Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
That all afflictions are imposed vponupon the faithfull out of Gods meere louelove. And that this louelove plainely appeareth in the measure of their afflictions; and first in regard of themselues, whether we respect their quantity, which is but small, or their time, which is but short.
AND thus hauehave I shewed the first branch, and§ Sect. 1. That God loueth his children truly and substantially like a Father to profit thē & not fondly & effeminately like a foolish mother to please them. maine ground of the Christians comfort in the time of trouble and affliction, consisting in the knowledge and assurance of this point; that the crosses and calamities which hee indureth are not punishments inflicted for the satisfying of Gods iustice: now the other point propounded followeth to be proued, namely that they are to the faithfull the chastisements of a gratious Father, wherewith out of meer louelove he correcteth them as his children, not for any displeasure conceiued against their persons, or for any pleasure which he taketh in their smart and paine, but onelyonly for their profit and benefit, both heere, and in the life to come. For the clearing whereof wee are to know, that there is a twofold kinde of louelove to bee obserued in earthly parents, the first a fond and cockering louelove commonly incident to the weaker sexe, whereby in all things they indeauour to please their children, to follow their foolish appetite and lusts, and let their owne will bee the rule of all their actions, and therfore if so it please them, they are content to let them languish in idlenesse, or to runne riotous courses, which in all likelihood will bring them to perdition. But this is nothing else but with the ape to kill their yong with clipping, to play the enemy vnderunder the vizard of a friend; and to make them drinke the poysonous dregs of all mischiefe because it is sugred with louelove, and sweetned with the fond affection of an ouer-tender mother. The other kind of louelove, though it make not so plausible a shew, is not in truth weaker, but much wiser; not lesse intyre and heartye, but much more discreet and profitable, as wholly aiming at the good of the party beloued; not caring much whether it please or displease, whether the things which it inioyneth be easie or difficult, tedious or delightfull, so they bee importantly behouefull, and greatly beneficiall to him who is to vndertake them. And this is the profitable louelove of a wise & discreet father, who somtimes withholdeth necessaries from the sonne whom hee loueth, not because hee grudgeth to giuegive them, but because he would inure him to hardnes, and make him more securely inioy his plenty, when he knoweth how to want sometimes, also hee crosseth him of his will, to teach him humility, and inureth him to such painfull labour, as doth often presse forth of him sweat, and sometimes teares. But especiall this wise and fatherly louelove doth shew it selfe, in keeping his sonne vnderunder a straight and seuere discipline, in restraining him of his liberty, in containing him within the bonds of modesty, temperance and ciuility, in keeping him from running into licentious courses, and in reclaiming him from such vices and faults by due correction which being continued in without amendment, would frustrate the fathers expectation, and make him together with his comfort and ioy to lose his sonne; and cause the childe together with his Fathers displeasure to incurre the danger of loosing his inheritance. Now that witlesse and worthlesse louelove of a fond mother, as it deserueth not to bee respected and esteemed, seeing it tendeth to the hurt and destruction of the party beloued; so it is not to bee expected of Gods children, from so wise and worthy a Father, who in all things aymeth at their good, and chuseth rather to profit then to please them. For hee knowing the corruptions of our nature, how easily wee are puffed vp with pride, when we enioy worldly prosperity, and made foolishly wanton with a little cockering; how ready wee are to languish in idlenes, and to become effeminate with earthly delights; how prone wee are to dishonour him in his gifts, and how vsuall it is with vsus to abuse these remembrances of his louelove, as occasions to make vsus both neglect and forget our benefactour, and finally how liberty bringeth vsus to licentiousnesse, wantonnesse to wilfulnesse, and want of due correction to all dissolutenesse and disorder; like a wise Father out of meere louelove hee keepeth vsus vnderunder seuerer discipline; and though hee suffereth wicked worldlings and damned reprobates to flourish in their impiety, to liue with impunity in all manner of wickednesse, and to reuell and ruffle it out in all pompe and pleasure, because hee intendeth to giuegive them their portion in this life, and to let them fatte themselues against the day of slaughter: yetQui dedit tibi felicitatem huius saeculi, ad cōsolationem tuam dedit non ad corruptionem, &c. August. in Iohā. tract. 12. T. 9. such is his louelove and care ouer his owne sonnes and children, that they no sooner begin to waxe proud and wanton, but he presently humbleth and keepeth them vnderunder, and no sooner doe they enter into a course of sinning, but he forthwith reclaimeth them from their wicked waies by his chastisements and corrections. For (as one saith) hee granteth vntounto his child worldly felicity to comfort & not to corrupt him; and when hee seeth it thus abused, he doth scourge him in this world for his amendment, and not for his condemnation; and therefore wee must suffer him with patience, correcting vsus like a father; least we should feele him heereafter punishing vsus as a iudge.
And this truth is manifest vntounto vsus in the Scriptures, both§ Sect. 2. That God sheweth his fatherlie louelove in correcting his children. Ier. 25. 29. 1. Pet. 4. 17. Amos. 3. 2. by testimonies and examples. So the Lord saith, that he will begin to plague the city where his name is called vponupon. And the Apostle telleth vsus, that iudgement must begin at the house of God. So by the Prophet Amos the Lord thus speaketh to the people of Israell: you onelyonly hauehave I knowne of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visite you for all your iniquities. The wise man also vseth this argument to perswade vsus with patience to beare the chastening of the Lord, and not to bee grieued with his correction, because hee correcteth him whom he loueth, euen as the father doth the childe in whom hee delighteth. To which place the Apostle alludingPro. 3. 11. 12. Heb. 12. 5. 6. saith; My sonne despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither saint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth, and he scourgeth eueryevery sonne that he receiueth. Finally the Lord himselfe professeth, that he doth rebuke & chasten as many as he loueth, and vseth it as an argument to perswade vntounto repentance and zealous reformation, becauseApoc. 3. 19. whosoeuer escape, yet they shall be sure to bee corrected (if they offend) whom he loueth and respecteth; that they may1. Cor. 11. 32. heereby be reclaimed from their wicked courses, and so bee deliuered from the condemnation of the world. And this also appeareth by the examples of the faithfull from time to time, for who more in Gods fauour then Abraham the Father of the faithfull, and yet how many crosses did hee indure? as the leauing of his friends and countrey, and the leading of his life, as it were, in a voluntarie banishment among a strange people, the offering of his beloued Isaac, and feare of his owne life? who more deare vntounto God then Iacob, of whom he said, before he was borneGen. 47. 9. Iacob hauehave I loued? and yet so many were his afflictions that he affirmeth his daies to hauehave beene few and euill. Who more respected of God then Iob, whom he pronounced to be the iustest man vponupon earth? and yet who more deiected and loaded with afflictions? Who more gracious with the Lord then holy Dauid, whom hee affirmeth to hauehave beene a man according to his owne heart? and yet hee complaineth that when his wicked enemies wallowd in worldly delights he was afflicted daily, and punished eueryevery morning. So it is said of Salomon his son that by Gods appointment hee was called Iedidiah, because the Lord loued him: and that Dauid receiued2. Sam. 12. 25. this promise from God in his behalfe, that he would bee his Father, and he should be his sonne; and yet the Lord addeth, that if hee did sinne hee would chasten him with the rod of men, 2. Sam. 7. 14.and with the plagues of the children of men; notwithstanding his mercy should not depart from him as he tooke it from Saul. YeaPsalm. 89. 31. 32. 33. of all his Church and people the Lord saith, that if they did breake his statutes, and would not keepe his commandements he would visite their transgression with the rod, and their iniquitie with strokes, but yet his louing kindnes hee would not take from them, nor falsifie his truth by breaking his couenant. But of such examples I shall hauehave occasion to speake more heereafter, and therefore referre them to their place: onelyonly for the present let vsus both by these testimonies and examples bee perswaded of this truth, that the Lord correcteth those who are most deare vntounto him, out of meere louelove for their profit and benefit, and that Gods louelove, and these seeming fruits of his anger in our crosses and afflictions may well stand together; according to that of the Psalmist; Thou hardest them O Psalm. 99. 8.Lord our God: thou wast a fauourable God vntounto them, though thou diddest take vengeance for their inuentions. And therfore when we are in the middest of our afflictions, notwithstanding these crosses and calamities, we may triumphingly cry out with the Apostle. Who shall separate vsus from the louelove of Rom. 8. 35. 38.Christ? shall tribulation or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakednesse, or perill, or sword? &c. I am perswaded, that neyther death nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate vsus from the louelove of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord.
But let vsus not content our selues with the general knowledge§ Sect. 3. That God in his louelove appointeth to eueryevery one of his faithful children a certaine measure of afflictiō fit for them, which cannot be exceeded. of this truth, that the Lord out of his infinite and endlesse louelove doth chastise the faithfull for their good; but let vsus further consider how this louelove of God is manifested vntounto them in their afflictions, by insisting in some particulars. To which purpose we are to know that Gods wonderfull louelove appeareth vntounto his children, both in the measure of their afflictions, and in his ends which moue him to lay vponupon them his fatherly corrections; the which his ends being secret in himselfe, he maketh knowne vntounto vsus by those fruites and effects, which by these his chastisements hee powerfully produceth and worketh in vsus. Concerning the former, Gods louelove appeareth in the measure of our afflictions, first generally in that hee is content to afflict vsus in some measure; for seeing our sinnes hauehave beene without measure both in their greatnesse and number; and hauehave beene also committed against an immense, infinite and incomprehensible maiestie; therefore if the Lord should deale with vsus according to his iustice and righteous iudgments, wee hauehave deserued that our punishments should bee without measure, number or end. But God infinite in merciemercy and goodnesse doth not deale with vsus according to our deserts; but as hee hath graciously turned the punishments of slaues, inflicted by a righteous Iudge, into chastisements of sonnes inflicted by a louing father: so according to this louelove and mercy hee hath measured out such a certaine stint and proportion of these afflictions vntounto eueryevery one of his children, as in his wisdome hee knoweth to bee fittest for them, and that both in respect of their quantitie, what and how much they shall beare, and also in respect of their time and continuance, when and how long they shall endure them. In which respect we may truely affirme, that as there is no crosse, calamitie or affliction, which is not foreappointed of God; and ordered, ruled and disposed by his most wise and all-ruling prouidence; so the quantitie how much, and the time how long, is also by the same wisdome, and prouidence ordained and appointed, in such an exact and strict manner, that as it is impossible for any man to free himselfe, in whole or in part, from any of that measure which is shared and alloted vntounto him; or to preuent it from comming, or to escape from it, being come before the appointed time; so is it alike impossible, that all the power of Diuels or men should adde one dram to the waight, or one minute to the time of our afflictions, more then that proportion which God by his powerfull wisdome hath measured out vntounto them. For as he hath said to the waters of the sea, so also to these floods of affliction, Hitherto shall Iob. 38. 11.ye come, but no further, and here shall ye stay your proud waues. Psal. 80. 5.To this purpose the Psalmist saith, that God had fed his people with the bread of teares, and giuen them teares to drinke with great measure. So the Church in her afflictions groundeth her faith vponupon this truth in her prayers vntounto God for helpe and deliuerance. Be not angry, O Lord, aboue measure, neither remember iniquitie for euer: and againe, Wilt thou Esa. 64. 9. 12.hold thy peace, and afflict vsus aboue measure? As though shee should say, I am assured that thou wilt not doe it, seeing it is contrarie to thy nature, word and vsuall custome. And with this agreeth the booke of wisdome, where it is said, that the Lord wanted not meanes, to hauehave corrected his people with much more grieuous afflictions, then those which they indured, but yet he had not done it, because he had ordered Wis. 11. 17. 20.all things in measure, number and waight. As also the saying of our Sauiour Christ himselfe, who affirmeth, that not onelyonly our greater afflictions, but the least and lightest,Matt. 10. 30▪ Luc. 21. 18. euen to the falling of an haire from our heads, are ordered by Gods prouidence, so as they cannot without his appointment happen vntounto vsus. An example whereof we hauehave in Iob, Iob. 1. 12. & 2. 6for as Satan at the first could not touch him till hee had receiued a commission from God; so neither could hee adde any thing vntounto his first afflictions, till his commission was renewed. And as the Lord measureth out vntounto vsus our afflictions, in respect of their quantitie, so also in regard of their time; as we may see in the Aegyptian bondage, which wasExo. 12. 40. 4…. Ier. 25. 11. appointed by God to continue 430. yeares, which being expired, the people of Israel were in the very same day deliuered out of it. And also in the captiuitie of Babylon, which was to continue by Gods decree 70. yeares, which beingIer. 29. 10. 2 Cro▪ 36. 2…. 22. expired according to Gods promise made vntounto them by his Prophet, they were deliuered out of their captiuitie. And thus the Lord appointeth a certaine time for the afflictions of the Church of Smyrna, It shall come to passe, that the Diuell shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tryed, and Apo. …. 10.yee shall hauehave tribulation ten dayes. And also to the whole Church militant, where it is said, That the woman (that is the Church) fled into the wildernesse, where she had a place prepared Chap. 12. 6.of God, that they should feed her there a thousand, two hundred, and threescore dayes. By all which it appeareth that the Lord doth not chasten his children rashly and in his furie, but with great wisdome and descretion, and vponupon mature deliberation appointing before hand both the quantitie of their afflictions, and the time of their continuance; and no meruaile, for if (as the author of the booke of wisdome speaketh) the Lord doth punish the enemies of his children, and the condemned to death with such deliberation, giuing them Wisd. 12. 20. 21time and place, whereby they might be deliuered from their malice; with how great circumspection will he iudge his owne sons? Now the consideration of this truth, that God doth not lay vsus open to afflictions, nor leaue vsus to Satan and our spirituall enemies to be loaded with miseries at their pleasure, as our sinnes which are without number or end hauehave iustly deserued; but doth in his fatherly wisdome measure out vntounto eueryevery one of vsus such a proportion of afflictions as is fitting for vsus; as it doth sufficiently shew the greatnesse of Gods mercy and louelove, so it may strengthen our patience in the time of our afflictions, and replenish▪ our hearts with ioy and consolation. Seeing wee stand not to the cruell curtesie of the enemies of our saluation, to endure what pleaseth them to lay vponupon vsus; but only hauehave such a measure allotted vntounto vsus, as God in his infinite louelove and goodnesse knoweth best; and howsoeuer they are oftentimes the instruments of our calamities, and are vsed by our heauenly Physitian as his Apothecaries to minister vntounto vsus these vnpleasant potions, for the purging away of our corrupt and sinfull humors, yet doth he strictkly prescribe such an exact bill of the ingredients, and carieth such a watchfull eye ouer them, whilest they are making these confections, that they are not able to adde one scruple vntounto his proportions, nor to giuegive vsus a graine more of these loathsome drugges then is fit for the effecting of the cure, & the recouery of our spirituall health.
And thus it generally appeareth that God sheweth§ Sect 4. That our afflictions are in their quantity small and light great louelove and mercy vntounto vsus in that he doth afflict vsus in measure, seeing our innumerable and most hainous sins hauehave deserued, and the enemies of our saluation are willing and ready to inflict on vsus all his plagues and punishments: in which respect we hauehave iust cause to thinke that we are wel dealt with, if we escape any of them, and to acknowledge in our greatest afflictions with the distressedLamen. 3. 22. Church, that it is the infinit mercy of God that we are not vtterly consumed: seeing it is not to be attributed vntounto any of our deserts, whose sinnes hauehave pulled downe Gods iudgements vponupon vsus, nor to want of wil or power in sathan and the world who are alwaies able and desirous to do vsus mischiefe, but onelyonly to Gods infinite louelove and mercy in Iesus Christ, with pardoneth all our sinnes, and to his almighty power and prouidence, whereby he preserueth and defendeth vsus from the malice and might of all these our enemies, so as they cannot punish vsus at their owne pleasure, but only as Gods instruments afflict and correct vsus in such a maner and measure as he prescribeth. Now let vsus descend to a more speciall consideration of the measure of our afflictions, and take a more cleare view of Gods louelove and mercy brightly shining therein, and that both in respect of the crosse it selfe which we beare, and also in regard of vsus who indure and beare it. The louelove and mercy of God appeareth in the measure of our afflictions, both in respect of their quantity which is but small, and in their time which is but short; for either they are light, or they are not long and if they be great in quantity, they are but momentany in their continuance; or if they be tedious in time, they are easie in waight; and therfore may be born with patience, either in regard of our sense, because they do not trouble vsus much, being themselues light and small, or in respect of our hope, because they will not trouble vsus long, seeing they are but short▪ and momentany: yea in trueth we may well ioyne both together, and affirme with the Apostle that they are both light in their loade and waight, and also short and momentany in their time and continuance. And therfore well may we beare them not only with patience, but also with ioy and thankfulnesse; especially if we consider, that through the infinite mercies of God and merits of Christ, we are corrected with these small and short chastisements, that we may be freed from intollerable torments and euerlasting1. Cor. 11. 32. condemnation, and do therefore indure these light and 2. Cor. 4 17.momentany afflictions, that through the blessing of God, they may cause vntounto vsus a far more excellent and an eternall waight of glory. First then Gods mercy and louelove towards vsus doth …ppeare in the measure of our afflictions, in that they are but light and small: for whereas our sinnes hauehave deserued the vnsupportable waight of Gods wrath and the intollerable torments of the damned in hell fire; the Lord hath graciously spared vsus, and caused his only deare sonne in our stead to beare our iniquities, together with the punishment due vntounto them: he hath withheld it from lighting and lying vponupon vsus, whom it would hauehave ouerwhelmed, and pressed downe to the bottome of hell; and hath laide it vponupon the shoulders of our Sauiour who was able to beare it, and in bearing also to abolish and take it away. And now he hath fitted another burthen for vsus, not according to the measure of our sinnes but of our strength: not that intollerable burthen of sinne and punishment, which would oppresse vsus, and cause vsus to sinke into the gulfe of desperation, but a sweet, light and easie burthen of afflictions, as our Sauiour calleth it, to keepe vsus who are light vponupon the ballanceMath. 11. 30▪ (as the Psalmist speaketh) from beeing puffed vpPsal. 62. 9. and blowne away with the wind of worldly vanities. And this he layeth vponupon vsus, not to toyle and tyre vsus, but that it may serue as an easie yoke to keepe vsus in obedience, and to inable vsus the more fitly to draw and labour in the way of Gods commandements, which in the end will bring rest to our soules: not to ouer burthen and sinke vsus in this sea of miseries; but rather to ballast vsus, that we be not ouer set with the boisterous blasts of sathans temptations, and to keepe vsus in a right course that we be not wrackt vponupon the rocks of sinne. So the author of the book of Wisedome saith; Therefore thou chastnest them by little and litle that offend; and warnest them by putting Wis. 12. 2.them in remembrance wherin they hauehave offended, that leauing their wickednes they may beleeue on thee O Lord. And this small measure of affliction which the Lord hath prepared for vsus, is signified in the scriptures by the name of a cup, which by our heauenly father is mingled and prouided for our drinking; for it is not said that we must drinke a sea of sorrowes, or an infinite measure of punishment, as our sinnes hauehave deserued; no nor yet aNon cadus sed calix. barrell or great vessell, but onelyonly a little cup. The which we must not drinke alone; for the Lord hath caused his sonne our Sauiour to drinke the very dregs thereof, euen to the bottome, and hath onelyonly left a little pittance for vsus to tast & sip of, which by the death of Christ is so corrected and purified from the poison of Gods wrath, and so sugred and sweetned with his merits and obedience, that not only the chiefe loathsomnesse thereof is taken away, but also it is made hereby, of a mortall poison which would hauehave killed vsus, a wholesome preseruatiue to keepe vsus from the contagion of sinne, and a profitable potion to purge vsus from our corruptions. In regard whereof our afflictions and griefs are but shadowes and resemblances, rather then substantiall euills, & are rather vizards to fright children in Christ, then true enemies which intend vsus hurt. And therfore the Apostle speaking of them saith, As dying and behold we liue, as chastened, 2. Cor. 6. 9.and yet not killed, as sorrowing, and yet alway reioycing, &c. Whence one obserueth that our sorrow hath a quasi, as though, or as▪ it were added to it, but so hath not our reioycing, because in hope it is most assured. And why is it said, not simply that wee sorrow, but as it were August in psal. 48 …narrat.are sorry? because like a sleepe or dreame it vanisheth away, and the iust shall triumph ouer it in the morning &c.
And howsoeuer these shadowes of euill which are inflicted vponupon vsus, doe at their first appearing & approching, seeme fearefull, and terrible, yet doe they vponupon some small acquaintance, grow so familiar with vsus, that wee doe not much auoide their company. For as the childe seeing euen his friend and familiar acquaintance approching towards him, disguised with some vgly vizard, is at first sight much affrighted, and ready to cry out, and runne away; but when the vizard is laid aside, returneth to himselfe, and being freed from feare, doth take knowledge of the party, and turne all his feare into iest, & meriment: so our afflictiōs like a vizarded friend, doe at the first appearing much amate vsus, but when the vizard is remoued, and wee vponupon better acquaintance finde, that they are not enemies that hurt vsus, but friends, from whom wee receiue much good & benefit, then doe we grow familiar with them, and notwithstanding that their company is vnpleasant to our sense, yet doe wee not with any great earnestnes desire to bee freed from it, because wee finde it so necessary and profitable. And thus it appeareth that our afflictions are both light and small; not that our sinnes hauehave not deserued more sharpe chastisements; but because a little correction seemeth enough, vntounto our most deare and louing Father, who so tenderly affecteth vsus, that when hee hath giuen vsus scarce the hundreth part of the stripes which our faults hauehave deserued, hee earneth and relenteth in the bowels of his compassion, & thinking our correction more then enough, yea double to our sinnes, he pardoneth our iniquities, and graciouslyEsay 40. 2. receiueth vsus into his former …auour.
But as our afflictions are in their quantity, small and§ Sect. 5. That our afflictions are momentany, & but of short continuance. light: so are they in their time short and momentany: for though our sinnes hauehave deserued eternall condemnatiō in hell fire; yet God of his infinite mercy & goodnes, doth for the death & obediēce of Iesus Christ, freely remit vntounto vsus all those euerlasting punishments; and contenteth himselfe to visit our iniquities with some temporary chastisements in this life, and with the rods of the children of men; not for our hurt and punishment, but for the amendement of our liues, and the saluatiō of our soules. And thus the Lord saith that he will afflict the seed and posterity of Dauid, but not for euer; 1. King. 11. 39. 2. Sam. 7 14.and particularly of Salomon, that of hee sinned, hee would chastise him with the rod of men, and with the plagues of the childrē of men; yet his mercy should neuer depart from him. Yea this gracious promise hee maketh to his whole Church, that hee would not contend with her for euer, nor bee alwaies wroth, because so the spirit would faile before Esay 57 16.him, and all mankinde should bee destroyed in his displeasure. The which truth the Church by faith layeth sure hold of, for her comfort; in her great afflictions; The Lord (saith shee) will not forsake for euer; but though he send affliction, yet hee will hauehave compassion▪ according to Lam. 3. 31, 32.the multitude of his mercies. And that not because our sinnes are few in number▪ or light in waight, and therefore deserue but gentle chastisements; but because being a gracious …ather, hee doth not punish willingly, ver 33.not afflict the children of men with pleasure and delight; but rather taketh his chiefe pleasure in exercising his owne nature, and in extending his mercy and goodnes towards repentant sinners. And in this regard the Church cryeth out: Who… … God like vntounto the… that Micah. 7. 18.taketh away iniquity▪ and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? hee retaineth not his wrath for euer, because mercy pleaseth him▪ But most notably doth the Psalmist set forth this truth, of Gods moderating and stinting our afflictions, in his louelove and mercy without any respect to our deseruings. The Lord (saith hee) is full of compassion and mercy, …low to anger, and of great kindnesse; hee will not alway chide, nor keepe his anger Psal. 103. 8. to 5.for euer. Hee hath not dealt with vsus after our sinnes, nor rewarded vsus according to our iniquities; for as high as the Heauen is aboue the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that feare him. As far as the East is from the West, so far hath hee remoued our sinnes from vsus. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him. For hee knoweth whereof wee bee made, hee remembreth that wee are but dust. The daies of man are as grasse, a… a flower of the field, so flourisheth hee, &c. To the same purpose is that of the Prophet Malachi, where the Lord promiseth to spare his Church, and people, as a man spareth his owne Mal. 3. 1….sonne, that feareth him▪ For as the louing father accepteth of the weake endeauours, and imperfect obedience of his childe; and when hee offendeth him, doth not long continue in his anger and displeasure, but after that hee hath corrected him for his faults, that hee may not continue in them to his distruction, hee receiueth him into his wonted fauour, that he may not by ouermuch and too long seuerity become hopeles & desperate: so dealeth the Lord with his children, neither cockring them in their faults, which would make them wanton and dissolute; nor yet for euer frowning vponupon them, and correcting them as their sinnes deserue: but moderating his iustice with mercy, he doth, after that by his chastisements he hath humbled them, & brought them to an hatred, and acknowledgment of their faults, withdraw his hand, lay his rod aside, and manifest vntounto them the wonted signes of his mercy and louelove. In which respect one compareth the Lord to a skilfull musition, who in tuning his instrument doth neither too much stretch his strings, least they should breake, nor let them remaine too loose & slacke, because it would quite dull and dead their sound and swetenes, and so spoile their musicall harmony: for so the Lord dealethCrysost. ad pop. Antiochen. homil 4. de patientia. with vsus; neither suffering vsus to languish in continuall remissenes, nor to be brokē, & worne out with tedious tribulation; least too much ease should make vsus sluggish, or too much trouble faint or desperate. Yea in truth so far off are our afflictions from being irkesomely tedious, and of long continuance, that they are exceeding short and momentany. For so the Psalmist telleth vsus, that God indureth but a while in his anger, but in his fauour is life. Weeping may abide at euening, but ioy Psal. 30. 5.commeth in the morning. And with this assurance of hope, the people of God incourage one an other to the practise of repentance. Come (say they) and let vsus returne vntounto the Lord; for hee hath spoiled, and hee will Hos. 6. 1, 2.heale vsus, hee hath wounded vsus, and hee will binde vsus vp. After two daies will hee reuiue vsus, and in the third day hee will raise vsus vp and wee shall liue in his sight. Yea so short is the time of these temporary afflictions, that the Lord reputeth it but as a moment; For a moment (saith heEsay 54. 8. to his people) in mine anger I hid my face from thee for a little seasō, but with euerlasting mercy hauehave I had cōpassion on thee. In regard wherof, we may fitly say with the Psalmist,Psal. 71▪ 20. that God hath shewed vsus great troubles & aduersities, but will returne and reuiue vsus, seeing the time of their continuance i… so short, that they are rather shewed, then truely suffered; euen as the louing father maketh shew only of his rod, and striketh therewith his childrens coates, when his tender louelove will scarce suffer him to touch their skinne.§. Sect. 6 Their obiection answered, who affirme, that their afflictions hauehave been long & tedious
But here some will say; To what purpose doe we heare words of the breuity of our afflictions? when in our own sense and experience they are long and tedious? or what comfort is this to tell vsus that the afflictions of Gods children last but for a momēt or little space, when as we may hence conclude that we are not in this number, seeing we hauehave passed a great time in sicknesse, pouerty, and such other miseries? To which I answer, that our short▪ liues will not suffer vsus to in…re long afflictions; for they are momentany and but a span long, as the Psalmist speaketh, and yet he who is most afflicted, hath inPsal. 36. 5. part of this moment, some comfort and refreshing. If therefore we complaine with Iacob, that our dayes are euill, in regard of the miseries which we hauehave endured, let vsus acknowledge with him, that they are few also: and if with the Church we complaine that all our dayes are Gen 47 9.past in Gods anger, and wasted away in labour and sorrow, let vsus also confesse with her, that our yeres hauehave been spent Psal. 90. 9, 10.as a thought▪ that our life is cut off quickly and we flie away. It is true that in the sense and feeling of our fraile flesh these our short afflictions doe seeme long and tedious; but vntounto the spirituall man who liueth not by sense but by faith, and in the expectation of euerlasting happines, his afflictions, though they should last his whole life, would seeme but short and momentany: seeing he doth not compare the time of the… continuance, with the rest of his life, which he leadeth in this world in ioy and delight; but with that eternal glory, and neuer ending blessednesse which he is to inherit in the world to come. Neither doth he number the daies of his affliction according to the present sense and apprehension of the flesh, (which expecteth no other ioy▪ or comfort▪ but what it hath in the pleasures of sinne, & … …he fruition of worldly vanities, seeing it is deputed to mortification, and is to be wholly destroied and abolished by death; and therfore thinketh all this time lost which is not spent in earthly delight… and eueryevery day a yeere which bringeth with it any crosses and afflictions▪ because though it be short in it selfe, yet in truth it is long being compared with the momentany continuance of our life vponupon earth where of it is a great share) but the faithfull man numbreth his daies according to Gods arithmetick, in whose estimation a thousand yeeres are as yesterday when it is past, Psal. 90. 4.and as a watch in the night; because he compareth this finite time with that which is infinite and euerlasting. And therefore considering on the one side, that all his whole life is but a moment, and lesse then the twinckling2. Pet. 3. 8. of an eie, in respect of that eternall life and happinesse which is to follow; & on the otherside, that in this momentany life, he hath many comforts and refreshings, both in regard of his outward relaxation from troubles, when being freed from his afflictions, he enioyeth the comforts of this life, and also in respect of his inward feelings through his future hopes, and the present consolations of Gods spirit and ioy in the holy ghost; he is ready to conclude, that his longest afflictions are but very short, euen a moment of a moment, seeing they last but a part of this life, which altogether is but short and momentany.