A poore mans rest founded vpon motiues, meditations, and prayers. Expressing to the inward man, true consolation. In all kindes and times of afflication. By Io. Norden.

A sweet Meditation concerning the knowledge and prouidence of God, where∣by the soules of the distressed members of Christ, are so quickened through faith in Christ, that they rest assured, that God hauing foreseene all things, cannot but in mercy, bring all their sorrowes to a ioyfull and wished end.

IT is in vaine I sée, for me a wretch∣ed creature, to striue with my power∣full Creator. If I should séeme to bide me from him, and to séeke to es∣cape his rod and corrections, he being alwayes solitary, I doe but deceiue my selfe, for he is in all places, and with all persons, and knoweth the wayes of men, & searcheth the hidden thoughts within, and soeth mine actions with∣out: the workes of his children hée séeth and approueth, the euill actions of the reprobates hée séeth and con∣demneth: yea, this righteous God tryeth the very hearts and reynes: he findes out the hidden dissimulation of

hypocrites, pretend they neuer so great denotion and sanctity. Should I therefore thinke to colour my sinnes with the painted shew of dissimulate holinesse, could I performe it so farre, as men might approue of all my say∣ings, and allow all my doings, and that I were held iust? No, no: for if my inner parts be not perfect, hée in his most absolute knowledge findeth me a deceiuer, and so will make mine euils at the last breake out as the mor∣ning light.

O my soule therefore, as thou ten∣derest thy saluation to come, and my comfort here in this life, leaue off to sinne in secret, and flie al shewes of im∣piety, and regard truth, and imbrace iustice, and follow good, euen with thy most inward affection: and let neither my hand, nor mine eye, nor mine eare, nor my tongue be instruments of ini∣quity, but rather of sincere piety, and of a sanctified life.

The cause of misery is sin, the way to obtaine mercy is repentance, and a reformed conuersation.

How canst thou looke for loue, that louest not to liue well? and how canst thou liue, and not lacke many, yea, all

Gods blessings inward and outward, vnlesse thou loue him, and reforme thy selfe before him, that séeth thy loose be∣hauiour towards him?

Thou art in outward pouerty, be∣cause thou art full of inward impiety: thou hast many enemies, because thou art enemy to God: and thy dangers encrease daily, because thou dwel∣lest not in God, nor Gods Spirit in thée.

Thou sayest thou art Gods, and yet vngodly: thou sayest, thou fearest him: and yet thou still offendest him: thou thinkest thou shouldest receiue what good thou destrest, and yet thou destrest amisse, and deseruest euill.

God knoweth who are his, and who are not his: and none know they are Gods, but who know God, and serue him rightly. The righteous onely he knoweth, and their wants, and the vn∣righteous he despiseth because of their sins, wherein they say, Tush, the Lord will not regard it.

O Lord, thou séest and beholdest, thou findest out and considerest all mens wayes: mischiefe and wrong, equity and iustice are before thée, and thou takest the causes of men into

thy hands, and thou giuest iust iudge∣ment, because thou onely knowest the truth of euery mans cause.

The poore commit themselues to this God that knoweth them, to this God that séeth them, and to this God that pittieth them, and prouideth for them.

The Lord looketh downe from hea∣uen vpon all men, such is the force of his knowledge, that hée knoweth in man, more then the heart of man it selfe: for he fashioneth the heart, and vnderstandeth all my thoughts long before they be conceiued within me.

And therefore, my soule, prepare thée to patience, addresse thée to praise God, and continue in prayer, be not idle to meditate good things, that the Lords goodnes may be thy goodnesse, that his loue may be thy life, and his prouidence thy protection: for as hée knoweth thy going, and marketh well thy wandring, when thy féele follow value things, and fatherly correcteth thée for them: so doth hée behold thy teares, and heareth thy groanes, which thou makest for sinne committed a∣gainst him, and healeth thée, and com∣forteth thée. Yet all things are so hid∣den

in the treasure-house of his proui∣dence, that the naturall man séeth not the meanes how to be cured when hée is sicke, how to be raised againe being brought low, how to be defended hau∣ing many mighty enemies: But the Spirit of God discerneth, and as he is God, knowing all things done, so he is a God, fore-séeing al things to be done hereafter.

And hée séeing mée in my mothers wombe before I was any thing, or dai∣ned for me then, what I receiue now, & therefore my hope must not faile, but take hold of his ancient loue, wherein hée first created me to liue in him, and by him: and therfore, Oh, that I might be able truely to serue him, that hée might louingly relieue me still, that I might faithfully obey him, that hee might fatherly helpe me still.

He is the good shepheard: Oh that I were a good shéepe of his pasture: hee féedeth, and guideth, and holdeth vp and comforteth, and maintaineth all that are his: hée looseth none that are his, he confoundeth none that are his, neither doth he forsake any of his vnto the end.

Within his fold is his fauour, and

in his fauour is life, and in that life is liberty, and in that liberty is reliefe, and in that reliefe true peace, and in that peace the assurance of saluation, and in that assurance, the ioy and com∣fort of the Spirit, whereby euery out∣ward vnsauory thing is made inward∣ly swéet: euery crosse hath his comfort, and euery tryall, and temptation, and sorrow, and griefe, is turned to the vn∣speakable good of the shéepe of his pa∣sture.

Therefore, O my soule, sigh no more, sorrow no more, be no more pensiue at outward pouerty, fret no more at the worlds miseries, dismay no more for thy many sinnes, but striue to stand in the fauour of this God, and he will set thée frée, and banish thy feare, and fill thy Cup, and féede thée with the hid treasures of his neuer-failing loue.

O Lord increase my Faith.

God knoweth the hearts of all men,

Acts 1. 24. & 15. 8.

The foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seale: The Lord

knoweth who are his: and let euery one that calleth on the Name of the Lord, depart from iniquity,

2 Tim. 2. vers. 19.

Thou hast counted my wandrings, and put my teares into thy bottle;

Psal. 56. 8.