The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

CHAP. VIII. (Book 8)

Shewing how the godly may com∣fort themselues against their aduersaries.

HItherto of the consolations against reproaches. Now it followeth, that I should shew

how a Christian may comfort * 1.1 himselfe against his aduersaries, that oppose him in his course of godlinesse; and so there are many arguments of consolation.

The first may be taken from * 1.2 his condition therin, as it is com∣mon to all the godly. For this may stay a mans heart, to know for certaine, that euery man that will liue godly, shall bee opposed, and must suffer persecution, 2 Tim. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12.

The second may bee taken * 1.3 from the appointment of God herein: And this stands of two Branches. First, That God from all eternity hath decreed euery mans sufferings this way. Thus Paul leffeneth the thought of the crosse, by pleading that God had appointed them thereunto, meaning by his eternall Decree, 1 Thes. 3. 3. Secondly, That God hath likewise appointed the end, and measure, and deliuerance out of the affliction. Thus the Church

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is comforted, Reuel. 2. 10. If it were grieuous to them to know that the Diuell should raise vp wicked men that should call them into prison, yet this may re∣fresh them, that God hath set the time when they shall come forth againe. It shall bee but for ten dayes. It shall neither be so long as the Diuell and wicked men would haue it, for then they must neuer come out; nor so little a while as they themselues would haue it; for then they would ne∣uer come in, or stay but a while: but God will rule, by determin∣ing the time for their good.

The third may be taken from the refuge we may haue in God: * 1.4 Wee may alwaies make our re∣course to God in all our wrongs, who hath promised to be our re∣fuge, euen our refuge in due time, Psal. 9. 9. If God will receiue vs, and heare our moanes, and vnder∣take our protection, it should bee no great thing for vs to en∣dure

the opposit•…•…ons of 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.

The so•…•…th may be taken from the pre•…•…ion 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 * 1.5 bee•…•… told before plainely what we should expect. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may haue. p•…•…c: in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉; bu•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fore∣te•…•… is, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he world •…•…ee shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 troubles •…•…oh. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. you, that wee must pr•…•…ide to take vp our •…•…se daily Luke. 9 23,

The s•…•…h may bee taken from the de•…•… •…•…ce God. hath pro∣mise * 1.6 •…•…vs; so•…•…lius hee assures vs, The hand 〈◊〉〈◊〉. the Lord shall bee knowe towa•…•…ds his ser•…•…s, and his indig•…•…on towards the•…•… and his enemies, Es•…•…y. 6 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. for that God will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the strength of the •…•…eous in then •…•…ble, will be their saluation out of their trou∣ble•…•… he will helpe them and de∣liuer them, hee will del•…•…er them fr•…•… the wic•…•…ed, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they trust in •…•…ny Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…9, 40. This glory of the Lord shall •…•…oe known and feared from the East to

the West, that if the enemie com•…•… like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall chase him away, Esay 59. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Therefore feare not thou, O worm•…•… Iacob, for thus saith the Lord, I am thy God, I will sustaine thee with the right hand of •…•…y Iusti•…•…: Be∣hold, all they that pr•…•…uoke the•…•…, sha•…•… be ashamed, they shal be as nothinge the men of thy strife shall perish, E∣say 41. 10, 11. For the Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of temptation, & to reserue the vniust to the day of iudgement to be punished, 2. Pet. 2. 9. God will deli∣uer the poore when he cryeth, the needy also, and him that hath no helper, Psal. 72. 21.

The sixt may bee taken from * 1.7 the certaine iudgement of God that shall fall vpon their aduersa∣ries: The men of thy strife shall pe∣rish, and they that warre against thee, shall be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a thing of no•…•…: They shall seeke them and not finde them, Esay 41. 11, 12. All these curses will the Lord lay vpon their

enemies, and vpon them that hate them and persecute them, Deut. 30. 7. All those euill neighbours that touch the inheritance of Is∣rael, God will plucke them out of their land, and plucke his people from among them, Ier. 12. 14. The wicked draw their swords, & bend their bowes against the godly; but their sword shall enter into their owne heart, and their bow shall bee broken; for the armes of the wic∣ked shall be broken, and the Lord wil vphold the iust, Psal. 37. 14, 15, 17. And besides, for their full payment, they are reserued vnto the day of iudgement to be puni∣shed.

The seuenth may bee taken from the consideration of the * 1.8 effects and consequents of this opposition: For first, hereby wee giue our testimony to Christ and the Gospell, when wee partake of the afflictions of the Gospel, 2. Tim. 1. 18. Secondly, these oppositions do as much good for the present,

when Gods seruants fall into these troubles, the fruite will be, it will try them, and purge them, & make them white, till their time be come, for there is a time appoin∣ted, Dan. 11. 35, 36. Thirdly, God may turne the hearts of the wic∣ked, and make them of Lyons and Tygers, to become Lambes, & no more to doe hurt in the mountaine of the L•…•…rd, Esay 11. The W•…•…lfe and the Lambe may come to seede together, and the Lyon eate straw like the Bullocke, Esay 65. 25.

Lastly, wee shall gaine excee∣dingly * 1.9 by these sufferings; for we are assured, that if we suffer with Christ, we shall reigne with him in another world, 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. We should therefore reioyce that we partake in the sufferings of Christ, because we are assured, that when Christ appe•…•…res in his glory, we shall then be glad and re∣ioyce, 1 Pet. 4. 13.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He may comfort himselfe from the considera∣tion
• * 1.2

  1. Of the common condition of all the godly.
• * 1.3

  2. Of Gods appoint∣ment.
• * 1.4

  3. Of our re∣fuge in God.
• * 1.5

  4 Of the prediction of Christ.
• * 1.6

  5 Of the d•…•…liue∣rance pro∣mised.
• * 1.7

  6 Of Gods iudgement vpon our aduersarie•…•…
• * 1.8

  7 Of the effects and conse∣quents.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Of our own gaine by them.