LECTƲRE LIX.

OH, but thou wilt say that thine afflictions, thy troubles, and thy sorowes are exceeding great and vnsupportable. Looke vpon Iobs afflictions in his goods, in his children, in his owne person. He had 7000. sheepe, and 3000. Camels, and 500. yoke of oxen, and 500. she asses: and of all these he was quickly depriued, some the Shebeans, some the Chaldeans tooke away violently, and some the fire of God consumed and burnt. He had also seuen sonnes, and three daughters, and a very great familie: and these all were slaine at once by the fall of a house. Himselfe likewise was smitten with sore boyles from the sole of his foote vnto his crowne, so that he sate downe in the ashes, and tooke a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall. His wife which should haue beene his helper, bid him blaspheame God and die. His friends which should haue comforted him encreased his sorowes; so that euery way he was most grieuously afflicted. Compare now then thine afflictions and sorowes with his, and see what comparison there is betwixt them for greatnesse and grieuousnesse. And if the Lord blessed his last daies more then the first in goods, and in children, and in euery good blessing; then let not thy great affliction trouble thee, but hope thou in the Lord, and abide patiently on him, and he shall make thy way to prosper. Againe, looke vpon Christ, persecuted Christ, euen from his birth, forced to flie euen then into Egypt for feare of Herod; tempted Christ, by the Deuill in the wildernesse; poore Christ, not hauing a hou•e to put his head in; betrayed Christ, by the hands of one of his owne Disciples; afflicted Christ, so that his sweat was like Page  703 drops of bloud, trickling downe to the ground; punished Christ, so that he cried, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee; crucified Christ, euen between two theeues. What are thine afflictions, & thy sorowes in comparison of thy Christs? He hath seasoned all thine afflictions and thy sorowes with his, so that be they neuer so great thou shouldest not be trou∣bled therewith. Oh, but they come so thicke vpon thee one on the necke of another that thou art not able to looke vp. What? come they thicker vpon thee then vpon Iacob the Pa∣triarch? Of whom we read, first that he fled to Laban least his brother Esau should kill him; when he was with Laban hee dealt ill with him, and changed his wages tenne times; when he went from Laban, Laban pursued him, and if the Lord had not forbid him would surely haue hurt him; when hee had escaped Laban, then he was againe in great danger by his brother Esau; when hee had escaped that danger, then his daughter Dinah was rauished, and his sonnes Simeon and Leuie slew the Shechemites, and brought him into great danger there; when he went from thence, his wife Rahel in the way died in trauell; soone after Reuben his eldest sonne went vp vnto his fathers bed, and lay with Bilhah his fathers concubine. Could sorowes well come thicker vpon a man? Iobs sorowes likewise how thicke came they vpon him? A messenger came to Iob, and said, the oxen were plowing,* and the asses feeding in their pla∣ces &c. to vers. 20 Anon after this he was smitten with sore boyles in his owne person as we haue heard: when he was so his wife came and spake as we haue heard; and then after her came his miserable comforters. If thy sorowes then come thicke vpon thee, thou seest that nothing doth befall thee but such as appertaineth to the children of God. Tarie thou ther∣fore the Lords leasure, be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart. Oh, but thou hast waited long, and yet dost finde no case. What, longer then Dauid waited for the kingdome of Israel after that he was annointed King ouer Israel by Samuel? After he was annointed by Samuel, hee waited in great afflicti∣on, persecution, and perill many yeares before he reigned o¦uer Iudah, and after that hee waited seuen yeares and a halfe before he rigned ouer Israel. Hast thou waited longer then Page  704 Christ himselfe did? He was full of sorowes all his life long. Thou maist not prescribe God a time, thou must in patience possesse thy soule. Heauinesse may endure for a night, but ioy commeth in the morning. And what if it come not the next morning? what if it come not the next week? the next month; the next yeare? nay what if thy daies bee consumed with mourning? O in the morning when his glory shall appeare thou shalt be glad and reioyce. For the present thy faith and thy patience is exercised, and for the present it is grieuous, but afterwards it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnesse vnto thee that art exercised thereby. Oh, but thou wilt say, what comfort can I haue in the meane time seeing he afflicteth mee as the wicked, and maketh no difference betweene me and the wicked? Oh, but thou art much deceiued. He afflicteth thee, and he afflicteth the wicked, and it may be with like afflicti∣ons, but yet not in like sort. Hee afflicteth thee as a father, him as a iudge, thee in mercy and in loue, him in anger and displeasure, thee for thy correction and chastisement, him for a plague and punishment. He chastiseth thee with roddes, but he woundeth him with the swords of an enemie: thou by thy corrections art kept in a child-like awe, hee in a slauish feare; the effect of thine afflictions is, reformation of things past, and obedience afterwards to thy good; but the effect of his is hardnes of heart, and rebellion against the highest; the end of thine is ioy euerlasting, the end of his is woe euerlast∣ing. Though therefore your afflictions seeme to be like, yet is the whole course of them altogether vnlike, in the begin∣ning, in the manner, in the vse, in the effect, and in the end. What then though thine afflictions be great? It is a token that he hath giuen thee great grace and strength to stand. For he will not suffer his to be tempted aboue that they be able,* but will e∣uen giue the issue with the tentation that they may be able to beare it. What though thine afflictions be many? It is that, as gold purified seuen times in the fire, thou maist bee found more precious at the appearing of Iesus Christ; what though thou hast waited long? It is that thy patience may haue her perfect worke, and that thou maist be perfit, and entire, lacking no∣thing. What though there be no oddes vnto thine outward Page  705 sense between thy sufferings and the wicked? It is that thou maist grow out of loue with that restlesse and wretched life, and maist long after that life where there shall be no more death, nor sorow, nor crying, nor paine, but life without death, ioy without sorow, rest without crying, and pleasure without paine.

If this will not serue to make thee brooke thine afflictions be they great, or many, or whatsoeuer they be, then consider these points Christianly and with a wise heart. 1. Consider what thou hast deserued if the Lord should deale with thee in weight and measure. Are thine afflictions and thy troubles proportioned to the desert of thy sinnes? Nay if hee should dispute with thee thou couldest not answere him one thing of a thousand: if he would straightly marke thine iniquities, thou were not able to stand when he is angrie. No sinne that thou committest in the whole course of thy life, but the wages of it is death, euen euerlasting death both of body and soule with∣out the Lords speciall mercy. What are then thine afflictions vnto that that thou hast deserued? 2. Consider how light and momentanie thine afflictions are. For what if they be for a yeare? what if for twentie? what if for thy whole life? when the Lord had punished his people with 70. yeares captiuitie, for a moment, saith he,* in mine anger I hid my face from thee for a little season, but with euerlasting loue haue I had compassion on thee. Seuentie yeares captiuitie it was but a little while, a mo∣ment in comparison of his euerlasting loue. Euen so the af∣flictions that thou sufferest, if they be for seuenty, if for a 100. yeares, what is this in comparison of eternity? Who would make account of taking very bitter potions, and very sharpe phisicke for three or foure daies together, in hope of health for euer after? What then if thy potions, if thy phisicke, if thine afflictions be for 70. or 100. yeares? It is not so much as three or foure daies, nor so much as three or foure houres, nay nothing in comparison of eternitie. And therefore the Apostle very well calleth the afflictions of this life light and momentanie afflictions in respect of that eternall weight of ••ory reserued for them that stand fast vnto the end. 3.* Con∣sider what fruit in the end followes thine afflictions. They Page  706 bring, saith the Apostle, the quiet fruit of righteousnesse vnto them that are thereby exercised. And in another place he saith that they cause vnto vs a farre most excellent,* and an eternal we•• of glorie. Which is not so to be vnderstood as if by our affli∣ctions we did merit an eternall weight of glory. Fo•• count, saith the Apostle in an other place,* that the afflictions of this pre¦sent time are not worthy of the glory that shall be shewed v •o vs: but his meaning is that God in mercie rewardeth the light & momentanie afflictions of this life, with an eternall weight of glory, afflictions wi•h glory, light afflictions with a weight of glory, moment any afflictions with eternall glory, light and momentanie afflictions with an eternall weight of glory.

Let not afflictions then daunt vs, but let vs rather without Apostle desire to know in our selues the fellowship of Christ his afflictions,* and let vs count them a vantage vnto vs. For the Lord correcteth him whom he loueth, euen as the father do•• the childe in whom he delighteth.* And if we be without correction, whereof all are partakers, then are we bastards, and not sons. The finest clothe yee know which a man weareth next vnto his skinne will sometimes be nastie and slurried, and then it must be beaten, and washed, and wrung, and if yet it be not cleane, then to it againe, and beat it, and wash it, and wring it till it be cleane, and fit to be worne next the skinne: but a sack-cloth, or haire-cloth we care not how blacke it be, neither doe we wash or wring it. Beloued we are so neere vnto Christ, as that we are not next vnto his skinne, but wee are flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones. And therefore to purge vs and to make vs cleane he washeth vs, and hee wringeth vs with affli∣ctions. Sack-cloth and haire-cloth be it as blacke as it wi•l he cares not for the whiting and cleansing of it, because it shall neuer come neere vnto his skinne. Hee taketh no pleasure in it, and therefore he regardeth not the cleansing of it. Let vs not therefore be troubled at afflictions. They are nothing proportionable to that we deserue; they are but light and mo∣mentanie whatsoeuer they are, and in the end they cause vnto vs a farre most excellent, and an eternall weight of glory. Let vs therefore endure with patience, and let patience haue h•• perfect worke, that we may be perfect and entire, lacking no∣thing. Page  707 For if we endure chastening,* God offereth himselfe vnto vs as vnto sonnes: and blessed is he whom God correcteth. It fol∣loweth.

And be made conformable &c.] Or as Beza readeth it, whiles I am made conformable vnto his death, i. vnto Christ being dead: and so the sense is this; I iudge all things without Christ to be dung, as for other vantages, so for this, that whilst I am made like to the image of Christ that is dead, by sufferings, I may know and feele in my selfe the fellowshippe of Christ his af∣flictions, such as he suffered in his person, and doth now suffer in hi• members. Here then I note two reasons why the Apo∣stle reckoned affli•tions a vantage vnto him; 1. Because in afflictions he had fellowshippe with Christ. 2. Because by af∣flictions he was made like vnto Christ. Whence I gather these two obseru•tions: 1. That in afflictions we haue fellow∣shippe with Christ. 2. That afflictions make vs like vnto Christ. For the first, that in our afflictions we haue fellowship •ith Christ it is plaine, both because he suffered the like affli∣ctions before vs, and because in all our afflictions he suffereth with vs. For what affliction is it that we suffer? Is it pouertie, persecution, hunger; agonie in soule, punishment in body? Are we reuiled, slandered, mocked, tempted by the Deuill? Doth the wicked band themselues against vs, vniustly accuse vs, vniustly condemne vs, vniustly put vs to death? Are they of thine houshold thine enemies? doe they that eate bread at table with thee lift vp their heeles against thee, and betray thee into the hands of the wicked and vngodly? All this way our Sauiour Christ hath walked before vs: he hath drunke of all these cuppes, and hath seasoned them vnto vs. Neither did he onely suffer these and the like afflictions before vs, but as the head with the members still hee suffereth these and the like afflictions with vs. How many, how great, how aboue measure were Pauls troubles by sea, by land, of friends, of e∣nemies, in body, in spirit? yet calleth he them all the afflictions of Christ, because in them all Christ suffered with him. La∣zarus likewise in all his pouertie, sicknesse, sores, griefes, and miseries suffered nothing wherein Christ was not partaker of his griefe. And if all the paines and miseries of that patient Page  708 Iob were now vpon any of vs, we should feele nothing which Christ felt not with vs. For can any member of the body suf∣fer, and not the head suffer with it? Nay so long as this myste∣rie is which is for euer, that Christ is the head, and we the bo∣dy, so long if the body, or any member of the body be hurt, shall Christ which is the head be touched with the point of it.

O what a great comfort must this needes be vnto all the children of God: here is a notable seasoning of all our af∣flictions. If we be poore, sicke, persecuted, imprisoned, ba∣nished, whipped &c. in euery crosse that we beare the loue of Christ is sealed vnto vs, in euery suffering that we suffer Christ suffereth with vs. As therefore the Apostle exhorteth, Let vs reioyce in all our sufferings,* inasmuch as we are partakers of Chr••• his sufferings.* For as Paul saith, If we suffer with Christ, we shall also raigne with Christ, and if we beare about in our bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus, the life also of Iesus shall be made manifest in our mortall bodies.

My 2. obseruation was, that afflictions doe make vs like vnto Christ. He was consecrated the Prince of our saluation through afflictions. For taking our nature vpon him he filled it with the fulnesse of miseries, with all sorowes of flesh, with all anguish of minde, with persecution, with death, with sin, with condemnation,* with hell: And those whom God hath fore∣knowne he hath also predestinate to be made like vnto the image of his sonne, like vnto him in many afflictions, that at the last they may be like vnto him in eternall glory. Do sorowes then come thicke vpon vs? the moe the better, because the moe∣the liker vnto Christ, who was full of sorowes, as Esay had prophecied of him. Doe we in agonies and bitternesse of so∣rowes descend into hell? Christ hath also descended, and herein we are like vnto him. If God haue giuen vnto vs po∣uerty, cold, nakednesse, and much affliction, if we feele many troubles to rest vpon vs, if we feele that greatest trouble of an affrighted soule, and a minde oppressed, let vs thinke with our selues; how good is God vnto vs, thus to make the image of his onely begotten sonne to shine in vs, that wee carying his image in vs may die with him, and also reigne with him in the due time which he hath appointed. Let vs looke into all that Page  709 euer we haue, euen into what thing soeuer pleaseth vs best, •to our goods, lands, possessions, buildings, riches, honour, •ealth, fauour, authoritie, friendship, wife, children, and the •ke, in all these things we cannot behold the liuely image of Christ, nor by any of these things are we made like vnto Christ. Affliction and troubles, humiliations and crosses, •hese are the things that make vs like vnto CHRIST, and •he greater that our afflictions are the liker wee are vnto Christ.

Let this then teach vs with patience to beare whatsoeuer •rosse doe befall vs. We are full of griefe, but we are chasti∣•ed of the Lord, because we should not be condemned with •he world; we die with Christ, but because we should liue with him; we suffer with Christ, but because we should reigne with him; we weepe with Christ, but because that Christ should wipe all teares from our eyes; we are afflicted on eue∣•y side with Christ, but because we should be like vnto him in all afflictions, and so be glorified with him in the day of glo∣ry. Let vs therefore runne with patience the race that is set before 〈◊〉, looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for •he•y that was set before him, endured the crosse, and despised the shame, and is set at the right hand of the throne of God. Let vs approue our selues in much patience, in afflictions, in necessi∣ties, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labors, and let vs commit our soules vnto God in well-doing, as vnto a faithfull Creator. Yea let vs reioyce in afflictions, inasmuch as they are a vantage vnto vs, inasmuch as in our afflictions we haue fellowship with Christ, inasmuch as afflictions make vs like vnto Christ.

Now if the question be asked, whether, seeing afflictions are such a vantage vnto vs as that therein we haue fellowship with Christ, and thereby we are made like vnto Christ, whe∣ther I say we are to wish and desire afflictions and crosses: I answer that we are to wish them, if by that meanes we may at∣taine vnto the resurrection of the dead. For we are to wish, and we are to iudge all things without Christ to be but dung, that we may attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead. If therefore by the meanes of affliction, or by any meanes we Page  710 may attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead, we are to w•• that meanes whatsoeuer it be. We are not therefore simply to wish for afflictions and crosses, being corrections and cha∣stisements for our sinnes, but if the will of God be so that w• suffer afflictions, we are to reioyce inasmuch as we are parta∣ker of Christ his sufferings, & thereby made like vnto Christ and we are to wish, if by that or any meanes we may at∣taine vnto the resurrection of the dead. When therefore the Apo∣stle saith here, if by any meanes, this (if) implieth not any doubting in the Apostle, but an earnest desire in the Apostle to attaine to the resurrection of the dead. When he addeth if by any meanes, he implieth that the fellowship of Christ his afflictions is not the onely meanes whereby we attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead, but some without persecution at all, some not without persecution, but without effusion or their bloud, and some by martyrdome attaine to the resurre∣ction of the dead. Now the Apostle signifieth, that it is al one to him, if by any meanes, the first, second, or third, he may attaine to the resurrection of the dead. Lastly, by the resurrection of the dead, the Apostle meaneth the glorious resurrection of the Saints vn to life euerlasting. It is then as if the Apostle had said, I doe iudge all things without Christ to be but dung, that I may winne Christ, that I may know Christ, and the vertue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his afflictions, and that I may attaine to the glorious resurrection of the Saints, if by any meanes, or desiring by any meanes, affliction, or any meanes to attaine and come vnto the glori∣ous resurrection of the Saints, whereby they are raised vnto glory, and life, and immortalitie. Now for the notes.

1. For the note of doubting which hence our aduersaries would gather, we shall haue occasion to speake of it in the next verse, by occasion of those words, if that I may.

2. I note, that albeit all the Saints of God attaine to the glorious resurrection of the dead by the resurrection of Christ Iesus from the dead: for he was made the first fruits of them that sleepe:* and his resurrection is a sure pledge of our resur∣rection; yet doe not all the Saints of God attaine to the resur∣rection of the dead by the same meanes. For some haue at∣tained Page  711 to the resurrection of the dead without any persecuti∣•n that we read of; as that good old Simeon that tooke our Sa∣•iour in his armes, and praised God, and said,* Lord now lettest •ou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word &c. Like∣•ise Zacharias, and Elizabeth, and Anna, and others. Others •aue attained to the resurrection of the dead not without per∣•cu•ion and manifold afflictions, but yet without martyr∣•ome and effusion of their bloud, as Iacob, Dauid, and diuers •thers. And others haue attained to the resurrection of the •ead, but not without martyrdome, and cruell effusion of •heir bloud, as many of the Prophets, Iohn Baptist, Steuen, •ames, Paul, Peter, and diuers others. All which were Saints •f God, and all which died in the Lord, and all of them no •oubt wished, as Paul did, to attaine to the resurrection of the •ead, if by any meanes they might attaine to the resurrection •f the dead.

Whence I obserue, 1. that the way vnto the heauenly Ieru∣•lem is not onely by violent death inflicted by the hand of •he cruell and bloudy persecutor, but that very many also are •athered vnto their fathers in peace, and so sleepe in the Lord. •or as it is a blessing giuen vnto Gods children, not onely to •eleeue in Christ, but to suffer euen death for his sake, and so •o enter into glory; so it is also a blessing giuen vnto Gods children to goe to their graue in peace, and so to be receiued •nto the euerlasting habitationss. So it was reckoned vnto Abraham for a blessing that he died in a good age, an olde man,* and of great yeares, and was gathered to his people. So it was •eckoned vnto Dauid for a blessing, that he died in a good age,* •ull of daies, riches and honour. So vnto Iosiah, that he was put in∣•o his graue in peace: and generally to goe to the graue in peace •s a blessing of God vpon his children. And therefore grosse •nd absurd was their error, who thinking martyrdome the onely meanes to attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead, vo∣•untarily offered themselues as it were to the knife of the but∣•her. Onely this, if the will of the Lord be so, that by a vio∣•ent death we shall glorifie his name, we are patiently to sub¦•it our selues vnto his will: to which purpose is my second obseruation hence.

Secondly, hence I obserue that if we will attaine vnto the glorious resurrection of the Saints that are dead and die in the Lord, if we will be partakers with Christ in his glory, then must we not refuse to drinke of the same cup that he hath drunke, we must not refuse to be partakers with him in his af•••∣ctions, but if by that meanes we may attaine vnto the re••r∣rection of the dead, we must patiently endure it. For (as s••th the Apostle) if we haue had the fathers of our bodies which cor∣rected vs,* and we gaue them reuerence, should we not much rather be in subiection vnto the father of spirits that we may liue? For they verily for a few daies chastened vs after their owne plea•ure,* but he chasteneth vs for our profit, that we may be partakers of 〈◊〉 holinesse.* Wee must through many afflictions (saith the Holy Ghost) enter into the kingdome of God. If therefore the Lord will that we come by the crosse vnto the crowne, let vs take vp our crosse and follow Christ. I vse no other arguments to moue you herevnto then we haue already spoken of: they are a vantage vnto vs: in them all Christ suffereth with vs; they make vs like vnto Christ, therefore let vs not refuse the chastening of the Lord, whereby he offereth himselfe vnto vs as vnto sonnes, and let vs reioyce, inasmuch as we are partakers of Christ his sufferings.

My last obseruation hence is, that the glorious resurrecti∣on vnto life euerlasting is the marke whereat we are alwaies to aime in the whole course of our life.* If the dead be not raised againe, then is our preaching in vaine, and your faith is also vaine, saith the Apostle; and againe, if the dead be not raised againe, why are we in ieopardie euery houre? and againe, if I haue fought with beasts at Ephesus after the manner of men, what aduantageth it me, if the dead be not raised vp? and againe, if in this life only we haue hope in Christ, then are we of all men the most miserable. All which albeit they be brought to proue the resurrection o• the dead, yet doe they likewise shew that the Apostle in his preaching, and in his suffering, and in all that he did euer re∣spected the resurrection of the dead. And so we ought in all things euermore to aime at the resurrection of the dead. And this ought to make vs both do all things cheerefully, & suffer all things willingly, knowing that there shall be a glorious re∣surrection Page  713 of the iust, and that wee shall receiue reward through the mercies of God in Christ Iesus for whatsoeuer good we haue done, and for whatsoeuer tentation we haue suffered in the resurrection of the iust.