witness the proofs in the Margin thy afflictions are but as a moment they are but as yesterday if compared with the afflictions of other Saints whose whole lives have been made up of sorrows and sufferings as the life of Christ was many a mans life hath been nothing but a lingring death Job 21. 25. And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul and never eateth with pleasure There are those that have never a good day all their daies who have not a day of rest among all their daies of trouble not a day of health among all their daies of sickness nor a day of gladness among all their daies of sadness nor a day of strength among all their daies of weakness nor a day of honour among all their daies of reproach whose whole life is one continued winters night who every day drink gall and wormwood who lye down sighing who rise groaning and who spend their daies in complaining no sorrow to our sorrows no sufferings to our sufferings some there bee who have alwaies tears in their eyes sorrows in their hearts rods on their backs and crosses in their hands but it is not so with thee therefore bee silent Thirdly The longer thy affliction hath been the sweeter will Heaven bee to thee at last the Psal 126. 1 2 5 6. compared longer the Israelites had been in the wilderness the sweeter was Canaan to them at last the longer the storm the sweeter the calm the longer the winter nights the sweeter the summer daies long afflictions will much set off the glory of Heaven the harbour is most sweet and desirable to them that have been long tossed upon the Seas So will Heaven bee to those who have been long in a Sea of troubles The new Wine of Christs Kingdome is most sweet to Luk. 22. 18 those that have been long a drinking of gall and vinegar the Crown of glory will bee most delightful to them who have been long in combating with the world the flesh and the devil The longer our Journey is the sweeter will be our end and the longer our passage is the sweeter will our Haven be the higher the mountain the gladder wee shall bee when wee are got to the top of it the longer the heir is kept from his inheritance the more delight hee will have when hee comes to possess it Fourthly They are not long but short if compared to that eternity of glory that is reserved for the Saints 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. If you turn to the words you shall See this largely opened in my String of Pearls finde for affliction glory for light afflictions a weight of glory and for short momentany afflictions eternal glory there will quickly be an end of thy sadnesse but there will never be an end of thy happiness there will soon bee an end of thy calamity and misery there will never be and end of thy felicity and glory the Kingdomes of this world are not Psal 45. 72. 89. Isa 9. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 4 2 Epist 1. 11. lasting much less are they everlasting they have all their climacterical years but the Kingdome of Heaven is an everlasting Kingdome of that there is no end There were seven sorts of Crowns that were that were in use among the Roman Victors but they were all fading and perishing but the Crown of glory that at last God will set upon the heads of his Saints shall continue as long as God himself continues Who can look upon those eternal Mansions that are above and those everlasting pleasures that bee at Gods right hand and say that his affliction is long Well Christian let thy afflictions be never so long yet one hours being in the bosome of Christ will make thee forget both the length and strength of all thy afflictions Fifthly The longer you have been afflicted the more in spiritual experiences you have been enriched 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. The lower the ebbe the higher the tide the more pain the more gain the more afflicted the more comforted the lower wee are cast the higher we shall bee raised Of all Christians none so rich in spiritual experiences as those that have Heb. 12. 11 2 Cor. 12. 9 Job 33. 17 22 been long in the school of affliction Oh the blessed stories that such can tell of the power of God supporting them of the wisdome of God directing them of the favour of God comforting them of the presence of God assisting them Oh the love-tokens the love-letters the bracelets the Jewels that they are able to produce since they have been in the furnace of affliction Oh the sins that long afflictions have discovered and mortified O the temptations that long afflictions have prevented and vanquished you shall as soon number the stars of Heaven and the sands of the Sea as you shall number up the heavenly experiences of such Christians that have been long under afflictions the afflicted Christians heart is fullest of spiritual treasure though hee may bee poor in the world yet James 2. 5 hee is rich in faith and holy experiences and what are all the riches of this world to spiritual experiences one spiritual experience is more worth than a world and upon a dying-bed and before a judgement seat every man will bee of this opinion The men of this world will with much quietness and calmness of spirit bear much and suffer much I and suffer long when they finde their sufferings to add to their revenues and shall nature do more than grace It is the common voice of nature Who will shew us any Psal 4. â— good how shall wee come to be great and high and rich in the world wee care not what wee suffer nor how long wee suffer so wee may but add house to house Isa 5. 8 heap to heap bagg to bagg and land to land Oh how much more then should Christians bee quiet and calm under all their afflictions though they are never so long considering that they do but add Jewels to a Christians Crown they do but adde to his spiritual experiences the long afflicted Christian hath the fullest and the greatest trade and in the day of account will bee found the richest man Sixthly Long afflictions sometimes are but preparatives to long liv'd mercies Josephs thirteen years imprisonment was but a preparative to fourscore years reigning like a King Davids seven years banishment was but a preparative to forty years reigning in much honour and glory Jobs long afflictions were but preparatives to more long-lived mercies as you may see in that last of Job and those sad and sore trials that the Jews have been under for above this sixteen hundred years are to prepare them for those matchless mercies and those Isa 62. 63. and ch 66 endless glories in some sense that God in the latter daies will crown them with Isa 54. 11 12
fall a weeping a whining a complaining a repining a murmuring as if they were utterly undone and yet a well of water a well of comfort a well of refreshment a well of deliverance is near and their case no waies so sad nor so bad as they imagine it to beâ— Thirdly The greater thy afflictions are the nearer is deliverance to thee when these waters rise high then salvation comes upon the wing when thy troubles are very great then mercy will ride Scripture and History speaks fully to this head post to deliver thee Deut. 32. 36. For the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants when hee seeth that their power or hand is gone and there is none shut up and left Israel of old and England of late years hath often experienced this truth Wine was nearest Joh. 2. 1 2 3. when the water-pots were filled with water up to the brim So oftentimes mercy is nearest deliverance is nearest when our afflictions are at the highest when a Christian is brim-full of troubles then the wine of consolation is at hand therefore hold thy peace murmure not but sit silent before the Lord. Fourthly They are not great if compared to the glory that shall bee revealed Rom. 8. 18. For I 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18 reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to bee compared with the glory that shall bee revealed in us or upon us The Apostle upon casting up of his accounts concludes that all the pains chains troubles trials and torments that they met with in this world was not to bee put in the ballance with the glory of Heaven As the Globe of the Earth which after the Mathematicians account is many thousands of miles in compass yet being compared unto the greatness of the starry skies circumference is but a center or a little prick So the troubles afflictions and sorrows of this life in respect of eternal happiness and blessedness are to bee reputed as nothing they are but as the prick of a pin to the starry Heavens they that have heard most of the glory of Heaven have not heard one quarter of that which the Saints shall finde there that glory is unconceivable and unexpressable Augustine in one of his Epistles hath this relation that the very same day wherein Jerome died hee was in his study and had got Pen Ink and Paper to write something of the glory of Heaven to Jerome and suddenly hee saw a light breaking into his study and a sweet smell that came unto him and this voice hee thought hee heard O Augustine what doest thou dost thou think to put the Sea into a liâ—tle vessel when the Heavens shall cease from their continual motion then shalt thou bee able to understand what the glory of Heaven is and not before except you come to feel it as now I do Nicephorus speaks of one Agbarus Eccles Hist a great man that hearing so much of Christs fame by reason of the miracles hee wrought sent a Painter to take his picture and that the Painter when hee came was not able to do it because of that radiancy and divine splendor which sate on Christs face such is the splendor the brightness the glory the happiness and blessedness that is reserved for the Saints in Heaven that had I all the tongues of men on earth and all the excellencies of the Angels in Heaven yet should I not bee able to conceive nor to express that vision of glory to you it is best hastning thither that wee may feel and enjoy that which wee shall never bee able to declare Fifthly They are not great if compared with the afflictions and torments of such of the damned who when they were in this world 1 Pet. 3. 18 19 20 Jude 6 7. Mat. 10. 15. â—h 11. 23 24 never sinned at so high a rate as thou hast done Doubtless there are many now in Hell who never sinned against such clear light as thou hast done nor against such special love as thou hast done nor against such choice means as thou hast done nor against such precious mercies as thou hast done nor against such singular remedies as Isa 33. 14 The fire in hell is like that stone in Arcadia which being once kindled could not be quenched thou hast done certainly there are many now a roaring in everlasting burnings who never sinned against such deep convictions of conscience as thou hast done nor against such close and strong reasonings of the Spirit as thou hast done nor against such free offers of mercy and rich tenders of grace as thou hast done nor against such sweet wooings and multiplied intreaties of a bleeding dying Saviour as thou hast done therefore hold thy peace What are thy afflictions thy torments to the torments of the damned whose torments are numberless easeless remediless and endless whose pains are without intermission or mitigation who have weeping served in for the first course and gnashing of teeth for the second and the gnawing worm for the third and intollerable pain for the fourth yet the pain of the body is but the body of pain the very soul of sorrow and pain is the souls sorrow and pain and an everlasting alienation and separation from God for the fifth Ah Christian how canst thou seriously think on these things and not lay thy hand upon thy mouth when thou art under the greatest sufferings thy sins have been far greater than many of theirs and thy greatest afflictions are but a flea-bite to theirs therefore bee silent before the Lord. Sixthly and lastly If thy afflictions are so great then what madness and folly will it bee for thee to make them greater by murmuring every act of murmuring will but add load unto load 1 Cor. 10. 10. and burden to burden The Israelites under great afflictions fell a murmuring and their murmuring proved their utter ruine as you may see in that Numb 14. Murmuâ—ing will but put God upon heating the furnace seven times hotter therefore hold thy peace But of this I have spoken sufficiently already Object 6. Oh! But my afflictions are greater than other mens afflictions are and how then can I bee silent Oh! there is no affliction to my affliction how can I hold my peace I answer First It may bee thy sins are greater than other mens Jer. 3. 6 12 sins if thou hast sinned against more light more love more mercies more experiences more promises than others no wonder if thy afflictions are greater than others if this bee thy case thou hast more cause to bee mute than to murmure and certainly if thou dost but seriously look into the black book of thy conscience thou wilt finde greater sins there than any thou canst charge upon any person or persons on earth if thou shouldest not I think thou wouldest justly incur the censure which that sowre Philosopher past upon Grammarians viz. That they Diogenes apud Laertium l. 6
put off the motions of his Spirit the directions of his word the offers of his grace the entreaties of his Son and therefore what can be more just than that God should delay thee for a time and put thee off for a season who hast delaied him and put off him daies without number if God serves thee as thou hast often served him thou hast no reason to complain But Seventhly and lastly The Lord delaies his people that Heaven may be the more sweet to them at last here they meet with many delaies and with many put offs but in Heaven they shall never meet with one put off with one delay here many times they call and cry and can get no answer Lam. 3. 8 44 here they knock and bounce and yet the door of grace and mercy opens not to them but in Heaven they shall have mercy at the first word at the first knock there whatever heart can wish shall without delay be enjoyed here God seems to say sometimes souls you have mistaken the door or I am not at leasure or others must be served before you or come some other time c. But in Heaven God is alwaies at leasure and all the sweetness and blessedness and happiness of that state presents it self every hour to the soul there God hath never God will never say to any of his Saints in Heaven come to morrow such language the Saints sometimes hear here but such language is no waies suitable to a glorified condition and therefore seeing that the Lord never delaies his people but upon great and weighty accounts let his people bee silent before him let them not mutter nor murmure but be mute And so I have done with the Objections I shall come now in the last place to propound some helps and directions that may contribute to the silencing and stilling of your souls under the greatest afflictions the sharpest trials and the saddest providences that you meet with in this world and so close up this discourse First All the afflictions that come upon the Saints they are the Prov. 3. 12 Jer. 9. 7 fruits of divine love Rev. 3. 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten bee zealous therefore and repent Heb. 12. 6. For whom the Lord loveth hee chasteneth and scourgeth every Son whom hee receiveth Job 5. 17. Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty ch 7. 17 18. What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him And that thou shouldest visit him every morning and try him every moment Isa 48. 10. Behold I have refined thee but not with silver I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction When Munster lay sick and his friends asked him how hee did and how hee felt himself hee pointed to his sores and ulcers whereof hee was full and said these are Gods Gems and Jewels wherewith hee decketh his best friends and to mee they are more precious than all the gold and silver in the world A Gentleman highly prizes his Hawk hee feeds her with his own hand hee carries her upon his fist hee takes a great deal of delight and pleasure in her and therefore hee puts vervells upon her leggs and a hood upon her head hee hood-winks her and fetters her because hee loves her and takes delight in her So the Lord by afflictions hood-winks and fetters his children but all is because hee loves them and takes delight and pleasure in them there cannot be a greater evidence of Gods hatred and wrath than his Hos 4. 14. 19 Ezek. 16. 42 Isa 1. 5 Nihil est infaelicius â—o cui nil unquam contigit adversi Seneca refusing to correct men for their sinful courses and vanities why should you bee smitten any more you will revolt more and more where God refuses to correct there God resolves to destroy there is no man so near the Axe so near the flames so near Hell as hee whom God will not so much as spend a Rod upon God is most angry where hee shews no anger Jerome writing to a sick friend hath this expression I account it a part of unhappiness not to know adversity I judge you to bee miserable because you have not been miserable nothing saith another Demetrius seems more unhappy to mee than hee to whom no adversity hath hapned God afflicts thee O Christian in love and therefore Luther cries out strike Lord strike Lord and spare not who can seriously muse upon this and not hold his peace and not bee silent under the most smarting Rod Secondly Consider that the trials and troubles the calamities and miseries the crosses and losses that you meet with in this world is all the Hell that ever you shall have here you have your Hell hereafter you shall have your Heaven this is the worst of your condition the best is to come Lazarus had his Hell first his Heaven Luke 16. 19 29 last but Dives had his Heaven first and his Hell at last thou hast all thy pains and pangs and throws here that ever thou shalt have thy ease and rest and pleasure is to come here you have all your bitter your sweet is to come here you have your sorrows your joyes are to come here you have all your winter nights your summer daies are to come here you have your passion week your Ascension day is to come here you have your evil things your good things are to come death will put a period to all thy sins and to all thy sufferings and it will bee an inlet to those joyes delights and contents that shall never have end and therefore hold thy peace and be silent before the Lord. Thirdly Get an assurance that Christ is yours and pardon of sin See my Treatise called Heaven on Earth yours and divine favour yours and Heaven yours and the sense of this will exceedingly quiet and silence the soul under the sorest and the sharpest trials a Christian can meet with in this world hee that is assured that God is his portion wil never mutter nor murmure under his greatest burdens hee that can groundedly say nothing shall separate mee from the love of God in Christ hee will be able to triumph in the midst of the greatest Rom. 8. 33 ult Cant. 2. 16 tribulations hee that with the Spouse can say My Beloved is mine and I am his will bear up quietly and sweetly under the heaviest afflictions In the time of the Marian Act. Mon. Persecution there was a gracious woman who being convened before bloody Bonner then Bishop So John Noyes Alice Driver Mr. Bradford Mr. Taylor and Justin Martyr with many more of London upon the trial of Religion hee threatned her that hee would take away her husband from her saith shee Christ is my husband I will take away thy childe Christ saith shee is better to mee than ten Sons I will
a wet some in a moist clay and some in a sandy dry ground So every spiritual husbandman must observe the fittest times to sow his spiritual seed in hee hath heavenly seed by him for all occasions and seasons for spring and fall for all grounds heads and hearts now whether the seed sown in the following Treatise bee not suitable to the times and seasons wherein wee are cast is left to the judgement of the prudent Reader to determine if the Author had thought otherwise this babe had been stifled in the womb Fifthly The good acceptance that my other weak labours have found God hath blest them not onely to the Rom. 15. 21 Phil. 1. 9 10 11 conviction the edification confirmation and consolation of many but also to the conversion of many God is a free Agent to work by what hand hee pleases and sometimes hee takes pleasure 1 Cor. 1. 17 29 to do great things by weak means that no flesh may glory in his presence God will not despise the day of small things and who or what art thou that darest despise that day the Spirit breathes upon whose preaching and writing hee John 3 pleases and all prospers according as that wind blows Sixthly That all afflicted and distressed Christians may have a proper salve for every sore a proper remedy against every disease at hand as every good man so every good book is not Prov. 25. 11 That remedy is no remedy that is not proper to the disâ—ase fit to bee the afflicted mans companion but this is here hee may see his face his head his hand his heart his way his works here hee may see all his diseases discovered and proper remedies proposed and applied here hee may finde Arguments to silence him and means to quiet him when it is at worst with him in every storm here hee may finde a tree to shelter him and in every danger here hee may finde a City of Refuge to secure him and in every dâ—fficulty here hee may have a light to guide him and in every peril here hee may finde a buckler to defend him and in every distress here hee may finde a cordial to strengthen him and in every trouble here hee may finde a staff to support him Seventhly To satisfie some bosome-friends some faithful friends man is made to bee a friend and apt for friendly offices hee that is not friendly is not worthy to have a friend and hee that hath a friend and doth â—ot shew hâ—mself friendly is not worthy to bee accounted a man friendship is a kinde of life without which there is no comfort of a mans life Christian friendship 1 Sam. 22. 1 2. 3. ties such a knot that great Alexander cannot cut Summer friends I value not but winter friends are worth their weight in gold and whâ— can deny such any thing especially in thâ—se daies wherein real faithful constant friends are so rare to bee found Oâ— my friends I have never a friend said Socrates a friend is a very mutable creature saith Plato The friendship of most men in these daies is like Jonahs Gourd now very promising and flourishing and anon fading and withering it is like some plants in the water which have broad leaves on the surface of the water but scarce any root at all their friendship is like Lemons cold within hot without their expressions are high but their affections are low they speak much but do little as Drumms and Trumpets and Ensigns in a battel make a great noise and a fine shew but act nothing so these counterfeit friends will complement highly how hansomely speak plausibly and promise lustily and yet have neither a hand nor a heart to act any thing cordially or faithfully from such friends it is a mercy to bee delivered And therefore King Antigonus was wont to pray to God that hee would protect him from his friends and when one of his Council asked him why hee prayed so hee returned this answer every man will shun and defend himself against his professed enemies but from our professed or pretended friends of whom few are faithful none can safe-guard himself but hath need of protection from Heaven but for all this there are some that are real friends faithful friends active friends winter friends bosome-friends fast friends and for their sakes especially those among them that have been long very long under the Smarting Rod and in the fiery Furnace and that have been often poured from vessel to vessel have I once more appeared in Print to the world Eighthly and lastly There hath not any Authors or Author come to my hand that hath handled this subject as I have done and therefore I do not know but it may bee the more grateful and acceptable to the world 1 Thes 1. 7 8 2 Cor. 8. 10. ch 9. 1 â— and if by this assay others that are more able shall bee provoked to do more worthily upon this subject I shall therein rejoyce I shall onely add that though much of the following matter was preached upon the Lords visitation of my dear yoak-fellow my self and some other friends yet there are many things of special concernment in the following Tract that yet I have not upon any accounts communicated to the world And thus I have given you a true and faithful account of the reasons that have prevailed with mâ—e to publish this Treatise to the woâ—ld and to dedicate it to your selves Secondly The second thing promised was the giving of you a little good â— unsel that you may so read the following discourse as that it may turn much to your souls advantage for as many fish and catch nothing so many read Luke 5. 5 good books and get nothing because they reaâ— them over cursorily slightly superficially but hee that would read to profit must then First Read and look up for a blessing Paul may plant and Apollo may water but all will be to no purpose except the Lord give the encrease God must 1 Cor. 3. 6 7 do the deed when all is done or else all that is done will do you no good if you would have this work successeful and effectual you must look off from man and look up to God who alone can make it a blessing to you As without a blessing Micah 6. 14. from Heaven thy cloaths cannot warm thee nor thy food nourish thee nor physick cure thee nor friends comfort thee So without a blessing from Hag. 1. 6. Heaven without the precious breathings and influences of the Spirit what here is done will do you no good it will not turn to your account in the day of Christ and therefore cast an eye heaven-wards It is Sencca's observation that the husbandmen in Egypt never look up to Heaven for Rain in the time of drought but look after the overflowing of the banks of Nilus as the onely cause of their plenty Ah! how many are there in these daies who when
said another it were a sad condition indeed iâ— they were carried to a place where they should not finde their God but let them bee of good chear God goes along with them and will exhibit the comforts of his presence whithersoever they go the presence of God with the spirits of his people is a breast of comfort that can never bee drawn drye it is an everlasting spring that will Heb. 13. 5 6 Isa 40. 29 30 31 never fail Well Christian thou art under many great troubles many sore trials but tell mee doth God give into thy soul such cordials such supports such comforts and such refreshments that the world knows not of O then certainly thy affliction is in love Fourthly If by your affliction you are made more conformable Witness Judas Demas and those in the 6th of John and many Qâ—akers and other deluded people among us this day to Christ in his virtues then certainly your afflictions are in love many are conformable to Christ in their sufferings that are not made conformable to Christ in his virtues by their sufferings many are in poverty neglect shame contempt reproach c. like to Christ who yet by these are not made more like to Christ in his meekness humbleness heavenliness holiness righteousness faithfulness fruitfulness goodness contentedness patience submission subjection Oh but if in these things you are made more like to Christ without all peradventure your afflictions are in love If by afflictions the soul bee led to shew forth or to preach forth the virtues of Christ as that word imports in that 1 Pet. 2. 9. then certainly Exaggeilete publickly to set forth those afflictions are in love for they never have such an operation but where they are set on by a hand of love when God strikes as an enemy there all those stroaks do but make a man more an enemy to God as you see in Pharaoh and others but when the stroaks Isa 26. 8 9 10 Jer. 5. 3. Amos 6. 1 ult of God are the stroaks of love Oh then they do but bring the soul nearer Christ and transform the soul more and more into the likeness of Christ if by thy afflictions thou art made more holy humble heavenly c. they are in love Every afflicted Christian should strive to bee honoured with that Elogie of Salvian singularis domini praeclarus imitator An excellent Disciple of a singular Master But Fifthly If by outward afflictions thy soul bee brought more under Job 34. 31 32 the inward teachings of God doubtless thy afflictions are in love Psal 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law All the chastening in the world without divine teaching will never make a man blessed that man that findes correction attended with instruction and lashing with lessoning is a happy man If God by the affliction that is upon thee shall teach thee how to loathe sin more and how to trample upon the world more and how to walk with God more thy afflictions are in love if God shall teach thee by afflictions how to dye to sin more and how to dye to thy relations more and how to dye to self-interest more thy afflictions are in love if God shall teach thee by afflictions how to live to Christ more how to lift up Christ more and how to long for Christ more thy afflictions are in love If God shall teach thee by afflictions to get assurance of a better life and to bee still in a gracious readiness and preparedness for the day of thy death thy afflictions are in love if God shall teach thee by afflictions how to minde Heaven more how to live in Heaven more and how to fit for Heaven more thy afflictions are in love if God by afflictions shall teach thy proud heart how to lye more low and thy hard heart how to grow more humble and thy censorious heart how to grow more charitable and thy carnal heart how to grow more spiritual and thy froward heart how to grow more quiet c. thy afflictions are in love When God teaches thy reins as well as thy brains thy heart as well as thy head these lessons or any of these lessons thy afflictions are in love Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 18. Pambo an illiterate dunce as the Historian terms him was a learning that one lesson I said I will take heed to my waies that I sin not with my tongue nineteen years and yet had not learned it Ah! it is to bee feared that there are many who have been in the school of affliction above this nineteen years and yet have not learned any saving lesson all this while surely their afflictions are not in love but in wrath where God loves hee afflicts in love and where-ever God afflicts in love there hee will first or last teach such souls such lessons as shall do them good to all eternity But Sixthly If God suit your burdens to your backs your trials to Isa 27. 8 Jer. 30. 11. ch 46. 28 your strength according to that golden promise 1 Cor. 10. 13. Your afflictions are in love There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to bee tempted above that yee are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that yee may bee able to bear it When Gods stroaks and a Christians strength are suited one to another all is in love let the load bee never so heavy Gen. 49. 23 24. that God laies on if hee put under his everlasting arms all is in love As Egypt had many venemous creatures so it had many antidotes against them when God shall lay antidotes into the soul against all the afflictions that befall a Christian then they are all in love it is no matter how heavy the burden is if God gives a shoulder to bear it all is in love it is no matter how bitter the cup is if God give courage to drink it off it is no matter how hot the furnace is if God gives power to walk in the midst of it all is in love Seventhly Iâ— thou art willing to lye in the furnace till thy dross bee consumed if thou art willing Job 23. 10 Mic. 7. 9 that the plaister should lye on though it smart till the cure bee wrought if thou art willing that the physick should work though it makes thee sick till the humors bee expelled all is in love Cain and Saul and Pharaoh were all for the removing away of the stroak the affliction they cry not out our sins are greater than wee are able to bear but they cry out our punishment is greater Gen. 4. 13 Isa 28. 1 6. ch 59. 9 17 Exod. 7 8 9 10. chapters than wee are able to bear they cry not out Lord take away our sins but Lord remove the stroak of thy hand Oh! but when an
quiet for that God that hath taken away one childe might have took away every childe and hee that hath taken away one friend might have taken away every friend and hee that hath taken away a part of thy estate might have taken away thy whole estate therefore hold thy peace let who will murmure yet bee thou mute Sixthly It may bee thy sins have been much about thy near and dear injoyments it may bee thou hast over-loved them and over-prized them and over-much delighted thy self in them it may bee they have often had thy heart when they should have had but thy hand it may bee that care that fear that confidence that joy that should have been expended upon more noble objects hath been expended upon them thy heart Oh Christian is Christs bed of spices and it may bee thou hast beded thy mercies with thee when Christ hath been put to lye in an Luk. 2. 7 out-house thou hast had room for them when thou hast had none for him they have had the best when the worst have been counted good enough for Christ It is said of Gen. 49. 4. Ruben that hee went up to his Fathers bed Ah! how often hath one creature-comfort and sometimes another put in between Christ and your souâ—s how often have your dear injoyments gone up to Christs bed It is said of the babylonians that they came in to Aholah Ezek. 23. 17. and Aholibahs bed of love may it not hee said of your near and dear mercies that they have come into Christs bed of lovâ— your hearts they being that bed wherein Christ Cant. 3. 7 delights to rest and repose himself Now if a husband a childe a friend shall take up that room in thy soul that is proper and peculiar to God God will either imbitter it remove it or bee the death â—f it if once the love of a wife runs out more to a servant than to her husband the Master will turn him out of doors though otherwise hee were a servant worth gold The sweetest comforts of this life they are but like treasures of Snow now do but take a handful of Snow and crush it in your hands and it will melt away presently but if you let it lye upon the ground it will continue for some time and so it is with the contentments of this world if you grasp them in your hands and lay them too near your hearts they will quickly melt and vanish away but if you will not hold them too fast in your hands nor lay them too close to your hearts they will abide the longer with you There are those that love their mercies into their graves that hug their mercies to death that kiss them till they kill them Many a man hath slain his mercies by setting too great a value upon them many a man hath â—unk his ship of mercie by taking up in it over-loved mercies are seldome long-liv'd Ezek. 24. 21. when I take from them the joy of their glory the desire of their eyes and that whereupon they set their minds their sons and their daughters the way to lose your mercies is to indulge them the way to destroy them is to fix your minds and hearts upon them thou mayest write bitterness and death upon that mercie first that hath first taken away thy heart from God Now if God hath stript thee of that very mercy with which thou hast often committed spiritual Adultery and Idolatry hast thou any cause to murmure hast thou not rather cause to hold thy peace and to be mute before the Lord Christians your hearts are Christs royal Throne and in this Throne Christ will bee chief as Pharaoh said to Joseph Gen. 41. 40. hee will endure no competitor if you shall attempt to throne the creature bee it never so near and dear unto you Christ will dethrone it hee will destroy it hee will quickly lay them in a bed of dust who shall aspire to his royal Throne But Seventhly Thou hast no cause to murmure because of the loss of such near and dear enjoyments considering those more noble and spiritual mercies and favours that thou still enjoyest grant that Joseph is not and Benjamin is not yet Gen. 42. 36 Heb. 13. 8 Jesus is hee is yesterday and to day and the same for ever thy union and communion with Christ remains 1 Joh. 3. 9. still the immortal seed abides in thee still the Sun of Righteousness shines upon thee still thou art in favour with God still and thou art under the anointings of the Spirit still and under the influences of Heaven still c. and why then shouldest thou mutter and not rather hold thy peace I have read Jerom. of one Dydimus a godly Preacher who was blind Alexander a godly man once ask'd him whether hee was not sore troubled and afflicted for want of his sight Oh yes I said Dydimus it is a great affliction and grief unto mee then Alexander chid him saying hath God given you the excellency of an Angel of an Apostle and are you troubled for that which Rats and Mice and brute beasts have So say I Ah Ephes 1. 3 4 Christians hath God blessed you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places hath the Lord given you himself for a portion hath hee given you his Son for your redemption and his Spirit for your instruction and will you murmure hath hee given his gracâ— to adorn you his promises to comforâ— you his ordinances to better you and the hopes of Heaven to encourage you and will you mutter Paulinus Nolanus when his City was taken from him prayed thus Lord said hee let mee not bee troubled at the loss of my gold silver honour c. for thou art all and much more than all these unto mee in the want of all your sweetest enjoyments Christ will bee all in all unto you my Jewels are my husband said Phocion's wife Col. 3. 11 Plutarâ—h in vita Phocion my ornaments are my two sons said the Mother of the Gracchi my treasures are my friends said Constantius and so may a Christian under his greatest losses say Christ is my richest Jewels my chiefest treasures my best ornaments my sweetest delights look what all these things are to a carnal heart a worldly heart that and more is Christ to mee Eighthly If God by smiting thee in thy nearest and dearest injâ—yments shall put thee upon a more thorow smiting and mortifying of thy dearest sins thou hast no cause to murmure God cures David of adultery by killing his endeared childe There is some Dalilah some darling some beloved sin or Psa 18. 23 Heb. 12. 1 other that a Christians calling condition constitution or temptations leads him to play withall and to hug in his own bosome rather than some other As in a ground that lieth untilled amongst the great variety of weeds there is usually some master-weed that is rifer and ranker than all the rest And as it
Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Christs intercession should bee the souls Anchor-hold in time of temptation in the day of thy temptation thou needest not be disturbed nor disquieted but in peace and patience possess thine own soul considering what a friend thou hast in the Court of glory and how hee is most active for thee when Satan is most busie in tempting of thee Fifthly and Lastly All temptations that the Saints meet with shall work much for their good they shall bee much for their gain the profit and advantage that will redound to tempted souls by all their temptations is very great now this will appear to bee a most Rom. 8. 28 Jam. 1. 12. certain truth by an induction of particulars thus First By temptations God multiplies and encreases his childrens spiritual experiences the encrease of which is better than the encrease Rom 5. 3 4 Frequent engagements add to the souldiers skill and much encrease his experiences of gold in the school of temptation God gives his children the greatest experience of his power supporting them of his word comforting of them of his mercy warming of them of his wisdome counselling of them of his faithfulness joying of them and of his grace strengthening of them 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace shall bee sufficient for thee Paul never experienced so deeply what Almighty power was what the everlasting arms of mercy were and what infinite grace and goodness as when hee was under the buffetings of Satan Secondly All their temptations shall bee physical their temptations shall bee happy preventions of great abominations 2 Cor. 12. 7. Lest I should bee exalted lest I Those souldiers that are most in fighting are least in sinning and most free from diseases should bee exalted it is twice in that one verse hee begins with it and hee ends with it if hee had not been buffeted hee might have been more highly exalted in his own conceit than hee was before in his exstacie Ah tempted souls you say you are naught very naught but had it not been for the school of temptation you might have been stark naught before this time you say you are sick you are even sick to death why your sicknesse had before this time killed you had not temptations been physical to you you are bad under temptation but doubtless you would have been much worse had not God made temptation a diet-drink to you Thirdly Temptations shall much promote the exercise of grace as the spring in the watch sets all the wheels a going and as Solomons virtuous woman set all her Prov. 30. 10 ult 1 Pet. 1. 6 7 maidens to work So temptation sets faith on work and love on work and repentance on work and hope on work and holy fear on work and godly sorrow on work Tapers burn clearest in the dark As the wind sets the Mill at work so the wind of temptation sets the graces of the Saints a going now faith runs to Christ now it hugs a promise now it pleads the blood of Christ now it looks to the recompence of reward now it takes the sword of the Spirit c. now Cant. 3. 6 7 love cleaves to Christ now love hangs upon Christ now love will fight it out to the death for Christ now hope flies to the horns of the Sanctuary now hope puts on her helmet now hope casts her anchor upon that within the veil c. Heb. 6. 19 Grace is never more acted than when a Christian is most tempted Satan made a bow of Jobs wife of his Rib as Chrysostome speaks and shot a tentation by her at Job thinking to have shot him to the heart curse God and dye but the activity of Jobs graces was a breast-plate that made him temptation-proof the Devil tempting Bonaventure told him hee was a reprobate and therefore perswaded him to drink in the present pleasures of this life for saith hee thou art excluded from the future joyes with God in Heaven Bonaventures graces being active hee answers no not so Satan if I must not enjoy God after this life let mee enjoy him as much as I can in this life Fourthly By temptations the Lord will make you the more serviceable and usefu to others none so fit and able to relieve tempted The skilfulest commanders and leaders are of greatest service and use to the souldiers souls to sympathize with tempted souls to succour tempted souls to counsel tempted souls to pitty tempted souls to support tempted souls to bear with tempted souls and to comfort tempted souls as those who have been in the school of temptations 2 Cor. 1. 3 4. Blessed bee God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that wee may bee able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith wee our selves are comforted of God By temptations God trains up his servants and fits and capacitates them to succour and shelter their fellow brethren One tempted Christian saith Luther is Luther in Gen. 27. Rev. 2. 24 more profitable and useful to other Christians than a hundred I may add than a thousand that have not known the depths of Satan that have not been in the school of temptation hee that is Master of Arts in the school of temptation hath learned an Art to comfort to succour and gently to handle tempted and distressed souls infinitely beyond what all humane Arts can reach unto no Doctor to him that hath been a Doctor in the school of temptation all other Doctors are but illiterate dunces to him Fifthly It is an honour to the Saints to bee tempted and in the issue to have an honourable conquest ever the tempter it was a great honour to David that hee should be put to fight hand to hand 1 Sam. 17. with Goliah and in the issue to overcome him but it was a far 〈…〉 ter honour to Job and Paul Job 1. 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9 10 that they should bee put to combate in the open field with Satan himself and in the close to gain a famous conquest over him as they did it was a very great honour to 2 Sam. 23. 13 18. Davids three mighty men that in jeopardy of their lives they brake thorow the host of the Philistines to bring water to David out of the well of Beth-lehem and did effect it in spite of all the strength and power of their enemies though it were to the extreamest hazard of their blood and lives but it is a far greater honour to the Saints to bee furnished with a spirit of Rom. 8. 35 ult 1 John 1. 3 4 strength courage and valour to break thorow an army of temptations and in the close 〈◊〉 triumph over them and yet this honour have all the Saints 1 Cor.
yet hee will return again though your Sun bee now set in a cloud yet it will rise again though sorrow may abide for a night yet joy Isa 17. 14 Psal 30. 5. Psal 40. 1 2 3 Psal 5. 11 Psal 42. 5 8 9 11 comes in the morning A Christians mourning shall last but till morning Micah 7. 19. Hee will turn again hee will have compassion upon us Cant. 3. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my soul loveth I held him and I would not let him go c. Psal 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within mee thy comforts delight my soul Isa 54. 7 8 10. For a moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer for the mountains shall depart and the hills bee removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace bee removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee God will not suffer his whole displeasure to arise upon his people neither will hee forsake them totally or finally the Saints shall taste but some sips of the cup of Gods wrath sinners shall drink the dreggs their storm shall end in a calm and their winter night shall be turned into a summers day There was a woman who was thirteen years under desertion which was so vehement that for the most part of her time shee was fain to keep her bed through weakness A godly Minister who was affected with her condition went to comfort her and to pray with her but when hee came and offered to do it shee shrieked out utterly refusing and forbidding him to pray with her for said shee I have too many abused mercies to answer for already yet hee would not bee put off but prayed by her and so prevailed with God on her behalf that the next morning shee was delivered from all her fears and had such exceeding joy that the like hath rarely been heard of the Lord that had been long withdrawn from her returned at length in a way of singular mercy to her There was So Mris. Honeywood Mris. Katherine Breterg and divers others another precious woman who was several years deserted and hearing a precious godly Minister preach shee of a sudden fell down overwhelmed with joy crying out O! hee is come whom my soul loveth and for divers daies after shee was filled with such exceeding joyes and had such gracious and singular ravishing expressions so fluently coming from her that many came to hear the rare manifestations of Gods grace in her the lowest of her pious expressions did exceed the highest that ever the Minister had read in the book of Martyrs But Sixthly and lasty Gods deserting Gods forsaking of his people shall many waies work for their good As First God by withdrawing from his people will prepare and fit them for greater refreshings manifestations and consolations Psal 71. 11 20 21. Saying God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him But shall this forelorn condition work for his good yes Thou which hast shewed mee great and sore troubles shalt quicken mee again and shalt bring mee up again from the depths of the earth Thou shalt encrease my greatness and comfort mee on every side When Josephs brethren were in Gen. 45. 1 2 3 4 their greatest distress then Joseph makes known himself most fully to them so doth Christ our spiritual Joseph to his people Hudson the Martyr deserted at the stake went from under his chain and having prayed earnestly was comforted immediately and suffered valiantly 2 By Gods withdrawing from his people hee prevents his peoples withdrawing from him and so by an affliction hee prevents sin for God to withdraw from mee is but Heb. 10. 38 39. Christ the Captain of our salvation will execute Martial Law upon all that withdraw from their colours c. my affliction but for mee to withdraw from God that is my sin and therefore it were better for mee that God should withdraw a thousand times from mee than that I should once withdraw from God God therefore forsakes us that wee may not forsake our God God sometimes hides himself that wee may cleave the clâ—ser to him and hang the faster upon him As the Mother hides her self from the childe for a time that the childe may cleave the closer and hang the faster upon her all the day long God sometimes hid himself from David Psal 30. 7. Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled I was all-amort well and is that all no vers 8. I cried to thee O Lord and unto the Lord I made supplication Now hee cries louder and cleaves closer to God than ever so in that Psal 63. 1 2. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is To see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in thy Sanctuary Well and how do these withdrawings of God work why this you may see in verse 8. My soul followeth hard after thee or as the Hebrew reads it my soul cleaveth after thee look as the husband cleaves to his wife so doth my soul cleave to the Lord the Psalmist now follows God even hard Gen. 2. 24 at heels as wee say But Thirdly The Lord by withdrawing from his people will inhance and raise the price and commend the worth excellency sweetness 2 Pet. 1. 4 and usefulness of several precious promises which otherwise would bee but as dry breasts and as useless weapons to the soul As that Micah 7. 18 19. Hee will turn again hee will have compassion upon us c. and that Isa 54. 7 8. but now opened and that Heb. 13. 5 6. and that Hab. 2. 3. and that And that John 14. 21 23. and that 1 Sam. 12. 20. Isa 60. 19 ult Psal 5. 12. For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour thou wilt compass him or crown him as with a shield the Lord will compass the righteous about with his favour as the Crown compasses about the head as the Hebrew imports and that Psal 112. 4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness hee is gracious and full of compassion and righteous And that Jer. 3â— 37. Thus saith the Lord if Heaven above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord. As sure as Heaven cannot bee measured nor the foundations of the earth searched by the skill or power of any mortal man So sure and certain it is that God will not utterly cast off his people no noâ— for all the evil that they have done
to lye down in the will of God and quietly to resign up thy self to the good will and pleasure of God Luther was a man that could have any thing of God and why why because hee submitted his will to the will of God hee lost his will in the will of God Oh soul it shall bee even as thou wilt if thy will bee swallowed up in the will of God Sixthly and lastly If thou wouldest bee silent under the afflicting hand of God then thou must hold Psa 94. 19 Dan. 9. 19 24 Gen. 28. 7 Act. 16. 27 ch Hos 2. 14 fast to this principle viz. That God will make times of affliction to be times of special manifestations of divine love and favour to thee Tiburtius saw a Paradise when hee walked upon hot burning coals I could confirm this by a cloud of witnesses but that I am upon a close Ah Christians as ever you would be quiet and silent under the Smarting Rod hold fast to these principles and keep them as your lives But Twelfthly and lastly To silence and quiet your souls under the afflicting hand of God dwell much upon the brevity or shortness of mans life this present life is not vita sed via ad vitam life but a motion a journey towards life mans life saith one is the shadow of smoak yea the dream of a shadow saith another mans life is so short that Austin doubtâ—th whether to call Aug. l. 1. Conf. it a dying life or a living death thou hast but a day to live and perhaps thou mayest be now in the twelâ—th hour of that day therefore hold out faith and patience thy troubles and thy life will shortly end together therefore hold thy peace thy grave is going to bee made thy Sun is near setting death begins to call thee off oâ— the stage of this world death stands at thy back thou must shortly sail forth upon the Ocean of eternity though thou hast a great deal of work to do a God to honour a Christ to close with a soul to save a race to run a Crown to win a Hell to escape a pardon to beg a Heaven to make sure yet thou hast but a little time to do it in thou hast one foot in the grave thou art even a going a shore on eternity and wilt thou now cry out of thy afflictions wilt thou now mutter and murmure when thou art entring upon an unchangeable condition what extream folly and madness is it for a man to mutter and murmure when hee is just a going out of prison and his boults and chains are just a knocking off Why Christian this is just thy case therefore hold thy peace thy life is but short therefore Rom. 8. 18 thy troubles cannot bee long hold up and hold out quietly and patiently a little longer and Heaven shall make amends for all FINIS A TABLE Shewing the Principal things in this TREATISE THe words opened and the Doctrine raised viz. That it is the great duty and concernment of gracious souls to be mute and silent under the greatest afflictions the saddest providences and sharpest trials they meet with in this world from p. 1 to 4. For the opening of the point First 1 There is a sevenfold silence p. 4 to 16. 2 What doth a prudent a gracious a holy silence include shewed in eight things p. 16 44. 3 What a prudent a holy silence under afflictions doth not exclude shewed in eight things p. 44 67. 4 Eight Reasons why Christians must bee mute and silent under their greatest afflictions c. p. 67 92. Vse This Truth looks sourely upon five sorts of persons p. 92 102 Six considerations to prevent men from using sinful shifts and courses to deliver themselves out of their afflictions c. p. 102 116. Twelve considerations to prevail with Christians to bee mute and silent under the sharpest afflictions c. that they meet with in this world p. 116 145 The hainous and dangerous nature of murmuring discovered in twelve particulars p. 145 169 Object 1 Did I but know that my afflictions were in love I would bee quiet I would hold my peace c. Answered eight waies p. 169 187 Object 2 The Lord hath smitten mee in my nearest and dearest comforts and contentments and how then can I hold my peace Answered twelve waies p. 187 116 Object 3 Oh! But my afflictions my troubles have been long upon mee and how then can I hold my peace Answered ten waies p. 216 236 Object 4 I would bee mute and silent under my afflictions but they daily multiply and encrease upon me c. how then can I bee silent Answered eight waies p. 236 242 Object 5 My afflictions are very great how then can I hold my peace c. Answered six waies p. 242 252 Object 6 Oh! But my afflictions are greater than other mens c. how then can I bee silent Answered six waies p. 252 260 Object 7. I would hold my peace but my outward afflictions are attended with sore temptations c. how then can I bee silent Answered five waies wherein eight advantages are discovered that Saints gain by their temptations p. 260 279 Object 8 Oh! But God hath deserted mee hee hath forsaken mee and hid his face from mee c. how can I then bee silent Answered six waies Also eight advantages the Saints gain by their being clouded p. 279 304 Object 9 Oh! But I am falsely accused and sadly charged and reproached in my good name c. how then can I bee silent Answered ten waies p. 304 325 Object 10 I have sought the Lord in this my affliction for this and that mercy and still the Lord delaies mee and puts mee off c. how can I then hold my peace how can I bee silent c. Answered six waies p. 325 333 Quest But what are the reasons that God doth so delay and put off his people Answered seven waies p. 333 343 Quest What are the means that may help persons to bee silent and quiet under their greatest afflictions their sharpest trials c. Answered from p. 343. to the end of the book ERRATA Page 67. l. 20. read hear for bare pag. 235. l. 17. r. heal for heat p. 258. l. 5. r. that for than â—p 268. l. 26. add was p. 274. l. 12. add you p. 276. l. 3. r. sight for fight p. 299. Margent read Chaiim p. 311. l. 7. r. world for worthy Books printed and are to be sold by John Hancock at the first shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Cornhill A Book of Short-writing the most easie exact lineal and speedy method fitted to the meanest capacity composed by Mr. Theophilus Metealf Professor of the said Art Also a School-Master explaining the Rules of the said Book Another Book of new Short-hand by Thomas Cross A Coppy-book of the newest and most useful hands with Rules whereby those that can read may quickly learn to write To which is added Brief Directions for true spelling and cyphering c. Six Books lately published by Mr. Thomas Brooks Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New Fish-street 1 Precious Remedies against Satans Devices OR Salve for Beleevers and Unbeleevers Sores being a companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ that sleight or neglect Ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it on the ad of the Corinthians the 2d and the 11th 2 Heaven on Earth OR A serious Discourse touching a well-grounded Assurance of mens everlasting happiness and blessedness discovering the nature of Assurance the possibility of attaining it the Causes Springs and Degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty questions on the 8th of the Romans 32 33 34 verses 3 The Vnsearchable Riches of Christ OR Meat for strong Men and Milk for Babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Ephesians 3. 8. preached on his Lecture-nights at Fish-street-hill 4 His Apples of Gold for Young Men and Women And A Crown of Glory for Old Men and Women Or the Happiness of being Good betimes and the Honour of being an Old Disciple clearly and fully discovered and closely and faithfully applied 5 A String of Pearls OR The Best Things reserved till last Delivered in a Sermon preached in London June 8. 1657. at the Funeral of that Triumphant Saint Mris. Mary Blake late Wife to his worthy friend Mr. Nicholas Blake Merchant 6 The Silent Soul with Soveraign Antidotes against the most miserable Exigents OR A Christian with an Olive-leaf in his mouth when hee is under the greatest afflictions the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles the saddest and darkest providences and changes with answers to divers Questions and Objections that are of greatest importance all tending to win and work souls to bee still quiet calm and silent under all changes that have or that may pass upon them in this world c. Altum Silentium OR Silence the Duty of Saints under every sad Providence An Occasional Sermon preached after the Death of a Daughter by her Father viz. By John Durant Preacher of the Gospel in Christ's-Church Canterbury The Godly Mans Ark OR City of Refuge in the day of his Distress discovered in divers Sermons The first of which was preached at the Funeral of Mris. Elizabeth Moore Whereunto are annexed Mris. Moores Evidences for Heaven composed and collected by her in the time of her health for her comfort in the time of sickness By Ed. Calamy B. D. and Pastor of the Church at Aldermanbury The Scriptures Stability OR The Scripture cannot be broken Proved explained and several waies applied whereby all Scripture may with singular advantage come to bee improved By Robert Perrot Minister of Gods Word at Deane in Bedfordshire The Expert Physician Learnedly treating of all Agues and Feavers essential whether simple or compound confused Erratick and Malignant shewing their different Nature Cause Sign and Cure written originally by that famous Doctor in Physick Bricius Bauderon and translated into English by Doctor Wells Licentiate in Physick by the University of Oxford To bee sold by John Hancock at the first Shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Cornhill