A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 35
CAP. XXXV.
How we ought to behaue our ſelues in the eſtate of affliction, ſo as we may profit thereby in all ſauing graces.
§. Sect. 1 What afflictions are, and the diuers kinds of them.
BVt aduerſity and afflictions take vp no leſſe a part of the Chriſtian mans life, ſeeing there is no day paſſeth, which bringeth Iob 5. 7.not with it ſome croſſes and miſeries; Man being borne vntounto trouble, as the ſparkes flie vpward. In which reſpect, it is neceſſary that wee adde ſome directions for the well-carrying of our ſelues in this eſtate. By afflictions, I vnderſtand all miſeries incident vntounto this life, which are the fruits of ſinne, and ſent of God, either as puniſhments vponupon the wicked, to ſatisfie the iuſtice of a ſeuere Iudge, or as chaſtiſements inflicted vponupon the faithfull, by the hand of a gracious Father, for their correction and amendment. All things alſo which croſſe our deſires, and doe moleſt and grieue vsus, either in their owne nature, or in our opinion and conceit, which are as innumerable in their multitude, and intolerable in their ſuppoſed waight, as thoſe which are ſo in deed and truth. Afflictions that hauehave ſome true exiſtence, are of diuers kinds; firſt, publike, as warres, plague, famine, ill gouernement in Magiſtrates, rebellion and diſobedience in ſubiects, open perſecution for the profeſſion of the Truth, ſuppreſſing of the Miniſtery, and the light of the Goſpel and ſuch like. Secondly, ſuch as fall out in ſocieties betweene vsus and others; as vnfaithfull dealing and fraudulent courſes, vſed by thoſe who commerce with vsus, wrongs and oppreſſions, hard cenſures and ill reports, diſcourteſie and vnkindneſſe from neighbours and friends, with many others of like nature. Thirdly, ſuch as are domeſticall and in our owne families; as diſobedience and vnrulineſſe, vnthriftineſſe and vntowardneſſe; want of louelove and dutie in our children; croſneſſe and frowardneſſe, riot and waſtefulneſſe, negligence and vnfaithfulneſſe in ſeruants, ill ſucceſſe in our worldly buſineſſe, dammage and hurt in houſhold commodities and the reſt. Finally, ſuch as are perſonall, as ſores and ſickeneſſes, pouertie and want of neceſſaries, exile, impriſonment, ſhame, contempt, loſſe of goods or friends, with innumerable others which are daily incident to the life of man.
§. Sect. 2 How we ought to prepare our ſelues before afflictions come, that we may be able to beare them with patience when they come.
In which eſtate of aduerſity and afflictions, accompanied with ſuch innumerable euils and miſeries of all kinds, if wee would rightly and as we ought, carry and demeane our ſelues ſo as wee ſhould receiue no dammage to our ſpirituall eſtate, nor hindrance to our ſaluation; yea for the preſent, make our troubles and griefes more eaſie and tolerable; there are ſome things to be done before they happen, and ſome things when they hauehave already light vponupon vsus. Before we are to labour in mortifying and ſubduing of our inordinate affections and vnruly paſſions, that they may become in all things ſubiect to the will of God, and in the denying of our ſelues and our owne wills, that wee may in all eſtates ſubmit our perſons, goods, and liues to his good pleaſure, and ſo take vp our croſſe and follow Chriſt. More eſpecially, we muſt ſeeke to moderate our feare, which aggrauates our griefes, and is oftentimes more troubleſome then the euill feared; confine our vnlimited hopes, which when they are croſſed, as much afflict vsus, as the loſſe of thoſe comforts which we truly inioy; ſtint our deſires according to the neceſſitie of nature, and not leaue them to the libertie of inordinate concupiſcence; bridle and ſubdue our raſh anger, which oppreſſeth vsus with waights of our owne making, and maketh a mountaine of eueryevery Mole-hill; mortifie our melancholike diſcontent by a true faith, which will perſwade vsus that that eſtate is beſt for vsus, in which God hath placed vsus; pull downe our pride and haughtineſſe of ſpirit, which is one chiefe cauſe of impatiency, murmuring and repining vnderunder the croſſe; as though we were worſe dealt with then we deſerue; caſt away all emulation in proſperity, which in our afflictions will vexe vsus as much in the ſight of others riſing, as in the ſenſe of our owne fall. Finally, we muſt not in our proſperity be exceſſiue in our ioy, for then in our aduerſity we will bee as immoderate in our griefe, lighting by ſo much the more heauily in our downe-fall of ſorrow, by how much wee fell higher from the top of ioy. Secondly, wee muſt not fayne afflictions vntounto our ſelues, nor make thoſe Heſt. 5. 13.things become croſſes by a falſe conceit, which others would eſteeme comforts and benefits. We muſt not become miſerable by thinking our ſelues ſo, nor make vntounto our ſelues burthens by a falſe apprehenſion, when as God doth not impoſe any vponupon vsus. Thirdly, we muſt not by feare anticipate our griefe, nor make our ſelues miſerable before our time, by pulling croſſes preſently vponupon vsus, through a fearefull and cowardly expectation, which either would neuer happen, or not of a long ſeaſon. Fourthly, though we muſt not anticipate them by feare, nor make our ſelues preſently miſerable, becauſe wee ſuppoſe we ſhall be ſo in the time to come, yet wee muſt by wiſe and Chriſtian prouidence foreſee them before they happen, not onelyonly that wee may vſe all good meanes to preuent them, but if they muſt needes befall vsus, that wee may be prepared and ſo armed with patience, that they may not hurt vsus. For that which is (it may bee) fabulouſly reported of the Cockatrice, is heere rightly moralized; If wee ſee them firſt by a wiſe and working prouidence, they will loſe all their vigour and venome, dye and doe vsus no harme; but if they firſt reflect vponupon vsus their malignant eyes, before we diſcerne their approaching, they will hurt and kill our ſoules with their poyſonous influences. Fifthly, wee muſt not in our proſperity ſet our hearts and affections vponupon any worldly things or temporall benefits; for they who immoderately louelove them when they hauehave them, will grieue as immoderately when they loſe them; and if we looke vponupon them as fee-ſimples & perpetuities, we ſhalbe more impatient in our ſorrow when we are turned out of them as tenants at wil. Sixthly, we muſt not either cōtemne afflictions before they aſſault vsus, nor yet conceiue that they are ſo ſtrong and vnreſiſtable, that it is in vaine to oppoſe their fury. For a contemned enemy, though weake, getteth an eaſie conqueſt, becauſe we being vnprepared, he findeth no reſiſtance. And hee that is poſſeſſed with too much feare, out of an opinion of his enemies ſtrength and his owne weakeneſſe, is ready to flie or yeeld before the skirmiſh; And therefore as we muſt not ſecurely preſume of victory, in confidence of our owne ſtrength and our enemies weakeneſſe; ſo muſt we be bold and couragious in the aſſurance of Gods aſſiſtance, and as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, neither deſpiſe the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when we are rebuked of him. Heb. 12. 6.Laſtly, we muſt take heed, that we doe not wilfully runne into afflictions, but vſe all lawfull meanes to preuent them before they come, or to bee freed from them when they are inflicted. For he that loueth danger, ſhall periſh in it, and hee that voluntarily when he needeth not, layeth a croſſe vponupon his owne ſhoulders; hath no promiſe that God will take it off. Wee muſt drinke of this bitter cup, but it is onelyonly when our heauenly Father doth put it into our hands, otherwiſe we cannot ſay that we are chaſtized by him, but that wee ſcourge our ſelues with whips of our owne making, like the Lyon which is ſaid to prouoke himſelfe to anger, when there is none to hurt him, by beating himſelfe with his owne taile. And as we muſt not voluntarily take croſſes vponupon vsus when we may lawfully auoyd them; ſo may we not lye vnderunder them ſtill, when God giueth vsus lawfull meanes to be freed from them; but as we are to pray that we may not be led into tentation, ſo alſo that we may be deliuered from euill.
§. Sect. 3 That we muſt beare our afflictions with patience, and what things are required heereunto.
And theſe are the rules which are to bee obſerued before afflictions befall vsus. In our afflictions, the mayne duty to be performed, is, that we beare them with patience, which is that paſſiue obedience whereby wee ſubmit our ſelues vntounto Gods will, with all meekeneſſe, humility, and contentation in all eſtates, bearing his fatherly chaſtiſements quietly, conſtantly, and willingly, till hee deliuer vsus, and giuegive vntounto vsus lawfull meanes to bee freed from our afflictions. So that if wee would rightly demeane our ſelues in the time of our troubles, wee muſt beare them with patience, vntounto which is required, firſt, obedience, humility, and contentation, whereby wee meekely ſubmit our ſelues vntounto Gods good pleaſure to bee chaſtized of him, and to beare that croſſe which he impoſeth, ſaying with Eli, It is the 1. Sam. 3. 18.Lord, let him doe what ſeemeth good vntounto him; and with Dauid, Heere I am, 2. Sam. 15. 26.let him doe vntounto me, as it ſeemeth good in his eyes; and with our Sauiour Chriſt; Not as I will, but as thou wilt. Secondly, that we beare our croſſe Mat. 26. 39, 42.quietly, with Dauid, not opening our mouthes to murmure and mutter, Pſal. 39. 9.becauſe it is the Lord that hath impoſed it, and profeſſing with Iob, that we will lay our hands vponupon our mouthes, keepe ſilence, and ſpeake no more. And Iob 39. 37.howſoeuer we may and ought to grieue moderately in our afflictions, as being the chaſtizements of our heauenly Father, for our ſinnes, which the Apoſtle telleth vsus we muſt not deſpiſe, yet we muſt labour as much as may Heb. 12. 6. Ier. 5. 3.be, to be free from tumultuous paſſion, from repining againſt Gods prouidence, or raging againſt the inferiour meanes of our afflictions, which are but as rods in his hands; imitating as neere as wee can the example of our Sauiour Chriſt, who was brought out as a ſheepe to the ſlaughter, and as Eſa. 53. 7.a ſheepe before the ſhearer is dumbe, ſo opened he not his mouth. Thirdly, there is required conſtancy, whereby wee reſolue to beare our burthen ſo long, till God who laid it vponupon vsus, doe put to his helping hand and take it off; that is, we muſt not vſe vnlawfull meanes to ſhift it from vsus, nor murmure againſt Gods prouidence whileſt it lyeth heauy vponupon vsus, but hold out to beare it with all patience, till God giuegive vsus lawfull meanes to be eaſed of it. Which that we may doe, we muſt, after one aſſault is paſt, prepare our ſelues for another, and like good Pilots in a ſtorme, after wee hauehave broken many billowes, we are not to be ſecure, but ſtill be in readineſſe expecting others, neuer ceaſing our care and diligence till, we be ſafely arriued in the Hauen of reſt. And this our Sauiour hath warned vsus of, when hee ſaith, that he who will bee his Diſciple, muſt take vp his croſſe daily and follow him; Luk. 9. 23.And the Apoſtle Iames would not hauehave our patience, onelyonly to begin well, but to hauehave her perfect worke and lacke nothing. Laſtly, there is required to Iam. 1. 4.this patience, that we beare our afflictions willingly and cheerefully; not becauſe we can doe no otherwiſe, but with all alacrity and readineſſe, as Rom. 8. 18, 28. 2. Cor. 4. 17.being ſent of God, who by his wiſedome and power can; and in reſpect of his goodneſſe and truth, will diſpoſe of them for our good. And this our cheerefulneſſe muſt ſhew it ſelfe in our readineſſe to praiſe and magnifie Gods Name: not ſo much in regard of the afflictions themſelues (though in reſpect of that greater meaſure, which our ſinnes hauehave deſerued, wee hauehave in our greateſt afflictions iuſt cauſe to bleſſe God with Iob, Iob 1. 21.and with the Church to acknowledge the mercies of the Lord, in that we Ier. 3. 22.are not vtterly conſumed) as in regard of his wiſedome, goodneſſe, and truth, whereby he cauſeth them to worke together for the beſt, and to ſerue as meanes to further our ſaluation. And this the Apoſtle Peter requireth, that if any man ſuffer as a Chriſtian, he ſhould not be aſhamed, but glorifie God 1. Pet. 4. 16.on this behalfe. The which was practiſed by Paul and Silas, who when they Act. 16. 25.were caſt into the dungeon, and after they were cruelly whipped, put into the ſtockes, bore all with patience, and expreſſed their thankfulneſſe by ſinging of Pſalmes. Secondly, our cheerefulneſſe muſt ſhew it ſelfe, by our ſpirituall reioycing and ioy in the holy Ghoſt; not in reſpect of our afflictions themſelues, which in their owne nature, or as they are fruits of ſinne, doe iuſtly bring with them griefe and mourning, but in reſpect of the fruits and benefits, which through Gods infinite wiſedome and goodneſſe, they bring vntounto vsus in this life and the life to come. And in this regard our Sauiour willeth his Diſciples to reioyce in their perſecutions, becauſe their reward Mat. 5. 11, 12.was great in heauen. The which they accordingly performed, reioycing when they were beat at the commandement of the Councell, becauſe they were thought worthy to ſuffer rebuke for Chriſts Name. VntoUnto Act. 5. 41. Rom. 5. 3. 1. Theſ. 1. 6.which high degrees of patience, though wee cannot attaine in any perfection, yet muſt we labour and ſtriue after them, and though wee cannot hit the marke of perfection, yet we muſt ſhoote as neere it as we can, being Iam. 1. 5.in the meane time ſorry for our wants and infirmities; and vſing all good meanes whereby they may be ſupplied.
§. Sect. 4 Of the meanes of patience, firſt, becauſe God is the Author of all our afflictions.
Now the chiefe meanes whereby wee may attaine vntounto patience in our tribulations, are principally two; the firſt, is feruent and effectuall prayer; Iam. 1. 5. 2. Cor. 13. 4. Rom. 15. 5. Phil. 4. 13.according to that of the Apoſtle Iames; If any of you lacke wiſedome, (that is, to beare the croſſe of which he there ſpeaketh) let him aske it of God, which giueth to men liberally, reproaching none, and it ſhall be giuen him. For it is God alone who doth comfort vsus in all our tribulations. He is the God of patience and conſolation, the Father of mercies, and God of all comforts, by whoſe wiſedome directing vsus, and power aſſiſting vsus, we are able to doe all things, and preſerued from ſinking vnderunder the heauieſt afflictions. The ſecond helpe and meanes of working patience in afflictions, is meditation vponupon ſuch reaſons as may cauſe and begin it where it is not, and increaſe it where it is already begun. And theſe concerne either the induring of the croſſe, or the end and iſſue. The former are ſimple, or comparatiue. The ſimple reaſons ariſe either from the cauſes, which are efficient or finall, or from the ſubiect and adiuncts of our afflictions. And firſt, in our meditations we are to conſider, that God himſelfe is chiefe cauſe and principall Author of all our afflictions, whatſoeuer bee the meanes and inſtruments. The which may confirme our patience, and comfort vsus in our afflictions, ſeeing they muſt needs be good and iuſt, as comming from him who is the chiefe Goodneſſe in himſelfe, and the Authour and fountaine of all goodneſſe which is in the creatures. Secondly, that hee hath not onelyonly in ſome generall manner in his eternall counſell preordained our afflictions, and left all the reſt to bee diſpoſed by chance and fortune, but that hee ſpecially ordereth and ruleth them with his moſt wiſe, iuſt, and gracious prouidence, both in reſpect of their manner, meaſure, and continuance, making the ends of all inferiour cauſes to ſerue for his ſupreme ends, which are his glory and our ſaluation. Thirdly, that the meritorious cauſes of all our afflictions are our ſinnes, which are ſo many and grieuous, that our greateſt afflictions are farre leſſe and lighter, then by our ſinnes we hauehave iuſtly deſerued. Fourthly, that our afflictions are not ſignes of Gods hatred, nor the puniſhments of a iuſt Iudge, but the chaſtiſements and corrections of a gracious Father; and that they proceed from his meere louelove; the which appeareth, firſt, in the meaſure of our afflictions, both in reſpect of their quantity and time of continuance. For he hath appointed a meaſure which cannot be exceeded, and this quantity is ſmall and light; and how long alſo they ſhall laſt and continue, the which time is ſhort and momentany, in compariſon of that ſuper-excellent and eternall waight of glory which they ſhall cauſe vntounto vsus. Yea he ſo meaſureth our afflictions vntounto vsus, as that they do not exceed our ability to indure 1. Cor. 10. 13.them; ſeeing he is alwayes ready to leſſen our burthen, or to increaſe our ſtrength that we may be able to beare it. Neither doth the Lord take delight in our ſmart, to inflict vponupon vsus more then is needfull, but meaſureth our afflictions, not according to deſert, but ſo much onelyonly as is neceſſary for his owne glory and our ſaluation.
§. Sect. 4 That our afflictions tend to the ſetting foorth of Gods glory.
Fifthly, let vsus alſo conſider the ends of our afflictions, which God propoundeth vntounto them, wherein his great louelove ſhineth and appeareth. The firſt and chiefe whereof, is his owne glory, ſeeing he manifeſteth his power and goodneſſe, by aſſiſting vsus in our afflictions, and by taking occaſion thereby to ſhew and try his ſpirituall graces which he hath beſtowed vponupon vsus; the which ſhould comfort vsus in all our troubles, ſeeing God heereby vouchſafeth vsus this high priuiledge to be inſtruments of his glory. The ſecond end, is the good both of our neighbours and our ſelues. They receiue much good by our afflictions; ſeeing they learne by our example to feare God in his iudgements, and are reſtrained from the ſame ſinnes which they ſee corrected in vsus. Secondly, as wee are enſamples of Gods graces ſhining in this fiery triall, and alſo through our infirmities of humane frailty, that ſeeing Gods perfection in our imperfections, and his power and wiſedome in our folly and weakeneſſe, they may take occaſion to glorifie him. Thirdly, becauſe by our afflictions wee are made more compaſſionate and more able and ready to comfort others, with thoſe conſolations wherewith our ſelues hauehave beene comforted. The which alſo ſhould make vsus patient in our troubles, yea euen to be thankfull, and greatly to reioyce, in that God vſeth vsus as meanes and inſtruments of our neighbours good, whom wee ought to louelove as our ſelues, and as much as in vsus lieth, to helpe them in all things which may further their ſaluation.
§. Sect. 5 That God vſeth our afflictiōs as means of our owne good.
Secondly let vsus conſider, that the Lord vſeth our afflictions as notable meanes of our owne good, and of deriuing vntounto vsus many ſingular benefits, both in reſpect of this life and the life to come. For firſt hee vſeth them for trials, for the diſcouery of thoſe ſpirituall graces which he hath giuen vsus; not vntounto himſelfe, who knowing all things, needeth no ſuch helpes, but vntounto vsus and others, that hee may bee glorified in them, and take occaſion thereby to glorifie vsus, by crowning his gifts, when by this Iam. 1. 12.triall they are approoued, and may alſo edifie thoſe who obſerue them in vsus, and mooue them to follow our good example. And likewiſe for the making knowne of our infirmities and corruptions, that wee may be truely humbled in the ſight and ſenſe of them. In which regard, our greateſt trials not exceeding our ſtrength, as God hath promiſed, ſhould bring vntounto vsus an anſwerable meaſure of ſound comfort, ſeeing they are aſſured ſignes vntounto vsus of the greateſt meaſure of ſauing graces in vsus. Secondly, hee vſeth them as effectuall meanes to further our conuerſion, fitting and preparing vsus thereby for the more diligent hearing of the Word, and ſo working in vsus by both ioyned together, true contrition and humiliation. Thirdly, hee vſeth them as ſpeciall meanes to preuent ſinne, and to preſerue vsus from falling into it; and alſo to mortifie and ſubdue thoſe corruptions, by all good meanes, which adhere and cleaue vntounto vsus; as pride, carnall concupiſcence, ſelfe-louelove, and louelove of the world. The which ſhould greatly increaſe our patience, and comfort vsus in afflictions: for if we are willing to indure ſo much, to be eaſed of bodily and temporall euill, how much more ſhould we chearefully indure any afflictions, to bee Heb. 12. 9.freed from thoſe which are ſpirituall and euerlaſting, as the Apoſtle reaſoneth? Fourthly, he vſeth them as notable helpes to increaſe in vsus all his ſpirituall graces; as ſauing knowledge and remembrance of God, a liuely faith, vnfained repentance, firme affiance, hope, louelove, feare, patience, and humility, both by making vsus more carefull in the vſe of the meanes whereby they are begun and increaſed in vsus, and by exerciſing them with theſe trials: And alſo to bring forth the fruits of theſe graces by new obedience, prayer, and more zealous performance of all other duties of his ſeruice. Finally, by our afflictions, the Lord alſo maketh vsus more forward to imbrace all vertues, and to performe all Chriſtian duties, which concerne both our neighbours and our ſelues. For whereas proſperity vſually incourageth men to wrong and oppreſſion, affliction being ſanctified vntounto vsus, is a notable motiue to perſwade vsus to carry our ſelues iuſtly in all our actions; to be mercifull and compaſſionate towards others in their miſeries; and to bee meeke, humble and courteous towards all men. So alſo they increaſe the knowledge of our ſelues, our courage, Chriſtian fortitude and ſtrength to beare our croſſes and miſeries, as being the ſpiritual exerciſe of theſe graces, and finally our temperance, ſobriety, modeſty, chaſtity, as it were eaſie to ſhew, if we could heere inſiſt in theſe particulars. In reſpect alſo of the life to come, the Lord by our affliction deriueth much good vntounto vsus, vſing them as effectuall meanes, to preſerue vsus from condemnation, and to further our eternall glory and happineſſe, both by aſſuring vsus of theſe ioyes (they ſeruing as ſignes of our adoption and ſaluation) and by fitting and preparing vsus by them for his heauenly Kingdome, by making them to ſerue as a way to bring vsus thither, & to keepe vsus from wandring in the broad way that leadeth to deſtruction. Yea, he maketh them to ſerue as meanes to increaſe our glory and heauenly ioyes, ſeeing, according to the meaſure of our afflictions, he giueth vntounto vsus an anſwerable meaſure of his graces, that we may be able to beare them, & according to the meaſure of our graces, he proportioneth our glory and future happineſſe.
§. Sect. 6 That this world is a place deſtinated to afflictions and trials.
From the ſubiect place of our afflictions alſo, we may confirme our patience, and increaſe our comfort. For God hath appointed vsus in this world to ſuffer afflictions, and to inherite happineſſe in the life to come; he hath made it for a place of triall and tentation, preparation and ſpirituall exerciſe; not for a Paradiſe of delight, but for a pilgrimage, and therfore we muſt looke for pilgrims entertainement; for a place, not of triumph, but of warfare, and therefore wee muſt expect conflicts, and the hard vſage of poore Souldiers. Againe, wee may comfort our ſelues by conſidering the adiuncts of our afflictions, as their neceſſity, for wee are preordained vntounto them, as being neceſſary for the effecting the great worke of our ſaluation, and therefore it is in vaine to ſtruggle with them, ſeeing thereby we may gaule our neckes, but not ſhake off our yoke, their manifold profit, of which I hauehave ſpoken, their ſhortneſſe of continuance, and lightneſſe in reſpect of that waight of glory, which they ſhall cauſe vntounto vsus. Finally, we may be comforted by conſidering the fellowſhip & aſſiſtance which we hauehave in all our afflictions, for we hauehave more with vsus then are againſt vsus; as innumerable numbers of holy Angels which pitch their tents about vsus, & watch ouer vsus to keep vsus ſafe in all our wayes; Ieſus Chriſt alſo, who as our yokefellow beareth greateſt waight, & as our Head cōmunicateth with vsus in all our griefes, and aſſiſteth vsus in our croſſes and calamities; and God himſelfe who is all-ſufficient, and no leſſe ready & able to vphold vsus with the one hand, then to wraſtle with vsus, and loade vsus with the other.
§. Sect. 7 That all the faithfull hauehave been partakers of the like, or greater afflictions with vsus.
And theſe are the comforts which ariſe out of a ſimple conſideration of our afflictions; beſides which, there are others which may be raiſed by comparing our leſſer afflictions, with thoſe greater which others hauehave & ſhall ſuffer. For as the Scriptures foretell theſe afflictions of the faithfull, ſo they ſhew that it hath alwayes beene their portion to beare them; yea, looke for the moſt part how much they hauehave excelled in Gods graces, and ſo much they hauehave exceeded in the meaſure of their afflictions, as we may obſerue in the examples of Adam, Abel, Abraham, Iſaac, Iacob, Moſes, Iob, Dauid, Paul, and many others. But eſpecially we may comfort our ſelues in our greateſt afflictions, by conſidering how light and ſmall they are, in compariſon of thoſe grieuous puniſhments, which Chriſt the Son of Gods louelove did ſuffer for vsus both in his life and death. All which he ſuffred being iuſt & innocent, for our ſins, leauing vsus an example who are his members, to follow his ſteps in the ſame way that leadeth to happineſſe; ſeeing God hath preordained thoſe to be like Chriſt in his ſuffrings, who ſhall be like vntounto him in glory. Finally, we may comfort our ſelues, by comparing our afflictions with the puniſhments of the wicked, from which Chriſt hath freed vsus; ſeeing theirs are intolerable, but ours light & eaſie; theirs euerlaſting, but ours ſhort and momentany; notwithſtanding that our own conſciences wil tell vsus, that our ſins, both in their quantity and quality, number and waight, hauehave much exceeded many of theirs. And laſtly, by cōparing them with our future ioyes and heauenly happineſſe, in which reſpect the Apoſtle telleth, that the afflictions Rom. 8 18.of this preſent world, are not worthy the glory that ſhall be reuealed: for they are (as he ſaith in another place) light and momentany, but they ſhall 2. Cor. 4. 17.cauſe vntounto vsus a farre moſt excellent, and an eternall waight of glory.
§. Sect. 8 Comforts ariſing from the good iſſue of all our afflictions.
And thus we may comfort our ſelues with preſent conſolations whilſt we endure the croſſe. Beſides which, there are others which ariſe from their iſſue and end, and from our aſſurance which we hauehave of our deliuerance out of our afflictions, in that time which is moſt fit & ſeaſonable for Gods glory and our ſaluation; ſeeing we hauehave his promiſe for it, who is faithfull and true, good and gracious vntounto all that truſt in him. And in the meane time he is preſent with vsus to heare, helpe, and relieue vsus, who is moſt wiſe and all-ſufficient, taking notice of all our troubles, and knowing how to deliuer vsus in due time. Now if the Lord for cauſes beſt knowne to himſelfe, deferreth to heare, helpe, and deliuer vsus, we muſt waite his leaſure, and vſe all good meanes to ſtrengthen our faith, hope, and patience, by meditating on his gracious promiſes, and on their truth and infallibility, on his infinite wiſedome, which knoweth better then we when our deliuerance is moſt ſeaſonable, and his omnipotent power and all ſufficiency, whereby he is able to effect it when he pleaſeth. By conſidering alſo that God vſually deferreth to helpe thoſe, whom he hath moſt ſtrengthened in grace, and who are moſt deare vntounto him, but neuer wholly failed to performe his promiſes at laſt to thoſe who hauehave waited vponupon him. Finally, that he deferreth to deliuer vsus for the furthering of our eternall good and ſaluation; and that he waiteth vponupon vsus to ſaue and deliuer vsus in the fitteſt time; and therefore there is great reaſon that we ſhould wait vponupon him. And theſe are the Eſa. 30. 18.meanes for the ſtrengthening of our faith, hope, and patience, when God deferreth to deliuer vsus, which reſpect himſelfe and his dealing with vsus; beſides which there are others that reſpect our ſelues, which is, firſt that wee often renew our repentance, without which, we can hauehave no hope of helpe and deliuerance. Secondly, that we renew our faith in Gods promiſes, the which is the condition of the Couenant of grace between God & vsus, wherby he hath aſſured vsus of them. Thirdly, that we humbly ſubmit our ſelues to Gods good pleaſure, which is one maine end why God correcteth vsus, vntounto which when he hath attained, he will ceaſe his chaſtiſements, & deliuer vsus from our afflictions. Fourthly, that we truſt in God at all times, both in the preſence, & abſence of inferiour meanes. Fifthly, we muſt be frequent & feruent in Prayer; and laſtly, when we are freed frō any afflictions, we muſt be thankfull, and render vntounto God praiſe and thankſgiuing. And thus with as much breuity as I could, I hauehave ſet down how we are to carry our ſelues in the time of our afflictions; if any need or deſire to hauehave theſe heads & maine points more fully and largely handled, I referre them to the third part of my Chriſtian Warfare, where I purpoſely hauehave entreated of this ſubiect.