Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. Applying these comforts by Meditation.
NOW when wee have throughly beheld, considered, and by faith applyed this truth to our hearts, let us by some short meditation stir up our fainting spirits, and quicken them in remembrāce of this great priviledge given us by God.
Let us take words with us, Hos. 14.2.turne into our owne soules, and say,Psal. 42.11… Why art thou cast downe my soule, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hath not the Lord commanded thee, & doubled, and often repeated that command,Phil. ….4. Rejoyce in the Lord, againe I say reioice? Reioice evermore.1 The. 5.16
none in earth with thee: And hath not he said unto thee, as to them;Heb. 13.5. I will not faile, nor forsake thee? And wilt not thou then conclude,Psa. 27.10 If Father and Mother (and all the world) forsake me, yet the Lord will gather me up.
Hath not thy gracious Lord and glorious creatour adopted thee unto himselfe, brought thee home into his house, setled thee in his Family? Hath he not cast into thy heart that immortall seed of his Word, and so begotten thee unto himselfe? Hast thou not found his almighty power, put forth in this quickning word, to raise thee up from that grave of lusts, in which thou layest dead in sinnes and trespasses, rotting, and even crawling with the wormes of hell? Is the Lord then of heaven and earth, the Father of Christ, the Father of lights become thy Father, and canst thou want any thing that is good? were there not much more good in this conflicting, and afflicted state then evill, nay, were not this by his over-ruling hand cōverted wholly to thy good; how should it come from him who is infinite goodnesse, to thee whom he hath infinitely loved?
True, oh most true! his love is better then life: Psal. 63.3.and nothing ca… proceed from that love but good; but I cannot see that love through these teares, through this thicke cloud of earthly sorrowes. But oh his love is not more sweet, then evident; see, oh see it in his gifts. He hath not spared his onelyonly Sonne, but given him to the death, even to the cursed death of the crosse; How then shall hee not with him give thee all things also? He hath given thee his holy Spirit, the life of thy life, and his owne glorious selfe; and can he with himselfe (the infinite incomprehensible good) give any thing which is not good? Assure thy selfe whatsoever is given by and with him, cannot but be (through him) good, exceeding good, beyond that which thou dost, or canst conceive. Now therefore remember, It is his covenāt to do thee good. Know then, (know it of a truth) and throughly perswade and settle thy selfe in it, that as now thou art under the rod, because it is good for thee to be afflicted; so when it shall be good for thee, thou shalt rest from al thy tro…ble, and sh…lt b… satisfied with abundance of peace. Oh then, my soule, bee not thou of an hasty spirit,Esa. 18.16. For he that beleeveth w…ll not make hast. H…d Ioseph appointed the time of his deliverance; Had the oppressed Israelites set out the limits of their AEgyptian bondage; or those three young captive Champions prescribed their fiery triall, how would they all have hindred their owne happinesse, and Gods glory? If my righteous Brethren smite me, it is a kindnesse, their reproofe is an excellent oyle: Psa 141.5.What then is the rod of my heavenly Father but his fatherly love? What his rebuke, but a rich perfume, and precious balme, clensing my defiled nature, & preserving it from all fleshly pollution?Psal. 37.5. Rolle then thy way upon the Lord, Psa. 103.9.and hee shall bring it to passe: wait upon his hand; and remember hee is not alwaies chiding: …sa 54…7.8For a smal moment hee may forsake, but with great mercies he will gather me; In a little wrath hee may hide his face for a moment, but with everlasting kindnesse will hee have merciemercy upon me. Oh then, my heavenly father, who vouchsafest to wait, Esa 30…8.that thou maist be gracious to me, give me power with patience to waite upon thy grace: Thou who makest it thy exaltation and glory to shew me mercy, oh give me an hart to attend thy mercy, till thou receivest mee to thy glory.