burden soever the Lord layeth upon them, still seeking to subdue the affections of the flesh. The glory of Christ was abased upon the Cross, yet avouched by Visible signs, that he was the God which upon that Good Friday for us died unjustly, and being upon the Cross cried out, It is finished, it is finished, meaning the work of our Redemption. Labour therefore with Faith to become proficient Scholars in the School of Christ: we must be seasoned by God's Word, that we may be acceptable sacrifices to God; and also being knit together, may comfort one another, with the sovereign and most wholesome medicines of Divine Scripture.  
Christ healing the Disease of Symons wife's mother with his Word only, proveth that he is God Almighty, sent from Heaven for our salvation. Do we not read Luke 5. how Christ healing a Leper by his only touch, 
Luke 5.  and sending him to the priests, by faith he was cured, yea was pure and clean. Verse 18.  
The true followers of Christ, must at once both build and fight: And therefore be ready and prepared to suffer all kind of miseries: Christ's Disciples must be wise, both for themselves, and for others; otherwise they become the foolishest of al. Despair we not of any, which are gone out of the way, but according to the example of Christ, we must take great pains about them.  
Well knowing this, that GOD will never utterly be lacking unto the godly, although he be not so presently with them as they would, and then in these difficulties which cannot be overcome, by man's reason, power, or providence: when dangers do most daunt us, than GOD beats down the blows, so that we rest humble hearted, and put no confidence in our own Righteousness. Be not discouraged with any sickness or sorrows, for as sure and certain as persecution is, so sure is the glory which remaineth for the conquerors. The more stops and lets Satan layeth in your way, so much more courageous aught you to be, and stoutly to go forward in the Way of Righteousness: This shallbe then the end of your troubles and afflictions; they shallbe as witnesses both before GOD and man, aswell of the treacherous and cruel dealings of your enemies, as also of your Constancy after diverse tempests, the Lord will at length deliver his Church, day and night: Let us be sober and watch for the Lords coming, that we be not taken unawares; but still remember that as many as are partakers of the afflictions of Christ, shall also be partakers of his Kingdom, whereinto Lord admit me in thy mercies:  
If we will continue still wise unto salvation, we may none of us forget, how good Gold is purged in the fire, and shines clearly in the water.  
Do not think that any temptation hath taken you, but such as appertain to man, and GOD is faithful which will not suffer you to be tempted above that you be able, but will even give issues with the tentation, that you may be able to bear it. 1. Cor. 10.13. Forget not David, Ps. 39 I sought the Lord and he heard me, yea and delivered me out of all my fears: put your trust still in the Lord and mercy shall embrace you on every side. Psal. 31.11.  
Let this true comfort raise you and me up as we are the members of Christ, that in our deepest misery and afflictions, the Lord is able first to free us from it, or else to deliver out of it. There is neither pangs, nor any one fit in your sickness, but it is from God the manner of it, the measure of it, the time of it, the matter of it, is of God which giveth us good assurance and affiance, that God will be merciful and gracious unto us, seeing he striketh us that is our Father, and in the stroke be it never so sharp, he never forgets his former compassion, but maketh each thing fall out to our future salvation, puts our tears in his bottle, and most lovingly lays his hand under our head that acheth.  
Seek we therefore to God for health, who as he smiteth me, so he will heal me; and as he wounds me, so likewise he restoreth me.  
God therefore bringeth down to the grave, that he may raise us up again, and puts us in mind of death by God's Sergeant arresting us, to bring us before him. God of his goodness behold your tears, harken unto your prayers, and mercifully remove your heavy affliction from you. It pleaseth the wisdom of God (now and then to confound your pride by weakness, and to free us from former sins, by furnishing us with most delectable services of assured sanctification. Afflictions change their nature, when they befall the man endued with God's Spirit, all things working together for the best for the love of all such as fear the God, and are called according to his purpose: Let none of us so forget the safety of our souls, as not evermore still to remember Christ jesus, how he went as willingly to the Desert to be humbled, as unto jordan to be exalted.  
Think not yourself to be forsaken of God, when you are tempted of Satan, for herein you are resembled to the Son of God, who being baptised, was presently tempted by Satan's subtleties.  
Afflictions soften our hearts when we apprehend Gods mercies in them, and can receive them, as the wounds of a friend with the melting of our hearts, sent in love unto us to better our behaviours. Know I beseech thee thou languishing person, that the deeper the sense of misery is, the sweeter is the sense of mercy.  
It's the saying of St. Bernard, Deus non infundit oleum misericordiae nisi in vas contritum, God pours not the oil of his mercies save into a broken vessel: For indeed whole vessels are full enough, and would run over, if poured into them, and so be spilt on the ground. The Lord scourgeth us to make us more pliable to his holy will: an unhumbled sinner is unfit for God's Instruction, and like an unbroken Colt for the Saddle. The deeper your descent in humiliation, the higher your ascent in consolation. Therefore doth now even rottenness enter into your bones, that having a while trembled, you may henceforth rest in the day of trouble; remembering how after greatest tempests come the stillest calms, sanctified winds making the trees of God's Garden to take the deeper rooting. It is the manner of our heavenly Father, to gain glory to himself by working by contraries, when he bringeth joy out of fears, light out of darkness, and Heaven out of Hell.  
God wrestled with jacob and lamed him, ere he blessed him; josephs' legs were laden with irons and bolts in Pharaohs Dungeon, ere he could wear a golden Chain, and have dominion in Egypt: The wounds that our God giveth, are not mortal, but medicinable; our God is such a Chirurgeon that he first woundeth, but then heals: It is God's accustomed manner to bring first down to Hell, and then up again into the bosom of Abraham. Fear not to fall into the Lord's Dungeon, which will rebound you safely into Heaven, his Palace of privilege: forget not how repenting jonas was thrown into the Sea, and humbled. Glut not yourselves with any pleasures of this life, neither spend your precious time in fleeting vanities, keep rather your best dainties in the vinegar of godly sorrow; alloy your strong wine with water, eat your meat as the jews did their Passeover, with sour herbs. Imitate godly King David, who caused his bed every night to swim, oftentimes watering his Couch with his tears, Psal. 6.6. Forget not good Bradford that usually at his dinner, shed tears on his trencher: art thou sick and sinful? stand not reasoning with thine own distrustful heart, but hear what God saith by Esay, 1.18. If you will wash and cleanse yourselves by repentance, though your sins were as red as Crimson, yet then shall they be as white as Snow. Oh but my sins pass the sins of all others in greatness, so much the more haste to repent: the more dangerous thy disease is, the more physic must thou use; if thy sins be so great as thou complainest, why meanest thou to make it greater by thy not repenting? Repentance makes sin less, Impenitency is the condemning sin.  
Remember that Christ is our Physician, and Repentance is his Physic, Math. 9 In death Satan's temptations, and our Consciences accusations will be strongest, therefore our preparation against them should be more than ordinary.  
We may not once despair of our heavenly Father's providence, but call to mind how lovingly the father entertained his son, after he had misbehaved himself in rude and riotous courses.  
As our heavenly Father is often showing us many favours, so now and then he pincheth us with too too heavy crosses, because we should not be over-ioyed with any of God's favours, but prepare for some following after-claps, being as content to endure the one, as cheerfully to receive the other, with him shall we reign: we shall hereafter for ever live with him in glory; with whom now we are in misery: if we now take up our cross, following him with sanctified contentation, we rest then assuredly happy when we bear each affliction with joy in the Spirit, submitting ourselves to the yoke of our God, then contented with our states, than we wear our chains, and weep shedding many tears.  
Our sufferings are no arguments of Righteousness, but our Righteousness an ornament unto our sufferings: Are we in troubles? lie we in troubles? fly we unto Christ our Lord and Master for aid, who in mercy will hear us, and deliver us by the strength of his mighty power; be our state never so desperate, he can help it; and we are never past help, so long as we desire to be helped: The greatness of our peril can be no stop to our deliverance, because the power of our deliverance is infinite. Tribulations are the way to the kingdom of Heaven, through stormy tempests are we brought to the Kingdom of Heaven, being the Haven that all hunger for.  
Be of good courage, for all the devils in hell cannot damn up the way between us and the Kingdom of Heaven. Through the straight way have all God's Children passed before, fear we not therefore to follow after them: Christ himself is gone before by a fare harder passage than his meaning is to lead any of us by. Think it no strange thing for the perfect to suffer, neither be you discomforted or dismayed at it, knowing that afflictions happen by heaps to all God's Children in this world. Learn both you and I to suffer patiently with Christ, then shall we be sure to be crown gloriously with him. When you are tempted most with fierce adversaries, mighty enemies; the Devil with his lost and forsaken train. The world is full of baits and allurements unto Evil, the flesh ever ready and greedy to take them. What though you be heavy laden for a while, yet comfort yourself, knowing that your anguishes, griefs and molestations shall have an end, your tears shall be wiped away, and dried up; but the joys that shall be given you are everlasting. Those seede-teares which you sow now, are nothing to that Harvest of joy which hereafter shall be reaped. Consider I beseech you well, that nothing cometh unto us by hap or chance, but all is disposed by the will & providence of Almighty God. It is the mere love and absolute righteousness of God that we are corrected: it is not for our harm but to our good, either for the trial of our faith, or for the reformation of our life. So that either man, or woman fearing God, walking uprightly in his sight, (having the testimony of a good conscience) cannot want matter of consolation, having still (in the Lord) whereof to be comforted: make we not our hearts heavy and our lives most uncomfortable, shake we off rather our causeless tears, and we shall find matter enough for glorious and unspeakable joys.  
Am I regenerate? God is my father, Christ resteth my elder brother; Heaven my house and habitation, and the Glory thereof mine inheritance: none can be poor, that have Heaven for their portion, neither any dejected much, that have the comforts thereof belonging to them. Whilst God giveth us assurance of a better Life, what matter is it if he shall deprive us of this? If Angels and Saints be with us, what care we though sinners be against us? Do people on earth seek to make you ignominous, we are not in their power, but in Gods, who will make us glorious.  
Your comfort may be departed, and yet not utterly lost; we may fear we are cut of, and yet not perish, for therein the power of God is seen in our weakness and imperfection: Lord pity our sores and sickness, rather than proceed in severity against us. The assurance of the sufferings of Christ in his death for us, should take away the horror of death from us: For he is that Lamb of GOD which taketh away the sins of the world: Which now is our advocate with his father: to whom be all glory. Amen.   

Saturday Meditations.  
IT being evident that the greatest part of good people, are most of all and oftenest afflicted grievously, yea many times slain by wicked and seditious Tyrants: this dealing of God thus with his Children, assureth us that he reserveth us some Port of safety for his children, where, after their troubles here, they may arrive at some Haven, of perpetual rest, after their Death.  
No happier than such Christians, as will suffer no sins to wrestle in their souls, nor Viper like vices to dwell or continue in their hearts. Neither do I suppose the Lord to love any better, than those whom he most scourgeth and correcteth, making the end of our sorrow to be as the beginning of another: like the drops of Raine distilling from the top of the house, as soon as one is gone, another followeth; or a ship at the Sea, never safe till we come into the Haven and harbour of Heaven, by the death and bloodshedding of jesus Christ are we sanctified and cleansed from our sins.  
Our heavenly Father is both pacified and pleased with us through the death of Christ, who forgiving and pardoning our sins, imputeth unto us his own righteousness: so that through believing in the Lord jesus Christ we shallbe saved, and have life everlasting, and shall never come into condemnation.  
Through the name of our Redeemer, are the inestimable benefits of Christ wrought in us, and brought unto us; for by faith only in Christ, without any works of our own, (either concurring or furthering) we are freely justified.  
No punishment discharged, but by that perfect man Christ jesus, who hath vanquished death, and swallowed up the pairs of Hell, yea, satisfied the severity of God's everlasting judgement. Look we all upon the Sunset of our several ages, and we may soon behold how the rotten house wherein our soul dwelleth, rests even ready to fall upon our head. We dwell as in a ship that most dangerously leaketh, very like to drown us ere we get to the shore, which still causeth us to long for the house and haven of our everlasting security. Although death be a sting to the wicked, piercing them to the heart; yet to the Elect death's sting is pulled out, and they are freed from terror by the death of our Saviour. The death of a faithful friend yields rather cause of comfort then of sorrow, of mirth then of mourning, of rejoicing rather then of weeping and lamenting: death is to the godly, like sleep, whereby we are refreshed. Unfit is it therefore to celebrate the funerals of the faithful with weeping & wailing, when we do well know our friends have lived religiously & died virtuously. Let your passed misery yield yourselves some soulerellish to future joy.  
What is our Inheritance on Earth, but months of vanity, and painfulness, as our allotted parts and portions here. Who is he that knoweth not, 
job. 17.13  That the grave shallbe his house, and how he shall make his bed in the dark. Our hearts must pity those, whom the hand of GOD toucheth. Do not think but that God is able to defend and carry you free from danger, yea to keep you in the time of the greatest suffering. It is none but God that keepeth the Keys of the prison, that open and shuts when he pleaseth. It is the LORD that maketh whole, and maketh sick; the issues of Life and Death do belong to him. We rise daily against sin, as did joshua against the Canaanites; not because we are able to overcome sin of ourselves, but in assurance that our heavenly Father will not fail us, but give us ability to vanquish it in our mortal bodies.  
Forget not jesus Christ to be your shield and buckler of defence, whose promise is to free us all from our straits and extremities: Lay we hold by Faith on God's promises, and as a child sucketh milk from his mother's breast: So when we are ready to faint, we must suck the milk of consolation out of the promises of God in his Word that rest full of comfort. Art thou even at Death's door, there rests milk of consolation enough, if thou wilt take pains, with a sacred soul, to suck it. The best of God's children are most of all Exercised with manifold afflictions, heavy hearts, and wounded Spirits, yet rests their sickness but as a medicine in the hands of our heavenly Physician, Christ jesus, to heal, comfort, and still do us good.  
No sanctified Christian so sound, but that he may be exercised with many afflictions, diseases, and grieveances, being heavy on our hearts, and wounding our Spirits. A Rod in our heavenly Father's hand, doth after enable us to keep his Covenant, the other being as a medicine in the hand of the Physician to heal, and still to do good: Satan himself cannot hurt Gods Children, but in spite of his heart doth them good; humbling them, and making them better by their crosses, that after their Championlike and valorous striving and fight, their hearts may hope to enjoy the everlasting Knighthood of Immortality in the Heavens.  
We are each one in this life, to consider how our time on earth is a time of striving, running and suffering crosses, as Praeambles to the Crown of glory, and most comfortable Immortality, that our life hath been long, and so your troubles therefore many.  
To assure your very soul that the time of this life rests no other thing then the time of striving and wrestling for winning the prize, and obtaining the victory over all our insulting and most malicious foes.  
jacob had many troubles with Laban, yea, troubles with the Sheronites, and troubles with his own Sons, yet the latter end was peace, he died in honour, full of riches and full of days.  
When professing the Gospel, we feel no afflictions, then may we fear that we are out of the way, seeing the afflictions of God's children are notes of his favour: God whipping us often for diverse causes best known to himself, sometimes to increase their reward, as he dealt with job, David, and Paul. Secondly, to keep virtue in the soul, as in Paul; who suffered many troubles, thereby to correct and beat down our sins: and thirdly to be patiented, as in the Paralaticke party that was much pestered with the Palsy: Fourthly, to destroy, as Antiochus, Herod and Pharaoh. Fiftly, to manifest his glory, as in Lazarus, the blind man, and others. You have heard how Agabus prophesied Paul's bonds which worthy Champion of Christ, was prepared not only for bonds, but death. The kingdom of God is gotten by violence. Mat. 11.12. and gone into through fire and water. Esd. 7.7.  
Though Abraham were the Father of the faithful, yet was he often afflicted: Though jacob were a beloved one, yet was he feign to fly for fear of the hatred of his brother Esau. Oftentimes (in danger) was David of his life, pursued and persecuted by furious Saul, before he was advanced unto his Kingdom: Forget we not the many miseries and bitter afflictions, which tumbled in heaps upon job, and others, yea on all Gods Faithful servants.  
Learn we every one in patience, to value the turbulent motions of our repining minds: arm we our hearts with a confident steadfast resolution, never to sleep nor slumber, till we rid out of perils ourselves, and our people.  
Affliction is the best hope that God's children may expect in this World, to try whether the anchor of our hope takes sure hold on God's promises, in the days and hours of our miseries and tribulation.  
Hear Lord from Heaven, the sighing souls of thy afflicted servants, Lord cause them to drink a deep draught of the fountain of thy mercies, to the comforting of their weak bodies and hearts, in their miseries. The Lord God refresh us with the water of life, and guide us through all dangers, into the most heavenly Canaan, before the entering whereof, we must drink of the cup of most bitter afflictions. There is no coming to God's Kingdom, but by many miseries: The Lord free us from all most unsupportable and grievous calamities, the wine of true devotion, the Myrrh of Mortification, and the Oil of hearty contrition, let these rest still sanctified steps to our sober and distressed souls. Let no dread of danger throw down the Fort of our Hope, neither any Tempests of persecution shake the Foundation of our Faith.  
Let no waves of affliction quench the flames of our love towards Christ our Saviour: But let the Oil of his All-sufficient and saving Grace, so strengthen the sinews of our Faith, as when it waxeth feeble, our hearts may never quail, nor our courage quake when we are molested with any affliction, either of body or of mind.  
But still faithfully to be persuaded, that no calamity can betide us without God's will, nor any danger come near our dwelling, without God's pleasure and permission. This is full of comfort and consolation, that in my greatest misery I may commend my soul into the custody and safe harbour of eternal tranquillity, never any more obnoxious to vanity.  
So long as you have a tongue to speak, a voice to call upon God, with an heart to lift up unto him, eftsoons pouring out many sanctified meditations in his sight. Be of good comfort, and assure your soul you cannot be finally forsaken, although you see no comfort for the present now and then. If we can call upon God our heavenly Father in Christ jesus, in our several Agonies, and most dangerous distresses, though no man or woman should pity us; yet our heavenly Father would not leave us or forsake us in our dangers and dreadful troubles.  
It is Almighty God which holdeth our souls in life, and that suffereth not our feet to slip: It is his pleasure now and then to prove us, as the Gold and Silver is tried in the fire. It is the saying of the Psalmist, that the Lord will try us, bring us into the snare, and lay trouble upon our loins, suffer our Enemies to ride over our heads, before he will bring us into any place of pleasure.  
God will suffer us to feel afflictions, and enemies to make long furrows upon our backs, but still for our Salvation: Our afflictions oftentimes causing unto us a fare more excellent and eternal weight of Glory and happiness, which God grant us all.  
For a while you may be forsaken, but with great compassion will God our merciful Father gather you unto himself.  
Cry to the Lord and he will deliver you and save you out of Troubles, as he did joseph, job, and his children in Egypt.  
Look on David and Daniel, the servant of the true GOD, consider and see what shame they endured and reproaches under the Cross.  
Yet as a Father, God returned to them, when the time of refreshment came from God's Divine presence. Howsoever God's children groan for grief for a time, the Lord leaveth not them destitute of help, but delivers them out of all their troubles. God teacheth us to depend upon him our most gracious and heavenly Father, when people's compassion faileth towards us: For Psalm 56.9.10. verses. The Lord our God putteth our Tears in his Bottles, and writes them in his Book. 
Psalm 56.9   
GOD the Horn of our Salvation, seethe and yet suffereth, and he bears with us repenting; and pardoneth us returning, we deferring our Repentance, he expects us: He giveth us when we ask, openeth to us when we knock, and eftsoons is then found, when we do seek. It is the Nightingale delights herself with her quavering and trebling notes: So should, all we, faithful ones, declare abroad God's mercy. The work of our Salvation, which we had no power to begin; our Saviour wrought it for us, yea finished the same on our behalf. So as now you may look boldly to the Throne of Grace; and upon the truth of our Repentance and Faith, know only Peace and joy: Christi passio adiutore non leguit: Saith Saint Ambrose, Christ's passion needs no help at all.  
Christ was mocked and spitted on to wash us from wickedness: His garments pulled off, that our sins might be covered; he whipped to deliver our souls from perpetual scourges: Christ thirsted that our Souls might be satiate and satisfied: Christ bore his father's wrath, that we might bear none; yielded unto death that we might never taste it.  
In sense was Christ our Saviour forsaken for a time, when he cried out, my God my God, why hast thou forsaken me; this was that we might be received for ever into glory. Let my soul dye if Christ cannot save it. Oh thou languishing soul of mine, there is not one of thy sins, but it is prayed for, in the bitterness of my Redeemers death Christ jesus: Not any one of thy debts in the scroll of God, but it is crossed; not any one farthing of that infinite ransom left unpaid for us. Doth your soul cry in bitterness I have sinned: Oh thou preserver of men! what shall I do unto thee? what shouldest thou do? Turn and believe and thou hast done enough.  
Christ side was opened (even unto the heart) to receive us in thither, if we will enter in at the open door: Christ's feet were nailed, to make us know, that he departs not from us, till we depart from him. O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee, and not suffer thee to fall for ever. The deadness of our hearts and dulness of our Spirits; was it not enough for Christ to call us gently, to allure us kindly, to teach us daily, to heal us lovingly, and to feed us sweetly: But he must be fain, by a most dreadful death, to pull and hale us, to draw and drag us to the true feeling of his dear love towards us, to cause us by strong hand, and by force to become obedient to our heavenly Father and Master. This are we all to know, and still to keep warm in our hearts and remembrance, that there is no want of our Salvation in jesus Christ, but in ourselves, in that we believe not, and that we repent not.  
There is no want of finishing thy Salvation, so that thou continue still to go forward in Grace, and still imply Goodness: But whilst people delight in sin, God therefore strikes and will not hear; which is contrary unto God's honour: For ●ee desires not the death of a sinner; but rather that he should be converted, and live amidst the Assembly of Saints.  
Do not think such people to be sure and safe, as are never touched with sorrows and sickness, for such as the Lord best loveth, he chasteneth: when we rejoice in sin, he scourgeth us till we shrike, sigh, and cry: as when Epaphroditus was sick and very near unto death, and yet was Paul's fellow-soldier in Christ. Phil. 2.27.  
It is the Lord which setteth up on high them that be low, that the sorrowful might be exalted to salvation, remember that you have heretofore seen the blossoms of Trees promise abundance of Fruit, which notwithstanding have never came to any growth, by reason of the storms. So in health and prosperity, many have followed Christ; which in adversity have been blown quite out of sight. Remember we now, that the Captain's courage is not known till the war begin; no more is a Christians constancy till the persecutions rage. A Bird in the Cage is surer from the Hawk and Fowler, than abroad, although they think not so; and think your sick bed to be the best place to serve God on. Our heavenly father would have us to serve him on our beds, still chastening our bodies, whilst we cherish our souls; Pining the one, and pampering the other, pulling you as through a prison to a place of happiness and pleasure: wherefore let no darkness daunt you, but let your own life be as a Lamp to lighten your soul, and delight others.  
The best children march cheerfully towards Heaven, as St. Paul did towards jerusalem, not well-knowing what should befall him, before he returned back from that famous City, so God deals with us in this world; to call us out we know not whither, nor to what end or purpose, or what may befall us in our way We may not be slothful followers of Christ our Lord and Master; but most courageous soldiers, fight to obtain the Crown of Glory, and the inheritance of a celestial & immortal life; Fear not the judgement of death, but remember them that have been before, and those that are to come after: This is the ordinance of all flesh; why should we then be against the Most High, whether it be ten or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no defence of life against the grave. Matthew. 19 The woman's bloody issue was not cured, till she came to Christ; Mark, I beseech you, where and of whom health doth come: no absolute Physician of Souls, but jesus Christ only.  
The Prophet joel may much comfort our hearts: When he saith, My people shall never be ashamed. Again, Abide still, O my people, and rest; for your quietness shall come. Be not you weary for when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh; others shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry, and have abundance. GOD'S hand shall cover thee, and all shall prosper which thou takest in hand. Lord prepare and open my poor heart, and strengthen my weak faith, to prepare my soul for thy holy Sabbath, which is the great day of thy rest, and the day likewise that thou hast commanded us to hear and receive thy Holy and Heavenly word: which at the last must be a cordial to our dying hearts: And that I may taste and draw of that water of Life, while I live, that I may never thirst against Lord also prepare me to drink my last draught of Christ's cup with comfort, even for the Lord jesus Christ's sake, the Son of thy love, and my only Saviour. Amen.   

Sunday Meditations.  
WHen we are most tempted with grievances, whether outward or inward, seek succour from above, never despise Physic, nor yet the Physician, for they are needful and necessary in fit time and season; the Lord hath ordained medicines for healing, and giveth Knowledge to the Physician, to the lifting upon his head amongst great men, and to admiration of his healing medicines.  
Pray we, and God will prosper physic that he giveth for ease, and the prolonging of our lives, mourn we for our friends as if we suffered great harm ourselves.  
Cover we their bodies, and lament we them as they are worthy; pouring out our tears over them, as if we had suffered much harm ourselves in our bodies, souls, senses and substances.  
When the dead is once at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort we ourselves again for him, when his spirit is departed from him: desire your most heavenly Father to make you ready for himself, and fit to achieve his Kingdom for the only sufferings of his Son. There is not one of God's Children, but must prepare their souls unto diverse temptations.  
Resolve we ourselves ever in this life to live and remain, as in a continual rough battle and fight, where no truce is to be looked for, but perpetual combats and raging assaults.  
From our birth to our death, it's now no new thing to be tempted and troubled with diseases in body, or discomforts of mind: praise we God for our lot, be your molestations short or lingering, welcome bee God's wand; be it for wealth, cross or comfort: he first hath suffered more for you, than he will inflict upon you; in your troubles still call on him, and under his wings shall you be safely covered.  
The Almighty so strengthen your faith, as you may stand fast to the end, still believing the Lord our God in all his promises. Learn we all to show forth the fruits of our faith, obedience, love, charity, and hearts purified from sin, and still more and more prepare we to Christ jesus our heavenly Bridegroom, at his coming with more alacrity and joy triumphant, than either mouth, or man can conceive or utter.  
Christ by the sacrifice of his death will take away all our sins, where there is neither sighing nor sorrow, but triumphant joys in the highest Heavens.  
Though the Lord send afflictions, yet will he not forsake us for ever, what though he afflict to day, yet will he have compassion upon thee to morrow, according to the multitude of his mercies.  
God doth seldom punish willingly the Children of Men, for his compassions are many, and his fatherly loving kindnesses are so many and so multiplied, that we cannot number them: Maintain Lord, the cause of my soul, for thou hast redeemed my life from the evil imaginations of the wicked, and vengeance of the vile. If you were dead and buried, yet can God revive you, and by his great mercy free you from all iniquity, and still keep you in the number of the faithful.  
The Almighty so exercise your contrite heart, as both it sole senses may be laudably employed in the Lord's service.  
Sickness to the servants of God doth bring infinite joy, and much goodness; it's a purgation and cleansing of our sins, the mother of fortitude & spiritual strength against our frailty, and sure defence against all worldly troubles. A purchasing of grace and pardon, a medicine of life, and a comfortable guide to reduce us from hell, and bring us all to the Celestial Paradise. I beseech you to remember what troubles and calamities are, a purchasing of grace and pardon, a merry time of life, and a continual remembrance of Christ's own blessed life, death and passion. We are all duly to consider, how that our humane bodies are as dark and filthy prisons of our souls, living as in exile, banishment, and misery.  
The Almighty deliver you from hell, sin and eternal death for ever. The Lord comfort you, and are you from sin, and strengthen your weak heart against Satan, who still standeth against you to seduce you; but remember you Gods Angels, that are ready pressed for to aid you, his grace for to guide you, and his favour for to feed you. Arm Lord thy Servant's heart with perpetual peace and patience, give thy weak Creature grace most joyfully to bear the burden of the Cross: As Heaven is incomparably greater than the Earth, so the Mercy of our heavenly Father rests incomparably greater than the seas of our sins.  
Lord free you from bitter sorrows all sins and grievances whatsoever they be. The Almighty of his mercy renew your Repentance, and unburden you of the weight of all your great bonds, most grievous sins, lay we fast hold on Christ his mercy, death and passion. joh. 3.16. The life of each one of us being but a vital Labyrinth, and a confused Chaos, affording us nought but fraud, folly, and fleshly sensuality and troubles to try us, and sundry adversities to disquiet us from the King in his throne, to the Captives in the chains. All must taste of miseries, discontentments and sorrows, before our souls by death be delivered from their terrestrial burden. Although it be an happy thing to die in jesus Christ, yet such rests the foolishness of our corrupt flesh, that we are loath to remove from bad to better, from Sinners to Saints and heavenly Associates, we lose nothing in our changing our bad place for a better.  
But one thing, we that are Gods Children, must still be most careful of (to dread furious foes) dangers.  
Comfort we our hearts in our deepest distresses, acknowledging God to be more able to defend us, than all foes to confound us; not any God's Children but burdened with calamities, Nebuchadnezar King of Babel was turned out a grazing seven years.  
God's Children are more afflicted than others, Luke 13.16. The daughter of Abraham was for 18 years. bound of Satan, likewise the man whom our Saviour cured, had been diseased 38. years. Comfort your heart in your afflictions, knowing God to be the sender of afflictions by reason of our sins. It's the Lord who killeth and maketh alive, bringing to the grave, and raising up again. 1. Sam. 2.6.  
If Christ had not been the Son of God, Satan would never have so much assaulted him and his Members, for his sanctifying and saving of innumerable Saints and Souls.  
Labour we all for the Word and Gospel of Truth, whatsoever our temptations are, let us all and every one, weep for our own sins, and not once stubbornly defend the perpitrating of the least of any vile and corrupt sins and offences.  
Almighty God so moderate your greatest crosses and grievances, as your soul may ever sing with Saints.  
Our most gracious father deferreth his help, not that he will not help us, but to exercise our Faith, and stir up in us, the calling upon his name, and still being acquainted with God's mercies, rejoice Night and day in his Everlasting favours: would you have peace, none but Christ can give it you, and he will give to none but to the penient, to none but the Faithful.  
Set we our Lord jesus Christ between GOD and our sins; let it rest our desire to spend ourselves in sighs and tears of true Repentance, and then raise up our humble Souls to a lively Confidence, in our only Saviour, and All-sufficient Redeemer; by whose Righteousness we are discharged of transgressions; besides Christ our Redeemer, there is no other Saviour. Hosea 13. ver. 4. Dear beloved brethren, we are all by vicinity and cohabitation, but Christ's by Faith, and hope our Habitation is, by Christ, in Heaven: He is the guide of our loves in the true love and fear of Almighty GOD, in whose love, if our hearts be guided, fear we not for the waiting and last coming of Christ: we are now (each one of us) to learn to separate and withdraw ourselves from still walking inordinately, seek we all to become ensamples to be followed for sanctified lives, and not of sloth and idleness: ask your souls my Christian brethren, with what price, and from what misery, you are now Redeemed and ransomed: not others, but thou and I also, must warn ourselves from each loath-some and heinous sin, and carefully all our lives hereafter, wean our souls and senses, both from each former sin and transgression, and future sense alike.  
So separate thyself from sin, that of a sinner thou mayest become a a Saint, and a true servant of the living GOD.  
Admit a King take to Wife a woman of a low estate and birth, making her Queen of all his Dominions, will not he both look and command of her, to cast off her old attire, and to leave her former (both company and behaviour) composing herself to a most Courtlike carriage: Now tell me, hath not the King both of Heaven and Earth (jesus Christ) married our souls unto himself, in Truth and Righteousness: Many have in their hope, health, and happiness, and in a night all quite vanished before morning: we poor miserable and despised wretches, must all consider this, that our goodness reacheth not GOD, but his Goodnesses reach and extend unto us, in that our hearts are raised to have still our confidence and only trust in our Redeemer and All-sufficient Saviour Christ jesus, without whom we have neither safety, nor sure comfort, nor confidence: GOD must have, keep, and still retain in his own custody Government and prerogative, in keeping each thing in its due order and nature, both small and great.  
Our goodness reacheth not unto God, but his loving kindness to us, and Fatherly compassions, do fare exceed the drops of water in the Sea, or the minutes of time.  
Be still doing good in your lives, that you may have comfort in your very end, and point of Death, and a glorious Crown of Eternal glory: peace and comfort be this day and ever with us, who are the Children and chosen once of GOD. Lord be merciful unto us, in our Afflictions, and let it not be thine holy will to destroy us: But look upon us that still cry unto thee in our manifold afflictions.  
Let your assurance of Heavenly things, make you the more willing to part with Earthly trash: Why should we fear or doubt in ourselves, when Almighty God sendeth for us, to take possession of a Kingdom. Pass we cheerfully through the black gates of Death, who although he look grim, on us, at the first, yet will help us pass cheerfully through the black Gates, unto our glory. God had not loved you, if he had not made you poor: To some it is advantage to lose, and to have rather eyes full of tears, than purses full of gold.  
A Christian may not think it enough to endure the thought of death with patience, but when it is obtruded upon him, by necessity, then must he call it into his mind with joy, still waiting until it come. It can be none but a Divine power that can uphold the mind of man or woman, against the rage of many afflictions: we must not account the best things of this life, any other things, than chains and burdens, to as many as have them, still acknowledging that the greatest on earth, are but Tenants at will, to day living, by and by dead: Think we oft on Christ jesus, which suffered for us all, he paid all, he did it for us in love: Where shall we begin to admire and wonder but at Christ jesus, our Divine and Eternal Peacemaker, the Saviour of men, the Anointed of GOD, the Mediator between GOD and Man, in whom there is nothing that doth not exceed, not only the conceit, but the wonder of Angels, who saw thee in thy Humiliation, with silence adore thee in thy Glory, with perpetual praises and rejoicing. Sooner would be no Summer, if Winter did not lead it in and follow it.  
We may not either hope or strive to escape all Crosses, some we may, that we cannot fly from; and what we cannot allay and mitigate in crosses Vniversally, let this be thy rule, make thyself none, escape some, bear the rest, sweeten all. We must consider whence afflictions come, & by whose providence they are guided and tempered with our Heavenly Father's love.  
All our miseries are stinted, good things challenging more than bare contentment: Our crosses come commonly for our good: we must all of us resolve to fight stoutly for our Heaven, that after all sighs and sorrows we may resolve to perfect in suffering till we overcome, and be Crowned in Glory, and a few groan upon earth end our afflictions, be they never so many, tedious or troublesome, choose rather to mourn for a while, then for ever.  
Christ our Saviour tasting a bitter portion, teacheth us to smart ere we reign. It is no matter how vile you seem now, be content to be called to the Cup, (now of trial) pledge we our Redeemer in drinking Vinegar and Gall, for so shall we drink new Wine with him in the Kingdom of glory, honour, and eternal happiness.  
Lord season your wills and sanctify each one of all our hearts, so as we may spend our days and strength to glorify our Redeemer.  
Acquaint yourself with GOD now in your life time, entreat him with tears to become the Guardian of your souls in your death, and days of your carefullest calamities: So walk in true holiness as you still may rest in everlasting felicity.  
If you would not have GOD to despise your souls upon your deathbed, then must you in the days of your health, fit and file your soul with divine grace. Enure yourself to be furnished with the Gospel of Grace, so need you not fear the malice of any mortal man, not raging Creature. Set Christ jesus between God and your sins, and God cannot see our debt: Let Sin, Satan, Hell and Death, with the world and her worst Enemies do what they can. Christ having risen and become our Surety, his blood rests for satisfaction.  
Remember we all how we have God the Father for our Governor, and his Word for our Guide: who would live that knoweth his Master died, and in his life suffered so many bitterstormes and temptations.  
Temptations are the common maladies of the best Servants of GOD. You may read how Satan came to Christ, and tempted him in a high manner saying, if thou be Christ, if thou be the Son of God, do this and this: even when he was at the weakest, having fasted so long; to have stones made Bread, and if he would have any, he must make it himself too; a hard crust, bread out of stones. And if he durst appear to him who was the Son of God, how may he venture upon us, and tempt us; and cause us to be discouraged and despair of our souls: therefore my beloved, have no conceit, or despair of hope in God, though the Devil tempt us, and we endure many other crosses in this world which man is subject unto: Though ye were in the famine of Samaria, where the people did eat their Pigeons dung. Or as josephus relates of the miseries of jerusalem when it was besieged, how that the Mothers were forced to eat their own children, to satisfy their stomaches: though all these, and many more should happen unto us, yet let us trust in GOD with a strong faith and hope, for he is able to deliver us out of all our afflictions. What a comfort it is when we have Christ and his Disciples to take our parts, and but to suffer as they have done: If the envy of the world, or malice of the Devil be such, that I am deprived of my Lands or Live, then have I job for an example; If I be exiled or banished from my Country, then have I john the Evangelist for my comfort: If I be put in Prison, then have I joseph, and if I be put in the inward Prison and in the Stocks, than Paul and Sylas, and the Apostle james for my Companions. If I am beheaded, then have I john the Baptist for my pattern, or if I be stoned to death, then have I the happy Martyr St. Stephen; or if I have been accused wrongfully, then have I our Saviour Christ jesus for my comfort It is he that hath wrought that great work of our Redemption. The faithful and the thankful shall continually receive God's word and blessings, they shall have in abundance, and not abundance only, but shall have it with sweetness, for abundance without sweetness is a clogging or cloying of the stomach, and sweetness without abundance, is a begetting of an appetite or stomach; but they shall have showered down upon them in a plentiful manner, that nothing may be wanting to them that are patiented and of long suffering; the floodgates of the Lord shall be open unto them that truly believe; they be those which shall have grace, mercy and plenty of all earthly treasures. It is God's mercy in giving us this day to hear his divine Precepts declared, it is his mercy that he spareth us, which might for our sins be justly punished, and be made an example to all people, like Herod; in that we have not given thee that due praise and honour which thou desirest of us thy Creatures. We must exhort one another, for it is Gods command to examine every one himself, whether he hath faith or no; And likewise every Master his Servant in his family, to know whether they trust in the Lord, and serve him as Abraham did: Choose who will serve the Lord, for I and my house shall serve the Lord; for we shall one day be examined how we have bestowed our time, and how we have made use of our Talon; for ignorance then must be no excuse to any man.  
Let no man therefore which desires God's love be negligent in hearing of the Word upon the Sabbath day, for there is in it both a hardness of the heart, and also a neglect of the duty; which is a very dangerous act, to reject God's precepts, and to fall as it were from the living God. Wherefore let reason follow our faith, not faith our reason; earnestly craving of God that he would be pleased to open our hearts at the hearing of his holy Commandments, as he did his Servant Lydia, Paul, Mary Magdalen. None are exempted from coming to hear God's Word, for the Lord saith, behold, I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and your sons and your daughters; I will put my fear into their hearts, and I will write my Law in their minds, and they shall never departed from me who am the living God.  
Our Souls must be like the Sun, not like joshuahs' Sun, to stand still; nor like Hezekiahs' Sun, to go backwards, but we must be like David's Sun, which comes out and appears like a Bridegroom, or like a Giant ready to run his course; and strive we by all means to strengthen and go forwards in Faith and good works, for we have no desert of our own to save our souls at the last day, but must say and confess as Saint Augustine did, O Lord, what is my merit but thy mercy, thy mercy but my merit in CHRIST JESUS.   
FINIS.