The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Shewing how the godly may support their hearts against all outward afflictions.
HItherto of the Priuiledges. Now it followeth, that I should open those consolations, that may support the hearts of men against all the distresses of this life. And first I would shew, how the Lord is pleased to comfort his seruants in seuerall Scriptures, against all the outward afflictions may befall his seruants in this world.
By outward afflictions, I meane What is meant by outward afflictions. The godly man may comfort himselfe against afflictions, by the considerationsuch as these; wants, losses, wrongs, troubles, exile, imprisonment, sicknesse, feares, pouerty, or any other thing, wherewith the life of man is molested in any condition.
Now there are many excellent wayes of abundant comforts against these, or any of these, as
First, if wee consider by the 1. Of t…e commonnesse of the….commonnesse of them, All thing… fall alike in these things, Eccles. 9. 2, 3. EueryEvery man that is borne of a woman, hath but few dayes, and is full of trouble, Iob 14. 1. Christ had no Disciple, but he is told afore hand, Hee must take vp his crosse, and that daily, Luke 9. 23. There can be no affliction, but what accompanieth, or may accompany the nature of man, 1 Cor. 10. 13. The same afflictions are accomplished vponupon our brethren which are through the world, 1 Pet. 5. 9. And we hauehave the Prophets and greatest worthies of the Lord for an example of suffering, Iam. 5. 10. And … the godly must through many tribulations enter into the kingdome of God, Acts 14. 22.
Secondly, if wee consider that God takes notice of vsus, and Of Gods knowledge of … and desiresof all our trials: The Lord knowes the way of the righteous, Psal. 1. 6 None of our … are hid from him: All our desires are before him, and our groaning is not hid from him, Psal. 8. 9. & he knowes our soule is in aduersity, Psal. 31. 7. And as he takes notice of all our troubles, so he takes notice of all that is good in vsus: Hee knowes them that are patient, and trust in him. Na…um 7.Of Gods compassion.
Thirdly, if wee consider the wonderfull compassion of God in the afflictions of his people: he doth not willingly afflict, but regards vsus with pitie, & with louelove thinkes of redeeming vsus, and sends the Angell of his presence to comfort and saue vsus, and in all our afflictions is afflicted with vsus, Esay 63. 8, 9.
Fourthly, i… wee consider Of Gods high estimation of vsus.the high estimation that God holds of his seruants, notwithstanding their afflictions. Crosses may make men louelove vsus the lesse, but they doe not a i… discommend vsus before God. Hee can take notice of his seruants in their distresses, as well as if they did shine in the greatest outward splendor in the world. This is the consolation, that GOD speakes to vsus (euen when he corrects) as to his children; and for that reason wee should not refuse his chastening, Heb. 12. 6. Prou. 3. 11. We may bee honourable in Gods sight, though wee be in a most forlorne and despised condition in the world: we may, I say, bee precious in Gods sight, greatly beloued, Esay 43. 4, 5, 6. The Apostle Peter shewes, that a poore seruant, when he suffers hard words and ill vsage from his master, doth herein finde acceptation with God, 1 Peter 2. 19, 20. Now this is an instance beyond exception. For, what condition more vile then of a seruant? and what crosses were likely to be disregarded of God sooner, then these domesticall indignities? & yet we see a proofe of the regard and louelove of God euen in those things.
5. Fifthly, if we consider the Of the victorie of Christ.victory of Christ ouer the world. Our Sauiour vseth this as a consolation; he tels his Disciples, In the world they shall hauehave trouble, but hee would hauehave them bee of good comfort, hee hath ouercome the world, so as now they shall neuer bee hurt by their troubles. Their crosses may bee too hard for thē to master, but Christ can order them so, as in him they shal hauehave victorie ouer them. But of this, more afterwards, Ioh. 16. 33
Sixthly, if wee consider the Of the holy Ghost comforting vsus.presence of the holy Ghost, hee is giuen of Christ and the Father to bee our Comforter; and as our afflictions abound, so shall our consolations also, Ioh. 14. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 4. Now, how shall a man be dismayed, that hath Gods Spirit within him, to hearten him, and assist him, and refresh him, and make glad his heart?
7. Seuenthly, if wee consider Of the issue o…t of trouble.the issue out of all troubles: Many may be the troubles of the righteous, but God will deliuer them out of them all, Psalme 34. 19. If God make vsus sore, he will make whole: if he wound hee will binde vsus vp againe. In sixe troubl…s he shall deliuer them, and in seuen there shall no euill touch them, I…b 5. 18, 19. God will giuegive his people rest from the daies of aduersity, till the pit be digged for the wicked, Ps. 94. 13. Light is sowne for the righteous, and gladnes for the vpright in heart, Psa. 67. 11. It is wel said, It is sowne; for though God doe not presently giuegive vsus ease and comfort, yet the haruest will come, if with patience wee rest vponupon God, and be truely sincere, and keepe his way: God will settle his people, as in the former daies, and it may bee, doe better vntounto them, then at the beginning, Ezech. 36. 11. For Gods thoughts towards his people, are thoughts of peace, and not of euill, to giuegive an expected end, Ier. 29. 11. so as Gods seruants shall sing for ioy of heart, when wicked men howle for vexation of spirit, Esay 65. 14.
8. Eightly, if we consider the Of the measure of out afflictions.wond…rfull care of God about the measure of our crosses: For God will not lay vponupon man more then right, that he should enter into iudgement with God, Iob 34. 23. Therefore Iacob should not feare, because God will not make a full and finall end of him, as he will of the Nations, but will correct him in measure, not leauing him wholly vnpunished, Ieremie 46. 28. God doth waite to be gracious to his people, hee is a God of iudgement, and doth not consider what sinne they hauehave committed to deserue affliction, but what strength they hauehave to beare it: After hee hath giuen them the bread of affliction, and the water of aduersity, he will not restraine his mercies from them, Esa. 30. 18, 20. There is great difference betwixt Gods dealing with wicked men that are enemies to the Church, and his dealing with the godly. From hence the Prophet asketh, Hath hee smitten them as hee smot them that smot him? And resolueth, that God smites in measure, and but in the branches, hee will not cut them vp by the rootes, Esay 27. 7, 8.
9. Ninthly, If we consider the Of th… short continuance of them.short time of these afflictions▪ Heauinesse may bee in the euening, but ioy will come in the morning▪ For Gods anger endureth but a moment, but in his fauour is life, Psal. 30. 5. The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, Psa. 125. 3. For the Lord will not cast off for euer, but though he cause griefe, yet will he hauehave compassion, according to the multitude of his tender mercies, Lam. 3. 31, 32. For a small moment God may forsake, but with great mercy will he gather vsus. In a little wrath hide I my face, but with euerlasting kindnesse will I hauehave mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, Esay 54. 7, 8. Hence Christ saith, A l…le while, and ye shall not see mee. And againe, A little while, and yee shall see me, Ioh. 16. 16. The godly may be in heauinesse, if need require, but it is but for a short season, 1 Peter …. 6. And Paul saith, The afflictions of this life are but light, and for a moment, 2 Cor. 4. 17.
10. Lastly, If we consider the Of the good …ffects of them.good we get by these afflictions: For God will make all worke together for the best, vntounto them that louelove him, Rom. 8. 28. The godly may be troubled on eueryevery side, and yet not be distressed: They may bee perplexed, and yet hauehave no cause to despaire, &c. 2 Cor. 4. 8. The godly in affliction may bee like the burning bush which Moses saw, which was not consumed: And there are many particulars of the good they get by their crosses. For affliction is as the fire, onelyonly to refine them, and trie them, and make them more bright, Zach. 13. vlt. they lose nothing, but their drosse, and this is all fruite, euen the taking away of their sinnes, Esay 27. 9. Besides, they meete with many consolations in affliction, which otherwise they had not experience of 2 Cor. 1. 7. and therefore we should count it all ioy to fall into many temptations, as knowing that the tryall of our faith worketh patience; and if patience hauehave her perfect worke, wee shall bee entire, wanting nothing, Iam. 1. 3, 4. Lastly, the tryall of our faith, which is more precious then gold that perisheth, will bee found vntounto praise, and honour, and glory, in the reuelation of Iesus Christ, 1 Pet. 1. 7. and our light and short afflictions will worke vntounto vsus an eternall weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. and if wee endure temptation, we shall receiue the crowne of life, Iames 1. 12. Lo thus wee hauehave searched it, and thus it is, heare it, What thou must do in thy affliction.and know thou it for thy good, Iob 5. vlt. Learne thou therefore in nothing to bee carefull, but in all things to make thy request knowne vntounto God with giuing of thankes, Phil. 46. And if any man lacke wisedome, to know what to doe in affliction, let him aske it of God, who giueth liberally, and reproacheth no man, Iam. 1. 5.