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. 3.

THE person instructed is de∣ciphered by his condition, intimated in the name of bur∣den, when he saith, Cast thy burden: namely the man that in his soule is ouercharged with griefes and cares and feares, as with a heauy burden: such as the Lord speaketh vnto in the Gos∣pell, saying, Come vnto me all ye that are weary and laden, and I will refresh you. If a burden be heauy it ladeth, if it lie long vpon vs, i•…•… wearieth: to men so laden and wearied, the Lord Iesus offereth comfort. And vnto the same men, to pre∣uent ouerlading and wearinesse, as also to procure their ease that are ouerladen and wearied, Dauid giueth this instru∣ction. Cast thy burthen vpon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee. &c.

Of men so burdened here are wee taught, to haue compassion, and to labor by counsell and all good meanes to pro∣cure their comfort and ease. Thereto pertaines that precept of God, Comfort yee, comfort yee my people, will your God

say: Speake comfortably to Ierusalem, (in the Hebrew it is speake to the heart of Ierusalem: Which phrase S. Ierome thus interpreteth He that speaketh to him that mourneth, and is vnto him a pleasing com∣forter, he speaketh to his heart,) and crie vnto her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath receiued of the Lords hand double for all her sinnes. So that when God hath hum∣bled his people by any crosse, that for the correction of their sinnes he laid vp∣on them, his compassion presently moo∣ueth, and he pittieth them, as if they had borne twise more then they deserued: and thenceforth he commandeth al men that regard his voice, to comfort them with all good words, and to assure them of his fauour. Yea to speake vnto their heart, that is, all such words as may minister comfort to their hearts.

The Apostle Paul giueth a like charge vnto vs, saying, Comfort the feeble min∣ded. And most excellently in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Remember them that are in bands, as if yee were bound with them: and them that are in affliction, as if ye also were afflicted in the body. We should e∣steem

the afflictions of others as our own afflictions, & take vpon vs in com∣passion that which they sustaine in pas∣sion. And both in our inward affection, and outward diligence we should study and worke their releefe, as we should study and worke our owne.

For we are all of the same kind, con∣dition, and quality: and nothing is be∣fallen them, that may not quickly fall vpon vs: also we are, & should acknow∣ledge our selues to be members of the same body, whose property (if they be neither dead, nor diuided from the bo∣dy) is to feele the affliction of their fel∣low members, and diligently to seeke their reliefe. But especially finding God to be rich in mercy to vs, and euen a fa∣ther of consolation, we should be mer∣cifull as our heauenly father is merci∣full, and should study to comfort them whom the God of all consolation lo∣ueth.

It is the precious vse that God doth giue vs of good mens company in this life, and it is the thing wherein good men doe prooue themselues to be such, when they with the balme of comfor∣table

words heale the wounds of our grieued soules. It is the saying of S. Au∣stin: Good men euen in this life affoord vs no small comforts: for if pouerty pinch vs, if sorrow make vs sad, if paine in our body afflict vs, if banishment or any calamity vex vs, if good men be present, which know how to reioyce with them that reioice, and to weepe with them that weepe, and in con∣ference to speake healthful things vnto vs, those sharpe things are made maruellously gentle, those heauy things are made easie, and those aduersities are borne and ouer∣come. For in a good man that hath bow∣els of cōpassion, it is most true, that one saith, aegrotanti animo medicus est oratio, his words will heale a grieued mind. Thus much of the person instructed.

Notes

• Obserua∣tion from per•…•…on in∣structed.
• Mat. 11. 28
• Esai. 40. 1.
• Ier•…•…n▪ in Esai 40.
• 1. Thes. 5.
• Heb. 13. 3.
• Aug. epist. 121. cap. 1.