Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX.
That wee may receiue much comfort by comparing our light and small afflictions with those grieuous and intolerable punishments which Christ suffered for vsus.
ANd thus may we comfort our selues§ Sect. 1. Of the manifold miseries and affl…ctions which Christ suffered both in …i… life and …eath. by comparing our lesser and lighter crosses and afflictions with those greater and heauier which the dearest Saints and seruants of God hauehave formerly suffered: but much more may wee strengthen our patience and replenish our hearts with consolation, yea with spirituall ioy and reioycing, if we compare our miseries and tribulations, with those greater afflictions and calamities which were sustained by Iesus Christ our Lord and King; in respect of whose sufferings we may truely say, that our greatest crosses are but small sparkes of that fiery furnace into which hee was cast; and but a few after-droppes of that cruel tempest and storme of Gods wrath, which with full violence did beat vponupon him. For as he neuer (that we know of) laughed in the world; so neuer did the world so much as smile vponupon him; vnles it were with some false fauour to make ensuing disgraces and iniuries more grieuous and intollerable: yea contrariwise from the day of his birth to the day of his death, it pursued him with deadly malice, and heaped vponupon him miseries and indignities. For though this rod and graffe springing from the stocke of Ishai, were glorious in his rest, as theEsa. 11. 1. 10. Rom, 15. 12. Prophet speaketh, when he was come to the top of his perfection, couering and shadowing all the Gentiles vnderunder his patronage and protection, as the Apostle expoundeth it; yet (as else-where the same ProphetRom. 15. 12. saith) he was in his first growth, as a branch springing from a roote in a drie and barren ground, hauing in him neither forme nor beauty, so that those who should behould him, would see no forme in him that they should Esa. 53. 2▪ 3.desire him Yea hee further addeth, that he should be, as one despised and reiected of men, a man full of sorrowes, hauing experience of infirmities, so as they should hide their faces from him, and not esteeme him. So the Apostle saith, that though he were the prince of our saluation, Heb 2. 10. 5. 8.yet God thought it good to consecrate him to this office by afflictions; and that though he were the sonne of God, yet learned he obedience by the things which hee suffered. And himselfe affirmeth, that it behoued him to hauehave suffered all those miseries of his life, andLuk. 24. 26. afterwards a cursed death, before he could enter into his glory. Now what and how great these miseries and afflictions were, it will easily appeare, if we take a view of the whole course of his life. For in his birth he had a common Inne for his kingly pallace, a stable for his chamber, a manger for his cradle, and the horses and bruit beasts for his chamber-fellowes. In his infancy before he could goe he is constrained to flee into Aegypt, that his life might be preserued from cruell Herod who thirsted after his blood. In his youth hee taketh paines in that poore occupation of his supposed father Ioseph, as appeareth by the question of the people; Is not this the Carpenter, Maries sonne? In hisMar. 6. 3▪ whole life hee was subiect to all humane infirmities & afflictions which are generally incident vntounto al mē, as heate and cold, hunger and thirst, wearinesse and pouerty. Yea so poore he was, that hee liued by almesLuk 8. 3. Luk. 9. 5…. and had not the priuiledge of poore foxes, and silly birds, for the Foxes hauehave their holes, and the birds their nests, but the son of man had not whereon to laie his head. But especially was our Sauiour pinched and pressed with miseries and afflictions, when he began to execute his office, and to worke the worke of our redemption. For he fasted forty daies and hungred for want of necessarie foode; hee is grieuously assaulted with Sathans powerfull and subtill tentations, and getteth not the victory without a paineful conflict. Hee spendeth his life in doing well and hearing euill; hee doth workes of mercy, and is maliciously censured; hee teacheth the truth, and hardly escapeth outward violence: his friends enuiously backebite him, his enemies maliciously slander him; and hee who being the power of God, did admirable miracles by his onelyonly word, is accused to worke them by Belzebub the Prince of diuels. Hee cannot speake, but they are ready to intrap him, and out of the words of life and saluation, they are ready to gather matter of his death and d…struction. He is reprochfully called a wine-bibber, a glutton, an imposter, a deceiuer, a Samaritan, a sinner, and being the onelyonly true and naturall sonne of God, he is said to be possessed with a deuill. He is betraied of his owne Apostle, and apprehended with swords and staues, as if hee were an hainous malefactor. He is bound who came to set vsus at liberty, and to redeeme vsus out of the cruell bondage of sinne and Sathan; and arraigned before a mortal, yea wicked man, being the Lord chiefe iustice of Heauen and Earth. He who is truth it selfe is falsly accused, comming to be our aduocate to pleade our cause and excuse vsus to Gods iustice; and is vniustly condemned being innocent and full of all vertue and goodnesse. Hee is mocked and scorned, rated and reuiled, blind-foulded and buffetted; he is shamefully spit vponupon, who with his spittle had healed and recouered the eies of the blind; and a bloody murtherer preferred before the holy and righteous. He is cruelly whipped, as though he were some rogue or runagate, and his blessed head is crowned with sharpe pricking thornes, vntounto whom of right belonged the crowne of glory. He hath a purple robe in derision put vponupon him, and a reed in his hand instead of a scepter, and so he is scornefully saluted as a King in a May-game, who is the soueraigne Monarch of heauen and earth: The Lord of life is adiudged to death, yea the shameful and cursed death of the crosse, and he who is most innocent & righteous is crucified betweene two theeues as though he were the greatest malefactour. The which kinde of death as it is exceeding painefull to all that suffer it, because the hands and the feete being aboue all other parts most sensible of torment, by reason that they abound with nerues and sinnews the instruments of sense and feeling, were pierced and nailed to the Crosse; and because the tortures though sharpe and bitter, are yet also long and lingering; so especially (as some probably iudge) to our Sauiour; for whereas all the powers and faculties of our bodies and soules are by reason of sinne, and the corruption of our nature dulled and deadded, and our senses among the rest; the body of our Sauiour Christ as it was most pure and free from sinne, so was it most quicke and perfect in all these faculties, and consequently most sensible of smarte and paine. And thus also insteade of drinke to quench his thirste, they giuegive him Vineger mingled with Galle; and in stead of sweete comforts in the terrours of death, they wag their heads, flout and deride him, saying; Thou that destroiest the Temple, and buildest it in Matt. 27. 38. 39 40.three daies, saue thy selfe, if thou be the sonne of God, come downe from the crosse. He saued others, but he cannot saue himselfe, if he be the King of Israell, let him now come downe from the crosse, and we will beleeue in him. He trusted in God, let him deliuer him now, if he will hauehave him, for he said I am the sonne of God. But among all the torments which he suffered, not any one nor all together are to be compared with those tortures of his soule, when as he bore the vnsupportable waight of Gods anger due to our sinnes, which brought him into a grieuous agonie, and pressed out of him in the garden,Math 27. 46. those clots of blood in stead of sweat, and vponupon the crosse that ruefull crie; my God, my God why hast thou forsaken me. By all which it manifestly appeareth, that there is an incomparable difference betweene Christs and our greatest sufferings, and that our afflictions being compared vntounto his, are but a drop to the ocean, a flea-bite to the sting of scorpions, and a little fillip to the torturing racke. It is true indeed, that we and he drinke of the like cup, and the like ingredients, but like in quality, not in quantity; for his cup wasEzech. 23 32. large and deepe, like that cup of which Ezechiel speaketh; ours small and shallow. His cup was bitter through the terrours of Gods wrath which he apprehended, ours is sweetned through the mixture of spirituall comforts. He drunke a deepe draught, and as it were the lowermost dregges of Gods fierce wrath, we (as it were) drinke of the vppermost part of the potion, and doe onelyonly but sippe and taste of it; to him this draught was like a deadly poison which caused death, to vsus it is but a physicall medicine, which by purging away the corrupt humours of sinne, preserueth§ Sect. 2. That Christ suffered all these miseries and afflictions being iust and innocent. Esa 53. 9. our spirituall life, and furthereth vsus in attaining vntounto life euerlasting.
And these with many other miseries and afflictions Christ our head suffered in the world, being most innocent, iust and holy; for as the Prophet speaketh, he made his graue with the wicked, though he had done no wickednesse, neither was any deceit in his mouth. So the Apostle Peter saith, that in him was no sinne, and in his 1. Pet. 2. 22.mouth there was found no guile. And the Apostle Iohn 1. Ioh. 3. 5.affirmeth, that he appeared, that he might take away our sinnes, and that in him was no sinne. And therefore as oneCur ita asperum creditur vt à deo homo toleret flagella pro malis; si tanta deus ab hominibus pertulit mala pro bon…s: Gregor. pasioral. part. 1. cap. 13. saith, if he departed not out of the world without correction, who came into it without corruption, how much more are we to expect stripes, who by our sinnes hauehave so often deserued them? And why should it be thought hard, that man should be afflicted by God for so many euils, seeing God suffered so many euils at the hands of men, onelyonly for doing good? or who in his right wits can vngratefully complaine of his correction, if he escaped not the whip, who neuer was tainted with the least corruption? And as anotherAugust. in Psal. 40. enarrat. saith, if Christ were content to be launched and seared who had in him no putrefaction, and if he who is our medicine, refused not the medicinall fire and burning iron, much more ought we to endure patiently the hand of our heauenly Chirurgion lanching, searing & searching our festred sores of sinne with afflictions and tribulations, that he may heale and cure vsus. And therefore let vsus wholly commit our selues into the hands of our physition, for he cannot erre in misapplying his medicines to the sound flesh, in stead of rotten and putrified, seeing he who made nature must needs know the faults and defects of nature, and what imperfections are come vntounto it through our concupiscence and corruption. He knoweth that he gaue a commandement to man in his perfect health, that he should not run a course which would bring him to sicknesse, saying vntounto him in Paradise; Eate of this, and this forbeare: but whole man hearkned not to the prescript of his physition, that he might not fall; and therefore now at least let him hearken vntounto him, that he may rise againe and recouer health.
But let vsus further consider, that Christ in himselfe iust§ Sect. 3. That Christ being righteous in himselfe, suffered all these afflictions for vsus who are sinners. and innocent, suffered all these miseries for vsus, who were dead in our sinnes, the children of wrath, strangers, yea enemies vntounto God and his grace, that by these our sufferings he might satisfie Gods iustice in bearing that punishment which he had deserued, iustifie vsus by his righteousnesse and obedience, and reconcile vsus vntounto his father, and so might not only free vsus from the euerlasting torments of hell fire, which was the merit of our sins; but also might by the wood of his crosse sweeten these bitter waters, pull out the sting of our temporary afflictions, and so not only make them harmlesse, but also good and profitable. For by his holy and innocent sufferings he hath so sanctified all our afflictions, that our pouerty is made the way to riches, our shame to glory, our punishments to euerlasting pleasures, our curse to blessings, and euen our death it selfe to euerlasting life and happinesse. So the Prophet Esay witnesseth, that he hath borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrowes, hee was Esai 53. 4. 5.wounded for our transgressions, he was broken for our iniquities, the chasticement of our peace was vponupon him, and with his stripes we are healed. And the Apostle Peter affirmeth that his owne selfe, bare our sinnes in his body … Pet 2. 24.on the tree, that being deliuered from sinne we should liue in righteousnesse. If therefore Iacob, seeing his sonne Iosephs coate imbrued with his blood, was so wholly taken vp with this sorrowe, that he had no place left for any other, this greater griefe making all the lesse easie and insensible, how much more, when we see our deare Sauiours body imbrued with blood, torne with nailes and pierced with a speare, yea crucified and tormented thus with our grieuous sinnes, which caused and made way for all other tortures, should we be so wholly possessed with this griefe and mourning, that we shold be scarce sensible of any worldly sorrow, but beare all earthly troubles and afflictions with patience and comfort? Especially considering further that hee willingly suffered for our sakes all those afflictions, torments, and death it selfe, with all meeknesse and patience; for though (as the Prophet speaketh) he were oppressed, and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, but Esai 53. 7.was brought as a sheepe to the slaughter, and as a sheepe before her shearer is dumbe, so opened he not his mouth. And as the Apostle saith, when he was reuiled, he reuiled not againe, when he suffered he threatned not, but committed 1. Pet. 2. 23.it to him that iudgeth righteously. Yea so meeke was our Sauiour in all his sufferings, that when he was so horribly abused, mocked, buffeted, spit on, scorned whipped, and crucified, he did not shew the least signe of impatiencie, he refuseth not the murthering kisse of a knowne traitor, he healeth the eare of him who came to apprehend him; he is falsely accused and maketh no apology, yea he excuseth and prayeth vntounto his father for his bloody persecutors; father (saith he) forgiue them they know not what they doe. All which heLuk. 23. 34. did for our sakes, not onelyonly to perfect the worke of1. Pet. 2. 24. our redemption, but also to leaue vsus an example, that we might follow his steps. For if Christ suffered patiently such great miseries and indignities for our sakes himselfe being innocent, what troubles and afflictions, what crosses and miseries should we be content with all meeknesse to beare for his sake and at his appointment, being guilty sinners who hauehave deserued eternall condemnation? especially considering that by his blessed sufferings he hath so seasoned and sanctified all our worldly tribulations, that they are become harmlesse and without sting, yea wholesom happy & the meanes of blessednesse. If he for the louelove that he bare vntounto vsus, thought not his precious life to good to giuegive it vntounto his father as the price of our redemption, how ready should we be in lue of thankfulnesse to forsake wealth and health, house and lands, kindred and friends, yea life it selfe at his appointment? To which purpose one hath a singular meditation; If (saith he) I wholly owe my selfe vntounto God for myBernard. de diligend. de…. creation, what shall I now giuegive him for my restauration, especially being restored after this manner? Neither was I so easily restored as I was created. For he did but say the word and I was made, but he that made me by speaking the word only, for my restoring both spake many things, and wrought wonders, and suffered hardnesse; and not only hardnesse, but things vnworthy of him. What therefore shall I returne vntounto the Lord for all the benefits which he hath bestowed vponupon me? In his first worke he gaue me vntounto my selfe; in his second, he hath giuen himselfe vntounto me, and by giuing himselfe hath restored me vntounto my self. Being therefore giuen and restored, I owe my selfe for my selfe, and so owe my selfe vntounto God by a double right. But what shall I render vntounto God for giuing himselfe vntounto me? for though I could giuegive my selfe a thousand times for recompence, what am I in comparison of him?
And if we bee not thus willing and ready to suffer§ Sect. 4. That we shall be adiudged vnworthy to raign▪ with Christ if we be not cont…t to suffer w…th him. afflictions for Christs sake, and to beare the crosse at his appointment, we are not worthy of him, nor to be esteemed among his seruants and disciples: for if he, being the glorious sonne of the eternall God, was content for our sakes to abase himselfe, to refuse all worldly glory and riches, and to suffer most grieuous miseries, pouerty and contempt, ignominy and disgrace, yea the cruell, cursed, and shamefull death of the crosse, and the wrath of his father, much more …arefull and intolerable then all the rest; then are we vnworthy to bee acknowledged for his, if beeing poore wormes and sinnefull wretches, we should be so vngratefull for those inestimable paines sustained for vsus, as not to bee willing to suffer what it shall please our Sauiour Christ to impose vponupon vsus, seeing our load is light, incomparison of his vnsupportable burthen; or to grudge to drinke of that cup which he hath prepared for vsus, himselfe hauing drunke it to the bottome, especially considering it was to him a deadly potion; but vntounto vsus a physicall medicine, and an wholesome restoratiue, tending to the preseruing or recouering of our spirituall health. So our Sauiour plainely saith, He that loueth father or mother more then me, is not worthy of me; and hee that Mat. 10. 38, 39loueth sonne or daughter more then me, is not worthy of me; And he that taketh not his crosse, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. And againe, If any man will follow me, let him forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me: For whosoeuer will saue his life, Mat. 16. 24. 25shall loose it, and whosoeuer shall loose his life for my sake, shall finde it: and what will it profit a man▪ if he shall win the whole world, and loose his owne soule? or what shall a man giuegive for recompence of his soule? And else where,Luke 14. 3…. Whosoeuer he be of you that forsaketh not all hee hath (that is, hath not a disposition of forsaking all when I require it) he cannot be my disciple. He that will serue a maister, must make profession thereof by wearing his liuery, but the crosse is the liuery and cognisance of Christ, which that his followers might not scorne nor grudge to put it on, himselfe first bore and wore it. Haman though it the greatest honour that couldHest. 6. 8. be done vntounto a subiect, that hee should b… thought worthie to weare th… Kings apparell. The souldier thinkes himselfe much honoured, when, his generall admits him to weare his colours, and to goe into the field in his owne armes; and Ionathan when he would shew his greatest louelove towards Dauid and how much he esteemed of him, he puts vponupon him his owne roabe1. Sam. 18. 4 and garments, his sword, bow and girdle: but these afflictions are the bloudy colours of our great commaunder, this red apparell, and these garments sprinkled with blood, were such as himselfe wore…sa. 63 2. 3 Heb. 2. 14. whilest he dwelled on earth, as the Prophet witnesseth; In this bloody armes he fought and vanquished Sathan and sinne, with all the enemies of our saluation: And therefore let vsus thinke it no disgrace, yea let vsus esteeme it our highest honour, and a great testimony of our Lord, and sauiours greatest louelove, when he thinketh vsus worthy to weare his colours, to bee clothed in his owne apparell, and in his owne armes to fight against the enemies of our saluation.* Sect. 5. That God hath preordained those to be like Christ in his sufferings, who shall be like vntounto him in glory. Rom. 8. 29. Mat. 20. 22. 23
Finally let vsus consider that whomsoeuer God hath preordained to be like vntounto his sonne in glory, he hath also preordained, that he should first beare his image in afflictions, as the Apostle telleth vsus; that before we can be exalted to sit with Christ in his kingdome, we must first drinke with him in his bitter cup, as himselfe speaketh to his beloued Apostles, that before we are called of God to enter into his ioyes, we are first called to suffer tribulation, for Christ also suffered for vsus leauing vsus an example that wee should follow his steppes, as Peter affirmeth, that if wee bee heires1. Pet. 2. 21. Rom. 8. 17. with Christ, we must first suffer with him. that we may also be glorified with him, as Paul ioyneth them. And finally, that though Christ of his infinite grace, being rich for our sakes became poore, that through his pouerty we might be made rich, that these spirituall and2. Cor. 8. 9. heauenly treasures are bestowed vponupon none, but vponupon those, who being humbled with sorrowes and afflictions, are poore in spirit, as himselfe teacheth vsus. And therefore the holy Apostle preparing vsus for this glory and aduancement, doth exhort vsus to let the same Phil 2. 5. 6. 7.minde be in vsus which was in Iesus Christ, who being in the forme of God, made himselfe of no reputation, but tooke vponupon him the forme of a seruant, and humbled himselfe and became obedient vntounto the death, euen the death of the Crosse. So that if we will feast with Christ in heauen we must fast with him on earth; if we will eat with him at his table of the bread of life, and (as …e speaketh) drinke wine with him in his kingdome, we must, in this worldly prison and pilgrimage, eate with him of the bread of affliction, and drinke of the water of sorrow; and here we must labour and trauell whilest these working-daies of life last, if there we would keep an euerlasting Sabbath; and worke in the Vineyard, if we will at the euening, receiue that penny and wages of eternall happinesse. To this purpose one saith, thouBernard. super. Cantica. Ser. 47 O Lord Iesu art vntounto me both an example and reward of suffering, and both doe strongly prouoke, and vehemently inflame me; thou teachest my hands to fight by the example of thy fortitude, and after victory thou crownest my head with the presence of thy maiesty; and therefore whether I see thee fighting, or expect thee to crowne me, or rather as the crowne of my glory, in both thou dost wonderfully allure mee, and both is a chaine vnresistable to draw me. Pull me then after thee, & I will gladly follow thee, but more gladly inioy thee; for if thou beest so good, O Lord, to those that seeke & run after thee, what wilt thou be to those who finde and possesse thee? And this is very consonant, & agreeable with reason, that none should raigne with Christ, but those who hauehave first suffered with him: for the disciple is not aboue his Maister, nor the seruant aboue his Lord: it is enough for the disciple to bee as his maister is, & the seruant as his Lord. If they hauehave called the maister of the house Belzebub, how much more Matth. 24. 25.them of the household? If they hauehave done these things to greene tree, what shall be done to a drie? And our Sauiour telleth all his disciples, that as the men of the world had persecuted him, so they would also persecuteLuk. 23. 31. them. The adopted sonnes of God are not to beIoh. 15. 20. preferred before the naturall sonne, who is the chiefe of the family: it is sufficient▪ and a wonderfull fauour, if they be admitted to any equality. And therefore if the Prince of our saluation, was consecrated by afflictions, Luk. 24. 26.and by his greeuous and manifold sufferings entred into his glory, why should wee expect a preuiledge aboue him? It is not sutable and fit that an afflicted head should hauehave a pampered body and members euen languishing in ease and delicacy. It becommeth not the seruant to liue in idlenesse and pleasure, when as the master wearieth himselfe with paines and labour; nor that the Souldier should be in Garison, faring daintily and lying soft, when as the Captaine is in the field, induring all hardnesse, and exposing himselfe to innumerable dangers. And therefore seeing our head Christ was crowned with pricking thornes, let not vsus his members expect to be crowned with worldly glory. Seeing our master hath taken such paines, in our worke, and for our sake, and our great Commander hath so couragiously encountred our enemies, fighting vntounto blood, and losing his precious life, that we might obtaine the victory: let vsus his seruants and souldiers inure our selues with patience to sustaine any labour, and attempt any seruice, though neuer so dangerous, which he appointeth, that ouercomming, we may also triumph with him in glory and happinesse.
But this (alas) is aboue the strength and courage which we hauehave by nature, where of it commeth to passe that howsoeuer many would gladly be conformable§ Sect. 6. That many would willingly raigne with Christ, but few are content to suffer with him. with Christ in glory, yet few would be like vntounto him in afflictions; many would be partakers of his crowne, but few are content to beare his crosse; many would follow him to eat of his bread, but few are willing to drinke of his cup; many would triumph in his glory, but few are couragious and constant in fighting his battels: Finally, many would gladly goe vntounto heauen; but they are vtterly vnwilling to follow Christ in the same way; they would ascend with Christ gloriously from Mount Oliuet in the presence of their friends, but they will not first accompany him to Mount Caluary ignominiously to suffer with him in the middest of their enemies. But as one saith, if thouChrisost. in Heb. 12. Homil. 28. in morali. wilt be a Disciple, it is thy duty to follow thy master; now if he went by affliction vntounto his kingdome, and thou wilt goe thither by ease and prosperity, thou refusest his way and choosest another, and therefore how wilt thou not following follow him? how wilt thou be called his Disciple, seeing thou art not content to walke in his steppes? If (as the Apostle speaketh) thou wilt know him and the vertue of his resurrection, thou must first hauehave fellowship with him in his afflictions, Phil. 3. 10, 11and be made conformable vntounto his death, that by any meanes thou maiest attaine vntounto the resurrection of the dead. Which that we may doe with patience and comfort, let vsus often meditate on those afflictions & miseries which our Lord & Sauior Iesus Christ (being the eternall son of God, & so dearly beloued, that in him alone he is well pleased) hath suffered for vsus. As for example, when we are in pouerty and pinched with worldly wants, let vsus remember that the Lord of heauen and earth, was for our sakes so destitute of earthly comforts, that he had not an house to hide his head in. When we are iniuriously traduced and vniustly slandered, let vsus call to mind that our Sauiour, who was the Lamb without spot, most innnocent and ful of al goodnesse, was called a wine bibber, a friend to publicans and sinners, an imposter, and one who did all his miracles by the helpe of Beelzebub the prince of diuels. When we are ill requited by those of whom we hauehave well deserued, forsaken by our friends in the time of our need, and betraied by those who stand obliged vntounto vsus by many benefits; let vsus think with our selues, that our deare Lord was thus vsed before vsus; for those sought his destruction whom he came to saue; his disciples and followers forsake him and flie away in his greatest extremity; and one whom he had dignified with the honor of an Apostle, and among all the men of the world, had chosen for one of the twelue, and honored with his chiefe seruice and choise preferments, doth in lue of all his benefits, plot his ruine, and betraieth him into the cruell hands of his bloodthirsty enemies. Finally are we disgracefully apprehended, haled to the iudgement seat, falsly accused, vniustly condemned, buffeted, whipped, mocked, scorned, and adiudged to die a shamefull and painfull death? let vsus comfort our selues with this consideration, that the only sonne of God, who aboue all others was most deare to his heauenly father, did suffer these and many other miseries, and hath seasoned and sweetned these bitter waters, by bathing in them his most blessed body. And to conclude, are we not only thus afflicted in our bodies and states, but also in our soules much vexed and troubled, with the tentations of sathan and the world, with the burthen of sinne, and the apprehension of Gods wrath and terrors of death and hell? then let vsus strengthen and refresh our fainting hearts with this meditation, that Christ himselfe was thus tempted, that he bore at once the burthen, not of one mans sinne alone, but of all the faithfull and elect, and did not only (like vsus) taste and sip of the wine of Gods wrath, but did drink the very dregs thereof euen to the bottom. As therfore they were accustomed to prouoke Elephants1. Mach. 6. 34. vntounto the fight, by shewing them the blood of Grapes or Mulberies: so let vsus encourage our selues to fight couragiously against worldly afflictions, that wee may with patience conquer and ouercome them, by looking on the afflictions, miseries and wounds of our Sauiour, and vponupon those streames of blood which so abundātly flowed from his head & shoulders, hands & feet, and lastly frō that pretious fountaine of his pierced heart. For as one saith, WeParua tol…rabimus, si recordemur quid biberit ad patibulum, qui nos inuitat ad caelum Cassian. super psalmos. will with ease beare our light and little afflictions, if we would but consider what greater things he suffered for vsus vponupon his crosse who inuiteth vsus vntounto heauen. From thence as out of a pulpit he powerfully preacheth a sermon of patience, & effectually perswadeth vsus to suffer a little for him, who for vsus hath suffered so much. For as the Physitiō cannot vse a stronger reason to moue his patient to take a loathed & suspected potion, then whē before him (to shew that there is no hurt or danger in it) he is content not only to tast his medicine, but to drinke a much stronger of the same kinde in a double quantitie; so there cannot bee a more effectuall motiue to perswade vsus to drink of Christs bitter cup, then when wee consider, that he himselfe hath not only begun to vsus, but hath drunk a farre greater measure, & the very dregs thereof euen to the bottome. And thus the Apostle perswading vsus with patiēce to run in the afflicted race that is set before vsus, doth wil vsus to looke vntounto Heb. 12. 1, 2. 3.Iesus the author & finisher of our faith, who for the ioy that was set before him, endured the crosse, & despised the shame, & is set at the right hand of the throne of God; & to consider him that endured such speaking against of sinners, least wee should be wearied & faint in our mindes. And thus our SauiourIoh. 15. 20. armed his disciples against the hatred of the world, by putting them in minde that it hated him first. And an holy father exhorteth vsus, with patience to suffer afflictions, encouragingBibe, ager ealicem amarum vt sanus sis▪ cui non sursona …rs, N… trepidare quia ne trepideres prior hibit medicus &c. August▪ in Psal 48. our selues by Christs example; Drink (saith he) O thou sicke man, this bitter potion, that being diseased …hou maist recouer health. Feare not to take it, seeing to free thee from this feare, thy physition hath begun vntounto thee & drunk a full draught of his bitter passion. He drunk vntounto thee who hauing no sinne, had nothing in him that needed curing; refuse not then to pledge him who art sick in sin, & being full of corrupt humours, needest purging; but be content to drinke till the bitternesse of this world passing away, that happy time shall come, wherein there shall be neither feuer nor consumption. Let vsus therefore in all our afflictions set before vsus the sufferings of our innocent Sauiour which he endured with all meeknesse for our sakes, saying with Thomas whē we heare of his death, Let vsus also goe that we may die with him. Let vsus looke vponuponIoh. 11. 26. our great commander fasting, watching, & fighting vntounto blood, in the middest of the royall army of his Saints; and say with Vriah, My Lord Iesus, & the seruants of my Lord abide in the open fields; & shall I goe to my house, eate, drinke, 2. Sam. 11 11.and take my pleasure? And when we are stung with these fiery serpents of affliction let vsus cast vp our eyes vntounto the true brazen serpent Iesus Christ, hanging vpō his crosse, & this will heale vsus & mitigate the heat of our impatiēcy: Yea this cōsideration wil enable vsus, not only to bear a lour crosses, with patiēce & comfort, but also (with Paul▪ to reioyce Col. 1, 24.in our suff…ings in that we do fulfill the rest of the afflictiōs of Christ in our flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church. the which also the Apostle Peter requireth of vsus; Reioice (saith he) in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings, 1. Pe…. 4 13.that when his glory shall appeare ye may be glad & reioyce. For we shall be heires with him in his glory if we be copartnersRom. 8. 17. with him in his afflictions, & if we suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him, as the Apostle teacheth vsus.2. Tim 2. 12.