A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
That God suffers his children to be afflicted and persecuted, by ungodly men, that so they may be brought to repentance.
NOW the Reasons which have chiefly respect to the good of his children in their sufferings, being thirteene in number, are distinguished as followeth:
God suffers his children to be afflicted by them.
1 Because it Brings them to repentance.
2 Because it Workes in them amendment of life.
3 Because it Stirs them up to prayer.
4 Because it Weanes them from the love of the World.
5 Because it Keeps them alwayes prepared to the spirituall combate.
6 Because it Discovers whether we be true beleevers, or Hypocrites.
7 Because it Prevents greater evils of sinne and pun…shment to come.
8 Because it makes them Humble.
9 Because it makes them Coformable to Christtheir head.
10 Because it Increaseth their Faith.
11 Because it Increaseth their Ioy and thankefulnesse.
12 Because it Increaseth their Spirituall wisedome.
13 Because it Increaseth their Patience.
First, the Lord suffers his children to be vexed and persecuted by the wicked, because it is a notable meanes to rouze them out of carelesse security, and bring them to repentance; be openeth the eares of men (saith Elihu) even by their corrections, that he might cause man to turn away from his enterprise, and that he might ke…pe back his soule from the pit, Job 33. 16, 17, 18. The feeling of smart will teach us to decline the cause: Quiá sentio paenam, recogito culpám, saith Gregory the Great: punishments felt, bring to my consideration sinnes committed. Those bitter sufferings of Job toward his later end, made him to possesse the iniquities of his youth, Job. 13. 26. Whereby (with Salomons E…is-dropper, Eceles. 7. 21, 22.) he came to repent of that whereof hee did not once suspect himselfe guilty; it made him not thinke so much of what hee felt, as what hee deserved to feele: in like manner, how doe the clamours of S… tan, our owne consciences and the insulting World constraine us to possesse even the sinnes of our youth? There needs no other Art of memory for sinne but misery.
Sathans malice not seldome proves the occasion of true repentance, and so the devill is overshot in his owne Bow, wounded with his own weapon. I doubt whether that Syrophenician had ever inquired after Christ, if her daughter had not beene vexed with an uncleane spirit; yea, whether the devill had beene so effectually cast out, if he had with lesse violence entred into her, Mark 7. Our afflictions are as Benhadads best Counsellours, that sent him with a corde about his neck to the mercifull King of Israel. The Church of God under the Crosse is brought to a serious consideration of her estate, and saith, Let us search and try our wayes and turne againe to the Lord, Lam. 3. 40. Manasses also the King of Judah, that horrible sinner, never repented of his Idolatry, Murder, Witchcraft, &c. Till he was carryed away captive to Babel, and there put in chaines by the King of Ashur. But then (saith the Text) hee humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his Fathers, 2 Chron. 33. 11, 12. Yea, read his confession, (for hee speakes most feelingly) and you shall see, that the prison was a meanes of his spirituall inlargement. Even Vipers being lasht cast up all their poyson.
The body that is surfetted with repletion of pleasant meates must be purged with bitter pils; and when all outward comforts faile us, we are willing to be friend our selves with the comfort of a good conscience, the best of blessings. Affliction is the Hammer which breakes our rockie hearts; adversity hath whipt many a soule to Heaven, which otherwise prosperity had coached to hell: was not the Prodigall riding post thither, till he was soundly lasht home againe to his Fathers house, by those hard-hearted and pitilesse Nabals, which refused to fill his belly with the husks of the swine? And indeed, seldome is any man throughly awaked from the sleepe of sinne, but by affliction; but God by it, as it were by a strong purge, …pties and evacuates those supersluities of malice, envy, pride, security, &c. wherewith we were before surcharged.
The Serpents enmity may be compared to the Circumcision-k…ise which was made of stone, unto Ru…ar…e which is full of choler, yet doth mightily purge choler; or to the sting of a Scorpion, which though it be arrant poyson, yet proveth an excellent remedy against poyson. For this, or any other affliction when we are in our full careere of worldly pompe and jollity, pulleth us by the …are and maketh us know our selves: My wants (saith one) kill my wantonnesse: my poverty checks my pride: my being slighted quels my ambition and vaine glory: and as for sicknesse, it cuts the throate of vices: many saith Saint Austin have beene wickedly well, that have beene inocently and piously sicke. Yea, I may call it the summe of Divinity, as Pliny cals it the summe of Philosophy; for what distressed or sick man was ever lascivious, covetous, or ambitious? Hee envies no man, admires no man, flatters no man, dissembles with no man, despiseth no man, &c. That with Governours or Friends can by no meanes effect, touching our amendment, a little sicknesse, or trouble from enemies will, (as Saint Chrysostome observes.) Yea, how many will confesse, that one affliction hath done more good upon them, than many Sermons? that they have learned more good in one dayes or weekes misery, than many yeares prosperity could teach them? untouched estates, and touched consciences seldome dwell together; and it is usuall for them that know no sorrowes, to know no God: repentance seldome meets a man in jollity, but in affliction the heart is made pliable and ready for all good impressions.
True, if gentlenesse would serve, we should not smart; for God like a good Surgion, first strokes the Arme, before he opens the veyne: hee sends for us by his Ambassadors of the ministery, yet we come not: Let him fire our field as Absalom did by Joab, we come presently: Or perhaps he afflicts another, to fright us: as great mens Children are corrected, by seeing others whipt, or as Apollonius would tame Lyons, by beating dogges before them; for as God preacheth to us, no lesse in his Judgements than his Word; so when he strikes …ffendors, he would warne the standers by: and a wise man sees himselfe falne, or beaten in his neighbour. Yea, generous and ingenuous spirits, desire to be taught, abide not to be forced. It is for Tyrants to compell, for Asses to be compelled, saith Erasmus. A good naturd Horse, saith Seneca, will be governed even by the shadow of the wande: whereas a resty Jade will not b… ordered by the spurre.
But if his word will not r…le us (as many, till God come with a strong hand will hould their corruptions as fast as Pharaoh the Israelites) his Rodde shall, or if his Rodde will not yet serve, his sword shall bee drencht in our gall, and hathed in our blood, Deut. 32. 41, 42. Or if we scape for a time, yet our preservation from one judgement, is but our reservation to seaven more, Levit. 26. Yea, he will send a succession of crosses, seaven more▪ and seaven more, and seaven to that, to the conversion of his owne and the confusion of his enemies, Vers. 14. to 39. When singing will not still the Child, the Rod must. Hard knots, must have hard wedges; strong asfections, strong afflictious; great corruptions, great calamities to cure them.
So that God (through thy stubbornnesse) is forced to let lose Satan and wicked men upon thee, least thou shouldest sleepe in security till thou didst sleepe in death eternal…y, even for thy good: And Affliction is but the shepheards dogge (as Chrysostome speakes) to fetch us into Christs Folde, perhaps by Barking onelyonly, and then wee are more s…ard than hurt, perhaps in his mouth and then the poore sheep thinks he will surely worry it: but he is taught to fetch onelyonly, and therefore gripes not, but onelyonly carries and delivers it to his ma…er. When Children have done a fault, Mothers use to fright them with Bull-beggers; the Childe thinks surely they will have him, but the mother hath a double pollicie, viz. to make them hate the fault, and love them the better: for they runne to the Lappe to hide them, and then will she make her owne conditions: and so the very end which God aimes at in setting those Adders upon thee, is that thou shouldst turn thine Eyes inward, that thou mayst see for what thou sufferest: prie narrowly into thine owne forepast actions; which if thou dost, an hundred to one thou wilt finde sinne, it may be this very sinne the cause of thy present affliction: and untill thou dost si…t and try thine owne heart for this Achan, and finde out which is thy Isaac, thy beloved sinne, looke for no release, but rather that thy sorrowes should be multiplyed, as God threatned Eve.
Wherefore lyest thou on thy face, said God to Joshua: Israel hath sinned, up, search diligently, &c. Josh. 7. 10. 11. What evill hast thou done said the Marriners to the distressed Prophet, that this evill is come upon us? Let every such Jonas reflect upon himselfe, and say, What evill have I done? what sinne have I committed or admitted? or what good have I omitted or intermitted? be it but one single sinne, whether spirituall pride, or rayling upon honest men in a handsome Language, or the like, and having found out the cause, greive for it, turne from it. One flaw in a Diamond takes away the lustre and the price: one man in Law may keepe possession: one Puddle if we wallow in it, will de…ile us: one peice of Ward land, makes the Heire lyable to the King: one sinne keepes possession for Satan as well as twenty: one poyson-full Hearbe amongst many good ones, may put death in the pot; and so take away the goodnesse from the rest, as if there were none in it wholsome.
Besides, how were the Angels in heaven punished for one fault? Achan for one sa…reledge? Mirriam for one slander? Moses for one unbeleefe? Ana…as for one lye? Ely for his Indulgence onelyonly; David for his love to Bathshe…a onelyonly, &c. Wherefore looke to it, for if we spare but one Agag, it may cost us a Kingdome: and such a Kingdome as is farre beter than the Kingdome of Saul. 1 Pet. 1. 4.
Neither say of thy sinne, as once Lot of Zoar; is it not a little one? for though men may, yet God will not winke at small faults, especially in his owne. A little prick being neglected, may fester to a gangreene. As what is a mountaine of Earth but an accumulation of many little dusts? or what is a flood, but a concurrence of many little drops? a small leake will sinke the Vessell, unstopt; whereas a great one will not doe it, if well kalked. The weakest Instrument, be it but a Bodkin, can peirce the flesh and take away the life unarmed; whereas Armour of proose will even beate off Bullets. Besides, whereas our greatest goodnesse merits not the l…ast glory, our least wickednesse deserves great paine. The wages of sinne (small or great) is death, Rom. 6. 23. bad worke, sad wages.
Wherefore l…t his correction bring forth conversion; cleanse your hands yee sinners, and purge your hearts yee double minded, Jam. 4. 8. Not your hands onelyonly, with Pilate, but your hearts with David; yea, and your eyes too, with Mary Magdalen, if it be possible, (though dry sorrow may bee as good as wet) whose eyes were a Laver and haire a Towell, to wash and wipe the feet of Christ. Humble thy selfe like the Ninivites, Jona. 3. 6. Who put sackcloth upon their loynes, and ashes on their heads, as those that had deserved to be as farre under ground, as they were now above it. An humble submission, is the onelyonly way to disarme Gods indignation, and be rid of his Rod, 1 Pet. 5. 6. By such a course as this, Jacob appeased that Rough man Esa…: Abigall diverted David from his bloody purposes: the Syrians found favour with Ahab, that None-such; as the Scripture styles him, 1 King… 20. 32, 33. Sinne bringeth judgement, and onelyonly Repentance preventeth it: Thy sinne hath kindled the fire of Gods wrath, and onelyonly Repentance is as water to quench this fire.
King Edward the first riding furiously after a servant of his that had displeased him, with a drawne sword in his hand, as purposing to kill him, seeing him submit, and upon bended knee su… for his life, not onelyonly spared him, but received him into favour: goe thou and doe the like: be thou but throughly sorry for thy sin…e, my soule for thine, God will be throughly satisfied; yea, grow better by it and God will love thee the better for it: As Lovers are wont to bee best friends after falling out: for as bones out of joynt, joyned again, are stronger than before: so when God and we are reconciled by repentance, his asfections are stronger to us than before. The repenting Prodigall received such tokens of favour as his elder brother, who never brake out into that Ryot never did. And whom did Christ honour with his first appearance, but Mary Magdalen? and the Angell, but Peter? Goe, saith he, and tell his Disciples and Peter that he will goe before you into Galilee, Mar. 16. 7. Though Peter had sinned above the rest, yet repenting he is named above the rest.
Otherwise contrition without reformation (which is but like the crouching of a Fox, that being taken in a snare lookes lamentably, but it is onelyonly to get out) will not prevaile with God; he will nevr leave pursuing thee, till the trayt…rs head be throwne over the wall.
None so lewde but will seeme conformable, when aprehended, or if they Ryot in the Goale of their durance, yet when the Session comes, they begin to be a little calme, put off their disguises of dessolutenesse, and put o… some modesty, and semblance of humiliation: yea, then they change their App…rrell, their garbes, their lookes, and all to appeare civill. Or let the Fox be chayned up he will no more worry the Lambs, Pharaoh could relent when he felt the Plagues; but when they were over, so was his repentance: but what saith the Scripture? Hee that confesseth and forsaketh his sinne, shall find mercy. Prov. 28. 13. Confession and confusion of sinne must goe together: yea, there must bee a parting with the right Eye, in regard of pleasure, and the right Hand, in regard of profit: As for example, hast thou swallowed some unlawfull gaine and wouldst thou passifie God and thy Conscience? Vomit it up againe by restitution: for where is no restitution of things unjustly gotten, their sinnes shall never be forgiven, as Saint Austin▪ speakes Non tollitur peccatum, nisi restitutur oblatum, For Repentance without restitution, is as if a theefe should take away thy purse, aske thee pardon, say hee is sorry for it, but keepes it still; in which case, thou wouldst say, hee did but mocke thee. But Pallas with all the graces may call Briareus with his hundred hands to bind this Jupiter; and all in vaine. Wherefore I proceed. The skilfull Chirurgion, when he is lanching a wound, or cutting off a Limbe, will not heare the Patient, though he cry never so, untill the cure be ended: but let there bee once a healing of thy errours, and the Plaister will fall off of it selfe; for the Plaister will not stick on when the soare is healed. If the Fathers word can correct the childe, he will …ing away the rod, otherwise he must looke to have his eyes ever winterly. Thus as the two Angels that came to Lot lodged with him for a night, and when they had dispatched their errand, went away in the morning: So afflictions which are the Angels or the Messengers of God, are sent by him to doe an errand to us; to tell us, we forget God, we forget our selves, we are too proud, too selfe-conceited, and such like: and when they have said as they were bid, then presently they are gone. Why then complainest thou, I am afflicted on every side? like a child that cries out of his shoe, when the fault is in his foote: or the sick Patient who faults his bed when hee should his backe. Why groanest thou under thy burden, and cryest out of unremedied paine? Alas, thou repentest not; trouble came on this message to teach thee repentance, give the messenger his errand, and hee'l be gone.
But if thou refusest to be reformed, thou hatest to be healed. Alas, every Cain will groane under the penalty, whereas a David will grieve for the iniquity: but the one trembles as a slave, whereas the other fears as a sonne, and hee that mournes for the cause of his punishment, shall mourne but a while; but he that mourns onelyonly for the punishment, and not for the cause, shall mourne for ever: the soule can not live while the sin lives; one of the two must dye, the corruption or the Person; but Repentance is a Supersedeas, which dischargeth both sin and sorrow, moving God to be mercifull, the Angels to be joyfull, Man to be acceptable, and onelyonly the Devill and his to be melancholly.
True God doth not meerely (though mainely) smite and chastise his Children for sin, without any other respect; all his afflictive acts, are not punishments; some are for the benefit of the Creature, whether for probation or purgation, or reformation: and for the praise, whether of his divine power, or justice, or mercy, as appeares by our Saviours words, touching him that was borne blind, John 9. 3. For though his Parents had sinned in themselves, and the man had sinned in his first parents, yet it was not the guilt of either, that was guilty of this blindnesse: and the like we may collect from Jobs example. Neverthelesse, sinne is still the Originall; as when the headakes, and the members are sicke, the fault is in the stomacke. For this cause, saith the Apostle, (of the beleeving Corinthians) many are weake, (by lingering diseases) many sicke, (by sharpe and grievous maladies) and many sleep (are dead out-right, 1 Cor. 11. 30. Hence our so many diseases, miseries, maladies, troubles without, terrours within; it is this theefe in the Candle that wasts us, this fly in the Box that corrupts us; this traytor in the heart, that betrayes and exposes us to all perils. In which regard it was a sound and savory reply of an English Captaine at the losse of Callice, who when a proud French-man tauntingly demanded, when will you fetch Callice againe? answered, when your sin…es shall weigh downe ours. What, saith Saint Hierom, in the like case? by our sinnes are these Infidels made strong; and therefore a meane to lessen our punishments is, to lessen our sinnes, yea even Achior a very Ammonite could say thus to Holef…rnes, Enquire if this people have offended their God: otherwise all our warring will come to nothing.
And it is very rare in this case if there be not some Achan in the Army, some Sheba in the towne, some Jonas in the Ship, some distemper in the soule, disorder in the life, that God would have removed and remedied: as for instance; Jonas, how came he into the Whales belly? was it not his owne undutifulnesse? David, whence came all his troubles by Absalom, Ammon, Adoniah? was it not his fondnesse and indulgence? a…d so of Ely. Jacob, what might hee thanke for all his afflictions (whereof God gave him not a draught but made him a diet drinke: so that hee had scarce a merry day, for one trouble or another:) whom had he to thanke for it? did he not thrust his owne feet into the stocks by that threefold lye of his, uttered in a breath to get the blessing?
Wherefore, if thou lovest thine owne ease, deale freely and ingenuously with God and thine owne soule; for sinne and punishment are inseparable companions, and goe tyed together with chaines of Adamant, as the Poet speakes, like individuall twins, they are borne together, live together, are attended one by the other, as the body by the shadow: where sinne is in the Saddle, there punishment is on the Crupper; whence it is, that the Hebrewes have but one and the same word for them both.
Ob: But thou hast repented and r…solvest to bee reformed.
An: Many in time of distresse have strong resolutions and promise faire, even a Candle as bigge as a Mast: but trouble being over, one of ten in the pound were well: which proves they never truly repented. Yea, in stead of being better they grow worse, like one that fals into a relapse from an Ag…e, to a burning feaver, which peradventure would be thy case, if God should now release the: at least thou mayst feare it: for to seeke unto God onelyonly in affliction, is suspitious, and such seekers commonly are rejected with scorne, Proverbs 1. 24. to 33. Indeed, if thou shalt persevere (when thou art released) in doing that which now thou purposest, it is an infallable signe thy repentance is sound; Otherwise not.