Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
That the former consideration, to wit, that our crosses are trials of Gods graces in vsus, may much comfort vsus in all our afflictions.
ANd thus hauehave I shewed that our afflictionsSect. 1. That we ought to reioyce in our afflictions, in that by these trials God is glorified; and we assured of our adoption. are not alwaies chastisements for our sins, but sometimes gratious trials, whereby God trieth vsus as children, what and how much we hauehave profited in his sauing graces, that hereby he may be glorified, and we comforted in the manifestation of them; as also with what infirmities and corruptions we are still stained, that we may be humbled in the sight thereof, and labour after more grace, and the mercifull assistance of Gods holy spirit. Now this consideration may iustly moue vsus to beare al our crosses and afflictions, not only with patience and humility, but also with thanksgiuing and spirituall reioycing: first, because God is glorified in the manifestation of his graces bestowed vponupon vsus by these trials of affliction; and nothing ought to seeme two difficult and dangerous to be attempted, nothing too greiuous and heauie to be borne or suffered, if it tend to the furthering and aduancing of his glory, which is the supreame end of all things, and the chiefe marke at which we must aime in all that we doe or suffer.
Secondly, because hereby we may gather assurance, that wee are Gods children and of the houshold of faith; for the Lord tryeth and in crying purifieth vsus, that we may be vessels of glory, chosen for his owne vse, according to his word by the Prophet; Behold I Esa. 48. 10.hauehave fined, thee but not as siluer, I hauehave chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. So the Psalmist saith, that God Psal. 11 5.will trie the righteous; but the wicked man, and he that loueth iniquitie, doth his soule hate. And therefore as they with Ahaz refuse to make triall of his merciemercy, goodnesseEsa. 7. 12. and truth of his promises, that they may rest and relie vponupon him; so he will not trie them, but giueth them ouer to be …emp…e… and carried headlong by Sathan into all euill, that when the measure of their sinne and iniquitie is full, he may power out vponupon them the full viols of his wrath, and (as it followeth in the psalme) they raine Vers. 6.vponupon these wicked … s…res, fire and brimstone, and stormie tempest; that this may be the portion of their cup. And hence it is that the sonne of Syrach willeth vsus, to beare with alacritie all afflictions which God layeth vponupon vsus, because it is a signe when we are thus tried that we are accepted. Whatsoeuer is brought vponupon thee (saith he) take Eccles. 2. 4, 5.cheerefully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate: For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of aduersitie. And the Apostle Iames perswadeth vsus to count it exceeding ioy when we fall into diuers tentations; Iam. 1. 2, 3.because they are but the trials of our faith, which work patience, & after it is begun, do bring it to perfectiō.
Yea but how shall wee know that our afflictions are§ Sect. 2. How we may know when our afflictions are trials, & when chastisements for sinne. trials, and not either punishments or chastisements for our sinnes▪ I answere, that … may be assured that they are not punishments, when by then we are purified from our drosse, and shine gloriously in the sight of God and men, through the brightnesse of those sanctifying and sauing graces which are manifested by them; & when we are not ouerthrown in the conflict, and moued by these sharp encounters▪ to rep… and murmure against God, who hath pressed vsus to this warfare, but doe shew our christian courage, valour and magnanimious fortitude, in withstanding and ouercomming all these assaults. And further we may know them to be trials & not chastisements, when we hauehave effectually profited by them, truely humbled our selues, vnfainedly repented of our sinnes, and earnestly by praier hauehave sought reconciliation from God, and freedome from those afflictions, and yet notwithstanding, after all this, we still remaine vnderunder the burthen without finding any ease: for then we may be assured that God doth not correct faults already amended, but rather vseth these crosses as trials for the manifestation of his graces, to his owne glorie, and our spirituall good, as hath beene shewed. But whether they be trials of Gods gifts, or chastisements for sinnes, we hauehave no cause of impatience or excessiue sorrow▪ yea rather in both respects there is great cause of ioy and gladnesse, to which purpose one saith; let the righteous man reioyce in his troubles and afflictions;August. Hom. 46. Tom. 10. because he is either proued if he be iust; or amended if he be a sinner: But let them breake their hearts with griefe, whom the stripes of this diuine hand do torment, but not correct and make better; let them iustly feare future punishments, who hauehave contemned, and not profited by these present remedies of our gratious father.
Thirdly, we hauehave iust cause to reioice in these trials, because§ Sect. 3. We may bee comforted in our trials in that they hauehave alwaies a good issue, and tend to our great profit. they hauehave alwaies a good issue, and tend to our great profit and benefit, both in this life and the life to come: For howsoeuer, it is the end of wicked men, who are the instruments and inferiour meanes, to bring these crosses vponupon vsus, that they may satisfie their malice and crueltie in doing vsus▪ hurt and mischiefe▪ and though Sathans end in setting them on, be to bring vsus into these euils▪ that wee may sinne in il-bearing them, or in ridding our selues out of them by wicked meanes; and so be brought into the estate of condemnation, and passe out of these temporarie miseries into euerlasting torments: yet God doth not propound these ends vntounto his trials: for hee tempteth no man Iam. 1. 13.with euil, as the Apost speaketh: but he thus trieth vsus, that he may do vsus good in the latter end (as himselfe speaketh)Deut. 8. 16. & that the triall of our faith being much more pretious than gold that perisheth▪ (though it be tried by the fier) may be found vntounto our praise, honour and glory, at the appearing 1. Pet. 1. 6, 7.of Iesus Christ. He trieth vsus, that being in this triall approued, we may receiue after our conflict and victorie the crowne of blessednesse and eternall glory. In regard whereof the Lord exhorteth the angell of the Church of Smyrna to feare none of those things which he should suffer,Ap…c. 2. 10. because he was but tried with these tribulations, that continuing faithfull vntounto the death, hee might bestow vponupon him the crowne of life. So the author of the booke of Wisedome saith, that the faithfull hauing beene a little Wisd. 3 5. 6.chastised shall be greatly rewarded; for God proueth them and findeth them worthy for himselfe; as the gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and receiued them as a burnt offring: And Iob out of his owne experience saith: Hee Iob. 23. 10.knoweth my way and trieth mee, and I shall come forth like the gold. In respect of which happie issue giuen by the Lord vntounto all our trials, we hauehave iust cause to beare them all with patience and comfort, with ioy and thanksgiuing. For if we be not counterfeit mettaile, but good gold, why should we feare the furnace of affliction, seeing it will not consume vsus like strawe or chaffe, but only trie vsus, and in trying purifie vsus; that comming to the touchstone wee may be approued, and so be reserued for euer in Gods treasurie of blessednesse? If we be good grapes, why doe we feare the presse of tribulation, which will not destroy vsus, but bring vsus to perfection, making vsus fit wine for Gods own vse? If we be good whea…e, why should we be grieued to come vnderunder the flayle or fanne, seeing it will not hurt vsus, but only seperate and cleanse vsus from the strawe and chaffe, that we may be layed vp for Gods owne store in the graners of heauenly happinesse? Finally, if we be Gods souldiers in the Church militant, why should we not with ioy and Christian courage skirmish with the world assaulting vsus daylie with troubles and afflictions, seeing by this conflict our valour is tried, that being approued it may be crowned; and we assured of Gods continuall assistance, which will defend vsus in the fight, and in the end giuegive vsus victorie? Let vsus therefore leaue feare and horror, murmuring and repining, to false dissemblers and faithlesse men, to whom alone these miseries are hurtfull and dangerous. Let counterfeit and drossie Christians feare the fierie triall, seeing in it they are sure to be consumed. Let hypocrites, which like faire greene leaues make a goodly shew, but yeeld no sweete iuyce of holinesse, feare the winepresse and vintage, because their pressing will bring no profit, but they shall be cast away or trodden vnderunder foote: let the chaffe and straw feare the flayle and fanne, because being thereby seperated from the good wheate, they shall be either burnt with fire▪ or cast vponupon the dung-hill. Let dastards & cowards, traytors and enemies, tremble and greiue, when they are incountred by afflictions, seeing in this fight they are led captiue of sinne, and afterwards for euer imbondaged in the prison of hell and destruction. As for Gods faithfull ones, let them indure all these trials with patience, comfort and reioycing; seeing they do by exercising, manifest Gods graces, that he may be glorified in his gifts, and his gifts crowned in them.
Yea wilt thou say, but my afflictions are great, and§ Sect. 4. They answered who obiect the greatnes of their trials, and smalnesse of their strēgth▪ my strength small; so that in my trials I shew so many infirmities and corruptions, that he who trieth me will neuer approoue me. Fond man, dost thou thinke that the Gold-smith hath skill enough so to proportion the heate of the fire to the mettaile, that it may be purified and not consumed; and canst thou imagine that the Lord knoweth not how to fit his trials to thy strength? Or if he hauehave knowledge and wisedome enough, canst thou doubt of his will, seeing he hath bound himselfe by a most gracious promise, that he will not suffer vsus to be tempted or tried aboue our power and strength, but1. Cor. 10. 13. will giuegive a good issue with the tentation? Yea, but in the meane time thou art pressed with such an heauy waight, that thou bewrayest thine infirmities and corruptions. And happely it is necessary and profitable for thee so to do, that by this triall thou mightest come to the sight and sense of these corruptions and imperfections which before were in thee, though hidden and vnknowne, to the end, that now beholding them, thou maist be truly humbled, brought to vnfained repentance, and to an hearty indeuour in all, vsing all good means to be cleansed and freed from them. And thus it is necessary that the drosse of our corruptions should be discerned, that it may be purged away, and we purified; and that our secret diseases should be discouered, that we might be cured and freed from them. It may be also, that the Lord letteth thee bewray in these trials of afflictions, thy lesser corruptions of immoderate griefe and impatiencie, to free thee from such sinnes as are much more hainous and enormious; as from pride, selfloue, and carnall confidence, whereby we robbe God of his glory to magnifie our selues, and our soules of all sound comfort, seeing our greatest strength being weaknesse and impotencie, must needs faile vsus when we most rely vponupon it. In wonderful mercy and louelove therfore doth the Lord deale with thee, if by these trials he causeth thee to bewray thy smaller infirmities, that he may free thee from grosser sinnes, mortifie thy hellish pride, and decke thee with that excellent ornament of humility; taking away all selfe confidence in thine owne strength, doe cause thee with full affiance to rest vponupon him, who will neuer fayle those who trust in him.
Finally, we hauehave iust cause to beare our greatest afflictions§ Sect. 5. That our greatest trialls should bring greatest comfort, because they are signes of greatest grace bestowed upō vsus. with patience, comfort and reioycing, if wee consider that God doth proportionate our trials, according to our strength, and the measure of grace which he hath bestowed vponupon vsus; for hereupon it will follow, that if our crosses be exceeding great, then also wee abound in vertue, grace and spirituall strength; if the huge water-flouds of affliction doe arise and swell so high, that they drowne and ouer-flow the high towers, and losty turrets of humane strength; then shall our spirituall graces (like those in the Arke) arise and mount vp with them, triumphing ouer these seas of miserie with comfort and reioycing, which ouerwhelme and drowne others, who sticke fast vntounto earthly helps, with sorrow and heauinesse. Neither is it to bee imagined, that the Lord who best knoweth our strength, because hee made vsus, and hath approoued his infinite louelove towards vsus, because hee hath with so inestimable a price redeemed vsus, will in trying destroy vsus, or lay vponupon vsus a burthen which will ouerwhelme vsus; yea rather we may assure our selues, that where he hath laid the heauiest loade, there hee hath giuen the greatest strength, and where there is aboundance of afflictions, there he bestoweth abundance of patience, faith and other graces, whereby they may be inabled to beare and ouercome them. We see that the wise commander imployeth his souldiers, according to that opinion which he hath of their worth and valour; and when hee hath some daungerous and hie exploit to be atchieued, hee doeth not make choise of fresh-water and white-liuerd souldiers, but of such as are of most magnanimious spirits, and fullest of courage, valour and approued fortitude.
The discreet Schoole-master doth giuegive the longest and hardest lessons to be learned, not vntounto those who are of smallest capacity and dullest conceipt; but vntounto their best schollars, who are of ripest wit and readiest apprehension. The skilful armoure… …oth not trie common armour with musket-shot, for so hee should by triall spoile it, and with his paines loose the reputation of his cunning; but first he is assured that he hath made it high proofe, and then he trieth it with these piercing bullets. And finally, the wise lapidary bringeth not his tender christall, or softer stones, to be tried by the stithy and hammer, but the hard Adamant which wil rather bruise the iron and steele, then be broken by their blowes. And therfore, if there be this wisedome and care to be found in men, let vsus certainly conclude that the Lord, infinite in wisedome and louelove, doth much more fit his trials to the strength of his children, whose good & wel-fare he so much tendereth, choosing out his most valorous souldiers, for the strongest incounters, his best schollars, for the hardest lessons, his choisest armours for the highest proofe, and hammering none vponupon the Anuile of afflictions, but such as he hath made of adamantine hardnesse, to beare without breaking all these blowes.
Thus Abraham, the father of the faithfull, hauing attained vntounto fulnesse of perswasion & assurance, was exercised with the strongest tentation, euen the sacrificing of his deare Isaac with his owne hands. And Iob, the iustest man vponupon the earth, and indued with greatest patience, was accordingly tried with the greatest afflictions, and as it were cast into the fiery furnace by the Tyrant Sathan, being heat seauen times hotter, then for other ordinary men. Thus Dauid, a man according to Gods owne heart, excelling all others in piety and religion, had answerably an exceeding masse and multitude of afflictions, laide vponupon him for the triall of his graces. And the Apostle Paul, abounding in the riches of Gods spiritual gifts, and going beyond all the rest of his ranke, in care and labours for the glory of God, and good of his Church, did as farre exceede them all in crosses and trials. And as those are assaulted with the strongest forces, who …ue greatest valour and fortitude bestowed vponupon them; so those who are weake in Gods sauing graces, doe answerably sustaine weake incounters, as we may see in the example of the Iewes, whomEsa. 48. 10 God, sayth he, had fined, but not as siluer; because hauing in them more drosse of corruption, then pure mettaile of grace and vertue, they would hauehave beene consumed in this fiery triall.
And finally where there is no grace or goodnesse, there may well bee inflicted deserued punishments of sinne, but no triall in this conflict of afflictions. Neither may wee thinke that those who are not exercised with these crosses, are more highly in Gods fauour then other men, seeing the Apostle telleth vsus, that God scourgeth eueryevery sonne whom he receiueth, and they who are exemptedHeb. 12. 6 from these corrections, of which all are partakers, are bastards and not sonnes. Nor may we imagine that our wise Commaunder in louelove spareth these men whom he neuer calleth out to the fight; but rather reiecteth and excludeth them out of his campe, the Church militant; either because hee knoweth them to bee such dastardly Cowards, as will flee from, or yeeld to the weakest enemies; or such rebels and traitors, as either professedly or in their hearts ioine with sathan, and the world, against him and his holy army. And this the heathen man discerned by the light of nature; WhenSenec. de prouid. cap. 1. (sayth he) thou shalt see men which are good and acceptable vntounto God, take paines, sweate and labour against the hill with great difficulty; and contrariwise, wicked men playing the wantons, and wallowing in delights: thinke with thy selfe that euen we are delighted in the modesty of sonnes, and in the licentiousnesse of slaues; and that they by a stricter discipline are kept in good order, whilest the audacious boldnes of these is nourished, and then know that God taketh the same course, for he doth not cocker him that is good, but by trying and hardning he fitteth him for himselfe.
When therfore we are exercised with great and grieuous§ Sect. 6. That God much honoureth vsus in these fiery trials afflictions, let vsus not murmure and repine against him that inflicted them, as though some great euill had befallen vsus; but let vsus beare all with patience and comfort, yea with ioy and thankfulnesse: For so we may assure our selues, that as wee much glorifie God by our sufferings, so by these trials he vouchsafeth vntounto vsus trebble honour; for first hee honoureth vsus by enriching vsus with his graces, and then by trying of them, whilest thereby their worth and excellency is manifested vntounto all that behold vsus in these conflicts. And lastly, he will honour vsus by crowning his graces in vsus, when as by triall they are approoued: Euen as the skilfull Armourer, first graceth his armour by good workmanship, then by bringing it to the proofe; and lastly by causing it to be emploied in the Princes seruice; or as the Generall honoureth the souldier, first, by training him to the wars, and making him expert in all feates of chiualry, then by giuing him a place of imployment fit for his giftes and good parts; and finally by rewarding and crowning his victories, causing him to sit with himselfe in his chariot of triumph.
As therefore the valiant souldier murmureth not against his Captaine, when hauing an high opinion of his worth and magnanimious fortitude, he appointeth him to high attempts and seruices, full of danger and difficulty, but accounteth himselfe much honoured, in that he thinketh him worthy of such imployments: and contrariwise, thinking his valour and abilities vnderualued, is ful of discontent, if he should be appointed vntounto base and easie seruices, which any coward or fresh-water souldier could atchieue without difficulty or danger: So, much lesse hauehave we any cause of repining, when our great Commaunder, who best knoweth our abilities, doth imploy vsus in seruices of an high nature; yea rather we hauehave cause of thanksgiuing and reioycing, seeing he hath first honoured vsus with gifts fit for these attempts, and now honoureth vsus by giuing vsus opportunity of employing them, and approouing them in the triall, and will hereafter crowne vsus with victorie; neither doth any of his souldiers perish in their magnanimious attempts, seeing he protecteth them in all dangers, and neuer matcheth them with any enemy, but such as he inableth them to ouercome. Thus also the couragious champion, or expert and strong wrastler, thinke themseluesIgnominiam iudicat gladiator cum inferiore componi; & scit eum sine gloria vinci, qui sine periculo vincitur. Senec. de prouiden. lib. cap. 3. much graced, when as fit aduersaries are matched with them, and being thus fitted prouoke them, with whom they contend, to doe their best, and vse all their skill; that so they likewise may hauehave the better opportunity to shew all their courage and cunning, and obtaine the greater glorie and prayse, after they hauehave got the victory: and contrariwise, hold themselues much disparaged in their honour and esteeme, when they are called to contend with such an aduersary, as is contemptible through weaknesse and want of skill; or else with such an one, as being of some abilitie, doth but daily with them; because it is a disgracefull combate and contention, where there is no grace or honor occurring vntounto him who obtaineth the victory.
Thus the learned schollar taketh great delight when he is posed in high and difficult questions, according to the measure of his knowledge & gifts, that he may approue his sufficiency both to his master & fellowes: and contrariwise, thinketh himselfe wronged & disreputed, if hauing read the best Authors, hee be examined in the first rudiments of Grammer, or in the A. b. c. And finally, thus the hardest Adamant is most commended, when it is tried with the hammer and Anuile; but much disgraced in the esteeme of all, if he who oweth it, will try it no otherwise then with the blow of a cudgell: And so in like manner we are much honoured by God, when hauing receiued from him many and great vertues, he doth also bring vsus into great and many trials; seeing as our vertue and strength are fitted, according to the power of our enemies which doe encounter vsus, so shall our crowne bee fitted to our graces, and the glorie of our crowne to the greatnesse of the victorie.
But on the other side, we hauehave iust cause of mourning and discontent, if wee be neuer exercised with any trialls, seeing it is a signe that the Lord esteemeth vsus, to be at the best, such weakelings as are fit to beare nothing; or men vtterly destitute of all grace and goodnesse, and therefore cassiereth vsus out of his campe the Church militant, as being vtterly vnworthy to fight his battailes, or to doe him any seruice. So one sayth, that a Souldier is in all his brauery, when being in his armour he marcheth valiantly; but is contemptible, when he idlely sitteth still, hauing no exercise for his vertue, whereby he might be knowne vntounto himselfe or others, then he wanteth prayses, he wanteth rewards, and therforeS…a infoelicita. te miser est, qui cum inf… licitatibus quibus gloria gignitur nunquā meriunt habere conflictum. Hyer…n. epist. ad amicum aegr…tum▪ Tom. 4. those dangers are not to bee shunned as hurtfull which bring rewards with them. Yea rather, he is miserable in his felicity, who neuer was thought worthy to wrastle with miseries, by which contention honor is obtained. Yea euen the heathen man could say, that whom God loueth & approueth, them he hardneth, trieth and exerciseth; but whom he seemeth to cocker and spare, he reserueth them as effeminate cowards for the euils to come.