Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
That Gods louelove appeareth in the ends of our afflictions, in that …he vseth vsus as instrumēts in thē to set forth his glory.
AND thus hauehave I shewed how Gods louelove§ Sect. 1. That God is glorified in vsus both as his souldiers fighting his battail…, & as his children corrected for our faults. appeareth in the measure of our afflictions: now wee are to intreate of their ends, wherein the like merciemercy and louelove of God cleerely shineth. The ends which God propoundeth to himselfe in our affliction… are his owne glory, and our good. For howsoeuer the Lord is in himselfe so infinite and absolute in glory and maiesty, that nothing can be added thereunto, yet such is his grace and goodnesse, that he is content to vse vsus, poore sinnefull creatures, for his instruments, to manifest and declare to all the world his glory and praise by those things which he worketh by and in vsus. The which as he powerfully effecteth in many other respects, so especially by our troubles and afflictions; for as when a souldier behaueth himselfe valiantly in the fight against his enemies, with inuincible courage incountring, foyling and putting them to flight, the honour of his fortitude and prowesse, redoundeth also to his Captaine and Generall, vnderunder whom hee serueth: so when in this Christian warfare wee are assaulted with the enemies of our saluation, and namely with the world fighting against vsus, and seeking to ouercome vsus, sometimes with the politick stratagems, of prosperity, and sometimes with the downeright blowes of aduersity and affliction: God the great Generall of our army is glorified in our christian valour and couragious magnanimity, when we doe with patience, fortitude and resolution, indure all these incounters and beare the brunt of this battaile, and not only vndauntedly sustaine the assaults of our enemies, but also do foi…e and put them to flight, vsing their owne weapons against themselues, and their force and violence for their owne ouerthrow and destruction. And that the rather, because as we fight vnderunder his conduct; so the weapons, armor, strength and policy which wee vse in this warfare, and whereby we are inabled to ouercome are not our owne, but such as he our grand Captaine hath imparted vntounto vsus. But that this point may bee the better cleared, we may more specially cōsider, that God is glorified in our afflictions, whether we consider them as the chastisements of our sins, or as tentations & trials of the gifts and graces which wee hauehave receiued from God. He is glorified in our chastisements; for as the sinnes which are committed by vsus, who draw n…ere vntounto him, and are of his house and family, doe aboue all other dishonor him: so when he correcteth these sinnes in vsus by troubles and afflictions, he vindicateth his honour from the blasphemies of Infidels and carnal worldlings, in that he is so iust and vnpartiall, that he will not winke at sinne in them who are so neere and deere vntounto him, but rather (when he goeth his circuit of visitation and assises) he beginneth first with his owne children1. Pet. 4. 17 and seruants; that by their chastisements, whose sinnes are pardoned in his Sonne, he may teach his professed enemies, who remaine still in their guilt, what they are to expect, both in this quarter sessions, on earth, and at the generall assises at the day of iudgement. And thus the Psalmist sayth▪ that the Lord is knowne by executing Psal. 9. 16.iudgemēt, & that both in the punishing of the wicked & chastening of his own seruants. So the Prophet Esay hauingEsa. 5. 16. denoūced Gods plagues against his people of Israell for their sinnes, sayth, that the Lord of hoasts shall bee exalted in iudgement, and the holy God shall be sanctified in iustice. An example whereof we hauehave in the sonnes of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, who were chastened with that seuere correction of a temporary death, God giuingLeuit. 10. 3 this occasion hereof, by the mouth of Moses; I will be sanctified in them that come neere me, and before all the people I will be glorified: As also in Dauid, who because he had dishonoured God among the Nations, in causing thē to blaspheme his name, by his hainous sins, was therefore chastened by the death of his child, that2. Sam. 12. 14 the aspersion and staine which his crimes had cast vponupon the glory of God, might by his sharp correction be wiped away. Againe, God is glorified in the chastisements of his children, when as they profit and amend by his gracious corrections, not flying from him as an angry Iudge, or pursuing enemy, o… desperately contending against him by multiplying their sinnes▪ bu… runn…ng vntounto him as vntounto a mercifull Father, in hope and assurance to receiue pardon and forgiuenesse. For, the more God scourgeth his children, with the greater readinesse they runne vntounto him, humbling themselues vnderunder his chastening hand, by vnfained repentāce for their sins, whereby they hauehave offended him; and crauing by feruent praier, mercy & pardon, according to that of the Prophet: O Lord in trouble they hauehave visited thee, they Esa. 26. 16 § Sect. 2. That Gods glory is magnified in the manifestation of his power & goodnesse assisting … in our afflictions.hauehave powred out a praier when thy chastening was vpō them.
Moreouer, Gods glory is magnified in the manifestation of his power and goodnesse, when as we who are weake in our selues, are so supported and vpheld by the power of Gods might, that we are able to beare and ouercome the greatest tentations; and when as beng in our selues cowardly and fearefull, feeble and impotent, wee are so strengthened and incouraged by his spirit assisting vsus, that we are able to stand against all the malice and might of Sathan, the world and wicked men, and notwithstanding all the afflictions which wee endure, and per…ecutions which they raise against vsus, doe put them to flight and obtaine the victory. Neither is this power and goodnes of God so manifested or magnified in our prosperity, either by others or by ourPsal. 30. 6. selues; for then we seeme to stand in our owne strength, and to hauehave little need of Gods assistance, when as wee hauehave in outward appearance no enemies to assault vsus, but are walled and fenced in, on eueryevery side with abundance of worldly benefits, as honors, riches, friends, health, strength, liberty and the rest: but when wee are assaulted with these mighty and terrible enemies, and hauehave an heauie and sensible weight of tentations laide vponupon vsus; and withall feele and finde in our selues nothing but feeblenesse and faintnesse, terrour, and cowardise; if vvee beare this insupportable burthen without fainting, and valiantly resist these our enemies, vntill we hauehave put them to flight and obtained victory; then is Gods power manifested in our infirmity; whose treasures of great faith, patience, strength and christian courage▪ are caried in vsus as in earthen vessells▪ that the excellency of these vertues and 2. Cor. 12. 9. & 4. 7.power might be of God and not of vsus, as the Apostle speaketh. Finally when with the same Apostl… we can say, that we are afflicted on eueryevery side, yet we are not in distresse; in pouerty but not ouercome of pouerty; persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but perish not, and yet are vnable of our selues to beare the least waight, or to sustaine the assaults of our weakest enemies; then are we necessarily driuen to giuegive all the glory vntounto God, and to cry out, that it is Psal. 44 3. 5. 6. 7. 8.not our owne arme that saueth vsus, but Gods right hand and arme and the light of his countenance because he had a fauour vntounto vsus. And againe, through thee hauehave we thrust back our aduersaries, by thy name hauehave we tr…den down them that rose against vsus. For I doe not trust in my bow, neither can my sword saue me. But thou hast saued vsus from our aduersaries, 2. Cor. 10. 17. Psal. 115. 1.and hast put them to confusion that hate vsus. Therefore will we praise God continually, and will confesse his name for euer. Then will he that glorieth & reioiceth, reioice and glory in the Lord, and say with the people of God, not vntounto vsus ô Lord, not vntounto vsus, but vntounto thy name giuegive the glory. Yea then will others also acknowledge to Gods glory, that it was hi… power alone which supported vsus in our weaknesse and inabled vsus with patience to beare so greatEsa. 25. 3 4. tentations. According to that of the Prophet, Therefore shall the mighty people giuegive glory vntounto thee, the city of the strong nations shall feare thee, for thou hast been a strength vntounto the poore, euen a strength to the needy in his trouble; a refuge against the tempest, a shadow against the heat &c. And as Gods mercy and power is magnified by supporting vsus in our afflictions; so also when being oppressed with their vnsupportable waight, and brought into desperate dangers, he aboue all hope and strength, granteth deliuerance. For then we acknowledge with Hannah, 1. Sam 2. 6.that the Lord killeth and maketh aliue, bringeth downe to the graue and raiseth vp, and are ready according to the example of Gods saints to sing vntounto his praise songs of deliuerance. And this is the end why the Lord doth chastise our sinnes by troubles and afflictions, that we might glorifie him by our prayers & praises, and he might glorifie himselfe in our marue…lous deliuerance, according to that of the Psalmist, call vponupon me in the day of trouble, so will I deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie me An examplePsal. 50. 15. whereof we hauehave in the people of Israell, who being in grieuous bondage cried vntounto the Lord for help and freedome,Ex. 2. 23. 24. & 9 16. 14. 4. & 15. 1. and the Lord not only glorified his louelove and merciemercy in hearing their crie and mone, and deliuering them out of their seruitude and misery, but also his power and iustice in plaguing and ouerthrowing their enemies and oppressors. And so likewise the people glorified God, both in flying vntounto him by prayer in their distresse, as vntounto their only refuge; and also being freed, by singing vntounto him songs of thanksgiuing for their great deliuerance. Thus our Sauiour saith of the blind man in the Gopell, that this iudgement was laid on him, not for the punishment either of his owne or parents sinne, but that the works of God should be shewed on him, both in his temporaryIoh. 9. 3. triall or chastisement, and by the miraculous restoring of his sight. And thus he speaketh of Lazarus, that his sicknesse was not vntounto death but for the glory of God and that the sonne of God might be glorified thereby, whenIoh. 11. 4. as it serued as an occasion to manifest the infinite power of his diuine nature, by raising him from death to life. Finally Gods wisedome, power and goodnesse, are manifested and magnified in our afflictions, when as contrary to their owne nature he turneth them to our good euen the confirming & increasing in vsus of all his spirituall graces and the euerlasting saluation of our soules. For what doth more shew and extoll the infinite wisedome and omnipotency of God, then to be able to bring good out of euill, light out of darknesse, sweetnesse out of bitternesse, and blessings out of curses? then to make of a deadly poison a wholesome medicine, to turne the punishments of sinne into meanes of furthering vsus vntounto the rewards of righteousnesse, and of the path of perdition which led vntounto hell, to make a direct and p…ain way vntountoAct. 14. 22. the kingdome of heauen?
Thus also is the Lord glorified in our afflictions as§ Sect. 3. That God is glorified in our afflictions as they are trialls of his spirituall graces Ioh. 21. 19. they are trialls of our graces, and vertues which we hauehave receiued of him; for seeing he is the author of them all, therefore when being tried they appeare and shine in vsus the glory of their excellency chiefly redoundeth to him that gaue them. And as the excellency of the work doth manifest the skill of him that made it; so these vertues and graces being not our owne, but the excellent workmanship of Gods holy spirit, doe much magnifie the author of them when being tried their worth is discouered And therefore after the Lord hath made for vsus an excellent armour of his spiritual graces, which is high proofe and sufficient to beare and beate backe all the fiery darts of sathans temptations, the piercing bullets of worldly prosperity, and these swords and speares of outward crosses and afflictions; and hath buckled this armor close vntounto vsus by his holy spirit; then doth he exercise vsus in his warfare against the enemies of his glory and our saluation, & suffereth them to bend against vsus al their strength, and to assault vsus with all their weapons, darts and shot, that so our armour being tried and in triall approued, he may hauehave the honor that made it, and put it on vsus. Againe whilst we enioy worldly prosperity, and hauehave allIob 1. 9. things according to our hearts desire, we doe with Iob lie open to the slander of sathan and wicked men, who are ready to say that we doe not serue the Lord, & yeeld obedience to his commandemēts, because of any goodnesse and excellency which is in himselfe; or for any conscience of our duty, or any louelove which we beare vntounto him for his owne sake, as being our chiefe happines, and the supreame end of vsus and all his creatures; but because he hath hedged vsus in on all sides, multiplied on vsus earthly benefits and as it were hired vsus, to serue him with the present wages of worldly things, not out of any louelove to him, but out of selfe louelove, to attaine vntounto some preferment which we ambitiously aspire vntounto, or to obtaine some temporary profit or pleasure which we desire; therfore doth the Lord strip vsus of these worldly blessings, and loadeth vsus with troubles and afflictions for the triall of our faith, louelove and obedience, to the end that it may appeare that we serue him freely, for that excellency and goodnesse which we see in himselfe, and not for selfe louelove and outward respects, by which our seruice he is chiefly glorified; for when being stripped of all worldly benefits, we can with Iob blesse the Lord; when with him we can say, though he kill me yet will I trust on him; Iob. 1. 21. & 13. 15. Psal. 44. 22. Act. 5. 41.when we can professe with the people of God, that not for our own, but for Gods sake are we killed al the day long; and with the Apostles reioyce, because he thinketh vsus worthy to suffer for his name any misery or affliction; then doe we giuegive glory vntounto God by acknowledging his owne worth and excellency, when we think nothing too much which we suffer for him; then doe we confesse him to be the chief goodnesse, when as we are glad, euen by our miseries to manifest and magnifie his glory and maiesty.
Now the consideration hereof, that God is glorified§ Sect. 4. That it is a great comfort in our affl…ctions to consider that God is glo…ified by them. Psal 44. 22. Act. 5. 41. in our afflictions, may serue as an effectuall argument to make vsus beare them, not only with humility and patience, but also with ioy and thankfulnesse; seeing we may say with the people and Church of God, that we do suffer, not for our sinnes, but principally for Gods sake, that he may be magnified and glorified in our afflictions. An example whereof we hauehave in the holy Apostles, who reioyced in their afflictions and persecutions, because they were thought worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.2. Cor. 11. 16. 23. And especially in the Apostle Paul who intending somwhat to boast himselfe for the gracing of his Apostleship, doth chiefly glory in his afflictions, because in them God was glorified; euen as elsewhere he reioyceth in his infirmities and afflictions of mind, that the power of Christ might be magnified in his weaknesse; and taketh pleasure in his infirmities, reproches, necessities, persecutions and anguish for Christs sake, because in his greatestChap. 12. 9. 10. weaknesse he was strong in him. Which examples we are bound to imitate for diuers causes: for first the Lord is our creator who gaue vsus our being and made vsus of nothing, that we might serue as instruments for the setting forth of his glory, according to that of the Prouerbs; The Lord hath made all things for his owne sake, yea Pro. 16. 4.euen the wicked for the day of euill. If therefore we can by any meanes aduance his glory, though it be by our own smart and paine, we hauehave iust cause of comfort and reioycing, seeing whilst we glorifie our creator we attaine vntounto the end of our creation. Secondly he is our redeemer1. Cor. 6. 20. and Sauiour who hath bought vsus with the precious price of himselfe, that not being our owne, but his that bought vsus; we might glorifie him both in our soules and bodies, as the Apostle speaketh. And in this respect he also tel…eth vsus, that none of vsus liueth to himselfe, neither Rom. 14. 7. 8.doth any die to himselfe; for whether we liue we liue vntounto the Lord or whether we die we die vntounto the Lord; and that whether we liue or die, we are the Lords. Seeing therefore we are the Lords, by a double right, both because he hath created vsus of nothing, & hath also bought vsus, who had sold our selues to sinne and sathan; and that to this end that we should become his seruants, and in all things seeke the aduancement of his glory, great reason we hauehave to reioyce when any occasion is offered whereby we may glorifie him our Lord and redeemer, whether by prosperity or aduersity, honor or dishonor, sicknesse or health, imprisonment or liberty, life or death: and that whether we consider the greatnesse of the price which he gaue for our redemption, namely himselfe for vsus; or the euils and miseries from which he hath deliuered vsus, to wit, the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and eternall death and condemnation of body and soule in the fire of hell. For well may we with comfort and patience yea with ioy and thanksgiuing suffer afflictions that his holy name may be glorified; seeing he hath been content to suffer much more grieuous punishments in the whole course of his life, as hunger thirst, wearinesse, persecution the wrath of God and death it selfe, that he might by his sufferings procure our glory; well may we reioice and triumph in our momentany and light afflictions which aduance the glory of our redeemer, who hath deliuered vsus by his death and obedience from the intollerable and euerlasting torments of hell fire: especially considering, that this was the end of his paying so great a price for vsus, that being bought, we might become his seruants, and he our Lord, whom we are to glorifie in all we doe or suffer. For so the Apostle saith, that Christ therefore died Rom, 14 9.and rose againe and reuiued, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the quicke, and that we are predestinate vntounto eternall happinesse in Christ, that trusting in him we should be to the praise of his glory; and finally that heEph. 1. 12. 14. purchased the possession of heauenly felicity for vsus, not only to glorifie vsus, but that we also might aduance his praise and glory. To conclude this point, the Lord is our summum bonum, and chiefe happinesse, and his glory is the supreme end of all things. In regard whereof we are to reioice in our afflictions which tend to the manifestation of his glory, seeing thereby we attaine vntounto our chiefe end. Yea we should desire rather in this respect to be excluded out of the ioyes of heauen, and to perish euerlastingly;1. Cor. 10. 31. then that Gods glory vntounto which all things are destinated, as vntounto their chiefe end, should be blemished or impaired: as we may see in the example of Moses who rather then he would hauehave the name of God dishonored among the nations in the destruction of the people of Israell, desired to be rased out of the booke of life.Exod. 32. 32. As also in the Apostle Paul, who in penning of the holy Scriptures by the immediate inspiration of Gods holy spirit, which priuiledged him from erring through blind and preposterous zeale, did earnestly wish to be an Anathema, or one separated from Christ, and the euerlasting ioyes of his kingdome, on this condition that God might be glorified in the saluation of the people of theRom 9. 3. Iewes. And therefore if we ought to be content, though we should be depriued of euerlasting saluation, and be subiected vntounto euerlasting punishments, that God may be glorified in vsus; then how much more should we endure with patience and comfort the losse of worldly ioies, and the smart of these short & light afflictions whē Gods glory is hereby manifested; although we should neuer hauehave further benefit of our sufferings not reward of our patience? But yet much more hauehave we cause of1. Sam. 2. 30. reioycing and glorying in these our afflictions; if we further consider, that if we thus honor God in suffering for his glory, he will eternally honor vsus; if we glorifie him on earth, in the quiet and comfortable bearing of our crosse, he will glorifie vsus in his heauenly kingdome and crowne our patience with endlesse happinesse. If we honor our sauiour in our suffering with him, he will honor1. Tim. 2. 12. vsus in our raigning with him. And finally if with comfort and ioy we doe for Gods sake beare our crosse which he laieth vponupon vsus, then shall these light and momentany afflictions cause vntounto vsus a far most excellent and an eternall2. Cor. 4. 17. waight of glory, as the Apostle speaketh.