The Marks of the Children of God and their Comforts in Affliction, Chapter 6
That afflictions ought not to make vsus to doubt of our adoption, but rather confirme vsus.
CHAP. 6.
LET vsus now come to that ſtū bling blocke and trouble, that proceedeth from our afflictions. What apparaunce is there (ſaieth the fleſh) that wee are the Children of GOD? Our goods are violently taken from vsus, our poſſeſsions are confiſcate, and our Offices and Eſtates are taken away. We are driuen out of our Countrey, yea from Countrey to Countrey like vagabonds: wee are hated of father and mother, and of our other kinſfolk & frends: we are drawen and kept in priſon: wee are derided and brought into extreame calamities & miſcries: we are as ſheepe of the ſhambles, apointed to the ſword, to the gallowes and to the fire: To bee ſhort, wee ſee nothing but the ſignes of the wrath and the curſe of God vponupon vsus. And that which more is, the Church which wee hauehave ſaid was the kingdome of Chriſt, and the houſe of God, how is it aſſailed by the mightie men of this world? whome alſo we ſee to come to the end of their enterpriſes, to oppreſſe, tread vnderunder foote, rent and ſcatter this Church, exerciſing al crueltie againſt it, as hūgrie wolues vponupon a flock of ſheep, forſaken of their ſhepheard. They triumph in their victories, and wee hang down the head & weep, bowing down our necks vnderunder the yoke of afflictions. They increaſe in riches, & we conſume in pouertie: they are aduaunced to honours and dignities, and we are deſpiſed as rebels, & wicked and ſeditious people. See what the fleſh ſaith: and yet theſe are but diſcourſes and complaints of great ignoraunce or infirmitie. For what is that which troubleth and offendeth vsus in this condition and eſtate. Euen that whereby wee ought rather to be confirmed, in the aſſuraunce that wee are the children of GOD, and indeede happie. Firſt, if GOD had promiſed to entreate his Children in this worlde delicatelie, and to ſet them vp in riches and high eſtate, wee might hauehave ſome occaſion to doubt whether wee were the Children of GOD, all calamities and afflictions quite contrarie falling vponupon vsus. But ſeeing it is ſo, that the Holie Ghoſt hath foretolde vsus both often and manifeſtlie, that the children of GOD ſhoulde bee afflicted, and that thoſe that woulde liue faithfullie in the feare of GOD in Chriſt, ſhall ſuffer perſecution;2. Tim. 3 12 this perſecution and affliction ought rather to ſerue vsus for a ſigne that wee are the children of GOD.
Moreouer, if the moſt excellent ſeruants and children of GOD hauehave alwayes beene moſt afflicted. Afflictions ought not to make vsus doubt of our adoption and ſaluation, except wee will call in doubt the ſaluation and felicitie of thoſe, whom wee confeſſe to bee the verie bleſſed children of GOD: Eſpeciallie, if afflictions do ſerue greatlie to pull our hearts from the Earth, and to lift them vp into Heauen, to purifie our faith as golde in the fire, and to faſhion vsus into a true obedience of God. Then the vtility and profite which commeth vntounto vsus thereby, ought to ſerue vsus for a ſufficient proofe, that in afflictions GOD ſheweth himſelfe to be our father, hauing care of our welfare and ſaluation. And yet more, ſeeing the taking awaie of our goods temporall, ſhall bring vsus foorth an eternall treaſure in Heauen, the mockeries and reproches ſhall bee turned vntounto glorie before GOD, the teares into ioy, our ſufferings into comfortes: Who is hee that will not confeſſe, that ſuch afflictions proceede from the verie louelove of GOD towards vsus? To be ſhort, ſeeing that GOD, ſtrengthening vsus in the middeſt of the fires of tribulations, ſheweth in our infirmitie his might and bountie, and ſeeing (when wee ſuffer for his name) hee maketh vsus witneſſes of his trueth: our afflictions are (as it were) ſtages from whence he maketh his own glory to ſhine, and giueth increaſe vntounto ours. So farre off is it then, that beeing afflicted, wee ſhoulde bee troubled or offended, that contrariwiſe thoſe troubles ought to ſerue vsus for an aſſurance, that we are the children of GOD: whereof that wee may bee the better reſolued, we wil treate of theſe points more at large.