A Golden Chain, Chapter 44
CHAP. 44. Of the patient bearing of the crosse.
THe patient bearing of the crosse, teacheth how Christians should vndergoe the burden.
The crosse, is a certaine measure of afflictions, appointed by God, to eueryevery one of the faithfull. Matth. 16.24. If any man will follow me, let him forsake himselfe, take vp his crosse and follow me. Col. 1.24. Now reioice I in my sufferings for you, and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his bodie sake, which is the Church.
We ought to take vp this crosse willingly… euen with both hāds, whē it shal please God to lay it vponupon vsus.
And after we hauehave taken it vp, we must beare it with patience and perseuerance. Col. 1.11. Strengthned with all might, through his glorious power, vntounto all patiēce & lōg suffering with ioyfulnes. Luk. 21.19. Possesse your soules with patiēce.
The preseruatiues of patience, are: I. Strength by the holy ghost. Phil. 4. 13. I am able to doe all things through the help of Christ, which strengthneth me. Phil. 1. 20. It is giuen to you for Christ, that not onelyonly ye should beleeue in him, but also suffer for his sake. II. An holy meditation, which is manifold.
I. That the afflictions of the faithfull, come not by chance, but by the counsell & prouidence of God, which disposeth all things in a most excellent sort. Gen. 45.4,5. It was God that sent Ioseph into Egypt. 2. Sam. 16. 10. The Lord biddeth Shemei curse Dauid. Psal. 119.71. It was good for me, that I was afflicted, that I might learne thy statutes. Hence it is euident, that afflictions to the godly are ineuitable. Act. 14.21. By many afflictions you must enter into the kingdome of god. Mat. 7.14. The gate is straight, and the way narrow that leadeth vntounto life, and fewe there be that finde it. Ioh. 16.20. In the world ye shall hauehave troubles.
II. That albeit afflictions are grieuous, yet are they good & profitable. For they are helps, whereby men beeing humbled for their sinnes before god, obtaine peace, and holines of life. 2. Cor. 1.9. We receiued sentence of death in our selues, because we should not trust in our selues, but in God, which raiseth the dead. Esay 26. 16. Lord, in trouble hauehave they visited thee, they powred out a praier, when thy chastening was vponupon them. Hos. 5.15. I will goe, and returne to my place, til they acknowledge their fault, and seeke me: in their affliction they will seeke me diligently. Psal. 78.34. When he …lue them they sought him, and they returned, and they sought God earely. Ier. 31.18. I hauehave heard Ephraim lamenting thus, Thou hast corrected me, and I was chastised as an vntamed calfe: conuert thou me, and I shall be conuerted. Heb. 12.11… No chastisment for the present seemeth ioyous, but grieuous: but afterward, it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnes vntounto them, which are thereby exercised. Psal. 30.5. Weeping may abide at euening, but ioy commeth in the morning. Ioh. 15.2. EueryEvery braunch that beareth fruite, he purgeth it, that it may bring foorth more fruite. 1. Pet. 1.6. Wherein ye reioice, though nowe for a season (if neede require) ye are in heauines through many tentations. 2. Cor. 1.4. The God of all comfort, which comforteth vsus in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort thē which are in any affliction, by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God. Rom. 5. 3. We glory in afflictions, knowing that affliction bringeth patience. Heb. 2. 10. He did consecrate the Prince of their saluation through affliction. Wee permit Chirurgians that they should both bind vsus lying diseased, in our beds, and seare vsus with hot irons, yea lanch and search our members with rasors: and lastly, we send them away vsually with friendly and kind speeches, and often with a golden fee for their thus hādling vsus. Shal we then suffer so many things of a Chirurgian to cure a bodily disease, and will we not giuegive God leaue to cure by afflictions the most festered diseases of our sicke …oules? By this also may we gather, that the afflictions of the godly are signes of their adoption. Hebr. 12.6. Whome the Lord loueth, he chasteneth, and he scourgeth eueryevery sonne that he receiueth. 7. If ye endure chastisement, God offereth himselfe vntounto you as vntounto sonnes. And that they are to them, the Kings high way to heauen. Iam. 1.12. Blessed is the man that endureth t…ntation: for when he is tried, he shall receiue the crowne of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that louelove him. 2. Cor. 4. 17. For our …ight affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vntounto vsus a farre more excellent and an eternall waight of glorie.
III. That God hath promised fauour, mitigation of punishment, his presence, and deliuerance. Philip. 1. 29. 1. Cor. 10. 13. God is faithfull, who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue measure, but with tentation will giuegive deliuerance. 2. Sam. 7.14. Psal. 50.15. Call vponupon me in time of trouble, and I will deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. Psal. 121.4. He that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleepe. Esa. 43.2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and thorough the floods that they doe not ouerflow thee: when thou walkest through the very fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle vponupon thee: 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel thy Sauiour.
IV. That in all troubles of the faithfull, Christ is a companion. 1. Pet. 4.13. Reioyce, that ye are partakers of the afflictions of Christ. 2. Cor. 4. 10. EueryEvery where we beare about in our bodie the dying of Christ, that the life of Iesus might also be made manifest in our bodies. Col. 1.21.
V. That the Angels are readie to defend such as feare God. Psal. 34.8.2. King. 6.16. Feare not, there are more with vsus then against vsus.