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. XXXV.

THE second kinde of fall, in which God will not suffer the righteous to fall for euer, is an effect of the former, produ∣ced by the iust iudg∣ment of God, namely a falling into mi∣sery. This kinde of fall, mankinde had neuer beene acquainted withall, if they had not taken the first fall, for if man had neuer sinned against God, God would neuer haue suffered man to haue felt any misery. This kind of fall into misery is of infinite variety, no man can number the seuerall miseries and troubles, that sinne hath made our life subiect vnto: yet they may be reduced to two gene∣rall heads, for either they are iudge∣ments vpon the inward man, inward mi∣series

and afflictions vpon the soule: or else they are outward iudgements vp∣on the outward man, in outward things that touch not the peace of the soule.

The inward iudgements and miseries, which follow the fall into sin, and wher∣into for sinne man falleth, are either the blinding of our vnderstanding, and the hardening of our heart, often inflicted as punishments of foregoing sinnes (and such was the iudg•…•…ment of God vpon Pharao, whose heart God hardened, and such a iudgement and misery the Apostle Paul telleth vs the Gentiles fell into as a punishment of precedent sins when he saith, Wherefore also God gaue them vp to their hearts lusts, vnto vn∣cleannesse, to de•…•…ile their owne bodies be∣tweene themselues. And in many more words he recordeth that iudgement) or they are those feares and terrours of heart, that cast vs downe from hope, that empty our soules of comfort, fill them with feares, and make vs as it were to stagger, shrinke, and fall in our faith: of this kind is that iudgement that God threa•…•…neth by Moses, in these words, the

Lord shall simite thee with madnesse, and with blindnesse, and astonishment of heart, when a man is amased and confounded with his feares, that hee knoweth not which way to turne him for comfort and helpe, and deepe fallen into this mi∣serie were they whom Esay speaketh of saying. The sinnes in Sion are afraid, a feare is come vpon the hipocrites: who a∣mong vs shall dwell with the deuouring fire? who among vs shall dwell with the euerlasting burnings: They conceiued no otherwise of God then of a consu∣ming fire, and therefore feare possessed altogither their hearts, hope vanished, faith had no abiding there. And all these inward miseries, falling immediately vpon the soule, and the facultie there∣of, tend chiefely to this, to ouerthrow our faith, & by decay of it to ouerthrow vs, for faith is the firme standing of our soule, grounded vpon the assurance of Gods mercy. Therefore doeth the A∣postle vse this phrase. Watch you, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, and be strong. Because he that hath the stronger faith, standeth the more strong and stead∣fast, and hee that hath the weaker faith,

standeth more weakely and loose, and thoug the faith of the Saints of God, once giuen vnto them, neuer totally de∣caieth, (for as the Lord Iesus saith, hee praied for the continuance and confir∣mation of Peters faith, to whom he said, I haue praied for thee, that thy faith faile not. So he praied for all his chosen ones that beleeue in him, when he said to his father. I pray not for these alone, but for them also, which shall beleeue in mee tho∣rough their word) Yet the faith of the Saintes suffereth sometimes an eclipse or deceasing, & at some other times an in∣creasing whereby as in the increasing of their faith they stand fast and are full of comfort, so in the deceasing of their faith their footing becommeth slipperie, and they take many sore falles, & feele their hearts oppressed with feare: as it was with Dauid, when he cried out, My God my God, why hast thou forsaken mee, and art so far from my health, and from the words of my roaring. And when he com∣plained at another time, saying, Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the ter∣rors of death are fallen vpon mee: feare and trembling are come upon mee, and an

horrible feare hath couered mee. In this manner, their faith at that time being in the wane, the righteous oppressed with a weight of anguish and feare, doe often fall through the shrinking of their faith, and feele themselues sore bruised in their soules.

But yet such is the mercy of God that he doeth not suffer the righteous, being fallen into these inward iudgements and miseries, to fall for euer. And if it be a blinded vnderstanding, or a hardned heart, that they are fallen into, he raiseth them vp out from a blinded vnderstand∣ing by sending the knowledge of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. As the Lord Iesus sent Paul a∣mong the ignorant Gentiles with this commission, I send thee to open their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that they may turne from darkenes to light, &c. And he raiseth them vp from hard∣nes of heart, by mollifying their hearts, as hee promiseth by Ezekiel, saying, I will take away the ston•…•…e heart out of your body, and I will giue you an heart of flesh. And if they be fallen into any feare and terror of conscience, he raiseth them vp by repairing their faith, and by reuiuing their comfort. To that end he bringeth

to their remembrance the large pro∣mises of his grace, the boundles measure of his mercy, the riches of his free & vn∣changeable loue: and then doeth hee make them remember, that they haue a mediator that died for their sinnes, and rose againe for their iustification, and ascended into heauen to prepare a place for them, and sitteth on the right hand of his father, in highest fauour and greatest authoritie, to make intercession for them, continually vrging the vertue of his death and bloudshedding, that hath taken away the sinne of the world, who is the prince of peace, that hath made their peace, and is that beloued sonne in whom the father is well pleased, making vs accepted in that his beloued. To the same end doeth he spread the beames of his louing countenance, and cause the light thereof to shine within their con∣sciences, sending downe the spirit of adoption into their hearts, to beare wit∣nes with their spirits, that they are the sonnes of God: so raking together the sparkes of their almost smothered faith, from among the cold ashes of anguish and feare, where it lay deepe couered,

giuing heate and life vnto it with the warming fire of his comfort: so that they begin to lift vp their heads, and to reioice their hearts, and to shake of their their sorrow and feare, and to glorie in God, saying with the blessed virgin, My soule magnifieth the Lord▪ and my spirit re∣ioiceth in God my Sauiour. And with the Prophet Dauid, Thou hast tnrned my mourning into ioy, thou hast loosed my sacke, and girded mee with gladnes. And that God doeth thus, not suffring the righteous to fall and languish in these inward miseries for euer, besides the ex∣perience of Gods elect, daily renewed with light and grace, and daily refreshed with comfort and peace, the scriptures also doe testifie it to be the gracious manner of Gods dealing with his cho∣sen. The Prophet saith of him. Hee heal∣eth those that are broken in heart, and bindeth vp their soares. These words can be referred to no other worke of God: for the more sure and full performance whereof, God sent his sonne into the world, who came to call sinners vnto re∣pentance, and to seeke and saue them that were lost, giuing repentance vnto

Israel and remission of sinnes, so lifting vp them that were fallen downe, by any inward iudgement of God, any way pu∣nishing them in their soules for their first fall into sinne.

This was the inward miserie, vpon the inward man, whereunto men fall that haue fallen into sinne. There is another miserie into which men fal for their sins, God in his iust iudgement thrusting them forward, which I call outward mi∣sery, because it is not the stroke of the heart, though the heart afterward be grieued for it. This kinde of outward misery into which men fall is full of va∣rietie, & vnder one head there are diuers branches contained: for some of these fall vpon vs by the good worke of God to trie vs, to exercise our faith, to cor∣rect and humble vs: and some doe fall vpon vs by the malice and in iustice of men and Angels, to ouerthrow vs in our faith or our pietie (as the diuell hoped by Iobes losses to make him blaspheme God) or at the least to vexe and grieue vs, and to make vs murmur: so differing in regard of the author from whom they come, and of the end for which they

come. They differ also in regard of the subiect matter of them, for some of these outward miseries happen to vs in our name and credit, wounded and impaired by lying, standering, and the spite of euill tongues: or they happen to vs in our bodies, & reach euen to the danger of our liues, by sores and sickenesses, by blowes and bruises, by maimes and woundes: on they happen to vs in our estate & goodes, when we are deceiued, robbed, spoiled, & deposed from offices of profit and worship: or they happen to vs in our libertie, when we are banish∣ed from our natiue countrie, or confined to some restrained boundes which wee must not passe, as Salomon confined Shemei to his house in Ierusalem, or we are committed to some prison: or they happen to vs in our friends, by death ta∣ken away from vs, that were our main∣tenance, our countenance; our credite, and safegarde, and they being remoued, we are left naked and Orphans in a pitti∣les world. By which outward miseries (of so great, and greater varietie) we fall from estimation and lone of the people, from health, strength, and beautie, from

riches and plentie, from freedome and libertie, from comfort and refuge, into suspicion and an euill name, into weake∣nes and leanenes, into pouertie, thral∣dome, and much contempt: and aduan∣tage is giuen vnto our aduersaries, to in∣sult and glory ouer vs, and many men haue beene dangerously bruised with such falles of this kinde.

But yet such is the mercy and good∣nes of God, that hee will not suffer the righteous (fallen into these miseries) to fall for euer, but in due time he will raise them vp, and deliuer them. The slander of Susanna was wiped away, and shee was discharged of the fowle imputation, laied vpon her by the wicked Elders, with honorable repaire of her credit. The imprisonment and affliction of Io∣seph after some yeares was done away, and he was brought forth and made a great commander in the land of Egipt. Iob was spoiled of his goodes, robbed of his children, miserably afflicted in his body, and brought most low, for hee could not fall more low, and liue; but God did graciously restore Iob in all his losses, and he ended his daies in

honor and peace. Mordechai and the Iewes, by the wicked deuise of Haman, were fallen deepely into contempt and danger of death, yet by the meanes of Hester it pleaseth God, to cast downe their enemies into destruction, and to raise vp the Iewes, both to repaired cre∣dit, and to secured life. Saint Paul con∣fesseth writing to the Corinthians, that being in Asia, hee was with afflictions and sicknes, Pressed out of measur•…•…▪ passing strength, so that he altogether doubled euen of life, yea he receiued the sentence of death in himselfe. But when he was fallen and brought so low, God raised him vp by restoring health, and would not suffer the righteous Apostle to lie foreuer, as also he confesseth in the next words, say∣ing, God which raiseth the dead, deliuered me from so great a death, and doeth deliuer me, in whom I trust that he will yet deliuer mee. I might easily fill many leaues with examples of the rightsous seruants of God, whom being fallen into these out∣ward miseries, hee mercifully raised vp but I will forbeare, and remember only a testimonie or two, that manifestly shew, how God in these, as in other

kindes of falles, though hee suffer the righteous to fall, yet he doeth not suffer them to fall for euer, but will raise them vp and reduce them to a better estate. Heereto pertaine the words of Eliphaz, speaking of the almighty. He maketh the wound and bindeth it vp, hee smiteth and his hands make whole: hee shall deliuer thee in six troubles, and in the seuenth the euill shall not touch thee: in famine he shall deliuer thee from death, and in battell from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the snare of the tongue, and thou shalt not be afraid of destruction when it com∣meth: but thou shalt laugh at destruction and death, &c. If God send the euill, he will send the remedie: if he send danger, he will send deliuerance: if hee affright with feare, hee will comfort with salua∣tion: if he cast downe, he will raise vp a∣gaine, and will not suffer the righteous to fall for euer. And he will doe this not at one time alone, but at all times: not in one manner of miserie alone, but in all kindes of miseries. The Prophet Dauid saith of this mercifull worke of Gods hands raising vp out of miseries. Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the

Lord deliuereth him out of them all,

And if happily this be not effected in this world, and during this life, yet most certainely God doth raise vp the righte∣ous that were falne, and frees them from all, both outward and inward miseries in an other world, and after this life. The Prophet Esay doth tell vs, that when the righteous perish (for so the world censu∣reth their death) and when mercifull men are taken away, then the righteous is taken away from the euills to come r•…•… their death is a full deliuering of them from al troubles, and therefore a lifting of them vp from all the miseries into which they were fallen. And for proofe hereof, it is most cleere, that the Lord Iesus repor∣teth of the poore Lazarus, in the gospel of Saint Luke, that man was fallen lowe into the pit of pouertie, so that hee was compelled to begge for his maintenance at other mens doores: and he was fallen as deepe into the gaping gulfe of sicke∣nesse and diseases, for hee was full of sores, and the dogges licking him were his best leeches, his pouertie could not purchase the helpe of any other (to cure him) in this world. And during this life

he was neuer raised vp from this fall, and yet God did not suffer him to fall fore∣uer. For at the last hee died, then ended all his miseries, then came glorious ex∣altation, for he was carried by Angels in∣to Abrahams bosome. Where, of his en∣tertainement (farre differing from his late condition in this world) Abraham said to the rich man, Now is he comforted and thou art tormented. So that if GOD doe not raise the righteous from these miserable falles while they liue, yet hee will surely doe it after death: and if hee doe not exalt them, and set them vp on high in this world, yet he will surely lift them vp, and exalt them in the world to come, and place them together in the heauenly places, farre aboue the reach of all miserie (where there shall bee no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more paine) and where among the queeres of holy Angells, and in the middest of all true and eternall de∣lights, they shall for euer reioyce and praise god. For of gods house, where the righteous departed shal haue their dwel ling places for euer, Dauid saith, In thy presence is the fulnes of ioy, and at thy right

hand there are pleasures for euermore. Thus haue you heard how GOD will helpe the weary and laden, that cast their burden vpon him, he will nourish them that want, and raise vp them that are fal∣len.

Notes

• The second kind of fall is to fall in∣to miserie for sinne.
• These mise∣ries are of two sortes inward a•…•…d outward.
• What are these in∣ward mise∣ries and iudgements
• Rom. 1. 24.
• Deu. 2, 28.
• Esay. 33. 14.
• 1. Cor. 16. 13.
• Luke. 22. 32.
• Iohn. 17. 20.
• Psal. 22. 1.
• Psal. 55. 4.
• He raiseth them vp that are fallen into these in∣ward mise∣ries.
• Acts. 26. 18
• Eze. 36. 26.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Luke 1. 46
• Psal. 30. 11.
• Psal. 147 3.
• What are the out∣ward mise∣ries where∣unto men fall.
• God raiseth them that are fallen into these outward miseries.
• 2. Cor. 1. 8
• Iob. 5. 1•…•….
• Psal. 34. 19.
• If not in this life, yet most cer∣tainly after this life.
• Esay 57. 1
• Lu 16▪ 22
• 25
• Reuel. 21
• Psal. 16. 11