Saint Pauls Triumph, Collection · Sermon 7
THE SEAVENTH SERMON,
VponUpon ROMANS 8. the two laſt Verſes.
For I am perſwaded, that neither Death, nor life, &c.
IN handling of theſe words, as you may remember, wee proceeded as God enabled vsus in this preſent ſeruice, to reduce the whole Summe of theſe two Verſes, to theſe ſeauen heads: Firſt, that there is a Communion betwixt God and the faithfull, ſo the word ſeperation doth preſuppoſe: ſecondly, wee ſhewed the Bond of this Communion, the louelove of God: thirdly, we ſhewed the ground both of this Communion, & of the Bond of it, and that is Ieſus Chriſt: Fourthly, we ſhewed the neere relation that there is betwixt Chriſt and thoſe that beleeue in him, He is our Lord, ſaith the Apoſtle. Fiftly, we ſhewed the certainty of the State of the faithfull in it ſelfe: that neuer any thing ſhould ſeperate them from the louelove of God: The ſixt point (which we handled the laſt time) was the certainty of it in our owne hearts. The ſeauenth and laſt point which now we are come to, is; That the Apoſtle beares vp himſelfe boldly vponupon this aſſurance againſt all dangers and troubles, that euer did or could befall him. And this is the maine reach of the Apoſtles whole diſcourſe; propounded here by way of reaſon, for I am ſure; As if hee ſhould ſay, I may boldly and ſafely inſult ouer all thoſe dangers mentioned in the 35. Verſe: But why Paul art thou ſo bold? for I am ſure (ſaith hee) that not onelyonly thoſe dangers there ſpoken of, ſhall euer ſeperate me from the louelove of God; no, nor greater then they, nor the inſtruments of them, nor Abettors, nor Authors of them ſhall euer doe it; Be it life, be it death, be it Angels or Principalities or Powers, &c. Not any of all theſe ſhall be euer able to ſeperate me from the louelove of God: ſo farre off is it, that Tribulations, or Perſecutions, &c. ſhall ſeperate me, that none of theſe that are greater ſhall euer do it; This is the iuſt connexion of theſe verſes with the former, and in this conſiſt the full waight and power of the Apoſtles Reaſon.
Now concerning this ſeauenth and laſt point, here are two things to be conſidered: Firſt, we are here to conſider of the dangers that the children of God are ſubiect vntounto: Secondly, of the ſupport and comfort they hauehave againſt theſe dangers; And both theſe we are to conſider of (God willing) firſt in generall, then in particuler.
Firſt, we will ſpeake of the dangers and that in generall that Gods children are ſubiect to; and then we will come to the ſupport they hauehave in them. For firſt we muſt know what the dangers are, before wee can know the ſupport and helpe we hauehave in them; we muſt firſt know the diſeaſe before we can know the remedy: and concerning the dangers in generall, take notice of theſe foure things; Firſt, the variety of them, they are not one but many, of diuers kinds, ſome dangers of life, ſome of death, dangers wrought by diuers meanes and inſtruments, ſome by Angels, ſome by Principalities, and Powers: dangers at diuers times, ſome preſent, ſome to come, dangers from diuers places, ſome from the height aboue, ſome from the deph beneath; here is the variety of them, for the Apoſtle ſpeakes not idlely in any of theſe words.
Secondly, we muſt take notice of the compleatneſſe and fulneſſe of theſe dangers; they are not onelyonly many and diuers, but euen all the dangers that may be, for here is a ſufficient and perfect reckoning vp of all ſorts of dangers to the full; there is not one danger that can euer be named or imagined, but it may fitly be reduced to one of theſe heads that the Apoſtle here names, either to life, or to death, or to Angels, &c. And that the Apoſtle may be ſure to comprehend all dangers, hee doth not onelyonly name actuall dangers, ſuch as doe ordinarily befall vsus both of life & death, but poſſible dangers, to come as well as preſent, nay ſuch dangers as in our ordinary apprehenſion, are impoſſible; from good Angels, which is hard to be conceiued how that may be.
Thirdly, we are to conſider the croſſenes & thwartnes of theſe dangers, propounded here in oppoſition one to another, and alſo in oppoſition each of them to our owne ſtate and mind; the Apoſtle makes our caſe herein to be like vntounto Iudahs, Iſa. 9.21. Manaſſes againſt Ephraim, and Ephraim againſt Manaſſes, and both of them againſt Iudah: So it is with Gods children in their tryals, here is Death oppoſed to life, and life oppoſed to death, and both oppoſite to Gods children; ſo here is good Angels oppoſed to bad, and bad Angels oppoſed to good: things preſent oppoſed to things to come; and things to come oppoſed to things preſent; height oppoſed to depth, & depth to height; & Gods children ſubiect to all theſe: And this is the ſting of our Croſſes, that we are thus croſſed, & thwarted in our affliction, as when we be pinched with pain on the right hand, we turne to the left to find eaſe; & preſently on the left hand we are pinched as much as before on the right, yet ſuch is the preſent portion of Gods children. The 4 & laſt point is, that the Apoſtle propounds theſe dangers to himſelf, & to the faithful, not as feares or ſhadowes, or imaginations, (I fight not as one that beateth the aire, ſaith the Apoſtle) but as true & reall dangers, ſuch as he doth acknowledge himſelfe & all the faithfull expoſed vntounto, & lookes to be encountred firſt or laſt with ſuch things indeede.
The Doctrine that flowes naturally from this Scripture thus opened is this:Doctrine. That Gods children muſt make their account, and ſet downe their reſt vponupon it, that they ſhall be aſſaulted here in this world, with all trials, and dangers, and diſtreſſes, that euer poſſibly can befal them. This Doctrine is eaſie enough to be vnderſtood, (for Gods children ſee the truth of it daily in others, and feele it in their owne ſelues) but it is hardly digeſted: It is a hard ſaying, who can beare it? Therefore that we may the better brooke it,Foure preparations for the brooking of afflictions. let vsus receiue it vponupon theſe preparations. Firſt, wee muſt not think that all theſe dangers ſhall be heaped vponupon eueryevery one of Gods children in ſeuerall, but they ſhall be diſtributed and parted amongſt them all in common. All the afflictions of the faithfull are but one cup, and that Chriſt cals his Cup, Matth. 20.23. Yee ſhall drinke indeed of my Cuppe; It is Chriſts Cup, and all the faithfull muſt drinke of it; Yee ſhall drinke, ſaith our Sauiour; EueryEvery one muſt hauehave his ſhare, and ſo amongſt them they muſt drinke it all vp. Now becauſe none of vsus knowes whether he ſhall drinke of the top of this Cup, or of the middle, or of the bottome, till his turne come, therefore eueryevery one of vsus muſt Arme himſelfe to drinke of any part of it, eueryevery one is to make account that he is lyable to eueryevery affliction.
The ſecond preparation is this, we muſt not thinke that theſe afflictions ſhall befall all Gods children alike; No, ſome muſt drinke deeper of it then others; God hath ſome vnderlings amongſt vsus, children that are weake in faith, and yong in grace, and they muſt hauehave a ſmaller meaſure of this Cup, an eaſier portion of theſe tryals: Againe, God hath ſome ſtandards amongſt his children, that are ſtrong in faith, Armour of proofe, throughly ſetled and ſtabliſhed in grace; and they ſhall hauehave a greater portion of this Cup: Such was Iob in his time, and ſuch were Dauid and Ieremy, and Paul in their times; God raiſeth vp many of theſe Worthies in eueryevery time, and makes them vndergoe and ouercome a world of afflictions, to ſhame them that are fearefull and faint-hearted, and will not vndergoe any affliction; And to beard all the enemies of God, be they men or Diuels, and to magnifie the Almighty power of a ſtrong God, in a weake man: Our heauenly Father is moſt wiſe and mercifull in meaſuring out his afflictions to vsus; the ſtrongeſt ſhall be ſure to hauehave as many as euer he can beare, (God giues him not his ſtrength in vaine.) And the weakeſt ſhall be ſure to hauehave no more then he can beare; God cannot, nor will not, caſt away any of his children by their afflictions, how weake ſoeuer they be.
The third preparation is, that theſe afflictions that doe befall vsus, ſhall not be powred vponupon vsus all at once, leſt they ouerwhelme vsus, and carry vsus away as a whirlewinde into extaſies and outrages, and deſpaire; but they are tendred vntounto vsus by little and little, by degrees, now one, and then another, as wee ſhall bee beſt able with comfort to beare them: The Lord when he layes affliction vponupon vsus, he giues vsus certain reſpites and breathing ſpaces betwixt our afflictions; elſe the ſpirit of man would faile before him; and in theſe breathing times we recouer our ſpirits. Wee behold and conſider the mercy and goodneſſe of God, in preſeruing and deliuering vsus from our great afflictions, and wee get new hearts and courage to beare freſh aſſaults and afflictions.
Laſtly, we are to receiue this Doctrine vponupon this preparation; that in all our afflictions, we ſhall hauehave many comforts and helpes proportionably ſupplyed by God, whereby we ſhall be enabled both to vndergoe them, and to ouercome them, Pſalme 94.19. In the multitude of my thoughts or ſorrowes in my heart, thy comforts hauehave reioyced my ſoule. Wee hauehave ſorrowes indeed; yea, but we hauehave comforts as well as ſorrowes; wee hauehave a multitude of ſorrowes, yea, but we hauehave a multitude of comforts too: Yea, and theſe ſorrowes and comforts are ſo graciouſly tempered by the mercifull hand of God, that euen in the multitude of our ſorrowes, thy mercies, oh Lord, hauehave reioyced our ſoules. And in the 1 Cor. 10.13. The Apoſtle ſaith that God is faithfull, and will not ſuffer vsus to be tempted aboue our power, but will giuegive an iſſue with the temptation. There are two things which God promiſeth to all his children in all their afflictions: Firſt, a faire tryall, and then a good iſſue; What can we deſire any more? Yes; wee ſhall hauehave more, we ſhall hauehave increaſe of righteouſneſſe and grace by them, Hebr. 12.11. It bringeth forth the quiet fruite of righteouſneſſe; Would we hauehave any more? yee ſhall hauehave more, ſaith God; As they bring you increaſe of grace, ſo they doe of glory hereafter, they ſhall be recompenced with euerlaſting glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, cauſeth vntounto vsus a farre more excellent and eternall waight of glory. By theſe preparations I hope, ye are well prepared▪ not only to heare and to vnderſtand, but alſo to brooke and digeſt this Doctrine.
Now we come to the proofes; Mat. 16.24. If any man will follow me, let him forſake himſelfe, and take vp his croſſe, and follow me: If we will follow Chriſt, we muſt bid farewell to our own wils, & to our own eaſe, and to the ſweet times that are paſt for the outward man; we muſt deny ourſelues and we muſt take vp Chriſts Croſſe: what Croſſe? It is a daily Croſſe, Luk. 9.23. a continuall ſucceſſion of tryals & afflictions, that we are daily exerciſed withall: And in the 14. Chapter of Luk. 26. Verſe, our Sauiour enlargeth it with many particulars, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and ſiſters, yea, and his owne life alſo, he cannot be my diſciple; Here are croſſes of all ſorts; And this wee muſt make account of beforehand; for ſo our Sauiour in Luke 14.28. doth ſet it out, by an excellent example of him that buildeth a Tower, which of you minding to build a Tower, ſitteth not downe firſt, and counteth the coſt? As if hee ſhould ſay, your ſauing faith and Religion will coſt you deare, it will coſt you many afflictions and croſſes of all ſorts, and therefore you muſt make your account ſo before-hand, for it will ſurely come vponupon you: And marke how our Sauiour hampers vsus by the diuers manner of his ſpeech, and puts vsus by all our ſhifts: In Matthew our Sauiour ſpeakes it by way of exhortation, If any man will follow mee, let him reſolutely take vp his Croſſe, &c. In Luke hee ſpeakes it by way of Commination, If any man come to me and hate not father and mother, he cannot bee my diſciple: And hee puts vsus preciſely vponupon this choiſe, either you muſt reſolue to forſake your Religion, and ſtand out in oppoſition againſt Chriſt; or elſe you muſt reſolue to forſake your ſelues, and all that you hauehave, and ſuffer, and liue in expectation of oppoſition from all the world, to forſake all the world, and liue in oppoſition to that, Act. 14.22. Paul and Barnabas confirmed the hearts of the diſciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, affirming that wee muſt through many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God: The people had receiued the faith before, and they come to confirme them in it; And how do they confirme them in it? By affirming that through many afflictions we muſt enter into the kingdome of God There are two things in the ſpeech that directly anſwere to two points in this our Doctrine: Firſt, that the faithfull ſhall bee aſſaulted with afflictions; yea, with many afflictions: they muſt, a neceſſity is laid vponupon them, it is their ineuitable portion; Afflictions are as the gate to the kingdome of God, for ſo the ſpeech intends; through many afflictions we muſt enter into the kingdome of God: Secondly, that this perſwaſion is a ſpeciall meanes to confirme their hearts, and to make them to continue in the faith, and therefore, they muſt make account of it before hand, that ſo it muſt bee. We hauehave an example of this in all Gods children that are regiſtred in Gods booke, and as they were more excellent in grace, ſo they were more eminent in afflictions; ſee it in the former, and in the latter Teſtament; In the former Teſtament, Pſal. 44 22. Surely▪ for thy ſake are we ſlaine continually, and are accounted as ſheepe for the ſlaughter: that is the eſtate of the Church in the former Teſtament: And ſo in the latter Teſtament, Rom. 8, 36. For thy ſake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as ſheepe for the ſlaughter; there is the ſtate of the latter Teſtament. See how eligantly the holy Ghoſt in the mouth of the Prophet in the former Teſtament, and in the mouth of the Apoſtle in the latter, doth chaine both Churches in the ſame bond and condition of afflictions: The Prophet ſaith in the perſon of the former Church▪ for thy ſake are we ſlaine all the day long, &c. and the Apoſtle in the perſon of the latter Church, retaines it as a truth, for thy ſake, &c. No difference in their words, nor no difference in their portion of afflictions: And therefore when wee reade it in the former Teſtament, know that this was the portion of Gods Church and children from the worlds beginning; and when you reade it in the latter Teſtament, know that this ſhall be the portion of all Gods children to the worlds end: We may ſee this in the cloud of witneſſes, Hebr. 11.35. to 38. The Church in the former Teſtament, what was their portion? They were rackt, and would not be deliuered, they knew it was their portion; Others were tryed by mockings & ſcourgings▪ by bonds and impriſonment, they were ſtoned, hewen aſunder, ſlaine with the ſword, &c. What can be imagined that is not here to be vnderſtood? Looke to anſwer this in the words of the Apoſtle in the new Teſtament, & ſee how the eſtate of the Church is vnderunder that, 1 Cor. 4.9. For I thinke (ſaith he) the Lord hath ſet forth vsus, the laſt Apoſtles, as men appointed to death, for we are made a gazing to the world, to Angels, and to men. The Apoſtle makes it his owne caſe, 2 Cor. 11.23. to 27. He was in labours aboundant, in ſtripes aboue meaſure, in priſon plenteouſly, in death often: And ſo in 2 Cor. 4.8. and 2 Cor. 6.4. to the 10. And ſo we ſee the point proued by Scripture.
The Reaſons to proue it are theſe; Firſt, our former ſinnes deſerue it ſhould be ſo; Lam. 3.39.Reaſons. Why is the liuing man ſorrowfull? Man ſuffereth for his ſins. The Lord himſelfe makes the queſtion there, and the Lord himſelfe anſweres it; Will you know a true cauſe, why the liuing man is ſorrowfull: his ſinnes are the cauſe of it, our ſinnes hauehave pluckt all the world about our eares, by our ſinnes wee incenſe God againſt vsus, by our ſins we hauehave incenſed all the creatures againſt vsus, how can we chuſe but hauehave many afflictions on eueryevery ſide? Many men in the world cry out of the multitude and greatnes of their duplicate page duplicate page afflictions, but let vsus learne a better leſſon: when we are in diſtreſſe, let vsus cry out of the greatneſſe and multitude of our ſinnes, that deſerue and hauehave brought theſe heauy and manifold afflictions vponupon vsus; and yet we muſt not thinke that eueryevery particular affliction is anſwerable to eueryevery particular ſinne, but there is a generall reference in all; and this vſe we are to make of them, pray that they may not be laid vponupon vsus in way of puniſhment for reuenge, but for chaſtiſement, in iudgement, not in wrath.
Reaſon 2 The ſecond Reaſon: Our continuall corruptions are the cauſe of it; our hearts are full of corruption, and therfore our liues are full of afflictions: If a man be wilde and vnruly, he muſt be kept vp as it were in a priſon, to keepe him in order; Our afflictions are as a ward or a priſon to vsus, to keepe vsus that wee breake not forth into ſin, Iob 7.12. Thou keepeſt me in ward. Iob had an vnruly heart, and therefore God kept him in ward, or priſon, that hee ſhould not breake out into ſinne with the world. Paul was a deare child of God, yet he had an vnru…y heart, ready to be lifted vp through the aboundance of Reuelations, and therefore a meſſenger of Sathan was ſent to buffet him, that ſo he might not be lift vp aboue meaſure, 2 Cor. 12.7.
Reaſon 3 Thirdly, our preſent ſtate and condition expoſeth vsus to theſe multitude of troubles, Iohn 16.33. In the world you ſhall hauehave afflictions; What is our preſent ſtate in this world? Is it not a pilgrimage? and doe not pilgrimes and ſtrangers finde all hard meaſure in their trauailes? Is it not a warfare? and doe not Souldiers endure all dangers, and all manner of hardneſſe in the field? A great many of our Brethren at this day can witneſſe it by wofull experience: Is not our preſent ſtate our ſeede-time? and doe not Seedes-men or Huſband-men endure many ſtormes, windes and tempeſts, and many a hard brunt before the harueſt come? So muſt wee ſow here in teares, that we may reape in ioy, Pſalme 126 5.
Fourthly, Sathan our enemy hee labours it, and Reaſon 4 procures it, Reuel. 2.10. The Diuell ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon, men doe it; yea, but the Diuell hee procures it. Luke 22.31. Our Sauiour ſaith to Peter, Simon, Simon, Sathan hath deſired to winnow you, &c. His fingers itch at Gods children, to be moleſting them: and he is malicious, and his malice is neuer at an end: When he had got a commiſſion againſt Iob, to afflict him in his Cattell, Seruants, and Children, this would not ſerue his turne, but hee ſues to hauehave a new Commiſſion to afflict his Body too, Iob 2.4.5. His malice is vnſatiable and without end, hee will ſurely bring vponupon vsus all the euils he can, and hee can doe much where God giues way to him (elſe he can doe nothing) and hence it is that we meete with ſo many tryals.
Laſtly, God giues way to Sathans malice, and that, Reaſon 5 as for many iuſt cauſes beſt knowne to himſelfe: So for theſe Reaſons knowne to vsus. Firſt, to try vsus, not to ſee what is in vsus, for that he knowes well enough; but ſo to try vsus, as that he purge the droſſe out of vsus: therefore it is called a winnowing, Luke 22.31. and fiery tryall, 1 Pet. 4 12. Secondly, to humble vsus, nothing annoyes a Child of God more then a proud heart, and nothing puls it downe and humbles it more then affl…ction. Iob 33.14 16.17. God ſpeakes once or twice and one ſeeth it not, then hee openeth the eares of men by their corrections which he hath ſealed, that he might abate the pride of man. Thirdly, to draw vsus neere and cloſe to himſelfe. It is with vsus as it is with little children, that when they are in the field with their father, they runne abroad from him in the graſſe careleſly, but when they ſee a dog or a Snake comming towards them, preſently they runne to their father and cry for helpe; So wee runne on in the world, ſtraggling from our Father, and when ſome affliction or other takes hold on vsus, we runne to our Father, and cry to him for helpe, as the prodigall child did, when he was hunger-bitten, Luk. 15. Fourthly, God giues way to it, that ſo we may magnifie his mercy, truth, power and wiſedome, in preſeruing and deliuering vsus. When we hauehave beene in affliction many yeares, yet are not conſumed: this will make vsus praiſe and glorifie God. 2 Cor. 1.8.9. We were preſſed (ſaith the Apoſtle) out of meaſure, paſsing ſtrength, yea, we receiued the ſentence of death in our ſelues, becauſe we ſhould not truſt in our ſelues, but in God that raiſeth the dead; and therefore God ſuffers vsus to be thus afflicted, that ſo his goodneſſe might be magnified in raiſing vsus from theſe afflictions.
Vſe 1 The firſt Vſe is for matter of reproofe, and that both of thoſe that are without, as alſo of thoſe that are within: of carnall men, and of profeſſors. Firſt, it is for reproofe of carnall men, and firſt of ſome that reproach our Chriſtian ſtate and profeſſion, and brand it with the marke of eaſe and idleneſſe. To reſt vponupon the Sabboth, and to goe to Church, and to ſit ſtill and heare the Word, and receiue the Sacraments, and to ſay ouer now and then a few prayers; this is an eaſie life, ſay they, and an idle profeſſion. Firſt, I anſwere to the perſon; Thou prophane worldling that ſaiſt thus, let mee tell thee; If the Chriſtian life be ſo eaſie as thou ſaiſt, it is the more ſhame for thee, that wilt not leade this life; it is the onelyonly way to heauen, and if it be ſo eaſie as thou wouldſt make it to be, what a horrible ſhame, yea, what a fooliſhneſſe is it for thee, that thou wilt take a great deale more paines to goe to hell, then thou mighteſt take and goe to heauen? I ſpeake this to thee in thine owne language, that wilt make it to be ſo eaſie. But ſecondly, I anſwere to the matter, and I ſay, that a Chriſtian life rightly managed, is a moſt hard & laborious life, ſubiect to all reproches, croſſes, trials, loſſes, perſecutions, wounds of conſcience, & breakings of the heart, fightings, ſpoylings, ſubiect to the malice of men, & to the rage of the Diuell, ſubiect to killings of all ſorts, and that which is moſt tedious & irkeſome of all other, ſubiect to a continuall combate betwixt the fleſh and the Spirit in our own boſomes; theſe & all other dangers and tryals, a Chriſtian life and ſtate is ſubiect vntounto; I ſay, a Chriſtian life is ſubiect to all theſe, but not ſo as to be ouercome by them, but as alwayes exerciſed with them, ſo as we muſt wraſtle and ſtruggle with them, all the dayes of our liues, & that vponupon the very hazard of our ſoules if this bee an eaſie life, there is none hard vnderunder the Sunne: It is true, it is an eaſie and comfortable life in a ſpirituall ſence, but a carnall man cannot reach vntounto this: Cuſtome in afflictions makes it eaſie, the promiſes of God makes it eaſie, the fellowſhip of Chriſt in our afflictions makes it eaſie, the conſolations of the Spirit, and the hope of the reward of glory; theſe things make a Chriſtian life eaſie and comfortable to vsus in regard of the inward man: the regenerate part delights in nothing more, then in mortifying and crucifying this body or ſinne, which is notably effected by theſe afflictions. Hence it is that it is eaſie and comfortable to the ſpirituall man, becauſe hee findes his Aduerſary, the fleſh, weaker then it was, that beginnes to die. For our corruptions are killed by afflictions, being ſanctified to the hearts of Gods children; yet ſtill I maintaine it againſt this ſcandall, that a Chriſtian life rightly managed in it ſelfe, in regard of the outward ſtate of it in this world, is moſt hard and laborious.
Secondly, it is for reproofe of others that are without, that iudge hardly of Gods children, becauſe of their afflictions: If they ſee a Profeſſor much afflicted and troubled, either outwardly or inwardly, or both, they are ready to paſſe hard cenſures on them; Surely ſay they, whatſoeuer theſe men pretend to be, yet they are but groſſe hypocrites, and notorious ſinners; thus they adde affliction to the afflicted: God afflicts vsus with his heauy chaſtiſements, and the world afflicts vsus more with their bitter and heauy cenſures: but if this Doctrine be true, as it is, that all Gods children are ſubiect to all afflictions, then ſurely wee hauehave more reaſon to iudge more fauourably of them that are afflicted moſt, then of them that are afflicted leaſt: Iob was thus cenſured by his friends, but it was their errour, as God himſelfe ſhewes Iob, Iob 42.7. And ſo was Dauid by his enemies, but it was their malice, Pſal. 41.8. A miſchiefe is light vponupon him (ſay they) and he that lyeth ſhall no more riſe: Thus did the Barbarians cenſure of Paul becauſe of the Viper that hung on his hand, that he was a murtherer, Act, 28.4. but this was their ſauageneſſe: Dauid himſelfe confeſſeth that he was neere vntounto this point, to condemne the generation of the Righteous becauſe of their afflictions, but he confeſſeth it was his folly and his ignorance, Pſal. 73.12. to the 22. and that hee was as a beaſt herein: And ſurely to condemne the generation of the Righteous for their afflictions, is a fooliſh and an ignorant, and beaſtly cenſure, I ſay beaſtly, as hee ſaith; becauſe as a beaſt is lead onelyonly by preſent ſence, and not by vnderſtanding: ſo theſe vncharitable cenſurers are carried away onelyonly with the preſent ſence of our afflictions, not vnderſtanding nor conſidering, that all kindes of affl…ctions and tryals are the portion of Gods children here in this life, 1 Theſſ. 3.3.4. The Apoſtle is very carefull to preuent the ſlander of the Croſſe. It is not to be denyed but that Gods children are ſinners, but yet they are not notorious ſinners, or if they be in ſome particular kinde, if thou know it, then certainely thou maiſt be bold to ſuſpect that ſuch Iudgements were for ſuch ſinnes; but if thou know not their ſinne, pronounce not of their eſtate, this ſuppoſing, though it be in thought, is ſinne, Luke 13.2.3. &c.
Secondly, this ſerues for reproofe of thoſe that are within; of nice and dainty profeſſors: they will heare the Word, and pray, and beleeue, and do many good things, and delight in the ſeruice of God: but when they muſt come to endure, as Chriſtians, many and heauy temptations and tryals, they are at a ſtand, this is harſh & hard to them, they cannot endure it, ſome of them are ready to fall away, others grudge & murmure at their hard portion. But, ſhall we thinke to receiue good at Gods hand, and not euill? It was the words of a wiſe man in his ſore affliction, to a wicked woman that neuer knew what affliction meant; and ſhall any of vsus thinke to receiue the comforts & ſweet of Chriſtianity, & not endure the croſſes & ſower of it? The hard-harted Iewes would hauehave beleeued in Chriſt, if they could hauehave ſeparated him from the croſſe, Come down from the Croſſe (ſay they) and we will beleeue in thee: But thou that art a profeſſed Chriſtian muſt learne to embrace Chriſt with the Croſſe; thou muſt as willingly embrace all afflictions that accompany a Chriſtian life, as Chriſt himſelf, the Author of thy ſaluation: But here ſome will pleade their priuiledges that they are exempted from this hard portion, for they are loth to come vnderunder affliction, as the child is to come vnderunder the rod: Firſt, ſay they, God loues vsus, therefore he will not afflict vsus; I ſay he loues thee, & therfore he will afflict thee, Reu. 3.19. As many as I louelove (ſaith God) I rebuke & chaſten. Againe, they ſay, God is our Father, and we are his children, therfore he will not correct vsus; Nay, therfore he wil correct vsus, Heb. 12.6. Whom the Lord loueth, he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth eueryevery Sonne that he receiueth. Again ſay they, Chriſt hath ſuffered all for vsus, & therfore we muſt not ſuffer any ſuch things: Nay, therefore we muſt ſuffer, Mat. 16.24. If any man will follow Chriſt, he muſt take vp his Croſſe and follow him; & vnleſſe we doe thus we cannot be Chriſts diſciples, Iohn 15.20. It is true that theſe are ſweet & heauenly priuiledges and ſuch as exempt vsus from the euill of all afflictions, but not from any one kind of them.
The ſecond Vſe is for Exhortation, & firſt to teach Vſe 2 eueryevery man to make account of afflictions, & to look for them continually: Make account as duly of thy portion in the Cup of afflictions, as of any part of thy daily bread which thou liueſt vponupon; when we are in health and proſperity, let vsus looke for ſicknes & aduerſitie: But will ſome ſay, what ſhall I look for theſe before-hand? this is to vexe and trouble our ſelues without need, for if the diſtreſſes we looke for do not come, then we trouble our ſelues in vaine; If they do come, then they bring harme & trouble enough with them. Why ſhould we ſorrow before-hand? I anſwere, yet we muſt looke for them before-hand, for if we do ſo, then if they do not come (as haply thy godly feare hath preuented them,) we hauehave cauſe to bleſſe God for it: If they doe come, then if wee hauehave made account of them before, the ſmart of them wil be much eaſier vntounto vsus, temptations, & troubles, and loſſes, when they come vnawares, they do commonly lie very hard and heauy vponupon vsus; but when we hauehave made account of them before-hand, they are much lighter to vsus. I will not deny but that we muſt vſe all poſſible meanes to auoid afflictions, we muſt pray againſt them, & preuent them what we can, as our Sauiour prayed; If it be poſsible, let this cup paſſe from me, Luk. 22. yet wee muſt make account of them before-hand. Theſe times wee liue in are ſuch as call vponupon vsus to looke for afflictions, they are the laſt dayes of the world, and they are the worſt and moſt dangerous times; preſent troubles and miſeries, and imminent dangers and feares, there were neuer more; The Lord is abroad in Iudgement, and carries his cup in his hand; the Germans drinke of it firſt; the French ſoone after; the Polonians ſoone after them; and hauehave not the Engliſh iuſt cauſe to feare, that wee ſhall pledge them, and that ere long, we know not how ſoone? Secondly, againe this teacheth vsus not onelyonly to account of afflictions before-hand, but alſo to prepare for them, and to furniſh our ſelues accordingly; there is much good to be had by them, and therefore we are to prepare for them; and therefore doth God warne vsus of dangers before-hand, that we might be armed to beare them, when they doe come.Things to be laboured for that we may beare afflictions. And that we may prepare for them, we muſt labour for theſe things; Firſt, wee muſt labour to get a reſolution in vsus to beare them, and to ſtand it out to the death; we muſt reſolue with the Apoſtle, Act. 21.13. not onelyonly to ſuffer, but to die with Chriſt; Secondly, we muſt ſeaſon our hearts with the comforts of Gods promiſes before-hand, to counteruaile our afflictions when they come, as that he will neuer faile vsus nor forſake vsus, that he loues vsus, and that the iſſue ſhall be good; Thirdly, eſteeme baſely and vildely of thy ſelfe, deny thy ſelfe, and ſo take vp thy Croſſe and follow Chriſt, Matth. 16.24. If we be choiſe and leaning to our ſelues, we will neuer endure the Croſſe, compare Matth. 16.20. with Phil. 2.7. And fourthly, we muſt labour to be well acquainted with the death of Chriſt; this is Armour of proofe againſt all afflictions, to know Ieſus Chriſt and him crucified, by ſenſible experience in our ſelues: If I finde the life of Gods Spirit in me, applying the death of Chriſt to mee, and thereby ſubduing and crucifying my ſinnes, if we can finde this, we ſhall be well armed againſt all afflictions. We come here to receiue the Lords Supper, in remembrance of Chriſts death, then let vsus deſire to be made conformable to his death, and then afflictions will be ſweet vntounto vsus. Againe, let vsus labour for the aſſurance of Gods louelove and fauour, for that is it that makes the Apoſtle thus boldly to beare vp himſelfe againſt all afflictions.
The laſt Vſe teacheth vsus Pacification; euen in our Vſe 3 greateſt diſtreſſes, let vsus ſit downe and ſay; this is my portion, and therefore will I beare it: Many are ready to complaine and cry out, and to ſay, when they are afflicted, eſpecially when Gods hand lies heauy vponupon them; Oh, my affliction is great and ſtrange, my caſe is not like vntounto other mens; no man is ſo hardly handled as I am, as the Church, Lam. 1.12. but this is the frowardneſſe of our corrupt hearts; Whatſoeuer it is, it is thy portion, and therefore be pacified and contented; It is no otherwiſe with thee, then it is with all Gods children, eueryevery one hath his portion of them, 1 Pet. 4.12. It is no ſtrange thing, 1 Pet. 5.9. It is the ſame afflictions that are accompliſhed in our Brethren, 1 Cor. 10.13. No temptation doth befall vsus, but ſuch as appertaine to man; and therfore let vsus be content and pacifie our ſelues; looke not ſo much on thy afflictions, but looke vp to God; It is his Ordinance that eueryevery one of vsus ſhould beare his portion of affliction; whatſoeuer thou doſt endure, it is but thy portion, thy draught: Shall I not drinke of the Cup which my Father giues me to drinke of? ſaith our Sauiour, Ioh. 18.11. This is it our Sauiour comforts himſelfe and his Diſciples withall; and let this comfort thee: It is thy Fathers Cup, and therefore thou muſt drinke of it. And ſecondly, let vsus looke vponupon others of Gods children, ſome of them are equall with thee in afflictions, others come ſhort, but many goe beyond thee, and thy afflictions are but little to ſome of theirs, and thoſe that are at more eaſe now, may be in great diſtreſſes hereafter, and wilt not thou be content to beare that which all Gods children beare, and muſt beare more or leſſe, firſt or laſt; All of vsus hauehave ſinned, Chriſt onelyonly excepted; but none are exempted from the rodde, not Chriſt himſelfe; And is it not a ſweet thing for thee to be ranged with Chriſt, and with thy brethren the children of God? Is it not a comfort to thee to dye with thy Captaine Chriſt, & with thy fellow-Soldiers the children of God, Dauid, Iob, Paul, and others? therefore when thou ſaiſt thy caſe is worſe then any others, thou ſpeakeſt thou knoweſt not what; thou knoweſt what thy ſelfe feeleſt, but not what another man feeles, thine are greater happily then thy brothers to day, happily to morrow his will be greater then thine; a little affliction may be greater to him, then a greater to thee, hee that hath leaſt hath as much, for his ſtrength, as thou haſt for thine. Thou muſt ſuffer afflictions, therefore take vp thine owne Croſſe, ſuffer thine owne afflictions, beare thine own burthen, that is thy thou art appointed and called vntounto; The Lord hath appointed them to vsus, 1 Tim. 3. and therefore we muſt willingly beare them, in obedience to Gods ordinance, in our fellowſhip with Chriſt, and all the reſt of Gods Children, and then God that hath brought vsus into the tryals, will ſurely bring vsus through them all with comfort, ſafety, and deliuerance, euen vntounto a Crowne of life, Iam. 1.12. Bleſſed is the man that indureth temptations, for when he is tryed, hee ſhall receiue the Crowne of life: But ſee thou be the Childe of God, for afflictions are common to all, but the comfort and benefit of them is proper to Beleeuers onelyonly: Doſt thou ſuffer as a Chriſtian? then reioyce in it, for then bleſſed and happy are we, 1 Pet. 4.13. to the 16. Verſe; if we ſuffer for Chriſts ſake, for righteteouſneſſe ſake, for a godly life, for obedience to God in crucifying the fleſh, then bleſſed are we, if we thus indure temptations, for after we are thus tryed, we ſhall receiue this Crowne of life.
FINIS.