because they are good or because they are deerely beloved of God If a mans person and wayes please God the world will be displeased with both If God be a mans friend that will be his enemy if they exercise their malice it is where he shewes mercy and indeed he refuseth to be an Abel whom the malice of Cain doth not exercise as Gregory speaks for it is an everlasting rule of the Apostles He that is borne after the flesh will persecute him that is borne after the Spirit Gal. 4.29 not because he is evill but because he is so much better than himselfe 1 Iohn 3.12 Because his life is not like other mens his wayes are of another fashion Wisd. 2.15 I have also shewed the Originall continuance properties causes ends and what will be the issue of this enmity and therein made it plaine that as for the present they suit like the Harpe and the Harrow agree like two poisons in one stomack the one being ever sick of the other so to reconcile them together were to reconcile Fire and Water the Wolfe and the Lambe the Windes and the Sea together yea that once to expect it were an effect of frenzie not of hope It remaines in the last place that I declare the Reasons why God permits his dearest children so to be afflicted The godly are so patient in their sufferings With other Grounds of comfort and Vses And first of the first The Reasons why God suffers the same are chiefly sixteene all tending to his glory and their spirituall and everlasting good benefit and advantage for the malignity of envie if it be well answered is made the evill cause of a good effect to us God and our soules are made gainers by anothers sin The Reasons and Ends which tend to Gods glory are three 1 It makes for the glory of his Power 2 It makes for the glory of his Wisdome 3 It makes much for his glory when those graces which he hath bestowed upon his children do the more shine through imployment It maketh for the glory of his Power Moses having declared in what manner the Lord permitted Pharaoh to oppresse the children of Israel more and more still hardning his heart shewes the reason of it in these words That I may multiply my miracles and wonders in the Land of Aegypt That I may lay my hand upon Pharaoh and bring out mine Armies even my people by great judgements that my power may be knowne and that I may declare my Name throughout all the world Exod. 7.3.4 9.16 When that multitude of Amonites and Moabites came to war against Iehosaphat and the Children of Israel intending to cast them out of the Lords inheritance and utterly destroy them to the dishonour of God the Lord by delivering them from that sore affliction gained to himselfe such honour and glory That as the Text saith the feare of God was upon all the Kingdomes of the Earth when they heard that the Lord had fought so against the enemies of Israel 2 Chron. 20.29 The judgement was upon some the feare came upon all it was but a few mens losse but it was all mens warning 1 Cor. 10.11 When the Lord brought againe the Captivity of Sion saith the Psalmist Then said they among the Heathen the Lord hath done great things for them Psal. 126.1 2. God provides on purpose mighty adversaries for his Church that their humiliation may be the greater in sustaining and his glory may be greater in deliverance yea though there bee Legions of devils and every one stronger than many Legions of men and more malicious than strong yet Christs little Flock lives and prospers and makes not this exceedingly for our Makers for our Gardians glory Gods power is best made knowne in our weaknesse 2 Cor. 12.9 Impossibilities are the best advancers of his glory who not seldome hangs the greatest waits upon the smallest wyars as he doth the earth upon nothing For what wee least beleeve can bee done we most admire being done the lesser the meanes and the greater the opposition the more is the glory of him who by little meanes doth overcome a great opposition yea it is greater glory to God to turne evils into good by overmastering them then wholly to take them away Now if â—hy very enemies thus honour thee how should thy friends bought with thy precious bloud glorifie thee But the sweetest of honey lieth in the bottome I passe therefore from the first to the second Reason CHAP. 2. That it makes for the glory of his Wisdome 2 SEcondly it maketh for the glory of his marvellous and singular wisdome when he turneth the malice of his enemies to the advantage of his Church I would saith Paul yee understood brethren that the things which have come unto me are turned rather to the furthering of the Gospell So that my bonds in Christ are famous throughout all the judgement Hall and in all other places Insomuch that many of the brethren in the Lord are imboldned through my bonds and dare more frankely speake the word Phil. 1.12 13 14. In all other cases a gentle resistance heightens the desire of the seeker in this the strength of opposition meeting with as strong a faith hath the same effect Againe how admirably did the Lord turne the malice of Iosephs brethren when they sold him into Aegypt And that devilish plot of Haman against Mordecay and his people â—o the good of his Church in generall and of Ioseph and Mordecay in particular Gen. 45.8.11 Hester 9.1 2 3. Their plots to overthrow Ioseph and Mordecay were turned by a Divine Providence to the onely meanes of advantaging them And herein was that of the Psalmist verified Surely the rage of man shall turne to thy praise Psal. 76.10 It is not so much glory to God to take away wicked men as to use their evill to his owne holy purposes how soone could the Commander of Heaven and Earth rid the world of bad members But so should hee lose the praise of working good by evill instruments it suffiseth that the Angels of God resist their actions while their persons continue God many times workes by contrary meanes as Christ restored the Blind-man to his sight with clay and spittle he caused the Israelites to grow with depression with persecution to multiply Exod. 1.12 The bloud of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church Persecution enlargeth the bounds of it like as Palmes oppressed and Camomile trod upon mount the more grow the faster T is as easiy for God to work without meanes as with them and against them as by either but assuredly it makes more for the Makers glory that such an admirable harmony should be produced out of such an infinite discord The World is composed of foure Elements and those be contraries the Yeare is quartered into different seasons the minde of man is a mixture of disparities as joy sorrow hope feare love hate and the like the body doth consist and is nourished
answer it is after the manner of Epictetus who would not deny the sins his enemy taxed him with but reproves his ignorance rather in that being unacquainted with the infinity of his crimes he layes only two or three to his charge whereas indeed he was guilty of a Million or according to Philip of Macedon his example who would not punish Nicanor although he openly spake evill of him saying when he heard thereof I suppose Nicanor is a good man it were better to search whether the fault be in us or no so no sooner shall an holy mans enemy accuse him of hypocrisie pride passion covetousnesse c. but he will goe to God and accuse himselfe and complaine I am so indeed yea with Paul I am the chiefe of all sinners I am more vile than his tearmes can make me and I much marvell my punishment is no greater than to heare a few ill and bitter words And indeed one would thinke whatsoever is not paine nor sufferance or admit it be paine and sufferance so long as it is not a curse but a crosse may well be borne without grumbling What said that Gentleman in Athens to his friends when Ashuerus came and tooke away halfe his Plate as hee was at dinner with them they admiring that he was not a whit moved thereat I thank God quoth he that his Highnesse hath left me any thing Yea Mauricius that good Emperour when he his wife and his five sons were taken his wife and sons put to death and himselfe waiting for the like â—atall stroke could conclude thus Iust art thou O Lord in all thy wayes and holy in all thy workes as it is in the Psalmes And a Martyr when he was burning at a stake Welcome flames my sin hath deserved more than here I can be able to suffer And certainly they are angry with Heaven for justice that are angry with them for injustice Wherefore if thou hast beene heretofore so simple aâ— to returne like for like henceforward lay thy hand upon thy mouth and say with Iob Once have I spoken but I will answer no more yeâ— twice but I will proceed no further Iob 40.4.5 I will not so much consider how unjust man is that gives the wrong as how just God is that guideth it And this would be our meditation in all other cases namely to thinke whose hand strikes whether by a Plureâ—â—e or a Feaver or a Sword or what ever the Instrument be and to conclude the blow is Gods whatsoever or whomsoever is used as the weapon yea it comes not without our desert for God is just nor shall be without our profit for God is mercifull And he that doth not argue thus comes short of the very Heathen For Socrates could tell the Athenians when they condemned him to dye that they could doe nothing but what the gods permitted and nature had before ordained And in common reason can a Clocke goe without a weight to move it or a keeper to set it no. CHAP. 21. They are patient because their sufferings are counterpoysed and made sweet with more than answerable blessings 5 HE beareth the crosse patiently because it is counterpoysed and made sweet with more than answerable blessings What saith Iob Shall we receive good at the hands of God and not evill he was content to eat the crust with the crumme Indeed his wife like the wicked would only have faire weather all peace and plenty no touch of trouble but it is not so with the godly who have learnt better things Who will not suffer a few stripes from a father by whom he receiveth so much good even all that he hath Diogenes would have no nay but Antisthenes must entertaine him his Scholler insomuch that Antisthenes to have him gone was forc't to cudgell him yet all would not doe he stirs not but takes the blowes very patiently saying Vse me how you will so I may be your Scholler and heare your daily discourses I care not Much more may a Christian say unto God Let me injoy the sweet fruition of thy presence speake thou peace unto my conscience and say unto my soule I am thy salvation and then afflict me how thou pleasest I am content yea very willing to beare it for these are priviledges which make Paul happier in his chaine of Iron than Agrippa in his chaine of Gold and Peter more merry under stripes than Caiphas upon the judgement-seat Yea if we well consider the commodity it brings we shall rather wish for affliction than be displeased when it comes Col. 1.24 For it even bringeth with it the company of God himself I wil be with you in tribulation saith God to the disconsolate soul Psal. 91.15 When Sidrack Mishack and Abednego were cast into the fiery Fornace there was presently a fourth came to beare them company and that was God Himselfe Dan. 3.23 to 27. Yea God is not only with them to comfort them in all their tribulations 2 Cor. 1.4 but in them for at the same time when the Disciples were persecuted they are said to be filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost Acts 13.52 And as our sufferings in Christ do abound so our consolation also aboundeth through Christ 2 Cor. 1.5 And lastly he doth comfort us according to the dayes we are afflicted and according to the yeares we have seene evill Psal. 90.15 And if so our sufferings require patience with thankfulnesse as it fared with Iob. The Lord hath taken some comfort from us but hath much more given unto us therefore blessed be the name of the Lord. So Sathan and the World may take many things from us as they did from Iob but they can never take away God from us that gives all and therefore blessed be the name of the Lord. Besides we looke for a Crowne of glory to succeed this wreath of Thornes but if we are never tried in the field never set foot to runne the race of patience how can we looke for a Garland Ten repulses did the Israelites suffer before they could get out of Aegypt and twice ten more before they could get possession of the promised Land of Canaan And as many did David indure before he was invested in the promised kingdome many lets came before the Temple was re-edified All men would come to Heaven but they doe not like the way they like well of Abrahams bosome but not of Dives doore But God seeth it fit for us to taste of that cup of which his Son dranke so deepe that we should feele a little what sin is what his love was that we may learne patience in adversity as well as thankfulnesse in prosperity while one scale is not always in depression nor the other lifted ever high while none is so miserable but he shall heare of another that would change calamities with him CHAP. 22. That they are patient because patience brings a reward with it 6 BEcause patience in suffering brings a reward with it in reason
spent all she had upon them for to mend the matter poverty which is another disease was superadded to make her compleatly miserable When did Moses finde succour but when his Mother could no longer hide him and he was put into the River among the Bull-rushes she would have given all she was worth to save him and now she hath wages to nurse him she doth but change the name of Mother into Nurse and she hath her son without feare not without great reward when Israel was sn so hard a straight as either to be drowned in the Sea or slaine by the Sword how miraculously did God provide an evasion by dividing the waters When Rochel like Samariah had a strong enemy without and a sore famine within how miraculously did God provide an evasion by making the tyde their Purveyor to bring them in an Ocean of shell fish the like of which was never knowne before nor since When the English had left Cales and the Spaniard was againe repossest of it by some neglect or oversight there was an English-man left behinde but how did God provide for his escape its worth the remembring he was no sooner crept into a hole under a paire of staires but instantly a Spider weaves a web over the hole and this diverted them for when one of them said here is surely some of them hid another replyes What a foole art thou doest thou not see it s covered with a firme cobweb and so past him that in the night he escaped O Saviour our extremities are the seasons of thy aide even when Faâ—x was giving fire to the Match that should have given fire to the Powder which should have blowne up men and Monuments even the whole State together thou that never sleepest didst prevent him and disclose the whole designe yea thou didst turne our intended Funerall into a Festivall And why doth the goodnesse of our God pick out the most needfull times for our reliefe and comfort but because our extremities drive us to him that is omnipotent there is no feare no danger but in our owne insensiblenesse but because when we are forsaken of all succours and hopes we are fâ—â—test for his redresse and never are we neerer to helpe than when wee despaire of helpe but because our extremities give him the most glory and our comfort is the greater when the deliverance is seene before it is expected his wisdome knowes when aide will be most seasonable most wellcome which he then loves to give when he findes us left of all other props That mercifull hand is reserved for a dead lift and then he failes us not as when Abraham had given Isaack and Isaac had given himselfe for dead when the knife is falling upon his throate then then comes the deliverance by an Angell calling forbidding commending him And indeed our faith is most commendable in the last act it is no praise to hould out until we be harde driven but when we are forsaken of meanes then to live by faith in our God is thought worthy of a Crowne O wretched Saul hadst thou held out never so little longer without offering and without distrust Samuel had come and thou hadst kept the favour of God whereas now for thy unbeliefe thou art cast off for ever 1 Sam. 13.10 to 15. To shut up all in a word were thy soule in such a straight as Israel was betweene the red Sea and the Egyptians the spirits of vengeance like those enemies pursuing thee behind Hell and death like that Red Sea ready to ingulfe thee before yet would I speak to thee in the confidence of Moses Exodus 14.13 Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Thy Word ô God made all thy word shall repaire all hence all ye diffident feares he whom I trust is omnipotent Secondly Thou must know that GOD in his wisdome hath set downe a certaine period of time within which hee will exercise his Children more or lesse and at the end wherof and not before hee will relieve and comfort them againe As wee may perceive by Eccles. 3.1 Acts 7.25 Exodus 12.41 Gen. 15.13 Daniel 1.5 30. Ier. 25.11 Gen. 6.3 Foure hundred yeares hee appointed to Abraham and his seed that they should be Sojourners in a strange land where they should be kept in bondage and evill intreated Genesis 15. At the end of which time even the selfe same day they returned from the land of Aegypt that was the precise time appointed and the selfe same day it was accomplished and till then Moses undertooke it in vaine Why were they so long kept from it the land was their owne before they were the right heires to it lineally descended from him who was the first Possessor of it after the floud God will doe all in due time that is in his time not in ours if at any time the Lord deliver us it is more than he owes us Let him saith Saint Augustine choose his owne opportunity that so freely grants the mercy Againe he appointed that the Iewes should serve the King of Babylon seventy yeeres not a day not an houre to bee abated Ieremy 25.11 but at the end thereof even that very night Daniel 9. it was accomplished neither did Daniel who knew the determinate time once pray for deliverance till just upon the expiration Thirty eight yeeres hee appointed the sicke man at Bethesda's Poole Iohn 5.5 Twelve yeares to the Woman with the bloudy issue Matthew 9.20 Three Moneths to Moses Exod. 2.2 Tenne dayes tribulation to the Angell of the Church of Smyrna Apocal. 2.10 Three dayes plague to David 2 Sam. 24.13 Each of these groaned for a time under the like burden as thou doest But when their time which God had appointed was come they were delivered from all their miseries troubles and calamities and so likewise ere long if thou wilt patiently tarry the Lords leasure thou shalt also be delivered from thy affliction and sorrow either in the Morning of thy trouble with David Psal. 30.5 or at the Noone of thy life with Iob Chapter 42.10 to the end or toward the Evening with Mr. Glover that holy Martyr who could have no comfortable feeling till he came to the sight of the stake but then he cryed out and clapt his hands for joy to his friend saying O Austine he is come hee is come meaning the feeling joy of faith and the Holy Ghost Acts and Monuments Fol. 1555. in the last edition save this Or at night with Lazarus at one houre or another thou art sure to be delivered Be our troubles many in number strange in nature heavy in measure much in burthen and long in continuance yet Gods mercies are more numerous his wisdome more wondrous his power more miraculous he will deliver us out of all Many are the troubles of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all Psal. 34.19 How many or how great soever they be or how long soever they continue yet an end they shall all have
thou esteeme Heaven worth It s true flesh and bloud is so sensuall that it feeles a little paine in the finger a great deale more than the health of the whole body But let us better consider on it and behold at once the whole estate of a Christian we shall see his peace exceed his paine yea we shall see both the torments present and the glory following hope makes absent joyes present wants plenitudes and beguiles calamity as good company does the way The poore Traveller in thinking of his Inne goes on more cheerefully and the bond-man in calling to minde the yeere of Iubilee When the Apprentice cals to minde that his yeares of covenant will now shortly expire and then he shall have his freedome confirmed the very remembrance thereof maketh many laboursome workes seeme more light and lâ—sse grievous unto him neither doth he afterwards repent it Did it ever repent Iacob when he came to inherit his Fathers blessing that he had enduâ—ed a long exile and tedious bondage Or Ioseph when he was once made Ruler in Aegypt that he had formerly beene sould thither and there imprisoned and he had never beene a Courtier if he had not first beene a prisoner Or did it repent the Israelites when they came to inherit the Land of promise that they had formerly beene forty yeeres passing through a forlorne wildernesse Or which of Gods servants did ever repent that they had passed the apprentiship of their service here and were now gone to be made free in glory If so let us doe and suffer chearfully patiently couragiously what God imposeth upon us knowing that after we have swet and smarted but six dayes at the utmost then commeth our Sabbath of eternall rest which will make amends for all knowing that death ends our misery and begins our glory and a â—â—w groanes are well bestowed for a Preface to an immortall joy Let theâ— our eyes be continually on the joyes which follow and not on the paine which is present the paine neglected and unregarded cannot be very discomfortable But that there iâ— reward promised to those which suffer in Christs cause iâ— not all for our reward shall be answerable to our sufferings the greater our sufferings are here the greater shall our reward be hereafter the malice of our enemies shall make for the increase of our happinesse Mâ—t. 16.27 The deluge of calamities may assâ—uâ—e us but they shall exalt us Suffering for the Gospell is no inferiour good worke and every one shall be rewarded though noâ— for yet according to his workes Psal. 62.12 Rom. 2.6 Revel 22 1â— The greater degree of grace we attaine to here the greater degree of glory we shall have hereafter They that turne many unto righteousnesse sâ—â—â—l shine as the stars in the Kingdome of Heaven Dan. 12. 3. And they that suffer Martyrdome shall be cloathed with long white roabs and have Palmes in their hands Rev. 6.9 11. Neither would those Saints in the old Testament which were â—aâ—ked and 〈◊〉 be delivered or accept of their enemies faire offers to the end they might receiue a better resurrection and a more glorious rewardâ— Hâ—b 11.15 Aâ—â—â— when we looke to the reward we could not wish our worke easier or our burthen lighter When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord because we should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.32 If we be not chastened here we shall be condemned hereafter Now whether had you rather rejoyce for one fit or alwayes You would do both which may not be you would be both Dives and Lazarus have happinesse both here and hereafter pardon me it is a fond covetousnes idle singularity to affect it What that you alone may fare better than all Gods Saints That God should straw Carpets for your feet only to walke unto your Heaven and make that way smooth for you which all Patriarchs Prophets Evangelists Confessors and Christ himselfe have found rugged and bloudy Away with this selfe-love and come downe you ambitious sonnes of Zâ—bedee and ere you thinke of sitting neere the Throne be contented to be called unto the Cup. Now is your triall Let your Saviour see how much of his bitter potion you can pledge then shall you see how much of his glory he can afford you In all Feasts the coursest meats are tasted first be content to drinke of his Vinegar and Gall and after you shall drink new Wine with him in his Kingdome Besides without some kinde of suffering how shall your sincerity be approved Even nature is joâ—und and cheerefull whiles it prospereth but let God with-draw his hand no sight no trust the Mother of Micha while her wealth lasteth can dedicate a good part of her silver to the Lord but now she hath lost it she fals a cursing Iudges 17.1 2 3. We all are never weary of receiving soone weary of attending we are ready to shrinke from Christ so soone as our profits or pleasures shrink from us but if with the Needle of the Compasse in the midst of tempestuous weather we remaine alwayes unmoveable and stayed upon one point it is a signe the Loadstone of the Gospell hath changed our hearts and we are governed by Christ as the Needle is by the North Pole Wherefore if God should not frame outward things to thy minde doe thou frame thy minde to indure with patience and comfort what he sends and this will be an Odour smelling sweet a Sâ—â—â—â—fice acceptable and pleasant to God yea herein thou shalt approve thy selfe with David a man after Gods owne heart and you know that as David was unto God according to his heart so was God unto David according to his CHAP. 40. Application of the former Grounds ANd so you have the resâ—â—ue of the grounds of comfort it remaines that I should apply them For this Doctrine though it be better understood than practised as Cassandra was better knowne than trusted yet being both knowne applyed and duly trusted to will like the Sunne not only delight our understandings with its contemplation but also warme and quicken our affections Wherefore is there any weake Christian so white livered with Nicodemus that the reproaches and persecutions which attend his profession make him ashamed of Christ or cause him to thinke that it is in vaine to serve the Lord whereby he is frighted out of the narrow way that leadeth to life Let him draw neere for I chiefly direct my speech unto him are afflictions and persecutions so necessary and profitable as hath beene shewed doth not God only gaine glory by our sufferings but doe they also bring uâ— to repentance and amendment of life 〈…〉 up to prayer weâ—â—e 〈◊〉 from the love of the world keepe uâ— alwayes prepared for our enemies assaults discover whâ—ther we are sincere or no make us humble improve all Christian graces in us Is God more specially present with us in afflictions cannot our enemies diminish one haire of 〈◊〉 headâ— without Gods speciall leave