Seauen helpes to Heauen Shewing 1. How to auoid the curse. 2. How to beare the crosse. 3. How to build the conscience. 4. How with Moses to see Canaan. 5. Simeons dying song, directing to liue holily and dye happily. 6. Comforts for Christians against distresses in life, and feare of death. 7. Feruent prayers, to beare sicknesse patiently, and dye preparedly. The second edition: much enlarged by Steuen Ierome, late preacher at S. Brides. Seene and allowed.

Necessary Incouragements, and Comforts, against the grieuances of seuerall Crosses.

Because that many are too much deiected, and disconsolate, at the death of their friends, Parents for Children, Children for Parents, Husbands for Wiues, and Wiues for Husbands, Brother for Bro∣ther, and Friend for Friend, mourning (like * 1.1 Rachel for her Children) and will not be comforted: let these Motiues moue thee to take truce with thy teares, and not to sorrow as did the Heathens with∣out hope.

1 KNOW and acknowledge that it is GOD that hath taken away thy friend, the pleasure of thine eyes, thy Wife, or the like; there∣fore, as God said to Ezekiel in the like case, Mourne not, nor weepe, neyther let thy teares runne downe: cease from sighing, and make

no mourning for the dead, Ezek. 24.16.17. Murmure not as did the rebellious Israelites, when their Brethren were taken away, Numb. 16.41. Kicke not against the pricke. Act. 9.5. resist not God with a stiffe and vncircumcised heart; Act. 7.51. but, like an obedient childe, imbrace the stroke of thy Father, and kisse the rod.

2. The Saints of God haue beene patient spectators of the deaths of as neare and deare friends, as any thou hast parted withall; whose Patience, in this crosse, I propound vnto thee to imitate, as Iames propounds Iobs Patience to be imitated in euery crosse, Iames 5.11. Thus Adam and Eu•• saw the death of their sonne Abel, Gen. 4. Noah the destruction of the whole world, by the Deluge, Gen. 7. Abraham, of Terah his Father, Gen. 11.32. so, of his deare Wife Sarah: Gen. 23.2. L••t, of his Wife: Gen. 19 26. Isaack, of his Mother, and of Abraham his tender Parents: G••n. 25.8.9. Iacob, of his Father Isaack, Gen. 35.29. of his beautifull and beloued Rachel. Gen. 35.19. Thus when Aaron saw his two sonnes, Nadab and Abihu, deuoured with fire from the Lord, hee held his peace: Leuit. 10.2.3. Iob bles∣sed God as well when his Children were slaine, as his goods imbezeled: Iob 1.21.22. for Eli lamented the losse of the Arke, rather then the slaughter of Hophni and Phinees; for which his

Daughter in-Law also was more moued, then for the death of her Husband: 1 Sam. 4. v. 18.19.20.21.22. Dauid more bewayled the spi∣rituall death of the soules of Ammon and Ab∣solon then the corporall deaths of their bodies, thy dying in their sinnes of Incest and Trea∣sona 1.2 2 Sam. 14.14. Lastly, the Virgin Mary and Iohn the Disciple, stood by the Crosse of Christ in his Passion, onely with compassionb 1.3, without that outward lamentation which Christ condemned in the Daughters of Ierusa∣lem, and in them, immoderate mourning in all; Mat. 27.56. Luke 23.28. which particu∣lars, chiefely the last, as Ambrose applyed them in his Funerall Oration of Ʋalentinian the Emperour, so they must be laid to heart in our application and imitation in euery Fu∣nerall.

* 1.43 If hee dyed in the Faith of Christ, hee is translated (like Enoch) from this life to a bet∣ter; from this vaile of misery to eternall glory: hee is a Citizen of Heauen, an inheritor of a Kingdome.* 1.5 Sorrow not for his triumph, he is gone to possesse a Crowne in Glorification, which was granted him in Predestination, pro∣mised him in Vocation.

4 Hee is blessed, being dead in the Lord, Apoc. 14.

5 Hee is returned home to his Fathers house; hee is gone to his better friends, euen

to the companie of innumerable Saints and Angels, and to the Spirits of the iust, Heb. 12.22.23. Mat. 22.30. Reu. 15.11. Mat. 8.11. 1 Thes. 4.17.

6 Hee is inseperably vnited vnto GOD, the chiefe and perfect Good: first, whom to see is Tranquillitie: secondly, whom to rest in is Securitie: thirdly, to enioy is Felicitie. Being incorporated into that Citie; first, whose King is Veritie: secondly, the Lawes Charitie: third∣ly, the Dignities Equitie: fourthly, the Life Eternitie;* 1.6 in which hee shall be sempeternally blessed, ioying in, and inioying, first, a certaine Securitie; secondly, a secure Tranquillitie; thirdly, a safe Iocunditie; fourthly, happy eter∣nitie; fiftly, an eternall felicitie.

7 He is now married vnto his Bridegroome CHRIST, to whom his soule was contracted in earth, and the Marriage-feast is now solem∣nized in Heauen: now, thy mirth, not thy mourning, becomes a Marriage, Hos. 2.19. Mat. 22. Phil. 1.23. Iohn 12.26. & 17.24. Luke 33.43.46. Reu. 7.17.

8 Consider that his warre-fare is now at an end: his iourney is finished, and his worke is accomplished: if GOD had had any more worke for him to haue done, hee should haue liued longer: for, as God sweepes away the wicked when they are at the height of sinne, as hee did Er and Onan, Gen. 38. the Sodo∣mites,

Hophni, Phinees and Absolon; so the godly in the height of Grace.

9 He was here a Pilgrime and a stranger, as were the Patriarkes, Abrahamc 1.7, Isaackd 1.8, Ia∣cobe 1.9 Dauid, and the rest; now he hath hoyst vp sailes, hee is gone home into his owne Country, therefore why shouldest thou grieue at his happy voyage and safe arriuall?

10 Thou hast not lost him* 1.10, but left him; hee is not dead but departed; nay, (as Christ said of Iairus his Daughter, and f 1.11 Lazarus,) thy Friend, thy Damz••ll, thy Daughter, be it hee or shee, is not dead but sleepeth; and (as g 1.12 Martha beleeued) there shall be a time when they shall waken. Now, what mother grieues that her vnquiet childe sleepes and takes the rest? many weepe because their Children will not, or cannot sleepe, few because they doe sleepe.

11 Hee shall be restored vnto thee againe at the Resurrection of the iust, euen in his bo∣dy, Psal. 17.15. Iob 19.25. Iohn 5.29. as his soule is now immediately gone to God, as did the soule of Lazarus, Luke 16.22. of Stephen, Acts 7.69. of the penitent Theefe, Luke 23.43. yea, of CHRIST himselfe, verse 46. where it remaines in ioy, Mat. 25. v. 21. & 23. so the body shall be re-vnited to it againe, par∣ticipating with it in glory h 1.13 vnspeakeable and i 1.14 euerlasting. Therefore mourne not exces∣siuely

for him, like the Gentiles, the Epicures, and Sadduces that haue no hope of the Resur∣rection.

12 Though hee cannot come to thee, as the dead Diues desired, Luk 16.24. yet ere long thou shalt goe to him, as Dauid said of his deceased k 1.15 Childe; yea, thou shalt in all pro∣babilitie, know him againe, in thy Glorifica∣tion, as Adam knew Eue in the Creation l 1.16, and as Peter knew Moses and Elias m 1.17 in Christs Transfiguration. Therefore haue patience for his absence, till you meete againe to your more mutuall comfort, as n 1.18 Iacob met with Ioseph in a better place.

13 His better part is yet liuing,* 1.19 his soule is immortall, Iohn 11.25.26. onely the Cage of the body is broken, and the soule, like a Bird, hath taken vvings, and is at rest.

14 His estate is now bettered, and farre more blessed then it was: of a Bond-man be∣ing made a Free-man. Freed by Death:

[ 1] First, from Sinne, Rom. 6.7. to which here hee was solde o 1.20, as Ioseph p 1.21 was solde to the Ishmaelites.

[ 2] Secondly, hee is freed from the miseries of this life, the punishments of Sinne q 1.22, as from a prison, by this Goale-deliuery Death: his paines r 1.23 in this life s 1.24, concluding in the plea∣sures of the next.

[ 3] Thirdly, hee is free from the Gunne-shot

of the world, and from those euils which are fore-told in the last times, Mat. 24. Luke 21.25.26. 1 Tim. 4.1.2. 2 Tim. 3.1. ad 9. Chap. 4. ver. 3.4. 2 Pet. 2.1.2.3.

Fourthly, from the vanitie vnder which all the Creatures groane. Rom. 8.20.21.22.

Fiftly, besides, hee is with Tryumph and honour recalled from exile and banishment, as was once Themistocles amongst the Athe∣nians,* 1.25 and Iphtah amongst the Israelites, to receiue dignities in his owne Country, from whence his soule came. Now, are any Pa∣rents sorie, when their Children, of Bond men, are infranchized; of Prentises, are made Free∣men? Is any man grieued that his distressed and disgraced friend is recalled home from Banishment, and that by the King himselfe? Now, this is thy case, if thou take paines to ap∣ply it.

15 In thy exceeding sorrow thou laments what could not be preuented: for hee vvas one of the Sonnes of Adam t 1.26, therefore borne to dye u 1.27; hee could not escape the stroke, as the Swallow by flying. For, the God of Na∣ture now confirmes the Principles of Nature; that whatsoeuer hath motion by generation, must haue a cessation from motion by cor∣ruption.

16 Thy case is not alone, but thou hast millions and thousands, both in the Christian

and Heathenish world, sayling, at this instant, all along with thee in the Sea of sorrow, driuen with the windes of their owne sighes and sobs, for the like, or greater crosses then thine, be∣wayling publike and priuate calamities.* 1.28 There∣fore if companions in griefe (as the phrase is) mitigate griefe, then let societie asswage thy Sorrow.

17 Thy impatient sorrow, 1. hurts thy selfe, 2. preiudiceth thy health, 3. consumes thy moysture, 4. occasionedly shortens thy life,* 1.29 5. Discontents thy friends, 6. displeaseth thy God: therefore eyther moderate it, or leaue it off: or, (which is best of all) turne the streame of it, from a naturall to a spirituall, from a carnall to a Christian sorrow for thy speciall sinnes, which is that godly sorrow x 1.30 commanded of God, y 1.31 practised by the Saints, z 1.32 causing repentance vnto saluation, ne∣uer to be repented of.

Thy extreame sorrow for the dead is as fruitlesse as faithlesse, as vnprofitable to the dead, or to the liuing, to others and thy selfe, as vnpleasant: therefore let Dauids considera∣tions when his Childe was dead, be thy dire∣ctions, 2 Sam. 12.22.23.

The Lord is still liuing, who is thy Head, thy Husband, thy Father, thy Mother, thy bro∣ther, thy sister, all in all vnto thee, if thou hea∣rest him, belieuest in him, and obeyest a 1.33 him:

therefore, as Dauid in another extreamitie, comfort thy selfe in the Lord b 1.34 thy God: hap∣py is hee that is ready to leaue all for Christs sake c 1.35; that can say with one of the Auncients, d 1.36 My God and all things: my God, my Guide, my Rocke, my Defence, my Saluation e 1.37, there∣fore that loue which thou diddest beare to them that are gone, sequestrate it from the dead, and reflexe it vpon God: there is dan∣ger in our earthly loue, whether naturall to our Childe, coniugall to our marriage Mate, or morrall to our Friend: in which vvee may soone offend, in the defect of too little, or in excesse of too much. For which cause, God being a f 1.38 Iealous God, and not enduring that our hearts g 1.39 should be set on any thing in lo∣uing it, too much, ouer, or aboue, or besides, or equall with himselfe, oft depriues vs of our loued Idols. Therefore hee hath crost the loues of his dearest Saints in this kinde: of two Wiues Iacob•• Rachell dyes, which hee lo∣ued aboue Leah h 1.40; of twelue Sonnes, Iacobs Ioseph is solde, his dearling, more then the rest i 1.41; of many Children, Dauids Abs••lon and Adoniah k 1.42, whom hee most pampered, soo∣nest perish; of all Dauids Friends hee soonest sorrowes for his best Friend▪ his halfe-soule Ionathan. Thus perhaps it is with thee: thine owne l 1.43 Sheepe from thine owne bosome, thy Turtle-doue, thy louing Hinde, thy Wife, the

fayrest male-Lambe in thy Folds, thy Heyre and eldest Sonne, thy strength, thy Reuben, or thy Friend, thy second selfe, is taken from thee; perhaps thy heart was more vpon them then vpon God, therefore God hath taken away the occasion of thy Idolatry.

Then there is danger in earthly loue, but there is no danger in louing, ouer-louing, our louing God. The speech was as seasoned, as the heart was sanctified, which I once heard of a young Gentlewoman; Lord, thou hast de∣priued mee (quoth shee) of my deare Husband, of mine onely Sonne, whom I loued too dearely. I see now thou wouldest haue my whole loue thy selfe: Lord, take it all, thou shalt haue it, thou art worthy of it, it is too little for thee.

20 Lastly, thinke with thy selfe, that if those whom thou bewaylest were sensible and capable of thy immoderatenes in this kinde (as they are not) they would say vnto thee, as God said to m 1.44 Rachell, and Christ to n 1.45 Iairus, and to the o 1.46 Widdow of Nain, lamenting their Children, Weepe not: nay, as hee said to the bewaylers of his Passion, p 1.47 Weepe not for mee, but weepe for your selues: I am well, your case is worse; I haue conquered, you are still fight∣ing; I am in the Hauen, you are fluctuate on the Sea: and therefore as it would be a meanes to restraine the Papists Idolatrie in praying to Saints and Angels, if they had but eyes to see

how they inforce vpon them this Idolatrous worship, which themselues haue q 1.48 prohibited, and directed vnto God: so leaue thy sorrow∣ing, till thou consider how little notice they take of it, how little they desire it, or delight in it, for whom thou sorrowest: being to no more purpose, then to pray to the dead, or for the dead, which is grosse Superstition. This made euen E••nius the Heathen Poet, for∣bid that any should weepe for him after his death; which, Solon and others ambitiously haue desired.

Other Motiues might be vrged, to moue thee to moderation in this point; yet I would not so reforme this abuse in the excesse, as though I condemned the meane in mour∣ning: this were to runne from one extreame to another: let this therefore conclusiuely determine for thy judgement, and direct thy practise, that it is lawfull to deplore the de∣parture of the dead; as the r 1.49 Aegyptians la∣mented Iacob seauentie dayes, and his Chil∣dren seauen dayes; as s 1.50 Abraham mourned for Sarah, the t 1.51Israelites for Moses, for u 1.52 Aa∣ron, for x 1.53 Iosias, for y 1.54 Samuel, z 1.55 Dauid, for Ab∣solon, for a 1.56 Ionathan, for Abner, the faithfull for Steuen, the women for Dorcas, &c. yea, the very cruell Scythians, Hircamans, Sabe∣ans, the sauage Indians, Lothopagians, &c. howsoeuer they be not so curious in burying

their dead is we: some casting them on dung∣hils, some vnto Dogges, some into the Sea, some into the fire, &c. yet they shew some motion and mourning for them. Then, if Iewes and Pagans mourne; why not Christi∣ans? And indeede as it is a curse to the vvic∣ked. as it was to Ieconiah, that none shall say, alas for them, when they are dead, Ier. 22.18. so the godly ought to be lamented: First, be∣cause they did much good in their places, Acts 9.39. Secondly, because the world was bettered and blessed by them, Prou. 11.11. Thirdly, wee may feare some Iudgements af∣ter their departure, Esay 58.2. Fourthly, be∣cause the wicked will be more ready to sinne, and there are fewer left to pray for the vvic∣ked, and to stand in the gap, as did Abra∣ham, Moses and Phinees. Fiftly, because they vvere worthy lights and ornaments in the Church or common-wealth where they liued, Lam. 4.20. as was Iosias, for which cause we may euen weare mourning apparrell to ex∣presse our sorrow. So the wicked to, may be bewailed; because, for ought wee know, they are gone downe into the bottomlesse pit of perdition, the place for wicked men, Psal. 9.17. the place whither b 1.57 Corah and Dathan, and c 1.58 Iudas, and d 1.59 Absolon went vnto, for ought that is to the contrary: yet wee must mourne in that meane: First, that wee discouer not

our owne selfe-loue, because we haue lost some good by them: Secondly, nor hypocrisie, in seeming to mourne: Thirdly nor distrust, as though there were no resurrection: 1 Thes. 4. Fourthly, nor excesse, knowing that they are but gone a iourney, and wee shall quickely ouer-take them: no for euer sent away from vs, but for a time sent before vs.

Comforts against the Crosse of sickenesse and dis∣eases, howeuer intollerable and incurable.

BEcause Sickenesse and Diseases, which di∣stresse and distemper euery part and power of the whole man, are very burthensome to the flesh: as, besides their present paines, be∣ing the Heraulds and fore-runners of Death, tending to the dissolution of Nature, let these Considerations be so many Cordials and spi∣rituall lenitiues, to mitigate and asswage the extremities or permanencie of thy dolours in eyther kinde: For, misery commeth not out of the dust, neyther doth affliction spring from the Earth. Iob 5.6.

1 Consider that this visitation is the message of the Almightie God: it comes not by chance or Fortune, colds, surfettings, sweatings, &c. are but the meanes, Gods hand throwes this stone at thee, for it was hee that

smit a 1.60 Pharaoh, and the Aegyptians, and the b 1.61 Philistines, &c. and cast c 1.62 Ezekias vpon his sicke couch. Therefore storme not, mur∣mure not, hee hath sent it, and who hath re∣sisted his will? Rom. 9 19.

2 Consider the nature of this God,* 1.63 vnder whose hand thou groanest; that hee is rich in mercy, of tender compassion, abundant in goodnesse and truth, and loueth thee in his CHRIST, correcting thee of loue as a Fa∣ther, not punishing thee as a Iudge: for though these sufferings be plagues to the wicked, as were the plagues of Aegypt, of Sodome, and of Moab, yet to thee and all the Elect in Christ, they are but fatherly chastisements.

3 Consider Gods gracious ends and pur∣poses in these thy visitations.

First, to draw thee to the sight and sense of thy d 1.64 sinnes, the cause of this effect; that so re∣penting of them, thy soules sicknesse may be cured.

Secondly, thou art iudged in this kinde, and chastened of the Lord, that thou shouldest not be condemned with the world, 1 Cor. 11.32.

Thirdly, to breake and pull downe the pride of thy heart, a sinne which the Lord abhorres and detests, both in the wicked, as hee did in Herod, Acts 12. and in his owne children, as in Ezekias, 2 Chron. 32.25. for which cause he brings downe thy heart through this heaui∣nesse,

because thou hast rebelled against the word of the Lord, Psal. 107. v. 11.12.

Fourthly, to trie thy Faith and Patience, whether thou wilt kisse his rod, and cleaue to him in aduersitie as thou promisest in prospe∣ritie: for, God delights to try his like gold in the fire; as a Master tryes the fidelitie of his Seruant, and a Father the obedience of his Childe: and therefore according to the since∣ritie and measure of our graces in this life (as wee see in Gods proceedings with Abraham, Iob, Dauid, yea CHRIST himselfe) shall our tryals and our afflictions be, both inward and outward.

Fiftly, to shake off thy carnall securitie: for prosperitie makes thee forget God, as did the Israelites, Manasses, c 1.65 Dauid, &c. but this vi∣sitation driues thee home by weeping-Crosse to thy Father, as it did them and the prodigall Childe, Luke 15.

4 Remember that thou worthily deseruest this Crosse of sickenesse, as a punishment for thy sinnes, the sinnes of thy youth and of thy age, omissiue and commissiue: sinne being the cause and originall of all diseases, Agues, Fea∣uers, Consumptions, Plague-sores, Leprosies, and the like, Leuit. 26. v. 14.15.16. Iohn 5.14. Therefore as God from time to time hath vi∣sited the sinnes of others, both of the righte∣ous and the reprobates, so hee hath found

out thee: hee that punished the Israelites with diuers and sundry plagues, for f 1.66 rebelling a∣gainst Moses and Aaron, and for g 1.67murmu∣ring against God, hee that plagued h 1.68 Pharaoh with Frogs, Lice, Bloud, Death of the first borne, and Drownings, for contempt of God, hardnesse of heart, and oppression of his peo∣ple. Hee that smit the i 1.69 Philistines with Eme∣rods in their secret parts, for their abuse of the Arke: King k 1.70 Ʋzziah with Leprosie, for abu∣sing the Priests Office: Gehezi, for his l 1.71 Co∣uetousnesse: the m 1.72 Bethshamites with death, for prying into the Arke: the n 1.73 Corinthians with sickenesse and death, for profaning the Lords Supper: o 1.74 Asa with diseases in his feete, for imprisoning the Prophet: p 1.75 Domitian, q 1.76 Hadrian, r 1.77 Valerian, Dioclesian, Maximinus, Iulian, Aurelian, Arnolphus, Antiochus, He∣rod, and others, vvith incurable diseases and death it selfe, s 1.78 for their pride, blasphemie, persecutions of his Children, and the like sins: Cerinthus, Arrius, and others within the Church, with sodaine Iudgements for their blasphemous Heresies; nay, euen his owne people with the plague of three-score and ten thousand men, for the mistrust of Dauid his Seruant t 1.79, that God which neuer suffered sinne to goe vnpunished in Iustice, if it were not pardoned in Mercy: he that sees no iniquitie in Iacob u 1.80, nor no sinne in Israell, in couering

the transgressions of his Children x 1.81, and re∣mitting the eternall punishment to the peni∣tent in respect of their soules: yet there are causes sufficient for him, some secret, some re∣uealed: 1. Both in respect of God: 2. of his Church: 3. of the wicked: and 4. of thy selfe; that he should exercise thee with temporall af∣flictions here, as he did Dauid y 1.82, as with sicke∣nesse, diseases, &c. Therefore, as the Israelites found out Achan the Theefe z 1.83, the cause of their plague; the Marriners, Ionas a 1.84, the cause of their storme, whom they punished con∣dignely: so, finde thou out by a diligent search, thy Achan, thy Ionas, thy speciall sinne, which occasions this blast and storme of sickenesse: put Achan to death, crucifie that sinne, cast Ionas into the Sea, drowne it, or wash it in a floud of teares, as did Peter b 1.85, and Ezekias c 1.86▪ and CHRIST will wash thy wounds vvith his bloud, he will recouer thy soule and restore thy sicke body, if it be good for thee, or re∣nue thy state in a heauenly mansion prouided for thee d 1.87. Depend vpon God for the issue, haue recourse vnto him by Faith, in the first place: looke vpon the brazen Serpent as soone as euer thou art wounded e 1.88, and thou shalt be healed and helped; eyther thou shalt be deliuered from this crosse, as was Ezekiasf 1.89; or haue patience to indure it, as had Iob; or a happy issue in it,g 1.90 as had Dauid: but runne not

in the first place to the Physitian, vvith Asa, 1 Chron. 16.12. nor to Charmers, Witches, and Coniurers, as did Ahazia, to Baalzebub the God of Ekron 2 Kings 13. as Saul to the Witch of Endor, least thou perish as hee did, least thou pay the Diuell thy soule, as our ig∣norant superstitious common people doe, for curing thy body, the wages that hee requires, least thy medicine be worse then thy disease; but Returne vnto the Lord, hee hath spoyled thee, and hee will heale thee, hee hath wounded thee, and he will binde thee vp. Hos. 6.1.

5 God inflicts lesse vpon thee then thy sinnes deserue, though thy paine be great: for as wee are all by nature sinfull, Psal. 51.4. Cor∣rupt and abhominable, and gone out of the way, Psal. 14.3. Psal. 53. all offending in ma∣ny things, Iames 2.3. so he might condignely pay thee the wages of thy sinnes, death, dam∣nation, Hell fire, Rom. 6.23. Rom. 21.8. for indeede it is the mercy of God, that wee are not vtterly consumed, because his compassions faile not, Lament. 3.22.23. Hee hath not dealt with thee after thy sinnes, nor rewarded thee after thine iniquitie, Psal. 103.10

6 God afflicts thee not so much as hee might and could: for, as thou hast sinned in euery part, in thy tongue, in thy head, thy eyes, thy feete, Rom. 3.13.14.15. as euery member hath beene made a weapon of vn∣righteousnes

to fight against God, Rom. 6.13. so hee could racke and rent, torture and tor∣ment thee in euery member: euen as hee will deale with the reprobates in hell. Doth thy head ake with the Shunamites childe? 2 Kin. 4. ver. 18. hee could make thy heart ake to; he could scorch thy tongue like the rich Glut∣tons, Luk•• 16 24. burne thee within thy bow∣els, as hee did A••tiochus, &c. Is one member distressed? hee could smite thee with boyles from the crowne of the head to the sole of thy foote, as hee did Iob, Iob 2.7. Therefore it is kindnesse to punish one part, when all haue offended.

7 The Saints and Seruants of God haue indured greater extremities, then as yet thou wast euer invred vnto: thou hast heard as of the patience so of the paines of Iob, thou hast not felt a Flea's biting in respect of him, and yet there was peace to him at the last, Iob 42. ver. 17. Looke vpon the Patients of Christ, that heauenly Physitian, in the Gospell, one good woman troubled with an issue of bloud twelue yeeres long,* 1.91 which had spent all shee had vpon the Physitians, yet at last cured. An other woman vexed with a spirit of infirmitie,* 1.92 eight and fiftie yeeres, that was bowed toge∣ther, and could not lift vp her selfe in any wise, yet loosed by CHRIST from her disease.* 1.93 A man that vvas diseased eight and thirtie yeeres,

lying at the poole of Bethesda, yet at the voyce of Christ rose vp, tooke vp his bed, and walked.

How long, thinke you, was Lazarus pined with hunger, wanting crummes; payned with vlcers, wanting comforts; reiected of men; his best Physicke the Dogs tongues, ere hee were carryed by the Angels into Heauen, Luke 16. I might instance in the Creeple that was lame from his mothers wombe, that sate at the gate of Salomons Temple, called Beautifull:* 1.94 and in that other impotent Creeple at Lystra, which were both of them healed and helped: the one by Peter and Iohn;* 1.95 the other by Paul and Barnabas, Acts 14.8.9.10. In Aeneas that kept his couch eight yeeres, sicke of the Palsie, yet in the name of Christ made whole,* 1.96 Acts 9.33.34. In him that was blinde from his birth, Iohn 9.2. In those two blinde men that cryed after Christ, Mat. 9.27. All which by faith, receiued their sight from him that is the light of the world. So, in those whose Sonnes and Daughters were dispossessed of those tormenting Spirits,* 1.97 wherewith from their Cradles, they were possessed, Marke 9.21. verse 25. Luke 9.42. Mat. 15.22. with all the rest of the halt, blinde, dumbe, may∣med, &c. that were cast downe at IESVS his feete, and healed, Mat. 15.30.31. If I should set before you, in order, Dauids suffrings

in this kinde, you would wonder; who though hee were a King, a Priest, and a Prophet, a man after Gods owne heart, yet indured dira & dura, hard and harsh pressures: GOD so tempered his cup, that hee occasionedly cryes out, that by reason of his outward and inward sorrowes, there was no health in his flesh, no rest in his bones, his wounds stincking through corruptnesse, his loynes filled vvith sore diseases, no sound part in his body, his flesh trembling within him, and the terrours of death comming about him, his heart pan∣ting, his eyes dimmed, his strength failing; euery way so perplexed, that his extremities cause him not onely to cry and call, and com∣plaine and groane, but euen to roare and bel∣low out, (like an Oxe pricked,) in the bitter∣nesse of his soule, Psal. 55.4.5. Psal. 38.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. &c. yet for all that so freed, so comforted after, that his heart was filled with ioy, and his mouth with laughter; that hee broke sorth into prayses vnto his God, vvith ioyfull songs for his deliuerance. Apply this Mithridate of these examples to thine owne ruptures. Did not the LORD loue those whom he so visited as well as hee loueth thee? Did hee release those, and can bee not release and relieue thee? Is the Lords hand shortened, that hee cannot helpe? or his care heauy, that hee will not heare? Esay 59.1. &c.

8 Thy dolours are nothing if they be com∣pared with the sufferings and Passion of Christ the Messias,* 1.98 neyther in their vehemencie or continuation; all his whole life, from his Cra∣dle in Bethlem, to his Crosse in Golgotha, be∣ing a dying life, or a liuing death; exposed to the malice, madnesse, opprobries, and calum∣nies of his enemies, Herod, and Herodians, Scribes, Pharisies, Sadduces, Iewes, Iudas; to 1. Pouertie, Hunger, 2. Thirst, Wearinesse, &c. which miserable life was concluded with such a death, so ignominious, for the shame of it, Phil. 2.8. so dolorous, 1. both in respect of paines of body, by the Nayles and Thornes, in the sinewie parts of the body▪ 2. and of griefes of minde, for the ingratitude of the Iewes, the treason of Iudas, the faintnesse of his Disciples: 3. and of the tortures of soule, in the apprehension of the wrath of his Fa∣ther, that in his entrance into it, hee sweat wa∣ter and bloud in the Garden; in the vnder∣going of it, hee cryed, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee! All concurring toge∣ther, make such a confluence of sorrowes, that thy greatest paines are but pleasures and re∣freshings: nay, the sufferings of all the Mar∣tyres; 1. Steuen, Iohn Baptist, 2. Iames, 3. Peter, Paul, Lawrence, &c. and the rest doe not poize and paralell it in the least particulars. Now, canst thou grudge against thy God, for afflict∣ing

thee deseruedly, that art nocent, being his Sonne by Adoption, when hee imposed so much vpon his owne Sonne by Nature, being innocent, onely made sinne for thee, Rom. 4. vers. 25.

9 By these sufferings thou art made con∣formable to the Image of Christ, Rom. 8.29. who by many tribulations entred into glory, Luke 24.26.* 1.99 It is vnseemely for the members to goe one way when the head goes another; if thou beest a part of Christs body, then a head of thornes must haue pricked members.

10 There is no greife so great, but the Lord can, and will in his due time, ease and relieue thee, as hee hath promised, Psal. 50. vers. 15. yea, from thy most grieuous diseases, Exod. 15.20. Psal. 34.18. For, when did any of the Lords Children cry vnto him, but hee heard and holpe them, Psal. 107.13.14. God is able to helpe, he will helpe, he knowes how to deliuer his out of euery tentation, and will de∣liuer them, Esay 5.2. Esay 59.1. 2 Pet. 2.9.

11 Christ thy high Priest is touched with a fellow-feeling of thine infirmities, hauing had experience of them, in thy owne nature. Heb. 4.15.16.

12 This sickenesse of thine is the Herauld and Summoner of thy death, the warning-peece of thy departing: it is needfull that this earthly house of thine, thy terrestriall Taber∣nacle

be pulled downe piece-meale, by sicke∣nesse, that thou maist be cloathed with a bet∣ter house from heauen. 2 Cor. 5.1.

13 This thy sicknesse is an excellent Tutor to catechize and instruct thee in the Schoole of Christianitie, it reades (as it were) a Diuini∣tie Lecture vnto thee in Christs owne Col∣ledge, 1. of the * 1.100 fall of Adam; 2. the miseries of man in life; 3. his mortalitie in death; 4. the desert of sinne; 5. thine owne vvretchednesse and vnworthinesse; 6. thy corruptions origi∣nall; 7. thy transgressions actuall; 8. the vile∣nesse of man; 9. the Equitie, Iustice, Maiestie, Mercy, Goodnesse, and Greatnesse of Almigh∣tie GOD: besides, it fits and prepares thee for a better life.

14 Remember how many grosse and raig∣ning sinnes this thy sickenesse hath cured, or, at least, curbed in thee, besides those which it hath restrained?* 1.101 how hath it quenched in thee the fire of Lust? how hath it pulled downe the head of Pride? how hath it brideled thy An∣ger? how restrayned thy Malice? how dam∣med vp the streame of inordinate passions? of head-strong, lustfull, luxurious, couetous, and carnall affections? For, to whom sicke∣nesse is sanctified, it is Physicall to the soule, as medicines are to the body: thy soule is sicke of the Lethargie of sinne, scorcht with Lust, inflamed with the burning Feauer of Concu∣piscence,

distempered vvith the cold palsie of Couetousnesse, coldnesse of Zeale, tympanie of Pride, swelling of Aemulation, with a num∣ber of such like infirmities. Now, as Physicke is vngratefull to the Patient, yet wholesome; so is sickenesse to thy body: but take it pati∣ently, because God thy Physitian prescribes it for goods ends.

15 As this thy sickenesse cures many sins, so causarily and occasionedly, it preuents ma∣ny, to which thy nature is inclined. How ma∣ny doe liue, and lye, and snort in sinne, soy∣ling their soules with all manner of pollutions, that it were better for them to be sicke in their beds? How many profane a 1.102 Esaw's, b 1.103 prodigall young men, loose Libertines, like c 1.104 Horses, are neighing after their neighbours Wiues? like d 1.105 Salomons Foole, are watching the twi∣light to sleepe in the house of the strange wo∣man; following e 1.106 her (like an Oxe to the slaughter,) to the very Chamber of Death? How f 1.107 many are drinking daily in Ale-houses, Hell-houses, or Tauernes; in their Germaine healths, following the sinnes of g 1.108 Sodome, Idlenesse, and fulnesse of bread, and fulnesse of drinke to, like Epicures and Belly-gods, till they breake out into all excesse of Riot, Blas∣phemies, Oathes, Beastialities, Swaggerings, Swearings, Raylings, Reuilings▪ h 1.109 Fightings, and Bloud-sheds; whose states were better to

haue sober soules in sicke bodies, then to haue defiled and damned soules in such pampered bodies, i 1.110 that are strong to drinke Wine, and to poure in new Wine, till they be inflamed? How many are scraping, and scrawling, and scratching for this earth, in which they wroote and digge, like Moales and Swine, till they open a pit, from which they leape into Hell, selling their soules for the Mammon of ini∣quitie like k 1.111 Iudas and Domas; whose bodies, if they were more sickely, perhaps their soules would be more healthy and holy, and their estate more happy? How many Country-men ride and runne, like mad men, vp and downe to the Citie, and in the Citie, for the tearme of life, from the Innes of Court to Westminster, not sparing the very Sabbath, to effect their couetous or malicious plots against their neighbours, who were safer at home, sicke in their beds, then here to imploy their strong bodyes and politique pates in the Diuels Of∣fice▪ to be accusers and tormenters of their Brethren?

The Whore that hunts for the precious soule of a man; the Theefe, that waytes like a Lyon in his D••nne▪ to catch his prey; the Vsurer, that bites to the bones, and deuoures the flesh; the l 1.112 Gamester, that holds a false Plough; the Player and the Pander, and all the rest of Sathans Factors, that exchange

his sinnes for soules, liuing in vnlawfull cal∣lings, vpon the sinnes of the people; how much better had it beene for them that their Mo∣thers vvombes had beene their perpetuall beds and graues, or that they were all their life time imprisoned in their priuate Cham∣bers, tyed to their couches with the cords of sickenesse, then to runne head-long in such courses to hell, strong and liuely, where they shall be chained and pained eternally in the bottomlesse pit.

Besides, how many abuse their outward members and senses in the seruice of sinne and Sathan, whose case would be easier in iudge∣ment, if they had neuer had them, or by dis∣eases were depriued of them? The vnchaste Eye that lusts after a woman, the window that lets lusts into the soule, were it not better pluckt out? Oh that Sampson, Sichem, Poti∣phars wife, and Dauid, had beene blinde then when they beheld th••se beauties that vvere there banes! Those whose feete are ready to shed bloud, swift to euill (as Hazael) speedy to runne to sinne; how good were it for them to be lame? those that haue hands to perpe∣trate mischiefe, were better their hands vvere withered like I••roboams. Oh what a blessing were it to be dumbe, to those whose tongues being set on fire on hell, are a world of vvic∣kednesse, polluting eyther the Name, the

Word, and Workes of GOD, by oathes and blasphemies, so obliging their guilty soules to condemnation and swift vengeance: 2. or the good name of their neighbours, by slanders and calumnies: 3. or their chastities, by filthy and rotten speeches?

How much better were it for our riotous Li∣bertines and licentious Gentlemen that liue here, like the Athenians, to doe nothing but heare or see, or tell new things, to be deafe without eares, then to drinke in daily such deadly infection through that sense, as the Spunge suckes water, from soule-poysoning Playes.

Now, how mercifull is God to thee, not one∣ly by this crosse to mortifie sinne in the in∣ward affection; but to restraine and refraine thee from the very outward action.

16 This thy sickenesse it glorifies God, it tends to the glory of God: thou art not pu∣nished because God hates thee aboue others: for, those vpon whom the Tower of Siloh fell, were no greater sinners then the rest, Lu. 13.1.2.3. Neyther did thou or thy Parents (perhaps) sinne aboue others, as Christ said of the blinde man,* 1.113 but that the glory of God might appeare; both the glory of his power & free-will in creating thee so, Esay 45. v. 6. v. 9. Esd. 4. as also the glory of his might and his mercy in curing thee: for, so all the mira∣culous

cures that the Lord wrought in the old or new Testament, did tend to his owne glory, both in the thankefull gratulations of his Saints for them, as in their ioyfull promulga∣tions and declarations of them. Thus Da∣uid, and m 1.114 Ezekias, in their Eucharisticall Hymnes, and Songs of deliuerance, after their sicknesse; n 1.115 Naaman his acknowledgement and confession of the true God of Israell; the sicke of the Palsie healed, the blinde man cured, the Centurions seruant recouered, the Samari∣tan cleansed, confessing their sinnes, proclay∣ming Christs mercies, and divulging the Mi∣racles, were instruments of Gods glory.

17 These thy Maladies are no arguments that God hates thee; for, in this nature, or some other, God chasteneth euery Sonne whom he receiueth. None euer, eyther Patriarkes, Pro∣phets, or Apostles went to heauen out of the crosse way,* 1.116 by which CHRIST himselfe went to glory. Therefore as Christ to shew his loue, pittie, and compassion to the disea∣sed and distressed, inuited the halt, blinde, and lame to his great Supper; and wils others to inuite them to their feasts, so hee himselfe will accept them in his Kingdome, as he did 8Lazarus.

These Cordials may be applyed to euery ordinary visitation, ••ut if thy paines be permanent, and thy dolours extreame and durable, yet thus reuiue thy fainting spirits, and strengthen thy selfe by these Meditations.

18 THat at furthest they can but continue this short and transitory course of this life, they shall expire with death: thy dayes flye as fast as the Bird in the ayre: the Ship in the Sea, the Arrow out of a Bow, or the swiftest things in Nature. Now, thy Diseases are designed vvithin the limits of this briefe and brittle life: they haue their date in thy death; at which time they bid thee adiew, ne∣uer to returne, but ioyes to succeede.

19 Secondly, they are nothing in com∣parison of those pure, Coelestiall, blessed, and eternall ioyes in Heauen, vvhich vvee haue before mentioned, as they are in the Word reuealed; so sweet, so great, that all the Arithmeticians in the vvorld cannot number them, nor all the Geometritians measure them, nor all the Logitians define them, nor the tongues of Men and Angels describe them; nay, if I were all tongue, as Saint Iohn vvas all voyce, I could not expresse them▪ as thou shalt experimentally feele them, after thy paynes haue here their period, vvhen thy

vvarfare is accomplished: therefore endure this rod for a time, since thou art an Heyre for euer.

20 Thou art freed surely by Faith in CHRIST from eternall death and the paines of hell: which are fearefull in respect of the place, horrible in all the diuersities of punish∣ments, painefull in the varietie of plagues, in∣effable, invtterable, endlesse and infinite in the continuation of time: blesse God for this ex∣emption, for this redemption.

Comforts against the vnkindenesse of mercilesse friends.

Obiection.

OH, but this addes griefe to thy paynes, that thy Friends are vnkinde vnto thee in this thy distresse; and thou art destitute of comforters, none compassionates thy extre∣mities.

Answ. 1. This must not seeme strange vnto thee: thy case is not singular in this kinde, but vsuall and ordinary. Friends, like Swallowes, sing and make merry vvith thee, lodge and lye with thee in the Summer of prosperitie: but take their sodaine and farre flight in the Winter of aduersitie: it made

the vvise Heathen exclayme, Oh friends, no friends.

2 The Saints haue had this measure. Did not good Iob finde his three friends miserable comforters in his greatest exigents? Was there any more comfort in them a 1.117, then wa∣ter in a stone, or oyle in a flint: they were as a brooke dried vp. Dauid had some experience in this case, when by reason of Sauls persecu∣tion, euen his Father, his Mother, and Brethren so farre forsooke him, his Companion that are meate with him, was so treacherous to him, that hee was lest as destitute of true friends, as the naked Bird of feathers: his friends few, his enemies many, Psal. 69. v. 8. ver. 21. Psal. 22.12. Psal. 25.17.18. Psal. 69.4.

3 Christ himselfe was reiected, not onely of Herod and his Courtiers, Luke 23. ver. 11.* 1.118 of the Scribes and Pharisies, &c. but euen maliced of his owne Brethren, Iohn 7. v. 3.4. yea, forsaken of many of his Disciples toge∣ther, Iohn 6.66. of all in his Passion, except Iohn, Mat. 14.50. denied of Peter b 1.119, betrayed of Iudas, &c. Mat. 26.49.

4 There is vsually hatred amongst the nearest friends by nature, euen in prosperous estate, much more in distresse: thus Caine hates his Brother Abel, Gen. 4.8. Ismael per∣secutes Isaack, Gen. 4.29. Esau, Iacob, Gen. 27. ver. 41. Cham mockes Noahc 1.120, when the old

man was ouer-seene in Wine; Michol* 1.121 mocks Dauid, ouer-spent in zeale; and Iobs breath did smell distastfully, euen to the Wife of his owne bosome.

5 Though the arme of flesh, and thy car∣nall friends forsake thee, yet GOD, will not reiect g 1.122 thee, hee careth for thy soule, his loue is more constant and continuall: the Lord vvill neuer despise thee, nor fayle thee, if thou beest of an humble and contrite heart; but Christ and his Father vvill come in vnto thee, and dwell with thee, if thou hearest his voyce: and openest the dore of thy heart, to entertaine and retaine them. Ponder these places and chew the cud vpon these Promises, Esay 66 2. & 57.15. Psal. 51.17. Reu. 3.••0. Iohn 14 23. yea, hee hath sworne that hee will neuer fayle thee, nor forsake thee h 1.123. Thus when Christs friends and fauouritesi 1.124, eyther sleepe or flye, or faint, an Angell comes to comfort him from heauen: so when hee was alone in the Wildernesse k 1.125. This is Dauids comfort, let it be thine, though Father and Mother forsake thee, yet the Lord taketh thee vp, Psal. 27.10. Hee is thy God and thy salua∣tion, Psal. 18.1. Therefore liue by faith, Hab. 2.4. Heb. 10.38.

6 If thy friends haue receiued kindnesse of thee before time, and now they forget thee, which grieues thee the more.

First, examine thine heart, vvhether thou hast not first beene by committing and conti∣nuing such and such sinnes: vnthankefull and vnkinde to thy GOD, after so many sinnes pardoned, so many mercies receiued, so many comforts renued, so many crosses remoued, &c.

Secondly, Gods dearest ones haue beene more stung vvith this viperous generation then euer thou wast, as Christ with Iudasl 1.126, a Disciple m 1.127, a Diuell, a Viper in his owne bo∣somen 1.128. Pharaohs Butler was vngratefull and vnmindefull of o 1.129 Ioseph and his affliction, euen after his restitution: the Israelites of Gideon, killing with Abimelech his seauentie sonnes, Iudg. 9.15.17.18.

Thirdly, what euer man doe God, is a faith∣full rewarder of all that are his; being not vn∣mindefull of the fruits of thy Faith, eyther in the workes of Pietie towards him, or of Cha∣ritie towards thy Brethren.

7 God hath elected thee and chosen thee, before all time, to life and glory, therefore care not though man reiect thee, 1 Iohn. 3.1.

8 Though thou canst not see thy friends here with comfort, yet ere long thou shalt see GOD as hee is, 1 Iohn 3.2.

Preparatiues against Pouertie.

BEcause that Pouertie, as it is intollerable to the carnall man, driuing him eyther to despayre in God, or to murmure against God, or to take some base and sinister courses against his owne soule; so, it is burthensome to the carnall part of a Christian, chiefely concur∣ring with sicknesse; when Family-charges growing, strength to labour in his calling fayling, diseases increasing, friends shrinking backe, the meanes of his maintenance fayles: for which cause the wise Agur prayed against it, Prou. 30. v. 9. let these considerations moue thee yet to take vp this crosse patiently, and to follow Christ.

1 Because it is the prouidence of God that thou shouldest be poore: the Lord hath tempered these two estates so in this life, riches and pouertie, that they may be both to his glory. The rich and the poore meete together▪ the Lord is the maker of them all, Prou. 22.2. Prou. 29.13. He will haue the rich and poore mingled together here, Lazarus and Diues, Luke 16. euen as hee will haue Sheepe and Goates, Corne and Tares, good and bad to∣gether (as the Israelites and Aegyptians dwelt together a 1.130) till that great day of seperation b 1.131,

therefore submit thy heart, and subiect thy soule to the will, the worke, the pleasure, and the prouidence of God.

2 Thy case is not singular, nor thy crosse alone: there are thousands at this day that drinke deeper in this bitter cuppe then thou: how many hast thou heard of; how many knowest thou of Gods deare Children, that haue and are vtterly exhaust and spent? some by shipwracke or Pyrates by Sea, some by Fire, some by Theeues and Robbers, some by bad Seruants, some by bad Debtors and Customers, some by Suertiship, some by pro∣digall and vnthriftie Children, some this way, some that; and some by the Surgions and Phy∣sitians, like the woman in the Gospell, vvhich perhaps is thy case? Now, what euer the meanes be of thy impouerishing. God is the Author of it, afflicting thee with it, as a tryall of thy Faith, and to excite thy prayers: or in∣flicting it as a punishment of thy sinnes. Iob knew well that Sathan could not stirre vp the tempest to blow downe his house, nor the Chaldeans and Sabeans take away his goods, without a commission or permission from God; therefore with him haue thou recourse vnto God: say, The Lord giues, and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord, Iob 1.21.22.

3 Pouertie is no token of Gods displeasure

to thee: for, as it is no argument that the Lord loues a wicked man, because he is rich, so it is no argument that God reiects the godly, because they are poore: nay, vvhere wealth and wickednesse, pouerty and pietie, concurre, it testifies Gods wrath vpon the wic∣kedly wealthy,* 1.132 setting them in slippery places, feeding them like Swine, with the mast of the world, against the day of slaughter: and gi∣uing them their portion in this life, as was seene in Nabal, the two rich Churles in Saint Lukes Gospell, with diuers others. Besides, it is Gods loue to his Children to keepe them bare here, to that end he may the better blesse them. The Seruant sometimes hath a greater portion then the Sonne for a time; the slaue is better fed and clad then the Heyre, that is kept at hard meate till his inheritance fall, yet the Father loues the Heyre better.* 1.133 The poore Sheepe that the Housholder meanes to hold and to keepe, goes in a bare pasture, a short common, is straitely folded in the night, kept in obedience by the Shepheard and his Dog, once a yeere coldly washt and nearely shorne; but his Oxe or Bullocke that hee purposeth to butcher and kill, hee puts in a fat pasture to feede, hee goes grazing at libertie in Sum∣mer, is stall-fed and housed in Winter. Apply this to thine owne particular, if thou beest poore, and poore in spirit, thou art Gods

Heyre of his inheritance, Gods Sheepe of his pasture. The wicked, though wealthy, are slaues and bond-men, 1. to Sathan, 2. to their Lusts, 3. to their Wealth, 4. to the World: they are fat Oxen, fat Buls of Basan, like the Oxe and the Asse that know not their Master,* 1.134 like the Horse and Mule, without vnderstan∣ding.

Now, how much is thy case better then theirs * 1.135? thou art crazed in the outward sca∣berd, thy outward man; but they are false met∣tall a 1.136 which shall be burnt and broken, their soules damned when their bodyes dye.

4 A little that thou hast with the feare of God, is better then great riches of the vngodly, see Prou. 16.8. Psal. 37.16.

5 All things fall out to the best to those that feare GOD; yea, all things b 1.137, and euery thing, as well pouertie as riches. GOD is thy Physitian, thou art his Patient: the Physitian knowes better then the Patient what is good for him.

6 If the Lord had fore-seene that a rich estate, and an higher pitch had beene good for thee, thou shouldest haue had it: but hee knowes what is best for thee, how ere thy cor∣rupt desires incline this way or that way. The Father will not giue the Childe a Sword or Knife, though hee cry for it, he knowes it will hurt him. How knowest thou with what heart

thou shouldest haue vsed,* 1.138 with what hand thou shouldest haue imployed thy Tallents of wealth if thou hadst them? whether in the pra∣ctise of sinne, and workes of darknesse, as dan∣gerously to thy soule, as a Childe, or a mad man, vse a sharpe weapon, to the hurt of their owne or others bodies?

7 Pouertie hinders not the acceptance of thy Prayers, Teares, Cryes, and Sacrifices vnto thy God. A wise poore man hath not so free accesse in earthly Courts, to earthly Kings, as silken Courtiers; but, The Lord heares the de∣sires of the poore, hee bends his eare vnto them, Psal. 10.17. For the sighes of the poore I will vp (saith the Lord) and helpe them, Psal. 12.5. The Lord turnes vnto the prayers of the desolate, and despiseth them not, Psal. 102. verse 17. Psal. 145. ver. 18.19. The mighty Iehouah, the King of Heauen, will heare, and helpe, and relieue thee, when the hautie, and high min∣ded, and wealthy, and wicked witty of the world, are with their sacrifices reiectedc 1.139, like Cainesd 1.140: For, the Lord heales those that are broken in heart, and bindeth vp their sores: yea, the Lord relieueth the meeke, but abaseth the wicked to the ground, Psal. 147. ver. 2. v. 6. Agar ^e and her Childe, in their pouertie and distresse in the Wildernesse, after they were cast out of Abrahams house, cryed to the Lord, being like to perish for want of water: so did the

Israelites in the extremities of their thirstf 1.141, and Moses for them, complaine vnto the Lord in a Land where no water was: so did g 1.142 Sampson call on the Lord, after his conquest of the Philistines, being ready to faint for drinke, and the Lord heard their distresse, and gran∣ted their desires: Agars eyes were opened, and she saw a fountaine; Moses smit the rocke, and the water gushed out; Sampsons Iaw-bone of an Asse sent out a spring of water: many are the like examples. This poore man cryed vnto the Lord, and hee heard him, saith Dauid: so did this, and this, and this. Oh then be thou patient, and penitent, and pious, and thou shalt still finde God gracious, in the midst of thy grieuances.

8 Consider, that if thou be poore in thy spi∣rit, as in thy outward estate, thou art rich in Christ (euen as the good Seruant is the Lords Free-man) thou art the Lord of all the Crea∣tures sublunarie h 1.143, in title and interest, how euer the wicked (to whom all things are im∣pure,) as Rebels and Traytors to God, vsurpe them from thee. As thou hast an interest in CHRIST, so to all the Creatures. Christ is all in all vnto thee i 1.144: if thou beest naked, hee is the Wedding-garment to thee; if blinde, his Spirit is Eye-salue; if hungry, hee is the Manna, k 1.145 the bread of life, the bread of Hea∣uen; if thirsty, hee is the fountaine of water,

of l 1.146 liuing water; if in want, thou hast a King∣dome m 1.147; if kept bare for a time, yet thou art an Heyre n 1.148, and a Coheyre with him; though reiected of men, yet elect of him. o 1.149 Hearken my beloued Brethren, hath not God chosen the poore of this world, that they should be rich in faith, and heyres of the Kingdome which hee promised to them that loue him, Iames chap. 2.6. Let this be to thee like Sugar vnder the tongue of the Childe; let it not goe, but sucke comfort from it.

* 1.1509 Pouertie is no hinderance to thy salua∣tion: Lazarus was saued, Luke 16. yea, though neyther Pouertie nor Riches simply of them∣selues, please God, no more then Marriage or Virginitie; but the sanctified heart in the right vse of both: there being rich men in Heauen, Abraham, the Patriarkes, Dauid, Salomon, Iob, &c. who were here rich in grace: and impatient and impenitent poore men in Hell, who were here as destitute of goodnesse, as of goods; of heauenly wisedome as of wealth; of faith as of friends; yet neuerthelesse there is more perill in the rich estate: 1. both as riches p 1.151 puffe vp the heart: 2. as they are weapons of tyrannie and oppression, as in A∣hab q 1.152: 3. as they are got with fraudulencie: 4. kept with diffidence and anxietie: 5 meanes of Idolatrie r 1.153: 6. Thornes s 1.154 to choake the seede of the Word: 7. Snares of the Diuell,

to fetter the soulet 1.155: 8. barres out of Gods king∣domev 1.156. Therefore as some Philosophers cast away their wealth into the water, because it hindered their Philosophicall studies: so, it were good for rich men, according to Christs desire x 1.157, commaund, and Injunction, to cast their wealths on the watry faces of the poore y 1.158, to make them friends of the vnrighteous Mammon, &c. least they incurre the vvoes denounced, Iames 5.3.2.3. Luke 6.24. But there are no such baites, and snares, and traps, in Pouertie; if the rich yong man in Mathewes Gospell z 1.159, had beene poore, perhaps hee had followed CHRIST, vvith as great facilitie and felicitie, as Peter, Andrew, Iames, and Iohn, those poore Fishermen a 1.160; if his Cable had beene vntwisted, it had gone thorow the Needles eye. Oh how comfortable may this crosse be to thee, that it cannot of it selfe, crosse thee of Heauen, nor curse thee in Hell.

10 Besides, the poorer thou art, the fewer Tallents thou hast receiued b 1.161: the lesse that is committed to thy disposing, the easier shall be thy reckoning and thy accounts, when thou shalt be demaunded an account of thy Stewardship, and the vse of thy tallents, at the Lords great Audit, when hee comes to Iudge∣ment, Luke 16.2.

11 Euen for the things of this life,

though it appeare not so to carnall reason, yet the Lord hath a care of thee, and will ad∣minister vnto thee things needfull, though not superfluous. For, thy heauenly Father, like an earthly father, may see his childe need, but not bleed:* 1.162 for, the Lord will not famish the soule of the righteous, Prou. 10.3. Though hee suffer thee to want for a time, yet hee will helpe in due season: hee brings the needy out of the dust, the poore out of the dung c 1.163, and Ioseph out of prison d 1.164. Dauid neuer saw the righteous forsaken, nor their seede begging their bread. The Lord will replenish the soules of the Priests with fatnesse, and his people shall be satisfied with good∣nesse, Ier. 31.14. Iob 5 16.19.20.21.22. There∣fore cast thy care vpon God, hee careth for thee. How carefull was CHRIST for the two poore marryed couple, in turning their water into wine? Iohn 2.6.7.8. The like care the Lord hath ouer euery poore marryed cou∣ple, that haue small meanes, great charge: for▪ The eyes of the Lord are vpon them that feare him, and that put their trust in hit mercy, to de∣liuer their soules from death, and to feede them in the time of dearth, Psal. 33.17.18. Thus hee fed Iacob and his Children, when there was a dearth in Canaan e 1.165, hee sent Ioseph before in∣to Aegypt f 1.166, in his speciall prouidence to pro∣uide for them. So God fed his Israell, like Sheepe, in the wildernesse, with Angels food g 1.167,

and water from the Rocke. Thus Christ fed his fainting auditors in the Desart with bread and Fishes h 1.168, as he did his Disciples vpon the shore with the same dyet i 1.169. Yea, hee still feedes all his, hee feedes euen the wicked; hee giues a soppe to Iudas k 1.170; nay, hee feedes the Ea∣gles, Crowes, and Rauens, Birds and Beasts. Nay, hee clothes the Lillies, and will hee not feede and clothes thee and thine, oh thou of little faith?

Ponder well Christs seauen arguments in the sixt of Mathew, against thy diffidence: if thou couldest but rest in him, and relie vpon him by faith, though the Lyons should want and suffer hunger, though the Lyons and and Buls of Basan, the great ones of the world, should be famished, as were some in the siege of Samaria and Ierusalem, yet thou shouldest want nothing that is good. If thou hast faith but as a graine of Mustard-seede, in truth and sinceritie, which extends to thy body as well as thy soule, ere thou shouldest perish the very Heauens should raine Manna, as it did on the Israelitesl 1.171, the Rocke should giue her water m 1.172, yea, the law-bones of Beasts should afford thee moysture, as to Sampson n 1.173; the very Rauens, nay, the Angels should feede thee, as they did Elias o 1.174, the very Fishes of the Sea should afford thee siluer, as they did Peter, Mat. 17.27.

12 Mans life doth not consist in abundance of earthly things,* 1.175 Luke 12.15. Man liues not by bread onely; Mat. 4. God can blesse a small pittance and portion vnto thee: hee can mul∣tiply a few Loaues and Fishes to the feeding of thousands p 1.176; hee can increase the little Oyle in the Cruize q 1.177, and the Meale in the Barrell, to the poore widdowes, to the susten∣tation of their families, and the paying of their Creditors, to whom they are indebted, 2 Kings 4.2.3.* 1.178 Hee can make Daniel and his three Companions, prosper, looke and like as vvell with pease and pulse to eate, and water to drinke: nay, to be fayrer and better liking for three yeeres together, then those Children that eate meate of the Kings portion, and dranke of the Kings Wine, Dan. 1.12.13.••4.15. As it is all one for the Lord to saue with many or with few, 1 Sam. 14.6. to ouer∣throw whole Armies with a few Water-lap∣pers r 1.179, with a Warriour and his Armour-bearer s 1.180, by a Boy, or a Shepheard t 1.181; yea, to slay a thousand with the law of an Asse, in the hand of a strong man u 1.182, so it is all one vvith him to feede and to foster thee with this por∣tion or that, with course meates or cates, to sustaine and maintaine thee and thine vvith great meanes, weake meanes, small meanes, no meanes, or contrarie to all meanes: how many (if we beleeue Histories and experience)

both in sieges of Cities by land, and in stormes and extremities by Sea, haue beene preserued for a long time, euen with such meates as nice and daintie stomackes would lothe and detest vnlesse hunger were the Cooke; as the flesh of Horses, milke of Mares, Frogs, Mice, Rats; nay greene Hearbes, Plants, Grasse, and Lea∣ther of shooes. What small portion of bread hath glewed and holden the life and spirit to∣gether, for many dayes together; yea, euen Tobacco it selfe, that much vsed, abused Plant, I haue wondered to heare Marriners relate?

It were much that a Daughter should nou∣rish her Father, by opportunities to visit him in prison, such a time, by yeelding her onely breasts to be suckt by him, that the expecta∣tions of all those that commanded hee should be famished to death, were frustrate, (if the Authors may be credited) vnlesse that Gods helpe were able to blesse small meanes aboue humane hopes. Euen the crummes will suf∣fice Lazarus; neyther doe I thinke that hee dyed of famine, but eyther naturally, or by the violence of his diseases: I am perswaded God prouided both crummes and crusts for him else-where (if there were such a Lazarus histo∣rically, as the most thinke; and not Paraboli∣cally as Salmeron and others discusse,) so will the Lord prouide for thee.

13 The best of Gods Children haue beene as poore as thou now art; euen Christ the Son of God by naturex 1.183, heyre of the earthy 1.184, and of the nationsz 1.185, whose al things area 1.186, was here on earth poore. So was Iob, Iob 1.15.16. so Elias, 1 Kin. 17.11. begging a piece of bread; the Apostle Paul and Peter, and the rest of the Disciples, poore Fishermen, wanting siluer and gold, Acts 3.6. So were there in euery place poore Saints, as in Macedonia, in Ierusa••em, and else-where, in the Apostles Ministerie, 1 Cor. 4.11. So from time to time, the most excellent of the Saints, such as wa••ted for the comming of Christ, that they might receiue a better resurrection, vvere without house and harbour, meanes and muni∣tion,* 1.187 Tossed to and fro, wandring vp and downe in sheepe skins and g••ate skins, being destitute, affli∣cted, tormented▪ Heb. 10.24. Heb. 11 35.36.37. To which, besides these before and in the Apo∣stles times, wee might adde those and many millions recorded by Eusebius, the Tripartite Historie, and the Centuries: of such that were in the same case, in the persecution, eyther of heathenish or hereticall Emperours; chiefe∣ly by Ar••ians, amongst whom were Athaena∣sius and Chrysostome in their time, as also those that were spoyled by the Gothes and Vandals. What neede I mention Dauid,* 1.188 that was almost famished, till hee ate the Shew-bread? so the stocke of Dauid, Ioseph and Mary, the mother

of Christ, whose offerings of Turtle-Doues, for want of better sacrifices, shewed they were not richb 1.189, yet the Lord supplied their wants to carry Christ into Aegypt, by sending the Wise-men of the East, with gold vnto them, Mat. 2. euen as the Lord will supply thy wants vpon the like occasions, for his glory and thy good: or if thou liue poorely, or dye in debt, as many of the Lords seruants haue done; yet, if thou haue Christ and the riches of his mercies by faith, thou art rich enough, liuing and dying.

Obiect. But this perhaps troubles thee, that thou hast beene in a good estate, and art now declining, and at the lowest ebbe.

Ans. Since this is a burthen, it is a miserie to haue beene happy, yet euen the very Philoso∣phers, as Seneca and others, besides Petrarcke, haue prescribed comforts in this crosse: but the word hath balme plenty for this sore; the Saints haue tryed the like, as did Iob whose plentie ebd to pouertie, Iob 1. & 2. and did flow againe to plenty, Iob 42. So the Disciples of Christ were indifferent prosperous, till Christs death, after which they vvere in stormes, Luke 22.35.36. So Ieremy for eighteene yeeres had comforts in his Ministry, but, after, whips, imprisonments, and pouertie: thou art not exempted from drinking of these cups, neyther needest thou feare to pledge the Saints.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ier. 31.16.
• a 1.2

  Crimina doluit, non exitis filio∣rum Amb.
• b 1.3

  Stan••em lego, stentem non lego. Ambr. in orat. suneb.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 5.
• * 1.5

  Luk 12.3••.
• * 1.6

  Augustine. Prosper.
• c 1.7

  Heb. 11.9 10. Cha. 13.14.
• d 1.8

  Gen 47 9.
• e 1.9

  Psal. 39.14.
• * 1.10

  Amici mortui non amissi sed praemissi. Bern.
• f 1.11

  Iohn 11.11.
• g 1.12

  Verse 2••.
• h 1.13

  1 Cor. 2.9.
• i 1.14

  Mat. 25.46. Iohn 3.16.36. 1 Thes. 4.17 2 Tim. 2.10 2 Cor 4.17.
• k 1.15

  2 Sam. 12 23
• l 1.16

  Gen. 2.23
• m 1.17

  Mat. 17.4.
• n 1.18

  Gen. 46.29.30.
• * 1.19

  Mors non interitus sed introitus, non obitus sed abitus.
• o 1.20

  Rom. 7.14
• p 1.21

  Gen. 37.28.
• q 1.22

  Rom. 6 23
• r 1.23

  Gen. 3.16.17.18.19.
• s 1.24

  Lu. 16.25
• * 1.25

  Iudg. 1.7.8.9.
• t 1.26

  Gen 3.19. Heb. 9. vlt.
• u 1.27

  Pro. 26.6. Quod gene∣ratur cor∣rumpitur. Quod oritur moritur. Seriu•• aut citius me∣tam prope∣ramus ad vnam.
• * 1.28

  Solamen misoris so∣cios habuisse doloris.
• * 1.29

  1 Cor. 7.16.
• x 1.30

  Ioel 2.12 13. v. 17.
• y 1.31

  1 Sam 7.6 Esay 38.3. Mark 9 24 Mat. 26.75 Luke 7.
• z 1.32

  2 Cor. 7.10.11.
• a 1.33

  Luke 8.21
• b 1.34

  1 Sam. 30 6.
• c 1.35

  Mat. 10 37.38.39.
• d 1.36

  Deus meus & omnia.
• e 1.37

  Psal. 18.1.
• f 1.38

  Exod. 20.
• g 1.39

  Pro. 4.23
• h 1.40

  Gen. 29.30. Ch. 35. v. 18
• i 1.41

  Gen. 37.4 v. 23.24. Ch. 39.
• k 1.42

  1 Kin. 1.6
• l 1.43

  2 Sam. 12.3.
• m 1.44

  Ier. 31.16.
• n 1.45

  Luke 8.59
• o 1.46

  Luke 7.13.
• p 1.47

  Luke 23.28.
• q 1.48

  Acts 14. v. 12.13.14.15. Apoc 19.10 Reu. 14.7. Acts 10.25.26.
• r 1.49

  Gen 50. v 3. v. 10.
• s 1.50

  Gen. 23.2.
• t 1.51

  Deut. 34.8
• u 1.52

  Numb. 20 29.
• x 1.53

  2 Chron. 35.24.
• y 1.54

  1 Sam. 25 1.
• z 1.55

  2 Sam. ••8.33.
• a 1.56

  2 Sam. 1.11.12.
• b 1.57

  Numb. 16 33.
• c 1.58

  Acts 1.25
• d 1.59

  2 Sam. 18 33.
• a 1.60

  Exod. 7. Exod. 8.
• b 1.61

  1 Sam 5.9
• c 1.62

  Esay 38.
• * 1.63

  Eph. 2.4. Exod. 34.6 Ioel 2.13. Ionas 4.2. Heb. 12.7. 1 Cor. 10.
• d 1.64

  Ioh. 5.14.
• c 1.65

  Psal. 30.6.
• f 1.66

  Numb. 16 49
• g 1.67

  Numb. 24 3.12.
• h 1.68

  Exod. ch 8 Ch. 9. Ch. 10 Ch. 12 & 14
• i 1.69

  1 Sam. 5.9.
• k 1.70

  2 Chron. 26.19.
• l 1.71

  2 Kin. 5.27
• m 1.72

  1 Sam. 6 19.
• n 1.73

  1 Cor. 11.36.
• o 1.74

  2 Chr. 16.10.11.12.
• p 1.75

  Sueton.
• q 1.76

  Spart. lib. 2. c. 12,
• r 1.77

  Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 3.
• s 1.78

  Ruffinus, Niceph. &c.
• t 1.79

  2 Sam. 24.
• u 1.80

  Numb. 23 21.
• x 1.81

  Ps. 32.1.2
• y 1.82

  2 Sam. 12.10.11.
• z 1.83

  Iosh. 7.24
• a 1.84

  Ion 1.15.
• b 1.85

  Zeph. 2 1.
• c 1.86

  Mat. 26.
• d 1.87

  Esay 38.3
• e 1.88

  Iohn 14.2.3.
• f 1.89

  Mum. 21. Iohn 3.14.15.
• g 1.90

  Esa. 38.21 22.
• * 1.91

  Luk. 8.43.44.
• * 1.92

  Luke 13.11.12.13.
• * 1.93

  Iohn 5.5.6.7.8.
• * 1.94

  Acts 3.2. v. 6.
• * 1.95

  Acts 14. v. 8.
• * 1.96

  Iohn 9. v. 6.7.
• * 1.97

  Mat. 9. •• 29.
• * 1.98

  Psal 22. Esay 53.
• * 1.99

  Non debent sub spinoso capite mem∣brae esse mol∣lia.
• * 1.100

  Gen 3.18.19.
• * 1.101

  Quod medi∣cina corpo∣ri, hoc mor∣bus animae.
• a 1.102

  Heb. 12.
• b 1.103

  Luke 15.
• c 1.104

  Ier. 5.8.
• d 1.105

  Prou. 7.7.
• e 1.106

  Verse 22.
• f 1.107

  Verse 27.
• g 1.108

  Ezek. 16.
• h 1.109

  Pro. 23.29
• i 1.110

  Esay 5.11
• k 1.111

  Mat. 26.15.
• l 1.112

  Pro. 21.17
• * 1.113

  Iohn 9.3.
• m 1.114

  Esay 38.9.10. &c.
• n 1.115

  2 Kings 5.15. Iohn 9.17. Mat. 8. Luk. 17.16
• * 1.116

  Mat. 22.
• a 1.117

  Iob 5.13.14.15.16.17.26.27.
• * 1.118

  See Psal. 22.6.7.8.12.13.14. Psal. 69.21.22. applyed to Christ.
• b 1.119

  Luke 22.57.58.
• c 1.120

  Gen. 9.22
• * 1.121

  2 Sam. 6.20.
• g 1.122

  Psal. 9.10 Psal. 51.17
• h 1.123

  I••sh. 1.5. Heb. 13.6.
• i 1.124

  Luke 22.43.46.
• k 1.125

  Mat. 4.11
• l 1.126

  Iohn 18.5
• m 1.127

  Act. 1.16 & v. 25.
• n 1.128

  Psal. 41.9 Ioh. 13.18.
• o 1.129

  Gen. 40.23.
• a 1.130

  Gen. 47.27
• b 1.131

  Mat. 25.33.34.
• * 1.132

  Psal 37.3. v. 18.19.
• * 1.133

  Ponder well, Psal. 49.6.7.8.9.11.12.13.14. & 19.20. reade it all and apply it: so Iob chap. 5.
• * 1.134

  Esay 1.4.
• * 1.135

  Vide Chri∣sost hom. de Diuite & Lazaro, 4 & hom. 13. in 2 Cor.
• a 1.136

  Psal. 37.17
• b 1.137

  Rom. 8.28
• * 1.138

  Mat. 25.
• c 1.139

  Esay 1.13 14 Ier 7.10.11 Prou. 28.9 Psal. 51.16 vor. 7.
• d 1.140

  Gen. 4.5.
• f 1.141

  E••od. 17.3.4.5.6.
• g 1.142

  Iudg. 15.18.19.
• h 1.143

  Psal. 8.6.7.8.
• i 1.144

  Reuel. 3.17.18.
• k 1.145

  Iohn 6.48 58
• l 1.146

  Iohn 4.14.
• m 1.147

  Luke 12.32
• n 1.148

  Rom. 8.17
• o 1.149

  Iam. 2.6.
• * 1.150

  Animus est, qui bene im∣perat ma∣trimonio & virginitate. Chrys.
• p 1.151

  Osea 13.6 Prou. 30.8
• q 1.152

  1 Kin. 2 1.
• r 1.153

  Eph. 5.5. Col. 3.5. 1 Tim. 6.17
• s 1.154

  Lu. 7 8.14
• t 1.155

  1 Tim. 6.9
• v 1.156

  Mat. 19.23.24.
• x 1.157

  Ioh. 12.8.
• y 1.158

  Eccl. 11.1 Luke 14.12
• z 1.159

  Mat. 19.21.22.
• a 1.160

  Mat. 4.20 21.22.23.24.
• b 1.161

  Mat. 25.14. &c. 29.30. Luk. 19.12 13. &c.
• * 1.162

  Prou. 10.3.
• c 1.163

  Ps. 113.7
• d 1.164

  Gen. 41.14.
• e 1.165

  Gen. 43.1 Chap. 47.11
• f 1.166

  Psal. 105 16 17.18.
• g 1.167

  Ver. 39.40
• h 1.168

  Marke 6.35.42.
• i 1.169

  Iohn 21.9
• k 1.170

  Ioh. 13.26
• l 1.171

  Exod. 16 15
• m 1.172

  Exod. 17 6.
• n 1.173

  Iudg. 15.19.
• o 1.174

  1 King. 17 6. Ch. 19.5.6.
• * 1.175

  Deut. 8.3.
• p 1.176

  Marke 6. Luke 9.13.
• q 1.177

  1 King. 17 14.
• * 1.178

  Dan. 1.12.13.
• r 1.179

  Iudg. 7.5.6.
• s 1.180

  1 Sam. 14 13 14.
• t 1.181

  1 Sam. 17 50
• u 1.182

  Iudg. 15.15
• x 1.183

  Heb. 1.1.
• y 1.184

  Verse 2.
• z 1.185

  Psal. 2.8.
• a 1.186

  Psa. 50 10
• * 1.187

  Heb. 10 34
• * 1.188

  1 Sam. 21.3.4.
• b 1.189

  Luk. 2.24