A Staff of Comfort to Stay the Weak, Part 5
Of trouble for Religion.
Ob. I Am in great heauinesse through the manifold tentations, troubles, and vexations that come vponupon me, for my Christian profession.
Answ. Sure it is, that tribulation is not ioyous for the present, but grieuous; neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse, vntounto them that are exercised thereby, Heb. 12.11. Also consider, that vntounto vsus it is giuen for Christ (saith the Apostle), that not onelyonly we should beleeue in him, but also suffer for his sake, Philippians 1.29. And being partakers of the sufferings,Rom. 8.17. so shall wee bee also of the consolations, 2. Cor. 1.7. Knowing that this is but the tryall of our faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth (though it be tryed with fire), that it might bee found vntounto our praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Iesus Christ, 1. Pet. 1.7.
Obiect. I am loaden aboue measure with reproaches: the wicked enemies and vngodly vaine persons doe hate mee, and speake all manner of euill against mee, that they can imagine, seperating me from their company, and doe cast mee out, as a man of an euill name, from among them.
The godly are to reioyce greatly in afflictions, for righteousnes sake.Ans. Thus hauehave the wicked done heeretofore vntounto the godly, Lu. 6.23. Psa. 35.15.16. & 57.4. & 31.18. But (saith our Sauiour) blessed are you, when men shall hate you, seperating you from ther company, reuile you, and say all manner of euill against you falsely, casting out your name (as euill) for mee, the Sonne of mans sake: Reioyce yee in that day, be exceeding glad, and leape for ioy; for behold, great is your reward in heauen, Matth. 5.11.12. Luke 6.22.23. And because also the spirit of glory resteth on you, which on their part is ill spoken of, 1. Pet. 4.14. Therfore feare not the reproach of men, neither bee afraide of their reuilings; for the moth shal eat them like a garment, and the worme shall eat them like wooll, Esay 51.7.8.
Obiect. Oh, but in the meane space I feare, by such vnsufferable euills, such despitefull tauntings, odious reproches, hatefull slanders, & cruell persecutions, to be shaken off from my profession, & drawne from my stedfastnesse to the wayes of the wicked.
Answ. We stand not of our selues,A man stands not constant in suffering, but by Gods assisting power, and grace onelyonly. but wee are kept (as Saint Peter saith) by the power of God vntounto saluation through faith, 1. Pet. 1.5. Hee worketh all our workes in vsus, Esay 26.12. Trust therefore in the Lord for euer, for in the Lord Iehouah is euerlasting strength Vers. 4. Cast thy burthen vponupon the Lord; hee will beare thee vp, hee will neuer suffer the righteous to be moued, Psal. 55.22. & 16.8. Also God is faithfull, who will not suffer vsus to be tempted aboue that wee are able; but will with the tentation also make away to escape, that wee may be able to beare it, 1. Cor. 10.13.
Obiect. My outward man is ready to perish, and I am in danger of my life eueryevery day, and for the maintenance of the truth.
Answ. Though our outward man perish;A good man by suffering gaineth much. yet the inward man is renewed daily; and our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for vsus a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory, 2. Cor, 4.17. So that the sufferings of this present life, are not worthy to bee compared with the glory, that shall be reuealed in vsus, Rom. 8.18. Therfore faint not to death, knowing what Christ saith: that whosoeuer shall hate his life in this world, and shall lose it for his sake, shal keepe it vntounto eternall life and finde it, Matth. 10.39. & 16.25. Iohn 12.25.
Obiect. I want strength, and feele my selfe to faint, vnderunder the burthen of my heauy crosses.
God wil giuegive strength, that we faint not in trouble.Answ. Hast thou not knowen (saith the Prophet) hast thou not heard, that the euerlasting God, the Lord, the Creatour of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary? he giueth power to them that faint, and to them that hauehave no might, hee increaseth strength, Esa. 40.28.29. They that wait vponupon the Lord shall renue their strength, they shall mount vp with wings as Eagles, they shall runne and not be weary, they shall walke and not faint, Ver. 31.
Obiect. My tryalls and troubles are as waters, ready to drowne mee, and as fire to consume, the flame whereof is almost kindled vponupon me.
Answ. Feare not (saith the Lord to his people) when thou passest thorow the waters,God is in our company in all afflictions. I will bee with thee; and thorow the riuers they shall not ouerflow thee: when thou walkest thorow the fire, thou shalt not bee burnt, neither shall the flame kindle vponupon thee, Esa. 43.1.2.
Obiect. The world is full of seducers, and I am of so meane a capacity, of so shallow a iudgement, and so weak hearted, that (I feare) being set vponupon I shall turne aside, either to the right, or to the left.
How, and by whom, to escape seducers.Answ. To escape these, be humble, and God will teach thee the way thou shalt choose, Psal. 25. Glorifie God according to thy present knowledge, and hauehave a louelove to the truth, and pray, so God will not giuegive thee ouer to thy selfe, and to beleeue lyes, Rom. 1. 2. Thes. 2. And this vnderstand, that to deceiue the elect it is vnpossible, Matth. 24.24. Mark. 13.22.
Obiect. I am to bee called before authority, to answere for my religion, which I am willing to doe: but indeed, I feare I am not able to defend the truth, against their subtle sophistry.
Answ. Bee not afraide,God will assist his, in answering for the truth, against their aduersaries. neither bee troubled, but sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts (saith Saint Peter), and bee ready alwayes to giuegive an answere to eueryevery man, that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekenesse and reuerence, hauing a good conscience, 1. Pet. 3.14.15.16. Not being carefull, neither taking thought how or what thing yee shall answere, or what ye shall say; for the holy Ghost shall teach you in the same houre, what yee ought to say, Luke 12.11.12. And Christ will giuegive you a mouth, & wisedome; which all your aduersaries shal not be able to gainesay, nor resist, Luk. 21.15.
Obiect. Ah, the falseheartednesse of this world! when I was in prosperity and in peace, I had many that would say well of mee; looke vponupon mee cheerefully, not holding it any disgrace to be in my company; and if any did oppose me, they were ready to answere in my behalfe: but now as soone as authority called mee in question, they are shrunke backe; yea my neerest acquaintance hauehave forsaken me, and doe auoide my company for feare, though my cause be the truth, which they also professe.
Answ. Saint Paul saith,In peace they accompany vsus, who in aduersity and dangers may forsake vsus. that at his first answering no man stood with him; but all men forfooke him, 2. Tim. 4.16. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with him, and strengthened him, and hee was deliuered out of the mouth of the Lion, Vers. 17. Let this be therefore thy comfort, that God doeth stand by thee; and consider also how Iesus Christ was thus dealt with. His Disciples (whom hee calls friends) Ioh. 15.14.15. forsooke him and fled, and such as at other times applauded his doctrine, reuerenced his person, admired his workes, and wondered at his gracious words; did when he was taken of his enemies, leaue him; and instead of their former crying Hosannah, now with the mighty they tooke part & cryed, away with him, let him be crucified, Mat. 27.
Ob. I can hauehave no rest, nor peace with the nighest of my bloud, but they also are against me, onelyonly for my profession, and doe seeke my bloud; yea I am not safe in mine owne house, but therein hauehave I aduersaries. I thought I should hauehave beene more peaceable, but I finde it cleane contrary.
Religion here on the earth, affords little outward rest to vsus, but rather occasions of trouble frō the wicked. Luk. 12.35.Answ. Doth not our Sauiour say: I came not to send peace, but rather a sword and diuision, Matth. 10.34. Luk. 12.51. I am come to send fire, Vers. 49. And to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against the mother, and the daughter in law, against hir mother in law, Matth. 10.35. There shall bee fiue in one house diuided, three against two, and two against three, Luk. 12.52. A mans foes shall be they of his owne house, Matth. 10.36. The brother shall deliuer vp the brother to death, and the father the childe: and the children shall rise vp against their parents, and cause them to be put to death, Matth. 10.21. Yea, yee shall (saith Christ) be betrayed by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolkes, and friends; being hated of all men for my names sake, Luk. 21.16.17. But there shall not a haire of your head perish: in your patience possesse your soules, Vers. 18.19. For he that indureth to the end shall bee saued, Matthew 10.22.
Obiect. I hauehave lost many friends by rebuking sinne, though I did it very respectiuely, in true louelove to the parties, in compassion to their soules, and in regard of Gods glory, and discharge of my Christian duty; because men are so full of selfe-louelove, and for that the world affoordeth so many flatterers, to whom men easily giuegive an eare; that they cannot with patience heare a louing, wise, and Christian reprehension.
Answ. Faithfull dealing findes, a better blessing in the end, then flattery shall.He that rebuketh a man shal finde afterwards (though not perhaps at the first) more fauour, than hee that flattereth with his tongue, Prou. 28.23. Hee that saith vntounto the wicked, thou art righteous; him shal the people curse, nations shall abhorre him; but to him that rebuketh him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come vponupon him, Prou. 24.24. When as hee that speaketh flattery to his friends, euen the eyes of his children shall faile, Iob 17.5.
Obiect. The wicked doe curse mee for crossing their lewd courses, and because I am an enemy to their Idolatry, superstitions, and wicked vanities.
A causlesse curse, is not to be feared.Answ. The curse that is causlesse shall not happen vntounto thee. Prou. 26.2. And where God doth blesse, the wicked cannot curse. Num. 23.8. So as with Dauid, thou maist say; it may bee the Lord will look vponupon my affliction, and that the Lord will requite good for the cursing, 2. Sam. 16.12.
Obiect. I hauehave lost very much for my conscience, and more than euer I looke to get againe.
God rewards all losses for righteousnes sake.Answ. Verily, there is no man (saith our Sauiour Christ) that hath forsaken house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the Gospels, but hee shall receiue an hundreth fold: now in this time house and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, shall inherit euerlasting life, Marke 10.29.30. Mat. 19.29.
Obiect. I am almost (for all this) made weary of my profession, by so many tentations and trialls at home and abroade.
Answ. Be not weary of well doing, Gal. 6.9. But rather account it exceeding ioy (saith Saint Iames) when you fall into diuers tentations, knowing that the triall of your faith worketh patience, Iam. 1.2.3. Patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, Rom. 5.4.5. For in due time we shall reape, if we faint not, Gal. 6.9. And blessed is the man, that indureth tentation; for when hee is tried, hee shall receiue the crowne of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that louelove him, Iames 1.12.
Obiect. I hauehave entertained such as hauehave come with the truth of Christ, onelyonly for my spirituall comfort, and for the same hauehave I beene molested and troubled.
Answ. Howsoeuer men deale with thee, God will reward thee: for wee read,To entertain the faithfull, is a worke that shal not want the reward. that hee which receiueth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, shal receiue a Prophets reward: and hee that receiueth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, shall receiue a righteous mans reward, Mat. 10.41.42. And for thy farther comfort, know who then were thy guests; euen God the Father, and Christ his Sonne. For (saith he) hee that receiueth whom I send, receiueth me; and hee that receiueth me, receiueth him that sent me, Ioh. 13.20.
Obiect. Neuer man hath beene so afflicted, and suffered the sufferings, which I hauehave indured of my malicious enemies, for the truth.
Christs patient suffering, and other following his steps before vsus, helpe greatly to comfort our fainting spirits.Answ. For thy comfort, least thou shouldest bee wearied and faint in minde, Heb. 12.3. Consider the Lord Iesus (thy master) who endured the speaking against of sinners, endured the crosse, and despised the shame, Vers. 2.3. Behold, thy fellow seruants, and holy men, and Saints of God recorded in Scripture, their like and farre greater afflictions.
Obiect. I hauehave beene cast (as a malefactour) into the common goale, and straightly kept.
Answ. So were the Apostles, Act. 5.18. &. 12.4.
Obiect. I hauehave beene brought before authority, & before examination I hauehave beene commanded to be beaten, whipped, set in the stocks and imprisoned.
Answ. Thus were Paul and Silas dealt with, being grieuously whipped vntounto bloud, and then were thrust into an inner prison, Act. 16.22.23.24. Ieremy was smitten, and put into the stockes, Ier. 20.2.
Obiect. Yea, but I hauing beene examined and found not guilty, but innocent in the Iudges owne conscience; yet most vniustly, for feare and fauour hauehave I been commanded to be whipped, and deliuered to the secular power to bee put to death, and had died, but that God strangely deliuered mee.
Answ. Thus dealt Pilate, that fearefull flattering and vniust Iudge,Mark. 15.15. with our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, Matth. 26.18.24.26. Who was not onelyonly in danger of death; but was put to death indeede, in his crucifying was very despightfully abused, Vers. 29.34.39.48. Marke 15.19.20.23.29.31.
Obiect. The prison I lay in was filthy and stinking.
Answ. The dungeon which Ieremy was cast into was full of mire; so as the poore soule stucke fast therin, and had there dyed, being allowed no food at all to eat: but that one Abedmelech the Morian, went to the King himselfe, to get him deliuered from thence, Ier. 38.6.9-13.
Obiect. I hauehave indured manifold persecutions, besides these now mentioned.
Answ. Act. 14.22.By many tribulations hauehave many of the most holy Saints of God, entred into the kingdome of God: they hauehave beene tried by mockings, scourgings, bonds and imprisonment, Heb. 11.36. They hauehave beene made gazingstockes, by reproches and afflictions,Many and sundry torments hauehave the Saints suffered, for righteousnes sake. and spoiled of their goods, Heb. 10.33.34. Some hauehave beene cast into a burning ouen, Dan. 3. Others into the denne of Lions, Dan. 6. Some hauehave beene stoned, some slaine with the sword, some hewen in sunder; others wandred in Wildernesses, and Mountaines, and Dennes, and Caues of the earth vp and downe, clad in sheepe skinnes, and goates skins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, Hebr. 11.37.38. And wanting reliefe of men, hauehave eaten no other food, then that the foules of the heauen, (by Gods admirable and most wonderfull prouidence) did bring them, 1. Kin. 17.6.
Obiect. Men hauehave lien in wait to take mee, and diuers hauehave banded themselues sometimes together, swearing to kill mee, and cursing me; though I neuer had any thing to doe with them, nor euer gaue them iust occasion of offence, farther then they tooke offence, by my professing and defending the truth.
Answ. Ier. 15.10. It is the good graces in Gods children (which the wicked hate them for), as Cain did his brother Abell.Ieremy did not meddle with worldly businesses among the people, neither giuing nor taking to vsury, yet the people cursed him. The Iewes lay in wait by the gates of the City, for Paul, (day and night) to kil him, Act. 9.24. being aboue fortie men did sweare his death, and neuer to eat or drinke till they had done it, Act. 23.12.13.21. Though he was to them all a harmelesse person, neither had hee giuen any iust occasion to them (in any worldly respect) so to doe. But God in mercy, prouided meanes to deliuer himselfe safely from them, Acts 9.25. & 23.30.31.
Obiect. These things are able to separate a man from Christ.
Afflictions shall not faint the hart of the faithfull, to make them fall frō the truth.Answ. Verily no: the holy Prophets, Apostles, and Saints of God; hauehave for the Lords sake beene killed all the day long, and beene accounted as sheepe to the slaughter, Rom. 8.36. 2. Cor. 4.11. Shall then tribulation, or distresse, or persecution, or famine, or nakednesse, or perill, or sword separate vsus from the louelove of Christ? Nay in all these things, wee are more then conquerours, through him that loued vsus. And the Apostle is perswaded not only for himselfe; but also for those that bee truely the Lords; that neither death, nor life, nor Angells, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vsus from the louelove of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord, Rom. 8.37.38.39.