wil go far in quieting and calming of the heart under afflictions but grace surely where it is true will go farther It is the most unseemly sight in the world to see a murmuring fretting Christian if thy God if Christ if Heaven were lost it were not much to see wringing of hands and sinking of heart but to see this upon loss of a few outward comforts upon enduring of a few outward afflictions this is a most unseemly a vile and an abominable thing in thee S. Augustine upon the 12. Psalm brings in God rebuking a discontented Christian thus What is thy faith have I promised thee these things what wert thou made a Christian that thou shouldest flourish here in this world Well may God and Conscience and all the Saints upbraid a murmuring fretting Christian What didst thou expect in the entrance upon profession of Christianity what was thy aim what didst thou make account to live at ease to have no trouble to the flesh Where there is not quiet of spirit in passive obedience the sincerity of active obedience may be suspected How far art thou from rejoycing in tribulations who hast not a quiet contented spirit in tribulations I will not enlarge my self in this argument now intending a Treatise by its self of Christian contentation onely for the present take this one argument which surely hath much strength in it to quiet the heart under any affliction It is this God is willing to accept of thy service that thou tendrest up to him though it be mixed with much sin why shouldst not thou accept of his ways towards thee though there be a mixture of much affliction The sin of our service should be a greater cause for God to be displeased with what comes from us then the sorrow and affliction that comes in the ways of his providence can be to cause us to be displeased with what comes from him that surely is worse that is mixed with sin then that which is mixed with sorrow yet as the one is accepted by God from us let then the other be accepted by us from God Lastly let us not onely be contented under Gods afflicting hand but labour to thrive under it to improve all our afflictions that befal us Certainly there is a blessing in every Ordinance of God if we have wisdom and care to draw it forth to make it our own and so in this way of God towards his people it is indeed a gracious work to get our hearts lye quietly under affliction but it is too low a work for a Christian to rest there he must look to improve every affliction for his advantage By improving them we make our Benonies our Benjamins that is the sons of our sorrow the sons of our right hand Although waters in the Sea be salt yet if they be raised up to the Heavens and sent down again then they are sweet so though afflictions be brackish yea brine-salt yet a spiritual heart can spiritualize them and make them sweet and wholesom Afflictions are great opportunities for spiritual advantage if we have hearts to improve them and the loss of an affliction is a great loss S. Augustine in his second book of the City of God cries out against such who did not profit by Gods judgement You says he have lost the profit of the calamity he speaks of it as a great loss to them that it was over and they had got nothing by it As it is a sign of great wickedness to turn blessings into curses so it is a sign of great grace to turn curses into blessings By this improvement we shall not onely get water but honey out of the rock But how should we improve afflictions First be jealous of your selves lest it should pass away unsanctified be more afraid of the affliction leaving of you thus then of the continuing of it upon you and therefore lay out your strength more for a sanctified use of it then for deliverance from it Secondly labor to know Gods minde in your afflictions The man of wisdom sees Gods name upon this rod and understands what God intends First whether he sends them for sin or for other ends and if for sin for what particular For the first it is true God sends affliction sometimes for trial and other ends rather then for sin yet it is sin that makes us capable of such a way of trial were we not sinful God would not deal with us that way he would bring about his purposes by us some other way therefore it is good in all to be humbled for sin you may be helped in the knowledge of Gods end First if the affliction be extraordinary and come in an extraordinary way and upon examination you finde your self not guilty of any special evil besides daily incursions then you may comfortably hope Gods intentions are not specially for sin but for some other end so it was in Job and Joseph Secondly you may know from the work of the affliction which way it tends and how God follows it whether in it God settles not sin upon your heart for humiliation more then ordinary or whether the work of Gods spirit be not rather for the stirring up of the exercise of some other grace for God in his dealings with his people will work for the attaining the ends he aims at Thirdly much may be learned from the issue of an affliction when God comes chiefly for trial in the issue his grace does much abound towards his servants as it did in Joseph and in Job what honor was Joseph advanced unto and Job had given him twice as much as he had before chap. ult ver 10. In all the land there were no women so fair as the daughters Iob ver 15. but when the afflictions is for sin it doth not use to have such an issue it is well if the sinner may be restored into such a comfortable condition as he was in before When David was afflicted for his sin some scars stuck by him after his deliverance he scarce ever was brought into that comfortable condition he was in before But how may we finde out the particular sin First look what sins and afflictions the word hath coupled together although every sin deserves all kinde of affliction yet the word joyns some special correction to special transgressions as God sorts several promises to several graces so he sorts several afflictions to several sins Secondly consider what sins and afflictions providence couples in respect of similitude God often stamps the likeness of the sin upon the judgement Iudges 1. 7 8. Thirdly enquire at the mouth of God by prayer and humiliation as David did 2 Sam. 21. and Job cap. 10. 2. and those in Jeremy cap. 16. 10 11. Fourthly hearken to the voice of conscience that is Gods officer in your soul especially in time of affliction conscience will deal impartially and take this
prepare him for the burning of his whole body A patient bearing of less troubles for the present will prepare the heart for the bearing of greater afterwards Seventhly enjoy all your comforts of prosperity as from God and God in them and them all for God First from God therefore whatsoever he takes away it is but his own and what are we that we must always have comfort and content who are poor beggerly creatures who have nothing of our own Secondly enjoy God in all the enjoyment of God in all is a mystery the world is not acquainted with onely a gracious heart knows what it is it looks at all creatures but as the pipe of conveyance the sweet and comfort and blessing is God in them therefore in any affliction that befals so long as God may be enjoyed the comfort and sweet and blessing of all is not lost although the creature be lost Thirdly all for God Why then should not God have the glory of all his own way We in the general acknowledge God should have glory from all that we are or have but we would have him have it our way so as may stand with our ease with our liberties peace and ends but God must have the honor of all that way that is good in his own eye And againe if all we have be for God then when he is honored by any thing we do enjoy it hath its end and perfection a comfort is then the most perfect comfort when God hath the glory of it when it is resigned to him either in a way of service or suffering as he calls for it And lastly if our comforts be enjoyed for God then our hearts are not let out to any of them further then leads us to God and if so then when God calls for the parting with them in a suffering way the enjoyment of them cannot lead to God any further but would draw off the spirit from God and therefore such a heart is willing now to part with them it is not grievous to it to leave them because the excellency of them is not now in the enjoyment of them but in the parting with them Eighthly be often renewing your resignations of all unto God and your covenant with him to be at his dispose that so when any trouble comes at any time this resignation of heart and renewal of covenant may be fresh upon your spirits the soul will be ready to suffer much if it be called to it when an actual resignation and renewing of covenant hath been a little before and the power of it is now fresh upon the heart sometimes immediately after a day of solemn humiliation where this hath been the soul thinks then it could do or suffer any thing but in a little time except this be renewed again the heart grows drossie and cleaves to present things and mingles it self with them the often renewing of this keeps the heart very loose from the creature a thing that hangs loose from another may soon be taken off from it but if it cleaves to it it is not taken off without difficulty it oftner rends in the taking off thus it is when the heart cleaves to any creature-content Ninthly lay up provision against an evil day There is a threefold provision we should treasure up to prepare us for our afflictions First treasure up the consolations of God that he affords upon occasion that at any time you feel in the performance of duties in the exercises of graces in the use of Ordinances Secondly treasure up the experiences of Gods ways towards you and his gracious dealings with you in former straights Thirdly treasure up soul-supporting soul-quickning soul-reviving soul-comforting promises and that of several kindes sutable to several afflictions for thou knowest not what kinde of afflictions thou mayest meet with Tenthly labor much to strengthen every grace it is strong grace that is suffering grace a strong wing will flye against the wind as it is said of the horse Job 33. because he hath strength he mocketh at fear and is not affrighted neither turneth he back for the sword ver 22. A candle will hold light in the house but if we go abroad in the air there is need of a torch there must be a stronger light there weak grace may serve turn to uphold us now but in time of afflictions it had need be strong a little grace will soon be spent then as a candle is soon spent when it stands in the wind Lastly set much before you the example of Christ and Gods people who have endured very hard things In the example of Christ consider first who it was that suffered the Son of God who was God blessed for ever the glory of the Father when we suffer base worms worthy to be trodden under foot suffer Secondly what he suffered even the wrath of God and the curse of the Law he was made a curse in the abstract as the Scripture speaks which was another maner of thing then any of our afflictions Thirdly for whom he suffered it was for us vile worms wretched sinful creatures who were enemies to him we suffer for God who is infinitely blessed to whom we owe all we are or have Fourthly how freely he suffered it was of his own accord his own free grace moved him to it he laid down his life none could take it from him it is not in our liberty whether we will suffer or no we are under the power of another Fifthly how meekly he suffered he was as a sheep before the shearer his suffering no way disquieted his spirit but it kept in a sweet quiet frame in the middest of all Sixthly consider how his strength is with you in your sufferings And lastly how he is honored in them He strives with us in the combate he joyns with us in the fight of our agony he crowns and is crowned says Cyprian Bernard would have us never to let go out of our mindes the thoughts of a crucified Christ Let these says he be meat and drink unto you let them be your sweetness and consolation your honey and your desire your reading and your meditation your contemplation your life death and resurrection Would you learn obedience would you learn contempt of honors would you see the highest patience set a suffering Christ before you Sureus reports of a noble Earl Elzearius when his wife wondred at his exceeding patience under fore afflictions he answers her thus What good will it be to be angry and impatient certainly none at all but I will open my heart unto you you know sometimes my heart is ready to rise with indignation against such as wrong me but I presently turn me to the thoughts of the wrongs offered to Christ and I say thus to my self desiring to imitate him Although my servants should pull my beard and strike me on the face these were
they bear them hard weather tryes what soundness and health there is in the body so afflictions and troubles what soundness the Spirit hath Wooden or earthen vessels if they be set to the fire empty they are soon riven and break but not when they are filled with liquor so empty hearts when they feel the heat of afflictions they soon break but if filled with grace and the comforts of the holy Ghost they hold sound When a mans cloaths are on the deformities of his body cannot be seen but when he is stripped naked then all appears In Summer time when the trees are covered with leaves you cannot see the knots and rifts and mossiness of the tree but in winter when the leaves are gone then you may see all Hence the Hebrew word that is used for Winter comes from a word that signifies disgrace and shame because winter takes away the glory and beauty of the earth and puts a kinde of shame and disgrace upon it The deformities and distempers of mens hearts are much discovered in the winters of their affliction although there was much glory and beauty on their profession before yet now they appear most vile and base We read Luke 2. 35. That Christ was appointed for the fall of many and for a rock of offence that is in regard of the sufferings that should follow upon the profession of the Gospel and mark what God ayms at in this it is that the thoughts of mens hearts might be revealed there are many secret thoughts secret haunts of evil in mens hearts secret windings and turnings of mens spirits that are not revealed until then when the cause of God and our own ends come in competition when they must part one from the other then is the tryal what we are as when a serving-man follows two Gentlemen you know not whose he is until they part one from the other as we read Ezek. 21. 21. the King of Babylon stood at the parting way at the head of the two ways to use divination the best divining of men is at the parting way although the times of afflictions in regard of the darkness of them one way be called the night of afflictions yet they have light in them and may be called a day in regard of the discovery they make of a man what he is In prosperity a man is apt to judge amiss of himself not onely because ignorance deceiveth the minde but because of the present contentment he hath he is unwilling to be disquieted with any thoughts of disparagement Adversity though it be a hard Tyrant yet it is a true Judge though it speaketh roughly yet it speaketh truly We read Deut. 8. 2. that God led his people through the wilderness to humble them and to prove them and to know what was in their hearts God knew before but he would make themselves and others to know I read of Nazianzen walking by the Sea shore seeing how the sea wrought in a storm that it cast up light and empty things but not things solid and heavy he applies this to afflictions and says that light and empty spirits are tossed up and down by them and keep not their constancy but solid spirits are like the rock that stands firm and abides the same men do not know their own hearts they finde their hearts otherwise when troubles come then ever they thought before they never thought they had had so much pride so much impatience so much unbelief they thought before they could have submitted to the hand of God that they could have born more then is now upon them with patience and meekness but now they finde their wretched hearts murmure repine fret vex now they finde corruptions stir exceedingly they had thought they could have depended upon God in straits but now they finde their hearts sinking they finde they have base shifting hearts When the fire comes to green wood there comes out abundance of watery stuff that was not discerned before so when the fire of affliction comes much evil runs out that you saw not that neither you nor others thought to be in your hearts before When a Pond is empty then appears the mud and the filth and Toads in the bottom so when God empties men when he takes from them his blessings then much filth many crawling lusts appear that did not before sometimes more grace appears in afflictions then did before some of Gods people are low in their own eyes they suspect and fear themselves they think their graces will fail them in trouble that their peace is false yet when it pleases God to bring them into trouble they finde more peace more assurance more strength then ever they did before or then they thought they should have done never such sweet joy never such full assurance never such use of faith and patience and love as in the sorest and strongest afflictions This indeed is very rare there are few that finde more good in their hearts in afflictions then they thought they had before but where this is it may be a sweet seal to the soul of the sincerity of it ever after When Corn stands in the field we may guess what it may yield but we cannot know fully till it come to the flail and then it yields sometime more though often less then we made account of When grapes come to be pressed then is discerned what is in them Fourthly an afflicted condition gives opportunity for much exercise of grace it calls forth whatsoever grace there is in the heart to the exercise of it Rev. 13. 10. St. John speaking of the sufferings of the Saints Here says he is the faith and the patience of the Saints here is matter for their faith and patience to be exercised about this calls for the working of their faith and patience and so for other graces as humility self-denyal love to God Physick stirs up natural heat and makes it active so afflictions the souls Physick What mighty prayers and lively stirrings of spirit are there many times in afflictions Esay 26. 16. They pour out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them our prayers do but drop out before now they are poured out and one work of heart do's so follow another that there is no intermission it is all but one prayer they have poured out not prayers but a prayer and it is observable the word that here is translated prayer is a word that is used for inchantment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because such words were conceived to be full of efficacy containing much in a little room So the prayer now is not an empty thing but full of efficacy containing much in a few words The graces of Gods Spirit are the most lovely things in the world in Gods eyes and therefore God delights much to see the exercise of them When spices are beaten then they send forth their fragrant smell so when Gods servants are in afflictions then their graces send forth their
sweetness in the activeness of them when the box is broken and the precious oyntment is poured forth then it sends forth its delightful savour so when the heart is broken with afflictions and the grace is poured forth then they give a sweet smell in the nostrils of God and men A tool that is daily used is kept bright and shining and so grace when it is most exercised it it is most beautiful The glory of the things of the world minishes in the use of them but grace is ever better for the wearing Fifthly in afflictions the power of grace does much appear the abiding strong against opposition is a true argument of strength this was the honor of Josephs strength in his blessing Gen. 49. 23 24. The archers have sorely grieved him yet his bow abode in strength It is nothing for a man to go on in the profession of Religion while all things are well about him while he feels no trouble but God hedges about his way if God should always prosper his people in outward things who would not be a professor of godliness When the people saw how Mordecai was raised then many became Jews I read of one Pamachius a Heathen that he said to the Pope Make me a Bishop and I will be a Christian Every bird can sing in fair sun-shine weather but here is the power of grace not to be offended in Christs sufferings Blessed are they who are not offended in me says Christ to desire to know nothing but Christ and him crucified To embrace Christ in his rags in his poverty in his shame in his afflictions and sorrows this argues a power of grace indeed it argues the power of love that much water cannot quench it It is a note that Josephus hath writing the History of the time of Christ At that time says he Jesus a wise man did many miracles and although he was condemned to the cross yet did not those that followed him from the beginning forbear to love him notwithstanding the ignominy of his death He notes it is an argument of great love in his followers as it was indeed that they did not forbear to love notwithstanding his ignominious death As it is a sign our love to sin is strong when we have many afflictions to quench our love when we meet with much trouble and opposition in a way of sin and yet our love to it is not abated so it argues our love to God and godliness is very strong when the greatest opposition cannot prevail against it to account Christ precious as a tree of life although we be fastened to him as to a stake to be burned this is love indeed It was the glory of Scipio in which he much boasted that there was not any of his Soldiers but would venture his life for him if it were to leap into the Sea to cast themselves from a high Tower or any other way that he should require of them this argued their strong love to him and it is the glory of the Lord in which the Lord delights that he hath a people whose hearts are closely knit to him in the most afflicted distressed condition that can befal them who are content to suffer any thing for him to submit to his blessed will to honor him any way that he shal please though it be in the loss of dearest comforts and suffering the sorest and hardest afflictions Sixthly by afflictions the graces of the Saints are much increased as Israel never increased so much as when Pharaoh most oppressed for two hundred and fifteen years before they increased but to seventy but in less time when they were oppressed they increased to more then six hundred thousand men fit for War besides women and children thus the spiritual increase of the true Israel of God is much in afflictions more usually then at other times Gods people to whom afflictions are sanctified never thrive so much in grace as when they are watered with their own tears The Rose is sweeter in the Still then upon the stalk Fish thrive better in cold and salt waters then in warm and fresh the largest fish are not in the fresh Rivers but in the coldest salt Seas The ground is most fruitful that is most harrowed The most plentiful Summer follows after the hardest Winter The face of Religion is never so beautiful as when it is washed with its own tears The Walnut tree is most fruitful when it is most beaten Camomel flourisheth most when it is most trodden on and pressed down suffering for truths does much confirm men in them that which a man hath bought at a dear rate he is loath to part with thus we finde it in men who suffer for errors they are ever the more stiff in them like the Merchants holding up their commodity because it cost them dear All oppositions if they do not overcome they strengthen that which they do oppose as water cast upon the fire it makes that fire burn hotter that it does not quench Wind shaking the tree makes it grow more steady Thus the tribulations of the godly and the persecutions they suffer do oppose their graces but because they cannot overcome them they strengthen them As we read Psalm 45. when the Church forsakes all when she leaves her fathers house and her kindred then doth the King greatly delight in her beauty her beauty is great then and exceeding delightful in the eyes of the Lord Cant. 2. 14. O my dove says Christ to the Church thy voyce is sweet thy countenance is comely let me hear thy voyce let me see thy countenance This is spoken of the state of the Church after her deliverance from great afflictions after her return from captivity before her captivity she was loathsom and vile in Gods eyes God hateth her as appears Jer. 12. 8. Mine heritage is unto me as a Lyon in the forrest it cryeth out against me therefore I have hated it but now she is delightful Christ bids her arise his love his fair one and come away God before cared not for her solemn meetings they were a burthen to him as appears Esay 1. 11 12 13 c. but now he expresseth his desire of their solemn meetings O my dove that art in the clefts of the rocks in the secret places of the stairs thou who worshippest me in secret places in holes and corners let me see thy face let me see thee assembled into the face of a Church in my Sanctuary let me hear thy voice let me hear thee there calling upon me singing praises unto me Psal 66. 12. We went through fires and through waters says the Church but thou broughtest us into a wealthy place Thus God deals with his Church spiritually by bringing them through the fire and water of afflictions he brings them to a wealthy place a wealthy estate The Church of Iudah before the Captivity was as a Vine that brought forth wilde Grapes upon whom the Lord
resolved to command the clouds not to rain and from whom he would take the hedge of his protection Esay 5. but after the captivity he speaks otherwise of it Esay 27. 2 3. In that day sing ye unto her a Vineyard of red wine which was the best wine now the Lord will keep it and water it every moment I have read of a Fountain that at noon-day is cold at midnight it grows warm it is thus with many they are coldest in their prosperity and the nights of afflictions contract their heat and intends it fire never burns so hot as in frosty weather The winter time of affliction sometimes proves to be the most fruitful time of a Christians life contrary to the work of nature for all things seem dead then and they flourish and grow onely in the Summer but a Christians Winter is sometime better then his Summer grace flourishes and grows most in his Winter Our Benoni's sons of sorrow prove oftentimes our best Benjamins sons of our right hand the best corn is that which lies under the clods in frost and snow Paul rejoyced much in Onesimus whom he had begotten in his bonds Philem. ver 10. Basil in his Sermon upon the forty Martyrs calls them the stars of the world the flowers of the Church And Chrysostome upon Acts 12. speaking of those who were praying for Peter in the night says That they were made by afflictions more pure then the Heaven And some of the Ancients as Chrysostom and Salvian have called afflictions the mother of Vertue Manasses his chain was more profitable to him then his Crown Hebr. 12. 10. God is said to chastise his people for their profit that they might be partakers of his holiness God communicates of his own holiness unto the souls of his people by their chastisements in a special maner love is often encreased in affliction sheep run together when the dog is set on them after the Church was delivered from violent persecution it suffered much by divisions the very bowels were rent by their dissentions it was then in a worse condition then before the fire of their dissentions being worse then the fire of their persecutions the one hindred but the other furthered their growth John 15. 2. Every branch in me my Father purgeth that it may bring forth more fruit as Vines are made fruitful by pruning so are Gods people by the pruning knife of afflictions and hence it is when the Lord hath some great employment some great service for any of his people he first sends them unto and trains them in the school of afflictions as Joseph and David And as our Benoni's our sons of sorrows that which we get out of our sorrows proves oftentimes our chiefest Benjamins so Gods chiefest Benjamins whom he useth as the sons of his right hand in special services are first Benoni's sons of sorrow There is a great deal of difference says Luther between a Divine in outward pomp and a Divine under the cross It is a rare thing to have any mans eyes opened as Jonathans were by tasting of honey by prosperity but in afflictions many are afflictions prove to them as the clay to the poor mans eyes that gave him sight They that are afflicted do better understand Scripture says Luther but those who are secure in their prosperity read them as a verse in Ovid. Amongst many others this is one special means whereby an afflicted condition comes to be useful for the encrease of grace because in it the soul gains much experience experience of God and of his ways experience of the good there is in and faithfulness of his word as we read Psal 107. Those who go down into the Sea see the wonders of the Lord much more those who come into the seas of troubles and afflictions how do they see the wonders of the Lord they can tell their friends much of the wonders of the Lord towards them so Israel in the time of trouble cryes out Hos 8. 2. My God we know thee now we know thee otherwise then before we did and experience of the evil of sin It was a speech of a Germane Divine in his sickness Gasper Olevianus In this disease I have learned how great God is and what the evil of sin is I never knew what God was to purpose before nor what sin meant When God spake to Job out of the whirlwind cap. 38. he answers cap. 40. 3 4. Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my hand upon my mouth And experience likewise of our weakness and the vanity of the Creature more now then ever Psal 39. 11. When thou with rebukes doest correct man thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth surely every man is vanity Selah he can then say Surely and that with a Selah that every man is vanity It is very observable that of all the seven churches that Christ wrote unto in the second third Chapters of the Revelations there are onely two which he charges no evil upon the Church of Smyrna and the Church of Philadelphia and these two were exercised with much trouble as the Church of Smyrna cap. 2. 9. is said to have endured much tribulation and to be in poverty yet Christ commends her and says she is rich her poverty made her rich her tribulations made her glorious in the eyes of Christ And the Church of Philadelphia cap. 3. 8 10. she had but a little strength she was in a low poor afflicted contemptible condition yet she denyed not the name of Christ she kepe the word of Christs patience that word for which she suffered much being strengthened thereunto by the patience she received from Jesus Christ Seventhly afflictions preserve from much sin they are blessed preventing physick our falls into sore afflictions keep us from falls into sin Hosea 2. 6. God says he will hedge the way of his people if the hedge of the command will not keep us from transgression it is a mercy for God to hedge in our way by another hedge the hedge of afflictions they are blessed stumbling blocks cast in the way of sin to hinder us in it I have read of Augustine that once by wandring out of his way he escaped one who lay in wait to mischieve him it falls out so many times with us if afflictions did not put us out of our way we should fall into the power of some sin or other which would mischieve us Gregory saith of Solomon that he left the house of wisdom because the discipline of afflictions did not preserve him Salt brine preserves from putrifaction the salt marshes keep the sheep from the rot Eightly by afflictions decayed grace comes to be recovered These are Gods files that file off the rust of security Physitians use to cure a Lethargy by putting their patient into a feaver the spiritual Lethargy of security is often cured by
for one therefore to be able to order and dispose of means so as not to miscarry in such a high end as this such a glorious and great work as this it must be wonderful wisdom The men of the world think themselves wise men and bless themselves in their wisdom because they can order and dispose of means to get money and fine cloaths they are poor and base and low spirits who minde and regard no higher and no better things then these base things that are below whereas the godly because God hath let the fear of eternity fall upon them and they regard nothing but in subordination to that therefore they sometimes miscarry in the things of the world hereupon the men of the world looking at them and seeing no higher end but the enjoyment of pleasure and the like they count them a company of fools that will undo themselves and prove to be beggers and so slight them in that respect But there is an infinite mistake in this were it that Gods servants did propound that end to themselves and had no higher then that which other men have they would shift as well as they but because they have a higher end therefore their thoughts in wisdom are drawn out about that As St. Paul said 1 Cor. 2. 12. We have not received the spirit of the world we cannot shift and plot in the world but we have received the Spirit of God that spirit that shall order us and dispose us to enjoy communion with God and his Angels for ever A swine that wanders up and down can make better shift to get home to the trough then a sheep that wanders to get home to the fold The men of this world are indeed wiser in their generation then the children of light but the children of light have their ends and ways wherein their wisdom appears to be full of excellency and glory The wisdom of Politicians is seen in this They will let go things that are low and be content to be crossed in things that are mean if their great plots may go on so it is in all true spiritual wisdom A gracious heart when it looks at the enjoyment of God in the way of godliness so be it that great plot may go on it does not so much look at things that are under and therefore let men know that there is a mistake in this one day God will make it known who are those that are wise on the earth Surely the world did not commend Daniel for his wisdom that he would not omit prayer one day to save his life but had rather lose all Would not the worldly-wise say What a foolish thing is this not to omit prayer one day to save a mans life and he must open his window too that spiritual wisdom which God gives unto his people it is foolishness to a carnal heart and therefore you shall have some Parents themselves when children come to be strict in their way will say What shall we have a fool of you And one neighbor to another when they see any have a tender conscience who before gave himself to the pleasure of the flesh We shall have a fool of you now Though you count them fools they know your way is folly They think the matters of Religion are but niceties and and to venture the loss of so much for such niceties what a foolish thing is it As Pilate wondered at Christ when his life was in question he talks of truth What is truth Your life is in danger and do you now talk of truth That which is honest and vertuous is vile and contemptible to him whose body and sensual part is dear to him says Seneca I remember Lactantius brings in a Heathen scorning at the ways of Christians in this maner thinking Christians to be fools when they see they should endure such things and yet they would be Christians says he Scorn us contemn us and despise us we know our foolishness profits us let us alone with our foolishness we do not envy your wisdom We do not care though you count us fools so you disturb us not in our way True wisdom says he lies hid there where there is the title of folly for God with affliction and with the name of folly doth hide the beauty of godliness from the eyes of men but this is the onely wisdom to know God to worship God to be Religious and for this says the same Author with the greatest voyce that I can speak I testifie and proclaim and denounce That this is the greatest wisdom Let us be established in this that it is the onely wisdom to choose the ways of God upon any terms let come what will come let all sorrows and afflictions to the outward man come that possibly can come this is the absolute wisdom and this says he is my opinion and judgement it is that I am throughly convinced of and shall for ever rest and be setled in Mark how Solomon so glorious for wisdom testifies of grace Prov. 1. 2 3 4 5. he heapeth up several expressions to manifest what wisdom comes to the heart by godliness for that is the scope there it causes 1. To know Wisdom 2. Instruction 3. To perceive the words of Understanding 4. To receive the instruction of Wisdom Justice Judgement Equity 5. To give subtilty to the simple not onely understanding but subtilty and that notwithstanding all natural simplicity in those who the world accounts simple ones yet are by grace made subtile they can descry the danger of subtile temptations they will not be undermined for their souls they will not be cousened and cheated by the subtile policies of Devil or World in the matter of their souls and the great things of eternal life so as the great wise men of the world are 6. Knowledge and discretion to the yong man of all men yong men are most ignorant most rash and heady but grace gives knowledge and discretion both even to the yong man How many gracious yong men have more understanding in the ways of God and can guide their way to Heaven more discreetly then many ancient men who have repute in the world for wise and understanding men Yea 7. grace teaches wise counsels their counsels about their spiritual estates are wise Who now dare accuse the ways of godliness of folly when the holy Ghost hath honored them with so many several expressions of wisdom in them This then is true wisdom to choose with Moses rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Secondly here is much encouragement to all Gods people in their way and choice that they have made Hath God given you a heart to make choice of his ways O bless God! There was a time when you went on in giving pleasure to the flesh and you saw then no better thing then such a kinde of life and the Lord hath been
more then in others and if they be afflicted they look upon them as the prey of the malice of wicked men and a poor contemptible people and pass them by and see nothing in them to be worthy of any respect As it was said of Herod when Christ came to him he thought to have seen miracles wrought by him and because he appeared as a mean man Herod slighted him and so men that judge according to the flesh if men be great in the world or have such a one to be their friend they like that well but if he be ragged and mean they pass him by as not respecting of him As Hospinian tells us of the dogs that kept the Temple of Vulcan If any came to the Temple with brave cloaths they would let them alone but if they came in ragged cloaths they would tear them all in pieces So men of the world if they see men in good cloaths and prosper outwardly they are somebody but for this godliness and preciseness they have no skill in it and therefore despise it and look contemptibly upon it So it was with the Samaritans as long as the people of the Jews were prosperous outwardly they would challenge acquaintance and affinity with them but if they were in affliction then they would fall off but St. Paul did not so for says he Henceforth know I no man after the flesh It is a great sign of a carnal heart and opposite to the principle of grace to look upon things according to outward excellency and not to see a beauty in Gods people for want of outward excellency Some things that are foolish are onely weakness of reason some things are opposite to the principles of reason and where we see such we account those naturals so some things are infirmities and argue weakness of grace but other things are quite contrary to the principles of grace and amongst those I know none more evident then this For people to judge of things according to outward excellency and not to see the excellency of Gods people through outward meanes this is an argument that the Gospel is hid from thee and so thou art a lost creature if the beauty of the Gospel be hid it is hid to those that are lost It is true likewise of such as profess the Gospel if the beauty of them be hid it is hid to those that are lost Thirdly if so that there is such an excellency in Gods people though under great afflictions it should teach us all to manifest our respect to Gods people that are mean It is a most vile thing to have the faith of Christ in respect of persons says Tertullian We do not judge of faith by persons but of persons by faith So do not look at men to judge of them according to outwards but look to the inwards of the soul how they are cloathed within What a shameful thing is it for those that are Christians that know spiritual excellencies to look upon those that are gay and brave outwardly What do those that are gay and brave attire themselves for but to have the eyes of men drawn after them Let childrens eyes be drawn after them but if they have rotten spirits let them be so looked upon notwithstanding they be in gay cloaths but for those that are gracious Jesus Christ looks upon them as his glory 2 Cor. 8. 23. The messengers of the Church the glory of Christ and therefore we should glory in them much more The Apostle S. James speaks very bitterly to those that he wrote unto for having respect unto persons says he Are ye not then partial in your selves and are become judges of evil thoughts as if he should say Do not your consciences condemn you Can this stand with grace to have the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons Are you become judges of evil thoughts those evil thoughts of yours in respecting those that are in brave apparel Are you judges of those evil thoughts that is to judge according to them Some render it thus and are not judges of evil thoughts And so the negative that is joyned to partial is to be applyed also to become judges of evil thoughts Have you such evil thoughts as these and do you not judge them to be evil Noting there is so much evil in them as it is to be wondered that any should have such evil thoughts and yet not judge them to be naught But how should we manifest our respect to those that are outwardly mean that are gracious First own them and be not ashamed of them before your bravest kindred for they are precious to God and Christ and if you be ashamed of them you are ashamed of Christ himself and it is just Christ should be ashamed of you another day Are they the glory of God the treasure of God and the portion of God and the peculiar ones of God and shall you be ashamed of them O no but those whom God honors let us honor What rule can we have better for our honoring of men then that honor that our God puts upon them It is given as a special reason why the King of Babylon sent Ambassadors and a present to Hezekiah after he had been sick to testifie his respect to him and to honor him because he had heard how that miracle of the Suns going back was for him as a sign of his recovery The Sun was the God whom the Babylonians worshipped now because their God had honored Hezekiah so much the King of Babylon would honor him likewise Abulensis in 2 Kings 20. God hath wrought great things for his Saints whereby he hath put much honor upon them he hath owned them before all the world let us own them with honorable respect of them 2. Again bless God that you may have any communion with them to have the breathing of Gods Spirit in them reioyce in their communion and fellowship and delight more in mourning with them in their afflictions then in all the jollities of the world then to be feasting then to enjoy all their delightful braveries 3. Again the more they are contemned in the world and they suffer in the world the more do you respect them and own them So long as Gods people suffer nothing but have outward prosperity as well as others some will make of them but if they see them in contempt then they leave them and look at them afar off as it is with a mans Ministery when a mans Ministery is approved of by some that are rich and the assembly be filled with such they count such a Ministery a credit to their Church but if it be spiritual so as it may be but few of them understand it and so discountenanced by such as those are then his Ministery is not regarded and as in the esteem of the Ministery so in the esteem of the saints when they are esteemed in the world
they will esteem of them but when the esteem of the world is taken away their esteem is taken away As it is with the Deer that is hunted when the Huntsman goes into the Park he stirs up all and all run together but if one be shot and they see the blood run down they will all push him out of their company so while Gods people go on and are in credit and esteem with the world others that are slight professors of Religion will esteem them and they shall be welcom into their company till they be shot and they see disgrace put upon them then they look upon them with a lowry countenance If a man be travelling and there be a Sun-dial by the high-way if the Sun shine he will go out of his way to take notice of it but if the Sun do not shine he may go a hundred times by and never regard it and so when the Sun shines upon Gods people they are much made of but if a cloudy day do come and take away the Sunshine they are not esteemed and many people instead of helping them in their affliction will adde to their affliction and say You needed not to have been so forward and to have appeared so much It was your want of wisdom brought you into this trouble and the like If you had a gracious heart if you saw one of Gods Servants go on in the way of God and suffer in that way though he had failed in some particulars you would pass them by and not be ready to take advantage to speak against him for them If a man do plead for the King every circumstance is not taken up and aggravated against him and so for those that are for God every circumstance should not be aggravated against them It is better for one to be forward in Gods cause though he should fail in some circumstances then to be lukewarm If a man be going earnestly and do fall forward there is not so much danger in that as to fall backward so a man that is forward in that which is good though he may carry some things indiscreerly and suffer somewhat that way yet his fall is but forward and there is not so much danger in that as in a time-server and apostate that falls backward he may break his neck And therefore we should not aggravate the afflictions of the Saints if they be right in the main we should countenance them and appear for them though we venture something as Moses here he might have saved himself and yet he had such a high esteem of Gods people as he would venture all for them but of this in the next Point Thirdly If God does move the hearts of any preciously to esteem of his people though afflicted outwardly hearken to a word of encouragement Certainly thou art blessed of God It is a note of a wonderful strong eye-sight that thou hast that thou canst see Spiritual excellency through outward meanness there is more skill in being able to see the preciousness of a thing then to see the glory and lustre of it that which is not true pearl may have as much lustre as the true but the skill of the Lapidary is to know that is not precious but the other although it be fullied with dirt It is a note of sincerity of grace that thou lovest grace for grace It is a note of the power of grace that thou canst pass by that which is a stumbling to so many Certainly God will know thy soul in adversity and will look through all thy infirmities upon thee that canst look with an honorable esteem upon his people through all afflictions And in that time when thou suspectest the work of grace in thee this may be one argument to uphold thee though thou canst not discern the work of grace in thine own heart yet thou canst prize it in another it is an argument it is in thy soul though now thou canst not see it though people want other notes yet this many have Fourthly You that are the Servants of God and God hath so ordered it as you are mean in the world mean in your parts and estates and mean in regard of your friends be not discouraged do not think I am a poor contemptible man or woman no body looks at me or regards me God hath a high esteem of you the Angels have a high esteem of you the Saints have a high esteem of you and therefore be not discouraged As you have it in Isaiah 56. 3 4. Let not the Eunuch say I am a dry tree for if he will take hold of my name and keep my Sabbath I will give him an everlasting name better then of sons and daughters Many because they are outwardly mean do go on discouraged and say of themselves We are dry trees If thou didst but see the thoughts of Gods people and see the thoughts of wicked men as if thou couldst but unfold the consciences of wicked men they do reverence thee and wish they were in thy condition if they were to dye though you have not that respect from the godly which they seem to shew to others that they have more use of and are more serviceable to them to do their business and so there is a shew of more outward familiarity yet do not think but that you are more highly esteemed then they are But suppose no man should regard you it is enough that God does regard you It is a notable speech of Salvian Such as are truly blessed in their own consciences cannot be miserable by the false judgements of other men But I say though that were enough yet you have more you have God and his Angels and Saints and the consciences of wicked men though we should not regard the esteem of the men of the world but go on in our way onely be careful that they may not speak ill of our Religion but the esteem of the Saints is not slightly to be esteemed for it is a blessing of God and therefore St. Paul was earnest with the Romans to pray to God for him that his service might be accepted of by the Saints On the other side for one to be in such a condition as those that are godly wise and humble shall call their estates into question and be suspitious of them such need look to themselves many that are truly godly may be very guilty of censuring and so do much wrong both to those that are godly and to Religion but take those that are wise and humble and I say if such should be jealous of me I should have great cause to be suspitious of my self for such have the Spirit of God and do know the things of God A spiritual man judgeth all things and therefore we should make good use of their opinions of us If they be afraid of us we should fear our selves as Isaiah says There is no peace to the wicked says my God that God that my