THE WORK OF AFFLICTION Opened in a Sermon preached at the Funerall OF M RS ELISABETH HARVEY LONDON Printed in the year 1658. The Work of Affliction 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory 18 While wee look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen THis whole chapter spend 's it self in three things 1 First of all the Apostle set's forth his diligence and faithfulness in the Ministerie of the Gospell Wee faint not v. 1. there is his diligence Suum Ministerium Corinthiis cōmendatum esse vult maximè propter adver sarios suos obtrectatores pseud apost Estius Chrys 8. Hom. in loc Wee preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord v. 5. there is his faithfullness Nor doth this self-praise opposed to the detractions of som malignant spirits too too active in those dayes misbecom the humilitie of an Apostle especially his expressions being seasoned and sweetned with so much pietie and modestie his pietie appeareth in that hee attributeth all to mercie Hemingius in loc that he had this Ministerie it is a mercie that he fainted not in this Ministerie it is likewise a mercie his modestie is manifest in that hee doth not single out himself as the solitarie subject of this commendation but pointeth at others 2 Cor. 12.18 who wrought the work of the Lord even as he did Ideò scribit haec omnia numero plurali Estius walked in the same Spirit in the same steps with him Therefore is it that he speaketh plurally wee faint not wee preach not our selvs 2 In the second place hee removeth the scandall of the Cross which is the constant Genius of the Gospell insomuch as the preaching of the Gospell may for this cause among others bee called the preaching of the Cross when Melanchou had said that the preaching of the Gospell was Ars artium scientia scientiarum the Art of Arts the Science of Sciences Luther told him he might rather say that it was miseria miseriarum the miserie of miseries yet is not the miserie so great as to overwhelm us nor the Cross so heavie as to sink us for saith the Apostle though wee bee troubled and troubled on everie side yet not distressed v 8. 3 In the third place hee furnisheth us with sundry Arguments exciting us which if you pleas you may likewise call grounds of comfort enabling us to bear the Cross with patience alacrity and chearfullness Two of these arguments you have in the two verses I have read unto you which I am defired to recommend to you at this time becaus the worthy Gentlewoman whose funerall wee now attend on made great use of them and received much comfort from them in her life time Her Life was a checkerworth of prosperity adversity in this shee fainted not becaus here was her cordiall shee knew that her afflictions were light and transitory and that they wrought for her a farr more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory in that shee swelled not becaus here was her Antidote Shee looked not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen Besides the two arguments in the text there bee divers others as I hinted in the Context they are closely and artificially woven together the time will not permit mee to unravel them Only this I would note that this congeries this heap of arguments to confirm our Faith and Patience under the Cross doth insinuate a propensitie in our nature to shrink from it Weakness in our nature ready to sink under it A man will not put himself to the cost and trouble to underprop an hous till hee discover somthing that maketh him distrust the strength of it and fear it's ruine 2 Cor. 5.1 The Apostle no doubt had observed that our earthly hous hath a bowing wall and that causeth him to pitch up these buttresses against it Prov. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is smal Rom. 15.4 saith the wise Solomon So smal would the strength of every living man bee found to bee if hee were not shoared up by the patience and comfort of the Scriptures Wee can bee content to sit down with Christ in Tabor Corregnare cupiunt sed non compati Bern. in loc the mount of his Transfiguration and say it is good for us to bee here But if wee once see him on Calvarie the mount of his passion then wee think it high time to forsake him at least a point of prudence to stand aloof from him then is base cowardly corrupt nature ready to crie out with the servant of the man of God 2 Kings 6.19 when hee saw the City encompassed with Horses and Chariots Alas my Master how shall wee do or with Peter to Christ Master pitie thy self Christ's harmes are not the less for thy hazards neither will the service thou doest unto Christ bee the greater by thy sufferings for him is it not good sleeping in a whole skin this I suppose is the language of weak nature till it bee both better instructed and fortified by Grace But to com to the Text. Therein I have told you wee finde two arguments of comfort to afflicted Saints 1. The first is drawn from the glorious effect of their afflictions they work their Glory and here the comfort is much advanced 1. by opposing Glory to Affliction 2. a weight of Glory to light affliction 3. an Eternall Glory to Momentanie affliction 2 The second is drawn from the gracious disposition of the persons afflicted wee look not at the things that are seen c. and that you may see the disposalls of grace are most rationall hee annexeth a verie good reason why the Saints look not at the things that are seen c. For the things that are seen are temporall I begin with the first and the Doctrine upon which I shall insist is this Our afflictions work our Glory Other things I shall touch upon in the use of this Our Afflictions I say Work our Glory A strange paradox an absolute riddle which flesh and blood can never prove an Oedipus to unfold what can bitterness work sweetness can clouds and gloomyness work serenity and clearness can storms and tempests work a blessed calm can darkness work light can death work life can hell work heaven so it is so in effect our Apostle affirmeth Our affliction worketh our Glory To a clear apprehension of this truth I shall endeavour to lead you by severall steps 1. Loquitur tantum de afflictione filiorum Dei Hemingius They are only the Saints afflictions that work their glory As for the Wicked affliction cometh upon them armed with the sting of divine vengeance and it worketh not glory Impiorum afflictio veluti praeludium est ad aeterna supplicia nisi refipiscant idem but shame and
nubecula citò transitura a cloud that would soon bee blown over and what our jewell whom I may justly tearm the Athanasius of his age Non durabunt said of those Marian dayes that they would not last long the like may we say of our afflictions And that this troublous stream will soon be dried up wee may assure our selvs whether wee consider 1. The spring from whence they rise that is the wrath of God but a Father's wrath with his childen will not last long Isa 54.7.8 For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness I will have mercie on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer 2. The channell in which they run it is the life of man and what is our life Jam. 4.14 it is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away There cannot bee long affliction in a short life Thus much of the first consideration 2. Consider the Glory wrought by your affliction 2. Consideration 1. it is Glory simply and absolutely No glory to bee compared with it Gerard in loc Com de vitâ aeter Coelum non patitur hyperbolen It is such a glory as admitteth no hyperbole 2. It is a weight of glory and that for the preciousness of it It is very rare few there bee that finde it And it can never bee bought too dear Gold wee say may but glory cannot Dr HaÌ„mond in his Annotations upon the place Hic Grotius in loc 1 Pet. 1. For the plenteousness of it each Soul shall bee a vessel brim full of glory For the substantialness of it it is not like the glory of this world flashy and frothy but it is solid and substantiall a Kingdome that cannot bee moved a Crown that fadeth not away an inheritance incorruptible Hence 3. It is called an eternall weight of glory O Eternity a vast gulph that swalloweth up all expressions al conceptions eye hath not seen nor hath ear heard nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceiv what is the surpassing excellencie of that glory which the afflictions of the Saints work for them O vain worldlings that pursue Conclusion like Children empty bubbles and neglect solid and substantiall comforts O fools that chuse sin rather than affliction when they see plainly that the pleasures of sin are but for a season Heb. 11.25 that the glory of affliction holdeth out to eternity Do you O yee Saints and servants of the most high God do you think on these things Phil. 4 8. 1. Tim. 2.25 take a daily prospect of your heavenly glory carry this Text in your bosome as a cordiall against your fainting fits and if the Text bee too much keep but one word in your minde Unâ voce quâ Quirites cos pro militibus appellârat facilè circumegit flexit Suetâ—n in Juliâ— cap. 70. to wit Glory Caesar stilled the tumults of his Soldiers with one word Quirites this one word Glory seriously thought upon will still a legion of tumultuous thoughts within you Glory will answer all afflictions if your affliction bee loss of reputation Glory will honor you with a new name if your affliction bee loss of goods Glory will enrich you and that with durable riches if loss of friends Glory will bring you to your godly friends again and above all to your best friend Jesus Christ if it bee hunger Glory will feed you with hidden Manna if it bee nakedness Glory will cloathe thee with a long white robe if sickness Glory will restore thee to perpetuall health if sin which is really the greatest affliction to a Saint Glory will present thee perfect in Holiness In a word what comfort can bee wanting to that man whom Glory hath lodged in the bosome of God I have done with the first argument in the Text drawn from the comfortable effect of the Saints afflictions I should come to the second drawn from the gratious disposition of the Saints wee look not at the things that are seen but I have already spent too much upon your patience I need not crave your leave to speak a word or two of the Worthie Gentlewoman whose mournfull hers wee see before us I know you expect it I am sure shee deserved it A good woman shee was and that is commendation enough for any mortall seeing the word of God which endureth for ever is honored with no higher Epithet than the good word of God Shee was known to mee onely in her Widowhood and therefore I shall draw all my speech from a passage of the Apostle Paul concerning widowes 1. Tim. 5.3 Honor Widowes that are Widowes indeed Mrs Elisabeth Harvey was a widow indeed shee trusted in God yet so as not to tempt him shee lookt not upon earthly things with an eye of confidence but shee did wisely look after earthly things with an eye of providence Christianity and good huswifery may well stand together yea if any provide not for their own they are wors than Infidels Shee continued in supplications and praiers night and day her closet was morning and evening perfumed with those sweet odours Shee lived not delicately as many do that are dead while they live but devoutly but soberly but temperately and so shee liveth now she is dead She was the wife onely of one man shee was well reported of for good works and if the world had buryed them in silence though don without any the least affectation of praise the backs and bowels of the poor that shee covered and refreshed would have spoken for her and have reproved it's envy Shee was vigilant and carefull in bringing up Children and blessed be God wee see the fruits of it Shee was very hospitable very humble and could bee content to submit to the meanest office to which charity directed her if it had been to wash the Saints feet I dare say shee would not have refused it As shee lived so shee died in the faith which is the commendation given by the Apostle to those Antient worthies Heb. 11. the last words I heard her utter were these Lord I believ help my unbelief What remaineth now but that wee bless God for her Prov. 10.7 Psal 112.6 and give her the honor due unto her 1. the honor of Commemoration The memory of the just is blessed Heb. 13.7 and the righteous shall bee had in everlasting remembrance 2. the honor of imitation whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation To conclude all I know it is a great affliction to forgo such a mother such a sister such a friend such a neighbour but let this bee our comfort shee hath exchanged earth for heaven her body feel's none of those pains sicknesses weaknesses none of all those inconveniences which our mortall condition is subject to and her Soul feel's that blessed weight of Glory which wee all grone for Shee is gone before and wee if wee follow her steps shall not bee long after Haste Haste to heaven Come Lord Jesus Rev. 22.20 come quickly FINIS
confusion for them I verily beleev there bee many poor souls that fall under this sad delusion they think that becaus they suffer affliction here they shall not incur damnation hereafter Surely say these fools in their heart God is more mercifull than to inflict a double hell upon us to whom I would reply surely God is more pure holy and righteous than to admit an impenitent unbeleeving sinner into heaven It is a mercie far exceeding thy desert Rom. 2.4 that God hath reprieved thee from hell so long Knowest thou not O man that his patience and long suffering leadeth thee to repentance the which if thou hardenest thy heart against continuing in thy sin and unbelief all thy sufferings here if they were ten thousand times more shall not save thee from hell hereafter It may bee you will say Doubt it is confessed that the wicked have no part nor lot in the comfort of this doctrine but may it not bee doubted whether the afflictions of all the Saints shall work their Glory is this a general privilege or is it Paul's Peculiar or such eminent Christians as hee was if wee should suffer for Christ for the Gospell for righteousness then might our afflictions work our Glory but non cuivis contingit It is not vouchsafed to everie one so to suffer Wee need go no further than the text for the resolution of this doubt Resol The Apostle saith not My affliction worketh for mee but our afflictions work for us Hee excludeth not any believer from the like comfortable effect of affliction with himself All the Saints may challenge a speciall proprietie in affliction 1 Cor. 3.22 according to their charter they may say all things are ours Phil. 1.29 and as for sufferings they are expresly set down as a part of the portion which Christ hath bequeathed them To you it is given not only to believ but also to suffer Rom. 8.28 and with the portion hee alwaies giveth grace to improve it Heb. 12.11 hence all things work together for our good and our chastisements yield us the peaceable fruit of righteousness sweet fruit may spring from a bitter root 2. It is not from the nature of affliction it self that glory is wrought by it for the Saints alas what can affliction do of it self it cannot work a man's conversion much less can it work a man's Glorification it cannot open the heart to God yea rather it exasperate's and shut's the heart against God how then can it open Heaven to man The Ordinances are othergates things than afflictions are yet it is not in them of themselvs to save us 3. Non debetur afflictionibus nostris gloria quasim erces meritis Muse in loe It is not from the merit of affliction that it worketh our Glory for the Apostle present's it not as an uncertain opinion but as an undoubted Conclusion that there is no comparison between our affliction our Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I reckon saith hee Rom. 8.18 I that have tasted both of present sufferings of future Glory I reckon that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to bee compared to the Glory that shall bee revealed in us What is a storm in our voiage to the infinitely rich treasure wee shall gain at our landing Non tanti sunt afflictiones ad pondus gloriae collatae quanti aquae guttula immenso pelago idem ibid. what are the waters of this land-flood though they swell never so high to that Ocean of blessedness wherein wee shall bee swallowed up what is a cloud to the Sun Though at present it darken the face of our whole horizon what is present light momentany affliction to the future weight of Glory here is nothing then that our Romish Sophists can rationally improve to the establishment of Merit 4 Afflictions may bee said to work our Glory ità Calvinus ità Beza Heming significatur quo itinere ad gloriam perveniatur Psal 84.6 as they are the unavoidable way that we must pass through to Glory the way to Canaan lyeth through the red sea and a vast howling wilderness the way to Zion lyeth through the valley of Baca that is of Mulberry-trees which delighting in a drie soyl that place by reason of drought became as the Greek render's it a valley of tears to the weary fainting passenger and really our life is a very Baca a valley of tears That valley the Psalmist speake's of was not so thick set with Mulberry-trees as our life with difficulties 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theod. in psalm which wee must pass through before wee can arrive at the heavenly Mount through tribulation Act. 14.22 and much tribulation it is not wee may but we must enter into the kingdom of heaven Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life if wee decline the Cross we shall miss the Crown Mat. 7.14 Lu 24.26 Christ himself went to heaven no other way Hee suffered and so entred into his Glory He drank of the brook in the way therefore did Hee lift up his Head Psal 110. last vers 5. Afflictions for Christ which are mainly intended here may bee said to work our Glory not only becaus they are the ordinary way through which wee must pass to Glory but becaus Glory is a necessary consequent of affliction for Christ a man may somtimes be in the way to this or that place and yet never com there but in the way of affliction for Christ wee shall never tire wee shall never com short when the seed of the word hath taken such root that the scorching of the Sun will not caus it to wither away but rather ripeneth it you may bee sure there is somthing for the barn Mat. 5.11 Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake Rejoice and bee exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven I would have you to take great notice of that little word is it signifieth as much as if hee had said you that suffer in this way you are as sure of heaven as if you were in heaven already By the way forget not this That Hypocrites and wicked persons cannot bee truly said to suffer for Christ They may pretend to it See this whole business excellently stated by Mr An Burgess in spir refin serm 24. and wee may imagine they do so but really there is no such thing Judas no doubt suffered much with the rest of the Apostles but who dare say his end was as pure his affections as holy in his sufferings as theirs were no no it was his interest that hee suffered for Hee had an office hee dearly liked and loved hee bore the bag hee could bee content to suffer much rather than let go that hee was not likely to gain the like preferment in any other society it was the bag
not Christ or his trueth that hee suffered for The like may wee say of all hypocrites but the time will com when they shall bee uncased and those that have too good an opinion of them for the present undeceived Now I suppose you apprehend the point in a good measure cleared yet mee thinks the Emphasis of the word is not drawn forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the same word used by the Apostle in that famous exhortation Phil. 2.12 Work out your own salvation Com in loc It carrieth in it somthing of efficiencie the meritorius efficiencie which Aquinas and Estius pitch upon wee have justly rejected and to do Estius no wrong upon the matter hee doth reject it himself O how great is the prevalencie of trueth Non ex naturâ passionum sed ex Dei voluntate c. her adversaries are forced to speak for her many times when they are designed by the Father of lies and their own carnall interest to speak against her nor can wee attribute to it which would bee more than that the principall efficiencie Ephes 2.5 for that is only the free grace of God By grace are yee saved but an instrumentall efficiencie we may with safety yet here too wee must take it as an instrument of the meaner sort for who knoweth not that there may bee instruments of divers sorts usefull in a different degree to the producing of the same work for faith is the prime instrument Ephes 2.8 By grace are yee saved through faith but I say an instrumentality in som sort wee may wee must grant it how else can it bee said to work 6. Therefore affliction may bee said to work Glory as an instrument in the hand of grace praeparantur ad beatam resurrectionem communibus humani generis miseriis Calv. 1. 1 Pet. 2.4 Rev. 3.12 bonos probat purificat eliquat Aug. de Civi lib. 1. cap. 8. whereby God fit 's and prepare's us for Glory The word amongst the seaventy Interpreters signifieth rem expolire to smooth or polish a thing wee are the living stones which God smootheth and polisheth with affliction that hee may make us pillars in his hous With affliction he fileth off our rust purifieth us from our dross beateth us out of the husk racketh us from our lees purgeth us from vicious humors in a word without afliction wee can hardly bee sanctified here and then I am sure wee can hardly bee saved hereafter This being the main thing it would bee spoken to with more distinctness therefore 1. Afflictions have a work in reference to the world from which they wean us just as the tender mother layeth wormwood upon her nipples when she would wean her child so our heavenly Father embitter's the breasts of our earthly comforts that wee may not overlove them 2. Afflictions have a work in reference to sin 1. they discover sin Jo. 9.6 Oculos quos culpa claudit poena apetit Greg. Job 36.8.9 they are like the clay and spittle which our blessed Lord made use of in opening the eyes of the blind man pain openeth those eyes which sin shutteth if they be bound in fetters and holden in cords of affliction then hee sheweth them their work and their transgressions that they have exceeded 2. they restrain sin they are as an hedg of thorns in the way of iniquity I will hedg up thy way with thorns Hos 2.6 what way but the way of their sinfull conversation with what thorns spinas vocat calamitatum but som hard sharp heart-piercing calamities these God bring 's thick and threefold upon upon an obstinate sinner ingentem duritiem neque inquit spina sed spinis ut multitudinem pungentium dolorum detegeret Guadalup in loc thus God hedgeth in the way of the proud with som shamefull dishonor the way of the covetous with losses in his estate the way of the prodigall with extream poverty the way of the drunkard and adulterer with decay in their reputation wealth health strength or it may bee hee sendeth som more spirituall afflictions and hedgeth up the way of all these sinners with the pricking stinging horrors of an accusing conscience 3. They convert us from sin how many can say with David it is good for mee to bee in trouble Psal 119.71 Psal 119.67 that I may learn thy righteous judgements and again before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word Eze. 34.23 Jo. 10.11 1. Pet. 2.25 God is pleased to style himself the shepheard of his people Christ is the great and good shepheard Now affliction is his hook or rather his Dog which when wee listen not to his whistle hee sendeth out to fetch us in from our wanderings Hee had whistied long to Manasseh and hee regarded not at last he sendeth out his Dog causeth a great affliction to fasten upon him and that reclaimeth him 3. Afflictions have a work in reference to our graces as Faith Patience Self-deniall humilitie all which were exercized by them when it was revealed to St John that the beast having seaven heads and ten horns Rev. 13. v. 7 had power given him to make Warr with the Saints and to overcom them which som apply to those many bloody persecutions of the Christian Church under the heathenish Romane Empire immediately hee cries out v. 10. Here is the patience and Faith of the Saints as if hee had said here here is matter for those excellent graces to bee exercized about 4. Afflictions have a work in reference to our duties unto which they quicken us for instance when our prayers are empty cold formall and not very plentifull God sendeth an affliction and that maketh us seek him both early and earnestly when persons are in a swoun wee nip and pinch them cast cold water into their faces and make a smoak under their noses and this bringeth them to themselvs again thus when wee are in a spirituall swoun God sendeth som affliction or other and that instantly fetcheth our breath again and maketh us crie out Lord help A most remarkable place for this wee have Is. 26.16 Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a praier when thy chastening was upon them Mr Jer. Burr in his Moses choice they did but drop a prayer before as one excellently glosseth it but now they pour out a prayer and now it is a prayer indeed which they pour out Expertus loquor a prayer full of life spirit efficacie a prayer that carrieth cut the verie heart and soul of a man to God with it 5. Afflictions have a work in reference to Death to which they reconcile us Ecclesiastic cap. 42.1.2 and make us stand with open arms ready to imbrace it O death how bitter is thy remembrance to him that liveth at ease in his possessions unto the man that hath nothing to vex him and that hath prosperitie in all things See
Dr Tuckny in his death disarmed sec 3 O death acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy When a man hath the world at his will hee is loth to leave it when hee is warm here in a wel-feathered nest he hath no minde to bee on the wing to flie hence but when hee is plucked out from his warm nest and his feathers are dispersed when he is placed with Job upon the dunghil with Jeremie in the dungeon O then wellcom death Job 14.13 who will hide me in the Grave 6 Afflictions have a work in reference to our Glory not only preparing us for it by all the fore-mentioned particulars but also improveing it and that both directly and accidentally 1. directly the doctrine of degrees of Glory is somthing controverted in these later times among Divines of the reformed way Zanchius Martyr Camero I finde One positively asserting it another propounding arguments on both sides and then modestly dismissing it a third absolutely determining against it His reasons let others examine for my part I cannot see any inconveniencie attending nor any advantage given to the adversary by the first opinion Now supposing that there are degres of Glory I do verily believ that such as both do well and suffer for doing well Sic patri coelesti visum est ut Doctores plus laborantes faciat magis fulgere aliis Flacius ad loe shall shine brightest in Glory the hardest service shall have the highest recompence however 2. Our Glory cannot but receiv an accidentall improvement from our afflictions and the sharper the labor the sweeter the rest must needs bee When a man commeth out of the cold piercing cutting aër into a close warm room it much advanceth the comfort of it when a man is taken out of a dark dungeon it is much the more pleasant to him that his eyes behold the light of the Sun in like manner when a man is taken from afflictions to Glory it will then bee Glory indeed Thus have I cleared the Doctrine Tell mee now beloved Use is not here a solid argument to excite our patience a firm ground of comfort in all our afflictions who would not endure cutting for such a cure who would not be content to sayl through a troublous sea for the gaining such a treasure who would not readily swallow the bitterest pill to procure eternall health when you fret and foam under affliction do yee not forget your selvs Heb. 12.5 and the Consolations the Scriptures affoard you or do not these consolations seem small unto you Job 15.11 the one argueth your negligence the other your ungratefullness both your extream vanity and folly Consider I pray you 1. what the affliction is that worketh your Glory 2. what the Glory is that is wrought by affliction 1 Consideration First consider what your affliction is that worketh your Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cooper on Rom. is it any thing but as the word importeth a pressure it is indeed God's wine-press you are his precious wine-berries and what doth the grape lose by the pressing besides a skin of no value as for the noble blood thereof it is carefully preserved and preferred to higher services it com's to be served up in Christall and run's in the veins of Princes Tribula est instrumentum quo fruges maturae in area teruntur Lu. Vives in Aug. de civ lib 1. c. 8. Our English word Tribulation seemeth to mee to bee of Latine extraction it cometh from a word that signifieth a threshing instrument what doth the wheat lose by the flail besides the husk affliction may press and drive us out of our houses estates countries the verie worst it can do is but to press our souls out of our bodies and what are all these things but films and husks of no value the wine the wheat the precious and immortall soul when it is quite stript of these husks is in a better condition than ever it was before You see what affliction is in it self now consider it in it's adjuncts 1. It is light affliction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Musculus light as a feather exceeding light Light to what it might be our heavenly Father might it hee so pleased double his strokes hee might throw away rods chastize us with scorpions Againe it is light to what wee have deserved it should bee any thing less than hel is less than wee have deserved Eusebius Nierem bergius de adoratione in spi lib. 2. cap. 18. if a traitour that hath deserved the gibbet should bee made only smart a little with a whip or suffer som small pecuniary mulct would hee not look upon his punishment as light thou art a traitour O sinner thou hast rebelled against heaven fire and brimstom may justly bee thy portion for for ever if therefore God judge thee now that hee may not condemn thee with the world hereafter hast thou not cause to look upon this as a very light affliction yet further It is light to the spirit though burdensom to the flesh and that upon a double account 1. becaus wee suffer for Christ whom wee love in sincerity and love maketh hard things easie heavy things light But my sufferings may som good man say Du. are not for Christ they are for sin Yet then are they not intollerable Sol. Heb. 12.7 they are layd upon thee by the hand of a Father and that for thy good that thou mayest bee brought out of love with thy sin and bee made partaker of his holiness v. 10. In such a case thou shouldest bee sorrowfull for thy provocation sensible of his displeasure but there is no reason why thou shouldest either fret or faint under his hand Jeremiah's frame would much better becom thee Lam. 3.31.32.33 I will bear the indignation of my God becaus I have sinned against him The Lord will not cast off for ever but though hee cause grief yet will hee have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies For hee doth not afflict willingly nor griev the children of men 2. Becaus wee suffer with Christ who is sensible of all our sufferings will support us under them and in due time deliver us from them Hence though wee bee troubled on every side wee are not distressed though wee are perplexed yet wee are not in despair though wee are persecuted yet wee are not forsaken though wee bee cast down yet wee are not destroyed 2. Cor. 4.8.9 2. It is affliction that endureth but a moment it is called elswere the afliction of this present time Rom. 8.18 1. Cor. 7.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Apostle telleth us time is but short contracted wrapt up like the sails of a ship when she com's near to harbour and therefore thus hee argueth those that weep should bee as if they wept not I remember what Athanasius the jewell of his age said touching the Arrian persecution that it was