Dauids comfort at Ziklag. A plaine sermon made in time of dearth and scarcitie of corne and worke. By Robert Harris.

DAVIDS COMFORT AT ZIKLAG.

1. SAM. 30.6.

And Dauid was greatly distressed, for the people spake of stoning him, because the soule of all the people was grieued, euery man for his sonnes, and for his daughters: but Dauid en∣couraged himselfe in the Lord his God.

THese words briefly report Da∣uids distresse at Ziklag: which distresse is first in grosse said to be great; and then more parti∣cularly, enlarged from the cau∣ses and effects thereof. The cause (ouer and aboue his pri∣nate losse) is the mutinie of his owne people,

who are 1. imbittered vpon the losse of their children, taken by the Amalekites (against whom their zeale should haue been greater;) and there∣upon in the next place would haue stoned Dauid, as the authour of so much mischiefe. Dauid then was in danger of his head: hee was like enough to dye by the hand of his friends, as a malefactor without tryall; and this distresses him. Now for the effects: Dauid first comforts and stayes himselfe on God; who was able to helpe all, be∣ing the Lord; & ready, being his God. Secondly, hauing comforted him selfe in God, hee consults with God: where 1. the meanes on his part is mentioned, Gods own meanes: 2. the answer on Gods part, a direct answer; both for the means to be vsed, and successe to be expected: he should follow and he should certainly speed. Wee will not forestall another by any exact enquiry into the words, but acquaint you with some generall meditations, that haue beene to one, and may be to you, somewhat vsefull.

First, * 1.1 this is in sight: That the Lord doth some∣times suffer his dearest seruants to be greatly 〈…〉〈…〉∣stressed: Men greatly beloued, as Dauid was, are many times greatly straightned, as Dauid was. To proue this, were to waste time. First, see When they are chiefly thus distressed; secondly, Why: and as for kinds of distresses, we shall touch them in application, and so saue time. It shall suffice (for the present) to say, that Gods children drink of all waters, and haue experience of all afflicti∣ons,

and that chiefly in these times. First, when they haue left Gods counsels, and followed their owne deuices. Gods children are neuer worse hampered, than in nets of their owne weauing: when they will be witty eyther against God, or without God, then they spinne a wofull threed, a Spiders webbe. For carnall reason is a very bad counsailor, and puts a man vpon euill meanes; and none can draw a good conclusion from ill premisses, but only God. Therfore when Chri∣stians haue lost Gods wisedome and his wayes, and betaken themselues to their owne wit and wayes, they haue plunged themselues wonder∣fully. A man is secure and confident in his owne courses, like a childe that leaues his fathers coun∣saile, and followes his owne; and the fresh-water souldier, that will be a Pilot before hee is fit for a Mariner, and thereupon runnes his ship vpon the sands. Thus Ionah was greatly distressed when hee would be wiser than God: thus Abraham greatly distressed, Gen. 20. when he would liue by his wits: thus Dauid, he had so contriued it, that neyther Saul, nor Achitophell, nor any of them all should touch him, and now hee is in all their dangers, vnlesse God helpe him out. And neuer doe Gods children please themselues greatly in their owne contriuements, but thus they speed: where they expect great safety, they are greatly endangered; where much comfort, greatly di∣stressed.

2 Secondly, when they haue receiued great blessings and comforts from God, then comes pride and securitie, and that's a forerunner of a fall. Great mercies worke great thoughts and spirits in vs; and great thoughts make way for great afflictions. We will not instance in Nebu∣chadnezzar. Dauid prospered greatly, God had set him on high, made his mountaine strong, his heart grew secure, then came trouble. Hezekiah was greatly distressed, and when was it? after great deliuerances and blessings: V〈…〉〈…〉iah and Asa the like. Mans heart cannot beare a great mea∣sure of comfort, no more than his head can a great measure of wine: therefore eyther God mingles their wine when they take it, or present∣ly after; or else they be giddy, and must be di∣stressed. Hence S. Paul after great consolations had great temptations and afflictions; * 1.2 and the blessed Virgin Mary in S. Luke is told of a sword when of a sonne, * 1.3 that must through her heart as well as Christ through her loynes.

3 Thirdly, when they be to receiue some great comfort from God, when God hath some great employment, or preferment, or deliuerance, or consolation in store for his children, hee makes way thereto by some great affliction of bodie, minde, state, friends &c. as men lay the foundati∣on very deepe when they meane to raise the buil∣ding very high. Thus Ioseph was greatly distres∣sed, but when? when he must be a Prince shortly

after: thus Dauid greatly impouerished, when? when shortly after he must come to the Crowne. Generally, as in darke nights it is darkest to∣wards day-breake: so tis with the Saints of God; the sharpest fit is euer at the birth, when they bee deliuered of their sorrow. So God makes his comforts more tastefull and lesse dangerfull to them; and therefore first mars them, then makes them; vndoes them, crushes them, and then rayses them vp.

These be speciall times: the generall should haue beene first noted, viz. When Gods chil∣dren haue gotten some stocke and strength; for the Lord is wise, and will not vse an Iron Instru∣ment to thresh out Cummin; * 1.4 hee will not lay weight vpon greene Timber, but first season it, and then employ it after. * 1.5 Thus while Peter was young hee walked at large, but after was di∣stressed. Thus for the When.

Now Why doth God bring such distresses on his? you may partly ghesse by the When. He respects himselfe, his Church, his particular children in it.

First, God gaines glory many waies by this. * 1.6 First, his power is seene in their distresses, his loue, goodnesse, truth, &c. Then the Saints can say with Iob, Now mine eyes haue seene thee.

2 Secondly, * 1.7 then not only present power and mercie is seene, but former: Wee see what power was vsed in preuenting miserie, what

mercie in giuing comfort.

And thirdly, then God shall haue their cu∣stome and companie. Children that care not for Parents in prosperitie, will to them in miserie; theyle come early, come euery whit of them. Dauid could comfort himselfe in his wiues, in his children before, but now ail are met in God; no wise but God, no child nor friend but God: now hee goes all one way, and now his confes∣sions and prayers bee such as will set out God indeed; prayes more and more spiritually than euer, &c.

Secondly, * 1.8 God aymes at the Churches good in this. 1. whilest shee is a spectator, she layes about her in the getting and exercising of grace: others deepe sorrowes makes all see how need∣full it is to get much saith, patience, Scriptures in a readinesse. 2. these stirre vp to prayers, mer∣cies, &c. as when Peter is in Prison, one behea∣ded, another imprisoned, they thought twas time to pray; therefore Acts 12. they set about it earnestly: So for mercie, when they saw the Church distressed, famine comming towards her, they saue and lay vp, as Ioseph for Egypt. 2. when themselues be afflicted, they helpe themselues by the afflictions of others. Such went before mee in this affliction, and God loued them, why not, mee: Such cryed and sped well, why not I: Psal. 34. They follow the cloud, and doe not miscarry. Heb. 12.

Thirdly, * 1.9 God aymes at the parties good in great distresses: hereby they are tried, humbled, haue experience of their frailties and graces. A Christian knowes little of himselfe till much distressed, neither what his weakenesse, not what his strength in Christ is: hee neither sees how poore himselfe is, nor how great his God is. 2. hereby they are brought to receiue often sen∣tence of miserie, death, h••ll in themselues; and tis good to taste these things before we fecle them; twill empty a man of himselfe, and make him trust in the liuing God; twill learne him those three Lessons of Christianitie, that S. Paul hath clapt vp in one verse, Phil. 3.3. i. to worship God spiritually, to make Christ his iov, to lay down all confidence in the flesh: and 3^ly. hereby they are made helpefull to others. There is little to bee expected from man till deepely plunged. 1. Hee cannot pity others till experience hath taught him. 2. he will not be seruiceable till af∣flictions haue humbled and broken him. 3. hee knowes not how to comfort others till himselfe hath beene wounded and healed. But when hee hath learned by experience, he can make his own plaister serue another man, and comfort him in the same affliction with the same consolation. And those bee the sweetest and surest comforts, when a man can say, my case was iust the same, & here is the scripture, the medicine that wrought the cure in me. 2 Cor. 1.

First for the wicked: * 1.10 leaue them but these Scriptures to thinke vpon. If this bee done to the greene Tree, what shall bee done to the dry? If God beginne with the people that call vpon his Name, what shall the end of the enemies be? Are there not strong plagues for the workers of Iniquitie, Iob 31? shall not they be distressed?

2 The chief Vse is to Saints: Let not them question their sonneship because of afflictions. In this nonage the Heire differs little from a ser∣uant: You can make no certaine Conclusion from outward things: doe not offer it, vnlesse you will wrong God, Christ, the Generation of the Iust, your owne soules, all at once.

Ob. But what shall bee said to extraordinary afflictions?

Ans. 1. If such, God hath determined the case in Iob, against those disputants: They are no good proofes of a bad person or condition.

Ans. 2. But ours be not extraordinary, nothing hath befallen vs, but what is humane.

Ob. No? when did you heare of such a dearth as is now vpon vs? Ans. When? why when an Asses head was worth foure pound, 2 King. 6. Therefore infer nothing against the truth of our Church from thence.

Ob. Oh but would the lining God so affict me if his Child?

An. So: how?

Ob. O I am crossed in a childe as no man was so vngratefull, so vnnaturall.

Ans. Yes, except David, Ely, and yet those be∣loued.

Ob. Oh but I haue such a beast to my husband as no woman euer had.

Ans. Yes, Abigaell.

Ob. Oh but my estate is broken all to pieces, I am nothing worth.

Ans. So was Dauid at Ziklag: so Naomie: and yet beloued.

Ob. Oh but I haue sold all, and now want bread.

Ans. So the Widow of Sarepta, 2 King. 4. Neh. 5. Lam. 4. and yet beloued.

Ob. Oh but my bodie is smitten too.

Ans. So Dauids & Iobs, & yet beloued of God.

Ob. Oh but my spirit is wounded, I am scorcht with the flames of hell, and feele it in my consci∣ence.

Ans. So Iob and Dauid.

Ob. But I am disabled from all seruice, I can neither pray, nor read, nor heare, nor liue, not dye.

Ans. So the Saints, Psal. 102. the Church in Esay; and yet beloued.

Ob. Oh but I am torne to pieces with hellish blasphemous Temptations.

Ans. Christ had such offered outwardly, yet beloued.

Ob. But I am haled with lusts, now impure lusts, now couetous lusts, reuengefull lusts, and they

make me weary of my life. So Paul, Rom. 7. Gal. 5. yet beloued. What then is to be resolued vpon? Surely, that neither things present, nor things to come, shal euer separate vs from the loue of God; for no afflictions forfeit our Title.

Ob. Oh but mine be fins, passions, temptations.

Ans. Let them bee what they will be; if they be afflictions to vs; if they tire vs, wound vs, make vs cry to God, as Ichosaphat did, when they pur∣sue vs, they weaken not our Title. Oh but that the smart of them may do without the hatred of sin: they may weary men because painefull, not because sinfull. They may; but marke, 1. these two be not well opposed: often the painefulness comes from the sinfulnesse; were they not sinful, wee could brooke them well enough for their pleasure and profit. 2. if opposed, paine in hy∣pocrites only followes sins committed. Thou art distressed before hand, and in great feare lest thou shouldst commit it; as Paul, Who shall deliuer me from the bodie of death? 2. great sinnes are painefull onely, if nothing but paine bee heeded. Thou art troubled with the first motions, a whole bodie of sinne. 3. sinne is only painefull to the vnsanctified. Thou art troubled as much for want of faith, loue, humilitie, thankefulnesse, as for the ouerflowing of sinne. 4. paine makes one howle, but not to God, at least in the first place. But sinne driues a Dauid first to God, then to men; ends in prayer, & not in chasing despaire.

And is it thus with thee? either condemne Da∣uid, or say, a man may be crossed in wife, childe, house, goods, friends, kinsmen, all at once; nay hazzarded in his life, tempted in his soule, trou∣bled in his conscience plunged into a sea of mise∣ries, and yet be deare to God; a blessed man, a glorious Christian. witnesse Dauid.

In the next place, * 1.11 they thinke and speake of stoning Dauid. See our nature; In crosses wee are apt to flye vpon men, rather than to fall down and humble our selues before God. Thus, were the Israelites crossed? they murmure at Moses, and they will stone him. Want they wa∣ter? stone Moses: Want they meate? stone Moses. And thus the King of Israel at Samaria, Abab for Eliah, &c. Nay wee see this disease too strong in Saints: Sarah, in the 16. of Genesis, Asa &c.

Reas. 1. The reason is cleere: first, wee stoope not to God, because wee are naturally emptie of Faith: wee cannot see him, wanting an eye thats spirituall: wee will not, because wee expect no helpe from him; and it is Faith that makes vs stoope, Lam. 3.

2 Wee chafe at man, because proude; and therefore fretfull and complayning: 2. guile∣full, and therefore rather translate than confesse our faults; like children, that will rather quarrell with seruants for complayning, than themselues for offending.

Vse 1. Feare this distemper in nature, and watch which way our hearts are working in the day of affliction. Vnlesse the crosse bee verie immediate, our hearts breake out towards men rather than God; and wee sooner fret, chafe, threaten, curse, than confesse, pray, submit: & this is a fearefull sinne, beware of it. And now lets not speake in the language of the wicked; Tis long of Dauid, therefore stone him: tis long of Corne-masters who hold-in corne, that theres such scarcitie, therefore downe with them: tis long of Inclosers, therefore downe with them: tis long of hard Land-lords, and therefore down with them, long of Merchants that transport: tis long of some mens pride, others wastfulnesse, others wantonnesse; and so grow bitter against others: But say, tis long of mee and my fathers house; my sinnes haue encreased wrath vpon Is∣rael; I haue beene proude, wanton, wastefull, a∣bused plenty, murmured &c. I haue sinned the sinnes of others, in that I haue spoken of them with more delight than griefe, in that I haue not wept for them, stood in the gap; otherwise God would neuer beate anothers sinnes on my backe. Thus lets doe, fret at our owne sinnes, befoole our selues; and not onely so, but in stead of cha∣fing at men, cast downe our selues before God, see the rod, and God appointing it: that done, goe to God as Dauid doth, goe by faith, goe in the workes of repentance, goe for counsaile; lye

at his foote, saying, Lord wee yeeld, wee yeeld: if thou wilt haue vs poore, wee will be poore; if thou wilt haue our goods, houses, habitations, here we are, and we resigne that which wee haue forfeited a thousand times: This the onely re∣medy theres left vs. We must not spend our time in inueighing against others, but in accusing our selues: wee must not imbitter our hearts, by dwelling vpon the instruments, but humble them by looking vp to God, and hush them by a free submission or our selues. Fretting doth but en∣crease our miserie, subiection and yeeldance only easeth vs; and therefore say as they, Lamen. 3. 22.—40.

2 Comfort, if stormes doe not breed thistles and nettles in our ground: Comfort, if crosses do not draw passions, oathes, curses, repinings, ray∣lings, but prayers, confessions &c. from vs. O tis well when being let bloud, our veynes send out that which is pure, not now that which is blacke, poy soned: This argues a good constituti∣on, yea the finger of God; for crosses of them∣selues are not so much as purgatiue, much lesse alteratiue: Tis grace that changes our complexi∣on, and tis as good a signe when crosses take well, as when the Word doth. If then wee finde that our crosses send vs homeward, set vs against our sinnes, make vs cry out, because wee can forgiue no more, beare no more, because wee bee so full of wrath, passion &c. lets blesse God for this

cure: for nature chafes, moralitie bites it in; on∣ly sanctitie makes sinne odious, stirres vp desires of grace, puls downe flesh, sets vp God in Christ; in short, improues the crosse.

Followeth, * 1.12Their soules are bitter for their chil∣dren: so the childes miserie is the parents bitter∣nesse: Tis gall and wormwood to a parent to see his sonnes and daughters deliuered to miserie.

Reas. If there be grace in the parent, then the parent sees his owne sinne in the childes smart: It grieues a good man to see a beast, a stranger bleed for him, much more his childe.

2 If but nature, yet nature is strong in wor∣king, that hath so mingled fathers and children, that in one both are sinitten; both bleed and smart, both liue and dye together.

Vse 1. For vngratefull children: Think of this; your sorrowes are your parents forrowes, your shame theirs, your paine theirs, your losse theirs; and if you loue not your selues, loue your pa∣rents: kill not them by your wickednesse, fill not their soules with gall who haue fed you with milke.

Vse 2. Against those that robbe and spoile, op∣presse, defraud and beggar yongue and old, the mother and the childe vpon her: Oh tis a feare∣full sin to ruine houses and townes, to lay whole families on heapes, to set father, mother, sonne, daughter all on weeping; the crye of so manie will surely to heauen, the smart of so many will

deeply imbitter; when children shall crye to pa∣rents for bread and they haue it not, when they shall call for portions and they haue none, for coates and they haue none, food and money and they haue none, when they shall looke one way on the miseries of their children, another way on the vniustice, vnmercifulnesse, oppression of Land-lords, of Creditors, and see themselues and theirs for euer betrayed to misery through the default of others; Oh this fills the heart with many a bitter thought, the mouth with many a bitter curse; the father curses, the mother curses, the sonne curses, the daughter curses; they lye at God, and giue him no rest till hee reuenge them vpon such hurtfull persons: and that God that would not haue a bird killed from her yongue, will heare these curses, and make the earth, and stones, and walls of mens houses, and lands to feele them: Oh then doe not robbe, kill, crush mens sonnes and daughters, this will worke bit∣ternesse in others, to vs, to ours.

Vse 3. For instruction to vs all: Is it so bitter to see our children in misery, captiuity? then meete the Lord before sentence goes forth, lest our soules be made bitter for our sons and daugh∣ters: should the Lord send the sword amongst vs to our Ziklags, and wee should see our daughters rauished, our sonnes butchered before our eyes, would not this bee bitter? Should wee see ones legge off, a seconds arme, a thirds head, a fourth

crying to vs, hanging on vs, would not this bee bitter? should wee see the Amalekites in our land, our children carried away for slaues, would not this be bitter? should our children fall in the streets for bread, dye for thirst, they ready to eat vp vs, we ready to chop them to the pot, would not this bee bitter? Oh how could our eyes be∣hold these things, how could our soules digest so great bitternesse? Oh lets now preuent this, that we may neuer see or feele it: Tell mee not, theres no danger: the Word of God is agaiust vs; most of those sinnes which haue brought Captiuitie, Sword, Famine vpon others, are amongst vs: wee see the Lord hath begunne already, and our brethren haue begun to vs in this bitter cup. O the bitter lamentations in Germa∣nie; fathers, mothers weeping for their sonnes that bee not: Oh England, looke to it that wee drinke not vp the dregges; Oh that thou wouldst fast and mourne in publicke; Oh that you would each in priuate. Here each man wept bitterly for his sonnes and daughters, but it was too late, they were gone: Nay, twas not too late; though gone, teares will waft them home againe: those teares that will recouer chil∣dren, will continue children; therefore each man for himselfe, for his sonnes, weepe apart, pray, fast, mourne, wiues apart, husbands apart, chil∣dren apart; stand before the Lord as Iehoshaphat did with your little ones, and say, Oh Lord spare

our Ziklags, our houses, our sons, our daugh∣ters, spare them from the sword, from famine, from pestilence, from misery and who knowes but that the Lord may yet haue mercie?

He comforted himselfe (or, strengthened, all is one) for the ioy of the Lord is strong.

Doct. The world is neuer so empty of com∣forts but that comfort may be found in God: though there be somewhat a dearth of comfort in the earth, yet Gods house is euer filled; in heauen comfort is to bee had when none in earth, in God when none in creatures. Daniel, Dauid, Paul; thousands would witnesse this if needefull.

The instance is plaine: when Dauid could not comfort himselfe in his wiues, nor his children, nor his goods, nor in any thing vnder the Sunne, he could in something aboue the Sunne, &c. And the Reason is at hand.

Reason. 1. God is the God of all consola∣tion, the Spring of comfort; if any water tis in the Sea, if any light tis in the Sunne, if any comfort tis in God, there it rests, there tis when no where else.

2. God is Al-sufficient; there the heart finds euery want supplyed, euery good thing lodged: if the discouragement grow from wants, want of power, want of wisedome, of comfort, of helpe, there the heart receiues answer; in God

there is enough; there tis to bee had, and that freely. As God is Al-sufficient to furnish vs with all necessaries, so infinite in power, wisedome, goodnesse, to helpe vs against all euils, feared or felt. It our discouragement grow from euils feared, looke vp to him and he can preuent all, as you see in Dauid and Esters story, and Paul: Da∣uid was neere to killing when Saul was now rea∣die to chop vpon him; the Church in Ester was at a low ebbe, when the lot was cast; Paul, when forty had vowed his death; Peter, when the next day he must dye, and but one night, houre, step betweene death and him, yet rescued.

2. If afflictions haue ouertaken vs and dis∣couraged vs, looke vp againe, and see how easily the Lord can take them off: this weeke Dauid hath neither wife, nor childe, nor corne, nor cattell, and by the next he hath his owne, and a great deale more: this yeare you see hee is worse than nought for wealth, the next a King; yea Peter can tell you, that imprisonment may be for a night, deliuerance ere morning; Dauids heauinesse may be your guest this night, ioy to morrow, Psal. 30.

3. If afflictions bee long and strong, and thence discouragement, looke vp againe and you shall finde, * 1.13 that after two dayes God will reuiue you, and you shall liue in his sight. Hee can heale old wounds in a short space; as in the captiuity, * 1.14 in the man in the Gospell; and deepe

wounds with a little tent. When Dauid is broken all to pieces, his estate to pieces, his houshold, his army, his heart (they had wept till wearie of weeping) Loe in two or three dayes he can make vp all againe.

4 If afflictions bee most bi••ter, and stinging, and lasting to our end, and therefore discourage∣ment; looke vp, and see, and God can ouer-top all these sorrowes with comfort, and sweeten the bitterest cup: why hee hath more consolations than there bee afflictions: as one abounds so the other. Hee hath stronger consolations than affli∣ctions, hee can make a Dauid for the present say Psal. 94.19. and for the time past, Tis good I haue beene afflicted; and for the future, * 1.15 Thou wilt bee my guide to the death, and so receiue mee to glo∣rie: yea hee can make a Peter sleepe in irons, a Paul sing in dungeons, * 1.16 a Marty reioyce in sufferings, Heb 10. Why then if in God may euer bee found that which will answer our wants, supply all our griefes, theres comfort still to be had.

Vse. Now then (Brethren) is not this God worth the hauing? You cannot alwaies haue com∣fort in wealth, comfort in health, comfort in neighbors, in children, in wiues, these be not al∣waies: these, while they be, doe sometime mini∣ster matter of griefe; yea, sometime their life & presence doth discourage: * 1.17 but in IEHOVA is constant peace, constant comfort, and ioy to bee

found; He is constantly good, great, true, &c. Oh get him; how euer you doe, get him, and you haue all; come what will come, he changes not, his comforts are sure; neuer cease seeking, beg∣ging, hearing, conferring, till his Image bee set vpon you, and your hearts assured of his loue. You haue seene the comforts of the world, you see how all cisternes faile you, goe to the foun∣taine, in the word of God, in the house of God, in the fauour of God, you shall haue comfort, in his light you shall see light, when others nothing but darkenesse round about. Oh then, thou that sittest in darkenesse, in the darkenesse of tempta∣tion, in the darkenesse of sinne, in the darkenesse of affliction, darkenesse of pouertie, debt; thou that seest no light, none within thee, none with∣out thee, none in thy soule, none in thy minde, none in thine estate, friends, &c. arise, put on beautie, come into the light, stand vp from the dead, (dead comforts, dead companions, dead workes) and the LORD shall giue thee life.

2. For Saints: why doe not they chide them∣selues, as Dauid did, and call vpon themselues for comfort? Surely, Ioy is comely; and it is their part to reioyce in God.

Ob. Oh but how can wee in sad times, in the middest of sorrow?

Ans. How did the Apostles? they reioyced in the stocks.

Ob. True in case of persecution: but how should we in affliction?

Ans. How doth Dauid? he had lost wife, child, all, yet hee comforts himselfe; in what? when all was gone? in God, in him was all; & so long as God stood to him, all staide with him.

Ob. But what if sinne haue haled afflictions on vs?

Ans. Dauid was not cleere, yet in God is com∣fort then; comfort, because hee is gracious and ready to pardon.

Ob. Yea, but what if the miserie be common, not particular and personall?

Ans. Such was Dauids, yet hee comforts him∣selfe. Why God can heale a Towne as soone as a man; a Shire as soone as a Towne; a Kingdome as soone as a Shire.

Ob. Yea, but what if ones ease be despemte?

Ans. So was Dauids to mens iudgements: houses burnt, goods gone, the enemie was gotten into possession; and yet Dauid comforts him selfe in God. And in truth, ther's no mane case, estate, soule, desperate to God: if wee were nothing, hee could make vs something, if worse than no∣thing, he could repaire vs.

Ob. Yea, but what if nothing left?

Ans. Yet if God loft, all is well, all is in him; all power, all wisedom all wealth, comfort, &c.

Ob. But the times 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exceeding hard.

Ans. But God is as kinde, as rich as euer; hea∣uen

as full, grace and comfort as cheape.

Ob. But when pouertie pinches, neede presses: what comfort then?

Ans. Yes, the consolations of God are strong: those crosses that seeme to swallow you, shall be very sufferable, if you flye to him. Oh then flye to him by faith, * 1.18 say as Hab. vlt. Though the Figge∣tree, &c. yet will I reioyce in the Lord. Flye by Prayer; and one faithfull Prayer will shake off these yokes as easily as Sampson did his bonds. Flye to the Word, & some Tychieus will comfort your hearts as S. Paul saith. Some one promise or other will settle you beyond expectation.

Ob. Oh but what if God himselfe be a terror, not a comfort?

Ans. The word speaketh bloud not peace; yet reconcile thy selfe to God, cast out sinne, cast thy selfe vpon his mercue: say, If any mercie or com∣fort in the world, tis in God; therefore to him Ile goe, there Ile lye at his gate, though hee kill me, Ile trust in him.

Ob. But what if I haue done so, and yet finde no comfort?

Ans. Waite, * 1.19 hearken, for the Lord will speake peace to his, &c. He that trusted in him never was ashamed. Heare then thou that lookest into thy barne, and ther's no comfort, corne is gone; into thy purse, ther's no com〈…〉〈…〉, mony is gone; into thy cupboard, ther's no comfort, bread is gone; vnto thy children, ther's no comfort, thy owne

flesh and bone is gone; into thy heart, and ther's no comfort, hope and ioy is gone; vnto thy friends and land, and behold darkenesse and sor∣row, Esay 5, the last verse. yet looke vpward to heauen, there comfort growes; to Christ, ther's comfort treasured; to God, and there the foun∣taine is as full as euer; conclude, God is mine, and therefore comfort is mine; hee is comfort with∣out bread, without friends, without life.

Next, Dauid consults with God in time of di∣stresse.

Doct. Wee must not spend time in whyning, fretting, musing; but wee must consult, and cast whats best to be done: The people doe the one, Dauid the other. So Iacob, Gen. 42.1. * 1.20 So the Egyptians to Pharaoth: the Philistims in Sa∣muel: And Ephraims folly is herein taxed, that hee would stand still at the birth, Hes 13.13. But I presse not this; onely for Vse thus much.

Vse. We are in Dauids straight (in a sense:) the people weep till they can weep no more, their soules be bitter for sonnes and daughters, yea too many speake almost of stoning euery Dauid, whom they conceiue to bee an occasion of their misery: What must wee doe? surely Dauid is a good patterne; 1. he comforts himselfe in God, so must we, else our who bee not our owne, nor graces, wee can neither speake to God nor man; discouragement robbes a man of all: 2. Dauid

goes to Gods ordinances, Gods word, Gods mouth, askes Gods aduice; so must wee, heare what God saith, what he calls for; and hee calls for more fasting, submission; calls vs from our feasts, fashions, laces, &c. 3. David forthwith executes what God speakes, so must wee; you haue beene told that this expence in feasting, in building, in houshould-stuffe, brauery for your selues and children, abuse of plenty would beg∣gar you; beleeue it now, confesse, amend it: and we tell you now, you must stoope that are poore, you must helpe that are rich, doe it, &c. But if wee should now, it were too late. No, God can fetch Ziklag againe when tis gone, if sought vnto: But what may bee done: You have heard (Belo∣ued) tis not in vain to seck to God 12. seek to God with teares, fastings, out with your sins, downe with your hearts, yeeld, yeeld, and acknowledge abuse of plentie: 3. vse policie, and prouide as Dauid did, worke, the maine defect is from want of worke: tis in vaine to speake of bringing downe ma〈…〉〈…〉 vnlesse there bee employment. Were barley 〈…〉〈…〉 shillings, if men have not worke tis all one: therefore you poore bee wil∣ling to worke for bread, you rich study to sinde worke; tis impossible to employ all: thus do, you that have money 〈…〉〈…〉 (out of feares) hoard it, produce, employ it, and bring not certaine mis∣chiefes vpon vncertaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉: a. you that haue wool, hemp, &c. now set it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c. 3. you that haue

land, loue tillage; men may discourse, but with∣out tillage such a land as this cannot stand: loue house-keeping; tis better keepe men as seruants, rather than as rogues, as masters: 4. you that haue meanes without land, helpe to sowe the land that this year will lye vntilled and vnsowne, without helpe, and make some bargaine with poor men, &c. Why but there is not employment for halfe. Yet againe: Why but theres no mony, theres little. Yet there might be more, if pride in lace, plate, &c. might downe, if vnbeliefe did not beare the keyes of their coffers that haue manie houses. Suppose there were lesse mony, pay men in corne, bread, cloth, &c. But theres no worke: No, looke to your fields, were ditches scoured, marishes drained, lands ploughed in many fields, it would quite cost: looke to your high wayes, all the poore in the Countrey bee scarce crow to ga∣ther and lay stones in them for some weekes, &c. But we have not to pay them. I answer once for all, better keepe them working than begging and wandring: kept they must be, and if they catch a haunt of idling and roguing, theyle bee past all shame, all worke, all thrift, all grace, and we shall all rue it: Therfore if you know better means, vse them, and set your wits on worke that something may be done, &c.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doct. 1.
• * 1.2

  2. Cor. 12.
• * 1.3

  Luc. 2.35.
• * 1.4

  Esay. 28.
• * 1.5

  Ioh. 21.
• * 1.6

  Reason 1.
• * 1.7

  Iob. 42.5.
• * 1.8

  Reas.2.
• * 1.9

  Reas. 3.
• * 1.10

  Vse.
• * 1.11

  Doct.
• * 1.12

  Doct.
• * 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.14

  Ioh. 5.5.
• * 1.15

  Isah. 119. & 73.
• * 1.16

  Act. 12 & 16.
• * 1.17

  Esay 20
• * 1.18

  Hab. 3.
• * 1.19

  Psal. 85.8.
• * 1.20

  Exod. 10.7.1. Sam. 6.2.