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Chriftian Letters
OF /
JVK Paul Bayne.
Replenifhed with di-
vcrie Confolations, Exhor-
tations y and Directions,
tending to promote the
Honor ef Godlineflc.
Hebr. %. 13.
Exhort one another daily, while it is called to day,
left any of yon bee hardened throng the deceit-
futnejji offinne*
4ttMRN(|t
LONDON,
Printed by A.G. forNath. Newhery,
and are to bee fold at his (hop in
Popes-head-AHey,at the figae
of the Star. 1637.
C#» <$9 <&> *&* <&> <>fi* *&* *f&*
<jJ*> c^ *>£> «*y*> <&> c>3>* ej> cji>
THE RIHGT
WORSHIPFVLL,
and Chriftian Ladies,the
Lady W ex d, and the
Lady Lennard:
Grace , and
Peace.
Ight Worftip
full and wor-
thy Ladies, if
there bee a-
ny one thing
wherein I make fingular
account of my friends love,
it is , when by fome good
meanes they are fetting mee
forward in the wayes of fal-
A 2 vati-
the Epifile Dedicatory.
vatiomand on the other fide,
I cannot fo rejoyce in any
improvement of my beftlove
and fervice to them, as when
mutually I may bee a helper
forward of their faith. I write
not this, as favouring any
ingratefull burying civill and
humane kindnefles in oblivi-
on,but as giving the preemi-
nence to theworkeof love,
which especially is imployed
in advancing that good part,
which as our Saviour inti-
mateth to Martha } (ha\\ not be
taken away from us. Let it ■
not therefore I pray you(my t
honored good Ladies)feeme |
ftrange,that in thedefireof I
the bell: good to your (boles,
I prefent to your view, and
infcribe by particular Dedi-
cation to your Ladifhips,the
enfuing Bundle of Letters,
part
I
The Epiflle Dedie*tory.
part of the workes of a reve-
rend Divine, who living, (hi-
ned as a bright Starre in the
Church of God. For 1 am
perf vaded, with Gods blef-
iing,which is all in all, that if
you attentively reade this
Booke, you (hall finde many
fweet Motives to heavenly-
mindcdnefle, effedruall con-
fiderations to qualifie the bit-
ternefle of for row, which of-
ten bef alleth us in this vale of
Teares; and laftly, no (mail
attractive to draw up your
mindes from thefe vaniftiing
delights below , to thofe
hopes and joyesof an inherit
tance incorruptible, undefi-
led,that fadeth not away,re-
ferved in Heaven for you. I
will not enlarge my felfe, to
fpeake in commendation of
the Author of thefe Chriftian
A 3 Lettert,
The Epijlle Dedteatorj.
Letters, who no marvell hee
fpeaketh tofeverall points fo
gracioufly,whofelt heavenly
ftrames in his Meditations fo
plentifully . This prelent
Booke will(as his other Wri-
tings have done) ipeake for
him,I doubt not,fufficiently.
One part of which hath been
tranfcribed while the Author
lived, and the Copie was not
to bee had in Print, in my
knowledge,full many a time$
yea, hundreds of times, or
neerer a thoufand times, if
fome godly perfons have not
mi£reckoned. Now, why I
chofe your Ladiilhips , in
whofe name to commend
this Worke to the Church of
God} though I might af-
leadge other reafbns, yet for
the prefent 1ft this fuffice,
That as you are Sifters in
na-
the Efifile DediCAtory,
nature, fo you are neerer Si-
fters in grace, and therefore
well may bee joyned inone
inscription, whom God hath
linkf d in fo holy union.I will
not by longer Preface hold
your Worfhips from the
Booke it felfe. Reade it, my
refped?d good Ladies $ and
the Lord give you under-
fhnding in all things. Febr.
22. 1520.
Xpur Ladijhipt, readk
to aUjerviafathe
Lord,
E z. C h~
A 4
I
^^:. <S%> #%
CHRISTIAN
LETTERS:
Containing Divine Inftru-
ftions^Ex hort ations, and
Confblatipps* ■-//?
Letter i. I>ire8orj*
Ood Miftrefle B.
we muft not think
it ftrange, when
need iSjto be made
heavie with many
fcffii&ions/orchis
hath ever beene the portion of
Gods Children^ who through ma-
ny Tribuluions have entred in*
to his Kingdoroe. Hee that will
not let the ftiew and liv-elcfle
Pi&ure of Godlinefle goe 5 withoat
aAaylng and overturning, haw
much more hath hee an aking
Tooth at the Grace which is un-
A^ fained?;
How we ought to hehavt
faincd ? Wherefore bee not dif-
mated, if Changes and Armies of
Trials (hould fucceed each other ^
rather re Joyce, thatbyoccaGonof
thefe things, you may fee your
ielfetobcbuildcdon that Rocke
which none canprevaile againft 5
though it bee never fo aflayled.
When the Windes blow, and
Stormes fafl,the^ wee may fee
what buildirgs have fure Foun-
dations : then thofe that are other-
wife,cannot be hidden. Our whole
care, when temptations follow u«,
ftancji thin this: Firft, wee muft
judge aright of them, and the end
for which God doth (end them :
Secondly , wee muft feeke wifc-
domc and ftreegth, which may
make us undergoetheai, foGods
glory, and cur comforts. AH evife
which befall us in fMilr,bodie and
condition, they are med cinable
(brrowes fent of God, that the
I faule hclpen by them, as by bitter
j'potiQns, nrght by r^ewed re~
pernancy more and more purge it
ft kite
ourfilvu inaffliiiims.
felfe of that true Soulc-ficknefle,
that finnc and corruption which
dwellechioit. If wee were as in-
nocent as Job, yetmuftwehura-
b'e our felves under the hand of
God, when he fendeth adverfities*
Wherefore, in all renewed occa-
fions of this kinde , let us judge
our ftlves^and *>row more vile in
our ownc eyes • that thus humbled
under Gods mightie hand , wee
mjy further and farther receive
his grace 5 for the exalting of us t
And this is the end of God^why he
at many times bringeth many and
divers adverfities. The reafon is :
this excrcife of a broken fpirit
may ftill bee renewed e Actually
in us: even as Phyficians to
bring away ficke matter more
fully and fafely, are forced againe
and agafae to open the vcinc,
taking away now fome bloud,now
other fome 5 as tbe partie may,
beare; (b doth God, not at once,
but many times briftg away this
corruption which dwellech in as :
And)
Affliftiom though biittr^
And as Phyficians now give one
thing, now another, left nature,
ufed ftill to one , (hould not bee
moved 5 fo God doth foraetimes
in bodie, fometimes in minde,
fometimes in our tftaredeak with
us^becaufe hce doth fee, that the
longer wee arc ufed tot his or that
crone, the leffe it worketh with
us* But left wee (hould bee fwal-
lowed up of evils , wee muft
joyne with care of humbling our
lelves 5 that wifedome andftrength
which may make us hopf full and
Joyfull, even in the middeft of
our affihSHons. The things that
befall us, wee muft not looke at
them by outward appearance, but
wifely confider how they are
changed in Chrift,who bach taken
away the poyfon which would
bee in the evils, wee frffcr, and
made them fcrviceable for our
good. As Children, through want
of Wifedome ., are troubled at
Bug-beares ; fo wtc are much af-
fraid of things which cannot hurt
us.
ytt wholefome.
us. This wifedome, which doth
make us truly to difcernc things
as io Chrift chey are, doth make us
couragious in bearing of them, Ic
k better with ihe body when it
feedeth on bitter hear be s which
breed good bloud, than when it
feedech on fweet meats, which
ingender bitter vomits and mor-
tal! fickotffes. Againe,asall fweet,
without any tare intermeddled, is
notfopleafing: fo it in the tenor
ofjur lives wee (hould notfomc-
t ime know difealement, our com-
fcrrs would when we enjoy them
be nothing ib taftefull to us. Be.
fides, wiiedome will tell us that
thefc things come and gee as the
raine on cur cloaths, which io a
while drietb up, and all is as be-
fore : fo when hea^indfe is with
us in the evening, wee fee joy re-
turning even before the morning
often. Did wee not through falfe
glafles fee things otherwife than
they are, chey would not caft us
downe fo much as the doe. Wee
there-
CbrificMrflrengtb
therefore wifely obferving how
many wayes the grace of God our
heavenly father doth change thefe
things into our good, even as the
art of the Apothecary doth make
apoifonfull Viper into a whole-
fbme Triacle, we muft choofe ra-
ther affliftion than vanity. Now
wewantftrength , wee muft be-
ing confeious ofit, come to him,
who makcth us able to doe all
things through his flreng'hening
of them, who ftrengcheneth his
in the inner man to long fuff>
ranee with joyfulneffe, who hath
faW, S' ch as looke to me. Hull re-
new ftrength. Our ftreogth is to
dafpeChfift, and hold to him as
the perfon in whom is all our
ftrcngeb. TheConiesarea weake
creature, but they diggc in the
roefce, worke themfclves holds^
-under the e^rch where chey may
be in (afe ty : we are fet to fchoolc
to them to learne of them, that
whereas we are weake, we privy
to it, would by faith worke our
felves
in all sffliftions.
fclvcs into that Rockc Chritt Je-
fus,againft whom the gates of hell
cannot prevails When the Apc-
ftles had received his fpirit of
ftrength, they made a -^lay ofall
their fufferings ard labours 5 even
as in bodily things wee fee men
that have ftrength and courage, as
thtfe porrers and fuch, they will
make a (port to beare fueh bur-
thens as a weake creature would
tremble to lift at* Want of this
wifedomeaadftiefigth,wha voy-
ces doe they draw from us? Even
Yuchasthefe; Were it anything,
faith one,but this, I could hop? to
receive good fromir 5 Were it a-
oy thing buc this, I could hope ta
beai c ir. Whereas did wee put on
this (peftacle of wifedome, wee
(hoold (ce that there were no-
thing (6 fit as this to doe us good 3 .
which God chnfeth to ufe before
uther. Did wee in confcicncc of
uir iropotency fceke to Qfirift to
make us able, wee fliould not
iuiibt buc to fiude ftrength e-
nough
r 8
Cbrift ourjirength.
nough whereby to beare that com-
fortably 5 which wee thinke moft
intolerable. Wherefore, as I
know you fubjeft to fbme exerci-
(cs, (b I wifti you more and more
communion with your Chrift, on
whom reftcth the fpirit of Wifc-
dome and ftrength^that you may
beare them, yea be more than con-
queror in them.
I doe defire to remember you
with the firft of thofe whom
God by his providence hath en-
deared tome above others. Being
not fie to continue long in wri-
ting, with my hearty commenda-
tions and thanks for all your love,
I commit you to God.
Yours in Chriftian affe&ion>
My
■.
■»■
Cbrifrian love fruitful! .
2. Hortatory.
MY Chriftian Friend, being
much indebted unto you ,
for the kindnefle I have received
from you, I thought good to let
you fee that I doc not altogether
forger, what I cannot fo fully as I
would requite: wee cannot fo di£
charge this debt of love, but that
we muft ftillftandndebted one to
another. Now bethinking how I
may beftow ray fclf fojr your good,
I doc not know any meane more
fruitfully than that of Chriftian
exhortation, by which wee pro-
voke each the other to love.Wher-
fore give race leave to ftir you up,
but to labour for the prefent fruit
ofyourafHiftionforcpaffed,and to
prepare your felfe againft future
tryals, if God fhould be pleafed to
prove your patience yet further in
time to come. Wee fee the earth
then having endured the nipping
ftormes of the Winter feafon , it
commeth to receive into her bo-
fome the bcames of the Sunne
now I
I o Deliverance from AffiiQicn
now more approached, the earth I
fay before fuitlefle,doth put forth
and become fruitfull : thus wee^
though in the winter of our temp.
tation,while the favour of GO D
feemeth to have forfiken us 3
though in this taking wefinde it
enough to doe to keepe life at the
root f yet when now God doth
warme our hearts with the ftnfe
of his love, wh'ch is better than
life it felfe^ then we muft labour to
put forth both bud and bloffome,
yea to bee filled with the fruits of
tighteou(neffe 3 which are to the
praife of God through Jefus Cbrift.
When the Devill cannot longer
hinder our deliverance out of any
evil?, yet he will labour to keepe
us without underftanding hearts,
that wee (hall not bee able to ac-
knowledge God in that hee hath
wrought for us: by which mcane
thefbuleis kept from being bet-
tered by that it hath received. If
with our hearts wee undexftand
not the loving kindneffc and faith-
folneffe
a Motive t§ Rigkteonf ruffe.
fulntfife which Gcd hath fbewed
coward us , then cur love to him
will not bcincreafed, for we love
him, beoufe we ficde him to have
loved us firft ; our faich will not
be ftrengthened, if wee have not
obferved how trufty the Lord is
to all that beleeve in him : for this
growth we rake in knowing God
by his word and works • this doth
make us grow in bclseving on
him according to th*r,They who
know thee , will truft in thee.
Wherefore this being aa enter-
prixe of Satan, when hee cannot
defeat us of goodthirgp, then to
kcepeu8,ificbepoffiblc,from the
fpirituall fruit of them, let us bee
wifttofeeke untoGodwho hath
faid,[ am he that teacheth thee to
profit,that he would be p leafed to
give us his fpirit,which may teach
us to know what hee hath done
for us. If this bee obtained, then
the benefit will follow, boti of
our trials and deliverance: Oar
finaefhallbe more purged out of
us,
12
Afp&ion removes finne
us, our graces fhall bee more
{lengthened , yea they fhall bee
more aftive and ftirring in us, ma-
king us more ready to, and plenti-
full in every good word and work
than beforetimes wee havebeene.
Thefe are the chiefe ends for which
God fendeth all our vifirations :
as the end of bitrcr potions is to
purge forth fickc matter from the
body 5 (b all our griefcs knt of
God, are medicinablc bittcrncflfe
to cleanfe our foules. Now as the
faculties are ftrengthened in us
when we are rid of fuch fickc ho-
moursas did fo offend them, fo all
the graces are the more confirmed
by how much finneismore remo-
ved. In the third place, a bodie,
when ficknes doth not weaken the
faculties of it, is full of motion,
(bund bodies love to bee ftirring,
elpecially if coldneflfe doe not be-
nurame the members and make
them unfit for motion. Thus the
foule, when God hath (cattered
the cares and lufts which did op-
prefle
andfoftretigtbens Grace.
prefle it, and by his love flied into
ir, diflblved that frozen coldneflc
which is an enemy to heavenly
aftion, then it doth ia love and
zealetohis glory beftirre ir fdfe
diligently, both in the duties of
the generall calling of Chrifti-
ans, and the particular callings in
which wearcin refjrft ofourou*-
ward condition, The(e being the
fruits which (hould follow affli-
ction, give diligence to find them
in you rn^re and mofe: it is the
feale of that ele&ion and calling
byGcd, according to the purpofe
of life, when you feele that things
worke thus together for your
good. Every bafemerall maybe
putintothe fire, but that which
abideth in it and commeth forth
more n fined by it,that is precious
and of much account. Every man
may bee put into the furnace of
affliction, but if wee endure cha-
Utifements and come forth more
and more purged by meanes of
them, then it is a fure figne we are
vefleb
«4
Preparation for evill times
veffds of Silver, and velfels of
Gold, ordained of God to glory
everlafting.
Now I come to that fecond
taske, I did undertake of .provo-
king you to prepare againft times
to come. Though great fickneflcs
breed fomctime long health , yet
iciscruc on the other fide^ that no
winde but may blow raine when
God is fo plcafed , no ftate (b
calme which may notfoonc turne
tempeftuous,fliould not the Lord
bee more gracious. The Divel! 3
when now God hath made us get
the upper hand of fome grievous
temptation, doth lie in ambufh 3
and bend all his forces to draw
us into pride, at leafl into fccurity
and preemption touching thing!
which may hereafter befall. Wher-
fore (eeke to God to make you
ready for every thing wherewich
he (hail try you. In peace we pre-
pare for war re: weaing a weapon
doth not make a man the fooner
fee on, nay it prcventeth this
dance*
tlwayes profitable.
15
danger (bmeames, and aiw^yes
makes a man ready to defend him-
felfe when he is affiled. God doth
fee us to learnc of the Ant chis
point of Wifdomerthac finall crea-
ture gathereth and hoordethfood
in Summer, which may befuffici-
ent ia winter feafon : and when
we have that providence in Sum-
mer to make provifion of Hay and
fo ider for our bsafts againft cheir
need, how fliould we be worthy
rebuke, if wee fliould" not now in
peace ftorc up in our hearts thofe
things which may bee ufefull and
I helpfull to us in time of our trou-
! ble> Now this praftife ftandech in
three things chiefely. Firftjn get-
ting a watchful figacky,by which
our (bule* doe difcerne aforehand
what kind of events and excrcilcs
they are fubjeft unto in this vale
tf teares. Secondly ,in learning by
jdue confidet ations, to know how
Wanting we are in wifedome^how
weakt in regard of that flrengrh
which maketh us able to (land
when
i6
Faith in Cbriftjthe
1
when wee are tryec*. Thirdly 3 In
fl>iog to God by faich, holding
him, as who hathbeene, island
muft be, the rocke of our falvati-
qn: looking to Chrift the author
and finifher of our faich, who hath
received this commandement from
his father, that he would not only
call us and bring us into the ftate
of grace , but keepe us in it and
raifeusupatthebftday : who is
a great Saviour^ keeping, his (as
Tanl faith) from every evillwork,
to his heavenly kingdome. Now
when by faich wee thus hang on
God our Saviour, theawe^ are,
as it were in a flrongTower,wher.
in the gates of hell fliall not bee
able to hurt us, much kflcco pre-
vaile againft us. God doth fee us
to fchoole to the Conies, that of
them we might learne this leflon :
they are a weak^timorous creature J
t yct they have this wifedome to!
worke themfelves holes in thdl
earth, burrowes to which they
may returnc for (helter^nd though «
L thc y t
Rtck^ofonr Salvation.
they goeoutfomecimes, yet they
ftill returns ever and anon unto
their holds. Oh, (b rauft wee,
conici^s of our weaknefle , by
faith worke pur felveS into the
Rocke Chrift lefts- «d though
fbmetime wee are abroad , 2? it
were, in many other matter*, yet
wee mnft ftill returne and renew
our beliefe towards him, I may
not profecuce theft things. The
Lord teach you by his Spirit (6 to
acquaint your felfe with him ^ that
you may with moch more confi-
dence and boldneffe refbrttohim
in all your ncccfGties. Moreover,
I have (ent you a Soltloquit^ which
I did longfince pen, that it might
J bee an tntrodu&ion , leading by
the hand a wcll-difpcfed Chriftian
to take up a forme of words be-
tweca God and his fou!efor the
ncreafe of his dcvotion.Thus with
|my hearts defire to God for you, I
£ake my leave.
17
\
B
tbc\
i8
Temptations rvorks fi>r good
3. Confolatory.
The God of confolation andcompjfi
fion be rvithycHy mj good and li-
ving Sifitr z and rtmaine with
joh for ever.,
T Know not whether I fhould
i write of gratulation unto you,
and thanksgiving unto God for
your deliverance, or clfc of fbme
comfort againft your troubles, if
you yet renaaine in them : Confi-
aering the Lords ordinary dea-
ling, if you be not already delive-
red, your deliverance cannot bee
farreoff. But forafmuch as the
wayesof God with his children
are divers, whofe fteps wee can no
more find out, than know the way
in the aire where the bird hath
flowne ; I know not whether hee
will hold you in the Schoole of
your grievous temptations. Well,
I am aflured chat the i flue (hall bee
good, aflured alio that the length '
. *nd grievoufocflc of them , (hall
j accordingly addc unto the weight
and
to them that feare God.
(
and (hining brightneffe of the
Crownc which in Chrift lefts is
prepared for you: affbred finally
char the comfort which thofe
which are 5 or (hall be cemp:ed,wi)l
bee much the ftronger and deeper,
as they (hall undcrftand that you
which have beene fo long and fo
(harply exercifed, were at the laft
Co gracioufly delivered. Be there-
fore of good comfort (my good
Sifter) although the Lord plunge
you into the Sea, yet he will goe
downe with you thither to fceepe
you, that you (hall not bee drow.
ned : although you pafle thorow
the fire, you (hall not bee confu-
ted, becaufe he is with you : al-
though hee kade you from one
Sea toanother,yectheLord which
commands both the teas and the
fire ( as all other creatures) will,
for his deare Sonnes fake, worke
that fire nor water (hall not oaely
not hurt you, but profit you in fi-
ning you more and more from
the droffc of finne, and wafting
B 2 you
19
20 | Temptations cannot hurt.
i i ■ ' ■ ■' ■ ■ ■ ■«—————■—■
you from the common filth of
the remnants of finnc which arc
in you. What doc I fay that he will
be with you in fire and water ? Ic
is but a (mall thing in his eyes, If
you were brought to the gates of
hell; If hell gates had (hut her
mouth upon you , ycc there his
hand will be with you, and from
thence his arme will deliver you.
Yea, if hell had fwallowed you
up into her bowel*, yet it muft in
de(pite of it render you up againe:
Her ftomacke cannot long hold
you, no more than the great mon-
ftrous Whale could brooke 1owmt 9
which if hee had light upon the
wicked Mariners, hee would
have devoured and digffted twen-
ty of chem in leffe fpace. And this
is indeed the promife of our Savi-
our, tMattk 6. That hell gates
(hall not prevaile againft you.
They (hall fight againft you, but
(hall not prevaile. Whereof I
wrote unto you, for that our
i friend MaRer C. wrote unto me,
1 that
DiJirHjl&refHfall of comfort a fin.
}
that fince my laft letters you have
bcene terribly fhaken by a forci-
ble Tempeft which the Enemie
hath ftirred up againft you, wher-
with hee had raited fuch a duft in
your eyes, that you had in your
judgement loft all fight of the
grace and goodntfle of God
in Iefus Chrift. Butbenotdi/mai-
ed,my Sifter, for my part I am in
good hope that even as a little be-
fore day-breake the darkneffe is
greateft : fo thefe grand Pieces
which hee keepeih in ftore until]
the Cife be dcipcrate, be, with the
clappes they give, and mills they
(end forth, meifergers of your de-
liverance, which is before the
doore. The truth is, that as to be-
leevcGod to be your mercifull Fa-
ther, is a precious thing before
G3d,(btodoubt of his goodncfH
towards us,isa great fcne, When
further wee refitfe the comforts
and admonitions that bee offe-
red out of his Word, the finne i
yet increafcd. If blasphemous
B 5 words
21
22 Qods mercy in Cbrijiinfimte y
— . i ...
words eft: ape us, yet finne is made
one (hire higher. If your finnes
for the height of them, reach the
very heavens,and for their breadth
fpread themfelves from South
to North, and their length from
EafttoWeft: yet the rrercies of
the Lord our God in Iefus Chrift
over-reach them every way. For
upon us all,that are thus over raken
by Satan, ic is al(b verified, which
the Apoftle faith; that where finne
doth abound 3 there grace doth
more than abound, Thcfe large
promifes hath tfce Lord made us
to our everlafting comfort, which
he hath let out by themeafureof
the obedience and fvfi. rings of
hisdeare Sonne Iefus Chrift, the
height, and bread cb, and length
whereof (as you know) is infinite,
notonely, becaufeheewasinftch
anguifli of minde for us, that
through griefeheefweat( which
was never heard of)drops of blond
which came from him, and cryed,
My Gcd, my God, why haft thou
for-
a great Comfort to great finmrs.
forfukenme? but alfo for chat hrs
obedience is the obedience of the
eternall God, and for that his (of-
ferings are not onely the fuffe-
ringsofamortallman, but of the
immortall God, which as the A-
poftle faith, with fliedding of his
owre bloud redeemed us : not
that the Godhead could fuffer the
(hedding of bloud, but becaufe of
theunfpeakablc unity of the two
Natures, bound together in one
perform that which wa3 done to
Chrifttheman, i% toourfinguhr
comfort, (aid to bee done of the
eternall God.
Now for the keeping of our
parr, which we have in the obe-
dience and fufferings of our Savi-
our Chrift,you muft]turn your eif s
from your felfe, and from your
cwne workes,unco the Election
and calling cf God. For as the
Lord faveth us, not becaufe of our
good wcrkes, bee they never fo
many : fo hee will not condemn?
us his Children, becaufe of our
e vM
*4
Eleftiov the gfonni of Gods love.
j evill works,be they never (6 great.
Hereunto the Lord callcth us by
the Prophet E/i/ 1 chap # 45. where
dealing with the rebellions Israe-
lites, he (aith, for Ifrael His cho-
fen fake, and becaufe they were
called by his name, he would con-
firme them., and doe them good :
becauft faith he, I loved thee, and
becaufc thou were precious in
mine eyes, and becaufe I cfteemed
thee, I will doe this and this for
thee : as if he would fay,although
thou Iovedft not raee , nor eftee-
medft not me. As for the LofuS
i calling towards you whereby (3s
by a ludder)you may climb fafely
unto the couufell of Gcd to know
your EIc&ion,and what his fecret
decree of you w;s before the
world was made, I referrc you to
that which I wrote to you before;
the markes are many and certainc
in you, you ncedc not , I wis, to
hare had (b many and long temp-
tations!: to have thrown you head-
long into cvcrlaftiog defpaire, if
you
Grace xvorketh not alify «lrv*jts m \ 15
you had not belonged to the Lord.
For as the Children of God are
conquerors over many temptati-
ons, fo one onely temptation (and
rhat a fiaprt one) is able tofinke
the ftouteft among the Repro-
bates into the bottomlcfle pit of
hell. Neither rouft yon think that
the grace of God worketh alwaies
alike in his Children. When you
walke in the fields at winter, you
fee not onely no good fruit, but
not fo much as a leafe on the
Trees, in fome alio the very trunk
or ft eke appear eth to be dead,yet
is the fappe hidden in the root,
which in due time will {hew that
the tree was never dead. Ho wbeit,
I need not lead you into the
ffeldsj you have an example at
home within yourdoores^ For, I
when your fire is raked up, there I
appeareth oftentimes a fert of
cold and dead afhes, when there
are underneath certaine Iparkes,
of which you may. afterward
make a fire. And fuch is the eftate
B 5; of
2tf 1 Gods Children brought to great
i
of the Children of God \ whei
through thefinnes they doe com-
mit, and wherein oftentimes they
flcepea great white, they appeare
unto men as forfaken of God,
and remcdileffe. How much more
ought you to bee of good com.
fcrt, in whom the Lord hath
fet fuch notes of your etcrnall
falvation in Jefus Chrift, that all
the fmofee which the enemy hath
caft out, cannot take away the
fight of themfromus, or once fo
much as bring us in doubt of it > I
grant you your felves think other-
wife; but as in ficke pcrfons wee
fee it commcth to pafie, that they
thinke there is no hope of life y
when the Phyfician and ftandeis
byfce certaine and undoubted to-
kens of health : So is ic oftentimes
in theft fpirituall ficknelfes. You
fee T>4vii through the affiittio.ns
which the Lord lent upon him,
wreftkd ofrcntimes witbdefp c-
ration, was ofc brought inro
doubt of his falvation-, *s you
I may
1 " r+
:/
1
doubts of tbtit falvttion.
may reack in the 42.4377.and 88.
<?/*/«**/, Where you (hall perceive
that he conceived of God,as of one
in extreme anger and rage with
him, as of one that had forgotten
him,and had taken his mercy from
him. There are alfo (I grant) voy-
cesof hope mingled with them,
becaufe in one and the felfe~fame
Pfalme, hee changeth the whole
ccurfc cf his Meditations 5 how he
floared^iiow up, now downe,now
funke^as it were 3 in the neather-
moft hell, now appearing and
fhewing his head above the waters
againe. The SonofGodhimfelfe
through extreme anguifli was (as
I faid) brought to aske of God
why he had forfaken him? If the
force of Temptations could bring
him which had no fione of his
owne 3 and was the oncly beloved
of God, and which had received
the fpirit of fortitude above mea-
fare, to fuch a fcard exigent and
terrible cooflift, we ought not to
majvell if the Ghildrea;of God,
which
a&
Chrifis villory our fbield
which have fianc dwelling in
their mortall bodies , which are
not beloved for themfelves, but
for his fake alone, and which have
received butafewdroppesof the
Spirit (whereof he had the whole
Sea) bee fometimes plunged over
head and eares. And wherefore
did our Saviour overcome that
fearefull conflict of temptation^
but that it fhould be our medicine
when we© are overcome of it ?
Wherefore in this moft great con-
fliftdid he not only retaine faith
in his heart, but in calling him his
liord, profeflsd it 6:fore men
wiih his mouthy but than it fliould
be our remedie 3 when we not one-
]y feele no faith inwardly in our
bear^but deny alfo outwardly be-
fore men with our mouth, that
we.have any hope in him ? There-
fore our Saviour Ghrift in S- loh*
P(lacethnoi: our comfort in that
we our felves have overcome^ but
biddtth hisDifciples bee of good
d*eare 3 bccaule hec had overcome
It
again ft temptations.
the World ; that is to fay, all con-
trary power to the will of God.
Therefore alfo S.Iobn in his firft
Epiftle faith,That our Faith is that
whereby wc overcome the World:
not onely, becaufe through Faith
we vanquifti the Temptation?; bat
efpecially,becaufe we by it 3 as by a
Hand , apprehend the righreouf-
neffe and viftory of Ghrift 5 as a fi-
tisfaftion of that wherein wehave
plaied the cowards. As for inf em-
pcrate/peeches(if any were) it is
fo to be considered, that they were
notfpoken (as theyfiy) in cold
bloud,and of a malicious pnrpofe,
but in a paffion, and of a troubled
and a broyled minde, which the
enemie,whenhee hath you upon
the wracke, wringeth out of you.
And not onlyftch ipeeches^buc
even fome kinde of Btafphemie
againft the Sonne of God., the Son
of God himfclfe forgiveth. El&>
I pray y ou,whac (hould become of
tne holy man Iob> which opened his
mouth fo wide o( God 5 all which
curies*
so Gods dearcft children impatient.
curies, £nt oat agiinft rhe crea*
tores of God, rccurncd upon the
Creator himfdfe? And although in
the beginning he opened hjs mout h
agaiiift the Lord, as it were,aflope
andindire&lyofinjuftice, as may
appeareboth by hisdifcourfes, &
by the Lords owne anfwer, which
heemaketh in the end. Of the
which man , notwithftaiding all
this, note (I befeechyou) what
S. lames faith, c^jp. 5. Ycu have
ht&rd (faith he) of the patient man
Job. Here you fee that hee calleth
him fo, notwithftanding all his
frowardnefle againft his friends,
(which were good men,and came
of good will, although they were
not in every point fo well advifed)
notwithftandingall his impatience
againft God inwardly, notwith-
ftanding all his accuftttons and
curfesopenly,which preceededof
jtr patience. Ifyonaskehowthtfe
canftand trgether-they fland well
forafmuch as the Lord forgiying
and. coveting his. impatience < in
j Jfo 8
■
Cbr/ft makj even between God &^m \ 3 1
. . - -- 1 ■ - _ I ^mmmmmmmmm
JefusChrift,reckoneth with him !
as if he had fpunne (fbtofpeake) I
an even thredof his patience all?
the time of his Temptation, vv her -
as-notwithftanding hee made (b
many knots, and brake his thred
Co often. Even fo (good Sifter J)
will he dcate with you : for par-
denirg- all your inconfiderare
fpeeehes,he will make his account
with ycu for Jefus Chrifts fake, as
if you had prayed to htm^and pra>
fed his Name, at thedayesofyour
Temptation. If fame one which
had borne you good will, and fpo-
ken much good of you, deceived
by cvill company, fhould happen
afterward to revile you; I would
aske yon this Qyeflion , Whe-
ther, if fuch a one were forrow-
fullfur hisfaulr, you would for-
give him or no? When you cxa-
i mine your ownConfcience herein^
1 1 dare anfwer for you, you would
not refufe him, nor turne your
face from hire. Shall you,, which
h&vcj in comparifon, but a ibarke
of
32 Man mcrcifhB, Qod much more.
oflovejflKwthismcrcie; and not j
the Lord,who is nothing elfc but a ,
fire of Gharicie toward* them that
cry him mercie,and as the Apoftle
Saint Jobnhhhj Charitie ic £Ife >
Shall your (park confirme the for-
feic againft you, and (hall not the
bonefire of the love of God in le-
fts Chrift.j dry and lickc up your$ ?
Shall the cooling and refrefbing
waters of mercte and compaffion
bee foand in a little Channel!, and
the Fountaine &Head*fpring from
whence itcorametb,be dry ? Con-
fidering, that in this refpe&,the
Lords cogitations are as far re dif-
ferent from ours, as Heaven from
the Earth. And the truth is, that
the Lord hath therefore taught us
to pray, Forgive tu our trefpgjfej^aj
we forgive them that tnjpajfe againfi
tu- y io this end, that when we feele
our bowels of compaffion opened
to thofe which offend againftus,
we might lake that as a fare pledge*
and undoubted token of the for-
givencfle of all our finncs^ , how
C ff* al
Chriftitn love tdtfiis.
jreac fbever they be.Therefore to
nakeanend where I brgan, Beef
»ood comfort,deare Sifter,you arc
bcLords,you have coftche Sonne
)f God too deare a price,, to bee a
aft-away.
4. Mmitory*
LOvingCouiin,it is my defirc,
while our lives are joyntly
:ontinued in this fle(h, cotciTifie
ny ChriSian love to you in (uch
latics as tend to build you up in
/our holy Faith : it is a common
Jcbt,butyet fuchas we owe one
by how much we arc linked more
lecrcly . I have thought fomctime,
that I would not bee fo backward
othisbufineffc; but then it hath
:ome unto my minde, that you are
well able to draw on others. A-
gaine, becaufe I know not the
things which in yourconfli&ing
rourfe moll oppofe you, whether
frants of Graces, or prefence of
mil Lawes within u* ; becaufe I
fenew not theft particulars, I (aid 1
with !
34
Hunger after Grace thtfigm of
v ; .
I
with my felfe , 1 (hall but fhoot
without a marke, and fitallioo to
a foot I know not. To what pur-
pofe (hall I write > Indeed, wee
cannot prefcribe Co pertinently,
who know not the cftate exaftly 1
and we prevent our felves in theft
fruits of love,who make no rclati
on,and perfonall report 3 ncither i
letter nor by word of mouth
which might helpethofe that mi-
nifter to usrbut halfe aCike 3 is bei
ter than no bread; and a genera!
fafe, and profitable praftife muj
nor he ncgie&ed^becaufe we fee
morefrunfull courfc, which wei
cannot attaine.To come then once
againe unto you in general!, rill I
fhall know fome fpecialcies , to
which Imightfpeak more for your
advantage;chcreis good hopr 3 that
body will dee well, which hath
the ftomack right affeftcd:Hunger
is a fignc of health ; (b that (bale
which hungereth andtbirftethafi
terrighteonfnes, there is no feare!
but it (hall bee well-liking, anc
prosper
a healthfiiUfiule. Motives ion.
)rofper t I will therefore endevour
ogive a fpurre toyourfpirituall
appetite, that you may come, by
neanesof ir,tobe filled with the
ulneffeof God,with the replenife-
nencof his grace. Now as in the
>ody,when the ftomack feeleth the
rmptioc Si & fucking of other parrs -
* hofe nourifhment is wafted;then
t further craveth: lb, when the
bule doth feele how etrptie it felf
3 of grace, then the appetite of it
3 edged.Wherfore think with me,
low wanting you are in theft
seine* folio wing, that Co you may
>ee (harper fct *apon thofe graces
fcpherofyou feel your ftlffo empty.
i?irft confidcr^how farre you are
hort of gfcnifying God as you
ought : We fliould fcn&ifie him in
:>ur hearts, words, and works, up-
3n all occafions,& it (hould grieve
js tofte him difhonoured. Wee
hould do all things in him, and for
,iim:In him,thatis,having his war.
[•ant; which we have, when by faith
we know that it is well-pleafing
^6 How vpt ought to glorific
co hitx^we fhould doe this,or that;
yea, havingafiuraacc of his graci~
ous prefence with us, to enable us
;o all fuch workes , in which wee
koow it is his will that we fhould
walke. We (houli, I fay, dee all
things for him, by making his ho-
nour the mark we (hoot at, ifl eve-
ry thing. Now>how little doe our
hearts thinke upon him* admire
him. joy that we know him,afcribc
unto himWifdome,Truth,Mercy,
Power,in his daily works he wor-
,keth for us, while wee are pafiing
I thorow the barren WilderneHf ef
thlsprefcnt World, unto the Reft
which he hath prepared ? It fhould
not be thus,Coufb. If we fee any
man that doth any thing more
wifely* that doth fhew a faithfull
part,or a merctf ull office* we think
highly of it*and give it within our
felyes the due confideration; How
much more ought wee to thinke
honourably of God, in the daily
wdrks he (heweth? What a Power
lis that, whichkecpethustofalva-
tion,
Gods VVifcdomt *nd Tower. 27
on^who have fo little ftrengtb,
id kffe wifcdome, whereby wee
light ftand ia feare of our fpiti*
iall enemies and dangers? What a
ower,thatdoth make the world,
id the Tentations of it, dead
lings uato us; which are \o mjgh-
e, that the moft arc taken prif>
ers by them, and we fhould lie as
iaptive Thrals before (his or that
reaturc f if God fhould not fiihdue
Km , and hold them under us ?
Vhat Power is that, which killeth
lnfuUL«ftinu$; a thingof itfelfc
\ ftirring and tnightie, and inlatr-
>leinthecourfe ofit?FinalIy,tfaat
pholdeththe life of grace in us?
o fee a fire burning on the Sea,
'id to keep in fire on the Waters,
'erea powerfall faft: but to keep
le life of grace ia a foulc which is
sad in fins and crefpafles, isfarre
reater. What Wifdome doth he
uily (hew/m making al the things
Ihich befall us, ferve for (bme
:>od end ? in tempering our
(Ute$,(b that we are neither out of
meafure
3 8 Gods Truth, Conftancy, and
meafure oppre fled with grievances,
noryetinamored over-much with
chc lu(hie fweetneffe orchis prefent
World:That doth by little & little
lead us forward co perfe6Hon,yea,
and to fufferings, according as hee
feeth weare preparcd,by hisgrace,
and made capable of chem?For his
Truth and Confta: cie, he doth re-
ft ifieic abundantly : for wee are
every day to ieeke to him 5 yet hee
fiulethnot, though wee lye upon
him, a fare friend. Againe, how
many advantages doc we give him
againft us? How doe wc, by our Co
little profiting and mending what
we know ami fle 5 pro voke him?Bat
he fticketh (till iaft to us,andall his
wayes arefull of mercy: hee teeth
how weake wee are, and doth fb
flueld us with his favour, that out
of pitie he will not let the Winde
blow upon us. When we catch our
daily fals, hee fends for us by his
Spirit,and maketh al wholeagain.
When ftrength begtnneth to faile*
hee,in pitie, purteth under, and re*
neweth
Mercy to his Children.
39
eweih our ftrength. When wee
reheavie, and poure out our
earts to him, telling him how it
swkhus,hec doth make us feele
is pe^ceandconfohcion. When
le feeth that evill things would
;rowuponus, hedothfendfome*
hing or other, which m*y b'eake
fieNcftof foch matter, and pre-
ent the mifc'iiefe. Wee finally,
vhich have (boles that are a( (bi»j
:e his mercie even in ilus ; that he
ouchftfeth to handle our leprous
oirits, and by renewing our re-
pentant fenfe of miferie, and our
: aith towards his falvation in
thrift, doth by ( as it were) eve-
y day a new PJaifter upon them,
low then , not to obfcrve and
refecute with due honour^ fuch
'ower, wifedome, Truth ; M?r-
ie is a dcfe& to bee lamented.
Vee take it for a token of an ill
rinde, when one will not give to
len of parts, that which is their
ue. What mindes have we, who
ive God no more in our hearts,
who
s
40
1
.
1
I
We tnajl proclAime Gods Glory
who is (b to bee advanced in thefe
and fitch like refpefts a$I have na-
med? And this not acknowledged
of him, in the daily experiences
which we have of him thefe waics,
doth make us as much to feeke,
when trouble commcth, as if wee
had never beene acquainted with
him. Whereas, did wee acquaint
our hearts with him io thefe his
wayes,we fhouldfiide it as eafie to
reft on him,in any triall and neceffi -
tie, as men doe one with another :
they prefume, (uch an one wil not
be wanting to them,who(e truftie
kindnefle chey have had ful proofe
of,as which never failed them. Io
the fecond place, as our hearts
(hould with befecming afft&ion
inwardly honour, fo our tongues
fhould tell of him, making known
(uch things as we know of him : to
(mother thefe things, is his di£
honour.Thofcthat belong to great
perfonages, they delight to tell of
theTalo;ur,policie,bountieof their
Lords:yea,wc will do one another
this
in sur W$rh and AHions.
this crcdit,to tell what more mark-
able parts wc c(py each in other.
Why (hould our God fet forth,and
not have a word lent him this
way? Finally ,whatfbcver we doe,
wee are to fee his leave and pre.
tencewith us, and to intend his
glory in it. We are not our owne
meo,but the Lords fervants,bought
with a price. Now we jtiftly deem
it irreverence in thofe that live un-
der government, if they preftme
to doe any thing ; much more , if
they run a courfe upon their owne
heads, not caring to take us with
them, and know ourpleaftre. A-
gaine,men doe looke, that fuch as
they keepe,fliould doe them hone-
ftie,*nd be for their credit :And we
fee the Retainers of Noblemen to
addled this way, that they run
themfclves into Books, and out of
faire Patrimonks,and all to main-
taine a Gallancie , which they
(though falfly) thinke much ma-
king for their Lords glory .Now if I
we lay thefctogether/wc flialfind, !
C that
42 Wt do not honor the Lord asnc ought.
that we in thefe wayes have much
been waning to our duti*\ How
little do we fee and poffefle cur
hearts with the reverent and affe-
ctionate obftrving of that we dai-
ly receive from God, and Co of chat
we find to bee in himtowardsus?
Oar hearts lie aflrep this way.
Little doe wee joy to bee telling
orhcrs,and fetung forth our Lords
honour unto theny hatGod might
be glorified, and they thus provo-
ked to feeke the fame fervice with
us:and who doth feele this dutiful
dependancc towards God, which
makes him looke up to the Lord,
that hec would witnefle to his
foule, by his own holy Spirir, that
his wayes hee takes in hand are
pleafing to him,that he will be our
fufficienciein them? Alas, we begin
our courlcs according co cuftome,
and thinke no more ot ihis^than as
if we were not tied to fuch homage.
We are as if we had pnrchafed the
Lordfhip of our felves, and had in ]
our own hands the power of our
wayes,
I On* Fsili«gs drive m to Cbrift.
43
wayes. N >w then, if you difcernc
how you have failed in this great
Comnundement,of feekiog to glo-
rifie your God; and if your trying
yonr ftrengchs, in labouring the
fpiricuall Obedience which thefe
points decipher unto us, finde your
unfufficiencie this way ; then you
fhall find the emptinefie of Righ-
teoufrieffr, which (hall helps you
fomewhat the more to clafpe
Chrift, your Righteoufncfle^ that
in him you may fee your forgive-
neffe; and Chrift your Sanftifkr,
that he would doe that hee hath
promifed you, even put bis Spirit
in you, and make you keepe thefe
Comroaridements more and mon*,
in thefe Branches above-named.
And if the Lord fhall give any fpur
to your Dl votion,any encreaie to
yoU'Rtpentar ce and Faith,by this
meant*, I ihall have caufe tore-
j >yce with you. I thought to have
thus gone over! me other HKds,
to have helped ycu to fee yuur
want of Faith , and rejoycujg ir
C 2 God
i
44
gg Wetrineffe in $ur w*ye$,&c.
God, and (b to have couched thofe
fcares of future events, and poflek
fing your peace, and thatuncora-
fortabknefle which doth hang, in
pafling our cime,about us.Butread
this other Letter I ftnd you, again
and againc ; and for the laft, know
that the Lord doth but hide from
us, and let us feele wearimfle in
going on, that Co he might make us
more depend upon him, and feeke
to him, to fhine upon our wayes,
and to carry us on in them , when
we feele our inability in our (elves.
But the Lord, I hope, will enable
me at fomeother time to performe
fbme duty to you this way. I let
this beginning come to you, which
Jay fb long written by mee. You
muft not thinke much I write no
oftner ; for fince my comming
homc,I have had neccflicy to write
very many waies. I thanke you for
all your love ; and wi(hing you the
fweet love of our God (hed into
your heart., I take my leave this
fixth of December.
$.Vhc8ory.
the ejfhtl ofonrfin*es, to bumble w .
45 4
LOving Friend, wheras in your
Letters you complaine of tedi-
ous weari(bmeneflV,which in paC
nng tta day, doth ere- while cloze
with us, of which we fpake a litcle
cogether.The truth is,thoughGod
doth fomtimes, only to humble us,
letfuch a wearifome vanity follow
us^that hence wee mighc confider,
what oar finne againft God hath
done : how,to wk,it hath thruft us
oik of Paradife, to a laborious and
irkefome condition of life ; that
thus wee might be quiekned, to
begin Chriftthatblcfling, which
doth mitigate thofe evils .Though
againeitfbmctime doth only pur-
fueus^ becaufc of performing our
duties of devotion with toomuch
overture^ for this roaketh God
loath us:fo that we find foalleafe,
till wee returncagaine,and (hake
our ft Ives up better. Yet the com-
mon root of this gricfe,, above na- 1
med,is the want of confcionable
dependanceupon God for his blef- j
• C 3 fing 3 \
I
Wttfte frone tojdfe-Jujficiency;
fing,and ftrength to carry us on all
the day long. Doc you feele,when
you rift,(uch a fenft of your owne
weaknefle, as maketh your heart
to looke to God, that he would bt
your ftrength and your comfort
throughout the whole day ? Alas,
wegoe on, as if there did need no
fuch matter. The Divell told our
firft Parents, they (hould bee like
gods : and though ic is fal(c,in re-
gard of any bkffed conformitie;
yet it is too true/in regard of finfulj
preemption, with which we arc
fecretty poy foncd. For we doc na-
turally live, and hold on our cour-
fes , as if wee were gods within
our felves, not needing co looke
higher for comfort orflrength, in
which wee might proceed. Now
this maketh our God, when wee
feele powerfully fo little need of
hiro, to \tx wearinefle and uncom-
fortablcncfle overtake us, which
might make us come to new rec-
konings within our (elves , and
more affe&ionately tofeeke unto
__ him,
tree ought to Pray 4£*inftit.
him,that he would be with us, and
carry us on, and refirefhus. Now
if you difcerne., that there is in
you fuch a fecret Selfe-ftfficicncie,
and that your fpirit awakeneth
not with fuch poverty in ic, which
maketh ycu locke up to God,
vviih corifcience of your it firmi-
tie^andconfeflejthacifhe be nor
your flrength and comfort, you
cannot paffebne houre over,with-
out wearifbrae heavlntffe : if you
finde that thi6 is lurking, t^en
you muftturne you to God, and
wreftleagainft it, faying-. I, need
not mufe much at this I finder
how fhould I but know fainting
anddifcomfort in going on, who
amfoaflPtfted,as if I would goe
alone *, and had not need of thy
heIpe,OLord,at all time*, artf in
every thing,with me > How fhoul-
deft not thou, that fingleft out all
pride, as the fionethou wile re-
fill, bee much incenftd at this
hidden Selfe-iufficieneie , which
doth pull thee out ofthy Throne,
C 4 m*-
4 8
^rajir ag*i*ft Selfe-confidzme.
4>~~
making thee no God to us, while
vefcelcnoneed of thee ; but arc
readie to goc on , as able enough
within our felvcs to walke on in
our wtyes ? Wee further confefle,
that though we fee the indignitie
of this behaviour, yet the frame
of our hearts is fb out of order,
that of our felvcs wee have no
power to amend it: for as by na-
ture wee arc fallen from faith on
thee, Co wee are filled with Selfe-
cofidcnceywhich makes us(though
we know it not) reft in our o wne
ftrength. Now then, what (hall
we dee,but look to thee, that thou
wouldeft make us Co poore in Spi-
rit, that we may with fuch feeling
and lowlincfle depend upon thee,
for all our ftrength and comfort ;
that thou (who (he weft grace to
the humble ones ) mayeft delight
to minifter them both abundantly
unto us, that wee may walke up-
right, ftrong, and chearefull in thy
ftrength? OLord,weaskeit the
boldcr;for thou haft proraifcd,that
thou
-JL\
ft It
Traycr againft Stlfc-coxfidence*
thou wilt circumcifc our Selfe-con-
fident hearts, (o that we (hall hare
no truft in the fleflhbut have al our
rejoycing in thee. O Loid tell us,,
we beftech thee, make our hearts
heare it, that thou who art not
wearie, nor mayeft notfainr, wilt
be our ftrong Arme every mor-
ning ; fay to us, that thou art our
Ged r who wile leadeimo death:
What joy can we have to fet a foot
forward any way^ifthou doeft not
let us fee that thou art wich us>
Our hearts thinke what thy lervaat i
fpoke : if wee may not have chce
in thy Word , teftifying thy pre-
fence with us(for thy Word is our
cloudie Pillar) it were better for
us never to raove further, than
to goeon^ot havingthee with us.
Following God with thefe thing?,
youfhallfiodcit notinvaine. Fi-
nally, this exercifc of bewayling
cur want in forac one thing, doth
make us fee what need wee have,
that Chrift fcould be made of (Sod
our righteo'afnefle,and doth make
C$ us
50
Wt mujl fhtrv forth Gods Grace.
us come feelingly to fee the tor-
givenefle of all our fi net. through
him our great Gd and Saviour,
who hath waftied us with his
bloud. I will leave off, though
abruptly : my Letrer groweth in
my hand, and if 1 fhould goe on^ic
would be more than your handful.
The Lor d Jefus, ubo is the au-
thor and fi^fher of all his graces
inus,perf c ft you and all his cho-
fen more and more, that in this life
we mayfeethejoyt3 ofholinefle,
6. Monnttj.
CHriftian Frie ds^Forafrruch
as it is our dude, who have
bin under Gods hand,ro teach thofe
that are under the fcmc; and feeing
we that have taft<d grace, areef-
fcfrually to firg the mtrcks of
God towards others: in this re-
gard, my Letters fhaliopenthtfe
two things unto you fo farre as f
am able, if you are alive to receive
ic. I know not whether I feall
write yon another $ if aor, it £hali
recurne
The Spirit >not affliElto workj repent.
returne into my bofbmc^ that Is
written unto you, The end of
thefc affli£Uons, Co bittcrand grie-
vous, is to bore theearesofthofc
that are the Lords,, that they may
hearethisCommandemcnt, of re-
turning from all iniquitie ; and
therefore we are bound inchaines
ofaffliftion, chat the eyes of oar
mindes may bee opened ,to lee our
workes and finnes, the which arc
imghtie, Now it is- not the evils
themfelves, but the prefence of
God^by his fpirit working in thera,
which doth thefe things. For the.
mightie God ("in the fifth Verfe of
that Chapter^ is made the princi-
pal! worker ot thefe things^by the
nieans of grievous calamities. Now
this is a great mercieof God : for
if wee were not thus brought to
if prance, wee would neither fee
good daies her^nor (cape the con-
demnation of the world, 1C0r.11*
Conner therefore, what evils of
, our lives the Lord would have
us rip up and bewaile before bim$
and )
Wt aft apt to Selfe-conctitedxejfc.
and it is in generally our difloyall
eftranging out hearts from him,
that our hearts and delights have
been more on the (infull pteafures*
and profits of this World, than on
the Lord, and on our moft bkffed
covenants of dying to finne, and
living with Chrift rifen, in nevv-
nefleoflife. I know,good friend,
though you will not bolfter your
fe!faltogether,yct you will hardly
be perfwaded, that your life hath
bcetie no better than a (pirituall
Fornication from the Lord: for
comparing your felfe with men,
you may fay, that you are not the-
worft • that howfoever you have
failed, yet you have had fomc care
of good dudes, and fbme love and
acknowledgement of Gods chil-
dren, before others. Confider
then , that God may have glory
in our abatement, what were the
dayes of your prime, and man-
hood, but fpirituall Fornication
from thfe Lord ?*Doubrkfle, I
would noc revive my-oMlhame*
but*
godrvhtppetbtheabuftofourPeSce. i 53
buttohclpe you in theprafticeof
repentance, which without theft
particular confidcrations , is not
eafily taken up. And fince that
nature it felfe hath declined fome-
whac from this courfc ; alas,. have
you not fet your hart on the things
of the world? hath not your love
beene toward them, and your de-
light in them, and heavenly matter
whichlhou !d bee fought with all
diligence,yea in the firit p!ace,have
wee not looked on thefe as refufe-
wares, out of requeft ? This abufe
ofourpesce^Godwhippeth. For
whereas our peace ftiould have
turned hither, to have been an oc-
cafion to edifie us more freely in
faith, love, patience, andtohave
walked onward in rhe feare of the
Lord, declining evill , and doing
gocdfhould have been a meanes
offtilling us with the comfort of
the Spirit^ wee have ncglcfted to
build up our (elves ia thofe graces,
53- if there never Should have come
a time to ufe them : wee havr
; . had
54
I —
fVegrow carndUin Projperitie.
had no feare in our hearts of wic-
ked companions, yea* of commit-
ting with them many wicked afti-
ons,wegave our felves to tafic no
joy, but car nail : for this, God raa-
keth us eate our bread with our
lives in our hand , that feting wee
would not in the fruition of thefe
liberties, yet we might 3 wjth Jew-
jalem in the daies ot our affliftion ,
Remember the pleafant things
which we formerly poflkflfed (La-
mextttions che 17.) And what is
it in a word , that bringeth forth
all the curies of the Law? Ic is this^
becaufethat in our abundance and
plenty, wee (erve not God wich
good and with carefull heartj> 3 Z>e#.
28.47, I doc not remembsr thefe
things to griev?you, for I have
done no otherwife with my (elfe ,
before thefe occafions came on me.
V hat then if one have Grayed
thus,is there no mtrcy> yea truly,
there is mercy wich the Lord in Is-
rael ( in his Ourch) even for
theie courfes I though wse have
taken ^
Lftforcjfortbe greatejl finmrs.
taken ftrange wives, let us renew
our covenant of taming from all
cvill^and following righceoufnefle
and holincfle, and the Lord will
be gracious. Read Ezra 10. and
the*; 5. of E/jy, the 6.7. and 8.
though our iinnesftiould appeare
fo great that wee did thiike them
unpardonable^et when wee re-
tur e,Gods thoughts arc notour
thoughts. If a mans wifeffnuld
goe a whoring with another,
though fhee fhuuld cbmebacke^
he would not receive her ; but
chough wee have ftrayed, yet the
LORD biddeth us ro rctume y
*s ready to accept us, Je emu 3.1.
How fweet a balme is ibis, if our
fpirit bee broken ? now to draw
toacordufion, the foule b of-
ten in fuchpUghc, tha: it would
^urn%buikoowcrh not where to
finde ability thvreunto : if thisbe
your condition, that you come to
groane under the hardixfJe of your
hearer which willnot lee you bee
iorrowfullasycud.fire^ remem-
ber
~_ _
5 6 | Godthe Author of Repentance.
bar to your comfort , that this is
the voyce of Gods children, yea f
his children repenting; Turne us
O Lord, and wee (hall bee turned
Jwm. 31.18. Remember further,
that CHRIST JESUS your
Saviour is raifed up of God, to
bee our Prince, to give to us re-
miffion of finnes and unfained
repentance : he ficteth ac the right
hand of God , by his iplric to
touch your fpirit witfrunfained
repentance. Now,if that the Lord
doe gather you notwithftanding,
forget not the confolation which
faith, that for the abufe of the Sa-
crament many did fleepe, that is,
thty were fmittcn with tempora-
ry death, yet in allthis they were
but chaftened of God , that they
might not be condemned with the
World. Yet I hope other thing?,
becaufe fm«!I is the number that
feare him. Thus having fignifted
my mind at large J defire ihe Lords
bltfliug,and ycur diligent ponde-
ringof thefe things,, lor in them
flan-
InfiruQion in Affiiliton.
landeth year everlafting peace.
\nd thus commending me in true
ore toyou and your wife , I doc
>erake you to the fatherly prote-
ction of my God. Farewell, this
[l.of&ptembcr.
Your Joying friend,
Faul Bajne,
GOOD MiflreJfeP. when I
thinke how I might fhew
joulbmedutieofloTe 3 I find no
itter way than by writing unto
you and kiftru&ing you concer-
ning your duty to God under
this his holy hand, and htegraci*
dus purpofc to you-ward in this
hisvifitation* A letter will dwell
by you and talke with you^ ib of-
ten as you reade it attentively, yea
it will be ready whenfoever you
arc the fitttft for luch bufinefle ^
which conveniency my comming
torifityou, cannot alwayes at-
tains To (peake to the firft point;
When
5$ . Hums lit h under Gods Vifitation,
-
When Gods hand is upon us, wee
are ftbjeft to two extremes 5 the
one is,not truly to lay to heart the
band upon us: the other is, to
droope and be too much difmaied
under ir.
Now we muft walke berweene
thefe, truly humbling our felves
under it; yet as who have hope in
thefaichfull mercies of our God,
and therefore faint not. Now the
divelljwho laboureth ftill to turne
us out of the way, will fecreily ,
worke with your heart, to ward
offthefmart of this blow by im- i
perdoent raeanes, Co that it fhall
not come kindly. to pricke you
unto repentance. To this end he ;
will ftggc#, that you fhallweare^
this matter off we 11 enough, bold
youtofuchand fucb things, that
one is provided for > your care is (o
much leffeued.that you have many
behinde yer. Sometime you ihall
findeyourfclfc inclined to nap, 33
it were^ in fuch a courfe as may
make you forget forrow for the
pre-
Inmilith undtr Cjods Visitation.
>refent.If you fiide not your heart
U^rfted and turned cur of it felfe^
sic were, chat ic may meet God
a thishis chaftifcmenr, then you
nuft thinke, O Lord, not to have
\ hcirtjthorowly caftdowne by
6 ftron^ a vifitaticn, this is a
greater plague than the plague it
lfe. If ftrong phyfickebe given
]f,andic wocke not with us., it
!lotb poifon us : O what (hall I
binke if my heart bee not taken (
llowne, and throughly emptied j '
with this fo ftroog a potion, which
liouin thyWifedome doeft pre-
scribe unto me! Againe, fty to
jrourfclfe, What doth mychijdc
get by playing hide-bire 5 orcafting
jpthe hand, when I cor reft it?
Often, as much more as it might
have fcaped with : fo Lord,if I d oe
beare off thy blow in this manner^
[ (halibut force thee to double my
Correftion.If a Parent fee his ficke
childe, not the better for one me-
dicine, he will feekeforth and get
him another: fo if I take not thy
worke
I
6o
The divell hbeurs to mak^ Gods
M ■
ft
H
pi*
sffi
$1
K
workc fo to heart as is mectj ftiali.
enforce thee to fend me more ant
more grievous things ( if it maj
be) of this nature, Looking up to
the Lord Jcfias , in fuch like
thoughts,will be a good prefava
tion againft this fecret Folly and!
Hardncfle of Heart, which diC
inablcth us duely to waigh the
Lords rebuke aod bee caft downc
under ir. Now if the Divell fee
that you are inclineablc togriefe,
then he will turoe his courfe to the II
other hand,and will labour even to i.
drench you infbrrow and make [,
you walke hopelcfle, and to faint £
under ir. To this end he will hide I
from your eyes the remembrance L
of ftch things heretofore in which I
you might take eomforr,yea kecpe |
you from tafting the mercy of God, |
with which his afflifting hand is |
intermeddled. Secondly, hee will |
amplifie before you the prefent
hand of God, and all old matters
which may (erve for circumftances
that make it more grievous. For
example.
children faint unitt AffiiBion.
[ample, hec will whifper whole
ite is like thine, the pooreft,now
>u rauft pray and pay them, and
ey wil not be gotten :thc boothe
the garden that was wont to be
e place of your folace, how is it
:comea place of feparationfor
einfe&ed, it may bee? every
out h filled with this, The Plague
n Mijlrtfe P. the fervant that
ould eafe you, being a grievous
irden. And here hee will prefle
re all your weaknefle* in your
>vcmeraent over your childreo,
hich may make this ftroke of
od (among them)more deepely
ift you.Finally will he fay,Doe
>t you fee what comfort Com-
eth to you> Thirdly, hee will
Idefroaa your eies all the hope of
lae, which God is naoft faithfull
giveinduefcafbn.
Now if you difcerne that the
utter hangeth on this fide, then
lu muft thus prevent your fain-
:ig,Gy with your (elfe,Lord,why
buld it be thus with taee ? doth
not
61
6z
Wt mnfi not f dint under ofjliftion.
not my child take bitccr or (wet
which I give it, and Chill not il
take this cuppe from thy hand ?j
Shall I cake good^ in good worth
from thee, and not cvill? Arc thou
not as mcrcifull in providing us
Phyficke forourfouks healthy as
in all thy other daily benefits?
Meat is more neceffary than me-
dicine,inthefcafonofit:andw^at
are tbeie evils thou fendeft, but
phyfickeof our foulcs health? For
thego^d of our bodies wee rake
things ag^inft which cur ftomack
rifctn^ourflcfh (h inkech as wee
take them, and w& labour to keepe
them their time, O Lord, when
thcu miniftreft for our foules
good, yea, our bodirs, tftaces,and
poftcruies after us, (hall we not be
as willing boch to receive and
retaine in thought, thy courfes to
this purpole, I meane which tend
to our fpirituall good X Secondly,
youmtftnot dwell in 5 butrurne
your thought from fuc^ particular
circumftattft* as doe buc weaken
Affliction bitter , but mcdicinabU.
you, looking both at things part,
present, and to come, which may
miuifter comfort unco you.W en
wc have a bitter potion to drinke,
we doe not (if we b?e more avci fe
from medicine) tafte every drop
at the tongues end , bat curne ic
;inbygreat,andwe thruftipibme
l{ofjte,or Manm flrifti after ic :
andweihinkupontheafccr-healch
of our body, to which ic workech,
and thus we getic downe, though
otherwifewee have no mind to it.
The Lord give us ihis wifedomc,
forourfooles, that wee may not
dwell coo much in exaft (canning
(uch particular*, by which the de ■
vill (ceketh to winnow our belief,
that we may remember his fweet
mercies , and rhi keof our foules
healch, which God worketh by
them. Now whacfoever thing? are
ofyt&ed/uchasaretruemuft bee
granted, but fo $ that hope bee not
therefore weakned, ia this wife;
Lord, it is true, that I have many
wayes provoked chine anger, but j
thou
6 4 Chrijl tan moderation necejfary
thou art a God that wilt not kcepe
anger forever, thou wilt not have
man fb nourifh difplcafure in
himfelfe , that the Sunne flbould
go downe in his wrath,how much
lefle wilt thou be irreconcileablc?
O no,thou art as quicke in forgive-
nefle to a contrite heart, as flow to
conceive a wrath againft us , of
which we have good experience
daily. And Lord, it is true, thy
hand is extraordinary and many
wayes heavy upon me, but I have
learned that I muft not chafe my
ownerod, with which I will bee
beaten > but leave that to my Fa-
thers wifdome. Again J know that
my need do?h require it all, we are
made heavy, when needi?, with
fundry tentations , faith Peter. A
wiftPhyfician wilnotgivea ftrong
thing, where a lenitive and gentle
matter is enougb,much ieflc woul-
deftthou. And I further confeflTe^
that I may bee juftly upbraided,
with my former wants, bur Lord,l
beleeve there is mercy with thee,
rea-
in afjliftioB.
reaching to forgiv«ncffe,t hat thou
raaieft be feared, and that this is
thy chhfe glory, there is none like
to thee in fbrgivencfle 3 in paffing by
the finnes of thy people. O Lord,
what neede I thy grace and mercy,
if I were not in myfelfe ill defer-
ving and miserable > and though I
feele not the comfort I defire, yet
I doe bcleeve thy mercy no lefle in
Chrift : a Father doth not greatly
piety his childe,when hefteth him
ficke of PhyGcke newly taken 5 for
hce knoweth that if it fhould not
worke with him,it would doe him
no good, and hee knoweth that his
childe (hall be well enough, when
the working is over. Sodoft thou,
Lord; which makcth thee hide
when wee arc troubled, and not
much raone, becaufe thou fteft
there is no hurt toward us,though
wee feeme to fede the contrary,
though it might feern we (hall ne-
ver have day again.No yv then both
the by-waies being difcovered, it
will be more cafie to informe you,
D con-
66 Hew to walfa that vpc may have
concerning the right way io which
ycu muft walke that you may
come fafe forth of thefe trouble? J(
you ask how you are to walk, that
you may have happy iflue ? I an-
swer in few wordsjfo that you joyn
with repentance hope towards
God^thac he will healc thefe things
and love you freely. Firft,bcnot
affraide to remember finncs part,
God will make triades of theft vi-
pers. Here if you have beenefub-
}c£fc ro great unfruitfulncfle.laraent
it; for W€, the more webtftow on
our grounds, Iooke to rcapc the
more from them; If todiftruftin
your heavenly Fathers care over
you* if unco too much neernefle*
which is often a daughter of di-
ftruftjifcoquicfcneSjif to any infir-
mity (for the ipiric of man know-
c th what is in man) recount it with"
your heart, judge your felfc wor-
thy to be cut off for fuch waies
wherein you have fwerved, ifj
God fliould deale in juftice, and
not in mercy. Secondly, (hike a
new
i happy ijfne out of affii8$on.
new covenant with God for the
rime to come, that through his
grace you will have care more and
more to morcific every evill way 3
and co be fruicfull in every good
worke. LookeE*r<*thc io.Ghap.
2.3.ThirdIy^yoiimuft looketo the
Lord, as who only mnft heale you,
hoping in his mercy ; He u the hea-
ling (Sod; He that layeth the rod
on,muft take ic off; and if a debcer
will be forth of danger, hee muft
compound with his creditor, who
only can free him from feareof ar-
reft. And here you have great canfe
to watch over your heart, that in
ufe of means ic be not withdrawne
from the living God. Weareluch
creeples that we can hardly reach a
Crutch into our haids,but that we
will walke alfo leaning upon it.
Now God onely is your life and
length of your daks, thefc things
without him, will ftand us in no
ftead, it is not the Apothecaries
drugge, but the ufc of it, which the
art of the Phyfician teacheth, that
D 2 hea-
6 8 Our wants mnfi drive tut* forty •
hcalcth a difeafc. So much more
may we fay, it is not the creature,
but the Lords ufc, and application
of ic to this or that purpofe, which
ftandethusinftead. Yea, I would
wi(h you not to meddle much with
things of this intention, left while
you prevent the plague (which ic
may be God will never let come
nigher your per(bn)left I (ay while
you doe this,you caft your felfe in*
to the burning Fever, orfomedi-
fterapcr of that nature, Now when
you finde your ftlfe unable to doe
thefe things, you muft, grieving at
your wants, looke unto Cbrift,
who doth give repentance and par-
don of fin to hi* lira el, and who is
both the beginner and finifher of
their faith. Now toaddeaword
concerning Gods intenr, it is ever
gracious to us that are his. When
he frownetb,be is a Father, nolefle
than when he fmilcth upon us. A
taan will beare much when he fpi-
eth this,that it commethfrom love
it felfe, and from love procee-
deth
V
'the facet fruit of dffli&ions.
deth every courfe , he pafleth upon
us, as well this of adverfity, as the
other of profperity. Whom he lo-
veth he chaftencth, faith the Scrip-
ture. Ifwcraarke what God doth
by them, it is more apparent: for
hee fitteth us by fuffering a while,
to receive all good things both of
this life, and that to come. What
doth aChriflian heart defire> That
it could beleeve on God, giving
glpry to his Word,that it had more
flrength ofgrace,that it might feele
a decay of Bnne, -and be prcferved
from falling into it : that it might
grow op in acquaintance with
God> and come to tafte his love,
more and more, which is better
than life. Now thefe things God
worketh by affliftions. For he ta-
keth one, and putteth hirn paft the
helpe of all the creatures, to no
other end, but that he might learne
to beleeve on God the Creatour,
who giveth life, 2 Cor. 1. For fuch
is the wickedneffe of our hearts
that they will never make out to
D 3 pur-
7°
dfftltions pirgativc.
pu**pofe unto God, while they
have any fenhble helpe, in which
they thinke to finde fuccour.
True it is 3 we feele faith rather
weaker for the time, but ftiaking
the Torch, which for the prefent
f emeth to put it out, dorh make it ,
blaze: Phyfick,which for the time
weakens, doth tend to ftrengehen
the body, the lame may befaidin
this. Secondly, thtfc through the
worke of God , purge out our cor-
ruption? asthefieistodroffe, fo
are thr f* to the remainders of finne
in us. T;ur it i?,we feele more ftir.
ring of corruption under them
fometimt sfora whHe,tban before:
but as Phyfick then expelletb faul-
iy hu^nonrsjwhen if workethupon
th^m, and makethu? complaine, 28
feeling rhem more than when they
w re let alone, fodoihGodsPhy-
ficke to the foulc: even itisdri-
yi g our corruption then, when it
rr-akes us feele, and complaineof it
more than ever. God by thefe doth
make us partakers of all grace and
holi-
Go&afjlifts t opt went pme.
holinefle. Wee wi(h that we were
able co do thus and thus, but when
Sod doth come ro us ia this kind,
then hee furthereth thoft defires :
for as feed putteth forth, by means
of raine, which feemes to drowne
it, fo doth the feed of God grow in
us, by meanes of foch troubles,
which one might thinke would
overwhelme it. Theft againc are
fent to prevent the future brea-
kingsfortb of our corrupt natures.
For as you give your little ones
Cordialls now, not that they have
ehefickneflfcjbut that you may keep
chem from taking infrftion:(o dorh
God putchefe cups into our hands,
not fo much forfinnepaft, asfor
preventiigfinnetocotue. Finally ^
we come to acquaintance, and to
fcelc Gods love more abundantly
by thde : adverfity brcedeth pati-
ence; patience,experienceofGods
loving helpe to us in due fofon :
"experience of this luve, hope i and
as lovers are never greater friends,
than after their fallings out :foit is
D 4 with
i
G$d triiiy before he truft s*
wuhGodand the faicbfull foules ;
thus is it with you.God doth now
prove you,that he may in your lat-
ter do you good (I hope) through
lefos Chrift : for as men will firft
try, before they commie any great
matter of truft ; fo doth God with
us, he doth come and try our bsha-
viour,when he is willing to truft us
withhisblefiing, and with benefits
both fpirku all & corporal!. Wher-
foreIooke> good M. P. toitb your
Saviour at the end of the crofl?,t hat
will fweeten the bitterncfle of it.
Wee never greatly fticke at facb
trouble, which we know will pay
well at die parting.Thus (hall thefe
your troubles ( waiting on lefts
Chriftthe Lord)tbrough whom aj]
things werke to your good. It may
be,you will thinke this is true,you
could believe it,but that you fee no
fuch likelihood of mercy toward
you.But this is as if you fhould dy^
I would belecve on Chrift, if I
might fee him, and put my fingers
in hi* wounds,no : we rouft not be
Tbomtfesy
Sod angry with bis^ yet loves twm.
Thomafcsjnut pray God to increafe
our faith, that wee hope againft
hope, and bcleeve that wee fee not
that (bat length, wee may fee the
things we belecve. I, hut you may
think God coraeth in anger againft
you. I anfwer, Gods anger is not
without love, when hee dealeth
with his children ; from love it
cometh, anditteideth to your re-
newing of love. Againe, as I told
you, he is a God that will not keep
anger, we looking to him, in that
Sorbin whom he is well pleafed.If
one of our children fliould fay to us
when we are juftly moved, Father,
you meane me no good,for you ate
angryjwe would aofwer^Bccauf: I
meane thee good, therefore I am
angry. Looke to him that hath /aid.
Though I correft you*yet roy love
will I never take from you. Wait
upon him, who though hee make
heavie, yet will reruroe & comfort
in the mulqtcude of his mercies,
Lam. 3. 32. And the Authour and
Fiaifher of our faith,help your be-
D5 leefe
73
\
74 1 VntjofUve to ddmmijb.
teefe, ajdhte chat giveth wifdome
•yithou>: upbraiding, give you wif«
lomc tocarry this prefent cxerci^
if your patience to his glory, and
the great inaeafc of your after
coffiforr.
8. Expoftuhtory.
DEarc Madami^ I bavebeene
long unable to (it pen to
paper, which hath kepr mee from
performing the beft office of love
diar is within the compaiTe of my
ability, but firce your love did get
the flart of mee by preventing mec
with your kinde remembrance; it
hath been a fpurre futrhcr inviting
me to this duty, which I had with-
in my fdfe voluntarily vowed. My
mir.de is to advertife you out of
love,of feme difeafes which I feare
grow upon your foule, and to give
you occafion through Gods blefc
fing, of renewing your repentance
unto falvation, God comandech to
exhort one another, left our heart*
be hardened through the deceitfcl-
neff-
True love cannot flatter.
.neffeoffinne, and toconfiderone
another, thai we may provoke to
love. Ai this imboldeneth mce, fo
I am encouraged from hence not
a little,that I know the patience of
your eare toadmonition,V¥ ch more
adorneththe inward man, than any
caie-ring of Gold can grace the
outward. But fliould your L. take
that with the left hand, which
I reach with the tight, this (hould
not be a Stpcrfedtas to mee, com-
pelling mee to defift from per-
forming my purpofe : for I ac-
count him a covetous flatterer,
which for the good of thofe he
oweth duty to, will not venture
a word, which may adventure
(for a time) the lcfle of his fa-
vour. Wherefore profeffing be-
fore God my love to your L. Soule
and Name, and affuring my fclfe
j that hee will be ray all-fufficient-
reward, while I walke before
I him in upnghtnefle, give mee
1 le^.ve to tell, you, what I h*vc a
longtime fufpe&ed. The grace of
Gcd
The way oftherighteoutlii^ tbtjftn.
God teacheth all fuchas tafte it, to '
live, (hs wing forth godlintfle, fo-
briety, and juflice, in this prefcnc
cvill world : and the way of the
righteous (hould be like the Sunne,
which rifingraoredimly,doth ftill
increafe in the light and heare of
if, till ic come at the higheft. Now
my feare is, left your godlinefle,
which hath becne fometims very
confpiciousin you, befbmewhat
abated,left the care of ten.perancy,
and equity, which you owe tc-
ward the meaotft, be dioiinifh-
ed : left Come fpice of the con-
trary breed about your ibule^ as
a ficke humour ; which though it
cannot quite choake and excin-
guifh the life of grace,yet it hinde*
reth that growth and thriving f ir
which is to be a ilhd. If Ifhould
feare beyond that I have ground
for, yet you ar« cocenfurc ic as a
fruit of love, while it ftirreihmce
up to any good office about you,as
UVs feare about his children, is
manifeft tohave flowed from his
hngular
Tie life of godlineffe.
fipgular love, by the facrifice ic
movech him to offer in chtir be-
halfr. Rue how juftly my fcarcis
conceived, I will leave it to your
confcience to j^dge, when I have
made narration of the particulars
following. What (good Lord)
fhould (hew forth the life and po-
wer of your godlint ff: > Is it not
the carefull getting of fiich meanes
as may further it ia you and yours?
is it not the reverent and religious
ufing of thcmHs it not the cleaving
to thofe more affr&ionatly rhan to
others., who are before others in
godlint (Te? If in your courfe theft
waies be confidered, it will ap.
peare that even in this regard there,
h fuch defefts as you muU diligent-
ly labour to fupply. ThcmeaoeSj
ncx? to the publike, ofpromctl g
g< dlincffe io you and your family,
istheprefenceof one whoispru-
denttotnowyour€ftite 3 ardfaith«
full to advertife accordingly. The
flying exercifes of men th it come
andgoe 3 doc notfet forward. this
plqugfa*
77
7 8
Rtmijfemjft infolhmng the meanes
plough, like as the conflan: pre-
fence, word, and example of one
who knoweth you, andis knowiie
of you. Now,when you are where
publike meanes may be had, fuch
as your felfe efteeme powerful! ; is
not your L.more remiflely aflfc&ed
coward them, than becomroetha
Jealous godly cninde, yea* than
fometime you have beene, when
you (bould frequent them dili-
gently^ though fixe times more re-
moved than now they arc > For
though, when natural ftrength
failetb, there may be an omiflion
of feme outward meanes, with-
out prr ju:Iice of inward devotion;
ycc God hath given you fo able a
habire of body, at your yeeres,
that ycu can venture as farre, ci-
ther fbr exchanging civil! cour-
tefies, or for rdrefhing yourfclfe
with fuch contentments, as the
^clvill communion of friends doth
affoord. For the private mea ie& 3
the conftant residence of one, who
might bee as a private iWtoyou
and
i
of Salvation, an illf$gne.
and your?; have you profecuted
this, with that devotion you I
ought > Then (hould not want of
a Bed, have kept mee this Win-
ter from being with you* then
could you nor* after you had rafted
my DcCfrine., and (cene (for my
mcafure) firnplicity, and inofen-
fiventfle inmy co^verfition, you
could not (I fry) with ftch o-
verture have reiiivited mee. To
fpeake ipariigly-^ I have obf:r-
ved in you an affc&ron, fuch as
is in thofe who cheapen • who
would have the thing, but for
coft : contrary to the Merchant
fpoken of in the GojpeJ, who
would fell all, rather thai not
carry away his commodity wVh
him. Whe^eforv^yfrg your hand
o- 1 your heart, bcthmke your felfe,
where is that due affe&ion, to
c h e beft rneanes of building you
up in grace .• If this one ching
were as much in yourdefire, as
D vids ; you would not rett, till
yuu & w your foule pufiefled of it :
- the
8b
We mujt be hatnefi after the mants.
the wife Merchant doth not onely
account of the pcarle & Trealure,
but hee felleth all, to purchaie the
field in which theTreafure is hid-
den j (b highly hec reckoncth of
meeting with fuch an one, .who is
as a Ve&ll, in which his Chrifl is
contained and conveyed unto him.
Thev^olentreceivetheKingdome.
The Lord kecpe us from following
that which belongeth to his bu-
finefle, with a cold iodifferency . It
may be youthinke • Why ? lam
notdeftiture, I have the Labours
of many Chriftian men, as they
may be procured. To which I an-
fwer : Ic is not io bringing for-
ward Chrifl ians, as it is in railing
other creatures. Change of Pa-
(hires will make fat Calve?; but
changing of Preachers, neither
knowing you, nor kno* ne of you,
will never bring your foules to be
►welHiking, and take incteafe be-
fotc Gcd, as they ought: it will
not helpetheB^bes growth, to get
it a weekly change of Nur fes. Be-
fides^
Chdftge of Preachers unfruiifitD*
fides,when ftrangers corne 5 they fee
the faireft piece, the out-fide only •
and if (in forae one) they heare
(bmething not good, yet being
foone poflcfled with that great and
good report of you and your Fa- j
mily,they rather count it a lingular
exorbitancy, than any thing cufro-,
mary in your fcrvants pra&icc.
Hence it is, chat they come and
goe, fbmetime giving commenda-
tions, feldome touching the local!
griefes, the fores of your houfhold .
Wee will not have one make us a
fhooe, who knowctfr not firft the
length ofour foot : and were wee
to ufe the Phyfician daily, wee
would not ftill comnaic our fdves
to new ones, who never had obfer-
ved our bodies. If wee are to ule
counfcll, weekeepe to fuch who
have the beft infight into our cafes.
So in the Phyficians of our Soule,
it is a great advantage to have
them to minifter to us, who by
their conftant obfervation are b-.ft
acquainted with our neccflicies. .
Where-
82
Taki heedbowvnheare.
Wherefore execute your purpofe,
fo long ficce fettled; mercy begin- |
neth ac home : Will you be better
to many other Churches, than to
the Church in your owne houfe?
But to leave this Head, of getting
rhe beft meanes^nd a little to cor-
Jiicr the manner of ufing fiich
meanes as you en-oy: Gedlinefle
ftandethnot in bare hearing, but
in hearing like Cernclius> like the
Bereans, in taking heede how wee
heare, that wee may grow by it.
That is true Divinity, that raaketh
theChriftian: not v* hat wee doe,
bat how wee doe ir,doth whneffe
to our (bules, that wee are found
CHri'lians. Mow, good L. I doe a
little fofpeft, chat you turne over
thrfe duties in fuch perfun&ory
fore ere-while, as if to have done
cheworkehowfoever^ were fuffi-
cient. I am afraid you finde nor,
after theft exercifes of hearing,
that powerful! worke, in mortify-
ing all fiafull Ms and aberrations
inpra&ice, in ftrengthening faith,
in
Wt muftfrn&ife what we heart.
j in conforming fpiritualue, in ma-
king you heavenly minded ; T feare
youfinderrot this efficacie, which
the Word hath where it isduely
minglecf with beleefe« I have ob-
served in your L. a readineffcto
I hearealwaies, but not a proporti-
ipnablc care of chewing: he Gjd,of
digeftingand incorporating icinto
yourfoule^and pra&ifingchethings
you have heard. This maketh the
Word you have heard, vaine; and
nothing fcene of it, in regard of al-
teration, or augmentation caufed
by it, in him who is the hearer.
And as they who know not what
it is to pray conlcionably^will call
moft readily and freely for prayer;
(o many will call freely to heare,
aot that they feele (pirituall hun-
ger, but becaufc chey confidernot
what goeth to hearing confeiona-
bly, in regard of preparation be-
fore,- watching over our fclves in
it, that wee may feele it fruitfull
in us. Againe, 1 have feene you,
in prayer, witheut caufe of any
extra-
Godsfcrvice, n$t to be dont Overtly '•
extraordinary weakocfle rifefrom
kneeling to fitting ; which kinde
of liberty doth not well fuit with
that Religious reverence, which
bsteemeth Gods fervams, while
they worfhip before him. Yea,
f have heard, that it hath bcenc
talked in houles where your L.
hath k>dged,that my L. 7\[. would
have her man reading a Chapter
by her, and her felfe be fome-
time talking, Ibmetime fmiiing,
yea, now and then chiding* at the
fame time. I cannot hide it from
you, 5 beard it with griefe j and
whether it be true or falfe, you
have need to make ufe of it. Dear e
Madame,takeheed how you heare,
looke to your ket,to the afFe&ions
of your heart, when you come be-
fore God. Heewillbefanftifiedin
(uch as dra w neere untohim, or he
will do as he did to Aarons fannes,
hee will glorfie hirafelfe in judge-
ments on them. One may heare,
call others to heare, give com-
mendations to the things and man-
ner
LttftsBnder the benefit of the Word.
ner of (peaking, welcome the per-
iod fallen a gift on him ; an \ yet
in all this, be devoid of life and
power of Religion, in hearing.
€ndevour to expell thofe lufts,
which clogge and prefle downe
yourfoule; then therailkc of the
Word will be plcafant, and profi-
able. To take fuftcnance, while
the ftomacke is (urcharged with
(uperfluitie$,hHrteth the body : fo,
till we labour to emptie our (elves
of the lugs chat hang about us, the
benefit of the Word cannot be per-
ceived. And againe,when you have
beard, labonr that you may profit
by i t, that you may feele all finfull
Ms weakenedjgraccftrengchencd,
faith & knowledge encreafed,your
praftice bettered. Should any eatc
lever (b much,, unlefle he digeft it,
:urne it to bloud 3 difttibute it into
:he veines, &c* what is the body
:he better for that which ic recei-
ved? For the third evidence of a
godly heart, to wit, the cleaving
more affe&ionately to thofe who
are
85
86 We mnji git w gracictu fervants .
arc more godly, than others; I
would there were no defe<Sfc in this
regard. I hare obferved, that you
can equally impart your favours.
If any have points of fcrvice, and
can apply themfelves to your hu-
mour 3 though they have fmall ac-
quaintance with God, they (hall be
countenanced. This raaketh your
family Linfic-woolfie, confirmeth
the haunts of fome in their care-
lcflc courfe; this makech chofe that
are good, more rcmiffc than they
would be : fhould they finde from
you greater encouragement. Da-
vids delight was in the Saints ; hee
did purge his family of fuch as
were unprofitable, and graceUfle :
fuch as laboured to pleafe God in
all thing«,not fach as could get the
lengch of his toote 5 were precious
in his eyes. Can a loyall Wife
take pleafure in fuch nacn who are
obfervantand officious about her,
and be devoid of all refpefl: to-
ward her Husband ? Are yeu be-
trothed to your God, in Chrift.'
and
1 Taflc of Gods gotdnejfey weanes^e.
— — — — — ■«■■ ■■^•' — «
and can you abide their ftrvice a-
bouc you,whoarecarelefleinduty
towardyour LorJ,with whom you
arecontra&cd? This /heweth,that
godlinefle is much decayed, yea,
that God is put downe> and our
fclvesfctupas God, in ourowne
Scares; when we can like of men,
not as we fee them fincerely ierve
him.but as their behaviour is more
or Ieffe pleafiog and conrcntfull ro
our felves. But to leave this firft
point, (in which, defire of your
good hath made mee more proline
than I intended) and to come to
the pr*&ice of £ brietie, which
the grace of God teacheth us who
have truely tafted it : even as a
man who hath touke ia the rafte
ofthebefl creatures,, canno: forth*
with feed on that which is raeanc,
courfe 3 and no way to be compared
to it ; fo a Chriftian, who bath ra-
fted the goodncs of his God,which
is better than life, cannot affcft, as
ibmetime before he did, thefefai-
Sall delights, which caraall men,
who-
s?
8 8 Intemperance in Istp/hU liberties.
who know no better (like as
Swine do (will) follow with grec-
dinefle. Now I fearc roe here alfo,
left chofe fpirituall fweetnefies be-
ing foroewhat eclipfed, intempe-
r ate cherifliing the body> and cares
of the world(partly through fruits
you have traverfed, partly through
kind ftpports of many) doe fteale
upon you 5 and win ground more
thaa they have done heretofore. I
know God doth keep your L.firom
exccfli ve curiofity,firom open glut-
tony,from diunkenneffe, but as in-
juftice is not onely in unlawfull
ftealih,but in covetous following a
lawful! calling:So intemperancy is
not onely in theft outrages expref.
fed, which are openly unlawful^
but alfo in the lefle holy temperate
and reverent ufe of our Iawfull li-
berties and repafls, in eating and
drinking wee muft labour to fecle
our thankfulnefle renewed, as the
effeftsof our heavenly fathers pro-
vidence are renewed : we rauft la-
bor to be heavenly minded/eeling
the
The funds 9 as well as the r$ck^&c. I 8 9
the gracious prefence of God with
our fpirits at oar fweeteft feafts : it
is a fpor, when we feare not in our
feafts, as who are conscious of the
f ure that is in every creature, and
ourowne weaknefle. Finally, we
eate intempf rately,when we keepe
not power over our own appetite ;
when wc put not our knives to our
throats, upon feeling any inordtoa
rie moving in us towards this or
that: like as David did, who &-
crificed the Waters which hee had
Co importunately defired. Happy
are they who finne not in kwfull
thing?, in eating, drinking, buil-
ding, &c. A Ship may milcarry,
not onely by hard rockes, but by
(bfc ftnds ; which though they are
not (b violent* yet they are no
leffe dangerous. To feede often
liberally, not refraining any thing
to which ones appetite Ieadcth* to
be gratifying the ftoraacke, now
with one thing, now with another,
alas, what doth it? It diftempe-
reth the flefh with luft, it doth
E make
po We muji vnant oftrfelves from^&c.
make the very (bule flefoly affe-
fted, itindifpofctbusio thofcex-
ercifcs which arc performed by the
mind,ic cnakcth us Be to be kindled
with wrath, or any fach like pat
fion. Finally, it taketh up the mind
with thought,what it {hall next be
fcrved with in this kind, Where-
fbrc,dcare Madame, if any fpirit of
humane frailty hath cloven to you
this way, remember you are a tra-
veller, neerer your journies end,
than when you fiift belecvcd. Gird
up your loynes, tuck up this craine
of lufting, which will make you
unfit to take one ftep this way,
without hinderance. The houres
grow on, wherein thefe things
will yceld no delight • wee muft
weane our felves in time,that our
laft weaning may not feeme too
bitter and grievous to us. If wee
difhonour God, by uaweaced uft
ofthefe things, the Lord will pay
us home in our owne coyne 3 and
fcourge us by that fclfe-fame in-
temperate pra&icc, by which he
was
Intemperance hurts Joule and bod;.
91
was diftionourcd in us. How ma-
ny hugge therafclvcs co death, and
by po wring on too much Olle,
quite put forth the Light of Life ?
I am no Pfiyfician for your body,
yet I doubt not, but the ftrtving I
wkh your felfe, to ufc your law- 1
full Liberties and Repafts more
holily,temperatly, and reverently,
(let him that is holy, be more
holy) will be very bencficiall to
your body. For feeding the fto-
tracke full, fo as fuperfluities are
engmdred, this brcedeth the mat-
ter of the Stone, and augmenteth
it where it is breed, warming the
ftomack now with one thing, now
with another, this doth beget and
encreafe the heace, which taketh
the matter fore-named into this
forme, in which it is voyded.
Concerning that laft raatter,which
all muft praftite, who know the
Grace of God io truth, viz. Iu*
ftict; even in this I have fome
feares, which I cannot conceale t
and to fparc what I have heard
E 2
re-
93 Equity to befhcwed towards all.
reported, as the talke of iome,that
your L. fctteth up Leftures, your
debts undifcharged (for it is my
meaning todealc only in fiich mat-
ters which my felfe in Tome fort
have obferved.) To (pare this
therefore, my feare is, that you
(hew not that equity towards all
under you that you ought. It plea-
fcd God to beftow the childc of a
moft reverend roan, N. N. with
you,whom you have not intreated
well, but provoked and grieved
rather withexccflive feveritieand
contempt, than encouraged, by
(hewing any motherly affeQioo
and hoDCur,(iJch as a Chriftian La-
dy cannot but know her ftlfe to
owe to the Ieaft of her handmaids.
The note I tooke of this in my
mind, made me firft ufe that phrale
in Prayer, That God would guide
us f who governe,to carry ourlejves
with fuch moderation as befeemeth
them who know, that even hem-
ft Ives have a Mailer in Heaven. A-
las,whom doth your anger purftie?
A
The barmeUJfe mofl barmtd.
93
A fatherkflg childe • who out of
confcicncc doth humble her felfe
under you. Mmy weake perfjns
arc fickeofan evill ficknefp; they
will make bold-ft to off j r all hard
meafare ro fuch whom ihcy know
mod innocent and harmslefl'e ; not
caring what chey d je to fuch, be-
ciufcthcyrhinketheydoeitfdfcly,
and (hall heare noshing but good
after ir. Whereas the fame per-
sons will be often very equall to
thofc who are of worfe dispositi-
on, and take foch freedome in (li-
nings that they will no: fpare for
any meanes, which t hem fe Ives or
their friends can ufc, to ery quit
with fuch as (hall provoke them*
The Lord keepeus from this wic-
kednefTe. Watch over your ft If- a-
gainft ihis paffion. It unftttech you
for prayer : It is nocfo light a thing
in a&iog, as heavie when the Co i-
fcience calleth ro reckoning; to
wound the foule with words, and
by immoderate difpleafare to make
the life of the Orphant heavie ; to
E ; npkr
94
Governors to be milde and gentle.
make the heart of a Widdow ftd •
(for (he is a Marble, not a Mother
who grievcth not in the Childcs
grievance) to fhewdifhonour,not
onely to the living, but to the dead
aHbjfo ncere and deare to t he Lord:
I tell yoiij thefearcgreat things, if
you looke not on them through
thefalfeglaffeofdiftemperace par-
Sou, As God hath bid them ho-
nour you, fo hee hath tyed you to
honour them 5 and be rather a Mo-
ther, than Lady and Miftrefle to
them. For thiscaufe,the Lord doth
comprifc Govemours under the
name of Fathers and Mothers, to
put them in mindeof doing duty
to inferiours, as well as receiving
fervice from them. God hath com-
manded us, that our brother be not
vile in our eyes, that wee provoke
them not, that we (hew all equity,
not ruling over them with a ftrift
hand, as Egyft did over Ifratl; that
wee follow lotjn letting them ex-
poftulate reverently with us,when
they find grievance ; andnot to be
like
aotfioward to infcrionrs.
95
like Ndfol, who was fb vile, none
might fpeake a word in his care,
which did uoc humour him. Ac our
command, ourfervantsthinkenot
much to doe ferv'ces even about
our Horfcs hecles : (hall we thinke
much, at Gods command, to per-
forms thofe moft eqnall offices co-
ward thofe whom God hath put
under us, who arc fons and daugh-
ters of God with u$y Hdrcs of
the felfe-fime hope, co which we
arc called? Should oar Mifterin
Heaven lowre onus> and contend
with us on every occafion ; could
wee ftand before it > Let us not be
fofcvereandircfull, whoftaadfc
much in neede of mercy and indul-
gence. Wherefore, toclofcmyad-
vertifemenr, doe nat on:ly leave
thofe thing?, but j-idge your fetfc,
for whacfoever frailry hath efcaped
you this way,and returne againe to
the Oath and Covenant, renewing
your Vow before the Lord. Doe
not reafca in your heart, Why doe
I not chu3j.and chus> Doch not
E 4 God
$6 A little fins marts many good allion /,
God allow us lawfull liberties?
Why ? mee thinkes our Minifter
might give mee leave with my
Maidcs? Should I a little wropg
them, cannot I make all whole
with fome benefit unexpected?
Where hath he learned to belee ve
reports»not having heard any thir g
from my mouth? Thefc are but
fuggeftions of Satan,to make you
fall out with medicinable counfcll,
by which your fbule ftould be
healed.You do many good things :
But God will not, for any good
offices, fee any evill in which wee
waJkf ,fo as not to diflike it.Lookc
his Epiftles to the Churches. A-
gaine^hy (hould a few dead Flics
marre a Boxe of precious Oint-
ments ? God doth allow us law-
full liberties, provided that wee
ufethem lawfully, praflifing ho-
tline flc^ religious feare, and tempe-
rancy in the midft of them. I may
not hate you fb,as to let your fbule
finne towards a fervant ; and wee
are to teach your L. as weH bow
to
Good intentions cxcufe not iR actions. 97
to governe, as your fervants how
to obey in the Lord. And yoa may
doe thar, yoa camot hcale; you
may impaire naturall indowments
of roindej by fuch courfcs, more
than you can recompence by any
Largeffe of your liberalicie : for
intending future good, will not
make that well done, which for
theprefentisevill. For my felfe,
I write nothings but by way of
Chriftian feare, I have arguments
too many, to make me believe in
parr, what-ever things I pro-
pound unco you. Turne from thefc
thoughts, as you would from the
Dhell himfdfe 5 they are ondy
prompted, that they may keepe
y cur heart from repentance. Dday
nor, while God fendeth you a msf-
fenger^ and knockcth $ for if you
will not hearc this gentle yoyce,
you know norm i* hat kind he will
j fpeake, the next. Befide, f!ce that
' delayeth to fee a bone out of joynt,
doth .but double hisfmarr, when
it is to be bundled, and reftorcd.
E5 Not
<?8 Conscience Ukj 4 lookittg-glajje.
Not to mention that he that retur
neth not into the way, in fucha
party that which is halting, is fub-
jeft to goe quite forth of it. Ic may
be you do not feck your confciencc
greatly checking you in thefc
things I am the forrier if you
ftiouidnonbut Mtddmcjcmmbtr
whether it hath not checked you;
and whether by not hearing Gods
Spirit, you have not fo grieved
him, that he kecpeth filencc. Boc
howfoevcr, the Confciencc is like
a looking- glafle,which wfcileit li-
eth all covered with duft.&cweth
not (mall mattcrs^but when it i wi.
ped, then ic maketh the lead thing
apparent. So the Conference being
clouded with paflion of luft, cu-
Rome^examples,&c. difcovsreth
not many things, when it is awa-
ked, 8c tholi Uiifts difpeltcd,it pre-
fenteth as grievous fins, the things
which wee before made light ac-
courxof.lt it one thing not to have
aa acnafirg Confcience, smother
zhiDg to have a clears Contdtncc.
I 'I A1
fbrijl our Sdn3ifitr y 4S wtU as^&c. j ,99
A man may have the S one, who
feelcxh no Fie of ic : A man may
have,in fome regard, an cvill Con-
fciencc, who feeleth, for the time,
no Fit of accufationinit. Where-
fore, deare Lady, be wife : God
hath taken the yoake from your
necke, truftcd you with liberty,gi-
venyoua Summer, to provide a-
gainft Winter^ O make up foundly
your peace with God. Confider
your infirmities,in time of tempta-
tion efcaped:C6fider thefe^fithence
your deliverance; judge them in
youriclfc: flie to Chrift,not only as
made of God, your Juftificr from
the guile of fin, but your Saoftificr
from the bloc of ir. Pray him cat-
neftly, to faveyou fromxhe daily
power of thefeevills, which ftill
you find to have dwelling io you.
You have need,like the Anr,to ga-
rher in the Summer, when God.
trufled you with health & liberty 5
the rather, I ecaufe God holdeth a
flit ging Rod over you, iheLafh
thereof, fliould it light on a Con-
fcience
loo Remembrance of fin in viptation.
feience naked, ftripped of his fa-
vour, would fecmc unfupportable.
Thinkc with your fdfe, what joy
you can take, when God (hall vific
you, ifyourConfcicnce (hall tell
you, that you have had good pur-
pofcSj but neglc&ed to execute
them • that you have drawne necre
toGod, bat without due care to
(anftfishimia your fpiric, in his
Ordinance?, and profit by them:
That you have not advanced his
gory in your family as you ough< ;
that you have home too gentle a
hand over the lufls of ycur heart,
favouring yourfelfe too much in
them: ihatyouhaveinargertoo
much f xcecded,and made them f-el
it mof^whom you (hold moft have
tendred. Thinke,I fay^wnat com-
fort you can haveinfuch thiags'rt-
membrcd. But if you will awaken
yourfelfe, j trfgcyourfoule, hold
Chrifltogiveyou ftren^thag3inR
thofe and all oth'er.corrupticnsj
then fltalllightarifeiadarkeocfle^
youfhall tkcit true,thcugh for the
pro
The corrupt mind indnrts not reproof \ 101
prefent you feele a warfare, that
light is fowoe for the righteous ;
though evills come, God will be
your ftudow at your right hand, to
refrefh you in them, peace fhall
dwell with you in life and death,
which I wifh your Ladifhipin/f/w
Cbrifi. If I fecme to your L. to ufe
greater freedome in dealing with
y ou,the perfwafion I have of your
fiixerity and (bundneff? imbolden-
eth me thereto^ found flcfl] feeleth
no grkfewhen we handle it fome-
whac hardly : but i: is a figne an ul-
cer is bred ia that flefh, which may
not indure any fort to be touched.
Neverthekde, I thank God,f have
ufedtomy knowledge, no liberty
and plainnefle, to which fidelity
iVhnotinforceme.
Thus cravng your I. to take
thefe tbi -.gsdowuedeeply^hough
chey (h >uld make Gck for the time,
feei n g that they airrv? at nothing
but y uur fpiricuall heal h, & pray*
tog the Lord for you, who bleffeth
all PtyGcke, b>th corporal] and
fpirjruall,
102
L
Concerning d Wives ficknejfe.
fpirituall, and health by it, I take
my leave.
9
LOving Brother, we do remem-
ber you and my.Sifier, and arc
■ rroly affe&cd toward you, though
my diftra&ions, imploymenr, and
I know not what indilpofition
(which I dare not every way a-
vow) dee caufe me to write more
rarely.Now lean deferrc no longer
from Hgnifying ot r remembrance,
and advenifogyou how things go
with us, left you (hould challenge
mehereafter 3 a$not4nformed. My
moftChriflian Wife (your Sifter)
hath, face Eafter laft, beene very
ill, and it hath not pleafed God to
bkffz any meanes which ftee hath
attempted here, or clfe-where.
Since our lift parting with you,
fh; continued till, within this fort-
night,.cra/ie, but norfeeling any
vi dIciu woi king of our infirmities :
but now of Ute^and efpecially tins
weeke, her flrength is morethaa
ordinarily enfeebled, thaclfearc
(refer-
I ■ »
Mourning acctpabk to a CbrtfttAn. J 10 3
(rcicrving ro God whatfbere cour-
ses make with his glory J you flwll
not long in joy fuch a Sifter, nor I
(ucb a Wifc,of whom I am unwor-
thy. Which I faggeft for two tea-
ton s : Theory that you might re-
member her cftate more fervently
than othcrwife ; againe, that you
might feafbnably reibrt to her, if ic
will any whit increafe your con-
tentment, as it (hall be gladfome to
us whenioever, to ibpy your pre-
tence The Lord teach us to num-
ber cur daie?, that wee may apply
our hearts unto wife dome, and
the Lord give us underftanding,
which may make our hearts be as
well plea fed m the houfe of mour-
ning, asthsfhdlesareintheboufe
of carnall rejoycing. Brother, our
terme lafteth not alwaies^the Lord
make us wife to know the accep-
table rime, and while it i3 called to
day, not robe hardened through
the decekfuJnefle of finne, but to
tame to Mm, and -for a fare-
jscil, Vghen you &e how your ell- .
ents
104 Ceunfell c*fd for in ntcejjity.
ents wait at your Chamber dores,
fee king to gaine earthly inheritan-
ces, how much more (hould wee
wake at the dore of Wifcdomeg
houfe, which will give us an ever-
lafting inheritance? Readethe 8. of
the Proverbs 9 theend of the Chap-
ter, where the Lord fcemeth ro
make this alluGon : I will tell you,
if we that are the Lords, come to
be fifced, we {hall be more diligent
this way. Counfell is not cared for
(as you know well) till fome flaw
be found in evidences : when once
there groweth queftion, then the
learned Counfellourgro wetbinre-
queft : fo becaufe our confidence
raaketh no qaettion of that great
eftate in the heavens, therefore we
waire not on Gods mouth daily,
both in ufing meanes publike and
private with diligence. Thus your
Sifter and l, doe remember our
(elves unto you, and roy Sifter, (co
whom you may commend us) and
take our leaves abruptly*
j o. CV««
Comfirt tn fickptjft.
10. Confolatory.
LOving Coufio* I would be
gbd co hcare bow God doth
carry en your weake frame^ but
cbis is a thh)g,which though I may
vvifh eafily, yet I cannot fbeafily
itftft if. If weakneflc grow on
you/it rcuft comfort you^that your
prifon is not ftrong enough u hold
your foule long imprifoned. How
welcome is the evening to the wea-
ry labourer > So to us fhould be the
(hade of death, in which we reft
from all our travell. If you fiide
paine, ftekefor that faith which
may quench the fire^ if it be good
for you that it ftould be fuddenly
quenched, if otherwifc, lookcto
him who hath promifed in fire and
water to be with u^oever to leave
us, nor forfakeus. Thinkeonhis
goodnefle, who will have finfull
men eafe their enemies beafts, an-
der the burden which oppreffeth
them. Looke finally tothoie glori-
ous jojes^to which theft momenta-
ry affli&ions flull bring you. Even
as I
io6
Death though painfull j)tt &c.
as the waters falldowne^ notable
to abide in grounds that He high,
fo the fenfe of thefe affiiQions
gocthaway from mindes, that are
lifted Dp in frch contemplation, A-
bove all things rrpyce, that yet^
you {hall (hordy attaine your love,
your Lord, to whom your ibule
by faith hath beenc longcontra-
ftcd. SheeisaforrieSpoule, who
cannot make a (hifc with an uneafie
horfe, while fliee rideth to fee the
confunaraation of her low, with
her betrothed Husband. Doth to-
gether with wcaknefle and paine,
poverty in things fpirituall, doth
any defertion moleft you \ Know
that this is but the wifedome of
our God; who 3 asphyfic?ansdoe
mingle many things in the fame
potion, fo doth intermeddle many
matters in the fame temptation,
that it may be more effe&uall to
his glory and our good. Thiake
with your felfe, a wife Phyficiaq
will not put in his piefcript a
Dram coo much; God will not
1 exceed
We muji reji on God in ficctjfittes. 107
exceed that quantity any whit!
which is fie for his patients. Hold !
you to the rocke, and ftand ftill,
the things are clouds which will
ride over you, and goe away : i
chough it benight we (hall have
dayagaine. Who isic thatfearcth
the Lord > If hee be in darktu fle \
without light, let him leane on
the Lord his God. For conclufi- j
on ; Doth outward ncceffity, with
her threading, any thing difturbc
you ? Looke to him who taught
S c Paul to want, who made him
fay, be would doe all things, while
hisLordftrengthenedhim. Looke
to him who circumcifeth hearts
with circumcifion not made wich
hands, who can make us Co deny
our fclves, that wee (hallfinde no
painc to follow him : Be fbrry for
nothing, but that having fack a
Father^you (hould be careful!. We
fan&ifie our Heavenly Father,
when no unbeleeviog feare com-
meth reere us. You know the
truth of my love to you, and I
know
y
1 08 Wtmu$ not ncgUU ofpdrtumty.
know how eafily I can (through
Gods blefTing) procure that which
would refrcQi you feafjnably.
WrurJoreif yoa fhould notim-
parc it to mcc timely , before the
oylc and rrealc be q-ire fpent,
you (hall neglcft a good meane,
which Go^s providence doth (hew
you 5 you (hall be wanting to your
owne comfort, you ihill requite
mec with no fmall unkindnt/Tr.
Thus with my loving Sifters
commendations, I commit you to
God.
Yours as h'rs owne,
Paul Bajne.
II. Hxpfinhtory.
GOod S r . C. Were my ability
and freedomc from occafions
at this time, fuch as might be wi-
(hed, I would fee youinpsrfon,
andhotvificyou by writing: but
love muft be content to crcepe.
when fhee cannot goe at liberty as
(bcdefireth.S r .C. could I bethiake
me
God afflitts his 44 4 Fathtt.
me of my cordial], or other ching
which were like to eafe your ficke
paffion, fhould I not be a Traitor
for ever in friendfhip,if at this time
Ithouldholdmypeace? So is it, I
could not beare(even in my confer-
ence) too much blame, if thinking
of ferae things which may ferve to
the good both of your body and
fcule, I (hould containe my felfe
and not impart them. Wherefore
good S r . C. give mee leave a little
to commune with you now being
under the haod of God : For even
skilfull Phyficians, when them-
felvesarevificed, will ufethe ad-
vice of their inferiours. You know
better than my felfe, chat ordinari-
ly in all affii&ions God doth of-
fer himfelfe as a Father to us; cha-
ftening us, that heemay make u«
partakers of holineflV, yea; even
by death it fclfe hee doth chaften
his, that they may not be jud-
ged with the unrepentant Vtorld,
Thus I doubt not.but he doth with
you. If then wee are Under Gods
chafteniog
109
1 1 I W* muji mourne for fin in afjlillhm.
- i I ' i ■ i ■■ i »■■%■■■■
chafteoing hand, wee mult firft la-
bour ro rake to heart oar faults^
for which our heavenly Father
doth take us in hand. Secondly,
v*ec muft feeke his mercy in for-
giving them, and removing the
temporary corre&ion, fo farrc as
may (land with his glory. Third-
ly, wee muft be arefull co feeke
the ufe of them in all things fol-
lowing, if God (hall thinke good,
co raife us, and truft us with lon-
ger time in this prefent life. You
know that it is the part of ana-
turall ingenious childe to grieve
for that, whereby he hath provo-
ked his earthly parents difplea-
(ure, and (hall it not be our duties
much more toward our heavenly >
Till we know and feel our ficknefle
fomqwhac grievous, we cannot af-
' fedionatcly feeke that Phyfician.
Wee count him our friend, who
warfceth us of fomeihing growing
on our bodies,which we couldjiot
difcerneof our lelvesTake it,I be* j
feech you, as my beftlove, if I
prefai
)
T{fiturallmtnfpirh*All Aiulttxtrs.
prefer to your confiderations fomc
things which I take to hare beene
the chiefe infirmities of your fbule.
All our hearts are by nature fall of
(pirituall adultery, wee love the
pleafuresand pomp of this world*
and let them carry away from God,
our raoft lively and teodercft af-
fections. Now if a roan of true ho-
nour would challenge himfclfe,
(hould he be but falle in love to his
earthly aflbciate? How much more
{hould it grieve us, who have let
our hearts play falfe with our hea-
venly Husband ? Againe, (hould
one fccepe their heart to thsir
Love in fonie fbrr, but not care to
come into theuadefiled bed, in
which their moft neere benevo-
lence is mutually imparted ; vvete
it not a flrange difl oyalcy in per-
form married one to the other ?
What then (hall wee thinke, who
by profefllon married to God,
have not cared for partaking in
the miniftery of the Word, which
is the Br idall-bed , wherein by his
fpirit,
lie
112
Ntt to communicate in the fins, &c.
fpiric, he doth communicate with
our foules his fweetcft favours,and
maketh them be conceived with
fruit of righteoufnefle, to everla-
fting life. Abanah and Fhstfat
were as good waters as Iordsn: bat
it pleafcd not God in them to
heale Naamans leprofie, but in
Jordan. It plcafed God by the foo-
hfhnefie of preaching, to fave all
who (hall beleeve* Laftly, if you
have made the finnes of others
yours by communicating in them,
and nor reproving and reforming
them when you had power, (as the
finnes of fervants in houfe wich
you,) you muft rake knowledge of
this, and let it grieve you : when
you have friends comming to you,
you will have your fervants not
oncly ferve you, but be refpeftive
to them, carefull that they by no
rudenefle doe give them diftafte.
How then flbould ic grieve us to
thinke, that we have not cared, (b
we haive been ferved to our minds,
how bur God hath been negltftcd,
. y«,
■ Gods children m9regtuvedfor^&c %
\ 1 « " . ^
; yea, provoked ? No w confidering
jthefe things, andthofeof likena-
rnre,which you are privieto with-
in your fclfe, fteke to God in the
death of your Chrift,for the remo-
val! of them, of the fin chiefety; of
the correftion, fo ferre as hee (hall
tee good. Ungodly men are like
\ Pharaoh, who bade Mofes pray to
! God to take the plague away: but
! Gods children like David jhtj fly
to the multitude of Gods tendered
mercies, to take away their finne.
You may come~ with boldnefle to
chat mercifull God in Chrift, who
faith,that though a man would not
rake a wife once put away for adu!-
tcry 3 yet he will receive his people,
even afrer their adulteries; if they
ftek co him repentantly. It is a fol-
ly to ftrive to get loofe from fick-
nefle, if we firft fceke not to have
releafe from fiune. To breake the
Gaole without being acquitted
by the Judge,ts no true liberty. To
fee the Scrgeant,w it hout compoun-
ding with the Creditor, cannot
F make
113
j 1 4 J Viper-tike evils made t»hokfome,&c.
make found peace, Laftly,I doein-
treat you tofeeketheufeof Gods
vifitation before all things. How-
ever hee (hall deale with you, hee
who hath commanded finfull man
to joyneinftru&ion with correcti-
on, hce who hath taught mau that
he will not beat a Dog, but he will
put it into his fenfes as well as hee
can,what it is for which he ftrikech
him.he,Ifay, will not faile to teach
you, why his hand is on you, and
make you profic by it. This is the
feale that God hath ordained us,
and called us according to his pur-
pofe of bringing us to life, when
all thingSjCven thoft evills ofcrof-
fes, turne to our ipirituall good.
His Fatherly skill doth not make
jhefe Viper-like evills into whole-
fbme triacles, for any, but his cho-
fcn children. If you finde thefe
things, re Joyce: For God hath re-
vived in your foule an eternall
life,yea, he will reftore you to this
tcroporall life/if it be good. The it
fuesof death are with our God,and
what
Feart not death pnce Chrlfi t a fled it. 115
what is it for him to hcalc you be-
ing ficke, who did give tobelec-
vingperfbns, their dead to life a-
giine 3 when ic made for his glory >
If nor,you know, a ficke body will
notfearctodrinke that hisPnyfi-
ciaado-hcafte before him: Chrift
hath carted death before us ; to de-
liver us from the feare ofic : yea,
you know that your life is hid with
God in Chrift (who is the roote of
us that beleeve on him) even as the
life of a Tree, this Winter time, is
hid in the roote of ic. The Lord
comfort you in thefc things, and
thus let mee for this time end,
12. Momtory*
DEarc S r , I thankc God, I doe
remember you, as I am able,
unco him, intreatinghimtoftand
by you in all things,and fini(h your
courle with comfort. Remember
the fore-paffed experiences which
you have had of his kindnefle and
conftancy toward you : he willnot
leave & forfake you now you have
F t moft
i 1 6 Mans extremity, Gods opportunity.
moftueedofhim. Men often, like
to thefe Swallowed will be withu*
in Summer, but leave us in Winter.
The Divell, when he hath dra wne
his into the briars^, will give them
leave to Iooke for themfelves : But
God hath ever ftood neerefl: to his,
when their exigencies havebeene
greateft. Mans extremity is his op-
portunity. That which God hatfi
done once for you, in fuftaining,
quickning you,, quieting your fpi-
rit, his peace,which pafleth all un-
dciftandingjkeeping of it, that hee
will doe every day unto you,if y ou
will inforceyourfelfe toward him.
It is no more paine to him to beipe
nSj thanic is unto the Sun to lend
lijjht to us. If we have in fome fits,
found ak by this or that, wee
know if wee come into like cafe,
how to helps cur felves: iciswee
fay, butdoing fuch a thing, or ta-
king fecha matter : thus having
once found in deadnefie,fainting of
fpfcif, quic&nanceandftrengthby
recourfe to our God in Chrift, and
wreftling
The eye $f Fanbfees God invifible.
wreftling with him, wee fhould
know what to doe when fuch like
ftatereturncthon U3. Well Sir, a-
while,& forever.TheLordftreng-
then u s, r hat though we be led into
darkncflTe without light, yet wee
mayleaneto him, and call on his
name. Ifa child have his father by
the handjthotjgh'he b^ in the dark,
yet he is not afraid: fo is it wi th u?,
while by the eye of Faith wee fee
that iavifible one at our right hand
to fupport and (ave us. I pray you
commend me to my good friends a*
bout you.Thoughl am called more
on for writing, than my ftrength
can well afFord.yet I cannot forget
you overlong.NowIcomend you
to the grace of that faulTful! Shep-
herd, who will beare us when we
are weary, ftrengchen us when
weake, ke?p us again ft the Wolfe ,
yea, notlofeu*, but according to
the will of his Father, ra;feuiup
atthelaftday 5 towhombe glory
forever: farewell.
Yours in Ghriftianaffe&ionjP.B.
F 3 13.O/4-
A Chrijli** carefaH of bit promife.
M
13. Chat or j.
Y beloved Friend, now the
throng is gone ; (b that nei-
ther we can excufc any longer cur
not inviting,r.or y on your not com-
ming when you are called on. You
know what words did paflc be-
twixt us, farre be it that they
(hould prove wind. I doc accom-
plifli mine in rcquefting you to vi-
fit us, you fliall difcharge your
promife, when we in joy you pre-
fcnt. We know that you have not
wanted altogether iiitreaties to this
purpofe : weeome after preferring
the fame fuit more rehementIy 3 not
quite out of hope to /peed: the la-
rtfft Dog fometime taketh up the
Hare, My wife will (if you be fo
pleafed) meet you at Ware, when
you fee forward, that you may
know with what devotion (he cn-
tertainesyourcommipg. AH cur
waics are in the hand of God, hee
teachcth us to commit them to
him, that they may be direfted.
We
In all out rvaies rvt muft fears God. 1 1 9
We may go here and tbere^change
aire and company, but the God of
all confolation is hee from whole
meere mercy in his Chrift wee re^
ceivc all our comfort : chearefu!-
neffe of heart is his gift to thole
that are good in his eyes.The Lord
put his f eare in our hearts^ thaewe
may never depart from him leaving
the way of his com wdemen ts ; and
give bs more and more his feare
before us 3 in all out waies. For if it
be a (pot in feafts, to eate and drink
without feare,as lade faith ; fare it
is likewifea fpot^ in our journeyes.
The firft lines, are to pro yoke you
to come ; thefe are to guide you in
comming, that your way may be
profperous; which I wilh-you
from my heart, with all c^her fpi-
rituall ble{Tings,for Ghrifts lake,ac-
curled for us. .
Wrice to us 5 whcn and how you
will contrive your journey. Fare
you wclk-
Yours in the Lord,
ParJ Baynr.
f 4 14. m-
.120 Concerning the education of&c*
14. Dijfwaforj.
LOvingiV. Awordintime^ is
better than many out of feafon,
when it is too late : I have talked
with my wife, and I finde it true :
Tim videntocptliqHamoculut: two
are better than one. My wife is in
love very care full of yourweale,
and for the party to which one
might mod probably incline, her
thoughts are not without reafon a-
verle. Firft, the education of Gen-
tlewomen of that forr, doth teach
them little to know, butgallancy
in apparell 3 to call for fcrvice about
themfelves. If they may come
where they may have conforts
to play a game at Maw while
they arc vacant from their atten-
dance. Againe,for feeds of Rdigi-
on,you cannot groundlyconjcfturc
them in her, which is the princi-
pal! thing you would fecure your
(elfe of: for good natures without
Religion* are as we fay of the Di-
vell, good oncly while they arc
pleated, and when you found it
enough
\ Godly jealoufic of our filves profitable,
121
enough to kcepe any duty to God,
with the help of a Religious yoke-
fellow, how cai you conceive
hopes thisway, ifycuwantfuch
a helper? Thirdly, her portion is
but a little for your eft ate and cal-
ling: God gave you muter of e.
ftate equalling to hers, when you
were many wa>es by many degrees
unequallcoyour'felfe. Againe^tis
by (implements of good will to be
made up 3 which may occafion ft-
cretcourfes ofrccompence.Think
of thefe things : for thoughl pitcy
your condition, yet I wiOi from
my hear r 3 there may be no more
haft e than fpeede: (oft fire make th
fweeteft maulc. Labour to have
your felfe in feare aid jealoufi^and
marke the fecret folly of hear r,w ch
raaketh uspoaft over our mourning
part before God, and linger after
the houfe of laughter. If ficke bo*
dies fbould ftp onely, and let awjy
the bitter potion, calling for re-
paratives, the difeais fbould fur-
ther and further be cherifoed : fa
F K our
« 2 2 I Love & hatred are not in our power. \
our ficke foules, if they leave their
wormewood-draught too timely
which wee fhould take next our
heart, wee (hall mifle a great fur-
cherance of puribules health. I a-
gaine ofren thinke,it is not beauty,
but Gods bleffing 3 which muft give
you concentment,ancMove and ha-
tred are. not in our power • if wee
had our raoneths miad (erveJ, we
arc fubjeft to grow into diflikc
with that wee {o highly defired, as
t he ftory oiAmnon & Thamar doth
wicnefie. Againe,ifyoufindeyour
mindc any thing impocently run-
ning hither and thither (: s the fpi-
rit of man knoweth the things of
man ) bee affraid of having
the thing you fodefire,Ieft it prove
as.the, Qua !es which ftanckc in
the mouthes of them that lulled
after them* I pray you therefore,
drive with your owee foulc for
more gpdJy,forrow and wea-
nednefle of minde : Deliberate
flcwly, and then you (hall be able
to. acQomplifh: boldly, expe&ing
from
The Lord em helper in Temptations.
from God a blefling of thofc waies
which you have comendedro him,
I have great bufineffe. Our Aft-
tropolitans vifitation c5mcth (hort-
ly,and I am warned to preach, be-
fides many other occaiaons. Yet
becaufe I love not after wifedome,
I doe make way by force, to fend
you in time a word by friendly
admonition.
We doe with our bcft hearts bid
you farewell* .
15, Confolatorjr*
Si R, Your Letter came in the
chiefeft of our harveft, fince
the time, the firft weeke, you
know our Carrier goeth nor* I
can no longer be wanting to my
duty fo farre, as to leave your let-
ter unanfwered. Thus I paffe to
that claufe, touching your late tri*
all. I do defire to have fome feeling
of your eftate ; and the Lord that
kcepeth his, wheu they are almoft
! loft in rhemfclves, keep you in this
j and all other temptations. We have
I JF**!
1 2 ± If Miflj bj-rpaus out of ttmptatior;-
great neede of God, to leadc us 5 in
time of criall : there are many by-
waies, at which our corruption
and weakenefle will be ready to
ftartour* and but onelyone true
way, which will bring us to fee a
goodiflTue, in Gods ftafon. Some-
times wee are in danger, as hath
beene taught us, to let light by
Gods corre&ions, and play hide-
bare with him; thinking well, if
wee can ward offthefmareinany
fafhion s fomerime we aie Impati-
enr,outwardly and apparently kic-
king at the fturre^ like theff plun-
ging Hoxf. a, which will no: indure
their Rider : fbmetime inwardly
andfccretly repining and frecting,
like thofe Horfes, which digeft
their cholcr^by biting their bridles,
If wee neither dcfpife 3 nor impati-
ently rife againft the hand of God.,
yet our weakenefle is ready too
nuchto take to heart that which
is our exerdfe, (o that our fpirix
drooperh and faiiteth ; and this is
worfc 3 becaufc it is commonly ac-
1 . companied
butonegoo&tvayftoagoodijfue.
compared wii h 4 wilfull iadifpoii-
tion, which will not let as receive
fuch things, by which we might be
trucly comforted: as in Iacob^ho
would not be comforted, but fol-
lowed his tonne to the Grave,
moutt/ing. I doubt not, bu: God
keepeth you both from the former;
I hope, from tivs latter alfo. Wee
muft take our com&ion,and hum-
ble our felves under the fmarc of it;
but wee muft looke to Ghrift^ that
hce would not let our faith, hope,
and meekeneffe of minde, be Sha-
ken. If God fhould have told you
both; I will give you two chil-
dren, you (hall bring them up fo
long for mee, and I will cake rbero
agaiie- would you oc: have ac-
cepted it gladly? The event doch
tell you no kffe, than if he bad be-
fore-hand thus fpoken unto you.
God is the duefe Father of all tht
Families in Heaven ardEarch 5 we
are but fofter-parents to our ownc
children, When my Uft childe was
, taken to God, my good friend, our
Preacher,
1 1 6 j UMotives to betre equally the
Preacher, did fometime {hew roee
many Motives,why I fhould bearc
it equally.
rarft, That they, wken thus
fbone,are crowned through Chrift,
without having experience of that
fighr^whichroakethuscry, Omi-
ferable^&c.and thinkeour lives of-
ten a burthen to us.
Secondly Jc is not Ioveto thern,
when we arc perfwaded, that God
is their God, which maketh us
grieve at their taking hence : ic is
felfe-love,or carnall a ffe&'ron : For
Chrift told his Difciples, If yee lo-
ved mejee would be glad,becaufe
I gre to the Father. And what
meafure doe wee offer God, who
can fend our childictx farre from
us, where wee are never like to fee
them againe, if they may doe well
with man, and yet cannot well
beare to have them taken out of
figbt by the Lord, though wee are
pcrfwaded their (pints are with
him? Wee mud Labour for fuch
goo3 hearts,^ may pot be content
death of my children.
I2 7
perforce to lcc him take, but may
willingly yeeld, even our children
(if it were by ftcrifidng them with
our ownc hands) to him who hath
not thought his only Begotten too
deare for us, but hath given him to
death for our fakes. If God fhould
have riven the Tree afunder, I
meane, fevered you one from ano-
ther^ muft have been taken thank-
fully ; but much more when hce
jeaveththe Tree, and taketh but
the fruit, yea, but part of char, lea-
ving the one halfe yet wiih you.
Thirdly,ar d laftly, Ic is a token
wee felt not his love, nor received
them not from bis hand, as wee
ought to have done^ if wee (hould
notchankfully give then; backe to
him, Anna receiving Samnd as a
gift gotten by petition from God,
did readily part with him to God
againc ; (b Abraham with his feed,
which by Faith in the Promife hee
had ob:ained. I know wc are ready
tothinkthefe thing^are truc^ but a
Parent4ikc affc&o^cannateafily
(hake.
123
We mufl lone Godbtttter than,&c.
fhakc hands with, and yccld op
things fo dearcly beloved.lt is true
indeed, that while we pleade love
to our children, what unkindnefie
do we bewray toward God ; if my
heart did not To love them, I could
give them thee ? Calmly to thinke
on this, which yet is contained in
that Exception above named, were
able to make one blufh, that his
heart fhould be fo cold in his love
to God-ward, as not willingly to
pare with any thing it Iovech, at
Gods cill : alas, to yeeld that wee
greatly care not for, is nogodarmr-
cy. ButIhope,Godslbvedorhnot
make his hand grievous ; nc'uher
would Ihave thus late written thus
much.butthat it is good to be pro-
vided againft all things to come.
For as when fire catcheih, wee Fee
how f arre it is gone, but know not
where it will (by; even fo ic is,
when thefirebfaffli£Vion(in which
Faith is proved) is once kindled.
The fecond meficnge: told nor I A
all his forrbj? at once ; ic is wife-
dome
yVcmiiflthankf God far the, &c.
dome fiill to provide for the
worft, the befi: will Gve it felte.
1 6.
MY beloved Friend, and Chri-
(tian Sifter, ifl my felfc had
been a good Scribe,you (hould noc
have been thus long unwritten ro :
My afflftiontoyourdeceafed Mo-
rher,who did requeft ic at my hand,
and the love I bareyourfeife,would
long fince have inforced it; but my
hand cannot doe, what my heart
would. Nevertheleflk, feeling my
felfe not like to live to fee your
face,I have got the help of anothers
hand,to report what my heart doth
fpeake unto you, out of that Chri-
ftian love which bindcth us tocon-
fider one another,and provoke one
another co love. I may thanke God
for thole good things, which I
know his grace hath done in you.
For the conlcionable reverence of
your deceafed Parent, was of him,
who writeth in the heart that com-
mandement of honouring the Pa-
i rent,
130 DinUions tojtirre up our duties \&c .
\
rent, as well as others. A grace
which God^who worker h ic, hath
promifed to crowne with much
profperhy. Ocher things A(o per-
vade rnc of your piety; but God I
will teach you to know the things
beftowed on you : neither are wee
much to harpe on this ftri g, un-
k(T: we were in conference aflured,
that it were needfull to ftrengthen
each other with figncs of a good
eflate; as the Phyficia s doe on
hearth flk Patients, with repeating
good tokens of recovery. Yet we
that are taught of him, to fee ought
that his grace doth in us, mud
bleffe him;md Ganders by, who by
a fpirit of decerning obferve the
fame,muft joyne with us in thankf-
givirg. I will leave therefore this
matter, and take occafion to ftirre
you up to duty to your heavenly
Father^whora I know to have been
dutifull of confeience to earthly.
Firft, you muft labour to know
your God; and in Chrift^your mer-
cifull Fatfrcr : for we by nature are
• like
Wc mttft know God j om Father.
i ■ m m . m i ■ »
like runnagatechildren, who have
never kepc necre tluir Parents i
houfe 5 or like the Prodigall 5 which !
left his fathers houfe^ and becooke !
him to Harlots: Co out hearts have j
left our God,and knownothingby I
nacure, but the things of this
world, v^kh which we comT,ir fpi-
ricuall Harlotry. Now there is
none by nature, that feeke sf:er
God. But wee that doe in Chrift,
find him in part/ muft more and j
more grow up, in the acknowled-
ging ofhim. What a grace lefle part I
would we condcmne it io for our
telves, ifwefhould not know our
Parents here(as by pride and hecd-
Itflcrudeneffe, fbme children will
not) much more fhould wee be a-
(hamed, not to take notice of our
heavenly Father?Nay, we muft the
more cry after him, the more blef.
(edneffe we know there is,tn in joy-
ing of him : as the children that
taflethe (weetnefle of the loving
Parent, cry when they fceme to be
left. Butifycuaskehowyoumay
know > |
32 Hexvrvemay kgowGod.
know? lanfwer: Firft,youmuft
gee your eyes wiped, the eyes of
your minde : Secondly, you muft
know where to feeke him. Our
eyes are{bre,and full of fcales : and
thercfore,if men be carcfull to have
the eyes oftheir body dreffed^yea,
indure fharpe waters, rainer than
their fight fhould faile ; fo much
more muft wee feeke to God, for
the Eye-falve of hisSpirir,the one-
ly Clary chat eleareth fickc fights :
Yea, welcome Gods Affii&ions,
which are his ftrong Waters, to
reftore our Seeing.
Now could you fee, and knew
not where to finde him, yon were
never rhe better. Therefore you
muftknow thl«, that if you will
feeke him,y ou muft looke at Chrift
his Sonne, in whom the Father is,
for they are one. When a childe is
li ke the Parent, wee (ay, If you fee
(uch a one, you fee his Father, for
he is the fame up and downe as his
Father was. Bat Chrift is liker
the Father^ than any childe the na-
i turall
Wt mujl love God, and why.
rurall Parent. For the fclfe-fame
ifMMecing fpiriruall God, who in
Sellowfhip of his Perfon, hath a
Souleand Body glorified, the fame
Spirituall Nature xs the Nature of
:he Father : as if the fame Soule
jwd Body which is in you, were
Srommunlcated with the perfbn of
bour chiide. Sccondly,as you ieekc
to know him more, fo yon rauft
jfeeke to love him and pleafe him in
pll things, being more fruitful! in
|fcrving him,than you hav? beene :
(And good reafbn 3 Love is the wher-
ftone of Love. If you (hould fo
love one, as to give your little S^a
to death for his fake, would you
not thinfce it an intolerable parr,
not to be confidered with love a*
gaine ? Yet God (b loved us, that
hee gave his onely Begotten ; that
weebeleevingin him, ftiouldnot
perifh, but have life erernall. Aid
for our childreo,Do we not Iooke^
thowgh they be full of play when
they are y oung,yet,that being bet-
ter growne, they rnuft lcarne fome
honeft
133
134
Lwt to God tried hy its working.
honeft calling, which may do them
good another day? So the Lord,
though hchavcagenclehandover
uvwhile wee are tender ; yet doth'
Iooke, that wee after wardt> fhould
bemorefruicfulljnd ferviceable to
him,M.i2 2. The righteous are
compared to Trees; which, wheo
firft planted, bearcfew, but grow
till they come to carry mmy bran-
ches. Now, if you would cry your
love 3 you muft fiode it out by irs
working. What contentment you
take in that Pretence, which is to
be had by Faith; what longing you
have to be-with God; what love ro
his tokens ; what love to children,
and friends. As fcr example: Lo-
ving your Husband above all men^
there is none whole prefence you
care for,or take contenment in,like
his. So laich the fakhfullfouleto
God ; What have I in Heaven but
j thee ? What in Earth, in compari*
(on of thee > Againe, if your Huf-
baad were in fomc other Country,
how would you long for his re-
turne
TLffitts ofouY love t9 God*
tume unto you, or that you might
follow him? So the loving foule
to God, f*ith ; Oh, who fhall deli-
verrrec from this body! Oh,icis
beft for mc to bz with Chrift !
Shee would goe to him. I looke
for the appearance of the great
God,who fnall makemy body like
his glorious Body, by the Power
| which fubdueth all things. Ifrwo
[truely loving were concrafLd,
I would not every weeke feme a
:yeere, till the Wedding? Wee are
by Faith contra&ed to God, in
Chrift : how fhould we long to fee
our Marriage folemnized? Endea-
vour to pleafe him, grieve ifought
crofle your loving Husband. A
Letter from a friend, we love, and
fet by it : If we have a Token,how
we kecpe it, and are glad of it ? So
the Word of God, which is his
L^tcer,Oh! how glad ischefoule,
that loves the God of it ? I rejoyced
in thy Statutes^ more than in all
Wealth. So the Sacraments^ which
are the Pledges of himfdfe to us,
thefc
135
i3«
Wee lovi not God as we ought.
theft are the love-tokens hee fen-
dech to us> while wee are abfent
from him in the body, Laflly, by
loving his Children, and friends.
You loving your Husband^ thinke
his friends welcome, and love
them. Could you thinke one lo-
ved yoi^and loved not your fonne?
So they chat love him that beget-
tcth, love him alfo who is begor-
ten, i lob.*).!' Nowthen.Ietusnot
be falfe to our owne hearts, and
wee may confeife that wee want a
great deale of love to our God :
for,when arc we glad at the hearty
and re Joyce in our God > When do
we long after his appearing ? Nay,
God is faine to fmo3ke us forth of
this World with many trialis., and
yet wee will not arife, and come
away in our affe&ion. When arc
wee heartily joyfull to heare his
voyce, and receive his tokens ?
When dbe weebufie our head to
pleafe him 1 and when doth it cut
us at the heart, if hee be offended >
Now then, if you fee you want it,
what
Therefore rpefHHfttakeJbameto^&c. \ 137
1. ■ -»■ ■ -- 1 . -t i, i ■ »
what mult you doc ? You muft
fhame your owne heart within
your iclfe,and fay; What a wretch
ami! If my heart could be glad of
j every ftrangerscompany,and were
; dead within me, not joying in my
Husbands prefence ; were bufie a-
! bout other things; negligent to my
Husband 5 longed for other men ;
' never wi{hedtofeehtrn>ifabfent :
i what a fhamefull part were this in
I me? Yet thus it is : my foule is
married to thee(Lorc$) thou hadft
no D j wry with me, but beggerie,
and fpirituall filthinefle, yet thou
; boughteft mee deare, and haft put
mee in no fcfle than Heaven, for
: my Joynture • and yet loe, I can
• finde a alternation, and be merry
! at this or that earthly thing •, I can
'long to have earthly matters
I which I lick ; I can be carefull how
to pleafe man, and be grieved,
when ought doth crofle his liking ;
but am lacking in them all, to-
ward thee. Then feeing this, and
how your heart is full ot Harlotry
G love
.
i 3 8
Get love to God^ and get every thing.
love to creatures, you muft cry ro
God; lordhelpemer, pare away
this Clfe*love,and falfe love to the
creature, and make me love thee;
Lord,drawmeafcerthee,and Khali
follow tbeeas taft. And ftrengthen
your (elfe in faith., and God will
give it you : for this i? his pro-
raife, I willcircumcife your hearts,
and make you ro love mee with all
your hearts : Gee this, and you get
everything. This will make that
which is irkefometotheflrflb, be
raeateand drinketoyou, andde-
lightfull. Is not the Nurcery of
the Childe, a homely piece of
worke ? Yer, becaufe the Mother
loveth ir,though her fkepe be bro-
ken, and her hand foiled, flieeun-
dergoeth it gladly. And not onely
dothitconftraineus, bu; make us
patient. What will not a wife wo-
man beare, and pocket patiently
from a Husband fhe loveth ? Now
one thing more I will vvarne you
of, and end; and that is a good
meaneofihe former. Whilcftyou
live,-,
Moitt4iiontn\witQt*r%hly things. \ 139
live,learnc co weane you ielfc from
the things of this world; let htm
that buyeth, marrievh, &c. For
( hec who immoderately loveth the
j things of this world, as Pride 3 Pro-
fi:,and PJcafure,tbc love of the Fa-
ther is not ia him. Shee that hath
loved one man rrucly,Oie is fped,as
we fay ; (he can love no more Hus-
band, Children, Poffeffions; much
tefle the proud vanities and rio-
tous Goffippings of thefe Times.
Asanhoneft Woman mu ft flyc the
Stewes, fomuft wee not have our
hearts (eene among thele things.
And this is more cafe toroyeaie-
lefle flefh, that God gave me mean-
ntflc of roinde, and negleft of fuch
carnall courfcs, in which I might
have had ray (hare, that I wifli all
ray Chriftian friends may receive
that grace from him, which I try
by experience to have fo precious
effeS. The Lord keepe you.
17.
Lo-
i<jo
Ckrift takes away the cur fe offirme.
LOving N. I received your Let-
ters ; in which,you fignifie the
confumraation of that, which I
I wifh profperous.The ground of all
profperity,isGods bleffing : with-
out which, every thing is a deadly
poifon to us $ whether ic tafte bic-
- terras crofles ; or fweet^a s the more
ftcccffefullifluesof things; whe-
ther ic kill with painfull gripings,
as evills ; or caft afleepe, and move
laughtcr,as thofe things do,which
in them (elves are to be efteemed
outward bleffings. The poifons
fpiritual I, for tafte and effeft, carry
[ no Ieffe than corporall. Now the
ground of blefiing in all things, is
JefusChrift, our Redeemer, bea-
ring our Gurfe for us, (Gal.%. 13.)
and (wallowing our defer ved Cup
up,inco an unfained blefling.I hope <
the eye of your fbulc lookcthup|
to him, who was lifted upon the
curled Crofle, to heale that Curfe,
wherewith Sinne and the Divell,
t bat old Serpent, have flung us. A-
We muftfubmit to Godsyoake.
gaine, I doub: nor,but your Wives
prayers (who is now departed)are
on record in Heaven, and your
Sifters prayers (wh ) flilllivtth)
are not in vaine before hin^who is
I a God hearing prayer : Both have
! wi (lied you bie&dnefle, through
\ Jefus Chtift. I would h^ve beene
with you before this Letter, but
j chat Gfd huh let my wives weak-
n^&Mo be more than ordhay. We
mufttake up our C oflTxS^nd when
God bidJeth us yoake, hce is the
wiiahmnchatyecideth his necke
moft willingly. Thishath made me*
ftay hitherto; buttle Lord esfiig
his hand, I relume my purpofe, of
farisfying your c?efire,andmeane to
follow my Lett cat the heeles.The
Lord make it prosperous. You cell
meg a loving Tale, of bringing up
your Wife, to enter her into my
acquaintance. Tf you had no Bro-
ther at Cambridge, it were pity my
Sifter ftiould be no fooner a Wife,
than a Widow.You know the Law
of the firft yeere.
G % The
142
Chriflidn Queries, and
The God of Love give you ho-
ly love in hira, and kerpethe fire
in, when ic is kindled. I hope I
fhall never forget my Chrifiian du-
ty to yoi^of being a helper to your
faith; itftialIgohard,whenIhelp
you not with a fhort Curry of mat-
ter to this purpofe* My Wife re-
members you and her Sifter to
God; and lee my love reft with
you, till God give rae leave code
you. Farewell.
18.
LOving Coufio, I have a cold
fpirir, who fhew thee no more
love : but bcare with mce in this
Winter of mine, and if ever the
Son of Rightcoufnefle be pleafed
to make Summer with me, no one,
without my felfe, (ball have more
intereft in the fruits I then fhall be
taken with. Jt may be, the thred
of your life fhall be drawoe out fo
farre, as to fee thefe words prove
workes; which the Lord haftcr. !
How goeth the matter with your |
poorefoule > how doth it get up?
How
Incentives to Devotion.
143
How is it made ready every mor-
ning? Howwalkerhitalltheday,
when it is once with the folemni-
ty of Devotion difpatched > Doth
the eye of che foule wake without
mittcr, like that heavie matter
which in fame eyes and heads (coo
much (luffed) is often difcerned"?
You may know if ic be cleare;
Fir ft, it will ke God in hisChrift,
through the g!affe of his Word,
and it will at eafc hold waking be-
fore him. If you thus wake, you
have the dart of me,my fh up-win-
dowes are longer in opening, than
me chinks I Ice you in making rea-
dy. Sometimes the mift of my
ownedarknefle, fometimes earth-
ly humours do- (hoo:e into them;
fometiroes a fpiritof ftamber and
fl)ch dodi offer to clofe them-
fometimes clouds of fpin^uill
darkneffe doe ovsr-caft them : fo
that, though they are waked, and
inthemfelveslightfome^ yet they
fee nothing, by reafonofchatob-
fcurhie which is without them.
G 4 w^erc- \
144
Mans dulaejfc to bolinejfe.
wherewith they are invironed : as
it is with a man that fittcch with
his eyes wide open, in a Roome,
where neither light of Sunnenor
Candle commech. Now^ while a
man is flying to Chrift, to get the
inward dimncflc of his fight clea-
red, (for he can make his Clay and
Spittle heale them) while heeget-
teth the diftillation of by-though i s
flopped, by looking co him w ho
unites our hearts to himfelfe, who
wofketh all our workes for u >;
while hee feeketh to that quick-
ning Spirit, to fcatter his (lumber,
and laboureth him, who is Light ;
itfelfe, toexpell thofe excernall
darknefies invironinghi*n; while
one man is tasked with this work,
another, not thus moleftcd, is rea-
dy,andhathdifpatched. WelI,our
God doth accept it for one of his
ficke fervants fore-noone workes,
to fettle their clothes orderly a-
bout them, I mention thefe things,
to lend you fbme light j by which,
you may better fee your privilege,
who
Tbrthkefolnejje to Lhrifl the, &c.
who are not forced tofpendyour
ftrerg^h in facha fafhion. Bat the
maa that is well waked, mift
have movbg, as well as ienfe re-
turned. Howdoetheaffrdionsof
your heart foot it to Chrift,in way
of thanktfulneffe, who hath led
you all your daies? who is that
Prince, that makech peace in you ;
whofe (scree, is the ftrengih of
your heart, that it fanteth not;
whole favour is tba r . Sbiel J,which
doth fo cover you,thateviils have
no leave to affaile you, muchkffe
toprevaileagainftyou? Is your
h :arr, in the copfcious underftan-
of any benefit^affcftionate to-
ward him ? Then you are truly a-
wake, and ligh* fome, like to pafle
that day without too rruch weari-
neffc, which *is with (b fiefli a fpi-
ilc entred: then that Smm ofRtgh*
uonfneffe hath got you up. For as a
greater fire draweth forth a leffery
and as the Sun bodily rifing daily
omus,dt;thdraw forth the fpirits
ogfeofe and movng, which are in
G 5 the
M* v I
The Souk' rLaver.
the bodily creature; fo doth that
light and life of lirael, by his
work, though not perceWed,draw
forth this fpirituall motion of the
liteofGodinus, whereby we diC
cerne him, and in thankefulnefle
make towards him. When your
foulc is now awaked 5 what doth it
wa(h with, what doth irputon?
As we Chriftians have both guilt
and deformed blot of fione, to we
have a daily laver, even blond and
waterjfor our Chrift came in b nh,
to :each,thar he came not onely to
make atoucmert for the gnile of
feme, but d th alfocleankusby
his S|)iri : . ttom the fpot of cor-
ruption* Now then if you looke
at that great God, as your Righ-
tcoulhefle, by faith an his blond,
(lied with ftnfc of the carfe due to
our fince; and if you looke to
Chrift, who Is made of God your
S&ndifier, to ckanfe you from
thofe. inherent' fpots d*ily, then
ycu have waftieo in the Fouoraine
opeacd for Ifracl, and are lb clean-
ed
J ht SoHks c R s atmtnt and Armour.
fed (have you but orxe waftied in
this kindc) that you (hall ocver
be defiled throughout againe^ as
Ghrift fpeaketh. Neverthclcffe,
there mult be Raiment upon the
Sjnle, yea^ it muft be cbdwich
compleat Armour, for it iscoro-
paflfid with cucmies^and the life of
uis a warfare. Now, when wee
looke to Chritt by faicb, as our
Sintfificrand-falvatioty hen we are
thusclothed : heisourSa oftiBer 9
who muft bringall our graces from
one degree to another^ making
thathghtofholineffe, that image
of himfelfe the fccord Adam ,grow
up in us, as the light of the mot-
Ding, till it c5mech to the ftrength,
taketh increafe. H*e muft be our
Viceroy, (read Satan under our
feet, diffolvehis works, crufhthe
head of him for us, hce muft fi j fh
the worke of his Grace with his
ownc power. Well, when you are
thus forward 5 how-de:hyour fouie
walke,put:i git felfs: forth in aftt-
onMcxhi: go limping? djthit reft
s and \
1 48 I The Joule J face, Cbrifl mends it.
and can goc no further, as weary ?
Doth it feare it (hall not hold ouc >
Is it made fad, with wont of any
thing 1 Many a good fbule walkcth
thus, and puzzle the m fo, that they
cannot goc onfredy ; bat I hope,
no earthly lufts fall abeir your feer,
It may be ie is weary fometime$ 3
and is fearefull, and is made fad,
through fbmc kiide of circurr-
ftance. WelUet us gee confeience 5
what painfulnefie* what weaii-
nefle, what weaknefle, what fcare
doth attend us > O jr fpirhs bdng
orce poore in the privity they
have of thefe matters, (hall no
fbonerlooke with the eye of f if:
to Chrift, but the matter ftali be
merded. Hee if is that make.
kmetoleape, like*Hin;-e; who
tn jrgcthrhehea>r, to run in the
uaeroftheComan ements. L« oke
to HitD,thef aithfullShcpheid,who
tafceth up the weary Snecpe, that
through feeblereff; ca/» go no fur-
tbei : to Hira,to whom the casing
of our eye is the renewing of ou*
ftrcngrh.
Cbriftthefinijber ofoxr Faith. 14 9
ftre gth.Againft fcarc of pcrfeve-
ring, challenge him as the auchour
and tinifher ot your faitfyevcrcnt-
lyttllhia), it is a piece of his Fa-
thers will thatheftoi Idnotonely
give you co be lie v^ ar d his Spirit
for a time, buc chat he (hould raife
you op at the laft day. lob t 6 59,
FinJly, looke to your Gd> that
hathfaiJ to *Abraham md all bi-
lecvingfodofhi n, W Ike before
~tve, IamGodA I^fficieiif. Tell
him you have noihiug buc him-
fclfe, in heaven nor yet in earth, in
comparifonofhim^ a;;d he cannot
but (apply with himlclfe, cve;y
thing toy u-
Thus the askrg a qucflion,
which I did not thmfce of, yvhcfl I
fecpenco paper, hathcirawne me
on to ma^ccr not i mended. I caa-
notnowanntxe the o her, for my
Let^r is fen; for. I have beene
neiiher well this five weeko, nor
yet ficke enough to make mee
better.
The Lord be our daily flrengtb,
direftiop,
l .
1 5j o Gods children fubjt ft to fickle JJi .
dirc&ion, bldfing, comfort, ano
prou&ion for ever.
\ 9 .
MYdeareFuend^and Brother,
in him, whoisnotafoarned
to call lis brethren,! cwnot but fi-
lm* you, and let yuu heare how it
is with me : for I know, my lines
cannot o me to you mors /bone
than welcome. I was fcarceal jil-
ted f rem my horfr, but ar>aguifh
diftcmfcrdidfciz^onmcj and fol-
low me in manner of an Hcfitcke,
to which I have a habitude, eve.s
in my beft healch. B.fide, I have
been troubled wich (ucb an infl m-
mation of fome of thofe interior j
vifcera, that I cold notfl^petwo
houre?, but extreni y of inward
heats would auakenne In which
kind I went fome five wee kes, but
now I thanke God, my body,
though a liltle more bettered , is in
fuchltate as formerly it hath b^nc.
Fotmy (oule,Uti!lgooninyerr s
j and rnontjbsoflabour,accordii ga
[my Lord hath meafared. I fct&
l fuel
\
TheChriJiiam coojl$8.
*5*
fiich ignorance of God and all his
waie^ Co many yet res coward me D
fuch folly^ which kcrprch me from
caking any tiling to hcsrr, which
refpeð G<;d, orcor.ceir.eth my
f< lfe, fach upcircumcifion of heart,
which makrth me thar I ca wot be
j holily poore and abjcft-, 'hough
confciousofinnuTjerabkm drives,
paft, prefect,, eminent, which
mtghrmovemethereco: Laftly,!
fe^lc fuch a Sdfe-ftfficien~y, ss
will noc let me perceive what need
I have of my God to be with mee,
for quickniog, ftrengthening,cem-
fortiug dire&ing.proffk ring of me
in my courf?, though this breath
of ournofiriUJa nor more neceffa-
ryto the b tffig and continuing of j
this bodily life, chanishisblefikd !
prefence^ to the caufing and main- '
raining of all our comforr. Theft
things doe renew :heir aflaojc on
me every day ; and norwithfta-idi jg
I renew daily my endevour a-
gainfhhem, yet I Cinnotrrover
u:ch fu^-ply of Grace, as frr.uld
make
*5*
Sinm is neAkjitdby degrees.
make mee walke more large this
\*ay. But hard lefla.s are not ea-
fily learned.
Sometime finding frul! eff ft,
lam ready to thinkc, rr.y labour is
invaine, butwtanlconlidir, a!l is
not in vaine, whofe effeft doth not
prefently appeare : fecdeis lvg
cim-lowneb^orehaivcft.Sicond-
ly, ftrengch fpirituall doth c xpell
fpiticua! corruptions itrength na-
tural! (kkehcmors.Strcrg h natu-
ral], ifr it b? in falncITe, ic doth y?-
mul&fcmtl purge out that matter
\fchich is contrary co k : bjt ific be
in mediocrity, it doth cxpell f>
farce, that though Gekc nutter ft ill
remuine,y tt ir is hgncened,and be-
conimetti more tolerable to nature.
Neither is eating and drinking in
jbecaufe we cannot (o refrefh
our (Uvts,but chat hunger vnllftill
re (urne un ui- Sometime (he fami-
liarity of iij do h make merea'y
top fT 3 by i% not moved at alia-
ga nft it : tven as things off-nfive
to uature at fiiii, growbycuftorae
rfgainjl mar in rffe in boltnefli. 153
lefle gtievou?. But IfhetoGod^
who hath promifed to pucall en-
mity in us again!! the feedc of the
Serp?nr,which we find to remaine
within us; I fay comyChrft, as
hou doeit reach me this cup, like a
daily diet drinke, fomakeitwhol-
forne to me. Sometime wcarincffe
doth fcrprife mc: thenlthinkeof
rftaeJ,amongIt whofetemptations,
one was from the length of the
way^evoi wearineffeof wandring.
I Iooke to Orift, and pray him to
ftrengthen me, that I may fol'ow
the M*rch, that I may follow him
whither(oever hee leadech. Then I
chinke when are men weary (be-
ing refrefhed with fleep) to refume
their earthly affaires ; I fay with
my felfe 5 for what doeft thou keep
mc? for what docft thou refrcfh
me ? O ray Shepherd,thou haft no
other wooll nor milke from mee !
Agaipe, I confiier how dangerous
it is to intermit, if when I have the
moft fervent indeavours, I finde it
enough to walke weakely, what
would
I 4 ' v ' ■ " ' ■ " * »" —
H
#>« mujl not flint at our deadnejfe.
would become ot mee, were chefe
negle#ed ? Lord, inlarge my heart
with thy ftrengih, that I may Gaf-
fer hardfhip like a good Souldier,
without (hrinkJn^ at it. I thinke
you know the like thing* in dead-
nefle,huc feare not, nor^intnor,
though wee be to that life of his,
like as cold water and dry afhe's are
to heat, in which naturally, heat
canncv* j r be fixed, yet when our
God hath proved our faith and pa-
tience, he, who calleth the things
that are not, as if they were, hee
who calleth light out of darknelfe,
will imprint in our foulcs, and
make thefe things as fixed poffcf
fions with us, which now like ligh-
tening? are not more fbone mini-
fcfted, than vanifhed : His forbea-
rance is but till the fitteft time for
hime to give it,andus to receive it •
the Lord make us, in the meanc
while,of underftanding hearts.
We in outward things wirti to
be cured rather (ecurely than fpee-
dily, neither would we have Sum-
mer
The miscarrying of a Letter.
net in Winter, for the Winter is as
neceflaryfortherooring of things
is the Summer to make things
hoot forth withfrutefmilingly.
Youriin Chriftianaffc ftion,
Paul Bape.
20. ViulUry.
MYdeare Friend., the heare-
(ay of your welfare is to me
raoft welcome. I was forry that my
letter mif-carricd,but there cm be
no deft ft in any inftrumeor , which
doth not caderefnb ele&iofjemfupre^
misrtificu. If the fruit of our body
prove abortive^we praifebim^how
much more muft wee fan&ifie his
wife providence 5 whcn the like cafe
fallcth out but in a letter^ which is
fuch a birth of the minde, as may
by a fecond conception be framed
againcwith advantag ?Idid write
vntoyou (bme things concerning
myowneeftate, how I found my
heart in my vifitacion^ what was
my
*55
1 5 6
Deaiveffe offptrit : Why God
my pra&ic",eventocompjfn thofc
walls of darknefle which I decer-
ned in my felfe 3 and in filence and
reft to wait on my God for his fal-
vation in the downfall of them. I
count it impertinent to rub up my
memory in regard of that, I this
waydifcoutfed, though in the cir-
cumrtanccs I then uUd, icdidbe-
feerne my condition, and would
have rtliflied well co your undcr-
ftandirg. A fecond branch of my
It t:er concerned your fel?,aadthis
uncomfortable deadneffe which a-
gaine you mention, the heads
whereof I will labour to recall as
I may, though I cannot reach that
ftraine in which I found my felfc
when I indited the former.
About this deadncfle of fpiric, I
did conGder two things. Fir(>,the
reafbns for which God did let
it hang about us. Secondly, the
courfc wee" were to take againft it.
The Lord doth it for many good
ends. i. That it may be a fpur in-
citing usto'goe forth to him,who
is
lets it hang about w.
is the quickning fpiric, that thus
wc might experimentally findeche
quickning vertue of Chrift, who
doth lighten our eycs,and bring us
out of thefe fits to fecle our fclves
alive before him, could wee thirft,
after the living God, did wee not
differ thisdefe6t of life. Men feeke
not thofe things abroad, which
they are full of at home. Hence it
is, that when God will bring us to
himfelfe, as the'foundacion of this
or that good,which he would com-
raunicate^hcedoth follow us with
experience of the contrary in our
/elves, that being confeious how it
is with us, wee might flis to him
whoisAH-fofficienr. Againe, we
cannot experimentally know God
to be in Chrift a quickning fpiric
fhould <ve not feele an intercourse
of his death, and a powerfull ex-
puifingofit from his vertue wor-
king in us. The more often the Pa-
tient growing into paine, is eafed
by Phyficke, the more experimen-
tally he feeth the Art of the Phyfi-
cian,
i;8
J)t*dnefft efjfirtt-jphy God lets it be
can and benefit of Medicine.
Thii iy we have this remainder of
de^h 3 iha r wee may better co di-
dtrofournatarallertate^ how of
oil* iclves v*e ire whollyeftranged"
from the life of Gad: for what we
remaine in part, thac we are whol-
ly by nature.
Fourrhly 3 that wee might the
becter bclpe others in this tempta-
tion.
Fifitly, that we might tafte our
life more fweetly^ and prcfervc ic
more carefully: we find with plea-
fare th 1 1 we feeke with paine.Sixt-
ly, that wc may know, and teach
othf rs how they muft depend on
God for the confidering and mc-
ving of their grace daily, as well
for the being^nd firft producing of
it. Laflly, that we may be led into
th«r knowledge of our owne hearts,
whether that workc is in thkm
which will ftrivc for life, as every
thing that hath life, will flruggle
to part with it, or whether they
will paffe it over hecdkflely and
floth-
m m\ bow to carry onrfelvcs^ &c.
'59
fl tbfully. Certainly if we marKc
the working of our fpirits, and
courfe of God in fuch an cvill h w ;
wee will leame oac of ic manifold
wifedome. Now for the courfe
wee are to take, ic ftandcefy firft,
inrefolving to encou terthisdif-
eate,thenin pra&ifinorhat wem*y
be cleared of ic : the Divdl w^ill be
ready if we ftirre t hh way to fcrve
a Safer ftdeas^ fbmetime by fiigge-
fting chat the nature of this is no
fuch thing as may not be borne^ ic
doth not wafte the conference, but
fuch foolifh parientS;>who will not
venknti occur ere merbo, they at
length are paid home with paine,
fo much the more, by how much
they have the longer delaied. Iu
theb^dy, lccamannotcxpellthe
fuperfluity nature hath contra&ed,
the q entity or acrimony of it will
to increafe, tha? he fhall be forced
to come to it with more paine, or
there will be bred on bim fbme
painfull fickneffe. Let us ftrive to
expcll every fuch matter in our
(bnlf$,
i6o
Satans fttggeftionsin dcadntjji>&c\ \
fbulc8,we (hall find ir tniw in (bules
as well as bodies, Retemio <xcre-
mentor urn eft parens morbi.
Secondly, ic will be fuggeftcd,
why, drive with it as we will, it
will returne : D oc wc ccafc to catc
daily and refrefh nature, becaufe
hunger and faintneffe doe ftill re-
sume upon us? Is it not a betuficco
be ealed for the prcfenr, ta keepc
dowqean enemy,to dothat which
wee know will at length bring to
perfeft health, though wee cannot
forth of hand be fully cured? Some-
time wee thinke, it is not well it
fhould be thus, buc imploymeuts
will not let reee turne toic a3 1
would, we could finde in heart to
deale with it, but that wee cannot
while it. But will a man not beat
leisure to rake Phyficke for his bo*
dy? what is worthy our time, if
our foules life may not have it af-
forded? Againe, time is not loft
which is* (pent this way, for God
doth attend the time wee (pend af-
ter confining, with greater blcf-
How to refift deadnejp of jpr it • \ 16 1
flog, and leavens the knowledge
we gather, fo that it becommeth
aff-ftionate andpra&icall, befiie
the wifedome which is co be lear-
ned, from obfcrvlng the working
of your foule under fuch a cempra-
tion« Bat when you have repelled
fuch ligatures, by which the Di-
[ Yell would hinder the will from
; refolving refiftanc, in the next
place^ you muft encounter this
deadly pailion by fuch a conftant
courfe as may free you from if.
The courfe ftandeth chiefly in a
threefold praftice. For,aswefuft
ripen and prepare ma tters,ttut the
medicine may carry them awiy
I more eati-y^ Medic andum eft con* I
I coBisjton crudis,&c So here you
m ftUbourtoholdyourchoughts,
: and pond, r upon thisevill^coofide-
', ring what ic isuucfelfe,, what ef-
fects it bath for prefent, what it
threatcicthj fhould not grace pre-
vent.
In the next place, you muft take
do wne the medicine ; lay hold on /
H ' Chrift.'
I $2
The prattict of rejtfi^nce
Chrift your life and quicknance.
Your third pra&ice muft be to
take a w alke in fome words of pro-
mile this way, which agilation of
your foulc doch ftirrc up thefuper 7
na f ,urallheat of faith (as motion
doththenaturall)by which means
wee come to feele our medicine
worke,Chrift fhewbimfelfe more
and more effeftuall. To fee you
downe in bricfe an example ; thus I
concoft the thing, meditation pre-
paring, Good Lord, what a ftate is
this, what a bed-rid difppficion
doth hang about me! were my body
an apoplexy, were I dead but of
onefidejt would go neere me: but
to have my fbule thus benummed,
that I can neither find comfortable
ftnfe or motion in it toward things
ipiricuall, how much more fhould
itaffe&rae? what ever I fet upon,
it is prefcnt with me,ic maketh my
duties as diftaftefull in themfeives
to thee, as deaded drink to the fto-
mack : itkeepeth me from comfort
for the prefent : and what doth it
not
ofdeadneffc ofjpiritm
not threaten, if thy mercy fhould
not prevent ? yea, it is (b much the
mors dangerous, by how much
more conna: uralJ,for I cannot take
in this fle*pe, and though it be (b
! deadly, yet am no whit affrighted.
2. Alas,what (hall I doc? To thee I
looke. Lord, who bid ft us awake,
and promifeft to lighten our eyes
from this mift of death, with which
they are over-fliadowed, to thee
I who art the life and quickning fpi-
rit,to cbee, in whom, as a root, my
life is hid. How long (hall I live in
lighr,and complaine ofdarkneffe?
How long (hall I be within thee
the fountain of life, and feele death
fbcumberfbmetoms? Theftron-
ger workcth on that which is wea-
ker ,and doth affimulate it to it felfe.
Oh ; difphy thy ftrength,and make
his death flie before thee from
forth of thy member. ^Movingof
fattb. Ic is thy will our hearts
fliouldlivewhofeekehee, yea,
that wee fhould have life abouo-
dantly, thou haftfaid,come to mee
H 2 and
it 3
i$4
Refinance ofdeadnejfe offpirh.
and your hearts (hall live,thou haft
promiled u^, r hat we (hall fo drinkc
of thy Spirkjthat it fhall flaw from
us abundantly. O (lengthen mee,
thou author and fii iflier of faich 3 to
hold thee the rockc, till I fee thefe
waves of death, as ic were 3 breakt
themfelves, and p; fle away.
Infi chlikepradUcr I bav soften
found this ihadow of d th lying
before me, I have always tonnd a
peaceable reft, expettirg enlarge-
ment more confidently ; when I
have not found it eafing me for the
prefenr, yet it hath difpofeti me to
receive quicknance afterward, as
coftive bodies, though they have
not *lwaieseafemtnt when they
offcr 3 yet the offer doth facilitate
the courfe, and dilpofc the body
toeakraenc a r ter.
Thus out of love, I have a little
lent you my felfc, the Lord bit fle
us with that fpirit which prevai-
led : The meane while I will de-
fire that wee both may watch in
prayer one for another.
Yours as his ovvne, T. B.
,. --Tirr - - , - — - -
Be not over hajly to judge.
1*5
21.
Sir, you may th'mke roe a grave
rather, in whom all your kinck
nefles are buried, thanathankfull
friend/o whom whofo giveth,fel-
let.h dearely,chey fay^fo coraraodi.
ous t -) the donor the thing proveth
which was freely bellowed- Ne-
vefthelcflre,yourwi (dome and love
will nor, I dare fay, judge over
taftily upon appearance,knowing
wetl,thatas there may be a (he w of
good, yca,godlintfle, where there
is not the fubftance and power: fo
there maybe afemblanceof evili,
even of iKithankfulnefle,where yet
the vice 5c felfe doth not harbour.
Your Nephewes Lift vificingyou,
was hid frommee 5 till about bed.
time the night before he tooke his
journey ; allure your (elfe, I could
not have bin. privie to his purpofe,
without fctting my pen to paper,
though lam none oftheforward'ft
about this errand. I doe remember
all your love, (bdothhealfo who
is mpft apprehenfive of what is
H 3 done
i66
God rewards good don to hu children.
>
\
done to him in his children and
members. They ufe in Spain a
powerfull (peech to this purpofe,,
that n>hofo xvipeth the childes nofe,
kijjeth the mothers cheeke : (b kind-
ly naturall parents conftrue the
homelicft offices done to their chil-
dren: how then (hall not he accept
of all flich dutie as is done to him
in his children, whofe love is ftch
co his,that the wombc-love of the
tcndereft mother is farrc infcriour.
For my (clfe , I cannot fiiew you
any thankefull remembrabce of
you 3 better than by remembring
you in thofe duties, which though
they moft concerne us, yet we are
moft {ubjeft to be fbrgccfull in
them. Worldly wifedorae doth
teach men to fee the benefit of
health and wealth, yea, to have fa-
gacitie for feting what ncede they
may come to : when wee have (o
many good Husbands,(eeing thefe
outward things , and providing
againft a raynie day,, that no event
may take them unprovided ,• the
Lord
'true grace the drift tans trtteweltb.
i6y
Lord make us wife, to fee the true
wealth and health of our fpirits for
the prefer^ and to prepare for our
comfort againftfuch times where-
in the Lord fliall trie us. I will
commune with you about thefe
points^asGod (hill enable. Men,
who would gather an earthly trea-
fare , worldly wealth , muft firft
make fure that their Penny be
good Silver; that the things which
they deale in,he matters of worth :
for counterfeit falfe commodities
heaped up, deferve not to be cal-
led wealth, or treafure : and what
is the wifedome of heavenly Mer-
chant but to feeke good Pearles,
right for their kinde • true Faich^
fuch as purifieth the heart ^ true
Repentance 5 fuch as is accompa-
nied with change in hearty in con-
verfion ; true fanftifying Grace.,
fuch asmakech the heart honeft ;
true fruits ofrighteoufnelfe/uch as
are through the helpe of Chrift
to the glory of God • thefe are
things that make a man wealthk
H 4 in-
170
We vwft labour to encreafe
* *
they (hall not deceive us, but (tend
with us, as a treafure invaluable.
Afccond thing I markc in getting
earthly treafures is, that there mu^
be a dayly diligent adding unto,*'
and augmenting that wherewith
we fir ft bcgan.Though a man hath
good Gold and Silver by him, yet
till he hath h in fome quantkie, he
is not faid to be rich , or to ha*e
treafure ftored by him. Thus ic is
whh u* j Rome was not built in a
day> men are all their dayes in get-
ting together a more coirpl at
treafure. Thus wee CbriftiaiiS,
though from our fir ft beleevir g we
have unsearchable riches, y cr,if we
fpeak comparatively, we have not
that wealth and confummate trea-
fure, which we come afterwards
unto, when now we have well run
on in that race which is fet before
us . Wherefore give diligence to en-
creafe your Graces, which God of
mercy hath begun. Ltt the righte-
ous be more righteous, the holy
move Jiofy, If cur Grace be tra« 5
•
our flock and treafwe of Grace*
there will be a further accefle of
Grace : Wealth goerh to wealth,
even as (tones do to a ftone-heape*
already mounted. Whereforf,let us
everyday draw one Line this way:
let us count that an unprofiablc
day, wherdawe^ have not fome-
thing laboured with our hearts
for the fuller apprehenfion of our
finnes dwelling in us ; that iupo-
vertieoffpirit may dwell more and
moie in us, wherein wee have not
fotnewhat enforced our hearts to
ftaythecpfcLvesonthe Lord and his
precious promifes : wherein wee
have not called on our fou!es,to put
thepx*f Ives forth in more thankfull
acknowledgement of that lovc^
faithfulneffe > & patience 3 which wc
fee doe follow us day by day. Fi-
nally, wherein we get not forne^
thing done^hich maybe a s a good
foundation., and further our recko-
ning, when we (hall be accountant
to God. Wemuftbenorntrewea-
lie of this, than earthly husbands-
sue. of reluming their bufincfles :.
.*7?
The more grace we have, tbe^&c.
the fweetereffe and peace of chofe
waies (hould affeft us, Looke as
men at firft, while poverty doth
pinch them,they feeke weaMi with
muchgricfe and anxiety: but when
once they have gotten well about
them 5 then 3 flefhed with the fruit
oftheirformerlabourjthey make a
play of following the World^ to
the increafc of theiriubftance : for
theyfceke not fo much out of indi-
gency, as out of complacency and
delight which they finde in their
poffeffions. Thus wee Chriftians^
when once wee have attained fdme
firft- fruits this way , we (hould with
delight follow on to perfe&icn.
A third p raft ice,by which worldly
wealth cemmeth ia,te a carefull re-
taining what is once gotten. Good
Rcnts,with Iictleornoexpcnce,are
thefureft Alchamy that ever was
found out : whereas let in-comings
be never Co large, one back-dore 5
cot looked vato, may bring the
: whole houfeto ruine* Wherefore
wee maft jaks heedc of all fuch
things
Wt muft not Uvifb out our Grace. 173
thing* which walk and t-xtinguifti
Grace in a manner, giving place to
finne, fb as toyeeld to it, and lye
downe under it.Ocherwife he that
ftumbUs,and comes nor Jown,gets
ground : the trippings of Gods
children, in which they recover
themfelvts , bring them on with
greater advantage. Againe, wee
rtuft take heed of dead companies,
of formal! performatjces,which are
aPeale to Bed-ward- FinaIly,of
running our felves into prcj.fts of
worldly pompe and profics, which
are the common Choake-weed of
Grace. Whole heart (almcft)have
not thefe Thornes over-growne ?
Thus you fee how we may by *he
Wo? Id learne a w<i y to thrive in the
beft Wealth. Now I come to the
litter point of preparation, where-
by we may be able to ftand in the
hourc of Tryall. I > this I will be
(horter,my Pen befog run forth be*
yond my purpofe in the former*
The longcil dayes have: night a:
lergih entring: yea,, these is no
winde
1J4 ! Treparation for TryAlSyhewmctffary,
windc which may not blow raine,
if God be fo pJeafcd. Etfatcs which
have thelongtft periods of profpe-
ritie, are at length exerciled j and
there is no condition fo furcand
peaceable, bur may turne tempe*
ftuous on the fadden , fhould not
God be more gracious. Wherefore
let us be appointed and fitted for
every event. Preparing for Wirre,
maincaineth peace: wearing a wea-
pon , makes not us the fooner fee
on, nay,it prevents this da gerund
makes us rcadic to defend our
felvcs, when at any time we are af-
failed. Now this praft fe chi-fely
ftandeth in thefe three things. Fir!*,
in getting a ipiricua]Ifag«ciue,by
which our (oujes doe djftern afore,
hand, what kiude of events they
m *y be fubjed un*o, in this vale of
teares Nature by inftm&giveth
untoreafonible creatures a faculty,
which makefh tiemaforehandap-
prehenfive of chit which is ready
toenfue. Thcw fedome which is
I from above / oukegh the Lords
•
and in what tt confifts.
»75 f
children (entiblc in liae kiade,tbat
as My Co they in their greateft
calme foresee how Gods hand may
change for theexercife of them.
The fecond pare of pn&ice ftan-
deth in thi$,in learning by due con-
fiderations 5 how wanting we arein
wiflome, and weake inftrengch,
which maketh able to ftand when
God trieth.The third thing is flying
to God by faith, and holding him,
as who'hath beene, is, and muft be
forever of all our falvation, loo*
king to Chrift the author and fini-
fher of our faith, who hath recei-
ved this commandement of his Fa-
ther, that he (hould not onely call
us, and bring m into flare of grace,
but alfo raik us up at th;* lali day,
who is thac greatGod our Saviour,
that will keepe his from every
cvill worke, to his heavenly king-
dome. Now, when wee thus hang
on God againft all events, we are ki
a ftrong Tower, wherein the gate*
of hell fball not bz able to hurt u$ 3
macblefle topzevaile againft us.
God
*76
Chrift *ur Rockf.
kJ
God doth (et us to fchoole unco the
Conks, that of ihem wee rnighc
taarne the Lcflbns : They are a
weake timorous creature ; yec bt-
iog confeious of thek weaknefle,
they vyorke themfelvcs Holds in
the Earthy aod Burro wes, wherero
they may retire for flicker; and
though tbeygoe forth foraetimes,
yet ever and anon they resume to
their Hulds. Oh, forouftwee, in
confcience of our weakencfTe, by
faith worke our felves into the
Rocke, Chrift Iefus : and though
fometimes wee are abroad, as it
were, in many other muters, yet*
wee mult flill returne, and renew
our beleefe toward him.
22.
MY beloved Friend, and Chri-
Itian Brother, I am gUdto
heare of your fafe .returne. Ifmy
Sonne goe on, fetiing his hem to
get Learning, I will let my heart,
to procure him all dueet courage-
ment in fo good a. courfe- Con-
cerning
\
faith cholines not affaulted together.
earning the change of yourcftate,
it is w 1 h our (bules as with our bo-
dies, every Age hath ftverall Dif-
eafes-andwefe,asourdifpofirions
and the feafonsvary, (o th^reisa
fucceffijri of divers fickneffes ac-
cordingly. Our new birth being
conceived & bred in faith, perfect-
ly fjrmed in holinefle, weareufu-
ally firtt affiiled in that which is
firft in nature begotten in us : I
h^ve feldotne marked temptation
in both thefe kinds at once; God
fo mercifully difbofing, that two I
fo great Sickncffes- fhould not bt
found complicate : For who could
ftand under them, comb'ned ? A-
giine,ChoIer can hardly cauie any
hot kind offickneffe, while there is
flora of blood and watrifti humors
bridling of it: for thefe are jri?##jw
bilit : fo our unholinefle^w.iile we
are exercifed with doubtings of
Gods Grace, cannot move; as
when all is quiet, this very trouble
caufing my Faith-c v fl ft, U fr<e-
mm coxcuyifccntU and Coth perfe
inter-
}H
178
r tbecBmfort and benefit of
interrupt the aft, though ic can-
not expell the habit beirg con-
sidered by it fclfe. Wherefore
though you fiidc thewinde gone
ioto,another corner, your fpiritu-
all nakedoefle now moft to roolcft
you : and though you together ob-
serve, that you are not (6 apprc-
henfiveof To great anevillasyou
ought, yet have you no caufe, but
to goe on peaceably, looking to
that Prince of peace, who will give
thee peace of fan&ification in the
quiet fruit of righteouftefle, as he
hath the peace of juftification,
which fometimes in fome degree
you wanted. F.* the firft,we muft
make account our exercifes will
run in a circle, the ending of one
will begin another, till God hath
by many things fufficientiy proved
us, that in our latter ends hee may
doe us good. Fifher-men muftoot
make dainty of cold water, nor
Chriftians to meete with thefe ca-
fes. Secondly,you muft mar ke how
gently God doth bring on your
triall
the fight of our defetts.
*79
triall rhis way, making you rather I
co difcover defcft and want of
rightecufccfle, than tofeelethofe
lawesof evill,and movings of grie-
vous finSj the root whereof d<rh
fticke in your nature. To wart
hcalth^and do every natural! a&ion
feebly,is a grkfe,but tofcele (hirpe
fits of fomc painfull difea/e^is more
grievous. ThirdIy,(hould wee not
be trained thus by experience to fee
that we are as Tohu & Bohu, a trae
SpirituallC^/of emptinefleand
deformity, we could not be poore |
ia (pirir, follow Christ as 1
twho is made of G o d our ftr fti-
ficarion 3 that is> our fan&ifier : we
could not comfort others in this
ftate, nor tafle our owne happi-
rxfle fweete in that degree 3 whero
in wee (hall doe after rhefe things
experienced of us. Now though
you doe not feele this myfterie,
and take it to heart as you defire,
yet this doth but further open our
|d;fft, that wee may fceke an-
fwerably to be fupplied. We are
not
I 80 S^gbt of oh* defe&s hade us to God.
not more empty of grace, than by
n-atate carelefle co have any : wee
would let ic lie as a rcfufe thing,
fhould not God infpire us with
new defires, to feekc after ir. A-
gaine, as a tooi fh careleincfle, fo
a fpirituall fl >th pofTcfothus, that
caufcth us to be content a lrtle
better with eafe, than plenty,
which commeth with a p .y great
travell. But what of this? Wheu
I fee ir 3 I cell ic all to God, fuhg
to him, that the more I fee mi fery
abounding, the ra« re his mercy
may abound alio. Ilooketohim,
who as he hath called me to fan&i-
fication with an operative callings
(b be muft bring me to that happy
eftate,as who is Iebovab y my fanfti-
fi r. Ilearneinaword,thisworke
will never goe forward,{hould not
God in mee, as he hath begun it, (b
go on in it,fanftifying roe thorow-
out.Ag*ine,though I love to fearch
unto the qucke, yet there is (bme
reafon, why hatred and gtiefe
fhould not fo move in this efcue,
as
%t tU bard for w to bat eonrdef efts.
as when li.ifull paflions come co
ftirre in oni mcmbers^ai.d leade i s
captive. Forjooke as nature,whilc
fuch matter doth but hi fore de-
gree caufe a Cacbexte,*^ rmke
Fur worke feebly and \tny^rt..(k\y
in Al Hie worketh $ Nature, I ky,
is not fo fcnfiblc hete//ord thnot
beftirre herfelfe 5 as when fome a-
cutefickiivfl^doch heavily a ffiift:
foitjsevan vtithgrjcj intheloulc;
it cannot be in tha r mcafure apprt-
henfive in this ft ne, wherein ic ra-
ther fiiideth ic felfe to Lcke feme
degrees of heakh ic would have,
than to be infefted with intolera-
ble ficknefie. Bjc the truth is, lee
finne doe what: it will, wee cannot
hate it of our lelves : bu^as by na-
ture wee love our felvcs ; fo, that
fiifiill image, , which is by nature
prop -gated in us.Same Siir.ts have
found this; who having been mo-
leiled many yeeres w.ich fome cor-
ruptions, neverthelefft have found,
that at fome times they have not
beene able, to Jooke. tow.^d them
with
182 ( Enmity to Jitwe y deriud from fflrift,
I with difpleafure. I had thought,
never cockering mother could take
that at a childes hand, which wee
put up and fuffer from our lulls :
but withall, I have learned to fee
that promifc, and hold Chrift to
thatpurpofe 5 [ will put enmitie
(faith God) betweene thy feed and
the teedofthe woman ; betwixt
Chrift, and that life of his in all his
members., and the multitude of re.
probates , and that life of Satan,
(for finne may be called his image)
which is not oncly in them who
arc his feed, but in us alfo , till by
Chrift it be fubdued: fliouldnot
God blow up his grace fo farre,
we could not fede enmitie againft
this feed of finne,which Satan hack j
fowed in us. Wherefore be not
carefull in any thing ; but that
there creepe not upon you a dcfpl-
fing of leffer things : for, if little
things b^ not dealt wich,God will
make greater lookc in 3 which will
caufc us more exercife. Happie is
that man who doth deale with
things
timely rtfifttnce offinnefalpfuH.
things betime, labouring to feel*
them grievous , looking co Ghrift
his helpcragainft (hem. Tint man
is a ftrangc ChriftiaD,vvhat-ever he
may thinke , though his ftrengch
may be affli£ted that hec cannot
feele ic great; yet vires affliQ* and
vires projtrata arc much different.
Againe, he (hall fcape much dif.
eafement, by his timely refiftance.
Let any man of great ftrength have
fome fuperfluitie of matter tending
to ficknefle, he doth betime ex-
pcll it by imperceivable fweates,
or other eafie wayes : Lefler
ftrength letteth it lye, till it bee
ponderous, and of acrimonie, and
(bme way more grievoufly offen-
deth,and then it doth more paine-
folly upward and downe-ward
drive it forth.The weakeft ftrength
of a! !, feeles ic felfe oppreffed, and
till ho! pen by fome medicine,
cannot expell , and then doth it
painefully, and in part onely : the
more ftrength , the fooner is a
thing contrarie to nature expel-
led;
183
184
Tbankfulntjf: creeps, where y &c.
1
i
led- the fooner, the lefle pain-
fully al waks. Well, the Carrier
doth ftay for my Letcer, I muft
be fhorr.
Yours in brotht rly aff.ftion,
I aulBjjne.
23. Hortatory.
I IY loving Friend, though I
iVj winter not fait fay you, as
heretofore, ye, I have you in re.
raembrance; for,ea:en bread flbould
noc be forgotten. I think my fetfe
much indebted to you, tor the love
I received from j^u.-and though
Imuftfttllride bebirde, I mea ne,
come fbort, in regard of requital),
yetl willnrtbc wantinginthank-
full confeffing of kindi.cfle fore-
p*ff;d. It is with thankefuloefle
as with love, it will crecpewhen
ic cannot goe. 1 hope you neglcft
not your beft Merchandize, the
fecking thofe Pearles which wil
make yoar foule rich before God.
That Marcher, World- ward, is i r
foal
• •
Want of Grtct the grcatcft poverty.
fmali account, who neither hath
ware nor money : in like eftate are
Chriftians, who trading in the
militant Church, have no part nor
portion in the heavenly and true
treafrre. Ic is a thing full of confu-
fion,and very unhappy to be with-
out earthly poflelfions. Hence it is,
that men in this taking, they hang
downe the head, when they have
no meanfs whereby to coropafle
the earthly good which they defire,
whereas others who have them,
carry their notes into the wind,
have all that heart can wifh, they
Iofe no longing.Thus what (hall be
their confiifion who are not rich in
faith & repenrance,cheon!y currant
coyre which doth goe with God,
and fetch down what -ev r eaven-
Iy blefli-g wee can defire. Where-
fore in lieu of all your love, let me
exhort you,firft,to labor more and
more for true grace. SecondIy 3 to
ufe it and increafc ic daily. Third-
ly ,co watch againft all fuch things,
which rmy (likea backe dore) itri-
I paire
185
■ ii i. ig-
l86
Tint Grace, true Riches.
payre and wafted if. For the firft ;
the wife Merchant doth fecke for
goodpearles, fuch as are right in
their kinde : ao Indtan Diamond & I
a BrifiewStonc looke alike,but dif- i
fer reach in the Iudgment of a cui> '
ning Lapidift ; No man can gather
a treafurr, vnltfle fue felcft chat [
Which isprecious:amaffcofcoun- !
ten are not to be counted a trea- !
fure.Seeke then that knowledge of
Chrift which may make you put off
the old man* fo to know God as a
child knoweth his father, with an
aflP ftiue property which dothv-
nite the heart to him: fo to befceuc
that you may feeleyour heart pur-
ged through faith, fo to doc euery
Worke ot righteoufneffe, that yc u
may feele yoor fclfe enabled to it
through Chrift, and findc that your
foult direfts it to Gods glory : for
as that mony oncly is treaftre,
which is of right Bullion ^ that is
goodMerall, and hath the Kings
infcription : So that worke onc-
ly Will make a true Treafure
and
Thefiockf ofGraa muft be y &c.
i8 7
and good foundation, Which pro-
ceeded from Ghrtft, dwelling in
vs through faith, and is dire&cd to
GOD, by Which raeaocs it is
damped as it were, with his Image.
For thelecond : As you muft get
thefe things fj you muft tradewith
them,fce*eth?ir increafe: he that
husbands his flocke^ (ball hauc
more. Men arc long gatherers be-
fore they hauego: them a treafure.
So Chriftians, chough on thefirft
beleeu'ng they receiue vnfearch*
able riches, yet there treafure is to
beconfummace and pcrfe&ed from j
day to day .There is a double thirft I
& defire after wealth in the world; '
theonecommeth from indigency,
as a man in extreme drought lon->
gcth for drinke, and ia extreme j
want, for fbmething which might
helpehira. There is another de-
fircj which commeth from com-
placeacy, from pleafure felt in »
that wee haue obrained; thus a
man, when thirft is in fome dc-j
gree quenched, defircth to drinke j
1 2 agaioel
w
188,
III
Labour for growth in (jrnce.
gaine ; thus a poore man, having
new gotten fomcth:ng well about
him, yet would faine have a more
flufhjfulleftate: better is ftilj bet-
ter : this defire then muft be in all
Chriftians : the goodnefle of the
things they have tafted,muft afftft
them with a furthet defire of in-
♦creafing in them. I would have
you be as I have fcene (bme good
husbands in dead time, whenftir-
ringsfaile, they count the day loft
in which they have had no takings.
Account that day as loft, wherein
you have not gotten (orae more
fenfe^f fin, wherein your faith hath
not fometbing more enforced ic
felfe to lay hold on God and his
jJrecious promifcs, wherein (bme
good thing is not done, which may
ftand asagoodfoundation,where-
on the confcience may relye, as an
undoubted teftimony of faving be-
liefs Laftly, take heede of that
which may quench your affe&ion
to God* as dead company, who can
never fpeak,nor have the language
of
Tak* heed of what may imy ait grace.
189
of Canaan : inordinate and double
diligence about earthly things.
More perifh with prepofterous fol-
lowing of lawfull things,tharidoe
by unlawful! courfes. Soft fands
fwallow more (hips, than hard
rocks fplic atund?r. Licititprimw
owner. Eatings drinkiug,building,
matter ofmarriage 3 the world {hall
be drowned in thef^ when Chrift
comes to jidgemen:. life al! good
meanes not wich-drawing your
f:!fe from -chenu Difnfing raeanes
quencheth'grace, as with-holding
fiiell quencheth fire. Weed out of
y>ur heart all fucb things, as like a
choake-weede fpring up and (mo-
ther better devotions. Men grow
rich not onely by getting, but by
fiving and holding together that
they have gotten. Great gettings
with little fpendings, is the moft
approved Alchymie : fhould one
have never fuch takings, if one
fhould filch out his gaine as it
came in, hee would not increafe
in fubftance. Thus Chriftians
I 3 rouft
I jo I A Litter of comfort agaixjl the
\ \
muftlookcthe Diuell robbechem
nor by any meanes, of any grace
which they haue obtained, chat fo
their foules may thrkie in thcir^
heavenly cftate. But my letter
fwelleth beyond my intendmenr,
and I cannot hold bicke my pen
from affording you any thing,
whom I haue found Co forward in
fhewing me kindneffe.
Sifter M. my wife and I held
it meete to fignifie both, our
remembrance of you, whom your
token hath teftifiednot to bee vn-
mindfull of vs both, for when
my wife is thought on, I thinke
then I 3m not quite forgotten.
You will be defirous to know how
my wife and her place agrceth.
Concerning which Icnforme you
thusmucb, that both ofv?,inro
gardotall circumftances^do think
our Hues well fallen ; if we (hould
(peake otherwife, vree foouldnot
fan&ifiehim in our hearts , who
is mercifdl to vs, Neuerthr-
lefli
(orrowes that attend ever y condition.
leffe,you rouft not thinke chat we
haue fiich a condition, in which
no for rows in the flefh and other-
wife,are not inrermeddled,we Hue
not in cbac earthly paradifc, but
ourliussarefb made comfortable
through Gods grace,thatwc know
there remaincth yet a further reft
for his people : the which the ra-
ther I mention^that you fhouldnot
thinke much, if in your condition,
al things (uiceROtwichyourdcfire,
becaufethat this is no other thing,
thin whei with your brethren and
hfters eucry where conflict. There
isafweate of the brow on euery
calling, a wearifom vanity on eue-
ry condition,only the grace ofGod
inChrift doth difpence wi'h much
which might iuftly brfall vs and
dorh ftrenthen vs to beare that
comfortably in time,which his fa-
therly wifcdome fha'l not haue re.
leafed. And becaufe I know not
in what argument to fpeake more
for your comfort, I willproftcute
in a few lines this argument
14 It
I 92
i
Why Cjod makes c dm all
Ic pleafeth God to let us find fbme
conditions not fit fj well upon us
as heretofore they have done, yea,
the fame things waxe tedious,
which have beene delight fall, for
our love, our hatred, the orde-
ring of our atfc£ttons, is not in our
power,but doth vary according to
Gods pleafurc. Now when we ob-
serve fuch things grow on us, wee
muft bethinke us of the caufe, for
that is the Dexc way to difcerne
how our gricfc muft bccuredNou
thus it is with us, that the comfort
of our eftate doth refult more from
carnall eafement often, and con-
tentments in kj than from the
grace of God in Chrift lefts, {hed
into the heart by meancs of it.
Now God feeing this, doth fo
work,that things pleafant in them-
felves become diftaftefull to us, to
the endth^t wee might fceke more
vnto him, and take up all our con-
tentment in him, that chus,.hee our
Creator & Redeem er,m'ght be the
reft of our hearts, not the creature.
Our
contentments difttflefallto w.
*9S
Our hearts arc full of fccret Idola-
try above mcaftre : Now then,
when God doth unfettle our hearts
from a contentment, which is car-
nail, heedothitbuttolcadeusto
jdfenour content ation by true god*
Jineffe* What a fwect life is it, that
when a man is not troubled with
defires of this World, with griefes^
or deluded with the joyes ofir 3
which are like the crackling of
thornes under a pot,as (bone quen~
ched as kindled ? Bu t if wegrow to
defire things heavenly, to fteke
diligently the things which are a-
bove, this defirz will take off the
edge of other chat are worldly. If
wee learne to re Joyce in Chritt Je-
(us/u will k'll his falfejoy.the end
whereof is heavineffe. If we grieve
I for cur (ins according to thziJVapt
\ftf y$ur fimes^ jet daughter of le-
rtifaUmlt will drowne earthly (or-
; rowcs.that they {hall be as nothing
with us. Grow up in thef: things,,
J and I may truely fay, you (hall
I have a kingdoms in your felfe,
1 94 \ A ktttr conatning the comunicams.
k*
I I am bold vponfo fniall acquain-
tance,^ ex her t you in thefc things
a duty which wee arc bound to as
Christians, where occafion doth
require ir.I might write further to
you :bqt I rather ftiot my felfri^Nn
roue vncertaihcly. If I could know
howtoperformeanofficeofChri-
ftian loue co you,I would ft udy the
cafe but it fhould bee pc formed.
My wife doth remember her (cite
vuto you. Your fridndes are well
with vs. Thus in hafte I take my
lcaue, wifhing that the peace of
God which pa&th vnderfKindjng
may keepe your heart vnto the end
acd in the cud.
34
L Eft your halting {hould turne
forth hur tfully to ycu and
others, I wxite more fpedily.
YouasketwoqurftU n?$ The fir ft"
about the communicants duties ;
the fcco&d about kneeling. The
tirft* whether you may rece^ue
with oac who for want of skilly
Of
Duties txttrnall and faceting.
or will, is no preaching Minifter.
To which I anlwerin two confi-
derations; firft,if he bee able to
preach but will nor, it isno quefti-
on rfordefeft in qualification, not
inexcrcife, breedeth doubt of
mens calling and authority. A.
gaine, the cxercife of preaching
is not neceffary in the Miniflerto
the being of a Sacrament, but re-
quifueonly to the well-being and
greater fraic of ir« . If the Minifter
be not able C^reacb^he doubt is
much augmented ; for God/it fee-
meth,dothdiGnablchim, heethat
carechnotfor knowing, God re-
ietlethhimas noPrkft, Hof^.
Secondly, All Chrifls Minifteis
iruft teach and baptize, &c. Mat.
iSThirdlyjit is counted Ierohams
fi re to fet up vie inefficient ones,
iKing 15. 33. Fourthly, They
are commended that fold thtir in»
htritanc's, and left fuch Priefts.
Fiftly, They have no calliagfrom
God, and therefore are not autho-
rized wiihhjly things.
Anfw*
I
l$6 Vngiftcd Minifiers may admimfler,
A*fw. Mocwnhftaouing thefe
and ftch like, this I doubt not is
thetruh oi God: Firft, that the
Sacr'amentall a&ions of uigifttd
Mi jitters arc effeftuall to fucha3
faithfully receive them. Secondly,
that we may fecke and receive the
Sacrament at their hands. Thefe
two conclufionsmuft be proved,
and the contrary arguments fntif-
ficd : and Co the fecend qut ftion ia
his order refolved. That theft ani-
ons are authentica]&3§Jhen perfor-
med^ is chusconfirrned^Firft,^*/-
gufiine proveth that Hererickes fa-
cr-ments (ia his Booke de B*p.
lib. i. cap. 10 J are cfFcftaall, where
we may realon as ro the lcffer,that
unlearned mens a&ions have vali-
dity. Secondly, wet Should all in
companion call in quettion our
Chriftendomes,\vhich 's abfurdiry.
Thirdly^ as the deed ofene in Ma-
giftrafu, fo the deed of one in Mi
nifterioz though hec be not VjcjKe-
qHaqueleeitimus AiinifieT} is au-
vhenticalf, hath his validities The
fecond
and tve me may commmicAttj&c. 1 97
fecond conclufbn is morecontro-
verfall; for wee allow the Papifts
Biptifme when adminiftred, yet
will not allow rhe feeing of it : ne-
vertheUfie this is true, that people
may fteke and take facramenraH
j aftions from unlearned men ; the
reafonis, becaufewe have right to
aske them, and theynot without
the calling ofGod, have authority
to difpenfe them. The firft you
doubt nor, the fecond you would
fee confirmed, for it is thought
they are onely mans Miniftcrs.
An\w. They are called by men,
but not without the cvtr-ruling
ftroke uf G< d in his which is do .e
by man. Thu* S*ml and hroboam
chc firtf, were called by men : Sj
that God faith, ffof 8.3. Thy ft up
Ktngs % and made not him ofconnfeB^ '
yet &..d faith againe, in the 15. of
H»U 1 1. Htvtvetkemtbefe Kings
in bid wrath&ndtook^ them Away tn
indignation. A ^in^when God eel-
let has, /irr ^Re^mtJ willgiveyou
P after > afar, my own* heart. He doth
feme
j
1 98 fVt may communicate with ungified
feeme to insinuate chat hce had gi-
ven them the other, chough in dik
pleafure : for chough the mea are
notfuch in whom he is pleafed,yct
they are here and chcre placed 5 ac-
cording ro his pleafure. You will
fay, what, are they giuen ia ven-
geance, how can we looke for any
good from them?
jinfw So in iudgemcnt,that yet
God remtmbreth mercy for hi>,
which he wil reach forth Ly them.
So tyrants are Godsfcoirg^ yet
G- drightfth fome by, their regr-
ment: for Tyranny is better thai
Anarchic, Suppofe then:The Lord
ChruQCellour of England hs muft
be for his qualification a man well
fcen in the Law s, abk to (intense
whacf< ever caufes arc brought in-
to Chancery : he muft againe leale
all matcers/or he keepcih the Sig-
net Say fecor,dly 3 the King (hould
fetor let one occupie the place
that knew nottheLaw^whowc uld
paflc the Seale Lke«ife here or
there lefle warrant* blyrwouldyou
now
Miniftersjtt not with Pdfijl*. I 199
now in the thud place having the
grant of any thing from his High-
nefle, refute to Ice him put to the
Kings fcale^ becaufehc w.s igno-
rant^ would g' vet he feale forae-
times when his Makfty would
have it denyed ? Like is your cafe.
But why may not we feeke dwel-
ling amcngii Papilif, to have our
children baptized with them >
-/fy/ir.Becaufe they arc not onf-
Iy iguoraor, buc mainraine reall I-
dolifry^likethc Calves ofD*» and
Bethel, from which wee have com-
mandemtnt to feparate. Conclude
then^hat you may come and feeke
the Sacrament at the hand of an
uulrarned Mioifter. Take heed
iaif luch fugg^Rions-by. which the
counterfeit ar.gels of light would
fuhm it Cburcn- s, and fling whole
Pariftiei out ac the windowet.
Now to re(c !ve your obicftion.
Thr'e whoro God threataeth to
c*th:cr> their aftions which they
p< rforme, may not be fought for :
the propofixioo is falfe : for his
threat-
2Qo Wt may receive of ungifttd Mimjlets,
■ threatniog is not a prcfent degra.
ding, dif inabling them in ihac
they could doe.,but a menace of fu-
ture evill in Gods time, for that
thry ought to have done,bw could
not. To Jerohoams faft. Thofe
who arc by the tin of men entrcd,
their attions may not be taken be-
nefit of.
sAnfrp. Fal£ againe.The Kings
of 7/^4^/ thuse-itred, yet one might
holily have uken the benefit of ;iv
ftice under them. Hee that (hould
be never io dtd*flicaB 9 yet if he be
nor according to S c * Pauls Canon^
heentreth by fin : but would you
roakequeftionto hearehim, once
in office, being well gif ed ? To the
third, All Ch rifts Miniftcrs muft
teach, and therefore whom hec
fends he enables thereunto.
A*[w. Fal^^Uuleffe under ftood
with limitation, all lent ofChrift
according fo his heart, out of fa-
voihyfuily qualified, orxseemuft
take teaching m a very large feafc.
To the 4. VVce may not fepamc
fir-'VB
- .. ■ ■
V
KKeeliptgUwfMMintbeaBcfc&c. i 201
from every unlearned man when he '
isnoreall Idolater. To the fift is
anfwered above. The fecond is of
Ufle moment, I will not difpure i: :
onelythis. When there is no ap-
parent fcandalj^ you may knecle :
Latent things which cannot with
uorall certainty be prefumed, muft
pot hkider us. My reafon 5 Firft, it j
fsagefturefanftifiedof God, to be :
bled in his fervic^, Secondly, it is
fiotunbefeeming a Feaftcr, when
pur joy muft be mingled with re-
ferent trembling. Thirdly, it nei-
|berisanocca{ionj nor bypartici-
tion Idolatry : kneeling never
red bread-worfhip. And our De-
fine of the Sacramcnr, knowne
o all the world, doth free ns from
bfpition cfadoration in it. Attend
rourminiftcy, and hold the Lord
efus to fanftifie you daily. Let no-
hing weaken you in your worke,,
he beginning whereof was fo joy-
ull to you. I doubt not but thefe
ire the truth; if I knewtwentk
cruples I could not anfwer, yet
would
1
202
The good wuftfhsnt in tvit times.
would I be of this iudgmenr. I
like not forgery which vpon every
want dilmembreth andcu teth off;!
nor fuch meddliag in crazie bodies
which doth vctcrly ouerwh:loie
thetn;hoIy quiet willheale morein
thefe cafes than venturous motion.
Farewell
SYR, I cannot but be ready vp.
on all occafions to fuluccyou,
whom God hath by Co many good
offices indeared to ms.My defire
to God is^hat your foule may pro
(pcr 3 that you may be kept in chefe
euill times, wherein darknefle and
lufts of ignorance abound, like to
the Lampe which (hined in the
fmoakyfurnace^liketo the bright
ftaire which (hioedinthe midlt
of darkenes.Now that we may doe
ithis, we muftcuer renew our care
' of keeping our felues vnfpotted
from the wicked and powerleflfe
connection of ethers Like as an
euill ayre by little and little alters
1 he nature and temperature of bo-
r
Ukfftarres sndarfyiejfe. a 03
y, andbreedes a difeafe:fothe
orrupc fefhion of eucry age doth
ub vpon us its infection, abating
he heat, and eclipfing the light
>f grace in vs;ifwe be not more
aucclous,and in an holy fufpicion
•four infirmities, hang on him
vho keepeth his from all euils.
rheLordgiue vs that leue which
■uy make vs more fludious of his
lory,the more we fee it obfeured ,
>y others.That is a right /parke of
eauenly grace, which by cccafion
f iinne (\ ike as it was xnDatttd and
itemie) groweth to be morefcr-
ent and zealiousfor Gods honor.
econdly,to(keepeourdclight)^ve
luft frequent communion with
*ie children of light. Aweakc light
^yning with another, becommeth
rongenfo our grace,while it aflc-
iatcth it ftlfe with the grace in o-
hers, taketh increafe. Like as a
>Iant which is fee in a kindly foile
rofpereth for that reafon : fo a
>hriftian that groweth vp among
hem whoaretruely Chnftian in
that 1
204 Comunion with the Saints helpfntt
that regard,proves the holier man
It is admirable how fo great ant
tali a man as S\ Paul, ftiould find
and feelc f j great necefficy of corn
manionvvith the Saints, buttha
thegreateft faith is moftoppofic
to preemption, aadtheicforeth
furtheft off from neglecting an
oicanes which conduce to that i
hath believed. I am fure it ma
teach us that wc had neede to ligf
ourcandIe,and kindle our fire wit
our neigbours, even to increai
ourfaitb,and fireour affe&ionsoc
with the presence of another. Noi
ftill it is to be remembred, that
is not (6 much your bodily pr<
fence, as your fpiritual! u(e one <
another that is available this wa
when wee (hew what God hai
done for us,how our ibules are ca
tied on, when with the bucket
wifcdome, wee can draw forth
'our ufe the waters ofGrace, whi
God hath derived from himfe^
into the hearts of our brcthre
That is good Communion, wheii
*
Ktrcifi of grace, burmfbesthtfoule,
\ is found (bmc interchangeable
^mmunicacion oi tning* ipiritu-
[1. Thirdly, to keepc our bright-
efle, we rauft exercifc our graces.
s the body taketh more rcftiog
wnftirring 5 fleeping than waking;
p gliftcring mettalls lofe their
^ightnclfe, and contraft ruftineflc
mea they are not ufed : fo it is
nth our fbulea ; let exercife be
egle&ed, their light will be dim-
med, they will (ocne grow to
brae imbccillitieand fickenefle.
very day draw fbme line this
ray, let us awaken our rcpen-
mcc, ftirreup our faith, to carry
>rae promife iato the fecret of
ar hearts.
If wee be like the bufie Ant, dai-
r doing (although but a little at
net ) wee ftiall finde (lore to our
omforr, when the winter of ten-
sion (hall approach. This excrci-
ng is it, which will preferve us
7ith wholefome appetite, and
unger afcer all good meanes
thereby our (bulcsarccheriflied.
Thcfe
205
I
7
* o 6 I Extrcift of Gract vtty profiuih.
■
Thele febttiring men are as
fjund as a Roche, hungry as hun-
terj^whercas fedentary Hues are ol
fmallappetitr,andcrazie constitu-
tion. Thus his with Chrifthi s
foch who exrrcife not themfeiues.
ftirringvpthe diuine heatc^thcy
are indefferent men whether they
partake in helps both publikt
and priuate, which God hath or-
dained to increafe deuotionjbut the
well exercifed Chriftiai hath o-
ther affections.
ThusmuchI thought good to
write, exhorting you in theft
things, which I doubt not but you
endevour in your mealure. I thani
you for all the poore you haue re-
licued at my motion. I commene
my (cite to the good Gentlewomar
your Wife,and both of you, witt
allyours,cothe Lord.
26
MYloningfriendjI.wasat the
firft often perfwaded, that
Godwouldfora timefetmeout oi
hand, aridtruftmewich myaccu-
ftomed
Urv tve m*y hdve pence in trenblt.
omed libcrty,but often defeature
/hich myhope fuffred,did corrwift
i time that lightnefle of beliefe.
low it Co goethwith me, thacl
03 like to continue here, or noc far
ffall thisfummi r,{or feme rhings f
avc broken forth in mee 3 which
villrotfuffcr my farre travaile :
vhich Imuft feeke hclpefor be-
ime, becauit I know my flefh to
>eetard of healing. What cafe
bo'oldl have, had I learned the
rueftrokein bearing the yoakeof
ny God, had I wifdome to lay
rircudlhnces to heart, had I po-
verty of fpirir,empty ing mee of all
Confidence in my felfe, & common
[ourks, had I confident depen- I
ance onGod my foleSaviour,then
jould I havehad peace in the midft
f trc ubles, and light in darkents.
>ut I linde folly to abound in me,
rcret pride, hardnefie of heart, a
riritualldrunkcnncflT^which fee-
eth no bio wes, flying, falfe confi-
lence?j what not of this nature?
traile my weapons about them,
as.
207
/
208 I The Joule mufkbt brought lm.
as the walls of hell, expeftingin
filence, and rcit their downe-fali
from heaven.
I looke for better times chough
greater troubles in the fl:(h, than
hitherto I have knowne : I fee it
mu' be in healing finne 5 which fal-
leth out in healing (brae bodily diC
eafes, the party muft be kept (o
low, that he muft be tantum non
confe&ut iuedia^ before a fpring of
better blood can be procured. In
labouring to purge out fin^ the life
of grace muftfuff^r fuch things as
bring it exceeding low, yea, to a
"Dfliqwum often j before a new
(firing of that heavenly life can be
obtained. I thanke God in Chrift,
fcftentation Ihave 3 and forne little
ftrength, fuavities fpirituall I tafte
not any. Bar indedl often tell my
felfe, Phyfick purgative and rcftau-
rati ve are not to be taken at one and
the fame time, yea n it were to wi(h
fuffering without lafFering, if wee
would (o admit forrowes; as that
wee would together fecle them
drow-
and then God will fir cngtbcn it.
drowned of fpirituallconfolation.
The divinity refted ere the head
fuffered : Co in the members. The
Lord be our ftrengch and comfort.
If wee wane courage and ftrength,
wcemuft looke to him, to whom
whofb faokcth,reneweth ftrengch.
Who ftrftigcheneth his, fo chat
they can doe every thing, who
ftrengchenech them in the inner
man, to long fiifferancewich joy-
fulneflc. O let us inconfcicnce of
all weaknefle clafpe the rocke of
Ifrael, and learne of chofc Conies,
weake and wifc,who worke them-
fclves holds within the earth,
wherein they are fafe. When the
Apofiles had received this (pirit of
ftrengch, they made a play of their
fuffkrings.Even as in bodily things
thefe ftrong-boned hardy porters,
will make a fport of bearing fuch
burdens , which a weake body
would tremble to touch : Now
Chrift,on whom the fpiric of wife-
dome and ftrength refteth,increafe
oar union and comunion with him.
K how
209
2 io | Wcc m*Jl feekg after the kjngdomt of
*7-
HOw happy Sir, arethcLords
children, who if they be
once his Favorites, hee will love
them to the end, aad though for
their firme he chaften them, yet
will hee never remove his mercy
from them. What is their happl-
nefle vvho have received a King-
dome that cannot be flbaken?When
I obferve how thefe earthly things
wheele abour,then raethinkes how
happy that man is,whofe heart and
hope is in that God with whom
there is no fhadow of change ;
wherfore let roe ftir yon up to feek
after the Kingdome of God more
and more, Heire*, the ncerer they
come to ripe age, and fo to their
inheriunce,theraore their longing
and defire is afcer them. And fire.,
they f*y the neercritcorometh to
that rcgicn which is the proper
place of i% the fart'r it moveth:
fo (hould it be with u*, whofe
age
God more J*dmore, and how.
I age is now ripe, to that wee are
neerer our falvation, than when
tve fjrft bclccved : (b ftiould it be
with our fparke of Grace, which
God hath kind led in us, the ncerer
it comes to heaven, it fhould move
thitherward with greac fervency,
yea, in our greateft delightf, our
hearts fhould be excited cowards
thofe joyes which there we ftiall
enjoy : when our prifon hath fuch
content as wee often take, what
fliall wee finde prepared in our Pa-
radifc, where we fhall live for ever
with Chrift that true tree of life !
Now, the labour of a Chriftian
ftandcth chiefely in theft things,
Firft, hee muft lay up thofc free
promifes (Sod hath made hits in
Chrift, as which are the ground of
his Title to heaven, that as men
carefully boxe up evidences, and
coppies by which they can (hew
their jnft Title to the thing earth-
ly, Co fhould we theft promifes in 1
our heart, by which the hea-
venly inheritance is ftaled to as. I
K2 Second-!
211
212 I Wt may^dnd ought tofa$tre oxrjdves
Secondly, we muft ftrive co enter
our polMion, by continuing a
courft of Chriftian vertues, joyn-
ing with faich vertue, with ic
knowledge^temperance^&c.while
wee gee a large entrance inco that
heavenly kingdome, 2/eM.io.
That lookc as Ifrael, the more
they didfabdue the Canaznites jhz
further they were pofleflcd of C*-
xaan, fo the more we bring under
all earthy lufts, the more we enter
that heavenly Canta^ the more
wee come into true reft^begunne in
holinefle, confiimmate in glory.
Thirdly, wee muft labour to ft-
curc our felves in this ftatc wee
pofTefle. CJod would not make us
happy 5 if wee might not be ftre
flill to hold it, which though in
earthly things we cannot, for they
be tranfitory, and if they would a-
bide, wee want leafcs of our lives
xo abide with them, yet wee may
in heavenly things, becaafe they
are eternalJ, (hall not fade, and
Chrift hath undertaken to keepe
us
ofthektngdottoc of Heaven.
313
us unco them. This is my Fathers
will, that I ftould raifeyou up at
the laft day. So certainly therefore
as hee hath called us, juflified us,
andfanftifiedus; (b certainly will
hec doe tins other pare of his of-
fice afligned him by God his Fa-
ther, yea, God will keepc us to his
heavenly kingdome, as hee faith,
and none (hall take us out of our
Fathers bands, he is ftronger than
all, faith in theft will fue out a
fine, as it were a and give us quiet
pofieflion againft all that can op-
pofe us.
Well, the Lord be with your
fpirits, and give you in your mea-
fure the comfort of theft points.
LOving Brother, I did receive
your Lttter which doth cerri-
fic roe of matters, in which 1 take
good contentment. To beglnnc
with the laft - I am glad you have
done fo kinde an office to your
K> Sifter;
214
I
Again fl overmuch worldly care.
Sifter; it (hall further your owne
reckoning, when you ome to be
accountant to €Jod. lam glad like-
wife^ that you know your lacall
j gricfefo . well,and can lay your fin-
ga where it fmaics ; and I am joy.
ed in your refo'ution which God
givcth you of (baking off this
which prefleth you downe, I
thought co.have had a letter fray-
ing your returne next Terme, but
delay brcedeth danger, and vacati-
on time ib more free for thoughts,
than when every mans cafe craveth
entrance : andinthefeconfiJerati-
ons my fecond tfnught biddeth
mee write prcfemly, though lefts
exa&lyand fully. Your rdolutfc
on is a good figne that God, who
hath freed your minde to a fettled
purpofe againft it, will give you
in time performance al(b. Bat you
mufttake heed that your refoluti-
on be fuch as is grounded onely in
Gods ftrength, who in his C^rift
»amft diflTolve this worke of the
Divell, and it muft be accompa-
nied
Refolrttion agawjl worldly care
nied with the coafrienccof your
owne weakneflc, who are fold un-
der fiich finne; the wiflorae of
whoft foule, by nature b:com-
meth altogether earthly; andlaft-
ly, with confederation, what
ftfewg^h the earthly objefts aod
your propenfity and inclination
this way have to oppofeyou : for
thefe will make you poore in
fpirit, and havt no confidence in
yourfelfe, bur make Chrift your
! Captaioc (who bach overcome the
World) all your hope ; and if wee
come not thus to fight, we (hail be
forced to recoilc oorfoof, were
our quarrell as jaft as Ifraeh a-
gainft thofeof Benjimh. Now that
you may lee how (trong an evill
this is, you mufi: confidcr wkh
what forces it is intrenched, what
fpirituali things there be that doe
backethis infirmuy; the which is
the rather to be obferved, becaufe
the right method of healing,reqiti-
reth that we find out the caufes of
the malady. Now this double dili-
K 4 gent
L
2l6
I
ought to be grounded.
gtnc carefulnefifc, fpringeth from a
threefold head : firftfromdWruft
inGodscare,whichis ever over us
for good. When one hath great
friends,, which they are knowneto
leane to, we fay of them, Such need
to take no care, they know fuch
and fuch will fee to them j on the
contrary, come toonethackuow-
eth no end of coiling and caring,
aske him, Why will you thus tire
your felfe out ? H: will fay J mult
needs doc it, I have none but my
felfetotruftco : fo Chrift folSw-
cth his Difciples carefulaefle to
this dore, their unbeliefe, which
did not let them confider our hea-
venly Father cared for them. Se-
condly, thefe cares come from a
folfe preemption of felte-fufficien-
cy b ourownccourfes, as if wee
by our owoe diligence could build
the boufe : For, were a man per-
fwaded that the blefliog of God
were all in all, hee would ply that
fart fir ft, an! with little joy would
undertake anything; tillheeftw
God
Cwfej of overmuch worldly care.
God wicnclliog to him by his Spi-
rit, that he would be wich him co
blefle him. This makcth Chrift cell
his Difci pies, they could not wich
all care make a haire white or
blackc; infinuating this difcafel
pohtar* I know we will not fay
this; bar -no more will any cove-
tous man, chut hee maketh his mo-
ney his God; hee knoweth ic is
earth, and hee accounts of it as ic
is : but our deeds fpeakcihat of-
ten> which our tongues would de-
ny. Thirdly, from an overvaluing
of earthly things, aod undfrpri-
liGg of heavenly, we come to be fo
carcfull in the one, and forerch-
leffdy affctted in theother,wc be-
ing like children who make ac-
count of a Peare or an Apple more
than of all the houfc: befide. N^w
having found the caufes and rooces
of this evil Vyou may difceme it is
as cafie almoft to (hake off your
felfc, ssro be rid of this infifmi: y :
wfrchl fpeake net to make you
refift heard* fly, but to make you
217
K *
take \
21%
Remedies thereof.
take him with you, who only re-
\ maineth victorious. In the next
' place, you rauft labour to remove
thefe caufes., and the effeft will
ceafc; Say toyourfelfe,Lord,thac
I fliould be of (o little faith to thee;
thou biddeft mee in nothing be
earefull, but reft in thee 5 but I find
a htart that will not reft in thee,
but be for it fclfe.Have I not found
thee true and mctcifull above all
1 could aske or thioke ? How Isic
then that I fhould lend thee (b li ecle
credit? Who will notcondemoe
\ that wretched Aba^ Efay 7, when
[ thou didft fend him a mefTige, and
[ bid him be fecure in thee^ put it |
backc^ hee would make fare For '
ihimfclfe? Bar alas! when thou
; fjyeft no lefle to us, we (upon the
matter) doe no lefle than hee. A-
: gaiae, what abomination isthis^
I that my heart (hould, kiving thee,
1 reft in fitch courfes which icfelfc
J imiginethanddevrfech> I fee the
Divcll his word is proved too rruej
hee fiid^ wee fhould be like Gods,
which
Confiderttims di\wafivi from
which as it Is falfcin rc(pcft of di-
vine qualities refembling our God,
Co U it true in regard of our finfuH
ufurpation : for we take our owne
courftas if wee were All-fuffi:ient
to our ftlvcs, not needing any
higher power : and what an inor-
dinacy ig this,that my foulefhould
be thus turned eafthward,thinking
on thefe things which arc earthly
and tranfitory, with little thought
ofthofe which are* heavenly and
eternal! > we pifty that want of wit
incivillconrfe, which maketh the
mtndc runne on babies, but never
t hinke on ought fubftantiall: but
what is this defc ft leffe lamentable,
which makech me toffe in my mind
things belonging co this life, f*l-
dome mufing on thofe which are
everlaftiog? Thus when you have
pondred the wretcbednefle of ir,
youmuft thinke on your utter Li-
ability to mend the matter, by ob-
fcrving how deepe your heart is
gone in unbeliefe, that you can
foon«r truft to any thing tnan-fe-
cureth \
220 overmuch reorldj cure.
cureth you in, than chat God pro-
mifetb, Againe, hovynaturallitis
to you to plot and contrive affaires,
and reft in your owne confutati-
on?, as if your good were in yoar
ownc hand * by marking, finally,
how deepely you are bewirched
with thele things prefent,how po-
tently they work upon your mind,
by reaibn of the affinity that is be-
twixc them and your undeiftao
.ding, being become earthly. la
the third place, yffu muftlooketo
Chrift tohelpeyourunbeIicfc,by
taking it away, and ftrengthenirg
ycur fail h,r hat you may give him
glory; by fetting- your reft or.cly
downecn this, that hse caret h lor
you 5 and pray Lim to circumcife
your heart, aaa pare away that
Sclfc- confidence that you. may
have no truft in the fl . fh ? but make
his care over you, all your rejoy-
ring ; yea, pray him to crucifie all
thefc outward things to you, that
ihey may notice ib powerful] upc n
you, la theft things you muft fol-
low
Cbrift the Author &finijheref f &c. 221
low Chrift, for hce is the Author
anil finifher of our faith; he is the
true Pruft by whom wc have cir-
cumcifion, not made with hands,
which hee hath fealed in our Bip-
tifme; for the water is a fcale of
Chrifls blood applyedcj us, and
ot that Spiric of his, v;hich is
poured into our hearty through
che merit of hisbloud, toth&io-
tent ir m : ght abolifb our corrupt!-
onyind create in us die lifeof grace.
Chrift crucified 3 finally, doth kill
.he power of this world to us. and
our corrupt inclination to it 3 and
i he things of it: thuseudevourirg
ro remove the roote and cau'e of
your ficknefle, the griefc ic fclfe
will no e eafily be cured. To
come then in a word to ic, firft, re-
member how it doth worke upon
you 5 and what a. wofull thing U is
:o have the miade inordinately
feared, with retaining thought of
:his nature ; for firft, howgreatly
toe theft hirder you in the bed
things ? It isthe common choakc-
weede.
202 The danger ofwermnh worldly core.
weede, which like as y vie doth by
\ the oake, fo it facketh thefapof
Grace from the heart, and maketh
{ it unfruitfull. A ground in which
■ filver Mines are found,is common-
ly barren every other way ; but it
is certaine, a heart in which veinc s
runnebf worldly cares, isalwaies
too fruitless in duties towards
Gcd. Againe, how dangerous is
this? For it is to be feared left ft
exafperarc God, and fo make him
leave you to your felfe, and with-
draw his care over you : if we di£
ceme fuch as will put no truft in
us» but love to ftand upon their
o wne ground, we give them good
leave : ascontrarily,thc more wee
fee our felves trufted to, the foore
our fidelity Is careful! for them
that ftay upon us; thus is it with
our heavely Father. Againc, you
rauft aggravate this inordinacy of
cares in your felfe, from this cir-
cumftance ; if I were never fo
needy, thi* diftrafling care could '
not be warranted; but when God
hath
IV
Viftptfivcr agtinft worldly care. 223
hath blcffed mcc beyond tbac (
could have asked 3 then ftill to be
in farther thoughts., how inexcu-
fible is ic > If a poore man fteale,
ic is a fhame ; bar for a rich man to
play the thiefe, it is raonftrous :
CuesdiftraQfng, and not refting
on thbgrprefenc, are a fpirituall
chefc before God. Againe, thinke
how miserable this is : fay one
flioulJthruftyour face and bodily
fight into the dirt, and bold ic
downe there that you could not
looke up to the Sl]nne,Firm lra^nt,
the Trees and Field*, & c. were not
this a wofulJ condition ? O foch is
the ftateof a (bule, whofe eye and
thought is thruft downs into thefc
cirthly objefts, and fo held in
thsm, that it cannot looke up to
confider the Sunne of righteouf-
nefie IcfusChrift, nor the heavenly
things which arc given us of God :
thus then appreheding the mifery
of it, looks untoChrift, pray him
to fave you, who is that Iefus that
favech his people from guile and
power
t*
224
?t*j to Ckrijl tgainft it.
j power of fia ;fcom this fin la hurc-
\ ful co the prcfent growth in Grace,
j fb dangerous to provoke your God
\ againft yon, fb ill burning you to
j whom God hath expreffed fuch
bounty, fo full of wretchednefle.
Remember ht hith (aid, Hold me
the truthj willfet you free; fearc
| not, 1 have over- come the world.
Again?, you muft pray him chat he
wocld mike ycuable to be hea-
, venly minded,and tfci >k upon hea-
venly things. True it is, our minds
naturally luve no py this way,fid
no relifhinluch thjughts ; but we
fhalldoeall things in Chrift that
ftrergthcoeth us : Contraries muft
be cured with coirrarieSjChemorc
you ge? to tafte heavenly things
beftowed on you, the more thefe
(hall grow out of rcqucft, and
draw co an end. Icwill be good
for you when fuch thoughts feiz:
on you, toconfidercfyourovvne
infirmity after this manner; O
Lord,howjs my mindc throwne
downc from Heaven co Earth ?.
How
'Perfivafive Meditations.
How doe fuch thoughtB prevent
rae,and come before I would have
them? How eafily do I continue ia
thcra \ How dole doe they cleave
unco me? Let meethinkeof thee,
thy Grace, my ftacc after death ; |
and hardly will thefe enter : foone j
they vamlh,and while Lhave them j
in my thought, fcarce halfe of me I
is in them. . Lord, me thinkes I
aro like the wretched woman in
the Gofpell, who was held of a
(pi jit eighceene yeeres, that flbee
could not Io-jke lip to heaven .You J
(hall fi.ide fuch meditation not in
vaine, when you are ready co be
I cranfported, for it will weaken the
recurne of them, and difpofe you
both to fecke and receive the cure
of this evill from your God and
Siviour. The Phyficians in force
kinde of unfeemely convulfions,
wi(h thactne Patient (hould loo!<e
onhimfelfeinag'afle, which will
help him to drive the more, when
he (hall fee his owne deformity :
but I fee my Letter will grow
L . -^M
226
nr
to heavenly mindedmffe.
beyond the due quantity of it;
wherefore I end, defiring you to
follow your good purpofe, and
not to lye under your infirmity
with any pretence* Wee fome-
times give way to inordinate
cares, not meaning co continue
them, but to fettle things onely in
order, that wee may be free from
them : but the flefh will not heale
flcflj, neither will being a while
diftra&ingly careful), ever heale
diftra&ingcare; you (ball quench
the fire with wood,aflbone as finne
with yeelding to it. AgaineJ will
doe this but till, &c. This is as
much as if one would leape into
the Thames, and fay, I will caft
ray (elfeinto the water, but only
till I be knee dcepe • were not
this ridiculous > WcllBrothcr,the
Lord deliver you from every evill
(hare*, and if you will ever be a
good husband, and have all things
continue and profper, be fure you
win his favour, by prefentingyour
diligent dtity ia Chrift his favour,
in
Middling in wsrldly c*res danger out I 22 7
n whofe hand to all your good J
pea, the g :>od of vour wife,chil- •
Jren, and childr^as children for i
■ever.
Yours ia brotherly aflfeftion, ;
Faul Ba;*c.
*9-
LOviag Brother, you would
inke me haply liketothofa
xeatures which fl:epe over all the
Winter, fhould I but continnefi-
enc till the Sucnmerwereeatred.
The truth h, I have beeae very
jveatiGi the mod ofche tims (ince I
[aw you, but my condition is fuch,
[s will not fuffer my minde to reft,
were I never fo free of bodily inf-
irmities, and fecular cires, which
foe foretimes lo3ke into mee
mee.
;haugh not much difturbe
rruly^ic doth take up ray ftrengch,
:o gee ftreagth wherewith to walk
rroai roaming to night, waiting
an ray Gadsfalvation without mi-
king
228 The troubled Chriftiam refuge.
king haft. The Prince of peace is
my refuge, who as hte hath his
time of making heavie, fo he will
retume and comfort in the multi-
tude of his mercies. Thefe things
I write not fo much for my Apolo-
gie, as for your admiration and in-
ftin6tton 3 tbatyou may confidcr of
your own cftate,and examine your
peace • that if you find it to be true
and found, your thankes may be
redoubled for fo great a benefit,
which others want, which paffeth
undemanding : that if otherwise
it prove deceitful!, you may yet
make fare worke, and (et ic aright,
i while the day ofgrace is cendnued
to you, The Divell circurnventeth
many by nothing more,than by lul-
ling them afl^ep in fach a rsft, as
will prove torsftteflefmarr, if it
be not by repentant courles inter-
rupted. A maa may have peace
from not ftirring and moving hi*
corruptions. The Divell, we (ay,is
quiet, if he be pleafed ; difeaie not
fin, you (hall tcclc little of it : fuch
is
1
VictttjnU Peace 3 andfinfaH Security.
is the peace of a body, which is,
though not fickc, yet in an ill ha*
bite,andftate tending to flcknefle $
it is quiet, cillfomething be taken,
which fightcth with, and cxpel-
leth the hcke matter; not becaufe
there are no peccant humors in it,
! but it is therefore at eafe, becaufe
j they are not provoked and purged
out with wholefbme medicine. A-
gaine, many feele not difeaffnent,
becaufe they doe not taske che*n-
J felves about good duties as in ex-
[ crcifing their faith, renewing their
thankmlneffe,gettringraore (haroe
and griefe to finite their hearts in
their daily wants,in laboring to be
more fruicfull in good works than
they have beene : in teeking hea-
venly raindednefle and holineflc,
which might make them doe all
things as become the pretence of
God, before whom they are. In-
deed no wonder if wee beat eafe
while wee fee not hand to thefe
workes. A lame akinglkibe hath
eafe while it refteth, but yet is not
well,
229
,
230 Severallcafij thereof.
well, though ic hath not fenfe ol
cvill. Againe,there is no cafe frorr
fleepinefleof con/cience,whiIe (pi-
r ituall {lumber bindeth the fenfes
and difcerning fpirituall ; fb thai
though there be many wofull evils,
yet id all of them no difcafement is
perceived. Thus a man with twen-
ty ficknefles, well afleepe, feeleth
nothing. Laftly, there is noeaft
often in the body, becanfe the fen-
fe s being taken up with obje&s
delightful! to them, tend not that
grief which hangeth about them ;
of which fort is the peace of the
(bule, which difcerneth things a.
trifle, matters of griefe; but the
gratefull objefts cf the world,
pleafure, company, &c. doe fo pof-
(eflcit,that being in thefe 5 itfeeleth
nothing of that which in Come
raoreretjred thoughts it feemed to
apprehend. What fhould I fpeakc
of mifdeeming oar cftates ? There
is away right in a mans eyes, the
end whereof is death • and the reft
of which mi(corxeit,is like theeafe
of
Take heed offfirituaUJlotb.
of a golden dreame. Or what
(hould I mention any other kinds,
which I thinke not fo pertinent
for your eflate ? I befeech you take
heede of chat neglcft of getting
your ficke foulcs drefftd, that
fpiriruall floth and reftinefle, that
(lumber, that having yourfoules
taken up with thefs matters which
are gratefull to the natural! man;
take heede that none of thefedoe
make you nap to your after far-
row. You will haply (ay; In
what ftandeth this true peace?
Arfa?. In perceiving the Grace of
God fuch towards mee in Chrift,
that my Conscience, through his
blcod^is cleanfed from the guile of j
finnc; thatmyfoule, through his
Spirit, is freed from the rage and
tyranny of fiane, that it hath not
! that power to carry me captive to
;it,and workmydiflurbance^which
: fomtimesithathhad.Th?rdly 3 that
my condition, through his Bleflug
I in Chrift made a Curfe for mee, is
imadc Co comfortable, that it plea-
feth
231
2 22 | The true f$ace of Confcitnce.
fethmewell- there being no tedi-
ous difeafements with which it is
accompanied, which would ex-
tinguifli my py for the prefent
Fourthly,that for the time to come
hee will keepe me to him, patting
his feare in my heart, according to
his promiie, that I may not depari
from him, finifhiog my faith he*
hath begun j never leaving nor for-
faking me, but caufing every thing
workc together, for my good. For
there is a foure-fold Branch of this
Peace ; one, (hootetb forth of our
Juftification; the other, from our
San&ification; the third,from that
Bleffing w ith which God doth fol-
low us, ir« our outward condition ;
the fourth/rom the knowledge we
have of his gracious pleafure to-
wards us, even for the time to
come ; without which, wee could
not have true peace : for how can a
man have true peace earthly,with»
out a fecure pofleffion of the good
he holdeth ? So there could be no
true peace foirituall to us, now
blcffcd
Four* brunches of^irituall Pticc. 2 3 1
blefled with heavenly things, if we
might not have and hold themi
with a fpiricuall fecurity. Where-
fore,deare Brother aad Sifter,enter
into your hearrs ; irarkc whence ic
is, that you goe on ac eafc from
day to day : Is ic becaufeyou fee.,
that God for his Christs
blood, which hath cried for bet-
ter things than the blood of Abel,
hath abfolved you from the guile
of all your finnc > Is it becaufe
you feelethe power of linne bro-
ken, that it cannot prevaile againft
you, as fotuetiraes it hath done,bat
you finde finne weakned,and your
fbules with more frecdome obey-
ing God in fuch things, in which
femetimes you could not deny
your (elves > D:>e you fee, that
whereas your eftates fometimes
were troublefome to you, now
they are made fuch as give you
contentment, through the grace .
of Godjbkfnogus inChrift, ac-
curf»d for us > Doth God open the
eyes of your minde, to fee his
L gracious
2 3 2 I Tiyjinrfetce, xvhtthtr true y &c.
gracious unchangeable good will
towards you forever? Then you
have ^ood ground for being ac
eafe within your (elves. But if you
finde that your quiet fpringech
hence, becaufe you difquiet not
your felves in weeding out your
ignorance, unbelicfe, carelcfle-
ne{fe,8cc. or becaufe you doe
not prove your feeble fpirituall
ftrengths, in labouring to dc e eve-
ry thing out of obedience of faith
ro the Lcrd, who (hould ever
be before you ; if becaufe cuftoma-
ry faftiions, occafions, or objeSs
of this or that nature, keepe you
occupied about them, take heed
of this Eafe , as ever you defire
to live in that eternal! Reft, which
God hath prepared for his people.
Digge into your hearts betirae,
hold them to that which is a-
bove tftfjr fdves, through the
ftreng h of Chrift : (< hey will hang
off from every thh-g thac is not
oarurall, to them,) Iudge your
ftlvts daily in your wanes to Gsd-
warc%
Wt mufi prove turpiact wh$$ber y &c.
ward , fccke to C h r i s t the
quickening Spirit^ that yoa may
leclc life and power in your
waies : labour for fobricty in
the ufe of all worldly things :
(you know the laft times; their
deftiny is to have fhewes, without
life and power, to eate, drinke,
marry, with forgetting the ap-
pearance of Chris t.) Labour
thefe things, and the God of
Peace make you tafte his joyes,
which are tranfeendear, above all
this World can afford.
Your loving Brother,
Fa*i Bsj*u
1 %
a33
23 +
IbefcUow-fetling ofafflittion.
JO,
DEare Sifter, ycur Letter came
notcomee, till I had beenca r
fortnight out of London. I would
not have haftened from you 5 to
have been a lieger there (b long. 1 1
felt my weakness knocking more
thau before, and faw your hands
full j which made me long after my
mod familiar Manfion. For that
which you fignifie,asbefalliog you
that night,I defire to have fellow-
feeling with you. Wee muftnor,
like S wallowes, take the Summer,
| and refufe to d wel with our friends
in Winter ; but it is a true faying*
None knosves what nevves the
Evening will tell him. H*d I
known it in the Morning,' t may be,
for your fake, my fecond thoughts
would have rejourned my prefent
defigneSo But God is wife, who,
whenhegWcth usPhyficke, doth
pin ail rfce outward comforts wee
a&tt, ferre from us, l:ft his cha-
f-ifements
Wt art morcfmfibk ofCreJfef y
235
ftifemerus (hould work leffe kind-
ly, and to thepurpofe, with us.
Dcarc Si iter, the Pbyficke muft
make us ficke, that doch us any
good: yet Sifter, a9 wee muft not
hinder them wich prcpofterous and
over-timely comfort of oar (elves,
(0 wee muft not make them more
vehemently ftirre us than they do ;
for both arc dangerous. I perceive
by your little patheticall Letter,
that you thinke a great dcale on
this late hand of God: loureld&ft
Brother , your eldtfi Brother alretdy,
your eldejt Brother already rooted
out^ theie are all af&ftionate elo-
quence. Sifter,our naughty envies
are full of falfe ghfTea : when God
doth us any favour, giving us ble£
Gngs,then they hold a glatfe before
us, which makech them fceme no-
thing fo great as they are 5 when
God (endeth any croffe, then they
deceive us wich (uch a glafle, in
which we fceme to fee them m Jch
greater than they are. Befides,be-
caufe God givech us fuch plenty
L v of
\^6
than &f Favours.
ofcmercy, tb^r wee arc ever iota,
fling and profeffing feme good
thing, ot other; therefore, theft
being plentifully make them leife
dainty : but not alwaica feeling
forae evill or other, they move us,
when they come fo much the
more,by how much they are more
unufuailwithus* Weefeeleraore
the ach of one tooth, than ttoe
bealchfcme frame of our whole
bodies. Let you and me then falkc
about thefe things which ftickc
moftupoo your itomacke. Sifter,
1$ it not more kindly, the younger
{hould bury the cldeft,than other-
wife ? This then muft not gticve
you, that God hath taken the
eldeft ; he wasthcripeft, and fi tteft
to be gathered. But why doc you
6y, Already ? Alas, good heart ; if
hee had died before his upper Lip
had fprouted, I (hould not have
wondredat this word : but, Sifter,
he lived aln&oft to gray haires ; you
could not begge a longer Leafeof
your owae lite, in modefty, than
God
Cemfort for the death of
God gave him here amongft the
living. If wee kept our daies in
number, wee would thinkc kwa
yeeres many; andia thofeyeeres
he came to a ripe age. Takeheedc,
left whiles you looke atthiityou
have nor, you forget the Lords
bounty, which is already received,
in his fo long continuance with
you. Wf*ci you fay. He is rooted
out; Itakeit, you ufe this phrafe
chicfcly,becaufe hec is dead with-
out heires male: bat that bee hath
hcircs fera.ile, k is a gifc of grac^
which wee defcrve not ; neither
will his.naroe behead, while his
Brother livcth. A id what 3s the
Name? Is it none of our things
which cannot be ihakcn ; every
Nim* muft at lengch be ixcinfh
I muft not heale more in you ihn
I find ; left when I fteketocurea
wound that is, I make a new one,
whichbsfore w^s not. Ico c.ive
your meaning no further :bat com-
fort y mr felfe in thi«; your beft el-
d:ft Brother lirecb, and is by his
L 4 Spirit,
as 8
*n tlder Brother.
$
Spirit* with you to the end ; your
Lord lefts, who is not afli jmed to
callus Brethren. OSifter, would
you provoke your heart to be glad
of him* you fliould not forrow ex-
crflively for the abfence of any
ear- hly Brother : and whatfoever
thing is inyour tboughr,yet corfi-
der who hath done it- even your
loving Husband in Heaven. Ifyour
earthly Husband fhould doefbmc
(hrewdturne, as unawares breake
(bmc Ie well you much fct by$ when
you heard that he did it,you would
beftaied, though before you were
much raoyed. You muft fcy as
Chrift faith; Shall I not drinke
the Cup my Father puttcth in my
hand>That God,that is,Love,doth
reach it anto you. If you fee God
angry, yet be of good cheare; hee
J chat will not Jiave finfull man let
the Sunne go downe on his anger,
hee will not for ever kecpe anger
againftyou ; and a Parent is a Pa-
reat, as well frowning, as failing.
Judge your felfe, and with a faith-
full
Be^aUm ofCjodsgkry.. \ *$9
full heart, (hew -him his beloved
Sonne^n whom he is well pleafc^
and he will 6c better friends with
you than ever. Stirrc up your felfe
to more zcale of Gods glory^ia fee-
king to bring children an J fcrvants
to obey him in their fpiritsyis well
as ferve your felfe with bodily fub-
jeftbt). Oh, thinke.thcennofer-
vants for you, .that Will not learne
to ferve yoq? Husband in Heaven
alfo, Fure an eye over young and
oId,th$£*here be no appearance of
ihe leeft irreverence inyour duties
to God 5 occafion your felfe co
challenge your foulc every day for
unfruitfalnefT:. Oh, wefhouldin
wayoftbankfulnefle, with all out
hearts, (bules, and ftrengths,beal-
waies in ferviag him : wee muft
ftrive to the higheft, and then God
will pardon all wee come (hort in,
And though you recount varieties
of fbrrows which you have found 5
yet know 3 that, God fttiketh not
j with h;s who! * hand , but fillip petfa
I you rather with arfinger : our ble£
1 L 5 - fed
2 *0
W* *rc not alone affiiftccL
fedjSaviour hath drunkc the dregs
for u% Againe,you are nor alon? :
jfac0t,rbargood Pa?riarch,had di-
vers affii&ions ; Fli^hcouc of his
Countrey- injury from his Father
Lsban . frare o r death ac the bands
of his Brother Ep"; aCaft-away 5
in regard of m rcy* his Children*
bloudy Rio • his Wives death;
J^/?^/dc(pightfuIl packing irtrd
Egjft, &c. And "Peter firth, Wee
are madt h^avie with many Ten-
rations^ when neede is : Which
fhould yet nurt comfort us b:-
caufe that thenecellicy ofour efticc
doth require that wet (hould have
variety of ibrrowes. Indeed, wee
muft be forty that our fouUs are
Co ficke, that they muft cake Co
many thiogs : but muft be thank-
full to God, that w, oot weary,
but doth follow us win thiogs,
odc after another, for our good ;
for yw good. All things (hall
worke together, to the good of
thpfc that love God: Your com-
forts muft noc be in this life -
here
V
A Cbnfltans cu>j[<smakc bim
here is not chat Reft for Gods peo-
ple : wee will let Viveffet fiiga
Requiem to their foules; butwc:
Will pray toGodforgrace,that we
may carry our crofle,aod tike evill
do It fle thankfully than good from
his hand : neither muft your com-
fort be tacked upon the pretence of
a nun ; the Gcd of all confoLti-
tn is your Ccmfortery that Spirit
which Chrift will fend unto you,
frojivhim. Aod let all your for-
rowc$ be welcome for thisfruit,
which in the end you fnal! findeby
them : vix* That your departure
from this world (hall be fomuch
more eafie when it commeth, by
how much yo« are before by fuch
crofle encounters killed in your
aff.ftion toit. S'icH asmufth^ve
a member cut off, they willingly
yeeldtohavc it bound, though ic
be paliful J 5 becaufe, when it is
morcified and deaded with ftraic
bindings they (hall en Jure the cut-
ting of it off farre more eafily fo
(hail wee take our cutting off from
this
242
vpillinger to part with the world.
this World Co much more gently ,
by how roach more painfull pin-
chings wee have endured. Weil,
the God which teacheth us to pro-
fits Efay faith ; which purgcth us
by tftefe meanes, and makah ui
more fruicfibll • he make you more
fiiritfuU by this his hand, inevery
good word and worke.
Your loving Brother,
PjuI Bajne.
$1,
LOving Sifter jiiKJIofTes marre
agoodTexe : Co my ill con*
ftruftion had almoft done by your
good Letter. Ycc I am not fbrry
that I miffed your meaning ; for ic
grieves me not fonweh for to mi£ j
conftrueyourphrat,asJtgladdeth J
mce, that no fuch, iaordituncy of !
griefccaratnigh€ryau,asl imagi-
tied and feared. Thic which you
conceived in faying, Akeady, I did
coo^'dureiciike.wi^ but did not
plainly
Faith ~ afovetAignc Ladj,
24 j
plainly exprefle it ; becaufe I knew
perfonsin griefe rauft be gingerly
handled, left wee make a Wound
where there is none, or exafperate
that which is already fwaged. I
thanke you for ray Hnd-kcrcher :
Inrccompenceofyourlove,! will
comnend unto you a good Mid-
wife, if you will fend for her ; it
i* my Lady Faich, whoistheSo-
vcraigne Lady and Cornmandreffe
in ail things which the jaft mm
doth, or Thfifcreth, The j 1ft in
troubles (hall live by his Faith.
That which Hive in the fl.(h, even
in refpsft of this eteroall life,
World-ward, 1 1 ve ic by faith in
theSonof GoiyBiU S.Pj*l y gai.z.
Now, this great Worthy doth
come to none bat thofe who firft
prepare for her, addreflbg them-
(elves to her liking 5 (econdly,(end
for herj thirdly diet her to her con-
tentment : for (hec will quickly bq
gone, if you make Qocfuch provi-
(ion which is grsttefull uaco her„
For the firft: Sifter^gceatMid wives
on
■ »
*44
arid the be ft Midwife.
\ on Earth, they come to great ones,
1 where their wages (hall be b:>unti-
| ■ full t their gifts libera]!- wnere they
I fh^ll have worfhipfull rtfpcft pjc
1 upon them, and all thhgsof (he
beft fuitiig to their contentment.
And they coir e not willingly, bat
where there is fome likelihood
they miy goe thorow with their
bufiatfle. Bucmy'Ladyrequireth
no provifion nor qualification in
the perfbns fhee vLfi erh, but that
rhey be poore in fptri r , snJ fee
themftl ves at fuch a pafle^that they
k *iow not what to do withou: her.
We know not whattodo,butour
eyes are towards thee, O Lord;
when fen fe,and our owne ft rengt h
areat a ftand,thentherei$ficroorac
ma^e for Faith to enter. You muft
thinke therefore, good Sifter, what
a dead lift this ate i*,to which you
approach. You fcnow,good Rachd
was taken away in \u It is the cba-
ftifementofshc great God^ which
if he fhou Id not pac under with one
hand^ as he (hikes with the other.
we
Comfortable infyru&tom to a 245
wc could notindureit : Yea, deli-
verance in this cafe (but that is fo
ordinary) would ticfcrvedly be
counted miraculous. Wherefore
you muft not thiake of it a* of a
matter of courfe, which you nccde
no further to looke about, than to
gcthelp,andtheaccuftomed means
unto you : No,noj yo;; muft labour
to thinkc that* you are in fuch a
ftrefle, out of which none can help
yoiijbut the ftrong Helpe of Ifraei.
Secondly, you muft lend for her:
Now fbedwdkthinKeaven>whi-
iher you muft difpatch your beany
prayer,, faying to the Lord : Thou
knoweft, O God$ Uo w my heart is
fallen from thee, in the affiince of
it, and how prone it istoleancto
fach helps of the creature, as I lee
before me 5 though thefe, without
thee, can doe nothing. O Lord,
though I know tfaercisnoRocke
befide thee, yet I am fo dead in un*
beliefe and fa ! fs confidence, chat I
cannot tiuft on thee. Helpe there-
fore my uobcliefe, and increaft my
faith.
2+6
woman grcAt $f childe.
faith.Now when he doth give you
i grace,fccle faith coraming toward
you, you muft chetrifti it with
fuch food whtreby it groweth :
now faich fccdeth oa Gods pro-
mife, on experience, and on con-
federations which arc deduced out
. of Gods Word. Thus you muft
thinke : Lord* thou doeft make
the Hiades to Cilve ; As thou
haft chaftened us with pain in tra-
veil, Co thou haft promised that we
fhailpaffe the pikes, and bring
forth, though with (brrowes. A-
gaine 3 you muft thioke, how you
have found God faithfull and mer-
cifull in this kinde. Finally, you
muft reafon thus \ That hee who
hath put that mercy into a finfull
man, to helpe a Bead in the era-
veil of it, when it is hard* will
hce faile to give you (a Daugh-
ter believing on him ) all the helpe
that is good fo? you, anfl which
maketh with his glo? y ? Tnelord
acquaint yod with himlelfe 3 in.the
daily expsnences you hw< of bis
Mercy
j
t \
G$d doth not correft us
Mercy and Truth. Thus hopiug j
my Midwife commeth not too
late, I commit you to God.
Your loving Brother,
Paul Bzynt.
*47
32.
OEarc Sifter,- I doe defire to
grieve with you, in your
griefe j and to have, in fomc tnea-
fure^a glad and thaakef all heart in
your rejoycing. It is bar &kz my
camming to Towae, that I heard
of your bruifed b3dy and diftafed
miade i my eyes are caft up to him,
who breaketh not a bruited Eleede,
that he would eafe your minde 5 to
him that tmketh the broken bones
to rej )ycc,thathee would returne
you your accuftomed health and
comfort.
D^are Sifter, wee muft in all ac-
cidents of this nature, remember,
that our God doch not chaften, as
hiving pleafure,chaftening (imply :
but I
248
mm than we have medef.
but when necde is* hce reireraceth
our corf cS ion,«iaking us hca vie at
fandrie tiroes 3 and by fundry occa-
fioits and maaaers ,accord i ng as our
neceffLy requireth : Wc (hall fin Je
in the cad,w c could not have lack-
ed any one ihing^which in this na-
cure hath befallen u*.
Wherefore wee muft not be too
much caft do woe in thefe Corrt &i.
ons; but rather admire our hea-
veoly Fathers love, who is net
weary of nurturing fuch unreach-
able children ; who is not weary of
following the cure of our incura-
ble Diftafes; incurable, were hee
not fuch a healing God, who could
fiibdue every thing to hunfclfe.
Yea, though our Confciences doe
know, that there is a caufe why he
chafteneih and putceth fuch bitcer
Potions into our hands; yea, that
befallethus, which isobfervedh
unskilfull Patient*, wee miffethe
Marke often, when wc con jedure
the ground s of our owne glide?.! c
is nor wane of love, Sifter, to S. S.
which
God purges us with tjfltSms §49
which is any pare of Gods quar-
rcll (though wee CMj none of us 5
Lve either the begetter, or thole
that are begotten,as we ougbf . for
all our delight fhould bein thera :)
It is (bmc defeftjSifter^nchc day-
ly coutfe,and io the frame *»d con-
ftitutioa of the heart towards God.
When wee doe nor, by imprinting
in our hearts the remembrance of
our fcarres fbre»palcd, prefervc in
ourfoules that lowlinefle and po-
Terty of fp T ric which it becorn-
meth us to have before God* and
which fometimes wee did fesle in
confeience of thofe our provocati-
on*; then we give him juft occafi-
on to meditate on fame new Cor-
rections. When our hearts grow
a grainc too light- when our wa-
ter (as it were) lookcth but a little
too high y our heavenly Father, a
Phyfician no leffe loving than cun-
ning,hedothdi{ccrneit,and quick-
ly fi teeth ua whom hee moft tend?-
reth, with that which will reduce
all to the healthlbme temper of a
broken
250
according to our dificmptrf.
broken fpifit. Alas, Sifter, fuchis
the forty in the beft of our hearts,
that our beating will no longer
dwell with us to purpofe, than the
fmart lafteth ; and as that weareth
away, (o wee grow into a kinde of
lightneffe, fecuricy, and liberty^
which are fore-runners of fomc
enfuing rebuke. That God which
teacheth his children to proband
which giveth wi/edome to us that
want if, without upbraiding us;
he open our eycs,to fee oar eitates
this way f that fo he may furnifh us
with true uaderftanding. Well,
though theft things come often,y ct
be not difmaied • it is Gods pre-
venting love, who will have no
neaft of ficke matters breed in us,
which fhould then difmayus,when
we mod of all ftand in ncede of
comfort. A body conveniently pur-
ged every Spring and Fall, is not fb
fubj;& to cotraft matter of deadly
fickacfle, as another, which hath
long gone, on without help of any
fiich evacuation. Wee fay, it is a
1 mife-
Sfiritttall Phjfickyd&dits gwd. 251
inferable life, to live ftillincourfe
>f Phyfick**; but wc may turne the
pecch in fpiriruall consideration,
ind fay, Blefled arc they, who
are never without fome bitter
thing or other from God, that
they may be reftored, and prefer-
ved from the fccond Dsath. And
for roy (clfe,Siftcr, you have fuper-
abounded tome inyourlovf; your
aftions and fruits have not bcene
fparing, but your affe&ton I did
ever perceive cowards me in all fin-
cerity.I am forry that I have (hew-
ed you no more,and that my health
jdoth not give mce leave to vific
. you, and come upon you, without
• waiting any further invicement. I
have long waded in a conflifting
^courle, and I thanke ray God (who
h ath wrought in me) the labour of
my minde, in fbme regards, hath
not beene Hctk^hisrmketh me not
able to mioifter to my drare friends ;
as other wife I fhoiild. When the
. hearts neceffiry rcquirech a eonflo-
1 ent Gf blood to iy he haadvSc "uch
CKteri-
*5*
Wt *nuftfuppor$0$kerSj as weff,&c.
exterior members arc lcfr pale and
blood Icfle to appearance : you may
apply ic ; when fupport of our
owne Races calls for out ftrength,
we cannot doe tbac abroad, which
otherwise were bcboofefbll. N<-
verchelcfle, Sifter, ifGodcafcnot
your tftinde, that yon can walke in
feme tolerable fafhion tinder tbe
burthen; and if withal I,you thinkc
my pretence might be reliefe to
ycu that way, I will for a while
adventure to you, if God (part me
health in any meafure. If God fo
looke upon your (pirir,as that you
feelc your felfe in foinefbrtfuffi.
ciently ftrengthened, then out of
your love forbeare that, which you
may otherwise in love command.
Thus leaving you to your God,
who teacheth us to profit, and
giveth hearts as well as correcti-
ons j andwifliing you ranch quiet
fruit of .righteoufhes in his fcifon,
I take my leave,this 30, olQ&obtr.
Your Chriftian Friend, and
loving Brotber,P**J Bajue.
•
Vt htvt nudi eft be Lords daily aid.
33-
MY deare Sifter; the Lord,
who hclpcth uswithevery
good defire^helpe roc with prayer,
which may find favour in your bc-
halfe, through Chrift. Should no
place hold me, in which I found
noteafeandcomenr, I coald not
make abode long under the Moon:
for though I have fownc the feedc
of both, Iknowthatlananotyet
to re ape fo mach ts the fit ft fruits
of my Hirveft j I hare need of faith
and patience, to makemeinherite
every promife. The Lord be our
ftrong Arme every morning, and
teach usfotolookerohinyhatwe
may feele our fpirituall flrength
rene wed.This I fpeakc not of con-
tentment grounded in godltnefle,
for I have chit ia my meafure, I
t'unkeGod- but in regard of that
content which rdultech from the
p«eafing rellifh ofc ucwardcircum-
ftaac>s. The fweece wates of my
youth
2 53
¥
2 5 2 I Gidletf wbe rveakjo make usjtrong.
youch did breed fuch wormes iD
my Soule, as that my heavenly Fa-
ther will have me yet a while con-
tinue my bitter Worme-feede, be-
caufe they cannot otherwife be
thorowly killed. I write this the
rather for your fate; for truely I
find>that the cofcience of roy Ihte
and need doth helpe mee much to
digeft fuch grievances as would
goe too much againft ftomacke,
had doc God acquainted mee with
this ground of pacience. For your
AA/eakenefle., Sifter, I hope God
will make it end in ftrengch. Ic is
kindly for Phyficke to infeeblc a
while : Howfoeverjhold the Rock
and ftrerg:h of the heart, the
Lord Jefus. Hee who healed all
Maladies, when hee wasabafedon
Earth; He, whofe glory hath not
diminished either mercy or ability
in him., H^e ltttethus be weake,
that bee may make us ftrong : our
exiren^itiej is his opportunitie ;
where mans helpe endech^ Gods
power begins. The Father of mer-
cies
Goderrel]rourr6ckeofC om f Jrf » I 2 53
ciesiti Cftritfylraw you to him,and
make you able a litclc to wreftle
wuh him forftreng^h, atleaftfor
fpirituall comfort : Hcewillbea
Rock?,& ftrcngth, when heart and
flefti (hall failf;he will give you the
Brcft of Confolatioa, and comfort
you, when no artificiall Confe&i-
ons can exhilarate your fpiric ; hee
Will be Anodyne to you, eafing
you of all your paioe and griefe,
feafonably; a (hadow at the right
hand, againft all heat which crou-
bleth^ a prtfent reliefe. Our weake
mindes creeping ftill below in
earthly fuccours^ are much more
(oaked with evils than they fhould,
could they cry to God, and get
chemfclveSjby vertueof his promi-
fes, as it were, by certaine fcaling-
iaddcrs 5 raounted up unto hica.The
raine cannot lye fo long on high
m Duntaines, as wee fee it to doc in
lower grounds; fo is it in thefe
waters of our atfli&ions. For the
Fityou expeft^God who worketh
above that we can aske 3 or thinke j
M hee>
254
W% mujlfubmitto Gods Yoakfi.
hee, I hope, will be better to you
than you looke for. Sometimes,
when we prefume upon freedeme,
he doth with-hold it from us : and
foflnethnes when wee reckon on no
other^but to returns to our yoake,
and take up our ccoffe,hc doth dif-
mlfle us : but if it doe come 5 and at
the good timr^welcome ir,ihough
it be a troublefome gueft ; I doubt
not but God will make ic pleafe
you welac parting.Neither be too
much moved at thofe other petty
affli&ions: Ifhould rather chufe to
have. my houfe Gods Hofpitall, i
than a Court of fuch pleafure
wherein Gods feare is 3lmoft exi- I
led. Bictcr her be$ are better, while
they breed good blood, than the;
fweeceft raeate which ingcndereih \
bitter vomk 3 and mortall Iicknefle.
The Lord give us wife hearts^
which may rather chule afilidions
than vanity, which may not think
much to dwell in houfc fometime
with godly mourning, Wdi Sifter^
you have hadyour fdca&re in god-
] y
The affli&edfbaBbe-cimftrted. \ 1 5 5
Iy forrow, as a fofter-father to the
foulc : I doe affure you this bkf
fing in the Name of the Lord, you
(hall receive comfort ; thy latter
end (half be peace, thy winding-
fhc^t (hall be as Gods handker-
chcr, to wipe all teares from thy
eyes, through Chrift our Redee-
mer. Which [fpeak not,to weaken
your Faith touching temporall de-
liverance, which God ufeth to
(hew th© righteous (when it is
good) though they fall into fixe,
yea,into (even adverfities: but that
your Faith, confirmed in that
which is principal), may make you
depend on God more confidently
for his Redemption from chefe
prefent evills (which isacceflory,
and lefle principal!) and that fo
farre 33 it may (land with his glory.
Your loving Brother,
Paul B*ym.
Ma 34. Loving
256
Chrifttm admonition.
34-
LOvingBrothcr : Theoccafion
oiwhitts comminghome,doth
move (nc to write fbme few words
(070114 partly* for your better fi-
tisfa&ion, touching our affaires ;
partly, forourChriftian Admoni-
tion, which is al ws ics needfull : ac-
cording to thar; Admonifh one an-
other, wbik ic is called to day., left
our hearts be hardened, through
the dcceiefulntfle of finne. The
gract of God, which faveth us by
the forgivennefiB of finne • and the
gi^t of adoption, which making us
Sonnes, bringeth us to have the
Spirit of Chriithere, tbcearneft-
penny of that mafic of glory i^ee
looke for hereafter : This grscj
doth te^ch us, that is, effectu-
ally perl wad? , yea, aod conrtraine
(as P^a/fpeaketb) the IcveofGod
doth co; tiraine us; all fuch as taftc
it, doe walke not onely juftly to-
wards men,, but godly in the
duties
* — lwm
The love of God wiH i»une uf
duties concerning Godsworfhip,
publike and private ; and foberJy,
hufingallthe bleflings ard liber-
cicg of this prefcnt life, which God
of his mercy doth vouch fafe us.
Now, many of us are taken tardy,
bccaufe, that though wee have
care of faire and juft dealings
yec, if wee examine our ielves in
godlinefle and temperance wee
may be pot in thablacke Bill for
Non-yr$f,cUtits. For what is god-
linefle? An inward devotion of
heart to God, which maketh the
godly foule both ufe diligently all
parts of his worfhip, private and
publike, and alfo in every chii^g to
feekc bis gbry. So^owalkc tem-
perately towards our felves, is to
be.foberly aff.fted towards the
tilings of chis life,' which wee ufe :
as neither ta-phy the Harbengers
and Purveyor, ro provide for the
lufts of our hearts, before we have
them ; nor ; y«t to goe too-deepe-in
them, when wee have them; nor
finally; to be moved much, if wee
M z have
258
from the love of the World.
have not this or that which wer
defire. If wc have tafted the fwecc
grace of God in Chr?ft± you muft
needs finds your heart drawne on
to care, to pleafe God by holinefle
and (bbrkty,and weanedneflefrom
the things of this prefect World.
Gods loveconftrainethustolove,
Cos AmorU Amor : That you fhall
fay 3 What have I in heaven but himr
in earth in comoari/cn of him ? Wc
love h;m 3 becaufe he hath loved as
fir ft. And if you have felt the fwcet
of his gnce, which is better thsn
lifejtt will weane you in feme mea*
(ure,and make yoa fober minded in
thefe earthly affaires and delights.
I count all things droffe and dung
in comparison of Chrift and his
righccoufnefie.A mans mouth doth
not water after homely provifions,
when hee hath tafted well of deli-
cate fuftenancf ;fo 5 whoft heart hath
died into' Gods favour, which is
better than the vintage or harveft,
than all earthly profits and plea-
lures : he whole heart feeleth this,
can-
Theptmr of godlinefft*
cannot but be moreweancdlydif-
pofed towards things tranficory,
than chofe whofe portion is in thefc
matters, who know nogreater hap.
pinefle: wherefore let race intreat
you, as you will aflure your felfe
that you are a Scholler, taught by
the grace of God ; let me, I fay,in-
treat you toftirreupyourfclfero
godlioefle, not to the outward na-
ked profeffion and (hew of it, but
the power of it isGods Image re-
newed in the fpkit of your mind,
2 TVw. verf.3. 5. Then as your face
in a gUffe looketh to your felfe,
whofe 6gure it is, fo let your (bule
ever be looking towards God,
whoft image it beare?; ftir up your
fclfe to him : fuch as love not the
Lord Jcfus, let him be accurfed.
Would notyoubeaftnmed to love
another more than yourowne be-
trothed wife? Shalwenotblufhto
have our afflftion more towards
the creature, than G 3d our Creator
and Redeemer ? to whom we fmc
plight our faith, as being baptized
M
10
i6d
Love God above ati things.
!
io hi j Name • which is likewife cal-
led upon us as a mans name upon
the w ■ i j with whrmheiscou-
pkd? N>w true Ioveiscfficiou3
ni d:I:genr, not con:cnred with
good workes which are good
cheape, but it will conftraine us to
doc iff] good ftrvias that are plea-
ting to God. The love of God con-
ftrawethus, yea, in private, to dot
like as Abraham the friend or lover
■of God,G**. 18. 19. Yea, to hate
that which is tvill : Yce that love
the Lordjtate iniqui ty-,and do feare
to offend God, Res eft [illicit i,fkna
timorisamor : As itexpelleththat
flavifli fcarc, which is more of pu-
niflimentthan offence, lore cafteth
outfearc; fo,fobcr and watchfull,
put on Chrift : Take no care to ful-
fill the Ms of theflefti, ufe the
World as not abufing it; be marri-
ed as if you married nor 5 yea, cut
your ffefh {horter in fome things
your minde fuperfluoufly defireth,
like David. Remember S.Taul,
Phil a % 12. who was fo weaned to
7 all
-*-...»..
Wtt mujl not rtfc laxvfulltbings \ 261
ail things through Chrift, that hee
could doc as well in wane of all
thing*,asinabundancc.DjenoDa]l
I you may doe, left you quickely
■ commie thac you may not doe. All
I things arc lawfbll, but I will be
fervanc to nothing ; be not unpro-
fitable towards God : Trees wkh-
out frutt (hall be cut downe; many
(hall feeke to enter, and (hall not
enter. Shore (hooting lofeth many
a game. I call on you, left your
thoughts ofmarriage,y our feftivall
recreation, your companies, refts,
bring you afhepe : An eafic thing
when the Candle is forth, and all
(till without din/o fall a napping ;
which will prove to your c^ft
when God (hall fend fori] Sum-
mons for (laggards. My wife is
I weake, bur God doth bearc her up
with meekneiT^thankfuhefl^and
bope,in all het affii&ions.We both
remember yon,and wi(h yoar heart
may not be hardened through the
deceicfulnt (Tf of (ia. Blefled is hee
thadearcth alwaics, buc hee that
M 5 harde-
262
withnegkB rfgndlincffe.
hardench his heart, fhUl fall inro
evtll. Fare weUjCommcnd us co M r .
M; his wife^&CiBr other/emcmber
one thing is rcceflary ; what if we
could win the World, and lofe our
fculcs* Thinkc often that Ch'ift
doth denounce wo on the Worlds
whom hec tsketh not ifl whore-
dome/JrunkenneflVxtoruon.&c.
bun whom hee findeih wich tfe ir
hearts aflfepe^ in eating and drin-
king^building,bargamii g; that is,
following law full rhif gs,but whh
negkft of godlineflejand therefore
unlawfully; Readc the(e places.
Yoa have turned the quotation of
many a Statute, reade them ajaine
and againe. Corporall meat taftetb
in themoutbjtheiearefiveetin the
belly : A man cannot eatc his Cike
and have it.But you may eate thefe
words often- and the oftener you
feede on them by meditation, the
morefweec noariflbmenc you (hall
find in them.
Your loving Brother^
Paul Baine.
Rep ntance the tutichjlone ojrtkgion* \ 263
35-
BEIoved Brother,thongh I have
taken my -ourfe hicherco,and
bcene more indulgent to my (clfe
in privacy than heretofore, yet a£
fare your felfe* you arc in roy bsft
remembrance daily. My heart doth
intend to do you the beft fervias I
fhall be able,in way of your foulf ;
I hipelfinlUxecmetberaingood
time : I would be forry the Sceed
ff]3uid fterve while the grafle
groweth, as wee we fpeake in the
Proverb. Wherefore I do admonifh
you, that you would ftir up your
hear: to repentance daily, and ihat
you would labor to feele that your
affe&ions are now let upon God :
this is the touchlone by which we
may try the truth of our Religion,
andofthatFaithwehavetoGods
that courfe which is eftranged to
ihcl^-is all the country wide of the
way to falvation ; this is the way
thither, If you wilefcapet lie wrath
to
4
264 I Tht exercift of repentance.
1
to come 5 recent; and doe workes
worthy repentance. If you repent
not,yecflial]pcr!{b» Now the ex-
ere fe of thls^is thug much : **&j A
renewed griefe for all unwonhi-
nefle pa'tt and prefent ^ to ome
home Bterei &~ necrer to God daily.
Can wc due eaficrpennance, than
to kc our hearts fmite us with the
thoughts of our ignor£ce,otir care-
lelheffeof God, and ncgle&iog of
hisfervice? ofour great unprofica-
bkneffe, which alone is fearefull?
For the Tree that bringeth not
forth good fruity is as well cut
I downeco the fire, as that which is
! loaded with bad. We cannot fhif^
; bur grieve rn thefe cohfiderations,
j if our hearts love God. If we faile
I a friend in duty of love, u grie vech
j us^buufwedochimadiiplcafare
j and trefp*fle, jjftly alienating h ; s
nitnde from n?,ir doth car urac the
heart, tbarwee hav* forgoc our
telvea* fu farre^aad wc befhrew our
(elves for it : (hill we then take no
care for the things wee oriiicand
commit
Wt muft comfound with'Godjto 26$
commit againft God > Malice only
is carelcffe of fhrewdturnesdone
tofuch whom (he malig-ietb. The
nature of Love, is to grieve;
leaft offence given,thcre where fhc
lovech: What if fhee offend him
not fo grievoutly, as we fee others,
ftull we therefore not be grieved,
though wee hold on in a courfc in
(bme raeafure offensive > Mm ha-, h
right ro a penny as well as a pound,
and may be wronged as well Li the
one as in the other: And will not
the fame rule hold cowards G^d ?
You muft the rather heare on this
fide, becaufethatthefparfclingof
Gods anger myourTowne, was a
Summonsftnt forth for us deeper?,
that will not awake our felvcs,and
prepare to meete our God in hear-
ty humiliation. The Famine and
Sword, land Plague, you know are
the three greateft Arrefts that
God fervetb on foch as breake his
Covenants impenitently. This,
Brother, is the onely way to avoid
danger, to iooke unto Godsgrace
with
t 66 aveydjickeneffe hit Serge Ants.
j wi* ha forrowfull heart, acknow-
ledging, that you have ferved him
Joofely and unfruitful!/. If a Crc-
di r or fhould lay wait to arreft mee,
beligiothe City; though I chan-
ged my Chamber from the Temple
to Whitc-ChappelljthGugh I cor-
rupted the Sergeant with a Fee, all
this could nocfrcure roe; for ano-
ther Sergeant might be got, or
fome new coufe devifcd for mee :
but if my Credko* be compound-
ed wi?h,l walkeftfely. O Brother
and S'fter, thus it is : wee are all of
us debtors unto God; Sickeiuffcs
are but his Sergeants; there is no
way of defe ning,if God do by his
hand upon us, but by fuingunro
him with faichfull and forrowfuU
hearts, that it would pleafe him^
for his Chrift fake, to give us a
Qniitus eft, and freely acquit us of
all our trefpafles $ which thud till
then, as, fo many Debts in his
Bookes,uponour beads : thea wee
may deep on both ficc^uxl walke
at large i the Coaft iicleasr, vich-
out
Dilay not nfeuunct ; Call
267
ouc danger. Wherefore delay not '
this matter; let not company tranC
port you, 1st not fearc ofpainful-
nsffe^odforgoingdcligStfyouare
worte afraid than hurt) let not any
indifpoficion and flxhfulnefle hu;-
der y ou ; (h ike up your ft lfe, Chriil
will helpe ynu/M*d* & m$do n*n
habent modttm • the longer you put
it off, the longer you may. A man
thatgetteth up force time, when
his head (eeroeth full of fl;epe, i
feelcth no want of if, when hec :s j
well wakened ; nay, is often more j
Iighcfome, than if hee had conci- j
nued (1 Jgg'ng. Wee (hall lofe no j
contentment, by offering vio!fl cs •
to our £iritullflothfuLvd]e. The!
Lord^hattookeL^liogeringjand
carried him forth of Sodome, hee \
catch hold of you, andhJpeyou j
ia this bufinefle. And when you
have found this way, you muft
helpe your Wife, and call on her,
toreturnewichyou. A good m in
caonot tell how to goe to heaven
alone s thi Gommuuion of Saints
tnuS
II
^68 other -taw^Uf with G*d*
mud be a point of pra£Hce,as well
as an Article of Bclicffc. One Cm-
- die lightech anotherreven fo grace,
where it is, will labour to kindie
grace where it is nor. We had need
to retume; all that live ftrangers
from God (hall pcrifh: as forus
then,it is good that we drawnecre
unto him. Now if you aske how
you may walke with God? lan-
fweryou; by fetting your heart
upon him ; for as we lay, There a
man is 3 where his heart is ; neither
cm wee have God otherwifefor
our Go J, unleflc our hearts be to-
wards him; for if our hearts be on
any other thing, then that is our
Treafure and our God. Now if
you wouid find our, w hether God
hath your heart, or no, you mull
trie it by thefe rules, by examining
whetheryour thoughts and af£b&i«
ont arc taken up with him. If our
hearts be fetup3d z thing, <v*ee
thinke on it of en^ and MQft there*
on in the flight ftafoo, befog not
able-,- meaar-while, to rake-any
reft
Rules to know whether our
169
tcft for it. So, all that feare the
\ Lord, muft be thinkers on him :
(though hec be not in fight of the
J bodily eye, herouftftiil run in our I
minds. If we take no thought cfa
thing, ic is a tokfntharitisofno j
refpeft with us. Brother, God is
not Co commonly knowne, but hce
i is as rarely thought opon;and mens
hearts fmite them not, when they
goe day after day, not once calling
to minde the powerfull remem-
brance of God : though the Scrip-
ture 3 when it doth tcrme men all
the evill that is, doth ftile them no
other than fuch as forget God* A-
gaine, as the thoughts muft be
niindfull of him, fotheafFe&ions
of Iove^joy, feare, and defire, muft
be towards him. Examine there-
fore, whether you findenot, that
your defires are more inclining to
earthly things : you feare more
often, left men fli«u!d cenftre you,
and note you of novelty and pre-
cifenefle, for doing duties to God ^
than that hee (hould juftly have a
quarrel! | .
27 o heart j be jet on g d y or no.
quarrell againft yoa, for negle-
6tfng his fervice daily. So, if your
•heart joy not in the acquaintance
you have with this or that man.,
more than in the knowledge yoa
haveof God in Chriftjefus, which
isLifeeverlafting : Looke if your
heartieft love be not beftowed ra-
ther on the creature, thanonrte
Creator and gracious lledeemer,
Jefas Chrift. Now, if you finde 1
affw&ionat!y,how farre your heart
is out of fquarc, then you muft
not negleft to fecke remedy for
this evill; Griefe which is at the
heeics thereof is not to be regar-
ded. For when the raoft vitall part,
ev:n the hcarr, is touched, then
wee feeke Cordialls, and beftirre
us for the reftoring and prefer*
ving of it : If the heart, as the
Fouataine of this momentany life,
berefpefted • what care muft wee
haveof it, aiit is a Fountaine of
fpirituall life 5 never to be ended ?
There is but one Phyfician that
feelsth this heart-pulfe, and is
able
Th$ heart naturally hard. 271
able to heale ic ; even Chrift Jefus, \
that hath (aid, Hee will take from \
us the heart of ftone, that is, our j
fccure, impenitentj and dreadleflTe (
hearts, continually offending our
God; and will give us flefhy ,
that i% tender hearts, ftchasfhall
fame us when we trefpafieagainfi
him. We had need to cry to him ;
for the beft of our hearts; if we!
knew theatre {b naught,that they
hadneedtobemadeanewthorow-
out/or they are paft mending. La-
bour to find out this mortall poy-
fjn, which ex- inguifheth all life of
grace. The love of the World,and
the love of the Father, fight like
fire and water, they Will not dwell
together. Keepe the heart with
all diligence, for thence are the it
fues of life ; pray to God to change
ir, pray to him to kcepe the frame
of it: refraine that which increa-
feth the finfall diftemper of it ;
-acquaintyour ftlfe with fach good
rneanes, by which your think,
ing upon God, and your hearty
afifcfti-
27 2 the violent take heaven.
affedions towards him, may be
cherr.fhed and encreafcd. I will
(hortly fend you a Letter of fuller
dire&ion this way. Ic is better to
fcele Gods favour one honre in
oar repenting foule*, than to fit
whole Ages under the warmeft
Sun-fhine this World affordctb.
Commend me to my loving Sifter;
(he mud thinkeofthis matter too: ,
not thofe that are cardeffe and
flothfull^but the vio!eor>that catch
at it by f orce* they carry away the
Kiogdome. Many that fceke, (hall
not enter : what will become of us,
ifwefceke not; in words and pro-
ftffion > All Chrifoans looke to
Heaven -indeed wee acsall for the
Earth : this caketh up ourthougbts
and affeftions 3 that wee are like
Boat-men, that looke one way , but
row another.
The Lord be with both your
(pirics.- Fare-well.
Your lovifig Brother^
Paul Btjne.
A Letter in^ruElmg *nd comforting i 2j 3
3 <S.
ALas,deare Brother,! defire for
co condole your chance with
you id the fight oi my God, wi(h-
ing him ouc or his grace, co enter-
lac^ the fefifr of his fweet love
with vour bi* t^rtifcom for r,andro
give you tbequict fruit of r ghre-
oufneffe, fol; wK^in the end of
this-yo l -Jt shtfttfemcfit. The Lord
doth give rs n<my things, and chat
onely so prove u«, that by them
we nny be lei into knowledge of
otir hearts, either to fee our owr e
:ntfie,and chert by reverence
aad love the Giver, and foto be
comforted when hee takeththem
fr ;mu5;ortodifcovt:rbythemche
unwea^cdiKfieofouraffftionSjby
living in feenricy, andforgetfulnes
of- God; that finding fuch things,
wee may bs moved to godly (or-
row; the end of which Js (alvation.
Event, which is one Booke that o-
penech Gods fecr^c pleaftre, doth
now
1 74
for the death of a Wife.
now fpeake thus much ; That God
did never intend that you fhould
long in joy that gift hee gave you ;
hee divi it to try vrhat was in you,
to make you fee it, either to your
conifort,or to your further humili-
ation before him.The fpirit of man
kno wcth the things of man ; you
have a privitie within your fdfe,
which can determine one way this
cafe, which in it felfe is indifferent.
Now to helpe you (as God (hall
guide) under this I&nd, youmuft
marke what this courfe, on Gods
part dothmoft probably tend to ;
and in the fecotKi place, what you
are to doe, that out of your great
lofle^you roay worke to your (elfe
true, advantage. For the firft, the
Lord dcth point out thus much;
that there is corruption flilllyiog
in you, thac rruft be purged forth ;
and that he out of bis fatherly loue
cannot ceafe.but minifter medicine
to you, to the end that hee may
bring away that which would o-
fhci wife hazard your fbulcs health.
We
God <?jflt£}j none without caujh .
Wc are not made heavic with ma-
ny things unlefle our neede fb re-
quire, faith S. Peter, Cb*p.i^ m A
wifePhyfician will not give Potion
after Ponon, where bad matter u
Sufficiently evacuated; much Icffe
wiil Gad reiterace Cca ftrotig uur-
ges, if he did not ke chit our need
did enforce it* Wherefore, d^are
Brother, you murtlearne to fee
Gods mercy in following of you,
and the nt cie your foulc hath chus
to be dealt withall 5 you rruit be-
thinke you, how that his former
blow did not worke fo to purpofc
uponyou,as was meet : which doth
make him deale like the cunning
Phvfician, who when there is not
blood enough taken away., doth
Rcpetcre vices , open the Veine,and
make it bleede afrefti. You muft
bethinke you, what fcape did o-
vertake you in youth, that your
God (hould taike alembiance,
as if he thought you not wor-
thy efflhe ftabkHfruition of fo
1 1 lovely a bkfffog, as is a Chriftian
I tradabl e
275
1
2 j& How to profit bj Gods visitation.
M
tra&able loving wife : Happy is he
that diggeth into himfelfe, to find
the roots of his evills. Motbi nojlri
faeilitt* curantHrquam invtnittntw.
Pray to God that you may take to
he*rt thecaufes ofthings $ then chr
>fF:vft* (hall quite ceafe, when tin
cauf:s are removed . We that hold J.
de-nmrs to found the truth of cau-
fes, 2nd who would rather have
the judgement of a whoIeCollege
ofphyficians/han not find out the
ground of a bodily griefe: how
fhould weefceke co God, that wee
might through his light difcerne
what dwells in our fpirits? Which
is the ground of his difpleafure.
Now for the fecood thing, how
you may make the be ft of this vifi-
tation ; you maft doe this^be decli-
ning that which may hinder, and
ufing that which may further the
cflkSuall working of this upon
you tofalvatlon. O Brother,if you
take phyfickc,will you goe out in-
to the aire? Wiily©u diftemper
your felfc by diet ? Will you hurt
the
Wt tnufl take afflt&ion to heart.
277
the working of it in you?(Such ac-
cents as thefe,are Gods Phyfickc
for your (bule : O be caref ull to let
them workcinyouto purpo(e,that
your healing(wh? n God fhall fliew
ic) may fland a Fall & Spring with
you,may becomirsualL IfaPocion
flay not with us, but come up a-
gaine untimely, what will ic benefit
the body ? If a Seate-cloth be put
upon us, and wee weary quickely,
pull it offagaihe,what profit can it
bring us? O Co, when God layeth
thefe Plaifters to our hearts,indeed
fomewhatfmarting,ifwewillnot
let them lie on, but quench that
forrowfer fin, by company, and
other occafions, not dieting our
fbules, as who are Patients ud.-r
I Gods hands : Alas, wee {foil be as
J readyforancwPurge,asifwehad
j never taken any. O Brother,! gtve
you no worfe counfell than 1 my
felfepra&ife; if I knew anyfafcr^
you fhould have it. The Lord give
you wi(dome,that you may be able
to looke before you,and delight in.
N fuchi
278 Wt art aft to jltight apUion.
foch things, which though they be
tedious for the prefenr, yet they
will end fweetly.I know yourdan-
ger; Oh, if wee had but our owne
fooliftj hearts, wee had enemy e-
nough, too mighty for u?, without
the belpe of Jef&s Chrift our Lord :
But a great many of Syrens fing a-
bout you a great many of matters,
which will by little and Iittlc,fteale
theftvory tnoughc of theie things
out of your heart :yea,I would we
had not evill fpirits to keepe pofc
fcflion in us., with ftch violence,
that wee can hardly make entrance
for a thought of this aature. Again,
it fb fareth with us, that things the
fecondtime, ftir us not commonly
16 much as at the firft; a9nature,the
more fhee is accuftomed to medi-
cinc,thelefle (he is moved wkh it :
O,yourauft be afraid of this carri-
age to your Phyficianjftrong things
will poifbtf us if they purge us not.
Againe, our hearts are fo hard^that
till the Spiritdoe foftea tbcm,thefe
affliftions which are Gods ham-
mers,
Wc ma ft notfleigbt God t b*nd. 27 9
mers, bcate cold Iron ; all is boot-
lefle. 0,when youfeeleit, cryto
him that hath promifed to takea-
way this heart of ftone: what need
I warnc you how malicious the di-
veil is, to dart fuch thoughts tbo-
rowus, as if feeing itwili be no
better^alh wdlcnough?Your ftate
is thus augmented, your credit in-
creafed 3 your felfemore capable of
further advancements and conteat-
mnits in that kind; feeing you lived
ki^dlywithher^anditisGodsplea-
fore, vvho can undoe that which is
done ? The Lord rebuke him for
you. O turne from fuch curfed
thoughts which tend to this, that
you may be kept fl ambering and
fleeping, till God fend forth fbme
heavier fummons for the awaking
of you. Now for your helpe this
way J have fern you a letter which
I have long intended, but hitherto
have been e prevented: The Lord
blefle it unto you. There be two
extremes under Gods hand : the
one is to fit light by itj the other is
N * to
280
The
mcanetn a
ip\
tton»
to droope too much under ic. Now
you mutt go in the midfl: ; take it to
heart^but wicb hopc^nowing that
it is good to beare the yoke^ and
that it (hall be well witbfuchas
wait filently upon the Lord : and
therefore fay with Mcha, I mil
beare it y becaufe IbdveJinxed.Thirik
your heavenly Father, that God
that is love it felfe 3 hath put this
cup into your hand, and fay with
ChtiRySkaBI not drink* the cttf my
Father hath put into my hand ? For
our bodies good we drinkc things
which make us fet many a fowre
faceon them ; what (hall wee not
welcome for our fbulcs health* Yet
asyou muft let it downe, and hum-
ble your foule, fo you roufi com-
fort your ftlfc another while,there
is mercy with him that he maybe
feared* It is good to intermeddle
reftorativesof/pirituall flrength.,
which may raile up the foule in
true comfort,a s well as other w hile
to beate downe our foules in
thought which may humble them.
The
(joi c^tlls to hnrnhh^ and
The Lord hath given you from
time to time pledges of his father-
ly care overyouryea/uchby which
you may gather, that he will never
for fake you ; whom he loveth, hee
loveth to the end. Yea, this is his
great Iove^and he offereth himfelfe
as a Father to you, that he will not
let your fpirit goe at randome, but
correfteth the thing amifleinir-
that he bring you to be partaker ot
the qusc fruit of rightcoufaefle,
and faue you from being condem-
ned with thofe that are of unbro-
ken heart,whofe harts never mour-
ned for their fin. If you cannot fte
this mercy, of this you mufl: not be
difmaide ; though it be night, wee
(hall have day againe, yea,hi8 love
is the fame it was,though our fenfe
and feeling is changed . Sit licet in
nat0s fades anjitrafarentHm^ Mms
tamen <tqna manet. I do affure you
in that knowledge of my God,that
if you doe but favourably judge
your felfe before him, and humble
your firlfe iu his fight : if you will a
N 3 whije
281
•
22%
then to amfort m.
while count that ftate beft when
you fede your heart devoted to
bfm; though the countenance be
ckj;& 5 that great God that com-
forts the abjcft, and exalteththe 1
humble, hcc will exalt you and \
comfort you with true joy and
prosperity. Thus inhafte Icom-^
mir you to the Lord.
Yonr loving Brother, P. E.
37-
LOvtngbrother^l know a word
or two will be more welcome
than continuall filence ^wherefore
I will let you underftaod how it is
with us. My wifes infirmities doe
'continue with her, but fheehath
more ftrength, I thanke God, and
the violent working of them is e-
venpaft, at leaftreflcrh for a (ea-
ten. It wen?, when I did write to
you firft,exceeding hard with her .
but if the Lord give us faith, hee
can workeabove all wee can aske
or thinke. It is good wee /hould
have
We are dull and/leepy to Good. j 283
have falfc fires (hot off fometimes
to flart ap our fltambring (bules,
which are heavie to fbepe, chough
we be never (b wakened. Some-
times acoldneflecoraraeth on our
fpirit?, which maketh them un-
a£Uvc unto good^likeas it is in the
body, the heart is*fleepc (bmetime
when the eyes are open : fome-
time wee cake a nap in the luft of
our hearts : fomctime wee winke,
by falling into unfruitful! courfes,
idle words, pafling good hourcs to
no pnrpofe : the Divell hath many
waif s to rocke our foules aflcep,by
making us rejourne our good pur-
po(e*,and take day :fti 11 a little Hum-
ber,a little folding of the hands ; \ p .
we efcape falling from grace, lufts
unfruifulneflecifwe willnot make
delaics, buc fet upon good dudes,
yet even in thefe,our drowfic hearts
make us nod oftentimes through
indevotion.
Acd becaufe I am fallen into this
TheameJ pray you both take heed
that your Souks be not thus over-
M 4 taken,
284 Wt ought toftrive again ft it.
■I
taken, that the firft love, the gra-
ces which ac any time you either
have had be not leflened. Lookein
the 13. of the Revelat. 26. and nof
to husband our talents, or increafe
them, is the nextfore-xunmr of
judgement. Take heed of giving
place to lofts, He thatfewtth to hU
fle/bfitll reape defiruUmi, Gal,6 t 8.
Take heed of unfruttfulnefle : the
free that beareth not good fruit, is
a tree that fhall be cur downe, as
well as the tree that beareth bad
fruit, and every idle Word (hall be
accounted for: let nottheDivell
prevaile with us to put offa good
purpofe; quench not the Spirit,
iTbef.*}. i9.delaie$,ifany where,
here they are dangerous ; let us
fliake our felvcs up againft that
indevotion and fpirituall fljth
which will creepc upon us in doing
good : be not flothfull, be fervent
in fplrit : curfed is he that doth the
bufinefle of God haftingly. Bro-
her, we that are the Lords, though
wee are not in a dead fleepc with
the
H?ee neede Summons.
a8 5
the World,yet our fouks have the
remnants of fuch a lethargic as that
wee are often napping in thefe
kinds. The Lord hath need to fend
oat fammons for us fkepers 3 or wc
(hould be in danger by them. A*
wake thou that fleepeft, ftand up
from the dead, Chrift (hall give
thee lighr ; he that is the true light,
the quickning Spirit, having our
nature glorious with him in the
Heaven. The Lord our Redeemer,
the quickning Spirit, quicken our
foules, and keepe them through
faith in his power, to that Salvati-
on which is laid up for us in the
Heavens.
Your Iov ; ng Brother,
3*
LOvingBrotherJhav* received
your letcer,ful of heavie report,
but that our neede is fech that vvte
muft be made heavie with funihy
N 5 tempt?- |
Ti v ■ ■ '■■■ * ■■ "■ ■ ' « ■■ ' V*
28$
The ttfe we are to make of Gods band.
temptations ; our God doth not de-
light in beating us, but our necefli-
tiesinforceit:Godhatb taken from
you an innocent and fweet confort,
thenaturall Narfe of your nurfery,
a feithfull difpenfer ofyour eftate;
in a word, a good wife, who did
you good and not evill all her daies.
,Wee are bereft of a Sifter, a Sifter
indeede (as S. Taxi (pcaketh of
Widovvcs) whoieloffe, though I
beare more weanedly, bccaule 1
knew her more fpaiiogly ; yec it
doth grieve race (he is gone with-
out any fruits of my love with her.
The Lord teach U3 to be fcrvice-
ablc mutually while vve injoy each
other, that wee come not to wifb
we had dooe (o. Brother, it is my
defire,andl will feek at Gods hands
with a fafting for you, that hee
would give you repentance, and
fpeake to your foule, humbled un-
der his hand, that he will heale all
with advantage. A great breach
hath God made in your houfe,bnt
his mending is better than bis rna-
k king*
Repentance only flop G$ds anger.
kiog.l doubr nor,bat you know by
this, that God doth call you to re-
pentance; no bufh will ftop the gap
Co wcll^s humbling our foulfs-^nd
judging them in this fight: now
this is an cxercift that requireth
entring into our owne hearts, and
confidering what evillshavelhpt
in our bofomes 3 efpecialiy in thofe
waics which the finger of God
doth point out more particularly :
c Deutr. 50. i Kings 8. 47. 2. To
get a fight and fenfe of Gods hand
on us,and yet of his mercy that we
are not confumed, 3. From this
feeling efpecially of his mercy,
which is never taken from us in his
chafti(ements,we muft humble our
felves by confetTioDi which giveth
glory to God, and (hame to our
felves, by centring our owne
foules: as Ezek*26. 34.YeefhalI
judge your felves as worthy to be
cut off: by crying for mercies., as
Vavid, Tfolm, 5 1 . And thus in hu-
miliation come to him, and re-
new our covenants with our God.
no v w \
j88
.
Wet arefubjett to many temptations.
x Now of our felves, wee are full of
lLdifpoficion to this worke^ild all
that convene about you,incompa-
rifon, will call you from this pra-
&ice,.in which onely is your true
peace : and fo you had neede to
Loke up to Iefas Cbrift, who is
made theLord,thac hath all power
in Heaven and in Earth, that hee
may gi?e his Ifrscl true repentance
andforgiveneffeof/ins, AB.^ 31.
Efajf 16. 12. Not thinking much
to attend upon him, as cheeyes of
a hand-maid on her Miftrefle : For
who is like unto our God? and
what is more precious, than the
Grace of Repentanct > Againe,
B'O'hcr, kn n w, that you have no
vrifdomt, to carry your £lfe as
becc mmeth you under this great
hand of God : Fr on both hands
the Divell will aflaile you, and rhe
folly fou.id t i:i our hearts, doth
make his Temptations more dan-
gerous; fift, to defpife the Cor-
re&ion of God ^frcondIy,to count
tc iikefome, cuher to ward the
/mart
Wee arc aft to freight Gods band. 28 9
fmart off by impenitent meatus^or
to be iwiUowed up with gncfe,
and filled with biccemefle^in endu-
ring of ic. Now for the firfi . we doe
ic partly by inward fuggeftions;
perfwading cur klv^s, chat wee
(hall w«are the matter forch well
enough, tliac wee are once ^g.ine
at liber'y, and are in eleftion of
fach and inch preferments, (if fuch
things happen .net to be i 1 your
minde, it is the God of Peace chat
keepech them out :) (oinetimes a-
gaine, by making this or that way
delightful! un*o u?; ftiflkringour
(lives to be drawee avvay by idle
company 3 which are no better than
the Divells whittle, to call us a~
way from alltavory courfes, yea,
hisMinftrels,to lull as in our fpiri-
uail (1 iffiber.Now take heed here-
on • fjr this were co dawbe up the
Aall with untempered Mo: tar:
Theeafe which i? gptfo n this way,
is like the eafement of cold drinke
to hoc Agues, ic would make a
work thing bieed • for that which
ftayeth
29°
The itngtr of deferring humiliation.
ftayeththe working of mans Phy-
ficke,hurrech the body; which we
may conceiveby application there-
of to the foule, if wee will not
imbrace our affrfrions patiently.
Now, if you will not liften unto
God, when he calleth on this man*
ncr, then hec will drench you with
forrow, efpecially three waie*.
Firft, hee will hide from your eye
the remembrance of &cbthings,in
which you may take comfort; yea,
keeping you from tafling all the
mercies of God, with which this
correftion is intermeddled. Se-
condly, hee will hclpe you wich a
Speftacle, and make you fee too
b'g,both the prefcnt hand, and all
old matters &circumftances, which
may make it feeme grievous.
Thirdly, hee will hide from your
eyes all comfortable hope of Iffue,
which Godismoft faithful! to give.
Now therefore, deare Brother, the
Lord Iefus grant you may fiade fa-
vour in his fight, to efcape evill
-fiarcs. Make a venue of peceflky:
be
Tbefrofit of Repentance.
291
be doc afraid to fee fiane, and feele
the (mart thereof; buc remember
withall,what the Law of the Spirit
hath done in the courfe of your life:
ftrikc your covenant anew, chere
is hope with our God ; for all this,
read£^rc/;,2. 3. He is faithful! to
give Iflue ; yea, though hee mike
heavfc, yet he will comfort in the
multitude of mercies, Lzment. 3,
3 2. Turne from if, as from the D:-
velljthat would quench the fparks
of your godly fbrrow and abjecti-
on before che eyes of your God.
Take heed my Sonne, of defpifing
and making light-, cr accounting
irkc{cme 5 thechafiifementofGod :
If yee hcke wifedome, begge ir ;
1 will give i r , and not reproach
yoUtHeb.ii.^.Iamtsi.iy* Ocry
to God, that thus you may be gui-
ded. Should you not finde this
grace, hee would quickly lay your
honour in the duft, and we fhould
have caufe to weep in fecrct : Fare-
will his Kiogdome, farewell every
thing. But if hee give you this, I
dare
2?2 The more voe !$ve,tbe more we grieve.
dare aflureyou, all happineffe flull
follow you here, and for ever.
Seeke his Kingdome,and all things
(hall be call upon you, Matth, 6.
394
MYdcareS ; fter, whatthankeg
doe I owe co ray God, for
his Fatherly confolation, where-
wi:h hee doth comfort you? The
Lord increafe in m?e brotherly
love, and that grace, which may
make mee fanftifie him in all his
mercy and truth, which I fee him
(hew any of his children 5 efp&rcial-
lyluch,whom his providence hath
endeared to me,above others. The
increafe of your godly griefe 3 with
freedomefromdiftrutt, morechan
heretofore, hath nothing in it to
be adftircd.' The more wee love,
the more wee grieve, that wee
have o fired any grievance to thofe
whom w£e love. The more wee
fetle God* love in forgiving us,
the
IW»— — — —<■—■■■ III 1 1 1 l II M l ^ '
\l
They that gwaru after grace, 293
[the more wee love againe : (heel
lloveth much-, becaufe (heefindeth !
[much is forgiven her ; much love ,
[(hewed her firft. Diftruft hiu-
(dcrcth us from feeling Gods love : ,
Gods love is eclipfed from us^ours
18 much enfeebled Towards him ;
locr love weake, our griefe for
offending him , cannot come fb
kindly from us., for this is propor-
tioned to our lore. Bleffed be God,
I who giveth you thofc groanes, af-
ter his grace : God acknowledged
J that which his Spirit fuggefteth,
I When wee bid our children (as
j Charity for example) fiy, I pray
you,. Mother, give mee this ; we
I doe it not, but whs n wee means to
give them that which wee teach
themtoaske. So it is with God:
H^c doth not fend his Spirit
to our hearts, to hclpe us with
groancs, but when hee meaneth
to anfwer our defires : Hee that
makcth us fow, will make us reape.
Hungric poore foules are glad,
when they heare that meate is
toward |
294 C^'ft *MJ*tufi* their knging.
toward them ; glad when they arc
invited, though yet their Knife is
not laid on boord.Let this comfort
you,Sifter ,your Chriit faicb,Come
whofo thirftech, and drinke till it
ftreameth from you, Iobn 7. And
the poore (hall eate, and be fatif-
fied, and praife my Name, Thry
jhat feeke the Lord, their hearts
fhalllive. The Lord re j syce over
bisowneWorke, and continue it
in you unto the end. Farewell.
Yoar loving Br other,
Paul Baym.
40.
DEare Sifter, yourcoufinDw-
bam returning, I cannot but in
few words anfwer your Letter I
received. I doe defire to be thanke-
full for Gpds truth and tender mer-
cy towards yo j, and for making
meea Minifter of your Onfohti-
on : Though wee be unfaithfull,
yet God will be found faithfull.
1 When
Godsfdithfulnefe:
295
ben wee through weakenefle,
How him, noc challenging him
ith reverence* concerning his
feood words which hee hath fpo-
ken to us; when wee wait not on
thcperfoiraance of his proirife*;
even then hee preventeth us with
his goodneflej and for his Names
fake, hee comme'h leaping over
thofe Mountainesofitolw,^ all
our indifpofition, and unworthi-
neffe. He who is thus good to us,
fo unbelieving; if we would mend
our faith, how would he augment
his mercies ? This ftithfulncfle of
God (hould makcunbeliefe odious
to us,and cauft us to labour agaioft
it, by looking to the Auihour and
finifher of our faith; even then,
when through Gods gracious pre-
fencc we feele our felves in beft ta-
king.For as a raan,who hath beene
handled fore once with the Stone*
will labour to keepe it downe,and
% cleare himfejfe ofit,when now hee
is well,and the Fit over ; fb,in this
unbcliefe, having found how it,
(hakes j
29 6 Itfbould excite w to Faith*
(hakes u?; whsn wee have the mod
releafe from ic, then muftweeftill
be dealing with it: for though the
Fit is ceafed, yet the fpiritu ill fick-
neffeftililurkcth in us. Remem-
ber, good Sifter, howthi Divell
hath difturbsd your peac? : how
lictJe things, not looked to more
timely, have bred matter of great
grievance. Labour to have ftill in
fight that our naturall folly^ which
makcth us remember our beating
no longer, than the (mart lafteth.
Labour to heare your Chrift faying
every day to your foule; I am that
Saviour,who fave my people from
finne, I will bethylalvacion. Fi-
nally ^ ftrive to hare a thankful 1 ac-
knowledgement of Gods mercy
towards you : Then &*I1 your
Peace be like the Sunne, which
flhiaeth brighter and brighter^ till
the height of it be attained.
My deflre is to doe good to your
foule, both in my pretence with
you, and abfencc from you. Ifyou
could marke your felfe, and let me
know
Wee muff profit by corretlion.
now what moft hindereth you;
here you finde your fclfe wea-
eft, I fhould fie you better with
dvice, when God gave me ability
o ponder that eftate, I continue,
>ifter,bettcrthanfomecimes I have
becne, but held under the hand of
God : For that painfull weakneflTe
in the bottoms of my body, doth
(till follow mce* The Lord teach
mec to doc his will, and indure his
pleasure : And hee that will have
finfull men joyne withCorre&i-
on, Nurture and Inftru&ion, hee
make me profit by all his chaftife-
ments. The Lord delight to make
us ever with good hearts confefle
his truth and mercy towards us.
The Lord bteffe you with increafe
of comfort, and bleflc all yours,
with you.
Your loving Brother,
PaulBaym.
297
2?8
The bolj Spirit y the beft cemf anion.
4*
LOving Sifter, I am glad that
God doth adde fomewhat to
your health; for I hope it is a
pledge of farther favour.The Lord
open our eyes, that wee may fee
him ro be our life> and the length
of our daies.You maft not let want
of company make youltffelight-
feme : wee u(e nor company well,
when wee arenot fitted, by in joy-
ing it,the more thankefnlly to for-
beareir, whenthepkafureofGod
is, that we ftiould be bereaved of it
for a while. Your beft Husband,
hee is with you ftill, at Bed and
Boord, ready to vouch(afe you the
(weeteftCommunioD.The Lord of
his tender love draw you after
him, and fpeake peace and falvati-
on to your fpirit. I have kept from
you rhe extremity of my Visitati-
on • but the Candle hath not gone
out by night, fince theThurfday
after my cemmiog from you : till
within
Submit to Gods Rod.
299
within thcfe two nights, for a
good fpace,I have bcene forced fo
have fome watch by mce. Yet,
Sifter, theft arc but the begLmi lgs
of forrowes, tbefe arc not the fick-
ncfles that I have fong looked
f r. The Lord make mee preci-
ous in his fight, to be made able to
fuffcr and doe every thing in his
Chrift. My heart followeth God,
defirous to be taught of him whol-
ly, to endure all his plcafure. I
|thanke you for your loving re-
fmembrance, which you ftill have
of mee. The Lord ftirre up ray
heart, that I may remember you to
hirn, and that I may be ready to
helpe you with whatsoever Office
of true love (hall lie in my power.
Thus with my lore rcmembred, I
commend you, and all my CouQns
with you to the gracious prote&i-
ion of the Almighty.
Your loving Brother,
Paul Btjint.
*8o
Wit ought to prove our [elves.
4*.
LOvc is athingwemay lawfully
owe; and becaufe this is a fruit
of love to confider one another,
and prcvoke to good workes, to
exhort one another,that we be not
hardened, through the deceitful-
nefle of fin : Therefore I wifti that
othet things not neg!efted,my love
may be moft fruiif ull in this kinde.
Let me then call to your mind the
duties you know well., that you
may more and more be a praftifer
of them. The Scripture, 2 Cor. 13.
5. 6. biddethus prove our feives,
and tellech us, that if Gbrift be not
in u^ wee are counterfeits : 1c be-
commeth us therefore to fee on
what ground wee ftand, that wee
may make fore worke with our
God. Iffalfegold walked abroad, 1
wee (hould not take a Piece, but
trying it ; fo wife wee are, that we
may not be deceived in earthly
things, when wee hand over head
admit
We may k*t$w whether rpt bsChriftj*
admit any thing as currant to th*
way of falvation. Now wee may
cafily knowifweebeinChrift, or
Chi i(t in us : for as where the San
{bimth it may be decerned hence,
becaufc the darknes doth difperfe,
all things are lightfome: Evenfo,
where this Sun of Righteoufhefle
fliineth, the darke clouds of igno-
rance and fionc are fcacrered^ the 1
light of knowledge and grace ftii-
nerh. I f you be in Cbrift, yoa have
crucified the flefh, with the luft of
it 3 gal. 5. 24. If you be in Chrift,
you are a new creature, 2 Cor. 5.
20. Wherefore, Brothcrjbecaafe I
know there is little wind abroad
todriae this Mill, the Lord by his
Spirit worke all things for us.
/V
Your ioving Brother,
?*ul Bajnu
O * 43, Well
30 i
302
Grow in grace.
I
45-
WEH, you fhculd Ice rrce
heare from you^and know
how you feele your foule affe&ed ;
who can fie a fhooe that knoweth
not the foote t how can I fie you
with helpfull counfelJ, while you
conceale from mee your daily con-
dition? You would not willingly
have a Fhyficianprefcribe blind-
fold, roving in uncertainc wuhou:
a marke;but you care not what you
put upon my invention. Brother,
how do you feele your foulc every
day ? doth it grow up inthe life of
God? hathitmoredefireof him,
thought cocerning him,morc love,
repentance, holy fhamc-fcftnsfle?
If the body be in an Atrophy, and
not like, what mcanes fbver wee
ufed,what a griefe would it be un-
to us > ftiall wee not grkve if our
(bules grow not up in the life of
grace ? Doe you fecle feme little
good thing more than you have
done
The lift *if grace requires
done heretofore ? it muft comfort
us, and wee muft confeflfe it with
thanks, giving to God glory. If we
mention by Letter, and blefle God
in our bodily health, how much
j more mart his kindnefle in oar
, fjufcs be acknowledged? I pray
I you let me & you fall into Letter-
colloquies of this nature. Brother,
t he life of Grace in the heart doth
| aske darily diligence to maintaine
| it. Doe you not fee in nature, Ant-
mjtmis cftjuffc vita eft fug* ? Were
I it not for the repaire by nutrition*
| the natural! life would be (none
extinguifhed. So doe you not feele
the iife of God in your fbule ? you
cannot find any vigor of it (boner,
than you (hall feele a fecrct exhau-
fturc and decay creepingnpon you.
Now as wee take bodily refe&ion
daily, and count it not grievon$,(b j
wee muft worke upon our hearts I
before God, that we may. feele 6y j
this means,from him a daily renew-
ingofthebeftftrengthinus. The-
good God of nature hath put a de-
O a light
? oj
304
Daily nourishment
light in thofe bodily f an ftions, in
w <h is the prefer vation of our per-
fonsjtfrs makes us not abjeft the :
butbecaufe our (bules are to the
meatus of grace, as a ficke ftoraack
is affe&ed to mcate., becaufc it is
paiofbll a little to us/herefore the
belt duties are fore-fl wed. The
Lord faveusfromthisfljthoffpi-
rit,we will eate without appetite :
one bic, they hy, will diivedownc
another. Let us doe thus with our
ibuks^nd we (hallfindt that eaiie
which hath fecmed painfull. With-
out cracking the (hell, wee cannot
eome to the kernelU The Lord
kcepe you in his feare and favour,
44-
GOod Mifter ZW. I cannot
but write unto you, things
going as they doe, though other-
wife I ftould have uftd force for-
bearance^ becaufe of my iraploy-
ments; The firft part of your Let-
ter did rt Joyce mee, and the latter
(^ grieve
The vayce oftbankfglving.
grieve me : For I deOre to pra&ife
the duty of remembring the affli-
ftcd y as if my fclfe were affltfted in
1>ody; according as wee are com-
rnanded, Heir. 13.3. I am glad
God hich noc onely kept you bi-
thfrto 5 but (hed into your heart his
Fatherly love in Chrift : fo that you
vow (through his grace) thankful-
nefle unto the.end. A voyce taught
by Gods Spirit; for you may fee
the fame working hi the heart of
theProphet, on like experience
of Gods goodneffe: P/*/ t 146. 2.
IwiBpraife the Lord during my life,
4* long as J have &nj being, J will
fmg to mj God. It is a feemtly
thing to breakc out into thofc
voyecs : what (hall wee give the
Lord for all his benefits {hewed
to us > Deliverance is comfortable,
but Gods loving kindnefle is bet-
ter than life. Therefore wee muft
bow our knees to the Father of
our Lord Jefus Chrift, that wee
may know more this love of God
in Chrift, which paflfeth all koow-
O 3 ledge.
^
306 I Whorh God loves ence, he loves ever.
F ;
y
1
1
ledge. Ic was Gods great mercy to
lit you drinke of his favour in any
meafure, before hee changed his
right band j I meane his dealing
with yon : for whom hee once lo-
vethjthcre is nothing (hall for ever
make a feparation betwixt his love
and the party. Neither life* nor
deatf^neither any thing prefent,or
any thing which may fall out here-
after, (Shall be able to feparate us
from the love of God inChrift : for
all Gods gifts, his love, and the
fruits of it, concerning that better
life, they are without repentance.
You muft then not let your felfc be
too much caft downe, but comfort
your felfc in the Lord your God. I
pray you reade the firft of Sam . the
30. Chap, and the 6. vetf I am not
ignorant M r « T>owfo»jlm a wife is
very neere, and fo a husband to a
wife. Iin part confider it,though I
cannot weigh itas I ftiould. Againc,
I know that even the deare Saints
of God have not beene able to
bridle this paffion : lacob would
goe
Lj
B e not fxe&on earthly thixg*.
goe weeping to the grave after his
fonne, and would not be comfor-
ted. Yet wee muft know wh3t is
the will of our God : namely, that
feeing the faflhion of all earthly
things paffrch away , and feeing
that diroughChrift he doth cover
our fpirirs, and give us hope of a
better enduring life : that there-
fore wee fhould rtjoyce, as if
wee repyced* not; and wcepeas
if wee wept not; wee fliould not
over-much be affV&ed with rhe
poffefling or removal! ofthefe
things which are
Earthly.
FINIS.
o 4
JSOLILOQVIES:
OR,
A HOLY HELPER
in Gods Building,
Written in a Letter
byM r . Paul Bayne> ibmctimc
Preacher of Gods Word at Saint
Andrwzs in Cambridge.
EfFedlually inflruding, and
carneftly provoking to true Re-
pe&uncej Love, and new
Obedience.
The fourth Edition, inlarge^ b7 a more
peifc&Copie.
LO'N D ON,
Printed by E. G. for L JV, and arc to be
fold by Sam.Endcrbym Yopts-Ffekd-
Alley, at the Signe of ihe Star, 1 637.
.
The Preface to
M. IORD.
LOloing Brother, nature
her feljisfucbaScbooU
miftrcffe-i that fie teacb-
etb ber Creatures indufiry in
their kinditbe dumb elements
are carried ahut ytitb inde-
jatigahle motion : The Ant,
and other creatures, are ex-
ceed'mg induflrieus. As na-
ture maketh a man incline to
aclion ; fo mfedome maketh j
him to choofe bis "toorke, to
leave that which ii dead and
to lerfe advantage, and to
cboofe that which is mofl
com-
THE PREFACE.
commodious. Humane wife-
dome' unable to go beyond h^r
compaffe) can but point us to
civil! human yporksjhe fruit
T&herofit a good proportion
ablejo witytiyilor external
The wifedome which is from
above and heavenly guideth
our hands to a higher plough,
and biddeth w exercife our
[elves ingodlineffe, meeting
God with repentance , flir-
ring up our hearts, that they
may be affeclioned towards
him. And becaufe the "9eorke
it tranfcepdent and of higher
nature thantbefe (ecular/md
"toee are ready totb'mke with
Peter Mafier,wedQ thin ana
THfc PREFACE.
L • — m
tbw t what fodl wee- have {
God (that wee might better
like the work)dotb mend our
xoagesjifjuring m tbatgodh
neffe u great gaine ofttfelje^
bringing content ment\yea,be
dotbpromij'e us the things of
this life, and of that which is
to come jf we will leame tbu
occupation. Now he that wil
increafe grace. and go dlinefjc
in his heart) muff labour bu
joule this way xt>itb wreflling
and contention. It is not eve-
ry walking and moving in a
Chriftim cottrfe, by which
grace is augmen; edmore fen-
(ibis 5 butjiming our/elves
up, and putting Jo.for.O} the
> grace
-
!
THE PREFACE.
grace wee barpe, that infome
fort we fee I the utmofl it will
reach to: as natural! ftrengtb
u not increafed with eyery
fedentary motion^ hat ufuch
(lining) as is next to fitting
ftill, but With fuch exercije^
which if it be notadCudo
teyet is } ad ruhorem,B>£m?
it ismoft moderat. Wherfore
as you would bat>e thefoule
tbrivejreatke it well in me-
ditation, and other duties oj
demotion. Wee bate indeed
ft iffeaking joint s % tbatpaine
us to ft ir in this kind: but the
more warmth wee get, the
more aUgriefe will be abated,
Now there is no one branch
of
THE PREFACE.
J of devout exercife more fruit*
\fiB than that of Soliloquie ,
I wherein we commune with our
i owne foules, and excite them
i towards God. Words ferVe not
; onely to make knowne the con-
ceptions of ow minds, but to
giye glory to God who under-
flandeth our thoughts afar off;
and to blow up devotion^ and
kindle our coolingaffedlions to-
wards him. Inordinatpafsions
come likefitule weather ^before
wee fend for them, they often
prevent all atlion of the Witt:
but good affeclions are fo oyer-
laid withfin which compajfeth
m about, that if wee gather not
wind under their wing (fo
ponde-
^
THE PREFACE.
ponderous tbeflejhis)they can*
not mount up to the purpo/e-for
the warrant of this duty , wee
have both precept iffpraclice- y
take words to your felves,HoU
i j . $,Hcb. 3.15. Examples both
facredfiiz],^ u.Gcn. 14.49.
andEcclefiaflicall ;<**Iuftinf,
and many nbers Toleadeyour
band in this matter > [give you
this letter , which containeth a
forme of Soliloquies ferVing to
further your daily repentance,
and found affeclion towards
God , keepe it for your private
uje. And the Lord Iefut i the
quickning Saviour, be with it
vthe end above named.
Your lo v tng Brother,- .
Taut tkjnt.
3*7
HOLY
SOLILOQUIES:
OR,
A Holy Helper in
Gods Building-
EElWeio shelafy
and raoft perilous
tiracs, in which
r he power ot god-
lineffeis much de-
cayed ;and 3 Love,
^^.24.12. through abundance
of iniquity, much cooled. Now,
:here is no one thing which more
Keedeth this confumption of
Sracc 3 and growth of 1 he contrary,
han the want of fuch Spirituall
ixercifes as awaken grace, and re*
lew che .ftrength of it in us, from
me degree to another. For as not
blowing, [
3H
The hem fit of Soliloquies.
\
blowing^ brings the firetobeex-
cin6t in time, no lefle than the pro-
curing of cold water to be powred
upon it : fj the fl nhfull, no: row-
fing up themfclveSjkilleth grace,as
well as the wilful!, living i.i fame
k'lowne fh ; death followcth up3n
both. The difference is < one is vio-
lent and fpeedy, the other is (as we
(peake of Consumptions) gentle,
and lingring, but no leffe certaine.
Now, though there arc many
meanes whereby the foule doth
(hake up it felfe, yet there is none
more fruitful!, than for a Chrifiian
to accuftome himfelfe to Solilr-
quit, taking words to our (elves,
between God and our owne fouJes.
Words ferve not onely to open our
minde, that others may conceive
our meaning, but to honour God
( who underftandeth us, without
them) and arenas it were ? Bellowes
to blow up our affe&ions, when
their devotion cooleth. Sinful pat
fio-js will prevent our wills, and
come (as wee fay of foule Wea-
theO
Solihqn'us <omanded y praQtfed.
rher) before they are fen t for. But
x>r holy affc&ions (fo ponderous
is our corruption, which preffeth
iowne) unit fie wte Lbour the
:hing with our heart?, they will
sotrifecoariypurpofein us. God
rhercfore hath commanded it un-
:o us ; and complaineih, when ic is
legletted. Hof.14. 2. Take words
:o your telves : None awaketh
hirafelfe to lay hold on God:None
faith, Jerern. 8. 6. What have I
ione> And the moft excellent
men of God have abounded in fb-
litary Conferences ri;h God and
:heir Soules; as both facred and
Scclefiafticall Story teach, by the
examples of David, and others,
Saint tAujlcn, Anfelme^ and J?er-
wrd. The fruite of this Exercife,
hath made mee ftt downe (for
the helpe of Novices, who have
not becne exercifed this way) a
Forrae of Words, which might
:ontaine fie Soliloquies , to further
us in found Repentance, and good
AfE ftions towards God. Firft,
therc-
3*5
jia
Gods judgements call for repentance*
therefore, to dcale with you in
Repentance; then, to helpe you
forward iu Love, and new obe-
dience.
The Lord preacheth Repentance
frill unto us. If a Meffenger knock
at ourdoore, and anfwerbe retur-
ned, he is gone forthwith to thefe
that fent him. So, if the Plague,
and foch like M lingers., which
God lendech to us, had thac which
they come f >r,thcy wonld not ftill
ring the Bell at our doores, and
call upwuv Neirher doth God
wait for Repentance onely from
the wicked,, but he would have his
dearcft Children meete him, con-
demning themfclves, Luke 13.5.
If yee repent not alfb more and
more, when yee fee the exam-
ples of Gods wrath, yet (hall alfb
perifh.
Firft, to fhew you what this is,
I fhallby this meanes ftirre you up
unto it more fruitfully. By Re-
pentance,! meane nothing elfe, but
godly forrow for Jinm> wherein the
foule
The Nature of Repexce.
321
3ulc humbleth ic i Ifc before God,
nd commech home to him. It U
oca worldly fortow 5 likc thrirs
a HopMj, 14 which roakech us
yhinc, becaufe the World is hard ;
lor yet a hopelefle griefe/or feare
)f puniflimenr : but a griefc for
inoe , as ic difpleafech God ; whofe
ovc through Chrift, wee have felt
ted in our hearts ; whofe mercy
wee fee ic if, that wee arc not con*
umed; yea,whofe fatherly affl&i-
f>n doth feeke to call us hone by
oving Corrcftioi\
Now in ihsforrow, thefoule
ioth humble ic felfe : For this is
rhe nature of Repentance; it will
nakeus takefhame to our fclves,
parcly 3 by feafonable acknowledge-
ment of thoft waies, wherein we
have moft provoked God; partly,
by judging our felves as worthy to
be cut off, that we may find grace
ia his eyes, and not be con-
demned : And together, with grie-
ving and abafiog it felfe, the ftray-
(oule commech home to God,
j
pur
:
3 i 8 Wt ma ft grieve for our failings.
purpofing through his ttrength, t<
le* ve thofe courts wherein ic had
grieved him, and to cleave to bin
in all his CommandemerKfi. Look*
then, if emring itvo your own<
hearts, yee finde, that as much a
hath beene ami(Te, by difpenfinj
Gods mercy and patience, yea, hi:
goodncflr, giving you the Call o
his Word, and Gorre&ions ; yc<
are grieved, that yee have beene fc
unki* -ide and undutifull to fo kind<
and carefull a Father. Ifyeefiade
that where it is to his glory, ye<
love to confefle your unfruitful.
nefie,and to cot;demne your fel ve$
and doe with a true purpofe o
heart, {hike a new Covenant wit!
God ,toforbeare your own e waies
to walkc more fruitfully befon
him,fo forre as his Grace fhall pre
ferve ycu in the one, and ftrengi
then you in the other (for all ou:
fufficirncy is from him :) if yee fine
thefe things in any meafure, thcr
rejoyce j for God hath given yot
Repentance^ to eternal! life. Bu;
Sofhali God comfort us.
fyour hearts have negkftedthis
xercifcof a broken fpirir, and if
'our confcicnce tell you,that there
nth beene little or no griefe this
vay, then yee muft be i treated,
hat whileftit is called to day .that
3ods grace doth (till invite you,yee
tfould not harden your hearts, but
prepare to meets him. Weep^nc:
br rnc, but for your fins, faith our
Javiour, Luke 23,28. And bkfTed
ire they that mourae in this tend :
lie Lord carrieth an hand-cheiv
thicfe to wipe away thefeteares;
pe is nigh to comfort thefehearts :
;he(e April-dewes bring May-
lowers ; (uch as (owe in teares,
hallreape in joy, h it not better
or us, to take the rodde into our
)wne hands, and beate our felves
^ently^than force the Lord to cha-
ten us, who is a confuming fire > If
the Lord fee, that wee are but wil-
ing to caft downe out (elves, and
o deale with our owne foules,
ice will cover our heads in the
tvillhoure, whereas his negligent
Children
19
3H
l)$l-y not t§ repent.
Children (hall tafteof his tempo-
rary difpleafure. Dwlay not this :
Our fou ? es,in f ^ervingfrom God^
are lik<? Bones outof pynt; the
longer they goc Co> they prove
more painfull; if we cake thern be-
ime, ihey are fee more eafily, Wc
Willcikc Phyfickc,purge,orfweat,
to prevent the growing of a difeafe
upon our bodies: (hall we not be
wife then for our fbules? The vo-
mit of the fbule, is the griefe of
Repentance : take it bcrimcs,drive
it not off, till the Lord be forced
to vifir« Now if God give you to
defire, that your hearts were bro-
ken in his fight, but yet yee finde
it will not be, partly for the ha#*
ncfle of your hearts, partly for
other lets and impediments : I will
helpe you a little at this lift; fir!*,
giving you rules for the out- wreft-
ling of impediments; fecondly,for
the blowiLg up of our devotion!
in this exercifcj which of all (a* I
crifices is (be moft acceptable.
Now for hinderances , yee mufti,
roakif
KJMayty lets to %cfentance.
5*7
make account to meet with them,
if ye purpofe more feriouily to call
your (elves to a more ftraight rec-
koning for your wayes. Somtimes
inward indifpofition wil grow up-
on you : Againe, the Divell will
want of his will, but fome finne
or other (hall fo clofs with your
feules, which will, like aThorne
caught in the fbote, hinder your
intended journey. If yce efcape
thefe,he will tutthet ply you with
diftraftions-from things, and per-
sons, which are without you; This
or that is neceffarily tobeedone;
One or other is to fpeake with
yoi* Furthermore > if yee looke
fcrioufly to this good way of Re-
pentance, he will fuggellj What
needeth fuchadoe? God is more
mercifull, then to require fiich
ftrait courfes. Whom doeyou fee
to vex thcmfelves in fuch a man-
ner ? Yea, fometimes hee makes
thecntrancedifficult,andcomfort-
leffe, to fee if hee can difmay us
from proceeding. Finally, he will
P harpe
52«
! [
i
Helpesto orecome the
barpe much on this firing : Wilt
thou bid adue to thy plcafurcs^and
.betake thy felfe to fo painfull a
courfe? And this is the Loth to
depart he fingeth to the fonle that
looketh towards God : firft y to
fpeake ingenerallto them ; then
in particular^ to this laftand main
detention, Now > tha: we may
fafely pafle thefe Rockes, wc muft
firft ferioufly confer the malice
of the Devillagainftus> who by I
all poffible means he can>oppofetn
the comming-acquainted with
this exercife. While we are in
our own wayes* thecoaft is cleare
enough : but when God givech us
a good motion and purpofc , the
Devill dorh watchit,as one ftould
an infant^that he may kill it in the
Cradle * yea, fmother it in the
Wombe , where it was conceived.
Thus* Lord, when thou fendeft by
thySpirit,a motion intoour hca ts
for our foules healttahe laboureth
to make us quench the Spirit* and
fb to double our Condemnation.
Now
fnggeftions of Sat An*
1*9
Now then/eeingthe malice of chc
Devill , ye muft labour (fecondly)
to feele your own weaknefle, that
there is no ftrength in you to en-
counter with the enemy , and fay
thus to your felves : Lord, thou
knoweft it, I have no ftrength of
myfclfe; nay > I have that which
preffeth me downe * which would
make me thinke , there is a Lyon
in this way* and flip my necke out
of this Collar* though there wera
no other with-ftanding me y nor
ought without mc> that fhould let
me: How thai fhould I be able
to goeover fomany things, with-
out afliftancc ? Tien ye muft) in
the third place y looke up unto
Chrift by the eye of Faith(finding
the Devils oppoficion > and your
owne infirmities) who giveth not
onely the will to trs^but the deed*
and worketh all our works for us J
Speake to him y and fay : Lord,
thoucanft help me; & as thou haft
p:u this into my mind, and taught
ii me to know this piece of thy
P 2 holy
i
.1
3^0. l Rely on Gohto take away the lets.
\\
holy will, (b I intreate rhee to ac-
cpmplifh it in me : it is not I, but
thy grace in me, which muft eft'eft
all. Asa Childewho goethwith
his Father, led in his hand, if hce
come to a Stile, or Bridge, he will
cry to him, to take him and lift
him over; fo muft we to our hea-
venly Father,cry to be taken up, a-
boveall thefe hindrances. This is
an excellent remedy;when we be-
hold Seas before us, mountains on
each fide , Armies of enemies be-
hindeus, all hindring our going
forth of our feives ; and in all,the
Devils power : then toftand ftill,
andlookefor thefalvation of the
Lord. And here it is goodto think
on thefe quickning places of Scrip-
ture : Enter in at the ftrait Gate ,
LMatth. 7.1 5*Nay,Striveto enter
in ; for many (hall fcek to enter in,
and fhall jnot be AleXftks l 3>*4*
.Sceke fait Gods Kingdome, and
therighteoufnefle thereof, Matth*
6*33. One thing is necefTarie,£/^
1 o- 42- What if one could get the
whole
Be resolute in %eycntance.
S3 1
whole world, if bee lole his ovvne
Souk? CM*tb.i 5.2(5* Narrow is
the gate that leadcm unto lifc,and
few chere bee that find it, Mat* j %
i^.Laftly.yemuft think,how if ye
appoint to bee with this or that
man, but for fbme twenty Nobles
matter, (in which (perhaps) yee
gaine not a Pound clearly)nothing
(hall let you : if this or that of lefle
moment be out oforden ye fee it>
and fee it not i yee have a greater
gaine in fight : if any would hold
youbacke, yee crave pardon, yee
have pointed by fuch an houre, to
meetluchanone* Then yeemuft
reafon thustShalll be thus refolute
in executing my purpofe towards
man,when I gaine fome fmall mat-
ter,and fhall 1 let any thing hinder
me^hen I am to go to God about
the gireateft merchandize of my
lbulcs health?Is not this to be pen-
ny wife, & pound fo©lifh ? This in
gcnerall, Now in particular. That
ye may then ©ut-grow thefeare of
parting with plcafure, and conceit
I _/ P 3 of
^m
\ 312 \ Helps again ft the maim Ut
of fo much hcavincs in this courfc
ofrepentance;ye muft firft know*
that this is a jngling of Sata 3 wher-
by he holds m^noT in the wayes
office to death. He will fhew us
nothing but delight inevillco'ir-
fes hiding all the after birtemefle
of them, which- fhemd b: ing them
out of requeft vvith ns : fo in good'
wayes tending to life* hewilltell
us of nothing but pain>conceaiing
all the comfort ofthem,:hat;o he
may keep us from entring them to
falvation. Secondly, we are worfe
affraid then hurt* Foolike as the
rifing on: of the foft bed* feemeth
beforehand to the fluggard excee-
ding tedious, but when he is once
up^dothnotdarehimatall: So is
the awaking from the deep of fin,
and flumbring in the reliques of
luftjwhich ttill have dwelling even
in thebeft of us.Who ever repen-
ted him of repentant griefe?Nay>
who rcjoyceth not in God who
giveth it> finding it more fweet to
his Soule > and more plcafant,
then
of repentance, worldly fleafnres. I 333
then the pleafi.rcoffimcj which I
foon vanilhech>leaving a-ftingbe- '
hind it ? Thirdly>if we try in a re-;
pencant courfc to leave the plea-
lures of fins in wch we have lived >
they will fhortly have no fuch po-
I werore us>as to holJu> thus hard:
j For Chrjpjlom doth fitly liken the
to little Puppiesi which while we
; play with the,will do nothing but
. leape about us > but if w* cudgell
I them a little, have no joy to come
; neere us.Fourthly,we ruuft n: t let
pafftois blind our judgments ;but
' confider penitent forrow>with the
end of it,and impenitent delights
with die iflueofche. What is bit-
tererthen medicine? Yet health, ro
which it bringeth u«,doth make it
lovely. What fweeter to our tafte>
the manythings we wil no: touch*
becaufe we find they love not us,
though we love them,we are after-
ward the worfe for the.In this r?-
fpeffc thcrfore,werc the medicine
of repentance grievous to take>y et
in regard of the everlafting health
I P4 to
^^1
m
v
Gods wiiycs not grievous \
to which it reftoreth us,\ve (h )uld
hkewife men, cake the fower with
fhefvveete; yea,choofe it rather,
then to feed fweetly o 1 filch meats
as pleafechePalateon!y while they
are tailed* but caufe at length vo-
mits more bit i ct then death.Fifth-
Iy;(ay we fhould lofeour delights,
(though wc dial part with nothing
but ftollen waters)is it not better,
as Chrift faith, wcfhould want an
eye heercand go to heaven, then
having it, to be caft into hell fire?
UMfe 1 8. p •
To conclude, this obie&ion is a
Qander railed upon Gods wayes,
which are full of profperity and
pleafure • and is forcible with us ,
partly, through flouth, which ma-
keth us unwilling to thefe workes
(and what is not irkefome to a
mind undifpofed ?) partly,from ig-
norant fenfuality, which counteth
nothing liberty, but licence, no-
thing fweet, but what is taken in
huggermugger, without Gods al-
lowance: like as fome gallants,
whicfa
Keep reckoning betweene God &usS ? 3 J
which think no Venifon fo fwect
as that which is ftoln. This in par-
ticular to the principal impedimct.
Now for the furthering ycur de-
votion in this exercife, yeemuft
know, that there is an art blowing
up of every grace of the fpirit,& of
this with the reft. Firft therefore,
yee muft enter into your owne
hearts, considering your owne
wayes. We will keepe reckoning
whatwerunneon thefcore with
men, but rare who thinke how
deepely they are in Gods Bookes:
fuch ill husbands are wee for our
Soules. Now we muft heere mark
warily, whether we have rot loft
fome graces' we have had(Imcane
have themnot fo powerfully as we
have felt them) whether we doe
not give place to (louth, doing
Gods fervice coldly and flightly ;
whether we have not forgotter
our covenant made with Gcd in
Baptifme> ro wit>cf dying to ou
own thovghts,vyorcvs & deeds dai- 1
ly^and laboring in our whol courfe 1
_ Pj th|t|
3 5 6 We nuifi call to mmdeyonr great eft
that not now we live,but Chriftm
us(as Paul fpeakcth)his fpirit tea*
ching us to do every thing as be-
fore him, and inconfcicnce of his
will, to his glory. Hecrcalfoye
muft cal tomind the mod grievous
finnes which ye at any time have
provoked God with.We muft not
bid adieu to the remembrance of
our finnes patt and pardoned, but
muft ever beare them in memory
fo far re forth as will he! p us to the
working of godly fottow , holy
baflifulneflc & lowlineffe of mind;
fo far as may be i fpurre to more
fruitfull obedience for the time to
come > D^*;.Yea this remembring
of the finne paft in particular > by
which we have chiefly offended
Gody and mourning for it, & judg-
ing our felves in the remembrance
of it,is the evidence of true effec-
tual repentancerSo Ifrael acknow-
ledged their defiring a King: So
David his adultery andmurther:
So PahI his perfecting. He who
is truely humbled in the fight of
one
fwsy & our dailj fiver V'mgs.
one capitall finnc,repenecthof all.
Even as a capitall difeafe being ta-
ke away, which draweth on many
another by confcnt,the reft are at
once removed alfo.Again,we muft
call to minde our daily fwervings
and'unfiuitfulnefle. This isaheo-
pening and the looking on our
wounds, the negloft whereof is
iewdcarelefneffe, mortally dan-
gerous. It is no news,noryetmi£-
liked when you fee a fouldier fhot
or wounded : but to fee him go
with it,never regard it>never drefs
ir, is condemned as defperate fol-
ly:So/or us fighting in this world,
no newes , if we come by knocks
and maimes; but to let them go,
2nd ranckle, & fefter in us, is for-
lorn negUgencc.Now then.ifthus
fitting ttu matter before you, ye
find not your hearts pricked with
it, then you muft ( as the Prophet
fpeaks) take words toiypur (elves,
and trouble your own foules , fay-
ing, thus ; Shall I think ofmy fins
agamftGod , and not grieve for
them?
3 3 8 I -#/*£ Up the SohU to Repentance.
, them ? If I have overfhot my Cdfc,
fo that men may have a faying to
j me,that doch cue me to die heart*
I and I am afoamed. If ibmwhat do
but crofle my corruprnaturcJ have
griefe at wilb and (hall I not now
grieve for offending my t^ood
God? If I had broken day* ¬
kept touch with man> I could not
look him in the face ; and Tiall it
not go neer with me > that I have
kept my Covenant no better with
God ? if my (ervant have loytc-
red his day away >aad not done my
work>heb!uiheth;and isaffraidto
comobefore me ; and fhall I not
change my countenanced be mo-
ved 3 that I have bin fo unprofita-
ble in the workes of Gad ? By this
meanes; as men being in fwoanze*
when they are chafe idee cotne a-
gaine: fo fnail our foules y while
we thus beftirre them > findefbme
warmth returning to them. This
1.4 k friar* aud furtherance of the
grace of Repentance; whereas the
waat of thefe Soliloquies, isre. i
prooved (
11
Go to Chrtfi for d relenting heart* I 5 ^
prooved as a token of an impeni-
tent hear: > Hof 7. 2 . But if yet the
heart will not relent* you muft in
the thi^d place (feeing your bar-
rennefleand inability) turne you
toChrift, fpeaking in this wife ;
Were it to grieve at earthly occa-
sions, or that my felfweredifplca-
fed>herc my affections would com
to me before I fent for them : but
for god y forrovy^none of it grows
ib oik gardeas ; our foolifli hearts
love not holy mourning ; our hard
hearts wil not relent to think how
we difpleafe thee* We therefore
knowingrfhat there is no ftrength
in our fclves> to any thing that is
good>looke unto theeahou art the
Chrift and Lord > thou givett Re-
pentance to thine lfrael > and for-
giveneflc of finnes : thou LORD
doeft circumcife the hearts thou
hammereft and breakeft the ftone
by thy Spirits making it flefhy
and tender; LORD doe thou
turne us, and we (hall be turned*!
Lament. 5 >z 1. Thus while ycturnj
your
3¥
.
Thefmoakingflaxc.
your eyes to Jefus the quickening
fpiritjbe will be prefent toquicken
this grace in you. But what ifyet
your hearts (hould not fo kindly
melt within you,as yedefire , yet
all is fafe: for this is rhe fmokc of
repentance which Christ will
not leave till it blaze forth;he will
not put out the fmoking week*
This defire and labouring after it,
is happinefle it felf: for blcffed are
they that hunger and thirft after
righteoufnestYca ufingthis courfe
to confidcr of your wants to chide
( after fome fort) your own foules,
and to look after Chrift the giver
of repentance ; the ftonc of your
hearts(the hardnes)wilcome away
by little and little. Yea,and when
in bodily wounds the moft aj pro-
ved plaifter muft be laid on often;
ye muft not thinkethat the r c fpi-
rituall evils, fo long growing on
usjftionldbegone on a fodden. I
do be'eech you therefore , as e-
verye will tafte the comforts of
God ; as ye will finde cafe in the
cvill
Cods CovenAnt.
I
cvill houre, when nothing but
God cm refrefliyou \ yea > as yec
love to efcape much worldly tor-
row ,which tendeth unto dfeath',fo
acquaint ) our felves betimes with
this exercife of a broken heart*.
Bleffcd are they which ( now )
mourne* for they (hall be comfor-
ted* And we know much more
earthly forrow then we fhould*
became we will not trouble our
ownfoulesa little , blowing up
that godly forrow which is requi-
red at out hand$ #
Now fblloweth another thing
which I propounded, viz,, to
;belpe you forward in new obe-
dience , in the faith full keeping
of the Covenant* The fummc of
the Covenant betweene God
and us,isthis ; God in C h r i s r
faith, he will take us for his peo-
ple : we promifc him , that we
will have him for our God.
This therefore doth comprize all
ourdutietoGoD,thatwe fethim
up in our hearts as God. Which
thing
34*
54 ^ | How to have God our God.
thing wc docfirft, when we grow
up to know him in all things* Se-
condly, when wee make him our
truft. Thirdly when we love him
above all things. Fourthly, when
wefearehim. Fiftiy> when were-
joyce in him. Sixthly, wfien our
hearts are thankfully affecled to
him, waking him their fong and
praife.This is to have him for our
Godiwhen we know nothiBg>truft
in nothing, love, feare, rejoyce
in nothing in companfon of him :
when our hearts are thaakcfull
above all to him. Tofpeak a lit-
tle to the feverals.
We cannot have God our God,
till wee come to know him in
Chriit. Ignorance doth eftr*nge us
fromGod,& knowledge doth ac-
quaint us withhirrwThis i\*#/prai-
ethforin thebehalfe of his Co-.
lo(Iians 3 that they m.iy be filled
with the knowledge of God, the
fpiritsof their mindsbeing opened
to look toward him. Even as our
image in the glafle doth iooke to-
^ ward
How wee mafi kn<nv (jod.
vard usjfromwhom it is refle&ed :
b God his Image in us doth make
:he eyes of our minds view him*
he author of it in us# And as the
*ye becommeth one with that
vhichitfeerhbandisafterafort in
hat light it behcldeth : fo are wee
>y the vifionof God> which is be-
;un inns y one with him> and in
iim,Now this knowledgconfide-
eth God three way es; either fim-
!y apart from all other refpeSs >
nd thus it containeth the Spiri-
aal eflfencein refpe<5tof hisproper-
ies> into which this felfefame na-
ure is diftinguifhed ; the Father*
ionne*an^. Holy Ghofoallofchem
laving the fame fpirituall eflencc :
sif h and you with fome third
nam might befuppofed to have all
>ut one and the felfe fame foule
nd body > being dift n& per-
pns.Or elfe it confidereth God^as
nademanifeft in our nature : for
r efus the Sonne having the fame
uture with the Father hathta-
;en fuch a foule and body* as wee |
have i
343
I
3 44 Know God in Jefns Chrifi.
have ( fin onely excepted) to t
fellowship of his perfon; and tt
is become £Wr/w^/> God with
or God manifeft in our nature.
which humane nature y Godt
Son fuftered death for mil* wh
Iikewife hemanifefteth his divi
power* by raifmg it up> and gle
fying it in heaven* So that he tl
was dead in his humane nature
now alive in it for ever , havj
fwallowed up death in vi£to
Laftly, it confidereth God s ira
fefted in Chrift , as he is becc
our God by covenant, in regarc
fuch things as his faithful men
do work for us. He in Ch
is our juftifier y our fan£hfier j
who helpethus in conquering
remnants of our naturall cori
tion ;, our Redeemer y who d
vereth us from all our troubl
the God that careth fcrus ,
veth us every good gift , blefl
us in our eftates,feedcth us,gh
us>and all his beloved,(leepe,
fendcth us from all evill, keep
We are naturally blinie.
345
is by his power unto falvation, is
he beginner & ender ofall good
[races in us. But howftiortare
vc in this point ? We are like In-
ants,in a manner,new-bornt they
re kept by the loving Parents
:om fire and water* they are fed,
lid to fleep, made ready and un*
eady,and fhifted in their fcapes ;
>ut they know not whodochall
lis for them: fo doth our heaverc-
y Father by us in Chrirt ; but (he
tnoweth) little- underftanding
uve weof him : For though God
>e Light it felfe, a Spirit which
>rightly feeth all things in heaven
tnd earth, to whofe pure bright-
ieffe,the Sunneis darknefle jyet
he weaknefle of our fight is fuch,
hat we cannot looke againft it r
s the Bat and the Owlc cannot
•nduretofee the bright Beames
>f the Sunne in the Firrrument.
Ye muft therefore take notice
>f your fpirituall Blindnefle , and
ome unto him who felleth the
iye-falte > which hath the Spirit
of
i
34*
,
:'
(jo to God for eyc-fahe.
of Illumination, who openetbth<
Eyes of the blind;cry to him fo
mercy. If your eyes were mud
bloud-fhot (your eyes whcrcwitl
ye fee but one another* Creature
like your felves) yee would feek<
out forhelpe for them* and waft
them with ftrong fmarting Wa
ters, but yee would reftore them
And will yee not feeke to yom
God in Chrift, to reftore the fighi
ofyourfpirits, wherewith yemaj
fee him, and the things ofyoui
peace within the veile, even in the
Heavens t Nay, ye muft bee aftia-
med, that yee take no more know-
ledge of your God in the wholi
day. If our chi'dren,whenvvcan
befide them^ftiould through rude
nefleandcarelcfnes not oncccaf
a look at us^as acknowledgiug oil
prefcrice; would we take it at thci
hands? Might not every one fay,
Thefe were better fed than taught
which are thus gracelefle ? Let m
apply it to our fclves* who ferv<
our God and Father little better,
Now
We mufl truft in God-
347
ow that wee may fee upon this
lite with the better hope,let us
member that God hath promi-
d it unto us ; this is his Cove-
mt> wo (hall know him,from the
reatefttotheleaftofus. But left
grow too tedious, 1 come to the
cond.
Wemufttruftin God, having
1 our hopes on his mercy and
uth towards us ; and thefc two
:>e together, MenfometimeSjthe
lore we know them>the lefle wee
uft them^and that defervedly -.but
falme pac Such as know God,
lalltruftinhim.
Who (o rcpofeth all his confi-
enceinGod, hee taketh him, in
> doing, for his God, As the
cripture faith in this refpedh the
:>vetous man is an Idolater ; hee
iketh his money for his God,be-
fcufe he putteth his truft in unccr-
*ine riches this wealth is a ftrong
'bwer in his conceit? and he tru-
^eth in the Creature>which dn*w-
th his heart from God> faith the
Pro-
34*
We trufi net in (jod as we
Prophetjjcr.iy.j. Teaching usy
that then our hearts arc united to 1
God>whenthe affiance of them is
fet on him .Now,thogh we fhoulci
liveby^he taith oftheSbndfGodj 1
trufiing on him for the giving and
maintaining of all eur good, both
temporal 1 & eternall ; leaning or
him for all defences deliverance
from evils fpiritualb yea>and cor-
porally cafting all our care on him;
naving ne confidence in the fleftx
but rejoycing in Chrift Jefus
though this be our dutie , yet w<
are exceeding weake* and fulloj
unbeliefc. This will appears by
our want of feare at the threate-
ning* of Gods* Word, which ma-
keth us loofely alfo to looke aftei
his promifes.Did webelceve Cud
threatnings , If ye live after th<
ficfh, ye fhall die? we woulc
trcmblcwhe we favour our fehe:
inourownwayes: the devils be
leeve^and tremble. And fo ; truftinj
civilly in any man.? word or bond
we do feek them carefully > anc
ar<
ought ; htncc Hnbelieff.
349
re glad when we have gotten j
hem; and, as we fay, we write
jpon them, that we (nail have fo
nuch money at fuch a day,upon a
ubftantiall mans word , or bond,
renus. But God, who promi-
cth all good things in this life, as
veil as in the life to come , his
Seales we feek not after; which is
I figne of our great unbeliefe in
hem- Secondly i by rcftingour
hearts in outward things, and by
peing difquieted when we want
them ; this alfo is a figne, that our
fiearts are unbelieving.
While we have means, or good
akehhood of this, or that, we are
)vell ; let thefe faile, we are trou-
bled; Which fheweth, that we
reft not upon ths Word of God,
which is as ftre in the want of all
things,as in abundance; but that
iwe leaneon fuch things as we fee,
'and have in hand* Suppofeaman
had Crutches under his armes^but
leaneth not at all on the as he go-
:eth, take them away, and he wal-
keth
35°
LMake Vnbeleefe odi Hs unto yon
keth as before: So, did wee not]
truft, and lean on the things feen, ,
but on God> who is not fi en, loo- 1
king on him by the eye of faittawe
i ouldgoeas upright, when all
things to fence feeme contrary to
that we beleeve, as whenour fee-j
ling is fed abundantly ThircHy,didj
wee reft in God and trull in him>
who is all in all ; we would feek to
him for his bleflings , more then
for the meanest which by his blefi
fing eflfeft this or that;wherea5 w<
labour not to make him fure to us
but to get the means^and then w<
think al is wel with us.iNow th<
when yee find your unbcleefe, ye
muft make it odieus unro your
fclves by fuch likeconfiderations ;
Shall I feek after the word of man
(bmetimes:to fecurc me but of (bm
twenty (hillings matter ? and Ilia
I not feek after the preciouspromi
(ks of my God?flial I truft to a man
promifingthis or that ? and fhaU I
not truft my God> who is truth
itfelfe* and cannot lye? Will noti
fuc
1
How we mnft love Cjod.
fuchafubftantiall man think much
if I take not his bare word ? And
(hall not I take my Lords Word,
and Seale , and Oath ? He hach
fvvornc tobleflfe us, with ail h $
bleflfings in Chrift : fliall vvc not
bcleevebim, unlefle he leave us a
pawne alio ? Thus then, when yee
feele your unbeleeving hearts to
trouble you,ye muft looktoChrift,
the authour arid finifher of your
faith.Speak to him thus: Thou haft
begun, and thou muft finifh : I be-
leeve ; help my unbeliefe, and en-
creafe my faith.
The third point is, We muft love
him. Love (we know) makes a
m3n and woman , One ; and the
fame doth couple as to God, Here
we muft labour to fay from our
hearts; Lord, what have we in
heaven,bucthee? or in the earth,
in companion of thee? Now,
though we doe love him, yet our
affe&ion is but weak ; and above
all things, we had need to mend
i in this behalfe. Trie your love,and
I OL fb:n
351
3 J * I Tryyonr love to Cj 9 d> and,
1
•
then judge of it. Thofe ye love*
doc ye not love to be prefent with
them* as ye two one with ano-
ther? If one of you be out of
Townc, doe ye not thmke long
till ye meet againe ? Are not we
grieved to hearc them wronged by
word or deed,whom we eftceme
dcarely of ? Doth it not cut us, if
we our fdves do them any harme?
Are we not glad of a Letter ( in
ab fence ) from thofe we love?Now
then examine your fclves; Do ye
not finde little joy , in comming
privately or publikely into Gods
houfe 3 or prefence ? Nay, we are
like children, who can play abroad
all rhe day long>and never lock in,
to their Parents, When do our
hearts long to be diffolved, and to
be with Chrift ? Though God,
throughfundry troubles,doth even
fmoake us out of this World , yet
\ we will not come away, in our af-
ff?6lions. When we heareGods
i NitneWa(phcmed,andfeeall wic-
i kedncfle committed; doe our eyes
I . sufli
be aftamed af the want cfth 353
gufh out with teares? Or doe vvc
not, when our fclves offend him
daily,pafle it overtaking too light
penance of our felves ? Doe we,
withZWf*&deliglic in his Statutes
more than in all wealth? His Word
is his Letter to us. By fuch like
confederations , difcerning your
want of love to God > yee rauft
fha me your felves. If a woman
fhould be dead in the neft , when
her husband were before her , but
fhould be affe&ionate to every
ftranger ; If flie fhould not care
how long fhe were abfent from
him> but think her felfe-befhwhile
they were afunder ; Ifflie cared
little how her loving husband
were offended, caftingthatat her
heeles , which he takes to heart ;
were not this fhameles behaviowr
in her? And (hall notwcbe afha-
med to fhew no more love to thee,
to whom our foules are married in
Chrift ? Then ye muft goe and
confefle that your hearts are full of j
Harlotry , and falfe love. Ye can
Q^2 love
354
Concerning love to earthly
love your felves, ye have affe&ion
enough to the things of this world;
to the gifts of God , and thofe the
meancft,more than to the givers :
as Harlots to Rings, Gold, Brace-
lets , more than to the fenders.
Therefore , befeech him to purge
jour hearts of this,and to fill them
with the love of himfelfe : for this
is the promife; I will circumcife
your hearts, and make you love me
with all your hearts. Before we
pafle from this Head, aQueftion
may be moved , common to all
thefe afte&ions ; namely ,What we
may judge of our feives, feeing our
hearts more fhincin lovcfcar, and
joy at worldly things , than about
God, and the great benefits given
us in Chrift ?
The anfwer is : Firlt , in many
earthly things we have a double
canfc working in our affe£tions;as
in loving the Wife of ones youth,
and in bewailing the death of ones
Parent : and whereas the motion
I of our aflfeiHons, in things fuper-
1 naturall
thingsyabove our Uve to Cjod.
naturall,is purely from Grace, Na-
ture fetting no hand to this bufx-
nefle. Secondly, afteftion is not to
be meafuredby the indeliberate
patting motion of it, but according
to ihe iettled habit from the judg-
ment and e(timation which the
mindemakethof this or that ob-
jsft. A man laughes at a toy : hee
isnotprefentlyfaid to joy in that
trifle more than in al other things ,
becaufe the zSt of his joy is more
lively here tha in greater matters.
A mans affe&ions more ftirre a.
bout a ftranger, in entreating him,
than to his Wife, for the time,
whom he yet loveth more deare.
Thirdly, afte&ions if they be com-
paratively confidered in us , are,
though leffe in quantity, yet grea-
ter in vartue : as Corne , when die
Weed ( as Carloe ) is higher and
greater,yet this is ftronger, becaufe
in time it overgroweth, and killeth
the Weed , which farre cxccedcth
it : So this love, though little, in
comparifonoffelfe-love , love to
1 : Qjj the
35J
55^
« u
Spiritual! love out-grows carnall.
the creature (the fame being in the
other affed^ions)yet in time it fhal
lover-grow and kill thisweed.The
love of the Spirit is ftronger than
the love of the world. If there-
fore ye aske , What one fhould
thinke* thatfindeth his affeitions
thus ? I anfvver , If he find them
ftronger , there are two caufes to
one ; where Nature and Grace
vvorke jointly , he muft not won-
der at this matter. Againe^though
we feele their working more ftir-
ring fometimes to things earthly,
yet out of judgement and fettled
courfowe that are the Lords > doe
moft affoft him. Thirdly ; we know
that our affe&ions towards God;
though but as a grain of Muftard-
(cediftial out-grow all thischoak-
vveed of inordinacy* which we feel
in this behalfe.In the mean while,
the feeling of this diftemper* muft
make us ft ill feck the rectifying of
iu and the healing of thelamenta- |
ble vanity , to which the afte&ion
is fiibje&,by reafon of finne.
. The '
The feare ive owe to (jod.
357
The fourth thing,is the feare of
God San&ifie rhe Lord in your
hearcs,rmkc him your feare. Feare
to offend him,who when the body
is killed* can caft the foul into heil
fire. We fhould reverence his ex-
cellent Majctty, & dread to offend
him* becaufehe hath been graci-
ous unto usj and hath power to d©
with us whatfoever he pleaieth.
Were there any from whom we
had houfe and ftocke , fo chat he
| could turn us one of all at his j lea-
fure ; would we not walk very cir-
' cumfpe&ly , fearing to doe that
which might alienate his favour ?
Againe 3 ifthe Majeftie of a mcrtall
man doth affe6t us(as of the King)
with reverence-, how much more
fhould we be afteited with the
moft glorious M.ijefty of the moft
high God ? Now ye muft know,
your hearts are much void of this.
; Alfo the thing it felfe (peaketh :
I Do ye not feele ( when in prayer
ye are to ipeake with God ) that
there is a reverence in your hearts
I Q4 ■**-
3 5 8 UWeditations ftirr'wg hi
befeeming fo high a Majeftie ? Do
yc not feele a want of dread at his
| Judgements, which fo long have
been upon us,and ftill hover about
us ? And what awe is in us , ma-
king us fearefull by finne todif-
pleafe him? Alas 1 . Preemption,
Tecurity, and hardneffe of heart,
thefe Weeds grow fo high, that
we can fcarce difcernc the Fruit
above-named. Nowthenyemuft
work this want upon your hearts,
as the former ,faying ; If I were in
the prefence of fbme great perfb-
nage , and fhould cany my felfe
rudely, without refpe& , would I
not blufli? And fhall I not be afha-
med,that Ihave no more reverence
when I come be fore thee, O thou
God of glory ? So, for want of
dread : Shall the Beafts tremble*
when the Lyon roareth ? yea,(hall
the Devils tremble to thinke on
thy Judgements ; and fhall I be
fenfeleffei and no whit mooved ?
-So, for want of awe, in regard of
Gods Lawes : Shall I dare as well
to
up to fear e God.
359
to take a Bcare by the tooth, as to
break the Kings Law, cfpecially
where he thrcacneth Limbe ,Life 3
or Libertie : And fhall I not be a-
fraid totrefpafle againft thy Sta
tutes ; the breach of which., is pu
nifhable with eternall death ? Is
there none but thee , whom we
may make bold with ? Shall I be
fo foolifh, as' to feare iicknefle,
povertie, and mens difpleafures :
And fhall I not be afraid to break
thy Commandementsjif men note
me to hit me in the teeth with pre
cifenefle? Shall I not be afraid to
provoke by finnethy wrath, who
art a confuming fire? What is
this. but with little children,tobe
skarred with a Bug-beare, harme-
lefle ; and to be dreadlefie of fire,
and water ? Laftly, we mnft lcoke j
to God in confeience, how this ai-
feftion is perverted in you ; con-
feffingtohim , that ye can feare
the faces of men, and things that
are>or fecm hurtfull to your felvcs;
ye can demean your felves reve-
Qy rent ly
3 6 :> We m ift rejoyce in the Lord,
rently toward fuch as are in re--
qucft among m<!n;but toward him,
y: find great wane. Pray ye there-
fore to him, to put it into your
hearts : hehathcovenanted,to put
his feare into your hearts , fo that
ye fhall not depart from him/
The fifth thing is, to rejoyce in
God j. and co have him in your
hearts; for God bindeth you to
rejoycein him: Rejoyce in the
Lordalwayes ; againe, I fay> re-
joyce. Delight thy felfe in the
Lord y and he (hall give thee thy
hearts dehre.Let not the rich man
rejoyce in wealth , the ftrong man
in ftrength, the wife mm in wife-
dome* but that heknowethme,
laich the Lord. For what we make
our chiefejoyjthatis our God :for
the heart refleth principally in that
with which k is moll delighted,
Now what is more equalLtha that
we (Hoiild (blace ourfclves in him
with joy unfpeakable and glorious f
vv'io hath delivered us from death,
and finns-j and Satan? (who-, as
Gods
but doe not as we ought.
$tfi
Gods executioner) bath power on
finne and death ) In him,who is a
Light and a Shield ; that is a Fo • at-
tain of all good,and defender of us
from all cvill ; able to maintain all
the good* both fpirituall and cor-
poralLwhich we have, and give us
whatfoever is wanting* But if we
marks our hearts 3 our joy is m ch
depraved^ (To* that Salomon faith
not without caufe, that our laugh-
ter is become midnefle • ) for our
hearts aft not cheery this way.
Tell them of the precious benefits
which are given hi Chtift ; Pardon
of finne; Peace (the beginning of
everlafting life) through the work
of grace; Hope) through Chrift)
of the heavenly Kingdome ; why ?
they can heare all this, an \ be fo
farre from leaping wkhin us ) that
wc can hardly difcerne them to
moove. Nay) if we mirke them
the better ,we (lull lee, that when
we would bold them to the re-
membrance of Uich things ; untill
they have broleenlo^fe from lis,
th- v
^6^
SolihqHies inciting tu
*
L
they arc not in their kind,and can-
no: be lightfome :• as if God were
the damper of our mirth , and not
the matter of our exulting, and
gladnedfe.
Now when ye cannot obferve
any rejoycing in the Lord, ye muft
fhame your ielves , by laying to
your hearts the cafe in other mat-
ters. Iflfeefomc Toy, orheare
fome jeft, I cannot containe my
felfe : If I heare fome good newes,
or meet with fome profperous
fuccelfe in my worldly affaires , I
cannot be pleafant enough: If I
be pafifing-my time away with my
friends , at their courteous invite-
ments, or if I be at my fports , it
goethon merrily; deadnefleand
nncomf ortablenefle , I feel them
not for the time.I dial have laugh-
ter enough at fome merry conceit,
or a Feather ,till I tickle againe ;
and fhall I notrejoyceattheGof-
p«l of God, or good newes from
Heaven, touching the falvation of
-my fonk? AgainAall I be cheery, \
\ and/
-
to rejojain tht Lord*
ad laugh with my friends ; and j
lall I be all amort , when I draw
eere my God ? Shall I be glad of I
cquaintance with man,and not be
Jadthat I know God inChrift,!
/hoisLifeeverlafting? Shall the
vicked rejoyce , in fcrving Sinnc,
nd Satan ; and fhall I be without
nirth> in ferving my God ? Our
ejoycing is earthly , little joy of
he Holy Ghoft dwelleth in us.
We are like fuch as are ficke of
>ight Frenzies; they will laugh at
their fhadowes,we at our fancies ;
they fee not into any point of mo-
[mcntjwe diftaftethat which fa vo-
Ircth of RighteoufnefTe > and right
rcalbn. As therefore againft the
former,lb againft this alfo>we muft
fight the good fight of Faith ; loo-
king to him that hath faid , he will
make our hearts glad in his houfe :
who hath promifed to fend his
Spirituntous, that our joy maybe
full ; praying him, that we may
feele this Fruit of his Kingdorac
take place in us ; that he would
rc&ific
3*3
1 1 364 I Wc mufl fraijcGodoHr
rcciifie this affection inus^making
us to take comfort in chat which is
matter of true rejoycing.
Sixtly* Now for praifmg God,
and'thankfulnefle unto him> (for
this is the laft thing I propound
ded)we have this commandement;
In all things givethank^ye.bin e-
vils : (hall we receive good things
from the Lord,and not evil! ? The ;
Lord hath given > & the Lord hath
taken away, blefled be the Name
of the Lord* For (lowlbever it be,
yet God is good>even when he pu-
j nifheth ; and no wonder* Is it not
j fo in bodily things ? Bitter Medi*
j ones are as goocLin due icalbn^as
the delighcfullefl dainties. And
are not our inward and outward
crolTes, by Gods grace* made
vvholefome Phyfickerff* purge out
our corruptions * and to make us
partakers of the quiet fruit of
RighteoufneiTe* and true Holi-j
neflfe ? Yea, our hearts (liould bei
ib thankefully affe&edb thar(iike
fire ) th.y fhould brcake foorch> j
fehcsiand incite others to it. ) %6 y
ml inflame others. Wherein we,
lave holy "David for an example :
Tjal.i o j.hebcgins; My foule^and
ill within me > praiic his holy
>Jame : In the next Pfaitoejhzteb
verfeyhc faith ; Praife ye the Lord.
ifftj he ftirres up himfelfe* and
:hen provokes others to praife the
Lord. As the Cocke,that firft clap-
Ding his wings about his owne
body, rowzeth up himfeife , and
ifter (crowing)awakeneth others.
Otherwife j common tearmes of
thankefulnefle> without afte&ioib
areas Court-ho!y-water> (as we
fay) which our God, thatlooketh
■ the heart and reines > doth not
refpeft : thefe are good words*
l:hat will pay no debt with him.
And truely > there is good reafon
for this* For whether ye looke at
benefits paft>eaten Bread muft not
3'e forgotten, thankes muft frill be
greener And doth not your par -
icular deliverance ( when many
: all on each hand of you)binde
fou* daily to bee thankefull?
Or
3 66 I OurTcmporalltncLSfiritHaU
:
Or whether ye looke at the things
ye enjoy; ye know your tempo-
rail blcflings; as tolerable health,
good name and reputation, free-
dome from fuit and fervicc,ability
rather to be helpfull than charge-
able, your domefticall peace, your
libertie,without fearcof reftraintj
all ofthem in their places,no fmall
matters. If ye confidcr fpirituall
bleffings ; that which ye have
downe in hand , is as great a work
of his mercy, as the glorious ettate
ye looke for hereafter. Is not the
Lords worke more admirable, in
the firft making and quickening
the Infant in the Wombe, than ir
feeding it there, bringing it forth
and nurfing it up to fiillftaturei
So, his begetting us again j whe
were dead in finne ( though yet ir
the Wombe of our Mother, the
Church)to be alive in Chrift Jefus,
when we are new- borne babes ir
him, is more then the bringing
of us to perfeft Manhood. Anc
though it feemeftrange, yet iris
" onel)
I
blefftngsfnotivettofrtife (jod. 3 67
icly in this refpeft , bccaufe we
e like Infants ; who live, but yet
iow not that they live: fo, we
ivinginfmallmeafurethe Spirit,
hich teacheth us to know the
Ings beftowed upon us , know
« how great that grace is,which
•ihbeen already (hewed us* Is
a final! thing, when we were
tad in ignorance* and in Iuftof
|irignorance,to be quickned with
e life of God, in knowledge,
'hteoufneffe, & holinefle? When
s were enemies , to be made
ends,y ea,fonnes and daughters?
le Apoftle doubteth not to rea-
hfirom this,to everlafting life,as
c hfftTyRom. 5*10. God, when
iwere enemies, hath reconciled
by his death ; how much more
illhsfaveusjwithperfcd^ falva-
snoffbule and body>by his life ?
at is,by putting forth the power
"his Spirit. Now he liveth,to die
l> more.
Thefe then are great things , as
(quitting you from finne , and
death;
3 6% J Praifp God for his iMercies
death; for Chrifb your Sureties
fake> he fending his Spirit iqi I
your hearts* and giving you pa h
in the firftRefurre&ion. Befidv. c
thefc 3 ye muft remember > wh 1
adverlittes he hach holpen )i%
in, how he hath eafed the yoal j
of your corruptions > which hav \
had more power in yon , the
now they have* Yea, what evil
he hath put by you. Have ye q|l
been tempted in this orthat kint I
It isy becaufe God in mercy wou n
not lead you into tcntation. Ye
this is* in fome ibrt> more to I
acknowledged than vi&ory> wh<
ye were tempted : for not to I
.tempted, is more immediate
from God,- and leflfc in ma
power, tha to prevaile againft tei
rations. For nothing doth ove
come us> without our will ; b
without our will, Goddoth lea<
us into try all : for he knoweth , w
would talk title of thefe^if it wo
in bur power to be our owneca
vers. Ye muft be as thankfull fi
the
beftovotdtAndprefartd.
i>fe fihnes which God hath not
: yc know, as for thofe he hath
doned in you> having commit-
k d them*
Whether doe ye thinke* ye are
undtopraifeGod more* ifhee
ftore you /when fickenefle hath
meuponyou;orkeepeyou fc»
at you feele noDifeafe? Now,
ye confider what things God
th prepared for you :> they are
:h as eie never faw^nor ever fully
itred into the heart of man*
Dmpare the eftatc of Princc/fr*-
in his Queen Mothers wombe*
th his condition ? at full age* in
the glory of his Fathers Court*
[ere is a broad difference* and it
lay fitly refemble the difference
'our prcfent and future eftate :
r< are borne Sonnes and Daugh-
•rs of God^heires apparant to the
'ngdomeof Heaven ; but while
te Church doth here travel of us*
2 are pent up in dark Cloyfters*
id annoyed with much ftenchof
1> both in our felves and others :
but
369
37°
Whertin Thank* falnejfc
but hereafter our eftate flial be
together lightfome,happy, & g
rious : fo that we may well faj
God, How great is the goodn
that thou haft laid up for th
that fearethce ?How great thir
doeft thou worke for the fcnne:
men, for fuch as hope in thee ?
fee then,how for things paft , \
fent, and thofealfo which he k£
in ftore for us 9 we are bound tc j
thank full. Now, if ye aske wft
it is, wherein cur unthankfulntt
fiandeth ? I anfvver : firft,in he;i
acknowledgement of Gods goL
neffe to us in all things, withcii
fcience of our owne unworfl
nefle, as not worthy of the leaf J
all his mercies. Compare Gen\
i o . and 33.5* with 1 . Chron. I
14* Secondly , we muft tetai
Gods goodnefle,that we may \%
rifie him before others* Com* J
will tell you, faith David* w|
the Lord hath done for my foi&
So, Mofes would tell his fat hefl|
law what God had done for thai
I Thin yj
to Godconjtfts.
IV
lirdly, it doth make us caft a
>ut , what we may rcturne unto
od , by way of thatikefiilncfle:
r hat fhall I give unto the Lord,
r all his benefits unto me ? Laft-
,it wil make us accufe our felvef ,
we be backward in duty* Thus
z fee, when we receive any fpe-
ill kindneffe fromour friends;
ft, our inward afteihons do ac-
owledge and entertaine it glad-
; fecondly>we tell what any one
th done for us ; thirdly, we will
tnkehowwe may requite him,
[ at leaft , teftifie our thankful-
^fle towards him ; fourthly, we
be our felves (if we go on,and no
fken of good will be returncd)as
ach too blame , that we fhould
(rgec fo great acourtefie, as was
?ewedtous.
Now then, that ye have heard
hat it is to be thankful, and what
tod reaibn we have to enforce
ris duty upon us,we muft lay our
f r ves to this rule; & we fliallfind,
tat we come as fhort herein,as in
the
IV
rr* new* vr eny wnjcwnt
the aforenamed. Oh! wee
horribly unthankful!. What gc
bleffin^s doe wereceive* not or
cafting a looke unto the giver
them ? When we are kept in t
night>and our houfes from fire^a
breaking into; when refrefl
with fleepe ; when kept all day
our goings out>and commings j
when fed: Doe we heartily i
knowledge God in all thefe ? Ii
he that watehcth , or clfe in va
they keepe the Citie : It is he tl
rocketh us afleep^and draweth i
Curtaine ofthc night about vs;
giveth fleepe to his beloved : I
he that wardcth about us all t
day, keeping us in our wayes :!
openeth his hand^and like a gn
Houfe-keepen giveth us our da
bread. If in earthly things? vvh
we fee and tarte > we cannot praj
himjwhat taking fhal we be foul
imabout heavenly ? When yefol
your daily finnes forgiven you * I
Chrift; when you are kept fat
the finnsof your own heart J 1 1
little hearts jo be thankefiill.
S7S
irrupt examples of worldly men;
le fpirituall wickednefles which
ght againft us ; when ye go in
uricuall peace from morning un-
1 night? which alone is a gift paf-
ng underftanding : Doe ye ac-
KwledgeGod, with affection to-
ard him , in all thefe ? It is hee
at fliifteth us out of the fcapesof
sir natural I corruptiomwaftiing us
i the blood of his Chrifl^from the
tth of our finnes ; he forgiveth us
rerydayourtrefpaffes: Ic is his
lighten which>as in a Tower* we
[e kept fife* againft all the ene-
|ies of our falvation: He is the
lod of Peace,the Prince of Peace
i Chrift > who killeth the accu-
ligj and fubducth the rage and
iiirpation of finne in us. We are
tuch in fault > who have received
pod things at Gods hands? & re-
layed evill, & fcarce taken notice
f any his kindnefles towards us f
lod doth carry us on the tender
*mes of his mercy ; but (alas )
hie doe we underftand of him.
In
i 5/+
-" &•
rr,„„, M ,^j f , WV/ ,
In benefits often received/>ur fj
rits doe not once looke up to hi
but as Swine take the Mafte,fo
we our bleffings : Or if we do a
thing by way of thankefulnef
how fluoberingly do we turne
ove^our afte£tios being bent ar
ther way,rather than to the thar
full pray fing of our God? We fei
him,ag little childrej*ferveus;w
when they be conqe in to us,fr<
their play s and having gotten foi
thing of us that they want f aw
they goe,without reverence or j
fpe&ofus: but if they khow \
will have dutie*then they doe j
but in fuch a fa (Won , that we m
fee their hearts are on their Gar
abroad, more than on their dm
So , for fpeaking what our go
God hath done for us ( thankef
neffe wil not fmother a benefit!
ceived)when do we tell him, wi
delight of his kindnefle? Wb
do e we beat our braines , not h
fejing the temples of our head
take any reft,til we have given c
G
to ye Lord, Checked.
God feme argument of our thar k-
fulnefle?AJas! we ufeour God,
is if it greatly mattered not how
be were dealt with* Now then,
:ake words to your felves, codem-
ling from your hearts this grie-
vous finne* Say, if a man do bid
ne to Supper once in a Quarter, I
^hanke bim then ; when I meet
him next after, I thank him againe
for my laft being with him ; I tell
bim, what kind welcome, what
good cheere he made me : then I
invite him fometime againe y and
rhecke my felfe,if I forget it. But
f fbme greater mater be beflowed
jpon us>how exceeding kindly do
?ve take it ? how do we love to tell
Df it : how do we yeeld our felves
ip to them thr.t gave it,profefling
|mr felves to be at their comands,
|o the uttermoft of onr abilitie ?
(iShall I thanke him who giveth me
k Supper in love,tell of his loving
pntercainment,&beafhamed if I
bake no neighbourly requitall? 8t
~ al I not be afte&ionately thank-
R full
% 7 6
Thefoxntc ofrnthAnkef^lneJIe
full to my God,who giveth me all
my dayly Bread ? yea,who feedcth
myfoule withHmifelfe, in Iefus
Ghnft,(here is my body ,& bloud)
chat I may live for ever? Shall I
not tell of the fined Wines, thofe
fat things jeven of my GodAroken
in his body&fbule with forrowes,
fliedding his moft precious bloud,
wherewith my moft unworthie
foule hathbeene fed* and feafted ?
Shall I , for fo fmall a kindneffe^
thank a man a thoufand times^cd
tell him , 1 am his to be comman-
ded ; and ftiall I not furrender my
fclfc to my God, who hath payed
my debt and purchafed me a new
Scocke, even the hope of eternal
life,with his precious bloud?Shall
I blufh at fmall unchanfulnefle to-
ward man* and not be afhamed of
great want this way .toward God?
WhatPflhall I be worfe to my Godj
than an Oxe or an A(Te to his ow-
ner ? If I ihould fliew one excee-
ding great love>and he ftiould not
at all regard me,or returne me but
fome
How to attawea, thanktfull heart .
feme common countenance;could
Iendure it ? Thus then turne your
felvcsunto God,and fay; I am be-
come worfe unto thee , than the'
Whelpes that feedc under my Ta-
ble,are unto me:they will,in their
kinde , fawne upon me lovingly ;
and if any fmite me tfry will pre-
fcntly flye at him* But my hard
heart hath no power to be thank-
full unto thee,and to prayfe thee
My zeale is not moved ,when thou
art blafphcmed • I can fuft'er thy
i reproach with dry eyes , and un-
! troubled fpirit. Oh, thou who re-
[ auireft of me in all things to give
thee thankes.and haft promifed to
write thy Commandements in my
I heart, put into my heart a Law of
i thankefulneffe* O thouquickning
I Spirit,quicken my fbule this way.
! Now finaily/oratTa'ning achank-
full heart, ye muft labour for thefe
three things rFirft? yemuftquic-
1 ken in your felvcs the conicience
of your own anworthincs ; for we
j cannot praife God to any purpofe,
R 2 fur-
377
37*
The nxanes tcMtaine
further then we fee our felves lefle
than the leaft of all his mercies.
Even as hunger is good favvce,
making bitter things fvveet; (o this
poverty of fpirit , and conscience
ofourowne unworthineflc, doth
make every benefit amiably tafted.
Secondly, ye muft labour co work
upon your felves a fenfe of the
worth of thofe things ye enjoy;
in which, we greatly faile : which
maketh us ufually , that we never
know the price and worth of our
good blefTings,umil we are depri-
ved of them. And this negle&doth ,
breed a double rrnfehiefejit makes
us enjoy things unthankfully.yea,
uncomfortably > ( for that which
through plenryfeemeth no dainty
cannot be fodelightfull unto us*)
And when they are taken away,
then we come to Had-I-wift; and
do fo much more penance;by how
much we bave bin morecareleffe.
In nv^rrljfomucha^Iefteemcof I
a gift beftowed,fofarre forth am I
thankfuhNot the having of things
but
to a Than^c full heart.
but the having of them in eftima-
tion^breedsthankfgiving.Thirdiy,
ye muft labour to fee Gods good-
nefle to you in all thingsrthe grace
ofthegivennotthegiftitfelf, fo
much engendreth thankfulnefle j
thegift is the Shelljandthis is the
Meat,which tailed in the foule , is
Tweeter than life , and maketh us
breake out into, praifes. Labour
forthankFuli hearcs; God asketh
nothing elfe bat this 3 as a Rene for
| all his bleflings beftowed upon us:
I will deliver thee> and thou {halt
IpraifemyName. We will not let
jgoLcafestomen, for not paying
of Rent : neither let us give God
caufe to enter and ftrain upon us,
& all that we have/or not magni-
fying and praifing him. Thus if
Godhelpe you ro ftirre up your
hearts, (for our affe cftionsjin going
this way, are like dull A(les,which
go no longer than they are bea-
ten; ) if, I fayjic give you grace to
ftirupyonr hearts to repentance,
& to lurrender your fouls to him,
R ? by
\
3 8 o | The benefit of Repentance*
by eying him, t rutting on him, lo-
ving himrfejoycing in him>fo ma-
king him your feare^prayfing him
by (piric, word; and worke; then
happieftiallyeberifnew plagues
breake forth , ye (hall have your
comfort in the hottelt* And if ye
labour to fee how far re your hearts
are out of frame , in regard of
knowledge truft, love>feare r joy>
thankfulnefll\and in regard of im-
penitent hardnss and impudencie
which is in them,(for they cannot
blufii for that w hichGod knoweth
by them,d)Ough our cares will tin- i
gle and glow on our heads, if any :
m.'.n know ought reproachfull by !
us; ) if ye labour to finde this out,
and then in the fight of your mife-
ry look to Gods promife^who hath
covenated to give you a new heart ,
a tender, heart, in which his Com-
mandments fhalbe written by the
finger of his fpirit;then ye fhall fee
that this courfe will let you be nei-
ther idle nor unprofitable; yea>it
fhall bring you to grow unto per- j
fe&ion. '
and new obedience.
357
fe<SHon. For as the young body, (
which from wholforoe emptinefle,
hath frefh appetite to new fuftc-
nance*taketh^ugmentation more
and more;ib the foule,which from
obferving the heartlefocfle of it
felfc , vvaxeth dayly poore in its
owne eyes,hungring and thirfting
after righteoufnes,receiveth dayl/
fpirituall encreafe from GodAVife
men will take the fowre with the
Aveeteand nothing in the World
is gotten* without paines-taking.
Therefore* it* it feeme to have any
bitternefle,or to require labour,ye
muft not be difmayed* I promife
yoa,it is but(fome little) brackifh
in the top ; the deeper ye goe, yc
fhallfindeitthe fweetcr. Make a
vertueof neceflitie. If yewill en-
ter into life * this one thingis ne-
ceflarie>£*/% 10.42. But there is
none that awaketh himfelfe* to lay
hold on God. The Lord give you
underftanding in all things,
R 4 Ano-
?82
jiffltttion bcneficiall
Another Letter, written by
LMafter PaulBayne.
MYChriftian friend, if i had
fooner knowne of yourhea-
vinefle,! would before this have
written unto you*. For the more
arguments we have of love, borne
us by Gods children, the more te-
ftimonies we have of his favour
towards us. It pleafed God > in
December laft, to char ge his hand
toward you, and to touch you in
your wife, whom now he hath a-
gaine vifoed , and I hope to both
your comforts* Truely our God:
(through Jelns Chrift ) is fo mer-
cifull>that all things are fan&ified
by him unto our good : all affli&i-
ons 3 though for the prefent not joy-
ous, yet they bring us afterward
the quier fruit of righteoufneffe.
Thefe evils which here ever and
anon are prefent with us, they are
fitly compared to wayward and
touchy-guefts : which, while they «
ftay,watch every officer; but when I
. theyj
/
to the SohUj andhoiv.
they depart 3 they pay freely. So it
is with thefe: they oftentimes dif-
quiet the frameof the whole foul;
but when they go away,they leave
'cncrcafeefgrace,of faith, of pati-
! ence^of experience; that the fbule
faith^Welljit is good 1 knew thefe
things* But the prefent working
| offorrows feemeth often farreo-
i therwife.-for in ftcad of encreafing
in faith, onr faith feemeth to bee
fliaken and weakned , rather than
otherwife ; and in ftead of bree-
ding patience and hoIineflTe 5 onr
foules do difcover more impati-
ence, rebellion , and more unholi-
nefle every way. Now the foule
thinketh,when thus it is (haken in
beliefe; How doe thefe Croffe*
confirme -faith ? and when fuch
evilljdwelinginus , doth breake
ouc,how(faith the tbule to it felfe)
doaffli&ions beget the quiet fruit
of righteoufnes?I will anlwer you
thefe quettions familiarly: When
Faith is fhaken by evils befalling
us,you aske how it is confirmed? I
R j anlwer
T
I 384 Temptations Strengthen Faith >
anfwer you by a double compari
fon:When a Linke burnech dim>to
helpe the light^we knocke it;being
beaten to any thmg> it fecmeth al-
moft to goe forth ; yet this beating
it, doth caufe it ca(t light far more
cleerely*
Againe > how doth the fhaktng
of a tree by ftormy blafts>fettle the
root and the tree more firmely,
though for a while it threaten the
downefall ■? Conceive of thefe> and
you may underftand > how faith
though it feeme to be calt downe,
yettryedbytcntations > itcometh
to be firengthened- Now then if
you aske,hovv they bring forth cn-
creafe of righteoufnefie>ieeing you
fee more unrighteoufneffe breake
from you by occafion ofthem>then
you have obferved in your felfe
heretofore : ConGdee that when
a veflcllof any liquor > hath mud
an J dregs fettled in thebottome;
it muft be ftirred 5 that which fee-
medpur'e* muft be mademuddie.
before ic can be clcanfed : even Co
-_ hisj
~~ ~ " ~ f
and incretfe righteoufnejfe* j 385
his troubling of us y veffelfull of
uncleanneffe > is the way wherby
God doth clcanfe u s. Now if God
; he fo tenderly prefentbyus* ask
j pleafcd him ere-while to be, it
' falleth fo out* that much sold* ma-
ny precious graces are difcerned*
which we before could not difco-
ver.-and thefe are fuch fweet fowrs*
fo pleafantly tempered > that the j
greif is not fo bitter* as the work- |
ing of grace in us is delightfull.
But what way foever,calamity doth
not fo hurt us>as fcarre us ; us who
are loved of God and called home
according to his purpofe* Thus
wifliing your peace^and hoping
that all (hall turne togoodj
thegoodofyouboth^I
ceafe to trouble
you.
FINIS
COMFORT
AND
INSTRUCTION
in Affliction.
A
Letter full of Divine
Comforts ^ and inftru&ions
unto all, in the time of iicknes, .
or any other chaftifements
of the Lord*
Written by Mr. Pay l
Bayne.
PSAL.94. 12; I J.
Blejfedis the man whom thou chaftifeft*
OLordi and teacheft him out of thy
Law 3 that thou may ft give him reft
from the dajes ofadverfoie.
LONDON.
Printed for N. Enderfy and are
to be fold at his Shop in Popes*
Head- Alley, at the figac
'©fthefUrre*
I 1**7.
■IP
>89
DOMFORT
AND
NSTRVCTION
in afflidion.
Oving Sifter, I can-
not but write you
a word in the love
I bcare you* hear-
ing that your
health dothftand
ore weakely with you > then here-
fore. I wiih your bodily frailty
ight be an occafionto your foule,
Returning into it felf, and draw-
g moreneerto God inChrift Ie-
s.Even as childre love to be play-
g abroad, till night approaching
*h caufe them return : fo we love
>cto dwell at home with God*
and
590 \joas cbudren better eaoy ajptttoi
and our own conferences ingodl
devotion & meditation this way
but to be abroad in fuch courfer
as are mod pleafing to our corrup
nattircs, till the night of affii&ioi
commeth ; in which>unabIeto de
light our felves as before > w
turnebacke into our owne foules
ani come home to ou; heavenlj
Father. I wifh you thi* fruit o
> our infirmities the rathe^becaufc'
not the having of fickneffe , bu
profiting by it,is a certaine mark
that you are one whom God hatf
cifledi according to his heaven!)
pmpofeoflife ever lifting :for al.
things work to their good onely.
vyhojrcthns called of God, and
love him,Rom 8. And if you re-
ceive corred^ion, lb as to have the
qmei fnnc of righteoafnefle by
mcanes of it, then you are chil-
dren,nothafbrd$; that looke as
good metail is difecrned from
drofle* not by being in the fire
onely^biKby waxing more bright
andrefinedbymeanesofit;foare
Gods!
fmv we may profit under Gods hand* ) 39 1
rods Children defcried fromo-
lers, not by being in calamine*
thich is common to all, but by
rowing thereby more purged
•om their corruption , and more
lining in the light of grace,to the
lory of cheir Father which is in
eaven. Wherefore feeing it doth
) much concern you, to find fome
>irituall fruits of your vifitatiom
wiilac this time teach you* how
ou may come to profit by this
and of God,which hath followed
,ou of late with more then ordina-
/ wcakneffe of body.
1 Firft,you mtsft labour to appre-
hend God, as a Father corre&ing
If you by thefe infirmities.
Secondly you muft labor to find
jt the caufe why , and to what
jrpofe God doth follow you in
ichkind* And thirdly, you muft
eke to him, that he would teach
bu to profit, and lead you by his
^race to al that which is pleafing
pfore him. Many account o f fick-
bs,as a thing which commeth by
courfe, a
h ~
39*
In infirmities tvetHftfl
a tbing(which may well be lookedi
for in your yeers) which will wearej
away by the grace of God ; onely;
as it had a time to grow in > fo id
muft have a time to goe in alfoa
vamfhing away in fuch thoughtsJ
never ©bferving the correcting!
hind of their God > in the thing
which is upon them. The world as*-
it doth not know God in all that;
good he doth them,when he fillecb
their hearts with joy and gladnes^
being worfe then the oxe and aflq
who know their Matters Crib ; fbi
againe. beingdiunkenwichignO'
ranee, andlufts ofignorance^theij
kno,v not who ftrikeththem,whef
the punidiing hand of God dot
follow them: whereas every child
dcth know when it receiveth cor
reclion from the earthly Parent
yea, the wilds Colt doth knov
when, the Dam doih ftrike
Wherefore (before a'l things) la
bour to fee God^your Fathers han
in ill things. Should we beatoi
childrenund they (hould fcem n<
v<
T
3
apprehend Cjods htnd.
r fo much as to heed our ftriking
theirs would we not judge their
ite forlorne?Againejthis maketh
returne repentantly , when we
•our beavenlyJatfcercalling us
his core e£tion; this maketh us
indeavour co be humbled under
ids hand when we thinke how
:>d our Father is offended with
. Finally* this maketh us to con-
ive hope* that our vifitation (hall
for our good ; the Parents hand
rteth not Children.
Now for your clearer infpe<5H-
hercinto , and for your greater
mfort, I will infift fomewhat
htly upon that in Daniel , Dan*
ij3>34>^. vv here the Prophet
iving opened the impieties and
rfecutions of that wicked Antio-
*f,as likewife what was the ftate
►l:he lew wirhontjwho had not the
Hwer of godlines>in the verfebe-
*e)doth7n thufe three lay downe
fe t ftate of the gpdly,while thefe
Iry tryalsindurcd.And 5. hings
jr there fet downe : Firft , he de-
fcribeth
393
I"
3 94 I It is a good mans property
.
fcr.beth thofe that were godly.
wife, and found-hearted intheiG
p:of^(T:on>from thiSi that they did
labourxo bring others tofellow-
fhip.in the 1 me grace with thent :
through inftru&ion , and meaner
of that nature.Secondly>he iettert
dovncthe variety of evils whicl
fliould befall them^rcand fvvord
Thirdly.thc cold comfort and flen
derheipes which they were like
to find.Fourthly,the end of&ll,viz
the purging out of all cheir cor
ruptions, both of flefh and fpirit
Fifthly,the durance of their fuffc*
ring,namely,till Gods appoints
feafon were expired. From thi
(chat the godly-wife are defenbe
from hence, thar they inftruiic
thers ) obferve firft by the way
that a good mans property is , i:
will labour to make others go0(
he cajwot goc to heaven aIone,a
God catcheth him, fo he will pu
his neighbour after with him,;
'Philip did N&thincel > Ioh.1.4
according to that commandmen
Teac
to edifi others.
each and cdifieonc another, i,
Ti. j.evenasafweetfmelltillerh
hefeniesof fuch as are neere it,
3 grace afteð thofe char con-
erf e with it. Now to p*«fwade
s to the pra&ice of this, we have
lany reaibns^firfty^ods glory.for
le glory of a King , faith Salomon
andcth in the multitude of his
ibje&s ; therefore, when we la-
?ur to increafe the number of the
iithfull,we do gain no fmall glo-
fto God; as who then increafe
K Subje&s^nd enlargehis kin^
;>me. Secondly, the good of the
irty admonifhed ; for as Saint
imes faith often, bythismeanes
Soule is laved: which is more to
m that is converted, then if we
it him the pofTeflion of the
hole World. Thirdly , for our
1 ves,it doth many wayes benefit
; thus to worke upon others ;
r , firft. without us , we hence
inne our fclves great love in the
!artsofotbers.This made Naomi
imerefled in the heart of Ruth.
This
391
396
The g9od mttft htlpc to
This made Taul fo affe&ed to t W
Galauans* that they would havij
given him their eyes ; whereas I
thisbe wancing>no eie is fufticiet
and the negled of this , is that
which often maketh men meet 1
with fuch trickes and turnes iij
their deareftfriends^as aregrievroe j
unto them. Againe* while we do!
deale with others this way>we in
creafe our own grace; for it is wit
| that as our other ftockc>the bette
it be husbanded* andtheoftner
I be turned , fo much the more it J
increafed. Thirdly, in Heaven *
fhall have fo much more ample n
ward by how much more we ha*
beenein this kind more fruit fu
7)an.i *♦ 5 . This is firft f to rebii
the vaine complaints of men^ wi
will cry out^O what an evill woi
it is ! Whom may a man truft n<
adaycsPBut yet never goc about
reclaime a man from any evill w*
What doeft thou compaine of
evil worldPlt is the worfe for th<
When doeft thou admonift an I
m
make others goodfV^es of it.
ay j one may be in thy company
the yeer, and fcarce hear a good
Drd> which tendeth to make fin
rcfull,and vertue precious m the
counts of others* What tolly is
isy to begone that, which thou
lit not ttir thy littfe finger to re-
efle ? As if a husbandman fhould
mplaine^O hereis nothing in my
ound>but bryers and nectles^and
her weeds! but ftiould never ma-
ire it>fow it drcfle it, &c. Every
le would condemne it as folly in
nbfo it is with us. Sccondly,this
puketh fuch as will not be admo-
(hedrcome and talke with them,
rping upon this ftring, and they
ill fay >Wbat have you to do with
5 ? looke zo yrui fclfe> > ou fhali
fa et for your felfe > and not for
: :but we muft have to doe with
pxi) and one with another: did
|:fee their beaft ready to mifcar-
y. under a burden* we are bound
fheip it>and they would not mif-
( eit ; much more are we bound
\helpone another underthe bur-
i *»
393 ; Gods beft fervants, tnofl malted.
den of fin •Secondly, hcrewefee,
that thebeft fervice receivcth from
the world oftStimes the worft wa-
ges. Thefe that made others turne
from their evill wayes, and them*
felves walked in all godly innocert
cy; thefe arc the Butts(as it were]
at which the malicious worla
chiefely ftiootcthrthus it was wirt
Chrift , and the Prophets : whict
of them in mannerwere not cruel
ly butchered ?The reafo is,firft,b«j
caufefuchfruitfullChriftians, th
Divell feeleth his head fo trod on
by them , that he cannot induri
tnem : but will catch chemby thi
heele , and mifchiefc them, as k\
as he is able.Let men florifh wit
humane wifedome carry then
felves for humane moralldifcour
and complement 9 incomparabk
he ftirreth not at this, for all th
while he is but played with,
foule is recovered out of his pov
er, he is notdifturbed.Agvine,
thenaliceof the divell isagair
them chiefely, fo the envie of ti
worl
4
I
fts to be made *f others affli&ions.
oild $ who cannot but hate fixch
hofc workes arc better than
leirowne. Theufeofthisis,that
e judge not of men according co
leir afflictions. Oh when wee
rare one is in troub!e,thcn we (ay
irely he might have handled the
attcr with more difcretion $ had
? beene wiftr, he might have fa-
?d all this trouble. Do we not fire
:re, that the wifeft that were fa-
icrs begetting others to wifc-
)me, this is their portion ? Chrift
id the Apoftles might thus bee
Kidemned as fooliflh ; nay, fuch
jhofc fins doe cafi them into their
bubles , fuch are foolifh ; but
hen affli&ions come for a good
nfeience, then it is quite other-
ifc. Secondly ,we muft fit downe,
d caft our accounts befcre hand,
it we will not bee difcouraged,
* that meafure wee meet with
\m the World ^ but comfort our
(ires in this, that God will judge
not according to that (ucccfle
have hadjbut according to that
S we
4po
The Afftttions §j the godly mufi
we have done, bee it good or cvilK
Thirdly, from this, that tbefe god-
ly wife fuffcr in body,as by fire and
(word; ingoo<3s,asbyfpoiling;to
liberty, as being banifhed and led
captive,and that many daies;I pray
yon obfcrve,that the Saints of God
often fuffer ftrong,many, and long
affliftions. Thus Ifraels pofterity
endured triall 4oo.yeers. Thus the
elder people of God were all led
captive (even tyyeeresjfor we need
great ones, that our corruption! \
may be fubdued within us. For,as
the uotamednefle of fome Colt is
fuch,that unleffc he were fore rid-
dcn,he would never Be broken, fo
is it with our rebellious naturc.Se-
condly,little things donotexercifc
our faith, & raakeus tofcekc God:
for as none for a little head-ach,or
for the ranch of a pin, will fecke tc
the bodily Pbyfician or Surgeon;fc
is it with the fou!e,whik u is trou*
bled with like grievances ipiricu-
all.. Thirdly, they nmftbee gre;
to make place for mercy aboun<
dan
be grtAte^ divers, and long.
mm* I ■ ■ » I fc -»—
dant fromGod co us,and plentifull
:hankefgiving from us to God. If
:>ne heale a trifling matter, ic nci-
:her fo biodcth the Patient, nor
rommendeththePhyfician: but if
jne heale us of (ome deadly incura-
ble thihg,© we fay then,we could
lever have met with fuch a Phyfi-
rian; not the like in the world a-
;aine!Secondly 3 theyniuftbe many
md divers, armies of men^ as lob
peaketk 5 becaufe our corruption s
ire of divers kinds : and bfcaufe a-
jaineasthe body, if it rake one
jhing ftill, ic commech to bee lb
Inuch leflemoved,by how much it
j more familiar; lb icis withcu:
>ules,that oneuniforme evil dorh
y little & little, through cuftome
ccome lefle effe&uall. It faring
Wthaman,aswith a horfe ; who
ill fpurred in one place , com-
kth not tofeelctbefpurre, nor
rtend his pace when hee is pric-
?d. As they rouft bee ftrong and
i vers, fo they muft bse Iongalfo •
;:cau(c our evils which have
S 2 been
*-* : — -
402
*tbc tfflitfioru eftbt godly
bcene long growing upon us, will
*not goe away haftily; as ftaines
which arelongfetled in adoth,re-
quire much fcowring. Now when
wee daily fpoc our (elves with fin,
we lee it fettle in; and doe not waih
our felves by renewing faith and
repentance : and 4b make way for
the heavier hand of God, when he
fhallvifit. Butitmaybeobje&ed,
Paul faith, our affli&i :>ns are light
and momentany. Aufwer : Not,
that abfolutely they are fo, but in
comparifon of eternity; Secondly,
lighten regard of that which grace
maketh them,when (in is repented
of,, and Gods favour not hidden •
from us. This madeT^/thathcj
could not fUcpe for joy, but fang j
at mid-night when hce was impri- 1
foned and fore handled. This made J!
Pe^r,though he was to be brought
forth the day after to death, he ne- "
ver flcpt better in his life : this wil)
make us cut-looke death-, and ai 11°
evillsjwhen we have received from {
G^d the grace of repentance and ;
for-
are mary, yet light *tfo.
forgivenefle of fins^when the light
of his countenance is towards us
in his beloved For as a plaifter
which upon a (ore fltfh caufeth
much fmart, upon found flefh ftir-
rcch no paine : fo troubles lighiing
upon a foulc healed thus, as is a-
bovc-faid, are nothr g fo grievous.
This muft make us provide our
felve? 5 and ar me our hearts with the
comfort of the Scriptures, agaiaft
we (hall be tried, not being acall
difmued at them when they befall
us. If wee make account of cold
weather entring, then wee will be
appointed,& get double clothing ;
wee muft be as wife for our foules,
as bodies.Secondly,we muft cry to
\ God, that he would fay to our (pi-
I rits by his Spirit, that our fins are
forgiven; that isj am he that jufti-
I fieth thee,who can lay any thing to
thy charge? and we muft give all
diligence to make our calling and
elc&ion fure, feeing that inxhele
things ftandcth our fweete peace
| and comfort, when all the world
I S 3 be.
*i
404 i Gods Cbitdnnforftkenef friends
(hew us no com-
befides can
forr.
Fourthly, that they have (o
(mall helpe, and muchdiflimulati-
ori iifcd cowards them • obterve
hence, that whea God will try us,
men ufii^lly leave us; fo Paul faith
in the fecond of Timothy % that all
had forfaken him, the firft time of
his appearing. Thus when Chrift
was ffn ittcn and attached,the Apo-
files fhrunke away from him • ac-
cording to that, when the Paftor
wasfmicten, the (hecpe were fcat-
tered.For of thofc that make &cw
to be friend s,many are hypocrite*;
and therefore they will like fwal-
lowes take the Summer-fliine with
us, but bid us adieu when winter
bloweth. Secondly, many that are
found J yec are weake in love ; and
therefore not able to beare in
|fufferings. Thirdly, many want
courage, and therefore fay, I can
doe him no good,, I (hall be look-
ed into; as good one beare it as
moe, when we cannot be eafed : (b
^ ■ thy
in Affticii m : The nfes thereof* J 40 5
that their diftreffrd brethren may
fiake or fwim, while they confult
with fuch flifhly reafon.The ufe is,
that we would all learne hence not
to truft in men, but in the living
God ; and to acquaint our (elves
with him,in whom there is no fha-
dow of change.
Secondly, wee muftnotbedit
maied , if many fluinke from us
when they come to the wetting 5
(omc of Gods children fuffering
inthiskinde, take it to heart and
(ay : Oh, if others had done thus
and thus, I could haue borne k ;
but it goeth to my hearr, to fee
fuch ferve me this part ! Why,this
is no great newes; doe not the
Saints here; did not Chrift J)avid,
lob, at his wives hand indure the
fame?
Fifthly, that thefe worthy
Saints have fuch ftrong, many and
long sffliSions for the purging of
them; Obferve hence, that there
arc none fo pure, but need fining,
j winnowing, and waftiing: even
d Sj. ss
4c6
All troubles werkt together fo
'or
as droffe is with filver, offall and
care wich corne, foylc with cloth :
fbis corruption with our nature,
it will never quite bee taken forth,
till this body of finne be diflblved;
and God will have fuch remain*
dcrs that we may be trained in hu*
militybythem- They are like the
Swans blacke feete, in the whiteft
Cbriftian.Secondly,that we wc^ke
ones may not be difinayedatthat
wefiad, when the beft havctheir
remnants of corruption.
Sixthly,that God doth give them
to fuch crofleSjonly to purge them
&c. Note hence, that all troubles
are for the benefic of us, who are
the Lords,fl r ^.i2.io.For our pro-
fit he chaftifeth us; and chat they
may worketo chi$J*heedoth tend
them by meafure fuch, as may help
us, no* oyerwhelme us, J/i.27.8.
He doth ftill fit us in our affl ftions
for our good, not proportion our
evils toourdeferving. Sccond*y,as
hedorh fend them inmeafare, fa
with his bleffing; which rurnethl
good to Gods children.
all things that they work together
to our good. True It is, that a
while there is nofuch thing appa-
rent; but in the end when we fee
whatGod will u(e thenvall to,theo
we rtiallfee that all fuch confpirc
to our great profit. la buildings
great while there isnocomtlines,
but at length when every thing is
ficced to the right place^ thereis a
goodly correspondence in the
whole ;that is 9 a well proportioned
anfwering of one part to another :
(ointheframeof our foules. And
hence we fee,, how wide the wic-
ked are in their reckoning, O they
think they havefped us, they have
prevailed ; when indeed they have
done good offices to us : for God
makcth them of the Scullery to
fco wrc us, Launderers to wafh u$ 3
ia the worft things h*e fufifcreth
them, or wicked Ipirits over them,
to doe unto us. Secondly,feeing all
our fuflfcrings are from God, wee
rouft look for profit by e^ery trou-
ble; anlefle we will make God not
S 5 true,
407
L_ 4 —
The timt of our Afflittion is in
true, or our telves not his chii-
. dren , truely godly , and loving
him : and therefore they arc much
to be blamed, that through weak-
nefle will Jay, they cannot thinke
that ever fucha thing fhall doe
them any good; for what cannot
he make for our gocd, thar calleth
light out of darkneffe , if we will
give glory to his Word by refting
upon it ?
Seventhly, that all thefc tribu-
lations are to hft but till the ap-
pointed time : We obferve hence,
that our times of exercife they are
onely in the handsof God; even
as the Phyfician onely* rouft pre-
fcribe how long the courfe of
the phyficke or diet drinkesmnft
bee continued; fo muft our God
J fct the time, for which thefe trou-
I blcs (which arethe foules pargati-
! ons) muft be taken,: Wicked men
| cannot fet the time^for they would
; never make an end ; nor yet our
\ ■fcIves , ;for we would fip but lightly
| of f w bitter cups 5 jihls is the Lords
P pre-
— --— — — tr
Gods band: The nfes thereof, j 409
prerogative royall, toappoiat the
ftafons and termes, wherein affli-
ctions (hall be continued. Theufe
of it is, that wee take heed of pro-
voking him, who hath power to
hold usunder evils while he pleafe
Secondly, wee mud flie to him in
prayer, that he would be pleafed
to incline mercy towards us, and
make haft.Third!y,we muft know
that all our continuance in affliiU-
onsis full of mercy ,truth and wife-
&om$, c \?*Ixcob ftioald have held
Tofepbm prifoo, would hee have
ht Id him too long > no, no ; much
le(Tehc(wboismore merciful than
any father, and piuifull than any
mother) will hold us overlong: but
ordering all his corrections by his
I Fatherly providence; will in bis
;. good time make them worke alto-
1 gether for good, and not for evill
unto us.
In the fecond place,labour to
I findc out what finne it is, wbfch
ofFendcth God. Sinnefull men
caufe; the
ftrikc not without a
h(\
J
tsffflfflions fbould make us
juft God, when he corre&etb,hath
ever juft reafjn : our conferences
are like looking- glafles, which be-
ing over-fpread with duft^do ihew
nothing • but if they bee wiped
c!eane ; thcn little things appeare in
them clearsly. Wherefore enter
into your foul e,confider what ftate
you ftand in before God - whether
you have that faith toward his
grace which doth purifie the heart
whether yoii have fb learned
Ghrift, that his vertuehath made
you put off the old man, that is,
deny thofe earthly lufts,wbich doe
Jeadc natural! men (as it were) by
thenofe ; and live godly, righce-
oufly, and with Chriftian fobriety,
inufe of thofe liberties which in
ehemfelves are lawful!. Many
thinkr, that if they knowthe truth
and are in jadgment againft Pope-
ry; if they like of the prefent Reli-
gion , prefenting their bodies on
theSabbat%uthepublifcewor(hip
I especially, if they have a prayer
! read in thehoiiiC,and fo a forme of
private '
ftarcb into 0Hrfpirit*dUejl*te.
411
private fervice, theythinkeitise-
nougfythough cheynever received
that grace from Chrift, which
fhouldf fcafon their nature with a
divine qualitie, even as the leaven
donhtte lump: of dough • andftir
upflrifein them againft their own
corruption,, -which hindrcth them,
that they cannot doe any duty to
God,fo as they defiretodo.Wher,
as all true Chriftians are Chrift s
fouldiers, & find their lives a war-
fareythe Spirit of Chriftin them
ftriving againft their corrupt na-
iure,and their corrupt nature lull-
ing againft the grace whichChrifts
(Spirit hath wrought in them, fo
that they cannot doe the things
Ithey would doe. Wherefore look
[to this(deare Sifter;) ourbeft free-
hold , our fcope of Heaven doth
[Hand upon it. Wee muft not thinfce
I as many do,w« have not lived thus
I long, to call it now in queftion in
^what ftate wee ftand: {uch like
jthoughrsthe devil fuggefteth,tbat
imen through hardnes of he*rt,and
blind'
412
Wet mufi examine eurfeFuts^ f$r
blind preemption, might fail into
cvill. If you find that you ftand in
the faving grace of Cbrift,then you
muftexamine your felfe, whether
you have not provoked God , by
negligent and carnall performance
of Spirituall duty : as good fluffs
may be marred in the making, fo,
the beftduties,ifour hearts be not
brought into Gods fight,and reve-
rently prepared in them, they are
marred, being in fiich manner per-
formed : yea, they difpleafe God.
Curled are fuch who do his work
negligently ; who draw necre him
with chcir hearts being farre off
from him nxiany were ficke, many
(mitten with death for receiving
the Communion without reve-
rence , faith, and repentance, d
for.u, Examine your fclfe, whe-
ther you have kz your heart to
love the Lord Jefus, whom you
bcleeve to have fhedde his bloud
for you; wee fay. Love de-|
fcends, ft doth not afcend. pa-l
rents tenderly love Children, but
Children'
what jinne God affiifts w.
Children love not Parents in
that degree^Itismofttrue, twixc
lis and oar heavenly Father, to
whom our hearts beare too too
:old love,ifthe beft of them be ex-
amined. Yon had more neede to
looke to this, it is (b popular a di£
?a(e,Finaily 3 confidei whether yon
have not ufedthe lawfull things of
this life incemperately ; whether
you have not negle&cd time,
which is fo precious- whether you
have not bcene carelcffe to fee that
chofe who are under your go-
vernment, fhouldferveand feare
jrhe Lord. Confider, I fay , fuch
ike things, that you may find
p?hat ic is God would have you
imend. Even as a medicine doth j
Sirre up naturall hea'e to fight
with the ficke humour, which is
o bee expelled by ic • (b the me-
ticinable forrowes that GOD
Joth icinifter to his Children,
rloe ftirre up grace, to drive forth
"uch corruptions fpiricuall,as God
ould have removed by them.
In
4*3
414
IVt nmfigoc to God to teach
In die third place, fielding what
hath been amiffe, you muft know,
that you cannot redrcfle it, we can-
not thinke a good thought; we can
(like children taken in faults) pro-
mise to do no raore,and be in them
prefently againe. Seeing then ic i*
not in our fttength,to take fruit by
our crofles/urther than Godf who
giyeth will and deed) doth workc
itiflU'jwemuftcometohitn, and
pray him to make us profit. Hee
who will have finifull men joyne
inftruftion with correftion ; yea,
who putteth into men this regard
ofdumbcrcatures, that he will not
ftrikea dogge, but hce will make
him fee/o well as he can, what it is
for which he ftriketh hion-fhall not
hecinftruftus, when his hand is
now upon us, for want of duty to
him Mo vaine fhould cold iron be
beaten,did not fire fofcen icrinvain
(houlcfafH ftions (which are Gods
hammer) ftrike on our hearts,
(hould not God by his Spirit),
which is compared to fire, both
foften
I
m U profit ly afjtitlio*.
fofren our hearcs^andenlighten us,
:o fee our duties towards him.
Wherefore good Sifter, (eeke to
Sod for this Spirit of Chrift, w eh
nay make all forrowes fruitfull
into you, andbeareyouup, that
ou fake not in them? For as Mad-
'ersfwim alofc all waters, while
hey are filled with winde, Co doe
ree above all affii#ions, while
bis Spirit is with «s,to fupport us
i them. If Phyficke be given a bc~
p,and it will not worke,i t is an ill
gne ; if our infirmities, which are
ods potions to our fbules, ifthefe
ove not our hearts to turne from
ine, and fteke to God for mercy
Chrift/u is a fearcfall figne of a
:ad fbule, from which the life of
od is departed. The Lord give
u uaderftanding in all things,
aus wifhing you true comfort,
»t h inward and outward, I corn-
it you to the grace of God in
lirift lefus.FarewelL
Your loving Brother,
> Paul Bayne,
4»5
4 1 6 Fiwpcrfirme the greate things
G
%/fnotber Lttter.
OodM. D, I hare receive:
your Letters, wherein th
death of our friend, which befor
was conje&urall, is certainly affit
med : as alfo the manner of hi
death expreffed. The latter doti
miniftercomfort for the bearing c
the forrcier.For,death is not a mat
tcrofforauchforrowto the god
ly,as the giving of repentance uati
life everlaftingjs matter of joy aw
gladncfle. The Lord grant tha
his death, and the great mortal
ty which your eies have feen 3 ma
bee fuchreall Sermons to us, cbi;
we may bcthinke us of our morta
lity, andturneour hearts to wiii
dome, feckcta gaine the time
which wee have heretofore mi
(pent, by taking all occafions untt
good ; and wee have vowed grea
things in baptiGncwe have profd
ftd our felvci dead with ChriM
that the world is crucified to us
and wee unto the life of the work
' Wjhic,
which they frcmife in Baptijme.
irhich as Saint lohn expoundeth,
oth (land io the finfull pleasures,
irofics, and glory which thechil- 1
ren of the world imbrace as
heir portion. ButaIas.,infteadof
ukiigthis profeflion good, wee
oe live in the World, taking in 1
X) freely and unweanedly , "the
leafures of ic, fetting our hearts
n the profits of it , more than is
spedienr.We have profefied our
Ires in Baptifeie,to be alive unto
iod,(foras the dipping or iprink-
pg of us,doth fcale our ingrafting
to Ghrifl dying: fo the coramicg
rtb,or wiping the water ofl^doth
lie unto us this grace from God)
dprofefleit (of our part) before
ny he Angcls,and the Congrega-
>n,that we are parted from death
life, even a life which is unto
:>d, and ftandeth in knowledge,
righteoufnefle 3 in hoiineffe,
that no longer, now wee as
p old man fhould live,but Chrift
11s fnould live in us. Now how
id are wt in regard of this life,
> who|
417 j
4 1 8 Gods childrzn may die by the fl*gu
I
whain che uft of Gods manifol
mercies, hath care to (hew fort
thefeareof hisnaoiSj the love c
holineffe, to make manifeft, th<
now hee is alive with his hea
Chrift Jcfus unto God. The cart
leffe breaking oF this covenai
hath caufed all this (b grievous p:
ftilence,yea, the Lord hath fhew<
how true that is,even in his owe
Children,many of whom hee hai
taken away,yet (bcorre&ed then
that he would not remove his me
ey from them,nor falfifie his trut
and therefore he hath given the.
repentance. AndifGodktyouf
this covenant of yours, and tl
maine failing in performance of:
you areblefled: Bleflfcd are th<
that mourne(faith our Saviour)f< ?
they £hall be comforced; bur,W< \
to thofe that goeon laughing, ft
they, if they continue, (hall wai,
cverlaftingly.
Your loving Broth* J
PAUlBajne.
Anfth ^
.
B
Ujfwtfrem the Higrhg of the, &c.
A**tbcr Letter.
1 Jr,PJcpIca<echGodftnto
tVl let his hand hang anv> gft
'oil;, though he hath gracioufly a-
Mtedhla (troke, yea, very many
Jaccs remain infefted^though mi-
U d *notofcheinfe&ijn:Jwhkh
h^uld teach us both to remember
hat which is p-ft, and to feare, in
tgard of that which may fallout*
"or this is one end why God doth
jot ac a chop remove the evills
iffhich annoy us,that we might the
setter remember our fbrrow paft,
ind his goodnefle in our delive-
ance. Againe,his hand doth hover
:>ften ftili about us, that wee might
eare before him, and meete him
)y repentance, in the way of his
udgcmenrj left if that his patience
wait on us in vaine, ourftroke at
length be redoubled. Trudy men
ire far from this, they thinkethat
[there is no feare, \t had a time to
!come,and muft have a time to goe,
and
__J
420
Thej that humble tbemfeher
and the worft is paft ; but God li
keth not fuch fecurity, yea hee ol
ten caufeth evill to meet it, whe*
the heart isblefled that feareth al
waies.Wherefore good M2).do
you go on in for row, for manifol 1
varus of duty towards your Gcx
fo gracious, yea, accufeyourfelf
now, a* too little humbled undc
l is mighty hand, when fu
ftrength of his wrath was revealec
And inthefe thoughts raifeup you
felfe to look unto his frccmercyc
Chrift, which reacheth (throug.
the merit of that bloud)tothe pai
don of all our fins,yea, to make us
who are the children of wrad
become the children of bleffing
yea fuch blcfling as doth follow u
in all our waies.O that is a worth;
ftntence for all that hare efcapei
thishatid, tothinkeon; GoetJfr
waies,finneno more, that is, makt
not a trade of walking after you
owneeics and hearts, left worfc
things befall. And this I will tel
you, the praftice of theft things
• thougl
mder Gods handball be exalted,
ough it rcftrainc a little mirth,
hich the Wift man callech mad-
ifTe,yr it (haii bring you to tafte
your foule a joy unfpeakeafalc
id glorious , fuch a rcjoycing,
hich the world cannot take from
We
Your loving friend,
Pa*l Bajne.
FINIS.
421
>
THE
TRIALL
OF A
Chriftians Eflate:
OR,
I A Difcoveric of the Caufcs,
degrees, fignes and differences
of the Apoftafie both of
true Chriftians and falfc :
In a Sermon preached in London,
bjMaftcrPAUL Batne, and
afterward fent in writing to
LONDON,
Printed by A 0. for J.N. and are
to be fold by Stm, Eniithj, at his
(hop, at the Starre in ropes
bead Alley. 1*37.
C$* C^f> *%* *%> <%* •$> Cf$* €%*
To the Reader,
Hri&ian Rea-
der, good Wine
needeth no gar-
land, it will
praife itfelfe:fi(lperjwade
my felfe) will this enfuing
Sermon, which a learned ,
%oly andfaithfullfert>ant of
\3od formerly viva voce in
ptiblique, founded in the
'ares of me and many, and
tfterwardsju a token of bis
A i Chri-
. — -^ ■
To the Reader.
/
Cbriflian love to mee , be-
ftoyoedupon me in wiring,
ishicb being fo fruit full and
necejfarie a labour, in the\l
judgement of the godly and\l j
learned that harve jeene itjk
and fo jpecially befitting L
thefelukcxarme and back- U
Jliding times , 1 thought 1\
could not, without prejudice^
to thee,fuffer it to He by mee w
for my private inftruclion
and benefit alone >and there-
fore for thy good, the Kee-
ping in precious memory the
Preacher thereof yvbom the
Lord hath gathered into his
borne, and for the glory
G
k
>od
— I-
:
To the Reader.
Godefiecially, I baVe con-
fented that it be made more
publique and common , by
\ comming under the preffe.
The Lord grant jthat it may
halpe tbatfucceffe in me and
tbee t which hee that gave
fir ft life antoit infludying,
and brought it foortb by
preacbingj.ntendedjmd Tin
confenting and caufing to
hai)e it printed \defire : fo
/hall the feeble , IPeake and
doubting Chriftianfie taken
by theband^ftaiedandcom.
forted againtt the fear es of
mall backflidingy and ice
all /hall be of the number of
A 3 them
To the Reader.
them which follow Jaith to
the confer^ nation of our
foules : which the Lord for
■Iefiu Cbrift his fake grant.
Amen*
Thine in his beft defoes,
W. F.
1
Si
*,$• *&+ <4>
THE
TRIALL
OF A
CHRISTIANS
Eftate.
Hb Bn.io.verf. 39.
But we are not they which with-
draw ourfehes into per dittos,
but fellow faith unto 1 fa con-
servation of the fink.
}He Apoftle ha-
ving in the
verfe before re-
membered the
fcarefull elhte
of fuch who
" through unbe-
liefe are wicbdrawne from God ,
; dochin this verfe prevent a fcru-
L A 4 pie
Tfa tri*B$fd CbriftUns Zfttte.
pic which might arife in fometi-
morons consciences > doubting
whether they were not in this cafe I
next before tbrcatned. Hee doth
therefore take fuch weake ones by
the hand 5 ftresgthning them, by
bearing them wicnefle of their
condition,manifefted by the fruits
above mentionedjverle 52,33.34 |
which eftace is let do wne herein
this vcrfe : Firft negatively, by dc-
aiall of their anbelceving revolt
Secondly affirmatively, by avou-
ching their perfeverance in faith.
Either of thefe properties of uo-
belicfeand beliefe,being amplified
from the effefts which accompa-
nied ^em > w*.deftru<5Hoa of the
fbule (for that is to be under flood
from the latter claufe) and falvaci-
ooofthcfcmc.
The lumme of the words. Feare
oot though I tell you that backfli-
dersare,veflels of no delight, for
yourfclveswith myfclfc,are nor
foch who fteale from our compa-
nies; having our militarie profef-
ficp,
TbctriaKofa tfbriflians Ejtatc.
(ion , which would tame in this
life and the life to come co oar fur-
cher deftru&ioo ; but we concinue
in faith, and put forth our beliefe
more and more, as occafionrequi-
reth, which bringech us here aad
everlaftiagly to fee the Lords fa I-
vation.
Now for the inftr uftions which
both the fcops and matter of the Obfirvaui.
verft include in them* Firft,chac
Paul doth confirms them bybca*
ring them wicneflfe of their cftate.
It doth teach us, that wee muft
ftablifh our weake brethren , by
bearing chem record of the graces
Wrought in them; wee who have
found grace muft confirme others.
If any thing more (marc be ucce-
red, we muft mollifie it with fuch
wife prevention as Phyfirians , if
they forefec ought harmefull to
thebodie^ they correft it with
other ingredients, that ic may
wholefjinely be received. If wee
faw one ready to trip, wee would
reach him a ha-id , and (uftaine him
A 5 - from \
The trisHsfd Cbrifiians Eftdtc.
from falling : much more muft we
(hew this love to the loule (hakiog
through frailtie. This wifedomc
Ghriftufcd,hee quenched not the
fmoaking 9 a xe : thefeafonable te-
ftifying to men their good things
caufeth them to take increafc : our
honour of them, our dutie to the
comfort of their lives and to the
truth, doth require it. Such there-
fore are to bee taxed who wanting
this prudence, handle the word in
dividing it like him in the Em.
blerac, who gave to the Afle a
bone, to the dogge ftra w : fich are
thofe Paftors who difcourage
good devotions, and incourage
men carnally minded, like unco
them we reade of, E&tcbiel, chap.
3 j 3 22.Such again arc chey amongft
private Chriltians^ who like Jobs
friends are a breaking to them,
whom they (hould comfort and
confirme.
Secondly, we roufl be provoked
by this example to incourage
weake ones when they are doub-
Tie trhHofa Qhri^uns Eflate.
ring of their eftatcs: for as a timo-
rous patient imagining twenty e-
vills, when his Phyfitian affureth
him that his cafe is nothing (6 7 is
well fatiafied : Co here.
Agaiac, in that he faith, We are
not chey that withdraw. Hence we
are given tounderftand, that fbme
may fall away from the Graces re-
ceived.IafomemannerGods owne
children aad others are reported to
have fallen : Ukvid,Saitl 3 Veter,A-
Itxmdtfffrc. But that this may be
more diftin&ly opend,three thiogs
muftbeconfidered.
I. Firll^ from what the godly
truely fanftificd may fall; how
farre others.
a. Srcondly,from whence falls
come, and the difference of them.
3. ThirdlyjWhatarethcfyrop-
tomes or figncs of a ftace decliniog
from God.
To the firft, a man not having
the true grace of the clc&,raay fall
from all outward privileges, which
hee-holdeth as a member of the
vifible-
fr ■ . ' ' ' — ma^s^ .... i ni l ■
7 he triall of a Cbnjl$ant Eftate.
ravfa ef
defeZi'ya.
vifible Church. Secondly, from the
effefts of his Grace in life and con-
version. Thirdly, from the very
habicuali gifts, which were th*
fountain whence his fruits flowed.
Thus bee may come to be twice
dead* and in worfe cafe than ever.
The Lordschofen may fail from
their outward prerogatives : but
that divine nature ftill abideth in
them, and it is onely with their
graces, as it is with the mindein
difttmpcrs of melancholy, and
phrenfic 5 with the Sun in eclipfes ;
with the tree whea leaves and
fruits faile it 5 with the natirfall
life when it moveth not, ne yet
breatheth fenfibk: which in difea-
fes of the Mother is ofcendifecr-
ncd. Their faith is an ever failing
faith $ their life an etcrnall life 5
their feed a feed abiding iq chem*
Now for the fccond, vi*. what
are theeaufes of failing a way, and
that (b di,verfl/j this opened will
lend a more thorow light to the
former. The caufts which worke
ia
The trull of a Chrifiians Eftate.
— »— ^ . — ■ ■ ■'■ ' '»» »' -
in withdrawing us arc inward or
outward. Bjc the verity of thefe
i cimiogs fpriiigechcmefrlyfconi
the inward.
The caufe in ths Lords children
is,theftafe of their grac<ywhich is
fuchas hath (till rcliqaes of dnnc
dwelling with ic.
The caufe of the others totall
fall, is an cflentialldefcft in their
grace, which teacheth not to make
a true union betwix; Chritl and
them^ nor yet toproduce true fan-
ftification. In a word, the caufe of
the ones perfevering, and the o-
thers totall deficiency, is not only
to betaken froai Gods power and
gracious pleafore, from Chrifl his
faterceflion, from the ftinting of
Satan Co the heele of the true
Chriftian feed : but al(b from the
eflln ull qualification^ and difpo~
Icionof the grace beftowedupon
utbeT. But this is a difficulty tur-
her to be cleared ; How wee may
brmally diftmguifti theft gifts
prhich are in the Chriftun that
perfc«
-■ i.i ■ ■ m r ■ , ,f I
Tbetriallofa ChriftiansEftaU.
perfevereth from thofcthat are in
him that temporifech. The diffe-
rence is doable:
i. Fir ft, in the union which is
made by them,
2. Secondly, ia the different
prpduftions which follow upon
Co different manners of being uni-
ted with Cbrift.
To open the firft, is fttdowne
this conclufion : The fpirituall
gift of the temporifer doth meerly
enlighten him to fee Chrift, but
doth not move his will to go uoto
Chrift, as given him ef God, that
he might notperifh but have eter-
nal! life. His application is an
overweening hope, taken vp by
his ownc preemption ; it is not a
motion which the fpirit doth eli*
date and draw our> but fucb as is
hisenlightning.
In the Word of Chrift are two
things : firft; the truth of it, a true
word : Secondly, the goodnefTc of
it, a good word. That may be ap-
prehended, God giveth his chofen
not
7 he tri*B of a CbriftUns Eft ate.
noconely anappreheafion, in che
uoderftanding of che truth, and
goodnefleof it; but a motion of
affiance, which makech the foulc
go toand clafp about Chri(t whom
it beholdeth. Hence ic is } that com-
miog and believing, lob. 1.12. I oh.
6.35.37. is apprehending, as when
a thing is taken by the handle : and
From this property of Faith doth
|:ome chat internal! union twixt
jthe believer and Chrift, which mi-
kech them dwell mutually one in
the other. Hence it is that the true
believer doth more affeft Chrifr,
ipricehim, joy in him, more than
the benefits by chem.
Now the Papifts faith is a meere
nlighming, not having any con-
idence within the compafle of it,
Tor a man may be found in their
aicb, and in damnable defpaire at
he (ame inftant) and the cempori-
ers faich having no more than an
ipprehenfioninche underftanding
^f the good word of (alvation joy-
wd with prefumptuous pcrfwafi*
on
io 5 Tbctriallof* ChrifliansBftate.
on an i tailibit hopes conceived by
himfelfc on fihe reckonings the£
cannot linerly unite hfoo wich
Chrift • but looke as a Wen ?s fa
unircdh the body by the skin in-
compaffi'g ic, and fome kindeof
continuation with the other mem-
bers ; hut bach nor foewes,nerve$ s
arteries (hoc into it from head arid
heart, as the other parts : to thefe
by tbetr common illumination and
profeffi »n hare conjun&ion with
the body,but want the ioflaence of
that more neere ligament of thac
affi^aced motion of the will,which
oaely flowech from Chrift into his
proper members. Aad this is the
firft ground of cheir after failing :
for looke as ftanding-waters, or
never fiich tonrents wnich have no
head of living fpring-wners to
feed chem, cannot in time but dry
up: fo thefe not having Chriihhe
Well-head of all grace, whatfoe-
vcr i* in them, in time fadeth and
ranifheth to nothing.
Ft om defeft of iiicernall union^
^ . w^ : fh
The trisHof aCbriftidrts Efitft.
which is, as ic were,the fountain^
commeth a difference in grace de-
rived. Thetemporifrts^beingftch
as doth never finely humble him,
fach, as is fuperficialljfnfincere : in
a word, fuch as doth not truely
fan&ifiehiro: by reafooof which
defeft, it is not permanent*
Firft, not being within the gra-
cious light of this Sonne of righte-
Dufnefl&jthe depth of his wound is
never gaged^and chough be know
much humiliation,, yec nee is never
ffuly humbled* Firft,hee feeth not
with humble coafcioufaefie the
Safull depravation of his nature:
iisdifpleaiureisraoreagain3 the
tuits, than rootes whence they i£
|ued. Tsui a Pharifee knew not
toncupHcence ; a Papift acknow-
edgeth not this as finfuli after hee
s once baptifed, whereas this was
he higheft pitch ofPj*U and Z>#-
fids penicentull exercife.
Bat -may not the temporifer
now and maintaine the truth of
his Doftciae, yea > propound ic
• fruit-
k
1 2 The triaB §fa Cbriflians EJImu.
Anft
*.
3-
fruitfully to others? Anfwtr. He
may ( by faith infufed ) conceive
and affent coir, yea, deliver it to
other^ but fo,that the power of it
doth not rcfle&on himfelfe, (bas
to be humbled in thi s refpeft : but
as the Moone giveth us light
which is not rooted in t he body of
her,for that continueth darkfbme :
fo they receive light from Gods
Word, and fet it forth to others,
but have none in themfelves. Se-
condly ,not being within grace^his
I confeffion and paffion under fin is
not free and voluntary, but extor-
ted eithe? from fome evidence of
light, or faft evincing him ; as
Saul to David confefled • or the
racke of Gods terrours inforcing it
from him. Whereas the children
of God, who now fee, that the
more their finne is, the more grace
(uperabounded ; that their bafc-
neffe is his glory,whofe grace they
live under, they frankly, yea, de-
lightfully humble themfelves id
confeffing their vilenefle. Thirdly,
pot
rt
1:
The trhRof a ChrifiUns Efttte.
■ -— ■ — — ■ i
lot being within the grace of
thrift with found affiance,he never
*ricveth at finne as it is enmity a-
'ainft his God : for Co be contrite
tiithis regard, implyeth a love to
3od, which cannoc be in him who
lath not found God loving him
irft : hee is vexed at bis fins in re-
Ijpeft of his miferies hee feetfa im-
nincn^or only as they are world-
ward, ftumefull aberrations from
pra&ice of (uch apparent vermes,
^vhich men may repute glorious,
tnd much affe&. In a word; hee is
lever cruely humbled, which his
obedience being partiall doth wic-
icfle; for hee will cake and leave
3 that which hee heareth at his
wne pleafure:yea 3 ifcrofles come,
ee is too proud to humble him-
slfe under Gods hand ; he is lifted
p above others, whom hee out-
rippeth in common graces: he is
:nforious, without confluence of
lat naturall condition under fin,
'hich is common to him with o-
iers. And from hence it is, that
at
13
M
Tkt triaB $fa ChriflUns Efitti.
at length his g; ace f < ilcth : for as a
houfe buildtd en the finds, with*
our a due ground-workc hid • or
plants unrooted cannot indarc : To
this frame which wanteth the
found ation and root of grace(fuch
as humility is) cannot perfifh
Secondly^ Ifayfrorathispjime
defe & of inner union, all the tern*
porifcrs graces produced arefcper-
ficiall, fl Jght, full ol overture :
wher as t bote in found believers are
fo 1 id,fiibftancial 1 ,not us intrvtjecm
J$fe9uefa things which though
outwardly they have the appa-j
rence, yet are inwardly defe dive. ]
Hence it is that Psttl calleth their
godlincfle, a figure of godlinefle,
%Tim*%.^. their knowledge anex-
tcrnall forme of knowledge, Rom$i
a. 20. that Chriftmaketh all they
have,* fernblance,a feeming onely,
1*^8, i8 # for looke as a wilde;
hcrbe^though it have but the name
and common nature* yet Icdiffe-
reth much from one which gro-
weth in gardens, better manured
c ind
TbttrUllif sChrifHans Ejt*t$.
*5
nddreflcd: 2nd ai 4 blew, died
rich blockwood, though it (eeme
^righ era while, yetisnotfofub-
tantiall as thai which is woaded
<*nd thtrfore wc fay ic is a trucco.
bur :) fo here, though the graces
>f the temporlfer have the fame
ume and comon nature, (for they
ire ioferiour workesof rhefpirit)
pea, though they may exceedcin
(hew, yet for the truth and fob-
ftauce, they are nothing to thofe
that are wrought in hone A hearts ;
ind from hence come two things,
Firft, their graces are (bone
growne up; forathiogfaperficiall
is done in halfe the time that a fub-
ftantiall thing isaworkiog. They
get the ftart ; and, w hik many a
sue heart before th* m in the Lord,
is complaining of wants,and weak-
leOeSjfiufull inclinations, uGirpiog
n them;they arecarried 1 as it were,
ferfiltttm, to their pcrfe&ion. Bat
is a true birth, though flowly at
t :he firft, yet ftill takcth increafe,
irhercis a mole groweth fitter at
the
itf
The tria f l of a ffirifliMj Eflatt.
chcfirft, bat fbonc cc^lcth: and
looke as in nature, thingi rhc fbo-
nert ripe 3 are thefboncft rotten : So
ic fares with thefe leap-Chrirtians.
Secondly, I fay their graces are
infocere, their hearts are never
purged from fome fin which they
love and like to live in, fbrfiaifter
cuds inrertaining the mcflage of]
Gods a»crcy,which is not that theyi
may reverence him, and ferve hira
all their daies without fljv'flunr-
rour : but they gladly heare it, as
hoping that they have a proceftion
by if, though they hold on in their
own courfes. For this it is that the
clefts faith, which never faileth,
is called a faith without by pocri-
fie ; that the true believer is oncly!
laid to have an honeft heart.
As God hath made fbme re-
medies in nature, fuch as purge
university every peccant humor,
as the PhyfitiansCatholicon,&c.
Someagaine that purge, ct$m de-
le&# f thdt expell choler,but meddle
not with melancholy ; phlegmc,
:
n&f tris tt *f a Cbriftians Eftati.
it ftirre not cholcr ; So this medi-
ae of grace, which God infufcth
co an honert heart, it is a Catho-
jue expeller of all knowne finne,
rcat or little. The grace of the
mporifer purgeth out the roocof
5 fin ; reprtflech the moving aad
noxyfmes, as it were, of fbme
x>ife fias onley, as in Herod. And
:nce it ii that the grace of the
imporifer doth not continue : for
i come growing up with twitch,
riers, thornes, is at length fino-
lered; and as wholefome meate
i a ftomacke full of flying cboler,
i at length vomited : fo reigning
a gr owing up with thefe feeming
races, doth never ceafe till they
p brought up and discharged,
*1^8.i2 13, 14. Thus much to
eare that difference of graces in
pds children and others, which
ufech that the falls of the one are
IV cocall nor finail, which is ind-
ent to the condition of the other.
k Now taking it as granted, that
le Lords children fall, byreafon
of
17
*>sl
T*
*•
Th$ triafi of a Cbriftsdnr Eftat*.
of the reliqucs of fio dwelling ir
them J come to name tbeexcenall
ok a ;$, which ^fttully brine forth
into AvoiUht this inbred ckfcfti-
on. Thefe fometimes worke it
more violently at once, fometime
(ucrcffively, by fome hainot s wa-
fting fin, which like a ftrong poi-j
fon difparcheth all quickly. O -(Tea
repeated, and gradually hcreaiedJ
lares of pleafures and profits, unn
comforublcnefle, which iccom-
panieth by many rocancsCbrifti-
an courics, (dead worke is quick-
ly given over) examples of the
muii.ude, a (trong back-bias, by
which the divell fometimes draw-
Ctb from perfifting iograce,offeaCi | (
at the firopl cicy, which to eye or? t
flefli (iemeth to be in Chriftiaa !r
courfet, at difiintion in opinions q
amongft men of the fame profefli- v
on, at the fins obOrved, and falls <j
ooceknowne byfuch, who make
profeflion; the ftducl g calls of f c
falfcTeachers,the glorious (he wes L
ofholinefl*,aod wnatfbcvcr chipgs k,
of :
The trUU efa CbriftUns Eft ate.
ofthi8nature 3 by w ch men through
SKans working arc wich-drawne.
Now followech the third thing,
the fymptoms or fignes of a decli-
ning fbule. This one thing muft be
prerailed, left that weake ones
fhould caft thefelves further down
by miftaking the matter. The pre-
tence ofthefe cvils,andfencc of due
difpoficions or aft ions, are note.
I Til fignes of a dangerous declining
ibule^but when they are willingly
carried without remorfe, renued
defires and endeavours after the
contrary : for as one may be with-
butGods gracious prelencctohis
feeling, and yet not a forftker of
God - fo one may be without thefe
:hings, and not leaving them, but
Irather left of them (Gods wifc-
jtonne for many ends fo difpenfing)
while by griefe, faith, and renued
lefires, he doth follow after them.
This confideration interlaced
Tor the right underftanding of the
natter in hand. Let this be the ficft
ignc 3 w&« a feeble, livelefle aftion
B
eft
i
2 o I The triaHof a Chriftians EjlAte.
of grace willingly admitted : y. g.
'as when a man can performe a-
ny Chriftianduty without all pow-
er fpiricuall and good devotion •
aeverthelefle doth not chalenge
himfclfe^ as if it were ill with him I
in that regard. L<tf& ettioncs Ufa*
argHuntf*cultates:h% when the eye
feeth not as it hath done, wee may
prefume the inftrunents or facul-
ties are not as they have beene :
So here, when we doe not things
with the vigour we have done, it is
a figne of infirmity, and a faculty
inwardly or outwardly hindred:
but when wee can thinke well e
nough of this ftate, it is a figne
of Apoftafie and wilfufl decli-
ning ; Iuskifh reaching* are thefics
forerunners comonly -Gods people
declining have fallen fir ft to thefe
formalities, to performance of du-
ties in a perfuc£iory fafhior, the
heart and raines far from the Lord, .
in them.
The&ccnd figne is a prepefte-
rcusappetiteof unwholcfuia food!
liked J
1 'he trUU of a Chriftians Efiatc.
liked well enough, no way diftur-
bant to us : when men can be with-
out preaching, or at leaft without
any chat raoveth the^r eonfeiencesj
when they can extol frothy windy
ftuffe, which fiJIeth them, but ne-
ver feedeththem^fo as their foules
are not the better for it toward
God. It is afignethemanis wil-
ling tofleepe that draweth the cur-
taines about him : It is a preemp-
tion, that thefe are willing to nap
in their fins, that lovenotfucha
light of truth as fhould awaken
them. Not bearing the wholefome
word is the preamble of Apoftafie ♦ |
A Thi'd token isindigeftionof
that we heare, borne contentedly ;
when the heat of love doth not fo
digeft things, that they might after
be diftributed into the veincs of
every good word and worke: be-
caufe they receive not the truth in
Jove, &c. 2 Thejf 2. When meate
is taken in, and pafleth away not
diced by the ftomacke^ it leaveth
pe body in an atrophie, that is 5
B 2 fuch
22
The triaHof a Cbriftitns Eftdtt.
fuch a tafte therein it isnotnou
rifted : So here.
T he fourth figne is an iiord "mate
appetite after things hurtful! and
noxious: as when a man fedeth
no hurt, though hee intermeddle
immoderately in the cares of the
world ; though hec intemperate ly
quaffe in thefe fiofull pleafures
which laft but a feafbn : vvhen a
man loves to follow the good
healths, wee may boldly fay, hee
loves to breed ill health. Worldly
cares and pleafures arc the things
of which the foule is drunken,
and fur fetfjand theft are the thornes
and weeds with which the feed of
gracst never thriveth.
A fifth figne may be the difcaf.
fefting of our brethren^ whom we
have acknowledged as begotten
ofGod. The Diveli cannot bring a
man who hath knowne any good,
to confront and defpifc him direft-
!y : therefore hee eutreth them
with this politicketraine; hcres-
cheth them fir ft to be bold and
. trample
The trhll of j CbrftiawE/tate.
trample downe bis Image, and Co
ac length bring them to delpife
God, 2 Tim. 1.4. "Demds (as it it
likdy) turning Apoftate^forfooke
the Apoftle.
The fixch figne is, when there
is felt no relaxation in regard of
our daily weakntfles&lefferfins,
bat they dfgeft with us : if the
(bule were not fallen well afl:cpe,
ic could not concoft Co well. When
nature (things able to provoke ta-
ken in) maketh not refiftance, her
ftrengch is feeble :So here. Bat whe
a man is growneto th!s > tbac he can
go on in his impenitency without
checke, ic is an evident figne he is
downe the wind in a wiifuil decli-
nation -yeajthat he is farre gone in
ir. Thus you have heard that forae
fall from their grace • and for fur-
ther declaration you have, feene
c!cared,ho w firrc all forts may fal r :
whence commeththtir falls, with
the difference of them. Thirdly,
what are the iadiemts of a foul?
declining,
B) Tfc
. )
The triaD of 4 Cbiiftians Eftate.
The ufe of all is; Firft, as to
ftirreusup to take comfort in the
true worke which God hath be-
gun 5 fo to make fure that we have
received fucfi grace as (hall not
faile : would wee not be loth to
reare ftich a frame in a material!
building, which fhould after come
downe upon cur heads ? We are
builders, let us make fare to digge
(b deep, and ground our worke Co
well, that though it (hould fliake^
(as they &y,firmc houfcs will) yet
it may be farre from feare of mine.
In taking gold, wee refefe waftied
and light golds or clipped, wee
weigh them,ring them 3 &c. In re-
ceiving grace be not lefle carefull
that it be right currant, not wan-
ting* graiac of due weight.
Secondly this, that many fall a-
way, muft awaken us to more cir-
cumfpeftion ; though it light up-
on fome men only, it is every mans ,
terrour. We have great reafon, for
wee live in moft perilous times,
whereiq the holy Ghoft hath war-
neti
Tbetriallofa ChriftiansEftate.
nedusthac the dampeof ficifhall
make the love of many waxe cold :
wherein the contagion of Apofta-
fie is epidemical! ; is gro wne a po-
pular difeafe. For now what luke.
warmnefle> what a weak pulfc bea-
teth every where ? men care not to
dcale wkh themfclves to hold their
thoughts to heavenly things, to a-
waken their affe&ions, to reaew
their faich, to blow up devotion;
to live in an holy contention ; nay,
this in our daies is counted a fii-
perfluous unneceflary courfc, for-
ged in the head of fame over-for-
ward f cHowes ; it is the undilcreece
fervor ofgrecn youth, which ages
wifdome wil take up.Ochers more
moderately fpoken, thioke that
every thing new is dainties., and
that prime aflfe&ions cann :>t be re-
tained :a fig-kafe^ature, art,grace,
go from lefle perfeft to more per-
feft. Whether doth a child at eight
yeercs or eighteene moft love and
joy in his inheritance ? Doeft thou
not count thy preatifcs two laft
} _ B 4 yeeres
i6
The triallrf* Chilians Eft Ate.
y ceres better tbanfoureof his firrt?
In ftcad of appetite to the Word,
now fbme thiakethe Sabbath may
be tolerably fon&ified without a-
ny preaching : feme couot it e-
nough, if they be where preaching
is,, let ir be what it will be; farre
from fuch as is able to worke on
their foulcs ; as if the orders of the
perfbn, not the fiipcrnaturall gifts
of knowledge and wifHoroemade
the Sermon (but thefe muft not be
levered :) force count fuch plaine
preaching (as heretofore wai effe-
ftuall in them) kflcdiligeatj and
leffe learned. Thus the DiveJl not
able quite to make them call off
the ordinance, perfwades them
that change is no robberie ; and
that they may flecpe tbe quieter
(negle&ing fuch preaching as was
powerful! in them) he cafts them
this pillow, fuggefting that they
leave not that which was ef£6tuaU
in them toward God, but that one-
ly which was indiligent and un
learned.
' . Againe,,,
The trhKofa Chrtfiizns Efiatc. 127
Againe, in Head of working chc
Word upon our affe&iont, how
many concent themfelvts to excr-
cife thdr criuckes,tbis or chat wa*
Well fpoken, &c. anc! there is an
end ? For the worlds ipcn have
their hands in it elbow-deep • yea,
many who in chdr times have
made fhew of a more heavenly
minde, fome are now fo (hie to
their brethren, that they w.'ll not
looke at them, not meece on the
fame fide of che ftreete, not know
them. How many, whole hearts
wruld have fwiccen them in leffer
offences can now commit as great,
and ic never upbraids them > nay,
efleeme this tenderneffc fcrupu-
lous fimplicicy, andmclancholike
aufteritiy. The more vulgar then
this difeafc is, the more cautelous
wee aiuft be.
Thirdly, wee fee now that who
will keepe life and power in his
courfc, endeavouring a good con-
science in all things, they muft
paflc the pikes of tvill tongues I \
B 9 which\ V A
2 8 I fhetriallcfsCbriftmsE/tatt.
Obfer-}.
which are (hakcnagainft them.For
now fuch heare, as if they were
humorifts, new~fanglifts, Prccifi-
an$,ptoud,GnguIar,fimple, melan-
cholike perfbns,what not > Final-
ly, the Diveli to make revolts,now
refines his wics, and turnes Angell
of lighr, hanging out our owne
colours, that heemay theeafilier
furprize us; and pretending per-
fe<5Uons, which we yet want,doth
transport many, whom neither
crcfies nor allurements would pre*
vailcagainft. So that we had need,
ifever,to walke warily, look fig to
the author and fioiftier of our faith:
yea, thankefully, that foineyill
times we are kept (though weaken
ly) alive in his fight.Thqs much of
the fecond doftrine.
The third followeth ia thefe
words - to perdition, viz,. cf the
foule, 2 Pei.2> 20. 2i« even as hce |
that gocth out of the light, muft
taeeds come into darkenefle : fo he i
1 that leaveth the living God, the
fountaine of blefled lifc,muft needs
I fall-
ThetriaHofa C*>r*fli*ns Eft ate.
29
fall inco perdition. The rclapfe ia-
into any ficknefle is more dange-
roas,than the firft entrance inroic :
for nature is now more enfeebled,
much (pent in her former refiflace;
againe, the difeafe is much Streng-
thened as a prevailing conqueror :
So in thefe declinings from the
healchfbme fhceof gracein fome
(ore attairted,fin ii Stronger (the di-
vell c5rcring with Seven worfe Spi-
rits) and our caps cityjof receiving
health lefler; we being twice dead,
and for the degree more, removed
from grace,than ever bcfore,& this
end befalls backfliders mod deser-
vedly: for chey offcr God the grea-
teft indignity, it being better chey
had never admitted him, than hi-
ving taken him in, to diSIodge him
caukhfly. Again,when fuch as for-
getting their military Sacrament,
fteale from tbeir colours,are juftly
Eunifhed with temporall dca:h;
owdeServedly are theft puniftied
witheternall perdition, whore-
(pt& not that warfare, to which
, the y \ ' _
{
30
the triaB *fa Cbrtfi$ans Eft etc.
they bound themfelves by Sacra-
nnec,who flinch a way,leaviog that
difplaid enfigne of a zealous pre-
femon 5 under 'which fomtimethey
havcfcivcda
But how can defiru&ion follow
on declining conrfts^ when Gods
choftn cannot ptu(h;and the other
fort wcce never inflate offal vation? \
AnfJhisis faid to be the end of ic,
not absolutely without exception,
but refpe&ively, if wee by repen-
tance take not (height fieps the
fooncr, & get our halting healed.
To the firft it may be aafwered ^
that the Apoftacy of Gods children
in it felf cendech to dfcftru£Hoi>it is
his mercy that preventeth them in
this way,pot the fruit of their back-
fliding. Secondly, they after a fort
deftroy thefelves^wheo they bring
their /pirituall life into a fwoone^
and lea re not themfclve* breath or
motiondifcernabk.For the wicked
though they ncyer were tborowly
Yind:catedor redeemed from de=
ftruftion^ yet to the judgemenr of
: . . charity
;
■ ' ■ ■
The triaU of a Cbriflims Eftate. I 3 1
charity they fecmed fo:now ic is ufa-
all to lpeak of things not according
ns they are,butas they appcare. Se-
condly,they,though they never had
that (bund eternal! life,yer they had
fuch a life as is in a Wen; md though
the rootes of their griefs were not
brought away, ycctheeflfe&s were
fo reft rained, and for a time fufpen-
ded.tbat to their feeraing ihey were
made wel!.Thirdly,they are laid to
fall into deft: u£ion,though they are
in r ; becaufe they by Apoftacy,goe
to the heigh: &coofumm«ion oHr-
as we are faid by a godly courfe, to
go to life e¥erlalUng,which in fome
degree wee have already. And tht
truth it, that falling away doth
bring the untimely judgmeatsjdotfc
procure an cffe&uall delivering to
Satan, who doth afterwards more
folly fill them with his efficacy :For
as God maketh thefincereli Saints
often of thofe, who have Jbeene the
fouleft finners : So here Satan^when
i he gets fuch an one,who hath beeoe
in (hew an Aogellofligh^ hcedoth
make
J he triad ^f a Chrijtians Eft ate.
make of him an incarnate dive!!. In
nature the fweetcft thing? whe they
t im^become the fowreft.This mor-
tal! ficknefle we muft cake heed of;
and if our love, zeale^endemefie of
conscience be diminifhed, wee muft
timely feek oat for remedy. I know
men thinke,we are not fo far gone;
once beloved ,alwaies beloved ; we
have left nothing but meere curiofi-
ty, melancholike aufterity, men in
many con (iderat ions reproveable-
(uch as thofe, v*ho joine not with j
theca> we hope may be in Gods fa-
vour, and goe to heaven. But never |
take fuch paines to deceive your
felves; thefc vaine words will not
ftill rocke the conscience afl *epe. If
thy (pirituall aftions be fallen a-
fleep>thy contention againftiheevil
dwelling in thee ceafed, thy appe-
tite after fincere milke & meat aba*
ted,thy tendernes of confeienotim-
paired, and thou canft lit nnder all
theft things without repentant for-
row 5 aflure thy felfe^he end of this
(ifthoupreyenteflitaat by.repen-
tance)
f
( i l l I ■■ m ■ I 9 ■
Tht trisB of a Cbrifiians Eftate. 3 3
tancc) ftiallbedeftruftion. Lukc-
warmnes (thogh men think it a pare
ofprudencc)ic is odious with God,
and will raakcus be caft up with di£
pleafure : true ic is that Gods wrath
is not prefentlyefpiedagainftfach,
bat this is onely becaufe wee fee not
the fpirituall judgements, where-
with they are firicken; and we fee in
nature the thing is long bred and
conceived, before it is brought
forth and manifefted.
Secondly, wemuft be exhorted
here to ft and conftantly in our cour-
fes, who doe walke with God in
ibme life and power, though not
without great weaknefle • let us not
give over our labour and holy con-
tention, to which the prefence of
fin & defeft of righreoudeffe have
pricked usttbis work of grace goech
againft the ftreame of nature, if we
intermit to ply theoare of holy ex-
ercifrj wind and tide wH carry us
backagaine«Where weceafc to im-
prove by good husbandry the gtace
received,, there H beginnetb to be
imoaircd*
*~ — . * . ^m^;, 1
54- i j The trtaQofa Chtijiians Efiate.
Obfer.+
j impaired. True it is,that tht disking
up of oar (elves, refitting (loth* the
rcftlefle afpiring after things which
we are flill call from whh violence,
are in their kinds laborious : butre-
member^whicmeo do in their earth-
ly warfare; r hry(forpay oftwo (hil-
lings a day) march thorow places
often full of difficulty, \u (the
ground being cheir bcd)in theayre,
no covert over cheer ; in their viftu-
4 alls they are fore ftreightned, of-
ten they carry their lives in their
hands, and fight in the Cinons
mouth : to thfofeeupon this once/is
enough to make us afliamed of our
fof ntfle and cowardice. But we arc
of faith, as we fay, at d men of cou-
rage & oifdorae. Butalas^firft who
hath theft things? fccondly, who .
doth put them forth ? thirdly, who
is conftant in holding them, and
making (hew of them as occsfion is
offered?
We may obfcrvc this as a fourth
inftru&iori, what is the property of
a (bond believer or beliefe,*/*. to
p?r-
I
The biAft of 4 Cbrtjlians Eft ate. 5 5
pcrftvcrc when thty arc tried & op-
pofed : this faith is a precious, fi >
ccie,nevc r failirg faicb; it growech
from one degree toanocher^the true
believer, hec holdeth the faith a-
gainft hell gates thfmfelves,thatis,
the powers of hell which oppofe
him in it : which that we may more
fruitfully u: derftand;we muft know
that where found faitfris wrought,
rhere the divcll plaicth the affiilant,
bending all his force to difcarmc
:hem of this divine fliield, by draw-
ngthembackcagalne to unbdiefe
md frlfe confidences which will
lot helpe them.
To this purpofe hee muftereth
:rofles f vomictcth deluges of falfe
laaderi;ftirrcs up thencereft friends
)f fuch as are now come to G 3d by
aithjto perftcute themmoft bitter*
j : (bmctime he (heweth thera im-
>oflibili:ies, in fenftof feeing that
hey defire and believe : (bmecimes
le troubles their fcelings,that fo he
aay (hake them in their believing :
bmetimes hee withdrtweth their
, faith
\
3*
The triaU $fa Cbrijiians Ejlate.
faith by falfeobje&s, which he pro-
pofeth to them; but if hee cannot
break off their belief,ehen he laieth
about to reprefle the fervency and
the renued exercife of their beliefe.
by unfettling us with fome new de-
vices, when we are more intent ; by
making our exercife painfull, and
uncofortable, overcafting the light
which was wont to fhinetousia
the promifcs; hindriog us from fee-
ling the fwect comfort in them; ex-
citing the reliques of fl:>th,dea<toc5,
inconftiocy that are in us.'fomeiime
by caufkfie fears & finfullfliaraefaft-
nefle hee withdraweth ns from our
holy devout exercife.But this found
kich quencheth allthefe fiery darts
which are throwne againft k 5 and
like as a tree which (haken* rotteth
more deeplyjor like as a torch w ch
beaten, blazcth more brightly; or
like as a ftar, which when the aire is
obfcured,fhinethmoftclearely: fbis
it with this root^torch,this glorious
fhr ; thefe powers of darknefle doe
nothing in the eod^but lend ic a more
1 . bgaq-
Tl)ctri*Uofa ChrtJliantEJiate.
37
beautifull luHre, thai it ever puc
forth while it was not v beroundt4
with any fach enmities.
True it is, that the beft faith may
hang the whig, bsingwcatherbea- 1
ten, and feeme to retire under fome i
more vehement delaies orientation: 1
but that which flieth to day, figh-|
teth againe to morrow ; and like as !
it is with thofe, whofe going backe !
helpeth them to take thsir rife and
fetch their lea p more co modiou fly : '
So here, faith (through him that is I
the author & ficiiflier of her)by how
much fhr gavebackejby Co mach in
her renued iadcavours (becomiaeth
forward more facceffcfully. From
this ground many come to be re-
proved : Some there are, who will
feeme to follow fincerity & fanfti-
fication,whik making (hew of thele
things isgainfull^but if crofles come
they will hy down their weapons^
and Will provide to fleepe in whole
skins, whatfoever become of other
matters. Some, if they be delayed
beyond their own time,caft up their
> hopes,
3§
The ttiaU if a ChrifHans EJttte,
hopes,andare ready proudly to fay,
Ic is in vainc to (erve God. Amongft
chc Lords children,, how many arc
there who follow not faith^ grow-
ing up from faith to faitfy encwiog
the exercife of it in faftningonthe
gracious promifes which are made
unto us? Men that will check them*
(elves if they omit the aft of mercy,
of ceftifying truth, of juftice where
occafionis offered;blamenot them-
fclves fornegkfting to renew their
faith towards God f when hispro-
raifcs renewed, or experience of his
goodneffc and truth doth call for it
from us.
Some there are,who weakly fore-
fpeak things, fignifynig their unbe-
belief,by faying,tht y fhall never fee
this or that evill mending wkh thejj
that ic is but a folly to attempt fur* 1
ther, feeing wee ftriye againft thci
ftreaaie.But this is not to bs carry ed
with full faile of faithfull pcrfwafr
on on him who hath fpoken good to
u«, but through attending to that
fenfe &reafon Ipeaketh, toyeeldw
unbeliefe. S?cqnd-
_ —
The trial! of a Chriftians EJttte. 3 9
Secondly, we may hence here gather
le truth of our beliefe. Hath ic ftood
irongh help of Gods grace in tentati-
n> Chrift lettech us fee that hee was
ur fnpporrcr,it is a true figne of grace
ever failing : buildings which ftaad
vhen winds and ftorms beat on them,
re prefumed to bs fore grounded,
phcrcas the paper- walls andpainccd
aftks of chefe who have not unfained
;race, cannorindure any (bund afliulc
vhich is m ?de againft them.
The laft thing to be markedi^what oM-.f,
t is that doth bring us to fee ftlvation
iere and everlaftingly, it is ourbe-
hfe^i PrM. 5. Gods pleafure of wor-
ding this or that forus,isfirft made
cnowne by his Word revealing it. S
:ond!y, ic is delayed for a triall of
hem to whom it is given. Thirdly 3 it
3 executed. Now the revelation of
[his future pleafureeacly faith appn-
len^eih; the delay (wherein many 00
:urrences are incidc it) fpeaking chc
pntrary this faith beareih, by clea-
ing to that which formerly it heard
icom God. When the thing is execu-
ted,
'J
4 o
The triall of a fflriftiam Efiate.
ttd 3 then faith is changed with Gght ;
fo chat it isplaine, that faith bringeth
ustofeefalvatioo, for it never giveth
over till the thing be in prefent; jc
doth kcepc us within the tower of
Gods impregnable ftrength for the
prefent, which is our fafety agtinft all
enemies; ic doth bring us out oi all
troubles by holding Gods gracious
Word ; as a man eommeth from a
deepe dungeon, by climbing a fcaling
ladder caftto him 3 or fitting upon an
Eagles wing which would mount up
with him.
In the Chapter following there is a
catalogue of glorious believers^ the
end of their faith being like wife re*
corded. Whence we may firft fee that
errour of Papifts, who though they
afcribe our firft forgivenefle of our
finnes to frith; yet our after-rightc-
oulhefle and falvation they referre to
good workcSj penall fatisfa&ionSj
application of the* Churches crca-
furie^ &c. withdrawing themfelves
from faiths when now they are
brought to be in date of grace ; baj
faith
I
The trlall of a Chrifiia?is Ejlzte.
ith is never to ceafe till the thing be-
eved be now in fight, neither will
le fame thing be got both by faith
nd workes ; for thefe are fuch as will
iotbe compounded, theApoftlebe-
ng witnefle.
Againe, hence we fee how wofull a
;hiog ic is to call away our confidence,
we fling away the plaifter that (hould
hcaleus • for whatfoever evillswere
upon us, yet holding our faith on the
truth and mercy of God in Chrift^
they (hould variifli away as (hewers,
whichonourgarmgnts,dryuph time
and come tonothirg, Ye;,their dan-
ger is hence difcovercd, who though
thtymake conference of amrcher, a-
dultery, in jaftrce ; ye: care not to life
in unbeliefe, which is of all finals the
meft dangerous, for the other (hould
not hurt us deadly, were it not for
this; that wee will not by kith take
i that medicine which (hould healeus,
Srcondly,this r--nft incour age us to
p^rfevere in our fauh : as Ghrift ! jok-
edtothe end of the Craffej (j muft
we looke to the end of our fauh, that
we
4* | The triaU of a C^fi'**" EJlate. jf
1 ' ■ ' — ■ — - — — — ■ — — j — |
] we may indure all difficulties the bet-
ter, with which wee are encouwrcdi
True ic is, that mei are of:cn moft de-
ceived, where they truft moft; but
leaning on the Lord, and waiting on
him, thou (hall never be deceived, nor
miflfc of his promifed falvation.
objeti. But in temporary evills wee canno
aflure ourfelves of deliverance.
^»/»- f Anfo. The truth is, wc fee not de-
liverance, becaufe wee exercife not
faith ia particular promifes (b ftrreas
we might. Secondly, wemuft ever be
affurcd of iflue, (uch as is joyned with
falvation. Thirdly,though it keepe us
not out of the fire, yet faith will
keepe us from burning, or taking hurt!
in our moft fiery crialls ; whereforci
let us renew our faith in Gods preci-
ous promifeSj afluring our felves thai
the end of it (hall be falvation of foult
and body in the day of our Ler<
Jefus Chrift. To whom with the Fa
cherandSpirit,&c. tAmcn.
L
FINIS.
v
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