Crosses Comforts Counsels Needful to be Considered
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/B01750.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
1. CROSSES, 2. COMFORTS, 3. COUNSELS. Needful to be considered, and carefully to be laid up in the Hearts of the Godly, in these boisterous broils, and bloody times. By M. Zechariah Boyd.
Isa. 9.5. Every Battle of the Warriou • is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood.
Ierem. 8.22. Is there no balm in Gilead?
Psal. 50.15. Call upon me in the day trouble, and I will deliver thee.
Printed at Glasgow by George Anderson, 1643.
ETSI MORS, INDIES ACCELERAT
VIVET TAMEN POST FVNERA VIRTVS
To the right Noble, and most Virtuous Lady, D. ANNE CUNINGAME, Lady Marquess of Hamiltoun.
MADAME,
THis earth, as one hath said well, is but a moat of darkness, and a lump of vanity; yea all things under the Sun, saith Solomon, are but vanity of vanities; our only wisdom is to fear GOD, and keep his commandments, this is the whole duty of man, which should be our chiefest task.
But, alas, our divisions like harpies and horseleaches are ready to rent and tear in pieces the very heart strings, and to suck out the inmost blood, and last life of our dearly beloved mother the Church of Britain.
And now your La. who have hitherto win good reputation among the Saints, is here desired to continue to be a Deborah, a mother in Israel.
It is a worthy and noble employment to do any good for the well of Zion: your La. is a branch of that noble and ancient house of Glencarn, who in the first reformation, to their eternal praise, while many others like Issachar, a dull asse, did couch down between two burdens, came out boldly, to help the LORD against the mighty.
The Gunpowder papists are now in hopes with power and policy, craft and cruelty, to take GOD'S Ark prisoner, and to set up their Dagon.
Our refuge is to the Lord of hosts, who in the very turning of an hand, and closing of an eye, can dash down all their bloody designs, as He marred the fox FAUX from fireing the powder.
How ever the matter go, Christ must be true, his servants must look for affliction; In the Text of these sermons, he saith unto them, Ye shall be betrayed by parents and brethren, &c. In this little valume I have done what I could, by God's grace, to descry and decipher both Crosses, Comforts and counsel, for the well of God's kirk in these bloody days.
Heer willing to acquit some part of my bounden duty towards your La. no less eminant in goodness than in greatness, I dedicate this little to speak in S. Iohnes words. Unto the elect Lady and her children, whom I love in the truth: That both your La. and your most noble Posterity, may ever be on Christ's side, I humbly prostrate and pour out my soul, before the Throne of Grace and Mercy.
Your La. humble and obedient servant, M. Zacharias Boyd.
CROSSES. The first Sermon, preached the 12. day of March; 1643.
LUKE XXI. 16.
Ye shall be betrayed both by Parents, and Brethren, and Kinsmen, and Friends, and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Vers. 17.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake.
THere be four parts in this Chapter; in the first part until the fifth verse Christ commendeth the poor widow, who cast in her two mites into the treasury.
There be contributions appointed now for God's church in great distress: A public fast with tears and prayers have been ordained to be through the whole land from Dan even to Beersheba. Happy art thou whoever thou be, if from a sincere heart thou contribute the least mite of a holy groan for the well of Zion, the psalmist saith, they shall prosper that love thee: In the second part of this chapter from the fifth verse until the twentiefive, Christ fortelleth the destruction of the Temple: All glory must go down that stands not by Christ's favor; Christ was unwelcome to that Temple, and therefore a stone was not left upon a stone: also it behooved all ceremonies to flee away quickly after the coming of that bright and glorious Sun, the Sun of righteousness.
In the third part from the twenty and fifth verse until the thirty and fourth, it is declared what signs should appear before the last day: When that day shall come, then all God's children shall get rest, all tears shall be wiped from their eyes.
In the fourth part, from the thirty and fourth verse until the end, the LORD exhorteth all his servants to be watchful, There was never greater need to watch and pray then at this time, for there were never greater dangers nor moe temptations; for this cause, I in Christ's own words exhort you all, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
The words of my text, are within the compass of the second part; they contain diverse crosses that were to come upon Christ's servants, before the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.
Before the destruction of a nation, a city or family, or private man, the LORD ordinarily giveth warnings less or more: As in temporal things, signs before tempests appear; as sweating of stones, flying of fowls; noise of dams and great water falls threads on the grass, a red sun and a lowering sky in the morning; so before desolations of countries, destructions of cities, families, or private men, the Lord ordinarily giveth warning that men may make good use of the same.
As for us, let us not be like these to whom the Lord said, O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times? that is, the signs going before the first coming of Christ; now we may discern the signs of great judgments to come on this unthankful generation.
In the words of this text, there is a warning given by Christ to his disciples, concerning great troubles that were to come upon them; ye, said be, shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren, and kinsefolkes, and friends.
This text is most fit for this time, wherein we may most clearly see signs of horrible troubles coming upon God's church: The Lord is threatening to plead against us both with famine and blood: let us now come to the words wherein we have to speak of crosses.
I. PART. Betraying.
IN all the parts of this text, the Lord forwarneth his disciples both present and to come, of very great troubles; ye, said he, shall be betrayed both by parents and kinsefolkes and friends, &c.
Observe here first in general, the great mercy of God towards his own children; he sensibly giveth them warning before troubles come; he telleth them most plainly that here is not their rest, but that they must look for many troubles, even troubles of all sorts: The Lord in forwarning his children of troubles, hath one of these two ends before him; either he doeth so that his servants may escape the danger, so Noah was warned by God to make an Ark, and to save himself and his family from the flood; so Lot was warned by the Angel to flee from Sodom, before fire came down and destroyed it; or else God giveth to his servants forewarning of troubles, that they may prepare themselves to bear them the more patiently and courageously; for this end especially he made his Apostles acquainted before hand, that very great troubles were to fall upon them.
The use, let us all take this warning to ourselves we have had a long peace, but let us not look, for a perpetual prosperity; God's Church below is a militant Church ever in a warfare; as long as the devil and wicked men are permitted to go loose in the world, the church shall not want her enemies; It was a very foolish word that David said, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved, but what followed? thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled. God for the sins of this land doeth threaten to hide his face; if he do so, we all shall be troubled: how ever it go, we are much beholden to the Lord who these years bypast hath given us so many warnings, whereas he might have suffered us with the wicked to return and be ashamed suddenly; He hath not at the first said to us as he said to his own people Israel, I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee; these five or six years bypast, the Lord hath been still threatening with judgments after judgments, to come up into the midst of us, for to consume us; he hath not spoken of moments but of years, and for moments, hath given us years to repent in; and woe unto us if we make not good use of such a rare and wonderful mercy.
Let us now from the general come to the particulars; the Lord in this text giveth his disciples warning of three particular evils, first betraying: secondly, putting to death of some; thirdly an universal hatred for his names sake; first we have to speak of betraying.
The first evil he forewarnes them of, is betraying; the word in the original signifieth to yield, to commit, to give over, or betray; these by whom they should be betrayed, are here four in number: 1. their parents: 2. their brethren: 3. their kinsmen: 4. their friends; Christ in Matthew maketh mention of the like unnatural dealing; the brother saith he, shall deliver up the brother to death and the father the child, and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death: The sense of all these words is, as if the Lord had said to his Apostles, & to all the faithful; your troubles shall be very great, for they shall proceed not only from strangers, but from your dearest and nearest in nature, even from your parents, children, brethren kinsmen, friends, from whom in all worldly appearance ye might expect your greatest comforts, as being these whose bowels should be full of favor and tender love for to procure your good.
Observe here that God's dearest children, who are Psal. 119.38. devoted to God's fear, are subject to great afflictions; the trouble is very piercing when we are crossed by these who should be our special comfort. After that David had spoken of many that had troubled him, he melting for heaviness subjoined this as more then all, yet my familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread, hath lift up his heel against me, this was said of Ahithophel in the first place, and after of Judas his treachery, against Christ, of whom Christ said in the New Testament, He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heel against me, when a master is betrayed by his servant, when a Father or a mother is crossed by their children, the affliction is very painful to bear; Jobs friends were a great grief unto him, their words wounded him more on the dung hill, then the evil he had received by the Sabaeans and Chaldeans, who had robbed him of all his goods.
The 1. use; when such things befall us, that our nearest friends trouble us, let us remember that such hath been the case of the dearest of God's children; Jonathan had a persecuting father and David a persecuting son, and Christ had a traitor servant: and to all the apostles it is said here, ye shall be betrayed both by parents and by brethren, and kinsmen and friends;
The 2. use: Let us learn here neither in the cause of God, nor yet in things that concern ourselves to trust in any man; Job said, my friends scorn me, many may say the like: behold here how parents and brethren and kinsmen and friends turn all traitors to betray the servants of the Lord; There is only one father that cannot betray his children even God our father, only one Brother, and only one friend, only one kinseman Christ, that changeth not in his love; but as for men all men are liars, David said that God failed him never. If men in these last days had the eyes of Elishah, to see within the breasts of men, as he looked into Hazael, they would see in many familiar friends things to be done, for which they might justly in Hazaels words. be called dogs rather then men. God hath hid many particulars from our eyes, but he hath told us this in general, that many who seem to be our greatest friends, will not fail to betray us. A man sitting at the Sermon like a child sucking his mothers breasts, will be ready to betray the preacher; when he finds his time, he will spit out the sincere milk of God's Word, and call it the bitter gall of treason: As Jrijah the Captain of the Ward falsely accused the Prophet Jeremiah, saying, Thou art a Traitour, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans; to such many Preachers may say, as Job said to his naughty friends, How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
In my judgment Satan in this land hath a nest of cockatrices eggs, where for a time he sitteth very still and quiet, until he hath hatched a number of traitors, devilish Doeg's, who being his chickens, will anon come out of his nest, and fly abroad for the delating and betraying of many.
There be in this land many professors, they are not papists; but what then? Give them peace and plenty, and let them see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter, and little shall they care for any Religion; all is one to them to be for God or for Baal; they have a stomach of an Ostrich, that will be able to digest a service book, before they loss a ridge of their land: before such take up Christ's Cross to suffer, they will rather take up the Tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of the god Remphan; Such with all their fair outward profession in days of peace, are but like a potsherd, covered with silver dross. Others are Judas like, who first served Christ for the bag, and afterwards served his enemies for thirty pieces of silver. Thousands if they once imagine that there is more profit by serving the queen of Heaven, then the KING of Heaven, will keep all their incense and drink offerings for her; who would have thought that ever God's people would have spoken these words, Since we left off to burn incense to the queen of Heaven, that is, to the Sun or Moon, we have been consumed by the sword, and by the famine.
Thousands in this land who have subscribed with their hand unto the LORD, and surnamed themselves Covenanters, are this day ready, like Ahola and Aholibah, to play the harlot with idols, before that for Religion they put on the sheep-skins, and the goat-skins, for to go wander up and down, or for to dwell in caves; or to quite their dainties, for like poor bodies, to go in rags, and cut up mallowes by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat. Alas, the love of Christ constraineth few in this land to have but a resolution to suffer; We of this nation, for the most part, are like the church of Sardis, we have a name that we live, but are dead; yea, we are like a pot whose scum is not gone out of it: there be few that regard that glorious Covenant of life and peace: to many may be said, Ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi.
Fy, fy upon the treachery of many, fy upon our divisions, Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Are we not all men of one country? Have we not of late been all compassed with the common enemy, papists, atheists, and Armenians? Have we not all sworn one Covenant? Have we not abjured all divisive motions? And now, why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaining the Covenant of our Fathers? And now why are we become treacherous to Christ our husband, as women that break wedlock? Our danger, like Cain's sin lieth at the door: our iniquities have highly provoked God to wrath; He in a rage may justly say to this nation, as in Hosea's time he said to Israel, Ye have transgressed my Covenant, and trespassed against my Law.
If we repent not in time, he in his fury shall join the bloody sword with this threatened famine, saying, Sword go through the land. At such a time as this it was heard in Israel, Thus saith the Lord, Say a sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished. It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter: it is furbished, that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? Is this a time for laughter? We are called to lamentations, for the Decree is so far advanced against us, that except with all haste we return to God, we shall be made a spectacle of amazement; though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were all three this day living in Scotland, they should not be able to deliver us.
Who doth not see most fearful breaking out of monstrous sins in all the quarters of the land? We all may well say with Jeremiah, Our iniquities testify against us, and our backslidings are many, yea we have pressed God under us, as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaves, and therefore we most justly deserve to be abhoreed of all, so that in our greatest trouble none should go aside for once to ask how we do.
Seeing this land is so crammed with numbers of men, who daily by their divisive motions break God's Covenant, let not a man either trust in his father, or in his son, or in his kinsmen, or in his friends; the world is full of treason, Christ and his Servants are betrayed by many: of too many in Scotland this day may God say to his Servants, as he said to Ezekiel concerning Israel, Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross; Many are like Jeremiah's rotten linen girdle, which was good for nothing.
II. PART. Putting to Death.
After betraying, the Lord here speaketh to his disciples of putting some of them to death; Some of you, said he, shall they cause to be put to death.
Observe here how wicked men, who, as the Prophet speaketh, set their heart on iniquity, cannot be tied by any bonds of love; they ever grow worse and worse; behold here how after they have betrayed God's servants, they cannot rest, until they cause some of them to be put to death; under color of friendship they confer with them familiarly, or come to hear them, for to steal some words, which they may so wrest, as to make them treasonable, and the speakers traitoures; If any man should defend us and save our life it is a father, a friend, a brother or kinseman, or friends; a friend, saith Solomon, is borne for affliction, and there is a friend that sticketh closer then a brother.
Worldly friends and kinsmen are often very sensible in wrongs done to their friends in earthly maters, as carnal quarrels, O then they will hive together like Bees, and cluster like burrs; but if the cause of Christ be in question, Satan draweth away unsanctified men's hearts, and of friends turneth them foes, for to delate them, and cause some of them to be put to death
The use, Let us learn that carnal bands cannot tie men in spiritual matters; near in blood, but not in GOD, cannot have solid love, they are like the iron and miry clay of the feet of Nebuchadnezzar's image, which could not cleave one to another: By this let us know, what it is of all sortes of friendship that is not grounded upon God.
Observe here again, that Christ saith here, they shall cause some of you to be put to death: some but not all; where we may learn, that God calleth not all his servants to be Martyrs: When Peter had heard of Christ that in his old days he should be a martyre, he incontinent inquired what should become of John; Lord said he, and what shall this man do? as if he had said, shall he be bound and led away also? the Lord's answer was, what is that to thee? * The Lord in his wisdom, permitteth some of his servants to be all their days like Peter when he was young, having liberty to gird themselves and go whether they would to be free of fetters and prison; Sometimes he will hide his servants from troubles, Come my people said he enter into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be past; Some of his servants he will laden with temporal blessings in abundance; I, said the Lord, will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down all they that worship; as upon fat leasures.
All the true worshippers of God are not always poor and lean no not, the psalmest saith, that they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship, that is, the rich and wealthy as well as the poor shall be servants to the Lord. Abraham was rich, and Jacob was rich, and Job was rich, and the three wise men that came to worship Christ in the cratch were wealthy, they opened their treasures and presented unto Christ gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh: All these and many moe were by God made fat upon the earth, and they did eat and did truly worship the Lord in all sincerity.
Others again by his divine dispensation, he will appoint in a poor estate to wander about in sheepeskins, and goatskins, being like Joshua clothed with filthy garments, or like Gibionites going with old and clouted shoes.
Others he will put to a strict form of life, in a sober diet, like the Rechabites, who had no houses to dwell in, and did drink only water: others as here he will suffer to be put to death; of all these I will say, this is the generation of them that seek him.
The use. If the Lord permit our lot to be so, that we like those of my text be put to death, let us count it an honor; to die for Christ, is truly to die in the bed of honor. How many Soldiers for a triffle by day will go boldly, and adventure their life upon the mouth of a Canon, upon a breach, or in the open field? But, O, for a kingdom, and for a kingdom in Heaven, what should a man refuse either to do or suffer?
III. PART. Hatred for his Names sake.
WE have heard how the Lord hath given his disciples warning of three particulars evils that were to come upon them, the first was a betraying of them by their parents, brethren kinsmen and friends, the second was, a causing of some of them to be put to death, of those we have spoken: Now the third followeth, which is an universal hatred for Christ's Names sake, Ye, said he, shall be hated of all men for my Names sake.
In these words I shall consider these three things; first there is a hatred against God's servants foretold, Ye shall be hated, said Christ; secondly, he declareth that this hatred shall be very great, even universal, Ye shall be hated of all men; thirdly, he showeth for what cause, For my Names sake.
1. Hatred against God's Servants.
FIrst the Lord warneth his disciples here of a great evil; Ye said he, shall be hated.
Hatred is the very dregs of wrath, for great wrath at last turneth into hatred. He saith not unto his Disciples, Men shall be angry at you, but he saith, Ye shall be hated: this is an effect of hatred, these that hate any, desire neither to hear, nor to see them; Ammon after he began to hate Tamar could not suffer her to tarry any longer in his sight, but caused thrust her out at doors: King Ahab could not hear the preachings of Micaiah, his reason was, I hate him.
Observe here that God's servants have this among many other troubles, they are hated; this is very grievous to God's children; Jsaack compleined that Abimelech's servants had hated him, and sent him away; from this puddle of hatred issue out the streams of brawlings and debates. Hatred, saith Solomon, stirreth up strifes: The wicked cannot suffer God's children to live in peace, because they hate them, and they cannot but hate them, because light and darkness can have no communion, Christ cannot have concord with Belial.
The use, Let God's children here learn what they have to look for in this world, let them live like Angels, they shall not fail to be hated, this must not seem strange unto us, when we are abhorred by the men of the world: God's dearest ones have been this dealt with, Jacob was hated of Esau, and Ahab hated good Micaiah; yea, and the world hated Christ himself: If, saith Christ, the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you; we must look for no better, and therefore resting upon the love of God, we must contemn the hatred of the world. It is but a little matter to be so hated of the world, that a man be called after the name of Isaac's second Well, sitnah, that is hatred, if so be that with Solomon he be God's jedidiah, beloved of the Lord.
2. The universality of the hatred.
YEE have heard how Christ hath said to his servants, Ye shall be hated: Secondly, it followeth that we consider the Universalitie of this hatred, Ye, said he, shall be hated of all men.
Here it may be objected, how could that be? If they were to be hated of all men, they should be hated of the godly also.
To this I answer briefly, By all men, we must understand all sort of men, whether rich or poor, noble or ignoble, men of all ranks; such also are called all men, because the most part of men hate GOD and his servants; the most part of the world, as ye may know, walk in the broad way, and all such are poisoned with hatred against Christ and his servants: according to this the Lord here said to his disciples, Ye shall be hated of all men. In the words before Christ had spoken to his Disciples of parents, brethren kinsmen, and friends, that would betray them, here he speaketh of others of all ranks that would hate them.
Observe here, that the children of God have many adversaries; they are so many, that in this text they are called all men, the enemies of the Saints here below, may take unto themselves the devils name, Legion, because they are many: As they are many, so are they most despiteful, full of hatred, most ready to oppress God's children in a most fearful manner, to to rob and to spoil them, to banish and burn them, to head and to hang them; yea, and to sow them asunder; yea, and to sell them like beasts, as did these enemies of God's people in Joels days, who gave a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink & wash their steps with butter
The use, Let us not wonder to see many horns in the sides of these that serve God; if the like befall to ourselves, let us not fret; shall not Christ's words be true all men?
Again, observe here particularly what is the condition of God's servants here below, they are the object of hatred to the most part of the world. If a child of God through infirmity, fall into any sin, the discourse thereof shall empty many bowles of wine, and many who are more modest, have their secret joy for the fall of the Man, which plainly declare hatred to be in the heart; what words can better express the matter, than the words of Christ in this text, Ye shall be hated of all men.
The use, When we find it so towards ourselves, let it not seem strange; Christ's words must be true: It should be our comfort thus to be hated, for by such means we may know whose we are. If, said Christ, ye were of the world, the world would love his own; But ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you: Seeing it is so, let us not care for the friendship of wicked men; away with their love, praise, and commendation: Woe unto you, said Christ, when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers unto the false prophets.
Again, whereas the Lord here saith to his servants, that they shall be hated of all men, I observe, that great is the folly, yea the fury, and madness of the wicked; they hate the very men for whose sake their life is spared: If the godly were all out of the world, the world should go to an end; if these pillars were away, the very Heavens should pass away with a noise.
As the wicked are fools, so are they unthankful, for they hate the men whose clothes they put on, and whose meat they daily eat: for all the meat and clothes in this world, by right, belong only to these that are godly, to whom God's word hath said, all things are yours: if all things be theirs, the wicked have nothing but by usurpation. Again, they are both fools and unthankful, in that they hate the godly, who hold God's judgments off them, for only they make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before God for the land, that he should not destroy it; notwithstanding of all these benefits, these evening wolves both hate and abhor them.
The use, Wonder not that wicked men go to hell, for they are all fools, they are like mad men, who cutting the pillars of the house, should cause the house fall down above their heads; the godly are the pillars of the world: As for us, let us love all these that love God, let them be to us as all the godly are to Christ Our mother, our brother, and our sister.
Again, whereas Christ here by way of prophesy fortelleth what hatred shall be in the hearts of wicked men against his servants, I observe Christ's knowledge and wisdom to be great; we may with good reason say that he is wiser then Daniel, yea wiser then Solomon, who was wiser then all men: then Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman and Chalcol and Darda the sons of Mahol; all these, by all their great wisdom, could see nothing of all that is enclosed within the hearts of men: men's hearts have no windows for eyes of flesh, but all is open to God's eyes of fire; God in Ezekiel said to his people, I know all the things that came into your mind, yea everyone of them: The Lord here saw a far off that great hatred that was to be in the hearts of all men against his dear servants; He said not unto them in this text, that all men shall strike you with their hands, or rail upon you with their tongues, but he forwarneth them of a persecution, enclosed in the hearts of the most part, even the hatred of the heart; Ye, said he, shall be hated of all men for my names sake.
The use, Ye who have the name of Christians, learn here not to think it enough, if with your tongues ye rail not upon God's servants, or if ye strike them not: Behold here in Christ's account it is a persecution, if ye hate them in your heart: See therefore ye take heed to your hearts, and that ye love these whom God loveth: As for your hatred, spend it upon your sins, rail on them with your tongues, strike upon your Breast with the Publican, and upon your thigh with Ephraim, and never take rest, until ye get that holy revenge, which is required to be in that godly sorrow, that worketh repentance never to be repented of.
3. For what cause the godly are hated of the wicked.
WE have heard how Christ did foretell to his servants, that they should be hated: I also declarunto you the universality of the hatred, Ye shall be hated of all men; Now thirdly it followeth that we consider the ground and cause of all this hatred, it is contained in these words, For my names sake; that is as much as if Christ had said to his servants, ye shall be hated for my cause, for the profession, for the Gospel, the doctrine of my name, or because ye belong unto me, and because your heart is sound in my statutes.
Observe here for what cause chiefly the wicked persecute God's servants; it is not for their faults, because they are liars, and swearers, and swagerers, and drunkards, and harlots, or because, as God upbraided his people, their way is before God as the uncleanness of a rem ved Woman no not, but for my names sake, saith the Lord: where we may learn, that the Gospel, the doctrine of Christ's name hath many enemies. Thieves and harlots hate the light of the Sun, yea they abhor the least glance of a candle; the doctrine of Christ's name is a shining sermon, it sets sin before the sinners eyes; it checks and heweth them for it; They hateing to be reformed, hate also to be reproved: Ahab hated Micaiah for no other reason, but because he preached Truth, and would not flatter him in his sins, as the other false prophets had done, Ye, said Christ here to his faithful servants. shall be hated of all men for my Names sake.
The 1. use, Let all God's servants here learn, whatto look for from the most part of men, even hatred for Christ's name: When such things come to pass that many for the same cause hateus, let us not wonder: The wicked that do such things are so many, that in my text they are called all men: ye, said Christ, shall be hated of all men for my names sake: Let the love of one man Christ, be a recompense against the hatred of all men; let heaven granted unto us for his names sake, encourage us to bear patiently the hatred of all men for his names sake; yea, when we so suffer, let us rejoice that we are accounted worthy, to suffer reproach or shame for the sake of his sacred name: Let this be our joy, we have the dearest of God's children with us in the same case, king David said, I am a companion of all them that fear thee.
The 2. use: Seeing the godly suffer so willingly much hatred for Christ's names sake, and seeing only for his names sake we receive all our comfort, Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do, and seeing his name is so honorable that at his name every knee must bow: Let us love the name of Jesus that plant of renown; let us respect it & honor it, that we weary not in any troubles we suffer for it: If seven years of that most painful service for Rachel seemed to Jacob but short, because he loved her, let the constraining love of Christ so sweaten all our sorrows, that they may seem easy unto us; yea, matter of great joy as the Apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name: If for Christ's name sake our adversary should write a book against us; let us be content with Job, to take it upon our shoulder, and bind it as a crown to us: yea, if for his names sake we were bound with a chain of iron, let that iron chain be more precious in our eyes, then that chain of gold that Pharaoh put about Josephs neck; let us in a holy brag in such a case say with S. Paul bound in iron, It is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain; that chain was to him as a most rare and precious jewel.
The 3. use: Let this serve for reproof to all these, who in steed of suffering for the sacred name of Christ, most vilely abuse this name above their cups, or vilipend it in the streets, or with profaine merchands have it in their shops, to cover their lies for to deceive the buyers in selling their wares; All such men will never suffer hatred for the name of Jesus.
The 4. use: Let this also serve for reproof to many, who are not moved for the abuse of this glorious name of Christ, for whose sake they should be ready to suffer the hatred of the most part: If any speak a word of reproach against their name, they anon from words will go to swords; yea, fight in blood to the knees, but the name of Jesus hath few friends; If so it be that some speak words of reproof, they for the most part are like the soft reproofs of Eli, whose words to his sons were without life, blunt without anedge why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil doings by all this people; Nay my sons, for it is no good report that I hear; If one man sin against another, the judge will judge him, but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? How few are these among us, that will this day speak so much for God? and yet God's judgments were such against Eli and his house for his softness in God's quarrel, that the ears of everyone of them that heard of them were made to tingle: Such also are not ready to suffer hatred for the sake of this name.
The 5. use: Last of all, seeing wicked men hate the godly for Christ's name sake, let us take good heed that when wicked men hate us or persecute us, it be not for our own sake, for any evil in us, yea that it be not as it is often said in Amos, For three transgressions and for four. Peter saith, What glory is it, if when ye be buffited for your fault, ye shall take it patiently, Let no man suffer as a malefactor, that is not thank worthy; Let us all therefore take good heed that our afflictions be not for our deservings, like the thief on the cross, who said to his fellow, we are here justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; So the Prophet Hosea speaking of Israel said, Israel hath cast off the thing that is good; the enemy shall pursue him.
Let us all therefore with all diligence give good heed that we be not pursued, afflicted, or hated, for casting off the thing that is good, but that our sufferings be for Christ's names sake who for our sake pleased not himself, but willingly exposed himself to all sorts of reproaches and contumelies, yea and that to the shameful death of the cross: To him be glory forever: AMEN.
COMFORTS, AND COVNSELL. The second Sermon, preached the 19. day of March, 1643.
LUKE XXI. 18.
But there shall not a hair of your head perish.
Vers. 19.
In your patience therefore possess your souls
MY ways, said God, are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts: For as the Heavens are higher then the earth, so are my ways higher then your ways, and my thoughts then your thoughts: The ways of men for the most part, have fair beginnings but end not so; many like Joab first kiss, and after kill, first smile; but after smite; the ways of Satan with men at the beginning, is to hide all dangers until the last come; when he would have allured Christ unto his service, he spake to him of great gifts, even all the kingdoms of the world, if he would but fall down and worship him; he spake not a word of hell unto him, but only of preferments unto worldly honor. The ways of God are not such; He at the first meeting speaketh to men of crosses, but after that, as in this text, he cherisheth them with comforts, and directeth them with counsels: According to this he speaketh here to his disciples; he had terrified them in the words preceeding with betraying, putting to death, and with the hatred of all men; Now in these words he maketh his candie to shine upon their heads, he manifesteth his love in a great measure of comfort, But, saith he, there shall not a hair of your head perish; In your patience possess ye your souls: here is a staff of steel to lean on in great troubles; I, said David, had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord, &c.
I. PART. Comforts.
IT was a very terrible speech, which the Lord uttered unto his Disciples, in the preceeding verses, that they should be betrayed, and that some of them should be put to death, and that they should be hated of all men: Behold here how he giveth unto them a singular comforts, as Balm of Gilead, for healing of their hearts that were wounded; But, said he, there shall not a hair of your head perish.
Observe here first what method the Lord keepeth in dealing with his servants, their worse things go first and comforts come last; their estate is like that wine in Cana, the best came last. God's walking towards his own is like his coming to Elijah at the cave of Horeb, before God came in the calm, a great and strong wind went before him, which rent the mountains, and brake the rocks, and after the wind, came an earthquake, & after the earthquake, came a fire; after these three were past, the Lord came in a still small voice. At the first, Mary Christ's mother got a hard answer from him, woman, what have I to do with thee? But a little after, he did more then she required; at the first he called the woman of Canaan a dog, but a little after he show himself all love; the child of God beareth God's yoke in his youth, his first days are hardest; God casteth down before he raiseth up; many a sore heart had Hannah, before her Samuel came; Job suffered much before he could say, God maketh my heart soft. The Prophet Zechariah saw first four horns scattering Judah, but after anon came the comforts of the Carpenters that came to fray them.
The use, When troubles lie heavy upon us, let us comfort ourselves in this, better is coming; a foul Februar is a comfort to the laborer, because he looketh for a dry March: Sanctified afflictions in youth, should be a comfort, telling us, that God is coming in the calm: The way to the wealthy place is to pass through fire and water; the Lord said to his two dissciples, O fools! Behoved it not Christ to suffer all these things, and so to enter into his glory? Gaping of wounded men, and tumbling of garments into blood, go before the songs of victory: Christ himself was hanged on a cross on earth, before he was honored on a throne in Heaven; He was first cast down on his face upon the earth, yea deseended into hell, before he was set at the right Hand of GOD in Heaven. The Gardener when he setteth a tree, at the first setting down he shaketh it to and fro, and treadeth down its roots with great force, for to fasten it the more surely; so doth GOD with his dearest servants, that He may cause those that come of Jaakob to take root.
It is for those that go to hell to receive all their good things on earth: Job speaking of the Wicked, said They have no changes; wicked men's eyes stand out with fatness: the portion of Kings meat is a defiling thing, beasts that go in fattest pastures are nearest the slaughter: The portion of God's children is not here, their rest is in another place, their last shall be best; If many be the troubles of the righteous, within a short space the Lord shall deliver him out of them all; yea in the midst of the fiery trial we shall still be in safety, though in some hours of temptation we may be as David like a bottle in the smoke, or in deaths valley, having our soul in our hand; but O tarry a little, and God will arise, and help his servants, The end of that man is peace: troubled David said to God with great boldness, Afterward thou shalt receive me to glory; let this be like a staff of steel for our faith to lean upon in a stormy day; God's children must be bold, not subjects to the King of terrors.
Let us now come to the particular comfort mentioned in my text: the Lord here saith, that there shall not a hair of your head perish. The wicked are mighty and cruel, they as on horse back ride over the heads of the godly, yet are they not able to carry a hair with them, but by God's permission; not a hair of your head, said Christ, shall perish.
Observe here that the LORD hath a singular regard to all those that love him; they are to him as the apple of his eye, he most carefully keepeth them: He is not like idols, that care not for their worshippers, Thy Calf, O Samaria hath cast thee off, but God will never cast off his servants; Baal did not regard the cries of his priests, though they cried from morning unto noon, and cut themselves with knives, but the Lord always regardeth his servants, his eyes are still upon all the hairs of their head. The tender hearted mother and nurse are very careful, to keep their young suckling, yet their care faints, when they are overcome with sleep: but he who is above, and keepeth his servants, doth neither slumber nor sleep; many hairs may fall from the child, and the mother never know what becometh of them, but a hair of our head falleth not to the ground but he hath an eye on it: This is no hyperbolick speech, for the Lord as he is omnipotent to do all things, so is he omniscient to know all things, even to the number of all the hairs of all the heads in the world; he knoweth the full number of the sand, and of the drops of the sea, as perfectly as we know how many eyes we have in our head; he preserveth us so, that the least things that concern us shall not perish.
The Angel Gabriel said well to Mary, nothing shall be unpossible with God; no not, were it to make a virgins to conceive a Son, or a Camel to go thorough a needle eye; He who hath spread cut the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass, He with whom is terrible Majesty; He who is almighty and excellent in power, can most easily preserve his servants, so that not a hair of their head shall perish, no not in a most bloody time, even when it is said of the sword, Ah it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
When God had said, It is even the time of Jacob's trouble, he in the same verse subjoineth, but he shall be saved out of it; Mans extremity is God's opportunity: Ask ye now, said the Lord, whether a man doth travail with child? Wherefore do I see every man, with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Behold terrible things, and very strange, every man in trouble as a woman in travail, but in the eight verse followeth a fair deliverance, I, said the Lord, will break the yoke from off thy neck: See how the Lord was ready to save his servants in greatest danger, so that not a hair of their head did perish: When Jeremiah was in prison among mire, the Lord sent unto him an Ebedmelech, with old cast clouts, and rotten rags, to put under his arm holes, to draw him out of the dungeon; the Lord would not suffer his servant to perish.
The use: Let this serve for comfort unto you; If ye serve God well, He will be surety for you for good, and likewise will safely keep you, and all that ye have in these days of war, he will preserve your husbands and sons, that they be not killed, your wives that they be not abused, your virgins that they be not deflored, you • houses that they be not spoiled, your cattle, and coffers that the • be not carried away; yea, more • ye faithfully serve him, their sha •• not a hair of your head perish; no • a hair of Shadrach was burnt in the fiery furnace; no King can do the like to any at his service: God only is a shelter and strong tower o • defense; none but God can keep a man that he perish not, his preservation reacheth to the smallest hai • our head: And to speak in th • words of a Kings oath, As the Lord liveth that made us this soul, there shall not a hair of your head perish; This is most easy to him that by his hand of power overturneth the mountains by the roots.
An Objection.
HEere it may be objected and said by a carnal man, that more then the hairs of the heads of God's servants perish; for many good men are slain and murdered: In the words preceeding the Lord himself said, some of you shall they cause to be put to death, many good men's houses are spoiled, their cattle like Jobs oxen and asses are carried away, how then is it here said, that there shall not a hair of their head perish: Concerning the comfort of this text, I may say as Ezekiel said to God Ah Lord God, they say of me, doeth he not speak parables or riddles? We know not what he means, while he saith, that God so keepeth men's hairs, that not one of them shall perish, Doth the LORD care for oxen? saith the Apostle, so do many say, Doth the Lord care for a hair of a man's head?
The Answer.
THE Prophet Zechariah teaching men to be awfully affected to the great Majesty of God, cried out, Be silent, O all flesh before the Lord, yet notwithstanding many with Job in his fit of miscontentment, must needs fill their mouths with arguments and dispute with the Lord, as though he were bound to give them a compt of all his doings.
The Lord in Hosea said a fearful word, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; Ignorance is the destruction of many; ignorance maketh men to think when they see others slain, robbed, and spoiled for the Gospel, that they and all their estate are perished: O thou, said Micah, that art named the house of Jacob, is the Spirit of the LORD straitened? O thou that art named a Christian, is the arm of the Lord shortened, that he cannot work and save us, so that the least hair of our head perish not?
To come to the objection, I say that it is but a blind objection, these that have the eye of faith do clearly see that God preserveth his own, that not a hair of their head doth perish:: Thy husband is he slain? thy children are they killed for Christ's names sake? thou must not therefore esteem that they are perished; faith will not speak so: If the King should come, and take a beggars child in in this Province of Cliddisdaile, and make him a Barron in Barrenthorow, the next adjacent Province, would the beggar say that his son were perished? would he not rather say with Jacob, hearing of Josephs honor in Egypt; It is enough, I will go and see my son? So David said of his dead son, I will go to him: what I pray you is the distance of the heaven from the earth to a lively faith? It is but as it were to go from one Province to another; yea, but from one side of the street to another: When ye marry your daughters they go from you; if ye hear that they are well with their good Husbands, ye are glad, ye will not think them perished, because they are gone a little from the house: Now all the godly that are slain for God's name, are but gone as it were to the other side of the street, to their most worthy husband Christ who hath given to them in the heavens right to the tree of life, where continually they see God face to face, that face wherein is fullness of joy; open a little the eyes of your faith, and ye shall find all this to be so as I speak: none properly perish but these who after death, are damned to be burnt in hell fire: to him that goeth to heaven may well be said of life eternal, that which God said to Jeremiah of his natural life Thy life shall be for a prey to thee.
As for your worldly goods and riches; ye will say, the bloody and barbarous man of war, hath spoiled me, and taken all away, and so where is now the promise, that not a hair of our head shall perish?
To this I answer, let your sleeping faith waken, what say ye? is all your riches perished, because all hath been taken away for Christ's name sake? I say it is not perished: Tell me if when ye have lent a thousand pounds to a worthy wealthy faithful man, bound fast by his obligation, think ye that all your money is perished, because it is out of your hand? I think not; But so it is, all that is taken from you for Christ's names sake is in a better hand, it is lent unto Christ, who hath given an obligation sealed with his blood, that ye shall be surely paid with such an increase, that the greatest usurer in the land never required the like; even a hundredth for one: yea, more then all, everlasting life. If thou would see the obligation, behold it is here in readiness, registrate in the Books of Counsel of heaven,
Christ's Obligation registrate.
Matth. XIX. Verse 29. BEhold, said one to Christ, we have forsaken all, and followed thee, what shall we have therefore?
Now follow the words of the obligation.
Jesus said, Everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Names sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Let these who esteem this to be but a Banquerupts Bond, keep well their houses and lands for themselves; it may be that shortly they loss such things for the sake of some other, who will never repare their losses, so that both they and all that they have, shall perish. God's wrath shall not spare their very hair; his razor of wrath like that hired razor in Isaiah, shall shave the head and hair of the feet, and shall also consume the beard, even to the very stumps, hair and all shall perish.
As for you who have faith to believe, ye may here clearly know that GOD'S children, and all that they have, are well kept, yea • o that a hair of their head shall not perish: To all the godly let it be here said as Christ said to Thomas Be not faithless, but believing. I may well lay of Christ when he promiseth anything, that which Naomi said to Ruth of Booz, Sit still, until thou know how the matter will fall, for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing: nay, he will do much more then he promiseth here; to save us that we perish not, to preserve us from evil, is a very great blessing, but more, the Lord will give us gifts, even grace here, and glory hereafter. After that King David had ended his festival sacrifice, He dealt to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine; What was all that? But O the gifts that God will deal to everyone that serve Him faithfully! After this life all such shall sit upon Thrones: Crowns and Kingdoms in Heaven are God's gifts prepared for every man, and every woman, that willingly suffer on earth tribulation for his Names sake: such shall not only not perish, but shall forever enjoy pleasures, which eye never saw, nor ear heard, nor ever could enter into the heart of man.
King Ahasuerus question to Haman was, What shall be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor? All the greatest things that Haman could invent, and say, were these, Let the royal apparel be brought, which the King useth to wear, and the horse that the King rideth upon, and the Crown royal which is set upon his head, and by one of the Princes bring him on horseback through the streets of the city, and proclaim before him Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honor: What were all these things, I pray you? an apparel, and a horse, and a crown, and a proclamation? that was all; all these things were like that meat that Christ spake off, when he said Labor not for the meat that perisheth: all these things are long since passed away, the horse, and the crown, and the royal apparel, and all that fair show, is past and perished, like a glauncing spark of fire, which flying from a Smiths stithie dieth in the flight.
But O, that which Christ shall give to these that suffer affliction for his names sake, shall never perish; he shall give unto them not a loaf, as David gave to his subjects, but a life that is eternal. A crown that fadeth not away. John saith, that they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads, as a mark crying, This shall it be done to the man whom Christ delighteth to honor. But woe to the wicked, for though they set their nest among the stars, both they and all that they have shall perish; their soul shall perish, their body shall perish, and their estate also shall perish. * God's wrath, as I said before, shall not spare their very hair; his razor of wrath, like that razor in Isaiah, shall shave the head, and the hair of the feet, and shall also consume the beard, even to the very stumps, hair and all shall perish: they have not a Jesus for to save; they will loose nothing for his Names sake, and for their sake he will save nothing of theirs, and so at last they shall loose all; though they were Kings and Princes, the Lord in fury shall cry, I will overturn, overturn, overturn all their wealth, their honor, and their majesty: All the earth, said the Lord, shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy; then all the worm-eaten glory of the wicked, with all their good things, and great designs, shall anon wither away, like Jonahs gourd. As they sew the wind, so shall they reap the whirlwind, which hath neither stalk, nor bud that can yield any meal; as it was said of Ephraim, All their glory shall flee away like a bird.
But as for all the godly, albeit by the wicked they be stoned, and sown asunder, and slain with the sword; or with Shadrah, be cast into a fiery furnace, or with Daniel into a Lions den, the words of my text shall still remain true, not a hair of their head shall perish: The Lord hath a great respect unto his servants; I, said he, will be as the dew unto Israel, he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon: Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? My people saith the Lord, shall never be ashamed, not a hair of their head shall perish. Away with that doubting If of Esther, If I perish, I perish; The Heavens and the Earth shall pass away, They, saith the Psalmist, shall perish, but not a hair of our head shall perish.
THE SECOND PART. Christ's Counsel and Direction.
IN the second and last part of this text, the Lord after he hath both let his servants see their troubles, and also their preservation, he giveth them a counsel and direction what they have to do in their greatest strait; In your patience, saith he, possess ye your souls.
There be here two things required, first, that we have patience; secondly, that in our patience we possess our souls; David said well, great peace have they which love thy law. As for patience, the word in the original signifieth a remaining still under anything, a willing undergoing of any difficulty; this is done when a man flings not like a beast to shake off the burden, but with all submission tarrieth under the burden, until God give a deliverance, like a worthy watch who goeth not from his place until his hour come, and that another come to fill his room: In a word, patience is a grace of God, whereby a man in trouble, humby meekly, and submissely taketh in good part wrongs and injuries, and withal, waiteth until the good hand of God come to his help It is such a glorious grace, and so pleasant unto God, that he writeth himself the God of patience.
We have heard what patience is; Now it followeth that we consider what we have to do with our patience. Christ's counsel and direction here is, that in our patience we possess our souls. To possess properly signifieth to have a thing in our power; The Latin word from which this English word is driven, signifieth a power to sit still for to enjoy that which we have: so to possess our souls in patience, declareth that a firm and stable patience is here commanded, which a man should as strongly and carefully keep as his dearest earthly possession; This the Lord here required of his servants, when he said unto them, In your patience possess ye your souls, as if he had said, Strive to be master over yourselves, that ye may take in good part all sorts of crosses and calamities.
This is a very powerful form of speech; I read in Scripture divers speeches concerning patience; the psalmist saith, Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him, this is a very sweet saying, The poor servant that was not able to pay his masters rent cried pitifully, Lord have patience with me: But in all the scriptures, ye will not find a more powerful speech then this, In your patience possess your souls; that is, let your souls be possessed with patience, or have patience in your hearts as a possession, that is, keep patience as fast as a man maintaineth his possession, or as it was said of Jacob, that he possessed his possessions; what Christ here commands he gives unto his servants.
Observe here the great mercy of GOD towards his servants, whereas the wicked in affliction pine away in their sins, and fret out their hearts with comfortless grief. God's servants by his grace in greatest calamities, possess their souls in patience; in whatsoever estate they be in, they are content, in poverty in nakedness, in prison, in persecution and banishment, they bear all patiently; in all these things they are more then conquerors; it is the desire of a courageous Captain to be in such a war, wherein his valor may most appear: so patience delighteth in hardness; Pulse by God's blessing is more pleasant to a godly Daniel, then the Kings portion; royal dainties are of a defiling power: Shadrah at the mouth of the fiery furnace got work for his patience, and so did Job upon the dung hill It is the honor of patience not to lie upon beds of yvorie, and drink wine in bowls, but rather to endure hardness, to pass through difficulties, to climb up the hill with Jonathan, and pass between the two sharp rocks, Bozez and Seneh, hurt and hatred.
The use; let us all strive for this grace, that in days of great distress we may possess our souls in patience; when Genazi at Dothan saw the city compassed with enemies, he said to his master Elishah, Alas my master, how shall we do? Our master Christ here directs us all how to do in such a case, In your patience, saith he, possess ye your souls; A patient soul is a fair possession; he that hath it, will not sell it to a king, for his kingdom: A good man like Naboth will not sell his possession; a man that hath a possession, esteemeth much of it; he dresseth it, he adorneth it, he pulleth out the weeds, hedgeth it about; seeing man is so careful for a earthly triffle, O what care should we have for this most excellent possession? that we may possess our souls in patience; let us not sell this possession, though we might have a Kingdom in exchange for it.
Observe here also that great is the difference between the sufferings of the godly and the wicked; the wicked having once lost their earthly possession have no other possession when they are spoiled; such say as Micah said to the Danites, ye have taken away my gods and what have I more? but when the wicked have robbed and spoiled the godly man of all earthly possessions, he hath still the best behind, he possesseth his soul in patience: Truly he hath better reason for him then the wicked man: For the wicked man having lost his earthly possession hath no promise of any recompense of reward, for all that he had, whether corn, wine, oil, silver, or gold, were all prepared for Baal, or rather for his belly, which having no ears, can no more hear, or help him in the days of his trouble, then Baal could hear the prayers of his priests, this having lost his gods like Micah he mourneth and lamenteth like a virgins girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth, and will not be comforted like Rachal in Ramach weeping for her slain sucklings; A worm hath smitten his gourd, and it is withered and he is out of patience, because he never understood this counsel, and direction of Christ given to his servants, In your patience possess your souls.
The use, Let the consideration of all these things effectually move us to possess our souls in patience, when tribulations and calamities shall come upon the land; let us resolve to suffer loss of earthly things, that we may gain the heavenly: If men had hearts to believe, everyone wuld be readier then another, to suffer for the name of Christ: as men that have moneys strive to get a good hand, or as Masters that have land, strive to get good tennents, that will pay well, so should we all be glad, when Christ calleth us to loss anything for his names sake, for by so lossing we shall profit much: There is nothing that causeth our fears in troubles, but either want or else weakness of faith; flesh and blood understands not in wordly losses, to possess their souls in patience.
I confess, that we are compassed about with many infirmities, a little blast of wind terrified Peter in a miracle; yea, in a miracle of love in the very presence of Christ, who like a loving master had commanded him to come unto him upon the sea; there was no remedy for his fear, until Christ took him by the hand, and reproving him for his weak faith put him up into the ship; we have all great need to pray that he would take us by the heart, and pity our infirmities which are great and many: O how hard a thing it is in time of wrongs to practice this precept, In your patience possess ye your souls; It is to a carnal man like Shibboleth to an Ephramite, a word which he could not pronounce, so is it a precept which he cannot practice: what shall we do then? As long as we are here, troubles are fearful to flesh; but as soon as we begin to tremble, let us cry to Christ for faith, that in our patience we may possess our souls; we had never more need then in these most terrible days of most bloody wars, wherein all men are exhorted to fasting and prayer, from Dan even to Beersheba.
* And now to end this whole sermon in a word; know ye all this day that the servants of the Lord upon their watch tower, as like Elijah's servants, upon the top of Carmel, have at last spied a cloud, not of comforts but of wrath, arising like a man's hand; except the Lord avert it, it is like that cloud ready to cover the whole heavens, and to fall down upon his Majesty's three dominions in showers of blood: except that with all diligence we return unto the Lord, all this evil shall surely come to pass: Dearly beloved, what I say unto you, I say unto all, ye hav • need of patience, yea, and in your patience to possess your souls. The Lord teach and enable us all to do so, for Christ his sons sake, Amen.