By what Law was he and Silas beaten openly and uncondemned at Philippi Act. 16. vers 22 23 37 By what colour of law was he drawn out of the Temple and almost killed by the Jewes Act 21 9. If it adde to the griefe of any when they consider that such as persecute and oppose them are not openly profane and wicked Persons but such as are accounted good and sober persons and such as may be judged to have the grace of God in them It would be remembered that howbeit this indeed be a sad Ingredient in the cup of affliction may make the trouble heavier than otherwise it would be yet it is no uncouth thing Iob's friends were good sober understanding Persons though in a great mistake as to the application of their discourse unto Iob's state Paul did meet with some thing like this Act. 13. vers 30. at Antioch when the jewes stirred up devout and honourable women against him The false Teachers that on all oc casions opposed Paul were not profane wicked Persons for they had transformed themselves into the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11 vâ—…rs 13. We read also of some that preached Christ of envy and contention supposing thereby to adde affliction unto Paul's bonds Phil. 1. vers 15 16. 10. Some may possibly think much to be put to open shame and made a gazing stock and to be exposed to open contempt and ludibrie and indeed that may be a sad affliction to some noble and generous spirit and heavier than death it self But yet it is no strange thing for we read of some Hebr. 10. vers 33. who were theatrized brought to open scaffolds and put on pillories and made publick spectacles and exposed to open mockery So Hebr. 11. vers 36. some had trial of cruel mockings Was not Iob made a by-word of the people and their song Iob 17 6. and 30. vers 9. Several other things of this nature might be named but I shall haste unto the third particular and shew how little ground there would be for such complaints and outcryes if all were known and rightly considered and to this end I shall mentione these particulars 1. When Peter is writting to a scattered company living as strangers in a strange land he saith unto them 1 Pet. 4. vers 12. Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing hapned unto you Though they were scattered thorow many Countreyes ' and were to meet with trials yea and fierie trials yet he would not have them troubled thereat or look upon it as any uncouth accident befalling them teaching us thereby to look otherwayes upon the sharpest of trials and exercises that we meet with than we readily do and not to think that we are worse dealt with than others or that God taketh some uncouth un-heard-of course with us 2. What if it be found after impartial trial that there have been many who have drunk deeper by many degrees of the cup than they have done and that their affliction under which they groan and cry-out so much is nothing comparable to what others of the Lord's worthies have been exercised with Will not this appear by an impartial view of the Instances adduced And seing their crosse is light in comparison of what some dear to the Lord have had is there or can there be any ground for their so complaining 3. Will it not be found that such as complaine thus dar not compare themselves with others who have been as sore afflicted if not sorer than they as to Grace Sanctification Communion with God c Will they arrogat to themselves that honourable Epithet which the Lord gave David a Man according to God's own heart or Iob a perfect man and upright and one that feared God and eshewed evil And if not is there ground for their complaint when God is dealing no worse with them than He did with those yea is dealing with them in a far more gentle manner 4. What if it be found that such as have been visited with the same affliction with which they are visited and under which they groan so much have not provoked the Lord so much as they have done And will not their complainings then be found most unreasonable and groundless 5. What if it be found also true undeniable that those who have met with the same calamities have been more usefull in their generation than they are or ever were If God spare not the green tree shall the drye tree that is sapless and barren doing little more than cumbering the ground complaine that it is cut down We should be content with the same lot that both the Prophets and Apostles had It needed not grieve the Philippians that they had the same conflict which they saw in Paul and heard to be in him Phil. 1. last The last particular is to shew a better way of improving the example of others who have been afflicted before us than to take occasion therefrom to complaine of God's dealing as if it were worse with us than with them to wit to be considering their Christian carriage under their afflictions that we may be ashamed of our deportment and may be stirred up to follow their example in what is truely commendable and is for that end held forth to us in Scripture many particulars of this kind might be mentioned we shall name only a few 1. We finde them patient under the crosse and their instance proposed to us for imitation in this respect So saith the Apostle Iames Cap. 5. vers 10 11. Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience Behold we account them happy which endure yee have heard of the patience of Iob and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy If the carriage of the Prophets under the crosse and particularly of Iob were narrowly searched it would be found that there was sometime too much Impatience but the Spirit of the Lord would not have us poreing upon that but to take special notice of their patience and in this to look upon them as a copie set before us for albeit there was much Impatience to be observed in Iob's carriage yet his Patience is taken notice of by the Spirit of God and we are bidden look to that as if we had never heard of one of his impatient expressions 2. We finde them looking especially to God's hand in the matter and overlooking all Instruments adoring and reverencing the holy Providence and Disposal of God laying their hand upon their mouth and giving God the glory and in this we should study to be followers of them David said Psal. 39. vers 9. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it And when Shimei railed upon him and cursed he said let him curse for the Lord hath said unto him curse David and
I wil raise up evil against thee out of thine own house and I will take thy wives before thine eyes and give them unto thy Neighbour and he shall lye with thy wives in the sight of this sun for thou didst this secretly but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun And this accordingly was done by that wicked wretch Absalom 2. Sam. 16. vers 22. And because of the high holy and soveraigne hand which God had in this sore aâ—…iction He saith by Nathan the Prophet that He would do it 3. We finde in the Scriptures that the wicked Enemies in following prosecuting their malicious designes against the People of God are held forth and spoken of as God's Instruments in that work As Esai 10. vers 5. Where the Assyrian is called the rod of God's anger and the staff in their hand is said to be His indignation So Vers. 15. They are compared to an aâ—… in the hand of him that heweth therewith and to a saw to a rod and to a staff all which we know can do nothing but as moved and ordered by the principal Actor To the same sense are they compared to a rasour wherewith God will shave the head and the haire of the feet and the beard Esa. 7. vers 20. Thus is Babylon called a golden cup in the hand of the Lord Ier. 51. vers 7. Likewise the Enemies are compared to a net which God will spread over his people Hos. 7. v. 12. and to a snare Ezek. 12. vers 13. They are likewise called God's sword Psal. 17. vers 13. and His hand vers 14. All which and the like expressions show That God hath a principal hand in the afflictions which his people meet with at the hands of wicked Instruments and that the wicked are but as so many Instruments and Lixes imployed by him for that effect howbeit they minde no such thing but drive on their own designes to satisfie their own wicked lusts 4. The Scripture speaketh of the Lord as raising up these wicked Instruments as leavying them and sending them to execute his will So Esai 5. vers 26. And He will lift up an Ensigne to the Nations from far and will hisse unto them from the end of the earth and behold they shall come with speed swiftlâ—… So Esai 7. vers 18. And it shall come to passe in that day that the Lord shall hisse for the flie that is in the uttermost parts of the rivers of Aegypt and for the bee that is in the Land of Assyria By which we understand that as these Enemies cannot stir notwithstanding of all their malice rage and anger against the Lord's people till God send for them and hisse for them and as it were subscribe and seal their commission so they are wholly at his disposal as the armie is at the disposal of the General or of him who leavyeth them and employeth them In like manner we read 1 Chron. 5. vers 26. that the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul King of Assyria against the Reubenits the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh So it is said Psal. 105. vers 25. That God turned the heart of the Egyptians to hate his people and to deal subtilly with his servants And 2 Cbron. 21. vers 16. that he stirred up against Iehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians that were neer the Ethiophians 5. We finde the Lord said frequently to deliver up his people into the hands of these Enemies and to sell them unto them as it were to give them wholly up to their devotion and disposal see Iudg. 3 8. and 4. vers 2. and 6. vers 1. and 10 7. Dan. 1 2. 2 King 17. vers 20. Thereby showing that these Enemies could do nothing against the people of God untill the Lord had permitted the same and given way thereto and had as it were withdrawn his protection and taken away his hedge of defence and so left them naked and exposed unto the rage and cruelty of their brutish Enemies 6. This is also manifest from the grand and noble Purposes and Designes which the Lord bringeth about by those meanes far diffâ—…rent from what these wicked Instruments intend as we see Gen 45. and 50 Ioseph's Brethren meaned evil against him but God meaned it for good So Esai 10. vers 7. The Assyrian meaneth not so as God doth neither doth his heart think so but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few but the Lord hath another work upon mount Zion and on Ierusalem Vers. 12. to wit to punish them only by his smiting with a rod and lifting up his staff after the manner of Egypt V. 24. or as it is Esai 27 9. to purge away the iniquity of Jacob and to take away sin Wherefore seing the Lord hath such soveraigne ends as the chastisement and trial of his people the exercise of their graces c. to bring about He cannot but have a special hand in and about the meanes which serve to bring about these ends This being sufficient to cleare up what was first to be spoken to we come Secondly to speak a little of the manner and way how the hand of the Lord is to be observed in and about the sharpe afflictions of his people by the hand of wicked persons who are active therein And in speaking to this we shall wave all subtile debates concerning God's Decreeing the event of sin His Predetermination and His Concourse with second causes in those Actions which are sinful and shall onely pitch upon some particulars which are more plaine and undeniable and also more useful to the point in hand As 1 There is the Lord 's holy permission giving way to and not restraining the furie and rage of Enemies when He hath a mind to make use of them for a scourge He must loose as it were the chaine with which they are bound and restrained and take away the hedge of protection wherewith he guardeth and protecteth his people and all that belongs to them Satan could do nothing against Iob nor stirre so much as one lambs tail that belonged to him untill the Lord for holy and wise ends gave way thereunto therefore he said unto the Lord Iob 1. vers 10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side This is also imported in the Lords giving up his people into the hands of Enemies and selling them and delivering them as a judge doth a Malefactor into the hand of the Executioner Yet we must not conceive of this Permission as if it were in all things like unto the bare naked permissions of men but as sutable to him who is a most pure and simple Act 2. There is herein considerable the Lord's Commission to speak so not that He will warrand and approve of them in their wickedness or give them any moral Authoritie or
Iob said the Lord hath given and taken blessed be His name 3. We finde them following their duty notwithstanding of all the trouble and calamity which they did meet with Paul notwithstanding of all that befel him went on and minded his work when he was persecuted in one place he went to another and there preached the Gospel And in this we should follow them for for this end are these things left on record 4. We finde them so far from fretting and repineing at the Lord's Dispensations with them in suffering wicked instruments to afflict them and persecute them for righteousness that they therein rejoice as the Apostles did Act. 5. vers 41. And Paul glorified in these his infirmities 2 Cor. 12. And it is commendable to follow them here 5. We finde them likewise notwithstanding of all their Sufferings standing fast in the faith adhereing to their principles refusing deliverance upon any sinful or base termes Heb. 11. vers 35. Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtean a better resurrection And it were good if we were considering them to this end that in this we might follow their footsteps 6. We finde them acting faith on God in the mean time Heman Psal. 88. was in a very sad case yet for all that was come upon him he would not quite his interest in God but beginneth that sad Psalm thus O Lord God of my salvation So did Iob likewise act faith on God Chap. 19. 7. We finde them exercising Hop for as desperat-like as their case would seem to be as David Psal. 38. the beginning whereof sheweth that his case was then very sad yet V. 15 he crieth out In the Lord do I hope 8. We finde them taking with their iniquity whereby they provoked God to deal so with them or desireous to understand what is the ground of God's controversie so the Church Mica 7. vers 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him See likewise Lam. 3. vers 39 42. And Iob said Chap. 10. ver 2. I will say unto God do not condemne me shew me wherefore thou contendest with me If we were thus taking notice of the commendable deportment of other worthies when they were in Afflictions to the provoking of our selves unto the like carriage we would finde it a more profitable exercise than to be in our mindes aggravating our lot beyond the lot of those before us and imagining that God dealeth worse with us than He hath done with others before us CONSIDERATION XV. Suffering Christianly is a special gift of God MAny look upon Suffering for the Name of Christ with an evil eye and with prejudice and because of the misapprehensions they have of it they cannot complye with it whereas a right view of it would make it less terrible yea more lovely and desireable The Apostle writting to the Philippians Chap. 1. vers 29. giveth them ground to think well of the cross of Christ when he said for unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not only to beleeve on Him but also to suffer for His sake He had been exhorting them in the foregoing Verses that they would stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing be terrified by their adversaries and after he had told them that the opposition of the adversaries was an evident token to them of Perdition that their own standing withstanding was an evident token to themselves of Salvation and that of God He subjoineth this ground of encouragment that it was granted unto them as a special favour and that in the behalfe of Christ not only to beleeve on Him but also to suffer for His sake In which words these Three Particulars are chiefly considerable in order to our present designe 1. That suffering for the sake of Christ is a special gift of God and not a thing that meer natural Strength and Courage can reach 2. That it is a gift purchased by Christ and given on His behalfe or for His sake and not for any thing in us 3. That it is a gift in some respect beyond that excellent gift of faith But before I speak particularly to these points I shall premit these three things considerable 1. Though to bear any crosse or crossing dispensation outward or inward in a christian acceptable manner be beyond the power of nature and natures strength and is the pure gift of God yet here we are mainely to speak of that Trouble Afflictions and Crosses which the followers of Christ are put to suffer by wicked Men and for avowing of His truth and Interest of what measure or degree so ever it be for this is that which is here understood and whereof the Apostle is speaking as the forgoing and following Verses cleare 2. Nor do we hereby understand every Trouble that wicked persons create unto the Godly though unto a Christian deportment in such a case the special grace and gift of God be required but of that which is properly for the Name of Christ for adhereing to His truth and cause for of this doth the Apostle speak when he mentioneth suffering for Christs sake 3. Nor do we speak of Suffering here simply considered but of suffering accompained with its Christian Concomitants or of Suffering in a Christian humble self denied handsome and cleanly manner this being the Suffering which is to be called the gift of God and not that which may be undergone upon a carnal account and may flow from a carnal Principle and be intended foâ—… some carnal end Having premised these things we come to speak to the first point and shew That suffering in a Christian manner for the Name of Christ is the meer gift of God and beyond the reach of all natural Strength and Courage Which will be sufficiently clear if we but take a view of such particulars as are requisite unto a Christian way of suffering for Christs sake some only of which we shall content ourselves here to name as 1. To the end that one suffer as a Christian for the sake of Christ it is requisite that he be a Christian indeed a beleever in Christ indeed for a man in nature can act nothing as a Christian as wanting the divine principle of all Christian Actions This is imported in the Text now before us where the gift of faith in Christ is supposed as existent before the gift of suffering Now it is beyond all debate with the orthodox that to beleeve in Christ and to become a Christian indeed is beyond the reach of nature and the same Text here evinceth faith to be given of God so also is it expresly said to be the gift of God and not of ourselves Ephes. 2. 8. And therefore this Christian suffering for the sake of Christ must be the special gift of God 2. Unto suffering Christianly it is requisite not only that the sufferer be aBeleever but also that
ourselves as Christians with a sutable frame and disposition To the Question then Why the Lord thinketh good to follow this way We answer He doth it for great and weighty reasons partly 1. concerning Himself partly 2. concerning Enemies and partly 3. concerning His own People As to the first the reasons concerning Himself we may take notice of these 1. The Lord thinketh good to bring about His purposes of delivering His people in an hid unseen and unobservable way that He may shew forth the glory of his Soveraignity who chooseth Wayes and Methods as He pleaseth and doth as whatever he will so after what manner he will in heaven and in earth and is not obliged to follow ordinary methods or to walk in beaten and troden paths but to do what beseemeth a great King and a Royal Soveraigne who giveth not an account of any of his matters whose will is a law to us and a rule to speak so to himself Hence in this same Chapter Esai 45. is this so oft repeated I am the Lord and none else vers 5 6 18 21. Hereby laying down the ground of His so acting and quieting his peoples mindes and stilling their thoughts concerning this matter 2. The Lord thinketh good to trade in such an unseen way that spiritual eâ—…es may the more see that it is He even He who is God and there is none else that it is He who formeth the light and creaâ—…eth darkness who maketh peace and createth evil and is the Lord who doth all these things vers 7. Wherein should it appear that He were Jehovah if in all things he should work according to the thoughts and imaginations of men Is not this a manifest proof of His being God when his wayes and Actings transcend our Comprehensions Though in all his wayes and workings He is God and worketh and doth like himself even in such as are most ordinary and obvious and a Spiritual eye can discerne and espve something truely divine the marks of a divine hand there yet when His way is in the deep waters and his foot-steps cannot be seen He acteth in a manner more like Himself like one who is indeed God and whose wayes are beyond and above the reach of Men the wisest and holiest of Men and then may all have ground to say This is the finger of God as the Magicians of Egypt said when the Lord did somethings which they with all their inchantments could not imitate Exod. 8 18 19. 3. The Lord chooseth this way to give some signal proof of His Wisdom if Statsmen should mannage and carry-on their affairs of State alwayes in such an open and plaine manner that every plaine and simple man that knoweth nothing of the intrigues of state should be able to discerne their motions designes and all their contrivances they would not give great proof of their State wisdom and Policy And if a Commander and Leader of an army should so manage all his affairs in that conduct that the meanest souldier should be able to discover and understand all his designes and stratagems he should give but a sory proof of his singular dexterity in conduct But when the Statsman and the Commander in chiefe so carry on their projects that few or none can well understand what their Designe and Intention is then a demonstration is given of their Ability Wisdom and Accomplishment for such places of power and trust So when the Lord hideth His holy Purposes and Projects and acteth so as ordinary on-lookers will suppose imagine that he is going East when He mindeth to march west ward and even many of his own will think that He is about to destroy his work and people when He is upon His way to raise them up and set them on high and to destroy the Adversarieship and thigh then His deep and unsearchable Wisdom appeareth Then it appeareth that He also is wise Esai 31 2. Iob gote a sight of this in the Lords rare works of providence Iob. 12 12 13. to the end and therefore saith with the ancient is wisdom and in length of dayes understanding with Him is wisdom and strength he hath counsel and un derstanding So Paul gote such a sight of this that made him cry out Rom. 11 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his wayes past finding out 4. Hereby also the Lord giveth a clear demonstration of his Faithfulness and Truth If He were carrying-on the accomplishment of his Promises and Purposes of good towards his people in a visible discernable and obvious manner folks would have but an ordinary and cursory observation of His Faithfulness and their hearts accordingly would be but in an ordinary manner affected and they moved but to praise and blesse Him therefore of course for remarking nothing singular their hearts would not be raised-up above what is usual and ordinarie to admire extol Him upon that account But when he followeth another method taketh an unusual course to bring about his grand designes and such a course as whereby Enemies might think He did not see nor regard He would never come to helpe His people the day was theirs they should prosper and never be moved for there is no appearance or probability might they think that ever the case shall alter our affairs be overturned upon the other hand whereby his owne People might sâ—…e no visible or probable ground of hope that the promises should be accomplished the word of the Lord should take effect then His appearance with salvation after he had wrought so long under ground out of sight all hop was gone from them fear from the enemie is much more remarkable his Faithfulness shineth forth with a more then ordinary Glance and Lustre It cometh forth then with a witness Then they see and say that his faithfulness is unto the clouds Psal. 36 5. that his righteousness is like the great mountains and his judgments are a great depth vers 6. and that his faithfulness is unto all generations Psal. 119 90. So that no vicissitudes or changes here below can alter Him no delay of time or procrastination or the like can make any alteration in Him for his faithfulness is unto all generations Then will they praise his Truth Psal. â—…1 22. But next as to such grounds and reasons hereof as concerne Enemies we may take notice of these 1. He cometh with deliverance unto His people in a way not obvious nor observable that enemies may appear in their own colours and give a plaine and open discovery of the latent malice and wickedness of their heart against the People of God If the Lord did alwayes appear openly and manifestly in the behalfe of His owne let all the world see that He owned them for His people and would suffer none to do them harme the malice and wickedness of many latent enemies who can speak
so multiplied motives to seek salvation an outgate by sinful and unlawful wayes and meanes doubled yet the soul is fixed on Him and on Him alone and will say Asshur shall not save us we will not ride upon horses but in God alone the fatherless findeth merey Hos. 14 3. All which may discover our sinful and unsutable frame in such a dark day when the Lord is in Glory and Majesty sutable to Himself carrying on His work out of our sight and is hiding Himself that we cannot see him nor know what he is doing so may it point forth our duty and teach us what to think and what to do in such a day And to this end we may hence learn in particular to minde those duties following 1. In such a day wherein the Lord hideth Himself we should beware of entertaining any jealous thoughts of Him Satan will then be busie to muster up all the Arguments and Grounds he can to cause Beleevers at least turn jealous of God and to doubt if He will appear any more for Zion to the end they may faint and give over Faith and Hope and then he hath gained his point and Beleevers in such a day may expect this and feare their own hearts that will be too ready to comply with all Satans Motions and Suggestions This therefore would be carefully guarded against 2. In such a day the unchangable Purposes of God His faithful Word and Promises should be the subject of our Meditation on these should we dwell and ruminate to the end our heads may be keeped-up in hope and we may not despond 3. We should beware to make the day darker by sinful departing from God and by giving way to Satans Temptations When folks in a dark night are walking among snares and pits they will set down their feet with great warriness and circumspection so should we do in such a day lest we make our Condition worse 4. We should observe narrowly what we can mark in the Dispensations of the Lord that will say and evince to us according to the grounds of spiritual reasoning that God is about His work and that though we see Him not yet He in working under ground and carrying on His projects to the end we may be confirmed in our hope and strengthened to waite with patience and faith 5. We should minde our duty whatever He do for that is it we are called to and so much the rather that the Lord hideth Himself should we be diligent in unquestionable duties for He meeteth him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness Esai 64 v. 5. 6. We should beware to limite the holy One of Israel let us rather stoup and adore and acknowledge Him to be Jehovah who doth what He will The Third thing considerable in these words of truth is what is imported by that word Verily And it wouldseem to pointe out to us these particulars following which I shall but mention First That it is no light or easie mater to win to the faith and to the sight of this by saith That God is the Lord and the God of Israel and the Saviour when He hideth Himself For this ejaculation seemeth to have been or is so here expressed as if it had been the issue and result of some great inward wrestling out of which when the Prophet getteth up his head he cryeth out Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself c. And considering the frame of our heart by Nature and the subtilty of Satan and his skill and diligence to muster up all Considerations in such a day to our disadvantage this difficulty cannot but be great Secondly That this truth is of great moment being here confirmed by such an asseveration It is a truth useful and necessary to be beleeved and fixed in the heart For it is attended with great advantages and the want of the faith of it is not only sinful but most hurtful and dangerous being accompanied with many sad evils and being the cause of dreadful effects and consequences Thirdly That this Truth should be fixed in our hearts as a great and fundamental point and put beyond all doubt or disput with us that He is a God that hideth Himself the God of Israel and the Saviour The Last Particular here considerable is the Prophets uttering this Mater to God and speaking thus to Him Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself c. Which pointeth forth to us these things First The sincerity and uprightness of heart in the Prophet who could thus speak unto God and lay the matter before Him as it was Which should teach us to be honest sincere and upright in all our carriage free of deceit and hypocrisie Secondly The reality of this his Exercise and outgate for it was no made and supposed thing but real To teach us so to carry Thirdly That the Prophets heart was more warmed unto God and that this was the result of his excercise in his meditations that his heart was drawn nigher unto God for now he uttereth the matter in the very bosome of the Father It is well when our exercises have this issue and outgate Fourthly His open Profession of this matter was to exalt and glorify God for herein is a piece of solemne worship performed unto God which pointeth forth our duty in the like case CONSIDERATION XXI No man can make straight what God hath made crooked ECCLES VII V. 13. Consider the Work of God for who can make that straight which He hath made crooked IN a day wherein the People of God are persecuted and afflicted for His sake and cause it were a great help and advantage unto a christian and sutable carriage under that dispensation to have right and sutable thoughts of God and of His divine works In such a day we fancie and imagine many things amiss in the Providential Workings of God many things we think we see that might be helped and if we had the disposal of matters in our hand should be quickly redressed and thus being led away with our own proud hearts and insensibly carried down the strame we fall a censureing of the holy Way of the Lord and a quarrelling with Him because He doth not rectifie matters according to our mind and doth not governe the world or at least the Church according to our wishings and wouldings Now because this frame of spirit is so repugnant unto the Holy Will of God so unsutable unto the Children of God so hurtful unto the Soul and such an Enemie unto the right deportment of Souls in the day of Crosses and Affliction it will be of use to to speak some thing if the Lord will help to rectifie our mistakes and to cure us of these Distempers We think we see many crooked Passages in God's Way and Dispensations with the Church and with ourselves in particular and we imagine also we know wayes how to set all these crooks even But this is really a clear demonstration of our follie
of the ends and designes of God that causeth us to complean and quarrel and wish that His works were otherwise ordered and marshalled for saw we these and conâ—…idered how pertinent and sâ—…teable all the passages of His way and all the circumstances of His work were unto the end designed we would be forced to say Behold He doth all things well When Elihu had been considering Iob 37. the Lords thunder and the great small raine the whirle wind the frost and observed how the Lord did weary the thick cloud and turne it about hither and thither he did not satisfie himself with that till he also gote a look of the special ends wherefore the Lord did so that so he might see the beauty and splendour that was therein therefore he addeth ver 12 13. And it is turned round about by his Counsels that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth He causeth it to come whether for correction orforhis land or for mercy And thereupon vers 14. exhorteth Iob to hearken unto this to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God And of Him who vers 16. is perfect in knowledg And such a sight as this of the works of the Lord would put us far from intertaining such thoughts of God and of his wayes as we too ordinarily have If we saw Him in these His works acting as a wise Governour carrying on His noble and excellent Designes and Purposes we would see a necessity for all that He doth and that no Circumstance might be wanting otherwise His work should not be perfect as it must be And the faith of His being a God of wisdom doing all for wise and holy ends should quiet us even though we should not see the Particular end which the Lord Intendeth in this or that Particular work 8. We would consider also the work of the Lord and see how thereby He executeth many a time His judgments on the wicked and how He is pouring out His red wine that is full of mixture and causing the wicked of the earth drinkout the very dregs as it is Psal. 75 8. And thereby making it appear that verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth Ps. 85. 11. Yea even when He seemeth most to be favouring the wicked and His dispensations smile most upon them He is but heaping wrath the more upon them and fitting them for the day of slaughter Asaph that could not see this when he was under the Water saw it clearly when he went into the Sanctuary then he understood their end and saw that the Lord had set them in slippery places and they were brought into desolation as in a moment Psal. 73 17 18 19. It was an heart-establishing sight which the Psalmist had of the great works of the Lord Psal. 92 4 5. when he saw vers 6 7. that a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this when the wicked spring as the grasse and when all the workers of iniquity flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever CONSIDERATION XXII Judgement upon a Land because of sin sometime will not be held off by the prayer of God's people JEREM. 15 1. Then said the Lord unto me though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet my minde could not be toward this people Cast them out of my sight and let them go forth IN a time when because of publick and abounding sins the Lord bringeth on Publick and General Calamities especially such as sweep away the Righteous with the Wicked and that could not be prevented or held off by all the Prayers and Supplications of His people how earnest so ever they have been therein it may seem no small piece of difficulty how a beleever shall win to any life or to know what a life may be had in a such a dismal day It may therefore be of use to speak a little hereunto especially seing this is very like to be the case of this Generation These words and the like Passages show us that indeed there is a time when God is so provoked by the sinnes of a people that after much abused patience and long-suffering He will not be intreated to hold off the stroke that He is about to send or hath threatned because of Provocations Nor shall the eminentest of His favourites wrestlers who sometime have prevailed as Princes with Him be in case to stand in His way and avert the blow by all their Intreaties earnest Supplications God was about to bring on this people of Judah the long threatned desolation and did denounce the same by His Servant Ieremiah saying Chap. 7 14 15. That He would do unto His house at Ierusalem which was called by His name and wherein they did trust as He had done unto Shilo and that He would cast them out of His sight as He had cast out their Brethren the whole seed of Ephraim And that Ieremiah might understand the perempâ—…oriness of this denounciation He addeth vers 16. Therefore pray not thou for this people neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear thee The Lord hereby signifying not so much His will that Ieremiah should surcease and pray no more in their behalf as the peremptoriness of His purpose and resolution to bring on the judgment so that all his Interceeding and Interposeing should not avail And this is againe renewed Chap 11 14. Therefore pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry or prayer for them for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for thâ—…ir trouble As if He had said The decree is now gone forth neither shall they prevail for themselves nor thou for them Yet Compassionat Ieremiah could not get them forgotten in his prayers but interceedeth earnestly with the Lord in their behalf Ier. 14 1. From the beginning to the 10. ver Whereupon the Lord said unto him the third time vers 11. pray not for this people â—…or their good Ieremie againe vers 19. to the end notwithstanding of this fell to the work of prayer and did earnestly supplicat and interceed for them But now the Lord tels him Chap. 15 1. That Moses and Samuel should not prevail in their behalf and therefore he may be the better satisfied to hear that God would not grant his Petitions put up for them The like we have said foure times over Ezek. 14 14 16 18 20. Though these three men Noah Daniel and Iob were in it they should deliver but their own souls and againe Though those three men were in it as I live saith the Lord God they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters they only shall be delivered but the land shall be desolate The matter then which we are to notice is manifest to wit That there is a time when the sins of a people come to that height that God will not spare upon
that He hath determined all things according to infinite wisdom according to the Counsel of his own will and more than he hath appointed shall no man be able to inflict He leaveth not the measuring and weighing out of the ingredients of our calamitie unto men or enemies but himself doth it by an unalterable Decree that all the rage of Enemies can not change as to one ase or in the hundereth part of one drachme We hear what Christ said Ioh. 18 11. The cup which my father hath given me shall I not drink it It is true when the dregs of this cup wherein was the Curse was presented to him his holy humane Nature in a sinless manner scunnered at it Mat. 26 39. If it be possible let this cup passe from me Yet as sweetly acquiescing in the Lord's Determination he addeth Nevertheless not my will but thy will be done And againe Vers. 42. O father if this cup may not passe away from me except I drink it thy will be done Bitter and sharpe was this cup even to the highest degree yet he viewed the will of God appointing that he should drink it and calmly submitted and said not as I will but as thou wilt 4. It is true the Consideration of the season in which we are exercised and trysted with such a trouble may adde griefe to our sorrow and we may say in our vexation had this Trouble come upon us at any other time we could have better comâ—…orted therewith had it either come sooner or later we had been more able to have born it but as it is come precisely at such a nick of time it becometh a double burden unto us Yet it will help to calme us and compesce our turbulent spirits to remember that He who knoweth all seasons and all times hath chosen this and no other for the particular season wherein we shall meet with such trials and it could be no otherwise than he hath willed the trials behoved to come at that very nick and minute and no other an ancient Determination passed thereupon and no power under heaven could alter it no not for one houre or minute 5. When our thoughts are busied about the Duration of the Trouble this Consideration of a Divine determination past also thereupon will contribute to our setling We are ready to cry out when afflictions lye heavy upon our loines oh will they ever come to an end shall we never be redeemed herefrom Shall we never see a good day again And we are ready to conclude that our hopes are perished and we are cut off for our parts as Hezekiah said when trouble lay upon him Esai 38 10 11 12 13. I said in the cutting off of my daies I shall go to the gates of the grave I am deprived of the residue of mine years I said I shall not see the Lord the Lord in the Land of the living I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world mine age is departed and is removed from me as a shepherds Tent. He will cut me off with pining sickness from day even to night will thou make an end of me I reckoned till morning that as a lion so will he break all mâ—… bones from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me The affliction through the distemper of our spirits raiseth such a mist before our eyes that we can not see thorow the dark face of the dispensation How oft do we limite the holy one of Israel and say if he come not before such a moneth or such an year we may conclude that he will not come at all and so need waite for him no longer and the oftener that our foolishly set prefixed Periods go over the storme continueth or groweth our fainting despondence groweth especially when we consider the evil disposition rage and cruelty of Enemies and see how their strength groweth and providence seemeth to smile upon them But now the faith of this that He who hath set bounds to the raging of the sea saying hithertil shalt thou come and no further hath also bounded and limited the time how long such a Calamity or Triâ—…l shall endure will sedate our mindes and keep us calme and free of that discomposure of Spirit that the thoughts of the restless Malice incessant Rage and cruel Hatred of the Enemies will and do usually cause for do they what they can God will observe the Periods prefixed by himself his thoughts take place in all generations And when our hearts are disquieted at the thoughts of the long continuance of the Affliction the calling of this to remembrance That the only wise God hath determined all the houres and minutes of its continuance for his own holy ends will prompt us to say we cannot strive against the Almighty Let us therefore waite His time in patience all our strugling will but perplex our selves the more and all our endeavours to get free will but contribute to our further entanglement we shall not be able do what we can to Anticipate his day and therefore it is best for us to minde the duty of the day and lay aside all thoughts of using any unlawful meanes for our outgate and waite in patience untill his good time come 6. As also the thoughts of the Instruments of our trouble and calamity may sadly affect us as we see it did David Psal. 55 vers 12 13 14. It was not an Enemie that reproached me then I could have born it â—…either was it he that hated me that did magnifie himself against me then I could have hid my self from him But thou a man mine equal or a man according to my rank my guide and mine acquaintance We took sweet Counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company See Ps. 41 9. So many upon this account may say If my trouble were brought unto me by any other hands and instruments I could comport the better with it but when it is caused by such an one my neer Relation mine obliged friend of whom I least expected any such thing and unto whom I could have yeelded up my self and all I had how heavy must it needs be unto me But the Consideration of this That so it hath seemed good unto the only wise God and Supreame Soveraigne may and should and when rightly beleeved and improven will cause us lay our hand upon our mouth and say The good will of the Lord be done Hath he determined that such an one and not another shall occasione all my griefe and sorrow shall be instrumentall in all my Calamities good is the will of the Lord though I would think that if I were persecuted and troubled by others it would be better and I could bear it better yet seing Infinite wisdome hath determined this circumstance of my calamity why should not I acquiesce Thus we see how this Consideration rightly improven and duely beleeved will help such as are under Affliction Trouble or
2 10. Holding fast Christ's name and not denying his faith Vers. 13. Keeping Christs works unto the end Vers. 26. Keeping of Christs word and not denying his name Revel 3. v. 8. Keeping the word of Christs patience V. 10. Keeping fast and not casting away our Confidence Heb. 10 35. and the like All which say there is a time for suffering and witnessing to the truth by suffering 3. â—…he many motives and encouragments given to bear up the hearts of sufferers say that the people of God have such a lot to look for and must lay their account to meet with Trials and Tribulations for adhering to truth 4 The many Instances and examples of valiant and stedfast Sufferers before us recorded for our Instruction and Information say there is such a season wherein such as would stand fast in the faith can look for nothing but sharp trials for the Name of Jesus 5. The forewarnings given to such as will follow Christ to take up withall their cross Mat. 16 24. And that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14 22. And that all who will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. vers 12. That we should not think strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us as though some strange thing hapned unto us 1 Pet. 4. vers 12 These and the like confirme this matter 6 Christ the Captaine of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings Heb. 2 10. He himself hath told us Mat. 10 24 25 That the Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord that it is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master the Servant as his Lord that if they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshold And we are bidden look unto Iesus the Author and finisher of faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse despising the shame And to consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest we be wearied and fainte in our mindes Hebr. 12 2 3. And we are told 1 Petr. 2 21. That even hereunto we are called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps And againe Chap. 4 1. For asmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh we should arme our selves likewise with the same mind All which and the like say that a Suffering lot is abiding the followers of Jesus and that it is the will of God they should prepare for it 7. Some special works there are which God hath upon the wheels to perfect and these call for a suffering season such as the trial and discovery of the sincerity of His grace in His own as also the exercise and promoving thereof for tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hop Rom. 5 3 4. So the trying of saith worketh patience Iam. 1 3. See also 1 Pet. 1. vers 7. and 4 12. As also the discovery of the rottenness and hypocrisie of a Professing generation who want root and so must wither when the scorching sun of persecution ariseth Mat. 13 5 21. For this is as a small sieve So also the discovery of the Maliciousness and wickedness of Enemies which lay hid and latent before it gote a seasonable vent when their hour and power of darkness cometh Luk. 22 53. 8. This may be confirmed by express Testimonies of Scripture such as 1 Pet. 2. vers 19 20 21. For this is thank worthy or grace if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully But if when ye do well suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable or grace or favour with God For even hereunto were ye called It must then be a commanded duty and obedience to a command that rendereth a man gracious and acceptable with God So 1 Pet. 4 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God c. this is according to his will of command So Heb. 10 39. The will of God there mentioned is as we explained it his will of command which was done by enduring patiently for the Profession of the truth a whole fight of afflictions their patient suffering being noble service to their Lord and Master By all which we see that there are some times and seasons wherein the people of God are called to suffer If it be enquired When is that Time and Season wherein the people of the Lord are called to suffer The answere is easie to wit when the red horse spoken of Revel 6 4. is sent forth and power is given to him that sitteth thereon to take peace from the earth and for that end hath given unto him a great sword that is when Truth and the Profession thereof is persecuted when Tribulation or Persecution ariseth because of the Word as it is Mat. 13 26. When men must be slain for the Word of God and for the Testimonie which they hold Revel 6 9. When the Truth and the open Profession thereof is questioned and opposed then are the followers of Christ called to suffer rather than to sin and upon all hazards to hold fast the Profession of their faith without wavering not forsaking even the assembling of themselves together Heb. 10 23 25. Then are they to make Moses's choise that is chuse rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11 25. When any of the revealed Truthes of God are opposed and such as owne the same are maligned hated and persecuted that is the Season wherein the Lord calleth all His to embrace any suffering rather than deny His Truth and the word of His Patience It is spoken to the commendation of the Church of Pergamos Revel 2. vers 13. That though dwelling where Satans seat was yet she held fast Christ's â—…ame and did not deny His faith even in these daies wherein Antipas Christ's faithful Martyr was slaine So that it is Christ's will and command that all his followers should abide stedfast faithful and unmovable in owning of his Truth and Cause his Word and Interest on all hazards But some will possibly enquire How shall I know whether or not I in particular be called to suffer Answer We are not to expect any extraordinary Revelation or Declaration of God's mind in this particular though I grant the Lord may condescend in love and pity to some weak persons to give some more than ordinary intimation of his will whether by some secret and forcible impulse upon their Spirits or by some influence of comfort and encouragment whereby they are enabled to despise the shame and to endure the cross as seeing the joy set before them and are strengthened against the feares of men even of the greatest and most terrible as seeing Him who is Invisible But these outflowings of his Love
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God and withall He is just and they are conscious to themselves of much guilt But yet notwithstanding of this the thoughts of Gods having a principal hand in all these afflictions may keep from fainting because 1. He is not intending their destruction as Enemies do but their Good their Amendement their Repentance and Returning unto the Lord c. 2. He measureth not out their aâ—…lliction according to his strength and almighty Power else He should soon crush them and bring them to nothing Will He plead against me said Iob Chap. 23. vers 6. with his great power No but He will put strength in me 3. Nor according to strick Justice and pure Wrath. In plenty of justice He will not afflict as the words of Elihu Iob 37. vers 23. may be read He will not stir up all his wrath Psal. 78. vers 38. 4. Nor according to their deservings for that word of Zophar holdeth true Iob 11. vers 6. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth And Psal. 103. vers 10. He hath not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities 5. Nor doth the Lord deal with them as Enemies the difference is great betwixt his dealing with the one and with the other Esai 17 vers 7. Hath He smitten him as He smote those that smote him is he slaine according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him But on the contrary He dealeth with them according to a rule of Mercy and fatherly Compassion for as a Father pitieth his Children and only chasteneth them so doth the Lord deal with them He knoweth what they can bear and layeth no more upon them than they are able to bear The wise Prophet tels us Prov. 12. vers 10. That the righteous man regairdcth the life of his beast and therefore will not overcharge him with a load heavier than he can bear And will not the righteous Lord regaird the life of his own servants Are they not of much more value than many beasts Sure then He will not overcharge them 1. Cor. 10. vers 13 2. The beleeving and right consideration of this Truth That God over-ruleth and disposeth of and ordereth afflictions as He seeth good would much help unto the life of Patience which is so commendable Iam. 5. vers 11. Being a piece of the honour and badge of Saints Revel 13 10. and 14. vers 12. and so much taken notice of by God Revel 2. vers 2 19. Yea and profitable having its perfect work Iam. 1. vers 4. and bringing happiness with it Iam. 5 11. This Consideration I say rightly Improven may help hereunto for it will fortifie the soul of the Beleever against those thoughts which usually occasion impatience as 1. When the man is poreing upon the uncouthness of the Affliction wherewith he is exercised and saying with the Church Lam. 1. vers 12. Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger he is ready to give way unto impatience But when he considereth who hath prepared this potion for him that it was no unskilful Apothecary it was not the malignant Enemie that intended his death and destruction but the only Wise and Supream God who was seeking his good his life and health and who knew that no other potion would suite his distemper and purge out his peccant humores this will help him to lye under the workings of that physick with patience Though the potion of physick be bitter and work something hard yet a wise man will have patience when he considereth that the Physician who did appoint it was both well skilled and his special friend and therefore perswadeth himself that no less would do him good So when the beleever considereth that it is His God and Father who hath prepared that potion for him and that He saw his distemper called for it and when he considereth that God with his own hands did make and prepare it weighed all the doses with great carefulness and mixed in nothing but what was most necessary he will drink it though bitter with the better will and albeit it work hard and make him sick yet he will not be impatient and cry out why am I so and so handled doth every one get such paining sickning physick as this but rather say because every one needeth not such strong physick I must be dealt with in a special manner I have other corruptions than ordinary and therefore must have patience and be content to be otherwise dealt with than others usually are 2. The person in affliction when he seeth himself compassed about with evils and that he is not visited with one or two rodes but with many at once and that innumerable evils compass him about as said David Psal. 40. vers 12. which in part occasioned his adding therefore my heart faileth me or forsaketh me then he is ready to say how can I while thus invironed with evils have patience But if he would call to mind God's hand in the matter as Iob did he would with him bless the name of the Lord for then he would see that God himself had ordered all and that not one of all these multifarious evils came without the Lord 's special and active Permission and Providential Ordination Appointment and Commission and that God alone had ordered that mixture and combination of troubles and trials 3. The impatience of Gods people is oft occasioned by their imagining that the trouble is greater than they can bear as we see in Iob Chap. 6. vers 11 12. What is my strength that I should hope And what is mine end that I should prolong my dayes Is my strength the strength of stones Or is my flesh of brasse And againe Chap. 7. vers 11 12. Therefore I will not refraine my mouth I will speak in the anguish of my spirit I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea or a whale that thou settest a watch over me But would they consider and beleeve that God knoweth what they are able to bear and is proportioning the load to their strength which He knoweth better than they do or when He seeth it fit to presse them above measure that they may despaire in themselves and not trust in themselves that then He under proppeth and supporteth the weak back and conveyethin secret strength enabling them to stand under the load and thus never layeth more on than they are able to bear If I say they were calling this to mind they would see no cause of Impatience but rather cause of crying out when we are weak then are we strong and therefore we will glory in our infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon us 2 Cor. 12. â—…ers 9 10. And they would through faith be in case to say with Paul 2 Cor. 4. vers