The whole treatise of the cases of conscience distinguished into three bookes: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundrie places, and the other two annexed. Taught and deliuered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his owne briefes, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelour of Diuinitie. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table: one of the heads and number of the questions propounded and resolued; another of the principall texts of Scripture vvhich are either explaned, or vindicated from corrupt interpretation.

Sect. 2.

The first is, the Deferring of deliuerance: a * 1.1 great afflictiō, if it be considered. And touch∣ing it, I propound one Question, namely, How the minde of the partie distressed, may be staied, when as the Lord deferres deliuerance.

For the answer hereof, three especiall points are to be considered.

I. First, that God hath in his wisdome, set downe certen and unchangeable times, for the accomplishment and issue of all things that are. Ther is a time appointed to euery thing vnder the sunne, Eccl. 3. 1 The speech of Salomon is generall, and the meaning of it is this. Whatsoeuer there is in the world, either done, or suffered, or enioyed by man, whe∣ther it be of the number of naturall things, or of those which are voluntarily vnderta∣ken, or necessarily endured; God hath in his prouidence sorted vnto them, a set time and season, whereof dependeth the successe of them all. And this time, himselfe most freely ordereth and ruleth at his owne good plea∣sure; which, as no mā can hinder or stay, so is it not in the power of any, to hasten, or preuēt.

This point, the Holy Ghost in Scripture prooueth by two instances, of the threat∣nings and promises of God, which him∣selfe accomplisheth, at some certaine and vnchangeable times.

When the old world in the daies of No∣ah, had growne to much impietie, and wic∣kednes, the Lord appointed a certaine space of 120. yeares, for their repentance and con∣uersion; at the very ende and tearme where∣of, * 1.2 he brought the flood vpon them, and not before. For if we compare the particular cir∣cumstances of time, noted in the 7. of Ge∣nesis, with that which S. Peter writeth, 1. Pet. 3. 20. ee shall find, that the inundation of waters came vpon the earth, at the very point of time before determined.

Againe, God threatned by Ieremie, that the Iewes for their sins, should be led cap∣tiue, and serue the king of Babel 70. yeares. Now if we take the iust computation of * 1.3 time, it will appeare, that so soone as euer those yeres were expired, the foresaid threat was accomplished. And therefore Daniel, al∣luding to Ieremies prophecie, exactly setteth it downe, when he saith, The same night was Belshazzarking of the Chaldeans slaine, that is, * 1.4 the very night wherein those 70. yeares came to their full period.

And as there are set times, allotted by God for the execution of his threatning sentēces; so also hath he determined certen∣ly, the accomplishment of all and euery of his promises.

An example hereof we haue in the Israe∣lites, of whom the Lord said to Abrahā, that * 1.5 they should be in affliction in a strange land,

430. yeres, and then be deliuered. This pro∣mise of God was expressely fulfilled, as we read in the booke of Exodus. For before the ende and tearme of these yeares, they had no deliuerance at all: but when that time was expired, euen that selfe same day, departed * 1.6 all the hosts of Israel, out of the land of E∣gypt. And though Moses, fourtie yeares be∣fore this time, tooke in hand the worke of their deliuerance; yet he did it without suc∣cesse; * 1.7 and vpon a certaine accident, beeing himselfe constrained to flie into Madian, he liued there as a stranger with Iethro his fa∣ther in law, till the saide time of foure hun∣dred and thirtie yeares was accomplished; toward the ende whereof, being called of God to that office, he prospered, and not be∣fore. And in the same manner, hath God set downe a certaine period of time, within which, he will exercise his children more or lesse, and at the end wherof, and not before, he will releeue and comfort them againe.

Now as the certentie of the accomplish∣ment of Gods threatning word, serues to terrifie all wicked liuers from sinne: so the vnchangeable performance of his promises, at the very time prefixed, & not before, tea∣cheth the children of God sundrie things.

First, that when they are in any distresse, & haue not present or speedie deliuerance, ac∣cording to their desire, they should waite the Lords leisure, and expect with patience

till the time come, which is appointed by him for their ease and releefe: and in the meane while stay their hearts, by hope and affiance in his mercie. Reason is plaine. God is sure in his word, therefore though heaui∣nes may indure for a night, yet ioy will re∣turne in the morning, Psal. 30. 5.

Thus the Lord comforteth the Iewes in a particular distresse, as we may read in the prophecie of Habbakuk, where the Prophet in the name of the Iewes, complaineth and * 1.8 expostulateth the matter with God, why his owne people should be so lamentably affli∣cted, by a terrible and furious nation, and why they should be led away captiues, by the Chaldeans the enemies of God? To this the Lord makes answer, that as he had certenly determined, that iudgemēt to come vpon them, so certenly had he appointed a set time, wherein they should be deliuered. In the meane while, he bids them to com∣fort themselues in this, that though the affli∣ction should rest vpon them for a season, yet vndoubtedly they should be eased at the length: and therefore, that they should in pa∣tience waite for the vision, that is, the accō∣plishment of the vision touching their deli∣uerance.

Secondly, hence we learne, that we must not onely beleeue the promises of God in ge∣nerall, that God is true and faithfull in them, and that he is able & willing to fulfil them,

euen as he made them: but we must beleeue them in particular, that is with application to their proper and seuerall circumstances, which are the particular meanes, places, and times, whereby, and wherein he hath giuen his word, as touching our freedome and exemption from the crosse.

Take an instance hereof in the Prophet Daniel, who knew well by the spirit of Pro∣phecie, that the Lord had determined to bring vpon the Iewes 70. yeares captiuitie in Babylon. He knew also, that God had promi∣sed to put an ende to that captiuitie, at the end and tearme of those yeares. Now what did Daniel in this case? Vpon knowledge of the will of God in that point, during the said time, he praied not vnto the Lord for * 1.9 deliuerance of his people: But when he vn∣derstood that the time drewe neere, wherin it was the wil of God, that the Iewes should * 1.10 returne out of captiuitie, then by faith ap∣plying the promise of God to that particu∣lar time: he besought the Lord in praier and supplications, with fasting, in sackcloth and ashes, and the Lord gaue eare vnto his prai∣ers, and yeelded him a gratious answer.

II. The second point is, that God, when he deferres deliuerance, doth it vpon great and weightie causes and considerations, best knowne to himselfe.

The first wherof is, that thereby he might humble men throughly, and bring them

to an vtter deniall of themselues, and conse∣quently cause them, to learne patience in af∣fliction; which they would not learne, if they might be their owne caruers, and haue spee∣dy deliuerance from the crosse, at their own wills and pleasures.

Secondly, that beeing afflicted, they may acknowledge whence their deliuerance comes; yea, whence they doe receiue not onely that, but euery other good benefit, which they inioy; namely not from thēselues, or any creature, but onely from the Lord; and accordingly may learne to value and prize his gifts, at their deserued excellencie. For it is a true saying, and often verified in affliction & want, that benefits easily obtained, are lightly regarded, and sooner forgotten.

Thirdly, that by the continuance of the crosse without intermission, he may make them to distaste the world, and consequently drawe them to the meditation of the life to come, wherein all matter of mourning shall cease, and all teares shall be wiped from their eies. * 1.11

Fourthly, the Lord de••erreth deliuerance from affliction, that he might preuent grea∣ter euils and dangers, whereinto those that are afflicted might runne, if they had their heartes desire, and were eased not at his will but at their owne wishes. When the childrē of Israel came into Canaan, they were in∣formed, that they should dwell together

with the Canaanites, and Moses rendreth a reason thereof, Least (saith he) the wild beasts * 1.12 of the field multiply against thee. And for the preuenting of this euill, the Israelites must indure some annoyance by the Canaanites. * 1.13 Euen so the Lord keepeth his seruants vn∣der the crosse, for the preuenting of greater sins & offences. This should stay the mindes of men, & make them content to wait vpon God for deliuerance, when they are afflicted.

III. The third and last point is, that God alwaies hath and doth exercise his best ser∣uants, with long and continued crosses. A∣braham was childlesse, till he was 70. yeares of age, and at those yeares the Lord promi∣sed him issue. But this promise was not accō∣plished til a long time after, when he was an hundred yeares old. Dauid had a promise to be king of Ierusalem, and Iuda; but the Lord exercised him by many and grieuous afflicti∣ons, before he came to the crowne, in so much, that he saies of himselfe, that his eies failed with waiting vpon his God. Zacharie & * 1.14 Elizabeth praied to god, both of thē in their youth, & many yeares after for issue, but the Lord granted not their request til they were * 1.15 olde.

To adde no more examples; by these we see the Lords dealing, euen with holy men and women, his owne deare seruants, that he doth not alwaies grant their requests, nor condescend to their desires at the first, but

as it were holds them off, and suspends his grace and fauour for a time. And therefore if it shall please him, thus to deale with any of vs, we must from these examples be taught, to possesse our soules with patience, resting contented in his will, and waiting on his good pleasure to the ende.

To conclude this point. Suppose, that the condition of Gods seruants be such, as that they finde no ende of their afflictions, but that they doe continue euen vnto death, what shall they doe in this case?

Ans. Besides that which hath beene said before, for the resolution of this Question, I answer further, that first, they must still, e∣uen * 1.16 vnto death, liue by faith, and say with holy Iob, Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I trust in thee.

Secondly, they must stay and releeue their soules in the meane time, with these and such like meditations.

I. That it is the will and pleasure of God, that we should through many afflictions, en∣ter into the kingdome of God. Act. 14. 22. Now it is the propertie of a true child of God, to rest content in his fathers good will and pleasure, euen when he is afflicted. Prov. 3. 11. My sonne—be not grieued at my correcti∣on, that is, let it not be tedious vnto thee, be content to beare it. Our dutie therefore is, meekely to subiect our selues vnto the hand of God, as the child doth vnto the correcti∣on

of his father.

II. That though afflictions be long and tedious, yet God will at length giue a ioyfull and comfortable issue. For so himselfe hath promised, Math. 5. 4. Blessed are they that mourne, for they shall be comforted. Psal. 34. 19. Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord wil deliuer him out of them all, Psal. 37. 73. Marke the vpright man, and behold the iust, for the ende of that man is peace.

III. Afflictions be they neuer so heauie, in regard of continuance, yet they are in no sort comparable to those eternall ioyes, that God hath prepared for them that loue him. This was Pauls meditation, who indured the crosse, euen to his dying day. Our light affli∣ction * 1.17 (saith he) which is but for a moment, wor∣keth vnto vs an excellent and eternall waight of glorie. And else where he professeth, that he did not count the afflictions of this present time, answerable in value to the glorie, which shall be reuealed vnto Gods children, Rom. 8. 18. Saint Peter tells them to whome he wrote, that in regard of their assured hope of eternall life, they should reioyce, though now for a season, they were in heauines through manifold tentati∣ons, 1. Pet. 1. 6. Lastly, the Author to the He∣brewes, comforteth the Church by this rea∣son, because it is yet a very little while, and he * 1.18 that shall come, will come, and will not tarrie.

IV. Though God withholdeth his hand, in respect of deliuerance euen to death, yet

his loue is constant and vnchangeable, and the crosse which we vndergoe, cannot se∣parate vs from that loue, wherewith he hath loued vs in Iesus Christ, Rom. 8. 35. And thus much of the first particular distresse of minde, arising of outward afflictions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Des••••ring of Deliuerance.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 6. 3.
• * 1.3

  Ier. 25. 11.
• * 1.4

  Dan. 5. 30.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 15. 13.
• * 1.6

  Exod. 12. 4••
• * 1.7

  Act. 7. 25.
• * 1.8

  H••b. 2. 2, 3.
• * 1.9

  Dan. 9.
• * 1.10

  v. 2.
• * 1.11

  Reu. 21. 4.
• * 1.12

  Deut. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 22.
• * 1.13

  Exod. 23. 28.
• * 1.14

  Psal. 119. 82.
• * 1.15

  Luk. 1. 13.
• * 1.16

  pag. ••24.
• * 1.17

  2. Cor. 4. 17.
• * 1.18

  Heb. 10. 37.