Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

But you will say, I hope I am past this.¹

1. 1Object. Answ.

Thou must know that thou hast continual need of it; thou hast need of him every day, thou hast need of him to redeem thee from every evil that thou escapest from day to day: thou hast need of him to help thee to every comfort, thou hast need of him to assist thee to every duty thou performest.

And withal consider, when thou feest thy need (for therefore we do not prize Christ, because we know him not, and we know him not, because we know not our selves; how impotent and weak we are without him, we are able to do nothing without him. I say when we have considered what our need is of him, then let us consider the virtues of our Husband, and the portion we have with him.

And withal consider, when thou feest thy need (for therfore we do not prize Christ, because we know him not, and we know him not, because we know not our selves; how impotent and weak we are without him, we are able to do nothing without him. I say when we have considered what our need is of him, then let us consider the vertues of our Husband, and the portion we have with him.

And then as we must know him by the description of himself in his Word: so to know him by his actions, by all his carriage, to see what a one he is. There is no Husband so kind as he, there is no master so bountiful as he, there is no friend so loving as he. Consider how patient, •nd •ow wise he is: how he disposeth things for thy advantage, better then thou couldest do of thy self.

Withal consider the portion thou hast with him, 1 Cor. 3. 18. see it there, All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollo, ¹or Cephas, or the World, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, are all yours; that is, as if he had said, if here be not enough, think all that thou canst, all is thine, that portion thou hast with thy Husband; all the gifts in the world, a•l the excellent men in the world, they are made for thy service. And if thou think not that enough, the things of the world, he tells thee all the World is thine, every thing in the world, of what condition soever it is, thou shalt have no want of it if thou have need of it, all the world is thine, and then Life is thine; that is, when a man may be afraid that if he live long, such and such things may befall him: no, faith he, life is for thy advantage. I, but may not death come too soon, and do me a shrewd turn by coming on me as a snare? No, faith he, let it come when it will, death shall be advantage. That benefit a goodly man hath, that whensoever death comes, it shall be the fittest season of all other times. Therefore when a man stands in fear that he knows not what shall become of him, this is his security, that whensoever death comes, it shall be for his advantage.

1. 12 Cor. 3. ult.

And then if that content thee not, that thou shalt have present things, for we are apt to fear future things; and who knows what may fall out for the time to come? Those things are yours for your advantage. If this be not enough, all things are yours, whatsoever thy heart ⟨p. 212⟩can wish or desire, this portion thou hast with thy husband. I say we are to exercise our selves in the meditation of these things, that it may incline our hearts the more to him, and make us come more willingly to match with him; and to confirm us in the choice we have made. When this is done, that we are willing to match with him, and to take him in a greater degree then before, this is to eat his flesh, and drink his blood. For, taking him, and coming to him and eating his flesh, are promiscuously used, Joh. 6. He that eats more gets ¹more strength, he that drinks deeper gets more refreshing: he that takes him more gets more grace from him. Now taking him thus; this resolution to take him for a Lord for a King, for a Master, for a Husband: as there are more degrees added to it, so you shall find more abundance of grace and life flowing from him to your hearts. So much shall serve for this point.

And then if that content thee not, that thou shalt have present things, for we are apt to fear future things; and who knows what may fall out for the time to come? Those things are yours for your advantage. If this be not enough, all things are yours, whatsoever thy heart ⟨p. 212⟩can wish or desire, this portion thou hast with thy husband. I say we are to exercise our selves in the meditation of these things, that it may encline our hearts the more to him, and make us come more willingly to match with him; and to confirm us in the choice we have made. When this is done, that we are willing to match with him, and to take him in a greater degree then before, this is to eat his flesh, and drink his blood. For, taking him, and comming to him and eating his flesh, are promiscuously used, Ioh. 6. He that eats more gets ¹more strength, he that drinks deeper gets more refreshing: he that takes him more gets more grace from him. Now taking him thus; this resolution to take him for a Lord for a King, for a Master, for a Husband: as there are more degrees added to it, so you shall find more abundance of grace and life flowing from him to your hearts. So much shall serve for this point.

1. 1John 6.

There is but one point more, and so we will have done with this text. We have handled, First his, that It is the property of grace to make a man strong: In that it differs from counterfeit grace. Secondly, That all grace is from Christ. Now there is another lies in this; in the manner of the exhortation, and the occasion of it. Now my Son be strong, that is, Timothy, know that thou hast grace, and strength in thee; but now thou art to preach the Gospel, to fight the good fight of faith, now thou hast many things to suffer: now thou hast great employments in hand, stir up or use the strength that thou hast. This is the point hence; that

There is but one point more, and so we will have done with this text. We have handled, First his, that It is the property of grace to make a man strong: In that it differs from counterfeit grace. Secondly, That all grace is from Christ. Now there is another lies in this; in the manner of the exhortation, and the occasion of it. Now my Son be strong, that is, Timothy, know that thou hast grace, and strength in thee; but now thou art to preach the Gospel, to fight the good fight of faith, now thou hast many things to suffer: now thou hast great imployments in hand, stir up or use the strength that thou hast. This is the point hence; that

We must not only get strengthening grace, but use it, and ¹improve it.

We must not onely get strengthening grace, but use it, and ¹improve it.

1. 1Doct. We must not only get strength but use it.Doct. We must not onely get strength but use it.

That is, the strength that we have, it must not be as a sleeping habit, lie still there, but we must draw it forth to action, bring it out to practise, and that upon all occasions. So I say we must not only get habitual strength, but use it, stir it up, bring it forth to action upon all occasions. You see how it is gathered from the words, Thou my Son be strong.

That is, the strength that we have, it must not be as a sleeping habit, lie still there, but we must draw it forth to action, bring it out to practise, and that upon all occasions. So I say we must not onely get habitual strength, but use it, stir it up, bring it forth to action upon all occasions. You see how it is gathered from the words, Thou my Son be strong.

But you will say to me, What are those occasions, wherein ¹we must in such a special manner stir up this strength?

1. 1Quest.

I say, upon all occasions: but yet to pitch your thoughts ¹on some, I will name these three.

1. 1Answ. Upon what •ons especially to stir up our strength.

First, in employments which are done with any special hazard, in such stir up thy strength, for you see that is spoken to Timothy here, that is i• there be any action to be done that will cost the loss of thy credit or estate, or friends: if there be any action to be done that will cost ¹thee imprisonment, loss of liberty and disgrace, now be strong. If the action have any such difficulty, such losses and crosses depend upon it, now be strong to go through with it; do not say now there is a Lion in the way, and balk it, but be strong, stand fast, break through all such impediments, be undaunted, quit thy self as a man: for this i• a time to be strong. As it was said to Sampson, the Philistines are upon thee, now it is a time to use thy strength. So I may say to every man, when there is a special business lies on him which must be done with hazard, having a fountain of strength in Christ, use it.

First, in imployments which are done with any special hazzard, in such stir up thy strength, for you see that is spoken to Timothy here, that is i• there be any action to be done that will cost the loss of thy credit or estate, or friends: if there be any action to be done that will cost ¹thee imprisonment, losse of liberty and disgrace, now be strong. If the action have any such difficulty, such losses and crosses depend upon it, now be strong to go through with it; do not say now there is a Lion in the way, and bauke it, but be strong, stand fast, break through all such impediments, be undaunted, quit thy self as a man: for this i• a time to be strong. As it was said to Sampson, the Philistines are upon thee, now it is a time to use thy strength. So I may say to every man, when there is a speciall business lies on him which must be done with hazzard, having a fountain of strength in Christ, use it.

1. 1In times of special employment.In times of speciall employment.

This is that which the Scripture calls boldness: when the Apostles were to preach the Gospel, and had the priests, and the whole Counsel against them, now was the time for them to speak boldly: therefore you see it is so expressed, when Joshua was to fight with the Canaanites, with the Anakims, and cities walled up to heaven, Now be of a good courage, be strong, (that word is used, ¹Jos. 1. 6) that is, now is the time. So Jeremiah, Jer. 26. when he had a special business to be done with much hazard, that he must go & speak in the name of the Lord to the King, and Princes, and people, which were ready to put him to death, Now be strong, and keep not a word back. So John Baptist, he was to tell Herod of his fault, of that sin; you know what hazard that action was accompanied with: now it was a time for John to stir up his strength and to use it. So in all such exigences as these when God puts us to the trial whether we will do any thing for him; ⟨p. 214⟩whether we will part with any thing for his sake; whether we will deny our selves, and take up our cross and follow him, I say these are the times. And therefore i• a man have any treasure in heaven, and be persuaded of the vanity, and worthlessness of outward things: herein stands his boldness to neglect them, to let them go, so he may do service to God, and bring glory to his name, and do good to the Church: for indeed in that stands the stirring up of our strength. As Luther said, when he was so bold, he gives the reason of his boldness: saith he, What ²can they take from me? my credit? what care I for that, it is but small; they may take away my estate, that is but little: they may take away my life, but I make no account of it saith he; if other men made as little account of these things as I do, they would be as bold as I.

This is that which the Scripture calls boldness: when the Apostles were to preach the Gospel, and had the priests, and the whole Counsel against them, now was the time for them to speak boldly: therefore you see it is so expressed, when Ioshua was to fight with the Canaanites, with the Anakims, and cities walled up to heaven, Now be of a good courage, be strong, (that word is used, ¹Ios. 1. 6) that is, now is the time. So Ieremy, Ier. 26. when he had a special business to be done with much hazard, that he must go & speak in the name of the Lord to the King, and Princes, and people, which were ready to put him to death, Now be strong, and keep not a word back. So Iohn Baptist, he was to tell Herod of his fault, of that sin; you know what hazzard that action was accompanied with: now it was a time for Iohn to stir up his strength and to use it. So in all such exigences as these when God puts us to the tryal whether we will do any thing for him; ⟨p. 214⟩whether we will part with any thing for his sake; whether we will deny our selves, and take up our cross and follow him, I say these are the times. And therefore i• a man have any treasure in heaven, and be perswaded of the vanity, and worthlesness of outward things: herein stands his boldness to neglect them, to let them go, so he may do service to God, and bring glory to his name, and do good to the Church: for indeed in that stands the stirring up of our strength. As Luther said, when he was so bold, he gives the reason of his boldness: saith he, What ²can they take from me? my credit? what care I for that, it is but small; they may take away my estate, that is but little: they may take away my life, but I make no account of it saith he; if other men made as little account of these things as I do, they would be as bold as I.

1. 1Jos. 1. 6. Jer. 26.
2. 2Luther.

Therefore I say now it is a time for a man to stir up his strength, to be willing to part with these things, when actions come that have hazard accompanying them, and opposition, and persecution, and resistance from this temptation, and from that, Now be strong in the Lord, Ephes. 6. When there comes temptations, if any thing be to be suffered, be strong to endure it; If ¹any thing be to be done, be strong to go through with it; if be any special duty, be strong, wrestle with the Lord as Jacob did in distress, there was his course, stir up thy strength at that time, and wrestle with all thy strength. So, if •he business be to contend for the common truth and faith, a man must be strong: what though it be accompanied with hazard? this is a time for a man to stir up his strength; that is one case.

Therefore I say now it is a time for a man to stir up his strength, to be willing to part with these things, when actions come that have hazzard accompanying them, and opposition, and persecution, and resistance from this temptation, and from that, Now be strong in the Lord, Ephes. 6. When there comes temptations, if any thing be to be suffered, be strong to endure it; If ¹any thing be to be done, be strong to go through with it; if be any special duty, be strong, wrestle with the Lord as Iacob did in distresse, there was his course, stir up thy strength at that time, and wrestle with all thy strength. So, if •he businesse be to contend for the common truth and faith, a man must be strong: what though it be accompanied with hazzard? this is a time for a man to stir up his strength; that is one case.

1. 1Ephes. 6.

A second is, in all great changes of estate, for that is a time when a man should stir up his strength, because then ¹a man is most apt to be weak. That is, if a man •al• into great crosses and afflictions and adversities: and again if he be raised to prosperity more then ordinary, now […] him be strong: that is, let him look to himself and take heed now that his heart be not broken by the one, nor ⟨p. 215⟩puffed up with the other: now is the time for a man to be strong upon these great changes. As the body of a man when he comes into a strange Country, to change of diet and air, he is affected with it, it works upon him: so the soul of a man in all great changes of estate that it falls into, cannot but be affected with them: Therefore the Scripture calls it drunkenness: A man may be drunk with prosperity, and adversity, and a man is apt to be so: that is when a man is drunk his brain is weak, and the beer or wine is strong: so when the heart of a man is weak and the operation is strong, the estate that falls on him is strong, it makes him drunk both ways. A man is drunk with prosperity one while, another while with adversities; this is a time to be strong. As the Apostle expresseth it, Phil. 4. I am able to want, and to abound, ²to pass through good report, and evil report, That is, now in this great change, if you talk of strength, I am able to do all things through strength from Christ.

A second is, in all great changes of estate, for that is a time when a man should stir up his strength, because then ¹a man is most apt to be weak. That is, if a man •al• into great crosses and afflictions and adversities: and again if he be raised to prosperity more then ordinary, now 〈…〉 him be strong: that is, let him look to himself and take heed now that his heart be not broken by the one, nor ⟨p. 215⟩puffed up with the other: now is the time for a man to be strong upon these great changes. As the body of a man when he comes into a strange Countrey, to change of diet and air, he is affected with it, it works upon him: so the soul of a man in all great changes of estate that it falls into, cannot but be affected with them: Therefore the Scripture calls it drunkennesse: A man may be drunk with prosperity, and adversity, and a man is apt to be so: that is when a man is drunk his brain is weak, and the beer or wine is strong: so when the heart of a man is weak and the operation is strong, the estate that falls on him is strong, it makes him drunk both wayes. A man is drunk with prosperity one while, another while with adversities; this is a time to be strong. As the Apostle expresseth it, Phil. 4. I am able to want, and to abound, ²to pass through good report, and evil report, That is, now in this great change, if you talk of strength, I am able to do all things through strength from Christ.

1. 12. In change of a mans estate,
2. 2Phil. 4.