be to all the sons and daughters of Zion Comfort to true Believers even all true Believers who are sometimes oft times sons and daughters of Affliction lying under the correcting hand of God Such was Jobs condition whom we hear complaining to his friends that the hand of the Lord had touched him Job 19.21 And the like doth David Psal 38.2.3 where he sadly bemoans his condition unto God Thine arrowes saith he stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore So again Psal 32.4 Day and night thy hand was heavy upon me And in the like language we may hear the Church bewailing her calamity Lam. 3.2 Surely against me is he turned he turneth his hand against me all the day Thus doth Gods hand his afflicting and correcting hand often lie heavy upon his dearest Saints But let it not discourage them so long as it is the hand of their Father which it is even then when God reacheth forth unto his people the bitterest Cups that can be yet still he is their Father A Father when he frowns as well as when he smiles when he strikes as when he stroketh still retaining the same Relation Yea and the same Affection Gods affection to his people still the same As he is an Everlasting Father so his Love is an everlasting love I have loved thee with an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 God sometimes oft times changeth his countenance towards his people but his Affection is not changed Sit licet in natos facies austera Parentum Mens tamen aequa manet Naturall Parents sometimes frown and bend their browes at their children there is nothing but anger and wrath in their countenance yet even then their affection towards them is the same that ever it was And so is it with God our heavenly Father being offended and displeased with his children he frowns upon them so as it may be there is nothing but wrath in his face yet even then there are bowels of fatherly compassion within So runs that known promise which the Lord maketh to the Seed of David Psal 89.31 32 33. If they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandements then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquities with stripes Neverthelesse my loving kindenesse will I not utterly take from them c. God doth not take away his loving kindenesse from his people though for a time he may hide his face from them In a little wroth I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindenesse will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Isa 54.7 8. Josephs bowels never yearned more towards his Brethren then when he turned his face from them and dealt most rigorously with them binding Simeon before their eyes as you have the story Gen. 42.24 God is never more affectionately compassionate towards his children then when he dealeth most severely with them Is Ephraim my dear Son saith the Lord in that patheticall passage Jer. 31.20 is he a pleasant childe for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him Ephraim the people of Israel one Tribe put for the whole Nation they had not behaved themselves so as that they deserved to be owned by God as a dear Son as a pleasant childe that he should so look upon them so acknowledge them no they had walked unanswerably and unsuitably to that high Dignity conferred upon them and given God just cause for ever to reject and cast them off whereupon he spake against them threatning them by his Prophets yea and proceeding against them in a way of judgement yet he still remembred them having still a fatherly affection towards them His Bowels were troubled for him A humane expression suited to vulgar apprehension When a man taketh a thing to heart and is deeply affected with it it maketh his bowels yearn and move within him sending forth deep sighs and groans even so was the Lord affected with the condition of that his people In all their affliction he was afflicted as he elsewhere expresseth it Isa 63.9 Even as every stroak which a tender Mother giveth unto her dear childe it goeth to her own heart even so is God affected towards his people when being provoked by their sins he taketh the Rod in hand and dealeth sharply with them this is so far from alienating his fatherly affection from them that it is hereby rather inflamed and increased A strong Consolation Gods heart toward his people when his hand is against them which being rightly applyed may be of great use for the bearing up of the hearts and spirits of all Gods Saints and servants in the saddest condition Even then when God seemeth to be turned their enemy so as they have no sense and feeling of his love and favour towards them but all things are against them his countenance is against them his hand is against them he writeth bitter things against them as Job saith of himself Job 13.26 proceeding against them in a way of Judgement yet even then his heart is towards them He is still the same that ever he was I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3.6 Though he come against them as a Judge yet still is he the same tender and compassionate Father that ever he was At this time when Christ was to drink this bitter Cup to indure these bitter sufferings God the Father had now put upon himself the person of a Judge requiring and exacting from him a full satisfaction for all the sins which he as a Surety had undertaken so as his Fatherly affection seemed now to be layed aside yet even now doth he lay claim to this Relation calling him his Father still looking upon him under the same notion Now if he did so look upon him even then when he was powring out Vialls of wrath upon him inflicting upon him those satisfactory punishments how much more may his children so look upon him when he is inflicting upon them only castigatory punishments exercising them with afflictions and tryals for their good Which be they what they will never so sharp never so bitter yet let them rest assured that they cannot dissolve that Relation that Affection which is betwixt God and them so as to separate them from his love This is the matter of Pauls triumph in that known Text Rom. 8.35 Who or what shall separate us from the love of God in Christ This shall not whatever Tribulation or distresse doe as it there followeth God being once a Father he will be ever a Father to his Children Only then in the second place labour we every of us to make sure this Relation Vse 2 Make sure this Relation that God is our Father that God is once our Father Our Father and that not only by Creation which he is to all Creatures nor yet only in respect of an outward visible Covenant as he was to Israel I am a Father to Israel Jer.
31.9 and is to all within the pale of the visible Church but by Adoption that he hath by a speciall grace adopted us into the dignity of his children Which we may be assured of when once we have received that Spirit of Adoption which the Apostle speaketh of Rom. 8.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the holy Spirit of God regenerating of us and working effectually in us working in us a childe-like disposition filiall affections towards this our heavenly Father a filial fear a filial love a filial affiance causing us to fear him as a Father to love him as a Father to trust in him and depend upon him as a Father Finding such a disposition such affections in our hearts now may we be assured that God is our Father And being our Father let us now call him so Vse 3 Call God our Father This is that which the Lord saith of his servant David Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my Father And it is that which he requireth from his people the Jewes Jer. 3.4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me My Father viz. from the time that he had admonished them of their duty and corrected them for their sins And so again vers 19. of the same Chapter I said thou shalt call me My Father that is so own and acknowledge me And this let all the Lords people do This is the language which the Spirit of Adoption teacheth all Gods children to call God their Father Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father saith Paul to his Romans Rom. 8.15 And the like to his Galathians Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father And this do we call God our Father and that not only with our tongues but our hearts so looking upon him so owning and acknowledging of him Which do we at all times in all estates and conditions God to be looked upon by his Children as a Father in Adversity as well as Prosperity in whatever God doth to us or we to him still look upon him under the notion of a Father 1. As first in receiving of mercies and blessings from him In receiving of mercies take them as from the hand of a Father as pledges and tokens of his love therein acknowledging his Fatherly affection 2. So also in confessing of sins and begging pardon for them In confessing of sins come unto God as unto a Father So doth the Prodigall Son in the Parable Luk. 15.18 I will arise saith he and go to my Father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee 3. So again in deploring of wants spirituall or temporall In deploring of Wants and making suit for a supply of them come unto God as a Father So our Saviour teacheth us to do in that Pattern and Form of Prayer which he hath left us When ye pray say Our Father which art in heaven Luk. 11.6 directing Christians to make all their addresses unto God under that notion as a Father When thou pray st pray to thy Father Math. 6.6 4. And so again in Deprecations of evils feared when God seemeth to be coming against us In deprecating of evils feared yet call him Father So did David his Father-in-law King Saul when he was coming out against him hunting his soul to take it as he speaks yet even then he calls out to him My Father 1 Sam. 24.11 And the like do we to our heavenly Father Though he come against us as an enemy yet still call him Father So doth our blessed Saviour when he saw this bitter Cup coming towards him apprehended his Passion at hand He fell on his face saith the Text and prayed saying O my Father if it be possible let this Cup passe from me Matth. 26.39 5. And the like also in Evils felt When the hand of God lyeth heavy upon us In present sufferings pressing us sore yet still call him Father So doth the Church in those Texts forecited when God hid himself from her dealt most severely with her yet still she challengeth her Relation calling him her Father Doubtlesse thou art our Father Isa 63.16 But now O Lord thou art our Father Cap. 64.7 And so doth our blessed Saviour in the Paroxisme of his Passion hanging upon the Crosse still he retains his former language calling God his Father Father forgive them Luk. 23.34 And when the pangs of death were upon him he breatheth out his soul with those words Father into thy hand I commend my Spirit vers 46. of that Chap. And the like do we stirring up our hearts to a holy imitation of this our heavenly Pattern In all our afflictions and sufferings of what knide soever they be yet still call God Father so look we upon him so apprehend and acknowledge him A good sign of a gracious spirit so to doe To call God Father when he frowns a sign of a gracious spirit I scarce know a better then to call God Father when he frowns upon us is angry with us hath a rod in his hand when he is correcting us An easie matter it is so to do whilest he is smiling upon us whilest we receive or expect blessings and favours from him Blesse me my Father saith Esau to Isaac Gen. 27.34 But when he hath as I said a rod in his hand and we feel the smart of it when his hand lyeth heavy upon us when he writeth bitter things against us when he is turned to be our enemy fighting against us by his Judgements then to call him Father so to look upon him so to apprehend and acknowledge him surely this is no other but a fruit of that Spirit the Spirit of Adoption And this let all Gods children stir up their hearts to doe To look upon God as a Father of great use in Afflictions thus to look upon God in all their afflictions A thing which will be of great use to us for the quieting and comforting and supporting our spirits under whatever sufferings So long as a man looketh upon God as an Enemy to him or as a severe Judge coming against him he can have no comfort being conscious to himself of his own demerits but when once he cometh to look upon him as a Father this sweetneth the bitterest Cup making a man drink it the more willingly whilest it giveth him a comfortable hope and assurance of a wise and mercifull moderation of his Affliction a gracious support under it and a seasonable issue out of it all which it doth Q. How this may be attained But how shall we attain to this thus to look upon God in our suffering condition A. Learn to live by faith For this learn to live by Faith So lives the Righteous person as the Prophet Habakuk tells us Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by his Faith Live by it in all estates and
Counsell but the Counsellor also whom he would not indure in his sight bidding him Avant Get thee behinde me Language one would think fitter for a Dog then a Disciple an Apostle a chief Apostle Nay more Get thee behinde me Satan Satan the word signifieth properly an Adversary and therefore in Scripture commonly given to the Devil the Arch-adversary to God and Man And this tearm then which he could not have found a worse doth our Saviour give unto Peter for his suggesting of this counsell to him wherein he was an Adversary to God opposing his will and an Adversary to Man going about to hinder his salvation as also an Adversary to Christ in taking him off from his work from his obedience Thus did our Saviour there look upon him as an Instrument of Satan actuated and set awork by him in the handing of this Temptation which tended to the taking him off from the work which his Father had given him to doe And thereupon he rejecteth his counsell and that with indignation though to flesh and blood never so acceptable Never should the counsels suggestions attempts endeavours of any finde better entertainment with a Christian which tend to such an end to the hindering of him in the course of his obedience unto God whether in doing or suffering his will whatever the Person be from whom they come though never so neer whatever the Affection be from which they proceed though never so dear whatever the Intention be though never so good yet herein hearken not to them but looking upon them as Instruments of Satan actuated and set awork by him reject their indeavours So did holy Job when his Wife gave him that counsell which we meet with Job 2.9 bidding him Curse God and die or as it may be read Blesse God and die for the word Barach there used signifieth both Benedicere maledicere Blessing and Cursing and in Scripture it is most frequently used in the former sense seldome in the latter and so Charity which still inclines to the better part may induce us to construe it there But however it be her meaning was she would have Job use some means that he might have a speedy riddance out of that trouble and misery wherein he was which she thought to be best for him Now what saith Job to her You have it in the next verse v. 10. Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh Thus he who in all his sufferings before had not shewen any the least Passion save that of sorrow not an angry posture or expression now his spirit is stirred within him so as he rejecteth this counsell of his Wife not without indignation casting it back in her face with a tart Reprehension Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh or as a wicked woman for so that word foolish in Scripture is often taken And why is he so angry with her Why inasmuch as this counsell of hers make the best of it tended to the taking him off from the course of his Passive Obedience to make him throw away the bitter Cup which God had given him before he had drunk it out So himself giveth the reason of this his impatience in the next words What shall we receive good at the hands of God and shall we not receive evil Shall we drink the sweet Cup of Prosperity and shall we not also drink the bitter Cup of Adversity if God see it fitting for us Thus doth he reject that counsell which tended to the taking him off from his suffering work and so from his obedience to God And the like let all of us be exhorted to do Applic. Christians to rejâ—ct such counsels and indeavours in whomsoever Never giving better entertainment to such suggestions such counsells such attempts or indeavours as tend to such an end whoever be the conveyors of them or actors in them Such is Satans policy that he often insinuates himself into the bosomes of men through the mediations of such as are neer and dear unto them Thus did he at the first convey that poysonous Apple to our first Parent Adam through the hand of his second-self her that was nearest and dearest to him his Wife Gen. 3.6 And thus doth he often convey his Temptations through the tongues or hands of unsuspected Instruments by which means they finde the readyer acceptance Poyson reached forth by the hand of a friend is least suspected and so more easily swallowed down And so do poysonous suggestions being conveyed by a friend a familiar and so mixed with declarations of affection and love they finde an easier passage to the heart they are more readily received and embraced Great need therefore have we to be wary and cautious not taking the services of others whoever they be upon trust knowing that they being subject to be deceived themselves may become Instrumentall in deceiving of others And therefore bring we them to the Touchstone to the ballance of the Sanctuary trying and examining whether they be for God or against him whether they perswade obedience to his will or disswade from it If they be for God putting us on forward in the course of our obedience receive them embrace them though coming from the hand of an Enemy If otherwise come they from what mouth from what hand from what heart they will reject them Herein Christians must learn warily to distinguish betwixt Satan and their Friends betwixt their Friends speaking and acting and Satans speaking and acting iâ— them and by them If they perswade any thing contrary to the minde and will of God it is not so much they that speak as Satan in them So then love and respect thy Friend still but abhor Satan though in a friend Peter was the same in Christs eye still when he disswaded him from going up to Jerusalem that he was before still he loved Peter I but Get thee behinde me Satan Take we heed of so respecting our Friends as to hearken to Satan in them An usuall thing it is when God calleth any to services of difficulty and danger for friends to interpose themselves as Peter here did betwixt his Master and those who came to apprehend him to hinder them from the undertaking of them What more common with the Martyrs of all Ages Being called forth to some eminent sufferings to seal the Truth of Christ with their blood presently what importuning of Friends what soliciting of Acquaintance what beseechings of Kinsfolks what tears cryes heart-breaking intreaties and supplications of Wife Children and other near and dear Relations every one crying out in Peters language Master Friend Brother Father Husband favour thy self these things shall not be unto thee It was Pauls own case Act. 21.11 when Agabus had prophesied and foretold of his bonds and sufferings at Jerusalem presently the Disciples his friends with others of Cesarea they come about him earnestly beseeching him that he would not goe up thither God having made known his minde and will what
we were pressed out of measure above strength So it was whatever the affliction was whether the great danger that he was in at Ephesus in that tumultuous sedition there raised by Demetrius of which we read Act. 19. as most looked upon it or some dangerous sicknesse wherewith he was visited or whatever it was it so seized upon him as that he was overburdened with the apprehensions of it pressed out of measure above strength 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Metaphor saith Calvin taken from a Porter Metaphâ—ra sumpta ab iis qui sub gravitate ponderis dâ—ficiunt Vel à nov bus quae nimio onere merguntur Calv. com in loc who hath a greater burden layd upon his shoulders then he is able to stand under or from a Ship that is laden beyond her bearing So was it with this great Apostle in this affliction The apprehension of the eminent danger wherein he was over burdened in his soul And was it not so also with our blessed Saviour himself Who in the midst of his passion cryeth out as sinking under his burden My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 How then is he said to afflict his people by measure such a measure so as to proportion their sufferings to their strength A. For answer we must distinguish of strength Answ A twofold strength natural supernatural which is twofold Naturall Supernaturall it is Aquinas his distinction upon that Text. The strength of Nature and the strength of Grace The former may be called our strength Pati suprà virtutem potest intelligi dupliciter vel suprà virtutem naturalem de hâc loquitur hic supra quam Deus aliquando permittit sanctos tentart vel suprà virtutem Gratiae de hâc intelligitur illud 1 Cor. 10.13 Aqu. in Com. in loc the latter Gods strength Now look at the former of these our own strength the strength of Nature and we shall finde it no newes no wonder that the people of God should be overburdened with their afflictions laden beyond their bearing pressed out of measure above strength this strength being no other then weaknesse Thus it is said of our Saviour 2 Cor. 13.4 He was crucified through weaknesse meaning his flesh his humane nature Such is the strength of nature no better then weaknesse Not able to stand out against Death no nor yet to look it in the face The reason why many meer naturall men do engage with this enemy with such resolution as they do is because they doe not apprehend it aright their senses are stupified intoxicated Even as the Jewes were wont to give stupifying potions to Malefactors before their Execution that so the fear of death might be thereby taken away Even so are the hearts of naturall men oft times stupified so as they do not apprehend the terrors of Death which if they did it were not all the power of nature that could be able to support and bear up the spirit against it Now beyond this strength it was that Paul was there pressed being in eminent danger insomuch that he even despaired of life as he there saith he found his spirit begin to fail him he was not able to bear it And so was it with our blessed Saviour himself in that his passion the God-head for a time as it were hiding it self withholding its wonted influence the Manhood being thus left to it self it was pressed beyond strength and so ready to succumbe But there is another strength in the people of God even a supernaturall strength Supernaturall strength supporting Gods people in their sufferings the strength of Grace whereby they are upheld and carryed on as in their active so in their passive obedience beyond the strength of nature inabled to doe and to suffer more then flesh and blood could doe In themselves they are poor weak impotent creatures not able to doe or suffer any thing as of themselves but by and through the Grace of God strengthening and enabling of them they are able to do and suffer all things So saith Paul of himself Phil. 4.13 I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Originall I am able for all things viz. to suffer them Such are the things which he there speaketh of in the verse foregoing rather passions then actions as to be abased to suffer want c. these things Paul apprehends himself able to do But what made him so strong Not any strength of his own but the power of supernaturall grace received from his Lord and Master Christ Through Christ that strengthneth me And the like may every true Believer say how weak soever of himself yet through the grace of Christ strengthning of him he shall be able to bear to suffer whatever God shall please to lay upon him Thus it is not the strength of Nature but of Grace which maketh them thus able Even as it is with a Leaden Vessel which of it self being empty is subject to melt with a little fire but put water or other liquor into it and now it is able to indure the hottest Fornace so it is with Christians of themselves they are weak and feeble their hearts are ready to melt within them upon some great tryall As it is said of the Israelites when they were smitten at Aye Josh 7.5 The hearts of the people melted and became as water And the like saith David of himself Psal 119.28 My soul melted for heavinesse So is it sometimes with the best and strongest Christians being brought into a Fornace of affliction some fiery tryall their hearts are ready to melt within them But being by grace strengthned in the inward man through this supernaturall strength they are made pares oneri able to suffer that which all the strength of Nature could not doe And to this strength it is Afflictions proportioned to Gods strength in his people that God proportioneth the sufferings of his people Not to their own strength but to his strength Not to the strength of Nature but to the strength of Grace that strength which either already they have or which he supplyeth to them For so it is when God cometh to lay greater burdens upon his people then they are able to bear now he cometh in with a new supply of strength unto them In this way it was that Paul was supported under that Temptation wherewith he conflicted by a supply of Grace My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 The stronger conflicts any of Gods people meet with the more Grace doth he confer upon them for the inabling them to withstand those assaults And thus is his power made perfect in weaknesse as it there followeth putting forth and shewing it self more in supporting his people under such tryals as in themselves do far exceed their strength And thus you see this Doctrine confirmed and made good how God dispenseth all afflictions to his people by measure and that
a measure of mercy proportioning them to their strength that strength of grace which they have or which he giveth them And will you know why he dealeth with them after this manner Reas God correcteth his people this he doth in as much as he correcteth them in love for their profit 1. In love Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth Heb. 12.5 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten In love Rev. 3.19 Hence is it that naturall Parents correct their children not out of hatred but love And so doth the Lord his children Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as the Father the Son in whom he delighteth Prov. 3.12 And thus correcting them out of love and good will which he beareth them he dealeth with them in such a way of mercy proportioning their sufferings not to their desert but their strength 2. And doing it out of love he doth it for their profit For their profit In this the Apostle sheweth how the heavenly Father differs from some earthly Parents Heb. 12.10 They verily for a few dayes chasten us after their own pleasure but he for our profit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for our spirituall advantage and benefit That we might be partakers of his holinesse Even as the Physician intending the health of his Patient he orders his Potions in that manner proportioning them to his strength But I shall no longer dwell upon Doctrinall illustration Bring we it home by way of Application Where let me in the first place serve in this Cup as a Cup of consolation Applic. A Cup of consolation to Gods people a ground of comfort to all the Saints and servants of God What doth God their heavenly Father thus measure out their sufferings unto them then let not them fear That is the use which the Lord himself maketh of it in that Text forenamed Jer. 46. last Fear not O Jacob my servant saith the Lord c. I will not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure And such use let all the Sons of Sion all true Israelites make of it However God may correct and punish them for their sins which he will do as soon or sooner then any other You only have I known of all the Families of the earth therefore you will I punish for all your iniquities saith the Lord to Israel Amos 3.2 I will not leave thee wholly unpunished saith the former Text yet here is the comfort he will not punish them as he punisheth others Hath he smitten them as he smote those that smote him Isa 27.8 He will correct them in measure with judgement with a wise and mercifull moderation Which let it serve to byace and bear up the hearts and spirits of the sons and daughters of Affliction under whatever sufferings Which be they never so many never so grievous of never so long continuance yet let them know it is but their Cup the portion which God in wisdome and mercy hach measured out unto them And O that all the Lords people were but fully perswaded of the truth hereof that all their afflictions are thus dispenced to them How patient how contented how chearfull how thankfull would it make them under whatever suffering What is the reason that the hearts of men are so subject to melt and faint under afflictions Surely one chief cause of this deliquium this soul-fainting is unbelief Men are not fully perswaded that there is such an over-ruling hand of Providence in the ordering and disposing of them that they are thus measured out for the breadth the length the greatness and the continuance of them they look upon them as happening to them by chance or fortune Which while they doe no wonder if they sink under their burden But so let not Gods children look upon their sufferings Whatever they be let them look upon them under this notion as their Cup their portion measured out unto them And that by a measure of mercy There is the consolation The punishments of wicked men are measured out too they also have their cup. But it is by a measure of justice proportioning them to their sins But the sufferings of Gods people are measured out by a measure of mercy proportioned to their strength And what a support may this be unto them if rightly considered under whatever afflictions Be they what they will they shall not exceed their strength the strength which they have or that which God will supply unto them For this the Apostle is bold to engage Gods Fidelity in that forecited Text 1 Cor. 10.13 God is Faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able And what an incouragement is here Of all discouragements there is none greater to a Christian in his suffering condition then the apprehension of his own weaknesse want of strength to undergoe what he feeleth or feareth What is my strength saith Job that I should hope Is my strength the strength of stones or is my flesh of brosse Job 6.11 12. O saith the poor soul had I but strength to bear my burden were it never so heavy I should be contented with it but my burden is great and my strength little How then shall I but faint in the day of adversity as the wise man hath it Prov. 24.10 But let not this discourage any true Believer Thou wantest strength alas who doth not When as such a tall Cedar as that blessed Apostle was should be pressed beyond strength with the apprehension of an imminent danger how should such Shrubs as thou and I ever look to hold up head if we look at our own strength I but remember to whose strength it is that God proportioneth the sufferings of his children it is not their strength but his own strength Christians are much deceived when they look upon themselves for strength either to do or suffer any thing No this is a condition on Gods part not ours A comfortable meditation Gods Covenant with his people to give them strength as to doe so to suffer his will When God entreth into Covenant with his people the Covenant of grace they covenant with him to be willing to doe and to suffer what he shall require and impose so to be at his ordering and disposing both as to their active and passive obedience This is the condition on their parts But on the other part God graciously covenanteth with them to give unto them strength to doe what he commandeth That is the condition on Gods part As when he sends Moses upon that Embassage to Pharaoh Moses yields his service but God covenanteth with him to inable him for it Certainly I will be with thee Exod. 3.12 as to protect so to direct and inable thee So is it in Passive Obedience So long as Gods people are willing to suffer what he shall impose he will be with them When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee Isai 43.2 so is God with his
Taking notice of this errour in comparing our selves with others do it in a clean contrary way In spirituals look at those who are above us better then our selves that will breed in us a holy emulation In temporals looke at those who are beneath us in worse condition then our selves of which fort still we shall find some or other this will breed in us a holy contentation Thus stay we our hearts against all those repining murmuring thoughts which might arise in them at the drinking of this Cup. Which is the second Caveat that I propounded Take heed of Murmuring And so in the third place of Fainting Caveat 3 Take heed of fainting A needfull Caveat it being a thing which the best of Gods Saints as I have shewn you are subject to in the drinking of this Cup to faint This we finde Eliphaz charging upon his friend Job cap. 4. v. 5. Now it is come upon thee and thou faintest And there was a truth in the Charge The evil which he greatly feared was come upon him as himself telleth us in the Chapter foregoing v. 25. great trouble and affliction was befallen him and he was not able to bear it Notwithstanding he had been a Comforter of others in their afflictions as the Verses here foregoing have it Cap. 4. v. 3 4. Behold thou hast instructed many and thou hast strengthned the weak hands Thy words have upholden him that was falling and thou hast strengthned the feeble knees yet now that it came to his own turn now that the Cup was put to his mouth he fainted at the drinking of it Now it is come unto thee and thou faintest it toucheth thee and thou art troubled And truly so fareth it sometimes with the best of Saints though strong men in Christ such as have been able to comfort others in their afflictions yet when they come to act the same part themselves God leaving them to the experience of their own weaknesse they droop they cannot bear up head and heart as they should do they are inordinately affected even fainting under their burdens But this Gods people are not to give way to but strive against My Son saith Solomon in the Text forecited Prov. 3.11 despise not thou the chastisement of the Lord neither be weary of his Correction Nor faint when thou art rebuked of him so the Apostle citeth that Text Heb. 12.5 Despising sleighting of chastisements and fainting under them are two Extremes like Scylla and Charibdis a Rock and a Gulf the one opposite to the other Now where Satan cannot dash men against the one he will endeavour to drive them into the other Where he cannot bring them to sleight Gods chastisements he will endeavour to make them sink under them Let Christians beware equally of both Not despising Corrections Chastisements let them not be weary of them faint under them Which two words we finde the Apostle putting together vers 3. of that Chapter Heb. 12. Consider him that indured such contradictions of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your mindes Thus do men being wearyed in their bodies they faint in their spirits Let it not be so with Christians under their Afflictions Though they be heavy and long yet let not them be so weary of them as to faint under them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though they be broken in the outward man in their Bodies in their Estates c. yet let the Inward man be kept whole Ne frangantur animo let them not be broken in their mindes so as to faint under their burdens This is the Apostles advise concerning well-doing Gal. 6.9 Let us not be weary of well-doing for we shall reap if we faint not And make we use of it as to well-suffering Be not weary under Gods Corrections so as to faint when we are rebuked of him To faint under any Tryals To faint under tryals a thing unbeseeming a Christian yea to be inordinately affected with them it is a thing unbeseeming a Christian being dishonourable and unsuteable to his Profession What is it A losse in Estate that thus affecteth him Why he professeth to have laid up his best treasure in heaven where he hath a better and an induring substance as the Apostle calleth heavenly glory Heb. 10.34 Is it the losse of some near or dear Relation Friend Childe Parent Husband Wife a thing which often sitteth as near the heart as any other tryall whatever Why his Profession is to believe the Doctrine of the Resurrection And therefore how is it that he or she should sorrow as others which have no hope as the Apostle saith of Christians immoderate mourning for the dead 1 Thess 4.13 And so is it in other cases Whatever the affliction be yet to have the heart not only drencht which it may be but drowned in sorrow so as thereby to be rendered and made unfit for the duties both of generall and particular calling as often it is it is a thing unsuteable to a Christians profession and no small disparagement to Gods Religion Much it is that Nature being well tutoured is able to do in this way Histories tell us of Heathens such as knew not God never heard of the name of Christ what an excellent temper some of them had brought their Affections and Passions unto so as not to be inordinately transported distempered by any accidents that could betide them And we see it in daily experience how meer civil men such as know not what the work of Grace means have nothing but Reason to steer their course by yet what an evennesse of spirit what moderation and temper do they oft times shew in beaâ—ing the burdens the afflictions which befall them And shall Nature be able to bear up the spirit in such cases and shall not Grace much more do it Shall Reason moderate Affections and Passions and shall not Religion do it Great cause have Christians many times to check and shame themselves upon this account Alas with what shaking hands what trembling hearts do they often take those Cups which their heavenly Father holdeth forth to them Their hearts even faint at the thought and apprehension of them before they come at them So was it not with our heavenly Pattern here Here was a bitter Cup coming towards him which he had tasted of already and was now to drink it off And see with what a steady hand what a strong and confident resolution doth he receive it The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Herein let it be the endeavour of all those who professe themselves to be his Disciples to imitate him to receive and drink their Cups without fainting Q. Q. I you may say this is a thing indeed which Christians are to endeavour How the soul may be kept from fainting under Afflictions but how shall they attain unto it Sometimes many times it so falleth out that their burden far exceedeth their strength So it fared with the
the hand of a Father now may you conclude these to be tokens of your Adoption that God dealeth not with you as Enemies but as Children 2. What work have these afflictions in you what effect have they upon your soules By their effect do you find your selves bettered by them Hereby a sick patient may know that the Potion which he hath taken was not poysonable but medicinable when though for a time it wrought churlishly upon him he findeth himself the better for it he findeth nature disburdened of these ill humours which before distempered it and feeleth himself in some measure restored to former health And thus may a Christian judge of his afflictions If they have such a kindly working upon the soul as to purge out corruption and to strengthen the inwardman so as the soul is bettered by them made more bumble more watchfull more fearfull of offending God more carefull of walking before him in well pleasing hence may a Christian conclude that these are medicinable Cups fatherly chastisements intended for his good So doth David concerning his afflictions Psal 119.75 I know Lord saith he that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted me that God had therein a gratious purpose towards him and that he intended his good But how did he know this why by the working of those afflictions upon him he found himself bettered by them Before I was afflicted saith he I went astray but now have I kept thy word v. 67. And again v. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Thus where afflictions have such a kindly work upon the soul where Nocumenta are Documenta where Chastening and Teaching go together this is a good and a sure sign that they are tokens of Love and not of Wrath Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest out of thy Law Psal 94.12 Doe we find this effect in our selves Doe we find such a kindly operation of our afflictions Doe we find them stirring up in us filial affections towards God not a servile and slavish but a filial a childlike fear of his Majesty a fear to offend to displease him a religious care of walking before him and approving our selves unto him with an utter hatred and detestation of all sin from hence conclude we our afflictions to be such not Punishments but Chastisements not tokens of Wrath but Love which being rightly apprehended and believed will be of great use to bear up the soul under them Here is the first thing considerable in Afflictions the Quality of them 2ly Consid 2 The Quantity Consider the quantity of them And here if rightly looked upon we shall find them not great not so great as they are commonly apprehended How ever some of them are heavier then others yet all light So Paul looked upon his sufferings and the sufferings of the Saints giving them this Epethite Our light affliction 2. Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Levitas afflictionis Afflictions of Gods children light the lightnesse of our affliction Such are the afflictions of Gods children Light afflictions Q. Q. But how are they so what in themselves A. How said so to be Not so thus they may be and often are great and heavie none heavier But they may be so called 1. Comparatively being compared â—â—â—h Comparatively A Cup saith the text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a drinking vessel of which though some be greater then others yet compared with other vessels none of them are great Thus is it with the afflictions of Gods Saints which they are exercised with however some of them are heavier then others yet all comparatively light Such they are being compared 1. With that weight of glory The weight of eternall glory which those afflictions through grace do work for them So the Apostle there explaines his meaning in that 2. Cor 4.17 Our light affliction c. worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Being put into the ballance against this they bear no proportion with it they are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the same Apostle elsewhere tels us Rom. 8.18 I reckon saith he that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us 2. And again Their deservings compare them with our deservings our sins here again we shall find them infinitely outweyed there being no proportion betwixt them 3. The sufferings of some others And 3ly Compare them with the sufferings of some other of the Saints of God and we shall find them it may be but drops to their Cups Thus though heavie in themselves yet comparatively they may be said to be light 2. Made light by Grace supporting Which also they are made to Gods people by the strength of grace supporting of them Even as the Gates of Azzah and Postes belonging to them were to Sampson though another would have sunk under the weight of them yet by the power of supernatural strength they were made light to him so as he taketh them upon his shouldierr and carrieth them up to the top of the mountain Judg 16.3 So have many of Gods Saints done being strengthened in the inward man by the spirit of Christ they have made light of those burdens which to others would have beene insupportable I can do all things saith Paul through Christ that strengthenest me Phil. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am able for all things as for Actions so for Passions for sufferings such as he there spake of in the verse foregoing to be abased to hunger to suffer neede And elsewhere speaking of the greatest sufferings Tribulation Disiress Persecution Famine Nakednesse Perill Sword In all these saith he We are more then Conquerors through him that loved us Rom. 8.35.37 Thus are afflictions however heavie in themselves made light to the people of God through the power of the spirit of Christ dwelling in them and strengthening of them The consideration whereof may also serve to bear up their hearts and spirits so as that they should not faint under their burdens which be they what they will are comparatively so light and by the power of grace can be made light to them The 3 thing which I propound to consideration is the Duration Consid 3 The Duration which is but short the Continuance of them which being rightly measured will be found not to be long A Cup saith the Text which being but a draught is soone put over And such are the sufferings of Gods people but of a short continuance For a time a season Now for a season if need be ye are made heavie through manifold temptations 1. Pet. 1.6 Their winter doth not last all the year long their suffering time is but for a season 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the originall Paululum nunc for a while a little
strengthned him 2 Tim. 4.17 3. Turning them to good Like as the skill of the Physician turneth Poysons into Medicines Turning then to Good making a soveraign Treacle of the venomous Viper Thus doth God bring good out of evill Josephs Brethren thought and wrought evill against him but God turned it to good good to him and others Gen. 50.20 4. And lastly giving a seasonable issue and deliverance Working deliverance He will with the temptation make a way to escape saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will give an issue finde out an outlet for them one way or other When Gods people are beset on every side yet he can finde a dore or a window to let them out at As in a literall sense he did for David when his house was beset by Sauls Messengers 1 Sam. 19.12 and so for Paul when wait was laid for him at Damascus 2 Cor. 11. last they were both let down through a window and escaped So in a Metaphoricall sense be the strait never so great yet God hath a Window for his people at which he can and in his time will let them out working deliverance for them some way or other Such is the Providence of God which he exerciseth towards and upon his people in their sufferings Ordering of them he supplyeth strength for the bearing of them turneth them to good and giveth a seasonable Issue out of them All these besides many other Consolations may the true Believer fetch from the God of consolation for the bearing up of his spirit in the midst of whatever afflictions In the next place look we up unto Christ our Saviour In him considering what he hath done Look unto Christ our Saviour In whom Consider what he doth for us 1. What he hath done how among other things which he hath obtained for us by his death he hath overcome the World for us What he hath done for us overcomming the World That is the Consolation which he himself giveth unto his Disciples Joh. 16. last In the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good comfort I have overcome the World This hath Christ done for his Church and people he hath overcome whatever is in this world which might be hurtfull unto them Sin Satan his Temptations and Instruments Death with all its retinue whatever might hinder or endanger their salvation he hath conquered all which he did for those who believe on him that they may have the benefit thereof So that as Serpents which have lost their Stings they may now hisse but they cannot hurt Christ by drinking of this Cup as you have heard hath taken away the bitternesse of it the Curse belonging to afflictions he being made a Curse for us 2. What he doth How he sympathizeth with us and pleadeth for us 1. He sympathizeth and even suffereth with us being as the Head in the naturall Body is sonsible of all the aylments of his Members What he doth Sympathizing with us We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot sympathize with us in our afflictions and sufferings which he taketh notice of and is affected with as before was shewn Pleading for us 2. And sympathizing with us he pleadeth for us Sitting in heaven at the right hand of his Father he maketh continuall intercession for us He ever liveth to make intercession for those who come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 By which means he maketh peace for them in Heaven whilest there is war upon earth reconciling God to them when he seemeth to be offended with them This was his work when he was upon earth He made peace through the bloud of his Cross Col. 1.20 impetrating that Reconciliation for his Elect people which upon their believing on him is actually applied to them as the next verse there hath it And this work he still carrieth on being in Heaven where he maketh peace by his Intercession A sweet and comfortable meditation as at all times so specially in time of Affliction when God seemeth to be angry with his people frownes upon them le ts flye the showres of his displeasure at them yet then let them with Stephen lift up their eyes to to heaven and there shall they see this their High Priest the Lord Jesus sitting at the right hand of his Father soliciting a peace for them which being concluded in Heaven let them not be inordinately troubled about whatever wars they meet with upon earth And in the third place look we at the Holy Ghost our Comforter Look 〈◊〉 the Holy Gâ—â—â—st our Saviour So we find him often styled in Scripture a comforter the comforter and this comforter Gods people have still with them That is the promise which our Saviour maketh to his Disciples when he was to withdraw his Corporall presence from them Joh. 14.16 I will pray the Father saith he and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever And this promise will he make good to all who truly believe on him When he withdrawes outward Comforts from them let them but wait patiently for him and he will send them another Comforter even his Spirit which shall make a supply to them inwardly of what they want outwardly that shall refresh and cheer up their hearts and spirits with inward Consolations in the midst of all their afflictions And never so fit a time for this Comforter to come as when all others Comforters have left a man And if this Comforter be with us to support our spirits and strengthen our hearts what is it that should so discourage us as to cause us to faint under our sufferings To these soveraign Consolations I might yet â—x abundanti add many more The Minstery of Angels As the Ministrie of Angels who are as Guardians to Gods Saints Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation Heb. 1. Last So they were to our blessed Saviour in the Wildernesse he there wanting food and other accommodations The Angels came and ministred unto him Matth. 4.11 And so were they to Peter and other of the Apostles opening the Prison doors for them and setting them at liberty as we have the stories recorded Act. 5.19 and 12.7 And the like offices they are ready to doe to all Gods Saints many of which questionless they daily doe though in invisible waies so as they are not taken notice of being ever at hand ready to step in to them with timely succours in their greatest straits To which might be added what is not to be sleighted the Communion of Saints The Communion of Saints who as they bear a part with their brethren in their sufferings drawing with them in the same Yoke so they are ready to help them with the benefit of their prayers Which being a common stock every particular believer
who preferred Barrabas before him Not this man but Barrabas now Barrabas saith the Text was a Robber Joh 18.41 Thus was he despised and rejected of men as the Prophet Isai foretold it Isai 53.3 Made a scorn and laughing stock having a scarlet or Purple Robe put upon him a Rod put into his hand instead of a Scepter a Crown of Thornes set upon his head instead of a Crown of Gold as the story sets it forth Mat. 27. v. 28.29 all to make him a scorn to the people who in defiance spit upon him as it there followeth Thus did he suffer in his Name And so in his Body being buffeâ—ed and caned as we find it Matth. 26 67. and 27.30 as also scourged v. 26. Now all these were ingredients in this Cup parts of his suffering But the two principals which made this his Cup so exceedingly bitter were these his suffering in Soule and his suffering of death Yet doth he thus submit to both these And the like are Christians to doe if ever God shall call them to the like tryals Christians to imitate him in suffering of both The latter of which they are all sure to meet with what man liveth and shall not see death Psal 89.48 And for the former none are sure of being exempted from it Now as to these two particulars being of so great importance and having so just an occasion offered from the Text give me leave to speak to them severally Begin with the former Suffering in Soul Thus did our blessed Saviour suffer Suffering in Soul not only in the outward man but also in the inward not only in his Body but in his Soul When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin Isai 53.10 that is the whole person of Christ not bis body only but his soul also which suffered in this his passion And that not only by way of Sympathie and fellow feeling with the Body as Socinions would have it but immediately As man afflicted the one so did God the other It pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief saith the Prophet in the text last named Afflicting him as in his Body so in his Soul Which he did by inflicting on him a double Punishment such as the damned in Hell lye under a Punishment of Losse and a Punishment of Sense Of Losse hiding and withdrawing himself from him as to his sense and feeling Which he did fully upon the Crosse where being left under a cloud of spirituall desertion he cryeth out in the anguish of his soul My God My God why hast thou forsaken me Of sense pouring a viall of wrath into his soul such as was due unto those sins which he had undertaken So as now even The sorrows of Hell compassed him about as David in another sense speaks of himself Psal 18.8 This Cup did he drink upon the Crosse a Cup of divine wrath Which he had before tasted of even here in the Garden Where we find him in a strange and unparrallelled agonie sweating as it were drops of bloud falling to the ground as before we heard And what could it be that should thus affect his Body but the anguish of his soul then conflicting with the apprehension of that wrath which he was now to feele the wrath of God due unto sinners in whose room he was now to stand as a surety and Redeemer Thus were these waters even come into his soul as David in a different sense speaks it of himself Psal 69.1 And that as I said in an Immediate way Hence is it that he complaines unto his Disciples that his soul was exceeding sorrowfull Matth. 26.38 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beset and surrounded with grief and anguish And St Mark reporting the same story tels us that he began to be sore amaz'd and very heavy Mark 14.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Expavescere gravissime angâ— to be in great horrour and anguish Now what could it be that should thus affect him surely not barely the apprehension of those Corporall punishments which he was to suffer This were a thing very dishonourable to imagine that whereas many of the Martyrs have gone triumphing to the stake or gibbet going singing to the induring of far greater torments more cruell deaths then this was that he who was their Leader the Captain of their salvation should fall so far below them in resolution and courage as thus to tremble at the thought of his Crosse Surely there was somewhat more in this Cup which made it so bitter to him And what should that be But his suffering in soul And yet see how having recollected his spirits he here submitteth to the drinking of this Cup the suffering whatever his Father should please to inflict upon him The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it And thus are Gods Children to submit to the will of their heavenly Father if he shall call them to the tasting of this Cup. The tasting of it I say As for the drinking it off that they never shall Christ having drunk off this Cup hath freed those who are his from drinking in the like way that he did They being justified by his bloud shall be saved from wrath through him Rom. 5.9 This Cup is reserved for wicked and ungodly men who being Children of disobedience are also Children of wrath as the Apostle calls them Ephes 2.23 having wrath for their Portion The wrath of God commeth upon the Children of disobedience Eph. 5.6 This shall be the portion of their Cup which they shall drink and drink it off even wringing out the dregs thereof But so shall not those that are Christs They being Gods Children and Children by Grace the Grace of Adoption they are freed and delivered from wrath Yet not so but that they also may taste of this Cup which sometimes some of them doe Even the best of Saints being subject to spirituall desertions soul sufferings wherein God hiding his face with-holding from them the sweet sense and feeling of his love and favour writes bitter things against them setting their sins in order before them and letting some drops of his wrath as it were fall upon their souls filling them with inward horrour and terrour A bitter Cup of all Cups the bitterest of all tryals the sharpest There being two things principally which make it so 1. Because it seizeth immediately upon the soul Suffering in soul the greatest suffering upon the spirit Those wounds in the body which come nearest the heart are looked upon as most deadly Reas 1 And so is it with those sufferings which come nearest the soul It seizeth upon the spirit The Sword reacheth unto the Soul saith Jeremy Jer. 4.10 It is bitter because it reacheth unto thine heart saith the 18. v. there explaining the former And so doth this Tryall it seizeth upon the soul and that immediately As Hectick Feavers and some other diseases in the body which seize more immediately upon
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports properly such a recumbency a resting of the soul upon Christ Which where it is though there be not Assurance for the present yet it is a true and a saving Faith As for Assurance pertinet ad bene esse non ad esse It belongeth to the well being to the perfection of faith And upon that account it is earnestly to be sought after and much set by but not to the being Sense and feeling may fail and yet faith hold out I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not saith Christ to Peter Luke 22.32 Not that thy Assurance might not fail which in the best of Gods Saints it is subject to but thy faith which where once it is truly begun it shall never utterly fail In the paroxisme of his passion Christs assurance his sense and feeling were gone Why hast thou forsaken me Yet his Faith held My God my God Consid 3 To these add in the third place the unchangeableness of Gods Affection towards his people The unchangeablenesse o◠Gods affection and of his Covenant with them His Covenant being the Covenant of grace it is a Covenant of salt an Everlasting Covenant Once their God and ever their God Once their Father and ever their Father In the midst of this spirituall desertion yet Christ calleth God his Father The Cup which my Father hath given me Though God did for a time hide his face from him yet did not this dissolve that Relation which was betwixt his Father and him noe nor yet make any alteration or change in his Affection towards him Even then when his wrath brake forth most hotly upon him yet his heart was towards him as much as ever And the like may all that are Christians be assured of Having once taken God for their Father this is an everlasting Relation which shall never be dissolved However God may represent himself unto them yet he is still a Father towards them Doubtlesse thou art our Father Isai 63.16 And such is his affection to them I have loved thee with an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 Thus is God unchangeable we may change as to our apprehensions of him but he changeth not I am the Lord I change not Mat. 3.6 Even as it is with the Sun in an Ecclipse the moon interposing it self maketh a change of the face of it but the Sun it self is not changed which it soone sheweth by shining again as formerly Even so is it in these spirituall Ecclipses The light of Gods countenance through some dark cloud of temptation intervening is for a time intercepted so as we see it not as it may be at sometimes we have done but God is still the same And waiting upon him we shall by comfortable experience find him so Here are a few of those Meditations which among many other being applyed to the heart will be of great use for the bearing it up even under this greatest of tryals In the second place by way of Practise take only the like number of directions Help◠by way of practise because I am not willing to load your memories beyond their bearing 1. In this case make use of the judgments of others Make use of the Judgment of others A man is not looked upon as a competent judg in his own case And so is it here In soul conflicts men usually take part with sin and Satan against themselves And being parties they are no competent Judges And therefore submit rather to the Judgments of others Such as have had acquaintance with our Persons and conditions Specially herein lend an ear to the Ministers of Christ whose office it is under Christ to bind up the broken hearted Isai 61.1 To speak comfort to the afflicted Isai 40.1 To speak a word in season to him that is weary Isai 50 3. As Gods interpreters to shew unto man his uprightnesse Job 33.23 To acquaint him with the truth of his condition as also with his duty to shew him what state he is in and what course he is to take Thus are they Gods mouth to his people as the Lord telleth Jeremie Jer 15.19 And therefore as at other times so now specially to be hearkened to Thus the Lord sends Saul to Ananias that by him he might be restored to his sight and instructed what he should do Act. 9.6.12 And in the Chapter following he willeth Cornelius to send for Peter that he might tell him what he ought to doe Act. 10.6 Thus in matters of temporall Concernment men being in a straight they will not rely upon their own Judgment but will apply themselves to their Counsellours whose profession and practise gives them to be skilfull in the Law And the like let Christians do in their spirituall conflicts intrusting themselves hearken to the Ministers of Christ such as they judge to be able and faithfull and submit to their Judgment 2. In this case live upon former experience as upon the experience of others Live upon former experience so of our own Look back upon former times and remember what our condition hath been how it hath been with us as to our spirituall estate what we have seen and felt of God heretofore This was Davids practise if that Psalme be his which it is supposed to be Psal 77. Being in a most disconsolate condition so as his soul refused to be comforted as he saith v. 2. then saith he I considered the dayes of old the years of ancient time I call to remembrance my Songs in the night v. 5.6 I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high I will remember the works of the Lord Surely I will remember thy wonders of old v. 12 11. Now he cals to mind what God had done for himself and others and herewith he stayeth and comforteth himself being assured that God was still the same God And the like do we in the like case 3. But above all in the third place live upon the promises Live upon the Promises casting our selves upon them as a shipwrackt man doth upon the rast that is cast out to him Though for the present we find no comfort in them or from them yet lay hold upon them casting our souls upon them living by faith in them So did Abraham the Father of the faithfull Against hope he believed in or under hope Rom. 4.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When naturall causes had left him hopeless as to any issue of his body yet grounding his faith upon the promise of God he still hoped And the like let all his Children doe When sense faileth live by Faith resolving come what will come not to let that hold goe That was Jobs resolution Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Job 13.15 A truly heroical Resolution which let al the Lords people take up However the Lord shall deal with them yet let them not let go their confidence Cast not away your Confidence Heb. 10.35 If this be gone
all is gone Hope the Christians sheat-anchor This is the sheate anchor which Christ is to ride by in whatever stormes or stresses come down upon him It is the Apostles own similitude in that known text Heb 6.19 Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast If the Anchor be let slip or come home the Ship is exposed to the hazard of Rocks and Shelves from which before she was safe And so is the Soul of a Christian if once his Hope his Faith and confidence in God through Jesus Christ faile now it is in eminent danger which before it was not And therefore having once cast this Auchor within the vaile fixed our faith in heaven now whatever stormes come down upon the outward or inward man upon Body or soul still ride by it holding fast this our confidence and hope unto the end as the Apostle minds us once and again Heb. 3.6.14 Thus however the Lord pleaseth to deal with us let us only turn unto him and then hope in him Even as the Ship in a stress turns to the Anchor and rides by it So do we in these soul-stresses Turn to the Lord and trust in him That is the advise which the Prophet Hosea giveth to the people of the Jewes when God had a Controversie with them and was turned enemy to them Hos 12.6 Turn thou to thy God saith he Keep Mercy and Judgment and wait on thy God continually Fide deo tuo wait on him by faith trusting in him And so let it be said to the distressed soul that labours under this saddest of tryals Only turn thou to thy God indeavouring to walk closesly with him and then wait upon him trust in him That is Davids counsell which out of his own experience he giveth to others Psal 27.13.14 I had fainted saith he unless I had believed to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart wait I say on the Lord Many and sweet are the promises which God hath made to those who thus wait They that wait upon the Lord saith the Prophet Isai Shall renew their strength through a secret supply of the spirit of grace the inward man shall be strengthened they shall mount up with wings as Eagles their souls being carried up aloft above all difficulties and discouragements they shall run and not be wearied they shall walk and not faint Noe such way to keep the soul from fainting as this to wait upon God in all Estates Which who so do the same Prophet speaks them blessed Blessed are they that wait for him Isai 30.18 Whilest they wait for their God he waiteth that he may be gratious unto them as the former part of that verse hath it only expecting a seasonable time to shew himself unto them in a way of mercy And therefore to close up this Direction however the Lord please to deal with us though he seeme to withdraw himself from us yet with patience wait for him by faith resting upon the word of promise staying our souls upon him That is the advice which the same Prophet holdeth forth in that obvious but excellent Text Isai 50.10 Who is among 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 himself upon his God And this let the Lords people doe such as unfeignedly fear God yeilding obedience to his word as in all other distresses so in this let them trust in the name of the Lord and stay themselves upon their God by faith resting upon him that so their souls may be kept from fainting Thus much for the former of these tryals Soul-suffering Passe we to the second The suffering of death This is the other Ingredient which we find in the bottome of this Cup The Suffering of death the last Act in this Tragedie the last thing that Christ was to suffer his pouring forth his soul unto death A bitter potion The bitterness of death is past saith Agag 1 Sam. 15.32 The fear of death which of all other things he looked upon as most bitter More bitter then death saith the Preacher of the wherish woman Eccles 7.26 Intimating death of all things which can befall the outward man to be the bitterest And yet see with what Patience with what Resolution our blessed Saviour here submits hereunto This was the Gup which his Father had given him He had appointed him to dye to dye that painfull shamefull accursed death upon the Crosse And this our Saviour was privy to having before acquainted his Disciples with it Mat. 20.18.19 Yet see how he submitteth to the will of his Father herein as Obediently he was obedient to the death Phil. 2.8 So willingly The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it And herein again let all his Disciples follow his steps Which Christians are to do Patiently and willingly shewing themselves in like manner Obedient to and in death submitting to the will of their heavenly Father in drinking this Cup. when he shall give it them and that not only Patiently but Willingly A great and a difficult work my brethren A work above the strength of nature A work passing the strength of Nature which of it self is not able to look this enemy in the face noe more then the Isralites were Goliah who when he shewed himself and made that challenge of a single combate to whomsoever should dare to incounter him it is said that when Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine they were dismayed and greatly afraid 1 Sam. 17.11 And again v. 24. And all the men of Israel when they saw the man fled from him and were sore afraid Such an enemy is death being as Bildad calleth it The King of terrours Job 18.14 So it is to flesh and bloud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Philosopher saith of it of all terribles the most terrible And great Reason for it being so unconquerable an enemy that never was there any that encountred with it but have beene overcome by it save only this our David the Lord Jesus And how shall nature ever work the heart to such a resolution to embrace that which is so destructive to it self Nature cannot do it Noe Yeâ— above an ordinary measure of gâ—race nor yet an ordinary measure of grace How have some of the stourest cedars in Lebanon been shaken with this gust Some of the most eminent Saints of God how have their hearts even fainted when they have seen this Cup comming towards them David a man after Gods own heart then whom none more daring in battell yet in his cold bloud he tels us of the sorrows and terrours of death which took hold upon him The sorrows of death compassed me about Psa 18.4 The sorrows of Hell of the
do to bring and keep our hearts in such a temper as that we may not be inordinately affected with any thing here below whether Crosses or Comforts Not but that a Christian may be affected with both He may both Weep and Rejoyce and that upon the account of temporal concernments But see that it be not in an inordinate manner And so may he buy and sell seek and indeavour to get an estate in the world to purchase and possess houses and lands But take we heed we do not make them our chief possession It is a good distinction which Augustine maketh use of betwixt Vti and Frui Vsing and injoying Which let all of us learn that so we may not be guilty of what he chargeth as a great impiety viz. Vti fruendis or frui utendis only to make use of what we ought to injoy or to injoy what we ought only to make use of As only to make use of heaven and heavenly things by thinking or speaking of them sometime which we ought to make our injoyment or to make the things of this world our injoyment which we ought only to make use of and that so using them as if we used them not Thus labour we so take of our hearts that they may sit loose to the world Which till a man do he will never be willing to leave it Surely this is it which maketh the men of this world so unwilling to hear of death much more to see it their hearts are glewed and fastned to the world to the profits or pleasures or honours of it Some thing or other there is to which they are wedded And no wonder then that this Apparatour Death which brings to them a Bil of divorce should be so unwelcome a messenger Get we our hearts then weaned and taken of from all these so as we may leave this world before it leaveth us leave it in Affection before we leave it in Person Which having done death will not be unwelcome Q. But how shall we get our hearts thus weaned from the world Q. How to get the heart weaned from the world A. Briefly 1. By a serious consideration of the vanity of it even all things upon earth The mutability uncertainty with the vacuity and emptinesse of them A. 1 Consider the vanity of earth how they are such things as a man can have to assurance of injoying them and whilest injoyed cannot afford any true contentment to the soul but oftimes breeding wormes in it cares and fears vexations and disquietments All which the wisest of men by his own experience found as he sets it forth at large in that his Book of Retractions Ecclesiastes 2. Consider the transcendency of those Riches The happinesse of heaven Honours and Pleasures which are to be found in that other world in Heaven Which being put into the ballance against these of this world doe infinitely outweigh them Those being as the Apostle calleth them Heb. 10.34 A better and an induring substance whereas these are only vain and vanishing shadows Look we rightly seriously and steadfastly upon the one our eies will be so dazled with the splendor and brightnesse of them that they will never after be much taken with the glimmering of the other 3. Have no unnecessary society or familiarity with the men of this world the worlds minions and Favourites men who mind nothing but earthly things But associate and acquaint our selves with such as are in their affections got above the earth and have learned to contemn and make light of all things in it 4. Single out the particulars which our hearts are most taken with and fastest linked to and make it our daily work to wean our soules from them But I hasten towards a conclusion Thus dye to the world daily And thirdly Dye daily as to the Death of nature Which do we Dye daily the death of nature 1. By inuring our selves to a quiet and patient bearing and suffering of lighter afflictions and Crosses Submitting to lesser Crosses which are as petty deaths Every of which is a kind of petty death all of them deaths retinue forerunners of it and making way for it Now inure we our selves to a quiet submission to the will of God in drinking of these lesser Cups in suffering of these lesser tryals with patience and holy contentation this will make us the more ready and willing to submit to this last stroak when it cometh to suffer death it self The new Cart in the Fable which never bare any burden before it made a noise at the first load whereas the old one having been accustomed thereunto was silent The soul which never inurd it self to bear the Crosse to suffer lighter Afflictions with patience in obedience to God will hardly be brought quietly to submit to his will in this last act It is good saith the Church for a man that he bare the yoke in his youth he sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath born it upon him Lam. 3.27 By being inured to the patient bearing of lighter afflictions he quietly submits to greater when they come and so to death it self 2. Seriously and frequently meditate of death And Secondly often acting this part with our selves in private before we come to do it upon the publike stage Dying daily by a frequent and serious meditation of death Setting it continually before our eyes often thinking of our latter end Which is a great piece of true Christian wisdome O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end saith the Lord of his people Israel Deut. 32.29 Consider that we must dye And here do not put far off from us this evil day Do not look upon death as they do who look through the Optick glass at the wrong end whereby things near at hand seem at a great distance from them Do not thus look upon death as a thing afar of but near hand A practise of great use as to other ends so to make death familiar and consepuently not so dreadful It is the forgetfulnesse of death saith one that maketh life sinful and death terrible And therefore as he had his deaths head every meal set upon his Table and the guize of mourners is to wear them in their rings so do we often set death before us frequently and seriously thinking of it And looking upon it as near hand so living every day as if it were our last day Continually standing upon our gard waiting all the dayes of our appointed time till our change shall come as Job saith he would doe Job 14.14 By this meanes having been made account of and looked for before it comes it will not be so terrible when it cometh Thus prepare for death by dying daily And then in the third place work while our day lasteth Dir. 3 Work whilest our day lasteth So did our blessed Saviour I must work the works of him that sent me while
the spirits and in that regard are more deadly So doth this Tryall seize immediately upon the soul and in that respect is the more grievous and insupportable It is the soul the spirit of a man that beareth up his head in all his sufferings so as if that be wounded and broken what shall support it The spirit of a man will sustein his Infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear saith that Text forecited Prov. 18.14 2. Reason 2 And again in this Tryall God himself seemeth to turn Enemy to a man In this tryall God appears an enemy Whereas in other Affliions he standeth by his people comforting and strengthning them taking part with them or else standing Neuter in this he takes up Arms against them fighteth against them and that in a more immediate way then in other conflicts And upon this account this Cup must needs be more bitter then any other Cup. Yet if God shall please to hold forth this Cup unto his people Yet to be submitted to it is their duty even herein to submit unto his will and pleasure Which they are to doe as not despising it which they doe who looking upon this Affliction of spirit only as some Melancholick Passion sleight it so not murmuring at it nor yet fainting under it Q. How this may be done without fainting I but how shall a Christian be able to do this to bear up under such a tryall without fainting A. A great and a difficult work to doe I confess yet through grace possible To help you herein if ever God shall call any of you to it let me briefly propound unto you somewhat to be considered and somewhat to be practised 1. By way of Consideration seriously meditate upon these three particulars Considerations usefull to this end 1. Look upon others who have had experience of the like conflicts This is not such a Cup but others have tasted of it before us Consid 1 Even this affliction hath been accomplished in many of our brethren Look upon others wh◠have had experience of the like in some of the dearest Saints and servants of God Yea few there be but at some time or other do tast of this Cup and some drink deep of it So did Job and David both which among other their sufferings had experience of this this Soul tryall of a spirituall desertion God hiding himself from them seeming to have forsaken them and to be turned against them So we may hear Job complaining Cap. 6. v. 4. The Arrowes of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God do set themselves in array against me And again Cap. 13. v. 24. Wherefore hidest thou thy face and holdest me for thine Enemy And v. 26. Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquitys of my youth And the like sad complaints we may hear from David My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Psal 22.1 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30.7 Mine Iniquities have gone over my head as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me Psal 38.4 Mine Iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to looke up they are more then the haires of my head therefore mine heart faileth me Psal 40.12 And we shall find that holy man Homan the Ezrite joyning in consort with them Psa 88. Lord why casteth thou off my soul why hidest thou thy face from me v. 14. While I suffer thy terrours I am distracted v. 15. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrours have cut me off v. 16. Thus were they exercised not only in the outward man but also in the inward having sore conflicts in their soules with apprehensions of divine wrath Now if God shall bring us into a like condition look we upon them and upon the end of the Lord as St James speaks Jam. 5.11 the issue of these their temptations which was very comfortable the Sun in due time breaking out from under those clouds God lifting up the light of his countenance upon them as formerly But above all look we up as the Apostle directs us unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Specially look upon Christ who suffered the like nay infinitely more of this kind in the Garden and upon the Cross as you have heard Now where a Patient seeth his Physitian but taste of his Cup it is some incouragement to him to drink it And this hath Christ done for us nay he hath not only tasted of this Cup but drunk it off So then if God will have us to pledge him to taste of the like Cup be not dishartened and discouraged by it Taking notice 1. That this is a part of our conformity to Christ And 2. That Christ having been thus tempted himself which he was how else saith the Apostle that he was in all points tempted like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as we are Heb 4 15. having had experience of this soul-conflict he knoweth both how to pity and how to succour those who are thus tempted as the same Apostle tels us Heb. 2.18 Obj. Obs I But Christ had no sins of his own set before him Christ had no sins of his own which we have So as his condition was different from ours A. A. Though he had no sins of his own yet he had the sins of others Our sins were made his our sins charged upon him as being our surety which by this meanes were made his own He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin saith the Apostle 2. Cor. 5.21 However he knew no sin experimentally as being guilty of it in himself yet he was made sin viz. by way of imputation having the sins of all his elect people put upon his account in whose room he then stood He his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree or to the tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tree of the Crosse Consid 2 1 Pet. 2.24 Now this was all one as if these sins had been his own What is it that a Christian liveth by not Assurance but Faith as to the guilt of them But to pass on Let a second Consideration be What it is that a Christian liveth by what it is that his salvation depends upon Not Assurance but Faith The just shall live by his faith Hab. 2.4 Now Assurance and Faith are two different things Assurance not being of the Essence of Faith as by some it hath been mistaken Faith being properly a Recumbencie a Reliance and resting of the soul upon Christ This is Faith true justyfying and saving faith A believing in Christ or on him God so loved the World that be gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish Joh. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In eum on him Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉