The Victory of Patience, Chapter 21
CHAP. 21. They are patient because their sufferings are counterpoysed and made sweet with more than answerable blessings.
5 HE beareth the crosse patiently, because it is counterpoysed and made sweet with more than answerable blessings. What saith Iob? Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and not evill? he was content to eat the crust with the crumme. Indeed his wife (like the wicked) would only have faire weather; all peace and plenty, no touch of trouble: but it is not so with the godly, who have learnt better things. Who will not suffer a few stripes from a father, by whom he receiveth so much good, even all that he hath? Diogenes would have no nay, but Antisthenes must entertaine him his Scholler, insomuch that Antisthenes to have him gone was forc't to cudgell him, yet all would not doe: he stirs not, but takes the blowes very patiently, saying, Vse me how you will, so I may be your Scholler and heare your daily discourses I care not. Much more may a Christian say unto God, Let me injoy the sweet fruition of thy presence, speake thou peace unto my conscience, and say unto my soule, I am thy salvation, and then afflict me how thou pleasest, I am content, yea, very willing to beare it: for these are priviledges which make Paul happier in his chaine of Iron, than Agrippa in his chaine of Gold; and Peter more merry under stripes, than Caiphas upon the judgement-seat. Yea, if we well consider the commodity it brings, we shall rather wish for affliction, than be displeased when it comes, Col. 1.24. For it even bringeth with it the company of God himself, I wil be with you in tribulation saith God to the disconsolate soul, Psal. 91.15. When Sidrack, Mishack, and Abednego were cast into the fiery Fornace, there was presently a fourth came to beare them company, and that was God Himselfe, Dan. 3.23. to 27. Yea, God is not only with them to comfort them in all their tribulations, 2 Cor. 1.4. but in them: for at the same time when the Disciples were persecuted, they are said to be filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost, Acts 13.52. And as our sufferings in Christ do abound, so our consolation also aboundeth through Christ, 2 Cor. 1.5. And lastly he doth comfort us according to the dayes we are afflicted, and according to the yeares we have seene evill, Psal. 90.15. And if so, our sufferings require patience with thankfulnesse, as it fared with Iob. The Lord hath taken some comfort from us, but hath much more given unto us: therefore blessed be the name of the Lord. So Sathan and the World may take many things from us, as they did from Iob: but they can never take away God from us that gives all, and therefore blessed be the name of the Lord.
Besides we looke for a Crowne of glory, to succeed this wreath of Thornes: but if we are never tried in the field, never set foot to runne the race of patience, how can we looke for a Garland? Ten repulses did the Israelites suffer before they could get out of Aegypt, and twice ten more before they could get possession of the promised Land of Canaan. And as many did David indure before he was invested in the promised kingdome: many lets came before the Temple was re-edified.
All men would come to Heaven, but they doe not like the way; they like well of Abrahams bosome, but not of Dives doore. But God seeth it fit for us to taste of that cup of which his Son dranke so deepe, that we should feele a little what sin is, & what his love was; that we may learne patience in adversity, as well as thankfulnesse in prosperity, while one scale is not always in depression, nor the other lifted ever high; while none is so miserable, but he shall heare of another that would change calamities with him.