The Christian mans teares and Christs comforts. Delivered at a fast the seventh of Octob. An[n]o. 1624. By Gilbert Primerose minister of the French Church of London. Primrose, Gilbert, ca. 1580-1642. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A10132 of text S114339 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 20389). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 267 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 221 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A10132 STC 20389 ESTC S114339 99849565 99849565 14720 2240850303

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A10132) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 14720) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1528:14) The Christian mans teares and Christs comforts. Delivered at a fast the seventh of Octob. An[n]o. 1624. By Gilbert Primerose minister of the French Church of London. Primrose, Gilbert, ca. 1580-1642. [26], 252, 260 p. Printed for I. Bartlet, at the gilt Cup in the Gold-Smiths Row in Cheape-side, London : 1625. In two parts. Print show-through; pages stained and torn. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. eng Christian life -- Early works to 1800. Sermons, English -- 17th century. eebo The Christian mans teares, and Christs comforts. Delivered at a fast the seventh of Octob. An[n]o. 1624. By Gilbert Primerose minister of the French C Primrose, Gilbert, 1625 440 46898 51 0 0 0 0 0 10.87 C The rate of 10.87 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2010-12 Assigned for keying and markup 2011-01 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2011-03 Sampled and proofread 2011-03 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2011-06 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

THE CHRISTIAN MANS TEARES , AND Christs Comforts .

DELIVERED AT A FAST the seventh of Octob. Ano. 1624.

By GILBERT PRIMEROSE Minister of the French Church of London .

HIERON . ad Nepolit . Lachrymae auditorum laudes tuae sint . Let the Teares of thy Auditors be thy praise .

LONDON , Printed for I. Bartlet , at the gilt Cup in the Gold-Smiths Row in Cheape-side . 1625.

TO THE RIGHT Honourable and Religious Lady , ELIZABETH , Countesse of Anandale , Viscountesse of ANAN , &c. MADAM :

COnsidering it is the custome of those which set out Bookes , to stamp them with the glorious titles of some person of note and authority , that they may bee received as currant money ; I have given to this little booke the silver wings of your right Honourable name , that flying abroad like a mourning Dove , it may finde a quiet resting-place in the favourable allowance of the Reader .

The matter wherewith it is stuffed , is weeping & laughing , mourning and comforts . The end wherefore it is made , is to exhort all kinde of persons to shead teares of godly sorrow , which God may put in his bottles , & the Lamb of God turne into the wine of heavenly comforts , when they shall be called unto his marriage-Supper .

Such teares were never more necessary ; I will not say that they were never lesse heeded nor cared for , than they are now , because I am a stranger at home : let every man speake to his owne conscience ; let every conscience aske of its own heart , how it is touched with sinne , how affected with the affliction of the Church : let every heart iudge it selfe ; and if our heart condemne us , let us all know , that God is greater than our heart , and knoweth all things .

One thing I know generally , that men when they are exhorted to weep , are accustomed to say , that weeping is more womanish than manly : for women are of a more weake and moyst constitution of body , and more sensible of the passions which provoke weeping , than men are . Men blaspheme the glorious and dreadfull Name of the Lord our God : Men are more frequent in the Tavernes , than in the Church : Men let flye all they have at Cards , at Dyce , at other unlawful games , & foolish sports . Where is there deceit , where robberie , where oppression ? where , but among men ? Who trouble the state ? Men. Who undermine , who betray , who dismember the Church by schismes , by heresies , by secret plots ? Men. Who persecute the Church ? Men. Who forsake it ? Men. The most part of the evill that is done in the world , is done by men : Not because they are moe , but because they are worse than women , and ( for the most part , alas ! ) have neither wit nor courage , but to doe ill . For all this they weepe not , because , forsooth , it becomes not men to weepe . But when the hand of God is heavie upon them , will they not curse ? will they not roare like wild beasts ? Is roaring more manly ? Is it nothing so womanish as weeping ?

I know not what they call womanish ? for many women have beene , many in this last age of the world are better than manie men . Had not SEMIRAMIS distaffe a sharper edge than NINVS her husbands sword ? Was not TAMYRIS as martiall as CYRVS ? did she not find out a more wittie stratagem to overthrow him , who was a most craftie and cunning warrier , and his armie of two hundred thousand men trained up in warres from the cradle , than he did to intangle her Sonne who was a beardlesse Captain ? did not the AMAZONES fight , when men fled ? did they not subdue their enemies , who had overcome their husbands ? Had not ZENOBIA a lions heart in a womans breast ? How often did shee constraine the Romane armies to shew her a faire paire of heeles ? Neither was she overcome , but wearied with the innumerable multitude of new armies sent against her by the Emperor VALERIVS AVRELIANNS ; who when he had triumphed of her , was faine to be a suitor unto her , for her daughter to be his wife . Though she was a Syrian , shee spake Greeke and Latin ; shee was instructed in all sciences ; she writ the Story of the Orient ; she had quick eyes , and a mans voyce ; her teeth were so white , that she seemed to have pearles , and not teeth in her mouth : in all the gifts of the body and of the spirit , she went beyond all the men of her age . Her owne husband ODENATVS was the most valiant man of those dayes : He subdued all the Orient , & the Emperor GALLIENVS was fain to pray him to be partaker of the Empire with him : but shee was better than he . PHILE was so wise from her tender nayles , that being yet a yong girle , her father ANTIPATER , that old and wise Counsellor of ALEXANDER ▪ THE GREAT , that worthy King of Macedonia asked her counsaile , and followed it : & when she was wife to DEMETRIVS , a man given to many vices , she could manage and governe his passions with such discretion , that she made his government tolerable to his subiects , his person respectable to all men , his power fearefull to his enemies . I forbeare to speake of CRATESICLEA , the royall mother of CLEOMENES king of Sparte , and of PORCIA the wise daughter of CATO , and the courageous wife of BRVTVS , who , when she had received a great wound , did not so much as shrinke .

To enter into the Church ; Was not DEBORAH more meete to bee Generall of an army , than BARAK ? did not IAHEL , with a hammer and a nail , teach the great Captaine SISERA , that he had a foolish head ? One woman in the Citie of ABEL was wiser than all the men therein . There was no man in BETHVLIA to be compared in wisdome with IVDITH : What courage shee and her hand-maid had , OLOFERNES proud and cup-shotten head could best tell . When IVDAS betrayed Christ , when PETER denyed him , when the Priests and Elders of the Iewes accused him , women were faithfull unto him : When Pilate condemned him , when men mocked him , and nailed him on the crosse , women wept for him : when his owne disciples through feare fled away from him , women most courageously followed him .

PVLCHERIA faire indeed , but more wise than faire , was more worthie of the imperiall diadem , than her brother THEODOSIVS II. who prospered when hee was guided by her ; was unfortunate , and turned the empire topsie turvie when he neglected her counsell . FERDINAND king of Spaine was a wise and valiant Prince : But his roiall wife ISABELLA outreached him in all princely vertues . He was hard and sparing ; She was liberall and honourable . He was fitter to keep and maintain his own kingdom , than to enlarge it : She , She I sal , encreased it with the kingdome of Navarre , with the Canarie Isles , and with the new world , which we call AMERICA . She never drank wine . When she was sicke , when she was in travaile , not onely shee cried not , shee mourned not , but shee did not so much as change her countenance , as give one sigh . On her daughters wedding day , newes being brought unto her of the death of her only sonne , shee suppresseth her griefe , she keepes a merrie countenance , lest she should marre the feast MARIVS himselfe could not have shewen a greater courage .

I could name women yet living , who went stoutely to the skirmish against the enemies , no wayes dreading the glistering of swords , the brandishing of speares , the hail of bullets falling thicke , and whistling about their eares . When men made head to men with their heeles , they ran to the breach , and catching the partizans that fleeing men had flung away , laid their enemies heads where their feete were , and saved the beleaguered towne . The only sonnes of some of them being killed in that cause , they buried them with dry eyes and laughing faces ; calling themselves happy , that God had made them mothers of such children . Neyther did they at any time weepe , but when they saw men doe many things unbeseeming , not onely Christians , but men : then , through great displeasure , they wept , because men did neither blush for shame , nor waxe pale for feare of eternall disgrace , nor weepe for forrow , that , like IVDAS , they had betrayed Iesus Christ ; or like REVBEN abode among the sheepfolds , to heare the bleatings of the flockes .

Moreover , the principall passions which provoke weeping , are love , anger , sorrow : If those passions bee more vehement in women , than in men , as men say ; then , when they are sanctified in women , as they are in all true Christian women , we must confesse , that in women there is greater anger against sinne , greater sorrow for sinne , and for the affliction of the Church , greater love of God , greater zeale of his glory , than men : and therefore that women weepe more than men .

Are they first in weeping ? they shall be first in comforts . The more bitter their weeping is , the greater shall their comfort be . Women , not men , wept publiquely at the death of Christ : therefore they were first comforted with the delightsome sight of his glorious resurrection , and with the commission given unto them , to bee the Apostles of the Apostles , and to preach that their Lord and Master was risen againe . S. Peter saith , that women are the weaker vessell . That speech may be turned to their praise : for as a little cup of crystall , though it be frayle and brittle , is of more value than a thousand bowles of varnished tin ; so one godly and vertuous woman is more to bee esteemed , when she weepeth to God in time of misery , than ten thousand brutall men , who can roare , but cannot weepe .

I speake of brutall men ; for we finde in the Scriptures , and I shew in this booke , that the most courageous , wise , and godly men , that ever had eyes in their heads , did make of their heads living fountaines of tears , of their eyes pipes to convey them to their cheekes ; and did weepe as much , not only as women , but as little children . And indeed are we not all Gods children ? why then shall we not weepe , when we offend him , and hee chasteneth us ? Are we not in his Church as new borne babes ? why then should we not weepe in our necessities , till hee take us in his lap , lay our mouthes to his breast , & still us with the sweet milke of his spiritual comforts ? Can man have a true feeling of his evils , and not weep ? Can he know that his helpe is in the Name of the Lord , who made heaven and earth , and not run unto him , and cry unto him , as the woman of Canaan did , LORD HELP ME ?

Will such men need rules of weeping , & Masters or Preachers to teach them how they ought to weepe ? No , no : their unfained love to the Church of God , their earnest affection to the glory of God , their extreame and godly sorrow for the bruising and crushing of Ioseph , their passionate hatred and grudge against sinne , will be to them a most sufficient and learned Master in that Art . Godly sorrow will be Aarone rodde to their hearts of rocke , and make them an undrainable spring of sighes , of groans , of cryes , of tears , of lamentations , of complaints , of expostulations , of deprecations . Their fervent love will make them most eloquent in devoute praying . The heart wounded to the quicke , sendeth up to the eyes rivers of teares , and to the mouth flouds of most pithy and signifying words , and easeth it selfe by weeping and praying . There all the Saints of God , men and women , have in all times found teares enow , and words in aboundance , to make their mone to God .

Not that God , who seeth without eyes , & heareth without eares , and before whom hell it selfe is naked , and the deepe hath no covering , hath need of our teares to know our wants : but because we stand in need of him , he will have us to know & to feel our own miseries , and to acknowledge with sighing , mourning , and praying , that we have no hope but in his helpe , but in the exceeding riches of his grace , but in the infinite treasures of his mercies . For this cause , doth he exhort us to fast , to weepe , and to pray : for the same cause , at a Fast solemnized those dayes by-past , made I in substance , and so far as two houres of time would permit , and I thought fit for the time and the hearers , this exhortation to weeping ; which now I present to you ,

MADAM , as a publick testimonie of the due account which I make of those excellent gifts , both of nature and of grace , wherewith God hath , with an open hand , inriched your noble and honourable person . ISABELLA the Queen of women , of whom I have already spoken , might have been called the PHOENIX of Queenes , if there had not bin a ZENOBIA before her in the Orient , and after her an ELIZABETH in England : This Queene was to all women a glistering Mirrour of chastitie , a rare example of sobriety , a perfect president of modesty . She could not abide Iesters , Stage-players , Fidlers , but banished them all off her Court : when shee was not distracted with matters of State , she was ever in the middest of her Ladies , sewing with her owne hands , and instructing & exhorting them , by word and by example , to godlinesse and vertue . Every day twice she had her ordinary houres of private prayers . Her daughter MARY , Queene of Portugall , like unto her , was very grave in all her carriage , was as milde as any might be to all persons , was enemy to idlenesse , and was wont to exhort all her Ladies to MODESTIE ; saying , that MODESTY IS THE PRINCIPAL ORNAMENT OF A WOMAN . The Chastitie and Modesty of a woman ; the gracious and courteous gravity of a Lady ; the zeale and piety of a Christian ; the wisdome and provident care of a vertuous & noble Matron , are the vertues which I have observed in your Ladiship , and which have moved me to beare witnesse unto them by this dedication .

Futhermore , all who know your Ladiship , and know the perpetuall attendance of my Lord , your worthy and right honourable husband , on his Maiesty at Court , will beare you record , that you indeed are the vertuous Woman , of whom Salomon saith , that THE HEART OF HER HVSBAND DOTH SAFELY TRVST IN HER ; that her children arise and call her blessed ; that her husband praiseth her , and saith , MANY DAVGHTERS HAVE DONE VERTVOVSLY , BVT THOV EXCELLEST THEM ALL. You are the last and most sure receiver of my Lords debts : you are the most faithfull keeper of his treasures and Registers : Let it please you then , most vertuous and Noble LADY , receive this obligatorie bill , whereby I acknowledge my selfe indebted to my Lord for his favour and kindnesse , and doe bind me by it , as by a solemne contract , to powre out my soule before the Lord of Lords , day and night ; beseeching his divine Maiestie to powre downe upon your right honourable persons and hopefull issue , all kind of blessings externall , internall , and eternall , for Christ Iesus his Sons sake ; in whom I am , and shall remaine for ever ,

MADAM , Your most humble and most affectionate servant , Gilbert Primerose .

Errata pars primae .

Pag. 13 lin 13. d. the. p. 44. l. 19. when . p. 56. l. 5. yexing . p. 60. l. 10 sadnesse . p. 130. l. 6. election . p. 213. l. 13. Dorter , or sleeping place . p 252. l. 1. his . p. 241. l. 15. not .

Errata pars secundae .

Pag. 18. l. 15. d. in . l. 18. the. p. 26. l. 6. his .

THE CHRISTIAN mans Teares : AND Christs Comforts .
The first part of the Christian mans TEARES . MATTH. 5.4 . Blessed are they that mourne : for they shall be comforted . LUKE 6.21 . Blessed are ye that weepe now : for ye shall laugh .
CHAP. I.

ALl men have a naturall knowledge and desire of blessednesse .

2. But no man can tell , without speciall revelation from God , wherin it consisteth .

3. Thence is the great diversitie of opinions , concerning them who are blessed ;

4. As Kings .

5. Courtiers .

6. Rich men .

7. Voluptuous men .

8. There is no blessednesse in any worldly thing .

I. AS all men have a natural impression , wherby they acknowledge , that there is one Soueraigne and chiefe God , who should bee worshipped with heart , words , and deedes ; so they have a naturall light , whereby they know that there is a Soveraigne and chief good , which should bee desired , and sought with much endeavour , and great might ; as the chief end of their lives , and the onely blessednesse whereby they are to be perfected , and wherein all their desires and affections must rest , as in their centre . For blessednesse is the perfection of man ; and no man can say , that he is blessed , till he say , a a August . Confess . lib. 10 cap. 20. Vita beata non est mihi , donec dicam , satest . It is enough .

Thence it is , that as all men worship God , so they doe all desire to bee blessed by the enjoying of the Soveraigne good ; the onely naming whereof rejoyceth the heart , and is unto it a restorative , when it is sorrowfull and faint . b b Ibid. una . voce , fi interrogari possent , utrum beati esse vellent , fine ulla dubitatione , ve●le responderent . Aske of all men together , ( if it were possible ) ; aske of them a part , whether they desire to be happy and blessed : and doubt not but they shal all answer with one voice ; that is our desire . whatsoever wee attempt , whatsoever wee prosecute , whatsoever we bestow our time in , we do it for that end . Blessednesse is our great businesse : all our cogitations are of it , all our cares are for it , all our delight is in it . T is not so in other things . Take but two men , and c c Ibid. ca , 21. aske of them , if they will go to the warres ; it may be , that one of them answers , he will ; the other ; that hee will not . Aske of them againe , if they desire to bee happy : foorthwith they shall answer , what else ? neither will one of the two goe to the warres , and the other lurke at home , but to bee blessed . So deepely is the sense and desire of blessednesse rooted in all mens hearts .

II. But , alas ! d d Ioh. 1.5 The light shined in darkenesse , and the darknesse comprehended it not . For what is the naturall knowledge which men have of God , and of the soveraigne good wherin their blessednes consists , but as a lightning , which in the twinkling of an eye is extinguished and drowned in the dimme cloudinesse of a darke night ? To speake of blessednesse apart , because it is the principall matter of my text : all men know generally , and in grosse , that thereis such a thing which is called blessednesse , and have a confused desire thereof ; but which of them all can tell what it is , wherein it consists , which is the way to attaine unto it ? In that knowledge they are as blind as Moles , till they bee enlightned with a more excellent light than that which nature doth afford . For e e Aug. Confess . lib. 10. ca. 23. Multos expertus sum qui velint fallere , qui autem falli neminem . though there bee many which like to deceive and cousen others , and not one at all who can abide to be deceiv'd ; whatsoever they love besides that which is blessednesse indeede , they call it their blessednesse , and will have others to thinke so of it . f f Et quia falli nolunt , nolunt convinci quod falss sunt . And because they shunne to be deceived , they cannot suffer to be convinced of their error .

III. Whereof if yee desire to have a cleere tryall , yee need not to drive your thoughts backward , and to search g g Idem de Civit. dei , lib 19. cap. 1. & ● . into the reasons which distracted the ancient Philosophers into two hundred , fourescore and eight opinions , concerning this one and onely point of mans blessednesse in this miserable world .

Let us fixe them upon those things which our eyes see , and our eares heare , and aske of so many men , which are much busied , walking abroad , going and comming thorow the streetes , passing by the high wayes , playing , sporting , eating , drinking , trading by sea , by land , sitting in their shops , plotting , musing , meditating in their closets ; what they thinke of felicitie , and which is the blessed end wherabout they spend so much time , and take so great paines : we shall find them to be like unto the builders of Babel , and their language so confounded , that they understand not one anothers speech .

IV. Begin at Kings : Aske of the great king Nebuchadnezzar , wherin consists his beatitude . Hee shall speake and say , h h Dan. 4.30 . Is not this great Babylon , that I have built for the house of the kingdome , by the might of my power , and for the honour of my Maiestie ? But when his kingdome shall bee taken from him , when the heart of a beast shall be giuen him , when hee shall bee driven from men , when his Palace shall be changed into a denne , his fare and dainties into grasse , his wine into muddie water , he shall say to God , as David saide in the Psalms to another purpose , When I spake so , i i Psal. 73.22 . I was a beast before thee .

Let k k Herodot . Clio. Solon come to Croesus the rich King , and tell him that Tellus , Cleobes , & Biton , poore men , but honest , are more blessed than he , he shall stand amazed , and wonder how such a Philosopher can by any apparant reason bereave such riches , as his , of the glorious title of beatitude , & deck with it three unknowne and needy wretches . But when Cyrus shal dispoil him of his mountaines of gold , when hee shall bee tied to the post , when the wood shall be put on the fire ; when , in the midst of a smoky flame , he shall be made to his enemies a most pleasant spectacle of a pitifull Tragedy , then he shall cry , but too too late , O Solon , Solon , Solon ! then he shall know how truly it is said , l l Iob 15 ●1 . Let him not trust in vanitie , which deceiveth him : for vanitie shall be his recompense .

When the Emperour SEVERUS was on his death-bed , what avayled the memorie of all his riches , honors , power , delights , but to make him , upon the trebble string of his melancholick hart , tune this dolefull Song ; m m Spart . in Seneio . Hac omnia fui , & nihil expedit I have been all things , and nothing availeth ?

To returne to the Scriptures : Did not n n Eccles. 2.3 . Salomon acquaint himself with wisdome , and with folly ? Did he not give himself to women and to wine ? Did hee not make great workes , build Houses , plant Vineyards , Gardens , & Orchards , gather silver and gold ? Made he not silver to be in Ierusalem as common as stones ? Saith he not , that o o ver. 10 whatsoever his eyes desired , he kept it not from them ? that he with-held not his heart from any ioy ? Was not that blessednesse ? Oh no! The Catastrophe , the shutting up of all was , p p ver. 11 Behold , all is vanity , and vexation of spirit . He saith as Severus said , There is no profit under the Sun .

V. Cannot Kings finde blessednesse in the pleasures , riches , power , glory of a Kingdome ? and shall Courtiers , who wade but in shallow water , who dare not adventure to swim in the Ocean of royall pleasures , who eat but the crums and leavings of their Master's Table , call their life blessednesse ? Yea that will some of them , I warrant you , as being most like unto the Flie ; whereof it is written in the Apologues , that , preferring it self , with much bragging and ostentation , to the Ant , who hath no dwelling-place but in the holes of the earth , it said ; I am ever with the King at table , I drink in his cup , I eat of his best dainties , I sleepe in his purple gown , I kisse the Queen's face ; & considerd not , that it was but a troublesome worme , which by and by should bee favoured with the cheer which the Emperour Domitian gave to the Flies of his Bed-chamber , as the proverb saith ; To-day glad , tomorrow dead .

Goe to Ahasuerus Court ; cast your eyes there upon the King's Minion , Haman : ye see him betimes in the morning waiting f f Esth . 6.4 at the outward Court of the King's house , to present his sute against Mordecai : aske of him , wherein hee placeth his blessednesse . g g Esther 5.11 . He shall make you a long Roll of the glory of his riches , of the multitude of his children , of all the things wherin the King hath promoted him above all the Princes & servants of the Court , of the Queene 's most speciall kindnes and favour unto him : he will assure you , that blessednes it self goeth to bed , & riseth with his Grace ; that nothing is wanting to make it up thorowly , but the King's command to hang Mordecai , which shall presently bee dispatched ; not thinking , that the next day all his blessednes shall be hanged with him on the gallows which hee had prepared for Mordecai : as if it had been written of him , h h Iob 8.14 , 15 Whose hope shall be cut off , and whose trust shall be as a spiders web . Hee shall leane upon his house , but it shall not stand : hee shall build it fast , but it shall not endure .

VI. Goe to the rich men of the Land : aske of them , as Croesus did of Solon , Who is the happiest man of the world ? They shall answer , as Croesus thought Solon should have answered to him , and if need bee fetch their answer out of the Scriptures ; Our blessednesse is , that i i Psa. 144.12 . our sonnes may be as plants growne up in their youth ; that our daughters may be as corner-stones polished after the similitude of a Palace ; that our Garners may be full , affording all manner of store ; that our sheepe may bring foorth thousands and ten thousands in our streets ; that our oxen may bee strong to labour ; that there bee no breaking in , nor going out ; that there be no complaining in our streets : happy is that people that is in such a case : After this maner did the rich man in the Gospel bless his soule ; saying , k k Luk. 12.19.20 Soul , thou hast much goods laid up for many yeeres : take thine ease : eat , drink , and be merrie . But God said unto him ; Thou fool , this night thy soule shall bee required of thee : then whose shall those things be which thou hast prepared ?

Go to the Exchange , goe to the shops , goe to the ships , go to all kinde of worldlings ; ye shall heare them all saying , It is a good and blessed thing to dwell with goods : They will deafe you with their continuall sighing and crying , l l Iob 31 24. Who will shew us anie good ? When their riches are increased , yee shall see them setting up in the Temple of their hearts , m m Ezech. 8.3 . the Idol of iealousie , n n Iob 31 24 making of gold their hope , and saying to the fine gold , thou art my confidence .

Say thou unto them , that the holy man Iob , though richer than they are , thought it a most heinous crime to trust in riches ; that David , a most rich King , faith to al rich men in the name of God , and with authoritie from heaven , o o Psal. 62 10 If riches increase , set not your heart upon them : that the Apostle rendereth a most peremptorie reason of this exhortation , taken from p p 1. Tim. 6.10 . the uncertainetie of riches ; that either wee must leave them by death , as the rich man of whom I have spoken , did ; or they will q q Pro. 23.5 make themselves wings , and flye away as an Eagle towards heaven , and leave us , ere we dye : they will answer , There is no such matter ; That Salomon , the wisest of all men , said most truely , that r r Eccles. 10.19 money answereth all things ; that therefore s s Demost. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ete Opus , opus sunt opes : nam sine his nihil fit quod opus . they must , they must have money , because without mony nothing that must bee done , can bee done : money must they have , and in mony will they trust .

VII . Goe , I pray you , to the Comedians , to the houses of gaming , of tippling , and of joy : goe to the Unthrifts and Ale-knights of the country : demand in what schoole they have been brought up . They will answer , In the schoole of Epicurus , with two royall fellows , Sardanapalus and Heliogabalus ; where they have learned a short , but most excellent Compendium of Philosophie , t t 1. Cor. 15.32 Let us eat and drink , for to-morrow we shall die : whereof , the words which Salomon speaks in the behalfe of such disciples of ryot , are an ample Commentary ; u u Eccles. 3.12 There is nothing better for a man , than to reioyce , and to do good to himselfe in his life ; and also that every man should eat and drink , and enioy the good of his labour , it is the gift of God .

This was the Philosophie of another rich man in the Gospell , x x Luke 16 19 who was clothed in purple and fine linnen , and fared sumptuously everie day ; and , ere hee was aware , was buried in the bottomelesse pit of hel : where one drop of that sweet water , wherein poore Lazarus doth swim , would bee more welcom to him to cool his tongue , than all the deceiving pleasures which hee enjoyed during the flying dayes of his short life . That is the place ordained to all his school-fellows : where then , if not till then , they shall condemne all their former courses , and with Salomon , y y Eccles. 2.2 . say of laughter , It is mad ; and of mirth , what doth it ?

VIII . Oh that the force of reason could move them , if they will not be moved with the authority of Scriptures . How can riches bee mans blessednes ? a a Aug. de mor. Eccles. cathol . Hominis optimum deterìus esse quàm ipsae homo , non potest . Mans blessednesse cannot bee worse than man himself . Are not the best riches worse than the worst man ? What are they but b b Hab. 2.6 thick clay , as Habacuc cals them ? which c c Bern. Qua possessa , onerant ; aemata , inquinant ; amissa , cruciant . if ye possesse , they are a heavy load unto you : which if yee love , they defile you : which if yee lose , they are a crosse unto you . Surely , if they could speake , they would say , d d Thom. 12a . q. 2. art. 1. in conclus . Man is not made for us , but wee are made for man : as it is written , e e Psal. 8.6 Thou hast put all things under his feet . Therefore man is our end and blessednesse : but wee are not the end , wee are not the blessednesse of man .

How can honour bee mans blessednes ? f f Arist. 1 Aethic . c. 5 Blessednes is in him who is happy : but honour is not in him who is honoured , it is rather in him who doth honour . Moreover , g g Thom. ib. art. 2. in conclus . honour is given to some excellencie : there is no excellencie to be compared with blessednes , whereof all kinde of excellencie is a part : wherefore honor is a publike testimony rendred to blessednes , & is not so good as blessednesse is . The same may bee saide of glory & of good fame , which follow mans blessednesse , such as he may have in this world ; but are no part of it .

How can h h Ibid. Art. 4. Power and Authoritie bee mans blessednesse ? Is it not particular to some few ? And among all men , are there any so vexed with troubles without , with cares and griefe within , as such men are ? In blessednesse there is no care , no vexation of spirit , but full content .

Who will say , that i i Ibid. 6. Conclus . mans reasonable and immortall soule cannot come to blessednesse , but by wallowing like a sow in the muddye pleasures of the mortal body ? They like Scorpions have stinging tailes , as Salomon , who knew them better than any man , saith , affirming that k k Pro. 14.13 . the end of mirth is heavines ?

I might run through all the faculties and gifts both of body and soule , and shew you , that blessednesse is not in any of them apart , nor in them all together : but that which I have said , is sufficient to convince all them which hold for Principles and Maximes of their faith , that blessed are they that are rich , that are full , that laugh , &c. and cry , Woe , woe , woe unto them that are poore , that are hungry , that mourne , &c.

CHAP. II.

1. Iesus Christ curseth them which laugh , &c and calleth them blessed which weepe .

2. Three necessarie properties required in blessednes .

3. They cannot be found , but in God alone .

4. Our blessednesse is the vision or fruition of God .

5. What men are not blessed .

6. Who are blessed .

I. SEe now & iudge , that God hath not said without a pregnant cause , to such men , 1 1 Esa. 55.8 . My thoughts are not your thoughts , neither are your wayes my wayes : for as the heavens are higher than the earth , so are my wayes higher than your wayes , and my thoughts than your thoughts . For our Lord Iesus Christ in the Gospel of S. Luke , curseth them whom they doe blesse : and cryeth , m m Luk. 6.24 . Woe unto you that are rich : woe unto you that are full : wo unto you that laugh now : On the other part , hee blesseth them whom they curse , saying , n n Luk. 6.21 . Blessed bee yee poore : for yours is the kingdome of God : blessed are ye that hunger now ; for ye shall be filled : and in my text , Blessed are ye that weepe now : for ye shall laugh : or as the words are in S. Matthew ; Blessed are they that mourne , for they shall be comforted .

These sentences are paradoxes and giddie conceits to the world : but to the Church , they are Maximes of truth , and propositions more firme than the heaven , which o o Iob 37.18 . is strong as a molten looking-glasse ; and more immoveable than the earth , which p p Psal. 104 5. God hath founded upon her bases , that it should not be remooved for ever . For they were conceived in the breast of God the Father , who is wisedome it selfe : and were pronounced by the Sonne of God , who is the substantiall word of the Father , even q q 1. Ioh. 5.20 . the true God , and eternall life . Let us then be deaf to the hoggish sayings of men : but let us , I pray you , let us this day , and all the dayes of our lives , listen seriously to our Lord Iesus Christ , saying , that those which weepe and mourne , are blessed : and shewing , that their weeping shall be turned into joy , because they shal be comforted . O then give care to the wisedome of God , teaching you by me this day what persons are blessed : that thereafter he may cheere up your hearts with the most comfortable doctrine of the comforts wherein their blessednes consisteth .

II. Blessednesse is to bee considered eyther in the obiect , or in the fruition and enioying of it : The obiect of it , is all good things that a godly mans heart can desire : By good things , understand not any of those visible creatures of God which we now enioy : for r r Rom. 14.17 . the kingdome of God , the possessing wherof is our blessednesse , is not meat and drinke , that is , it consisteth not in any outward thing : but is righteousnesse , and peace , and ioy in the holy Ghost , proceeding from things more excellent ; as it is written , s s 1. Cor. 2.9 . Eye hath not seene , nor eare heard , neither have entred into the heart of man , the things which God hath prepared for them that love him . This then is their first propertie , that they are not of this world .

Moreover , they must be eternall and exempt from all alteration and corruption : wee must not , saith the Apostle , t t 2. Cor. 4.18 . Looke at the things which are seen , but at the things which are not seen : for the things which are seene , are temporall : but the things which are not seene , are eternall : for if wee did seeke our blessednesse in temporall things subiect to corruption ; they comming to decay , to waxe old , and to rot , our blessednes should faile with them .

Thirdly , reason it selfe teacheth us , that to make up true & perfect blessednes , all good things must ioyne together : for though a man be inriched with them all saving one , so long as that one is lacking to his desire , hee is not throughly blessed : for in a blessed man , there is nothing void , no part emptie : all his desires are satisfied , and so full , that he saith , It is enough .

III. Now where shall we finde all good things ? where else but in God , who as hee is the soveraigne God , so hee is the soveraigne good ? as hee is u u Deut. 10.17 . the GOD of gods , and x x Psal. 8.10 . God alone ; so he is the good of goods , and y y Mat. 19.17 . there is none good but he : In him are all goods , to satisfie all our desires : the goods which are in him , are like unto himselfe . a a Iam. 1.17 With him there is no variablenesse , neither shadow of turning : he is b b Esa. 57.15 . the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternitie ; to whom David said with most humble supplication , Thou wilt shew mee the path of life : c c Psal. 16.11 . In thy presence is fulnes of ioy , at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore . And againe , d d Psal. 17.11 . When I awake , I will be satisfied with thy likenes .

IV. God , who is all goodnesse it selfe , is e e Boêt . 3. de Consolat. Pros. 10. also blessednesse it selfe : he is blessednesse by his owne essence . Per essentiam . Mans blessednes commeth from his by participation , Per participationem . even so farre , as according to our capablenesse , wee are filled with his infinite goodnesse . He borroweth nothing from any creature , yea tho all creatures were brought to the first nothing , whereout of they were taken , as hee was from ever , so hee should bee blessed for ever . Wee borrow all from him : and our blessednesse is nothing but the enioying of him , which the Scripture calleth , The vision of God : according to the comfortable saying of our Saviour , f f Mat. 5.8 . Blessed are the poore in heart , for they shall see God .

O blessed blessednes ! when shall we see thee ? where shall wee enioy thee , that wee may bee blessed in thee ? g g B●●t . ibid. Pros. 3. Beatitudo est status omnium bonorum aggregatione perfectus . Oh blessed blessednesse of them that see thee ! In thee they see all goodnesse : in thee they enjoy all good things : they are filled with thee ; and thou beeing with them , they are fully consummated by thee , who art to all thy Elect , h h Thom. 12a . q. 2. art. 8. Concl. Beatitudo est bonum perfectum quod totaliter quietat appetitum . their perfect & universall good , satisfying all their desires . O blessed blessednes , which dwellest in them whom thou blessest , without interruption , and who art never weary of dwelling in them , dwell in us who are heere before thee : i i Aug. Confess . lib. 1. cap. 1. Quia fecisti not ad te : Et inquietum est cornostrum , domae requies●at in to . for thou hast made us to goe to thee : and our heart findeth no rest , till it rest in thee . Let us all speake so to our God , that hee hearing our prayers , may fill us with his blessednesse , and so we may be blessed in him .

V. Yee have heard what blessednesse is : thereby yee may iudge who is blessed : k k Idem de morib . Eccl. Cath. cap. 3. Hee who hath not that which he desireth , whatsoever it be , is not blessed : neither is hee blessed , who hath that which hee loveth , if it bee hurtfull : nor hee also who loveth not that which hee hath , how good soever it be : for hee who coveteth that which he cannot obtain , is grieved : Cruciatur . and hee who hath obtained that which he should not covet , Fallitur : is deceived : and hee who coveteth not that which should be obtained is sick . Aegrotat . None of these can have place in the soule of man without miserie : now miserie and blessednesse cannot dwell together in one man . Therfore none of those men are blessed .

VI. Who then are blessed ? not they l l Ciecro . Aiunt esse beatos , quil vivunt ut ipsi velint , &c. Velle enim quod non deceat , id ipsum miserimum est . who live at their owne will : for to will that which is not decent , is a most miserable thing . Otherwaies many wicked men should bee blessed . For m m Psal. 10 3. the wicked boasteth of his harts desire , and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth .

Hee onely is blessed , n n Aug. de Trinit. lib. 13. cap. 5. Beatus non est , nisi qui & habet omnia qua vult , & nihil vuls mal● who hath all that his heart can desire , and desireth nothing amisse . Such shall be they that weep and mourne now , as Iesus Christ saith in my text .

CHAP. III.

1. WEeping is often put in the Scripture for fasting , repentance , and prayers .

2. Of the naturall causes of weeping .

3. What mourning is .

4. Errour of those which condemne weeping , and other naturall affections .

5. Divers examples of courageous and godly men which did weepe , namely , of our Lord Iesus Christ .

6. Too great moderation in the things of God , is a sin ; excesse in them , is laudable .

7. Some teares are indifferent .

8. Some are wicked .

9. Some are good .

10. First motive to weeping , by the examples of godly men which wept through godly sorrow .

I. THerefore ye must learn , & with the assistance of Gods Spirit , I will teach you what are the naturall causes of weeping and mourning : what difference there is betweene them , how weeping is not unworthy of men , who thinke themselves the most worthiest of all men , and is no unseemlinesse in a Christian man : finally , which is the weeping and mourning whereunto blessednes is promised .

This discourse is fit for this day , which is a day of repentance , of fasting , of weeping , and extraordinary prayers : for where fasting is , there weeping & mourning should be , as yee may learne of the exhortation which God made to his people by the Prophet Ioel , saying , a a Ioel 2.12 . Turne yee even to me with all your heart , and with fasting , and with weeping , and with mourning .

Yea they are so inseparably conjoyned , that weeping is put for fasting : for the people did aske of the Prophet Zech. b b Zech. 7 3. Should I weep in the fift month , separating my selfe , as I have done these so many yeares ? because there is no true fasting without weeping . Ye read likewise , that when the Disciples of Iohn came to Christ , saying , c c Mat. 9.14 , 15. Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft , but thy disciples fast not ? he said unto them , Can the children of the bed-chamber mourne , as long as the bridegroome is with them ? Being asked of fasting , hee answereth of mourning , because there is no fasting , where there is no mourning : for to Christ fasting and mourning are all one ; as hee sheweth by the rest of his answer : But the dayes will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them , and then shall they fast . And therefore S. Marke , and S. Luke doe set downe Christs answer after this manner , d d Mark 2.19 . Luk. 5.34 . Can the children of the bride-chamber fast ? changing the words , not the meaning ; because hee that mourneth , cannot chuse but fast . Speake to him of eating and drinking : hee shall answer you with David , e e Psa. 102 9. Ashes are my bread : weeping is my drinke : As also he that hath an empty belly , fasteth in vaine , and to no purpose , if he mourne not : which I pray you to observe , and heed carefully in this day of your fasting .

Moreover , true repentance , and prayers of repentance are seldome without weeping : and therfore the Scriptures describe the infamous womans , and Peters repentance and prayers , by their teares . f f Luk 7.37 , 38. That woman came into Simons house where Christ was , and weeping , washt his feete with her teares : g g Mat. 26.75 . Peter went our of Caiphas house , where hee had denyed Christ , and wept bitterly : h h Ambr. de poenit . Petri Apostoli , lib. 10. Lucae , cap. 22. Non invenio quid dixerit , invenio quod fleverit . ye reade that they did weepe ; ye read not that they spake : ye see their tears , ye hear not their words . For sorrow when it is vehement and grievous , squeeseth teares out of the eyes so fast , that it smothereth the words , & turns them into vexing , into groaning , into sighing ; which speake not , and yet their voice is heard ; which aske not pardon with words distinguished by syllables , and knotted with letters , and yet obtaine it . No prayers are so light , none take flight to heaven so quickly , none comeback so swiftly from the Throne of grace with grace & grants , as prayers of teares . The prayers of the mouth are often but lip-labor , & false witnesses to a double heart : as God saith of Hypocrites , i i Esa. 29.24 . Mat. 15 8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lippes : but their heart is farre from me . But the prayers of teares are true witnesses of a single heart , and powre out the soule before GOD : as it is said of Hannah , that k k 1. Sam. 1 10.13 , 15. shee was in bitternesse of soule , and wept sore , and powred out her soule before the Lord , unto whom shee prayed , and spake in her heart , for her voice was not heard , and her petition was granted . Therefore when Christ saith , that blessed are they that weepe and mourne ; hee understandeth them that are of a sorrowfull spirit , and who in their sorrow , fast , weepe , mourne , pray .

IV. l l Alexand. Aphrodisae problem . The Naturalists and Physicians say , that originally teares come from the vapors which are condensed in the braine ; and beeing there dissolved and turned to water , fall gently upon the eyes , to moysten and refresh them , lest they should bee dryed up , and wax hard through want of moysture : for that effect , God hath put in each eye foure kernels , two in the upper , and two in the lower angle , to receive and keepe those humors , which drop either by the compression and straining , or by the dilation and inlarging of the said kernels : that straining and inlarging , are the internall and nighest causes of teares : there bee other causes which moove them , and are externall , to wit , sorrow , choler , love , joy ; sundry other affections and agitations of the spirit : as also smoake , and the spirits of things that are sowre & sharpe , as onyons are . Sorrow and madnesse make us weepe , by cooling and squeesing the conduits and kernels of the eyes ; and by wringing out of them the humors which they containe . Ioy inlargeth them , and maketh those humours to fall downe , namely , in such as are tender and delicate , and whose constitution is more humid : for the kernels of their eyes are soft and slacke : wheras they which have them strait and compact , or who are not so humid , weepe not but seldome , and with much adoe . Likewise the other perturbations and passions of the soule , make such a stirring in the body , and in the humors , that they glide easily , and flow in such abundance , that they runne not only thorow the eyes , but also thorow the nostrils . These teares are called voluntarie .

Other teares there be which are not voluntary , such as are those which proceede either from some disease in the eye , as is the inflammation of the uttermost skinne thereof , called Opthalmia , and the want of those kernells whereof I have spoken : or from a great defluxion of humors from the braine upon the eyes ; or from the debilitie of the retaining force of nature , when it is not strong enough to hold in those waters , but letteth them slip and trickle . He that weepeth thus , would bee glad to have dry cheeks : for his tears are not voluntary .

III. Mourning is the highest degree of weeping ; when the smart is so great , and the wound which the heart hath received thereby , so deep and sensible , that it begets in the whole body wondrous Symptomes . Then the hands , forgetting their natural office , runne to the garments , which are the ornament of the body , to rent them ; to the face , to scratch & deface it ; to the head , to pluck off the haire ; to the beard , which is the glory of man , to tear it , and ( if it were possible ) to root it out . Then the feet beat and smite the ground , which hath not given any offense . Then the aire is troubled , and resoundeth with yelling , with roaring , with bauling , with lowd and confused noises of lamenting voices . Then ye heare nothing , but Alas ! Alas ! Then yee see nothing but disfigured faces , & a dolefull spectacle of great astonishment .

When m m Gen. 50.10 , 11. Ioseph and the Aegyptians buryed Iacob , they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation . Which when the Inhabitants of the land saw & heard , they said , This is a grievous mourning to the Aegyptians : wherefore they called the name of that place Abel-Mizraim , i. The mourning of the Aegyptians . n n 2 Sam. 18.33 . The mourning of David for Absalom is thus described : He wept ; and as he went , thus he said : O my sonne Absalom ! my sonne ! my sonne . Absalom ! would God I had died for thee , O Absalom , my son , my son ! When o o Ezra 9.3 Ezra mourned ; hee rent his garment and his mantle , and pluckt off the haire of his head , and of his beard , & sate down astonied .

IV. p p Sen. ep. 116 Cic. 1. Academ . quast. The Stoickes , ancient Philosophers , held , that a wise man must be moved neither with joy , nor with grief ; therefore that he must neither laugh nor weep . q q Hier. advers. Pelag. Omnes affectus tolli posse , omnesque corum fibras , &c. The Pelagians sowed those tares in the field of the church ; teaching , that all affections , yea , their smallest fillets , may bee taken from man . Now , r r Lact. Inst. l. 6. c. 15. Laetitiae affectus in splene est , irae in fells , libidinis in iecore , timoris in corde . ioy is in the spleen ; choler , in the gall ; lust , in the liver ; feare , in the heart : wherfore ye cannot pull those affections from man , except yee pluck from him the milt , the gall , the liver , the heart , & transform him into another nature , yea , forbid him to be vertuous and honest . for vertue is nothing but an ordering & tempering of the affections to that which is honest and good : take them away , way , and vertue is gon . Without anger , there is no fortitude ; without feare , no prudence and advisednesse ; without lust , no temperance ; without joy , no love , no sense & feeling of vertue .

Therefore other Philosophers said better , that affections are like unto good plants growing in a fertile soil : which if yee neglect , they wex wilde ; but if they bee carefully husbanded , they bring foorth most pleasant and excellent fruit . Which doctrine is true : for wee must weed our affections , and snip from them whatsoever is irregular and vicious . To pluck them out by the root , is as if , when yee have killed a man , ye should command him to stand on his feet , and live . Yet s s Plato de Repub. lib. 3. in principio . the same philosophers , who gave so excellent precepts for the keeping of the affections in a due proportion & measure , thought weeping and mourning to bee tolerable in base fellows , and meane women ; but uncomely in all men of note , and in women also which are of the right stamp , and desire to bee esteemed vertuous .

V. Consider now , what difference there is between the wise men of the world , and God . Philosophers say , that there is much unmanlinesse and faint-heartednesse , but no generousnesse , in weeping : therfore they condemne it as childish , rather than man-like ; & many men are still of that opinion . GOD is of a far other minde : for hee giveth most earnest commandements to his people to weep , and rebuketh them sharpely when they weep not . Christ in my Text blesseth them that weep : and the Scripture ministers unto us many examples of the most courageous men that have been at any time under the vault of heaven , which did both weep and mourn .

Was not t t Hos. 12.4 . Iacob so stout and hardie , that he wrestled with God , and prevailed ? yet then , even then hee wept : and he mourned so bitterly for Ioseph , whom hee deemed to be dead , that u u Gen. 37.35 . he refused to be comforted : for , said he , I will go down into the grave unto my sonne , mourning . Did not x x 1 Sam. 17.35 . David kill a Lion and a Bear ? Slew hee not with a sling and a stone the monstrous Giant Goliath ? Was there ever in battell a more valiant man , in an Armie a more courageous Captain , in a Kingdome a more royall King ? yet how did hee weep for Absalom ! hee was not ashamed to tell , that when God's hand was heavie upon him , y y Psalm 32.3 . hee roared all the day long . If I should produce , for an example of bitter weeping , a a Ier. 31 15. Rachel weeping for her children , and refusing to be comforted , ye would peradventure say , that shee was a woman , and that women are not so courageous . But what can yee say to Iacob ? to Ioseph ? to David ? ye must needs confess , that they mourned , not through want of courage , but through abundance of love .

Zechariah , speaking in typicall words of the death of Christ , and of Christians , faith , b b Zech. 12 11 , 12 , 13 14 In that day shall there bee a great mourning in Ierusalem , as the morning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon : and the land shall mourne , every familie apart ; the family of the house of David apart , & their wives apart ; the familie of the house of Nathan apart , and their wives apart ; the familie of the house of Levi apart , and their wives apart ; the familie of Shemei apart , & their wives apart ; ALL the families that remaine , every familie apart , and their wives apart . See the mean in mourning : it shal be without mean ; such as was the mourning at Megiddo , where the good King Iosiah was slain : for , c c 2 Chro. 35.24 . all Iuda and Ierusalem mourned for him . See the persons that shall mourn ; Men and women of all qualities and conditions : First , Kings and their wives ; secondly , Princes and their wives ; thirdly , all ecclesiastical persons & their wives ; finally , all the rest of true Christians & their wives . Where is courage , rage , where generosity , where constancy , if it bee not in Christians , who wrestle against the divell , and overcome him ?

Was there ever in the world any man , or in heaven any Angell to be compared with Iesus Christ ? did hee not d d Iohn 11 33.35 grone in the spirit ? did hee not trouble himself ? did he not weep for Lazarus ? If ye seek a President of weeping , who may bee to you a true President , heer ye have one who is better and e e Psalm 45.2 fairer than all the children of men . Shall wee refuse to follow such a Ring-leader ? and seeing the Sonne of God did weep , because f f Heb. 2 17 in all things it behooved him to bee like unto his brethren ; shall wee think it a disgrace unto us to weep , and to be like unto him ?

VI. Surely his holy Spirit sanctifieth in us our naturall affections , but abolishes them not . And wheras many Philosophers take them for vices when they exceed mediocrity ; God gives them full libertie , when they come from a good cause , and aspire unto a good end : g g Lact. Inst. l. 6. c. 16. Potest et qui graditur , errare ; & qui currit . rectam viam tenere . For as hee that walketh softly , may stray ; and hee that runneth , keep the high way : so a man may be moderate in his affections , & sin ; and let them growe to the highest measure , and not sinne : yea , if he should restrain them , he should sinne . No mediocrity is to bee praised in ill-doing . If thou be but tickled with joy for the death of thine enemie , thou sinnest : but h h 2 Sam. 6 14 , 20 , 23 David , leaping for joy , and dancing before the Lord with all his might when hee brought the Ark into Sion , sinned not . Contrariwise , Michol his wife , reproving him for the excesse of his joy , sinned , and was punished .

In things which are truely good , no excesse is vicious : for God liketh a man who dooth good things with all his minde , all his soule , all his heart , and all the strength of his affections . Who will say , that to leap for joy for the deliverance of the Church , is a sin ? i i Lact. ibid. Nemo dubitat , quin & in illo exiguum laetari , & in hoc parum laetari , sit maximum crimen . The Church saith , that not to leap for joy in such a case , is unthankfulnesse , and therfore a most detestable sinne . The true moderation of the affections , is to withdraw them from sinne , and to apply them unto righteousnesse : when they are once in the way , lay the bridle on their neck , put the spurs to their sides , and make them to gallop till they runne with thee to the Kingdome of heaven . In our discipline , saith Saint Austin , k k Aug. de eiv . Dei . l. 9 c. 5. In disciplinâ nostrâ non tam quaeritur , utrum pius animus itascatur , sod quare irascatur , &c. wee ask not if a godlie soule bee angry , but for what cause hee is angry ; neither whether hee bee sorrowfull , but for what cause he is sorrowfull ; nor if he fear , but what is the cause of his feare : for , to be angry against a sinner , that he may be corrected ; to bee sorrowfull for him who is afflicted , that hee may be delivered ; to fear for him who is in danger , lest hee perish ; who , that is in his right wits , can blame it ?

VII . Let us apply this to weeping and mourning . Wee must judge of all our affections , not by their mediocrity or excesse , but by the causes which set them on work , and the end whereunto they incline , as I have said : this must bee the rule of our judgement concerning other mens weeping , & our owne .

For such as are the causes of our Teares , such are they : some causes are indifferent , some ill , some good . All teares naturally come from ioy or sorrow . These causes are indifferent in themselves . When 1 1 Gen. 29 11 Iacob saw his cousin Rachel , he lifted up his voice , and wept : when m m Gen. 33.4 Iacob and Esau met together , they wept : when n n Gen. 43.30 Ioseph saw his brother Beniamin , his bowels did yerne upon him , and hee wept : When he made himself knowne to his brethren , o o Gen 45 1 , 2 he wept aloud : when hee went to meet Israel his father ; p p Gen. 46.29 he fell on his necke , and wept on his necke a good-while . Naturall love in them begat joy , and joy opening all the pores of the eyes , they could not chufe but weepe . Such joy , such love , such teares are not commanded of God ; for he is not served by them . Neither hath God forbidden them : for they are no offense unto him , so that they goe not beyond their due proportion and measure .

I say the like of teares which come from sorrow . Agar neither served nor offended God , when q q Gen. 21.16 . shee lift up her voice , and wept , being in distresse , because shee had no water to give to her sonne to drinke . It was naturall to r r Ier. 31.25 Rachel to weepe for her children ; and in that , shee sinned not : but when she refused to bee comforted , she sinned . The s s Act. 20.37 . brethren of Ephesus and Miletus , when Paul was going away , wept sore , and fell on his necke , and kissed him . So wee are accustomed to weepe , when wee lacke things which are necessary to our subsistence ; as also when those whom we love , die , or go from us to some forreine place . Where we love , if wee see any miserie , sorrow seiseth the heart , the distressed hart sendeth a cold ayre to the eyes : the eyes pressed with cold , become like a foggie winter day , and distill teares abundantly . In such teares there is neither offence , nor service don to God . Therefore they are indifferent .

IIX . But when t t Gen. 37.38 , 41. Esau lift up his voice , and wept , because his brother had taken away his blessing , he sinned ; for hee wept through despight , proceeding from the pride of his uncircumcised heart , & from hatred against his brother Iacob , whom hee vowed to slay . u u Num. 14.39 . The people of Israel beeing deprived of entring into the land of Canaan , mourned greatly , not through repentance for their murmuring against God , but through selfe-love , which is no small sinne . What were the teares of Cain , Saul , Achitophel , Iudas , but stinking waters , flowing from the muddy puddle of discontent and despaire .

In anger a man will weep , not only through displeasure for the offence received , but also through joy for hope of revenge : as the Crocodile weepeth when hee hath found his prey . So o o Spartioni Antonia . Caracalla . Bassianus wept for joy as often as hee saw the Images of his brother Geta , whom he had murthered . Manie Robbers & Pyrats weepe so ; wo , wo to such weepers .

IX . The weeping where of we speake , and whereunto wee exhort you this day , is good , because it commeth from a good spring : I may call it godly , because it floweth from godlines . I know that all reares in themselves are indifferent , & no part of Gods service ; but they take their denomination from the root whereout they grow and blossome . If the root bee badde , they are bad ; if good , they are good : all good and godly teares come from ioy or from sorrow .

As naturall joy made Iacob to weepe when he saw Rachel : so a supernaturall joy p p Neh. 8.9 . made the Iewes to weepe , when they heard the words of the Law . The love of God made them to rejoyce in his Law , & that ioy turned their eyes into fountaines of teares ; which they shed in such abundance , that Nehemiah , and Ezra , and the Levites , were faine to exhort them , not to bee grieved , but to abstaine from mourning & weeping . The Church needeth not such exhorters , because it hath but few such weepers . Would to God that such a cause might bee unto us this day , a cause of crying unto you , as Ezra did then ; Mourne not , nor weepe .

But what godly Ioy doth never or seldome amongst us , will not q q 2 Cor. 7.10 . godly sorrow doe it ? Manie , manie cannot perswade their eyes to weepe for joy , whose eyes sorrow will plunge into a river of teares . Let us then , I pray you , let us NOW , let us in this day of godly sorrow weepe after a godly maner : let that sorrow which springeth from the love of God , NOW in this day of teares , furnish unto us teares of repentance to God , and teares of charity both to our selves , & to others , who should be to us , for Gods sake , as our selves .

X. If there bee no sinne among us , let joy enlarge our hearts , let laughing cleere our faces , let us say to sorrow , Get thee hence : but if that which is written in the Book of Iob of the natural & sensuall man , that r r Iob 15 16 he is abominable & filthy , and drinketh iniquity like water , bee true of us ; if we sin NOW , then let sorrow presse our hearts , and make of them a spring of teares NOW : let heaviness cover our faces , as a cloud : let our eyes become rivers ; and for so much water of iniquity , or rather for so much wine of sinne , wine which is s s Deut. 32.33 . the poison of dragons ; and the cruell venome of aspes , wherewith we are every day drunken ; let us this day , let us NOW cry Avant to joy , let us NOW welcome weeping , let us NOW run to our eyes , and draw water ; let us make of this Fasting , a Feast of mourning : let everie man NOW drinke to his brother , every woman to her sister , full cups of tears .

When the people of Israel were rebuked of Samuel for their sinnes , t t 1 Sam. 7.6 they gathered together to Mizpeh , and drew water , and poured it out before the Lord , and fasted on that day , & said there , Wee have sinned against the Lord . Lo how busy , lo how forward they were to draw water for the clensing of their sacrifices , and for the purifying and washing of their bodies ; or , as some Doctors allegorize the words , lo how contrite they were , making of their harts wels of godly sorrow , and going thither with the bucket of faith , to draw up to the eyes tears of repentance for bewailing of their sinnes . And what had they done ? They had worshipped strange gods , and set up among them ASTAROTH , u u R. David Kimchi in lib. radicum . which was the god of their sheep their fathers had done the like . And when the Angell of the Lord rebuked them of that sinne , x x Iudg. 2 4 , 5 they lift up their voice , and wept , and called the name of that place Bokim , i. weepers , and they sacrificed there unto the Lord .

O how many strange gods doe wee worship ! What are our self-love , our ambition , our filthy lusts , our envie , our hatred , our pride , but strange gods , to whom we offer most abominable sacrifices al the hours of the day ? Our covetousnes , our insatiable desire of cattel , of sheep , of the Mammon of unrighteousnes , is our Astaroth , yea , an Idoll so much worse than Astaroth , in that wee worship it not openly , but privately ; not in the face of the world , but in the face of God ; not in temples of stone , but in the temples of our hearts , which God hath dedicated to his owne service . How many Samuels , how many Angels hath GOD sent unto us , to reprove us of so many sinnes ! and wee are heer assembled , as Israel in Mizpeh , to acknowledge & confesse our sinnes . O then , dear brethren and sisters , let us first look up to the infinite Majestie of God whom wee have offended , and let us afterwards looke downewards to our selves who are the offenders . y y Iob 4 19 Wee dwell in houses of clay : our foundation is in the dust : wee are crushed before the moth . Houses of clay , earth and dust , wormes , which are the meat of of wormes , sin against God ; and shall wee not mourne ? shall wee not draw teares from our hearts ? shall wee not command our eyes to pour them out NOW before the Lord ? shall wee not NOW wash with them our reasonable sacrifices , the calves of our lips , which wee are come hither to offer up unto God ? shall not this House of God bee this day Bokim unto us ? shall wee not NOW cry to heaven with weeping & mourning , Wee have sinned against the Lord ?

David sinned but one night , and b b Psalm 6.6 . hee was weary with his groning : every night hee made his bed to swim : hee watered his couch with his teares . If I say of many of us , that we sin every night and every day , I thinke that I shall not lie : Oh then shall we not weep this one day ? David , when he wept , cried to heaven , c c Psalm 51.1 , 2 , 3 Have mercie upon mee , O God , according to thy loving kindnesse : according to thy tender mercies , blot out my transgressions : wash mee thorowly from mine iniquitie , and clense mee from my sin . What moved him to cry so loud , and in crying , to pray for mercie ? For , saith hee , I acknowledge my transgression , and my sin is ever before me . Because he acknowledged his sinne , therfore he wept . If wee knew how hatefull our sinnes are to God , we would weep : we knowe them not , we feele them not , wee cast them still behinde our backs , wee never bring them before our eyes : therefore we weep not . Oh how horrible shall bee that day , wherein shall bee fulfilled that which GOD saith , d d Psalm 50.21 I will reprove thee , and set them in order before thy eyes ! The Lord in his mercy preserve us from the terror and horror of that day .

Hee will doe it , if by the weeping of this day wee prevent the weeping of that day ; if , as Daniel did , e e Dan. 9 3 , &c. wee set our face unto the Lord God , to seek him by prayer and supplications , with fasting , and sackcloth , and ashes ; if , as he did , wee confesse that wee have sinned , & committed iniquity , and done wickedly , our Kings , our Princes , our fathers , and all the people of the Land ; if wee acknowledge , as hee did , that if GOD should deale with us , as hee dealt with his people of those daies , righteousnesse should belong unto him , & unto us confusion of face ; if , as hee did , we joyne deprecation to the accusation of our owne sins , and confession of our owne deserts , crying , f f Ver. 19 O Lord heare , O Lord forgive , O Lord hearken and doe .

Where are the women of joy , which through grief for their sin , wash Christ's feet with their teares , as g g Luke 7 37 one woman of that kinde did once ? How many ( alas ! ) how many Publicanes , yea , worse than Publicanes , doe swarme in the Church ! Shall ye finde one among a thousand , who dare h h Luke 18.13 not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven , for shame ; who smiteth upon his breast , which conceived sin in him ; who with words interrupted with sighes , and carried into heaven with a swift flowing stream of teares , cryeth to God , God be mercifull to mee a sinner , as the Publicane in the Gospell did ? Wee are all prodigall sonnes : what do we all but feed swine ; but feed upon swines provender , but cherish in our selves our filthie lusts , but delight in sin ? Nevertheless , which of us all commeth to himself , returneth to his Father , and saith , Father , I have sinned against heaven , and in thy sight , and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne , i i Luke 15 15 as once a prodigall sonne did ?

k k Mat. 26 75. Peter denied Christ but once , and against his heart , and yet he excused not his fault , but wept for it bitterly . Are wee not of the crue of those , of whom the Apostle writes , that l l Tit. 1.16 . they professe they knowe God , but by their workes they deny him ; beeing abominable , and disobedient , and to every good worke reprobate ? Would to God we were not . But we are , and yet our hart is glad , our faces shine , our cheeks are dry , our eyes are hardned like Pumice-stones , and we weep not .

Think yee , that Saint Paul could write to the Romanes without vehement sighing , how m m Rom. 7 19 the good that he would , hee did not ; but the evill which he would not , that he did ? We are of a disposition much disagreeing unto his : The evill that we would , we do not ; but the good which wee would not , that wee doe . Through feare of punishment , wee abstaine often from the evill which wee like to doe : and through love of praise ; or of some reward , we do sometimes the good which wee love not : we serve God in covered dishes , yet wee sigh not . O how sensible was sin to this holy Apostle , when hee cried , n n Rom. 7 24 O wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver mee from this body of death ? O how many teares , dropping from his eyes , washed his hands , and blurred his paper when hee writ these words ! Hee with many sobbing tears desired to die , that sinne might die in him : o o Rom. 6 7 for hee that is dead , is freed from sinne . We would not live , if wee could not sinne : for life without sinne , is death unto us . Wee walke as the Gentiles of whom the Apostle writeth , that p p Eph. 4 19 being past feeling , they have given themselves over unto lasciviousnesse , to work all uncleannesse with greedinesse . Therefore being without sorrow in our hearts , wee have no teares in our eyes , and we weep not . What token is this ? Surely , that there is no love , no respect to God in us : for if wee loved his goodnes , if wee respected his Majestie , our hearts would cleave asunder for sorrow , our eies would breake out into teares when we offend him .

CHAP. IV.

1 SEcond motive to weeping , from the Iustice of God .

2 Sinnes are debts , whereby wee treasure up wrath to our selves .

3 The sinner fighteth against God .

I. AS we love not his Goodnes , as wee honour not his Majestie ; so we feare not his Iustice : & though wee be selfe-lovers , though apparantly wee love our selves too much , yet I may say , that wee love not our selves enough , because wee hate our owne soules . q q 2. Sam. 1.17 David wept & lamented● when Saul killed himselfe , and when his best friend Ionathan was slaine by the Philistins . The r r Chap. 1 verse 11 author of the book of Wisedome saith , that the mouth that belyeth , slaieth the soule . Say not that the booke is not Canonicall : God himselfe saith , that s s Ezech. 18 . 7● the soule that sinneth , it shall dye . Neyther is there any of you ignorant of the scripture , where S. Paul writeth , that t t Rom. 6 23 the wages of sinne is death . Wherefore take heede to your sinnes ; for so many sins as yee commit against the eternall God , so manie mortall blowes give yee to your immortall soules .

II. u u Macrob. l. 2 Satur. c. 4 Habenda est , inquit , ad somnum mihi conciliandum illa culci●ra ; in qua ille , tanto aere alieno obstrictu● , somnum capere potuit . Augustus Caesar wondred , how a certain Knight of Rome , who owed great summes of money , farre beyond all his worth , slept so securely , that hee was no way disquieted with feare of the rigor of Iustice , no way grieved with the overthrow of his family ; and would needes have the Quilt whereon that carelesse man could be at quiet ; thinking it should have more force to make him sleepe , than all the Laudanum of the Apothe-caries shops . Wee are that man : our debts are our sinns , which we pile up so mightily , that , as David said of his iniquities , x x Psalm 40.12 they are mo than the hayres of our head : neverthelesse wee say with David , but not in so good a cause , y y Psalm 4.8 I will lay me downe in peace , & sleepe ; neyther call wee to minde when wee are thus hoording and heaping sinnes upon sinnes , as the Fables tel that the Gyants laide hills upon hills , when they were to fight against God ; that a a Rom. 2.5 through our hardnesse and impenitent heart , we treasure up unto our selves wrath against the day of wrath , and revelation of the righteous iudgement of God . This is no tale forged by a Poet , but a most true saying come from Heaven : for b b Ro. 1.31 this is the iudgment of God , that they which commit such things , are worthy of death .

III. What is it to sinne ? God saith , it is to walke at all adventures with him ; or , as the translation of the text hath , contrary unto him : that is , as if yee should runne your head against a wall of marble stone . Heare then what news he sendeth to such adventurers , c c Lev. 26.27 , 28. If ye walk at al adventures with me , I will also walk at all adventures with you in fury : and I , even I , will chastise you seven times for your sins : when we fight and bicker , and tilt thus with God , who shall have the upper hand , and which of us shall triumph ? It were a safer course for us to d d Gen. 32.24 . wrestle with him , as Iacob did : e e Hosea 12.4 . Hee wept , & made supplication unto him . Hee wrestled by weeping , hee preuayled by praying : it is sorrowing ; it is weeping for sinne , it is praying for forgivenesse of sinnes , which giveth us power over God . Therefore if we desire to prevayle NOW , let us weepe and pray NOW .

CHAP. V.

1. THird motive to weeping , from the passion and death of Iesus Christ , considered first in the Garden ;

2. Next , in the High Priests house ;

3. Thirdly , in the Iudgement-Hall ;

4. Fourthly , upon the Crosse .

5. Divers examples to moove us to weepe for his death .

6. We have crucified him , therefore we should weepe because of him ;

7. As the Iewes did .

8. They that weepe not in this world , shall weepe in hell .

I. BUt , to leave this , let us cast our eyes upon the passion and death of our Lord Iesus Christ , f f 2. Cor. 5.21 . who knew no sinne , and neverthelesse was of God made sinne for us ; Let us looke upon him in the garden : there hee said , that g g Mat. 26 38. his soule was exceeding sorrowful even unto death : He was thus sorrowfull for our sinnes : and shall not we be sorrowfull for them ? There h h Mark 14.33 . he was sore amazed , and very heavy : And shal not we be amazed for his amazednesse , and very heavy for his heavines , who was thus amazed , thus heavie for us ? There yee see him wallowing on the ground before the throne of the justice of God , there i i Luk. 22.44 . he is in an agonie , there in a cold aire : the heate of the agonie openeth all the pores of his sacred body , it melteth his flesh like waxe , it changeth all his humors into a river of a bloody sweat ; which piercing and running through his garment , imbued and dyed the ground with a crimson colour : There yee heare him k k Heb. 5.7 offering up prayers & supplications , with strong crying and teares , unto him that was able to save him from death ; death which hee was to suffer , not for himselfe , but for us . O hearts of steele ! when will the agonie of the Sonne of God for you , cast you in an agony for your selves ? O eyes drier than the dryest bricke ! when will the bloodie sweate of your sweet Saviour , which mollified the hard ground , soften you ? when will the streames of teares , running from the glorious and bright-shining eyes of the King of kings , change you into fountaines of water ? when will weeping dig hollow furrowes and gutters in your faces ? O when will yee begin to shed one teare for your owne sinnes ? Is it not time to begin NOW , if ye have not begun till NOW ?

II. Behold l l Luk. 22.48 . Iudas betraying him with a kisse : behold m m Ioh. 18 12. the Officers binding him , as if hee had beene a male factor : behold them in the high Priests house , n n Luk. 22 63 , 64 , 65. mocking him , smiting him , blindfolding him , and afterwards striking him on the face , & asking him , Who is it that smote thee ? behold them speaking manie other things blasphemously against him : o o Mat. 26.59.65 , 66. behold the chief Priests , & Elders , and all the Councell , seeking false witnesses against him : behold them all , with the high Priest , pronouncing against him their award and last sentence , He is guilty of death . Now harts burst , Now eies weepe ; NOW Christians , if there bee any love of Christ , if there be any bowels of compassion in you , mourne and lament . The Sonne of God was bound for you who were slaves , that ye might bee set at libertie . The Lord of glory was mockt for you , who were the divells mocking stocke , that ye might bee honoured of God , who is your glory . The light of the world was blind-folded for you who were darknesse , that ye might bee enlightened . The righteous was outrageously beaten for you , who were unrighteous , that ye might be spared . The Innocent was condemned for you , who were guilty , that ye might be absolved . Christ suffered all this for you , and yet ye weepe not .

III. Follow him into the Iudgement-Hall : Canst thou , with an unbroken heart , and dry eyes , see him p p Ioh. 19.1 , 2. scourged there , and his flesh mangled , and torne in pieces for thy sake ? Behold his naked head begirt with a crowne of sharpe thornes : O let us , us I say , who professe to bee members of his body , q q Pudeat membrum deliciarisub capite spinis coronato . O let us be ashamed to sport , and to make merry under a head crowned with thornes .

IV. Goe to the Crosse : heed the souldiers nayling to the unfruitfull tree his hands and his feete ; behold them giving him vineger mingled with gall to drinke , in stead of wine : consider how they stript him , ere he die , that hee may dye with more shame : listen to all those that passe by , and looke on him ; yee shall see them wagging their heads , ye shal hear them reviling him , and rayling on him most outrageously . There he yeelded up the ghost : there his side was pierst : there he was made a woefull spectacle , and the principall actor of a bloodie and pitifull Tragedy .

r r Mat. 27 45 , 51. The Sunne could not looke on it ; it covered it selfe with a black mourning weede , and was darkened : but our faces shine , as if wee had no cause of mourning . The earth did quake ; but we tremble not . The rockes rent : our hearts are harder than flint stones , yea than the most hard Diamonds , and cannot be broken . The graves were opened : our throates , alas ! are open Sepulchers , breathing out all filthinesse , and rotten words ; but our soules are graves sealed and shut to all good . The dead rose againe : we lye dead in trespasses and sinnes without any spirituall motion , any feeling of the wrath of God , which Christ in the passion of his death suffered for us . For s s 1. Pet. 2.24 . his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree . There t t Esa 53.5 he was wounded for our transgressions : there he was bruised for our iniquities : there , there , the chastisement of our peace was upon him : with his stripes which he received there , wee are healed . Hee , whom the ignominious passion of Christ , whom the shedding of his blood , whom his cursed death will not wound with a pricking remorse , and sting of sin ; he out of whose eyes the bruising and crushing of his body , the sorrow and agony of his soule , will not thrust a floud of teares , shall never bee mooved by any other argument , to mourne and to weep .

u u Plin. hist. nat. l. 37. c. 4 I lla invicta vis , duarum violentissimae naturae rerum , ferri ignísque contemptrix , hircino rumpitur sanguine . The blood of a Hee-goat will beat in peeces the diamond , which no heat of fire can melt , no hammer of steele can breake . What fire will melt , what hammer will break our hearts of diamond , if the blood of the Lamb of God will not doe it ?

V. Iudas a Reprobate , x x Mat. 27 3 Iud is which had betraied him , when hee saw that he was condemned , repented , and wept : and wee , who brag of our elation , weep not .

The Centurion , an ignorant Pagan , when hee saw what was done , when hee considered all the circumstances of his death , glorified God , saying , y y Luke 23 47 Certainly this was a righteous man : wee that are called Christians , wee that boast of the knowledge of God in Christ , acknowledge not his righteousnes as wee should , seeing wee weep not because hee z z 1. Pet. 3 18 suffred for our unrighteousnesse .

a a Luke 23 48 All the people that came together to that sight , beholding the things which were done , smote their breasts . We know all the things that were done : every day b b Gal. 3.1 Christ is evidently set forth , & crucified among us , by the preaching of the Gospell : and yet none of us smiteth his breast .

c c Ezech. 8.14 The idolatrous women of Ierusalem sate weeping for TAMMVS , d d Plut. de Iside & Osiride . called by the Greekes OSIRIS , the false god of the Aegyptians , whom Typhon slue : and wee weep not for Iesus Christ , who e e 1 Iohn 5.20 . is the true GOD , and eternall life , whom the Iewes slue .

f f Plut de cessatione Oraculorum . The Divells themselves , which were in the Iles of Paxes , did mourne at his death , when Thamos the Pilot of the ship , which was sayling by , cried , The great Pan is dead . Who is the great Pan , but hee who is all in all , our Lord Iesus Christ ? The Divells mourned , because g g Heb. 2 14 through death hee destroyed him that had the power of death , that is , the Divell their master , and them also : we mourne not , wee , I say , who were the causes of his death .

VI. It is written in the Revelat. that h h Rev. 1.7 every eye shall see him , and they also which pierced him : and all kindreds of the earth shall wayle because of him . Why shall they wayle because of him ? because they pierced him . O God! have we pierced him ? are wee guiltie of his death ? was it not Iudas which betrayed him ? was it not the Councell of the State & of the Church , which sent to take him ? was it not the high-priest which accused him ? was it not Pilate which condemned him ? were they not Pilat's souldiers which scourged , crowned , nailed , stript , and pearced him ? What ye ask , is true . But why did hee suffer mortall men to exercise such cruelties on his innocent person ? He stood there in our room ; and what wee deserved , that hee suffered : Our covetousnesse betrayed him ; Our anger laide hold on him , and tied him ; Our lust mocked him ; Our envy accused him ; Our pride delivered him ; Our worldly feare condemned him ; Ou●●nhumanitie scourged him ; Our ambition crowned him with thornes ; Our profanenesse and atheism spet upon him , smote him , and abused him ; Our causelesse othes nayled him ; Our intemperancie in drinking gave him vinegar and gall to drink ; Our blasphemies , our horrible execrations , our cursings , pearced him to the heart : and yet wee weep not . God was made a worm for us ; and wee weepe not . Blessing it self was made a curse for us ; and wee ●eep not . Life it selfe is dead for us ; and we weep not .

VII . When the Iewes heard , that hee whom they denied , whom they delivered , whom they crucified and killed by wicked hands , was i i Acts 3 14.15 the Holy One , the Iust , the Prince of life ; k k Acts 2 37. they were pricked in their hearts , although that l l Act. 3.17 through ignorance they did it . O how bitterly did Saint Paul weep , when he recorded how he had bin m m 1 Tim. 1.3 . a blasphemer , a persecuter , and an oppressor of Christ's Church , altho hee did it ignorantly in unbeleef ! wee n n Heb. 6.6 crucifie him , wee put him to an open shame every day ; if not wickedly , at least wittingly and willingly : neverthelesse , wee are not pricked in our hearts ; and therefore we have no tears in our eies to weep and wail , because of him whom wee have pearced .

VIII . Will we deferre the accomplishment of St. Iohn's Prophesie till Dooms-day ; when o o Rev. 6.15 , 16 the Kings of the earth , and the great men , and the rich men , and all the rabble of wicked men , shal cry to the mountains and rockes , Fall on us , and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne , and from the wrath of the Lambe ; when their crying shall availe them nothing ; when the irrevocable Doome shall bee pronounced , and they shall bee cast into utter darknes , where p p Mat. 22 13 there shall weeping , and gnashing of teeth ; because then shall bee fulfilled the threatning of Christ ; * * Luke 6.25 Wo bee to you that laugh now , for ye shall waile and weep ? That weeping will be unfruitfull , because it shall bee a weeping of despaire ; such as Iudas weeping was when he hanged himself .

Let us then , my beloved & dear brethren , begin to weep NOW , and to shead fruitfull teares ; q q Aug de Temp ser. 66. Duplicem habere debet fletum in poenitentiâ omnis peccator , five per negligentiam bonum non fecit , seu per audaciam malum perpetravit . Quod enim oportuit , non gessit ; & quod non oportuit , egit . teares for our sinnes of omission , teares for our sins of commission : for , through negligence , we have not done the good wee should have done ; through rashnes , we have done the evill which wee should not have done . Let us join to that weeping , a resolution to sin no more : let us after that manner , according to the exhortation of S. Iohn , r r Mat 3.8 bring forth fruits answerable to amendment of life . s s Aug. ibid. Fructus dignus est poenitentiae , transacta flere peccata , & eadem iterum non agere . To bring forth such fruits , is , to weep for our sinnes past , and not to commit any sin , for which we shal have need to weep again .

CHAP. VI.

1. TEares of repentance are fruitfull , but they are not honourable .

2. Teares of charity , which we powre out for the sinnes of our brethren , are both fruitfull and honourable .

3. In this charity , there is a duty to God ,

4. And to man .

5. Examples of godly men which wept for other mens sinnnes , are accusations of the hardnes of our hearts ;

6. Namely , the examples of Iesus Christ .

I. SUch fruites are fruitfull , such teares are profitable , but they are not honourable . 'T is shame to a man to sinne : and therefore it is not honorable unto him to have need of pardon , to beg it , to weepe for it . t t Quem liberat , notat . A remission is a disgracefull brand to him that opposeth it to the hands of justice : and amongst the Nobles of the land , those are most esteemed , in whose family there is no pardon , no letters of remission : But u it is the glory of a man , v v Pro. 19.15 . and namely of a King , to passe over a transgression , and to forgive it . It is even so between God and us . x x Pro. 25.2 . It is the glory of God to conceale a thing , and to give pardons to great sinners : But they which receive such pardons , must confesse as Daniel did , that y y Dan. 9.8 . to them belongeth confusion of face , and say with Ieremiah , a a Lam. 3.2 . It is of the Lords mercies that wee are not consumed , because his compassions faile not .

II. As we must have fruitfull teares of repentance , to weepe for our owne sinnes NOW : so must we have honorable tears of charity , to weep NOW for the sinnes of our brethren , whereof we are not guiltie . As it is honourable to b b Luk. 15.10 . the Angells to reioyce over the sinners that repent , because they themselves are without sin : so it is a glory to us to mourne for those sinnes wherewith wee are not blemished .

III. In this glory there is a duty : if wee honour God , if we feare his glorious Majestie , if wee bee zealous of his glory , can we heare his great and fearfull name blasphemed , can we see his word despised , his law transgressed , his glory turned into shame , and not bee commooved ? If our dearest friends uttered in our eares but one word of discommendation and reproach against our fathers and mothers that begat us , what noise would we not make ? up would all friendship go , no exhortation , no submission , no satisfaction would be able to bridle our impatience , and to restraine our passionatenesse & furie from vengeance .

If great men who are above our reach , if our Magistrates , if our Princes , if our Kings speake disdainfully of them , at the least wee would weepe , at the least wee would shew , by all kind of tokens of sorrow , that such disgracing checks are grievous unto us . The living God , the Father of spirits is every where vilipended , dishonoured , reviled by great and small , by our inferiors , by our superiours , by our equals , by our friends , by our foes . And shall not we , which professe to be Gods children , be sensible of such contumelies ?

IV. A great many , yea many millions , yea , the greatest part of men give themselves over unto lasciviousnesse , and run head-long into the dark gulf of death & eternall damnation . Are they not created to the image of God , as well as wee are ? Are they not our owne flesh ? are they not our brethren ? where then is our charitie , where our bowells , where our mercy , if we seek not to rescue them , if we endeavour not to pull them out of the fire ; if all helps beeing impossible to us , wee weepe not for them ?

V. c c 2. Pet. 2.7 , 8. Lot a poor stranger , in the middest of a towne swarming with wicked men , when hee could doe no better , vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their filthy conversation and unlawfull deeds . Is not Christendome as filthy as Sodome ? and shall we finde amongst us all one Lot , whether out-lander or home-bred , that is vexed therwith ? When David lived a private life , and had not the power in his hand to represse wicked men ; what he might , that hee did . d d Psal. 119 53 , 136. Horror tooke hold upon him , because of the wicked that had forsaken Gods law : rivers of waters ran downe his eyes , because they kept it not . The forsaking of Gods Law is an indifferent thing unto us : wee discourse , wee eate , wee drinke , we take pleasure in wicked men that transgresse it . O how was that holy man moved with blaspheming and cursing , when hee said to his God , The zeale of thine house hath eaten me up : e e Psal. 69 9 , 11. the reproches of them that reproached thee , are fallen upon me . Therefore I wept , and chastened my soule with fasting , and that was to my reproach ! The ayre is infected with blaspheming and cursing : who is eaten up with the zeale of the house of God , and of his glory , to refraine it ? At the least , who fasteth , who weepeth when hee cannot refraine it ?

If God should send his Angell through the middest of this City , as he did f f Ezech. 9.4 . the man clothed with linnen , through the midst of Ierusalem , to set a marke upon the foreheads of the men that sigh , and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof ; I doubt not but hee should finde some sighing , and shedding teares abundantly . For whersoever the visible Church is , God hath there one or another that belongeth to his election : but I feare that the number would be very scant and few .

Where justice hath erected her sea , where Lawyers pleade at the barre , there is prevarication and briberie : where there is a crowd and many halls of trafficking men , and of divers societies of tradesmen ; there must needes be Monopolies , ingrossing , cousenage , forswearing and robbery . Where there are so many Tavernes , so many Ale-houses , there is idlenes , unnecessary wasting , and lecherie : where every where yee see nothing but pompe , but sumptuousnesse , but riot , but gorgeousnesse and braverie , yee shall not lye , if yee say that there is too much pride and vanitie . As a bigge and wel-fed body is full of ill humours : so in a great Citie , such as this is , there are many irregular and carelesse Citizens . And as standing waters turne into mud , and breed frogges and toads ; so a long peace begets a crue of uglie and noysome vices , and a packe of base and lewd fellowes .

If we could g g Ezec. 8.8 , 9 , 10. digge in the wall , as Ezechiel did , how many creeping things , how many abominable beastes should we see , not purtrayed , but living and mooving in the Temples of many mens hearts , who have a fare shew in the flesh , and seeme to our charitable judgement the honestest men that ever are bread . Oh! if wee could know them , we would , or at least we should mourn NOW , as h h Ezra 9.3 . Neh. 13.23 . Ezra did once for the unlawfull marriages which they had contracted with the women of Ashdod , even with strange and beastly affections : Wee would NOW weepe in secret places for their pride , as Ieremiah did : and that which was commanded to Ezechiel , i i Ezech. 6.11 . to smite with his hand , to stampe with his foote , and to say , Alas ! for all the abominations of the house of Israel ; that would wee , or should we doe NOW for al the enormous and most wicked sinnes of the reformed Churches .

The holy Apostle k k 2. Cor. 12.21 . Paul was humbled among the Corinthians , & bewayled many which had sinned , and had not repented of the uncleannesse , and fornication , and lasciviousnesse , which they had committed . If this Church were but one Parish , if we might know every mans and womans carriage in it , I thinke that wee should rather want tears in our eyes , than matter to provoke them to weep for such sinnes .

The same Apostle rebuked sharpely l l 1. Cor. 5.2 . the Corinthians , because they mourned not , that the incestuous man might be taken away from among them . Alas ! alas ! what is riot , what is pride , what is taverning , what is lasciviousnesse , but committing of spirituall incest with the divell ? There was but one incestuous of that kinde in Corinth ; there are NOW too many of this kinde amongst us , and we weep not Now.

m m 2 Cor. 2.7 . That incestuous man sorrowed , repented , & wept ; yea hee was almost swallowed up with over-much sorrow : these incestuous persons will seeme honest men , and weepe not : for n n Hosea , 4.11 . whoredome and wine , yea , the excellent wine , take away the heart .

o o Ier. 6.23 , 24. Iehoiakims Courtiers are threatned with great plagues , because when the King had cut the roll wherein the word of God was written , and cast it into the fire , they were not afraid , rent not their clothes , & wept not : My heart quakes , my soule shakes , my flesh faints , my haire stares , my tongue cleaveth to my jawes , and words are dryed up in my mouth , when I begin to complaine that not the word of God , but his glorious body is most cruelly & ignominiously dismembred , that no word is spoken by many without an oath , and no oath without wounds , passion , body , pockes , &c. that at each of those blasphemies , God is most vilely named ; and none , yea not one of those that stand by , open their mouths to reprove it , yea , yea , doe not so much as sigh , as frowne , as shiver , as thrust one , one drop of teares from their hornie eyes to condemne it .

VI. O sweet Iesus ! thou seeing the malice of the Iewes , p p Mark . 3.5 . lookedst round about on them with anger , beeing grieved for the hardnesse of their hearts : O most glorious Sonne of God! Thou , who art q q Rom. 9.5 . over al , God blessed for ever , didst r r Luk. 19.41.44 . weep over Ierusalem , because shee knew not the time of her visitation . O zealous and blessed Apostle ! when thou wast at Athens , s s Acts 17.16 thy spirit was stirred in thee , seeing the Citie wholly given to Idolatry . If ye were beyond sea , yea if ye could enter into a Recusants closet , yee should see so manie Idols , that yee would wonder , that men , men calling themselves Christians , should be they of whom it is written , that t t Rev. 9.20 , 21. they repented not of the workes of their hands ; that they should not worship Divels , & Idols of gold , and silver , & brasse , & stone , and of wood , which neyther can see , nor heare , nor walk . More would ye wonder , if ye did see them worshipping , in stead of Iesus Christ , a peece of dough rosted upon a paire of tongs . But alas ! whose spirit would wex eager at it ? That which is written of the Priests , People , & Princes of Israel , is true of them : u u Hos. 5.4 Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God ; for the spirit of whoredomes is in the midst of them , & they have not knowne the Lord . But who , with Iesus Christ , whose actions are our instructions , is grieved for the hardnes of their hearts ? Shall the sinnes of idolaters wring one teare out of our stony heads ; when our owne sinnes are increased above the haires of our head , and are heavier than the sand of the sea , and yet wee look on them with dry eyes , as if all their muscles were withered , and without sap ? Let us , I pray you , let us begin NOW to weepe , because untill NOW we have not wept : let us tune upon the strings of our hearts a dolefull song of heavie mourning , because wee have not knowne , in this peaceable Kingdome , the things belonging to our peace .

CHAP. VII .

1 THey that weep not for sinne , are constrained to weep for the punishment of sinne .

2 He that weepeth not in affliction , is a desperate sinner .

3 Godly men weep in affliction .

4 In our afflictions wee must weep to God .

I. FOr , x x 1. Cor. 11.31 . if we would iudge our selves , we should not bee iudged . If wee could once sorrow : if sorrow wrought indignation in us ; indignation , feare ; fear , desire ; desire , zeal ; zeale , revenge , by weeping for our sinnes , and abstaining from sinne , then wee should never weep for the punishment of sin : but if wee weep not when wee should weep , y y Gen. 4.7 sinne lieth at the doore ; and the punishment thereof shall make us to weep when wee would not weep . a a Eph. 5.4 Let no man deceive you with vain words : for , because of these things , because of fornication , of uncleannesse , of covetousnesse , of filthy and foolish talking , and other vices , which are but too too common in our Churches , commeth the wrath of GOD upon the childen of disobedience . I am not a Prophet , nor the sonne of a Prophet , to say to you , as Ezechiel writ to the Iews , b b Ezech. 7.5 , 6 , 7. An evill , an onely evill , behold , is come . An end is come : the end is come : it awaketh against thee : behold , it is come . The morning is come unto thee , O thou that dwellest in the land : the time is come , the day of trouble is neer . Yee see it come upon your brethren , for whom ye fast , & should weepe NOW . Are they not as honest , as godly , as religious as ye are ? Therefore say not with the profane Iews , c c Esa. 28.15 . Wee have made a covenant with death , & with hell are we at agreement . When the over-flowing scourge shal passe thorow , it shall not come unto us : for we have made lies our refuge , & under falshood have wee hid our selves . Apply rather to your selves that which Christ , who cannot lie , said to the Iewes of d d Luke 13.2 the Galileans , whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices ; and of those eighteene , upon whom the Towre in Siloe fell , that they were not sinners above all the rest of the people : And therefore , except ye repent , yee shall all likewise perish .

II. When affliction is comne , I need not exhort you to weep for it : To that , nature will be to you a most perswasive preacher . The heart must bee harder than a Stithie , if it sorrow not ; the eyes must be dryer than a potsheard , if they weep not in affliction . The Iewes were come to the height of sinne , when the Lord checked them for hardnesse of heart in their oppression ; saying , e e Esay 22 12 , 13 , 14 In that day did the Lord GOD of Hostes call to weeping , & to mourning , and to baldnes , and to girding with sackcloth : and behold ioy and gladnes , slaying oxen , and killing sheep , eating flesh , and drinking wine ; and ye say , Let us eat and drink : for to-morrow we shall die . Such a sinner in that was their King Achaz , who in the time of his distresse did trespasse yet more against the Lord . He was ever king Achaz , ever like himselfe ; never better , but rather worse . This hardnesse of heart is a neere cousin to the irremissible sinne : for God said to these stony-hearted sinners , Surely , this iniquity shall not be purged from you , till ye die .

III. I hope there is none so wickedly disposed amongst you all : for , I deeme , there is none amongst you , but hee will sorrow , weep and mourne , when the hand of God is heavie upon him ; we are all of one metall . Iob saith , that in his afflictions , f f Iob 3 24 his roarings were poured out like the waters : hee g g Iob 30.28 , 31. cried : his harp was turned into mourning ; and his organe , into the voice of them that weep . The like wee haue heard of many others , with the refutation of the indolence and unsensiblenes of the Stoicks .

IV. But if ye do nothing but roare , but cry , but weepe and mourne when yee are chastised , what doe yee that your dogges will not doe ? will they not cry and howle when they are beaten ? Teares , if they bee alone , are no more regarded of God , than the howling and yelling of beasts , which will roare when they are hardly used .

Weepe then as the Saints have alwayes wept . When your eyes run downe with teares , and your eye-lids gush our with waters , let your prayers runne up to heaven with them , to powre them out into the bosome of God . Weepe as h h 1. Sam. 1.10 . Hannah wept , who beeing in bitternesse of soule , prayed unto the Lord , and wept sore . Weepe as the children of Israel wept : for when the children of Beniamin had destroied of them fortie thousand men , i i Iudg. 20 23 , 26. they wept before the Lord . Weepe as Iob wept , when k k Iob 16.20 . his eyes powred out teares unto God . Weepe as David wept , who when he was swimming in his teares , said , l l Psal. 55.17 . Evening and morning , and at noone will I pray , and cry aloud , and hee shall heare my voice . Weepe as Hezekiah wept ; m m 2. Kin. 20.2 , 3. He prayed unto the Lord , and wept sore . n n Esa. 38.84 . Hee chattered like a crane , or a swallow : hee mourned as a dove : his eyes failed with looking upward : his praier was , O Lord I am oppressed , undertake for me .

CHAP. IIX .

1. WE must weepe also for the desolation of the Church ,

2. As David and Ieremiah did .

3. Great desolation of the Churches by the last troubles .

4. Their present state most pitifull and lamentable .

5. Examples to moove us to weepe for them .

I WHen yee have thus wept for your selves , remember that ye are not for your selves onely : consider that yee belong to the mysticall body of our Lord Iesus Christ , the members wherof are disperst through the whole world : and print in your minds the most reasonable commandement of the holy Apostle , o o Rom. 12.15 . Weepe with them that weepe . Weepe for the Church , as the holy men of God have wept for it . They mourned for the evills past , for the evills that were present , and for the evills that were to come .

II. When David heard the tydings of the overthrow of Gods people by the Philistins , p p 2. Sam. 1.11 , 12. He and all the men that were with him , mourned , and wept , and fasted untill even . Made not Ieremiah lamentations for the desolation of Ierusalem ? and when his eyes were dryed up , when his eye-lids were so withered , that heavinesse and sorrow could find no water to squeese out of them , did he not then wish , did hee not then cry , q q Ier. 9.1 . O that my head were waters , & mine eyes a fountaine of teares , that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people .

III. Deare brethren , there is no man beyond seas , in those places where the warre was , but he may say as truely as Ieremiah saide in his Lamentations , r r Lam. 3.1 I am the man that hath seene affliction by the rod of the Lords wrath : who as s s Ier. 15.3 . he had appointed over his Churches their foure kinds , the sword to slay , the dogges to teare , the fowles of the heaven to devoure , and the beasts of the earth to destroy ; so hath hee brought those fierce and pitilesse executioners of his justice upon his people . t t Lam. 2.21 . Hee hath slaine in the day of his anger , he hath killed , he hath not pitied . Chast women and honest matrons were defiled and murthered ; shamefac't and pure virgins were most vilely deflowred ; the young men were put to death by the sword ; sucklings were pulled away from their mothers breasts , and cast into the rivers , or dasht against the stones ; the principall men of towns were hanged ; the faces of Elders were not honored ; their bodies , which had beene Temples of the Holy Ghost , were given to bee meate unto the fowles of the heaven , and unto the beasts of the earth , as if they had beene dead dogs . Populous townes are now heapes of stones : where defenced and strong cities were , nothing is to be seen but ruines . That which was thought impossible to be atchieved in fifty yeares by all the sleight and might of the enemies , was begun and finished in fiftie dayes .

u u Esa. 4.26 . The Lord hissed unto them , and they came upon the Churches with speed swiftly . None was weary , none stumbled amongst them : their horses hoofes were like flint , the wheeles of their charriots were like a whirle-wind . Their roaring was like a Lyon ; they laid hold of the prey , and carried it away safe , and there was none to deliver : So on them was accomplished that which Isaiah prophecyed once against the Iewes , and which was fulfilled . The head of those armies might have written about the Embleme of his unlooked-for victories , the posie which Iulius Caesar carryed graven in the table of his triumph of the Parthians , VENI , VIDI , VICI : I came to them , I saw them , I overcame them . Is there any head so frozen and hardned with unsensiblenesse , but it will NOW melt and flowe over with teares , at the naming only of the great breach which hath beene made in the Church of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ ?

IV. There was never wound so weil healed , but the cicature remained : O how great is the scarre of this wound ! Alas ! alas ! when shall it bee closed up ? Behold and consider the present state of the Churches of the Palatinate , of Bohemia , and of many moe : Is it not NOW most miserable , and a sorrowfull subject of a tragicall lamentation ? and shall wee not weepe NOW ?

V. x x Iob 30.25 . Did I not weepe , saith Iob , for him that had evill dayes ? was not my soule grieved for the poore ? O how evill are Now the daies of our distressed brethren ! and shall not wee weepe for them NOW ? O how many rich men have beene turned into their shirts ! how many are now poore , that were wont to relieve the poore ! and shall not our soules bee grieved for them NOW ?

y y 1. Sam. 4.20 , 21 , 22. Phineas wife was not so gladded , because she had borne a sonne , as she was deadly wounded with displeasure , because , the Arke of God was taken : At that tydings , shee called her sonne Ichabod , that is to say , Where is the glory ? and nothing at all regarding him , shee saide in her mourning and lamentation , The glory is departed from Israel : for the Ark of God is taken . So weeping , so mourning , so bemoning , not so much the death of her beloved husband , as the taking of the Arke , shee gave up the ghost . The true Ark of God is the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ ; Gospell which a a Rom. 1.16 . is the power to every one that beleeveth . The Philistins have taken the Arke : Antichrist hath againe smothered the Gospell : the glory is departed from the Churches : the abomination of desolation is alas ! alas ! set up again in the houses of the Lord : swarms of drones humming and buzzing make an unknowne and most unpleasant noyse ; where the word of the Lord was wont to bee preached , his Name to be ta●●ed upon , his praises to be sung . If men , hearing NOW these wofull tidings , will not weepe NOW ; shall not women , who are more sensible of injuries , and sooner pricked with sorrow , mourne and weep NOW , even NOW ?

Nehemiah was more sorrowfull for the desolation of the City of Ierusalem , than he was joyfull for all his credit and favour with the great King . When hee heard , that the people of God , which was returned from the ●●ptivity of Babylon , b b Neh. 1 3 , 4. was in great affliction and reproach , that the wall of Ierusalem was broken down , & the gates thereof burnt with fire ; he sate down , & wept , & mourned certain daies , and fasted , and praied before the God of heaven . The king wondred to see his countenance ; thinking his royall favour more than sufficient to cheer him up , and to make his heart glad . But hee answered , c c Neh. 2.3 . Why should not my countenance bee sad , when the Citie , the place of my fathers sepulchres , lieth waste , and the gates thereof are consumed with fire ? This is the present state of many bretheren : where they are suffred to live , they live in so great affliction and reproach , that death would bee welcomer unto them than life . Their towns are dismantled : their houses are turned into cotages : they that had something , are , by the oppression of garrisons , brought to little or nothing . If there bee not at Artaxerxes Court a Nehemiah to weep a few daies ; let us , who are no Courtiers , weep this one day for them : let us weep NOW .

David said of his enemies , that d d Psal. 35 12 , 13 , 14. they rewarded him evill for good , seeking to deprive him of his soule . But as for me , saith hee , when they were sicke , my clothing was sackcloth : I humbled my soule with fasting , and my praier returned into mine owne bosome : I behaved my selfe as though hee had beene my friend and brother : I bowed down heavily , as one that mourneth for his mother . Was that holy mans charity so fervent , that hee wept for his foes ? and shall ours bee so cold , that wee cannot finde one teare to shead NOW for our friends ?

e e Iohn 11 35 , 36 Iesus wept for his friend Lazarus , who was dead and stinking . Then said the Iewes , Behold how hee loved him . Our deare friends are like unto Lazarus : they are in a worse plight , than if they were dead : when they walk abroad they look like a ghost . Their goods are becom a booty : their houses are desolation : their enemies are roaring Lions & ravening wolves , who have left nothing on them but skinne and bone . If we had charity in our hearts to love them , would wee not have tears in our eies , to weep for them NOW ; words in our mouthes , to pray for them Now ; our hands in our purses , to succour them Now ? would wee not remember the exhortation of the Apostle , and practise it ? f f Heb. 13 3. Remember , saith he , them that are in bonds , as bound with them ; and them which suffer adversity , as being your selves also in the body .

CHAP. IX .

1. WEe must weepe , to divert greater calamities , wherewith wee are threatned .

2 Most excellent presidents of such weeping .

3 Of them which weepe when they should not weepe .

4 It is lawfull to weepe for the dead ,

5 With moderation , and without ostentation :

6 As it is comely to Christians .

7 Custome of the ancient Church in Funerals .

8 They which weepe for sinne , and leave not off to sinne , weepe not as they should weepe .

1. AS the last of GODS visible workes were the best : so the last of the workes of the Man of sinne , who intituleth himselfe , Summum Numen in terris , the Soveraigne God on earth , are the worst . The ill which hee hath done , is like unto h h 1. Kings 12.11 Salomons whips : but the ill which hee is minded to doe , is like unto Rehoboanis scorpions . Hee playeth now with sundry of our brethren , as the Cat doth with the Mouse : but if hee may take all with his great Armies , hee hath laide his plotte to destroy , to cut off the churches , to tread them downe like the mire of the streets . He hath already ingulfed the Palatinate : hee hath swallowed up the Kingdom of Bohemia : he hath set his foot on the neck of France are under his hand : of all the reformed Churches which God hath erected in the Continent & main land of Europe , none have escaped his clawes , but those of the Lowe-Countries . Now when hee is assured of all the rest , he seeks to grasp them ; making his account , that to us from them there is but a short passage . Therefore this day we fast , we weep , we mourne , wee pray for them .

II. The man of God , Elisha , settling his countenance stedfastly on Hazael , wept ; because , said hee unto him , i i 2 Kings 8.12 I knowe the evill that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel : Their strong holds wilt thou set on fire , and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword , & wilt dash their children , and rip up their women with childe . Our Lord Iesus Christ k k Luke 19 41 , 42 , 43 wept over Ierusalem , because the daies were coming , that she should bee laid even with the ground , and one stone should not bee left in her upon another . This is the humanity that our neighbours and we must look for , if our neighbours bee oppressed , and Antichrist prevaile . Therefore let us NOW , NOW , I say , cry to heaven with weeping & mourning , that they may fall from their counsels , and their mischief return upon their owne heads .

l l 1. Sam. 15.35 Samuel wept for Saul , whom God had rejected . Shall wee not weep for our brethren , whom God hath elected ? Isaiah saith , that m m Esay 15.5 that his heart cried out for Moab , that n n Esay 21 3 , 4 his loins were filled with paine ; that pangs had taken hold upon him , as the pangs of a woman that travelleth , that his hart panted , that fearefulnesse affrighted him , that God had turned the night of his pleasure into feare , because of the fall of Babylon , which was neer . Are the Saints so tender-hearted , that they weep for the ruine which is to come upon Gods enemies ? Are we so hard-hearted , that we cannot weepe NOW for the evill wherewith GOD's servants are threatned ? was o o Ioel 2 12 fasting , weeping & mourning , indicted to God's people , for Armies of Locusts and Caterpillers , which could doe no more but eat up the fruits of the earth , and destroy the glory of the trees ? Now when great Armies of unmercifull men , whose minde is to destroy both the land and the inhabitants , rise up against our brethren , and seek to overwhelm them ; shall wee not NOW , even NOW , with fasting and weeping cry unto God , as Iehoshaphat did , p p 2. Chro. 20.12 O our God , wilt thou not iudge them ? for wee have no might against this company that cometh against us , neither know we what to doe : but our eyes are upon thee .

III. O how great is our crossenesse ! O how untractable is the hardnesse of our hearts ! Wee weep when we should not weep : we weep not as wee should weep : we weep not when we should weep .

As little children are angry when ye throwe out of their hands the knife wherewith they would have kill'd , themselves ; or take from them their puppets , that they may go to schools , and weepe when they should not weepe : so when God pulleth from one his riches , from another his health , from some their honors , from others the pleasure of their bellies , which are but painted trifles , and to the most part of mens soules are more dangedangerous , than sharpe knives in their throats ; they weepe beyond all measure , and ye cannot still them . Whereas if they knew why God strippes them of their childish delights , they would say as the French men did , after that Iulius Cesar had brought them under the yoke of obedience , q q Perieramus , nisiperij ssemus . We had perished , if wee had not perished . Gods children , after they have beene schooled and nurtered with such losses , thinke and speake so , and say with David , r r Psal. 119.67.71 . Before I was afflicted , I went astray : but now have I kept thy word : It is good for mee , that I have been afflicted , that I might learne thy statutes .

As wormes , which breede in childrens stomackes , and gnaw their guttes , cannot be killed but by worme-wood , or some other bitter potion , which yee cannot perswade them to drink without weeping : so the vanitie , the pride , the covetousnesse of riches , the contempt of the Gospell , the horrible securitie of many men , can not be cured but by the wormewood of tribulation ; wherof the great Physician of the soule filleth to them great bowles , and compells them to drinke thereof , till their heads be dizzy , that they may bee healed ; and they are so childish , that they weep : wheras as s s Iam 1.2 . S. Iam. teaches them to count it all ioy , when they fall into divers tentations . I say then , that such men weep when they should not weepe .

IV. Others weepe when they should weep , but they weepe not as they should . Christian Religion transformeth not men into stocks and stones : and grace abolisheth not naturall affections , but sanctifieth them . When the Apostle , speaking of them which are asleepe , saith , that t t 1. Thes. 4.13 . yee should not sorrow , even as others which have no hope , he forbiddeth you not to be waile your dead : for it is impossible to fight against the motions of nature . Did not u u Gen. 23.2 . Abraham , the father of the faithfull , mourne and weepe for Sa●ra ? Did not x x Gen. 50 1.10 . Ioseph weepe upon his dead father , and kisse him ? did not all his sonnes bury him with a very great and sore lamentation ? Did not y y Num. 20.29 . all the congregation of Israel mourne for Aaron thirty dayes ? Did a a Deut. 34.8 . they not weep for Moses as many dayes ? Did not David weepe for b b v 2. Sam. 1.17 . Saul , for x x 2. Sam. 3.32 . Abner , and for his sonne y y 2. Sam. 18.33 . Absalom ? and did not our Lord Iesus Christ a a Ioh. 11.35 . weep for Lazarus ? Did not b b Act. 8.32 . the devout men of Ierusalem make great lamentations over Steven ? Did not c c Act. 9.39 . the Christian widdowes of Lydda weepe for Dorcas when she was dead ?

V. The thing which the Apostle forbiddeth , is weeping ; such as is the weeping of the Gentiles , which is immoderate , because they have no hope . One of them , seeing hee must needes pay the last tribute to nature , & go the way of all the earth , as he was dying , made an heavy mone for his soul , saying d d Spartiani Adrianus . Animula , vagula , blandula , Hospes comesque corporis ; Quae nune abibis in loca Pallidula , rigida , nudula ? Nec , ut soles , dabis iocos . O my restlesse , my gentle , my sweet soule , soule , which hast been a friendly guest and companion of my body ? O how wanne , how cold , how bare and empty is the place whither thou must now goe ! neyther shalt thou hereafter make me merry . The rest had no better hope ; if they spake not so , they thought no lesse . But we know , that e e Ioh. 5.24 . hee that beleeveth in Christ , hath everlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation , but is passed from death unto life : therefore we must not weepe for our dead immoderately , as Gentiles doe ; but moderately , as Christians doe .

In f f Ier 9.17 , 18. Ieremiah his time , there was an heathnish custome among the Iewes , Praficae mulieres . to hire mourning women , who were accustomed to take up a wailing for their dead : and that g g Chrysost. ad Popul . Antiochen . homil. 69. & 70. profane custome was in the Church in S. Chrysostomes dayes . It is now banished out of the Church : But that w eh we doe , is not much unlike unto it : wee teare our faces with our nails , we pull the haire out of our heads , we rend our clothes , wee yell , wee roare , wee howle like beasts , and shew indeed , that wee are without hope , & so great hypocrites ; or that we consisider not what wee are doing . Chrysostome said , that h h Ex ostentatione potius , & ambitione , & inani gloria sunt , &c. there is more ostentation , ambition , and vaine glory , than true sorrow in such weeping : for a man may weep bitterly in his closet , and not make such a shew . Yea , in such weeping there is great shame and great offence offered to our most holy religion . For how shall we speak of the immortality of the soule to them which beleeve no such thing ? how shall wee perswade them to beleeve i i Tertull. de Resurrect. Carnis . Fiducia Christianorum , resurrectio mortuorum . the rising again faith of Christians , when by such yelling , wee make them to beleeve that death is as horrible unto us , as unto them ? for they heed not what we beleeve , but what we doe . And how shall we our selves contemne death , if wee shew so great impatience when our friends die ?

IV. Hearken then , and learne how to weep for the dead : doe yee consider death as it is k k Rom 6.23 . the wages of sin ? Weep . Consider it also as it is through Christ , l l Ioh. 5.24 . a passage to life , and weep not .

Doe ye consider how your dear friend , whom ye loved so tenderly , is by death become so ugly and loathsome , that ye are constrained with m m Gen. 23.4 . Abraham to bury him out of your sight , lest he become suddenly a stinking carrion ? Weep . Consider also , that through Christ his grave is made a Doctor unto him , and weepe not .

Doth experience make you to say , that by and by he shall bee dust and ashes ? Weepe . But send for faith , and it will tell you , that though hee sleep now in the dust of the earth , n n Dan. 12.2 he shal awake to everlasting life : according to the comfortable saying of Christ to Martha , o o Iohn 11 25 , 26 I am the resurrection and the life : he that beleeveth in mee , though he were dead , yet shall he live . And whosoever liveth , and beleeveth in me , shall never dye . For in that blessed day of the resurrection of the righteous , Christ p p Phil. 3.21 shall change our vile body , that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body . Heer is the comfort of your faith . The Pagans , speaking of a dead man , were wont to say , q q Scal. Castigat . in Festum verbo . Abitionem . FUIT , He was , because they were without hope for the time to come . But your r r Rom. 5 5. hope , which maketh not ashamed , teacheth you to say , ERIT , He shall be . They said also , m m Tert. de testimonio animae . adver. Gent. c. 4. Abijt iam , sed reverti debet . Hee is gone , but he will come again : not shewing , that they had any hope of the resurrection , as Tertullian deemed , but seeking Euphemisms & fair words , having a sense repugnant to their mind ; to shew , that they esteemed all dead men to be lost . In that same sense they said , VIXIT , He did live : and therefore they called him n n Ibid. Cúm alicuius defuncti recordaris , misellum vocas cum . miserable . If yee consider your dead brother as departed out of this life because of sinne , say , He did live ; and weep : but knowe ye not , that o o 1. Sam. 25.29 . his soule is bound in the bundle of life with the Lord his God ? Therfore say , VIVIT , Hee liveth : say , Hee is blessed ; and weep not . p p Rev. 14 13 For , blessed are the dead that die in the Lord . Beleeve yee not , that they are past from death to life ? Wherefore then weep ye ? Will ye bee injurious to our Lord Iesus Christ ? Will yee deny the vertue of his death ? Will ye forsake the merit thereof ? Knowe yee not , that his death is to us which beleeve , the death of our death , and the life of our life ? Then weep not .

O but he was my loving husband : she was my vertuous wife : thou hast had some losse ; weep : but thy losse is their gaine . They are gone to the marriage-supper of the Sonne of God : and it is written , Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of God . Therefore weep not .

Alas ! hee was mine onely sonne , the heire of all my goods : and now ( alas ! ) to whom shall I leave them ? Thy losse is great ; weep : his advantage is greater . He is gone to his heavenly Father : hee is now his heir . Thou couldst give him but earthly goods : those which hee enjoyeth , are celestiall . Thine are perishable , & death would have constrained him to leave them to another : those which hee now possesseth , are everlasting , and are not subject unto losse . If thy son were in credit with the King , I thinke thou shouldst laugh , and not weep : hee is in credit with the King of kings , and in great felicity in his presence ; and if hee could send thee tidings from heaven , he would admonish thee to leave thy goods to thy poore kinsmen ; and , according to the commandement of the Apostle , q q 1. Tim. 5.3 first to shew pietie at home ; and next , to strangers that are needy . Therefore weep not .

He was a godly man , and ( well-away ! ) I am bereft of his godly and fruitfull conversation . That affliction is great to thee ; weep : but thy crosse is his crown . And therfore , if thou lovedst him as much as thou lovest thy self , thou wouldest rather rejoyce for him , than weep for thy self . Weep for wicked men : for they are with the divell ; yea , saith r r Ad pop. Antioch . hom. 69. Nam si lugendum est , diabolum oporteret lugero , &c. Chrysostom , If ye would weep , yee should weep for the divell himselfe . Rather let the divell weep for himselfe , because he is damned : let wicked men weepe for themselves , because they are tormented . But let us rejoyce for good and godly men , because they are with God , and are saved .

VII . This hath ever been the doctrine of the Christian Church ; which , to withdraw those of the Gentiles that beleeved , from mourning & crying at funerals , was accustomed to celebrate the funerals of Christians with singing of psalms : s s Chrysost. ibid. hom. 70. and the words which they sung , were , t t Psalm 23.4 I will feare no evill : for thou art with mee : Item , u u Psalm 32.7 Thou art my hiding-place ; thou shalt preserve me from trouble : as also , x x Psalm 116.7 Return unto thy rest , O my soule ; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee . Consider now , and behold : God calls death a benefit ; why then dost thou weep ? Thou wilt weep for the welfare of thine enemy , because thou hat'st him ; wilt thou make thy friend his companion , and weepe also for his weale ?

The Apostle , forbidding us to weepe as the Gentiles doe , biddeth us y y 1. Thes. 4.18 . comfort one another with these words of the resurrection : If , notwithstanding , we weepe as the Gentiles doe ; I say , that , weeping when we should , we weepe not as we should .

VIII . I say the same of all those , which when they are rebuked of sinne , will weepe ; and yet leave not off to sinne . The Scripture saith , that a a 1. King . 21.25 , 26 , 27. there was none like unto Achab , which did sell himselfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lord . Yet when he heard the judgments of God denounced against him , he rent his clothes , and put sackcloth upon his flesh , and fasted , and lay in sackecloth , and went softly . O how bitterly hee wept ! O how dolefully hee mourned ! To looke on him , yee would have said , This is a penitent man . But immediately after , b b 1. Kin. 22.6.27 . he giveth heede to false Prophets , he casteth Micaiah the Prophet of the Lord in prison , and surceaseth not from sinning , till God kill him . Doubtlesse , Cain wept & mourned , when hee saide to God , c c Gen 4.13 . My iniquitie is greater than I can beare : Neverthelesse he did not forbeare to sinne , but waxed worse and worse .

Such men , saith d d Greg. Pastoralis Curae 1. parte . Flendo inanit●r se mundant , qui vivendo se nequiter inquinant . Gregory , Wash themselves in vaine with teares , because they beray themselves by their naughtie lives , and practise that which is said in a Proverbe , e e 2. Pet. 2.22 . The dogge is turned to his own vomit againe : and the sow which was washed , to her wallowing in the mire : what is such weeping , but increasing of sinne ? Thou weepest for sinne , because thou knowest that it is an evill thing . And yet thou goest backe unto it againe , as if thou soughtest to shed teares to steepe in them the dirt of thy sinnes , that as a sow thou maist wallow with full content in myrie water : As when Balaam wished with sighing , f f Numb. 23.10 . Let me dy the death of the righteous , and let my last end be like his : yet after that , hee sought to curse the righteous , and gave a pernicious counsell to the King of Moab against them , what did he but heape sinne upon sinne , and aggravate his owne condemnation ?

CHAP. X.

1. OF them that weepe not when they should weepe for their owne sinnes ,

2. Nor for the sins of other men ,

3. Nor for the afflictions of the Church .

I. BUt how , alas ! how are they increased that weepe not ! How many see wee before our eyes every day benummed with a spirit of slumber , who g g Cypr. de Laps . Quando debuerant stare , iacuerunt : quando iacere & prosternere se Deo debent , stare se opinantur . when they should stand , fall ; and when they should fall , stand ! who when they should resist sinne , and stand fast for their souls against the wiles of the divell , fall into sinne : and when they should fall on their faces , with sad hearts and moist eyes , before the throne of the mercy of God , stand straight like Idols in Popish Churches , & are no more mooved , than if they had done nothing amisse ; h h Ibid. Ante admissum facinus improvidi , post facinus obstinati , nec prius stablles , nec postmodum supplices . neyther carefull to stand before they sinne , nor to pray and weepe after they have sinned .

Ieremiah powred out his heart like water before the face of the Lord , his teares did run downe like a river , day and night , he gave himselfe no rest , the apples of his eyes ceased not to weepe for the ruine and destruction of the Temple builded with stones , k k Heb. 9.4 wherein was the Arke of the Covenant , the golden Censor , the golden pot that had Manna , Aarons rod that budded , and the Tables of the covenant : l l Chrysost. ad Popul . Antiochen . homil. 22. Si morientibus compa●imu● , quis tam sine misericordia est , qui animam suam morientem non deploret ? And they weepe not for their soules which are more holy , and have dwelling in them the Father , the Sonne , and the Holy Ghost , even the holy Trinitie . They will weepe for a dead man , though a fremme body , if they know him . And they are so desperate , that they cannot weepe for the death of their best friend , of the guest and companion of their body , of their immortall soule which is dead in sinne . m m Rom. 8.22 . Every creature groaneth , and travelleth in paine together untill now for the vanity of man : and man , even hee that calleth himselfe a Christian man , is a dullard , and unsensible of his owne iniquitie .

II. They weepe not for their owne sinnes : look not that they should weepe for the sinnes of other men . What S. Cyprian said of the sinnes of the Churches of this time , I may say truly of those of this time . n n Cypr. de Lapsis Studebant augendo patrimonio singuli : non in sacerdotibus religio devota , non in ministris fides integra , non in operibus misericordia , non in mori bus disciplina , &c. Every man is given to augment his patrimonie . There is no devotion in Priests , no fidelity in Ministers , no mercy in our works , no discipline in our manners . Men have disguised beards , women have painted faces : the eyes , disdaining to bee as God made them , are counterfeited : the hayre is dyed with a lying colour : To deceive the hearts of simple ones , what see ye but crafty dealing ? To intrap & oppresse the brethren , but deceitfull desires ? For all that , there is no weeping .

III. For such sinnes , many plagues are come upon forrein Churches . Yee see nothing there but remarkeable spectacles of calamitie , of misery , of the follie , or rather furie of men , of the vanitie of the world . That toucheth not the hearts of a great many of us . 'T is a great pittie that they should bee without pittie : I have compassion on them , that they should bee without compassion . Nothing can penetrate their hardnesse : no commiseration , no Christian charitie can sinke into their hearts . Apply to them the words of the Prophet , o o Amos , 6.3 , 4 , 5 , 6. They put far away the evill day , they cause the seat of violence to come neere : they lye upon beds of Ivory , they stretch themselves upon their couches , they eate the lambs out of the flock , and the calves out of the midst of the stall : they chaunt to the sound of the violl , & invent to themselves instruments of musicke , like David : they drinke wine in bowles , and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments : but they are not grieved for the affliction of Ioseph . I will not apply to them the words following , because I hope God shall give them repentance .

CHAP. XI .

1. EXcuses of those which weepe not .

2. Men loaden with sorrow , will not weepe .

3. Difference betweene the weeping of Hypocrites , and of sincere Christians .

4. Exhortation to those which cannot weepe , to imitate the example of Zacheus .

5. If we can weepe for our worldly losses , and not for our sinnes , we are Hypocrites .

6. Exhortation to ioyne weeping with fasting .

7. Christian weeping is a a gift of God .

8. Prayer for the gift of weeping .

I. I Heare their excuses : they say , that many honest and godly men cannot weepe : That many Hypocrites will weepe : that Zacheus dry repentance was as acceptable to Christ , as the whores & Peters weeping repentance .

II. I know that the heart is sometimes so loaden and overwhelmed with sorrow , that it cannot ease it selfe by weeping . A man will shed many teares for the death of his dear friend , and shall not finde one teare in his eyes to weep for the death of his onely sonne . p p Lam. 3.28 , 29. He sitteth alone , and keepeth silence , hee putteth his mouth in the dust , he is filled with sorrow . q q Mediocres dolores lugent , ingentes stupent . Meane griefes will make a man weepe and mourne : but those which are exceeding great , will drive him into a dump , and make him senselesse : As the Fables tell of Niobé , the rich and faire mother of 6 sons and 6 daughters , that after shee had lost them all in one day , she was hardned into a stone , because s s Cicero . 3. Tuscul . Niobé fingitur in lapides , propter aeternum credo in luctu silentium . shee was so dismayed with that sudden & heavie affliction , that she could neither speak , weep , nor lament . Those of whom I speak , are not of this kinde . As there are no teares in their eies , so there is no sorrow in their hearts : for there is no token of amazednesse in their countenance : they have a laughing face : the beautifull red of their cheekes is a cleer token of the joy of their hearts : they are lustie : they are merry : their delight is to make good cheer : although they are ashamed not to fast when the Church fasteth , yet they like feasting better than fasting .

III. I knowe also , that an hypocrite will easily weep , namely , at the preaching , when he heares a patheticall and perswasive Preacher , who can bow and turne the mindes of ●●e hearers to any affection : yea , hee will rather rub his eyes with an onion , than he should not weep when godly men weep ; and make art to do that which nature will not doe . Such were the hypocrits of whom Christ said , that t t Mat. 6 16 they dis-figured their faces , that they might appeare unto men to fast . When they fasted at home , they sought to make it known abroad . Hypocrits weep before men : but in their Closets , in their Couches , their eyes are drier than dry sticks : they cannot say with David , u u Psal. 6.6 All the night make I my bed to swim ; I water my couch with my tears : nor with Ieremiah , that x x Ier. 13 17 they weep in secret places for the sinnes and affliction of the Church . This is a sure marke of an hypocrite : If thou canst weep abroad , not at home ; in the Church , not in thy Couch , for another mans misery , or for thine owne iniquitie , thou art an hypocrite .

Image-makers , Statuaries , and Painters , will draw , with most lively and resembling colours , the feature of the face , the hands , the feet , and of other outward parts ; but they care not for the inward parts , neither can their art and skil attaine to the resembling of them : they will set out in quick colours a faire flowre ; but they cannot so much as delineate the vertue therof . The hypocrite is such a cunning Painter : 〈…〉 counterfeit true devotion , by sighing , by sobbing , by weeping , by such outward shewes of sorrow , and set a mourning face on a glad heart ; the reformation whereof he heeds not .

But nature beginnes with the heart , and first forms the inward parts ; which afterwards it begirdeth with bones , tyeth together with sinews , clotheth with flesh , covereth with a faire skinne , and fashioneth by little and little the outward parts : So the blessed man , y y Psalm 32.2 in whose spirit there is no guile , offereth first to his God a a Psalm 51.17 . the sacrifice of a contrite and broken hart ; which by and by , and unawares , bursts foorth into sighing , sobbing , weeping , mourning , and all externall shewes of sorrow , because the body cannot chuse but sympathize and jump in all kinde of affections and passions with the soule , by reason of the strait union that is between them .

IV. Now , if there bee any of you whose eyes are of horne , and cannot weepe ; is his heart of stone , that it cannot sorrow , nor shew by outward tokens , that it sorroweth indeed ? Yee say , that b b Luke 19.2 Zacheus wept not , because yee reade not that he wept . Then rejoyce as hee rejoyced : He was little of stature , but he was great in faith . By faith , he ran : by faith , hee climbed up into a tree to see Iesus : by faith , he made haste : by humility , hee came downe : by charity , hee received Christ into his house joyfully . Rejoice after that manner , and receive Christ into thy house : that rejoycing will be as acceptable to Christ , as weeping . By true charity , he gave half his goods to the poore ; yea , if hee wept not , hee sorrowed to repentance after a godly maner : he gave fourefold to them whom he had cousened . If thou wilt not doe as much as he did , do as he did : restore unto thy neighbour that wherein thou hast deceived him : in this day of thy devotion , give a charitable devotion to the poore : make that their feasting , which thou hast spared by fasting : and seeing thou canst not weepe for thy selfe , make them which weep for themselves , laugh ; that they , rejoycing for themselves , may weep and pray for thee . Almes excels weeping .

V. But I fear this is a shift . If wee can shead tears enow for the losse of our goods , let us not excuse the constitution of our bodies : rather let us accuse the corruption of our soules if we cannot also weep for offending God . For he that forroweth indeed to repentance , will bee more deeply & feelingly troubled with the loss of the favour of his good God , than of all the world besides .

VI. Now , what grief and vexation a worldly loss is unto us , we know all . Let us lay aside all frivolous excuses ; and let us now , in the face of the blessed Angels , and of this holy Assembly , pray and sigh to GOD with tears and lamentations of true repentance : let us not seeke to asswage our mourning : let us seek to increase it , that this day our hearts may grone , and our eies weep sore , & run down with teares for the distressed members of the Church of Christ Iesus . Let us joyne our hearts with their hearts , our eies with their eies , our tongues with their tongues ; that all together , with one heart , and one mouth , wee may sigh , weep , mourn , pray for their deliverance , & for the continuation of this happy and long peace amongst us .

VII . Such weeping is a gift of God . As waters came not out of the hard rocke , c c Numb . 20.10 til Moses with his rod smote it twice ; so the rivers of teares will never flow & from our hearts of stone , till the Lord Iesus smite them often with the rod of his mouth , & soften them with the mightie and powerfull blowes of his holy Spirit . 'T is the spirit that bruiseth our rocky harts : 't is the heat of the spirit that melteth the yce of our frozen eyes , & maketh the waters flow : 'T is the Spirit of Christ Iesus , d d Rom. 8 15 whereby wee cry Abba , Father : e e Rom. 8.26 . 'T is the Spirit it selfe which maketh intercession for us , with gronings which cannot be uttered . f f Ambros . in Lucam , c. 22. v. 61 , 62. Quos Iesus respicit , plorant , &c. He , hee onely upon whom Christ looketh , weepeth . Peter denyed him once , & wept not , because the Lord looked not . He deny'd him the second time , and he wept not , because the Lord looked not . He denyed him the third time : the Lord looked upon him , and hee wept bitterly .

VIII . O Lord Iesus ! O sweet Iesus ! we have once , twice , thrice denyed thee : Look now upon us : O Savior of mankind , now the cock croweth ; now look upon us . g g Veni , Creator , Spiritus , & insunde coelitus lucis tuae radium . O holy Spirit , Creator & reformer of mankind , come and create in us a new heart : send from heaven into our congealed hearts an hote beam of thy comfortable light , to breake and melt them ; that now , at least now , we may know our sins , and the afflictions of our brethren ▪ that knowing them , we may feele them ; that feeling them , wee may weep to thee for them ▪ that weeping to thee ▪ we may be comforted by thee , according to thy promise which thou hast made to us by thy dear Son Iesus Christ .

FINIS .
The second part OF THE CHRISTIAN MANS TEARES . Containing CHRISTS Comforts .
CHAPTER I. The Argument of the first Chapter .

I. AS there is a time of weeping and of mourning , so there is a time of comfort and of ioy .

II. Our comfort is spirituall . N

III. Gods owne selfe is our comforter .

IV. Thence is the certaintie of our salvation .

V. The cause of our comforts are not in the merits of our teares .

VI. There is no merit nor satisfaction but in our Lord Iesus Christ .

VII . Blessednes is giuen to godly men : but not for their godlinesse .

VIII . How we must vnderstand some sp●●ches of the Doctors concerning Teares .

MATH. 5. 5. Blessed are they that mourne : for they shall be comforted . LVK. 6.21 . Blessed are ye that weepe now : for ye shall laugh .

I. EXperience teacheth vs , & the scripture ioyning hands with experience saith , that a a Eccles. 3.1.4 . To euery thing there is a season , and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauens : Amongst orther things , that there is a time to weepe , and a time to laugh : a time to maurne , and a time to dance : A time to weepe , as Christ hath said , Blessed are yee that weepe now : A time to laugh : For , saith he , ye shall laugh : A time to mourne : because Christ saith , Blessed are they that mourn : A time to dance , because he saith also that they shall be comforted .

I know not where b b Cicero . 4. Tuscul . HERACLITVS could find such abundance of teares ; and what could moue him to weepe alwayes : was there no blessing of God in the world to make him laugh ? Was not DEMOCRITVS a vaine man to laugh perpetually at the vanitie of the world , and neuer to weepe for it ? CATONS heart was made of steele and could neither be moued to laugh for ioy , when God blessed the State ; nor to weepe for sorrow , when it was afflicted .

But DAVID who was better then any of them , c c 2 Sam. 6.14 . danced for ioy , when the Arke of the Lord entred into his house ; and wept for sorrow when he sinned against the Lord . IESVS who was the best of all , d d Luk. 10.21 . reioyced in spirit when he considered the wise dispensations of the blessings of God : He was also sorry and wept when he saw mens incredulity and obstinacie in their sinnes . And he saith to all Christians , that they shall weep , for the causes whereof we haue spoken : as also that they shall laugh , for the causes whereof we are to speake .

II. Laughing is an effect of ioy . Such as the ioy is , such is the laughing . Our ioy is such as we are , or should be ; Inward , celestiall , spirituall : for it cometh from the faith and hope of heauenly things , as Christ said to them which are persecuted ; e e Mat 5.12 . Reioyce and be glad , for great is your reward in heauen . For our laughing is spirituall , heauenly , and inward , flowing from an inward and spirituall ioy : The Spring of our ioy , is comfort ; whereof Christ sayth , that they which mourn shall be comforted .

III. Our comfort is our blessednesse : and all blessednesse is of God , to whose prayse we cry aloud with the holy Apostle ; f f Eph. 1.3 . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ , who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places , in Christ . So all our comforts are of God , who g g Isa. 51.3 . shall comfort Sion . For he is h h 2 Cor. 1.4 the God of all comfort , who comforteth vs in all our tribulation .

He comforteth vs by his deare Sonne Iesus Christ , who saith that the Lord hath sent him i i Isa. 61.2 . to comfort all that mourn , and as he came into the world for that end , so he doth that wherefore he came , as he said to his Disciples . k k Ioh. 14.18 . I will not leaue you Orphanes , that is , comfortlesse : I will come to you .

He cometh to vs by his Spirit , who is the true Comforter . For he ascended into heauen , & thence he l l Tertull. de praescript . cap. 11. Misit vicariam vim spiritus sancti qui credentes agat . hath sent in stead of himselfe the power of the holy Spirit , by whom the beleeuers are led , according to his promise , m m Ioh. 14.16 . I will pray the Father , and he shall giue you another comforter , that he may abide with you for euer .

IV. Here is the certaintie of our comforts God hath promised that we shall be comforted : n n Heb. 10.23 . He is faithfull that promised , and o o 1 Thes 5.24 . also will do it . He giueth not that charge to another : His owne selfe doth it . p p Isa 46.10.11 . My counsell , sayth he , shall stand , and I will doe all my pleasure : I haue spoken it , I will also bring it to passe I haue purposed it , I will also doe it . Hee doth it by his owno Spirit : As q q Ioh. 3.8 . the wind , so the Spirit bloweth where it listeth . If he will comfort vs , who can grieue vs ? Men will doe what they can to make vs weepe . But saith Christ , r r Ioh. 16.25 Your heart shall reioyce , and your ioy no man taketh from you : If we hold our eyes vpon our selues , we see our own weaknesse , and we know we may loose our ioy . But Christ hath prayed , that s s Ioh. 17.13 . wee may haue his ioy full filled in our selues : And the Comforter himselfe abideth in vs : who then shall take the fruits of our teares from vs ?

O most precious pearles of your eyes ! O teares most acceptable to God! The French Virgin is not so curious to keepe the teares of the vine , wherwith a a Plin. l. 23. cap. 1. Cutem in facie mulierum purgant . Ibid. Vitia cutis in facie , varosque & lentignes emendant . she takes away the speckes , and pimples , and other spots of her face and hands , & keepeth their skin soft and faire ; As God is carefull to keepe the teares which trill from the spiritual branches ingraffed into Iesus Christ , who b b Ioh. 15.1 . is the true Vine : c c Psal. 56.8 . Hee putteth them into his bottle . Are they not in his Booke ?

d d Ctesias in Indicis . When the teares distilling from the Indian tree , called Siptachora , fall into the riuer Hyparchus , they are congealed there , and turned into most excellent Amber , So when our teares fall into the riuer of the mercies of God , they become there a most precious iewell : And as the Sunne drawing salt vapours out of the Sea vp into the aire , turneth them into pleasant showers of raine , e e Isa. 55.10 . which watereth the earth , and maketh it bring forth and bud , that it may giue seed to the sower , and bread to the eater ; So f f Mala. 4.2 . the Sunne of righteousness our Lord Iesus Christ draweth vp to heauen our sighs , our groans , the salt vapours of our deuotion , the bitter teares of our godly sorrow , which we poure out before him , and keepeth them in his bottles till being all gathered together , hee powre them downe vpon vs againe in a mos sweet and well-come shower of all kinde of heauenly comforts , which are our blessednesse both in this world , and in the world to come .

V. Be not deceiued with the errour of Papists . Imagine not that there is any merit in teares , as that word is taken by Papists , that in them there is any satisfaction , as Papists speake of satisfaction , that they wash out the blots of the soule , which are our sinnes , as water cleanseth and taketh away the spots of the body , as Papists dare too boldly and ignorantly affirme : they haue not in themselues any such efficacy : neither hath God made vnto them any such promise . Nothing can satisfie the wrath of God , but the death of the son God : Nothing is of worth and value before his eyes to be rewarded with glory , but the obedience of the Lord of glory . No water can purge and take away sinnes , g g Ioh. 1.29 . It is the Lambe of God , which taketh away the sinnes of the world .

VI. If ye aske who hath satisfied the wrath of God ? I answere with Isaiah : Christ h h Isa. 53.5 . was wounded for our transgressions , he was bruised for our iniquities , iquities , the chastisement of our peace was vpon him , & with his stripes we are healed . If ye aske again , by what means , by what deserts ye obtaine eternall life ? Christ himself answereth . i i Ioh. 14.6 . I am the Way , the Truth , and the Life . i.e. The true way to eternall life . And the Apostle faith , that k k 1 Cor. 1.30.31 . of God ye are in Christ Iesus , who of God is made vnto vs wisdome , and righteousnesse , and sanctification , and redemption : That according as it is written , He that glorieth , let him glory in the Lord . Finally if ye aske , which is the riuer , which is the poole wherein we are clensed of all our sinnes , so perfectly that there remaineth no spot , no blemish in vs ? The Disciple which lay in Christs bosome , & was priuie to all his secrets , faith , that l l 1. Ioh. 1.7 . the bloud of Iesus . Christ the Sonne of God clenseth vs from all sinne . He only is the riuer of Iordan wherein the leprosie of sin is cured : m m 2 Kings 5.14 . The riuer Iordan in the land of Canaan did neuer clense any man of the leprosie of the body , but Naamans the Syrian : This Iordan of the heauenly Canaan clenseth perfectly all leprous sinners which wash and dippe themselues in it . At n n Ioh. 5.4 . the poole of Bethesda he onely was made whole of his disease who first after the troubling of the water stepped in . But when soeuer a sinner shal repent of his sinnes that he hath committed , and cast himselfe into this vndraynable poole of the bloud of the sonne of God his sicknes shall be cured , and his soule shal be healed . Yee read in the Legendes that Constantine the great being leprous , was councelled to wash in a bath made of the bloud of little children , that he might be made cleane . That bath was nothing else but the bloud of the Sonne of God , wherein he washt by faith , and was made cleane of the incurable leprosie of sinne .

So then if ye aske by whose satisfaction & merits ye obtaine eternall life , the Scripture answereth absolutely , that it is by the onely satisfaction and merits of our Lord Iesus Christ , o o Act. 4.12 . Neither is there Saluation in any other : for there is none other Name vnder heauen giuen among men , whereby we must be saued .

VII . But if we aske to whom this saluation is giuen ? That is another question , where vnto the Scripture maketh another answere , and faith , as Elizabeth said to the Virgin Marie , p p Luk. 1.45 . Blessed is she that beleeued . q q 2 Cor. 1.20 . All the promises of God in Christ , are Yea , and in Christ , are Amen , vnto the glory of God . And r r Gal. 3.14 . we receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith : Neither haue we any other hand to receiue Christ who is promised vnto vs , but faith . Therefore it is written that s s Eph. 2.8 . by grace ye are saued by faith : And because our last and principall blessednesse is our saluation , it is also written that they which be of faith , are blessed with faithfull Abraham .

t t Act. 15.9 . The hearts are purified by faith . Therefre it is written , u u Math. 5.8 . Blessed are the pure in heart : The heart by faith is broken and bruised with the sense of sinne , and with x x 2 Cor. 7.10 . godly sorrow for sinne Therefore it is written . y y Math. 5.3 . Blessed are the poore in spirit : Faith looketh vp to heaven with a weeping eye : Faith calleth vpon God , with prayers steeped in teares : Faith stretcheth soorth to the throne of grace hands dipped in the bitter and salt waters of repentance : And therefore it is written , Blessed are they that mourne .

If faith did not repent , sigh , weepe , pray : repentence , weeping , sighing , prayer should be sinnes ; For a a Rom. 14.23 . whatsoeuer is not of faith , is sinne . So the teares of Esau were sinnes . So when David prayeth against the wicked man ; b b Psal. 109.7 . Let his prayer become sinne , he teacheth vs , that prayers of wicked and vnbeleeuing men are sinnes : for to such men , c c Tit. 1.15 . nothing is pure : but euen their mind and conscience is defiled : And what can come from such a puddle , but filth and stincking putrefaction ? h h Gal. 5.6 . Faith worketh by loue , and is rich in good workes . Therefore it is written , l l Psal. 1.2 . blessed is the man whose delight is the Law of the Lord , m m Psal. 119.1 . Blessed are the vndefiled in the way , n n Psal. 128.1 . Blessed is euery one that feareth the Lord , &c.

Yee see what persons are blessed : And what qualities are required in you , if you desire to be partakers of blessednes : The first must be faith : For o o Heb. 11.6 . without faith it is impossible to please God : From faith springs forrow for sin , repentance , weeping , prayers , good workes , p p Eph. 2.10 . which God hath prepared , that we should walke in them . All those which are adorned and inriched with those good qualities , are blessed : but the cause wherfore they are blessed , is the merite of Christ Iesus , in whom they beleeue , by whom they pray , for whom they weepe , and by whose spirit they are lead in the way of the Lord , & doe good workes .

For to them q q Zech 12.10 . that mourne in Ierusalem , Zechariah saith , that r r Zech. 13.1 . there shall be a fountaine opened for sinne , and for vncleannesse : what ? are not their eyes a fountaine ? To weepe for sinne , they may be . To blot out , and abolish the slaine of sinne , they cannot be . The only side of Christ which was pierced in his death , was made a fountain of bloud , to wash in it the sinnes of all them , which , to weepe for their sinnes make of their heads a fountaine of teares .

VIII . Therefore when ye read in the Homilies of the Doctors of the Church , either auncient , or moderne , that teares are a satisfaction for sinne , that they wash it away , and blot it out , and many such hyperbolicall speeches , yee must vnderstand them f f Cum graeno salis . with a graine of salt , as the Iurisconsults speake of some sayings of their Doctors , and know that either they speake of satisfaction giuen to the Church , or attribute to the effect that which is proper to the cause , which is frequent amongst orators , and in speeches gilt and beautified with Rhetoricke .

Consider that in my text blessednesse is attributed to them which weepe , not to weeping ; to the tree , not to the fruit ; to the worker , not to the worke : And when yee seeke the causes of your blessednesse , looke not downeward to your selues , but vpward to the mercie of God , and with a sincere heart and true mouth follow the holy Apostle , and say , t t Eph. 1.3 . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ , who hath blessed vs with al spirituall blessings in heauenly places in Christ . u u Rom. 11.36 . For of him , and through him , and to him are all things : To whom be glory for euer . Amen .

If yee remember this distinction betweene the qualification of the persons which are to be saued , & the causes wherfore they are saued , as also the changing of attributions , when the effects are honoured with the glorious titles which belong to their causes , ye wil not easily be seduced with Papistry , nor troubled with som speeches which the Doctors vttered hyperbolically , which the Papists wrest vnlearnedly , which ye must vnderstand x x Rom. 12.6 . according to the proportion of faith soundly .

CHAPTER II.

I. ALl our comforts are called Life , and wherefore .

II. Item , wherefore that life which is our onely comfort , is called euerlasting .

III. What eternall life is .

IV. T is imperfect in this world , and perfect in the world to come .

V. He that hath not the beginnings of eternall life in this world , shal neuer come to the perfection thereof in the world to come .

I. BVT to leaue of disputing against Papists , which is not fit for this day , wherin we are assembled to dispute against our owne sinnes , and to let alone the hyperbolicall speeches of Doctors , let vs come to Christs comforts wherin our blessednesse consisteth .

Our Blessednesse in holy Scripture is called Life Euerlasting . T is called Life , not because we shall act , liue , and moue by it , as we doe now during our abode in the earthly tabernacles of our mortall bodies ; but because it is a most glorious , happie , and blessed estate , our soueraigne good and felicitie , the full perforformance of all our desires , the longed-for wish of our vnsatiable hearts , the center and last resting place of all the agitations of our stirring and vnquiet soules .

There is nothing that man loueth better then life . For how can he loue , what can he loue , if he liue not ? Life is the spring of loue : life is the enioyer , life is the vser of all the things which we loue . As we cannot loue without life : So life is loathsome vnto vs without the fruition of those things which we loue . The Diuels and the damned liue in hell . But that life is called Death , because all the euils which they would gladly shake off , fall thicke , and lye close together vpon them , and all the goods which they desire most earnestly with groanes and sighs , flee away from them .

T is a liuing death , & a dying life . Therefore Dauid asketh , a a Psal. 34.12 . what man is he that desireth life ? And loueth many dayes that he may see good ? Take good from life : And men will chuse death to be freed of life .

In the state whereof we speake , we see good , because in it we see God , b b Psal. 36.9 . with whom is the fountaine of life , and in whose light we see light . c c August . de verbis Apostoli . Serm. 6. Omnino non mesatiaret Deus , nisi promitteret mihi seipsum . Deum . &c. Certainely God could neuer satisfie me , if hee promised not to giue himselfe vnto mee . For whatso euer God promiseth vnto thee , 't is of no value without himselfe : what is the whole earth ? What is the whole Sea ? What is heauen ? What are all the starres ? What is the Sun ? what is the Moone ? what the Hostes of Angels without him ? I know him to be the creator of all those things . Ipsum sitio , Ipsum esurio , Ipsi dico , quoniam apud te est sons vitae . I thirst after him , I hunger after him . To him I say , with thee is the fountaine of life . d d Bernard deproemio patr. coelest . Esse cum deo , esse in deo : Viuere cum Deo , viuero de Deo . &c. To be with God , to be in God : to liue with God , to liue by God , to haue God who is the soueraigne Good , is soueraigne blessednesse , is life it selfe .

II. This Life is called Euerlasting , because as it cometh of God and is nothing but the enioying of him , so it is like vnto him e e Iam 1.17 . with him there is no variablenesse , neither shadow of turning . T is so with their life . It may grow better , and shal be better in the resurrection : It knoweth no interchangeable course of seasons . T is al at once the spring time of most pleasant sights , the Summer all kind of pleasures , the haruest of al blessings , which feare no withering by the biting frost of a cold & mistie winter . God is eternall by nature : This life is eternall through his grace : God is eternall without beginning , & without ending : f f Reu. 1.8 . which is , and which was , and which is to come . This life hath a beginning , but shall neuer haue an end . T is rather euerlasting then eternall .

So is the death of the wicked , to whom the great Iudge shall say at the last day , g g Math. 25.41 . depart from me , ye cursed , into euerlasting fire , prepared for the Diuel , and his Angels . O happy would they thinke themselues , if death could cut the thread of their life ! Woe , woe , be vnto them . h h Reu. 9 6. In those dayes men shall seeke death , and shall not find it : And shall desire to die , and death shall flee from them . This shall be the fulnesse of their misery , that they shall disire to die , and know that they shal neuer die . But in this shall be the fulnesse of our felicitie , that liuing in God , we shall know that we shall liue with him for euer and euer * * Barnard . de modo bene viuendi . Serm. 69. Atterna vitaest vitalis , ista est mortalis . Idem . in Psal Qui habitat . Serm. 17. Est finis sine sine . This life whereby we liue in in those houses of clay is mortall : But eternall life is vitall and liuely : T is an end without end .

III. For eternall life , is a full and euerlasting possession and fruition of al things which God hath promised vnto vs in Iesus Christ his Son : ye may reduce them all to this one , i i Reu. 21.3 . Behold , the Taber nacle of God is with men , and he will dwell with them , and they shall be his people , & God himselfe shall be with them , and be their God . Or as S. Paul saith in fewer words , k k 1 Cor. 15.28 . God shall be all in all .

l l August . de Verbis Apostoli . Serm. 16. Quicquid hic quaerebas , quicquid hic promagno habebas , ipse tibi erit &c What is that all in all ? Whatsoeuer thou didst seeke here , whatsoeuer thou didst make great accompt of here , his owne selfe shal it vnto thee . m m Idem concio 1. in Psal 36. That which is gold , cannot be siluer vnto thee : That which is wine , cannot be bread vnto thee : that which is light , cannot be drinke vnto thee . Thy God shall be all vnto thee . Thou sha't eate him that thou hunger not , thou shalt drinke him , that thou thirst not : thou shalt be inlightened by him , that thou be not blind , thousha't be holden vp by him , that thou faint not Posssidebit te totum integrum , totus integer ; He entire and whole shal possesse thee intire and whole : he shall be al in thee all : thou shalt be all in him all . Totum habebis : Totum & ille habebit ; quia tu & ille vnuus eritis . Thou shalt haue him all : he shall haue thee all : because thou and hee shall be one .

IV. This eternall life , which is the possession of all good in God through Iesus Christ , and the onely comfort of them which weepe and mourne , though it be alwayes one and the same , and not of sundry sorts , yet it hath some degrees : we are now in this land of the dying , Viatores , Trauellers and way-faring men , and in it wee haue the beginnings of eternall life . In heauen , which is the land of the liuing , wee shall be Comprehensores , Owners and peaceable possessors of the entire and whole felicitie , which GOD hath prepared for his deare ones .

The Lord Iesus hath he not said in his prayer to his Father , n n Ioh. 17.3 . This is life eternall , that they might know thee the onely true God , and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent ? If eternall life be in the knowledge of God , as Christ saith : And if o o 1 Cor. 13.9.10 . we know in part , as the Apostle saith , we haue alreadie eternall life , but in part only , till that which is perfect come , and that which is in part , may be done away , or rather swallowed vp in that profound Ocean of perfect blessednesse . Now we f f Rom. 8.23 . haue the first fruits of the Spirit : Then we shall haue a most plentifull haruest . Now we haue g g 2 Cor. 1.2 . the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts , as a part , and therefore a most assured pawne , of the totall summe which shall be giuen vs then . Now we say one to another , h h Psal. 34.6 . O taste and see , that the Lord is good . Then i i Cyprian . de Laude Martyrij , Ibi non gustabunt quāsuanis sit Deus , sed implebuntur et satiabuntur dalcedine mirificâ . Nihil deerit , nihil oberit . Omne desiderium eorum Christus praesens implebit . we shall not onely taste how sweet God is , but we shall be filled and satisfied with a wonderfull sweetnesse : then nothing shall be wanting vnto vs : nothing shall hurt vs , because Christ by his presence shall fill all our desires .

V. Be not therefore deceiued : for if ye haue not the beginnings of eternall life in this barren wildernesse of your pilgrimage , ye shall neuer come to the compleatness thereof in the pleasant and fruitfull land of your rest , wherof it is written , k k Ps. 25.13 . His soule shall lodge in goodness , and his seed shall inherite the earth .

Obiect not the words which wee reade in the first Epistle of S. Iohn , l l Ioh. 3.2 . It doth not yet appeare what we shall be : for he speaketh of the full manifestation and fruition of our blessednesse , of the beginnings whereof he writeth in that same Chapter , m m Vers. 14. We know that we haue passed from death vnto life , because we loue the brethren . Euen as Christ affirmed , * * Ioh: 5.24 . Verily , verily , I say vnto you : He that heareth my word , and beleeueth in him that sent me , hath euerlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation , but is passed from death vnto life . Consider and see , how by faith in Christ , by loue to our brethren for Christ , we haue already eternall life , and blesse God who hath giuen you faith and loue .

CHAP. III.

I. OVr first comfort and blessednesse in this world , is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes .

II. Which is declared by the example of David .

III. Who affirmeth that mans blessednesse is the forgiuenesse of his sinnes .

IV. The same is verified by the example of a woman which was a Sinner .

V. To obtaine this first degree of blessednes , we must be reconciled with our brethren .

VI. Laudable custome of the Primitiue Church to end their publicke prayers with a kisse .

VII . We must weepe and pray to God , one for another & for our ownselues .

VIII . Exhortation .

I. Our first comfort , & therfore the first degree of eternall life , or of our blessednesse in this world , is forgiuenesse of sinne : Because our first misery is sinne . Ye haue heard that eternall life is in God ; & ye heare Isaiah saying , a a Isa. 59.2 . Your iniquities haue separated between you and your God : And your sinnes haue hid his face from you , that he will not heare . If then a man be separated from God , as he is by sinne , his life is gone , his blessednesse is lost , misery is become his portion , and death his inheritance : wherfore he cannot be restored to his blessednesse , but by forgiuenesse of sin , wherby he is reconciled with God , receiued againe into his fauour , inlightned with the brightnes of his countenance , quickned with his life , blessed with his grace , graced with all his blessings . This is the first gate of heauen : This is the first entrance into the kingdome of glory .

Blessed should we be , if we could be without sinne . Seeing that cannot be , because b b Iam. 3.2 . in many things wee offend all , blessed are wee , if our sinnes be forgiuen vs . This is known of them onely that know what sinne is , and whose eyes godly sorrow changeth into fountains of teares making their hearts to sigh , their eyes to weep , their tongues to cry incessantly for forgiuenes of sinne , which was neuer refused to any that did aske it with a contrite and broken heart Can yee name me one among so many millions of sinners , who did weepe before God , and lost his teares ? Who did offer his supplication to the Father of mercies with a sound and single spirit , and was reiected ? Saith he not , that c c Isa. 66.2 . He will looke to him that is poore , and of a contrite spirit ? He hath said it ; and who wil say that he must not , or will not doe it ?

II. Which of you is ignorant of Davids sin ? Was it not most hainous in it selfe ? Was it not exceeding sinfull , & horrible aboue measure in such a man , who was so many wayes beholden vnto his God ?

Who can tell vs better then himselfe , how hatefull it was ? He confesseth in the fiftie and one Psalme , that by it he had lost the fauour of his Sauiour , and fallen from the heauen of all felicitie , into the hell of all misery : and therefore feeling the damnation wherein he was ingulsed , and desiring to recouer the saluation which he had lost , he maketh with moaning and mourning this true confession to Nathan , whom the Lord had sent to rebuke him , d d 2 Sam. 12.13 . I haue sinned against the Lord . And knowing that a confession made to a mortall man , was not sufficient to repaire one offence committed against the immortall God , he runneth straight to the throne of grace , he couereth his bodie with sackcloth , hee sprinckleth dust and ashes vpon his head , hee taketh the apparell , the countenance , the words of a prisoner at the Bar , of a malefactor condemned to die ; He cryeth with many teares to his Iudge , e e Psal. 51.1 . Haue mercie vpon me , O God .

Scarcely is the word out of his mouth , when God , who knew the desire of his heart , blessed him with this comfortable answer , vttered by a man , but proceeding from the bowels of mercie , from mercies owne selfe ; The Lord also hath put away thy sin : Thou shalt not die . Then his heart was filled with ioy , then his bruised bones were healed , and moistned with the marrow of gladnesse : then his face shined , then his eyes were two glistering diamonds between his browes : Then he leapt , then hee triumphed , then he sang , When I sinned , I was miserable : Now my sinnes are forgiuen me , and I am blessed .

III. Then f f Rom: 4.6.7.8 . he described the blessednesse of the man , vnto whom God imputeth righteousnes without workes , saying , g g Psal. 32.1.2 . Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen , & whose sinnes are couered : Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sinne .

h h August . in Psal. 31. Conc. 2. He saith not blessed are they in whom no sinnes are found , but whose sinnes are couered . Sinnes are they couered ? They are abolished . If God hath couered our sinnes , noluit aduertere , he would not behold them : Si noluit aduertere , noluit animaduertere , If he would not be hold them , he would not take notice of them : Si noluit animaduertere , noluit punire : if he would not take notice of them , he would not punish them : Noluit agnoscere , maluit ignoscere , Hee would not know them , he choosed rather to forgiue them .

Oh consider , I pray you , this example , and this saying of David . He had great store of riches , he was mightie in force , he ouerpeered all men in wisedome , God had put on his head a crowne of fine gold : he was peaceable at home , victorious and triumphant abroad ; he had wise Captaines , valiant Souldiers , faith full Serjeants , obedient Subjects : His children were like Oliue plants round about his Table ; no worldly Commodities were wanting to his desires , and loe they are dung vnto him ; Loe he assigneth not blessednes vnto them , but vnto the forgiuenesse of sins . Therefore let vs cry after him with sweet Bernard , i i Bernard . in Cantica . Ser. 23. O solus vere beatus , cui non imputauit Dominus peccatum . O the onely , O the true blessed man , to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne : For who is without sinne ? None , no not one . ALL haue sinned , and come short of the glory of God . Neuerthelesse who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect : T is sufficient to me , in stead of all righteousnesse , to haue God alone propitious vnto me , because to him alone I haue sinned . Whats;oeuer ; oeuer he hath decreed not to impute vnto men , is as if it had neuer beene : non peccare , Dei iustitia est : Hominis iustitia , indulgentia Dei . Not to sinne , is the righteousness of God : The righteousness of man , is Gods indulgence Gods mercifull fauour , whereby hee forgiueth sinne , is my blessedness . IV. This was the iudgement of a man who had beene an adulterer and a murtherer : Such also was the iudgement of a woman , whom the Scripture calleth , k k Luk. 7.37 . A Sinner . She came to the Pharisees house , where Christ was . The Pharisees of all men were most affectionate to the Law , l l Gal. 3.24 . The Law is a pedagogue to Christ , m m Rom. 10.4 . who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to euery one that beleeueth . See the wisedome of the woman : when shee is in the Pharisees house , shee goeth not to him , who taught , who beleeued that man is saued by the righteousness of the Law ; She said in her heart with David , n n Psal. 51.3 . I acknowledg my transgression , my sinne is euer before mee : I haue transgressed the Law , I find no good workes in my life , which hath bin so lewd , that I dare not trust in it . Therefore , O Pharisee , I am come to thy house , but not to thee : Thou speakest of perfection of righteousnesse , thou preachest of rewards , thou bragst of merites : I cry to my God ; o o Psal. 130.3.4 . If thou Lord shouldest marke iniquitie , O Lord , who shall stand . But there is forgiuenesse with thee , that thou mayest he feared . My misery is my sinne , my blessedness is his mercy : I haue need of forgiuenesse , I come to craue mercy , I haue hoised the sailes of my faith towards the only haven which God hath ordained for sinners , I flie to the port of Salvation , where the stormie windes of the law tearing asunder the mountaines , and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord , blow not ; where the still and small voice of the Gospel refresheth the conscience , which thirsteth after thee , O my God , like a drie land : I am come , ô Pharisee , to him who p p 1 Tim. 1.15 . is come into the world , to saue sinners , of whom I am chiefe : He is in thy house : He is not of thy house .

So she thought , so h●● hart spake . Out of hand she runneth to her Sauiour : And , to apply to her with the alteration of two words , that which S. Chrysostome hath written of the woman of Canaan ; * * Chrysost. tom. 2. Ex varijs in Matthaum locis homil. 16. See the wisedome of the woman : Shee intreats not Iames , shee prayeth not to Iohn , shee goeth not to Peter , shee looketh not to the company of the Apostles , shee sought not a Mediatour : In stead of them all she tooke repentance with her for companion , which was to her in stead of an aduocate , and so she goeth straight to the Soueraigne Spring : for this , saith she , is he come downe from heauen : for this hath hee taken our flesh , for this was he made man , that I may be bold to goe vnto him . In the heauens aboue the Cherubims tremble before him , the Seraphims feare him , and here below a Whoore goeth vnto him . She speaketh not , she cryeth not with her mouth , as the Woman of Canaan did , q q Mat. 15 22. Haue mercy on mee , O Lord , thou sonne of David . Her humility spake for her . She stood at his feet behind him : Her godly sorrow for sinne cryed aloud vnto him , She washt his feet with teares , and wiped them with the haires of her head : Her loue was a most ardent prayer . She kissed them , she anointed them with oyntment : each of those actions was a sensible prayer , O Lord , O sweet Iesus , haue mercy on mee . Thou art come into the world to haue mercy on sinners , O sonne of God haue mercy on me : Thou hast taken our flesh , thou art become that which I am , to haue mercy on sinners : O sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon mee . Thou art still that which thou wast , thou art become that which thou wast not ; Now thou art both in one person , O Immanuel , O God and man haue mercy on me .

Woman what ayles thee ? What cause hast thou to weepe ? Iudge by Christs answer to her weeping prayers , what was the cause of her praying teares ? r r Luk. 7.48.50 . Thy sinnes , saith he , are forgiuen . For her sinne she wept , because her sinne was her misery : Her sin was forgiuen her , because forgiuenesse of sinne was her felicitie . Simon the Pharisee made vnto him a feast of fl●sh , & filled vnto him cups of wine : The Lord had no stomacke for Simons meate ; no thirst for his drinke : This woman , like vnto s s Gen. 27.9 . Rebecca , who could make sauourie meat to Isaac , such as he loved , knowing that t t Ioh 4.34 . his meat and drinke was to comfort and to saue repenting sinners , filleth vnto him a bowle of teares mingled with faith , and he pledgeth her in u u Psal. 116.13 . the cup of salvation , saying vnto her , Thy faith hath saued thee : Goe in peace .

Deare brethren , if this day wee weepe as this sinner did , our fasting will bee feasting to Christ , our teares will be his drinke : If we cry to God as David did , x x Psal. 6.1.4.8 . O Lord , rebuke me not in thine anger : Returne , O Lord , deliver my soule : oh saue me for thy mercies sake . The Lord will come and speake to our soules , and wee shall returne home , saying with David , Depart from mee all ye workers of iniquity : for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping .

V. I say , if ye pray so , the Lord will heare you : If ye weepe so , the Lord will comfort you : If yee trust not in the prayers one of another : If ye rely not vpon the prayers of the Church ; but if euery one pray for himselfe . Heed what I say , I doe not forbid you to pray , and to weepe one for another ; for I haue taught you , that the Saints did weepe and pray when their brethren sinned : did not God say to Iobs friends , y y Iob. 42.8 . Goe to my servant Iob , and offer vp for your selues a burnt offering , and my servant Iob shall pray for you : for him will I accept ? He commanded them to goe to Iob whom they had offended , and to require his prayers : He commanded them also to offer vp for themselues a burnt offering ; to teach vs three most profitable lessons .

The first , that our prayers are not accepted of God , till we be reconciled to our brethren : This is Christs lesson , saying , z z Mat. 5.23 24. If thou bring thy gift to the altar , & there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee : Leaue there thy gift before the altar , and goe thy way : first be reconciled to thy brother , and then come and offer thy gift .

The second , that we must forgiue them which trespasse against vs ; This Lesson also hath Christ our good Doctor taught vs , not onely * * Mat. 18.32 . by the Parable of the wicked seruant , who was punished , because he shewed no mercy to his fellow ; but also in proper words , when he giueth vs this warning ; * * Luk. 17.3.4 . Take heed to your selues : If thy brother trespasse against thee , rebuke him , and if he repent , forgiue him : And if he trespasse against thee seauen times in a day , and seuen times in a day turne againe to thee , saying , I repent ; Thou shalt forgiue him . Protest wee not that we doe this , when according to our Masters direction , wee cry to God in our daily prayers ; Forgiue vs our trespasses , as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs ? If we forgiue them from our heart , we will pray to God for them , as God said that Iob would pray for his friends : Therefore St Iames sayth both to them who giue offence , and to them which suffer it , a a Iam. 5.16 . Confesse your faults one to another : And pray one for another , that yee may be healed : for the effectuall feruent prayer of arighteous man avayleth much .

VI. In all the congregations of the Primitiue Church , Iustin . Apol. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Precibus fini●is mutuis nos inuicem osculis salutamus . Tertull de Oratione . cap. vlt. the brethren had a most vsefull and laudable custome , to seale and close vp their prayers , with mutuall imbracings and kisses , which they called , Orationis signaculum , the seale of Prayer : And so they went to the Table of the Lord . They kept this Custome principally in their fasting dayes , as a publike testimony , that they did forgiue one another , & were assured that God would heare their prayers , which they had offered vp vnto him with single and meeke heart purified of all inward grudge and rankor , and indued with brotherly charitie according to his holy and righteous commandement : If any man withdrew this kisse from his brother , he was rebuked and hissed of the whole congregation , which being an assembly of holy & true louers , could not abide a brother , who bewraied the ill-will and hatred of his heart , when he refused the kisse of his mouth .

This custome was grounded vpon the custome of the Iewes , who at their meetings did kisse one another , and vpon the expresse commandement of the Apostles . For S. Paul exhorteth the Romans , Rom. 16.16 . 1 Cor. 16.20 . 2 Cor. 13.12 . 1 Thes. 5.26 . 1 Pet. 5.14 . the Corinthians , the Thessalonians , to greete one another with an●h●● kisse : And S. Peter exhorteth the brethren , to greet one another with a kisse of charitie . Not with the kisse of religious homage , which is due to God alone and him whom he hath sent , our Lord Iesus Christ , Psal. 2.12 . as it is written , Kisse the Sonne not with the kisse of superstitious homage to idoles , as the Israelites kissed Baal , 1 Kings 19 18. Hosea . 13.2 . and the calues : Not with the kisse of naturall affection onely , such as is vsual among those who are of kinred , and nigh friends , as when Isaac kissed his Sonne Iacob , Gen. 27.27 . and Iacob kissed his kinswoman Rachel . Gen. 29.11 . Not with the kisse of humanitie and ciuilitie , such as were frequent among the Iewes , when they did meet one another , or when they invited a friend to their houses , whereof Christ spake , when he said to Simon the Pharisee who had invited him , Luke 7.45 . Thou gauest me no kisse : Plin. lib. 14. c. 13. Ideo propinquos foeminis osculum dare , vt scirent an ●emetumolerent . Not with the kisse of triall , such as was much vsed among the Romans who kissed their wiues and kinswomen to try if they had drunke wine , nonnius ex Cicer. 3. de Repub. Carent remet● omnes mulieres . Gellius . lib. 10. cap. 23. and if they did sent of it , killed them ; for amongst them it was a crime in a woman to drinke wine : Farre lesse with the kisse of treacherie and treason shadowed with the cloake of friendship & loue , as when Ioab kissing Amasa killed him , 2 Sam. 20.9.10 . Luke 22.48 and Iudas betrayed our Lord Iesus Christ with a kisse . Pro. 27.6 . Faithfull are the wounds of a friend : but the kisses of an enemie are deceitfull . In no case with the vncleane and vnchast kisse of wan tonnesse , whereof it is written that the Harlot met a yong man , Pro. 7.13 . caught him , Origen . ad Roman . cap. 16.16 . Osculum fidele primum castum sit , d●inde pacem simplicitatemque habeat in chari ta●● non ficta . and kissed him : but with an holy kisse , wherein there is no vncleannesse ; and with a kisse of charitie , wherein their is no dissembling , but a cleare demonstration of a peaceable and loving heart .

Where such holy kisses were vsuall , were there , thinke ye , any iarres , any alterations , any cousenage , any contentions at law ? Or if any , were they not presently smothered and extinguished in the very eyes of the congregation ? I know the precept of the Apostle is not vniuersall , and that we are not tyed by it to the custome of kissing : But this ye must all know , that he thing signified thereby , to wit , concord , peace , charitie , is a law both vniuersal and perpetuall . And therefore as our fasting giueth wings to our prayers , that they may mount vp to the throne of grace swiftly , so let vs this day by an vnfained reconciliation , if there be any iarres amongst vs , and with christian charity , grace & imbellish them , that comming there , they may be welcome and accepted .

VII . The third is , that euery one weepe , and pray for himselfe as Iobs friends were commanded to offer vp for themselues a burnt offering . This lesson is implyed in my text . For to whom doth Christ promise that they shall be comforted ? To them which mourne . Salomon bids vs ? b b Pro. 31.6.7 . giue strong drinke vnto him that is ready to perish , and wine vnto those that be of heauie hearts : Let him drink and forget his pouertie , and remember his misery no more . This Christ doth : He maketh glad with the wine of his comforts the hearts which are heauie for sinne : for who that is not witlesse will giue wine to him who is already too merrie ? Let not any man be deceiued . Though this whole Church , though all the Churches of God , Though all the Saints , all the Angels of heauen should pray for one of you , if that one weep not , if he pray not for himself , God wil not heare them to forgiue him his sins ? c c Iam. 5.17 18. Eliah may fast and pray for raine , when wicked Achab feastes , & God wil heare him . Moses prayed often for the people , and God remoued from them temporall plagues ; But he did neuer forgiue sinne to any man , who praied not for himselfe .

Yea Moses prayed for his sister Miriam , who for her sin was strucke with leprosie , d d Num. 12.13 . He cryed vnto the Lord saying , Heale her now , O God , I beseech thee , and he was heard . Did not Samuel mourne for Saul vnprofitably ? For God sayd vnto him . e e 1 Sam. 16.1 . How long wilt thou mourne for Saul , seeing I haue reiected him ? Did not Ieremiah pray and mourne incessantly for the people of Iuda , and was not heard ? f f Ierem. 11.14 . Pray not thou for this people , sayth God vnto him , neither lift vp a crie or prayer for them . For g g Ierem 15.1 . though Moses and Samuel stood before me , yet my mind could not be toward this people : Cast them out of my sight , and ●et them goe forth . Doubtlesse Ezechiel prayed for Ierusalem , when the Lord said vnto him h h Ezech. 14.20 . Though Noah , Daniel & Iob were in it , as I liue , they shall deliuer neither Sonne nor Daughter Thinkest thou tha● God will heare another weeping for thy sins , so long as he heareth thee blaspheming his holy Name , and seeth thee wallowing with delight and content in the mire of filthy pleasure ?

But if thou weepest and prayest for thy selfe hee will heare thee , although all other mens and Angels mouthes were dumble . Though all hearts were merry , though al cheekes were dry , and no vapours ascended from the eyes , no tongue darted prayers vp to heauen , but thine . For i i Chrysost. in Math. homil. 5. tom . 2. Namet Deus gratiam , non tam alijs rogantibus pro nobis vult donare , quam nobis , God delightes to giue grace , not so much to others which pray for vs , as to our selues : Take for example Dauid , Manasseh , the forlorne Son , the woman of whom I haue spoken , the Theefe on the Crosse , and Peter who wept and prayed for themselues , when no body that we reade of prayed for them yea , saith k k Idem , homil deprofecta , Euangelij , tom. 3. Chrysostome , wilt thou learne , that when we pray for our selues we come better speed with God , then when others pray for vs . The woman of Canaan cryed . l l Matth 15.23 . and the Disciples came and besought him , saying , Send her away , for shee crieth after vs : But he answered to them , and said , I am not sent , but vnto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel : But when she commeth her selfe , and holds on her crying , and saith , Truth Lord , yet the Dogs eate of the crummes which fall from their masters table , then he gaue her a benefit ; and said , Be it vnto thee euen as thou wilt . Yee see how he reiects her , when others pray for her , and grants her requests when shee prayeth her selfe .

VII . Beloued auditors , retaine and keepe in your sanctified memories these three lessons , and now , euen now put them in practise : I beseech you , I pray you for Christs sake , m m Col. 3.12.13 . put on , as the elect of God , holy , and beloued , the bowels of mercies kindnes , humblenes of mind , meeknes , long suffering , forbearing one another , & forgiuing one another , if any man haue a quarrell against any : Euen as Christ forgaue you , so also doe yee . n n Eph. 6.18 . Pray alwayes with all prayer , and supplication in the spirit , and watch thereunto with all perseuerance , and supplication for all Saints . Namely take heede that euery one of you pray and weepe , this day & euery day for your ownselues .

Which if ye doe with with an vnfained repentance , doubt not of the forgiuenesse of your sins : for God hath saith , that o o Esa. 1.18 . though y●ur , sins be as Scarlet , they shall be as white as snow : though they be red like crimson , they shall be as wool . And I am sent to you of God this day , as Paul was to the Iewes of Antioche , p p Act. 13.38.39 . To preach vnto you through Christ the forgiuenesse of sinnes : And that by him all that beleeue , are iustified from all things , from which ye could not be iustified by the Law of Moses .

CHAPTER IV.

I THe second comfort and blessednesse promised to them which weepe , is deliuerance from the punishment of sinne .

II. If they suffer for righteousnesse sake , the cause of their sufferings is a comfort vnto them .

III. God deliuereth them in a conuenient time .

IV. Till that time come , he strengtheneth vs with his holy Spirit .

IV. Apostates which fall away are no true members of Christs Church .

I B●essed are we , if God hath blessed vs with this first and most necessarie blessing forgiuenesse of sinnes : for to whom hee forgiueth sinnes , he giueth all other necessary comforts . And therefore our second comfort is , that putting away from before his eyes the iniquitie of our sinnes , he will also take away from our backes the punishment of them : For when the cause is gone , the effect must cease .

If ye desire a proofe of this truth , hearken to David , saying in the 32. Psalme , q q Psal. 32.5 . I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee , and mine iniquity haue I not hid : I said I will confesse my transgressions vnto the Lord : And thou hast taken away the punishment of my sinne . Did not the Lord say to Hezekiah who had wept and prayed vnto him , r r 2 Kings 20.3.5 . I haue heard thy prayer , I haue seene thy teares : Behold I will heale thee ? This healing of the body was an effect of the healing of the soule , as the good King confessed in his song of thankesgiuing , when he said to his God , s s Esa 38.17 . Thou hast in loue to my soule deliuered it from the pit of corruption : for thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy backe .

So yee reade in the Gospell of Matthew , that Christ when hee was to cure one sicke of the Palsie , said first vnto him , t t Matth. 9.2.6 . Sonne , be of good cheare thy sinnes be forgiuen thee : And consequently , Arise , take vp thy bed , and goe vnto thine owne house .

This is the order of Gods blessings : the first is the forgiuenesse of sinne : The second is the remouing of the punishment of sinne . But we put the Plough before the Oxen , we weepe and cry desiring to be deliuered of the punishment of sinne , & are not heard , because we haue not sought with teares the forgiuenesse of sinne .

II. If we be persecuted for Righteousnes sake as many of our deare breathren are now , wee haue subiect of comfort in the middest of our sufferings , because we know that the cause of our sufferings is not only good and honest , but also most honorable . So saith Christ , bidding vs u u Matth. 5.21 . reioyce and be exceeding glad , when we are persecuted for righteousnes sake , and reuiled for his sake . So thought his Apostles , when x x Act. 5.41 . they departed from the presence of the Councell , reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name . Such brands are rather glorious then disgracefull : wherefore then should we not reioyce in them ?

III. If we had no other share lotted vnto vs , but afflictions , how could we subsist , and what should become of our hope ? Therefore Iesus Christ said to his Disciples ; y y Iohn 16.20 . Verily , verily , I say vnto you , that yee shall weepe and lament , but the world shal reioyce : yee shall be sorrow full : but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy . Consider how turned into ioy .

First the Apostle saith , z z 1 Cor. 10 13 God is faithfull , who wil not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able : but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , that yee may be able to beare it . And how often hath God made such a way to his afflicted Church ? How often hath beene fulfilled that which Dauid saith , a a Psal. 34.6 . This poore man cryed , and the Lord heard him , and saued him out of all his troubles ? How many examples might I produce of Gods most wonderful deliuer ances , whereby the sorrow of his children was turned into ioy , and the day of their mourning and fasting , into a good day of feasting , and of gladnesse ; as in b b Ester 9.19 22. the time of Queen Esther ?

Leaving other examples , whereof I haue spoken else where , let vs consider one which cannot be yet worne out of our memories . I speake of the Churches of France . The wind with most horrible noice blowed vpon vs whole stormes of bullets and firie raine : The sea wrought , and of a plaine became high mountaines which we could not ouerswim : Her flouds swelled , her billowes roared , her proud and outragious waues gauesuch blowes against the small skiffe wherin Iesus was asleep , and redoubled them with such swiftnesse & violence , that neither could the shipper direct , nor the steeresman stand at the rudder , nor the mariners resist . Then our eares and our eyes hauing nothing before them , but monstrous cries of roaring voyces , but vgly darknesse , but terrible images of desolation and death ; Then seeing our little boat ready to be driuen vpon the Rocke of destruction ; Then nothing being left vs but feare , but dismaidnes , but despaire of safetie , but expectation of a loath some end , we ran to the Lord who was a sleepe ; and awoke him , crying as the Apostles did , when vpon the tempestuous Sea they were a type of the Church . c c Matth. 8.25.26 . Lord saue vs , we perish . Then d d Fsal . 121.4 . the keeper of Israel , who neither slumbers nor sleeps , arose : Then he spake to the windes , and they spake no more : he rebuked the waues of the Sea , and they leuelled their mountaines , they sleeked the furrowes of their angry browes , they changed their wrinkles into smoothnes , their crookednesse into euennesse their roughnesse into a faire plaine ? He made the storme a calme , and when we could not be in a harder plight , as being without hope to escape , he directed our course to a more safe & pleasant hauen , then that which is nigh vnto the Citie of Lasea , called c c Act. 27 8. the Faire hauens . So we arriued to the harbour of grace , to the port of peace , to the vnlooked for , but much desired hauen of tranquillitie and quietnesse . This was the fruite , this was the effect of our humiliation , of our fasting , of our mourning and prayers in France .

Vndoubtedly the same cause shall bring foorth the same effect in the Palatinate , and other parts of Germanie . They haue a longer winterthen we had . T is now their sowing time , and now they sow in teares : Their haruest shall come , then shall be accomplished that which is written , f f Psal. 126 5. They that sow in teares , shall reape in ioy . g g Psal. 147.9 . God heareth the voyce of the young Rauens which cry , and will he not heare the voyce h h Luke 18.7.8 . of his owne elect , which cry day and night vnto him ? I tell you , saith Christ , that hee will auenge them speedily . i i Psal. 14.7 . O that the Saluation of Israel were come out of Sion : when the. Lord bringeth backe the captiuitie of his people , Iacob shall reioyce , and Israel shall be glad .

IV. Secondly , God hath a time ordained for his deliverances , which the scripture calleth k k Ps. 69.13 . Isa. 49.3 . an acceptable time . Till that time come , the Lord sweetneth the bitter gall of bodily tribulations , with the honey of his spirituall comforts : As Christ said to his Disciples , l l Ioh. 16.22 . Now yee haue sorrow , but your ioy no man taketh from you . For euen then the comforter , m m Rom. 8.16 . the Spirit of adoption beareth witnesse with our spirit , that wee are the children of God : And that comfort is so great , that when wee weepe , wee weepe for ioy , and say with the Apostle , n n 2 Cor. 1.5 . As the sufferings of Christ abound in vn , so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ .

T is a wonder to behold the true Christian in the time of his trouble and distresse : Men seeke to bring him downe to the ground , but hope lifts him vp aboue the skie : As when David said , o o Psal. 94.18.19 . My foot slippeth , the experience of Gods wonderfull assistance made him to say forth with , Thy mercy , O Lord , held me vp : In the multitude of my thoughts within me , thy comforts delight my soule . When men haue done what they can to overcome him with bitter iests , with sharpe stripes , and cruell tortures , he overcometh them with patience ; And in him is verified that which the Apostle said , p p 2 Cor. 4.8.9 . Wee are troubled on euery side , yet not distressed : we are perplexed , but not in despaire ; persecuted , but not forsaken ; cast downe , but not destroyed .

As q q Plin. histor. natural . l. 12. cap. 25. the Balme , which of all liquors hath the sweetest and most pleasant smell , distills not from the Balsame tree till it be pricked : So the most precious graces of the Spirit of GOD , wherwith the foules of truely religious Christians are beautified , their faith , their zeale , their patience , their constancie , their contempt of the world , their earnest desire of heauenvly things flow neuer so aboundantly , as when the sword of perse cution makes in them a deepe incision . Therefore the Lord hath troden the Virgin , the daughter of Iudah as in a Wine-presse , and he hath pressed and wrung out of her the most excellent liquor of her faith , hope and charitie , which before was hid in the grapes , and vnder the faire skin of a peaccable profession .

V. On the other part , t is a monstrous spectacle to behold then the ficklenesse and inconstancie of counterfeit professors , who fearing the weight of GODS Wine-presse , conueigh themselues away from vnder it , and doe euen as if one who desires to be esteemed an honest man , when he seeth robbers and way-layers comming to the company where he is , did troupe and ioine hands with them , to take his friends purse , or life from him , to saue his owne ; r r 2 Pet. 2.21 . It had beene better for them not to haue knowne the way of righteonsnesse , then after they haue knowne it , to turne from the holy commandement delivered vnto them . I will not compare the true Christian to a tree in the kingdome of Congo , called by the Portugalians , f f Arbor tristis . The sorrowfull tree , because it neither buds , nor blossomes , nor brings forth fruit , but in the night , and in the day is without fruit , flowers , or leaues , as if it were dead : for the Christian is like vnto the Palme-tree , which is greene both day and night ; though his godlinesse shineth more brightly , like a Diamond , in the night of his aduersitie , then in the day of his prosperitie . But well may I compare those painted Christians to the herbe called Heliotropium or Turnesol , be cause it turneth with the Sunne both arising and going downe ; For so long as prosperous dayes shine vpon them , they follow Christ , who is t t Mal. 4.2 . the Sun of righteousnesse : But if to put his children to a triall of their faith , he hide himselfe for a little while in a darke night of persecution , forthwith they turne their backes vnto him , and forsake him .

Great and wailefull is their losse : Neverthelesse , the Church findeth in it a great gaine , & in weeping for them matter of ioy for her selfe . For what are they but super fluous and vnprofitable u u Ezech. 5.1.2 . haire of the mystical body of Christ , which he burnes with fire or scattereth in the wind , when he taketh a rasour to trimme the head and the beard of his Church ? but x x Ezech. 22.18 . brasse , tinne , yron , lead , drosses which are euaporated & vanish away in stincking & pestilent smoak , when y y Mal. 3.3 . the refiner and purifier of the sonnes of Levi , taketh his gold and his siluer to melt and purge them in the furnace of triall ? but the scum which the Cauldron of the Church casteth out , when it seeths and bubbles at the fire of persecution ? but a a Psal. 1.4 . chaffe which the winde driueth away , when the Lord taketh b b Mat. 3.12 . his fann● in his hand , & a broome to sweepe and purge throughly his floare ? but c c Ioh. 15.1 . the fruitlesse branches of the true vine , which the heavenly Vine-dresser takes away , and casts into the fire of his indignation ? but d d August in Epist. Iohan. tract . 3. Non de carne mea praecisi sunt , sed pectus mihi premebant , cum inessent , &c. ill humours which lay heavie vpon the stomacke of the Church ? but noisome and rotten deiections which shee avoyds into the iakes of the world , when the Physician of the soule hath giuen her to drink a bitter potion in the cup of tribulation ? When such filthy excrements are euacuated she is not so grosse , so swollen and puffed vp as she was , but shee is more healthful . Finally , what are they but like vnto woodden legs , or to a Creple-mans staffe , which , when he is cured of his disease , he casteth away , and not only looseth nothing of his owne , but also receiueth a benefit , and thankes God , that they are not more behoouefull vnto him ?

CHAP. V.

1 OVr first comfort in heaven , is , that wee shall be without sinne ;

2 The second , that we shall be free from all miserie ;

3 The third , that our faith and hope shall bee changed into the reall possession of the thing beleeved and hoped for .

4 What shall bee then the blessednes of our soules ,

5 And of our bodies .

6 Eternall life more fully described by seven circumstances .

7 Then the wicked shall see the glory of Gods children ; who also shall see the torments of the wicked , and praise God incessantly .

8 Exhortation & praier .

I. AS at the marriage e e Ioh. 2.10 in Cana of Galilee , all the wine was good ; but that which was given last , was the best : so all those comforts whereof I have spoken , are most excellent ; but the last , which God giveth to his children at the last day of their lives , and which he shall fill to them in the unmeasurable bowles of his infinit mercies at the last day of the world , surpasseth them all .

Our comfort and our blessednes is now , that our sinnes are forgiven us : our comfort , our blessednes shall be then , that we shall be without sinne . f f Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord : they rest from their labours . Their first , their last , their most continuall and toilsome labour , is their sinne : from it they rest . And therfore the holy Apostle g g Rom. 7 24 desired to die , that his blessednes , which consisted onely in forgivenesse of sinne , by death might bee changed into the blessednesse of abolishment of sinne : for then there shall bee no sinne , because there shall bee no inticement , no allurement to sin . h h Rev. 21 27 There shall in no wise enter into the holy City , any thing that defileth . Nothing is able to defile us , but sinne : and therefore to it wee shall say in that day , Get thee hence , stand without . i i Rev. 22 15 For without are dogs , and sorcerers , and whoremongers , and murderers , and idolaters , and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie . What is sinne , but a lie ? What is a sinner , but a lover , but a maker of lies ? But within are they of whom it is written , k k Esay 60.21 Thy people shall be all righteous : they shall inherit the land for ever ; the branch of my planting , the work of my hands , that I may be glorified . O Lord , l l Psalm 118.9 , 20 open to me the gates of righteousnes : I will go into them , and I wil praise the Lord . This is the gate of the Lord , into which the righteous shall enter . I wil praise thee : for thou hast heard me , and art become my salvation .

II. Our comfort and our blessednes is now , that when m m Rev. 17 4 the Whore of Babylon drinketh unto us , in the cup of her abominations and fornications , not the health , but the death of our soules , God strengtheneth us with n n Esa. 11.2 the spirit of might , which maketh us to say to him , o o Psalm 73.27 , 28 Loe , they that are farre from thee , shall perish . Thou hast destroied all them that goe awhoring from thee : but it is good for mee to draw neer to God . I have put my trust in the Lord God , that I may declare al thy works .

Our comfort and our blessednes is now , that when our enemies make us to drink great bowles of salt teares in stead of wine , we drink stoutly , and are not drunk , and stagger not any way from our profession : when they bait us , they cannot abate us : when they presse us , they cannot oppresse us : when they cut the thread of our mortall life , wee rejoice with joy unspeakable , and full of glory , because we know that God will knit and fasten our soules to the thread of immortalitie , which his owne hands have spun .

Our comfort , our blessednes will be then , that p p Rev. 21 4. God shal wipe away all teares from our eyes : and there shal be no more death , neither sorrow , nor crying , neither shal there be any more pain . q q Rem . Felices lachrymae , quas benignae manus Conditoris abstergunt ! O blessed tears , which the mercifull hands of the Creator wipe away ! Then r r Rev. 20 14 death and hell shall bee cast into the lake of fire . Then we shall with triumphing voices desie death , and say , s s 1. Cor. 15.55 O death , where is thy sting ? O grave , where is thy victory ?

III. Our comfort & our blessednesse now , is our faith . 'T is our blessednesse , that Christ dwels in us : and t t Eph. 3.17 hee dwelleth in our hearts by faith . Now , by faith ; u Now , n n Aug. de verb. Apost. ser. 16. as long as wee are in the way ; now , as long as wee are in our pilgrimage ; now , x x 2. Cor. 5.6 , 7 whiles wee are at home in the body , wee are absent from the Lord : for wee walke by faith , not by sight . Now we are in the world , besieged on all sides with Armies of enemies : and y y 1. Iohn 5.4 this is the victory that overcometh the world , even our faith .

Then we shall dwell a a Cant. 8.14 in the mountaine of spices , in the Countrey of Eden , in the Paradise of felicity , of glory , and of joy . b b Greg. in 7. Psalm poenit . Vbi est lux sine defectu , gaudium sine gemitu , desiderium sine poenâ , amor sine tristitiâ , satietas sine fastidio , sospitas sine vitio , vita sine morte , salus sine languore : Where there is light without any defect , gladnesse without mourning , desire without pain , love without sorrow , fulnesse without loathsomenesse , safenesse without imperfection , life without death , salvation without any languishing feeblenesse : where wee shall enjoy all felicity with c c Heb. 12 22 , 23 the innumerable companie of the Angels , with the generall Assembly & Church of the first-borne , with the spirits of iust men made perfect . For then we shal be citizens of heaven , fellows to all the Saints , like unto the blessed Angels , heires of God , joint heirs with Christ .

Now our comfort & our blessednesse is our hope . Hope is necessary unto a wayfaring man : hope comforteth him in the way . A man who is on his journey , endureth all kinde of travell , so long as he hopeth to come to his journeyes end : d d Aug. de verb. Apost. ser. 16. T●ll● illi spem perveniendi , continuò franguntur vires ambulandi . Take from him that hope , by and by ye shall see him discouraged , his strength weakned , his journey broken off . Wee are all travellers , all on our journey to heaven . The staffe which upholdeth us , the spurre which setteth us forward in the way , is our hope : e e Rom 8.24 , 25. for we are saved by hope . But hope that is seen , is no hope : for , what a man seeth , why doth he yet hope for ? But if wee hope for that wee see not , then do we with patience wait for it . f f Aug. ibid. In this patience the Martyrs were crowned : * * Desidorabant quod non videbant , contem●ebant quae forebant . they desired the things which they suffred : in this hope they said , g g Rom 8.35 . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation , or distresse , or persecution , or famine , or nakednesse , or perill , or sword ? O the strength ! O the power of hope !

i i 1. Ioh. 3.2 . Beloved , now we are the Sonnes of God , now wee are predestinated , called , iustified , adopted : and it doth not yet appeare , what we shall be : therefore we hope : for we know , that when hee shall appeare , we shall bee like him : for we shall see him as he is , i. e. we shall enioy him , k k Bern in fes●o omnium Sanctor. serm. 4. 1. in all his creatures : 2. in our selves : 3. in his owne selfe : for then we shall know the blessed Trinity in its own selfe : then , with the pure eye of our heart , wee shall behold that incomprehensible , that unspeakeable glory , not l l 1. Cor 13.12 . through a glasse in a riddle , as now in his workes , in his Word , in his Sacraments ; but face to face . Then we shall no more walk by faith , but by sight . And m m Aug. eod. Spes tam non erit , quia erit res . hope shal bee no more , because wee shall enioy the thing hoped for . Now m m Col. 3.3 , 4. our life is hid with Christ in God : when Christ , who is our life , shall appeare , then shall ye appeare with him also in glory . O how glorious is that glory ! who shall give mee words to utter it aptly ? Eye hath not seen , nor eare heard , neither hath entred into the heart of man , what brightnesse , what sweetnesse , what pleasantnes , what glory God hath prepared for them that l●ve him : This is that n n Phil. 4.7 peace of God which passeth all understanding : o o Bern. ibid. Quod ergo nulli datum est expertri , nullus conetus affari . wherefore that which no man is able to understand , let no man go about to utter .

IV. Yet , if yee will suffer me to fumble , and to speake of such things as I can ; since I cannot speake of them as I would , 'I le make to you a short description , and draw rudely , as it were with a coale or blacke inke , the first lineaments of the bright-shining light of that glory .

Man , as ye know , is framed of two parts : of a soule , and of a body . The wise men of the world say , that in the soule there are three faculties or natures , which they call reasonable , sensuall , and cholericke . By the first wee reason and discourse : by the second , we couet meates , drinkes , all sorts of delights : by the third , we are angry . In the first , so long as we are in this world , there is knowledge and ignorance ; for q q 1. Cor. 13.9 . we know in part : In the second , there is desire and disdaine : In the third , there is ioy and anger . But in that day , r r Bern. ibid. implebit Deus rationale nostrum luce sapientiae : implebit concupiscibile nostrum fonte iustitiae , &c. God will fill our reasonable part with the light of wisedome : our sensuall part with a fountaine of righteousnesse : our cholericke part with perfect tranquillitie . Then wee shall know God with all our minde , as wee are knowne of him : then , beeing filled with his righteousnesse , we shall ever love him with all our hearts , and still desire him ; ever bee satisfied with his likenesse , and still hunger after him ; ever rejoyce in his goodnesse , and never be weary of rejoycing in him . Nihil quippe aut deest semper videntibus , aut superest semper volentibus : For there nothing is wanting to them who see God alwayes ; nothing is overmuch to them who desire alwayes . This is the blessed comfort wherewith Lazarus is comforted in Abrahams bosome ; as Abraham said , t t Luk. 16.25 . Now he is comforted .

V. Mans body is made of the foure Elements ; of earth , water , ayre , and fire . u u Ex Bern. ibid. Habebit Terra nostra immortalitatem , Aqua impassibilitatem , Aer agilitatem , Ignis perfectissimam pulchritudinem : Our earth shall receive immortalitie , and shall not returne unto earth againe . Our water shall be glorified with impassibilitie , and shall not be subiect to any passion or sufferings , which may hurt and grieve us . Our aire shall have such agilitie and promptnesse , * * Aug , de Civit. dei , lib 22. cap. 30. Certe ubi volet Spiritus , ibi protinus orit & corpus . that it shall quickly carry the body wheresoever the soule will have it to go . Our fire shall be beautified with the most wonderfull light of all fairenesse .

If the x x Exod. 34.29 , 30. skin of Moses face , after he had beene fortie dayes with God in Mount Sinai , shone so brightly , that the people was afraid to come nigh him : how brightly , I pray you , shal shine the bodies of the Saints , when they shal be transported by the holy Angels unto Mount Sion , and enlightened with the glorious light of the face of God shining upon them night and day , world without end !

The Lord Iesus himself saith , that y y Mat. 13.43 . the righteous shall shine foorth as the Sunne , in the kingdome of their father . And the holy Apostle saith , that z z Phil. 3.20 , 21. wee looke for the Saviour , the Lord Iesus Christ , who shall change our vile body , that it may bee fashioned like unto his glorious body . In his transfiguration , which was but a praeludium of his glorification , a a Mat. 17 2. his face did shine as the Sun , & his rayment was white as the light .

If such was the glory not onely of his body , but of his raiment also , when hee was upon earth ; how wonderfull and glorious is his body now in heaven ! And if our bodies are to be like unto his in glory , what hart can conceive , what speech can expresse the greatnes of that glory ! How radiant & glittring shall then be the beams of the glorious bodies of all the Saints together , when each of us shall bee so glorious ! So then saith S. Bernard , allegorizing the words of the psalm , a a Psalm 72.19 The whole earth shall bee filled with his glory : b b Bern. ibid. So will GOD fill our soules , when in them shall bee perfect science , perfect righteousnes , perfect ioy : So the whole earth shall bee filled with his glory , when the bodie shall be incorruptible , impassible , nimble , and fashioned like unto his glorious body .

VI. But what is all this that I have said , or can say of eternall life ? It is as if I should paint the fair light of the Sun with the blackest coale . O the last comfort of the Christian man , how blessed art thou ! ô blessed life of them that hunger and thirst after thee , how comfortable art thou for the thing which we shall enjoy in thee , for the meanes , for the measure , for the time , for the certainty , for the place , for the companions of that confortable blessednes , of that blessed comfort !

The thing shall bee God himselfe ; c c Ber. Deus omne bonum , & summum bonum . God , who is all goodnes ; God , who is the soveraigne good . Now wee make our mone with David , and say , * * Psalm 42.2 , 23. My soule thirsteth for God , for the living God : when shall I come and appeare before GOD ? But as Lyranus saith upon the sixt chapter of S. Iohn , Is status est vita aeterna , ut faciat tunc Deus , ut videamus quod credidimus , manducemus quod esurivimus , habeamus quod amavimus & desideravimus : Eternall life is a state wherein God will make us to see that which we beleeved , to eat that for which wee were hungry , to have that which wee loved and desired .

The means shall be no means : wee shall enjoy him by himselfe immediately : As Saint Iohn saith , that d d Rev. 22 22 , 23 hee saw no Temple in the heavenly Ierusalem : for the Lord God Almightie and the Lamb are the Temple of it ; and the City , saith he also , had no need of the Sun , neither of the Moon , to shine in it : for the glory of God did lighten it , & the Lamb is the light thereof .

The measure shall bee e e Luke 6 38. good measure , pressed downe , and shaken together , and running over , given into our bosome . For f f Bernard . Deus futurus est intellectui plenitudo lucis , voluntati multitudo pacis , memoriae continuatio aeternitatis : nam quicquid olim inchoavit & praeparavit gratia , tunc absolvet & perficiet gloria : God shall bee to our minde fulnesse of light ; to our will , multitude of peace ; to our memory , continuation of eternity : then whatsoever grace hath begun in us , glory will make it perfect .

The time shall not be g g Aug. in Mat. sor. 17Vbi sunt dies bow , nec multi , sed u●●s . Dies ille nescit ortum , nescit occasum : illi di●● non succedit crastinus , quia non pracedit tum besternus . many daies , but one ; A most wonderfull day : A day which hath no rising , no setting ; A day which is not followed by another , because another day is not gone before it . h h Psalm 30.5 . Weeping soiourneth in the evening , but singing commeth in the morning . We are now in the evening of our misery , and therefore weeping sojournes journes with us : wee shal be then in the morning of our felicity . Then i i Mal. 4.2 the Sunne of righteousnes shall arise unto us ; Sunne whereof the Prophet saith , k k Esay 60 20. Thy Sun shall no more goe downe ; neither shall the Moone withdraw it self : for the Lord shall bee thine everlasting light , & the daies of thy mourning shall bee ended .

The place shall be new heavens , and a new earth , wherin dwelleth righteousnes . If this heaven , which we see enamelled with so many bright & glistering starres , be so glorious ; if this earth , which is diapred with such a pleasant and profitable diversity of so many creatures , and is inhabited by sinners , be so faire : how glorious will the new heavens bee , how faire will the new earth be , which are prepared to be the blessed habitation of righteous men !

The certainty shall be most certaine : l l Aug. do civ . Doi , l. 12 c. 13. Quomodo enim vera beatitudo est , de cuius nunquam aeternitate confiditur ? for that cannot be true blessednes , of the eternity whereof we are not assured .

The companions shall bee all the blessed Angels , and all the Elect ; who then shall knowe one another , even as in the transfiguration m m Mat. 17 4 Peter knew Moses & Elias , whom before hee had never seen : & the n n Luke 16 23 rich man being in hell , knew Lazarus in Abraham's bosome .

VII . O wonderfull dispensation of the justice and mercies of the Lord our God! o o Chrysost in ep ist . 3. ad Cyriac. Episc. The tyrants and persecuters shall see & know God's deare children whom they martyrized , and p p Sap. 5.4 , 5. whose life they accounted madnesse ; and their end , disgrace & infamy ? Seeing and knowing them , they shall groane with anguish of spirit , and say with the sobs of too too late repentance , q q Psal. 144.15 . happy is that people that is in such a case : happy is that people , whose God is the Lord ; But woe and alas is to us now and for evermore .

The Church also shall see and know al her persecuters , and having all teares wipt from her eyes , shall sing r r Rev. 5.9 . a new song , which shall never waxe old , even s s Rev. 15.3 . Exod. 15. the song of Moses , the servant of God , which shall bee continually in their mouthes , to praise God & the Lamb , who hath guided them by his strength thorow the red sea of bloody persecution , and planted them in the mountaine of his inheritance , in the Sanctuary which his hand hath established .

IIX . Deare brethren , what shal we render unto the Lord our God , for so many comforts which hee hath already bestowed upon us , and for this last comfort which he hath prepared for us ? t t Aug. de verbis Apost. s●●th . 16. Praedestinavit antequam essemus , vocavit cùm aversi essemus , iustificavit cùm peccatores essemus , glorificavit cùm mortales essemus : He did predestinate us , before wee were : hee called us when our backes were turned unto him : hee iustified us when wee were sinners : hee glorified us when we were subiect to death . This last benefit is but begun in us in this world , we looke for the accomplishment thereof in the world to come , where God shall be unto us u u Bern. in Vigil . nativit . Domini , s●●m . 5. omne iucundum ; omne utile , omne honestum ; whatsoever is delectable , profitable , and honest , and therefore whatsoever our hearts can desire . x x Aug. ibid. In his quae iam habemus , laudemus Deum largitore : In his quae nondum habemus , tenemus debitorem : Let us then , I pray you , praise God for that which wee have received , and trust in him as in a most sufficient debtour of the rest which is to be received . Debitor enim factus est ; non aliquid à nobis accipiendo , sed quod ei placuit promittendo : for hee is become our debtor , not by receiving any thing from us , but by promising that which of his owne good pleasure he is willing to give us .

And because y y Idem de Symbolo , ad catech lib. 3. cap. 11. Si in cor hominis non ascendit , cor hominis illuc ascendat . the things which hee hath prepared for us , cannot ascend into our hearts , let our hearts ascend unto him with whom they are . For that effect , let us now , even now purifie our hearts : for every man that hath this hope in him , purifieth himself , even as he is pure , 1. Ioh. 3.3 . Yea , let us lay downe willingly this present transitorie life , that wee may attaine to the other which is eternall : for by the small losse of this life , wee enter into the glorious & joyfull possession of the other .

O God , z z Idem Confess . lib. 10. cap. 22. Ipsa est beata vita , gaudere ad te , de te , propter te : ipsa est , & non est altera . The onely blessed and eternall life , is to reioyce to thee , in thee , of thee , for thee : there is no other life . Remember me , O Lord , with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people : O visite me with thy salvation , that I may see the good of thy chosen , that I may reioyce in the gladnesse of thy nation , that I may glory with thine inheritance . O eternall God , Psal. 106.4 , 5. O Father of mercies , heare our prayers which wee powre out before thee , that we may from henceforth , and for evermore sing unto thee Davids song ; Thou hast turned from me my mourning into dancing : thou hast put off my sackecloth , and girded mee with gladnesse . Psal. 30.11 . O Father of Christ heare us for Christ thy Sonnes sake ; to whom , with thee and the holy Ghost , be all glory , honour , and praise , both now and for evermore , Amen .

FINIS .