Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. XV.

How Christians ought to govern themselves in their tribulations, afflictions, and troubles.

BEcause humane wisdome, as we have else∣where said, thinks that it is humility not to have confidence in God, and that it is pride to have confidence in him; it is necessary that a Christian should alwayes stand upon his guard touching this point, so that he be not deceived in taking the one for the other.

When a pious person finds himself in some great trouble and distresse, he is tempted by the Divel, through the means of humane wisdome, perswading him that it is amisse to belieue that God shall deliver him from that distresse and

trouble in which he finds himself; and tells him that that which appertains to him, is onely to bring his mind to be content with that which God will do concerning him.

This perswasion seems pious and holy, but being examined with a Christian spirit, a man may know in it a certain spice of desperation, and diffidence; which consisteth in that first part, where it is said, that it is amisse to have confidence in God. And although the second part with the desire of reducing the mind to submit it self to God, be good, yet it is marred by the first.

Now to the intent that the second may be good, the Christian spirit makes the first good thus: it perswades every pious person when it sees him in distresse and trouble, that God hath promised that he will make account of them, that make account of him, and that he will not suffer them to be evil intreated of worldly persons, nay more, he will have great care of them, and will help them, and defend them.

Thou makest account of God, hold then for certain and firm, that God makes account of thee, and that by and by he will draw thee from this distresse and trouble, in which thou findest thy self, in such sort as the wicked who seek thy harm, shall have no cause to rejoyce at thy harm.

The holy Spirit speaking to him these words, it brings to his memory all the promises that God in holy Scripture makes, pertaining hereunto. And when the pious person that is in tribulation, is made capable of this truth, and stands firm and constant in this hope, then it perswades him to reduce his mind to be con∣tent with that which God will do with him in that tribulation. And in such case this confor∣mity with the will of God is pious, and holy, because it is founded upon confidence, which is a pious and holy foundation.

To this humane wisdome opposeth it self, and sayes, Thou having seen that God permits, that his should be persecuted, afflicted, and evil intreated, in what canst thou found thy confi∣dence, that he will free thee from this afflicti∣on and trouble? In what I say, O Christian, canst thou found this confidence?

To this the Christian spirit replies, It is true, that God permits all that you say to befall them which are his, when it is for the cause of the Gospel, for the manifestation of his own glory, for the illustration of his own name, and not for the malignity and appetite of the men of this world; God indeed permits that his Saints shall be evil intreated because they be Saints; for from hence redound all that which we have spoken of. But he doth not permit it, when they are evil intreated as men, for the

things of the world. For he hath promised al∣together the contrary.

David glories, That he had not seen in all his life any just man forsaken of God: And in this may all just men glory: for albeit God permits that they should suffer, when they suffer because they be Saints and just men; yet he doth not permit that they should suffer for those things which indifferently befall to men in this pre∣sent life.

From all this which is spoken, it may be ga∣thered, that a Christian when he is evil intrea∣ted for his piety and justice, rejoycing that in it and by it the name of God is glorified, he ought to submit himself wholly and altogether to God, reducing his mind to content it self with that which God shall ordain, and dispose con∣cerning him: and when he is evil intreated as a person of the world, he ought to believe and be assured that God will draw him out of that affliction and trouble, with much satisfaction and content; reducing his mind also to be con∣tent with that which God will do.

And this truly is a Christian disposition of the soul, which is onely found in them that stand incorporated in Jesus Christ our Lord.