Sermons in One Volume, Sermon 12
THE TRIAL OF THE RIGHTEOVS.
PSALM. 34. 19.
Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth him out of all.
THe ſumme of this verſe is, as if he ſhould ſay, Let the Righteous looke for mo troubles than other, & likewiſe let thē hope for greter comforts than other: for when they are well, they ſhall bee eclipſed againe, to ſhewe that their light was but borrowed; and when they are eclipſed, their light ſhall returne, to ſhew their difference from them whom God hateth, which fall from plague to plague, as they runne from ſinne to ſinne.
This verſe hath three partes, for heere the righteous are the agents, their condition troubles, and the Lord their deliuerer: ſo manie things fall out contrarie vntounto our mindes, eueryevery day, that hee which wanteth patience in this worlde, is like a man which ſtandeth trembling in the field without his armor, becauſe euerie one can ſtrike him, and hee can ſtrike none: ſo the leaſt puſh of pain, or loſſe, or diſgrace, dooth trouble that man more, which hath not the skill to ſuffer, than twentie tryals can moue him which is armed with patience, like a golden ſhield in his hand, to breake the ſtroke of euerie croſſe, and ſaue the heart though the bodie ſuffer: for while the heart is whole, all is well. A ſound ſpirit (ſaith Salomon) will beare his infirmitie: but a wounded ſpirit, what can ſuſtaine? Pro. 19. 14. Therefore as the lid is made to open and ſhut, to ſaue the eie: ſo patience is ſet to keepe the ſoule, and ſaue the heart whole, to cheare the bodie againe. Therefore if you marke, when you can goe by an offence, and take a little wrong, and ſuffer a trouble quietly, you hauehave a kinde of peace and ioy in your heart, as if you had gotten a victorie; and the more your patience is, ſtill the leſſe your paine is. For as a light burthen borne at the armes end, weigheth heuier by much, than a burthen of treble weight, if it be borne vponupon the ſhoulders, which are made to beare: ſo, if a man ſet impatience to beare his croſſe, which is not fit to beare; it will grumble, and murmur and ſtart, and ſhrinke, and let the burthen fall vponupon his head like a broken ſtaffe, which promiſeth to helpe him ouer the waters, and leaueth him in the ditch. But if you put it to patience, & ſet her to beare it which is appointed to beare, ſhe is like the heartie Spies that came from Canaan,Ioſh. 2. and ſayd, It is nothing to ouercome them: ſo patience ſaith, it is nothing to beare, it is nothing to faſt, it is nothing to watch, it is nothing to labour, it is nothing to be enuied, it is nothing to be backbited, it is nothing to bee impriſoned:Rom. 8. 37. In all theſe things (ſaith Paul) we are more then Conquerours. As though all theſe things came not to make vsus mourners, but to make vsus Conquerours, nay more than Conquerours, becauſe a Conquerour conquereth his enemie but once: but we conquere theſe as often as Chriſt did the tempter. Thus all is in the maner of bearing, which maketh perſecution ſeeme ioyfull to ſome, and irkeſome to others, which maketh pouertie welcome to one, and bitter to another; which maketh him ſing in his ſicknes, as if he were whole, and thee raue and whine, & curſe, as if thou were not ſicke but franticke: Therefore Chriſtes yoake is called an eaſie yoake,Matth. 11. becauſe it is eaſie to ſome, that is, to them which hauehave skill to beare it, as Chriſt did bea…e it; by his infinite patience, hee ſuffered infinite paines for infinite ſinnes. Patience was like a priuie coate vponupon his ſoule, that when the Diuell ſtroake at him, he was ſtriken himſelfe: when death came to kil him hee was killed himſelfe; and all their ſhotte could not hurt him, becauſe of his preſeruatiue which he had about him,Iud. 16. 17. like Sampſons haire, which ſaued him from all his enemies. If the Maſter carried patience about him for to guard him through theſe pykes of troubles,Gen. 3. which ſtand like the fierie ſword betweene vsus and paradice: how can the ſeruant eſcape then, vnles hee bee armed as his Maſter was? For what hath the poore man to beare his wants? what hath the bondman to beare his griefes? what hath the ſicke man to beare his paines? but to lay all vppon the ſhoulders of patience, and to ſay with Ieremie, This is my ſorrow, Iere. 10. 19.and I will beare it. As the tree which Moſes caſt into the Spring, ſeaſoned the bitterneſſe of the Waters;Exod. 25. 25 ſo patience caſt into our troubles, ſeaſoneth the bitternes of the Croſſe, and is in ſtead of an aſſiſtaunt to euerie man, to ouercome his troubles, like the Armour-bearer,1. Sam. 14. which holpe Ionathan to vanquish his enemies.
She hath a deuice to draw ſuch a skinne ouer our ſoares, that ſhall make our pouertie ſeeme riches, our reproaches ſeeme honour, our bondage ſeeme libertie, our labour ſeem reſt, our ſorrowe ſeeme ioye, our paine ſeeme eaſe, our ſickneſſe ſeeme health, and all that hurts vsus, reioyce vsus; vntill wee ſay with Dauid. Thy iudgements are pleaſant; ſhewing, that Gods iuſtice is as pleaſant to the patient, as his mercies to others. Therefore what a peace-maker were this in the Commonwealth, if the Magiſtrate had patiēce to beare his enuie, if the Preacher had patiēce to beare his ſtudie, if the creditor had patience to beare his loſſes, if the bond-man had patience to beare his ſeruice, if the husbandman had patience to beare his labour, if the ſicke man had patience to beare his paine, if the poore man had patience to beare his wants: for want whereof, many think themſelues in hel, and ſay, that no mans paine is like their paine, no mans wants like their wants, no mansfoes like their foes, no mans wrongs like theyr wrongs, when they can ſcarſe tell where their paine holds them.
Therefore, albeit fewe can brooke of Humilitie, and Charitie, and Meekeneſſe, and Thankfulnes, and Temperance, and thoſe ſeuere vertues, which pull from pleaſure; yet eueryevery man doth wiſh for patience, like a Phiſition to eaſe his griefe, by all meanes that he can: ſo they which are wicked, although they cannot ſee the goodneſſe of other vertues, yet can ſee the goodnes of patience, and perceiue when they ſee a patient man, and an impatient man both ſicke of one diſeaſe, yet both are not troubled alike; but that he which hath moſt patience, hath moſt eaſe: and hee which is moſt impatient, is moſt tormented, like a fiſh which ſtriues with the hooke. Therfore euen thoſe which cannot ſuffer, that they might hauehave reſt, yet ſing the patiē Prouerb, In ſufferance is reſt. This is a leſſon which I know you would gladly learne, euen as Pharaoh longed to knowe his dreame,Gen. 41. 15. though ye care not for vertue, as the cruell Iudge cared not for charitie. Yet if you could gaine ſuch a bargaine by any vertue to eaſe you of your paines, it would make you looke vntounto vertue, as Pharaoh vſed Moſes,Exo. 9. 28. but to remooue the plagues.
This power God hath giuen to patience, the medicinable vertue, that it ſhould be like an wholeſome hearbe in the world, or a generall Phiſition for all perſons and all diſeaſes. Therefore when the Angell had recorded all the troubles which ſhould come in the latter dayes: at laſt hee concludeth, Here is the patience of Saints: Apo. 13. 10.as though patience ſhould beare all. Therefore ſo many ſcriptures goe like preachers about the Bible, to exhort vntounto patience, like a Beacon which is ſet vp to call men together, ſhewing vsus, that by patience we poſſeſſe our ſoules: Luk. 8.as though a man without patience had no rule of himſelfe: that a mans wiſedome is knowne by his patience, Prou. 9.as though that he which is not patient, cannot be wiſe: that by patience wee receiue the promiſes, Heb. 10.though the promiſes did not belong vntounto vsus, vnleſſe we hauehave patience:Rom. 5. 4. that patience breedeth experience, and experience hope, as though hee which wanteth patience, had no experience of GOD, to knowe the ſcope of his doings, nor anie hope to comfort him about the life to come:Rom. 8. beſides many reaſons moe, That the afflictions of this worlde are not worthie of the ioyes that ſucceed them: that all things (euen our afflictions) turne to the beſt, if we louelove God: Matth. 5.that they are bleſſed which weepe heere, becauſe they ſhall laugh heereafter: 2. Tim. 2.that if wee ſuffer with Chriſt, wee ſhall raigne with Chriſt: that the Lord doth louelove thoſe whom he chasteneth: Prou. 3.that by ſuffering we are made like the Sonne of GOD, whoſe life was a perſecution, as though the holie Ghoſt by often calling vponupon vsus, like the importunate woman, would compell vsus to bee patient,Luk. 18. whether our fleſh will or no.
Beſides theſe honourable prayſes of patience, the Prophets, Euangeliſts, and Apoſtles, hauehave a ſet number of examples before our eyes, like banners of ſuch cures as hauehave been healed by her: that as the Author of the Hebrewes ſaith,Heb. 11. By faith Abel offered a better Sacrifice than Caine: by faith Enoch was tranſlated before he ſawe death: by faith Noah prepared the Arke and was preſerued from the Floud: by faith Abraham was content to ſacrifice his Sonne, and yet beleeued that in his ſeede all the world ſhould be bleſſed: by faith Sara receiued ſtrength to bring foorth a child, when ſhe was ſtrooken in yeres, and paſt the ſtrength of the wombe. So I may ſay of patience: by patience Iob did beare all the torments that the diuell could heape vponupon him:Iob. 1. by patience Iacob put vp a thouſand wrongs from Laban and his children,Gen. 29. 50. 31 and neuer complained in one & twentie yeares before he departed: by patience Ioſeph forgaue his brethren,Gen. 45. 15. when hee might hauehave put them to death, and gaue thē food when they feared reuenge: by patience Chriſt ſuffered baniſhment, and reproaches, and ſcourges, vntill he went to his death, like a Lambe to the ſlaughter.
Among the ſtrange cures of patience, Dauid may report of his experience, what this plaiſter hath done for him: for being a figure of Chriſt, he was alwaies hedged about with the croſſe, which prooued his patience like a Touchſtone eueryevery day. As Chriſt was contemned of his Countreymen, ſo Dauid was contemned of his brethren:1. Sam. 26. 2▪ 28. 2. as Chriſt fled to Egypt, ſo Dauid fled vntounto Gath: as Chriſt receiued foode of women,Luk. 8. 2. ſo Dauid receiued food of Abigail:1. Sa. 25. 18▪ 19. 2. 16. 13. as Herod perſecuted Chriſt, ſo Saul perſecuted Dauid: and the wrath of the King brought many enemies with it, that when hee was annointed, yet hee coulde not reigne: and when he reigned, yet his reigne was but a warfare:2. Sam. 8. 2. 6, 5, 6, 15, 4, 18, 33. the Philiſtines agaynſt him, the Ammonites agaynſt him, the Edomites agaynſt him, the Moabites agaynſt him, and Abſolon his owne bowels agaynſt him, for whom he cryed, Would God I had died for thee. This ſonne which was his dearling, was his traytor, and ſought his death that brought him to life, as though Saul had been riſen from the graue againe. In all theſe troubles Samuel ſhewes what was this pilgrimes comfort:1. Sam. 30. 6 But Dauid comforted himſelfe in the Lord his God, as though hee had no comfort but in GOD alone. This was the ſtone vponupon which he leaned his head, Be patient, for Manie are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth him out of all. When hee did behold his trouble,2. Kin. 6. 10 like the hoaſt of the Aramites, he looked backe vntounto God like Eliſha, and ſpied one with him ſtronger then all againſt him. Therfore reſpecting his afflictiōs, he crieth, Many are the troubles of the righteous: reſpecting the promiſe, he ſingeth, The Lord deliuereth them out of all. Thus (by his owne foote) Dauid meaſureth the condition of the righteous, and ſaith, Many are the troubles of the righteous: and then by his owne cure hee ſheweth how they ſhall bee healed, ſaying, The Lord will deliuer him out of all. If ye marke, the ſpirite hath directed Dauid to thoſe two things, which make vsus take our troubles grieouſly: one becauſe we doe not looke for them before they come. Therefore,Iohn. 21. 28 as Chriſt told Peter before he ſuffered, to ſtrengthen him when he ſuffered: ſo the holy Ghoſt doth run vponupon the Croſſe, to keep vsus in expectation of troubles, that wee might prepare faith, and patience, and conſtancie for thē, as Noah prepared an Arke for the floud. The ſecond thing which makes vsus to ſtart ſo at the Croſſe, is, becauſe we are like the Prophets ſeruant,2. King. 6. which did ſee his foes, but not his friēds: ſo we ſee our ſore, but not our ſalue. Comfort ſeemes a far off,Luk. 16. like Abraham in the heauens, as though it would neuer come ſo low: therefore wee goe about to deliuer our ſelues,Pſal. 2. as it is ſaid, Let vsus breake his bands, as though we could deliuer our ſelues. But, Hold your peace (ſaith Moſes) the Lord ſhall fight for you. Exo. 14. 14.So Dauid comes in like a pacifier, and ſaith: Vexe not your ſelues, for the Lord will deliuer you. Beare both theſe ſentences in mind, that you muſt go through a ſea of troubles, & then that you ſhall come to a hauen of reſt, and no affliction ſhall take you, before you be armed for it, and in eueryevery trouble you ſhall know where to hauehave your remedie. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lorde deliuereth him out of all. Here bee the two hands of God like a wound and a plaiſter: one caſteth downe, & the other raiſeth vp. It is good for a man to knowe his troubles before they come, becauſe afflictions are lightned in the expectation. Therefore GOD ſayth of Paul, I will ſhewe him how many things he ſhall ſuffer for me. Act. 9. 16.God dealeth plainlie, and tels vsus the woorſt at the firſt, what wee ſhall truſt to, as Chriſt told his Diſciples at the firſt:Math. 16. 8 If ye will bee my Diſciples, yee muſt take vp the Croſſe: cold entertainment to breake their faſt with the rod.Luk. 9. Other feaſtmakers (ſayth Chriſt) broach the beſt wine firſt,Ioh. 2. 10. but Chriſt himſelfe keepeth the beſt till the laſt. This is the manner of Gods proceedings, to ſend good after euill,Gen. 1. 3. as hee made light after darkneſſe: to turne iuſtice into merciemercy,Ioh. 2. as he turned water into wine: for as the beaſts muſt be killed before they could be ſacrificed, ſo men muſt be killed before they can bee ſacrificed, that is, the knife of correction muſt prune them, and dreſſe them, and lop off their rotten twigs before they can bring forth fruite, theſe are the cordes which binde the ram vntounto the Altar, leaſt when he is brought thither hee ſhould runne from thence agayne, this is the chariot which carrieth our thoughts to heauen, as it did Nabuchadnezzars, and our aſſumption before our aſſumption. This is the hammer which ſquareth the rough ſtones, till they be plaine and ſmooth, and fit for the Temple. This is the fierce meſſenger, which is ſent to compell them to the banquet, which will not come when they are inuited. Becauſe we are naturally giuen to louelove the world, more then is good for vsus, therefore God hath ſet an edge of bitterneſſe vponupon it, to make vsus to loath it, like a Nurſe which layeth Muſtard vponupon her breaſts to weane the childe from the dug: ſo Many are the troubles of the righteous, Ioh. 8. 2.to weane vsus from the dugge of the world. The croſſe is one of our Schoolemaſters in this life, and the beſt wiſdome is deereſt bought: proſperitie ſeeketh for nothing, but neceſſitie ſeeketh, and ſtudieth, and laboureth, and prayeth for her wants. As the rodde maketh the Scholler to applye his booke, ſo all our knowledge is beaten into vsus: ſome learne theyr goodneſſe of pouertie, ſome of ſickneſſe, ſome of troubles: aduerſitie is the fit time to learne the iuſtice, merciemercy, power, and prouidence of GOD, a fit time to learne the patience, wiſedome, faith, and obedience of man, a fit time to learne the ſubtiltie, frailtie, and miſerie of this worlde. All this thou buyeſt for troubles, yet they are but troubles, not plagues, nor curſſes, nor torments, but like the trauels of a woman, when the birth is ripe, ſhee is deliuered, and ſtraight ſhee forgetteth all her paynes, for ioye that a man child is borne into the world. So the ſeruants of God trauell but till the fruits be ripe. When the new man is borne, their trauels are ended, and they forget all their troubles, becauſe one is borne into the worlde, like the ſonne of God. This is the difference between the afflictions of the righteous and the vngodly.
When GOD doth viſite the wicked,Exod. 8. 6. his puniſhments are called plagues and curſes, and deſtructions;Iohn. 4. the plagues of Egypt, the curſe of Cain, the deſtruction of Sodome. But when he doth viſite the righteous, his puniſhments are called corrections,Iohn. 19. & chaſtiſements, and rods, which proceed frō a father, not to deſtroy vsus,Gen. 36. but to trie vsus, and purge vsus, & inſtruct vsus: therefore when we are afflicted, one ſayth, that God letteth vsus blood to ſaue our liues, for our liues are rancke, and muſt be lopped. As Iacob was bleſſed, and halted both at one time; ſo a man may bee bleſſed and afflicted together. Afflictions do not hinder our happineſſe, but our happineſſe commeth by affliction, as Iacobs bleſſing came with halting, and as peace is procured by warre.Mat. 5. Therefore bleſſed are ye (ſayth Chriſt) when men perſecute you: as though they were bleſſed euen while they were perſecuted. Therefore this muſt not diſmay vsus, that the ſcripture ſayth,1. Tim 3. Many are the troubles of the righteous; but rather reioyce vsus, hecauſe we beare the markes of the righteous. Daniel complayneth not of his ſickneſſe, but of his ſinnes. Who ſhall fight the Lords battailes but the Lordes ſeruaunts? Therefore when Dauid ſpake of many troubles, he pointed to the righteous, as if he ſhould ſay; this is your ſhare, the rodde is made for the Childe. Chriſt called the Croſſe his cup. The ſeruant is beloued that drinkes of his Maiſters cup:Mat. 20. Therefore Chriſt teacheth it to the righteous, and bids none but his diſciples take the Croſſe:Mat 11. euerie man which hath his heauen here,Gen. 3. dooth labour and ſweate for his liuing, and ſhal not they which hauehave their hell heere, ſuffer more then they which hauehave their heauen heere? All men are ſubiect to dangers and loſſes, and ſickneſſe: But all that beleeue in Chriſt (ſayth Paul) ſhall ſuff… perſecution. 2. Tim. 4.That is, more then dangers, or loſſes, or ſickneſſe which the wicked ſuffer, for the worlde will not perſecute her children, but ſhee will perſecute Gods Children: therefore this church is called the militant church, becauſe it is alwayes in warfare. Therefore the Goſpell is called the worde of the Croſſe, as though it came to croſſe vsus: Therefore Paul deſcribing the way to heauen,Acts. 14. 22 draweth by this line, by many tribulations: the Croſſe way is the way to heauen and the righteous walke in it.Mat. 21. Therefore the Children of God are not only called labourers, to ſhew what they ſhould doe for God,2. Tim. 2. 3. but they are called Souldiers, to ſhew what they ſhould ſuffer for GOD.Ioh. 15. 20. The ſeruant is not aboue his master: but if Chriſt ſhould ſuffer, and we ſhould reſt the ſeruant were aboue his Maſter. The propheſie muſt be fulfilled. I will put enmitie betweene the ſeede of the woman and the ſeede of the Serpent: Gen. 3.but if there be no war betweene the children of God and the children of the world, the propheſie is not fulfilled. Therefore Eſau and Iacob had no ſooner life, but they began to ſtruggle one with another, before they came out of their mothers wombe. Therfore Abraham was baniſhed ſo ſoone as he receiued the promiſe. Therefore Abell was enuied of his brother,Gen. 25. 22. 4. 14. ſo ſoone as he was accepted of God. The righteous man was alwayes like Lot among the Sodomites, and like Sampſon among the Philiſtines, ſette a worke by his enemies. As Chriſt was no ſooner borne, but Herod ſought his life; ſo the new man is no ſooner borne of the ſpirit,Matth. 2. but the ſerpent is ready to deuour him, his brethren to baniſh him, and hell to ſwallow him. In all the worlde hee hath no friend, but hee which made the world. This is the ſtate of the church militant: ſhe is like the Arke floating vponupon the waters, like a Lilly growing among thornes,Exod. 3. 2. like the buſh which burned with fire and was not conſumed, ſo the citie of God is alwayes beſieged, but neuer ruined. Chriſtians and perſecutions cloſe together, like Chriſt and his Croſſe. As Chriſt was made to beare his owne croſſe: ſo they are made to holde their cheekes to the nippers,Luke 23. 33 their faces to be buffeted,Iohn 19. 17 their backes to bee ſcourged, their eyes to be pulled out, their peace is perſecution, their reſt labour, their riches pouertie, their glorie reproches, their libertie impriſonment; although they bee the ſonnes of God, the brethren of Chriſt, the onelyonly heires of heauen; yet becauſe they ſuffer their hell heere, they muſt bee contented to be ſubiect to their enemies, to bee abiects to their kinſmen,Pſalm 69. 8, 7, 1, 7. to be hated of moſt, to bee contemned of all, to be perſecuted ouer the earth, a very hauen and receptacle of all troubles. Yet as Chriſt was the ſonne of God, though his life was nothing but perſecution;Luk 10. 35. ſo the righteous are the ſonnes of God, for all theſe troubles: This is like a bayte in their iourney, to thinke as the Samaritan told his hoaſt, if thou ſpend any more I wil recompence thee whē I come. So Chriſt will mende their wages, when he commeth. Why ſhuld not God trie his friends, as well as wee trie our friends, the ſame afflictions (ſaith Peter) are accompliſhed in others, naye, greater afflictions are borne of other, which woulde make vsus diſpayre like Caine, Chriſt was conſecrated by afflictions, therefore we cannot be conſecrated without afflictions, who would not go to heauen with Eliah, though it were in a whirlewind? if our troubles be light and few, it is becauſe we are weake & tender:1. Cor. 10. 13 therefore God doth reſpect our feeblenes, & layeth no more vponupon vsus, becauſe wee are not able to beare more. It is not a ſigne that we are righteous, becauſe our troubles are few; but becauſe our troubles are few, it is rather a ſigne that wee are not righteous, becauſe Many are the troubles of the righteous. For they muſt bee made examples of patience, they muſt ſuffer their hell here, they muſt be ſquared for the temple, therefore they muſt hauehave manye ſtrokes to make them fitte: God is not like a Waſpe, which when ſhee hath ſtoong once, cannot ſting againe: but there is a generation of croſſes, and a pluralitie of troubles. When Dauid ſpake of trouble, hee ſpake of troopes and heapes, and ſtars, and ſands, and therefore he ſaith, Many, as though hee were faine to lay them downe in the groſſe ſum becauſe he could not reckon them. By many tribulations (ſaith Paul) but how many he could not number:Act. 14. For except our ſinnes, there is not ſuch plenty of any thing in the world, as there is of troubles, which come from ſinne: as one heauy meſſenger came to Iob one after another:Iob. 1. 14. 16. ſo now we are not in Paradice, but in the wilderneſſe,Pſal. 42. 7. 18. 19. we muſt looke for one trouble after another; therefore afflictions are called waters, becauſe as one waue falleth vponupon another, ſo one trouble falleth vponupon the head of another.
As a Beare came to Dauid after a Lyon,1. Sa. 17. 34 and a Giant after a Beare, and a King after a Giant, and Philiſtines after the King: ſo when they hauehave fought with pouertie, they ſhall fight with enuie: when they hauehave fought with enuie, they ſhall fight with infamie: when they hauehave fought with infamie, they ſhal fight with ſicknes, like a labourer which is neuer out of worke. This you ſee the righteous in troubles, like the Iſraelites in exile: Now the Lord commeth like Moſes to deliuer them:Exod. 3. 10. aduerſitie ſeeketh out the promiſe; the promiſe ſeeketh out fayth; fayth ſeeketh out prayer; then God heareth, and merciemercy anſwereth. All this while Chriſt ſeemed to ſleepe, as he did in the ſhippe: nowe hee rebukes the windes and waues,Math. 8. 26 and troubles flie before him, like a troupe of Woolues before the Shepheard. As he asked the adultreſſe, where are thy accuſers? and ſhe ſayd they are gone: ſo he may aske his patients, where are your troubles? and they may ſay, they are gone: the ſunne roſe, and the miſts vaniſhed: yet (ſaith Dauid) God is good to all that are pure in heart: that is, he remembreth them while he afflicteth them, and is preparing an iſſue while the croſſe prepareth them. When Chriſt heard them ſay, he whom thou loueſt is ſicke, he anſwered, this ſicknes is not to death. Ioh. 11. 3. So when it may be ſayd, he whom God loueth is ſicke: then it may be ſayd, this ſicknes is not vntounto death, & though it be to the firſt death, yet not to the ſecond.Ion. 3. Who would thinke when Ionas was in the ſea, that he ſhould preach at Niniuie?Dan. 4. who would think whē Nabuchadnezzar was in the forreſt, that he ſhould raigne again in Babel? who would think whē Ioſeph was baniſhed of his brethrē, that his brethrē ſhuld ſeeke vntounto him, like his ſeruants: who would thinke when Iob ſcraped his ſores vponupon the dunghill,Iob 1. 42. 10 all his houſes were burned, all his …attell ſtolne, & all his Children dead, that he ſhould be richer then euer he was?Exo. 15. 21. theſe are the acts of mercy which make the righteous ſing: The Lord hath triumphed valiantly. This is the priuiledge of the righteous,Mal. 3. 6. as God ſaith Ye ſons of Iacob are not conſumed. So they anſwere againe.1. Cor. 4. 6. We are not conſumed. Therefore (Paul ſaith) we are in diſtreſſe, but we are not forſaken:Luk. 24. 6. as Chriſt roſe out of his graue, ſo we ſhall riſe out of trouble; and when the gold is fined, the fire ſhal hold it no longer. Whē Ieſus was in baniſhment with Mary & Ioſeph, at laſt the Angel came and ſaid,Iohn. 2. 3 They are dead which ſought the childes life: ſo when the daies of our baniſhment and ſcarſitie, & bondage, and ſickneſſe are ended,Mat. 2. 20. at laſt tidings ſhall come that our troubles are dead, and then the righteous ſhall looke vp like Moſes, when hee was paſt the ſea, and ſee all their enemies, all their troubles drowned behinde them; then the heart ſhall daunce like Miriam, and ſing the ſong which ſounded before Moſes:Exod. 30. 15 20. 34. The Lorde, the Lord is ſtrong, mercifull and gratious, ſlow to anger, but aboundant in goodneſſe and truth. And if Dauid had ſtaied at troubles, and ſpoken of nothing but rods, the wicked might ſay as they doe in the 115. Pſalme.Pſalm. 115. Where is their God? and the righteous might cōplaine with Dauid,Pſalm. 3. I hauehave clenſed my heart in vaine: but as the waters of the ſea flow & ebbe againe, ſo the waters of afflictiō flow & ebbe again, one caſteth Moſes into the water, and another draweth him out of the water. There lieth Lazarus at the gate, there lieth Ioſeph in priſon, there lyes Ieremie in the dungeon, there lies Iob in the Aſhes, there lyes Iacob in the fields, there lies Dauid in the wilderneſſe, there lies Abraham in exile, there lies Daniel among the Lions, there lies the children in the Furnace:Gen. 25. 20. at laſt comes the yeare of Iubile, and al the priſoners of the Lorde are ſet at libertie, therefore they are called the priſoners of hope, becauſe they may hope to be deliuered, &c. Therfore God tranſlateth his Croſſe from the head to the heart, from the heart to the foot, from pouertie to ſickneſſe, from ſickneſſe to labour: that whereſoeuer he placeth it, we might hauehave patience,Zach. 9. 1. knowing that he can remoue it as hee placeth it.
Then are fulfilled all theſe ſweet ſcriptures: The Lord retaineth not his wrath for euer, becauſe merciemercy pleaſeth him. Mich. 7. 8. After two dayes he will reuiue vsus, and the third day he will raiſe vsus vp. Oſe. 6. 2. Surely there is an end, and thy hope ſhall not be cut off. Prouer. 23. 18. Heauineſſe may endure for a night, but ioye will come in the morning. Pſal. 30. 5. He which hath ouercome death, and Sathan, and the world, can eaſilie ouercome all the troubles in the world:1. Kin. 17. 6 rather then Eliah ſhall ſtarue, the Rauens ſhall feede him:Ionah. 1. rather then Ionah ſhall drowne,Luk. 16. the fiſh ſhall ſaue him: as when the Glutton did not pitie, the Dogs tooke compaſſion. Vntill Dauid ſaith, The Lord will deliuer, the righteous and the wicked goe together,Luk. 17. but now they part, one is taken and the other is refuſed, one is deliuered, the other is left in priſon. As Abraham came not to deliuer the Sodomits,Gen 14 16. but to deliuer his brethren: ſo Chriſt came not to deliuer his enemies, but to deliuer his ſeruants: not to deliuer them from troubles, but to deliuer thē out of troubles,Iob. 1. 21. that they may ſay as well, The Lord hath taken, as the Lord hath giuen. As Dauid gaue charge to his Souldiers, that they ſhould not kill Abſolon his ſonne,2. Sa. 18. 5. though he ſent them againſt Abſolon, to ſtay his rebellion: ſo God forbids his croſſes to deſtroye his children, though he ſend them againſt his children to purge their corruptions. As the Angel paſſed by the houſes of the Iſraelits, when he ſaw the bloud of the lambe vponupon their doores:Exo. 12. 13. ſo God hath his markes, whereby he knoweth whom he ſhould deliuer out of trouble, & whom he ſhould leaue in trouble: to one he ſaith, Take my croſſe: to another he ſaith, Be thou healed: to another he ſaith, Stay till thy time cōmeth: euerie hard word may be ſpoken to the godly as wel as the wicked, but that deadly word, Depart into euerlasting fire. Matth. 25.Although they ſeeme to depart here, yet then it ſhall be ſaid, come and not depart. As Iohn after the voice of thunder heard the voice of harpers:Reuel. 14. 2. ſo whē they hauehave bin beaten, they ſhal be cheriſhed: therefore the trials of the righteous, though they be called many troubles, yet they are not called euerlaſting troubles.
As Dauid ſaith here,Pſal 32. 10 Many are the troubles of the righteous: ſo in Pſalm. 32. 10. he ſayth. Many are the ſorowes of the righteous: but it followeth, the Lord will deliuer them out of all:Prou. 11. 8. nay (ſaith Salomon) when the righteous eſcape out of trouble, the wicked ſhall come in his ſtead, that is, the troubles of the righteous ſhal ſhift to the vngodly,1 Kin. 3. 27. as the leproſie of Naaman went to Gehezi:Prou. 21. 18 and therefore the wicked are called the ranſome of the iuſt, becauſe they lye in baile for them. As one bird chirpeth to another, ſo one plague ſhal whiſtle to another, and ſay, come and helpe mee to tormēt this ſinner,Exo 8. 9. (for one plague will not ſerue the Egyptians) vntill he be ſo loden with torments,Gen 4. that he crie like Caine, My puniſhment is greater then I can beare. The righteous neuer ſaid, that their troubles were more, or greater, or longer, then they could beare. For God hath promiſed, he will not lay more vponupon them then they are able to beare:1. Cor 10. 13. but when they begin to ſinke like Peter vponupon the Sea, then the hande is readie to catch them, and ſtraight GOD maketh an iſſue for theyr troubles.Acts. 27. As the Viper lept vponupon Paul, & lept off againe, ſo troubles leape vponupon the righteous, and leape off againe; as though they had miſtaken the partie, and rapt at the wrong doore.Pſal. 37 37. Therefore, Mark the vpright man (ſaith Dauid) and beholde the iuſt, for the end of that man is peace. Though his beginning be trouble,55 23. yet his end is peace: He will not ſuffer the righteous to fall for euer: he ſayth not that he will not ſuffer him to fall, but that he ſhall not fall for euer: that is, at laſt his ſhackel falleth from him, the net breakes, the priſon openeth, and he goes foorth like Lazarus out of his graue, to ſhewe what wonderfull things the Lord hath done for him: So Paul after he had ſpoken of his troubles, (as thought hee thought vponupon this ſentence of Dauid) repeateth the ſame of himſelfe, ſaying: But the Lord deliuered me out of all. 2. Tim. 3.Therefore one calleth affliction the trance of the righteous, becauſe they ſeeme dead for a while, but they wake againe: therefore they chalenge their enemies (and ſay) Reioyce not againſt me O mine enemie: Mich. 7. 8.for though I fall, yet I ſhall riſe.
This ſhould content the righteous, to bee deliuered at laſt, as Dauid quieteth himſelfe, ſaying: By this I know the Lord fauoureth me, becauſe mine enemies doe not triumph ouer me: Pſal. 41. 11not becauſe I hauehave no enemies, or becauſe I hauehave no troubles which would ouercome me. Therefore when he wrote downe. Many troubles, hee blotteth it (as it were) with his pen againe, as a Merchant raceth his booke when the debt is diſcharged: and in ſtead of many troubles, he putteth in, The Lord deliuereth. Becauſe he forgiueth all ſinnes, he is ſayd to deliuer from all troubles, to ſhew that wee hauehave neede of no Sauiour, no helper, no comforter but him.
The Lawyer can deliuer his client but from ſtrife, the Phiſition can deliuer his patient but from ſickneſſe, the Maſter can deliuer his ſeruant but from bondage, but The Lord (ſayth Dauid) deliuereth out of all. As when Moſes came to deliuer the Iſraelites, hee would not leaue an hoofe behind him, ſo when the Lord commeth to deliuer the righteous, he wil not leaue a trouble behind him, but euen as they pray in 25. Pſal.Pſal. 25. Deliuer Iſrael O Lord out of all her troubles: ſo he will anſwere them, B… thou deliuered out of al thy troubles, that is, this, & this, and this, that trouble that thou thinkeſt intollerable, that trouble which thou thinkeſt incurable, the almightie hath might againſt all.Iob. 24. When Iob is tryed, not a ſore ſhall ſticke vponupon him.2. King. 6. Therefore as Eliſha feared not when he ſaw as many angels as enemies, ſo now you ſee as many mercies as troubles: let the comfort ſatisfie you which ſatisfied Paul,Act. 27. 24. Feare not, for I am with thee, thy pardon is comming,Gen. 22. like the Angell which ſtaid the ſword ouer Iſaacks head. Reade on but a little further, and thou ſhalt heare the voyce which proclaymed warre, proclayme peace: many troubles in the beginning of the verſe, and no troubles in the ende. What Phiſition hath been here? The Lord (ſayth Dauid) the Lord was in this place (ſaith Iacob) & I knew it not: So the Lord is in affliction and men know it not, he which ſayth, I put away thine iniquities,Gen. 28 16. muſt ſay, I put away thy infirmitie. For there is no Sauiour but one,Eſa 43 25. which ſaith to death,Math. 9. 29 I will be thy death. As the woman was ſicke vntill Chriſt came: ſo vntill the Lorde come, there is nothing but trouble. Manie troubles of the righteous, but one deliuerer of the righteous: manie tortours, but one Comforter. Troubles come in an hundred wayes, like waters through a grate: but merciemercy entreth alwayes at one doore like a pardon which cōmeth only from the Prince: therefore ſayth GOD, In mee is thy helpe. Hoſ. 11. 6. I create comfort, Eſay. 65. Marke, that he calleth himſelfe a creator of comfort: that is, as there is but one Creator, ſo there is but one Comforter, and as hee created all things of nothing, ſo hee createth comfort of nothing: that is, when all comfort is worne out, and no ſeede of ioy left to raiſe vp comfort againe: then he bringeth comfort out of ſorrow, as he brought water out of the rocke, that wee may ſay,Exod. 17. 6. 8. 14. The finger of the Lord hath done this.
This is the anchor of the righteous. As he lookes vponupon his troubles, the promiſe commeth in like a meſſenger from Chriſt, while he is praying, and weeping, and ſayth, The Lord will deliuer thee out of all. Then hee reſolueth like Nehemiah,Nehe. 6. 11. and ſaith, Shall ſuch a man as I flye? Shall ſuch a man as I recant? If I be faint in the day of aduerſitie,Pro. 24. 10. Salomon ſaith, my ſtrength is ſmall: as if hee ſhoulde ſay, I was neuer ſtrong, but did counterfeite like Demas: if I want comfort in trouble, Salomon ſayth,Pro. 15. 15. A good conſcience is a continuall feaſt. As if he ſhould ſay, that I hauehave not a good conſcience, if I hauehave not comfort in the Croſſe. Therefore I will wayte the Lords leiſure,Pſalm. 2. becauſe Eſay ſayth, Faith maketh no haſt. I will not breake his bands, becauſe then I am like the Heathen. I will not flatter the Iudge,Pro. 29. 26. becauſe Salomon ſaith it is vaine. I will not betray the cauſe, becauſe GOD hath appoynted it to trye mee.Rom. 14. I will not offend my brethren,1. Cor. 8. 10. becauſe Paul had rather dye than doe ſo. I will not charge my conſcience, becauſe it can vexe mee more than their bands. I will not turne from my profeſſion, becauſe I learned it of GOD, and vowed to leaue all for it, in the daye that I was baptized a Chriſtian. Though my friends tempt me, like Iobs wife: though my fleſh flatter mee, like Eue: though my perſecutors would bribe me, like Balaac: though they which ſuffer with me, ſhould reuolt for feare:Ioſh. 24. 15. yet I will be as Ioſhua which ſtoode alone:1 Sam. 1. and as Elkanah was in ſtead of children to Annah, ſo Chriſt ſhall be in ſtead of comfort, in ſtead of wealth, and health, and libertie to mee. For manie were the troubles of Ioſeph, and the Lord deliuered him out of all: many were the troubles of Abraham, and the Lord deliuered him out of all: many were the troubles of Dauid, and the Lorde deliuered him out of all: manie were the troubles of Iob, and the Lorde deliuered him out of all: therefore he can deliuer me out of all. But if he doe not (ſay Sidrach, Miſaac, and Abednego) yet wee will not doe euill to eſcape daunger, becauſe Chriſt hath ſuffered more for vsus.Heſt. 4. 16. Therefore, if I periſh, I periſh, ſaith Heſter. She was content that her life ſhould periſh: but if my purſe ſuffer, my money doth but periſh: if my bodie bee impriſoned, my pleaſures doe but periſh: and who can tell whē he hath ſuffered that which is appoynted?Pſal. 75. Therefore God ſayth, When I ſee conuenient time, will I execute iudgement. Not when thou doeſt thinke it a conuenient time, but when he doth think it a conuenient time.25. 5. Therefore ſaith Dauid to the Lord, In thee doe I truſt al the day: that is, if he come not in the morning, he will come at noone: if he come not at noone, he will come at night: at one houre of the day he will deliuer me: and then as the calme was greater after the tempeſt,Mat. 28. 6. than it was before, ſo my ioye ſhall bee ſweeter after teares than it was before:Pſalm. 137. the remembrance of Babylon will make vsus ſing more ioyfull in Sion.
Thus Dauid deſcribeth the iourney of the righteous,Exo. 13. 17. as if they ſhould goe through the ſea, and the wilderneſſe, as the Iſraelites went to Canaan. Looke not for eaſe nor pleaſure in your way, but for beaſts and ſerpents, and theeues: vntill ye be paſt the wilderneſſe all is ſtraight, and darke, and feareful but ſo ſoon as you are through the narrowe gate, all is large and goodly, and pleaſant: as if you were in Paradiſe. Seeing then your kingdome is not here, looke not for a golden life in an iron world: but remember that Lazarus doth not mourne in heauen,Luk. 16. though he ſuffered paines vponupon earth: but the glutton mourneth in hell, that ſtaied not for the pleaſures of heauen. To which pleaſures the Lord Ieſus bring vsus, when this cloud of trouble is blowen ouer vsus, Amen.
FINIS.