Time Well Spent in Sacred Meditations, Part 3 – Part 5
Affliction.
1. The onelyonly way to moderate Hovv to moderate and ſanctifie our vvorldly griefe.and ſanctifie our earthly and naturall ſorrow (which in it ſelfe is not unlawfull, but neceſſarie as a meanes to make us ſeeke to the Phyſitian of our ſoules) is this, ſo oft as we feele the prickes thereof (which bee in none continuall, but have their fits;) ſo oft wee ſhould conſider of the end why the Lord hath ſent them and ſo continueth them, that ſo by labouring The end and uſe that is to be made of affliction, is to bee conſidered.to make the right uſe of them, not only our mindes may bee withdrawne from vaine diſcourſing of our loſſe, but alſo by making ſome profitable uſe of them wee may ſooner attaine to the end why they were ſent, which alone comforteth the Chriſtian heart, for otherwiſe it were a double griefe, to ſuffer theſe things To ſuffer and not to profit thereby is fearefull.in vaine, yea not to profit by chaſtiſements is and ought to bee a fearefull terrour to our conſciences.
2. As for ſuch as have Simil. Dangerous to be without affliction.running ſores to be without phyſick is dangerous for feſtering, ſo for us that have running ſores of ſinne, to bee without afflictions.
3. All outward afflictions The end of afflictions.ſerve to worke the inward griefe for ſinne, which if it be, the other is needleſſe.
4. An eſpeciall remedie The prefit of preparation for troublein trouble is to be prepared to undergo the ſame, whenſoever it commeth.
5. Our wofull experience Afflictions unvvelcome to fleſh & blood.daily ſhewes how unwelcome any affliction is unto the outward man, and therefore what neede wee have to bee well armed in the inner man, againſt greater tryalls, leſt wee ſink under them.
6. It cannot bee denied Pſal. 89. 31, 32.but that ſinne is the onelyonly deſerving cauſe and occaſion, of whatſoever evill befalleth us, and therefore the Lord is juſt in all the evills he bringeth upon us, howbeit he hath many ends why hee layeth them as well on Why the Lord afflicteth as vvell the godly as the ungodly.the elect as reprobate. The wicked hee plagueth to ſhew his juſtice on them, to encreaſe their ſinne and condemnation, as alſo to make them inexcuſable. The elect hee chaſtiſeth to turne them from ſinne, and Job. 33 17. 1 Cor. 11. 32.keepe them from damnation: to make them partakers Pſal. 94. 13 Heb. 12. 10.of his holineſſe, and preſerve them from further 1 Pet. 1. 7. Pſal. 119. 67.danger: to exerciſe their faith, manifeſt their ſtrēgth or weakneſſe, and draw them nigher unto himſelfe.
7. When we are in affliction, we are not ſo witty Mans ſcottiſhneſſe in the time of affliction.of our ſelves, as to ſee the cauſe of it, or if wee ſee the cauſe, wee ſee not the mercy of God, that his hand which is upon us is not a deſtroying hand, but a delivering hand.
8. Whereas all Gods children bee in continuall battell againſt ſinne more or leſſe, it falleth out for the moſt part, that as earthly Simil.ſoldiers living at eaſe in their campe, the enemie hath more vantage, and more prevaileth; ſo in our proſperity the fleſh uſually prevailes over the Spirit, but when God ſends ſome Affliction a ſpeciall meanes to ſubdue the fleſh.affliction its as a freſh band of men to helpe the Spirit againſt the fleſh, whereby they daily get more victorie.
9. This is a ſpeciall comfort What cō forteth the Saints in their troubles.in all afflictions, when firſt wee beleeve that Gods meaning is to make us better; and Secondly we finde by experience that wee bee ſo, and daily hope for more gaine thereby.
10. The gaine we are to What gaine wee are to make by our afflictions.make by our afflictions is to be brought to more ſight of our chiefe ſinnes, and ſorrow for the ſame, to ſeeke more earneſtly for pardon thereof, and power to amend: to fight the more againſt them, whereby they may bee the more overcome.
11. When God layeth Why God layeth his hand upon us.his hand upon us, its that our faith and patience may be the more tryed and exerciſed to his glory, the example of others, and our owne comfort.Afflictiōs are to bee taken as Phyſick to cure our infirmities
12. Howſoever God hath divers ends in the afflicting of his, and all are not for the ſame, yet its ſafer for moſt Chriſtians to take them as Phyſick to cure their infirmities, which elſe would feſter.
13. Wee muſt take all Afflictions dravv us nearer to God.afflictions as meanes to pull us neere unto God from ſloathfulneſſe.
14. The viſitation of ſuch Proſperity more to be feared then adverſity.as grow in grace is not ſo much to be feared, as their deliverances, leſt through unthankfulneſſe and eaſe they loſe the fruit they have ſo dearely purchaſed of the Lord.
15. A Chriſtian in the In affliction a Chriſtian cannot judge of himſelfe aright.time of his affliction, for the hardneſſe of his heart, cannot judge of himſelfe, no more then a man ſleeping of that hee did waking, Simil.whence it is, that many deceive themſelves in looking to fee alwayes the like meaſure or greater of Gods graces in them, for there is ſome intermiſſion in the worke of the new birth though the Spirit never depart, yet muſt not they bee ſecure herein, for this muſt humble them, though not diſmay them.
16. No affliction ſo much What afflictions doe moſt vvork on the godly.crucifieth a true hearted Chriſtian, as his owne corruptions and temptations.
17. Its good for afflicted conſciences to remember Remembrance of our future ſtate a cō fort in trouble.the ſtate to come, that they which ſow in teares ſhall reape in joy.
18. Its a common fault to bee more touched when Private troubles doe more affect us then the publick.the croſſe privately toucheth us, then when the whole Church ſuffereth.
Angels.
How the good Angels of Hovv the Angels vvarch over us is not curiouſly to be ſearched.God watch over us, is not curiouſly to be ſearched after, but we muſt pray, that by faith we may feele that they pitch their tents round about our Tabernacles.
Anger.
Whether our anger bee Hovv ſpirituall anger may be diſcerned from carnall.carnall or ſpirituall may bee thus diſcerned; If it hinder not but quicken our holy exerciſe of prayer and other religious duties, if it interrupt not our meditations, nor withdraw us from performing our duty to the party offended, neither make us peeviſh to others, its ſpirituall not carnall.