Counsel to the Afflicted, Question 2 · Section 15
SECT. 15.
15. If it ſhould not ſeem good unto the Lord to make up your loſſes, by giving you as much riches as he hath taken from you: there is a better way of having your loſſes made up; and that is, when God ſhall make his Providence inſtrumental to convey thoſe mercies and bleſſings to your ſouls, which are of more worth than all the riches of the world; and this may be done ſeveral wayes: As
1. If God by this Providence ſhall teach you wiſdom, that wiſdom which is from above, and bring you into more acquaintance with himſelf, and into more acquaintance with the ſtate and condition of your own ſouls; if you gain any degree of heavenly wiſdom by your loſſes, then your loſſes though they have been very great are abundantly made up; for wiſdom is far better than all the riches of the world, Prov. 16.16. How much better is it to get wiſdom than gold? and to get underſtanding, rather to be choſen than ſilver? Prov. 8.11. Wiſdom is better than Rubies; and all the things that may be deſired, are not to be compared to it. Prov. 3.14.
2. If God by your loſſes ſhall make you partakers of the fruits and graces of his Spirit, if he beget or encreaſe in your ſouls humility, or heavenly mindedneſs, or ſelf-denyal, or patience, or any other grace, then he doth abundantly make up all your loſſes; for the fruits and graces of the Spirit of God, are infinitely better than all the riches of the world, Prov. 8.19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice ſilver: you may ſee this cleared by inſtancing in particular graces; as Faith, 1 Pet. 1.7.—Your faith being much more precious than gold that periſheth. Humility, that alſo excels all riches, Prov. 16.19. Better it is to be of an humble ſpirit with the lowly, than to divide the ſpoil with the proud; the like may be ſaid of all other graces.
3. If God under this affliction ſhall clear up your right to his Promiſes; if he give you an heart to underſtand, believe, obey, and delight in his Word; if he gives in Promiſes to your ſouls out of his Word, to ſtay, and comfort, and ſupport you, then he doth make up all your loſſes in a gracious manner. When God gave in a ſutable promiſe to David in his diſtreſs, he joyed in it as much as in all riches, Pſal. 119.162. I rejoyced at thy Word as one that findeth great ſpoyl. He eſteemed that acquaintance that he got with Gods Word in his afflictions, more than thouſands of gold and ſilver, Pſal. 119.71,72. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me, than thouſands of Gold and Silver. Pſal. 19.9,10. The Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether, more to be deſired are they than Gold; yea, than much fine Gold.
4. If God ſtir you up to ſeek after, and make ſure of himſelf for your portion; now you have loſt the portion you had in this world, if you get God for your portion, your loſſes will be abundantly made up in God. When David was robbed and ſpoiled of his goods, he ſaith, God dealt well with him; and why, he gave him himſelf for his portion: Pſal. 119.61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me; yet he adds, Ver. 65. Thou haſt dealt well with thy ſervant; and what made him ſay, God dealt well with him, when he was ſpoiled of all that he had? you may ſee the ground was, he had God for his portion, Ver. 57. Thou art my portion, O Lord.
5. If God ſhall give you Communion with himſelf, if he ſhall be pleaſed to lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you his bleſſed and gracious preſence in his affliction, he gives you that which is better than all this world, Pſal. 73.25. There is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee. Pſal. 4.6,7. There be many that ſay, Who will ſhew us any good? Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us; thou haſt put gladneſs in my heart, more than in the time that their Corn and Wine encreaſed. The loweſt condition in this world, with the enjoyment of God, is better than the higheſt and beſt eſtate without God, Pſal. 84.10. A day in thy Courts is better than a thouſand; I had rather be a door-keeper in the Houſe of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedneſs. The Wilderneſs is an uncomfortable place; Canaan was a Land flowing with milk and honey, yet Moſes Chuſeth to abide in the Wilderneſs with Gods preſence, rather than to go into Canaan without the preſence of God, Exod. 33.15. If thy preſence go not with me, carry us not up hence.