An epithrene: or Voice of vveeping bewailing the want of vveeping. A meditation.

§. 81.

Behold then, this Corrasiue Divinity may bee a sole Sove∣raigne Cordiall of Comfort, to those that in the Time of their troubles goe out of themselues, and with Weeping eyes looke vpward to the God of all Con∣solation, * 1.1 Whose anger endureth but for a moment, and in whose favour is life: For their Weep∣ing may endure for a Night, but joy commeth in the Morning•• Behold, * 1.2 the Lord doth wait that he may bee gracious vnto them, at the voyce of their cry; For when he shall heare it, hee will answere them. Oh happy hand which is so heavy vpon mourn∣full Sinners, that it suffereth them not to lye senselesse in their Sinnes, heaping to them∣selues wrath against the day of

wrath. It may be a Comfort a∣boue all comforts, that this hea∣vy hand raiseth them by VVeeping out of the ordour of their sinnes: For he that hath so loved them, will not leaue them; He that hath begunne his worke in them, will accomplish it, even as every Naturall cause leaveth not the worke vnfinished, which it beginneth; As the Vertue of the Seede ceaseth not in the blade, not in the Eare, not in the Leafe, not in the Flowre, vntill it bring forth fruit to perfect ripenesse; As the Bird never forsaketh her young, vntill she see them able both to flie, and to provide for themselues: So the Supernaturall Cause of all Causes is mooved by his infinite goodnesse and Loue, to finish the worke which hee hath begunne. Feare not then, Oh VVeeping Soule, The

workes of the Lord are perfect workes; * 1.3 Hee who hath begunne to loue thee, will never change, but will persist to perfect all his Gifts and Blessings vpon thee, that thou mayest rejoyce after thy VVeeping. For wherefore did he turne thy heart from Sin? VVherefore did he provoke thee to VVeeping? But because thou shouldest Wash and be cleane, and Rejoyce in thy cleannesse. The Eagle feeling his VVings heavy, * 1.4 is said to plunge them in a Fountaine, and so reneweth his strength; And every Christian that feeleth the heavy burden of Sinne, bathing himselfe in a Fountaine of teares, becommeth liuely and lustie like the Eagle: And as the Raine-bow in the Cloud, * 1.5 denounceth a present Showre, yet withall assureth, that VVaters shall no more become

a Flood to destroy the earth: So the Raine bow of Sorrow in the heart of a Sinner, may extort Teares from the eyes, yet never showreth downe the overflow∣ing waters of Confusion vnto Death, but the everflowing streames of the everlasting Cove∣nant of Grace, Mercy, * 1.6 and Repen∣tance vnto Salvation not to bee repented of. The cause then of our Dulnesse and Discontent∣ments in the dayes of our di∣stresses, * 1.7 is our dependance vpon the Reede of Egypt, or worldly meanes, whilst wee neglect the Principall meanes of VVeeping. Our corrupted Nature and Car∣nall Friends, will direct vs in Crosses and Calamities to Com∣pany, Musick, Discourse, Gaming, and the like, which are but as the drinking of hot VVines to qua∣lifie a burning Fever, a little plea∣sing

to the tast, but much encrea∣sing both the Paine and Danger of the Disease; And like the Fire, which

Que{que} magis tegitur, tantò magis astuat Ignis.

The more it is covered, the more it burneth. VVhereas all blessed Mourners may well assure themselues, that as after their Mourning they finde some preparation and beginning of all and every Grace they want or Weepe for: So what ever Grace by VVeeping is prepared and begunne in them, it will bee per∣fected and perpetuated. The Lord in VVisedome

— Curis aeuit m••rtalia corda.

Suffereth Corrasives, Cauterizes, Cuttings, and Launcings to be our Portion in this life; that wee VVeeping may bee both com∣forted and defended by his mer∣cy, that wee VVeeping may bee

prepared and guided to his Glo∣ry, that wee VVeeping may bee delivered from the Plagues which the VVicked shall en∣dure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 30.5.
• * 1.2

  Isa. 30.19.
• * 1.3

  Deut. 32.4.
• * 1.4

  Aug. in Psal. 103.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 9.15.
• * 1.6

  2 Cor. 7.10
• * 1.7

  Isa. 36.6.