The Burning of London, Part 4 · Discourse 3
DISCOURSE III. Of the Leſſons of an afflicted eſtate well learnt, their making way for proſperity to inſue.
THe beſt waie to gaine, or regaine proſperitie, is to learne apace in the ſchoole of Adverſitie. Affliction is a teaching thing, for we read of Chriſt himſelfe that he did learne obedience by the things he ſuffered, Heb. 5.8. As the Law is ſaid to be a School-maſter to bring us to Chriſt, ſo is miſery a School-maſter to bring us to happineſs, in caſe we give our ſelves to be taught by it. As parents will keep their children at ſchoole no longer when once they are fit for the Univerſitie, but ſend them thither; ſo will God tranſlate his people to the Academy of a more pleaſing condition, when they are dulie ripened and prepared for it by the ſchoole of adverſitie; witneſſe theſe words of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 94.12.13. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy Law, that thou mayeſt give him rest from the dayes of Adverſity. Affliction is Gods plow, with which he breaketh up the fallow ground of mens hearts, and when that is done, he is moſt ready to ſow the ſeedes of peace and comfort, as it is written, light is ſowne for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Now ſowing preſuppoſeth plowing, nor would the husbandman doe the former viz. to plow, but that he intends the latter, viz. to caſt in his ſeed, and would thereby prepare for it. Now there are ſeveral Leſſons which God doth or would teach men by his ſpeaking rod in affliction, if men doe o… would hear the voice of that rod, and him that hath appointed it. Firſt, God by affliction would teach men to praie. Is any man afflicted, let him praie, Ja. 5. Affliction quickens men unto praier. As Abſolom fetcht Joab to him by ſetting his corne on fire: in their affliction they will ſeek me earlie, ſaith God; yea and it alſo quickens men in praier, Chriſt in his Agonie prayed yet more ferventlie. Chriſt offered up prayers with ſtrong crying and tears to him that was able to ſave him from death: intimating that the approach of death did help to quicken him, Heb. 5.7. It is a Proverb, he that cannot pray, ſend him to Sea, affliction is a dangerous Sea, and God ſends many men thither, that they may learne how to pray. A… Paul was ſtruck down to the earth, and terrifyed with a voice from heaven we quicklie hear of him▪ Behold he prayeth! Acts 16.11. ſo he had wont to doe in former times, for that he was a Phariſee, but now he ſo prayed and to ſo good purpoſe as he never did before. And is not prayer (ſuch as it may be) a good means to get on of affliction? is it not ſaid, call upon me in the day of affliction, and I will deliver thee? Pſal. 50.15. and in Pſal. 107.17.19. We read, Fools becauſe of their Tranſgreſſions are afflicted, then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, he ſaveth them out of their Distreſſes, alſo verſe 13. If our affliction do not cauſe us to reſtraine prayer from the Almighty (like him that ſaid, this evill is of the Lord, why ſhould I wait on him any longer?) our prayers will prevaile with God, to reſtraine affliction in his due time and manner. Secondly, Another Leſſon which affliction teacheth us (or rather God by it) is to walk humbly, and to be humble, I am ſure is the ready way to be exalted, In Deut. 8.2. We read how God lead the Iſraelites 40. years in the wilderneſs to humble them, implying that a wilderneſs condition, tends to humble men. Earthly good things are the fuel of prides and the refore pride of life is ſpoken of as if it were a third part of all the things that are in the world, 1 John 2.16. All that is in the world is, the luſt of the fleſh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, that is fuel to theſe; now when the fuel is abated, it may be expected that the fire will ſlake. And will not humility make way for our Deliverance? Surely it will, witneſſe that promiſe, Lev. 26.41, 42. If then their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled, then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember the land. If God humble us, he wil doe us good in our latter end, Deut. 8.2. See the promiſe James 4.10. humble your ſelves in the fight of the Lord, and he ſhall lift you up. Doth not God by his Prophet tell us, Iſa. 57.15. That he dwelleth with the humble, & contrite, to revive them? Thus you ſee affliction doth as it were, prepare Antidotes to expell its ſelf; as ſome of our beſt Antidotes, for expulſion of poyſon, are taken from the bodies of poyſonous creatures; as Serpents, Vipers. And affliction ſanctified, works humility, and humility exerciſed, works out affliction. Thirdly, A third Leſſon, which God by affliction, teacheth man is to be patient, and to ſubmit to his div… will. And this alſo will be found an excellent means to remove affliction, and recover proſperity in due time. We read Rom. 5.3. How that Tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience that hope which maketh not aſhamed. Now that which produceth an unſlattering hope, doth ſurely contribute to deliverance, both as it is a kind of cauſe, in which hope foreſeeth ſuch an iſſue as deliverance is, as alſo, for that hope is as it were deliverance anticipated, for we are ſaved by hope, ſaith the text, Rom. 8.24. But more plainly, James 5.11. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, ſaith he, and have ſeen the end of the Lord. Job was patient, and God afterwards gave him double in lieu of what he had taken from him, it is good that a man ſhould quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord, Jam. 3.26. and verſe 25. The Lord is good to them that wait for him. God ſometimes hath all his end in afflicting, when he hath but made us humbly to ſtoop and ſubmit, Levit. 26.41. If then they ſhall accept the puniſhment of their iniquity, that is, if they did patiently bear the indignation of the Lord, as having ſinned againſt him, and ſubmit to the rod, then God promiſeth that he would remember their land, &c. it is Gods manner to withdraw afflictions, when he hath once accompliſhed the end for which he ſent them. Eſa. 10.12. God ſaith, that when he had performed his whole work upon Mount Zion and Jeruſalem, then would he puniſh the fruit of the ſtout heart of the King of Aſſyria, who was their oppreſſor. If then the deſign of God in afflicting, be only to make us ſubmit to his will (as ſometimes it is) when we have learnt to do that (like Abraham that was become willing to ſacrifice his Iſaac, which was all God intended to put him to) then is deliverance in one kind or other not far off. God doth not intend to make ſome men always poor, and deſpicable, though they are ſo for the preſent, but yet the copy of his countenance towards them, is as if he meant they ſhould always be in adverſity, whereas all he ſtands upon, is to make them contented ſo to be, if ſuch be his will concerning them; and when they have quietly laid themſelves down at Gods feet, bound their Iſaac to the altar with a true intent to ſacrifice him to the good pleaſure of God, and ſtretch forth their hand to do it, then comes as it were a voice from heaven ſaying, let it alone, it is enough that thou haſt done already; Behold I will accept a Ram for a burnt offering, inſtead of thy ſon, as God dealt with Abraham, Gen. 22.13. God doth many things but to try us and make us believe he will take all from us (when he means onelyonly to wean us from all) that he may ſay of us, as of Abraham, Gen. 22.12. Now I know thou feareſt God, for thou haſt not withheld thy Son, thy onelyonly Son from me. To be content always, to be in trouble, if God will have it ſo, is the way to come out, is one good way to eſcape. Fourthly, Affliction teacheth us to live under an awful ſenſe of God. It is a Schoole of fear as to God, Pſal. 119.120. My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements, (ſaith David to God.) If God appear as a conſuming fire, one maine uſe we are to make of it is, to ſerve him with Godly fear; Heb. 12. Now it is evident, that a due fear of God doth make way for Deliverance out of trouble: When God ſaw that Abraham was ſo fearful to offend him, that he durſt not withhold his ſon Iſaac whom God had commanded him to ſacrifice with his own hands, he gave him Iſaac again, and accepted a Ram in his ſtead, Gen. 22.12. When God had brought Manaſſeh to know that the Lord was God, that is, to fear and reverence God as became him, and to humble himſelf before him, then ſaith the text, the Lord heard his ſupplication and brought him again to Jeruſalem, into his Kingdome, 2 Chron. 33.13. Fifthly, Affliction is a Schoole of obedience and circumſpect walking, Eph. 5.15, 16. See then that yee walk circumſpectly, becauſe the dayes are evil. Thoſe that walke in the dark take more than ordinary care leſt they ſtumble, and fall, new dayes of evill or affliction, are called dayes of darkneſſe. Proſperity hath hardly more Temptations on one hand; than great affliction hath on the other hand: hence Agur deprecates poverty, Prov. 30.9. Leſt I be poor and Steale, and take the name of the Lord in vaine. The Apoſtle was afraid leſt the inceſtuous Corinthian, if not timely comforted, might be ſwallowed up of two much ſorrow, 2. Cor. 2.7. and leſt Sathan ſhould get an advantage againſt him, verſe 11. affliction is a tempeſt, and therefore we muſt do like Pilots, who ſteer with greateſt circumſpection in a ſtorm, the hard froſt of adverſity, though it be apt to kill certain weeds, as pride, ſecurity, and ſuch like? yet if care be not taken, it may alſo nip many hopefull bloſſomes (as unſeaſonable froſts uſe to do.) If ſuch eminent worthyes as Elijah, Job, Jonas, Jeremy, were between whiles worſe for thoſe afflictions, which ſhould have made them better, (as we know they were) we had need look to our ſelves, and walk circumſpectly at ſuch a time. Now that our ſo doing will make way for our deliverance. David tels us, Pſal. 50.23. To him that ordereth his converſation aright, will I ſhew the Salvation of God. And the Prophet, Iſa. 59.20. The Redeemer ſhall come to Zion, and unto them that turne from tranſgreſſions in Jacob. Sixthly, Another Leſſon which affliction teacheth men, is to redeem time, Eph. 5.16. Redeeming the time becauſe the dayes are evill. Young Scholars are not more ordinarily whipt for any thing, than for loſing their time, and in order to making them ſpend their time better. We have never leſſe time to loſe than when the rod of the Almighty is upon our backs. Affliction makes work whereſoever it comes (as Sickneſſe in a Family uſeth to do) and time is then moſt precious, when we have moſt work upon our hands, when we have moſt to do; yea it alſo indiſpoſeth for work, and when the iron is blunt, we had need put to the more ſtreng. Travellers make the beſt of their time in the depth of winter, and will hardly draw bit till night, becauſe the ſhortneſſe of the dayes, and badneſſe both of the wayes and weather are great hindrances. When we look for the greateſt impediments, we had need take the moſt time before us, neither is the Redeeming of time more a duty in Affliction, than a direct means to get out of it. Take one inſtance for all in Paul and Silas, who being in priſon, were redeeming their midnight time from reſt and ſleepe, for ſinging and praiſing of God, Acts 16. And the next news we have of them is, they were both miraculouſly ſet at liberty. Laſtly, Affliction is a Schoole of Faith and Affiance in God. David, ſaith Pſal. 63.3. At what time he was afraid he would put his truſt in God, and when he was overwhelmed, he would fly to the rock that was higher than he, meaning to God; and upon the wing of faith. And it is ſaid that ſhe who is a widdow indeed truſteth in God, and why ſhe that is a widdow, rather than ſhe who is a wife, but becauſe the condition of a widdow, is ordinarily more afflicted and diſconſolate: Moreover Afflictions are called the tryal of our Faith. All which paſſages prove that affliction is a Schoole of Faith as well as of patience. Now withall it is famouſly known, that the exerciſe of Faith, and dependance upon God, is a notable expedient for the removal of Affliction. What miracles of Deliverance are attributed to Faith, Heb. 11.33. By Faith they ſtopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, eſcaped the edge of the ſword, turned to flight the armies of the aliens: and paſſed the…ed Sea, as upon dry land; which the Egyptians eſſaying to doe were drown'd, ver. 29. And if you will have it from the mouths of two witneſſes, let that of the Pſalmiſt be added Pſal. 22.4. Our fathers truſted in thee, and thou didſt deliver them, they truſted in thee and were not confounded. Thus have I mentioned ſeven doors belonging to the valley of Acor (which ſignifies trouble) or ſo many wayes of eſcape out of Affliction, which are alſo dutyes in and under it. I ſee then in this caſe there are two gaps may be ſtopt with one hedge (a man may una fideliâ duos dealbare parietes) there are two intentions may be anſwered with one and the ſame medicine; two queſtions may be equally ſatisfied with one and the ſame anſwer; namely theſe two, how ought I to carry my ſelfe under Affliction? and what courſe ſhould I take to get out of Affliction? He that ſtudieth the latter onelyonly, ſhall be able to do neither, he that minds the former well, ſhall doe both under one. He that conſiders onelyonly how to get out of Affliction, troubles himſelfe with Gods work, and neglects his own, and neither can he himſelfe do what he aimes at, nor juſtly expect that God ſhould doe it for him. But he that makes it his onelyonly buſineſſe to carry himſelfe under Affliction, as he ought; doth what he can, and intereſſeth God to do that which himſelf cannot doe, let us doe out part, and God will not faile to doe his, and ſo both will be done.
We need not trouble our ſelves, about getting into another form, let us but out-learn others that are in the ſame form (viz. of Affliction) with us, or at leaſt-wiſe keep pace with the beſt of them, and our maſter which is in heaven, will take care of our tranſlation into another forme, that is more to be deſired, when we ſhall be fit for it. I find God very angry with thoſe Jews that would think of nothing but comming out of captivity, ſo ſoon almoſt as they were gone into it, and would hearken to any lying Prophets that would ſooth them up with ſuch pleaſing ſtories; whereas their duty was to bring their ſpirits to be content with a captivity of ſeventy years long, to learne the law of ſuch a condition as that, and to comply with it, ſee Jer. 27.8. And it ſhall come to paſs that the Nation and Kingdom, which will not put their neck under the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, that Nation will I puniſh with the Sword, and Famine, and Peſtilence, till I have conſum'd them by his hand. And verſe 17. Hearken not to them (namely who ſaid, that the veſſel… of the Lords houſe ſhould ſhortly be brought again from Rabylon. verſe 16. for they propheſie a lye to you) ſerve the King of Babylon and live, as if he had ſaid, Buckle your ſelves to the duty of your captive eſtate, patiently beare the yoke which God hath put about your necks, and it ſhall be better for you both at the preſent, and for the future. Apprentices that caſt off the yoke before they have ſerved out their time, doe many of them never come to be free-men, whilſt they live. Hananiah his diverting the Jewes, from the duties incumbent upon them as deſigned for a long captivity, by telling them that within two years, God would bring again the captives of Judah, Jer. 28.4. I ſay his ſo doing coſt him his life, verſe 16. Thus ſaith the Lord, this year thou ſhalt dye, &c. I cannot but obſerve how God commanded the Jews to provide for a laſting captivity. Jer. 28.4. Thus ſaith the Lord, to thoſe whom I have cauſed to be carryed away from Jeruſalem to Babylon, build yee houſes and dwell in them, and plant Gardens and eat the fruit of them: Take ye wives and beget ſons and daughters. And ſeek the peace of the City whether I have cauſed you to be carryed captives, and pray to the Lord for it, &c. As if he had ſaid, expect not to come out from thence ſuddenly, but make the beſt of that condition I have allotted for you, and carry your ſelves under it as becomes you, be ſatisfied and content with it, and quietly wait till my time ſhall come, even the ſet time for your Deliverance. I can do no leſſe than turn the advice, I have given to my ſelfe and others, into ſuch petitions as follow; Lord thou haſt greatly Afflicted us, teach us thereby ſo to call upon thee, in this day of our trouble, that thou mayſt in due time deliver us. Humble us under thy mighty hand, that thou mayeſt lift us up, give us ſo to ſubmit to thee, and accept our puniſhment, that thou mayſt remember our land. Give us ſuch patience as thou gaveſt to thy ſervant Job, that thou mayſt make ſuch an iſſue for us, as thou didſt for him. Cauſe us to fear thy great name, that when we pour out our cryes to thee, who canſt deliver from death, as Chriſt did in the dayes of his fleſh; we may be heard as he was, in that he feared. Cauſe us to order our converſations aright, that thou mayeſt ſhew us thy Salvation. Give us to redeem time in an evil day, as Paul and Silas did, that thou by thine outſtretched arm, mayſt reſcue us as thou didſt them, knocking off the chaines and fetters of our preſent troubles: And above all things cauſe us to abound in faith, as our fathers truſted in thee, and were delivered; they truſted in thee, and were not confounded. We deſire to ſay with the three children, The God whom we ſerve is able to deliver us, even out of a fiery furnace which hath been prepared for us; but whither he will or no, we will truſt in him; Whilſt thou chaſteneſt us, O teach us out of thy Law, and we ſhall not need to doubt but thou at length wilt give us reſt from the daies of adverſity.