The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace, Treatise · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. How to walke as in Gods ſight, under croſſes in all adverſity.
SECTION 1.
EVery day wil bring forth aMa…. 6. 3…his evill, and croſſe, whether lighter & ordinary, or more heavy and rare. The firſt ſort riſeth partly from the common frailties of the perverſe natures of thē with whom you ſhall converſe, and partly from your owne, as from tetchineſſe, and aptneſſe to take things in ill part. Such are diſcourteſies from thoſe of whom you looked for kindneſſe; Imperiouſneſſe, and too much domineering of Superiours; ſullenneſſe, negligence, and diſregard from inferiours; an awkewardneſſe and croſſeneſſe in the perſons and things with which you have to deale.
Touching theſe, the Rule is:
Lay not theſe to heart, tooRules concerning lighter croſſes. neare you, Make them not greater than they be, through your impatiency (as many doe) who, upon every light occaſion of diſlike caſt themſelves into ſuch an Hell of vexation and diſcontent, that all the bleſſings they receive that day, are ſcarce obſerved, or can make their lives comfortable. Whereas Wiſdome ſhould prevent, and Love and Wiſedome ſhould cover and paſſe by moſt of theſe; ſeeing, as if you ſaw not: or if you will give way to any paſſion at theſe, let it be with hatred of their and your ſin, which is the cauſe of theſe, and all other croſſes. Theſe ſhould occaſion you to pitty, and pray for them that give you this offence, and for your ſelfe, who many times without cauſe take offence. You may (if need require) ſhew your diſlike, and admoniſh the offender, if ſo bee you doe it with bIam. 3. 13meekeneſſe of wiſedome: but learne hereby to warne your ſelfe, that you give not the like offence.
But whether your croſſes andRules how to beare all croſſes. afflictions be ſeeming onelyonly, and in conceit, or indeed; whether from God immediately, or from man; whether light or heavie, follow theſe directions: 1. Be not tranſported with paſſion and choler like cGen. 4. 23, 24.proud Lamech, and dIonas 4. 7, 8, 9.froward Ionas. 2. Be not overwhelmed, or eaten up with griefe, like e1 Kin. 21. 4.covetous Ahab, and f1 Sam. 2… 37.fooleſh Nabal: But 3. Beare them patiently. 4. Beare them chearefully and thankefully. 5. Beare them fruitfully.
Now to helpe you, that paſſion and heat of anger kindle not, or at leaſt breake not out, or laſtRemedies not.againſt ſin full anger.
Firſt, Convince your judgement thorowly, that paſſion and raſh anger is gMat. 5. 22 Eccleſ. 7. 9.forbidden and hated of GOD. It is a fruit of the *Gal. 5. 20fleſh. A worke of the hIamos 3. 14, 15.Devill. Bred and nouriſhed by lPro. 21. …4pride, kPr. 14. 29folly, and lIonas 4. 1, 2, 3.ſelfe-love. Alſo that it ſurpriſeth all the powers of right reaſon, putting a man beſides himſelfe, cauſing him to abuſe his tongue, hands, and the whole man, making him like a foole, to let flye and caſt firebrands at every thing which croſſeth him, and that not onelyonly againſt his neighbour and m1 Sam. 20. 30. 33.deareſt friends, but againſt God himſelfe. nIon. 4. 9.Conſider likewiſe that it maketh a man out of caſe to o1 Tam. 2. 8 …pray, heare the p1 Pet. 2. 1 Iam, 1. 19.Word, or to performe any worſhip to God, and unfit to ſpeak, or heare reaſon, or to give or receive good counſell. God barreth ſuch as are froward, the qPr. 2…. 14company of good men, and ſaith, That ſuch a one doth rPr. 29. 22abound in tranſgreſſion, & that there is ſPr. 29. 20more hope of a foole than of him. Wherfore he muſt needs be expoſed to all the juſt tPr. 19. 19iudgements of God, temporall and eternall. By theſe and ſuch like thoughts, worke your ſelfe to an ill opinion of this vice, and to ſuch a loathing of it, that you may beware and ſhun it.
Secondly, Obſerve watchfully when anger beginneth to kindle and ſtirre in you, and before it flame & break forth into tongue or hand; ſet your reaſon aworke, let it ſtep before it, to hold it in and bridle it. Nay, ſet Faith aworke, having in readineſſe, and calling to minde, ſuch pregnant Scriptures as theſe: uEph. 4. 26Be angrie, but ſinne not. And, xEccl. 4. 9.Anger reſteth in the boſome of fooles. And ſay thus, Shall I ſinne againſt God? Shall I play the foole?
Then you ſinne, and play the ſoole in your anger, firſt, when it is without cauſe, as, when neitherRules ſhewing when a man ſinneth in his anger. GOD is diſhonoured, nor your neighbour or your ſelfe indeede injuried; when it is for trifles, and onelyonly becauſe you are croſſed in your will, and deſire, and the like: but chiefly when you are angry with any y1 Kin. 22 24. 26.for weldoing. Secondly, though you have cauſe, yet if it be ſevered from love to the perſon of him with whom you are angry, ſo as you neglect the common and needful offices thereof. Thirdly, when it exceedeth due meaſure, as when it is over-much, and over-long. Fourthly, it is ſinfull when it bringeth forth evill, and unſeemly effects, ſuch as neglect, or ill performance of dutie to GOD, or man; alſo when it breaketh out into lowd, clamorous, reviling, or ſ…appiſh peeches, or into ſtamping, ſta…ing, flinging, churliſh, ſullen, or dogged behaviour, or when it breaketh out into any injurious act.
Thirdly, If you cannot keepe anger from riſing, and boyling within you, yet be ſure that you binde your tongue and hand to the good behaviour. Make a Covenant with them, & charge them not to ſhew it, nor partake with it any farther then conſiderate reaſon, and good conſcience ſhall adviſe you. Set a Law toPſal. 39. 1. Pſa 14 1. 3. your ſelfe, that you will not chide, nor ſtrike while you are in your ſcalding heate of anger. If there be cauſe of either, deferre it untill you be your ſelfe. If you ſay, that if you doe them not in your heate, you ſhall doe neither. I anſwer, that in ſaying ſo, you diſcover a great deale of impotencie, folly, & corruption. I am ſure you never doe them well in paſſion. And conſcience of dutie ſhould lead you to chiding, and correcting, when there is cauſe, not paſſion: for, in it, you ſerve and revenge your ſelfe upon the partie, but not God.
Fourthly, Both before and when you are in a chafe. See GOD by the eye of your Faith comming in, hearing you, and looking upon you. This willPſa. 11. 4, 5 make you whiſt, and quiet, cauſing you not onelyonly to hold your hands and tongue, as you finde by experience you uſe to doe, when ſome reverend friend cō meth in; but this will coole and abate your very inward heate and paſſion.
Fif…ly, if you feele your corruption and weakeneſſe to be ſuch, and the provocation to anger to be ſo great, that you feare you cannot hold, then if it be poſſible, avoid all occaſions of anger, remove your ſelfe, but in a peaceable and quiet manner, from the perſon, object, or occaſion thereof. And at all times bPro. 22. 24, 25.ſhunne the company of an angry man, as much as your calling will give you leave, leſt you learne his wayes.
Sixthly, Howſoever it may happen that anger doe kindle in you, and breake out; Be ſure that you…u…d…e it before it grow into hatred of him with whom you are angry. For this cauſe, cEph. 4. 26Let not the Sunne goe downe upon your wrath, you know not what hatred it may hatch before morning. And the beſt means which I know to ſubdue it, is, If you finde your heart to boyle againſt any, dMat. 5. 44pray heartily to God for him in particular for his good: this you are commanded. And be ſo farre from ſeeking revenge, that you force your ſelfe to be loving and kinde, ſhewing all good offices of love with wiſedome, as you ſhal have occaſion; overcome evillRom. 12. 17 20, 21. with good. Pray alſo to God for your ſelfe, that he would pleaſe to ſubdue this paſſion for you. This act of love to him performed before God, before whom you dare not diſſemble, will excellently quench wrath, and prevent hatred aganiſt him with whom you were angry, and will give proofe betweene God and your Conſcience, that you love him.
If, pleading for your ſelfe, you ſhall ſay, It is my naturall conſtitution to be cholericke, and fleſh and bloud will have their courſe, Know, this is to nouriſh your paſſion. Knowalſo, it is a wicked and hateful conſtitution of body, which came in with the fall. And e1 Cor. 15 50.fleſh and bloud ſhall not inherite the kingdome of God. Say not, I am ſo croſſed and provoked, never any the like. For f… Pet. 2. 23 Heb. 12. 2, 3.Christ was more injured and more provoked, yet was never in a chafe. And you provoke God daily a thouſand times more every day, yet he is patient with you. Say not, It is ſuch an head-ſtrong paſſion, that it is impoſſible to one who is of a cholericke nature, thus to bridle and ſubdue it. For, I can aſſure you, that by uſing the former meanes, if a man alſo do oft, and much ſhame and abaſe himſelfe before God for his paſſion and folly, and daily repent thereof, and be watchfull over himſelfe, he may of a moſt cholericke man, become moſt meeke before hee dye. I have ſeene it in old men (whoſe age in it ſelfe giveth advantage to tutchines and frowardnes) who were exceeding paſſionat intheir youth, yet through the grace of God, by conſtant cōflict againſt this vice, have attained to an admirable degree of meekneſſe.
Next, as carnal anger, ſo worldly griefe muſt be avoided in all ſorts of croſſes. For, by it you repine againſt GOD, fret againſt men, and doe make your ſelfe unfit for g1 Kin. 21 4.naturall, civill, and ſpiritual duties, and if it be continued, h2 Cor. 7. 10.it worketh death.
The beſt remedy againſt worldly ſorrow for any croſſe, is to turn it into godly ſorrow for ſin, which is the cauſe of the croſſe.Re…e lie againſt worldly griefe. This will cauſe i2 Cor. 7. 10.repentance to ſalvation, never to be repented of, and will drive you to Chriſt, in whom if you beleeve, you ſhall have joy and comfort; even ſuch k1 Pet. 1. 6. 8.ioy unſpeakeable which will diſpell and drie up both this, and all other griefes whatſoever. For godly ſorrow doth alwaies, in due time, end in ſpirituall joy.
SECTION 2. Of bearing all croſſes patiently.
IN the third place, I told you that you muſt beare all your afflictions and croſſes patiently. By Patience, I doe not meane a Stoicall ſenſcleſneſſe, or blockiſh ſtupiditie, like that of aGen. 49. 14, 15.Iſachar. Nor yet a counterſeit patience, like bGen. 27. 41, 42.Eſau's, and c2 Sam. 13 13. 22.Abſaloms. Nor a meere civill and morall patience, which wiſe Heathen, to free themſelves from vexation, and for-vaine-glorie, and other ends, attained unto. Nor yet a dRev. 2. 2.prophane patience, of men inſenſible of GODS hiſhonour. Nor a patience-perforce, when the ſufferer is meerely paſſive; But a Christ an holy patience, wherein you muſt be ſenſible of Gods hand, and when you cannot but feele an unwillingneſſe in nature to beare it; yet, for conſcience to Gods Commandement, you doe ſubmit to his will, and that voluntarily, with an active patience, cauſing your ſelfe to be willing to beare it ſo long as God ſhall pleaſe, like the eMat. 26. 39. 42.patience of Chriſt: Not my will, but thine be done. The excellencie of Christs ſuffering, was not in that he ſuffered, but in that he was obedient in his ſuffering. He was fPhil. 2. 8.obedient to the death. So likewiſe no mans ſuffering is acceptable, if he be not active and obedient in ſuffering.
This Patience is a grace of the Spirit of God, wrought in the heart A deſcription of Chriſtian patience.and will of man, through beleeving, and applying the Commandement, and promiſes of God to himſelfe; whereby, for *1 Pet. 2. 19conſcience ſake towards God, he doth ſubmit his will to Gods will, willing quietly to beare, without bitterneſſe and vexation, all the labours, changes, and evill occurrents which ſhall be fall him in the whole courſe of his life, whether from God immediately, or from man; as alſo to wait quietly for all ſuch good things which God hath promiſed, but yet are delayed and unfulfilled.
To induce you to get, and to ſhew forth this holy Patience, know that gHeb. 10. 36.you have need of it, and that in theſe reſpects:
1. You are but halfe a Chriſtian, Inducements to patience.you are imperfect in your parts, you want a principall part, if you want patience: thus S. Iames argueth, implying that hee that will be hIam. 1. 4.entire, and want nothing to make him a Chriſtian man, he muſt have patience. This paſsive obedience is greater than active, it is more rare, and more difficult to obey in ſuffering, than to obey in doing.
2. You have not a ſure poſſeſſion of your ſoule without patience; In your patience iLu. 21. 19.poſſeſſe yee your ſoules, ſaith our Saviour. A man without patience, is not his own man: hee hath not power kPro. 25. 28.nor rule over his owne spirit, nor yet of his own body. The tongue, hand, and feet of an impatient man, will not bee held in by reaſon. But he that is patient, enjoyeth himſelfe, and hath lPro. 16. 32rule over his spirit; no croſſe can put him out of poſſeſſion of himſelfe.
Thirdly, There are ſo many oppoſitions and lets in your race, and growth of Chriſtianity, that without patience to ſuffer, and to mRom. 8. 25.wait, you cannot poſſibly bring forth good fruit to God, nor hold out your profeſſion of Chriſtianitie to the end; but ſhall give off, before you have enjoyed the nHeb. 10. 36.promiſe. Therefore you are bid to oHeb. 12. 3runne with patience the race which is ſet before you. And the good ground is ſaid to bring forth fruie with pLuk. 8. 15patience. And the faithfull are ſaid qHeb. 6. 12through Faith and Patience to inherite the Promiſes.
Fourthly, Patience worketh nRom 5. 5experience, without which no man can be an expert Chriſtian; this experiēce being of the greateſt uſe to confirme a Chriſtian ſoule in greateſt difficulties. This be ſaid of the neceſſitie, together with the benefit of patience, that you may love it, and may deſire to have, and ſhew it.
By what meanes you may attaine it, followeth:
Firſt, you muſt be after a ſortMeanes of patience. impatient, and muſt ſpend your paſſion on your luſts which war in your members, fall out with them, oCol. 3. 5.mortifie them; for nothing maketh a man impatient, ſo much as his luſts doe, both becauſe they wil never be ſatisfied, & it is death to a man to be croſſed in them; and becauſe the fulfilling of luſts doth cauſe a guilty conſcience, whence followeth impatience & troubleſome vexation upon every occaſion, like unto the raging Sea, which with every wind doth…ome, and rage, and pIſa. 57. 20caſt up nothing but filth and dirt: And as Saint Iames ſaith, qIam. 4. 1.Whence are warres and brawlings? So I ſay of all other fruits of impatiencie, But from your luſts that warre in your members. Take away the cauſes of impatiency, then you have made a good way for patience.
Secondly, Lay a good ſoundation of patience: you muſt be humble and low in your owne eyes, through an appre…ēſion that you are leſſe then the leaſt of GODS mercies, and that your rEzr. 9. 13greateſt puniſhments are leſſe than your iniquities have deſerved. As any man hath abounded in humility, ſo hath …ee abounded in patience, witneſſe the examples of Abraham, Moſes, Iob, David, and others.
Thirdly, Store your heart with faith, hope, and love: all theſe, and either of theſe do calm …he heart, and keepe it …eadie. For beſides that, they quiet the heart in the maine, giving aſſurance of Gods love in Chriſt▪ ſRom. 5. 1. 3, 4.For being iuſ…fied by faith, we have peace with God, rei…yce in hope, whence joy and patience in tribulation. And who can be impatient with him whom hee loveth with all his heart and ſtrength? Theſe graces alſo doe furniſh a man with an ability of ſpiritual reaſoning and diſputing with a diſquieted ſoule, whereby it may be quieted in any particular diſquietment.
Wherefore the fourth meane of patience is, to doe as Dav… did, whenſoever you finde your heart begin to boyle, and to be impatient, you muſt (before paſſion hath got the bit in the teeth, and carried you out of your ſelfe into height of impatience) tPſ. 42. 11aske your ſoule what is the matter, and why it is ſo diſquieted within you. This do ſeriouſly, and your heart will quickly repreſent to your thoughts, ſuch and ſuch croſſe, or croſſes, ſtretched out upon the tenters of manifold aggravations. All which you muſt anſwer by the ſpirituall reaſoning of your faith, grounded on the word of God, whereby you may quiet your heart, and put it to ſi…ence.
Whatſoever the affliction be that may trouble you; you may …e furniſhed with reaſons why you ſhould bee patient, taken (1) from GOD that ſent it: (2) from your ſelfe, on whom it …eth: (3) from the nature and …e of the affliction it ſelfe: (4) by conſidering the evils of impatience: (5) by comparing the bleſſings you have, and are aſſured that you ſhall have, with the croſſes you have, eſpecially if patiently endured. You ſhall from all theſe conſiderations ſee reaſon, why your heart ſhould be quiet under the greateſt afflictions.
Firſt, conſider well, that whatſoever the trouble and croſſe be, and whatſoever bee the inſtrument of it, either in the ſenſe of evill, or in the want of good promiſed, God your Father, (1) who doth all things according to the wiſedome and counſell of his will; (2) who doth afflict with moſt tender affection; (3) who correcteth and afflicteth in meaſure; (4) who hath alwayes holy purpoſes and ends in all afflictions, and that for your good, hath ſent it.
Firſt, conſider that it was God that did it. i…mos 3. 6 2 …am. 16. 10.There is no evil (… of puniſhment) in a City, whic… the Lord hath not done, ſaith Amos. k1 Sam. 3. 18.It is the Lord, let him doe what ſeemeth him good, ſaith El. lPſa 39 9.I opened not my mouth, ſaith David, becauſe thou (Lord) didſt it. mIob 1. …1 Hoſ. 6. 1. 1 Sam. 2. 6 7.The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away, bleſſed bee the Name of the Lord, ſaith Iob.
2. All this GOD doth to his children with nHeb. 12. 5, 6.a fatherly affection in much love and pitty. He hath your oPſa 31. 7ſoule ſtill in remembrance, while you are in adverſitie. Yea, he beareth ſome part of the burden with you: for (ſpeaking after the manner of man) hee ſaith, that pIſa. 63. 9.in all the afflictions of his children, he is afflicted. qLam. 3. 33He delighteth not in afflicting the children of men, much leſſe his owne children.
If you aske, Why then doth hee afflict, or why doth he not eaſe you ſpeedily? I aske you, Why a tender-harted father, being a Chirurgion, who is grieved and troubled at the paine and anguiſh, which he himſelfe cauſed his childe to feele with corroſives, or hot irons, would notwithſtanding apply the burning irons, and ſuffer thoſe plaiſters to vexe him for a long time? You will ſay, Sure the wound or malady of the childe required it, and that elſe it could not be cured. This is the caſe betwixt God and you: Gods heart is tender, and yerneth towards you, when his hand is upon you: therefore beare it patiently.
3. rIſa. 27. 8.God afflicteth you in meaſure, fitting your affliction for kinde, time, and weight, according to your need, and according to the ſtrength of grace which he hath already given you, or which certainely he will give you. He doth ſ1 Cor. 10 13.never lay more upon you, then what you ſhall be able to beare: and will alwayes with the croſſe and temptation, make a way to eſcape. The husbandman will not alwayes bee tIſa. 28. 24 25.plowing, and harrowing of his ground, but onelyonly giveth it ſo many earths, and ſo many tynes, to ſome more, to ſome leſſe, as the ground hath need, and as it can beare them. So likewiſe he threſheth his divers ſorts of graine, with divers Inſtruments, according as the graine can endure them: uIſa. 28 26 27, 28.the fitches are not threſhed with a threſhing inſtrument, neither is the cart wheele turned about upon the cummin: bread-corne is bruiſed: becauſe hee will not ever be threſhing it, nor breake it with the wheele of his cart, nor bruiſe it with his horſemen. If the huſbandman doe all this by the diſcretion wherewith God hath inſtructed him; can you think that xIſa 28. 29God, who is wonderfull in counſell, and excellent in working, will plow, and harrow any of his ground, or threſh any of his corne, above that which is fit, and more than his ground and corne can beare? Should not you, his ground and corne, bee patient at ſuch tillage, and at ſuch threſhing.
4. Gods end in afflicting, is alwayes his owne glory in your good; as, to humble you, and to bring you to a ſight of your ſinne, to breake up the fallow ground of your heart, aHoſ. 10. 12that you may ſow in righteouſneſſe, and reape in mercy; to harrow you, that the ſeed of grace may take root in you. All Gods afflictions are either to remove impediments of grace: (bIſa. 27. 9. By this, ſaith Eſay, ſhall the inequity of Iacob bee purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his ſin. All the plowing is but to kill weeds, and to fit the ground for ſeed; all the threſhing and winnowing, is but to ſever the chaffe from the corne; and all the grinding, and boulting by afflictions, is, but to ſever the bran from the flowre, that cIſa. 66. 20Gods people may be a pure meate-offering acceptable to him.) Or elſe he afflicts, that his children might have experience of his love & power in preſerving and delivering them, or that they might have the exerciſe, proofe, and increaſe of faith, dRom 5. 4hope, love, and other principall graces, ſcil. to worke patience and experience by them, which ſerve for the beautifying & perfecting of a Chriſtian. e1 Cor. 11 32.God doth iudge his children here, that they may repent, and be reformed, that they may not bee condemned with the world. Gods end in chaſtiſing you, ſhall be found to be alwayes for your good, that you ſhall be able to ſay, fPſal. 119 67 71.It was good for mee to be afflicted: For it is gHeb. 12. 10, 11.that you may be partaker of his holineſſe, and accordingly of his glory and happineſſe. Beare therefore all afflictions patiently, for they are for your good.
If this be your croſſe and trouble, that you want many of the graces and good gifts of GOD which he hath promiſed: Know alſo that this deferring to give graces and comforts, is of God, not out of neglect or forget fulneſſe of you; but of ſet, wiſe, and good purpoſe, even to you-ward: As to inkindle your deſires more and more after them; and, it may be, that you ſhould ſeek them in a better manner. It is likewiſe to try your faith, and hope, whether you will doe him that honour, as to wait and reſt upon his bare word. When you are fit for them, you ſhall have them. You muſt therefore worke your heart yet to wait patiently for them, conſidering the faithfulneſſe & power of God that promiſed, and how that h2 Cor. 1. 20.all the promiſes of God are Yea and Amen in Chriſt. He is wiſe, true, and able to fulfill them in the due time, and in the beſt manner; for iHeb. 10. 23. 37.faithfull is he that hath promiſed, and will fulfill it: and yet a little while, and hee that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry.
Secondly, when the Soule beginneth to be diſquieted, conſider your ſelfe how unworthy you are of any bleſſing, how worthy you are of all Gods curſes, yea, of eternall damnation in Hell; and that juſtly, becauſe of the ſin of your nature, and wicked actions of your life. When you ſhall doe thus, your heart will be quiet and content, you wil ſay with the Church (whatſoever your trouble be,) kMic. 7. 9.I will beare the indignation of the Lord, for I have ſinned againſt him. He that doth acknowledge that he hath deſerved to be hanged, drawne, and quartered for an offence againſt the King, if the King will be ſo mercifull that he ſhall eſcape only with a ſevere whipping, to remember him of his diſloyaltie, (though he ſmart terribly with thoſe laſhes,) yet in his mind he can beare them patiently, and gladly. If you can thinke thus, I deſerve more puniſhment in this kinde, nay, in any other, together with this, inal other with this one, or with theſe few, my puniſhment is lEz…. 9. 13leſſe than mine iniquities deſerve: for I might▪ have beene frying in Hell long ſince, and have beene paſt all meanes and hope of ſalvation, but I live, and have time, and meanes to make a good uſe of my afflictions; Theſe thoughts will cauſe you to ſay, Why am I? Why is living man ſorrowfull? that is, impatiently ſorrowfull, or why doth he complaine (ſaith the mLam. 3. 39.Prophet) what? ſhall man who is puniſhed for his ſinne, but not fully to his deſert, yet complaine? for he yet nLam. 3. 40liveth to ſearch his wayes and turne to the Lord, and ſeeke mercy: Say with the Church in all your diſtreſſes, oLam. 3. 19 20, 21, 22.Its▪ Gods mercy it is not worſe. It is Gods mercy I am not utterly conſumed.
Thirdly, When your ſoule beginneth to buſſle and bee out of quiet under afflictions, whether inward in ſoule, or outward in body or ſtate; conſider the nature & uſe of them to you-ward. To the eye and touch of ſenſe they are *Heb. 12 11.evill, and as poyſon, things hurtfull and dangerous; but to the eye and touch of faith, they are good, & as good phyſicke, 2 Cor. 4. 16moſt healthful to the ſoule, o2 Cor. 4. 17, 18.and ſaving. God the skilfull Phyſician hath quite altered the nature of croſſes to his children; he that bringeth light out of darkneſſe, ſo tempers afflictions, that they become good antidotes and preſervatives againſt ſinne, and good pIſa. 27 9.purgatives of ſinne. The core, ſting, and curſe of the croſſe; which remaineth to a wicked man, is by Chriſts patient ſuffering, and Gods mercy, taken quite away out of the afflictions of beleevers. Afflictions to the godly, are not properly puniſhments ſerving to pacifie GODS wrath for ſinne; but are onelyonly chastiſements to remove ſinne, and are exerciſes of graces, and meanes of holineſſe. For they ſerve either to prevent evil, or to reforme it: either to make way for grace, or to quicken and increaſe grace, or to diſcover and give proofe of it. God is as a wiſe and skilful Gold-ſmith, he knowes how to purge his Gold, by caſting it into the q1 Pet. 1. 7fire of affliction, which fire is not the ſame to the droſſe, which it is to the gold; it conſumes the droſſe, but refineth the gold, that it may be fit to be made a veſſell of Honour. Fire ſerveth to trie gold, as Well as to purge it: for pure gold though it remain in the fire manie daies, the fire cannot waſte it; when it is once pure, it will hold its waight ſtill for all the burning. Hence it is that the Pſalmiſt ſaith, rPſal. 119. 67. 71.It is good for me that I have beene afflicted, that I might learne thy ſtatutes: and the Apoſtle ſaith, ſRom. 8. 28All things worke together for good to them that love God. He is a froward & fooliſh perſon, who being ſicke of a deadly diſeaſe, doth not patiently and gladly endure the gripings, & extreame ſicknes of ſtomacke, and bowels, when he knoweth that this his ſickneſſe, cauſed by bitter phyſicke, is for his health.
You will ſay, If you couldObiect. 4. finde that your afflictions did you any good, you ſhould not onelyonly be patient, but glad under any afflictions.
I anſwer: Whatſoever youAnſw. feele, faith in Gods Word will tell you, that they both now doe you good, and hereafter you ſhall feele the benefit of it. The benefit of Phyſicke is not alwaies felt the day you take it, but chiefly when the Phyſicke hath done working. The chiefe end why GOD tryeth and purgeth you by afflictions, is, that he may humble you, and prove you, to doe you good at your latter end. Reade Deut. 8. 15, 16. You ſhould therefore be patient in the meane time.
Fourthly, If yet your heart begin to be diſquieted, becauſe of4 ſuch or ſuch an affliction; Conſider with your ſelfe, what harme impatience will doe you, compared with the good that will follow a patient enduring of it. For, beſides that it depriveth you of your right underſtanding, and maketh you to forget your ſelfe, as I have ſaid, even to forget your dutie both to God and man; it is the readieſt meanes to double, and lengthen the affliction, not to abate it, and take it off. That parent which intended to give a childe but light correction, if this childe be impatient, and catch at the rod, and ſtruggleth to get the rod, or to get away by force from him, is hereby more incenſed, and doth puniſh him more ſeverely. But if in any affliction you doe patiently 1 Pet. 5. 6.ſubmit your ſelfe under GODS mightie hand, (beſides that eaſe and quiet it giveth to the ſoule, and experience and hope which it worketh in you,) it is the readieſt meanes of ſeaſonable deliverance out of it; for then GOD will exalt you in due time. GOD is wiſe, and too ſtrong to be overcome by any meanes, but by ſtrong prayer, and humble yeeldance Hoſ. 12. 4.to his will.
Fifthly, If yet your ſoule be5 diſquieted within you at anie croſſes; that you may quiet your ſoule, you muſt not (as moſt doe,) take onelyonly into the one skale of your conſideration, the waight and number of your croſſes, together with ſuch and ſuch aggravations; but withall put into the other skale the manifold mercies and favours of God, both in the evils you have eſcaped, and in the benefits which heretofore you have received, and doe now enjoy, and which (you beleeving) have cauſe to hope to receive hereafter. But amongſt all his mercies, forget not this one which you have alreadie, GOD hath given Chriſt unto you, whereby he himſelfe is yours, & is your portion. Now, if you have Chriſt, you have with him, xRom. 8. 32.all things alſo which are worth the having.
When you have thus weighed, unpartially, bleſſings & mercies againſt croſſes, you will tell me, that for one croſſe, you have an hundred bleſſings, yea, yPſa. 119. 71.a bleſſing in your croſſes, and you will ſay, that this one merciemercy of being in Chriſt, it alone weigheth up all croſſes, and maketh them as light as nothing; giving you ſo much matter of joy & thankes, even in the midſt of affliction, that you can neither have cauſe, not time, to be impatient, or to repine at anie affliction, but to aRom. 5. 1, 2, 3.reioyce even in your tribulations.
And as for the time to come, when you thinke thereof, you wil, with the Apoſtle Paul, when you have caſt up all your croſſes and ſufferings of this preſēt time, yet bRom. 8. 18reckon, that they are not worthy to be compared with the Glorie that ſhall be revealed in you: For they are but ſhort for time, and light for weight, being compared with the everlaſting weight of glorie which they will cauſe to you, if you endure them patiently. I will ſay nothing of the ſhortnes and lightneſſe of your afflictions …n compariſon of the farre more intolerable and eternall weight of torments of Hell which you eſcape: and in comparing afflictions with glorie; I will point out to you onelyonly the Apoſtles gradation, you ſhall have, for c2 Cor. 4. 17.affliction, glory; for light affliction, weight of glorie; for ſhort affliction, an eternall glorie; for common and ordinarie affliction, excellēt glorie: And albeit, it might be thought that hee had ſaid enough, yet he addeth degrees of compariſon; yea, goeth beyond all degrees, calling it more excellent, farre more excellent: for thus he ſaith, Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory. Indeed you muſt not d2 Cor. 4. 18.looke at the things which are ſeene with the eye of ſenſe: but at things which are not ſeene, (which are ſpirituall and eternall) ſeene onelyonly by the eye of faith.
You will ſay, If you did beare afflictions for Chriſt, then youDoubt. could thus thinke, and thus expect; but you oft-times ſuffer affliction iuſtly for your ſinne.
I anſwer, Though this placeAnſw. principally point at martyrdom and ſuffering for Chriſts cauſe, yet it is all one, in your caſe, if you will beare afflictions patiently for his ſake. A man mayA mā may ſuffer for Chriſt two wayes. ſuffer afflictions for Chriſt two wayes; Firſt, When he ſuffereth for his Religion, and for his cauſe. Secondly, When a man ſuffereth any thing which God layeth upon him quietly for Chriſts with and commandement ſake. This latter is more general than the former, & the former muſt be comprehended in this latter; elſe the former ſuffering for CHRISTS cauſe, if it be not in e1 Cor. 13 3love and obedience, and for Chriſts ſake, our of Conſcience to fulfill his will, is nothing: whereas he that endureth patiently GODS juſt puniſhment for ſinne, for Chriſts ſake, endevouring to ſubmit his will to the will of Chriſt; this man ſuffers, that is, patiently endureth affliction for CHRIST, though he never be put to it to ſuffer for profeſſion of Chriſt: and, if ſuch a one were put to it, hee would readily ſuffer for Chriſts cauſe. And ſuch afflictions as theſe, thus patiently endured, worke alſo this excellent weight of glorie, as well as the other.
By theſe and the like reaſonings of faith, you may worke your ſoule to patience, as David and othersPſal. 42. Pſal. 43. have done, by caſting anchor on God, and on his Word, fixing their ſtaie and hope in GOD. Let the iſſue of your reaſoning be this, I will waite on God, and yet, for al matter of diſquietment, praiſe him who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Thus f1 Sam. 30 6.David quieted his heart, when he heard tydings, that his Citie Ziglag was burnt, and that his wives and all that he had, together with the wives & children, and all that his ſouldiers had, was carried captive; and when he ſaw that his ſouldiers began to mutine, and when he heard them ſpeake of ſtoning him, hee incouraged himſelfe in the Lord his God. And good Iehoſaphat, in his deſperate condition, caſt anchor here, ſaying, g2 Chr. 20 12.O our God, we know not what to doe, but our eyes are on thee. Thus by the exerciſe of your hope in God, the heart may be wrought unto much patience and quiet in all diſtreſſes. Thus much be ſaid of the fourth meanes of patience in the ſeveral branches of it.
A fift meanes of patience is:5 obſerve the patience of others, as of the Prophets and faithfull ſervants of God, who are recorded in Scripture, and left as hIam. 5. 10 11.examples of ſuffering affliction, and of patience. We count them happy that endure, ſaith Iames. You hauehave heard of the patience of Iob, and have ſeene the end of the Lord, that the Lord is verie pittifull and of tender merciemercy. But eſpecially repreſent to your thoughts the patience of your head and Saviour Ieſus Chriſt, whom you pierced by your ſins, who iIſa. 53. 7.as a Lambe dumbe before the ſhearer, opened not his mouth. Now, if you would conſider him who is the Author and finiſher of your faith; who, kHeb. 12. 1, 2, 3, &c.indured ſuch contradiction of ſinners, & ſuch intolerable anguiſh of ſoule, when hee wraſtled with his Fathers wrath; then you ſhould not be wearied nor faint in your minds, when you are under any affliction. If with Chriſt you ſet the ioy before you, you ſhall be able to endure the croſſe, and deſpiſe the ſhame of all perſecution for welldoing, and ſhall ſo runne that race that is ſet before you, with patience, that you ſhal in the end ſit down with Chriſt, at the right hand ofHeb. 12. 2. Rev. 3. 21. the Throne of God.
Sixthly, and laſtly, Pray much for patience, waiting patiently forIam. 1. 4, 5. it: and without doubt, the God of patience and conſolation, who hath commanded it, who ſeeth that you have need of it, who hath promiſed to give you all your petitions which you make according to his will, will ſurely give you patience.
SECTION 3. Of bearing afflictions thankefully and fruitfully.
TO beare adverſitie and afflictionsOf bearing croſſes thankfully well, it is not enough that you beare them patiently, becauſe you deſerve them, and becauſe they come from God; but you muſt beare them aLam. 3. 22 23. Iob 1. 21.thankfully, bRom. 5. 3chearefully, and comfortably (becauſe they are as you have heard) for your cPſal. 119 71. Lam. 3. 27.good. We doe not onelyonly patiently endure the hand of the Chirurgion, and the …otions of the Phyſician, but wee …oe thanke them, pay them, and are glad of their receits, thoughIam. 1. 2, 3. they put us to paine. Count it exceeding ioy, ſaith Saint Iames, when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your …aith worketh patience, &c.
Laſt of all, unto patience andOf bearing croſſes fruitfully. …hankefulneſſe, you muſt adde dPſal. …19 67. 71.fruitfulneſſe, and growth of grace; this ſhould be the fruit of al croſſes and afflictions, that with David you may be better for them, and that you may with eIob 23. 10…ob, come out of them as gold refined and purged from droſſe. Therefore God doth chaſten you as he did Iacob: fIſa …27. 9.This is all the fruit, to take away your ſinne, and that you ſhould bee gHeb. 12. 10.partaker of his holineſſe. Be better therefore for croſſes: then God hath his end, whē after his plowing, harrowing, and threſhing of you, hee ſhall reape the crop of well-doing, which hee reapeth not ſo much for himſelfe, as for you▪ for hHeb. 6. 7.the ground that bringeth fort… fruit meet for him that dreſſeth it receiveth bleſſing from God. Al… good workes are treaſured up i… heaven for the doers thereof.
When you▪ have learned thi… leſſon alſo, iPhil. 4. 11 12.How to bee abaſ… and to ſuffer need, as well as ho… to be full and to abound, together with all the fore-mentioned directions, how at all times, and in all things to walke with GOD, you ſhall approve your ſelfe to be a good Scholler in the Schoole of Christ, one of the higheſt forme, a good proficient in the profeſſion of Chriſtianitie, one that hath walked far with God; and you ſhal hereby declare, that you are neither k2 Pet. 1. 5 6▪ 7. 8.barren, nor unfruitfull, in the knowledge of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
Thus much concerning the outward frame▪ and forme of your life and converſation, according to which you muſt walke with God. The inward truth and life of all this, which is, doing all in uprightneſſe, remaineth to bee ſpoken unto, which followeth.