The Promises, 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 al the distresses of this life. And first I would shew, how the Lord is pleased to comfort his seruants in seueral Scriptures, against all the outward afflictions may befall his seruants in this world.
By outward afflictions I meane such as these; What meant by outward afflictions.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 The godly man may comfort himselfe against afflictions, by the consideration, 1 Of the commonnes of them.excellent waies of aboundant comforts against these, or any of these, as
1 First, if we consider but the commonnesse of them, all things fall alike in these things, Eccles. 9. 2, 3. EueryEvery man that is born of a woman, hath but few daies, and is full of trouble, Iob 14. 1. Christ hath no Disciple but he is told aforehand, He must take up his Crosse, and that daily, Luk. 9. 24. There can bee 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 & greatest worthies of the Lord, for an example of suffering, Iam. 5. 10. And all the godly must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdome of God, Acts 14. 22.
2 Secondly, if we consider Of Gods knowledge of our distresses and desires.that God takes notice of vsus, and of all our trialls: The Lord knowes the way of the righteous, Psalm. 1. 6. None of our griefes are hid from him, All our desires are before him, and our groning is not hid from him, Psalm. 38. 9. and hee knowes our soules in aduersitie, Psal. 31. 7. And as hee takes notice of al our troubles, so he takes notice of all that is good in vsus: Hee knowes them that are patient, and trust in him, Nahum. 1. 7.
3 Thirdly, if we consider Of Gods compassion.the wonderfull compassion of God in the afflictions of his people: hee doth not willingly afflict, but regards vsus with pitty, and 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, Isay 63. 8, 9.
4 Fourthly, if we 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 iot discommend vsus before God. He 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 chastning, Hebr. 12. 6. Prou. 3. 11. We may be honourable in Gods sight, though wee bee in a most forlorne and despised condition in the world: Wee may, I say, be precious in Gods sight, and greatly beloued, Isa. 43. 4. 56. The Apostle Peter shewes, that a poore seruant, when hee suffers hard words, and ill vsage from his froward 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? and yet wee see a proofe of the regard and louelove of God euen in those things.
5 Fiftly, if we consider Of the victory of Christ.the 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 he wold hauehave them be of good cōfort, he hath ouer come the world, so as now they shall neuer be hurt by their trobles. Their crosses may be too hard for them to master, but Christ can order them so, as in him they shall hauehave victory ouer them. But of this more afterwards, Iohn 16. 33.
6 Sixtly, If wee consider Of the holy Ghost comforting vsus.the presence of the holy Ghost, he 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 dismaied, that hath Gods spirit within him, to harten him, and assist him, and refresh him, and make glad his heart?
7 Seuenthly, if we consider Of the issue out of trouble.the issue out of all troubles; Many may be the troubles of the righteous, but God will deliuer them out of all, Psal. 34. 19. If GOD make vsus sore, he will make whole: if he wound, he will binde vsus vp againe: In sixe troubles he shal deliuer them, and in seuen there shall no euil touch them, Iob 5. 18. 19. God will giuegive his people rest from the daies of aduersity, till the pit be digged for the wicked, Psal. 94. 13. Light is sowne for the righteous, & gladnesse for the vpright in heart, Psal. 97. 11. It is well said, It is sown; For though God do 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 dayes, 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, Ierem. 29. 11. so as Gods seruants shal sing for ioy of heart, when wicked men howle for vexation of spirit, Esay 65. 14.
8 Eightly, If wee consider the wonderfull care Of the measure of our afflictions.of God about the measure of our crosses: For God will not lay vponupon man more then right, that hee should enter into iudgement with God, Iob 34. 23. Therefore Iacob should not feare, because God will not make a full and final end of him, as he will of the Nations, but will correct him in measure, not leauing him wholly vnpunished, Ieremy. 46. 28. God doth waite to be gracious to his people; hee is a God of iudgement, and doth not consider what sin 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, Isay 31. 18, 20. There is great difference betwixt Gods dealing with wicked men that are enemies to the Church, and his dealing with the godly. Frō hence the Prophet asketh: Hath he smitten him, as hee smote them that smote him? and resolueth that God smites in measure, and but in the branches, hee will not cut them vp by the rootes, Isay 27. 7, 8.
9 Ninthly, if we consider Of the short continuance of them.the short time of these afflictions: Heauines may be 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 rodde of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, Psal. 125. 3. For the Lord will not cast off for euer, but though hee cause griefe, yet will hee hauehave compassion, according to the multitude of his tender mercies, Lamen. 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 kindnes will I hauehave mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, Esay 54. 7. 8. Hence Christ saith, A little while, and ye shall not see me, and againe, A little while, & ye shall see me, Iohn. 16. 16. The godly may be in heauinesse, if need require, but it is but for a short season, 1. Pet. 1. 6. and Paul saith, The afflictions of this life are but light, and for a moment, 2. Cor. 4. 17.
10 Lastly, if wee consider Of the good effects of them.the good wee 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 bee 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, only to refine them, & try them, and make them more bright, Zach. 13. vlt. they lose nothing, but their drosse, and this is all fruit, euen the taking away of their sinnes, Isa. 27. 11. Besides, they meet with many consolations in affliction, which otherwise they had not experience of, 2. Cor. 1. 7. and therefore wee should count it all ioy to fall into many temptation, as knowing that the trial of our faith worketh patience, and if patience hauehave her perfect worke, wee shall bee intire, wanting nothing, Iam. 1. 3, 4 Lastly, the trial of our faith, which is more precious then gold that perisheth, will bee found vntounto praise, & honor, and glory in the reuelation of Iesus Christ, 1. Pet. 1. 7. and our light & short afflictions will worke vntounto vsus an eternall weight of glory, 2. Cor. 4. 17. and if we endure temptation, wee shall receiue the crowne of life, Iam. 1. 12. Loe What thou must doe in thy afflictiō.thus we hauehave searched it: and thus it is, heare it, and know thou it for thy good, Iob 5. vlt Learne thou therefore in nothing to be carefull, but in all things to make thy requests known vntounto God with giuing of thankes, Phil. 4. 7. And if any man lacke Wisedome to know what to do in his affliction, let him aske it of God, who giueth liberally, and reprocheth no man, Iam. 1. 5.