This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
Know we not that Weeping is the surest forme of Supplica∣tion to obtaine any thing of the Lord? With whom.
— Lachryma pondera vocis habent.
Teares are words, and more then words; For the multitude of words is not so perswasiue, as a few Teares are prevalent, be∣cause words may proceede from the Tongue onely. But Teares commonly from a broken Heart possessed either with Feare or Loue; Weeping may seeme a Ser∣pent to devoure vs, but if we step boldly vnto it, we may take it by
the tayle (as Moses his Rod) and it will foorthwith turne into a Rod of Comfort. Why then should we be so afraid of Wee∣ping, which is so highly com∣mended, so straightly comman∣ded, and so indifferently com∣municated to all that loue the Lord Iesus; Who loveth accep∣teth, preserveth, honoureth, bles∣seth, and never forsaketh them that Weepe? If the Inscription of Constantines Crosse could assu∣redly perswade him of Victory, much more may we through Instruction of the Weeping Crosse, fully belieue, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, To prevaile with all and in all. If Weeping argueth both the Mag∣nanimitie of the Saints, for, Vir fortis non est minus laudabilis in luctu, quam in bello, Our Courage is no lesse praise-worthy in Weeeping then Warring, saith,
devout Bernard; And excellen∣cy of the Saints, as the very Hea∣then by nature did maintaine, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, They affirmed that the most ex∣cellent were most enclined to Weeping. If Weeping (I say) argueth the only true excellen∣cy and generous Magnanimity of the Saints, Servants, and Soul∣diers of the Lord vpon earth, vnjustly and vndeservedly doe Wanton Worldlings condemne it, because they affect it not. A∣las, they doe not know, neither consider that Weeping over∣commeth the invincible God, appeaseth the intractable Man, and tormenteth the Devill more then Hell-fire. For, Nec Vehe∣mentius Satan prosternitur, nec acriores dolores insligimus, quam quum plagas peccatorum plorand•• sanamus; Satan is never more
shamefully vanquished, or cruel∣ly tortured, then when we cure the wounds of sinne with Wee∣ping. Alas! They know not that Weeping only is the water that quencheth the heate of Gods anger, that qualifieth the force of his iustice, that recove∣reth the losse of his mercy, and exciteth in our hearts, the spring of all his comforts. Chrysostome called it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A Medicine which is able to cure the eyes; But we adde fur∣ther, that this Soveraigne Medi∣cine hath vertue in it to excere∣brate all Cares, to expectorate all Feares, to euacuate all Griefes, to exhaust all Passions, and to ex∣hilarate the whole Man. If we should part with all we haue, all our delights, all our desires, we part with no more then nothing,
for the enjoying of this Grace, which doth more sweetely re∣fresh vs, more abundantly satis∣fie vs, and more fully assure vs of the favour of God, then all that we are able to part from; For so much as Weeping doth infallibly prooue our Vnion with God, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Nothing combineth and so fast vniteth vnto God, as teares, saith Chrysostome. Weeping then is a signe that two Extreames, the Mourner and the thing mourned for are combined into one. For as they that Weepe for Earthly things are earthy; So they that Weepe for Heavenly things are Heavenly and vnited vnto God, Though not Naturally, yet Spiri∣tually; Not transformed in Na∣ture, but changed in Affections and whole manner of life: That
as Iron cast into the Fire, shew∣eth that it hath taken the Quali∣ties of the Fire, and yet ceaseth not to remaine Iron; So hee that Weepeth is partaker of the Puritie and Sanctitie of God, though still hee abide Man. Weepe then, O Christian, and vilifie the false Imputation of Pu∣sillanimitie; Esteeming it more modest and Religious, Erranti∣um imperitiam silentio spernere, quam loquendo dementium Insa∣niam provocare, Tovilifie their Ignorance by silence, then to provoke their phrantick mad∣nesse by replying; for Weeping is the Language of Heaven, and the strongest voyce to call vpon God. Howsoever, Lord grant, I may not only be permitted, but ena∣bled to Weepe.
Psal 23 4.
Euseb de Vita Const. l. 1. c. 22.
Bern Serm. 10, de m••do viven.
Zenob. Cent. 1. Prou. 14.
Aug. Hem 50.
Chrys ad pop. Anti∣och. Hom. 5.
Chr••s. Hom. 6. in Matth.
Cypr. ad Demet.