A Posing Question Put by the Wise Man, Treatise · Chapter 11

A Posing Question Put by the Wise Man · Treatise · Chapter 11

p. 159CHAP. XI.

2 I Now come to ſhew you, How a man may make a Judgment of an Adverſe and an Afflicted condition; whether it be good for him in this life. For let me tell you, That as it is not good for all, that they have Proſperity; ſo neither is it good for all, that they are Afflicted.

Now, that you may know, whether an Afflicted condition be good for you, Conſider this.

I. In General, I ſhall mind you of what I have before ſaid, (viz.) That he that will make a judgment of his condition, muſt firſt make a judgment of himſelf. So that, to you that are in an Afflicted condition, I have two queſtions to put.

1. What you do in your condition?

2. What you make of your condition?

1. When God puts you into an Afflicted condition, What do you do in that condition? What is your carriage, and behaviour in the condition? Is it ſuch, as becometh ſuch providences and diſpenſations? Doth your behaviour become your condition?

Quest. You will ask, What is a man to do in an Afflicted condition, that he may be able to make a judgment of it, Whether it be good for him?

Anſw. Do you do the work of your condition, p. 160and perform the duties of your condition? Then it is good for you.

Quest. But then you will ask, What is the work, and what are the duties, that he is to do in an Afflicted condition?

Anſw. I ſhall ſhew you that, in ſome Particulars.

1. This he is to do, To endeavour the finding out of this, (viz.) What every Affliction comes in order to. When God putteth us into an Afflicted condition, it is in order to ſomewhat; and it is our duty, to ſearch out the mind and meaning of God in it. Some there are, that walk up and down (as I may ſay) in that condition, without ever inquiring, For what end it is they are Afflicted. As thoſe, Iſa. 5. 12. They regarded not the work of the Lord, nor the operations of his Hands. We muſt know, Afflictions are ſome of God's Operations. As it is God that bringeth a man and his comforts together, ſo a man and his croſſes; and every croſs cometh in order to ſomewhat. The Refiner kindleth his fire in his Furnace, in order to the refining of his Mettal. The Phyſitian giveth Phyſick in order to Health. Remember, Every Affliction, is in order to ſomewhat. It cometh with a meſſage from God. Now, our great work is to find out, what the Meſſage is, Affliction bringeth. When a man brings us Letters, we do not look on the back ſide only, and the ſuperſcription, but we look upon what is contained within, and what they import. So it is in reſpect of Afflictions, They bring us (as I may ſay) Letters from God, and a Meſſage, in order to ſomewhat. The thing we have to do, in an Affliction, is, not only to look upon the endorſment, and outſide of the Affliction; p. 161but we muſt break it up, and ſee what is written within. I told you formerly, We muſt go to God to know the meaning of a condition; Dan. 5. 5. We read of a hand writing, and the King, and all were troubled, to know the meaning of what was witten. In an Afflicted condition, there is a hand-writing upon it. The great thing we have to do, is, to enquire what is the meaning of it, and for what end the Affliction cometh. Thus it is with many in Affliction, they never inquire after the meaning of an Affliction, though it cometh with Letters and Meſſages; yet (as I may ſay) they put them in their pocket, as Caeſar did thoſe Letters that forewarned him of his Death, when he was going to the Senate. Plutarch, telleth of the Governour of Thebes, when a Letter was ſent to him from Athens, to diſcover a Plot that was againſt him, which was that night to be Executed; and the Meſſenger told him, that the Matter, contained in the Letter, was of high Concernment, and that he muſt read the Letter preſently; His Anſwer was, Weighty matters for to morrow, and that night he was Slain. Thus, ſome never look into the Letters, that an Affliction bringeth us, and ſo deſpiſe the Affliction. Lam. 3. 40. the Afflicted are there directed, what to do in their condition, Verſ. 39. Why doth the living man complain? This we ſhould not do. But then ſee, what we ſhould do, Verſ. 40. Let us ſearch and try our wayes, &c. This is ſome of the work we have to do in an Afflicted condition. As the Lord ſpake to Joſuah, when the men of Iſrael fled before the men of Ai, Joſuah caſteth himſelf down before the Lord, but the Lord bids him riſe up and ſearch, for there was wickedneſs committed. As you may read, p. 162Joſh. 7. 10. Where the Lord ſheweth him, what was his duty, (viz.) To ſearch out the ſin, for which that defeat came.

2. This is another thing we are to do in an Afflicted condition, (viz.) To ſet in, and joyn with the Affliction, and to further it in the work for which it is ſent. We muſt do by Afflictions, as we do by Phyſick; we do not only take Phyſick, but we alſo joyn with it, to further it in it's working; we keep our Chamber, we take Broth, we forbear Studying and Working; and all this is to further it's working. Afflictions, are Phyſick that God giveth us: and then it is right, when we joyn with the Phyſick, and further and help it in it's Operation. When a Phyſitian adminiſtreth Phyſick, to a diſeaſed Patient, there are three things conſiderable, (viz.) The Phyſitian, the Patient, and the Diſeaſe. And where any two of theſe joyn together, down goeth the third. If the Phyſitian and the Patient joyn together, down goeth the Diſeaſe; if the Phyſitian and the Diſeaſe joyn together, down goeth the Patient; if the Patient and the Diſeaſe joyn together, down goeth the Phyſitian. So it is in reſpect of an Afflicted Condition: There is the Patient, the Phyſick, and the Diſeaſe. Now what is the reaſon, that the Phyſick of Affliction doth ſome perſons no good? Surely this, The Patient and the Diſeaſe joyn together. This the Prophet telleth us in the caſe of Babylon, Jer. 51. 9. We would have healed Babylon, but ſhe would not be healed. Where you find the Patient, taking part with the Diſeaſe. Thus, many in an Afflicted Condition, take part with the Diſeaſe, and not with the Phyſick. Affliction cometh, to ſet mens p. 163hearts and the world, men's hearts and their luſts, at greater diſtance; but here is the miſery, that moſt men take part with their Luſts, and not with their Afflictions, to further them in the work for which they are ſent. They do, in reſpect of the Rod, as they do in reſpect of the Word. When they ſhould take part with the Word, againſt their Sins; they take part with their Sins againſt the Word: So, when they ſhould take part with the Rod, againſt their Luſts, they take part with their Luſts, againſt the Rod. Thus did thoſe, Iſa. 1. 5. Jer. 5. 3. They joyned with the Diſeaſe, and did all they could to obſtruct the operation, and working of the Phyſick of Affliction. This (as I may ſay) is a croſſing our Croſſes, and afflicting our Afflictions; when we hinder them in their working. And this ſpeaks an Afflicted condition evil for a man in this life. It is ſaid of Ahaz, That in his Affliction, he tranſgreſſed more and more; This is naught.

3. This is another work of an Afflicted condition, (viz.) to eye our Paſſions and Affections, more than our Afflictions. To have an eye upon our hearts, more then upon our hurts. Some, when they are in an Afflicted condition, ſpend all their time in poring upon their afflictions, as though that were the only work of their condition: whereas the great work they have to do, is, to eye their own hearts and ſpirits. Some look altogether without, when they ſhould look within. It is our own paſſions in an Afflicted condition, that are our greateſt Affliction. If the houſe within be kept dry, we need not much to care, what tempeſts are without. We many times complain of that, that is without us; when indeed, the cauſe is within us. As we ſee it p. 164is with a ſick man, he complaineth of the uneaſineſs of the Stool he sits upon, of the Bed he lieth upon, of the unſavorineſs of the Meat he eats; when the cauſe is inward. Were but his ill-humours removed, and purged away, the ſame Stool, and Bed, and Meat, would content him. When God puts men into an Afflicted condition, the reaſon why to ſome it is ſo troubleſome, is, from within, from their own ſpirits and diſpoſitions. If they could but ſubdue their paſſions, and bound their ſpirits, the condition would be well enough. Poring upon Afflictions, is like a mans poring upon rough and tempeſtuous Waters, which makes his head giddy, and himſelf Sea-ſick: So it is with ſome, they do but diſtemper themſelves, by looking altogether upon their Afflictions. Thus it was with Job, (Job 2.) You find him poring upon his Afflictions. And then ſee what the effect was, Chap. 3. he opened his mouth, and fell a curſing the day of his birth. Satan indeed thought to make him fall a curſing his God, but he was deceived; yet he fell to curſing the day of his birth, which was toomuch. The great work a Governour of a City hath to do, when he heareth that the Country about him are up in Arms againſt him, is, to look to the Town within, to ſee that there be no tumults and riſings within. It is good for us in a day of Affliction, to look to this, that our paſſions do not raiſe a Mutiny. It was the ſaying of a Heathen, Intus ſi recte, ne labores, Thou need'ſt not trouble thy ſelf, if all be well within.

4. This is another work of an Afflicted Condition, (viz.) To eye our Sins, more than our Sufferings and Afflictions. Many in an Afflicted condition, p. 165eye their Afflictions, but not their Sins. They look upon what God doth againſt them, but conſider not, what they have done againſt Him; which if they did, it would make them complain more of their ſins, then of their ſorrows. It would turn their tears into another Channel; and cauſe them to ſpend thoſe tears upon their Sins, that they ſpend upon Afflictions. Lam. 3. 39. Why doth the living man complain, a man for the puniſhment of his ſins? In their Afflicted Condition, they were full of complaints, as we ſee, Verſ. 2, 3. &c. But here the Prophet giveth a check to them, q. d. We complain of our Afflictions; our eyes are altogether upon our Sufferings; Oh, but conſider, Man ſuffereth for his Sin. We ſhould eye our Sins, more then our Sufferings, Pſal. 51. 3. David ſaith, his ſin was ever before him. It is thus with ſome in an Afflicted Condition, that their Sufferings are ever before them, and not their Sins. When God Afflicts them, they can ſay, We are the perſons that feel Affliction from God: but conſider not, how they have ſinned againſt God. The good of the conſideration of our ſins in an Afflicted Condition, hath theſe benefits attending it.

1. It will make us Juſtify God in all our Afflictions. To acknowledg that all his wayes are equal, and that he is righteous in all that he hath brought upon us, Dan. 9. 14. There is an expreſſion of Eliphaz, Job 4. 17. Shall mortal man be just with God? There is a principle of pride in every man by nature, which is apt to ſhew it ſelf in the loweſt condition; ſo that we are apt to have better thoughts of our ſelves, then of God himſelf; and to p. 166think, We are more juſt then God, when he layeth Affliction on us. Thus thoſe, Ezek. 33. 20. They ſaid, The way of the Lord was unequal. It was from looking only upon His wayes, and dealings with them, without conſidering their own wayes, and how They had dealt with him.

2. As it will help us to clear Gods Juſtice, ſo to admire his Mercy, in that he doth puniſh and afflict us, leſs then our iniquities do deſerve. As the confeſſion is, Ezra 9. 13. They had been in captivity 70. years, and yet though their captivity were long, they ſaw cauſe why they ſhould admire the Mercy of God towards them. Looking upon their ſins, they ſaw their Sufferings were leſs then they did deſerve.

3. This will help us to Adore the Wiſdom of God, in making Afflictions to become cures of, and remedies againſt, Sin. Afflictions at firſt came in as puniſhments for ſin. While we look only upon our Afflictions, we diſcern not the wiſdom of God in ſending them, and ordering them for our good; but when we eye our Sins, as well as our Afflictions, then we find, they are ſent to cure the Soul of ſome diſeaſe, as pride, and worldlineſs, &c. This will put a man upon putting this queſtion to himſelf, Doth not this Affliction come to cure, and kill my corruptions? Hath not the Lord ſent it to take me off the creature, and to imbitter it more to me? Hath not God done this to cure the Tympany of Pride, or the Dropſy of Covetouſneſs, or ſome Creature-Surfet? And hereupon a man falls upon admiring, and adoring the Wiſdom of God, in making Afflictions, Cures for our Corruptions.

p. 1674. Eying Sins as well as Afflictions, will help us to poſſeſs our Souls in patience, and to ſuppreſs all riſings and ſmoakings of paſſion, to which we are ſubject in a day of Affliction. And this it will do, by giving us to ſee that our Afflictions are leſs then our iniquities do deſerve; and then there is great reaſon we ſhould bear them patiently, when we know we have deſerved greater. Why ſhould he not patiently endure the akeing of teeth, that knowes he hath deſerved the gnaſhing of teeth? and the burning of a feaver, when he knoweth he hath deſerved Burning in Hell? This will help to make us patient, when we loſe a comfort, (viz.) the conſideration of this, that we have forfeited all our comforts, and deſerve to be deprived of all.

5. Eying our Sins as well as our Afflictions, will make the burthen of Affliction much the eaſier, and leighter. What is the cauſe that to ſome, Afflictions are ſo heavy? It is, becauſe their ſin is ſo leight to them. Remember this, The heavier we find our Sins to be, the higher we ſhall find our Afflictions to be. Affliction muſt needs be heavy to thoſe, who eye nothing but Affliction. When we compare Evils of Suffering, with Evils of Sinning, we ſhall find them to be leight, although they be never ſo great. The reaſon why many complain of the burthen of their Affliction, is, becauſe Sin is no burthen to them. VVhere Sin is found to be heavy, Affliction will be found to be leight.

Thus for the fourth thing we have to do in an Afflicted condition.

p. 1685. We are in an Afflicted Condition to do this, (viz.) To keep our hearts open, and enlarged, in the midſt of outward ſtraitnings. Afflictions are ſtraitnings. As God dealeth with Nations, Job 12. 23. He enlargeth them, and straitneth them again. So he dealeth oftentimes with particular perſons. And afflictions are their ſtraitnings. God bindeth up the face of our Comforts. As the expreſſion is in Job, that by the frost, he bindeth up the face of the waters: So by the Froſt of Affliction, he bindeth up the face of our Comforts. Our work then is, To keep our hearts thawed, and open, when our outwards are as it were Frozen up. It is our work to ſee, That in the mid'ſt of our outward ſtraitnings, our hearts be not ſtraitned towards God. It muſt be our work to keep our hearts open, when the Lord ſhuts us up by Affliction. Gods Afflicting, is called Gods ſhutting up, Deut. 32. 30. Except the Lord had ſhut them up. Sometimes a man and his comforts walke together. God ſometimes turns a man looſe among his Comforts, to walk at large in the enjoyment of them. And then ſometimes the Lord ſeparates between a man and his comforts, and buildeth a wall between them, that they cannot come at one another. Thus the Church complaineth, Lam. 3. 17. Thou hast removed my ſoul far from peace. And again, Lam. 3. 5. He hath builded against me, and compaſſed me about with gall and travel. And Verſ. 7. He hath hedged me about that I cannot get out. Here the Church complaineth of her ſhuttings up by Affliction. There is a double hedg that God makes about a man, (viz.) an hedg of Protection, that no Evil can p. 169come at him; (Thus he did about Job.) And then a hedg of Affliction, that no Good can come at a man, This is a hedg of Thorns. Thus the Church complaineth, Lam. 3. 9. He hath encloſed my wayes with hewen stone. She was ſhut up with ſuch a Wall which ſpeaks ſtrong and impregnable Afflictions. Now the work we have to do, is, To ſee that in the mid'ſt of our ſhuttings up, our hearts be not ſhut up towards God. Jam. 5. 13. If any be Afflicted, let him pray. Where the Apoſtle ſheweth what is to be our work in an Afflicted condition, (viz.) Prayer. Several Conditions, have their ſeveral Duties. In Proſperity, we are to give Thanks; in Adverſity, we are to Pray. Eliphaz charged Job, Job 15. 4. That in the day of his Affliction, he did restrain prayer before God; That he had inward reſtraints, when he was under outward reſtraints. It is our work in an Afflicted Condition, to watch againſt that. Prayer is the Duty that is proper for an Afflicted Condition, and that ſuits with ſuch providences. And this is ſome of the work we are to do in that condition, (viz.) to Pray. We read, Iſa. 26. 16. In trouble they have viſited Thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. It is Calvin's opinion, that there the Prophet ſheweth, what was the behaviour of Gods People, and what they did in the day of their affliction and trouble, (viz.) they did Viſit the Lord; and ſo ſhewed the confidence they had in God. q. d. Lord, whereas Afflictions drive others from thee, and ſet them at a further diſtance; yet thy people draw nearer to thee, and ſeek the more after thee. Here is the work in an Afflicted Condition, p. 170To viſit God, and to poure out a Prayer before Him. Afflictions are God's Viſitations, and when God viſiteth us with his Afflictions, we ſhould viſit Him with our Supplications. When He poureth forth our Comforts, and emptieth us of them, (for ſo God's Afflicting is called, a pouring out) it's then our Duty to pour out a Prayer before Him. David made this the work of his condition, Pſal. 142. 2. I poured out my complaint before him, I ſhewed him my trouble. So Pſal. 18. 6. In my distreſs I called upon the Lord, and cryed to my God. And this the Lord calleth for, as that which we are to do in an Afflicted condition. Pſal. 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble. It is ſome eaſe to us, when a trouble falls upon us, that we have ſome friend to repair to, into whoſe boſom we may pour out our complaints. This is the great Priviledg, that in an Afflicted condition we have a God to go to; to whom we may make known our condition, and ſhew Him our trouble, as David did, Pſal. 142. 2. In that condition, it is one great thing we have to do, to go to God, to begg of Him what we need for the condition: viz. Shoulders of Patience for our Burthens, and a gracious Improvement of our Conditions. Chriſtians, you muſt know, an Afflicted condition is then good for you, when your hearts are kept open, when you have inward Enlargements, in the mid'ſt of your outward ſtraitnings.

6. The work of an Afflicted Condition, is this, viz. To keep the Ear open to Counſel and Inſtruction. Some there are, ſo taken up with the thoughts of their Condition, that they will p. 171not hearken to Counſel. As Marius the Romane ſaid, He could not hearken to the Laws, for the ratling and noyſe of Armes. So the noyſe of Troubles, will not ſuffer ſome, to hearken to the voice of Counſel. And ſo David confeſſeth that it was his caſe, Pſal. 77. 2. His Soul refuſed comfort. Elihu, Job 36. 8. ſheweth how it is with Godly men when they are in Affliction. And then Verſ. 10. He openeth their ear to Diſcipline. We muſt know, Sathan is a great Enemy to the doing the work of our Condition; he endeavours to make us turn our Conditions into Sin, and not into Duty. He doth all he can, to ſtop our Ears againſt hearing Counſel and Inſtruction. Remember, when you are in Affliction, there cometh ſome Inſtruction with it. Now Satan endeavours to open the Eye, but to ſtop the Ear; he keeps the Eye open, to look upon the Affliction; but he keeps the Ear ſhut, and ſtopeth it, that it may not hearken unto the Inſtruction. The beſt way in an Afflicted Condition, is to keep the Eyes ſhut, and the Ear open. Not ſo much to look upon the Affliction, as to hear Inſtruction. Micah 6. 9. Hear ye the Rod. He doth not ſay, See ye the Rod, but, hear ye the Rod. When men are under the Rod, their eyes are open enough to ſee the Rod; they can point to the Affliction, and ſhew what it is. But the great thing they are to do, is to hear the Rod. The Rod hath a Voice, which ſhould be hearkened to. When an Affliction comes, it comes (as I told you before) with ſome Meſſage from God; It comes with ſome Inſtruction; and that we are to hearken to: We ſhould hear p. 172what God will ſpeak, as David ſaid in another caſe, Pſal. 85. 8. When we ſee a flaſh of Lightning, we then prepare our Ears to hear a clap of Thunder. When we ſee the Affliction, we ſhould have our Ears open, to hearken to what followeth. We read of Eliah, when he was in the mouth of the Cave 1 King. 19. 12. There came a strong Wind that brake the Mountains; After the Wind came an Earth-quake; After the Earth-quake, came a Fire; After the Fire, came a ſoft still Voice. Remember, after the noyſe of Afflictions, there comes a Voice; and we ſhould hearken to that Voice. Pſal. 94. 12. it is ſaid, Bleſſed is the man whom thou chastenest, and teachest him out of thy Law. The happineſs of a man lieth not in his being chaſtened, but in his being taught and inſtructed by his Chaſtiſement. A mute and dumb Affliction is Evil for a man; and it is our deafneſs, that maketh the Affliction dumb, when a man heareth not the Affliction ſpeak. So then, in an Afflicted Condition, we are to hearken to what God ſaith, as well ſee as to what God doth.

7. Another work of an Afflicted Condition, is this, (viz.) Framing the heart to a pious Submiſſion. To get the heart into a ſubmitting Frame. And this not only out of Neceſſity, but out of Duty. It is excellent, when we can bring our Hearts to a quiet Submiſſion to the Will of God, in all theſe Providences and Diſpenſations. It muſt not be onelyonly a Neceſſary Submiſſion. Such a Submiſſion is this, When a man parteth with a Comfort upon this conſideration; If God will take it away, I cannot help p. 173it; I am content to part with it, ſince it cannot be otherwiſe. Thus they ſubmit to their Condition, and yield to the parting with a Comfort, when they ſee they can keep it no longer. And this is that Submiſſion that ſome reſt in, and think it ſufficient to ſay, There is no remedy. But now there is another Submiſſion that hath more of Grace in it. And that is, when God calleth for a Comfort from us, there is free Reſignation of it up to God. As we read of Abraham, When God called for Iſaack, he preſently reſigned him up to Him. And this Submiſſion proceedeth from Faith, which works a Chriſtian to the denying of himſelf, and to a complying with God in that, that is ſeemingly contrary to his own deſires and content. Thus we read, Heb. 11. how Abraham, by Faith, offered up his only begotten Son. By a hand of Faith he preſents again to God, That Bleſſing he received from Him. Faith teacheth a man to receive a Mercy from God, and to be thankful; and to part again with it, and to be content: And this not out of neceſſity, becauſe they can keep it no longer, but there is a free reſigning of it up to God. Conſider, the difference between theſe Submiſſions, is ſuch, as is between the death's and ends of men. Some men, when they ſee they muſt dye, and that there is no remedy, do yield out of neceſſity; and ſo their Soul's are as it were taken from them. As the expreſſion in the Goſpel is, Thou fool, this night ſhall thy Soul be taken from thee. Whereas a Godly man, makes his Soul a Free-will-Offering to God. As our Saviour did his, Father into thy p. 174hands I commend my Spirit. And as Stephen did his, Lord Jeſus, receive my Spirit. It is ſaid, Prov. 14. 32. The Wicked is driven away in his Wickedneſs. (i. e.) He is thruſt, and forced out of the world, whether he will or not. But the Righteous hath hope in his Death; and that hope makes him to Reſigne, and give up his Soul to God: As we read of giving up the Ghoſt.

8. This is another work we have to do in an Afflicted Condition, (viz.) To lay to heart the Affliction. When God puts a man into an Afflicted Condition, This is one thing God expects from him, Eccleſ. 7. 14. In the day of Adverſity conſider. In Iſa. 42. 25. the Prophet complaineth of Jacob, That when God poured out upon him the Fury of his Anger, and the Strength of Battle: And it had ſet him on Fire round about, yet he knew it not; and it burned him, yet he layed it not to heart. According to the Original, it is thus, He did not put it upon his heart. It is an Hebrew Phraſe, and notes diligent conſideration of Affliction. Now that you may not be miſtaken about this, you muſt know, There is a double laying to heart of an Affliction.

1. Carnal, ſinful and hurtful.

2. Spiritual, holy and helpful.

1. There is a Sinful laying of Afflictions to heart. When a man takes thoſe burthens that lye upon his outwards, (viz.) His Perſon, Eſtate, &c. and layeth them as a burthen upon p. 175his Spirit; whereby a man troubles himſelf, when God troubles him. When he layeth his troubles without, ſo to heart, as to trouble himſelf within; this is Evil. This is forbid, John 14. 1. Let not your hearts be troubled. The word in the Original, ſignifieth ſuch a trouble, as is in water when the mud is ſtirred up; or as the Sea is, when it is troubled with a Storm or Tempeſt. As we read in Scripture of the troubled Sea, that it's Waters caſt forth Mire and Dirt. It alſo ſignifieth ſuch a trouble as is in an Army, when it is Routed and Diſordered; there is nothing but Fear, and Diſtraction, and Confuſion. So ſaith our Saviour, Let not your hearts be troubled. (i. e.) Take heed of ſo laying your troubles to heart, as to trouble your Hearts; to diſtemper your Affections, and ſo to blind the Judgement, that you can ſee and diſcern things no better, then a man can in muddy water. This laying of Afflictions to heart is unlawful; when they are layed to heart, to diſquiet and diſtemper the Heart, and to raiſe a Storm in the Soul, to make it a troubled Sea; caſting forth nothing but the mud of impatiency and diſcontent. Take you a glaſs of water that hath ſome mud in it, and let it ſtand ſtill, the mud ſettleth at the bottom, and the water above is clear; but ſhake this water, and then the mud ariſeth, and there is confuſion; and the water that before was clear, becometh muddy. So it is with our hearts and affections, there is mud at the bottom, and when they come to be ſtirred by Affliction, then the mud ariſeth. This we ſhould take heed of, of laying Afflictions ſo to heart, as to ſtir up p. 176the mud of impatiency and diſcontent.

2. There is a laying of Afflictions to heart, that is Spiritual, holy and helpful; This is a laying them to heart, not for the troubling, but for the bettering the heart. Not for the making of the Spirit more Diſtempered, Impatient, Weak, and unfit for Duty; but for the making of it more Holy, and Humble, and Submiſſive; this is a right laying of Afflictions to heart. It is then right, when there is an applying of the heart to the Affliction; to find out what uſe and benefit may be made of it. When we lay the Affliction to the heart, not to diſtemper it, but, as a plaiſter, to heal the diſeaſes and diſtempers of it; (viz.) to heal it's Pride, and Worldlineſs, and Vanity, &c. It ſhould be with us, in conſidering of, and laying Afflictions to heart, as with the Bee which alights on a Flower, and leaves it not till ſhe hath made ſomething out of it; even out of the very bloſſom of a Thiſtle, ſhe will get ſomewhat. So it ſhould be, in reſpect of an Afflicted Condition, There ſhould be ſuch an application of the heart to it, as to get ſomewhat out of it, for the bettering of the heart. Solomon telleth us, Eccleſ. 7. 2. It is better to go to the Houſe of Mourning, then to the Houſe of Feasting: For this is the end of all fleſh, and the living will lay it to his heart. Laying to heart the ends of others, is the making ſomewhat out of them, that is good and profitable for our ſelves. It is our Duty to lay to heart the Afflictions of others, much more our own. The Lord telleth Babylon, Iſa. 47. 7. That ſhe ſaid, She ſhould be a Lady for ever, and did p. 177not lay the Afflictions of his people to heart. As ſhe laid them not to heart by way of Sympathy, ſo not by way of Improvement. So then, to cloſe this, Laying afflictions to heart, ſtands in this, In having Impreſſions made upon our Spirits, ſuitable to the Providence and the Diſpenſation. We read of Ahaz, That in his Affliction he tranſgreſſed more and more, 2 Chron. 28. 19. God brought Judah low, and Ahaz was put to his ſhifts; he gave gifts to the King of Aſſyria, yet he helped him not. And Verſe 22. In the time of his distreſs, he did treſpaſs more against the Lord. And it is ſaid, This is that King Ahaz! The meaning is, That the Affliction did not make an Impreſſion upon his heart, ſuitable to the Providence and Diſpenſation. To cloſe this, It is then right, when our Hearts anſwer to Providences, in laying Afflictions ſo to heart, as to make ſuitable Impreſſions.

9. This is ſome of the work we have to do in an Afflicted Condition; We are patiently to expect and wait upon God; Waiting is one of our Duties in an Afflicted Condition. We are to wait upon God for comfortable Supports in it, and a ſeaſonable Deliverance out of it; Iſa. 8. 17. I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his Face from the houſe of Jacob. The Prophet reſolved to walk dutifully, when God walked ſtrangely. We ſhall find in an Afflicted condition, This is the Duty, that is Commanded, Commended, and Practiſed by the Saints in that Condition. It is commanded, Pſal. 27. 14. Wait on the Lord and he ſhall strengthen thy heart; wait I ſay on the Lord. Lam. 3. 26. It is good that a man ſhould hope, and p. 178quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lora. It is ſpoken there in reference to an Afflicted Condition. And ſo we find the Godly have made it their work in that condition to wait. David telleth us, He waited patiently for the Lord. Conſider, Waiting is an Act of Patience drawn-out. The Scripture hath two Expreſſions concerning it,

viz.

Waiting on God.

Waiting for God.

Waiting on Him for Comfort in Affliction; And waiting for Him, to deliver out of Affliction. Thus did the people of God, Iſa. 25. 9. Lo, This is the Lord, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us. This is ſome of the work we have to do in an Afflicted condition, (viz.) To wait on God, and to wait for God. Affliction is apt to make us ſhort-breath'd. To make us weary not only in waiting, but weary of waiting. This we ſhould look to, That though we are weary in waiting, yet not to be weary of waiting. It was the ſaying of that wicked King of Iſrael, 2 King. 6. 33. This evil is of the Lord, why ſhould I wait any longer? The great work we have to do in an Afflicted Condition, is, To wait upon God. I have told you before, It is God that brings a man and his Afflictions together; and as it is He that openeth a fore-door, to let a man into that condition, ſo it is He that muſt make a back-door, to let a man out. There are many that would make a back-door of their own; but God is wiſer then they, and knows how to deliver them. Job 14. 14. p. 179All the dayes (ſaith he) of my appointed time, will I wait till my change come. And this is ſome of the work we have to do in an Afflicted condition, (viz.) To wait till our change come. Now waiting upon God in Affliction, ſtandeth in theſe two things,

1. In a Silence of Spirit. A waiting Spirit is a Silent Spirit, it makes no Noyſe or Clamour, Lam. 3. 26. It will wait quietly for the Salvation of God. Pſal. 62. 1. My Soul, wait thou upon God. According to the Original, it is, Be Silent before God. Where there is waiting upon God, there is no murmuring; There are no impatient expreſſions; There is a deep ſilence of the Soul in reſpect of paſſion, though not in reſpect of Prayer. There is a ſpeaking to God, but not againſt God. A waiting Soul, is a praying, but not a paſſionate Soul. Remember; When God's hand is upon our Backs, our hands ſhould be upon our Mouths.

2. In a ſweet Submiſſion of Spirit to God, waiting God's time for Deliverance. There is our time, and there is God's time. As Chriſt told Mary, Mine hour is not yet come. This is Waiting, to ſtay the Lords leiſure, and to wait His time. It was wickedly ſpoken by that King of Iſrael, Who ſaid, This evil is of the Lord, why ſhould I wait any longer? Whereas, on the contrary, he ſhould have argued thus, This evil being of the Lord, therefore there is reaſon I ſhould wait.

p. 18010. Another work of an Afflicted Condition, is this, To make all out of God, that we need in that condition. Living on God, and living by Faith, are ſome of the great Duties that concern that Condition, Iſa. 50. 10. Is there any that walketh in darkneſs and hath no light? Let him stay himſelf upon his God. While we are in a proſperous condition, we have Creature-props and ſtayes, and we are too apt to ſtay our ſelves upon them: And therefore the Lord pulleth them away, to make us ſtay our ſelves upon Him. As the Lord ſpeaks, Iſa. 3. 1. Behold, I take away the stay and the staff, &c. The Church, in the day of her Affliction, made all out of God, Mic. 7. 8. Though I ſit in darkneſs, yet the Lord ſhall be a light about me. Faith will help us to look upon God as an Univerſal Good. We know there are many particular things, and (as it were) pieces of comforts, that muſt concurr, to make a mans outward condition good. Our good here below, is a Compounded good; A Wife is a part, and Children a part, and Riches a part, and Health a part, &c. But a man by an Eye of Faith, ſeeth that God is all this, and more. As Elkanah told Hannah, Am not I better to thee then ten Sons? So the Lord is more to a Chriſtian, then all worldly Enjoyments. The things of the world (though enjoyed in the greateſt meaſure) can never make a Condition comfortable without God: But the enjoyment of God, will make a condition comfortable without them. It was Davids courſe, to place God as his Strength, where greateſt danger was: The Lord (ſaith he) is the strength of my life: His p. 181Life was in greateſt danger: And it was his way, to fetch ſupplies from God in his greateſt wants. When he wanted a Rock, a Fortreſs, a Comforter, a Deliverer; he made the Lord all theſe. And this is ſome of the work we have to do in an Afflicted condition.

Thus we have finiſhed the Firſt thing, by which a man is to make a judgment of an Afflicted Condition; whether it be good for him in this life or not? (viz.) By conſidering what he doth in that condition.