Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV.
Of certaine duties which we are to performe for the strengthening of our faith and patience, when God deferreth to deliuer vsus out of our afflictions, and of our thanksgiuing when we are deliuered.
AND these are the things whereon we must§. Sect. 1. The first dutie is often to renew our repentance. meditate for the confirming of our faith, affiance, hope and patience, when God deferreth the accomplishment of his promises, and doth not deliuer vsus from our crosses and afflictions; now wee are to entreate breefly of certaine duties to be performed of vsus for the same purpose which respect action. And first we ought carefully when God continueth vponupon vsus these crosses and corrections, to renew oftentimes our repentance towards God, and faith in Iesus Christ. VntoUnto the former, namely the practise of renewed repentance in the time of our afflictions, the Scriptures eueryevery where exhorte vsus. So the Lord by the Prophet stirreth vp the people in capriuitie to the performance of this dutie. Turne vntounto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turne vntounto Zac. 1. 3.you, saith the Lord of hosts. And the Apostle Iames likewise perswadeth vntounto it, Draw neere vntounto God, and he will draw Iam. 4. 8. 9.neere vntounto you, cleanse your hands you sinners, and purge your hearts ye wauering minded. Suffer afflictions, and sorrow ye, and weepe; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your ioy into heauinesse. Neither are we in the time of affliction to performe this dutie after an ordinary manner, but with great earnestnesse, vehemencie, and with all the powers of our heart and soules, according to that of the Prophet;Ioel. 2. 12. 13. Turne you vntounto me with all your hart, with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rent you heart and not your clothes, and turne Lam. 3. 41. 42.vntounto the Lord your God. VntoUnto which earnest and sound conuersion the people of God exhort one another in the land of their captiuitie. Let vsus (say they) search and try our waies, and turne againe to the Lord; let vsus lift vp our hearts with our hands vntounto God in the heauens. And thus seriously hauehave the faithfull from time to time renewed their repentance, when they hauehave by the hand of God beene brought into trouble and extremity, as we may see in the example of the Israelits oppressed by the Philistimes, who humbled-themselues greatly, and wept so abundantly, that they are said to hauehave drawne water (as with buckets out of a well) and to hauehave powred it out before the Lord. So Dauid saith, that he fainted 1. Sam. 7. 6.in his mourning, and caused his bed eueryevery night to swimms, and watered his couch with his teares And among the peoplePsa. 6. 6. of the Iewes beeing in that great danger through Hamans conspiracie, it is said, that there was great sorrow, and fasting, Hest. 4. 3.and weeping, and mourning, and many lay in sackcloth & ashes. And in the time of their captiuitie, the Prophet saithLamen. 1. 2. of the whole Church, that she wept continually in the night, that her teares did runne downe by her cheekes, hauing none to comfort her. Which examples we are to imitate when we are in affliction, if we would hauehave our faith assured in Gods promises, when he deferreth to performe them; and our patience so confirmed that wee may endure and beare al crosses with comfort and contentment. For if our new committed sinnes, since the time of our first and generall repentance doe lye vponupon our consciences vnrepented of, defiling our bodies and soules with their guilt and filthinesse; they will exceedingly weaken our assurance in Gods promises of helpe and deliuerance, and accordingly disable our patience, when as faith and hope, the cheefe pillars vponupon which it resteth are taken from it.
For without this renewed repentance we cannot with§ Sect. 2. That vnlesse we performe this dutie of repentance, we can hauehave no assurance of helpe and deliuerāce. 2. Chro. 15. 2. Esa. 55 6. 7. any good ground of reason waite vponupon God for freedme, and deliuerance with assurance and expectance of his helpe. First, because the promises are made vntounto those onelyonly who forsake their sinnes by true repentance, according to that of Azariah the Prophet, The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seeke him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. So the Prophet Esay, Seeke the Lord whilest he may be found, call ye vponupon him whilest he is neere. Let the wicked forsake his wayes, and the vnrighteous his owne imaginations, and returne vntounto the Lord, and he will hauehave mercy vponupon him, and to our God, for he is readie to forgiue. And Ezechiah to the same purpose saith to the people: If ye returne vntounto the Lord, your brethren & your children, shal find 2. Chro. 30. 9.mercy before them that led them captiues, and they shall returne vntounto this lād, for the Lord your God is gracious, & wil not turne 1. Cor. 11. 31.away his face from you, if ye conuert vntounto him. And the Apostle telleth vsus, that if we iudge our selues, we shall not be iudged of the Lord. So that still repentance is the condition of Gods promises, vponupon the performance whereof they are2. Chro. 15. 4. likewise performed, according to that of Azariah, Whosoeuer returned in his affliction to the Lord God of Israell, and sought him, he was found of them. Especially when as this duty is performed with all earnestnesse and serious heartinesse, because this hath a more speciall promise from the Lord,Ier. 29. 13. speaking after this manner by his Prophet, Ye shall seeke me, and finde me, because ye shall seeke me with all your heart. And consequently, they who liue in their sinnes without repentance, cannot apply vntounto themselues these promises, because they doe not performe the condition, and so failing and faltring in their faith and hope, they easily fall into murmuring and impatiencie. Secondly, it is Gods maine end in correcting vsus, to bring vsus by his chastisements vntounto vnfained repentance, and therefore if impenitently we continue in our sinnes, wee cannot waite vponupon God for helpe and deliuerance, seeing so he should be frustrate of his principall end, but may iustly expect that hee will double and redouble our afflictions, vntill according to his purpose he hath brought vsus vntounto repētance & amendement; vnlesse we be in ye number of those whom he giueth ouer as a desperate cure, reseruing them for euerlasting and hellish condemnation. So one saith, that God can this present day free andChrysost. ad Pop Antioch. Homil. 4. de patientia. deliuer vsus out of all our afflictions, but he will not doe it till he see vsus purged and purified from our sinnes, soundly, conuerted from our euill wayes, and our repentance not only begun, but well setled and throughly confirmed in vsus. And as the gold-smith will not take his gold out of the furnace, vntill he see that it is well purified from the drosse, because this was the end why he cast it in; so the Lord will not deliuer vsus out of this furnace of afflictions, vntill the drosse of sinne bee by our repentance purged away, because this was the end that moued him to cast vsus into it. Thirdly, wee must knowe and remember that our sinnes are the causes of our afflictions, and therefore till they be taken away by vnfained repentance, we can hauehave no hope of the remouall of our crosles; for as the fire must needs burne vsus which we cary in our boosomes vnlesse it bee cast out, or extinguished with water, because it is an effect which inseparably accompanieth it very essence and nature; so will this fire of sinne continually scorch vsus with the heate of punishment, seeing they cannot be seuered asunder, vnlesse we doe put out and extinguish them, by casting vponupon them the water and teares of vnfained repentance. Fourthly, sinne is the sting of afflictions, which being pulled out, they become harmelesse; but if it still remaine in them, it will infuse into them such a tormenting and deadly poyson, that the paine will grow intolerable, and impossible to be endured with any patience. It doth exceedingly wound and weaken our faith, making vsus to doubt of Gods louelove towards vsus, seeing wee shew in our obedience so small fruits of louelove towards him; which wounds will not be cured till sin the sting that made them be pulled out, and the sores washed and bathed by vnfained repentance. And the guilt of sin is vntounto the conscience an intolerable burthen, which being added to the burthen of afflictions cannot possibly be sustained with humane strength; & therefore is no way able to beare thē with patience, vnlesse we lighten our loade, casting away sinne that presseth downe, by turning vntounto God in vnfained repentance. And then bearing no burthen of our owne imposing, but that alone which God layeth vponupon vsus, wee shall easily sustaine it with comfort and contentment, both because it is light in waight, as the Apostle telleth vsus, and also wee hauehave assured hope by Gods gracious promises, that within a short time we shall be freed from it.
Secondly, hauing thus renewed our repentance, wee are§ Sect. 3. The second duty is often to renew our faith in Gods promises. in the next place to renew our faith, applying vntounto our selues all the gracious promises of the Gospell, made vntounto repentant sinners, especially those which concerne the free forgiuenesse of sinne, both in respect of the guilt and punishment, and our deliuerance out of all our afflictions and calamities in Gods due & appointed time, when as it will most stand with his glory and the euerlasting good of our owne soules. Whereby our faith beeing renewed and strengthened, we shall be the better enabled hopefully to expect the performance of Gods promises, although the things promised be not subiect to sight, and aboue the reach of naturall reason, for as the Apostle saith; Faith is the ground Heb. 11. 1.of things which are hoped for, and the euidence of things which are not seene. And although God tryeth vsus with many delayes, yet we will patiently attend his leisure; for as the Prophet speaketh, He that beleeueth shall not make haste; becauseEsa. 28. 16. he is assured by faith, that though hee hauehave not from God helpe and deliuerance, when he first desireth it, yet hee shall most assuredly obtaine it, when as it will tend to his greatest benefite.
The third meanes whereby we may be enabled to waite§ Sect. 4. The third dutie is true humility, whereby we meekely submit our selues to Gods good pleasure. vponupon God, when hee deferreth to accomplish his promises, and to deliuer vsus out of our troubles and afflictions, is to labour after true humilitie, whereby knowing and acknowledging our owne ignorance, which maketh vsus vnable to discerne truely what is good or hurtfull for vsus, we do wholy deny our selues and our owne wisdome, and resigne our selues ouer freely and wholy vntounto God, to be ruled and ordered by him, as he thinketh good, whether it be to liue in prosperitie or affliction, plentie or pouertie, health or sicknesse, life or death, being perswaded, that hee is infinite in wisdome, and knoweth what is best, infinite in power, and therefore able to bring it to passe maugre the malice and might of all opposers, and infinite also in louelove and compassion; and therefore willing and ready to doe that which in his wisdome he seeth to bee fittest for vsus. And this ground of patience the Apostle propoundeth, where hee saith, that the Lord knoweth to deliuer the godly out of tentation, that is, he so knoweth, that he also both can and wil powerfully effect2. Pet. 2. 9. it. VponUpon which foundation we must also build our patience and comfort, when as wee continue long in trouble and affliction, and being perswaded of Gods infinite wisdome, power and louelove, let vsus resigne our selues wholy to his good will and pleasure, knowing that nothing euer miscaried which was intrusted to his care and prouidence. And though our afflictions bee tedious and bitter to flesh and blood, yet let vsus patiently endure that which he in his wisdome and goodnesse is pleased to inflict, neither prescribing vntounto him the measure of our afflictions (for it is absurd and ridiculous for the childe to make choice of his rod, and to appoint vntounto his father what number of stripes he shal giuegive vntounto him) nor the meanes by which we would be deliuered, which are better knowne to God then vntounto vsus; nor finally, the time of our troubles, how long they shall last, and when we would hauehave him to free vsus from them. For so wee shall but fall into a dangerous premunire, and make forfeiture of our spirituall estate, by encroaching vponupon Gods royall priuiledges and prerogatiues, seeing our office and dutie isNostri est crucē ferre, Dei vero auferre. Nosse enim quando tribulationes auferri oporteat illius est qui eas permisit inferri. Chrysost. in Math. 3. homil. 10. onelyonly to beare the crosse, and it is Gods part to take it away. According to the saying of an ancient father; to know (saith he) the time when our tribulation and afflictions are to be taken from vsus, it belongeth to him who hath inflicted them but to beare them meekly with thanksgiuing, it is the proper work of our patience. And if we thus meekly submit our selues to the will of God, it will heereof come to passe, that both we shall beare our greatest afflictions with greater comfort and contentment, then worldly men the least defects of their earthly prosperitie; and also that wee shall much the sooner bee freed from them, seeing our gracious father will no longer smite and beate vsus, when as hee seeth vsus already throughly humbled, vnlesse it be in the case of triall, for the▪ better manifestation of his graces in vsus, that hereafter he may crowne them with the greater glory.
The fourth meanes, enabling vsus to waite vponupon God in§ Sect. 5. The fourth duty is to trust in God at all times, in the presence and absence of inferiour▪ meanes. Iob. 13. 15. trouble and affliction, is to worke our hearts vntounto firme affiance in him in all estates and conditions, that we may say with Iob, Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him; and that both in the presence and absence of inferiour meanes. For if in our crosses and calamities, we doe not as we ought looke vntounto God, but rest in the helpe of our worldly hopes and secondary causes; it is not possible to preserue our patience, seeing they will through vnfaithfulnesse bewray vsus when we trust in them, through impotencie and insufficiency faile vsus, when we rest vponupon them, and when they hauehave pulled vsus vp (as we were) sinking to the top of the waters, and wee thinke our selues escaped out of the danger, they will let goe their hold for want of strength, or wilfully thrust vsus back againe into the gulfe of destruction, whereas if our whole affiance and confidence bee in the Lord and his promised helpe, wee shall be well freed from the violence of passion, and neither bee much lifted vp with hope in the abundance of earthly helpes, because we know, that if he do but blowe vponupon them, they doe presently vanish; nor deiected with feare and despaire, when as they faile and forsake vsus, because wee are assured, that God in whom wee trust, is able to deliuer vsus without them, by his al-sufficient power, or else can when hee pleaseth prouide vsus other meanes in their stead, which are more conuenient and better able to helpe vsus. Let vsus therefore in all our afflictions put our trust in the Lord, saying with the Church when he deferreth his helpe. Be not terrible vntounto me, thou art my hope in the day of aduersitie. And againe, GiueGive vsus helpe against trouble, for vaine Ier. 17. 17. Psa. 108. 12. Psa. 118. 8. 9. Ier. 17. 7.is the helpe of man. For it is better (as the Psalmist speaketh) to trust in the Lord, then to hauehave confidence in man: It is better to trust in the Lord, then to hauehave confidence in Princes, for blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord i…; as the Prophet pronounceth him; blessed in respect of his present condition, seeing he is assured in Gods good time of helpe and deliuerance, and in the meane time of his gracious presence and assistance, enabling him to beare with patience and comfort whatsoeuer he is pleased to lay vponupon him; and blessed in respect of his future hopes, seeing he shall hauehave his patience, and humble waiting on the Lords leisure, rewarded and crowned with euerlasting happinesse.Ier. 17. 5. Whereas contrariwise, Cursed is the man who trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arme, and withdraweth his heart from the Lord; because hee shall but inherite the winde, and bee frustrated of his hope and confidence, leaning vponupon such weake reeds and broken staues, as will most faile and deceiue, when as they are most rested vponupon. According to that lamentable complaint of the afflicted Church. Whilest we … for our vaine helpe, our eies failed; and in our waiting Lam. 4. 17.…ed for a nation that could not saue vsus.
…ly, because in our afflictions wee are so weake and§. Sect. 6. The fifth duty is frequent and feruent praier. …d, that we are impatient of any delay, therefore we …aue often our recourse vntounto God by feruent and ef… prayers, earnestly crying and crauing for freedome …iuerance in such a time as the Lord seeth fittest for …e glory and our spirituall good; and that in the … time he will giuegive vntounto vsus such strength and patience, … inwardly refresh vsus with the sweete feeling of his …nd comforts of his holy Spirit, that wee may be able …ndure our afflictions, as long as hee shall be pleased to …ntinue them vponupon vsus; grounding these our prayers vponupon his word and gracious promises, whereby hee hath assured vsus, that he will saue and deliuer vsus, if we call vponupon him, when as it shall bee most profitable for vsus to receiue this mercy; and that in the meane while he will so support vsus with the power of his might, that wee shall not faint in the day of triall, nor bee ouerwhelmed with the waight of afflictions.
And thus hauehave I shewed how the Christian is to cary and§. Sect. 7. That after our deliuerance we must render vntounto God praise and thankesgiuing. demeane himselfe whilest he is vnderunder the crosse: Now in the last place, according to our order propounded in the beginning of this second Booke, wee are breefly to declare what duety he is to performe, after that through Gods grace and mercifull assistance he is freed from his afflictions. And this in a word is out of a heart truely and vnfainedly thankfull to render vntounto the Lord all glory, praise and thanksgiuing for his deliuerance out of these troubles. For this dutiePsa. 50. 15. Ier. 20. 13. Heb. 13. 15. the Lord himselfe requireth of vsus; Call vponupon me in the day of trouble; so will I deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. So the Prophet Ieremy, Sing vntounto the Lord, praise ye the Lord, for he hath deliuered the soule of the poore from the hand of the wicked. And the Psalmist diuersifying the seueral miseries, out of which the Lord deliuereth his people, doth take occasion thereby to incite and stirre men vp to praise his holy name. Let them therefore (saith he) confesse before the Lord his … Psa. 107. 22. 23. 32.kindnesse, and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes… and let them offer the sacrifice of praise, and declare hi… with reioycing. Let them exalt him in the congregati… people, and praise him in the assembly of the Elders. … dutie the Lord highly prizeth, preferring it farre a… Psa. 50. 13. 14.sacrifices and burnt offerings. According to that of … mist. Will I eate the flesh of bulls? or drinke the blood o… Offer vntounto God praise, and pay thy vowes vntounto the mo… In regarde whereof hee professeth, that hee will mu… ther performe it then the other, as being much more a… table: I will praise (saith he) the name of God with a song, … magnifie him with thanksgiuing; for this shall please the Lor… Psa. 69. 30. 31.better then a young bullock that hath hornes and hoofes. Yea, this is the end which not onelyonly God propoundeth of our deliueārces, that we should glorifie him, but which the faithfull also propound vntounto themselues in all their troubles, therefore especially crauing helpe and succour at Gods hāds in their afflictions, that they may hauehave occasion of thanksgiuing, and of lauding and magnifying his holy name for their deliuerance. So Dauid prayeth, HaueHave mercy vponupon me, O Lord, consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate Psa. 9. 13. 14. & 106. 47.me, thou that liftest me from the gates of death, that I may shew all thy praises within the gates of the daughter of Sion, and reioyce in thy saluation. And else where, Saue vsus, O Lord our God, and gather vsus from among the heathen, that we may praise thy holy name, and glorifie in thy praise. And because through their great corruption of nature the faithfull hauehave feared to forget so excellent a dutie after their deliuerance, (like vntounto the leapers who being cleansed, onelyonly one of ten returned to giuegive thanks) therefore they hauehave beene ready to binde themselues by solemne vow & promise to the performance of it, according to that of the Prophet, Take away all iniquitie, and receiue vsus graciously, so will we render the calues of our Hos. 14. 3.lippes. And thus Dauid hauing bound himselfe by vow to praise God for his deliuerance, after he was deliuered penned an excellent Psalme of thanksgiuing, wherein hee performethPsa. 116. 3. 12. 13. 14. 17. his vowes vntounto God. What shall I render (saith hee) vntounto the Lord for all his benefits towards me. I will take the cup of saluation, and will call vponupon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vowes vntounto the Lord, euen now in the presence of all his people. I will offer vntounto thee a sacrifice of praise, and will call vponupon the name of the Lord. And againe, I will praise thee, because Psa. 118. 21. & …0. 14.thou hast heard me, and hast been my deliuerance. The which vowes of thankesgiuing, the Lord himselfe requires, Offer vntounto God praise, and pay thy vowes vntounto the most high. And therefore seeing these thankes and praise are the maine end of our deliuerances, which both God and the faithfull doe cheefly aime at, let vsus carefully endeauour to attaine vntounto it; for by the rule of reason the end is alwaies better then that which is destinated vntounto it; and consequently if we must esteeme our deliuerance it selfe, by which we are freed from all our troubles; much more accompt are we to make of the praises of God, and our thanksgiuing after that we are escaped; seeing it is the end for which God deliuereth vsus, and we desire to be deliuered. And as in the time of our affliction we are diligent in prayer, and earnest suiters vntounto God for his helpe and aide; so hauing obtained it, let vsus be as forward and ready to returne vntounto him thanks and praise for his mercy and goodnesse. For otherwise we shall discouer vntounto God and our owne consciences most shamefull ingratitude, in that being such bare banke-rupts, that we hauehave nothing to returne vntounto God for all his benefits, wee will not remaine thankfull debters; and hauing nothing else to render vntounto him for all his mercies, we will not so much as yeeld vntounto him praise and thanks. Yea, wee shall plainely proue, that we are not in the number of Gods faithfull people, whose constant practise in all ages hath bin, to magnifie and glorifie the holy name of God, when they hauehave beene deliuered out of any afflictions, as it plainly appeareth in so many places of the sacred Scriptures; that it is but lost time to insist vponupon them.
Now this thankfulnesse whereby we glorifie God, for his§ Sect. 8. What kinde of thankefulnesse is to be offered vntounto God for our deliuerance. gracious deliuerance of vsus out of trouble and affliction, is not to be onelyonly formall and externall, but is first and principally to be seated in our minds and hearts, wherein we are perpetually to retaine a gratefull remembrance of Gods mercy towards vsus, with a resolued purpose and intention in all things to glorifie his holy name, when as any occasion is offered or may be taken by vsus. For the Prophet Malachie threatneth a curse against the Priests which was to fall vponuponMal. 2. 2. them, if they did not consider, or put it in their heart to giuegive glory vntounto the Lord. And the Apostle exhorteth vsus in all things to intend and aime at Gods glory, Whether (saith he)1. Cor. 10. 31. ye eate or drinke, or whatsoeuer ye doe, doe all to the glory of God. But yet this thankfulnesse is not wholy to be reserued (as it were) in the close prison of our owne brests, for so God should lose the glory, our neigbours a good example, and we faile in the performance of our dutie, but it is also to be professed with our mouthes, and our profession to be approued by our workes and actions. In our speaches we are to declare what great things the Lord hath done for vsus, to magnifie his mercies for our deliuerances out of trouble, and to praise his holy name in Psalmes, Hymnes and spirituallCol. 3. 16 songs, sweetning the musicke of the voice with the harmonious melody of our hearts. And because the Lord is glorified, not onelyonly in his praises, according to the saying in the Psalmes, He that sacrificeth praise, doth glorifie me; butPsa. 50. 23. also in all our holy communications, and in our religious, honest and sauoury speaches; therefore wee must acquaint our tongues with the language of Canaan, and auoiding all corrupt and vprofitable words, we must set a watch beforeCol. 4. 6. Ephes. 4. 29. the dore of our lips, and carefully take heed that our speaches be so powdred with the salt of wisdome and holinesse, that they may not onelyonly glorifie God, but also tend to the edification of those that heare vsus. Finally, because thankfulnesse professed is not sufficient, vnlesse it be also approued by our workes of godlinesse and sanctification; therefore we must endeauour also that our lights may so shine before Matth. 5. 16.men, that seeing our good works, they may glorifie our father in heauen. And to this end let vsus take heed that wee doe not dimme or dazle this light, by ouershadowing it with the black cloude of sin and wickednesse; but especially let vsus labour to mortifie those corruptions, and to forsake those sins, which our owne consciences doe condemne to be the likeliest causes of our late afflictions, lest lying and liuing still in our sinnes, and impenitently going forward in our former euill courses, we fall into a relapse of Gods escaped iudgements, and after our deliuerance from lesser afflictions, hauehave (as our Sauiour speaketh) some worser punishment inflicted vponupon vsus. And withall, let vsus labour in the contrary workes ofIoh. 5. 14. holynesse and righteousnesse, endeauouring by our abundant fruits of an holy & sanctified life, that our heauenly fatherIoh. 15. 8. may be glorified; & so may we be assured that the Lord will for the time to come, either preserue vsus out of such afflictions, as we hauehave formerly suffered, or will inflict them onelyonly for our triall, and the manifestation of his gifts and graces in vsus; bringing vsus as his most approued souldiars into this conflict of tentations, that we may obtaine victory ouer all our spirituall enemies, and afterwards be crowned with all glory and happinesse in his heauenly kingdome, which he grant vntounto vsus that hath dearly bought it for vsus, Iesus Christ the righteous, to whom with the Father, and the holy Spirit, be rendered of vsus, and his whole Church, al honour and praise, power, maiestie and dominion both now and for euermore. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Downame, Consolations for the Afflicted (1613)