Instructions for a Right Comforting Afflicted Consciences

p. 1SOME INSTRVCTIONS FOR A RIGHT COMFORTING AFFLICTED Consciences, with Antidotes against some speciall temptations.

The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmitie: but a wounded spirit who can beare?

MY Text lies as you see, [Alij Scripturae libri, tamet si à Spiritu Sancto dictati per • ectissimam sapientiam contineant, & scientiam earum rerum, quas sib • proponunt, tamen sapien • ia & scientia, qu • in illis traditur, ra • ò admodùm decerpi & percipi potest, nisi ex mul • orum verborum contextu, & continuatâ serie, ita ut, si in secundo, aut tertio, aut etiam quarto versu saepè substiteris, fructum exilem & perexiguum percepturus &c. In hoc autem libro (maximè) cum • d cap. 10. perventum fuerit, ex quo, & sequentibus cap. hoc nomen Proverbiorum hic liber, sortitus est) singulis pene versibus, vel versiculis potius absoluta & perfecta doctrina traditur▪ Car • in cap. Prov. Iam inde à capite decimo, quae hîc sparsim leguntur Proverbia, recep • u • est •• ier Theologos absque Methodo esse, nec perpetuo tenore scripta, ut priora novem, a Salomone. • inton Cone ad Clerum. prograd. Doct. Mihi inprimis itá semper placuit, inter singulas sententias cohaerentiam & nexum aliquem frustrà confingi. Sala • .] in a sacred Cabinet of richest Iewels; I meane the most selected, and wisest Aphorismes, or Proverbs, that ever issued out of mortall braine: Every one of them, for the most part, especially from the tenth Chapter, independant, entire, and absolute in themselues; cleare and manifest by their owne native brightnesse; not needing p. 2such reciprocall light, and lustre for each others mutuall discouery, and interpretation. And therefore they are naturally not capable of any coherent Logicall Analysis, and other circumstantiall expositions, ordinarily incident to other parts of Scripture. Whence it is, that this Booke of Proverbs is compared to a great heape of gold rings, rich, and orient, severally; and every one shining with a distinct sense by it selfe: but other contexts of holy Writ, to gould▪chaines so interwoven and enlinked together, that they must upon necessity, for the rendring unto us aright, and fully their severall senses, be illightened and receive mutuall illustration, one from another.

p. 2This present Proverbe doth represent unto us the extremest Hell upon earth, the greatest misery, and most un-supportable that can possibly befall a Man in this life; I meane the horror of a guilty and enraged conscience. Which is set out;

First, by the excellency of it's opposite; the invincible ability and mighty strength of that truly stoute and heroicall heart, which is happily upholden with the heavenly refreshing influence of grace, Gods favour and a good conscience: The spirit of a man will sustaine his ◊firmity: Whence take this first note.

Doctr. The spirit of a man furnished with grace, and fortified with the sense of Gods favour, is able to passe thorow the pikes, and conquer all commers.

Reas. 1. For what and why should that man feare or faint, on whose side the mighty Lord of heaven and earth doth stand? If [Rom. 8.31. Quis autem non est contra nos? Co •• ra nos etenim est ips • • rb • , tyrannt, populi, • ognati, ciues • ver 〈…〉 contra • os se • t, tant cognati, abe • t ut 〈◊〉 quenani. ut la sa etiam nobi • , nolint velint, coronarum sint, innumerotumgue bonorumprocuratores, divina saprentia insidias ilior • m ad nostram salutem converteni •] God be for us who can be against us? Whose mercy to his, is without all stint and limit, like [Attribut a Dei sunt ipsa D • iessentia, seuipse Deus.] himselfe, infinite; so immeasurable, that it reacheth from [Psalm 103.17.] everlasting to everlasting; so tender that it su◊passeth incomprehensibly the compassionate meltings p. 3of the lovingest [Isa. 49.15.] mother; and spared not the dearest blood of his onely [Rom. 8.32.] Sonne. Who hath ever in a readinesse for the recovery of his children out of the most desperate danger, and to rescue them out of the hands of the deadliest enemy; besides his owne omnipotent arme, the least finger whereof can beate the greatest mountaine to powder, and ◊end the hardest rocke in peeces; innumerable hosts of Angels, one of which killed [2. Kings 19 35.] an hundred foure score and five thousand in one night; charets of fire, even a thousand charets in the whirlewind; that faire glorious Giant, which with incredible s◊iftnesse runs post, as it were, thorow the skye, to stand still or r◊tore; the impetuous current of the raging Sea to recoyle; the merciles slames of the hungry fire, to become a soft and refreshing aire; the ◊◊placable fury of the most enraged Lions, to couch at first word for his servants sake and safety. Nay if need bee, hee hath Caterpillers and Frogges, Wormes and Lice, even the most impotent and vilest vermi◊e, to fetch blood, and take downe the heart of the proudest Tyrant upon earth, carry he his head neve◊ so high; to eate out the bowels of the bloodiest Nim◊od or mightiest Monarch, that weares a crowne upon his head, if hee oppose his people. He hath the very [Matth. 27.5. 2. Sam 17 23. See Foxes story of Gods punishment 〈◊〉 on Persecutors, &c. Acts and Monumen page 2298. &c.] hands, and consciences of all that rise up against them, to bring their owne blood upon the◊r owne heads, and even Hell and extreamest horror upon their hearts in this life. What then so dreadfull a face of present confusions, or fore-imagined formes of future troubles a◊e able or ought, slavishly to de◊ect, and terrifie, that holy heart, which with a sweet and safe repose is happily, and everlastingly hid under the [Ruth. 2.12. Psalm. 91.4] wings of that mighty God? who for the deliverance of his, can worke:

2. When the heavenly beames of Gods pleased countenance begin to breake out upon a man, thorow the darke and Hellish mist of his manifold and hainous sinnes, the unquenchable heate of His everlasting love thorow Christ dissolving them into nothing; and fairely shine with a comfortable aspect upon His humbled Soule …