Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
That God vseth our afflictions as an effectuall meanes to preuent vsus from falling into sin, as also to mortifie and subdue our corruptions.
AND thus Gods louelove appeareth in our§ Sect. 1. That it is one maine end why the Lord afflicteth vsus, to preserue vsus from falling into sins when we are naturally inclined to commit them. Heb. 12. 10 afflictions, as he vseth them for means of our vocation & effectuall conuersion. The like louelove & mercy he sheweth vntounto vsus by them, in that he vseth them as his powerfull instruments, for the furthering of our sanctification; for at this end God also aymeth in his corrections, as the Apostle witnesseth, where he sayth, that hee chasteneth vsus for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holinesse. And this the Lord effecteth by our afflictions, whilest hee vseth them as meanes to free vsus from sinne, and also to furnish vsus with all sanctifying and sauing graces, whereby we are inabled to bring forth the fruits of obedience, and to walke before him in newnesse of life. Hee dooth by our afflictions free vsus both from the outward and inward corruption of our sins, not only by preuenting them, that we do not entertaine or fall into them, but also by mortifying them, when we are already tainted and infected with them. Concerning the former, we are (through our naturall corruption) so prone vntounto sinne, that if we be left vntounto our owne courses, we are apt to abuse our liberty vntounto licentiousnesse, to turn aside out of the path of holinesse and righteousnes, and like vnbridled horses to run in the wayes of wickednesse (as it were) with a full careere: and therefore the Lord in great mercy by▪ sending afflictions, doth put a bridle into our mouthes, wherewith hee raineth and pulleth vsus backe, that we may not stumble and fall into sinne, and so ma…ereth and ruleth vsus, that we are faine to trauell in the right way, which wil bring vsus vntounto happinesse, and cannot satisfie our carnall desires by running into the by-wayes of sinne, which would leade vsus to destruction. Wee are ready like wanton Oxen to leape into the forbidden pastures of carnall pleasures, because they are delightfull to our fleshly appetite; but the Lord fetteth these thorny hedges of troubles and afflictions in our way to restraine vsus from entring into them, and that out of meere mercy and louelove, seeing howsoeuer these pastures are for the present, pleasing to corrupted nature; yet, euen now they ly open to the thunder and lightning of Gods fearefull vengeance, and for the time to come, will but fatten and fit vsus for the shambles of destruction. And as they are an hedge of thornes to keep vsus from companying and feeding with the Buls of Bashan, euen wicked worldlings in the fields of iniquity; so also are they hedges & wals of defence, to preserue vsus from the assaults of our spiritual enemies, and to keep them aloofe, when as otherwise they would encounter vsus with their tentations. For, whereas wicked worldlings would haunt vsus with their companie, and corrupt vsus with their euill example, and filthy communication, if we enioyed worldly prosperity, and had such fulnesse of earthly things, that they might sucke from vsus any profit and aduantage: these troubles and afflictions doe make them to loath our companie, (as Moths doe leaue the garments that are imbittered with gall) and to flee our fellowship, seeing neither our selues, nor any thing about vsus is pleasing and delightfull to their carnall appetite. And surely this is a maine end why God afflicteth vsus, not because we hauehave formerly sinned, but that we may not sin for the time to come; not to punish vsus because we hauehave committed it, but to preuent vsus, that we be not againe ouertaken by it. So Elihu sayth, that God openeth the eares of men by their corrections, Iob. 33. 16. 17which he had sealed, that he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man, and keepe back his soule from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword. And thus the LordHos. 2. 6. 7 himselfe sayth, that hee would stop his peoples waie with thornes, that they might not goe on in their idolatry, but returne vntounto him. To this purpose one saith,Bernard. de interiori dom… cap. 46. that God foreseeing, that some of his seruants would (if they were let alone) fall into grieuous sinne, dooth for their soules health afflict their bodies to preserue them from it; because it is more profitable for them to be weakned with diseases, that they may be saued, then to remaine still in health and be condemned: For that is pernitious health, which leadeth vsus to disobedience; and that is holsome sicknesse, which being inflicted by God as the chastisement of our sinnes, doth bruise our stony hearts, and make them to become meek and humble. An example wherof we hauehave in Ionas, who when heIo…. 1. 3 intended to fly from Gods presence, with ful purpose to neglect the seruice which he had in charge to perform, was swallowed by a Whale, that so he might flie vntounto God, when he could goe no whither else, and execute his commission with boldnes (hauing learned that God was able to deliuer him out of the very iawes of death) the neglect whereof had been a grieuous sin. And thus the Lord taketh away from his children worldly honours, when he seeth that they would by them be puft vp with pride, and become insolent and vaine-glorious: thus hee depriueth them of riches, when they would be vntounto them thornes, to choake and hinder the growth of his heauenly graces, or prouocations, and incitements vntounto sinne, or the meanes and instruments to further them in wicked actions, or like camels bunches hinder them from entring into the straite gate, which leadeth vntounto happinesse. Thus hee taketh from vsus parents, children, and deare friends, when as (if we should still inioy them) we would make them our idols, setting our hearts vponupon, louing, or trusting in them, more then in God himselfe. So he depriueth vsus of our earthly pleasures, when he seeth that we would preferre them before heauenly ioyes; and causeth vsus to finde many troubles, crosses and afflictions in the world, because hee knoweth, that if it should smile and fawne vponupon vsus, wee would make a paradise of the place of our pilgrimage, set our hearts and affections vponupon these transitory trifles, and neuer care to trauell in the way of holinesse and righteousnesse which leadeth to our heauenly country. As therefore the wise and skilfull Physicion, doth not only apply medicines for the curing of diseases, when men are fallen into them, and restoratiues to repaire their decaied strength & to recouer their health; but also in time of infection, and when they see some distemper in them through the abounding of humours, doe giuegive wholesome preseruatiues, and preuenting purges, to maintaine health, & to driue away the approaching disease: so doth our heauenly Physicion vse these potions of afflictions, not only to recouer and cure vsus of the diseases of sinne, when wee are fallen into them; but also to purge away our inward corruptions, and so to preuent these deadly sicknesses of the soule, before they hauehave seased vponupon vsus, and to free vsus from al causes & occasions which would otherwise bring vsus into this dangerous condition. For; as if we be left vntounto our selues, and be neither terrified from sinne by sense of our owne chastisements, nor the terrour of others punishments, the vnregenerate part will grow so carnally secure, and proudly insolent, that it will tempt, yea pull and dragge vsus into much wickednesse: to which purpose the wise man sayth of professed worldlings; that because sentence Eccles. 8. 11against an euill worke is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to doe euill: So when we feele the smart of our former sinnes, andChrysost. in Math. 3. Hom. 3. when our flesh looseth all the pleasure it hath taken in these sweete meates, by the after-taste of these sharpe and bitter sawces of afflictions, which it is forced to feed vponupon, whether it will or no, then it is lesse licorous for the time to come, or at least doth not with that boldnesse giuegive way to it carnall appetite, in swallowing these sinfull delicates, when it knoweth that they will vpbraide it, with such a loathsome after-relish of smart and punishment. For as the spirituall man feareth only spirituall punishments, and contemneth carnall; as namely, the curse of the law, the wrath of God, the last iudgement, and hell torments; but not famine, sword, the racke or gibbet. So the flesh and part vnregenerate feareth only these corporall punishments, and neglecteth those which are spirituall and eternall: whereof it is that they who are wholly carnall, doe vtterly despise all threatnings of spirituall iudgements, and run on in a headlong course of sinne, vnlesse they bee bridled and restrained with bodily punishments. And therefore the Lord knowing this, inflicteth vponupon his seruants these outward crosses, that thereby hee may curbe in their carnall concupiscence from lusting after euill, from which if the vnregenerate part were throughly secured, it would be so importunate, and audacious in assaulting and tempting them vntounto sinne, that if it did not wholly vanquish them, yet it would often foil them with these in counters, or at lest continually trouble them and disturbe their peace.
The consideration whereof should moue vsus to beare§ Sect. 2. That the sermer consideration should worke in vsus patience in afflictions. all our afflictions with much patience and comfort. For if a valiant souldiar is willing with all cherefulnes to run through a world of miseries, rather then he would bee vanquished, and led captiue by his enimies, if with patience hee bare his heauie armour, indure hunger and thirst, heate & cold, spend the night in watching, and the day in fighting, not reckning of his rest, nor regarding wounds, that he may in the end put his enimies to flight; and if the wise patient is content not onelyonly to suffer, but to reward his Physition, when hee goeth about by bitter pills and loathsome potions, by long abstinence and strict diet to preuent diseases when they are approaching: then how much more cherefully and willingly should we vndergoe all the miseries and troubles of this spirituall warfare against sinne, Satan, and the enemies of our saluation, when as they serue as meanes and helps, whereby wee are inabled to vanquish these deadly foes, and to obtaine a glorious victory? with how much more patience and comfort should wee at the appointment of our heauenly Phisition take these bitter pills and potions of crosses and afflictions, seeing hee vseth them as soueraigne preseruatiues to keepe vsus safe and sound from the contagion and poisonous infection of sinne, and from falling into these dangerous diseases, which would bring body and soule vntounto euerlasting death.
And thus it appeareth that the Lord in our afflictions aymeth at the preuenting of those sinnes, which otherwise if wee were left vntounto our selues, wee would readily§ Sect. 3. That God first vseth meanes for the preuention of sinne; and then for the mortifying & subduing it. fall into: it followeth now further to shew, that he vsually by the same meanes mortifieth our corruptions, wherwith we are already defiled, and euen seperateth & diuorceth vsus from those sins vntounto which our carnal affections are wedded & vnited. For as the wise and faithful phisition sheweth his first care in preuenting the sicknes of his patient, & in preseruing him from falling into dangerous diseases; but if through the abundāce of corrupt humors, external accidents, & especially his own ill diet and disorder, he be already fallen into them, then his second care is to apply fit medici…s to cure him, and recouer his health: so the Lord our spirituall Phisition▪ in the first place giueth vsus wholsome preseruations, to keepe vsus in health, and to repell these diseases of the soule, that they doe not seaze vponupon vsus, but if through the inward corruption of our nature, the outward tentations of the world, or through our owne disorder and misdiet, neglecting our spirituall foode, which would nourish vsus vntounto life eternall, and furfeting vponupon carnall pleasures, and worldly delights, wee bee alreadie fallen into the sicknesse of sinne▪ then doth he by fit (though not toothsome) medicins▪ seek to heale vsus, and to recouer againe our spirituall health, wherein like a most wise and louing Phisition hee doth not labour to please our appetite, and delight our tast, but to cure our diseases which in their owne nature are most deadly, and to preserue our soules from euerlasting death. To which purpose he prescribeth vsus a long fast, after fulnes, and appointeth vsus a strict diet, causing vsus to vse sparingly, or totally to abstaine from worldly delicates, whereon formerly we hauehave surfeted, or because wee cannot rule our appetite, hee doth out of his louelove & care take them from vsus, and as it were locketh them out of our sight.
Yea, if this bee not sufficient for our recouery, hee doth vntounto these priuatiue remedies, adde positiue medicines, purging away our corrupt humors of wickednes, which hauehave beene bred in vsus by our greedy feeding vponupon delicious pleasures & sweete delights with the bitter pills and lothsome potions of troubles and afflictions, and launching our fores and impostumes of sinne and corruption, with these sharp razours and keene kniues of outward calamities and tribulations, which hauehave been bred and gathered in vsus through idlenesse and excesse. And thus the Prophet saith, that the Lord shall wash the filthines of the daughter of Sion, and purge the blood of Ierusalem Esa. 4. 4.out of the middest thereof by the spirit of iudgement, and by the spirit of burning. And that by the fire ofEzek. 24. 11. afflictions hee will melt, and so by melting purifie the filthines, and consume the scumme of the people of Israell. So the Author of the booke of Wisedome saith, that therefore the Lord chastened them by little and little, that Wis. 12. 2.offend; and warned them by putting them in remembrance wherein they had offended; that leauing their wickednesse, they might beleeue on him.
And surely these afflictions and calamities are a most§ Sect. 4. That afflictions effectually moue vsus to forsake sinne, and to leaue our former wicked courses. powerfull and profitable meanes to pull vsus with violence out of our sinnes, and to purge & cleanse vsus from our spirituall filthinesse. According to that in the Prouerbes: The blewnesse of the wound serueth to purge away euills; and so doe stripes the inward parts of the belly. For in the time of our prosperity wee hearten our selues in our wicked courses, supposing that God liketh and approueth, or at least is not much offended with our euill conuersation, because all things goe well with vsus, and no inconuenience accompanieth our sinnes, (the which conceits bring vsus to carnall security, and to such hardnes of heart, that wee shut our eares against all admonitions and reproofes, and neglect of Gods terrible threatnings, as though they were a vaine sound, and as it were but paper shot) but when wee are brought into afflictions, not only see our sinnes accompanied with sense of present smart, but also expect the continuance and increase of our calamities; then doe wee begin to examine our waies, and to call our selues to a reck… ning: and when our consciences tell vsus, that it is our sinnes which hauehave brought vponupon vsus all these miseries, and that there is no meanes to bee eased of our smart, vnles wee leaue and forsake our former wickednes, and betake our selues to a new course of life; then doe wee begin to loath these sweete meates of sinfull delights, when they are thus distasted with the sower sawce of trouble and affliction; and though heretofore there hath been a league and friendship betweene our sinnes and vsus; yet now (like malefactours when they are apprehended) we beginne to accuse and exclaime against them, as the authors of all our miseries; and are content to bring them out before our iudge to bee condemned, mortified, and crucified, that we by their ruine may escape punishment. In our prosperity wee doe not only grow cold and negligent in holy duties, but also lie open to the tentations of Sathan and the world, alluring vsus vntounto sinne, by casting before vsus the baits of earthly vanities; and though the pure gold of Gods graces remaine in vsus, yet it is much dazeled, if not quite couered with the drosse of our corruptions: and therefore the Lord is faine to cast vsus into this fiery furnace of afflictions, that hereby hee may trie vsus, and by trying purifie vsus, burning and consuming away the drosse of our sinnes, that wee may shine againe in our wonted beauty. So hee saith by the Prophet to his sinfull people, I will turn my hand vpō thee, & purely purge away thy drosse, and Esa. 1. 25.take away all thy tinne. With which consideration oneƲenit tribulatio mea, ve…iet …t purgati… m… …. August. in Psal 61. …nar. comforteth himselfe, because his tribulation was but his purgation, whereby hee was freed from the drosse of sinne. For which purpose the Lord like a skilfull goldsmith vseth the world for his furnace, the diuell and wicked men as straw and fewell to maintaine this fire of affliction, which doe but consume themselues whilst they purifie Gods elect (like good gold) from the drosse of their corruptiōs. In the time of our prosperity, though we be Gods good graine, yet is our spirituall part mixed and ioyned with the chaffe and straw of our corruptions, and therefore our heauenly husbandman doth as it were thrash vsus with the flaile of affliction, and fauneth and winnoweth vsus with trialls and tribulations, that being purged and made cleane, we may be fit for his own store. Whilst we lie at ease and are not moued, we become, like standing waters, corrupt and noisome, and are fit to breed and bring forth nothing, but those ougly toades and venemous serpents of sinne and wickednesse which viper-like kill and destroy them, from whom they hauehave their existence and being; but when we are stirred and troubled, or hauehave a passage and current ouer the sands and stones of affliction and misery, then are we purified from the slime of corruption, and doe attaine vntounto christaline purity. We are ready in our prosperity like iron vnused, to rust in our corruption; and therefore the Lord vseth these files of affliction to scoure away this rust and canker of sinne, that we may become bright and smooth in our integrity and holinesse, and when like clothes we are soiled, and become fowle with the filth of iniquity, then doth he wash and rinse beate and wring vsus in those waters of tribulation, that so we may beeExteri…ri vulnere …n…tur plaga interi…r. Sic …nim irasceris vt mansuescas, affl…gi…▪ …t part as▪ pr… st…rnis vt erig… Idiota inter …rthod…x. de patien. v…r… contempl. ca. 1… made cleane from this spirituall pollution. By all which, Gods louelove appeareth in our afflictions, seeing they tend not at all to our hurt and destruction, but only to purifie and cleanse vsus from the loathsome filth of sin, and from those foule corruptions which make both our bodies and soules ougly in Gods sight; and fit for no place, but that dark blacke dungeon of hell and destruction. So that as one saith, he doth by wounding vsus outwardly cure vsus inwardly, he is angry for the present, that he may be mild and mercifull for euer after, he afflicteth vsus that he may spare vsus, and casteth vsus downe that he may more highly adu…unce vsus. Neither do we in our part regenerate receiue hereby any hurt and dammage, but rather much profit and benefitt; for whilest the outward man decayeth, the inward man is renewed daily, whilest the drosse of our corruption is consumed, the golden graces of Gods holy spirit are purified, and shine more gloriously in the sight of all men: whilest the flesh with theSub manu tant… artificis auri mica in magn… palea perire non potest▪ Quanta ibi palea? quam modicum aurum? sed noli timere, tantus est artifex vt purgare possit, perdere non possit. Aug. serm. 254. Tom. 10. lusts thereof are mortified and subdued, the spirit is reuiued, ruleth and reigneth; and the more fiercely our old man is encountred with crosses and afflictions, the more weake assaults it giueth to the new man and part regenerate. Nor neede we, whilest we are thus purified, to feare that the small scruples and few graines of Gods graces in vsus will be lost, and perish in the huge heape of our drosse and chaffe; for (as one saith) in another case, the least graine of this spirituall gould cannot miscarie vnderunder the hand of such an excellent artisan: and so skilfull and carefull is this heauenly workeman, that in our purging we cannot neuer perish.
And vntounto this efficacy and vertue of afflictions freeing§ Sect. 5. That afflictions cause vsus carefully to vse all good meanes for the mortifying of our sinnes. vsus from our sins and corruptions, when they are inflicted on vsus, we may further adde, that they are of necessary vse, as they worke in vsus a care and desire of applying vntounto vsus both these and all other good meanes, that we may be freed from them; for though we be in our soules sicke in sinne to the very death, yet naturally we are so in louelove with our diseases, that we neuer seeke to be cured of them, but rather this sickenesse seemeth health, and our spiritual health is shunned as a disease, and therfore (as one saith) seeing when our soules are grieuouslyChrysost. in Ioh. Hom. 37. sicke, we hauehave no sense of paine, nor desire of remedie, but with great diligence seeke to ease the body of the least infirmitie; therefore God for the sinne of the soule doth afflict the body, that by the punishment and paine of the worser part, the better and more noble may be moued to seeke after the curing of it spiritual diseases. Though we are much indaungerd by our inward impostumes of sinne and corruption, so long as we are at ease, and in our outward estate in good plight and liking, we neuer looke for helpe and remedy; but when rankling and festring in our terrified consciences and afflicted spirits, they put vsus to grieuous paine and intollerable torment, then do we sue and seeke vntounto our heauenly Surgeon, and are content that hee should not onelyonly apply vntounto vsus, the healing plaisters of his mercies, but also the sharpe corrasiues of crosses and afflictions; yea, that he should cut and launch, binde and seare vsus, that by this present paine, wee may be freed from euerlasting torment.
Finally, though our sinnes and corruptions, like filthy Sodomites, doe vexe our righteous soule and regenerate part dwelling with them, through their impiety; yet so are we made drunken with their sweete delights, and allured with the bewitching pleasures which do accompany them, that we are loath, euen when God commaundeth vsus, to leaue their society, if we were not pulled from them with a diuine violence, and as it were forced to flee from them, by this fire of afflictions.
But as our crosses and calamities serue notably for the mortifying of all sinnes, so more especially these sinnes§ Sect. 6. That God by afflictions mortifieth our pride, carnall concupiscence, and selfe-louelove. of pride, carnall concupiscence, selfe-louelove, and louelove of the world; for whereas in the time of our prosperity, we are apt not only to magnifie our selues, and to hauehave a great opinion of our worth and excellencie, but hauehave also the applause of others to puffe vsus vp, which maketh pride to goe with full sayles, hauing got so faire a gale of vulgar breath and the wind of vaine glory to blow it forward: when we are in aduersity and affliction▪ we are as much humbled and cast downe in our owne conceit, as in the opin…on of others, who now as much neglect and contemne vsus, as they did before extoll and magnifie vsus; and when these tempests of troubles blow, we strike all the sayles of pride, comming then to a true sight and vnpartiall valuation of our selues, when as being stripped of worldly ornaments we appeare in our nakednesse. And thus Elihu saith, that God openeth the eares of men by their Iob. 33. 17corrections, that he might cause them to turne from their enterprise, and hide the pride of man. So also our carnall concupiscence and lusts of the flesh, are exceedingly mortified with troubles and afflictions; for whereas case and prosperity is the fuell of this fire, affliction and misery is the water wherewith it is extinguished and quenched, whereas that is the dainty foode and plentiful nourishment, wherewith the flesh with the lusts thereof are fed, and the old man made strong and vigorous, this bread of affliction and water of tribulation, doth pine and weaken it, so as it is easily mastered and subdued by the spirituall part: whereas that affordeth plentifull matter of tentations, and ministreth in this spirituall warfare weapons and munition vntounto this enemy of our saluation; this disarmeth him of all his strength, pulleth out of his hand his preuailing weapons, and so maketh him easie to be ouercome. And therefore, if when ou… houses be a fire, wee are much comforted, if store of water bee brought whereby it may be quenched; how much more should we be filled with comfort and consolation, when our soules inflamed with the fire of concupiscence, hauehave this fire extinguished with the water of afflictions? and if, when a pernitious and bloody enemy maketh warre against vsus, we exceedingly reioyce, if we can by any means weaken him, famishing him for want of victualls, and intercepting his prouision of armour, weapons and munition: then surely we hauehave no cause of excessiue sorrow in our afflictions, but rather in this regard may iustly triumph with ioy; seeing by this meanes those mortall enemies, the lusts of our flesh, which continually fight against our soules, are weakned of their chiefe strength, famished for want of foode, and spoiled and disarmed of their most preuailing weapons. The like also may bee sayd of selfe-louelove, the heate whereof is exceedingly cooled and abated with troubles and afflictions; for howsoeuer, when we are adorned with worldly ornaments, and curiously painted with the false colours of prosperity, like vaine women we admire our counterfait beauty, and like the young fonling, wee dot… vponupon the deceiuing shadow of a lying complexion, as though it were naturall and affixed vntounto vsus by God, and not accidentall and aduentitious, acquired and gotten by our deceiuing art and industry: yet when by outward calamities wee are dis-roabed of all our glittering brauery, and hauehave our false colours washed away with the waters of afflictions; when we are weather-beaten with the tempests of tribulation, and appeare no better then we are, in our owne fauour and complexion, then as the louelove of others is weaned from vsus, who affected vsus onelyonly for our counterfait beauty and outward brauery, so do we begin to loath our selues, when looking in the glasse of the lawe, wee see that all outward helpes hauehave fayled and forsaken vsus, and that we are left in our owne fowlenesse and deformity. An example whereof wee hauehave in Iob, who though he were but too much in louelove with his owne worth and excellency in his prosperity, as may appeare by his discourses in the time of his afflictions, wherein he complaineth that this smart exceeded his sin, and iustifieth himselfe with some impeachment to Gods infinite righteousnesse; yet when at length he was throughly humbled, his selfe-louelove is turned intoIob. 42. 6 loathing, and abhorring himselfe, he repenteth in dust and ashes.§ Sect. 7. That we wold immoderately louelove the world if we were not weaned from it by afflictiōs.
But aboue all other sinnes these afflictions are most powerfull and profitable, for the mortifying of the louelove of the world and worldly vanities, vntounto which naturally we are so much addicted. For howsoeuer these earthly things are most vaine and momentary, and the louelove of them not only foolish and fruitlesse, but also dangerous and pernitious; yet is there such an inseparable league and liking betweene them and our corrupt flesh, that the child doth not with greater fondnesse cling to the mothers breast, then our affections do naturally adhere vntounto these transitory trifles. Yea so are we fixed and fastned, and (as it were) glued, nailed and riuetted vntounto them, that whilest we securely enioy our carnall louelove, and hauehave the full fruition of our worldly desires, we might as easily be perswaded, to pull the skin from our flesh, or the flesh from our bones, as to weane our affections from this bewitching strumpet. Now this worldly louelove is such a dangerous sicknesse, that if wee were not cured of it, it would bring vsus at last to a dessperate consumption in all grace and goodnesse, and to euerlasting death both of body and soule; for faith in God, and confidence in earthly things, will not stand together, we cannot serue God and Mammon, we cannot louelove the Lord and louelove the world: for, (as the Apostle sayth) the amity of the world, is the emnity of God, and whosoeuer Iam. 4. 4maketh himselfe a friend to the one, he thereby maketh himselfe an enemy to the other. For though our heart be a vessell which is capable of the liquor of louelove, yet that which is heauenly and spirituall wil not be mixed in it with that which is worldly and carnall; and the more full it is of the one, the more destitute and empty it is ofVas es, sed vas plenum; euacua quod tenes, ad recipi endum id quod desideras, e…aeua a…rem mundi, vt replearis amore Dei, Aug. in terminis suis. the other. And therefore if we would be replenished with the diuine louelove of God, we must powre and cast out our vnprofitable louelove of earthly things. To which purpose one sayth; Thou art a vessell, but such an one as is already full▪ empty out that which thou containest, that thou maiest receiue that which thou desirest, cast out the louelove of the world, that thou maist be filled with the louelove of God.
Againe, it is the nature of louelove to make louers like, and to transforme the party louing, as much as may be, into the party beloued; and therfore whosoeuer louethSicut cibus adhaeret vasi in quo coquitur nisi moueatur, & perdit saporem debitum, debitum que colorem: sic cor hominis adhaeret isti mundo nisi moveatur per afflictiones. Idiota in orthodox. de patien. verae contempl. cap. 3. the world, & in his heart and appetite adhereth vntounto it, he becommeth carnall and worldly, if by some crosses and afflictions hee bee not weaned from it. And as the milke or meate, if it be not moued and stirred, adhereth and sticketh to the vessell in which it is boyled, and loosing it owne sweetnesse and sauour, receiueth from it a loathsome sent; so if wee be not often tossed and troubled with crosses and afflictions, we will easily in our affections stick fast vntounto the world, and loosing the sweet relish of vertue and piety, we will sauour of this stinking vessell, and so become noisome in the nostrils of God: yea, if we alwaies enioyed the world at will, and had continually our fill of earthly delights, then would we neuer care for the ioies of heauen, nor vse any means to come vntounto them; if our earthly house were safe and pleasant, and neither tottering and ruinous, nor haunted with these spirits and bug-beares of misery and affliction, wee would neuer bee willing to flit and change our habitation, but after one lease of life were expired, we would desire aboue all things to hauehave another renued, and neuer care to come into those heauenly mansions which our Sauiour Christ hath prepared for vsus. If this our pilgrimage in the world were full of pleasures and delights, and had in it no crosses or dangers; if we had alwaies faire way and easie iourneies, still passed through sweete fields and flowrie meddowes, if we had merry company and faithfull friends in all our trauailes, and had not onelyonly dainty fare, soft lodging, and kinde entertainment at our …nnes, but also had wealth at will to defray all charges; then surely would we make a paradise of our pilgrimage, and neuer thinke of going forwards towards our heauenly country. As wee may see by plentifull experience in the world, where it is hard to finde any which are noble, rich, and abounding in earthly pleasures, who would not be content to set vp here their rest, if so they might; and neuer desire heauenly happinesse and eternall glory. Yea contrariwise, they abhorre death which separateth them from their earthly delight, as the greatest euill, and therefore are neuer so grieuously sicke, but that they would still be content to endure their paine, that they may stil enioy the world, and are patient of all things but of parting with their louelove.
And therefore the Lord in infinite mercy and goodnesse§ Sect. 8. That the Lord in great mercy sendeth afflions to weane vsus from the louelove of the world. towards vsus, dooth cause vsus to meete with manie crosses and calamities, that they may weane vsus from this fond louelove, and make vsus more ardently affect the ioyes of his kingdome. Hee causeth vsus in our pilgrimage to passe through the thorns and briars of troubles and afflictions, to be assaulted with enemies, and endangered by theeues, to finde in our trauels fowle weather and filthy wayes, to bee pinched with wants, and tired with labours, to hauehave rude entertainment, hard lodging, and course fare in these our Innes; and in a word, hee afflicteth vsus with sicknesse and pouerty, with toyle and trauell, hunger and thirst, cares, feares and troubles of minde, oppressions of superiours, and iniuries of our equals, that so we may loath the world where we hauehave such hard measure offered vsus, and long to arriue safely in our heauenly country, where wee shall be freed from all these miseries, and enioy perfect happinesse. For, though with Iacob we were spent with cares, and worne with labours, yet we could be content to dwell stil with this worldly Laban for the base hire of earthly vanities; and though he often deceiue vsus of our wages, and promise that which hee neuer mindeth to pay, yet so long as he speaketh vsus faire and fawneth vponupon vsus, wee neuer thinke of leauing his companie; and therefore the Lord causeth this Churle to change his countenance, to turne his smiles into frownes, his flattery into furly menaces, and vniust oppression, that so we may bee moued to loath his base seruitude, and hauehave a desire wrought in vsus of returning into our countrie. Wee are farre in louelove with this earthly Aegypt, and take such pleasure in the garlike and onions of worldly profits, and to glut our selues with the flesh-pots of carnall delights, that if with some peace and ease we might still enioy them, and hauehave Iosephs honour and esteeme ioyned with our plenty, we would neuer desite to come out of this seruitude, nor make any haste towards our heauenly Canaan. And therfore the Lord suffereth the spirituall Pharaoh and these worldly Aegyptians to rage against vsus, to spoile vsus of our goods, rob vsus of our children, and to oppresse and weare vsus out with vnrewarded labours, that wee may grone and cry vntounto the Lord for deliuerance earnestly desire that glorious liberty of the sonnes of God, and trauell more cheerfull towards the holy land: we adhere to the world with our hearts and affections, like the wheare in the eare, to the chaffe and straw, and if wee were let alone, would neuer part with it, till we were both consumed in the furnace of Gods wrath; and therefore the Lord in louelove and mercy towards vsus thrasheth vsus with afflictions, that hee may separate vsus from it, and preserue it from perishing. And as the nursing mother, being with childe, desireth to wean her sucking infant from her hurtfull and vnwholsome milke; and for the effecting of it, thinketh it in vaine, in respect of the childs fondnesse and small vnderstanding, to vse only reasons to disswade it from the breast, or to tell it, that her milke is vn wholsome and will breed diseases, but rather layeth mustard or worme-wood vponupon the teate, the bitternesse where of hee no sooner tasteth, but he beginneth to loath his former louelove, and though he wanteth the vse of reason, yet is taught by sense to leaue that which is so distastfull: so the Lord intending to weane vsus fondlings from worldly delights, and seeing it is not enough (in regard of our childish dotage, found affection and small wit) to tel vsus by his word what manifold mischiefes accompany our foolish louelove; hee doth therefore embitter these pappes of pleasure with the worme-wood of afflictions, and so intermixeth with miseries our carnall delights, that though reason will not rule vsus, yet at least by our sense and taste, wee may be moued to loath these earthly vanities.
To which purpose one sayth, that our afflictions inGregor. epist. ex regist. indict. 4. cap. 70 the world befall vsus through the dispensation of Gods most wise and gracious prouidence, that whilest God by his word and truth, out of meere louelove, calleth vsus out of the world; the world also at the same time should by the tribulations which it inflicteth, alienate our harts, and euen thrust vsus from it: for the minde doth so much the more easily escape and come out of the labyrinth of worldly louelove, by how much the more forcibly it is thrust forward when God calleth it. For, then doe wee most earnestly desire to leaue the world, and to goe into our heauenly country, when with Elias we are persecuted by it and flee for our liues. Then do we with Paul defire…. King. 19. 4 Phil. 1. 23 to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ, when the world esteemeth vsus the off-scouring of al things and inflicteth on vsus most grieuous afflictions; then doe wee long after the glorious crowne of victory, when we are toyled and tired, foyled and wounded in the spirituall war-fare; then do we heartily wish to arriue in the hauen of eternall rest, when as we are indangered with boisterous tempests, and tossed and turmoiled with the waues of misery: then do we desire the end of our iourney when we are tired with weary trauaile, passe many daungers, and finde hard entertainment in this strange country. And in a word, then do we only with ardency of affection, seek after the fruition of God and the ioies of his kingdome, when being in sicknesse and pouertie, contempt and disgrace, forsaken by friends and oppressed by enemies, wee cannot enioy any worldly comforts.
And surely happy is our estate, if at least, afflictions§ Sect. 9. That we dote on the world though it be miserable, and therfore much more fondly would we affect it, if wee found in it nothing but prosperity. can moue vsus to loath the vvorld, and to long after true happinesse, vsing all good meanes to attaine vntounto it; for though in themselues they be a most powerfull meanes to weane vsus from the louelove of earthly vanities; yet so do our hearts naturally cleane to the world, and so are they not onelyonly glewed, but euen pinned and nailed vntounto it, that the water of afflictions cannot dissolue and seuer them, but like the Israelites, after wee hauehave long beene oppressed in this grieuous seruitude with innumerable miseries, and through Gods mercy being deliuered out of it, hauehave set our faces toward the heauenly Canaan, with a purpose to trauell towards the place of our rest, we are ready to forget all our oppressions and calamities, our toylesome labours and tormenting stripes inflicted vponupon vsus by the vniust world our former maister, and onelyonly remembring the flesh-pots of carnall pleasures, and the transitorie benefits which wee enioyed in the land of our captiuity, wee are weary of our iourney, and thinke of returning into our former bondage, that so wee may re-gaine our sinnefull delights. The which we would accordingly put in practice, if the Lord should leaue vsus vntounto our selues, and should not onelyonly draw vsus forward by his word and holy spirit, and allure vsus to goe on by his gracious promises, and by setting before vsus, as in a mappe, the pleasantnesse and excellency of our heauenly country: but also cause the world to renew daily our troubles and afflictions, to pursue and perseoute vsus with fresh rage and malice, and (as it were) to follow vsus at the heeles, and whippe vsus forward with new calamities.
By al which it may appeare that the Lord in great mercy and louelove doth send vponupon vsus these crosses and calamities, that he may hereby weane vsus from the louelove of the world, which is so dangerous and pernitious, vponupon which wee would vnmeasurably dote to our destruction, if our affection …ere not somewhat cooled; yea, euen pulled from it by these violent meanes. For if the world being bitter to our taste, is not for all this loathsome and distastfull to our carnall appetite, how vnmeasurably would we affectA marus est mundus & tamenamatur; caducus est & tamen inhabitatur. Quid acturi si mundus esset dulcis & stabll i…? … munde immundi cum decipias cum si… amarus, cui non imponeres, si esset dulcis? August lib. de symbolo. it, if it were sweet and toothsome? if these earthly habitations being …tering, ruinous, and ready eueryevery day to ouerwhelme vsus with their fall, we neuerthelesse desire to dwell in them, how loath would wee be to leaue them if they were strong and stately, d…rable and permanent? If we delight still to sayle in this sea of worldly miseries, being obnoxious to stormes and tempests, wracks and piracies, and neuer care to come into the hauen of happinesse, what would we doe, if we had at pleasure quiet calmes, & prosperous windes, a faire passage and safe from all daungers? If we take contentment in our pilgrimage, and make no hast vntounto our heauenly country, when as our waie is not so fowle and full of thornes, our iourney so painefull and dangerous, and our intertainement among these worldly Cannibals so bad & barbarous; what a paradice would we esteeme it, and what little account would we make of our euerlasting mansions, if we bad a pleasant passage, an easie iourney, and kinde vsage in this strange countrie? If wee be found on this worldly harlot being so vgly and desormed, how would we dote on it, if it were faire and beautifull? This false world deceiueth vsus, and yet we trust it, how then would we rest and relie vponupon it, if it were faithfull & neuer failed vsus? It frowneth vponupon vsus and yet wee affect it, how fond therfore would we be on it, if it smiled and fawned? It crosseth & afflicteth vsus, and yet we hugge and imbrace it, O then! how would our hearts cling & cleaue vntounto it, if it made vsus his darlings, and did cocker vsus with fauors? The Lord hath filled it with miseries, and yet we are loath to exchange them for ioy & blessednesse: what cartropes then or cables could pull vsus from it, if it were full of comforts without crosses, & had no gall iningled with it sweetnesse? It is full of troubles, wars, and contentions, secret traitors, open enemies, and false friends, and yet we grieue when wee thinke of leauing it: how would wee therefore surfeit of sorrow, if inioying quiet peace, sweet concord, and faithfull friendship, wee should be forced to forgoe it? we are still, whilest wee continue in it, tormented with cares and feares, subiect to innumerable dangers, and hauehave still in sight terrible tragedies, expecting daily when wee shall be called out to act our part, and yet we cannot with patience think of our departure; O! what a death then would departing be, if we were quiet and secure, hauing all that we could desire, and not fearing to be robbed of any of our delights? we are, whilest we remaine in this vale of teares, subiect to sicknesse & pouertie, contempt and disgrace, and yet we doe not sigh and groane after our full redemption, when as we shall bee freed from all these miseries: how farre therefore would we be from the least desire of exchanging our estate, if we were healthyQuamuis inaestimabilis sit coelestis patriae d…l… edo quae trahat, multi tamen in hac vita dolores sūt qui ad amorem coelestium quotid…è imp…llūt; qui mihi in hoc ipso sol…m vehementer placent, quia placere in hoc mundo aliquid non permittunt Gregor. epist. ex Register. lib. 4 Indict. 13. cap. 79. and wealthy, highly honoured, and in all wee doe applauded with mens praises? In a word, the world persecuteth and killeth vsus and yet we louelove it as our liues, what an idoll then would we make of it, and how farre would wee preferre it before the saluation of our soules if it did like and louelove vsus, cherish and desend vsus? Most gratiously therfore doth our good God deale with vsus when seeing vsus besotted with this pernitious louelove, hee causeth the world to deale roughly with vsus, that so by smart and sense of paine, our minds may be somewhat alienated and weaned from it. And thrice happie are we in our greatest afflictions, if Gods spirit working with them, they become meanes to make vsus contemne the world, as being in it selfe vile and of no worth, and vntounto vsus a dangerous and mortall enemie; or at least doe so moderate and qualifie the heate of our louelove, that it doe not exceede the louelove of God and ioyes of his kingdome, nor hinder vsus from vsing any good meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto the fruition of them.
And thus doe afflictions not only mortifie our carnall lusts, but also our worldly louelove, preseruing vsus from lusting§ Sect. 10. That the louelove of the world if it were not mortified in vsus would betray vsus to the temptations of the diuell. and longing immoderately after these earthly vanities, and consequently from many snares of the Deuill with which we should easily be intangled, if wee were in louelove with these alluring baits. For if wee were left to our owne libertie, we would lie open to innumerable dangers, and like silly birds hungring after our worldly pray, wee would be ready to stoope to eueryevery baite which Sathan, like a cunning fowler, layeth before vsus, and so bee catched in his nets of perdition. From which which dangers the Lord preserueth vsus whilest hee vseth afflictions as a cage to keepe vsus from our hurtfull libertie, and to restraine vsus from the seeing, desiring, or preying vponupon these baites of destruction. To which purpose one saith, that God in his infiniteGreg moral. l…b. 33. cap. 17 wisedome doth threaten, correct and keepe vnderunder with painefull labours his most faithfull and best deseruing seruants, because he seeth that if they inioyed ease and libertie, they would lye open to the wounds of their spirituall enemies. And therefore hee exerciseth them outwardly with stripes and labours, that they may not be pearced inwardly with the fierie darts of the Deuils tentations. Whilest we inioy the prosperity of the world, we are easily lulled a sleepe in carnall securitie; and then as wee may be easily wounded with Sathans tentations, when we doe not stand vponupon our owne defence; so are we easily robbed by this subtill theefe of the riches of Gods graces; for then they are pulled from vsus at vnawares with the least strength of tētations, yea (as it fareth with them who sleep soundly and securely) forgetting what iewels wee hold in our hands, wee let them fall of our selues, though no outward violence should plucke them from vsus: But when wee are kept waking with troubles and afflictions, then wee watch ouer these spiritual treasures, and neither suffer Sathan to spoile vsus of them by his theeuish sleights, nor to pull them away by force and violence, but the harder the Diuell draweth, the faster we hold; the more carnestly hee indeuoureth to disroabe and strip vsus of these rich ornaments of spirituall gifts, the more carefully we wrap them about vsus; and the more seruently we implore the Lords aide, when wee finde our selues vnable to withstand his might.
By all which it appeareth, that the afflictions of the§ Sect. 11. That we are much to reioyce in afflictions, seeing God vseth them as meanes to mortifie our sinnes. faithfull are vsed by God as a notable means, to strengthen and defend vsus from the spiritual enemies of our saluation, and to heale those grieuous wounds of sinne which we get in this spirituall conflict. The consideration whereof should make vsus beare all our crosses and calamities with patience and comfort, yea with ioy and thanksgiuing, seeing by suffering these smaller euils of present smart, wee are freed from these greater euils of sinne and corruption, which if they still continued and liued in vsus, would make vsus obnoxious, not onelyonly to Gods temporary plagues and punishments, but to euerlasting condemnation of body and soule. For are wee vexed with sicknes, & pained with outward griefs? Let vsus beare them with patience, seeing God by the sicknes of the body, doth cure the soule of more desperate diseases; and much better it is to burne with the heate of a feauer, then with the heate of sinfull concupiscence, which will inflame against vsus Gods fearefull wrath, and euerlastingly burne vsus in the fire of hell. Are wee in painefull seruitude and subiection, and misused and oppressed by those who rule ouer vsus? let vsus beare all with comfort, seeing God hereby doth free vsus from the seruitude of sinne; and much better it is to be seruants vntounto men, then to be slaues to our owne vices; for that is temporary and wil soone hauehave an end; but the slauery of sin, maketh vsus to become also Sathans bond-men, out of whose thraldome if we escape not in this life, by true repentance, we shall by this tyrant be for euer embondaged in the prison of hell: are wee spoiled and disposessed of our worldly riches, and are wee pinched with pouerty, and want earthly necessaries? let vsus bee well contented with Gods good pleasure, seeing by these worldly wants he preserueth vsus from spirituall penury, and taketh away from vsus these momentany trifles, that Sathan may not rob vsus of our heauenly treasures: when we hauehave in our bodies wounds or deepe festered sores, we voluntarily send for the Chirurgeon, and yeeld our selues into his hands to be vsed at his discretion, for the effecting of the cure; we are content that he should not only apply healing plaisters, but tormenting corrasiues, and that hee should search our sores to the bottome, launch and seare, yea cut of a member for the preseruation of the whole body: And fearing lest we shou…d not hauehave courage and strength enough to endure these tortures, we are willing to bee bound, that we may not by our strugling and striuing hinder him in his courses: So when we are diseased we craue the helpe of the learned Physition, and are content for the curing of our sicknes, to follow his direction, to swallow bitter pils & loathsome potions, to vse strict diet or totall abstinence, and to eate, drinke, sleepe and labour, not according to our appetite and naturall disposition, but according to his direction and prescription; yea, all this we not only patiently endure, but are ready to gratifie their painesƲide…e fratres mei in istis languoribus corporis, quāta homines tolerent, vt p…u…os dies victuri moriantur, & h…s paucos dies incertos, &c. Aug. in Psal. 102. enarrat. with thankfulnesse and reward. And therefore if in vncertaine hope to recouer the health of our bodie, which can last but for a moment, and is ready presently after the cure to languish againe, falling into a relapse of the old griefe, or into other diseases more dangerous then they, we are content to endure all these miseries at the appointment of mortall men, who often are vnfaithful, seeking more their owne gaine then our health, and often vnskilfull; neither truly knowing the nature of our disease, nor the meanes how to cure it: How much more should we with all alacrity and cheerefulnesse, endure any crosses and afflictions, when they are vsed as medicines and salues by our heauenly Physition & Chirurgeon, for the curing & healing our soules of the dangerous diseases and sores of sin, which would bring vsus in the end vntounto euerlasting death; seeing we are certainlyIdeo Domine percutis vt sanes nos, & occides nos, ne moriamur abs te. assured that he will by this meanes recouer vsus vntounto perfect and neuer-decaying health; as being most faithfull and carefull ouer vsus, and in his wisdome and skill infinite and all-sufficient for the effecting of the cure.
Let vsus not therfore look so much to our present smart as to our future health; not to the paine we feele, but to the ease and comfort which we assuredly hope for, and considering that the Lord woundeth to the end he may heale vsus, and killeth our bodies with a temporary death, to preserue bod… …nd soule from death euerlasting: Let vsus ioyfully submit our selues vntounto his will, crying out with one: O Lord here launce and seare mee, so thatDomine hic vre, hic seca, vt in posterum sanes. thou wilt be pleased hereafter to heale me. Our Physisition doth make these outward blisters in our bodies, to drawe out the poisonous corruption that is in our soules, and doth trouble vsus a little (as it were) vvith some speciall itch or bleach in the skinne, that hee may free vsus from the inward putrefaction of sinne, and allay the heate of our inflamed concupiscence: And therefore let vsus endure that which he imposeth with patience, and neuer murmur against him for effecting his cure; knowing that it is but childish folly to abhorre the medicine more then the disease, and that we count them madde men which rage against the Physicion, who intendeth their recouery. Let vsus rather reioice that the Lord is contented to minister vntounto vsus, because, seeing he vndertakes to cure vsus by these medicines, it is a signe that we are not past recouery; for when in our diseases our estate is desperate, he leaueth vsus to our owne appetite, to hauehave what our hearts can desire, and to take our fil of the pleasures of sinne: whereas hee giueth bitter potions, and prescribeth a strict diet, launceth and seareth, cauterizeth and cutteth those who are curable and likely to recouer. And better it is (as one sayth) to sustaine vnderunderHieron. in epist. ad …grotum … micum. Tom. 4. the hands of our Physition a transitory torment, then forsaking him and refusing the meanes of our recouery, to incurre such a punishment as will euerlastingly vex vsus with hellish tortures. For these medicines of afflictions put to paine those whom our Physition in louelove intendeth to cure, who by grieuing vsus freeth vsus from our griefes, &c. and by hurting cureth vsus, that our health may be endeared by our former heauinesse.
But thou wilt say that thy affliction is so greeuous and intollerable, that there can be no place for patience in§ Sect. 12. That our grieuous afflictions argue our grieuous sins. the bearing of it. To which I answere, that if thy affliction be greeuous, so likewise is thy …e; for the Lord our heauenly Phisition and Chirurgeon, fitteth his medecines and meanes of curing, according to the nature and quality of our diseases and sores: And as earthly Physitions vary their remedies, according to the state of their patients and nature of their sicknesses, giuing vntounto one gentle potions, and to another strong purgations; and as Surgeons out of their skill and discretion apply vntounto small cuts healing plaisters, but when they meete with an impostume or deep festered wound, they cauterize and launch, seare and burne: so the Lord for the curing of lesser corruptions inflicteth lesser crosses, and for those sinnes which are hainous and enormious, more greeuous miseries and more heauy calamities. An example whereof wee hauehave in the people of Iuda, who for their outragious sinnes had heauie punishments inflicted on them. I hauehave stricken thee (sayth the Lord)Ier. 30. 14. 15 with the wound of an enemy, and with a sharpe chastisement for the multitude of thine iniquities, because thy sinnes were increased: Why cryest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable, for the multitude of thine iniquities, because thy sinnes were increased, I hauehave done these things vntounto thee. Look not therfore so much to the greatnesse of thy smart, as to the hamousnesse of thy sinne, not to the bitternesse of the medicine, or the torture of the corrasiue, but to the desperatnesse of thy disease, and to the deepnesse of thy festered wounds; for (as one saith)Dolor flagelli temperatur, cū culpa cognoscitur, quia tantò quisq▪ ferramentum medici patientius tolerat, quanto magis putridum conspicit esse quod secat, &c. qui… per hoc quod culpae pondus agnoscitur, afflictionis poen… leuigatur. Gre. moral. lib. 10. cap. 5. the griefe of affliction is much qualified, when as wee see and acknowledge the greatnesse of our sinne, euen as eueryevery one doth more patiently endure the launcher of the Surgeon, the more rotten and festered he seeth the sore to be, which is cut and searched; and the heauier we feele the burthen of sinne, the more light wee shall finde the burthen of affliction. Yea, (wilt thou say) but my sinnes are not so great, nor my sores so incurable, that I should neede such sharpe remedies and grieuous afflictions to bee freed from them▪ I answere, that thy Iudge is able to discerne of the greatnesse of thy faults, and thy Physition of the disease, better then thy selfe who beeing a party and Patient, art blinded with selfeloue, and partiall in thy iudgement. Either then thy sinnes are in their owne nature heinous, or are aggrauated by circumstances, being committed against knowledge and conscience, or exemplary to the scandall of others; they are great in themselues, or through the hardnesse of thy heart, hard to be cured, or being small alone, they are not small to thee; seeing thou wilt by no meanes part with them, but resoluest still to continue in them. For, as a man holdeth fast in his hand a smal staff, when as a great post is easily pulled from him: So do we oftentimes retaine our lesser sins with greater pertinacy, then our more hainous offences, and so make them grieuous by our persisting in them, which were more light in their owne nature. Neither is there any thing that doth more aggrauate our sins in the sight of God, then when they are ioyned with impenitency, and answerably nothing doth more incense him vntounto wrath, or draw downe vponupon vsus more heauy iudgements; according to that sentence, so often in the same chapter repeated: If ye walke stubbornely against me, and will not obey Leuit. 26. 21mee, I will then bring seauen times more plagues vponupon you, according to your sinnes. Yea, (will some say) but mine afflictions are not only grieuous, but also in their continuance long & tedious. I answer, that as thou makest them heauy through thine impatiency, so thou makest them long by continuing in thy sin; for, our afflictions are light, or they are not long, either they may bee borne with some ease, or else they are soone taken from vsus: Howsoeuer it is, assure thy selfe that whether they are light or heauie, they continue vponupon thee, not for want of mercy in God to ease thee, but for want of grace in thee which might make thee fit to finde ease. For, if thy sores of sinne were healed, there would bee no neede further to apply these salues of afflictions; If thy wounds were open and the core of corruption drawne out, thine heauenly Surgeon would not lay vponupon them still these corrasiues of calamities. If thou were throughly cleansed from these corrupt humors of sinne which ouerthrow thy spirituall health, thy Physition would not vex thee with any more strong & loathsome medicines: but though these salue… hauehave bin often applied, yet thy sores are stil festered in the bottom; thogh thou hast already drunke many potions of trouble and afflictions, yet the melancholicke humours of sin, are so tough, and stick so fast in the inward parts, that they areSub medicament… positus vrcris, secaris. Clamas, non audit medicus advol…ntatem sed ad santtatem. August in Psa. 21. enarrat not yet purged away. And therfore though thou callest and criest to hauehave the corrasiues remoued, and to hauehave no more of these loathsome purges of tribulation and misery ministred vntounto thee; yet thy heauenly Surgeon & physition hauing vndertaken to cure thee, and not to please thee; continueth still the vse of these meanes till thy sicknesses and sores of sinne be sufficiently healed, and therefore though thou criest and callest for ease, yet he heareth thee not, according to thy will, but so as it will agree with the recouery of thy health.
Whatsoeuer then our afflictions bee, and how long soeuer they continue vponupon vsus, let vsus labour to bear them§ Sect. 13. That if we endure much with patience to be …ased of temporall euils much mor… shoul… we b…are to be freed fr… those whi… are eue…lasting. August. in Psa. 102. Enarrat. with patience and comfort, seeing we are naturally sick in sinne, and he that made vsus, best knoweth how to cure vsus. He vnderstandeth our secret infirmities and inward diseases, and well knoweth how to apply fit meanes for our recouery, and when it is best for vsus to hauehave them taken away. We trust earthly physitions, though they commit many errors: for (as one saith) they that goe about to cure vsus▪ did not make vsus. How much more then shold we commit our selues into the hands of God? who hath made our soules and bodies; and therefore well knoweth how to re-create that which he hath created, and to reforme that which he hath formed? we suffer vnderunder the hands of men certaine torment for vncertaine health, and many, whilst they are drawne on with false hopes, die vnderunder the hands of their surgeons and physitions; or if they recouer, their liues are but repriued for a few daies longer: what therefore should we be content to suffer at the appointment of our heauenly physition, for the euerlasting health and saluation of body and soule, s…eing he is so infinitely wise, that he can neuer be deceiued, and so all-sufficiently skilfull, that he neuer mistaketh our diseases, or his medicines, nor euer faileth in effecting his cure? Though we much esteeme our goldVbi me p…nit artifex tole…o. iubeor ego to…▪ rare, nouit ille purgar…. August. in Psal 61▪ Enarrat. yet we w…llingly commit it to the finer, that he may cast it into his furnace and purifie it from it drosse; and yet his skill may faile either in not throughly purifying the mettall, that it may abide the touch, or elfe in refining it more then enough, and so wasting in stead of purifying it: much more then let vsus commit these treasures of our soules and bodies into the hands of this heauenly workman; for though he cast vsus into his furnace of afflictions, it is not to hurt vsus, but to purifie vsus from the drosse of our corruptions And he that is not purged in this fire, but burnt and consumed with the heat of impatiencie, he is to be esteemed chaffe and not gold, and hath iust cause to feare, least after he is consumed in this temporaryMath. 3. 12. blaze of tribulation, he shall with the chaffe, that the Baptist speaketh of, be cast into that vnquenchable fire of hell. The Lord now iudgeth vsus for our sinnes in this life, and his iudgements are heauy and distastfull to flesh and blood; but let vsus not be discouraged, for the end of them is, that being chastised for our sinnes of the Lord, we may vnfainedly repent of them, and so may receiue1. Cor. 11. 32. pardon and forgiuenesse, and not come into condemnation with the world. In regard whereof we hauehave iust cause to account it the heauiest iudgement, not to be at all thus iudged of the Lord; for our heauenly physition ministreth this physick of afflictions to al his patientsVlti… quae suspendu…r in fine grauior seruatur. Gregor. sicke in sinne, sauing to those whose diseases are desperate. Our gracious father chastneth eueryevery sonne whom he receiueth, and leaueth none to prosper in their wickednesse, but those bastards whom he purposeth to disinherit of that heauenly patrimony, reserued in store for his owne children. Our Lord and master correcteth in the familie the faults and hainous crimes which are committed by his seruants, or else his purpose is to turn them away, and to reserue their sinnes to be punished at his great assises. And therefore God threatneth it as an heauy iudgement against the Israelites, that he would not correct them for their sinnes. I will not (saith he) visit your daughters when they are harlots, nor your spouses when Hos. 4. 14.they are whores; namely to reclaime them by fatherly chastisements, that they might not run on in a headlong course which would lead to destruction. In regard wherof, the estate of sinfull man is then most wretched, when continuing in his sinne he is exempted from punishment. For as those who are sicke of the gout and dropsie, are then in the most miserable condition, when they vse excessiue diet and hauehave plenty of delicate wines, andQui adeò auertitur & prosperatur tan… perditioni fit proximus, quante z…l… disciplin…, invenitur alienus. Gregor. pleasant drinkes to please their vnsatiable appetite, because by all these dainties their diseases become more desperate; whereas contrariwise, they are mitigated and cured by hunger and thirst, strict diet and vnplesant physicke: So, if being infected and tainted with sinne and corruption, we notwithstanding prosper in our wickednesse, and ruffle it out in worldly pleasures, our case is so much the more dangerous and desperate, because these worldly allurements doe but increase our sinnes, and so settle & harden vsus in our euill courses, that we can hardly by any meanes be cured and recouered: But if God admitteth vsus into his hospitall, and ministreth vntounto vsus the physicke of afflictions, restraining our gluttenous appetite, and withholding from vsus theso earthly vanities which doe but feed and increase the diseases of our soules; then hauehave we great cause of comfort and thanksgiuing, seeing we are hereby put into assured hope of recouering our spirituall health, and of continuing still in the life of grace, vntill we be admitted into the life of glory.