The Promises: OR, A TREATISE Showing how a godly Christian may support his heart with Comfort, AGAINST ALL THE distresses which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in this life. Containing all the most comfortable places through the whole Bible, orderly digested By N. Bifield Preacher of God's Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. LONDON, Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rounthwaite. 1619. TO THE MUCH Honoured and right worthy, Sir William Throgmorton, Knight and Baronet: and Sir Francis Darcie, Knight, N. Bifield wisheth the increase of all Grace and happiness that accompanieth the love of the Lord jesus in sincerity. IF the many crosses & temptations with which the life of all men, even the most godly is distressed, be seriously weighed, and withal the great disconsolation that too often surpriseth the hearts of most Christians, be compassionately thought on: and if with all the singular glory of a godly mind framed unto unmovable rest, and steadfast contentment, be thoroughly conceived of; it cannot but be manifest, that if a way can be showed how a Christian may fill his heart with comfort in any condition he can fall into, in respect of affliction, that such a course is profitable, and all aught to take notice of it, and with all care and pains employ themselves about it. This by God's assistance upon apparent grounds of Scripture I have endeavoured to show in this Treatise; and doubt not but by experience humble and godly Christians will find much refreshing and establishment of heart, if they apply themselves distinctly & diligently to draw of the water of life, out of those wells of salvation, opened for them every where in this roll of God's Promises. This Treatise I present to your Worships, and under the countenance of your names, desire to commend it unto the Church of God: and this I am induced to do for divers reasons: your forwardness in the profession of sincere Religion for many years, the public service you have done in your Country in the administration of justice, for the encouragement of the good, and reformation of abuses, your great care from time to time to plant painful and profitable teachers in the places of your abode, together with the excellent gifts with which God hath furnished your minds, deserve to be freely and publicly acknowledged in the Church of God; and in mine own particular I have been so many ways obliged, that with much gladness I embrace this occasion, to let the world know my desire to be thankful for the many helps & furtherances my ministry hath received from the countenance & endeavours of both your Worships, as occasion hath at any time been offered. Desiring your acceptance hereof, and praying God to preserve you in his fear without offence, till the Day of Christ, and to enlarge in you the desire & power of well-doing in all things, I end and rest, Isleworth, Octo. 1618. Your Worships in the service of jesus Christ, to be commanded, N. Bifield. The chief Contents of this Book. Chap. 1. THE drift of the whole book is, to show abundant comfort against any distress. pag. 1. Two things taken for granted, viz. both that godly men shall be distressed, & also that comfort may be had in any distress, p. 2. 3 The worth of those promises. p. 4. 5. To whom the promises belong. p. 6. 7. The use they will serve for, being learned. p. 7. 8. 9 10 The infallibility of those promises proved by 13. Arguments. p. 11. 12. to 20. The promises sealed 4. ways. p. 17. Six rules to be observed, if we will profit by the promises. p. 20. 21. 22. 23 Chap. 2. 3. Sorts of promises. p. 24. 25 Sorts of afflictions, in which we need comfort, p. 26. 27. 28. 29. Chap. 3. 12. Privileges of the godly. p. 32. to 47. Chap. 4. What meant by outward afflictions. p. 48. 10. Arguments of consolation to support us against outward afflictions. p. 48. to 64 Chap. 5. Men need comfort against reproaches. p. 65. 12. Arguments of consolation against reproaches. p. 66. to 78 Chap. 6. Many principal objections of the godly about reproaches answered. pag. 78. to 90. Chap. 7. Directions in the case of reproaches. p. 90. 91. 92 Chap. 8. How the godly may comfort themselves in the case of adversaries. p. 93. to 104. Chap. 9 3. Things taken for granted, about temptations. p. 104. 106. Satan tempts us five ways, p. 106. 107. 3. Sorts of temptations by suggestion. p. 109. 110. 9 Occasions of temptation. p. 111. to 118. Chap. 10. How many ways a godly man may comfort himself against temptations. p. 118. to 126. 6. Things in Christ comfort us against temptations. p. 121. 122. How far forth we may pray against temptations. pag. 125. 126. How we may know that we are not overcome of temptations. p. 126. 127. Chap. 11. Two sorts of promises about infirmities. p. 131. What is meant by infirmities. p. 132. 9 Arguments of consolation against our daily infirmities. p. 132. to 149. The goodness of God's nature showed in 4. things. p. 135. 136. Many things comfortable in Christ. p. 137. 138. 139. 9 Privileges about infirmities assured us in the word. p. 141. to 147 Chap. 12. divers objections about our infirmities answered. pag. 149. to 175. About ignorance divers comfortable meditations. pag. 154. to 158. The explication of two excellent places of Scripture, with the sundry answers of many objections met withal in those places, from p. 159. to 174. Chap. 13. Many consolations to support us against the fear of falling away, taken from the consideration 1 Of God. p. 176. to 184 2 Of Christ. p. 184. 185 3 Of our own estate in Grace, p. 186. Chap. 14. Three sorts of most comfortable promises about prayer, p. 187. to the end of the book. CHAP. I. Containing the Preface. THE drift of this Treatise is, to show a godly Christian, (who is already assured of God's favour, and knows he shall have abundant happiness when he dies, in Heaven) how he may support his heart with sufficient contentment, against all the miseries can assault him from the time of his conversion, till his death. For this purpose I shall break open a Mine of Treasure: for I intent from all parts of the book of God to select and set before thee those rich promises, which God hath there recorded, to be as Wells of comfort upon all occasions. Two things must of necessity be granted. The one is, that though we have gotten the assurance of God's favour and freedom from the power and guilt of our sins; yet many things will still ail us, and oppose our consolation. We shall meet with temptations and afflictions of all sorts, reproaches, adversaries, trouble of spirit, and such like. The other is, that there can be no such discouragement, difficulty, or affliction, but in the Word of God we may have a sure consolation or direction for it, able every way abundantly to sustain us. But before I enter upon the unfolding of this great Roll of promises, I must preface about five things, which tend to make us more fit to receive them. First, it will be profitable for us to consider briefly the worth of the promises; The worth of the promises. they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ, to assure us that he is a very Eph. 3. 6. 9 rich man, that hath his heart stored with the promises of God well applied. The Apostle Peter saith, 2 Pet. 1. 3. that they are great, and precious promises, which God hath given to us. Promises in our hearts, are better than pearls or precious stones in our chests. They are the inheritance God gives to his people in this life, and therefore they are called the heirs of promise; Rom. 4. a greater portion than any King on earth can give to his child. The very keeping of the Records of these promises, was a great prerogative to the jewish Rom. 9 nation: and it is accounted a singular happiness for the Gentiles, that they may now partake of those promises. Little do we Eph 3. 6. know what wrong we do to our souls, when we keep them ignorant of the promises; and it is one of the greatest offices under the Sun, to dispense these promises to man. 2. Tim. 1. 1. Titus. 1. 1. 2. 3. Secondly, before I enter 2 upon the explication of the promises, I must To whom the promises belong. likewise tell you, to whom they belong, and who they are that have interest in them: For all unregenerate men, that live in their sins without repentance, are strangers from the covenants Eph. 2. 12. of promise. The children of the bondwoman Gal. 4. have no part in the testament of Grace: only they that are Christ's, have the benefit of the promises in Gal. 3. 22. Christ. The children of God are the heirs of promise. Men must have godliness, Heb. 6. 17. that have the promises either of this life, or that to come. In short, all those that have repent them 1. Tim. 6. 8. of their sin, and believe in jesus Christ, may come to these promises with large hearts, as knowing that they read and hear that which they have clear and full interest in. Thirdly, concerning the 3 The use of the promises. use these promises may be put unto all our life long: They will drive away grief, discouragement, or fears, that at any time may seize upon us: They will sweeten all our afflictions: they will exceedingly nurse up, and confirm our faith, and further, they will have a singular use in preserving us against the enticements of the profits, pleasures, and lusts of the world, and against the cares of this life. Our affections are the feet of our souls, and with the promises we may be daily shod; so as neither thorny cares prick us, nor foul pleasures defile us, Eph. 6. The Gospel shows us still a better project, when the Devil or the world entice us. And a true reason why many times we are not able to resist enticements, is, because our hearts are not filled with the promises, which else would show us so much sweetness, as all other things would seem but base in comparison of them. When we are tempted with the pleasures of sin, if we have not a more delightful project to offer to our hearts, it is easy for us to be seduced. And further, these promises sound studied and laid up in our hearts, will breed cheerfulness of spirit, and that contentation which makes godliness 1. Tim. 6. 7. 8. to be so great gain. And beside, they will daily excite in us all encouragements to well-doing, and they do also set out marvelously the glory and splendour of God's love, power, presence, providence, and grace toward us. What shall I say? the promises give us even heaven upon earth, and set out the incomparable gain of true godliness; yea, by them we approach so near unto God, that as Peter saith; By them we partake of the Divine nature. 2. Pet. 1. 4. A fourth thing which I would preface about, is, concerning the infallibility of these promises: For The infallibility of the promises proved by 13. ways. that may much inflame in us the desire to store our hearts with them, (having heard of their worth,) if we likewise be fully assured concerning the certain accomplishment of all the good which is contained in them. I suppose, no man doubts, but that if it could be made good, that a poor Christian might have all those excellent things which are contained in all the promises of the Bible, he were in a matchless estate. Now there are many things which may put us out of all doubt in that point; mark them heedfully, for they may do thee singular good. First, observe that the promises are in some scriptures called in the singular number, the Promise: and 1 They are all but as one promise. why so? As for other reasons, so to assure thee, it is as sure and as easy for God to fulfil all that goodness contained in all those promises, as if they were but one only promise. 2 Consider the Nature 2 From the nature of God. of God, he cannot lie, it is impossible for him to deny his word, he may as easily deny himself. If God have said it, it must needs come to pass. This argument is used in this point, Titus 1. 1. 2. 3 The antiquity of these 3 From the antiquity of them. promises much add to our assurance. The Apostle in Titus 1. 2. saith, that these promises were made before the world was: and hitherto in all this time God never failed of one word of his goodness. 4 We have the writing 4 Fron God's writing. of God to show for them, they are upon Record in the Scripture: and shall we mistrust when we have Gods own hand to show for it? His word is true, and righteous altogether, Ps. 19 8 5 Yea, we have the oath 5 From God's oath. of GOD too, that by two things, in which it is unpossible for God to change, the heirs of promise might have abundant consolation, whensoever they make recourse unto the promises, Hebr. 6. 17. 18. 6 We have these promises 6 From the messengers sent about them. preached unto us by Ambassadors sent of purpose, at the commandment of God, who hath enjoined them to make it manifest, that God will be as good as his word in all those, Titus 1. 3. 7 Yea Christ jesus himself 7 From the Ministry of Christ himself. did employ his Ministry, to assure and confirm the promises made before to the Fathers, as the Apostle shows, Rom. 15. 8. 8 Yet more; we have 8 From the death of the Testator. the blood of Christ, and the death of the Testator, to confirm this new Testament, and all the promises contained therein, Hebr. 9 16. so as in Christ they are now all, yea and Amen: there can be no nay nor denial of them; they well may be now pleaded in any Court of the justice of God. 9 The Anointing that is upon us, may assure us, & establish us. Was there ever any King anointed of God to be a King, that 9 From our Anointing. made doubt of the Kingdom? Why? The anointing of God is upon our hearts, the graces of the spirit powered out upon us, are our assurance, that God will not withhold from us our regal privileges, if we seek them, 2. Cor. 1. 20. 21. 10 It is some settling to 10 From the extent of the promises. us, to consider the extent of the right to those promises: For God hath excepted no sort of men, but in Christ they may get to have their part in those promises, as the Apostle shows, Galath. 3. 27. 28. 29. 11 The Law was the 11 From the time of giving the promise. only thing that might hinder us of the enjoying of the promises. And the Apostle hath proved, that the Law cannot disannul the Promises, in which the nations of the earth should be blessed, made 400. years before the Law was given on Mount Sinai, Galat. 3. 17. 21. 12 We have the seal The promise sealed four ways. of GOD to this writing: now God hath sealed four ways. First, in his Counsel: the 1 In his Counsel. book of his eternal counsel was written within, and without, and it had seven seals, to signify that it was perfectly ratified, and though none in heaven and earth could read it, yet for our comforts we know, that the Lamb of the tribe of juda, the Lord jesus Christ our Saviour, hath opened it now, and made it manifest, Revel. 5. 1. 2. etc. 2 In his Son: for him 2 In his Son hath God the Father sealed, john. 6. 27. God made all sure when he sent out Christ; he sealed his commission in all things, that concerned the happiness both of jews & Gentiles. 3 In his Spirit; and 3 In his Spirit. thus all the believers are said to be sealed by the Spirit of Promise: and this is God's privy Seal. 4 God hath sealed to all his promises in the Sacraments, 4 In the Sacraments. which are given us as God's broad Seals, and outward tokens and pledges to confirm our Faith. 13 We have the experience also of all the saints, 13 For experience. who in all ages found God as good as his word, and had ever reason to say as David did, In the Lord will we praise his word, Psalm. 56. 10. The Patriarches embraced the Promises, as the chief stay of their lives in their pilgrimage on earth, Heb. 11. 13. Thus of the fourth point. 5 A fifth thing I would preface about, is concerning certain rules to be 6 Rules to be observed if we will profit by the Promises. observed, if we would ever receive the sound profit of these promises, and so we must look to six directions. First, when we come to these promises, we must renounce our own merits, & all opinion of our own worthiness, and acknowledge from our hearts, that all the grace we find in the promises, is in & through jesus Christ. All the promises 2. Cor. 1. 20. Rom. 4. 14. are yea and Amen through him, and only in him. 2 When we have the promises laid open before us, we must believe them, Gal. 3. 22. Rom. 4. 16. and apply them to ourselves, or else they will do us no good. 3 We must be further careful to hide them in our hearts, & to commit them to memory, that we may be often thinking of them, and musing upon them. It will not serve the turn that we have them written in the Bible, or in our note-bookes, but we must get them written in our hearts too: we must be at the Psal. 119. 11 pains to acquaint ourselves distinctly with them, and to fill our heads with store of them. 4 When any thing aileth us, we must fly to him for refuge, and cast the anchor of our hope upon them, that God himself may see Heb. 6. 18. that our hearts are bend to trust upon his Word. 5 We must never cast away our confidence in them, but wait with patience, and not limit God to the time, or manner, or means of accomplishment, but hold fast to his promises, and leave the rest to God, as in many places of Scripture may appear, especially, Hebr. 10. 36. Rom. 4. 22. 6 In short, we must ●ooke to it, that we be not slothful and idle, and such as will not be at the pains to study and commit to memory, and rest upon these glorious comforts; but we must follow them which through faith and patience Heb. 6. 22. do inherit the promises. Thus of the Preface. CHAP. II. The division of the Promises. THE Promises may be divided into three parts. 1 The first may contain such places of Scripture, 3 Sorts of Promises. 1 Privileges as show the Privileges of the godly above other men; and that is one chief way by which the Lord doth refresh the hearts of his people, by assuring them in general of such & such prerogatives, which he will confirm upon them, and upon none but them. 2 The second may contain 2. Comforts in affliction. comforts; that is, places of Scripture which do foretell what goodness the Lord will show to his people in affliction. For hither-unto belong all those promises which are given of purpose for the comforting and supporting of the godly in all their trials. 3 The third part may 3. Rewards of certain graces. contain such Promises, as are made to certain particular Graces in the godly, as promises made to prayer, faith, trusting in God, or such like. It is the second sort of promises, which I intent here more at large to entreat of. I would show what variety of comforts there are, with which a godly man may inflame his heart, according to the several distresses may fall upon him, and these may be thus subdivided. All afflictions are either outward, or inward: Sorts of afflictions. For outward afflictions, it were too tedious, and to little purpose to gather comforts against every particular cross, and therefore one head may suffice for the General, viz. the promises or consolations against all outward afflictions. Now, because godly people are oftentimes more troubled with the storms and reproaches of the world, which are cast upon them for well-doing, then with the ordinary afflictions of life; therefore I would in the second place gather the comforts against reproaches, and withal I would add in the third place, consolations against adversaries. Now for inward afflictions; they are the afflictions of the spirit of man, and arise either from the temptations of Satan, or from the trouble of the conscience unsatisfied in divers scruples. I would therefore in the fourth place show how we might be comforted against the temptations of Satan; and because the trouble of conscience ariseth usually either from the burden of our daily infirmities, or from the fear of our falling away: I would in the fifth place show how we may be comforted against our daily infirmities; and then in the last place I would unfold those promises, that may assure us of perseverance. Now suppose a Christian Note. soul clearly informed with the knowledge of those privileges wherein he excels all the people of the world; and withal, that he knew how to comfort himself against any outward afflictions, and had store of consolations in his heart against the temptations of Satan, and did know how to support himself against the sense of his daily weaknesses, and withal were settled & out of fear for falling away; would you not think such a one wonderful happy? And this may be here attained unto, if we be not slothful: and what can in this life be grievous unto us, if we be sound fenced in those things? There can be nothing that can seem a misery unto us, but we may find comforts under some one of these titles. CHAP. III. Showing the privileges of the godly above all other people. THe first sort of promises, or comfortable places of Scripture, are such as in general show the happiness of the godly in all estates of life; these I call privileges. These are such comforts as are not restrained unto some certain time, but are such as he is enriched with all at all times: These we ought to know as the foundation of all the rest, and we should strive to have them perfectly in our memories, so as any time we could number them if need were. Every godly Christian hath twelve privileges, 12 Privileges of the godly. wherein he excels all the men of this world. 1 The first is, the love and favour of God, the especial The love of God. grace of God toward him; this is the foundation of all his happiness: and if Eze. 36. 28 joh. 14. 21. he could order his own heart aright, he could easily see that he could not be miserable, so long as he was in favour with his God. If the favour of great persons be so much accounted of; what reckoning is to be made of God's favour, who is Lord of Lords? yea King of all Kings, and the more should a Christian fill his heart with joying in this prerogative, if he consider three properties 3 Properties in God's love. in the love of God. For first, it is a free love, he 1. It is free. stands not upon desert: he is gracious, looking upon his own goodness, and not on ours, Hosea 14. 4. Secondly, it is an eternal 2. It is eternal. love, and unchangeable, God will never be weary of loving him, jerem. 31. 3. His loving kindness is better than life; for it lasts unto all eternity, without alteration: The favour of man in this world is mutable; Kings may extremely loath, whom they erewhile loved with their intirest affection; but in God there is no shadow of changing, he loves with an everlasting love. Thirdly, 3 It is infinite. it is infinitely immense, and great, no affection in any, or in all the creatures in this world, if they could be fastened upon one man, can reach to the thousand part of God's love to us, Ephes. 2. 47. Esay 49. 15. 16. This light of God's countenance shining upon us, makes us at all times more rich than they, that are increased most in corn and wine, and oil, Psal. 4. 7. 8. 2 The second is, the The second privilege is the giving of Christ to them. donation of Christ; Christ is his, God hath given him Christ, Rom. 8. 32. so as all Christ is his proper portion: and how is Christ his? even in all dearness of relation. He is his Prince, his Priest, and Redeemer, his Father, his Lord, his Master, his Friend, his Brother, etc. All these titles are given to Christ, to signify, he is all that, which those things could shadow out. No father, brother, friend, could so love their child, brother, or friend, as Christ loves the Christian. No Lord, Master, Prince, can so prefer, provide, or care for their servants or subjects, as Christ cares for the Christian. Look what the favour or power of any of those, or all those could do, Christ is, & will become much more unto the godly Christian. 3 The third privilege is Deliverance, & the Christians The third is deliverance 〈…〉 things. deliverance is exceeding great, if he consider seriously how he is delivered from the Kingdom of darkness, from this present evil world, from the dominion of sin, from the handwriting of ordinances, that was against him, from the rigour and curse of the Law, and from condemnation. The fourth is free pardon of all his sins past, his soul The fourth is, for givenes of all sins. being washed in the blood of Christ from all his sins, so as now they were as white as snow, though they had been red like scarlet, 1. joh. 1. 7. Esay 1. 18. What rest & peace would this breed in our hearts, if we did daily think of it in our own particulars, that we had obtained pardon and remission of all our sins. The fifth privilege is, the inhabitation of the Holy The fifth is the inhabitation of the holy Ghost. Ghost. The soul and body of a Christian, is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, and the Spirit of God doth verily and truly dwell within the breast of a Christian, and that not in a naked presence; but the holy Ghost is there, to teach him to guide him into all truth, to tell him when he is ready to go out of the way, on the right hand, or on the left, and to comfort him in all distresses, and to seal the promises to his heart, and to anoint him with the oil of true knowledge and grace, and to be as a pledge and earnest of his inheritance looked for from heaven, and to teach him to pray, when he knows not how to pray for himself; and many other excellent benefits he reapeth from this spirit of God, whom the world cannot receive. He hath for this respect a very spring of knowledge, and joy and grace in his belly. The sixth privilege is, The sixth is the restoring of God's Image. the Image of God restored in him, by the mighty power of Christ's voice in his first resurrection, being made now a new creature to God, and so partaking of the divine nature, in respect of the qualities wherein he doth excellently resemble God. The seventh privilege The seventh is, freedom in God's house. is the freedom to God's house, and to all the feasts, & Divine entertainment which God makes there, Psal. 36. 9 and 65. 4. Esay 25. 8. Luk. 14. 17. reve. 2. The Word and Sacraments are his; he is God's bidden guest: he may always come and welcome: The fatness and pleasures of God's house, Oh how sweet are they! Who can tell the excellency of the Manna that is hid? The eight privilege is, The eight is, the hearing of his prayer. entrance and access, and audience with God in all his suits. He may ask almost what he will of God, he will not deny him any thing he asks in the name of Christ. And sure he is worthily miserable that will not make himself happy, when he may have what he will ask of him, that is able to give what he can ask, Mark 11. 24. Ephes. 2. 19 The ninth privilege is, The ninth is the attendance of Angels. The service and attendance of the Angels. The Angels do pitch their Tents about those that fear God, Psa. 34. and are ministering spirits to every heir of salvation, Heb. 1. ult. Oh the dignity and safety of that man, whom the glorious Angels do guard and attend upon! The poorest Christian hath a better guard about him, than the greatest Monarch in the world that is not a Christian. The tenth privilege is, The tenth is the communion of Saints. the Communion of Saints; he is mystically united in one body to all the worthies that are in heaven, or earth; and doth effectually enjoy the benefit of communion of Saints; too large to be here reckoned up. If it were no more, but the profit he hath by the prayers of the godly all over the world: were it not a great favour? Ephes. 2. 19 and 3. 6. Philip. 1. 5. Colos. 2. 29. besides all the comforts he hath in the fellowship with the godly. The eleventh privilege The eleventh is the inheritance of the earth. is, the inheritance of the Earth, which is restored to him in Christ; so as he now passeth that which he hath of the earth, by as good a Title as ever Adam held Paradise: yea, so as whatsoever in the whole earth is good for him, shall not be withheld from him, Math. 3. 7. Psal. 84. 12. Outward prosperity he is sure of, so far as it is good for him, job 8. 7. Psalm 37. 5. The last privilege is that Inheritance immortal, The twelfth is, the inheritance of heaven. incorruptible, and that fadeth not, reserved for him in heaven, which for excellency passeth all that which ever the eye of man saw, or the ear of man heard, or the heart of man can conceive, 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4. Now then, to sum up all this, let a Christian tell his own soul plainly, and upon clear proof, by the signs of a child of God, that he is in favour with God, and that Christ Note. is his, and that he hath obtained strange deliverance, and that all his sins are forgiven, and that the holy Ghost dwells in him, & that the image of God is restored in him, and that he is free to God's house, and that he may beg any thing of GOD, and that he hath Angels to wait upon him, and that he is near of kin to all the Saints in the World, and that he is Lord of the earth, and that he shall certainly go to Heaven when he dieth. Let this, I say, be told to his soul, can he be dismayed? will not the Peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep his heart and mind, and that constantly for ever? CHAP. FOUR Showing how the godly may support their hearts against all outward afflictions. HItherto of the Privileges. Now it followeth, that I should open those consolations, that may support the hearts of men against all the distresses of this life. And first I would show, how the Lord is pleased to comfort his servants in several Scriptures, against all the outward afflictions may befall his servants in this world. By outward afflictions I mean such as these; What meant by outward afflictions. wants, losses, wrongs, troubles, exile, imprisonment, sickness, fears, poverty, or any other thing, wherewith the life of man is molested in any condition. Now there are many The godly man may comfort himself against afflictions, by the consideration, 1 Of the commonnes of them. excellent ways of abundant comforts against these, or any of these, as 1 First, if we consider but the commonness of them, all things fall alike in these things, Eccles. 9 2, 3. Every man that is born of a woman, hath but few days, and is full of trouble, job 14. 1. Christ hath no Disciple but he is told aforehand, He must take up his Cross, and that daily, Luk. 9 24. There can be no affliction, but what accompanieth, or may accompany the nature of man, 1. Cor. 10. 13. The same afflictions are accomplished upon our brethren which are through the world, 1. Pet. 5. 9 And we have the Prophets & greatest worthies of the Lord, for an example of suffering, jam. 5. 10. And all the godly must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God, Acts 14. 22. 2 Secondly, if we consider Of God's knowledge of our distresses and desires. that God takes notice of us, and of all our trials: The Lord knows the way of the righteous, Psalm. 1. 6. None of our griefs are hid from him, All our desires are before him, and our groaning is not hid from him, Psalm. 38. 9 and he knows our souls in adversity, Psal. 31. 7. And as he takes notice of all our troubles, so he takes notice of all that is good in us: He knows them that are patient, and trust in him, Nahum. 1. 7. 3 Thirdly, if we consider Of God's compassion. the wonderful compassion of God in the afflictions of his people: he doth not willingly afflict, but regards us with pity, and with love thinks of redeeming us, and sends the Angel of his presence to comfort and save us, and in all our afflictions is afflicted with us, Isay 63. 8, 9 4 Fourthly, if we consider Of God's high estimation of us. the high estimation that God holds of his servants, notwithstanding their afflictions. Crosses may make men love us the less, but they do not a jot discommend us before God. He can take notice of his servants in their distresses, as well as if they did shine in the greatest outward splendour in the world. This is the consolation that God speaks to us (even when he corrects) as to his children; and for that reason we should not refuse his chastening, Hebr. 12. 6. Prou. 3. 11. We may be honourable in God's sight, though we be in a most forlorn and despised condition in the world: We may, I say, be precious in God's sight, and greatly beloved, Isa. 43. 4. 56. The Apostle Peter shows, that a poor servant, when he suffers hard words, and ill usage from his froward Master, doth herein find acceptation with GOD, 1. Peter 2. 19 20. Now this is an instance beyond exception: For, what condition more vile, then of a servant? and what crosses were likely to be disregarded of God sooner, than these domestical indignities? and yet we see a proof of the regard and love of God even in those things. 5 Fiftly, if we consider Of the victory of Christ. the victory of Christ over the world: Our Saviour useth this as a consolation; he tells his Disciples, In the world they shall have trouble, but he would have them be of good comfort, he hath over come the world, so as now they shall never be hurt by their troubles. Their crosses may be too hard for them to master, but Christ can order them so, as in him they shall have victory over them. But of this more afterwards, john 16. 33. 6 Sixtly, If we consider Of the holy Ghost comforting us. the presence of the holy Ghost, he is given of Christ and the Father to be our Comforter, and as our afflictions abound, so shall our consolations also, joh. 14. 16. 2. Cor. 1. 4. Now, how shall a man be dismayed, that hath God's spirit within him, to hearten him, and assist him, and refresh him, and make glad his heart? 7 Seventhly, if we consider Of the issue out of trouble. the issue out of all troubles; Many may be the troubles of the righteous, but God will deliver them out of all, Psal. 34. 19 If GOD make us sore, he will make whole: if he wound, he will bind us up again: In six troubles he shall deliver them, and in seven there shall no evil touch them, job 5. 18. 19 God will give his people rest from the days of adversity, till the pit be digged for the wicked, Psal. 94. 13. Light is sown for the righteous, & gladness for the upright in heart, Psal. 97. 11. It is well said, It is sown; For though God do not presently give us ease and comfort, yet the Harvest will come, if with patience we rest upon God, and be truly sincere, and keep his way: God will settle his people, as in the former days, and it may be, do better unto them, then at the beginning, Ezech. 36. 11. For God's thoughts towards his people, are thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give an expected end, jerem. 29. 11. so as God's servants shall sing for joy of heart, when wicked men howl for vexation of spirit, Esay 65. 14. 8 Eightly, If we consider the wonderful care Of the measure of our afflictions. of God about the measure of our crosses: For God will not lay upon man more than right, that he should enter into judgement with God, job 34. 23. Therefore jacob should not fear, because God will not make a full and final end of him, as he will of the Nations, but will correct him in measure, not leaving him wholly unpunished, jeremy. 46. 28. God doth wait to be gracious to his people; he is a God of judgement, and doth not consider what sin they have committed to deserve affliction, but what strength they have to bear it: After he hath given them the bread of affliction, and the water of adversity, he will not restrain his mercies from them, Isay 31. 18, 20. There is great difference betwixt Gods dealing with wicked men that are enemies to the Church, and his dealing with the godly. Fron hence the Prophet asketh: Hath he smitten him, as he smote them that smote him? and resolveth that God smites in measure, and but in the branches, he will not cut them up by the roots, Isay 27. 7, 8. 9 Ninthly, if we consider Of the short continuance of them. the short time of these afflictions: Heaviness may be in the Evening, but joy will come in the Morning: For God's anger endureth but a moment, but in his favour is life, Psal. 30. 5. The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, Psal. 125. 3. For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his tender mercies, Lamen. 3. 31. 32. For a small moment GOD may forsake, but with great mercy will he gather us. In a little wrath hide I my face, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, Esay 54. 7. 8. Hence Christ saith, A little while, and ye shall not see me, and again, A little while, & ye shall see me, john. 16. 16. The godly may be in heaviness, if need require, but it is but for a short season, 1. Pet. 1. 6. and Paul saith, The afflictions of this life are but light, and for a moment, 2. Cor. 4. 17. 10 Lastly, if we consider Of the good effects of them. the good we get by these afflictions. For God will make all work together for the best, unto them that love him, Rom. 8. 28. The godly may be troubled on every side, and yet not be distressed: they may be perplexed, and yet have no cause to despair, etc. 2. Cor. 4. 8. The godly in affliction may be like the burning bush which Moses saw, which was not consumed: and there are many particulars of the good they get by their crosses. For affliction is as the fire, only to refine them, & try them, and make them more bright, Zach. 13. ult. they lose nothing, but their dross, and this is all fruit, even the taking away of their sins, Isa. 27. 11. Besides, they meet with many consolations in affliction, which otherwise they had not experience of, 2. Cor. 1. 7. and therefore we should count it all joy to fall into many temptation, as knowing that the trial of our faith worketh patience, and if patience have her perfect work, we shall be entire, wanting nothing, jam. 1. 3, 4 Lastly, the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold that perisheth, will be found unto praise, & honour, and glory in the revelation of jesus Christ, 1. Pet. 1. 7. and our light & short afflictions will work unto us an eternal weight of glory, 2. Cor. 4. 17. and if we endure temptation, we shall receive the crown of life, jam. 1. 12. Lo What thou must do in thy affliction. thus we have searched it: and thus it is, hear it, and know thou it for thy good, job 5. vlt Learn thou therefore in nothing to be careful, but in all things to make thy requests known unto God with giving of thanks, Phil. 4. 7. And if any man lack Wisdom to know what to do in his affliction, let him ask it of God, who giveth liberally, and reproacheth no man, jam. 1. 5. CHAP. V. How the godly may comfort themselves against Reproaches. HItherto of the comforts against all outward afflictions in the general. Now it followeth, that I instance in reproaches, & adversaries. For reproaches; it is evident, there is need of Men need comfort against reproaches. consolations, more specially against them, because naturally men stumble at it, when they see Religion censured and scorned, and it hardens many men, when their hearts are infected with this prejudice, that they hear this way every where ilspoken of. Sometimes men are dismayed at the disgrace of sincerity in the general. Sometimes they are troubled for what they themselves do suffer, or may be in danger to suffer. Sometimes the weak are scandalised, when they hear or see what others suffer. And it is manifest, that the best men have been put to a great plunge when they have been laden with reproaches. This makes jeremy so unquiet, jer. 18. 18, 21. Now there Thou mayst comfort thyself in the consideration. are many ways, by which a Christian may establish his own heart against all the scorns and reproaches of the men of this world. 1 First, if they consider that God takes notice of all the wrongs of that Of the notice God takes of them. kind done unto them. Thus David, O Lord, thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour, mine adversities are all before thee, Psal. 69. 19 It easeth his heart, but to talk with GOD, and tell him, that he knows his dishonour. 2. Secondly, it is an increase Of God's great account of us. of the comfort, if we further consider that God favours us, & accounts us dear & honourable, whatsoever the wicked think of it: and this argument the Lord himself pleads withal, Esay 43. 4, 5. If God's face shine upon his servant, what cares David for the reproaches of all sorts of men, even of his neighbours and familiar acquaintance. It is enough to him, that his best and next neighbour and friend respects him, Psalm 31. 11. 12. 16. 3 Thirdly, thou mayst Of thy good report among the godly. comfort thyself by opposing the good report thou hast amongst the godly a 'gainst the reproaches, with which wicked men pursue thee. As thou goest through ill report, so dost thou through good report: thou hast honour as well as dishonour, and it is a great recompense to obtain good report amongst the godly, 2. Corinth. 6. 18. Hebr. 11. 2. 4 Fourthly, were it so Of thy praise thou shalt have in the day of Christ that thou hadst no honour in thy name on earth, and that well-doing were in no request at all: yet this should comfort thee abundantly, that thy faith and sincerity, and innocency, will be found unto praise, and honour, and glory in the revelation of jesus Christ. Thou shalt have unspeakable praise at that day, 1. Pet. 1. 7. 5 Fiftly, the same persons Of praise from them that now reproach thee. that now reproach thee, may be so turned about by the power and grace of God, that in the day of their visitation they will admire thee, and glorify God for thee, 1. Peter. 2. 12. 6 Sixtly, we should be Of the small things thou sufferest. the less troubled with our reproaches, because this is not to resist unto blood. God deals favourably with us. If we had lived in the days of our Fathers, when to profess the Gospel of Christ, had been occasion of terrible death; then we might have had some pretence of grievance. But now in these days, when the hurt is done only with the tongue of infamous men, it is a great weakness to be disquieted, Hebr. 12. 3. 7 Seventhly, let us look Of the example of Christ. upon the author and finisher of our Faith, even He was exposed to these indignities, and yet for the glory set before him, despised the shame, & endured the cross, and is now crowned in heaven, Hebr. 12. 2. What should the servant complain of, when his Lord and Master is called Beelzebub? 8 Eightly, David easeth himself, by considering Of the cause of thy reproaches. the cause of his suffering. For thy sake (saith he to God) have I borne reproach, shame hath covered my face: The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached thee, have fallen upon me: when I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach, Psalm. 69. 7. 9 10. Ninthly, why should we Of the condition of all the godly. be troubled at that which is the lot of all the Saints? We have heard of David before, how he was slandered by many, and on every side, Psalm. 31. 12. 13. jeremy complains, that they consulted how to devise devices against him, and how they might smite him with the tongue, jerem. 18. 18. False witnesses were suborned against Stephen, and that in case of Religion, Acts 6. 11. 13. 14. Many & grievous complaints were laid against Paul, Act. 25. 7. Yea, it was the condition of all the Apostles, and the principal men of the Christian world, to be made a spectacle to men and Angels, and to be accounted forlorn, and as the off-scouring of all things, 1. Cor. 4. 9 10. 13. And our Saviour Christ supposeth the case of any blessed man, that men may say all manner of evil sayings of them, Matth. 5. 12, etc. 10 Tenthly, The Spirit of God and of glory doth rest Of the presence and assistance of the holy Ghost. upon you, 1. Pet. 4. 14. Ye have the Spirit of God in you, what need you care, what the world accounts of you? you have abundant treasure in your hearts, and you have an heroical or divine spirit in you, and therefore why are you troubled about such mean things? and your patience and their rage, is a sign you are in a happy condition, and have God's spirit, & the spirit of God, which in you, is a spirit of glory, and leads you to a better life. And therefore seeing you are but travelers here, why turn you again at the barking of every dog? yea, these reproaches signify, that wicked men do see some glory of God shiving in you, which they strive by all means to vilify & despise, being vexed in their hearts at it. 11 God will certainly Of the condition of those men that do reproach thee. take an order with all that reproach his people. For first, he will reckon all their reproaches, as cast out against himself; and therefore will indite them of blasphemy, Psal. 74. Col. 3. 8 1. Peter. 4. 14 1. Corinth. 4. 13. Secondly, in his due time he will put to silence those lying lips which speak grievous things proudly, and contemptuously against the righteous, Psalm 31. 18. Thirdly, all that were incensed against the godly, shall be rewarded with shame, which GOD will power upon them for the contempt with which they have dishonoured his servants, Esay 41. 11. 14. And to conclude, God will certainly bring them to judgement for these things, they must make their accounts before the judge of the quick and dead, that speak evil of other men, because they will not run with them into the same excess of riot, 1. Pet. 4. 4. 5. 12 Lastly, God will provide Of the course God will take for thy clearing and comfort. for his own innocent servants. His thoughts are not to let his people be shamed, Micah 4. 11. 12. and beside, he will bring forth their righteousness as the light, they shall be cleared, Psalm. 37. 6. job 5. 15. and they shall receive double for all their shame, Isa. 61. 7. and their reward shall be great in heaven, Math. 5. 12. For which reason Moses accounted the reproaches of God's people to be greater riches, than the treasures of Egypt, Hebr. 11. 26. and in the mean time there is a hiding place with God from the strife of tongues, Psalm. 31. 20. CHAP. VI Wherein many principal Objections of the godly are answered. NOW for the better establishment of men's hearts in the former comforts; it will not be amiss to take off the obiectons with which many times godly men do aggravate their distress above the respect of the former consolations. 1. Ob. If they were ordinary reproaches, it would not so much trouble me, but they are vile things which are objected against me? Sol. They cannot be viler things than have been objected against Christ & the godly. For there have been objected; Grievous things. Acts 25 7. Gluttony. Math 11. 18. 19 Madness: john. 10. 20. Blasphemy. Mat. 26. 65. Ac. 6. 11. 13. 14 Deceiving. john 7. 12. Rebellion. Acts 17. 6. 7. Railing. Acts 23. 4. Schism. Acts 28. 22. Wickedness of life. 1. Pet. 2. 12. 2. Ob. But base persons do revile me, the very scum of the people do scorn me. Solu. This is no strange thing. The abjects gathered themselves together against David, they did tear and ceased not, Psal. 35. 15. The drunkards sang of him, Psal. 69. 13. Those that derided job, were such, whose fathers he would have disdained to set with the dogs of his flock, job 30. 1. 3. Ob. But I have lived long under such disgraces. Sol. Rest thyself, and fret not at the man that prospereth in his way, the Lord will find a time to bring forth thy innocency, as the light, Psal. 37. 7. Zephan. 3. 18. 19 God will find a time to get thee praise in every place where thou hast been put to shame. 4. Ob. But I am almost buried with the almost infiniteness of scorn and reproaches. Sol. That was no more than was in David's case; he was so buried in disgrace, that he was as a man dead, forgotten, and out of mind, Ps. 31. 14. he was a reproach of men, Psal. 22. 12. A byword, Psal. 44. 9, etc. A proverb, Psal. 69. 11. A wonder to many, Psal. 7. 7. and the Apostles were a gazing stock to men and Angels, 1. Cor. 4. 9 2. Cor. 6. 13. 5. Ob. But great men set against me. Solu. That was David's case: Fear was on every side, he heard the railings of great men, which consulted together against him, Psalm 31. 13. 6. Ob. But I am sentenced and accused as an evil doer most unjustly, and that publicly. Sol. So was our Saviour Christ, & that by a whole Council of men, Mat. 27. 1. john. 11. 47. 48. and so was Stephen, Act. 6. 12. and so were the Apostles, Act. 4. 6. 15. and 5. 27. and so was Paul, Act. 23. 1. The most righteous may suffer as evil doers, 2. Tim. 2. 9 The wicked so compass about the righteous, that many times wrong judgement proceedeth, Hebr. 2. 3. 4. but this is his comfort, The Lord will not leave him in the hand of the wicked, nor condemn him, when he is judged, Psal. 37. 32. If God condemn us not, it matters not for the sentences of unjust men. And the rather, because God hath further promised the godly man, that he will stand at his right hand, to save him from the judges of his soul, Ps. 109. 31. 7. Ob. But I am by slander cast out of the Church with great pretence of the glory of God. Solu. The Lord in the Prophet Isaiahs' time had observed such a thing as this. For the Prophet tells the godly, that their brethren had cast them out, and said; Let the Lord be glorified. But he assures them from the Lord, that God would appear to their joy, and their brethren which cast them out, should be ashamed, Isaiah 66. 5. 8. Ob. But they which have thus grievously wronged me, live in all prosperity, no judgement lighteth upon them, God doth not pleadmy cause against them. Sol. Thou knowest not how GOD dealeth with them, God can judge them secretly, and consume them insensibly, so as the world shall take no notice of it, as the moth eateth up the garment, without making any great rent, Isay 51. 8. And for this reason they are exhorted in that place, not to fear the reproach. Secondly, what knowest thou what God will yet do with them? For God hath pleaded the cause of his servants many times, by bringing strange judgements upon the wicked. This Pashur shall be made Magor-missabib, that is, a terror round about, & all that hear it, shall tremble, jerem. 20. 3. God can clothe thy adversaries with shame, and cover them with their own confusion as with a mantel, Psal▪ 109. 29. 9 Ob. But I am censured by good men with much bitterness, as if I were guilty, and there is none to comfort or pity me. Sol. So was job deeply censured by his godly friends: and so was Paul of his own hearers, 1. Cor. 4. 4, 10. Thus David was forsaken in his wrongs, so as none would comfort him, Psal. 69. 20. 10. Ob. But yet one thing much troubles me, that is, that since these slanders, the hand of God hath been upon me in divers particular judgements, and this makes people to think, sure I am guilty. Sol. So they thought of Paul when the Viper fell on his hand, being a man that was before accused, and now sent as it were a prisoner, Acts 28. so they judged of David when he was sick, that some evil disease did cleave to him, Psal. 41. 8. Yea, this was our Lord jesus Christ's case; For they judged him as plagued, and smitten of GOD, Esay 53. 4. 11. Ob. But the things objected against me are so foul, that when I hear those things spoken of publicly, or privately, I blush, & that may cause me to be thought to be guilty. Solu. This was David's case being innocent; he saith, Shame covered his face when he bore reproach, Psal. 69. 7. and his confusion was continually before him; and the shame of his face covered him, for the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth by reason of the enemy, Psal. 44. 14. 16. CHAP. VII. Directions in the case of reproaches. I Conclude this point concerning reproaches, with certain directions. There be divers things to 4 Ways to avoid reproaches. be done by us, if we would be rightly ordered in the case of reproaches. 1 We should shun the company of such as are given to slander, as it is said of Paul, when divers were hardened, and spoke evil of the way, he departed from them, and separated the Disciples, Acts 19 9 2 Thy daily refuge against the scorns of reprochers, must be to go to God, and hide thyself with himby prayer. When David is thus encountered, if you ask, what he did? he saith, when they railed, But I betook myself to prayer, Psal. 109. 4. and Ps. 31. 19 3 Look to thy tongue, be silent, see thou render not reviling for reviling, but rather trust in GOD, and bless them that curse thee, Psal. 37. 7. 1. Pet. 3. 9 Psalm. 31. 14. 1. Cor. 4. 12. jerem. 18. 20. 4 Live inoffensively, & be sure thou keep God's way: For if any thing will medicine their tongues, that must be it, 2. Cor. 6. 3. 8 2. Pet. 2. 12. and 4. 14. 15. Ps. 37. 34. For it may be at length the same mouth that cursed thee, will bless thee, and glorify GOD for thee. CHAP. VIII. Showing how the godly may comfort themselves against their adversaries. HItherto of the consolations against reproaches: Now it followeth, that I should show how a Christian may comfort himself against his adversaries, that oppose him in his course of He may comfort himself from the consideration, 1 Of the common condition of all the godly. godliness, and so there are many arguments of consolation. 1 The first may be taken from his condition as it is common to all the godly: For this may stay a man's heart to know for certain, that every man that will live godly, shall be opposed, and must suffer persecutions, 2. Tim. 2. 12. 2 The second may be taken from the appointment Of God's appointment. of God herein: and this stands of two branches. First, that God from all eternity hath decreed every man's sufferings this way. Thus Paul lesseneth the thought of the cross, by pleading that God had appointed them thereunto, meaning by his eternal decree, 1. Thessaly. 33. Secondly, that GOD hath likewise appointed the end, and measure, and deliverance out of the affliction. Thus the Church is comforted, Revel. 2. 10. If it were grievous to them to know that the Devil should raise up wicked men, that should cast them into prison, yet this may refresh them, that GOD hath set the time when they shall come forth again. It shall be but for ten days: It shall neither be so long as the Devil and wicked men would haveit, for than they must never come out; nor so little a while, as they themselves would have it; for than they would never come in, or stay but awhile: but God will rule by determining the time for their good. 3 The third may be taken from the refuge we may Of our refuge in God. have in God: we may always make our recourse to God in all our wrongs, who hath promised to be our refuge, even our refuge in due time, Psal. 9 9 If God will receive us, and hear our moans, & undertake our protection, it should be no great thing for us to endure the oppositions of unreasonable men. 4 The fourth may be taken from the prediction Of the prediction of Christ. of Christ: we have been told before plainly what we should expect. We may have peace in Christ, but he hath foretold it, that in the world we shall have trouble, joh. 16. 13. yea, that we must provide to take up our cross daily, Luke 9 24. 5 The fifth may be taken Of the deliverance promised. from the deliverance GOD hath promised us; for thus he assures us, The hand of the Lord shall be known towards his servants, and his indignation towards their & his enemies, Isay 66 14. for that God that will be the strength of the righteous in their trouble, will be their salvation out of their troubles: he will help them and deliver them, he will deliver them from the wicked, & save them because they trust in him, Psalm 37. 39, 40. This glory of the Lord shall be known and feared from the East to the West, that if the enemy come like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall chase him away, Isay 59 19 Therefore fear not thou, O worm jacob, for thus saith the Lord, I am thy GOD, I will sustain thee with the right hand of my justice: Behold, all they that provoke thee shall be ashamed, they shall be as nothing: the men of thy strife shall perish, Isay. 41. 10 11. For the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgement to be punished, 2. Peter 2. 9 GOD will deliver the poor when he crieth, the needy also, and him that hath no helper, Psal. 72. 12. 6 The sixth may be taken Of God's judgement upon our adversaries. from the certain judgement of God that shall fall upon their adversaries: The men of thy strife shall perish, and they that war against thee, shall be as a thing of nought: They shall seek them & not find them, Isa. 41. 11. 12. All these curses will the Lord lay upon their enemies, and upon them that hate them & persecute them, Deut. 30. 7. All those evil neighbours that touch the Inheritance of Israel, God will pluck them out of their land, and pluck his people from among them, jer. 12. 14. The wicked draw their swords, and bend their bows against the godly; but their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bow shall be broken; for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, and the Lord will uphold the just, Psal. 37. 14. 15. 17. And beside, for their full payment, they are reserved unto the day of judgement to be punished. 7 The seventh may be Of the effects and consequents. taken from the consideration of the effects and consequents of this opposition: For first, hereby we give our testimony to Christ and the Gospel, when we partake of the afflictions of the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1. 8. Secondly, these oppositions do as much good for the present, when God's servants fall into these troubles, the fruit will be, it will try them, and purge them, and make them white, till their time be come, for there is a time appointed, Dan. 11. 35. 36. Thirdly, God may turn the hearts of the wicked, and make them of Lions and Tigers, to become Lambs, and no more to do hurt in the mountain of the Lord, Isay 11. The Wolf and the Lamb may come to feed together, and the Lion eat straw like the Bullock, Isay. 65. 25. Lastly, we shall gain Of our own gain by them. exceedingly by these sufferings; for we are assured, that if we suffer with Christ, we shall reign with him in another World, 2. Timo. 2. 11. 12. We should therefore rejoice, that we partake in the sufferings of Christ, because we are punished, that when Christ appears in his glory, we shall then be glad and rejoice, 1. Peter 4. 13. CHAP. IX. Of the ways how Satan tempts us, and the occasion of temptation. HItherto of outward afflictions, and the comforts against them. The inward afflictions follow, and here in the first place come temptations to be considered of, even those conflicts which men have in their souls with evil Angels. Three things must be 3. Things taken for granted. granted concerning temptations. 1 First, that the doctrine of temptations is obscure, because the disease lies inward in the soul, and is such as the unregenerate world hath little care of, or judgement in. 2 Secondly, that when God leaves his children to be tried by this affliction, & softens their hearts to feel this combat with Devils, it doth wonderfully amaze and disquiet them, and therefore this is a point needful to be handled. 3 Thirdly, that there is sure remedy in the word of God, even for this affliction also. Now, because this doctrine of temptations is somewhat obscure, I would, before I entreat of comforts against them, consider of three things. 1 How many ways Satan tempts men. 2 To what things he tempts. 3 What are usually the occasions he takes of tempting. For the first, Satan Satan tempts us five ways. tempts us divers ways. 1 One is, when he tempts God against us, labouring to bring God out of liking with us. Thus he insinuated the dispraises of job to God, job, chap. 1. and 2. And thus Satan stood at the right hand of joshua the high Priest, to resist him before the Angel of the Covenant, Zachar. 3. 1. 2 Another way is, when he appears in some shape, and by voice, or otherways terrifies men. 3 When he brings distresses upon men's bodies, or other heavy calamities, and thus also he tempted job by GOD'S permission. 4 When he stirs up other men to tempt us: thus he stirred up Peter to tempt Christ, and dissuaded him from his suffering, Math. 16. And thus he tempted the Woman by means of the Serpent: and thus also he employeth wicked men, daily to tempt by evil counsel & enticements. 5 The last and most usual way is by injecting, exciting, or suggesting evil internally within our spirit. This is that kind of temptation I here especially mean. 2 For the second, that we may find out the nature of temptations, and the things whereabout Satan works, we may refer all the temptations to three sorts. 3. Sorts of temptations by suggestion. 1. Temptations of blasphemy. The first sort of temptations, are temptations to blasphemy: and thus he tempts when he suggests monstrous things against God, or the word of God, or the providence of God, or the like. The second sort are, 2. Temptations to particular sins. temptations to particular sins, as when he tempts to the denial of Christ, as he did Peter, and so he tempts to lusts of all sorts. And so the Devil is the father of lust, john 8. 44. and evil Angels are spiritual wickedness, Ephes. 6. 13. and thus also he tempts to rage or revenge; and therefore the Apostle implies in his speech about anger, that to give place to wrath, is to give place to the Devil, who usually excites those violent passions, Eph. 4. 26. And thus also he tempts to covetousness, in respect of which sin, the Devil is said to enter into judas: And thus also he tempts to lying, as in the case of Ananias and Saphira, Acts 5. and so he tempts men to murder, either of themselves or of others. The third kind of temptation 3. Temptations to despair. is, the temptation to despair, which is, when he persuades with men to despair of all mercy in God. Thus he made judas despair: and into some degree of despair for the time was David himself entered, Psal. 77. Thus of the sorts of temptations. 3 Now it is wonderful 9 Occasions of templations. necessary in the third place to take notice of the occasions of temptations. Satan usually tempts not, but upon some advantage given him, & so there are many things, which as it were, tempt the Devil to tempt men, as First, solitariness: the Devil watched to find Solitariness. the woman alone from her husband, and then set upon her. Such persons as love solitariness, love not their own souls; for they give great advantage to Satan to assault them and cirumvent them, & therefore we should take heed of it. The second occasion is security, when the Devil Security. spies that men be careless, and keep no watch over their own hearts, and are reckless in their courses, and go from day to day, and fear not evil, than he lies in wait to assault, by injecting some vile or base temptation to sin. The third occasion is Pride; when Paul is somewhat Pride. lifted up with the consideration of his revelations, then doth Satan take his advantage, and set upon him with his messenger, even some vile temptation: when we take liberty to make ourselves great in our own eyes, and nourish the pleasing thoughts of high opinion, and self-conceit, if God do not greatly guard us, we are near some desperate assault of Satan. The fourth occasion is anger. The Devil seldom Anger. forbears to enter into the heart of the wrathful person, when anger hath set open the door, as was noted before out of Ephes. 4. 26. The fifth occasion is dalliance with evil thoughts, 5. Dalliance with evil thoughts. when the Devil sees us play with contemplative wickedness, and be well content to let our thoughts run upon sinful projects or imaginations of sins, which perhaps we intended not ever to commit. This tempts him to employ his skill to put fire to those thoughts, so long till the whole heart be ensnared by them, or by other ways, to draw us into mischief. These lusts will draw away, and Satan engendering with them can make them conceive, etc. jam. 1. 14. The sixth occasion is, the 6. Intemperate use of outward things. intemperate use of outward things. For the Devil walketh about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour, and when he finds a man excessively bend to the things of this world, as meat, drink, apparel, riches, pleasures, honours, etc. he sets upon him by some of his methods to carry him away captive at his will. Therefore the Apostle Peter wills us to be sober, if we would prevent him; implying, that the Devil will give the onset, when he finds us intemperate, 1. Pet. 5. 8. The seventh occasion is 7. Vnsetlednes in Faith unsettledness in our assurance of God's favour, and our own salvation: We cannot resist the Devil, if we be not steadfast in the faith, and we give him wonderful advantage, if we be tossed about like the waves of the Sea, and are unconstant or careless in matter of our faith; we never bar out the Devil sound, till we be steadfast in our assurance, 1. Peter. 5. 8. 9 The eight occasion is, 8. Trial of Faith. when sometimes the Lord will have us tempted, only for the trial of our faith, and the grace which he hath given unto us. Lastly, the ninth occasion 9 Relapse into some gross sin. is, a relapse into some gross sin after calling, which is scourged with hideous temptations through a secret depth of justice in God, who thereby can show how fearful a thing it is so to offend. CHAP. X. How the godly may comfort themselves in their temptations. THe consolations against temptations follow. A Christian, that feels himself assaulted by the Devil, may raise up in his thoughts divers contemplations, able to succour He may comfort himself from the consideration, Of the common condition of the godly. him in his distresses: as 1 First, if he consider that this is the case of all the godly, to be tempted: It is no new thing which hath befallen him. Thus Paul comforts the Corinthians, No temptation hath befallen you, but what accompanies the nature of man, 1. Cor. 10. 13. And the Apostle Peter heartens them to whom he writes, by this argument: The same afflictions are accomplished upon your brethren that are in the world, 1. Pet. 5. 9 This also the Apostle to the Ephesians affirms, that those spiritual wickednesses are found even in the most heavenly places on earth, Ephes. 6. 12. The Apostles themselves were not free from this combat, & therefore Paul saith, We wrestle with principalities and powers, etc. 2 Secondly, if we consider Of the measure. the measure of them, God will not lay any more upon him, than he is able to bear, he may fear his own strength, as Paul did, but God will make his grace sufficient for him, 1. Cor. 10. 13. 2. Cor. 12. 9 Satan is limited, he can go no further than his chain will reach, and for that cause it is, that we are taught to pray, that God would not lead us into temptation, as acknowledging that God doth dispose and order the measure of this kind of affliction. 3 Thirdly, if he consider Of the short continuance. the short continuance of his temptations; They may be fierce, but they are not long: GOD will shortly tread down Satan under our feet, Rom. 16. 20. We shall suffer but a while, 1. Pet. 5. 9 10. 4 Fourthly, if he seriously Of divers things in Christ: as meditate of divers things in Christ his Saviour: as, First, his example. It 1. His example should be less grievous to be tempted, because Christ himself was tempted in all things, as he is, sin sin only excepted, Hebr. 4. 15. Secondly, Christ hath 2 His victory over the Devil. achieved an admirable victory over these principalities and powers, and hath triumphed over them, and made a show of them openly, Col. 2. 15. Thirdly, there is in 3 His sympathy. Christ a sympathy and fellow-feeling. He is touched with our infirmities, and doth much compassionate our case, Heb. 4. 15. Fourthly, he hath made intercession, and prayed for 4 His Intercession. us, that our faith might not fail. For that which he assured to Peter, he performeth also for all the elect, Luk. 22. 31. Fiftly, Christ is the true 5 His virtue for healing us. brazen Serpent, which is lift up of God, that when we feel ourselves stung with these fiery serpents, by looking upon Christ we are sure to be healed, john 3. 15. Lastly, we are sure to be helped and succoured by 6 His succour. Christ in the combat: He was tempted himself, that he might succour them that are tempted, Heb. 2. 18. 5 Fiftly, if he consider Of the issue out of temptation. the issue that GOD will give, He will give issue out of the temptation, 1. Cor. 10. 13. He will tread down Satan, Rom. 16. 20. He will 'stablish us, after we have suffered a while, 1. Pet. 5. 9, 10. If we resist the Devil, he shall fly from us, jam. 4. 7. 8. If he lead us into temptation, he will deliver us from evil, Math. 6. 13. The Lord will break the head of the great Leviathan, the crooked serpent, the Dragon of the Sea, Isay, 27. 1. 6 If he consider the effects of temptation, it is Of the effects. the school of Christ to train us up in spiritual soldierly, they cannot hurt us, they make us more humble, 2. Corin. 12. 8. 9 They are for our trial, 1. Pet. 1. 7. Satan doth but winnow us, we lose nothing but our chaff, Luke 21. 31. Ob. But it seems, temptations are a grievous evil, because we are taught to pray against them in a special manner in the Lord's prayer, which shows that my estate is miserable, in that I am led into temptation. Ans. It is true, that we How we may pray against temptations. must pray against temptations, & that it is a judgement; but yet no other, than sickness, poverty, or the like: and therefore we are not to pray against them simply, but with submission to Gods will; only we must pray absolutely to be delivered from the evil of temptation, which latter words do restrain or correct the former. Quest. But when I am tempted, how may I know that I am not overcome of the temptation? An. Observe thine own How we may know that we are not overcome of temptations. heart in the entertainment of those wild injections. If thou abhorthem as soon as they come in, and give no manner of consent unto them, thou art free. For Christ himself was tempted by evil cogitations cast into his mind: (for Note. the Apostle saith) He was tempted in like manner as we are, and yet he was not guilty of the evil of the temptation. It is true, that for the most part we are infected in some degree or other by it: but yet it is not impossible for man to be free from the evil of temptation, as that example shows. But secondly, thou mayst Two signs. know whether thou be overcome or no, by two signs. For first, if thou feel the temptation to be an affliction to thee, and account it an evil day, and art burdened under it, as if it were a very buffeting of thy body, thou art yet safe: The Devil hath no victory, thou art not led captive, all this while Paul was worse feared than hurt, 2. Cor. 12. 7. 8. 9 Secondly, all the while thou resistest by prayer, & wrestlest, with it, and keepest thy spiritual weapons in thy hands, thou art the conqueror, for thou art assured of God. If thou resist, the Devil will fly from thee in due time. Thou art never overcome, till the temptation please thee, & thou resolvest to make no resistance spiritually, jam. 4. 8. Quest. But what if I be overcome? am I not in a desperate condition, if the temptation have prevailed over me? An. Thy case is mournful, but not desperate: for Peter and David were overcome of the temptation, and though it cost them many tears, yet they were recovered. Christ hath made intercession for thee, and will heal thee, if thou make thy recourse unto him, and penitently plead for mercy before the throne of Grace. CHAP. XI. Comforts against our daily infirmities. HItherto of the consolations against the temptations of Satan. There remain two other distresses of the Spirit. 1. The one arising from the sense of daily infirmities. 2. The other from the fear of falling away, and losing of what we have. 1 For the first, there are many ways, by which a Christian may fence his heart against the discouragements that arise from the sense of daily infirmities. And these promises are Two sorts of promises. of two sorts: For they are either such as give us arguments of consolation in themselves, or such as withal remove the objections are wont to arise in our hearts upon some particular consideration of the manner of the infirmities in us: By infirmities, I mean What is meant by infirmities. defects, Ignorance, Indisposition, Fear, Discouragements, Forgetfulness, Omissions, Distractions, Particular falls through frailty, some kinds of evil thoughts, Dullness, Vncheerefulnesse, Doubts, and the evil of our good works. The arguments of Consolation The comforts raised from the consideration. are: 1 There are differences Of thy age in Christ. in the degrees of the age of Christ in us: Some Christians are but weak, young ones, lambs, babes, new form, and GOD knows it, and looks for no more from such, than what agrees to their age: He is a compassionate Father, that doth not require the same power of gifts in a weak Christian, which he looks for in a strong. 2 It should much ease 2 Of thy condition now under grace. us to remember, that we are not under the Law, but under Grace, Rom. 6. 14. We are delivered from the rigour of the Law, God now doth not expect perfection from us, nor accounts us as transgressors, because we are imperfect, but hath received us to the benefit of the new covenant: In which, perfection is only required in Christ, and uprightness 3 We may be very 3. Of the fruitfulness may be in a weak Christian. weak in strength & power of gifts, and yet very fruitful: we may do much good while we are in the infancy of Grace, which the comparison of the vine (to which the godly are resembled) shows. The vine is not the strongest of Trees, and yet is more fruitful in pleasing fruit, than many other trees, not of the field only, but of the garden also. Now the godly are likened to the vine, Esay 27. 2. to show, that all their weakness notwithstanding, they may be abundant in pleasing fruit. 4 The goodness of God's Of the goodness of God's nature: for he is nature should much encourage and comfort us herein: and so if we consider four praises in the nature of God. First, he is gracious: he stands not upon desert, 1 Gracious. we may buy of him without money, he can love us for his own sake, though we be able no way to plead our own merits, Esay 55. 1. 2. 3. Secondly, he is merciful, 2 Merciful. yea mercy pleaseth him, it is no trouble to him to show mercy, but he delighteth in it, Mic. 7. 18. Thirdly, he is slow to anger, Infirmities will 3 Slow to anger. not provoke him to wrath; he can delight in us still, though we have many wants and weaknesses, Ps. 103. Fourthly, he is ready to forgive; if by our too 4 Ready to forgive. much carelessness and frequency in offending, he be not urged to displeasure, yet he is quickly pacified; a few prayers and tears in the confession of our faults, will turn away all his displeasure, so as he will remember our iniquities no more, Ps. 103. 5 The Lord will strengthen Of the hope of strength and his own work in us by his Spirit, and though Grace be but in the bud, yet his blessing shall be upon our buds, and he will make us grow as the willows planted by the watercourses: the hope of increase should stay us against the present sense of weakness, Esay, 44. 2. 3. 4. 6 There are many Of many things in Christ: as things comfortable to be thought upon in Christ. For first, he makes account 1 His opinion of us. to find us sick, and sinners, he doth not expect to find us righteous altogether: He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, Mark. 2. 17. Secondly, we have such an High Priest, as 2 His compassion. knows how to have compassion upon those that are out of the way: he is touched with our infirmities, he doth rather pity us, then hate us for our weaknesses, Hebr. 4. 15. Thirdly, his intercession 3 His intercession. covers our infirmities. If any man sin, we have an Advocate, even jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins. He takes an order in Heaven, that God shall not be turned away from us, he makes daily intercession for us. Fourthly, his blood will powerfully cleanse 4 His blood. our Consciences from the deadness which is in our works, Heb. 9 14. Fiftly, he is the Lord our righteousness, and 5 The imputation of his righteousness. that is his name by which he will be called, jerem. 23. 6. His perfect righteousness is as truly ours, as if we had performed it ourselves: so as although we be most unperfect in ourselves, yet in Christ God can find no fault in us, nor see any transgression: Though our sanctification be spotted, yet our justification hath no blemish in it. 7 The helps God hath The help of the Ministry. afforded us in his Ministers, may be some ease unto us: though for weakness we be but lambs, yet God hath provided for us; he hath given us shepherds to feed us, and given them a charge to look to his Lambs, as well as his sheep. The Church is compared to a nurse with breasts, and we have a promise to suck out of the breasts of his consolations jerem. 23. 4. Esay 66. 11. 12. 13. john 21. 19 8 We should especially Of divers particular favours God hath assured us of. be refreshed with the consideration of divers particular favours, GOD hath assured us of in his word, as First, that he will not deal with us after our sins, nor reward us after our iniquities, Psal. 103. Secondly, that he will spare us, as a man spareth his son that serveth him. No father can show compassion like to that which God will be bound to show to his children, Mal. 3. 17. Thirdly, that the smoking flax shall not be quenched, and the bruised reed shall not be broken; though grace were in us but like the heat in the week of the candle when the light is out, yet God hath taken order that it shall not be extinguished, Esay 42. 3. Fourthly, that in all times of need we shall have access unto the Throne of Grace, and obtain a supply of all our wants; so as we may go boldly to ask what we need, in the name of Christ, and it shall be given us, Heb. 4. ult. Fiftly, that he will accept of our desires, and our will to do his service, shall be taken for the deed, so as he will reckon of so much good to be done by us, as we desired and endeavoured to do: our works are as good as we desired to have them to be. The preparations of our hearts are reckoned with God as great things, Esay 55. 1. jerem. 30. 2. 2. Cor. 8. 12. Sixtly, that in all his dealing with us, he will use us in all compassion with a tender respect of our weakness. Our weeping and supplication shall be accepted before him, and he will cause us to walk in a strait way, in which we shall not stumble, jer. 31. 9 In all our afflictions he is afflicted. In love, in care, in pity he will redeem us, and carry us as in the days of old, Esay 63. 9 As he hath borne us from the womb, so will he be the same still unto old age, even unto the grey hairs. He will carry us in the arms of his compassion: He hath made us, he will bear, even he will carry, and will deliver us, Esay 46. 3. 4. He will gather the Lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, & gently lead those that are with young, Esay 40. Seventhly, that he will supply all our necessities out of the riches of his glory, Phil. 4. 19 Eightly, that he will pass by our mere frailties, and take no notice of the errors of our lives, that arise from mere infirmities; there is no God like unto him for passing by transgressions, Mic. 7. 18. Ninthly, That he will strengthen us, and make us grow in the gifts bestowed upon us: The Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. joel. 3. 16. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might, he increaseth strength: they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, Esay 40. 29. 31. He will be as the dew to his people. They shall grow as the Lily, and cast forth their roots, as Lebanon. Their branches shall spread, and their beauty be as the Olive tree, and their smell as Lebanon. They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, Hosh. 14. 5. 6. 7. And to assure all this, God would have us to know that he hath married us unto himself, and holds himself tied in the covenant of marriage with all kindness and faithfulness, to take the care & charge of us for ever, Hosh. 2. 19 9 To conclude this first sort of promises, what knowest thou what GOD Of what God may bring thee to. may bring thee unto, notwithstanding thy weakness? He can make thee to multiply as the bud of the field. He can make thee increase and wax great. He can make thee attain unto excellent ornaments, Ezech. 10. 7. Since thou art the branch of his planting, the work of his hand, he may greatly glorify himself in thee, so as thy little one may be as a thousand, & thy small one as a strong Nation, God can perform it in his due time, Esay 60. 21 22. Though thou have but a little strength, God hath set before thee such an open door, as no man can shut: and God can make thee stand in the love of the truth, without denying his name when the hour of temptation comes upon the world, & many of greater understanding fall, Reu. 3. 8. 9 10. Hitherto of the principal consolations in the case of infirmities. CHAP. XII. divers objections are answered. IT followeth that I should answer certain Objections which do usually depress the hearts of men, and by the trouble of which they neglect the former consolations. Ob. Some one may say, My infirmities are the more grievous, because I find affliction of spirit joined with them. These terrors and passions upon my heart do dismay me, and make me doubt, those comforts do not belong unto me. Solu. God may afflict thy spirit, and yet be well pleased with thee; yea therefore thy case is the more comfortable, because thou feelest the weight and burden of thy sins, as these places of Scripture following, most evidently and comfortably show: namely, Psalm. 34. 18. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Math. 11. 28. 29. Come unto me, all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease you. Take my yoke on you, and learn of me, that I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. jerem. 31. 25. For I have satiate the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. And their soul shall be as a watered garden, and they shall have no more sorrow: the latter part of the 12. verse, etc. Isaiah 63. 9 In all their troubles he was troubled, and the Angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his mercy he redeemed them, and he bore them and carried them always continually. Psal. 31. 21. 22. Blessed be the Lord: for he hath showed his marvelous kindness toward me in a strong City. Though I said in my haste, I am cast out of thy sight; yet thou heardst the voice of my prayer, when I cried unto thee. Psal. 103. 9 He will not always chide, neither keep his anger for ever. Ob. But I offend daily. Solu. That is clearly answered in God's promise: For he saith, he will multiply pardon, or abundantly pardon, Esay. 57 7. Ob. But I find I grow worse than I have been, my heart is much out of order. Sol. If there be a heart in thee desirous to return, there is comfort also against this distress. The Lord will heal thy backsliding, if thou take unto thee words to confess thy falling away, Hosh. 14. 2. 3. 4. Behold (saith the Lord) I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth, jer. 33. 6. There is healing in the wings of the Son of righteousness, and ye shall go forth and grow up as the Calves of the stall, Malach. 4. 2. Ob. But I am extremely burdened with my ignorance, this is a continual grievance unto me. Solu. There are many comforts against ignorance. 1 It is a special promise 8. Constructions about ignorance in the godly. of God in the new Covenant, that he will write his laws in thy heart, and he will make thee to know the Lord: thou mayst go boldly to the throne of Grace, to beg the further illumination of the Spirit of God. This is one of the suits God cannot deny. 2 God hath promised to lead thee by a way which thou hast not known: He will preserve thee by his knowledge, though thou be unacquainted with the way thyself. He that led his people from Babel to Zion, when they scarce knew a foot of that long way, will lead thee in the straight way from earth to heaven, if thou seek a way of GOD as they did, Isay 42. 16. 3 We have such an High Priest, as knows how to have compassion on the ignorant. He that required that property of the High Priest in the Law, will much more express it himself, Hebr. 5. 1. 3. 4 This must be thy glory, and the crown of rejoicing, that though thou be ignorant of many things, yet thou knowest God, and Christ crucified, and this is eternal life, joh. 17. 3. 5 The Ministers of the Gospel are ours, and therefore if we attend upon the Word, and continue in it, we shall know the truth: their instructions shall be daily distilled into thy heart like drops of rain, 1. Cor. 3. 22. 23. 6 The anointing thou hast received, shall teach thee all needful things, & lead thee into all truth, 1. joh. 2. 27. 7 There is a seed of heavenly doctrine cast into thy heart, which shall ever remain in thee. It is indelible, it cannot be blotted out, 1. joh. 3. 9 8 Lastly, knowledge is the gift of Christ, and as we know that he is come, so we believe that he will give us understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son jesus Christ: this is the true God, and eternal life, 1. joh. 5. 20. Ob. But we want, or have lost the means of knowledge; our teachers are taken from us. Solu. It is true; Where vision faileth, the people faint, but yet: 1 After God hath given you the bread of affliction, & the water of adversity, he will restore teachers, and no more restrain instructions, Esay 30. 20. 2 Though thou see no way of help, yet thou knowest not how God can provide; He can open Rivers on the tops of mountains, and he maketh the wilderness a standing pool, when his people thirst and cry unto him, Isaiah 41. 17, 18. 3 If ordinary means fail and be denied, God will then supply of his spirit, and make that means which is left, to suffice for thy preservation, and building up, Philip. 1. 9 Now that there may be the more abundant support unto our hearts in this case of infirmities. I will open two places of Scripture that do meet with the most objections of our hearts. The first is, Exodus 34. The full explication of the words in Exod. 34. 6. 7. 6. 7. where the Lord proclaimeth the goodness of his nature, that all men may take notice of it, and give him the praise of his rich grace, where he so describeth the Lord, that in his titles he giveth an answer to many objections. 1. Ob. If thou say thy infirmities may alienate the Lord from thee? Solu. He answers, that he is jehovah, always the same, unchangeable. He will not alter his love towards thee, but love thee to the end, & for the more assurance, he repeated that title twice, because he knows, we most doubt of that, and have most need to be succoured with that Argument, as the foundation of all our comfort. 2. Ob. If thou say thou hast strong inclinations to sin, or strange temptations, or great impediments, or many adversaries and discouragements? Solu. He answers, he is God, or strong; to signify that nothing shall hinder the work of his grace toward thee, but he will keep thee by his power, and make his grace sufficient for thee. 3. Ob. If thou say he is of pure eyes, and cannot but discern thy faults, and sin is sin in the sight of God. Sol. He answers, that he is merciful. 4. Ob. If thou say thou deservest no such mercy. Solu. He answers that he is gracious, & doth not stand upon desert. He will show mercy, not because thou art good, but because he is good. 5. Ob. If thou say, The daily repeating & renewing of thy sins may provoke him, though he be merciful and gracious. Solu. He answers, that he is long-suffering. 6. Ob. If thou say thou hast many defects and wants to be supplied. Solu. He answers, that he is full of goodness. 7. Ob. If thou sayst, thou art ashamed of the igno rance, which is more than can be conceived. Sol. He answers, that he is abundant in truth to supply thy defects, & to perform his promise, though thou have but a little faith. 8. Ob. If thou say thou dost believe that God is all this unto some men, & that Abraham, and David, and others that were in great favour with GOD, have found all this. But for thyself thou art so vile a creature, and so mean a person, as it is not for thee to expectsuch great things of God, Solu. He answers, that he keeps mercy for thousands. He hath not spent all upon David, or the Patriarches, or Prophets, or Apostles, or Martyrs, or Ministers: but he hath an Ocean of goodness still to be showed, without respect of persons, to all that come unto him for mercy. 9 Ob. If thou yet say, thou art guilty of divers sorts of sins, and that it is not one offence only, but many that lie upon thee, and some of them such as thou darest not name, they are so vile, Solu. He answers, that he forgives iniquity, transgression and sin, that is, all sorts of sins, of nature, of weakness, or of presumption. 10. Obiec. If any other should say, this is a doctrine of liberty, and may embolden men to sin, Solu. He answers to that, he will by no means clear the wicked, those are favours only he will declare to the penitent, that are weary of their sins, and would fain offend no more. 2 The second place is, The full explication of the words in Ezech. 36. 25. etc. Ezech. 36. 25. and 7. where many objections are evidently answered, the consolations being fitted of purpose, so as every word almost prevents some doubt might arise in men's minds: as 1. Ob. I am exceeding loathsome, and a creature extremely filthy in respect of my sins. Solu. I will power clean water upon you; that is, I will wash your souls in the fountain of my grace, and both forgive you, and sanctify you. 2. Ob. Oh it cannot be that any means should do me good, I am so totally defiled. Sol. Ye shall be clean; 'tis easy for God to cleanse us, 'tis our own unbelief hinders us: God hath promised our cleansing. 3. Ob. O but my sins are great and gross sins, I have offended more grievously than other men. Sol. From your Idols, & from your filthiness will I cleanse you; though thy sins were as great as Idolatry in the first Table, or whoredom in the second, yet God can forgive and sanctify thee. 4. Ob. But my nature is so bad, that if I were forgiven, I should offend again. Sol. A new heart will I give thee; where GOD forgives our sins, he gives us another disposition, and changeth our natures, vers. 2. 6. 5. Ob. O, but I am so ignorant, I cannot but offend. Solu. A new spirit will I put within you; he will give us understanding and wisdom. 6. Ob. But I am so dull and hardhearted, that I am not sensible of my own distress or wants, and cannot be affected with the excellency of the goodness or promises of God. Solu. I will take away the stony heart out of your body; God will cure us of hardness of heart. 7. Ob. But if my heart were softened, and that I had some feeling, it would grow hard and senseless again. Sol. I will give you a heart of flesh. 8. Ob. O, but if all this were done for me, yet I know not how to order myself, and what to do to go on in a religious course of life. Solu. I will put my Spirit within you, verse 27. 9 Ob. If the Lord do give me his Spirit, yet I fear I shall not be ruled by it, but offend and grieve the Spirit of God, through ignorance, or want of strength. Solu. I will cause you to keep my Statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them: The Lord will work our works for us, and teach us to obey, and give us power to do what he commandeth. 10. Ob. I find a marvelous unfitness in the very things of my outward estate. Solu. Ye shall dwell in the land; the Lord will bless us in outward things, as well as in spiritual. 11. Ob. But when I come to use the creatures, me thinks I see such unworthiness in myself, that I am almost afraid to meddle with them. Sol. I gave the land to your Fathers: you hold these outward blessings, not by your deserts, but by my gift, and my gift is ancient, I bestowed these things on your Fathers. 12. Ob. It may be so; our Fathers were in covenant with God, and more eminent men, and more worthy than we. Solu. Ye shall be my people, and I will be your God: God's covenant of grace is with the Fathers, and their generations after them: if he have been thy Father's God, he will be thy God also, and thou shalt be of his people. 13. Ob. O, but I find such daily sins, & I am polluted in every thing I do, I am many ways unclean. Sol. I will also save you from your uncleanness: God will multiply pardon, he will forgive us, and comfort us against our sins after calling. 14. Ob. But how shall I believe all this? for I see, God hath plagued us by famine, and scourged us with great want, which still lies upon us. Solu. I will call for the corn, and increase it, and lay no more famine upon you, & I will multiply the fruit of the trees, and the increase of the field, etc. 15. Ob. But is there no condition on our part? Solu. Yes; for all this shall be done unto you, when you remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves for your iniquities, and for your abominations. These comforts belong unto us, when we are thoroughly displeased with ourselves for our faults. And beside, for all this must the Lord be sought unto, we shall obtain all, or any of these, but we must ask first, vers. 31. 37. CHAP. XIII. Showing how a godly man may comfort himself against the fear of falling away. HItherto of the comforts against our daily infirmities. The consolations against the fear of our falling away follow. We may three ways comfort ourselves against this fear, namely, if we consider God, or Christ, or ourselves. 1 In God there are two things of excellent observation, both of them expressed in the Scriptures. The first is, that he hath undertaken to preserve us from falling away. The second shows us distinctly, how he will perform this. For the first, that GOD will keep us from falling away, we have four things to assure us. First, the promises of God directly to that end: for he assures us, that his Elect shall enjoy the work of their Four things may assure us that God will keep us from falling away. hands, and shall not labour in vain, Esay 65. 22. 23. The smoking week shall not be quenched, nor the bruised 1 His promises reed broken. Esay 42. Not one of them shall be lacking in the whole flock, jerem. 23. 4. God will build them, and not pluck them down, he will plant them, and not pull them up. jerem. 24. 6. He will confirm us, in and to the end, that we may be blameless in the Day of our Lord jesus Christ: for God is faithful, who hath called us to the fellowship of his Son jesus Christ our Lord. 1. Cor. 1. 8. 9 2. Secondly, the decree 2 His decree. of GOD, concerning which the Apostle saith, That the foundation of God remaineth sure: he knoweth who are his. Though Hymeneus and Philetus fall away, yet none that call upon the name of the Lord, and depart from iniquity, can never be lost, 2. Tim. 2. 19 Thirdly, the attributes of God: and so there be 3. Three attributes in God viz. three things in God may wonderfully settle us against this fear. The one is, his faithfulness. The other is His faithfulness. his power. The third is his immutable love: All three are laid to pawn for the performance of this preservation, & so pleaded in Scripture. For his faithfulness, the Apostle therethence concludes, that the godly shall be confirmed to the end, as was alleged before, 1. Corin. 1. 8, 9 and so he reasoneth, writing to the Thessalonians: The Lord is faithful, who shall 'stablish you, and keep you from evil, 2. Thess. 3. 3. And of the power of God these places speak, We are kept His power. by the power of God to salvation, 1. Pet. 1. 5. I know (saith Paul) whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day, 2. Tim. 1. 12 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling (saith Jude) and to preserve you faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory, and Majesty, Dominion and Power, now and ever, Jude 24. And His love. for the love of God, that it is unchangeable, there is apparent proof. Whom he loveth, he loveth to the end, john 13. 1. so as we may be confident in this, that he which hath begun a good work in us, will perform it till the day of Christ, Philip. 1. 6. Fourthly, we have the 4 His seal. seal of God for it, and he hath given us earnest, that we shall certainly enjoy the inheritance purchased for us. And thus every one that believeth, is sealed by the holy Spirit of promise, which also is our earnest, Ephes. 1. 14. 15. and therefore we shall be established, 2. Cor. 1. 22. Now for the second; If any ask how GOD will do this? I answer, That the Scripture shows how this will be performed thus: For 1 God will not cast off his What God will do to keep us from falling away people, he will never forsake his inheritance, Psal. 94. 14. 1. Sam. 12. 22. For the Lord loveth judgement, and for saketh not the Saints, & therefore they are preserved for ever, Psalm. 37. 28. 2 God will put his fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from him: For this is his Covenant with his people, that He will not turn away from them to do them good, and he will put his fear into them, that they shall not depart from him, jerem. 32. 40, 41. 3 To make all the surer, he will put his Spirit into them, which shall lead them into all truth, and cause them to keep his statutes, and to do them, joh. 14. Ezech. 36. 4 He will uphold them, and order their ways, and keep their feet, that they fall not. The steps of the good man are ordered by the Lord, & he delighteth in his way: Though he fall, he shall not utterly be cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand, Psal. 37. 23. 24. He holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved, Psal. 66. 9 He will keep the feet of his Saints, 1. Sam. 2. 9 5. Lastly, GOD will work their works for them, & continually assist them with his presence, and blessings, Esay 26. Eze. 36. Phil. 2. 13. And thus of the comforts that we may gather from God. Now secondly, in Christ there are three things may minister much establishment Three things in Christ may comfort us. in our hearts against this fear. 1 His Intercession: he 1 His intercession. hath specially prayed for us, that God would keep us from evil, john 17. and therefore is able to save us to the uttermost, because he ever loveth to make Intercession for us, Hebr. 7. 25. 2 The consideration of 2 His office herein. his office herein. It is his work to be Omega as well as Alpha, to be the finisher of our faith, as well as the author of it: He is the end as well as the beginning, Reu. 21. 6. Heb. 12. 2. 3 The power of Christ, 3 His power. None can take us out of his hand, joh. 10. & as was said before, he is able to save us to the uttermost, Heb. 7. 25. Thus of the consideration of Christ also. Now thirdly, in ourselves we may look upon three 3. Things in ourselves may comfort us. things, as we are in the estate of grace. For first, we are borne again to a lively hope of an immortal inheritance reserved for us in Heaven: Our new birth entitles us to heaven, and it is kept for us, and our hope is lively, 1. Pet. 1. 3. Secondly, our seed abideth in us: It cannot be blotted out. He that is borne of God, sinneth not, because his seed remaineth in him, 1. john. 3. 9 Thirdly, eternal life is begun in us, joh. 17. 3. Now if it be life eternal, how can it end? How can we fall away from it? Natural life may end, but Spiritual life can never end. CHAP. XIIII. Promises that concern Prayer. HItherto of promises that concern affliction. And in as much as my purpose was but to fence the godly man settled in his justification, against the grievances which might befall him in respect of afflictions, during the time of his pilgrimage here: I shall end with the discourse of those promises, saving that I will give a taste of the last sort of promises, viz. such as are encouragements to holy graces or duties. I will not instance in the promises made to the love of God, to meekness, to such as seek God, to the love of the Word, and the like: But only I will open the promises made to the prayers of the godly, and the rather, because Christians are most troubled about their prayers. The promises that concern Those promises referred to three heads. prayer, may be referred to three heads; For either they are such as assure us that God will hear the prayers of his servants, or they show us, what in prayer he will hear: or else they describe the wonderful goodness of God in the manner how he will hear. For the first, that the Lord will certainly hear prayer, these places of Scripture do most comfortably assure us. Esay 58. 9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer: thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. Math. 21. 22. And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, if ye believe, ye shall receive it. john. 14. 13. And whatsoever ye ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 1. john. 3. 14. 15. And this is the assurance that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have desired of him. job. 22. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt render thy vows. job 33. 26. He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him, and he shall see his face with joy; for he will render unto man his righteousness. Psal. 34. 15, 17. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalm. 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble, so will I deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. john 15. 16. That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. john 16. 23. And in that shall ye ask me nothing: Verily, verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 2 For the second, it may much comfort us, if we consider that God will not only hear our prayers in general, but our voice, Psal. 5. 3. Our very desires, Psalm. 10. 17. Our tears, Psalm. 39 12. The very naming of Christ shall not be done without regard, 2 Tim. 2. 19 Our groaning, Psalm. 102. 20. When we are destitute of words to express ourselves, our groaning, our tears, yea the very desires of our hearts is an effectual prayer to God. He doth not look what we do say, but what we would say. If we come like little children, and but name our Father's name, and cry, making moan, it shall be heard. 3 But in the third point appears the wonder of his compassion: For 1 God will hear without despising their prayer, Psal. 102. 17. 2 He will not reproach them, nor hit them in the teeth with what is past, or their present frailties, jam. 1. 5. 3 He will prepare their hearts too: he will as it were help them to draw their petitions, Psalm. 10. 17. 4 He taketh delight in hearing their prayers, Pro. 15. 8 5 He looks from heaven of purpose to hear their groans, Psalm. 102. 19, 20. His ears are open, there is not the least impediment in his hearing, Psal. 34. 15. It is his very nature to be a God that heareth prayers: It is not contrary to his disposition, Psal. 65. 1. 6 He thinks thoughts of peace to give an end, and expectation, jerem. 29 11, 12, 13. 7 He will be plenteous in mercy, to them that call upon him, Psal. 85. 5. jam. 1. 5. He giveth liberally. 8 He will answer them, and sometimes show them wondrous things, which they know not, jerem. 33. 3. 9 He will refresh them also with much joy and comfort of heart: He will be many times, as the dew unto their hearts, job 33. 26. 10 It is a singular compassion that he will hear every one that comes with petitions to him, he will except no man: All shall be heard, whosoever asketh, shall have, Mat. 7. 7. Lu. 11. 10 11 It is yet more compassion, that God will hear them in all they ask, whatsoever they desire of him in the name of Christ: They may have what they will, Mark. 11. 24. john 15. 7. 12 The spirit shall help their infirmities, when they know not what to pray for as they ought, Rom. 8. 26. 13 God will crown the prayers of his servants with this honour, that they shall be the signs both of their sanctification, and of their salvation, john 9 31. Rom. 10. 13. If God hear their prayers, he will receive them up to glory. 14 Lastly, the Lord shows a wonderful compassion in the very time of hearing prayer: he will hear in the morning, Psal. 5. 3. In the very season; the due time, when we are in trouble: yea so, as he will in our affliction in a special manner let us know, that he is our God, and that he will deliver us, Zach. 13. 9 Psalm 51, 15. and 91, 15. He is ready to be found, Psalm 47. 1. daniel's prayers were heard from the very first day he made them, Daniel 10. 12. yea God will hear us while we speak unto him, and answer us, before we can express ourselves unto him many times, Esay 65. 24. Yea the Lord heareth the prayers of his people, even then when they think they are cast out of sight, Ps. 31. 32. FINIS.