The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

God to leave me to fall into the ftraights of fin, that cannot bear the straights of afflictions, therefore let me ftand ftill, and look up to Gods falvation; Let us be so affected with our straights,as to carrie us up to God in prayer: pray as much as ye can, but ftill keep your hearts in a quiet frame; and if your prayers be right, they will be to you, as Luther faith, they were the leeches of his care; Luther had a great many corrupt cares, (as in a corrupt body, there is much corrupt bloud) but now his prayers were the leeches to fuck out his cares: when you are diftemper'd, go to prayer, and then examine what a deal of corrupt bloud hath my prayers fuckt out of my heart? As Hannah, when The had been at prayer, the lookt no more fad. There are many things I thought to have given you, to ftay your hearts in time of extremities: Peace Shall be to that man, that bath his heart ftayed on God; and blessed is that man that Stayeth his heart upon God: and if ever people had cause to stay their hearts upon God, certainly we have at this day, for we have God with us; Therefore it is unworthy of a Chriftian to have a diftempered fpirit. I remember I have read of the Romans, that when Hannibal was juft before them, yet they bought and fold their ground as they did at other times; they were fo quiet in their hearts. It was a speech that Antigonor had, when some were afraid of the multitude that came against him, (fay they) So many are coming against us; faith he, How many do you reckon me for? So may we fay, we hear of fo many thousands coming against us, But how many do you reckon Jefus Christ for? How many reckon you him for, that is the Captain of all our Hofts? Have not prayers been fent up to God? why defpife you the prayers of the Saints of God, as if there were nothing in their prayers? Is not Gods name engaged in all this bufinefs? Oh therefore ftand still and be not afraid. And efpecially let me fpeak a word to you, that are of timorous and fearfull spirits, Ifa.35.4. Say to them that are of a fearfull heart, Fear not : Do not excuse your felves in this, that you are of a timorous nature; (faith God) Say to them that are of a fearfull heart, Fear not: And especially mark what the holy Ghost speaks to women, in 1. Pet. 3. Women they must cloath themselves with a meck and quiet spirit, (that is in the 4, verf.) which is in the fight of God of great price. And in the 6. verf. And as Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him Lord, whofe daughters ye are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid of any amazement. What fhould be the meaning of that, that women must be the daugh ters of Sarah upon these terms? Thus; Abraham was brought into ftraights many times, and carried from his own Countrey; now Sarah if he had been of fuch a fpirit as many women are, Oh how would Sarah have hindered her husband Abraham in every straight he was brought into; and have said, hufband, why go we from our own Countrey, and our friends, and fo are brought into fuch ftraights? pray husband go back again, and venture not your felf thus and thus: but it feems fhe was of a gracious fpirit, and quieted her felf in God, and was not afraid with amazement: If you would approve your felves the daughters of Sarah, do ye fo, when God calls your husbands to any fervice, though it be with some hazard, do not you hang about their necks, and wring your hands, and fay, I befeech you husband confider what will become of me and my children, will you leave me now? Take heed, you are

not the daughters of Sarah at fuch a time, if you hinder your husbands at fuch a time as this is.

4. Doct. That the fight of falvation after ftraights, will be a glorious thing. If we be brought into ftraights, that which is comming will pay for all, there is enough to fatisfie; let us not be troubled at greater straights, than yet we have; Suppose bloud fhould be fhed (beloyed) God hath fuch mercy for England, that shall pay for all the bloud of his Saints that fhall be fhed, and the bloud of his people, is a precious thing: Every drop of the bloud of his people is very precious: and the Adverfary fhall be accomptable for every drop; God will value it, and there fhall be a valuable confideration given for every drop of bloud; and the more difficulties we have in obtaining that mercy God is about to give us, the mercy Thall be the greater: Ifa. 54. II. O thou afflicted and toẞ'd with tempests, thy foundations fhall be laid with Saphires, and with precious Stones. If we be afflicted and toffed with tempests, and the bloud of Gods people go for it; comfort your felves with this; The more precious bloud that is fhed in this bufinefs, the greater mercy is to come; for God will have a valuable confideration for all the bloud of his Saints.