A Covert from the Storm, Doctrine 6
The Sixth Doctrine.
The tribulation of Believers will not laſt alwayes, after ten dayes, that is, a ſhort time, a period will be put to it.
Ye ſhall have tribulation ten dayes. The Holy Ghoſt reckons by dayes, not years, and according to the uſual manner, in Scripture, a certain number is put for an uncertain, ten dayes for a few dayes. The Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 4. 17. calls the troubles of Believers not only light afflictions, but affirms they are but for a moment; and becauſe they are but for a moment, ſurely much the lighter.
The Arguments to confirm this Doctrine are theſe.
1. One ſhall be drawn from the deſire in Chriſt the Head to have his members with him. Therefore they ſhall not long be abſent from him; and when they are with him, no troubles at all ſhall be their companions. Chriſt in the dayes of his fleſh prayed thus, Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that thoſe alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou haſt given me, for thou lovedſt me before the foundation of the world. Chriſt is now gone to his father, and he hath prepared Manſions for the Saints, and thoſe Manſions …hall not be long empty. Believers groan to …e cloathed upon with their houſe which … from Heaven; to be abſent from the bo…y, and to be preſent with the Lord. The Lord Jeſus deſires, and hath prayed for their company. Surely it will not be long before thoſe who are ſo mutually deſirous of each other, do come together.
2. A ſecond Argument ſhall be drawn from the ſhortneſs of the triumph of the Saints adverſaries. God will quickly cut aſunder the cords of the wicked, that plow upon Sions back, and make long their furrows. I have ſeen, ſaith David, the wicked in great power, and ſpreading himſelf like a green Bay tree; yet he paſſed away, and loe he was not, yea I ſought him, but he could not be found. His great power, which he abuſes to oppreſs and trouble, and himſelf too, ſhall quickly paſs away. All the glory of the ungodly is as a dream, and is chaſed away as a night viſion. And when they are laid in the duſt, and death is feeding on them, they can devour the upright no longer. And truly the more violent they are, the ſhorter oftentimes is their triumph; cruelty doth ripen them a pace for vengeance.
3. A Third Argument ſhall be draw… from the ſhortneſs of the Saints continuance i… this vale of tears. Their tribulation cann… poſſibly be of any long duration. The are but travellers through the world, an… will quickly be at their journeyes en… A few years, nay perhaps a few months will bring them to eternity: and when time is no longer there will be no longer trouble. The thoughts of death, though terrible to the ungodly, as putting a full ſtop to all their conſolation, may be refreſhing to the Saints. Death is their laſt Enemy; after death no enemy can moleſt them. Their dayes are ſwifter than a Weavers Shuttle; they haſt to an end, as the Ships of deſire to the Haven, or the Eagle to the prey: and as their dayes poſt away, ſo their troubles and diſtreſſes make ſpeed to a concluſion.
4. A fourth Argument ſhall be drawn from the Saints immediate entrance into reſt upon their diſſolution. The Apoſtle joyns being diſſolved and being with Chriſt together; and ſpeaking of believers in the general, he ſayes 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolved, we have (not we ſhall have, but we have) a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. The ſpirits of juſt men immediately upon their ſeparation, are made perfect, perfectly free from ſin and miſery, which while united to the body they were loaded with.
The Papiſts diſtinguiſh the Church into Triumphantem in caelis, militantem in terra, laborantem in purgatorio, Triumphant in Heaven, Militant on Earth, Labouring in Purgatory. The laſt member of the Diviſion, labouring in Purgatory, the Scripture no where mentions, but expreſs affirms the contrary, Rev. 14. 13. Bleſſed are the dead that dye in the Lord, from henceforth, yea ſaith the Spirit, that they may reſt from their labours.
Several miſerably deluded ſouls argue for perfection here; elſe ſay they how can the Saints be fitted for glory, if they are defiled all their dayes? It is eaſily anſwered, that the work of grace is carryed on all their life time, and at their diſſolution their ſouls are perfected. Death may be called a great change, not only in regard of the body, but in regard of the Soul too, becauſe the ſoul is perfectly purified, and ſin quite and clean aboliſhed. Neither let it ſeem abſurd that ſuch a change ſhould be; for if in the firſt moment of converſion there is an alteration or change from no grace to grace, ſurely 'tis not unreaſonable to think that at the moment of diſſolution, there ſhould be a change from imperfect grace to grace that is compleat. Thus the penitent Thiefs ſoul was perfected at his expiring, elſe he could not have been that day he dyed with Chriſt in Paradiſe.
It's plain that the Saints upon their departure hence do enter into reſt; therefore it muſt be granted, that their tribulation is but, as they are, ſhort liv'd; nay perhaps they may outlive their tribulation, and behold a lightſome ever-tyde after a day of darkneſs and of gloomineſs. They may live to ſee the Goſpel in eſteem, after diſgrace, and peace upon Iſrael after trouble.
USE I.
Is the tribulation of the Saints ſhort? then let not their faith fail; let it hold out a little longer, and its work will be at an end. Let faith but keep up the Ship but a little while longer in the ſtorm, and it will be ſafely landed. Leane a few dayes more upon the promiſes of ſupport and ſhelter, & you will be paſt the pikes, and beyond all peril. When you are entred into the City of God, the door will be ſhut; and as you ſhall come out no more, ſo no evil ſhall enter after you, to moleſt or grieve you.
USE II.
Is the tribulation of the Saints ſhort? then let not Patience grow weary. N…w Patience indeed is a needful grace, but hereafter there will be no neceſſi…y or uſe of it, becauſe you ſhall never feel any more burthens. The benefit of affliction, and the nearneſs of your reſt, ſhould induce you to bear all with cheerfulneſs; When you ſee the end of the Lord, you will confeſs they are happy that endure, Jam. 5. 11.
USE III.
Is the tribulation of the Saints ſhort? Then let their expectation be raiſed. Yet a little while, and he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry, Heb. 10. 37. Your Lord will be as an Hart, or young Roe upon the mountains of ſeparation; and when he comes, he will wipe away tears from all faces, and for all your affliction and tribulation, you ſhall have joy and triumph double, treble, nay ten thouſand times ten thouſand fold.
USE IV.
Is the tribulations of the Saints ſhort? See the difference between the Saints and Sinners. The Saints ſufferings are like the ſinners eaſe and proſperity, both for a moment. Let not the world imagine believers miſerable; their miſery is no longer then the worlds happineſs: And as the men of the world cannot be counted happy, becauſe their happineſs do…s ſo ſoon vaniſh; ſo neither can believers juſtly be eſteemed miſerable, becauſe their miſery is ſo tranſient. What is it to have tribulation for ten dayes, and then to triumph in the preſence of God, and of the Lamb for ever.