the best Men are not all Spirit but united to Flesh and when the Body is under strong pains the Soul suffers in its sufferings and while we are thus compounded the loss of those Comforts that support and sweeten the present Life must cause Grief 'T is easy to utter brave Expressions and lay down severe Precepts in contempt of Evils when they are at a distance but hard to sustain the Spirit under the actual feeling of them 't is one thing to discourse of a Battel and another to be engaged in the heat of it But supposing by a Philosophical Charm the Heart were so hardned as to be proof against the most piercing afflictions such a forced insensibility is not regular but proceeds from the extinction of Humanity and Piety and that will appear by considering Afflictions in a natural or moral respect First in a natural respect for so they are destructive or oppressive Evils and a pensive feeling of them is suitable to the Law of our Creation for the Humane Nature is framed with such Senses and Passions as according to God's intention should be affected suitably to the quality of their objects and if the Soul acts rationally 't is moved accordingly A Saint on Earth is not a Saint in Heaven raised above all Disasters and Troubles freed from all hurtful impressions from without and sorrowful impressions within but is liable to afflicting evils And it is becoming his Duty to have his passions pliable to his condition but without excess the Eyes must not be drown'd nor dry but tenderly affected Secondly Considered in a moral respect as they are sent from the high and just Providence of God it is absolutely necessary there should be an humble resentment of his Displeasure This is a consequent of the former for if our affections are seared up that we do not feel the stroke how shall we regard the hand that smites us If we are not sensible of Affliction we are secure in our Sins Natural Sorrow is introductive of Godly Sorrow There are two extreams to be avoided by the afflicted according to the direction of Solomon in the person of Wisdom and repeated by the Apostle My Son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him Some are discouraged and over-born by Afflictions as insupportable others are stubborn and careless and never lay them to heart they never look upward to the original efficient Cause an Offended God nor inward to the impulsive deserving Cause their Sins but esteem them fortuitous Events that happen in this mutable state without a design to correct and reform Sinners or to proceed from a blind necessity things of course or meerly regard the second Causes and Instruments of their Troubles accordingly when they meet with Calamities all their care is by a perverse shift to seek for relief onely in Temporal Comforts without serious applying themselves to God whose end in sending Troubles is to reclaim us from Sin to Holiness from Earth to Heavens from the Creatures to himself This secret Atheism like a benumming Opium stupifies the Conscience and the insensibility of God's hand inflicting Evils is as different from Christian Patience and Constancy as a mortal Lethargy is from the quiet soft Sleep of Health Nothing kindles his Anger more than neglecting it 't is equally provoking with the despising of his Love It is a symptom of a wretched state of Soul if there proceed no sighs and groans no signs of grief from the sense of God's displeasure it is a sad evidence there is no Spiritual Life Indolence under the effects of God's Anger is like the stilness of the Dead Sea whose Calm is a Curse The Jews tho intitled the People of God are deeply charg'd for this prodigious Madness O Lord thou hast struck them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a Rock they have refused to return Jer. 5. 3. We have whole Quarries of such obdurate Wretches amongst us this impenitent disregard of God's hand is a dreadful presage of future and more heavy Judgments Who ever hardned himself against the Lord and prospered Do we provoke the Lord to Jealousy are we stronger than he The most refractory Sinner he can compel to acknowledg with bitter lamentations his Wickedness and weakness how unable he is to contend with his Judge But supposing a respite from Punishment here there is an Hell prepared for stubborn Sinners where is Weeping and Wailing for ever Whom the Rods do not awaken the Scorpions shall Secondly I shall now proceed to explicate what is included in the resignment of our selves to God in times of Affliction This will be made evident by considering the leading powers and faculties which Grace sanctifies and works in according to their natural subordination The Understanding approves the severest dispensations of Providence to be good that is for reasons though sometimes unsearchable yet always righteous and for gracious ends to the Saints When Hezekiah heard the heavy Prophecy that all his Treasures should be carried to Babylon and his Royal Progeny should become Slaves there he said to Isaiah Good is the Word of the Lord which thou hast spoken His sanctified Mind acknowledged it to be a just Correction of his vain Pride and quietly submitted to it And as there is a satisfaction of Mind in the rectitude so in the graciousness of his Proceedings The misapprehension and mis-belief of God's design in afflicting causeth Impatience and Murmuring but when the Mind is convinced that he afflicts us for our Benefit that Bodily Diseases are Medicinal Advantages the remedies of the Soul that the losses of Earthly Comforts prepare us for Divine Enjoyments that the way which is sowed with Thorns and watered with Tears leads to Heaven the Heart is compliant with the sharpest methods of Providence But these things will be more fully opened under the several heads of Arguments to enforce the Duty This Resignment principally consists in the consent and subjection of the Will to the Orders of Heaven The Will is an imperious Faculty naturally impatient of opposition to its Desires and we pay the highest honour to God in the lowest submission of our Wills to his Appointments 'T is true the Will cannot make a direct choice of Evil nor love Afflictions but the Holy Spirit by a powerful Operation so disposeth it as to renounce its own inclinations when discordant with the Will of God And the more humble ready and entire the Submission is the more difficult and harsh the denial of our natural desire is the more supernatural Grace shines and is acceptable It is the perfection of Holiness to do what God loves and to love what God does There is a rare example of this in David's carriage when under his greatest Affliction 't was in his flight from his Son Absalom who endeavoured to deprive him of
and support the Spirit in the greatest Agony The first is God scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth And the other that is joined with it is Whom the Lord loves he chasteneth The Rule is general First All his Sons are under the Discipline of the Rod and who would be so unhappy as to be exempted from that number for all the prosperity of the World Afflictions sanctified are the conspicuous Seal of their Adoption and Title to Heaven And who would forfeit the honour of that Adoption and lose the benefit annext to it the eternal Inheritance rather than patiently bear his Fatherly Chastisements Others that enjoy a perpetual Spring of Pleasure here are declared Bastards and not Sons they are indeed within the compass of his Universal Providence but not of that peculiar care that belongs to his Sacred and Select Progeny His Corrections are an Argument of his Authority as our Father and an assurance that we are his Children this should induce us not only with submiss temper of Soul but with thankfulness to receive the sharpest Correction from the hands of our Heavenly Father This was the reason of our Saviour's meek yielding himself to the violence and cruelty of his Enemies The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Secondly Chastisement is the effect of his Paternal Love He is the Father of our Spirits and that Divine Relation carries with it a special Love to the Spirits of Men and in that degree of Eminence as to secure and advance their happiness though to the destruction of the Flesh. The Soul is of incomparable more worth than the Body as the bright Oriental Pearl than the mean Shell that contains it this God most highly values for this he gave so great a Price and on it draws his Image If Temporal Prosperity were for our best advantage how willingly would God bestow it on us He that spared not his own Son but gave him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Which words among all that the Holy Ghost hath dictated to the Interpreters of God's Heart to his People are most expressive of his â—ove and Bounty and most for their comfort He that gives Grace and 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ost real testimonies 〈…〉 certainly withholds no good thing from them I shall produce one convincing instance of this St. Paul who by an incomparable Priviledg was rapt up to the Coelestial Paradise and heard ineffable things yet was tormented by the Angel of Satan and his earnest repeated Prayer for deliverance not presently granted Did not God love that blessed Apostle whose internal Love to Christ almost equall'd the Seraphims those pure everlasting Flames and was expressed in the invariable tenour of his Life by such miraculous Actions and Sufferings for the propagating and defence of the Faith of Christ and the Glory of his Name If we love him because he first loved us as St. John testifies certainly he that returned such a superlative Affection to Christ received the greatest Love from him Now if Christ did love Paul why did he not upon his earnest repeated Prayer deliver him from his wounding Trouble whatsoever it was That Permission was a demonstration of the Love of Christ to him as it is acknowledged by himself Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of Revelation there was given to me a Thorn in the Flesh and the Messenger of Satan to buffet me That the Afflictions of the Saints proceed from God's Love will be evident by considering I. His gracious Design in sending them II. His compassionate Providence over them and his assisting Power afforded to his People in their Troubles III. The happy issue out of them First His gracious Design in sending them God doth not afflict willingly but if need be not for his own pleasure but for our profit that we may be partakers of his Holiness The expression is high and emphatical his Holiness the brightest Glory of his Nature the divinest Gift of his Love The two principal parts of Holiness are ceasing from doing Evil and learning to do well And Afflictions are ordained and sent as profitable for both these effects 1. For the prevention or cure of Sin which is an evil incomparably worse in its nature and terrible consequents in this and the next World than all meer afflicting temporal Evils Sin defiles and debaseth the Soul which is the proper excellency of Man and separates from God our supream Good Your Sins have separated between you and your God and have hid his face from you All Afflictions that can befall us here in our persons or concernments the most disgraceful Accidents the most reproachful contumelious Slanders the most loathsom contagious Diseases that cause our dearest Friends to withdraw from us yet cannot deprive us of Union with God by Faith and Love nor of the fruition of his propitious Presence Lazarus when covered with Ulcers was kissed with the Kisses of his Mouth But Sin hath this pernicious effect it separates from his gracious Presence here and if continued in without Repentance will exclude from his Glorious Presence for ever Now Afflictions are Medicinal Applications for the cure of Sin the Disease and Death of the Soul and therefore infinitely worse than the sharpest Remedies The beginnings and progress of Conversion to God are usually by sanctified Afflictions Indeed considering our folly and perverse abuse of his Blessings they are the most congruous means for our Recovery The Light of God's Law doth not so powerfully convince us of the Evil of Sin till felt in the effects of it Thy own wickedness shall correct thee and thy backslidings shall reprove thee know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord of Hosts The Instructions of the Rod are more sensible than of the Word as the feeling of a tormenting Disease produceth another kind of understanding of it than the reading of its nature in Books of Physick and they make us more attentive to God's Call and leave a deeper impression upon us It is Elihu his observation If Sinners be bound in Fetters and held in Cords then he shews them their works and their transgressions that they have exceeded Affliction clarifies their Sight makes Sin to be as heinous in the view of Conscience as in its own foul nature It follows He openeth also the Ear to Discipline and commandeth that they return from their iniquity Gentle Methods were lost upon them but by Judgments he effectually commands they relent and return to their Duty And after Conversion we need their Discipline to make us more circumspect and obedient The Psalmist declares It is good for me that I have been afflicted For before he was afflicted he went astray He was reduced from the errour of his ways by his Troubles And 't was
we may feel the blessed influence of it more effectually let us consider that divine Providence extends to the whole Creation 'T is infinite and over-ruling all things God is pleased to represent it in Scripture according to the narrowness of our Capacity As Elisha contracted himself to the stature of the Shunamites Child applying his Mouth to his Mouth and his Hands to his Hands Thus 't is said He rides upon the Heavens to signify his absolute power in ordering all the motions of the most high vast and glorious part of the visible Universe He telleth the number of the Stars he calleth them all by their Names The Stars are the brightest and most active parts of the vast Region above us and are called the Host of Heaven with respect to their Number and Order God is their General and tho they seem innumerable to our Senses yet the multitude is exactly known to him and yields ready and entire Obedience to his Pleasure From whence the Psalmist infers Great is the Lord and of great Power his Understanding is infinite There is nothing in the lower World exempted from the Empire and Activity of God's Providence He is unmoveable and moves all invisible yet appears in all The most casual things are not without his Guidance A Man drew a Bow at a venture without express Aim but God directed the Arrow through the Joints of Ahab's Armour that penetrated to the Springs of Life The minutest and least considerable things are ordered by him A Sparrow does not fly or fall without his Disposal 'T is not an Hyperbolical Expression of our Saviour but an absolute Truth That all the Hairs of our Head are numbred and not one falls to the Ground without his Licence The voluntary and most indetermin'd causes of things are under his Conduct The Hearts of Men even of Kings that are most absolute and unconfin'd are in the Hand of the Lord he turns them according to his Pleasure as the streams of Water are by several Trenches conveyed to refresh a Garden by the Skilful Husbandman Sin that is the most disorderly thing in the World is not only within the compass of his Permission but is limited and disposed by his Providence And such is his Goodness that he would not permit it if his Power could not over-rule that Evil for a Good that preponderates the Evil. And all afflictive Evils by his own Declaration are the effects of his just and powerful Providence Is there any evil in the City and I have not done it His Providence is comprehensive and complete no unforeseen Accidents in the freest and most contingent things no unvoluntary obstruction in the most necessary things can break the intireness or discompose the order of his Providence The Lord is in Heaven he doth whatsoever he pleaseth in Heaven and in Earth in the Sea and all the deep places How exactly and easily does he manage and over-rule all things The whole World is his House and all the successive Generations of Men his Family some are his Sons and by voluntary subjection others his Slaves and by just constraint fulfil his Pleasure 'T was the saying of a Wise King instructed by Experience that the Art of Government was like the laborious Travel of a Weaver that requires the attention of the Mind and the activity of the Body the Eyes Hands and Feet are all in exercise And how often is the contexture of Human Counsels though woven with great care yet unexpectedly broke So many cross Accidents interpose so many emergencies beyond all prevention start up that frustrate the Designs and Hopes of the most Potent Rulers of this World But God disposes all things with more facility than one of us can move a grain of Sand the Government of the World has a less proportion to his Infinite Wisdom and uncontrollable Power than a grain of Sand hath to the strength of a Man His Counsel shall always stand all second Causes depend upon him in their Beings their agency and influences Nothing is executed in this visible Kingdom below but by express Order from his invisible Court and all Occurrences are made use of for the accomplishing the designs of his Electing Mercy in the glorification of his Saints Now all that is comfortable and reviving is contained in this Principle If his Providence reaches to the Birds of the Air and the Lillies of the Field much more to the Saints in whom he hath a propriety and such is his condescending Love and inconceivable benignity that he stiles himself by the most endearing relation their God They are the prime part of his vigilant care 'T is St. Austin's affectionate ejaculation O Omnipotent Goodness that so particularly regardest every one of us as if the sole objects of thy tender care and all of us as single persons The Sun applies its quickening influences for the production and growth of a single Plant as particularly as if there were no other things in the World to receive them yet at the same time it passes from Sign to Sign in the Heavens changes the Scenes of the Elements produces new Seasons and its active and prolifick heat forms and transforms whatsoever is changed in Nature This is a fit resemblance of the universal and special operations of Divine Providence what a strong security doth this give to a Christian in the midst of all Trouble in this corrupt and changeable World How will it clear the mind from those miserable perplexities and quiet those improvident precipitant Passions that so often afflict the afflicted Whatever Evils befal the Saints are with the Knowledg the Will and by the efficiency of God materially considered and is he defective in Wisdom Power or Goodness that what he does either might or ought to be better otherwise Indeed sometimes the special ends of his Afflicting Providence are in such deep obscurity that our Line is too short to fathom and the manner how good shall result from Evil is unknown but then we may conclude with evidence 't is for the best When Caesarius a Primitive Saint was arguing in himself how that Scripture could be true that the Earth was founded on the Waters how the more weighty Element should not sink and be overwhelmed by the other he stopt the course of his Thoughts by this reflection I forgat my self when I said to God how can this be and admires that which he could not comprehend For inferiour reasons we often pray that particular Evils that are near may be prevented but if they overtake us we may be satisfied that they are appointed by his supreme Reason and Everlasting Counsel As in a Consort of Musick the parts are not formed when they are sung but were composed before by the skill of the Musician and every part assign'd convenient to the Voices of the Persons Thus the various conditions and passages of our lives were so disposed by the Sovereign Wisdom of God from Eternity and as
sinful yet there is the greatest reason to justify him and accuse our selves much more when our Punishment is far below our Deserts Humility is the Mother of Meekness they are Graces of the same Complexion and Features Our Saviour in the order of the Beatitudes first declared Blessed are the poor in Spirit that have a low conceit of themselves as nothing in Spirituals and worse than nothing in Sin as empty of all that is Holy and Good and compounded of all Evil And Blessed are those that mourn in a sence of their Sins And then Blessed are the Meek And these are very congruously joyned for Meekness is a Disposition inseparable from the other He that duly considers himself to be a wretched Creature a worthless Rebel and is humbly and sorrowfully affected for his unworthiness his Passions will be subdued and as melted Metal receives any form so he patiently suffers what God inflicts A broken Heart is an acceptable Sacrifice to God and implies a tender sense of Sin as the Offence and Dishonour of the holy and gracious God in allusion to a broken Bone that has an exquisite sense of any hurt And it may be extended to signify a Heart that is compliant and submissive to God's Will in allusion to a Horse that is broken and easily managed by the Reins of the Rider Contrition for Sin is always joyned with Resignation to the chastizing Providence of God Besides Godly Sorrow will lessen natural Sorrow Sin first deserves our Grief and the sharpest accents of our Lamentation should be placed upon it and the more sensible we are of it the lighter will Affliction be to us As the opening a Vein stops by Revulsion a flux of Blood in another part so the turning the Stream of Sorrow from Affliction to Sin is a powerful means to make it cease There is Health in the bitterness of Physick and Joy in the depth of this Sadness Briefly Repentance inclines the Heart of God and opens his tender compassions to the Afflicted We have an admirable example of this in the case of afflicted Ephraim upon his Penitential complaint the expression of his Grief and shame for his Sin God graciously answers Is Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant Child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have Mercy on him saith the Lord. When the relenting Sinner is covered with Tears the great Comforter descends and brings healing to the troubled Waters this advice is more necessary for the Afflicted because usually the stroaks of Providence are properly a Reproof and Correction for Sin the application of a Corrosive implies that some corrupt matter is to be discharged God is provoked by their neglects and though Love cannot hate it may be angry and without renewing their Repentance and recovering his Favour their Afflictions are very uncomfortable 'T is extreamly sad to feel the sting of a guilty Conscience within and the displeasure of God without The Burthen is heavy and oppressing that is laid upon a wounded Back It is therefore our best Wisdom and Duty to search our Hearts and try our Ways that we may discover what is the procuring cause of our Troubles and turn unfeignedly to the Lord. This will endear Afflicted Souls to God and incline him to afford gracious supports to them It is true sometimes our Sufferings are designed for Trial especially when they are for Righteousness sake Counterfeit Coin though with a fair Stamp and Inscription is discovered by the Fire thus meer titular Christians specious Hypocrites are made known by Persecutions but true substantial Gold endures the Fire without loss and the more 't is tryed the more 't is refined Thus the true Christian whom neither the gain of the World nor the loss of Life can remove from the stedfast owning of the Holy Truth has a clear manifestation of his Sincerity And it is a peculiar favour and honour when God calls forth his Servants to the hardest Trials for his Names sake 't is the noblest way of Service a special Conformity to the Son of God more glorious than the resembling his power in doing Miracles In this the Saints here have a capacity of serving God above the Angels for the obedience of the Angels is always joined with their Happiness but the obedience of the Saints here is often attended with Adversity and is more valuable to them upon that account As a Soldier of Courage and Generosity when he is chosen from the rest of the Army for some bold Exploit values the choice of the General as a signal mark of the esteem of his Valour and Fidelity To you it is given not only to believe but to suffer for Christ's sake This is just matter of Joy Innocence with the faithful companion of it a good Conscience makes our Sufferings from the rage and violence of Men to be comfortable There may be a Feast within the House when a Storm of Hail rattles upon the Tiles But it is sometimes so ordered by Divine Providence that the Evils we suffer are of a mixt nature partly Chastisements and partly Trials This was the case of the Believing Hebrews to whom the Apostle directs his Counsel their Persecution was from the unrighteous Pagans for a cause purely Religious but 't was permitted by the righteous God as a punishment for their Sins And here the Divine Wisdom and Goodness is admirable that the same Affliction is instrumental for the purifying of his Servants from Sin and the advancement of his glorious Gospel The first and most immediate effect of his Discipline is the humbling and sanctifying them to prepare them for his Love by which they are fortified to bear couragiously the worst Evils for his sake Direct 6. Apply the Mind to consider the Blessings we receive as well as the Evils we endure Whilst the intence Thoughts are fixt upon the Cross the Soul is rackt with inward Tortures but did we turn our Eyes upon our Enjoyments and the Comforts that are interwoven with our Troubles it would be a means not only to compose us to Patience but Thankfulness The Apostle directs us to trust in the Living God who giveth all things richly to enjoy In the poorest and lowest state of Life we have many Favours and effects of his rich Bounty and it is the ignorance of our deservings and of our enjoyments that causeth Discontent and Murmuring under our Troubles Particularly this Consideration will be effectual to repress the Discontent that is apt to kindle in our Breasts upon the sight of the different Dispensations of Providence that some are exempted from the current Adversities of the World and live in ease and pleasure whilst we are deprived of many outward Comforts Suppose a Sick person in extream Poverty were received by a rich and liberal Lord into his House and convenient Food and precious Medicines were provided for him without his desert or
God he was confirmed in hope of Deliverance The Apostle implores the glorious Power of God That the Colossians might be strengthned with all Might unto all Patience and Long-suffering with joyfulness We should sink under heavy Sufferings or be tired with the length of Miseries without his immortal Strength But if the Power of God assist a weak Spirit it will be finally victorious over all the Evils of the World How many Martyrs of the tender Sex who would naturally tremble at a drawn Sword yet by divine Support despised the Tormentors and all the Instruments of Cruelty In them was an imitation of that Miracle of divine Power when the three Children walked in the midst of the flaming Furnace untouch'd by the Fire God is stiled the God of Patience and Consolation It is his sole Prerogative to comfort the afflicted I even I am he that comforts you The Woman in the Gospel that had a bloody Issue no human Art could afford her aid and relief And when her Estate was wasted on the Physitians and her Strength by her Disease she came to our Saviour and by touching the Hem of his Garment was presently healed Thus the afflicted Spirit whom no worldly things are able to support and make joyful finds everlasting comfort in God He satisfies the Soul with his Love and establishes this Persuasion That all things shall turn for the best to his People Now by Prayer the divine Power and Favour is engaged for our support and deliverance How many Psalms of David begin in Tears and end in Triumph In his great Exigency when ready to be swallowed up by his Enemies he dispatch'd a flying Prayer to Heaven for relief Lord take bold of Shield and Buckler and stand up for my help And the Almighty appeared in Arms for his Rescue And he recounts another blessed experience of the efficacy of Prayer In the day when I cryed thou answered'st me and strengthenest me with strength in my Soul The Affliction was still incumbent but did not overwhelm him which was a more gracious testimony of God's love than if it had meerly been taken away It is said of the distressed They looked to him and were lightned It is the Perfection and Propriety of the Saints in Heaven to see the glorious Face of God without Veil or Shadow but here some Rayes of his quickning Countenance comfort his afflicted Servants while they lift up their Eyes and Hearts to his Sanctuary a joyful Light breaks forth that leads them out of the dark Labyrinth of their troubled Thoughts If the Saints remain disconsolate it is not for want of Mercy and Power in God to refresh their Sorrows but from neglecting to improve their Interest in him and deriving Spiritual Comforts from his fulness by humble believing Prayer When the Disciples were surprized with a Storm in the Sea of Tiberias they toil'd with hard labour to save the Ship that was like to be over-whelmed by the Waves but all in vain till by their Cries they waked our Saviour who was asleep in the Ship He lifts up his Head and the proud Waves presently sink he speaks a word of Command and the boisterous Winds are silent and a great Tempest is changed into a great Calm This may fitly represent the afflicted state of a Christian their Passions swell into a Storm they are ready to be overwhelm'd with Troubles but 't is because Christ sleeps in them they have his Presence as if they had it not but earnest constant Prayer will awake him and his propitious Presence will secure them from Shipwrack and make their Breasts the true Pacifick Sea and bring them safely to the Blessed Eternal Shore Briefly God teaches us to profit by our Afflictions and this affords matter of Joy and Thanksgiving The Psalmist declares Blessed is the Man whom thou chastenest and instructest out of thy Law The Divine Teacher gives a right understanding of Sufferings for what end they are sent and teacheth by the voice of the Rod to obey his Word He instructs us in our Duty with the clearest Convictions and infuseth gracious dispositions suitable to his Doctrine He gives directing Light and a seeing Eye to perceive it he presents Heavenly Encouragements and prepares the Heart to receive them Now what Paul speaks of the Cross of Christ is applicable to the Crosses of the Saints God forbid that I should glory but in the Cross of Christ by which the World is crucified to me and I to it The Cross of Christ made the Jews and Pagans to despise and reject the Gospel esteeming it to be gross folly to expect a glorious Immortal Life from one who was ignominiously put to Death yet that was the great Argument of the Apostles triumphant Joy because he felt the Vertue of it to unbind the charms of the World so admired by carnal Eyes He looked upon it with the same disaffection and disregard as one that is near expiring it appeared in his Eyes rather as a loathsom object than with amiable qualities And if the Cross of a Christian be the means of internal Mortification if thereby this vain deceiving World be rendered contemptible to him and his Affections are inflamed to things above he will find cause to glory in Tribulation To conclude this Argument There is no Affliction how great soever though with respect to natural means unremovable and unmitigable yet if it be sanctified by Divine Grace a Christian even while he is so afflicted has more cause of Joy than Grief more reason to bless God for it than to repine and complain In every thing give Thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you He turns Afflictions into Benefits and our affectionate Praises are due upon that account FINIS Plin. l. 2. c. 7. Sed tantum cum fortuna se digladiari momentis omnibus gloriantur Lact lib. 3. Isa. 22. 12 13 14. 1. 1. Rom. 5. 3 4 5. 2. Nihil agis dolor quamvis sis molestus nunquam te esse confitebor malum Possidomus * Talis est sapientis animus qualis Mundi status super lunam sem per illic serenum Seneca * Magna verba excidunt cum Mors proprius accessit cum tortor manum poposcit possis illi dicere facile provocabas mala absentia Seneca 1. 2. Heb. 12. 5. 2 1. Isa. 39. 6 7 8. 2. 2 Sam. 15. 25. 3. 2 Sam. 16. 9. 10. Job 10. 3. Jer. 20. 14. Jer. 31. 15. 1 Sam. 3. 17. Job 1. 21. St. Hillary declares of himself Non sibi relictum quicquam aliud a natura sua intelligere in quo majus officium praestare conditori suo posset quam ut tantum eum esse intelligeret quantus intelligi non potest potest credi de Trin. lib. 1. Ille est vinculum per quod res publica cohaeret Ille spiritus vitalis quem tot millia trahunt nihil ipsa futura nisi onus praeda si mens illa Imperii sub trahatur lib. de Clem. Psal. 8. Act. 9. 6. Job 38. 4 Psal. 39. 8. Psal. 36. 6. Mic. 7. 9. Lam. 3. 39. Job 34. 31 32. Lam. 3. 22. Ezra 9. 13. Levit. 26. 41. Isa. 45. 9. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Heb. 12. 9. Heb. 12. 6. Rom. 8. 32. 2 Cor. 13. 7. Heb. 12. 10. Isa. 59. 2. Jer. 2. 19. Job 36. 8 9. Ver. 10. Psal. 119 1 Cor. 11. Psa. 141. 5. Heb. 4. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 7. Jam. 1. 2 3. Rev. 22. Rom. 8. Heb. 12. 5. Jer. 8. Psal. 89. 31 32 33. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 12. 9. * Acin quamvis de missum Etna nullus frigore ante vertit Solin Heb. 12. 11. Jam. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 4. 1 Tim. 1 Eph. 1. 11. Deut. 32. 4. Isa. 28. 29. Job 32. 2. Job 42. 3. 6. John 12. 27. Judg. 11 36. Rom. 8. 28. Eccles. 6. 12. Vse 1. Prov. 19 3. Rev. 16. 9. Psal. 80. John 3 38 39 Omnia bona mea mecum sunt Justitia Virtus Temperantia Prudentia hoc ipsum nihil boni put are quod eripi possit Seneca Epist. 9. Use 2. Heb. 12. 3. Psa. 104 Heb. 12. 2. Rev. 3. 21. Jam. 5. 10. Heb. 12. 1. Rev. 7. 9. Psal. 148. 8. Psal. 103. Hic est magnus animus qui se Deo tradidit Senec. Heb. 2. Mille pia cer non vagliono un tormento Job 2. 3. Rom. 8. 29. Isa. 5. Jam. 5. 2 King 4. Psal. 147. 5. 1 Kings 22. 34. Mat. 10. O bone Omnipotens qui sic unumquemque nostrum tanquam solum cures sic omnes tanquam singulos Aug. Conf. lib. 13. Dial. 1. Heb. 11. 1. Psal. 84. Rev. 13. 10. Isa. 61. 10. Respondit tibi Deus Haeccine est fides tua haec tibi promisi Ad haec Christianus factus es ut in Seculo floreres Zech. 13 1 Pet. 1. 8. Omnia Spiritui patent vagare spiritu spatiare spiritu Nihil crus sent it in nervo cum animus in coelo est Ad Martyr Nullus iis dolor est de incursatione malorum praesentium quibus siducia est futurorum bonorum Quid hoc ad Christianos quid ad Dei Servos quos Paradisus invitat quos gratia omnis copia Regni coelestis expectat Cypr. cont Demet. Rom. 8. 28. Lam. 3. 24. Psal. 94. 19. Hab. 3. 17 18. Poenam de adversis mundi ille sentit cui laetitia gloria omnis in mundo est Cyp. ad Demet. Psal. 131. Mat. 6. 34 1 Pet. 4. 12. ☜ Psal. 51. Jer. 31. 20. Heb. 12. 1 Tim. 6. 17. * Si duo istae proponantur ridere vis aut flere Quis est qui respondeat nisi ridere Sed tantum praevalet invictissima veritas ut eligat homo sanâmente flere quā mente alienata ridere August Tract de Epict. Jam. 1. 6. Videris obolum porrigere elephanti Macrob. Isa. 49. 14 15 16. 2 Cor. 7. Nec quicquam in te mutavit fortunae amplitudo nisi ut prodesse tantundem posses velles Plin. Non dicit quid sanctos meos quid servos meos sed quid me persequeris Aug. Non audit Deus nisi quod dignum ducit suis beneficiis Arab. Jam. 1. Psal. 42. Col. 1. Psal. 138. Psal. 34. 5. Si non dormiret in te Christus tempestates istas non patereris Ideo fluctuabat Navis quia Christus dormiebat Navis tua cor tuum Aug. 1 Thess. 1. 5.