A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
That the graces of God, in his children, may the more shine through imployment.
3. THirdly, it maketh for Gods glory another way, when those graces which he hath bestowed upon his children, doe the more shine through imployment, and are the more seene and taken notice of by the World; surely if his justice get such honour by a Pharaoh; much more doth his mercy by a Moses: now Abrahams faith, Jobs patience, Pauls courage, and constancy, if they had not beene tryed by the fire of affliction, their graces had been smothered as so many lights under a Bushell, which now (to the glory of God) shine to all the World; Yea, not onelyonly their vertues, but the gracious lives of all the Saints departed, do still magnifie him even to this day in every place we heare of them, and move us likewise to glorifie God for them: wherefore happy man that leaves such a president for which the future Ages shall praise him, and praise God for him. And certainly, if God intends to glorifie himselfe by his graces in us, he will find meanes to fetch them forth into the notice of the World.
Who could know the Faith, Patience, and Valour, of Gods souldiers, if they alwayes lay in Garrison, and never came to the skirmish? Whereas now they are both exemplary, and serve also to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 1. Pet. 2. 15. Yea without enemies, vallour and fortitude were of noe use. Till we have sinned, Repentance either is not, or appeares not: Neither is patience visible to others, or sensible to our selves, till we are exercised with sufferings: whereas these vertues in time of misery and exigents, shine as Starres doe in a darke night. And what more glorious than with Noahs Olive-tree, to keep our Branches green under water? Or with Aarons Rod, to bring forth ripe Almonds, when in appearance wee are clung and dry? or with Moses Bush, not to consume though on a light fire?
One Jupiter set out by Homer the Poet, was worth ten set out by Phidias the Carver, saith Philostratus; because the former flew abroad through all the world, whereas the other never stirred from his Pedistall at Athens: so at first, the honour and splendor of Jobs integrity was confined to Uz, (a little corner of A…abi…) yea, to his owne Family; whereas by meanes of the Devils malice, it is now spread as farre as the Sunne can extend his beames, or the Moone her influence; for of such a Favorite of heaven, such a Mirour of the Earth, such a wonder of the world, who takes not notice? Who could know whether we be Vessels of gold, or drosse, unlesse we were brought to the Touch-stone of temptation? Who could feele the odoriferous smell of these Aromaticall spices, if they were not pownded and bruised in the Morter of affliction? The Worlds hatred and calumny to an able Christian, serves as bellowes to kindle his devotion, and blow off the ashes, under which his faith lay hid; like the Moone, he shines cleerest in the night of affliction: If it made for the honour of S…ul and all Israel, that he had a little Boy in his Army, that was able to incounter that selected great Gyant, Goliah of the Philistims, and overcame him; how much more doth it make for Gods glory, that the least of his adopted ones should be able to incounter foure enemies?
The World. 1 John 5. 4.
The Flesh. Gal. 5. 24.
The Devill. 1 John. 2. 14. &
The Death. Rom. 8. 36. 37.
The weakest of which, is
1 The Flesh.
2 The World.
Now the Fl…sh being an home-bred enemy, a Dalilah in Samsons bosome, a Judas in Christs company; like a Moath in the Garment bred in us, and cherished of us, and yet alwayes attempting to fret and destroy us: and the world a forraigne foe, whose Army consists of two wings,
Adversity on the lefthand;
Prosperity on the right hand;
Death stronger than either, and the Devill stronger than all; And yet that the weakest childe of God onelyonly through saith in Christ (a thing as much despised of Philistims, as Davids s…ing and stone was of Goliah) should overcome all these …oure; wherein he shewes himselfe a greater Conquerour, than William the Conquerour; yea, even greater than Alexander the Great, or Pompey the Great, or the Great Turke: for they only conquered in many yeares a few parts of the World: but hee that is borne of God overcommeth the whole World, and all things in the world, 1 John 5. And this is the victory that overcommeth the World, even our faith, Vers. 4. And makes not this infinitly for the glory of God? Yea, it makes much for the honour of Christians. For, art thou borne of God? hast thou vanquished the World that vanquisheth all the wicked? Blesse God for this conquest. The King of Spaines overcomming the Indies was nothing to it. If Satan had known his afflicting of Job would have so advanced the glory of God, manifested Jobs admirable patience to all Ages, made such a president for imitation to others, occasioned so much shame to himselfe, I doubt not but Job should have continued prosperous and quiet; for who will set upon his Adversary when he knoweth he shall be shamefully beaten? This being so, happy are they who when they doe well, heare ill: but much more blessed are they, who live so well, as that their backbiting Adversaries seeing their good workes, are constrained to praise God, and speake well of them.