Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIIII.
That God by afflictions worketh and increaseth in vsus, all th…se vertues, which concerne either our neighbours, or our selues.
ANd thus hauehave I shewed that our crosses &§ Sect. 1. That by afflicti…ns wee are moued to doe iustice vntounto all men. afflictions are vsed by God, as effectuall meanes, to worke in vsus all sauing graces, and to stirre vsus vp to performe new obedience, and all holy duties which respect himselfe and his seruice: now wee are to shew that they hauehave the like efficacy in mouing vsus to imbrace al those christian vertues, which respect eyther our neighbours, or our selues For first, wee are moued by them to doe iustice vntounto all men, giuing eueryevery man his due, and doing vntounto others, as we would hauehave them to doe vntounto vsus. And this commeth to passe, not only because the afflicted estate is more vnable to offer iniustice, wrongs, iniuries, cruelty, and oppression; and more vnwilling and fearefull to attempt, and runne into such vniust courses, because it commonly wanteth both power in it selfe, and assistance from friends to maintaine these oppressions and iniuries, and to defend men, when they hauehave done them, from deserued reuenge: but also, because it maketh the conscience more tender, the iudgement more ready to examine, and more quick-sighted and vnpartiall in iudging of right & wrong▪ and the heart more fearefull and vnwilling to giuegive assent or approbation vntounto any iniurious actions; because being vnderunder the hand of God, and already feeling the smart of his corrections, we feare least by committing these wrongs, wee shall prouoke the Lords anger, and moue him eyther to continue our afflictions, or to double and multiply them in number and waight, because our sinnes by this new addition, become more numerous & grieuous in his sight. It is true indeed, that some kinde of afflictions, as namely, losses, want, and pouerty, doe thrust many into vniust actions, and doe moue them to vse fraud and deceit, theft and robbery, to patch and peece vp their broken estate, and to make a supplie of the things which they want, by these vnlawfull courses: but I doe not speake of those effects which afflictions in the… owne nature produce, when they fall vponupon wicked men; but as they are vsed by God, for the bettering and amending of his owne children, by causing them in feare of his fatherly displeasure, with all care and good conscience, to auoide all sinnes whatsoeuer. In which respect it may bee truly said, that the same roddes and whips, which make the slaue to run away from his master, and to become more desperate in his wicked courses, doe make the sonne and true seruant of God to draw ne…re… vntounto him by repentance and humiliation, and to promise▪ and accordingly to endeauour amendement of all his faults, that together with the inioying of his fathers fauour, hee may also bee secured from suffering the smart of his corrections.§ Sect. 2. That by afflictions wee are made more mercifull and compassionate towards others in misery.
Secondly, by these afflictions wee are made more mercifull, pitifull, and compassionate vntounto others who indure the like crosses, and miseries; and our hearts which are hard in themselues, are softned and made more tender, and in fellow feeling of their griefes, more ready and willing to yeeld vntounto them any comfort and refreshing. And thus those who hauehave been ficke, are apt to pitty those most, whom they see pained with the like diseases; those who hauehave been imprisoned, doe more readily compassionate, and accordingly helpe and releeue those who are restrained; they who hauehave been pinched with penury, and pined with hunger, doe aboue others pitty them, who being poore doe want foode to feede them, and clothes to couer them. And this was one end, why God layed vponupon our sauiour Christ himselfe, so many crosses and afflictions, that hee might bee able sufficiently to hauehave compassion of them that are ignorant, Heb. 5. 2.because hee was compassed with infirmitie, as the Apostle speaketh. For as hee saith in an other place, in and 2. 18.that hee suffered, and was tempted, hee is able to succour them that are tempted. In which regard, wee may with more confidence & assurance go vntounto him for helpe and succour in al our miseries, because himself hath tasted ofHeb. 4. 15. 16. them. So the Apostle saith, that we hauehave not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in al things tempted in like sort, yet without sin. And from hence hee raiseth this exhortation, that therefore we must go boldly vntounto the throne of grace, that we may receiue mercy and grace to help in time of neede. And therefore if the Lord thought it fit that our sauiour Christ (which was so full of louelove, mercy, and compassion, that in commiseration of our wretched estate, hee was content to lay downe his precious life for our sakes, that hee might free vsus from our woe and misery) should bee partaker of our infirmities and afflictions, that his tender heart might be the more en-tendred, & made more sensible of our sorrowes by his owne suffrings; how much more need hauehave wee to hauehave our hard hearts thus suppled and softned, who hauehave little compassion in vsus but that which ariseth from our owne sense and feeling?
Finally, by our afflictions wee learne to carry our§ Sect. 3. That God by afflictions maketh vsus more meeke, humble & …urteous, towards our neighbours. selues humbly and meekely, curteously and gently, towards all men; for whereas wee are by prosperity puffed vp with pride, and become harsh, skornefull and insolent, in all our behauiour towards our neighbours; when our proude hearts are humbled with crosses and miseries, and wee being stripped of our outward brauery, doe come to hauehave a true sight of our infirmities and deformities, then doe wee thinke better of others then of our selues, and accordingly vse them, with al ciuillity and humanitie, being ready with a sweete mildenesse to departe from our owne right, rather then to encroach vponupon any thing which is due vntounto them. And as the wild colt which runneth at liberty in fruitfull pastures, is ready to breake all bounds, and to run ouer any that stands in his way; but being well bridled and broken, submitteth himselfe to be backed with his rider, and to beare his blowes without any resistance: so wee being fat…ed and pampered in the pastures of prosperity, breake all the bounds of humanity and ciuility, and are ready in our pride and insolency to bea…e downe all that stand in our way, and to trample vnderunder our feet those who are neere vntounto vsus; but when God hath put into our mouthes this bit and bridle of trouble and afflictions, and with many blowes hath broken our proude stomackes; then are we more readie to suffer then to offer iniuries, and quietly to hold on in the courses of our callings with all lowlinesse to our betters, and with all curtesie and humanitie to our equals and inferiours. So the wise manPro. 18. 23. saith, that the poore speaketh with praiers, but the rich answere throughly. And example whereof we hauehave in Nebuchadnezer, who being in his prosperitie, vttered nothing but thundering threats and proude menaces; but beingDan. 3. 13, 14, 15, 26 & 4, 34. humbled first by Gods miracle, and afterwards by his owne miserie, he becommeth meeke and full of curtesie. Thus Saul when the world fawned on him, breathed out threatnings and slaughters against the disciples of the Lord, and like a raging lion pursued them to the death; but being beaten downe to the ground and humbledAct. 9. vnderunder the hand of God he waxeth milde and gentle as a1. King. 20. 10. 18, 30, 31. lambe. And euen wicked Benhadad himselfe, who being in his strength and presuming of victorie was so vnmeasurably proude and insolent, that he became vaine and foolish in his boasting, and with marueilous disdaine skorned all that resisted his furie; when his forces were foiled, and he ouerthrowne in battaile by the people of1. King. 20. 10, 18, 30, 31. Israel, with what b…se abiection doth hee humble himselfe▪ to Ahab in his miserie? sending his seruants with sack-cloath vponupon their loines, and ropes about their necks, and putting a message in their mouthes sutable to their habit; Thy seruant Be…hadad saith, I pray thee, let mee liue. But this point shall … neede further proofe either by testimonie or example, seeing common experience teacheth vsus, that as when men flourish in wealth and worldly preferments, they presently become churlishly surly, and proudly disdainefull, their chests being no faster filled with riches, than their hearts with pride, nor they higher aduanced in their preferments, than they are exalted in conceit of their owne worth and excellencie: so being brought into misery and affliction, they presently strike saile, and carry themselues with all lowlinesse and humility, as to all others, so especially to those from whom they expect comfort and reliefe in this their affliction.
And thus it appeareth, that afflictions are vsed by God§ Sect. 4. That by affl…ctions wee attaine vntounto the knowledge of our selues. as notable meanes to furnish vsus with those morall and ciuill vertues which concerne our neighbours▪ The like also may be said of those vertues and graces which directly respect our selues: Neither do our crosses & chastisements only inrich vsus with those spiritual and sauing graces, which tending chiefely to Gods seruice, doe also further and assure our owne saluation, & those morall vertues which principally respect our neighbours benefite; but also with those gifts & abilities, which do more properly and peculiarly respect our own vse and profit. For first, by these afflictions wee attaine vntounto the knowledge of our selues, and whereas in our prosperitie, pride and selfe-louelove do so hudwinke our eies, that we can neither see our sinne nor miserie, and doe cause vsus to put all our gifts and good parts into that end of the wallet which hangeth before vsus, and all our vices, faults and imperfections into that end which is cast behinde vsus; affliction pulleth this vaile from our sight, and causing vsus to looke backward, doth make vsus to behold our filthinesse and spirituall blemishes & deformities, through the corruption and pollution of our nature; and those manifold sinnes and actuall transgressions, whereby wee hauehave brought these crosses vponupon vsus; and also our guiltinesse in respect of them both, whereby we stand obnoxious to the anger of God, and to temporall and euerlasting punishments; all which our miserie and spirituall nakednesse doth plainely appeare, when the figleaues of worldly prosperitie are taken from vsus▪ So whereas in our prosperitie, looking through the false spectacles of pride and selfe-louelove, wee are ready to ouer weene our gifts, to mistake shadowes for substances, worldly policie which is meere foolishnesse, for sound wisedome; proude presumption and carnall s…curitie, for true faith, constant hope, and firme affiance in God; couetousnesse for frugalitie, and prodigalitie for▪ bountie and liberalitie: as also to imag…ne that the smallest mites of grace and vertue, are the richest talents, and the least and first degrees to be the highest and greatest perfection of them: when these d…ceiuing glasses are token from our eies, we see our graces & spirituall abilities in their owne nature and proportion; and then counterfeit vertues which like guilded papers or postes, make in the time of our prosperitie a glorious shew, seeming pure gold in outward appearance, do consume and vanish in the fierie triall, as not induring the heate of this furnace of affliction: and then the weakenesse and imperfection of our new-borne graces will easily be discerned, when as they are put to struggle and wrestle with miserie and calamitie. Then our faith, which in our prosperitie seemed so strong, that in the greatest tentation it could not receiue the least foile, will appeare so weake and feeble, that the slightest triall would ouerturne it, if it were not supported by Gods assistance: and though before triall we hauehave …n opinion with Peter, that in the strength of our …aith we …n wa… vponupon the waters, and presume so much vponupon our owne strength and vndaunted courage, that albeit the whole world in the time of persecution should denie Christ, yet we will not; when the waues of trouble and miserie do approach towards vsus, we are readie to sinke in doubting, and to cry out for feare; and being but examined by a poore Damosell, wee are ready to denie and forsake Christ and the Gospell, least by s…icking to our profession wee should bee exposed to the danger of persecution. Then our affiance in God which whilest wee flourished in the world seemed so bould and confident, so strong and steady in Gods promised assistance, will shew it selfe to be weake, tottering and ruinous, when these outward proppes of worldly helpe are pulled from it. Then our hope, which before it was tried appeared so constant and assured, that no delay could euer daunt it, when wee are in affliction, and finde the promises of Gods helpe and our deliuerance for a while deferred, is ready to faint and to be presently turned into doubting and despaire. Then our wisedome which we thought to be of so great a reach, that wee could easily▪ finde meanes either to preuent▪ or to escape out of all difficulties and dangers; when wee are brought into these straits and snares, doth appeare …ight and shallow, being altogether insufficient to deliuer vsus from these miseries and troubles and finally then our patience which we imagined to be so firme, well-grounded, and of such Sampson-…e strength, that it was able to stand vpright vnderunder the heauie weight of the greatest crosses, when it commeth to the triall, and hath but a small burthen of misery lying vponupon it, …t is ready to crack and break into murmuring and impatiencie, and to be pressed downe fla… when … least and …igh…est affliction doth …ye vponupon it.
To which purpose one saith, that eueryevery man is vnknowneIgnotus enim sibi quisque est ante inter…ogationem tentationis, sicut se Petrus presumend… ignorabat & neg…d… didicit quales vires haberet. In sua titubatione intellexit falsò se presumisse, fleuit & flendo m… ruit fructu…sê nosse quod fuit, & esse quod non fuit. August. in Ps…. 58. enarrat. to himselfe before he be examined and tryed by tentation; euen as P…ter was, in presuming, ignorant of himselfe, but by denying his master learned with what strength he was indued. For in his stumbling and falling he sa… how vainely he had presumed, he wept, and by weeping came fruitfully to know what he was, and to be that which before he was not. So whereas in our prosperity, we through▪ our ignorance are much deceiued in our outward estate, thinking it in respect of our owne wisdome, riches, power and externall help…, to be so firme and strong, that it cannot be weakned, and much l…sse▪ ouer throwne by any violence, as wee may see in the example of Dauid, who in his prosperiti… concluded, that hee should neuer be r…oued: no sooner doth the Lord hide his face in the time of trouble and affliction, and withdrawe from vsus his helping hand, but we presently see our exceeding fra…tie and … becillitie, that our strength is weakenesse and o… wisedome foolishnesse, & that we, with al we hauehave …e mortal,Psal. 30. 6. Psal. 104▪ 29. momentany, mutable, and but of short and that vncertaine continuance, so that if God take our breath from vsus weeHag. 1 9. are gone and returne to our dust; and if with his breath hee do… but blow vponupon our wealth and strength, they are presently wasted & enfeebled. Finally, whereas when wee abound with worldly blessings, we are ready falsely to flatter our selues with an opinion of our happinesse; and to conclude vponupon this weake ground, that we are in the estate of grace, and highly aduanced in Gods louelove and fauour: when affliction commeth, these fond and pernitious conceits, which are not the fruits of faith, but the cursed broode and ofspring of presumption and securitie, do together with our outward prosperitie vanish away; and then we seeke to g…ther better assurance, and to ground our faith vponupon more firme foundation, not iudging of our state by externall things, which happen alike to all, both iust and vniust, elect and reprobate; but by the sanctifying gifts and graces of Gods holy spirit, wherewith we are indued, and by the notable fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse, which springing from them, doe plainely appeare in our liues and conuersation. And thus doe wee by our afflictions attaine vntounto that excellent benefit of knowing our selues; which, next vntounto the true sauing knowledge of God, exceedeth all other kinds of knowledge in vse & profit: for as he who ruleth his owne minde, is better than he Pro. 26. 31.that …inneth a Citie: so hee that knoweth this little world of himselfe, and his own heart with all the secret turnings and windings of it, is in farre better state thereby, than he who knoweth the great vniuerse & frame of Heauen and Earth, the secrets of nature, the deep & mysticall policies of commonwealthes, yea al the liberal Arts and sciences, & whatsoeuer other skil or wisedome in the world, which is attained vntounto by painfull instruction, or deerly purchased by long experience. For being well acquainted with our selues, he plainly discern our own vilenesse, filthinesse & guiltinesse, and so are brought to seeke righteousnesse and perfection out of our selues in Iesus Christ; and our own weakenes, impotencie, & insufficiencie, that we may not rest vponupon the reed of our own strength, which would most deceiue vsus when we most leaned vpō it; but vponupon the power of Gods might & the promised assistāce of his holy spirit, which neuer faileth or forsaketh any that rely vpō him. And also hereby we come to the knowledge of those rich gifts & graces, wherewith God hath indued vsus, & perceiue what excellency is in these peerelesse pearles, & spiritual armor & munitiō, that so we may giuegive God the glory of his own gifts, & reioyce our selues in the fruition of thē.
But as the Lord vseth afflictions as a notable meanes§ Sect. 5. That the exercise of afflictions increaseth our strength to beare them. to discouer vntounto vsus our wants and weakenesse: so also for the confirming and increasing of our spirituall strength; for louing vsus (as I hauehave shewed) not like a fond mother, who by her cockering and tender vsing of her children maketh them so weake, neash and effeminate, that they are not able to indure any hardnesse; but like a wise father, seeking our good rather than our delight, he putteth vsus to toile and labour, & exerciseth vsus in this conflict of afflictions not only vntounto sweat & teares, but sometimes also vntounto blood; that hereby he may both preserue the strength we hauehave from languishing with idlenesse; and also may by this exercise increase it, and make vsus more able for further seruice. For (as one saith) when we are fatted and pampredLanguent per incrtiam saginata, nec labore tantum, sed m…le & ipso sui onere deficium. Non fere vllum ictum illaesa soelicitas. Senec. de Prouid. cap. 2. with ease and sloth, wee grow faint and feeble, and are soone tired not only with labour, but also with bearing our owne waight; neyther is vnhurt happinesse able to sustaine the weakest blow of aduerse fortune. But when we daily contend with new calamities, continuall vse and exercise in these euils, so thickneth and hardneth the skin, that being vnsensible of smart, we doe not faint or yeeld in any aduersitie; or if we be ouerthrowne through the violence of our afflictions, yet (as it were) vponupon our knees wee will fight and striue against them. But this will better appeare if wee further consider more distinctly, that our afflictions confirme and increase in vsus both our strength and power whereby we are inabled to beare the burthen of any calamitie without sincking vnderunder the waight, and also our courage, fortitude, and christian valour, whereby we are hartned to indure the brunt of any incounter without shrinking or base yeelding in this spirituall warfare. Concerning the former point experience teacheth vsus, that as other creatures, so also men, are made more weake and tender by soft and gentle vsage, and much disabled to beare the brunt of any outward violence or aduerse casualtie, when (according to their kindes) they flourish in ease and prosperitie; and contrariwise that they are much strengthened to indure any hardnesse or aduersitie when they are vsed and inured vntounto it by continuall custome. Thus wee see that oxen which are bred and brought vp in hard countries and common pastures, are stronger to indure labour then they which are fed and fatted in sweet and pleasant meddowes; and that by their labouring they are inabled to take much more fruitful paines, than others that are pampred with ease and plentie. Thus the trees which grow in the soft and sun-shine valley are neither strong, solid nor firmely rooted; but those which standing on the top of the mountaines are exposed to all kindes of winde and weather, to boistrous blasts and stormy tempests. So we find by experience that their bodies are most able and actiue, who are inured to paines and labour; and that part of the body to be most strong and fit for imployment, which is most vsed and continually exercised; & contrariwise, that those are most weake and wearish, faint and feeble who languish in idlenesse, and spend their time in ease and plentie; and that hand which is not accustomed to labour, to be soft & tender, that it cannot indure the smallest paines; that hard and poore education maketh the best souldiers, and by continuall custome causeth want and watching, paines and toilesome labour, scant dyet and hard lodging to become familiar and easie to be indured: whereas plentie and prosperitie, soft cloathing and daintie fare, doth so weaken & disable the bodie, that it can indure no hardnesse, but is more indangered with winde and weather, cold and hunger, than with the force and violence of the most warlike enemies: that Mariners who hauehave beene accustomed to stormes & tempests, finde smal alteration in their bodies in the roughest Seas & fowlest weather; whereas fresh-water souldiers, and tender passengers cannot brooke the smell of the ship, nor sight of the water, and are extreamely Sea-sick when they are but a little tossed with some ordinary windes. Finally, thus we see that by much cunning men become more nimble & better breathed, whereas sloath and ease maketh them slowe and putsie; that the daily trauailer goeth longer iournies with little wearinesse, whereas they that keepe home are soone tyred and surbaited with going a a few miles: and that the tender gentleman taketh cold being in a warme house and well cloathed, whereas the poore husband man dareth the cold windes and nipping frosts with his bare head and naked breast; and is strong to indure the whole day any toilesome labour, when as the other panteth and fainteth with wearinesse, if hee worke but one houre. And as it thus fareth with the bodie inured vntounto paines and labour, so with the minde exercised with troubles, and accustomed to beare the burden of the crosse; neither is the one more strengthened with continuall vse and practise to indure any outward toyle; then the other inabled with patience and comfort to beare by the same meanes any crosses and calamities. And therefore how weake and waspish soeuer we be in bearing afflictions, after we hauehave long liued in ease and prosperitie, yet if after much trouble and many trialls we remaine weake and wayward, peeuish and impatient, it is a dangerous signe that we hauehave little or no spirituall vertue and abilitie in vsus, according to the wisemans saying, If thou be faint in the day of aduersitie, thy Pro. 24. 10.strength is small: seeing if any thing would make vsus strong, then would this exercise of bearing the crosse. In regard whereof the afflicted Church out of her owne experience saith, that it is good for a man to beare the yoake Lamen. 3 27.from his youth, because as it is said of Milo, that by accustoming himselfe to beare a calfe at the first, he came after to beare him when he was a bull; so shall we find our spirituall strength increase with our burthen, sustaining with patience and comfort the most intollerable weight of calamitie and miserie, though at the first wee were readie to murmure, repine and shew great impatiencie,§ Sect. 6. That God by afflictions increaseth our courage and Christian fortitude. when wee were but touched with the least trouble.
And as our afflictions doe much increase our strength and abilitie, so also our christian courage and vndaunted fortitude; and whereas prosperitie maketh vsus cowardly and fearefull, not daring to indure any danger, or to stand to it when we are incountred with any calamitie; our often conflicts with crosses do make vsus valiant & couragious in bearing the greatest brunt of these spirituall battayles, and so bould and hardy, that we indure with patience the sharpest assaults, and giuegive not one foote backe in the most desperate dangers. The souldier when he first entreth into the field, feareth when he heareth but a false alarum, and is ready to ducke at eueryevery shot; whereas after he hath passed desperate dangers, and hath beene long exercised in many conflicts and skirmishes, he becommeth so valorous and couragious, that he dareth to venter vponupon the push of the pike, and to fight at the cannons mouth: now lesse fearing the cruell enemie, and killing bullet in a doubtfull and dangerous battaile, then, when he was first trained, the paper shot, and the seeming encounters of his friends and fellowes. There is no wrastler, fencer, or combatant, that contendeth against his aduersarie with that spirit and courage, when he first commeth into the theater; as he doth who hath been accustomed to these exercises; and is not only heartened with easie victories, but also after many foiles and falls, dangerous wounds and much blood-shed, hath in the end preuailed, and by many perils hath made his way to a glorious triumph. There is no Mariner is so bould and cheerefully confident in the least shew of a Sea-faring danger, when he first entreth the ship, and in his mouing house becommeth an inhabitant of this new appearing world of dreadfull waters; as he who after innumerable stormes and dangerous tempests hath oftentimes arriued safely at the wished hauen. And thus it also fareth with vsus in these spirituall combats with troubles and calamities; for howsoeuer in the first conflict we are marueilously cowardly & impatient in suffering the least paine; yet when as we hauehave beene long exercised in these skirmishes, and after many foiles and falls, hauehave in the end through Gods gracious assistance obtained a ioyfull victorie, wee excedingly increase in christianContemptum periculorum assiduitas periclitand… dabit. Senec. de Prouid. cap. 4. valour; both because this common familiaritie with dangers and distresses breedeth in vsus a carelesse contempt, & neglect of them; & also because it is the nature of true fortitude and christian courage (like the graine of mustard seede) the more it is bruised the more to shew it strength & vertue, and (like the palmetree or sweete camomile) to thriue the better and spring theMultū adijcit sibi virtus lacessita. Senec. epist. 13. faster, when it is pressed and kept down with the weight of afflictions. And therefore seeing by sustaining the burthen of the crosse we become stronger and more able to beare; and by often encountring these spirituall enemies, wee are made much more valorous and couragious,Verberat nos & lacerat fortuna: patiamur. Non est saeuitia, certamen est; quo saepiu… adierimus fortiores cri…us. Senec. de Prouid. cap 4. let vsus not feare that weight which will not crush vsus, but increase our strength; nor be daunted with the approaching of those forces, which the more and stronger they are, the more they increase our fortitude and magnanimity, and by their sharper assaulting doe but make our victorie to become more glorious. It may be at the first this combate with afflictions will seeme irksome in present sense, and terrible in respect of future expectation; but a little experience in this warfare will bring vsus into better acquaintance and familiarity with these troubles and miseries, and make vsus neither feele their blowes when our skin is hardned, nor to feare their greatest violence, when as wee finde that they doe not hurt vsus. Now we seeme weake and our burthen heauie; feeble in strength and our enemies mighty and vnresistable; but let vsus possesse our soules with patience, seeing time and custome will make vsus equall, by lightning our loade and increasing our strength; by quelling their courage, and causing vsus to become more valiant and magnanimious. There is in truth a seeming miserie in crosses and calamities, because they are strong at their first appearing, and terrible to flesh and blood, because they come masked in an vgly vizard, and doe presse vponupon vsusNihil miserum est quod in naturam consuetudo perduxit. Paulatim enim voluptatisunt quae necessitate caeperunt, Senec. de prouid. cap. 4. with a kind of necessity; but being accustomed a while to beare them companie, we becom familiar and wel acquainted with them; & then al feare vanisheth when we finde them harmelesse, and we would not (when they are gon) but that we had inioyed their society. Then necessity is turned into a vertue, and the yoake, which being taken vponupon vsus by compulsion, was so painefull and grieuous, doth by our patient bearing it become light and easie.
Finally, the Lord by our afflictions doth vsually§ Sect. 7. That God by affl…ctions doth worke and increase in vsus temperance, sobriety, modesty and chastitie. worke in vsus those excellent gifts and graces of temperance, sobriety, modesty, chastity and purity: the which he effecteth both by an outward necessity, and by an inward care and watchfulnesse. For whilest in the time of our prosperity wee abound with worldly blessings wee vsually abuse them as prouocations vntounto our owne lusts, and fuell vntounto our sinfull pleasures; as abundance of riches to maintaine vsus, in light wanton and garish apparell; delicate meates and drinkes, and as the meanes and occasions of surfeting and drunkennesse, chambring and wantonesse, lust and vncleanesse, riot and all maner of excesse. And therefore the Lord seeing vsus thus to surfet of this fulnesse and plenty, and thereby to fall into most dangerous and desperate diseases of the soule; like a good Physition preserueth or restoreth our spirituall health, by keeping or taking from vsus these his benefits which we peruert to our owne destruction. And when like madmen wee would abuse these blessings as instruments and weapons, to wound our selues with wordly and wicked lusts, he taketh them away, and turneth our riches and plenty into pouerty and penury, our health into sicknesse, our strength into weaknesse, our pleasures into paine and misery, and our liberty into restraint, that hee may make vsus to be such as he would hauehave vsus by vrgent necessity, when we will not be so out of our owne choise; causing vsus (as it were) to fast for want of meate, when we will not doe it out of deuotion; to become chast for want of strength and health, temperate in our meates and drinkes, and modest in our apparel, because we want meanes to maintaine vsus in excesse of diet, and variety of strange and vaine attires. Neither doth the Lord by our afflictions make vsus thus temperat & sober only by this necessity; but by our own care and watchfulnesse. For thereby being brought vntounto a sight of our sinnes in abusing Gods blessings and benefits as incentatiues and prouocations to our owne lusts, whereby wee hauehave iustly deserued that hee should thus straiten his hand, and shorten our allowance; we wil euer after take better heed vntounto our selues, that we doe not by the like sinne incur the like or greater punishments: and be euen ready to binde our selues by an holy vow, that we will for the time to come liue temperatly and soberly, modestly and chastly, and neuer more so abuse Gods blessings to his dishonour and our destruction, if once againe he repossesse vsus of them.