The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 19
Gods Providence making Afflictions profitable to all godly persons.
AFflictions of the wicked are Curses or Legall punishments and signes of Reprobation,Wisd. 11. 9, 11. 1 Cor 11. 32. Psal 78 34. Prov. 3 12. Psal 94. 12. Heb. 12. 6. proceeding from God as a Judge, but unto the Godly they are trialls and corrections, and Seales of Adoption, proceeding from God as a Father, being the path-way to Humiliation, an Argument of Gods Love, and the only means to bring us unto a godly sorrow for sinne: Which sorrow is the burd…n of every Christian, Confidence being the shoulder to hold up this burden, and Comfort the hand to help this shoulder, with which whosoever are acquainted, know the Mistery of godly holy Comfort, which is the Christians Heaven upon Earth, joy in Life, hope in Death, prosperity in adversity, staffe in affliction, Anchor in Desperation, and breast plate of preservation, being the golden Chaine to bring us unto Heaven and Glorification.
2. From Affliction a…seth Humility, pittying of others, prayer, tryall of our Faith, renouncing of the world, and a hearty desire of the World to come.
Davids sweetest Songs in affliction were lachrimae, he spared Soul his enemy inRom 5 3. Is…. 20. 16. prosperity slew Ʋriah his friend. Hezekiah in his b…d of sicknesse, humbled himselfe praying, being recovered to his health boast…th of his Treasures.
Abel Abrahams Being slaine, became the first Martyr in Heaven,Gen. 4. Gen. 22. 2 Tim 4 …. Ps. 40. 1. Psal. 40 2. … Sam. 16. 2 Sam. 24. 17. &c. Ps. 119. 67, 7….
Abel Abrahams Faith was tryed: The Apostles in Heaven are crowned,
David From a Sheepe-keeper, was made a chiefe Commander,
David His feete being in the Mire were set on a Ro…k,
David Being Cursed of Shemel; learned to beare it patiently,
David Confessed, that in numbring the people he had sinned,
David Being proud in Numbring was humbled by repenting,
David Kept the Word of the Lord, learned the Lords Statutes,
David And was bettered, whereas before he went astray untill he was Corrected.
Affliction sends us to Christ as Leprosie did those ten: Prosperity makes us leave Christ as it did those nine.
Through Affliction
Daniel From the Lions Den was more honoured by the King,Dan. 6. 1 King 19. Isa. 38. Gen. 16. Iudg. 11. Ier. 31 18. Lam. 3. 27. Ion 1. Ch. 3. Gen. 32. Iob 42.
Elijas Hearing first a great voice, heard next a still one,
Hezekiah Being sick unto the Death, had fifteen yeares added to his life,
Hagar In her distresse learned humility to her Mistris,
Iephtah Became Captaine over all his elder Bretheren,
Ephraim Was converted being like an untamed Calfe, and Ieremy confessed it was good to beare the Yoake in youth.
Ionah Flying from God, learned after to obey the Lord,
Iaacob Being lame by wrestling, obteyned of God a blessing,
Iob Loosing first all that he had, received at last a double reward,
Ioseph Being exiled, was by King Pharoah exalted,
S. Iohn Being hanished, was with heavenly melody ravished,Act. 7. 10. Psal. Rev. 1. (105. 21 Iosh. 2. Exod. 1. Numb. 21. 2 Chron. 12. Deut. 5. 26. Hos. 2. 6, 7. Neh 9. 28. Exod. 2.
The Isralites After Egypts cruelty, enjoyed canaans Mill… and Honey,
The Isralites The more they were oppres…ed, the more they increased,
The Isralites Being stung with Serpents, confessed their sinnes,
The Isralites Seeing the Philistines gathered against them, They prayed Samuel to pray for them, Hearing the Law they humbled: and having Warres with others, wee reade not that they …ell away from God: but being in peace and prosperity, they …ell often into Idolatry.
Moses From a Servant in Midian, became a States-man.
Mordecay Was advanced: Noah in the Arke with beasts saved,Est. 3, Gen. 7. Dan. 4. 2 Ki. 5. Ioh 9. 45. Gen. 42 Lu. 15. Acts 9. Ruth 1.
Nebuchadnez: Knew the Lord: And Naaman to worship God,
The Man Borne blinde, his eyes being opened he beleeved,
The Patriarks Conscience accused them: The Prodigall returned againe,
Paul Of a Persecutor, became an Apostle and a Prea…er,
Ruth Of a Moabite by Marriage became an Israelite:
Zacheus Being dumb, spake after the Mistery of Salvation,Luke 1. Phil. 2. 8, 9. Eph. 1 …0. Hose 5. 15. Isa 16 6. Psal 78. 32. Rom. … 1. 2 Cor. 11. 32.
Christ Became obedient to the death of the Crosse for Man, God therefore exalted him, giving him a Name above all Names, &c.
All Men Are made to seeke the Lord most diligently, their eares are opened, as gold they are tried, who are by him chastened, that they may not be with the world condemned, Iob 33. 16. Chap 36▪ 8 …b 23. 10.
Blessed is the Man whom the Lord correcteth and chasteneth,Iob 5. 17. Iames 1 12. H…b. 12 8. Heb. 12▪ 6. Pr…. 11, 2 Tim. 3. 12. (12. Rom. 8. 28.
He is a Bastard no Sonne, that is without Correction,
The Lord rebuketh and chasteneth so many as he lov…th,
Every person th…t will live godly in Christ, shall suffer persecution,
All which shall turne to the best to those that love God.
USE.
Seeing Afflictions are so profitable, let us runne with patience the way that is set before u…, looking unto Christ the Author and finisher of our Faith, who forHeb. 12. 2, 3. the joy that was set before him, endured the Crosse, and desp…sed the shame: For through many Tribulations must we enter into the Kingdome of Heaven.Acts 14. 22.
D…l…ia now meruit qui non gustavit amara. 1 Pet. 4. 1….
Who so hath not …asted the things that are bitter 1 Pet 1. 6.
Is not worthy to taste the things that are sweeter. Iames 5. 10.
Reader: Isa 61. 3 Cha…. 20. 16. Ierem. 2. 3. Psal. 66. 12. Prov. 24. 10. Ioh. 15. 2. 2 Cor. 1. 4. Heb. 2. 10. Wisd. 12. 2.