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. XIX.

BVT the afflicted sinner that cānot easily cast off this cleauing burden, to his owne further trouble obiecteth against the in∣couragment giuen him from the commandement of the Lord Iesus to aske forgiuenesse of sinnes: af∣firming that that gracious commande∣ment, giuing so franke leaue, and so large hope of asking and obtaining

forgiuenesse, neither doth nor can per∣taine vnto him: pleading against him∣selfe, in this manner. This commande∣ment of Christ, that giueth leaue to aske and hope to receiue forgiuenesse of sins cannot belong vnto me, neither haue I any right to the benefit and aduantage of it, because that commandement is gi∣uen to them that can call God their fa∣ther, for so beginneth the Lords praier wherein that commandement is com∣prehended, our father which art in hea∣uen. But cannot call God my father, neither haue I any reason to thinke my self his child. First the child ought to resemble the father. Our Sauiour saith. Ye shall therefore be perfect, as your father which is in heauen is perfect. But there is in me no part of the perfection of God▪ either in the vertues of my minde, or in the workes of my life, and the Apostle Saint Peter saith. As obedient children▪ fashion not your selues vnto the former lusts of your ignorance, but as hee which hath called you is ho•…•…y, so be yee holy in all manner of conuersation, because it is writ∣ten, be yee holy for I am holy. And if yee call him father which without respect of

person iudgeth according to euery mans worke, passe the time of your dwelling here in feare. By this rule of Peter, they which call God their father ought to be holy as he is holy, but I am altogether profane. They ought to passe the time of their life reuerently in the feare of God, but I haue beene and am a con∣temner of him: and their doings should not be after the lusts of their own heart, that beare sway in the daies of igno∣rance, but I neuer followed other rule, then the lusting of mine owne heart, I neuer stroue to suppresse and mortifie them. Yea my whole course of life doth proue mee to be the child of another fa∣ther that hath no place in heauen, but was cast out thence for sinne. The Lord Iesus said vnto the Iewes: Ye are of your father the deuill, and the lusts of your fa∣ther yee will doe. Much more rightly (by triall of my deedes) may it bee said to mee, thou art of thy father the deull, and the lusts of that father of thine thou hast done. While my sinnes thus daily come to remembrance how can I cal God my father.

And who can call God his father, that

hath not the spirit of God dwelling in him, as the seale and earnest of his inhe∣ritance, of which spirit Paul speaketh thus. Ye•…•… haue receiued the spirit of adop∣tion whereby we cry abba father: the same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit, that we are the children of God. But this spi∣rit dwelleth not in me: if this spirit were in me, I should feele at one time or other and in one measure or other, the com∣fortable testimony of that spirit: but I feele nothing but feareful horror in my conscience: oh that I had and might feele the comfort of this spirit, my pre∣sent tentation witnesseth the absence of it. Also if I had the spirit of God in mee, the fruits of that spirit would bud, and shew forth themselues in mee: but all is contrary. The Apostle Paul saith, the fruit of the spirit is loue, ioy, peace, long suffering, gentlenesse, goodnesse, faith, meekenesse, and temperance. There is none of these to be seene in mee, but the fruits of the flesh are plentifull in mee. With them I am ouergrowen both in body and soule. The Apostle reckoneth them vp in this order. The workes of the flesh are manifest. which are adultery▪ fornica∣tion,

vncl•…•…annesse, wantonnesse, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, debate, emulation, wrath, contention, seditions, herefies, enuy, murders, drunkennesse, gluttony, and such like. And in these sinnes I haue liued, and dwelt, and delighted, if not in all, yet in many of them, and if not in many, yet in some of them, inough to quench the spirit of God, if the fire thereof had at any time beene kindled in mee. How then can it be that I should haue the ho∣ly Ghost? And not hauing the holy Ghost, how can I call God my father? and if I haue no right nor power to call God my father, that leaue to craue the forgiueuesse of sinnes, and that hope to obtaine forgiuenesse of sinnes, which are grounded vpon that commande∣ment of Iesus, pertaine not to mee.

Alas how ingenious men are, in the daies of affliction, when the burden of accusing thoughts lies heauy vpon them, to dispute against themselues. They haue not vnderstanding enough to apprehend and taste any thing that is spoken for their comfort: but they haue wit to finde out, and vtterance to pro∣nounce, and feruent passion to vrge any

thing that may make for their discom∣fort. But let vs helpe to remoue these stumbling-blockes, from before these mens feete, that they may walke on in hope, and come vnto God by praier.

Thou thinkest that by that comman∣dement of Christ, there is giuen to thee, no leaue to aske forgiuenesse of sinne, •…•…orhope to obtaine forgiuenesse of sin, because it is to be craued of an heauenly father. And thou canst not call God thy heauenly father, thou thinkest th•…•… he is not thy father, and that thou n•…•… not his sonne. And thou hast two rea∣sons to proue this to thine owne heart. First because neither thy vertues no•…•… thy actions doe in any thing resemble God▪ but▪ rather proue thee to be the child of another father, opposit to God, and se∣condly because thou hast not the spi•…•…it of adoption to crie Abba Father. For thou neither feelest the restimony o•…•… that spirit in thine heart, neither doest thou see the fruits of that spirit in thy life, but al things euery where contrary.

I mislike not that thou doest hold•…•… meane opinion of thy selfe, and cens•…•…∣rest thy selfe vnworthy the title of God•…•…

child: and that thou thinkest honora∣bly of the spirituall kinred that is be∣tweene God and his saints. But be of good comfort. God sa•…•…leth not to be thy father, because thou thinkest him not to be: neither failest thou to be his child, because thou darest not thinke thy selfe to bee his child. And these words vrged against thy selfe, are no o∣ther then the words of the prodigall vn∣thrift spoken of in the Gospell, who in his vertues and actions did nothing (as yet) resemble his father, for hee hanted harlots, and liued riotously being euery way as sinfull, as thou canst (with any words) make thy selfe: and when by ad∣uersity he was brought to consider of his life and estate, as thou now doest, he had that opinion of himselfe that thou now hast, thinking it not fit to take vnto him∣selfe the title of a sonne. His words are thus set downe by Saint Luke. I will a rise and go•…•… to my father, and say to him, father, I haue sinned against heauen and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne. Compare thy selfe with him, thou canst not be worse then hee, not in thy life more vnlike thy heauenly

father, neither canst thou be in worse case then he was. He for sooke his fathers house, and was departed far from God, knowing very well from whence he was departed. Hee neuer had minde to re∣turne backe againe till misery compel∣led him, of whom we neede not feare to say (for it is plaine and cleare) that no loue to his father, nor to his fathers house, but pinching necessity, and ex∣treame misery made him a conuert. And while hee was abroad, what was his course? the euangelist telleth vs, he w•…•…∣sted his goods with riotous liuing. That is, all the blessings of God, bestowed vpon him, (whatsoeuer) in minde, in body, or in estate, hee wa•…•…led them vainly with∣out any fruit, either to the praise of God or good of his saints: yea wickedly, to the dishonour of God, and great offence and hurt of his saints. His elder brother said truly of him to his father. He hath deuoured thy goods with Harlots. He was a deuourer rather then a spender, be∣cause he followed wholy the flatterings and intice ments of the flesh and of the world: hee pursued earnestly and gree∣dily the pleasures of sinne: he polluted

the whole man, both body and soule, in carnall and spirituall fornication: and hee dishonoured his mercifull Fa∣ther, while to his sinfull courses for the furthering thereof, he conuerted all the gfits and graces, that hee had receiued of God. This was his behauiour, being departed from his father. In the end, by misery iustly fallen vpon him, hee was touched, ashamed, and confounded, as thou art: (seest thou not thine estate liuely described in the estate of this prodigall man?) yet after all this wan∣dering and wicked behauior, and much misery that hee indureth, hee remem∣breth his fathers house, he repenteth, he returneth, and humbly praieth: and the successe was, he is gratiously recei∣ued into fauour.

Take this example vnto thee, and view it well, dwell vppon it with holie meditation. Such as he was in his wan∣dering in his wickednesse, in his trou∣ble of minde, such thou art: such as he was in his repentance, in his returne home to his Fathers house, and in his humble praier vnto God, such be thou: and such fauorable intertainment as hee

found at his Fathers hands, thou also shalt find. Are not these things written for our learning, that wee through pa∣tience and consolation of the Scrip∣tures might haue hope.

And, because thou dost not yet re∣semble God, either in the vertues of thy mind, or the actions of thy life, say not therefore, that he is not thy Father, and that thou art not his Child. Why wilt thou adde this to the former discom∣fort of thy soule, and to the former er∣rours of thy life? and wrong, either God in his goodnes, or thy selfe in the grounds of thy hope.

Thou knowest the words of Mose•…•… to the people of Israel: if thou know them not, heare▪ and let thine heart vn∣derstand them. Is not he thy Father th•…•… bought thee? he hath made thee, and pro∣portioned thee. If he be thy Father that made thee and proportioned thee, the•…•… surely God is thy Father; for hee, and none but he that made heauen and earth made thee. The Prophet saith of God, It is he that hath made vs, and not we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selues. And if he be thy Father that hat•…•… bought thee, and purchased thee; then,

whether thou approoue i•…•… or no, God is thy Father, for hee hath bought vs with a price, not of corruptible things, as siluer and gold, but with the price of the precious bloud of Christ, as of a Lamb vndefiled, & without spot. Ther∣fore the Apostle saith to the Corinthi∣ans, Yee are not your owne, for yee are bought with a price. And beeing once his, all thy wanderings cannot weaken his right in thee, but hee still shall re∣maine thy Father that bought thee. If a sheepe runne astray from the fold, and wander long in vnknowne pastures, doth it therefore cease to be his, that is Lord and owner of the flocke? and if it returne, or be brought home, with the fleece lost, and left behind hanging vp∣on euery hedge, and with the skin, and flesh also torne, will hee not acknow∣ledge it, and receiue it? Yes, he will re∣ceiue it with ioy. Reade the fifteenth chapter of Saint Luke: and meditate vpon that thou readest. So farre off is it that the indignation of heauen should reiect thee, that as it is there said, There is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God for one sinner that conuerteth. Make ioy∣full

the angels of heauen by thy returne to God, and that ioy shall shine vpon the face of thy conscience: And (not to forget what we haue in hand, to proue God thy father) consider some words of the apostle to the Hebr. We haue had the fathers of our bodies, that corrected vs and we gaue thē reuerence: should we not much rather be in subiection vnto the Father of spirits, that wee might liue? He calleth men that begat vs, fathers of our bo∣dies, and hee calleth God that created vs, the Father of our spirits: because in the generation of our bodies men are vsed, but in the creation of our spirits God only worketh, who is also the prin∣cipal agēt in the framing of our bodies, and men are but instrumentall agent•…•… therfore while there is a spirit dwelling in thy body, quickning and mouing it, thou canst not deny God to be thy Fa∣ther: whose glo•…•…ous habitation being in heauen, as he saith by Esay, I dwell i•…•… the high & holy place. Thou hast a Father in heauen. And therfore by the commā∣dement of Iesus Christ willing vs to say to God, forgiue vnto vs our sins, tho•…•… hast both leaue giuen thee to aske for∣giuenesse

of sins, and hope giuen thee to obtaine forgiuenes Vse therfore cheer∣fully (but withall, reuerently and thank∣fully) this leaue, & obey duetifully and gladly this commandement: for God is thy Father. And thy seruice in calling vpon him shall not be fruitlesse.

And say not, bicause as yet, thou nei∣ther seest the fruits of the holy Ghost i•…•… thy reformed life, nor feelest the testi∣mony of it in thy cheereful conscience, that therefore that blessed Spirit is not in thee. When thou speakest of the fruits of the Spirit, thou makest the Spi∣rit to be as seed sowne in the heart, that should bring forth fruit▪ And so indeed the holy Ghost within vs, is the seed of our regeneration and new life, as the Lord Iesus teacheth vs, saying, Except that a man be borne of wat•…•… & the spirit, the water of Baptisme, & spirit of San∣ctification. And Iohn plainely giueth the name of Seed to the Holy-Ghost; saying; His seed remaineth in him. And when thou speakest of the testimony of the Spirit, thou makest the Spirit to be as a witnesse that testifieth the fatherly loue of God vnto vs. And so indeed

the Holy-Ghost within vs, is vnto our hearts a true witnes of Gods loue. Paul to this purpose saith, Yee haue receiued the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Ab∣ba Father. The same spirit beareth wit∣nesse with our spirit, that wee are the chil∣dren of God. And Saint Peter in his speech before the Priest and Captain of the Temple, calleth the holy-Ghost a Witnesse, saying, Wee are his witnesses concerning these things which we say, yea and the holy-Ghost, whom God hath giuen to them that obey him. For the Lord Ie∣sus hath two sorts of witnesses, to con∣firme to the consciences of men, the truth of his death and resurrection, and his power of sanctifying and sauing. The one sort is, the Apostles and Mini∣sters, who by their doctrine doe beare witnesse to the outward man, and the other is the holy-Ghost, who opening the vnderstanding, and leading into all truth, doth beare witnes to the inward man.

Now for seed, we know that when it is cast into the ground, it doeth not presently bring forth ripe fruit: nay, it doth not presently spring vp and shew

it selfe, but it resteth for a while in the wombe of the earth, hidden from the eyes of men, till conuenient time com∣meth: and if any man in the mean time should say, I see no fruit aboue the ground, therefore there is no seede in the ground, hee might be deceiued, and the Husbandman and Gardner that had sowne the ground, would censure him both of ignorance and boldnesse, and time would disprooue him.

And as for witnesses, we know, that they do not speake, so soone as a man is prouided of thē, nor yet so soon as they appeare in publique place; but being first prepared, and after brought to the place where they should giue testimo∣ny, they yet stay, and keep silence: and when the Iudge or Examiner is at lei∣sure, then they are called for, and speak their knowledge. And he that reasons thus, there hath yet no witnesse spoken forsuch a mā, therfore he hath no wit∣nesse to speake at all for him, should shew himselfe a rash man, and by the timely voyce of the witnesses would be conuinced.

Euen so it is too much rashnesse in

thee, to say, that because thou yet hear∣rest not the testimonie of the Holie-Ghost in thy heart, witnessing with thy spirit, that thou art the child of God, therefore there is no such witnesse at al to speake when God shall appoint. And because thou yet seest not the fruits of the spirit in the actions of thy life: that therefore there is in thee no seed of the Spirit that may bring forth these fruits in due time. Learne to haue patience, & wait vpon the good pleasure of God, & in time thou shalt see a blessed chāge, & heare that testimonie which yet thou hearest▪ not, and see those fruits of the Spirit, which yet thou seest not.

And if it were as thou speakest, that thou hadst not at all the Spirite, as seed lying in secret, and attending the time of Spring, or as a witnesse prepared to speake when God shal call him fo•…•…th to giue his testimonie; yet the Spirit that is not receiued, may be receiued, and shall be giuen thee, if thou pray vnto God for it. We know the words of the Lord Iesus Christ in the Gospel, If you which are euill can giue good gifts to your children, how much more shall your hea∣uenly

Father giue the holy-Ghost to them that desire him. So that if there be in thee a true desire to obtaine the holy-Ghost, aske and it shall be giuen thee, for the Lord is more ready to giue then thou canst be to aske. All that matter there∣fore of thy feare, for that commande∣ment of Christ, that giueth leaue to ask, and hope to obtaine forgiuenesse of sins, that it should not belong to thee, be∣cause it must be asked of them that haue God for their Father, and thou thinkest him not to be thy Father, because thou doest neither resemble him as yet, either in the verues of thy mind, or actions of thy life; and thou hast not the spirit of adoption, by which thou maiest cry Abba Father, for thou neither seest the fruits, nor feelest the testimonies of that spirit: all this matter of thy feare is vaine.

That commandement of Christ be∣longeth to thee: God is thy Father, thou oughtest to pray vnto him for forgiue∣nesse, thou maiest pray vnto him for for∣giuenesse, and if thou pray, thou shalt obtaine forgiuenesse. Pray therefore as Christ hath commanded thee, and the

obseruation of his order shall prooue thine ease.

Notes

• His third obiection, he may not aske for∣giuenes for he cannot call God his father.
• Luke 11. 2 His life doth not shew 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be a child of God. Matt▪ 5. 48. 1. Pet. 1. 14.
• Iohn •…•…. 44.
• And hee hath not the spirit of a∣doption. Rom. 8. 15.
• Gal. •…•…. 22
• Gal. 5. 19.
• Answer to this obies ction.
• This mans cose is like th•…•… Prodi∣gall in the Gospel.
• Lu•…•…e 15. 18
• Luk. 15. 13
• Luk. 15. 30
• God proued to •…•…e •…•…ur Father, though we be sinners.
• Deut. 32. 6.
• Psal. 100. 3
• 1. •…•…or▪ 6. 1•…•…
• Lu. 15. 1•…•….
• Hebr. 12. 9
• Esa. 57. 15
• The holy Ghost is i•…•…▪ him, or may be obtained
• Iohn 3. 5.
• 1. Iohn 3. 9
• Rom. 8. 15.
• Matt. 5. 32.
• Lu. 11. 13.