The Lord ] This shewes vnto vs his power : [ saw her ] here is his prouidence : [ had compassion ] here is his mercy , power , prouidence , and mercy , meete all together to comfort this comfortlesse Widow , Weepe not . His power was seene in raising her dead sonne : his prouidence , in that hee saw her : his mercy , in commiserating her griefe ; her griefe , and the death of her sonne , worke both together for her comfort : for the Lord seeing her , hath compassion on her : And thus are we brought into the Text.

Which I may fitly terme a Comedy ; it begins with sorrow , and ends with ioy : acted by two persons , which I make the two parts of my Text : ¹ a miserable woman [ her ] ² a mercifull comforter , [ The Lord . ] The woman is a Widow , the comforter is Christ : The woman acting a mournfull Tragedie , Christ making it end with a ioyfull Plaudite : In the one there is great misery , in the other , endlesse and boundlesse mercy : Great miserie ; for here is a voyce heard of mourning , weeping , and great lamentation ; a Widow weeping for her onely sonne , and could not be comforted , because he was not : greater mercy ; for Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 puts on the bowels of compassion , and without any intreaty , restores miraculously life to her sonne , and vnexpectedly comfort to her selfe . First , of her , the woman , and her misery .

Touching the historie , it standeth thus : Christ hauing finished his Sermon in the Mount , he came downe vnto the citie of Capernaum , where hee healed the Centurions sicke seruant , and the next day he went vnto Naim , of which city this woman was an inhabitant : as he was entring into this citie , there met him a great multitude , carrying a Coarse , and this woman the mother , attending it with weeping eyes , whose misery , and cause of sorrow will appeare to be iust and great , if we doe weigh these subsequent passages .

First this [ her : ] this woman was not of the meanest or inferiour sort of the people of the Citie , whose daily wants and necessities so inures and accustomes them with patience to beare many crosses and miseries , insomuch that vnto them they seeme lesse burdensome : for mali consuetudinem mali amaritudinem adimit . And as they that are alwaies accustomed to liue in marish and fennie places , are not so much offended with noysome foggie smels , as are they that liue in a more delicate and pure tract of ayre : So they whom their meanenesse of estate and condition , must many times make to want , yea in their greatest aboundance to be full of wants , goe more lightly away with the burdens of miserie and misfortune , then such as haue these outward blessings of the world in greater aboundance . This woman ( I say ) was not like in any probabilitie to haue beene of the meaner and inferiour ranke ; for then shee might haue beene better able to haue passed this sorrow , as necessitie had made her subiect to many a former : but shee was of good esteeme and account in the Citie , which may bee gathered by this circumstance , that she went not alone , or with some few vnto the graue , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a great troupe and multitude , which we know is either out of honour and loue to the deceased , or out of respect vnto the liuing : it could not bee altogether out of honour and respect to the dead , for hee was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a very young man , and not as yet of any desert in the Citie , and therefore we may more then probably coniecture , that it was done as an honour vnto this Widow , the mother of this young man , being some honorable and wel-respected Matron ; yet this woman shee loseth her sonne , she feeleth the smart of misery .

To teach vs this lesson : That there is no sexe , no age , no estate or condition whatsoeuer , which is , or can bee exempted from sorrow and miserie : not onely the poore begger that hath but from hand to mouth , but euen the greatest Potentate or Prince that euer liued , must haue his cares and causes of griefe . Crosses and afflictions are not tyed or limited to any climate or countrey , to any family or kindred : age cannot priuiledge a man , wisedome cannot protect , policie cannot preuent , riches cannot purchase immunitie , but as God causeth the Sunne to shine ouer all the world , on the vniust , as well as on the iust : so doth he send crosses , and causes of vexation and sorrow , as well to the honourable and rich , as to the poore and ignoble . Wee will looke no farther then to Salomons censure of this : I sought in my heart to enioy whatsoeuer was had by any of the sonnes of men ; I haue made me great houses , &c. and whatsoeuer mine eyes desired , I with-held it not from them . Then I looked on all the workes that my hands had wrought , and on all the trauell I had laboured to doe , and behold , all is vanity and vexation of spirit . All those his delights and pleasures , riches and treasures , could not giue him so much content , as to counteruaile the sorrow , anxiety , and vexation of spirit which he was continually subiect vnto . And therefore Lawyers define life by weeping . The crying of children is a lawfull proofe of their liuing , to possesse the miseries of this world : and at our going out God is said to wipe off teares , that is , to take away labour and sorrow together .

Whereby is iustly reprooued the wonderfull sottishnesse of worldly men , that dote so much vpon the momentary and sinfull pleasures of this sinfull world , and looke for no other content , then what they make vnto themselues in the enioyment of worldly things : Oh show wonderfully haue men their hearts glued to euery small contentment they finde heere , and thinke if they haue gotten much goods , and store of treasure , and haue laded themselues with honour and dignitie , that then they are out of the reach of crosses . No , let no man thinke these outward things to be any better then Adams figge leaues , to hide our nakednesse , and to shelter vs from those crosses , which are incident vnto vs . Let no man put their trust in these , for they will prooue like vnto a Reede , on which if a man leane , it will runne into his hand .

Secondly , as this woman was wealthy and of good esteeme , so shee was a widow ; shee had beene before a married woman , and as shee had participated of those blessings which attend Wedlocke , so shee had many times felt those cares , which are incident vnto those who haue the care and charge of a Family ; and being made a mother , felt no doubt the trueth of Gods sentence , I will greatly encrease thy sorrow , in sorrow shalt thou bring foorth thy children ; and yet to adde more vnto her griefe , and which may seeme the greatest griefe of all , her husband , one halfe of her selfe dyes ; and that not in his old and decrepit age , when all his pleasure was gone , and life it selfe growne to be but labour and sorrow : but in the flower of his youth , and not long after his mariage , which probably may be gathered by this , that hee left but one onely sonne , and this our Sauiour calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a yong Stripling , all which must needs make her widow-hood the more grieuous ( widow-hood in it selfe beeing a crosse great enough ) insomuch that the Prophet Dauid reckoneth , and puts it among his Imprecations and curses on Gods and his enemies . Let his children bee Psal. 109. fatherlesse , and his wife a Widow . So the Prophet Ieremie , Lam. 1. 1. Lamenting and bewailing , the miserable estate of Ierusalem , speaketh thus ; How doth the citie remaine solitary that was full of people . Shee is as a widow : And Chapter 5. 5. Wee are fatherlesse without fathers , and our mothers are Widowes : yet all this while she beares these crosses manfully , she yeelds not vnto them , shee breakes not into open weeping , but comforts her selfe , calling to minde those many and sweet promises , and comforts made by God vnto Widowes : for God hath promised to defend the fatherlesse and widowes . The Lord your God is God of gods , which doth right vnto the fatherlesse an Widowes . And Psalme 146. 9. The Lord keepeth the Stranger , he releeueth the fatherles and Widowes ; Yea , the Lord commits the care of them vnto Magistrates , charging them and all others , Ex. 22. 22. You shall not trouble the widow nor the fatherlesse childe : yea , the Lord out of his loue and care towards them , appoints part of the Tythe , for their reliefe . Deut. 14. 29. Hee would haue them to bee remembred in their Feastes ; Hee menaceth a curse against him that Deut. 27. 29. wrongeth the widow : Cursed be hee that hindreth the cause of the stranger , the fatherlesse , and Widow . And Ieremie 5. 25. hee reckoneth the neglecting of the widow , one cause of the destruction of the people .

With these and many other promises which shee found in Scripture no doubt but shee did continually comfort her selfe in her widow-hood , that though shee were yong , yet she did not affect a second marriage , and besides shee tooke it as a pledge of Gods great fauour vnto her , that hee had giuen her a sonne to bee a stay , and a comfort vnto her in her widow-hood : But see , to adde yet more vnto the complement of her miserie ; God , who knowes how to giue vs tearesto drinke in measure , and knoweth best when he hath laid sorrow & affliction enough vpon his children , leaues not the widow thus . As not shee , so neither are wee worthy to know whereunto wee are reserued . This her yong sonne dyes , who was the light of her eyes , and the ioy of her life . To shew vnto vs thus much by the way ; that not onely old men must , but the yongest that is may die , wee are no sooner come into the world , but wee hasten out of the world : The pace of death is soft and sure , and euery man is a dying man till he be dead . And therefore , wee must so set our mortality before our eyes , as to thinke euery day our last day , and labour carefully to redeeme the time ill past , because so vncertaine is the time of our abode .

But what had this yong man done , thus vntimely to bee cropt off in the budde of his yeeres ? Hee was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a very yong man , as his tender yeeres could not patronize good counsell , and want of grauitie giue authoritie to his person , to be a president of vertue , so it is likely he was not yet misled by the errors of youth , much lesse could hee haue beene a ring-leader vnto euill . Or why should we lay sinne to his charge , when the holy Ghost layes none ; but rather charitably , yea confidently perswade our selues , that hee that was now about to doe so much for his body , had before done much more for his soule . Happily , God tooke him away , that hee should not see the euill to come . And truely , if the mother had rightly considered this , it had beene a cause rather to mitigate , then any way to exasperate or aggrauate her griefe , that God had so timely thus well prouided for her son ; that though she had lost a sonne , yet heauen had found a Saint , and though hee had beene neuer so deare and precious in her eyes , yet to haue reioyced , that shee had layd vp her treasure in heauen . Had hee beene an vnnaturall Cain , a prophane Esau , a proud aspiring Absolon , an vsurping Adonijah ; this might haue redoubled her griefe , to consider , that from her loynes a chip should haue beene hewen , to make a fire-brand in hell . But to haue a godly yong Iosiah , to be taken away in his tender yeeres , that he might not see the euill to come ; might cause her rather to magnifie his mercie , then to whine vnder the rod of correction . And heereof should all parents make a comfortable vse , when at any time God shall deale with them in the like case , by remoouing their hopefull yong plants , from out of his nursery of grace heere , and transplanting them into his Orchard of glory in heauen , there to flourish as Palmes for euermore .

But had this her sonne bin taken away in his infancy , her sorrow had been the lesse ; shee had sustained paine and sorrow in bringing him into the word , care and feare in his nurture and education , and now that shee thought to haue receiued some comfort in him , for whom shee had often both wearied , and disquieted her selfe ; behold , he dyes .

Thus it pleaseth God many times to deale with his dearest children , to lay affliction after affliction , putting into all their cups of comfort and contentments , bitter drams of sorrow & griefe . Whence wee may learne , first how vncertaine a thing it is to expect any certaine comfort in this world , we are all subiect to vicissitude , change and alteration . We must not expect any perpetuity of felicity here , lest wee should forget to looke after any other heauen then heere on earth . Doe not we see by experience , that kingdomes haue their declensions , and Crownes and Scepters their crosses ? and shall priuate and particular persons expect greater stability ? Secondly , it must teach vs how to entertaine comforts , when God sendes them ; euen as the Apostle bids vs the world , so to vse them , as though wee vsed them not . So to resolue of them , as if to morrow we were to take our leaues of them . As crosses and afflictions are not of the nature of those diseases which men shall haue but once , and therefore wee are so to take our leaue of them to day , as to morrow to expect their returne : so on the other side those comforts which men enioy in this world , are not perpetuall residensaries , but euen like man himselfe , of short continuance , their dayes are but a span Psalm . ●9 . 6. long , they are alwayes in transitu , suddenly vanished and gone , and therefore we must resolue no otherwise on their company , then of passengers and trauailers , heere to day , and to morrow no more seene .

Yea , but this was not all , it was not only the fruit of her body that was thus vntimely cut off , but it was her onely sonne ; the holy ghost emphatically ad des , that shee was a widdow , and this was ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) her onely begotten sonne , shee neuer had any other , Solum hunc in doloribus nouerat , solum suis lactauerat vberibus , neither had she any hope of more , for her husband was dead , and this onely son left vnto her as a pledge and remembrance of her husbands loue ; the sight of whose louely face she vsed ( as Saul did Dauids musicke ) to driue away the vexing spirit of sorrow and griefe : yea more , she was not onely hereby destitute of comfort , but altogether hopelesse of posterity ; for this her sonne was bacculus senectutis , stirps generis , ramusculus successionis , and now the inheritance was left for ●●●●ng on to inherit . Was not heere cause of griefe ? I might say , almost of despaire .

T' is true ; yet happily God did deale thus with her , euen because it was her onely sonne , thereby to punish some sinne in the mother ; it may be she had taken too much delight in this her sonne and therefore God caused her to sustaine much sorrow for him dead , whom happily liuing , she did too much affect ; her motherly care was turned into an ouer-prized indulgence ; now God makes that her greatest crosse , wherin she expected greatest comfort ; because shee made that her pride , which should haue beene her care . The most louely flowers of hearts-delighting ioy , eftsoones proue the vntimely and vnexpected seedes of bitter sorrow , and God willing to weane our childish affections from that ouer-weening opinion we haue of earthly delights , many times so brings to passe , that in the fruition of what things our ioy hath abounded , in the losse of the same , our sorrow should much more abound . But let not mee heere lay open a pit of despaire for any afflicted soule , nor adde sinne to her sorrow ; the holy Ghost layes none to her charge , then why should I ? but rather say with our Sauiour , Neither did this yong man sinne , nor this widow , but that the workes of God might be manifest Iohn 9. 3. in them , as hereafter wee shall heare . Only let this teach vs Christian wisdome , so to temper our affections in a godly mediocrity , and so dispose & order our loue and delight in earthly things , that it neuer carry vs beyond Religion , beyond our selues , so shall we make the yoke of Gods afflictions easie vnto vs , so shall wee with a great deale of patience part with our greatest and most endeared delights .

Well , admit this was inflicted on her as a punishment for her sinne , why was not shee strooken with death her selfe , that as liuing she could not expect many crosses , so being dead , might neuer feele more sorrow ? No doubt , her loue was as great to this her only sonne liuing , and her sorrow for him dead , as euer was Dauids to Absolon when hee cryed , Oh my sonne Absolon , 2 Sam. 18. 33. my sonne , my sonne Absolon , would God I had ayed for thee . Had it been in her owne election , shee would haue redeemed her sons life with the losse of her owne . But God deales many times with his children , as wife Tutors vnto Princes children , strike them whom they most affect , and though hee doeth not correct them in his wrath and furie , yet he chooseth so to smite , the smart may longest remaine .

By this time I thinke you haue heard of a miserable ( Her ) a distressed widdow , and you may wel ioyne with her , and she with Eliah , It is enough , O Lord , take my soule . For 2 Kng. 19. 4. it is not to bee doubted , but while her sonne lay sicke on his death bed , the mother sate dayly on or by the bed , with sad sighes , with feruent and deuout prayers , soliciting God , that now it was high time to put to his helping hand , and to bee mindful in the performance of those most gracious promises that he had made vnto widdowes , that now it was seasonable to make good that doctrine which the day before he had deliuered in words , Blessed are they that mourne , for they shall be comforted , but yet she is not heard , her sonne dies : By whose death shee was plunged into such a depth of griefe , and almost swallowed vp in a gulfe of despaire , that now shee could no longer conteine , but needes must breake foorth into open weeping , manifestly shewing thereby , that either the promises of God were vaine , and of none effect , or that shee was cast off , and forsaken of God , and so his promises did in no wise appertaine vnto her : for these two ( widdowhood , and want of issue ) were accounted among the Israelites to be two great curses . Yet more , her misery was so great , that it moued all the Citie to commiseration : for they went out with her vnto the graue , and now there was no hope of any effect of Gods promises , touching comfort to this mournefull widdow .

Whence we may learne , that God doth suffer his children many times to be so much crushed vnder the yoke of affliction , and outward crosses in this world , that not onely to the eye of men they seeme to be forsaken , but euen in themselues they feele no comfort , find no hope . Thus was Dauid many times so heauily burdened , that hee seemed vnto himselfe , as though hee were forsaken : Hath the Lord forgotten to be mercifull ? hath he shut vp his mercies in displeasure for euermore ? So our blessed Sauiour himselfe when hee was in the flesh , felt the hand of his Father so heauy vpon him , that it made him in the bitternesse and anguish of his soule to cry out , My God , my God , why hast thou forfaken me ? This is the doing of the Lord , and it may seeme maruailous in our eyes , vntill we consider the reasons ; which may be reduced to these three heads :

First , because extremities are the best tryals of a Christians faith : ordinary crosses , as they are common , so is it more facile to beare them . To hope well when we see no danger , or to beleeue Gods promises , when we see them either alreadie performed , or at least a probable and likely meanes to effect them ; it is easie , any man can doe it ▪ but to hope when we see no hope of safetie , and to beleeue Gods faithfulnesse , when wee see no other meanes , but as to rayse children out of stones , to fetch water out of a flintie Rocke , to hold out a three yeeres famine with an handfull of meale , and a little oyle ; here indeed is a true hope , and a noble tryall of a strong faith : for hope that is seene is no hope , and faith grounded on , or guided by the blind leader of carnall reason , is no faith . Thus God tryed Abrahams faith in that great extremitie , when he commanded him to offer vp his onely sonne . Thus was Iobs faith , patience , and constancie tryed by those extreme crosses on his bodie , goods , and children . God dealeth with his children , as Fencers with their scholers ; they first begin with woodden cudgels , after they goe to weapons with blunted edges and points , and last of all , as they grow in skill , and to put their skill to the tryall , they play at sharpe , and many times fetch blood . So God inures his children , first vnto pettie crosses , and so inflicteth greater and greater , at last hee will strike with the sharpe , and draw blood from their soules , onely to try what proficients they haue beene in the schoole of faith and patience .

Secondly , because hee would make the deliuerance the more ioyfull , when it doth come : for the greater are our afflictions , the greater shall be the waight of glory , and the more welcome vnto vs : as the Apostle speaketh concerning sinne in the godly : so it is true concerning affliction , God many times so bringing to passe , that where sorrow hath abounded , there ioy should much more abound : So that afflictions , they are but preparatiues to greater comforts .

Vintners we see oftentimes set before their guests that haue dainty palates , brinish and salt meates , that so their wine may haue the better taste and relish : So because it is mans nature too slightly to esteeme of the mercies , fauours , and comforts of God , as either to forget , or to extenuate and lessen them , hee doth many times giue them full cuppes of bitter sorrow , to the end that they may the more highly esteeme and prize his mercies and fauours when he bestowes them .

Thirdly , God seemes to leaue his without all hope of comfort , because they should ascribe all the praise and honour of their deliuerance vnto him onely . Man is of a dogged nature ; as in aduersitie , like the dogge that snarles and bites at the stone , and neuer lookes to the hand that threw it : so in prosperitie , when wee fare well , and obtaine any blessed and comfortable deliuerance from any euill , wee are readie presently to share glory with God , saying , This haue I gotten by my care , industrie , and wisedome , or else attribute it vnto second causes , and neuer looke vp vnto God to giue him the glorie . But let vs know , that God is a ielous God , he will not part stakes with any man ; and therefore he will many times suffer vs to sinke so low , that all meanes in the world shall faile , before he will raise vs vp , to the end we may acknowledge , that God is aboue , and beyond all meanes .

The vse of this shall be none other then those words of Saint Peter , Dearely beloued , 1. Pet. 4. 12. thinke it not strange concerning the fierie tryall which is among you , to prooue you , as though some strange thing were come vnto you : but put on Iobs resolution , Though the Lord Iob 13. 15. slay me , yet will I put my trust in him .

Thus haue you seene a tragicall scene of sorrow , personated and acted in and by a miserable and mournful widow , lamenting the losse of her onely sonne : now we are come to make it end in a ioyfull plaudite , while we looke vpon Christ her mercifull comforter ; for hee seeing her , hath compassion on her , and sayth vnto her , Weepe not . Wherein wee may obserue these parts : 1. The time : When the Lord saw her : 2. The authour , The Lord : 3. Two antecedent causes of of her comfort : first , Christ his omniscience or prouidence , hee saw her ; and this I may call the seed of her comfort : secondly , his mercy , he had compassion on her : and this I may call the ground , into which it was cast , and where it tooke roote . 4. The comfort it selfe , which is first verball onely , Weepe not : and here it is sprung into a blade : Secondly reall ; for she receiued her sonne againe , as the History sheweth : and thus it is growne to an eare .

When the Lord saw her . Was there a time when Christ did not know her miserie ? no : Christ knew before hee came to see her , and by his Almighty power , whiles her sonne lay vpon his death-bed , could haue preuented his death , and his mothers sorrow , but he deferres it vntill this time ; to teach vs this lesson ; That God alone best knowes when to wound , and when to heale ; when to kill , and when to make aliue , when to afflict with sorrow , and when to send comfort : we are not to limit God to times and seasons , nor yet to prescribe vnto him when wee should haue deliuerances from dangers , and comfort in crosses and afflictions . My times ( saith Dauid ) that is , times of prosperity and aduersity , are in thy hand : that is , to order and dispose according to thy wisedome , to thy good will and pleasure . And therefore though the Lord may seem a long time not to giue audience , nor yet to behold the afflictions of his Saints ; yet there wil come a when , a time , that will bring comfort vnto them .

The Lord : Heere is the Author . All true & sound comfort comes from God in Christ , and from him onely is to bee expected ; hee is the Father of mercies , and God of all comfort : it is hee that sendes comfort in afflictions , yea life in death it selfe , by his power and mercy hee sweetens the bitter waters of death , with the wood of his Crosse , making that which is seene , as though it were not : so that though he hath not taken away death it selfe , yet he hath taken away the tyrannicall power of death , insomuch that through him wee may insultingly say , Oh death where is thy sting . Christ is the true hearbe of grace , which doth mitigate ( if not wonderfully sweeten ) all those cups of gall and vineger , which are the portion and the potion , of the children of grace here , before they can be the children of glory in heauen .

The Vse whereof is , first , to stirre vp euery one of vs , to seeke onely vnto God for comfort , and to satiate and delight our selues onely in him , as in the God of all comfort and consolation : If hee send vs comfort , if he be the rocke vpon whom wee build our consolation , no affliction can discomfort vs , no feare can afright vs , nor death it selfe can dismay or appall vs ; vnto him therefore , and onely to him , let vs seeke for comfort .

Secondly , heereby is discouered and reprooued , the vngodly practise amongst many now adayes , that in the time of sorrow in stead of going to God for comfort , they runne a cleane contrary way to the deuill . They will goe to an Ale house to drinke away sorrow , or else get themselues into some jouiall company , and to passe away the time . And so likewise , in the time of sickenesse , in stead of looking vp to heauen , they take hell for comfort ; by seeking to beguile the time , and passe away the tediousnesse of the paine , with idle tales , cardes , dice , or some such like vanitie .

Thirdly , it yeeldes matter of comfort vnto Gods children , when they shall consider that God is their comforter , what need they feare , who bee their tormentor ? If wee had the keeping of this comfort in our owne hands and hearts onely , as Adam had his innocency , wee might easily leese it as Adam did his , and Satan who was euer enuious of mans good , would be ready to picke and steale it away from vs ; but God keepes it for vs in heauen , and as hee did vnto the children of Israel in the wildernesse , daily renew showres of Manna , so doth he distill drops of heauenly comfort daily , into the hearts of true Israelites , in this their wildernesse , and vale of teares .

Thus of the Author , now of the Causes : The first antecedent cause , or the seed of the womans comfort was , that the Lord saw her . As not shee , no more can any Saint of God bee in any distresse , but hee sees it , and good reason ; for he that made the eye , shall not he see ? He that made the eare , shall not he heare ? and hee that made the heart , shall not he vnderstand the sorrowes of euery afflicted soule ? Yes , he sees , he heares , he vnderstands all . Neither comfort , nor blessing , crosse , nor curse can come vnto vs , but by Gods prouidence and fore-sight : not a haire of our heades can be diminished , nor a cubite can be added vnto our stature , without the prouidence of our heauenly Father . It is neither constellation of starres , influence of the Celestiall bodyes , coniunctions of Planets , nor any such notionall fantasie of a Mathematicall braine , that can worke our weale or woe . It is not the malice of the deuill , or wicked men , can hurt Gods Church , or children ; for God sees , his prouidence is aboue all . And this prouidence of God , hath as well a restrayning , as ordaining power : for if either strength , or policie , could preuaile against Gods Church it could not stand , if either the curses of men , or the indeauours of the powers of darknesse should bee effectuall , all would bee hell : but God sees , and his prouidence disposeth .

The Lord saw her ; Hee did not shut his eyes , nor turne his backe vpon her , but sees her , takes especiall notice of her ; to teach man what hee should doe , to turne his eyes from beholding vanitie , & looke vpon the poore saints of God in miserie . What 's the reason men should now adayes , so much degenerate from Christ their Lord ? Men now adayes are growen like the Ostrich , that while her egges are in the sand , shee will not looke on them ; shee leaues them , she forgets them . When the clouds of aduersitie arise , mens sights are dimmed , they cannot see : when Dauid is in aduersitie , his friends and his acquaintance stand afarre off ; What 's the reason ? Surely , men either haue their eyes , through selfe-loue turned inward , onely to looke vpon themselues ; or els the profits and pleasures of this world , play the Philistims with Sampson , cleane put out their eyes , and so they are become idoles ; eyes they haue , and see not the miseries of Gods saints . Let such take heed , least the Lord giue them also a sorrowfull mind , and a trembling heart , and they looke for comfort in vaine , till their eyes fall out . Deut. 28. 61. For hee that hideth his eyes from the poore , shall haue many curses .

The Lord saw her : Marke the gradation which heere the holy Ghost vseth , it is worth the noting , hee spake comfort vnto this woman , Weepe not . But first , hee had compassion on her , and before hee had compassion on her , he saw her ; not that any thing in God is first or last , for all things with him are coeternall , and admit no prioritie of subsistence , but onely as hee doth actuate them towards men . First , hee sees , then hee is mooued with compassion , then he speakes comfort , Weepe not .

To shew vs that God may see , though hee haue not compassion , hee may haue compassion though hee doe not presently comfort ; if hee comfort not , yet hee may haue compassion ; and though he shew not compassion , yet certainely hee sees : which may serue for admirable comfort to Gods children , when the swelling waters of sorrow are cleane gone ouer their soules ; though the Lord doth not presenly send thee comfort , yet hee may haue compassion on thee ; and though as yet hee hath not compassion , yet certainely he sees : and seeing thee is a cause to mooue him to compassion , and his compassion will certainely in the ende bring comfort . The like gradation God vseth in his iustice , towards sinners , which may be a terrour to euery impenitent person ; first he seeth their sinnes , then his wrath is kindled , and his iealousie waxeth hot , and then hee strikes , and therefore though hee doeth not plague a sinner presently , yet hee is angry , and though hee seeme not to bee angrie , yet certainely hee sees him , and the sight of his sinnes will kindle his wrath : and who knowes the power of his wrath ? surely it will being a fearefull iudgement .

Secondly , God doth first see our misery , before hee is moued with compassion , and send comfort ? let it teach euery Christian that desires comfort ; first of all to make his misery knowen vnto God . We are all beggers , and they we know vse to lay open their vlcers and sores , to mooue the passengers compassion . Let vs not bee so proud as to scorne to lay open our wants vnto God , for except God see our misery , how can hee haue compassion ? to conceale thy misery from God , is to stop the fountaine & well-head of Gods mercie . The Prophet Dauid proues the truth hereof vnto vs , When I held my tongue , that is , while I concealed my misery , and did not make it knowen vnto God , my bones consumed : that is , my sorrow increased , I found no comfort , then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee , neither hid I mine iniquity , for I thought , I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord , and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne . Vpon his confession God saw his misery ; seeing it , was moued with compassion ; and this brought comfort . It was his practise : for Psal. 51. before , in the 12 , verse he prayes , Restore vnto me the ioy of thy saluation . In the 5. vers. he first inuites God to see and looke vpon his misery , Behold , I was borne in iniquity , and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me . God grant the like practise may be ours .

The Lord saw her . God hath a fourefold eye : First of Maiesty , Secondly of Iustice , Thirdly , of Prudence , Fourthly , of Compassion . With the first he lookes on himselfe only , and this no man can see and liue , as God told Moyses . With the second hee lookes vpon sinne and sinners , and this is an eye of terror , it sparkles with fire of reuenge , in regard whereof , euery man hath cause to pray , Turne thy face away from our sinnes . With the third , hee lookes on all his workes , and by it hee ordereth all things in weight and measure . With the fourth , he lookes on the fatherlesse and widdowes , and all his poore and needie Saints : for seeing them , hee hath compassion on them , and they like the Sunne in the Firmament giues both life and light to all sublunary bodies , by this is euery afflicted soule abundantly reioyced , and inuited with boldnesse to come vnto the Throne of grace , and cry Abba , Father . And for this may euery sinner safely pray , Lord shew vs the light of thy countenance . Graciously looke vpon our afflictions , Pitifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts . And with this eye did hee looke on this widdow : for seeing her , he had compassion on her . Heere is the second antecedent cause of this womans comfort , and may be called causa subalternata , as Logicians terme it , because it is both an effect , and a cause , an effect , in respect it proceeded from Christ his seeing her ; and a cause , in that it produced and effected her comfort . First let vs consider it an effect : Christ did not see her in misery and passe by her without any regard , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 puts on the bowels of compassion , and is touched with the sence of her sorrow , when he saw , he had compassion on her . The Priest may see the wounded man , and passe by on the one side , the Leuite may come neere the place , goe and looke on him , and passe by on the other side , but the good Samaritane Christ Iesus , when he sees him , he hath compassion on him .

The vse hereof is for exhortation , with those words of the Apostle , Let the same minde bee in you that was euen in Christ Iesus . If wee are Christians , let vs imitate our Master Christ Iesus . Hee saw her , but what manner of sight was this ? There is a good sight , and a bad sight . The good sight is threefold , First , of discretion or discerning . Second , of contemplation . The third , of commiseration ; the last is the best , especially when it hath the misery of Gods Saints for i'ts obiect : and the brighter our eyes are thus to see , the neerer wee come to God the Father , who is the God of mercy ; and to God the Sonne , our Lord and Master , who neuer sees his seruants in misery , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hath compassion on them , and to God the holy Ghost , who is the comforter . But men now a dayes are quicke sighted , but slow to haue compassion . They see as Cham to deride , as Michal to mocke , as Iobs friends , to espie out their sinnes , to aggrauate their infirmities , to adde to their sorrow , to trample vnder their feete the comfortlesse and deiected soule , in stead of powring wine and oyle into their wounds like Christ , like his tormentours giue gall and vineger to drinke . Is this Christianisme ? t 's contrary to the practise of Christ . Is it Religion ? no ; for pure Religion before God the Father , is to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersity . Surely then we may conclude , that more beare the name , then haue nature from Christ ; more professe , then practise Religion ; otherwise how can wee behold the misery ▪ of Gods Church and children without compassionate , and relenting hearts ? How can we see the afflictions of Ioseph , and yet drinke wine in bowles , and sing to the sound of the viall ? How can wee see those Foxes which destroy the vineyard , and not be moued with compassion to pray vnto our Spouse to take them ? How can wee see that man of perdition Sampson-like send Foxes with firebrands in their tayles into the Lords corne , and not be moued with compassion to pray vnto the Lord of the haruest ? How can we see in our neighbouring countreyes abroad , the beauty of Sion to bee defaced , and her walles beaten downe almost euen with the ground , and not be moued with compassion , nor haue any pity on the dust thereof ? Let vs beware lest the like happen vnto vs , and there bee none to pity , nor to haue compassion on vs . How can we at home see so many poore , needy , naked , sicke , and comfortlesse Christians lie in misery and want , and we passe by like so many Priests and Leuites without any remorse , any compassion ? Blessed are the mercifull , for they shall obtaine mercy : mercy and compassion it is one badge of a true Christian heere on earth , by this shall men know that you are my disciples , if yee loue one another . It is the only Brand-mark that I read of , by which Christ at the last day shal know the sheep from the goats , Come yee blessed of my Father , for I was hungrie and yee fed mee , naked , and yee clothed mee , in prison and yee visited mee .