The silent soul, with soveraign antidotes against the most miserable exigents: or, A Christian with an olive-leaf in his mouth, when he is under the greatest afflictions, the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles, the saddest and darkest providences and changes, with answers to divers questions and objections that are of greatest importance, all tending to win and work souls to bee still, quiet, calm and silent under all changes that have, or may pass upon them in this world, &c. / By Thomas Brooks preacher of the Word at Margarets New Fish-street London, and pastor of the Church of Christ meeting there.

Quest. 2 What doth a prudent, a gracious, a holy Silence include?

Answer 1 It includes and takes in these eight things.

First, It includes a sight of God, and an acknowledgement of God, as the author of all the afflictions

that come upon us: And this you have plain in the Text, I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. The Psal∣mist* 1.1 looks through secondary causes, to the first cause, and so sits mute before the Lord. There is no sickness so little, but God hath a finger in it, though it bee but the aking of the little finger. As the Scribe is more eyed, and properly said to write, than the pen; and hee that maketh and keepeth the Clock, is more proper∣ly said to make it go and strike, than the wheels and weights that hang upon it; and as every work-man is more eyed, and pro∣perly said to effect his works, ra∣ther than the tools which hee useth as his instruments: so the Lord who is the chief Agent and mover in all actions, and who hath the greatest hand in all our af∣flictions, is more to bee eyed and owned, than any inferiour or sub∣ordinate causes whatsoever. So Job, hee beheld God in all, Job 1.

21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: Had hee not seen God in the affliction, hee would have cried out, Oh these wretched Chaldeans, they have plundred and spoiled mee! These wicked Sa∣beans, they have robbed and wronged mee. Job discerns Gods Commission in the Chaldeans and the Sabeans hands, and then laies his own hand upon his mouth. So Aaron beholding the hand of▪ God in the untimely death of his two sons, holds his peace, Levit. 10. 3. the sight of God in this sad▪ stroak, is a bridle both to his mind and mouth, hee neither mutters nor murmurs. So Joseph saw the hand of God, in his brethrens sel∣ling of him into Egypt, Gen. 45. 8. and that silences him.

Men that see not God in an af∣fliction, are easily cast into a fea∣verish fit, they will quickly bee in a flame, and when their passions are up, and their hearts on fire, they will begin to bee sawcy, and make no bones of telling God to

his teeth, that they do well to bee angry, Jonah 4. 8, 9. Such as will not acknowledge God to bee the author of all their afflictions, will bee ready enough to fall in with that mad principle of the Mana∣chees, who maintained the Devil to bee the Author of all calami∣ties. As if there could bee any e∣vil (of affliction) in the City, and the Lord have no hand in it, Amos 3. 6. Such as can see the ordering hand of God in all their afflictions, will with David lay their hands upon their mouths, when the Rod of God is upon their backs, 2 Sam. 16. 11, 12. If Gods hand bee not seen in the affliction, the heart will do nothing but fret and rage under affliction.

Secondly, It includes and takes in some holy gracious apprehen∣sions, of the Majesty, Soveraignty, Dignity, Authority, and presence of that God, under whose afflict∣ing hand we are, Hab. 2. 20. But the Lord is in his holy Temple, let all the

earth bee silent, or as the Hebrew reads it, bee silent all the earth before his face. When God would have all the people of the earth to bee husht, quiet, and silent before him, hee would have them to behold him in his Temple, where hee sits in state, in majesty, and glory. Zephan. 1. 7. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God. Chat not, murmure not, repine not, quarrel not: Whist, stand mute, bee si∣lent, lay thy hand on thy mouth, when his hand is upon thy back, who is (totus oculus) all-eye, to see, as well as all hand, to punish. As the eyes of a well-drawn picture, are fastened on thee which way so∣ever thou turnest; so are the eies of the Lord; and therefore thou hast cause to stand mute before him.

Thus Aaron had an eye to the soveraignty of God, and that si∣lences* 1.2 him. And Job had an eye upon the majesty of God, and that stills him. And Elie had an eye upon the authority and presence of God, and that quiets him. A man

never comes to humble himself, nor to bee silent under the hand of God, till hee comes to see the hand of God to bee a mighty hand, 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your selves there∣fore under the mighty hand of God. When men look upon the hand of God as a weak hand, a feeble hand, a low hand, a mean hand, their hearts rise against his hand, Who is▪ the Lord, said Pharaoh, that I should obey his voice? Exod. 5. 2. And till Pharaoh came to see the hand of God, as a mighty hand, and to feel it as a mighty hand, hee would not let Israel go. When Tiriba∣zus a Noble Persian was arrested, at first hee drew out his sword and defended himself, but when they charged him in the Kings name, and informed him that they came from the King, and were commanded to bring him to the King, he yeelded willingly. So when afflictions arrest us, we shall mur∣mure, and grumble, and struggle and strive even to the death, before wee shall yeeld to that God that

strikes, till wee come to see his ma∣jesty and authority, till wee come* 1.3 to see him as the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. It is such a sight of God as this, that makes the heart to stoop under his Al∣mighty hand. The Thracians be∣ing* 1.4 ignorant of the dignity and majesty of God, when it thundred and lightned, used to express their madness and folly in shooting their arrows against Heaven, threat∣ning-wise. As a sight of his grace chears the soul, so a sight of his greatness and glory silences the soul. But

Thirdly, A gracious, a prudent Silence, takes in a holy quietnesse* 1.5 and calmnesse of mind and spirit under the afflicting hand of God: A gracious Silence shuts out all in∣ward heats, murmurings, fret∣tings, quarrellings▪ wranglings, and boilings of heart, Psal. 62. 1. Tru∣ly my soul keepeth silence unto God, or is silent or still; that is, my soul is quiet and submissive to

God, all murmurings and repine∣ings, passions and turbulent affe∣ctions, being allayed, tamed and subdued. This also is clear in the Text, and in the former instances of Aaron, Ely, and Job, they saw that it was a Father that put those bitter cups into their hands, and love, that laid those heavy crosses upon their shoulders, and grace, that put those yoaks about their necks; and this caused much quiet∣nesse and calmnesse in their spirits. Marius bit in his pain, when the Chirurgian cut off his legg. Some men, when God cuts off this mer∣cy, and that mercy from them, they bite in their pain, they hide and conceal their grief and trouble; but could you but look into their hearts, you would finde all in an up∣roar, all out of order, all in a flame; and however they may seem to be cold without, yet they are all in a hot burning feaver within: Such a feaverish fit David was once in, Psal. 39. 3. But certainly a holy Silence allaies all tumults in the

mind, and makes a man in pa∣tience* 1.6 to possesse his own soul, which next to his possession of God, is the choicest and sweetest posses∣sion in all the world. The Law of Silence is as well upon that mans heart and mind, as it is upon his tongue, who is truly and divinely silent under the rebuking hand of God. As tongue-service abstract∣ed* 1.7 from heart service, is no service in the account of God; so tongue∣silence abstracted from heart∣silence, is no silence in the esteem of God. A man is then graciously silent, when all is quiet within and without.

Terpander a Harper and a Poet, was one, that by the sweetnesse of his verse and musick, could allay the tumultuous motions of mens minds: As David by his Harp did Sauls. When Gods people are under the Rod, hee makes by his spirit and word such sweet musick in their souls, as allaies all tumul∣tuous motions, passions, and per∣turbations, Psal. 94. 17, 18, 19.

Psal. 119. 49, 50. so that they sit Noah-like, quiet and still, and in peace possesse their own souls.

Fourthly, A prudent, a holy* 1.8 Silence, takes in an humble, justi∣fying, clearing and acquitting of God, of all blame, rigour, and injustice, in all the afflictions hee brings upon us. Psal. 51. 4. That thou mayest bee justified when thou speakest, and bee clear when thou judgest, that is, when thou correct∣est. Gods judging his people, is Gods correcting or chastening of his people, 1 Cor. 11. 32. When wee are judged, wee are chastened of the Lord. Davids great care when he was under the afflicting hand of God, was to clear the Lord of in∣justice: Ah Lord (saith hee) There is not the least shew, spot, stain, ble∣mish, or mixture of injustice, in all the afflictions thou hast brought upon mee; I desire to take shame to my self, and to set to my seal that the Lord is righ∣teous, and that there is no injustice, no cruelty, nor no extremity in all that the

Lord hath brought upon mee: And so in that, Psal. 119. 75. 137. hee sweetly and readily subscribes un∣to the righteousness of God in those sharp and smart afflictions that God exercised him with. I know O Lord that thy judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted mee. Righteous art thou O Lord, and upright are thy judgements. Gods judgements are alwaies just, hee never afflicts but in faithfulnesse, his will is the rule of justice; and therefore a gracious soul dares not cavil nor question his proceedings; the afflicted soul knows, that a righteous God can do nothing but that which is righ∣teous; it knows, that God is un∣controulable, and therefore the af∣flicted man puts his mouth in the dust, and keeps silence before him. 2 Sam. 16. 10. Who dare say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

The Turks, when they are cru∣elly lashed, are compelled to re∣turn to the judge that commanded it, to kiss his hand, give him thanks,

and pay the officer that whipped them, and so clear the Judge and Officer of injustice. Silently to kisse the Rod, and the hand that whips with it, is the noblest way of clearing the Lord of all inju∣stice.

The Babylonish captivity was the sorest, the heaviest affliction that ever God inflicted upon any people under Heaven, witnesse that 1 Sam. 12. & Daniel 9. 12, &c. yet under those smart affli∣ctions, wisdome is justified of her children, Neh. 9. 33. Thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but wee have done wickedly, 1 Sam. 18. The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled a∣gainst him. A holy Silence shines in nothing more, than in an humble justifying and clearing of God from all that which a corrupt heart is apt enough to charge God with in the day of affliction. God, in that hee is good, can give no∣thing, nor do nothing but that which is good, others do frequent∣ly,

hee cannot possibly, saith Lu∣ther, in Psal. 120.

Fifthly, A holy Silence, takes in gracious, blessed, soul-quieting Conclusions, about the issue and event of those afflictions that are upon us, Lam. 3. 27,—34. In this choice Scripture you may observe these five soul-stilling Conclu∣sions.

First, (And that more general∣ly) That they shall work for their good, vers. 27. It is good for a man that hee bear the yoak in his youth. A gracious soul secretly concludes, As stars shine brightest in the night, so God will make my soul shine and glister like gold, whilst I am in this furnace, and when I come out of this furnace of affliction, Job 23. 10. Hee knoweth the way that I take; and when hee hath tried mee, I shall come forth as gold.

Surely as the tasting of hony did open Jonathans eyes, so this cross, this affliction, shall open

mine eyes; by this stroak I shall come to have a clearer sight of my sins, and of my self, and a fuller sight of my God, Job 33. 27, 28. Job 40. 4, 5. chap. 42. 1,—7.

Surely this affliction shall issue in the purging away of my drosse, Isa. 1. 25.

Surely as plowing of the ground killeth the weeds, and harrowing breaketh hard clots, so these af∣flictions shall kill my sins, and soften my heart, Hos. 5. ult. chap. 6. 1, 2, 3.

Surely as the plaister draws out the core, so the afflictions that are upon mee, shall draw out the core of pride, the core of self-love, the core of envy, the core of earthli∣nesse, the core of formality, the core of hypocrisie, Psal. 119. 67, 71.

Surely by these the Lord will crucifie my heart more and more to the world, and the world to my heart, Gal. 6. 14. Psal. 131. 1, 2, 3.

Surely by these afflictions the Lord will hide pride from my soul, Job 33. 14,—21.

Surely these afflictions are but the Lords pruning-knives, by which hee will bleed my sins, and prune my heart, and make it more fertil and fruitful; they are but the Lords potion, by which hee will clear mee, and rid mee of those spiritual diseases and maladies which are most deadly and dan∣gerous to my soul.

Affliction is such a potion, as will carry away all ill humours, better than all the benedicta medicamenta, as Physicians call them, Zach. 13. 8▪ 9.

Surely these shall encrease my spiritual experiences, Rom. 5. 3, 4

Surely by these I shall bee made more partaker of Gods holinesse, Heb. 12. 10. As black sope makes white cloaths: so doth sharp affli∣ctions make holy hearts.

Surely by these God will com∣municate more of himself unto mee, Hos. 2. 14.

Surely by these afflictions the Lord will draw out my heart more and more to seek him, Isa. 26. 16.

Tatianus told the Heathen Greeks, that when they were sick, then they would send for their gods to be with them, as Agamem∣non did at the siege of Troy, send for his ten Counsellors. Hos. 5. 15. In their afflictions they will seek mee early, or as the Hebrew hath it, they will morning mee; in times of affli∣ction Christians will industrious∣ly, speedily, early seek unto the Lord.

Surely by these trials and troubles, the Lord will fix my soul more than ever upon the great concernments of another world, Joh. 14. 1, 2, 3. Rom. 8. 17, 18. •• Cor. 4. 16, 17, 18.

Surely by these afflictions the Lord will work in mee more ten∣dernesse and compassion towards those that are afflicted, Heb. 10. 34. chap. 13. 3. As that Tyrian Queen said,

Evils have taught mee to bemoan

All that afflictions make to groan.

The Romans punished one that was seen looking out at his

window with a Crown of Roses on his head, in a time of publick calamity. Bishop Bonner was full of guts, but empty of bowels; I am afraid this age is full of such Bon∣ners.

Surely these are but Gods love∣tokens,* 1.9 Rev. 3. 19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Seneca perswa∣ded his friend Polybius to bear his affliction quietly, because hee was the Emperours favourite, telling him, that it was not lawful for him to complain whilst Caesar was his friend: So saith the holy Chri∣stian, O my soul! bee quiet, bee still, all is in love, all is a fruit of divine favour: I see hony upon the top of every twig, I see the rod is but a Rosemary-branch; I have sugar with my gall, and wine with my wormwood; therefore bee si∣lent O my soul; And this general Conclusion, that all should bee for good, had this blessed effect upon the Church, vers. 28. Hee sitteth a∣lone, and keepeth silence, because hee hath born it upon him.

Afflictions abase the loveliness of the world without, that might entice us; It abates the lustiness of the flesh within, which might else ensnare us; And it abates the spirit in his quarrel, against the flesh, and the world; by all which it proves a mighty advantage unto us.

Secondly, They shall keep them humble and low, vers. 29. Hee putteth his mouth in the dust, if so bee there may bee hope. Some say, that these words are an allusion to the manner of those, that having been conquered and subdued, lay their necks down at the conquerours feet, to bee trampled upon, and to lick up the dust that is under the conquerours feet; Others of the learned look upon the words as an allusion to poor petitioners, who cast themselves down at Prin∣ces feet, that they may draw forth their pitty and compassion towards them. As I have read of Aristip∣pus, who fell on the ground before Dionysius, and kissed his feet, when

hee presented a petition to him, and being asked the reason, an∣swered (Aures habet in pedibus) hee hath his ears in his feet; take it which way you will, it holds forth this to us, That holy hearts will bee humble under the afflicting hand of God. When Gods Rod is upon their backs, their mouths shall bee in the dust: A good heart will lye lowest, when the hand of God is lifted highest, Job 42. 1,—7. Act. 9. 1,—8.

Thirdly, The third soul-quiet∣ing Conclusion you have in vers. 31. For the Lord will not cast off for ever; the Rod shall not alwaies lye upon the back of the righteous. At even-tide lo•• there is trouble, but a∣fore morning it is gone, Isa. 17. 14. As Athanasius said to his friends, when they came to bewail his misery and banishment; Nubecula est cito tran∣sibit, 'tis but a little cloud (said hee) and will quickly bee gone. There are none of Gods afflicted ones that have not their lucida in∣tervalla,

their intermissions, re∣spites,* 1.10 breathing-whiles; yea, so small a while doth the hand of the Lord rest upon his people, that Luther cannot get diminutives e∣nough to extenuate it; for hee calls it a very little, little cross that wee bear, Isa. 26. 20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thy self as it were for a little moment (or for a little space, a little while) until the indignation bee overpast. The indig∣nation doth not transire, but per∣transire, pass, but over-passe. The sharpnesse, shortnesse, and sudden∣ness of the Saints afflictions, is set forth by the travel of a woman, John 16. 21. which is sharp, short, and sudden.

Fourthly, The fourth soul-si∣lencing Conclusion you have in vers. 32. But though hee cause grief, yet will hee have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies; in wrath God remembers mercy, Hab. 3. 2. Weeping may endure for a

night, but joy cometh in the morn∣ing, Psal. 30. 5. their mourning shall last but till morning; God will turn their winters night into a summers day, their sighing into singing, their grief into gladness, their mourning into musick, their bitter into sweet, their wilderness into a paradise: the life of a Chri∣stian is filled up with interchanges of sickness and health, weakness and strength, want and wealth, dis∣grace and honour, crosses and comforts, miseries and mercies, joyes and sorrows, mirth and mourning; all hony would harm us, all wormwood would undo us; a composition of both is the best way in the world to keep our souls in a healthy constitution; it is best, and most for the health of the soul, that the South-wind of mercy, and the North-wind of adversity, do both blow upon it: And though every wind that blows, shall blow good to the Saints, yet certainly their sins die most, and their gra∣ces thrive best, when they are un∣der

the drying, nipping, North∣wind of calamity, as well as under the warm cherishing South-wind of mercy and prosperity.

Fifthly, The fifth soul-quieting Conclusion you have in vers. 33. For hee doth not afflict willingly (or as the Hebrew hath it, from his heart) nor gr••eve the children of men. The Church concludes, that Gods heart was not in their afflictions, though his hand was; hee takes no delight to afflict his children, it goes against the hair and the heart; it is a grief to him to bee grievous to them, a pain to him to be•• punishing of them, a death to him to bee striking of them; hee hath no will, no motion, no inclina∣tion, no disposition to that work of afflicting of his people; and therefore hee calls it his work, his strange work; Isa. 28. 21. Mercy and punishment they flow from God, as the hony and the sting from the Be••; the Bee yeeldeth ho∣ny of her own nature, but shee

doth not sting, but when shee is provoked; hee takes delight in shewing of mercy, Micah 7. 18. hee takes no pleasure in giving his people up to adversity, Hosea 11. 8. Mercy and kindness floweth from him freely, naturally; hee is never severe, never harsh, hee ne∣ver stings, hee never terrifies us, but when hee is sadly provoked by us. Gods hand sometimes may lye very hard upon his people, when his heart, his bowels (at those ve∣ry times) may bee yerning to∣wards his people, Jer. 31. 18, 19, 20. No man can tell how the heart of God stands, by his hand, his hand of mercy may bee open to those against whom his heart is set: As you see in the rich (poor) fool, and Dives in the Gospel; and his hand of severity may lye hard up∣on those on whom hee hath set his heart, as you may see in Job and Lazarus. And thus you see those gracious blessed soul-quieting Con∣clusions about the issue and e∣vent of afflictions, that a holy,

a prudent Silence doth include.

Sixthly, A holy a prudent Silence includes and takes in a strict charge, a solemn command that conscience laies upon the soul to bee quiet and still. Psal. 37. 7. Rest in the Lord ••or as the Hebrew hath it bee silent to the Lord) and wait patiently for him. I charge* 1.11 thee, O my soul, not to mutter, not to murmure; I command thee O my soul, to bee dumb and silent under the afflicting hand of God. As Christ laid a charge, a com∣mand upon the boisterous winds, and the roaring raging Sea, bee still, and there was a great calm; so conscience laies a charge upon the soul to bee quiet and still, Psal. 27. ult. Wait on the Lord: bee of good courage, and hee shall strengthen thy heart: wait I say on the Lord. Peace O my soul, bee still, leave your muttering, leave your murmur∣ing, leave your complaining, leave your chasing and vexing, and lay your hand upon your mouth, and

bee silent. Conscience allaies and stills all the tumults and uproars that bee in the soul, by such like reasonings as the Clerk of Ephesus stilled that uproar, Act. 19. 40. For wee are in danger to bee called in question for this daies uproar, there be∣ing no cause whereby wee may give an account of this concourse. O my soul, bee quiet, bee silent, else thou wilt one day bee called in question for all those inward mutterings, up∣roars and passions that are in thee, seeing no sufficient cause can bee produced why you should mur∣mure, quarrel, or wrangle under the righteous hand of God.

Seventhly, A holy, a prudent Si∣lence, includes a surrendring, a re∣signing up of our selves to God, whilst wee are under his afflicting* 1.12 hand: the silent soul gives him∣self up to God; the secret lan∣guage of the soul is this, Lord, here am I, do with mee what thou pleasest, write upon mee as thou pleasest; I give up my self to bee at thy dispose.

There was a good woman, who when shee was sick, being asked whether shee were willing to live or dye, answered, which God pleaseth; but said one that stood by, if God should refer it to you, which would you chuse? truly said shee, if God should refer it to mee, I would even refer it to him again, this was a soul worth gold. Well saith a gracious soul, the ambi∣tious man gives himself up to his honours; but I give up my self un∣to thee; the voluptuous man gives himself up to his pleasures, but I give up my self to thee; the covetous man gives himself up to his bagges, but I give up my self to thee; the wanton gives him∣self up to his minion, but I give up my self to thee; the drunkard gives himself up to his cups, but I give up my self to thee; the Pa∣pist gives up himself to his Idols, but I give up my self to thee; the Turk gives up himself to his Ma∣homet, but I give up my self to thee; the Heretick gives up him∣self

to his heretical opinions, but I give up my self to thee, Lord, lay what burden thou wilt upon mee, onely let thy everlasting arms bee under mee. Strike Lord,* 1.13 strike, and spare not, for I am lyen down in thy will; I have learned to say Amen, to thy Amen; thou hast a greater interest in mee, than I have in my self, and there∣fore I give up my self unto thee, and am willing to bee at thy dis∣pose, and am ready to receive what impression thou shalt stamp upon mee. O blessed Lord! hast thou not again and again said un∣to mee, as once the King of Israel said to the King of Syria, I am* 1.14 thine, and all that I have. I am thine, O soul! to save thee; my mercy is thine, to pardon thee; my blood is thine, to cleanse thee; my merits are thine, to justifie thee; my righteousness is thine, to cloathe thee; my Spirit is thine, to lead thee; my grace is thine, to enrich thee; and my glory is thine, to reward thee; and therefore saith

a gracious soul, I cannot but make a resignation of my self unto thee. Lord, here I am, do with mee a•• seemeth good in thine own eyes. I know the best way to have my own will, is to resign up my self to thy will, and to say Amen, to thy Amen.

I have read of a Gentleman, who meeting with a Shepherd in a misty morning, asked him what weather it would bee? it will bee saith the Shepherd what weather pleaseth mee, and being courteous∣ly requested to express his mean∣ing, Sir (saith hee) it shall bee what weather pleaseth God, and what weather pleaseth God, pleaseth mee. When a Christians will is moulded into the will of God, hee is sure to have his will. But

Eighthly and lastly, A holy, a prudent Silence, takes in a patient waiting upon the Lord under our afflictions, till deliverance comes. Psal. 40. 1, 2, 3. Psal. 62. 5. My soul wait thou onely upon God, for my

expectation is from him, Lam. 3. 26. It is good that a man should both hope, and quietly (or as the Hebrew hath it, si∣lently) wait for the salvation of the Lord. The Husbandman patiently wait∣eth* 1.15 for the precious fruits of the earth, the Mariner patiently waiteth for wind and tide, and so doth the watch-man for the dawning of the day; and so doth the silent soul in the night of adversity, patiently wait for the dawning of the day of mercy; the mercies of God are not stiled the swift, but the sure mercies of David; and therefore a gracious soul waits patiently for them. And thus you see what a gracious, a prudent Silence doth include.

The second thing is to discover what a holy, a prudent Silence under affliction doth not exclude: Now there are eight things that a holy patience doth not exclude.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In second causes, ma∣ny times a Christian may see much en∣vy, hatred, malice, pride, &c. But in the first cause he can see nothing but grace and mer∣cy, sweet∣ness and goodness.
• * 1.2

  Levit. 10. 3 Job 37. 23, 24. 1 Sam. 3. 11,—19.
• * 1.3

  Isa. 26. 11, 12 Rev. 1. 5.
• * 1.4

  Herod.
• * 1.5

  Animus cujusque est quis∣que, the mind is the man.
• * 1.6

  Luke 21. 19.
• * 1.7

  Isa. 29. 13. Mat. 15. 8, 9.
• * 1.8

  Plato calls God, the horn of plenty, and the Ocean of beauty, without the least spot of in∣justice.
• * 1.9

  Some say, if a knife or needle be touched with a loadstone of an Iron∣colour, it will cut or enter into a mans bo∣dy, with∣out any sense of pain at all, so will afflictions, when touched with the loadstone of divine love.
• * 1.10

  A little storm, as one said of Julians persecuti∣on, and an eternal calm fol∣lows.
• * 1.11

  Matth. 8. 25, 26. The Hea∣then could say, A (recta con∣scientia ne latum qui∣dem un∣guem dis∣ceden∣dum) man may not depart an hairs▪ breadth all his life long from the di∣ctates of a good con∣science.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 27. 8. James 4. 7 1 Sam. 3. 18. 2 Sam. 15. 25, 26. Act. 21. 13. 14, &c.
• * 1.13

  Luther.
• * 1.14

  1 King. 20, 14.
• * 1.15

  James 5. 7, 8.