Prophet Jeremiah speaketh Thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder then a stone and have refused to return Jerem. 5.3 They were unwilling either to beare their correction or to be bettered by it But let it not be so with any that love the Lord or their own good let both these extremities be avoided of us and let us exercise the golden mean to be sensible of the hand of God and to be cheerfull and thankfull for our affliction seeing as hath been proved so much good commeth unto us by them Object If it be so that afflictions are so profitable then may wee yea ought wee to pray that God would afflict us for may not every one nay should not every one pray for that which may be profitable for himselfe and others Answ Those things which in themselves are evill howsoever by the wise Providence and mercifull disposition of God they may have a good issue and work together for the best to those that love God yet may wee not lawfully pray for such evills to light upon our selves or others upon presumption of Gods goodnesse to turn them to the best The disasters and miserable calamities which for many yeeres together have rent and torn the Church have stirred us up to seek and cry mightily unto â—he Lord and to be humbled with fasting before him may wee therefore pray that the rod of God may still lie upon the backs of his people that ruines and the breaches of Sion may not be repaired Surely no for wee are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem That peace may be within her walls and prosperitie within her pallaces Psal 122.6 7. Death in it selfe is an evill thing for it is the wages of sinne Rom. 6.23 Yet by the infinite power and mercy of God who delights to bring good out of evill it is made the period of all our labors and an entrance into Gods own presence may we therefore being wearle of our lives desire death sooner then the Lord will Albeit afflictions when the Lord sendeth them unto us shall bring good unto his children yet ought wee not either to pray for them or wilfully to cast and plunge our selves into them Therefore Agar praies unto the Lord Give me not poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me Prov. 30.8 Wee are to pray for such a condition in which the Lord sees wee shall be best able to honor and glorifie him and procure most good to our selves and others Now whether this will be by prosperitie or adversitie wee must leave it to the wisedome of the Lord who knoweth better then our selves what is expedient and needfull for us Object But if it be so that afflictions are so profitable unto us whether being in them may wee pray for deliverance out of them or no Answ Wee are to pray for deliverance out of them if wee have received that good by them which God intended us otherwise wee are to be willing nay desirous that the Lord would not take off his plaister untill the sore be healed lest it ranckle and grow worse and so wee cause the Lord to apply some sharper medicine to lay upon us some greater affliction Therefore in thine affliction call upon the Lord and say Smite Lord correct me still untill thou hast done me good by thy rod let me have this affliction sanctified else let mee not be eased let it not be taken off me Are there not many delivered oft times out of sicknesse for whom it had been better in respect of their souls they had still continued upon their sicke bed The like may bee said of many other kinde of afflictions and that it had been better for some they had never come out of them Therefore when wee are in affliction let us not pray for freedome and deliverance but conditionally if it be the will of God to inlarge us and if he seeth that deliverance will be better for us Otherwise to desire the Lord to keep us still under and to give us patience and faith to beare his rod and to profit by it But if any shall unwillingly beare the Lords yoke using all means he can to cast it off and to pull his head out of the collar this shewes that such a person doth not desire that the Lord should do him good neither doth hee acknowledge the Lords wisedome and righteousnesse but seemeth to tell the Lord what hee thinkes were better for him And let him know that the Lord will either keep him in affliction longer then otherwise hee would or else that this affliction shall be but a fore-runner of some greater judgement Therefore let us not vexe or disquiet our selves in our afflictions and so make them more grievous unto us then the Lord would have them Lee us cast our selves upon the Lord and resolve to abide his pleasure and assure wee our selves that the longer wee are under his hand the more good he will do us and the better able we shall be to beare his hand You shall heare a new cart in the street which will squeak and make a noise if the least load that can be lie upon it whereas an old seasoned cart will go under a great weight and make no noise even so many a Christian not used to beare affliction will squeak and cry out upon every little trouble whereas hee that hath been seasoned long and exercised with afflictions undergoes many great and grievous ones cheerfully and contentedly Wert thou never in affliction untiil now then look up to the promises of God acquaint thy selfe with them and they will make thee cheerfull and thankfull for thy affliction It is my comfort in my trouble for thy promise hath quickened me Psal 119.50 Say as Sydrac Meshac and Abednego said our God whom wee serve is able to deliver us and hee will deliver us Hast thou been formerly afflicted and delivered let former deliverances confirm and strengthen thy faith in this present or future afflictions as it did Paul wee should not trust in our selves but in God Who delivered us from so great a death in whom we trust that yet hereafter hee will deliver us 2. Cor. 1.10 In the mean time resolve to tarry the Lords leisure consider not what now thou feelest but what good hereafter thou art like to find by thine afflictions Blesse God that hee will take this course with thee as Job said What is man that thou dost magnifie him and thou settest thine heart upon him And dost visit him every morning and triest him every moment We would take it as a great grace and honor if the King should every day send to know how we do but if hee should daily come in person to visit us how highly should wee think our selves honored It is thy case that art afflicted The King of Kings hath sent his servant nay comes with his servant to visite thee when he sendeth affliction unto thee Assure thy selfe he mindes thee nay sets his heart upon thee if he regarded not thy good and welfare hee would suffer thee to take thy swinge in sin but because he loveth thee he correcteth thee It is a truth the Lord hath spoken it As many as I love I rebuke and chasten bee zealous therefore and amend So be it FINIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fervent Zeal what it is Doct. 1. The best have afflictions Affliction findeth out sinnes Iob 36 8 9 Affliction purges out sinne Affliction is physick for the soul Affliction preventeth sinne Affliction teacheth us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Affliction trieth the truth of grace in us Affliction doth fit us for Gods service Affliction teacheth us to prize Gods benefits Affliction weaneth us from the world Affliction stirs us up to prayer 0. Affliction quickneth our devotion Affliction coÌ„formeth us unto Christ Vita crucis vita lucis Affliction prepareth us for glory Censure not the afflicted How are we said to be conquerers when conquered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Store thy self with comfort out of the word of God Break off thy sinnes by repentance Afflictions of the godly and wicked differ Seek to the Lord by prayer Comfort for the afflicted 1 Sam. 2.17 22. M. Culverwell of faith Desire to be with Christ Death how it may be desired Woe to those that are not afflicted Note Doct. 2. All our afflictions come from God God filleth both heaven and earth Againe it must needs be God worketh all things as he will All creatures are subject unto the Lord. Away with Fortune and luck 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God disposeth of all tempests Patient in afflictions 1 Helps to the patient bearing of affliction Our enemies are but the Lords rods to whip us Comfort for the afflicted God doth order our affliction Note Go to God for issue and deliverance Fero spero Note Vncheerfulnesse doth much hurt Doctr. 3. Perswasion of Gods love will helpe us to beare our affliction Because God will helpe our crosse God intends our good in afflicting us No misery can make Gods people miserable Nothing can separate us from God We learne from hence why we be so troubled with our affliction Note Be perswaded of Gods Love Tokens of Gods afflicting of us in love Note Doct. 4. The chiefe end of Gods afflicting us is the bettering of us By affliction wee come to know our selves Note By affliction wee come to judge aright of sinne Affliction makes us to feare God The feare of Gods is very profitable Wee do not make satisfaction by our afflictions Our stubbornnesse provoketh God to afflict us Amend by little else greater affliction will come Note Adde not affliction to the afflicted but pitty them Live by faith in affliction Be thankfull for affliction Note Dan. 3.17
afflictions 387. Reasons 1 God will then help us to beare them 396. 2 God will do us good by our afflictions 397. 3 No misery can make us miserable if God love us 401. Uses 1 Whence it comes to passe that many are so perplexed in their afflictions 411. Of inward and spirituall afflictions 432. Divers objections from feare and unbeliefe answered 462. 2 Be perswaded of Gods love 488. Tokens of Gods afflicting of us in love 493. 1 If he gives us a contented minde 494. 2 If affliction brings us neerer to God 496. 3 If they worke godly sorrow in us 498. 4 If thankfull for afflictions 502. Doctr. IIII. The chiefe end of Gods afflicting of us is the bettering of us 508. Reasons 1 By affliction wee come to know our selves 514. 2 By affliction wee come to judge aright of sinne 518 How wee may find out that sinne for which wee are afflicted 524. 3 Affliction makes us to feare God 536. Uses 1 Satisfaction is not made to God by our affliction 546. 2 Our stubbornnesse provokes God to afflict us 550. 3 Amend by little else greater affliction will come 554. 4 Adde not affliction to the afflicted but rather comfort them 564. 5 Bee thankfull for afflictions 578. Whether wee may pray for afflictions 585. Errata PAge 91. line 14. for complaining read complaineth p. 92. l. 17. Esa 64.7 8 9. p. 96. l. 13. for their r. they p. 105. l. 12. r. set to p. 159. l. 16. r. so much p. 190. l. 3. r. it may p. 199. l. 9. r. as ready p. 217. l. 1. for and with r. for p. 333. l. 7. for originally r. organically p. 340 l. 5. r. makes him p. 341. l. 13. r. and disquiet p. 453. l. 16. r. drawest back p. 456. l. 4. so much put out p. 461. l. 6. r. as is implied p. 480. l. 13. for ever r. never p. 489. l. 12. for being r. be p. 524. l. ult for baiting r. biting A CORDIALL FOR THE AFFLICTED Touching the Necessity and Utilitie of Afflictions REVEL 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and amend THese words are a part of that Epistle which was written unto the Laodiceans In which Epistle there is set down first the Inscription or Superscription of the party unto whom it was sent to wit The Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans vers 14. Secondly there is a Description of the person from whom it was sent set forth by a twofold property The first is his fidelity and truth from whence he is intituled Amen or according to the originall the or that Amen which is an Hebraisme and signifies as much as Truly or Trueth it selfe explicated in the next words That faithfull and true witnesse The second is his Eternity or Power noted in these words The beginning of the Creatures of God Thirdly there is laid down the Narration or matter of the Epistle wherein there is first of all a Conviction of the Angel his sinnes the first whereof is Lukewarmnesse verse 15. which is such a temper as is neither hot nor cold He was as all hypocrites are good only in outward shew and appearance for he wanted both the mettall and making of zeal and piety He had only an outside and face of religion but wanted both the power of Gods word and the zeal of his Spirit in this allyed to the Cretians who professed that they knew God but by their works they denied him being abominable disobedient and unto every good work reprobate Titus 1.16 Then follows a Commination or the Punishment which the Lord threatned to inflict upon him for this sinne of Lukewarmenes and that is Rejection in the end of the 16. vers I shall spite thee out of my mouth The second sinne for which the Angel and in him the whole Church of Laodicea is taxed is his Pride or Boasting vers 17. For thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing The third sinne was Ignorance of his wretchednesse and misery And knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable Which misery consisted in three particulars Poverty Blindnesse and Nakednesse in the end of the 17. verse The third thing in the matter of the Epistle is a Remedy prescribed for the curing of these three fore-named miseries unto each misery a severall remedy For the bringing of him out of his Poverty the Lord counsells him verse 18. To buy of him gold tryed by the fire that he might be made rich For the covering of his Nakednesse he adviseth him to furnish himself with White rayment that he might be clothed And for the healing of his Blindnesse he would have him to Annoint his eyes with eye-salve that he might see Fourthly the Lord sets down a way and course which he usually takes with his best beloved ones for the reclaming and amending of them and that is Rebuking and chastening of them in these words which I have read unto you vers 19. Whom I love I rebuke and chasten c. Which words are as a comfortable cordiall prescribed by a wise and loving Physitian unto his sick diseased patient to whom hee hath formerly administred some bitter pills or unpleasing potions The Lord before threatned to reject the Laodiceans for their lukewarmnes whereupon lest they should altogether despaire of regaining his love and favor he doth prevent their fear by telling of them that his correcting of them was no argument either of his hatred or of their rejection but an evidence of his love beating them that hee might better them Whom I love I rebuke and chasten bee zealous therefore and amend These words consist of two parts The first acquaints us with the Lords practice The second layes down the drift and end of his practice His practice in these words As many as I love I rebuke and chasten The end and drift of his practice in the latter part of the verse Be zealous c. I will briefly unfold the sence of the words and then the Lord willing collect Instructions out of them As many as I love I rebuke This word rebuke in the originall signifies not a bare and fingle reproof but even such a reproof as is uttered with some strong arguments and reasons to convince the party reproved implying unto us that when the Lord rebukes man for sinne it is an argument of his dislike and hatred of sinne And chasten This also must not be understood of ordinary correction but such a chastisement as a loving father gives unto the child of his love for the originall is taken from a word which signifies a child that as a father useth to teach and instruct his child so the Lord correcting all those he loveth intendeth thereby to teach and instruct them Bee zealous therefore These words are in opposition to their luke-warmnes and therefore Beza well renders it be hot Zeal or spirituall heat is an affection compounded of two qualities love and hatred
The love of God and his truth and the hatred of every evill which tendeth to the dishonour of God or to the clouding or eclisping of his truth against which evils when the childe of GOD shall any way bestirre himself hee is said to be zealous for the Lord. So that to be zealous is to shew love to God and hatred of error and false wayes to be grieved at those things which may dishonour God or crosse his truth to oppose them with might and main and to the utmost of our power to resist them And amend or repent These words have relation to their Lukewarmnesse The Lord will have them to leave off their Lukewarmnesse to repent them of their sinfull temper being negligent and carelesse in good duties and promoting the glory of God Object But it may be demanded why the Lord doth here put zeal before repentance when as zeal is by Paul set down as a fruit and effect of repentance For writing unto the penitent Corinthians 2. Cor. 7.11 He saith Behold this thing that you have been godly sorry what care it hath wrought in you yea what zeal making zeal an effect of repentance Answ The meaning of the Lord in this place is to exhort the Laodiceans to the practice of that duty which they had altogether neglected being a lukewarme a remisse and carelesse people Therefore having before reproved them for their sinne of Lukewarmnesse he doth now exhort them to be zealous and not only so but to repent them of their former remisnesse The words of the verse may be thus metaphrased Those that are my dearest children my best beloved I do rebuke and convince of their sinnes yea as a loving father tendering their good I do in mercy correct and chastise them therefore see you be not so Lukewarme as heretofore you have been but shew more love to mee and my word and more hatred to error and evill wayes be grieved and sorry for your olde courses and amend your lives Come wee now to the raysing of some Instructions out of the words In that the Lord telleth the Laodiceans that he rebuketh and chasteneth as many as he loveth wee may in the first place from hence learn that None no not the best of Gods dear children are without their trials afflictions Man is born unto trouble as the sparkes flie upward Job 5.1 Affliction is the lot and portion of all Gods children It was a cup which Almighty God did temper and put into the hands of Christ his best beloved Sonne Shall I not drink of the cup which my father hath given me John 18.11 And in this cup Christ will have all his members to pledg him as appeareth Mat 20.23 Ye shall drink indeed of my cup and be baptized with the baptisme that I am baptized with Hence it is that Tryals and afflictions are by Paul called the marks of the Lord Jesus Gal. 6.17 I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus The crosse is Christ his badge and cognizance If any man will be my follower let him denie himself and take up his crosse daily and follow me Luke 9.23 The way wherein Christ went to glory was affliction and in this path all that shall be glorified with him must foot it after him for Acts. 14.22 Thorow many afflictions wee must enter into tho Kingdom of God The way to heaven and happinesse is not strewed with rushes or set with violets and roses but with briars and thorns it is not a milky but a thorny way not a faire broad smooth and easie but a narrow cragged crooked and crosse way through many difficulties and troubles As the children of Israel were evill intreated in Egypt groaned under heavy burdens sighed and cried for their bondage before they could be possessed of that land which flowed with milk and hony so must we know what troubles and sorrows mean before we come at our place of rest our spirituall and Heavenly Canaan True it is that some have but a few tryals in comparison of others yet the most have many and the best yea all have some for all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2. Tim. 3.12 Do you desire examples for the better setling and confirming you in the trueth of this point Sooner may I find where to begin then where or how to make an end therefore out of an heap and a cloud of witnesses I will take but an handfull some few drops Job was a holy man as the Lord himself hath witnessed of him Job 1.8 An upright and just man one that feared God and eschewed evill Yet how great were his tryals how sharp and bitter were his afflictions Stript of all his outward means brought unto a morsell of bread bereaved at one time of all his children and that by sudden death yea whiles they were eating and drinking not having it may be breathing time to call and cry for mercy Wee should take it to be a heavy judgement and think that the Lord were highly displeased with us if out of ten children some two or three of them should be made away by an untimely and sudden death but to be at one blow bereaved of all our children to lose ten at one clap where is the man that would lay his hand upon his mouth in so great a tentation and not murmurre against the Lord Besides the Lord came neerer to Job fighting against him with many personall terrors afflicting his body with aches and botches vexing his soul in the day time either with the words of a foolish woman his wife or with the biting and taunting speeches of some which came to visit him whereas in truth like miserable comforters Job 16.2 they came to vex and gall him And in the night time how was he tumbled and tossed up and down Job 7.4 for when he said My couch shall relieve me and my bed shall bring mee comfort then was hee feared with dreams and astonished with visions Job 7.13.14 So that he was a burthen to himself grew weary of his life cursing the day wherein he was born wishing that he had died in his birth that he might not have lived to see and feel the miseries and sorrows which he sustained David also was a man after Gods own heart 1. Sam. 13.14 Yet how sorely did the Lord almost all his life time exercise and afflict him Hee was daily punished and chastned every morning Psal 73.14 So as he roared day and night through extremity of grief his bones were consumed with sorrow and his moysture was like the drought in summer Betrayed by his false-hearted friends persecuted and pursued from place to place by Saul 1. Sam. 26.20 As one would hunt a partridge in the mountains And which went neerer him then any other troubles his sins excepted what heart-breaking sorrows did he sustain through the wickednesse of his children defiling each other murdering each other yea and most unnaturally seeking to depose him
were increased I have done these things unto thee Thus visiting even the best of his children with the rods of men yea and sometimes scourging their transgressions with whips of scorpions which hath made them roar through anguish and to cry night and day through extremity of gtiefe For if a man will sinne God will yea must punish unlesse hee should let us perish for hee that spareth the rod hateth his sonne but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 Bee not therefore ventrous in sinning Though Israel transgresse yet let not Judah sinne Hos 4.15 The Lord hateth sinne wheresoever hee sees it and will sooner punish it in his deare children then in the wicked although hee will not do it with that rigor wrath and severitie wherewith hee plagues the wicked They are the people by whom his name is called upon of his houshold his servants friends sonnes yea his beloved spouse and therefore do not only shame themselves by sinning but highly dishonour God their Lord their father The lewd prankes which rogues commit in streets or vagrant persons by high-way sides do not redound to the reproach of the housholder but if any of his family especially son or daughter do grow outragious hee thinkes his credit is neerly touched and it is a matter which much concerns him to look unto Even so the prophane and licentious lives of open and notorious sinners do not so much dishonor God therefore many times he lets them have their swinge and take their course but if such as make profession of piety and truth will be bold with sinne whereby the mouthes of the wicked are opened and the name of God blasphemed the Lord if he love such and purpose to save them will not suffer them to go unpunished For as the Lord is zealous of maintaining his own glory and will have it known to men and Angels that he is no patron of sinne or sinners but will punish the wicked sinning be they never so great neither will he give alowance unto iniquitie in the godly be they never so good so also is he tender of the good of his children and therefore must not suffer them to go on in sinne which they would do if the Lord should nor restrain them being so ready to cast themselves into perils if they be but a while exempted from affliction Therefore let none of Gods children say I am safe and farre enough from correction because sure of salvation If thou beest bold with sinne thou maiest fall into sore affliction in this life though thou beest in a state of happinesse for the life to come As appeareth by old Eli whose sonnes wickednesse which hee connived at when as he should have sharply punished it was in the eye and mouth of all Israel so that Gods glory should have been much wronged and his name as much blasphemed as his offerings were abhorred if they had escaped unpunished No doubt but Eli repented him of his sinne but this might not quit him from temporall judgement The chastisements of the Almightie are many times deadly though the sinne be remitted by which the Lord was provoked God had said that the wickednesse of Elies house should not be purged with sacrifice for ever 1. Sam. 3.14 Repentance doth not alwayes free us from outward afflictions Freedom from damnation doth not free a man from affliction What punishment unlesse it bee eternall torments in hell fire can any of Gods children think to escape unlesse he will forbeare such sinnes as provoke the Lord to wrath against him David was as far from damnation if wee consider Gods purpose and decree as the devill is from salvation yet you have heard how his afflictions made him roare and roare againe Obje If it be thus that upon every sinne the Lord is thus ready to afflict his children may bee demanded what priviledg the godly have more then the wicked or what difference there is betwixt them seeing the one must be corrected and punished as well if not before or more then the wicked if they do sinne Answer Surely the child of God hath no more rather lesse liberty and priviledge to sin then the wicked Yet there is a great deal of difference in their afflictions For though all things fall alike to both in respect of the evills themselves as the childe of God may perish through famine fall by the sword die of the pestilence c. Yet in respect of the effects and ends of these outward evills there is great difference betwixt them For their nature is much altered and there is as much difference betwixt the afflictions of the Godly and the wicked as is betwixt poison corrected and rectified by the arte and skill of the Physitian that so it may be medicinable and wholsome and that poison which remains in its naturall temper The Lord in afflicting his children doth it with a father-like heart and hand in mildnesse and mercy to amend and better them Whereas hee correcteth the wicked with the rod of his wtath in justice and severity to plague and torment them The wicked shall be cast away for bis malice but the righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14.32 In respect of the wicked the Prophet Nahum 1.2 speaks thus God is jealous and the Lord revengeth even the Lord of anger the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries and he reserveth wrath for his enemies Loe here is anger wrath and vengeance belonging to the wicked Whereas in respect of the godly Mica 7.18 19. speakes thus He taketh away iniquitie and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage Hee retaineth not his wrath for ever because mercy pleaseth him Hee will turn againe and have compassion upon us hee will subdue our iniquities and cast all our sinnes into the bottom of the sea By which places it appeares that afflictions are nothing but the messengers of Gods wrath the rods of his indignation the arrows of his vengeance to plague and punish the wicked for their sinnes and to give them an earnest and taste of those endlesse torments which they have purchased by their wickednes Whence ariseth in them feare and terror horror of conscience rage and desperation Whereas to his children afflictions are tokens of the tender and father-like care the Lord hath of them they are cords of his love to draw them neerer unto him Yea they be badges of their adoption For whom the Lord loveth hee chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne that hee receiveth Hebr. 12.6 And this bringeth forth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse to them that are thereby exercised Again the Lord takes pleasure in avenging the wickednesse of the wicked upon their own pates I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies Esay 1.24 And not only so but I will laugh at their destruction and mock when their fear commeth Prov. 1.26 Whereas it is a grief unto him to afflict his people His soul was grieved for the
which so farre estrangeth us from the world that it changeth us into the similitude of Christ unto whom wee must be conformed in sufferings that so wee may as hath been formerly delivered bee like him in glory unto which glory wee are furthered by affliction it being a means of driving us out of the broad way of the world which leadeth unto destruction and bringing us into the narrow and crosse way which leadeth to salvation If thus much good comes by afflictions then it is good for a man to beare the yoke in his youth Lam. 3.27 The sooner wee be afflicted the better for us If these bee the ends of Gods afflicting us are wee not shrewdly hurt when the Lord corrects us is there any cause of mourning Vnlesse it be for our rebellion and stubbornnesse which puts the Lord as it were out of his course besides himself if wee may so say with reverence to his Majestie to do his work his strange work his act his strange act Esay 28.21 Have wee then any cause to bee angry or do wee well to be angry as the Lord asked Jonah 4.9 When as the Lord hath more cause to bee angry with us for putting him to that trouble and grieving him with out sinnes No no let us rather be angry with our sinnes which provoke the Lord to afflict us and let us be comforted in all our tribulation that wee may bee able to comfort them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith wee our selves are comforted of God 2. Cor. 1.4 Bee cheerfull therefore in thine affliction say as David Psalm 42.11 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Think not the worse but the better of thy self for the Lords correcting of thee Thy case is no other then the case of Gods deare children yea of Christ himselfe There hath no tentation taken hold of thee but such as appertaineth to man 1. Cor. 10.13 Affliction is the beaten path of all the Lords people Which of the godly and faithfull before us have not drunk of this cup and been baptized with this baptisme This being a common case me thinks it should be a common comfort Why should any man that loves or feares God or is any way desirous to honor God in that condition the Lord hath set him seek and with a priviledge above all the children of God that ever were yea above Christ Jesus the sonne of God himselfe Is it not a favor is it not a mercie nay is it not an honor to be used and to be dealt withall as Christ and all the godly have been before us And should not the consideration of this comfort us It may be the Lord hath taken away thy goods thy plenty from thee and brought thee to a morsell of bread It may be he hath taken away thy health and welfare and doth afflict thee with deseases and sores and aches so as thou hast no rest day nor night Was not this Jobs condition who lost more goods and substance in one day then thou hast in all thy life besides hee had painfull dayes and long nights of sorrow And art thou better then he was It may bee the Lord hath cast thee into prison and spoiled thee of thy liberty Was not faithfull Joseph unjustly kept divers yeares in prison where they held his feet in the stocks and he was laid in Iron untill his appointed time came and the counsell of the Lotd had tried him Psalm 105.18 19. It may be thou hast many great and malicious enemies which without any just cause of thine who doe backbite thee slander thee speake all manner of evill of thee and with more then Vatinian hatred doe persecute thee Was not this the case of Christ and did not he tell his Apostles John 15.18 19. that they should meete with the same entertainment in the world that he had found amongst them It may be the Lord doth exercise thee with gracelesse stubborn and rebellious children This cannot be but a great griefe to the heart of a parent especially if he be one fearing God but have not Gods deere children been thus tryed Had nor Noah that just and upright man a wretched Cham that discovered and scoffed at his fathers infirmities Gen. 9. Had not good Isaack a prophane Esau as he is termed Heb. 12.16 who of set purpose to vex his parents tooke unto him wives of other nations which was a griefe of minde unto Isaack and Rebâ—ckah Gen. 26.35 What wicked children had Ely the Priest and judge of Israel such as abused the women that assembled at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation that men abhorred the offering of the Lord the sin of the sonnes of Ely was so great before the Lord. It may be the Lord hath taken unto himself some of thy children which were as deer and neer unto thee as thine own soule But what if the Lord had taken them away by the sword of the enemies as he did Fly his sonnes 1. Sam. 4.11 Or by fire from heaven as he did the sonnes of Aaron Lev. 10.2 Nay what if the Lord should have taken away ten of thy children all of thy children at one blow by overwhelming the house upon them where they were eating and drinking as he did Jobs children Job 2.19 And to conclude what if the Lord should raise up evill in thy family suffering one child to defloure and to devoure each other yea to seeke thy life as Davids children did Were thy case and condition in any of all these â—oâ—e afflictions worse then those of Gods deer and faithfull servants of the Lord who have been thus exercised and afflicted yea and now are Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethâ—en that are in the world 1 Pet. 5.9 Let us therfore learne to judge wisely of our selves conflicting with afflictions Afflictions though they be judgements upon us for our sinne yet are they not judgements upon us unto condemnation We shall then adde unto our affliction and sorrow and needlesly increase our griefe if we condemn our estate because the Lord corrects us for our transgressions If we cast off our hope of happinesse in heaven because we be recompensed with judgements on earth we shall both wrong God and our selves Therfore he will have us to rejoyce in tribulation Romans 5.3 Though he visit our iniquities with rods Psal 89.32 33. Yet his loving kindnesse will he not utterly take away from us nor suffer his faithfulnesse to faile Therefore beware of charging the Lord with any hardnesse or unreasonable dealing with us as if he marred his gold by casting it into the fornace to refine it But let us rather look into our own hearts and mourne for our own stubbornnes and rebellion which hath moved the Lord thus to shackle and hamper us that he might take down our proud hearts O proud hearts of ours subdue our stubborn and rebellious wils and make us vile and
many of his deare children groane under many long and tedious sharp and biting afflictions Answ The Lord hath many ends in dealing thus with his children First because they have been a long time delighted with some sinne which through custome is become as it were naturall and being so will not easily will not quickly be purged out of them That which is gotten to the bone will not easily be had out of the flesh Hard knubbs and knurles must have great and long wedges driven in to them many hard and great stroaks given them before they will yeeld Many hard and stony hearts will not be broken with little and short afflictions some kinde of mettles must be kept a great while longer in the furnace then others or else they will never be dissolved even so it fareth with some natures little and short afflictions work not upon them no whit at all molifie nor soften their hard and stony hearts therfore the Lord is forced to keep them down the longer Many men when any trouble befals them think to out-growe it or to beare it off by head and shoulders and to make as good a shift as they can never looking up to God whom they have offended and provoked by their sinnes but let these know that God will bow them or else he will breake them The Lord is the Lord of hosts he can send crosses thick and three-fold upon us to abate our lofty and proud spirits to break our rocky and stony hearts Gods wrath is answerable to his power as this is infinite so he can make the other insupportable Many are stiffe and stubborn as the Lord complaines They obeyed not neither inclined their eares but made their necks stiffe and would not heare nor receive correction Ier. 17.23 Little and short afflictions will not serve to reclaime such as these are therefore the Lord keeps them longer under his hand Againe the Lord doth thus deale with many of his children to work their hearts to a greater dislike of their sinne as that which hath brought upon them all those troubles which now lye upon them therfore in the time of our affliction we should fall upon our sinne upbraiding it and charging it with all our crosses Ah thou vile and loathsom sinne I may thank thee for this expence for this reproach and shame Ah cursed sin how hast thou heretofore domaniered over me Thou hast hitherto been too strong for me but God by this affliction I trowe will tame and hamper thee Is this the fruit I reape by entertaining thee Oh cursed be the time that ever I knew thee that ever I was ruled by thee The more grievous our affliction is the greater hatred we should beare our sinnes the causes of them and the more fearfull should we be for time to come of medling any more with them We say The burnt child dreads the fire Ephraim had been a long time polluted with idolatry The Lord stops her way with thorns and makes a wall that she may not finde her pathes Hos 2.6 exerciseth her with long affliction untill shee come to say What have I any more to do with Idols Hos 14.9 If I must buy my sinne at so deare a rate if thus long I must be afflicted for my sinne away with all I will no more of it Theirdly the Lord doth oft-times keepe the rod long upon his children for their greater and deeper humiliation Great sinnes must bee greatly repented of Great transgressions require great and long humiliation Davids sinnes of adultry and murder killing the husband with the sword that he might injoy his wife were great sinnes and those which caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme therefore the Lord threatned him with long affliction The sword shall never depart from thine house 2. Sa. 12.10 Neither will the Lord give us over or cease to afflict us one way or other untill hee hath brought us upō our knees broken our hard hearts and sufficiently humbled us under his hand For if we walk stubbornly against him he will walke stubbornly against us then their uncircumcised heart shall be humbled and they shall willingly beare the punishment of their iniquity Lev. 26.41 Remembering mine affliction and my mourning the wormwood and the gall my soule hath them in remembrance and is humbled in mee Lament 3.19 20. Fourthly the Lord by continuing his hand of affliction long upon his children doth hereby make known the strength of his Grace which is sufficient to support his children under long and tedious afflictions A wise builder will lay the heaviest burden upon that peece of timber which is most heart and most able to beare it Greatest peeces are put to greatest stresse because little peeces would warpe and yeeld if not break asunder Even so where there is most strength of Grace there the Lord oft times laies on the greatest load of affliction which as it makes for the praise and glory of his Grace so doth it serve much for example unto all that are neer unto them that they may live by faith and hope that if ever they come into the like trial the Lord as he is able to support and strengthen them so he will doe it and graciously stand by them even in long and sharpe afflictions as he hath upheld others in the like case Fiftly and lastly the Lord doth this that so he may afterward replenish the hearts of his children with aboundance of inward and spiritual joy After they have tasted of more gall then others they shall eate of more hony then others Heavines hath some long time sojourned in their hearts but joy and gladnesse followeth after to inhabit in them for ever The spirit of the Lord is upon mee saith Esay to comfort all that mourne appoint unto them that mourne in Sion and to give unto them beauty for ashes the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heavinesse that they may bee called trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Esay 61.2 3. Yee shall sorrow saith Christ but your sarrow shall be turned into joy Iohn 16.20 If thy sorrows and afflictions have been longer then ordinary they shal make way for more then ordinary joy and thankfulnes for issue and deliverance according to that which the Church uttered Lam. 3.21 22. I consider this in mine heart therefore have I hope It is the Lords mercy that we are not consumed because his compassions faile not Have wee not then good cause to bee patient in afflictions although they bee sharp and tedious seeing they proceed from the hand of our pitifull and mercifull father To helpe forward and further your patience do but consider of these 4. things First how exceedingly we have a long time provoked the Lord by our sinnes amongst which our unbeliefe is that which hath most offended him If the Lord should deale unto us our weight and measure that is punish us according to our deserts what would become of
shall suffer and bee afflicted Revel 2.10 Yee shall suffer tribulation ten dayes This time thou canst not shorten but lengthen it thou mayst through thy impatience As an earthly father correcting his childe for some fault doth resolve with himself to give him but a lash or two to keep him but a while under the rod if hee take his correction patiently but if he kicke or murmurre hee resolves to hold him down the longer and give him the more stripes Even so our heavenly Father deales with his children the more patiently wee take our affliction the sooner wee are like to come out of it The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladnesse Prov. 10.28 Trust in the Lord and thou shalt bee safe Hee that beleeveth maketh not haste Esay 28.16 But is content to tarry the Lords leisure Many are ready to compound and indent with God thus long they will wait thus long they will pray and if by that time no helpe nor deliverance come they will give over in their impatient mood as the messenger of the King of Israel said Behold this evill commeth of the Lord should I attend the Lord any longer 2. Kings 6.33 O beware of such thoughts but let thy heart bee in the feare of the Lord continually for surely there is an end and thy hope shall not be cut off Prov. 23 17 18. Wee cannot denie but The hope that is deferred is the fainting of the heart but when the desire commeth it is a tree of life Prov. 13.12 The longer the Lord delaies our deliverance the sweeter will it bee when it comes Wait therefore with patience seeing the Lord by his writing seal and oath hath promised to deliver us out of all our troubles And what hee hath promised hee will most certainly perform for though God may bee angry with us for our sinnes yet he cannot be unfaithfull though he may like Joseph conceale his affection for a time yet impossible it is that he should shut up his compassions and renounce the protection of such as depend upon him or denie deliverance to such as do seek aright unto him Therefore Who is there amongst you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Esa 50.10 By darknesse is heere understood affliction out of which the Lord will assuredly bring all such as seek unto him and rest upon him Beware of making more haste then good speed to procure freedom from our deliverance out of troubles by unlawfull and sinfull courses Wee rob the Lord of a great deal of honor and our selves of a great deal of comfort which wee should reap by waiting upon the Lord. Too many are ready to thinke that if they have some little time besought the Lord that hee forsooth is bound presently to answer them As those hypocrites Esay 58.3 expostulated the matter with the Lord saying Wherefore have wee fasted and thou seest it not wee have punished our selves and thou regardest it not Some are ready to cry with David How long how long Lord wilt thou forget me for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from mee Psal 13.1 Againe Have mercy upon mee O Lord for I am weake O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed My soul is also sore troubled but Lord how long wilt thou delay Psal 6.2 3. Beware of measuring the Lord by thine own line and plummet let not thy carnall reason or fleshly wisdom seem to direct or limit Gods Providence thou maiest not joyn thine own fantasies to Gods will but what thou seekest at his hands thou must commend it to his good pleasure without saying to thy selfe Let it be thus or so God doth many times delay his children and not by and by afford them that helpe and comfort which he intendeth them yea sometimes he suffers them to be ready to sink before he saves them As he dealt with his Disciples who were tossed up and down of the waves the ship reeling too and fro and ready to be overwhelmed before hee would awake and bid the tempest be still yet when he saw time hee rebuked the winde and seas and delivered his Disciples from their danger and feare Know and beleeve that the measure and issue of any tentation belongeth unto God Therefore howsoever the case standeth with thee expostulate not with God entertain no hard conceits of him The Lord in wisdom may delay our deliverance out of affliction because haply hee sees that it hath not as yet throughly wrought upon us nor done us that good he intendeth us Do Goldsmiths use to take their mettall out of the fornace before it be fined from the drosse There be some kind of plaisters applied to the bellies of children which will sticke fast so long as the wormes bee alive but if the bed of them be broken and they killed the plaister will fall off and so of many sores If affliction still cleave unto thee it is because sinne is not yet killed in thee This plaister lieth on us no longer then till the sore be whole and the disease be cured in us It may be the Lord sees wee are not fit for deliverance wee would too quickly forget the rod and return to our own byas if hee should by and by ease us as soon as wee cry unto him It may be the Lord sees wee would not be thankfull enough for deliverance if it should bee granted upon the first request Things lightly attained unto are oft times slightly regarded Whereas those things which we get through the pikes wee prize at a high rate Therefore thou forgettest thy selfe and the Word of truth in saying God hath forgotten to be mercifull and gracious because he doth not by and by answere thee Can a woman forget her childe and not have compassion on the son of her wombe Peradventure there may bee some such unnaturall monsters that cast off all naturall affection and lay violent hands upon their children but though they forget yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord and for assurance hereof Behold I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands Esay 49.15 16. When wee are afraid wee shall forget a thing we tye a thred about our finger for our better remembring thereof but when wee tie threds upon both hands wee then make sure wee will not forget it thus doth the Lord set down his children in the palmes of both hands that they may not be forgotten Therefore still wait and deliverance will come when thou dost least think of it Object I have no hope I cannot thinke I shall be delivered Answ Gods thoughts are not your thoughts Esay 55.8 You know your own thoughts you know not Gods Jerem. 29.11 I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evill to give you an expected end Object But I see no way no
thought of them Then feare not they shall not be layd to thy charge Assure thy selfe those sighes and groans which proceed from thy perplexed soul shall find so much grace and favor with God as they shall be able to prevaile with him for that blessing thou hast begd and standst in need of And although thou canst not pray as thou wouldst yet sigh and groane as thou shouldst and hee which knowes the secrets of all hearts will be able to understand the meaning of thy sighs and groans of the spirit within thee which doth plead and speak to God for thee Object But I feare the Lord doth abominate my sacrifice and service as loathsome hee may cast it as dung in my face and lay some judgement upon mee for offering up such a strange sacrifice unto him Answ If God hath given thee a heart to mourne for sinne he hath made thee able to offer him such a sacrifice as hee is well pleased with and therefore he can not but accept of thy person whatsoever thy failings have been Thy grieved soul and sorrowfull spirit is a sacrifice which casts a sweet savor in the Lords nostrills Psalm 51.17 And would God accept of thy sacrifice if hee had rejected thee No no assure thy selfe that God hath accepted of thy person if hee accepts of thy sacrifice The Lord had 〈…〉 and to his offering Gâ—â—e 4.4 The melting of thy soul and the kindly mourning over him whom thou hast pierced with thy sinne is a most infallible evidence of Gods love towards thee and of the saving presence of his holy Spirit abiding in thee Therefore let thy spirit rejoyce in that thou art able to mourne for sinne Those teares which proceed from a grieved soul and wounded spirit may be compared unto Aprill showers which bring on May-flowers although these showers wet where they fall Yet through the heat of the Sunne working with them they produce a great deale of sweetnesse in those plants and hearbs which they fall upon There is abundance of joy in all godly sorrow As the harvest is potentially in the seed so the harvest of true and sound joy growes out of this seed of sorrow Psalm 126.5 They that sow in teares shall reap in joy Why is thy soul then so troubled within thee why art thou still so sad so heavie and dejected Object Howsoever I grieve and mourn yet I can not beleeve that there is any truth of grace in mee in that I am not so fruitfull and profitable in my place and calling as I should and faine would bee I am a barren fruitlesse tree one that cumbers the earth fit for nothing but the fire Answ But is it not with thee as it fareth with some covetous earthly gripple-minded persons which spend their time in scraping and raking together these outward things pinch their bodies and are ever and anon whining and complaining that they have nothing when as their chests are full of good linnen their houses stored and stuffed full of utensills and their purse full of money but being blinded with the love of the world think they have nothing because they have not so much as their covetous eye would look over and therefore do neither thankfully acknowledge what they have received nor profitably improve any thing they do enjoy either to Gods glory their own comfort or others good Even so many afflicted souls being overladen with anguish of mind and deluded by Satan oft times complaine of the want of grace in the midst of plentie not seeing as the saying is wood for trees and thus do bely both God and themselves And it is just with the Lord somtimes to hold his children down with feares and doubtings because they have not been sufficiently thankfull to God for that rich grace they have received from him Our unthankfulnesse is not only as a great fogg and mist which doth exceedingly obscure and darken the grace of God in his children but is also as a worme or canker which eats into the sap and heart of grace so as it thrives not nor fructifies as otherwise it would do But such as are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God Psalm 92.13 Doth not the Prophet Jeremiah also tell us that those that trust in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is shall be as a tree planted by the water which spreadeth out her roots shall not care for the yeere of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruit Jere. 17.8 Answ And is not this good fruit to bemoane thy barrennesse Admit that for the present thou dost not increase thy spirituall stock as thou desirest thou dost not perceive grace to thrive and grow in thee as thou dost behold it in others must it needs follow that thou are therefore utterly destitute and void of grace A man whiles hee is asleep makes no use of many good things hee hath a hand benummed with cold feels not that which it holds fast It may so fall out that grace may be somthing chilled in thee doth it therefore follow that it is quite killed in thee Thou must learn to put a difference betwixt no grace and grace some way infeebled for the present It fares with grace in the hearts of many of Gods children as it doth with the Moon somtimes in the full and somtimes in the wain or as with the Sea which somtimes flowes and sometimes ebbs even so through Satans malice and our own frailtie grace may seem somtime to ebbe in us and then no wonder if the heart be deaded and out inward peace disturbed through feares and doubtings Assure thy selfe this off and on this up and down this heat and cold ariseth from those principles of grace and corruption abiding in all the Lords people Corruption somtimes prevailes and this royles and troubles these living waters within us and makes them thick and muddy so as little good appeares in us but anon when the wind of the spirit blowes againe with its holy blast it cleanseth and refineth these troubled waters whose cleernesse may again be seen and whose goodnesse may be tasted Object But my case is worse then ordinary for I have returned with the dogge to lick up my old vomit after repenting and cleansing yea covenanting with God for ever to renounce and abandon my former sinnes I have with the swine wallowed in the old mire of filthinesse and therefore I cannot think that ever grace was in truth begun in mee Answ If it be so thy case is the more lamentable and fearefull but yet it is not desperate For divers of the Lords people many worthie ones have relapsed have fallen back unto old sinnes and yet by the goodnesse and mercie of God have recovered themselves againe and gained the love and favor of God Did not Abraham sinne the matter of Sarah his wife hazarding her chastitie by a poore plot yea a sinfull pollicie exposing his wife to adultrey for his own outward peace
are mercy and truth Therefore most true it is that whosoever in affliction offereth praise doth glorifie God Psalm 5.23 Men may be thankfull for peace plenty seasonable times deliverances and the like in selfe-love but for troubles and afflictions crosses and losses to bee thankfull this manifesteth our love to God which none can shew untill hee bee beloved of God Thankfulnesse in affliction is a notable soule of faith for faith will tell as that nothing can befall us which shall either lessen Gods love or encrease our hurt yea faith perswades us that God in afflicting of us loveth us though the affliction bee unto death and hence it comes that wee are thankfull for afflictions and patient in the bearing of them Now lay all these together Art thou willing to kisse that rod wherewith thou art beaten Canst thou cheerefully say as it is Mic. 7.9 I will heare the wrath of the Lord because I have sinned against him Art thou taken off from thine old courses thine old consorts thine old comforts and brought neerer unto God Is thy heart dissolved into teares of contrition for thy sinnes and transgressions Dost thou cordially unfainedly blesse God that ever hee took thee to do that ever he laid his hand upon thee then is it as evident as the Sun at noon day that God in afflicting of thee loves thee because hee hath taught thee to make so good and holy use of thy affliction For afflictions of themselves and in their own nature are fruits of the curse and such as being unsanctified will make us storm and rage and beat us further off from God but when wee feel and find them to worke contrary to themselves their nature altered and changed this is a most evident and infallible signe of Gods love and mercie extracting Treacle out of this ranck poison and good out of this evill Thou mayst hold it as a certaine truth that God in afflicting of thee loveth thee Now I come to the latter part of the verse the drift and end of Gods afflicting us in these words Be zealous therefore and amend I purpose not to make any discourse upon Zeal or Repentance for then I should go out or my intended course which tendeth wholy to the setting forth of the necessity and utilitie of Afflictions The Lord having said As many as I love I rebuke and chasten addeth by way of exhortation these words Bee zealous therefore and amend from which words wee may gather this conclusion The chiefe and speciall end of Gods afflicting us is the bettering and amending of us The Lord knows that grace is beter for us then great possessions and a healthfull soul is more to be desired then a strong and lusty body and therefore for the good of the soul doth many wayes afflict the body That ground from which wee expect and desire good wee digge or plough and harrow but that ground which wee regard not wee meddle not with it wee take no paines about it but let it lie waste Even so dealeth the Lord with man Hee lets the wicked alone hee looks for no good from them but hee ploweth over his children and harroweth them with affliction that so they may be fruitfull that in their lives they may bring forth a rich and plentifull crop of grace and godlinesse Why do we beat our wall-nut trees Why do wee prune and cut our vines is it not to make them more fruitfull So deals the Lord with his children hee breaks and cuts off many superfluous evils with the pruning knife of Affliction that so they may grow more fruitfull in well doing The end of Gods correcting of us is not as some may think to avenge himselfe upon us for those evils which wee have committed against him nor yet to please himselfe in our smart as if hee took delight in our punnishment and sorrow but it is for the bettering of us Moses tells the Israelites that the Lord was their guid in the great and terrible wildernesse to humble them and to prove them that he might do them good at their latter end Deut. 8.16 Hee chasteneth us for our profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse Heb. 12.10 Hee woundeth us that hee may heale us A legge that is crooked and groweth awrye must bee broken before it can be made right and streight If the Lord should not break those crooked and perverse wills of ours they would never be rectified The Lord useth to beat out one evill with another the evill of sinne with the evill of punishment There is a great deal of folly in the hearts of his wisest children they are slow of heart to beleeve and practise that which will make for their good this folly the Lord in wisdom drives away from them by the rod of correction By this shall the iniquitie of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit the taking away of his sinne Esa 27.9 Naturally wee sport with sinne and make it a pastime to do evill Prov. 10.23 Many drink iniquitie like water Job 15.16 Wickednesse is sweet in our mouths and wee are loth to part with it untill the Lord in love doth administer unto us some affliction or other which like unto Stibium shall make us to vomit up these sweet morsells and make us out of love with our former evill wayes and courses as things not only unpleasing and distastfull unto the Lord but such as are noxious and hurtfull unto us Therefore for the preventing of that evill which sinne may bring upon us and for the bestowing upon us that good which the love and practise of sinne would hinder us of the Lord doth afflict and chastise us How did his people Israel go a whoring from him they were set upon gadding yea madding after sinne and therefore the Lord was constrained to fetch them back againe by his judgements Wee are as ready to wander out of the way as sheep going astray so that the Lord must send some affliction or other after us to call us back again as David Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray The prodigall in the Gospel turnes his back upon his father and takes his journey into a farre countrey where he consumed and wasted his goods with riotous living but having spent all and being pinched with penury he could then mind home and returne againe unto his father with griefe and shame which had not affliction been no doubt hee would never have done The like may be said of many moe who for ought wee know to the contrary had perished if they had not been afflicted So that few or none of Gods children but can say It had been wrong with them if they had not been afflicted for by afflictions they have been much bettered Reason And that first of all because by affliction they have been brought to know themselves and to see and acknowledge the damnable estate whereinto they were by sinne plunged Hence is it said That the prodigall