A Cordial for the Afflicted, Text (5 of 5)

A Cordial for the Afflicted · Text (5 of 5)

p. 477There is no ſinne, but blaſphemie againſt the holy Ghoſt, which upon repentance ſhall not be pardoned. If reſidnation, and relapſing into the ſame ſinne may bee repented of, queſtionleſſe it may, it ſhall be pardoned at Gods hand. And whereas ſome may think that true grace will preſerve any from falling into the ſame ſinne againe, whereof hee hath formerly repented, it is a fond error: for if the Lord leave any unto themſelves, they will be as ready, nay more ready, to fall into the old ſin, then into a new; the diſpoſition, and naturall temper being more inclinable to that evill then any other; and p. 478Satan knowing which way the poore ſinner hath been moſt foiled, will that way moſt ſtrongly againe aſſault him. It is therefore a binding of the Lords hands, a confining, and limiting of his boundleſſe merciemercy, and compaſſion, yea, an undervalewing of the all-ſufficiencie of Chriſt, his merit and paſſion, to ſay that relapſing into former ſinnes is a thing unpardonable; or that a perſon ſo offending was never in the ſtate of grace, or can be a true member of the Lord Chriſt. The covenant of grace excludes none, but impenitent and unbeleeving perſons. Truth it is, that the burnt child dreads the fire; and it is not an ordinary thing for the childe of God, in the ſtate of grace, to p. 479fall back againe to his old byas; but that it is not poſſible for him (it God leave him) ſo to fall, or that true grace will not admit of any ſuch falls, is more then can be warranted, or proved by the Word of God. I ſpeak not this (God knowes) to countenance, or bolſter any in their ſinne; but partly to magnifie the boundleſſe and unlimited patience, and mercy of our good God, and partly to underlay and comfort that poore afflicted ſoul, & wounded conſcience, who through his owne pride, ſelfe confidence, or ſecuritie, and Satans pollicie, hath been againe intangled in that ſnare, out of which, by former repentance, hee hath been delivered. This is the childrens bread, it belongs not p. 480unto dogs. Impudent, and impenitent ſinners can claim no intereſt in this comfort: it is baulme to heale onelyonly wounded conſciences; whom I would not have to be ſo ſtrongly deluded by ſatan, as to be beat off from repentance, and the throne of grace, or to think that they never had any true grace, or that their former repentance was ever ſound, becauſe old ſores are againe broke out in them, they have relapſed into old ſinnes. The worke of grace doth not wholly take away all ſinne, nor free us from it, but only weakens it, and workes the heart to a hatred and deteſtation of it. And know, that if thy ſinne, when thou wert Gods enemie, could not prevent his love, much leſſe p. 481ſhall it now thou art reconciled.

Object. But by my relapſing, I have made the Lord ſuch a graceleſſe requitall of his former love and kindneſſe, as I know not how to look him in the face againe: yea, I begin to feare I ſhall never againe recover that which I have ſo wretchedly loſt.

Anſw. I pitie thee. Doth thy heart faint? hath thy faith loſt its former feeling, or working in thee? doſt thou now behold Gods angry countenance bent againſt thee? hath the Lord (as thou concieveſt) ſet thee up as a ſpectacle for men and Angels to wonder at? throw thy ſelf proſttate at Gods feet, let not thy ſoul leave cleaving to the duſt, never leave knocking at the dore p. 482of his goodneſſe, and compaſſion, intreat him to look upon thee a poore confounded wretch, beſeech him to behold thee in the face of Chriſt; tell him here lyes a miſerable caitiffe a forlorn creature, a wounded and forſaken ſinner, one that reſolves to lye, and dye at his feet, one that will ſet down at the threſhold of his tender mercyes, and never depart without ſome almes, ſome crums of mercy to revive, and refreſh thy languiſhing ſoul withall; and (my life for thine) in due time the Lord will ſatiate thy heart with comfortable tydings (from Heaven) of his reconciliation and of the pardon, and forgiveneſſe of all thy ſinnes.

Object. There were ſome hope, if p. 483I had not gon on ſo long in my ſinne, as I have done: there was a time (I am perſwaded) when I was capable of mercy, but that time (I feare) is gon and paſt, Gods mercy is out of date with me, and therefore I am undone for ever.

Anſw. No, no, the Lord waites that he may have mercy upon thee and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have compaſſion upon you Iſa. 30.18. The Lord hath proclamed himſelf to be abundant in goodneſſe, reſerving mercy for thouſands, Exod. 34.6, 7. Hee hath mercy in ſtore for thee as well as for others, if thou canſt truly repent thee of thy former wickedneſſe. The Lord forgiveth iniquity, tranſgreſſion and ſinne, Ez. 34.7. It would highly derogate p. 484from the Lords power, from his all-ſufficiencie, and boundleſſe goodneſſe and mercy it he ſhould not forgive capitall and foul ſinnes, as well as petty and ſmall ſinnes.

Conſider what the Lord hath promiſed, Ezek. 18.21, 22. None of all his tranſgreſſions ſhall be mentioned. And againe verſe 23. Hath the Lord any deſire thou ſhouldeſt periſh, or ſhalt thou not live if thou returne from thine owne wayes? It is not any ſinne, but the love of ſinne and the going on in ſinne, that ſeperates betwixt God, and a poore ſinner. Now then cheer up thy drooping ſpirits, ſtand it out no longer againſt the Lord, and his goodneſſe: lay downe, not only thy p. 485weapons of diſobedience, but alſo all carnall reaſonings: captivate thy will unto Gods will, and then whatſoever thy ſinns have been, whatſoever thy tentations, diſtractions, feares, or doubtings be, if thou wilt beleeve, the Lord will graciouſly accept of thee for his ſonns ſake. The Lord ſtands not upon thy ſinns, nor thy unworthyneſſe (as I have formerly ſaid) he bids thee beleeve: therefore tho thou beeſt unworthy of Gods favor, and mercy, yea beleeve becauſe God commands thee, and he is worthy to be obeyed. By beleeving, Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe become thine: and having Chriſt, neither ſin, nor the law ſhall be able to hurt thee, for faith reprives p. 486us from the law, and puts us under grace. Therefore beleeve, elſe never looke to have any ſound joy, or true peace to thy ſoul, the heart is filled with joy, and peace in beleeving. Rom. 15.13▪ Where there is doubting of Gods love, or our own ſalvation, there can bee neither joy, nor peace, but anxiety, trouble, vexation, and griefe. Faith pacifies and quiets all. For being juſtified by faith we have peace towards God, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and rejoyce under the bope of the glory of God, neither do we ſo onelyonly but alſo we rejoyce in tribulations. Rom. 5.1, 2, 3. True faith tho never ſo little is able to keepe thy ſoul from ſinking under any affliction, be it never ſo great, p. 487or grievous; When Peter was ſtrong in faith he could caſt himſelf into the Sea, but his heart and faith failing, he began to ſink: little and weak faith will be able to keep us from drowning, but not from beginning to ſink. When Peters faith was weakeſt, Chriſt was neareſt at hand to helpe him, Chriſt, who never did, nor will reject the weakeſt beleever, put forth his hand, and ſaved Peter, but yet withall reproved him for doubting. O thou of little faith wherefore didſt thou doubt. Mat. 14.31. Doubt not therefore but beleeve: And be perſwaded that if the Lord intended not to ſhew mercy unto thee; he would never hauehave given thee an eye to ſee thy ſinnes, a heart to grieve, p. 488and mourn for them, or a tongue to deſire the pardon and forgiveneſſe of them. Therefore aſſure thy ſelfe, that a grieved ſpirit, a ſorrowfull heart, a wounded conſcience is no ſure argument of a forlorn condition, or of the want of the love of God.

Vſe 2 Be perſwaded of Gods Love.Againe, is it ſo? is this the beſt way for us, to bee patient and cheerfull in affliction, to bee perſwaded of Gods love? Labor wee then to get our hearts ſetled in this perſwaſion and thou ſhalt finde the anguiſh of thy affliction much alaied, thou ſhalt feel the ſmart of it much abated. Holy Job was brought to a low, and pittyfull condition, when he deſired to he let alone whiles he might ſwallow his spittle. Job p. 4897.19. Yet even then Job wondred at the goodneſſe and favor of God that he would think him worthy the melting and trying. What is man that thou doſt magnifie him, and that thou ſetteſt thine heart upon him? And doſt viſit him every morning, and trieſt him every moment. Job 7.17, 18.

Being then undoubtedly perſwaded, that when God comes neer thee with affliction, he is neer thee in affection, that when he corrects thee, he loves thee, for until the heart of man be thorowly perſwaded hereof, hee ſhall never take comfort in, nor pick any good out of his affliction. Imagine with me a man who hath every day his full feed of the beſt and what outward comfort p. 490he will call for; what true content can hee take in theſe things when hee knows that hee is under the diſpleaſure of his Prince, and ſo in danger every day of being caſt into priſon? whereas if (through the rage and malice of ſome of his enemies) hee were caſt into priſon, if he were perſwaded of the Kings love, hee would reſt contented, knowing and beleeving that the King will honor him for his reproach, and ere it be long ſet him free againe. Even ſo it is with every one that is perſwaded of Gods love in his affliction.

Therefore as at all times, ſo eſpecially in the time of affliction, Gods children ſhould live by faith. Affliction is like to do us p. 491little good, if it be not tempered with faith. As that meate which we take into our ſtomack concocteth not if the native heat be defective and wanting; even ſo that affliction which is adminiſtred unto us will profit us little if faith be wanting unto us. Faith ſtilleth the heart even in our ſoreſt, and greateſt afflictions, perſwading us of Gods love in correcting us, and that the Lord intendeth our great good by this affliction which lyeth upon us, the love and care which parents have of their childrens good and wellfare, doth not wholy conſiſt in providing of meat, drink and apparel for them, but partly in correcting of them for their good, and partly in p. 490duplicate page p. 491duplicate page p. 492providing of phyſick for them when they are any way diſtempered. Even ſo almighty God our mercifull and loving father, doth no leſſe love us when he corrects & afflicts us, which (as you have heard) is the phyſicking of our ſoules then when he provideth outward neceſſaries for us; and this faith doth perſwade the heart of. For faith judgeth not of things by ſenſe or outward appearance, but as the truth is in Jeſus Chriſt, juſtifying the Lord in all his waies, alway magnifying the wiſe and holy proceedings of our good God, as the only beſt, and moſt profitable for us. It is only the apprehenſion of ſome loſſe, the feare of ſome evill, or the ſenſe of Gods p. 493wrath, and diſpleaſure in our affliction, which makes the heart ſo ſad, and the ſpirits ſo lumpiſh in the time of affliction: then ſet thy faith on work, and it will blow over all theſe clouds, it will anſwer all carnall doubts and reaſonings and ſo ſettle the heart in a conſtant perſwaſion of Gods love, that we ſhall rejoyce, and be thankfull for our afflictions, becauſe we know and beleeve that God in afflicting of us, loves us. And to put the matter out of all doubting, I will lay down a few (but ſure and certain) evidences of Gods love in correcting of us

Doſt thou deſire to know whether God in afflicting of thee loveth thee?Tokens of Gods afflicting of us in love. whether p. 494his ſtripes bee the blowes of an enemy, or the chaſtiſement of a loving father? thou mayeſt know it by theſe tokens.

Firſt, when God gives thee a heart to be contented; and a minde to be willing to beare whatſoever he ſhall lay upon thee, and to want whatſoever thou ſeeſt the Lord is not willing thou ſhouldſt injoy. Hee that doth not reſt content with the love and favor of God in the want of outward, yea the beſt of outward things, doth not rightly prize the love of God; in that the want of other things doth more affect him and take up his minde, then the conſideration of Gods love, and he more diſcontented in the miſſing of the p. 495one, then contented with the poſſeſſion of the other. He that cannot be content to part with any earthly benefit when God ſhall call for it, it is to be feared, that man never felt the ſweetnes of Gods love in the aſſurance of the pardon and forgiveneſſe of his ſinnes. Skin for skin, and all that ever a man hath will he give for his life, Job. 2.4. Then much more will hee part with all that hee hath, ſo be it he may have his part in Gods love, for thy loving kindneſſe is better then life, Pſal. 63.3. for what is life but death, if it be not upheld by the love of God? Art thou then heartily content with the Lords handling of thee? Doſt thou with all cheerefulneſſe take up thy croſſe and beare thine affliction? p. 496Canſt thou truely ſay, Behold here am I, let him do to mee, as ſeemeth good in his eyes. 2. Sam. 15.26. I dare be bold to ſay, thou art an happy man, God in afflicting thee, loveth thee.

Secondly, if God loves thee, hee will fetch thee neerer unto him by thy affliction. See what the Church profeſſed, Eſay. 26.8, 9. Alſo wee, O Lord, have waited for thee in the way of thy judgements, the deſire of our ſoul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, and with my ſpirit within me will I ſeek thee in the morning. By which words it appeares that Gods people, thoſe that are beloved of him, are ſo farre from being driven from God by p. 497affliction, that they are brought thereby neerer unto him. Afflictions are ſo farre from extinguiſhing grace in Gods people, that they increaſe it rather; as water caſt upon the ſmiths fire doth not put it out, but increaſeth the flame thereof. Afflictions drive us unto the Lord in prayer, Eſay, 26.16. In trouble have they viſited thee, they powred out a prayer when thy chaſtning was upon them. Affliction will ſend us to the Sanctuary, and make us more diligent in hearing the Word, more conſcionable in the practiſe of good dueties. So that as judgements lighting upon the wicked do come from Gods avenging wrath and juſtice, and ſo are as pikes and clubs, to beat them p. 498further off from God, even ſo thoſe afflictions which befall his people, proceeding from his love, are as cords to draw them neerer unto him.

Thirdly, thou mayeſt aſſure thy ſelfe of Gods love in afflicting of thee, if thine afflictions do raiſe up godly ſorrow in thy heart, cauſing thee to grieve, and be diſquieted that thou ſhouldeſt by thy wickedneſſe thus provoke the Lord, and put him as it were out of his courſe, forcing him to do that which he goeth unwillingly about, for Hee doth not puniſh willingly, nor afflict the children of men, Lam. 3.33. This was that which did break the heart of David, to conſider how hee had offended the Lord, who had been ſo gracious, p. 499and bountifull unto him. Againſt thee, againſt thee only have I ſinned, and done evill in thy ſight, that thou mayeſt be juſt when thou ſpeakeſt, and pure when thou judgeſt, Pſalme, 51.4.

A good heart grieves more that by his ſinnes hee hath grieved God,Note. then that God hath grieved him by ſome affliction. And therefore had rather the Lord would take away his ſinne then his affliction. And therefore when the Lord had ſo ſeverely threatned David, by the mouth of his Prophet Nathan, David cries not out through feare of Gods judgements) as ſome would have done upon ſo hard tydings, Alas, I am undone, how ſhall I ever be able to hold up p. 500my head, if Gods judgements come ſo thick upon mee, &c. No, no, the ſword which pierced Davids heart, was his ſinne againſt God, and therefore hee praies, Waſh mee throughly from mine iniquitie, and cleanſe me from my ſinne, Pſal. 51.2. Hee that in the time of affliction can find his ſinne the greateſt cauſe of his humiliation, may aſſure himſelfe of a ſanctified uſe of his affliction, and of Gods love in ſo dealing with him. Wee ſhall find little fruit, and leſſe comfort to grow out of our griefe, ſorrow, and humiliation, if it be for outward things, and not for ſinne. Grieve wee never ſo much, never ſo long for our outward afflictions and croſſes, our griefes can neither abate them, nor remove p. 501them: whereas godly ſorrow, ſorrow for ſinne, if it doth not batter our croſſe, it weakens it, and in the meane time, procureth much eaſe to the minde, and peace to the conſcience.

Aſſure thy ſelfe, that ſorrow is no where ſo well beſtowed, as upon ſinne: Godly ſorrow is the ſalve appointed to heale, and cure ſinne; now to apply this ſalve to a wrong ſore (to affliction) is loſt labor. Learn therefore to turn thy ſorrow againſt thy ſinne, and then thou wilt ſay as David ſpeakes, Pſalm. 119.75. I know O Lord, that thy judgements are right, and that thou haſt afflicted me juſtly, as the old tranſlation hath it. And ſo ſaying, thou mayſt boldly proceed with David, and pray, Let thy mercy comfort p. 502mee according to thy promiſe unto thy ſervant, Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live, verſ. 76.77. Therefore whenſoever the Lord entereth into judgment with thee, fall thou to judging of thy ſelfe. Accuſe thy ſelfe, that God may be juſtified. And let thine own heart ſpeak unto thee in the words of the Prophet, Haſt thou not procured this unto thy ſelfe, becauſe thou haſt forſaken the Lord thy God? Jere. 2.17. This is a good ſigne that God will do thee good by thine affliction, which hee would not, if hee did not love thee.

Fourthly, and laſtly, thou maieſt bee aſſured that God afflicteth thee in love, if hee gives thee a heart to be thankfull to him for thine affliction. p. 503Canſt thou bleſſe God, taking from thee as well as giving unto thee? I dare then confidently avouch that thine afflictions are ſanctified unto thee, and that in love he hath afflicted thee. Thus did Job, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken it, bleſſed be the name of the Lord. Job 1.21. For proſperitie, and good things many wicked men will (in their manner) be thankfull to God; but for adverſitie, and ſuch things as are in appearance evill, to be thankfull, this is the property onelyonly of good men. Wee can eaſily bee brought to praiſe the Lord when hee pleaſeth us, but when hee croſſeth us, when he cuts us ſhort, and keeps us to hard meat, then to bleſſe and p. 504praiſe his name, this is clean againſt our nature; it is onelyonly the worke of grace in us, for grace will make thoſe things eaſie which are very hard and difficult unto nature. And therefore there cannot be a better evidence of a gracious and ſanctified heart, then to praiſe and glorifie God for afflictions. For in ſo doing, a man doth juſtifie the Lord in his dealing; yea by our thankfulneſſe for afflictions, we magnifie the glorious attributes of God, wee acknowledge his juſtice, Pſal. 119.75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right, and that thou haſt afflicted me juſtly. Wee acknowledge his truth, Pſalm. 19.9. The judgements of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. p. 505Wee acknowledge his merciemercy, Pſalm. 25.10. All the pathes of the Lord, are mercy and truth. Therefore moſt true it is, that whoſoever in affliction, offereth praiſe, doth glorifie God, Pſalm. 5.23. Men may be thankfull for peace, plenty, ſeaſonable times, deliverances, and the like, in ſelfe-love: but for troubles, and afflictions, croſſes, and loſſes to bee thankfull, this manifeſteth our love to God, which none can ſhew untill hee bee beloved of God.

Thankfulneſſe in affliction is a notable ſoule of faith, for faith will tell as, that nothing can befall us, which ſhall either leſſen Gods love, or encreaſe our hurt; yea faith perſwades us that God in afflicting of us, loveth us, p. 504duplicate page p. 505duplicate page p. 506though the affliction bee unto death, and hence it comes, that wee are thankfull for afflictions, and patient in the bearing of them.

Now lay all theſe together. Art thou willing to kiſſe that rod wherewith thou art beaten? Canſt thou cheerefully ſay, as it is, Mic. 7.9. I will heare the wrath of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſt him? Art thou taken off from thine old courſes, thine old conſorts, thine old comforts, and brought neerer unto God? Is thy heart diſſolved into teares of contrition for thy ſinnes and tranſgreſſions?

Doſt thou cordially, unfainedly bleſſe God that ever hee took thee to do, that ever he laid his hand upon thee? then is it as evident as the p. 507Sun at noon day, that God in afflicting of thee, loves thee; becauſe hee hath taught thee to make ſo good and holy uſe of thy affliction. For afflictions of themſelves, and in their own nature, are fruits of the curſe, and ſuch as (being unſanctified) will make us ſtorm and rage, and beat us further off from God; but when wee feel, and find them to worke contrary to themſelves, their nature altered, and changed, this is a moſt evident and infallible ſigne of Gods love and merciemercy, extracting Treacle out of this ranck poiſon, and good out of this evill. Thou mayſt hold it as a certaine truth, that God in afflicting of thee loveth thee.

Now I come to the latter part of the verſe, the drift p. 506duplicate page p. 507duplicate page p. 508and end of Gods afflicting us; in theſe words, Be zealous therefore, and amend. I purpoſe not to make any diſcourſe upon Zeal, or Repentance, for then I ſhould go out or my intended courſe, which tendeth wholy to the ſetting forth of the neceſſity, and utilitie of Afflictions. The Lord having ſaid, As many as I love, I rebuke, and chaſten, addeth by way of exhortation, theſe words, Bee zealous therefore, and amend, from which words wee may gather this concluſion.

Doct. 4. The chiefe end of Gods afflicting us, is the bettering of us.The chiefe, and ſpeciall end of Gods afflicting us, is the bettering and amending of us. The Lord knows that grace is beter for us then great poſſeſſions, and a healthfull ſoul is more to be deſired then a p. 509ſtrong and luſty body, and therefore for the good of the ſoul doth many wayes afflict the body. That ground from which wee expect and deſire good, wee digge, or plough, and harrow; but that ground which wee regard not, wee meddle not with it, wee take no paines about it, but let it lie waſte. Even ſo dealeth the Lord with man. Hee lets the wicked alone, hee looks for no good from them: but hee ploweth over his children, and harroweth them with affliction, that ſo they may be fruitfull; that in their lives they may bring forth a rich and plentifull crop of grace, and godlineſſe. Why do we beat our wall-nut trees? Why do wee prune, and cut our vines, is it not to make p. 508duplicate page p. 509duplicate page p. 510them more fruitfull? So deals the Lord with his children, hee breaks, and cuts off many ſuperfluous evils with the pruning knife of Affliction, that ſo they may grow more fruitfull in well doing. The end of Gods correcting of us, is not (as ſome may think) to avenge himſelfe upon us, for thoſe evils which wee have committed againſt him; nor yet to pleaſe himſelfe in our ſmart, as if hee took delight in our punniſhment and ſorrow: but it is for the bettering of us.

Moſes tells the Iſraelites, that the Lord was their guid in the great and terrible wilderneſſe, to humble them, and to prove them, that he might do them good at their latter end. Deut. 8.16. Hee chaſteneth us p. 511for our profit, that wee might be partakers of his holineſſe. Heb. 12.10. Hee woundeth us, that hee may heale us. A legge that is crooked, and groweth awrye, muſt bee broken before it can be made right and ſtreight. If the Lord ſhould not break thoſe crooked and perverſe wills of ours, they would never be rectified. The Lord uſeth to beat out one evill with another, the evill of ſinne, with the evill of puniſhment. There is a great deal of folly in the hearts of his wiſeſt children; they are ſlow of heart to beleeve, and practiſe that which will make for their good; this folly, the Lord (in wiſdom) drives away from them by the rod of correction. By this ſhall the iniquitie of Jacob be purged, p. 512and this is all the fruit, the taking away of his ſinne. Eſa. 27.9.

Naturally wee ſport with ſinne, and make it a paſtime to do evill. Prov. 10.23. Many drink iniquitie like water. Job, 15.16. Wickedneſſe is ſweet in our mouths, and wee are loth to part with it untill the Lord (in love) doth adminiſter unto us ſome affliction or other, which (like unto Stibium) ſhall make us to vomit up theſe ſweet morſells, and make us out of love with our former evill wayes and courſes, as things, not only unpleaſing, and diſtaſtfull unto the Lord, but ſuch as are noxious, and hurtfull unto us.

Therefore for the preventing of that evill which ſinne may bring upon us, and for p. 513the beſtowing upon us that good which the love and practiſe of ſinne would hinder us of, the Lord doth afflict and chaſtiſe us. How did his people Iſrael go a whoring from him? they were ſet upon gadding, yea madding after ſinne; and therefore the Lord was conſtrained to fetch them back againe by his judgements. Wee are as ready to wander out of the way, as ſheep going aſtray, ſo that the Lord muſt ſend ſome affliction or other after us to call us back again, as David, Pſal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted I went aſtray. The prodigall in the Goſpel turnes his back upon his father, and takes his journey into a farre countrey, where he conſumed and waſted his goods with riotous p. 514living: but having ſpent all, and being pinched with penury, he could then mind home, and returne againe unto his father with griefe, and ſhame; which had not affliction been (no doubt) hee would never have done. The like may be ſaid of many moe, who (for ought wee know to the contrary) had periſhed if they had not been afflicted. So that few or none of Gods children but can ſay, It had been wrong with them, if they had not been afflicted, for by afflictions they have been much bettered.

Reaſon. By affliction wee come to know our ſelves.And that firſt of all, becauſe by affliction they have been brought to know themſelves, and to ſee and acknowledge the damnable eſtate whereinto they were by p. 515ſinne plunged. Hence is it ſaid, That the prodigall (of whom I ſpake even now) being brought to that extreame want, that hee would faine have filled his belly with the husks that the ſwine did eate, but no man gave him them, then hee came to himſelfe, Luk. 15, 16, 17. Being before as it were out of his right wits, that is, ignorant of that miſerable and wicked condition, into which (through ſinne) he had brought himſelfe. How many of Gods people have forgotten the Lord, and themſelves, untill ſuch time as the Lord hath remembred them with ſome affliction?Note. wee never come to a thorow underſtanding and knowledge of our own hearts, untill affliction hath gaged, and ſounded them. In proſperitie p. 516wee can carry our ſelves moderately, and cheerefully towards God and man; for the corruption that is within us lieth ſtill, and is not ſtirred, and therefore not ſeene, or diſcerned; as the ſtinking ſmell, and ſavor of ſome dunghill, or bumby is kept in, and not ſmelled, untill it be ſtirred; but if once you meddle with it, then it caſts up thoſe ſtinking vapors that are in it: even ſo, let God lay affliction upon us, then that corruption which before lay hid, is now manifeſted. Wee never come to make experience (as was ſaid before) of our impatience, teſtineſſe, rebellion, infidelity, love of the world, and the like, untill affliction come unto us. Wee are ſo blinded with ſelfe-conceit p. 517and privie pride, that when wee heare of, or ſee others diſtempered with affliction, wee can be ready to condemne them, and (in our own breaſts) juſtifie our ſelves, and thinke that wee would beare out the affliction more manfully then ſo, if the ſame, or the like ſhould befall us. Whereupon the Lord to humble us, and take us down, ſendeth us ſome affliction or other, that ſo wee may thinke no better of our ſelves then there is juſt cauſe; for when affliction comes, wee can doubt of Gods promiſe, wee can queſtion his Providence, wee can murmurre and repine, or at the leaſt, hang down the head in a diſcontented, and ſu…len manner, as if wee had neither faith, nor hope, p. 518nor any dramme of grace in us.

Reaſon 2 By affliction wee come to judge aright of ſinne.Secondly, by affliction wee come to judge aright of ſinne, as well as of our ſelves. It is that which will make ſinne as heinous, and odious in our own view, as it is in its own nature. Did not the God of this world caſt a miſt before our eyes, or elſe ſhew us our ſinnes in falſe glaſſes, wee would be ſo farre from pleaſing our ſelves with any ſinne, that upon the committing of it, wee would cry out with the leper in the law, I am unclean, I am unclean. Lev. 13.45. Wee would abhorre our ſelves in duſt and aſhes, if wee ſaw how loathſome ſinne hath made us in Gods eye; and this wee ſeldome ſee, but when affliction opens our eyes. Indeed afflictions p. 589of themſelves can not do this; it is the Word of God which inlightens us, and brings us to the knowledge of our eſtates. But wee ſeldome find inſtructions to enter home, untill afflictions have ſharpned them. Thoſe that live in proſperitie, eaſe and fulneſſe, are ready to paſſe by rebukes, and to ſlight reproofe as unſeaſonable, and as that which belongs not unto them, but when the chaſtiſements of God have ſeazed upon them, awakened their conſciences, and mollified and humbled their hearts, then rebukes have a keener edge, and pierce more deeply. Inſtructions are the light that guides us in the way, but corrections joyned with them, do make our eye-ſight more p. 520cleere, and cauſe us more heedfully to follow the directions of the Word. Affliction makes us to heed that which before wee regarded not. As our eares are opened by correction, which were formerly ſealed, Job 33.16. ſo alſo our eyes are enlightned, which were formerly darkned. After the Lord had ſmitten down Paul to the ground as hee was journeying towards Damaſcus, it is ſaid; that there ſell from his eyes as it had been ſcales, and ſuddenly hee received ſight, and aroſe, and was baptized, Acts 9.18. untill affliction had ſeized upon Paul, hee could never be brought to ſee the oudiouſneſſe of his ſinnes. If the Lord ſhould alwayes ſit ſtill, and never come forth to judge us for our ſinnes, many p. 521would not only flatter themſelves in their evill wayes, not only juſtifie themſelves, but condemne the Lord, in being ready to thinke that the Lord himſelfe were well enough pleaſed with them, and their practiſe. Theſe things thou haſt done, and I held my tongue: therefore thou thoughteſt that I was like thee, but I will reprove thee, and ſet them in order before thee. Pſal. 50.21. Impunity, and proſperity makes many think, that ſinne is not ſo dangerous a thing, nor ſo foul an evill, as many Preachers would beare them in hand it is, whereupon they take heart, and are emboldned to the committing of ſin, and continuing in it, as the Preacher ſaith, Eccle. 8.11. Becauſe ſentence againſt an evill p. 522worke is not executed ſpeedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully ſet in them to do evill. Whereupon to beat us out of theſe wicked conceits, the Lord ſendeth ſome affliction or other home unto us, to be an eye-ſalve to anoint our eyes, that wee may ſee both the nature, and the danger of our ſinnes, how odious and hateful they are unto the Lord: How noxious and hurtfull they will one day prove unto us, if by ſpeedy repentance we do not turn away from them, eſpecially from thoſe ſinnes for which chiefly the Lord doth afflict us.

Naturally wee are all children of darkneſſe, ſo blind and blockiſh, that many know not (like blindfolded people) who ſmote p. 523them, nor yet wherefore they are ſmitten. In afflictions (for the moſt part) wee are like blind men, or thoſe that grope up and downe in the dark, to feele the doore, but cannot find the way out. It is a maſter-peece of Satans pollicie to delude our underſtandings and judgements with carnall reaſonings, that ſo when God afflicts us, to bring us unto the ſight of our ſinne, wee ſhould either hold on our old courſe, or elſe do more wickedly by not ſeeing, and ſo not amending that ſinne for which we are puniſhed, that by ſinne wee might be plunged into puniſhment, and for want of repentance, our puniſhment continued, & increaſed.

Object. But how may I be certified what ſinne it is for which p. 524I am corrected of the Lord?

Anſw. Firſt of all, look upon thine affliction, and weigh well with thy ſelfe the nature, and quality of the ſame; for oft times the Lord meets with us in our own kind, and paies us home with judgements ſutable unto our ſins. Adonibezek had cut of the thumbs of the hands, and feet of divers Kings, and therefore God rewarded him as hee had done to others. Judges 1.7. If David will kill Ʋriah with the ſword, the ſword ſhall never depart from his houſe. 1. Samu. 12.9, 10. Thus wee ſee how the Lord oft times meets with ſinners in the ſame kind wherein they have ſinned: what (may wee ſay) is the cauſe of this ſore and baiting famine, p. 525which thus rageth amongſt us? Surely our great unthankfulneſſe, and our horrible abuſe of Gods good creatures. Doth the Lord puniſh thee with loſſes, or with povertie? Conſider whether theſe outward things did not make thee proud, or elſe were occaſions of imboldening thee to the committing of ſome ſin or other. Are thy children ſtubborne, and diſobedient? Twenty to one, but it is to puniſh thy diſobedient, and undutifull carriage (formerly) towards thy parents. Thus might I inſtance in divers particulars, by which it is evident, that the Lord doth oft times proportionate puniſhments to our ſins; ſo as by our affliction, wee may eaſily gueſſe at what ſin p. 526the Lord aimeth, and of which hee would have us moſt heartily repent us.

Secondly, look into the book of God, whither thou canſt there find any that have formerly drunk of thy cup, have been exerciſed, and chaſtiſed with the ſame rod that thou art: if thou doſt not find any ſuch example there, aske and enquire of thy friends whether they have knowne any to be puniſhed as thou art; now if thou find any upon record in Gods booke, or by report from others canſt heare of any that have been in thy condition, then ſeek and enquire what their ſinnes have been, what manner of perſons they have been, and think with thy ſelfe thus; ſurely I am ſick of their diſeaſe, in that my Phyſitian p. 527takes the ſame courſe with me, which he did with them; I have committed their ſins, in that I partake of their puniſhment.

Thirdly, if thou wouldeſt faine find out that ſinne for which eſpecially thou art afflicted, conſider (when thou art under the rod) what ſinne lieth heavieſt upon thy conſcience; very probable it is, that, that ſinne which now cries loudeſt in thine eares from the voice of thy conſcience, cried loudeſt in the eares of God for puniſhment. Too many commit ſinne with delight, thinking they ſhall never heare more, or worſe of it. But when affliction commeth, the conſciencc begins to tell tales, and lay open things done in ſecret. Doſt thou p. 528not remember how at ſuch a time, in ſuch a place thou didſt commit ſuch a villany? Doſt thou not know how once in ſuch a kind thou didſt highly diſhonor God? Haſt thou forgot how thou didſt once wrong thy neighbor in ſuch a thing? Thus (in affliction) the conſcience many times brings to mind that ſinne of ours which wee had buried in forgetfulneſſe (as appeares by Joſeph his brethren) and ſo ſhould never have repented of it, if the Lord (by affliction) had not made our conſcience to diſcover it unto us.

Fourthly, if the Lord doth not meet with thy ſinne in its kind, or if thy conſcience, do not reveal unto thee all thy wickedneſſe, or that ſinne for which thou p. 529art puniſhed; then bee earneſt with the Lord in prayer, that hee would bee pleaſed to inlighten thine underſtanding, and helpe thee to make a narrow ſearch, and tryall of thy wayes, or elſe that hee would diſcover unto thee that or thoſe ſins for which his hand doth now lye ſo heavily upon thee.

Thus did Job, I will ſay unto God condemne mee not; ſhew me wherefore thou contendeſt with mee. Iob 10.2. Before Ezekiel could behold the wicked abominations of Iſrael, the Lord taught him to digge in the wall. Ezek. 8.8, 9. So before we ſhall be able to diſcerne that ſinne (or any other of our ſinnes) for which we are afflicted, the p. 528duplicate page p. 529duplicate page p. 530Lord by his ſpirit muſt demoliſh that wall of hardnes of heart, which hindereth us from ſeeing our ſinnes; or elſe he muſt give us of his eye-ſalve, wherewith anointing our eyes, thoſe ſcales of ignorance, and ſpirituall blindnes may fall from our eyes, that ſo we may the better ſee our ſinnes. Intreat the Lord to ſhine into thy dark underſtanding by the light of his Word; that it may enter thorow, even to the dividing aſunder of thy ſoul, and ſpirit of thy joynts, and marrow, that it may be a diſcerner of thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart as the Apoſtle ſpeakes. Heb. 4.12. And be thou well aſſured of this for thy comfort that he that is truely p. 531deſirous, and withall ſcedulous and deligent to finde out his ſpeciall ſinnes, hee ſhall have them in the end diſcovered and layed open unto him; becauſe (as you have formerly heard) this is one end why the Lord doth correct us, that ſo we may ſearch and trye our wayes, and turne again unto the Lord. Lam. 3.40. That we may be brought to a true ſight and ſenſe of our ſinnes, and ſo be throughly humled for them. Affliction ſerves to ranſack the bottome of the heart, to launch our feſtred conſciences, and o let out (by confeſſion) the feſtred and corrupted matter there ingendred, Ioſephs bretheren never came to ſee the odiouſnes of their ſin, p. 532untill affliction enlightned them, and then they could ſay, Wee have verily ſinned againſt our brother, in that we ſaw the anguiſh of his ſoul when he beſought us and we would not heare him, Gen. 41, 21. Now if once we come to ſee ſinne in its proper colours, and to be perſwaded of the nature and danger of it, then we are in the broad way to repentance: and this will worke our hearts not only to a loathing, but to the leaving, and forſaking of our former evils. For what man, but hee that is deſperately careleſſe of his own welfare and happines will dare to put on a garment infected with the Plague? What man that is in his right minde will take p. 533a ſnake into his boſom? Who is ſo foole-hardy as to pull a Lyon by the beard, or take a mad Dog by the eare? He that wilfully & wittingly lives in ſinne, doth a great deale more endanger the ſafety and good of his ſoul, then any man by the Plague or any other meanes doth the welfare of his body. Lighten mine eyes (ſaith David Pſal. 13.3.) that I ſleep not in death. Proſperity thickens theſe eyes of ours or elſe doth caſt ſuch a miſt before them, that we cannot ſee ſinne in its coulours: yea the worſe and more wicked any man is, the leſſe doth he ſee his evill, the leſſe is hee perſwaded of the danger of ſinne. All the wayes of a man are clean p. 534in his own eyes, Prov. 16.2. Through Satans ſubtilty, and mans infidelity, it comes to paſſe that thoſe which commit the groſſeſt ſinnes, and greateſt offences, imagine that their faults bee the ſmalleſt: and thoſe that are plunged into deepeſt dangers do dreame of greateſt ſafety and ſecurity: as many who have their hands deepeſt in the troubles and perſecutions, yea in the blood of Gods ſervants, will thinke that they do God beſt ſervice, Ioh. 16.2. Of this minde was S. Paul all the the while hee breathed out threatnings and ſlaughter againſt the diſciples of the Lord, Acts 9▪ 1. Therefore leaſt ſuch as belong to God ſhould p. 535ſleep in death by their blindneſſe, flying from repentance, ſhunning reformation, and running into deſtruction, the Lord in great love opens their eyes by affliction, as hee did the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4.31. At the end of thoſe dayes I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine underſtanding was reſtored unto mee: being a blinde beaſt before afflictions came.

Object. But what if neither my conſcience telleth me of any great ſinnes committed by me, nor the Lord revealeth unto me any ſinne which hath provoked him to puniſh mee?

Anſw. Then thou muſt know, and beleeve that thy affliction, and croſſe is for tryall, for p. 532duplicate page p. 533duplicate page p. 534duplicate page p. 535duplicate page p. 536example, for prevention, and not for puniſhment. The Lord will have the truth and ſtrength of thy grace tryed: God will have thee to bee a pattern unto others of obedience, and patience; or elſe by this affliction (as hath been ſaid) he intendeth to prevent ſome ſinne which (if thou wert let alone) thou wouldeſt fall into.

Reaſon 3 Affliction makes us to feare God.Thirdly, it muſt needs bee, that God by afflicting of us intendeth the bettering of us; becauſe by afflictions hee workes our hearts to a holy feare of his Majeſtie. The judgements of the Lord make the very wicked oft to tremble, as it is evident in divers places of the Scripture. Egypt ſhall be like unto a woman, for it ſhall be afraid p. 537and feare becauſe of the moving hand of the Lord of hoſts, which hee ſhaketh over it. Eſay 19.16. The ſhaking of Gods rod makes many oft to tremble, That all Iſrael may heare and feare, and do no more any ſuch wickedneſſe among you, Deutr. 13.11. God whips his own to keep them in awe, that the feare of God may ever be in our hearts; not ſuch a feare as is in the wicked, who dread him only becauſe of his power, and will, to puniſh them for ſin, and is therefore called a ſervile, or ſlaviſh feare, becauſe it hath not the love of God, or the hatred of ſinne annexed unto it: but a holy, and a pious feare of God; ſuch a feare as is joyned with the hatred of evill. Prov. 8.13. and ſo cauſeth an eſchewing p. 538of evill, as it is ſaid of Job, hee was one that feared God, and eſchewed evill, Job 1.1. This is that feare the Lord wiſheth might take up the hearts of his people, Deut. 5.29. Oh that there were ſuch an heart in them, to feare mee, and to keep all commandments alway. Which feare the Lord increaſeth in the hearts of his children by afflicting them, 1. Sam. 12.18. The Lord ſent the Iſraelites thunder and rain in harveſt, and the people feared the Lord.

Proſperity, and immunity from affliction, makes many people ſecure, careles feareleſſe. Becauſe they have no changes, therefore they feare not God. Pſal. 55.19. Implying by theſe words, that the want of the feare of God groweth p. 539from the want of affliction▪ So Pſal. 73. the proſperity of the wicked is made the ground of their iniquitie, There are no bands in their death, they are luſty, and ſtrong, They are not in trouble as other men, neither plagued with other men. Therfore pride is as a chain unto them, They are licentious, they ſpeak wickedly, they talke preſumptuouſly, &c. Theſe are the wicked, who although they be long ſpared, ſhall in the end be deſtroyed, periſh, and horribly conſumed, becauſe they did not chuſe the feare of the Lord. Prov. 1.29. If then affliction is the means of working this feare in us, it muſt needs be, that God in-intendeth our great good, by afflicting of us, for no good thing ſhall be wanting to thoſe that feare him, Pſal. 34.9. p. 540The feare of God may bee compared unto the needle, which makes way for the thred, and drawes it after it; even ſo the feare of the Lord makes way for much good, and as it were draws it along withall.

The feare of Gods is very profitable.Firſt, it is a means of our humiliation, it will take downe our high thoughts, and abate, and abaſe our lofty ſpirits. Jacobs feare of Eſau, made him to bow ſeven times unto his brother Eſau. High-mindedneſſe and feare are oppoſite one to the other, hence Paul exhorteth us, Rom. 11.20. Be not high-minded, but feare.

Secondly, the feare of God is, as a bridle unto our unruly wills, and as a curbe unto our diſordered affections, to repreſſe ſinne. This p. 541kept the mid-wives from murdering the infants of the Hebrew women, Exod. 1.21. This kept Joſeph from yeelding to the luſt of his adulterous Miſtris, How can I do this great wickedneſſe, and ſo ſinne againſt God? Geneſ. 39.9.

Thirdly, the feare of the Lord will make us couragious in Gods cauſe; ſo as wee ſhall not feare the face of man. Say not a confederacy, neither feare you their feare, nor be afraid of them, ſanctifie the Lord of hoſts, and let him be your feare, and your dread, Eſa. 8.12, 13. There be amongſt us too many face-fearers, who had rather ſinne againſt the Lord, then diſpleaſe ſinfull men; theſe I may compare unto little children, which are afraid p. 542oft times to touch toyes, and bables, yet will be bold to put their finger into the fire. But thoſe that feare man more, or before the Lord, … look to meet with the Judgement of God, Jere. 1.17. Therefore let us feare the Lord, and this will ſwallow up all needleſſe feare of men, as Aarons rod devoured the rod of the inchanters; for the feare of the Lord procureth a good conſcience, and where a good conſcience is, there is holy courage and boldneſſe, the righteous are bold as a Lyon. Prov. 28.1.

Fourthly, the feare of God, keeps the heart and conſcience waking and watchfull; it leaves no place for ſecurity. Hence the Apoſtle exhorts the Philipians, p. 543to work out their ſalvation with feare and trembling, Phil. 2.12. Serve the Lord in feare, and rejoyce in trembllng, Pſal. 2.11. Hee that feareth the Lord, conſidereth that Gods eyes do alwayes behold him, that whatſoever hee goes about, though in ſecret or in darkneſſe, yet all things are open, and manifeſt unto the Lord; Yea that he underſtands the thoughts and ſecrets of every heart, Pſal. 139.2. and that nothing is hid from him. The conſideration whereof will make us to watch over our very thoughts, ſeeing wee are lyable to Gods Judgements, for evill thoughts, as well as for evill words and workes, Rom. 2.16.

Fiftly and laſtly, the feare of God, will make us happy: p. 554for wonderfull are the benefits, both temporall and ſpirituall, which the feare of God procureth to us and ours. Bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord, his generation ſhall be bleſſed, riches and treaſure ſhall be in his houſe, Pſalm. 112.1, 2, 3. Such as feare the Lord, have a promiſe of great proſperity, Deut. 5.29. How great is thy goodneſſe which thou haſt laid up for them that feare thee, Pſalm. 31.19. Not onelyonly temporall good things, but ſpirituall alſo, for the ſecrets of the Lord are with them that feare him, Pſalm. 25.14. Yea the Angels of the Lord do pitch, and tent about thoſe that feare him, Pſal. 34.7. Great are the priviledges of ſuch as feare God, which in this life they partake of, but the priviledges p. 545and mercies of another life, are ſo great, as wee are no way able to conceive of them. May wee not then ſafely conclude, That the end of Gods afflicting of us, is the bettering of us? When as by affliction hee brings us to a thorow knowledge, and underſtanding of our ſelves: to judge aright of the nature of ſinne, and ſo to come to abhorre, and deteſt it, and laſt of all, by affliction wee are brought to feare the Lord. Not that afflictions of themſelves do work this good in any, for they only make the wound, they do not heal: they only caſt us down, but cannot raiſe us up againe: they are as a Schoolmaſter, to bring us unto Chriſt, they bring not Chriſt into the p. 546heart of a ſinner. It prepares the heart, and makes a way for good, it is only the ſpirit of God, working with the Word, and helping us to apply the ſame aright unto our ſelves, which is the efficient cauſe of all good that betideth us: yet becauſe the Lord doth work good by affliction, that thing is figuratively applyed unto affliction, which is the proper worke of Gods Spirit in the hearts of his children.

Vſe. Wee do not make ſatisfaction by our afflictions.Is it ſo that the chiefe end of the Lords afflicting of us, is the bettering of us? Then are the Romaniſts groſly miſtaken, who ſay that God hath another end in correcting of us, and that is (ſay the Papiſts) for the puniſhment of our ſinnes, and the p. 547ſatisfying of Gods Juſtice. All ſinne doth deſerve a double puniſhment, both temporall and eternall. This latter (ſay they) Chriſt hath undergone for all his members, but the former, the temporall puniſhment lyeth upon our necks, and muſt be undergone by us, as a ſatiſfaction to be made (of our parts) to the Juſtice of God. And for proofe hereof, they alledge the example of David, who howſoever hee was received into merciemercy, upon his humiliation, and contrition, and ſo freed from eternall puniſhment; yet was hee not quit of that ſatiſfaction, which he was in his own perſon to make unto God for his offences; therefore did hee (ſay they) indure temporal puniſhments. p. 548A foul and a groſe error, and that which doth not only derogate from the all-ſufficiencie of Chriſt his merrit and ſatisfaction, for with one offering hath hee conſecrated for ever them that are ſanctified, Hebrewes 10.24. But it alſo takes much from the goodneſſe of God; his love and merciemercy is wonderfully clouded & eclipſed by their doctrine. For whereas the Lord telleth us, that hee doth afflict us in great love, for the bettering of us, for the beating of ſinne down in us, and driving it away from us, they ſay that God correcteth us for the puniſhment of ſinne in us, and the ſatiſfying of his juſtice.

Away therefore, with their blaſphemous doctrine, and beleeve wee the Word p. 549of truth, and be wee aſſured that our afflictions are rather furtherances of ſanctification, then any helps or means of ſatisfaction: adminiſtred unto us, rather as medicines, and preſervatives to help us, then as ſwordes to wound, or hurt us. For the Lord in afflicting of us, ſeeks us, not himſelfe alone, and rather the bettering of us, then the ſatisfying of his own minde, for hee goeth unwillingly to puniſh, Lam. 3.33. And yet how ready are wee to turn the truth of God into a lie? wee are ready to think that the Lord doth puniſh us, to eaſe his mind of us, and that wee ſuffer to ſatisfie. Truth it is that the Lord doth puniſh the wicked his enemies to eaſe himſelfe, and to be avenged of them, Eſay 1.24. But p. 550hee hath other ends (as we have heard) in afflicting his children; therefore wee may not ſay, by our temporall puniſhments wee are any way able fully to ſatisfie the juſtice of God for one ſinne. If this debt had not been diſcharged by Chriſt our ſurety, wee ſhould be caſt into priſon, wee ſhould periſh everlaſtingly.

Vſe 2 Our ſtubbornneſſe provoketh God to afflict us.Therefore hold wee this as an undoubted truth, that God may forgive us our ſins, yet here puniſh our perſons; not to exact any ſatisfaction of us, as if Chriſt his ſatiſfaction were inſufficient, and wee reconciled unto God by halves;but to make us better for time to come.

Secondly, if the end of Gods correcting us bee the p. 551bettering of us, wee may take notice of our perverſe and crooked nature and temper, with whom gentle and faire means (that is, the Word of God, and benefits beſtowed upon us) cannot prevail, but that the Lord muſt bee forced to take this tart, and unpleaſing courſe with us (namely correcting us) for our amendment. The Lord (as hee proclames himſelfe) is a father of mercies, ſlow to anger, and of great patience, long in his long-ſuffering, one that delights not in our griefes, but is rather grieved for our miſeries, Judges 10.16. and his bowels are troubled for us, Jeremie, 31.20.

Object. If the Lord were ſo unwilling to puniſh his children, and ſo grieved for p. 552their ſorrow, and miſerie, as the Scripture telleth us, why doth hee not (which if it pleaſe him he might) ſpare himſelfe that labor, and us thoſe paines hee putteth us unto?

Anſw. His love, and your good conſtraineth him ſo to deal with you. Suppoſe thou hadſt a childe that had broken his leg, what courſe wouldſt thou take with him, for the helping, and healing of him? wouldſt thou not bind him hand and foot, tye him down to ſome place or other, &c? Thy childe it may be cries out, good father let me alone, you hurt me, &c. Wouldſt thou give over becauſe of his cry? Doſt thou not rather cry with him, to conſider what paine thou art conſtrained to put him unto? p. 553Wouldeſt thou not tell him: O childe, I may not let thee alone, for then thou wilt be lame for ever, yet ſtill thy childe renews his cries, good father, if you love me let me alone. Wouldſt thou not reply againe, O childe becauſe I love thee, I cannot let ſhee alone, for then thou wert ſpoil'd for ever. Even thus dealeth the Lord with us, it is for our good, and in love that hee doth any way chaſten us, this courſe hee muſt take with us, unleſſe hee ſhould ſuffer us to periſh, which thing his love will not give him leave to do. He ſmites us with the rod, that wee die not, and that our ſoules may bee delivered from hell, Proverbes 23.13.14.

p. 554Oh the wickedneſſe of our hearts, and the rebellion of our wils, that wee muſt bee thus hampered, and handled before we can be bettered. We may ſee and confeſſe (if wee were not blind and hardned) that corruption is deeply ſetled in us, in that ſuch ſharp phyſick, ſuch bitter, and unpleaſing potions muſt be adminiſtred (and that again and again) unto us, before we can be cleanſed from that filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, which is innated and ſetled in us.

Vſe 3 Amend by little, elſe greater affliction will come.In the third place, wee are to be admoniſhed from hence to profit by thoſe light, and gentle afflictions wherewith it ſhall pleaſe the Lord to exerciſe us. For if little ones will not ſerve p. 555the turn to reclaim us, greater ſhall bruiſe if not breake us. If we ſhal dare to walke ſtubbornly againſt the Lord, Then will he walk ſtubbornly againiſt us, and he will alſo chaſtiſe us ſeven times more accordng to our ſinnes, Lev. 26.28. If lighter afflictions wil not ſerve the turn greater ſhall. The Lord came to Ephraim firſt like a moth Hoſ. 5.18. you know that a moth though it be a noxious and hurtfull creature, yet (if it bee looked unto betimes) the harme is little which it doth, and the breach, or hole which it maketh, may eaſily be darned up again. Thus dealt the Lord at firſt with Ephraim; hee did favorably and gently afflict them: but this ſalve was not ſtrong p. 556enough, to take down their proud fleſh, yet would not Ephraim bee healed, nor cured of her wound. Therfore ſaies the Lord, I will be unto Ephraim as a Lyon. Hoſ. 5.13, 14 A Lyon we know rents & teares where he comes; ſo the Lord (when gentle meanes will not ſerve the turne) comes like a Lyon, with tearing and devouring judgments God (when he ſee good to exerciſe his power) will make the proudeſt Pharoah, the ſtouteſt ſinner to ſtoop, and yeeld, elſe he will not ſpare to follow them, with one judgment, upon the neck of another. All theſe curſes ſhall come upon thee, and ſhall purſue thee, and overtak… thee till thou be deſtroied, Deu. 28.45. Conſider p. 557what is ſpoken by the Prophet Nahum 1.9. What do ye imagine againſt the Lord? he will make an utter deſtruction; affliction ſhall not riſe up the ſecond time. The Lord tarrieth long before he comes to ſmite his enemies: he forbeareth much: but when his patience is abuſed, then he (oft times) gives a deady blow: The ſpirit of the Lord did a long time ſtrive with man in the daies of Noah, but when their ſinnes began to bee multiplied againſt the patience, and long ſuffering of the Lord, When the Lord ſavv that the vvickedneſſe of man vvas great in the earth, and that al the imaginatiō of the thoughts of his heart, vvere onelyonly evill continually Genſ. 6.5. Then the Lord could p. 558beare with them no longer, then the Lord comes with his ſweeping judgment, deſtroying from the earth, the man vvhom he had created, from man to beaſt, to the creeping thing, and to the ſowle of the heaven, verſ. 7. The Lord ſuffered Sodom & Gomorrah ſo long that the cry of their ſins did ring up to heaven; but at length the Lord was even with them, and paied them home for all their wickednes; deſtroying them with fire and brimſton from heaven. Many other ſuch like examples might be brought to ſhew how the Lord comes out againſt ſinners at laſt, with ſweeping, and devouring judgements, if they will not take warning by leſſer ones. The hiſtory of the Jevvs (a people p. 559ſometime as deare unto God, as the apple of his eye, and as neere unto him as the ſignet on his right hand) doth plainly teach us, how ſeverely the Lord at laſt deales with ſtiffe, obſtinate, and impenitent ſinners. The favors, the benefits which God beſtowed upon them, the priviledges which they injoyed were above all the nations of the world; yet for all this did they (above all other people) provoke the Lord to anger againſt them. They mocked the meſſenger, of God, they deſpiſed his Word, and miſuſed his Prophets untill the vvrath of the Lord roſe againſt them, and there vvas no remedy, 2. Chron. 16.26. They did not onelyonly kill the Prophets p. 560and ſtone thoſe that were ſent unto them, but they crucified the Lord of life Acts 3.15. Yea and preferred a murderer before him; provoking the Lord ſo long, as hee could endure them no more; and therefore hee ſends againſt them Titus the ſon of Ʋeſpatian the Roman Emperour, who beſiged and ſacked the City of Jeruſalem, and made ſuch havock of the people, as is moſt lamentable to heare of. It is reported that they were beſiged ſo long as many thouſands of them periſhed through the famine, and many of them iſuing forth in hope either to eſcape, or to finde mercy with their enemies, were moſt cruelly hanged upon croſſes and gibbets ſet p. 561up before their walls: 500. of them ſomtimes hanged in one day; ſo long untill there was no more ſpace left unto them for execution. The number of dead carcaſes carried out of the Citie, for want of buriall, to be caſt into the ditches (if wee will credit hiſtories) was numberleſſe; for at one of their gates, the keeper thereof took the the tale of one hundred and fifty thouſand dead bodies. Nay, through the exttemity of famine, they were driven to eate their old ſhooes, the dung of their ſtables, and the fruit of their own loynes. And after all this, thouſands of them murdered by the ſword, and many moe thouſands carried into captivity, to be a ſpectacle to all ſucceeding ages of p. 562Gods indignation, and wrath againſt them. And theſe things are recorded for our good, that wee may not dare to ſtand it our againſt the Lord, but ſpeedily to amend upon the firſt warning, and blow given us; elſe the Lord will not give over, but come with ſeven times more, and greater judgemenes againſt us.Note. If wee belong unto the Lord, hee will never leave afflicting, till wee ceaſe provoking him. If wee be beloved of God, hee will ſtill follow us with correction, till wee fall to unfained and ſound humiliation & repentance. For we ſhall never be able to overcome the Lord, and make him give over by our ſtubbornneſſe, and reſiſting his blow, but by falling down, and yeelding p. 563unto him. The ſturdy oke is rent and torne in pieces by the tempeſt, when poore and weak reeds ſtand ſtill, by yeelding and bowing. There is no ſtanding out againſt the Lord; no reſiſting by force of armes; what is a ſilly ſheep to grapple with a Lion? The ſooner wee yeeld, and turn from our evill wayes; the readier will the Lord be to repent him of that evill which otherwiſe hee will ſurely bring upon us. Thou that by the Word of God, and by loving, and gentle correction canſt not be perſwaded to leave thy ſinne, muſt know that (if thou belongeſt to God) hee will never leave following of thee with one affliction upon the neck of another, untill hee hath his will of thee. What p. 564may wee then think of thoſe that are little, or nothing at all amended and bettered by any judgements that have befallen them? aſſuredly, if they be ſuch as belong to the Lord, hee is preparing of ſharper Phyſick for them; if they be none of his, it may be hee will give them over to their own hearts luſt, and reſerue them unto thoſe eternall, and unavoydable torments of the ſecond death.

Vſe 4 Adde not affliction to the afflicted, but pitty them.Fourthly, is it ſo, doth God correct his children for their great good? let us then beware of doing them hurt by perſecuting thoſe whom the Lord doth ſmite, leſt we adde afflict on unto the afflicted; and this wee do, when wee ſhall either uncharitably cenſure, or deride and ſcoffe p. 565at thoſe that are afflicted, or elſe in our mindes contemn, and ſcorne them, becauſe it pleaſeth the Lord in love (for their great good) to humble them. Such is the unmercifulneſſe, and crueltie of many, that they are ready to ſet their feet upon the necks of thoſe whom the Lord hath caſt down. Indeed it is an eaſie thing to go over, where the ſtile is low; hee that is caſt down to the ground, may eaſily bee crowed over; as the Chaldeans would make themſelves merry with the poore captived Jewes, They that led us away captive, required of us ſongs, and mirth when wee had hanged up our harps. Pſalm. 127.3. To require a ſong from thoſe, whoſe cheeks were bedewed with teares, and whoſe p. 566heart within them was as heavie as lead, yea even ready to break with ſighs, and ſobs, was a thing unreaſonable, even adding of ſorrow to their miſery. Whereupon ſaith the Lord unto thoſe Babylonians, Eſay 47.9. I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand, thou didſt ſhew them no mercy, but thou didſt lay thy very heavie yoke upon the ancient, therefore now ſhall deſtruction come upon thee. Though God doth afflict his children for their good, yet hee will not give their enemies leave to trample them underneath their feet, or unmercifully to triumph, and inſult over them, becauſe he hath brought them under. When Jobs miſerable comforters p. 567began to crow over him, and to cenſure him for his great afflictions, Job tells them, that hee that is in miſerie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour, but men have forſaken the feare of God, Job. 9.14. What doſt thou know to the contrary, but that the Lord hath brought thy neighbor into miſery, to be the object of thy merciemercy? that thou ſhouldeſt exerciſe thy charitie upon him, releeve and comfort him; which if thou doſt not, it is an argument that thou wanteſt the true feare of the Lord, for the Lord hath commanded us to relieve the oppreſſed, Eſa. 1.17. It is a ſervice moſt acceptable unto God, to relieve and refreſh our brethren when they are in any trouble, or diſtreſſe, and ſuch p. 568a ſervice as ſeldome or never goes without a bleſſing. Bleſſed is hee that conſidereth the poore, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble. Pſalm. 41.1.

Therefore as thou deſireſt that God ſhould bleſſe thee, be thou as willing, as thou art able to ſuccor and comfort thoſe that are in adverſitie. If thou wanteſt outward means of helping and relieving of them, let them have a word of comfort from thee to ſupport them; adviſe, counſell and direct them as thou art able: if not, yet pittie them, pray for them, that God would ſanctifie their croſſes, give them faith and patience to beare their croſſes, and to give them (in good time) a good iſſue out of them: and in the p. 569mean time, do thou entertain a charitable opinion of them, do not ſay, or think that they are greater ſinners then others, becauſe (peradventure) their afflictions and croſſes are greater, but that the Lord is pleaſed to prove them more then others, for their greater good. This wiſe judging, and mercifull conſidering of the poore afflicted, even when ſome heavie and ſtrange calamities do befall them, is a thing which God much reſpecteth, yea, and will certainly recompence with ſome bleſſing or other. But if thou beeſt cenſorious, or regardleſſe of others woe, and miserie, it is a ſigne that thou wanteſt bowells of pitty, and compaſſion, thou wanteſt true charity; for this would p. 570teach thee to remember them that are in affliction, as if yee were alſo afflicted in the body. Hebr. 13.3.

Thus it is with Chriſt the head of the body, hee is touched and affected with all their afflictions, hee hath a feeling of every evill that befalls them, as if it did befall himſelfe. They may be brought unto a low ebbe, and pittifull plight by reaſon of afflictions, yet doth not Chriſt eſteem them the worſe, neither is he then aſhamed to call them, and take them for his brethren; yea hee eſteems of poore afflicted Chriſtians, as a part of himſelfe; though they be vile and contemptible in the e…es of the world, yet are they honorable and precious p. 571in his ſight; though they be hated of the world, yet are they beloved of him. Thus ſhould it bee with all true and ſound members of the body of Chriſt: we muſt have a fellow-feeling of the afflictions of our brethren: to weep with them that weep, and to be of like affection one towards another, Rom. 12.15, 16. So full of pitty and charity was Paul, that hee was touched with the miſery of all his brethren. Who is weake, and I am not weake? who is offended, and I burn not? 2. Cor. 11.26. Nehemiah was a man in favor, and credit with King Artaxerxes, hee enjoyed the pleaſures of the Court, and felt no want, yet when he underſtood of the affliction of his brethren, and in what contempt, and p. 572miſerie the people of God were; it is ſaid, that hee fell down and wept, and mourned certain dayes. Nehe. 1.4.

The Prophet Jeremiah wiſhed that his head were full of water, and his eyes a fountaine of teares, that hee might weep day and night, for the miſeries of the people, Jerem. 9.1. But alas! how few are they that do lay to heart the afflictions of their neighbors? They ſing to the ſound of the violl, they drink wine in bowles, and anoint themſelves with the chiefe ointment, but no man is ſorry for the afflictions of Joſeph, Amos, 9.5, 6. Thus too many Chriſtians ſhew themſelves to be Stoicks, or rather ſtocks, without any charitable affection, without any bowels of compaſſion. p. 573Many will be kind unto their friends, all the while they are able to requite their love with kindneſſe againe, but in the day of adverſitie (as was touched before) they are ready to turn their backs upon their neighbors: whereas a true friend loveth it all times, and a brother is borne for adverſitie, Pro. 17.17. Theſe are hollow-hearted, and falſe friends, who like many a dog, will fawn upon a man, and follow him all the while hee hath ſomthing to give him, but when all is gone, hee is gone alſo. So that it is true, which the Wiſe man ſpeakes, Wealth maketh many friends, but the poore is ſeparated from his neighbor, Prov, 16.4. Take wee heed therefore, that wee be not ſo taken up p. 574with our own fulneſſe, and proſperity, that wee forget the wants and miſeries of others, ſo as there is left no place in our hearts to grieve for them: for if wee be without compaſſion, God will one day ſmite theſe incompaſſionate hearts of ours, that wee ſhall ſtand in need of, and be glad to have pittie from others, but it ſhall be denied us. For there ſhall be judgement mercileſſe, to him that ſheweth no merciemercy, Jam. 2.13. Therefore let us beare one anothers burthen, and ſo fulfill the law of Chriſt, Gal. 6.2. Thou helpeſt to beare thy neighbors burthen, when thou laboureſt to comfort him in the time of affliction; for it is a great eaſe and comfort unto him, that is in any diſtreſſe to have others p. 575to condole with him▪ to have companions of our ſorrow, to have thoſe that fellow-feele with us, cannot but be a comfort to any that are in miſery.

Little do you think what refreſhing (if not eaſe) it is to one in affliction, to heare, or ſee another to pittie his caſe: to weep with thoſe that weep, and mourn with thoſe that mourn, doth excedingly abate, though not remove and take away the ſmart of their affliction. We ſhall be the more ready and willing to put forth our hand of comfort, to lift our neighbor out of the ditch, if wee conſider how ſoone his caſe may be ours, and our ſelves (before it be long) may ſtand in as much need of pitty and comfort as our neighbor p. 576now doth. What meaſure you meat, it ſhall be meaſured to you againe. Matt. 7.2. Therefore denie not unto the afflicted any comfort which thou art able to afford him. But above all, beware (as I ſaid before) of inſulting over thoſe that are afflicted. This was the ſinne of the Edomites, which the Lord reproveth, and threatneth by the Prophet Obadiah, Thou ſhouldeſt not have rejoyced over the children of Judah, in the day of their deſtruction, neither ſhouldeſt thou have ſpoken proudly in the day of their affliction. As thou haſt done, it ſhall be done to thee, thy reward ſhall returne upon thine head. Obadiah, verſ. 15. The Lord will not have any to ſolace themſelves with others ſorrow; nor make themſelves p. 577merry at others miſery; though hee were our enemie. Bee not thou glad when thine enemie falleth, and let not thine heart rejoyce when hee ſtumbleth, leaſt the Lord ſee it, and it diſpleaſeth him, and hee turn his wrath from him, towards thee, Prov. 24.17, 18. But rather pitty thoſe that are afflicted, and then no doubt, but the Lord will ſtirre up the hearts of others to extend mercy, and bowels of compaſſion towards thee, when thou art in affliction. And if there be no man to pittie thee here, the Lord himſelfe will moſt certainly remember and recompenſe thy kindneſſe hereafter, in that day, wherein hee will reward every one according to his workes, and will ſay unto the mercifull, Come yee p. 578bleſſed of my Father, inherit yee the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the World; for I was an hungry and yee gave me meat; I thirſted, and yee gave me drink; I was a ſtranger, and yee lodged me; I was naked, and yee clothed me; I was ſicke, and yee viſited mee; I was in priſon, and yee came unto mee; for as much as wee have done theſe things to the leaſt beleever (yea, if wee do them to a bad liver for Chriſts ſake, wee have done them unto Chriſt, who will abundantly recompenſe us.

Vſe 5 Live by faith in affliction.Fiftly, is this the end of God afflicting of us, that hee may better us? Then let faith perſwade thy heart, and wait in hope of a bleſſed and happy iſſue, and end of thy affliction. Though thou haſt p. 579not wiſedome enough to make good uſe of thy chaſtiſments, yet thy God who is perfect wiſedome will make good his promiſe, and perfect his own handy-wotke, ſo as (if thou beleeve) thou ſhalt finde thy ſelfe one day much bettered by thy affliction. If thou beleeve, thou wilt patiently wait for the fulfilling of Gods promiſe, a beleeving patient had rather be held to a long and continuall courſe of phyſick in hope of future health, then to be in danger of his life, by interrupting his courſe of Phyſick. And for aſmuch as our underſtandings are exceedingly blinded through ignorance and ſelfe love, and much darkned with fleſhly luſts (as you ſhal ſee a looking glaſſe to be p. 580ſometime covered with duſt) that we can neither ſee what is amiſſe in our ſelves, nor yet amend on the ſuden what we find amis in us, we had need to exerciſe our faith in praier & in patience to wait for the accompliſhing of that good the Lord intends us by afflicting us. For as God preſcribes the phyſick, ſo he muſt cauſe it to work, & bleſſe it unto us: we of our ſelves are like children who being taken in ſom fault and feeling the ſmart of the rod, are ready to promiſe amendment, but preſently forget both the fault, the puniſhment, and our promiſe. Faith will teach us, not only to beg grace from God to amend our lives, but alſo help and ſtrength from him to walke more cloſly with him. For as no force of the hammer p. 581can worke the Iron unto any forme unleſſe it be ſoftned by the fire, even ſo afflictions will beat in vaine upon us, until God by his ſpirit molifie, and ſoften theſe hard hearts of ours, and teach us to profit by our afflictions.

And although thou doſt not preſently finde or feel that good to be wrought in thee which the Lord intendeth, yet live by faith, and wait with patience, and in the end thou ſhalt confeſſe, that God hath ſhewed thee his love, made good his promiſe; and much bettered thee by afflicting thee.

Vſe 6 Be thankfull for affliction.Laſtly, if the end of Gods afflicting of us bee the bettering of us; be wee then both thankfull to the Lord for our afflictions and joyfull in them. Suppoſe thou p. 582wert fallen into ſome dangerous pit, or quagmyre in danger of periſhing, wouldſt thou not be glad to ſee any comming neere to help thee? wouldeſt not bee thankfull to that perſon that ſhould bee a meanes of thy deliverance, though it were by putting ſome hook into thy fleſh which may for the preſent hurt, and wound thee? Sinne is a dangerous pit, and gulfe, wherein many ſoules do periſh; When the Lord afflicts thee he doth caſt a cord unto thee to lay hold of, or it may bee hee ſtrikes ſome hooke into thy fleſh, ſome ſore affliction, by which he deſires to pull thee out of thy ſinne; haſt thou not then great cauſe of thanks, and rejoycing offered unto thee when the Lord afflicteth p. 583thee? If wee had wiſedome and underſtanding to conſider aright of Gods goodneſſe and love toward us, there would be more thanks for, and cheerfulneſſe in affliction, and leſſe repining and mourning amongſt us, then there is. If wee were not poyſoned with infidelity and diſtruſt, it could not be, but wee ſhould be more joyfull in afflictions, and thankfull for them, then wee many times ſeeme to bee. Some (when the hand of God is upon them) are like to a man caſt into a deep lethergie, which is a drouſie, and forgetfull ſickneſſe, when the uſe of memory and reaſon is almoſt, or altogether taken from us; ſo they are like ſtocks, and ſtones, inſenſible of their afflictions, they have neither p. 584hearts, nor eyes to conſider of, or ſee their ſinnes which have pulled this judgment upon them, nor yet the end which God aimes at in ſmiting them. And there be other ſome of a contrary temper, and theſe are like to a man in a phrenſie; hee rages, and ſtormes, if not blaſphems the hand of God upon him, kicking, and ſpurning againſt the Lord, unwilling to beare that burthen the Lord is willing ſhould lye upon him: of both theſe ſorts of people the Prophet Jeremiah ſpeaketh, Thou haſt conſumed them, but they have refuſed to receive correction, they have made their faces harder then a ſtone, and have refuſed to return, Jerem. 5.3. They were unwilling either to beare their correction, or to be bettered by it. p. 585But let it not be ſo with any that love the Lord, or their own good: let both theſe extremities be avoided of us, and let us exerciſe the golden mean, to be ſenſible of the hand of God, and to be cheerfull and thankfull for our affliction, ſeeing (as hath been proved) ſo much good commeth unto us by them.

Object. If it be ſo, that afflictions are ſo profitable, then may wee, yea ought wee to pray that God would afflict us; for may not every one, nay ſhould not every one pray for that which may be profitable for himſelfe and others?

Anſw. Thoſe things which in themſelves are evill, howſoever by the wiſe Providence, and mercifull diſpoſition of p. 586God they may have a good iſſue, and work together for the beſt to thoſe that love God: yet may wee not lawfully pray for ſuch evills to light upon our ſelves or others, upon preſumption of Gods goodneſſe to turn them to the beſt.

The diſaſters, and miſerable calamities which for many yeeres together have rent and torn the Church, have ſtirred us up to ſeek, and cry mightily unto …he Lord, and to be humbled with faſting before him; may wee therefore pray that the rod of God may ſtill lie upon the backs of his people, that ruines and the breaches of Sion may not be repaired? Surely no: for wee are to pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, That peace may be within her walls, p. 587and proſperitie within her pallaces. Pſal. 122.6, 7.

Death in it ſelfe is an evill thing, for it is the wages of ſinne. Rom. 6.23. Yet by the infinite power and mercy of God, who delights to bring good out of evill, it is made the period of all our labors, and an entrance into Gods own preſence, may we therefore (being wearle of our lives) deſire death ſooner then the Lord will? Albeit afflictions, when the Lord ſendeth them unto us, ſhall bring good unto his children, yet ought wee not either to pray for them, or wilfully to caſt and plunge our ſelves into them. Therefore Agar praies unto the Lord, Give me not poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me, Prov. 30.8.

p. 588Wee are to pray for ſuch a condition in which the Lord ſees wee ſhall be beſt able to honor and glorifie him, and procure moſt good to our ſelves and others. Now whether this will be by proſperitie, or adverſitie, wee muſt leave it to the wiſedome of the Lord, who knoweth better then our ſelves what is expedient and needfull for us.

Object. But if it be ſo, that afflictions are ſo profitable unto us, whether being in them, may wee pray for deliverance out of them or no?

Anſw. Wee are to pray for deliverance out of them, if wee have received that good by them, which God intended us; otherwiſe wee p. 589are to be willing, nay deſirous that the Lord would not take off his plaiſter, untill the ſore be healed, leſt it ranckle, and grow worſe, and ſo wee cauſe the Lord to apply ſome ſharper medicine, to lay upon us ſome greater affliction. Therefore in thine affliction, call upon the Lord, and ſay, Smite Lord, correct me ſtill, untill thou haſt done me good by thy rod, let me have this affliction ſanctified, elſe let mee not be eaſed; let it not be taken off me. Are there not many delivered oft times out of ſickneſſe, for whom it had been better in reſpect of their ſouls, they had ſtill continued upon their ſicke bed? The like may bee ſaid of many other kinde of afflictions, and that it p. 590had been better for ſome they had never come out of them.

Therefore when wee are in affliction, let us not pray for freedome, and deliverance, but conditionally, if it be the will of God to inlarge us, and if he ſeeth that deliverance will be better for us. Otherwiſe, to deſire the Lord to keep us ſtill under, and to give us patience and faith to beare his rod, and to profit by it. But if any ſhall unwillingly beare the Lords yoke, uſing all means he can to caſt it off, and to pull his head out of the collar, this ſhewes, that ſuch a perſon doth not deſire that the Lord ſhould do him good, neither doth hee acknowledge the Lords wiſedome and righteouſneſſe, but ſeemeth to tell p. 591the Lord what hee thinkes were better for him. And let him know, that the Lord will either keep him in affliction longer, then otherwiſe hee would, or elſe, that this affliction ſhall be but a fore-runner of ſome greater judgement. Therefore let us not vexe, or diſquiet our ſelves in our afflictions, and ſo make them more grievous unto us then the Lord would have them. Lee us caſt our ſelves upon the Lord, and reſolve to abide his pleaſure; and aſſure wee our ſelves, that the longer wee are under his hand, the more good he will do us,Note. and the better able we ſhall be to beare his hand. You ſhall heare a new cart in the ſtreet which will ſqueak and make a noiſe, if the leaſt load that can be, lie upon it, p. 592whereas an old ſeaſoned cart will go under a great weight, and make no noiſe; even ſo many a Chriſtian (not uſed to beare affliction) will ſqueak, and cry out upon every little trouble, whereas hee that hath been ſeaſoned long, and exerciſed with afflictions, undergoes many great and grievous ones cheerfully, and contentedly. Wert thou never in affliction untiil now? then look up to the promiſes of God, acquaint thy ſelfe with them, and they will make thee cheerfull and thankfull for thy affliction.Dan. 3.17.Dan 3:17 It is my comfort in my trouble, for thy promiſe hath quickened me, Pſal. 119.50. Say as Sydrac, Meſhac and Abednego ſaid, our God whom wee ſerve is able to deliver us, and hee will p. 593deliver us. Haſt thou been formerly afflicted, and delivered, let former deliverances confirm and ſtrengthen thy faith in this preſent, or future afflictions, as it did Paul, wee ſhould not truſt in our ſelves, but in God, Who delivered us from ſo great a death, in whom we truſt that yet hereafter hee will deliver us, 2. Cor. 1.10. In the mean time reſolve to tarry the Lords leiſure, conſider not what now thou feeleſt, but what good hereafter thou art like to find by thine afflictions. Bleſſe God that hee will take this courſe with thee, as Job ſaid, What is man, that thou doſt magnifie him, and thou ſetteſt thine heart upon him, And doſt viſit him every morning, and trieſt him every moment? We would take it as a p. 594great grace and honor, if the King ſhould every day ſend to know how we do: but if hee ſhould daily come in perſon to viſit us, how highly ſhould wee think our ſelves honored? It is thy caſe that art afflicted. The King of Kings hath ſent his ſervant, nay comes with his ſervant to viſite thee, when he ſendeth affliction unto thee. Aſſure thy ſelfe he mindes thee, nay, ſets his heart upon thee: if he regarded not thy good and welfare, hee would ſuffer thee to take thy ſwinge in ſin; but becauſe he loveth thee he correcteth thee. It is a truth, the Lord hath ſpoken it; As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten; bee zealous therefore and amend. So be it.

FINIS.

End of the text · Adam Harsnett, A Cordial for the Afflicted (1638)