that all cry out as the Magitians in Aegypt This is the finger of God Å¿ Exod. 8.19 Exod. 8.19 3. By their faith proued and found vnto praise and honour t Deut. 8.2 knowen in the tentation what is in the heart viz. vprightnesse and readinesse to draw neere vnto God u Psal 73. vlt. and to cleaue vnto the Lord with full purpose of heart x Psa 42.8 prayer made to the God of their life c. Christ followed the crosse taken vp themselues denied yea y 2. Cor. 1.8 9. pressed out of measure and aboue strength the sentence of death receiued in themselues that they might not trust in themselues but in God which after two dayes z Hos 6.2 although he kill raiseth the dead magnified and glorified in their bodie their Lord and their God whether by life as in Dauid a Psal 18.17 18. or by death as in Peter b Ioh. 21.19 In the end of their faith is the end of the Lord his owne glorie in their saluation c Psal 50.23 corporall and spirituall temporall and eternall according to his word Psal 50.15 * Saepè hic innocintes pereunt recti sunditùs delentur sed tamen ad aeternam gloâ—iam percundo seruantur Greg. lib. 5. Mor. cap. 14. 4. By their obedience honoured as a father of his sonnes d Mal. 1.6 submisse in their affliction and a master of his seruants corrected obsequious and not answering againe e Tit. 2.9 Had not Satan considered Iob the seruant of God f Iob. 1.8 in his prosperitie Enough he did to his owne shame and the glorie of the Lord in his aduersitie for as Iesus Christ though he were a sonne learned obedience by the things which he suffered g Heb. 5.9 so Iob and all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus h Gal. 3.26 learne of him to be lowly in heart i Matt. 11.29 and by the things which they suffer obedience to their father which is in heaven Better this than sacrifice k 1 Sam. 15.22 Bullocks with hornes and hoofes not required but obedience from the heart to the forme of doctrine which is deliuered l Gal. 5.17 strange flesh not to be offered but a mans owne flesh to bee sacrificed which in euerie act of obedience is done * Per victimas aliena caro per obedientiam jam verò propria caro mactatur c. Gr. sup 1 Reg. c. 15. Obedire est contra audire scilicet contra proprium sensum propriam voluntatem Vt. Perald Sum. Tom. 1. par 10. c. 2. in fin crucified the flesh which lusteth against the Spirit m Rom. 6.17 in which it is performed obeyed the word which commeth and the Lord therein riding prosperously n Psal 45.4 This causeth honour to God in his Maiestie yea many yet without to glorifie him in the day of visitation o 1 Pet. 2.12 The causes of afflictions efficient and finall thus discouered I proceed to the Vses which shall be For 1. Reproofe 2. Correction 3. Information 4. Admonition 5. Instruction 6. Instauration Vnto which shall be added a word of Exhortation 1. For reproofe to the vile Barbarians which seeing a viper on a Pauls hand or a crosse laid on a Simons shoulder cry out they arc murtherers or malefactors and vengeance will not suffer them to liue at ease or to prosper as other men but these the brutish amongst the people fooles alas when will ye vnderstand p Psal 94.8 The time is come that iudgement must begin at the house of God and if it first begin with them that professe and obey what shall the end be of them that obey not nor professe the Gospell of God q 1 Pet. 4.17 18. If the righteous scarcely be saued where shall the vngodly and the sinner appeare If this be done vnto the green trees which bring forth fruit according as God hath dealt the measure of the spirit what shall bee done vnto the dry which digd about and dressed yeare after yeare continue yet fruitlesse as the cursed fig-tree If the way vnto Heaven bee strewed with crosses bee full of tentations and tribulations what shall be found in the way vnto hell or in the end thereof r Pro. 14.12 There is a way which seemeth right vnto a man as the wiâ—l of the Gentiles vnto themselues Å¿ 1 Pet. 4.3 lasciuiousnesse lusts excesse of wine reuellings banquettings and abominable idolatries but the end thereof are the wayes of death Remember ye not the words of the Lord Iesus how he said Luk. 6.25 Woe vnto you that now laugh for ye shall weepe weep when the righteous at whose troubles they laugh shall be deliuered out of all and they come in their stead Doe yee thinke that the Scripture saith in vaine The righteous is deliuered out of trouble and the wicked commeth in his stead u Pro. 11.8 Againe The wicked shall bee a ransome for the righteous x Pro. 21.18 Dan. 6.24 and the transgressor for the vpright Instances before experience had the oracles had of God Haman and Mordecai y Esth 7.10 Hezekiah and the Aethiopians z Isai 43.3 Daniel and his accusers Peter and his keepers * Act. 12.19 But Barbarians are blinde and cannot see afarre off The iudgements of God are far aboue out of their sight a Psal 10.5 on other seene not ouer themselues themselues in the condemnation vnto which before they were ordained of old they finde not not made to suffer euill with the Saints in the earth but for the euill day b Pro. 16.4 Vse 2 2. For correction to them that refuse correction c Isa 1.3 4. Such was the sinfull nation the people laden with iniquitie the seed of euill doers the children that were corrupters That had forsaken the Lord and prouoked the holy one of Israel vnto anger not only by going away backward but by refusing to returne The one knoweth his owner and what the pricke of the gâ—ad meaneth but Israel did not know neither did they consider therefore the Prophet to them d Ver. 5. Why should yee bee stricken any more yee will reuolt more and more Ieremiah e Ier. 5.3 hath the like complaint O Lord thou hast smitten them but they haue not grieued thou hast consumed them but they haue refused to receiue correction they haue made them faces harder than a rocke they haue refused to returne It is so with many Many there bee that being afflicted know it not As Ephraim had gray haires here and there vpon him yet knew it not f Hos 7.9 nor that his strength was deuoured of strangers so wrath is on some from before the Lord yet they feele it not or if they feele it they are humbled no more than the King of Israel by the famine in Samaria Behold hee cryed g 2 Reg. 6.33 This euill
of the Lord wherefore should I wait on the Lord any longer What hope is in or is of such Not the Anchor which is firme but the Spiders web which perisheth Woe vnto the people that be in such a case what is ours now The Church in tribulation S. Iohn subscribed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc 1.9 A brother and Companion in tribulation How doe wee or what when When Hannibal besieged Sâ—guntum a confederate Citie with Rome the Capitoll of Rome one said was assailed the danger and losse abroad is ours ours the common calamities of the dayes the dayes are euill yea so euill they are that a man may say I haue no pleasure in them h Psal 60.1 2 3. Hath not the Lord cast vs off Hath hee not scattered vs Is hee not displeased with vâ— Doth not the earth tremble Is it not broken Doth it not shake Haue wee not hard things shewed vs and beene made to drinke the wine of astonishment Behold we not the shaking of the hand of the Lord which hee shaketh ouer vs stretched our still not turned away his wrath i Isa 9.12.17.21 for all that is done the enemie hath done exploits groweth horribly boasteth himselfe in mischiefe cryeth there there so would wee haue it ensignes set up for signes the profession in corners Religion in the straits schisme and vngratious heresie a float a floud of many waters roares in our eares the first borne of many the hope of Germany how suddenly surrepted Ah alas The Lord calleth vs to weeping and to mourning and to baldnesse and to girding with sachcloth k Isa 22.12 13. yet behold among vs ioy and gladnesse slaying oxen killing sheepe eating flesh and drinking wine dissolute and resolute we we refuse to be reformed we walke contrarie to the Lord who striketh and walketh therefore contrarie vnto vs yea in furie as hee spake in Leuit. 26. l Leuit. 26.28 chastizing and punishing vs seuen times more rebellious more and more I close with one of Ieremies Lamentations m Ier. 8.18 When I would comfort my selfe against sorrow my heart is faint in me Vse 3 3. For information and sith that the Lord afflicteth whom he loueth may the afflicted bee informed by three notes whether or no they are afflicted in loue For first whom the Lord loueth hee loueth vnto the end and will not cease from arguing and chastening them vntill they be conuerted and reclaimed so much the spirit expresly n Reuel 3.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As fathers conuince before they chastise their children make knowne their faults and multiply stripes vntill they coÌ„fesse theÌ„ promise reformation semblably the Lord not leaue will hee them whom he chuseth halting betweene two but cause them by chastening them to approach vnto him o Psal 65.4 and 94.12 compared The purifying hand vpon them the drosse is purely purged and the tinne taken away p Isa 1.25 euerie sonne which is scourged commeth out from among the multitude which doe euill toucheth not the vncleane thing q 2 Cor. 6.17 is thorowly separated before hee bee receiued or can be Bee it so that the wicked the hooke in their nose returne not are not purged in the fornace from their filthinesse nor will bee what shall bee done Not purged thereby they shall neuer hee purged r Ezek. 24.13 Vessels of wrath to be filled with the furie of the Lord But correction in loue causeth the Beloued to come in confessing their sins and their profiting appeareth in the amendment of their life Dauid scourged was sensible of his fault and corrigible the correction of the Lord he refused not but receiued for his good confessed the same Good it is for me that I haue beene afflicted that I may learne thy statutes Å¿ Psal 119.67.71 for before I was afflicted I went astray Psal 119.67.71 but now haue I kept thy word Manasseh taken among the thornes and bound with setters knew at length that the Lord he was God t 2 Chron. 33.12 Ephraim bowed yeelded u Ier. 31.20 Israel vexed with all aduersitie torne and smitten approched x Hos 6.1 2. When a man chastized approacheth vnto the Lord and yeeldeth himselfe confesseth and forsaketh his sin hee may count it all ioy yea giue glorie to the Lord and make thus confession y Psal 119.76 I know O Lord that thy iudgments are right and that thou hast in faithfulnesse afflicted thy seruant Note 2 The second loue-token is Consolation receiued in the dayes of euill coÌ„municated afterwards for whom the Lord loueth he comforteth in euerie tribulation and inableth them thereby to comfort them which are in any trouble By the comforts wherewith they were themselues comforted of God z 2 Cor. 1.4 6 7. As sufferings abound so consolation aboundeth and is participated to them that are partakers of the sufferings Dauid scourged for his sin was comforted humbled for it afterwards what would hee Teach transgressours the wayes of God conuert sinners vnto the Lord a Psal 51.13 Peter hauing erred and being conuerted what should hee strengthen his brethren b Luk. 22.32 When a man is refreshed being afflicted and as he hath receiued any grace if he as a good steward minister the same vnto other lying in the like distresse and communicate with their affliction he hath not been afflicted and refreshed in vaine but to good effect in loue and in mercie to be a vessell of mercie and conduit of loue from the fountaine to the cisterne from the Lord to his chosen in the great tribulation Note 3 The third is a minde content with the present things and present state this the obsignation of the spirit e Ephes 4.30 a certaine diuine impression of light a secret manifestation of grace the God of all grace to them that open vnto him when hee knocketh at their doore with the hammer of the crosse manifesting d Io. 14 2â— himselfe in an admirable manner and filling their hearts with vnexpressible gladnesse e Act. 14.17 giuing them Manna supping with them f Reu. 3.20 bringing them to the banquetting house g Cant. 2.4 5. staying them with flagons comforting them with apples girding their hearts with his peace which passeth vnderstanding h Phil. 4 7. powring the spirit of grace and supplications vpon them i Zach. 12.10 giuing them an vnderstanding that they may know him that is true k 1 Io 5.20 opening the treasures of his all-sufficiencie fashioning their hearts and adapting their mindes to the present condition whatsoeuer it is no sutablenesse nor agreeablenesse between the minde and the condition What is the life but a kinde of liuing death but suiting and agreeing the condition to the minde the appetite accommodated and thing desired had had is that one thing which is instar omnium as it were all things Men of heauie hearts mirth and musike grieue when as weeping
his backe from the smiters nor his face from shame and spitting The adoptiue sonnes when they are chastened with paine vpon their bed a Iob 33.19 20 21 22. and the multitude of their bones with strong paine when their life abhorreth bread and their soule dainty meat when their flesh is consumed away and their bones sticke out when their soule draweth neare to the graue and their life to the destroyer haue also their instructions sealed This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Wherefore should I feare in the dayes of euil b Psal 49.5 when punishment or death the iniquity of my heeles compasse mee about it is at the worst but a bruise in the heele The serpents head is broken and the hunters snare I see my selfe now saued from wrath of which I was by nature the child c Eph. 2.3 The childe of God I am adopted I know it because chastened I endure the chastisement A son without controuersie of a truth I perceiue it because I forget not the exhoration which speaketh vnto me as vnto a sonne My sonne despise not thou the chastening of the Lord neither be wearie of his correction neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth hee correcteth and rebuketh euen as a father the sonne in whom hee delighteth Pro. 3.11 and Heb. 12.5 6. compared A deare son I am d Ier. 31.19 10. I am a pleasant childe my father which is in heauen taketh pleasure in nice his bowels found and are troubled for mee surely hee will haue mercie on me ashamed of my selfe surely hee will delight himselfe in mee confounded in my selfe for that I beare the reproach of my youth Therefore I will whatsoeuer things I suffer delight my selfe in him This shall swallow vp my griefes this shall giue or cause to bee giuen vnto mee the desires of my heart e Psal â—7 4 this the strength of my life This the strong consolation and this is my comfort in my affliction 3. By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions are euidences of the brotherhood in Christ of conformitie to him of communion with him the lustre of his image and the markes thereof the marks of the Lord Iesus in his members yea the sufferings of Christ f Phil. 3.10 and on the whole bodie which is called Christ g 1 Cor. 12.12 accomplished in the brethren which are in the world h 1 Pet. 4.13 and reflected on him who is not ashamed to call them that suffering are sanctified brethren i Heb. 2.11 Is not his care and sympathy expressed k Act. 9.4 persecuted hee is in them that beare his name and his is their reproach l Heb. 11.26.13.13 The reproach of Christ called This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Why art thou cast downe ô my soule and why art thou disquieted within mee m Psal 42.5 No burthen now on thee that is not now on the brethren abroad The same afflictions * 1 Pet. 5.9 the same also the sufferings of Christ not a teare sheddest thou which hee puts not into a bottle not one sigh from thy broken heart which enters not into his open eares not one gash on thee of which his soule is not sensible not one scratch or scarre in thy face which appeares not in his not one furrow on thy backe which turnes not vpon his A brother of low degree yet brother to Iesus Christ in the highest * Iam. 1.9 Reioyce therefore in that thou art exalted and run with patience to the race which is set before thee looking aswell vnto Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of thy faith thy faithfull brother and bearer of thy griefes o Isa 53.4 as also to the brethren enduring the same crosse and despising the shame thereof in the world If any draw backe p Heb. 10.38 whose soule shall haue any pleasure in such Nothing hath taken thee but that which is common q 1 Cor. 10.13 common the exinanition to them in the bodie before the exaltation and this is my coÌ„fort in my afflictioÌ„ 4. By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions are tokens of the presence of God going before his Israel out of Aegypt into Canaan r Deut 8.2 3. Know yee not what hee did to humble them as they went Who knoweth not what the presence of a father amongst children doth euen keepe them in awe or not awefull rebukes are heard and had stripes The righteous are recompenced on the earth Å¿ Pro. 11.31 sometimes by the wicked and sinner The hand of the Lord and the sword in his hand t Psal 17.4 turning euerie way as the * Gen. 3. vlt. Cherubims flaming sword to keepe them whom hee keepes in the way euerlasting These recompenced also as they behaue themselues ill in their doings Amalekites their end to bee destroyed for euer u Num. 24.20 But Iacob not smitten x Isa 27.7 as the smiters of Iacob nor slaine according to the slaughter of his aduersaries ouerturned ouerturned ouerturned with an ah y Isa 1.24 and damned as Sodom z 2 Pet. 2.6 with an ouerthrow The Lords portion a Deut. 32.9 is his people and theirs his aduersaries b Exod. 33.14 His presence is alwaies with them and shall bee to day as yesterday and so for euer Might I with your fauor change my voice I might shew you a mysterie to be admired of you As the Lord is so is his Israel and as they are so is he in the world c 1 Io. 4.17 Nulla est in mundo miseria aut afflictio in quam Deus non respiciat c. Fonsec Sab ante Dom. Quadra Hearing their cries and seeing their iniuries he manifested himselfe not as a consuming fire but as a burning bush as confined himselfe within a bush his people straitened in the confines of Aegypt and they offended as burning himselfe grieued his soule for their miserie Iudg. 10.16 and afflicted himselfe in all their afflictions Isa 63.9 Although hee speake sharply and deale roughly with them yet he earnestly remembers them Ier. 31.19 and will saue them from their enemies from the hands of them that hate them from making of pots from the iron yoke from the heat of the fornace This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Doth the Lord beat me with his rod and strike me with his flâ—ffe his rod and his staffe both comfort me d Psal 23.4 His hand not farre off nor his presence from me but at hand and with mee to deliuer me Infirmities reproaches necessities distresses enuiron me yet trembling and not sinning not resisting nor rebelling against him that is with mee as hee in me I may take pleasure in them e Isa 25.4 Ths Lord is with me a mightie terrible one a strength to mee poore a strength to mee
needy in my distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat when the blast of the horrible ones is as a storme against the wall f 2 Cor. 4.8 9. troubled I am on euerie side yet not distressed perplexed yet not in despaire or not altogether destitute of meanes persecuted yet not forsaken cast downe yet not destroyed when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darknesse the Lord is a light vnto me g Micah 7.8 when I am impleaded hee shall plead my cause when I am iudged and in the hands of the wicked hee will not leaue mee h Psal 37.33 but execute iudgement for me when I am sifted of Satan as wheat hee will confirme my faith i 1 Cor. 1.8 when I am cast downe hee will comfort me k 2 Cor. 7.6 Gratious hee is I know and am perswaded that hee will performe all things for me l Psal 57.2 3. yea send from Heauen all helpes on earth failing and saue me from them that would swallow me vp Therefore I cast my selfe on him I roll I commit my way vnto him m Psal 37.5 c. Hee shall bring it to passe my righteousnesse as the light and my iudgement as the noone-day my refuge is vnder the shadow of his wings vntill these calamities shall bee ouerpast n Psal 57.1 my rocke he is my fortresse my deliuer o Psal 18.1 my buckler my high Tower my God and his presence the horne of my saluation And this is my comfort in my affliction 5. By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions are the high way vnto heauen p Act. 14.12 no walking on pillowes thither but on thornes and stones the strait gate not easily entred at pressing there is and must be violence q Mat. 11 12. or else no entrance there In the broad way is elbow-roome but thorow the straits as the blessed goe to the euerlasting gates are strong oppositions by the principalities and powers by the rulers of the darknesse of this world and the wickednesses in the high places r Eph. 6.12 This when I remember I powre out in mee my soule thus The world which now laugheth and reioyceth maketha me wretched man to weepe and lament yet is my sorrow turned into ioy yea I count it all ioy when I fall into temptations t Iam. 1.2 I am exceeding ioyfull in all my tribulations u 2 Cor. 12.10 Are they not portalls before the house of God and the gates of Heauen Guides and markes they are in the straight street in the old way to the soules rest of the new and liuing way to perfection the footsteps of Iesus Christ made perfect he through sufferings x Heb. 2.10 and endured for the ioy that was set before him y Heb. 12.3 such oppositions and contradictions of sinners against himselfe as are written in the volume of the booke so will I being confident of this verie thing That the present pressure is the way vnto peace in the after ends z Psal 37.37 the paines of Hell vnto the ioyes of Heauen the reproaches of Christ to the euerlasting pleasures the valley of the shadow of death the path of righteousnesse vnto perfection And this is my comfort in my affliction 6. By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions are the Porters which open the doores of distressed soules that the gratious promises may come in what are the gracious promises of our God Verily to haue mercie on his afflicted Isay 49.13 according to the multitude of his tender mercies Lam. 3.32 to gather them with great mercies and to haue mercie on them with euerlasting kindnesse Isay 54.7 8. to bee with them in trouble to deliuer them and honour them Psal 91.15 yea to bee with them for euer euen vnto the end of the world Matth. vlt. vlt. neuer to leaue them neuer to forsake them Ios 1.5 spoken first to that great Duke but applyed by the spirit vnto the little flock of the little ones Hebr. 13.5 vnto the least of the little ones that beleeues on Iesus Christ The Lord hath said I will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee This when I rememher I powre out in me my soule thus Pro. 3.10 By sight I see how many liue not by faith their barnes filled with plenty Luk 12.19 and their presses bursting out with new wine they sing hearts case and soule take thine case but the bread of aduersity and water of affliction or of oppression giuen Heb. 11.13 The iust liue by faith seeing the promise as the fathers afarre off yet saluting them as present and embracing the same as the verie ioy and reioycing of their heart Therefore it is good for mee to rest my selfe on and in the promises of God Ier. 1.12 for hee will hasten his word to performe it his word he will remember vnto mee his seruant Psal 119.149 vpon which he hath caused mee to hope Heb. 10.35 I will not cast away my confidence which hath great recompence of reward patience in me shall haue her perfect worke Iam. 1.4 that I may bee perfect and intire wanting nothing I will doe the will of God that I may receiue the promise yet a little while and hee that shall come Heb. 10.37 will come and will not tarrie euen the God of all grace in a time accepted then shall my light breake forth as the morning and mine health shall spring forth speedily Isa 58.8.10 the day-spring from on high shall visit mee I shall see in that day Hab. 2.3 the word in the worke The vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speake and not lye though it tarrie I will wait for it because it will surely come with refection And this is my comfort in my affliction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. By the word through faith they vnderstand That affliction haue with them power from bone preseruatiue and sanatiue had not Ionah beene swallowed of the Whale he had beene of the sea and Bethesda's poole healed when troubled Happâ—e iâ— the man whom God errecteth Iob 5.17 This happinesse who can declare not one not knowen ouerwhelmed with a floud what gulph is escaped who knoweth or what malady cured some miserie endured This when I remember I powre cut in mee my soule thus The smarting rod vpon mee may bee a supporting staffe vnto mee without it I might fall into a fouler ditch Had not it a worse thing might haue happened vnto me Physick makes sicke before whole a time of health for this trouble will come and I will expect it Behold my Physitian standeth before the doore hee looketh vpon mee and mee hee looketh Isa 66.3 Vt curent spasmum medici procurent febrim This ague to shake me he doth procure mee to cure a more dangerous conuulsion in mee or as Lot was in Sodome I may bee in this
world Gen. 19.6 and these troubles as the Angels on him lay hold on mee the Lord being mercifull vnto mee to bring me forth and to set me without the bounds of destruction I will therefore take in all that come for in doing this as other in their tents I may entertaine in this earthly tabernacle Angels vnawares Heb. 14. â—â— An Angell sent from God for some speciall good to me is my tribulation and this is my comfort in my affliction 8. By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions demonstrate faithfull and fruitfull branches Euerie branch of the vine that beareth fruit is purged that it may bring forth more fruit Io. 15.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defractionem partium luxuriantium Aret. in loc Fert vberiorem fructum post refectionem Aret. vbi sup Vitis foditur circuÌ„ciditur sterceratur putatur aliisque multis exercetur laboribus c. Aret. vbi sup For as after the refection defraction of the parts luxuriant the branches of the vine yeeld more fruit so the faithfull in their afflictions which are as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rusticke purgations are the more fruitfull not pruned at ease and grow wilde apace or their grapes wilde but purged afflicted wounded within and bruised without euerie gift is stirred vp and set to work euery grace that is in them the lights put vnder a bushell before shine afterwards as in candlestickes set vpon hills What vse before of faith or of patience before what hope or ioy in the holy Ghost As the wine forced runs out of the presse and as the weights of a clocke turne all the wheeles about so the loads of afflictions presse out of them that are Christs the praises of Christ * 1 Pet. 2.9 and shew forth the hidden vertues of them that are the hidden ones of God * Psal 83.4 This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Pinched I am pruned and pared nigh yea cut to the quicke that I bleed in spirit but needfull the compunction it is the first degree of inward humiliation if a wound bee it is the second and not hurtfull nor the third which is the contrition it selfe Better is a conscience wounded D. Slater Salue for a wounded spirit than a conscience seared better a heart grownd to powder with the millstone of wrath turning about vpon it than one dedolent and past feeling of sin and wrath better a soule to be lopped in the passions of sinnes than to be obducted with ranke lusts or neglected and reiected Not meerely poenall the wounded spirit in the children of God as in Cain and Iudas the beginning of their hell but either castigatory for the chastisement of some particular disobedience as Dauids or probatory for triall as Iobs or percursory for preuention as Pauls thorne in his flesh lest through the abundance of reuelations he should be exalted aboue measure 2 Cor. 12. or purgatorie for the cleansing of vncleane and euill thoughts imaginations and reasonings touching Gods prouidence the word the profession the power of nature selfe-abilitie to conuert inherent righteousnesse good works freewill and security in the arme of flesh How such sparkles rise in vnswept chimneyes the fire blowne with the bellowes of hell who knoweth not that knoweth the deuices of Satan Phil. 2. Therefore I will through him that worketh the will and the good deed giue all diligence to search and try mine own wayes In euery crooked way I may finde a crosse * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my crosses indigitate mine exorbitancies As I deprehend them I will amend them and bring forth fruit meet for repentance new obedience in all things the old things in mee shall become all new When I shoot forth Isai 27.8 the Lord will in measure debate with mee and stay the rough wind in the day of the East wind when I blossome and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit in its season for I will approue my selfe as the seruant of Christ 2 Cor. 6.5 6. in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in tumults in labours by the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by good report and euill report as persecuted yet not profligated as chastened and yet not killed as sorrowfull and yet reioycing as pruned being pampinous too full of needlesse sprigges and superfluous twigges yet not taken away as the fruitlesse branch nor cast forth nor withered nor gathered of men nor cast into the fire but purged for fructification Io. 15.6 and this is my comfort in my affliction 9. By the word of God through faith they vnderstand that afflictions are necessary exercises Heb. 12.13 a kind of wrestling betweene the Lord and his seruants Troubles on them his hands on them and theirs on him the right hand of faith 2 Tim. 2.5 Thus it is wrested and who preuaileth Alwayes the afflicted striuing lawfully The lawfull striuing learned of Iacob Hoseah his interpreter hee had power with God and preuailed for hee wept and made supplication vnto him Hos 11. so may all ouercome if the Lord may ouercome the heart yeelded vp the strife is ended humbled in the sight of God immediately lifted vp Iam. 5.10 teares seene hee yeelds supplications made he takes away his hand the victory with facility had grieuous the conflict for the present time yet ioyous afterwards Heb. 12.11 the Lord not let goe the blessing not obtained This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Is the euill vpon me the hand of the Lord Doth hee thereby wrestle with mee wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee Rom. 7.24 Hee will himselfe hold mee downe with his left and vphold mee with his owne right hand my faith his gift Io. â— 2â— his worke that I beleeue in him beleeuing in him I cannot nor shall be cast downe of him or out of his sight Gen. 35.25 touched happily the hollow of my thigh as hee wrestleth with mee it may slip out of ioynt or the sinew may shrinke and I may halt vpon it but my faith shall not faile Therefore will I while the Lord with mee striue lawfully with him holding my selfe fast by him weeping before him and making incessant supplications vnto him exercised this shall bee my exercise vntill I preuaile and through him I shall preuaile with him he will hold me fast see my teares Psal 6.8 heare the voyce of my weeping Isai 38.5 giue mee the petitions that I desire of him blesse me with the new name Reuel 2.17 in the white stone giuen to him that ouercommeth I shall haue princely power with God and men Psal 118.6 I will not feare what men can doe vnto mee aduantagious the disaduantage the agitation requisite lucratiue the luctuation And this is my comfort in my affliction Lastly By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions precede the ioy of the Lord and glorie to come as the pleasures of sinne destruction and damnation To them that make their bellies their Gods Phil. 3.18 and that minde earthly things as the enemies of the crosse of Christ Rom. 29 10. Tribulation and anguish indignation and wrath but to them that lye amongst the pots in stocks in the dungeon in the briars and in the burning bushes induring the fierie triall of their faith fulnesse of ioy and brightnesse of glorie the triall of their faith being much more pretious than of gold which perisheth though it bee tried in the fire shall bee found vnto praise and honour and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ The Passouer of the great * Reuel 5.14 tribulation celebrated or the same passed ouer they shall wash their robes Phil. 3.21 and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe their vile bodies also be fashioned like vnto the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ shall shine as the firmament yea as the Sun in the height of his glorie This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Of a truth I perceiue Rom. 8.18 that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to bee compared to the glorie which shall be reuealed in me I reckon not the temporall euill but haue respect to the eternall good I faint not 2 Cor. 4.16 17. for though mine outward man perish mine inward is renewed day by day my light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for mee a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie Therefore vnder my pressures Rom. 2.10 I will by patient continuance in well-doing seeke for glorie and honour and immortalitie and eternall life for I am perswaded that neither tribulation nor distresse nor persecution nor famine Rom. 8 3â— nor nakednesse nor perill nor sword nor death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to preuent the ioy or to separate me from the glorie to come the spirit of glorie resteth already on me and full is my heart of ioy in the Holy Ghost The God of all grace hath by Christ Iesus called me into his eternall glorie and after that I haue suffered a while * 1 Pet. 5.10 will cause mee to enter into his ioy which is fulnesse of ioy and crowne mee with his glorie which is eternall glorie To him be glorie and dominion for euer and euer Amen FINIS