Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 158.

Of the Four Sufferings.

Now in the last place concerning our passive duty, and suffering Evils.

1. Exercising Christian Patience.

1. Sanctifying with our willingness, and concurrence with God's pleasure, all those sufferings, and judgments for our sins which we undergo upon necessity (Levit. 26.41.) As be∣ing all sent by God —much greater than these deserved by us, —effective instruments, and inducements to God's pardon∣ing our former offences, and averting his eternal wrath from us. All redounding (if it be not our fault) to our fur∣ther benefit, and to God's greater Glory in, and by, us (Heb. 12.11.) Lastly, in all, ability being given us to en∣dure, according to the intenseness of the sufferings. Dum auget Dolorem, auget patientiam. Offering them up unto God to be accepted, through the more perfect sufferings of Christ. This was Job's patience, so much celebrated.

2. Since God useth out of Evil to bring some greater good, especially for those who fear and serve him, when any cross and afflictive Accident happens to you, con∣sidering presently what greater good may possibly come to you from it; which thing will set your heart much at rest, and facilitate your due correspondence with the Divine good pleasure. As also the imagining that God sends every cross, whoever is the instrument thereof, on purpose to try your patience and behaviour in receiving it, will suddenly change your anger against such instrument into thanksgiving, and the practice of this virtue. For, indeed, Crosses are great favours if well-husbanded.

3. Not complaining, nor bemoaning your self of them; This being a lesser degree of impatience.

4. Patiently undergoing any natural infirmities, or de∣fects, and the shame that accompanies them: according to which (being not in our power) God, and his Angels (whose praise only we ought to look after) make no esti∣mate

of us; but according to our virtues: which, by their growing out of infirmity, become so much more praise-worthy: Meanwhile our defects being the best pre∣servers of humility.

5. Patiently undergoing, and not disquieting your self for any shame coming from some, otherwise harmless de∣ficiencies, or also avoidable faults. As; some ignorances, fooleries, and incivilities, undiscreet words, or actions; Se∣parating, as it were, the shame from the defect; and, whilst you implore God's pardon, and endeavour to redress, and to prevent for the future the one; accepting, and thank∣ing God, and pardoning your self, for the other. Contrary to the custome of men, who are angry at themselves, only in respect of the shame, not the fault; or no less for the shame, where they are not all faulty: But know, that all such anger, and impatience proceeds from some degree of pride.

Digr. Of all mens (some or other) infirmities, which may make us more contented with our own.

6. Chiefly arming your self with patience against such Crosses, which no honor accompanies; but shame, and in∣famy, and that with good men; (for honorable calamity any one can endure) as disgraces, contempts, &c, either for your natural infirmities, or also misdeserts. Whoever hath perfectly quitted the solicitude of worldly reputation, hath took away the sting of the most of mishaps.

7. Not too solicitously avoiding, and striving to remove, afflictions incumbent; both for the former considerations (Numb. 12.14.) and also because, that, many times, by humane wisdome avoiding one tolerable, by God's judg∣ment, we fall into another worse.

8. Advices concerning Sickness the most common, and ordinarily the greatest, and the last, of all evils that hap∣pen to men.