Mans Active Obedience, Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
The difference of ioy in the last dimenſion, or the longitude thereof; and how the ioy of ſound beleeuers is permanent, and inducing the ioy of hypocrites tranſitorie and fained.
THe fourth and laſt dimenſion, wherein the ioy of true beleeuers, and of ſuch as are but hollow and vnſound in the faith, may appeare farre to differ betweene themſelues, is in reſpect of the longitude and length of time, for the continuance and enduring thereof. The one is tranſitorie and fading: which (according to the vnſoundneſſe of them that hauehave it) will not laſt long, but is momentany, and of ſhort abiding like a morning cloud, and as the early dew, which when the Sunne ariſeth, Hoſ. 13. 3.paſſeth ſoone away; the triumphing of the wicked is ſhort, and the ioy of the hypocrite is but for a moment (as ſpeaketh Zophar Iob 20. 5.the Naamathite) but the other is laſting comfort and termeleſſe ioy, which will endure as long as the daies of heauen, and is ſo firmely fixed and deeply rooted in the heart of him that is ſound in the faith, as it is found able to endure the skorchingſt heate, and moſt feruent Sun-ſhine of the hotteſt perſecution, without any withering.
The ioyings of hypocrites, the chearing and lightningIoy of hypocrites …ut ſhort. of their hearts, are but as the flaſhes of lightning in a dark night; which though they may bring ſome light for a time, yet the darkeneſſe is doubled afterward; the candle Prou. 13. 8. Amos 8. 9.of the wicked (ſaith Salomon) ſhall ſoone be put out; yea, their Sunne goeth downe ouer them, euen at noone, and the Lord will darken their earth in the cleare day: their ioy is but as their hope is, which is as ſoone blowne away, as is the flower of a dried thiſtle. There are none that ſeeme to hauehave greater forwardneſſe, greater delight and ioy in good things for a time, then hauehave temporary beleeuers.Marke 4. 16. 17 Our Sauiour Chriſt compareth them to the ſeed that is ſowne in ſto…ie ground, which vſeth to come vp haſt…ly, as ſoone and ſooner then other, and to ſhew as greene and goodly for a time, but yet wanting depth of earth, neuer commeth to perfection, but is quickly withered, and ſoone commeth to nothing againe: their delight and ioy in the beſt things is not conſtant, they may delight and ioy in one Sermon, and loath the next they heare againe; they may with Herod, reuerence Iohn Baptiſt, to day heare gladly Mat. 6. 20.his preaching, and feele ſome ioy at the Sermon, and yet to morrow doe as bad as he did, who added that to all his other euils, that he put Iohn into priſon, out of which thereLuke 3. 20. was no bailing of him, till he had paid his head for a ranſome. Yea, their ioy is ſo deceitfull, ſo falſe and dureleſſe as it will not laſt long in any thing, they may bee as pleaſant and iocund for a time, as was Agag, when hee ſaid, the feare of death was gone, and then in a moment and turne of the hand, feele nothing but the bitternes of death and vnauoideable ſorrowes vponupon them, and then their hearts like Nabals will ſoone die away in them, and become as heauy as a ſtone. The light of their ioy is ſoone put out in darkeneſſe, and all the ſhining thereof ouercaſt of the ſudden with ſome ſad remembrance, or but theIob 18. 5. 6. heare-ſay of a danger, the light of the wicked ſhall be quenched, and the ſparke of their fier ſhall not ſhine; their ioy being but as the ſhining of ſome great light, when it is ready to goe out, which may ſhine with a great (though not with a long) blaze, and then all of the ſudden ere one bee aware, it is quite extinguiſhed, and ſeene to goe out againe; and then as the candle ſtinketh more, being put out, then if it had neuer been lighted before; ſo they that hauehave once loued the truth, and had ioy therein, if they leaue ſo to doe, or loath it afterward; if they wilfully reiect2. Pet. 2. 21. it, and turn… away againe from the holy commandement, they are then … to greater iudgement, and become more odious both to God and man, then if they had neuer knowne and embraced the ſame. Who was hotter in2. King 10. 16. zeale then Iohn for a time? what delight and contentment tooke he in that he did? how was he conceited for it, and prided himſelfe therein, in ſo much as he called in others to come and ſee, and behold what zeale he had for the Lord? and yet he was but an hypocrite, this was not ſound, neither laſted it in him. Iudas ſeemed to begin well, and made a ſhew of leauing all, as well as did the reſt, to follow Chriſt: but he was a foule hypocrite, he held not out as he ſeemed to begin; wofull was his end, he being one of the twelue, to whom power was giuen againſt un…leane ſpirits, to heale all manner of ſickneſſes and diſeaſes, beingMat. 10. 8. ſent forth as well as the reſt to vſe this power; it is like hee had great ioy as well as the reſt, in ſeeing ſuch things to be effected by him (according as it is ſaid, that the Diſciples whom Chriſt ſent forth, returned againe with great ioy, becauſe the diuels were ſubject▪ vntounto them): but this ioyLuke 10. 17. did not laſt long in Iudas, but was changed into a moſt deſperate ſorrow, wofull and fearefull was his end. Alexander the Copper-ſmith was thought a while to hauehave ioined with Paul and (as ſome think) to hauehave ſuffered in hisActs 19. 33. caſe, & to hauehave bin neare vntounto martyrdome: but he ſoone fell from the faith, and loſt al the louelove, the ioy and delight that he had in the truth, making ſhipwrack of al, ſo as the Apoſtle1. Tim. 1. 19. 20. deliuered him vp vntounto Satan, and doubted not directly to pray againſt him. Saul while things went to his mind, was content for a time to aduance Gods religiō, he was turned Prophet on the ſudden, the people with much wondring ſaying one to another, is Saul alſo among the 2. Sam. 10. 11. 1. Sam. 11. 15.Prophets? he ſerued God with the people, offering peace offerings, and had great ioy in ſo doing, he was ſo hot vponupon Gods ſeruice, as he was impatient of tarrying till Samuel might come to offer the ſacrifice, and therefore fell to offer1. Sam. 13. 10. 12. it himſelfe; for he thought the time long (as himſelfe ſaid) till he had made his ſupplication to the Lord: but he was a foule hypocrite, his ioy and his zeale they continued not, his end was fearefull. Flitting ſpirits be neuer good, and this warbling and quauering muſicke of ioy that is thus but by fits, brings neuer ſuch ſteady comfort, as may bee reckoned vponupon, will ſtay long with a man. If men ſeeme neuer ſo to ioy in good things, to affect godlineſſe for a time, if they be not conſtant, they may goe to hell for their paines in the end. Great ioy if it be but onelyonly for a time,Apoc. 2. 4. & 3. 1. good motions and fits of zeale that will not laſt long, are not ſo much to be reioyced in while they are had, as the loſſe of them is to be lamented when they are ſo loſt, as they can no more bee found nor perceiued to be in them that had them. If there be a terrible ſight in any thing to be ſeene, it is in this, that a man was good, but now hee is become naught: he had delight and comfort in well-doing, but now he hath none: he had zeale and forwardnes, but now he is luke-warme; hee was aliue and quicke to good workes, but now he is dull and dead-hearted, and that way become as lumpiſh and heauy as a ſtone: he ſeemed to heare the Word with much gladneſſe, and to hauehave had great ioy for a ſeaſon; but now there is no ſuch thing to be found remaining with him, but all is vaniſhed and quite gone, all is withered away and brought to nothing; that being found verified vponupon him which our Sauiour hath threatned, that as to him that hath ſhall ſtill be giuen to Matth. 25. 29.hauehave more, ſo from him that hath not, ſhall be taken away, euen that which both to himſelfe and to others he ſeemed otherwiſe to hauehave had before.
On the other ſide, true beleeuers hauehave ioy and peace in Rom. 15. 13.beleeuing, their ioy is ſound and laſting: and as their faith isTrue ioy is laſting. ſure which neuer will faile them, ſo are their comforts and ioyes ſteadfaſt, ſolide, and vnconquerable, ſuch as are able to cheare vp a mans heart in greateſt diſtreſſes, and make him ſtrong to endure by a firme and moſt ſettled reſolution, againſt all manner of oppoſition, and whatſoeuer thing may happen; yea, ſo liuely and effectuall is the ſenſe and feeling of their ioy, as it is able to carry their hearts after a ſort out of their bodies, and to lift them vp, euen to the very heauens. Their ioy is permanent and enduring, & their comforts are like a ſpring of water, whoſe waters faile Iſai. 58. 11.not, for riuers of waters of life flow out of their bellies, ſo asIohn 7. 38. they neuer can be wholly drie againe; the ioy of the Lord, which (as Ezra told the people) was their ſtrength, is ſaid to Nehem. 8. 10.be euerlaſting ioy; the Lord promiſing his people, that euerlaſting ioy ſhall be vponupon their heads; they are promiſedIſai. 35. 10. Pſal. 112. 4. Iſai. 42. 16. to hauehave ioy and gladneſſe, and ſorrow, and mourning ſhall … away; VntoUnto the righteous doth light ariſe in darkneſſe, but ſuch light as is not like to flaſhes of lightning in a darke night, which tarrieth but a moment, and then doubleth the darkeneſſe when it is out againe but their l…ght is as the breakings ſorth of the light of the morning, or as the light Iſai. 58. 8.of the Sunne when it breaketh out of a cloud, and ſhineth ſorth in his greateſt ſtrength, whereby al darknes is diſpelled, and driuen quite away. And if compariſon be made, the light of the Moone to them, is far aboue that, which the light of the Sun is to others, and the light of their Sun is found to be Iſai. 30. 26.ſeuenfold, and like the light of ſeuen dayes, in the day that the Lord doth bind vp the breach of his people, & heale the ſtroke of their wound (as ſaith the Prophet). The ioy yt theſe hauehave, and light of comfort ariſing to them, is not like to the light of thoſe whom Iude calleth wandring ſtarres, toIude 13. whom is reſerued the blacknes of darkneſſe for euer, for the Lord is the creator of their ioy, and hee giueth to them the light of their comfort, ſo as their ſunne ſhall neuer go downe, neither ſhall their Moone be hidden from them, for the Lord will be their euerlaſting light, and their God, Iſai. 60. 19. 20.their glorie. The Lord dealeth with them as he dealt with his people in old time, when he brought them out of Egypt, and went before them in a pillar of a cloud by day to leade them the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to be guide Exod. 13. 21. 22.vntounto them of that vnknowne iourney, that they might goe both by day and by night, neither taking away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before his people. Chriſt who did this for his people then, doth no leſſe for his Church at this day, and is no leſſe preſent with his faithfull ones now, then hee was with thoſe Fathers then at that time. And therefore Iſaiah prophecying of the times of Chriſt, among other bleſſings reckoned, remembreth this, that God will create vponupon Iſai. 4. 5. 6. Pſal. 105. 39. It is ſaid he ſpread out the cloud for a couering to his people, as though he had held a canopie ouer their head. Thus doth God to this day ſpread ouer the wings of his gracious and mightie protection ouer all his faithfull, that they may reſt ſafe vnderunder the ſhadow of the almighty. On the other ſide, whom bee leaueth of them, it is ſaid, their ſhadow is departed from them. Numb. 14. 9. Ioy ecclipſed. 1. Pet 1. 8. Iſai. 61. 7.eueryevery place of mount Zion and the aſſemblies therof a cloud, that it may be a couering and ſhadow in the day from the heate, and the ſhining of a flaming fire by night, that vponupon all the glorie (that is, vponupon the Church and companie of the faithfull who are ſo called) may be a defence, and that by day and by night they might hauehave comfort, which comforts ſhall no more be taken away from his ſeruants. Now then was this ſhadow of the cloud by day, or the ſhining of the pillar of fire by night, taken from the Iſraelites after they were gone out of Egypt? True it is, the ioy of Gods ſeruants ſometimes, may through their owne default be ecclipſed from them, as we perceiue to be ſometimes to be the very light of the Sunne, but howſoeuer the Sunne may be ecclipſed for a time, yet wee ſee that it is ſoone recouered againe: ſo it is with the ioy of Gods ſeruants; howſoeuer for a time it may bee interrupted, and they may ſeeme to be in heauineſſe for a ſeaſon (neede ſo requiring) yet neuer can it wholly be loſt from them, nor finally faile them for altogether, but ſo is it found in the end to be reſtored againe with aduantage vntounto them, as that for their ſingle ſorrowes, they hauehave double ioyes giuen them; yea ſuch ioyes as Peter calleth ioyes vnſpeakable and glorious, at what time they ſhall ſee cauſe to reioyce in their portion. They may by their ſinning againſt the Lord, and by the prouoking of his anger againſt them, hauehave the feeling of this ioy kept from them for a long time, and their deſired comforts ſo long withholden, as may make their hearts to feare and to faint within them: but as the Prophet Habakuk counſelleth andHab. 2. 3. giueth direction, though it tarrie a little, yet let them waite and hope vndoubtedly to finde it againe, for certainly in the end it will come and it will not ſtay long; and then the deſire once ſo accompliſhed, will much more delight their Prou. 13. 12. 19.ſoule, and though they hauehave tarried for it long, yet that will be verified vponupon them at the laſt, that the patient abiding Prou. 10. 28.of the righteous will proue gladnes in the end. Though then the ioy of the faithfull may not be felt for a time, yet is there no feare but it will be found againe afterward, for their ioy is ſuch ioy as is euerlaſting, in reſpect of the grounds thereof, and which being giuen thē by Chriſt, according to the promiſe he hath made, none ſhall for euer be Ioh. 16. 22.able to take it from them any more. The ſun-ſhine of Gods fauour may for a while be hidden out of their ſight, but then as the Lord himſelfe hath promiſed, that though for a moment in his anger he hides his face, yet with euerlaſting Iſai. 54. 7. 8.merciemercy hee will hauehave compaſſion on them againe, and turne their ſhadow of death into a moſt bright and chearefull morning.Amos 5. 8.
The ioy of a temporarie beleeuer, how great ſoeuer it may ſeeme to be for a ſeaſon, yet (as the ſeede ſowne in ſtony ground) it cannot be kept from withering in the ſcorching heate of hot perſecution, becauſe it wanteth depth of earth and good ground to roote it on, as not beingMak. 4. 17. grounded either vponupon any ſtable aſſurance of Gods vndoubtedTemporary ioy withers. louelove and rich mercy vntounto him, or vponupon any good ſtedfaſtnes of his own louelove to God back againe in thankfulnes for the ſame: as who for that louelove of God wherewith he ſeeth God to hauehave firſt loued him in Chriſt Ieſus, ſhould bee made ſo farre to forget himſelfe and to prize Gods glorie, as for Gods cauſe to be found willing to carrie his owne life in his hand, and to hazard the expoſing of himſelfe to any danger that may happen; but rather raiſed and being grounded vponupon ſome worldly, ſome ſelfe and by-reſpects, which failing, and not falling out according to his owne reckoning and expectation, then is his ioy alſo gone, and he as much altered, as if hee had neuer been the man. The ioy of an hypocrite vaniſheth quite away and commeth to nothing in time of tribulation. How triumphing ſoeuer he was found to be before in his great reioycing, yet when perſecution and fierie triall doth come, he groweth then to be moſt heartleſſe and creſt fallen of the ſudden, whoſoeuer dare ſhew himſelfe in preſence: then he will be ſure to play leaſt in ſight at that time. And no marueile though an hypocrite bee but a coward, for what hath hee to truſt vntounto that might make him bold, in whom nothing is ſound and right as it ſhould be, who hath nothing but ſhewes in ſtead of ſubſtance? And who will marueile if ſuch a one being falſe to God, though (his heart deceiuing him) hee proue falſe to himſelfe alſo? and if wanting ſuch faith as is only able to giuegive him the victorie, he be ouercome of feare that cauſeth him daſtardly to flie the field, and turning his backe vponupon his enemies, to runne the countrey. Such kinde of perſons (whoſe faith doth ſo faile them, and whoſe hope is vnſound) in the time of trouble and aduerſitie, are like a man that is in the wilde ſea in time of a ſtorme, without anchor or cable, without maſt or ſaile, or any tackling to make ſhift with and helpe himſelfe by, who hauing no meanes left vntounto him to vſe for his ſuccour and reliefe in time of ſuch diſtreſſe, as one diſpoiled of all things but the expectation of death only, what elſe can he looke for but to periſh in that ſtorme, without all hope of any poſſible eſcaping? Theſe kinde of perſons as they are left faithleſſe, ſo are they made hopeleſſe, when they ſee their caſe to be thus helpleſſe, and therefore ruine and vtter confuſion muſt needes be their laſt end.
But the ioy of a true beleeuer, as it hath better rootingTrue ioy laſteth. and is grounded vponupon a better foundation, whence it ſpringeth vp and taketh the beginning, ſo is it of a more firme and faſt abiding, ſtanding vnmoued, what time the other is not onelyonly ſhaken and wholly caſt downe: and then flouriſhing and ſeene ſtill to grow greene, when theVineſoit vulnere virtus. other (not being able to abide the heate of perſecution) becommeth ſo ſulged and blaſted, and ſo withered away, as it wholly fadeth, and in the end is quite brought to nothing. The ioy of a true beleeuer ariſeth and groweth out of faith which is vnfained, whereof Chriſt is the author and the finiſher, and the holy Ghoſt is the worker and the framer of this bleſſed worke, planting faith in the good ground of an honeſt heart, and cauſing this ioy to ſpring out of that flouriſhing plant, as the moſt ſweete and pleaſant fruite thereof: for it is called the ioy 1. Theſ. 1. 6. Gal. 5. 22.of the holy Ghoſt, and it is numbred among the fruits of the ſpirit. Faith is the ſure ground of this ioy from whence it ſpringeth, while by faith wee are perſwaded of the louelove and fauour of God towards vsus, in and through Chriſt Ieſus, into whom we being grafted and planted by our beleeuing, doe come ſo to finde our ſelues to hauehave a moſt happie and ioyfull being in him; which cauſeth vsus, not only to hauehave ſome ioy and reioycing, but our ioy is made Ioh. 15. 11.full in him, for there is no want in Chriſt, but enough to be found for the making of our ioy full eueryevery way: for the fulnes of the Godhead and of all goodneſſe, is and dwelleth Coloſſ. 1. 19. Ioh. 1. 16.in him, that of his fulnes we may receiue, euen this fulnes of ioy and of ſpirituall and heauenly conſolation, which heIoh. 16. 24. himſelfe willeth vsus to ſeeke by prayer for to obtaine. And ſo is the heart of the beleeuer filled with this ioy of the holy Ghoſt by Chriſt Ieſus our Sauiour, as it is more then the world (or all the enemies he hath beſides) can doe, to plucke that ioy from him which Chriſt hath once giuenIoh. 16. 22. him, or ſo to rifle and rob him of it againe, as it can euer truly be ſaid, he is now wholly emptie who before was full, (according to that which Naomi ſpake in the griefeRuth. 1. 21. of her heart as touching the change of her eſtate) and he is now diſpoyled of all ioy, and hath all cauſe of reioycing wholly taken from him, that before was ſo abundantly filled and repleniſhed with the ſame. For light being ſowne for the righteous, and ioy for the upright in heart, Pſal. 97. 11.as being the pleaſant fruite and rich crop which they are to reape of their ſowing to the ſpirit; that fruit is not like to the ſummer fruite which will not laſt, that ſoone muſt be ſpent, but it is laſting fruite that will endure, not alone all the yeere, but all their life time for them to liue vponupon, and to cheare their hearts ſo long as they hauehave a day to liue vponupon earth. And therefore doth the ſpirit of God call vponupon the righteous to be glad, and all ſuch to reioyce Pſal. 32. 11. Phil. 4. 4. Pſal. 5. 11.and be ioyfull as be vpright in heart: they are willed to reioyce in the Lord alwaies, and againe to reioyce, yea to reioyce and triumph for euermore. Now if all ioy could bee ſo wholly extinct at any time, as not onelyonly all power ſhould be wholly taken away of bringing it into act for the preſent, but in like manner all ſuch ground and cauſes of it remoued, that otherwiſe might as warrantablie and ſufficiently cauſe it to bee, (though now it is not for the preſent act in being) as doth the true cauſe bring foorth the naturall and proper effect: how could this poſſibly bee done which the ſpirit of God in theſe and many the like places of Scripture, doth will and warrant the righteous to doe? The reaſon why true ioy in Chriſt being once giuen to the faithfull, can neuer bee afterwards taken from them againe, is, becauſe Gods gifts of grace to his children are without all repentance: Rom. 11. 29.the mercies of God which he giueth to them, are called the ſure and the euerlaſting mercies of Dauid, God hauing promiſed to Dauid, that he would not take away his mercies 2. Sam. 7. 15. Pſal. 89. 28. 33. 35.from him and his, as he tooke them away from Saul that was before him. And this is no more then that which in expreſſe words our Sauiour Chriſt did promiſe to his Diſciples before he left them, that he would come againe Ioh. 16. 22.vntounto them, and their hearts ſhould reioyce, and their ioy ſhould none take from them. All true beleeuers then to whom God at any time hath giuen to hauehave true ioy and peace in beleeuing, may with a ioyfull reuerence, reioycing Pſal. 2. 11.with feare and trembling before the Lord, hold faſt this their ioy: and following the example of that worthy leader in the Lords campe and hoaſt (euen that bleſſed Apoſtle Paul) challenge all their enemies to doe theirRom. 8. 35. worſt herein, and aske who, or which of them all ſhall bee able to ſeparate them from the louelove of God in Chriſt Ieſus, which alone is the ſureſt ground, and maineſt foundation of all this their ioy and conſtant reioycing. If anguiſh▪ tribulation, affiction, or perſecution (things which already hauehave been ſo much treated on) ſhall ſtand out to trie what they can doe hereabout, they are things indeed grieuous to the fleſh, and to a worldly minded man, they are as prickes and thornes in the fleſh, that will make him reſtleſſe, diſquiet his carnall eaſe and peace in the world; and ſuch may they be, as not onelyonly by feeling of them when they come, but by the feare of them before they light vponupon him, not onelyonly take all ioy from him, but ſtrike him dead at the heart; witneſſe the example of Nabal. But to a true beleeuer, whoſe faith is vnfained, and who by his faith knoweth himſelfe to be certainly iuſtified, and ſo ſet at peace with God, all afflictions that may befall him, can cauſe no ſuch effect euer to bee ſeene wrought vponupon him, as can wholly and altogether bereaue him of all comfort, and take for euer his ioy from him, howſoeuer for the ſudden (by the power and ſtrength of tentation they may ſomewhat aſtoniſh him; yet calling himſelfe to better remembrance, hee well perceiueth, and ſoone commeth to know, that they are but ſent of God for the exerciſing of that precious faith, which once by his grace he hath receiued from him, that now the worth and the value thereof may be the better knowne, and that they are come rather to be triers, then deſtroyers of his faith, that the triall thereof being much more precious then gold that periſheth, may cauſe to him the greater praiſe, and 1. Pet. 1. 7.make more to his honour and glory at the appearing of Chriſt Ieſus. And therefore by that faith of his, whereby hee findeth himſelfe inabled to ouercome the world it ſelfe, hee feareth not to encounter ſuch afflictions, ſuch tribulations and perſecutions as he meeteth with in the world, as not onelyonly daring to wraſtle with them, but to promiſe to himſelfe the carrying away of the victorie from them, and ſo finally in the end to ouercome them: yea, in all ſuch things to looke with the Apoſtle, to be more then a conquerour Rom. 8. 35. 37. 38. 39.through him that hath loued him. Theſe things then cannot wholly extinguiſh nor deſtroy the ioy of a true beleeuer, they may better ſerue to double, then to deſtroy the ioy of ſuch a man. It is that property which is onelyonly peculiar to the ioy of faith, ſo to abide in tribulation, as it maketh him that is iuſtified by his faith, and ſo is at peace with God, not to be troubled with his troubles, but2. Cor. 6. 10. and 8. 2. 1. Theſ. 1. 6. to reioyce in tribulation, and to ſuffer valiantly and patiently; yea cheerfully and ioyfully eueryevery thing that falleth out by God his appointment for his trying. The fiſhes are not more freſh in the ſalt ſea, then Gods ſeruants remaine faithfull and comfortable in their afflictions and greateſt perſecutions: there are no miſaduentures can diſhearten their wel reſolued minds, the Chriſtian reſolution of a valorous and ſtedfaſt beleeuer, in the cauſe and quarrell of Chriſt Ieſus, is ſo ſtiffened with a magnanimious and manly temper, as nothing can daunt his valiantIf there were as many diuels in Wormes, as there are tiles on their houſes; I will among them ſaith Luther. Pſal. 56. 4. courage from looking the ſtouteſt & proudeſt enemie of Chriſt in the face; for he knoweth his cauſe to be ſo good, as he is ready to beare the hazard of the moſt dangerous aduentures, and feareth not what fleſh at all can doe vntounto him; for when God hath once ſpoken peace to his ſoule, and giuen vntounto him the ioy of his ſaluation; ſuch peace and ſuch ioy vntounto him, are as brazen boots to make him runne without feare, through all briers and thornes that are in his way, and through the ſharpeſt pikes themſelues of moſt cruell perſecutions. Of the truth of theſe things we hauehave whole clouds of Gods witneſſes, that the ioy of ſuch as are true beleeuers, and ſound in deed in the faith, hath ſtill abidden with them, as well in the time of their greateſt triall, as of their moſt happie and longeſt continued peace: for ſuch hath been found to hauehave been the ioy of Gods ſeruants, as in their greateſt troubles it hath cauſed them to find comfort, yea and eaſe vponupon the very racke it ſelfe: ſome hauehave been ſo refreſhed in the fier, as if they had been laid vponupon the bed of ſweet roſes,Iames Bainham, Act. and Mon. pag. 939. One burned at Bruxels. p. 799. when they were but frying among the faggots: many hauehave been ſeene to hauehave looked on deaths face with good aſſurance, and to hauehave ſtood vpright in the middeſt of all other ruines that hauehave happened on eueryevery ſide; and ſo hauehave the holy Martyrs been rauiſhed with ioy inJohn Bradford, pag. 1474. and Cicely Ormes burned at Norwich. Act. and Mon. pag. 1835. Cyprian willed his friends to giuegive the executioner for his paines 25. rials. Thomas Haukes burned at Copehall. pag. 1447. Ten Martyrs burned at Colecheſter. p. 1822. their greateſt ſufferings, as they hauehave not onelyonly patiently endured them, but moſt cheerfully and ioyfully embraced them, kiſſing the ſtake to which they were bound, rewarding the executioner that ſhould put thē to death; clapping their hands in the flame while they were a burning, and that with as great triumph and kind of heauenly reioycing, as the victorious ſouldier (after his valour hath been ſhewed in the field) commeth at length to be made a knight: or as doth a king when he entreth vponupon his kingdome, and goeth to be crowned with ſuch pompe and ſolemnity, as may beſeeme his kingly dignity. They were comforted of the Lord with ſuch inward ioy, as ſome writing to their friends profeſſed they were neuer ſo merrie in all their liues before: ſome leaping for iow, ſome for triumph would put on their ſcarfes, ſome their wedding garment, when they went to the fier. One ſaith well, That to be cooled in the ſhade, is'a thing of no great wonder; but to be refreſhed in a hote fiery furnace is ſtrange and admirable: to bee cheered and refreſhed with wine and oyle at banquets and feaſts is not a matter ſo much worthy the ſpeaking of; but in priſon, perſecution and trouble to bee refreſhed, and find comfortable cheering, is a thing worthy both to be made of, and maruelled at: but thus hath it been with diuers. Witneſſe that famous Italian Martyr, Pomponius Algerius, whoPomponius Algerius his ſtory. pag. 857. found euen when he lay in priſon, in that ſame deepe and darke dungeon, a very Paradice of pleaſure: and in that place of ſorrow and death, he found to dwell tranquillity and hope of life: in that infernall caue, he found heauenly ioy, hee found eaſe and reſt to his ſoule, in his ſtrait bonds, and cold irons: yea, where other did weepe, there did he reioyce, and there had he boldneſſe and ſtrength, where others through feare did tremble and ſhake: and ſo he ſhutteth vp his excellent letter with as comfortable a farwell, bidding his friends farwell in the Lord, from the del…ctable Orchard of Leonyne priſon. But in reporting of theſe things which eueryevery wayIſa. 53. 1. may ſeeme ſtrange and incredible to a carnali worldling, we may ſay and cry out with the Prophet, Lord, who will beleeue our report? Doubtleſſe it may well be thought that the ioy of the holy Ghoſt, euen that ioy that Peter ſaith to bee vnſpeakable and glorious, wherewith the hearts of theſe worthy Martyrs were ſo abundantly repleniſhed, and the interiour heate of Gods louelove in them,The creature that ſerueth the Creator, as it encreaſeth his ſtrength againſt the vnrighteous for their puniſhment; ſo it abateth his ſtrength for the benefit of ſuch as put their trust in him. Wiſd. chap. 16. 24. See Acts and Monuments, pag. 1879. The hiſtory of Iohn Dauis. Heb. 11. 38. wherewith they were fired within, did much ſurmount the heate and burning of thoſe fierie flames that outwardly did faſten vponupon them; the feruent zeale and burning of which fier within ſuſtained them ſo in their greateſt torments, as they ſhrunke no whit, nor gaue any place at all to ſuch things, which otherwiſe without that ſuſtaining had been able to hauehave enforced them; not only to hauehave giuen backe, but to hauehave giuen ouer for altogether; the cauſe wherein ſo manfully they ſtood without any ſtaggering. Theſe things which men of renowne in former times, euen the worthies of God (whom worthily the Apoſtle ſaith, the world was not worthy of), hauehave abundantly tryed by their owne experience to hauehave been moſt true: their cheerings, and comforts hauing ſo farre ſurmounted their ſorrowes and griefes, in the middeſt of all their torments and paines, as that when they were tried with the greateſt tortures, and put to the moſt painfull rackings, and then offers made them to bee releaſed, they hauehave yet refuſed to bee deliuered (ſo great was their conſtancy, the ioy and the comfort that they had in their hope, of obtaining a better reſurrection): theſe thingsHeb. 11. 35. (I ſay) are ſo high, and doe ſo farre tranſcend, not onelyonly all ſenſe by feeling, but all height of reaſon by apprehending and conceiuing, how poſſibly they could euer bee in the vnderſtanding of any mortall man, as that euen vntounto Gods children themſelues (eſpecially to ſuch of them as are of the weaker ſort, who through frailty & feare, ſeeme to be very doubtful what they ſhould do, if times of triall ſhould euer come) to them that ſaying of Cyprian to his friend, had neede in this caſe be againe remembred (which was alleaged before), Accipe quod ſentitur antequam diſcitur: Heare the report of that which better ſhall bee knowne by experience & feeling, then any can now learne, or ſo well ſtand perſwaded of by others telling, or their owne hearing; as well as did thoſe bleſſed Martyrs find by their owne triall and proofe, whom God called forth to the witneſſing of his truth, who of weake ones were made ſtrong ones, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, waxing valiant in battell, ſo as though atHeb. 11. 34. the firſt they did quake and tremble, as ſo many fearefull Hindes and Harts, that were ready to runne for hiding and couert into eueryevery thicket, and behind eueryevery buſh, yet when they were brought forth, and put to the triall in deede, the cauſe of God being hazzarded, and pawned vponupon their heads, then were they found to be moſt chearefull, and of courage inuincible, their feare was then taken from them; and they which before were wont to runne away quaking and trembling, did then come forth, and ſhew their faces like the faces of Lions, who had courage to turne back to any that liſted to purſue them, and boldneſſe enough to encounter their greateſt force: like to thoſe worthy Gadites that were Dauids helpers, of whom it is ſaid, they were valiant men of warre, and men of Armes, 1. Chron. 12. 8. 14.that could handle ſpeare and ſhield, whoſe faces were as the faces of Lyons; one of the leaſt could reſiſt a hundred, and the greateſt a thouſand. Yea, ſo lyon-like was become the courage then of thoſe poore weak ones before, as ſome of the weakeſt ſex hauehave been heard to ſay, when they were at the point of martyrdome, and the raging fiers before them kindled, ready to deuoure them in the flames thereof, that if eueryevery haire of their heads were the life of a man, they would die ſo many times all thoſe deaths in that cauſe for which they then ſuffered; for ſo great was the comfort they then had, and ſo vnſpeakable and glorious indeed was the ioy that they then felt, as death it ſelfe was bid defiance of them, neither did they eſteeme at all what proud fleſh was able to doe vntounto them, when the ſtormes of greateſt troubles met them a head, yet were they of courage, becauſe they euer failed by the Cape of bone ſperance, hoping that God whom they did with Dauid, ſet alwaies before them would ſo be at their right hand, as ifPſal. 16. 8. they did faint, he would certainly cheare them; if they didCyprian. fight, he would vndoubtedly crowne them, and neuer faile to giuegive them the ioy of his ſaluation.Pſal. 51. 1….
Hypocrites and counterfeit Chriſtians, they know of no ſuch ioy, they are meere ſtrangers to this ioy that the true godly hauehave, and as ſtrangers they are not to meddle Prou. 14. 10.therewith, as Salomon ſpeaketh. They hauehave carnall ioy enough, and many times too much, farre more then they know well to vſe, though it neuer will laſt long: they can laugh and be merry, they hauehave laughter as if they were tickled, they can laugh euen at a feather. If they come where worldly delights are, and pleaſures of ſinne, which yet will laſt but a ſeaſon, they ſticke not to take their pleaſures in them to the full; yea, they will be ready to burſt with their fulneſſe, and ſurfet in the middſt of their delights; for they can keepe no meaſure, but poure out themſelues to merriments, to ſport and to laughter, prouing their hearts aboue that euer did Salomon, with vaine Eccleſ. 2. 1.and ſinfull mirth, ſuffering them to inioy ſuch vngodly pleaſures aboue that euer did he; and therefore moſt worthily doth ſuch laughter deſerue to be reproued with Salomons rebuke giuen vntounto it, who ſaid vntounto it, thou art mad; and of ſuch mirth it may well be demanded, What is it that thou doſt? If carnall men can but flouriſh in worldly proſperitie, if they may ſwimme in pleaſures, abound in wealth, be aduanced to honour, they hauehave what their hearts deſire, and are ouer-ioyed with gladneſſe, and ſoone ouerſet with the pleaſant gales of their ouermuch ioyes, as ſhipes are with gales that fill too full their ſailes; they are light and merry, they are al on the hoigh, they know not themſelues, they contemne all others, boaſting themſelues of their Pſal. 10. 3.hearts deſire, and bleſſing the couetous, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh,Ambitioſas honor & opes & foeda volup…as, Haec tria pro trino numine mundus habet. whom the Lord doth abhorre. If it be profit and commoditie of the world, if pleaſures and honour, they neuer hauehave done enough in admiring of ſuch things, thinking them all to be either fooles or mad, that doe not the like as doe themſelues: but ſuch comforts as theſe ioyes and delights as are taken in ſuch matters, they are no better then plaine witcheries, which doe diſguiſe men, and tranſforme them to bruit beaſts. But how merrie ſoeuer worldlings are found to be, ſo long as things are as they would hauehave them, and doe euer ſort well to their liking; yet if they bee croſſed in any thing, if the croſſe come, if trouble and affliction chance to happen, then they are all a mort, there are none ſo ioyleſſe and ſo heartleſſe as are they; then grow they ſo dead-hearted, as it is in vaine to goe about to cheare them, and to comfort them againe: for worldly ioy riſing on worldly cauſes, the cauſes fading, the ioy as ſoone hath an end, and commeth to nothing. Haman reioyced ſo long as hee was in fauour with theHeſt. 5. 9 11. 12. & cap. 7. 6. 8. 10 King and Queene, and all that time who but he: but his ioy ſoone failed him when hee was throwne out of their fauour againe, and then who could be found a more vnhappy man? Men worldly minded are ioyfull in haruest time, when come, and wine, and oyle are increaſed vntounto them: but if the fier of God come and burne it vp, al their ioy is gone. Thus is it not with true beleeuers, they hauehave not onelyonly ioy in their proſperous eſtate, but they knowing themſelues to be iuſtified by faith, and ſo to be at peace with God, they can reioyce in tribulation alſo, let all their enemies doe what they can: for if a man knew hee were ſo in the fauour of a great man, as it were more then the worſt, and then all the enemies he hath can doe to thruſt him out of his fauour againe; he would be comforted, though his enemies were neuer ſo malicious: this makes true beleeuers to hauehave much ioy and peace in their beleeuing, Rom. 15. 13.fail out whatſoeuer otherwiſe may happen.
Hypocrites, who are but true beleeuers counterfeits, they may (and I know they often will) make a ſhew as if they had good comfort, and ſome ioy in their trouble, as well as hauehave the beſt Chriſtians; for they are like the Egyptian Sorcerers, that did ſtriue to doe all the things that Moſes did, that ſo they might be thought to be as good as he: they will ſeeme in their troubles not onelyonly to take them patiently, but alſo thankefully, as if they had ſome comfort, and felt contentment in their bearing of them, when in truth they hauehave none; they will be heard to thank God for them, and yet neuer feele any manner of benefit o… good that they hauehave gotten by them, which is but a very mocking of God, and a deceiuing of men; and to ſay as the truth is, it is indeed but a verie wicked kind of thankſgiuing, when a man with his mouth onelyonly thankes God in ſome great affliction that is vponupon him; and when he lieth ſicke (it may be on his deaths-bed) ſhall be heard to ſay, he is ſicke he thankes God, when yet in his heart he connes God no thanke at all for ſending it vponupon him, but wiſheth rather a thouſand times hee had neuer had it, or that he could well tell how to be without it againe. What is this but deepe diſſembling? for will not wee thinke a man did mock vsus, if he ſhould thank vsus, when we do him no better pleaſure, then thruſt a knife through his cheeks: ſo is it for men to thanke, God when hee ſmiteth them with his plagues, and thruſteth them in with the ſword of his ſcourges, and fearefull iudgements, except they found that they were ſanctified vntounto them, and that they did them good, by letting out the impoſtume of ſome great corruptions, that lay ranckling in their ſoules, whereby they are now like to hauehave better, and more found health for euer after. If God ſhall by any meanes ſhew to a man at any time, what benefit his ſickneſſe ſhall bring vntounto him, and what is the good that he ſhall reape out of his troubles and his affliction, that thereby, as the Lord ſpeaketh by his Prophet, The iniquitie of Iacob ſhall be purged, Iſai. 27. 9.and this ſhall be all the fruite thereof, to take away his ſinne; he hath then cauſe indeed to be thankefull and chearefull in his trouble: but for a man to reioyce againſt his conſcience, and contrary to that he feeleth cauſe for, is but to reioyce in playing the hypocrite, for he neither is, nor can be ſoundly merry at the heart in ſuch a caſe. This is as if a man ſhould be ſeene to goe leaping and reioycing to the gallowes, when he is to ſuffer, not for a good cauſe, but as a malefactor; eueryevery one knowes that is a cauſe of ſorrowing and mournefull heauineſſe, and not of reioycing; and they to be pittied, and not to be enuied that are ſeene to doe ſo. As therefore many doe feare, where no cauſe of feare is; ſo yet there are more that reioyce where no cauſe of true ioy is. The Lord hath promiſed to make the hearts of his ſeruants glad and ioyfull in the houſe of prayer; Iſai. 56. 7.Gods faithfull ſeruants they are, and may be merry, but they onelyonly take comfort in that which is matter of true reioycing indeed: the other (like them that are ſicke of light frenzies) laugh at their owne ſhaddows, and at their owne fancies and vaine conceits.
To conclude then this matter alſo; hypocrites and temporary beleeuers may hauehave in outward ſhew and appearance, the like for a time that hauehave true beleeuers, though neuer any ſuch ioy as can be found to bee in like manner true for the ſinceritie of it, or in like degree pure without other mixture, for the ſoundneſſe and ſimplicitie thereof, as is theirs. Their ioy is neither of like meaſure for fulneſſe, nor of like ſoliditie and firmeneſſe for continuance. Their ioy therefore may rather be ſaid to bee like, then any way equal, to the ioy of true beleeuers, which is the onelyonly true ioy when all is done, all other being but counterfeit in compariſon of the ſame, which being compared together, in reſpect of thoſe ſundrie dimenſions that ſeuerally before hauehave been expreſſed, and which hauehave in like manner betweene themſelues been apart conſidered, thereout ſo plaine a difference will be made to appeare betweene them, as is betweene truth and falſehood, betweene that which is moſt ſound, and that which is but meere ſeeming and in bare ſhewes alone. We had neede therefore to looke well and to make ſure worke, that we deſiring to hauehave comfort and ioy of heart, wherewith to be made glad, may hauehave of that ioy that is true indeed, becauſe we can hauehave no other witnes of our hauing therof, but only our owne ſelues; neither any other to helpe vsus to conſider of our owne eſtate in this behalfe, how it ſtandeth and fareth with vsus in this thing, then our owne ſelues alone; ſo as we ſhall be but euen plaine coſoners of our ſelues, if we be deceiued herein.