Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
Consolations taken from the subiect place of our afflictions, and from their adiuncts, namely their necessity, profit, breuity and lightnesse, as also from the assistance of our associates.
ANd thus hauehave I shewed the singular§ Sect. 1. That God hath appointed vsus in this world to suffer affl…ctions; and in the life to come to inherit happinesse. consolations which arise from the consideration of the causes and effects of our afflictions▪ now we will proceede vntounto other arguments of comfort according to our order propounded, the which arise either from the subiect or adiuncts of our crosses and calamities. The subiect place of all our troubles is this world and vale of teares, which is purposly appointed of God to be a place wherein all his Saints and faithfull seruants shall be subiect to many tribulations and miseries; that being by them purged and refined, tried and approued, they may after this life be admitted into those pure andApoc. 21. 27. holy habitations into which no vncleane thing can enter; and receiue that crowne and garland of euerlasting happines, with which the Lord hath promised to adorne and honour his owne gifts and graces wheresoeuer hee findeth them. So our Sauiour telleth vsus that howsoeuer in him we shall hauehave peace, yet in this world we shall hauehave Ioh. 16. 33.affliction; and that whilest we continue heere wee shall weepe and lament, and the world shall reioyce, that we shall sorrow, but our sorrow shall be turned into ioy: and finally, that here wee shall passe our time, like a woman in the paines of childbirth, but in the kingdome of heauen ourvers. 20. 21. ioy shall be so great, because wee are acknowledged of God, as his children, and heires of glory and happinesse, that we shall quite forget our former miseries, as a woman forgetteth hir sorrowes in childbearing for ioy that a man is borne into the world. Let vsus not then expect in this world our glory and gladnesse, our pleasures and delights, seeing the Lord hath appointed it to be a place of misery, and mourning; let vsus not in this showry seed-time of sorrow and teares thinke to reape the haruest of ioy and consolation; nor to take our ease and repose in this valley of affliction, which can onelyonly be inioyed in Gods heauenly mountaine. Heere we must shed those teares which there must be dried vp: heere is the house of mourning, and there is the pallace of ioy and reioycing; here is the place of praier, which is most feruent when it floweth from an afflicted spirit; there is the place of praises which are most cheerefull when our happinesse is not distasted with any heauinesse. Finally, here must the Christians life be spent in doing good and suffering euill, and there wee must looke to hauehave our good workes rewarded, and our sufferings recompenced. And therefore let our worldly sorrow worke in vsus spirituall reioycing, seeing these pangues and throwes of griefe will bring forth the fruit of heauenly pleasure and reioycing. Let vsus not here expect faire weather and the sun-shine of our comfort; for a drie seed-time, will bring but a barren haruest; but let these teares of worldly sorrow, cause teares of spirituall ioy, because they are now seasonable, and doe but water our hopes, and make our haruest of happinesse much more plentifull. Finally, let vsus now mourne, if there be vntounto vsus no cause of mourning; and reioyce if we can finde in this world no matter of reioycing; because they which laugh heere shallIoh. 16. 20. § Sect. 2. That this world is the place of trial and tentaon, preparation and spirituall exercise. for euer weep, and they that mourne here shal hauehave their sorrow turned into ioy.
Now is the time, and this is the place of our triall and tentation, and we must like pure gold be proued before we can be approued, and first passe the fierie furnace, before we can be admitted into Gods treasury: we must like iewils and precious diamonds here indure the hammer and anuill, that hereafter wee may bee reserued in Gods heauenly cabinet: We must here be probationers in Gods schoole, that after examination we may be admitted into that happy society of Saints and Angels. And (as one saith) it is a signe, not of an vpright, but ofVirtus gradus ad gloriam: virtus mater glori…. Berner. in Natali St. victoris. a peruerse minde, to desire glory, before we hauehave exercised and shewed our vertue; and to couet the garland, before we hauehave ouercome in wrastling: which glory, being vndeserued, where there is no vertue, is preposterously affected, and dangerously attayned. Now is the time of our preparation, when as wee must be washed, trimmed and dressed, that wee may be fit to meete our bride-groome; and after this life shall be the solemnizing of our mariage; and therefore wee must not heere expect our solace, and delight; but hereafter when wee shall hauehave the fruition of our husband, and those heauenly habitations which he hath prepared for vsus. Here we must be purged from our chaffe of corruption, that like pure graine we may be laid vp in garners of blessednesse; and therefore we must not now looke for rest and farre weather: but to be tossed and turmoiled with the winde and fan▪ Now is not the time of feasting and pampering our selues with carnall pleasures, but of fastingNun quid enim mactādi sumus quod nos ipso… saginemus? quid tantam vermibus mensam apponis? quid matorem agis saniem? quid ad omnia temetipsum reddis inutilem? Chrysost. Homil. ad pop. 54. Tom. 4. and mourning, seeing our bride-groome is absent from vsus▪ but then are we to expect these reuels and delights, when he commeth againe to solemnize our nuptials. And those (as one faith) who here fat themselues with worldly: fulnesse, doe but fit themselues for the slaughter, and prepare a more dainty banquet for the crawling wormes. This world is the Theater which is appointed for the exercise of masteries; and therefor we must not here looke for ease and pleasure, seeing none obtaine the prize of blessednesse, but those who hauehave so runned, wrastled and contended, that they hauehave also obtayned the victory: … not like … lo…els heere expect full tables, soft beds, sweet bathes and such likeAliud est quietu tempus, hoc aerumuis deputatum est atque sudoribus, nullus vbi ad certamen se exuit vnctusque est, requiem quarit Chrysost. in 2. Tim. 3. Hom. 8. 2. Tim. 2. 5. effeminate delights in the place of our exercise; but like valiant champians, hauing in stead of costly clothing, our naked bodies couered with dust and oyle, we must wrestle in the heate of the sunne, and with much sweat and labour obtaine the garland; for as the Apostle telleth vsus, If any man striue for a mastery, he is not crowned, except he striue as he ought to doe. Here man is ordained to labour, and rest is not to be expected till we keepe an euerlasting sabbath vntounto God in the heauenly Canaan; now we are appointed to take pains in Gods vineyard, and we must not looke for our reward, before with our labour we make an end of our liues, and (as the Apostleverse. 6. telleth vsus) we must like good husbandmen take paines in this seed-time, and hereafter wait for the fruits of haruest; and not be dismaied, though wee be tyred with troubles and sweat at our labours; seeing they are much sweetned with this consideration, that they are so seasonable. Now is the time of our exile and banishment, and what comfort or contentment can be expected till wee be admitted to the presence of our king? In this world wee are sayling as in a sea of miseries; and therefore we must not thinke it strange, if one waue of affliction doth follow in the necke of another, if wee be still in danger of cruell Pyrats, rockes, and wreckes, shelues and sands, stormes and tempests, nor expect ease and rest, safety and security, before we arriue at the hauen of happinesse. This world is appointed by God to be the place of our affliction and punishment; and therefore we are not foolishly to imagine that wee shall finde it a Paradize of delights; nor to be discouraged if we meete with troubles and miseries, seeing it well sorteth with Gods ordinance, who hath appointed that we should bee crossed on earth, that wee may bee crowned in heauen.
Here is not our country, and the place of our perpetuall§ Sect. 3. aboad; and (as the Apostle saith) here wee hauehave no That this world is the place of our pilgrimage and therefore we must looke for pilgrimes entertainement. Heb. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 4. Ioh. 18. 36.continuing city, but we seeke one to come, euen the heauenly Canaan and new Ierusalem, where an inheritance immortall, vndefiled, and that fadeth not away is reserued for vsus. Here we are not Citizens and free denizens, seeing the kingdome of our soueraigne is not of this world; and therefore we are not here to looke for our priuiledges and prerogatiues; but we are in the earth pilgrims and strangers, and consequently like men of that quality, we must make account to be daily subiect to many miseries and indignities, and expect our happinesse when we come safly to our home. Our pouerty must not much trouble vsus: for who desireth in his pilgrimage and trauels to carry his wealth and riches about him? onelyonly let it content vsus, if wee hauehave sufficient to defray our charges, & to supply necessaries in our iourney, and then expect to inioy our riches and chief treasures, when as we safely arriue in our heauenly country. Wee must not lay it much to heart, if we finde hard entertainment in the world, and be not esteemed and accounted of according to our worth and desert; for we are not at home among our friends and kindred, where we might expect such kindnesse, because they know our state and quality; but in our pilgrimage, and at our Inne, among strangers who are vnacquainted with our persons and condition; and who examine not our vertues, but our purses and outward pompe; not what we hauehave in our owne country, but what wee carry about vsus, and measure all their respect and seruice vntounto vsus, by that profit and benefit which they may receiue from vsus. And who careth much for hard vsage in his Inne, where he is to remaine but one night? Who looketh for respect and duty in a far country where hee trauelleth, or careth for vnciuill entertainment among those who know him not, although hee be a man of great place and esteeme in his owne country? our toilesome siues and wearisome labours must not much grieue vsus, seeing they are so sutable for the life of a Pilgrime, who prepareth himselfe to take paines in his iourney and beareth it with patience, though he be sometimes tyred in his trauels, then only expecting rest and sweet repose, when he safly arriueth at his owne home. Yea we must not be much vexed, if in this life we receiue wrongs and iniuries, and if we be robbed and spoiled through violence and vniust oppression; for it is not strange with trauellers to fall into the hands of theeues and robbers, especially when they trauell in barbarous countries or in the dominions of professed enemies. But herein is both their and our comfort, that they can only spoile vsus of some small trifles, which we carry about vsus, whereby we only sustaine some present want and misery in the short time of our trauels; but cannot take from vsus our inheritance, our principall iewels and chiefe treasures, because those are safely reserued for vsus in our heauenly country; and we shall certainly enioy them when wee hauehave finished our pilgrimage. And with this argument of consolation Abraham strengthened his faith and patience in all the miseriesHeb. 11. 10. which he indured in a strange country, because hee looked, not to his present condition, but for a citie hauing a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
Finally, this world is appointed of God to be the§ Sect. 4. That this world is the place of our warfare, and therefore we must expect conflicts, and the hard vsage of poore souldiers. Chrysost. in Math. 20. Homil. 34. place of our warfare, wherein wee must combate, not onelyonly against Sathan and our owne flesh, but against all other enemies of our saluation; and wee are not to expect our crowne, and to triumph in happinesse, till wee hauehave finished our fight and obtained victory. For (as one saith); Christ Iesus hath built the whole Vniuerse, like an house of three stories, namely Hell, Earth and Heauen: appointing the earth for warriours, Hell for the conquered, and Heauen for those who obtaine the victory. Hee hath not promised peace, but hath denounced war whilest we continue in this life, reseruing secure peace & quiet rest for his heauenly kingdome. And therefore (as one saith) if we here seek peace,Omnis hom… requiem quaeri…! bonam rem quaerit sed non in regione sua. Non est pax in hac vita, in caelo nobis promissum est quod in terra quaerimus. August in Psal. 48. enarrat. we seeke a good thing, but we do not seek it in the place where it is to be found; for there is no peace in this life; and in vaine do we seeke for that vponupon earth, which is only promised in heauen. Now valiant souldiers in the time of warfare doe not set their minds vponupon ease and sloth, vponupon soft beds & dainty fare; they do not take care for soft & costly raimēt, nor to hauehave about them aboundance of riches: but they are wholly transported with a desire of victory, and to this end endure with patience all pains & labor, fare coursely, & lie hardly, & either watch the whole night, or make the earth their bed, their helmet a pillow and the skie their canopy; expose themselues to desperate dangers, and with patience suffer many wounds and foiles, that they may in the end obtaine the victory. Yea euen Kings themselues who in peace aboūd with plenty and pleasure, in the time of war accustome themselues to hardnesse, because it best fitteth this season; making them more valiant and hardy; and (which is the end of all) much more able to ouercome their enemies. And therefore though our future estate be neuer so great, as being the sonnes of God, and heires apparant of his glorious kingdome, yet seeing we are now in the place of our warfare, let vsus with patience endure all hardnesse, paines and pouerty, as best sorting with our present condition, and not expect ease and idlenesse, wealth and dainties, worldly pleasures and carnall delights, which would effeminate our minds, and vtterly disable vsus to withstand our enemies. We are Gods souldiers, and it better becommeth his worthies to be in the field, then in the garrison; in a painfull march, then in a soft bed; wel armed, then gorgeously clothed, and assaulting their enemies with manlike courage, then to spend their time, like carpet-knights in feasting and reuelling. Here we must looke for impregnable forts and strong holds, and expect stately buildings and rich furniture in the new Ierusalem; here we must labor, fast and watch that there we may feast, reioyce, and take our ease; here we must endure many miseries and afflictions that there we may enioy all glory and happinesse; here we mustInterim sane premi magnis quam perimi videtur vtibus, & sustinere pondus clypei & loricae quam maligni taculis igne… vulnerari. Bernard de dedicat. Eccle siae serm. 2. fight and obtaine the victory, that there we may triumph in blessednesse, hauing a crowne for our helmet, a scepter and palme, for our sword and speare; glorious garments and gorgeous clothing, for our heauy shield, and steely brestplate. For it is better for the present to be a little pressed with the waight of the armor, then to perish by lying open to the wounds of an enemy; it is better to beare the waight of a shield or brestplate, then to be pierced with the fiery darts of the euill one. And this allegory and argument the Apostle vseth to perswade Timothy to the patient enduring of the crosse. Thou therefore 2. Tim. 2. 3, 4.(saith he) suffer affliction as a good souldier of Iesus Christ. No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life, because he would please him, who hath chosen him to be a souldier. And afterwards he propoundeth himselfe for an example of this precept; in that he did not couet after the crowne, till like a valiant souldier, he had fought this spirituall battaile and obtained the victory. I hauehave fought (saith he) a good fight, and hauehave 2. Tim. 4. 7, 8.finished my course; I hauehave kept the faith, from hence forth is laid vp for me the crown of righteousnes. To conclude this point, the Lord hath appointed this world as a valley of misery & mortality wherein we are to liue a dying life, or liuing death, till being throughly mortified both in body and soule, we may by mortality attaine vntounto immortality, by corruption vntounto incorruption, and by a temporary death find a way vntounto life euerlasting. For our liues are in a continuall consumption from the time of our birth, and the faster we grow the faster we decrease, the more is added to our liues, the more they are diminished; and the more the number of our daies is multiplied, the more it is abated, because what is annexed to the time past, is subscribed and taken away from the time to come. And therefore seeing there is no way to immortality vnlesse here we be subiect tomortality; no way to liue and raigne with Christ, vnlesse in this world we2. Tim. 2. 11. 12 suffer and be dead with him, let vsus not dreame of a flourishing estate, pompe and earthly prosperity whilst we cōtinue here, but prepare our selues by the crosse to attaine vntounto the crowne, by the vale of misery to ascend vntounto the mountaine of glory; and by temporary death and destruction to passe vntounto saluation and euerlasting happinesse.§ Sect. 5. Consolations taken from the necessity, profit, shortnesse and lightnes of our afflictions.
And these are the comforts which arise from the subiect place of our afflictions; besides which there are other consolations, which may be gathered from their adiuncts and properties, as from the necessity, benefit, breuity and lightnesse of them. For first, our afflictions are necessary in respect of Gods decree, by which they are inseparably annexed vntounto our election, vocation, and saluation; for those which he knew before he hath also predestinated Rom. 8. 29.to be made like vntounto the image of his sonne, whom he appointed first to suffer, and so to enter into his glory. Luk. 24. 26.So the Apostle telleth vsus, that we are hereunto called; for Christ also suffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example that we 1. Pet. 2. 21.should follow his steps. And our Sauiour teacheth vsus, thatMath. 7. 12. 13 Act. 14. 22. we must by this strait gate and narrow way, enter into his glory; with whom his holy Apostle according, saith, that we must by many afflictiōs enter into the kingdom of God. Secondly they are most necessary in this state of corruption in respect of vsus, that by these wholesome corrections we may be contained in our duty and restrained from sinne; in which regard that is truly verified of vsus, which we vsually say of our little children, namely, that there is a greater necessity of our corrections, then of our meat & drink, seeing the want of the one tendeth but to the temporary destruction of the body, but the want of the other indangereth vsus to the euerlasting condemnation and vtter perdition both of body and soule. For if the Lord should continually cocker vsus with worldly blessings, and let vsus neuer feele the smart of his chastising hand, we would quickly forget and contemne him, neglect his commandements, securely goe on in sinne, and grow wanton in our wickednesse. The vtility also and profit of afflictions is (as hath been shewed) exceedingHeb. 12. 11. great, seeing the Lord vseth them as the ordinary meanes of strengthning and increasing in vsus all his fanctifying and sauing graces, of conferring vntounto vsus many temporary and worldly benefits; and of furthering and aduancing our glory and euerlasting happinesse in his heauenly kingdome. For the attaining of which incomparable blessings respecting both this life and the life to come, we are not bound to beare a proportionable measure of misery and tribulation; for these afflictions which through Gods mercy bring vntounto vsus these vnvaluable graces, and vnmatchable waight of eternall glory, are in respect of their burthen light, and easie to be born; and for their time, momentany, and but of short continuance; All which points hauehave in the former part of this treatise been so cleerly proued, that I shall not need here any further to insist vponupon them.
Yea such is Gods louelove and mercy towards vsus, that though the afflictions which he layeth vponupon vsus be but… Sect. 6. That God apprinteth his holy Angelis to assist vsus in our afflictions. light, momentany, and in their owne nature easie to be borne, yet hauing respect to our wonderfull infirmity and great weaknesse, he neuer suffereth vsus to beare the… alone; but he alwaies appointeth vntounto vsus copartners and assistants, who by their helpe keepe vsus from fainting, either by taking from vsus part of our burthen, when it is too heauy for our little strength; or by encouraging and comforting vsus when wee are dismaied, or finally by beating and sustaining part of the waight, that it may not oppresse and ouerwhelme vsus. For first the Lord giueth his holy Angells charge ouer vsus; to assist and compasse vsus about, to preserue vsus in all dangers, and to keepe vsus in all our waies, that no other crosses befall vsus then those which he hath appointed, nor yet in any greater measure, then that which in his wise prouidence he hath alotted vntounto vsus. For as the Angells ministred vntounto our head Iesus Christ at all times, but especially in his greatest trialls and afflictions, as namely after that conflict of tentation with sathan our spirituall enemy,Math. 4. 11. Luk. 22. 43. and in his bitter agony, when as an Angell appeared from heauen to comfort him; So doe they by the appointment of our common Lord and master attend vponupon vsus who are his members, to preserue, defend, strengthen and comfort vsus, that we may not faint and faile through our naturall weaknes vnderunder the burthen of the crosse. Thus the Psalmist saith, that the Angell of the Lord encampeth Psal. 34. 7.round about them that feare him, and deliuereth them. And againe, He shall giuegive his angells charge ouer thee to keepe Psa. 91. 11. 12.thee, in all thy waies; they shall beare thee in their hands, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone: the which as it is principally to be vnderstood of our head Iesus Christ, as himselfe applieth it, so likewise it belongeth to all those who are the true members of his body; as it may appeare by manifold examples. Thus the Angells attended vponupon righteous Lot to deliuer him, and his out ofGen. 19. 15. the common destruction of Sodome and Gomorrah. And an whole host of them encamped about Iacob when heChap. 32. 12. feared his brothers armed rage; which at all times were ready (as he saith elsewhere) to deliuer him from all euill.Chap. 48, 16. Thus the Angell of God standeth between Israell and the hoast of the Egyptians, persuing them, and preseruethExod. 14. 19. them from being ouertaken by that imminent danger. And afterwards the Lord sendeth him before them toCha. 23. 20. 23 & 33. 2.. keepe them in their way, and to bring them to the place which he had prepared: casting out al their enemies from before them which opposed against them. Thus an whole army of these holy Angells encompasse the Prophet Elisha, and his seruant round about, to preserue2. King. 6 17. them from being destroied by the hoast of the Aramites. So an Angell of God preserueth the three children in the fiery furnace, and Daniell in the Lions den. And thus byDan 3. 25. & 6. 22. Act. 12 7. the ministery of Angells Peter is deliuered out of prison; and Lazarus is carried into Abrahams bofome. And howsoeuer the faithfull hauehave not in these daies such visible apparitions of these heauenly spirits, nor such miraculous deliuerances from dangers by their ministery; yet Gods louelove and care ouer his Church being now as great as in former times; their diligence and watchfulnesse is no lesse to safegard and preserue from all perills, and to comfort and vphold in all afflictions those who are so deere to their Lord and master. And therefore if in all griefs and miseries it be a great comfort vntounto vsus to hauehave the company of some able and louing friends, which hauehave both some power and will to succour and relieue vsus; how sweet and comfortable is this happy society of the holy Angells to those who being afflicted doe by faith apprehend their continuall presence, feeing without all comparison they are more powerfull and willing, then our most potent friends, to comfort and preserue vsus in all our extremities.
But it will be much more comfortable vntounto vsus if we§ Sect. 7. That in all our afflictions we hauehave Christ an assistant and copartuer with vsus in our griefes. Math. 28. 20. further consider, that we hauehave in all our afflictions not only the fellowship and assistance of Angells, but also of Iesus Christ the Lord of Angells, who according to his gracious promise is with vsus vntounto the end of the world; and that both as our King to preserue vsus from dangers, protect vsus from enemies, and to gouerne, guide and measure out vntounto vsus a burthen of afflictions proportionable to our strēgth; and also as our head to condole▪ and compassionate our griefes, and to ease vsus of the irksomnesse of our load by bearing the greatest part of the waight thereof with his owne most powerfull strength. For not only hath he learned pity and compassion by suffering the like afflictions in the body of his flesh, and inHeb. 2. 18 & 4. 15. 16. & 5. 2his state of humiliation as the Apostle teacheth vsus; but also now in his state of glory, as our head he suffereth in vsus who are the members of his body, accounting our afflictions his afflictions, and our smart his owne paine, as appeareth in that speech to Saul, Saul Saul, why persecutest thou me? And to the faithfull at the day of iudgement:Act. 9. 4. I was an hungred and ye gaue me meat, I thirsted and ye gaue me drinke, I was a stranger and ye lodged me, I was naked and ye clothed me; I was sicke and ye visited me, I was in prison and ye came vntounto me. And when they asked, when they saw him in this afflicted estate, he answereth, verily Mat. 25. 35. 40I say vntounto you, in as much as ye hauehave done it vntounto one of the least of these my brethren, ye hauehave done it to me. And hereof it is that the sufferings of the faithfull are in the scriptures called the sufferings of Christ; Because as they suffered with him in his passion as being their head and surety, and satisfied Gods iustice for their redemption and iustification; so he suffereth with them in their afflictions as being his members, with his strength and power so assisting them, that they doe not ouerwhelme and consume them, but only tend to their sanctification and the purging and purifying them from thei… sinne and corruption. Thus the Apostle saith, that eueryevery where we 2 Cor. 4. 10.beare about in our body the dying of our Lord Iesus, that the life of Iesus might be made manifest in our bodies. And elsewhere more plainly: Now reioyce I (saith he) in my sufferings for you, and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ Col 1. 24.in my flesh, for his bodies sake which is the Church. So the Apostle Peter exhorteth the faithful toreioice in the fiery1. Pet 4. 13. triall in as much as they were partakers of Christs suffrings. And hereof it is that our sauiour Christ calleth that portion of afflictions which hee allotteth vntounto vsus, and exhorteth vsus to beare, his yoke (take my yoke on you, and learne of me) not only because he imposeth it, but also as our yoke-fellow doth beare the greatest part of the waight: For, as when two Oxen which are far vnequal in their bignesse are yoked together, the heauiest part of the loade is borne by the tallest and strongest, the yoke scarce touching the necke of him that is least and lowest; so is it betweene Christ and vsus, in regard whereof hee encourageth vsus to ioine with him in bearing this burthen, because his yoke is easie and his burthen light; Mat. 11. 29. 30he who is high and mighty sustaining the chiefe waight, and keeping it with his omnipotent power, that it cannot oppresse and ouerwhelme vsus. The consideration whereof may minister vntounto vsus singular comfort in all our crosses and calamities; seeing wee hauehave such a coparture and assistant in bearing all our afflictions, who is able and willing to vpholde vsus when wee are ready to sinke, and to comfort vsus when we are ready to faint; for as the sufferings of Christ abound in vsus, so our consolation 2. Cor. 1. 5aboundeth through Christ; and as he addeth to the waight of our burthen, so also to our strength, in as much as we may say with the Apostle, that though wee be neuer soPhil. 4. 13 feeble in our selues, yet we are able to doe all things, thorough the helpe of Christ which strengtheneth vsus. Yea, herein we may reioice, in that though our burthen b…e neuer so great, yet it is impossible that we should sinke and fall downe flat vnderunder it; for as the lesser and weake Oxe, drawing in the same yoke with one which is much bigger and stronger, cannot fall because his fellow supporteth him, by reason of that coniunction which is betweene them, vnlesse he should also pull him downe together with him; so neither can wee, being yoked and vnited vntounto Christ our head, in a farre nearer and more inseparable vnion, sinke vnderunder our burthen, seeing he is al-sufficient to holde vsus vp, and cannot bee pulled downe with the greatest waight. And as by vertue of this spirituall vnion with Christ, hee as our head doth partake with vain all our afflictions, so also all his saints and faithfull seruant do communicate with vsus in them, as being fellow members of his mysticall body: for as when any part of the naturall body is vexed and pained with any infirmity, all the rest doe simpathize in these sorrowes, and by mutuall compassion and fellow-feeling do partake in these griefes; so is it in the spirituall body of the Church. By reason whereof great comfort redoundeth to eueryevery particular member which is thus afflicted; not onelyonly because the burthen is made much lighter which is borne vponupon so many shoulders; but also because from this compassion, do issue most feruent and effectuall prayers of the whole Church▪ wherby they commend all the afflicted parts of their body to Gods speciall care and prouidence, to be vpheld and preserued by him in these their distresses, the which are most powerfull to preuaile with God, for the obtaining of helpe and comfort; for if the prayer of one faithfull Iam. 5. 16▪man auaileth much if it bee effectuall and zealous; then how much more the prayers of all the saints when they are ioined together?
Finally, we hauehave in all our afflictions God himselfe present with vsus to assist and support vsus; for as by his most wise and gracious prouidence, he appointeth vntounto the faithfull their afflictions for their triall or chastisement, so thereby he is present with them and watcheth ouer them, that he may support and strengthen them when they are ready to faint and fall, according to his gracious promise whereby he hath assured them, that hee will not suffer them to be tempted aboue their power, but wil 1. Cor. 10. 13▪giuegive a good issue with the tentation, that they may be able to beare it. But of this I shall hauehave occasion to speak more hereafter.