A Cordial for the Afflicted, Text (1 of 5)

A Cordial for the Afflicted · Text (1 of 5)

p. 1A CORDIALL FOR THE AFFLICTED. Touching the Neceſſity and Utilitie of Afflictions.

REVEL. 3.19.

As many as I love, I rebuke, and chaſten: be zealous therefore, and amend.

THeſe words are a part of that Epiſtle which was written unto the Laodiceans. In which Epiſtle p. 2there is ſet down firſt, the Inſcription, or, Superſcription of the party unto whom it was ſent, to wit, The Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans, verſ. 14.

Secondly, there is a Deſcription of the perſon from whom it was ſent, ſet forth by a twofold property. The firſt is his fidelity and truth, from whence he is intituled Amen, or according to the originall, the, or that Amen; which is an Hebraiſme, and ſignifies as much as Truly, or Trueth it ſelfe, explicated in the next words, That faithfull and true witneſſe.

The ſecond is his Eternity or Power, noted in theſe words, The beginning of the Creatures of God.

Thirdly, there is laid down the Narration or matter of p. 3the Epiſtle, wherein there is 1firſt of all a Conviction of the Angel his ſinnes: the firſt whereof is Lukewarmneſſe, verſe 15. which is ſuch a temper as is neither hot, nor cold. He was (as all hypocrites are) good only in outward ſhew and appearance; for he wanted both the mettall, and making of zeal, and piety. He had only an outſide, and face of religion, but wanted both the power of Gods word, and the zeal of his Spirit: in this allyed to the Cretians, who profeſſed that they knew God, but by their works they denied him, being abominable, diſobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1.16.

2Then follows a Commination,or the Puniſhment which the Lord threatned to inflict p. 4upon him for this ſinne of Lukewarmenes, and that is Rejection, in the end of the 16. verſ. I ſhall ſpite thee out of my mouth.

The ſecond ſinne for which the Angel (and in him the whole Church of Laodicea) is taxed, is his Pride or Boaſting, verſ. 17. For thou ſayeſt I am rich, and increaſed with goods, and have need of nothing.

The third ſinne was Ignorance of his wretchedneſſe, and miſery, And knoweſt not that thou art wretched, and miſerable. Which miſery conſiſted in three particulars, Poverty, Blindneſſe, and Nakedneſſe, in the end of the 17. verſe.

3The third thing in the matter of the Epiſtle, is a Remedy preſcribed for the p. 5curing of theſe three fore-named miſeries; unto each miſery a ſeverall remedy.

For the bringing of him out of his Poverty the Lord counſells him, verſe 18. To buy of him gold tryed by the fire, that he might be made rich. For the covering of his Nakedneſſe, he adviſeth him to furniſh himſelf with White rayment, that he might be clothed. And for the healing of his Blindneſſe, he would have him to Annoint his eyes with eye-ſalve, that he might ſee.

4Fourthly, the Lord ſets down a way, and courſe, which he uſually takes with his beſt beloved ones for the reclaming and amending of them; and that is Rebuking and chaſtening of them, in theſe words which I have read unto you, verſ. 19. p. 6Whom I love, I rebuke and chaſten, &c.

Which words are as a comfortable cordiall preſcribed by a wiſe and loving Phyſitian unto his ſick diſeaſed patient; to whom hee hath formerly adminiſtred ſome bitter pills, or unpleaſing potions. The Lord before threatned to reject the Laodiceans for their lukewarmnes, whereupon leſt they ſhould altogether deſpaire of regaining his love and favor, he doth prevent their fear, by telling of them that his correcting of them was no argument either of his hatred, or of their rejection, but an evidence of his love; beating them, that hee might better them. Whom I love, I rebuke and chaſten: bee zealous therefore p. 7and amend.

Theſe words conſiſt of two parts.

The firſt acquaints us with the Lords practice.

The ſecond layes down the drift, and end of his practice.

His practice in theſe words, As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten. The end and drift of his practice in the latter part of the verſe, Be zealous, &c.

I will briefly unfold the ſence of the words, and then (the Lord willing) collect Inſtructions out of them.

As many as I love, I rebuke. foreign.This word rebuke in the originall ſignifies not a bare and fingle reproof, but even ſuch a reproof as is uttered with ſome ſtrong arguments, and p. 8reaſons to convince the party reproved, implying unto us, that when the Lord rebukes man for ſinne, it is an argument of his diſlike and hatred of ſinne. And chaſten. This alſo muſt not be underſtood of ordinary correction, but ſuch a chaſtiſement, as a loving father gives unto the child of his love:foreign. for the originall is taken from a word which ſignifies a child: that as a father uſeth to teach and inſtruct his child, ſo the Lord correcting all thoſe he loveth, intendeth thereby to teach and inſtruct them.

Fervent Zeal what it is.Bee zealous therefore. Theſe words are in oppoſition to their luke-warmnes, and therefore Beza well renders it, be hot. Zeal or ſpirituall heat, is an affection compounded of two qualities, p. 9love and hatred. The love of God and his truth, and the hatred of every evill which tendeth to the diſhonour of God, or to the clouding, or ecliſping of his truth: againſt which evils when the childe of GOD ſhall any way beſtirre himſelf, hee is ſaid to be zealous for the Lord.

So that to be zealous, is to ſhew love to God, and hatred of error, and falſe wayes; to be grieved at thoſe things which may diſhonour God, or croſſe his truth, to oppoſe them with might and main, and to the utmoſt of our power to reſiſt them.

And amend, or repent. Theſe words have relation to their Lukewarmneſſe. The Lord will have them to leave off their Lukewarmneſſe, to p. 10repent them of their ſinfull temper, being negligent, and careleſſe in good duties and promoting the glory of God.

Object. But it may be demanded why the Lord doth here put zeal before repentance, when as zeal is by Paul ſet down as a fruit and effect of repentance. For writing unto the penitent Corinthians, 2. Cor. 7.11. He ſaith, Behold this thing, that you have been godly ſorry, what care it hath wrought in you, yea what zeal: making zeal an effect of repentance.

Anſw. The meaning of the Lord in this place is to exhort the Laodiceans to the practice of that duty, which they had altogether neglected, being a lukewarme, a remiſſe, and careleſſe people. Therefore p. 11having before reproved them for their ſinne of Lukewarmneſſe, he doth now exhort them to be zealous; and not only ſo, but to repent them of their former remiſneſſe. The words of the verſe may be thus metaphraſed.

Thoſe that are my deareſt children, my beſt beloved, I do rebuke, and convince of their ſinnes, yea as a loving father tendering their good, I do in mercy correct, and chaſtiſe them: therefore ſee you be not ſo Lukewarme as heretofore you have been, but ſhew more love to mee and my word, and more hatred to error and evill wayes, be grieved and ſorry for your olde courſes, and amend your lives.

p. 12Come wee now to the rayſing of ſome Inſtructions out of the words. In that the Lord telleth the Laodiceans, that he rebuketh and chaſteneth as many as he loveth, wee may in the firſt place from hence learn, that None, no not the beſt of Gods dear children are without their trials & afflictions. Man is born unto trouble, as the ſparkes flie upward, Doct. 1. The beſt have afflictions.Job. 5.1. Affliction is the lot and portion of all Gods children. It was a cup which Almighty God did temper and put into the hands of Chriſt his beſt beloved Sonne. Shall I not drink of the cup which my father hath given me? John 18.11. And in this cup Chriſt will have all his members to pledg him, as appeareth, Mat 20.23. Ye ſhall drink indeed, p. 13of my cup, and be baptized with the baptiſme that I am baptized with. Hence it is that Tryals and afflictions are by Paul called the marks of the Lord Jeſus. Gal. 6.17. I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jeſus. The croſſe is Chriſt his badge, and cognizance. If any man will be my follower, let him denie himſelf, and take up his croſſe daily, and follow me, Luke 9.23. The way wherein Chriſt went to glory was affliction, and in this path all that ſhall be glorified with him muſt foot it after him, for, Acts. 14.22. Thorow many afflictions wee muſt enter into tho Kingdom of God.

The way to heaven, and happineſſe is not ſtrewed with ruſhes, or ſet with violets and roſes, but with briars p. 14and thorns; it is not a milky, but a thorny way; not a faire, broad, ſmooth, and eaſie, but a narrow, cragged, crooked and croſſe way, through many difficulties and troubles. As the children of Iſrael were evill intreated in Egypt, groaned under heavy burdens, ſighed, and cried for their bondage, before they could be poſſeſſed of that land which flowed with milk and hony; ſo muſt we know what troubles, and ſorrows mean, before we come at our place of reſt, our ſpirituall, and Heavenly Canaan.

True it is, that ſome have but a few tryals in compariſon of others, yet the moſt have many, and the beſt (yea all) have ſome, for all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution, p. 152. Tim. 3.12. Do you deſire examples for the better ſetling and confirming you in the trueth of this point? Sooner may I find where to begin, then where, or how to make an end; therefore out of an heap, and a cloud of witneſſes I will take but an handfull, ſome few drops. Job was a holy man as the Lord himſelf hath witneſſed of him. Job 1.8. An upright, and juſt man, one that feared God and eſchewed evill. Yet how great were his tryals; how ſharp and bitter were his afflictions? Stript of all his outward means, brought unto a morſell of bread; bereaved at one time of all his children, and that by ſudden death, yea whiles they were eating, and drinking, not having (it may be) breathing p. 16time to call and cry for mercy. Wee ſhould take it to be a heavy judgement, and think that the Lord were highly diſpleaſed with us, if out of ten children, ſome two, or three of them, ſhould be made away by an untimely and ſudden death; but to be at one blow bereaved of all our children, to loſe ten at one clap, where is the man that would lay his hand upon his mouth in ſo great a tentation, and not murmurre againſt the Lord? Beſides, the Lord came neerer to Job, fighting againſt him with many perſonall terrors, afflicting his body with aches, and botches, vexing his ſoul in the day time either with the words of a fooliſh woman his wife, or with the biting, and taunting ſpeeches p. 17of ſome which came to viſit him, whereas in truth (like miſerable comforters, Job 16.2.) they came to vex, and gall him: And in the night time how was he tumbled, and toſſed up and down? Job 7.4. for when he ſaid, My couch ſhall relieve me, and my bed ſhall bring mee comfort; then was hee feared with dreams; and aſtoniſhed with viſions, Job 7.13.14. So that he was a burthen to himſelf, grew weary of his life, curſing the day wherein he was born, wiſhing that he had died in his birth, that he might not have lived to ſee and feel the miſeries and ſorrows which he ſuſtained.

David alſo was a man after Gods own heart 1. Sam. 13.14. Yet how ſorely did the Lord (almoſt all his life time) p. 18exerciſe and afflict him? Hee was daily puniſhed and chaſtned every morning. Pſal. 73.14. So as he roared day and night through extremity of grief: his bones were conſumed with ſorrow; and his moyſture was like the drought in ſummer. Betrayed by his falſe-hearted friends, perſecuted, and purſued from place to place by Saul, 1. Sam. 26.20. As one would hunt a partridge in the mountains. And, which went neerer him then any other troubles (his ſins excepted) what heart-breaking ſorrows did he ſuſtain through the wickedneſſe of his children? defiling each other, murdering each other, yea and (moſt unnaturally) ſeeking to depoſe him from the Kingdom. It would fill a volume to ſet down the p. 19manifold afflictions, which are recorded of GODS children. I will therefore ſpeak but of one or two moe, which I cannot omit, becauſe their examples will tend much to our ſatisfaction, if we will compare our tryals and afflictions with theirs, and conſider how farre theirs have exceeded ours.

One would think that if any upon earth ſhould ſcape ſcot free (as they ſay) and be without afflictions, the Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord might, ſhe being a woman ſo freely beloved of God, Luke 1.28. and ſo neere unto Chriſt. But if God would have the mother to be exerciſed, becauſe a ſinner, yet (mee thinks) her ſonne (being the onelyonly begotten of the Father, p. 20without ſinne, and one in whom the Father was well pleaſed. Mat. 3.17.) ſhould go untouched? No, no, it might not be; both theſe drunk deep of afflictions, as I ſhall make it evident unto you.

Firſt concerning Mary, let us conſider what old Simeon ſaid unto her, Luk. 2.35. A ſword ſhall pierce through thy Soul. Shee under-went not onelyonly out-ward, and bodily afflictions, but alſo in-ward and ſpirituall tryalls even ſuch as pierced her very Soul. A ſorrowfull ſpirit drieth up the bones, ſaith Solomon, Pro. 17.22. And Prov. 18.14. the ſpirit of a man will ſuſtaine his infirmities, but a wounded ſpirit, who can bear it? It was not then any pinching poverty, nor the rough handling p. 21of the Romane exactors, who forced her (being bigge with child), to take a painefull journey to Bethlehem; nor the poore entertainment, which ſhe and her tender babe found in the Inne; nor Herods blood-thirſty rage which made her (with her tender little one) to flie into Egrpt, where being a ſtranger no doubt) ſhe indured adverſity her bellie full; nor the fear of Archelaus after her return; nor her long deferred hopes all the while that Chriſt lived a private life (though Hope deferred bee the fainting of the heart. Prov. 13.12. nor yet the malice or hatred of thoſe bloody people, the high Prieſts, the Scribes and Phariſees, who not only oppoſed her ſon, but blaſphemed his perſon, and doctrine; no nor p. 20duplicate page p. 21duplicate page p. 22the paines and torments of his bitter paſſion, of which ſhe was an eye witneſſe, and ſpectator; none of all theſe were the ſword that pierced her Soul, though theſe were great burthens for a poore woman to bear, and the laſt more grievous then all the reſt.

How did Jacob take on when hee beheld but the bloody coat of his ſonne Joſeph? Jacob rent his cloths, and put on ſack-cloth about his loynes, and ſorrowed for his ſon a long ſeaſon. Gen. 37.34. How did David lament the death of his trayterous ſon Abſolom, though hee heard but the report of his ſlaughter? 2. Kings 18.33. O Abſolom my ſon, O my ſon Abſolom, would God I had died for thee, O Abſolom my ſonne, my ſonne. p. 23And reade wee not that Agar went aſide at her childs fainting, her mothers heart not enduring to behold the death of an Iſmael. Gen. 21.16. How then (thinke we) was Mary affected at the ſight of ſo many and ſo great miſeries which befell her ſon? And yet all theſe (as I take it) were but the beginnings, and occaſions of greater internall heart-breakings, and ſpirituall agonies, with which her ſoul conflicted. For what perplexed thoughts (may we think) did aſſault her ſoul, nay what did not, when ſhe ſaw every thing directly to thwart, and croſſe her preconceived hopes grounded upon the warrant and truth of Divine Oracles? Might not Mary have thus complained, What, is this he that p. 24ſhould be the Saviour and Redeemer of Iſrael? the horn of Salvation unto them, to be thus maligned and crucified? And yet while he lived, there was ſome hope (though no likelyhood) that God might work miraculouſly for his advancement, and by means unknown, make good his promiſes; but now that he is done to death, that ſhamefull and accurſed death of the croſſe, what hope is left? I thought that he ſhould have reſtored the Kingdom again to Iſrael. But alas how can that bee, he being now dead, and laid in his grave? Surely Mary had ſunk under this burthen, her faith, her patience had failed her, had ſhe not with Abraham (the father of the faithfull) above hope, beleeved under hope, p. 25not regarding the outward miſerable condition of her ſonne, but faſtning the eye of her faith upon the Lord, true of his Word, and juſt of his promiſe; yet for all her faith and patience, behold and ſee if any ſorrow were like unto Mary her ſorrow? The mourning of a mother for her ſonne, her only ſonne, the ſonne of her hopes, her hearts delight: nay that ſon, in whom ſhee expected that all the kindreds, and nations of the world ſhould be bleſſed, and yet now dying, dying a moſt ignominious, ſhamefull & accurſed death, now periſhing without hope of recovery. Loe here was the ſword that pierced her ſoul thorow and thorow: wherupon the Fathers diſpute the caſe whether Mary p. 26were not a Martyr; and they conclude that ſhe was more then a martyr, becauſe in martyrs, the more fervent their love is to Chriſt, the more it leſſeneth the paines of their ſufferings, but Maries love the more intenſe, and the greater it was towards her ſon, the more it augmented her ſorrows. But let us leave the mother and (laſt of all) take a view of her ſonne his ſufferings. Who though he were the prince of our ſalvation, yet was he conſecrated by afflictions. Heb. 2.10. Was he not in this world reputed as an abject amongſt men? lived he not in penurie, in povertie? Mat. 8.20. The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven neſts, but he had not whereon to reſt his head. How was he reviled and rayled p. 27upon by thoſe foul-mouth'dJewes? who called him a Wine-bibber, a Pot-companion, a friend of Publicans and ſinners, a Conjurer, one that wrought by the helpe of Belzebub: was he not buffeted, ſpit on, whipped, crowned with thornes, & laſt of all deſpitefully crucifyed? 1Beſides all theſe, hee did inwardly ſuſtaine farre more heavy croſſes, then that which was laid upon his ſhoulders (though the weight of that made him to faint with wearineſſe) for he was all his life time aſſaulted by Satan, and towards his end brought into ſuch an agony, as it wrung even drops of blood from his forehead; before his death his ſoul was heavy unto the death, through thoſe feares p. 28and terrors which had ſeazed upon him, conflicting with the wrath of God, and undergoing the curſe with greateſt extremity: all which made him (as one rejected and given over of the Lord) in a moſt heavy and dolefull manner to cry out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Matt. 27.46.

If then Job an upright and juſt man, one that feared God and eſchewed evill; If David a man after Gods own heart, one that walked before the Lord in truth and righteouſnes, and uprightneſſe of heart with God; 1. King. 3.6. If Mary, the mother of our Lord, a woman ſo freely beloved of God; And to conclude, if Chriſt the only begotten of the Father, could not come to glory but through many tribulations, p. 29and afflictions: I hope the doctrine, which I have delivered ſtandeth without contradiction, and that it is a moſt undoubted and undeniable truth, that, None, no not the beſt of Gods children, are without their trials and affflictions.

Reaſon. 1 Affliction findeth out ſinnes.And if any ſhould demand a reaſon, why the Lord doth thus deal with his dear ones, many may be rendered: ſome whereof reſpect the ſinnes of his children, either as they are paſt, preſent, or to come.

Sometime the Lord afflicteth his children that ſo they may ranſack and ſearch their own hearts and conſciences, and ſo find out ſome ſinnes which have a long time lurked in their breaſts, and are not as yet repented p. 30of: Lament. 3.39, 40. Man ſuffereth for his ſinne, let us ſearch and try our wayes. The heart is deep, yea, deceitfull and wicked above all things, who can know it. Jere. 17.9. It hath many turnings and ſecret corners, many holes for ſinne to ſculk and lurk in, ſo as it will very hardly be found out unleſſe a privie watch be ſet, a narrow ſearch be made. In the examination of a craftie, a cunning thief, the Juſtice or Judge had need to gather his wits together, and to have his eyes in his head, leaſt he be not able to find out that villany which will never be confeſſed, though the evidence be cleer againſt it. Affliction will quicken our wits, and cleer our eye-ſight, ſo as we ſhall be the better able to finde p. 31out thoſe ſins which otherwiſe (peradventure) would never have beene diſcovered. That perſon that cannot by affliction be wrought upon to ſearch what is amiſſe in him, will never do it. If the conſcience which hath been rockt aſleep in the cradle of proſperity, cannot bee awakned by affliction, it is in a deep, if not a deadly ſleep. Joſephs brethren could be touched in their conſciences for their unnaturall, and cruell uſage of their brother, when they were in ſome ſtraights, ſuſpected (as they conceived) to be ſpies, and one of their brethren taken, and bound before their eyes. Geneſ. 42.21. Whereas for divers yeares before, they had no check of conſcience for their ſinne.

p. 32Iob in the day of his adverſitie could call to mind old ſinnes, afflictions could bring them freſh to his remembrance: Thou writeſt bitter things againſt me, and makeſt me to poſſeſſe the iniquities of my youth. Iob. 13.26.

Iob 36 8, 9Job 36:8Job 36:9Elihu hath an excellent ſpeech to this purpoſe, If they be bound in fetters, and tyed with the cords of affliction, then will he ſhew them their worke and their ſinnes.

Teaching us hereby, that until ſuch time as the Lord by ſome affliction or other doth hamper and ſhackle us, wee have no liſt to finde out our ſinnes, but had rather cover, and daube them over. Whereas affliction (like unto a proſpective-glaſſe) will ſhew us things a farre off; and diſcover unto us many p. 33corruptions, which wee have either buried, or elſe ſlighted over. In affliction wee can ſee our formalitie, barrenneſſe, looſneſſe, dead-heartedneſſe, litherneſſe in good duties, pride, hypocriſie, earthly-mindedneſſe, uncharitableneſſe, and many moe old, and new ſinnes, which before we took little, or no notice of. Therefore if thou beeſt now under the rod of God, or hereafter mayſt be, ſay unto thy heart, ſurely there lieth ſome wedge of gold, or Babyloniſh garment hid, which the Lord would have me ſearch, and find out, certainly there is ſome Ionah that hath rayſed this ſtorme, there is ſome ſinne or other that hath cauſed all this affliction to befall me, which muſt be found out, p. 34yea, and caſt out of my heart, (as Ionab was thrown out of the ſhip) before this ſtorm will be calme, before the Lord will take off his hand from afflicting me. Therefore do not repine at the Lords wiſe and righteous dealing, but let thine anget and indignation reflect upon thine own vile heart, caſt thy ſelfe with all humilitie, at the feet of God, begge ſome of his eye-ſalve, whereby the eyes of thy underſtanding may be enlightned, that thou mayſt be the more able to gage and ſearch the bottom of thy heart, find out that, or thoſe ſinnes which have provoked the Lord againſt thee, leſt thou periſh through impenitency. S^t. Paul writing unto the Corinthians, about their prophaning of the Lords ordinance, p. 35their abuſe of the Sacrament, telleth them that for this cauſe many are weake and ſick among you: and many ſleep, for if wee would judge our ſelves, wee ſhould not be judged. 1. Cor. 11.30.31. implying thus much; that Gods hand lay upon them, that ſo they might ſearch out, ſee and confeſſe their ſinnes, that ſo God might pardon them. Therefore as at all times, ſo eſpecially in the time of affliction wee ſhould narrowly ſift, and ſearch our hearts, leſt any corruption lye lurking there to do us a miſchief. And if ever we bee brought to a ſight and confeſſion of our ſinnes, it will be while the rod is upon our backe: when the Lord had throughly jerked Ephraim, he could ſmite on his thigh, bee aſhamed p. 36and confounded, becauſe he did bear the reproach of his youth. Jerem. 31.19. Old ſinnes could bleed afreſh before them when the hand of God did cruſh them. The Lord by the Prophet Ezekiel, told Jeruſalem, that he would judge her after the manner of harlots, and would give her the blood of wrath and jealouſie. Ezek. 16.38. Becauſe thou haſt not remembred the dayes of thy youth, but haſt provoked me with all theſe things; behold, therefore I alſo have brought thy way upon thine head, ſaith the Lord God: yet haſt thou not had conſideration of all thine abominations. Verſ. 43. Teaching us, that the end of Gods correcting them, was to bring them to a conſideration and ſight of their ſinnes.

Reaſon. 2 Affliction purges out ſinne.A ſecond reaſon of the p. 37Lords dealing ſharply with his children, is, to purge them, and cleanſe them from all their filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit. This appeares by divers places of Scripture. I I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy droſſe, and take away all thy ſinne. Eſa. 1.25. And ſome of them of underſtanding ſhall fall to trie them, and to purge them, and to make them white. Dan. 11.35. And ſo in Eſa, 4▪ 4. When the Lord ſhal have waſhed away the filth of the daughters Sion, and ſhall have purged the blood of Jeruſalem from the midſt thereof, by the ſpirit of judgement, and by the ſpirit of burning And Eſay. 27.9. By this ſhall the iniquitie of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, even the taking away of his ſinne: not by juſtifying, p. 36duplicate page p. 37duplicate page p. 38but by ſanctifying them; by the rod of affliction beating ſinne out of its old corners; for as Elihu ſaid, Iob 36.10. He openeth their ear to diſcipline, and commandeth them that they return from iniquity. when the Lord doth afflict us, he doth really call upon us, and charge us to turne from our evill wayes. Hee knoweth my way, and trieth me (ſaies Iob 23.10.) and I ſhall come forth like the gold. Behold, ſaith the Lord, I have fined thee; I have choſen thee in the fornace of affliction. Eſa. 48.10. The Lord compares affliction unto a fornace, into which the Gold-ſmith doth caſt his metals to fine them, to purge them from that dirt and droſſe which is mingled with them. Proſperitie, health, eaſe, libertie, are occaſions p. 39of contracting, and gathering ſoyle, and droſſe; therefore the Lord (who loves to ſee his children clean) will bring them thorow the fire, and will fine them as Silver, and trie them as Gold is tryed. Zach. 13.9. Hence it is that the Apoſtle Peter ſaith Wee are in heavineſſe through manifold temptations, that the trial of our faith being much more precious then gold that periſheth, might be found to our praiſe. 1. Pet. 1.6.7. He doth chaſten us for our profit, that wee might be partakers of his holineſſe. Hebr. 12.10. Which we cannot be unleſſe wee be waſhed and clenſed from the filth of ſinne. Let us clenſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, and grow up into full holineſſe in the fear of God. 2. Cor. 7.1. Hence it is p. 40that David Profeſſeth, It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Pſal. 119.71.

Affliction is phyſick for the ſoul.Afflictions oft times make a bad man good, they always make a good man better. Therefore take this for a ſure ground, That the Lord never afflicts the body, but for the ſouls good, he never brings any evill upon our bodies, but with an intent to better the ſoul. When the Lord doth afflict us, he is in a courſe of Phyſick with us, to purge out thoſe malignant humors, which in the daies of our proſperity wee have contracted unto our ſelves.

Therefore as wee are content to receive bitter pils, ſick vomits, and unpleaſing potions for our bodily health, ſtriving to take them down, p. 41though they go ſore againſt our ſtomack: As wee endure ſharpe ſalves, and ſtrong eating plaiſters, and powders to be applied to bodily ſores, for the taking down of our proud, and eating out our dead fleſh; ſo muſt wee be patient in the time of affliction, ſeeing it is a means of helping, and curing our ſick diſtempered ſouls. Sinne is the ſouls ſickneſſe, and affliction is that phyſick which the Lord that wiſe and good Phyſician ſees meet to be applied unto us for our health, and recovery. Therefore as that mans body is in a dangerous (if not deſperate) caſe upon which phyſick will not work, or working but a little, doth little, or no good unto him, ſo as ſtill the diſſeaſe prevaileth, and the body p. 42languiſheth: even ſo it fareth with our ſouls, if afflictions cannot better us, our caſe is deſperate. Eze. 24.13. Thou remaineſt in thy filthineſſe and wickedneſſe, becauſe I would have purged thee, and thou waſt not purged: thou ſhalt not be purged from thy filthineſſe, till I have cauſed my wrath to light upon thee.

Gods corrections are for our reformation, and amendment, but if they cannot reform us, they make way either for greater judgements, as Levit. 26.21. Where the Lord telleth us that, if wee walk ſtubbornly againſt him, & will not obey him, he will then bring ſeven times moe plagues upon us, according to our ſinnes. Or elſe they prepare us for confuſion & deſtruction; for he that hardneth his neck when he p. 43is rebuked, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and cannot bee cured. Prov. 29.1. Some by accuſtoming themſelves to ſinne, are brought at laſt into an incurable condition; ſo that wee may ſay of him, and to him, as it was ſpoken to the King of Aſhur, There is no healing of thy wound. Nahum 3.19. To be never the better for affliction, is to bear the brand of a wicked perſon. This is King Ahaz, who in the time of his tribulation did yet treſpaſſe more againſt the Lord. 2 Chro. 28.22. And this will ſeal up unto all incorrigible perſons, Gods heavier judgements, which he will one day bring upon them.

True it is, that many are ſo farre in league with ſinne, that none of thoſe blowes which God giveth them will p. 44break that curſed league betwixt them and their ſinne; all that the Lord doth unto them is little enough to bring them to a ſight of ſin: But God will have ſinne out of requeſt with us, and us out of love with it, that ſinne may ſtink in our noſtrills, as it is unpleaſing to the Lord. Many having a ſtinking diſeaſe in them or upon them, ſeek not out for cure becauſe it ſavors not amiſſe to them, the ſmell thereof is not offenſive unto them: but when once they begin to be annoyed with their own ſtinck, then they ſeek out for helpe and remedy: Affliction ſearcheth ſinne to the quick, ſtirres up the bottome of our corruption, makes it ſtink in our noſtrils, ſo as wee begin to grow out p. 45of love with that evill which ſomtime hath been moſt delightful and pleaſing unto us. Therefore if iniquitie be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedneſſe dwell in thy tabernacle, ſaid Zophar. Iob. 11.14. This was good counſell given to Job in his affliction: he muſt purge his hand & houſe, yea, and heart too of all wickednes, then he ſhould lift up his face without ſpot, he ſhould be ſtable, and not feare. Job 11.15. then ſhould he be juſtified of the Lord, freed from the ſtaine of his ſinne, and be without all feare of judgement, yea, ſaith Zophar, Thou ſhalt forget thy miſery: Not onelyonly be an end of troubles, but eaſe and joy ſhall come in the place of them.

Reaſon. 3 Affliction preventeth ſinne.Thirdly, as affliction p. 46ſerves to finde out ſinne paſt, and to purge ſinne preſent, ſo alſo to prevent ſinne to come: which the Lord (who knows us better thē we know our ſelves) ſeeth wee would run into. Hence it was that a thorne in the fleſh, the meſſenger of Satan was ſent to buffet Paul, leſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure. 2. Cor. 12.7. The Lord was pleaſed ſo highly to honor Paul, as to take him up into Paradice where he heard words which cannot be ſpoken, which are not poſſible for man to utter; whereupon, leaſt Paul ſhould grow too high in the inſtep, and thinke better of himſelf, then there was cauſe, the Lord in wiſedom takes him down a peg, ſendeth a ſatanicall meſſenger to buffet him, that ſo hee might not be exalted. p. 47The Lord ſees we are ready to caſt our ſelves into ſome perils and dangers, or to run into ſome evils, which would tend to the diſhonor of his name, or the ſcandall of our profeſſion; therefore, by affliction (as with a bit, or bridle put into our mouthes) he doth reſtrain us, and ſo, wiſely, prevents thoſe ſins, which (if affliction were not) we ſhould fall into. God in his afflicting of his children lookes not alwayes▪ backward upon their ſinnes paſt, but ſometimes forward upon ſinnes to come? and makes them his principall aime and end of afflicting his children. There is a preventing Phiſicke, for preſervation of our health, as well as Phiſick for recovery, out of ſome deſeaſe already p. 48grown upon us. And yet I would have none to be miſtaken in this particular; as though God did at any time afflict any without cauſe. Although the Lord doth ſometimes afflict, and not for ſinne; yet never without ſinne, either inherent, or imputed. God is ſo farre from picking holes in our coat, ſo far from afflicting any without juſt cauſe, that hee may ſee enough in the beſt of us, yea even in our beſt ſervices, & performances to afflict us. The beſt of us brought with us into the world ſo much corruption, and do carry about us ſuch bodies of ſinne, as may expoſe us to all the plagues of this and another life. Every one of us hath in himſelfe ſufficient fewell for the fire of p. 49Gods wrath to work evermore upon him, if the Lord in his juſtice would be pleaſed to kindle it. Let no man therefore queſtion Gods juſtice in afflicting the beſt of his children, becauſe (as I have ſaid) he ſomtimes afflicteth us to prevent ſome evill to come, which through our naturall propenſion, through ſome violent occaſion, or through ſome ſtrong temptation wee may be drawne into.

Ephraim was mad upon ſinne, therefore ſaith the Lord, Hoſ. 2.6. I will ſtop thy way with thornes, and make an hedge, that ſhe may not find her paths. Too much ſun-ſhine will dazle our eyes. Too much honey turnes to gall: ſo too much proſperity and eaſe breeds ſecurity, and p. 50makes us proud, or wanton; therefore leſt our ranck blood ſhould cauſe ſome inflamation, it pleaſeth God (our wiſe and loving Phyſitian) to open a veine, to cool us, and to keep us in good temper. Horſes that are full fed, and pampered, grow (many times) reſtif: Veſſels unuſed do quickly grow ruſty: even ſo our nature would ſoon contract ſome evill, if the Lord ſhould not now and then take us into affliction's ſcouring houſe. The Lord ſees, that proſperity and immunity from affliction blunts the edge of our devotion, cools the fire of our zeal, and dulleth our eager purſuit after Heaven and Heavenly things, and therefore he afflicts us to prevent theſe evils, as hee took away Jeroboams p. 51ſonne by death, leſt if he had lived longer, he might have trod in the ſteps of his wicked father, and been tainted with his ſinnes. It may be the Lord ſeeth that wee would run into ſome danger, if he ſhould let us alone, therefore as he ſnached Lot out of Sodom, leſt he ſhould have periſhed in their flames, ſo he catcheth hold of us by affliction, thereby to deliver us from ſome ſinne wee are falling into.

Therefore whatſoever triall and affliction, doth befall thee, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, murmure not againſt the Lord, but be thankfull unto him, and ſay, O Lord thou knoweſt the diſtemper of my ſoul, thou knoweſt how prone I am to ſinne and wickedneſſe, and thou (who p. 52ſeeſt things to come as if they were preſent) ſeeſt, I was inclining to ſome evill, but in mercy haſt by this affliction prevented mee, keep mee therefore from falling into evill, by what means thou pleaſeſt, ſuffer mee not to ſin againſt thee.

Reaſon 4 Affliction teacheth us.Fourthly, the Lord doth afflict us, to teach us ſome good leſſon, which (without affliction) hee ſees wee ſhall hardly learn. Pſal. 119.71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy ſtatutes. Corrections are inſtructions.foreign. God will have none of his to periſh, for want of inſtruction. he ſendeth his word amongſt us, to teach us his wayes, that ſo we may walk in his truth. Pſal. 86.11. But outward proſperity ſo thickens p. 53our eare, and ſo hardens our heart, that we cannot, wee will not heare to our profit: Jerem. 22.21. I ſpake unto thee when thou waſt in proſperitie, but thou ſaidſt, I will not hear: this hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou wouldeſt not obey my voice; therefore the Lord openeth the ear of men, even by their corrections, Job 33.16. For ſuch as will not hear the word, ſhall hear the rod, Mica. 6.9. Manaſſes learned that leſſon in the ſchool of affliction, which could never be taught him in the ſchool of the Prophets. 2 Chron. 33.12. In his tribulation he humbled himſelf greatly before the God of his fathers. He that was prowd, and could ſet himſelfe againſt the Lord and his truth, and all that profeſſed it, all the while he was p. 54in proſperity, and upon his throne; when the Lord cauſed him to be caſt in priſon, and put chaines of iron upon his leggs, in ſtead of a chaine of Gold about his neck, hee could then learn to be humble, and obedient unto the Lord. Nabuchadnezzar being pulled out of his Babel, driven from men, to have his dwelling amongſt the beaſts, could at length come to praiſe, extoll & magnifie the King of heaven, whoſe works are all truth, and able to abaſe thoſe that walk in pride. Dan. 4 34. Our hearts are very hard and ſturdy, ſo as the word will not break them, untill the Lord by affliction ſubdues, and humbles theſe hearts of ours, making them ſoft and yeelding, ſo as the word may take ſome impreſſion p. 55in us. Hence it is that Solomon tells us, Prov. 15.32. Hee that obeyeth correction, gets underſtanding. Some ſay, that many (and I have found it true in ſome) children after a ſickneſſe grow both in ripeneſſe of underſtanding, and in ſtature of body: ſo it is with the Lords children: affliction bringeth them to a better underſtanding of heaven, and heavenly things (as Nebuchadnezzar confeſſed, Dan. 4.33. Mine underſtanding was reſtored unto me) and cauſeth the inner man to grow more then before. It teacheth us to walk in the right way, and to keep Gods Word, as Pſal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted I went aſtray: but now I keep thy word. What havock did Paul (before the Lord met with him) p. 56make of Chriſts flock? entring into every houſe hee drew out both men and women, and put them into priſon, Acts. 8.3. And being armed with malice, and authority, he poſteth to Damaſcus, to put in execution his bloody commiſſion: but the Lord meets him by the way, unhorſeth this perſecutor, ſtrikes him down to the ground, and ſmites him with blindneſſe; and what followed? Paul was now a new man: Act. 9.6. He then both trembling, and aſtonied, ſaid, Lord what wil thou that I do? What had become of Paul, if affliction had not beene? Which of Gods children cannot ſay as David ſaid, It is good for me that I have been afflicted? Nay, what affliction hath at any time befalne us, which wee p. 57could have ſpared? Nay (let me go a little further) is it not beſt with us, when wee are under the rod? Would it not be better with us (thinke you) if the Lord ſhould afflict us more? If thou beeſt the child of God, I appeale to thy conſcience, whether thy caſe had not been farre worſe, then now it is if affliction had not been. Many are like unto thoſe kind of fiſhes which ſeldom or never (without much difficulty, and labour) can be caught but when the water is troubled. So before troubles do befall many, they cannot be caught with the net of the Goſpel, all the coſt that is beſtowed upon them, all the pains that are taken with them, do them little or no good. All the good that the moſt of us learn p. 58is in the ſchool of affliction. So that affliction may ſay (concerning the good wee have) as Laban in another caſe ſaid to Jacob, Gen. 31.43 All that thou ſeeſt is mine. So in ſome ſence may affliction ſay, Thy humility, thy faith, thy charity, thy obedience, &c. all mine: from whence hadſt thou them? of whom didſt thou learn them, but of me? and therefore mayeſt thank me for them, Bleſſed is the man (ſaies David to the Lord: Pſal. 94.12.) whom thou chaſtiſeſt and teacheſt him thy Law. If we can pick no good out of our afflictions, learn nothing from them, woe will be unto us, that ever we were corrected. The judgements which are upon others ſhould better us, according to that of Eſay. 26. p. 599. Seeing thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world ſhall learn righteouſneſſe. If God will have us to profit by the calamities, and miſeries, which do befall others, how much more by thoſe afflictions, which touch our own skin, or come into our own bowels? But, alas ſuch blocks, ſuch non-proficients wee are, that the Lord may juſtly complain of us, as he did of Iſrael, in the dayes of Amos, I have thus, and thus corrected you, Yet have you not returned unto mee ſaith the Lord. Amos. 4.8, 9, 10.

Reaſon. 5 Affliction trieth the truth of grace in usFiftly, the Lord doth ſometime afflict his children, to try the truth of grace in them: 1. Pet. 1.6, 7. Ye are in heavineſſe through manifold tentations, that the triall of p. 60your Faith, being much more precious then gold that periſheth, might be found unto your praiſe. Apoc. 2.10. Some of you ſhall be caſt into priſon, that you may be tried. The Lord thy God led thee (ſaies Moſes to Iſrael, Deut. 8.2.) this forty yeere in the wilderneſſe for to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart. Why, doth not God know the ſecrets of al hearts? doth not he underſtand our thoughts afarre off? Pſal. 139 1. Why then ſhould hee afflict his children, to prove what is in their hearts? That we being afflicted, may know our own hearts the better, and that others alſo may diſcern the truth of grace in us. Every one almoſt will bee good whiles all things goe according to their hearts deſire; p. 61as the old ſaying is, The devill is good while hee is pleaſed. Even the wicked whiles there is nothing to thwart and croſſe them, will carry themſelves temperatly, and ſmoothly; But let the Lord ſet fire upon their hedge of proſperity, let the Lord, but a little, lay his hand upon them, and you ſhall ſee that verified in them, which Satan maliciouſly, and falſly layd unto Jobs charge. They will curſe God to his face, they will in a blaſphemous manner, ſpit out their venome, and poiſon againſt the Lord. There is a bottomleſſe gulfe of ſelf-deceit in the hearts even of Gods children, whence it comes to paſſe, that they can hardly be brought to beleeve, there is ſo much corruption in p. 62them, as indeed there is: but affliction, yea ſometime the fear of danger doth diſcover it unto us: as appeares in Peter; who (hearing Chriſt ſay, that all his Apoſtles ſhould be offended that night, and flie from him, Matt. 26.31.) utterly diſclaimes ſuch unfaithfulneſſe, and therefore telleth Chriſt, that whatſoever became of the reſt, he would not forſake him; whereas the very fear of ſome danger or trouble, made him denie, and forſware his maſter, as if he knew him not. Little do wee beleeve what filthy ſtuffe lurketh in theſe wicked hearts of ours, untill ſuch time as the Lord ſtirreth, and provoketh us by afflictions. A mans ſtrength is never known, untill ſuch time as it be tried, and he have ſome p. 63enemie to reſiſt him. Afflictions are tentations to try both the truth, and the ſtrength of grace in us: our faith, our patience, our humilitie, our obedience, our love, our courage, and heavenly mindedneſſe then appeareth, when affliction (which is ſo contrary unto our nature) doth encounter us. For that corruption which dwelleth in us, being exaſperated, and provoked by affliction, will then or never ſhew it ſelf in its proper colours. Our frowardneſſe, impatience, and infidelity will then appeare, when wee are pained or pinched by affliction; for then the fleſh begins to kick, and winch, becauſe Heb. 12.11. No chaſtening for the preſent ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous, p. 64though afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteouſneſſe unto them which are thereby exerciſed. So that by affliction every one comes to have an experimentall knowledge of the truth, and meaſure of any grace in him. Whence hee may ſay of himſelfe, and others may beleeve, and report of him, as the Lord ſaid to Abraham, when hee ſaw how ready and willing he was to offer up his onelyonly ſon Iſaac, whom hee ſo dearely loved, Geneſ. 22.12. Now I know that thou feareſt God. Whiles the Goſpel doth go with a fair, and calme gale, whiles eaſe, liberty and proſperity doth attend upon the profeſſion thereof, every one will be a Goſpeler, as Eſter 8.17. Many of the people of the land became Jews, when the p. 65fear of the Jews fell upon them. But trouble and perſecution tries the ſound-hearted, from falſe and hypocritical profeſſors. So that as Paul ſpeaketh of hereſies, 1. Cor. 11.19. There muſt be hereſies among you, that they which are approved among you may be known. So I may ſay of affliction, there muſt bee afflictions among you, that the truth of grace may be known in you.

Affliction ſaith Paul, brings forth patience. Rom. 5.31. which words to a carnall ear may ſound like Samſons riddle; Judges 14.14. Out of the eater came meat. Patience to come out of affliction, it may ſeem a paradox, but it is a moſt divine truth; not that afflictions do beget patience in the heart of a man, but by p. 66them this gift, and grace of patience is exerciſed and manifeſted in us; and in our afflictions wee come to make experience of our patience. Hence it is, that our Saviour Chriſt is ſaid Heb. 5.8. To have learned obedience by the things which he ſuffered. Not that Chriſt was then to learn obedience, but that in the time of his paſſions, himſelf, and others mighr ſee and diſcerne his obedience, who preferred the will of his Father, in drinking of that cup which was given him, though it were never ſo bitter and unpleaſing unto him. Wee are all of us too prone to think better of our ſelves then there is juſt cauſe; wee can promiſe our ſelves great things, and build caſtles in the ayre all the while wee p. 67ſtretch our ſelves upon our beds, and drink wine in bowles, live at eaſe and in fulneſſe: but theſe paper buildings, theſe clay walls of ours, are quickly ſhaken, and beaten downe, if the Lord do but ſhoot one arrow of affliction out of his quiver againſt us. Therefore the Lord in love, and wiſedome exerciſeth his children, that the truth and ſtrength of grace may be tryed, and ſeen in us, that ſo wee may throughly know our ſelves. The skill of the Pilot is then beſt diſcerned, when the windes blow: when the waves & billows riſe, mounting the ſhip as it were up to heaven, from whence down it falls again into the deep; every guſt of winde threatning to turn it over, every wave of p. 68the ſea comming over the ſhip, and gaping to ſwallow it up: In theſe tempeſtuous times, in theſe great perils to keep the ſhip up-right, and to ſave it from drowning, this doth manifeſt, both the knowledge, and the paines of the Pilot: whereas every skuller will be able to croſſe the ſeas in a calme, and when there be no waves to croſſe him. So every one will hold up his head, and be cheerfull whiles proſperity blowes upon him, and nothing to croſſe him: but adverſity tryes the man, and the truth and ſtrength of grace in him. For Prov. 24.10. If thou be faint in the day of adverſity, thy ſtrength is ſmall. Saint John having ſpoken of that warre which the beaſt ſhould make with the Saints, and how they p. 69ſhould be led into captivity, and be killed by the ſword, ads preſently after, Revel. 13.9. here is the patience and faith of the Saints: as if he ſhould ſay, By theſe afflictions will the Lord both exerciſe, and manifeſt the faith and patience of the Saints. Many drugs, and ſpices have an excellent ſavor in them, which wee cannot ſmell untill ſuch time as they be either grated, or ſtamped to powder, or burnt in the fire: ſo when we are grated by trouble, ſtamped in the morter of affliction, or caſt in the fornace, and fire of tentation, then (more then before) the fragrant, and ſweet ſmell of grace is diſcerned in us. Ariſe O North (ſaith Chriſt, Cant. 4.16.) and blow on my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out. p. 70When perſecution blew upon the bleſſed Martyrs, in thoſe bloody times of Popery, how ſweetly did grace ſmell in them? how meekly, how patiently and cheerfully did they go under their croſſe, and undergo whatſoever malice and crueltie could inflict upon them? The rage and violence of their enemies was ſo farre from daunting, and putting out the light of grace in them, that it more increaſed it.

Reaſon 6 Affliction doth fit us for Gods ſervice.Sixthly, the Lord doth ſometime afflict his children to fit and prepare them for ſome ſpeciall work and ſervice wherein they are to be imployed. When wee ſee a Carpenter tumbling and rowling any piece of timber up and down, wee p. 71may conceive that he overlooks it, to ſee whether it will ſerve his turn or no: but when hee ſtrikes his axe into it, when he falls to hewing, ſquaring, and ſawing of it, then wee know for certain it is for ſome uſe, and ſervice. All the while the wheat lies ſtill upon the mowe, it ſerves for no uſe; before it can be uſed it muſt be threſhed, and fanned or winnowed, or caſt up and down. Even ſo the Lord deales with his children, before he imployes them in any ſpeciall ſervice. Affliction is the axe, the ſaw, the chiſſell which heweth and pollifheth us; the fan which winnoweth and cleanſeth us, making us fit for that work which he hath appointed us unto. Before Joſeph can be promoted p. 72in Pharaohs Court, and have the ſway (as it were of his Kingdom) that he may ſtore up proviſion for Jacob, and his family, he muſt endure much hard-ſhip; he muſt be ſold as a ſlave unto ſtrangers; carryed (by men unknown) away from his fathers houſe, into a farre countrey; and there he muſt bee caſt into priſon, Pſal. 105.17.18. They held his feet in the ſtocks, and he was laid in irons. Before Moſes is ſent unto Pharaoh to charge him to let the children of Iſrael depart out of Egypt, before he is appointed to bee the captain and commander of that great and mighty people of Iſrael, hee muſt be baniſhed from houſe and home, from kindred, and acquaintance, and as Heb. 11.25. ſuffer adverſity with the p. 73people of God. Before David could have the ſcepter of the kingdome put into his hands, and the crown ſet upon his head, hee muſt endure many a hard brunt: go thorow many difficulties, and perills, be toſſed up and down from poſt to pillar, baniſhed from wife and children, with a world of other troubles, wherewith it pleaſed the Lord to exerciſe him. Yea, Chriſt himſelfe was by affliction fitted, and prepared for that great worke of our redemption: For it became him, that he ſhould conſecrate the Prince of their ſalvation through afflictions. Heb. 2.10. Therefore whenſoever thou art exerciſed with any kind of afflictions, ſay thus with thy ſelf: I perceive the Lord hath ſome p. 74work to ſet me about, ſome ſervice to imploy me in, and therefore makes tryall of me before-hand, that ſo I may be the better able to do him ſervice, in that work hee ſhall ſet me about, and call mee unto.

Reaſon 7 Affliction teacheth us to prize Gods benefits.Seaventhly, the Lord doth ſomtime withdraw from his children theſe outward and earthly comforts, leſt through their long, and plentifull enjoying of them, they begin either to grow wanton in the abuſe of them, or elſe begin to underprize, if not contemne them. The Lord ſees that wee would not eſteem aright of the comforts which we reap from his love, and bounty, if ſometimes (more or leſſe) wee ſhould not feel the ſmart of his diſpleaſure for abuſing his benefits. p. 75Plenty (oft times) cauſeth ſatietie: as appeareth by thoſe full fed Iſraelites, who grew to a lothing of that food which the Lord (in abundance) provided for them. Wee can ſee nothing but this Manna, Numb. 11.6. The prodigall mentioned Luk. 15. grew weary of his fathers houſe; their diet, and fare too coorſe, and homely, not fine enough for his dainty tooth: their ſociety, and company too plain and rude for ſuch a gallant as he was: abroad hee muſt, and from his father he would, to ſee faſhions, or to trie concluſions; ſo long that at length the begger meets with him, poverty pincheth him, and hunger biteth him; then he could looke backe from p. 76whence he came, and then he could prize the priviledges of his fathers family. How many hyred ſervants of my fathers have bread enough, and I die for hunger. Luke 15.17. He ſhould now think himſelfe a happy man, if (upon any conditions) he could but get into his fathers houſe againe; though he were put unto any ſervice, though but as one of his hired ſervants, Luke 15.19.

Abſence and intermiſſion of any outward benefits, and deſireable comforts, adde a great deale of life to the love of them, and waight to their worth and valuation. The goodneſſe of any thing wee enjoy, is better perceived by viciſſitude of want, then continuall fruition. Sleep is never ſo much longed for and p. 77deſired, as after the tediouſneſſe of ſome wakefull, and weariſom nights of reſtleſſe toſſings up and down, or turning too and fro in our tedious bed. The light (if it were alwayes day with us) would never be ſo acceptable, were it not for the uſuall intercourſe of darkneſſe. The Spring would never be ſo welcome as it is, had wee not a cold biting and froſty Winter. Wee never come to know the benefit of health, untill ſuch time as the Lord caſt us upon our ſick bed. We know not what our liberty is, untill wee bee thrown into priſon, &c.

Therefore becauſe wee are ſo ready to underprize the good benefits of God and to rob him of thoſe prayſes wee ſhould yeeld unto him for p. 78them: the Lord in wiſedome afflicts us, cuts us ſhort of them, that ſo wee may know the price, and worth of them, by the want of them.

Reaſon. 8 Affliction weaneth us from the world.Eightly, the Lord doth ſometime afflict us to we… us from this world. Such is the corruption of our vile and ſtinking hearts, that the things of this life ſit too cloce unno them, cooling the fervor of our firſt love, and by little and little ſtealing away our mindes from the practiſe and purſuit of heavenly things. Whence it comes to paſſe, that too many Chriſtians like moules, are alwayes rooting and ſcraping in the earth: yea, doting upon the world, with immoderation, and carking, to the great diſgrace of their perſons, and the foul reproach of their p. 79profeſſion, and calling; opening the mouths of unregenerate ones to blaſpheme the wayes of God, and ſaying; Theſe are ſuch as make not godlineſſe their gain, but rather, their gain their godlines. Nay too often the world by its ſubtil inſinuations lulls them ſo long upon her lap, that they are caſt into a deep ſlumber, even of carnall ſecuritie: that though the Lord cry aloud in their eares by the voice of his miniſters, and ſpeak to their conſciences by the inward motions of his holy Spirit, and intreat them to give over their eager purſuit of the world, to let earthly things fall out of their mindes, and to mind heavenly things to better purpoſe; yet for all this they will not knock off, but forge and p. 80frame many ſhifts, excuſes, and delaies, as the Church in the Cantic. 5.3. I have put off my coat, how ſhall I pat it on? I have waſhed my feet, &c. Whereupon her bleſſed Lord, ſo unworthily repelld, departs for a time, and ſuffers her to be taken by the watchmen of the citie, who ſmote her, and wounded her: which ſhee might have eſcaped, had ſhee not loved her eaſe too well. A thouſand pitties it is, to ſee how faſt the mindes of many are locked to outward things, as if they never knew what joy, or delight in heavenly things meant: hence it is that the Lord afflicts them, to beat them off from reſting upon, and too much delighting in theſe tranſitory vanities. In our proſperity wee are ready p. 81to think wee ſhall never be removed: and with the rich fool in the Goſpel, encourage our ſelves to eaſe, and liberty, becauſe (as wee think) wee have enough for many yeeres, Luke 12.9. If all things go well with us, we are ready to ſet up our reſt, and (with Peter) to ſay, Mark 9.5. It is good for us to be heere; nay as the Laodicean ſaid, Wee be rich and increaſed with goods, wee think wee have need of nothing: wee fear no colours, for the rich mans riches are his ſtrong citie, and as an high wall in his imagination, Prov. 18.11. whereupon leſt wee ſhould leane too much upon theſe outward things, and ſo have our hearts, our hope, and truſt drawn away from the Lord, he in wiſedom, and p. 82mercy withdrawes from us theſe weak crutches, and ſtilts of ours: We are ready to make proſperity our bulwarke to ſhelter and defend us from all harmes: and thoſe things which wee hold of the free goodneſſe of God, and his good pleaſure, wee are ready to think wee have them in our own right, and ſo wee make (as it were) a rent charge of all that which the Lord affords us of his free bountie. Whereupon leaſt wee ſhould challenge Gods gifts as our own right, the Lord will let us know of whom wee hold them, by taking them away from us. To pleaſe, or flatter our ſelves with any outward things, is to reckon without our hoſt: thoſe things are not ours either by fee-tayle, or fee-ſimple; p. 83but as tenants at will, we muſt hold them of him, who may every day take them from us, or us from them. If God ſhould let us alone, ſuffer us alwayes to abound and ſwimme in plenty, wee ſhould be ready to take our ſelves to be ſome petty Gods, and wee would not care for any life but this.

Therefore leſt wee ſhould dote too much upon this world, and take too much content in theſe outward things, as Jonas did in his gourd, the Lord will blaſt them, and ſmite them, that ſo wee may ſee the vanity of them. If the things of this life, begin to ſteal away our hearts from beter things, the Lord ſees it is high time, either to truſt us no longer p. 84with them, and therefore takes them from us: as parents take a knife from their childe, leſt he ſhould hurt himſelfe, or others withall. Or elſe (if the Lord ſuffers us ſtill to enjoy them) hee will caſt in ſome bitter thing amongſt them (as nurſes when they would wean their children, rub their nipples with ſome unpleaſing thing) to wean our mindes and affections from them. If the Lord ſend Jacob a Benjamin, he will take away a Rachel. If there be a Ziba to meet David, 2. Sa. 16.1. with two hundred cakes, an hundred bunches of raiſins, dryed figgs, and a bottle of wine to comfort him: there will be a Shimei at his heeles to caſt ſtones at David and curſe him, and to tell him that he was taken in his p. 85wickedneſſe, becauſe he was a murderer.

Certainly, if the Lord ſhould not thus remember us with ſome affliction or other, wee would quickly forget both God and our ſelves. For being full, wee be ready to deny the Lord, as Agar ſaid, Prov. 30.9. Man in proſperity is ſo proud, that hee ſeeketh not for God. Pſal. 10.4.

Hence it is, that the Lord complained of Iſrael, by Hoſeah, They were filled, and their hearts were exalted; therefore, they have forgotten me, Hoſ. 13.6. Proſperity and abundance doth even intoxicate many, and make them like drunken men: ſo beſotts and befools them, that they have no thoughts of heaven, or heavenly things: no hearts to be thankfull (as they p. 86ſhould) to God the giver of every thing they enjoy. Such is the corruption of our wicked nature, that the more of theſe temporall bleſſings wee receive from God, the leſſe wee think, wee need him, and the ſeldomer wee think upon him. If once, Pſalm. 17.10. wee bee incloſed in our own fat (twenty to one but) we ſhall ſpeak proudly with our mouth: and be ready to aske (as did proud Pharaoh) Who is the Lord, that I ſhould obey his voice? Exod. 5.2. Therefore to prevent the manifold miſchiefs which eaſe, and proſperity (as was formerly ſaid) may bring upon us; to beat us out of our earthly trenches, and to draw up our minds, and affections unto better objects: that wee p. 87may ſeek better things then this life can afford us, and make heavenly things our chiefeſt treaſure, and portion; the Lord will have us to feed upon this world, as the children of Iſrael did eate the Paſſeover, not only with ſowre hearbs, to allay the ſweetneſſe of their bread, but alſo with their ſtaves in their hands, as thoſe that were ready to go towards Canaan, their place of reſt. For wee are ſtrangers and pilgrims on the earth, here wee have no continuing citie, Hebr. 13.14. This world is but a bayting place, as an Inne to reſt our ſelves in for a while. Therefore God will have us ſo to uſe it, as if wee uſed it not, becauſe the faſhion of this world goeth away, 1. Cor. 7.31. They that ſet their affections p. 88on things below, do not live as thoſe that lay up for themſelves treaſures in heaven, ſeeking better and more durable riches, then the world is able to afford them; but as thoſe that make their belly, or their Mammon their God. Theſe may well be compared to a ſwiniſh ſot, who travelling towards the place of his inheritance is content to become an hoſtler in ſome baſe or obſcure Inne, to give content unto the tapſter thereof. Little do wee know, how the Lord takes it (and well hee may) to heart, to ſee us ſo dote upon the things of this world, and ſet our hearts ſo much upon them as wee do. God would have his children to live by faith, to truſt in him, and to reſt and bear p. 89themſelves upon his promiſes. Remember (ſaith David Pſal. 119.49.) thy promiſe made to thy ſervant, wherein thou haſt cauſed mee to truſt. How can wee truſt in the Lord, if wee make outward things our confidence? Therefore it is juſt with the Lord to ſtrip us, and ſpoile us of theſe baſe props, that ſo our hope, and confidence, our joy and delight may be chiefly in the Lord. It is ſaid that Zeno having ſuffered ſhipwrack, addicted himſelfe to the ſtudy of Philoſophy, the ſweetneſſe whereof after he had once taſted, hee accounted that an happy ſhipwrack, which cauſed him to affect ſuch excellent knowledge. So firſt, or laſt, hath, and will every regenerate childe of God ſay, O bleſſed p. 90be that affliction, whether it be ſickneſſe, poverty, reproch, or contempt of the world, perſecution, impriſonment, &c. which weaned my wicked heart from delighting in theſe tranſitory things, and brought my mind and affections to pitch upon heaven and heavenly things.

Reaſon 9 Affliction ſtirs us up to prayer.Ninthly, the Lord doth many times afflict his children to bring them unto the throne of grace; and to make them more ready and deſirous to ſeek his face, and to call upon his name, who are too ſeldom upon their knees before the Lord; and to make thoſe which do daily ſeek him, ſeek him more earneſtly, with greater ardency, and affection then formerly they have done.

Many of Gods children p. 91are too great ſtrangers with the Lord, they viſit him not ſo often as hee would have them, and therefore he is conſtrained to ſend for them by affliction, a meſſenger, which doth its errand, ſo well, as he brings along with him thoſe (for the moſt part) unto whom he is ſent. In trouble they have viſited thee: they powred out a prayer when thy chaſtning was upon them. Eſay. 26.16. The Prophet complaining of the ſins of his time, and of the ſenceleſſe ſtupiditie of the people, who as it ſeems were not moved nor affected at the firſt with their miſery; but when troubles came thicke upon them, and the hand of God grew heavie; then they could cry out upon their ſinnes, and call and cry to p. 92God, Our iniquities like the winde have taken us away: There it none that called upon thy name, neither that ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold of thee: for thou haſt hid thy face from us, and haſt conſumed us becauſe of our iniquities. But now, O Lord, thou art our father: wee are the clay, and thou art our potter, and wee are all the work of thine hands: Be not angry O Lord above meaſure, neither remember iniquity for ever: loe wee beſeech thee behold, wee are all thy people. Ha. 6.4.7, 8, 9. Manaſſes, who (it may be) had never offered up prayer to the Lord, being ſo groſſe an idolater, one that made Judah, and the inhabitants of Jeruſalem to erre, and to do worſe then the heathen whom the Lord had deſtroyed before the children of p. 93Iſrael. 2. Chro. 33.9. Yet this monſter of men, who brought vengeance upon Judah, and Jeruſalem, for his ſinne, as appeares, Jere. 15.4. When he was in tribulation prayed unto the Lord his God, and humbled himſelfe greatly before the God of his fathers. 2. Chro. 33.12. Wee are naturally like to thoſe proud poor people, who are loth to aske any almes till very need and neceſſitie drives them out of doores, to make their wants known, and to beg relief: but need will make the old wife trot. Want many times brings proud ſtout rebells upon their knees. Pſal. 107.5.6. They were hungry and thirſty, their ſoul fainted in them, then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble. When they p. 94were in any ſtraights through oppreſſion, or in any heavineſſe, then they cried unto the Lord in their trovble, Pſal. 107.12.13. When ſickneſſe hath brought them low, and made them ſo weak, that their ſoul abhorreth all manner of meat, and they are brought to deaths doore, then they cry unto the Lord. Pſal. 107.18, 19. When Jonah was ſhipt for Tarſhiſh, the Lord ſent out a great winde into the ſea, and there was a mighty tempeſt in the ſea, ſo that the ſhip was like to be broken, Jon. 1.4.5, 6. Then the Mariners were afraid, and cryed every man unto his god. And Jonah being aſleep, they awaken him, and bid him a riſe, and call upon his God, that they periſh not. It may be Jonah being conſcious to p. 95himſelfe of his ſtubbornneſſe and diſobedience, did not ſeek to the Lord in the time of the ſtorme; or if hee prayed, it may be it was not in faith, for none of their prayers could aſwage the ſtorme untill ſuch time as Jonah was caſt into the ſea: and of this thing was Jonah perſwaded; whereupon ſaid Jonah, Take mee and caſt me into the ſea, ſo ſhall the ſea be calme unto you, for I know that for my ſake this great tempeſt it upon you. Jon. 1.12. And howſoever the Mariners at firſt abhorred the fact, yet when they ſaw that there was no remedy, into the ſea they caſt Jonah. Where the Lord prepared a Whale to ſwallow him up. Then Ionah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fiſhes belly, and ſaid, I p. 96cryed in mine affliction unto the Lord, & he heard me. Ion. 2.1, 2.

Which places (with many moe) do teach us how affliction drives people unto prayer; and makes them as well as they can, to lift up hands and eyes toward heaven, to fall upon their knees, intreat the Lord to ſave them, to ſpare them, or to deliver them from that evill, their fear is comming towards them: in the time of a tempeſt at ſea, when every wave threatens to ſwallow up the ſhip; or in the time of any terrible thunder, and lightning, how godly, how holy, will the prophaneſt be? out of their beds they muſt, and to prayer they will (if they be able) themſelves, if not, as Pharaoh intreated Moſes, Exod. 9.28. Pray unto p. 97the Lord that there be no more mighty thunders and hail. So they will intreat thoſe that can, to pray for them. But what ſayes holy Job of ſuch hypocrites as theſe are? Will God hear his cry when trouble commeth upon him? will be ſet his delight on the Almighty? will hee call upon God at all times? Job 27.9, 10. Is hee like to ſpeed that ſeldome or never goes unto the Lord, but when want, & neceſſity drives him? for if affliction were not, he would not come at God. It fares with many as with young chickins, in á faire, calme, ſun-ſhine day; you may ſee them all ſtragling from the hen, one heere and another there: the hen deſirous to have her young ones neere here, clucks and p. 98clucks again for them, as having ſome proviſion for them: but they regard not her call, untill at length the kyte draws neer them, ready to catch one of them up: then they cry and runne with all ſpeed to their dam for ſhelter. Even ſo the Lord ſeeing us to ſtraggle too farre from him, calls us unto him, but wee regard not his call; whereupon he lets flie at us, hee cauſeth ſome affliction or other to terrifie us, and then wee ſpeed it to the Lord, then wee can lay on tongue, Help Lord, &c. So that the Lord deales with us as Abſalom did with Joab, becauſe we deal with the Lord as Joab did with Abſalom. Abſalom ſends for Ioab, but hee would not come to him. 2. Sam. 14.29. Abſalom ſends again, p. 99and Ioab was the ſame man ſtill, he ſtirs not a foot, hee would not come. Whereupon Abſalom commandeth his ſervants to ſet fire on a field of barley which Ioab had; Ioab then needs no more meſſengers, hee can then ariſe, and come in haſte to Abſalom without any more ſending for. Thus it is with us, the Lord ſends for us by the mouth of his Miniſters, he would have us come and appeare continually before him, Cant. 2.14. Shew me thy ſight, let me hear thy voice: but wee have little or no minde this way: he may ſend in haſte, but wee take time, and will goe at our own leiſure, whereupon the Lord ſets on fire ſomething wee have: that is, ſpoiles us of ſome-thing, that is pleaſing, p. 100and delightfull unto us, and then wee can run with open mouth, Save us Lord, &c. So that it is meere need drives many unto God by prayer: If they could have helpe elſewhere, or by any other wayes be furniſhed, or have their turn ſerved, they would not come at God. Davids words may well be applyed unto them, Pſal. 142.4, 5. I looked upon my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would know me: all refuge failed mee, and none cared for my ſoul: then cried I unto the Lord, and ſaid, Thou art my hope and my portion. When other refuge and helpe failes, then they can runne unto the Lord for help, and ſuccour. Theſe do in a manner tell the Lord, as many rogues do anſwere us at our doores. p. 101Truely they never asked any thing of us before: and if they could ſhift it, or if great neceſſitie did not compell them to begge, they would not now have troubled us. Therefore the Lord deales with theſe, as many a wiſe, and diſcreet tradeſman doth with ſome pedling chapman, whoſe cuſtome he never had before, neither now ſhould have it, if hee could elſewhere have furniſhed himſelfe with wares and commodities for his turne; If any wares be worſe then other, the tradeſman will put them off to ſuch a fellow, becauſe he knows it is not love, but neceſſitie that brought him unto his ſhop. As for his choyce and beſt commodities, thoſe he will reſerve for his beſt chapmen: whoſe p. 102cuſtome he hath alwayes had, and who will not leave his ſhop to go to another. Even ſo will the Lord deal with the wicked, who do not continually trade with the Lord in prayer, but now and then when they are at ſome pinch. Haply the Lord, (who is good unto all, and his mercies are over all his works. Pſal. 145.9.) may put them off with ſome of his refuſe wares, helping them at their need with ſome outward worldly commodity: but as for his choice, and rich wares, his love, his grace, his Chriſt, his ſalvation, theſe ſhall thoſe have who ſeeke him continually.

Reaſon 1 0. Affliction quickneth our devotion.Againe, affliction puts life into our devotion, and maketh us more inſtant in Prayer. For if Affliction, maketh p. 103us not importunate, nothing will.

The Lord holds us many times at the ſtaves end, and ſeemeth to turn away from our prayers, that ſo our prayers may grow more fervent: for though God knows our wants, and takes no delight in our ſorrows, yet oft times hee ſeems not to heare us, till our cries be loud, and ſtrong. God ſees it beſt to let his penitent ones dwell for a time under their affliction, and when he ſees them ſinking, he lets them alone till they be at the bottome, that out of the deep they may fetch deep ſighes, and cry louder to the Lord, and ſo prevail. For a vehement ſuiter cannot but ſpeed with God, whatſoever he askes. If our prayers want ſucceſſe, it is becauſe they p. 104want mettall and heart, their bleſſing is according to their faith and fervencie. In this behalfe affliction is very needfull for the beſt of Gods children: for too many of them (too often) ſeek the living God, with dead affections. Oh the perfunctory, cold, drowſie, lifeleſſe prayers which are made by ſome! Many (which make conſcience of the duty, and dare no day omit it) do pray ſo coldly, with ſo little zeal, and devotion, all the while they are full and at eaſe, that the Lord is even compelled to laſh them, to ſharpen their fervency, and to ſhake off that lytherneſſe, and luskiſhneſſe wherewith they were wont to come before him. Our God that heareth prayers, knoweth how cold, and p. 105feeble, how ſlight, and perfunctory oft times wee be when wee are in proſperity, and the rod of God is not upon us, ſo as little or no life, and power appeareth in them; do wee not find by our own experience, that trouble and affliction, whether it be outward or inward, not onelyonly drives us to prayer, but cauſeth us to ſet all our might, and ſtrength, when wee are wreſtling with the Lord, that ſo wee may be the more able to prevaile with his Majeſtie. Affliction will faſhion and forme the floweſt tongue unto this holy duty; and doth oft times furniſh us with ſighs and grones which cannot be expreſſed. If ever a Chriſtian will tugge and wreſtle with the Lord; it ſhall be when affliction p. 106lieth ſore upon him. All the while the childe feels the rod, or the ſtick, hee cries out, hee layes on tongue, hee doth with all eagerneſſe, and earneſtneſſe intreat for pardon, or no moe ſtripes: even ſo when wee feel the ſmart of Gods rod whipping of us, there is an edge ſet upon our prayers, wee pray not in that drowſie and ſleepy manner wee did before. This appears by that which David ſpeakes Pſal. 88.9. Mine eye mourneth by reaſon of affliction, Lord, I have called upon thee, I have ſtretched out my hands▪ unto thee. In their affliction they will ſeek me diligently, ſaith the Lord. Hoſ. 5.15. You may obſerve many a dog ſleeping in the chimney corner, which will not ariſe, when he is ſpoken p. 107unto; but if you ſpill but a drop or two of any ſcalding liquor upon him, he is up, and is gone, he cries and laies on tongue. Thus the Lord by affliction awakens his children, ſo as they call upon him in a more lively manner then formerly they have done. If you peruſe the Pſalmes of David, you ſhall find that very many (if not moſt) of them were penned in the time of triall and affliction. And the ſharper his afflictions were, the more fervent, and earneſt were his petitions unto the Lord, Out of the depths have I cryed. Pſal. 130.1. The lower hee was brought by affliction, the higher was he in prayer, crying out unto the Lord. Thus was it with his forefathers in the dayes of the Judges, the p. 108greater their danger was, the more inſtant, and earneſt were they in prayer unto the Lord. To give you one inſtance. The children of Iſrael were ſore troubled, and vexed by the Ammonites, whereupon they cryed unto the Lord for help; but the Lord gave them a cold anſwere, ſaying unto them, Ye have forſaken me and ſerved other Gods, wherefore I will deliver you no more. Goe and cry unto the gods which ye have choſen, let them ſave you in the time of your tribulation, Judges 10.13, 14. Whereupon they confeſſed their ſinnes, made haſt to put away their ſtrange gods from among them, then they will lay on tongue unto the Lord, beſeeching him that he would do unto them whatſoever he pleaſed: OnelyOnly p. 109wee pray thee deliver us this day, Judg. 10.15.

Thus I have made it evident, that afflictions are very needfull to drive us unto the Lord in prayer, yea to make us amend our pace: to double both our diligence, and our fervency in prayer. Therefore, If any be afflicted, let him pray. Wee highly diſhonor God, and wrong our ſelves, if wee ſeek not unto the Lord in our troubles, Call upon me in the day of trouble, ſo will I deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. Pſal. 50.15. Wee muſt make our afflictions our arguments to move God to deliver us, as David did Pſal. 25.16. Turn thy face unto mee, and hauehave mercy upon me, for I am deſolate, and poore.

Reaſ. 11 Affliction cōformeth us unto Chriſt.Eleventhly, the Lord p. 110doth thus afflict his deare children to make them conformable unto Chriſt: who though he were without ſinne, yet was he not without affliction. If then affliction be a meanes of purging out ſinne, and refining of us (as formerly we have heard) then it is needfull wee be afflicted, that wee may be made more like unto Chriſt, both in ſufferings, and in righteouſneſſe.

Vita crucis, vita lucis.The life of the croſſe is the life of light, Chriſt was the light of the world, and his life was in a ſort a continuall croſſe. Was it thus in the green tree, and ſhall it not be ſo in the dry? was the head thus continually exerciſed and ſhould the body go free? eſpecially when all the ſufferings of Chriſt were p. 111for our ſake: either ſuffering for us, or to teach us patience by his example, or to ſanctifie our afflictions unto us.

God will have all his elect to be made like to the image of his Sonne, Rom. 8.29. Not onelyonly in holineſſe and obedience, but alſo in ſufferings. Wee muſt know the fellowſhip of his afflictions, and be made conformable unto his death, Phil. 3.10. Not any that ſhall reigne with Chriſt, can be exempted or priviledged from ſuffering with him. If any man will follow me, let him denie himſelfe, and take up his croſſe daily and follow me. Luke 9.23. Yea, the dearer and nearer unto him wee be in love, the more conformable muſt wee expect to be made unto him in-affliction. p. 112For the bearing of the croſſe is a part of our tenure, or holding of Chriſt himſelfe, as may be gathered out of that place laſt quoted Luk. 9. Chriſt himſelfe held by this tenure, Luke 24.26. Ought not Chriſt to have ſuffered theſe things, and to enter into his glory? And as any of Gods children have obtained a more evident right, and cleare title unto this inheritance: or as any hereafter ſhall obtain therein a greater portion of glory, then other, by ſo much the more ſtrictly are they tied, and bound to obſerve the cuſtom of the Mannor. For God hath predeſtinated us (as I ſaid even now) to bee made like to the image of his Sonne, firſt in his ſufferings, then in his glory: p. 113for we an heires annexed with Chriſt; if ſo be that we ſuffer with him, that we may be alſo glorified with him, Rom. 8.17. The end of the Lord his hewing and ſquaring of us by affliction, is to make us lively ſtones of that ſpirituall houſe. 1. Pet. 2.5. ſo that we may be joyned with Chriſt the chiefe corner ſtone, 1. Pet. 2.6. unto whom wee be made conformable by affliction. And againe, 2. Tim. 2.12. If we ſuffer, wee ſhall alſo reign with him. Hence it is that James ſaith chap. 1.12. Bleſſed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tryed, he ſhall receive the crown of life, which the Lord bath promiſed to them that love him.

Therefore ſuch as go without correction, whereof all the Lords people are partakers, p. 114cannot be conformable unto Chriſt, for hee was conſecrated through afflictions. Hebr. 2.10. Hee was a man full of ſorrows, and had experience of infirmities. Eſa. 53.3. He was in all things tempted as we are, that ſo hee might both have a feeling of our infirmities, and alſo ſuccour us in them, for in that hee ſuffered, and was tempted, hee is able to ſuccour them that are tempted, Hebr. 2.18.

Reaſ. 12 Affliction prepareth us for glory.Laſtly, (not to keep you any longer in laying down of moe reaſons) the Lord doth afflict his children in this life, that they may not periſh in another life: When wee are judged, wee are chaſtened of the Lord, becauſe wee ſhould not be condemned with the world. 1. Corin. 11.32. p. 115Proſperity, immunity, and freedom from afflictions, eaſe liberty, and fulnes, is the broad way which leadeth to death, and condemnation. Hence it is that our bleſſed Saviour hath pronounced, woe, to thoſe that are rich, woe to thoſe that live in fulneſſe, woe to thoſe that live merriy, &c. Luke 6.24, 25. Now becauſe Gods children doe naturaly linger after theſe earthly delights, and comforts; the Lord in great mercy, doth hedge up our wayes with thornes, Hoſ. 2.6. Hee will have us to walke the narrow way (which, as wee have heard, is the croſſe way, thorow manifold afflictions) leſt wee ſhould periſh, and be damned with the world. What had become of Manaſſes if he had p. 116not been afflicted? He was carried into captivity, that ſo he might be freed from the bondage of ſinne, and Satan. Hee was put into chaines of yron, that ſo he might bee preſerved from chaines of eternall darkneſſe. Hee was caſt into priſon, that ſo hee might be kept out of hell.

Therefore ſaith David, Pſal. 94.12, 13. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſtiſeſt O Lord, and teacheſt him in thy Law. That thou maieſt give him reſt from the daies of evill, whileſt the pit is digged for the wicked Teaching us, that affliction is very uſefull, and neceſſary to free us fom condemnation. And not onelyonly ſo, but to help us forward in the way to heaven: for our light affliction which p. 117is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding, and eternall weight of glory 2. Cor. 4. The afflicted man muſt needs bee an happy man, becauſe glory, becauſe a crown, becauſe weight of glory, be-a weighty crown of glory is not only promiſed, but purchaſed, and prepared for him.

The tryall of your faith being much more pretious then gold that periſheth, ſhall bee ſound unto your praiſe: and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, 1. Pet. 1.7. The afflictions and troubles which do befall us in this life, are the Lords earneſt which hee gives us of comfort, and eaſe in another life. Whereupon Paul tells the Theſſalonians, that thoſe perſecutions, and p. 118tribulations which they ſuffered, were a token of the righteous judgement of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which ye alſo ſuffer. 2. Theſ. 1.4, 5. As the Iſraelites could not come at Canaan, but they muſt firſt be caſt into the deſart; and in their journey be ſet upon by Amalekites, their enemies: So before wee can come to that heavenly Canaan, our place of eternall reſt, wee muſt look to encounter with our deadly enemies, the fleſh, the world, and the devill: with tentations and afflictions: theſe ſtop us, or (at the leaſt) offer to ſtay us in our journey. But theſe wee muſt manfully reſiſt, as Iſrael did Amalek. When Iſrael went down into Egypt, they p. 119met with no afflictions, no rubs in the way: ſo the way to hell is eaſie, and ſmooth. Wee read not of one block, that lay in the rich gluttons way. But when Iſrael came out of Egypt, what trialls, what afflictions befell them, what enemies to oppoſe them? So when the Lord calls us out of the world, when wee begin to ſet our faces toward heaven, the devill will muſter his forces againſt us; but if wee fight the good fight of faith, if we endure to the end, and be faithfull unto the death, great ſhall be our reward and recompence; even a crown of righteouſneſſe, which the Lord that righteous Judge ſhall give us at that day, 2. Tim. 4.8. Not as if we had merited, and deſerved thus much by our p. 120ſufferings: for the greateſt afflictions that ever any Chriſtian hath, or can endure, are in themſelves, no way worthy of that glory which ſhall be beſtowed upon him. For I count that the afflictions of this preſent time, are not worthy of the glory which ſhall be ſhewed us, Rom. 8.18. If wee had a thouſand lives to ſacrifice to God, if wee had ten thouſand rivers of oyle to offer up: if wee would give our firſt-born for our tranſgreſſion, or the fruit of our bodies for the ſin of our ſouls, we are no way able to ſatisfie Gods juſtice, much leſſe merit heaven by all our offerings, or ſufferings. Were our heads wells of waters, and our eyes fountains of teares, and wee ten thouſand eyes, and would p. 121willingly weep them out for ſorrow through our ſinnes, yet all were not able to expiate one ſinne, nor deſerve the leaſt corner in heaven; yet becauſe the Lord would have us bear our afflictions cheerfully, and thankfully; hee is pleaſed to promiſe us, that if we ſowe in teares, wee ſhall reap in joy, Pſal. 126.5. if wee ſuffer, wee ſhall reign with him. 2. Tim. 2.12.