world Gen. 19.6 and these troubles as the Angels on him lay hold on mee the Lord being mercifull vnto mee to bring me forth and to set me without the bounds of destruction I will therefore take in all that come for in doing this as other in their tents I may entertaine in this earthly tabernacle Angels vnawares Heb. 14. â—â— An Angell sent from God for some speciall good to me is my tribulation and this is my comfort in my affliction 8. By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions demonstrate faithfull and fruitfull branches Euerie branch of the vine that beareth fruit is purged that it may bring forth more fruit Io. 15.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defractionem partium luxuriantium Aret. in loc Fert vberiorem fructum post refectionem Aret. vbi sup Vitis foditur circuÌ„ciditur sterceratur putatur aliisque multis exercetur laboribus c. Aret. vbi sup For as after the refection defraction of the parts luxuriant the branches of the vine yeeld more fruit so the faithfull in their afflictions which are as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rusticke purgations are the more fruitfull not pruned at ease and grow wilde apace or their grapes wilde but purged afflicted wounded within and bruised without euerie gift is stirred vp and set to work euery grace that is in them the lights put vnder a bushell before shine afterwards as in candlestickes set vpon hills What vse before of faith or of patience before what hope or ioy in the holy Ghost As the wine forced runs out of the presse and as the weights of a clocke turne all the wheeles about so the loads of afflictions presse out of them that are Christs the praises of Christ * 1 Pet. 2.9 and shew forth the hidden vertues of them that are the hidden ones of God * Psal 83.4 This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Pinched I am pruned and pared nigh yea cut to the quicke that I bleed in spirit but needfull the compunction it is the first degree of inward humiliation if a wound bee it is the second and not hurtfull nor the third which is the contrition it selfe Better is a conscience wounded D. Slater Salue for a wounded spirit than a conscience seared better a heart grownd to powder with the millstone of wrath turning about vpon it than one dedolent and past feeling of sin and wrath better a soule to be lopped in the passions of sinnes than to be obducted with ranke lusts or neglected and reiected Not meerely poenall the wounded spirit in the children of God as in Cain and Iudas the beginning of their hell but either castigatory for the chastisement of some particular disobedience as Dauids or probatory for triall as Iobs or percursory for preuention as Pauls thorne in his flesh lest through the abundance of reuelations he should be exalted aboue measure 2 Cor. 12. or purgatorie for the cleansing of vncleane and euill thoughts imaginations and reasonings touching Gods prouidence the word the profession the power of nature selfe-abilitie to conuert inherent righteousnesse good works freewill and security in the arme of flesh How such sparkles rise in vnswept chimneyes the fire blowne with the bellowes of hell who knoweth not that knoweth the deuices of Satan Phil. 2. Therefore I will through him that worketh the will and the good deed giue all diligence to search and try mine own wayes In euery crooked way I may finde a crosse * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my crosses indigitate mine exorbitancies As I deprehend them I will amend them and bring forth fruit meet for repentance new obedience in all things the old things in mee shall become all new When I shoot forth Isai 27.8 the Lord will in measure debate with mee and stay the rough wind in the day of the East wind when I blossome and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit in its season for I will approue my selfe as the seruant of Christ 2 Cor. 6.5 6. in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in tumults in labours by the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by good report and euill report as persecuted yet not profligated as chastened and yet not killed as sorrowfull and yet reioycing as pruned being pampinous too full of needlesse sprigges and superfluous twigges yet not taken away as the fruitlesse branch nor cast forth nor withered nor gathered of men nor cast into the fire but purged for fructification Io. 15.6 and this is my comfort in my affliction 9. By the word of God through faith they vnderstand that afflictions are necessary exercises Heb. 12.13 a kind of wrestling betweene the Lord and his seruants Troubles on them his hands on them and theirs on him the right hand of faith 2 Tim. 2.5 Thus it is wrested and who preuaileth Alwayes the afflicted striuing lawfully The lawfull striuing learned of Iacob Hoseah his interpreter hee had power with God and preuailed for hee wept and made supplication vnto him Hos 11. so may all ouercome if the Lord may ouercome the heart yeelded vp the strife is ended humbled in the sight of God immediately lifted vp Iam. 5.10 teares seene hee yeelds supplications made he takes away his hand the victory with facility had grieuous the conflict for the present time yet ioyous afterwards Heb. 12.11 the Lord not let goe the blessing not obtained This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Is the euill vpon me the hand of the Lord Doth hee thereby wrestle with mee wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee Rom. 7.24 Hee will himselfe hold mee downe with his left and vphold mee with his owne right hand my faith his gift Io. â— 2â— his worke that I beleeue in him beleeuing in him I cannot nor shall be cast downe of him or out of his sight Gen. 35.25 touched happily the hollow of my thigh as hee wrestleth with mee it may slip out of ioynt or the sinew may shrinke and I may halt vpon it but my faith shall not faile Therefore will I while the Lord with mee striue lawfully with him holding my selfe fast by him weeping before him and making incessant supplications vnto him exercised this shall bee my exercise vntill I preuaile and through him I shall preuaile with him he will hold me fast see my teares Psal 6.8 heare the voyce of my weeping Isai 38.5 giue mee the petitions that I desire of him blesse me with the new name Reuel 2.17 in the white stone giuen to him that ouercommeth I shall haue princely power with God and men Psal 118.6 I will not feare what men can doe vnto mee aduantagious the disaduantage the agitation requisite lucratiue the luctuation And this is my comfort in my affliction Lastly By the word through faith they vnderstand That afflictions precede the ioy of the Lord and glorie to come as the pleasures of sinne destruction and damnation To them that make their bellies their Gods Phil. 3.18 and that minde earthly things as the enemies of the crosse of Christ Rom. 29 10. Tribulation and anguish indignation and wrath but to them that lye amongst the pots in stocks in the dungeon in the briars and in the burning bushes induring the fierie triall of their faith fulnesse of ioy and brightnesse of glorie the triall of their faith being much more pretious than of gold which perisheth though it bee tried in the fire shall bee found vnto praise and honour and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ The Passouer of the great * Reuel 5.14 tribulation celebrated or the same passed ouer they shall wash their robes Phil. 3.21 and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe their vile bodies also be fashioned like vnto the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ shall shine as the firmament yea as the Sun in the height of his glorie This when I remember I powre out in me my soule thus Of a truth I perceiue Rom. 8.18 that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to bee compared to the glorie which shall be reuealed in me I reckon not the temporall euill but haue respect to the eternall good I faint not 2 Cor. 4.16 17. for though mine outward man perish mine inward is renewed day by day my light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for mee a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie Therefore vnder my pressures Rom. 2.10 I will by patient continuance in well-doing seeke for glorie and honour and immortalitie and eternall life for I am perswaded that neither tribulation nor distresse nor persecution nor famine Rom. 8 3â— nor nakednesse nor perill nor sword nor death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to preuent the ioy or to separate me from the glorie to come the spirit of glorie resteth already on me and full is my heart of ioy in the Holy Ghost The God of all grace hath by Christ Iesus called me into his eternall glorie and after that I haue suffered a while * 1 Pet. 5.10 will cause mee to enter into his ioy which is fulnesse of ioy and crowne mee with his glorie which is eternall glorie To him be glorie and dominion for euer and euer Amen FINIS
and complaints may bee pleasant company offensiue priuacie may please and pouertie be an easement abundance being a burthen Euerie bitter thing is sweet trouble as peace sicknesse as health imprisonment as libertie reproach as good report paine as pleasure death as life If the heart bee sutable and the spirit made pliable to the mold into which the Lord hath cast a man the inordinate desires causes of mâ—estitude nothing else The liues not falling in pleasant places nor the heritage so goodly as other mens a liuing man complaineth but euerie one that is godly is dumbe l Psal 39.9 openeth not his mouth knoweth how to bee abased and how to abound is euerie where and in all things instructed both to be full and to be hungrie m Phil. 4.11 12. both to abound and to suffer need made perfect stablished strengthened setled n Pet. 5.10 taught of God and hath learned in whatsoeuer state hee is therewith to bee content the crosse his crowne the shame thereof his glorie his losse his aduantage his yoke his ease or not burdenous and grieuous but easie and light All his euills good in effect and working all together for his good o Rom. 8.28 from whence is patience from whence experience from whence hope Verily from tribulation and these three abiding no man is ashamed in the day of trouble because the loue of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Comforter the Holy Ghost which is giuen vnto him p Rom. 5.5 a loue-ticke the affliction and godlinesse with contentment the proofe thereof Vse 4 4. For Admonition vnto all and that all may gather some I will suffer it to fall and to breake off it selfe into these foure peeces 1. That none worke out their crosses as the spider her web out of their owne bowels by ryot of vnrighteousnes irregular walking or inordinate liuing Let none of you suffer as an euill doer or a busie bodie q 1 Pet. 4.13 This not thank worthy that which is acceptable is the suffering which is for well-doing or otherwise according to God and the good pleasure of his will Therefore take heâ—d know and consider what yee doe that yee your selues doe not vndoe your selues 2. That none willingly cause other mens griefes or be hard-hearted to the poore afflicted in the power of their hand * Magna abominatio eorâ—m Deo est afflicto addere afflictionem clamatque in coelum vox sanguinis Oecolampad in Esa 47.6 In Psal 109. from the sixth to the sixteenth verse is a fearfull curse denounced against a sonne of perdition the cause expressed because he remembred not to shew mercie but persecuted the poore and needie man that he might euen slay the broken in heart The Lord will be iealous for his afflicted with a great iealousie yea verie sore displeased with them that are at ease and helpe forward the affliction k Zech. 1.13 14. The daughter of the Caldeans the Ladie of Kingdomes that was giuen to pleasure dwelt carelesly trusted in wickednesse shewed no mercie to the children of the captiuitie laid not the wrath to heart neither remembred the latter end perished in her latter end l Isa 47.6 7 8 9 10 11. Therefore take yee heed how yee oppresse or grieue other men lest bitternesse bee euen your owne hurt and hearts griefe in the end thereof It displeaseth the Lord m Pro. 24.17 if a man reioyce when his enemie falleth or suffer his heart to be glad when he stumbleth much more if he smite with the fist of wickednesse n Isa 58.4 and put a stumbling blocke before the innocent or afflict such as be of vpright conuersation o Psal 37.14 yea it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them p 2 Theoss 1.6 that trouble them which would lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie 3. That we slight not the surprisall of other men but consider our selues that we our selues in an houre yet vnknown may be also ouertaken q Gal. 6.1 Ille hodâ—è Bern. ego cras He to day and I to morrow a Fathers feare and may bee ours our looking-glasse euerie mans euill wherein wee may see our owne present or else to come The breaches of Ioseph not remembred made breaches on them that remembred them not Gallant-like they liued in pleasure and were wanton on the earth and nourished their hearts as in a day of slaughter but were not grieued for the afflictions of Ioseph r Amos 6.6 7. vntill they went captiue with the first that went captiue their banquet was remoued Therefore take ye heed and remember the saying familiar as the English rules Felix quem faciunt c. Happie is the man whom other mens harmes doe make to beware 4. That we secure not our selues saying Peace and safetie because of the present peace and soule take thine ease because of the present safetie Å¿ 1 Thes 5.3 Nescimus quid serus vesper vebat for who knoweth what a day may bring forth t 1 Pro. 24.1 the destruction may bee sudden and if a blow bee giuen on the blinde side wee shall not know well bow to take it well troubles are fore-shewed should bee therefore expected for as Paul u Act. 20.23 for the Holy Ghost witnesseth that afflictions abide all them that are Christs and persecutions to suffer the externall peace continued is for the men of this present euill world which haue their portion in this life x Psal 17.14 whose backes are freed from the rod of God y Iob 21. and bellies filled with hid treasures their houses also sâ—fe from feare and possessions passing the thoughts of their heart z Psal 73 7. set yet in slipperie places and brought into desolation as in a moment * Psal 73.19 they spend their dayes in mirth and wealth but in a moment goe downe to the grauâ— * Iob 21.13 A kinde of pond they haue or a land-floud which abideth not the well-springs of com◠〈…〉 mourne being afflâ—cted Better this so to bee afflicted and to mourne than gaining the world to lose the soule or enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season to be cast out bound into vtter darknesse Therefore in this our day let vs hearken vnto wisdome crying without and as Asah a 2 Chron. 14.6 7. built fenced cities in Iudah when the land had rest le ts edifie our selues on our most holy faith b Iude v. 20 remember our Creator c Eccles 1.2.1 and worke out our saluation d Phil. 2.12 that when the consumption determined e Isai â—8 22 shall come or the ouerflowing scourge f Ver. 15. or the houre of temptation vpon all the world g Reuel 3.10 wee may as the iust h Hab. 2 4â— liue â—y faith dwell safely and bee quiet from feare of euill according to the word i Pro.
them in pouerty what 's their pouerty He with them in persecution what 's their persecution much aduantage and euery way much What protection from the Lord what propagation of the Gospell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what recompence of reward without persecution With persecution in this life an hundred sold shall be receiued * Mar. 10.30 in what but in the presence of the Lord and the efficacie of his grace which is equiualent yea an hundred fold more excellent than the losse I know not what better sense can be giuen or how otherwise that reading is to bee vnderstood Had he said that after the cessation of persecution peace shall bee and wealth c. plaine it had beene but he saith with persecution in the time thereof a man shall receiue an hundred fold and that is as plaine to them that haue the witnesse in themselues In few to shut vp the whole matter Marke the man that shrinketh vnder the hand of God and behold him that maketh the Lord his Committee that prayeth being afflicted that waiteth patiently carrying the Lords leasure and satisfied with the presence of his grace as sufficient endureth to the end for the end of that man is peace k Psal 37.37 Vse 4 4. For the instauration of them l â—am 3 15 16 17. That giue willingly their cheekes to him that smiteth them that are filled with bitternesse and made drunken with wormewood couered with ashes and their teeth broken as with grauell stones their soule remoued far off from peace and prosperitie forgotten * Scriptura vâ—cat bonos fâ—umentum malos paleam eritur ventus c. Fonsec Sabb. ante Dom. Quad. For good men the Scripture calleth wheat the euill chaffe ariseth a great wind of persecution or commeth from the wildernesse some terrible Blast of other sore affliction to dissociate the good and the euill to segregate the pretious from the vile and as wheat from the chaffe to separate true Israelites in whom no guile is from potsheards couered with siluer drosse * Temporizers hypocrites Are the Heauens now blacke with clouds and winds doe the winds blow be the times boysterous the dayes euill the world troublous The Lord is about to purge his floore and will purge it thorowly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m Mat. 3.12 the wheat he will gather into his garner but the chaffe hee will scatter yea burne it with vnquenchable fire After a fierie triall professours may be fewer but shall be better farre n Conjectae ecclesia in catinum excocta igne afflictionum minor quidem euadit sed pâ—â—ior Amand. polan in Dan. 11.35 Necessarie therefore as schismes o 1 Cor. 11.19 and spurres that they which are approued might bee made manifest and the slothfull in businesse more feruent in spirit seruing the Lord. But after Theodoret Affliction is the Hostorie or * Strickle Stichel of God in the hand of his Iustice with which he striketh off in his chosen vessels the sins that against Iustice his mercie cannot beare The gracious Lord saith hee vsing a balance and a measure Theod. Eccles hist lib. 5. cap. 1. composed of Iustice and Mercie striketh off here by his Iustice the faults which are aboue weight and measure Is any among you afflicted let the afflicted among you looke vnto the Lord who doth it for their good euen to strike off with the hand of his Iustice or that rod in his hand on them the sinnes which in them surpoise the sealed balance and surpasse the marked measure of his mercie Moreouer know yee not that in the lowest condition is found the best successe Had not Iacob Ioseph Dauid in the winter of their affliction the spring of the soule Is not Gaius his prosperitie which is of the soule better than that of fooles which is not p Pro. 23.5 or is nothing in Salomons iudgement but extreme vanitie and vexation of spirit or an euident token of perdition and destruction As the greatest tentation is to feele no tentation so the greatest affliction not to be afflicted An argument of infirmitie not of maturitie of infancie not of manhood The promises of outward beauties to the Church of the Iewes were confined to the nonage thereof grown vpto some height what promises of great things Duo â—d te attrahunt Dei oculos c. Fon. sec vbi sup Two things there be that draw the eyes of God vnto men Humble and prompt obedience Pressure and persecution Of that Abraham of this an instance Israel in Aegypt An heart trembling at the word of God a contrite and humble spirit doth the like Suffering doth a man tremble at the word The Lord looketh to him Isa 66.3 Is hee of a contrite and humble spirit the high and loftie one that inhabiteth eternitie dwelleth with him to reuiue his spirit and to reuiue his heart Isa 57.15 Deadnesse a sore euill and dulnesse the graue of many graces after some ioyes conceiued afflict sometimes the Chosen generation q 1 Pet 2.3 CAVSES either sorrow or excessiue care or obliquitie in the vse of the meanes giuen of God to strengthen the soule in the houre of tentation or temporarie desertion or else the commission of some sin or the omission of some good dutie or else some other subtill deuice of the Deuill but CVRATIONS or Remedies none better know I than feare and trembling contrition and humilitie for from such the Lord is not far but at hand to reuiue them and wearie with labouring vnder the heauie crosse to giue them happie rest For a small moment he forsaketh but with great mercie he gathereth r Isa 54.5 6 7 8. In a little wrath he hideth his face for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse he hath mercie on them that â—s a wife of youtâ— are betrothed vnto him Å¿ Hos 2.19 20. in righteousnesse and in iudgement and in louing kindnesse and in mercies Haue I made a step out of the way Suppose it was to call on a friend ☜ The externall sufferings are not so grieuous as the internall are and without the internall the externall are not effectuall vnto sound humiliation Therefore expedient both both also light and but for a moment The sufferings of the present time t Rom. 8.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 styled and a kinde of leuitie u 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that passeth as it commeth in the twinckling of an eye or staying all night the accidentall mourning Rico prateriens leuitas Bez. ioy commeth in the morning x Psal 30.5 A reioycing is created y Isa 65.18 yea appointed vnto them that mourne in Sion z Isa 61.3 beautie giuen for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heauinesse power for faintnesse strength for weaknesse a Isa 40.29 the humbled lifted vp b Iam. 4.10 the ruined places builded