The Life of Faith, Part 3 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. How to live by Faith in Adverſity.
IF I ſhould give you diſtinct Directions, for the ſeveral caſes of poverty, wrongs, perſecutions, unkindneſſes, contempt, ſickneſs, &c. it would ſwell this Treatiſe yet bigger than I intended. I ſhall therefore take up with this general Advice.
Direct. 1. In all Adverſity remember the evil of ſin, which is the cauſe, and the Holineſs and Juſtice of God which is exerciſed; and then the hatred of ſin, and the love of Gods Holineſs and Juſtice will make you quietly ſubmit. You will then ſay, when Repentance is ſerious, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſt him, Micah 7.9. And, why doth living man complain, a man for the puniſhment of his ſins? Lam. 3.39. Let us ſearch and try our waies, and turn again unto the Lord; for he hath ſmitten, and he will heal, &c. v. 40, 41.
Object. But doth not Job's caſe tell us, that ſome afflictions are only for tryal, and not for ſin?
Anſw. No; it only telleth us that the reaſon why Job is choſen out at that time, to ſuffer more than other men, is not becauſe he was worſe than others, or us bad; but for his tryal and good. But 1. Affliction as it is now exiſtent in the world upon mankind, is the fruit of Adams ſin at firſt, and contained in the peremptory unremitted ſentence. 2. And this general ſtate of ſuffering mankind, is now in the hand and power of Chriſt, who ſometimes indeed doth let out more on the beſt than upon others, and that eſpecially for their tryal and good; but uſually ſome ſins of their own alſo have a hand in them, and procure the evil, though his mercy turn it to their benefit.
Direct. 2. Deal cloſely and faithfully with your hearts and lives in a ſuffering time, and reſt not till your conſciences are well aſſured that no ſpecial provocation is the cauſe, or elſe do teſtifie that you have truly repented, and reſolved againſt it.
Otherwiſe you may lengthen your diſtreſs, if you leave that thorn in your ſore which cauſeth it: Or elſe God may change it into a worſe; or may give you over to impenitency, which is worſt of all: Or at leaſt, you will want that aſſured peace with God, and ſolid peace of conſcience, which muſt be your ſupport and comfort in affliction; and ſo will ſink under it, as unable to bear it.
Direct. 3. Remember that the ſanctifying fruit of Adverſity is firſt and more to be looked after, than either the comfort, or the deliverance. And therefore that all men, no nor all Chriſtians, muſt not uſe the ſame method, in the ſame affliction, when as their ſpiritual caſes differ.
A cleared conſcience, and one that hath walked faithfully with God, and fruitfully in the world, and kept himſelf from his iniquity, may bend moſt of his thoughts to the comforting promiſes, and happy end. But one man hath been bold with wilful ſin, and his work muſt be firſt, to renew repentance, and ſee that there be no root of bitterneſs left behind, and to ſet upon true reformation of life, and reparation of the hurt which he hath done.
Another is grown into love with the world, and hath let out his heart to pleaſant thoughts and hopes of proſperity, and alienated his thoughts more than before from God. This man muſt firſt perceive his errour, and hear Gods voice which calleth him home, and ſee the characters of vanity and vexation, written on the face of that which he over-loved; and then think of comfort when he hath got a cure.
Another is grown dull and careleſs of his ſoul, and hath loſt much of his ſenſe of things eternal, and is cold in love, and cold in prayer, and liveth as if he were grown weary of God, and weary of well doing. His work muſt be to feel the ſmart of Gods diſpleaſure, ſo far as to awaken him to repentance, and ſet him again with former ſeriouſneſs, upon his duty: And when he mendeth his pace, he may deſire to be eaſed of the rod and ſpur. But to give unſeaſonable cordials to any of theſe, is but to fruſtrate the affliction, and to hurt them, and prepare for worſe. Nay, and when they are comforted in ſeaſon, it muſt be with due caution: Go thy way, and ſin no more, leſt a worſe thing come unto thee. It is p…rnicious unskilfulneſs in thoſe comforters of the afflicted, who have the ſame cuſtomary words of comfort for all; and by their improper cordials unſeaſonably applyed, delude poor ſouls, and hinder that neceſſary repentance which God by ſo ſh…rp a means doth call them to.
Direct. 4. Remember that your part in affliction is to do your duty, and to get the benefit of it: but to remove it is Gods part: Therefore be you careful about that part which is your own, and then make no queſtion but God will do his part. Let it be your firſt queſtion therefore [What is it that I am obliged to in this condition?] What is the ſpecial duty of one in this ſickneſs, this poverty, impriſonment, reſtraint, contempt, or ſlander, which I undergo?] Be careful daily to do that duty, and then never fear the iſſue of your ſuffering: Nothing can go amiſs to him that is found in the way of his duty.
And let it be your next queſtion, What ſpiritual good may be got by this affliction? May not my repentance be renewed? my ſelf-denyal, humility, contempt of the world, patience, and confidence on God, be exerciſed and increaſed by it? and is not this the end of my heavenly Father? Is not his rod an act of love and kindneſs to me? Doth he not offer me by it all this good?
And let your next queſtion be [Have I yet got that good which God doth offer me? Have I any conſiderable benefit to ſh…w, which I have received by this affliction ſince it came?] If not, why ſhould you deſire it to be taken away? Play not the Hypocrite in ſpeaking that good of an afflicting God, which you do not ſeriouſly believe: If you believe that God is wiſer than you, to know what is fitteſt for you, and that he is better than you, and therefore hath better ends than you can have; and that really he offereth you far greater good by your ſufferings, than he taketh from you: Let your affections then be agreeable to this belief: Are you afraid of your own commodity? Do you impatiently long to be delivered from your gain? are you ſo childiſh as to pull off the plaiſter, if you believe that it is curing the ſore? and that it cannot be well and ſafely done without it? Do you call it the fruit of Gods Wiſdom and Love, and yet be as weary of it, as if there were nothing in it but his wrath? Truſt God with his work who never faileth; and be careful of your own, who are conſcious of untruſtineſs.
Direct. 5. Look principally to your hearts, that they grow not to an over-valuing of the proſperity of the fleſh; nor to an under-valuing of holineſs and the proſperity of the ſoul. For this unhappy carnality doth both cauſe affliction, and make us unprofitable and impatient under it.
1. He that is a worldling, or a voluptuous fleſh pleaſer, and ſavoureth nothing but the things of the fleſh, will think himſelf undone, when his pleaſure, and plenty, and honour with men, is taken away. Nothing maketh men grieve for the loſs of any worldly commodity, ſo much as the over-loving of it. It is Love that ſeeketh it when you are in hope, and Love that mourneth when you are in want, as well as Love which delighteth in it when you poſſeſs it: As ſick men uſe to love health better than thoſe that never felt the want of it; ſo it is too common with poor men to love riches better than the rich that never needed: (And yet, poor ſouls, they deceive themſelves, and cry out againſt the rich, as if they were the only lovers of the world, when they love it more themſelves, though they cannot get it.) Never think of bearing affliction with a patient and ſubmiſſive mind, as long as you over-love the things which affliction taketh from you: For the loſs of them will tear thoſe hearts which did ſtick ſo inordinately to them.
2. And if you grow to an undervaluing of Holineſs, you can never be reconciled to afflicting providence. For it is for our profit that God correcteth us; but for what profit? that we may be partakers of his holineſs, Heb. 12.10, 14. If therefore you undervalue that which is Gods end, and goeth for your gain, you will never think that you are gainers or ſavers by his rod. In correction God doth as it were make a bargain with you; he will take away your riches, or your friends, or your health, and he will give you (if you refuſe it not) increaſe of patience, and mortification in the ſtead of them: he will exchange ſo much heavenly-mindedneſs, for ſo much of the treaſures or pleaſures of the world. And now, if you do not like the bargain, if really you had rather have more health, than more holineſs; more of the world, than more heavenly-mindedneſs; more fleſhly pleaſure, than more mortification of fleſhly deſires, you will never then like the correcting hand of God, nor rightly profit by it: You will grudge at his dealing, and wiſh that you were out of his hand, and in your own; and that your eſtates, and health, and friends, were not at his diſpoſal, but at yours; and you will loſe the offered benefit, becauſe you value it not, and accept it not as it is offered you.
3. And thoſe that have ſome eſteem of Holineſs, and yet neglect the duty which ſhould procure the exerciſe and increaſe of grace, do make correction burdenſome by making it unprofitable to them. For to hear that they may be gainers by affliction, and to find that they are not, will not reconcile them to it. Whereas if they had really got the benefit, it would quiet them, and comfort them, and make them patient, and thankful to their Father. What have you to ſhew that you gained by your ſufferings? Are you really more mortified, more penitent, more humble, more heavenly, more obedient, more patient than you were before? If you are ſo, you cannot poſſibly think that it hath been to your loſs to be afflicted: For no one that hath theſe graces can ſo undervalue them, as to think that worldly proſperity or eaſe is better. But if you have not ſuch gain to ſhew, what wonder if you are weary of the medicine which healeth not? and if, when you have made it do you no good, you complain of it, when it is your ſelves, that you ſhould complain of. If you could ſay, that before you were afflicted, you went aſtray, but now you have learnt and kept Gods precepts, you might then ſay by experience, It is good for me that I was afflicted, Pſal. 119.67, 71. And men are taught by natural ſelf-love, not to think ill of that which doth that which doth them good, if by experience they know it. You will then confeſs that God in very faithfulneſs afflicteth you, Pſal. 119.75.
Direct. 6. Remember that nothing can be amiſs which is done by God: For where there is perfection of Power, and Wiſdom, and Goodneſs, no actions can be bad. And there is nothing done by any of your afflicters, which is not governed by the will of God, Amos 3.6. Shall there be evil in a City, and the Lord hath not done it? 2 Chron. 10.15. So the King hearkened not to the people; for the cauſe was of God, that the Lord might perform his Word—God who would not cauſe the ſin, is ſaid to be the cauſe of the event as a puniſhment, becauſe he wiſely permitted it for that end, Acts 2.23. Him being delivered by the determinate counſel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and ſlain—Acts 4.28. The people of Iſrael were gathered to do, whatſoever thy hand and thy counſel determined before to be done: That is, he willed by his antecedent will, that Chriſt ſhould be a ſacrifice for ſin; and he willed by his conſequent will, (as a Judge and puniſher of mans ſin) that the rebellious Jews ſhould be left to their malicious wills, to execute it. And that God which moderateth the wills and actions of the moſt malicious men and Devils, will reſtrain them from violating any of his promiſes for his ſervants good.
Direct. 7. Alwaies keep before your eyes the example of a crucified Chriſt, and of all his holy Apoſtles and Martyrs which have followed him. Look ſtill to Jeſus the author and finiſher of your Faith, who for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the croſs, and deſpiſed the ſhame, and is ſet down at the right hand of the Throne of God. Conſider him that endured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelf, leſt you be wearied and faint in your mind, Heb. 12.2, 3. If you did determine to know nothing but Chriſt crucified, and by his croſs had crucified the the world, (1 Cor. 2.2. Gal. 6.14.) you would be able to ſay, I am crucified with Chriſt, yet I live, that is, not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, Gal. 2.20. And to look on the pleaſure and glory of the world, as the world did look on a crucified Chriſt, when they ſhook the head at him as he hanged on the croſs. You would love the narrow ſuffering way, where you ſee before you the footſteps of your Lord, and of ſo many holy Martyrs and Believers: You would ſay, ſure this is the ſafe and bleſſed way, in which Chriſt, and all the heavenly Army have paſſed hence unto their Crown: You would ſay, Is the ſervant greater than his Lord? If thus the innocent Lord of life, and Maſter of the houſe was injured and afflicted, am I better than he? Though he ſuffered to ſave me from Hell, yet not to ſave me from the purifying tryals here on earth. Doubtleſs you would count all things but loſs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, and count them but dung that you might win him— and that you might know him, and the power of his reſurrection▪ and the fellowſhip of his ſufferings, being made conformable to his death, Phil. 3.8, 10.
Direct. 8. Keep the eye of Faith ſtill fixed on the eternal glory; that you may underſtand what affliction is, when you take it with its end. Remember what eternal Joyes it leadeth to; and what thoughts you will have of all your pain, when you find your ſelves in the everlaſting reſt. Remember where all tear… ſhall be wiped from your eyes; and who dare blame that way as narrow or ſoul, which bringeth us to ſuch an end, Pſal. 126.5, 6. They that ſ…w in tears, ſhall reap in joy: He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious ſeed, ſhall doubtleſs come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves with him, Mat. 5.4. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. Is not eternal joy ſufficient for you? When you are ſuffering with the Church militant, look up to the Church triumphant; and remember that they were lately as low, as ſad, as ſorrowful as you, and you ſhall ſhortly be as high, as glad, as joyful as they. Look into Heaven, and ſee what you ſuffer for, and think whether that be not worthy of harder terms than any you can undergo. Rom. 8.17, 18. If we ſuffer with him, that we may be alſo glorified together: For I reckon that the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us, 2 Cor. 4 16, 17, 18. For which cauſe we faint not: but though our outward man periſh, yet the inward man is renewed day by day: For our light affl…ction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: While we look not at the things which are ſeen, but at the things which are not ſeen: For the things which are ſeen are temporal; but the things which are not ſeen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. Heaven well believed, will enable us patiently and chearfully to bear all things. He will account the very reproach of Chriſt, to be greater riches than the treaſures of the world, who looketh believingly to the recompence of reward, Heb. 11.26.
Direct. 9. Learn to die, and then you have learned to ſuffer. He that can bear death, by the power of faith, can bear almoſt any thing. And he that is well prepared to die, is prepared for any affliction; and he that is not, is unprepared for proſperity.
Direct. 10. Remember ſtill that life being ſo very ſhort, the afflictions of Believers are as ſhort. We have ſo little a time to live, that we have but a little while to ſuffer. And if thou faint in the day of adverſity, when it is ſo little a while to night, thy ſtrength is ſmall, Prov. 24.10.
Direct. 11. Remember that thou beareſt but the common burden of the Sons of Adam, who are born to ſorrow as the ſparks fly upward: And that thou in like to all the members of Chriſt, who muſt take up their croſs, and ſuffer with him, if they will reign with him: And that thou art but going the common way to Heaven, which that heavenly ſociety hath trod before thee: And canſt thou expect to be exempted both from the lot of humane lapſed nature, and from the lot of all the Saints? If thou wouldeſt be carryed to Heaven in the Chariot of Elias, and couldeſt expect to eſcape the jaws of death, yet muſt thou endure the perſecution, wearineſs and hunger of Elias before ſuch a change.
Direct. 12. Think alſo how unreaſonable it is, for one that muſt have eternal glory, to grudge at a little ſuffering in the way, and for one that is ſaved from the torments of Hell, to think it much to be duly chaſtened on earth. For a Lazarus that muſt be comforted in Abraham's boſom, to murmure that he waiteth a while in poverty at the rich mans doors? Shall a wicked worldling venture into endleſs pains, and put himſelf out of the hopes of Heaven, and all this for a ſhort and fooliſh pleaſure? And will you grudge to ſuffer ſo ſmall and ſhort a chaſtiſement in the way to an endleſs reſt and joy?
Direct. 13. Think why it is that Chriſt hath ſo largely commended, and bleſt a ſuffering ſtate, and choſen ſuch a life for thoſe that he will ſave: And why he ſo often pronounceth a woe to the proſperous world: It is not for want of love to his Diſciples; nor for want of power to ſecure their peace, Matth. 5. Bleſſed are the poor in ſpirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven: Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. Bleſſed are they that are perſecuted for righteouſneſs ſake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Luke 6.24, 25, 26. Woe to you that are rich, for you have received your conſolation: Woe to you that are full, for ye ſhall hunger: Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye ſhall mourn and weep: Woe unto you when all men ſhall ſpeak well of you, for ſo did their Fathers to the falſe Prophets, James 1.2, 3. My Brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (that is, trying afflictions) knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience—James 5.1, 2. Go too now ye … men, weep and howl for the miſeries that ſhall come upon you— All theſe words are not for nothing: And judge how he ſhould think of adverſity who believeth them.
Direct. 14. Mark well whether you find not that your ſelves and others are uſually much better in affliction, than in proſperity: And whether there be not ſomething in the one to make you better, and in the other to delude men, and make them worſe. O look and tremble at the dangers and dol…ful miſeries of moſt that are lifted high! how they are blinded, flattered, captivated in ſin, and are the ſhame of nature, and the calamity of the world! And mark when they come to die, or lie in ſickneſs, how inlightened, how penitent, how humble, how mortified and reformed they then ſeem to be, and how much they condemn all ſin, and juſtifie a holy life: And obſerve your ſelves whether you be not wiſer and better, more penitent, and leſs worldly in an afflicted ſtate: And will you think that intollerable, which ſo much bettereth almoſt all the world? Alas, were it not for affliction, there are ſome Nebuchadnezzars that would never be humbled, and ſome Pharaohs that would never confeſs their ſins, and ſome Manaſſehs that would never be converted. Many in Heaven are thankful for affliction, and ſo ſhould we, Eccleſ. 7.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. It is better to go to the houſe of mourning, than to the houſe of feaſting: For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter; for …y the ſadneſs of the countenance, the heart is made better. The heart of the wiſe is in the houſe of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the houſe of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wiſe, than for a man to hear the ſong of fools: For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, ſo is the laughter of a fool.
Do you not perceive that a merry proſperous ſtate inclineth to folly, levity, raſhneſs, inconſiderateneſs, ſtupidity, forgetting the latter end, &c? And that a ſadder frame is more awakened, illuminated, fixed, ſenſible, conſiderate and fit for great employments? Quarrel not then with your Phyſician, becauſe he dyeteth you as tendeth to your cure, and turneth you not over to the dyet of deſperate patients, or of fools.
Direct. 15. If God afflict you, add not cauſleſs affliction to your ſelves. If he touch your friends, or body, or eſtate, do not you therefore touch and tear your hearts. If you have not enough, why do you complain of it? If you have enough, why do you make your ſelves more? He that hath ſaid, Bleſſed are they that mourn, did never mean that thoſe are bleſſed that mourn erroneouſly, for nothing, or for that which is their benefit, or that pleviſhly quarrel with God and man, or that wilfully by pride or impatiency torment themſelves. He meant not to bleſs the ſorrow of the covetous that grieveth becauſe he is not rich, or becauſe he is wronged, or is a loſer in ſome commodity; nor to bleſs the ſorrow of the proud, who is troubled becauſe he is not obſerved, honoured or preferred: Nor the ſorrow of the ſenſual, who grieve when their luſts and pleaſures are reſtrained: Nor the ſorrows of the idle, who grieve if they are called to diligent labour; nor the ſorrow of the envious, who grieveth to ſee another proſper; nor the ſorrows of the cruel, who grieve when they cannot be as hurtful to Gods ſervants, and their neighbours or enemies, as they deſire. It is neither wicked ſorrows, nor wilful ſelf-vexation, which Chriſt doth bleſs: But it is the holy improving, and patient enduring the ſufferings laid upon us by God or man.
Direct. 16. Let Patience have its perfect work. He that believeth, will not make haſte, James 1.3. Iſa. 28.16. God's time is beſt; and eternity is long enough for our eaſe and comfort. It is by patient continuance in well doing, that glory, honour and immortality muſt be ſought, Rom. 2. We ſhall reap in due ſeaſon, if we faint not, Galat. 6.9. James 5.7, 8, 9. Be patient therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye alſo patient: ſtabliſh your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. When others by impatience loſe themſelves, do you in your patience poſſeſs your ſouls, Luke 21.19. Rom. 5.4. Patience worketh experience, and experience hope, which maketh not aſhamed. If we hope for that we ſee not, thee do we with patience wait for it, Rom. 8.25. Through patience and comfort of the Scriptures it is that we have hope, Rom. 15.4. Therefore we have need of patience, that when we have done the will of God, we may inherit the promiſe, Heb. 10.36.11.