Spirituall preseruatiues against the pestilence. Or Seuen lectures on the 91. Psalme First printed in Anno. 1593. And now reuised, corrected, and published, as generally for the instruction of ignorant people: so specially for the confirmation of the weake seruants of Iesus Christ; descibing the most diuine and most soueraigne preseruatiues against the pestilence. By H. Holland. Hereunto is added a sweete prayer of M. R. Greenhams, neuer before published.

6. Question. What wonderful communion there is between Christ and his holy members, best knowen to his people in afflictions.

Cant. 2. 16. My welbeloued is mine, and I am his verse 15. I will bee with him in trouble.

FIrst, let vs here consider in what man∣ner the holy Scripture speaketh of this great communion and fellowship be∣tween Christ & his members: Thus Iohn writeth of it, first in his Epistle. That I say which we haue seene and heard, declare we vnto you, that ye may haue fellowship with vs, and that our fellowship also may bee with the father and his sonne Iesus Christ. A∣gaine in his Gospel most comfortably on this manner: I pray not for these alone, but for thē also which shall beleeue in me through their word, that they all may bee one, as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee, euen that they all may be one in vs, that the world may beleeue that thou hast sent me: and the glorie that thou gauest mee, I haue giuen them, that they may be one as wee are one, I in them and they in me, that they may bee made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent mee, and hast loued them as thou hast loued mee. And the Apostle speaketh of this communion when hee saith; Tempt

your selues whether you be in the faith? do ye not know that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be refu•…•…es? Because this blessed vnion, com∣munion, and fellowship is spirituall and misticall, the holy Scriptures do striue to helpe our weaknesse, to conceiue rightly the trueth of it by sundry Metaphors and borowed speeches, as Iohn in the sweet pa∣rable of the vine and vine branches: in which place the whole comparison (if we make supply out of other places) standeth vpon sundry most familiar similitudes, as to expresse the singular loue and care of God ouer his people, and the effectuall power of the Ministerie of his holy word wo•…•… in them: so to instruct vs of the VI separ b•…•… vnion betweene Christ and his holy members. 1. The heauenly Father, is compared to the husband-man. 2. The ministers, vnto the husbandmans laborers. 3. The people and the Church of God, vnto the vineyard, or husbandry. 4. Christ and his members vnto the vine and vine branch. 5. The spirituall vni∣on, li•…•…e and growth of the faithfull in Christ, vnto the naturall coniunction, life and growth of the naturall vine and her

branches. 6. Lastly, as the husbandman on earth loueth, careth for, and purgeth his vine with his handes and instruments, his corne fieldes, &c. so the heauenly fa∣ther loueth, and purgeth his Church and his people by his Spirit, word, and sacra∣ments. &c. And like as wise Princes commit their sonnes to the custodie and instruction of wise and faithfull men, so the heauenly Father commendeth the e∣ducation of his children to his holy labou∣rers, and by their Ministrie hee prepareth such on eaith, as he purposeth to aduance to the kingdome of his glory, to be fellow heires with Iesus Christ in heauen.

Againe, all that heauenly and most sweet parable, the song of Salomon, tendeth principally to expresse this inspeakeable communion: comparing it often vnto the holy vnion which is betweene man and wife, in that mariage which is in the Lord: and so doth the Apostle: and concludeth •…•…that wee are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

3 And this firme coniunction which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in this mysticall body is againe notably •…•…id before vs, by the similitude of the na∣turall

body and the essentiall parts of the same. 1. Cor. 12. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Thus when we see by these few places how the holy spirit doth demonstrate vn∣to vs a most certaine and reall coniuncti∣on and communion betwixt Christ and all the faithfull heere on earth. And yet heere is no corporall commixtion of our soules with his, or any coniunction of na∣tures, neither is this a bare consent of mindes onely but an inspeakeable con∣iunction is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by meanes of the words of re•…•…ation without, and the holy spirit of Christ within working effectually: almightie in power to knit together things most •…•…arre distant, as one soule bin•…•…es head and •…•…eete together in one body. To be •…•…ort, the Lord to bring his children to this high pitch of honour and dignitie, doth proceede with them in this manner as followeth.

First, the holy spirit singleth and seue∣reth th•…•…m out of the world by the •…•…ound of •…•…is Gospel: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 15. 19. I haue chosen you out of the world. And receiueth them to his owne house •…•…nd •…•…amilie. Ephe. 2. 18. 19 Ye are no more strangers and forreners,

but citizens with the Saints of the houshold of God.

The 2. effect is: Hee prepareth our hearts by faith to receiue Christ. And to this end. 1. he renueth the minde. 2. hee giueth an vnderstanding heart. Marc 4. 10. •…•…1. to receiue Christ by faith. Ioh. 1. 11. To renue the mind his light dispelleth ig∣norance, & bringeth in that wōderful do∣ctrine which cōue•…•…teth the soule. Psal 199.

To renue the heart, 1. he sof•…•…th and humbleth it by the preaching of Gods law. Ezech. 11. 19. 20. 2. he causeth it with sighes and grones to confesse, Rem. 826. There is no good thing in my flesh. 3. the heart hungreth after Christ, and his righteous∣nesse. Mat. 5. 6. 4. Lastly, he worketh in the heart that admirable worke of God, Iohn 629. Even a pretious and victorious faith to receiue (as with a hād) Iesus Christ and his benefits. Ioh. 1. 12.

The 3. effect, and worke of Gods spirit is: hee giueth them as a free gift vnto Christ. Ioh. 1027. 924. And Christ vnto them againe in like maner. Rom 8 3. 2. Cāt. 2. 16. My welheloued is mine an•…•… I am his.

The 4. effect. The holy spirit doth in

a most wonderfull and reall manner knit their soules and hearts vnto Christ, and Christ ento them againc: so that Christ become the head, and the beleeuer the liuely member of Christ. So as the bran∣ches haue not a m•…•…re certaine sap life, and growth by the vine, then the true beleeuer hath life, grace and growth in al good gra∣ces from Christ. lab. 15. 1. 2. For this cause the Apostle saith truly. We are mibers of his body, of his flesh & of his bones. Ep•…•… 5. 38. 21

Fiftly, then Christ doth communicate [ 5] vn•…•…o them, being thus vnited vnto him by the wonderfull worke of his spirit, all graces and blessings which conce•…•…ne their euerlasting saluation. 1. They are co∣uered with his righteousnes as with a gol∣den robe, Gal. 2. 27 They receiue by his spirit the precious vertue of his death, which hath a great •…•…fficacie to kill sinne. Rom 6. 6. Gal. 6 15. and the vertue of his buriall to rot sin, that so they may loath it as an vnsa•…•… carrion, being crucified and slaine in them: and the vertue of his resurrection. Phil. 38. 9. whereby they are made new creatures. Gal 6. 15. 16.

3 Because of this communi•…•…n wee are

said to bee partakers of the diuine nature. And the beleeuer may speake all this the Apostle speaketh, in his owne person; I am crucified with Christ, but I liue, yet not I any more, but Christ liueth in me, and in that I now liue in the flesh, I liue by faith in the sonne of God, who hath loued me, and giuen himselfe for me. Insignis sententia fideles extra se vi∣uere: id est in Christo; A notable saying (saith maister Cal.) the faithfull •…•…ue without them∣selues in Christ.

6 Lastly, when they are thus highly aduanced into the communion of the holy Trinitie, all the holy Angels and Saints of God: they slay not then in one stay, but they must haue their dayly con∣firmation by the said word and spirit, that so they may haue a holy growth vnto a per∣fect man, and vnto the measure of the age, of the full growth or fulnesse of Christ.

And this growth is signified vnto vs, by the growth and increase which is to be seene in the partes of any naturall body. Ephe 4. 15. Let vs follow the trueth in loue, and in all things grow vp to him, which is the head, that is Christ. And againe, Col. 2. 19. All the body furnished and knit togi∣ther

by ioynts and bands increaseth with the encreasing of God. Thus farre briesly of this holy communion.

The third promise; And I will deliuer him. The Lord will haue his childrē wade through afflictions, yea sometimes to bee smitten with the plague it selfe: but hee will deliuer them: that is, hee will restore him to health if that bee good for him, or else he wil change this miserable and tran∣sitorie life, with the happy and immor∣tall life, which is best of all. Blessed is the man whom God correcteth therefore refuse not thou the chast•…•… of the Almightie, for hee maketh the wound, and bindeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vp, hee smiteth, and his hands make whole: he shall de∣liuer thee in fixe troubles, and in the seuenth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall not touch thee.

The fourth promise. And I will bring him to honour. It is not to bee doubted but God hath per•…•…ormed this promise alwayes to his children: whether wee vn∣derstand it of an earthly •…•…anour or an hea∣uenly, they which faile of this one, are sure notwithstanding of the other, and sometime of both, Ioseph and Daniel of both after great aduersitie: Hezek•…•…as, Da∣uid

and Iob, of both, after plagues and pe∣stilentiall maladies. Yet Lazarus and many of his condition, wanting this vaine and transitory glory, haue receiued the greater measure of the heauenly.

Here againe, I do not thinke, but that he putteth vs in minde of the glory of our resurrection, and of our regeneration, where assuredly our glory begins. 2. Cor. 1. 18. which while wee consider (albe∣it afflictions for the present are gree∣uous) yet wee must be wonderfully chea∣red and com•…•…orted: for howsoeuer heere for a moment, our bodies bee subiect to many most grieuous and noysome disea∣ses, for our correction and chasticement, and after to putrefaction: yet in the ende, they shall be •…•…illed with a wonderfull glo∣ry, For they shall shine in the resurrection as the Sunne, and shall be like the Angels of God. Whereas the wicked shall ari•…•…e to a grea∣ter shame then if they were filled with all the sores and plagues of Aegypt. And therefore this promise much comforted Iob: •…•…or thus he speaketh of it in his great passions most chearefully: I am sure that my Redeemer l•…•…cth, and he shall stand the

last on the earth, and though after my skinn•…•…, wormes destroy this body; yet shall I see God in my flesh, whom I my selfe shall see, and mine eyes shall behold, and none other for me, though my reynes are consumed within mee.

The fifth promise. With length of daies will I sanctifie him. Here I iudge this pro∣mise, as that aforegoing, and the last which followeth, concerneth both the life present, and that which is to come. The faithfull then in that plague looked euery m•…•…ment for death, and therefore they haue this promise to comfort them. An old age is promised as a blessing often to the godly, and they haue so accounted it. Gen. 15. 15.

Thou shal come to thy fathers in peace, and shalt be buried in a good old age. So Ged•…•…on is buried in a good age. Iudges, 8. 32. And Da∣uid full of daies, riches, and honour. 1. Chron. 29 28.

Surely olde age, and gray haires is a Crowne of glory to the righteous and godly man. For thus the holy Spirit speaketh: Age is a Crowne of glory, when it is found in the way of righ∣teousnesse:

but all things are turned into sinne, and accursed to the wicked and vn∣godly.

Againe, Gods children are more satisfi∣ed here on earth with a fewe daies, then the wicked are with Nestors yeares.

And concerning long dayes in hea∣uen, there shall be dayes continually and no more nightes. The heauenly Ieru∣salem hath no neede of the Sunne, neither of the Moone to shine in it: for the glory of God doth light it: and the Lambe is the light of it.

The 6. and last promise, I will shewe him my saluation.

This promise of all the rest is most com∣fortable. And here two things must be considered. First, who see their salua∣tion, or to whome it is shewed. Se∣condly, where and when it is shewed vs, and seene by vs. For the first: not eue∣ry man can see into this mysterie, no not euery professour of the Gospell: first he must be, as he is described in this Psalme, a faithfull man, a godly man, a righteous man, watchfull ouer his wayes, a deuout man, fearing God; the Lord doth assure

such in time by his good spirit, of their election, adoption, vocation, and euerla∣sting saluation. Rom. 8. 15. Eph. 430. All the faithfull ought to striue daily in all re∣ligious seare, to come to the knowledge, and the full assurance by faith of their saluation. Secondly, if thou demandest when and where the faithfull see their saluation: I answere, that they see it both on earth and in heauen: first in earth they see it as in a glasse, two waies: •…•…st by saith when they see Christ, and haue the assu∣rance of his benefits in their h•…•…ts by the holy spirit: secondly, by •…•…eeling, when they •…•…eele the power and vertue of Christ working in them true mo•…•…ficaton and sanctification of life. Again they see their saluation in heauen, when they come to the present possessiō of that crown which is purchased for them, then shall they no more see darkly: for •…•…ohn saith; We know that when he sh•…•… appeare we •…•…all bee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, for we shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as he is: and be with him where he is. 10 17 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 24.

Note here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…sts and Ath•…•…sts till the Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your eye•…•… with his eye •…•…alue, you can neuer but doubt of your

saluation, for he alone doth shew it, whom, and where, and when he will. To be short, this is a most soueraigne comfort for all Gods people, and euer hath bene in all paines and griefes of this present life, plagues, persecutions, and all euils what∣soeuer. Iob reioyceth in his miserie, say∣ing: I am sure my redeemer liueth, and I shall see him, &c.

Notes

• 2. Iohn. 1. 3.
• Iohn. 17. 20.
• 2. Cor. 13 4.

  A parable is a speech comparing like things together, to stirre vp affection to illustrate a∣ny doubt, and to shew the effectu∣all working of any thing by most fa∣miliar and best known •…•…tudes.

  1. Cor. 2. 9. Es. 5.
• Ethe. 14. 15.

  •…•…ere. 15. 17.

  An vnder∣stand•…•…ng •…•…eart o•…•… a •…•…ng heart.

  Mat. 13. 15.
• Iustificati∣tion. Sanctifica∣tion.
• 2. Pet. 1. 4.
• Gal. 2. 20.
• Iohn Cal. Com in Gal. verse 2. 10.
• 2. Pet. 3. 18.

  Ep•…•…e. 4. 13.
• Iob. 5. 17. 18. 19.
• Mat. 13. 43
• Dan. 12. 5.
• Iob. 19.

  verse 25.
• If Sathan be sent to tor∣ment the body, remē∣ber Iobes comfort
• 1. Tim. 4. 8.

  Prou. 5. 1. 2.

  Pro. 4. 10. 25. 8.

  C•…•…itie bo∣na, senio sa∣tur.

  Pro. 16. 31.

  Age nor ho∣nour make men wi•…•…e, but the spi∣rit of God.

  Iob. 32. 8 9
• Com. 5.
• Keue. 21. 23.
• 1 Who see their salua∣tion.
• Psal. 23. 6.
• 2 Cor. 3. 12. 18.

  Io. 8. 56.

  Heb. 11. 1.
• Eph 320.

  Ph•…•… 3. 8. 10. 19.

  2. Cor. 13. 4.

  Gal. 6. 14. 15. 16.
• 1. 10. 3. 2.
• Ch. 19.