Gods Love, Part – License
And Chaſten.
Or, I nurture, diſcipline, by chaſtening inſtruct, and put learning into them by the rod. A metaphor from a fathers handling his children, whom hee is bound to bring up, in nurture and admonition, foreign.Epheſ. 6.4. and applyed to the father of ſpirits,foreign. Heb. 12.7. and 1 Cor. 11.32. for when we are judged, that is, afflicted, we are chaſtened of the Lord. The word ſignifies, we are dealt with as children, that we ſhould not be condemned with the world: like as the carefull father whips his young ſtripling, when he takes him tripping, to teach him more grace, and to ſave him from the gallowes.Caſtiga…e eſt cum fanctu corripe…e. P…gne…s. To chaſten here, ſaith an Interpreter, is more then to rebuke: and is therefore ſet after it in the text, as a further favour; for it imports inſtruction as well as correction, according to that of the Pſalmiſt. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy law. Pſal. 94.12. what may we hence learne, but this?
Doct. Nocun e…ta, doctuncnta.That Gods corrections are our inſtructions, his laſhes our leſſons, his ſcourges our ſchoolemaſters, his chaſtiſements our advertiſements. For, when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learne righteouſneſſe xEſa… 26.9.. Hence thoſe cloſe connexions, Pſal. 94.12. Prov. 3.12, 13. Prov. 6.23. And this to note, the Hebrewes and Greekes both expreſſe chaſtening and teaching by one and the ſame word,foreign. becauſe the latter is the true end of the former, according to that in the proverb,foreign. Heſ. ſmart makes wit, and vexation gives underſtanding. The ſchoolmaſter when a leſſon ſhall be learnt indeede, ſets it on with a whipping. Now, Afflictions are foreign as one calls them, Gods free-ſchoolemaſters, curſt enough and crabbed, but ſuch as whereby he openeth mens cares to diſcipline, and commandeth them to returne from iniquity. Then he ſheweth them their worke, and their tranſgreſſions that they have exceeded yIob 26.8, 9, 10.. Hence affliction is ſaid to have a voice, and men are called upon to heare the rod, and who hath appointed it. And hence it is, laſtly, that ſome render thoſe words Heb. 12.7. If ye endure chaſtiſement,Biblia Tabingent. If ye perſevere in diſcipline. And where we reade ver. 5. My ſonne deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the Lord, the vulgar reades, the diſcipline of the Lord: which although it be not all out ſo good Latine (as Beza there notes) yet the ſenſe is very good: it being the proper end and effect of Gods corrections to mend and make us better, to teach us the knowledge of God and his will, our ſelves and our duties.
Quest. But whence, firſt, and what is it next, that affliction t…acheth us?
Anſ. To the firſt. It is not by any either aptneſſe in them, or hability in us that afflictions inſtruct us. For ſuch, alas, is the hardneſſe of mens hearts, that untill the ſpirit molliſie and make them malleable, Afflictions, Gods hammers doe but beate cold iron, little good is done, nay much hurt, by accident: for wicked men grow worſe for afflictions, as water more cold after a heate; as naughty boyes more ſtubborne or more ſtupid after a whipping. But now to Gods children his rods are ſpeaking as well as ſmiting: his corrections are not mute, but mingled with inſtructions, his ſtrokes may be ſtrokes of warre, yet his words are words of peace, Pſal. 85.8. And though the Lord give you the bread of affliction, and the water of adverſity, yet ſhall not thy teachers be removed into a corner: but thine eyes ſhall ſee thy teachers. And thine eares ſhall heare a word behind thee ſaying, This is the way, walke ye in it zEſay 30.20, 21.. What doſt thou here Elias a1 Kin. 19.9.? Hagar, Sarahs maid, whence cameſt thou? whither wilt thoubGen. 35.1.? Ariſe Iacob, goe up to Bethel, and make there an AltarcGen. 3.51., &c. What meaneſt thou ô ſleeper? ariſe, and call upon thy GoddIob. 1.6.. Get thee up: wherefore lieſt thou thus upon thy face? Iſrael hath ſinnedeI…ſh. 7.10. &c. Loe ſuch, and to like purpoſe is that ſtill voice and that ſweete ſupply of the Spirit of Ieſus Chriſt, foreignPhil. 1.19. whoſe office is to convince us, of ſin, of righteouſnes, and of judgment, Ioh. 16.8. who in chaſtening David inſtructed him every morning, Pſal. 73.14. his reines alſo taught him in the night ſeaſōsfPſal. 16.7.. Who guides gods people into all truth: for he ſhall not ſpeake of himſelfe, (ſaith our Saviour there) but he ſhall take of mine, and ſhall ſhew it unto you, Ioh. 16.13, 14, 15. And hence it is that unto the upright there ariſeth light in darkneſſegPſal. 112 4., that the rocks powre him forth water, that whether North or South blow, both blow good to him, and make his ſpices flow out, Cant. 4.16. Hence it is, that afflictions teach Gods children and not tire them: mend and not mad them: draw them nearer to God, and not drive them further from God, and all becauſe they are taught of God.hIoh. 6.45.
Queſt. But what is it (in the next place) that afflictions teach us?
Anſw. Many wholeſome leſſons: ſuch as we are hard to get, and apt to forget, if not well followed: whence Luther fitly calls affliction, Theologiam Chriſtianorum, the Chriſtian mans Divinity,
Firſt, they humble us, and ſo fit us for inſtruction; for the meeke he will guide in judgment, & the meek he will teach his way, Pſal. 25.9. Now affliction and meekeneſſe have names alike,foreign ſuch as grow both upon one roote in the holy tongue, becauſe this is the effect of the other. Heare and give care, ſaith the Prophet, be not proud, for the Lord hath ſpoken it iIere. 13.15.. As who ſhould ſay, Let the Lord ſpeake never ſo long, never ſo loud, till he hide pride from man by afflictions, he ſhall but ſpeake in the ayre, loſe his ſweete words, prevaile nothing at all with the ſonnes of men, the beſt diſcourſes fall as raine upon a rocke, when they light upon proud and unbroken hearts. God ſpeakes once, yea twice, yet men perceive it not, ſaith Elihu. But what? ſhall they carry it away ſo, and heare no further of him? No: God caſts them, ſaith he, upon the bed of affliction, and ſcourgeth them with the rod of his indignation. Thus he openeth the eares of men, and ſealeth their inſtructions. And this done, then, If there be a meſſenger with him, an interpreter, &ckIob 33 19, 20.16. &c.. He may have audience then, that afore could have none, then he ſhall be one of a thouſand, that afore was the leaſt of a thouſand: then men will lend both eares to a good diſcourſe, that before plaid the deafe adders to the wiſeſt charmers. Manaſſeh, that unruly beaſt hamper him once, and you may have what you will: Feed the prodigall with husks, & no ſervice ſhall be too baſe for him, that before took ſcorne to be a Son. The Gallants of our time cannot be ſtaid in their gallop, till God (to coole the heate of their high-blood, and rebate the edge of their furious reſolutions) touch their ſoule with ſome terrour,Morbus vel coronas tibi parturit, vel arrogantiam reprimet. Iſidor. Peluſ. or their bodies vvith ſome ſickneſſe, turne their fooles feathers into kerchiefes, ſummon them by a diſeaſe, to death, and by death, to judgement: teare off that covering, wherwith ſloth and ſecurity have muffled their conſciences, and make them to poſſeſſe the Sins of their youth lIob. 13.26., and now you may talke with them, who before laugh't at inſtruction, as the wilde aſſe doth at the horſe and his ridermIob …9.18.. The wilde aſſe that is uſed to the wilderneſſe, though ſhee kicke up her heeles, and ſnuffe up the wind at her pleaſure, ſo that they that ſeeke her will not weary themſelves; yet there is a time when ſhee may be taken, in her month they ſhall find her, Ier. 2.24. Tullus Hoſtilius, Tanta adeò, cum re…tipeida, reverentia divum Nalertu… — Sy…vius Ital. l. 7. Liv. Decad. 1 lib. 5.while hee was well and luſty, thought nothing leſſe fitting a King, than to doe ſacrifice, as Numa had done before him. But pined with long ſickneſſe, he yeelded himſelfe to all, both great and ſmall ſuperſtitions; yea, hee fill'd the peoples heads with multitudes of Religions. This was Tullus: But wee have a better example. Saint Paul, I meane, that precious man, that elect veſſellnAct. 9.15.. Him, when the Lord Chriſt would tutour, and teach his Goſpell (for hee neither received it of man, nor was hee taught it, but by the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe, the Arch-prophet, Gal. 1.12. with Act. 9.16, 18, 20.) hee met him on the way, as hee was marching furiouſly to Damaſcus; unhors't him, laid him low as earth, and yet lower in his owne eyes, abaſeth and drives him downe to the utmoſt, till he had not onelyonly withdrawne him from his bloody purpoſes, but hid pride from him, Iob 33.17. made him of a wolfe, (that raving wolfe of Benjamin *Sunt qui antumant partē illam prophetiae Iacobi, de Lupo proceſſuro è tribu Benjamin, Paulo applicarl debere. Beza ann. ad Act. 9.3., Gen. 49.27.) a lambe, Eſa. 1.6. not once opening his mouth, unleſſe it were to crave direction, What wilt thou have mee to doe Lord? And the Lord ſaid unto him, Ariſe, goe into the City, and it ſhall be told thee what thou muſt doe. Told thee? by whom? by Ananias? 'twas but a little, ſurely, that hee told him. It was Chriſt himſelfe that told Paul in that three-dayes-darkneſſe, thoſe foreign, words not ſit to be uttered. For now is the time (as ſome learned conc…ive) when he was rapt into the third heaven,Lud. Capel. 1 Cor. 12.2. At which time, leſt he ſhould be lifted up with the abundance of Revelations, (ſo carefull is the Lord Chriſt to keepe his Schollars humble, they ſhall ſit downe at his feet, every one to receive his words, Deut. 33.3.) there was given unto him a pricke in the fleſh; that is, ſome violent corruption edg'd with a temptation of Satan, to keepe him low, and make him pray.
And that's a ſecond leſſon wee learne by Affliction, (ſith wee are falne upon't.) It teacheth us to pray, puts affections of prayer into our hearts, and words of prayer into our mouthes, Hoſ. 14.2, 3. Math. 26.41. makes us returne to him that ſmites us, to treate with him by hearty and affectionate prayer, and to meet him with entreaties of peace. See this in Iacob oGeneſ. 32., and Iabez, 1 Chron. 4.10. the Iſraelites in Iudges, the Church in the Lamentations, chap. 3.42. up goe their hands and hearts and all, when they ſuffer'd for their Sinne. So Daniel, what an effectuall prayer doth he powre forth in that common calamitie, and how doth he be labour the buſineſſe, while hee tugges with God, chap. 9.18, 19? So Ionas; hee had ſcarſe a breathing roome in the Whales belly, and yet hee prayes, yea, hee cries in prayer, Ion. 2.2. So Hannah; when her adverſary provoked her ſ…re, to make her to fret, or to make her thunder, (as the word there ſignifies) becauſe the Lord had ſhut up her w…mb, ſhee was in bitterneſſe of ſoule, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept ſore. And ſ…e vowed a vow, p1 S…m 1.6.10.&c. …o David, Pſal. 116.4 and the Son of David, Heb. 5.7. And Paul, being reviled, ſaith hee, wee bleſſe, and being defamed, wee pray q1 Cor. 4.12 13.. The ſenſe of our preſent miſery ſets an edge upon our prayers, puts life and ſpirit into them, yea, gives them wings to flye aloft, even to the throne of Gods grace, and to offer a holy violence to his Majeſtie, till wee have wrung out of his hands, the bleſſing of deliverance. Oh how fervently have Gods children prayed in affliction, how feelingly, how forcibly! Eſa. 26.16. Maſter, ſaid thoſe drowning diſciples, careſt thou not that wee periſh? Even Darius a Heathen, can give order for prayers to bee made at Hieruſale…, for the Kings life and his ſons, when hee had ſeene divers of his childrē dye before him Ez…. 6.10 Creſias.In proſperity wee are apt to thinke our ſelves men good enough, ſee not our need of God, make not out after him, imagine we can doe well enough without him. Now the Croſſe comes, and confutes us cleerly; ſhews us our dependance upon God, our happineſſe in him, our nothingneſſe without him: and ſo ſends us to him with earneſt ſutes, iſſuing from our troubled ſoules, like ſtrong ſtreams in narrow ſtraits, that beare downe all that ſtands in their way. Thus the father of our ſpirits, the Shepherd and Biſhop of our ſoules r1 Pet. 2.25, ſets theſe curres upon us when wee are ſtragling, not to devoure us, but to drive us into the fold: turnes theſe bug-beares looſe upon us, that vvee may flye into his everlaſting armes ſDeu. 33.27: ſends out theſe ſummoners, and meſſengers to cite us firſt, and, if that ſerve not turne, to compell us to come in, that his houſe may be full; as they did that ſturdy rebell Manaſſeh: Who prayed unto God, when hee was in affliction, yea, hee humbled himſelfe greatly, and beſought the Lord his God, and hee was intreated t2 Chro. 33.…2, 13.. For indeed there is no time for hearing of ſutes, like the time of trouble, Zach. 13.9. And howſoever wee cannot, to our thinking, pray at ſuch a time, but onelyonly chatter as a Crane, or mourne as a Dove u…ſa. 38.14.; utter ſome confuſed and broken Petitions, &c. yet God that ſearcheth the hearts, knowes what is the meaning of the SpiritxR…m. 8.27. foreign., then vvhen the fleſh with her murmurings, keepes ſuch a dinne (as one ſaith) that wee can hardly heare the ſpirits mixing with the fleſhes roarings and repinings, his praying ſighes. He heares not onelyonly the prayers of his afflicted, but even the ſighes of his Priſoners yPſal. 79.11.; yea, their breathing, out of the low dungeon, Lam. 3.55, 56. And hence our recourſe unto him in the day of diſtreſſe, Pſal. 65.2. and hence the returne of our praiſes unto him, when hee hath turn'd againe our captivity, as the rivers in the SouthzPſal. 126.1.: while the wicked gnaw their tongues for ſorrow, Apoc. 16.10. or are ſilent in darkeneſſe, 1 Sam. 2.9.
Thirdly, a Chriſtian learnes obedience by the things that he ſuffereth, growes more buxom and pliant to the whole will of God, underſtands it more, executes it better. There ſhall be onelyonly feare to make you underſtand the hearing, Eſay, 28.19. We heare and reade much of the corruption of our natures,Vetus Scriptura commentarine crux eſt. odiouſneſſe of our ſinnes, neceſſity of a Saviour, ſweetnes of Gods love in Chriſt, &c. but we never fully apprehend theſe things, or taſt how good the Lord is, till ſome ſharpe affliction. Pauls bodily blindneſſe opened the eyes of his minde: Ionas his ſinne had not beene found out but for the tempeſt. A man is occaſioned by his croſſe, to enquire into ſundry paſſages betweene God, and his owne ſoule, and to ſee ſuch things to be ſinnes, or duties, as before he tooke no notice of*They are Pillutae lucis, pills made on purpoſe to cleare the eye-ſight. Afflictio…es ſunt lex practica. Pareus in Gen. col. 20 29.. Afflictions, ſaith a great Divine, are a practicall law. When this law commeth, ſinne reviveth, as in Ioſephs brethren: conſent is alſo yeelded to the written law that it is good, Rom. 7.9.16. yea that it is good for a man that he hath beene afflicted, that thereby he might learne Gods ſtatutes, Pſal. 119.71. Many a good word is even worſe then ſpilt upon us, till God ſet it on with his rod. It lies aſleepe, as it were, like the husbandmans ſeede under a clod, till God come with his clatting-beetle, and give it roome to riſe. All Elihues ſweete words were loſt upon Iob, till God had thundred him: then he is ready to ſay, I have ſinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not, I have borne chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more. That which I ſee not, teach thou mee, &caIob 31.31, 32.. So David, Before I was afflicted I went aſtray, but now I have kept thy word, Pſa. 119 67. Zipporah preſently falls a circumciſing her ſonne, when ſhe ſees her husbands life lies upon it. N…omi lookt not homeward (nor we heavenward) ti…l the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her, yea the loſſe of her husband and children ſet her former croſſes a vvorke; as in phyſicke, a ſecond potion doth a former, that lay aſleepe in the body. Thus God beates us, that he may better us: and gives us to grovv after an affliction, as children doe after a ſit of ſickneſſe.
Afflictio ad patientiam inſtruit ac veiut inungit. Chryſ. Cum inven…ret iſta patientē, ad majora crudit. Chryſol. …er. 110.Fourthly, tribulation teacheth patience, Rom. 5.3. yea ſuch a vvell-knit patience, as makes a man ſuffer after he hath ſuffered, as David did from Shimei, but firſt, from Abſalom. In this ſchoole of affliction Paul had learn'd, in what eſtate ſoever he was, proſperous or adverſe, therewith to be content bPhil. 4.11. foreign Sacris mitiatus ſum.. Yea vve finde, ſaith a Father, that the Patriarchs, Prophets and all the juſt ones vvhichwhich vvere types and figures of Chriſt, did keepe nothing more to the praiſe of their vertue, then this, that by all that they ſuffered, they had learnt patience*Inve…timus deni que & Patriarchas, &c. Cypr. de bino patient. fol. 105. A man that hath not beene uſed to this bitter cup, will ſputter at it: when another that hath, will cry out in Chriſts language, O my father, if this cup may not paſſe away from me except I drinke it, thy will be done cMath. 26.42. And this ſaid; he ſits alone and is ſilent, becauſe God hath laid it upon him, Lam. 3.28. he chargeth not God fooliſhly, but is in meditation, according to that adviſe of the Preacher, Eccleſ. 7.14. If his ſoule begin to buſtle, as it will, he chides downe his diſtemper, and prayes himſelfe patient: he comforts himſelfe in the Lord his Godd1 Sam. 30 5, and foreſeeing his deliverance (though but afarre off, as Abraham ſaw Chriſt) he counts it all joy, though he fall into diverſe temptations: knowing that the triall of his faith worketh patience, Iam. 1.2, 3. and the patient abidi…g of the afflicted ſhall not periſh for ev…r, Pſal. 9.18.
Fifthly, as affliction teacheth patience, ſo experience too, as it followes in that Rom. 5.3. It is a ſpeciall helpe to experimentall knowledge: And firſt, of God, who is never ſo much enjoyed of us, as when we are in the deepe with David ePſal. 130.1, as when we lye hardeſt with Iacob fGene. 28.12, as when we are worſt of all beſtead with Iehoſaphat g2 Chro. 20.12., as when we are ſlaine all day long for his ſake with the Martyrs. Then we are given to ſee him with our eyes, as Iob did, who till that time, had heard of him by the hearing of the eare onelyonly. Then we come to know that the Lord he is God with Manaſſeh, 2 Chron. 33.13. yea that he is our refuge and ſtrength, a very preſent helpe in trouble hPſa. 46.1.. Then we have a cleare ſight of firſt, his power, whereby he could as eaſily have conſumed as corrected us,Non erube…o profiteri nunqua… provectum me ad tam ſublime notiti… Dei faſt…gui quam hoc mo…bo attigi. Rollo…cus apud Melch Adam. in vit. exter. Theol. hurld us into hell, as held us a while over it, like as David told Saul, he could as eaſily have cut his throate as he had cut his coate: and as Caeſar boaſted to Metellus, he could as ſoone make him hop headleſſe, as bid it be done. It appeares, we are no more able to ſtand before God, then a glaſſe-bottle before a cannon-ſhot. Secondly, his wiſdome and providence appeares in ſitting our afflictions both for kinde, ſuch it ſhall be and no other: for time, ſuch a ſpace it ſhall lye upon us, and no longer; and for weight ſo much it ſhall be, & no more. He afflicts his, by line and by plummet, according to their neede and ability to beare it. 1 Cor. 10.13. And as he carefully choſe out their way out of Egypt, not the nearer but the ſafer: ſo he doth ours to the heavenly Canaan. Thirdly, we have experience of his love, moſt ſeene and moſt ſeald up unto us in afflictions, his ſeaſon of ſhewing m…rcy, for mans extremity is Gods opportunity.
Next, as the croſſe gives us experience of God, how wiſe, ſeaſonable, mercifull, compaſſionate he is, ſo likewiſe of our ſelves. It ſhewes a man firſt, the frailty of his matter. Some, ſaith one, are more painted then ſome, but all earthen veſſ…lls: ſome more cleare then ſome, but all brittle glaſſes. Iob ſaw himſelfe but duſt and aſhes when he was in affliction, that afore had dream't ſome greater matter of himſelfe, and made no other account but to dye in his neſt iI…b … 18.. David, when gotten upon his hill, began to crow, that he ſhould never be removedkPſal. 30 …: but when God hid his face, clang'd his hand, David was a worme, and no man, foreignand concludes him that is beſt underlaid to be very vanity, Pſal. 39.5.
S…condly, It ſhewes us by exp…rience the ſinfulneſſe of our diſpoſition, and what is in our hearts, Deut. 8.2. what a deale of infidelity, impatiency, techineſſe, frowardneſſe, faint-heartedneſſe, and inſufficiency to manage the ſmalleſt affli…tion; according to that of the wiſe-man. If thou faint in the day of adverſity, thy ſtrength is but ſmall. Prov. 24.10. A puddle ſeemes cleare at the top, but ſtirre it with a ſticke, and the mud will riſe ſtraight. A Chriſtian, whiles all goes well with him, is apt to thinke himſelfe a jolly fellow, reaſonable wiſe, humble, patient, &c. till put to't: and then hee ſoone ſees himſelfe to be none of all theſe, nor any thing elſe that's good, further, and longer then … is upheld by God. A man …nowes not where his houſe is ill cover'd, till winter: a … findes not his want of skill, till he hath receaved a wound or two: ſo tis here. Croſſes, ſaith one, are like pinching froſts, that will ſearch us: where we are moſt unſound, we ſhall ſooneſt plaine: and where moſt corruption lyes we ſhall moſt ſhrinke,Abſol. …. when the burthen comes. Thus we learne to know our ſelves by that we ſuffer.
Laſtly, Affliction ſanctified teacheth what the world is, and gives us to know by experience (that which vve might better have taken Salomons or rather Gods vvord for, vvithout trying further concluſions) that all both perſons and things under the Sunne are firſt v…nity, ſecondly, vexation of Spirit.
For perſons firſt: take the beſt and likelieſt of them to doe us good, they prove miſerable comforters, phyſitians of no value. Surely men of low degree are vanity: Ionathan was a …uſt friend to David, yet hee calls to God his Buckler.and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the ballance, they are altogether lighter then vanity, Pſal. 62 9. This is vvhile they live: it is little or nothing they can doe for us. And when death comes, His breath goeth forth, he returnes to his earth, in that very day his thoughts periſh lPſal. 146.4.: even thoſe glittering and golden thoughts and projects he had for thine helpe and preferment, as the word there ſignifie. Thus either our friends dye from us in the height of our expectancies, or elſe their affections toward us dye; eſpecially when we are in adverſity; as they dealt by Iob upon the dunghill, my kinsfolke ſaith hee, have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten mee. Yea, all my inward friends (or the men of my ſecrets) abhorred mee: and they whom I loved, are turned againſt mee. Iob 19.14, 19. Loe, this is the worlds kindneſſe to their friendsm2 Sam. 16.17.; as hee upbraided Huſhai: and thus is a man ſerved in the houſe of his friends, Zach. 13.6. But what for the things of the world? finds the afflicted any more ſolidity or conſtancie in them? Nothing leſſe: The world paſſeth away, and the luſts thereof, ſaith one Apoſtlen1 Iohn 2.…. The very faſhion of this world, the hiew of it paſſeth away o1 Cor. 7.31. foreign, a Mathematicall figure. … 23.5.ſaith another. Wilt thou ſet thine eyes, ſaith a third, upon that which is not? It is heaven onelyonly that hath a foundation, earth hath none: God hath hang'd it upon nothing,The glory of this world is …an o… im…n, foreign. Matth. 4 …. the pompe of it a phantaſie, Acts 25.23. foreign: life it ſelfe an imagination, Pſal. 39 6. Surely in an image walketh each man. and the things therein are a very nothing. Nothing, I ſay in themſelves, and yet full of power and activity to inflict vexation upon others.
And this, none can ſo feelingly ſay as the afflicted. Hee finds by experience, the truth of that ſacred Proverbe, (for perſons firſt) that Confidence in an unfaithfull man, in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joynt pProv. 25.19The ſtaffe of ſuch reeden friendſhip, will not onelyonly breake under him that leanes on it, but run into his hand and breed vexation of ſpirit, Eſa. 36.6. To him that is afflicted, pitie ſhould be ſhew'd from his friend: but hee forſaketh the feare of the Almighty. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brooke qI… 6.14, 15, ſaith Iob, The beſt of them is as a brier, ſaith the Church, the moſt upright as a thorne-hedge, &c. And th…ne… …nfers, Truſt ye not in a friend, put not confidence in a guide rMica. 7.4, 5, leſt hee ſerve us as Davids guide did him, Pſal. 55.13. … …as Iudas did Ieſus, who was guide to them that tooke him, Act. 1.16.
Quest. But may not a man relieve himſelfe in ſuch unfaithfulneſſe of friends, by the abundance of oth…r meanes?
Anſ. No, ſaith our Saviour, neither a mans being, nor wellbeing conſisteth in the abundance of the things that hee poſſeſſeth ſLuk. 12.16. Firſt, in the very purſuit of them is much anguiſh, many grievances, feares, jealouſies, diſgraces, interruptions, diſcontentments, (for, be a man never ſo well underlaid with the things of this life, yet while his fleſh is upon him, hee ſhall be ſorrowfull: and while his ſoule is in him, it ſhall mourne, Iob 14.22.) Secondly, they are far ſwe…ter in the ambition, than in the fruition: for beſides that, wee are never ſure of them for a day (whereupon they are called riches of uncertainty t1 Tim. 6.17, ſubject to vanity in themſelves, and violence from others, Math. 6.19, 20. to our great vexation; to ſee, that wee can no more hold them, than a flocke of birds ſitting in our garden: nor ſtay them, than the ſtreames that paſſe by the ſides of a citie) if wee were ſure of their preſence, yet wee could not be ſure of their comfort; becauſe wee cannot make our hearts delight in the ſame things ſtill. Not the vvorld onelyonly paſſeth away, but the luſts therof u1 Ioh. 2.17.alſo. And this is an evill which I have ſeene under the Sun, and it is common among men, Eccleſ. 6.1, 9. though moſt obſerved by the children of affliction, whoſe eye-ſight is more cleered by thoſe ſharp and ſmart waters. This made David ſuch a weaneling to the worldxPſal …31.. God had by his manifold afflictions, laid ſuch a deale of wormwood upon the worlds dugs, that hee had no mind to ſucke there any more. My ſoule, ſaith hee, is even as a weaned child, Pſal. 131.2. And thus affected ſtands every one of Gods afflicted to the things of this life. He knowes them too well (and hee hath paid for his learning) to truſt them too farre, or to meddle much with them. His profeſſion to the world is the ſame, that the Iſraelites was to Sihon, Num. 21.21. Let mee goe thorough thy land: wee will not turne aſide into the fi…lds or vineyards (trouble our ſelves more than needs about neceſſaries) neither drinke of the waters of the W…lls (lye ſucking, like Flies, at thoſe botches of carnall pleaſures, or earthly preferments) wee will goe by the Kings high-way (that good old way that God hath ſcored us out in his Word) untill wee be paſt thy countrey (untill wee be ſafe arrived at the key of Canaan, at the Kingdome of heaven.) And this is that Experience that wee get of God, our ſelves, and others, both perſons and things by that wee ſuffer.
Sixthly, (for the afflicted man is ſtill at his leſſon.) Tribulation, as it teacheth Patience, and by Patience Experience, ſo by Experience, Hope:Rom 5.4. while it puts a man to his proofe, makes him looke up his Evidences, what time hee is aſſaulted with theſe and theſe doubts & temptations of ſatan; who will labour to leape over where the hedge is loweſt; to oppoſe us then moſt, when we are leaſt able to reſiſt. At which heavie times, a Chriſtian finding by good experience, that God ſupports by his ſufficient grace, heares him, heales him, ſweetens and ſanctifies the croſſe, gives him taſte and experiment of his merciemercy, when nothing elſe can yeeld comfort, this rivets him faſt to God, and makes him confident for the future. The Lord, ſaith David, that delivered me out of the paw of the Lion, and out of the paw of the Beare, hee will deliver mee out of the hand of this Philiſtim y1 Sam. 17.37.Loe, this was it that put ſo much courage into him in that moſt dangerous incounter. So Saint Paul in like caſe, Wee were preſſed, ſaith hee, cut of meaſure, even above ſtrength, inſomuch that wee deſpaired even of life. But wee had the ſentence of death in our ſelves. And what did hee make of i…? what good inſtruction drew hee out of this deepeſt affliction? that we ſhould not truſt in our ſelves, but in God, which raiſeth the very dead. i. e. reſeueth ſuch as were appointed to dye. Who delivered us from ſo great a death, and doth deliver: in whom wee truſt, that hee will yet deliver usz2 Cor. 1.8, 9, 10.. God takes and puts a man ſometimes paſt the helpe of all creatures, that hee may bring the glory of all our confidence home to his own doore, where it is onelyonly due: For till then (ſuch is our untowardneſſe) wee ſeldome ſeeke to him. The Prodigall never thought of his Father till hee had no more huskes. The Hemorroiſſe never made out to Chriſt, till all her money was gone. The unreaſonable creatures, many of them, never looke homeward, till hunger-bit. The widdow that is left alone truſteth in God a1 Tim. 5.5., ſaith the Apoſtle: who while ſhe had an husband, lean'd too much upon him. I will alſo leave in the midſt of thee an afflicted and poore people: and they ſhall truſt in the name of the Lord bZeph. 3.12., ſaith the Prophet: who till they were poore, truſted in uncertaine riches. Aſa bore him ſelfe bold upon his forces, as being five hundred and foureſcore ſtrong, till he was overmatcht with an army of a thouſand thouſand. Aethiopians. This made him cry, Helpe us O Lord our God, for we rest on thee c… Chron. 14.3, 9, 11.. God croſſeth many times our likelieſt projects, and makes the ſinewes of the arme of fleſh to cracke, that being unbottom'd of the creature we may truſt in the living God who giveth us richly all thinge to enjoy, 1 Tim. 6.17.
Laſtly, (to let paſſe many other wholeſome leſſons that Affliction learnes us; as thankfulneſſe upon bleſſings reobtained, the worth whereof we have now ſeene beſt by the want: ſelfe-examination, and a ſetting all to rights betwixt God and our owne ſoulesdLam. 3.40, 41.: watchfulneſſe and tenderneſſe of Conſcience, as in David, while an exile: love to the like afflicted; miſery breeds unity, as in Hooper and Ridley that could agree well enough when they were both in priſon: bowels of mercies, kindneſſe and compaſſion towards others in like caſe, as he that hath had the tooth-ach, or hath beene poore and neceſſitous himſelfe will pitty ſuch as are ſo: ſee Exod. 12.21. heavenly-mindedneſſe, a breathing after the place of reſt, the day of refreſhing, &c. David knew not ſo well what it was to be a courtier in heaven, till he was a ſoiourner in Meſhech. But (to let paſſe all theſe and many more, I ſay, and to goe on as we began with the Apoſtle) Affliction as it teacheth patience and by patience, experience, and by experience Hope, ſo it worketh ſuch a glorious hope as maketh not aſhamed, doth not abuſe, befoole, diſappoint us, as that of the Hypocrite: ar… that becauſe the love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt eRom. 5.5.: who then eſpecially reſts upon us as a ſpirit of glory and of God f1 Pet. 4.14., when we are under the croſſe. God is never ſo much enioyed of his children (which was the end wherefore we were placed in the world) as in time of trouble. Then we turne us to God,Math. 11.23, 24, 25. as our Saviour did, Matth. 11. when tired out with the peoples obſtinacy: then we runne into his preſence, as the doves into their windowes, hover and cover under his wings as the chicken under the hens in a ſtorme, hide us in his boſom, reſt us in his lap, ſhelter us under the hollow of his hand, untill the indignation be over-paſtgPſa. 26.20.. Our hearts are naturally full of harlotry, our live… little elſe than a ſpirituall fornication: there is nothing more common with us, than to forſake the guide of our youth, and to forget the covenant of our God, Pro. 2.17. diſloyally to eſtrange our ſelves from him, and to run a whoring after other lovers: Wee ſet our hearts upon earthly things (as the Bee doth his ſting) with all our might, and ſuffer them to carry away our moſt lively and tendereſt affections. Now our jealous God, that hates putting away hMal. 2 19. Dū omnibus humani praeſidus vallatus eſſe …, vix de Deo cogitādi d…batur ſpatium: nunc omnibus illis exutus, ſolum De…m cogito, qui me, ſat ſcio, invocantem exaudiet. Wenceſi…tus B…hem Rex ca…tivus, apu… A…n Sy… in hiſt. Bohem., though he may ſay, Pleade with your mother pleade, for ſhee is not my wife, neither am I her husband, Hoſ. 2.2. yet, not willing to loſe us altogether, Behold, ſaith he, ver. 6, 7. I will hedge up thy way with thornes; that is, vvith afflictions: and make a wall, that ſhee ſhall not find her pathes. And ſhe ſhall follow after her lovers, but ſhee ſhall not overtake them: and ſhee ſhall ſeeke them, but ſhall not find them: then ſhall ſhe ſay (loe here the happy effect of affliction ſanctified) I will goe, The Spouſe in the Canticles found not her beloved in the day of proſperity, but in the night of adverſity. …. bea…y.and returne to my first husband, to wit, God: for then was it better with me than now. Thus the Lord arreſteth us by afflictions, as by his Sergeant: fetcheth us in, in our out-ſtrayes, as the Shepherd doth his ſheep by ſetting his dog after them: brings us into his preſence, as Abſalom did Ioab, by firing his field: cauſeth us to confeſſe and covenant with that good Sheca…iah, Wee have treſpaſſed againſt our God, and have taken ſtrange wives, yet now there is hope in Iſra…l concerning this thing. Now theref re, let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives i…za. 10.2, 3.&c. And then, as lover… …re never great…r friends th… after ſailing out: ſo is it …, Becauſe he hath ſet his love upon me, ſaith God, therfore will I deliver him: yea, I will be with him in trouble to deliver and honour him, with long life will I ſatisfie him, and ſhew him my ſalvation kPſa. 90.14, 15, 16.. Whereupon the good ſoule, inwardly warm'd and inlarged with the ſenſe of ſuch a love, reciprocates and replyes, with utmoſt ſtrength of all heightned and indeered affection, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. My fleſh and my heart ſaileth: but God is the ſtrength of mine heart, and my portion for ever. Pſal. 73.25, 26.
And theſe, with many more, are the leſſons God layes before his children by their afflictions, and puts into them with his rod. There are alſo divers others (as is well obſerved) that the Lord by his ſervants troubles, vvould teach the world. As firſt, that the evils cheifly ſo eſteemed, are not ſo indeed: ſith the Saints have ſhare in them, vvho yet their are …eed from the greateſt miſchiefes. Secondly, how ſuch evill; ſhould be borne, by example of their patience. Thirdly, That there ſhall be certainly a Reſurrection, Luke 16 25. Fourthly, to marke the upright man, and behold the juſt, for (whatever his beginning or his middle be) the end of that man is peacelPſal. 37 37., &c. But I haſten to the Application.
Vſe 1 And firſt, Doth God by chaſtening, tutour and teach his children? doth hee in laſhing them learne them their duties, and by corrections inſtruct them in the way of life? How may this ſtrike cold to the hearts of all ſuch as make nothing of their afflictions: are not taught better by them, profit nothing under them, nay doe proficere in pejus, Sunt non…ulli qui moleſtiam quidem iuſt…nent, tamen finctu privantur. Chryſoſt. de Laz. conc. 3.as thoſe impoſtours in Timothy; grow down-ward, backward, are worſe for their croſſes, drunke with affliction, as thoſe, Lamentations 3.15. nay ſtarke mad, as Pharaoh, and Nero that monſter of mankinde, vvho threatened his Iove for marring his Muſicke vvith a thunder-clap; and dared him to a ſingle combat. Such another vvas that ſtigmaticke Ahaz, 2 Chron. 28.22. the railing Thiefe, that ſuffered with our Saviour: the Sodomites, vvhoſe captivitie by Kedorlaomer, had not yet made ten good men in thoſe five cities of the Plaine: thoſe incorrigible and deſperate ſinners in Sion, thoſe ſacrificing Sodomites, Eſay 1.10. of whom the Prophets cry out ſo much and often, that no meanes will reclaime them. Let favour be ſhewed to the wicked, yet hee will not learne righteouſneſſe. Let God lift up his hand, yet they vvill not ſee, nor ſtartle. See Eſay 26.10, 11. Ierem. 2.30, 31. & 5.3. Eſay 1.5. Sin hath transformed them, as it vvere, into thoſe Beares in Plinie, that could not bee ſtirr'd with the ſharpeſt prickles:Hiſt. Animal. lib. 4. c. 10. or thoſe Fi…hes in Ariſtotle, that though they have ſpeares thruſt into their ſides, yet they awake not. Into ſuch a dead lethargy hath Sin caſt ſome mens ſoules, that though they are put to paine, yet they profit not, Ierem. 12.13. or if they be in travell for the time, yet they bring forth nothing but wind. They are never the better when they come out of their affliction, no, though they powred out a prayer when Gods chaſtening was upon them, Eſa. 26.16, 18. What is this, but to adde rebellion to their ſinne? Iob 34.37. and rebellion, yee know, is as the ſinne of Witchcraft, 1 Sam. 15.23. But let ſuch reade their ſinne, and their ſentence at once: Ierem. 6.29, 30. The bellowes are burnt, the lead is conſumed with fire: the Founder melteth in vaine, for the wicked are not pluckt away. Reprobate ſilver ſhall men call them, becauſe the Lord hath rejected them. And ſurely, if God will vvalke ſtubbornely with his owne people, till their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled; Leviticus 26.41. how much more with his ſtubborne enemies, that ſtand out againſt his ſtrokes, refuſing to be reformed, hating to be healed? Looke how a ſtubborne man ſeekes all the hurt hee can to him vvhom hee ſpites; ſhuts his care to intreaties of peace, and rejoyceth to ſee his hurt: ſo the Lord, (but in a way of juſtice) findes out plagues againſt theſe obſtinate rebels; will not be pacified, till hee hath his peny worths of them; laughes at their deſtruction, and mockes when their feare commeth, Prov. 1.26. With the froward man thou wilt wraſtle, ſaith David, Pſalm. 18.26. Now, if God wraſtle with a ſinner, the firſt that ſhall come to the ground is his head; hee is ſure to have his necke broke, even the necke of his ſoule, in the bottome of hell, Iob 15.26. to the fire whereof hee is continually carrying a faggot to burne himſelfe withall, Romanes 2.5. In the meane ſpace, all hee ſuffers here, is but a beginning of thoſe ſorrowes, a pledge of more in a worſe place, a typicall hell, a foretaſte of that old Tophet, an hell above ground. Well therefore might one cry out,Inſoelices autem q… nec verberibus …em…lleſcunt. S…ultet. in Iſ. 1.5. Oh unhappy perſons, whom ſtripes amend not! They that will not bend by the rod of Gods mouth, muſt be broken with the iron rod of his hand, Pſalm. 2. or if the rod will not rule them, his ſword ſhall be drencht in their gall, and bathed in their blood, Deuteronomie 32.41, 42. Or if they ſcape here, yet their preſervation from one, is but a reſervation to ſeven, Leviticus 26. hee will ſurely pay them for the new and the old, and let them looke for it. Saul lived a long while after God had forſaken him, and you could ſee no alteration in his outward condition: but ſaith the Prophet (and it is moſt fearefull) The ſtrength of Iſrael doth not repent, 1 Sam. 15.29. I infer (for a ſecond Vſe) with that other Prophet.
Vſe 2 Bee thou inſtructed therefore, Oh Ieruſalem, leſt Gods ſoule depart from thee, Ierem. 6.8. leſt while hee chaſten thee with the rods of men, and thou bee never the better, hee take away his merciemercy from thee, as hee tooke it from Saul, 2 Sam. 7.14, 15. Take heed yee bee not truants in the ſchoole of Affliction, but be diligent, and ſo ply your buſineſſe, that your profiting may appeare to all men, 1 Timothie, 4.15. Seeke it of him who teacheth to profit, Eſay 48.17. and gi…eth wiſedome to his afflicted without upbraiding, Iam. 1.5. Seeke it, I ſay, by his in…an…s, and take it upon his term…s. Firſt, ſee him angry in every croſſe, and for nothing angry ſo much, as for Sinne. For his wicked covetouſneſſe I was angry with him, I hid mee, and was angry, Eſay, 57.17. Secondly, ſee it a bleſſed thing to beare Gods yoke betimes, and therefore be not weary in your minds: for in due ſeaſon yee ſhall reape the quiet fruit of it, if yee faint not, Galatians, 6 9. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſtiſeſt, and teacheſt in thy Law. That thou maiſt give him reſt from the dayes of adverſitie, &c. Pſalm. 94.12, 13. Bee ſure, if there were any other way to doe us good, hee would ſpare a labour of whipping us, Ierem. 9 7 but hee knowes, and ſo ſhould wee, that the croſſe will beare us to heaven, when nothing elſe will*If there be any way to heaven on horſebacke, it is by the croſſe. Bradford.. Gods cloud in the vvilderneſſe, ſtaid ſometimes a whole yeare or longer in a place; to their griefe, no doubt, but yet to their gaine; that hee might humble them, and try them, and doe them good in their latter end, Deuteronomie, 8.16. as Moſes hath it. Thirdly, melt and mourne kindly before the Lord, as Ioſiah, in the ſenſe of your ſinnes, Gods deſerved diſpleaſure, but eſpecially his infinite love in chaſtening you here, that you may not bee condemned hereafter. This is the onelyonly vvay to difarme GODS indignation, to get from under his mighty hand, and to be rid of his rod, 1 Peter, 5.6. By ſuch a courſe as this, Iacob appeaſed that rough man Eſau: Abigail diverted David from his bloody purpoſes: the Syrians found favour with Ahab (that Non-ſuch, as the Scripture ſtiles him) by an humble ſubmiſſion, 1 King. 20.13. And one of our Edwards riding furiouſly after a ſervant of his that had diſpleas'd him, with a drawne ſword in his hand, as purpoſing to kill him:Si ſervulum tuum videas, peccata propria conſitentem, ultrò offerre ſe poenae, inſtecteris, & ignoſces: de domini miſeratione diſſidis? Ambr. in Pſal. 37. ſeeing him ſubmit, and on bended knee ſue for his life, was content to ſpare him, and receive him into his favour*Acts and Monuments, in Edw. 1.. Loe, this is the way to make our peace with God, and this is the very courſe, that hee points and prompts us to in the text,
As many as I love, ſaith hee, I rebuke and chaſten. But what leſſon may wee hence take out? Be zealous therefore, and repent.
There ſeemes to be an hyſteroſis in the words, q. d. repent thee of thy remiſneſſe, lazineſſe, luke-vvarmneſſe, and learne by that thou ſuffereſt, to bee zealous of good workes, fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord. Or, (which I rather incline to) 'tis a trajection; Be zealous and repent, that is, be earneſt and thorough in thy repentance, and each part thereof, contrition, or humiliation, and Converſion or Reformation: The former is called in Scripture Repentance for, or, of ſinne, foreign.2 Cor. 12.21. Rev. 9.20. The latter, Repentance from ſinne, Act. 8.22. Heb. 6.1. In both vve muſt be zealous, doing them vvith all our might, as David is ſaid to have danced before the arke: and this, as at all times, ſo eſpecially when Gods hand is gone out againſt us and ſeemes to thruſt us downe, as it were, with a thumpe on the backe.
For contrition, firſt, know that God will never leave purſuing thee till the traitours head be throwne over the wall, till thou humble thy ſelfe to walke with thy God. As one cloud followes another, till the ſun conſume them: ſo one iudgment after another, till godly ſorrow diſpels them. Gather your ſelves iZeph. 2.1.therefore, and call in your wits, that are wandring after vanity: turne your eyes inwards, that you may ſee for what you ſuffer. And this done,I…ſdem quibus videmus, oculis flemus. let your eye affect your hearts till they ake againe, yea till they fall aſunder in your boſomes like drops of water: labour, and leave not, till you feele your ſinnes as ſo many daggers at your hearts,foreign. as Peters converts did, Act. 2.37. yea as ſo many daggers at Chriſts heart, as thoſe in Zachary, Zach. 12.10. that looking upon him whom ye have pierced, y…ur hearts may be like ſo many Hadadrimmons: you may weepe over him that bled for you: your eyes may be a fountaine of teares mIer. 9.1. hee ſe…mes to attude to 1 Sam. 7.6.to waſh his feete in, who hath opened a fountaine of hi… own blood to bath your ſo…s in, Zach. 13.1. In the twelfth Chapter, the Prophet ſeemes to be at a ſtand, knowes not whence to borrow compariſons, ſufficiently to ſet forth the depth of their godly ſorrow. They ſhall mourne for it, ſaith he, as one mournes for his onelyonly ſonne (thinke here how great the griefe was of that diſconſolate widow of Naim, Luke 7.13. of Iacob for his Ioſeph, of David for his Abſalom) and ſhall be in bitterneſſe for it, as one that is in bitterneſſe for his firſt-borne: yea the lamentation of ſome one poore woman in her cloſet for her ſin, ſhall exceede that mourning at Megiddo, for the loſſe of good Ioſiah. Mary Magdalen is a iuſt inſtance hereof; whoſe eyes were a laver, and haire a towell to waſh and wipe the feete of Chriſt. Some others of Gods Saints have expreſt their hearty humiliation in time of affliction, by bowing downe the head, caſting downe the body, a ſoftly gate, a lovv kinde of language, like broken men; putting ſackcloth on their loynes, and aſhes on their heads, as thoſe that had deſerved to be as farre under ground as they vvere novv above. Yea in a time of common calamity the Lord called his people to baldneſſe nIſa. 22.for ſinne, vvhichwhich in other caſes vvas forbidden, Deut. 14.1. And Ezra practiſed it accordingly, vvhen he rent his mantle, and his garment, and pluckt off the haire of his head and of his beard, and with knees bent, and hands ſpread out, he cried, O my God, I am aſhamed and bluſh to lift up my face to thee, &c. Ezra, 9.3, 6. Yea David vvent further then this: for not content to vvaſh his bed, even his under-bed vvith his teares vvhichwhich he had defiled vvith his ſinnes, he made a reall reſignation of himſelfe and all he had into Gods hands, as having forfeited all. If hee thus ſay, I have no delight in him, behold here am I, let him doe to mee as ſeemeth good unto him, 2 Samuel, 15.26. So another time, vvhen the Lord pleaded againſt him with peſtilence and blood: Ezekiel, 38.22. he ſtood forth and offered himſelfe to the ſtroke of the puniſhing Angell, vvith Me, Virg. A…ncid.me, ego qui feci, in me convertito ferrum: 'Tvvas I, 'tvvas I, let thine hand, I pray thee, be againſt me and my fathers houſe. 2 Sam. 24.17.And the like muſt be done of us, in caſe of Gods diſpleaſure iuſtly conceived againſt us. Let the glory be to him, take the ſhame and blame of it to our ſelves, ſubmit to any thing that he ſhall ſee good to inflict. Say, Here I am, let him doe to me as ſeemeth him beſt. If God vvill have my life, here it is: if my goods, here they are; if my children, or any other deare pledge of his former favour, I reſigne them freely into his hands. I am leſſe then the leaſt of his mercies; I am worthy the heavieſt of his judgments: I have deſerved to be deſtroyed, yea to be hurl'd into hell. This is that judging of our ſelves that the Scripture calls to: and this is that ſubmitting our ſelves to God, that Saint Iames preſſeth with ſuch variety of expreſſions: chapt. 4.7, 8, 9, 10. Draw nigh to God, ſaith hee, and God will draw nigh unto you. Come neere unto him, as Iudah did once to Ioſeph, and ſay, O my Lord, let thy ſervant. I pray thee, ſpeake a word in my Lords eares, and let not thine anger burne againſt thy ſervant, Geneſis 44.18.
Ob. Wee dare not draw nigh to God, for hee is an holy God, hee will not forgive our tranſgreſſions nor our ſins, Ioſh. 24.19.
Col. Cleanſe your hands, yee ſinners; purge your hearts, yee double-minded: not your hands onelyonly, with Pilate, but your hearts alſo, with David, Pſal. 51. who waſht himſelfe ſo thoroughly, that hee became cleere as the picked glaſſe, and white, as the ſnow in Salmon.
Quest. But where, and how muſt wee waſh?
Anſ. Yee cannot waſh in innocencie, waſh you therefore in teares: Be miſerable (ſaith the Apoſtle:) ſo yee are, but feele your ſelves to be ſo, …vo unto mourning. Nay, dwell upon it ſo long, till yee draw teares from your eyes; yea, teares of blood from your hearts, if it were poſſible. Sinne in the ſoule, is like the head of a bearded arrow in the body; and is thereto compared (as ſome of good note conceive) in that 2 Corinthians, 12.7.foreign. which will not be pull'd out, without paine and blood-ſhed.Poenite…tia q. punientia. Afflict your ſelves therefore, (be active in it, for ſome are humbled, but not humble; low, but not lowly) and mourne and weepe: or if thou canſt not weepe, let it be the fruit of thy conſtitution, and not of thy corruption; in vvhichwhich caſe, dry ſorrow may be as good as wet. But, weepe if thou canſt; yea weepe, till yee can vveepe no longer. They which will not weepe here, ſhall have their eyes whipt out in hell: they that will not waile among men, ſhall howle among devills. For your helpe herein, Let your laughter be turn'd into mourning, and your joy into heavineſſe: As vvho ſhould ſay, Call off your thoughts and affections from matters of mitth, and ſet them all aworke upon ſorrowfull objects. Make uſe of all meanes, improve all occaſions, turne all the ſtreames into this one channell, for the driving of that mill may grinde the heart. Thus, Humble your ſelves under the mighty hand of God, and be ze…lous in it,foreign 1 Pet. 5.7. and hee ſhall lift you up in due time. As in the meane while, this zeale in repenting, ſhall ſpeake you ſound and ſerious in your godly ſorrovv, one effect whereof is Zeale, 2 Corinthians, 7.11.
But then, ſecondly, our ſorrow muſt be, (as that of thoſe Corinthians was) unto a tranſmentation, foreign.or inward change. Our Contrition muſt be ioyn'd with Converſion, elſe all's loſt, for this latter is the conſummation of the former, and the ſeale of its ſincerity. Here then, you muſt ſet to worke againe, and be zealous in it. Let your croſſes teach you, to caſt away all your tranſgreſſions, Ezekiel, 18.31. to turne from all your wickedneſſe, Acts, 8.22. repent of all your dead workes, Hebrewes, 6.1. put off all the fruites of the fleſh, Coloſſians, 3.9. Spare no ſinne, but leaſt of all thy beloved ſinne, thy familiar-devill: pitch thy hatred chiefly upon that, fight neither againſt ſmall nor great in compariſon of that: ſay of it, as Haman of Mordecai, What availes me any thing ſo long as that liveth? but that once dead, the reſt will ſoone follow, as all the ſervants attend the maſters funerall. Let Ioab dye, though it be by the hornes of the Altar. Let Adoniah looſe his head, though Bathſheba intercede for him: bring out the dead carcaſes of theſe Arch-rebels out of the palace of your hearts, thorough the dung-port nNeh. 3.13.of your mouthes: yea ſpet forth that filth with utmoſt indignation. And as Amnon put away Tamar with extreme diſtaſte, after he had abaſed her: ſo let us deale by our ſweete ſins. Affliction ſanctified will ſoone reach Gods Iſrael to pollute the idols which themſelves had perfumed, and to ſay to the workes of their owne hands, Get thee hence: Iſay 30.20, 21, 22. What have I to doe any more with Idols? Hoſeah 14.8. thoſe idols of mine owne heart? ſaid Ephraim, after that he had bewailed his owne untamedneſſe with teares, and upon corrections of inſtruction ſmote upon his thigh. Ieremiah. 31.18, 19: as that Publican upon his breſt, who would as willingly have beene knocking upon the ſinne in his heart, & giving it the blew eyez1 Cor. 9.27. foreign. that Saint Paul did, if he could have come at it. This then is that we have all to doe: and this the Lord lookes for at our hands (ſpecially) when we are in any affliction; to ceaſe from our owne workes, Hebrewes, 4.10. to keepe us from our owne wickedneſſe, 2 Sam. 22.23. and not turne after the way of our owne hearts, Eſay, 57.17. to purge our ſelves from all filthineſſe of fleſh, and ſpirit, (as the Viper, when he is laſhed, caſts up his poiſon) and to perfect holineſſe in the feare of God: 2 Cor. 7.1. For elſe, all our pretended contrition, if it be not attended with Reformation, is but as the crouching of a fox; which being taken in a ſnare lookes lamentably, but 'tis onelyonly to get out. It was a grievous complaint God made of his people. Iſay, 53.17. I hid mee, and was angry, yet they went on frowardly in the way of their owne hearts. And againe by the Pſalmist; whiles hee ſlew them, then they ſought him, yea they returned, and enquired carely after God. Nevertheleſſe their heart was not right with him, neither were they ſtedfaſt in his covenant, &c. Pſalme, 78.34, 37. While God was in whipping them, they cryed, as children. I'le doe no more, I'le doe no more: but when the rod was removed, and the ſmart a little over, their promiſe was forgotten, and they as bad as before: Like as a dog when he comes out of the water, ſhakes his eares, and as a ſwine when waſht, returnes againe to the guzzle. How much better David? He ſware (and he would ſtand to it) to keepe Gods ſtatutes. Pſal. 119.106. And when did he ſweare, but in the time of his affliction? Remember David, Lord, with all his afflictions. Who ſware unto the Lord, and vow'd unto the mighty God of Iacob, &c. Pſal. 131.1, 2. And this he perform'd as well Pſalme, 66.14. &. 61.8. for he knew 'twas better not to vow, then to vow, and not to pay, Eccleſ. 5.4. Hence his f…rvour and fidelity. He knew the Lord takes no pleaſure in foole…, ib: ſuch as though they be brayed in a mortar, yet will not …ut away their folly. All Gods children are the better for whipping, the brighter for ſcouring, the purer for fining, the healthier for phyſicking. If the outward man decay, the inward is renued, 2 Corinthians, 4.16. the winter of the one, is the Spring of the other. If they be pruned by afflictions, they bring forth more fruit, Iohn 15.2. If launced by Gods hand, the very blewneſſe of the wound purgeth out evill; Proverbes, 20.30. If they paſſe the Flaile,Dei ſ…mentum ſum, & beſtiarum dentibus molor, ut puius & ſincerus panis repe…iar. Ignat. Iohn Careles in a letter to M. Philpot. Fanne, Milſtone, Oven, it is all but to fit them for the Lords owne tooth, as a ſweet meate-offering in a cleane veſſell, Eſay 66.20. You know, (ſaid that holy Martyr) the veſſell before it bee made bright, is ſoyled with oyle and other things, that it may ſcoure the better. Oh happy be you, that you be now in this ſcouring-houſe: for ſhortly you ſhall be ſet upon the celeſtiall ſhelfe, as bright as Angels. Every affliction ſanctified, rubbs off ſome ruſt, melts off ſome droſſe, ſtraines out ſome corruption, (Iob 10.10. God ſtraines out our motes, whiles our hearts are powred out like milke, with griefe and feare) empties and evacuates ſome ſuperfluitie of naughtineſſe, benums our luſts at leaſt, (as winter doth the Serpent) that they cannot doe us ſo great hurt: makes us partakers of ſome more of Gods holineſſe: brings forth ſome quiet fruit of righteouſneſſe, to them that are thereby exerciſed. Some good is ever done; the leaſt that can come of it, is to doe good duties better, with greater zeale, and larger affections, Eſa. 26.11. raked out of the aſhes, 2 Tim. 1.6.foreign. and kindled by this coale from Gods altar, whereby wee become more active, and ready to every good vvord and worke. Some bleſſing it ever leaves behind it; as the river of Nilus, which by over-flowing the land of Egypt, fattens and fills it with flowers and fruites. What though the Saints lye drown'd (as the fertile meddowes doe, under the floods) all winter long? the comfort is, God ſits upon the floods, Pſal. 29.10. and ſhall ſhortly ſet them upon a rocke that is higher than they, Pſal. 61.2. out of the reach of trouble.Nube ſolce pulſa candidus ire die…. As certaine as is the viciſſitude and interchangeable courſe of Winter and Summer darkneſſe and light, Evening and morning; ſo certaine ſhal. the change of the godly bee. God will bring them from Marah to Elim, Numb. 33.9. from a place of bitterneſſe, to ſprings of ſweet water; from a dry and barren wilderneſſe to a pleaſant ſtation. Hee will remove them ere-long (after they have ſuffer'd a whileh1 Pet. 5.10, and paid a little for their learning, under this ſterne and ſharpe ſchoolemaſter, Affliction) into an higher forme in Chriſts ſchoole,Q…s non patia …ur, ut potia tur? yea to the Vniverſity of Heaven; Where the Arch-prophet himſelfe ſhall teach us immediately with his his owne mouth, and ſhew us great and hidden things that we knew not, Ierem. 33.3. ſuch as Saint Paul heard in his heavenly rapture: and ſuch as thoſe good ſoules are ever in hearing, which came out of great tribulation, and have waſhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lambe, Revel. 7.14. Here wee are but learning our A B C, and our leſſon is never paſt Chriſts-croſſe (as that Martyr phraſed it) and our walke is ſtill home by the Weeping-croſſe: but then, the Ranſomed of the Lord ſhall returne, and come to Sion with ſongs, and everlaſting joy upon their heads: they ſhall obtaine joy and gladneſſe, and ſorrow and ſighing ſhall flee away, Eſay 35.10.
FINIS.
PErlegi tractatum hunc, dignumque judico qui typis mandetur.
THO: WYKES R. P. Epiſc. Lond. Cap. Domeſt.
End of the text · John Trapp, Gods Love (1637)