beneficial to him because in the School of Affliction he learnt God's Statutes better he learned to prize them for in the following verse he preferred them before thousands of gold and silver And thus looking upon them as an invaluable Treasure here is an intimation that he kept them with a conscientious and affectionate care and diligence I raise two Doctrines from the words The one is That Saints are afflicted for their good The other is That the Rod of God is a means to make his Word to be the better learned Doct. I. I begin with the first of these Doctrines That Saints are afflicted for their good they are the better and happier for being chastened Job 5. 17. Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty Chastening is despised if it be lookt upon only as a misery which has so great a tendency to promote our happiness Jam. 5. 11. Behold we count them happy which endure Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy Both these passages have Behold prefixed to them they seem Paradoxes to carnal reason but if the Eye of the Understanding be opened to look into the matter it will be perceived that Affliction and Happiness are not disparata which never meet in the same subject the Saints are the more blessed the more they are corrected That passage may be called a Threatning because Affliction is a punishment of Iniquity and also a Promise because Correction ends in Amendment Psal 89. 30 31 32 33. If his Childrrn forsake my Law and walk not in my Judgments If they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments then will I visit their Transgression with a Rod and their Iniquity with Stripes Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail In the handling of this Doctrine I shall First Demonstrate the Truth of it by several Arguments Secondly I shall specifie what that good is which accrews to the Saints by Affliction Thirdly Conclude with the Application In the first place I am to demonstrate that Saints are afflicted for their good The Arguments demonstrating this are these 1. Afflictions are of God's own sending whose goodness is manifested in the sending of them The Afflictions which the Saints feel are ordered in Heaven for them Job regards not so much the malice of Satan nor the injustice and violence of Man in that sore Calamity which so suddenly fell upon him but his Eye looks as high as God in it Job 1. 21. The Lord has taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Well may he be blessed for the Lord ceases not to be good to his People when he takes a Rod into his hand to beat them Afflictions in Scripture are compared to Waters and these Waters come out of Paradise and savour of it Give me leave to search the Springs of these Waters and trace them to the Fountain head and upon due search it will be found that they flow from the truest love the wisest care the greatest faithfulness 1. The Saints Afflictions flow from the truest love Heb. 12. 6. Whom the Lord loves he chastens and scourgeth every Son whom he receives Now Tokens of Love are to be reckoned among the good things not the evil The Lord chastens his Children whom he delights in that he may make them more lovely and his delight in them may be the greater Indeed in Nature 't is otherwise The same Fountain cannot at the same place send forth sweet Water and bitter Jam. 3. 11. Yet certain it is that all the sweetnesses and bitternesses of a Christian come from one and the same Fountain the Everlasting Love of God in Christ Jesus 2. The Saints Afflictions flow from the wisest care God cares for his People and bids them cast all their care upon him 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you When Nebuchadnezzar's countenance was full of rage and the three Children were threatned with a fiery Furnace seven times heated they were confident of God's care and had said and stood to it We are not careful to answer thee but be it known to thee we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the Golden Image thou hast set up Dan. 3. 16 18. God's care of them was great in this extreme peril And he cares for all his Saints their life their health their comforts are precious in his Eyes and they shall not be toucht but when necessity and conveniency calls for it 3. The Saints Afflictions slow from the greatest faithfulness The Church in the very depths of trouble cries out Great is thy faithfulness Jer. 3. 23. I know O Lord says the Psalmist that thy Judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Psal 119. 75. The Physicians faithfulness appears in giving very bitter Potions which are a means to save the Patients life Sharp Afflictions are often necessary to recever the health of the Soul divine faithfulness is manifested in this method of recovery This faithfulness of God debates with the Rod when it shoots forth lest it should be too heavy and rather make an end of than mend his Children Isa 27. 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it he stayeth his rough Wind in the day of the East Wind For if both these Winds should blow together the Saints might not be able to stand against them That is the first Argument to prove the goodness of Affliction it is of God's sending and in sending of it his love and care and faithfulness is manifested 2. Afflictions are sent with a design that afflicted Saints may be benefited He does not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men The Lord sees they have need of it and therefore they are in heaviness But when Affliction is as it were plowing upon the backs of the Saints and long and deep furrows are made the Lord at that very time is sowing both light and grace and joy and how plentiful will the Harvest be Psal 97. 11. Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart Heb. 12. 11. Chastening does yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them who are exercised thereby Earthly Parents are oftentimes transported with passion and act after their own humour and pleasure in correcting of their Children and then their Children are rather provoked to anger and discouraged than amended But hereby it most evidently appears 't is good for the Saints that they are afflicted because their Father who is the Father of Spirits does chastize his Children for their profit that is their spiritual profit and advantage that they may be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10. And the truth is we are never more profited than when we are most sanctified 3. The Afflictions of the Saints are dispensed to them through
and Duties to Man are done with a greater regard unto God Himself Gods Approbation is more minded and the Eye being single looks not so much at other things but aims at this that God in all things may have Glory which indeed of Right appertains to Him 6. Another good Consequent of Affliction is a more full and compleat Victory over the World and silencing the God of it When Sickness seizeth upon the Saints the Love of the World is hereby struck more dead The World is out of Countenance and ashamed now to appear it's alluring Power and Charms are all gone And Satan the God of it does not so much care now to offer it Mammon can neither cure the diseased Body nor ease the afflicted Mind Affliction takes off the fine Mask upon Mammons Face and then 't is plainly seen how sorry a Master he is and how poor all his store The World cannot yield true Contentment to any for that little while they are the Inhabitants of it and can any thing of this World be carried away into another World Ah no! 1 Tim. 6. 7. For we brought nothing into this World and 't is certain we can carry nothing out He that has most of the World what is it all to him when he is leaving the World and all behind him Suppose the greatest Possessour of Earthly Riches lying upon a Death-bed in his fainting Fits and dying Agonies lay some baggs of Gold upon his Pillows bring in the sweetest Consort of Musick shew him the costliest Raiment he ever â—wore let a Table be spread and furnisht with the choicest Dainties and let the greatest Beauties stand by him proffering themselves and their service to him Alas Alas what 's all this to a Man that is breathing out his last Breath and ready to appear and give an account of himself unto the Judge of all Affliction gives a smart Admonition that this World is to be contemned in Comparison of the better and enduring Substance Satan notwithstanding his Subtlety is easily baffled in Affliction think seriously of Death and Judgment and all that He offers is just nothing though he should make as large an offer as he did to Christ in the hour of his Temptation when he shewed him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them 7. Another good Consequent of Affliction is an Increase of Grace and an abundance of the Fruits of Righteousness Wicked men receive not Correction being put into the Furnace they are found and rejected as Reprobate Silver but the Correction of the Saints is the Probation Augmentation and evidencing of the Grace of God in them Faith is tried and by trial is strengthned Patience Experience Hope augmented Rom. 5. 3 4 5. Tribulation worketh Patience Patience Experience Experience Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us The Lords tender Compassions towards his afflicted Children exceedingly endears him their Father to them His gracious Visits His stretching forth his own Everlasting Arm for their Sustentation when ready to sink under their Burthens His remembring Mercy in the greatest Severity His being within call and readiness to hear and help fills their Hearts with Love and Resolution to live and cleave to him With how much Tenderness and Compassion does the Lord express himself towards his afflicted ones Psal 69. 33. For the Lord heareth the Poor and despiseth not his Prisoners And Psal 22. 24. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the Affliction of the afflicted neither hath he hid his Face from him but when he cried unto him he heard Saints are great gainers by Affliction because Godliness which is great Gain which is profitable for all things is more powerful than before The Rod of Correction by a Miracle of Grace like that of Aarons Buds and Blossoms and brings forth the Fruits of Righteousness which are most excellent A rare sight it is indeed to see a man coming out of a bed of Languishing or any other Furnace of Affliction more like to Angels in Purity more like to Christ who was Holy Harmless Vndefiled and separate from Sinners more like unto God himself being more exactly Righteous in all his ways and more exemplarily Holy in all manner of Conversation 8. Another good Consequent of Affliction is an high esteem of Time and affecting Apprehensions of Death Judgment and Eternity Affliction brings Death within view Jobs Calamity makes his Mortality much thought of the things of the World had left him he speaks as a man just ready to leave the World Job 17. 1 13 14. My Breath is corrupt my Days are extinct the Graves are ready for me If I wait the Grave is my House I have made my Bed in the Darkness I have said to Corruption thou art my Father and to the Worm thou art my Mother and my Sister He claims kindred to the Worms and Corruption Death was most familiar to his Thoughts and in his Imagination the Grave was his Bed already Now at Death the Saints consider that Time comes to a full stop and Judgment will follow and fix them in Eternity It is of great use to us when our Thoughts dwell in Eternity before we our selves enter upon Eternity this makes an Holy and Happy Eternity infinitely desireable in our Eyes And how do we look unto Jesus through whom Eternal Life is given and with what Circumspection is the way of Holiness walked in which ends in Life Everlasting Rom. 6. 22 23. Affliction awakens the Saints care to improve Time to work while 't is day for it will be too late to work when the Night is once come and how are they concerned that there time be not ended before Eternity be well provided for 9. Another good Consequent of Affliction is Serious Diligence to make the Calling and Election sure When Affliction finds us at uncertainties in reference to our Spiritual State our doubts and fears are amazing and tormenting 'T is sad for a man to look upon himself as dying and then to say O animula vagula blandula Quae nunc abibis in loca O my Soul thou art departing hence but whither oh whither art thou going What is like to be the place of thy Eternal abode which must never be changed To be dying and doubting at the same time is very sad though we are really never so safe What is a well grounded Evidence of the Love of God in Christ worth upon a bed of Sickness How valuable and comfortable the Spirits Testimony concerning our Adoption Now Affliction puts the Saints upon a more strict and impartial Self-examination and upon a more thorow and perceivable turning unto God Lam. 3. 39 40. Wherefore doth the living man complain a man for the Punishment of his Sins Let us search and try our ways and turn unto the Lord our God Affliction makes that Admonition of the Apostle to be heeded 2 Pet. 1. 10 11.
but He gives not a blow but what is for his Childrens Profit Heb. 12. 10. And why should any be impatient at their being Profited and Advantaged Considering the blessed issue of the Saints Troubles they should be born with all thankfulness for sanctified Afflictions are great Promotions and hereby mighty advances are made in Heavens way 4. 'T is unreasonable for the Saints because of their Afflictions to question Divine Providence or to conclude that Religion is vain The Psalmist under the Rod and Temptation together was ready to draw such Conclusions Continued chastning made him to think of God and to speak of Religion unbecomingly and indeed impiously He was so foiled by the Tempter that his Feet were almost gone and 't was hard for him to recover strange kind of Language he utters Psal 73. 10 11 12 13 14. Therefore his People return hither and Waters of a full Cup are wrung out to them And they say how doth God know and is there Knowledge in the most high Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the World they increase in Riches Verily I have cleansed my Heart in vain and washt my hands in Innocency for all the day long have I been plagued and chastned every Morning But at length the Psalmist comes to himself V. 15. If I say I will speak thus behold I should offend against the Generation of thy Children And he gives himself very bad Words but such as his yielding so far to that Temptation very well deserved V. 21 22. Thus my Heart was grieved and I was pricked in my Reins so foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee But he is cured of his brutishness and speaks like a Saint expressing desires after God above all things in Heaven and Earth concludes it good to draw near to God and rejoices in him as the Strength of his Heart and his Portion for ever Suppose a Saint never so much afflicted yet to be and continue a Saint is certainly good for him and a wise part in him Job when sitting upon the ground among the Ashes full of Boyls and Scraping himself with a Potsheard was still dear to God And so was Lazarus lying at the Rich mans Gate desiring to be fed with the Crumbs which fell from the Rich mans Table Saints under the greatest Troubles can't be miserable for God is Theirs and They are His still and these very Troubles do promote their Holiness and their Happiness 5. The Prosperity of the Wicked and their Freedom from Affliction should not raise the Saints Envy Saints are frequently tempted to envy the wicked their good things and sometimes this Envy has prevailed and has been their fault and failing it has proved their great both Sin and Torment Psal 73. 3. I was Envious at the Foolish when I saw the Prosperity of the Wiched That Caution is but needful Psal 37. 1. Fret not thy self because of evil doers neither be thou envious at the Workers of Iniquity For a man that is made wise to Salvation to be envious at the Foolish for a man that is enriched with Grace to be envious at the Workers of Iniquity because of their Prosperity there is no Reason at all for it Alas this Prosperity of theirs is greatly to their Prejudice and helps forward their Perdition Prov. 1. 32. The turning away or the ease of the simple shall slay them and the Prosperity of Fools shall destroy them And this Destruction is hastning and comes unexpectedly suddenly and so the more unavoidably upon them and 't wil be utter and Eternal Destruction Psal 73. 17 18 19. Until I went into the Sanctuary of God then understood I their End Surely thou didst set them in slippery places thou castest them down into Destruction How are they brought into Desolation as in a Moment they are utterly consumed with terrours The greatest Wealth and Glory of the Ungodly considering how soon 't will end and what will follow when it ends should not stir our Envy but rather our Pitty and Compassion for they walk in a vain shew full of vain Confidence till their Feet go down to Death and their steps take hold of Hell 6. To be Incorrigible under Affliction is inexcusable As 't is good for Saints to be afflicted so all should be bettered by Affliction 'T is a great Aggravation of Sin to smart and bleed and groan because of it and yet still to Love it If Saints are afflicted for their Good when Sinners are afflicted a great price is put into their hands which may be improved to an Eternal Advantage In Prosperity the Ungodly are usually hardned in Pride and Earthliness and Wickedness and Sensuality the Lord not rebuking them nor presently executing Sentence against their Evil Works they are apt to think Him altogether such an one as themselves Psal 50. 21. and that he dislikes Sin no more than they do Whereupon their Hearts are fully set in them to do Evil Eccles 8. 11. But when wicked Ones are visited with Troubles and they feel the smart of the Rod God is really very near them and if they would but cry to him with their Hearts how readily would he hear and turn them to himself and turn his anger away from them Jer. 31. 18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoak turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God And according to his desire he was turned and instructed he obtained sure Mercy and became a dear Son a pleasant Child notwithstanding all his former foul Sins and reproachful Abominations V. 19 20. But when Sinners are smitten in vain and receive no Correction Nay like Ahaz in their Affliction trespass yet more this Argues a great Love to Sin and the more provokes the Lord to Jealousie and Indignation Judah was strangely fond of and wedded to their Idolatry and other Wickedness when the Sorest Judgments could not be a means to divorce them from it Jer. 5. 3. O Lord are not thine Eyes upon the Truth Thou hast smitten them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive Correction they have made their Faces harder than a Rock they have refused to return 'T is the highth of Madness to be Sins Martyrs and not only to suffer trouble in this World but for the sake of it to venture burning in Hell for evermore 7. How great is the goodness of God who can make the Evil of Affliction to Work for good to his People 'T is the Physicians great art so to temper Poyson as to turn it into a powerful and wholesom Medicine What is Evil in it self and evil and Destructive to Nature God does make it become very good to the Saints and to further the work of Grace in them How securely may such a Gracious God be relied on who can make the worst things a Saint
Instruction and that you may learn all the Lessons which the Rod is sent to teach you You are commanded to hear the Rod Mic. 6. 9. The Lords Voice cryeth unto the City and the Man of Wisdom shall see thy Name hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it The Rod has a Voice and 't is strong and startling if you will but heed it it will be very articulate and plain to you Chastning is truly beatifical makes the chastized blessed when the Lord does chastize and teach together or gives Instruction with and by Correction Psal 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law When the Schoolmaster has a Rod in his hand has given several Lashes and is ready upon neglects and new faults to give more how does the Scholar mind every Word his Master speaks to him with what Care and Diligence is his Lesson learned The Rod of God should quicken Attention to his Voice and cause a most serious regard to his whole Will and Pleasure Is the Lesson of the Rod concerning thy Pride 1 Pet. 5. 5. Be cloathed with Humility for God resisteth the Proud but giveth Grace to the Humble Is the Lesson of the Rod concerning thy Love to the World 1 Joh. 2. 15. Love not the World neither the things that are in the World if any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him Is the Lesson of the Rod concerning thy Sloth Heb. 6. 12. That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Is the Lesson of the Rod concerning thy foolish fleshly and hurtful Lusts 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul Finally Is the Lesson of the Rod concerning thy unruly Passions Prov. 14. 29. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding but he that is hasty of Spirit exalteth Folly So that 't is very visible and exposed to the view of all Jam. 1. 20. The Wrath of man worketh not the Righteousness of God Eph. 4. 31 32. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be ye kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you Whatever the Lesson of the Rod be let it be your care to be throughly instructed in it and practise in those who have learned to purpose 5. Under Affliction sincerely turn and seek to that God who smites you A thorough Conversion is the end of Correction Take notice of the false ways in which you have gone astray and how near you were to the brink of Eternal Perdition venture not to take so much as one step farther in Hells Road. But return to God unfeignedly and with your whole Heart Consent to be wholly His that your whole man should be at his Command and have respect to all his Precepts without Exception Psal 119. 5 6. Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments Judah is branded for this that they refused to turn to him that smote them No wonder that Gods anger did abide and that his hand was still felt very heavy upon them Isa 9. 12 13. For all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still for this People turneth not to him that smiteth them neither do seek the Lord of Hosts The hand that smites you if you will not turn can give worse blows nay it can give a deadly blow that may strike you quite down both into the Grave and Hell together The hand that smites alone can heal therefore it concerns you to humble your selves under it How great is the goodness of God that he gives you leave to turn to him that he requires you to seek him and that for no less than his Favour his Grace and Eternal Glory and Blessedness And all this shall be yours if you seek diligently 6. Under Affliction take heed of despising the chastning of the Lord. Heb. 12. 5. Ye have forgotten the Exhortation that speaketh unto you as unto Children My Son despise not thou the chastning of the Lord. Chastning is despised when the Lords hand in chastning is not taken notice of nor his end in Correcting is Minded or Complied with when neither his displeasure manifested in rebukes is observed nor Sin mourned for which does displease him Thus for a while chastning was despised by him you read of Isa 57. 17. For the Iniquity of his Covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went frowardly on in the way of his Heart But at last he was brought to a better temper The Lord humbled him and healed the frowardness of his Heart and likewise removed his stroke from him V. 18. I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore Comfort to him and to his Mourners In Affliction take notice of God as the Afflicter else you contemn him take notice of Sin as the cause why you are afflicted for if Sin be not laid to Heart that God whom you Sin against is disregarded Nay Saints in a sense despise chastning if they don't behold that the Rod they feel is in their Fathers hand for the Exhortation the Apostle tells us speaks as unto Children and that it is a token of his Paternal Faithfulness and Love Prov. 3. 12. Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth To look upon Afflictions meerly as evils is to despise them They ought to be lookt upon as Arguments of Gods Fatherly Wisdom and Care and as Talents improvable to great Spiritual Advantage The Cup is in the hand of a Father and all the Ingredients in it are healing Every Member of Christ therefore should speak that Language which his Head spake before him Joh. 18. 11. The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it 7. Under Affliction faint not neither be weary of Correction He is infinitely wise who does correct and therefore Correction shall not be excessive but in measure Jer. 30. 11. I am with thee saith the Lord to save thee I will not make a full end of thee but will correct thee in measure and not leave thee wholly unpunished The measure of Affliction is such as he who is best able to judge sees to be needful and no more 1 Pet. 1. 6. Now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through many Temptations God will lighten your burthen or if he should add to your Load he will proportion Strength that you may be able to bear it Faint not under his hand for when he strikes he also sustains and in Wrath remembers Mercy Be willing that Affliction should remain till 't is sanctified and
behind will you be lavish of that time still will you lose any more Oh see the Wisdom of redeeming Time Eph. 5. 15 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as Fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil And fear the loss of time 1 Pet. 1. 17. If ye call on the Father who without respect of Persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear Be sure to lose no more for to lose all your time is most certainly to lose your selves and that for ever In the other World there is no obtaining Mercy by those who all the while they were in this World slighted Mercy There is no working out your own Salvation after death if all your Life-time Salvation be neglected 7. After Affliction be full of gratitude Holy Ingenuity and Love The Calves of your Lips most acceptable Sacrifices should be offered frequently nay continually with an enlarged Heart with a willing mind David was in danger of losing his Life among the Philistines God preserves it How Fruitful are his Lips in Praises Psal 34. 1 2 3 4. I will bless the Lord at all times his Praise shall continually be in my Mouth my Soul shall make her boast in the Lord the humble shall hear thereof and be glad Oh magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears Hezekiah had been deliver'd from deadly Sickness he was raised by special Favour and Power when according to Nature Death was unavoidable Coming so unexpectedly and so quickly from a seeming Death-Bed to the Temple how does he make that Temple Ring with his Thanskgivings Isa 38. 17 19. Behold for Peace I had great bitterness but thou hast in love to my Soul deliver'd it from the Pit of Corruption thou hast cast all my Sins behind thy back The living the living he shall Praise thee as I do this day the Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth Not onely must your Mouths be fill'd with Praises but your Hearts with Love and Ingenuity should make you study what to render unto God Observe the working of the Psalmists grateful Breast after God had deliver'd his Soul from Death his Eyes from Tears and his Feet from falling Psal 116. 1. I love the Lord because he hath heard my Voice and my Supplication V. 3. The Sorrows of Death compassed me the Pains of Hell got hold upon me V. 5 6. Gracious is the Lord and Righteous yea our God is merciful I was brought low and he helped me V. 7. Return to thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee V. 12. What shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits towards me He thought nothing too good nothing too much for that God who had been so good to him who had done so much for him Still you should be contriving to make more suitable returns for what you have received and with your Praises and Service your Hearts and Love must be the Principal part of the returns you make Love lies in Desire and Delight no Mercies so desirable as the Father of Mercies God Himself is more to be delighted in than any of the Benefits he bestows Take heed of loving Deliverance more than your Deliverer Mercies themselves are Idolized and it provokes the Lord to Jealousie if they are prized and delighted in more than the Lord God of your Mercies Therefore the Psalmist though he valued Deliverance from Enemies and Trouble yet principally rejoices in God himself Psal 9. 2. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee I will Praise thy Name O thou most High Rejoice in God more than in the return of Health more than in the Prolongation of Life or any other Comfort and Enjoyment Mercies attain their end when God is more endeared to you by them God will be all in all in Heaven and the more he is your all at present the more of Heaven you enjoy on Earth 8. After Affliction be sensible you are not safe in your own Hands therefore commit the keeping of your Souls to God 1 Pet. 4. 19. Let them commit the keeping of their Souls to Him in well-doing as unto a Faithful Creator If you are indeed wise and know your selves you will distrust your selves Self-Confidence is an undeniable Argument of Self-Ignorance Trust your selves in no hands but those out of which none shall ever be able to pluck you and those are hands of Christ and the Father Joh. 10. 27 28 29. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them Life Eternal and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater than All and none is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand Not onely in the Hour and Agony of Death but all your lives long every Day and Hour you have need still to be commending your Spirits unto God for they are safe with none besides Psal 31. 5. Into thy hands do I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth USE IV. Of Counsel more peculiarly to Saints who are afflicted Shew your selves to be Saints indeed and let your Graces now be much in Exercise Spices beaten in the Mortar are the more Fragrant Afflicted Saints should manifest a rare and excellent Spirit but no Dissatisfaction or Discontent considering the Truth of this Doctrine that they are afflicted for their good You that are Saints in your Troubles you need Counsel and 't is not to be doubted but you will heed it I shall give it in these particulars 1. Be Patient whatever your Affliction is That God whom you serve is patient towards Man has been patient towards you how many affronts and Provocations has he born put up and pardoned The Lord Jesus Christ was a Pattern of Patience and Meekness When he was reviled of Men he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not 1 Pet. 2. 23. Nay many had Life by his Blood who imbrued their hands in that Blood and shed it And when it Vivificatâ—â— Christi sanguine etiam qui fudit sanguinem Christi Talis est Christi ac tanta patientia quae nisi talis existeret Paulum quoque Apostolum Ecclesia non haberet Cypr. de bono Patientiae p. mihi 316. pleased his Father to bruise him and to put him to grief yet as a Lamb brought to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearers is dumb so he opened not his Mouth Isa 53. 7. The Members of the Body should imitate Christ the Head in Patience It may be an Inducement to a quiet bearing of Affliction that far worse has been demerited by the very best than is endured Ezr. 9. 13. Thou our God hast punished us less than our Iniquities deserve But the Benefit of Affliction proves that Patience
Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall For so an entrance shall be administred to you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ When once a Christian has attained unto a Sense and Assurance of the savour of God how prepared is he for whatever may befall him He can lie easie upon a Sick-bed because his God makes his Bed for him Psal 41. 3. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of Languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickness Nay the presence of his God makes him fearless in the gloomy Valley of the Shadow of Death Psal 23. 4. Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil for thou art with me 10. Another good Consequent of Affliction is spiritualized Affections and a Conversation more in Heaven Saints are cast down by Affliction that they may rise with Christ and feel the Power of his Resurrection more That 's a lesson which every Rod is sent to teach Col. 3. 2. Set your Affection on things above and not on things which are upon the Earth The harder the Ball is flung to the ground it rebounds the higher when God flings a Saint down with a mighty Hand his Heart should rebound higher towards Heaven imitating those excellent and faithful Ones who confessed they were strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth who declared plainly they sought a better Countrey than any Countrey on Earth because they sought an Heavenly Countrey And God was not ashamed to be called their God for he prepared for them a City Heb. 11. 13 16. The Psalmist was very much helped towards Heaven by Chastisement Psal 73. 14. All the day long says he have I been plagued and chastned every Morning And though for a while Temptation prevailed yet at length his Thoughts and Eyes are fixed right upon that Glory promised to such as give up themselves to God and to be guided by his Counsel V. 23. 24. Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right Hand Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterward receive me to Glory Afflicted Saints study and endeavour to shew forth the Power and Vertue both of their Lord's Death and Rising again How profitable is it to Dye and to be Crucified with him to be Dead to the World and all the Evil of it And how Sweet and Pleasant is it to rise with him and by earnests and foretasts of Glory to sit with Him in Heavenly Places Eph. 2. 4 5 6. But God who is Rich in Mercy for the great Love wherewith he loved us Even when we were dead in Sin hath quickned us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus How great and good are these Consequents which follow upon Affliction I come in the last Place to the Application And shall begin with some Corollaries drawn from the Doctrine If Saints are afflicted for their good 1. Hence we may inferr Afflictions are not Sings of Gods hatred rather Tokens of his Love They are the Lot of the Righteous Psal 34. 19. Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth them at length out of them all They are trained up under the Yoak and bearing it well is greatly beneficial Man is born unto Trouble as the sparks fly upward Troubles like sparks of Fire are innumerable which fill the few days of the Life of Man But those who are born again usually have more troubles than other men God cares for them Hedges up their way with Thorns which they may be afraid to break thorow into Paths which are destructive Hos 2. 6. Therefore behold I will Hedge up thy way with Thorns and make a wall that she shall not find her Paths Happy Saints in their Afflictions who have both a Thorny Hedge and also a wall between them and the broad Road which leads unto Eternal Perdition The Saints make an ill Comment upon their Afflictions when they say God cares not for them nor how he deals with them Several of them have born the Yoak in their Youth and have still carried it to their Graves It is said of One who lately died that upon his Death-bed being asked How long he had been ill made this Reply that he had been ill for fifty Years together Christ was a Man of Sorrows and yet the Son of Gods Love You may be very much beloved of God and yet be very much and often acquainted with griefs 2. Saints in their Afflictions should not be censured because afflicted Holy Job was stript naked and deprived of all that he had and was smitten in hiâ— Person from Head to Foot yet he was truly and eminently good and under all these Evils held fast his Righteousness and Integrity His Censorious Friends were blame-worthy in concluding him an Hypocrite because of his Sufferings He had a greater understanding in the things of God a sounder Judgment and more Grace in his Heart than they The excellent young Elihu spake right indeed when he pronounced Job a man to be justified as to his State Job 33. 32. But he blames him because in vindicating himself he spoke that which too much reflected upon God himself and therefore tells him Job 34. 23. That God will not lay upon any Man not upon the best of Men more than is Right that he should enter into Judgment with God But as for the other three Friends of Job who judged Job unsound in his Religion because of Gods heavy hand upon him they are very sharply rebuked The Lord owns his Servant whom they had so censured Job 42. 7. The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite my Wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two Friends for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is Right as my Servant Job And they are commanded to make use of Job as an Intercessour for them that they might not be dealt with according to their Folly To censure a Saint is ill but to censure him in Affliction and only because of Affliction is worse because this adds so much to his Affliction 3. There is no ground or reason for impatience in the Saints whatever Afflictions are their Exercise It may be a check to impatience to consider the very best have deserved worse a thousand-fold than ever they have suffered but the most effectual Remedy against Impatience is the Consideration of the Profit of Affliction Why should Saints repine and murmur at that which is so good for them When their Father is humbling purifying and healing of them when he is carrying on the good Work begun in them towards greater Perfection why should they count themselves hardly dealt with The Father of Spirits is not like the Fathers of our Flesh Will and Humour appears in their Corrections
Cry for Strength to be vouchsafed continually from above to perform your Resolutions made in the day of your Affliction and Distress If you are not strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might you will be too weak to do what your selves with the greatest firmness have seem'd to purpose And you must pray hard and 't is worth praying for that this Power may rest upon you The Psalmist saw his need of Strength from Heaven he begg'd for it and had it Psal 138. 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthnedst me with strength in my Soul There are two sorts of Resolutions which are most commonly made but neither of them are kept so as the Resolvers thought they would be Resolutions meerly to stop and gag the Mouth of a clamorous Conscience and Resolutions which are made in mens own strength who Question not nor trouble their Heads much about their Ability and Integrity to perform them These Resolutions shews their falshood and fickleness and how bold men are to dissemble with God and how foolish in trusting and cheating themselves But the Religious Purposes of the Psalmist were of another Nature in another manner He is indeed very serious and Peremptory in his Resolution and confirmed it with a Promissory Oath Psal 119. 106. I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy Righteous Judgments But he is sensible that neither his own Power Promise nor Oath were strong enough to hold him and keep him stedfast to these Testimonies of God therefore he prays twice together to be upheld Psal 119. 16 17. Uphold me according to thy Word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my Hope And again Hold thou me up and I shall be safe so shall I have respect to thy Statutes continually After Affliction take heed of that which your Hearts naturally are most prone to Idolize Whatever has had Gods Room that is to say the highest Room in your Hearts is certainly your Idol Be very strict in the Inquisition to find the Idol out and be sure to depose it let it be at the Footstool while the Lord alone in the Throne and has by far the Preeminence above it in your Affections If any of you Love Pleasure more than God Pleasure is your Idol or if you love Gain more than God or if you love Relations Preferments or Ornaments more than God these things are Idolized now remember how vain the Idol was in your Affliction and Distress and how helpless then it was found The delights of Sense the earthly Treasures the Relations and other things you were so fond of you were forced to see that help was not in them The Heathen Poet notably expresses this Non domus fundus non aeris acervus auri Aegroto domini deduxit corpore febres Non animo curas Horat. Epist 2. l. 1. Which may be thus Englished Nor House nor Lands nor heaps of golden Ore Can feaverish owners unto Health restore Nor ease their Minds of Care Idolatry in a special manner provokes the Lord to Jealousie The bowing of the Knee to Images as Pagans and Papists do displeases the Onely true God But if that leading affection of Love which is one of the highest pieces of Worship is placed principally upon any thing besides God hereby his anger and jealousie is blown up to a great heat and hight and mark what the Apostle says 1 Cor. 10. 22. Do we provoke the Lord to Jealousie are we stronger than he As his Strength is infinitely beyond ours so there is an Infiniteness in the Folly and Madness when any Adventure to provoke him to Jealousie Love is the greatest Grace 1 Cor. 13. 13. Love is the first and great Commandment what ever therefore is most apt to steal away your Love from God keep your Hearts while you live shut against it with an Holy Indignation Hos 14. 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols I have heard him and observed him I am like a green Fir-tree from me is thy Fruit found 5. After Affliction be diligent against the Sin which does most easily beset you Heb. 12. 1. Let us lay aside every weight and the Sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with Patience the race which is set before us Every Sin is a Weight and Clog I wish that every one lookt upon it as such But the Sin which by Reason of our Complexions Callings or the general Practice in the Age and Place we live in is most apt to Prevail that is the heavy Weight and the worst Clog of all to hinder us in our running the Christian Race You had need to be watchful against the Corruption of your Nature which though there be the Grace of God in Truth in you is far from being perfectly healed and is ready upon all Occasions and Temptations to break forth to the displeasing of God the wounding of your Consciences the defiling of your Souls and the disturbance of your Peace And whatsoever Iniquity it is which because it pretends your Security from danger or your Pleasure and Gain you find your selves most strongly addicted to verily there is need of the stricter watch and more fervent Prayer that you may not be overcome by nay that you may not so much as enter into Temptation The Sin which does most easily beset you has already done you the greatest mischief and is likely to do you more still and if you should at last fall into Hell This would be one of the heaviest weights to sink you thither 6. After Affliction beware of sloath and Idleness Live the rest of your time in the Flesh not to the Lusts of men but to the Will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2. Let not your own Lusts as so many Cormorants devour your time while you are making Provision for them and fulfilling them And let not the Lusts Humours and Pleasures of others have you and your time at Command And though they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of Riot speaking evil of you yet be not discouraged for they shall give an account unto him that is ready to Judge the quick and the dead 1 Pet. 4. 4 5. And that Judge will condemn them and will Approve and Reward your Diligence in seeking him and working for him You have not improved your Afflictions if you have not ceased to wast if you have not learned to improve your time In your Sickness and Distress what a view had you of Eternity and what a trouble was it to you that such a deal of time had been stolen away and lost in Sin and Vanity Perhaps Eternity was so amazing in the vastness and unchangeableness of it that you concluded that if you were to live Methuselahs Age 't would be unreasonable to mispend wilfully one hour of it Now after Affliction is over and so little of your time is
come to him find him All-sufficient so which is a great deal more He is Self-sufficient Infinitely more must be to the Blessedness of God then would be enough for the Blessedness of ten thousand Worlds of Men and Angels So that your glorifying of God is apprehending acknowledging and declaring his Glory not making him really more glorious than he was Glorifie God by Believing him to be what he has revealed himself by giving him the highest room in your Hearts depend upon him for all things This Fountain of living Waters is glorified when Saints always lie at it perpetually derive Streams from it and the broken Cisterns are forsaken Glorifie God by an higher Valuation of his Favour in Christ and a greater Contempt of earthly things in Comparison Glorifie God by more willing service and resolute cleaving to him God is honoured indeed when nothing can separate the Saints from him When neither the fiercest Wind to allude to the Tabb can blow away nor the hottest Sun can make them to cast away that change of Raiment with which he has cloathed them When they can say with the Church of old Psal 44. 17 18 19. All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten Thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our Heart is not turned back from thee neither have our steps declined from thy ways though thou hast sore broken us in the Place of Dragons and covered us with the Shaddow of Death Finally Glorifie God by such Works as are not a denial of God but a Demonstration what a Lord he is and what his Grace is able to effect The Works of many Professors prove them Atheists Tit. 1. 16. They profess that they know God but in Works deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate But when Saints by good Works are shining Lights hereby Glory redounds to their Heavenly Father For as the Works of Creation are an Argument to prove most plainly an Eternal Power and Godhead so the Works of New Creatures so different from and so excellent above the Works of others make it evident that God is in these New Creatures and his Grace is with them of a Truth 4. You afflicted Saints observe the Special Sins for which your Father is angry with you and corrects you That Grace which is in you makes you weary of its contrary and the more Grace you have the more weary you will be of Sin which remains in you Cry to be cleansed from faults that are so secret that they hardly are discerned to be faults Psal 19. 12. Lurking Feavers how dangerous are they and much more dangerous are latent Corruptions Therefore Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born Chastisement I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou me if I have done Iniquity I will do no more Job 34. 31 32. Find out and purge out all the old Leaven whether it be the Leaven of Pride or Hypocrisie or Earthly-mindedness or Uncharitableness or any other Wickedness that ye may be a new Lump as ye are unleavened The bitter Cup is intended as a purging Potion Earnestly therefore desire that the Iniquity which has most prevailed and defiled you may be taken away 5. You afflicted Saints answer the Lords Expectations from you lest Wrath from the Lord be upon you He is sometimes very severe to them that are very dear to him He forgives their Iniquities but takes Vengeance of their Inventions Psal 99. 8. That eminent Moses being provoked in his Spirit spake unadvisedly with his Lips Psal 106. 33. And that Word cost him his Life He falls before Israel enter'd into Canaan Hezekiah was a Gracious Man full of Faith himself and a Prince very zealous for the Reformation of Judah See what a Character is given him 2 Chron. 31. 20 21. Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah and wrought that which was good and Right and Truth before the Lord his God And in every Work that he began in the Service of the House of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his Heart and prospered And yet this Excellent King after Affliction not watching his Heart but Suffering it to be lifted up Wrath 't is said was upon him 2 Chron. 32. 35. Though Gods Love to his Children be never turned into hatred yet notwithstanding his Love to them he may be very angry with them he may take them up and lash them in the view of all to vindicate his Holiness and to make it evident that he takes no pleasure in Wickedness by whomsoever it is committed After you have felt his strokes fear your Fathers Frowns and Anger please him in all things and abound in so doing this he justly looks for after he has shewn Care and Kindness both in Correcting you and in flinging the Rod out of his hand 6. Let the Rod you have been chastized with cause you to mend your Pace in Heavens way Why should Saints be as so many Snails who ought rather to be swifter than Eagles hasting to the Prey Is there such an Holy and Mighty Spirit to help your Infirmities Are there such Promises of assisting Grace Is there such a glorious Crown and Prize at the end of the race And does your Salvation grow nearer and nearer every day Oh put on with greater speed And let not a greater Violence be used by earthly men for meer trifles than is by you for the Heavenly Kingdom Imitate those wisely eager ones Mat. 11. 12. From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the Violent take it by force Imitate the Apostle Paul who though he had laboured so abundantly was far from tiring but press't on still with greater forwardness towards the Mark for the prize of the high Calling of God 7. Abound in that Work for God here upon Earth which cannot be done when you come to Heaven Fill up your Time well with that business which will cease when you enter upon Eternity The Preachers of the Gospel may do much at present which they cannot do hereafter Now they may warn Sinners to flee from the Wrath to come Now they may call them to turn from their evil ways and live now they may pray them in Christs stead to be reconciled to God Now they may take heed to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers to feed the Church of God which he has purchased with his own Blood Acts 20. 28. And take heed to their Ministry which they have received in the Lord that they may fulfil it Col. 4. 17. Now they may shew themselves in all things Patterns of good Works Examples to the Flock always labouring fervently for them in Prayer that they may stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Christians also have their Work now to do which cannot be done in the other
learned the Word who does not believe it to be indeed the Word of God who cannot lie 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God Mens Contradictions to the Word are audacious and damnable falshoods And if Angels from Heaven should speak contrary to it they must not have our Assent but our Anathema Gal. 1. 8. But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed They who have learned the Word of God perceive the Harmony of all its parts and believe the whole and are influenced by that belief for the certain Truth of the Word makes it most Encouraging and Comfortable to the Saints and with what Sweet Security do they rest upon it And the same Truth should make it very Terrible to all impenitent Sinners 2. Learning the Word implies an observing the Scope and Design of the Word of God now the Design and Scope of it is the Glory of God and Mans Happiness and Salvation God cannot have an higher end in what he does than Himself for he is above all therefore he has made and does all things for Himself and truly since of him and through him are all things he is worthy that all things should be referred to him and that in all things he should always be glorified Rom. 11. 36. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen In Subordination to his own Glory the Lord designs mans wellfare Luk. 2. 14. Glory be to God in the Highest on Earth Peace good will towards men When the Word of God is truly learned great notice is taken of its design and the Learners aim is accordingly directed The Glory of God and mans truest good are inseparably conjoined So that this is past doubt when man most Minds Gods Honour he Minds most his own Interest and Happiness 3. Learning the Word implies taking due notice of the Purity and Holiness of the Word of God Psal 12. 6. The Words of the Lord are pure Words as Silver tried in a Furnace of Earth purified seven times The Psalmist saw this Purity and did not take offence at it but very much liked it and loved the Word the better for it Psal 119. 140. Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it God the Author of this Word is of Purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity no wonder that the Word is purer than to allow of any Iniquity The Word will not permit Sin in the Tabernacle Job 11. 14. If Iniquity be in thy Hand put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle The Word prohibits our contentedly Suffering Sin to ly upon our Brother Levit. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thy Heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer Sin upon him The hands must be cleansed and so must especially the Heart Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your Hands ye Sinners purifie your Hearts ye double minded If Sin commands the Tongue Religion is but vain if Sin be regarded in the Heart Prayer is to no purpose How excellent and pure is this Word of God! and those that learn it see both the Necessity and Excellency of Purity and Holiness and they hunger and thirst and follow after Righteousness and true Holiness 4. Learning the Word implies beholding wondrous things in the Word of God Psal 119. 18. Open thou my Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law And V. 129. Thy Testimonies are wonderful therefore doeth my Soul keep them The Light which shines forth from hence is marvellous 1 Pet. 2. 2. That ye should shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into marvellous Light The Mercy is amazing which saves from so much Sin prevents no less than endless Misery and brings those to Eternal Life who deserved to die the Eternal Death Jud. v. 21. Keep your selves in the Love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life That Wisdom which appears in the contrivance of Mans Redemption by Christ the Mediator is the Admiration of the elect Principalities and Powers Eph. 3. 10. To the intent that now unto thee Principalities and Powers in the Heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God And the Love of God in Christ is most sweetly astonishing 'T is without Motive without Measure without Alteration its height and length and depth and breadth are past our reach and finding out And how highly are those who are interested in this Love advanced 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! and all his Sons are heirs of Everlasting Glory 5. Learning the Word implies knowing the Truth as it is in Jesus Eph. 4. 20 21. But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him and been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus To know the Truth as it is in Jesus is to know Christ himself and all Divine Truths with respect to Christ He is the Center in which all the Lines in Scripture meet If God be lookt upon without respect to this Mediator the remembrance of the Holy and Righteous and Almighty Jehovah must needs be terrible and confounding to guilty and defiled Sinners But the Knowledge of God in Christ is beneficial and reviving for in Christ he is accessible and a God in Covenant and how encouraging is the Knowledg of Duty when we look to Jesus because in Christ we have assisting Grace to do it sincerely and when 't is thus done in Him we have acceptance 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye also as lively stones are built up a Spiritual House an Holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Though the House be Spiritual though the Priesthood be Holy though the Sacrifice be Spiritual yet 't is not upon their own but upon the account of Jesus Christ that they are acceptable Looking to Jesus we may look upon Sin and Misery without dismay nay with thankful Hearts for He saves from both and through him an abundant entrance is administred into the Everlasting Kingdom He has not learned the Word to any purpose who does not know that Christ is all in all and fills all in all 6. Learning the Word of God implies feeling the Power and Efficacy of this Word till the Spirit accompanies it and sets it home upon the Heart and there is an experience of its Power the Word is not aright learned 1 Thess 1. 5. Our Gospel came to you not in Word onely but in Power also and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance The Holy Ghost made you sensible of the Gospels Efficacy and its Efficacy assured you of its Divinity So 1 Thess 2. 13. Ye