CLII lectures vpon Psalme LI preached at Ashby-Delazouch in Leicester-shire / by that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Mr. Arthur Hildersam.

Lecture LI. On Psalme 51.4▪ March 6. 1626.

NOw for motives that may perswade us, to submit our selves patiently to the will of God in all things, that may befall us, there be very many, but I will insist but upon these three considerations onely. 1. The unavoidablenesse of affliction. 2. The hurt we doe our selves by impatiency, and the good that commeth to us by patience. 3. The hand that God hath in all our af∣flictions.

For the first. Every child of God must looke for affliction, even for much affliction; it should not seeme strange to us, when it commeth upon us, it should [ 1]

rather seeme strange to any of us, that wee have beene so long free from any great affliction. This motive the Apostle Peter useth, 1 Pet. 4.12. Beloved, thinke it not strange concerning the fiery triall—as though some strange thing hap∣pened unto you. It cannot be avoided but (if we belong to God) we must endure affliction, at one time or other, in one degree or other. This was the Doctrine that Barnabas and Paul taught in all Churches, and whereby it is said they did confirme the disciples soules (that is, prepare them for trouble, and arme them with patience to beare it, when it should come) Acts 14.22. that wee must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdome of God. 1. The way to hea∣ven is through tribulation; 2. Yea through much tribulation. 3. Yea, wee must, a necessity is laid upon us, either that way wee must goe to heaven, or wee [ 1] shall never come thither. And why must wee doe so? 1. Because it is the immutable decree of God, it should be so, 1 Thess. 3.3. No man should be mo∣ved by these afflictions, for your selves know, that wee are appointed thereunto. [ 2] 2. Because it is the way, that all Gods people have gone to heaven by, 1 Peter 5.9. Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Yea the best and choisest of them, and those that have bin most deare to God, have gone to heaven through many tribulations. Take my bre∣thren (saith the Apostle Iames 5.10.) the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. So that indeed we have so small cause to be dismayed with our afflictions (which be they what they can be, are but flea-bitings in comparison of those that the choicest of Gods servants have endured) that on the contrary side, we should have just cause to doubt, and suspect our owne estate, if we were not subject to them. If ye bee without chastisement (saith the Apostle, Heb. 12.8.) whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sonnes. As they that desire to find Christ in this life, where hee seedeth, where hee lyeth at noone, must goe their way forth by the footsteps of the flocke, as our Saviour directeth his spouse, Cant. 1.8. So they that would goe to heaven, must goe also by the footsteps of the flocke, they must goe in that way that Christs faithfull flocke and people have troden, and beaten be∣fore [ 3] them, or certainely they shall never come there. 3. and lastly, Because this is the way whereby Christ himselfe our head and Saviour went to heaven, even the Captaine of our salvation (as the Apostle speaketh, Heb. 2.10.) was made perfect (that is, brought unto glory) through sufferings. And God hath decreed, that all his members should be conformed, and made like unto him in this point, as the Apostle teacheth, Rom. 8.29. Whom he did sore-know, he also did predesti∣nate to bee conformed to the image of his sonne. So that in these three respects, it must needs bee, that through much tribulation, wee must enter into the king∣dome of God.

[ 2] The second motive, is the consideration of this, that we can no way ease or help our selves in any crosse, by impatiency, and fretting, the way to make our crosse easie, is to beare it quietly and patiently. First. Impatiency will not ease us at all, but make our crosse more grievous unto us; as striving and strugling doth with the foule that is in the snare, and with the beast that is in the yoke. There is no father, but if he see his child shew stubburnesse, and rebellion, while he is in correcting him, he will beate him the more, and not give him over, till he see him humbled. And even so is it with our heavenly father. No sin will provoke him more, then our murmuring against his corrections. When the people com∣plained (saith Moses, Numb. 11.1.) it displeased the Lord, and the Lord heard it, and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them. And ver. 10. Moses heard the people weepe (teares they were, not of repentance, but of discontentment, and murmuring) throughout their families, every man in the doore of his tent, and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly. Rebellion (even this kind of rebellion) is as the sin of witchcraft, in the sight of God, 1 Sam. 15.23.

Secondly, on the other side, by our patience we may lighten our crosses and afflictions, and make them more easie and tollerable to our selves.

First. This is the way to possesse our owne soules in any affliction, how grie∣vous [ 1] soever it be, Lu 21.19. In your patience possesse ye your soules, saith our Sa∣viour to his disciples, when he foretelleth them of great troubles, that should be∣fall them. The man that wanteth patience, will be ready to loose, or sell his soule in his bodily afflictions, that is, the peace, and comfort of it, the faith, and holinesse that seemed to be in it; but he that can in his afflictions yeeld, and sub∣mit himselfe patiently to the will of God, shall keepe his soule in his owne power, and possession still.

Secondly. This is the way to become conquerours in all our afflictions, and [ 2] to overcome, and get the victory over the most proud. and cruell enemy that the Lord shall use as his sword to afflict us by. The Apostle hath a strange speech concerning himselfe, and all the faithfull, Rom. 8 37. Nay in all these thing•• (And what were those things? that we shall see verse 35. Tribulation, distresse, persecution, famine, nakednesse, perill, and sword, in all these things saith he) we are more then conquerours, through him that lov••d us. Why how were they conquerours of whom he saith, verse 36. that they were killed. For thy sake are we killed all the day long? Yes, though they were killed, yet they were conquerours, yea, because they were killed, and willing to lay downe their lives for the Lord, and his truths sake, and so to confirme and seale with their blood, the truth of God; therefore were they conquerours, yea more then con∣querours over their enemies. So it is sayd of the faithfull, R••vel 1••.11. that they overcame the devill, the great dragon, the old serpent with all his instru∣ments, the persecuting Emperours, and Popes of Rome. And how did they o∣vercome him? Surely by the bloud of the Lambe, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. They that love not their lives unto death, but can be willing to suffer even unto death it selfe, for the truths sake, they shall be conquerours over the proudest enemy that Satan can stir up to per∣secute, and oppresse them. Thus did the blessed Martyrs in Queene Maries dayes overcome all their bloudy persecutours; it was not Boner, nor Gardiner, but they and the truth of God which they suffered for, that prevailed, that won the field, and got the day, according to to that old saying. The blood of the Mar∣tyrs, became the seed of the Church of God.

Thirdly. This is the way even to overcome the Lord, and to put an end to our afflictions, when our hearts are by it subdued, and we can thus stoope, and [ 3] yeeld our selves unto the Lord that correcteth us. Even the fiercest, and cru∣ellest man that is, will be apt to relent towards him, that hee hath beene most incensed against; when having brought him under, and almost crushed him by his power, he findeth him to yeeld, and to humble himselfe unto him. So did Ahab (a man cruell, and fierce enough) towards Benhadad a mischievous ene∣my of his, 1 Kin 20.31, 32. And the Lord our God is a thousand times more ready to relent towards us, when we have most provoked him to afflict us, if hee see his corrections have mastered, and subdued us; that wee are willing to yeeld our selves to his will, he hath done. Turne unto the Lord your God (saith the Prophet Ioel 2.13.) for hee is gracious, and mercifull, flow to anger, and of great kindnesse, and repenteth him of the evill. Ye have heard (saith the Apostle, Iames 5.11.) of the patience of Iob, and have seene the end of the Lord. (What was that? why so soone as Iob was subdued, saw his owne folly in the impati∣ency he had shewed, and yeelded himselfe unto God, as we may see Iob 40.4, 5. & 42.5, 6, the Lord made an end of correcting him presently) And what rea∣son doth the Apostle give for this? Surely this, that the Lord is very pitifull, and of tender mercy. Yea, there is a gracious promise made to them that are willing to suffer for his Name, that they shall suffer never a whit the more, but the lesse

for that Luke 9.24. Whosoever will save his life (and resolve with himselfe he will suffer nothing for religion, or any other righteous cause, but whatsoever times shall come, he will be sure to save one, he will yeeld to any thing, rather then he will loose either life, or liberty, or goods) this man (saith our Saviour) shall loose it, (he meaneth he shall either loose the thing he so resolveth to save, or the comfort of it, which if he do loose, he were as good to loose the thing it selfe) but (on the other side saith our Saviour) whosoever will loose his life for my sake (that is, is unfeinedly willing to suffer the losse of all, even of life it selfe, rather then he would forsake me) the same shall save it; not onely eternally, and in the life to come, as our Saviour speaketh, Iohn 12.25. He that hateth his life in this world, shall keepe it unto life eternall (in which sense the promise never faileth) but even in this world oftentimes he shall, by his willingnes to suffer loose of life, or liberty, or goods, in obedience unto God, save his life, & liberty, and goods, according to which sense of this promise our Savi∣our speaketh, Mar. 10.29, 30. There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the Gospels, but he shall receive an hundred fold, now in this time, houses, & brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternall life, Certainly the suffering of any thing in obedience unto God, is not the way to undoe a man, or to make him miserable, it is the way to lighten our crosses, and make us lesse miserable, even in this life.

[ 3] The third, and last motive to perswade us to patience, is the consideration of the hand that the Lord hath in all our afflictions. Affliction (saith Eliphaz, Iob 5.6.) commeth not forth of the dust, neither doth evill spring out of the ground. Shall there bee evill in the City (saith the Prophet, Amos 3.6.) and the Lord hath not done it?

This consideration hath bin of great force, to quiet the hearts of Gods peo∣ple. 1. From extreame feare of misery and trouble, before it commeth. 2. From being too much dejected with it when it doth come.

[ 1] For the first. If Satan himselfe, or any wicked men in the world, our enemies either at home or abroad, could do what they list, how could Gods people have any quietnesse in their minds? But blessed be God, they can do nothing with∣out our heavenly father, hee sitteth at the sterne, he hath both their hands, and their hearts in his power. This is that glad tidings, that God hath commanded us his servants, to publish to his people, Esa. 52.7. Say unto Zion, thy God reig∣neth, when all is done. Wicked tyrants may threaten us, and brag of their pow∣er, what they can do unto us, as Pilate did to our blessed Saviour, Iob. 19.10. Spea∣kest thou not to me? (makest thou no more reckoning of me) Knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee, and I have power to release thee? They may threaten I say, and brag what they can doe, but they can do nothing of themselves. And so our Saviour answered Pilate there, Iohn 19.11. Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. Thus doth our Savi∣our teach his disciples, to arme themselves against the feare of trouble, that might come to them through the malice of men, Mat. 10 29.31 Not one sparrow fal∣leth to the ground without your father, but the very haires of your head are all num∣bred, feare ye not therefore, for ye are of more worth, then many sparrowes.

[ 2] And as this knowledge of Gods speciall hand, and providence in all the troubles that can befall them, hath quieted Gods peoples hearts from feare of troubles before they come; so secondly, It hath kept them from dejectednesse of spirit, and impatiency, when they have come. Nothing hath more force to quiet the heart in affliction then this. This was that that quieted Eli, 1 Sam. 3.18. It is the Lord. And Iob 1.21. The Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken away. And David, 2 Sam. 16.10. The Lord hath said to him, curse David. And Ps. 39.9. I was dumbe, and opened not my mouth, because thou didst it.

Will you see the ground of this? I will not mention now neither 1. his so∣veraigne power he hath over us, to do with us what pleaseth him, nor 2. his justice whereby it is impossible he should do us any wrong, nor 3. his wise∣dome whereby every thing that he doth, must needs be so well done, that it can∣not be bettered (these points you have heard of, in the handling of the doctrine) I will give you but this one ground, why the knowledge of Gods providence, and the hand that he hath in all our afflictions, should quiet our hearts, and cause us to beare them patiently, because, though to our feeling it doth not alwayes ap∣peare so, yet to our faith it doth, that whatsoever he doth to any of his children, he doth it in love unto them. All the pathes of the Lord (saith David, Psal. 25.10.) are mercy, and truth, unto such as keepe his Covenant and his testimonies. In which respect, David professeth this as a maine ground of his patience in all his afflictions, Psal. 119.75. I know ô Lord that thy judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted me. This will appeare to us in five points principally.

First. He doth not afflict any of his people willingly, he taketh no pleasure in [ 1] it, hee never doth it, but when need requireth it, but when he is even forced unto it. Hee will not afflict, saith Elihu, Iob 37.23. hee hath no will to it. Hee doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. Lamenta. 3.33. He (of his owne disposition) delighteth in mercy, as the Prophet speaketh, Mic. 7.18. It is not with him, as with earthly parents, they oft correct their children for their pleasure; but so doth not our heavenly father at any time, as the A∣postle speaketh, Heb. 12.10. he hath no such pleasure, his pleasure and delight is rather to be shewing mercy, then to execute judgements upon them. How can that be will you say? If he be not willing to afflict us, how can it bee with us as it is? Who can compell him to it? Surely the need he seeth we have of it, and his love to us compelleth him to afflict us. Now for a season (saith the A∣postle, 1 Pet. 1.6.) if need be, yee are in heavinesse through many tentations. As if he should say; you should never be in heavinesse, no not for the shortest sea∣son, if need did not require it. Vnlesse hee would see us perish everlastingly, hee must needs a flict us. When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that wee should not he condemned with the world, saith the holy Apostle, 1 Corinth. 11.32. See this unwillingnesse of the Lord to afflict his (but only that the need he seeth we have of it, and his love to us compelleth him to it) notably expres∣sed, Iere. 9 7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, behold, I will melt them, and try them, for how shall I doe for the daughter of my people? As if he should have said; how shall I save them? how should I keep them from perishing everlastingly, if I should not correct them? and this is the first point wherein his love in afflict∣ing us doth appeare. And who would not beare patiently the stripes of such a fa∣ther, that is so unwilling to beate us, that never beateth us, but with teares in his eyes; according to that Esay 63.9. In all their affliction, he was afflicted.

Secondly. The end he aimeth at in afflicting us, is to do us good, yea some spe∣ciall [ 2] good that could not be done so well any other way. Time will not permit me to handle this point distinctly, & particularly, & shew you how many wayes the Lord useth to do his people good by affliction. This in generall is certain. 1. that God doth by al outward crosses & sorrowes, intend to make us partakers of some spirituall blessings & comforts, Heb. 12.10. He chasteneth us for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holines, & 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment (in comparison) worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory Every crosse will bring with it some blessing or other, if the fault be not in our selves; yea the greatest crosse will bring the greatest blessing. And experience hath proved this to be true, that such of Gods servants, as have beene most exercised with afflictions, have usually abounded in more holines and com∣fort then any other. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us (saith the Apostle,

2. Cor. 1.5. so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2. True it is indeed that this fruit of affliction doth not presently appeare alwayes in Gods children, while the crosse is upon them (though in hypocrites, all the good that affliction doth them, appeareth presently, and vanisheth as soone as the crosse is gone, as you may see, Psal. 78.34.) neverthelesse afterward (saith the Apostle, Heb. 12.11) it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnes, unto them that are exercised therby. The Lords manner is to leave a blessing behind him, as the Prophet speaketh, Ioel 2.14. He humbleth us, to do us good at our latter end; as Moses speaketh, Deut. 8.16. In which respect it may be said by the Lord, to every child of his, whom he doth correct, as it was said by Christ unto Peter, when he would wash his feet Ioh. 13.7. What I do, thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know hereafter. Let the Lord alone till he have done his worke upon thee, and thou shalt know it will be for thy good, that he doth thus afflict thee. 3. Admit thou couldst never bee able to discerne, how thy afflictions have done thee any good, yet is it enough for thee, that the holy Ghost so oft hath said, that the afflictions of the faithfull shall certainly do them good, Iob. 5.17. Behold, happy is the man whom the Lord cor∣recteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the almighty. And Psal. 94.12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord. And Iam. 1.12. Blessed is the man that endureth tentation. And 5.11. Behold wee count them happy that en∣dure. Object not thou then, that thou canst perceive no such thing, learne thou to walke by faith, and not by sense, 2 Cor. 5.7. And know assuredly the Lord by afflicting thee, intendeth to do thee good, if thou be his, and will do thee good in the end certainly. This way of teaching us; and bringing us to grace, & glory, is of such necessity, as few or none ever attained to it any other way Who teacheth like him? saith Eliphaz, Iob 36.22. There can be no good expected, when there are no rods walking. This is noted to be a cause of the ungraciousnes of many, that they have had no affliction. Ps. 55.19. Because they have no changes, therfore they feare not God. And on the other side of the faithfull it is said. Esa. 43.10. I have chosen thee (that is approved, declared thee to be one of my chosen) in the fornace of af∣fliction. And of David himselfe it is said, that though he had bin well taught from his youth. Ps 71.17. O God thou hast taught me from my youth; yet had even he need of affliction, and learned by it much better to know God and himselfe, then he could have done without it, as he professeth, Ps. 119.71. It is good for me that I have bin afflicted: that I might learne thy statutes. And this is the second point wherin the Lords love in afflicting us, doth appeare, he afflicteth us for our own good; And who would not willingly endure some paine for his owne good?

[ 3] The third point wherin the love of God in afflicting his people, doth appeare, is this, that whatsoever losse they have sustained by the afflictiō he hath laid upon them, he useth to recompense it unto them, so as in the end they shall no way be loosers by it. This the Lord doth principally performe in those losses that his servants have sustained for his sake and the Gospels, but not in that case only. See the promise that God doth make unto his people upon their repentance, Ioel 2.25. I will restore unto you the yeeres that the locust hath eaten. Hereupon the Church grounded that prayer, Psal 90.15. Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the yeares wherein we have seene evill. And so speaketh David, 2. Sam. 16.12. It may bee the Lord will looke on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite good for his cursing this day. God hath beene wont in this kind of restitution, to keepe a just proportion to pay them againe in good measure. Luke 6.38. Insomuch as he hath used to recompense extraordinary af∣flictions, with extraordinary comforts, and blessings in the end. See two examples of this, in the case of the people of Israel. Great was their op∣pression in Aegypt, but observe the manner of their deliverance, and you shall find it was recompensed to the full. 1. They went out like conquerours in a triumphant manner, Exod. 14.8.—and 13.18. 2. They went away with the

••poiles of their enemies, laden with their silver, and gold, and principall jew∣ells, Exod. 12.35, 36. 3. Their oppressors sued to them, requested, and ur∣ged them to be gone, Exod 12.33. 4. They grew to be in great credit, and high favour with their enemies, before they went, Exod. 11.3. 5. They saw all their enemies lie dead upon the sea shore, Exod. 14.30, 31. whereas there was not one sicke or feeble person in all their tribes, Psal. 105.37. So likewise, great was the feare and perplexity that all Gods people were brought ••nto by the decree that Haman had procured against them; but marke their deliverance, and you will say that the Lord made them full restitution and satisfaction for it. 1. By the strange honour, and advancement that Mordecai was raised up unto, Est. 6.11. & 8.2.15. 2. In the shamfull end God brought Haman their proud enemy unto, Est. 7.10. 3. In the hand they had over all the rest of their ene∣mies, Est 9.2, 3. 4. In the abundant joy and comfort that God gave to all his people, Est 9.18, 19. Yea the Lord hath beene wont to restore with great ad∣vantage, all such losses as they have sustained by the afflictions that he hath laid upon them. For your shame you shall have double, saith the Lord to his people, Esa. 61.7. And thus dealt he with Iob 42.10. The Lord gave Iob twice as much as he had before. And upon this promise did David ground his prayer, Psal. 71.20, 21. Thou which hast shewed me great, and sore troubles, shalt quicken mee againe, and shalt bring me up againe from the depths of the earth; thou shalt in∣crease my greatnesse, and comfort me on every side. And this is the third point wherein Gods love in afflicting his people doth appeare. And who would not be willing to endure the losse of any comfort, from the hand of such a God as is both able, and willing so abundantly to recompense whatsoever losse wee su∣staine from his hand; as the Prophet told Amaziah the King of Iudah which took thought, how he should do for the hundred talents he had disbursed upon the Israelites, 2 Chron. 25.9. The Lord is able to give thee much more then this.

The fourth point wherein God sheweth his love in afflicting his people is [ 4] this, that he doth moderate all their troubles; both for the time how long, they shall endure, Ye shall have tribulation ten daies, Rev. 2.10. Yea he hath set the very houre both for the beginning, and ending of them. Iohn 7.30. His houre was not yet come. As also for the measure, and quantity of them. The cup is in the Lords hand, Psal. 75.8. He correcteth them not in his anger but in judgement, and discretion, Ier. 10.24. Proportioning his corrections by the strength of the party, that he doth correct; laying greatest tryals upon them whom he hath made strongest to beare them, 1 Cor. 10.13. For he knoweth the weakenesse of any of his servants, Psal. 78.38, 39. He did not stirre up all his wrath, for hee remembred that they were but flesh. And 103.13, 14. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that feare him, For he knoweth our frame, he remembreth that we are dust. He will so correct his children, as he will not lose the weakest of them, either through the continuance, or the extreamity of any affliction, he layeth upon them, Psal. 125.3. The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous: lest the righteous put forth their hand unto ini∣quity. I will sist the house of Israel (saith the Lord, Amos 9.9.) even as corne is sifted in a sive, yet shall not the least graine fall upon the earth.

Fiftly and lastly, The Lord when he hath brought his people into the bryers [ 5] of affliction, leaveth them not there, nor forsaketh them, but he will be sure to be with them, in all their troubles, and never sheweth himselfe to be more graciously present with them, then when they are in that case, I will be with him in trouble, saith the Lord, Psal 91.15. And how will he be with them? 1. To take notice of their wrongs, and miseries, his eye is then specially upon them to that end, Acts 7.34 Psal. 56.8. Psal. 31.7. 2. To assist and strengthen them that they may not be overcome of them, Psal. 37.24. Esa. 41.10, 13, 14.

& 43.2. So as though they may be moved and shaken with their afflictions, they shall not greatly be moved, Psal. 62.2. 2 Cor. 4.9. And though God doe discover their weaknesse to them, and they feele themselves ready to faint yet even then he will strengthen them, Esa. 40.29. He giveth power to the saint, and to them that have no might, he increaseth strength. Insomuch as they have beene able to say they never felt his strength more in susteining them then when they have felt themselves most weake, 2 Cor. 12.10. 3. To comfort them in all their distresses, and heavinesse, Acts 23.11. Mica 7.8. 2 Cor. 7.6.