Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 5 · Dialogue 3
DIAL. III.
Verse 3. Not so onelyonly, but also wee reioyce in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience?
Tim.
VVHat doth this Text deliuer vntounto vsus?
Silas
Another fruite of a iustifying Faith, which is ioy in afflictions.
Tim.
How doth he prooue, that beleeuers reioyce in afflictions?
Silas.
By this reason: because God vseth affliction to encrease in them hope of glorie. This the Apostle doeth manifest vntounto vsus after this sort: Affliction worketh patience, patience worketh experience, experience worketh hope; therefore affliction causeth hope.
Tim.
What meaneth the first words of the Text [Not so only?]
Silas.
They imply a comparison of the more with the lesse, and are thus much. Beleeuers do not reioice alone vnderunder the hope of heauenly glory, but which is a farre lesse likely matter, they reioyce in and for their afflictions. Or more plainly thus: If beleeuers reioyce, because they certainly looke to be glorified with God in Heauen, this is not to be maruelled at: but this is rare and wonderfull, with gladnes to imbrace afflictions, which hauehave in them both much paine and shame. In the conexion of sentences, note, that it is the propertie of that ioy which ariseth from the hope of celestiall glorie, to cause and breede this ioy which beleeuers hauehave in their tribulations & sufferings. For the remembrance of that great and blessed glory which they shall hauehave in the end, causeth all things to be sweete and pleasant vntounto them which they meet with in thelr way, whereby they must passe to that glorious and most happy end, their Country in heauen.
Tim.
What may be gathered from hence?
Silas.
If hope of glory sweeten troubles, how much more doth it make benefits sweet and ioyous? And this is that which we are to learne from hence, that where hope of glory once entreth, it maketh both prosperity and aduersity to be ioyfull and gladsome: and further, that there is no true and sound ioy either in time of affliction, or in time of peace and plentie, but that which springeth from hope of glory to come. This is the roote of true ioy.
Tim.
What is to be noted in the next words, [We reioyce in tribulation?]
Silas.
First, that Gods children are subiect to troubles in this world. Secondly, the troubles of Gods children are helpers of their ioy.
Tim.
Of what sorts are the troubles of the faithfull?
Silas.
Of two sorts: some be common to thē with other men of the world. Some be proper and peculiar to the godly themselues. These common afflictions or troubles, are sickenesse, pouerty, reproach, famine, plague, warre, banishment, paine, anguish, and such like. These common troubles they all come from God, who is the author of all afflictions: for there is no euil in the Citie, but the Lord hath done it, Amos 3, 6. Secondly, they come by meanes of our sinnes. Man suffereth for sinne, Lam. 3. Thirdly, to the end, to correct for sinne past, to preuent sinne to come, to humble for sinne present, to make triall of patience, to whet our Prayers, to teach vsus louelove & compassion towards others. Secondly, the proper and peculiar troubles, they be either such as happen for righteousnesse sake, that is, for a good cause, namely for defence of the trueth, or for well-dooing; these trobles be called persecutions. Or such soule afflictions as arise from the apprehension of Gods fierce wrath for sinne, which is called conflict of Conscience. These afflictions do arise from the weaknesse of faith, distrusting Gods promises and mercies: and also from the malice of Satan, aggrauating their sinnes and Gods Iustice. The reason why God doth thus afflict his Children is, first, for a more especiall triall of their Faith, also by their constancie to strēngthen others which be weake, and to reproue the wicked world. Lastly, for the greater manifestation of Gods glory, who maketh knowne his power in their infirmity, 2 Cor. 12. Now as concerning the vse of this, it is to warne vsus to looke for afflictions, and that eueryevery soule is to prepare for tribulations, as Mariners prepare against a storme, and Soldiers against the day of battell.
Thus the godly hauehave prepared themselues for troubles, and beeing vnderunder them hauehave reioyced; examples heereof in the Apostles, Acts 5, 41. the beleeuing Haebrewes, Heb. 10. and the blessed Martyrs. True it is indeede, that some of Gods Children hauehave beene heauie and sad for afflictions, as Dauid, Nehemiah, Ieremy, and Iob, but yet they are ioyfull too; their outward man was heauy, their inward is ioyfull: one man at one time may hauehave contrarie affections in diuers respects, both sadnesse and ioy.
Tim.
Yea hut tribulations are euill.
Sil.
They bee so, howbeit Gods Children reioyce in them, not as they are euill, but as by the clemency of God they are made good and profitable, for all things woorke for good to them, Rom. 8. 28. For first by them God sheweth forth his power & goodnes in them, by defending, supporting and comforting his childeren. Secondly, our dayly faults are corrected by them, and we prouoked to amendment of our sinnefull liues, 1 Cor. 11. Thirdly, they pull downe our pride and hautinesse of nature, Iob 33. 16, 17. Fourthly, they restraine the wanton lasciuousnesse of the flesh. Fiftly, our sluggishuesse and sloth, is shaken off by afflictions. Sixtly, they discouer our weakenesse of strength for humbling vsus, Psal. 39. 11. Seauenthly, they put vsus in remembrance of our mortality, beeing messengers and forerunners of death. Eightly, by meanes of afflictions, many confessions of faith are wrung out of vsus. Ninthly, by afflictions, the malice of Sathan and the world are better knowne and auoyded, as in Iobs afflictions. Tenthly, they stirre vp the minde to more feruent prayer, Psal. 39. 12. Lastly, they exerciseiand woorke encrease of patience, experience, hope: here it is that the godly take matter of comfort, euen in their grieuous euils.
Tim.
What vse may bee made of this whole doctrine concerning troubles?
Sil.
It doeth teach vsus that a true beleeuer is an happy and ioyfull man in eueryevery estate, therefore all should couet to be such. Secondly, this doctrine correcteth the opinion of the worldlings, who thinke it an vnhappy thing to be afflicted, and those men accursed which be alwaies vnderunder the rod, and most seuerely scourged.
Tim.
What is to bee considered in these wordes (afflictions worketh patience?
Sil.
Two things, first that afflictions do work patience. Secondly, that Gods children … knowe this, (knowing that affliction worketh patience.)
Tim.
But many are impatient in their afflictions, and fall to despaire, as Iudas.
Sil.
That is … of the wicked, that by afflictions they are disquieted and onraged; but Paul teacheth here what vse afflictions hauehave in the faithfull.
Tim.
But patience is the worke of God, how then is it saide of afflictions, that they worke it?
Sil.
True it is, God who is the authour and giuer of patience, Phil. 1, 29. Paul meaneth here, that afflictions be the instruments by which God is pleased to worke patience: and it is vsuall in Scripture, to attribute that to the instrument which belongeth to God, 1 Tim. 4. 16. Rom. 3, 30. But we must not hereof thinke, that by afflictions God worketh patience there, where there was none afore: but GOD is pleased to vse afflictions to exercise and to woorke increase of patience where it is, to cause them which by the worke of the spirit be alreadie patient, to become more patient, and to declare their patience which they had before: and this is not in the nature of afflictions to worke this, but accidentally through Gods goodnes, turning them to good.
Tim.
What doe ye call patience?
Sil.
It is a vertue or grace whereby the minde is made strong, to endure aduersities and troubles contentedly. Contrarie to this vertue of patience, is … when we repine and grudge at Gods dealings towards vsus, as the Israelites, Numb. 1. 1. Also blockishnesse when wee are without feeling, and euen senceles in our troubles, as Nabal 1 Sam. 25, 37. Now patience is the meane between these two, for it so feeleth the smart and bitternesse of affliction, as yet it keepeth it selfe quiet vnderunder the burden, as Dauid, Psal. 39, 9. Iob 1, 22.
Tim.
What learne we from hence, that God out of such euill and grieuous thinges as afflictions, can worke encrease of such vertue as patieuce is?
Sil.
His wonderfull wisedome and almightines, which as it drew light out of darknesse in the creation: so also he fetcheth and worketh good out of euill in the administration of the world: as Phisitions, of Hemlock and other poysonfull hearbes, can make good medicines.
Tim.
Shew vsus … after what sort God dealeth when hee worketh patience by affliction?
Sil.
When afflictions commeth, then God confirmeth and strengthneth the mindes of his children to patience, by many good considerations. As first, that their afflictions come not by chaunce, but by the determined counsell and will of their Father, Psal. 39, 9 Iob 1, 12. Secondly, by the conformity of Christ with his members in their afflictions, Rom. 8, 29. Thirdly, they are mooued to consider that it is the will of God that they should be patient in afflictions; therefore their patience it is an acceptable sacrifice and seruice to God. Fourthly, they hauehave before their eye, the goodwill of God afflicting them in louelove, and that they hauehave reason, wel to beare any affliction which in louelove of their saluation commeth to them. Fiftly, they consider all the afflictions of this life, to be both light and momentary, and that the glory which shall bee giuen to patient Christians, it hath waight and euerlastingnesse, 2 Cor. 4. 17. Lastly, they consider that eueryevery affliction shall not onelyonly hauehave an issue, but a good issue, which shall bee for the best to them, 1 Cor. 10, 13. Finally, by afflictions the hope of glory is encreased in the harts of Gods children, to whom afflictions are seales of their blisse: in these meditations the Spirit is effectuall to stirre vp and strengthen patience in the faithfull.
Tim.
Tell vsus now what difference there is beetweene the Christian, worldly, and heat henish patience?
Sil.
Christian patience (as ye heard) is grounded vponupon Gods gracious prouldence, his righteous commaundements, and the glorious end which the patient shall hauehave: wordly men are patient because there is no remedy, and because it was Gods will to hauehave it so. The patience also of the Heathen men was grounded vppon necessitie of the matter, it was their lot, and by sorrowe they could neither mend nor paire themselues. Also if they dyed, they thought either they should feele nothing, or else be in better estate.
Tim.
What was taught from the other point, that Gods Children know the vse of afflictions?
Sil.
First, that Christians ought not to be ignorant of the vse of afflictions. Secondly, that to know the right vse of afflictions by proose, is a great meanes to helpe vp to beare them. Thirdly, that it is a good signe of our reconciliation with God, and that we are his Children when we gain patience by our afflictions, to be the more patient the more we are troubled. And in great troubles to finde great patience, the measure of our patience being made proportionable to our sufferings, strength equalled to temptation, 1 Cor. 10, 13.