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.

Meditations.

A most diuine and comfortable Meditation, con∣cerning the Maiesty, and Power, and Loue of God, whereby men distressed, and in continuall dangers, may be stirred vp the more assuredly, to depend on him, for their deliuery and reliefe, though it come not suddenly.

WHy shouldest thou feare or faint, O my poore soule, though yet thou finde no more rest then the Doue, that could finde no place to set her foot on? Be yet comforted, for the Lord hée is God, and hee tur∣neth all things to good, to them that are his.

Thou hast long sighed and beway∣led thy miseries, and yet thou art as Ioseph, stil in prison: but looke not vpon the weake meanes of flesh and bloud, to be fréed: looke not vpon the staffe of

Egypt, the bruised Réede of carnall aide to be stayed by: they are but false allu∣rings, to draw thée from the swéet con∣templation of the admirable works of the worker of all good, the Lord of hostes, besides whom there is no God. He sitteth in glory in the Heauens, and hath cloathed himselfe with Maiesty. It is he that maketh all knées to bow, and forceth Kings to stoope, and dri∣ueth away the armies of his most mighty enemies.

Hée is the hope, and strength, and helpe, and refuge, and rescue, and re∣liefe of them that trust in him: and hée is not curious or coy, as man that worketh for money: hée doth not good for good againe, but all in loue, all in mercy, fréely, and wanting no power to bring to passe what hée will: either in mercy to his children, or in iudgement against his enemies.

For the heauens are his seate, the earth is his foot▪ stoole, the Angels are his ministers, and all creatures serue him, and that for man onely. I will not then dismay, though I cry yet, and be not yet heard: there is an ap∣pointed time, and there is an appoin∣ted meane in his prouidence already

decréed in my behalfe, I know well by his promises, which are Yea and Amen.

Therefore be yet patient, O my soule: trust yet, O my soule: stand fast, and this God, yea, this high and glorious God, this great and terrible God, will be thy kéeper, thy Sauiour and protec∣tor euermore.

Hée is an immaculate God, a God pure, perfect, & holy: feare him there∣fore. O my soule; for as hée is cleane, he will haue thée cleansed from all im∣piety, hée will haue thée beautified with sanctity and holinesse, as hée is holy: no euill dwelleth in him, sinne must not remaine with thée, flye there∣fore all impiety, and embrace the righteousnesse of Christ, who will put on thée his robe of righteousnesse, and thou shalt be perfect. And this God then shall be with thée, this God, I say, shall be thy refuge for euermore.

Though he sit in the high heauens, not séene with the eye of flesh, nor can be reached vnto by the hand of natural reason, yet he commandeth all, & doth euen what he will, both in heauen and in earth.

So powerfull he is, so magnificent, and so absolute in power, that at his

word the earth trembleth, the moun∣taines moue, and in his displeasure he killeth euen Kings for his righteous childrens sakes.

The heauens aboue doe shew the glory of this God, and the artificiall frame of the firmament, the glistering Stars therein, the Sun and Moone, and their due courses vnchangeable throughout all ages, and the beauti∣full ornaments of the earth beneath, do approue the admirable workes of his hands.

His voyce is a mighty voyce: for he speaketh, and it is heard from one end of the world to another: his voyce is a terrible voyce, at which all powers, Princes, & Potentates doe tremble.

That mighty Nebuchadnezzar at his voyce, was thrust forth into the field among the wilde Beasts, from his Throne: and Dauid from the wilder∣nesse, called backe to sit in the seate of honour: by him was Haman hanged, and Mordecay deliuered, Susanna clea∣red, and the Iudges stoned.

Euery Kingdome is this great Gods, and hée raigneth ouer all Nati∣ons: hée controlleth, and is not con∣trolled: he ••••iteth, and is not resisted:

thée aduanceth, and none can throw them downe.

O my Soule, feare, and serue, and loue, and reuerence, & obey this great God, this Lord high and terrible, that approueth himselfe a King ouer all the earth, being guarded with such in∣uincible power and maiesty, that hée can strike Saul to the ground with his terrible voyce, and againe raise Saul with a louing and kinde hand.

O Lord, how terrible art thou in thy works? Through the infinite great∣nesse of thy power, thou hast made all things, and preseruest all men: inso∣much as all such as séeme to deny thée, thy power and prouidence, the fooles that say in their harts, there is no God, are made mute, and put to silence, and both their will and their practises made all subiect vnto thy will and pleasure.

What then? shall I rest amazed at the friuolous inuentions of fleshly men, that séeme by their owne power to build themselues Babels on earth, working terrour to the poore by their pride, and practice impiety without any remorse of conscience?

No, I will kéepe silence, and nei∣ther mine owne wants, nor sorrowes,

nor dangers, nor the worlds ignomi∣nious taunts at my base estate, shall wrest me from this glorious God, from this powerfull Iehouah, from this so louing and kinde a father: that feareth not the strength and forces of millions of Kings, but shieldeth and defendeth his by his mighty hand, and kéepeth them safe in the flaming fire, in the ra∣ging seas, and in the strength of the Lyons pawes.

Let this God, I say, arise and chase his enemies, and cherish his little ones, and pull downe the proud, and set vp the simple, and scatter the wicked, that they dwel not beyond his time appoin∣ted to tyrannize ouer his chosen vpon the earth.

The Chariots of this God are twen∣ty thousand Angels, the Lord himselfe being among them the generall worker of all good for all his, and of all iudge∣ment against the vniust.

All the gods that are estéemed as Gods among men, are but Idols, but the Lord he is God, that hath couered himselfe with light, as with a gar∣ment, whereby hée discouereth all darkenesse, infidelity, disobedience and sinne: he findeth out the faithlesse,

howsoeuer they dissemble zeale, and approueth them not most godly, that are most glorious, nor them reprobates that the world reiecteth: but through the light of his most high wisdome and prouidence, he yéeldeth to euery one his owne: to him that doth well, life, and reliefe, and succour, and patience, and rest, and peace: but vnto the wicked, sorrow, and anguish, and tribulations, and a worme euer deuouring, in per∣petuall horror in hell fire.

O my soule, be therefore patient in these transitory troubles, in these mo∣mentany afflictions: stand fast, faint not, feare not, flie not, but féed on hope; for a strong helpe commeth, & for this smal suffering, thou shalt receiue a per∣petuall and most admirable waight of glory.

O my soule, now consider: whom hast thou in heauen but this God? or whom, or what desirest thou in earth in comparison of him? for hée is the portion of thine inheritance, he filleth the cup of saluation vnto thée for euer: therefore I feare not, neither will I faint, for this God hath promised, nei∣ther to faile me, nor forsake me.

There is none like vnto God, Oh righteous people, which rideth vpon the heauens for thy helpe, and on the clouds in his glory.

The eternall God is thy refuge, and vnder his arme thou art for euer: he shall cast out the enemy before thee, and will say, Destroy them, Deutero∣nomy 33. 26. 27.

O the deepnesse of the riches, both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his Iudge∣ments, and his wayes past finding out! Rom. 11. 33.

Of him, and through him, and for him, are all things: to him be glory for euer, Amen. Vers. 36.

They inherited not the Land by their owne sword, neither did their owne arme saue them: but thy right hand and thine arme, and the light of thy countenance, because thou didst fauour them, Psal. 44. 3.

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.

A Godly Meditation of the Word of God, whereby men di∣stressed, may be strongly resolued to cast off all feare, and to cast all their care on God, that careth for them, according to his promise in his Word.

OH, what am I, that I should con∣ceiue of any happinesse, or glory, or ioy, or comfort to be giuen mee, either in this earth below, or in the heauens aboue? for I am a man of corrupt conuersation, my heart is fraught within mée with corruption, my soule is defiled, and my whole man polluted. Is it not therefore my iust portion to

haue here misery, and calamity, and crosses, and enemies, and euils innu∣merable, to follow me for my sinne, and to vexe me for mine iniquities? so hath the Lord threatned in his word.

Most true it is, that right it were, that I should receiue these vnsauoury things of this life, and to be depriued of the Land of them that liue for euer, if I should receiue according to my deseruings: for death is due for sinne, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer me from this danger of death, that shall neuer haue end!

Surely, when I looke into this book of mine owne wayes, and workes, and wantonnes, and wicked life, I sée no∣thing but danger, and feare, and sor∣row, and death it selfe, written there∣in: how then, my poore soule, vnhappy soule, wretched soule, how canst thou escape? oh, tremble and feare: for i•• thou finde not fauour, thou are fallen for euer, and for euer forlorne.

Where then wilt thou séeke for succour? to whom wilt thou flye for grace? to the weake, and wicked, and wofull World, or wanton worldlings? No, my Soule, flye from these feeble friends, and looke into, and consider,

and beléeue, and imbrace the Word of God: taste that Bread of life, drinke of that Fountaine that floweth from the liuely Spirit of truth, & thou shalt liue. It is a pure Word, and will purifie thée: it is a liuely Word, and will re∣uiue thée: the Word of truth, and will teach thée: the Word of comfort, and will recomfort thée.

O my soule, what thing is so preci∣ous as this Word, that bringeth the glad tidings of thy saluation, thou de∣seruing damnation? of Life, thou de∣seruing death? of Comfort, thou deser∣uing confusion? and of mercy endlesse, thou deseruing miseries infinite?

It is a Word full of consolation, to such as are sorry for their sinnes, and séeke after righteousnesse: a Word of terror to the obstinate: it is a killing sword vnto the wicked, and sauing shield vnto Gods children: the sauour of Life vnto life, to them that are his: and the sauour of Death vnto death, to the wicked. It is more to be desired, then the purest gold, or swéetest hony: Come vnto me (saith this Word) and I will refresh you. Seeke (saith this Word) and you shall finde rest for your soules.

O my Soule, here then to thy rest, here is thy safety, and here is thy sacie∣ty, and here is thy life and liberty, and here shalt thou dwell as vpon the Mountaine of Peace, vpon the Rocke of Reliefe, and Hill of continu∣all Helpe.

This is the Staffe to stay thée by, this is the Weapon to defend thee with, this is the Way to walke in, and this is the Foode to relieue thée withall.

Oh, reioyce therefore in the Lord, O my soule, because of his Word, by which he assureth thée of health, if thou be sicke: of comfort, when thou art sad: of defence, when thou art in danger: and of his presence, when thou séemest to be left alone, forsaken of all.

By his Word, hée saith, Come: by thine obedience, say, Lord, I come: delay not to cast away the superfluous eare of carnall things, and séeke things spirituall and heauenly.

By his Word, he saith, Seeke first the Kingdome of God: answere thou, by a detestation of the World and worldly vanitie, Lord, thy Kingdome I seeke: séeke then this heauenly Inheritance, more to be wished then the Land, and

Reuenewes, and Riches, and glory of the greatest earthly subiect, who hath but the casuall, and vaine, and slippe∣ry things of this World, that leaue him, and wée leaue them: but, loe, a Kingdome is prouided in Heauen for the poorest Childe of God. Séeke this Kingdome, O my Soule, euen while thou art here in this vast Wildernesse of this Worlds miseries: for when thou hast suffered, thou shalt receiue glory: and when thou hast fought that good fight, thou shalt be crowned: and when thou leauest these things so vile, and vaine, and loathsome below, thou shalt enioy things glorious and swéet, and full of ioy and consolation aboue: when thou hast left the society and fel∣lowship of men below, thou shalt ac∣company Angels aboue: and when thou hast made an end of sighing, and grieuing, and groning, vnder the bur∣then of tyrannous men here, thou shalt sing praise and glory to this glorious God aboue, who hath sent thée his Wordhere in thy mortality, to com∣fort thée with the swéet contemplation of thine immortality.

Oh, then let this be thy daily medi∣tation, let this be thy continuall exer∣cise,

that in want and weaknesse, in sor∣row, and ignominy, and misery, and crosses, and temptations, and in al tri∣als whatsoeuer, thou mayest duely weigh, how thou maiest be assured, that none of these shall hurt thée: for, loe, euen this glorious, and swéet, and most ioyfull word telleth thée from thy lo∣uing Redéemer; My grace is sufficient for thee.

O swéet word of truth, yea of truth: for hée speaketh and performeth: his grace is sufficient: what then shall I feare? If his fauour be not further off but alwaies at hand, what shal I scare? if it be sufficient, what can resist it? no∣thing but sinne: nay, his grace is suf∣ficient to kill sinne: then nothing can stand betwéene me and this Kingdome of God, if I flye vnto this Word, if I kéepe this Word, and meditate this Word, & bring forth the fruits of this Word: then this Word will further assure me, that this good God, this powerfull, prouident, and louing God, will neuer faile me, nor forsake me.

O Lord increase my Faith.

The word of God is liuely, and mighty in operation, and sharper then any two-edged Sword, and entreth thorow, euen vnto the diuiding a sun∣der of the Soule and the Spirit, and of the ioynts and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts, and the in∣tents of the heart,

Heb. 4. 12.

The word of God is our delight in affliction, And giueth wisdome to the simple.

Psal. 119. 130.

As new borne Babes desire the sin∣cere milke of the Word, that ye may grow thereby,

1 Pet. 2. 2.

Let not the booke of the Law de∣part out of thy mo••th, but meditate therein day and night, that thou maist obserue, and doe according to all that is written therein: for then shalt thou make thy wayes prosperous, and haue good successe,

Ioshua 1. 8.

A Meditation, concerning the ••enefit of Faith in God, and how it holdeth the Children of God from falling from him, in their deepest miseries.

OWretch that I am, where is my hope? where is my helpe? where is my rest? where is my assu∣rance of saluation, or helpe in my troubles?

I haue a forcible and strong Law in mine owne carnall wisedome, that to trust in Man, to put confidence in Wealth, and to flye vnto the reliefe of mine owne deuices, mine owne waies and workes auaile mee more then all other meanes, that else-where I may séeke.

O Foole that I am! O silly Sot, and wretch most féeble, what can I do, or speake, or worke, or deuise to bring to passe, the least good thing to comfort me withall?

Mine heart is corrupt, my conuer∣sation euill, my tongue vnholy, and all parts of my body vnp•…•…: can I then

hope of any helpe, or worke any good, or deuise any course to comfort 〈◊〉〈◊〉?

No, I disdaine all mine own ••aies, and workes, and wisedome, and incl••∣me wholy vnto the counsell of the most high, and hée will instruct mée, I will trust in him, and hée will helpe mée: I will flie to him, and he will receiue me: I will pray to him, and hée will heare me: I will fall downe yet againe, yea, againe, and againe, before him, and he will take me vp.

Shrinke not therefore, O my soule, nor be ouer-sad at these my miseries: be not afraid at the Worlds iniuries; saint not at the furie of the eu••il and malicious men, for thou hast an helper in heauen, in whom whosoeuer trust∣eth, shall reioyce: & whom whosoeuer feareth, shall stand fast; & whom who∣soeuer truely séeketh, shall preuatle in his desires, & shall triumph euermore▪

O my soule, set the Lord alwaies be∣fore thée, for hée alwayes is néere thée Let me not thinke that he séeth not my wayes and my walkings, as if he were a God, that considered not the actions of men.

Hée is at my right hand, and on my left hand; hée is before me and behinde

me; he compasseth me about on al sides, and findeth me out in my secret intenti∣ons, & his wayes are onely perfect and 〈◊〉〈◊〉; his Word 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 capacity of wisest men. In this God I trust: in this Word I beléeue: in this Wisdome I repose my hope: and as he hath pro∣mised, it shall come to passe; and as is fittest I shall receiue.

And therefore I will not dismay, I wil not be discouraged at my miseries; no, if I should passe through the ••al∣ley of the shadow of Death, I will not feare; for my God attendeth mée, and is in all things, at all places, and at all times with mée; and though he correct me with his rod, he vpholdeth me, and comforteth mée with his pre∣uayling hand.

None, that trusteth in God, shall be put to shame; not one that putteth his confidence in him, and embraceth his Word, & obeyeth his Will, and wal∣keth in his Wayes, shall be confounded for euer.

He is my light, and he directeth me, he is my helpe, and he sustaineth mée, he is my rest and mysaluation, whom then, or what néede I to feare?

O my soule, I should haue fainted in ••••se importable miseries, and conti∣sée the goodne•…•… did not beléeue to life; if I were not assured to taste of his blessings, before I goe hence, and b•• no more séene:

And I finde his fauour, and his mer∣cy, and his power, and his prouidence, and his infinite blessings, both within me and without me daily; yea, he is my strength and my shield, hee is my defence in trouble, and my portion, and my saluation. O my soule, trust in him, and thou shalt be fed, and shalt haue cause to reioyce in him, and to sing prai∣ses vnto his name: for trusting in him, his mercy shall compasse me about, and comfort mee with ioyfull deliuerance, yea, none that trusteth in him shall perish.

The eyes of the Lord are vpon them that trust in him: trust in him, O my soule; then shalt thou say, I sought the Lord, and hee heard mee, and deliue∣red mee, and relieued mee, and defended mee, and brought mee out of all my dan∣gers.

O how good and how gracious is this God, who sendeth his Angels to

encampe about such as truely trust 〈◊〉〈◊〉. him, that no perill, or feare, or crosse, or temptation hurt them! Blessed are they that trust in him.

Feare the Lord, O my soule, trust in him, cry vnto him, cease not to doe good, be not weary of well doing; for nothing wanteth to them that feare him. Delight thy selfe in the Lord, and he shall giue thee thy hearts desire: com∣mit thy vvay vnto the Lord, and trust in him, and he shall bring all things to good end for thee.

Waite patiently vpon the Lord, hope in him; feare not, though the earth be moued, and though trouble inuiron thée round about, for the Lord out of heauen shall send and saue thée, and shall not suffer thée to perish al∣together.

O God, remember thy promises, how thou hast said, thou wilt not faile mée. I beléeue it, Lord; Lord, helpe mine vnbeliefe.

Upon thée I haue béene stayed from my youth, and it is onely of thy mer∣cy, that I had not béene confounded long agone: for of my selfe I haue fallen, but thou (Lord) hast raised me; of my selfe I perish, but through

thée I haue béene euer preserued.

Consider this, O my soule, and for∣get not the benefits of the Lord, how hée hath made thée as Mount Sion, that can neuer be moued.

Let neither pouerty, or sicknesse, or losse, or enemies, or any crosses, or whatsoeuer troubles, driue thée from trust in this God: and assure thée, that neither life, nor death, nor things pre∣sent, nor things to come, shall dismay thée: his mercies, and goodnesse, and blessings, and fauour, & loue shall fol∣low thée, and féede thée, and relieue thée, and protect thée, and saue thée from all dangers for eue••.

O Lord increase my Faith.

Faith is the ground of things which are hoped for, & the euidence of things that are not seene,

Heb. 11. 1.

Aboue all, take the shield of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,

Ephes 6. ver. 16.

I beleeued, and therefore I spake,

Psal. 116. 10.

They that trust in the Lord, shall

be as Mount Sion, that cannot be moued,

Psal. 125. 1.

A necessary Meditation, con∣cerning the vncertainty of mans happinesse in this life, and the cer∣tainty of the endlesse happinesse of the children of God in the life to come, notvvithstanding their pre∣sent miseries here.

MJne eyes haue séene, and mine heart hath duely considered the fickle, and fraile, and féeble, and vncoustant happinesse of man in this life; yea, I my selfe haue found by expe∣rience, that this world administreth vnto man no periect comfort, while hée liueth vpon the earth.

Yet flesh & bloud, the foolish outward man, besotted with the vaine delights of sinnes deceits, and snared with the baits of vaine hope, the pleasures, and comforts, and glory, and ease, and ful∣nes of earthly vanities, thinketh him∣selfe safe, and in state of such sure and neuer-failing happinesse, that he wal∣loweth

in the mire of deceiuing securi∣ty, vntill at vnawares the hand of the liuing God be stretched out against him, and either turneth his hope to de∣spaire, his glory into shame, his ease into trouble, his fulnesse into want, or all the vaine things wherein he deligh∣teth, into griefe and sorrow.

O my soule, trust not therefore in the transitory trash, and pelfe, & wealth of this world, for it deceiueth and de∣uoureth men; and as the rust and can∣••er eateth and wasteth iron, so doth the loue thereof deuoure thy trust in God, and thy practice of better things.

Trust not in worldly friends, for their words are vaine, their promises not performed, nor their helpe worth thy hope. It is better to put confidence in the Lord, then to trust in Princes; for they who haue their breath in their nostrels, are but men, whose power is of the earth, and whose hands are féeble, and their deuices vaine. Some trust in chariots, and some in horsemen: but (O my soule) trust thou in the liuing God: be doing good, and thou shalt remaine, when the foolish man that beleeueth in flesh, and

dependeth on earthly meanes, shall fall and perish.

Be not carried away, O my soule: therefore, with the hope of any mans helpe, nor feare what man can doe a∣gainst thée: for suddenly is thy friend taken from thée, and he that séeketh thy destruction▪ brought to a fearefull end. Thy happinesse is not to haue heapes of gold and siluer, many friends, and all earthly abundance: for the abuse of these are dangerous, because they draw thée from séeking God, and they are short, and bring thée to destruction, leauing thy carkase naked in the graue, and thy selfe, O my soule, in the merci∣lesse pit.

What auailed the rich mans world∣ly pleasures, when hée went suddenly to hell? What hindred the beggers po∣uerty, when hee went immediately to heauen?

How was Iob impouerished, hauing mighty wealth? What miseries doe follow the mightest men, is daily séene, and how terrible the end is of such as haue not the Lord their strength, but put their trust in the multitude of their riches?

Who can say, The wealthy man is

happy? When he sléepeth, he sléepeth in feare: when he walketh, he walketh in danger; and when hee is in his best age, strongest body, and best state, hée suddenly dieth, and leaueth his wealth he knoweth not to whom.

And who can say, the poore, fearing God, is vnhappy in his basenesse, and want, and i••nominy, sith hée setteth his hope vpon the neuer-failing God? he séeketh his helpe from heauen, and is fed as with the dew thereof? onely hope sustaineth him, and his want is timely supplied with wished necessa∣ries, and his heart comforted in his dée∣pest miseries: he lieth downe in faith, and patience, and thankefulnesse, and the Lord sustaineth him, and when he dieth, he liueth, and raigneth, and re∣ioyceth in God his Sauiour.

O that I might haue no delight in the vaine things of this world. O my soule, be at peace within mée, when I haue warres without me, be contented, and grudge not, when I want the out∣ward fulnesse of worldly things: for I sée and consider, that carnall meanes cannot saue me, but the mercies of the Lord, wherein he affordeth vnto his faithfull ones all things to enioy.

Though he make me a reproach a∣mong my friends, and though hée suf∣fer me to stand a gazing stocke before the eies of the wicked, who triumph in their owne glory, gotten by their owne hands and deuices, and the Lord none of their counsell, I will not yet be dis∣mayed, neither will I be moued at their prosperity: for I know, the day of their sorrowes commeth on, when they shall howle, and cry out in horror, for the paines that ••nsue their pleasures, and for the want that shall follow their wealth, and for the miseries that shall follow their mirth, and for their death that shall follow their glorious and wanton life.

Oh, how foolish are they that trust in their goods? how mad are they that make wealth their warrant, and riches their arme, and friends their staffe, when none of these can saue them from sicknesse, from sorrow, from dangers, nor from death?

No man can redéeme his brother from Gods displeasure, and from his appointed torments in hell, by his much wealth: he cannot saue himselfe by the multitude of his riches: but God shall deliuer thée, my soule, from

the power of hell, and shall saue me.

Be not therefore afraid, O my soule, though many be made rich, and thou in pouerty: many aduanced, and thou reiected; many graced, and thou dis∣dained; many comforted, and thou in∣iured among the sons of mortall men: thy riches, and thy glory, and thy fa∣uour, and thy comfort, and thy ioyes are hid in Christ with God.

And what thinkest thou, O my soule, of these short miseries, that shall be ex∣changed for infinite comforts? whether is it not profitable for thée to haue these moment any corrections, to enioy an eternall crowne? thou hast tried the inconstant course of worldly things, and the day is comming wherein thou shalt possesse the permanent consolati∣on of heauenly things.

How long hast thou looked about thée for helpe in the earth? Vpon my right hand I looked, and behold, none that would know me, or comfort me (as Dauid saith) and vpon my left hand, and no man I found that cared for my soule.

Then I cryed vnto the Lord, & said, Thou onely art my hope & my portion, in whom I liue, & haue an vnmoueable being.

O Lord increase my Faith.

Wee brought nothing into this world, and it is certaine, that we can carry nothing out,

1 Tim. 6. 7.

Therefore when we haue food and raiment, let vs therewith be content,

Vers. 8.

The children of men are vaine, the chiefe men are lyers, to lay them vpon a ballance, they are lighter then vani∣ty it selfe,

Psal. 62. 9.

A sweete Contemplation of Heauen, and heauenly things, whereby the sad distressed soule is much comforted, and encouraged to en∣dure vnto the end, that he may possesse the ioyes prepared for such as pati∣ently suffer, and without grudg∣ing beare the burthen of this worlds miseries.

O My soule lift vp thy selfe aboue thy selfe, flie away in the contem∣plation of Heauen, and heauenly things: make not thy further abode in

this inferiour region, where is nothing but trauels and trials, and sorrow, and woe, and wretchednesse, and sinne, and trouble, and feare, and all deceiuing and destroying vanities.

Bend all thine affections vpward vnto the superiour place, where thy Redéemer liueth and raigneth, and where thy ioyes are laid vp in the trea∣sury of his merits, which shall be made thy merits, his perfection thy perfection, and his death thy life eter∣nall, and his resurrection thy saluation. Estéeme not the trifling pleasures of this life, to be the way to this wealth, nor the ignominious estate here, to be any barre to preuent thée from the full vse, and ioyfull fruition of the glory there prepared for thée.

I am assured, that though I want here, I shall haue riches there, though I hunger here, I shall haue fulnesse there; though I faint here, I shall be refreshed there, and though I be ac∣counted here as a dead man, I shall there liue in perpetuall glory.

That is the Citie promised to the Captiues, whom Christ hath made frée: that is the kingdome assured to them whom Christ shall crowne; there

are the ioyes prepared for them that mourne: there is the light that neuer shall goe out: there is the health that shall neuer be impaired: there is the glory: that shall neuer be defaced: there is the life that shall taste no death: and there is the portion, that passeth all the worlds preferment: there is the world that neuer shall waxe worse: there is euery want supplyed fréely without money: there is no danger, but happinesse, and honour, and singing. and praise, and thankesgiuing vnto the heauenly Iehouah: to him that sit∣teth on the throne, to the Lambe that here was led to the slaughter that now raigneth: with whom I shall raigne, after I haue runne this comfortlesse race, through this miserable earthly val••.

The honour in this earth, is base∣nesse, the riches of this world pouer∣ty, the fulnesse of this life is want: the ioyes of this worlds kingdome are sorrow, and woe, and misery, and sad∣nesse, and griefe: and yet the foole saith in his heart, There is no other heauen, but this harmefull deceiuing worlds happinesse, no other hell but this worlds bitternes, no better com∣fort

then this worlds cares, nor fur∣ther helpe then this worlds wealth.

Thus is mans wisedome made foo∣lishnesse, and mans glory turned into shame, & mans power made of no force. And the faithfull poore that are here despised, there are aduanced: the sor∣rowful are comforted, & the cast awaies in this world are receiued to that bles∣sed being, that cannot be expressed with the tongue of man, nor conceiued with the heart of man.

Oh that I had wings (saith hea∣uenly-hearted Dauid) that I might flie away from this worlds vanities, and possesse heauens happinesse. Oh, that I were dissolued (saith blessed Paul) that I might be with Christ. Oh, that I were in this place of such wished happinesse, where I might rest from these worldly labours, and earthly mi∣series, and transitory vanities.

But be not heauy, O my soule, though thou must yet wade through the sea of these earthly troubles: for these heauenly mysteries are not séene of carnalleyes, nor can be obtained by carnall meanes, but through trou∣bles and afflictions, and dangers, and persecutions, they must be atchieued:

and none that are Gods elected, shall be frée from this Worlds hatred: for such difference there is betwéene earth and heauen, and betwéene earthly and heauenly things, that who so delight∣eth in the first, shall be depriued of the latter: for we cannot haue this worlds heauen, and the Heauen of heauens, the heauen of Saints, and Angels, and Cherubins, and Seraphins, where are all vnspotted, and all glorious, and all in white Robes of sanctity, and where Christ, the sacrificed Lambe, is vnto them all in all.

Oh blessed are all they that are thus assured: blessed are the Poore that shal haue this heauens riches: blessed are the Base that shall be thus aduanced: blessed are the Low that shall be thus raised: and blessed are the Worlds de∣spised, that shall haue this heauens happinesse; yea, happy is this wretched worlds vnhappy man, for hée shall be happy.

I will daily meditate of the great∣nesse and Maiesty of this high hea∣uens blessed estate, where I shall one day blesse my God, with the company of his Saints, and where I shall one day sit secure and frée from the dan∣gers,

perils, crosses, and afflictions that now doe assatle mée on the right hand, and on the left, within mée, and with∣out me, and am neuer frée from one ca∣lamity or other.

But it is good for me to be here hum∣bled, that I may be there aduanced, where I wish spéedily to come. It is good that I was in want here, that I might séeke heauenly necessaries. It is good that the World did discourage me, that I might flie to God that com∣forteth me. It is good that I am daily killed here, that I might liue continu∣ally there.

Now therefore, O my soule, stand vp, feare not, faint not at this worlds crosses: but giue glory to this great God, praise this high and helping God, séeke him while it is to day, driue not off to pray to this God, not∣withstanding any hope thou hast in mortall men; nor reiect not his graci∣ous means, who in fauour infinite, and mercy endlesse, moueth the hearts of men in this life, to doe good vnto such as hée séeth distressed; he can finde out and afford infinite meanes to succour them that are his, and will not leaue them forsaken in danger: for hée euen

here giueth mée his blessings, as pled∣ges of his neuer-failing lout, that being visited in his mercy with timely com∣forts here, I may assure me of greater blessings in Heauen, where they are prepared beyond all that I can aske or thinke.

O Lord God of Hosts, who is like vnto thee, who hast established thy Kingdome with truth and equity, with mercy and iudgement? thou hast a mighty arme, strong is thine hand, and high is thy right hand, who so is vnder thy protection, he is safe, and hée that trusteth in thée, mercy imbraceth him on euery side.

Oh, blessed art thou, O my soule, if thou canst reioyce in the Lord: he is thy Father, he is thy helper: walke there∣fore in the light of his countenance, and be patient: wait in hope, till these stormes be past, and then shalt thou haue that quiet rest, that he hath ••repared in heauen for thée.

O Lord increase my Faith.

Our conuersation is in heauen, from whence also we looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Iesus.

If yee be risen with Christ, seeke those things which are aboue, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God,

Col. 3. 1.

Set your affections on things which are aboue, and not on things which are on the earth,

Vers. 2.

A consideration of the dange∣rous estate of the impenitent wic∣ked ones after this life, notwithstan∣ding their wealth, and power, and great glory, which they haue here, where they seeme to triumph ouer poore ••istressed men.

Read and consider, yee Rich and Poore.

IT is a strange temptation vnto a man, when he findeth himselfe still afflicted, notwithstanding he séeketh

helpe continually at the hands of God, and the more, when he séeth that such as neither serue God, or feare God, such as are wanton and wicked, and harde∣ned in sinne, to prosper and to flourish in this life, and to haue all things that their hearts can desire.

Dauid beholding this, began a little to stagger, and was ready to giue ouer his godly beginning, and to end with the wicked: and as long as he tooke no better regard, but onely as naturall wisdome led him, he commended their estates, because they were rich, and wanted nothing, they were healthfull and lusty, and their goods did increase, which Worldlings hold true happi∣nesse.

But when Dauid considered their greatnesse, as it was discouered vnto him by the light of true knowledge, hée then altered his conceit of these Men, and renounced their wayes, and hated their workes, and auoided their com∣pany, and betooke himselfe to prayer, as the thing whereby hee should pre∣uaile better, then with all the wealth the world could yéelde him.

And surely, the present time affor∣deth vnto vs that now liue, no lesse

cause of vigilent regard, that we be not carried away with the World, whose glory is imbraced, whose power is pra∣ctised, whose policy is preferred, and whose happinesse is had in greatest e∣steeme: insomuch as who so is poore, or helplesse, or distressed, or endangered in the World, by worldlings is censured a cast-away, a reprobate, a man forsa∣ken of God.

It is not vertue, nor godly life, nor inward zeale, nor any good quality of the spirit, that hath any fauour in the World: but the rich, and glorious, and men of countenance, and of power, and of office, and of gay attire, that be ac∣counted Gods fauourites. As for such as are ragged, they are not regarded; such as are base in shew, are accounted base in déede. So that Gods children haue the least share of the worlds libe∣rality: and the impudent, and shame∣lesse, and wicked, and worst men, are they that possesse and vsurpe the earth, and earthly glory.

But alas, short and slippery is this glorious shew of theirs: they are as Ceda••s, that ouer-shaddow the low bushes for a while, but they shall be as stubble in the Furnace, when the

••re is put to their rootes. They are now as deuouring shée Beares, and as raging Lyons: but the time com∣meth, wherein the Lord will smite them vpon their iaw-bones, and will pull out the téeth of these mercilesse wretches.

They haue set themselues in glory, but God shall turne it to shame: they haue fastened their footing, as they thinke, neuer to be moued; but the Lord will make their standing vn∣sure, and their wayes slippery, and their dayes short, and their end horri∣ble.

And howsoeuer they now make boast of their owne hearts wickednes, and though they séeme to contend with God, and subdue his members, and make no reckoning of his Saints, or thinke there is no God: God will finde them out, and he wil rebuke them with a perpetuall rebuke, and put out their name for euer, not onely out of the Earth, which they hold their Heauen, but euen out of Heauen, and his Booke of life.

Who yet are commended, and estée∣med, and aduanced, and reuerenced, but these men, of least merit? Onely

their riches, and their bribes, and their flattery, win them dignity, and prefer∣ment, and honour, and fauour, and what may fill them full of all tokens of perdition.

But this is a heauy weight of temp∣tation to the poore, that deserue to be made rich for vertues: for the low, that ought to be raised for praise-worthy qualities, when they sée that the worst are preferred for reward, and the best reiected for want.

Surely, this World may be compa∣red to the Poole of Bethesda, into which what diseased person stept first, was healed, but the strongest and best lim∣med, and hée that had best helpes, had alwayes the benefit of the healing: so now in this Puddle of worldly partia∣lity, not the first that commeth is pre∣ferred, nor the most fit, but the most li∣berall giuer.

But there is a Judge that sitteth and séeth, how the Worlds wealthy ones make others wealthy, not for worthi∣nesse, but for gaine.

What striuing, and strugling, and working, and inuenting, and swearing, and paines-taking, is there about the Phylosophers stone? Many a man

hath béene long hammering, and ha∣zarding goods, and lands, and liberty, and life, and some pawne soule and all, to haue this strange meane to make himselfe a great man, and a rich man, and a wise man, and a cunning man, and a man to be admired at for his rare skill, and great wealth, and hidden wisedome: and while hée sought this stone of wisedome, hée became a foole, and a begger, and a laughing-stocke to them that become the wiser, to sée his ambition and folly.

But hadst thou this stone, that could transinute Maluerne Hils into pure gold, and all the Earth into siluer, and couldest make thy selfe young againe, and lusty and strong againe, and had∣dest what thou couldest wish here in this life: what were this vnto thée? thou wert yet but a worldly wise man, a worldly rich man, a carnall man. But the Phylosophers stone indéede thou hast not found, which is, to feare God, and to imbrace his Word, and to be content with a competent estate: and therefore as impossible for thée to goe to heauen, as a Cammell to goe thorow a needles eye: But tush, thou wilt say, Abraham was rich, Lot was

rich; Iob was rich, and Salomon was rich: and yet they were in Gods fauour, and Gods elected ones.

True it is, they were blessed of God in their riches, because they knew God, and beléeued his promises, They held not their wealth, but as meanes to relieue themselues and others: but thou holdest thy wealth to get vaine∣glory by them. They were bountifull and liberall where néede required, and had not the desire of money, as thou that hast neuer enough, and wilt depart from none: that by rapine, and wrong, and oppression, and bribery, and sinne, inrichest thy selfe. They vsed their wealth, as though they vsed it not, in respect of themselues, but to doe good to Gods children by it.

Who can but imagine, that if the Phylosophers stone were to be contri∣ued or compounded of the powder of poore mens hearts, and of the bloud of their owne soules, would not there be some of these stones composed by mer∣cilesse men, that hate to be reformed, and say by all their cruelties, daily practised, that either there is not a God to recompence their wickednesse, or else that God séeth not, nor consi∣dereth

their oppression and wrong?

These men yet prosper in the world, and say that these things are theirs: these things are Gods blessings: these things are to be disposed after their own hearts lusts, in vanity and pride, in wantonnesse and sinne: but to re∣léeue the necessity of the poore they haue no will: the words of worldlings war∣rant them, that they may doe with their owne what they list.

But the word of God cryeth, wee to the rich, many more to the hard∣hearted and fast-handed rich Man: be∣cause there is no loue in him, or mercy, or compassion in him, the poore 〈◊〉〈◊〉∣ous vnto him, and the néedy or 〈◊〉〈◊〉∣sed mans cry he cannot heare.

But God shall heare these afflicters of poore men; hée shall finde out their hidden mucke, and approue them lyers that say vnto the poore, I haue not for you; yea, God shall heare them, and af∣flict them: euen he that raigneth of old shall cast them downe, though they long flatter themselues in their prospo∣rity, and say, Wee will preuaile; who is Lord ouer vs?

Let no childe of God therefore re∣pine against these euill men, that haue

the world at will, who are so fat, and so well liking, as they hold themselues in most happy case. Let them alone, their day is comming, and their confusion commeth: they shall be cut downe like grasse, and wither as the gréen hearbe, and at last be cast into the vnquench∣able Furnace.

The Lord laugheth them to scorne, while they laugh the Poore to scorne, and the Lord out of Heauen thunde∣reth terrour vnto them, while they worke trouble, and misery, and vexa∣tion against the Just, that dwell in ••••se shew vpon the Earth, whom yet t•…•…ord holdeth vnder his protecti∣on▪ and guardeth so, as the wicked preuaile no further against them, then may make for the profit of their soules. These oppressours, and these mighty men, that care not for God, nor regard his Word, nor feate his threates, nor beléeue his promises, they shall be surely confounded, and perish, when there shall be none to helpe: they shall be consumed as the fat of Lambes: euen with the Uiper of their own guil∣ty consciences they shall be stung, and consume away, and come vnto a feare∣full end.

I haue séene the wicked strong, (saith Dauid) and spreading himselfe like a gréene Bay-trée: but hée withe∣red ere he was plucked vp, and being plucked vp, he is cast into the fire. So that let these men of power, that op∣presse and pitty not the poore, thinke what a goodly shew they make in the Stréetes, in the Church, and in the Markets, and seates of Judgement: how wonderfull they are in their own ••onceits, by reason of their wealth, and honour, and glorious attite, and how the poore fall at their féete, and they cast by their countenance from be∣holding such wretched poore men, and with-hold their hands from giuing, and their tongues from comforting, as if they themselues were (and none else) the substance, and the poore but the shadowes of men. But consider (I say) consider thy state, and place, and pompe, and pride, and vanity well, and it shall all appeare but as a cloud that vanisheth away suddenly, like a gliste∣ring bubble in the Sunne. So thou goest to the graue in feare, and the wormes prey vpon thée, as thou didst on the poore: for as thou piece-meale didst rob the poore by extortion and

bribery, so doe the wormes by lit∣tle and little deuoure that proud car∣••eis, that now, as to a•• Idoll, men are forced to crouch, and bow them∣selues.

Hast thou any thing rightly to boast of, O thou foolish man, that estéemest the more of thy selfe for thy wealth and great glory, being the very meanes to make thée proud, and thy pride to make thée despise thy Brethren, and consequently God, that made thée and them? Were it not better for thée to become a Zacheus, to restore all thou hast wrongfully and sinisterly gotten, and of thy goods well gotten to giue halfe to the poore, that thou maist say, and be said to be rich in good things, because thou doest good? But to be rich and hoord it vp, to be rich and doe no good, is a badge of a man that shall neuer inioy the Kingdome of God.

Were it not better to wéepe here, that wée may reioyce hereafter, then to reioyce here, and howle for euer? But wéepe, and howle, and lament, and be waile your selues, yée rich men, that haue no remorse: for the paines, and horror, and anguish, and torments

endlesse, shall be your reward if yée repent not, and reforme your euill wayes.

Be no more stiffe-necked, nor coue∣tous, nor disdainfull, but liberall, and humble, and helpefull to the people of God, that God in his mercy may make you rich in knowledge of good things, rich in practice, and rich in god∣ly zeale.

And be not grieued, though by this alteration you become poore: for a messe of portage, to one fearing God, is better then all the riches of the wic∣ked.

Hée is not poore, who loueth God: for God loueth him, and in his loue is life, and liberty, and liuely re∣liese.

But who so feareth not God, haue be neuer so great abundance, is a beg∣ger, a cast-away, and a reprobate from the ioyes of heauen: the least of which cannot be purchased with mil∣lions of kingdomes: the least of them more worth then all your gold and sil∣uer, and lands, and possessions, and of∣fices, and honour, and what else the whole world, which deceiueth you, can afford.

The Booke of God is full of terri∣ble and sharpe threates against merci∣lesse rich men: and many woes the Lord (that loueth the lowly) pronoun∣ceth against the proud. And what a iudgement it is that their hearts are shut vp, that they cannot consider their end, to be as the Oxe that is fattened for the slaughter, who delighteth in the déepe féedings, while the Butcher de∣termineth his death: as the couetous, and wanton, and wicked ones, take pleasure in their vanities, while their death and destruction commeth with∣out redemption?

But if these men will not heare, nor conceiue, nor consider the perill of their estate: if they will not, while the Lord may be found, séeke to returne, that they may be saued, their iudgement, and de∣struction, and reprobation will be the more iust.

O Lord increase my Faith.

Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse, O man of power?

Psalme 52. 1.

The Lord shall destroy thee for

euer; he shall take thee, and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle, and roote thee out of the land of the liuing,

Verse 5.

An exhortatiue Conclusion: wherein the afflicted are stirred vp to patience, and not to be asha∣med of their miseries and base estate, so long as they endeuour to doe their duties in their seuerall callings, and stay themselues vpon Gods proui∣dence.

AS the man that is borne blinde, cannot iudge of colours, nor the dease man distinguish of sounds: no more can a man that hath béene kept blinde and muffled with the mask of this worlds pleasures, and become dumbe with his secure estate here, dis∣cerne the things of God: hée cannot distinguish betwéene, Woe be vnto

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you rich, because you haue your conso∣lation here; And, Blessed are the poore, for they shall receiue comfort. These things are not so heard, nor so re∣garded of Worldlings, as might bring them to a true and liuely con∣sideration, that there is a woe and a blessing pronounced: that there is fire and water set before them, and life and death offered them. But as Children that haue no more discreti∣on then Moses being an Infant, who refused a Crowne, and tooke bur∣ning coales, doe reiect the better things as drosse, and imbrace the worst, as most d••are and precious: and therefore preferre their Oxen, and their Farmes, and their heapes of transitorie vanities, before the swéete banquet of a contented estate. And so farre they are from the true conceit of Gods purpose in puni∣shing man, that they censure crosses that light vpon other men, as cur∣ses, and the glory, and riches, and mucke, and pelfe of their owne, to be giuen them, because they, and none else are blessed: whereby ma∣ny times the deare Children of God are put to a déepe agony, when they

heare and perceiue the taunts, and reproofes, that the world and world∣lings cast at them for their pouerty, and base estates sake. They stand before the worlds Gallant-ones, as Dauids men, that had the shirts of their garments cut to their buttocks, as men derided and scoffed, and as cast-awayes, and men forlorne and for∣saken of all men: and cast downe and confounded by God himselfe: in re∣gard whereof many times the poore, though indéede the very Children of God, are so ashamed of their estate, as they be forced not onely to auoide the familiarity of the wealthy, but euen to be séene of them a farre off: nay rather, they hide themselues as men cast off, or drosse from the gold: where indéede the Word of Truth findeth them out, and approueth them the refined gold, and the worldly-minded straw and stubble: prouided withall, that hée that is cast downe, must not so iustifie himselfe, as to ar∣gue himselfe the childe of God be∣cause hée is cast downe, because hée is made poore, or because hée hath ene∣mies, or sicknesse, or want, or perse∣cution: (for all these things may hap∣pen

also vnto the reprobate:) for as sin is the ground of all our afflictions, and our offences the cause of Gods dis∣pleasure, and Gods displeasure pow∣reth forth crosses and curses too vpon sinners: So must euery man carefully consider how hee standeth in his trou∣bles, whether hee haue fallen into the same by his own riot or lasciuious and wanton life, by his vngodly conuersa∣tion, and neglect of the feare of God; for which things sake, the wrath of God commeth vpon the children of dis∣obedience, and he powreth out of the cup of his indignation vpon them, ei∣ther in iudgement, because their con∣demnation shall here begin, and so be perpetuall, or else to reclaime them from their wicked waies, that they may be saued.

And he that findeth himselfe in his conceit, lest deseruing afflictions, be∣cause he either féeleth not, or findeth, or will not acknowledge that he is such a sinner that deserueth so great punish∣ment, as many times lighteth vpon o∣ther men: let him think that he in thus iustifying of his owne wayes, is in a dangerous state.

It is the pride of the heart, which

God that searcheth it, well séeth, and considereth, that such a one is in a pe∣rillous way, if hée be not humbled. And surely godly Dauid himselfe was gone a little that way, and God saw that hée must pull downe this chosen vesell of his, before hée would tread his steps as he should: for as he con∣fesseth himselfe, Before I vvas corrected, I vvent avvry, So that our troubles and miseries. and all the aduerse things that may befall vs, are Gods correcti∣ons to his children to reforme them: but his iudgements are messengers of his vtter renunciation to the obsti∣nate, who by his punishments waxe worse and worse, and who murmure and grudge at the course that hée ta∣keth with them to amend them, as did the rebellious Israelites, whom hée often visited in mercy, before hée en∣tred into iudgement against them: So that none that standeth may say, hée cannot fall, none that are high may say, they cannot be brought low: for all haue sinned, and all haue néede of cor∣rection, all are sicke, and all haue néede of Physicke; all haue gone astray, and therefore all haue néede to be reclai∣med. Who then will be ashamed of

Gods visitation? who will be impati∣ent when afflictions come? Surely, none but the man that knoweth not God, none but hée that loueth this world more then heauen, and the plea∣sures of this life, more then the ioyes of the life to come.

Dauid was not ashamed of Gods corrections: for hée praised it as a great benefit, and tooke it as an high blessing, and said it was good for him. Was it good for him, and ill for vs? was it profitable to him, and hurtfull to vs? No, and therefore Paul was not ashamed of his crosses: for crosses make vs the companions of the bles∣sed Children of God; nay, they make vs the more like to our elder brother, Christ Jesus, who finished our Re∣demptions through the Crosse, and made the way to the ioyes of heauen through afflictions, and he that is asha∣med to follow him that way, he cannot come to him at all, hée will not know him, and therefore he shall neuer enter into that holy place, hée shall neuer attaine vnto that rest that shall be endlesse, and most ioyfull in the hea∣uens.

How vnsauory therefore soeuer our

troubles séeme, wée must be patient, and neuer giue ouer to cry vnto our helping Father, nor to vse our best en∣deauours in our callings, which God will blesse, staying our selues in hope vpon his promises. Let vs neuer dis∣may, for God that maketh this little wound without, doth it to cure a grea∣ter within: and while hée séemeth to kill vs, it is, that wée may liue e∣uer: and while hée suffereth vs to be here ignominious, it is that wée may become all glorious with him in hea∣uen.

The poore man cryeth, and the Lord heareth him, and saueth him out of all his troubles, Psal. 34. 6.

The Angell of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him, and deliuereth them, Vers. 6.

Taste ye, and see how gracious the Lord is: blessed is the man that trust∣eth in him, Vers. 8.