[ 1275] Afflictions ••it us for Heaven.
IT was a notable expression of Master Hawks,* 1.1 writing a consolatory Epistle to Master Philpot, then a prisoner in the Bishop's Cole-house; This Bishop's Cole-house, sayes he, is but to scowr you, and make you bright, and fit you to be set up, upon the high shelf, meaning Heaven; As when good Housewifes would set up ves∣sels of brasse or iron, they first take cinders or ashes and scowr them, whereby they are fitted to be set up. So all Afflictions and troubles of this life are but means that God useth to furbish his People withall,* 1.2 to make them bright and clean, that so they may be set on high, they must not come on the high shelf till all the rust be taken off; not enter into Heaven till they have been in the furnace of Af∣flictions, and are washed and cleansed, and purified from the filth and drosse of sin∣full pollutions.