Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 16
A LIFTING UP In caſe of AFFLICTION.
Sermon X.
PSALM, 42.11.
Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul?Stepney, June, 1648. and why art thou diſquieted within me? &c.
SOmetimes the Diſcouragements of the Saints, are drawn, Inſtance 7.From their outward Afflictions, and Relations.
So it was here with David; for, ſaith he, verſe 3. My tears have been my meat, day and night. Whereupon, ver. 5, 6. My Soul is caſt down within me: Then, ver. 7, 8. All thy billows are gone over me: Ver. 10. As a Sword in my Bones, whilſt they reproach me dayly: Then, ver. 11. Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? To the like purpoſe he ſpeaketh in the next Pſalm; Why go I mourning, becauſe of the oppreſſion of the Enemy? ver. 2. Then ver. 5, 6. Why art thou caſt down? So that hi… …ard Diſcouragements, did ariſe very much from his outward Afflictions. And thus it is ordinarily with the People of God; for faith one; Never was any ſo Afflicted as I have been, and am: I confeſs, that National Calamities are very great; but beſides National Miſeries, I have many, and many perſonal Afflictions; and therefore now it is that I am thus diſcouraged, have I not reaſon for it?
No.
Anſw. 1 Firſt: I grant, and confeſs, It is no new thing for Gods own Children to be much afflicted: Theſe are they that came out of great Tribulations, Rev. 7. And
Anſw. 2 Secondly: When Gods People are ſo afflicted, they are, and wil be very ſenſible of their Affliction; in ſome reſpects more ſenſible than wicked men: for the more apprehenſive, a man is of Gods diſpleaſure under Affliction, the more ſenſible he muſt needs be of the burden of it. Now the Saints, and People of God, in the day of their Affliction, are more apprehenſive of Gods diſpleaſure, than wicked men are, and ſo in ſome reſpects, are more ſenſible of their Afflictions. Yea,
Anſw. 3 Thirdly: As they are, and wil be very ſenſible of their Afflictions; ſo they are very apt to be much diſcouraged, by reaſon of them. And therefore ſaid the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 143. Therefore my ſoul is overwhelmed within me, and my heart is deſolate; Why? Read verſe 3. and ye ſhal find the reaſon; Becauſe the Enemy oppreſſed me. And was not J…ſhua thus exceedingly caſt down, when a party of his men fel before the men of Ai? See how he lies on the ground, Chap. 7. and what Language he ſpeaks; even the ſame, for ſubſtance, that murmuring Iſrael had ſpoken: for they ſaid, Would God we had ſtayed in Egypt: And ſaith he, Would God we had ſtayed on the other ſide Jordan: yet Joſhua, a moſt gracious, holy, bleſſed Servant of God. So that Gods own People, are apt to be much diſcouraged, by reaſon of their Afflictions, and outward Sufferings. But now I ſay, Let a mans Afflictions be never ſo great, yet if he be In Chriſt, and have made his peace with God, he hath no reaſon to be caſt down, or diſcouraged, whatever his Afflictions be: for ſaith our Savior, In the World you ſhall have trouble; but be of good Comfort, I have overcome the world: And the more a man is diſcouraged under his Afflictions, the leſs able he is to bear it. So long as a mans hand hath skin upon it, he is able to put it into the ſharpeſt Vinegar, without ſmarting; but if the skin be off, it doth ſmart exceedingly, and he can hardly bear it. So long as a mans bones are knit together, and in joynt, he may ſtand under a great burden; but if the Shoulder-bone be out of Joynt, who can bear a burden? And what do al our Diſcouragements, but diſ-joynt the Soul, & put the Spirit on the Rack? Diſcouragements make Afflictions to … longer: An impatient Patient, makes a cruel Phyſitian: And the more the Child cries under the Rod, the longer the Rod is continued: What reaſon therefore, for our diſcouragements under Afflictions?
But this Truth wil appear, if you conſider, 1. What the Afflictions and Sufferings of the Saints are. 2. Whence they proceed. 3. What accompanies them. 4. What follows upon them, and is wrought by them.
Firſt: As for the Afflictions themſelvs, 1. They are part of Chriſts Purchaſe for you: Look upon Pauls Inventory, 1 Cor. 3.21. All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things preſent, or things to come: So that Death it ſelf, the King of Terrors and Afflictions, is here reckoned amongſt the Goods and Chattels, which Chriſt hath purchaſed for you, and left unto you: and if Death be yours, then al Afflictions are yours; and who wil be afraid of that which is his own? 2. They are the Gift of God; To you it is given, not only to beleeve, but to ſuffer, ſaith the Apoſtle. It was the Speech of a good man, now in Heaven, being once under great Afflictions; O Lord, theſe Afflictions are thy Pearls, and I wil wear them for thy ſake. 3. They are but ſeeeming Evils; They are real Tryals, and ſeeming Evils. Therfore the Apoſtle ſaith, Every Affliction ſeems grievous; but conſidering altogether, it is rather a Seeming, than a real grief: and therefore ſaith he, 2 Cor. 6.9, 10. We are as unknown, and yet well known: as dying, and behold we hee: as chaſtened, and not killed: as ſorrowful, yet alwaies rejoycing: as poor, yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet poſſeſſing all things. In which words, as Auſtin obſerves, he puts a tanqu…m, ſicut AS, upon his Afflictions; as if his Sufferings, were but as Afflictions, and not Afflictions. When a man takes any Phyſick, he is ſick withal, yet becauſe it is but Phyſick-ſickneſs, you do not call it a ſickneſs; it is as a ſickneſs, but not a ſickneſs. Now all the Afflictions of the Saints, are but their Phyſick, preſcribed and given them by the hand of their Father; and therefore, though they be ſick therewith, yet it is but as a ſickneſs, not ſo indeed, al things rightly weighed. When an unskilful Eye looks upon the threſhing of the Corn, he ſaith, Why do they ſpoil the Corn? But thoſe that know better, ſay, The Flail doth not hurt the Corn; if the Cart-wheel ſhould paſs upon it, there would be ſpoil indeed, but the Flail hurts not. Now there is no Affliction, or ſuffering, that a Godly man meets with, but is Gods Flail: And if you look into Iſay, 28. ye ſhal find, the Lord promiſeth, under a ſimilitude, that his Cart-wheel ſhal not paſs upon thoſe that are weak, ver. 27. For the Fitches are not threſhed with a threſhing Inſtrument; neither is a Cart-wheel turned about upon the Cummin; the Fitches are beaten out with a ſtaff, and the Cummin with the Rod: God wil alwaies proportion his Rod to our ſtrength. But though mine Affliction be not greater than I can bear, yet if it lie too long upon me (ſay ſome) I ſhall never be able to bear it: Nay, ſaith the Lord, ver. 28. Bread-Corn is bruiſed, becauſe he will not ever be threſhing it. But what is this to us? Yes, it is a Parable, for ver. 26. His God (ſpeaking of the Plow-man) doth inſtruct him to diſcretion, and doth teach him. And if the Plow-man have this diſcretion, much more ſhal the Lord himſelf; for verſe 29. This alſo cometh forth from the Lord of Hoſts, who is wonderful in Counſel, and excellent in working. I am Gods Corn, ſaid the Martyr; I muſt therfore paſs under the Flail, through the Fan, under the Mil-ſtone, into the Oven, before I can be bread for him. And if our Chaff be ſevered from our Graces by this Flail, have we any reaſon to be diſcouraged, becauſe we are thus afflicted? The truth is, the day of Affliction and Tribulation, is a godly mans Day of Judgment; it is at his Judgment Day, he ſhal never be judged again, ſo as to be condemned at the Day of Judgment; Ye are judged with the world (ſaith the Apoſtle) that ye may not be condemned with the world. And when the Godly mans Affliction-Day is, he may ſay, Now is my Judgment-Day, and I ſhal never be judged again; why therefore ſhould he be diſcouraged, whatever his Afflictions be?
And in the Second place. This wil appear alſo, if you conſider, Whence their Afflictions come. If al the Sufferings of Gods People do come from Divine Love, the Love of God in Chriſt to them, then have they no reaſon to be diſcouraged, though they be much afflicted: every Rod, is a Rod of Roſemary to them, fruits of their Fathers Love: and if you look into Heb. 12. ye ſhal find, both the thing proved, and the Inference: The thing is proved, at ver. 6. For whom the Lord loveth, he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every Son whom he receiveth: Which he illuſtrates by a ſimilitude. Suppoſe a man have two Sons; one a Baſtard, and the other Legitimate; he wil rather give Education, and Correction to the Legitimate Son, and neglect the Baſtard: and ſaith the Apoſtle, verſe 8. If ye be without Chaſtiſement, then are ye Baſtards, and not Sons. What then? verſe 12. Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees: As if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, If al the Sufferings, and Afflictions, and Chaſtiſements of the Saints, do proceed from Love, then have they no reaſon to hang down their hands, or heads. But ſo it is, That all their Sufferings come from Love, and therefore no reaſon for their Diſcouragements.
Thirdly. This wil appear alſo, if you conſider, What comes with the Afflictions of the Saints. There comes much ſupporting Grace, much Light; much of Gods Preſence, Fëllowſhip and and Communion with Chriſt, in al his Sufferings. Much ſupporting Grace: Thy Rod, and thy Staff comforts me. God never laies a Rod upon his Childrens back, but he firſt puts a Staff into their hand to bear it; and the ſtaff is as big as the Rod: it matters not what your Afflictions be, great, or ſmal, it is al one, you ſhal be upheld; and upholding mercy, is ſomtimes better,Via Crucis, via Lucis. than a mercy that you are afflicted for the want of. But the Lord doth not only uphold his People under Sufferings, but he gives forth much Light therewithal. The School of the Croſs, is the School of Light. Affliction is our Free-School, where God teacheth his Children, and learns them how to write, both their Sins, and their Graces. Their ſins: So long as Leaves are on the Trees and Buſhes, ye cannot ſee the Birds Neſts: But in the Winter, when al the Leaves are off, then ye ſee them plainly. And ſo long as men are in Proſperity, and have their Leaves on, they do not ſee what Neſts of ſins, and luſts, are in their hearts, and lives; but when all their Leaves are off, in the day of their Afflictions, then they ſee them, and ſay, I did not think I had had ſuch Neſts of ſins, and luſts, in my ſoul, and life. Job, 36.7. He withdraweth not his Eye from the Righteous: Verſe 8. And if he be bound in Fetters, and be holden in Cords of Affliction, then he ſhows them their works, and their trangreſſions, that they have exceeded. Yea, Affliction do not only diſcover their ſins unto them; but it is Gods Plaiſter, thereby he doth heal the ſame: Before I was afflicted, I went aſtray, ſaith David. And Job, 36.10. He openeth alſo their Ear to Diſcipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. Yea, theſe Afflictions, and Sufferings of the Saints, do not only diſcover, and heal their ſins; but do put them upon the exerciſe of Grace: In their Afflictions (ſaith God) they will ſeek me early. Yea, they do not only draw out their Graces; but diſcover their Graces too, which poſſibly they did never take notice of before. I have read of ſome fooliſh Youths, that ſitting on the Water ſide, upon the Bank, and mingling their Legs together in the Water, they did not know their own Legs; but one ſtanding by, and ſm…g them on the knees with a ſtaff, every one then knew his own Legs, and pulled them up. And ſo it is many times; There is ſuch a likeneſs between Hypocrites common Graces, and the Graces of Gods Children, that the Saints do not know their own Graces; O! ſaith one, it is no more than an Hypocrite may have: but then God ſmites them with ſome Affliction, and ſo they feel, and ſee, and know their own Graces: and good reaſon for it; for when God comes, he diſcovers all: and when is God more preſent with his People, than when they are moſt afflicted? God uſeth to be at the back of Affliction. There Heaven opened to Stephen. Afflictions are the ruſty Lock often times, which open the door into the Preſence Chamber. When was Chriſt with the three Children, but in the fiery Furnace? And ye have a ſtanding Promiſe for it; I will be with thee in the fire, and the water, ſaith the Lord. And ſaith the Apoſtle, Then doth the Spirit of the Lord, and of Glory, reſt upon his Children. Yea, and as they have moſt of God, when they are moſt afflicted; ſo in time of their Sufferings, they have moſt Communion, and Fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt in his Sufferings. Therefore ſaith the Apoſtle Peter, Chap. 4. Ver. 13. But rejoyce, in as much as ye are partakers of Chriſts Sufferings. The word Partaker, is the ſame that is uſed in John; Truly our fellowſhip is with the Father: and the ſame that is uſed in the Corinthians, concerning the Lords Supper; The Cup of Bleſſing which we bleſs, is it not the Communion of the Body of Chriſt? You wil al grant, that you have communion with Chriſt at the Lords Supper; but the ſame word being uſed here, ſhows, That you have Communion with Chriſt in his Sufferings alſo; eſpeciall…, when you do ſuffer for him: and the greater your Sufferings are, the more fellowſhip, and communion you have with Chriſt in his Sufferings: Now then, if al this be true, That a Chriſtian hath Experience of Supporting, and Upholding Grace; much Light; his ſin diſcovered, and healed: his Grace exerciſed, and manifeſted: Gods Preſence enjoyed; and made Partaker of the Sufferings of Chriſt, in, and by his Afflictions; what reaſon hath he to be diſcouraged, although he be much afflicted? But ſo it is, That a Chriſtian hath never more Experience of Gods Upholding, Suſtaining Grace: his ſin is never more diſcovered, and healed; his Grace is never more exerciſed, and manifeſted: God is never more preſent with him, than when he is moſt afflicted: and he is never more partaker of Chriſts ſufferings, than in, and by his Sufferings: Surely therefore, he hath no reaſon for his Diſcouragements, whatever his Afflictions be.
Fourthly: This wil appear, if you conſider, The Fruit, Benefit, End, and Iſſue of your Afflictions, and what they bring forth, They bring forth the quiet fruits of Righteouſneſs, Triumph over Satan; for now poor Job may ſay, Satan, thou ſaid'ſt, I did not ſerve God for nought; but now the contrary appears. Yea, They work out an exceeding, eternal weight of Glory. And if you look into Phil. 2. where we are commanded, To work out our Salvation, with fear, and trembling: you ſhal find, it is the ſame word that is uſed here concerning Afflictions; that they work out an exceeding, eternal weight of Glory. Now if al my Afflictions do bring me in the quiet fruit of Righteouſneſs; make me to tryumph over Satan; and work out an exceeding weight of Glory; have I any reaſon to be diſcouraged, although I be much afflicted? Thus it is with al the Saints and People of God; though their Sufferings may ſeem to be grievous for the preſent, yet they bring forth the quiet fruits of Righteouſneſs; thereby the Saints tryumph over Satan; and theſe Sufferings work out an exceeding, and eternal weight of Glory. Surely therefore, a Godly, Gracious man, hath no reaſon to be diſcouraged, whatever his Affliction be.
Object. 1 But my Affliction, is not an ordinary Affliction; my Sufferings, are not ordinary Sufferings; for I have loſt all my Comforts, and am ſtript naked of all my former Bleſſings, and Relations: I have been long afflicted, and many Afflictions croud, and preſs in upon me, like ſo many waves of the Sea: only there is this difference, the waves come, and go; but my Afflictions come, and ſtay; they come, and go not; they all ſtay upon me at once, and I ſee no end of my Afflictions: the Floods are riſen, O God, the Water Floods are riſen, and do cover my ſoul; yea, and theſe waters of Affliction are ſo deep, that I can feel no bottom, ſee no end of them: have I not juſt cauſe and reaſon then to be much diſcouraged?
Anſw. No: For what if you have been, or would be drunk with the Comforts of your own Relations? Noah was drunk with his own Wine; and how many are there in the World, that have been drunk, even with the Comforts of their own Relations? And if God your Father ſee, that you have been, or would be drunk with your own Comforts; have you any hurt, that he hath taken them from you for a time? When a wiſe Father, ſees that his Child fals in love with his Maid, one that is much beneath him; doth his Father do him any wrong, that he removes her from him, or him out of her ſight? It may be the preſent Affection of the Child ſaith, my Father deals hardly by me: but wil the Childs Reaſon ſay ſo afterwards? No, but he wil rather ſay, at ſuch a time I fel in love with my Fathers Servant, and if my Father had not remomoved her out of my ſight, I had been loſt, and undone for ever. Now al the Creatures are Servants to the Children of God, and it may be, God your Father ſeeth that you are fallen in love with them that are much beneath you. Or, ſuppoſe that a Child be to travel ſome long Journey, and his Father gives him a ſtaff in his hand; when he is abroad in the Fields, ſome Enemy meets him, and takes away his ſtaff, and beats the Child therewithal; but a Friend comes in, and takes away this ſtaff from both, both from the Child, and from the Enemy; doth he do the Child any wrong, in taking away this ſtaff out of the hand of the Enemy? May be the Child will ſay, I pray Sir, give me the ſtaff again, for it is mine; true, ſaith the friend, Child, this ſtaff is yours, but you have not ſtrength enough to uſe it, and mannage it againſt your Enemy; he would wreſt it out of your hand again, and beat you with it, and therefore I wil keep it from you both: doth he therfore do the Child any wrong? Thus it is here: The Lord gives a Creature-Comfort into the hands of his Child, and God intends it for a ſtaff (for Bread is the ſtaff of Life:) but Satan comes, and wreſteth his ſtaff out of his hand, and beats him therewithal: then comes Jeſus Chriſt, and takes it out of the hands of both; O! ſaith the Child of God, but I pray thee Lord, give me this Creature-Comfort, for it is my Staff: true Child, ſaith Chriſt, it is thy Staff, but thou haſt not ſtrength to weild it againſt Satan, he wil abuſe thee with it; therefore I wil keep it from thee, and in due time, thou ſhalt have it again: Doth Chriſt our Lord, and beſt friend, do him any wrong in keeping it from him?
Object. 2 O! but my Afflictions are not ordinary, and uſual, but new, and ſtrange.
Anſw. You think ſo; but the Apoſtle ſaith, Think it not ſtrange concerning the fiery tryal, as if ſome new thing had befallen you. And what if God wil carry you to Heaven by ſome back way, and let you in at ſome back door; hath not he promiſed to lead us in a way that we have not known?
Object. 3 O! but I do not only want one mercy, but I do want another, and another; Afflictions come thick, and I ſee no end, I feel no bottom.
Anſw. And was it not ſo with David, the Type of Chriſt? Pſal. 40.1, 2. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined his Ear unto me, and heard my cry; he brought me out alſo of an horrible pit; or as ſome read it, out of an unbottomed pit, out of the miry Clay, and ſet my feet upon a Rock, and eſtabliſhed my goings. Three things here, that are moſt obſervable. 1. David was in ſuch an Affliction, wherein he did feel no bottom at the firſt, ſaw no end. 2. Though he felt no bottom at the firſt, yet, at the laſt he did, and a Rock which God ſet his feet upon, and eſtabliſhed his goings. 3. Till he did find this Rock, he prayed, and waited patiently, and he was not diſcouraged. What therefore though our Afflictions be as thick as any mire, that therein you do ſtick ſo faſt, as you cannot get out, that you feel no bottom, ſee no end; yet if in this caſe you pray, and cry, and wait patiently on the Lord, as David did; you ſhal be ſet upon a Rock in due time, and your goings ſhall be alſo eſtabliſhed. And whereas you ſay, That your Afflictions are thick, and long, and hard; How long man! What! is your Buſh conſumed? Do they not make you long more for Heaven? When the Apprentiſhip is hard and tedious, the yong man longs for the day of his Freedom. O! ſaith he, that I were in my Fathers Houſe! O! that the time of my Freedom were come! So here; Long and hard Afflictions, make us long more for Heaven. Now will ye count that too long, which makes you long more for Heaven? And as for your Relational Comforts; Did God ever take away the Comfort of an outward Relation, and not make it up in the ſweetneſs of Spiritual Relations?
Object. 4 But this is not all my caſe; for I do not only want ſuch and ſuch Comforts, I do not barely want the Comforts, and the love of my Relations; but I feel the anger, and the ſmart of them; for my own familiar friends, and acquaintance are become mine Enemies; they reproach me, curſe me, speak all manner of evil of me without cauſe; and this they do ſince I ſet my face towards Heaven: Time was heretofore, when they did love me dearly; but now they hate me, they perſecute me, and do all manner of evil to me; and is this nothing? is not this a juſt cauſe, and reaſon for my Diſcouragement?
Anſw. No: For if our worſt Enemies, be ſomtimes our beſt Friends, then what reaſon is there that we ſhould be diſcouraged, although we be much oppoſed? Now ſo it is many times; as our beſt Friends, are our worſt Enemies, by flattering us; ſo our worſt Enemies, are our beſt Friends, by making us more watchful. So many Enemies, ſo many School-Maſters, ſaith one.Totidem inimici, totidem paedagogi. Hath not our Lord and Savior Chriſt ſaid, Our Enemies are thoſe of our own houſe, they ſhall ever revile you, and perſecute you; but bleſſed are you, when they do all this for my Name ſake. And I pray tell me, Whether is it worſer to be perſecuted, or to be a Perſecutor? Your Friends perſecute you, ſpeak all manner of evil, and do al manner of evil to you, even ſince you have looked towards Chriſt; and for his ſake …hey do it, for his ſake ye are perſecuted, oppoſed, maligned: but you might have been the Perſecutor, and they the perſecuted; Which is worſt? Will you not ſay, O! it is infinitly better to be oppoſed for the way of God, than to oppoſe? and to be perſecuted, than to perſecute? I would chuſe rather to be perſecuted, than to be a Perſecutor. God might have left you to be a Perſecutor, and your perſecuting Friends might have been perſecuted by you; but now that God hath ſo ordered it by his Providence and Grace, that you are perſecuted, and they perſecutors, have you any reaſon to complain, or to be diſcouraged? Know ye not that the world hateth his own? So long as the por ſtands empty, and there is no Honey in it, the Bees, and ſtinging Waſps do not gather about it; but if once there be Honey in it, then they flock about it: And ſo long as you were empty of what is good, and walked on with an empty heart, no oppoſition was made unto you. But now theſe ſtinging Bees and Waſps flock about you; what doth this argue, but that you have gotten ſome Honey, ſomwhat that ſavoreth of good, and of Chriſt, which you had not before; why ſhould you not therefore, rather praiſe God for what you have, than be diſcouraged under your oppoſition?
Object. 5 This is not my caſe: For I praiſe God I do not meet with any oppoſition, or perſecution from my friends, nor do I need, for my very Affliction is an oppoſition unto what is good, my Affliction doth indiſpoſe me unto what is good, and expoſe me unto what is evil, to temptations, and many ſins; it keeps me from Duty, from Ordinances, and Opportunities of doing, and receiving good; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged under my Affliction, have I not cauſe, and reaſon now?
Anſw. 1 No: For it may be that you are miſtaken here, and think that you are hindred from the Work of God, when indeed you are not, We read of Paul, that he was whipped up and down the ſtreets like a Rogue, that he was oft impriſoned; and who would not think but that his reproaches and impriſonments, ſhould hinder him in the work of his Miniſtry? But he ſaith, That his Sufferings turned to the furtherance of the Gospel.
Anſw. 2 When God leads a man into an Affliction, then God doth call him to another work. So long as a man is well, and in health, he is bound to go abroad, and to hear the Word; but when he is ſick, then his work is not to hear, but to be patient, and quiet under the hand of God; then he is called to that other work which his Affliction doth lead him to. It may be your Affliction may hinder you from your former work, which God hath call'd you from; but it doth not hinder you from that work whereunto you are now called by your Affliction: And what though my Affliction doth hinder me from my former work; yet, if God wil not fault me for the neglect of that, have I any reaſon to be diſcouraged becauſ I do not do it? This is certain, That if God cal me to a new work, he wil never blame me, if I lay by the former. You wil not blame your Servants, if they lay by their former work, when you call them to a new: and when God leads into a new Affliction, then he doth cal to a new work.
Anſw. 3 And as for matter of Temptation, and Sin, this is certain, That, that Affliction doth never expoſe a man to a new ſin, which doth make him ſenſible of his former ſin. Now, as you have heard; the Afflictions of the Saints, do both diſcover, and heal their ſins; making them ſenſible of them, which they were not before. And if you look into Pſal. 125.3. you find a Promiſe to this purpoſe; The Rod of the wicked ſhall not reſt on the Lot of the Righteous, leſt the Righteous put forth their hand to iniquity. As it is with a Maſter that ſets his Servant to beat the duſt out of his Garment; though he cauſe the rod, or ſtick, to paſs upon the Garment, yet he will not ſuffer it to reſt ſo long upon the Garment, as it ſhal be torn thereby. Your Affliction is Gods Rod, and he ſuffers it to paſs upon your Garment; Why? That he may fetch out your duſt therewith; but he wil not ſuffer this Rod to reſt ſo long upon you, as to tear your Garment; Leſt the Righteous put forth their hand unto iniquity, ſaith the Text.
Anſw. 4 And if this fear of yours, be a good ſign of your Grace, then why ſhould you be diſcouraged in this reſpect? Now, what better ſign of Truth, and Uprightneſs of heart have you, than this? That you are therefore troubled at your Affliction, becauſe it doth expoſe to Temptation, and Sin; and becauſe it doth hinder you from what is good? Do you not ſay ſo? Lord, thou knoweſt I am therefore afflicted under this Affliction, not becauſe of the burden of it ſo much, but becauſe thereby I am hindred from doing, and receiving good, and expoſed to ſuch Temptations; as for the Affliction it ſelf, though it be great, yet Lord, thou knoweſt I ſhould ſubmit to it, and be quiet under it, were I not thereby expoſed unto what is evil: Here now is ſincerity, here is uprightneſs, and will you then be diſcouraged? nay, rather have you not cauſe and reaſon to be much encouraged?
Object. 6 This is not my fear, or cauſe of my diſcouragement; but I am under a great, and ſore Affliction; ſo, and ſo afflicted; and I fear I have brought my ſelf into this Affliction by my ſin: had not my ſin been the cauſe of my Affliction, I ſhould not be troubled; but O! my Affliction is great, and long, and I am perſwaded that my own ſin, is the cauſe thereof; yea, and that which aggravateth the matter is, I cannot find out what the ſin is: if God would but diſcover it to me, I ſhould be more at quiet; but my ſin is the cauſe of my affliction; and I know not what the particular ſin is, that hath brought me into this affliction: and have I not juſt cauſe and reaſon for my diſcouragement now?
Anſw. No: For did not Jonah bring himſelf into his Affliction by his ſin, and yet when did God more fully appear to him, than when he was in the Whales Belly? Did not David bring himſelf into his Affliction by his ſin? he ſinned in the matter of Ʋriah, and the Lord ſaid, The Sword ſhall never depart from thy Houſe: and what was the Sword of Abſolon, but an Affliction which dropped out of that Threatening, brought upon him by his ſin: and yet when was Davids heart in a better frame? If (ſaith he) the Lord have any pleaſure in me, he will bring me back to the Ark again; if not, let him do with me, what ſeemeth good in his Eyes. And when did God more fully appear to David, than under this Affliction? for he prayed, The Lord turn the Counſel of Achittophel into folly; and God heard him preſently. And if ye look into Deut. 4. you ſhall find a ſtanding Promiſe made for your Comfort in this matter; verſe 25. If you ſhall corrupt your ſelves, and make a graven Image, or the likeneſs of any thing, and ſhall do evil in the ſight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger; I call Heaven, and Earth to witneſs againſt you this day, That you ſhall ſoon utterly periſh from the Land; ye ſhal not prolong your daies; the Lord will ſcatter you among the Nations, and you ſhall be left few in number among the Heathen, and there you ſhall ſerve gods, the work of mens hands. But if from thence, thou ſhalt ſeek the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt find him; if thou ſeek him with all thine heart, and all thy ſoul. 1. Here was a great Affliction, to be driven out into another Country. 2. This Affliction was cauſed by their great ſins. 3. Yet the Promiſe is, That, if from thence, from this valley, and bottom, they did ſeek the Lord, he would ſhew mercy to them: And all this in the times of the Law; and is not God as gracious now in the times of the Goſpel, as then in the times of the Law? And what though you cannot find out what the particular ſin is, it is good to ſearch; but ſomtimes it is better for a poor ſoul that it is not diſcovered: For if I be under an affliction for ſome particular ſin, and find it out, then I am once humbled for it, and go no further: but if I find it not out, I ſearch, and ſearch, and ſo am humbled continually for many ſins; and therefore I ſay, it is ſomtimes better that the particular ſin is not diſcovered. Why then ſhould a godly, gracious ſoul be diſcouraged in this reſpect? Surely he hath no reaſon for it.
Object. 7 Yet there is one thing ſticks with me in regard of perſonal Afflictions: I fear that they do not come from Gods Love; were I certain that this Affliction did proceed from Gods Love, then I ſhould never be troubled; but I even ſee the viſible Characters of Gods diſpleaſure, and anger, engraven upon my Afflictions; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged, have I not cauſe and reaſon now?
Anſw. 1 No: For if Affliction, do rather argue Gods Love, than Hatred; then have you no reaſon to be diſcouraged. Now, though Affliction do not argue Gods Love; yet I ſay, it doth rather argue Love, than Hatred. A man may be no Father to a Child, yet he may correct him: But if two Children commit a fault, and a man takes the one, and correct him, and let the other go; it argues rather, that he is his Father, than not. So, though Chaſtiſements do not alwaies argue God to be our Father; yet it doth rather argue his Fatherly Love, than not.
Anſw. 2 And is there any thing in God, that is not a friend to all the Saints? When a man is a friend to another; not only his Purſe is his Friend, his Eſtate is his Friend, his Staff is his Friend; but his Sword is his Friend. So, if God be a Friend to a man, then, not only his Love is his Friend, and his Mercy his Friend; but his Sword is his Friend, his Anger is his Friend. Now, God is a Friend to all the Saints, and therefore his very Anger, and Juſtice, is a Friend too. But,
Anſw. 3 In the third place: What are thoſe viſible Characters of Love, which are engraven upon an Affliction?
Firſt: If Affliction be a bleſſing to one, then it doth come from Love; and if a man can bleſs God under Affliction, then it is a bleſſing to him. Jobs Affliction was a bleſſing to him; Why? Becauſe he bleſſed God under it; The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, bleſſed be his Name, &c.
Secondly: If an Affliction do end in our Love to God; then it comes from Gods Love to us; for our Love is but a reflection of Gods Love, and it doth flow from his; and if I can ſay, I love God never the worſer for this Affliction, then I may ſay, God loves me never the leſſer, notwithſtanding this Affliction.
Thirdly: If an Affliction teacheth the mind of God, then it doth come from Love; As many as he loveth, he chaſtiſeth; And bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſtiſeth, and teacheſt out of thy Law: So that if Affliction, be a teaching Affliction, then it doth come from Love.
Fourthly: If it be laid on in meaſure, and impoſed in due, and ſeaſonable time, ſo as a man may grow thereby; then it doth come from Love. When a man intendeth to kill, and deſtroy a Tree, or to bring it unto the fire, he cuts it at any time, ſo as it ſhal grow no more; but if he cut it in a due time, it argueth that he intendeth it for growth. So when God pruneth, and cuts by Afflictions, in ſuch a time as men may grow in Grace; it argues his Love.
Fifthly: When God is eſpecially preſent in Affliction, and more preſent in an Affliction, than at another time; it argues that the Affliction doth come from Love. Now, whoever you are, that make this Objection, and fear the Affliction doth not come from Love; are you not able to ſay, Thus I find it indeed, though I have been much afflicted, yet through Grace I have b…en able to bleſs the Lord under my Affliction, and to ſay, The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away? &c. I love the Lord never the leſſer for mine Affliction; and the Lord hath taught me much in this mine Affliction; I have gained more by my ſickneſs, than by many a Sermon; yea, and he hath cut me in due time; for if I had not met with ſuch an Affliction at ſuch a time, I did not know what evil I ſhould have fallen into: and this I muſt needs ſay; I have had more of Gods Preſence in my Affliction, than ever I had before. Well then, be of good Comfort, though your Affliction be very grievous, yet it doth come from Love. And thus it is with all the Saints and People of God; and therefore, why ſhould they be diſcouraged, whatever their Affliction be?
Object. 8 But though a Chriſtian have no reaſon to be diſcouraged in regard of his own private Affliction, yet, hath he not reaſon to be diſcouraged, when it goes ill with the Publick? And thus it is now with us; we ſee how it is with this poor Nation, Troubles and Calamities from every Part, therefore I am thus diſcouraged; and have I not cauſe to be caſt down, and to be much diſquieted now?
Anſw. Indeed, this is a ſad thing; and O! that we could weep, day and night, and pray too, for this poor, bleeding Nation. If ever Gods People, here in England, had cauſe to be afflicted, troubled, and humbled, under the hand of the Lord, and to run together in Prayer, ſurely they have reaſon now; yet ſaith the Scripture, Say to the Righteous in evil times, it ſhall go well with him: Did ever any Calamity come down like a ſtorm upon a Kingdom, but God did provide ſome hiding for his own Children? Did he not provide an Ark for Noah in the time of the Flood? and a Mountain for Lot, in the time of the fire of Sodom? The worſt that man can do, is but to kill his neighbor: Death is the worſt that can fall; and what is death, but an in-let to Eternal Life unto the People of God? When the Saints in the Primitive Times, came to bear witneſs by their deaths, unto the Truth of Chriſt, then they ſaid, Now we begin to be Chriſtians indeed, now we begin to be like to Chriſt. There is a Three-fold Death: Spiritual Death in ſin: Eternal Death for ſin: And Temporal Death, which came in by ſin. If God ſpare me from the two former Deaths, the Spiritu…l Death, and Eternal Death, and only inflict the Temporal Death; have I any cauſe to complain? Thus it is with the Saints; though they die Temporally, yet they are free from the Spiritual, and Eternal Death; and what Godly man may not ſay, I could not live long in Nature, and ſhall I now bear witneſs unto the Truth with this little ſpot of time that remains? Chriſt died for us, the Juſt for the Unjuſt; and ſhal not I, that am unjuſt, be willing to die for the juſt? The worſt of all is Death; the worſt of Death, is gain: When my Body is broken, may I not ſay (if Godly) now a poor Pitcher is broken, and ſhall go no more to the Well: now a poor Priſoner, my ſoul, is delivered, and I go home unto my Father. But if you look into Rev. 7. you ſhal …ind, what a glorious iſſue God doth give unto al his People in the times of publick troubles, ver. 9. After this I beheld, and ſo a great multitude, which no man could number, of all Nations, Kindreds, and People, ſtood before the Throne, and before the Lamb cloathed with white Robes, and Palms in their hands. A Robe is a Garment of Majeſty, Palms are an Enſign of Victory; and ſaith he, I ſaw them with Robes and Palm…. The world looks upon my Servants as poor, and of low ſpirits; but ſaith Chriſt, I look upon them as under a royal, Princely Garment, in Robes, and of a Princely ſpirit. And though the world look upon them as diſcomforted, yet ſaith Chriſt here, they ſhal overcome, for they have Palms in their hands: but who are theſe? This Scripture tels, ver. 14. Theſe are they which come out of great Tribulations, and have waſhed their Robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: But why are they in white Robes, and their Robes waſhed? Becauſe by their Tribulations they are waſhed from filth. Affliction is Gods Soap; before a godly man goes into Afflictions, his very Graces are mixed with ſin; his Faith is mixed, and dirtied with Unbelief, and doubtings; his Humility with Pride; his Zeal with Luke-warmneſs: but now, by his Tribulation, his Garments, and Robes are made white, and waſhed, and he ſhall be of a more royal ſpirit, and be cloathed with Robes: But though the Lord make uſe of my Tribulations, thus to waſh; yet I fear that by theſe publick Calamities, I ſhall be driven from Ordinances, the Temple, and Worſhip of God; nay, ſaith he therefore at verſe 15. They are before the Throne of God, and ſerve him day and night in his Temple. But what though we have the Ordinances, if Chriſt be not preſent with them▪ He ads therefore, And he that ſits on the Throne, ſhall dwell amongſt us. But though we have the preſence of Jeſus Chriſt, yet we may ſuffer much with want: true, yet verſe 16. They ſhall hunger no more, neither thirſt any more, neither ſhal the Sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midſt of the Throne, ſhall feed them, and ſhall lead them unto living Fountains of Water. O! but yet we may be brought in the mean while into grievous ſtreits, and be in a ſad, and mournful Condition. True, but there is a time a coming, when all tears ſhall be wiped away from our Eyes; and therefore he ads this at verſe 17. And God ſhall wipe away all tears from their Eyes. How ſhould tears be wiped away hereafter, if they were not ſhed for the preſent? Though then you do fear it now, and ſhed many tears, yet all ſhall be wiped away, and not one left. O! what gracious dealing is here! Thus will Chriſt deal with his People in troubleous times; and therefore though our condition in regard of the Publick, be exceeding ſad, and very grievous, inſomuch as we have all cauſe to mourn, and weep; yet if you be in Chriſt, and have made your Peace with God, you have no reaſon to be caſt down. And thus it is with every godly man; ſurely therefore, a godly, gracious man, hath no reaſon for his diſcouragements, whatever his Affliction be.
Queſt. But what ſhall we do then, that we may not be diſcouraged whatever our Affliction be, whether Publick, or Private, National, or Perſonal? A good man indeed hath no reaſon to be diſcouraged under his Affliction, but it is a hard thing to bear up againſt all diſcouragements under great Affliction; what ſhall we do in this caſe?
Anſw. 1 Firſt: Either you have Aſſurance of Gods Love in Chriſt, or not; if not, this Affliction ſhal be a Meſſenger to bring it to you: So look upon your Affliction; and if you have Aſſurance, then actuate your Aſſurance, reflect much on your Intereſt in, and your Peace with God, through Chriſt; put your ſelves often upon this Disjunction, Either there is enough in God alone, or not; If there be not enough in God alone, how can the Saints, and Angels live in Heaven, who have no Meat, Drink, nor Cloaths there, but God alone? And if there be enough in God alone, why ſhould I not be contented with my Condition, and comforted under it, whatever it be? What though man hate me, if Chriſt love me? O! labor more and more to ſee your Intereſt in Chriſt, and ever hold it to your Eye.
Anſw. 2 Secondly: If you would not be diſcouraged under your Afflictions, remember much your fellowſhip with Chriſt in his Sufferings; thus: Now by theſe my Sufferings, have I fellowſhip with Chriſt, in all his Sufferings; and therefore as Chriſt died, and did riſe again; ſo though my Name dieth, Eſtate dieth, Body dieth, and all my Comforts die, yet they ſhall riſe again. The Apoſtle argueth, and proves, That the Romans ſhould die no more in their ſins, Becauſe Chriſt being riſen from the dead, died no more; and therefore, ſaith he, though you fall into ſins, yet you ſhal die no more, becauſe you are riſen with Chriſt. So ſay I; though your Afflictions be great, and ſeem to ſwallow up all your Comforts; yet your Comforts ſhall not be buried in them; for if Godly, you are riſen with Chriſt, and have fellowſhip with him, and ſo die no more: When therefore Affliction comes, rejoyce in that you are made partakers of his Sufferings; and ſay, Rejoyce not over me, O mine Enemy; for though I fall, yet I ſhal riſe again, for by my Sufferings, I have fellowſhip with Chriſt in his Sufferings, and ſo in his Reſurrection, Comforts, and Glories.
Anſw. 3 Thirdly: If you would not be diſcouraged under your Afflictions, Labor more and more to be ſtrangers to the world; and to be acquainted with the waies of God under Affliction. The Dog doth not bite, or tear, or hurt thoſe that dwell in the Houſe; if a ſtranger comes, he flies upon him, and tears him, becauſe he is not acquainted with him: And what reaſon is there that mens Afflictions fly upon them, and tear them ſo much as they do, but becauſe they are ſtrangers to, and know not the way of God under them; Labor therefore to live by Faith above the World, to be a ſtranger to the world, and be more acquainted with the way of Affliction.
Anſw. 4 Fourthly: Conſider what Chriſt hath born, and left you to bear: There are but two things to bear; Sin, and Sufferings. Chriſt hath born all your ſins, wil not ye bear his Sufferings? He hath born and carried the heavy end of the ſtaff: you have not one ſin to bear, and will you not then bear the Sufferings?
Anſw. 5 Fiftly: Conſider alſo, and that frequently and ſeriouſly, what abundance of good, you, and others get, or may get by your Afflictions; God by Afflictions, lets out nothing but corrupt blood. Be of good comfort man (ſaid one now in Heaven, to another complaining under his Afflictions) Chriſt wil do thee no hurt in the latter end. God never whips his Children, but for their good, and doth teach both them, and others by them. I was converted (ſaid one, telling the ſtory of his Converſion) by ſeeing a man executed; for thought I, if a man be thus puniſhed with death for breaking one of the Laws of men, what do I then deſerve, who have broken all the Laws of God? Affliction ſomtimes teacheth the by-ſtander much; but eſpecially it is teaching to your ſelf, thereby you ſee and read the fulneſs of God, the emptineſs of the Creature, and the vileneſs of ſin; it recals ſin paſt, and prevents ſin to come; it quickens prayer, and enlarges thankfulneſs; and it may be thou mayeſt owe thy Converſion to ſome Affliction, as a means thereof; and if ſo much good do come by it, will you be diſcouraged under it? Think, and think much of the good thereof.
Anſw. 6 Sixtly: Whenever any Affliction comes, do not ſtand poring on the evil of it, but be ſure that you look as wel, and as much upon what is with you, as upon what is againſt you: there is no mercy which you can loſe, but hath ſome burden with it: there is no miſery that can befal you, but hath ſome mercy with it. When men loſe a mercy, they only conſider the ſweetneſs of a mercy loſt, and not the burden that they do loſe withal. O! ſaith a poor woman, I have loſt my Husband, ſo loving, ſo gracious, ſo helpful; but not a word of the burden that is gone withal, and ſo there is much diſcouragement. When Affliction comes, men only conſider the evil, and not the mercy that doth come withal, and ſo they are much dejected. Suppoſe that a loving Father in ſome high room, throw down a bag of Gold to his Child, and it lights on the Childs head, inſomuch as it breaketh his head, and cauſeth blood to come; whilſt the Child feels the ſmart thereof, he is impatient, and froward; while he looks only upon the Leathern bag, he is not thankful; but when he looks into the bag, and ſees what a great deal of gold his Father hath given him, then he ſpeaks well of his Father, notwitſtanding all the ſmart of his head. There is never an Affliction, but is a bag of Gold given unto the People of God; though it ſeem a Leathern Bag without, yet there is Gold within: ſo long as they ſtand poring upon the Leathern Bag, or attend unto the ſmart of their Affliction, they are not thankful, they do not praiſe the Lord, but are much diſcouraged; but if they would look into the Bag, and tel their Gold, then they would have Comfort, and not be diſcouraged. I tell you from the Lord, there is Gold within; look into this Bag, the Bag of Affliction, tell over all your Gold which the Lord hath given you in this Affliction, and then you will be quiet. If a mercy be taken from you, Conſider the burden that is taken away too. If a miſery come, Conſider the mercy that doth come withal, labor ever, labor to ſee both together, as well what is for you, as what is againſt you; then will you never be much diſcouraged, although your Affliction be never ſo great.
And thus I have done with the Seventh Inſtance.