The Cure of the Fear of Death, Chapter 7 – Chapter 8
CHAP. VII.
The miseries of a Christian in respect of God in this life.
THus, of what he wants in this life. Secondly, he ought to bee as much troubled to think what he hath, and cannot auoide while hee liues: and thus his life is distressed, and made vnlouely, either if he respect God, or the euill Angels, or the world, or himselfe.
For first, if hee respect God, there are two things Life bitter in respect of God diuers waies.should marre the taste of life, and make it out of liking. The first is the danger of displeasing of God: who would liue to offend God? or grieue his Spirit? or any way to make him angry? Though this reason will moue little in the hearts of wicked men; Yet it is of singular force in the heart of an humble Christian, who as hee accounts Gods louing kindnesse better then life: so finds nothing more bitter, then that he should displease God: that God (I say) who is so great in Maiesty, and hath shewed himselfe so aboundant in mercy to him. It would lye as a heauy load vponupon our hearts, to think of the displeasing of our best friend; specially if he were a great person, or a Prince. How much more should we desire to be rid of that condition, wherein we may displease our good God; and to be there, where we are sure neuer to anger him more? The second thing, that should make vsus looke with lesse affection vponupon life, is, that God doth continually crosse vsus in the things of this life: The Lord doth of purpose watch vsus, that when hee sees vsus settle any contentment in life, hee drops in some thing, that makes all extremely bitter: And those corrections of God should bee the more noted, if we consider but diuers aggrauations about them, asEight aggrauations of the miseries of life, in respect of the corrections of God.
1. That God will correct eueryevery sonne, whom hee loueth, none can escape, Heb. 12. 4.
2. That a man is vsually most opposed & crossed in that hee loues best.
3. That a man shall euer want, what he wisheth, euen in such things, as other men do not want. There is a secret vexation cleaues vntounto mans estate, that their hearts run vponupon such things which cannot be had, but in the Callings of other men: The Countriman prayseth the Citizens life; and the Citizen is full of the praises of the Country: And so is there in all men a liking of the Callings of other men, with a dislike of their own, Eccles. 6.
4. That there is no discharge in that warre, but that a man must eueryevery day looke for crosses. EueryEvery day hath his griefe, Eccles. 8. 8. Luk. 9. 24. Math. 6. vlt.
5. That God will not let vsus know the times of our corrections, but executeth them according to the vnchangeable purpose of his owne counsell: so as they come vponupon vsus, as a snare vponupon a Bird. For this reason Salomon saith: That the misery of man is great vponupon him, because there is a time for eueryevery purpose, which cannot bee auoided, nor can man know beforehand that, which shall be; for who can tell him, when it shall be? Eccl. 8. 6, 7, 8. & 9. 12.
6. That no man knoweth either louelove, or hatred, by all that is before him: A godly man can hauehave no such blessings outwardly, but a wicked man may hauehave them in as great aboundance, as hee: nor doth there any misery fall vponupon the wicked in outward crosses, but the like may befall the godly. All things come alike to all: there is one euent to the righteous and to the vvicked: to the cleane, and vncleane, to him that sweareth, & to him that feareth an oath, as is the good, so is the sinner. This, saith Salomon, is an euill among all things, that are done vnderunder the Sunne, that there is one euent vntounto all, Eccle. 9. 1, 2, 3.
7. This bitternesse is increased, because GOD will not dispose of things according to the meanes, or likelihoods of mans estate. The race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of vnderstanding, nor yet fauour to men of skill, but time and chance hapneth to them all, Eccles. 9. 11.
8. That besides the present miseries, there are many miseries to come, so as it is an argument to proue the happines of the dead, that they are taken away from the miseries to come, Esay 57. 1, 2. vvhichwhich should likewise mooue vsus to louelove life the lesse, because we know not, what fearefull alterations may come, either in our outward estate, or in matters of Religion. What case were wee in, if war should come vponupon vsus, with all the desolations & terrors that accompany it? What if the Pestilence should come againe, or we be left in the hands of the violent? or God fight against our estates by fire, or inundations, or the like? Who can tell what fearful alterations may be in Religion? And is it not best to be in heauen, and then are we safe? Besides, the miseries may fall vponupon our own bodies, or our children, or friends, &c. And these things should abate the louelove of life, as wee respect God.
CHAP. VIII.
The misery of life in respect of euill Angels.
NOW secondly, let vsus turne our eyes to the euill Angels, & then these things may affright vsus.
First, that they are eueryevery The world full of diuels.where vp and downe the world, in the Earth, Aire, Seas; no place free. Those fiery Serpents are euerie where in the wildernes of the world. Wee leade our liues here in the midst of innumerable dragons, yea they are in the most heauē ly places in this life: The Church is not free from them. A man can stand no where before the Lord, but one Diuell or other is at his right hand, Ephe. 2. 2. & 6. 13. Zach. 3. 1. Iob 1.
And sure, it should make vsus like the place the worse where such foule spirits are: the earth is a kind of Hell in that very respect.
2. Secondly, it should Our conflict with diuels.more trouble vsus, that wee must of necessity enter into the conflict with these Diuels, and their temptations, and to bee buffeted and gored by them.
A man that knew hee must goe into the field to answere a challenge, will be at no great rest in himselfe. But alas! it is more easie a thousand fold to wrastle with flesh and bloud, then with these Principalities and Powers, and Spirituall wickednesses, & great Rulers of the world, Ephe. 6. 13.
3. Besides, it adds vntounto the distresse of life, to consider of the subtilty, and cruelty of these Diuels, who are therefore like the crooked Serpent, and Leutathan, and Dragons, and roring Lions, seeking whom they may deuoure. Though these things wil litle moue the hearts of wicked men, yet vntounto the godly minde, the temptations of life are a greeuous burthen. Thus much of euill Angels.