The Promises, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Shewing how the godly may comfort themselues against their aduersaries.
HItherto of the consolations against reproches: Now it followeth, that I should shew how a Christian may comfort himselfe against his aduersaries, that oppose him in his course of Hee may comfort himself from the consideration, 1 Of the cō mon condition of all the godly.godlines, and so there are many arguments of consolation.
1 The first may be taken from his condition as it is common to all the godly: For this may stay a mans hart to know for certaine, that eueryevery man that will liue godly, shal be opposed, and must suffer persecutions, 2. Tim. 2. 12.
2 The second may bee taken from the appointment Of Gods appointment.of God herein: and this stands of two branches. First, that God from all eternity hath decreed eueryevery mans sufferings this way. Thus Paul lesseneth the thought of the crosse, by pleading that God had appointed them thereunto, meaning by his eternall decree, 1. Thessal. 33. Secondly, that GOD hath likewise appointed the end, and measure, and deliuerance out of the affliction. Thus the Church is comforted, Reuel. 2. 10. If it were grieuous to them to know that the Deuill should raise vp wicked men, that should cast them into prison, yet this may refresh them, that GOD hath set the time when they shall come forth againe. It shall bee but for ten daies: It shall neyther bee so long as the Deuill and wicked men would haueit, for then they must neuer come out; nor so little a while, as they themselues wold hauehave it; for then they would neuer comein, or stay but awhile: but God will rule by determining the time for their good.
3 The third may be taken from the refuge wee may Of our refuge in God.hauehave in God: wee may alwaies make our recourse to God in all our wrongs, who hath promised to be our refuge, euen our refuge in due time, Psal. 9. 9. If God will receiue vsus, and heare our moanes, & vndertake our protection, it should be no great thing for vsus to indure the oppositions of vnreasonable men.
4 The fourth may bee taken from the prediction Of the prediction of Christ.of Christ: wee hauehave beene told before plainely what we should expect. Wee may hauehave peace in Christ, but hee hath fore-told it, that in the world wee shall hauehave trouble, Ioh. 16. 13. yea, that wee must prouide to take vp our crosse daily, Luke 9. 24.
5 The fift may bee taken Of the deliuerance promised.from the deliuerance GOD hath promised vsus; for thus he assures vsus, The hand of the Lord shall bee known towards his seruants, and his indignation towards their & his enemies, Isay 66 14. for that God that will be the strength of the righteous in their trouble, will be their saluation out of their troubles: he will help them and deliuer them, hee will deliuer them from the wicked, & saue them because they trust in him, Psalme 37. 39, 40. This glory of the Lord shall bee knowne and feared from the East to the West, that if the enemy come like a floud, the Spirit of the Lord shall chase him away, Isay 59 19. Therfore feare not thou, O worm Iacob, for thus saith the Lord, I am thy GOD, I will sustaine thee with the right hand of my Iustice: Behold, all they that prouoke thee shall be ashamed, they shall be as nothing: the men of thy strife shall perish, Isay. 41. 10 11. For the Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of temptation, and to reserue the vniust to the day of iudgment to be punished, 2. Peter 2. 9. GOD will deliuer the poore when he crieth, the needie also, and him that hath no helper, Psal. 72. 12.
6 The sixt may be taken Of Gods iudgement vponupon our aduersaries.from the certaine iudgement of God that shall fall vponupon their aduersaries: The men of thy strife shall perish, and they that warre against thee, shall bee as a thing of nought: They shall seeke them & not find them, Isa. 41. 11. 12. All these curses will the Lord lay vponupon their enemies, and vponupon them that hate them & persecute them, Deut. 30. 7. All those euill neighbours that touch the Inheritance of Israel, God will plucke them out of their land, and plucke his people from among them, Ier. 12. 14. The wicked draw their swords, and bend their bowes against the godly; but their sword shall enter into their owne heart, and their bowe shall be broken; for the armes of the wicked shall bee broken, and the Lord will vphold the iust, Psal. 37. 14. 15. 17. And besides, for their full paiment, they are reserued vntounto the day of Iudgement to be punished.
7 The seuenth may be Of the effects and consequents.taken from the consideration of the effects and consequents of this opposition: For first, hereby wee giuegive our testimony to Christ and the Gospell, when we partake of the afflictions of the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1. 8. Secondly, these oppositions doe as much good for the present, when Gods seruants fall into these troubles, the fruite will be, it will trie them, and purge them, and make them white, till their time be come, for there is a time appointed, Dan. 11. 35. 36. Thirdly, God may turne the hearts of the wicked, and make them of Lyons and Tygers, to become Lambes, and no more to do hurt in the mountaine of the Lord, Isay 11. The Wolfe and the Lambe may come to feede together, and the Lion eate straw like the Bullocke, Isay. 65. 25.
Lastly, wee shall gaine Of our owne gaine by them.exceedingly by these sufferings; for wee are assured, that if wee suffer with Christ, we shall reign with him in another World, 2. Timo. 2. 11. 12. Wee should therefore reioyce, that we partake in the sufferings of Christ, because wee are punished, that when Christ appeares in his glory, we shall then be glad and reioyce, 1. Peter 4. 13.