Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
That we may receiue much comfort, by comparing our lesser and lighter afflictions, with those greater and heauier which Gods dearest saints hauehave felt and suffered.
ANd thus hauehave I shewed what arguments§ Sect. 1. That it hath alwaies been the portion of the faithfull to endure in this world misery and affliction, and first that our father Adam endured great afflictions. of consolation do arise from our afflictions, being simply considered in themselues with relation to their causes, effects, subiect, and adiuncts: now wee are, according to our order, to intreate of those comforts, which arise from them as they are compared with the afflictions of others, or with those heauenly and euerlasting ioyes, which these short and light afflictions do cause vntounto vsus. Concerning the former, we may receiue much consolation, if we compare our crosses, either with the greater afflictions which Gods dearest children hauehave suffered before vsus; or with those miseries and punishments which are inflicted vppon the wicked both in this life and in the life to come. And for the first, if we looke into the booke of God we shall finde, that it hath been the porti…n of all the faithfull, to indure in this world miseries and afflictions; and that they hauehave not only sipped and tasted of this bitter cuppe, but as they hauehave exceeded in grace, so they hauehave drunke a farre deeper draught then wee, in this vnpleasant potion. For to beginne with our great grand-father Adam, what miseries did he indure in his whole life, partly through the remembrance of his lost happinesse, and partly through the pressure and vexation of present afflictions. For he, who formerly passed his time in pleasure and delight, and abounded so in Gods blessings that he wanted nothing which his heart could desire, must now labour in a new plantation for the furnishing whereof all things were to be inuented, and all necessaries to be prouided; now the earth which formerly brought foorth all good fruits of it owne accord, being for his sinne subiect to the curse, bringeth forth nothing but briars and thornes, vnlesse it were tilled and manured with his toilesome labour; nowe he who formerly liued at ease, if he will hauehave his penury relieued, and obtaine necessaries for the sustaining of his life, must buy them with his sweat, spend part of his bodily substance, that he may nourish the rest, and waste his strength that he may preserue it. Now he who needed nothing, needeth all things, and hath no body to comfort him in his miseries, but she that caused them; none to helpe him in his wants but she who helped him to fall into them. He is indeed Emperor of the world, but hee hath no subiects to obey him; he is Lord of all, but he hath no seruants, no not for the basest offices. If he will cat the fruits of the earth, he must be his owne husbandman, his owne purueier. If he will hauehave clothes, he must be his owne tailor, and make them before he can weare them; if he will hauehave a lodging, to keepe him from the bruit beasts and the violence of the weather, there is no man to build it vnlesse he will be his owne carpenter and tent-maker, and in a word if he wil hauehave the pleasure of any earthly necessary, he must first endure the paines of getting and procuring it. Yea afterwards when he expected the comfort of society, and hoped to hauehave all his other miseries sweetned with the pleasure of his posterity, his hony is turned into gall, and there, as hee thought to hauehave found his chiefe contentment, he findeth his greatest crosses and calamities. For his dearest sonne Abel is cruelly murthered, and his other sonne Cain the first borne like a butcher or hangman imbrueth his hands in his innocent blood. And so by the death of the one he is depriued of his comfort, and by the life of the other he endured a greater crosse: For he seeth him a vagabond, a reprobate, an enemy to himselfe, and the whole Church of God, and whilst he liued, dead in his sinne, obnoxious to Gods wrath, and as it were all ready adiudged to eternall condemnation. Now what a griefe was this to consider that his first fruits should offer himselfe to the diuell, that the heire of the world, should be the sonne of perdition, and the first that should hansell the fire of hell. But aboue al these worldly crosses he was pressed with the burthen of his owne sinne, which was the cause that brought all the rest vponupon him, and the very sting that made all his paines truely painfull, and all his other miseries out of measure miserable. For he who was holy and righteous according to Gods image, now looking into the glasse of the law of nature, seeth himselfe made by himselfe most vgly and deformed; he seeth himselfe spoiled of the inestimable treasurs of Gods gifts and graces, and that himselfe was the theefe who had thus robbed him. He seeth nothing in him but the guiltinesse and filthinesse of sinne, ignorance in the place of knowledge, peruersenesse in stead of obedience, & hatred of God in stead of louelove. And one while he is filled with griefe whilst he considereth his losse, and another while with anger against himselfe as being the cause of all his misery. Wheresoeuer he looketh he findeth cause of lamentation; but yet when he is about to complaine on those who hauehave brought him into these miseries, his owne conscience apprehendeth himselfe as the malefactor, and he hath nothing to crie out on but his owne sinne. The like afflictions were that part of his posterity, which fered God, subiect vntounto; for in that short story of righteous Abell, who was his true heire in vertue and godlinesse, there is only mention of his birth, sacrifice and slaughter, his seruing of God giuing the occasion vntounto his wicked brother to resolue vponupon and execute that bloody designe. So whilst the posterity of Cain… flourished in the world, built cities, inuented musicke and spent their time in carnall pleasures; Sheth and his progeny were obnoxious to their tyranny, and oppression,Gen. 4. being innocent lambes among rauenous and cruell wolues. Thus also Noah the preacher of righteousnesse had his life made bitter vntounto him with many and grieuous afflictions; for what great paines did he take in building the arke? vntounto what scoffes and skornes, mockes and stouts was he subiect, when as the wicked of those times did see him to vndertake (in their opinion) such a fruitlesse taske and vselesse labour? with what sorrow was he oppressed when he saw his ministery contemned and vnprofitable to his hearers, and when afterwards he beheld Gods goodly workmanship defaced, the creatures destroied, all mankinde, and among the rest his friends, kindred and acquaintance drowned and ouerwhelmed in that vniuersall deluge? what a close and noysome prison was the Arke vntounto him, for the space of ten moneths together, when as being constrained to lodge amongst so many bruite and filthie beastes, he could not chuse but be almost choaked and stifled with their filth, excrements, and stinking sauours? And to say nothing of those innumerable miseries which he must needes endure in the new plantation and rennouation of the world, what a corrasiue must it needes bee vntounto his heart, to be scorned by his owne sonne, when as he considered that his sinne gaue occasion vntounto it? what a torment was it to his minde to thinke that amongst all men three only besides himselfe, had escaped the flood, and that now one of them was drowned in a flood of wickednesse, which would carry him dead in sinne vntounto the sea of endlesse perdition?
After the flood wee see Abraham the father of the§ Sect. 2. Of the afflictions of Abraham the father of the faithfull. faithfull subiect to the like or greater afflictions. For by Gods commandement hee is inioyned to leaue his own country, his friends, kindred and acquaintance, which are as deare vntounto a man as his life, and to spend his daies in a voluntary banishment, in a strange land, among a barbarous nation, who were grosse idolaters, and polluted with all maner of abominable wickednesse, where eueryevery day his soule was vexed with their grosse impieties, the sight whereof was as grieuous as death it selfe.Gen. 12. 1, 2. The which country, though it were promised vntounto him as the reward of his faith and obedience, yet in respect of fruition, he was for the present but a titular king only, without land or subiect, hauing not so much as a foot of his inheritance in present possession. Neither doth it giuegive vntounto him any great comfort in the full assurance of future fruition, seeing he found such security and penury in it, that hee was faine to leaue it for want of bread, and to flee into Aegypt to seeke releefe. And beingvers. 10. come thither he is constrained (through the wickednes of the people) for the safeguard of his life to suffer his deare Sara to be taken from him, which could not be much lesse grieuous vntounto him, then the separation of his soule and body, and to redeem his life from famishment by prostituting his beloued wife to be defiled by awicked infidel. Out of which dangers he was through Gods gracious prouidence no sooner escaped, and againe returned to his owne home, but there fell out such implacable contentions, between his, and Lots seruants, that he hath no meanes to preserue peace and louelove berweene them, but by parting with his deare nephew, who was then in the place of a sonne vntounto him, and the chiefe stay and comfort of his life, confining himself vntounto that partGen. 13. 7, 8. of the country which he refused, though by a donation from God he was Lord of all. VponUpon which parting hee presently heareth of the ouerthrow and captiuity of his beloued kinsman, and is constrayned to redeem his life, and liberty with the hazard of his owne. AfterwardsGen. 14. 12, 14. God maketh a gracious promise vntounto him of a numerous posterity, and that in his seede both himselfe and all the nations of the earth should be blessed, when as yet he had no child, which promise was so long deferred vntill in naturall reason it seemed impossible to be performed, by reason of Sarahs barrennesse, and therefore beleeuing the thing promised, but staggering in the manner how it was to be accomplished, hee harkeneth vntounto his wife, perswading him, that seeing there was noGen. 16. 2. hope of issue by her, he would take vntounto him Hagar his maide, that out of her might spring this numerous posterity. By whom he no sooner had a sonne▪ but all his comfort is crossed through their bitter contentions, which could no otherwise be pacified but by granting an ouer-ruling power vntounto Sarah, which shee excercised with such rigor, that his late espoused wife and onelyonly sonne as yet vnborne forsake him and flee away: vponuponGen. 18. & 19. her returne hee is afflicted with care and feare ouer his nephew Lot, labouring for his preseruation out of the common destruction of Sodom… and Gomorrah; and soone after he is constrayned to leaue his habitation, and to dwell as a stranger in the land of Gerar, where theGen. 20. 2. second time his beloued Sarah is taken from him, and in great danger to be defiled by Abimelech, the King of the country. At last Isaac is borne vntounto him, of which ioy, least he should surfet, it is embittered with an vnexpected accident; for the sonne of the bond-woman scoffeth and scorneth at the child of promise, which beingGen. 21. discerned by Sarah, he is faine to giuegive her satisfaction by sending Hagar and his yong sonne Ismael wh…m he dearely loued, into perpetuall banishment. An… now when after this losse he had no comfort left but us deare Isaac, he is by Gods commandement inioyed to forgoe him also; and that not by naturall …icknesse, or through the rage of enemies which ha… …eene grieuous had it beene no more; but which w… most intolerable, he himselfe, the father of the fair…ull and the forwardest professour of Gods true rel…ion, must in the sight of the Gentiles and infidels▪ …oe an act in outward appearance abominable and execrable. For hee must take his owne sonne, his onelyonly sonne, his sonne Isaac, whom hee loued, in whom all the promises of life and saluation were made, to be fulfilled in that seede which should come of him; and after three daies deliberation vponupon the matter, hee must take the life of his life and comfort of his soule, and with his owne hands (like a cruell butcher) cut his throat, and (least there should any relique remaine of him to comfort him with any hope of his restoring) he must offer him in sacrifice, and see him with his owne eyes consumed to ashes? By all which it appeareth that God did set forth this holy Patriarch as a president of humane misery, to teach vsus, that seeing hee thus dealt with Abraham the father of the faithful whom hee so much loued and esteemed, we, who professe our selues his children, should not expect any priuiledge whereby we should be exempted from drinking of this cup.
Neither in truth had his posterity, being children of§ Sect. 3. Of the afflictions of Isaac. promise, as well as his children after the flesh, any prerogatiue or exemption from bearing the crosse; only it may be that as their faith was lesser, so their burthen was lighter, being fitted by God according to their strength. For to goe no further; who seeth not, that as Isaac was his heire in respect of the promises, so also in respect of miseries and afflictions. In his child-hood he was abus…d, mocked, and (as the Apostle saith) persecuted byGal. 4. 29. Ism…l the sonne of the bond-woman; after his mariage he was like his father enforced through dearth and famine, to lee for reliefe into the land of the Philistins, for the preserua…ion of his life; where he was faine for feare of incurring d…ger for his wiues sake, to put in practise his fathers pollicy and to call her his sister. And the more that God blessed hi… the more he was enuied by the Philistins, insomuch a when he had by his great labour digged diuers welles, the … for spite either filled them vp, or forcibly tooke them from him, not suffering him toGen. 26. drinke of that water which hee had dearely purchased with his paines and sweate. He was also like his father long afflicted with the barrennesse of his wife, and no sooner, at his earnest praier, had she conceiued two children in her womb, but (after a monstrous manner) theyGen 25. striue the one with the other in their mothers belly, in which contentions they continued long after they were borne. He saw his first-borne reiected of God, and him cast off, whom hee had chosen and most dearely loued; Hee beholdeth this his reprobation sealed by his prophane contemning of the birth right, and in his wickedvers. 35. choise of wiues against his fathers will from among the cursed nations, who were through their impiety a continuall grief of minde to Isaac and Rebeccah. Finally, God crosseth his will in making him vnwittingly to giuegive the blessing vntounto his lesse-loued, yet best-deseruing sonne Iacob; and then heareth that Esau doth impiously thirst after his blood and threatneth his death, wherby he and his wife are inforced to send him away like a banished man from his fathers house for the space of twenty yeares, all which time they had iust cause to bewaile no lesse his absence then his brothers presence; the one spoyling them of their comfort, the other eueryevery day ministring new matter of griefe and mourning.
The like and greater miseries was the Patriarch Iacob Sect. 4. Of the many and grieuous afflictions of Iacob.subiect vntounto, in the whole course of his life. For euen in his mothers womb his brother striueth with him; and no sooner had hee receiued Gods blessing by the hands of his father (which also he obtayned with great difficulty and danger) but presently his brother hateth him and resolueth on his murther: whose cruelty hee could no otherwise auoid, then by leauing his fatherGen. 27. and mother with all the meanes of his in intenance and preferment in their family, and by liuing like an exile a great part of his age in a strange country; where hee indured a long and hard seruitude vnderunder an idolatrous▪ churlish and deceitfull master; by whom hee was deluded in his wife for whom he serued, and defrauded of his deserued wages. And instead of comfort at home to sustaine him in these sorrowes, he is vexed with the disagreement, aemulations, and chiding of his wiues, whilest they contended who should hauehave the greatest interest in his louelove. Being to returne to his fathers house, he is faine to steale away from Laban, and to depart from his Step-father, of whom he had so well deserued, like one that fled from an enemy, of which no sooner is notice taken but presently he is pursued like a run-away rebuked like a slaue, and ransaked like a thiefe. Being escaped the iawes of this greedy Wolfe, hee is ready to fall into the pawes of a raging Lion: for his brother Esau who had formerly threatned his death commeth against him with foure hundred men, whose cruelty not knowing how to resist or auoide, hee is exceedingly perplexed with terrour and feare, and after much care and distraction of minde, he is faine in the most abiect manner to prostrate and humble himselfe before him, for the pacifying of his wrath. Afterwards his most deare wife Rachel dieth in her trauell, and Ioseph the comfort of his old age is taken from him, and as he supposed, deuoured with wilde beasts, which errour and false conceipt brought vntounto him as true and bitter sorrow as if indeed he had beene destroied; for refusing allGen. 37. 35. comfort he professeth that he would go mourning to his graue. VntoUnto which afflictions we may adde the rauishingGen. 34. Gen. 35. 22. of his onelyonly daughter, the bloudy and vniust reuenge taken by his sonnes Simeon and Leui vponupon Shechem Hamor and the whole City, who were innocent of the fault, getting their opportunity of perpetrating this wickednesse, by abusing and prophaning Gods holy Sacrament: the defiling of his Concubine by his firstborne Reuben: the incest of Iudah; the dearth and famine which pinched him and his whole family, and whilst he vsed means to prouide bread to preserue them from famishment, he was much more vexed with the trouble of his sonnes, the imprisonment of Simeon, and aboue all the rest with the constrained departure of his dearely loued Beniamin. By all which it appeareth that hee had iust cause to professe (as he did vntounto Pharaoh)Gen. 47. 9… that the daies of his pilgrimage were but few and euill, seeing hee begunne and continued his life in the suffering of such grieuous and innumerable miseries.
Thus Moses, whom God so dearely loued and entertained§ Sect. 5. Of the afflictions of Moses. into the neerest familiarity, talking with him as one man talketh with another face to face, was notwithstanding continually exercised with grieuous afflictions. For at his very birth he hardly escapeth death according to the cruell decree of wicked Pharaoh. Three moneths together he was in danger to be butchered, if he were discouered. And then he is exposed and laid out by his parents, who for feare of their owne liues durst preserue his no longer. And though in his childhood and youth he were nourished by Pharaohs daughter and so enioyed for a time the pleasures of Aegypt; yet when he came to mature age, he refuseth to be caled her sonne, and abandoning all his worldly preferments, he chooseth rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season. For he seeketh to right the wrongs of his oppressed brethren; and slayeth an Egyptian who did him iniury. Which being discouered he is faine for theHeb. 11. 25. safegard of his life to flie into the land of Madian, where he liued as a stranger, and for the sustaining of his life was contented to submit himselfe vntounto the base condition of an hyred seruant. Afterwards at Gods appointment he returneth into Egypt, vponupon a dangerous and difficult ambassage, and runneth himselfe into many perils, whilst he laboureth for the deliuery of his people out of their captiuity. For not onelyonly Pharaoh and all the Egyptians become his enemies, but euen his owne nation, for whose freedome he laboured, when contrary to their expectation they were for the present more grieuously oppressed, are much incensed, and in bitternesse of soule murmur and crie out against him. And after their deliuerance with what afflictions and troubles was he continually vexed? For no sooner was he come to the red sea, but they begin a fresh to murmur and repine against him and thus vponupon all occasions afterwards they fall into the like grudging and vniust complaining, of which his owne brother and sister were not innocent, but togither with the rest they vex him with their murmurings. He is continually toiled in iudging their causes and in taking vp their suits and contentions; he is vexed with their stiffeneckednesse and froward conuersation; he is exceedingly grieued with their apostasie and odious idolatry; he sorroweth their slaughters and lamenteth those manifold plagues, which by their grieuous sinnes they brought vponupon them; and whereas he had no worldly comfort to cheere him in suffering all these afflictions, but the remembrance of the land of promise, the fruition whereof he long expected, he is at last cut off from this hope, and heareth Gods definitiue sentence passe vponupon him, that he should die in the wildernesse▪ and neuer enter into the promised land.
So holy Iob, though he were the iustest man that liued vponupon earth, and aboue all others in his time most highly§ Sect. 6. Of the afflictions of Iob and Dauid. aduanced in Gods fauour, yet did he endure so manifold and grieuous afflictions (as the spoiling of his goods, the death of his sonnes and seruants, the outward torments of boyles and botches, and the inward terrors of an afflicted mind; the scornes of the wicked, the hard censures of the godly, the tentations of his wife, and the vnkind vsage of his friends, who in his chiefest miseryIam. 5. 11. and perplexity applied to his troubled mind corrasiues in stead of comfors, tthat in these respects he was thought the fittest man to be propounded by the holy Ghost as a patterne of patience. And thus Dauid though he were a man according to Gods owne heart, yet passed all his daies in trouble and misery; and that not only before he came to sit on the throne, when as he was continually persecuted by Saul, and eueryevery day within an inch of death, forsaken of his faithlesse friends, who stood bound1. Sam 30. vntounto him in many benefits, slandered and traduced by his cruell enemies, and robbed and spoiled of his goods and wiues, who were carried away captiue by mercilesse infidells. But also after he was crowned king, he endured so much more grieuous crosses and calamities, as those were neerer vntounto him who were the authors of them. For to say nothing of his warres, both ciuill with the house of Saul, and forraigne with the enemies of his people; nor of the conspiracies and treasons of his owne subiects, who did rise against him, and the fearefull plague wherein he lost 70000. of his people, how much more grieuously was he afflicted in his owne posterity? for Amnon his owne sonne defileth, yea rauisheth Thamar his owne daughter. And wicked Absalon in cruell reuenge becommeth his murtherer: For which bloody crime Dauid taking vponupon him to pardon him though he were by God adiudged to death, he doth afterwards conspire and rebell against him, he driueth him out of his kingdome, he defileth his concubines and bringeth him into most desperate extreamities. And finally when by his death Dauid was freed out of these dangers and miseries, the meanes of his deliuerance was more grieuous vntounto him then all the former euills which he endured. For with such vnbrideled louelove did he affect this vngracious sonne, that he layeth his death to heart more then all other his affliction, so that like a man oppressed with the waight of sorrow, he seeketh ease by venting his griefe in that pittifull lamentation. O my sonne Absalon, 2. Sam. 18. 33.my sonne, my sonne Absalon would God I had died for thee; O Absalon, my sonne, my sonne. VntoUnto whom I might adde all the Prophets and holy men of God who (as our sauiour witnesseth) were persecuted of their and GodsMath. 5. 12. enemies, and through their meanes and malice, afflicted in their whole liues with innumerable and most grieuous crosses and calamities. For, as the Apostle witnesseth, they were racked and tryed by mockings and scourgings, bonds Heb. 11. 36. 37 38.and prisonment; they were stoned, hewen asunder, tempted and slaine with the sword, they wandred vp and downe in sheepes skinnes, and in goates skinnes, heing destitute afflicted and tormented; they wandred in wildernesses, and mountaines; and dennes and caues of the earth; and that not for any faults or demerits of their owne, for they were so excellent in vertue and holines, that as he there testifieth, the world was not worthy of them.
The like also may bee saide of the holy Saints, Apostles§ Sect. 7. Of the afflictions of the Apostles, and especially of the Apostle Paul. and Martyrs of Iesus Christ vnderunder the new Testament, who though they were aboue all other aduanced in Gods fauour▪ yet were they aboue all other vexed and tormented with afflictions and persecutions. For to begin with Iohn the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, the friend of the bridegroom, & the greatest of al the Prophets; we finde that after an austere and afflicted life, hee was for reproouing Herod for his sinne of incest wrongfully imprisoned, and afterwards at the suit of a dancing damsel without any course of law vniustly beheaded. And of the same cup all the Apostles and Disciples of Christ tasted after him; for besides all the miseries and afflictions which they indured in their liues, as want and penury, trauell and wearinesse, infamy and reproaches, slanders and vniust censures, mockings and scornings, imprisonment and scorgings, all the twelue Apostles were put to violent deathes, Iohn onelyonly excepted, who being miraculously preserued in the caldron of boyling oyle, was afterward by the tyrant banished into the ile Pathmos. But most grieuous and manifold were the afflictions of the Apostle Paul aboue all the rest, being a vessell of mercy, purposly chosen of God to carry his name before the Gentiles, and the children of Israel, and to suffer many things for hisAct. 9. 15. 16. names sake. For thus he describeth his owne miseries and calamities; I thinke (saith he) that God hath set forth vsus the last Apostles, as men appointed to death: for we are made a gazing-stocke to the world, and to Angels and to men: Wee are fooles for Christs sake, weake and despised. VntoUnto this houre we both hunger and thirst and are naked, 1. Cor. 4. 10. 11. 12. 13.and are buffeted, and hauehave no certaine dwelling place; and labour, working with our hands: wee are reuiled, and yet wee blesse, wee are persecuted, and suffer it: Wee are euill spoken of, and wee pray: wee are made as the filth of the world, the ofscowring of all things vntounto this time. So in another place hee saith; Wee are afflicted on eueryevery side, 2. Cor. 4. 8. 9. 10.yet are wee not in distresse; in pouerty, but not ouercome of pouerty. We are persecuted but not forsaken, cast downe, but wee perish not; eueryevery where wee beare about in our body the dying of the Lord Iesus, that the life of Iesus might be made manifest in our bodies. And againe, In all things we approue our selues as the Ministers of God; in much patience, Chap. 6. 4. 5. 6.in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses; In stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labours, by watchings, by fastings, &c. And comparing his sufferings with those which were borne by the rest of the Apostles, hee saith, that he was in labours more abundant, in stripes 2. Cor. 11. 23. 44.aboue measure, in prison more plenteously; in death oft: of the Iewes fiue times receiued I fortie stripes saue one; I was thrice beaten with rods, I was once stoned; I suffered thrice ship-wracke, night and day hauehave I beene in the deepe of the sea. In iorneying I was often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine owne nation, in perils among the Gentiles, in perils in the Citie, in perils in the Wildernesse, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In wearinesse and painefulnesse, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and in nakednesse. Besides the things which were outward, I am cumbred daily and hauehave the care of all th… churches. Who is weake, and I am not weake? Who is offended, and I burne not? VntoUnto which outward vexations of his body, and inward cares and distractions in his minde, we may adde his spirituall afflictions, as the fight betweene the flesh and the spirit, and the buffetings of Sathan, which were incomparably greater thenRom. 7. 24. all the rest, for whereas out of the strength of his saith and patience he reioyced, yea euen boasted himselfe in his other tribulations; by these hee is much humbled and cast downe in the sight of his corruptions, forced to crie out in perplexity of spirit; wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer me from this body of death; and driuen vntounto God in frequent and feruent praier, that hee2. Cor. 12. 8. might be freed from these tentations.
Neither is this the state and condition onelyonly of some§ Sect. 8. That it is the lot of the whole Church militant to suffer afflictions. Esa. 41. 14. few particular men, but euen of the whole Church militant here on earth, which is continually subiect to the iniuries and oppressions of wicked worldlings, which liue with it and about it, in regard whereof God calleth it a worme (feare not thou worme Iacob) because it is easily troden vnderunder foote, and is notable in it selfe to make resistance. And making a discription of the Church, whereby it might be descerned from a…l other people, he stileth it with these properties: O thou afflicted Esa. 54. 11.and tossed with tempest, that hast no comfort. In which regard the Apostle saith, that the Thessalonians became…. Thes. 2. 14 followers of the Churches of God, because they had suffered the same things. And this manifestly appeareth in the example of the Church of Israel, which from the first to the last was afflicted aboue all other Nations. For what a miserable captiuity did they indure three or foure hundred yeeres in the land of Aegypt, whilest the wicked Aegyptians as their Lords and Masters flowrished in the world, and raigned and ruled ouer them? What miseries and afflictions did they indure in the wildernesse fourety yeares together, as hunger, thirst, stinging and burning Serpents, and grieuous plagues, till all of them that came out of the land of Aegypt sauing Caleb and Iosuah were vtterly destroied? And after that by so great warres and troubles they were setled in the land of Canaan, how often were they in the time of the Iudges vanquished and made tributaries and slaues to their cruell enemies? What a miserable captiuity did they indure in Babilon seuenty yeeres together? And what oppressions and persecutions did they suffer vnderunder Antiochus, and afterwards vnderunder the Herods, for many yeares? so that the life of that whole state was but a continuall conflict with troubles and calamities, sauing that the Lord, now and then, gaue vntounto them some little breathing time, whereby they renued their strength against the next combate and incounter. The which their lamentable condition, we may see notably described in the booke of the Iudges, and Kings, in the 44. 79. and 139. Psalmes, in the Lamentations of Ieremie and many other places of the old Testament, vntounto which for breuity sake I referre the reader. And the like, yea much more miserable and afflicted was the condition of the Church after the ascension of Iesus Christ, not onelyonly by reason of those persecutions raised against it by the malicious Iewes, but also those much more cruell and bloody persecutions vnderunder the heathenish Emperors, wherein many thousands of the godly christians were murthered and massacred, and that not by ordinary deathes, but by the most exquisite tortures and torments which witte assisted with malice could inuent.
By all which it appeareth that afflictions and tribulations in this world are the portion allotted both§ Sect. 9. That the scriptures foretel these afflictions of the faithful. to the whole Church in generall, and to all the speciall members, euen eueryevery particular faithfull man; and that the more neere and deere they hauehave beene vntounto God, and the more that they were inriched with excellent vertues and sauing graces, the greater share and measure of crosses and miseries hath beene inflicted vponupon them. The which needeth not to seeme strange vntounto any, seeing these workes of God in the administration of his iudgements are so consonant and agreeable with his word, which sheweth that all Gods saints and seruants are continually subiect to these crosses and afflictions. For so our Sauiour saith, that whosoeuer will be Luk. 9. 23.his Disciples they must take vp their crosse daily and follow him: that all his faithfull ones shall weepe and lament,Ioh. 16. 20. when as the world shall laugh and reioyce; and that as many as he loueth he doth rebuke and chasten. And his holy Apostle telleth vsus, that all who wil liue godly in Christ Apoc. 3. 19. 2. Tim. 3. 12.Iesus shall suffer persecution: That whom God loueth he chasteneth, and scourgeth (not some but) eueryevery sonne whom he receiueth; and therefore that if wee be without correction, whereof all are partakers, then are we bastards Heb. 12. 6. 8.and not sonnes. And finally, that afflictions are the Kings roade and high-way, by which we must trauell vntounto theAct. 14. 22. kingdom of heauen, if euer we purpose to come thither. And so the Apostle Peter comforting and strengthening1. Pet. 5. 9. the faithfull vntounto whom he writeth in their tentations, telleth them that their estate was common with them vntounto all Gods children, and that the same afflictions which they suffered were also accomplished in the rest of their brethren which are in the world. In which regard the sonne of Syrah, admonisheth vsus, that if we resolue to serue the Lord we should also prepare our soules to Eccles. 2. 1.indure tentations. Yea not onelyonly are the Saints of God continually exercised with their owne afflictions, but they also communicate with the rest of the faithfull in their crosses and calamities, as being members of the same body; so as though it could be imagined that they had no troubles or miseries of their owne, yet is their life much afflicted, by compassionating others in their afflictions, & partaking in their griefs. And both these are cōprised together by the Apostle where he saith, that the Hebrews endured great afflictions, partly whilst they were Heb. 10 33. 34made a gazing stock both by reproches and tribulations, and partlie while they became companions of them which were so tossed to and fro. For both ye sorrowed with me for my bonds & suffered with ioy the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selues that you hauehave in heauen a better and an enduring substance. VntoUnto which duety eueryevery Christian is bound not only by vertue of their vnion with Christ, and of one of them with another as fellow members, but by an expresse commandement from God by his holy Apostle; Remember them that are in bonds, as though yee were bound Heb. 13 3.with them, and them that are in affliction, as if you were afflicted in the body. And againe, Reioyce with them that Rom. 12. 15. 16.reioyce, and weepe with them that weepe, be of like affection one towards another.
Seeing therefore crosses and afflictions hauehave from the§ Sect. 10. That we may receiue much comfort by considering the examples of Gods afflicted saints. very beginning of the world to this day beene the lot and portion of all Gods saints, let this be our comfort, that we hauehave such and so many copartners of our griefes, for it is better to hold our cōmunion with them, though we be fellowes also in their miseries, then being seuered from them to enioy all maner of worldly prosperity, It is better to accompany them in the foule and afflicted way which leadeth to Gods kingdome, it being the only knowne passage towards this heauenly city; then to goe alone in an vncouth way which hath not been beaten and tracted by others of our godly brethren who hauehave gone before vsus, though it be neuer so pleasing and delightfull. If trauailing towards a town we were assured by some man of credit that we should goe vntounto it by narrow and filthy lanes, and that by no other meanes we could come to the end of our iourney, then by trauailing through them, we would not reioyce, if in our passage we found only flowrie sweete meddowes and a faire and champion country, because wee would conclude that because it was so contrary to our friends description, it could not be the right way which would bring vsus to the city: but Christ hath ascertained vsus, that it is a narrow, foule and afflicted way that leadeth vsus to the new Ierusalem; and by the Scriptures we are assured that Gods dearest saints and seruants hauehave trauelled by this way towards this heauenly city; so that we hauehave no cause to be dismaied if we finde our passage such as Christ hath described it, and the Saints hauehave formerly tracted before vsus, but rather we should hauehave iust cause to doubt and feare, if we found it faire and pleasant, least we were not in the right way that leadeth to blessednesse. For we are not better, yea we are many degrees worser then the holy Patriarches, Prophets and Apostles and why then should we expect to hauehave this priuiledge aboue them, that whereas they by many afflictions entred into the kingdome of God, we should hope to come thether by the faire broade way of worldly prosperity? Yea rather let vsus with patience trauaile in thatNec enim fortuna querenda sola tua est; similes al…orum respice casius, mitius is…a f…res. Ouid. m…tam…r. li. 15. way which they hauehave beaten befor vsus; let vsus reioyce & be glad if in our passage we may see the print of their footsteppes, though it be in the mire and clay of trouble and affliction; seeing it is the greatest comfort and assurance of attaining vntounto happinesse, when we hauehave such companions in our iourney, or rather such precedents to leade vsus the way. Let vsus not thinke much to put our sholdersOnus est leuius quod ab omnibus pertatur. vnderunder that burthen which is borne by all, seeing it is not likely that we should sinke vnderunder it, when as wee hauehave so many assistants and copartners. Let it be our comfort that in our afflicted estate we be carried with the motion of the vniuerse, and hauehave all the whole Church either going before, accompanying, or followingGrande solatium est cum vniuerso rapi. Senec. de prouid Cap. 5. Patienter ab vn… sustinendum est▪ quod mult…s accidit. Bernard. de modo viuendi cap. 42. Plutarch. de consol. ad Apol. after vsus. And let vsus not take it ill if we sustaine that which is suffered by all: neither let vsus falsely complain that our burthen is heauier then other mens; seeing if we compare our afflictions with those which hauehave beene formerly suffered by the Patriarches, Apostles and Saints of God, their weight will appeare to be but a few ounces, to their many pounds; and if now (according to Socrates conceipt) all the faithfull should agree together to cast all their crosses and miseries into one heape, to the end that there might out of the whole be an equall part shared to eueryevery one, the most of those who came thither whining and complaining, would rather take againe their owne burthen which they brought, and goe their way, then yeeld to hauehave a share in that proportionable diuision. Finally let vsus not onelyonly looke to those afflictions which other of Gods Saints hauehave suffered before vsus, but consider with what comfort and patience, yea with what thanksgiuing and reioycing they hauehave sustained and endured them; & so shal we plainly see that our murmuring and repining proceedeth not from the w…ight of these crosses, seeing they hauehave borne farre heauier with comfort and contentment, but from our owne impotency and impatiency of bearing the lightest burthen. For as all meates and drinkes seeme bitter, clammy and distastefull to him who is sicke of a burning feauer; but yet when he seeth those who are in health to feede hungerly and with a good stomacke on such things as his appetite lotheth and abhorreth, then in his reason and discretion he imputeth not the vnsauorinesse to the meate and drinke, but to the nature of his disease and his owne distemper: so when wee behold other of Gods Saints bearing farre greater afflictions then those which we suffer with comfort and reioycing, wee will no more complaine of our intolerable burthen, but of our owne impotency and impatiency which more vex vsus then our loade.
But here the afflicted sinner may obiect, that this§ Sect. 11. A Consolation for those who complaine that they are afflicted for their grieuous sins. comparing of the crosses and calamities of the Patriarches and Apostles with those which hee suffereth can bring vntounto him no patience or comfort, because they were holy men of God, who suffered in their innocency, for their triall, and the manifestation of Gods graces in them; and therefore no maruel if they bore their crosses with ioy and thankesgiuing; wheras they being grieuous sinners are afflicted for their transgressions, and besides doe shew many corruptions and much wickednesse whilest the hand of God lyeth heauy vponupon them: To which I answer, that the fire of affliction serueth not only to trie and proue vsus, but also to refine and purifie vsus; neither are our crosses and calamities onelyonly exercises for those which are strong and in health, but also physicke to purge those of the corrupt humours of sinne, who are spiritually sicke; and therefore wee may well beare them with patience and comfort, if they either finde vsus purified and so onelyonly trie vsus, or make vsus more pure by burning away our drosse; if either they exercise our graces, that they may be encreased and we preserued in our spirituall health; or purge away the corruptions of sinne that our soules may be recouered out of their dangerous diseases: If either they finde vsus in the way of righteousnesse and keepe vsus in it, or going astray in the by-waies of sinnne, doe reduce vsus into a right course, making vsus more carefull in the vse of all good meanes for the mortifying of our corruptions, and the renuing of vsus vntounto holinesse and newnesse of life. Besides wee are to know that howsoeuer those Saints and seruants of God were holy and righteous, yet had they the reliques of sinne and the corruption of nature remayning in them, as well as we, although not in so great a measure and degree; and that they also shewed many infirmities and corruptions in their afflictions both by impatiency in bearing them, and in vsing vnlawful meanes to be freed from them, as it may easily appeare to those who are but a little conuersant in the holy scriptures. And therefore if being like vntounto them in afflictions, we be also like, yea superiour vntounto them in sinne, frailty and humane weaknesse; this should not dismay and discourage vsus, if with them wee see our corruptions, dislike, bewaile and labour against them, vsing the meanes whereby they may be mortified and subdued. Yea rather the more wee exceede them in these spirituall diseases, the more wee abound in the drosse of sinne, the more should be our patience in vsing the medicines which God hath prescribed for the curing of our dangerous sicknesse; the greater should be our ioy and reioycing, when as God purgeth and purifyeth vsus in this furnace of afflictions, from so much drosse and rust of sinne and corruption, euen as hee hath more cause of reioycing, who is cured of the plague, and healed of griesly woundes and deepe festered sores, then another who is recouered of a gentle ague, or hath his finger c…red of a little cut.