Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 4 · Lecture 78
LECTVRE LXXVIII.
PHILIP. 4.
Verſe. 4. Reioyce in the Lord alwayes, and againe, I ſay, reioyce.
5. Let your patient mind be knowne to all men. The Lord is at hand.
HAuing ſpoken before of the Apoſtles exhortation vntounto the Philippians in generall, and likewiſe of his two particular exhortations, the one vntounto Euodias and Syntyche, the other vntounto his faithfull yoke-fellow: the laſt day we ſpent that whole time in ſpeaking of the Apoſtles affirmation touching his fellow-labourers, that their names were in the book of life, which the Apoſtle addeth vntounto ye end of his particular exhortatiō vntounto his faithful yoke felow.
Now the Apoſtle hauing made theſe particular exhortations vntounto thoſe godly women Euodias and Syntyche, and vntounto his faithfull yoke-fellow in their behalfe, he goeth from thoſe particularities, and againe maketh ſundrie exhortations vntounto all the Philippians. The words which I hauehave read vntounto you, ye ſee, are an exhortation vntounto the Philippians to reioyce in the Lord. Where, the thing whereunto he exhorteth, as ye ſee, is to reioyce. A thing which the ſenſuall man can quickly lay hold on, who loues to reioyce, and to cheere himſelfe in the dayes of his fleſh; which yet might now ſeeme vnſeaſonable vntounto the Philippians, who liued in the midſt of a naughtie and crooked nation, by whom they were hated euen for the truths ſake which they profeſſed. Marke therefore wherein the Apoſtle would they ſhould reioyce, namely in the Lord. And here the ſenſuall man that haply would catch hold when it is ſaid, reioyce, by and by when it is added, in the Lord, will let his hold go. But they that by reaſon of the billowes and waues of the troubleſome ſea of this world, cannot brooke the ſpeech, when it is ſaid reioyce, are to lay ſure hold-faſt vponupon it, when it is added, reioyce in the Lord: which hold-faſt once taken, that they might for euer keepe it ſure, in the third place it is added, reioyce in the Lord alwayes, to note the conſtancie that ſhould be in the Chriſtian ioy. O but the Apoſtle was not well aduiſed of his ſpeech, to exhort them to reioyce in the Lord alway. Not well aduiſed? Yes: Reioyce in the Lord always, and againe I ſay, reioyce in the Lord alwayes. He repeateth it, to make the better impreſſion of a thing ſo needfull. So that here we hauehave the Apoſtles exhortation to reioyce, but in the Lord; not with a momentany or flitting ioy, but alwayes, both in weale and in woe; not vnaduiſedly deliuered, or as a matter of no moment, but doubled, as ſeriouſly deliuered, and to be hearkened vntounto. And let this ſuffice for a generall view of the points of this exhortation, and for the meaning of the words. Now let vsus ſee what notes ariſe hence for our own vſe.
The firſt thing which I note in this exhortation, is, that the Apoſtle exhorteth the Philippians to reioyce in the Lord, allowing and perſwading ioy and reioycing, but ſo limiting it, that it be in the Lord, not onelyonly allowing it as lawfull, but perſwading it as requiſite that they ſhould reioyce in the Lord. Whence I obſerue what the Chriſtian mans reioycing is, wherein he may and ought to reioyce: his reioycing is, and may, and ought to be in the Lord. It is a common and ordinarie obiection againſt them that from their ſoules deſire to be followers of the holy Apoſtle in a ſincere embracing of the truth of Chriſt Ieſus, that they are melancholike men, ſad and auſtere men, men which can abide no mirth, which can away with no ioy and reioycing. But let them not deceiue you.Prou. 15.13.17.22. Eccl. 30.22. We ſay with Salomon, that a ioyfull heart maketh a cheerfull countenance: and againe with the ſame, that a ioyfull heart cauſeth good health: and with the ſonne of Sirach, that the ioy of the heart is the life of man, and that a mans gladneſſe is the prolonging of his dayes. Pſal. 48.10.And therefore often with Dauid we ſay, Let mount Sion reioyce, and let the daughters of Iuda be glad. And againe with the ſame Dauid we ſay,98.5.6.7. Sing, reioyce, and giuegive thankes, ſing to the harp with a ſinging voice, with ſhalmes alſo and ſound of trumpets. And with the Apoſtle we exhort all men in all places to reioyce euermore. 1. Theſ. 5.16.But here it is, not as the world teacheth you, do we teach you to reioyce: and therefore the world ſpeaketh all maner of euill ſayings againſt vsus. For what is the worlds reioycing? The rich man he reioyceth in his riches, and calleth his lands by his owne name: the wiſe man he reioyceth in his wiſedome; the ſtrong man in his ſtrength, the ambitious man in his glorie and honour, the ſenſuall man in his filthy pleaſures, the ſuperſtitious man in his ſuperſtitious wayes; the man that ſtands vponupon his merites, in the workes of his owne hands; and generally worldly men in the waies of their owne hearts, ſuch as they do take pleaſure and delight in: yea fooliſhneſſe (as Salomon ſaith) is ioy to him that is deſtitute of vnderſtanding; Prou. 15.21.that is, euen ſinne and wickedneſſe is a matter of mirth and delight to the wicked and vngodly man. Now ſuch reioycing, we tell you, is not good; like vntounto the reioycing of him,Luc. 12.19. that hauing ſaid vntounto his ſoule, Soule, thou haſt much goods laid vp in ſtore for many yeares, liue at eaſe, eate, drinke, and take thy paſtime; heard it by and by ſaid vntounto him, Thou foole, 20.this night will they fetch away thy ſoule from thee, and then whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which thou haſt prouided? For as Zophar in Iob ſaith, The reioycing of the wicked is ſhort, Iob 20.5.and the ioy of hypocrites is but a moment: And our Sauiour pronounceth a woe vponupon ſuch reioycing, ſaying, Woe be to you that now laugh, Luke 6.25.for ye ſhall weepe and waile. And as our Apoſtle ſaith of worldly ſorrow that it cauſeth death; 2. Cor. 7.10.ſo may it moſt truly be ſaid of worldly reioycing, that it cauſeth death.Amos 6.4. And therefore with Amos we lift vp our voyces againſt them that lie vponupon beds of Iuorie, and ſtretch themſelues vponupon their beds, and eate the lambes of the flocke, and the calues out of the ſtall, 5.that ſing to the ſound of the violl, and inuent to themſelues inſtruments of muſicke, 6.that drinke wine in bolles, and annoynt themſelues with the beſt oyntments, and in the meane time are not ſorrie for the affliction of Ioſeph. And out of Ieremie we exhort all men in all places, ſaying;Ierem. 9.23. Let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſedome, nor the ſtrong man in his ſtrength, neither the rich man glorie in his riches. And out of Dauid, Pſa. 62.10.If riches increaſe, let no man ſet his heart vponupon them. And thus we weane men from this worldly reioycing as much as we can.
What is then the reioycing which we teach? As the Apoſtle ſaith of ſorrow,2. Cor. 7.10. that there is a worldly ſorrow which cauſeth death, and a godly ſorrow which cauſeth repentance vntounto ſaluation; ſo I ſay of reioycing, that there is a worldly reioycing, when men take more pleaſure in the vanities of this life and the pleaſures of ſinne, then in the things which belong vntounto their peace, which cauſeth death; & a godly reioycing, when men reioyce in the Lord, ſo that they put their whole confidence in him, and count all things loſſe and dung in compariſon of that reioycing which they hauehave in him, which cauſeth confidence vntounto ſaluation. The reioycing then which we teach, is not the worldly reioycing which the world teaches, & which cauſeth death; but the godly reioycing which cauſeth confidence vntounto ſaluation. We ſay that ye may, and that ye ought to reioyce in the Lord. So the holy Ghoſt often exhorteth vsus to doe, and ſo the godly hauehave alwayes done. Be glad, O ye righteous, ſaith Dauid, and reioyce in the Lord. Pſal. 32.12.And againe, Let Iſrael reioyce in him that made him, Pſal. 149.2.and let the children of Sion be ioyfull in their King. Let him that reioyceth (ſaith the Apoſtle out of the Prophet) reioyce in the Lord. 2. Cor. 1.31.And in the former chapter; My brethren (ſaith the Apoſtle) reioyce in the Lord. Eſay 61.10.So did the Church in Eſay, ſaying, I will greatly reioyce in the Lord, and my ſoule ſhal be ioyfull in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of ſaluation, &c. So did Mary, ſaying,Luke 1.47. My ſoule doth magnifie the Lord, and my ſpirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour. So Peter giueth teſtimonie to the ſtrangers to whom he wrote, that they reioyced in the Lord, with ioy vnſpeakeable and glorious. 1. Pet. 1.8.And ſo the godly hauehave alwayes reioyced in the Lord, as in the onelyonly rocke of their defence, and ſtrong God of their ſaluation.
And now ſee beſides theſe exhortations and examples ſo to doe, what great cauſe we hauehave to reioyce in the Lord, and how litle cauſe there is to reioyce in any thing elſe: for what hauehave we that we hauehave not from him? or what want we, which if we hauehave, he muſt not ſupply? HaueHave we peace in all our quarters, and plenteouſneſſe in all our houſes? hauehave we a bleſſing in the fruit of our body, in the fruit of our ground, in the fruit of our cattel, in the increaſe of our kine, and in our flockes of ſheepe? are our wiues fruitfull as the vine, and our children like the Oliue branches round about our tables? hauehave we health, ſtrength, foode, rayment, and other neceſſaries of this life?Iames 1.17. And whence are all theſe things? Euerie good giuing, and eueryevery perfect gift is from aboue, and commeth downe from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableneſſe, neyther ſhadowing by turning. But to come nearer vntounto the cauſes of Chriſtian reioycing, Doth the Spirit witneſſe vntounto our ſpirit, that we are the ſonnes of God? Is the darkeneſſe of our vnderſtandings lightned, the frowardneſſe of our wills corrected, the corruption of our affections purged? Do we feele in our ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his reſurrection by the death of ſinne, and the life of God in our ſelues? Are our ſoules fully aſſured of the free forgiuenes of our ſinnes, by grace, through the redemption that is in Chriſt Ieſus? dare we go boldly vntounto the throne of grace, and crie Abba, which is, Father? Do we know that Death ſhall not hauehave dominion ouer vsus, and that Hell ſhall neuer be able to preuaile againſt vsus? Behold then, what cauſe we hauehave of our reioycing in the Lord, for abundance of ſpirituall bleſſings in heauenly things, for our election in Chriſt Ieſus vntounto euerlaſting life before the foundatiō of the world, for our creation in time after his owne image in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe, for our redemption by the bloud of Chriſt Ieſus, when we, through ſinne, had defaced the image wherein we were created, and ſold our ſelues as bond ſlaues vntounto Sathan; for our vocation vntounto the knowledge of the truth by the Goſpel of Chriſt Ieſus, for our adoption into the glorious liberty of the ſons of God, for our iuſtification and tree forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes by the bloud of Chriſt Ieſus, for our ſanctification by the Spirit of grace vntounto ſome meaſure of righteouſneſſe and holineſſe of life, for our regeneration vntounto a liuely hope in Chriſt Ieſus, and for the aſſured confidence which we hauehave of our glorification after this life with Chriſt Ieſus, who ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious bodie, &c. All graces of Gods Spirit, and for them all ſuch matter of reioycing in the Lord, as may make our hearts dance for ioy, and may rauiſh our ſoules with gladneſſe.
And as we hauehave all things from the Lord that we hauehave, whether for the body or for the ſoule, for this life preſent, or that that is to come; ſo, what is it that we want which he doth not ſupply? Want we riches? The Lord maketh poore, 1. Sam. 2 7.and maketh rich: and he is rich vntounto all them that call vponupon him faithfully. Want we preferment?Pſal. 75 6. Promotion cometh neyther from the Eaſt, nor from the Weſt, nor yet from the South: God is the Iudge: he putteth downe one, and ſetteth vp another. Want we wiſedome? If any man lacke wiſedome, let him aske of God, Iames 1.5.which giueth vntounto all men liberally, and reprocheth no man, and it ſhall be giuen him. Want we patience in troubles? That is the wiſedome which Iames ſpecially ſpeaks of in the place mentioned, wiſedome patiently to endure whatſoeuer God laieth vponupon vsus, which ye ſee God liberally giueth to them that lacke & aske. Want we comfort in our ſoules? God is the God of patience and conſolation, Rom. 15.5.which comforteth vsus in all our troubles, and turneth our heauineſſe into ioy; as alſo himſelfe ſaith, ſaying, I will turne their mourning into ioy, Ierem. 31.13.and will comfort them, and giuegive them ioy for their ſorrowes. Yea, whatſoeuer it is that we want, it is the Lord that muſt ſupply our wants: He openeth his hand, and filleth all things liuing with plenteouſnes: Pſal. 145.16ſuch as he beſt knoweth to be moſt meet for them, and good for his glory.84.11. The Lord will giuegive grace and glory, ſaith the Pſalmiſt in another place, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly: no good thing which he knoweth to be good for them, and alſo good for his glorie. HaueHave we then whatſoeuer bleſſings we hauehave from the Lord, and doth the Lord ſupply whatſoeuer we want, fo farre forth as he ſees it to be expedient for vsus, and good for his owne glorie? See then what cauſe we hauehave to reioyce in the Lord.
Yea, and what cauſe is there why we ſhould reioyce in any thing but in the Lord? Riches, honour, ſtrength, beauty, and whatſoeuer elſe the world moſt eſteemeth of, what is it elſe but vanitie, and vexation of the ſpirit? Amongſt other things moſt precious in the life of man, wiſedome is more to be ſought after then gold and ſiluer, and not to be weighed with precious ſtones; righteouſnes moſt commendeth man vntounto man, and holineſſe moſt commendeth man vntounto God. And yet what is our wiſedome, what is our righteouſneſſe, what is our holineſſe that we ſhould reioyce in them? Be it that we hauehave the wiſedome of Salomon, be it that we be as, righteous as Noah, Daniel, and Iob; be it that we be as holie as Dauid, the holie Prophets and Apoſtles; yet for all this, if we will come vntounto God, we muſt lay all theſe aſide, and Chriſt Ieſus he muſt be our wiſedome, and righteouſnes, and holineſſe. Whatſoeuer our wiſedome be, it will not leade vsus vntounto God; whatſoeuer our righteouſneſſe be, it will not preſent vsus righteous before God; whatſoeuer our holineſſe be, we cannot ſtand in it in the iudgement before God. Nay, when we come vntounto God, we muſt renounce our wiſedome as fooliſhneſſe, we muſt count our righteouſneſſe loſſe and dung, we muſt abandon all conceit of holineſſe, as alſo we ſee our Apoſtle did: who though he were of the kindred of Iſrael, of the tribe of Beniamin, an Ebrew of the Ebrews, by profeſſion a Phariſie, as zealous of the tradition of his fathers as any, and as vnrebukeable touching the righteouſnes of the law as any; yet when once he came to the knowledge of Chriſt, he counted all theſe things as no vantage at all vntounto him, but loſſe and dung, for Chriſt his ſake. For herein is our reioycing, that Chriſt is made of God vntounto vsus wiſedome, 1. Cor. 1.30.and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption, as it is written. Nay, to go yet further, what are our faith, hope, and louelove that we ſhould reioyce in them? To be ſtrong in faith, to be perfect in louelove, to be ſtedfaſt in hope, are things for which we ſhould pray alwayes with all maner prayer and ſupplication in the ſpirit. But if we ſhall reioyce and repoſe our confidence in the ſtrength of our faith, in the perfection of our louelove, in the ſtedfaſtneſſe of our hope, then we are aboliſhed from Chriſt, and our reioycing is not good. It is Chriſt Ieſus in whom we muſt beleeue, whom we muſt louelove, & in whom we muſt hope. Our faith muſt be built vponupon him, our louelove muſt be grounded on him, our hope muſt be ſtabliſhed in him, and in him we muſt reioyce. Thus then we ſee that we hauehave not any thing to reioyce in without vsus, nor yet in our wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, or holineſſe, nor yet in our faith, hope, or louelove. We muſt reioyce in the Lord, and in him it well becometh the Saints to be ioyfull.
Let me therefore in the bowels of Chriſt Ieſus beſeech you to reioyce, not as the world doth in the pleaſures of ſinne, and the vanities of this life, but to reioyce in the Lord the ſtrong God of our ſaluation. Ye ſee the exhortations of the holy Ghoſt, and the examples of godly men, and ye ſee what great cauſe we hauehave to reioyce in the Lord, and how little cauſe we hauehave to reioyce in any thing elſe. All reioycing in the world, what is it in compariſon of this reioycing in the Lord? It is as the morning cloud, or as the morning dew, it vaniſheth away; or as it is in the place of Iob, It is ſhort, and but a moment. Nay, in it onelyonly is true ioy, and ſound reioycing. Other ioyes may for a while pleaſe the outward ſenſe, but the ioy that quickens the heart, and cheeres the ſoule, is the ioy in the holy Ghoſt. Other reioycing, the more it is, the worſe it is; but this, the more it is, the better it is; and the more we do reioyce in the Lord, the more cauſe we ſhall finde we hauehave to reioyce in the Lord. Reioyce therefore in the Lord alwayes, and againe I ſay, reioyce.
The ſecond thing which I note in the Apoſtles exhortation is, that he exhorts the Philippians to reioyce in the Lord, not for a day, or for a ſeaſon, not by fits, or when he makes his face to ſhine on them, but to reioyce in the Lord alwayes, as well in aduerſity, as in proſperity. Whence I obſerue the conſtancie which is in Chriſtian reioycing, whereby it is knowne indeed to be Chriſtian. The conſtancy of our Chriſtian reioycing is, to reioyce in the Lord always, as wel when he ſeemeth to hide away his face from vsus, as when he maketh his face to ſhine vponupon vsus. This conſtancie of reioycing, the Apoſtle exhorteth the Theſſalonians vntounto, where he ſaith vntounto them, Reioyce euermore. 1. Theſſ. 5.16.And herein is the triall of our ioy, whether it be Chriſtian indeed: for as it is ſaid of ſome hearers of the word,Luke 8.13. that for a while they beleeue, but in time of tentation they go away: ſo may it alſo be ſaid of ſome that ſeeme to reioyce in the Lord, that for a while they ſeeme to reioyce in the Lord, euen as long ſo he ſhowreth downe the early and the latter raine vponupon them, but in time of perſecution, trouble, and aduerſitie, they hang downe their heads, and murmure againſt the Lord. It ſeemeth that Sathan thought that Iob would hauehave beene ſuch an one, as appeareth by theſe words, where he ſaith vntounto God,Iob 1.10. Doth he feare God for nought? And the ſame may be ſaid of reioycing, Haſt thou not made an hedge about him, and about his houſe, and about all that he hath on eueryevery ſide? Thou haſt bleſſed the works of his hands, and his ſubſtance is increaſed in the Land. 11.But ſtretch out now thy hand, and touch all that he hath, to ſee if he will not blaſpheme thee to thy face. But he was deceiued in Iob. Yet therein he bewrayed a diſeaſe wherewith many ſonnes of men are much tainted, which are neuer knowne what they are vntill the Lord ſend them ſome aduerſitie; for we ſee many, that ſo long as they hauehave all things at their deſire, reioyce in the Lord; who ſo much as they? ſpecially, when their diſhes are full furniſhed, O then how well doth it like them, to confeſſe that he is good & gracious, and bountifull! But if the Lord begin to handle them ſomewhat roughly, ſo that things fall not out to their contentment, then their countenance is changed, and they take the matter ſore to heart. And if he proceed, and depriuing them of his bleſſings, afflict them in body or in goods, then they fal to murmure, and oftentimes to blaſphemies: which blaſphemies, albeit ſome of them vtter not with their mouthes, yet in their hearts repine they at the Lord, for ſuch his iudgements vponupon them. Now theſe in triall proue plainly to be hypocrites, and by triall it appeareth that their ioy is not Chriſtian, becauſe it is not conſtant, but ebbeth and floweth according to the ebbe and floud of aduerſitie and proſperitie.
What ſhall we ſay then? when the Lord afflicteth vsus with pouertie, ſickeneſſe, and the like croſſes; muſt we reioyce in the Lord? Yea verily:1. Sam. 2.6.7. for it is the Lord that killeth and maketh aliue, that woundeth and healeth, that bringeth to the graue, and raiſeth vp, that maketh poore, and maketh rich, that bringeth low, and exalteth. Amos 3.6.There is no euill in the Citie which the Lord hath not done: No euill, that is, no croſſe or affliction, no plague or puniſhment which he ſendeth not. And whatſoeuer croſſe or affliction it is, vntounto his children it is but either a probation, that the triall of their faith, being much more precious then gold that periſheth, may be found to their praiſe, and honour, and glorie at the appearing of Ieſus Chriſt, ſuch as was Iobs affliction; or elſe, it is a fatherly correction, that being chaſtened of the Lord,2. Sam. 12.14. they may not be condemned with the world; ſuch as was the death of Dauids child for Dauids ſin, and ſuch as was the weakeneſſe, and ſickeneſſe, and death of many of the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 11 30.for eating and drinking vnworthily at the Lords Table. Are then our croſſes of pouertie, ſickeneſſe, or whatſoeuer they be, from God? Then are they good, and we are to reioyce in them. For all things fall out for the beſt, for thoſe that louelove and feare him. Are they for the triall of our faith? My brethren, ſaith Iames, James 1.2.count it exceeding ioy when ye fall into diuerſe tentations and trialls, &c. Are they to correct and chaſtice vsus? If we endure chaſtening, Hebr. 12.7.God offereth himſelfe vntounto vsus as vntounto ſonnes, for whom he loueth, he chaſteneth. O but ſometimes he ſhutteth vsus euen vp in deſpaire and infidelitie: how ſhall we then reioyce in the Lord? I demand then: Doſt thou know it, and lothe it, and long to be brought againe into the glorious libertie of the ſonnes of God? Thou haſt good cauſe to reioyce in the Lord, for he hath onelyonly hid his face from thee for a while, that he may hauehave merciemercy on thee for euer. And what if thy faith or hope be but as a graine of Muſtard ſeed? what if being as it were couered vnderunder the aſhes, they ſeeme not to be? Chriſt Ieſus is moſt plentifull, to helpe them that are moſt weake: and he is all-ſufficient, to ſupply all wants. If any ſeede of God be there, in thy weakeneſſe he will perfite his praiſe. Yea, but in that our Sauiour pronounceth a bleſſing vponupon them that mourne,Matt. 5.4. it appeareth that we are not alwayes to reioyce. Not ſo neyther, for euen then when we ſigh and mourne for the affliction we hauehave in the world, we are to reioyce in the Lord, and to be of good comfort in Chriſt Ieſus, becauſe he hath ouercome the world; euen then when we mourne through a ſence of Gods iudgements, we are to reioyce in his tender mercies, that he deales not with vsus after our deſeruings; euen then when we mourne in the body becauſe of affliction, we are to reioyce in our ſoules becauſe of our ſtrong conſolation in Chriſt Ieſus, and becauſe our light affliction in the body cauſeth vntounto vsus a far moſt excellent, and an eternall weight of glorie. And therefore our Sauiour in the ſame place where he ſaith, Bleſſed are they that mourne, exhorteth alſo to reioyce and be glad in perſecution, for that great is our reward in heauen.
Let this then teach vsus to take heed how we murmure againſt the Lord, for pouertie, ſickeneſſe, or any croſſe whatſoeuer. They are from the Lord whatſoeuer they be, and if we be his children, they are onelyonly eyther for the triall of our faith and patience, that patience hauing her perfect worke, we may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing; or elſe, as a louing correction of a mercifull father, that we may be reclaimed from the wickedneſſe of our wayes. And if we do not now reioyce in the Lord, when he ſeemeth thus to hide his face from vsus, certainly, whatſoeuer ſhew we made before of reioycing in the Lord, we plaied but the hypocrites. Howſoeuer therefore, looking vntounto our ſelues, vntounto our ſins, vntounto our infirmities, vntounto our afflictions, vntounto the world we may ſigh and mourne, yet let vsus reioyce in the Lord. We are not bid to reioyce in our ſelues: Nay, in our ſelues we ſhalbe ſure to hauehave cauſe enough of mourning. We muſt therefore go out of our ſelues vntounto the Lord, and we muſt reioyce in him. We muſt looke vntounto him, and remember that he is good, and therefore whatſoeuer he doth is good; that he is Almightie, aod therefore can raiſe vsus out of the duſt of death, and ſet vsus with the Princes of the earth; that he is mercifull, and therefore will not ſuffer the rod of the vngodly to reſt on the lot of the righteous. And againe, we muſt remember that he was poore, that we might be made rich in him; that he was weake, that we might be made ſtrong in him; that he was tempted, that he might be able to ſuccour them which are tempted. What cauſe therefore ſoeuer of mourning there be in our ſelues, let vsus looke out of our ſelues, and let vsus reioyce in him alwayes. If he bleſſe vsus, then we thinke and yeeld eaſily that we hauehave cauſe to reioyce in the Lord: and if he croſſe vsus with any plague or trouble, then we hauehave alſo cauſe to reioyce in him, becauſe it is for our good, and his owne glorie. Reioyce therefore in the Lord alwayes.