The Remains of John Corbet, Text 2
JOHN XVI. 33. In the world ye ſhall have tribulation.
THEY who have peace in Chriſt, are liable to, and muſt look for tribulation or preſſing affliction in the world. They muſt look for all manner of temptations and trials of affliction, in mind, in body, in eſtate, in relations, in reputation, in their worldly affairs, in all things belonging to them. 1 Pet. 1.6. James 1.2.
1. The ſtate of the world is difficult and troubleſome. Eccleſ. 1.8. All things are full of labour; and the faithful in this World have their ſhare in the common condition of mankind. Eccleſ. 9 2. All things come alike to all.
2. God doth exerciſe a corrective diſcipline over the godly in this world, as he did over Iſrael in the wilderneſs. Deut 8.5. Thou ſhalt conſider in thine heart, that as a man chaſteneth his ſon, ſo the Lord thy God chaſteneth thee. The godly are here in an imperfect ſtate, and are therein probationers for a perfect ſtate in another world; and God deals with them accordingly, to train them up for that future ſtate by preſent trouble.
3. The faithful are liable to perſecution from the hatred of the world, which is adverſe to Chriſt, and to them upon his account. John 15.19. In the primitive and ancient times of the Church, Chriſtians ſuffered from the Pagan world. In after-times the followers of the Lamb ſuffered from the Antichriſtian Power. And at all times ſincere Chriſtians ſuffer from thoſe that have a form of godlineſs, but deny the power thereof.
4. The Devils hatred is great againſt thoſe whom Chriſt hath reſcued out of his power, and he will do them all the ſpight he can, as far as God will ſuffer him; as we ſee in Job's caſe. He ſtirs up the malignant world againſt the true Church; he raiſeth prejudice againſt them, and makes them odious by ſlanders, and fills his inſtruments with rage; yea, by his ſtratagems he doth too often ſet the Church againſt it ſelf; and makes one party of ſincere Chriſtians to perſecute another.
This is a brief account of the troubles of the faithful in the world. All this is done under the holy and wiſe government of God. He is the Supreme diſpoſer of all the miſchief that is done, and all the miſeries that are undergone in the world. The malice of men and devils, and the manifold temptations of the godly, he doth over-rule and diſpoſe to his holy ends.
Gods Attributes are much glorified in this ſtate of things. His Holineſs and Juſtice are exerciſed, and made manifeſt in the ſufferings of the godly, in that tho he hath accepted them in Chriſt, yet he will declare his diſpleaſure againſt their ſin, by making them feel ſome ſmart ſufferings. His power and mercy is likewiſe exerciſed in ſupporting them under ſufferings, and in delivering them out of ſufferings. His Wiſdom and Faithfulneſs is exerciſed in proportioning their ſufferings to their ſtrength, ſo that they may be able to bear, and by bearing overcome. So that his people may be ſure of that which was Pauls comfort, 2 Tim. 4.18. The Lord ſhall deliver me from every evil work; and will preſerve me to his heavenly kingdom.
As Gods Attributes are glorified, ſo the good of the faithful is much promoted in this ſtate of things. For their ſufferings are corrections to humble them, trials to prove them, exerciſes to prepare them for the glory that ſhall follow, and preſervatives to keep them to it.
The uſe to be made hereof, is for the patience and comfort of believers during their abode in this world. This is needful, as it is ſaid, Ye have need of patience, Heb. 10.36. And for this end God hath provided a rich treaſure of comfort for them in his word, as it is written Rom. 15.4. That ye through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Here I have ſeveral heads of Conſolation to propound, and to ſhew how they may be improved.
The firſt is, That tribulation in the world is well conſiſtent with peace in Chriſt, according to his words, That in me ye might have peace; in the world ye ſhall have tribulation. Yea, it furthers this peace; for it drives us under the wing of Chriſt, and makes us to abide under it.
Yea, the Worlds enmity will follow Chriſts peace; perſecution is affixed to Chriſts followers, 2 Tim. 3.12.
The certainty and inevitability of perſecution, doth more eſpecially reſpect times and places, wherein the Devil reigns by falſe Religion, as in the Pagan and Antichriſtian idolatry: to which may be added the Mahometan infidelity. Yet where true Religion is eſtabliſhed in the external form, ſincere worſhippers are liable to be perſecuted by formal worſhippers, as in thoſe times of the Jewiſh Church, wherein the true prophets were ſlain for their teſtimony by a wicked prevailing power, Matt. 23.37. Gal. 4.29.
L…t this be improved, that upon this account trouble in the world may be the leſs grievous. Set a due value upon peace in Chriſt, and you will ſet leſs by trouble in the world. Indeed if you live in the enjoyment of that peace, you will quietly bear the worlds trouble. The ſoul that is lodged in Chriſts peace, is in a ſtrong hold, or incompaſſed with a ſtrong guard, and kept ſafe and ſute againſt all aſſaults, Phil. 4.7.
Secure your ſelves in this peace, by conſidering what it is. It is a peace that paſſeth all underſtanding; that is, the worth of it is incomprehenſible; for the benefits whence it flows, paſs all underſtanding. There is included in it pardon of ſin, deliverance from the wrath to come, the favour and friendſhip of God, and fellowſhip with him, and an unchangeable good eſtate, a Kingdom that cannot be ſhaken, and everlaſting conſolation. This is enough to quiet the mind, and ſtabliſh the heart, as it is written 2 Theſ. 2.16. Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father, who hath loved us, and given us everlaſting conſolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and ſtabliſh you in every good word and work You ſee what is included in Chriſts peace; O…rize it according to the worth of it, and ſecure your ſelves in it as in a ſtrong hold; by delightful meditation.
Solace your ſelves in this peace, as in a kind of Paradice; For it is that Paradice which God lets his people into upon earth; and it is ſome foretaſte and pledg of the Celeſtial Paradice.
The Worlds trouble cannot drive you out of this ſtrong hold, out of this Garden of God; but it is well conſiſtent with it. Paul ſets forth this inward peace in outward trouble, 2 Cor. 4 8. We are troubled on every ſide, yet not diſtreſſed; we are perplexed, but not in deſpair; perſecuted, but not forſaken; caſt down, but not deſtroyed.
The ſecond head of conſolation is, that there remaineth a reſt to the people of God, Heb. 4.9. a perfect and everlaſting reſt.
This God will bring his ſuffering-people to in his righteouſneſs and great faithfulneſs. 2 Theſ. 1.6, 7. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you: and to you that are troubled, reſt with us, when the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven.
This Reſt is in your Fathers Houſe, in the Heavenly Manſions, in the Regions of perfect light and joy, the habitation of Angels and bleſſed Spirits, and the reſidence of the Divine Glory; where ſin and temptation cannot enter, where all danger and fears, all ſuffering and ſorrow are ſhut out for ever. Where there is no variableneſs nor ſhadow of turning in the Saints felicity, becauſe they are before the throne of God, and ſee his face. And they ſhall perfectly know, love, and enjoy God their Father, and J ſus their glorified Saviour; and they ſhall dwell for ever at the Fountain of Life, and Light, and Joy. Hallelujahs and triumphant praiſes ſhall be their conſtant employment, with ſuch other Services or Miniſteries as are proper to the Heavenly ſtate.
Let this be improved. By the eye of Faith look to this everlaſting Peace and Joy, and ſet you hearts upon it, and then you will be above the tribulation of this world.
Do this in imitation of your bleſſed Redeemer, of whom it is ſaid, Heb. 12 2. that for the joy that was ſet before him, he endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is ſet down at the right hand of the throne of God. For the joy that was ſet before him. Look unto this future joy by a lively act of faith, as it is the evidence of things not ſeen; and as Moſes choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, becauſe he had reſpect to the recompence of reward; ſo let us do; and conſider with Paul how this light affliction, that is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.17.
Wherefore ſtir up your faith in the promiſes of Chriſt, that it may act in a lively manner. A lively faith hath a reaching ſight, it can ſee into the third Heaven. And the more you fix upon this object, the clearer ſight you will have of it. A fixed meditation on the heavenly glory, ſtrengthens the eye of faith. While we look at the things which are not ſeen, 2 Cor. 4.18. The word imports, As Shooters look at the mark with a fixed earneſtneſs.
As we ſhould look to this bleſſed and everlaſting reſt, by the eve of faith, ſo we ſhould labour to enſure our right and t…tle to it; to have ſuch good evidence for it, as will not fail; and to have it as clear as it can be had.
This aſſurance will ſet our hearts at reſt in all the ſhakings of this world; and we ſhall thereby be quiet from the fear of evil, and ſhall have patience in the greateſt trials. This will ſet us above the tormenting fear of death, and free us from that bondage. Being aſſured of that bleſſed ſtate to come, we may welcome death in its approaches. And in caſe we be above the ſlaviſh fear of death, what can we not bear? For we know the time is but ſhort, and we are waiting for the end. Then bodily ſickneſs and pains will ſignifie to us our approaching bleſſedneſs; then bloody perſecutions and fiery trials do but call us up from earth to heaven; then poverty and nakedneſs, bonds and impriſonments, baniſhments, and all kinds of diſtreſſes and dangers, tell us we are thereby haſtening to our final ſtate, and the nearer it comes, the more we may rejoice, as knowing that we are the nearer to our ſalvation.
The third Head of Conſolation follows, viz. That the tribulation to which believers are liable, is but in the world; it is confined to this world, and terminated in this life.
Should we think it hard to ſuffer in ſuch a world as this? In a world, all the glory whereof is but as graſs, and the flower of the field, and as a ſcene or ſhew that paſſeth away, and all the ſtate of it is at the beſt but vanity and vexation of ſpirit. In a world, which lies in wickedneſs, which for the greater part of it is led by the wiſdom that is earthly, ſenſual, and devilliſh; which in reſpect of the malignity prevailing in it, is as the ſuburbs of Hell; and in which ſo many men are as Devils one to another. In a world, which God hath appointed for a purgatory to the beſt of men that are in it; and to whom at the beſt it is but a ſtate of trial to humble them, and to prove them, that they may be fitted for a better world. In a world, wherein the children of God are maligned and ſcorned, wherein they, of whom the world was not worthy, were deſtitute, afflicted, and tormented; and wherein the Prince of Life, and Lord of Glory himſelf was crucified. In a world, where n hypocrites and falſe Chriſtians reproach the Name of Chriſt by their unchriſtian converſation; and open the mouth… of his profeſſed enemies to blaſpheme him; and wherein ſincere Chriſtians through weakneſs of grace, and ſtrength of corruption, and by yeilding to temptation, too often grieve the Holy Spirit, and diſhonour the Name of God, and lay a ſtumbling-block before others. Should we think it hard uſage to have a ſhare of ſufferings appointed us in ſuch a world as this?
Let this be improved. Conſider we what is the true ſtate of this vain and evil world, that we may comfort our ſelves in that we do not receive our good things in it, but undergo hardſhips, and ſo have the lot of Lazarus, and not of Dives, to whom it was ſaid, Luke 16 25. Remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, and Lazarus evil things: now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Let it comfort us, I ſay, that God hath not given us our portion of good in ſuch a wretched world, but hath reſerved it for us in a better; and that here amidſt our ſorrows, he hath given us the firſt fruits of happineſs.
Let it be conſidered, That if tribulation were not moſt expedient in this preſent world, he that is infinitely powerful, wiſe and good, would not appoint it for his dear children. If the preſent ſtate of things, and the condition of this world, did not require it as beſt, all things conſidered, it would not be.
Therefore concerning this appointment, look not to your own thoughts, but conſider as the heaven is high above the Earth, ſo is Gods thoughts herein above your thoughts, and his ways above your ways. Iſa. 55.9. His underſtanding is infinite, and his mercy hath no end; and his faithfulneſs reacheth beyond our comprehenſion.
Be comforted that in this dark World you are in his hand, who wiſhes better to you than you to your ſelves, and who knows better how to diſpoſe of you, than your ſelves do. Tho we are now in darkneſs, He will bring us forth to the light; and we ſhall behold his righteouſneſs. Mic. 7.9. We are under afflictive providences, but in a dark and diſmal World; light of perfect joy is reſerved for us in the regions of light.
End of the text · John Corbet, The Remains of John Corbet (1684)