the Scriptures, others resting in it; some are despising ordinances, are overvaluing them. I find the author walking warily betwixt both; due honour to the letter and to the form, while he is exalting the pow the Spirit incomparably above both; and thou shalt find him laying the truth and the edge of the Spirit close to that cursed root of self-approba man, which is daily bringing forth such bitter fruits in his heart, in his li in the world; and yet remains unseen and untouched in the hearts of ma would be thought to be arrived at the brink of perfection, while they understand wherein the great imperfection of the natural man doth lie. Some expressions in thy reading may seem harsh or obscure to thee, did to me; but read it over and over with prayer, strongly desirous to be of God; and in reading be not weary, but blow and take breath, and at it and thou, comparing one place with another, wilt clearly see what the means, and shalt find his whole discourse to have a sacred tendency to la low, and so to put him into a rich capacity of coming in to the nearest fell with God. So that while some seek to build up themselves upon the d foundation of corrupted nature, and struggle, though in vain, in the lig power of it, to advance towards perfection; he is planting his spiritual a against it, to throw it into the dust, so that man may come to be surely and bottomed upon the righteousness, power, and wisdom of Jesus which is the only foundation that God hath laid, and the gospel revealed And in some things thou must give him a latitude to his judgment, a desirest by thine own in others. If thou findest some truths delivere enforced with re-iterated expressions, consider they were delivered for th part in several congregations; so that in some particulars the same thing be reinforced, but yet with more lustre, to make truth more clear. Tho them as they were preached and pressed in sermons to the capacity an science of his auditors, and taken from his mouth by a Notary; yet afte owned and approved by himself, he desiring to peruse them, they lying wi three or four months, and compared with his own notes. Read, consid try and hold fast that which is good.' March 26, 1653. THO. BRO M. BARKE II. ALTUM SILENTIUM, or Silence the Duty of Saints. By John I 12mo. 1659. TO THE READER.-Christian Friend,―The book of Job (saith August the afflicted man's Scripture; and I may say this little book is the a man's duty. A little pearl may be of great price; and such is this little t that now is put into thy hand. The waves did but lift Noah's ark nearer to heaven; and the high waters rose, the nearer the ark was lifted up to heaven: sometimes s operation afflictions have upon Noahs, upon preachers of righteousness; they have not had the same operation upon the author of the ensuing dis I am much mistaken. Afflictions to some are like the prick at the n gale's breast, that awakes her, and puts her upon her sweet and delightful and whether they have not had such an operation upon the worthy au will leave the reader to judge. The more precious odours and the spices are beaten and bruised, the sweeter scent and savour they send a Had not God bruised to death one of the choicest and sweetest flowers author's garden, he had not sent abroad this sweet and savoury sermon. We try metal by knocking it; if it sound well, then we like it well. a tried Christian, a thorough Christian indeed, that gives a pleasant when under the knocking hand of God. If thou layest thine ear, thy hear to the following tract, thou wilt hear such a sound as will be sweeter t than the honey or the honey-comb. an is worth a world who, under the sorest and sharpest afflictions, e in Thracia, that neither burneth in the fire nor sinketh in the silence and patience is invincible and impregnable. None are r to God, such a glory to the gospel, such a shame to Satan, and to the world as these; who can lay their hands upon their God's rod lays heavy upon their backs. That this is every y and glory is fully and sweetly evinced in the following dis ve when God's corrections are our instructions, his lashes our ourges our schoolmasters, his chastisements our advertisements. is, the Hebrews and Greeks both express chastening and teachid the same word, (DID, waidsía), [margin, Isa. xxxvi. 9; Ps. v. iii. 12, 13; chap. vi. 23], because the latter is the true end according to that in the proverb, Smart makes wit, and vexaerstanding. That this happiness the reader may attain to, is the ired by the author. u hast much wrapped up in a little; it is more to be admired than r's Iliads compressed in a nutshell; it is a mourning sermon, and ld be plain. The reverend author knew right well, that it was ent truth in her native plainness than to hang her ears with rls. He knew that the king of Nineveh was a king as well in his n his royal robes. The author is known to be a master-workman, ould easily shoot his arrows over his hearers' heads [margin, See orks in print, and then judge], but he had rather shoot them into earts. He dares not affect sublime notions, obscure expressions, t mysterious nothings. He dares not do as many, who make ifficult, and easy truths hard; and so darken counsel by words ledge, Job xxxviii. 2. If thou will but taste and try, thou wilt treatise to be a heavenly honey-hive to thy soul. to my dear sister, his v in this sharp and sweet First, That well-grou others had of the budi It say, Oh! it is sweet, it is seasonable, it is suitable to my conGod's dispensations abroad in the world; but why have we no weet wine, no more of this water of life, no more of these clusters must tell thee, that the honoured author buried his dear and ter on the Friday, and preached this sermon on the Sabbath day d therefore there has been more cause to bless the Lord, and ord for his goodness, assistance, and presence with the author, ed him to bring forth a truth of so great weight and concernment en, when he was under such sore and sharp rebukes of God. It ne's happiness to have such a presence of God with them, when d is heavy upon them. and of her being now at and silence you, but al you not think that you With j Secondly, The desig children with, as (1.) t of them more partake graces, Job xxiii. 10; love to their souls, H riences, 2 Cor. i. 4, 5 world to their hearts, tatem medis]; (7.) to Concernment of anoth more sweet and precio how sweet is a calm a (9.) to make them mo 17; 10.) that sinners 17,18. Now, is ther to make his people sit then don't they sit sil Thirdly, All the m Tours, and always th All things come of th mercy is yours, but th Quicquid es debes crea art, thou owest to hir to him that redeeme like case), Thon has O point insisted on is a point of special use to Christians; espeas are under the afflicting hand of God, whether in spirituals or nd if storms should fall upon us from abroad or at home, it will the use of it) more worth than gold. I have read of the stone , that had drops of gold in it: many a golden drop wilt thou find ng lines. As Moses laid up the manna in the golden pot, and as ot Homer's Iliad in a cabinet embroidered with gold, so do thou ermon in the golden cabinet of thy heart. If troubles at present thee, yet thou must remember that thou art born to them, as y upwards [margin, Job v. 7; John xvi. ult. 14; Acts xxi. 22]. one Son without sin, he hath no son without sorrow; he had but corruption, he hath none without correction; he scourges every receives; he can quickly turn thy summer day into winter night, sermon may be to thee a suitable and invaluable mercy. I shall e to hint a few things to the author, my reverend brother, and at thou hast taken You think it but jus they please; and is with his own as he Fourthly, That Go several left, though eration, and yet t Cap, and under th Det murmur, but wo to my dear sister, his virtuous yoke-fellow, who are above all others c in this sharp and sweet dispensation, and so conclude. First, That well-grounded hope, confidence, and assurance, that Where God has stamp'd his image upon a mite, Death strikes but once, and that stroke relieves us : Your dearest mercy is not too good for heaven. Secondly, The designs of God in all the sharp afflictions he exer children with, as (1.) the purging away of their sins, Isa. i. 25; (2.) the of them more partakers of his holiness, Heb. xii. 10; (3.) the trial graces, Job xxiii. 10; (4.) the communication of more of himself an love to their souls, Hosea i. 14; (5.) the multiplying of their spiritu riences, 2 Cor. i. 4, 5; (6.) the crucifying of their hearts to the world, world to their hearts, Gal. vi. 14 [margin, Nam finis dat amabilitatem tatem mediis]; (7.) to draw them to look and fix their souls upon t concernment of another world, John xiv. 1-3; (8.) that heaven may more sweet and precious to them at last, 2 Cor. iv. 16-18, Rom. viii. how sweet is a calm after a storm, and summer days after long winter (9.) to make them more and more conformable to Christ their head, F 17; (10.) that sinners may at the last be found dumb and speechless, 1 17, 18. Now, is there not enough in these glorious ends and design to make his people sit mute under the sharpest trials? Surely there then don't they sit silent before the Lord ? The Thirdly, All the mercies you enjoy, were first the Lord's before t yours, and always the Lord's more than they were yours, 1.Chron. All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.' mercy is yours, but the sovereign right to dispose of your mercies is th Quicquid es debes creanti; quicquid potes, debes redimenti (Bern), whatso art, thou owest to him that made thee; and whatsoever thou hast, th to him that redeemed thee. Say, as Jerome adviseth a friend of hi like case), Thou hast taken away whom thou hast given me: I g that thou hast taken them, but praise the Lord that was pleased to g You think it but just and reasonable that men should deal with the they please; and is it not much more just and reasonable that God s with his own as he pleases? Fourthly, That God that has taken one, might have taken all; several left, though one be taken. Job, you know, was a nonsu generation, and yet the sentence of death was passed upon all his chil clap; and under this said clap Job does not blaspheme, but bless not murmur, but worships; he accuses not God, but clears God of d severest strokes of justice, Job i. use in Sicily is so curiously situated, one mercy be gone, yet you have you mute. Geographers write that that the sun is never out several that remain, and invited many philosophers to supper; the owner sends for one cessaries that he was using. Can you endure this disgrace? phers. Yes, said he, very well, for he might have sent justly e application is easy. Oh! let not nature do more than grace. stly, Under sharp afflictions, we ought carefully to look that don't hinder the exercise of gracious dispositions. Though we e may not weep out either the eye of faith, or the eye of hope iv. 13]: though you may water your flowers, yet you may lowers. They that wept, yea, that wept much, yet said, The be done [margin, Acts xxi. 13, 14]. Jacob doated too much and his affections were too strong for his judgment, when, upon bloody coat, he refused to be comforted, and said, I will go grave unto my son, mourning [margin, Gen. xxxvii. 33-35]. Eoo fond of his son Absalom, when, like a puny baby, he wept son Absalom! my son! my son! Absalom! would God I had Absalom, my son! my son! [margin, 2 Sam. xviii. 32, 33]. nourned for Jacob seventy days, but Joseph (though he had arned but seven days; because he had more grace, and better eternal welfare, than the infidels had. In the midst of all up the exercise of grace, and then you shall not mourn that ed. n is no sooner in your hand, is only from the remissness and m into whose hands you had ordered the copy. that you and I, and all others (into whose hands this sermon ive up, and live out, the following discourse, under all the or shall pass upon us, is the earnest desire and hearty prayer ur entire friend and servant in our dearest Lord. THO. BROOKS. istle' prefixed to the Works' of Dr Thomas Taylor, of Aldern,' (folio, 1653), bears the name of Brooks, only in common with my,Jackson, Ashe, Caryl, Manton, Greenhill, Strong, Griffith, mmat. The first signature is that of Dr William Gouge; and pistle' was drawn up by him, and simply signed by the others. eem touches from the hand of Brooks. FEAR; or the Heart trembling at the Word of God evidenceth a spirit. Delivered in several Sermons from Isa. lxvi. 2, and 2 By Jeremiah Burroughes.1 "His mercy is on them that fear tion to generation," Luke i. 50. "Work out your own salvand trembling," Philip. ii. 12. London: Printed by J. D. for e three Pigeons in Cornhill. 1674.' 12mo. the three first thou wilt fir bling at God's word is ve Ezek. xxxvi. 37,-clear proved, so as that, by to the internal and et Concerning the Word. p acceptations the word is sometimes meant the who Word is meant our Lord word, John i. (3.) By word, Heb. i. (4.) By t (5.) By the Word is son Remember the word un hope. God is not unrig pat his promises in suit. prophecies which are sca Word thus considered occ to say, Feniat, veniat ver calla, let the word of the it if we had many hundr author in this little piece to be guided by the Wor out the Word in a conve were wont to say, that u profitable matter. I am mountains of heavenly m blessed anthor offers to t you have Homer's Iliads is said of Cæsar, Major f care of his books than of scape his enemies, he ca his robes. But what are that is now put into thy all those gracious souls erir. 103; Job xxiii. 12 dise, if he might, witho tiere, but with the Wor thanks that he was born ADER.-Christian Reader,-These following sermons are the prince of preachers, Mr Jer. Burroughs, who is now a shining r world. But they that are taken out of this valley of Baca, and pops of glorious angels into the highest heaven, stand in no need men, having the fruition of the eternal God. And therefore I shall nese choice sermons that are here presented to thine eyes. In 1646.-G. 2 his learned oration compiled upon the death [of] Philogonius. Melanchcanus, He was the grammarian; of himself, that he was the logician; of we that are born in such 11; and therefore, the three first thou wilt find this great and glorious truth, viz., that a hear bling at God's word is very precious in God's eyes,-Heb. vi. 10; Isa. Ezek. xxxvi. 37,-clearly opened, fully proved, and sweetly and faithfu proved, so as that, by a blessing from on high, it may contribute to the internal and eternal welfare of thy precious and immorta Concerning the Word, premise this with me, viz. that in these six fo acceptations the word is taken in the blessed Scriptures, (1.) By the V sometimes meant the whole Scriptures, Old and New Testament. (2.) Word is meant our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the spirit, life, and sou word, John i. (3.) By the Word is sometimes meant the commands word, Heb. i. (4.) By the Word is sometimes meant the threatenings (5.) By the Word is sometimes meant the precious promises: Ps. c Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused hope.' God is not unrighteous to forget, yet we must, as his rememb put his promises in suit. (6.) By the Word is sometimes meant tho prophecies which are scattered up and down in the Scriptures, Jude 14 word thus considered occasioned one Baldusgar, a famous minister in G to say, Veniat, veniat verbum Domini et submittemus illi sexcenta, si nobi colla, let the word of the Lord come, let it come, saith he; we will su it if we had many hundred necks to put under it. The design of the author in this little piece is, to win and work the reader to submit to th to be guided by the Word, to prize the Word, to lay up the Word, and out the Word in a conversation becoming the gospel. The Jewish were wont to say, that upon every letter of the law there hangs moun profitable matter. I am sure in the following discourse thou wilt fi mountains of heavenly matter hanging upon all the main particulars t blessed author offers to thy serious consideration in this small treatise. you have Homer's Iliads in a nutshell; much choice matter in a little ro is said of Cæsar, Major fuit cura Cæsari libellorum quam purpuræ, he had care of his books than of his royal robes; for, swimming through the w escape his enemies, he carried his books in his hand above the waters, his robes. But what are Cæsar's books to God's books? or to this litt that is now put into thy hand? Surely the word of the Lord is very s all those gracious souls who make conscience of trembling at it, Ps. cxix. 103; Job xxiii. 12; Cant. ii. 3. Luther said he could not live dise, if he might, without the Word, at cum verbo etiam in inferno f vivere, but with the Word he could live in hell itself. The philosoph thanks that he was born in the time of true philosophy. Ah! how ha we that are born in such a time wherein the Lord doth effundere Spiritu forth his Spirit, not by drops, as in the time of the Law, but showers his gifts and graces, as was most evident in the author of this following Not only the day-star, but the Sun of righteousness was risen upon that that had once the happiness to sit under the author's ministry; neithe small part of this world's happiness that they are blessed with his most e labours to this very day. One cannot say of any divine thing, that it is properly till in his heart. I can say of a bird, or of this or that, it is when in my hand; but I cannot say God is mine till in my heart, or tha is mine till in my heart, or that the Spirit is mine till in my heart, or th is mine till in my heart, or that the word is mine till in my heart. kept thy word in my heart, that I may not sin against thee,' saith Da cxix. 11; and therefore, reader, it highly concerns thee to get that wo Justus Ionius, that he was the orator; but of Luther he was omnia in omnibus, & Adam in vit Luther, p. 170. The application is easy. 1 Sacræ Scripturæ tuæ sunt sanctæ deliciæ meæ.-Augustine. Dolphins, they music; so do gracious souls love the music of the word. |