The strong helper, offering to beare euery mans burthen. Or, A treatise, teaching in all troubles how to cast our burden vpon God but chiefly deliuering infallible grounds of comfort for quieting of troubled consciences. By Iohn Haivvard.

CHAP. XV.

BVT say it was sinne a∣gainst* 1.1 knowledge, and thou hadst warning gi∣uen thee many times to take heede of that same sinne: and warning by the word of God, so that thou couldest not but know, that to doe so as thou didst, was a sinne highly displeasing to God. Sometime thou wert warned by a publique Sermon, sometime thou wert warned by thine owne priuate reading, sometime by the louing ad∣monition of some neighbour or friend. And thy iudgement was growen to a mislike of that same sinne, and thou wert offended at others, that commit∣ted

it: aud yet thou hast fallen thy selfe into the same sinne. Surely this is a hard case: and the tempter hath great ad∣uantage against thee.

But what! must the charged sinner* 1.2 sincke eternally vnder this burthen? is there no meanes to cast euen this bur∣then vpon GOD for the sinners case? Yes verily: and Sathan hath not yet driuen vs so close vp to the wall, but that wee may, by Gods mercy, slippe safely out of his hands. Heere let the sinner consider in what case hee was, when hee committed this sinne, whe∣ther hee were his owne man (as wee speake) that is, whether it were in the choise of his own wil to do it with lik∣ing, or without liking. For great is the weakenesse of our nature, and often∣times the regenerate, and best minded serue •…•…s of God (though they should yeelde to die a thousand deaths, with most exquint•…•… torments, rather then commit •…•…nie sinne, to the offence of God,) yet, either sodainely affrighted with the appearance of daunger, they commit sinne, before they haue time to consider what they should doe, and to

settle their resolution against it: or else, weighing at leasure both their duty to God, and their present danger, pusil∣lanimity and weakenesse of heart ma∣keth them to shrinke and yeelde at the present. And must a sentence irreuoca∣ble presently come forth against this weake sheepe? Is there no balme in Gi∣lead?* 1.3 is there no Physition there? is there* 1.4 no mercy in heauen for this sinner? is there no gracious pardoner there? Such a rule must needes haue sent to hell ma∣ny of Gods beloued Saints, that now are with him in heauen: who while they liued on earth, were sometime vrged with sodaine, and sometime with vio∣lent temptations, and haue yeelded, sometime without consideration, and sometime with consideration: and yet after, by the mercie of God, haue re∣couered themselues, and haue glorifi∣ed GOD, both in their life and death, & are now glorified of him in his king∣dome. And why shouldest not thou, if thy sinne be like theirs, hauing to do with the same God of mercie, hope to finde the same fauour that they found? Surely this very circumstance, that thou

wert surprised by a sodaine or violent temptation, & led captiue to do euill, a∣gainst thine owne liking, that didst take no pleasure in it; yea wert exceedingly grieued, that thou hadst not strength & grace to withstand it, is a hole in the wall of hope, through which light shin∣eth, and wherin if thou dig by humble & hearty prayer, it may proue a doore of mercy for thee to enter by, & come neare to God, to be eased of thy burdē.

Here consider the example of the A∣postle Peter: his sin was a grieuous fin,* 1.5 for he denied before men his master the Lord Iesus Christ: he did so, once, twice, and thrice, & each time more vehemēt∣ly then other: for first he simply denied him, & passed it ouer with this saying, I know not the man. At the second time he augmented his sin with addition of an oath, and forsweares him. The third time he yet augmented his sinne more, with addition of grieuous execrations, and cursed himselfe; that is, wished him∣selfe accursed, if hee know him. And he did this in the time of knowledge, after he had learned, that to do so was sinne, and dangerous to his soule. For he had

heard his Maister openly before speake thus; Whosoeuer shall confesse mee before men, him will I confesse before my Father* 1.6 in heauen: but whosoeuer shal deny me be∣fnre men, him wil I deny before my Father which is in heauen. And though it were a true saying, out of a liars mouth, skin* 1.7 for skinne, and all that euer a man hath, will hee giue for his life. Yet this is true also, and to be regarded aboue the o∣ther, that all that a man hath, euen skin and life also, hee must giue, cast away, and esteeme as vile, that he may follow Christ to glorifie him by true confessi∣on. Which course only hath power to secure life. As Peter also had heard from the mouth of his Lord, saying, If* 1.8 any man will follow mee, let him forsake himselfe, and take vp his crosse, and fol∣low mee, for whosoeuer will saue his life, shall loose it: and whosoeuer shall loose his lifs for my sake, shall saue it. This Peter had heard, this he knew. And be∣sides these general caueats long before giuen, Peter was also priuately fore∣warned of this thing, euen the same night a little before he did it: when he also took knowledge of that warning,

and resolued with himselfe not to doe it; yea, made open vow not to doe it. For when the Lord Iesus Christ, after his last Supper, a little before his appre∣hension, hee tolde the Apostles, that they that night should all be offended by him. Peter boldely answered and saide vnto him; Though all men should be offended, yet will not •…•… be offended. To* 1.9 whom the Lord said in the next words▪ Verily I say vnto thee, that this night, be∣fore* 1.10 the Cocke crow, thou shalt deny mee thrice. Peter had no meaning to do so, but rather a resolued heart not to do so. And therefore aunswered presently; Though I should die with thee, yet will I* 1.11 not deny thee. And hee spake no more than hee truely intended, hee was no hypocrite, onely he considered not his owne weakenesse, but was ouer confi∣dent in the opinion of his own strēgth. And therfore when Iesus was taken and carried to the high Priests hou•…•…e, Peter followed a farre off, and entred into the high Priests hall, and put himselfe a∣mong the seruants and officers, and drew neere to the fire (for it was colde) and first a maide challenged him to bee

one of the followers of Iesus▪ after, some of the men seconded her challenge, strengthening it by adding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suspi∣tion; that his speech bewrayed him to be a Galilean, and Iesus came out of Galilee, and therefore hee was not vn∣likely to be one of his followers. At last a coosin of his, whose care Peter had smo•…•…e off in the garden, flatly affirmed, that hee did see him in the garden with him. Peter affrighted sodainely with these challenges, and being in the mid∣dest of them whom hee esteemed his e∣nemies, seeing at the present no way to escape; yea, hauing no leisure to thinke what was fittest for him to doe, denyed his Maister, and bound his de∣niall with oaths and curses.

Was not this a sin against the know∣ledge of his heart? and what hast thou done, in the particular sinnes, that thou ar•…•… charged withall in thine heart, that Peter did not in this sinne of his? and in what points are thy sinnes greater and more grieuous then his? then what let∣teth thee that thou maiest not pray for, and hope for the same mercy, for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes, which was

freely granted to Peter for the forgiue∣nes of his sins. Goe forth therefore with Peter in the sight of thy sins, poure out the teares of repentance before God as Peter did, and he that receiued Peter to grace, wil also receiue thee. He was par∣doned vpō no peculiar mercy proper to him, & denied to others, but vpon that vniuersall mercy, and most ample grace, that God is ready to extend to euery cō∣trite soule, & then afforded to Peter, that hee, out of his experience, might after commend it to others. Therfore did the Lord Iesus say to him aforehand, when thou art conuerted, strengthen thy brethrē▪* 1.12 That is, when peace is restored to thy soule, vpon assured pardon of thy sinnes past, and grace giuen vnto thee, to stand more firme for all times following: then labour to comfort the hearts of others that haue sinned as thou diddest: as∣sure vnto them, vpon their contrition, the forgiuenesse of their sinne past, and the presence of Gods grace for the time to come. So that I am not the man, but Peter: nor Peter out of speculation, and from his owne conceit, but out of ex∣perience, and vpon most sure authority,

from the mouth of his Master, the sonne of God, the sauior of mankind, the Iudg of quicke & dead, that is warranted to tell thee, that there is mercy with God, to forgiue thy sinnes committed▪ against knowledge, if in this sorrow & feare of thine heart, thou turne to God, and har∣tily prayest vnto him for pardon, with purpose no more to cōmit the like sin.

I could adde the examples of many of Gods Saints, that sinned against knowledge, being carried away with a sodaine and violent temptation, so that either they had no leisure to thinke what was fittest to doe, or they wanted power to withstand the present assault, and they after found fauour with God, and their sinnes being forgiuen, they liue with him in glorie. Iacobs lie, main∣tained to his father Isaacs face, that hee was not Iacob the yonger, but E∣sau* 1.13 the elder sonne, was a sinne of this kind, against knowledge: but his mo∣thers words as a potent temptation, led him to the doing of it. Iudaes adultery committed with Thamar his daughter* 1.14 in law (though not knowne to be Tha∣mar) was a sinne of this kind, against

knowledge (for how could Indah bee ignorant of the Law of God against a∣dulterie, written in mens hearts, that would haue done execution vpon Tha∣mar, when he heard she had played the whoore) but the temptation was so∣daine and strong, fitted with so many opportunities; hee was a yong man, at that time without a wife, shee sate dis∣guised as an harlot, it was in the field out of the view of men, and shee was soone intreated and yeelded vnto him: these opportunities strengthning the temptation, made it so potent, that Iuda sinned. Dauids hastie sentence, giuing the estate of Mephibosheth vnto* 1.15 Ziba, was a sinne of this kind, against knowledge; (for Dauid could not be ig∣norant of it, that there are many false accusers, that a righteous Iudge should giue the accused partie leaue to speake for himselfe, before he proceed to sen∣tence) but the temptation was strong, and sodaine; Ziba came with a bribe, he brought it in a time when Dauid had need of it. The time was troublesome, Abs•…•…lon was vppe in rebellion. Why might it not be true, that in this trouble

of the state, Mephibosheth beeing the right heire to Saul, might seek to make a faction for him. And Dauid had need now of friends, and therefore thought fit to make Ziba sure on his side. These and like considerations darkening Da∣uids iudgement, gaue strength to the temptation. And hee sinned in con∣demning the innocent, and rewarding the wicked accuser, and that against knowledge, for he was not ignorant of the duety of a Iudge. And yet all these haue found fauor, and their sinnes haue beene forgiuen vnto them. Why then should thy heart faint, and thy hope faile, because thy conscience tels thee, that thou hast sinned against know∣ledge. Repent and turne to God, pray and thou shalt be heard. This very cir∣cumstance, that thou we•…•… not freely maister of thine owne will, but the so∣daine or violent temptation led thee captiue, is an hole through which hope shineth: dig by hearty praier, and by true contrition, and a doore of mercie shall be opened vnto thee. This is in this case, to cast thy burden of accusing thoughts vpon God for thine ease.

Notes

• * 1.1

  If it were done agenst thy know∣ledge.
• * 1.2

  Consider if thy w•…•… was not ouer. sw•…•…ed by som strong temptation
• * 1.3

  Iere. 8. 12
• * 1.4

  There is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hope in this circ•…•….
• * 1.5

  Examples of men par∣doned that thus sinned in the time of know∣ledge.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 10. 32
• * 1.7

  Iob 2. 4.
• * 1.8

  Mar. 16. •…•…4
• * 1.9

  Mat. 26. 33
• * 1.10

  34
• * 1.11

  35
• * 1.12

  Luk 22. 32
• * 1.13

  Gen. 27. 19
• * 1.14

  Ge. 38. 15▪
• * 1.15

  2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 16. 4