Works, Chapter 12 – Chapter 13
CHAP. XII. Rules of Wiſdome concerning a mans eſtate, and first for adverſity.
THe rules of Wiſdome concerning a Chriſtian mans eſtate, are theſe: One general Rule for all eſtates, is to think the preſent eſtate beſt for thee.Firſt, General. Secondly, Special.
The general rule for all eſtates, is this: Bee prepared for any eſtate, contented in every eſtate, and aſſure thy ſelf the preſent eſtate (whatſoever it is) is beſt for thee, though not ever in thy ſenſe, yet in Gods gracious and wiſe ordering of it. This leſſon the Apoſtle Paul had well learned, Phil. 4.11, 12. I can want, and abound, I can bee full, and hungry: I have learned in all eſtates to bee contented.
The ſpecial rules are either for proſperity, or for adverſity. Rules for affliction.Concerning adverſity and afflictions, theſe are the rules of Chriſtian wiſdome:
1 Conſider thou art not placed here in the world by God, 1 God may as well be injoyed in Adverſity as Proſperity.to injoy the pleaſures of the World, but to injoy God, which thou mayeſt do as well in affliction as in proſperity, and to cleave to him in his ſervice, looking for nothing but afflictions, as a Pilgrim going to thy Country, the way whereunto, lyeth through afflictions. This ground not laid, men count troubles a ſtrange thing, 1 Pet. 4.11. and ſtart at the mention of them, as the Apoſtles, Joh. 11.8. when they heard Chriſt ſpeaking of going into Jury, where the Jews had lately ſought to ſtone him. And note it to bee a corruption of the heart, to bee more grieved for thine own troubles, than the troubles of the Church, for private, than publick evils.
2 Lay up ſtrength and comforts aforehand; As firſt, Humility, 2 Lay up ſtrength and comfort aforehand.to overmaſter and tame the pride and rebellion of our hearts, and to bring in contentedneſs to ſweeten our troubles, and our labour will be well ſpent; for if wee can reliſh the hardeſt part of our life, our whole life elſe will aſſuredly bee more ſweet and joyful. 2 Grow up in the knowledge of God, which will make thee riſe up in much comfort, and will bring in comfort againſt that confuſed heavineſs, diſtruſt, and dangerous affections and paſſions, which elſe in trouble might beat us down, and off him. 3 Get aſſurance of faith, which will ſweetly warm the heart in the ſenſe of Gods love in Jeſus Chriſt; The fruit of which will bee, firſt, To inable us to truſt our ſelves with God in any eſtate, and bee aſſured the Lord is with us in fire and water, in the midſt of the Valley of the ſhadow of Death. Secondly, to depend on him for ſtrength; Pſal. 23.4.for howſoever Satan would make us beleeve our affliction is greater than it is, or wee are for it; yet wee ſhall aſſure our hearts that the Lord hath meaſured it out for our ſtrength, and not above. Thridly, 1 Cor. 10.13.to wait upon him for a good iſſue and ſeaſonable deliverance, who hath promiſed to turn it to the beſt. This ſhall keep us from fainting, diſtruſt, and deſpair.Rom. 8.28.
3 In all evils of puniſhment, take occaſion to ſet upon the evil of ſin, 3 In evils of puniſhment to ſet upon evil of ſin.and revenge upon that; complain of it to God and men, murmure and grudge at nothing elſe. If affliction bee ſharper than ordinary, it is ſure ſome ſin or luſt addes a ſting unto it. But this rule mortifies ſin and unruly paſſions, and will weaken the heart, and make a man ſay with the Church, Mic. 7.9.I will bear the wrath of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned.
4 Make them no heavier than God maketh them, by impatience, 4 Make them no heavier th…n God hath made them.frowardneſs, and looſeneſs of heart. God ſometimes layes on a little finger, and the froward heart lays on the whole hand and loyns, to make the burden heavier with faithleſs heavineſs and diſtruſt, which is but an addition of new and worſe troubles than the former. How inconſiderately do many men load themſelves with troubles too too light in themſelves, and on the ſhoulders of wiſe men, who can make a vertue of neceſsity, and ſtep over a number of rubs, which others ſtoop to remove, and infinitely toil themſelves? How do many in ſmaller troubles, as diſcourteſie of neighbours, unrulineſs of children, unfaithfulneſs of ſervants, ſmaller loſſes and croſſes in Family-matters, give place to unquietneſs, impatience, and paſſion, till their folly have (by ſeeking to caſe their burden) increaſed it from a dram to a talent? And now how unmeet are they for the ſervice of God? How unprofitable in any Chriſtian ſociety? How ſowr and heavy in countenance, diſguiſed in ſpeech, Levius ſit pationus Quicquid corrigere eſt noſas. Horat.and impotent in their behaviour? All which teſtifie the frowardneſs of the heart, wherein had there been a dram of Chriſtian wiſdome and moderation, the paſsion had not ſwelled to the cauſe, much leſs ſo far exceeded it.
5 Make not haſte from under any affliction; Hee that beleeves, makes not haſte: 5 Make not too much haſte from under them. Iſa. 18.16.But labour for a right uſe of it, rather than the removal; attain once a right uſe, and doubt not of a good iſſue. Gold is not preſently pulled out of the fire ſo ſoon as it is caſt in, but muſt ſtay a while till it bee purged. A Muſician ſtrains up a ſtring, and lets it not down, leſt the harmony and muſick bee ſpoiled: So the Lord deals with his children, but never forgets mercy, Iſa. 27.9. 6 Obſerve both the trials and the fruits. foreign.nor meaſure; nay, it is mercy ſo to meaſure them, as they may bee purged by them.
6 Obſerve and mark thy troubles, and thy diſpoſition in them; Firſt, to grow up in wiſdome and experience by them; thus thy ſufferings will become wholeſome inſtructions. Obſerve where thou waſt moſt pinched, and wherein thou tookeſt the greateſt comfort. Secondly, to grow up in an infallible hope of Gods goodneſs, and a good iſſue for time to come. For this, obſerve Gods ſeaſonable hearing of thy prayers, and the proofs of Gods help in moſt needful times, which ſhall bee a ſtrong means to keep thee from fainting, 1 Sam. 17.37.fears, and deſpairs for time to come. So did David in the caſe of the Lion and Bear, and through all the 23. Pſalm. Thus the Apoſtle from obſervations of times paſt, gathers aſſurance for the time preſent, and to come, 2 Cor. 1.10.— Who delivered us from ſo great death, and doth deliver us, and in whom wee truſt, that hee will yet hereafter deliver us. Thirdly, to bee able to comfort others with ſuch comforts as our ſelves were upheld with in our troubles, 2 Cor. 1.4. Which comforteth us in all our tribulation, that wee may bee able to comfort them which are in affliction, by the comfort wherewith our ſelves are comforted of God. Thus to the godly ariſeth light out of darkneſs, ſweet comes out of ſowr, and out of the eater meat.
CHAP. XIII. Rules of Wiſdome for Proſperity.
Rules for proſperity. 1 Conſider the danger of it.IN proſperity take theſe directions.
1 If riches increaſe, ſet not thine heart upon them, Pſalm 62.10. For why ſhouldeſt thou, conſidering the danger? How eaſie it is to wax wanton, How hard for a rich man to bee ſaved, How few by outward things are drawn to the love of heavenly, How many are inſnared and choaked with them, How flitting and uncertain they bee, How certainly wee muſt leave them, or they us, and come to account for them.
2 Be ſuſpicious of thy ſelf.2 In the carriage of thy proſperity bee ſuſpitious of thy ſelf, thankful to God, and return the glory of it to him of whom thou receiveſt it. David, while hee had liberty, eaſily ſtrayed, Pſalm 119.67. Thankfulneſs is Gods tribute, Has aeterna fames conſequitur dapes. Hos aeterna ſitis,—Sen.which being denied him, hee re-enters on his own, Deut. 28.47. Becauſe thou ſervedſt not the Lord with joyfulneſs, and a good heart, in the abundance of all things, thou ſhalt ſerve thine enemies in hunger, in thirſt, and in need of all things. So do many Prodigals.
3 Fear the croſs before it come, and provide for it. 3 In thy calm, provide for a ſtorm.The thing that I feared is come upon me, Job. 3.25. and, hee waited for his change. It was an addition to the great plague of Babylon, Iſa. 46.11. that evil ſhould come on her, and ſhee not know the morning thereof, Deſtruction ſhall come upon thee ſuddenly ere thou bee aware. Luke 14.28.Therefore caſt the coſts of Religion and well-doing before hand.
4 Never account thy ſelf proſperous, if it bee not well with Gods Church: 4 Think not thy ſelf proſperous, if the Church of God be not.Good Uriah would not reſt as long as the Ark of the Lord was abroad, and his Lord Joab in the field. As a good childe being in health mourns and droops for the mothers ſickneſs. David thought it not fit to dwell in ſeiled houſes, and the Ark of God lie in tents: For the neglect whereof, 2 Sam. 7.2.the Jews are reproved, Hag. 1.4. Nehemiah, even before the King, was of a ſad countenance, and ſorrowful at heart, when hee received evil tidings of Jeruſalem, Chap. 2. verſe 2. Heſter and Mordecai joyed not in the greateſt advancements, ſo long as the ſentence againſt the Jews was unreverſed. And Moſes might have lived well, and at pleaſure in Pharaohs Court; Heb. 11.25.but hee choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with Gods people, than to injoy ſuch pleaſures.
5 In thy proſperity conſider the affliction and adverſity of others. 5 In thy proſperity caſt eye on others afflictions.The contrary hereof was the ſin of the Princes of Iſrael living in proſperity, Amos 6.6. They lye on beds of ivory, and ſtretch themſelves on beds, drink wine in bowls, and anoint themſelves with oyle, but none remembred the affliction of Joſeph. The like of Dives his inhumanity towards Lazarus. Yea, ſome time it ſhall bee wiſdome to go into the houſe of mourning, Eccl. 7.2.which will ſtrike a deeper impreſsion; and to viſit others in adverſity; and mark their ſpeeches, who imbrace theſe outward pleaſures with greateſt and ſharpeſt appetite, and thou ſhalt finde the affliction far more bitter, and their ſorrow in the loſs ſo much the ſharper, as the love was eager in injoying their peace; and perhaps they will tell thee, they were never ſuch gainers by all their proſperity, as they were loſers by it, or gainers by that preſent affliction.