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14 The spirit of a man wil sustaine his infirmitie: but a wounded spirite, who can beare it?
The afflictions are not only troublesome to them which know not God, but also to the elect and faythful: as wee may see it by the fearefulnesse and trembling that they haue had, and by the com∣plaintes
they haue made, and by the admonitions which are made to them: amongst other we may alledge Abraham, Iacob, and Da∣nid, who were excellent men. But albeeit that the fleshe is troubled and grieued and mourneth vnderneath his burthen, yet neuerthe∣lesse a man of a good spirite knowing indeede that al commeth to him from the hande of God taketh a good heart, and beareth pa∣tiently and ioyfully the euil he suffreth. Solomon doeth thus pro∣nounce it, when he saith,
The spirit of a man, &c. Heere the spirite, can not be taken for the soule: for al men haue soules, and for the greatest parte of them, they doe not patiently beare the euil that God doeth sende them: but wee wil take the spirite for that which is contrary vnto the outwarde man: that is say, for the inwarde man. This spirit wee cannot haue of ourselues: and therefore, let vs aske, Make mee a cleane heart, O God: and renewe a right spirite within mee. This spirite is the meanes, the strength and power which causeth our spirite strongly and manfully to beare al afflictions and aduersities, which happen in this life, and doe weaken and corrupt it, and cau∣seth that wee bee not grieued for any defaute that wee haue of ne∣cessarie things appertayning to the state of this life. It is the spirite that maketh vs not to bee effeminate, to bee afraide of our owne shadowe, for to make vs soroweful and to trouble vs with the least hurte that might happen: but giueth vs a mans hearte for to resist the temptations strongly, to suffer patiently the miseries, & ioyfully to beare the burthens that our outward man refuseth and reiecteth for his weakenesse. Beholde, howe wee must vnderstande the spi∣rite of a man wil sustaine his infirmitie, to wit of man. And also Solomon doeth giue it so to bee vnderstood, when hee asketh, But a wounded spirit, who can beare it? For against the spirit of man, hee setteth a wounded, sorowful, and grieued, and which hath no might, the which is the spirite or courage of effeminate persons, which are immediatly feared, and quake at the shaking of euery leafe, and weepe for the least griefe, and faint and fal vnder the least burthen that can be laide vpon them. It is vnpossible for man that hath such a spirite or courage so weake, that he shoulde bee able to beare any thing: seeing that his heart faileth him: neither is it possi∣ble for the outwarde man euer to bee able to resist. Let vs then vn∣derstande
howe Solomon doeth heere admonishe vs, that wee shoulde not bee afraide for the greatnesse and heauinesse of af∣flictions which happen vnto vs in this worlde: but that putting our trust in God, wee shoulde reioyce euen in the most hardest and troublesome time, being certaine that the Lorde wil giue vs a good ende.