The Prophet knowing this confesseth I know that of very faithfulnes thou hast afflicted me Contrarily the punishment of the wicked is from the wrath of God as an Enemy The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men which with-hold the truth in unrighteousnesse Vpon them that disobey the truth shall be indignation and wrath Thus when the Lord had set down the great provocations of that rebellious people he infers Fire is kindled in my wrath and shall burne to the bottome of hell I will make thee to passe with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not for a fire is kindled in mine anger whâ—ch shall burne upon you The second difference is in the subject Divine chastisement is proper to the children of God but punishment bâ—longeth to rebels God scourgeâ—h every son whom he receiveth but bastards are without correctâ—on which is more evideÌ„tly taught us in that word of the original there rendred chastise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sonne or childe Reason also will further confirme it For correction being the cutting off the offence that the offender may be reconciled belongeth therefore to children But punishment is the cutting off the offender that others may take heede and beware and therefore is due to rebels and traitors The third difference is the finall cause or end unto which these afflictions are aymed The end of chastisement is amendment of life whence it receiveth the mine of corrâ—ction which signifieth to set righâ— or strait Before I was afflâ—cted I went astray but now I keepe thy wordâ— As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and amend Another end is trial and exercise of our faith love patience and other graces Hence afflictions called a fiery triall to prove us So another Apostle calls tentations The triall of our faith Consider also that saying of Saint Peter 1 Pet. 1.6.7 Looke as by some paynefull worke in putting forth the strength of the armes legges c. for the overcomming of some difficulties the body is exercised the sinewes and other organicall parts much confirmed the vital and all the members not a little strengthened so when our faith love patience or any other member of the new man is employed in any spirituall actions wherein some fleshly Combatant is vehemently opposed certaine is it that howsoever for the present there may follow some sense at least of weaknesse yet even the grace so tried and the whole inward man gathers much comfort and activenesse from such fiery trials For it is the very exercise of the spirituall man yeelding excellent fruit to those that are exercised by it For as trees shaken with the winde are better rooted so grace after a storme is more firmly setled PatieÌ„ce is wroght out perfited by tribulatioÌ„ grows fruitful in experieÌ„câ— wheÌ„ we grow highin our own conceit and begin to be exalted above measure then this affliction as a pruning knife tops our pride abaseth us in our owne eyes and humbles us under the mighty hand of God Remembring the gall and wormewood my soule is humbled within mee Thus when Peter arrogantly preferreh his faith and love above all his fellow Apostles and all men If all men be offended because of thee yet will I never bee offended strooken downe with that triall and sifted hee left his swelling conceit behinde him in the sieve and laying aside his comparisons answereth in a more modest streine Simon lovest thou mee more then these Lord saith hee thou knowest that I love thee So also that choice vessell of God was kept downe by the buffeter of Satan nay even the assurance and increase of our glory is intended and wrought by afflictions But hath the Lord any such end in the punishment of the ungodly No but for this cause have I appointed thee that I might shew my power in thee The fourth difference is in the adjunct The assistance of Gods holy Spirit with streÌ„gth comfortably to beare whatsoever is imposed is ever adjoyned to chastisement God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able but will give the issue with the temptation that you may be able to beare God comforteth us in all our tribulations This we evidently see exemplified in Iob who being assailed with al maner of temptations yet was even mightily supported by that powerful Spirit by whom in the middest of that fiery furnace which like that of Nebuchadnezzar was heated seven times more than usual he was strongly sustayned in faith Though he slay me I will trust in him He shall be my salvation I know I shall be iustified I am sure my Redeemer liveth Contrary the punishments of the wicked are no way lightned by this blessed Comforter and therefore they instantly sinke under them as Saul Caine and Iudas Observe this truth in one instance Peter is apprehended imprisoned bound with two chains between two souldiers All this breaketh not his rest he sleeps stroÌ„g light could not awake him till he was smote on the side by the Angell hee knew the next day was his last yet see how soundly he sleeps when he awakes he sees a sudden great light but without any feare This rest came not from flesh and bloud but that blessed Spirit speaking peace to his soule in Christ gave him power to say and doe with David I will both lay me downe in peace and sleepe for thou Lord only makest me dwel in safety On the otherside Saul was at liberty had a stroÌ„g army had ofteÌ„ vaÌ„quished those enemies yet no sooner hard of death that by the divel the father of lies but fals along on the earth was sore afraid and there was no strength in him and though he could not but be very hungry as having eaten no bread all day and night yet refuseth to eate Whence came this feare from naturall cowardise nay certainly Saul was a man used to dangers and naturally of more courage than Peter a poore Fisher-man but the cause was The Spirit of the Lord even in his ordinary gifts as valour c. was departed from Saul how then could any strength be in him The last difference betweene chastisement and punishment is in the fruits of them There is no fruit comparable to that of divine chastisement He chastiseth us for our owne profit that wee may be partakers of his holinesse It bringeth forth the pleasant fruit of righteousnes to them that are thereby exercised This momentarie light affliction causeth unto us a most excelling excellent so is the original eternall weight of glory Now what can all the world boast of in the least degree comparable to this I call every christian soule to witnesse that all is dung and losse in comparison of these
into this narrow way of affliction will safely lead us through it and bring our feet into a large place even the liberty of Gods children going along with us in all our evil and upholding us in it for our good and Gods glory Surely if the Furnace heated at once as for seven times could not consume the bodies of those stout Confessors nay could not singe a thred of their garments so long as the Angell of the Lord was among them what affliction or trouble shal hurt us when the Lord of Angels is with us nay in us supporting our weaknesse and bearing it out in all our troubles Lastly the many excellent delightfull fruits springing from this bitter roote will abundantly recompence and with great yea infinite usury repay all that evill which can possibly bee in any affliction First which before was mentioned The blewnesse of the wound serueth to purge the evill and the stripes within the bowels of the belly It purgeth out the old leven and maketh us a new lump Secondly the fire of affliction softneth our yron hearts and prepareth them for the hammar of the Word to frame us after the image of God and to set upon us the beauty of his holinesse It bringeth forth the pleasant fruit of righteousnesse Now what is there in all the world which if wee might wish and have wee would preferre or equall with this holinesse Neither should it too much trouble nay in some respect it should cheere us that we find inward terrors grievances doubts desertions buffeters of Satan we apply outward medicines to infants and weake ones but inward Physicke as it is given by expert Physicians to the strong so it worketh more strongly Inward stripes worke on the bowels clense the inward man this shaking rooteth our faith more stroÌ„gly and this disease of doubting occasionally seâ—leth us in more fulnesse and assurance of faith CHAP. VI. The application of this comfort by meditation NOw when we have well tasted and swallowed this Cordiall let us by some meditation and particular appliâ—ation labour to digest it and even incorporate this spirituall food into our soules For as it is with this earthly so is it with that heavenly fire of the Word it will soone bee extinguished or else lye dead uselesse unlesse it be blown up by meditation Thus therfore let the afflicted spirit confer and commune with it selfe Is it not my gracious God who reacheth forth this bitter cup of wormwood to me Commeth it not from his wonderfull love and faithfulnesse in his Covenant who promising to doe mee good hath therefore in my necessity tempered this potion for me My unfaithfull heart requireth it his faithfulnesse giveth it My dead cold heart and the sicke sinfull matter in my soule calleth for it his flagrant love his wisedome and compassion administreth it and shall not I then receive it If hee sent it in wrath should not I take it with humility and patience and if he reach it to mee in love and faithfulnesse shal not I receive it with chearefull thankfulnesse Oh shal not I drinke of the Cup which my Father hath given me Had it beene a Messenger of confusion well might I tremble and mourne yet not murmure but being an Embassadour of peace employed purposely for my Soveraigne and Supreme good and his glory shall I not make it welcome And will not hee worke his owne ends by it Shall noâ— this bitter root by his sanctifying power shoot forth that most pleasant fruit of holinesse and glory Oh thou ravishing beauty of Divine holinesse thou most excellent Image and nature of God! Oh thou unspeakeable and unconceivable happinesse with God in glory Shall any thing be unwelcome which bringeth you to me or carrieth me to you Were it water fire were it hell it selfe should I not passe through it to attayne you This light affliction bringeth with it a weight of glory This momentary affliction an eternall glory this despised affliction an excelling excellent glory and can then the root bee so bitter as the fruit delightfull Can I with a good will nay with pleaâ—ure eat a bitter or sowre sallat as helping to purge out some mellancholy humours and to whet the dull appetite and shall I not much more swallow this Pil which is bitter onely in the mouth but in the stomacke ful of sweetnesse and nourishment Nay are not all these afflictions being sanctified by God especiall evidences of my adoption and filiation through Christ Are not these stripes so many witnesses that I am his child And this smart a sure testimony that I am genuine and no bastard And with all the resâ— hath not he promised and assured me not to fayle nor forsake me but to uphold mee in it and bring mee through it and comfort me by it and glorifie me after it Have not all the members of that glorious body and the Head himselfe the Prince of glory beene perfited through afflictions Have they not all Head and members passed through this vale of teares this roaâ—ing wildernesse through many feares terrors grievous desertions crying out with strong cryes and bitter to him that is able to save them yet setting the joy before them have endured the crosse despised the shame and are now set downe in the glory of God Now therefore rejoyce my soule in tribulations knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience and patience experience and expertence hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost who is given to to us Nay count thou it exceeding joy when thou falleâ—t into these temptations knowing that the triall of faith bringeth forth patience Onely thou oh my gracious God who scourgest every Sonne whom thou receivest receive mee whom thou scourgest Thou who chastisest where thou lovest oh love this poore soule which thou chastisest Thou who correctest not for thy pleasure but for our profit oh teach me to profit by thy correction Make my soule to partake of thy Sonnes holinesse and then lay on what measure thou seest good of his affliction Oh let me be conformed to his death and sufferings that I may bee conformed to his life and resurrection Gracious Father after thou hast crowned mee with his thornes crowne mee also with his glory CHAP. VII Comforts arising from the Word NOw as good Chyrurgians often heale some sores with lancing and cure with wounds so the Lord most frequently openeth some passage by affliction and maketh an issue for the sinfull corruption of our soules to drayne them and draw out the sinfull matter which is in them and maketh a lesser wound to cure the greater But as hee useth these lancers and corrosives so also hath he singular lenitives and anodynes to comfort and strengthen the wounded Spirit Three especiall meanes hath the wisedome of God set out for sovereigne Cordials to a sicke soule First his Word Secondly those holy
is truly good especially when longing after thee thy righteousnes in this barren and thirstie land my soule panteth and fainteth for thy presence and for that holy Spirit wâ—ereby I call upon thee Abba Father Oh how shouldst thou not according to thy Covenant delight in me to doe me good and as thou hast promised rejoyce over me to give me my hearts desire Now then thou my gracious Father who art more ready to give thy Spirit than wee to aske him even that Spirit of Prayer and supplication Thou who hast commanded Call upon mee in the time of trouble and hast promised I will heare thee Heare now rhe supplication of thy servant and when thou hearest be mercifull Thou who commandest Seeke my face and hast given thy servant an heart to answer Lord thy face will I seeke oh hide not thy face from me nor cast thy creature away in displeasure Yea oh my God quickeÌ„ thy servant in the sense of my want and miserie and in the knowledge of thy powerfull grace and mercy alwaies to pray and never to faint So though I walke in the midst of troubles thou wilt revive me and perfect that which concerneth me CHAP. XVI Comforts arising immediatelie from God himselfe And first in generall LOoke as a vessell which is coutinually driven downe by the current of any River will at length fall into the maine Sea which being the common store-house of waters both supplieth the want and receiveth the over-plus of lesser streames So when our soules have beene carryed along within these narrower bankes of comforts they will easily bee wafted into that wide Ocean whence every consolation floweth and into it ebbeth againe and emptyeth it selfe Certainly the final comfort of a Christian soule into which all the rest are resolved is God himselfe infinit in all goodnes unchangeable in his love and therefore an unexhausted Well a standing overflowing fountaine of infinite consolations Hence as hee challengeth this title and calleth himselfe The God of patience and consolation nay The God of all comfort so his faithfull servants from their experience confesse him every where their strength joy portion inhâ—ritance their Rocke Towre Shield Fortresse c. Well might David rejoyce and glory in the Lord My flesh saith hee faileth and my heart also but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever How strong and invincible was that faith and by it that comfort of Iob Although he kill me yet will I trust in him and hee shall beé my salvation And how answerable was their practice to this their profession Doe but consider what wee read of these holy men David being driven from his native Countrey and from his Fathers house in disgrace with the Court and in displeasure nay deadly hatred of his Prince deprived of all his deserved honours the just recompence of his noble service by the malice and tyrannie of Saul and which he accounted farre above the rest the greatest miserie banished from the holy Assemblies and the house of God affamished and even starved for want of that Word which hee preferred above all the earth not onely thrust out from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord but by the rage of his Adversaries inforced to seeke Sanctuary in idolatous Countries where hee might have beene seduced to serve other gods had yet at length hid his head under the protection of an Heathenish King and found that favour from an enemy a Heathen which he had lost among his friends and Gods people There he placed himselfe in a forraigne City with his wives and some few loose men who for their owne advantage had followâ—d him But when hee retireth thither he findeth the City burned his wives and all his substance the wives children and all the goods of all his followers carried away Nothing now was left him but his souldiers and they grieved and vexed at the heart for their losse take all against him conspire intend and speake to stone him Look out now into all the world and see where you can finde upon earth one spark of comfort for this Saint of God yet even then when he was utterly desolate and forlorne he could send up his dejected soule to heaven and there did finde and feele infinite comfort in the Lord his God See the 1 Sam chap. 30. from the 1. to the 7. vers Doe we not find the like nay more in Iob His estate was lost and for outward blessings goods and children hee was stript as naked as he was borne His wife left him but as a snare His friends come to comfort him but through the craft of Satan shake him more thau all the rest of his afflictions His life was yet whole in his body but his body broken and wounded with sore plagues from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot But yet the Spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmitie True but a wounded spirit who can beare The inner-man embroyled by Satan and terrors of the spirit joyned to griefes and troubles of the body without plagues continually renued changes and armies of sorrowes set against him within and without the arrowes of the Almightie shot at him sticking in him and their venime drinkâ—ng up his spirit the terrours of God fighting against him made him the most afflicted and if it were possible for the faithfull to be miserable the most wretched man on earth But even then his poore soule over-wrastled with temptations cast downe within him and almost smothered with this load and heape of afflictions could lift up the head to search out the Redeemer and find unspeakable comfort in him I am sure my Redeemer liveth and I shall see God in my flesh c. What was left to those three royal young men Dan. 3. in that burning anger of the Tyrant and that seven-fold heated furnace What to the Apostle persecuted by Jewes disgraced by Heathens stoned by the consent of both and as a dead carrion dragged and cast out of the City yea too little esteemed nay judged by his owne children in the Spirit yet were they then even full of comfort in God Oh consider with what noble courage those three noble Captives defie the roaring of that Lyon even the fiercenesse of that proud King and tell him to his Beard Our God can and will deliver us out of thine hand With what Christian valour could that great Champion of the Lord Jesus compassed in and pressed downe with all the most bitter persecutions of this world cry out Victory and sing his Triumph not onely saying with the Heathen How light are all these things how slightlie doe I weigh them nay These light momentarie afflictions cause to us an excelling excellent eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 but In all these things wee are more than Conquerors through him that loveth us So right is it oh
temporall and eternall Wherefore is the living man sorrowfull Man suffereth for his sinne Your iniquities have hindered good things from you and your sinnes have turned away these things In a word reade Deutr. 28. from the 15. ver to the end and wee shall there finde that the disobedience breach of Gods law which is sinne 1 Ioh. 3.4 is that needle which draweth after it the whole file and long thred of misery and evill Againe that God is the soveraigne disposer who ordereth it according to his owne pleasure is most evident Out of the mouth of God proceedeth not evill and good yes answereth the same Prophet Spirit We have transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned Thou hast covered with anger and persecuted us thou hast slain and hast not pittied thou hast covered thy selfe with a cloud that our prayer shold not passe through thou hast made us the of-scouring and refuse in the midst of the people Shall there be any evill in a Citie and the Lord hath not done it I make peace and create evill Moreover that the generall end and office of affliction is as a trumpet to summon and call us into the Courts of God to lay downe our rebellion and acknowledge our fealty is every where manifest in Scripture I prepare a plague and purpose a thing against you returne therefore every one I have given you cleannesse of teeth yet have you not turned unto me I have with-holden the raine yet have you not returned unto me Pestilence have I sent among you yet have you not returned to meeâ— I have over-throwne you as Sodome and Gomorra yet have you not returned to me where the Lord most plainly discovereth his end of sending in so many grievances among them namely that they might returne by repentance I have smitten your children in vaine they have received no correction Affliction is no good end when correction or amendment followeth not Wherfore should you be smitten any more you fall away more and more The speciall end why God smiteth ceaseth wheÌ„ men reject repentance Furâ—hermore that Affliction is a messenger of wrath and indeede the gate of hell to the Reprobate will easily appeare by many plaine testimonies Fire is kindled in my wrath and shall burne to the bottome of hell I will send plagues among them I will bestow mine arrowes upon them Such were those afflictions laid upon Caine Saul Iudas c. Especially this truth wil be cleared in those plagus spent on Pharaoh and Egypt which were not appointed by God or ever intended as means to reclaime him else God would have rebuked Satan and not suffered him to harden the heart of that heathen King by them to further obstinacy but 1. to make his resistance more unexcusable 2. to be fore-runners to his destruction of body and soule For to this end God appointed him to shew his power in him even that power of the Potter over the clay to mak one vessell to honour another to dishonour that power whereby hee hath mercy on whom hee will have mercie and whom be will he hardeneth Compare Exod. 9. 16. with Rom. 9.17.18.21 But that Afflictions are Embassadours of peace to the faithfull and indeede a narrow gate yet a gate leading to their happinesse shall most clearely bee shewed by that which followeth and in the meane time may be sufficiently manifested by the testimony of the Apostle Wee must through many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God Now all afflictions may be differenced eyther from the subject in which they exist or the end for which they are sent The subject in which they exist is either soule or body where I so farre extend the words as to include in them al necessaries belonging to both Thus blindnes hardnesse deadnesse of heart terrors griefe desertions of the Spirit sinful infirmity many other may be reckoned among the evils and afflictions of soule so sicknesse payne losse of friends poverty disgrace and infinite other hanging upon the body and bodily estate Againe they may be considered from their end why they are sent by God namely for correctioÌ„ to some to others for confusion thus they are chastisements to his children to rebels punishmeÌ„ts It will therfore mâ—ch further our proceeding if wee briefly lay downe the difference between chastismeÌ„t punishmeÌ„t First then it is more apparent then can be denied that in the matter of them there is none or little difference For in outward evils All things come alike to all the same condâ—tion to the just unjust to him that sweareth and to him that feareth an oath So likewise many spirituall evils are common to al which is evidently cleared in the testimonies of many afflicted Saints The arrowes of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God doe set themselues in array against me Thou writest bitter things against mee and makest me possesse the iniquities of my youth Thus David complaineth that hee had lost the joy of Gods salvation see also Psal. 38.2 and 2 Cor. 7.5 So then both the faithfull and unfaithfull suffer many evils and the same afflictions in the matter of them befall both Secondly it must bee remembred that by reason of this neerenesse in their matter they are sometimes used one for another and punishment called chastisement and chastisement used for punishment though not ofâ—en yet sometime even the Scripture useth these termes promiscuously affirming the godly to be punished and the heathen chastened But in propriety of speeâ—h there is very much and palpable difference For Divine chastisement is such affliction which God of his fatherly wisedome and love layes upon his children for the triall and increase of his grace in them here and their glory in him hereafter sustayning them in the meane time by his Spirit and so bringing forth in them the fruit of holinesse and righteousnesse Contrary Divine punishment is that affliction which God in wrath and hatred layeth upon the wicked as an enemy to their confusion and further damnation with-holding the comfort and saving worke of his holy Spirit which therefore produceth in them murmuring despayre and blaspheming CHAP. IIII. The difference betweene punishnishment and chastisement OBserve from hence five manifest differeces wherby the chastisements of God are distinguished from his punishments The first is from the fountayne or cause whence they issue Chastisement is from a fatherly love and faithfulnesse in his Covenant Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth scourgeth every â—on whom he receiveth As many as I love I rebuke chasten See also Pr. 3.12 His promise in his Covenant is If they break my Statuts keep not my Commandements Then will I visite their transgression with the rod their iniquity with strokes My Covenant will I not break c. I haue sworn by my holinesse I will not faile David
sweet fruits even that by carnall men so much despised holinesse is the image and beauty of God stamped upon a christian the divine nature infinitely therefore above all earthly excellencies which perish with the using But what is the fruit of divine punishment when the visitation of the judge comes upon them either in that generall day of those great Assises or the more particular of his private Sessions some despaire as Caine Saul Iudas some murmure as the rebellious Israelites some blaspheme the name of God who hath power over these plagus some call to the mountains rocks to fal upon them cover them HeÌ„ce ariseth much comfort to every afflicted Christian even our affliction it selfe if we well consider it wil afford us no little help against the grief smart of it CHAP. V. What comforts a Christian soule may gather from affliction it selfe FIrst therefore is it a small comfort that this evil coÌ„meth not only from God as a Father but from the wisdom love faithfulnes of such a father The Lord in his gracious love determineth to do us good maketh an everlasting covenaÌ„t with us not to please our flesh blood but to do us good putteth his feare into our hearts that we shall never depart from him yea to delight in us to doe us good and in his wisdom knowing that there is in us naturally a deceitfull heart starting aside like a broken bow an evill and unfaithfull heart readie to depart from the living God such as when it was at the best soone turned out of the way which hee maÌ„ded he appointed his chastisemeÌ„ts as thongs to bind us to his feare and to settle us in his covenant in which consisteth our onely happinesse Can we thinke that God taketh any pleasure in the smart of his children If we which after our owne pleasure have no delight in the griefe of our infants oh then let our owne affections teach us that hee who is love who is infinit love doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men were not our necessity more then his pleasure wee should never taste of chastisement How then should we rejoyce if not in the smart of the correction yet in the love of the Correctour Shall a little Sugar sweeten and make pleasant to our taste many things which in themselves are sower and bitter and shall not the love of Christ which is better than wine which is better than life it selfe sweeten a light nay the most grievous affâ—iction Iustly may wee blame our taste that there is much flesh and little savour of the Spirit in it if Christ Iesus who is wholly delectable and his love which to us is the most delectable thing in him cannot take away the bitternesse of some gentle nay the most sharpe correction Secondly how soveraignâ— a Cordiall is it to an afflicted Spirit when hee remembers that all his troubles are eyther such as the world layeth upon him to draw him from God to it selfe or God layeth upon him to draw him to himselfe from the world Seeing both of them are the very portion of Gods children For the former persecutions of wicked men slanders reproches and the scofs of the world are ranked among chiefe blessings and are bequeathed by Christ as his legacie See Mar. 10.30 and we in such a case commanded by our Saviour to rejoyce and to dance for joy as being a most happy blessed estate For the other should wee not as much rejoyce in it For in these afflictions God is offered to us so is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as unto Sonnes Is there any gift in the world or is the world it selfe a gift comparable to God Seeing then that God offereth himself to us in these chastising afflictions how welcome should they be unto us and how great pleasure should wee take in them not for any thing indeed in them but for that which they bring unto us Is not their estate wofull who being in the visible Church and making no other account but to share the inheritance shall at length be found bastards and thrust out of doores like scornfull Ismael to their eternall shame and confusion Now such are all they who receive no chastisement from the hand of God who then would not comfort himselfe in that correctioÌ„ which is indeed for the time unpleasant to the flesh but yet even then to the spirit an evidence of an happinesse beyond all thought or time who would not with Moses rather choose to suffer affliction with the children of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season Another especial comfort we may receive from the end or purpose of God namely that his grace which he hath given us may be tried and so himselfe glorified Now this triall implyeth not onely the proofe or manifestation of it that others might take example by it and God might have glory but also a defaecation as I may say or purifying it taking away the rust soyle and filth which it gathereth by our corruption Thus in the first sense the Lord tried Ioseph by his affliction Thus Abrahams faith thus the faith of those three royall young men was proved or tryed Likewise that other kinde of tryall whereby as gold is purified in the furnace so grace in affliction is mentioned by the Apostle That the tryall of your faith being much more precious then gold though it beâ—ried by fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory So Iob He knoweth my way and tryeth mee and I shall come forth as gold A speech worthy to be as indeede it is eternized for ever and fitly written down by the finger of that blessed Spirit by whose mouth it was also spoken The Lord saith that holy Patient knoweth all my wayes hee knoweth how dearely more than my appointed food I have occounted his Word hee knoweth that I have followed his steps yet he trieth me not because he is ignorant of any thing in mee for hee knoweth all my wayes but first that as in a furnace the most precious mettal leaveth behind it some drosse so I from this tryall might come forth much more purified and clensed from my sinfull steynes and pollution and secondly that I might be current in his kingdome even a patterne as well of his powerfull grace in upholding me as of patience to them which shall be herafter exercised by like afflictions A Christian who hath seene and loathed the filthinesse of his sinfull heart what will hee not bee willing to doe or suffer that he may have it cleansed Many weake women will endure much to mend some deformity in their bodies and shal not a Christian suffer the divels image to bee scoured off although it bee with smarting water that the beauty of God may be imprinted upon him But especially it should much refresh us to know that hee who hath guided us
wee hold fast what is harder to beleeve If God dyed for man shall not man live with God Shall not a mortall live aeternally for whom hee dyed who liveth aeternally Verily the afflictions of this life are so farre from being worthy of the glory which is purchased for us in the life to come that rather they are nothing to those comfortable nay glorious privileges which wee presently enjoy For what can any earthly misery which at the furthest proceedeth to a temporall death shew comparable with this union with God and glorious fellowship with the Father through Christ Wee are united to God by affinity by a spirituall and therefore indissoluble bond of marriage he hath married our nature nay our persons hath set his owne image on us given us his even the divine nature and so as he is our flesh so we flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone We are united to him by a spirituall consanguinity to the Father as our father Ioh. 20.17 to the Sonne as our brother Heb. 2.11 nay as members to the Head Eph. 5. 30. And because all fleshly and mixt union is no way comparable to that simple union of Spirits We are one Spirit with him 1 Cor. 6.17 that as there is no union like that of the Trinity of persons in the unity of the God-head so wee also should be united spiritually to our God That as the Father is in Christ and Christ in the Father so wee may bee one in them Goe to now Let all the world conspire against us to load our harts with affliction let sinfull flesh joyne with the world and all the infernal spirits with both if thou hast tasted this cordiall if ever thou hast truly relished the sweetnesse of the Lord Jesus the strength of thy heart all they shall effect is but this somewhat the sooner and closer to knit thy soule unto God in Christ and by with-drawing earthly sensuall to heap upon thee spirituall and eternall comforts CHAP. XX. The more close applying of this comfort by meditation NOw that wee may thoroughly digest this cordiall and finde some heart and strength in it let us quicken it by some such meditation Oh my soule is there any thing to bee compared unto the Lord Jesus Is not al in the world nay all the world and a world of worlds in respect of him losse and dung Hadst thou received no other pledge of Gods love no other comfort but Christ alone were noâ— this sufficient abundant nay an infinite testimony of his eternall love and a conâ—â—lation beyond all miserie But when hee is given thee what is not given thee when thou hast him who is Lord of all thou hast all things with gim Oh if thou hadst knowledge of this love of Christ which passeth knowledge what trouble what earthly griefe coâ—ld dismay thee how wholsome how pleasant how delectable how heavenly is the least tast of it O sweete gracious glorious Saviour whether I look up to thee my head in heaven or down to my selfe thy most unworthy meÌ„ber on earth whether I consider what great things thou hast done for my poore soule or how thou hast done theÌ„ I cannot but find infinit love in thee infinit coÌ„fort in thy love Thou art that true light all other borrowed from thee Thou art the brightnesse of thy fathers glorie making and sustaining all things Thou art the expresse Image of thy fathers person God equall to thy father The mighty God the everlastâ—ng Father the Prince of peace Thou art the King of glorie the King of Kings and Lord of Lords how faire how pleasant how full of ravishing delights is thy love Thy cheekes as a bed of spices as sweet flowers thy lips like Lillâ—es dropping sweet-smelling mirrhe thy mouth most sweet Thou art altogether lovely How is it then that I have found favour in thy sight who although once framed by thee after thine image yet wilfully giving up my selfe unto sinne and Satam became the most deformed the most abject the most polluted and silthy off-scouring of the world Oh my Lord I am â—nfinitely unable to conceive either thy glorious excelleÌ„ce or my lothsome vilenesse yet hast thou set thine heart upon such an one to love mee and expressed that love by such effects that neither I can finde words to utter it nor thoughts to apprehend it yet faine would I kindle and inflame my cold heart in the sight and sense of it If I cast downe mine eye to look upon my bottomlesse miserie I see my selfe shut up and imprisoned in unbeleefe bound in the chains of death condemned to hell where the pit had shut her mouth upon me my lifâ— consuming in poasting vanity my soule deligâ—tiâ—g in â—he service of such a mastâ—r whose wages is endlesse misâ—ry a slave in the world to Satan by disobedience and after in the other worlâ— a companion to him in infiniâ—e torment Snares fire brimstone and an horrible tempest this was the portion of my cup. And as my state was infinitely fearefull so altogether helpelesse No creature had either power or pitty to succour mee nay mine owne soule so farre from compassion of it selfe that it rejoyced and triumphed in this depth of hellish misery From this and farre greater calamitie then in this or any word can be expressed hast thou graciously rescued me Thou reachedst forth thy hand and hast plâ—cked me out of the belly of hel Thou hast drawne me out of the horrible pit where no stay was hast set my feet upon the rocke in a large place Now if I lift up mine eyes to take view of that glory to which thou hast so graciously advaÌ„ced me I find my tongue and heart yet farre more unaable to utter or conceive it Hadst thou left me to my self now after this deliveraÌ„ce in health and safety yet oh how wonderful had thy grace bin But this great this infinit mercy was a smal thing in thine eies O Lord God but hast promoâ—ed me to an inappeheÌ„sible height of glory with thy selfe Thou hast preferred mee to thy service and thy service is liberty nay thy service is a kingdome even to reigne on earth And as if all this were too little thou hast made me a sonne with thee to the same Father the Father of lights and what estate is any thing but dung to this Thou hast annexed me as an heire with thy selfe who art the heire of all things so that by thee I the most base drudge of sinne and Satan am lifted up to a throne crown to an immortall crown of glory such as never eye saw neuer eare heard neuer entred into the heart of man Thou hast washt me set thine owne beautious image upon me thou hast reconciled justified fully redeemed me raised and set mee with thy selfe in heavenly places and with all this and above all this thou hast knit and united me to thy selfe