1. Common and ordinarie complaints made by men, touching the miseries of their liues

WE said before, that the second kind of temptation, which shaketh the assurance that wee ought to haue of our adoption, consisteth in the common and long afflictions and miseries, which ordinarily accompany vs in this life, and to speake true, who can calcu∣late the number, or reckon the diuersities thereof? Some complaine of diseases, pouertie, reproches, slanders, hatred, contempt, losse of friends, increasing of enemies, and of diuers other kindes of disgraces, and discontentments which trouble and annoy man, and most commonly the vprightest men. Others complaine of losse of their goods, and their estates. Others are grieued to be driuen out of their natiue Countries, or that they are persecuted in other manner, and that by their neere friends and alies, they are brought into great calami∣tie and trouble of minde. But the worst is, we haue a great number (and of those speci∣ally, which take one them the name of faithfull Christians fearing God) who in their trou∣bles, say and affirme, that they haue seen and found nothing all their liues, but signes of the diuine wrath of God towards them, instead of the testimony of his loue; and conuenient blessings to his children. Therefore we must strengthen and fortifie our selues with neces∣sarie rampiers and defences against such assaults of our flesh, whrein Satan hath a great part.

2. God is the author of tribulation, which are foreshewed and promised by the Scriptures to his Children.

Then let vs first vnderstand, that in truth such complaints, and wrong conclusions pro∣ceede from great ignorance and weakenesse. For if wee knew well, that GOD is the au∣thor, and the cause of the tribulations which man endureth; and specially, that he hath at all times prepared and sent them for the profit of his children, instead of being moued and troubled at them, because our flesh iudgeth them to be harsh, wee should be more con∣firmed in the assurance of our adoption, and future happinesse. In the beginning of our dis∣course we heard, how God our Lord and Creator, is the first, soueraigne, and vniuersal cause of all things, in such maner, as they receiue all their essence of his Deity, and that without it, Page  986 they should all in an instant be reduced and brought to nothing, and that so their essence, since they receiued the same, and all their gouernment and condition, dependeth vpon his eternall will, which conducteth and derecteth his workes to their end. In such sort that as the essence, the life, and the moouing of humane bodies vpon earth, depend vpon the soule, which is within them, and without it they can neither mooue nor liue: so God is life, and as the soule of all creatures, and that without him they are nothing, neither can effect any thing, if he doth not aide them, nor vse them as instruments, to do that which it pleaseth him to effect. Wherein we haue a most notable and profitable consideration, to behold God in all his creatures, to walke continually before him, and as it were from his hand to receiue all the successe, and diuers euents, good or euill, which wee see euery day happen and fal out in the world. From whence also we learne a most excellent consequence that he is the author and the first & principall cause of all the paynes and tribulations, that we endure. For it is he, who to correct and to force man to amendment of life, vseth his creatures, and all sorts of scourges when and where it pleaseth him, to the end that from that, which of it selfe is euill, he may draw a greater benefit. Therefore Esay speaketh in the person of God, saying, I am the Lord, and there is none other; I forme the light, & create * darkenesse, I make peace and create euill. I the Lord doe all these things. Who, (sayth the Prophet in another place,) gaue Iacob for a spoyle, and Israel to the robbers, did not the Lord, because wee haue sinned against him? For they would not walke in his waies, * neither bee obedient vnto his lawes? The Lord also speaketh by Ieremy, saying of the Iewes, Behold I will bring a plague vpon them, which they shall not bee able to scape, and * though they cry vnto mee, I will not heare them. And in Amos, hee saith thus, Shall there bee euill in a city, and the Lord hath not done it; Wee reade also in Ecolesiastes, that pros∣perity * and aduersity, life and death, pouerty and riches come of the Lord. Yet it is very true, that if our first parents had not sinned, wee should not haue found so many, so diuers * and so strange kindes of calamities, as wee dayly see in the world, nor so many difficul∣ties in our proceedings in this course of life, but the way therein would bee plaine, straight, and very easie, without mountaines, turnings, windings, mud or durt. We should neede no medicines, because we should not be subiect to any infirmities. But because that in Adam & Eua we haue all offended, and that all of vs are hurt and sicke, our wounds and diseases can not bee healed, but by bitter medicines and purgations. Vpon this subiect then wee must first note, that if God had promised to vse his children in this world, delicately, and to send them riches, honors, and great estates, exempted from common troubles, and humane miseries, wee should haue great occasion to doubt whether we were his children, If to the contrary, pouerty & base condition together with a multitude of troubles, crosses, & angui∣shes, should happen vnto vs. But seeing it is so, that besides the cōmon necessity of all men, subiected to the burthē of the punishment of sin, either temporall, or eternal, the H. Ghost hath often & cleerly foreshewed vnto vs, that the childrē of God, are ordained & appointed to be afflicted, and to suffer persecution. That they weepe and mourne, while the world reioyceth. That they are elected, that for doing well, they should suffer wrong. That they * shall be hated of all men, for the name of Iesus Christ, banished, and put to death by those, that wil thinke they do God good seruice. Then seeing these things happen to our selues, or to our brethren, or remembring that they hapned to those that were before vs. Following the steps which the Lord Iesus Christ, and his Apostles traced, they ought to be vnto vs as many signes and euident testimonies of our adoption and vocation. And to comfort our selues with these diuine sentences. That the Disciple is not aboue his Master, nor the ser∣uant aboue his Lord. That it is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master. That to follow * Christ, We must denie our selues, and beare our Crosse patiently. And lastly, That through many afflictions, wee must enter into the kingdome of heauen.

3. The example of Iesus Christs passion, is a meanes to strengthen vs in our tribulations, and to perswade vs that wee are children of God, and that we must constantly endure persecution.

Secondly, to confirme vs in the said doctine of the holy Scriptures, this ought to serue vs which wee learne throughout the whole Ecclesiasticall histories, that all whatsoeuer Page  987 the holy Ghost foreshewed, touching the condition of the children of God, is by experi¦ence found to be true in all ages: For it hath alwayes beene seene, that the most excellent seruants of God, were most afflicted, as the Apostle notably reciteth, shewing the con∣iunction * of faith, and patience in the ancient faithful fathers, who were tried with all maner of afflictions, and whom he opposeth against Christians, as an example for them to follow. But specially he exhorteth them, to cast their eies vpon Iesus Christ the Authour, and per∣fecter of faith, who beeing righteous, suffered the ignominious death of the crosse: dispising all dishonour and disgrace on earth, & now is set on the right hand of the throane of God his Father. As in truth the example of him onely may and ought to serue vs for all, seeing that specially wee must bee made conformable to his Image, (as Saint Paul saith,) and because hee is the first borne among many brethren. This Prince of glory * entring into the world, (created and maintained by him,) found no honourable place to rest in, but was borne in a stable, and layde in a manger. Not long after the king of that country, sought for him to put him to death, which was the cause that he was carried out of his countrey, by the blessed Virgin Mary, to liue poorely like a stranger in Egypt, * Beeing returned into Iudaea, hee liued till hee was thirty yeeres old, in a vile and abiect estate of a Carpenter. When hee began to exercise his charge of a Prophet, a King, and Priest, or Lawgiuer to the Church: After hee had fasted forty dayes, and forty nights, he was hungry, and had nothing in the desart to eate: there he was assailed and tempted by the Diuell with three powerfull assaults rehearsed in the Scriptures. Preaching the king∣dome * of God, hee liued of the maintenance which was giuen him, by certaine simple women that supplied his want, with their meanes and possessed nothing. Hee was often iniured and railed vpon by the greater number of the people, that called him glutton, drunkard, seducer of the people, and a Diuell. He was led vpon a high mountaine, from thence to be throwne downe headlong: betrayed by one of his Apostles, imprisoned, spit vpon, buffeted, beaten, mocked, whipt, crowned with thornes, condemned to dye, and hanged vpon the crosse between two theeues. But besides these exteriour torments, what anguish did hee feele in his heart, when he sayd, that his soule was heauy to the death, when hee fell vpon his face on the ground, and when he cryed vp on the crosse (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?) He that attentiuely will consider the life and death of this great Sauiour of the world, cannot but be greatly comforted in all his tribulations, and seeke to imitate the patience and meeknesse of Iesus Christ, who hauing no sinne, suffered and endured so much for vs. But specially and before all things, wee are by his example to learne, that it shall be a great assurance vnto vs of our adoption, and to be heires of God, and coheires with Iesus Christ, when we suffer with him, (as the Apostle saith) to the end to be glorified with him: when (saith he elsewhere) we shall haue the honour to accomplish * the rest of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh, that we may obtaine celestiall riches. For feeling in our selues a participation of his sufferings, euen vntill the last act of our liues, wee shall haue matter presently from thence to apprehend the power of the resurrection of the same Iesus Christ, with certaine and firme hope to enioy eternall glo∣ry with him.

But let vs a little consider, how feeble and weake, the occasions of our com∣plaints are, touching those things which wee call the miseries of this life. Sickenes∣ses, pouertie, and losse of friends, commonly are three of the greatest crosses that wee complaine of. But that griefe which is not gotten by infirmity, and vaine opinion, is light, and may easily bee borne, if the patient will bee of a good cou∣rage, and say, This is nothing, or very little, it will soone passe away, or if it bee extreame, it is a sure meanes to obtaine perpetuall rest. As for pouertie, if wee looke into our nature, wee shall neuer bee poore, but if wee follow the opinions of men, wee shall neuer bee rich: For one contenteth himselfe with a little; an∣other, the more hee hath the more hee desireth. But godlinesse is great gaine if a man bee contented with that hee hath. Haue wee lost our goods? It may bee, they would haue beene our destruction, if wee had not lost them: wee shall from thence forward bee in lesse daunger; and wee are most happy, if wee haue altoge∣ther lost couetousnesse. Touching death, which taketh from vs our neerest and best friends, it is in vaine to torment our selues therefore, when wee cannot remedie it. Wee wrong our selues to bee greeued for that which is happened to one, when the like may happen to all, in vaine is that complaint and desire where the thing desired (which Page  988 is gladly and soone to follow our friends to the grane,) is so neere to him that wisheth it. To complaine for any mans death, is as much as to be sorry that he liued and was a man. Eue∣ry mans life from the beginning to the end, is nothing else but a way and a disposition to death. Therefore we must rather giue thanks to God for the time that hee made vs enioy our friends on earth, then by a kinde of ingratitude towards them, and the diuine maiesty of God, to lament the ioy and the felicity which the passage by death out of this world into heauen bringeth them into.

4. The fruits of afflictions are of power to confirme the faithfull in the assurance of their adoption.

But here we must specially vnderstand, how afflictions by their fruites and effects may and ought with ful assurance to confirme vs in our holy vocation in the Lord. For first, see∣ing the reliques of sinne remaine in this life, and that in those which are most perfect, which make vs all prompt and enclined to offend God, wee haue need of aide and releefe, to wake, to humble, and to withdraw vs from our corruptions and vices, specially to make vs carefull and wary not to fall into them againe, least they seate themselues in vs to our vtter destruction, but rather by degrees to forme and fashion vs, to a holy obedience vnto God.

To that ende are all the tribulations, wherewith God visiteth his children, and for that cause according to the doctrine of the holy Scriptures, they are called chastnings, correcti∣ons, and medicines for the soule, because they serue to withdraw our hearts from the world, to lift thē vp to heauen, to purifie our faith as gold is purified by fire, to strengthen our hope of the glory to come, to teach and illuminate vs in the waies that may leade vs thither, and to conforme vs to holinesse of life. Therefore the vtility and profite which we receiue, by this entertainement, which the flesh findeth to be of so euill a taste, ought to bee a certaine testimony vnto vs, that God in this manner plainely sheweth himselfe to be our father, and that so he hath a care of our good and saluation. Neuerthelesse, it is true, that there are but few men, (who while God visiteth, and chastneth them,) that receiue as they ought, the bitternes of this wholsom mirrh: but yet in the faithful, tribulation alwaies produceth some fruit, and finally worketh this effect in their soules, that the mercy and sweetnes of the di∣uine hand of God, is by them acknowledged, in that it leadeth the elect by the bridle of Dis∣cipline, to eternall felicity. Then as the troubles and miseries of this life, call and mooue vs to feele our sins, to awake & humble vs before God, so frō thence in men truly touched with the feare of God, proceeds resolutions & protestations, no more by his grace to fal into the like faults, but to amend and become new men. Wherunto that which the Apostle saith, may be applyed, (that no chastning for the present seemeth to be ioyous, but grieuous, but after∣ward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse vnto them which are thereby exercised,) * and that God chastneth vs for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holines. As Dauid also to the same purpose protested, saying, Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I * keepe thy word.

Againe, as terrestriall blessings, and commodities of this life, in their true endes and vses ought to bee meanes to eleuate our hearts to the Authour of all blessings, and Lord of all things, to acknowledge that wee receiue them from him, and to praise him for the same. To the contrarie, our corruptions and disordinate affections in the world, conuert them into thornes and hinderances of our dueties towards God, and make vs presume, that they come from our selues, from our ancestors or parents, or that we haue gotten them by our owne vigilancy, care, and industry, and perswade vs, that wee our selues also can preserue and keepe them. Therefore GOD depriueth vs of such gifts, either by ta∣king them away, or by mixing them with troubles and cares, that so wee should turne vnto him, to aske him that which wee neede, confesse our ingratitude, and acknowledge that we are beholding vnto him: for all that we haue for our benefit, necessitie, and vse. As also, because that willingly wee esteeme too much of those inferior things, and make more account of them, then they deserue, louing them excessiuely, & desiring and seeking to get them with great care and affection: God therein causeth vs to meet with thornes, and brambles, which withdraw vs from the foolish loue of those false riches, and teach vs to know that they are not true, to make vs seeke for the treasures of the Spirit, and thereby Page  989 to be better disposed to follow our vocation. Experience too much sheweth that we are as it were lincked to the riches and greatnes of the world, that they make vs proude and insolent, that we esteeme such vanities to be permanent, and that we thinke them happy that enioy them. We easily perswade our selues that great estates are firme, that their re∣uenewes cannot diminish, nor their honor bee defaced, that the fauour and the amitie of mighty men will not alter nor change, that our health will not weaken, nor the strength of our youth decay, and to bee short, that the flourishing time of this miserable world will neuer whither nor fall away: withall making such account of our parents and friends, as if they were not mortall. And yet God depriueth vs of them all, when wee thinke least thereof, when wee make most account of these transitorie things, and when wee are perswaded that wee haue most assurance of them, or else, seasoneth them in such manner with the sharpe salt of tribulation, that they open our eies, to behold and per∣ceiue the vanity of worldly pleasures, and to make vs confesse with Dauid. That all flesh*is grasse; and with the Apostle, that hauing no permanent city here, we must search for one to come. I wil stop thy way with thornes (saith God by his Prophet) To teach vs, that as beasts go along through the high way, & on the sides therof see pleasant greene fields, thinking to go into them, and finding hedges full of thornes which pricke them, goe one their way, and leaue them: so when the children of God, goe out of the way of heauen, to enter into the pleasant fieldes of the world and the flesh, God makes them meet with brambles of afflicti∣ons, and scourgeth them with his paternall roddes, that by the bitter sweete prickles thereof, they should leaue and forsake the pernicious deceites of terrestriall and carnall affections, wherewith they feele themselues assayled. When a mother desirous to weane her child, should continually say vnto it, (child, it is time for thee to leaue the breast, thou art great enough, I am with child, which spoyles my milke, and thou wilt bee sicke if thou suckest longer,) it were but in vaine, the childe eares beeing incapable of such admo∣nitions, specially if it bee fond of the breast, and will not leaue it: But if the mother puts a little allume vpon it, when the childe feeles the breast bitter it will leaue it and sucke no more. So, though wee bee neuer so much warned and exhorted, to leaue the cor∣rupt milke of the world and of the flesh, yet wee are too deafe to hearken therunto, and ra∣ther desire to ly still at the infected breasts of our mother nature, vntill God, (to weane and to regenerate vs, layeth the wormewood of afflictions vpon them. He doth like the good husbandman, which cutteth his vine, that it may bring foorth more and better fruit. And as we cut birds wings, because they shall not fly away and be lost: so God cutteth * our beautifull feathers of the flesh, that it may not grow too fat and full, and spoyle it selfe with vaine confidence and glory.

Wee see how all things that serue for the vse of man, (to make them commodious and profitable for him,) endure many and diuers violences, as if it were as many tribulations and marterdomes the ground is broken vp, plowed and harrowed, to make it bring foorth corne, which being reaped and gathered, is thrasht, fanned, ground, kneeded, and bakt: wine is prest out of the grape: wooll and flaxe endure infinite labor, and goe through many mens hands to bring them to perfection; so man to serue God well, should bee refi∣ned like gold, and made perfect in the furnace of afflictions, that he may know how to vse the gifts and graces which he receiueth from God. So we see, that whereas riches and honours of the world, make men insolent and proud: pouerty, and meane estate, imbaseth and humbleth them.

In bankets, feasts, and other assemblies of mirth and passetime, wee speake of things that are pleasing and agreeable to the flesh, but at fasts, in sickenesse, when we lie one our death beds, and at the burials of our friendes, wee speake of life eternall, and of the means to attaine thereunto. And so in humane prosperity, we go diuers waies a stray, and regard not the efficacy of spirituall instruction and admonitions: but in affliction, aduersity and griefe, we easily enter into the right way to heauen, and hearken to good counsell, verefi∣ing the sentence, which is, that where vice aboundeth, aduersity beatethit down: and where vertue raigneth, it beautifieth, and maketh it euident to the world. For by nature we rely too much vpon terrestrial meanes, and know not what it is to beleeue in God, (as Abraham* did) beyond hope, with hope, and to trust in his prouidence without pawne in hand. Ri∣ches, estates, friendes, strength, health of body, support of men, as of the husband to the wife, of the father to the child and of the Prince to the subiect are as vayles staying our sight vpon earth and as staues therein to leaue vpon.

Page  990 And therefore God oftentimes taketh away those obstacles, & feeble props of the flesh, to make vs feele and preceiue the vanitie of our iudgements, and of all humane and mor∣tall things: constraining vs by that meanes to cast pure eies on him, to cleaue vnto him, and wholly to depend on him. As Saint Paul saith, That he was brought into many and ex∣treame * perplexities, euen of death, that hee might haue no confidence, but onely in him, that is risen from the dead. God knowes when we haue neede to be mortified, and tried by temptations, (as Saint Peter saith) That the triall of our faith, being much more precious then gold that perisheth (though it bee tried with fire) might bee found vnto our praise, honour, and*glorie, at the appearing of Iesus Christ. For as it happeneth to him, who sitting still at his ease, soone falleth asleepe, and hauing some thing in his hand letteth it fall, or it is easily ta∣ken from him: So the ease of the flesh, l•ls vs asleepe in the world, and easily makes vs lose, and let fall out of our minds, the vertues and gifts of the holy Ghost. But when we are put into the furnace of tribulations, participating with the passions of Christ (as the Apostle saith) watching in faith, workes, and praier; how loud soeuer the Diuell roareth, or vseth all the meanes hee can to bereaue vs of the graces of God, the firmer and constanter wee shall bee to withstand and resist him. For from thence, that excellent fruit of faith (to call vpon the name of the Lord) specially taketh force: For when we liue at our ease, and in great prosperitie, most commonly we pray but ordinarily or for fashion sake, but be∣ing oppressed with miseries, and assailed by diuers strong and humane troubles, the lesse reliefe and ease wee finde vpon earth, the more wee pray for and desire aide and helpe from heauen, and if we perceiue and feele our selues ready to perish if God doth not strengthen, aide and deliuer vs; then with all our hearts, and thoughts we crie vnto him, and protest that he is our Father, and our Sauiour, and that all our hope and trust is in him: the feeling of our diseases makes vs goe to the Phisition. And Dauid said to the people of Israel, That when God slew them, they sought him, and they returned and sought God earnestly. And they remembred that God was their strongth, and the most high God their Redeemer.*

Againe, patience, and all other Christian vertues are prooued and augmented by affli∣ctions. For as a good Pilot of a Ship doth not shew his skill when the Sea is calme and peaceable, but when it is troublesome and tempestuous, and in time of danger; and as euery art hath rules and measures to direct, and effect the same: So the true leuell or lead to direct, sound, and examine our works, and to know how far we are gone, & haue aduan∣ced our selues in the discepline of the Gospel, is patience, and constancie which we shew in our tribulations. And then by experience of the aide and assistance of God therin, our hope and the assurance and certainety of the diuine promise, which is, (That whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall bee saued) encreaseth. And as the Prophet saith, They that trust*in the Lord, shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be remoued, but remaineth for euer. Which ma∣keth Saint Iames exhort the faithfull to account it exceeding ioy, when they fall into temp∣tations. Knowing that the triall of their faith, bringeth foorth patience, and that if patience hath her effect, they shall be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. For when hee vseth vs according to our desires, it is an easie matter for vs to follow his will, but when hee visi∣teth vs with sickenesse, necessities, & disgrace, or with any other humane calamities, then to feele that he loueth vs, to find his corrections to bee good, to praise and thanke him, as we would doe a faithfull Phisition, and ioifully to submit our selues vnto his will, is a sacrifice of true obedience vnto him.

To conclude, the profitable fruits and effects of afflictions, are infinite to those that re∣ceiue them from the hand of God, and know how to vse them. For it is most true that tri∣bulation is like a Fan, which purgeth and clenseth Corne; like a File which taketh rust from yron; like fire, which molifieth metall; like the pot which refineth gold; like salt which preserueth meat from putrefaction; like the heauenly hammer, which enlargeth our hearts, to make them more capable of diuine loue, like water which quencheth the fire of our concupiscence; like raine which watereth our soules, to make them more fertile; like winde which kindleth our charity, and like the bitter herbe Orpin which maketh vs leaue and forsake the impoisoned breastes of nature; and to bee short, it is the liuerie of the children of God, and a certaine proofe, that wee are members of his Church. There∣fore seeing wee are his by right of creation, and redemption; Let vs remember and learne, that for as much as he is our Creator, we ought in all things (how crosse and aduerse soeuer they bee) to practise, and say, Lord I held my peace, and opened not my mouth, because it was thou*that hast done it. And because hee is our Redeemer, to assure our selues, that according Page  991 to the loue which hee beareth vnto vs, and his infinite wisdome, hee will not dispose of vs (how bitter soeuer it seemeth vnto vs) otherwise then it shall seem good to him, for his glo∣rie, and our saluation.

To that end the Apostle saith, that God chastneth them whom he loueth, and scourgeth, euery son that he receiueth. And that if we endure chastning, God offereth himselfe vnto vs as to his sonnes, so saith Saint Iohn, and Salomon. And this doctrine is so certain, that when God will giue vs to vnderstand, that he is angry with any one, he saith, that hee will not correct him. As he saith by his Prophet, I will make my wrath towards thee to rest, and * my Iealousie shall depart from thee, I will cease and be no more angry, because thou hast not remembred the dayes of thy youth, but hast prouoked me with all these things. And I wil not visit your daughters when they are harlots, nor your spouses when they are whores: * as to the contrary he sayd to his people: You onely haue I knowne of all the families of the earth, therefore I will visite you for all your iniquities: Whereby wee euidently see and perceiue, that corrections, and rods of tribulation, are euident signes of the fatherly loue of God towards his children, who for their parts ought continually while they liue to say with the Prophet, Behold here I am, let God doe to me as seemeth good in his eyes, And with Iob, The Lord giueth, and*the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord for euermore, and to comfort themselues with the protestation of their trust & confidence in God, with Dauid, saying: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet wilt thou reuine me, thou wilt stretch forth thy hand, vpon the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall saue me. But let vs note this, which is the crowne of all the fruits of tribulations, and a principall and speciall point whereunto we should referre all our actions, and our selues also: which is, that when God visiteth or correcteth vs with the one hand, he strengtheneth vs with the other, in the middle of the tempest of aduersities (and it is certaine, that it is a true effect of the comfort and consolation which hee giueth vs, and neuer denieth it to his children,) and more effectually sheweth his goodnes and power in our naturall infirmity; our miseries and troubles, beeing as it were scaffolds or open stages, whereon he maketh his glory shine, withall inlarging and encreasing ours. Therefore let vs say, that seeing afflictions are so fruitfull, that God is the author of them, and that they are laid vpon vs by his fatherly loue towards vs, and to shew the care he hath of our saluati∣on: It followeth that in afflicting vs he sheweth himselfe vndoubtedly to be our Father. And as when we see carpenters, cut and hew pieces of wood to make them square and plaine, and Masons polish stones with their hammers: we •hereby iudge that such peeces of wood and stones, are prepared by those workemen to bee employed in their buildings: so wee must beleeue of our selues, that if God doth vse tribulation, as hatchets and hammers therewith to fashion and polish vs, a• neede requireth, beeing naturally crooked, and full of knottes, vnfitte for good workemanshippe, it is a certaine testimony, that hee hath selected vs, to place vs in the building of his Temple, therein to bee liuing stones, edifi∣ed for a spirituall house, and consequently that wee are his well beloued and blessed chil∣dren. *

5. To suffer for righteousnesse, is honourable, hauing a promise of present and future reward.

Further, wee ought carefully to meditate vpon a most great and weightie considera∣tion, in the matter which wee intreat of, specially in this point, that God beeing most iust, neuer afflicteth nor punisheth vs vniustly. For although wee ought alwayes to con∣fesse the same to bee true, thereby during our liues to humble and submit our selues vnder the corrections of our heauenly Father, and to giue him the honour that belongeth vnto him in all things: Neuerthelesse, he taketh not occasion necessarily for our sinnes to visite vs with tribulation; but oftentimes fauoureth his children so much, as that by his proui∣dence hee disposeth the cause and title of their afflictions to bee honourable, calling them persecutions and tribulations for righteousnesse, for the Gospell, for the name of Iesus Christ, and for the loue of God. Therefore such afflictions, to mooue vs continually to liue in the feare of God in Christ, (as Saint Paul saieth) are speciall giftes proceeding from * his bountie, and loue towards vs, as the Apostle also saith to the Phillippians: For vnto you it is giuen for Christ, that not onely you should beleeue in him, but also suffer for his sake. And our Lord saith, that they are blessed which suffer persecution for righteousnesse: for theirs is the kingdome of God. Then what can they lose, seeing that eternall in heritance belong∣eth Page  992 vnto them, and cannot bee taken from them? And what an incomprehensible ioy and consolation is it for vs to know, that our persecutions heere on earth, doe assure vs of heauen, and makes vs fit and disposed to attaine thereunto? Further, wee must note, that Iesus Christ promiseth all manner of blessings and temporall rewards in this life to those which suffer persecution for righteousnesse, saying; Whosoeuer shall forsake houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or landes for my Names sake, hee shall receiue an*hundred fold more, and shall inherite euerlasting life. For although these things doe not hap∣pen in the like nature, qualitie, and value of such goods and terrestriall commodities which wee forsake or lose, yet the contentment, quietnesse and ioy which the children of GOD feele, in what state soeuer they finde themselues to bee in the time of their tribulations and afflictions: for not consenting to euill, nor to that which is against the honor of God, are much more auaileable to them, then if they had then recouered a hundred fathers for one, or an hundred times as many humane ayds, and possessions of inheritance; for that in their soules they haue the assured testimonie of the prouidence of God which conducteth all things, and of his grace and blessings, with peace of conscience. As also that experience hath alwayes made the faithfull feele, (and that in their greatest neede and extremities) the trueth and effect of the aforesaid promise of temporall rewards, hauing found supplies in their wants, and many and oftentimes in greater aboundance, then they could by humane reason conceiue, and also by vnexpected meanes. As Saint Paul saith, That godlinesse is pro∣fitable vnto all things, which hath the promise of the life present, and of the life to come. And accor∣ding * to the sentence of the Lord: That if wee first seeke the kingdome of God, and his righteous∣nesse,*all other things shall bee ministred vnto vs. But alwayes neuerthelesse, wee must specially eleuate our mindes and cogitations to the last and principall part of the said Text in the Gospell, which promiseth vs eternal life. For although God, to shew that pouertie and other afflictions happen not vnto his children for want of power in himself, to giue them riches, and to deliuer them out of aduersitie, oftentimes disposeth of things in such manner, that after they haue sustained great losse of goods and treasures, they haue greater abundance, and more ease and reliefe in this life: and yet notwithstanding we must be perswaded and beleeue, that God will not haue vs to repose or settle our mindes vpon so weake and slender recompences, as to giue vs those goods and benefites, which are common to the wicked and infidels. For we reade, That the Apostles propoundeth vnto slaues, for their faithfull seruice, which they shall doe vnto their Masters, not the reward of terrestrial riches, but the * inheritance of heauen.

Therefore the children of God should doe themselues great wrong, from so powerfull, rich, and liberall a Father, to expect terrestriall benefits, for a testimony of his beneuolence: and fleshly commodities, which passe and slide away like water; for blessing proceeding from his paternall hands. Hee will not haue his children and seruants to make account of such friuolous things, neither that they should beleeue that therein consisteth any felici∣tie for them. A father which keepeth all his goods and possessions for his sonne, thinkes hee doeth very little for him, if hee should giue him the like Liuery that his seruants weare. And God will not recompence our bodies, for the seruice which our soules doe vnto him: but as hee is liberall and iust; so it pleaseth him to giue vnto the battailes and combates of the spirit, spirituall crownes, and will acknowledge our labours, not according to the base∣nesse of our hearts, but according to the dignitie of his greatnesse, because hee doeth not properly recompence our workes, but rather those which his Spirit worketh in vs. And who knoweth not the vanitie of all worldly things, and that a man cannot haue, nor re∣ceiue any contentment, but in celestiall things? For it is true, that the enioying of any earthly thing whatsoeuer, alwayes giueth a man a new and vaine desire, by this, or in this, to get or obtaine that: But the soule being of an immortall essence, can neuer be satisfied nor contented with that which is transitory and mortall.

The onely tranquilitie of the Spirit, and peace of Conscience, which acknow∣ledgeth from GOD the state of his condition, is the true blisse of man, his true ri∣ches, and whereof hee onely is worthy; that knowes how to despise all earthly things, and to bound all his desires in God, to say with Saint Augustine, Lord, if thou shoul∣dest * giue mee all that which thou hast created in the world, it would not suffice thy seruant, if thou giuest me not thy selfe. And againe, touching afflictions, Lord burne, and cut mee heere on earth, so thou wilt pardon me eternally: and so, he that suffereth * any great tribulation, ought like one that is verie sicke which desireth to be healed, to Page  993 put all his state into the hands of that most wise and Soueraigne Physician of our bodies and soules.

6. Afflictions which passe lightly ouer, are recompenced with diuers celestiall bles∣sings, and at the last with eternall glory.

But specially, we must thinke vpon the notable sentence of Saint Paul (that our light af∣fliction * which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and an eternall waight of glory, for it is true (as he saith before) that our outward man perisheth: as if he * would say, that we lose our health, riches, honours, friends, fathers, wiues, children, and other commodities and helpes, seruing for this temporall life, yea and our liues also: But on the other side, (saith the Apostle) the inward man, (that is the spirit) is renewed, and dayly encreaseth. In the grace of regeneration, whereby also it fortifyeth it selfe in all ver∣tue, by heauenly benediction, finally and aboundantly to obtaine true eternall blessings. In such manner that although our bodies languish and are sicke, our soules are quickened and liue. If men bereaue vs of earthly riches, GOD presenteth vnto vs the kingdome of heauen. If wee be put from our estates and offices here in this worldly citie, Iesus Christ giueth vs greater in the celestiall Citie, therein making vs kings, and sacrificators to GOD * his Father. If we lose our fathers, the husband his wife, the wife her husband, and both of them their children and friends, God is alwayes for vs, and neuer forsaketh vs, and taketh not his spirit of consolation from vs, to make vs remember, and to consider, that hee which gaue them vnto vs, hath taken them from vs, and that being Lord of all men, and of all things, hee may without doing vs any wrong, dispose of his benefits according to his good will and pleasure, and to be breife, that wee haue greater occasion to praise and to thanke him for the time, that he lent vs those aides, meanes, and helpes in this life, then to com∣plaine of this, that being his, hee hath taken them vnto himselfe, into the number of the blessed. If on the other side, the earth and that which is earthly, wil• no more sustaine nor suf∣fer vs in this short and painfull pilgrimage: heauen to the which we trauell, draweth neere, and openeth it selfe to receiue vs into rest eternall. If worldly men banish and driue vs a∣way, the angels of God, meet with vs; and auouch vs to bee their companions in glory: If men curse and speake euill of vs, they are words like to the winde; God in the meane time blesseth vs, conuerting the curses of our enemies into blessings, (as Dauid saith) If our * carnall fathers disdaine vs; Iesus Christ the King of glory is not ashamed of vs, but auou∣cheth vs to bee his brethren, If they depriue vs of their inheritance, which is but earthly, God acknowledgeth vs to be his heires, and coheires with his sonne, in the Kingdome of * heauen. If men constraine vs to weepe with griefe and sorrow for transitorie and wauering things; Iesus Christ presenteth himselfe to wipe away our teares, and to conuert our * sadnes into perfect and perpetuall ioy. If wee bee banished out of our Countreys or from our Townes, God giueth vs the freedome of heauen in the supercelestiall Ierusalem, which * is made of pure gold, precious stones, and pearles, & whereof the Lord God almightie, and the Lambe are the Temple. And if the worst happen, if they put vs to death, it is our ad∣uancement to eternall felicitie, and it openeth vnto vs, the way instantly to enter into it.

Then as those that passe ouer a riuer which riseth high, and stormeth, trouble not them∣selues to looke vpon the currant of the water, lest their heades should turne, and so they might fall into some greater danger, but to the contrary lift vp their eyes to heauen, or else cast them downe on the firme land, to fortifie their hearts, and to put themselues in good hope. So we must doe all the time that our ship floteth heere in the middest of so many surious waters of humane tribulations, withdrawing the eyes of our thoughts from them, to fixe them vpward to heauen, which is the onely and perpetuall habitation of the liuing, where the ioy and glory which wee expect remayneth. And therefore wee ought specially to meditate vpon the comparison which the Apostle maketh in the place before rehearsed, betweene our light afflictions, and of small moment, and the permanent weight of glorie, of an infinite reward, which they produce. For so wee may boldly say, that our euills are short, seeing that our dayes passe away in a moment of time, and that the blessednesse of the life to come, is very long, because it continueth for euer. Our dayes (saith the Prophet) * doe not passe aboue seuenty or eighty yeres, and that in men that are of strong complexion. And God speaking of the captiuitie of Babylon, which continued seuentie yeres, said; For a moment in mine anger, I •id my face from thee for a little season: calling that time of seuentie *Page  994 yeares, an instant, in regard of the permanent benefites, which hee would bestow vpon his Israel, as hee addeth in the wordes following, But with euerlasting mercie haue I had com∣passion on thee.

And to the same purpose tendeth that in Saint Iohn, where hee calleth the time since the * comming of Iesus Christ the last houre, as if he would deuide, all the time of the continu∣ance of the world, into three or foure houres, whereof one was after the birth of our re∣deemer, vntill his last comming in glory, which last houre, hath already endured, 1618. yeeres, and yet it is not accomplished: wherein there is no great wonder, if wee can repre∣sent vnto our minds and vnderstandings, two eternities of times, to be considered of by all christians, the one was before the foundation of the world, and that is an infinite time: (If that may be called a time, which hath no beginning, and which swalloweth vp mans vnderstanding when he once thinketh how God was then all in all things, and all was in him) Then there shall be another eternitie, after the ende and changing of this great earthly globe, when God shall be all in his elect; in the new heauens of celestiall Ierusa∣lem, and that againe is an infinitie of time, altogether incomprehensible to the capacitie of humane sence.

Wherefore when wee consider the continuance of the world, betweene these two eter∣nities, which already is fiue thousand yeares and vpwards; yea, let vs adde vnto it, once or twice as much time more, (although the common opinion is, that it shal not continue sixe thousand yeares) all that is not to bee accounted two or three houres in comparison of that which is to continue for euer; and shall bee found to bee lesse then agraine of sand, in re∣gard of all the sand in the world; or then a drop of water, in comparison of all the water in the Seas. For in all these things which are created, there is number, weight, and mea∣sure: but in the eternitie there is no such thing; because in it there is nothing but infinitie. Which Saint Peter teacheth vs, saying, That before God, a thousand yeeres is as a day, and a day as a thousand yeeres with the Lord. And as Moses saith, That a thousand yeares in his sight are as*yesterday, when it is past, and as a watch in the night. But that which hindreth man from loo∣king * clearely into this notable meditation, to know and learne, that his troubles and euill time is but of small continuance, as well as his terrestriall dayes, and to comfort his soule with the certaine expectation of eternall beatitude, proceedeth specially from three things. The first is his naturall impatience, which depriueth him of this proofe, and knowledge of the good will of God towards him: whereof the Apostle discourseth to the Romanes, and * which is the cause that true hope neuer faileth, but alwayes hath an happy issue.

The second cause of our euill is, because nature leadeth vs vnto a beleeuing of nothing else but that which wee see or feele with our carnall sences, a thing altogether contrarie to faith, and the hope of saluation (as Saint Paul witnesseth.) The last is, that man is borne with so depraued a iudgement, (as Saint Chrysostome eloquently discourseth) that hee fea∣reth * that which he should not feare, and apprehendeth not that which is more to be doub∣ted. He feareth humane miseries and afflictions, which are nothing (for they cannot sepa∣rate * him from the grace of God) but hee hath no feare of sinne, which maketh a diuision betweene God and vs, and which drawes and bring vpon vs all the euills which trouble and torment vs in the world. To conclude, euery one complaineth much of the tribula∣tions in this life, and yet the greatest part leaue it against their willes, and haue more affe∣ction thereunto then to life eternall. Then what would they doe, if this terrestriall habi∣tation had by God bin permitted to be altogether peaceable, pleasant and delightfull? Who would haue cared for the kingdome of heauen? or who would with all his heart and affe∣ction haue aspired to that glorious immortalitie?

7. The conclusion of this Chapter.

To conclude this proposition, seeing wee ought alwayes to hold for a most assured trueth, that God our Father gouerneth and moderateth all things in the world generally, and particularly to that end and purpose which it pleaseth him by his most wise prouidence and soueraigne loue, to ordaine and appoint with a singular care of men, but specially of his elect. Wee must from thence drawe this certaine doctrine, that the same God is the Authour of all humane afflictions, which hee disposeth in such manner, that from thence hee knowes how to draw great benefits, as hee doth from all the other euils which happen to man, by their meanes discouering the treasures of his glorie: That his paternall loue is Page  995 such, that hee not onely cherisheth his children, prouideth for them, and defendeth and counselleth them; but also reprooueth, chasteneth, and visiteth them with his rods of dis∣cipline, that wee may bee participants of the great fruits of eternall saluation: That wee might acknowledge the vanity of the ordinary discourses of the flesh, touching that inter∣tainment, which it findeth to bee so hard and harsh in tribulations, and fortifie our mindes therein with the notable meditations of the spirit, which are drawne out of the holy Scrip∣tures, for the comfort and consolation of the faithfull, and that experience ought to teach vs, that our enemy the flesh nourisheth and intertaineth it selfe with sweet and delicate things; as to the contrary, the soule feedeth on hard and bitter meate, that the one quicke∣neth by roughnesse and aduersitie, the other decayeth by vaine pleasures and delights: the one maketh it selfe stronger and of more force by bitter and vnfauory things; the other weakeneth it selfe by sweet and pleasing things: and as hard and seuere things afflict the flesh; so soft and delicate things destroy the spirit: in such maner, that the same which for a little time maketh the one liue at her ease, killeth and murthereth the other eternally. Let vs proceed further in the doctrine of the holy Spirit, and comfort our selues in this point: That affliction in the house of the Iust, is a secret mercie of God; and prosperitie to the wicked and peruerse, a certaine signe of diuine indignation: remembring also the prayer of the Prophet, that with him wee may often say, Lord teach vs so to number our dayes, that we*may apply our hearts vnto wisdome. For from thence wee learne, that as seuentie or eightie yeares, which Moses assigneth to be the longest time of the life of men, are but as a minute of an houre, to the vnderstanding faithfull man, that knoweth how to compare them to the eternitie which wee hope for: and so it is with the longest time of our tribulations. A∣gaine there is no man liuing, which passeth all the course and dayes of his life in payne, and trouble, that feeleth not many comforts and eases in his afflictions; and if it be but only when he sleepeth.

Then whereof doe wee complaine? we should rather reioyce in that which we heard before of the Apostle, That a moment of light aduersitie, produceth an eternall weight of glory: which should mooue vs to pray vnto God, to beseech him of his diuine grace, so to reforme our nature, that wee may become conformable in our wills, to his most good and iust will; to the end, that in the rugged and difficult way, in the which it pleaseth him to conduct vs in this pilgrimage full of teares, wee may alwayes goe on cheerefully and contentedly, seeking to doe his will, and not our owne. For in that manner proceeding in our course of life, beeing sustained by his Spirit, and strengthened by his consolation, in all estates whatsoeuer, the peace and ioy of our adoption in Christ shall alwayes remaine firmely in our hearts, with patience to attend the great day of the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, when hee will gather together the children of God his Father, in the Kingdome of heauen, there to crowne them with honour, there to clothe them with gladnesse, there to fill and satisfie them with the sweetnesse of his delights, there to exalt them with his exaltation; and there to make them participants of his eternall fe∣licitie in all fulnesse.